33.
If Seon-woo was water, then Moo-hyuk was fire. Although it might be because of that, they didn’t fit well in many other ways as well.
“Yeah, I’m here because I have some business with you.”
Moo-hyuk calmly answered without raising a sword to his throat.
“So what is it for?”
“What do you think of the current Hunter Administration?”
Did he even have to ask? It was nothing to Seon-woo, simply a piece of garbage that was busy taking care of its own profit.
It wasn’t like this when it was first established, but after the director was changed to Kim Cheol-su, the Hunter Administration began to be hostile to the Guilds. It was their nature to bite and do anything for the benefit of the Hunter Administration. So, the image in his head was bad.
“Do you really need to ask?”
“No. In fact, I know you can tell without asking.”
Moo-hyuk laughed bitterly. He had just ideals, so he ignored the offers of numerous guilds and joined the Hunter Administration. The country was shaken when the guilds, which were individual powers, were called out. So, he thought that he could help keep the guilds in check by raising the Hunter Administration, as a National Institution. For that reason, he made a different choice than others.
At first, he thought it was the right idea. The Director of the Hunter Administration was also an Awakened, and he was well aware of the current situation. He was trying to raise the Hunter Administration step by step rather than forcefully. Moo-hyuk agreed with him. But things turned around.
A non-Awakened person came down as the Director of the Hunter Administration, while the original Director was demoted. Awakened ones, and non-Awakened ones. It might not seem like it really matters, as they just needed to be righteous. But the reality was different.
“The current Director is very greedy. And that greed endangers the Hunter Administration.”
It would have been nice if there had been only a pure desire to strengthen the Hunter Administration.
Seon-woo changed his posture a little.
“So what do you really want to say?”
“It’s a simple story. I want to rise up.”
He didn’t want to just tune in from the bottom up anymore. Originally, he wasn’t the type to work for someone else.
“It will not be easy.”
“Because there is an old person above.”
Moo-hyuk wanted to get rid of that old man. To do that, I needed the help of others. I wanted to do it alone as much as possible, but I know that’s impossible.
“So work with me.”
It was a convincing story, but Seon-woo did not rush forward so quickly. He understood what Moo-hyuk thought. That he wanted to change the situation now. So he became increasingly skeptical.
“Why now?”
There must have been many opportunities to change things before now, so why come and demand cooperation from Seon-woo now, with whom he had an especially troubled relationship?
“It’s because of what’s been happening. The movement of the Hunter Administration is strange these days. It looks like the director is doing something with the intelligence department, but he doesn’t tell the field staff about it. The Management Department is responsible for most of the work.”
“Strange movements?”
“Yes. So I’ve concluded that I can’t abide by it any longer.”
“Good. Then let’s cooperate with each other.”
It wasn’t something he needed to think about for a long time. He was still displeased with Moo-hyuk, but considering the benefits it brought, he was right to work together. Hence, the two made a secret agreement.
***
After Moo-hyuk left, another guest came to Seon-woo, who had been immersed in his work.
“Keep your promise!”
It was A-yun. A-yun, who came in a bright dress, sat on the sofa in the guild master’s room. Then she boldly demanded the fulfillment of the contract.
“Good. Then we’ll prepare a place.”
“No, no. There is no need to prepare a place in particular this time.”
“Then?”
“Ji Seon-woo-ssi. All you have to do is lend Hyeon-woo to me for just one day.”
“A day?”
“Yes! I won’t do anything weird. I swear.”
And then he shook his hand in rejection.
“Hey, change your expression.”
“What do you need a day for?”
“I’m just going out with him for a bit.”
“Absolutely not.”
“If you’re worried, you can follow me. Or the Peace Guild Leader. He seemed to be okay with it.”
That was happening due to an unfair contract.
“What are you going to do?”
“We’ll be playing together.”
“What?”
“Playing together. Don’t you know what that means?”
“Whatever you do, the number of times is deducted.”
“I know. I’ll still play.”
A-yun folded her arms in a confident manner. She might only have a 1 in 3 chance of succeeding. Knowing that, she couldn’t back off.
‘So, you want to have a conversation in a safe room and have the other party tell you all the information?’
The answer is no. Everyone was on their side, and they were in a stable state, but what was she doing to spit the truth to someone she had only seen once? Even A-yun didn’t do that. So she decided to aim for getting the truth again.
‘It’s easy to get to know people.’
It had been that way since childhood. A-yun, who was pretty and lively, used to go to other people easily. And in the end, everyone confided in her. So, she wanted to do it again this time.
“I’m busy.”
“Then send the Peace Guild Leader.”
“Peace Guild Leader.”
Seon-woo touched his forehead for a moment. He didn’t want to let his Hyung and him go alone. Anyway, Do-jin seemed to be becoming comfortable with Hyung recently, so it was starting to get annoying.
“I’ll make time.”
“Great. Then do it.”
“But you have to agree not to go out.”
“How can I ask you that?”
If I had asked Seon-woo, it seemed that he would only give excuses preventing him from going out. He was overprotective. A-yun pursed her lips.
“No.”
“I won’t say anything strange.”
“What do you want to say that strange?”
“That’s a secret!”
A-yun was terribly persistent, but Seon-woo wasn’t easy either. He was the one who could do anything for his Hyung. Such statements were unbearable.
So, Seon-woo decided to ask if he would go out. Seon-woo climbed up immediately, opened the door, and went inside. At the time, Hyeon-woo was in the living room. There was–
“What are you doing?”
Seon-woo’s voice lowered in displeasure.
“Un? Seon-woo, you’re here?”
“Hyung.”
“Yes?”
Hyeon-woo blinked with an innocent expression. He was lying on the rug on the living room floor, holding onto Do-jin’s thighs.
“There’s a cushion next to you.”
Seon-woo tried to speak calmly while suppressing the fire inside.
“Ah, yeah.”
“Why are you doing that?”
“One thing lead to another?”
At first, he was joking and lay down on him. Since the muscular thighs were not comfortable, he tried to politely get up right away, but Do-jin’s reaction afterwards was quite interesting. Hence, he got to this point because he was playing around and holding on.
“It’s uncomfortable.”
“Not really.”
At least it was more comfortable than sleeping on a high rock.
“It’s uncomfortable. You will hurt your neck.”
Seon-woo grabbed Hyeon-woo’s hand, who was lying down, and made him stand up.
“Thank you. But didn’t you say you were busy?”
“I got the urgent stuff done. And I still have some business to do.”
“What?”
“A-yun is here.”
That lively girl. Hyeon-woo immediately remembered A-yun.
“Let’s go out together as she wants that. If you don’t want to, you can say no.”
“Outing? Where?”
“I don’t know that.”
“Alone?”
“Absolutely not. I’ll follow too.”
So he was saying it was not really a trap. Hyeon-woo pondered for a moment. The sky outside the window was high and blue. The weather was perfect for going out.
“Shall we go out then?”
Once the decision was made, the next step was a breeze. As soon as he got dressed and came out, a bodyguard was attached to him as if he had been prepared in advance.
“It’s been a while, hasn’t it? Please take good care of me today!”
Next to A-yun, who said so, there was also a third wheel, Ja-yun, as if he had already appeared from behind.
“Take good care of me.”
There were three S-Class Awakened. The ultimate party, which couldn’t happen unless something had to happen, had been created.
“A moment before that.”
A-yun first looked at Do-jin wearing a hood and then nodded.
“Okay, pass.”
Then, she stood in front of Seon-woo.
“Are you wearing a suit today? Can’t you go and change clothes?”
“...I can.”
“Then go and change clothes.”
A-yun spread her chest and said, looking as if he had to do that.
“It’s weird to wear a mask while wearing a suit! Where are you really going out, looking like that? Don’t you know the trends these days?”
After the documentary broadcast, the interest in the Seon-Hyeon Guild and the Awakened grew, and the enthusiasm still had not cooled down. In such a state, Seon-woo and Hyeon-woo, whose faces are known, went out without a fuss? It was obvious what was going to happen.
“So let’s cover it.”
“If everyone wears a mask and a hat, wouldn’t that be more suspicious?”
“I’m not going to use it.”
“I think the level of face recognition is similar.”
A-yun learned how to use her image while doing TV shows from an early age. That’s why she didn’t hesitate to dress herself up.
For that reason, Ja-yun and A-yun were known for their faces. It wasn’t as much as Ji Seon-woo.
“My Oppa is going to dress up. I am not.”
“Are you okay with it?”
“It’s okay. I’m not an Awakened, so even if I show my face, I wouldn’t be recognized as much as my Oppa. Let’s go, so hurry up and get dressed!”
Reluctantly, Seon-woo changed clothes and came out to put on a mask and a hat. They all covered their faces and stood next to each other, looking really suspicious. If A-yun had covered her face, it would have been even worse.
“Then, let’s go!”
A-yun boldly took the lead. The first place they visited was a department store. Entering as a VIP, she went straight to the top floor. A personal shopping assistant greeted them, and immediately a lot of clothes were taken away.
“Now, shall we change clothes? Who shall we start with?”
At that remark, Hyeon-woo quickly raised his hand.
------
Credits:
Translator: Hoshi Miya
Editor/Proofreader: Davine
YRR: More shopping. I wonder who paid for the damages to the last shopping mall they visited . . .
Shopping seems fun thanks for translating