At the Association headquarters, Jo Kang-hyun sat quietly in his office, reviewing the thick file handed to him by Kim Seong-hun. His eyes narrowed with suspicion as he weighed the contents. The report painted a picture too extraordinary to accept lightly. A newly returned hunter, Lee Seong-jun, had shown power far beyond his official rank.
Seong-hun, usually calm and composed, had been unusually excited when giving his assessment. He described Seong-jun as the most remarkable returnee he had ever seen, one who had even crushed the boss monster Orc Warrior with terrifying ease. For a man like Seong-hun, known as the ace of the Returnee Management Division, to write a report himself and deliver it in person meant the situation was no ordinary case.
Jo Kang-hyun's thoughts grew heavy. The balance of power between large guilds and the Returnees' Union was already delicate. The Union, filled with dangerous radicals, had long been waiting for an opportunity to overturn the structure of authority in Korea. If a returnee with the potential of SSS rank were to be recruited by them, the fragile equilibrium would shatter instantly.
Reporting immediately to the Vice President would have been the safe choice, but Kang-hyun hesitated. In recent days, both external threats and internal politics had become unstable. Without certainty, moving rashly could lead to chaos. Yet Seong-hun's firm tone echoed in his ears. According to him, Seong-jun displayed E-rank combat ability, despite being officially recorded as only F-rank a week ago.
It was nearly unthinkable. Growth from F to E rank usually required months of training and battle experience. The only precedent in Korea was Yoon Min-soo, the Sword Master, who had made the same leap in just one week. If the report was true, then Lee Seong-jun stood in the same league as one of the most legendary returnees in history.
The more Kang-hyun considered it, the more unsettling it became. Not only had Seong-jun not yet reached level 10, but he had also not undergone a job change—yet still fought with strength equal to an E-rank. Such progress defied every standard rule of growth.
Doubt flickered in Kang-hyun's mind. Could there be deception involved? Perhaps a trick to bypass the system? But that possibility faltered when he recalled who had written the report. Kim Seong-hun was no fool; as the division's ace, he would not overlook details like illegal hunting or falsified records. If Seong-hun was convinced, then this returnee was worth investigating personally.
A choice crystallized in his mind. If the boy truly carried the qualities of SSS rank, then whichever side claimed him would decide the future of South Korea's power structure. Kang-hyun exhaled, his decision firm. Tomorrow at dawn, he would meet Lee Seong-jun face to face. The vacation he had been dreaming of was forgotten in an instant.
Meanwhile, after completing his first hunt, Lee Seong-jun returned home with a heart brimming with quiet joy. The day's earnings had been remarkable. The Orc Warrior's magic stone and goblin byproducts had sold for four million won, though after the unavoidable 20 percent tax, he received just over three million. Still, the money was more than enough to brighten his family's lives.
For the first time in years, he could afford something beyond bare survival. On his way home, he stopped by a butcher shop and purchased premium beef. The thought of his family eating well for once filled him with pride.
Their home was a cramped semi-basement, Room 102, yet to Seong-jun it felt warmer than any palace. As he pressed the familiar code on the door lock, his younger sister, Seo-yoon, greeted him cheerfully. His parents soon followed, their smiles gentle, the air filled with a rare sense of peace.
Seong-jun lifted the bag of beef with a grin. This was his gift—the first meal he would buy for them with his own strength. His parents were shocked, their eyes widening at the sight of the marbled meat. But before they could question him further, he spread newspapers across the floor, set up the folding table, and lit the burner.
The small living room, normally a makeshift bedroom, became their dining hall. With practiced movements, he laid slices of beef on the hot grill. The sizzle filled the air, and soon the aroma of roasting meat brought light to his family's faces.
His father instinctively reached out, wanting to cook the meat himself, but Seong-jun firmly refused. This was his day, his first chance to repay them. His mother laughed warmly, scolding her husband for being tactless, while Seo-yoon teased that she had cooked plenty of meat in the past and would judge his skills.
The moment the beef touched their plates, silence fell. His family's eyes widened with delight at the taste. His sister gave a thumbs-up, his parents smiled endlessly, and laughter filled the room. For the first time in a long while, the family shared not just food, but happiness itself.
As the warmth of the evening lingered, Seo-yoon's curiosity surfaced. She suspected the truth behind her brother's sudden wealth. The early morning training, the solemn expression before leaving home—it had all seemed unusual. Now, with beef on the table, there was no doubt.
Though embarrassed, Seong-jun only scratched the back of his head and smiled awkwardly. His secret was no longer his alone, but seeing his family's joy, he knew it was worth it. Tonight, more than anything, he felt that the road ahead—no matter how dangerous—was one he could walk without regret.