Chapter 163: Chapter 163

“They’re bowing down, but I don’t feel bad.” n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Choi Yeonseung nodded as he looked around. The hunters here were all over level 200 and ranked B-grade or above. Moreover, these talented people came from all over the world, not just the United States. Nevertheless, Choi Yeonseung thought it was a pity.

‘I wish there were two or three more A-grades.’

They could certainly raid dungeons with their current power. However, what Choi Yeonseung wanted was a constellation battle and a raid on the Abyss gate.

‘Some strategies require many talented people at my disposal before I can use them.’

When he reached A-grade, Choi Yeonseung felt his power of existence increase so much that he became an intermediate constellation. Having successfully done several raids and advanced to A-grade, he attracted the faith of a formidable number of people.

A protruding nail was bound to be hit by a hammer. He had a bad relationship with several evil god constellations, so he didn’t know when a battle would come.

‘As evidenced by the goddess of balance, it takes only a moment to fall down.’

Even the best constellation could be crushed in an instant if they lost several times in a row in a constellation battle. He was doing well right now, but he still had to be more careful.

-By the way, don’t you think the goddess has been extremely ruined?

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ agrees. It is rare for them to fall so quickly...]

-Everybody, shut up.

Choi Yeonseung was lost in thought. Right now, Choi Yeonseung was gathering faith quite cautiously. As a hunter, he gathered people’s faith through countless good deeds. When sending out invitations, Choi Yeonseung made direct contact and would use his constellation name. It was a very cautious and quiet method compared to other constellations’.

‘I’m playing tricks.’

What Choi Yeonseung was doing right now was foul. Hence, it was only natural to act cautiously when giving recommendations.

‘Nevertheless, the interest of hunters is gradually increasing.’

Several of the hunters wouldn’t hesitate to sign a contract with an evil god constellation to become strong. Hence, they had every reason to be interested in the constellation of a hunter who appeared and was promoted to A-grade like a comet.

Lots of speculations about him could be seen on the Internet right now.

-The constellation seems a bit odd, considering their name. Won’t you have to change your life if you sign a contract?

-Will the constellation even offer you a contract? How funny.

-Shut up. I’ve been scouted a few times already.

-If so, then you wouldn’t be writing here. Tell me the name of the constellations you received invitations from. Aren’t they all evil god constellations? I’ll have to report it to the FBI!

-I think this is more of a constellation on the martial arts side. Isn’t Hunter Choi Yeonseung also a martial artist?

-The day has come when a martial artist has reached A-grade. Back then...

-Why are retired people coming to this forum?

-Do I have to learn martial arts to be chosen by that constellation?

Decades had passed since the constellations had appeared, and the people of Earth had accumulated quite a lot of know-how about how to live so that a constellation would choose them. In comparison, there wasn’t much information on the incarnation of training. Hence, there was a lot of speculation.

‘This level of interest is insignificant compared to what other constellations get, so I don’t have to worry about being kept in check yet. The problem is something else.’

What Choi Yeonseung was worried about was something else. As a constellation, how could he satisfy his household members?

-It isn’t that hard, is it?

-No. It’s difficult. I need to have something to give.

Choi Yeonseung was a constellation with overwhelming individual combat abilities, but he didn’t have many abilities that could help others. He could give a lot of advice on martial arts, but...

-I can’t keep accepting just martial artists, can I?

-That’s true.

-Fortunately, I have a number of constellations to help me.

-... Why me... What constellation entrusts its household members to other constellations?

-On Earth, we help each other during hard times. Tell me if someone from your household wants to learn martial arts later on. I'll help you.

-All my household members want to rest. There is no way I’ll find a household member like that.

-Aside from what ability to give them, I have to make them useful first.

Choi Yeonseung began, “Becoming an A-grade hunter has made me feel as if I’ve been given a huge responsibility. I will try to make the clan’s other hunters stronger.”

“!”

“Oh...!”

The hunters were delighted. Considering most of them in the industry only cared about themselves, it was rare for a hunter to say such things. And even if they did, it was almost just a pretentious remark. However, Choi Yeonseung was surprisingly reliable. He had already said that even before he became an A-grade. At the time, he seemed like a crazy person teaching martial arts when he should be competing with others. He now looked different, however, because he had reached A-grade.

“In return, I want you all to listen to my orders.”

“?”

“...... ?”

“Orders? Are you talking about raids?” one of the hunters asked, bewildered.

“No.”

They would understand the captain giving orders during a raid. In a life-or-death situation, a chain of command was essential. However, they couldn’t understand someone giving them orders under normal circumstances. What right did he have to give orders?

“We were scouted by the Icarus clan, not by you.”

“Yes. So I got permission. If you don’t like it, then get lost.”

“... Really?”

“I asked.”

At that moment, the hunters realized that Choi Yeonseung had been given full authority. He had become an A-grade hunter, so Hwang Gyeongryong was definitely pushing him. No, even so...!

“Unlike in the past, clan members no longer stick together. Hunter Choi Yeonseung. For the sake of professionalism, we should be able to do our own things and respect each other’s distance...”

“Shut up. You better be ready if you don’t come when I call. Those who don’t attend because they are drunk, have just finished playing poker, watching a game… What else? Anyway, it won’t be a good look for you if I catch you lacking.”

‘This crazy bastard.’

‘They recruited the wrong person!’

‘It would’ve been better if the one who became an A-grade hunter didn’t care much about others…’

The hunters were starting to become anxious. The atmosphere now was completely different from before.

However, some of the hunters’ eyes were shining. More interested in becoming stronger than in debauchery, Choi Yeonseung’s words felt like an opportunity for them.

***

“You have a guest, Hunter Choi Yeonseung.” A clan employee told Choi Yeonseung upon returning to his accommodations. He had just finished cornering the clan hunters as if they were mice.

“I wasn’t expecting anyone.”

If it was someone Choi Yeonseung knew, they wouldn’t have told him about the guest in such a way. A person he didn’t know...

‘A Russian spy?’

“I was waiting for you, Hunter Choi Yeonseung. I’ve been dying to meet you,” the man spoke lowly. He was a head taller than Choi Yeonseung.

Choi Yeonseung was by no means average, but the man was even bigger than him.

‘A Native American?’

The opponent was reminiscent of granite. His rocky face was full of scars, and his eyes were full of dignity.

“Who are you?”

“Wes Morales. He is an A-grade hunter like you,” the bodyguard next to him whispered softly.

Wes Morales. He was nicknamed Raging Rock and was one of the few A-grade hunters in the US.

The bodyguards sent by the government exchanged looks nervously. The meeting of two A-grade hunters, each with bodyguards, was really nerve-wracking. Morales was a hunter known for his blunt and outspoken personality. If they were to collide...

“Hmm. Come inside. I’m the only one who lives here, so it’s a bit empty. Is that alright?”

Choi Yeonseung opened the door. Odaigon?wasn’t with him, so it was quite empty. Hunters who joined a clan would usually buy or rent a luxurious mansion or apartment nearby, but the A-grade hunter Choi Yeonseung was still living in the clan-provided accommodation.

“.......!”

Morales seemed surprised by the interior. It was amazing that someone who had become an A-grade hunter would be living in such a place. “You live here?”

“Yes.”

“Is there any reason you don’t stay somewhere else?”

“If I live in the city center, I would have to drive to the clan grounds. This place is right next to the training room.”

“......”

Morales admired Choi Yeonseung for being genuinely crazy about training. It was evident how he could become stronger and reach A-grade.

“The only thing I have to drink is plain water.”

“It’s okay. I came to you so suddenly. Water is enough.”

“I’m glad to hear that... So, what brings you here?”

Choi Yeonseung looked at Morales with slightly expectant eyes. Did he come here because he was interested in the Undefeated Incarnation of Training?

Morales took a sip of water, then said, “I came here because I wanted to cooperate.”

“On a raid?”

“A raid… That’s right, but what I have in mind is a bit different.”

A-grade hunters joining forces meant that an A-grade monster had appeared. After all, even they would be reluctant to kill such monsters alone. Even if they were strong, one mistake could cost them their life. In addition, the monster could have a skill they had no information on. Hence, it was reassuring in many ways to have a colleague of the same rating.

“I saw that you have become the CEO of Dragon Artifact.”

“...... !”

Choi Yeonseung was taken aback. Why did Morales suddenly open this up?

“Ultimately, it isn’t hunters who have power, but companies. Isn’t that what Hunter Choi Yeonseung thinks?”

“Uh... Is that what I am thinking?”

"Yes. So I am trying to have that power as well.”

“Are you going to kill Hwang Gyeongryong and take over Dragon Industry?”

Morales was flustered. There was bewilderment on his rock-like face that normally never shook.

"What do you mean by that?"

“That isn’t it? Go on, then.”

“I’m working with the Parker family.”

That was a familiar name to Choi Yeonseung. Any raid hunter had to know the Parker family! He met the chairman the other day...

“The Parker family... Isn’t the chairman over there a bit unreliable?”

"Yes. But that isn’t what’s important.”

The benefits they would get from working together, not the personality of the chairman, was what was important.

“It is. There is nothing more troubling than the person you are working with not being reliable.”

“In any case, I don’t believe in them.”

Morales was working with Jacob Parker, the oldest son of the Parker family. Jacob Parker was the president of Parker Energy. In the raid industry, energy meant the core of monsters. As such, outstanding hunters who could supply the monster cores were valuable talents. It was natural for a company to bend down if the other person was one of the best A-grade hunters in the country.

However, bending down didn’t necessarily mean giving things.

“I’ve been promised a share in the company, but they are using all types of excuses not to give it to me. Perhaps Hunter Choi Yeonseung is receiving the same treatment.”

“...... ”

Choi Yeonseung was flustered.

‘That isn’t the case?’

Morales seemed to be mistaken about something. Big businesses were shrewd enough to trick hunters, but...

Hwang Gyeongryong and Choi Yeonseung were a bit different.

-Yeonseung. I picked this up on the way. Take this.

-What is it?

-Bah. I’m not giving it to you because you are pretty.

-I don’t need something like this.

-...I paid all the gift taxes, so just take it, you bastard.