Inside the Chairman's office, Go Gun-Hee poured Min-Jun a cup of high-grade tea. He sat across from him, studying him like a puzzle.
Min-Jun was calm, and frankly, no matter what Gun-hee tried to say to him, he didn't have any interest in joining the Korean Hunters' Association.
In the end, even if Gun-hee tried to maintain his mystery, authority, and prestige, what could he offer?
Patriotism.
Yup, except for this, Min-Jun knew that Gun-hee couldn't offer him anything else, as the income from being a civil servant, working on the Korean Hunter Association, wasn't that high either.
No, how could he tarnish the word of patriotism with money, right?
Working for the country meant working for a higher purpose than vulgar money.
What would happen if that happened?
If he were asked to work without pay by the country, he would agree for patriotic reasons, right?
In that case, who was the shameless one?
Still, as Min-Jun was all calm and even drank his tea, which Gun-Hee prepared as he didn't have a hobby to waste his food, and to be honest, while he didn't like the country, the organization, he respected Gun-Hee, who had decided to abandon his desires to protect the country, becoming the pillar that held the sky so that this country wouldn't be destroyed.
For someone to be able to have such justice within his heart, Min-Jun had to admit that his heart was the ugly one, and that was why he respected Gun-Hee.
Gun-Hee might not be perfect, but his desire to protect everyone in Korea was sincere, and because of that, Min-Jun would listen to him.
"Kim Min-Jun, how old are you?"
"19 years old, Chairman."
"You are young." Gun-Hee nodded. "But you are also mature, as you have worked from childhood till now to help your grandmother. Thank you for that."
While he said so, Gun-Hee bowed his head.
"..."
Min-Jun remained silent, narrowing his eyes, since he didn't like this emotional play card. "Just what do you want to talk about with me, Chairman?"
It was fine if Gun-Hee just wanted to ask him to join the Korean Hunter Associations, but involving his family in the negotiation was definitely something he didn't like.
Also, did Gun-Hee think that apologizing would solve everything?
The government was simply useless, and they did nothing when Min-Jun needed someone the most, so at this moment, would they even think he would support them?
Well, it was too far to say that he wouldn't help them. Still, he wouldn't be that silly, overworked hero in the light novel where they're told to fight enemies, demons, and all other crises without getting paid, purely for patriotism to protect this country and maintain the status quo.
Then, as expected, Min-Jun knew well that his guess was correct since Gun-Hee really came to invite him to the Korea Hunter Association, and by using the "Patriotism Trap!"
Gun-Hee met Min-Jun's eyes as he said sincerely, "The Guilds view you as a product. A way to increase their stock prices. But the Association views you as a Citizen. Korea is in danger. We need a pillar to hold up the sky. I want you to work directly for me."
Yes, he was playing the same card he told Jin-Woo in the original story. Still, without a doubt, it was useful, as he played on an emotional appeal, and for a normal 20-something Korean citizen, saying "No" to a national hero was almost impossible.
However, Min-Jun wasn't affected. No, he was affected since Go-Gunhee didn't tell a single lie, and the words that came out from Gunhee were all the truth.
'However...'
He knew well that if he accepted becoming the pillar, it would mean a lot of responsibilities, and he didn't think he could handle them, especially given how selfish he was.
Also, he had been working so hard for so long, so while he felt a bit guilty, he wanted to be selfish. Besides working as the pillar that held up the country, he could still support the country by joining the Korean Hunter Association.
He took a sip of the tea and placed it down gently. "Chairman Go, you ask me to be the pillar holding up the sky. However, I will have to refuse, since I don't think I can be a pillar supporting the country. More importantly, instead of forcing yourselves, you should care about your health more since yours is failing because you can't contain the burden of being the pillar."
Knowing Go Gun-Hee was ill, this also reinforced his decision not to join the Korean Hunter Association.
"....."
"—?!"
Go Gun-Hee froze. Woo Jin-Chul's hand instinctively dropped to his weapon
Nobody knows about the Chairman's illness!
"...How could you possibly know that?"
A spy?
Impossible?
After all, it was clear that Min-Jun had just become a Hunter, and his background was as clear as day, especially since he was active on social media as an influencer. Even if they tried to search for anything, it was impossible to find anything, as it meant that Min-Jun could tell that Gun-Hee was dying!
[Target: Go Gun-Hee.]
[Entity Status: Vessel of the Brightest Fragment of Light.]
[Physical Condition: Severe Cardiac Strain. Mana Circuit Overload. Estimated time until fatal heart failure: < 2 years.]
With his "Manager," Min-Jun saw everything, but he wasn't cruel enough to tell Gun-Hee about the truth, as to how one would feel when someone told them that they would die in less than two years.
"I see the flow of the world, Chairman. I see that your 'patriotism' is killing you."
Min-Jun said nonsense, but he knew that they believed him since he was an Archer!
Among all the classes of Hunters, Archers had the highest sense status, which made them able to feel, see, and sense those things that weren't felt by other classes, after all.
Still, he knew that he had won, especially when Gun-Hee was in a defensive position, so instead of wasting his time here, he should leave and start his negotiations with the guildmasters, so he could live well and grow stronger, so that way, he wouldn't be helpless when the "Final War" began.
"If I join you, I will become a civil servant. I get buried in paperwork, assembly hearings, and budget committees. If I want to save a city, I have to wait for the Prime Minister's approval."
Min-Jun leaned forward, resting his elbows on his desk. "I don't want such trouble. I want to use my time efficiently. I will join a private Guild because I can dictate the terms. Let the Guilds handle the politicians and the press. I will handle the monsters. I am not abandoning Korea; I am just refusing to wear its handcuffs."
Still, while he didn't care about the country, he had to say it as he cared, so he wouldn't be labeled a traitor. Yet, even if they did, he would move to the United States, and by then, he could do whatever he wanted.
This was his rejection, and no matter what Go Gun-Hee said, it was meaningless, as he couldn't join the Korean Hunters' Association.
Regardless, Go Gun-Hee stared at Mun-Jin. He realised he wasn't talking to a hot-headed rookie or a greedy mercenary like Hwang Dong-Su, but a logical, calculated anomaly.
Gun-Hee sighed. The tension left his shoulders. He wasn't angry; he was relieved.
"You are arrogant. But you are not foolish. Very well. The Association will not interfere with your Guild negotiations."
Gun-Hee then stamped Min-Jun's S-Rank License personally and slid it across the table.
"Just remember, Kim Mun-Jin. When a disaster comes that money cannot solve... I will call you."
Min-Jun accepted his license with a smile. "You can call me Chairman. But my consulting fees are very high. Drink some herbal tea for that heart. Also, thank you for the tea. It's good."
"Jin-Chul, escort him."
"Y-Yes, Chairman!"
After Min-Jun excused himself, Gun-Hee sighed helplessly, but Jin-Chul sweated the entire time because he realized Min-Jun just intimidated the strongest man in Korea.
Min-Jun might have refused to be part of the Korean Hunter Association, but as long as he was in Korea, that was enough, Gun-Hee thought, since if Min-Jun really moved to the United States, like a certain hunter in the original story, that was enough.
Regardless, when Min-Jun entered the lobby, Choi Jong-In, Baek Yoon-Ho, Cha Hae-In, and everyone else were still waiting, practically vibrating with anxiety.
He held up your fresh S-Rank card and said, "Alright. Who wants to pay for my tuition?"
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Sorry to make you wait!
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