The S-Classes That I Raised

Chapter 490: I Don’t Have Much to Offer (1)

At a not-so-large airport, planes kept touching down one after another. Most weren’t commercial airliners but private jets of various shapes, and only a few passengers showed themselves outside the fuselage. At most under ten; at least, just a single person who didn’t even bother with the boarding stairs and simply jumped down. Chief Song Taewon watched them in silence.

“Chief Song Taewon, aren’t you here as a guest this time as well?”

Standing beside him, Shishio said there was no need to trouble himself, since Amaterasu Guild was managing things. But Song Taewon did not stop checking the incoming guests.

“The odds of this gathering ending quietly are slim, so I need to prepare documentation.”

“Prepare?”

“In case it turns into an international incident, to protect our nation’s Hunters. Please back up all video materials as frequently as possible.”

“And if evidence unfavorable to Korean Hunters comes out, what then?”

“Stopping that before it happens is my job.”

Song Taewon answered evenly. Shishio looked at him as if he were fascinating.

“Just as I’d heard—truly peculiar. An S-rank Hunter acting like an ordinary civil servant.”

“I am a civil servant before I am a Hunter.”

“Don’t you ever feel like ditching the boring watchdog role and rampaging alongside everyone?”

“I don’t enjoy it.”

“Impossible! Put a cat’s pelt on, it’s still a tiger inside.”

“There are few S-rank Hunters who like to wait.”

“Hm?”

Song Taewon tilted his head back to look up at the sky.

“When the airport hits saturation—”

Before he could finish, something dropped straight down from a dizzying height. And—

KWAANG!

The thick pavement split, shards blasting high into the air. Calmly, Song Taewon made a note.

“France’s Eric Diquaire. Bill him for the airport repairs.”

“Someone you know?”

“I haven’t met him in person. He’s the Guildmaster of the Turschen Guild—the one who lodged a protest with the Korean Hunter Association about Hunter Noah Luhir’s affiliation. He’s likely to pick a fight with Director Han Yujin and Haeyeon Guild, so consider him a watch-list subject.”

“In that case, I’ll remember him too.”

At Shishio’s words, Song Taewon shot him a sidelong glance. The Amaterasu Guildmaster’s eagerness to treat Han Yujin well couldn’t help but feel odd. He’d suffered plenty at their hands, and expecting him to raise a Flame Horned Lion for them hardly explained this level of zeal. Was there another reason yet to be revealed?

“So long as I draw breath, not a finger will touch Director Han Yujin!”

With a hearty laugh, Shishio dramatically glared at the French Hunter as the man headed for the waiting car.

‘…His simple personality plays a big part too, but still.’

He certainly didn’t seem the type to hold grudges. Among S-rank Hunters, there were a few with that sort of breezy, unbothered disposition. With enough power and capability to live that way, if the mood struck them, they could forget even a great loss in no time.

Anyway, there was no downside to someone being friendly toward Han Yujin. Checking the Hunters disembarking from the plane that had just landed, Song Taewon spoke up.

“Mr. Han Yujin asked me to tell you not to come on the first day, Guildmaster.”

“Why ever not!”

Instead of answering, Song Taewon removed his in-ear and the connected mic and handed them to Shishio.

“Director Han Yujin!”

[Just one day, just one day. See? I’m being good. I need a dependable S-rank Hunter to welcome any late-arriving uninvited guests off the island. And Mr. Shishio, you’re truly reliable!]

“If that’s the case, well.”

[Thank you! As expected, Mr. Shishio, you’re the best!]

“Hahahaha! But of course!”

Beaming, Shishio handed the communicator back to Song Taewon. Feeling a faint sting, as if from something prickly where no thrill should be, Song Taewon set the in-ear back in place. Another person had been pulled within Han Yujin’s circle.

Just then, a familiar plane rolled onto the runway. The private jet raced down the broad road, slowing until it came to a gentle stop. Before the stairs could even reach the door, it swung open and someone lightly hopped down. Golden hair flicked like a tail as Kang Soyeong stretched with both arms out.

“Felt like I was locked up for a whole week! Chief Song! Hello!”

Kang Soyeong bounced over to Song Taewon, then lowered her voice to whisper.

“It really wasn’t a place for people. Barely two hours, but the air was so stifling~. Hello to you too, Guildmaster Shishio~ love the hairstyle!”

By then the stairs had reached the door, and the remaining passengers showed themselves. At the sight of that familiar black-red coat, one of Song Taewon’s eyebrows twitched—barely. Rumors had quietly spread that the Sesung Guildmaster had gifted Director Dodam with Silekia’s Wings. But to drape Silekia so openly upon emerging like that was practically the same as personally nailing down that the rumors were nonsense. Not only that, it would likely dampen the appended claims about the closeness between the two sides.

When seeded information is revealed to be false, the stories connected to it naturally lose credibility as well.

Following the Sesung Guildmaster down the stairs, Evelyn and Chloe also exited the plane. Seong Hyunjae’s gaze touched first on Song Taewon, then on Shishio beside him. Seeing that, Evelyn spoke softly.

“I’ll go on ahead.”

As if wanting nothing to do with it, she turned away at once. Chloe followed behind her. Kang Soyeong, reading the mood, slipped to the side.

“Mm, I’m supposed to meet with Liette, so I’ll get going.”

As Kang Soyeong hurried off, Seong Hyunjae stepped up to Song Taewon and gave a small shrug.

“Everyone’s so heartless.”

“Guildmaster Seong, are you heading to the island as well…”

Song Taewon started to speak, then stopped with a bitten-tongue expression. Among the guests heading for the island were a few faces he knew. Seong Hyunjae would know far more of them.

“If it’s all right, please wait a moment and travel with me.”

At his words, those golden eyes curved faintly. To a stranger, it would look like a gentle smile. But Song Taewon could easily tell that Seong Hyunjae wasn’t in the best of moods. Not to mention, even Kang Soyeong had said the atmosphere had felt stifling all the way here.

The island was already a stage for sparring nerves among the guests. Sending Seong Hyunjae alone would be no different from tossing a grenade with the pin pulled.

“Have I ever refused a request of yours, Chief Song?”

There were plenty of times, but Song Taewon swallowed the words. Just then, Shishio butted in.

“Is the rumor true that you’ve gone cold on Director Han Yujin, Guildmaster Seong?”

“What a belated question.”

“No, I’m thinking it’s welcome news from our Director Han’s perspective. In any case, looks like it wrapped up cleanly—what a relief!”

Grinning, Shishio said he’d been a bit worried. Suppressing a sigh, Song Taewon addressed him.

“I’ll keep handling things here, so please check the helipad, Guildmaster Shishio. By now, there’s a high chance disputes are breaking out over turn order. Some Hunters may refuse to ride with others.”

“That could happen.”

With an okay, Shishio strode off. Watching a just-arrived Hunter watching this way—more precisely, watching Seong Hyunjae—Song Taewon spoke.

“If you’re willing to wait, please wait inside.”

“Aren’t these long-time familiar faces? Being greeted out here wouldn’t be so bad.”

“There are people for whom Guildmaster Seong is not a welcome sight.”

“Such a hurtful thing to say. I’ve lived a respectable life, I’ll have you know.”

Frowning slightly, Song Taewon took the attendee list from his inventory and checked those not yet arrived. The one consolation was that Seong Hyunjae wouldn’t be the first to provoke. Even just standing still, it was an environment where someone would pick a fight—but that, he could move to block first.

“Not attending was an option too, wasn’t it? I heard you arranged to receive information on the Monster Mounts in advance.”

“Director Han personally handed me an invitation—how could I refuse?”

“Aren’t you choosing to ignore him right now.”

“Have you checked the back of the neck?”

At that, Song Taewon’s face hardened further. It had been nagging at him the whole time. Han Yujin called it a simple invitation mark, but he had a bad feeling.

“Even covered over with Han Yujin’s mana, it was irritating.”

“Is it dangerous again?”

“As always. He surely didn’t take care of himself.”

How troublesome. Seong Hyunjae’s eyes held a narrow smile.

A few planes touched down and took off again, clearing their spots, and more planes settled into the vacated spaces. The airport’s noise droned in the two men’s ears without pause. A handful of Hunters stared at Seong Hyunjae, but thankfully, none approached; they moved on.

And then another plane landed. Again, without stairs, a Hunter hopped down. Dressed like he’d just returned from vacation—loud Hawaiian shirt, shorts, even sunglasses. Season-blind beach sandals went tak-tak against the ground.

“Guildmaster Seong!”

That Hunter—Hwang Rim—took off his sunglasses and smiled brightly. At the same time, Song Taewon’s gaze cooled.

“It’s been a while. You too, Chief Song. Ah, didn’t we run into each other that one time? I saw you from afar.”

With an easy manner, Hwang Rim approached the two.

“Hwang Rim Hunter is not on the list.”

Song Taewon’s voice was chilly. Hooking his sunglasses into his shirt, Hwang Rim’s lips curled.

“I received an invitation under my American name. Richard Hwang—figured you’d recognize it.”

“The A-rank Hunter, you mean.”

“Calling myself S-rank overseas is a hassle. The name’s owner really is A-rank.”

Smiling with crinkled eyes, Hwang Rim pulled a cigarette case from his inventory.

“Drink and smoke go together, don’t they? I’m here to do business, so don’t get too prickly.”

Can’t miss such a prime promotional opportunity, he joked.

“This time, I’m a plain old tradesman, not an S-rank Hunter.”

He spread his arms, saying he’d come light in body and mind, then turned half a step to face Seong Hyunjae.

“I hear you’ve picked up your bad habit again.”

“Why are there so many sorts who love blabbing about other people’s affairs.”

Seong Hyunjae let his eyes droop as if bored. Unfazed, Hwang Rim put on a face full of curiosity.

“It’s surely just nonsense, of course.”

“You’re standing in front of me this intact, aren’t you.”

If it weren’t nonsense, you wouldn’t be standing here—at that, Hwang Rim laughed aloud.

“Not the type to tire of easily, are we. Our Wooni missed you so much he’s been pining away. Took some doing to stop him from coming along in his poor condition.”

“Hwang Rim Hunter’s visit doesn’t strike me as a sound choice either.”

“All I did was dote on him, you know. More importantly, Guildmaster Seong.”

The cigarette case tapped Seong Hyunjae’s tie.

“Care for a smoke?”

“I’m quitting.”

“My, my. For the walking billboard to refuse—how disappointing.”

The metal case, lightly poised at his fingertips, vanished like a magic trick. His fingers clicked together.

“Hold back too long and it’ll make you sick.”

“Isn’t it the other way around.”

“If it looks precious to me, it’s usually precious to others too. Especially if it’s caught the eye of Guildmaster Seong—someone will snatch it up in an instant.”

Hwang Rim took a large step back.

“I’m just a spectator, but I do love peace. It’s easier on everyone when there’s a clear owner, don’t you think?”

Saying he’d go peddle his wares, Hwang Rim took his leave. A brief silence fell, and Song Taewon swallowed a sigh.

“He also holds U.S. nationality, and officially, the kidnapper of Breeding Facility Director Han Yujin is not a Chinese Hunter.”

“I’m aware.”

“Do not kill him on a whim.”

At the warning, Seong Hyunjae tilted his head, puzzled.

“Shouldn’t you be telling that to others, if you want to keep a pile of ash labeled Richard Hwang from accumulating on the island?”

“…”

“I’m not all that offended.”

Feeling a headache coming on, Song Taewon turned his mic back on.

“What’s the situation on the island?”

[Looks like some French Hunter picked a fight.]

Han Yujin’s voice was light.

[Can’t see it from here, but one guy shouldn’t be a problem. Ah, smoke’s going up. I hear explosions too.]

It was all too predictable. Even so, Song Taewon couldn’t hold back the sigh that slipped out.