Song Ji-hu neither grew angry nor panicked. He merely stared at Park Jeong-ho, then lifted the corner of his mouth ever so slightly.
“What kind of nonsense is that…!”
When Eun Seo-jin was about to rise from his seat, Song Ji-hu raised a hand to stop him.
“Mr. President.”
Having seen humanity’s ugly desires until he was sick of them across his previous regressions, this level of provocation was nothing but laughable to him.
“You seem to be under some kind of misconception. Do you think I came to this meeting because I desperately want to stay in Korea because I like it here, and because I’m worried about what other countries or guilds might do, so I wanted to ask for help?”
Song Ji-hu sank deep into his chair, picked up the paper the Association President had offered with his fingertips, and fluttered it.
“Judging by the scale, I think you were planning to approve the guild, leave it alone, then step in like a hero when all sorts of countries and guilds tried to coax and threaten us, before taking the guild into your own hands and shaking it however you pleased….”
Song Ji-hu tore the paper lengthwise and curled the corner of his mouth upward.
“What matters is whether, while thinking that way, you can handle what I’m going to do.”
“Now, Hunter Song Ji-hu! The way you are speaking is a little…!”
“Don’t misunderstand. I didn’t come here to ask you to protect me. I came here to notify you not to get in my way.”
Song Ji-hu let out a sigh and looked at Park Jeong-ho.
“Let’s change the terms.”
Song Ji-hu’s voice turned serious in an instant.
“When we write the list, the Association will announce the treatment list. The order and the timing will all go out under the Association’s name.”
Park Jeong-ho’s eyes narrowed.
“In return, the Association will receive the complaints from all over the world, too. You can handle that much, can’t you?”
Had Park Jeong-ho not received the reports? The fact that the whole world’s communities had gone into an uproar overnight because it was possible to heal mental contamination.
But the Association would announce the list? Without even having actual authority to draft it?
It was obvious that all resentment and diplomatic pressure from around the world would fall on the Association.
“If we do something like that…!”
When Park Jeong-ho’s voice rose, Song Ji-hu cut him off.
“You said you could handle it. If you said you could handle it without even knowing who I am, you should be able to handle this much.”
What on earth was this bastard? At first, he had thought Song Ji-hu was a man who did not know heaven from earth because he had Eun Seo-jin behind him.
No. The one holding the initiative was that bastard named Song Ji-hu. On top of that, within barely ten minutes of conversation, he had seen through all of Park Jeong-ho’s goals and was using them against him.
“The guild… I will approve the guild.”
Park Jeong-ho spat the words out in a crushed voice.
“But anything else… is impossible. Absolutely.”
If he were hounded by every Hunter Association around the world, no, by the World Hunter Association, he would not live out his natural lifespan.
“Absolutely, you say.”
Instead of answering, Song Ji-hu sank deep into the sofa.
Then, very slowly, as if watching an interesting spectacle, he looked at Park Jeong-ho’s trembling face.
“And if the Association has no direct influence over you, how am I supposed to stop foreign Associations aiming for you? Our side needs a justification as well!”
At Park Jeong-ho’s desperate shout, Song Ji-hu gave a faint laugh. As expected, he was an old fox. To think he would still push in a part that would let him gain something, even in this situation.
“Fine. I suppose there should be something we accept from your side as well. The secretary who came to the hospital. We’ll bring him into the guild.”
If anything, this worked out well. Someone on Yoon Yeong-su’s level was well-versed in administrative ability, after all.
“However, the moment he belongs to our guild, he must follow our rules. And I’m sure you’ve already calculated in your head what you stand to gain.”
Song Ji-hu indifferently flicked his finger as if giving notice.
“Then I look forward to working with you from now on.”
Song Ji-hu rose from his seat. The authority Park Jeong-ho had desperately clung to collapsed futilely like a sandcastle.
“Oh, and the guild’s name is Zero Point.”
Leaving behind Park Jeong-ho, who was half out of his wits, he walked out of the Association President’s office.
Zero Point. The point where everything began.
And the point where everything would end.
***
“Will this be all right?”
At Eun Seo-jin’s question, Song Ji-hu shrugged.
“Park Jeong-ho can’t do anything anyway. If I say I’m defecting to another country, he’ll hate having to take responsibility for that more than death itself.”
The two things that moved Park Jeong-ho were power and tightrope-walking. When he needed to bow, he bowed thoroughly.
By now, he might even be wondering how he could use Song Ji-hu as a backdrop to throw his weight around.
“I was startled.”
“Get used to being startled in advance. There’ll be plenty of things like this from now on.”
“But… are you all right? Your housing problem hasn’t been solved.”
“What are you talking about? It has been solved.”
At those words, Eun Seo-jin clearly recalled the conversation in the Association President’s office, but there had not been any discussion related to housing anywhere.
“Park Jeong-ho is more politician than Hunter. By now, he’s probably calculating what he should give me and what he should get out of it.”
“Ah… Then what do you intend to do next?”
But Eun Seo-jin did not question him further. If Song Ji-hu said it was so, then it was so.
“First….”
Song Ji-hu clenched his fist. His body was still far too frail.
‘Even if my skills are the main thing, I still need to raise my Level.’
Even if his skills were the true core, he could not neglect training his body.
“I need to raise my Level.”
“Ah.”
Eun Seo-jin was reminded anew of the fact that it had not been long since Song Ji-hu awakened.
“And you need to regain your practical combat sense, too.”
“That is true.”
Song Ji-hu recalled one incident that would soon occur. There was someone he had to save there.
[March 21: Incheon C-rank Gate (A-rank mutation - everyone dead)]
“The goal is to build up as much practical combat sense as possible before March 21.”
“Understood.”
He did not know why it was March 21, but if Song Ji-hu had planned it, all he had to do was follow.
“I’ll apply for the Gate. Since I need to enter a Gate once under Association supervision.”
***
After Song Ji-hu left, the air in the Association President’s office had cooled coldly.
Even though thirty minutes had passed since Song Ji-hu left, Park Jeong-ho was still sunk deep into the sofa, his gaze fixed on the teacup on the desk.
The green tea that had once been steaming was now cold, and Park Jeong-ho’s deeply furrowed brow showed no sign of smoothing.
Tap- tap- tap-
Only the sound of Park Jeong-ho tapping the armrest with his fingers rang out sharply.
Knock, knock-
The door opened, and Yoon Yeong-su carefully entered with a tablet in hand.
“Mr. President, your next meeting is in forty minutes. Black Heaven Guild’s side….”
“Clear them all.”
At the low, thoroughly crushed voice, Yoon Yeong-su’s fingers stopped as he checked the tablet.
“Pardon?”
“Cancel every appointment today. I do not intend to meet anyone.”
When Park Jeong-ho lifted his head, Yoon Yeong-su swallowed dryly.
Between the deeply carved wrinkle in his brow and his tightly pressed lips, his eyes had sunk coldly.
‘What on earth did they talk about…?’
Yoon Yeong-su swallowed inwardly. It was the first time he had seen the Association President lose this much composure and reveal such a menacing air in nearly three years of serving him.
“…Understood. I will adjust the schedule.”
Yoon Yeong-su bowed and was about to withdraw, but Park Jeong-ho seemed to have already forgotten his presence as he tapped the armrest.
‘A mere C-rank.’
Park Jeong-ho’s molars ground together.
Even if he had healed mental contamination, he was still only C-rank. If not for that ability, he would be a brat lying at the very bottom of this industry, yet he had dared to collide head-on with Park Jeong-ho, the head of the Association.
‘I offered him terms, and he threatened me instead? So calmly?’
When the heat surging up in him burned his throat, he drained the cold tea in one gulp.
“Hoo….”
Park Jeong-ho exhaled roughly and forced his breathing to settle. Being swayed by emotion was something only amateurs did.
He was a former A-rank Hunter, and a politician who had held the position of Association President for more than ten years.
A man who was aiming higher, using the Association President’s seat as his foundation.
‘Think coldly.’
The pace of his tapping on the armrest slowed. When he closed his eyes, a set of scales appeared in his mind.
What if Song Ji-hu defected overseas? And used him as the excuse for it?
Just imagining it for a moment sent a chill down his spine. The only person capable of healing mental contamination leaving Korea? And because of conflict with the Association President, no less?
At that moment, not only his political life, but even his physical life could not be guaranteed. Even as things stood, was the entire world not in turmoil over the issue of Hunter defections?
Then conversely.
‘What can I gain by siding with Song Ji-hu?’
The Association would announce the mental contamination treatment list. Resentment and pressure from all over the world would pour in, but that also meant they would stand in the superior position against the entire world.
‘If I can somehow insert even one person at a time into the list….’
This much was within the realm of politics, and if there was something to gain, that cunning bastard had a good chance of accepting a deal.
‘That bastard….’
A twisted smile spread across his lips.
‘Isn’t a hunting dog I can tame.’
Even when facing Park Jeong-ho’s aura, the bastard’s expression had not changed in the slightest.
If there was no way to control a monster like that by any means, there was only one method.
“At the very least, I need to make sure he eats inside the fence I built.”
Park Jeong-ho shot up from his chair. Life returned to his complexion, which had been rotting away.
‘Whether or not he thinks of it as a fence, the people watching will judge by the fence anyway.’
All he had to do was make people think he was the one protecting that fence.
He turned his head toward Yoon Yeong-su.
“Bring me everything on Song Ji-hu. Right now.”
Yoon Yeong-su was startled by the sudden order, but soon pulled up Song Ji-hu’s information on his tablet.
“Where is he living now?”
“Here it is. His current residence is….”
Park Jeong-ho scanned the screen, then frowned.
“…What is this? How are we supposed to protect a talent in a pit like this? Move him immediately.”
A shabby studio apartment district. An area near the outskirts of Seoul, close to a slum. A photo of an old building that looked as though mold might be growing inside it was displayed on the screen.
“Pardon? Where should we….”
Park Jeong-ho stroked his chin and muttered.
“There are S-rank-exclusive apartments provided by the state, aren’t there? Check which units are empty.”
“S-rank-exclusive? But Hunter Song Ji-hu’s rank is….”
“Now, now… Rank, rank. How long are you going to keep pushing that outdated standard? Even if his rank is C-rank, he is a talent possessing the absurd ability called mental contamination healing. If anything, we should be giving him more….”
Yoon Yeong-su’s eyes widened. S-rank-exclusive apartments were top-class residences worth several billion won on the market. And they were giving one to a C-rank Hunter?
“Eun Seo-jin has returned as well, so place him next door.”
Park Jeong-ho’s expression was serious.
‘If we are going to give, then let’s give properly.’
This was Park Jeong-ho’s way.
He bestowed favors that could not be refused and made the other party indebted. He hid his teeth, but kept them within distance to bite at any opening.
“And.”
Park Jeong-ho looked straight at Yoon Yeong-su.
“You take responsibility and help with the guild establishment process. As quickly as possible. The name is Zero Point.”
“Understood. I will support it immediately.”
Yoon Yeong-su quickly finished taking notes. Thinking it was an ordinary work order, he was just about to leave the Association President’s office to handle it as quickly as possible.
“And you will enter as the monitor.”
“…Pardon?”
“Did you not hear me? You will join Zero Point Guild as the Association-dispatched personnel.”
His heart dropped with a thud. At the same time, the tablet in his hand slipped and fell to the floor.
‘Is this… abandonment?’
Yoon Yeong-su hurriedly picked up the tablet from the floor and looked at Park Jeong-ho.
His mind went blank. Was he being pushed out of his secretary position? What did I do wrong? Did I make some mistake when handling Song Ji-hu’s party earlier? All sorts of thoughts flashed through his mind.
The Association President’s secretariat was the express train to success. And being pushed out from here meant the end.
“M-Mr. President… Did I perhaps commit some discourtesy…?”
“I know what you are worried about.”
Park Jeong-ho approached and placed a heavy hand on Yoon Yeong-su’s shoulder. It was certainly a benevolent smile. His eyes were not smiling.
“But it is absolutely not what you are thinking.”
“Wh-what do you mean…?”
“Song Ji-hu is the only existence like him in the entire world. Should the Association’s core personnel not be at the side of such a figure?”
Park Jeong-ho’s voice was calm and firm.
“Who would best suit that role? You, who have assisted me for nearly ten years and know every part of the Association’s work.”
Yoon Yeong-su’s heart wavered. Was this not abandonment, but entrusting him with an important responsibility?
Watching the most important person in South Korean Hunter history, no, in world Hunter history, from his side, and maintaining a good relationship with the Association. What mission could be more important than this?”
“…Understood.”
One corner of his reason sent him a warning, but under the Association President’s overwhelming atmosphere, his doubts vanished far away.
“If you say so, Mr. President, I will do my utmost.”
“Yes. I believe in you.”
Yoon Yeong-su lowered his head with a stiff expression. The moment Yoon Yeong-su turned toward the door, Park Jeong-ho’s eyes sank coldly.
‘Good. This is enough.’
He had called him a monitor, but there was no way Yoon Yeong-su had the ability to control Song Ji-hu.
What mattered was that, from the outside, there was someone affiliated with the Association in Song Ji-hu’s guild. And the Association President’s secretary, at that.
Besides, information was power. If he could know in real time who Song Ji-hu met and what he did, that alone had sufficient value.
“Proceed as quickly as possible.”
“Understood.”
After Yoon Yeong-su left, Park Jeong-ho sank deep into his chair again.
“Zero Point….”
Along with the murmur, the corner of his mouth twisted.
‘Zero Point… You mean to start empty-handed? Fine. I will watch how long empty hands last.