Chapter 86 – Lee Se-yun’s Proposal

When the call ended abruptly, Lee Se-yun chuckled and put down his phone.

‘Seems he’s quite angry.’

It was natural.

It was expected.

Anyone would be angry if someone bought up all the skill books they wanted, hindering their growth.

Yet there was a reason Se-yun chose such a petty method.

He wanted to recruit Min Do-jun to Blue Dragon Guild badly enough to go this far.

‘Well, he might be angry now, but his thoughts will change once he joins our guild.’

Despite earning Min Do-jun’s anger, Se-yun remained consistently relaxed.

At level 2,200, he had no reason to fear Min Do-jun who just reached level 1,500.

Even his anger seemed cute.

‘Though he doesn’t seem the type, there’s nothing to worry about even if he attacks.’

Se-yun was unconcerned, confident he could subdue him by force.

Just then, an employee entered the office.

“Hunter Lee Se-yun! He’s here as you said!”

“Oh?”

Se-yun smiled at the news the guest had already arrived.

‘Must have been quite urgent.’

He leisurely stood and went outside the guild.

Min Do-jun stood there with an angry face.

“Welcome, Do-jun. We’ve been waiting…”

Se-yun unconsciously stopped approaching.

‘What’s this pressure…?’

His instincts were warning him.

That it would be dangerous to approach further.

Se-yun stood still, looking at Min Do-jun.

He shivered at the sight of him glaring as if to kill.

He instinctively stepped back, then was shocked upon realizing it.

‘Did I just back away from someone merely level 1,500?’

Se-yun last saw Min Do-jun when he was level 1,000.

Right after clearing the Lynx-eyed Tiger dungeon.

‘He didn’t have this pressure then…’

To think he’d change so much from just 500 levels.

‘No, did I just not notice because he didn’t show it?’

Now Min Do-jun was openly showing his anger.

“I came as you wanted. What did you want to talk about?”

Se-yun swallowed dryly at that chilling voice and said.

“This isn’t the place to talk, please follow me.”

Min Do-jun followed as he turned and led the way.

Se-yun kept glancing back while guiding him to the office.

Not to check if he was following, but because he felt uneasy.

‘Never thought showing my back would feel this uncomfortable…’

Leading the way left him practically defenseless.

This was his first time feeling unsafe showing his back since becoming a hunter.

‘He’d be dangerous as an enemy.’

Belatedly realizing this fact, Se-yun made a resolution.

To bring Min Do-jun to Blue Dragon Guild no matter what.

“Please sit here.”

When Min Do-jun sat on the sofa, Se-yun had an employee bring tea.

He wanted to talk in a comfortable atmosphere over tea if possible.

He hadn’t known disturbing Min Do-jun’s mood would be this uncomfortable.

“…”

“…”

Silence continued.

Min Do-jun spoke first.

“I know what you want to say, but I’ll listen.”

At that cold voice, Se-yun apologized first.

“I’m sorry for the inconvenience, Hunter Min Do-jun. But I felt you wouldn’t meet with us unless we did this.”

Along with the weak excuse, Se-yun got to the point.

“I won’t beat around the bush. Our guild wants you. If you join, we’ll give you all the Magnum Burst skill books you want. All we have.”

“How many do you have?”

‘Got him!’

Misunderstanding the question asked out of simple curiosity as interest, Se-yun answered with a somewhat brighter expression.

“Twenty. You can learn one and do whatever you want with the rest – sell them or keep them. For reference, we bought each book for 50 million won.”

Though considered non-mainstream, it was still an A-grade skill book.

Though 300 million won for a normal A-grade skill book was considered cheap, it was essentially offering 1 billion won for free.

Albeit with the condition of joining the guild.

“Ah, to avoid misunderstanding, the skill books are gifts separate from the signing bonus. If you express intent to join Blue Dragon Guild, we’ll immediately provide a 100 billion won signing bonus.”

100 billion.

No other guild could offer such an amount.

This proved how highly Blue Dragon Guild valued Min Do-jun.

“We’ll guarantee the industry’s best 9:1 profit ratio from dungeons. Additionally, we’ll arrange for you to freely use the annual priority rights. You can even do solo runs if you wish. Of course, all profits from that would be yours.”

High signing bonus, profit ratio, promise of priority rights.

Having presented several exceptional conditions, they thought he couldn’t refuse.

‘Above all, he needs to join our guild to get the skill books.’

How could he resist when they held what he wanted?

Se-yun could predict Min Do-jun’s next move.

He would deliberate, sigh as if having no choice, then reluctantly agree.

As expected.

Min Do-jun, who had been silent, suddenly sighed.

‘As expected!’

Now he should nod as if having no choice.

But what followed differed from expectations.

“Five or more.”

“What?”

“Can you provide five or more priority rights per year?”

“Um… that…”

Se-yun held back his words.

Priority rights couldn’t even be bought with money.

“And profit ratio 10 to 0. Of course, I get the 10. Is that possible?”

“What? Such an absurd…”

Se-yun sighed at the outrageous demand.

“If the profit ratio is 0, what would the guild live on?”

Guilds operate on hunters’ profits.

Therefore, the profit ratio was most important.

They had conceded to 9:1, yet he demanded 10:0.

Nonsense.

But there was a place that offered such nonsensical ratios.

“These two things I just mentioned are benefits I currently enjoy at the Center.”

“…”

“Unless you can offer better conditions, there’s nothing to discuss.”

“Wait, you secured five priority rights from the Ilsan branch?”

“Yes. That’s the minimum requirement to recruit me. Not making petty threats with skill books like some people.”

“…”

This was unexpected.

‘Did unused Centers transfer priority rights through agreement? If so, I understand why Hunter Min Do-jun doesn’t want to join a guild.’

For Min Do-jun who preferred solo runs, staying with the Center would be more beneficial than a guild.

They don’t take commission fees like guilds either.

“Now you understand? Why I won’t join a guild. I can’t find any advantages in guilds.”

Even with a 100 billion signing bonus, considering the long-term fees, it would actually be Min Do-jun’s loss.

There was no financial benefit at all.

Knowing this, Se-yun appealed to other guild advantages.

“The guild’s main advantage is safety. Rather than raiding with new people each time, you can raid safely and quickly with familiar guild members…”

“Do you think I need party members when I do solo runs? Safety? If I cared about safety, I wouldn’t be a hunter.”

“Still, there will be limits to soloing. When your level gets higher, you’ll need a party for…”

“I’ll worry about that when the time comes.”

Though he tried hard to appeal, Se-yun knew it was too weak to persuade Min Do-jun.

That’s why he had to use such petty methods.

“If you join our guild, you can get the skill book you’ve been looking for.”

“I can get that through other channels.”

“That will be difficult. Our guild will block all distribution channels for the Magnum Burst skill.”

“…”

“Even if you’re lucky enough to find one, it’ll be hard for now. We can at least interfere that much.”

“Sigh, really…”

Min Do-jun sighed.

“Why are you trying to recruit me this desperately?”

“Because you’re worth that much, Do-jun.”

“Even at the cost of earning my hatred?”

“I don’t care as long as I can bring you in.”

“You won’t consider giving up and handing over the skill books?”

“No.”

Se-yun’s eyes showed firm resolve, likely thinking this was his only remaining card.

It was an infuriating situation for Min Do-jun.

‘This lunatic really…’

He already wanted to kill him, but this behavior made him want to tear him limb from limb.

‘Should I just kill him here?’

Min Do-jun glanced at the information window that appeared.

[Lee Se-yun]

-Description: Hunter born in 1997. Currently level 2,200. Blue Dragon Guild member with one-handed sword warrior class.

-Combat Style: Uses quick thrusts targeting vital points. When facing strong opponents, measures distance and uses footwork for surprise thrusts. Utilizes various attack patterns.

-Weakness: Attack patterns reduce when feet are bound. Surprisingly vulnerable to tanks.

The weakness analysis that was question marks months ago was now clearly visible.

‘That means I can handle fighting him.’

Even without weakness analysis help, Min Do-jun was confident in winning.

If he beat Kim Peter who had a higher level, how could he not beat Lee Se-yun?

There was enough possibility of winning if he picked a fight now.

‘Would it work if I kill him and disappear with invisibility?’

Min Do-jun smiled self-mockingly inside.

‘What useless thoughts… I’d definitely get caught.’

Unless no one had seen him, he’d definitely be suspected if he killed him now.

‘Can’t take that risk.’

He discarded the worst option.

He needed another way to get the skill book.

‘I can’t join the guild. But I can’t get the skill book right away either.’

Getting it through overseas channels or hunting directly would take at least ten days.

‘And persuasion doesn’t seem like it would work…’

He needed another method.

‘Have to make a deal.’

Since persuasion was difficult, buying the skill books was the only option.

‘The skill book’s market price is 50 million won, would he sell if I offer 500 million?’

Min Do-jun immediately corrected his thinking.

‘No. Someone overflowing with money wouldn’t be swayed by mere 500 million.’

Even raising the price further wouldn’t make him blink.

And he had no desire to buy at a loss either.

‘Can’t persuade with money. Need a deal that would tempt him.’

What could there be?

Min Do-jun stared at Se-yun.

‘Come to think of it, he… was interested in the ancient tablet?’

The ancient tablet was a collectible obtainable from killing the Red-beaked Progenitor Bird, a B-rank dungeon.

Min Do-jun recalled Se-yun entering the dungeon saying he wanted to investigate the ancient tablet.

‘This is the only way to get the skill book immediately.’

It was information that would be released in a month anyway.

Giving up the information wouldn’t be a loss for Min Do-jun.

‘Plus, I can enter the dungeon alone with him using the information as an excuse.’

No place would be better for killing someone than a dungeon.

After deciding, he spoke.

“Mr. Se-yun.”

“Yes.”

“Would you like to make a deal?”

Se-yun wasn’t surprised at the word “deal.”

He just shook his head as if he’d expected it.

“If you won’t join the guild, I won’t sell no matter how much…”

“The ancient tablet.”

“…?”

“Don’t you want to know what that item is used for?”