Chapter 116: Chapter 116

Apart from summarizing what he did in three sentences, Choi Yeonseung did a really good job. He was the real victor of this raid! The hunters who participated in the raid were all spreading Choi Yeonseung’s name, focusing the people’s attention on him. The raiding industry had become such a competitive world that it would be difficult to get a reputation just by doing one raid alone, yet Choi Yeonseung managed to do that with ease.

It was really amazing...

‘No. He’s a constellation. Shouldn’t this be natural?’

“Why are you making that face?”

“W-What face?”

“You were smiling, then suddenly looked serious....”

Choi Yeonseung’s words made Hwang Gyeongryong turn his head with a serious expression.

“Anyway, I called you because I wanted to hear about what happened in the dungeon directly from you. However, I also thought this was a good opportunity.”

“?”

Hwang Gyeongryong intended to use this opportunity to introduce his huge corporate group, Dragon Industry. If he was any other hunter, then he just had to know how to conduct raids. However, a hunter aiming for A-grade or higher had to know some of the business and how the world worked. They had to have connections with politicians or with the bosses of corporations...

A-grade hunters were a walking strategic weapon. If they couldn’t fend for themselves, then they would be forced to dance on someone else’s palm. Hwang Gyeongryong originally planned to introduce Choi Yeonseung later. He was the chairman, so he had to be careful when pushing Choi Yeonseung into the company. It wouldn’t matter if Choi Yeonseung was a famous hunter, but he was just a hunter who returned from the Abyss.

Hwang Gyeongyryong refrained from introducing him out of fear that it would backfire, but...

This raid and the Las Vegas raid produced amazing results. He thought it should be fine with Choi Yeonseung’s current level of fame. Choi Yeonseung wouldn’t be treated as if he just parachuted in if he was introduced to the company now.

“Come in.”

At Hwang Gyeongryong’s words, the door opened and a middle-aged Asian man entered.

“This is Nguyen Bao, the president of Dragon Artifact. Say hello to each other.”

“Hello.” Choi Yeonseung stood up and bowed politely.

Hwang Gyeongryong cocked his head. “Yeonseung. You’re older. Why did you bother standing up?”

“... Do you feel better about pointing that out?”

“Yes. I feel a bit relieved deep down. In fact, I hated you pretending to be young when you’re?with me.”

Choi Yeonseung felt slightly stabbed. How did he know?

Nguyen looked surprised by their casual conversation. ‘They are really close.’

Hwang Gyeongryong wasn’t only an S-grade hunter. He also led a giant corporation and was charismatic. The articles treated Hwang Gyeongryong like a playboy, but the executives working within the group knew how terrifying he was.

Nguyen was friends with Hwang Gyeongryong, but he never dreamed of having a conversation with him like what Choi Yeonseung was having now. Nguyen’s attitude became even more polite.

“Do you know what Dragon Artifact is?”

“Ah, that’s...”

Choi Yeonseung’s words made Hwang Gyeongryong look at him with an expression that seemed to say, ‘Oh.’?Hwang Gyeongryong thought Choi Yeonseung was only interested in training, but he seemed to have become interested in other things since he had returned!

‘Did he change after becoming a constellation?’

“... I don’t know.”

“Don’t needlessly make a big deal out of it, then...”

Hwang Gyeongryong sighed and began to explain. The monsters that appeared on Earth were a crisis, but they also proved to be an opportunity. Their cores turned out to be such a huge and efficient source of energy that not even conventional oil and nuclear power could match it! Hence, numerous companies jumped into this core energy industry and fought fiercely for it!

“Among the Dragon Industry subsidiaries, there is a company that processes these cores... Hey. Are you sleepy?”

“I’m not sleepy. Keep talking.”

“... In any case, in addition to this energy industry, there are several other industries. One of them is artificial artifacts.”

Artifacts referred to items with various skills—rare treasures that could only be obtained by clearing dungeons or killing monsters! However, what if they could artificially make them? If they could create artifacts containing healing or defensive magic, the value of those items would be astronomical.

“The company in charge of that is Dragon Industry. I’m not saying this to brag, but it is one of the best companies in the industry. Hum hum.”

“......”

“It is all thanks to this man.”

“It isn't because of me. The researchers who work for the company are the ones to thank.”

“You are humble,” Hwang Gyeongryong said while waving his hands.

All types of elites gathered in Hwang Gyeongryong’s company. Even his secretaries were from the Ivy League. Among them, Nguyen was one of the greatest geniuses. It took a large number of brains and extensive research to understand magic and participate in the development of artifacts without being a hunter.

“Why are you introducing me to the boss of such a company?” Choi Yeonseung cocked his head.

“Get acquainted. From a hunter’s perspective, there is nothing wrong with that.”

‘He probably has a hidden motive.’

“Artifact developers always need a hunter to test their inventions out.”

“Wouldn’t a hunter who is good at magic be better for that?”

At the current level of Choi Yeonseung’s magic skills, he would just keep hurting himself.

“There are many hunters who are good at magic, but you are the only one who uses martial arts.”

“That is true.”

“Right? So come with me so I can introduce you to the company. Get to know each other a little bit as well.”

Hwang Gyeongryong wanted Choi Yeonseung to be close to and acknowledged by the working staff of Dragon Artifact. With Choi Yeonseung’s skills, that was an easy task. Dragon Artifact had a lot of weight among the companies that Hwang Gyeongryong owned! The experience of these companies and the support they sent would become Choi Yeonseung’s strength.

‘Kukukuk... He’s an idiot. By the time he notices, he will be sitting in the boss’ seat.’

“Come to think of it, Nguyen. I remember what you said last time. It is better to ask Yeonseung here for?that favor. I’m sure he’ll be able to solve it.”

“Huh? Can he really do it?” n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Who do you think I am? Have I ever been wrong?”

Hwang?Gyeongryong’s?confidence convinced Nguyen. Hwang Gyeongryong had indeed never been wrong...

“Hasn’t that happened a lot of times already?”

“Be quiet, dude.”

It hadn’t happened recently!

“I don’t know about anything else, but Yeonseung is the best when dealing with people.”

“If so, then I’m sorry, but I have to ask you for a favor.”

Choi Yeonseung couldn’t understand the conversation between the two. How was he the best at dealing with people?

“Hyung. I’m a bit embarrassed to say this, but I don’t think I’ve ever dealt well with people.”

Didn’t he try training the new hunters in the clan but ended up making them run away? Hwang Gyeongryong nodded as if he understood.

“Don’t worry. I’m not talking about dealing with them using words. We’re talking about fists here.”

“...Ah!”

No wonder!

***

“Aren’t you in the artifact development industry? Why would you have to attack people?”

“About that... hum hum.”

Nguyen lowered his voice as he looked around, embarrassed.

“Research and development are important in this business, but... this industry can prove very competitive.”

“Ahh...”

Choi Yeonseung understood what he meant. Stealing artifacts and development materials...

It cost tens of millions of dollars to do research, but it only took one good hunter to steal all of it.

“I don’t think Gyeongryong hyung is someone?easygoing?enough to suffer something like this.”

“Yes. Our data is defended with tight security, but people are different.”

“!”

Nguyen had a point. Even with their data and artifacts thoroughly defended, those who studied them would be wandering around. Other competing companies persuaded, bribed, or even kidnapped researchers to take them away.

“Even kidnapping? Is that allowed?”

“It’s fine for as long as you don’t get caught.”

“Wow. Hunters really live without laws.”

Choi Yeonseung clicked his tongue. He heard that the government ignored what the hunter clans did to each other, but...

This was really ridiculous! He couldn’t tell if they were hunters or the mafia.

Nguyen was slightly surprised by Choi Yeonseung’s reaction. Few hunters had such a reaction. Hunters usually took their privileges for granted. They risked their lives to fight monsters. In exchange, they could drink and drive or even kill people...

‘I see. I think I understand why he’s friends with Chairman Hwang.’

Nguyen respected Hwang Gyeongryong as a human being. Hwang Gyeongryong was a hunter, but he also had a human heart. Nguyen smiled. Choi Yeonseung also seemed to be such a person.

“This is a joke we often tell ourselves. Do you know what the difference is between a hunter and a monster?”

“What is it?”

“One kills people at will while the other comes from the Abyss.”

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ laughs loudly!]

-Honestly, it is kind of funny.

As Choi Yeonseung and the cat constellation were secretly chatting, Nguyen was a bit taken aback. He made a joke, but Choi Yeonseung didn’t answer.

‘D-Did I make a mistake?’

Now that Nguyen had thought about it, a joke that seemed to be making fun of hunters likely sounded bad from Choi Yeonseung’s perspective.

“I-I’m sorry.”

“Huh? What’s wrong?”

“My frivolous joke...”

“No. It was really funny. I’ll have to?tell Gyeongryong?hyung about it later. Does he know this joke?”

“He probably does, but...”

Nguyen was relieved by Choi Yeonseung’s reaction. He didn’t seem to be angry.

“Anyway, what happened?”

Ronald Totten was an excellent artifact researcher and recently succeeded in developing an artificial artifact with built-in 3rd-circle magic, Apraia’s Double Shield. Dragon Artifact was going to contact Ronald and bring him to the company after signing a contract, but...

“We lost contact.”

“Are you sure he was really going to sign the contract?”

“Yes. We’ve already talked about it. Maybe another clan or company took him.”

According to Nguyen’s investigation, the artifact development company ‘Pable’ was the likely culprit.

“What is Pable?”

“Ah, that’s...”

Nguyen was embarrassed. He didn’t expect Choi Yeonseung wouldn’t even know about Pable.

“It is one of the Parker family’s companies. They have a lot of experience in artifact development.”

The Parker family was a conglomerate, and one of their businesses was Pable.

“Ah. The Parker family! I remember. The Icarus clan has a hunter from them.”

“Huh? really?”

Nguyen was even more perplexed. There was no way the Parker family would send one of their hunters to the Icarus clan unless they were crazy.

“The Parker family didn’t just let it happen, did they…?”

“Well, they would’ve been ignored even if they protested because of Gyeongryong hyung’s personality.”

“......!”

It was plausible! Nguyen inadvertently agreed with Choi Yeonseung’s words.

“Then my mission is to go to Pable, find a researcher named Ronald, and bring him out?”

“For now, yes.”

“That doesn’t seem very difficult. I’ll go now.”

“Y-You’re not planning on going alone, right?” Nguyen asked, wondering if it was possible.

Aish...

It couldn’t be...

‘I was going to.’

Choi Yeonseung was about to move according to the habits he had back in the Abyss, but he hesitated upon hearing Nguyen’s question. Since he had to bring someone out, it would be nice to have a couple of extra hands.

‘Should I call the Icarus clan hunters? This isn’t something that can be made public.’

At that moment, someone contacted Choi Yeonseung. The Mount Hua Sect hunters were calling.