The Owner of the Healing Therapy Shop Is Ranked 0th in the World - Chapter 99

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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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The Owner of the Healing Therapy Shop is World Rank 0

Chapter 99

The moment I saw the man standing like a shadow beside Jang Dohun beyond the store’s glass door, my mind went ice cold.

A neat suit and emotionless eyes.

‘That person…’

Even without hearing his voice, I could tell at first glance.

That he was the owner of that very voice who had called me a few days ago, introducing himself as the new Association President’s secretary and spouting nauseating logic about ‘Hunter world etiquette.’

That night, his voice coming through the receiver was so excessively polite it was even more grotesque.

“Hunter Yebichnna, first I’d like to say thank you for such a precious talent like yourself joining our Association.”

The man who introduced himself as Mingaram, Jang Dohun’s personal secretary, rattled off ceremonial greetings.

“The President was also greatly moved by your item creation abilities. Seeing you become a global hero with those items brings us great joy as well.”

But the moment he got to the main point, his tone changed to become as cold as a snake.

“However, now that you’ve become an official Hunter, you need to understand the workings of this industry to some degree. The Hunter business is ultimately about the aesthetics of ‘putting on a show.’ To maximize the spotlight that will shine on you, we’re thinking of adding some staging.”

Staging? What kind of staging was needed for closing Gates?

Before I could even wonder, he poured out ‘logical bullshit.’

“How about delaying the attack timing on the remaining Predator Gates as much as possible? Especially the gate in Gangwon-do Jeongseon where population density is lowest – we’re planning to guide it toward complete collapse. When the Gate collapses and Predators pour out creating a desperate situation, that’s when you’ll appear like a savior and use your item. On live screens watched by the entire nation.”

His words left me breathless.

Collapse the Jeongseon Gate?

I wanted to ask what would happen to the people living around there, to the Hunters protecting that land, but he didn’t allow my questions.

“This is the most efficient strategy for drawing out national support for you. The deeper the tragedy, the more brilliant a Hunter’s sacrifice appears. It’s the best choice for establishing your fame and national status.”

He coaxed me as if he was doing this for my sake.

He casually stated as if it were natural that Hunters weren’t shields protecting the people, but merely props in a grand show planned by those in power.

“You must be confused as a rookie Hunter, but this is what active Hunters commonly experience. You’ll need to get used to it going forward. This is a request we only make to outstanding Hunters, so you can be proud of it.”

He was shoving at me the dirty backstory that openly circulated among Hunters – the scenario of ‘creating heroes through appropriate sacrifice.’

After hanging up, my hands trembled for a long time and I couldn’t do anything.

To them, Gates and Hunters were nothing more or less than tools for manipulating the public.

“What utter nonsense…”

I had absolutely no desire to shine at the cost of someone else’s blood.

Even less desire to accommodate their dirty practices.

“…There’s no such thing as expensive lives or cheap lives.”

If they wanted to make my items into ‘power wielded only by a chosen few,’ then I would make them fall into ‘ordinary rights anyone could have.’

The ‘free demonstration’ was my first counterattack to ruin Jang Dohun’s show.

It was to distribute items fairly to everyone, starting from the lowest places, to instill the perception that my abilities weren’t something only special people could access, but something anyone who needed them could obtain.

Jang Dohun must have fully understood my declaration of war.

Recalling that moment, I found myself unconsciously clenching my hands with force.

I glared at them beyond the glass door with my fists clenched so tight my fingertips turned white.

Then Ohyeongtaek beside me tapped my shoulder and approached.

“Sis, should I sweep all those guys away?”

Ohyeongtaek playfully tilted his head left and right, stretching his neck muscles.

He glanced at the door and made a ‘tsk’ sound.

“I don’t know about Jang Dohun, but there are quite a lot of those K-Series guys?”

The dolls lined up in front of the store window numbered about fifteen.

“Sis, can’t you give me that… ‘buff’ you gave Jinseong hyung? Then I could sweep them all away in one go.”

Ohyeongtaek asked cutely with sparkling eyes, making me momentarily dazed.

‘Buff? Did I give Senior something like that?’

Then I soon realized.

The buff Ohyeongtaek was referring to meant the ’employment contract.’

Meanwhile, Jang Dohun, who had climbed the store stairs, knocked on the door with his finger.

His attitude was as relaxed as if he were visiting a friendly neighbor’s house.

“Oh, sis. What should we do? Should I chase them away?”

Ohyeongtaek asked with the momentum to unleash his skills immediately, but I smiled slightly at his playful consideration and shook my head.

These weren’t people who would be solved by avoiding them.

Rather, I needed to show them right before their eyes that they couldn’t control me.

“No, it’s fine. If anything happens… please take care of it then.”

“I’ll finish it before anything even happens.”

With Ohyeongtaek’s reliable answer behind me, I opened the store door.

With a jingling bell sound, Jang Dohun stepped into the store with his characteristic sly smile.

“Nice to meet you, Hunter Yebichnna.”

He naturally looked around the store interior as if he were the owner.

Every time his gaze swept the ceiling and walls, an interesting light flashed in Jang Dohun’s eyes.

“Huh, cognitive distortion skills plus spatial expansion items? It’s much more spacious and comfortable than it looked from outside. Truly befitting Korea’s proud certified Hunter.”

The K-Series dolls remained motionless, lined up at mechanical intervals in front of the store door.

Min Secretary, who had entered with him, silently closed the door and stood behind Jang Dohun.

Seeing that expressionless face made my stomach churn again, but I forced myself to manage my expression.

Jang Dohun plopped down on the sofa before I could even offer him a seat.

He rattled off meaningless compliments about how nice the store was, how excellent the interior design sense was.

His attitude showed no displeasure or anger about me trampling his demands and holding a free demonstration.

He was just perfectly wearing the mask of a kind, good-natured Association President.

That mask was so thick it made my heart tremble again.

Not from fear, but from vivid anger at this despicable tranquility.

When I felt my face subtly hardening, Ohyeongtaek standing beside me carefully peered at my face and gave a slight wink.

“It’s okay, sis. I’m here.”

That playful comfort finally let me breathe.

I took a deep breath and gathered my wavering heart. Then I sat down confidently with straight posture in the chair across from Jang Dohun.

“I didn’t expect the Association President to come with the K-Series.”

At my cold voice, Jang Dohun narrowed his eyes and smiled.

“We’ll be seeing each other often from now on, so feel free to speak casually, Hunter Yebichnna.”

“…”

“By the way… thanks to that amazing performance you showed, the whole world is going crazy over the name Yebichnna. Well done.”

Even while giving praise, his gaze alone glowed fiercely like a predator eyeing my leash.

Jang Dohun leisurely crossed his legs and pushed a bundle of documents across the table.

“We’ve finished consultations with the League for Yebichnna’s safety. From now on, these K-Series weapons will guard this store 24 hours a day.”

He pointed at the dolls outside the store and raised his eyebrows.

It was clear provocation.

“And from now on, all items must be distributed only through the ‘Association.’ Personal demonstrations like before are… strictly prohibited for national security.”

Jang Dohun looked straight into my eyes and said.

“That was quite unpleasant, you see.”

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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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