Chapter 139
Chapter 139
After finishing a pleasant phone call with the President, we spent a day at the lodging Taebaek had prepared in Paju and returned to Seoul.
After unpacking at the lodging inside the Association building, Jung Oh-hoon let out a groan and looked at me.
“Still, the government readily accepted our request.”
“What else would they do if they didn't? Is there anything else besides everyone dying together on the Korean Peninsula?”
Han Sang-ah, who had set down a large bag, answered from beside me.
“If I were the core of Gonsalok, I would have tried to negotiate with Korea. Like saying they wouldn't attack Korea if the three of us were handed over to Gonsalok.”
Wow, that's chilling. But there was almost no possibility of that. According to what Seonghong, a low level officer of the Undying Legion we encountered before, said, the core of Gonsalok didn't seem to tolerate living things.
In the meantime, Han Sang-ah was rummaging through her bag and pulling something out.
“What is that now?”
“Marble run. You said we were resting before going to Gonsalok, didn't you? I'm going to play with this all day today.”
After speaking, Han Sang-ah immediately began assembling the items packed in that large bag step by step.
Rails made of wood or metal were constructed one by one. An object like a small roller coaster was being built in the corner of the room.
Han Sang-ah picked up a steel ball, placed it on top of that roller coaster, and watched the steel ball move along the track for a moment. Then she went back to expanding the roller coaster.
Jung Oh-hoon, who had been watching that sight for a moment, turned his gaze toward me.
“She is such an avant-garde human.”
Do you even know what avant-garde means before using it? Just because someone is a bit strange doesn't make them avant-garde. Checking the time, I stood up from my seat and spoke.
“For now, you guys rest. I'm going out for a bit.”
Han Sang-ah didn't respond, perhaps already focused on the marble game, and Jung Oh-hoon nodded as if he understood.
“What are you going to do?”
“I think I need to meet Owner Sa Seung-hee.”
I spoke and shook my smartphone as I pulled it out.
“There's something Se-eun Noona asked me to do before.”
Lee Se-eun had asked me to arrange a meeting with Owner Sa Seung-hee a while ago. It felt a bit late, but since it was something I promised, I had to keep it.
“What, are you going to go by yourself and get a meal from Owner Sa Seung-hee?”
“I'm just going to arrange the meeting and then leave. I'm thinking of going to a sauna.”
At my words, Jung Oh-hoon let out a groan.
“If you go to a sauna, won't people with their dicks dangling ask you for an autograph?”
Jung Oh-hoon's point was valid. If things went wrong, I could end up in a bizarre situation where I had to give autographs while watching older men dangling their trunks.
“There's a bathhouse inside the Association building too.”
“Do you think hunters or people working at the Association are any different? It's the same there.”
Dammit. Now that I thought about it, that was true.
“There is a hotel near Namsan, and the guest rooms are equipped with cypress wood baths and sauna facilities.”
Han Sang-ah, who was rolling marbles, offered an opinion.
“Good grief. What kind of crazy idea is it to book a hotel room just to go to a sauna?”
It seemed I should just wash up and sleep. I said goodbye to the two of them and left the room.
When I came out to the front of the Association building, Lee Se-eun was waiting in a car. As soon as I got in the car, Lee Se-eun spoke immediately.
“A directive came down from the government. They haven't released the details yet, though.”
“It's Gonsalok, right?”
Lee Se-eun nodded and spoke while driving the car.
“Inside Jannabi, they think you're the one who caused this.”
“That's right. The Korean government didn't seem interested in actively removing Erosion Cores, so I gave them a little push.”
Lee Se-eun wore an ambiguous expression at my words.
“You certainly pushed them, but the Korean government, which was suddenly pushed, won't like the current situation.”
“Hey, since when has the Korean government ever liked me?”
They even went as far as interfering when I tried to get a single helicopter from the Army for the Triple Blood Cave raid. Although nothing was publicly known, the Korean government never liked me to begin with.
And as long as our goals were different, there was no sign of this relationship closing the gap.
“I have no intention of clinging to people who dislike me and begging them to love me.”
In fact, they weren't even attractive enough to do that. The one who succeeds in putting the leash on first and drags the other around wins.
“Mugunghwa and Taebaek probably received contact from the government too. Everyone must be busy right now.”
“What kind of talk is going around?”
“You can think of it as being similar to a total mobilization order. They even sent a request for cooperation to the Wonder Club.”
Wow, the Wonder Club?
“Are those heavy bottomed hunters actually moving?”
“The content says Gonsalok might attack Korea. This isn't a matter of whether someone is a heavy hitter or not.”
I leaned my back against the car seat and spoke.
“It's because their own house is on fire.”
“Yeah. No matter how arrogant and lazy they are, they won't stand by and watch when it looks like their own house is going to catch fire.”
Everyone knew the rumors about the brutality of Gonsalok. Of course, they said almost none of those rumors were accurate.
It was one of the Great Eight. One of the eight worst Erosion Cores existing on Earth. Since it was even located in Beijing, it was the one posing the greatest threat to Korea.
“A massive number will be mobilized. A number that should be described as a hunter legion will gather.”
“Considering Gonsalok's reputation, it should be at least that much.”
Lee Se-eun suddenly looked at me with a worried expression.
“And if this goes wrong, the arrows of responsibility will be poured upon you.”
“Yes, I expect as much.”
When had it ever been different? It had always been that way. After returning to Earth, it seemed there was no period when I lived normally, except for the time I worked as an intern at a logistics company.
It was brief, but it was really nice back then. There were almost no problems to worry about, and each day passed like flowing water without stress or needing to use my head.
Was that why time passed so quickly back then?
Anyway, if I messed up the job, arrows of criticism would be poured upon me.
“If it goes well, a significant portion of the fruit gained through that success will be mine.”
“I wonder about that. The reason Wonder Club is stepping up this time is because Korea is on fire, but also….”
I thought I knew what Lee Se-eun was trying to say.
“It's also because they want to actively step up and split my achievements as much as possible.”
“It's not just the Wonder Club. There are many people who hope you don't build any more fame.”
I suppose so. It was something that had always existed, and probably something I would have to experience in the future too.
“No problem. I just have to take good care of my share.”
“Yeah. I suppose so.”
While talking, Lee Se-eun and I arrived at the Hut run by Sa Seung-hee. Since it was arranged in advance, the Hut was already closed.
When I contacted her via smartphone, Sa Seung-hee opened the shop door.
“Hunter Yoo Chan-seok. And, nice to meet you, Hunter Lee Se-eun.”
After exchanging brief greetings with me, Sa Seung-hee immediately greeted Lee Se-eun. Unlike with me, whom she had seen several times, it was a polite greeting.
And it was an attitude where a slight wall could be felt. Well, she probably didn't have the intention to meet Lee Se-eun in the first place.
“I am always indebted to the Hut. I'm glad to meet you like this.”
Lee Se-eun seemed to have noticed Sa Seung-hee's attitude, but she greeted her similarly without saying anything else.
“Then, shall we go in and talk?”
“Ah, I think I'll head out at this point. I'll see you later at another time.”
I was merely the meeting arranger after all. There was no reason for me to stay here long.
At my words, Sa Seung-hee glanced at me and narrowed her eyes. After looking at me like that for a moment, she soon nodded.
“Yes, then please do. See you later. Ah, congratulations on clearing Triple Blood Cave.”
* * *
After Yoo Chan-seok left, Lee Se-eun and Sa Seung-hee sat across from each other at a table in the main branch of the Hut.
“So, how can I help you, Hunter Lee Se-eun?”
“The relief foundation I manage personally also runs an orphanage.”
“Yes, you are very famous in that field too.”
After hearing Sa Seung-hee's answer, Lee Se-eun held out some documents.
“Children who leave the orphanage can live in a self-reliant house for two years, and once they leave there, we visit them every three months for the following three years.”
Sa Seung-hee spoke as she scanned the documents.
“Fifteen went missing and then returned. Then there's no problem, is there?”
“I did some counseling afterward. Some of those children confessed that they participated in the illegal trafficking of hunter equipment as low level workers.”
Sa Seung-hee let out an 'Ah.'
“You seem concerned.”
“It's not a good thing, and to begin with, most of the equipment trafficked that way is dangerous.”
Sa Seung-hee clicked her tongue and then looked at Lee Se-eun.
“What about the children's safety? You know it's hard for a snitch to live a long life, right? They painfully poured out their stories trusting Hunter Lee Se-eun, but they might pay a heavy price for it.”
“I've anticipated that much as well.”
The children's safety was being protected. Since they were organizations committing illegal acts anyway, it wasn't hard to expect them to perform additional illegal deeds.
“Among equipment that even ordinary people can use, those without side effects are incredibly expensive.”
Low priced hunter equipment was stuff with one or two screws loose. Some only resulted in nightmares if used continuously, but in severe cases, people could completely lose their minds.
Or health problems could occur. The side effects of cheap equipment were diverse.
“I understand that most equipment distributed in Korea is generally problem free anyway.”
Safety was guaranteed to some extent, and the nation's public security was intact. Equipment distributed illegally was mostly the exclusive property of the rich, and since they had plenty of funds, they wouldn't use equipment with side effects in the first place.
“The problem is the things leaking outside.”
The situation was different in other countries. Public security wasn't intact, and safety wasn't guaranteed. Since most buyers didn't have much money, they would try to use even dangerous equipment to have a means of self protection even if the side effects were severe.
Lee Se-eun took a sip of tea and then looked at Sa Seung-hee.
“Most of the equipment or byproducts secured by hunters gather in Korea anyway.”
It meant that equipment sold abroad through trafficking also passed through Korea.
“I want to find out who those guys are.”
“Oh my, most of what you could hear from me would probably be just rumors.”
Sa Seung-hee looked at Lee Se-eun with a troubled expression.
“I know that's not the case.”
Sa Seung-hee, who had been smiling, hardened her expression and looked at Lee Se-eun.
“As I said earlier, a snitch has a hard time living a long life.”
“I know you helped Chan-seok well as far as I know.”
At Lee Se-eun's words, Sa Seung-hee replied immediately.
“In some people, there are things more important than their own well being.”
Sa Seung-hee wanted all the Erosion Cores to disappear.
“The Headhunters smashed three Grade 1 Erosion Cores in a short period. Despite already having gained sufficient fame and wealth, they have no intention of stopping.”
Sa Seung-hee smiled with her hand over her heart.
“I've been waiting for such hunters for quite a long time. Would getting into danger be a problem? But trafficking hunter equipment and such is none of my business, regardless of what happens.”
She wasn't interested in hunter equipment being trafficked, and she didn't want to put herself in danger for such things.
Especially now, when the Headhunters were continuously removing Grade 1 Erosion Cores, she had no reason to choose to put herself in danger.
“Perhaps what I wanted might come true, and if I were to die without seeing it, it would be too unfair.”
“Owner Sa Seung-hee. I am also helping the Headhunters in my own way. Furthermore, I'm thinking of joining them.”
Sa Seung-hee immediately shook her head and spoke firmly to Lee Se-eun.
“Don't do that, Hunter Lee Se-eun. Your joining is not something that would help both the Headhunters and Hunter Lee Se-eun.”
Lee Se-eun wore a slightly flustered expression at Sa Seung-hee's words. To say it wasn't helpful.