Even if I Make It Roughly, Ex-rank Items Continue to Accumulate - Chapter 18

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Even Hastily Made Ones Keep Stacking Up as EX-Rank (18)

You’ll see when you look

“…Stage Zero.”

“That’s right. It’s an event that starts from the afternoon of the second day of the expo. The Association hasn’t specifically designated it as the ‘main event,’ but everyone calls it that.”

Lee Si-hyeok nodded at Kim Seung-hyeon’s explanation.

Stage Zero.

An official event to test the practical performance of artifacts exhibited at the expo.

Booths participating in this event recruit famous hunters and assign them the role of ‘Testers.’

By having hunters with proven skills perform practical demonstrations of artifacts, they aim for various effects including popularity boosts.

And…

‘…This entire process is broadcast live.’

This was why the GateTech Expo enjoyed popularity on par with the Olympics or World Cup of the past.

Popular hunters who receive tremendous attention just for buying something at a mart all gather in one place, and on top of that, they compete while showing off their skills?

It was only natural that it would gain explosive popularity.

Therefore, booths participating in Stage Zero had no choice but to be desperate to find hunters suitable for their artifacts.

“Currently, most booths participating in the expo have already secured testers.”

“Come to think of it, the Association would know who’s been recruited by everyone.”

“Yes. We can’t disclose it due to regulations, but I can tell you this much. The level of testers this time is really quite impressive. Compared to last year, quite a few high-grade hunters will be participating.”

…It’s probably due to Chronos Industry’s influence. Lee Si-hyeok speculated as much.

Since Chronos’s first expo participation was becoming a huge topic of conversation, other booths wouldn’t want to miss this opportunity either.

“…But as far as I know, Lee Si-hyeok, you don’t have any hunter acquaintances.”

It was while Lee Si-hyeok was organizing his thoughts.

Kim Seung-hyeon, who had been hesitating for a moment, carefully opened his lips.

“Then what are you planning to do about a tester? Even for someone like you, Lee Si-hyeok, participating in Stage Zero without a tester would be problematic.”

“…”

“The power of artifacts is best drawn out by combat-type awakeners among various types of awakeners. That is, hunters.”

Worry swirled in Kim Seung-hyeon’s eyes.

“Of course, I don’t doubt you, Lee Si-hyeok. If it’s an artifact you’ve made, you’d easily smash through such advantages and disadvantages. Just like when you received the ‘irregular’ awakening grade recently. But this time is a little different.”

“Different, you say.”

“Yes, definitely. There’s a reason companies pay expensive fees to recruit high-grade hunters.”

Kim Seung-hyeon nodded his head.

“Well, the moment everyone enters the ‘Special Gate’ where Stage Zero takes place, everyone’s abilities are equalized to the same level…”

“…But even so, there’s still a clear difference between hunters and non-combat types?”

“Exactly. And I’m sorry to say this, but the result probably won’t be good. For your side, Lee Si-hyeok.”

“Hmm.”

“But I don’t want such a result. It might be natural since I have expectations for you, Lee Si-hyeok.”

“Expectations?”

“EX-rank. Aren’t you someone who will leave footprints in human history? I hope your artifacts don’t get tarnished because of such trivial differences as not being able to secure a tester.”

In the end, what Team Leader Kim Seung-hyeon was saying was simple.

The moment Lee Si-hyeok participates in the expo, the whole world will really be watching, and he shouldn’t betray the expectations people have there.

This wasn’t a personal wish but for the Association, and furthermore, for the entire nation of South Korea. Depending on what kind of moves humanity’s first irregular makes, South Korea’s international position would be affected.

‘…That’s burdensome.’

It wasn’t something Lee Si-hyeok hadn’t considered either.

However, when Team Leader Kim Seung-hyeon widened his eyes like that and pointed out each detail directly, it started to feel real.

“So, Lee Si-hyeok. Our Association has a proposal for you this time.”

“A proposal?”

“It won’t be a proposal that causes you any loss, Lee Si-hyeok. It’s simple. We’ll recruit the hunter who will take the stage in Stage Zero for you.”

And Kim Seung-hyeon was taking it a step further, showing a proactive attitude.

“What you need to do in return is simple. Just once, exactly once. Please make an artifact according to our Association’s request.”

“…”

“We won’t make difficult requests. Time? Materials? We’ll accommodate everything you need.”

It was an attitude as if he was certain Lee Si-hyeok would accept the proposal.

It had to be that way. In Team Leader Kim Seung-hyeon’s eyes, Lee Si-hyeok didn’t seem to have much choice.

No matter how publicly he recruited testers, it would be difficult to find a suitable hunter at this point when the expo wasn’t far away. The situation was a bit different from when recruiting security guards for Security.

“Oh, if there’s a hunter you want, just let us know. Even though famous hunters have been mostly taken by other booths, we’ll somehow…”

“It’s fine, Team Leader.”

But…

Lee Si-hyeok firmly cut off his words.

“…bring them, excuse me?”

Kim Seung-hyeon, who had stopped speaking, widened his eyes and stared blankly. Those pupils contained questions. Confused pupils demanding an explanation.

However, even under that pressure-like demand, Lee Si-hyeok didn’t waver.

…Didn’t he clearly say it earlier?

That it was a ‘considered part.’

In Lee Si-hyeok’s mind, the entire process of the three-day expo was thoroughly established.

When you attend every year without fail for over 10 years, you naturally memorize it. The order, process, procedures, routes…

So he couldn’t possibly not know what needed to be prepared.

That is, the fact that a tester was absolutely necessary for Stage Zero.

The fact that he had no particularly close hunters except for Lee Gang-mok from before was also all part of what he had considered.

‘…Even Lee Gang-mok is a bit much to call an acquaintance.’

Nevertheless, Lee Si-hyeok had no intention whatsoever of taking the initiative to recruit hunters.

The fact that he headed straight to the Association as soon as his thoughts about Chronos ended was proof of that.

And that.

Was all action with a reason.

“…Um, Lee Si-hyeok. Are you perhaps planning to exhibit a non-combat artifact instead of a weapon-type artifact? Non-combat types don’t particularly need to participate in Stage Zero, so you wouldn’t need a tester…”

“No.”

“Yes, yes?”

Team Leader Kim Seung-hyeon, who had been making various speculations on his own when no clear explanation came back.

Lee Si-hyeok cut off his words once again as he asked with a voice full of disappointment.

“The tester you’re worried about. I’ve already secured one.”

Lee Si-hyeok added with a faint smile.

Then, instead of continuing to speak, he slowly turned his head and looked toward a corner of the room.

The wall window. Somewhere next to it.

It was clearly empty air where nothing could be seen, but Lee Si-hyeok stared at exactly one point. As if someone was there.

“What…?”

Kim Seung-hyeon and Han Da-hee, who saw this, followed Lee Si-hyeok’s gaze.

Team Leader Kim Seung-hyeon just tilted his head while looking at the completely empty air.

“…!”

Only Deputy Han Da-hee, who had been quietly staring with narrowed eyes, opened her mouth as if she had noticed something.

Her consistently straight eyebrows shot up. Above her prominent nose bridge, her brow even wrinkled slightly.

‘No way…!’

She had realized it. The fact that in this small conference room, besides the three of them, one more person was hiding.

Once she realized this, other memories began to surface one after another.

―Why she had stepped down from Lee Si-hyeok’s security detail and returned to the Association.

And who the ‘new security guard’ from Termion Security who replaced her was.

Memories she had forgotten due to being busy these past few days were only now surfacing.

‘…His words about not needing the Association’s help weren’t lies.’

Thinking about the identity of the person who would be hiding there now, the proposal the Association had made claiming to help was really complete nonsense.

Like trying to measure the sky from a room without windows.

It was ridiculous.

If her speculation was correct, it was actually the Association that would be receiving help. Not being able to grasp even that while discussing help was truly like a frog in a well.

…What if.

If Lee Si-hyeok’s bodyguard first revealed himself at Stage Zero, what kind of reaction would the public show?

For a moment, explosive cheers flashed through the blood vessels of his brain.

Thrill! Just imagining it for a moment sent shivers throughout his entire body.

Han Da-hee unknowingly trembled at her fingertips and whipped her head around to stare intently at Lee Si-hyeok.

However, there wasn’t even a hint of surprise on Lee Si-hyeok’s expression.

He simply smiled leisurely and gave a casual nod in greeting.

“…What? What’s over there that you’re staring at like that?”

However, Kim Seung-hyeon still hadn’t noticed anything.

That was understandable, since he hadn’t yet heard about the security situation from Han Da-hee. This was thanks to Han Da-hee keeping Lee Si-hyeok’s request to keep it secret for the time being.

Lee Si-hyeok planned to personally announce Security’s relaunch when he had more solid preparations ready.

‘It seems like we’ve finished discussing everything we needed to.’

The expo participation application was complete, and they had secured a spot at an indie booth.

Lee Si-hyeok gave a light greeting to Kim Seung-hyeon, who was still in a daze, and left his seat.

 

* * *

 

A moment later.

The small conference room with only Kim Seung-hyeon and Han Da-hee remaining.

―Tap tap! Team Leader Kim Seung-hyeon’s head tilted as he organized the document bundle.

“I’ve already found a tester, he said….”

Who could it be? No matter how much Kim Seung-hyeon thought about it, no particular hunter came to mind.

To be precise, many hunters came to mind. However, he couldn’t think of even the slightest possibility of a hunter that Lee Si-hyeok could have recruited.

And for good reason, since the renowned high-grade hunters of South Korea had already been snatched up by the major corporation booths.

“Phew….”

Kim Seung-hyeon sighed and reached out to pull the laptop that Deputy Han Da-hee had been using toward himself.

Then he clicked on the [GateTech_StageZero_TesterList] file on the desktop and slowly scrolled down.

‘Sword of Baekryeong, Black Dragon Rain, Guardian of Light, Green Night Beast….’

Familiar aliases flashed by rapidly. Among these were hunters whose grade assessments he had personally handled during his long tenure as team leader of the Grade Assessment Team.

Kim Seung-hyeon’s finger came to an abrupt stop as he scrolled the mouse wheel.

Though it was still the middle section of the file, he stopped his gaze and quietly stared at one part of the list.

 

[Corporate Booth: Chronos Industry

Tester: 「Black Vein」]

 

‘Black Vein.’

The only foreign hunter on this list.

And….

Also the only hunter affiliated with the Reynolds Family.

Though Black Vein, an assassination-type hunter, was considered the weakest member of the Reynolds Family, the fact that he was still a member of the Reynolds Family was undeniable.

Which meant he possessed tremendous power.

Moreover, excluding the single existence who always maintained the pinnacle, he was always one of the hunters competing for the top position among assassination-type hunters.

“…Deputy Han Da-hee.”

“Yes, Team Leader.”

“What do you think is the reason Black Vein is participating in this GateTech Expo?”

After thinking for a moment, Han Da-hee answered.

“Because he responded to Chronos Industry’s recruitment.”

“….”

…Isn’t that too obvious?

Watching her deliver an answer that even an elementary school student could give with a serious expression, Kim Seung-hyeon let out a light sigh.

“No… *sigh*. I mean the real reason he responded to the recruitment. ‘That’ Reynolds moved directly. No matter how much this is Chronos’s first expo participation, it’s not something significant enough to move the Reynolds Family. There must definitely be another reason hidden beneath the surface.”

Han Da-hee appeared to be thinking a bit more than before.

And this time, she provided an answer that would satisfy Kim Seung-hyeon.

“I think it might be because of the research director who was recently appointed at Chronos.”

“The research director.”

“Yes. Chronos’s movements started changing from that point. Until last year, they were a conservative organization that pursued mysticism, but I heard that from this year they’ve been implementing aggressive management strategies.”

“I see. Then what about the specific method? Even so, recruiting Black Vein wouldn’t have been easy.”

It was still a part he couldn’t understand.

And for good reason….

“…The Reynolds Family participating in such a large-scale event, especially an event in another country, is truly unprecedented.”

“That’s right, Team Leader. But I’m not sure about the exact method either. However….”

“However?”

“I’m certain that Chronos must have offered quite a significant price this time. Perhaps it’s something that the company’s fate depends on.”

“That makes sense. They’ve had a long preparation period as well.”

Kim Seung-hyeon agreed. Though the Association couldn’t determine the exact method, Chronos’s fate would be decided based on how this expo unfolds.

‘Still, I’m worried.’

The tester that Lee Si-hyeok said he found.

Could that tester really be an amazing enough hunter to overcome Black Vein’s reputation and skills? Enough to rival a member of the Reynolds Family?

If they fell even slightly short, there was a possibility it could lead to the ‘unfavorable outcome’ he was worried about.

Lee Si-hyeok would naturally receive tremendous attention as well, but this was about Stage Zero.

‘All attention will be focused there….’

Crushed expectations tend to return as daggers. Just imagining it felt terrible.

However, Lee Si-hyeok’s expression and tone from earlier had overflowed with confidence.

As always, his words spoken with an upright posture carried an aura that made them impossible not to trust.

Just who did he recruit?

To rival Black Vein, unless someone from the ‘Complex Consulate’ or ‘Apocalypse Order’, or another member of the Reynolds Family participated….

“Hmm?”

Feeling something strange, Kim Seung-hyeon stopped his train of thought and looked to the side.

Deputy Han Da-hee, who was sitting right next to him.

The corners of her mouth were slightly raised. Her large eyes curved slightly as if she was anticipating something.

…Why? That emotionless FM deputy who was famous within the Association for suddenly showing a change in expression?

It was a smile that even Kim Seung-hyeon, who had been her superior for a long time, rarely got to see.

The last time she had shown this much emotional change was when she received the phone report about Lee Si-hyeok’s grade assessment results not long ago.

“Deputy Han Da-hee.”

“Yes.”

“Is there some good news?”

“No.”

Kim Seung-hyeon’s expression became strange at that blunt answer. He had a suspicion about something.

“By any chance, do you have some idea about Lee Si-hyeok’s tester?”

“….”

“…!”

No answer came back. Realizing he hadn’t been barking up the wrong tree, Kim Seung-hyeon spoke in an excited voice.

“Y-you do have an idea…! What is it?! What?! If you know something, tell me everything, Deputy. Anything is fine….”

“You’ll see.”

“What?”

Suddenly Han Da-hee’s head turned.

Her expression, now facing him directly, still carried anticipation and slight excitement.

“You’ll know when you see.”

“…See what?”

“At the expo.”

Having said that, Assistant Manager Han Da-hee abruptly stood up and returned to the office first.

It was quite an insolent behavior for a subordinate employee, but Kim Seung-hyeon couldn’t even think to point it out.

“What the hell, what the hell is going on…?”

A series of incomprehensible stories.

For some reason, Kim Seung-hyeon, who kept feeling like he was being left out, could only frown and frantically tug at his own hair.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————