57

The minister of internal affairs in the UK, Russell Winsted, was in a huge conference room with other officials. They were watching a video on Lee Hwan’s battle with the monster in the latest dungeon.

They watched him crush the black monster, ripping off the monster’s arm as its blood spilled and splashed everywhere. It was a grotesque sight; some officials even felt nauseated after watching the video. It looked like a scene from a zombie movie, but it was so cruel.

The atmosphere shifted as he showed his real power.

Lee Hwan ripped off the monster’s leg easily and swatted it around as if he was playing baseball.

Their jaws were on the floor. The video was more than cruel; it showed absolute power. This man was way above other people.

He was playing with an SS-rated monster. In a single swift motion, he sliced off its neck as if it were a piece of vegetable. He did it only with his hands. It was unbelievable.

The video then ended.

“His name is Lee Hwan, the missing brother of Lee Ho. He has just returned recently.”

Everyone wondered how this could happen.

“What did he do? How did he become this strong?”

That was their main question.

To them, that man was more like a monster than the literal monster he had killed in the video. Lee Hwan was a human-like monster.

However, he was also their only hope.

“Sophie is bringing him here now.”

Russell looked closely at the video. He could see that it was not even a warm-up routine for Lee Hwan. He was not a fool. He knew that this gate was just the start.

And his prediction seemed to be true. What Lee Ho had announced to everyone was shocking. Who could protect the world from a mythical creature like Tiamat?

All SS-rated Hunters must unite. Lee Hwan would also be there. His background was not important anymore; Lee Ho had already approved his identity.

Russell murmured, “We can’t just ask him to do this for us. We have to repay him for his service.”

“I told my troops to treat them well.”

Captain of the Anti-Terror Command, Roger, replied. Mike, Chief Commander of the Security Service, also added, “We should reward him well and try to form a good relationship with him.”

Like Sophie, the others had the same thoughts.

The UK did not have any SS-rated Hunters, but it is undeniable that they have tried everyone out. Unfortunately, no one passed the threshold.

All their other allies didn’t lend them power; their request for help was just absurd. They were asking for a realistically impossible job, so no one stepped up and answered the call.

Lee Hwan was the only one who came to help.

He was an ally that could be trusted. Russel took a deep breath and thought of the video he had just seen.

“Sophie did a great job.”

Usually, he wouldn’t say something like that in public, but it was true. She did do a great job. Sophie, in short, had saved London.

So far, everything was going well.

***

Yoo-Jeong, while holding a glass filled with juice, headed toward Lee Hwan. She placed the glass of juice next to his seat as he looked up at her.

“Is that orange juice?”

“It’s organic. You should try it.”

“Thanks.”

Lee Hwan smiled at her and picked up the glass, all whilst taking several gulps.

Yoo-Jeong stared at him. What they had done yesterday was not a mistake. It was something she had wanted, and she liked it. She appreciated that he was her first. She had heard that the first time was not always great, but her first was amazing.

It was because of Lee Hwan’s consideration.

Yoo-Jeong and Lee Hwan didn’t tell anyone about what they did yesterday, but everyone on the plane knew what happened anyway. They used the same shampoo and were wearing the same clothes they had on yesterday. They even used the same cosmetics.

Yoo-Jeong had to decide what her relationship with Hwan was. Meanwhile, Hwan turned to ask her.

“Does it still hurt?”

“…What do you mean?”

“You know what I mean.”

She did. When she woke up, it had been quite painful. But how did this man know about that? Yoo-Jeong sighed.

“I suppose you’ve met with a lot of women.”

“Not a lot. Also, yesterday was my first time on Earth.”

She closed her eyes. She didn’t want to admit it, but this man certainly was charming. She sighed.

“Look, what happened yesterday is…”

“Just an incident and forget it?”

She was speechless.

“I suppose you don’t want to be awkward with me. I’m your boss and we’ll be working together, after all.”

“…How do you know that?”

“I can read a person’s mind quickly. That helped me out yesterday, too.”

“……..”

“Then should I consider that you just dumped me?”

Yoo-Jeong had to laugh. She knew that Hwan would never think of it that way.

“Want to cheers?”

“With juice?”

“Sure.”

So they did. They clinked their glasses together and drank their juice.

“Maybe we should drink together sometime.”

Lee Hwan laughed out loud.

“Are you foreshadowing?”

“Foreshadowing?”

“I read in some novels that those who say such words always die soon.”

“…If I die, will you avenge me?”

Lee Hwan just realized that he hadn’t told anyone about his life in Valhalla. He supposed this was the right time to tell her. Hwan opened his mouth.

“That would never happen, but if you die, I’ll kill every last one of them. No matter where they hide, it won’t change a thing.”

He put down his glass.

“That was why I destroyed five entire countries. I would do it here, as well. My brother can’t stop me.”

“Why is that so?”

“Because you are my people.”

“Oh…”

That was a heartwarming phrase. His words helped her find confidence. Aside from that, she also knew that Hwan was the type of man who would do as he said.

“I’ll try not to die.”

Lee Hwan smiled.

“You don’t have to. I won’t let that happen. Also, if you want a drink, call me. It’s on me.”

Lee Hwan and Yoo-Jeong had defined yesterday as a special event.

Yoo-Jeong still had a task to do, get revenge for her parents. That was her duty. Before she succeeds in doing that, she will not develop her relationship with Hwan any further.

After a moment, she returned to her seat, and Gi-Hoon came and sat next to him.

“I guess it’s your turn now. What are you up to?”

“Um… Yoo-Jeong’s eyes were misty. Did you say something to her?”

“Really?”

“Did you dump her?”

“Well, I’m the one who got dumped.”

Jeong Gi-Hoon laughed.

“We’ll be arriving in an hour.”

“That was quick.”

“Which is why we need to talk now. We need to discuss the reward for the job.”

Lee Hwan nodded, then looked over at Sophie Winsted.

“Usually, what would be the reward for something like this?”

“You can get land, weapons, or money. In the UK, you can also get a knighthood from the royal family.”

To be honest, Hwan was not interested in any of those. He didn’t even know what those were. He turned back to Gi-Hoon.

“I’ll leave this job to you. I want to see your negotiation skills.”

“…Not even a simple guideline?”

“Well, then make them promise to help my brother. That’s it for now.”

Gi-Hoon thought about it. He looked around and noticed that there were aura barriers around them acting as a soundproofed wall.

How did he do that? He didn’t even sense or notice that anything had been put up, but that’s not important right now. Gi-Hoon decided to ask Hwan about it later and began to share what he had found out.

“It turns out that the UK also requested help from other SS-rated Hunters, but all of them declined. You were the only one who responded to their request.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. In other words, we are like superheroes to them.”

It was ironic to hear that since they were the ones who hired him in the first place. Lee Hwan chuckled.

“It’s a bit odd, but I like that phrase.”

“They’ll do anything for us. We were the only ones who lent a hand when they needed help. But I have to make one thing clear.”

“What is it?”

“Can you really clear the gate over there?”

Hwan chuckled and asked him, “You know who I am, don’t you?”

“I just want to make it clear.”

Lee Hwan could definitely do that for Gi-Hoon.

“Even if ten other SS-rated gates appear, I can still clear them all.”

“So, you can clear it by yourself?”

Lee Hwan then realized what Gi-Hoon was planning.

“You want to clear the gate without the UK’s help. Is that what you’re thinking?”

Jeong Gi-Hoon smiled.

“Yes. If we do that, we can certainly get what we want and more.”

Gi-Hoon paused to drink some water. Then he continued speaking.

“My interpretation skill is S-rated. I can interpret most of the dungeons.”

That was already enough. This man was much more skillful than Hwan had thought. That was always on his mind when he sees Gi-Hoon working.

“I trust you. Also, tell them to prepare a car for us. We’ll go straight to the gate.”

“As you wish, sir.”