“Ah. Shouldn’t there be a proper investigation first?”
“...”
The difference between Hwang Gyeongryong and Lee Changsik was apparent when it came to such problems.
Lee Changsik, who had stayed in South Korea, was an A-grade hunter, but he was nonetheless guided by common sense. Even if the lawmakers or companies he dealt with abused their power, he held onto his strings of reason and tried to persuade them rather than pull out a sword.
On the other hand, after Hwang Gyeongryong left South Korea, it was as if he had completely gotten over any lingering attachment to the country. If there was a dispute, he would personally go to that person’s house. Even a stubborn senator would become more understandable and willing to reconcile when the other person came to their own home to talk face-to-face.
“It’s fine. They admitted they did something wrong.”
Choi Yeonseung nodded with a satisfied expression and ended the call. He had spoken firmly, and the other side acknowledged the problem.
‘Isn’t this out of line?’
Lee Changsik wondered whether he should stop Choi Yeonseung. If they had been somewhere overseas, he would’ve told Choi Yeonseung to do whatever he wanted. However, this was South Korea...
Before Lee Changsik could finish worrying about it, Choi Yeonseung moved on to the next course of action.“Team Leader Chu Wonseung. We can’t cancel the match. What about the next scheduled match?”
“We only have the match scheduled for tomorrow against the Red-Haired Spirit clan.”
“What can we do? We have to send them out even if they’re a mess. Anyhow, you’re the Demon clan, so you must still have something up your sleeve, right?”
Choi Yeonseung believed in the name of the Demon clan. It was a long-established clan that had existed in South Korea since the first generation. It was said that the main hunters had left, but there had to be some power left in this clan.
“There’s nothing…”
“...”
Chu Wonseung felt sweat dripping down his back. It wasn’t his fault that the hunters had left, but everyone would be nervous if an A-grade hunter took over the clan and openly asked them this.
“That... The power... It’s not enough...”
“The Red-Haired Spirit clan is a strong clan in its own right.”
Lee Changsik couldn’t just watch, so he stepped up and explained the situation.
“I’ve never heard of them. Is it a new clan?”
“I wouldn’t necessarily call it new. It’s a large clan in Incheon that has been established by the new generation of hunters. Their hunters are quite rough and aggressive, so we ought to be careful.”
Although the SSL was indeed a sport, it was nonetheless one of the most dangerous and brutal sports out there. The hunters were fighting in the Otherworld, but they could still feel everything. In this sport, the hunters cast magic and used weapons capable of fatally injuring someone, so there were quite a few hunters who had retired due to mental reasons.
Vicious hunters stood out in this sport.
“Those who play in the SSL usually aren’t high-ranked hunters, right?”
“That’s right.”
“So they’re rough and aggressive even though they don’t have high ranks?”
“I guess it’s because their opponents aren’t A-grade hunters.”
Choi Yeonseung was convinced by Lee Changsik’s words.
He was right!
Choi Yeonseung suggested, “Well, if that’s the case, it would be better for me to fill one slot in the team. Should we do that?”
“Still… Will that work?” Lee Changsik was surprised.
“Any reason why it wouldn’t?”
“How about your reputation as an A-grade hunter?”
“Losing one match doesn’t affect my reputation.”
Choi Yeonseung wasn’t one to lose his reputation just because he had participated in a match like this before and lost. He was a hunter who killed monsters in raids, not a player in some competition! If anyone mocked him for his loss, it was enough to just show them how many monsters he had killed in real life.
He wondered, “So it would be a bad idea for me to participate?”
“No. I don’t think so,” replied Lee Changsik instantly.
Looking at the hunters, it was going to be one hundred percent beneficial for them to have Choi Yeonseung with them.
Choi Yeonseung was confused by Lee Changsik’s instant response.
‘How much of a mess are those hunters that he answered straight away?’
***
“You bastards. Tomorrow you have a match against another clan, and yet you’re spending your time like this??”
“Ah. It’s okay. After all, they don’t stand a chance!”
The hunters of the Red-Haired Spirit clan snorted while disregarding the executive’s words. They normally had to warm up with some light training the day before a match, but this time, their opponent was too weak for them to bother. After all, hadn’t the Demon Clan lost all its famous hunters?
The clan executive was aware of that, so he didn’t say anything more despite having a disapproving look on his face.
“Don’t let your guard down. Of course, the current opponent is the Demon clan, but you can’t have this attitude when dealing with other opponents.”
“We know. You don’t have to worry.”
The Red-Haired Spirit were laughing and chatting excitedly when they received a new piece of information.
“...???”
“What’s wrong?”
“The owner of the Demon clan has changed.”
“Who bought the clan?”
“What? Who bought it?”
“Those hunters aren’t good at raids or sports. Why would anyone buy them?”
The hunters of the Red-Haired Spirit asked as if they couldn’t wrap their heads around it. No matter how much tradition and history there was, clans were very expensive to buy. If someone was going to purchase a clan, they had to make sure it was worth it. Who knew how many hunters had abandoned the Demon clan...
“Well, it must’ve been bought by a really rich person.”
“Did a Chinese person buy it? Those Chinese guys like to buy clans.”
“Aish, no way...”
“Maybe they just bought it based on the value of the name.”
“Did a rich Arab person buy it?”
The executive shook his head with a firm expression. All these hunters were wrong. “I got a call that Hunter Choi Yeonseung has taken it over. In addition, and quite the surprise, Hunter Lee Changsik is apparently in charge.”
“Iron... Iron-Blooded Ice Emperor?!”
“The Iron-Blooded Ice Emperor?!”
For the hunters here, Lee Changsik’s name was bound to have more impact than Choi Yeonseung’s name. The hunters were astonished, and it took them a bit to react to Choi Yeonseung’s name.
“If it’s Choi Yeonseung, isn’t he the A-grade hunter?? That grandfather hunter??”
“He’s young.”
“He was caught up in the Abyss and then came back.”
“Ah, is that it? I thought he retained his youth by learning martial arts.”
The hunters of the Red-Haired Spirit clan murmured with surprised expressions. As they continued to make a lot of noise, the executive slammed his fist into the wall.
“Shut up! In any case, keep in mind that things aren’t exactly great right now. Wouldn’t it be shameful to lose to a clan like the Demon clan?!”
“Aish. It’s still the same Demon clan. How could we lose against them?”
The hunters snorted. Of course, they were surprised when they heard the names of those A-grade hunters, but as they thought more about it, there was no reason to be alarmed. If an A-grade hunter could rectify a situation like that, Lee Changsik wouldn’t have been criticized like that after he took over the Korean national team.
“Didn’t I tell you not to let your guard down?”
“Team Leader-nim, let’s be honest. Do you really think we’re going to lose to those hunters when their leader just changed?”
“... Don’t let your guard down!”
“You couldn’t answer straight away, right?”
“Yes. You couldn’t.”
The hunters laughed. The clan executive blushed but couldn’t do anything, as the hunters present were justified in being confident.
“You don’t have to worry. We’ll win this.”
“Still, I’m glad I’ll get to meet the Iron-Blooded Ice Emperor and Choi Yeonseung. There’s no way I’m missing this opportunity.”
"Hahaha. You’re right. I’ll have to make the right arrangements.”
The hunters of the Red-Haired Spirit clan laughed and nodded.
The anxious executive gave them a warning. “Make sure to not cause an incident. Those two hunters can easily break your necks if you look at them the wrong way.”
“What do you see us as?”
“I see you as the guys who got banned from the last match for swearing at the crowd.”
“Hey, I did that because they started mentioning my parents. Really!”
“Shut up! I gave you a clear warning!”
The executive closed the door hard and left. Then the remaining hunters exchanged meaningful looks. Their initial intention was just to win, but now that the other side had the Iron-Blooded Ice Emperor, it was a different story.
Wasn’t this a unique opportunity?
“When else will I get to meet the Iron-Blooded Ice Emperor?”
“That’s right. Hahaha.”
***
“Please give me your autograph!”
“... Get in line.”
The fierce hunters of the Red-Haired Spirit clan turned into gentle puppies as they lined up in front of Lee Changsik. Some of the hunters also stood shyly in front of Choi Yeonseung.
“Can I get your autograph? I was really impressed by your performance in the monster wave.”
“Is learning martial arts the secret to anti-aging? I’m considering it right now...”
The hunters’ reaction was much milder than expected, so Choi Yeonseung looked at Lee Changsik as if he didn’t understand it.
“They are fierce, foul-tempered, and aggressive?”
“Umm.”
Lee Changsik pretended not to hear and avoided his gaze. Choi Yeonseung grumbled, “You always do that when you’re in the wrong.”
“Ummm.”
The current situation was quite clear. There seemed to be quite a few fans of Lee Changsik among the Red-Haired Spirit clan. There were even fans of Choi Yeonseung. Indeed, it would’ve been strange if someone wasn’t impressed with Choi Yeonseong’s raid performances.
“By the way, Hunter Choi Yeonseung. Why did you take over a place like the Demon clan? You should’ve taken our clan!”
“Can I report that to your clan leader?”
“N-No. It’s not like I’m unhappy with the clan leader... Hey! The clan leader’s position should be given to the clan leader! I meant that you should buy the stocks in our clan!”
Choi Yeonseung was thinking of an answer.
If he had said, ‘Out of all the big clans, the Demon clan is the only one who was in a bad enough condition,’ the Demon clan hunters next to him might’ve gotten hurt...
“I bought it because of its history and tradition.”
“...Uhahahaha!’
“Ahahahaha!”
“Puhaha... Ahahah.”
“Hey. You’re putting your lives in danger by laughing like that in front of me.”
The moment Choi Yeonseung grabbed the hunter by the collar, he started choking and gasping for air. The other hunters panicked and grabbed his arm, trying to pull him off, but he wouldn’t budge. This was the physical strength of an A-grade hunter who was a martial artist!
The Red-Haired Spirit hunters were even more surprised because they had never lost in a strength contest with other hunters.
‘His strength is no joke!’
‘So this is the strength of a hunter who participates in raids?’
“Cough... I wasn’t trying to make fun of you.”
They normally would’ve given an arrogant response, but the Red-Haired Spirit hunter was overwhelmed by Choi Yeonseung and obediently apologized.
“I just don’t understand why you would buy the clan just for its history and tradition... That...”
“History and tradition are important values,” added Lee Changsik in order to help Choi Yeonseung.
Lee Changsik’s unique and impactful presence had the effect of making things seem plausible and carry weight no matter what he said. The moment Lee Changsik said this, the hunters of the Red-Haired Spirit clan were even more surprised.
No...
Were history and tradition that important?
‘Did we really lose this opportunity to the Demon clan because of history and tradition?’
‘What’s so great about them?’
They also wanted to be taken over or managed by an A-grade hunter, so they were quite flustered when they heard this. However, their confusion was just beginning.
“Hunter Choi Yeonseung here will also be taking part in the match, so please take care of him.”
Hearing Lee Changsik’s words, the Red-Haired Spirit hunters went from being surprised to being utterly shocked.
“????”
“Why??”
“An A-grade hunter... Why would you do this?”
Choi Yeonseung replied, “Hey. Are you telling me what I’m allowed to do?”
“No. It just slipped out. So, it’s like this... It’s a fun and great game... That... Aish. In any case, there is no reason for you to participate, right?”
Choi Yeonseung had nothing to say to the Red-Haired Spirit hunters. It wasn’t like he could just tell them, “I’m participating because I’m a constellation.”
“... It’s to preserve history and tradition.”
“...!”
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