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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Wjin
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After carefully examining the documents handed over by Kim Sung-hoon, Jo Kang-hyun cautiously opened his mouth.
“Is everything written here true?”
In response to Jo Kang-hyun’s mixed question of bewilderment and doubt, Kim Sung-hoon answered firmly as if he had been waiting for it.
“There isn’t a single lie. Returnee Lee Sung-joon is beyond expectations. Among the many returnees I’ve seen so far, he was by far the most overwhelming. Especially when hunting the boss monster, the Orc Warrior…!”
“……”
Kim Sung-hoon continued to pour out words in a somewhat excited tone, but Jo Kang-hyun remained silent.
It was understandable, as Kim Sung-hoon, as a member of the Returnee Management Team, had managed and monitored many returnees.
However, there had never been a single returnee who received such a favorable evaluation that he had to write a report and come in person.
‘……So, it’s only natural to be more impatient.’
The power of the large guilds established by awakeners, the Returnee Alliance,
And the forces established in the past under the pretext of guaranteeing their autonomy and right to survival, was now comparable to that of the military, if not the nation.
Moreover, the leaders of the Returnee Alliance were filled with people who, by the standards of modern people, had inhumane and dangerous ideologies.
Fortunately, their power was similar to that of the guilds established by awakeners, so they were keeping each other in check and unable to easily make a move.
In other words, the Returnee Alliance was ready to overturn this power dynamic as soon as an opportunity presented itself.
‘What if, in this situation, the Returnee Alliance recruits a talented individual who may have the potential to reach SSS-rank?’
The balance of power would collapse in an instant, and the era of returnees would begin.
It would be a wise choice to report to the Vice-Chairman immediately and prepare for recruitment, or at the very least, form a special team to thoroughly manage and monitor the movements of Returnee Lee Sung-joon.
“Sung-hoon, I know what you’re thinking, but as you know, the situation is not good both internally and externally these days, so I can’t directly report to the Vice-Chairman based on potential alone.”
“If it were just potential, I wouldn’t have come to report directly like this. I think Returnee Lee Sung-joon’s current ability has reached at least E-rank.”
“E-rank?”
The rank of Returnee Lee Sung-joon that he had just seen in the documents was clearly only F.
However, realistically, it wasn’t entirely impossible.
Jo Kang-hyun immediately dropped his head and carefully reviewed the documents in his hand again.
There were a few returnees who repeatedly trained on their own after returning to Earth without updating their rank.
But surprisingly, Returnee Lee Sung-joon had been tested just a week ago.
“What the hell is going on? Explain it to me in detail so I can understand.”
At the sight of Jo Kang-hyun, who was tilting his head and asking, Kim Sung-hoon immediately opened his mouth.
“I don’t know the exact details either, but perhaps… Returnee Lee Sung-joon’s growth method and speed are beyond the standards of our common sense.”
In fact, there were occasional returnees who grew in extraordinary ways.
Therefore, he could understand this situation to some extent, but his surprise had not completely subsided.
‘Even if you can grow in a special way, it’s not easy to grow enough to rank up from F to E in just a week.’
Considering that it took F-rank hunters at least one month and at most three months to acquire E-rank combat power, this was truly an unbelievable speed.
In fact, the only person who had reached E-rank from F-rank in just one week in Korea was Yoon Min-soo, who was currently called the Sword Master.
Now he understood why Kim Sung-hoon was making such a fuss.
Without realizing it, Jo Kang-hyun swallowed hard and cautiously spoke.
“Do you know what kind of job Returnee Lee Sung-joon has taken?”
It might seem a bit out of the blue, but it was a very important question.
Since the jobs of returnees were selected based on their past memories and abilities, the acquired job alone could be a good source of information to infer the strength of a returnee to some extent.
But unfortunately, Kim Sung-hoon shook his head and spoke.
“He had his returnee evaluation just a week ago, and today was his first hunt.”
“……So he showed E-rank level skills even though he’s not even level 10?”
Looking at Jo Kang-hyun, who was laughing in disbelief, Kim Sung-hoon opened his mouth with a confident expression.
“Didn’t I write it in the report? Mr. Lee Sung-joon is a returnee of unprecedented proportions!”
Although he hadn’t seen the entirety of Returnee Lee Sung-joon, so he couldn’t make an accurate judgment, he was certain that he was a tremendously great person with some kind of extraordinary ability.
Just looking at him made his heart race.
“Before the large guilds or the Returnee Alliance catch wind of this, I think we should report to the Vice-Chairman as soon as possible and recruit Returnee Lee Sung-joon.”
Unlike Kim Sung-hoon, who was speaking in an excited voice, Jo Kang-hyun’s eyes were extremely cold.
‘It’s too absurd.’
It was already astonishing that he had acquired E-rank combat ability in just one week.
But he hadn’t even reached level 10, and he hadn’t even taken a job yet?
If Kim Sung-hoon’s report was all true, Returnee Lee Sung-joon was truly an unprecedented existence.
That’s why Jo Kang-hyun couldn’t easily accept the existence of Returnee Lee Sung-joon.
‘There might be some kind of trick.’
Honestly, it was more realistic to think that he had secretly gone hunting in a dungeon or field without a registration card.
However, Kim Sung-hoon was called an ace even within the Returnee Management Team; there was no way he hadn’t thoroughly checked these details before reporting.
‘A trick that can even deceive the ace Sung-hoon…’
As a team leader, it was worth checking out for himself.
‘And if by any chance, Returnee Lee Sung-joon really has SSS-rank potential…’
Which side recruited Returnee Lee Sung-joon would change the landscape of Korea.
Having made his decision, Jo Kang-hyun nodded.
“Alright, since Sung-hoon says so, I’ll meet him myself tomorrow morning as soon as the sun rises.”
By now, Jo Kang-hyun had completely forgotten about his vacation.
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After finishing his first hunt, Lee Sung-joon, who was heading home, had an undeniable smile on his lips.
It was understandable, as the E-grade magic stone obtained from the boss monster, the Orc Warrior, and the by-products obtained from the goblins were sold for a whopping 4 million won.
『Available Balance: 3,217,000』
Although it was a shame that 20 percent of the amount evaporated due to the unexpected tax, it was unavoidable as it was related to the law.
‘There’s no need to be attached to something that can’t be helped.’
Still, perhaps because they took a large tax of 20 percent, the processing of the seller was accurate and fast.
The moment the sale of the by-products was confirmed, 3.2 million won was immediately deposited into the account linked to the returnee registration card.
Thanks to this, even after stopping by a nearby butcher shop and buying plenty of beef to eat with his family, he still had 2.7 million won remaining in his account.
‘With this much money…’
It would be a significant help to his family who were struggling to make ends meet.
Of course, today’s income was just the tip of the iceberg.
With his first hunt today, he was confident that he would be able to make a lot of money in the near future.
It meant that he could move to a nice house and that his family could all live their lives pursuing their own dreams while doing what they wanted to do.
He would be able to enjoy the happy life with his family that he had always longed for.
While imagining a happy future, Lee Sung-joon, who had been moving his feet busily, finally stood in front of his house.
Unit 102, located in the semi-basement.
Perhaps because he had adapted to it to some extent during the past week, he now entered the door lock password with familiar hand movements.
Immediately after, the moment he forcefully opened the front door.
“You’re here?”
His younger sister, Lee Seo-yoon, who was walking out of the room, greeted Lee Sung-joon first.
“You’re a little late today.”
“Son, you’re home? We just started preparing dinner, so wash your hands and feet and rest in your room for a bit!”
Next, his father and mother, Lee Soo-hyuk and Kim Ji-young, who were preparing dinner together in the living room, stuck out their heads and greeted him with bright faces.
Feeling the warmth contained in the simple greetings, Lee Sung-joon raised the envelope he was holding in his hand with a bright smile on his face.
“No, I’ll prepare dinner tonight.”
“What’s this?”
“Son, where did you get the money to…”
His family’s eyes widened at the sight of the beautifully colored beef inside the plastic bag.
“I bought it to commemorate my first day of earning money.”
Lee Sung-joon quickly washed his hands and feet, leaving his family, who were unable to close their mouths, behind.
Immediately afterward, he began to lay newspapers on the living room floor with familiar movements.
Since the four family members lived in a small house, there was not enough space to sleep, so the living room was also used as a bedroom.
Finally, Lee Sung-joon, who unfolded the folding table and turned on the burner, raised the tongs and scissors and said.
“I’ll grill the meat too, so just relax and enjoy.”
“No… I’ll grill the meat.”
Lee Sung-joon shook his head vigorously at the sight of Lee Soo-hyuk, who still looked somewhat dazed and reached out his hand.
“Since it’s my first day of earning money, please let me treat you to dinner tonight.”
At Lee Sung-joon’s firm words, Kim Ji-young and Lee Seo-yoon, who were looking at the two men, nodded their heads.
“Honey, our son wants to show some filial piety, why are you being so dense?”
Kim Ji-young answered with a bright smile on her always-wrinkled eyes.
“That’s right, he’s finally starting to show the filial piety he’s neglected for 26 years, so this is when Dad should definitely help him out.”
Lee Seo-yoon, who usually took care of the household chores, also spoke with a pleased face.
“Although there’s no evidence, I’ve grilled all kinds of meat, from wild boar to beef, so please trust me.”
With a confident smile, Lee Sung-joon picked up the tongs and placed the bright red beef with beautiful white marbling on the heated grill.
Sizzle-!
The moment the red blood of the beef disappeared, Lee Sung-joon immediately picked up the beef with tongs and placed it on his family’s plates.
“Now, try it quickly.”
At Lee Sung-joon’s urging, his family put the beef in their mouths and their eyes widened like a full moon.
“Wow, it’s so delicious.”
Lee Seo-yoon raised her thumb and continuously exclaimed in admiration.
“Mmm!”
“Thanks to my son, I get to eat such high-quality beef.”
The smiles on Lee Soo-hyuk and Kim Ji-young’s faces didn’t fade.
Just as his heart was filled with pride at the sight of his family enjoying the meal, an unexpected remark came from Lee Seo-yoon’s mouth.
“Hunters really do make a lot of money, huh?”
“……How did you know?”
“Wouldn’t it be strange if I didn’t know? You go out every morning to exercise and train your body, and this morning you were sitting in the living room with a very serious expression.”
“So you all knew?”
“Honestly, I wasn’t sure, but now that you suddenly bought beef, I’m certain.”
By now, Lee Sung-joon realized that his family’s attention was all on him, and he scratched the back of his head with an awkward smile.
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