"...It really worked."
After Lee Se-hwa's bombshell announcement, the anchor's flustered voice did not reach my ears.
"It worked! It worked!!"
Without even thinking of picking up the fallen beer can, I ran straight to the room and hugged Dawn, Spiky, and Lantern.
"Guys, I will let you move to a better place sooner or later!!"
Pyureureut, Pyureureut.
Seeing the fellows shaking their leaves simply because they felt good without knowing the reason, my fist clenched tightly.
I will raise them in a better environment no matter what.
With that resolution, I returned to the front of the TV.
> [Hahaha, today must be truly the best day for that fan. I really envy this.]
My head nodded automatically at those words.
"It is the best. Of course it is."
The goal of potion sales is starting to be seen in the distance.
Nothing was confirmed yet, but despite that, my heart was beating violently.
As I drank a sip of beer to calm my trembling heart, the anchor cleared his throat Ahem and continued speaking.
> [Then the next question. I cannot help but ask this question. It is the story becoming the biggest topic recently, right? EX-Rank conquest. Can I ask what you think about this, and if you happen to be acquainted with that Hunter?]
Hm? EX-Rank conquest?
Wow, seems someone else besides me cleared with EX-Rank too.
Our country's future is very bright, bright!
> [I also came to recognize EX-Rank conquest for the first time, so while thinking it is amazing, it became sufficient stimulation at the same time. I don't know who it is, but I also think it would be good to meet them once in person.]
> [Ah, then Hunter Lee Se-hwa also doesn't know who that Hunter is?]
> [Yes, that is correct.]
> [Recently the Hunter Management Bureau announced they succeeded in contacting that Hunter.]
> [Yes. I also saw that article, but it seemed that Hunter is reluctant to be known.]
> [I see. Still, it is fortunate that the Bureau grasped the identity clearly.]
And at the anchor's following words, I spat out the beer I was drinking.
> [Today the 4th floor was cleared with EX-Rank, right? I hope the Bureau coordinates well with the Hunter somehow. Even for the future of the Republic of Korea, haha.]
"...That's me?"
Was this a server-wide notice to all Awakened?
"It's already the 4th day! Do you think it makes sense that we still haven't specified the identity!!"
Bang!
"I don't even want to see your faces, so get out! Find them somehow!!"
At Management Bureau Director Kim Han-soo's shouting, the department head level personnel called to the Director's office became shriveled and retreated.
"Phew..."
Already 4 days passed.
The Tower's server-wide notice notifying Hunters belonging to the Republic of Korea.
It was a notice that someone succeeded in conquest with a grade never seen before called EX-Rank.
He intended to block it from being made into articles by the media somehow and specify the identity quickly in the meantime.
"To think it would be EX-Rank for 4 consecutive days."
Thanks to that, all kinds of communities and SNS burned up at an uncontrollable speed like pouring oil on a fire.
The media outlets he barely blocked started sending out articles one by one, and he received calls from all kinds of corporations, and yesterday even from the Blue House.
Naturally, all attention focused on the Management Bureau, and it was a state where he couldn't drag out time anymore.
But the risk was too big to speak honestly.
Try saying they haven't even grasped the identity of the new dark horse amidst the arrows of criticism following Hunter Lee Se-hwa's recent conquest failure.
"The event of the office burning down would happen in reality."
Literally the worst move.
Director Kim Han-soo, who absolutely couldn't bear to see that sight, threw the best gamble of his life.
He just blurted out that the Management Bureau is identifying the identity for now.
However, the article went out strangely.
[Management Bureau Director Kim Han-soo position statement. "Contact with relevant Hunter. Even considering Elite Contract."]
Surprised at this, Kim Han-soo hurriedly released a correction article, but it was after the fire had already ignited.
└ Kya, for once they are handling work properly.
└ This is it. This is the proper function of the Hunter Management Bureau.
└ I. Knew it would be like this. Bureau Director. Kim Han-soo. Handling work is one thing. He is a certain guy.
Good is good, and no rebuttal article from the unknown Hunter came up.
On top of this, even Lee Se-hwa's conquest success.
It was the Management Bureau enjoying its heyday in almost 10 years, but Director Kim Han-soo knew.
I cannot cover it up with lies forever.
A situation like walking on thin ice that doesn't know when it will break.
Eventually, as a new state-certified Elite Hunter, a moment where they must reveal their appearance to the public will exist.
If it is revealed to be a lie at that moment, all kinds of criticism will pour out not only towards his neck but towards the Management Bureau.
I will find them strictly. No matter what happens.
While ruminating on that desire and debating whether to peck at the employees once again, the door to the Director's office burst open.
"Director!"
"Hunter Lee Se-hwa?"
Fluttering her long platinum blonde hair, Lee Se-hwa approached with long strides.
Usually, it is time for her to be in the training room?
Did she come to apologize because she exploded a massive scandal in the interview?
Independent movement not agreed upon with the Management Bureau.
Thinking of Hunter Lee Se-hwa's usual conduct, the possibility she came to apologize due to that looked high.
Therefore, Kim Han-soo opened his mouth with a generous heart.
"Haha, you don't have to apologize. Expressing gratitude to a fan is a natural thing after all."
"Yes?"
However, Lee Se-hwa just looked at him sullenly with an expression asking what he was talking about.
"...Didn't you come because of the interview matter?"
"Interview? Ah. That's right, because of that."
"...Yes?"
When he stared at her blankly wondering what on earth she meant, Lee Se-hwa took something out of her inventory and put it down on the desk.
"...This is?"
A black wooden box finished luxuriously, and initials engraved in gold.
It was a box giving a similar feeling to expensive whiskey packaging.
"Is this the gift you mentioned in the interview?"
"Yes. Open it."
When he opened the box as per her words, a luxurious glass bottle containing liquid taking on a color somewhere between scarlet and gold caught his eye.
Republic of Korea Awakened Management Bureau Director.
If one doesn't have certain ability, it wasn't a position one could climb to only with luck.
If it is gifts coming from fans, Lee Se-hwa receives overflowing amounts.
A gift of the level that she picks it as the number 1 cause for conquest success.
Two failures and success on the third attempt.
And even Lee Se-hwa's nuance talking about this in the interview.
Combining all that, the identity of the object visible before his eyes could be guessed easily.
"...Surely, is it a potion?"
"That's right. Potion."
"Damn it, Hunter Lee Se-hwa. Are you sane right now?"
Potion.
Furthermore, made in a place not equipped with various clinical trials and proper facilities, it is a dangerously incomparable object where one cannot even know what ingredients were used in the potion.
Is that all? According to the [Awakened Special Medicine Law], hereinafter [Special Medicine Law], sales and distribution of potions made in unreported workplaces are strictly prohibited.
Even the person who used it, as well as the person who manufactured it, falls under the subject of punishment.
"Do you have any awareness of what you did right now?"
She cannot be this stupid of a person.
Active as Ranking 1st in the Republic of Korea means not simply the act of climbing the Tower, but that being used as all kinds of political tools happens frequently.
As expected, Lee Se-hwa sighed and opened her mouth.
"I know. I also know that in case of violation of the Special Medicine Law, one can receive up to maximum 10 years of imprisonment."
Of course, there is naturally no event where Lee Se-hwa, who carries the future of the Republic of Korea, goes to prison.
However, Hunter is also a job that lives on image.
If the relevant matter is revealed to the citizens, it isn't something that can be passed over just by saying sorry.
Therefore, Kim Han-soo raised his voice.
"A person who knows that, just what were you thinking-"
However, his words did not continue.
"There are no side effects in that potion."
"...What did you say?"
Intense eyes containing immense certainty.
The eyes that seemed somewhat dispirited due to consecutive conquest failures were nowhere to be seen.
"Furthermore, the efficacy is incomparable to Glorio's potions. I know because I used it myself."
"...What does that mean? Does that make sense?"
"That is why I brought it to the Director. Mentioning that person in the interview is the same."
Kim Han-soo looked at the luxurious glass bottle stamped with the initial D placed before his eyes.
"...Is it certain that there are no side effects?"
"At least from what I used, there wasn't a single bit of side effect."
"Crazy."
Currently, the reality was that the Republic of Korea relied on potions made by US company Glorio, the world's #1 potion manufacturer.
The reason is one thing.
Because the US is staying at a higher floor than Korea.
The main ingredients entering potions are Magic Stones and monster byproducts.
Even if they don't know exactly what method is used to refine and make it, catching up to the potions of the US staying at the highest floor in the world is physically impossible.
However, even such US potions had a massive problem existing.
"Are you saying there is no shock at all?"
Exactly the immense pain accompanied when taking a potion.
This is also the reason why taking potions itself is prohibited for normal people who are not Hunters.
"Do you happen to have a knife?"
At Kim Han-soo's question, Lee Se-hwa took out a dagger from her bosom silently.
"Please do it painlessly."
"That is a request difficult to grant."
Swish.
Lee Se-hwa's dagger swept across Kim Han-soo's palm in a straight line.
Drip, drip.
Kim Han-soo, who stared blankly at the red blood drops falling on the luxurious dark brown desk, opened the lid of the potion silently.
If Lee Se-hwa's words are false, what he is doing right now is the same as a suicidal act.
The biggest drawback potions have.
Because that was exactly unconditional pain, not pain according to the degree of the wound.
Since Kim Han-soo was a normal person, not a Hunter, if shock came by any chance, he could reach death at this spot.
"Are you really going to do it? It's okay if I do it."
Since Lee Se-hwa also knew this well, she dissuaded him once again, but.
"I am the Director despite looking like this. I must experience it myself."
Answering so, he poured the potion onto his palm without hesitation.
And a while later, his eyes widened to the limit.
"What is this..."
The wound recovered in an instant without a single bit of pain.
Clean recovery leaving no scar. It returned to the original state as if he never suffered a wound.
"I told you, right?"
"Hah..."
Thinking maybe it's because the wound was small, he went through various experiments changing the area little by little afterward.
Pouring it on the affected area, taking it orally, etc., after all kinds of experiments, Director Kim Han-soo opened his mouth.
"Crazy, crazy, this is crazy."
He couldn't experience a single bit of side effect.
Rather, when he took it, he even received the feeling that his frustrated heart from receiving lots of stress due to this and that recently was becoming calmly stable.
Kim Han-soo, who looked at Lee Se-hwa with trembling eyes, opened his mouth.
"W-Who did you say the person who made this is?"
"D. Besides that, I know nothing."
"D, huh..."
When he stared blankly at the wax seal engraved on the potion, Lee Se-hwa slammed the desk Bang and spoke.
"Director. Now you know why I came, right?"
"..."
"We have to find them somehow. By using whatever means."
When he met Lee Se-hwa's eyes, she paused for a moment then continued speaking.
"For the next conquest, no, for me, no no."
"..."
"The Republic of Korea needs this person."
It was the moment when organizing the list of all Hunters with D in their name became the top priority task.
(End of Chapter)
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