abcnovels
Chapter 62
Chapter 62
Chapter 62
The few A-grade hunters were like strategic weapons for their country. Hence, it gave them all sorts of privileges and special treatment. If they wanted to migrate, the country would literally be turned upside down. They were that country’s last bastion when it came to problems that couldn’t be solved through ordinary means!
That was an A-grade hunter.
Naturally, they were hard to find. Most of the A-grade hunters in the United States had set up their own kingdoms and were living like kings. A-grade hunters had no reason to participate in raids, and the country also didn’t like the idea that much. If one of them got hurt in a raid, there would be irreparable damage.
Nevertheless, Hwang Gyeongryong still wanted to somehow get A-grade hunters. Hence, he gathered the aces and raised them in the Icarus clan! It was just that the A-grade rating had extremely high requirements. No hunter had been able to achieve that feat yet. There were only gemstones.
However, the hunter that Hwang Gyeongryong had suddenly thrown at him appeared to have strength beyond imagination!
Ernest was both delighted and dumbfounded. Managing to get an A-grade hunter like this without any rumors didn’t make sense, no matter how great Hwang Gyeongryong’s abilities were...
How did he do it?
“Ernest? The dungeon has been cleared.”
“Ah. I’m sorry. I was surprised...”
The dungeon was cleared when the boss monster collapsed. The hunters inside were coming out.
“Isn’t it better to put Hunter Choi Yeonseung on the 1st team, Ernest?”
“He’s a martial artist, though...”
“Why does it matter if he’s a martial artist? Didn’t you just witness him kill the boss monster alone?”
Reprimands poured toward the analyst who said something wrong. It was their job to watch hunters. If they didn’t feel anything after watching this, they should retire immediately.
“Isn’t it obvious?”
“Ah. Yes...”
“What we have to think about now is whether or not to restructure the 1st team around Hunter Choi Yeonseung.”
Rebuilding a team around one person should only be done for a really exceptional ace hunter. That person had to be overwhelmingly stronger than others to have hunters who could make the most of their abilities put around them. There wasn’t such an individual in the Icarus clan, so they had never formed a team that way.
“I-Is he really all that much?”
Ernest stared at the analyst who asked the question. Intimidated, the analyst flinched.
“If you have any prejudices, you better get rid of them now. You will be gone if I see it again in the future.”
Ernest rose from his seat.
“Where are you going?”
“To see the chairman.”
***
“Chairman!”
“Ah. You came?” Hwang Gyeongryong greeted Ernest with a welcoming expression. Seeing this rigid man come in looking so agitated made it clear that he had seen Choi Yeonseung’s skills.
“So, how was that man?”
“Why didn’t you tell me you’ve recruited an A-grade hunter?” Ernest asked in astonishment. “Why waste time by saying things in such a roundabout manner?”
“Would you have believed me if I told you?”
“... That’s true.”
Ernest wouldn’t have believed it if Hwang Gyeongryong told him something like, ‘Hey! I’ve found an A-grade hunter! He’s my old friend and has been living in the Abyss for a long time. He’s a bit weird, but he’s a good man!’ He would’ve doubted if someone had asked the chairman for a favor!
“He’s unique in many ways. I thought it would be better to let you see him for yourself than have a long conversation about it.”
It was a common phrase among hunters. Showing something was better than explaining it a hundred times.
Ernest nodded. Choi Yeonseung certainly showed an intense performance.
A martial artist?
An Abyss returnee?
The chairman’s special recommendation?
These things didn’t matter in the face of overwhelming skill. The analysts and Ernest felt it instinctively. He had qualities only A-grade hunters could exude!
“Won’t the government complain later? They’ll probably say you didn’t tell them about an A-grade hunter...”
Countries put a lot of effort into securing B or higher-rated hunters. If it was revealed that the hunter Hwang Gyeongryong accepted was an A-grade hunter, the government could complain.
-No, Chairman. If you knew he was such a hunter, why didn’t you tell us? How much effort have we put into recruiting talents...?
Hwang Gyeongryong scoffed. “They’re clearly blind, so why would they say that?”
The US government had several opportunities to recruit him, from the rating measurement session to beyond that. They passed over Choi Yeonseung, so they should take responsibility for it!
“In addition, people should bend over a bit when they’re sorry.”
Things could’ve been different if they had recognized Choi Yeonseung’s abilities from the beginning, but if they were only to find out about it later, their mistakes would force them to approach the situation discreetly. If so, wouldn’t it be better to profit from it?
“Getting recognized as an A-grade is tricky, but it’s just a matter of time for him. We just have to ensure he has the results for it.”
Showing off one’s skills, swordsmanship, or magic wasn’t enough to become an A-grade hunter. Performance was needed! Clearing B-grade dungeons multiple times or clearing A-grade dungeons... Having a solid track record was the only way to get an A-grade rating.
“That brings in a new problem, though.”
“What is it?”
“You know,” Ernest said while raising his fingers one by one. “Would an A-grade hunter continue to selflessly work under you?”
While there weren’t any rumors right now, they would start spreading after an actual raid or two. Unlike in the past, information traveled quickly now.
“Ah. Ah. Don’t worry about that.”
“Don’t worry? How would doing that make any sense?” Ernest asked, seemingly dumbfounded. A-grade hunters received more than just one or two temptations. Scouts didn’t just come from the United States. They came from all around the world...
Then Hwang Gyeongryong put on a serious expression. “Hey.”
“Huh?”
“Trust me.”
“......!”
Hwang Gyeongryong spoke seriously, and Ernest took it the same way. If a man like Hwang Gyeongryong spoke in such a way, then he certainly had something up his sleeves!
“...I understand. I’ll leave it to you.”
“Good.”
Hwang Gyeongryong couldn’t tell him the truth.
‘How is he working under me when I’m the one under him...?’
Ernest didn’t know the truth, so he wondered, ‘Will Choi Yeonseung continue to work underneath you?’ However, the reality was the opposite!
“Please take care of him.”
“What can I do? I’ll have to wait for a suitable dungeon to appear.”
“Until then, isn’t it your role to discipline the hunters?”
Ernest laughed at Hwang Gyeongryong’s words.
***
“A martial artist is joining the 1st team? How well did he do?”
“Did someone carry him?”
The hunters who hadn’t seen Choi Yeonseung’s performance started whispering among themselves when they saw the announcement about the 1st team.
“Sigh. Such trivial people.”
“A-Antony...!”
The hunters flinched at the sight of Antony walking behind them. No hunter wanted to get involved with Antony, who was famous for being eccentric. Besides, his excellent skills were also well known. If he became angry...
“Tsk tsk tsk. Putting others down because your skills are lacking. So insignificant...”
“What did this bastard say?”
“Hey. Endure it. Nothing good can come from getting involved with him.”
The noisy hunters looked at Antony and backed away. Antony snorted at the sight. He didn’t care about them.
‘Such insignificant beings!’
In his perspective, all the hunters of the Icarus clan were below him. However, the newcomer, Choi Yeonseung, was a bit different. He was on the same level or even slightly stronger than him! Wasn’t it only natural to help a colleague he acknowledged?
‘I have to provide Choi Yeonseung with aid since he’s new to the 1st team!’ With that in mind, Antony went to the lodging where Choi Yeonseung was staying.
Surprisingly, Choi Yeonseung was using a mansion on the Icarus clan grounds.
“Hum hum. Choi Yeonseung, are you inside? I’m here to tell you about the 1st team’s work...”
There was no answer. Choi Yeonseung had gone out early in the morning.
***
“I recognized your skills. Really.”
Choi Yeonseung and Odaigon dozed off while listening to Whittaker excitedly talking. Whittaker strangely made people sleepy. He thought he was giving plausible conditions, but his words had no value to Choi Yeonseung and Odaigon.
“Have I told you that President Prosdas himself asked me to model once, but I said it was really difficult? I had to do raids, but I couldn’t refuse the request.”
Odaigon, who had been dozing off, interrupted him. “Hey.”
“Hmm?”
“Just drive quietly.”
“......”
Whittaker’s expression distorted.
‘This jerk...’
He regretted bringing Odaigon.
By the time the dungeon training ended, Whittaker had made up his mind.
Choi Yeonseung! There had never been a hunter as powerful as him in the Icarus clan. Whittaker believed in his senses. If he invested properly in Choi Yeonseung, he’d definitely profit from it later! Hence, the moment the training was over, he went to Choi Yeonseung and used a plausible reason to talk to him.
-Oh. Are you here to train?
-I’m not...
-You’re right. Muscle exercises aren't training. It’s like playing since it’s so much fun. Shall we start with a leg press?
-No, that’s not what I meant...
Choi Yeonseung grabbed Whittaker and started doing a one-ton leg press. Whittaker hated effort. Screeching, he barely managed to do it.
-No! Gasp gasp. This isn’t! Gasp gasp. What I mean!
-What? Ah. I understand.
-Yes! So...
-This guy. You should’ve just told me you wanted to do deadlifts.
-No!
Whittaker managed to convey his will to Choi Yeonseung.
-You’ve just returned from the Abyss, so let me introduce you to this city!
-No. I’m not interested.
-... Give it a chance before you reject it! You could be! Please!
Holding on tenaciously, he persuaded Choi Yeonseung.
‘I do have to do my job as a constellation. I should take a look around.’
[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ says you made the right decision. As a constellation, you shouldn’t just do deadlifts in a corner like a hermit. Go around, meet people, and form a household.]
“......”
The harsh words of a constellation! However, the cat constellation was right. Numerous constellations were moving secretly on Earth, and Choi Yeonseung knew little about them. He had to go around, broaden his connections, and spy on them.
“This is a city of hunters. It has everything to do with hunters.”
There were buildings on the side of the road that said, ‘Magic Training Center for Hunters,” and holographic billboards that showed hunters killing monsters. Some of the people passing by on the road were even carrying hunter equipment. D and E-grade hunters clearly came here in search of their dreams.
“We’re the aces of the Icarus clan. That means we’re welcome anywhere we go.”
“You’re going too fast. Aren’t you speeding?”
“Ah. Don’t worry. We won’t get tickets even if we get caught.”
This city belonged to Dragon Industry. There was no way they’d give hunters speeding tickets.
“Moneymaker?”
“What is it? Are you amazed?”
“No. If you don’t want to die, stop spouting nonsense and slow down. You really think you won’t cause an accident?”
“......”
Whittaker calmly slowed down the car. A chill shot down his spine the moment Choi Yeonseung spoke so blandly. This was the killing intent he felt when Choi Yeonseung cut apart the boss monster!