Hunters Keep Coming To My House - Chapter 34

Chapter 34

Click, click!

The sound of cameras echoed painfully in my ears. The person they were capturing through their lenses was none other than, confidently standing at the main entrance of the government building…

“…Mr. Kim Chok?”

Rubbing my eyes with my hand as if not believing it, I checked again the person they were photographing. However, I once again realized that my eyesight was perfectly fine.

‘…Mr. Kim Chok originally dislikes being photographed.’

This was information I had gathered, collecting various gossip-like rumors about him. But now, what on earth was this situation?

At a glance, it was clear that Mr. Kim Chok was handling the camera’s attention very stylishly. If you didn’t know about those rumors, you would think he was someone who enjoyed being photographed, given how naturally he dealt with it.

To understand this situation quickly, I turned my head.

‘Do they have a significant announcement to make for the government to arrange this much?’

The answer was ‘no.’ The internet and the public were currently captivated by none other than my video. In a situation like this, no matter how significant an announcement the government made, people wouldn’t pay attention unless they presented something more powerful.

That meant…

‘The government is confident that I am the protagonist of the video.’

So, they were trying to announce the truth faster than me. That way, they wouldn’t miss the publicity and attention for both the ‘protagonist of the video’ and the overall situation.

Damn, I didn’t expect the government to come out so aggressively. The information they have about me hasn’t changed much since I first joined. Well, considering my recent special experience and my friendship with Kang Yoon-soo, there might be some new additions.

Even with those considerations, there was no reason for them to come out so aggressively. Because if the protagonist of the video wasn’t me, all the shame would be turned upside down by the government. That’s why I speculated that the government wouldn’t move recklessly.

‘Yeah, I admit it.’

I might have been too complacent. Suddenly, a memory flashed in my mind. 

‘Could it be that Team Leader Park Jong-hoon said something to Mr. Kim Chok?’

It was a conversation I had with Team Leader Park Jong-hoon yesterday, just before leaving work.

Yesterday, before leaving work.

“Team Leader, I’ve finished organizing the documents here. Also, I’d like to take a half-day off tomorrow for personal reasons. Is that possible?”

“Huh? A half-day off?”

“Yes, a half-day off.”

Park Jong-hoon lazily accepted the stack of documents I handed over as if finding it bothersome, placing it on one side of his desk. His desk was piled high with folders, and, unbelievably, the folder I had given him a week ago was still there. Team Leader Park Jong-hoon… was not a very diligent person.

Without looking at me, he opened his mouth while keeping his gaze fixed on his phone.

“A half-day off is enough, right? Nothing else needed?”

“If there’s something else needed, is it possible?”

“Mr. Kim Chok said to do everything Hunter Seo Yeon-oh asks for… Is there really no special relationship between you two?”

“Uh, no, of course not.”

I would refuse any personal relationship with Mr. Kim Chok. But, unable to reveal this inner thought, I tried my best to smile and divert the topic.

“I don’t know why Mr. Kim Chok is doing this to me. Oh, and Team Leader… um, my relative is in poor health, and I may have to leave my job soon. If I have to submit a resignation letter, when should I submit it?”

Of course, the relative who took me in is doing fine, living comfortably on my parents’ insurance money… But who would honestly tell the real reason for resigning? If I honestly said it, they might not even allow me to write the ‘resign’ character in the resignation letter.

It’s convenient to declare the intention to resign in advance to make it easier to handle later.

Team Leader Park Jong-hoon’s reaction was unusual.

He looked at me as if he had seen a ghost, with a pale face, then suddenly stood up and shouted.

“Hunter Seo Yeon-oh! A resignation letter! Not, absolutely. Even if a knife is at my throat, it’s not allowed.”

“…Yes?” 

“I would rather give you 1 or 2 years of leave, so don’t even dream of writing a resignation letter! Who are you trying to kill right now… Hunter Seo Yeon-oh, maybe because you’re not married and alone, but I have a child to take care of. So, don’t talk nonsense and go back to your seat.”

“…Ah, yes.”

“Ah, and I’ll take care of the half day off, so feel free to come to work comfortably tomorrow.”

Phew, that was close. Team leader Park Jong-hoon muttered to himself, gesturing for me to leave quickly.

Without saying anything more, I returned to my seat. After sitting down, I took out my phone from my pocket, pressed the red button, and ended the recording.

‘With this, I’ve created evidence that the government won’t accept my resignation, so I can’t quit.’

But the reaction to the resignation letter was more intense than I imagined. Why is this happening…?

I glanced briefly at Team Leader Park Jong-hoon with a puzzled look. It seemed like he was looking at me too.

When our eyes met, he trembled for a moment and then stood up and left without returning to his seat.

After that, Team Leader Park Jong-hoon didn’t come back to his seat until the end of the day.

Well, it shouldn’t be a big deal, I thought, so I left work and edited the video to upload on YouTube.

Back to the present.

I bit my lips to the point they turned pale.

‘Team Leader Park Jong-hoon is so good at flattering that I thought he wouldn’t talk about anything that would upset Mr. Kim Chok…’

Even if he didn’t talk about it, due to the video I uploaded, the government might have acted even faster.

‘Huh, do they not want to let me go?’

I’m just an FFF-level Hunter with nothing special, but there’s a suspicious smell. Huh?

Hidden skills and titles meant that the government didn’t know the uncertain information before I acted.

I thought the government wouldn’t act until I moved because there could be a big risk.

I was foolish in thinking that way in the past…

‘It’s not the time to blame myself like this.’

I have to find a way out of this predicament somehow.

‘Should I call Seung-hoo faster? Or should I call Arvani and use force?’

For a moment, my headache surged, as if I had used my brain more than anyone else in the world.

Pressing near my temple, I hid in the crowd and decided to watch the situation.

Mr. Kim Chok looked around and nodded lightly to calm the noisy surroundings.

Soon, everyone started to focus on Mr. Kim Chok.

He slowly raised the paper in his hand and spoke in a dry voice.

“Ah, let’s announce it quickly and finish. There’s been a video causing a stir on the internet lately. The contents of the video are so unbelievable that the government conducted an investigation. It’s a nuisance for things to get this noisy over such matters.”

“The government conducted an investigation?” 

Voices of intrigued journalists could be heard around.

To announce the results of an investigation conducted by such a public institution was a clear indication of solid evidence.

Everyone awaited Mr. Kim Chok’s next words.

He intentionally took his time, scanning the journalists slowly, knowing that they were eager to report the information he was about to disclose faster than anyone else.

“It seems like everyone is in a hurry. Well, I understand. That video has made everyone in Korea curious. According to the results of our government’s investigation, the video was not manipulated.”

His words stirred the crowd.

While some people in the crowd confirmed its authenticity, having the government officially endorse it was another matter entirely.

As the murmurs grew louder than before, a journalist, seemingly unafraid for their life, shouted.

“Are you saying that there’s a Hunter in Korea who can film inside the gate?!”

The commotion spread even faster after the journalist’s words.

Although it wasn’t confirmed definitively that the background of the video was inside the gate, it was the expectation everyone had.

Finally, the chance to see inside the gate.

Furthermore, to be able to watch it live.

If you could shake hands with that Hunter, it would be like winning a guaranteed jackpot, or even more wealth and power.

Greed began to overflow in the eyes of the people.

Now their focus was not on the ‘protagonist of the video.’ The real interest was the ‘ability’ possessed by the protagonist, which could bring astronomical amounts of money.

Mr. Kim Chok was no exception to this.

“Yes, according to our government’s speculation, that seems to be the case. We haven’t fully understood the abilities of that Hunter yet, but we plan to find out soon. Because that Hunter is… directly affiliated with the government.”

A government Hunter!

Once the chaos started, it continued to rise, fueled by every word spoken by Mr. Kim Chok.

Then, Mr. Kim Chok smiled indulgently and continued speaking.

“We’re going to give the hunter all the support we can. Moreover, we will do our best to fulfill whatever the Hunter desires. As long as the Hunter doesn’t leave the government, of course.”

Mr. Kim Chok’s words carried a bone-chilling weight. He had effectively tied up my options by targeting Hunters who had left the government for other guilds.

‘If this continues, it seems public opinion will turn against those who betray the government and join guilds.’

It was the opposite of what I had hoped for.

I needed to turn the situation around quickly before the public sentiment completely shifted against the government. That meant right now.

However, Mr. Kim Chok was one step ahead again.

“That Hunter right now…”

At the moment he was about to say the most crucial words, Mr. Kim Chok furrowed his brow and closed his mouth.

“A displeasing smell always lingers here.”

Because of someone’s arrival.