Chapter 62

Kim Yoon-joong, the Head of department sitting on the left, spoke.

“Do you know how many B-Rank Hunters an A-Rank Hunter can take on?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Twenty-five.”

“Then how many A-Ranks do you think an S-Rank can beat?”

The HR Team leader, sitting next to Head of department Kim Yoon-joong, asked.

Come to think of it, I think this is the first time I’ve seen this woman.

Why is she so clingy?

“I don’t know.”

“A whopping 60! The higher the Rank, the more astronomical the difference in an Awakener’s level. That’s what I’m saying.”

“What do you think that means?”

Head of department Kim Yoon-joong clenched both his fists and said.

“It means we must take this opportunity to bring Hwang Mu-yeol to our side. If we can do that, we won’t need new employees or anything else!”

I thought the two of them had been showing their enthusiasm since a while ago, but now they were practically burning with it.

There was a reason the HR Team leader and Head of department Kim Yoon-joong were acting like this.

It was because Hwang Mu-yeol, who had been working solo until now, was looking for an agency.

And right after returning to the country, at that.

“By the way, I wonder what brought on the change of heart? He’s getting on in years, so maybe it’s getting a little tough to be alone.”

“Who cares about the reason. Team leader Kim. You’re prepared, right?”

“Yes. Acquisition of a 2nd-class agent qualification immediately upon signing, an S-Rank weapon from the Association President, provision of the highest-grade Elixirs every quarter…”

A stream of gifts poured from the HR Team leader’s mouth.

It highlighted their determination to woo Hwang Mu-yeol, no matter what.

Many were vying for Hwang Mu-yeol, but there was a particular reason the Association was putting in so much effort.

As befitting his title of Mercenary King, Hwang Mu-yeol was extremely skilled not only at dealing with Monsters, but also with people.

And with conditions like these, even I would be tempted. For other corporations, terms like these would be a huge burden.

“But is it okay for me to be present at such an important meeting?”

The reason I asked was that it seemed highly likely they would succeed in recruiting Hwang Mu-yeol.

If so, everyone present here would receive credit, and I was asking if it was okay for me, who had done nothing, to share in that.

The HR Team leader stopped talking and looked at me.

“Of course! It’s okay for you to be here. No, you have to be here!”

“…Me?”

I’d never been praised for recruiting anyone.

In fact, Head of department Kim Yoon-joong right next to me had treated the trio like a nuisance until just a while ago.

“Then what is my role?”

“Just standing by quietly?”

“?”

“Even the chairmen of chaebol families go to shamans for a ritual before important business. It’s that kind of feeling. Don’t do anything, just stay still.”

Not to be outdone, Head of department Kim Yoon-joong chimed in.

“Ilseong’s Executive Director Bae, Chairman Lee Jeong-hwan, and this time, even the Black Market’s Yang Won-hoon. Every single one of them was smitten with you. We’re trying to borrow some of that energy. Think of yourself as a living talisman. Just relax.”

A shaman, a ritual, and now a living talisman.

Still, I didn’t refuse.

All I had to do was watch quietly and reap the rewards.

“The Association President will probably take even better care of you once you become an S-Rank, Mr. Gi-ung. Is that about 10 years from now?”

“10 years?”

“Oh, why? Did I misspeak? Is 10 years too short?”

No. It was the opposite.

The average time to go from A-Rank to S-Rank was 15 years, but my case was completely different.

I was scheduled to reach S-Rank within a year at the latest.

By the way, why did Head of department Kim Yoon-joong, who had been laughing beside me, suddenly shut his mouth?

When our eyes met, he spoke in a voice tinged with anxiety.

“Did you say your current Rank is A-Rank?”

“Yes.”

“Are you sure? Not your Stats, but I mean…”

Head of department Kim Yoon-joong trailed off and glanced at the HR Team leader.

“Let’s talk about this again later.”

“I suppose we should.”

I stood up from my seat. At the same time, the meeting room door opened.

A man entered with it.

A short, stocky build, dark skin, and brawny forearms.

He had a similar feel to the foreman at the construction site where I’d worked part-time during a college break.

It was hard to believe that a delicate woman like the New Awakening employee, Hwang Hye-won, was this man’s daughter.

“A pleasure to meet you. I’m Hwang Mu-yeol. The Association is nice. The bathrooms even have hot water.”

His way of speaking was as straightforward as his appearance.

“I’m Kim Yoon-joong, Head of department of Business Support Team 1.”

Head of department Kim Yoon-joong shook his hand on behalf of us all and sat down.

I was the living talisman, so it should be fine for me to just stay still.

“We’ve exchanged greetings and pleasantries, so may we get straight to the point?”

At Hwang Mu-yeol’s words, the HR Team leader nodded. She brought up the words she had been preparing.

The acquisition of a 2nd-class agent qualification upon signing, the Association President’s S-Rank weapon, and so on.

She was truly a master of packaging, befitting her title as HR Team leader.

Conditions that would have been great even if stated plainly felt like they were wrapped in luxurious paper after passing through her lips.

I should memorize them too and ask for them when I become an S-Rank.

As I was thinking that and looking ahead.

Hmm?

“I see. That’s quite something. I wonder what’s so special about a washed-up old man.”

It sounded like a humble remark, but he seemed completely indifferent.

I wasn’t the only one who felt it; a bewildered smile spread across the HR Team leader’s face.

Head of department Kim Yoon-joong stepped forward with a look of disbelief.

“It seems you’ve received an offer from somewhere else.”

“I can’t fool you, Head of department Kim. Daehu told me. Whatever the Association promises, they’ll give me double.”

“…Double.”

“Yes.”

I couldn’t hear it, but I could feel a groan.

The corner of Head of department Kim Yoon-joong’s mouth twitched for a fraction of a second.

This was completely unexpected.

No matter how rare an S-Rank resource was, they would just give him double?

Even for Daehu, this would be an enormous burden.

Could it be that one of them, Daehu or Hwang Mu-yeol, was lying?

Or…

This wasn’t the time to think about that.

We had to push forward quickly. With a completely different card, at that.

As if he had a similar thought, Head of department Kim Yoon-joong changed his tack.

“Material conditions are one thing, but since we’re the Association, I think we can satisfy you in other ways as well.”

“Other ways?”

“No matter how successful a private company is, can it compare to the power of the state? You could become a 1st-class agent, and it would be good for entering politics later on, too.”

“Oh my, I’m not particularly interested in that sort of thing.”

Hwang Mu-yeol waved his hands dismissively.

Then, his gaze changed as he spoke.

“But may I ask something as well?”

“Of course.”

“This generous treatment you’re offering me. Are you, by any chance, doing this to send me to Jeju Island?”

“……!”

“If so, you’re wasting your time. I won’t go to Jeju Island, no matter where else I might go.”

Head of department Kim Yoon-joong, who had been about to open his mouth, closed it again.

It seemed he’d hit a nerve.

He then glanced at me. The HR Team leader next to him did as well.

Their looks asked if there was anything I could do.

And here they were, telling me just a moment ago that all I had to do was stay still.

Tsk.

I sighed inwardly and spoke.

“Is there anything you desire, by any chance?”

“Something I desire.”

I had to know what he wanted to approach him in a way that fit.

After thinking for a moment, Hwang Mu-yeol answered with a doubtful expression.

“You look a bit young, but are you married, by any chance?”

“…No.”

“Then that’s that.”

While Hwang Mu-yeol was briefly out of the room.

The HR Team leader stammered with a shocked face.

“Did you hear that? Double… That has to be a lie, right?”

“No. It’s probably true.”

Head of department Kim Yoon-joong clicked his tongue. Then he looked at me.

“This guy and I stirred up some trouble at Daehu a while ago. Their pride must have been seriously wounded because of that.”

It was only a few days ago.

The vice president of Daehu Group’s Item subsidiary had even come forward and bowed his head so low it was almost a kowtow.

I had also wondered if that was the reason, and it seemed I was right.

“Is there nothing left for us to offer now?”

“By any chance, can you raise that man’s Potential Rank?”

If things were going south because of Daehu, it wasn’t entirely not my responsibility.

So I had also considered that possibility.

“I can’t.”

Hwang Mu-yeol was a man whose Soul’s Tier had already reached its limit.

If I pushed him to become stronger, he might just burst.

“By the way, what was that about marriage he asked you, Mr. Gi-ung?”

“I know, right. What was that about? Why was he suddenly disappointed when you said you weren’t married?”

“I’m not sure.”

I had a guess, but I wasn’t certain yet.

The HR Team leader, who had been slumping, shot up to her feet.

“Still, let’s try to cling on until the very end.”

“Well then, let’s meet again if we have the chance.”

There wasn’t even time to cling on.

As if he had urgent business, Hwang Mu-yeol ended the meeting.

Two defeated soldiers, their fighting spirit completely gone, slumped into their chairs.

As much as they had been certain of victory, the bitter pain of defeat seemed twice as great.

Head of department Kim Yoon-joong asked me with a soulless look in his eyes.

“By the way, are you in a hurry? First you suddenly make a call, and now where are you going?”

The call was to Hwang Hye-won, and as for now.

“I’m going to see him off. He came all this way.”

“See him off? What for? What’s so great about him? Tell him to piss off to Daehu.”

Leaving Head of department Kim Yoon-joong to his grumbling, I went out into the hallway.

Hwang Mu-yeol was standing in front of the elevator. I quickly caught up to him.

He, who had been staring intently at his phone, looked at me with a question mark on his face.

“Who did you say you were again? Are you heading down with me?”

“Where are you headed, Mr. Hwang Mu-yeol?”

“Why do you ask?”

“I was thinking of giving you a ride.”

His eyes still fixed on his phone, he said.

“It’s fine.”

I snuck a peek at his screen and saw he was calling someone.

That number is.

My guess was turning into a certainty.

-The customer you have called is not available…

“Tsk.”

Hwang Mu-yeol, clicking his tongue, pressed the red button, then dialed the same number again.

Still, only the ringing tone could be heard.

He looked increasingly anxious.

What should I do about this?

Various thoughts swirled in my head. How much profit I could gain from this, or what the losses might be.

The most important thing was what kind of person Hwang Mu-yeol was.

From what I’d seen in person, and from the fact that Head of department Kim Yoon-joong was targeting him.

He didn’t seem like a bad person.

The decision was swift.

Just as the elevator arrived, I spoke.

“Are you by any chance calling Ms. Hwang Hye-won?”

Hwang Mu-yeol whipped his head around.

His expression was openly hostile.

“Did you do a background check on me? I’m about to get pissed off.”

“No. It’s because I know her.”

“You know her? How do you know her?”

“We’re friends, you could say. Ms. Hye-won mentioned it a while ago. That you’re her father.”

“Hye-won, she said with her own mouth that I’m her dad?”

“Yes.”

“That can’t be right.”

Hwang Mu-yeol’s expression soured even more.

“Where is she right now? What is she doing that she’s not even answering her phone…”

“I wonder. I don’t think there’s any reason I have to tell you that.”

Hwang Mu-yeol shut his mouth. Then he scoffed and clicked his tongue.

“Like that’s hard to find out. If I want to find out, I can do it within an hour.”

“Still, I can’t tell you myself.”

“Why.”

“Because we’re friends. I have to maintain at least this much loyalty. And I’m going to tell her that you’ll find her within an hour, too.”

I expected him to burst out in anger, but he didn’t.

Instead, he was looking at me with a surprised expression.

This isn’t the time for this.

I quickly took out my phone and made a call.

“She’s not answering my calls, so your call…”

“Yes. It’s me.”

She picked up right away.

Hwang Mu-yeol’s expression became chagrined.

He seemed to be straining to hear the voice on the other end of the phone.

I figured as much, so I had already cast a soundproofing spell so only I could hear.

“It’s just as I said earlier. It seems your father is looking for you, Ms. Hye-won. He’s right next to me. Don’t mind me. It’s fine. My thoughts?”

Every time I spoke, Hwang Mu-yeol swallowed hard. Especially at the part about my thoughts, he was practically on pins and needles.

At this point, I was certain. I didn’t know why the father and daughter had a bad relationship, but this man was not a bad person.

“If you’re okay with it, Ms. Hye-won, I think meeting him once would be good for me as well.”

As I was speaking, the elevator arrived at the first floor.

“Understood.”

Right after, I hung up.

Hwang Mu-yeol stared at me intently.

With a face that screamed he was dying to know what happened.

I said to him.

“Follow me.”