Chapter 107

Presidential Office.

The Director of the National Security Office, the Director of the National Intelligence Service, and the Minister of Hunters were looking at the President with stiff expressions.

“Can this even be called a government? How can you not properly grasp a single guild? Tsk.”

“My apologies.”

As the Minister of Hunters bowed his head, the President gestured.

“So what was the conclusion of the meeting? Tell me that first.”

The Director of National Security looked at the Director of National Intelligence Service, who looked at the Minister of Hunters. The Minister of Hunters, who was appointed last and was the youngest, sighed and opened his mouth.

“We intend to recruit hunter Seo Go-woon into the Hunter Association.”

“Will you now?”

“When the government extends a hand, it’s naturally a citizen’s duty to come.”

The Director of National Intelligence Service smiled with great wit, and the Director of National Security nodded.

“If he refuses to come, we’ll make him come.”

The President stroked his chin.

“What conditions will you offer?”

“We plan to offer the position of Deputy Director at the Hunter Association.”

“Deputy Director, you say.”

The Hunter Association was a government agency, unlike guilds, so the entry hurdle was high from the start. If it wasn’t simply joining the Hunter Association but being offered the Deputy Director position, it was something any hunter would welcome with open arms.

“Didn’t you say he likes to fool around?”

“Recently, he’s been frequenting dungeons quite often.”

The Minister of Hunters handed the President the public dungeon raid records. However, the President waved it away and asked the Director of National Security.

“What about on the National Security side?”

“Though not him personally, the trial of blacksmith Woo Hanseong, who lives with him, is currently ongoing. I think we can pull some strings there.”

“The Minister of Justice will likely oppose that since it involves a trial.”

“The judge in charge of that trial is the son-in-law of the Minister of Justice.”

The President nodded with satisfaction then looked at the Director of National Intelligence Service.

The Director of National Intelligence Service held out the prepared documents.

“A total of 4 countries have requested to meet Seo Go-woon, and all expressed their intention to form close ties with our government. Not nations but guilds – 4 from the US, 7 from China. France and the UK each sent 2 entry requests.”

The President’s hand flipped the page. As the President looked at the neatly organized list, one eyebrow twitched.

“Russia? Did they contact us as well?”

“Yes, unlike other countries, they are only requesting entry permission.”

“Of course. Their military is entering, so naturally they need entry permission.”

Since hunters are conscripted into the Russian military immediately upon awakening, other countries strictly control the entry of Russian hunters out of concern it could be misinterpreted as a spark for war.

“They want to give us gas just for a simple meeting?”

“Yes. The proposed gas amount is 10 million tons.”

The President frowned.

The annual import amount is 40 million tons. Russia’s offer of 1/4 of that just for entry permission felt like a trap.

“What do you think?”

The Director of National Security sighed and said,

“I think it’s best we refuse.”

“Why?”

“The mafia may get mixed in.”

“That’s too far-fetched.”

“It’s not far-fetched. Don’t a significant number of mafias currently active in Russia have the government backing them? It’s been reported that some hunters have wittingly or unwittingly flowed into the mafia side under government orders.”

The President nodded.

The symbiotic relationship between Russia and the mafia, where the government takes 40% of illegally earned profits, has been going on for 10 years now. No matter how vicious and cruel the mafia may be, hunters’ skills can instantly knock out ordinary people. It wouldn’t be a lie to say hunters are handed over to mafias operating abroad, not just domestically.

“By that logic, entry would be impossible for any country. Japan has the Yakuza, and China has the Triads and Black Society.”

“But those countries are different from Russia. It’s not like we don’t have information on Japan or China.”

“Can that information be trusted? We couldn’t catch the drug cartel member last time because we failed to properly identify his identity!”

“That person had plastic surgery!”

“That’s what I’m saying! I’m saying there’s no guarantee the information we have now will match exactly!”

“Enough.”

At the President’s words, the Director of National Intelligence Service panted and the Director of National Security made an embarrassed expression.

“What is Seo Go-woon’s level of power now?”

“Slightly better than an ordinary person.”

“How many personnel can we dispatch to support him?”

“About 20 people.”

The President nodded.

“Then have the Hunter Association handle security from the entry date, and grant entry permission to Russia.”

“But!”

The President raised a hand at the Director of National Security’s outcry.

“There’s not much time left until re-election. If we can obtain natural gas just through simple entry, it’s worth a try. Taesan is also providing security now in addition to the Hunter Association, so there won’t be any issues.”

“…Yes, sir.”

“Let’s proceed with the rest after meeting Seo Go-woon.”

As the President left the office, two burly bodyguards followed.

Walking down the path to the official residence, the President thought of the 10 million tons of natural gas.

Externally, he would gain the reputation of negotiating with Russia to obtain it. Internally, the gas would become his slush fund.

“Hoho. I should treat him well when he comes.”

Thinking of Seo Go-woon who was more filial than his own son, President Lee Sam-chun smiled faintly.

This really is an expensive car.

I felt it when riding in Shin Sooha’s car too, but it’s on a different level from police cars where you can feel the road’s condition. If police cars were like this, transporting criminals would’ve been more comfortable.

“We’ve arrived.”

“Okay.”

Opening the car door and getting out, contrary to my expectations, we arrived at a cabin in the woods.

‘There are places like this in Seoul? Ah. This is inside the novel.’

This world and my world are so similar that I sometimes forget it’s inside a novel. How could land like this exist in Seoul?

“Please go inside.”

I headed toward the cabin the guide pointed to.

“Are you carrying an Infinity Pocket?”

“No.”

What hunter would bring an Infinity Pocket to meet the President? Knowing it would obviously get confiscated.

“We’ll just do a body search.”

After the bodyguard’s body search, I went inside.

Inside the empty cabin, I saw the President sitting at a table made of wood.

Behind the President, in addition to bodyguards, there were men wearing mugunghwa badges standing.

“Hunter Seo Go-woon. Welcome.”

The President approached me with a bright smile as if meeting an old acquaintance he hadn’t seen in years, and held out his hand.

“Hello.”

“Yes, yes. I’ve heard a lot about you. Have a seat here.”

As I sat across from where the President led me, a steaming cup of coffee was placed in front of me from who knows where.

“I hope the trip here wasn’t too tiring?”

“No. I came comfortably.”

“Yes, yes. Don’t be too nervous. What’s so special about being President? It’s just a position. I’m only human. Hohoho.”

‘That’s right. There’s nothing special about being President.’

Is it because he’s the President of this world? I don’t feel particularly awed. Rather, with his sagging jowls and protruding belly, he gives off a next-door uncle vibe.

“You must be very surprised to be called so suddenly.”

“Not at all.”

“Even though they said you awakened as hidden, you look like you could be a visual hunter. Hohoho. If I had your looks when I was young…”

Wow. He really talks a lot. I wonder if he went through a vow of silence before meeting me with how much he’s talking. Will I even get to hear the main point today at this rate?

“Ahem. I’ve talked too long. But did you not bring that bird?”

“No. It’s here.”

When I set Salt down on the table from atop my head, the President looked at him with a covetous gaze.

“So this is the purification bird?”

“Yes. It’s my pet.”

Even if you eye him greedily, he’s mine anyway. Why are you reaching out your hand?

“Chirp.”

Salt chirped ‘Get lost’, flapped like Pororo and landed back on my head.

“It’s a shy child.”

“Chirp chirp. Chirp. Chirp.”

He says he doesn’t like that old man. Salt, where did you learn such language?

“Hohoho. I see.”

He’s smiling magnanimously but his eyes are full of regret. Don’t tell me he didn’t understand the meaning of pet? He doesn’t think touching Salt will make him the owner, right?

While I looked at him suspiciously, after staring at Salt for a while, he coughed and leaned back in his chair.

“You saw the press conference, right? Is it true that bird does the purification?”

“Yes. That’s correct.”

“Hmm. How does purification work?”

“Purification proceeds immediately upon contact with the bird.”

“So you don’t do anything yourself?”

“No.”

Purification can be amplified faster through me with my passive skill, but we decided not to disclose that.

I was already in a dangerous situation just for being the purification bird’s owner. The warning was that the danger would double if amplification became known.

‘Even if Salt gets kidnapped, he’ll return due to the homing instinct anyway.’

“Would it be alright to test it once?”

“Yes.”

“Tell him to come in.”

The door opposite the one I entered opened and a man in a black suit with blue hair stopped in front of me.

[Nam Do-il – Corruption 24%]

Nam Do-il? I’ve never heard that name before. If he needs purification, he must be SS-rank. But why have I never seen him in the novel or rankings?

“He’s a hunter belonging to the Hunter Association. An SS-rank Physical Enhancement Hunter.”

“Ah.”

If he’s a Physical Enhancement Hunter, it makes sense he didn’t appear in the novel. Plus, not appearing in the rankings is probably because as a Hunter Association employee, he didn’t participate in the World Hunter Competition.

“Hello. I’m Seo Go-woon.”

“Hello. I’m Nam Do-il.”

I bowed first in case he tried to shake hands, and Nam Do-il bowed following me.

“Then will you do the purification?”

“Yes, Hunter Nam Do-il. Please hold out your palm. Salt.”

As I had instructed before leaving home, Salt sat on Nam Do-il’s palm. A small gasp burst out and Nam Do-il’s sharp expression crumbled in an instant.

‘His reaction to purification is intense compared to Taeju despite the corruption not being severe.’

“How is it? Does it feel like it’s being purified?”

“……”

“Hunter Nam Do-il?”

“Salt, come back.”

Unable to come to his senses due to the purification, I called Salt. But Nam Do-il, either instinctively or intentionally, tried to grab Salt. However, Salt skillfully avoided his hand and flew back to the top of my head.

Nam Do-il looked at Salt with pitiful eyes.

“Hunter Nam Do-il. I asked how the purification felt.”

Perhaps because the President’s words sounded slightly angry that his question went unanswered, Nam Do-il came to his senses and spoke.

“It felt like my whole body loosened up. Purification is real.”

“Mm. Did it feel good?”

“Yes.”

The President made a regretful face while looking at Salt.

“You said it’s felt starting from S-rank and above?”

“Yes.”

In the novel, the President was an ordinary person. Why is he regretting purification when he’s not even a hunter, let alone having a rank?

While shaking my head inwardly, the President licked his lips and gestured.

“Come here.”

The man standing behind the President approached and placed documents on the table.

“Hello. I’m Kim Dong-wan, Defense Secretary of the National Security Office.”

“Yes. Hello.”

The man with wavy black hair had black eyes. Then he must be an ordinary person. What would an ordinary person have to discuss with me?

“First, the government expresses gratitude to hunter Seo Go-woon for raising the nation’s prestige with the discovery of the purification bird.”

“Ah. Yes.”

“While the existence of the purification bird may be simple purification for individual hunters, from the nation’s perspective, it can become a major national power, so the government is considering inviting hunter Seo Go-woon to the Hunter Association.”

Secretary Kim handed me a file.

“These are the benefits you will receive upon joining the Hunter Association.”

I flipped through the documents.

Vehicle support, mana stone support, and even party support.

“The position is Deputy Director, and the annual salary is more than double that of other Deputy Directors in the Hunter Association. If you wish to raid dungeons, we can create a separate party for you, and can include 2 A-rank healers among the party members. And…”

“The government plans to provide a vehicle, mana stones, and a party.”

I clicked my tongue, ignoring Secretary Kim’s explanation.

It was exactly the same as what Shin Sooha said last night before going to the dungeon.

‘Shin Sooha, this guy really extended his reach to the government?’