Chapter 412: Chapter 412

However, Kim Chandong couldn’t leave the office like that... The two clan leaders were blocking the window.

Actually, it seemed to him that those two also wanted to jump out the window.

“In fact... We’re not that close.”

Kim Chandong continued being honest. He didn’t really want to be this candid about this, but he had no choice.

Besides being a scout, Kim Chandong was also active as a hunter in his clan. He knew better than anyone else that bragging too much would eventually come back to bite him in the ass.

If he were to say something like “Yeah, me and Hunter Choi Yeonseung actually go to the sauna together,” the other person might reply with something like “Oh, really? Then let’s go with him to the sauna together!”

“Hmm, is that so? You’re being too humble. I don’t think he’d give such advice to someone he isn’t even close to.”

Nam Hakgi didn’t buy Kim Chandong’s explanation. He figured that the scout was just being overly humble. After all, there was no way Choi Yeonseung would give such valuable advice about recruiting hunters to a stranger.

Hunter Choi Yeonseung wasn’t a pushover.

“W-we’re really not close.”

“I understand, I understand. You’re not close, but you can still get valuable advice from him.”

“...”

Kim Chandong thought that things were getting more and more twisted, but he stayed put for the time being. Nothing good would happen if he kept running his mouth.

“Scout Kim Chandong, I called you here to discuss your judgment on Go Cheonsik, but I was also planning to discuss what we should do with him. But given what you’ve told me, I’m convinced. Can you contact Hunter Choi Yeonseung? I would love to hear his advice if possible.”

“!”

“!!”

“!!!”

Kim Chandong wasn’t the only one baffled; the two clan leaders were equally stunned.

“E-executive Director, please wait a moment! Shouldn’t you perhaps reconsider?”

“That’s right! Even if he’s an A-grade hunter, commanding a clan battle and running a clan are completely different matters. Haven’t many star hunters established clans only to ruin them?”

“So did the two of you win?”

“...”

“...”

The two clan leaders were dumbfounded.

Nam Hakgi glared at them like they were pathetic. To think they had the audacity to speak after missing out on this valuable opportunity...

“B-but... Executive Director.”

“What?

“Think about it. Hunter Choi Yeonseung didn’t create a clan. It wasn’t him that scouted the hunters for the clan and trained them. I admit that Hunter Choi Yeonseung did a great job leading him to victory, but it’s not just his credit.”

“Umm...”

The clan leaders spoke with conviction and managed to shake Nam Hakgi a little. Indeed, their arguments were plausible. Many other people had to have contributed to this brilliant victory.

Perhaps Nam Hakgi was mistaken about Choi Yeonseung’s reputation as an A-grade hunter. Based on the Demon clan’s determination to gather and raise hunters, it was possible that Choi Yeonseung had just been lucky with this victory.

“Would Hunter Wi Seongu have been able to be active and do so well in the battle if the people of the Demon clan hadn’t brought him into the clan and raised him? It isn’t just one hunter. It’s the clan’s system that matters more. So I would rather support...”

“Huh? No. They’ve said that Hunter Choi Yeonseung personally brought Wi Seongu into the clan and trained him.”

Kim Chandong couldn’t help mentioning that. He had been deeply impressed by Wi Seongu’s interview, so the words just came out involuntarily.

Nam Hakgi jerked his head around and asked, “Really?”

“Huh? Yes... He said it in an interview...”

Kim Chandong instantly regretted saying that. The two clan leaders were glaring at him with resentful eyes.

‘Crap! I should’ve kept my mouth shut’

“Executive Director...!”

“...Get out of here.”

“Executive Director! I was wrong! I...”

The clan leader of the Night Light Ghost clan kept trying to explain himself, but Nam Hakgi kicked him out of the office. Only the leader of the Boat Fish clan remained, so the burden on his shoulders was ten times heavier.

“So can you contact Hunter Choi Yeonseung?”

The clan leader knew that he would also get kicked out if he said he couldn’t. He felt sweat trickle down his spine as he replied, “It’s complicated... Yes, it’s very tricky.... An A-grade hunter... They’re usually hard to persuade...”

“I know that it’s hard to convince them, but it’s not impossible. Are you trying to deceive me?”

“N-no! No! I just wanted to mention the difficulties of the task, that’s all. I-I will call Hunter Choi Yeonseung,” stammered the Boat Fish clan leader, beads of sweat trickling down his temples.

Originally, they had to prevent outsiders from joining the clans by saying things like “Why did you spend all your money here? Do you think you can spend money as you please because you were the clan leader?”

However, it was the complete opposite this time! It didn’t matter what Choi Yeonseung said. If he didn’t come, many people would have their heads blown off!

“I understand. I’ll wait and see.”

That was the end of the meeting.

The leader of the Boat Fish clan sighed and walked out the door of the office, casting Kim Chandong a contemptuous look.

“You just had to open your mouth...”

“I-I’m sorry, but he would’ve found out anyway. There’s a lot of buzz about this clan battle.”

“A lot of buzz... It was just a practice match,” grumbled the clan leader as he lit a cigarette. However, he noticed that Kim Chandong had a weird look on his face.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing... Didn’t you see the reaction? Articles are already coming out.”

“?!?”

The clan leader hurriedly took out his phone to check it. Of course, the result of the clan battle was in the sports news section, but few people paid attention to every practice match between the dozens of clans.

If it wasn’t a match between famous clans fighting for their lives, not many people would be interested in it.

The victory of the Demon clan had indeed been shocking, but the leader of the Boat Fish clan thought only officials would be interested...?

-Will the Demon clan be revived? They won a clan battle against the Awake clan!

-The director of the Awake clan, Gudlow, said, 'Hunter Choi Yeonseung is one of the best managers I have ever seen.’

-Hunter Wi Seongu said, ‘I am grateful to Hunter Choi Yeonseung for finding the potential that I didn’t know I had.’

-How did the Demon clan become a strong clan?

-Dmitry Diesel from the Awake clan took a shot at Korean clans... He caused a stir by saying ‘Everyone is cowardly and trying to avoid us’ on social media.

-The Six-Eyed Turtle clan clarifies that the reason for declining this clan battle is the schedule... They kindly ask the public to not engage in speculation.

“N-no... What is this...?”

“Isn’t it because of how well the Awake clan has been doing lately?”

Indeed, the Awake clan had been on a roll and won consecutive victories in the United States. Seeing their incredible momentum, the Korean clans had avoided them.

However, even the clans who hadn’t been interested in the challenge were surprised when a clan who had almost been disbanded defeated the Awake clan.

Moreover, the people involved were also big names, among which being Lee Changsik, a retired A-grade hunter and a legend, and Choi Yeonseung, an incredibly successful A-grade hunter whose stock price was soaring through the ceiling these days.

It was only natural that everyone was invested in this clan battle.

The clan leader held his head in pain. He had to invite them somehow, but wouldn’t that make things even more difficult?

Seeing how distressed the clan leader was, Kim Chandong said cautiously, “I don’t think you have anything to worry about. Hunter Choi Yeonseung is a surprisingly kind person. I heard that when the other hunters asked him about martial arts, he kindly gave them advice without asking for anything in return. If you ask him politely for advice on managing clans, it might work out well.”

“Yeah, obviously. But I don’t want to invite him politely.”

“...”

“If I call him, there’s no way I can stop Hunter Choi Yeonseung from going around the clan as he pleases. It’s better to pay a lot of money to put a leash on him. Ah, really...”

Looking at the grumbling clan leader, Kim Chandong couldn’t help thinking to himself, ‘He still hasn’t come to his senses!’

***

“This is a great opportunity,” said Amelia with a bright expression. “I am just grateful that Master has given me this opportunity. How about it?”

“I have to think about it.”

“No! What else do you need to think about? Such opportunities are rare!”

“No matter how rare an opportunity is, I still have to analyze it,” replied Choi Yeonseung as though he found Amelia’s reaction absurd.

In fact, Amelia’s proposal was an enticing one.

-My master, Six-Winged Angel Who Hunts Dragons, has signed an agreement with the Russian government to clear an unexplored dungeon. Hunter Choi Yeonseung, Master will allow you to participate as a reward for rescuing Illaphael.

Given that the angel constellation himself had acquired it and was letting his subordinates enter it, everyone had to be after this dungeon. There was relatively little risk and plenty to gain, so naturally all hunters would want a piece of it!

The angel constellation was certainly doing Choi Yeonseung a great favor by letting him participate in the raid. Of course, the angel constellation was indebted to him, so he was merely doing what he had to do.

In that sense, Choi Yeonseung’s approach was ‘believe but don’t trust.’ Even though he was pretty close to the Six-Winged Angel Who Hunts Dragons, he couldn’t be certain that the constellation wouldn’t eventually try to set a trap for him and strike him down.

Choi Yeonseung’s side had to find out information in advance.

“I’ll analyze your proposal and get back to you. Please wait a bit.”

“If any analyst is against this proposal, they should consult directly with me! I’m sure I could change their mind if I explained it to them directly!”

Amelia was so disappointed that Choi Yeonseung didn’t accept her proposal right off the bat that she emphasized its importance over and over again before leaving.

The first one Choi Yeonseung consulted with was Adaquaniel.

“Adaquaniel, do you have any doubts about this dungeon?”

“Not as of now, but... Excuse me, Hunter Choi Yeonseung. Why don’t you ask my master?” Adaquaniel proposed cautiously. She was a bit worried that he asked her first and not the Goddess of Balance Who Walks Ahead.

‘Whoops.’

“Of course, I was going to ask her, Adaquaniel. When it comes to such important issues, shouldn’t you first discuss with the subordinates and then ask their superiors for a conclusion?”

[The ‘Goddess of Balance Who Walks Ahead’ is touched.]

“Is that so?! Your thoughtfulness never ceases to impress me, Hunter Choi Yeonseung.”

“It’s not a big deal. I just...”

[...The ‘Goddess of Balance Who Walks Ahead’ asks if she can speak.]

“Ah, I’m sorry. Yes, let’s talk”

“Go ahead, Master,” said Adaquaniel as she bowed down.

The goddess’ mood improved greatly thanks to their consideration. She spoke to them in a serious voice.

[The ‘Goddess of Balance Who Walks Ahead’ says that no trap was seen in the proposal of the ‘Six-Winged Angel Who Hunts Dragons.’]

‘Oh.’

Choi Yeonseung was glad to hear that. If that was true, he had nothing to worry about. All he had to do was pick the most suitable hunters to accompany him, prepare as much as possible, and go into the dungeon.

[The ‘Goddess of Balance Who Walks Ahead’ says she has foreseen a different threat, however.]

“What is it?”

[The ‘Goddess of Balance Who Walks Ahead’ says she foresaw a future where Russian hunters will fire weapons that look like this.]

Along with these words, the goddess drew a picture of the vision she had seen.

Choi Yeonseung blinked in disbelief.

This...

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ is amazed that it looks exactly like a nuclear missile.]