The man who took the stage was none other than Choi Hyun-seok, president of the Black Lotus Guild. His very presence seemed to anchor the hall; tall, broad-shouldered, silver strands of hair combed neatly back, and a suit so perfectly tailored it might as well have been carved onto him. His expression was serene, polished, and utterly composed, an image cultivated to withstand any pressure.
To the crowd, he was the embodiment of authority, a man built for the spotlight. His smile could turn a battlefield into a stage, no matter how many bodies lay scattered beneath his feet.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome."
The cameras clicked one after another, flashes cutting through the hall like streaks of lightning. Reporters pressed forward with their microphones raised, scrambling for the best shot as their eyes locked on the man at the podium.
"Tonight, we celebrate more than a single victory. We honor the unwavering courage of our hunters. Team Dahlia has set a global precedent, clearing a Rank B Rift in record time and ensuring that not a single civilian life was lost. This achievement stands as the fastest Rift clearance ever recorded, not just in Korea, but in the world."
Another round of applause swept through the hall. Jaemin stood in silence, the untouched wine still in his hand.
"The name of the Black Lotus Guild will be forever inscribed in the history of our nation. Today, we stand as proof that courage and unity can triumph over despair. And I am proud to say that our mission has always been, and always will be, to protect human lives."
Han Jaemin almost laughed. The words were so polished, so rehearsed, they sounded more like a TV commercial than a tribute.
The moment he stopped speaking, the press stepped in as flashes exploded and questions came from every direction.
"President Choi, how do you explain Team Dahlia's remarkable speed in clearing the Rift?"
"Is it true that the monster spawn rate was abnormally high? Recent studies suggest that since last year, spawn rates in Rank D Rifts or above have been doubling. What does Black Lotus know about this?"
"There are rumors you plan to send high-rank hunters to assist in closing the Rank S Rift in San Francisco. Does this mean direct cooperation with the U.S. government? Or are you considering opening a branch in the United States? Would that be the end of Black Lotus in Korea?"
"Regarding the Rank S Rift in the U.S., reports confirm over twelve hundred casualties, including two Rank S hunters. Do you intend to send Korea's defenders to die in a foreign country?"
Jaemin crossed his arms and leaned against one of the marble pillars, keeping to the edge of the crowd.
'Damn, they look like a pack of starving wolves. Just waiting for him to slip so they can tear him apart.'
President Choi smiled. He didn't look bothered. Raising a hand for calm, he answered smoothly, as if he had already prepared for every question.
He cleared his throat lightly and adjusted the microphone in front of him.
"Regarding Team Dahlia's speed… it was never merely speed. What you witnessed was the result of discipline, of trust, and above all, of hard-earned experience. Anyone can rush recklessly into danger, but only a true team can hold the line together. And in this Rift, Team Dahlia proved exactly that."
Several reporters nodded, scribbling furiously. Each one of them was desperate for the scoop that would land them on the front page.
"As for the rising spawn rates… yes, we have observed irregular patterns in Rank D Rifts and above. But let me be clear, this is no cause for alarm. Our analysts are working hand in hand with the Association, and our hunters stand ready to respond to any scenario. What matters most is that the public knows this: Black Lotus is prepared."
Whispers rose through the crowd, but his tone didn't falter.
"As for the Rank S Rift in San Francisco… I cannot confirm any negotiations currently underway. But I can guarantee one thing: Black Lotus was born in Korea, and Korea will always be our home. Any decision to deploy our hunters abroad will only be made if it does not, in any way, compromise the safety of our own people."
The sharp click of a camera broke the tension, though he continued as if nothing had happened.
"The losses are tragic. Every life, every fallen hunter, reminds us of the responsibility we bear. Black Lotus does not send its hunters to die, we prepare them to fight, and we fight beside them."
For a moment, respectful silence hung over the hall. But soon, another question shot out from among the reporters.
"And what about the accusations that Black Lotus hides behind the Association whenever something goes wrong? Critics say the security lapses during Rifts weren't the Association's fault at all, but yours, and that you lean on the Association to absorb the blame. How do you respond?"
It was the polite version of a blunt attack: You caused the mess, did the Association cover for you, or did you pressure them to?
The hall fell silent for a moment, and the lenses flared like predators scenting blood.
Choi Hyun-seok locked eyes with the reporter and replied as calmly as he could.
"Let me be perfectly clear. Black Lotus doesn't need the Association to cover for us, nor would we ever ask it to. Every one of our operations is documented, monitored, and audited by their officials from beginning to end. If there were failures, they'd be there for all to see."
The reporter let a slightly wicked smile slip. Finally, the past few sleepless nights would pay off.
"Then how do you explain the gap in the West District logs, the forty minutes between civilians being flagged and Team Dahlia moving to extract? The Association's first bulletin named Black Lotus in that delay; five minutes later, that line vanished. The revision history shows your comms office made the edit. Two auditors told us your side asked the Association to take the public blame. Are they all mistaken? And one more thing: isn't it odd that SIREN, the early-warning system that flags Rift sites hours in advance, conveniently failed on the very day Team Dahlia was on an unsanctioned mission, leaving the district without an alert?"
He paused, then added,
"You knew the Rift would open. You sent your team ahead, and still waited forty minutes before going in, even after it stabilized. What were you waiting for? Did you think we wouldn't notice? And somehow, even then, you set a world record for the fastest clear? Seriously, no one else finds that suspicious?"
For several seconds, Choi Hyun-seok said nothing, just stared as if he could kill him with his eyes, then adjusted his tie and stepped closer to the mic.
"While some of us lose our lives holding Rifts shut and keeping the streets quiet, others weaponize headlines, accusing without proof. If you're standing here tonight, hungry for a headline to claw your way out of anonymity, it's because people you'll never meet fought and died so you don't have to keep glancing over your shoulder, wondering if you're about to be trampled underfoot or torn to pieces."
The reporter's expression hardened, but he held his ground.
"With all due respect, that's a choice. Being a hunter is a profession, just like mine. Many Awakened choose other paths, far from war. And plenty of unawakened civilians serve on the front line in their own way. No one forced you to fight."
"And who exactly are you helping on the front line tonight? We've all lost allies to false headlines and reckless rumors, panic that pushed crowds the wrong way and got people killed. Words can steady a city, or throw it into chaos."
"We help people too! And you still haven't ans–"
"Don't confuse your baseless notions with helping anyone. What you want is to smear Black Lotus to lift yourself up. For what? To tell everyone we're unjust, unworthy, whatever suits your story? How do you expect me to tell my hunters who died in the Rifts that Black Lotus can't be trusted? Should I tell their families their husbands, sons, and fathers died for nothing?!"
"W-What? I didn't say tha–"
"Our guild stands on its own record. We don't fear scrutiny, because there's nothing to hide. The people trust us because we act with transparency, not excuses. That's the difference between rumor and truth."
The flashes exploded again, capturing the moment. The perfect image of a confident leader.
"Tonight is proof that no Rift, no enemy, can break us. As long as Black Lotus stands, this nation will stand. And together, we will overcome every trial that lies ahead."
He lifted the glass of wine that had been handed to him.
"That's all. Thank you... and enjoy the banquet."
Applause poured through the hall, loud and relentless. Camera flashes followed in rapid bursts, still going off as President Choi stepped down from the stage to greet the lawmakers, members of the National Assembly who had come only to strengthen their alliances.
Han Jaemin, still leaning against the pillar, let out a quiet sigh.
'This guy's good.'