However, there were considerable issues preventing Hunters from actively stepping up.
“Of all places, it had to be the south.”
Korea’s top-tier Hunters were all busy blocking the Erosion Zones near the DMZ. Naturally, it was difficult for them to take on a request way down in the southern part of the peninsula.
But apparently, the Erosion Core on Tsushima had recently been upgraded to level 2. Unless they were Hunters active near the DMZ, they would need to gather in large numbers to handle the monsters from a level 2 Erosion Core.
“And the pay’s crap too.”
Despite being a request involving a level 2 Erosion Core, the reward was only 55 million won, and even that had to be split among all the participating Hunters.
No wonder DMZ Hunters weren’t showing any interest.
“But still, it’s a level 2 Erosion Core. And if I take the whole 55 million for myself, then it’s not just 55 million, it’s a full 55 million.”
On top of that, successfully completing this request would earn a pretty decent reputation and massive recognition.
It would an that not long after soloing a level 3 Erosion Core, I also succeeded in a request involving a level 2 Erosion Core.
“So, what’s the monster level like in a level 2 Erosion Zone?”
I pulled up videos on my phone of monsters in level 2 zones recorded by other Hunters, and I clicked my tongue.
“Yeah, if they’re like this, doing it solo would be pretty damn hard.”
If I could manage to get inside the level 2 Erosion Core alone, I could pull it off.
The one on Tsushima had only just been promoted to level 2, so while it was definitely stronger than a level 3, it was still relatively weak compared to other level 2 zones.
Inside the Erosion Core, I wouldn’t need to control the Paradoxical Fla. I could just turn the interior into a superheated hell.
The problem was that until I got inside, I’d have to control the output of the Paradoxical Fla. That ant I might die on the way to Tsushima’s level 2 Erosion Core.
“If I just had one more useful person, that’d be enough.”
That was all I needed. Just one more person, and we could make it to the Erosion Core. Once inside, it might take a few days, but we could take care of it in the end.
“Ugh, is there really no one else but that psycho?”
Only one person ca to mind. Han Sang-ah, who had been on a mission on Gyodong-do with . Her skills easily surpassed any minimum standard I had in mind.
Eventually, I ssaged Han Sang-ah to propose accompanying on the Tsushima request and sent her the details.
— I could do that.
A few minutes later, I got a reply.
— It’s just the two of us. You’re aware of that, right?
— You already ntioned that in the ssage. It doesn’t matter.
Since this needed to move fast, I quickly set a eting place and schedule, then accepted the Tsushima request.
About ten minutes later, Han Sang-ah also accepted the request and contacted .
Having secured a partner, I scratched my head.
“The junkers.”
I needed a junker. They were the ones who recovered and sold the valuable materials from monsters I hunted.
“If I’m going to entrust soone with my wallet anyway…”
I needed people I could rely on. Not trust exactly. This was a money-based relationship, so I didn’t expect or need trust.
“I got a lot of ssages, but…”
I was still a rookie, but I was a rookie who had been on TV. Not because I was good-looking, but because I had shown unbelievable results for soone just starting out.
There were plenty of junkers eager to work with .
Alright, so who should I pick?
“Go with the biggest one.”
It was like picking a car. Would you rather drive a German Benz or a North Korean Peace Auto?
A small junker that’s skilled and trustworthy? That might work for a restaurant, but there’s no such thing in this world. Even if they were skilled, they couldn’t be trusted.
A small company ant they had less to lose, and if you had little to lose, it wasn’t hard to take the money and run.
“Sure, they could be nice.”
But I had lived long enough and been through enough crap to know that even if soone was nice, I wouldn’t depend on that. Unless they paid a huge sum or helped out directly.
That would be a transaction.
I scrolled through the ssages on my phone and picked one junker.
“This one… first place might be a bit much.”
The top-ranked junker, Blue Wrench, was overwhelmingly dominant. anwhile, second and third place were neck and neck. That ant I was more likely to get a better deal by reaching out to number three.
“Miracle Junkers, huh.”
The company na sounded like sothing you’d find in any neighborhood, but it ranked third in the industry.
— This is Yoo Chan-seok. I saw your ssage and wanted to get in touch. Would it be alright to call?
Not long after I sent the ssage, I got a reply.
— Please wait a mont. I’ll get back to you shortly.
A bit later, a ssage ca from a different number.
— Hello, Hunter. This is Choi Seung-gi, CEO of Miracle Junkers. First of all, thank you so much for reaching out to us.
The ssage was long. But it could be sumd up as: “Please et us just once. We’ll take good care of you!”
— Would now be possible? I’m in a bit of a rush.
— Absolutely. Where should I et you?
I sent him the address, and he replied that he’d be there within 40 minutes. He seed really eager, which worked in my favor.
About 30 minutes later, I got a ssage saying he had arrived nearby.
He said he was waiting at a branch of “The Hut,” a Hunter-only café franchise.
“Nice to et you.”
“It’s an honor to et you, Hunter Yoo Chan-seok.”
“Why didn’t you go inside and wait?”
When I arrived at the café, a man wearing sunglasses and a thick gold chain approached and greeted . His slicked-back pomade hairstyle left an impression.
Was this guy a gangster or a company CEO?
“I’m not a Hunter myself you know.”
“Ah.”
The Hut only allowed Hunters and up to three companions inside. Since the man in front of , Choi Seung-gi, wasn’t a Hunter, he naturally couldn’t enter.
“I don’t have a mbership either.”
That cost money. I had been putting it off because I didn’t think I’d need it, but it turned out I needed it sooner than expected.
At my words, Choi Seung-gi grinned.
“Perfect. Then to celebrate eting Hunter Yoo Chan-seok, I’ll gift you a one-month mbership.”
“Oh no, I’d feel bad about that.”
Choi Seung-gi said ‘Nuh-uh!’ and waved his hand dismissively.
“Please, don’t say such hurtful things. It’s nothing. I’m not the type to expect sothing in return for this.”
With that, he entered the café and looked over the mbership options, then spoke.
“Let’s go premium for one month.”
The staff nodded.
“You’ll need Hunter verification to use the mbership, sir.”
“It’s not for . It’s for this gentleman here.”
I quietly handed over my smartphone. The staff mber checked my identity and said,
“Yes, Hunter Yoo Chan-seok, your identity has been verif…”
He paused mid-sentence and looked up at .
“Hunter Yoo Chan-seok?”
That was my na, so why the look? I gave him a puzzled glance, and he quickly snapped out of it.
“Ah, right. It’s an honor to serve you. I’ll process the premium one-month mbership now.”
“Please charge it to this card.”
Choi Seung-gi handed over a card, and the staff completed the paynt.
“One-month premium mbership, 1.55 million won.”
That’s expensive. What kind of café charges 1.55 million for a mbership?
“Premium mbers can use all of The Hut’s services, including showers, laptop rentals, and delivery of nu items, for free. The flagship location is the only exception.”
“Why the flagship location?”
Choi Seung-gi chuckled and answered,
“That one’s in a league of its own.”
“First I’ve heard of this.”
“It’s directly run by Sa Seung-hee, the CEO of The Hut. So many Hunters are obsessed with the nu there. Especially the ‘SamSam Pie.’”
The flagship café had a pumpkin pie flavored with cinnamon and maple syrup. Apparently, a Hunter who cut in line to get that pie was beaten up by 33 others who had been waiting.
Ever since, the pie earned the nickna “SamSam Pie.”
“Did they put drugs in it or sothing?”
Choi Seung-gi shook his head.
“I had a chance to try a slice a few years ago. It was so good that even Hunters on the List of Hope lined up without complaint.”
Rankers lining up for a piece of pie? Wild.
And since non-Hunters couldn’t even enter The Hut, they only heard rumors about it.
“I see. But we’re not here to talk about pie today, are we?”
At my words, Choi Seung-gi nodded and sat down. After ordering a simple drink, I spoke.
“To be honest, out of all the junkers who ssaged , this is the only place I contacted.”
“I’m honored.”
Choi Seung-gi stiffened his posture and spoke formally which didn’t suit his outfit.
“I’d like to briefly explain about our company, if that’s alright.”
“Please do. I’d appreciate that.”
He cleared his throat, took a sip, and began.
“I have about 50,000 people working under .”
That was already massive, but apparently Blue Wrench, the top junker company, had nearly seven tis that.
“We even get into scuffles with each other now and then.”
“When there’s more loot, it turns into real money.”
Unless every Hunter involved in a request signed with the sa junker, different junkers would inevitably clash over the cleanup rights at the request site.
“So my guys receive regular military training, and we make sure they’re fully equipped before heading out.”
Rifles with 120 rounds, handguns with 30 rounds, two grenades, CIRAS body armor, level III ballistic plates… and so on. I interrupted as I listened to the story.
“That’s a lot of money going into equipnt huh.”
“We make enough from what we extract. And to cover any shortfalls, we run our own processing departnt.”
“Processing departnt?”
He pulled sothing out to show as he smiled.
“We tinker with whatever we strip from monster corpses and turn it into useful stuff.”
I was able to feel their iron will to waste nothing, not even the corpses.
“And the equipnt you make…”
“We sell through a Hunter-exclusive app, or pay a share to the Hunters who provided the materials and sell it with a premium.”
While we were talking, Choi Seung-gi kept glancing outside.
“Is there sothing out there?”
I asked, and he answered with a smile.
“From what I understand, in Gyodong-do, Hunter Kim Minjae was the one who summoned the junkers.”
“Oh, that’s right.”
I had forgotten about that.
“We contacted the junker that had a contract with Hunter Kim Minjae and separated out your share, Hunter Yoo Chan-seok.”
“…Why?”
He replied,
“I wanted to offer a bit of help.”
“Help, huh.”
“Ah, they’ve just arrived.”
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