Infinite Evolution Hunter - Chapter 25

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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25
“You’re here?”
I greeted Yang President, who was busily issuing instructions to his staff and the soldiers.
“Ah, you’re awake? Lee Ji-seok, with you around, the work never stops. Haha.”
When I had been pushing hard by clearing many Gates early on, he looked exhausted, but recently after reducing the number of Gates, his complexion had improved. Still, it seemed he was earning far more money than before, and his face bloomed with smiles.
“President, could you separate just the wings and send them to my house first?”
“Okay. I’ll send whatever gets processed today as the first batch.”
I bowed respectfully and went to report to the department head of the Awakened Management Bureau.
* * *
“Hmm… Hypnosis, you say?”
Wrinkles formed on the department head’s forehead as he listened to my report.
“I’m not sure if it was pheromones, wing powder, or both. My mind suddenly became hazy, and before I knew it, I was following the Queen’s commands without realizing it. If I had been completely brainwashed, I would have attacked our own allies. The fact that the Werewolf attacked alongside the Fairy was probably due to the Queen’s ability as well.”
“This is an ability discovered for the first time. We’ll need to investigate the corpse. Would it be alright if we purchased the Queen’s corpse?”
“Just give me the wings. I’ll sell the other parts. Please discuss that with the Hwagok Recovery Service.”
After that, Yang President and Baek Young-shin engaged in heated negotiations for a while. This is why I don’t handle it directly. I need to secure my share, but if I argue with the Management Bureau over money, it won’t be good for my future dealings.
After giving my proxy authority to the Hwagok Recovery Service and having them take a certain percentage of the sales amount, they negotiated as if it were their own business.
I left the two of them to negotiate and helped with the installation of the forward base. I cleared away trees and rocks so vehicles could move through.
Since human hands hadn’t touched this place in a long time, the trees had grown to an enormous size. I embraced a tree and exerted force—my fingers dug into the wood. I pulled upward and uprooted it in one motion.
In pure strength alone, I matched an A-rank Hunter. Pulling up trees was child’s play.
“Ooooh~!!”
Heavy equipment was doing the work, but it was a narrow space that took time. When I pulled trees out like radishes and hurled them into the forest, the soldiers applauded.
Thanks to my help, our line established defensive positions at the target point faster than scheduled.
After that, only a minimal number of Hunters remained at this position, while the rest of us, including myself, were reassigned to other units to assist in the northward advance. As a result, the overall timeline was significantly reduced.
“You’ve worked hard. I heard you helped the soldiers a lot too. Thank you.”
The Battalion Commander shook my hand and spoke.
“You’re too kind.”
My rank had risen again in this subjugation, making me a C-rank Hunter. It was a very rewarding operation in many ways.
“I hope to see you again in the next subjugation operation.”
“I’ll participate depending on the situation.”
Since Gates were more efficient, unless I came to obtain items like this time, I had no intention of participating in subjugations frequently.
* * *
“How is the manufacturing coming along?”
After returning home, I asked Jae-in, who was working in the Workshop.
“I haven’t produced anything satisfactory yet.”
Jae-in turned to look at me, and her eyes were dark with exhaustion.
“…Why do you look like that? I told you to work only eight hours a day.”
Judging from her disheveled clothes and complexion, it seemed she wasn’t resting properly and was working constantly.
“Once I get into it, it becomes fun, and I get stubborn, so I can’t rest.”
I could see the researcher’s temperament—once she dug in, she wouldn’t let go.
“Take breaks. There’s no rush. Work only eight hours a day and rest for the rest.”
“That’s… not going to work.”
I’d be happy if items dropped quickly, but I’m concerned it might damage her health.
“Drink this whenever you get tired.”
I’d stored potions in the refrigerator. Even low-grade potions cost hundreds of thousands of won each.
“Yes, thank you. I’ve practiced a bit with the Fairy Wings you sent, but I haven’t reached the specifications you requested yet.”
Fairy Wings can be enchanted for flight or camouflage through magic imbuing. However, because they allow attacks to pass through, they’re typically not used in defensive items.
But what I’d requested was first, a garment form while allowing attacks to pass through as much as possible—essentially providing no defensive function whatsoever. Still, that suits me better. My body is already harder than most armor, and I grow stronger from taking hits.
Second, excellent elasticity. I’ll be using Gigantification frequently, and the enlargement ratio will keep increasing, so it’s essential.
Finally, an engraving of levitation magic. My muscle and bone density have increased, and since I store energy constantly, my body weight keeps growing. Now, if I eat a lot, I weigh around 200 kilograms, and the heavier I am, the more energy I consume and the slower I move.
If I could use levitation magic like Fairies do, I’d achieve far more efficient combat.
“The attack penetration rate is about 80%. The elasticity can handle a 50% volume increase from now. As for the levitation magic… I’m sorry, but not yet.”
“I never expected it to happen this quickly anyway. I’ll take this for now. Take your time with it.”
What Jae-in had created was a black suit made by layering several thin, long strips of material about five centimeters wide, crafted from Fairy Wings. When I put it on, it had excellent elasticity, hugging my body perfectly with a comfortable fit.
“Let me test something for a moment.”
I tested Gigantification as well. My height grew from 180 to 250 centimeters. The enlargement ratio continued to increase.
As my body expanded, the suit expanded with it, but instead of tearing or becoming taut, the material naturally redistributed itself to fit my new size.
“This is excellent.”
I spoke to Jae-in while moving my body around.
“You’ll experience far less damage than your current clothes. But are you really okay with no defensive capability?”
“No problem. It’s exactly what I wanted.”
“Then I’ll continue. Once I’m confident enough, I’ll work on it with the Queen’s Wings.”
“I’m counting on you.”
* * *
“What?”
Lim Sung-jun, seated at an excessively large and ornate desk, doubted his own ears as he listened to the report.
“So… someone paid the money?”
“Yes. It appears to be a fellow Hunter who paid the Elixir cost upfront.”
Lim Sung-jun’s secretary, Tak Dong-yeon, continued his report with his gaze lowered.
“Through personnel we’ve planted in the Awakener Management Bureau, we confirmed a priority party formation contract was made. Notably… the contract isn’t particularly favorable to that Hunter. Rather, it’s overwhelmingly favorable to Bae Na-young.”
“I see… so that’s how it is… then what did you do?”
“Sir?”
“Me!”
Lim Sung-jun stood up and hurled his desk nameplate at Tak Dong-yeon. Tak Dong-yeon flinched in shock, crouching down and shielding his head with his arms, but the heavy nameplate struck his forearm and he fell.
“That woman! What is she doing! I told you to manage her!”
Lim Sung-jun frantically threw objects from his desk.
“I apologize.”
Tak Dong-yeon got to his feet and resumed a proper posture, offering his apology.
“That damn woman—what makes her so special? She rejects my contract and accepts one from some other Hunter? What’s so different?”
Tak Dong-yeon could only listen quietly, but knowing the vicious nature of the contract Lim Sung-jun had proposed to Bae Na-young, he inwardly clicked his tongue. It was essentially a slave contract.
“So is that Hunter a high-rank Hunter?”
Lim Sung-jun slumped into his chair as if his tantrum had finally exhausted him, then turned to Tak Dong-yeon with a question.
“No, sir. He’s a newcomer who awakened not long ago. His Awakening skill was low-grade.”
“Then? He had money to buy Elixirs?”
“His growth rate is terrifying. In just three months, he climbed from F-rank to C-rank.”
“Three months? Is that even possible?”
“His achievements are extraordinary. He’s constantly running Gate raids and subjugation missions without rest.”
“So? He’s just another hunter. Go get the contract transferred to us.”
“Pardon?”
“Damn it. Don’t make me repeat myself twice. Get that contract transferred to our side. It won’t be as good as a direct contract, but if we hold the debt, that woman won’t be able to slip away anymore.”
“I reviewed the contract, and it can’t be transferred that way.”
“Are you telling me that the hundreds of millions I give you every year can’t make this happen?! Whether you consult with the legal team, offer bribes, or use threats—figure it out yourself!”
Lim Sung-jun began hurling objects again.
“Understood, sir.”
Though it was dirty and despicable, Tak Dong-yeon—who received a nine-figure salary for exactly this kind of work—kept his mouth shut and bowed his head.
* * *
“Should I check out a Gate or two after all this time?”
I’d returned from the subjugation mission and rested for a day—plenty of recovery time. It was time to run Gates again.
I’d had Bae Na-young spend time with Mother now that her treatment was finished. Today, I wanted to cut loose a bit on my own for once.
Ding dong.
I was browsing the Hunter App to reserve a Gate when a visitor arrived.
“Who is it?”
There was no one who should be coming to this house.
“Hello. You’re Hunter Lee Ji-seok, correct?”
When I opened the door, a man in his early thirties wearing a suit stood before me.
“Yes, that’s me. What is this about?”
“I’m Tak Dong-yeon from the Hunter Management Agency.”
“Ah, I see.”
“Could we talk for a moment?”
“No, I don’t need management.”
I wasn’t pleased that some stranger had shown up at my house without warning. As I moved to close the door, Tak Dong-yeon grabbed it.
“No, I’m not here to recruit you for a contract. This is about Bae Na-young.”
“Bae Na-young?”
Hearing her name, I released the door I’d been holding.
“May I come inside?”
“Yes, please come in.”
I was uneasy, and the fact that he knew Bae Na-young’s name bothered me even more.
“So what’s your relationship with Bae Na-young?”
I asked as I sat on the living room sofa.
“Ah, our agency has been trying to scout Bae Na-young, but I heard she signed a contract with you, Hunter Lee Ji-seok.”
Tak Dong-yeon said as he settled onto the sofa.
“Did you hear about this from Bae Na-young?”
“Ah… No.”
“That’s strange. I never mentioned it, and if Bae Na-young didn’t say anything either, where did you hear it from?”
“Ha ha, isn’t that what agencies do—finding out information like this?”
Tak Dong-yeon spoke while beads of sweat rolled down his face.
His lie was painfully obvious. His elevated heart rate, cold sweat, body temperature, the subtle movements of his body—and most decisively, my instincts screamed it. In my past life, I’d needed extensive practice to detect such things, but now with memories from that life intact, once my keen senses skill rank increased, I could immediately perceive deception.
Of course, I couldn’t read his mind completely, but I could generally tell when someone was lying. And this man had been lying since the moment I first saw him.
“And?”
I continued the conversation to extract more detailed information.
“Transfer that contract to us. I’ll offer you 20% more than what you paid Bae Na-young.”
He placed a thin contract on the table as he spoke.
Since tens of billions had gone out as the price for the elixir, transferring it again would net me a profit of several billion.
I stared directly at Tak Dong-yeon.

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