My Catastrophic‑Level Summon Devours Gates - Chapter 83

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 83

A suspicious presence felt from behind the alley.

I sensed something was off 3 minutes ago.

【You detected it quite quickly.】

【Who’s hiding there?】

Sir Isra, who possesses sharply honed senses.

On the other hand, Ingrid couldn’t sense the presence despite sharing the benefits of ‘Heavenly Martial Body’.

Even when sharing the same senses, there are differences.

How fascinating.

【We’ve been tailed for 5 minutes now.】

Tch.

Right.

I can’t match Sir Isra either.

【Iron Head! You noticed first but stayed quiet for 5 whole minutes?】

【There was no killing intent.】

【You call yourself a knight! Master could have been in danger!】

【This too is part of training.】

Training, huh.

Suppressing one’s breathing.

Hiding one’s body among objects.

To detect the subtle distortions that occur when someone conceals their presence.

I need to sharpen my senses even more.

3 minutes ago.

I realized someone was tailing me.

It was because of the wind flow created when they exhaled.

Only after concentrating on all senses except sight from the moment I felt something was off.

Could I sense the presence of the person following me.

Sir Isra.

He naturally acquired and developed such senses.

It was a fascinating feeling.

【Don’t worry. If it seemed like they would harm my lord, I was ready to step in immediately.】

【You really!】

Ingrid.

That’s enough of that conversation.

Now it’s time to talk with the uninvited guest tailing me.

“If you don’t come out, I won’t just stand here quietly.”

Sir Isra said there was no killing intent.

But if the other party had been friendly.

They wouldn’t have hidden and watched me for 5 whole minutes.

I’ve heard plenty about dirty dealings that often happen in the Hunter industry.

It’s just surprising that I’m the target.

I wasn’t trembling though.

With two vassals on standby in Death Space.

What is there to fear?

Mir?

Or maybe someone hired by those Hwarang Guild brats for revenge.

I couldn’t think of anywhere else besides those two.

“Well, well. Impressive.”

Clap clap clap.

The sound of applause echoing through the quiet alley.

A man appeared from around the corner and stepped under the streetlight.

A face that looked to be in his 30s.

He was dressed like an ordinary office worker, but that wasn’t the case.

The lingering traces of mana emanating from his clothes.

His jacket, bag, and even his watch were all items.

Equipment customized for daily life.

The performance wouldn’t be great, but it would be expensive.

“Supernatural Affairs Bureau Grade 2 Inspector, Jin Xiao.”

Supernatural Affairs Bureau?

That’s a Chinese government organization.

I thought it would be Mir Guild.

Someone came looking for me from a place I never expected.

“Think of me as equivalent to a Response Department Deputy Director.”

“Ah. Why would such a high-ranking person tail me?”

“I’ll be direct. The Supernatural Affairs Bureau would like to recruit Hunter Park Min-ho.”

“I refuse.”

An immediate answer came without even a second of consideration.

China?

Supernatural Affairs Bureau?

Why would I go there?

“It’s not too late to decide after hearing the conditions.”

“Hey. I turned down Mir’s 20 billion, so why would I go to a country like China?”

Twitch.

The man’s smiling face contorted for a fleeting moment.

It was such a faint change in expression that I wouldn’t have noticed without the enhanced five senses from Heavenly Martial Body.

“100 billion.”

What.

“You can also receive teachings from Gu Noya, China’s greatest master craftsman.”

Gu Noya.

A craftsman with skills rivaling Master Han Yo-han.

In China, he’s called the reincarnation of Zhurong, the god of blacksmithing.

“Corpses? We’ll obtain whatever you want.”

China is vast.

They manage just as many Gates.

So there was no doubt they could obtain various monster corpses that appear throughout the continent.

“Are you worried about your family? You don’t need to worry.”

Just like they helped Jung Shin-ho’s family illegally enter China.

If the Supernatural Affairs Bureau exerted their influence, they could safely move my family to China too.

Providing the highest-grade housing or apartments reserved only for Communist Party officials would be a bonus.

The man proudly spread both his hands.

“We can give Hunter Park Min-ho anything you desire.”

100 billion confirmed immediately.

Benefits are standard.

If there’s anything needed, the government will provide anything at the national level – that was the man’s proposal.

【Quite generous.】

【It’s incomparable to all the offers we’ve received so far.】

Indeed.

They’re really going all out.

Let’s say the contract amount is what it is.

I already turned down GGG’s 50 billion investment from that American guild.

But the proposal wasn’t just about money.

Intact monster corpses.

Family welfare benefits.

And beyond that.

They said they’d add additional conditions if I needed anything else.

“What do you think?”

His face was full of confidence.

An expression that seemed certain I would accept the proposal.

So naturally.

“I’ll decline.”

It just makes me want to go even less.

“Are the conditions insufficient?”

“The conditions are more than generous. But I still don’t want to.”

Patriotism?

That’s not the reason.

As I told Director Jung.

The first reason is that I simply don’t want to leave this land where I was born and raised.

“Jung Shin-ho probably offered generous conditions too, didn’t he?”

“That’s right. We welcomed him with our whole heart and the best conditions possible.”

“That’s exactly why I don’t like it.”

If they’re willing to pay top dollar, he could have left.

Then he should have gone quietly.

Instead, he blamed the innocent Rift Management Agency while not saying a word to Chilseong Guild about the penalty fees.

Whether the Superhuman Bureau ordered it.

Or whether he said that to rationalize his own actions.

I didn’t want to live in such a servile manner.

【Hahahaha! That’s the spirit befitting my lord Isra! Yes, a real man should act like that!】

【As expected of Master. Your refusal to bow to capital shows true manliness.】

Both vassals supported my choice.

Right.

I wasn’t wrong.

“There won’t be better conditions than this.”

“Really? Are you sure about that?”

Ah.

Whatever.

Since it’s come to this, let me show off a little.

“Isn’t that a bit cheap for recruiting a hunter who’s guaranteed to reach SS-rank?”

The man looked dazed for a moment.

“Are you being arrogant?”

“Let’s call it confidence.”

“No guild will match conditions like these.”

“Thanks for your concern.”

I replied with a smirk.

Negotiation?

Why would I do that?

I made it crystal clear that I had no intention of associating with them.

“You’ll regret rejecting today’s proposal.”

Now he’s even making threats.

“We’ll see who ends up regretting what.”

“Hmm. Excuse me.”

The man turned away with a stern face.

Making pathetic threats and causing a scene.

【Summon me! I’ll break that insolent bastard’s arms and legs!】

“Just leave him alone.”

Killing that one person wouldn’t deal any blow to the Chinese government.

What’s the point of tormenting someone worth less than a strand of hair?

But.

Isn’t luring hunters to foreign countries a form of espionage?

Should I call 111?

Or maybe tell the Rift Management Agency? After pondering, I pressed the number of the highest-ranking person in my contacts.

[Director Jung Seung-il]

Ring, ring.

―Hunter Park. Thank you for contacting me.

“Ah. Well, you see. Someone from the China Superhuman Bureau came to see me.”

―What’s your location?!

“Not far from my studio apartment.”

―I’ll be right there.

Uh.

I wasn’t asking you to come personally.

* * *

Director Jung Seung-il flew to the scene in just 5 minutes.

That’s not an exaggeration.

He literally ‘flew’ here, kicking off the air.

Is that possible even if you’re not a mage?

【It’s not difficult. I could teach it to you, my lord.】

According to Sir Isra’s explanation, the key is to strike and push against the air with mana.

No.

Even if you teach me, I can’t do it.

Bang!

With a loud noise as the compressed air was released.

Director Jung landed in the alley.

I felt like I should applaud.

“Are you alright, Hunter Park Min-ho?”

“Ah. Yes.”

“Are you injured anywhere?”

“I’m fine.”

“Staff members with tracking abilities have been dispatched. Please wait just a moment.”

This feels like things are escalating rapidly.

I’m causing trouble for so many people.

Still.

This should be enough to embarrass those annoying Superhuman Bureau officials, right?

“Shameless bastards. Trying to poach Korean hunters again!”

Director Jung always maintained a calm voice whenever I saw him.

But right now.

He looked very angry.

So he’s human after all.

“What did the Superhuman Bureau say to you?”

Well, you see.

They offered an incredible big deal.

After hearing my entire story, Director Jung squeezed his eyes shut.

“100 billion won.”

He keeps mulling over those words again and again.

The atmosphere is so serious that I can’t even speak up.

I told you not to worry.

I firmly rejected it like a knife.

“First, I’d like to thank you on behalf of the South Korean government.”

“Yes?”

“If I were in Hunter Park’s position, I absolutely couldn’t have refused.”

Just looking at the amount, the investment from American Guild GGG was enormous too.

It’s not even given directly.

The investment they proposed to Seungcheon Agency that supports me was around 50 billion won.

If they had tried to cast me directly, they probably would have offered similar conditions to China.

Right.

That proposal wasn’t made public.

The condition about obtaining rare monster byproducts was somewhat tempting though.

There’s something I’ve realized in my 5 years as a Hunter.

“Because I know there’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world.”

The Chinese government investing an enormous amount at the national level?

Once I sign the contract and change citizenship, they’ll try to recoup their investment by any means necessary.

When even major guilds don’t go there because of restrictions on autonomous actions.

Belonging to the Communist Party?

Oh my.

How terrifying.

I already have too much to do, so I didn’t want to be tied down by a government agency.

“Ah. I was rude.”

Even though it’s a different country.

That wasn’t something I should say in front of a high-ranking official of our government.

“Not at all. And thank you.”

Director Jeong’s back bent at a 90-degree angle.

Huh.

Whoa whoa whoa.

“You don’t need to bow like that.”

“It’s because all I can offer is my gratitude.”

Director Jeong continued speaking with his head deeply bowed.

“Your decision not to leave our country. Thank you once again.”

It’s not exactly patriotism or anything.

Even if I said it was okay, he seemed like he would keep his head bowed, so I gave up.

“If there’s anything the Bureau can help you with, please let us know.”

Since what the Chinese government offered was so substantial.

It seems the Rift Bureau also wants to do something to match it in their own way.

Hmm.

Well.

If President Baek were here, I could effectively squeeze something out of them.

I can’t ask for the 100 billion that the Superhuman Bureau offered, right?

I know well that the Rift Bureau is poor too.

So when asked this question, nothing appropriate came to mind.

Ah.

“I’d like to request protection for my family’s safety.”

The uncle from the Superhuman Bureau said that.

That they could safely smuggle my family away from the government’s attention too.

In other words.

It means they could harm our family without anyone knowing.

It might be an excessive thought.

But I can’t really think of anything else to request from the Rift Bureau.

I should think of it as taking out an insurance policy.

“Understood. I will take responsibility and protect Hunter Park’s family members’ safety.”

Director Jeong answered readily.

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