Chapter 02

Steven Jackson was waiting for Kim Jinwoo at a luxurious Korean restaurant inside a five-star hotel.

He had spent several days carefully preparing for today’s meeting.

“Even if people call him washed up now, when the Great Cataclysm first happened, he was known as the strongest hunter in the world. He’s still worth treating with respect.’

Kim Jinwoo had once been called the world’s strongest Hunter.

His fame spread across the entire world, and he was treated like a legendary figure in the Hunter community.

Jinwoo possessed overwhelming physical abilities and enormous magical power.

He was also highly skilled at controlling mana, and above all, he was famous for being extremely cautious.

The raid team led by Kim Jinwoo had never suffered a single casualty.

That was only possible because he attempted raids only after making absolutely thorough preparations.

While most raid teams lost their lives due to reckless competition, Kim Jinwoo always completed his goals safely.

But recently, this same Kim Jinwoo had begun receiving enormous criticism, as if he had committed some unforgivable crime.

“Korea has currently cleared up to the 16th floor of the tower. Compared to other countries, they’re not even far behind, yet he’s being criticized strangely harshly.’

Even the United States and Japan, the countries leading the Tower of Babel raids, were still only on the 18th floor.

There was only a two-floor difference between them and Korea.

Yet Koreans were dissatisfied with that.

Ever since the Great Cataclysm that created the Towers and dungeons, Korea had always remained at the top.

Thanks to having Kim Jinwoo, the world’s strongest Hunter, they had always stayed ahead of everyone else.

But once Jinwoo temporarily stopped raiding, the rankings began to change, and before long Korea had fallen behind.

In truth, compared to countries placed in the “danger” category, this was almost deceptive complaining.

Countries that had not even cleared the 12th floor were already suffering from dungeon breaks.

But Koreans, who refused to settle for anything less than first place, were busy calling Jinwoo a coward for delaying the raids.

Just two months ago, they had worshipped him with nicknames like “God Jinwoo” and “Light Jinwoo,” so the sudden change in attitude was unbelievable.

‘Koreans really are impossible to understand. Calling such a capable Hunter a coward… Well, thanks to that, things worked out nicely. I might be able to bring him to America.’

Although Steven Jackson could not understand the situation, he also thought it was fortunate.

This was the perfect chance to recruit Kim Jinwoo to the United States.

Steven had prepared many things to persuade him.

America, with its immense wealth, had a major advantage in situations like this.

While other countries prepared only a few hundred million dollars, the United States prepared an astonishing ten billion dollars.

That alone showed how highly America valued Kim Jinwoo’s abilities.

And thinking money alone might not be enough, they had also prepared various benefits, including American citizenship, a luxury home, support with top-tier items, and a dedicated team.

Steven himself also valued Jinwoo highly, so he believed offering this much was only natural.

At that moment, Kim Jinwoo entered the restaurant.

Jinwoo was tall and well-built, and his eyes carried an intense sharpness.

His piercing gaze seemed to prove the countless battles he had survived.

‘As expected of someone called Korea’s Captain.’

Steven inwardly admired him.

He was not strikingly handsome, but there was nothing unpleasant about his appearance, and he carried a strangely extraordinary aura.

No one suited the nickname “Korea Captain” better than him.

While admiring him inwardly, Steven smiled and held out his hand toward Jinwoo.

***

“Hunter Kim Jinwoo, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Steven Jackson.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Kim Jinwoo.”

After shaking hands with the American ambassador Steven Jackson, Jinwoo sat across from him.

‘To think I’d experience this again.’

Jinwoo’s expression as he looked at Steven Jackson was complicated.

Accepting Steven Jackson’s offer had been the greatest regret of his life.

After receiving an offer far beyond his expectations, Jinwoo had immediately moved to America without much hesitation.

And there, he entered a new golden age.

Of course, that golden age had been very short.

As Korea began to decline, his own condition rapidly collapsed as well.

Eventually, when Korea was destroyed, Jinwoo also met his death.

‘Since I’ve returned to the past, I need to make a different choice.’

While Jinwoo was thinking that, Steven Jackson began presenting the offers he had prepared one by one.

“The American government values Hunter Kim Jinwoo’s abilities more highly than any other country. As a signing bonus, we are prepared to offer ten billion dollars. In addition, we promise various benefits such as American citizenship, luxury housing, and access to the latest Tower information.”

Jinwoo listened quietly to Steven’s proposal.

No emotion appeared on his face.

Steven waited nervously for Jinwoo’s answer.

‘With an offer like this, he should at least look surprised… Why is he showing no reaction?’

Ten billion dollars was more than thirteen trillion won at the current exchange rate.

Yet Jinwoo remained completely calm.

Steven was internally shaken, but as expected of a diplomat, he maintained his composure.

At the same time, he admired Jinwoo’s calm personality.

It was probably because of this personality that he had succeeded in raids without suffering losses all this time.

After several seconds of silence, Jinwoo finally spoke in a calm voice.

“Ten billion dollars… It seems America still doesn’t fully understand my value.”

“…Excuse me?”

Steven’s eyes widened after hearing that.

But only briefly.

Quickly regaining his composure, he asked Jinwoo,

“Then what amount would you like as a signing bonus?”

As though he had been waiting for the question, Jinwoo answered immediately.

“One hundred trillion won. At the very least, I’d need that much before I’d even consider it.”

“One hundred trillion won would be eighty billion dollars. That amount is far too large.”

Steven let out a hollow laugh.

It was truly an absurd amount.

Maybe it would have been understandable back when Jinwoo was called the world’s strongest hunter, but now people considered him washed up.

Even ten billion dollars would already create controversy, so eighty billion was naturally impossible.

‘Hunter Kim Jinwoo, who was said to have the best judgment ability, lacks self-awareness to this extent?’

Then Steven suddenly found it strange.

The reason Jinwoo, who did not even possess a single attack skill, became known as the strongest Hunter was not simply because of his physical strength and massive mana reserves.

He was called the strongest because he possessed unmatched tactical skill and judgment.

That same Jinwoo asking for one hundred trillion sounded very strange.

‘Is this just another way of saying he has no intention of negotiating?’

Jinwoo had even said that he would merely “consider it” even if they offered one hundred trillion.

That practically meant he had no intention of negotiating.

“I understand that Hunter Kim Jinwoo is deeply patriotic. But I’m curious. The Korean government and the Korean people criticized and belittled you, even downplaying everything you accomplished. So why are you still insisting on staying with Korea?”

Inside, Jinwoo answered differently.

‘Because if Korea collapses, I collapse too.’

But he could not reveal his weakness to others, especially not to the American ambassador Steven Jackson.

“Just because my country abandoned me doesn’t mean I should abandon my country.”

He spoke like a true patriot.

Naturally, that was not his real intention at all.

‘If I come to rule Korea, then Korea won’t be able to abandon me anymore.’

Originally, Jinwoo had chosen to immigrate to America because he believed Korea had abandoned him.

The reason he met the American ambassador today was also to see what kind of offer America would make.

But after returning six years into the past, Jinwoo decided to make a completely different choice.

It was not because he had suddenly become patriotic.

He was still the same selfish man who hated losing out on anything, even slightly.

Returning to the past could not change his nature.

However, his trait, “The Nation Belongs to Me,” became stronger depending on Korea’s national power, which was why he was forcing himself to remain in Korea.

“Hoh… I’m truly jealous of Korea. To have a patriot like Hunter Kim Jinwoo…”

“…”

Steven looked deeply impressed and stared at Jinwoo as though he were looking at treasure.

Rather than feeling offended after being rejected, he became even more favorable toward him.

“I understand. I respect Hunter Kim Jinwoo’s decision. The American government will do its best to meet the conditions you desire.”

Jinwoo tilted his head slightly at Steven, who sounded unwilling to give up.

***

Lee Sohee anxiously waited near the entrance of the restaurant for the meeting between Kim Jinwoo and Ambassador Steven Jackson to end.

‘Honestly, I hope he doesn’t go… But Captain will probably end up going to America, right?’

To her, Jinwoo was her lifesaver.

That was why, even after the other raid members left him, she alone remained by his side.

Even if he went to America, she intended to continue following him.

Still, since she had been born and raised in Korea, leaving the country made her uncomfortable.

She also worried whether someone who could not even speak English would adapt well to life in America.

‘…But looking at public opinion, I can understand how Captain feels.’

Korean public opinion toward him was cruel.

She opened her smartphone and searched Kim Jinwoo on a popular online community.

[Honestly, I seriously don’t get people who still support Kim Jinwoo.]

Isn’t he just a coward who stopped trying for over two months after getting beaten up by a golem? LOL

• Who even supports a washed-up loser like Kim Jinwoo? LOL
• This guy is… the world’s strongest?

[Reason why the 17th floor clear will probably succeed soon.]

Why else? Because that damn Captain Korea is immigrating to America LOL

• LOL, without Captain Korea, the 17th floor is easy
• At this point, isn’t he the world’s greatest nuisance instead of the world’s strongest Hunter?
• Seriously LOL
• Since Captain America already exists, maybe call him Putin America LOL

[Kim Jinwoo is a balanced hexagon-type Hunter.]

But he’s not exceptional at anything LOL

• A Hunter with no attack skills is “balanced”?
• That bastard should stop climbing the Tower and just stay in dungeons LOL
• Seriously, he’d fit perfectly as a baggage carrier in dungeons.

The screen was filled with insults like “coward” and “incompetent.”

Lee Sohee could fully understand how betrayed Jinwoo must have felt.

‘If I were him, I’d feel betrayed too.’

As she thought that to herself and tried to understand his feelings, the door opened and Kim Jinwoo walked out.

As always, no emotion showed on his face.

Lee Sohee quickly ran over and stood in front of him.

“Captain, how did it go?”

Jinwoo answered indifferently.

“I told them I’d go if they paid enough.”

Lee Sohee looked disappointed after hearing that.

“I see…”

“But the amount they offered was lower than what I wanted.”

“How much did America offer?”

“Around ten billion dollars.”

Hearing that, Lee Sohee’s mouth fell open in shock.

“Ten billion dollars?”

Jinwoo smirked slightly.

“I wanted around one hundred trillion won.”

“What?”

For a moment, Lee Sohee made the exact same expression Steven Jackson had earlier.

Jinwoo laughed again and pointed toward the elevator.

The two rode the elevator down to the lobby, where dozens of people rushed toward him.

Unfortunately, they were not fans.

Well, obsessive fans were still technically fans.

But the crowd waiting for him in the lobby consisted entirely of reporters.

The moment Jinwoo stepped out of the elevator, camera flashes exploded everywhere as reporters began firing questions at him.

“What was the reason for your meeting with the American ambassador?”

“We heard you’re also meeting the Japanese ambassador. Is that true?”

“What exactly are you so afraid of that you want to leave Korea?”

The provocative questions continued.

Then one reporter shouted loudly.

“Were you really that afraid of going to the 17th floor?”

Lee Sohee frowned in displeasure.

Would Jinwoo, once called the world’s strongest Hunter, really delay the raid simply because he feared the 17th floor?

The government and multiple Hunter guilds had relentlessly interfered with Jinwoo’s raid team until only she and Jinwoo remained.

That was why the raid had been delayed.

Even though they knew all of this, they still asked questions like that, so she could not help feeling angry.

“The 17th floor? I’ll challenge it. Today. I’ll go beyond the 17th floor and reach the 20th in one go.”

“…!”

The reporters fell silent for a moment at Jinwoo’s unexpected answer before hurriedly throwing more questions at him.

But Jinwoo ignored them and walked straight toward the hotel entrance.

Lee Sohee hurried after him and asked,

“Today? When did you reorganize the raid team?”

Jinwoo answered firmly.

“You and I are enough.”

“What?”

Looking at her shocked face, Jinwoo made a vow to himself.

Through this challenge, he would prove that he was still the strongest Hunter.

And he would show everyone who criticized him his true worth.

‘Even if I abandon all of you, I’ll make sure none of you can ever abandon me.’