Chapter 142 – Super Hunter (1)

News of an incident broke across the country.

-France’s Rank 1, the Revolutionary Jean & Rank 5, Chickenman Henri, are visiting!

The news that the global hunter star, Jean-Pierre, was visiting sent the country into a frenzy.

Jean, who had defended Paris from an advancing monster army with only a small elite team, was a national hero.

For such a man to visit Korea, it was bound to cause a stir.

-The Korean hunter system is already world-class.

-Jean-Pierre’s surprise visit. Who has caught his eye?

Although he had announced beforehand that he would decline all interviews, reporters were overflowing with the desire to speak with the global hunter.

They asked questions in clumsy French and threw out provocative topics.

Still, Jean ignored all their questions and went on his way.

His goal, above all else, was to make Lee give up.

He wanted to take care of his business as quickly as possible and get out of this cramped country.

“Oh, kim-chi. I like pul-gogi. Sarang-haeyo, yeonae-ga-jung-gae.”

“…”

The bald hunter, Henri, was showing off his surprisingly fluent Korean.

Henri, who had a Korean wife, was famous for being a doting husband.

Naturally, he would have an interest in her home country.

“Koma-woyo. Pan-ga-woyo.”

Jean spoke to Henri, who was continuously waving and smiling at the Koreans, with a displeased look on his face.

“Enough with the fan service. Let’s get to the agency.”

“We should do some sightseeing while we’re here. Korea is a great place.”

Jean showed his disapproval at Henri’s words.

The damn place was so small, and the population density was so high that everywhere they went, it was swarming with people.

It reminded him of a matchbox packed tightly with matches.

“There’s no need to waste time in a place like this. We’ll meet Lee, make him give up, and return home.”

“You’re just anxious because you can’t have your cute favorite disciple by your side.”

Henri teased Jean.

Jean neither confirmed nor denied it.

To him, a sworn bachelor, the only person for whom he felt familial affection was his favorite disciple.

The Dancing Empress, Audrey.

A young girl, orphaned by the Gate incident, dreamed of avenging her parents.

It was the national hero, Jean, who took her in and raised her.

A genius who could understand ten things when taught only one.

Jean was delighted by her dazzling progress, as she grew by absorbing his teachings like a sponge, feeling as if her achievements were his own.

“You’re the one who wants to hurry back to your newborn daughter.”

“Oh, of course I miss her. But I’m more concerned about sightseeing in Korea, which might be a once-in-a-lifetime chance, versus my daughter, whom I’ll have plenty of opportunities to see. How about we go get some bulgogi? One taste and it’ll blow you away.”

“Didn’t you just eat on the plane?”

“That tasted awful.”

“Let’s handle business first.”

At Jean’s business-like tone, Henri, with his bandit-like face, pouted.

The two were treated as honored guests, chauffeured around as VIPs.

Ostensibly, their visit to Korea was for an exchange between nations facing the same Gate crisis, as well as an investigation into the unidentified floating island.

It had been nearly a year since the floating island appeared, yet no one knew its true nature.

People who had initially been anxious that monsters would pour out from it had now grown completely accustomed to its presence.

“It’s magnificent. A castle visible behind the clouds. It’s like Laputa.”

“I don’t know what that is.”

“The girl in it is an angel. She must be protected.”

“And this guy is Rank 5.”

Jean was exasperated.

Despite his burly appearance, Henri was quite fond of cute things.

Because of that personality, he had suffered a major injury during an otherworld subjugation.

The price for letting his guard down and not killing a child.

“Wow, this is nice. Great. It looks peaceful. That means the hunters here are competent.”

Henri continuously hummed while looking out the window.

He truly looked like he was on vacation.

Jean clicked his tongue at the sight.

This man, perhaps, was not suited for the Union.

The Union fights against unknown life forms to prepare for the Gate crisis and to secure world peace.

To do so, they often had to mercilessly slaughter innocent otherworlders.

No, in fact, what they did could be called indiscriminate slaughter.

The two arrived at the agency.

The agents protecting Korea’s disaster agency welcomed the two men.

Their gazes of admiration. It was a familiar sight for top rankers like them.

Because Jean-Pierre wanted to get things over with quickly, a meeting with the agency’s director, Shin Chae-ho, began immediately.

“Assistant Kim, you may leave. I’ll call you when I need you.”

“Yes, Director.”

Kim Min-jeong served the tea, bowed politely, and left the room.

“Thank you for coming all this way. There has been talk from around the world about wanting to research the floating island above our country…”

“Let’s get straight to the point.”

Jean said, cutting the director off mid-sentence.

“Bring me Lee.”

“Lee? Ah, Hunter Lee Hyunbin.”

“You’re putting that guy on the Union’s Chimera Team?”

Seeing the aggressive look in Jean’s eyes, Director Shin Chae-ho gave a meaningful smile.

“He’s replacing Lee Han-seong, and he won’t be lacking. In fact, he’s more than enough.”

“That’s your judgment. Mine is different.”

“The Union has already…”

“The judgment on the ground is different. I’ll see and confirm it for myself.”

Although the Union association had already given its approval, Jean thought otherwise.

No matter that he was a global super hunter, his attitude was the height of rudeness. But the director didn’t let his emotions get the better of him.

The director, sitting with his legs crossed, shrugged and made a call on his phone.

A few rings.

“Hmm. He’s not picking up.”

“Let me make one thing clear. The Union is an organization with pride, and the Chimera Team has a legacy of great achievements. Don’t inject your own interests and conflicts into it.”

“Oh dear. Looks like our Mister Jean is a bit angry.”

“Haha, is it that obvious? He’s in a bad mood because the in-flight meal was terrible. He’ll probably cheer up after we get some bulgogi later.”

Henri chimed in with a laugh, trying to lighten the tense atmosphere.

The director tilted his head, wondering what bulgogi was, while Jean jutted his chin out in displeasure.

“So, can you contact him?”

“Hmm. He’s a very busy man.”

“Then, staying here is a waste of time.”

Jean immediately stood up from his seat.

Seeing his fiery behavior, Henri scratched his bald head and stood up as well.

“I heard a rumor that the Dancing Empress was supposed to take the spot instead.”

Jean, who had been turning to leave, paused at the director’s words.

“The Dancing Empress isn’t taking his place; she’s taking the spot that was rightfully hers to begin with.”

“You don’t have to worry. That man, Lee Hyunbin. He’s the strongest in the country, unrivaled by anyone.”

The director had a keen eye, so he knew.

Lee Hyunbin was stronger than Yeomje, the nation’s top hunter, and even stronger than Lee Han-seong, the nation’s strongest hunter.

He had a definite feeling about it.

“Do you really think the strongest in this tiny country can compete on the world stage?”

Jean said with a sneer.

“It’s like a freshwater fish trying to enter the ocean.”

Leaving those arrogant words behind, Jean walked out of the room.

His companion, seemingly embarrassed, made an apologetic gesture to the director and followed him out.

After the two left, the director watched a video on his laptop with a faint smile.

The highest grade, S-Rank.

When two people who were like tactical weapons fought, it was only natural for the surroundings to become a chaotic mess.

But that wasn’t the case.

A one-sided confrontation.

The director watched the footage of Lee Hyunbin single-handedly overpowering a rampaging Lee Han-seong.

It was a video downloaded from the action cams of the special forces members.

“And this is a man who’s been at it for less than a year…”

He had seen countless global hunters until now, but he had never seen anyone like this.

The director was certain.

Lee Hyunbin was a true monster.

* * *

“Still, wasn’t that a bit too harsh to say to the top hunter administrator of this country?”

“You must maintain your dignity as befits your strength. Don’t show mercy to the weak. Remember the scar on your leg.”

“…”

Jean was a man who believed weakness was a sin. Anyone could train themselves.

While they might not be able to surpass innate talent and strength, they could at least escape from being weak.

Those who couldn’t even do that were trash. That’s what he called them.

“Let’s move.”

“Move? Did you finally decide to get some bulgogi?”

At Henri’s words, Jean scowled as if to say, ‘What are you talking about?’

“We’re going to the Hanul Guild.”

“Hanul?”

Hanul was the guild where the man they were looking for, the ‘Deliveryman’ Lee Hyunbin, was.

“If he won’t come, we’ll go to him.”

Jean said with a chilling smile.

“You’re not planning to cause trouble, are you?”

Henri couldn’t hide his anxiety after seeing the look on Jean’s face.

Even if global hunters had immunity, causing trouble in another country was never a good thing.

“Trouble? Of course not. A global super hunter is personally paying a visit. They should consider it an honor.”

“I’m sure they will.”

Henri said with a deep sigh.

He mentally crossed off a few destinations from his dream Korean sightseeing tour.

It didn’t take long for the two to arrive at the Hanul Guild.

As if they had sniffed it out from somewhere, reporters had flocked to the front of the Hanul Guild.

No, Jean had already arranged it.

So that this incident would spread far and wide.

“Hunter Jean-Pierre. What is the reason for your visit to the Hanul Guild on your very first day?”

“There are rumors you’ve come to scout Hunter Lee Hyunbin of the Hanul Guild. Is that true?”

At Jean’s sudden appearance, the Hanul Guild staff went on high alert.

In contrast, the Hanul hunters were peering around, eager to see the world-famous hunter.

“The Revolutionary from France?”

“No way! Is that really Jean-Pierre? Is this for real?”

Jean raised his hand in response, a gentlemanly smile on his lips.

He paid no mind to his colleague Henri’s disgusted look and began to speak.

“Hunter Lee of the Hanul Guild has been making a very impressive name for himself, so I was eager to meet him.”

The news that a superstar-level hunter had come looking for Lee Hyunbin naturally sent the reporters into a frenzy of questions, and the Hanul Guild frantically tried to make contact.

The Hanul Guild’s PR team hurriedly ushered the guests inside.

Even though it was a sudden visit, they couldn’t just leave a global hunter buried in a sea of reporters.

“Hello, my name is Hong Ji-soo from the PR team.”

“A pleasure. Is it possible to meet with Hunter Lee?”

“Ah, well. I tried to contact him, but Team Leader Lee isn’t reachable. What should we do?”

Even after coming all this way, he heard the same thing.

Jean’s face hardened slightly. How dare they make someone like him wait. But he smoothly wiped the displeasure from his face and smiled politely.

“It’s fine. I’m the one who showed up unannounced. I’ll wait.”

Henri, standing beside him, breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Jean act so mannerly.

However, his face turned pale at Jean’s next words.

“But it’s boring to just wait. Would it be possible to observe the guild’s training?”

“Training?”

“Yes. I heard Lee’s team is the most famous in Korea recently.”

“Hey, Jean. Let’s have some coffee first and think about…”

“Is that too much to ask?”

At Jean’s question, the PR team member said they would check and made a call.

“Jean, what are you doing?”

Henri nudged Jean’s arm with his elbow, showing his displeasure.

“Just wait. If he’s not here, we’ll have to make him come.”

Seeing Jean’s sinister smile, Henri felt a sense of foreboding.

“Ah, it’s possible. I’ll guide you.”

“Thank you.”

Jean-Pierre stood up, a smile playing on his lips.