Chapter 08

President Lee Minjae felt both shock and anger after hearing Kim Jinwoo’s counterproposal.

“This is ridiculous! Strengthening Hunters’ legal status? What kind of nonsense is this?!”

He threw the documents down and shouted.

“Mr. President, please calm down. We should carefully review his demands first…”

Chief of Staff Jung Hyunwoo tried to speak, but Lee Minjae had already half lost his reason.

“Carefully review them? Are you seriously saying that right now?!”

Lee Minjae slammed the desk with a flushed face.

At that moment, a breaking news headline caught his attention.

<Kim Jinwoo meets with the American ambassador… offered 50 trillion won as a signing bonus alone. >

He already knew.

He knew America was willing to spend tens of trillions to recruit Kim Jinwoo.

But seeing the actual figure of “50 trillion” displayed in front of him still left him speechless.

“Protest to the American ambassador immediately! This is an insult to our national sovereignty!”

“…Understood.”

Of course, even if they protested, it would accomplish nothing.

‘You stayed quiet all this time, so why are you panicking now?’

That was probably how America would react instead.

But with America acting so openly, Korea could not simply stay silent either.

<Russia prepares an unprecedented offer to recruit Kim Jinwoo! >

And it was not just America.

In that short period of time, Jinwoo had already met with the Japanese ambassador and scheduled a meeting with the Russian ambassador as well.

Reports claimed both countries had made, or were planning to make, enormous offers comparable to America’s.

“This is absurd. Countries around the world are competing over a single Hunter!”

Lee Minjae stared at the television screen and spoke angrily.

Jung Hyunwoo cautiously opened his mouth.

“Mr. President, public opinion is getting worse. If we fail to keep Kim Jinwoo here, trust in the government itself may collapse.”

Suppressing his anger, Lee Minjae checked the public reactions.

[Kim Jinwoo, please don’t leave Korea.]

[What is the government doing? Are they really going to lose our national hero like this?

[If Kim Jinwoo leaves, Korea is finished. The government needs to wake up!

After reading the public reactions, Lee Minjae bit his lip tightly.

“Mr. President, we need to accept at least some of Kim Jinwoo’s demands. Otherwise, his value will only continue to rise.”

“…That’s impossible.”

Lee Minjae firmly rejected Jung Hyunwoo’s suggestion.

Even before this, Hunters already made ordinary citizens uneasy simply by existing.

Naturally so, since they possessed the kind of superhuman power usually seen only in movies.

Some cult religions even described hunters as warriors chosen by God.

There were also plenty of cases where Hunters themselves started cult-like organizations.

The only reason Hunters still followed the law was because they were not yet strong enough to withstand firearms.

But over time, Hunters would only grow stronger, and nobody knew when they might cross the line.

And in a situation like that, giving Hunters special privileges?

The public would never accept it.

Naturally, President Lee Minjae, who represented the people, could not accept it either.

“Inform the public that our government made tremendous efforts to keep Hunter Kim Jinwoo in Korea. But also tell them that Kim Jinwoo demanded unreasonable conditions, making negotiations difficult.”

“You mean we should reveal the contents of the negotiations through the government spokesperson?”

“There are many ways to inform the public besides using an official spokesperson, aren’t there?”

He was implying that they should leak Jinwoo’s demands through government-friendly media outlets.

“…Our relationship with Hunter Kim Jinwoo may worsen even further. Are you sure about this?”

“I am the president of the Republic of Korea. I cannot violate fairness and common sense simply because I’m worried about a mere Hunter’s opinion.”

Hearing Lee Minjae’s firm words, Jung Hyunwoo lowered his head.

<Kim Jinwoo: “Hunter privileges must be strengthened.” Sparks controversy.>

<The “national hero” who wants to become nobility. >

That afternoon, just as Lee Minjae intended, numerous media outlets began publishing articles designed to stir public controversy.

[This is insane. What privileges? Do they seriously think they’re chosen beings?]

Aren’t they chosen beings, though? We’re the old humans; Hunters are the new humans.

[Damn, and this guy is supposed to be a national hero?]

Public opinion online reacted immediately.

There were still more people defending Kim Jinwoo, but criticism of his statements gradually began increasing as well.

“Support Park Jinsu’s Second Raid Team and make sure they successfully clear the 17th floor within this week.”

“Understood.”

Lee Minjae did not stop at manipulating public opinion.

The government also began providing massive support to Park Jinsu’s raid team.

If Park Jinsu succeeded, the public would realize that Korea still had alternatives besides Kim Jinwoo.

Jinwoo waited in his office for Kim Se-ah, the guild master of the Forest Guild.

She was a famous female ranker and the only female guild master among Korea’s major guilds.

The reason she came here was simple.

There was something she wanted from Jinwoo.

When Kim Se-ah entered the room, Jinwoo greeted her warmly and gestured toward a seat.

“Welcome, Guild Master Kim Se-ah.”

Kim Se-ah cautiously looked at Jinwoo before sitting down.

Her expression was full of wariness.

“You really haven’t used the Random Skill Book?”

“I haven’t.”

“Why not?”

Instead of answering, Jinwoo pulled the Skill Book from a drawer and showed it to her.

“Here it is.”

Kim Se-ah widened her eyes.

“So it’s true… I can’t believe someone called the strongest in the world didn’t use this.”

“I don’t trust my luck. If I used it, I’d probably end up getting some useless skill. Just like always.”

“But the higher you climb the Tower, the more important skills become.”

Jinwoo shrugged.

It almost seemed like he was saying skills were unnecessary for him.

Seeing that, Kim Se-ah’s eyes shone brightly.

“…Well, I suppose skills really don’t matter much to someone who cleared the 19th floor with SSS rank.”

She nodded as though she understood, then cautiously asked,

“So what exactly do you want? Money?”

“It’s not money. What I want is your influence, Guild Master Kim Se-ah.”

“My influence?”

Kim Se-ah looked puzzled.

Jinwoo spoke in a serious voice.

“I want to protect the rights of hunters and create an environment where they can clear towers and dungeons more safely.”

“…”

Kim Se-ah’s eyes widened in surprise.

Not because she was moved emotionally.

She was simply shocked that words like this were coming from Jinwoo.

“You, the man who never cared about anything except climbing the Tower, suddenly want to protect Hunters’ rights?”

“I already requested it from the government. I asked them to officially recognize Hunter privileges.”

“I saw the article, but that was real? I thought reporters were just making up nonsense again…”

Hearing her insult reporters, Jinwoo smirked slightly before continuing.

“Anyway, I plan to establish a Hunter Association. I want Forest Guild to support and back the Hunter Association I create.”

“A Hunter Association? Why would you even want to make something like that?”

“I simply want to create a better environment for Hunters.”

“Are you planning to enter politics or something?”

Kim Se-ah asked with a hollow laugh, but Jinwoo shook his head.

“Not yet.”

“Not yet, huh. That’s a pretty meaningful answer.”

She stared directly at him, trying to figure out his true intentions.

But Jinwoo’s expressionless face revealed nothing.

Eventually, Kim Se-ah sighed and nodded.

“Fine. It feels like this could damage my relationship with the government, but I suppose that’s worth risking for a B-rank Random Skill Book. Honestly, this may be better than simply asking for money.”

Jinwoo smiled in satisfaction and held out his hand toward her.

“Let’s work together to create a better future.”

“…I really hope everything you said was sincere.”

“It was.”

“In that case, I’ll look forward to it. The Hunter Association you’re planning to create.”

Jinwoo nodded.

“I’ll live up to your expectations. Thank you, Guild Master Kim Se-ah.”

Jinwoo continued contacting not only the Forest Guild but also many other major guilds.

“I’m planning to establish a Hunter Association. I hope White Tiger Guild will support it as well.”

He met personally with guild masters and requested support for the Hunter Association.

Though calling it a request was generous.

In reality, it was closer to pressure.

Jinwoo was the world’s strongest Hunter, and he possessed equipment, information, and financial resources worthy of that title.

Even the Top 10 guilds could not easily reject his demands.

On top of that, Jinwoo offered attractive rewards as well.

He provided B-rank or C-rank random skill books, information about the 20th floor, and even cash payments.

“…White Tiger Guild officially supports the establishment of the Hunter Association and supports Hunter Kim Jinwoo becoming its chairman.”

Thanks to these efforts, more than half of Korea’s Top 10 guilds, not just Forest Guild, declared support for Jinwoo.

As a result, the establishment of the Hunter Association was practically inevitable.

“Now the only thing left is gaining support from ordinary Hunters.”

Receiving support from the major guilds was not the end.

There were far more Hunters outside guilds than inside them.

To establish the Hunter Association, he needed their support too.

But Jinwoo was not especially worried about that.

Judging from current public opinion among Hunters, support and expectations toward him were already extremely high.

After all, articles revealing his demands to the government had already spread everywhere.

His seemingly selfless actions for the sake of fellow Hunters deeply impressed many of them.

[Send Kim Jinwoo to the National Assembly!]

Kim Jinwoo is right. Hunters risk their lives every day, so we deserve compensation equal to that sacrifice.

• As expected of God Jinwoo. While all the other guilds stay silent because they fear the government, he’s fighting alone like a mad dog LOL
• Seriously, shouldn’t we send him into politics?
• Before that, let’s make him the association chairman first. Once the Hunter Association exists, politicians won’t be able to ignore us anymore.

Hunters everywhere praised Jinwoo.

They genuinely believed the Hunter Association would benefit them personally.

With even Hunters now supporting him, Jinwoo’s plan was practically complete.

At this point, the creation of the Hunter Association seemed unstoppable.

But the government did not look kindly upon Jinwoo’s actions.

His intentions behind creating the Hunter Association were simply too obvious.

To interfere with Jinwoo’s plans, the government began heavily supporting Park Jinsu’s raid team.

<The next generation’s hope, Park Jinsu! Challenges the 17th floor! >

<Hulk Park Jinsu, rising once again as the people’s hero? >

<Park Jinsu: “I will climb the Tower not just for Hunters, but for all citizens.”

Park Jinsu’s raid team officially declared its challenge of the 17th floor, and the media heavily promoted it.

The government hoped to show the public that there were alternatives besides Kim Jinwoo.

“Kim Jinwoo climbs the Tower for Hunters, while Park Jinsu climbs for the people!”

They also deliberately framed the situation as a rivalry between Jinwoo and Park Jinsu.

But public opinion showed almost no interest in Park Jinsu’s declaration.

<America’s Avengers succeed as well! America finally clears the 19th floor! >

<World Rank #7 John Clark declares: “We’ll surpass Korea soon.”

At the exact time Park Jinsu announced his challenge of the 17th floor, news arrived that America had successfully cleared the 19th floor and reached the 20th floor.

With both Korea and America now advancing beyond the 20th floor, people naturally cared little about someone challenging the 17th floor.

And then Jinwoo’s next move completely erased Park Jinsu’s remaining presence.

“I will once again prove that Korean Hunters are the strongest in the world.”

After declaring that, Jinwoo casually headed toward the Tower as though going for a simple walk.

And that very day, he successfully cleared the 21st floor.

Once again, he achieved the unprecedented accomplishment of SSS rank, shocking the entire world.

<Kim Jinwoo instantly clears the 21st floor! >

<America’s raid teams left in shock. >

<Kim Jinwoo’s incredible record astonishes the world once again! >

His overwhelming achievement drew worldwide attention once more and firmly turned public opinion to his side.