The warmth of the family dinner lingered into the night, but beneath the laughter and roasted meat was a quiet heaviness. Seong-jun's sister, Seo-yoon, admitted how hard it had been to convince their parents to accept his choice. His mother and father tried to smile, yet their eyes betrayed their worry. They feared the dangers of the hunter's path but could not deny their son's determination.
Seong-jun reassured them. While he had thought of money and family when choosing this road, he was not being forced into it. His decision was his own, born from his lifelong obsession with martial arts. In his past life, he had already reached the peak as an unmanned warrior, yet even then, he still craved the joy of growth and the thrill of surpassing his limits. Now, Earth's hunter system offered him a new chance to climb higher than ever before.
Hearing this, his parents' sorrow turned into pride. Their son, who had once disappeared without explanation, had returned with conviction shining in his eyes. They could not stop him, nor did they want to. All they could do was respect his resolve and support him with sincerity. For Seong-jun, this moment meant more than wealth or fame. His family's love was genuine, without schemes or hidden motives. It was the warmth he had long missed in his other world.
By the end of the night, the family exchanged simple but heartfelt words of love. Even Seo-yoon, embarrassed by their sentimental mood, teased them into eating again. The small basement filled with laughter, meat sizzling on the grill, and the rare comfort of peace.
For Seong-jun, that night was decisive. He now had his family's permission, their blessing to walk this dangerous road. There was nothing left to hesitate about.
The next morning, after light training, Seong-jun made his way to the nearest gate. His plan was simple—hunt, grow stronger, and earn money. But before he could take another step, a man in a black suit approached him with a polite smile.
The man introduced himself as Jo Kang-hyun, team leader of the Returnee Management Division at Association Headquarters. His sudden appearance confirmed what Seong-jun had expected. The Association had moved faster than he thought.
Their eyes locked, both quietly studying each other. To Kang-hyun, Seong-jun looked ordinary, though there was a sharpness hidden beneath the calm. He could not understand why Kim Seong-hun had praised him so highly. To Seong-jun, however, Kang-hyun was no mere bureaucrat. His aura marked him as a first-class expert, a man used to dealing with powerful returnees.
After a moment, Kang-hyun made his purpose clear. He wanted Seong-jun to clear an E-rank gate within a week. No explanation, no negotiation—only an order, as if he were already an Association subordinate.
Seong-jun's smile faded. He refused immediately and walked past without hesitation. He had expected a test, but the man's tone revealed something impure. It was not a request, but a command, one meant to measure him while treating him like a pawn.
He would not accept that. Not after living as a king in another world. Not when he knew the value of his own strength.
Kang-hyun realized his mistake at once. This was no simple-minded returnee. The unshaken eyes, the sharp presence, the refusal without hesitation—this man carried something hidden, something dangerous. If left unchecked, he could shift the balance of power.
Panic flickered inside him. To salvage the moment, Kang-hyun blocked his path again, lowering his head in apology. His voice softened as he admitted fault and begged for another chance to explain.
Seong-jun stopped, his gaze cold. He did not lash out but gave a warning instead—there would be no second chances if disrespect continued. Kang-hyun's gamble had failed, yet his humility opened the door again.
Now, the question was what came next. Seong-jun was no fool; if the Association wanted his strength, then they had to pay the proper price. As Kang-hyun carefully chose his next words, Seong-jun's thoughts turned toward the kind of reward he would demand for his cooperation.