Lee Seong-jun had endured quietly until now, respecting his father's pride in handling his own affairs. But when a man dared to raise killing intent toward his family, he could not stay still.
His gaze turned cold.
The moment his eyes locked onto Choi Seung-hoon, the hunter froze.
An unseen weight crashed down on him—the overwhelming aura of the Blood Demon and the Demon God, rulers of countless battlefields. It was not simply pressure. It was domination.
"Keuheuk—!"
Blood spurted from Choi Seung-hoon's mouth as he collapsed, forced to his knees, gasping for breath. His body trembled under the crushing presence.
Hwang Jeong-jin's face drained of color.
"L-Lee… Seong-jun?"
He couldn't deny what he saw. The figure standing before him was the same man who had shattered Jo Se-hyeok, the SS-rank villain and rising star of the Baekho Guild.
The hottest name in Korea's hunter world.
And he was… Lee Soo-hyuk's son.
A dreadful realization stabbed through him.
'The missing family member… it was him?'
Panic set in. If Yuma Mining clashed with someone like Seong-jun, their entire business—the lifeblood of his career—could collapse overnight.
Throwing away pride, Hwang bowed until his forehead nearly touched the ground.
"I'm sorry! I didn't know… I was rude without realizing who you were!"
But Seong-jun's voice was cold, sharp as a blade.
"I'm not the one you should be apologizing to."
The words cut deeper than any weapon.
Finally understanding, Hwang scrambled to Lee Soo-hyuk, dropping to his knees.
"Forgive me! Please, just this once. I lost my mind. I'll never make such a mistake again!"
He groveled, clinging to the five years of business ties between them. But Soo-hyuk's expression was unyielding, fists trembling with restrained anger.
For years he had endured insults, humiliation, and disrespect for the sake of survival—for his family's future. But this time, the line had been crossed.
"I can tolerate words aimed at me," Soo-hyuk said, voice steady, eyes burning with cold fury. "But I will never forgive anyone who dares to touch my children."
He turned away, walking past without hesitation.
"Whether I'm fired or not… it doesn't matter. I refuse to work under someone who would threaten my daughter."
Hwang begged harder, even crawling before Seong-jun. But the young hunter didn't spare him a glance. He simply pulled out his phone.
"Vice President Go Tae-hyun? I'd like to confirm a few things…"
The call set everything in motion. Within days, Yuma Mining faced tax investigations. Worse, its key contracts in magic stone distribution were severed. The empire Hwang Jeong-jin built began to crumble.
But even after the confrontation ended, the wound remained.
Outside the restaurant, Lee Soo-hyuk sat on a bench, shoulders slumped, shadows heavy over his face. The man who had always been unshakable at home now looked small, burdened.
When Seong-jun approached, Soo-hyuk muttered bitterly.
"…I must have looked pathetic."
Seong-jun shook his head. His voice was firm.
"Don't ever say that. You weren't pathetic. You were… incredible."
His father had given everything—decades of sacrifice, pride swallowed time and time again—all to protect the family. Today, he had even been ready to throw away his career.
That wasn't weakness. That was strength.
"If it weren't for you, Father, I wouldn't be here today," Seong-jun said, eyes unwavering. "What I do now isn't out of pity. It's my way of honoring the man who gave up everything for his family."
Slowly, the darkness in Soo-hyuk's eyes began to lift. His lips trembled with a faint smile.
"…I thought you'd always be the child I had to protect. But you've become someone I can rely on."
"Then don't think of it as receiving from me," Seong-jun said gently. "Let's just… walk together. Side by side."
The words carried warmth, playful yet resolute.
For the first time in a long while, a true smile returned to his father's face.
"You've grown… into an adult. Thank you, son."
Seong-jun's gaze softened, recalling his lonely years on another world.
"Spending time with my family… this happiness… it's worth more than anything else in existence."
And as father and son shared that quiet moment, the weight of unspoken gratitude hung in the air—stronger than any bond forged in battle.