Chapter 44: Moon Kang-un
I stepped out of the taxi and frowned as I gazed at the towering landmark before me.
Was it because I only had bad memories here? Just looking at this place made a surge of irritation rise within me.
Last time, I clashed with the head of the Changseong Group, the enemy responsible for my parents’ deaths, at this location. Although the outcome favored me—I managed to deal a blow and conceal my abilities—there was no doubt they would still be receiving regular reports on me.
‘Even if they don’t monitor me around the clock, they’ll keep tabs on my general movements. And at the slightest hint of something strange or unexpected, they’ll send an assassin.’
‘I need to hide my strength until I grow stronger.’
I would reveal only as much power as a promising talent might display—no more and no less. Showing less than what they assessed would certainly raise suspicions and lead to complications.
That’s why I was now at the Association—to take the promotion test for an [E] rank.
Compared to past top candidates, it might seem a bit early to take the promotion exam, but there was no problem revealing this much strength. The evaluation of hunter ranks wasn’t determined by the system but by people, and the criteria for each rank were vague enough that certain discrepancies were accepted.
I approached the reception desk in the lobby and registered for the test. Checking on my phone, I saw that the test would be held in three days.
The timing was perfect, as registration for the exam closed three days before it started. As soon as I finished registering, I left the Association.
I didn’t want to attract the attention of the Association President or that female inspection director; that would only lead to unnecessary trouble.
“Maybe I should pay a visit to Seo Mina?”
I had turned down her persistent offers to visit, using the excuse that I was admitted to the hospital only to spend time with my sister and that there was no real issue. Now I owed her a visit.
It wasn’t because she had threatened to take revenge if I didn’t visit her immediately after being discharged.
Right! It wasn’t because I was afraid of the Seohwa Group’s power. I was simply going to mend my relationship with an upset colleague.
After all, she was an important connection, someone who would become an SS-rank hunter. It would be troublesome if our relationship soured.
With that thought, I headed straight to Seohwa Group, where I spent the rest of the day appeasing the sulking Seo Mina.
***
“Damn it. Damn it. Damn it.”
The man muttered curses under his breath, his eyes wild with madness as he moved hurriedly, pulling his hat down to obscure his face while evading as many security cameras as possible.
Under the brim of the hat, his face was covered in scruffy facial hair, his eyes sunken, and his hair greasy and unkempt.
“How dare they do this to me?”
He muttered curses continuously, not even attempting to conceal his deranged state.
This man was Moon Kang-un, a former scout for the Seongun Guild and the mastermind who had hired an assassin to kill Shin Juha. Now discarded by the Seongun Guild and left to repay immense compensation, his life had spiraled into ruin.
He ground his teeth, unable to accept the reality of his situation.
‘Why? Why?’
He had been the head of the scouting team, overseeing all scouting operations for Seongun Guild, which ranked fifth among Korea’s major guilds—a position of significant power.
Naturally, he reveled in power and indulged in his self-importance, using his influence and connections to commit all manner of misdeeds.
What protected him was his position as the head scout for Seongun Guild.
But this time, he had crossed the line. He had attempted to assassinate Seo Mina, the treasured daughter of Seohwa Group.
It was an unfortunate coincidence—he had aimed for Shin Juha, not realizing that Seo Mina would be implicated.
Unsurprisingly, this was beyond what the Seongun Guild could cover up. In terms of guild rankings alone, Seohwa was second while Seongun was fifth.
Moreover, Seohwa was the leading conglomerate in the country, whereas Seongun barely ranked at the bottom of the top three conglomerates. The power disparity was undeniable, and Seongun Guild’s decision was to crush the parasite causing trouble.
Moon Kang-un, however, thought differently. Seongun Guild! Seongun Group! They could surely withstand that level of pressure, couldn’t they?!
He had been loyal to that guild. He had scouted countless talented rookies, contributing greatly to the guild.
And now, they were abandoning him over a single mistake?!
His anger was directed squarely at Shin Juha. No matter how furious he became, he lacked the courage or madness to challenge Seohwa or Seongun directly.
“Here it is.”
Moon Kang-un approached a mansion. The security guards, sensing trouble, furrowed their brows and sent a junior guard to intercept him.
“Get lost.”
As expected of the residence of a major corporation’s chairman, the guards were all awakened hunters of at least D-rank. Moon Kang-un flinched at their intimidating presence but fueled his deranged resolve and stepped forward.
“I’m here to make a proposal to Chairman Lee Seoyong. Please let me in.”
Indeed, this was the home of Lee Seoyong, chairman of Changseong Group and the man responsible for the deaths of Shin Juha’s parents.
Moon Kang-un had witnessed Lee Seoyong and Shin Juha clashing at the Association’s lobby by chance that day. And he had thought: the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Even with some connections left, he couldn’t handle Shin Juha, who was under Seohwa Group’s protection, alone. But with Changseong’s help, he could easily exact his revenge on Shin Juha.
The challenge would be making that proposal in the first place.
“Hah… what a fool. Do you think the chairman is your friend? If you have a proposal, do you think he’ll say, ‘Oh, thank you,’ and agree to meet you?”
“Who’s this beggar now? Hey… just rough him up a bit and send him off.”
“Yes, senior. You heard him, didn’t you? You’re about to get a beating.”
As soon as the guard grabbed Moon Kang-un by the collar to drag him away, he began to struggle.
“Damn it! Just pass on the message! You bastards doing gatekeeping! Do you know who I am?!”
“Look at this crazy guy.”
Thwack!
A punch from a B-rank hunter landed in Moon Kang-un’s gut, making him buckle over and gag as he vomited from the impact.
The guard grimaced at the sight of Moon Kang-un, now bent like a hook and retching.
“If you’re going to fold from one punch, why act out in the first place?”
The guard was just about to throw another punch when the sound of a car approaching stopped him.
The guards quickly assembled, including the one who had struck Moon Kang-un, who kicked him to the ground and rushed to line up with the others, bowing their heads.
The car pulled up in front of them.
Flinch!
The guards, who normally wouldn’t spare a glance, were now nervously bowing even lower when the car stopped.
The window rolled down, and a man’s hand appeared, motioning with a single finger. The gesture pointed at the rookie guard who had just hit Moon Kang-un.
The rookie paled but quickly ran over and bowed deeply at the car.
“What is it?”
A soft voice emanated from inside the car. But to the rookie guard, it sounded like the voice of death itself. Trembling, he shouted his response, bowing even deeper.
“It’s nothing serious!”
The other guards’ faces stiffened at his words. Silence stretched for a moment, broken by a sigh and a sharper voice from inside.
“Did I ask you to judge the situation? The dog guarding the gate decides for the master and answers in his place, huh? I asked what was going on, not for you to give an answer on my behalf.”
The rookie, losing his composure at the sudden shift in tone, quickly corrected himself, sensing the tense atmosphere behind him.
“A lunatic came to the house saying he has a proposal for the chairman, so we were dealing with him.”
“A proposal?”
“Yes! But judging by his appearance, he looks like a beggar or a madman.”
The man in the car pondered briefly before issuing a command.
“Bring him here.”
“What…? Yes, sir!”
The rookie guard hurriedly grabbed the trembling Moon Kang-un and dragged him to the car where the young master waited.
“This man? He does look like a beggar. Filthy and repulsive. But… his eyes are alive. I like the madness in them.”
A smirk accompanied the appraisal as Moon Kang-un lifted his gaze and looked into the car.
Inside sat a handsome man, staring down at him.
It was Lee Jiyong, the grandson of Chairman Lee Seoyong and the C-rank hunter who had once challenged Shin Juha.
“So, what kind of proposal would bring you to someone else’s house?”
Lee Jiyong’s question prompted Moon Kang-un, shaking from pain, to speak.
“I want to get back at Shin Juha. It’d be even better if he were killed. Help me. You can use me like a dog or a tool. Just please help me.”
With crazed eyes and his body sprawled in a submissive bow, Moon Kang-un begged. Lee Jiyong, finding this entertaining, chuckled.
“Shin Juha… Shin Juha, you say. The one who humiliated both me and my grandfather.”
It had happened a few weeks ago, but he remembered it vividly. Acting on his grandfather’s request to test the new top cadet, he had picked a fight, only to be humiliated and widely ridiculed on hunter forums.
The news articles had been suppressed with money, but too many people had witnessed the event, damaging his reputation.
Even those who once praised him as a ‘Divine Star’ now called him an arrogant third-generation heir who hadn’t changed even after awakening, criticizing him as incorrigible.
After finally overcoming that image and earning his grandfather’s acknowledgment, he found himself entangled in rumors due to an F-rank rookie’s tricks.
‘That insolent worm.’
His grandfather had ordered him not to touch the matter further and only provide brief reports, but Lee Jiyong had no such intention.
Shin Juha had marred not only his image but the Changseong name as well, and for that, there had to be retribution.
“Interesting. Get in the car. Let’s talk more on a little drive.”
At the suddenly gentlemanly words of the heir, Moon Kang-un pressed his head to the ground in gratitude.
He was then ushered into the car by a guard, where he spent an hour conversing with Lee Jiyong and formulating a plan for revenge.
“I’ll help you to that extent. Prove your worth. If you handle this well… the scout team leader position at Seongun Guild will be yours.”
“Thank you. Thank you so much. I will definitely, definitely make sure that bastard… dies.”
“Ah… you know my name or the Changseong name cannot be implicated, right?”
“Of course. Understood. Thank you again.”
Moon Kang-un, bowing at a full 90-degree angle, smiled as if he had gained more than he expected.
And so, three days passed.
—
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