CHAPTER 194: SCOUTING A TALENT

"MRS. LEE, Seorin-ssi, it’s good to see you again," Jiwoong said with a wide smile on his face. "I’m glad to see you doing well."

As soon as Jiwoong arrived at Yeon Soobin’s temporary office— a penthouse in a 5-star hotel!— he immediately headed to where the Lees were staying. While he was entertaining Mrs. Lee and her daughter, he secretly sent Kunwoo to scout Lee Seojin.

Fortunately, Yeon Soobin’s Hunters were only guarding outside the room and not inside.

"We’re also glad to see you again, President Kwon," Mrs. Lee said. Although she did look glad, it seemed like the madam was also nervous and worried. "President Kwon, can I get straight to the point?"

"Of course, ma’am. Are you wondering why you were summoned here?"

"Did something happen to Seodam?" Mrs. Lee asked worriedly. "I tried to ask the men who brought us here, but they didn’t say anything."

Jiwoong’s speech was already prepared.

While he was on his way, he had another conversation with Yeon Soobin...

"Kwon Jiwoong, since you know Lee Seodam’s family, go and tell them that Lee Seodam will be inactive as a Hunter while getting treatment."

"Treatment for what?"

"It’s up to you. We can’t tell the Lees that Lee Seodam will be kept under surveillance because he has become the host for the Virus that threatens the System. But we also can’t keep Lee Seodam hidden away from his family. Moreover, since Lee Seodam is a famous Hunter, you should also start with your press release as to why he would be inactive in the meantime."

Yes, that damned Yeon Soobin left the job to him.

Fortunately, Jiwoong was good at lying and making up stories with a gentle look on his face.

[You can’t be a politician if you can’t lie and act nice.]

"Mrs. Lee, Seorin-ssi, to be honest with you, Hunter Lee Seodam had an accident while raiding a Special Grade Crack recently."

The two ladies gasped, obviously shocked and worried.

"Don’t worry— Hunter Lee Seodam’s life isn’t in danger," Jiwoong said before the two panicked. "Unfortunately, Hunter Lee Seodam has caught a disease from the dungeon."

"What disease?" Mrs. Lee asked nervously. "It’s curable, isn’t it?"

Jiwoong smiled, ready to give an answer that would definitely give Yeon Soobin a huge headache. "Of course, it is curable. After all, we have Miss Chu Wonhee— the first S-Class Guide in the world."

Hah!

[This is what you get for leaving this job to me, Yeon Soobin.]

"President Kwon, are you saying that only Chu Wonhee can cure my brother’s disease?"

"That’s right, Seorin-ssi," Jiwoong said, smiling. He was aware why Mrs. Lee and Seorin looked worried, so he assured the two right away. "I’m aware of Miss Chu and Hunter Lee Seodam’s dating history, but rest assured— Miss Chu is a professional."

***

[GUIDE CHU WONHEE! THIS IS THE NEW LIST OF THE HUNTERS YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR!

Do Ahyeon!Lee Seojin! New!]

"What?" Wonhee asked, surprised, when her Status Window suddenly popped up and dropped a bomb. "I’m responsible for Lee Seojin?"

She was having coffee with Ahyeon in Soobin’s private lounge room when the System talked to her. Fortunately, her older brother’s men were stationed outside the room and not inside.

Probably because Ahyeon was an S-Class Hunter now, so he looked more dependable even to experienced Hunters.

[Anyways...]

"But why am I responsible for him?"

[HE AWAKENED AS A HUNTER BECAUSE OF YOU!]

Oh.

"W-What did the System say, Noona?"

Wonhee turned to Ahyeon who looked worried about her.

[He always looks anxious every time the System talks to me because he knows the System often gives me difficult tasks.]

"Ahyeonnie, you have a brother now."

Of course, that only confused Ahyeon even more. "B-Brother?"

"The System wants me to take Lee Seojin under my wing," Wonhee said, leaning against the seat. "I have a feeling that Soobin Oppa wants to recruit Lee Seojin to work for him."

"But I though Soobin-nim is only interested in Hunters with blacksmith abilities?"

"I think Oppa wants to recruit Lee Seojin before President Kwon does," she said. "We already saw how greedy the APA President could get when he tried to snatch you away from me after your second awakening as an S-Class."

Ahyeon shivered as if he relived a memory he didn’t want to remember.

"Hunters who awaken as B-Class are already treated like gods by APA and the Civilians. That’s why Lee Seodam-ssi got famous instantly when he first awakened," Wonhee said, wondering out loud. "Even among the First Generation and the Second Generation of Awakened People, only a few Hunters had awakened as A-Class. At least, that’s how it is in our country."

"The Third Generation up to the current generation only produced a few B-Class Hunters— including Lee Seodam," Ahyeon added. "That’s why Lee Seodam-ssi was celebrated so much when he awakened as a B-Class and leveled up as an A-Class shortly."

"I can already imagine how President Kwon would react after finding out that Lee Seojin— Lee Seodam’s younger brother— awakened as an A-Class," she said, pausing for a moment. "I need to protect Jin from President Kwon."

"How will you do that, Noona? Are you going to ask Vice President Yeon to recruit Lee Seojin and assign him as your bodyguard?"

"No, we can’t do that. The Civilians will find it unfair that two high-ranking Hunters are "merely" guarding me when you could have been raiding dungeons."

"But Noona is a VIP— this world would have ended without you."

"They don’t know that," Wonhee said, smiling while shaking her head. "Anyway, we can’t forget the fact that Lee Seojin is Seodam-ssi’s dongsaeng. Can you imagine the drama if Jin suddenly becomes my bodyguard?"

Ahyeon nodded eagerly. "So, what’s your plan, Noona?"

"I’m going to spend my money."

"H-Huh?"

"I’m going to spend a lot of money— and I’m going to spend it on luxury this time instead of philanthropy."

Ahyeon tilted his head to one side. "What does it have to do with recruiting Lee Seojin on our side, Noona?"

"I need money to gather the top Guides in the country," Wonhee said, confusing Ahyeon even more. "It’s time I use my power as the first S-Class Guide in the world."

[Everything else will follow after that.]

She was busy completing her plan in her head when her Status Window suddenly popped up in front of her.

Again.

[GUIDE CHU WONHEE, WE WILL BRING YOU TO HUNTER LEE SEODAM NOW!]

Haaah.

Wonhee turned to Ahyeon and smiled at him. "Ahyeonnie, don’t panic when I disappear— the System is bringing me to Seodam-ssi."

***

"LEE SEODAM is awake."

Yejun heard what Semi said, but the change in the air made him look up.

"What’s wrong?" Soobin asked right away when he noticed Yejun raise his head. "Is there a Crack threatening to burst open near us?"

"No," Yejun said, opening his arms. "It’s the System’s portal."

And he was right.

Soon, a ’tear’ in the space appeared and dropped something.

Or someone.

It was Wonhee, and Yejun caught her in his arms in time.

[The System has to stop doing this to my Wonhee!]

"Are you alright, Wonhee-ya?"

"Yes, I’m fine," Wonhee said indifferently. "Thank you for catching me, Hunter Hwang."

What?

Yejun was so hurt when Wonhee called him by his title instead of his name!

***

Please ADD MY LIFE AS THE FIRST S-CLASS GUIDE to your LIBRARY to be notified when an update is posted. Thank you! :