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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Wjin
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There were no people at all.
Even those walking around were only Association employees.
No guild or alliance Hunters were in sight.
“Did I come too early?”
He was tilting his head in puzzlement when,
“I’ve been waiting for you, Returnee Lee Sung-joon.”
A familiar face, Gang-hyun Jo, greeted him from the entrance.
“It’s been a while.”
“I apologize for the inconvenience of having you come here in person. Since rank advancement is a sensitive issue for Hunters, it’s impossible to conduct it informally or remotely. Please understand.”
He had already received considerable special treatment.
Furthermore, since he had free time anyway due to his rest, he hadn’t suffered any direct loss. Sung-joon Lee shook his head and spoke.
“Not at all. But… is it usually this empty early in the morning?”
He had simply asked to satisfy his curiosity, but Gang-hyun Jo’s answer was completely unexpected.
“Normally, it’s always crowded from early in the morning, but today, we cleared it out entirely because we thought you might find it uncomfortable, Returnee Lee Sung-joon.”
Sung-joon Lee chuckled at Gang-hyun Jo’s casual remark.
“You say it’s a sensitive issue, but is this okay?”
Gang-hyun Jo wore a confident expression.
“It wouldn’t have been possible without a reason, but it just so happened to be time to inspect the measuring device, so it was easily resolved.”
It was a similar situation to the Red Goblin Gate incident. While some might have complaints, it was a crucial matter, so no one could raise objections.
“This means there won’t be any unnecessary rumors going around behind your back, so you won’t have anything to worry about, Returnee Lee Sung-joon.”
Such meticulous consideration was always welcome.
A smile naturally appeared on Sung-joon Lee’s lips.
“Thank you for your concern.”
“Not at all, it’s something I should do as your supporter. I’ve already completed all the procedures for the re-evaluation registration, so you can go directly to the measurement room. I’ll guide you.”
He walked down the long corridor under Gang-hyun Jo’s guidance.
After about a minute, they arrived at a white door at the end of the corridor with a sign that read “Measurement Room.”
“Since it’s a highly sensitive machine, there might be errors in the rank measurement if I enter with you, so this is as far as I can personally guide you.”
Gang-hyun Jo then pointed at the door of the measurement room with his index finger.
“Although it’s not quite the same, our staff will kindly explain everything to you through the speakers installed inside.”
“Understood.”
Sung-joon Lee nodded and immediately stepped into the measurement room.
It was the moment Gang-hyun Jo, after confirming Sung-joon Lee’s entrance with his own eyes, stepped into the observation room next door, where he could observe the measurement room.
Tae-hyun Ko, who had been waiting inside, spoke as if he had been expecting him.
“How did it feel to see him again?”
If the purpose had simply been to guide him to the measurement room, any ordinary team member could have done it instead of Team Leader Gang-hyun Jo.
Considering the Hunter Association’s usual shortage of manpower, it could even be considered illogical.
However, there was a reason why Gang-hyun Jo himself had volunteered to guide him.
‘I must not make the same mistake twice.’
The first time he met Returnee Lee Sung-joon, he had committed a discourtesy under the guise of a test.
Fortunately, he had managed to smooth things over after much effort, but there was no guarantee that such luck would hold next time.
Therefore, he had volunteered to be Lee Sung-joon’s guide to improve his discernment, but he hadn’t gained much.
“To be perfectly honest… I still don’t understand.”
It could be said that he found Sung-joon Lee even more difficult to understand than before.
No matter how hard he tried to look, all he could see was thick darkness.
Tap. Tap.
Tae-hyun Ko patted the gloomy Gang-hyun Jo on the shoulder and encouraged him.
“It’s natural that it’s not easy… Then let’s change the subject to something a little easier. What rank do you think Hunter Lee Sung-joon will achieve in this re-evaluation?”
“Since he hunted an Earth Worm alone, I think he’ll get B+ or A rank, right?”
Tae-hyun Ko rested his chin on his hand and spoke at Gang-hyun Jo’s casual reply.
“Hmm…”
The average time for ordinary returnees to reach B+ rank was one year and six months.
In fact, even reaching that rank was considered fortunate.
Some returnees hit a wall called their limit and ultimately remained at B rank.
Since reaching B+ rank itself was no easy feat, even Min-soo Yoon, known for having the fastest record in Korea, had taken a year to reach B+ rank.
Therefore, it could be said that it was absurd to even mention B+ rank for Returnee Lee Sung-joon right now.
“Your words make sense, but I don’t think we can be sure yet.”
Just as Tae-hyun Ko finished speaking, Sung-joon Lee entered the measurement room and placed his hand on the black crystal ball, the MEP-09.
After a brief silence, the MEP-09 began to operate, emitting a faint light.
Naturally, the color of the crystal ball began to change rapidly, drawing the attention of Kang-hyun Jo and Tae-hyun Ko.
“E, D, C+…”
Kang-hyun Jo trailed off, staring at the crystal ball that had turned blue, the symbol of B rank.
But contrary to expectations, the color of the crystal ball didn’t change any further.
“…”
Rather, the measuring device, as if confirming its judgment, dyed the entire crystal ball blue, the color representing B rank.
“B… rank?”
Kang-hyun Jo’s eyes widened, and his gaze naturally shifted to Tae-hyun Ko.
“He definitely hunted the Earth Worm alone, so how could he possibly get a B rank…?”
“Why are you so surprised? You know, don’t you? The measuring device only assesses the stats increased by the Force system.”
It was what Florian Lucas, the creator, had officially announced when the MEP series was first unveiled.
In other words, it couldn’t detect individual strength gained through training or special abilities.
That’s why there were many returnees who possessed strength greater than their measured rank.
But the limit was clear.
Due to their lack of physical abilities, mana, or Qi, most of them couldn’t exhibit abilities beyond their measured rank.
Even those considered the best among returnees, such as Sword Master Min-soo Yoon, could only exert the power of one rank higher.
However, Returnee Lee Sung-joon had demonstrated power that transcended two ranks.
Kang-hyun Jo nodded as he organized his thoughts.
“…Come to think of it, it might be better that his rank came out lower.”
“I see you finally understand.”
Tae-hyun Ko smiled contentedly and turned his gaze to Sung-joon Lee beyond the glass window.
A bright glint appeared in Tae-hyun Ko’s eyes.
‘He truly is a talent beyond imagination.’
As with everything, the closer one got to the summit, the steeper the slope became.
The same applied to leveling up in the Force system.
The higher the level, the slower the leveling speed became.
However, the measured rank of Returnee Lee Sung-joon was only B.
‘Considering the stat increase from the Low-rank, Survivor title, obtained by clearing the Frenzy Gate alone…’
The number of bonus points obtained through leveling up would be no more than 30, even at the highest estimate.
This meant that Returnee Lee Sung-joon could continue to show the same tremendous growth rate.
Not only that, but a high growth potential also meant he could aim for a higher rank than others.
‘It’s hard to even guess how far he will grow…’
A smile appeared on Tae-hyun Ko’s lips as he continued his thoughts.
He had thought Returnee Lee Sung-joon’s role would be limited to acting as a deterrent against the large guilds and the Returnee Association within Korea.
However, that judgment had been a mistake stemming from ignorance.
‘…Not just Korea.’
If he could achieve sufficient growth, he would be more than qualified to be discussed on a global scale.
This meant he could single-handedly change Korea’s position, which had been constantly overshadowed by the powerful nations of China and Japan.
Kang-hyun Jo, standing next to him, seemed to be thinking the same thing, his eyes sparkling.
“I’ll do my best to support Hunter Lee Sung-joon so he can fully regain his original power.”
“I’ll help as much as I can within my authority. Tell me if you need anything.”
The eyes of Kang-hyun Jo and Tae-hyun Ko, as they spoke, were looking towards a bright future.
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The re-evaluation was over.
Despite finishing the re-evaluation more easily than expected, Sung-joon Lee’s expression was stiff as he left the measurement room.
‘B rank…’
It was a bit lower than he had anticipated.
But his stiff expression wasn’t due to dissatisfaction with his rank.
‘As I heard, the measuring device can only detect stats given by the system.’
The sensation of placing his hand on the measuring device, the MEP-09, a moment ago, was still vivid.
Unlike the 07, which could be considered a downgraded version, a considerable amount of energy had scanned every corner of his body, checking the remnants of power left by the Force system.
At first, it felt like a detailed process, but that was it.
The measuring device couldn’t detect the direct changes in his body.
‘…This makes it difficult to accurately determine someone’s level based solely on their known rank.’
If he ever had to fight other Hunters, it would be wise to proceed with caution.
No, it wasn’t just Hunters he had to consider.
The magic tools that measured the ranks of monsters and gates were also created by Florian Lucas.
‘I’ll need to be even more careful when hunting monsters from now on.’
It was the moment Sung-joon Lee finished his thoughts and stepped out of the measurement room.
Clap. Clap.
“Congratulations on reaching B rank, Returnee Lee Sung-joon.”
Vice President Tae-hyun Ko.
Sung-joon Lee’s expression didn’t change in the slightest, even though the current power broker within the Association was suddenly greeting him.
‘It’s a bit surprising that he came in person.’
He had sensed Tae-hyun Ko’s presence in the observation room before entering the measurement room.
However, he hadn’t expected him to appear in person, as he was known for not showing up unless it was a special occasion, like an emergency or the appearance of a special-grade villain.
‘Well… it’s not bad for me.’
Since he was someone worth building a relationship with, Sung-joon Lee accepted the greeting with a smile.
“Thank you.”
“I’d like to give you an apology gift for my subordinate’s rudeness last time, and a congratulatory gift for your rank promotion. Would you have some time for that?”
It was his scheduled day off.
Sung-joon Lee readily nodded, as he had no particular plans.
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System Notification 