As Novum had said, the reward was two Additional Ruin Clear Passes.
That was the entirety of the reward for clearing the Ruin.
There were no additional items, Magic Stones, or anything else.
Considering that it was an Ancient-grade Ruin, having only two sheets of paper as the reward seemed rather underwhelming.
‘Good. Very good.’
Jeon Jae-woo clenched his fist and carefully stored the Additional Ruin Clear Passes away.
In the end, he was more than satisfied simply because he had increased his number of available Ruin clears by one.
After leaving the Ruin, Jeon Jae-woo called Yoo Jeong-tae.
“Hello, Commissioner. Ah, yes. I just finished clearing the Ruin.”
Yoo Jeong-tae responded in astonishment.
[A-Already?]
“Yes. It was easier than the previous Ancient-grade Ruin.”
Then again, a Ruin like Silent Palace would naturally be more convenient for Jeon Jae-woo, who had always operated alone.
[You have truly worked hard, Hunter. Um, but if I may ask…]
Yoo Jeong-tae hesitated, wetting his lips.
Apparently, he was curious about what Jeon Jae-woo intended to do with the Ancient-grade Ruin’s rewards.
[May I ask what you plan to do with the rewards from the Ruin?]
Yoo Jeong-tae was probably hoping that Jeon Jae-woo would trade with the Hunter Administration again.
“I’m sorry, but this time I plan to use all of the rewards from the Ruin myself.”
Yoo Jeong-tae responded in a deeply bewildered voice.
[What? All of the rewards from an Ancient-grade Ruin?]
“Yes. I think I’ll have a use for them.”
[…]
Yoo Jeong-tae did not know what Jeon Jae-woo’s Trait was or what rewards the Ruin had produced, so he could hardly ask what he intended to use them for.
He answered in an extremely dejected voice.
[…Understood. If you happen to change your mind, please contact me.]
“Yes. Then I’ll let you go.”
After Jeon Jae-woo ended the call.
Commissioner Yoo Jeong-tae felt a surge of unease and let out a long sigh.
‘He’s going to use all of the Ruin rewards himself? Not rewards from a Rare- or Common-grade Ruin, but from an Ancient-grade Ruin?’
From a common-sense perspective, it made no sense.
What if saying he would use the rewards himself was merely an excuse, and he no longer intended to trade with the South Korean Hunter Administration?
‘…Could he be planning to trade exclusively with someone else from now on?’
The thought made his heart sink.
However, Yoo Jeong-tae soon regained his composure.
‘No. I shouldn’t get ahead of myself.’
This was merely the first time something like this had happened since Jeon Jae-woo began working as a Hunter.
Even ordinary Hunters rarely conducted every single transaction exclusively through the Hunter Administration.
Perhaps the reward had been some kind of special Armament rather than a resource like Magic Stones, and Jeon Jae-woo simply intended to use it himself.
It was not as though anything unpleasant had happened between them.
Unfortunately, not long afterward—
Yoo Jeong-tae received word that American agents had entered South Korea.
***
[Two days ago, Hunter Jeon Jae-woo reportedly succeeded in clearing the Ancient-grade Ruin ‘Silent Palace,’ drawing considerable attention…]
The television in a restaurant near Jeon Jae-woo’s home was reporting on his latest Ruin clear.
Two young men eating together commented as they watched the news.
“Wow. That’s insane. How long has it even been since he cleared his last Ancient-grade Ruin?”
“You said you wanted to become a Hunter too. Think you could do something like that?”
The young man responded as though telling his friend to stop joking.
“Does that even make sense? I’d be happy if I could clear a single Common-grade Ruin by myself.”
Jeon Jae-woo, who was eating sundae soup at a nearby table, smiled faintly.
‘Hmm. This feels pretty good.’
Hearing people praise him without his having to do anything made him feel less embarrassed than expected.
If anything, his shoulders seemed ready to rise straight into the sky.
Perhaps all humans really were born with an instinctive desire for attention.
After finishing his meal in a pleasant mood, Jeon Jae-woo began walking home.
[Creator.]
‘Yeah?’
[There are people nearby following you. All of them are Awakened Individuals.]
‘What? Who are they?’
[I do not recognize them. I sense no hostility, however…]
‘Then leave them alone for now. Let’s see what they do.’
A short while later, a group of complete strangers really did approach him.
“Excuse me. Are you perhaps Hunter Jeon Jae-woo?”
They were dressed in suits, and there was something disciplined about the way they moved.
They did not seem like ordinary people.
‘They obviously aren’t Korean. Americans?’
“I am Jeon Jae-woo. Who are you?”
The man standing at the front politely bowed his head.
“It is a pleasure to meet you. We are agents employed by the United States Awakened Management Agency.”
“……??”
For a moment, Jeon Jae-woo thought they were trying to scam him.
Then again, even a con artist would not ordinarily introduce himself as an American government agent.
“Why would American agents be looking for me…?”
“My apologies. We had no other way to arrange a meeting with you, Hunter, so we had no choice but to approach you in this discourteous manner.”
Judging by their behavior, Myeolgeop appeared to be right. They did not seem to intend him any harm.
Of course, how could anyone simply take the word of strangers who appeared out of nowhere and claimed to be agents of the United States?
“If it would not be too much of an imposition, might we speak with you for a moment? I am confident that what we have to say will not disappoint you, Hunter.”
Myeolgeop was still right beside him, secretly protecting him, so there was no real danger.
However, after following them into an expensive nearby hotel, Jeon Jae-woo’s suspicions finally faded.
The hotel room was filled with people in suits.
Every one of them was a Western Hunter radiating a considerable presence.
It seemed they really were agents sent from the United States.
A broad, powerfully built man who appeared to be their superior rose to his feet and offered Jeon Jae-woo a handshake.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Hunter Jeon Jae-woo. My name is Allen, and I serve as the Deputy Director of the U.S. Awakened Management Agency.”
“Yes. Hello.”
Jeon Jae-woo shook hands with the American named Allen and sat down across from him.
“Thank you very much for accepting our invitation. And allow me to sincerely congratulate you on successfully clearing another Ancient-grade Ruin.”
“Yes… thank you.”
As Allen showered Jeon Jae-woo with elaborate praise, he carefully studied the man before him.
Yet the more closely he looked, the more questions arose.
‘I don’t sense any remarkable presence from him.’
Judging by the way he manipulated Mana, he certainly seemed to be a Hunter.
But he did not feel like someone capable of clearing Legendary- and Ancient-grade Ruins alone.
Was this really the Jeon Jae-woo they were looking for?
“Hunter. I realize this is discourteous, but may I see your Hunter Registration Card?”
“……”
What exactly was this man trying to do?
He was not even an official from the South Korean Hunter Administration. Why was an American asking to inspect another country’s Hunter Registration Card?
Jeon Jae-woo considered simply leaving, but the absurdity of the situation amused him enough that he decided to play along.
Allen examined the Hunter Registration Card Jeon Jae-woo handed him.
‘…It really is him.’
The information on the card matched the intelligence they had gathered beforehand perfectly.
Allen let out a hearty laugh and returned the card.
“I have been exceedingly rude despite this being our first meeting. I sincerely apologize if I have offended you, Hunter.”
“So why did you want to meet me?”
When Jeon Jae-woo brought up the main subject, Allen grinned.
The expression on Jeon Jae-woo’s face was filled with wariness.
Naturally.
Anyone would react this way if a high-ranking official from another country suddenly appeared and requested a private meeting.
But once Jeon Jae-woo heard what they had to offer, his attitude would inevitably change.
Allen cleared his throat several times before beginning.
“Then I will get straight to the point. We were dispatched under the orders of the President of the United States to bring you to America, Hunter Jeon Jae-woo.”
Jeon Jae-woo deliberately looked bewildered.
“What? You want to take me to the United States?”
“That is correct.”
“But why would you take a Hunter from another country to America?”
“Haha. I will assume you are joking when you say you do not know the reason. Surely you understand it better than anyone, Hunter?”
“……”
He was right.
Jeon Jae-woo had more or less guessed why they had come from the moment they introduced themselves as Americans.
They wanted to turn someone with his accomplishments into one of their own Hunters.
‘After clearing a few Ruins, I’m actually getting offers like this now.’
He had expected that foreign countries would eventually try to recruit him once his name became famous enough.
It was something most renowned Hunters had probably experienced at least once.
The United States was particularly famous for poaching talented people from other countries.
Perhaps he should simply be grateful that they had not tried to abduct him by force.
“We promise you treatment superior to that received by every Hunter currently active in the United States. Furthermore, if there is anything you desire, Hunter Jeon Jae-woo, we are prepared to grant it.”
“I appreciate the offer, but I’m not particularly dissatisfied with my current life.”
Yes.
That was the natural response.
Other countries were no longer foolish either. They now gave their Hunters as much freedom as possible and compensated them generously to keep them from leaving.
Even if the United States offered somewhat better conditions, there was little reason to endure the inconvenience of abandoning one’s homeland.
But would he still respond the same way after seeing this?
“There is no need to decide so hastily. Once you hear our proposal, you may regret refusing us so quickly.”
“……?”
What kind of card had they prepared for him to sound so confident?
At Allen’s signal, one of his subordinates placed a metal case on the table.
When the case opened, a familiar sheet of paper came into Jeon Jae-woo’s view.
It was an Additional Ruin Clear Pass.
“You have surely heard of an item capable of increasing the number of Ruins a Hunter may clear. This is the reward we promise you if you become a citizen of the United States.”
“……”
So there was a reason for his confidence.
Immediately after Awakening, a Hunter was granted only twelve opportunities to clear Ruins.
In other words, an Additional Ruin Clear Pass was almost like extending one’s lifespan by one-twelfth.
“For reference, the United States currently possesses only three Additional Ruin Clear Passes, including this one.”
“You’re willing to use one of them on me?”
“Yes. One of the other two has been allocated to a Transcendent-grade Hunter from the United States, while the other remains stored deep within a government vault. However, if you wish, Hunter Jeon Jae-woo, we are also prepared to give you the government’s remaining pass.”
They had clearly come prepared to go all the way.
If Jeon Jae-woo used those additional opportunities to clear more Ruins and then traded the resulting resources with the United States, it would ultimately produce the greatest benefit for America as well.
‘It really is an offer any Hunter would find tempting.’
If Jeon Jae-woo had heard this proposal only a short while ago, he might have been tempted regardless of South Korea or anything else.
Unfortunately for the United States, their timing was terrible.
Jeon Jae-woo stared at the relaxed American for a moment.
Then he discreetly received two sheets of paper from Myeolgeop, who was concealed right beside him, and showed them to Allen.
“I appreciate the offer, but I already have enough Additional Ruin Clear Passes of my own, so I’ll be fine.”
“???”
Meanwhile, at that very moment, the South Korean Hunter Administration was thrown into chaos.
They had received word that Hunter Jeon Jae-woo was meeting with American agents.
Commissioner Yoo Jeong-tae reacted to the report with sheer horror and screamed.
“What?! Hunter Jeon Jae-woo is meeting with American agents!!??”