“What answer?”

Colt asked. The attendant’s face was grinning.

He seems happy about the salary increase, but that’s just his usual expression.

That’s why he was nicknamed Jester.

“That Hunter from Korea. Why didn’t you report him properly?”

“Ah.”

Colt twitched his nose and shrugged his shoulders, admitting his lie.

“James, you know me too well. I rushed over at the mention of a salary increase.”

“Just answer.”

“But how did you find out? I don’t think it’s time for it to be revealed yet.”

James looked at Colt with a very displeased expression, then handed him the report that was on the desk.

Colt read the report.

His smile deepened.

“Ha, if something like this happens, there’s no room for excuses…”

“I asked why.”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

Colt casually walked over and picked up the whiskey placed on one side of the director’s desk.

The brilliant crystal bottle sparkled.

He poured just a mouthful of whiskey into a glass, then turned around abruptly.

“I’m very popular. You know that, right?”

“…”

“I have hundreds of millions of followers. Everyone likes me. When I go out on the street, people go crazy asking for photos. I’ve never found it annoying. I like it.”

“…”

James let out a silent sigh.

He urged Colt to continue with his eyes.

“But imagine that guy coming to America. Of course, I’m much more handsome, but… how many of my followers will he steal?”

“Just because of followers…”

“No, no. James. It’s about how he steals my followers. There’s only one way that friend can steal my followers: by becoming a stronger mage than me.”

Colt tossed the whiskey into his mouth and continued speaking.

“I’m one of the strongest mages in the world. I hate being second. So… at least I want to be the strongest mage in America, haha.”

“You damned brat…”

“Don’t use strong words. It makes you look weak. Oh, are you actually weak?”

Colt poured another glass of whiskey without James’s permission.

James’s expression contorted as if the gurgling sound was disgusting.

“Is there anything else you’re hiding?”

“Maybe.”

“Do you want a salary cut? I believe the gap with Bane has narrowed significantly.”

Colt was the strongest Mage in America, but his salary wasn’t the highest.

This situation was creating a very subtle tension between Colt and the Hunter Bureau.

“Oh, I wouldn’t like that, haha. Are you hiding anything?”

“Yes.”

“No.”

Colt smiled with his eyes. His narrow eyes, for a Westerner, completely curved into a crescent moon. His expression was unreadable.

‘I sent the wrong person entirely.’

Colt Vanguard’s work is usually quite reliable.

He tries his best at the tasks assigned to him. He also earned points quite well.

But the situation was just too bad.

To think Kim Songcheol would touch Colt’s insecurity.

“First, my lie has been exposed… What now, are you going to kidnap me?”

“Nonsense.”

That’s an absurd idea.

How could a simple kidnapping make a Hunter work?

“Or threaten my family as hostages?”

“Why do you keep trying to sow discord?”

“No, it wasn’t like that, really. I was just suggesting an idea.”

Colt raised both hands and twirled, as if innocent.

The very idea of kidnapping the family of a 6th Circle or soon-to-be 6th Circle Mage is preposterous.

The moment he teleports into the White House and blows everything up, it’s game over.

Because the agents who kidnapped his family would lose their command structure.

Ultimately, bringing in a Hunter means there’s no choice but to give them what they want.

You have to negotiate with a teleporting explosive, not try to control it.

That was common sense.

“You made it clear that you’d give him any amount of money, right?”

James asked.

“That’s why I said he’s not smart. He didn’t seem swayed at all even when offered that much money. He clearly looks foolish, haha.”

“Did you really make it clear?”

“I told you I did, didn’t I?”

A brief look of seriousness flashed through Colt’s smile.

It was a sign he sent when he wanted to convey sincerity, rather than being unconscious.

Although that couldn’t be trusted 100 percent either, it was at least somewhat reliable.

James nodded, touching his forehead.

‘If not money… then what?’

He couldn’t give up on Kim Songcheol. Even setting aside his personal desire to bring Kim Songcheol in and get one over on Colt Vanguard.

And the same would be true for other countries.

Today’s Hunter is revered as everything.

Not just money, but power too.

Just as the United Kingdom holds immense sway in the international community.

***

Fourth Circle Mage Hwang Gi Jin returned to Earth with his team.

It was a rather unremarkable Dungeon, so there were no major difficulties.

After transferring the earned Points, they stepped down from the Stone Slab.

“Anyone want to eat?”

The Swordsman asked, taking off his outer jacket.

Normally, they would have had a team dinner, but not today.

“No, we were told the Magic books would be distributed today.”

“Oh, right. But we can still eat first and then look at them, can’t we?”

“If we learn one more Magic, it’s like saving a life. We need to master them quickly.”

Hwang Gi Jin was resolute. The other Mages on the team felt the same way.

“What kind of Magic are they giving out? Is it something amazing?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t get a proper message. I wonder if they’ll give one for each Circle?”

“Really? Well, I guess we can’t help it. Let’s eat among ourselves. How about some beef?”

“Are you paying?”

“Damn it, why are you guys like this when we earn similar salaries?”

The Swordsmen chatted among themselves and left first.

Hwang Gi Jin, along with the other Mages, finished their Illusion and then packed their bags and went outside.

The place where the Magic books were being distributed was the West Wing of the Center.

He wasn’t sure why it had to be the West Wing.

This was because Hwang Gi Jin had never received new Magic since becoming a Hunter.

He just assumed that’s how it always was.

Hwang Gi Jin entered the West Wing. Feeling the cool air characteristic of the building’s Lobby, he headed to Room 103 on the first floor.

Because that’s where he was told to go.

The moment Hwang Gi Jin opened the door to Room 103 and stepped inside, he couldn’t help but pause.

‘What is this?’

There were about ten Bookcases, half of which were filled with Books. The others were still being filled.

This was not the sight Hwang Gi Jin had expected.

He had merely anticipated a few bound Magic books when he entered.

“Are you Hunter Hwang Gi Jin?”

A Researcher in a white lab coat asked, looking back and forth between his pad and Hwang Gi Jin.

Inside Room 103, there were four or five other people besides the Researcher.

“…Yes?”

“You’re a Fourth Circle, correct?”

“Yes.”

“First, take a look at the list.”

The Researcher offered a pad. On it was a list of magic spells, categorized from 1st Circle to 4th Circle.

It was the same for other Mages, not just Hwang Gi Jin.

They received such a list.

The list had over 30 new magic spells for each Circle.

Korea currently possesses an average of around 10 magic spells per Circle.

Their inventory had quadrupled instantly, but this was already a condensed version. If all the magic spells were laid out, there wouldn’t be enough space.

“Huh? You can give us all of these?”

Hwang Gi Jin asked, blinking.

“Yes. However, you can only ‘borrow’ one book at a time.”

The Researcher nodded nonchalantly.

“One book at a time… No, even if that’s the case…”

No matter how he thought about it, it didn’t make sense.

Korea doesn’t have the points to acquire this many magic books.

There were even quite a few magic spells that weren’t direct attack magic.

If they had actually bought them with money, there were many spells that would be considered a waste of points.

“For now… please tell me once you’ve chosen.”

The Researcher said in a businesslike manner, then walked to a bookshelf, took books out of a box on the floor, and put them on the shelf.

“What is this?”

“…I don’t know either. What is it? It’s scary.”

Hwang Gi Jin and his colleague could only look at each other with bewildered expressions.

But as they slowly read through the list, that feeling soon turned into joy.

There were too many magic spells they wanted to learn.

The magic spells acquired by the Republic of Korea are unconditionally focused on attack power.

This tendency becomes even more pronounced as the Circle level increases.

Even at 4th Circle, most of them are attack magic.

It’s a structure where one is forced to become a firepower-crazed Mage, constantly shouting ‘firepower, firepower, firepower!’

However, this list contained a variety of support magic spells.

For example, Ear Sight.

It’s not just about amplifying sound to hear; it’s a magic spell that allows one to perceive the surrounding terrain and living beings through sound.

The past, where they barely scouted by relying on 4th Circle ‘Wizard Eye,’ was gone.

There was also a Fly magic spell that allowed them to fly for a short time, and hypnosis-type magic spells that could momentarily seize the minds of monsters or Hunters.

“We can really learn all of these?”

Hwang Gi Jin trembled with joy.

Of course, it would take a lot of time. For 4th Circle magic, to properly use one, they would have to focus on it for at least two months.

But after a year, they would master five or six. Even that would mean they could acquire the essential support magic spells.

Hwang Gi Jin and his colleague each chose a magic spell and left Room 103.

Hwang Gi Jin chose Ear Sight, and his colleague chose Mind Surge magic, which temporarily increased casting speed.

It was the perfect magic, as he had been worried about slow casting speed.

I came out into the lobby with the magic book in my arms, and a male staff member came down from the second floor.

He looked a little too old to be a hunter.

Most hunters are in their early to mid-twenties.

Although he wasn’t objectively old, he was old for a hunter.

“Excuse me.”

Hwang Gi Jin called out to him, stopping him.

He thought he was an official.

When he asked the researcher, he was only told that Hunter Cha Sehyeon had obtained it. He said he didn’t know the details.

Perhaps that official might know.

“This magic book, how did Hunter Cha Sehyeon get it?”

“Oh…”

While he scratched his cheek for a moment, Hwang Gi Jin threw another question.

“Is it related to the directive that came down then? A directive once came down saying that Arcadia might give us magic books. Right?”

“Oh, right. I remember it because it was a strange thing to say.”

Hwang Gi Jin’s colleague also nodded.

“I… I don’t know either.”

He said, avoiding Hwang Gi Jin’s eyes for some reason.

“Then…”

And then, before Hwang Gi Jin could ask more questions, he quickly left the lobby.

“What was that about?”

Hwang Gi Jin glanced at the security guard standing in the lobby.

Judging by the lack of reaction, he wasn’t a thief or an outsider.

Hwang Gi Jin tilted his head and walked towards the main gate.

Outside the glass door, reporters had already gathered. He saw the male staff member he had just met leisurely walk past the reporters.

“Director Kim Myeongju! Is it true that Hunter Cha Sehyeon obtained the magic book!?”

“Approximately how many magic books are there!?”

At the center of the reporters was Kim Myeongju.

Kim Myeongju was walking towards the West Wing with the reporters following her.

It was difficult to keep the distribution of magic books to the hunters a secret.

Once new magic began to be used, rumors would spread quickly anyway.

It was better to reveal what could be revealed rather than letting them stir things up.

“Yes, Hunter Cha Sehyeon obtained them.”

“There are about 50 volumes. Not many of them contain magic that can actually be used.”

Kim Myeongju answered calmly.

The discussion with Cha Sehyeon was already over, and she had already coordinated her statements with the officials.

The world’s interest in Kim Songcheol had just subsided. Fearing that attention would be drawn again, she gave credit to Cha Sehyeon.

It was just as Kim Myeongju was about to enter the West Wing.

Flash!

Suddenly, light burst forth in front of the West Wing, and Cha Sehyeon appeared.

She also came to get the Magic Book, but her timing was bad.

“Hunter Cha Sehyeon!”

“Hunter Cha Sehyeon! Please just tell us what you have to say!”

“Hunter Cha Sehyeon!”

Reporters instantly swarmed around Cha Sehyeon.

Thanks to this, Kim Myeongju was released from the prison made of reporters, but the tension increased.

He nervously tried to calm the reporters.

No one knew what would come out of Cha Sehyeon’s mouth.

“Now, now, reporters. Don’t go over there for no reason…”

But the reporters didn’t listen to Kim Myeongju at all.

With the person in question right in front of them, there was no need to interview Kim Myeongju.

“Hunter Cha Sehyeon! How did you get the Magic Book?”

“Please just say one word!”

Cha Sehyeon’s face was already full of annoyance.

She doesn’t like reporters.

Being surrounded like this was also one of the things she really hated.

“Hunter Cha Sehyeon!”

“Hunter Cha Sehyeon!”

Several reporters called out Cha Sehyeon’s name.

It was like an incantation to summon a demon.

Cha Sehyeon, who had been biting her lip and going up the stairs, finally couldn’t stand it and turned around.

As expected, profanity began to pour from her mouth.

“Damn it, Hunter Cha Sehyeon, my ass. I’m the one who got the Magic Book…”

At that moment, a voice pierced Cha Sehyeon’s ear.

[I’m not doing magic training.]

Cha Sehyeon’s eyes fiercely scanned her surroundings.

She saw Kim Songcheol watching from afar.

[If you say one more word, I’m not doing magic training. You can be first place forever.]

They had already agreed on everything, so if Cha Sehyeon messed things up, it would be problematic in many ways.

Since the story would suddenly change, there could be a trust issue.

Moreover, what if Kim Songcheol’s name came out of her mouth?

His parents might see on the news that their son had become a Hunter.

“…”

Cha Sehyeon rolled her eyes once, then glared at the reporters.

“I’m the one who got the Magic Book, not you guys, right? Damn it, I got it with a lot of difficulty, so stop acting up and get lost, you bastards.”

Cha Sehyeon pushed past the reporters and entered the West Wing.

Kim Songcheol had completely controlled Cha Sehyeon.

It was a great achievement that even Kim Myeongju had not been able to accomplish.