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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Wjin
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Returnee Alliance Headquarters.
Despite it not being the day for a mandatory regular meeting, the key executives of the Returnee Alliance began to gather en masse in the main conference room.
Their complexions were darker than ever before.
As the executives with gloomy faces gathered one by one, the empty conference room was packed full.
Kim Gi-young, the Chief of Staff of the Returnee Alliance, as if he had been waiting, brought the microphone on the table to his lips and began to speak.
“As you know, our plan has completely gone awry.”
When Razaka had attacked the city, they hadn’t rejected the Hunter Association’s emergency support request without reason.
They had refused with the intention of using it as a scheme to keep Lee Seong-joon, who was showing unprecedented growth, in check.
‘I thought it would be difficult for Lee Seong-joon to face Razaka alone… without the help of a subjugation team.’
Of course, since there was official data from the World Hunter Association, he didn’t think Lee Seong-joon would be defeated and die.
But he had no doubt that he would suffer significant injuries.
No, he was certain.
He believed they could buy some time and curb Lee Seong-joon’s threatening growth until Tae Sang-cheon, the leader of the Korean Returnee Alliance, emerged from his secluded training.
However, Lee Seong-joon not only didn’t suffer injuries, but he overwhelmed Razaka without so much as a scratch.
As stated earlier, Kim Gi-young’s and the Returnee Alliance executives’ certainty had been spectacularly proven wrong.
“Th-that, as you all saw, Ganggi! He shot Ganggi! He’s already reached the Hwagyeong realm! Is this even a sensible situation?”
Seeing the Knights Commander, Han Sung-jin, in such great confusion that his voice trembled, Kim Gi-young spoke in a calm tone.
“Honestly, it’s something incredibly hard to believe, but as the result is clear, we must not deny reality. Our plan has failed. So we must acknowledge and accept it… Lee Seong-joon is a hunter with ranker-level skill, and a powerhouse that we cannot dare to measure with our abilities.”
Although he was speaking as calmly as possible to suppress the anxiety of the other executives, Kim Gi-young also felt considerable embarrassment and surprise internally.
‘Lee Seong-joon is a monster who is rewriting our expectations… no, the history of hunters.’
He had known that Lee Seong-joon was no ordinary person because he had shown tremendous growth since he first began his activities as a hunter.
But he had never expected him to possess talent that would encompass the world.
‘…No matter what that person Baek Mu-jin said, I should have acted decisively as usual.’
Lee Seong-joon had now become a being who had accumulated such immense fame that he couldn’t even be carelessly provoked.
In contrast, the Returnee Alliance’s momentum was diminishing day by day.
Regret washed over him like a tide, but Kim Gi-young at that moment couldn’t even afford to feel such emotions.
“The plan fell through… and the government and Hunter Association are thoroughly trying to tear us apart for refusing emergency aid. What are we going to do now?”
Moo Moon-ju, Choi Seung-tae, frowned and glared at Kim Gi-young.
When the plan to use Razaka to keep Lee Seong-joon in check was first proposed, he had readily agreed, but now that things had gone awry, he was trying to shift responsibility.
It was truly an utterly despicable act, but Kim Gi-young didn’t pay it much mind.
‘…Anyway, if this current problem is solved, he’ll change his attitude as if nothing happened and act friendly again.’
There was no reason to fluctuate with every emotion at the moment.
‘Lee Seong-joon overwhelming Razaka was a completely unexpected situation… but there’s not no way out at all.’
Kim Gi-young, wearing a placid expression, slowly moved his lips.
“I do have one breakthrough.”
“A breakthrough?”
“It’s not just me who knows it; it’s a method all the executives gathered here are aware of.”
Naturally, the executives’ gazes converged on Kim Gi-young.
Confirming their hopeful gazes one by one, Kim Gi-young opened his mouth in a low, somber voice.
“As we’ve always done, we either bring Lee Seong-joon in or eliminate him.”
“Ha… you’re spouting utter nonsense.”
Choi Seung-tae snorted and scoffed, but Kim Gi-young continued speaking without wavering.
“Instead, the approach must change.”
The Returnee Alliance clearly possessed power that could be called formidable, and indeed, their actions were unhesitating.
However, this time, their opponent was not good.
Lee Seong-joon was a master who had reached the Hwagyeong realm.
He was a powerhouse that the executives of the Returnee Alliance gathered here could not even dare to contend with.
To display a coercive attitude towards such a Lee Seong-joon?
The outcome was as clear as day.
It was impossible for Kim Gi-young, who possessed enough intelligence to sit in the Chief of Staff position, not to know this obvious fact.
“Carelessly provoking Lee Seong-joon would be no different from a moth flying into a flame, but Lee Seong-joon is a person who cares deeply for his family.”
Choi Seung-tae’s brow furrowed at Kim Gi-young’s chilling tone.
“You’re going to touch an ordinary person?”
A hunter laying a hand on an ordinary person was a grave crime and the most sensitive issue for the World Hunter Association.
There was no way they would just let it slide.
Furthermore, it was an act committed by the Returnee Alliance, which already had a poor relationship with the Hunter Association.
To make an example of them, they would thoroughly investigate every detail and send the Korean Returnee Alliance straight to rock bottom.
To put it more bluntly, it was like burning down the entire house to catch a single flea.
Choi Seung-tae, his expression hardened, directed his gaze at Kim Gi-young.
However, Kim Gi-young’s expression as he received the gaze was utterly calm.
“I know what the Moo Moon-ju-nim is worried about, but if we succeed in our plan, this matter will not be revealed to the public.”
“Yes, as you say, if the plan succeeds, it won’t be revealed externally, but I don’t think Vice-Alliance Leader Baek Mu-jin will stay still.”
Just a few months ago, Baek Mu-jin had sternly warned the executives of the Returnee Alliance never to lay a hand on Lee Seong-joon.
“Although he’s absent from his post due to an order issued after the alliance meeting, he’s not gone forever, is he?”
If he were to hear that they had ignored his warning and laid a hand on Lee Seong-joon, he would undoubtedly rage like a madman.
“Certainly… he’s a person whose temperament is unfathomable, so there’s no particular solution for that part.”
“No matter how I think about it, it’s too risky. I’ve never seen anything good come from getting involved with that man, Baek Mu-jin, so I’ll be withdrawing from this matter.”
It was the moment Choi Seung-tae stood up from his seat.
Other alliance executives also began to stand up from their seats, as if they had been waiting.
Kim Gi-young, who had been watching the seats empty one by one, moved his lips.
“Can you all handle today’s choice?”
“What do you mean?”
“If our Alliance Leader finds out about the incompetent executives who caused trouble and can’t even clean it up… what do you think he will do?”
“…”
At Kim Gi-young’s chilling smile, Choi Seung-tae and the other executives swallowed hard.
Gulp.
What did he think he would do?
They dared not even imagine.
‘…We could die.’
Of course, he wouldn’t kill all the executives, but they couldn’t guarantee that they wouldn’t be among those who met their end.
Seeing the executives’ faces turn pale, Kim Gi-young opened his mouth, a satisfied expression on his lips.
“It’s not too late yet…”
A grotesque smile bloomed on Kim Gi-young’s face, his eyes cold.
“I will give you a chance to choose again.”
In reality, there were no choices to be made.
The existence of Alliance Leader Tae Sang-cheon was fear itself to the executives of the Returnee Alliance.
From the very beginning, when they first heard Kim Gi-young’s plan, they were in a situation from which they could not back out.
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“Everyone worked hard today!”
With team leader Lee Soo-hyeok’s words, the fierce day’s work came to an end, and the Friday night commute began.
Every team member, like any office worker, beamed with bright smiles and exchanged greetings at the long-awaited end of the workday.
“Everyone worked hard this week.”
“You really worked hard.”
While the team members greeted with bright faces, Lee Soo-hyeok quickly packed his belongings and immediately stood up.
“Everyone, have a good rest this weekend, and I’ll see you next week, looking energetic.”
“Are you just leaving again today? A new samgyeopsal restaurant just opened nearby, why don’t we have a light drink of soju before you go?”
Manager Park Sung-woon approached Lee Soo-hyeok, his eyes sparkling.
Due to Lee Soo-hyeok’s easygoing attitude and his consistent kindness to his team members, he had received similar suggestions multiple times.
However, in the past, he couldn’t easily agree due to the pressures of reality, and more recently, he had been refusing for a different reason.
“Drink with the other team members. I’m going home to rest comfortably.”
“Even though I insist every time, you still leave without fail. I guess Yongsan The Hill lives up to its name?”
In truth, Lee Soo-hyeok’s complexion had improved not just because of the move.
It was because the life he had always dreamed of—his family living happily together without any worries—was now truly sinking into his heart.
He was incredibly grateful and proud of his son, Lee Seong-joon, for creating such a good environment.
‘And he’s truly adorable too.’
Although he couldn’t openly express it much due to shyness, his son was incredibly lovable.
Indeed, just thinking about his son, Lee Seong-joon, made the corners of his mouth curve into a smile.
Before he knew it, a bright smile bloomed on Lee Soo-hyeok’s face, and voices filled with envy flowed from the team members.
“Yongsan The Hill must really be different. The team leader’s complexion has been so bright lately.”
“Isn’t that a place where even famous celebrities can’t easily get in? Hunter Lee Seong-joon must be truly amazing.”
“To have Hunter Lee Seong-joon as a son… If I were the team leader, I think I’d come to work smiling every single day.”
“Wow… I can’t even imagine what that feeling must be like.”
Lee Soo-hyeok, wearing an awkward smile at the endless praise for his son from the team members, hurriedly left his seat.
“Everyone worked hard this week. I can’t do anything special for you, but I’ll leave the corporate card. I’ll handle the approval with the director, so those who want to have a team dinner, please enjoy yourselves.”
“As expected of our team leader!”
“Thank you!”
“Go home safely!”
“See you next week!”
Waving a big hand in farewell to his team members, Lee Soo-hyeok immediately left the company building and made his way home.
As the peaceful end of the week was drawing near, an uninvited guest suddenly appeared and began to follow Lee Soo-hyeok.
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do all of these have to have someone go after the family like this? is this even the first time in this story someone’s gone after the family like this? is the author running out of stuff to write?