Chapter 298: Chapter 298

Bao smiled gently in understanding, which somehow made Choi Yeonseung feel worse.

“I think loving your country is something to be proud of. You’re actually...”

“Uh, no.”

Choi Yeonseung shut Bao up. He wasn’t trying to help Hanseong Group because it was a Korean company. His nieces, Han Seha and Han Sehui, although they weren’t literally his nieces, were from Hanseong Group.

“Ah...!”

Hearing the explanation, Bao smiled gently once again as he got the full picture.

“I see. Are the two of them actually related to you?”

“...What kind of nonsense is that?”

“Huh? That’s not the case?”

After hearing the explanation, Bao had thought that Han Seha and Han Sehui were Choi Yeonseung’s children.

***

“I will make a formal complaint!”

“We are deeply sorry, but there’s nothing we can do.”

The person in charge apologized politely but didn’t yield at all. His attitude further angered the employee from Hanseong Group. They could’ve made a fuss if the organizer had behaved arrogantly. They hadn’t expected him to handle the situation flawlessly like this.

The people in charge of this event had dealt with all types of clans and companies, so they were incredibly clever when it came to such situations.

“What’s going on?”

“!”

Kim Junghyeong, the manager of Hanseong’s energy department, was surprised by the figure that suddenly appeared behind him.

That person...

He was incredibly famous.

‘Hunter Choi Yeonseung!’

In terms of popularity, hunters were rather similar to celebrities, but there was one difference. Hunters received much more attention from the public. Even if one didn’t know any famous actors in their own country, they had to know the A-grade hunters from their country.

On that note, Choi Yeonseung was one of the most famous hunters these days.

‘Before I came on a business trip, my son said he wanted to be like Hunter Choi Yeonseung. What could this mean?’

“Ah, Hunter Choi Yeonseung...”

The person in charge of the event also flinched when he recognized Choi Yeonseung. It wasn’t just because he was an A-grade hunter. He was also the chairman of Dragon Industry.

Considering how much money Dragon Industry had invested in various events, the organizer felt compelled to bow deeply before Choi Yeonseung.

Choi Yeonseung asked, “Who’s the other party?”

“Huh?”

“Seeing you do this, someone must’ve requested the change. Tell me.”

“It’s Union Klein,” the organizer responded immediately.

Kim Junghyeong was baffled by the organizer’s reaction. When he protested, the organizer just told him apologetically, “I don’t know. I’m sorry, perhaps there was some kind of mix-up?” Now that Choi Yeonseung inquired about the situation, he answered immediately.

No matter how big the difference in power was between Kim Junghyeong and Choi Yeonseung , wasn’t this just outrageous?

This world was truly all about survival of the fittest!

“Put Union Klein in the far corner.”

“Yes. I will do so.”

The organizer complied with Choi Yeonseung’s request without complaining. Kim Junghyeong was once again baffled by what was going on. This was true power!

‘...No. Wait. Why is Hunter Choi Yeonseung helping us?’

The other employees who came with him also looked flustered.

“Why did he help us?”

“Yes...?”

“There can only be one reason.”

Kim Junghyeong nodded as though he understood perfectly. At their boss’ reaction, the subordinates looked over expectantly.

“What is it?”

“Is there any other reason besides that he’s from South Korea?”

“Uh...”

“That...?”

“I don’t think it’s that...?”

The subordinates were flustered. From their perspective, it had nothing to do with patriotism.

Moreover, Choi Yeonseung usually said in interviews things like “Even if I die, I’ll make sure to shed the boiling blood of South Korea and all its people in that dungeon!”...

However, Kim Junghyeong was adamant.

“Young people! This is why you should go overseas! How nice is it to come across people from your country? Who will help you if you find yourselves in trouble overseas? The Chinese or the Japanese?”

“But shouldn’t you be more careful of the people from your country when you travel overseas?”

“That’s right. I’ve heard that the people from your country are more likely to scam you.”

“Ah, shut up! Be quiet. Just watch.”

Kim Junghyeong cleared his throat as he approached Choi Yeonseung. He then extended his hand with the dignity of a company leader.

"Hunter Choi Yeonseung, thank you for your help.”

“It wasn’t a big deal. You don’t have to thank me,” answered Choi Yeonseung indifferently.

Seeing his reaction, Kim Junghyeong thought that Choi Yeonseung was embarrassed. It was definitely odd for a hunter to be shy, but heroes like the Iron-Blooded Ice Emperor were also shy in the first place. The more reticent the hero, the shier they were.

“There are media outlets in South Korea that disparage you, but I don’t believe them at all. Aren’t they unscrupulous? If you were the scoundrel they believe you to be, how on earth could you have achieved so many things?”

“I appreciate the praise.”

“I know why you helped us.”

"Is that so?”

So far, Choi Yeonseung had only been listening half-heartedly, but now he was genuinely curious. Did Kim Junghyeong know about his relationship with Han Seha and Han Sehui?

Kim Junghyeong tapped himself on the chest.

“It’s because you love South Korea with all your being, correct?”

“...”

Choi Yeonseung was flabbergasted.

***

“What happened?”

Aine looked curiously at Choi Yeonseung as he arrived later than expected. It might’ve been different with Hwang Gyeongryong, but Choi Yeonseung wasn’t someone to be late for an appointment.

“Something came up on the way.”

Choi Yeonseung proceeded to explain what had happened, causing Aine to laugh as if she understood.

“It happens all the time. Union Klein messed with the wrong people.”

“I don’t know what they’re doing, but they won’t bother me for no reason, right?”

“Those guys?”

Aine looked like she had just heard a hilarious joke.

“Do you want to make a bet? I bet someone from there will come in about ten minutes. Walk outside for ten minutes,” proposed Aine.

“I’m not making any bets but I’ll watch if you want.”

“Hah, it’s no fun if you’re not betting. Still, I will take the bet.”

Within a few minutes, someone from Union Klein came running to them. He seemed to be a regular employee, and as he bowed his head, he shouted, “We’re really sorry! How can we make up for this terrible mistake…? We’ll do anything!”

“Relax, there’s no need for that. Just make sure you won’t do something like that again.”

“Yes! We are most grateful for your kindness!”

The person from Union Klein left after thanking him several times.

“I didn’t expect the staff member to come running up to me so soon,” said Choi Yeonseung with a hint of surprise in his voice.

“It wasn’t a staff member, it was the CEO.”

“...What? The CEO?”

Choi Yeonseung was dumbfounded. That man was the CEO…

“Are you surprised?”

“Well, yeah. I thought he was a regular employee. If I had known he was the CEO, I would’ve scolded him more.”

“Should I call him back?”

“Forget it, it’s not that serious. If I do anything unnecessary, then Hanseong Group will get the wrong idea about me.”

Aine shrugged and said, “Union Klein is a component supplier under Dragon Industry’s subsidiaries. There's fierce competition for the parts that are used to make artifacts, so it’s better to buy them. A company like Dragon Industry is a big deal to them. Do you understand?”

“Roughly speaking, we buy things at a high price. I understand.”

“Perfect.”

Aine looked satisfied.

Choi Yeonseung had been forced to take charge of the company, so it was Aine’s role to help him understand the power that he possessed so that he could properly wield it.

Dragon Industry had built up its power in the United States for a long time. Besides the world of business, its power extended in the political world as well.

There was currently no member of the Senate or House of Representatives who hadn’t been lobbied by Dragon Industry. In the case of Los Angeles, Dragon Industry had gained so much power that they essentially owned the city.

With this much influence, Dragon Industry could shake the United States, and even the whole world, by creating new laws whenever they wanted.

...Of course, Hwang Gyeongryong’s goal was to maintain the status quo because he had already lived his life and wasn’t particularly ambitious. However, Choi Yeonseung’s goal could be different.

Aine wanted to help with that as Choi Yeonseung was the kind of person that anybody would want to help.

“The important thing right now is Gorn’s Life Plant. To be honest, I’m still a bit worried. Are you sure it’s okay?” asked Aine.

“I’ve heard that rumors will spread if we don’t present it?”

“If rumors spread, you can sue some reporters and shut down a few media outlets... It’s just going to cost a bit of money.”

Those were frightening words, but Choi Yeonseung pretended not to hear them and moved on.

“Now all the preparations are complete. I’ve also told the orcs about this and brought the best ones here.”

Inside the state-of-the-art container currently behind him were the Abyssal plants grown by the orcs, Gorn’s Life Plant.

Thanks to the orcs’ efforts under Choi Yeonseung’s guidance, the plants had grown almost to perfection even though Earth’s environment was nowhere near optimal for them. Nobody at this event would be able to deny their results.

Aine’s face brightened at Choi Yeonseung’s confident words.

“I’m glad.”

“Did you not believe in me?”

“It’s not that I didn’t believe in you. Fath... No, the chairman made a lot of mistakes.”

‘Gyeongryong hyung...’

Choi Yeonseung remembered some things in the past about Hwang Gyeongryong and couldn’t help nodding. Hwang Gyeongryong wasn’t incompetent, but he was weirdly prone to making blunders. Thus, it was understandable that Aine had been worried about this project.

“Hunter Choi Yeonseung, someone from the Parker family wishes to see you.”

“?”

A person who appeared to be a bodyguard approached him. Choi Yeonseung asked back in a puzzled manner, “If they want to meet me, they should come and see me, right?”

“I’m just conveying the message.”

“Then convey my response. If they keep talking nonsense and picking fights, I’ll smash the Parker Group or whatever.”

Choi Yeonseung was taken aback by this unexpected dispute that occurred in the middle of his preparations.

The bodyguard was a bit embarrassed, but he nodded without changing his expression.

“I will pass on the message.”

Five minutes passed.

“I think there was a misunderstanding between us.”

Gloria Parker, the second child of the Parker family, made an appearance. Upon seeing her, Aine scowled, making it obvious that she disliked her.

“I thought it was Jacob Parker. Why did you come?”

“What, am I not allowed?”

“You’re pathetic. You ingratiate yourself with hunters by seducing them using game tickets and throwing parties. So yeah, you have no business coming here. What are you going to announce? How to flirt with hunters?”

Upon hearing such sharp remarks, Gloria gritted her teeth and said, “I have some information that might help Hunter Choi Yeonseung, but judging from your reaction, I guess he doesn’t need it!”

“...”

At those words, the arrogance completely vanished from Aine’s face and was replaced by disbelief. If Gloria really had information that was helpful to Choi Yeonseung, Aine screwed up big time.

Perhaps because she noticed the change in Aine’s expression, Gloria’s demeanor became even worse.

“But lucky for you, I’m quite the generous person. If you apologize, I’ll forgive you. Apologize for insulting and disregarding me.”

“...Gloria Parker… What I just said...”

Choi Yeonseung suddenly cut in, “Forget it, niece. Stop.” He seemed disgusted by this.

“But she has some information that might help...” insisted Aine with a panicked expression.

“It won’t kill me or ruin Dragon Industry if I don’t have it. Even if that were the case, it’s still not worth it to humiliate yourself in front of her. Hey you, I don’t need your information, so get lost already!”

Choi Yeonseung waved his hand in irritation.

Gloria stiffened as she couldn’t believe that she was being treated like this. She just stood there in a daze, not saying a single word.

Seeing her like that, Choi Yeonseung was a bit embarrassed and asked Aine, “What? Is she going to make a scene?”

“No. She’s shocked because nobody has ever treated her like this. She’ll snap out of it soon enough.”

‘Wow, isn’t she too thin-skinned?’