The heavy doors of the Hunter Association's main conference room creaked open. All noise died instantly as Vice President Ko Tae-hyun, the most powerful figure in the Association, stepped inside.
His mere presence silenced the simmering arguments between guild representatives. The meeting was about to begin.
At the podium, Secretary Kim Min-hyeok cleared his throat.
"Thank you all for attending despite the short notice. Let us proceed with selecting the guild and hunters who will claim the Treasure Gate."
Confusion rippled through the room.
"The next Treasure Gate…?"
"Surely you're mistaken?"
The headquarters directors frowned. Each had poured fortunes into lobbying, yet this announcement ignored their efforts.
Before the protests grew louder, Ko Tae-hyun calmly switched on his microphone.
"No. Secretary Kim spoke correctly."
The managers froze. Ko Tae-hyun's voice carried no hesitation.
"There is no need to argue over priority attack rights. The decision is already clear."
Murmurs erupted. The Treasure Gate had been discovered only hours ago. How could the rights already be settled?
But this was Ko Tae-hyun. Unlike others, he was beyond bribery, beyond corruption. His reputation as a fortress of fairness left no room for doubt.
Slowly, realization dawned.
So the vice president has already chosen… unilaterally?
Ko Tae-hyun leaned forward, voice steady.
"You all know the selection criteria. Priority goes to those who contributed greatly to society and strengthened ties with the Association. Now, tell me—who surpasses Hunter Lee Seong-jun in these two areas?"
Silence filled the chamber.
Ko Tae-hyun's words carried weight, backed by fact.
"Thanks to Hunter Lee Seong-jun interrogating the Shadow Brothers, our villain arrest rate tripled compared to last year. Public trust in the Association has risen by over five percent."
He continued without pause.
"By joining the Raid Gate and defeating Nuri's Song Seung-jun, he brought glory not only to Baekho Guild but also to the Association, lifting our reputation higher than ever."
And finally—
"Most recently, he captured the SS-rank villain Jo Se-hyeok and dismantled his entire network. Our villain arrest rate now exceeds 300% over last year. The President himself visited to offer praise—and doubled our national budget."
The guild masters, once so bold, fell silent.
Ko Tae-hyun's gaze swept the table.
"Now, people call Hunter Lee Seong-jun the future of our Association. Do any of you still question his priority?"
The room darkened with frustration. Yet not all gave in quietly.
Moon Seung-hyun, head of the Magic Management Headquarters, spoke cautiously.
"Vice President, I respect your view. But for the first Treasure Gate in Korea, should we not take a broader stance? The Nuri Guild has long maintained order—raiding gates, hunting monsters, and defeating villains. Their master, Yoon Min-soo, once captured the SS-rank villain Ham Hyeon-woo. Surely such contributions deserve equal weight."
Several directors nodded in agreement, their words flowing smoothly as if rehearsed.
"Yes, unlike Seong-jun, Nuri Guild works collectively to protect order."
"They have been pillars of stability for years. Their record speaks for itself."
Ko Tae-hyun smiled faintly.
"So… you support Nuri Guild, not simply out of principle, but out of something more?"
He gestured.
"Secretary Kim, show them."
The holographic screen lit up. Call logs, meeting transcripts, and even photographs of bribe money stuffed in boxes appeared in full view.
Moon Seung-hyun's face turned ashen.
"Do you have anything else to say?" Ko Tae-hyun's voice cut cold.
The evidence was damning. To deny it would only worsen their fate. Moon bowed deeply.
"… I apologize."
Ko Tae-hyun's eyes hardened.
"As public officials, you accepted bribes and sought personal gain from what should have been a fair process. Effective immediately, the heads of the Magic Management Headquarters, along with two others involved, are dismissed and will face disciplinary review. Does anyone object?"
"None."
One by one, the disgraced officials placed their ID cards on the desk and left in silence.
The room was quiet again. Ko Tae-hyun's voice echoed.
"Does anyone else wish to object?"
No one dared.
The priority was decided.
The next day, the news swept across Korea. Headlines blazed: "Treasure Gate Discovered!"
Media outlets overflowed with speculation about its rewards and who would claim them. The five great guilds—Nuri, Bulsae, Sasin, Baekho, and Hwanseong—were touted as prime candidates.
Yet, amid the frenzy, one name surged above all.
Lee Seong-jun.
He saw the endless reports but paid them little attention. To him, power mattered more than politics. Even if guilds fought for the rights, his path was clear: grow stronger, no matter what.
That was when Ko Tae-hyun personally called.
"Hunter Lee Seong-jun. The Association grants you the priority attack rights for the Treasure Gate. It is not mandatory, but we recommend you enter."
Seong-jun did not hesitate. After his battle with Baek Mu-jin, he longed for greater strength. This opportunity was exactly what he needed.
"I'll do it."
One more condition followed: the raid date would be moved from the 1st to the end of the month.
The reason was simple.
Such a treasure should not be shared.