Chapter 185: Chapter 185

No matter how much Choi Yeonseung doubted it, he couldn’t change the fact that the reactions were real. Considering he had just successfully raided an Abyss Gate when others had failed, the reactions were actually rather calm. After all, the people were more focused on the Abyss.

[Parker Industries planning to build a large-scale city in the Abyss? Huge investments predicted to be made...]

[The Chinese government strongly claims sovereignty... A perimeter and hard labor are expected. The US president says ‘We will respond resolutely’...]

Now that all of Earth’s lands had been explored, the lands of the Abyss were humanity’s new frontier.

Many countries and companies were trying to figure out what they could do with this new land. Considering even Hwang Gyeongryong shyly claimed that he once wrote down a bucket list of what he would do upon stepping on one of Abyss’ lands around ten years ago, others didn’t have to explain their excitement anymore.

“How was the Abyss? I was worried.”

“The Abyss is fine for as long as you have a brain. Not all hunters are idiots.”

The dungeon was only extremely dangerous when the constellation was still in control. Now that the constellation had withdrawn, the First Abyss Kingdom was just an ordinary wasteland. Of course, it still had monsters. After all, it was in the Abyss.

However, that much could be prevented by the hunters currently on it. How many were over there right now?

Aine pulled out the apple she had brought with her, skillfully peeled it with magic, and took a bite.

“Do you like apples?”

“Huh? Yes. Is there anyone who doesn’t like it?” Aine asked.

‘Should I grow apples in my territory?’ Choi Yeonseung thought.

-Successor, I think farmer will be added to your name.

The undefeated farmer of training.

… It was pretty good. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

‘Doesn’t that make me seem quite strong?’

-I was being sarcastic...

The goddess’ remarks aside, Choi Yeonseung was honestly having fun developing his territory. The orcs who followed the ‘teach one thing, learn two in return’ principle were pretty good students. Creating paddy fields, constructing buildings, raising livestock, putting up defenses...

‘’I’ll try to grow some fruits. Let’s start with apple trees.’

A self-help book that Hwang Gyeongryong had read in the past had a quote that was along the lines of…

[Even if the Earth perishes tomorrow, I will still plant an apple tree today.]

Wasn’t it because apple trees could withstand harsh environments?

-?

“I will grow delicious apples and give them to you as a present.”

“No... It’s okay... I can buy apples. I have more money than you... No, not anymore.”

Aine hesitated. Hunters spent money as quickly as they earned it.

While everyone envied B-grade hunters, those hunters envied A-grade hunters.

Choi Yeonseung had become an A-grade hunter and defeated the boss monster of the First Abyss Kingdom. The rewards from that alone would already be around hundreds of millions of dollars.

“That aside, I can’t believe you’re thinking of growing apples. Is farming your hobby?” Aine asked.

People gained hobbies they didn’t have before as they grew older. Hwang Gyeongryong bought a few uninhabited islands and flew to them every now and then just to watch ‘I Am a Natural Person’ from beginning to end again. He enjoyed spending time alone to heal himself. With that in mind, Choi Yeonseung developing a farming hobby wasn’t strange at all.

Hunters usually had many unusual hobbies anyway. It had become so common for them to spend on alcohol or gamble enough money to buy a building in one night that it was no longer covered by the media.

“I know an A-grade hunter whose hobby is knitting. I don’t think farming is bad. Causing so much destruction can make you want to produce things.”

“My hobby is cooking,” Choi Yeonseung said.

Aine only gulped in response.

“Do you want to eat? Did you visit me because you’re hungry?”

“... No. I’m not here for food.”

“What is it, then?”

“I want to invite you?to dinner.”

Aine motioned for Choi Yeonseung to get up. Choi Yeonseung stopped training and did as requested.

“What type of meal? Why should I attend?”

“Um... Well, you’re now one of the most important figures in the group.”

“What group?”

“... Dragon Industry,” Aine replied, sounding bewildered.

***

B-grade hunters earned enough to be well off. However, A-grade hunters and above had to follow some degree of social responsibility. If they drank and played poker with other hunters and lost a million dollars at a casino, the government would contact them.

-I think you’ve lost too much. Why don’t you stop and rest for today? We can also find another casino for you.

The government was extremely worried that the A-grade hunter would fall into a trap. To be honest, who could they complain to if the hunter lost money like that, met a Russian spy, became close, and went into exile in Russia?

“... So what is the point of this story? Don’t play poker at casinos?”

“That’s not it. I’m just saying that since you’re an A-grade hunter now, you have to participate in politics and management, not just raids. You should do it even if you don’t want to.”

“I understand.”Choi Yeonseung nodded. Refusing to deal with his responsibilities would only weaken his abilities. That was also why he accepted the position of co-CEO of Dragon Artifact and worked hard.

“It’s a dinner event, but it won’t have a peaceful atmosphere.”

“Why? Did Gyeongryong hyung install traps on the chairs?”’

“What... ”

“He did that once in our previous clan.”

Aine was surprised to learn about a side of her father that she didn’t know about. To think he did something like that…

“... no, nothing of the sort. Many key figures?of the?group are just going to be present.”

Group dinners like this were common. A dinner for politicians hosted by a senator, a dinner for entrepreneurs hosted by representatives of various companies...

Didn’t Alex Parker, the chairman of the Parker family, also throw a dinner event like this?

‘That event’s atmosphere was seriously fierce.’

Choi Yeonseung found it quite frightening. A time for flattery and proving loyalty! Choi Yeonseung was an outsider, so he just ate and drank to his heart’s content and even teased the chairman a bit before leaving, but the others desperately tried to catch the chairman’s attention. As they did, Alex Parker savored their efforts.

Choi Yeonseung naturally noticed such a suspicious atmosphere.

“Gyeongryong hyung hold dinners like that? That’s disappointing.”

“No. It isn’t like that. What do you think of my father?”

“I know he’s not the type to do that. What type of dinner is it?”

“One where they fight among themselves.”

“... Huh?”

“They literally fight among themselves.”

Hwang Gyeongryong gathered talented people from all over the world, put them in key positions in the group, and gave them a considerable degree of power. It was such an unconventional approach that other companies couldn’t even dare try it. In return for Hwang Gyeongryong’s benevolence, the talented people did their best to improve the company.

… They also fought among themselves.

-Can you still call yourself the CEO when this quarter’s earnings are declining? If you have a conscience, jump out the window over there.

-Right now, performance is declining due to the global financial crisis and the plummeting supply and demand for dungeon cores. Do you really think anything good can come out of that? How’s the market share of the ultra-high capacity mana battery your company developed?

-New-generation batteries are bound to have a low initial market share! That should be taken into consideration when making new developments. You do know that you’ll get yourself eliminated if you stop developments because of the market share, don’t you?

-If I were in your position, I would do better than you.

-What did you just say? ■■, fine, let’s switch places and see what happens!

-... Stop fighting, you crazy bastards!!!

They kept spouting curses thanks to the freedom they were given. They even asked to change the company’s CEO.

“... No. That sounds like a problem.” Choi Yeonseung was dumbfounded. He had heard that everyone in the Dragon Industry was talented, but he didn’t expect them to fight over who was the best.

“Are they really talented?”

“They are, but they all have personality problems.”

“... I see.”

He doubted whether what they had were just mere personality problems, though.

***

Los Angeles was Hwang Gyeongryong’s main area of activity. Among the many luxury mansions in LA, the giant villa in Bel Air was used primarily for dinner parties for corporate executives. Wasn’t it better to eat and drink in a villa on a beautiful hill overlooking the sea than in a drab building?

“Are those crazy people coming again?”

“Yes.”

“They’re seriously too much.”

“So what if they are? Considering how much they pay us, it’s only proper that we work hard,” the head chef said while looking at the other chefs.

The chefs were paid a huge amount of money to prepare this dinner course, but the chefs never liked this kind of event because their clients didn’t really come here to eat. Watching the dishes they worked so hard to prepare come back cold broke the chefs’ hearts.

“We are getting ready to cook! You can’t be here.”

“I just want to learn how to cook.”

“This place isn’t a culinary school. It’s a kitchen. We prepare food here, not teach people how to—” the chef who was about to send the person out abruptly stopped, clearly dumbfounded. Come to think of it, the only people invited to this villa were employees or guests, and the person in front of them didn’t look like an employee...

“Hunter Choi Yeonseung?”

“That’s right.”

The chef, Letitia, was bewildered. Why did a hunter come here?

“No...”

No matter how proud the chef was, they couldn’t ask an A-grade hunter to leave. After all, no one could attach their head back to their body if it was blown away.

“Hunter Choi Yeonseung!” One of the chefs yelled. Letitia panicked and tried to stop them, but…

“Please sign this!”

“......”

“Thank you!”

Letitia sighed.

“Do as you please.”

Having received permission, Choi Yeonseung happily nodded. Chef Letitia had been exploring French cuisine for over sixty years now. She was a master among masters. Choi Yeonseung admired her skills.

‘There are no frills in her movements.’

Watching her cook, Choi Yeonseung was?puzzled.

The dishes that the chefs made...

‘Aren’t they making Korean cuisine?’

Choi Yeonseung was taken aback when he saw the soup made of chestnuts and sweet pumpkin and the lightly fried rice cakes sprinkled with peanuts or sesame seeds.

“You’re not cooking authentic French cuisine?”

“Dragon Hwang likes Korean food.”

Meeting a customer’s needs was a professional’s job.

Choi Yeonseung, who had been watching intently, grew bored and asked, “Can I make something?”

“... Do whatever you want.”

“I can help you!”

The young chefs excitedly rushed to Choi Yeonseung. When would they have another opportunity to cook with an A-grade hunter?

“Here’s a knife... No, can I take a photo first? I want to upload it to SNS... Thank you!”

“Please ask me if you need anything or have any questions.”

“Stop chatting around and focus on cooking!”

“Yes!”

The cooks went back to their positions after being scolded. At the same time, they glanced at Choi Yeonseung. They would help if he made a mistake.

.

‘Still, according to rumors, isn’t Hunter Choi Yeonseung great at cooking? I heard from the hunters the other day that he cooked quite a bit during the raid.’

‘Those were probably just camping dishes.’

‘If he makes a mistake, I can stick to his side again under the excuse that I’m just helping him.’

However, Choi Yeonseung made no mistakes.

“...!!!”