The cold night air hit Minho as he stepped out of the car. In front of him was the headquarters of the Hunters Association - a place he'd never thought he'd been in for such a reason.
He made sure to suppress the amount of mana he released, to avoid a commotion by the onlookers. Not that he cared - just for their own good.
They headed towards the chairman's office, but he was already coming out of it. Seeing Ah-Ra and Jinchul, he gasped, eyes widening. They bowed their heads at the sight of him.
"Jinchul," Go Gun-Hee called, rushing to meet them halfway. "Ah-Ra, thank goodness you're both safe. I heard an S-rank dungeon appeared where I sent you meet with The Brea..." He slowed down, his eyes falling to Minho who was farther behind them, seemingly looking at the wall from their perspective, but he was actually working on his system, checking the stats if his new dagger, Dragon Fang. "...ker." Gun-Hee completed, looking back at Jinchul who nodded to confirm Gun-Hee's thoughts.
He dismissed the thought, looking at them - burnt clothes and a look of trauma in their faces. "Did…did you enter the dungeon?"
"Yes, indeed we did, sir." Jinchul stated. "It was a foolish risk we took out of curiosity. It almost backfired, but we managed to come out alive thanks to—"
Minho's eyes widened, seeing the number of missed calls his mother had left him.
"Oi, Chairman's assistant." He said, finally turning to them. His eyes landed on the chairman and he paused. He hadn't realized that was who they were speaking to since he was too invested in the system ever since they entered the building.
Minho bowed his head and continued. "It's good you're here yourself, Chairman Go." He cleared his throat. "I'll be going home now. Got something real urgent." He raised his phone and turned to leave.
"Wait, Hunter Lee!" Jinchul called out.
"Hm?" Minho turned.
"It's not going to take long, Hunter Lee," Gun-Hee spoke.
"I told you I have something urgent." Minho waved off, moving again.
"Wait!" Ah-Ra called again.
He stopped, looked up and sighed before turning again. "What?"
"Y-your Jacket." She muttered, her cheeks feeling warm as she looked down.
"Keep it. One, you're not a guy like chairman's assistant, so taking it off now will be quite embarrassing." He started walking again - this time with no intention to stop as he pressed for the elevator doors to open. "Two, my number's written in a paper in the pocket. One more thing…the name's Minho. If Minho doesn't work for you, then I'd prefer you call me a bastard than Hunter Lee."
With nothing else to say, they watched Minho disappear behind the elevator doors. Ah-Ra brought out the paper in the pocket and stared at the the number.
"Let me see it," Jinchul brought his hand to take the paper.
"Eh?" Ah-Ra smiled nervously. "N-n-no! I mean... I'll call him, yes. To... Arrange the next meeting." She stuttered. Then she bowed her head and quickly walked out. "I'll get him to pick a nice date." She called out.
"What's wrong with her?" Jinchul raised an eyebrow skeptically.
Chairman Go chuckled lightly - not knowing much, but seeming to get what was going on. His face got serious again. "Ah, Jinchul,"
"Yes, Chairman Go?"
"Let's speak in the office."
"Very well, sir."
Downstairs.
Minho was about leaving when the S-ranks came in through the front door. Choi and Yoonho were about to say something, but he just walked past them, going outside.
Dongwook sighed. "Did we not approach him well, or is he—"
Tae-Gyu cut him off as he continued walking. "Who approaches someone with an attack, one. Tries to intimidate them, two, and then expects the next encounter to be friendly?"
Dongwook quickly diverted the blame. "Right? Shame on you, Baek and Choi, hehe."
Choi Jong-In and Baek Yoonho on the other hand were feeling dejected and annoyed, knuckles clenched and brows twitching. They hadn't been ignored that way before.
Minho walked down the stairs, leaving when someone a voice called after him.
"Mr. Brea—sorry, I mean, Hunter Lee."
Minho turned to see Cha Hae-In walking to him. "Huh?" He frowned, thinking she wanted to make a fuss again, but she bowed instead.
"Forgive, our earlier display. It was out of curiosity and self defense." She said, straightening up.
Minho just stared at her with a deadpan expression, as if he wasn't getting what she was trying to do.
Cha Hae-In clenched her fists. 'Don't do it. Do NOT do it, Cha Hae-In. Don't you dare.' She was in a strange battle with her mind.
Minho's eyes went to her fists. 'What is she trying to do?'
'Cha Hae-In, turn and leave, even if he doesn't answer. Go now! Go! Don't you dare try it.' Her mind was reeling.
She moved, but to Minho's surprise, it wasn't an attack. She was sniffing his chest? "Eh?"
She immediately pulled back, feeling embarrassed, bowed again and quickly walked back to the building. 'You idiot, you just had to do it. But…he doesn't smell bad at all…he smells good even. Aaahhh! What is wrong with you?' she palmed her face, climbing the stairs and walking back in.
"The hell was that about?" Minho watched her leave, skeptically. His phone rang - it was his mom. He picked up and put it to his ears, squeezing his eyes shut, knowing what's coming. The voice from the speaker sounded worried.
"'I'll be back, mom', of course you would be back... outside. I've been calling your phone but it's been going to voicemail. Did you not see them? Why didn't you call even if you were busy or sent a message? What would you be busy with? I thought you just wanted to walk? Minho…"
The nagging went on as Minho walked, nodding.
Inside the Hunters Association.
Chairman, Go Gun-Hee's Office.
"So it just disappeared. Hmm." Chairman Go hummed. "What kind of monster was it?"
"A... Dragon,"
"Hm?!" Gun-Hee's brows went up slightly. "How strong an S-rank is…what's the name…aha, Minho."
"If he should still be considered an S-rank then he might be the strongest in the world." Jinchul stated.
Gun-Hee's eyes went fully wide as he pushed off his chair, standing up, slamming his hands on the table, with what seemed to be a smile. "What?!"
Jinchul nodded, still calmly sitting. "Yes, Chairman. After the silent confrontation between him and Liu Zhigang. I believe they are on the same plane of power." He looked up at Go Gun-Hee. "The Breaker is far stronger than any S-rank I know. That man…is National Level Hunter, Lee Minho."