It was only natural for the world to react with awe. Lee Seong-jun had done the impossible—defeating Amon, one of the seven Demon Lords who ruled the infernal realm. A feat so extraordinary that even across countless worlds and dimensions, such a victory was nearly unheard of.
Anna watched him with a radiant smile. "The world is changing… and it's all because of you. You're carving a path no one has ever walked before—the path of a king."
Her words stirred something deep within him. The quest engraved by the system—The Emperor's Path—flashed in his mind. He didn't yet know what awaited at its end, but instinct told him it would be monumental. Not a mere task for rewards, but a destiny that demanded purpose.
'This won't be easy,' he thought, meeting Anna's gaze. Both of them were breathing heavily, their hearts heavy with the weight of what was to come.
The world stood on the brink of chaos, threatened by unseen forces. What it needed most was a figure who could anchor it—a ruler, a hero, an emperor.
Anna's voice softened. "Even if you are a clone, to defeat a Demon King as a human… it's beyond belief. You continue to surprise me."
"It's only the beginning," Seong-jun replied, calm but resolute.
It wasn't arrogance. He had already stood against the Seven Demon Lords once—and emerged victorious. To him, defeat was not an option.
Anna's lips curved into a small smile. "I chose well, then. You're an exceptional contractor."
He chuckled. "You sound proud."
"Of course. You belong to me, after all."
Their light exchange carried a strange warmth, but beneath the teasing lingered genuine respect. Anna's aura radiated overwhelming might, unlike anything Seong-jun had encountered before. Even restrained, her power hinted at terrifying grandeur—a force that could shake worlds if unleashed.
He knew she would be indispensable, not just now, but in every battle to come.
"Let's put the future aside for a moment," Seong-jun said at last. "I came because I have a favor to ask."
"A favor?" Anna tilted her head. "Go on."
"Could you install a few teleportation spells—at strategic locations?"
Teleportation was not a casual spell. It bent the very fabric of the world, requiring vast magic power and preparation.
"Where exactly?"
"The Blue House. The President's office. And… The Hill in Yongsan—where my family lives."
Anna immediately understood. "So, you want to minimize the variables that could arise in future battles."
"Half right," Seong-jun said quietly. "The first two are for strategy. The last… is for protection."
He didn't need to say more. She could feel the weight in his words—the unspoken fear of losing the people he loved.
Anna folded her arms thoughtfully. "Teleportation magic isn't something that can be done on a whim. It needs immense preparation."
"I figured as much."
"But since it's your request," she added with a faint smile, "I'll make it happen as quickly as possible."
"I owe you again."
She sighed dramatically. "Imagine that—me, a noble dragon, being used like this by my own contractor."
Seong-jun rubbed his neck sheepishly. "I'll make it up to you."
Anna's eyes sparkled. "Then buy me a meal."
"A meal?"
"Yes. Rice. I heard it's the ultimate gesture of courtesy among Koreans."
It was a simple request, but for some reason, Seong-jun hesitated. The memory of their previous encounter in the department store elevator resurfaced—awkward, but not unpleasant.
"Just the two of us?" he asked.
"Of course," she replied smoothly. "Why? Do you plan to invite others?"
"…No."
Her gaze sharpened. "You're not thinking it's a waste to treat me, are you?"
He laughed, shaking his head. "If you want, I'll buy the whole restaurant."
"Then you'll buy me food?"
"Alright. I'll take you soon."
"Not 'soon'—set a date. Koreans say 'let's eat sometime' when they don't actually mean it."
"Then… tomorrow, or the day after."
Her smile brightened. "Deal."
"Alright."
As Seong-jun gave his word, Anna's lips curved into a satisfied, genuine smile.
Far to the west, in the heart of Beijing, the 30th National Congress—the most powerful political assembly in China—was in session.
Chairman Jang Jeo-han's voice cut through the grand hall with finality. "No one will provoke Korea. No one will touch Hunter Lee Seong-jun. That is an order."
It wasn't a suggestion—it was a command, one he intended to cement as official state policy.
The hall buzzed with murmurs. Some nodded in agreement, understanding the necessity of caution. Others, bound by arrogance and old pride, scowled.
"This is excessive," one senior member muttered.
Jang's gaze hardened. "You disagree with the Chairman's order?"
Even so, the old guard stood their ground. "Boundaries are fine, but turning this into a national doctrine is preposterous."
Jang's patience thinned. It had been less than a month since his appointment, and his grip on power was not yet absolute. Many of these men had entrenched themselves for decades, weaving networks too deep to sever.
'Perhaps I should have purged them when I had the chance,' he thought grimly.
But now was not the time for rash purges. He would let reality itself silence their foolishness.
Jang raised a remote and pressed a button.
A holographic projection flickered to life—recordings of Lee Seong-jun's battle with Raukand.
The room fell silent.
Bolts of crimson lightning crashed from the heavens, annihilating mountains. Flames so vast they reshaped terrain roared across the battlefield. Every strike was divine, terrifying—something no human military could withstand.
"Do you still think we can fight Korea?" Jang asked coldly.
Silence.
Then, stubborn voices again. "If we mobilize the full might of the people—"
Jang restarted the video, his eyes gleaming. The hellfire of Asura engulfed the scene once more, and the doubters trembled.
He turned to the military council. "Can you guarantee victory against Lee Seong-jun?"
Heads bowed instantly. "Impossible, Chairman. We wouldn't stand a chance."
"And the Hunter Council?"
They too lowered their eyes. "To be honest… we wouldn't even dare imagine such a battle."
The obstinate members of the Standing Committee looked pale. Reality had struck. Their pride had blinded them—but no longer.
Lee Seong-jun was not a man to provoke. He was a calamity wrapped in human form—a being whose wrath could erase nations.
One thought echoed among them all: If he had attacked intentionally… China would already be gone.
Jang Jeo-han let the silence stretch before speaking again. "Depending on your actions, I might deliver your sentiments to Hunter Lee Seong-jun personally."
The offer was not empty. Everyone knew Jang's relationship with the Korean government—and with Seong-jun himself.
Hope flickered in their eyes. Redemption was possible.
"We will follow your orders, Chairman!" they cried in unison.
"We will formalize the directive immediately!"
Jang nodded with satisfaction. The meeting, once divided, now stood united under a single truth—
To challenge Lee Seong-jun was to invite annihilation.
And so, history quietly shifted once more—under the shadow of a single man who had become something greater than mortal.