Kang Chin walked briskly through the quiet hospital corridor, his polished black shoes striking the floor with a steady rhythm that echoed faintly against the sterile white walls. Beom Seok followed half a step behind, trying to keep his breathing steady.
Nurses and doctors bowed subtly as the tall assistant passed, their eyes darting toward Beom Seok with a mixture of awe and unease. Word had spread fast—everyone knew the young man trailing behind Kang Chin was the one who had returned alive from an S-Rank dungeon.
Every step felt heavier than the last.
When Kang Chin stopped in front of a door at the far end of the ward, guarded by two men in dark suits, Beom Seok's pulse quickened. The guards moved aside immediately, bowing slightly before opening the door.
Inside, the atmosphere shifted.
The private room looked nothing like the rest of the hospital. Instead of bland walls and fluorescent lights, there was warm mahogany paneling, soft golden lamps, and a wide leather sofa. A table had been set with tea that gave off a faint, earthy aroma. It felt less like a hospital chamber and more like a corporate boardroom tucked inside a sterile building.
And there, seated on the sofa with the poise of a man who commanded nations, was Park Woo.
Broad-shouldered, in a crisp white suit that contrasted against his sun-kissed skin, the man radiated authority. His streak of gray hair lent him an air of distinguished wisdom rather than frailty, and his dark eyes assessed Beom Seok with calm precision. Every inch of him declared power—not the kind that needed to shout, but the kind that could silence a room without effort.
"President," Kang Chin said, bowing respectfully. "This is Beom Seok."
Park Woo set his teacup down with deliberate care before standing. Despite his age, his movements were fluid and unhesitating. He extended his hand.
"So you are the young man who conquered the fallen divine snake." His voice was smooth, deep, and steady, with the weight of someone accustomed to being obeyed. "Welcome, Beom Seok."
Beom Seok hesitated before reaching out, shaking the man's hand. Park Woo's grip was firm but not crushing, a measured display of strength.
"Sit," Park Woo gestured to the opposite sofa. "We have much to discuss."
Beom Seok lowered himself into the seat, keeping his posture guarded. Kang Chin remained near the door, hands clasped behind his back, a silent sentinel.
The president studied him for a long moment, then smiled faintly. "You look surprised. Perhaps you expected some bureaucrat to arrive in my stead? But when news reached me that a mere level six hunter cleared an S-Rank dungeon, I knew this meeting had to be personal."
Beom Seok's heart skipped. The system had raised him to level ten after the dungeon, but even Park Woo didn't know that detail. He kept his expression neutral, forcing himself not to react.
"I… didn't expect anyone," Beom Seok said carefully. "I just wanted to leave the hospital quietly."
Park Woo chuckled, a low sound that seemed almost genuine. "Quietly? My boy, you have no idea what you have done. Do you know how many S-Rank hunters we have in Korea?"
Beom Seok shook his head.
"Eight," Park Woo said simply. "And each one holds enough influence to sway governments, topple guilds, and dictate policy. The dungeon you cleared should have taken a team of them working together. Yet here you sit. Alive. With no team."
The words hit like hammers, but Park Woo's tone never rose. He was simply stating facts.
"You are no longer just a man," Park Woo continued, leaning back slightly. "You are a weapon. A symbol. And symbols are never left alone."
Beom Seok clenched his fists on his knees. The room felt smaller now, the air heavier.
"What do you want from me?" he asked.
Park Woo's smile widened a fraction. "Direct. Good. I want you to join the Hunters Association, under my personal guidance. We will provide you with resources, training, protection from the parasites who will try to use you. In exchange, you will work with us, represent Korea on the global stage, and ensure balance in the chaos to come."
Chaos. The word lodged in Beom Seok's mind.
"And if I refuse?" he asked quietly.
Kang Chin's shoulders stiffened at the blunt question, but Park Woo didn't flinch. Instead, he poured himself another cup of tea, the steam curling gently upward.
"If you refuse," Park Woo said, sipping calmly, "then you will discover just how relentless the world can be. Reporters, rival guilds, foreign governments… they will hound you day and night. They will threaten your family, your friends, even strangers unlucky enough to be seen with you. Without us, you will be defenseless against politics far more dangerous than monsters."
The words carried no malice, no threat in tone, but their truth weighed heavily.
Beom Seok's jaw tightened. "So you're saying… I have no choice."
"There is always a choice," Park Woo corrected gently. "But some paths lead to ruin."
Silence hung between them. The faint ticking of the wall clock seemed louder than it should have been.
Beom Seok's mind raced. The system window hovered faintly in the corner of his vision, a reminder that he had powers even Park Woo didn't understand. The title—Absolute Executioner. The locked skills. The shop he could now access. Was it enough to stand against a force like the Association?
Park Woo leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharpening. "I am not your enemy, Beom Seok. On the contrary, I see in you the potential to become something this world has never known. But potential is fragile. Without direction, it shatters."
The door rattled suddenly. Muffled shouts and camera flashes flared from the hallway. Reporters had found the room. Guards barked orders outside, trying to push the crowd back.
Beom Seok's body tensed instinctively, and before he could think, his Summoning skill activated. A burst of shadow-like energy swirled in the air beside him, and with a flash, a raven-like bird appeared, its feathers edged with faint blue fire. The creature let out a piercing cry, the sound vibrating through the walls.
Even Park Woo raised an eyebrow, though his expression quickly settled back into calm interest.
"Fascinating," he murmured. "You see? Even your instincts manifest power."
Beom Seok stared at the bird, heart pounding. He hadn't meant to summon it, but the tension had triggered him. The bird perched on the back of the sofa, eyes glowing faintly as it scanned the room protectively.
Park Woo set down his cup and clasped his hands together. "You will think on my offer. Twenty-four hours. Then you will give me your answer."
Kang Chin stepped forward, pulling a small black card from his inner pocket and placing it on the table before Beom Seok. Embossed in silver was the crest of the Hunters Association, sharp and unmistakable.
"This card will connect you to me directly," Park Woo said. "No one else. Choose wisely, Beom Seok. Freedom without power is nothing more than an illusion."
With that, the president stood, his presence filling the room even as he made for the door. Kang Chin moved to follow, but Park Woo paused at the threshold.
"One last thing," he said, glancing back. "The dungeon you cleared—it was not just a test of strength. It was a harbinger. There will be more. Stronger. The world is changing, and whether you want it or not, you are at its center."
The door closed behind them, leaving Beom Seok alone with the flickering light of his summoned raven and the black card on the table.
His hand trembled as he reached for it.
For the first time, he realized the dungeon was the easy part.
The real monsters wore suits.