Chapter 32: Dangerous Invitation (2)

Everyone knew that the Hongyeom Guild was, for all intents and purposes, the top guild in the country. So it was only natural for people to focus on the person representing it.

“There are kids with him, though.”

“Isn’t that little guy next to him the troublemaker second son from the Kangsan Group who got exiled to the countryside?”

When I glared toward the crowd, people flinched and backed off.

Who do they think they are, saying that about my disciples?

The people gathered around us had all sorts of motives.

Some wanted to get close to the Hongyeom Guild.

Some were trying to figure out my rank.

Either way, their stares weren’t exactly friendly.

But no one dared to approach first.

After all, saying the wrong thing could put them at odds with the Hongyeom Guild.

“Times like this really show how powerful a guild’s reputation can be.”

Not that I enjoyed being the center of attention.

I took a sip of the obviously expensive champagne sitting on the table. My real reason for being here was to strike a deal with Kim Hanshin, the chairman of the Kangsan Group.

Kim Hanshin, wearing the familiar smile I’d seen in articles, was greeting guests.

His eyes never even drifted in our direction.

He must have already heard we arrived, but chose to ignore us.

“Hello. I’m Ban Gang-ha, Vice President of Haman Foods.”

Ban Gang-ha stepped out from the crowd and handed me his business card.

If I remembered right, Haman Foods was a well-known company that dealt in frozen products.

Ban Gang-ha stared at me with that classic corporate smile.

“Nice to meet you.”

I replied in a flat tone.

It would’ve been nice if it ended with just a greeting, but life’s never that easy.

“You’re from the Hongyeom Guild—what’s your position, if you don’t mind me asking?”

It was a blunt question.

He must’ve been really curious about my identity.

But in a way, this was an opportunity.

“I don’t have a position. I’m just a contract worker.”

Gasps of shock echoed around the room.

It was only natural. A party meant for guild masters and executives now had a mere contract worker in attendance.

Those who’d been intrigued quickly lost interest.

“Sounds like the Hongyeom Guild’s vetting process has gone downhill.”

Ban Gang-ha irritably snatched back his business card.

His tone had lost all politeness, replaced with open disdain.

Just because I said I was a contractor, I was suddenly treated like a nobody.

But that was the point.

Now, no one would pay attention to me.

No matter what I did, people would stop caring.

“The Hongyeom Guild must be finished, sending someone like this.”

Ban Gang-ha started spewing insults.

I wasn’t sure if he was stupid or just clueless.

Sending someone as a representative to a public event meant the guild trusted me.

And yet he was talking like this?

I ignored him and focused on getting more food for the kids.

When he realized I wasn’t responding at all, Ban Gang-ha’s brows furrowed.

“A mere contractor dares ignore me…?”

“Teacher!?”

Cough!

I nearly spat out the food I was eating.

The voice’s owners had shoved Ban Gang-ha aside like a rag doll.

The pair who pushed him looked at me in shock.

“What are you two doing here…?”

Their names were Jung Ha-yeon and Cheong-san.

They were both A-rank hunters who, interestingly, operated as an independent duo rather than joining a guild.

A rising star pair—and my former students.

Oh, right… of course my students would show up to an event like this.

After all, many of them had already formed their own guilds and made names for themselves.

“Jung Ha-yeon? Cheong-san? What do you think you’re doing?!”

Ban Gang-ha snapped, finally regaining his senses.

“Teacher, what’s going on?! You wouldn’t answer any of our calls!”

“We were so worried when we couldn’t reach you!”

They completely ignored Ban Gang-ha’s outburst.

“Sorry, there were… circumstances.”

I had momentarily forgotten.

Most of my disciples were high-ranking hunters now.

“…Are the others here too?”

If they were, this place was about to turn chaotic.

“No, they’re all busy searching for something, so they didn’t come.”

They didn’t come because they were busy… searching?

Suddenly, I remembered someone saying Seol Ah-yun had been constantly looking for me.

No way… they’re not looking for me, are they?

‘No way.’

Would people in such high positions go around searching for me?

…Would they?

That unsettling thought broke my train of thought.

“Oh my, who are these kids?”

“They’re disciples I’ve taken in under certain circumstances.”

“So adorable!”

That kind of excessive affection might be dangerous.

Because of Jung Ha-yeon pinching his cheeks, Han Yuseong’s face was slowly turning stiff.

He looked like a volcano about to erupt, holding it in with all his might.

“By the way, teacher, are you okay? I heard about your terminal—”

I quickly clamped my hand over Cheong-san’s mouth.

If Kim Seogun heard I had a terminal illness, the rest of my disciples would definitely find out too.

I had to keep that from happening!

Cheong-san, seeing my expression, nodded and gave a thumbs-up.

Thank goodness he was quick on the uptake.

“What are you all doing?! Are you ignoring me—gah!”

As Ban Gang-ha stormed toward us again, someone shoved him aside once more.

“It’s been a while, Mr. Kim Onyu.”

As soon as I heard that voice, I frowned instinctively.

It was Cha Kang-in—possibly the person I least wanted to see right now.

He must have heard the commotion and come looking for me.

“S-Sorry, you’ve got the wrong person.”

“Come now. I never forget the face of the only person who’s ever turned down my offer.”

With a smile, he gripped my shoulder.

The attention that had dispersed thanks to my earlier ploy was now focusing back on me.

“Didn’t he say he was a contractor? Why is Cha Kang-in talking to him so casually?”

“Don’t tell me he’s the Hongyeom Guild Master’s secret son or something?”

‘No, I am not.’

I’m not Yoon Kang-hyun’s secret child, nor am I close with Cha Kang-in!

I’m just a harmless contract worker!

Even Ban Gang-ha, now slumped on the floor, looked pale as if realizing everything had gone horribly wrong.

“Teacher, what are you?”

“…I’d like to know that myself.”

Tears welled in my eyes at Kim Seogun’s question.

★★★

“Can I get some more champagne over here?”

How did things end up like this?

The guild master of Chakho Guild was casually ordering champagne at a Hongyeom Guild event.

And not just that—he had taken a seat like he owned the place.

The crowd buzzed with whispers.

It was all thanks to this bizarre scene created by Cha Kang-in, who didn’t even get along with the Hongyeom Guild.

“This champagne’s not bad,” Cha Kang-in said, savoring his drink with a satisfied smile.

‘Please don’t savor the champagne here!’

There’s probably a nice, private table reserved for the Chakho Guild—why are you doing this here?!

“Teacher! Try this!”

Jung Ha-yeon thrust a plate piled high with food into my hands.

It was clearly too much food for me to eat alone.

Cheongsan and Jeong Hayeon had also taken seats.

“Huh? Hayeon, aren’t you right-handed?”

When I taught the kids at the Hongyeom Guild, I had to write daily reports. After all, these kids were potential high-ranking Hunters and needed close observation. Thanks to that, I had picked up on their habits and behavior patterns.

“Oh, I injured my right hand recently. Don’t worry too much about it.”

Contrary to what she said, there were no visible injuries on her right hand.

Was it internal damage or something?

At that moment, I noticed Han Yuseong’s eyes darting around rapidly, scanning the surroundings like he was looking for something. I could more or less guess—it was probably the reason he had come to the party in the first place.

“By the way, Mr. Cha Kangin, how long do you plan to stay here?”

I stared at him in disbelief, but Cha Kangin didn’t even flinch. He just sipped his champagne with an annoyingly smug expression.

“Mr. Kim Onyu, let me make my offer again. Why not leave the Hongyeom Guild and join the Chakho Guild?”

This guy still hadn’t given up?

I had made it clear that I wasn’t interested.

As one of Korea’s top four guild leaders, he’d surely gathered plenty of information about me. After all, the Hongyeom Guild’s power had grown abnormally over the last ten years—during my time there.

“Your talent is too great to be used only within the Hongyeom Guild. Join me, and I’ll ensure you gain tremendous wealth and honor.”

“I refuse.”

“Guh!”

When I rejected him without a second of hesitation, Cha Kangin’s face twisted.

“You’re the first person to reject me twice, Mr. Kim Onyu.”

Is this guy obsessed with himself or what?

Cha Kangin tried to act composed as if he weren’t hurt, but the hand holding his champagne glass was visibly trembling.

Why do I keep getting involved with people like this?

“Shouldn’t you be returning to the Chakho Guild’s table by now?”

Please just go back to your seat already.

But Cha Kangin ignored my not-so-subtle suggestion.

“It’s fine—I left business and guest relations to my deputy guild leader.”

So basically, he dumped everything on his deputy!

I wanted to smack that smug forehead of his.

Surely there were dozens of people at the Chakho Guild table dying to get a word in with him.

“If you ever change your mind, please don’t hesitate to contact me—”

While letting his words go in one ear and out the other, I caught sight of Kim Hanshin moving.

He was heading toward a door no one else seemed to be using.

“I’ll just step out to the restroom.”

No way was I missing this opportunity. It was the perfect chance to talk to Kim Hanshin one-on-one.

I quickly followed after him before the chance slipped away.

Fortunately, no one stopped me as I slipped through the door.

Unlike the brightly lit party hall, the hallway beyond was long and dim, barely bright enough to see a step ahead.

I reached into my pocket, planning to use my phone’s flashlight.

My fingers brushed against Jormungandr’s Fang, disguised as a small accessory. Han Gangwook had given it back to me just before the party, telling me it was finally repaired.

I still didn’t know how he’d gotten my phone number—I had no memory of ever giving it to him.

I had planned to go pick it up in person on the promised date.

Weapons weren’t allowed at this party hosted by the Gangsan Group, so all the Hunters had come unarmed. Not that weapons would be needed at a party like this anyway.

‘Maybe I brought it unconsciously…’

I found my phone and turned on the flashlight, pushing back the hallway’s darkness.

Why would Kim Hanshin come down such a dark hallway?

There weren’t even lights on, making it clear no one had passed through here in a long time.

Who knew what kind of room waited at the end?

I cautiously stepped forward.

‘I’m not filming a spy movie, what is this…’

The creepy atmosphere was perfect for a ghost to jump out at any moment.

Then, I heard someone’s voice nearby.

As I walked further, the voice grew clearer.

“…if you just wait a little longer…”

The moment I saw the speaker, I instinctively ducked out of sight.

It was none other than Mikael.

Was I cursed today or something?

I kept running into all the people I least wanted to see.

Mikael, dressed sharply in a suit, was speaking with Kim Donghyuk.

There was no sign of Kim Hanshin anywhere.

‘What’s that guy doing here?’

Mikael was supposed to be in Korea unofficially. Ever since he betrayed Korea and went to another country, public opinion about him had been horrible.

If a broadcast camera caught him here, public outrage would explode.

That wouldn’t be good for Mikael either.

And yet, here he was, at a very public event.

And he seemed to be on friendly terms with Kim Seogun’s older brother, Kim Donghyuk.

“How much longer am I supposed to wait!” Kim Donghyuk shouted in frustration—his voice came through clearly.

Mikael’s voice, however, was harder to make out.

What good would it do me to eavesdrop on their conversation?

I was about to head back, assuming Kim Hanshin had already left the area, when—

“Kim Seogun…”

I froze mid-step.

Faintly, but unmistakably, Michael had said Kim Seogun’s name.

I turned back, trying to get close enough to hear the conversation.

But even with my enhanced Hunter hearing, I couldn’t make out Mikael’s words.

Still, I was certain he was talking about Kim Seogun.

If I just got a little closer, I might hear—

And then, someone grabbed my shoulder.

“Teacher?”

I flinched and turned around—Cheongsan was standing there blankly.

Damn it! His voice might’ve been heard on their end.

I quickly looked back—but Mikael and Kim Donghyuk had vanished without a trace.

It felt like I’d seen a mirage in the desert.

“What are you doing here?”

“What are you doing here?”

“I was worried you’d get lost trying to find the restroom, so I followed you.”

…Who was I to complain?

I couldn’t even scold a kid who followed me out of concern.

Looked like I had to give up on finding Kim Hanshin and just go back for now.