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Chapter 35
The Association President brought everyone from the measuring chamber up to his office at the top floor of the building.
Naturally—this was because countless inscriptions here prevented eavesdropping, tracking, or infiltration.
“Everyone, can you promise me that what I say now won’t leave this room?”
“Ooh~? Now you’re making it sound scary.”
“Girl, spit it out already. What is it?”
“Yes, what is it?”
“Han Saebyeok, what are you dragging out so much…?”
Unlike the three S-ranks who showed only curiosity, Park Woo-joon’s voice carried concern.
“I promise to keep it confidential. What is it?”
The Association President quieted them all and asked as a representative.
Saebyeok spoke carefully.
“Honestly, I’m not yet sure what kind of ability this is. But it felt wrong to just ignore it.”
“Then what is it, that you hesitate so much?”
“It’s something like… Insight.”
Saebyeok revealed only her newly obtained skill, <Cleopatra’s Insight>, while deliberately omitting <Server Administrator>.
She didn’t give its name or detailed description, but just the word insight alone captured all their attention.
“Insight is always invaluable. Is it passive?”
Saebyeok nodded briefly.
All her <Dawn’s Spearmaster> active skills were obviously offensive, so it would be hard to pretend otherwise. But a passive skill was impossible to disprove.
“Tell us more. What exactly did you see that makes you hesitate so?”
At the word “insight,” all three S-rank hunters paused.
Kim Ihan especially narrowed his eyes, a faint trace of wariness in his gaze.
Once again, Saebyeok realized just how terrifying the ability to view another’s status screen could be. There was no need to make them uneasy and sour relations.
“It looked like… a gate.”
So she mixed truth with lies.
She really did have an insight ability, but instead of saying it showed her others’ systems, she framed it as glimpses of the future.
“I can’t be certain. But I kept seeing it, almost like a dream.”
She made it sound like a passive she couldn’t control at will.
“An enormous gate in front of Busan’s sea… so massive it couldn’t be taken in at a glance.”
Silence fell.
“What?! Girl! Is that true?!”
Excited, I Pado sprang up and grabbed Saebyeok’s shoulders, shaking her.
“Please, calm down, Hunter.”
“Calm down?! She felt it too! The East Sea is acting strange!”
He released her shoulders only to pound his chest, voice rising even more.
“President, didn’t I tell you already? The waves of the East Sea have changed!”
For days, I Pado had tried telling the Association President, but had only been dismissed. Now, having someone agree with him, he grew even more agitated.
After all, that was the reason he had come all the way to Seoul, though he rarely left Yeongnam.
“First, let’s calm down. We should hear her whole story.”
Barely calming himself, I Pado sat again, still snorting heavily through his nose as he waited.
Saebyeok continued.
“I’ve seen it every night since the day I awakened. At first, I thought it was just a nightmare… but seeing it every night like this, I feel it means something.”
“A colossal gate, you say…”
“If there were ever an S-rank gate, that’s what it would look like.”
The Association President rubbed his chin, lost in thought.
“You know there has never been an S-rank gate in history.”
“Yes. But with measurement devices breaking for the first time worldwide—who’s to say what can’t happen next?”
“Could you tell the timing from your dream?”
“The timing… Ah! I saw a banner on the beach.”
“What kind of banner?”
“A banner for a Children’s Day event.”
“So May, then. If it was an advance banner, perhaps late April.”
His expression turned grave.
“Girl! You’re certain it was Busan?”
“I think I saw Gwangandaegyo Bridge.”
“See! What did I tell you!”
“But the energy from that gate seemed to stretch across the East Sea toward the Pacific.”
“Exactly! The kids have been clamoring nonstop about how strange the eastern sea feels!”
By “kids,” he clearly meant his summoned beasts. Evidently, they too felt something was wrong.
For them to sense a disturbance all the way from the Pacific to Busan meant I Pado’s ocean instincts were extraordinary—though perhaps limited to the sea.
“So there really is something there…”
When I Pado had been the only one saying so, it was easy to dismiss.
But now that Hunter Han Saebyeok had said the same, it seemed less like an excuse for more funding and more like the truth.
“Originally, I was going to wait and confirm when the time came… to see if a massive gate really appeared. Only then share what I learned.”
“But if such a gate is real, we can’t just sit back and wait.”
“You’re right. Hunter Han, well said.”
The Association President reassured the hesitant Saebyeok.
“If not for you, I would have dismissed I Hunter’s words as well. You’ve humbled me more than once today.”
“I’m sorry.”
“No—you’ve done well.”
“But when I said it, you didn’t listen at all…”
I Pado grumbled, though clearly pleased his warning was finally taken seriously.
“For now, we’ll just keep this in mind. If you learn anything more, inform us.”
“Yes.”
The President patted Saebyeok’s shoulder, satisfied.
“I Hunter. We’ll go down to Busan and have a deeper discussion together.”
“Come! I’ll treat you to killer sashimi!”
They began planning for a countermeasure trip to Busan.
“Hunters Kim and Hwang, please remain on standby between late April and early May.”
“Understood.”
“I’d like to join that ‘deeper discussion’ as well. Will you make room for me?”
Unlike taciturn Hwang Taesan, Kim Ihan wanted to involve himself more—likely hoping to exploit the information for public attention.
The President hesitated briefly, then nodded.
“I’ll be in touch.”
It wasn’t quite a yes, but not a no either.
“Captain Park, as always, if I step out, I leave the Association in your care.”
“Don’t worry, President!”
With that, the meeting ended.
“Now then, it’s time to meet the reporters.”
Plenty of hurdles remained.
Every news outlet, every HunterTube stream, and even overseas associations’ monitors were broadcasting the Korean Hunter Association building live.
It was no different in Saebyeok’s own home.
“Oh, it’s starting.”
Sitting cross-legged on the sofa, Han Saejin spoke to the little boy on his lap as he sliced fruit.
“Hey, foodie, turn the volume up.”
“’Kay!”
Obediently, little Sihu—nestled in his arms, nibbling on apple slices—picked up the remote.
【Newsroom: …If this really is an S-rank, then Korea will see its first S-rank in nine years. For Asia as a whole, it’s been six years. Just imagining it is enough to stir excitement!】
【Newsroom: Exactly. Remember how humiliating it was when China gained a new S-rank six years ago? But this time… Ah! Excuse me, it seems the Association President is stepping out! Let’s go live to the scene!】
The panel had been speculating whether the rumored supporter really was S-rank, and what title they might receive.
The feed switched to the Hunter Association building.
The main gates opened, and Yoon Byung-geun, the Association President, led the procession of Korea’s S-rank hunters.
The sound of cameras exploded like a storm, flashes bleaching the screen white.
Security staff kept reporters back while a podium was brought forward. The anchor filled in the gap.
It was Won Boram, the reporter who always covered Hunter affairs for JMTC News.
【Won Boram: As you can see, President Yoon is preparing a speech. But the supporter we’ve all been curious about is not in sight.】
The camera zoomed in again on the lineup of S-ranks.
【Won Boram: To see not only Seoul’s two rivals but also Busan’s pillar gathered here—it’s a stirring sight. Truly patriotic, isn’t it?】
Then the cameras caught Kim Ihan leaning toward Hwang Taesan, whispering.
【Won Boram: Ah! What are those two discussing? I’ll try to read their lips!】
Won Boram was famous for her lip-reading—a skill granted by her <Interview Obsession> title, a non-combat C-rank awakening.
【Won Boram: Kim Ihan Hunter’s lips said… “Smile, smile. Otherwise it looks like we dragged you here against your will.” …addressing Hunter Hwang Taesan.】
