Chapter 97

Episode 97. The War of the Stars (3)

"President Kim Min-jae of the Association considered this a very important event. He said that if any of the 1st class Hunters in charge of defending the front line of humanity died because they were unsuitably placed, it would be disastrous. He said that this was an important opportunity to gauge our strength, and he always prepared for the event thoroughly."

At Han Yeon-soo's call, I arrived at the headquarters of the Association. The Seoul branch, which was the most magnificent of the numerous branches. I had a bored look on my face as I listened to the meeting going on inside.

'Of course you considered it important. Every Hunter was an asset to you.'

These idiots didn't even know that Kim Min-jae was dead.

'An important opportunity to gauge strength? He probably prepared thoroughly because 1st class Hunters' battle scenes were rare. Selling them for money to guilds and Analysis institutions, and selling tickets to front row seats expensively.'

I couldn't help but sigh. Some members of the Association, especially among the executives, revered Kim Min-jae like a god.

It was widely known that Kim Min-jae was blinded by his interests, but they had completely fallen for Kim Min-jae's unique charisma and eloquent speech.

It was very hard to persuade those who fell for him. They were like believers in a cult.

"We cannot cancel the event just because Kim Min-jae, President of the Association, is gone. No, we have to open a better event than usual! Those who have been absent should participate this time. If you make any excuses again... you won't be able to expect any help from the Association in the future."

Even without Kim Min-jae, the Association was still the Association. Every remark held power, and they had many ways of pressuring those working in the Hunting industry.

"...Hm."

Types of pressure that even 1st class Hunters at the top couldn't ignore. After all, it wasn't such a difficult request. It only took a couple of hours for 1st class Hunters to spar with each other. The participants were also paid a sum.

No 1st class Hunter was stubborn enough to refuse such a simple task out of pride.

"...I guess everyone will participate this time."

Besides, many senior Hunters who were respected as Heroes didn't get up from their seats. The atmosphere was gradually shifting towards 'full attendance'.

I was leaning back in my chair, biting my nails with a bored look on my face.

"Si-woo, don't bite your nails. You aren't a child."

"It's a habit."

"You should break habits like that......."

Han Yeon-soo, who was sitting next to me, slapped my wrist. Since I wasn't interested in the meeting, we had been repeating this process for a while.

If I distracted myself by doing something else, she didn't let me do it. If I tried to doze off, she woke me up.

What was I supposed to do about this boring meeting? I hated wasting my time on uninteresting things like this.

In the meantime,

"Hm. Hunter Jung Si-woo, you're here."

The man conducting the meeting suddenly called me out.

"Originally, this event is meant for people who have been first-class Hunters for five years... But we inevitably had to invite you, Mr. Jung Si-woo. Do you, by any chance, want to refuse to participate?"

"Well... I'll just do it."

"That's a relief. Our Association was looking forward to it a lot."

"...Looking forward to it?"

"Yes."

The man's eyes glistened coldly.

"Before he went missing, Association President Kim Min-jae was very interested in you. Very, very, very, very interested."

"......."

"I suppose it was because he thought you would become a great Hunter, don't you think?"

The light glittering in his eyes somehow made him look like a madman.

"That's why we want to know more. Whether the Association's analysis of your strength is correct. Whether you truly are a great Hunter, not just a Hunter who can be dealt with by a few hunting dogs."

He quietly murmured the last sentence. And I could tell as soon as I heard it. My hazy mind was startled awake.

These bastards, it's not that they don't know Kim Min-jae is dead. That look. The way they mentioned my strength and hunting dogs.

Not only do they know that Kim Min-jae was dead, but they also know that I killed him.

"Yes... Well, we've worked hard to prepare for this -War of the Stars- event, so please follow our instructions. Thank you!"

As soon as I glared at him, the man smiled and turned away. I could feel several eyes on me through the blinds that hung over the window.

It wasn't the gaze of ordinary Hunters. They were mad, clinging, unpleasant eyes.

'Looks like I walked right into the lion's den.'

It was all an excuse. I don't know how they found out, but the eyes surveying me were entirely different from before. It was as if they were glaring at the murderer who killed their parents.

These guys were crazy. It was amusing to see these jerks revere Kim Min-jae without knowing what kind of a bastard he was.

'Well, I knew this could happen anyway.'

The moment I killed Kim Min-jae, I had made plans to deal with the Association. It was true that the Association was rotten to the core, but it was also a kind of necessary evil.

Without the Association, the Hunting industry system would collapse completely. One way or another, it was a massive group and a pillar holding up a part of the world. Even if I killed Kim Min-jae, I could not destroy the Association entirely.

'Then, I have no choice.'

My plan was simple.

"Yes, thank you. I'll be in the waiting room, getting ready."

The Association without Kim Min-jae. A group with tons of capital and countless Hunters.

I was going to swallow it up.

* * *

"They seem strange."

Said Han Yeon-soo as soon as she entered the waiting room. She must have felt it, too. They were practically saying, "Jeong Si-woo is a dead man."

"I know. I guess they're trying to kill me."

"You sound very calm, don't you?

"It's only scary when you're taken by surprise. Now that I know, it's nothing."

It meant that the Association was not intelligent enough. If you want to hurt someone, it's best to approach them with a smile and stick a knife in them when they've put down their guard.

Who would just allow an attack when they were so blatantly signaling 'I'm going to harm you'? Of course, a group like the Association could probably kill most Hunters without a trace, but I wasn't just any Hunter.

"So there's nothing I need to do?"

"Yeah. Don't do anything weird. Just do what you have to do. That'll make it easier for me to move about."

Han Yeon-soo nodded. In the meantime, I was looking over the materials that the Association handed out.

-The War of the Stars-

1st class Hunters were called 'Stars,' and the event's name symbolized how it measured their strength. The 1st class Hunters are ranked in this event, and the rankings are made public.

Of course, the actual top Hunters don't even participate because they find it annoying, but people go wild about the sloppy rankings.

The way the event proceeded was simple. Hunters were randomly drawn to fight one another. In other words, they were pitted against each other. It was a tournament-style ranking system.....

But it didn't really mean much. Battles between Awakened people were all about compatibility unless you were special like Han Yeon-soo, who could control an army that could crush anyone regardless of compatibility, or like Kim Young-hwan, whose power was simply overwhelming.

I guess we'll draw names again, like do a ladder game.

"Oh, the draw results are out. Um... What is this?"

Han Yeon-soo, who was staring at her cell phone, had a strange reaction.

"Did they fabricate this?"

There were two names on the screen.

Seong Yoo-hyun vs. Jeong Si-Woo

Seong Yoo-hyun. One of the Hunters who people compared the most to me.

He was also a Hunter produced by the Hwayeon Choin Academy and a man who became a 1st class Hunter at a young age. He was definitely talented, and thanks to his good looks, he was popular.

And everyone knew that he was the Association's pet dog. He was especially faithful to Kim Min-jae and followed his every word.

"Looking at those bastards... I think something bad will happen if you compete with Seong Yoo-hyun."

"Why?"

"He's crazy when it comes to Kim Min-jae. It looks like he knows something, the way he acted weird only towards you. He might throw a fit when you guys compete. Just withdraw. You don't need any help from the Association anyway."

"Hm, no."

"What?"

Han Yeon-soo frowned.

"Si-woo, I know you've gotten stronger these days. Even I would be in danger if we fought at this distance. But not him. Fighting with Seong Yoo-hyun won't do you any good."

"......."

"I've never seen Seong Yoo-hyun lose a one-on-one battle in a 'limited space' like this. And given his ability, you should be prepared to break an arm or a leg even if you win. Don't be so stubborn and get hurt. Just give up. I'll give up too and leave with you. Let's go and eat something good."

Her eyes were filled with concern.

"It's a good offer, but no. I want to fight him."

I've already made up my mind to push ahead, no matter how worried she is.

"No, you really shouldn't. If he has noticed anything related to Kim Min-jae, he could really kill you, no matter the consequences. He'll totally do it."

"......."

"Just don't, don't fight him, will you? Please..."

Han Yeon-soo's eyes teared up. Her voice was desperate. But I shook my head. I couldn't lose a fight like this. To properly carry out my plan to absorb the Association, I couldn't afford to flee. Just like Kim Min-jae, I had to crush them with force.

"Don't worry. I'm going to win no matter what."

Above all, I didn't think I'd lose.

[Why is she so worried? Doesn't she know you yet?]

The Traveler murmured.

[Does she actually think that young man Seong Yoo-hyun can kill you? Hmm...]

"......."

[Why don't you test your vessel that I expanded and the thing you received from the Akashic Records? You'll soon find out that the Association growling at you are not wolves, but little puppies.]

I nodded slightly.

"Don't cry in public. You don't look good when you cry."

"Then listen to me."

Han Yeon-soo replied curtly. Did she change her style? She was acting differently these days.

I burst out laughing and said,

"Just watch before you say anything. Because I'm much stronger than you think."