You Have Been Invited to the Auction House of the Gods - Chapter 60
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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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60
Association President’s Office.
As I opened the door and entered, Association President Han Ki-cheol and a man in a black suit stood up from their seats.
The man dressed neatly in a black suit had a government ID with “National Intelligence Service” hanging on his chest.
“Nice to meet you. Hunter Han Sang-in. I’m Team Leader Lee Ki-chan from the National Intelligence Service.”
“Ah, yes. Nice to meet you.”
The National Intelligence Service.
I had a feeling things were getting complicated.
“First, have a seat. It looks like this conversation will be long.”
Association President Han Ki-cheol gestured to the sofa across from him.
As I sat down, a secretary brought green tea.
“Team Leader Lee Woo-ram said this is the tea you like.”
Cheongram Trading Company, goblins, and now the Association President.
It seems there’s no one left who doesn’t know my green tea preferences.
I took a sip of the green tea.
A sweet honey fragrance brushed past my nose.
Seeing that even the ratio was accurate, they must have grilled Team Leader Lee Woo-ram quite thoroughly.
After taking a moment to catch my breath, I went straight to the point.
“Before that, let me clarify one thing. Why is Japan asking for help?”
While an S-Rank Dungeon breaking was indeed a disaster, I couldn’t understand why they would contact me.
“Until now, even when S-Rank Dungeon Breaks occurred, Japan has never once asked Korea for help.”
It wasn’t just Japan.
So far, no country had ever requested help from Korea, even when S-Rank Dungeon Breaks occurred.
Especially if it was Japan, a country that possessed S-Rank Hunters.
If they were going to ask anyone, they would have asked the United States.
“Well, isn’t it obvious? It’s because of you.”
“Me?”
I didn’t understand.
“Before that, do you know there’s a ranking system for S-Rank Hunters?”
I had heard of it.
However, that wasn’t an official ranking table.
“Isn’t that just something internet enthusiasts like to talk about?”
You know, those discussions about who’s stronger and who would win in a fight.
“There’s a ranking that’s already commonly accepted as fact among associations and intelligence agencies of various countries.”
“I’ll explain that part.”
Team Leader Lee Ki-chan, who had been quietly listening, spoke up.
“Naturally, the top ranks are occupied by the United States and China. And in between them are Japan and Europe.”
It was a ranking that made some sense.
After all, the United States and China possessed half of all S-Rank Hunters.
“Where does Korea rank?”
At my question, Team Leader Lee Ki-chan’s finger pointed endlessly downward.
And at the very bottom.
…
9th Place KOR Han Sang-in
10th Place KOR Noh Hyun-seong
We were side by side, taking first and second place from the bottom.
“Ah, please don’t misunderstand. Hunter Han Sang-in’s ranking hasn’t reflected your recent achievements yet.”
What kind of person is Noh Hyun-seong to be ranked below me despite my lack of achievements?
“Based on the case you resolved this time, you should rise to the middle ranks. Right below Japan.”
Team Leader Lee Ki-chan pointed to Japan’s S-Rank Hunter Hinata Utahime, who was ranked 6th.
‘Tsk… So this is why Korea was looked down upon.’
Looking at the rough rankings, I could understand why other countries avoided Korea even when an S-Rank Dungeon appeared.
If Noh Hyun-seong was the only option, it would be different, but above Korea was China, which had as many S-Rank Hunters as the United States,
and below Korea was Japan, which ranked second after China.
An S-Rank possessing nation, but the weakest.
To think such an absurd contradictory statement could be true…
“Hunter Han Sang-in’s estimated ranking is 7th, right below Japan’s 6th place.”
Whether it’s 9th or 7th place might not seem like a big difference, but the actual weight is like the difference between heaven and earth.
As I said before, there are a total of 10 S-Rank Hunters worldwide, including myself.
And each of those Hunters possesses power like a natural disaster capable of destroying nations.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call them walking tactical nukes.
Even Noh Hyun-seong at 10th place had enough power to destroy an island, if not an entire nation.
Rising two ranks just from clearing one S-Rank Dungeon was quite a generous evaluation.
‘Should I be happy about this…?’
The S-Rank Hunter ranking didn’t have much meaning for me in the first place.
There were already many masters in the world who weren’t even S-Rank Hunters.
“So what’s the current situation in Japan?”
Actually, I was more worried about Yamyeong’s safety than Japan’s situation.
It was true that contact had been sparse due to espionage activities, but given the timing…
“Hunter Hinata is currently unconscious due to severe injuries.”
“…”
‘Severe injuries…?’
The situation was flowing quite seriously.
“Japan has proposed two types of compensation. First, a reward of ten million dollars.”
“Ten million dollars?”
It was surprise in the sense of ‘only that much?’
14 billion won was indeed a large sum.
But for the cost of borrowing a nuke, it was on the cheap side.
Moreover, in a situation where their own S-Rank Hunter had fallen unconscious, shaking the very foundation of the nation.
“That’s right. It’s not that much money. But you’ll understand once you hear the next condition.”
Then Team Leader Lee Ki-chan opened his tablet and displayed a document.
“Dokdo territorial rights agreement?”
“The official name is ‘Korea-Japan Dokdo Territorial Rights Mutual Recognition Agreement.’ It’s content recognizing Korea’s rights and sovereignty over Dokdo.”
Only then could I understand why the National Intelligence Service gentleman had made the trip here.
‘Since it’s conditional, it would be better for the National Intelligence Service to move secretly rather than the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stepping forward.’
If I succeeded, we could escape from the title of being the weakest nation despite being an S-Rank possessing country,
and on top of that, we could conclude the Dokdo territorial dispute that had continued for over a hundred years.
However, there was a part I didn’t like…
“I don’t like how they’re deciding whether to recognize our country’s land as they please when it was ours from the beginning.”
“Haha, I agree with you, but that’s how politics originally works.”
Team Leader Lee Ki-chan laughed awkwardly.
“However, the second compensation is conditional.”
“Conditional?”
I narrowed my brow.
“It’s for the case when Hunter Han Sang-in resolves the Break.”
“…Korea wasn’t the only place they requested cooperation from.”
“Yes, they also made the request to China.”
“China?”
This was unexpected.
China was a place as historically and politically entangled as Korea.
“From the Intelligence Agency’s perspective, they see it as Japan’s move to buy time.”
“Even so, China is the second-ranking nation after the United States – is that even possible?”
“The Hunter Japan requested is Zhang Qingye. He’s also the lowest-ranked Hunter in China.”
Team Leader Lee Ki-chan pointed to Zhang Qingye’s position on the ranking chart.
7th place.
If updated, it would be the position I’d take from him.
“Buy time for Hinata’s recovery, and Japan solves the Break that Korea and China couldn’t handle. Is that roughly the picture?”
“Exactly right.”
“Is there really a need to go that far?”
“Well… the truth is, Hinata’s position in Japan is like a religion.”
I recalled a video I’d seen by chance on NewTube.
Hinata, an S-rank Hunter from a shrine maiden background, was uniquely revered as sacred throughout all of Japan, befitting her origins.
Since such a person had been defeated, they had to stage her comeback no matter how much money it cost.
Given enough time, her abilities could work a Miracle Close to Resurrection.
“I understand roughly.”
“Though your ranking is in the mid-to-lower tier, we evaluate you much higher.”
The Association President took a sip of coffee and spoke.
“That’s why we accepted Japan’s trap proposal.”
“Isn’t your faith in me a bit too firm?”
At my words, the Association President shrugged his shoulders.
“Separate from Japan’s compensation, the country plans to provide additional reward money.”
How much could the reward money be anyway… but I was still grateful for the sentiment.
“The reward money isn’t necessary.”
At my words, Team Leader Lee Ki-chan’s face turned pale.
“Ah, are you not satisfied with the reward money? If not money, we’re fully willing to provide something else.”
‘Does he think I’m refusing because the reward money is too little?’
I felt puzzled but also understood.
The S-rank Hunter this man had dealt with before I appeared was Noh Hyun-seong, after all.
“No. I’ll just take exactly the predetermined amount.”
“Pardon? Are you really sure that’s okay?”
Instead, Team Leader Lee Ki-chan looked dazed at my answer.
“What did I tell you? Han Sang-in is different from the ground up.”
The Association President let out a hearty laugh and patted Team Leader Lee Ki-chan’s shoulder.
“It’s a matter for the country, so I should help. I happened to have business in Japan anyway.”
***
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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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