Ch. 50 - Chapter 50

[Glory Guild. Cleared the gate that appeared in Dogok Neighborhood in an instant!]

[Living up to their name! Glory Guild conquered a 5-star (★★★★★) difficulty gate in just 10 minutes!]

[The heroes of the Glory Guild filmed by drone (PHOTO)]

[Incredible strength!! Gu Gyeon throws five monsters at once (PHOTO)]

[Hunter Association: "There wasn't the slightest delay from the occurrence of this gate until now….."]

└That's the Glory Guild for you. Their performance is guaranteed.

└Considering how much money they receive from the government -.- Of course they should perform like this.

└Clearing a gate just 10 minutes after it appeared... That's faster than a delivery app, isn't it?

└Even if people complain about their jurisdiction being too large or whatever, if they resolve things this quickly, then we should appreciate that.

└Why are there only pictures of ugly Gu Gyeon! We want pictures of Maria!!

"Hmm..."

Checking public opinion by reading the news every morning.

It was an old habit of Gu Gyeon, the leader of the Glory Guild.

If he had focused solely on increasing the guild's power, he would never have risen to this position.

Gu Gyeon not only engaged in secret backroom deals with the Hunter Association, but also paid special attention to shaping public opinion.

He provided enormous advertising funds to newspapers and broadcasting companies, and if any critical articles appeared, he immediately took legal action.

Winning or losing the lawsuit wasn't important.

Legal fees were mere child's play compared to the funds of the Glory Guild.

His purpose was solely to make a show of it.

The idea that 'messing with the Glory Guild will inevitably lead to trouble.'

Thanks to that, perhaps.

Recently, critical articles about the Glory Guild had dried up to near non-existence.

'This should be enough.'

After quietly pressing the dislike button on the mocking comments about his face, Gu Gyeon stroked his chin.

The Chief Secretary said he had already leaked sources to the Daily Capital Eye, and the photos came out quite decent.

There was no more perfect shot than pictures of him subduing monsters on the scene.

The combat movements of hunters and the blood splattering from monsters everywhere.

There was no scene more dynamic and primal than that.

He boasted about importing a bunch of latest drones from the U.S., and indeed, the quality of the photos was top-notch.

Click.

Gu Gyeon, having cleared the name of Glory Guild from the search bar, then typed in one person's name.

Chun Haesun.

A young man who had made a dazzling debut as an ‘S’-rank hunter, but who was actually inactive.

Gu Gyeon had reporters push Chun Haesun's 'accountability issue' into the media.

The main argument was that talented individuals with outstanding abilities should not remain holed up in their rooms.

And if Chun Haesun were to finally take action, his first destination would most likely be the Glory Guild.

It was true they had some rough encounters, but that 'discomfort' could simply be paid for with money.

Gu Gyeon had witnessed countless instances where human emotions were resolved with money throughout his life.

It was not just about money.

The Glory Guild could provide 'growth' that other places couldn't.

Along with Maria, who was also an 'S'-rank healer, numerous 'S'-rankers were stationed to pass on their know-how to him.

Even if he prioritized his own growth over money, in the end, the only choice was still the Glory Guild.

Of course, if he started his own guild, that would be a different story, but the idea of a rookie hunter who hadn't even reached adulthood to start one, was absurd.

"By now, he should be getting anxious..."

Even if he was an S-ranker, a rookie was still a rookie.

It was natural for one's mentality to waver when everyone, regardless of status, threw insults in a word or two.

Since he lived in Gaebang Neighborhood, he clearly didn't have much financial leeway.

Chun Haesun was bound to take action.

No, he had no choice but to take action.

Gu Gyeon was convinced of that.

Until he saw the article about Chun Haesun that had suddenly become trending news.

[Chun Haesun! His Secret Activities Revealed!]

[The Unspoken Hero, Chun Haesun. It is reported that he has quietly been clearing Poison Dungeons all this time.]

[Poison Dungeons, which have sharply decreased over the past month. The reason was S-rank hunter Chun Haesun.]

[An extraordinary act of kindness draws attention. Chun Haesun has actually been working harder than anyone……!]

[The enigmatic Cleanup Clan. Who is the hunter who assisted Chun Haesun?]

"What is this?”

Various articles poured out as if they had been waiting just for today.

The headlines varied, but the content was all the same.

Chun Haesun had been clearing out Poison Dungeons with the Cleanup Clan.

Gu Gyeon, who had been leisurely searching for articles, soon crumpled his face like a piece of used tissue.

And the more he read the comments below, the deeper the wrinkles on his forehead grew.

└Wow. I thought Chun Haesun was doing nothing, but turns out he was volunteering?

└Clearing out nothing but Poison Dungeons. Isn't that on the level of talent donation?

└Right, right. Poison Dungeons are like ticking time bombs. They just make you feel uneasy if they're nearby.

└So you were secretly doing such good deeds, Chun Haesun!

└Meanwhile, a certain 'guild' just drags its feet even within its own jurisdiction. I guess this is what you call class.

└Hey, does anyone know about the Cleanup Clan?

└Nobody knows, I guess? Clan member lists aren't mandatory to disclose.

└He could have received billions, maybe even tens of billions in contract fees. Yet he joined a clan to do the dirty work... Isn't this what a true hero is?

└It seems the Cleanup Clan's membership is surprisingly solid. Then again, with Chun Haesun backing them up, any knight would feel secure, right?

‘These damn rats…..’

Seeing people spouting nonsense however they pleased made Gu Gyeon feel as if his blood was boiling over.

The current public opinion was completely shattering the 'image' that Gu Gyeon had meticulously built up until now.

The 'argument of responsibility' that those born with the greatest talent must fulfill their duty.

Unfortunately, Chun Haesun was already perfectly fulfilling that very duty.

An S-rank hunter was entering dangerous dungeons that offered no monetary reward and quietly clearing them.

As the comments said, that was indeed the definition of 'hero'.

It was a development that would make anyone nod in agreement, even if someone had laid the groundwork to make him a star hunter.

'That’s strange.'

After collecting his confused emotions, suspicion surged up from within Gu Gyeon's chest.

It wasn't a vague denial of reality.

The fact that all the articles broke out overnight means that some kind of 'embargo' had been imposed.

It was something only possible by maintaining close, widespread relationships with multiple media outlets, just like the Glory Guild.

A hunter who just finished his probation period manipulating public opinion at will?

That was absolutely impossible.

Moreover, Chun Haesun had been avoiding reporters extremely thoroughly.

Looking at the wording of the articles, they were effectively countering the public opinion that Gu Gyeon had created.

Chun Haesun, a minor, could place an embargo on a media outlet and wage a public opinion war?

Gu Gyeon shook his head.

And he came to the following conclusion.

'Someone is behind this.'

This was not Chun Haesun's work.

Someone skilled in political maneuvering like himself (……), must have stepped forward to help him.

Looking at the actual content of the articles, there was nothing that Chun Haesun directly stated.

It's plausible to assume that someone who knew about Chun Haesun's activities intentionally spread this information.

'No way...'

One organization popped up in Gu Gyeon's mind.

An organization that, like them, was close to media outlets and capable of swaying public opinion.

'The Hunter Association.'

But Gu Gyeon shook his head vigorously once again.

There was no reason for the Hunter Association to orchestrate something like this for Chun Haesun.

You could tell just from his expression during the Qualification Test that he didn't trust the Hunter Association.

The Association also internally resented Chun Haesun, who was going off on a crooked path.

Above all, the son of the Vice President, who should be in all the spotlights, was currently a half-wit.

Of course, that was not Chun Haesun’s fault, but there was no way the Vice President would see him in a favorable light.

‘If it’s not Chun Haesun himself… and not someone from the Association, then who could it be…?’

Gu Gyeon roughly ran his hand through his spiky hair.

It was a peculiar habit that emerged when his frustration reached its peak.

He had thought that, given a little more time, he could embrace the rookie guy pushed by public opinion.

Faced with an unexpected and unidentifiable obstacle, Gu Gyeon let out a deep groan.

* * *

[Ah, hunter! Hunter!!]

As soon as I picked up the phone, Yuk Cheolwan began making a fuss.

"You seem full of energy from the morning."

[Have you seen the articles???]

"No. I was sleeping until just now. I'm on KTX right now."

[Oh, I see. Hunter. The world is going crazy over your story right now!]

"Huh? Why?"

[Rumors have spread that we've been taking on Poison Dungeons, and now people are praising you, hunter!]

"……Hold on a second."

What in the world was he talking about?

I switched my phone screen and accessed a portal site.

And then I realized that Yuk Cheolwan's words were true.

When I entered the news homepage, all media outlets had simultaneously placed stories about me on their front pages.

"……It's really true."

[Hahahaha! Hunter Chun Haesun. People are finally recognizing your true worth! This is great!]

Yuk Cheolwan burst into laughter, rejoicing as if it were his own accomplishment.

He always got furious whenever he saw articles about me.

He'd say it was because people were criticizing me without knowing anything.

Every time I told him it was fine, but Yuk Cheolwan would get agitated, insisting there was definitely a scheming force behind it.

Truth to be told, I didn’t really care much about what people say.

Proper information was never going to be conveyed anyway, and it would be laughable to ask ‘please think about this way’.

In any case, it seemed the situation had shifted a lot due to these recent articles.

Looking at the comments, there were numerous favorable reactions toward me.

Some people even apologized, saying they were sorry for having thought badly of me all this time.

[I thought you were only seasoned on the battlefield. Your strategy truly runs deep. To be so skilled with the media at such a young age. It makes someone like me, who gets swayed by every rise and fall, feel quite ashamed.]

"Huh?"

Wait a minute. So he thought I handled this matter?

[Huh... What do you mean? Wasn't it you who leaked it to the media, Hunter Chun Haesun?]

"No, I didn't. I hardly even read the articles that come out about me. It wasn't you, Clan Leader?"

[It wasn't me either.]

"Eh?"

There were only two people who went to the Poison Dungeons with me.

Yuk Cheolwan and Bisu.

Bisu was unlikely, so that left just Yuk Cheolwan.

And Yuk Cheolwan seemed to think it was something I had done.

If it wasn’t any of the three of us, then who in the world could it be?

[No, what in the world is this……]

Yuk Cheolwan's bewildered voice came through the phone.

In the first place, very few people would know about the process of tackling Poison Dungeons.

Some in the black market might know, but they operated in the shadows.

Then who in the world carried out such a thing?

"Ah."

[……!! Hunter Chun Haesun. Did something just come to mind?]

"Yes, there is. Someone who could have done it."

There was.

Someone in an organization skilled at handling the media like this.

More than knowing about the dungeon conquests, the person who 'commissioned' that work was there.

The sight of a man with gold-rimmed glasses, raising his thumb outside the window, floated to mind.

Haha.

So this is what he meant by providing both material and moral support.

Though I never particularly asked for it, I would gratefully accept it for now.

'Supervisor.'

* * *

Chiiiiiiiii.

Receiving welcoming greetings (?) pouring in from all around, a smile naturally formed on my face.

Back then, I even pretended to be dead on purpose.

But now, there was no need for that.

'He' would also know that there were humans who survived even in this vicious poison gas.

So much had changed.

The guy who once didn't know how to properly utilize the poison within his body had now become an 'S'-rank hunter and was appearing in the newspapers.

Dr. Jin.

Thanks to your device, I've grown this much.

Creeeak……

Dr. Jin was just as before.

Both his plump and adorable physique and his timid way of opening the door were no different from before.

Ah, there was one thing that was different.

The once wary eyes behind the gas mask have now turned into a look of 'warm welcome'.

"Haesun, ah!!”

Walking over to me with a smile on his face, Dr. Jin spread his arms and gave me a big hug.

"Nice to see you again, Doctor.”

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