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Finally, after reaching the 10th floor, both enter the Chairman's office. As for Jang Hyuk-Soo, he was stopped by the guards and told to wait outside. Still being persistent, he tried listening to their conversation from outside.
"Hello, Mr. Hao-Yun."
"Hello, Miss. Park."
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Choi."
"You know, why we are here today?"
"Yeah, I had a conversation with the President yesterday; he relayed to me everything."
"So, what do we have to do?"
"Like it was announced, a Hunter's overall power must exceed 1500, or they should be a S-Rank Adventurer to establish their own guild."
"In your case, if Miss. Park is going to become the founder, so it's no problem. But, if you are the one, then..."
"Then what?"
"You have to give us a bit of proof?"
Once again, Choi Sang-Min released his Aura; however, unlike the past one, it was even fiercer this time. Both Evelyn and Hyuk-Soo, who were outside, felt it. They felt the threat, a threat to their life. The guards also felt overwhelmed. They became unable to move, their legs couldn't stop shaking, but they were still determined and didn't abandon their duty.
"Hmm...? So you're going that way, huh?"
"I'm sorry, Mr. Hao-Yun, we know you're powerful, but people don't believe it. So, to make them unable to say anything, I had to do this."
Evelyn looked at Hao-Yun; she was worried about what would happen if both fought. But, she also had a strange trust that reassured her Hao-Yun won't do anything rash.
"If it's for people, then I also can't refuse it."
BOOOM!
In an instant, the air collapsed.
Hao-Yun actually released his Aura for an instant and pulled it back. In just that moment, the whole Association HQ Building, along with the people who were waiting in line, felt like they were just one step apart from death.
Nobody knew what that was. Kang Hyuk-Soo was so scared by this that he decided it was better for him to leave.
Inside the office, Evelyn was feeling the same as Hyuk-Soo, but she also knew Hao-Yun wouldn't become a threat to him ever.
Behind the table, Choi Sang-Min didn't flinch outwardly.
But from inside... His heart skipped.
No, it stopped for a beat.
He'd felt that monstrous Aura before him.
His pupils tightened slightly, the hairs on his arms standing on end. Choi slowly exhaled through his nose to steady himself.
"...So this is the difference... Between those who climb the peak… and those who begin above it."
He had already met the world's No. 1 strongest person. Even his Aura was paler compared to Hao-Yun's.
And then Hao-Yun gave him a look. Calm. Not arrogant at all. Not cold.
Just… Normal.
As if none of this mattered to him. As if the pressure he'd released had been just a reflex.
Choi clenched his fists slightly.
"Tch... Damn kid. At least pretend you're human."
"So, does that mean I have proved my strength?"
"Hmm... Let's go to the ground floor, you'll receive your Guild Card there."
"Sure..."
Just as the Three go outside, they notice the guards are lying on the ground, unconscious. Choi Sang-Min didn't comment on it and left them there.
On the ground floor, everyone felt a bit nervous to see Choi Sang-Min walking with Hao-Yun and Evelyn.
"Here's your Guild card."
"You prepared it in advance?"
"Yeah, your Guild establishment was already approved last night."
"So, what was that test?"
"It was something I wanted to do."
"You..."
Hao-Yun calmed himself. He didn't want to cause a commotion.
"Let's go, Evelyn. Now, all that's left is to form a base and recruit some members."
As they were about to leave the Association HQ, someone called out Hao-Yun.
"Commander... Honorary Commander!"
Hao-Yun was alerted. Someone knew who he was, and the timing couldn't be worse than this. If the people knew his identity and appearance, he might not be able to live in peace anymore.
Hao-Yun turned back, looked for who was shouting, and dragged them behind the Association Building.
"Who are you?"
"It's me, Eun-Chae, Honorary Commander."
"Eun-Chae-Eun-Chae-Eun-Chae... Ah! That Eun-Chae."
"Do you remember now, you promised you would help me complete a Task, but you didn't."
"Wait-Wait-Wait, You can't blame me like that, I never received any call from you."
"How could I call you when you didn't give me your number?"
"Ah! Sorry, I admit it's my mistake. I should have given you my contact address."
"So, it's not like you just fooled me, right?"
"Of course not, I'm no con man."
"You want me to help you with your Task, right? Let's do it right now."
"Now?"
"Yeah! Now!"
"Completing a Task right now will increase your Evaluation Rank."
"Is that so? Then let's go!"
Eun-Chae took them to her house. It was a decent apartment building, relatively new. Her apartment was on the 4th floor.
"Mom, I'm back!"
"Oh, so she lives with her mother."
"Pardon for intrusion."
"Are these your friends?"
"Ahh, noo...."
"Yes! We are her friends."
"Is that so? Welcome to our abode!"
"Chae-Chae, you're so lucky to have such a beautiful girl and a handsome boy as your friends."
"Mommy is happy for you!"
"Mom! Stop that!"
"We are going to my room, please don't disturb us for a few hours."
"Hmm...? Sure..."
"Let's go, Honar...Hao-Yun, Evelyn."
Eun-Chae took both of them into her room and locked it from inside. However, her mother is under the wrong impression.
"A handsome boy, a beautiful girl, my little Chae-Chae alone in a room, and she specially warned me not to disturb them."
ZHAPP!!
"There must be doing that! No-No... My girl is too young for such fierce play. I must check it myself."
Meanwhile, inside Eun-Chae's room, Hao-Yun told Eun-Chae to write her Task on paper. Evelyn was staring at the room with a curious gaze. It was her first time seeing a commoner's house; she was interested in how such a small room could contain so many things and still have space to walk.
"Here, Mr. Honorary Commander."
"Stop, calling me that, call me Hao-Yun like everyone else."
"S-Sorry... Honar...Hao-Yun."
"Let's see what your Task is."
█▓▒░ TASK RECEIVED ░▒▓█
[Task (Mythic): Retrieval of the Divine Ashes]
[Objective: Enter the Dream Realm. Within its celestial halls lies the Ashes of a Mighty Fallen God, sealed deep inside the Temple of Divine Might. Retrieve this Sacred Ash.]
[Warning: Failing in keeping your identity a secret will result in immediate hostility from the Divine Order and Deities."]
[Time Left: 7 days]
[Penalties: Death, The Host won't be able to reincarnate.]
[Rewards: Job Change Crystal(Mythic), Appraisal, Random Stats Increase (Maximum 100), Hidden Trait: Dominion's Blessing, Item: Ashes of the Divine, Passive Skill: The Only Alchemist.]
"This... Girl... is a real cheat!"
"Wait... you didn't attempt to complete such an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?"
"But, I was scared..."
"Look, even Evelyn has blanked out by your cheat Task, you must have some serious luck."
"Hello, Evelyn? It's not time to space out... Come back, girl..."
Evelyn didn't respond to Hao-Yun's voice. It was a shock to her to see such a Task. If this one is completed, Eun-Chae might climb her way up to the Global leaderboards. "Is such a broken thing possible?" The thought kept ramming around her brain.
Hao-Yun was wondering how he should bring her back to reality. Eun-Chae was also panicking.
Suddenly, Hao-Yun sat in front of her, touched her cheek, and softly said:
"Come back to reality, my girl."
In an instant, Evelyn snapped back. She heard everything. The Situation was very awkward for the three. She pushed him back.
"What are you doing?"
Evelyn felt like her insides were burning for some reason, her face was red, and her lips were curled up. She wanted to find a dark corner to hide her face.
Even Eun-Chae was feeling embarrassed by this scene.
For a moment, Eun-Chae decided to pardon herself and calm down a bit.
"I-I'll bring something to eat."
BADAAM!
(Door-Closed)
"S-So... Can you explain what you were doing?"
"I'm... I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to do that, but I just didn't know how to bring you back."
"I'm really sorry, I know it was wrong to touch your face like that, but..."
"Please forgive me... And please don't hate me..."
"Hmmm... It's... It's fine... I won't hate you over something like this..."
"But... But... you shouldn't do these things with girls so casually."
"No-No-No... You take me wrong! I didn't do that in my entire life with anyone except you."
"You! What do you mean by that?!"
Evelyn was about to explode; she couldn't handle this kind of strange feeling. It was like someone put kerosene over her burning body.
Her voice became extremely low, and she didn't talk with Hao-Yun after that.
Hao-Yun, however, didn't actually realize his words could be easily misunderstood.
Outside the room, Eun-Chae's mother was still under the same impression.
She saw Eun-Chae coming out of the room with her face red like a tomato.
ZING!!
"She did it! There's no other reason for her to make such a face. My daughter finally climbed that ladder."
"But, as a mother, should I be happy or sad? After all, there was another girl as well."
"No! I am a good mother. I should adapt with time and accept my girl's choice happily, be it 3 people or 4, as long as she is happy, I am happy."
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