Chapter 234 – When the Greatest Hunter Became the Worst Villain

“I’m deeply sorry for the concern I’ve caused.”

The former director of the Disaster Agency, Shin Chae-ho, bowed at the waist in apology.

It was a level of deference you wouldn’t expect from a man who once wielded enough power to make birds fall from the sky.

“No, no. There are always guys who get arrogant when the media hypes them up and treats them like some kind of hero. You’ve done well all this time, Director. So I have to trust you this time, too. Isn’t that right?”

“No, sir. I should have done better. I will pay closer attention and be more thorough in the future.”

At the minister’s words, Shin Chae-ho groveled to please him. He had to be as humble as possible now. Only then could he grasp power once more.

By all rights, Director Shin Chae-ho should have been dismissed. But he survived.

He hadn’t pocketed the immense profits from running the Disaster Agency alone. Everything was tied to his connections in high places, and they had cultivated a relationship of mutual trust over many years.

Most importantly, the Disaster Agency’s deep ties to the ruling party’s power structure were a significant factor.

“Keep a tight rein on the Management Agency. I’m counting on you.”

“Don’t worry, sir. The Chief doesn’t know how things work around here, and the Deputy Chief is just some woman who’s only ever dealt with soldiers, so they’re no threat.”

“Yes, I suppose so.”

The minister smiled, patting and then squeezing Director Shin Chae-ho’s shoulder.

“But this is your last chance. You understand, Director Shin?”

The Director knew it, even without the minister’s low, heavy tone.

It was all because of that damn Lee Hyunbin that he was suffering this humiliation.

He thought he had tamed him well. No, he believed he had raised him with abundant love. Yet the dog had bitten its master. The Director was reminded of the old saying: never take in a black-haired beast.

“You don’t need to worry. The project manager died because of Lee Hyunbin, but the research data remains intact. From now on, the Wizard Project will replace everything.”

Mass-producing the Wizard’s Children.

He may have been bested by Lee Hyunbin, but with further development, they could create even more powerful soldiers.

Turning the entire nation into hunters.

In the age of the Great Gates, the idea was far from absurd.

“As it happens, I’ve also summoned the new project manager to greet you today. I plan to show you how the future Disaster Agency will be of assistance to you, Minister.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

Even in this tiny land, there was an abundance of talent.

The Director led the way, introducing the Disaster Agency’s new underground research facility.

The secret research facilities weren’t confined to the site where they had imprisoned the villains.

“They say you should put new wine in new wineskins.”

It was no exaggeration to say that they had poured everything they had built up into the new underground research facility.

Guided by a guard, they took a VIP-only elevator. Upon arriving at the underground lab, a high-security barrier came into view.

“Well, well. Am I the first to see this secret project?”

“Yes, that’s correct. Heh heh.”

“But where are the guards for the entrance?”

Normally, there were Management Bureau guards at the access control system. Especially with the minister’s inspection today, they should have been thoroughly prepared. But strangely, it was empty.

The Director gave a nearby guard a look, signaling him to check what was going on.

“Heh heh, it seems these men are patrolling the area since you’re visiting today, Minister. For now, let’s take a look inside the lab.”

Since his subordinate was gone, Shin Chae-ho guided the minister himself.

“I guarantee this will become the one and only Awakened research facility in the world. If you take a look…”

At that moment, a scream and a loud crash echoed from within.

It was undoubtedly the scream of the guard who had gone ahead to check.

The Director felt a sudden sense of foreboding.

“Well, well, if it isn’t our dear Director. You’ve finally arrived.”

“Hunter Lee Hyunbin…?”

The Director saw a familiar face smiling as it walked toward him.

He was supposed to be locked away in prison, unable to get out.

“Ah, the deliveryman. It’s that fellow. What’s going on, Director?”

The minister was speaking with a gentle smile, but the corners of his mouth were stiff and wouldn’t rise. An unwelcome situation had unfolded.

“Hunter Lee. What is the meaning of this?”

The Director said calmly.

He felt a throbbing pain from the wound Hyunbin had given him.

He gestured to the surrounding guards with his eyes.

The Awakened guards drew weapons from their respective inventories.

“What do you mean? I came to see you, Director.”

“Can’t you see the Minister is here? Do you really want to be erased from existence in this country?”

Lee Hyunbin grinned at the Director’s threat.

“You might have acted recklessly with me, but you can’t do the same to the Minister. Listen here, you should behave yourself. If you just reflect on your actions for a while, I’ll get you out again…”

“I had forgotten.”

Lee Hyunbin cut the Director off and spoke.

The Director felt a chilling aura from him. He could sense it because he, too, had obtained a weak Awakening ability.

“The trash who hold power always flock to the sweetness, drunk on it. I should have known what to do with bastards like them.”

A palpable, murderous intent. It filled the air.

The Awakened guards gripped their weapons, activated their skills, and charged.

Hyunbin spoke casually to the guards rushing at him.

“If you want to live, drop your weapons.”

At his single phrase, the specially trained Awakened guards flinched.

“At least I won’t take your lives.”

“What are you doing? Subdue him now!”

Despite the Director’s roar, the guards couldn’t move.

They felt as if their bodies were paralyzed before the hero who had turned into a predator.

The Director activated his ability.

Resonance Ability.

He could resonate with the chips implanted in the Wizard’s Children and control them.

They were still unfinished, but if he deployed them quickly, he could buy some time against Hyunbin.

“…!”

No response. Nothing.

“I bear the weight of the test subjects’ lives, too.”

As he spoke, Lee Hyunbin took a two-handed sword, still wet with blood, from his inventory.

“You’ve all gathered here like flies to honey, not knowing it’s poisoned.”

Hearing those words, a chill ran down the Director’s spine.

The minister and other powerful figures were gathering to inspect this research facility.

His presence here was no coincidence.

“I’m going to clean house.”

“You sons of bitches! If you can’t stop that bastard, you’ll all die too!”

As Hyunbin strode forward, the Director roared.

At his words, the Awakened guard at the very front thrust his spear at Hyunbin without thinking.

*Slice!*

The Awakened guard’s upper body, along with the spear, was sliced in half and rolled across the floor.

Its ownerless lower half stood, gushing blood pitifully.

Seeing him cut down so mercilessly, the Awakened guards recoiled in terror and cleared a path.

This was not the hero who used to smile for the public. This was a cruel predator.

“Wait, Hunter Lee! I’ll make this all go away. I’ll even clear your name…!”

The minister shouted as he saw Hyunbin rushing toward him. At that moment, he lost his balance and tumbled forward.

When he looked back, he saw the Director running away without a backward glance, having abandoned him.

“You son of a…!”

As the minister trembled with a humiliation he had never before experienced and spat a curse, he heard a cold voice by his ear.

“Don’t worry. I’ll have you following him soon enough.”

*Shlk!*

He felt a terrifyingly cold blade graze past his neck.

There was no pain.

As if that sensation were a mere illusion, his neck suddenly became searingly hot, as if it had caught fire.

Gushing blood, the minister died on the spot.

Seeing the high-ranking official murdered in an instant, the guards gasped.

The Director fled frantically. But he soon stopped.

Hyunbin had suddenly appeared, blocking his path.

The Director foresaw his death. He trembled, looking at Hyunbin with tears in his eyes.

“Hunter Lee, don’t do this. Wasn’t it thanks to me that you became so great?”

“Thank you, my dear Director.”

Hearing Hyunbin’s words, the Director felt a faint glimmer of hope.

He saw the gentle, smiling face before him.

“That’s right! That’s right! Do you have any idea how much that bastard minister has been lining his own pockets? I’m Shin Chae-ho. I’ve lived to protect the people since the first generation of Gates! Even this damn research facility was all his idea! It’s me, Shin Chae-ho. You know me!”

“What I thanked you for…”

Hyunbin raised his two-handed sword high.

“…was for gathering all this country’s trash in one place.”

“Lee Hyunbin, you goddamn bastard! If you kill me…!”

*CRACK!*

The two-handed sword split Director Shin Chae-ho’s body in two.

In the first place, survival was impossible against this country’s best hunter—no, the world’s strongest man.

-Hero….

Olivier sent a telepathic message to Hyunbin.

Just a short while ago, there were times they laughed, chatted, and joked around.

Now, there was no turning back.

“Guide me to the next cleaning zone.”

-What are you going to do…. You won’t be able to live here anymore….

“Olivier. Are you worried you won’t get your paycheck?”

-What are you talking about…. Sigh, I understand….

He could no longer be stopped.

Olivier gave him the coordinates for the next location.

The next target was not far.

The officials, unaware of this tragedy, were laughing and chatting nearby.

That night, a bloody banquet was held.

An unprecedented incident in the Republic of Korea.

It was a massive incident where everyone holding a grasp of the nation’s power was assassinated.

* * *

-The greatest hero has become the worst villain. To aid in his apprehension, we ask for the public’s attention and any relevant information.

-Putting hunters on TV, laughing and joking with them! The problem is that we failed to prevent this! What kind of country is this? A country where firearms are banned! And yet we let people carrying things far more dangerous than guns run loose among ordinary citizens and just stood by and watched!

The Republic of Korea was turned upside down by the massacre Hyunbin had committed.

Until now, quite a few people had thought Hyunbin was being framed.

The heroic deeds he had shown in the past were engraved in the memories of so many.

Of course, there were still people who unconditionally defended him, saying the dead must have done something to deserve it.

In any case, Hyunbin had now become a full-fledged criminal.

Watching the news, Im Jae-joon swirled the whiskey in his glass and brought it to his lips.

“If you’re here, why don’t you make some tea.”

“…”

Im Jae-joon spoke without looking back at the person who had trespassed into his home.

“I told you that alcohol isn’t good for you.”

The one who answered was Olivier.

She pulled her mask down to her chin and looked at Im Jae-joon with a sorrowful expression.

“Then you should have stayed by my side.”

“I still don’t understand, Demon King.”

“You don’t need to understand, Olivier.”

“Then do I need to understand?”

Someone interjected into Olivier and Im Jae-joon’s conversation.

“You’re here?”

“Yeah.”

Hyunbin came inside, his blood-soaked two-handed sword slung over his shoulder.