Chapter 29. The Association and the Enemy
“Whatever you were thinking when you tried to access the identity of a zero-grade security target, just drop it. It will be better for you, for me, and for the Association.”
“What do you mean by that? Two people died, and an entire tutorial was destroyed! Shouldn’t we at least uncover the truth, if not mete out justice?!”
The person who came to see Park Seo-ha, who was practically in a state of confinement in the interrogation room, was none other than the Association’s president, the most powerful figure in the organization.
In response to his command, Park Seo-ha hardened her expression and retorted. This response explained well why she was known as the troublemaker of the Inspection Division, a mad dog that never let go of a case once she got hold of it.
But the Association President knew that the investigation into this incident—or more precisely, the person named Shin Juha—could not go any further. He ran his hand over his face and let out a deep sigh.
“Team Leader Park Seo-ha, can you please rein in that attitude of yours? With your ability, you could easily take on the role of head of the entire Inspection Division. So why do you keep causing trouble like this? Come on, do me a favor, won’t you? If this goes wrong, it’s not just your neck on the line; it could mean a complete overhaul of the entire Association!”
“Even so, the truth must come out. This is a case where people died, and it’s currently the incident of greatest interest to the public. We need to at least understand what happened so we can put a good spin on it!”
“Yes… the truth, that’s great. Ha… a good spin, you say. Not exactly what I’d expect to hear from you. You’ve really become quite the liar, haven’t you? Hey! Bring in that report we just received.”
Following the command of Park Ji-chun, the Association President and Park Seo-ha’s uncle, the subordinates outside brought in a case file with all the compiled information and handed it to Park Seo-ha.
“What is this, President?”
“This is the truth about the incident that you’ve been so eager to uncover. It includes why the two deceased lost their lives. The Intelligence Division did their best to gather this evidence, so you can trust it.”
After reading the file from start to finish, Park Seo-ha let out a sigh and tossed the file onto the table.
“So, now that you know the truth, will you back off? Now that you understand that the two people you were investigating are practically victims themselves? I’ll say it one more time: if you insist on continuing, I’ll have to stop you, even by force. I can’t cover for you this time.”
“Ah, I get it. I get it already. Dammit, this feels so unfinished.”
“Release her. And leave us. I’ll have a word with this troublemaker before I go.”
After his subordinates removed her handcuffs and left the interrogation room, the Association President, shedding the demeanor of a supervisor dealing with a stubborn subordinate, turned off all the recording devices and cameras with a serious, resolute expression.
“Do you still have something to say? Why do you look so serious? What more do you want to talk about?”
“Listen closely. Can you bring the hunter named Shin Juha, whose identity you tried to access, to me? No, just bring him to this interrogation room. All I need is to meet him secretly here.”
It was a request coming from her uncle, who was also the Association President.
Park Seo-ha’s face showed a puzzled expression at his request. Then, as if she recalled something, she nodded.
“I suppose this has to do with that life plan you mentioned before, right? Well, given that he’s classified as a zero-grade security target, he must have some kind of secret. I assume he has something important.”
“The reason he became a zero-grade security target isn’t that big. It’s because of his parents. In any case, don’t dig deeper and just make it happen. Can you do that?”
“Sigh… If I say he needs to be called in for further questioning, it might work. But will he be able to get here unnoticed, avoiding all the eyes on the Association? Should I bring him straight to your office instead?”
“No, that would draw too much attention. It’s better here. The interrogation room has the fewest eyes on it, so he should be able to come unnoticed. I’m counting on you.”
With that, the Association President stood up and left the interrogation room with an irritated expression, not even looking back.
“I’ve made myself clear, so let’s just release her. And don’t give her any more work that might cause trouble!”
“Understood, sir. Take care.”
Even within the organization he ruled, the Association President had to keep his head down, always aware of the many eyes watching from the shadows. Seeing this, Park Seo-ha frowned and recalled what he had once said to her.
“This country is rotten. It needs a complete overhaul. My mentor was mercilessly killed for simply being an inconvenience, and the virtuous couple who saved me multiple times, even earning the title of heroes, were branded as traitors and killed by their machinations. I will stop them, even if it costs me my life.”
Honestly, Park Seo-ha didn’t fully understand the depth of his motivations, whether he had some grand ideals or whether he was driven by personal desires. But she didn’t think he was wrong in what he aimed to achieve.
Her reputation as the biggest headache of the most powerful Inspection Division wasn’t just because of her abrasive personality. It was also a calculated performance to draw attention away from her uncle.
By making him seem like a useless fool who installed his wild, reckless niece as a puppet in the Association.
Scratch, scratch.
“Seriously, I can’t even refuse. Ugh! This is such a hassle!”
With the troublesome task on her hands, Park Seo-ha returned to the Inspection Division, only to find herself unexpectedly faced with a rare opportunity.
***
In the dark interrogation room that looked straight out of a drama or movie, with only a single lamp shining, I sat comfortably in the chair, feeling refreshed after washing off the blood and changing my clothes. Park Seo-ha, who seemed displeased, sat across from me.
“So, what do you want to investigate?”
“First, I’d like to hear a bit about the incident—starting from your relationship with the company to why you retaliated against them in that manner. After all, it’s illegal for a hunter to personally administer punishment instead of the Inspection Division.”
“It’s not illegal. It’s more like a legal gray area, wouldn’t you say?”
“Tsk! Fine. Either way, you won’t be punished. It’s not like you killed anyone. So, let’s hear it.”
She clearly showed her dissatisfaction, her forehead veins bulging. I calmly shared everything about the incident.
After about 30 minutes of conversation.
“That should do it. Well, this was mostly for formality’s sake. Actually, there’s another reason I brought you here. Someone wants to meet you. Our zero-grade security target.”
With those words, Park Seo-ha stood up and left the interrogation room.
I barely had time to register her abrupt departure before another person entered the room—someone I vaguely recognized.
No, he was someone no hunter could fail to recognize.
“It’s been a long time, hasn’t it? Well, you might not remember me since we met when you were very young. But we met with my mentor, the former Association President.”
“So, you’re saying the Association President wants to meet with me?”
“Yes, I asked my niece to bring you here. She might have acted a bit rough, so I apologize on her behalf. Because of you—or perhaps thanks to you—she’s going to face disciplinary action.”
“What… What did I do?”
Unbelievable… I let out a wry laugh, locking eyes with Association President Park Ji-chun.
A strange atmosphere enveloped the room as a moment of silence passed between us.
“So, Hunter Shin Juha, are you planning to avenge your parents?”
The one to break the silence with a direct blow was the Association President. He spoke as if he could no longer hold back.
“You know full well that it’s impossible to do alone. Even though I’m aware you were the top of your class and have the skills to outshine other promising talents. And even though I know you’ll grow tremendously. One person alone can’t stop a tidal wave. That’s why they haven’t taken any measures against you yet.”
“What does that have to do with you? You, who sided with those who killed the mentor you so revered, and who now occupies this seat as a traitor. Even when my parents were cruelly exiled to some unknown part of the Abyss, you were there, weren’t you? And now you want to pretend like we’re close?!”
Honestly, I don’t have a single grain of good feeling toward the Association President. In fact, the fact that I’m restraining myself and using words instead of my fists is already a considerable effort on my part.
He may not have killed my parents directly, but he is undeniably guilty of silently condoning and covering up their fate.
“…I’m sorry. I won’t make excuses. I won’t claim that I was in a tough spot or powerless. In the end, I’m the one who betrayed my benefactors and turned my back on my friends.”
“Exactly. So, you have no right to speak so confidently to me. Do you have any idea how I survived each day in that despair? I kept living because I couldn’t die. You didn’t care a drop about me during those times of suffering, but now that I’ve awakened, I’ve suddenly become a useful card in your hand, is that it? You think you can wield me like a tool? Dream on. You’re just a cowardly piece of trash.”
Bang!
I slammed the table and got up, ready to leave the interrogation room. That is, until the Association President knelt down and grabbed the hem of my pants.
“What are you doing, Association President? Humiliating yourself before a mere hunter? This won’t erase the things you’ve done.”
“I know. I know, that’s why I’m doing this. Give me a chance. Give me a chance to atone for my sins!”
“I don’t trust you. And I don’t want to. The only reason I’m even talking to you is because you used to call my parents your friends. So, don’t ever come near me again. I’ll handle my revenge on my own, no matter how long it takes.”
Did he say one person can’t stop a tidal wave?
No, it’s possible. If that one person is an A-rank hunter with overwhelming power, they can hold back a wave with just a gesture.
So, I will become strong. Strong enough that no one can stand in my way, I will soar to the heavens and exact my revenge on those who made my parents and me suffer so terribly.
“I hope we never meet again, Association President.”
With those words, I left. Whatever his true intentions were, I didn’t care. Whether he genuinely wanted to use me to exact his own revenge or whether this was just a ploy for his own gain.
‘I’ll get a sense of his true colors by watching his actions.’
As the head of the Association, he could easily obstruct my path if he wanted to. If he tries to get in my way, then all his words today were just an act.
‘Even if he doesn’t, I still won’t trust him.’
With that thought, I followed an employee’s guidance from the underground interrogation room up to the Association lobby.
“Heh heh heh. Well, look who it is! It’s been a long time. How have you been? You’ve grown up with that same handsome face from back then!”
‘Damn it, just my luck.’
Standing before me was one of my true enemies.
—
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