Return of the Sword God-Rank Civil Servant

Chapter 30

The headquarters of Nexus Guild, located in Seoul.

That morning, the place was in complete chaos.

It was due to the unexpected arrival of a VVIP guest.

Because of this, the Guild Master, the Deputy Guild Master, the Academy Director Kim Suae, and other key figures of the guild were all summoned.

Just as they waited at the main entrance.

Vroom!

From afar, the sound of a supercar engine grew louder.

Along with that, a red Ferrari, easily visible even from a distance, pulled up in front of the guild’s entrance.

It was Red Horse, one of Jo Jin-hwi’s prized car collection.

“…Is this all you have?”

“Haha, yes. My apologies.”

“Can’t be helped… I’ll gratefully borrow it, then.”

That was the reason for him taking the car.

As soon as the car stopped, Suho got out, and the Nexus executives quickly greeted him.

“Oh, Hunter Ahn Suho, you’ve arrived!”

“Thank you for making the trip this early in the morning; it’s an honor.”

The identity of the VVIP guest.

It was none other than Suho.

Just as he had told Jo Jin-hwi, Suho had come here today to join Nexus Guild.

Suho responded to their enthusiastic welcome.

“Yes, nice to meet you. Director Bae Dong-hyuk. By the way, where should I park?”

“Someone here will park it for you. Just leave it with the valet, and please, come with us right away.”

“Shall I? Then I’ll leave it in your hands.”

Handing over the car keys, they began to move together.

Surprisingly, the meeting took place in the top conference room, right next to the representative’s office on the top floor of the Nexus building.

Looking at the open view outside through the window, Suho commented.

“The company view is quite nice.”

“Haha, indeed. We didn’t choose this building for nothing. But, before that….”

A glance.

Before starting the meeting, everyone exchanged cautious looks.

They wanted to confirm if what they heard from Kim Suae was indeed true.

Thus, Kim Suae took the lead and asked.

“Um… Suho, about what you mentioned on the phone earlier. Is it really true?”

“You mean that I intend to join Nexus?”

“Yes.”

“Yes, it’s true.”

“…!”

At those words, Guild Master Bae Dong-hyuk, Deputy Guild Master Yoon Du-won, Academy Director Kim Suae, and Administrator Kim Lee-gang all clenched their fists in silent celebration.

It was understandable.

Suho was currently the hottest… no, the most promising rising star in the country.

Perhaps because of this.

Kim Suae felt the greatest sense of relief.

‘He’s grown so ridiculously fast in just a few days that I didn’t even dare to expect it…!’

It was literally true.

Suho’s track record was beyond impressive — it was almost legendary.

Even before becoming a Hunter, he had singlehandedly conquered the Unpredicted Gate at Sindorim Station.

Then, he became the top scorer in the notoriously difficult Hunter Exam.

In addition, he singlehandedly cleared the Tower of Trial, a feat that no one had even considered possible.

During the Tower of Trial raid, PBS even reported that he intended to become a civil servant Hunter, so they had practically given up hope.

Then, out of the blue, they received a call from him this morning.

If the terms were right, he said he’d consider joining Nexus Guild.

‘Right. A civil servant Hunter? With abilities like his, not just Korea, but other countries would be desperate to recruit him.’

Perhaps because of this.

When Suho contacted them, Kim Suae thought that his statement about becoming a civil servant Hunter was just a media ploy.

Occasionally, there were people who raised their value in such ways.

Then Suho spoke.

“But, as I mentioned over the phone, I’ll only join if the conditions are met.”

Guild Master Bae Dong-hyuk quickly replied.

“Just let us know. No other place will meet your terms better than Nexus.”

“Since you say so, I feel relieved. Then, I’ll speak frankly. But before I begin, I assume that everyone here has seen the PBS article about me?”

“The PBS article… you mean the interview where you said your dream was to become a civil servant Hunter?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Yes, I saw it, but….”

Guild Master Bae Dong-hyuk hesitated.

He didn’t understand why Suho was setting the stage with such remarks.

With his long experience in social interactions, he assumed…

‘I originally intended to become a civil servant, but since I’m joining a private guild, I’ll need more compensation… or something along those lines?’

This was what he expected to hear.

However, Suho’s next words shocked everyone in the room, including Bae Dong-hyuk.

“Although I’m here today to join Nexus Guild, my goal remains unchanged. I still intend to join the Korean Hunter Association as a civil servant Hunter.”

“Pardon?”

“What… does that mean?”

Is he out of his mind?

Then why did he come here?

Of course, no one could say that out loud, so silence filled the room as they exchanged glances, gauging each other’s reactions. Then, Guild Master Bae Dong-hyuk broke the silence on behalf of everyone.

“Then, if that’s your goal, may I ask why you still intend to join a private guild?”

“To be honest, it’s to make it easier to enter the Korean Hunter Association.”

“Pardon?”

“I plan to take the Grade 5 exam at the end of this year.”

Grade 5.

The highest rank achievable through examination.

Under the Korean Hunter Association’s standards, it was the rank at which one would start as at least a team leader.

Could it be…

Narrowing his eyes, Bae Dong-hyuk asked.

“Are you referring to the bonus points for serving in a large guild?”

Suho smiled faintly at his words.

Well.

Experience in a private guild did indeed add points.

But for a Grade 5 position, one would have to serve at least five years to earn those points.

What would that mean to Suho?

Suho spoke with a smile.

“No, that’s not it. The reason is more complex, but… first, let me ask, are you familiar with the saying ‘the grass is always greener on the other side’?”

“Yes, I am. But what about it?”

“In simple terms, I plan to leverage the ‘greener grass’ psychology. I’ll continue to be a high-profile figure, gaining attention and success. Perhaps my reputation and skills alone could help me pass the Grade 5 exam. But if I keep expressing interest in only the Korean Hunter Association, they might start treating me like a fish already caught.”

Everyone murmured in quiet admiration at his reasoning.

It made sense.

Especially since the Korean Hunter Association was known for such attitudes.

“I understand that for the Grade 5 exam, the final interview is the most crucial part, with significant influence from the Association’s president. And he’s a five-term National Assembly member with ambitions for re-election or other public positions.”

Without further explanation, everyone nodded.

If the Korean Hunter Association managed to recruit Suho from Nexus, the president would benefit most.

Suho continued.

“That’s why I’m proposing a deal, Director. I’ll use Nexus to secure a smoother path into the Korean Hunter Association, and Nexus can make the most of me as a resource for the next six months.”

The explanation was enough.

Suho had stated his intentions, and Bae Dong-hyuk understood.

All that remained was to work out the finer details.

However, before discussing such matters, Guild Master Bae Dong-hyuk had one question for Suho.

“I understand your intentions. But before we dive into the specifics, may I ask one thing?”

“Of course, feel free.”

“With that objective in mind, why choose Nexus over other guilds like Hexagon or Prime?”

It was a sharp question.

If his reason was so simple, then top-ranked Hexagon or Prime, known as the Korean Hunter Association’s dog, would have been options as well.

But Suho’s response was entirely unexpected.

“I read the speech you gave when you founded Nexus.”

“The speech?”

“Yes, you said that if nothing else, Nexus would be the guild that contributes the most to ending the Gate crisis in Korea.”

Director Bae Dong-hyuk’s speech.

To others, it might have seemed like a typical speech, but he had meant every word.

Why?

The answer was simple.

Nexus’s leader, Director Bae Dong-hyuk, had lost loved ones in the Gate Shock.

‘In fact, Nexus has done the most relief work related to Gate disasters.’

Moreover, in Suho’s previous life, Nexus was the guild that showed the most dedication.

At Suho’s words, Bae Dong-hyuk looked as though he had been struck.

“…It’s true, then. What you said in that interview about ending the Gate crisis is your true goal.”

“Yes, I wasn’t lying in the interview. I even attempted the Tower of Trial with that purpose in mind.”

Suho’s answer made him chuckle.

“Then I have nothing more to say. But if that’s your reason, why not pursue this in a private guild? You could still contribute to clearing Gates and ending the crisis.”

“Well, one could see it that way. But to truly tackle the Gate crisis, I believe we must challenge the places no one dares to. For example, the special Gates managed by the government due to their extreme danger… like Sealed Gates.”

“Excuse me?”

“Sealed Gates?”

“Are you serious?”

Sealed Gates.

Gates that had been attempted multiple times, only to result in such high casualties that the government had sealed and specially managed them.

These were, in a sense, disasters.

While the Five Calamities Gates were known as the worst, Sealed Gates were no less dangerous.

Hence their nickname as “minor calamities” or “calamity-level Gates.”

But paradoxically, clearing Sealed Gates would be one of the greatest contributions to human peace.

‘And Sealed Gates are the easiest way to prove my abilities.’

Suho was confident.

In fact, most of the country’s minor calamity-level Gates had been cleared in the latter part, and Suho held knowledge of their strategies and the hidden secrets within them.

So, he planned to fully utilize Sealed Gates this time.

Suho said.

“In that sense, for the next six months, every Sealed Gate that’s cleared will carry Nexus’s name. Until I apply for the Korean Hunter Association, I intend to work my hardest as a member of Nexus. And when that time comes, perhaps….”

After glancing at everyone’s tense expressions, Suho continued with a smile.

“Perhaps the industry landscape will change dramatically. Not Nexus in third place, but Nexus as the undisputed number one.”