Chapter 124

Chapter 124

“Bugeulma, do you happen to have any water? My mouth is parched dry.”

Do-jae handed him a bottle of water.

Gulp- gulp-.

Jung Hoon-hyun polished off the entire bottle right there.

“Why are you so nervous?”

“How could I not be nervous? My heart’s pounding like crazy and my hands and feet are tingling.”

“It’s just a meeting. Don’t be so tense. You’re making everyone else anxious.”

“I… I know…”

But despite Dojae’s urging, Jeong Hoon-hyun’s restlessness didn’t subside.

After dropping off the kids, Dojae and Jung Hoon-hyun headed straight to the association headquarters.

Due to Jung Hoon-hyun’s nervousness, they lingered in front of the building for a while, but finally, after he managed to compose himself, they entered the building.

“Good day… My name is Jung Hoon-hyun… And this is Lee Do-jae…”

“We’re here from the Guardian Guild at the request of the Association President.”

“Ah, I see. Please proceed to the conference room on the 9th floor.”

“Thank you.”

Jung Hoon-hyun bowed to the front desk attendant and wiped away the sweat trickling down his face.

Do-jae grabbed him and pulled him toward the elevator.

“Please relax. We’re not here because we’ve done anything wrong, so why are you so anxious?”

“It’s not that I’m anxious… Bugilma may be a big star, so he can afford to be like that, but I was just running a small guild until a few months ago. How could I not be nervous meeting the Association President and the other hunters? How could I not be nervous?”

“You’re just like everyone else. Just act normal.”

“No… They’re my idols…”

Dojae and Jung Hoonhyun took the elevator up to the 9th floor.

When they arrived at the conference room, many people were already seated.

“Lee Dojae! You’re here!”

A man wearing a suit so tightly buttoned it looked like it might burst open at any moment walked out.

It was Taebaek’s guildmaster, Kwak Ji-hyeok.

“We meet again so soon.”

“You’re practically a star now. Living the good life?”

“Star? What are you talking about… Ah, this is our guildmaster.”

Kwak Ji-hyuk extended his hand toward Jung Hoon-hyun, who was crouched beside Do Jae.

Jeong Hoon-hyun wiped his hands clean on his pants before taking it.

“It’s… an honor! I’m Jeong Hoon-hyun!”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Kwak Ji-hyuk.”

After exchanging a firm handshake with Kwak Ji-hyuk, Jeong Hoon-hyun stared at his own hand, clenching and unclenching it with a dazed expression.

Kwak Ji-hyuk then introduced the man beside him.

“This is our Vice President. Hong Moon-gee, say hello.”

“Wow. I’ve heard so much about you. Just as I heard, you’re truly handsome and have such a bold, dashing look! Wow! I’m Hong Mungun!”

“Ah, yes… I’m Lee Do-jae.”

Hong Moon-geun greeted him with an almost excessive level of energy.

He was a man with a bright yellow head of hair and at least ten piercings scattered across his face, a man of strong individuality.

“Greetings, Guildmaster Suh-ho! I’m Hong Moon-geun… Whoa! Hold on a second. That watch? Isn’t that the Louis Stella 100th Anniversary Limited Edition?”

Hong Mungun stopped mid-greeting, grabbed Jeong Hoon-hyun’s wrist, and stared intently at the thick, gold-plated watch.

Jeong Hoon-hyun then said with a proud expression.

“Wow! Someone who recognizes this! Pleased to meet you. I’m Jeong Hoon-hyun!”

“Wow… To meet someone with such discerning taste and style right here!”

This time, Hong Mungun rolled up his sleeve slightly to show his own watch.

It was a heavy, blue-toned watch studded with dazzling cubic zirconia.

“Whoa, this is…! A limited edition of 24 pieces created by Louis Stella’s Christopher Artistic Director…!”

“This is too much. To meet someone who shares my tastes and sensibilities in a place like this! Please join me at my table!”

“Sure thing!”

As Jung Hoon-hyun and Hong Moon-geun moved first toward one side of the conference room, Do Jae said to Kwak Ji-hyuk with an embarrassed look.

“Our Master Jung Hoon-hyun seems a bit excited. Haha…”

“It’s fine. I told him not to make such a fuss… Where should I sit?”

“I’ll go over there and say hello to them first.”

Do-jae looked at the two people sitting in the back.

Then, heading in that direction, he greeted the representatives from other guilds one by one.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Choi Ji-ho from the Yujin Guild.”

“I’m Yun Ki-sung from ROM. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Haha, I’m Han Dong-eun, the representative of Jeokwoo. It’s a pleasure to meet the deputy leader of Suhwo like this!”

Eugene, ROM, Jikwoo.

Taebaek, Gong (Centipede), Manseong, KD Hunters, and even Sudo.

Seated here were the guildmasters and deputy guildmasters of the top-tier guilds leading South Korea’s hunter community.

“Long time no see? You’ve been quite active.”

A man approached Dojae, greeting him warmly.

It was Song Deok-hoon, Manseong’s vice-guildmaster and Shim Young-jin’s uncle.

“It’s been a while. But your body…”

Dojae held back his words, looking at Song Deok-hoon’s condition.

His condition didn’t look good enough to even ask how he was doing.

“Ah, this? Don’t worry about it. It’s nothing serious.”

Song Deok-hoon spoke in a tone that suggested it was no big deal.

But he had casts on his left leg and left arm, and even wore an eye patch over his right eye.

“Are you really all right?”

“There are plenty of excellent healers in the chronic ward, so I’ll be fine. The eye is beyond help, but the limbs will heal quickly.”

“How did you end up like that?”

“It’s common for hunters, isn’t it? I got hurt yesterday during a dungeon raid.”

“I see.”

Dojae wondered what kind of dungeon could injure a hunter of Song Deok-hoon’s caliber.

But he didn’t ask further.

If it was that significant a dungeon, word would naturally have reached the Guardian’s ears, and he should have known about it too. Since he hadn’t heard anything about it, he figured there must be something else going on.

Something that wouldn’t be answered just by asking.

“Don’t tell Young-jin about this. He’s already struggling and keeps coming to see me. As his uncle, I can’t have him worrying about this too.”

“Is that so?”

This was the first time Dojae had heard that Youngjin had been visiting Song Deok-hoon.

He’d been putting on a brave face in front of me, but it seems he was leaning on his uncle after all.

Do-jae felt a pang of disappointment that he hadn’t been that kind of person for Young-jin yet, but at the same time, he resolved to do better.

“Then I’ll take it as you’re keeping it a secret from Young-jin. I’ll head back to my seat now. Our CEO is glaring at me like he wants to kill me.”

Do-jae glanced over Song Deok-hoon’s shoulder at a woman.

He met her wide, terrifying eyes.

It was Kwon Ran-hee, the CEO of Manseong.

“Why… is she looking at me like that?”

“Well, she’s always been like that. There’s nothing to say about it.”

Song Deok-hoon shrugged and returned to his seat.

Do Jae also found an empty seat and sat down. Not long after, Jung Hoon-hyun returned and sat next to Do Jae.

“Taebaek’s vice president is a really good person.”

“Are you feeling a bit less tense?”

“You bet! I’m living a very successful life! I just wish this meeting would end quickly….”

Jung Hoon-hyun rummaged through his bag with a happy expression.

Meanwhile, someone else opened the door and entered.

“It’s Nam Kang-ryul.”

The room fell silent at the whispered exclamation.

Though the guilds weren’t exactly friendly rivals, they’d maintained a decent atmosphere.

However, the moment the two men entered, the atmosphere turned icy cold, and everyone held their tongues.

“The Guildmaster of Daeho has personally arrived.”

“He hasn’t shown his face anywhere for years. Was this gathering that important? Glad he made it.”

Only two men.

Only two men greeted the new arrivals.

“Nam Kang-ryu! It’s been ages! How have you been? Kim Se-hu is here too!”

“Representative Namgangryu, you look as healthy as ever. Have you been well?”

Gwak Ji-hyeok of Taebaek and Han Dong of Jeokwoo.

Only the two of them welcomed Nam Kang-ryul, Guildmaster of the Daeho Guild, and Kim Se-hoon, Deputy Guildmaster.

“……”

But Nam Kang-ryul merely nodded once toward them, saying nothing else, and sat straight down in the front seat.

“Ha, you little brat… Still as insolent as ever. Kim Se-hoon! You’ve been through a lot too!”

“Deputy Representative Kim Se-hoon, I heard you went through quite a bit in Busan. Truly, you’ve worked hard.”

Seeing Nam Kang-ryul’s lukewarm reaction, Kwak Ji-hyeok and Han Dong-eun, as if accustomed to it, turned their gaze toward Kim Se-hoon.

“I just did what Daeho should have done.”

Kim Se-hoon said this and sat down beside Nam Kang-ryul.

Both had been stiff and formal, but when Kwak Ji-hyuk and Han Dong-eun stepped forward to exchange greetings, the atmosphere in the conference room eased slightly, and the representatives began talking again.

And a moment later.

The person responsible for gathering this formidable group, accompanied by an employee, entered the conference room.

***

“Has everyone eaten?”

Jung In-gon, the Hunter Association Chairman, entered with a solemn expression.

He glanced at the assembled hunters in the conference room and wore a faint smile.

“The timing is awkward. I suppose we should have prepared some snacks.”

Some formal greetings and inquiries followed.

After exchanging a few more words, Jung In-gon slowly began to bring up the main topic.

“I want to express my sincere gratitude that you all gathered here despite the sudden request.”

Jeong In-gon had only requested the meeting with each guild master two days prior.

Yet, the fact that most guildmasters and deputy guildmasters had gathered, save for a few, was truly remarkable.

Even if it was the guildmaster’s request, these weren’t the sort of people who would gather willingly.

However, the matters to be discussed at the meeting were far too weighty to be dismissed lightly, leaving the representatives with no choice but to take their seats here.

“Tell them to come in.”

At Jeong In-gon’s command, one of the association staff waiting outside went out, and a moment later, a woman entered the conference room.

A white woman with white hair, appearing quite advanced in years.

Looking extremely frail, she walked in leaning on a cane.

“This is Mrs. Helen Lopez, whom we have brought here from the United States with great difficulty.”

Helen Lopez, she ascended the podium with the staff member’s assistance.

Several hunters who knew her name were visibly surprised.

“I extend my gratitude to the President of the Korea Hunters Association for arranging this occasion. And I also thank Ranhee Kwon for helping me come here.”

Kwon Ran-hee, seated in the back, smiled, making her signature American-style gesture.

Jeong In-gon gestured to a staff member, who held up the materials and began addressing the representatives in the conference room.

“First, I will explain about Ms. Helen Lopez. Helen Lopez, age 72…”

Helen Lopez.

A 72-year-old American woman, she was once a prophet who caused a worldwide sensation but vanished without a trace at some point.

Unlike the charlatans who claimed to be prophets and spouted nonsense, she was a true prophet with a perfect track record.

And the reason she could do this was because of her one and only skill: ‘clairvoyance’.

By looking at someone with her eyes, she could see the moment a singularity would occur in that person’s future.

Thanks to this skill, Helen Lopez had gained worldwide fame and amassed great wealth.

However, twenty years ago, she suddenly vanished.

Countless speculations swirled—she was kidnapped, murdered, all sorts of rumors abounded—but when the US announced it had acquired both her eyes, her death was ruled a suicide.

And now, she had suddenly appeared at none other than the Republic of Korea Hunters Association.

“Are you absolutely sure?”

“Of course it is. Otherwise, how could the Association President handle the fallout?”

The representatives looked at Helen Lopez with a mixture of disbelief and skepticism.

Jeong In-gon opened his mouth with a look that said he understood them all.

“I think it would be best if you heard directly from Ms. Lopez why we invited her. Now, Ms. Lopez, please.”

Helen Lopez nodded.

Then, she slowly removed the black sunglasses she had been wearing and set them down.

Her eyes were closed.

She slowly opened her eyes.

Wobble-!

In that instant, Helen Lopez nearly collapsed but managed to grab her cane and steady herself.

Seeing her precarious state, an employee stepped forward to help her up, but she raised her hand to stop them.

“I’m fine. It’s been a while since I used my clairvoyance… Just give me a moment.”

Helen Lopez focused intently on each hunter’s face one by one.

One of her eyes was completely cloudy white, like that of a patient in the final stages of cataracts. The other eye also had a hazy film over it, but it was in slightly better condition compared to the first.

For quite some time, Helen Lopez and the representatives of each guild stood silently, holding their breath and staring at each other.

Finally, Helen Lopez closed her eyes again and put on her sunglasses.

And from her lips flowed a shocking statement.

“This country will soon perish.”