Chapter 272: Chapter 272

Time flowed like running water.

It had been a hectic few days.

Between preparing interviews for the special recruitment candidates and compiling materials for the upcoming North Korea Project, there had been no room to breathe.

“Ha... Can’t believe I’m doing this shit again.”

There was a mountain of work.

Ordinarily, he would’ve dumped everything on Jeong Cheol-min and smiled innocently while asking for help—but this time, too many of the initiatives had been spearheaded by Su-ho himself. He couldn’t back out.

It wasn’t that Jeong Cheol-min was incompetent.

Far from it—Cheol-min was more than capable. But the current projects were mostly known only to Su-ho.

And so Su-ho ended up shouldering the burden alone.

Still, working closely with experienced professionals these last few days had helped him get through the mountain of tasks fairly well.

As Su-ho stretched and entered the department head’s office, Jeong Cheol-min looked up from the report he was writing.

“Yes, the material preparation is pretty much finished.”

“The interviews are tomorrow, right?”

“Yes, tomorrow. Did you look through the candidates’ profiles?”

“Yeah. I can already guess who’s going to make it.”

“You know—the ones with the weird résumés.”

The ones that stood out to Jeong Cheol-min.

Obviously, it was the Banshee unit.

He hadn’t looked too deeply at physical strength or mental endurance.

Su-ho assumed anyone who survived up to the final evaluation stage would have similar stats anyway.

So what had Cheol-min valued?

Unusual experience—and the Banshee members all had one overwhelming credential no other applicants could touch.

That was the “War Against the Most Wanted” Su-ho had personally ordered.

In other words, they had apprehended nationally wanted fugitives.

“I mean, they basically rounded up every wanted criminal in the country—how could anyone overlook that?”

That’s why Su-ho had arranged it in advance.

After all, the Special Division’s job was to capture Awakened criminals, and if someone had a history of capturing them en masse, there was no reason to hesitate in hiring them.

Of course, Jeong Cheol-min had no idea that the Banshee unit was Su-ho’s personal strike team.

“Not like I need to tell him.”

Su-ho nodded and spoke.

“Still, you should pick a few that aren’t just those with standout records.”

“I was planning to. I’m going to take a composite view and select the top three no matter what. But once I filtered them, most of the top candidates ended up being them.”

“Except for one. I think the name was Park Yong? That kid doesn’t have any particularly unique credentials, but his second test score was insane.”

He might be a maniac for swordsmanship, but no one could deny the guy’s skill.

“Especially during the final Gate evaluation—he really stood out.”

Su-ho had assumed the guy just handled a sword well, but it turned out he was pretty smart too.

That solidified it—if trained right, Park Yong could become the Special Division’s greatest sword.

“As long as he doesn’t do anything weird during the interview...”

Basically, as long as he didn’t slap a panelist, he’d get in.

But foreboding always had a way of proving right.

“Well then, Mr. Park Yong. Any final words?”

Things were progressing smoothly when it came time for Park Yong’s turn.

Unlike the sharp expression he’d worn during the second evaluation, Park Yong showed a dull expression and answered questions with surprising ease.

Of course, his tone wasn’t exactly friendly.

But neither Cheol-min nor Su-ho paid it much mind—they just moved on.

Eventually, Park Yong responded to one of Cheol-min’s questions.

“There’s something I’m curious about.”

“Do field agents in the Special Division spar with each other or do anything to improve their combat skills?”

“Yes. Internal training, things like that.”

Cheol-min turned to Su-ho in response to the question.

Since Park had mentioned field agents specifically, it was only natural for the person in charge of fieldwork—Su-ho—to answer.

Su-ho gave a dry laugh.

“This guy’s not even subtle about it.”

Sparring and internal training.

He was probably referring to Su-ho himself.

Maybe that’s why a bit of mischief crept into Su-ho’s mind.

“What if we don’t? If there’s no internal training, will you not take the job even if you pass? Or what if we have training but no sparring?”

At Su-ho’s response, Cheol-min gave him a look like, What the hell are you even saying?

But Su-ho just smirked, and after a moment of thought, Park Yong nodded.

“Yes. That would be difficult.”

Wow... the guy’s totally nuts.

Su-ho was honestly impressed.

How can someone be that devoted to their personal obsession?

Cheol-min looked bewildered, but Su-ho seemed amused as he grinned.

“Then if there is internal training including sparring, will you stick with the Special Division no matter how hard the job is?” Follow current novᴇls on 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡~𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢~𝙣𝙚𝙩

“Even if your superior gives unreasonable orders?”

It didn’t even take a tenth of a second for him to answer.

Which is why Su-ho couldn’t help but burst out laughing, and Cheol-min just stared at Park Yong like he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

Su-ho nodded and said,

“Understood. Thank you for your time. You may leave now.”

“I haven’t gotten my answer yet.”

“I’m not going to give it to you.”

“It’s internal information. I can’t tell you. The interview’s over—please exit.”

Only after hearing the words internal information did Park Yong narrow his eyes and finally turn to leave.

Once he was out, Cheol-min furrowed his brow and said,

“Hey, that guy’s a total lunatic, isn’t he?”

“Yeah, I’d say that’s accurate. Completely.”

“He placed second in the second evaluation, and I was planning to pick him—but with that attitude? No way!”

“Seriously. Anyone with half a brain can tell that guy’s target is you. And you still want to bring him in? Su-ho, guys like that are guaranteed to cause huge incidents. Big ones!”

“Haha, no one can predict the future. If you’re going to go there—what about Pi Seong-yeol? On paper, that guy looked like the ultimate elite.”

“Goddamn it, are you really going to play the cheat card?”

“You can read ten feet into water, but you can’t see what’s in someone’s heart. It’s fine. And honestly, I’ve known his goal was me since the second evaluation. He showed signs back then. Which is why I have to pick him.”

“He applied for special recruitment because of me. Guys like that—you want to keep close and keep an eye on them. Otherwise, who knows what kind of mess he’ll stir up out there? The guy came in second in pure physical tests alone.”

“Still... what, are you his guardian now or something? Do you two know each other?”

“Not quite, but we’ve crossed paths. He and I were test-takers during the Hunter exam.”

Cheol-min dug through the documents—and sure enough.

“Shit, you’re right. He was second place back then too.”

“He sparred with me then and got knocked out. I’ll just keep him under control. It’s easier that way. If we reject him, he might come find me just to pick a fight again. Do you want to send a random dude straight to Cheongok Prison?”

“Unbelievable... Fine, do whatever you want. But you better take responsibility.”

I’ll keep him close—and make him beg for death before long.

While sorting the papers, Su-ho said,

“Leave it to me. So this is it, right?”

“Yeah, we’re done. Let’s send out the results by text and focus on the North Korea Project briefing tomorrow.”

“Already finished that too. We’re just giving a half-assed explanation in front of the Association President and the President himself. Not much to prep.”

At Su-ho’s words, Jeong Cheol-min gave him the same bewildered look he’d worn when Park Yong asked that crazy question earlier.

“It’s not like the President is coming. It is the President. Do you have no social sense?”

“I do. That’s why I’m calm. You, on the other hand, are the weird one. Why are you so scared of the President or the ministers? Who the hell are they supposed to be?”

“Is that bravado, or are you serious?”

“I’m serious. These are the same people who couldn’t even figure out what was happening to the country during the Shock Project. Hell, some of them probably helped cover it up.”

Jeong Cheol-min looked slightly stunned at Su-ho’s blunt statement.

But Su-ho wasn’t finished.

“And let’s be honest. North Korea? They’ve only ignored the problem until now because they’re incompetent. Now we’re offering to clean it up—why should we be nervous? If anyone should be, it’s them.”

“...You’ve got a point.”

Su-ho softened his expression and continued.

“Don’t worry. We’re always the ones holding the blade. We do the dirty work, the impossible work, the dangerous work. So what’s there to fear? If I got scouted by the U.S. or Japan tomorrow, you know who’d panic the most? Those people.”

In this era, a single powerful Hunter was considered national power.

“This is our chance to show them exactly who we are—and to raise the Association’s influence. This country’s always been weird. Other nations pour support into their Hunter organizations—hell, they practically spoon-feed them. Only ours kept regulating and squeezing us dry. You know better than anyone what it was like working under incompetent superiors.”

Cheol-min stayed quiet for a moment.

Then he pulled out a cigarette—only to find it was empty—and sighed.

“Damn it... You’re right. The environment’s changed so fast lately, I’ve lost sight of what really matters.”

“I understand. You’ve worked longer than me—it’s natural to feel disoriented. But it’s not enough to just adapt to the new environment. We need to get used to being ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ treated better—and to demanding more. You’ve seen how the country treats national Hunters, right?”

“...Yeah. You’re right about everything. Let’s go get something to eat.”

The two gathered the documents and quickly left the interview hall.

Black sedans began arriving at the Grand Hunter Association.

At the Safety Hotel located in Seoul.

One by one, the black cars started pulling into the underground parking lot.

They belonged to the President and various ministers.

There were no reporters.

The North Korea Project briefing had been planned in secret.

Which is why the meeting wasn’t being held at the Association.

Upon hearing the report, Su-ho checked the final setup one last time before standing by.

Alongside him were Jeong Cheol-min, Association President Lim Cheol, and Vice President Do Sang-wan.

Soon, the doors opened and security entered first.

Naturally, these weren’t just ordinary bodyguards—but elite Hunters.

Ever since regular civilians started awakening with powers, there had been a spike in random terror attacks against high-profile figures.

Especially people like the President.

“Still... if a real high-level villain made a move, all this security would be useless.”

But it never hurt to be careful.

As the President entered, everyone from the Association bowed their heads, and the ministers formed a line on either side.

Su-ho scanned the President and the ministers and let out a faint, incredulous laugh.

Every single VIP present...

Su-ho suddenly felt a cold tingle down the back of his neck.