Chapter Twenty-Three – he was now a target. And these monsters wanted to hunt him
"We cannot measure the exact rate of increase in the gate levels, but we are completely certain that the number of gates will continue to multiply. Moreover, the power level of these new gates is also increasing in capability."
The American President's voice was clear to most hunters in the cavernous conference hall, amplified by hidden speakers that made his every word resonate with grave authority. At the same time, he gestured toward a large array of screens that displayed a multitude of different creatures not yet studied.
Every nation conducted studies on the monsters inside gates through special specialists or even by hiring hunters to perform these studies pertaining to the monsters, their types, and their abilities. This information was recorded in all nations' registries and shared between countries as a defense system to know the types of monsters.
But the new pictures, in addition to the American President's way of phrasing his speech, made it clear these creatures were new entities, and the gates were unknown.
"This is terrifying. Are all of these new monster creatures that haven't been fought before? Why have these gates suddenly started increasing?"
Then, in the next second, a long discussion began among the S-rank hunters. Arguments and theories flew across the room, a cacophony of worried voices.
But in a place hidden in the shadows, (Sung Jin-Woo) wasn't interested in this matter. On the contrary, he considered it a good thing because it would allow him to obtain more experience points. At the same time, he was waiting for something different.
When will they mention the subject of my father? Is it possible that Chairman (Go Gun-Hee) lied to me? But that's impossible. I'm sure he's not a deceptive person to tell me such a thing and force me to come here.
In the end, (Sung Jin-Woo) wasn't interested in the spotlight or in being a National Rank hunter. What he wanted was a legal document allowing him to establish a guild—which he had already obtained after showing his strength as an S-rank hunter by clearing many A-rank gates.
Of course, what the Korean hunter and future Shadow Monarch didn't realize was that the eyes of the American President had lit up with a calculated gleam. He displayed a picture that shocked (Jin-Woo) and also made the faces of the S-rank hunters stare in confusion.
The picture displayed was of a hunter who appeared Korean or Japanese, but his yellowish skin was evidence he was Korean. Moreover, he had long hair and bright brown eyes with a yellow shine. He was wearing the standard orange prison uniform. In addition, a picture of that prison was shown, completely destroyed, along with the presence of another Korean hunter whose name was also written on the screen.
(Hwang Dong-Su) – Korean Hunter, currently working for America. Rank: S.
His body was shown, shattered by the power of that unknown prisoner. Using surveillance equipment, the fight was displayed, showing how the prisoner completely dominated the S-rank hunter.
For those watching this fight, it was a one-sided battle where that prisoner ended the S-rank hunter in a few simple movements. Even from the video, due to their sharp vision, they were able to discern something terrifying.
The prisoner didn't use any supernatural energy. He used only his physical strength to defeat an S-rank hunter.
This information was like a lightning bolt striking the hearts of the S-rank hunters. A collective, sharp intake of breath hissed through the hall.
(Sung Jin-Woo)'s eyes were shaking violently. His body was trembling. He had been young when his father disappeared, but his image was always in his mind. He remembered his father's face completely. The man he now saw in the picture… he was sure it was him.
Father? Is that you?
This cry didn't come out except in the form of a simple, choked mutter. No one heard it because the Korean hunter was striving to remain in the shadows, his knuckles white where they were pressed against the wall behind him.
The American President smiled after noticing the interest of the hunters around him and decided to point out the subject and the reason for placing this picture.
"This hunter appeared in America several days ago. He claimed he was trapped inside a gate for a large number of years. After researching this hunter's background, we found he is a Korean hunter named (Sung Il-Hwan). We confirmed this information is correct. But at the same time, he escaped from prison and also assaulted the S-rank hunter."
The fight scene was clear to the hunters.
Do they want us to search for this hunter because he beat up one of their lackeys?
Some S-rank hunters from other countries began inwardly scoffing at this matter, and they didn't even know what to say about America for displaying such an embarrassing video. But then the American President's face became sharp as he spoke.
"We conducted some tests. These tests showed that at the same time this hunter appeared from the gate—where he said he lived for a large number of years—he remained approximately the same age as when he entered. Furthermore, the matter directly indicates that after his emergence, this increase in gates began to appear."
The hunters who had been scoffing, after hearing these words, turned serious. The murmuring stopped, replaced by a heavy, attentive silence.
"I think you all have understood, haven't you? According to our understanding, it seems the arrival of this hunter from the gate may be the direct cause for the increase in the number of S-rank gates that have appeared. That is evidence that it is very important to capture that hunter and understand what he did inside the gate he was in, what things he fought, and that he is a treasure trove of information we must obtain at any cost. Is that clear?"
The American President's words made all the S-rank hunters understand the value of the Korean hunter who had escaped from prison. Their earlier derision vanished, replaced by a cold, calculating avarice. A man who could cause gates to appear? That was a resource, a weapon, or a key.
The eyes of (Uchiha Sasuke), who was listening to the American President's words, were shining quietly. But there was also a thought forming in his mind.
At the same time—
(Sung Jin-Woo), who was hearing these words, had clenched his fists so tightly his tendons stood out like steel cables under his skin. But the President, of course, didn't know that, so he continued his words.
"The National Rank hunter (Thomas Andre) will be dispatched to hunt the Korean hunter. At the same time, I request all S-rank hunters to provide support to apprehend this person for the safety of all nations and the peace of all humanity in the world."
It was the American President speaking as he pointed toward (Thomas Andre), who was drinking quietly in a corner of the hall.
But in one moment, all these gazes turned toward him. Yet he didn't pay them any mind. On the contrary, he smiled with extreme coldness, as if he didn't care about any talk, even the American President's words. He was sipping his drink while seeming to think about something different, smiling sometimes and laughing quietly.
These strange behaviors from the perspective of the other people in the hall didn't have the same effect; they all looked at America's strongest hunter with intense admiration.
How could they not? They saw that he didn't care about such dangers. Moreover, it was known that he was the one who had managed to confront the dragon (Kamish) catastrophe years ago. So they didn't appear to be unimpressed by (Thomas Andre)'s seemingly disrespectful and inappropriate behavior; they showed eyes full of admiration.
Returning to (Sung Jin-Woo), he opened his clenched fists and looked at the American hunter. He requested the System to analyze the American hunter's strength.
Ding.
— Alert: Threat Level exceeds 70%. —
— Target power level indeterminable. —
— System Advice: Avoid the target. —
— Player survival rate in a fight to the death: 50%. —
— Threat Level: Unknown. —
— Abilities: Unknown and indeterminable. —
The information displayed by the System made (Sung Jin-Woo)'s eyes become sharper, bit by bit. Without conscious thought, the Shadow Aura began leaking from his body, a wisp of chilling darkness, but he quickly controlled himself.
But at the same moment, a sudden voice startled (Jin-Woo).
The voice was in English. It was true (Sung Jin-Woo) didn't speak English, but thanks to the translation ability possessed by the System, he understood what the other party meant.
Not only him; most S-rank hunters heard a voice coming from the side, directed toward the National Rank hunter (Thomas Andre).
"I will take charge of apprehending this hunter. It would be better for you to step aside."
The voice was arrogant, cold, and uncaring.
(Uchiha Sasuke) had reached in front of America's strongest hunter and looked at him directly, saying clearly, "Step aside. I will be the one to capture this hunter."
(Thomas Andre) was surprised mid-sip of his drink by the sound of the Japanese hunter's voice approaching him. But he soon focused again, even while taking a heavy gulp of whiskey, the liquid sloshing in the glass.
"And why are you so interested in catching this man? You don't seem like someone who loves the spotlight, (Uchiha Sasuke)."
(Thomas Andre)'s analysis was based only on his experience and his ability to read people. And in truth, he was right.
The reason driving (Uchiha Sasuke) to search for the hunter named (Sung Il-Hwan) wasn't because he cared about how dangerous he was to humanity, or whether he was a criminal or a fugitive. He wasn't a hero, at least not in this world. He only desired to return to his own world.
The reason for (Sasuke)'s desire to find this Korean hunter was that he had managed to exit a gate. Furthermore, he understood from the American President that this hunter had a connection to the gates.
For (Sasuke), who was researching spatial techniques and gates—especially after his conversation with that being who claimed to be a type of creature called a 'Monarch'—after hearing the words that seemed to belittle him from that being, in addition to knowing that being was also involved with these strange gates in this new world he had transferred to…
(Uchiha Sasuke) no longer hesitated. He needed to know the secret of these gates at any cost. The first clue he arrived at after this information—which was sensitive even for him—was clear:
A person whose emergence caused the level and danger of the gates to rise.
That had drawn his next plan. He would capture that hunter and find out how his presence affected these gates. No matter the cost.
The air in the hall grew still, charged with the unspoken confrontation between the two National Ranks. The mission to capture (Sung Il-Hwan) had just become a prize, and two of the most powerful beings on the planet had both laid claim to it.
(Sung Jin-Woo), watching from the shadows, felt a new, more personal tension coil in his chest. His father wasn't just a missing person; he was now a target. And these monsters wanted to hunt him.
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End of Chapter.
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