Chapter 962: Different Paths

The next day, I had a meeting with Chairman Sung, Director Baek, Kuzon, and Aloe.

We had a lot to discuss, but it mostly concerned what I had been up to the previous night.

I briefed them of what happened; how Sung was kidnapped for information about myself and Kuzon, and how I saved him.

I further went on to exposit my fight with Sloth, one of the Stars of the Shadows of Light, and how things ended.

I refrained from mentioning the link between the Zenith and the Shadows of Light.

Telling the Chairman any of that wouldn't solve any problem, and it was possible that the opposite could happen as a result.

I did mention my use of memory manipulation to have a pawn among the ranks of the Shadows of Light, and how Sloth would be useful to us in the long run.

"It will take some time before everything falls into place, but everything is proceeding according to plan."

That meant two things.

One was that none of the things that occured last night took me by surprise or derailed my plans.

The second, and perhaps, the most pertinent one for now... was that we now had some free time on our hands.

"Tch. So you went out all alone to get the action." Kuzon murmured. "How inconsiderate..."

It sounded as if he was sulking, but his expression didn't show anything of the sort. Well, what did I expect from Kuzon to begin with?

"You can explore one of the S Class Dungeons that have just been discovered by the Hunter Association. I'm sure Chairman Sung wouldn't mind." I returned his words with a smile.

"W-well, I wouldn't really mind, but—"

"What sort of compensation is that? You just want me to do free labor and fight some weak monsters."

"Why don't you trust me on this one? I promise you, something interesting is sure to happen." Kuzon's hard stare was at me for some time, but I maintained my positive glow.

"Haa... fine. I guess I'll settle for that."

In the end, the Chairman agreed to the whole thing. Of course, Kuzon would have to sneakily do his thing, since we were still not affiliated with the Hunter Association.

"What about you, Aloe? What will you be doing?" I asked Vida, who had been silent for some time now.

"I think I'll just continue to do raids in order to lessen the burden of the Hunter Association. There's a lot to be done, after all."

That sounded just like what I would expect someone like her to say.

"Many thanks, Miss Vida." Both the Chairman and Director expressed their gratitude.

"What about you, Mr. Leonard? What are your plans?"

"Yeah, Jared. I'm curious too."

Well, I suppose I left 'that' part out of the story, so they couldn't have guessed yet.

"I'm going to spend more time with Sung Han Soo. Specifically training and research."

"H-Han Soo?!" Both Aloe and the Chairman spoke at the same time, their tones echoing something akin to shock, but also concern.

"Yes. He is actually really special. None of you could recognize that, since your technology isn't suited to detect it, but I was able to notice."

The boy who was ostracized as the pathetic E Class Hunter just might have enough potential to surpass all the Hunters in this country—perhaps even the world.

'There's only one way to find out.'

"I-I see. Then, I thank you for giving up your time to nurture him."

Once more, the Chairman thanked all of us for what we were to venture on during our break period. Director Baek followed his lead.

The meeting didn't last long after that, and we left his office not long after.

'I can tell he's still concerned about the numerous issues that are surfacing, but he appears more at ease now.' I smiled and nodded.

'Don't worry, Chairman. It'll all be fine.

*******

[Several Hours Later]

It was night already, and Chairman Sung was still in his office, sorting out the documents that had piled up on his desk.

The Hunter Exams and Special Awakening Ceremony were going to happen in a few months, and there was a lot to do before then.

After the candidates had been screened, and shortlisted, he as the Chairman still had to thoroughly scrutinize them to make the final call.

South Korea needed loyal and trustworthy Hunters. It would be a waste if the ones chosen were the opposite of that.

"Haa... I was so immersed in work that I didn't notice how much time had passed." He lifted his gaze from his desk and looked to his side.

There, he was able to peer though the glass walls of his office and take a look outside. It was night in South Korea, and the neon glow of the city's night hours made it all worth it.

Somehow, Chairman Sung felt like rising from his chair and moving closer to the glass walls so he could be closer to the sparkles of light he witnessed.

'To protect this beautiful country and her people... that is why I work this hard.' That was why he couldn't take a break.

Not yet.

"Heh!" Chairman Sung gave himself a little chuckle. This too was a sacrifice he had to make for his country.

"What's making you smile like this, old man?"

The moment Chairman Sung heard the echoing voice, his body froze and his eyes bulged.

He felt completely paralyzed, and even his open eyes refused to close.

"You seen to be in an awfully good mood despite the mess you're in, old man."

At that moment, someone appeared before Chairman Sung, like a shadow emerging from the ground.

He had a hooded cloak, and it seemed like his whole body was dressed like the night itself.

'Y-you...!!!' The Chairman's thoughts echoed as his brain pounded.

There was no way he wouldn't recognize one of South Korea's former S Class Hunters, now naturalized to become someone else.

"Look at you, still trembling in my presence. Did you miss me so much?"

How could he say that? Chairman Sung felt a lot of emotions swirling within him; rage, pain, betrayal, and so much more.

However, there was one dominant feeling that overshadowed the rest.

It was fear.

'Gyu Pol...' His thoughts echoed grimly as he stared at the young man who had brought his hood down.

This man was no longer a citizen of South Korea. He had now become a Pillar of the strongest organization in the world.

'Fourth Pillar of the Zenith!'