Return of the Sword God-Rank Civil Servant

Chapter 32

Eventually, the meal ended, and as Jung Chulmin finished paying the bill and was about to leave the restaurant, it happened.

“Um, Suho, about something.”

“Yes?”

“Are you sure you’re okay with this? You probably noticed last time, but reporters sometimes linger in front of the Korean Hunter Association building, hoping for a scoop.”

It was true.

Just like reporters frequented police stations, journalists were always hanging around the association’s entrance.

They were there to catch any possible issue or news.

Today was no different.

A quick look revealed a group of reporters gathered in small clusters, chatting.

Seeing them, Suho let out a slight laugh.

“Oh, if that’s all, don’t worry. I’ll handle it myself. Shall we just meet at the first-floor entrance?”

“Pardon? Are you really okay with that?”

“I’m fine. Then, I’ll go on ahead. See you on the first floor?”

With that, Suho took the lead and began to walk ahead.

Jung Chulmin, worried about Suho, was about to ask if they should go together, but suddenly, a strange thing happened.

“…What?”

Suho had suddenly vanished.

What was going on?

He had definitely been nearby just moments ago.

It was a curious occurrence.

Yet, surprisingly, Suho hadn’t actually disappeared.

The effect of the Monochrome Solitude engraved on his primordial sword caused a cognitive distortion, making people subconsciously unable to notice him.

Seeing Jung Chulmin’s bewildered expression, Suho nodded in satisfaction and entered the Korean Hunter Association building.

He even passed right by the reporters gathered near the entrance.

***

The two met again inside the building.

With a curious expression, Jung Chulmin asked Suho.

“Suho, how did you get past the reporters outside?”

“Oh, just a skill effect. Shall we head up now?”

“Oh… yes, of course.”

A skill effect.

Jung Chulmin was curious but held back.

It was respectful to not pry into a Hunter’s abilities.

The two eventually headed to the association president’s office, located on the topmost floor of the building.

As they stepped out of the elevator, Jung Chulmin spoke.

“As expected, all we need is a quick photo in the president’s office, and maybe some brief conversation. Again, thank you so much.”

“It’s nothing, really. Not a difficult task.”

Just as Jung Chulmin said.

When they entered the president’s office, everything was already set up for the photo shoot with Suho.

The president, Jang Kyunghwan, and the vice president, Park Gyuman, greeted Suho with beaming smiles.

“Ah, Hunter, you’ve arrived. It’s a pleasure. I’m Jang Kyunghwan, the president of the Korean Hunter Association.”

Jang Kyunghwan.

A friendly appearance and a sturdy build.

He was a person with an impressive background as a five-term National Assembly member.

And at the same time…

‘He’s also the one who shamelessly held onto the position of president until a sweeping change happened later.’

His grip on power didn’t end until two presidential terms had passed.

And even then, he retired in a manner that felt like he had done everything he could.

But this time, things would be different.

‘I’ll make sure to push you out before this president’s term ends.’

Through the Library of Memories, Suho recalled memories involving Jang Kyunghwan.

He was a classic corrupt official, using the association’s budget for personal matters, engaging in hiring corruption, and neglecting essential duties of the Hunter Association while lazing around.

Thanks to him, instead of growing during a period of potential, the Korean Hunter Association only attracted public criticism.

The most prominent example was the salary issue, as the underpayment of field Hunters in the association was largely his doing.

The vice president, Park Gyuman, standing beside him, was just his echo.

‘If anything, that guy’s the bigger problem.’

After all, in his eagerness to curry favor with the president, he would often go overboard, imposing unnecessary tasks.

Just like he had directed Jung Chulmin to bring Suho in this time.

However, without revealing his thoughts, Suho smiled and spoke.

“Yes, my name is Ahn Suho. It’s an honor to meet you.”

“Haha, the honor is mine. By the way, would it be possible to take a photo together? I’d like to use it for the promotional brochures we’re preparing. Having a distinguished Hunter like yourself as the model would greatly enhance the association’s image.”

“Oh, of course. I’d be happy to.”

Typically, people would take a picture after chatting and casually claiming to be a fan, but here they went straight for the photo request.

Typical.

Nothing surprising.

And so, the photo shoot proceeded.

First, with the president alone.

Then, with the vice president alone.

Finally, one with all of them together.

How thorough.

Once the secretary, who had been assisting with the photo shoot, exited, they began a small talk session.

At that moment, the vice president sitting across from them lifted his teacup and spoke.

“By the way, I heard that Ahn Suho Hunter’s goal is to join our Korean Hunter Association….”

Upon hearing this, the president’s eyes gleamed, and Jung Chulmin began to tense up.

The president had the look of a hawk spotting its prey, while Jung Chulmin was worried about what nonsense the elderly officials might spout next.

But, contrary to Jung Chulmin’s concerns, Suho’s eyes sparkled more brightly than ever.

“Haha, yes. As I mentioned in my interview for the Hunter Exam, joining the Korean Hunter Association has always been my dream.”

At this, the president and vice president’s faces lit up with delight.

“Oh, could I ask why?”

“It’s nothing special… as you might have seen in the news articles, I’m actually an orphan of the Gate. I’ve long felt a duty to contribute to humanity’s safety by helping bring an end to the Gate crisis as soon as possible….”

A typical, predictable story.

Suho had shared the same story with Jung Chulmin and Jo Jin-hwi.

It was perhaps a bit cliched, but Suho’s story was exactly the kind of tale that the so-called “big shots” loved to hear.

A story of overcoming hardship, of a pearl born in the mud, a dragon rising from a humble stream.

Of course, it wasn’t a story Suho had crafted just to suit their tastes.

Everything he’d said was true.

He was indeed an orphan of the Gate, and his goal of joining the Korean Hunter Association to end the Gate crisis was genuine.

When Suho finished speaking, the association president looked at him with an expression of sympathy.

“Oh… So you have such a story. But, to have grown so strong and upright, your parents in heaven must surely be pleased.”

“Haha, I hope so.”

“In that case… If you were to join our association, which department would you like to work in?”

Suho quickly answered the question.

“As I told Team Leader Jung, I’d like to work in the Gate Department, where I could take part in actual Gate raids.”

“Haha, aiming for the toughest department of all… Such selflessness!”

“But then again, the Gate Department is precisely where someone of Hunter Ahn Suho’s abilities should be. Though, I imagine you must be receiving offers from other guilds. Have you truly not considered any of them?”

“Oh, other guilds?”

At the mention of other guilds, Jung Chulmin’s face went pale.

He was tense.

It was certainly a possible concern.

Seeing his reaction, Suho let out a small laugh.

“Actually, I’ve been contacted by everyone from Hexagon to Nexus. I even received offers promising unbelievable compensation. But, how to say… none of them have resonated with me yet.”

“Oh, so Ahn Suho Hunter isn’t someone attached to material things like money?”

“Yes, I just need enough to keep my stomach full… If they had offered me priority access to Gates, now that might have been different.”

“Gates?”

“Yes, my ultimate goal is to end the Gates, so I want to grow stronger as quickly as possible. My reason for joining the association is to have priority access to various Gates.”

“Oh….”

“Wow, Ahn Suho Hunter, you really think differently from others.”

The two men marveled at Suho’s words.

Seemingly pleased, the association president then turned to Jung Chulmin.

“Team Leader Jung, hearing such noble words, isn’t there anything we can do to help on our end?”

“You mean from the association?”

“Yes, he wants access to Gates so much, why not let him have one or two of the Gates we manage? I know we have quite a few in the association’s inventory.”

“Ah, that is true, but… all we have are sealed Gates or challenging hard-mode Gates….”

Jung Chulmin trailed off, looking flustered.

After all, the only Gates managed by the association were things like the Tower of Trials public Gates or sealed Gates, both of which were hard-mode types.

However, Suho’s eyes sparkled for a moment at this mention.

“If it’s a sealed Gate or a hard-mode Gate, all the better. Aren’t those the real threats to humanity? If given the chance, I’d like to take on one of those difficult sealed Gates.”

“Pardon?”

Suho’s unexpected declaration.

Jung Chulmin was visibly shaken.

“Wow, truly remarkable, Ahn Suho Hunter! Well then, why not? What’s so difficult about it? Let’s make it happen.”

Association President Jang Kyunghwan granted permission with unmatched enthusiasm.

“Pr-president!”

“What’s the issue, Team Leader Jung?”

“No, it’s just….”

Jung Chulmin was flustered.

Was this really happening so suddenly?

Even Suho, who he’d relied on, was like this?

“Thank you, President, truly.”

“Haha, when such an honorable person offers to tackle a troublesome sealed Gate, we should support him fully. Isn’t that the association’s role?”

“Give me the chance, and I’ll do my best.”

As if waiting for the cue, Suho answered without hesitation.

“Damn it….”

Jung Chulmin was dumbfounded—or perhaps beyond that, he was even starting to feel anger.

It was understandable that Suho, still a newly appointed Hunter, might not know the full story, but the association president and vice president should have known better.

Did they understand what they were doing?

Sealed Gates were extremely dangerous places that had caused numerous casualties, which was why the government managed them directly.

For safety reasons, without proper verification, even large guilds weren’t granted entry passes for sealed Gates. Yet, they’d casually given permission to an individual Hunter like Ahn Suho?

‘This is why I don’t like non-awakened bureaucrats…!’

Would they still make such a decision if they’d ever entered a Gate themselves?

But beyond all that, what bothered him the most was something else.

‘Sealed Gates are practically Hunter graveyards… Why would they send our promising Hunter into a place like that…!’

Jung Chulmin didn’t want to lose Suho.

Suho might truly become a Hunter of great achievement.

If he could, Jung Chulmin wanted to nurture Suho step-by-step, making him into a hero who could contribute to the peace of humanity.

But with the atmosphere so positive, he couldn’t just suddenly change his tone and object.

Only Jung Chulmin, who knew the internal affairs, felt suffocated and frustrated.

And noticing Jung Chulmin’s reddening face, Suho secretly smiled to himself.