"Thank you for your hard work."

"Hard work? We didn't gain anything."

In response to Secretary Woo Doyoung's words, Park Daehan slumped into his chair after the meeting.

He was an A-rank Hunter himself.

A single meeting shouldn't have exhausted him this much.

However, fatigue doesn't only come from physical exertion.

The mental stress from today's meeting was significant.

"What's left on the schedule?"

Park Daehan looked at Secretary Woo with a very tired face.

"Next, there's a meeting with the Scorpion Guild."

"...Sigh, I see."

"Shall we cancel if you're too tired?"

"No. It's soon, so we can't do that. Let's proceed as planned."

He wanted to cancel desperately, but the Scorpion Guild was one of the top 10 guilds in the country.

Although their reputation wasn't great, there weren't many guilds on friendly terms with the Association, so it was better to maintain close relations with at least one top guild.

"But, Chairman, their demands are excessively high. If we agree to all their conditions, other guilds will surely complain."

"That part... I'll try to renegotiate when we meet."

"......"

From their attitude in the last meeting, it was clear they wouldn't budge an inch from their demands.

But Secretary Woo didn't say more.

More than anything, he noticed how tired Park Daehan looked.

It had been a year and a half since he started working for Park Daehan after the previous secretary retired, and he didn't want to add more stress to his already weary boss.

"...Yes, understood."

Just then.

Ding!

Secretary Woo's phone rang.

"Yes, what's up? ...What? Just send them away. Why are you asking me? I don't care if it's the convenience store owner's son or whatever, just send them away, alright?"

Secretary Woo answered the call with a slightly irritated voice and then hung up.

"Hmm? What's going on?"

"It's nothing. You don't need to worry about it."

"Did someone come by again?"

It wasn't the first time that hot-tempered Hunters barged in, demanding to see someone important, so it was easy to guess what had happened from the conversation.

"Yes. It's a common occurrence."

"Good grief... But the convenience store owner's son? What's that about?"

"They said you'd know if I mentioned it. Haha. There are all sorts of characters out there. Apparently, they said you'd know if I mentioned the Taejongdae convenience store owner's son."

"Hah. Now even convenience store owner's sons are coming to see me. This is crazy. Haha, ha..."

Then, Park Daehan's laughter abruptly stopped.

"...Wait a minute? What did you just say? Which convenience store?"

"Pardon?"

"What did you just say?"

"Uh, it was the Taejongdae convenience store."

Tae. Jong. Dae. Con. Ven. Ience. Store.

...Hmm?

"Ahhh! Oh my God!"

Suddenly, Park Daehan's eyes widened as if in a seizure, and he couldn't control his raised voice.

"Stop them!"

"Sorry?"

"No, no! Contact downstairs immediately and make sure they don't leave, no, bring them up! Got it?"

"What on earth...?"

"No, no, I need to go down right now!"

"Chairman!"

"Oh my goodness! Ahhh!"

Before Secretary Woo could respond, Park Daehan dashed out of the room in his socks.

Looking at Park Daehan, Secretary Woo was left with a blank expression.

Who on earth is this Taejongdae convenience store owner's son?

* * *

A Rolls-Royce sped down the road.

Behind it, two luxury cars followed in line.

"When do you think they'll accept our proposal?"

A man with dark skin and a massive build, yet dressed more flamboyantly than anyone, leaned back in the rear seat and asked leisurely.

Then,

"They'll probably bow their heads and accept the proposal today."

A thin, sinister-looking man sitting in the front seat replied.

"Currently, Chairman Park Daehan is in a very difficult position both internally and externally. At a time when he desperately needs even one person to support him, how can he refuse a large-scale top guild like ours extending a hand? He'll likely accept soon."

"Good."

The man with the massive build in the flashy suit.

Scorpion Guild's Guild Master, Jo Jinnam, smiled with satisfaction.

"If that happens, our Scorpion Guild will soon be one of the top five guilds in Korea. Heh heh."

How long had he wished for this?

To reach his current position, he and the Scorpion Guild didn't hesitate to do any dirty work.

They began to crush and merge countless small and large guilds to grow in size.

Using all sorts of dirty tricks and schemes...

As a result of several years, the Scorpion Guild became one of the top ten guilds in Korea.

However, he had no intention of being satisfied with just that.

His goal was to swallow Korea and rise to a position where he could manipulate it to his liking.

Until he obtained the wealth and honor to enjoy luxury for a long time.

Of course, there were realms he couldn't dare to challenge.

From decades ago to just a few years ago, the immovable guilds and their masters who displayed an unmatched presence as top guilds.

'The Four Great Guilds.'

Jo Jinnam had experienced firsthand that they lived in a different world from him through a single incident long ago.

But,

'As long as we exclude those monsters, no one can defy us.'

That was all that mattered.

And today, that reality felt not too far off.

Yes, it wouldn't be long now.

Jo Jinnam's eyes gleamed with greed.

Screech!

Before he knew it, the vehicle he was in arrived at its destination.

"We've arrived. Please disembark, Boss."

Hmm.

Jo Jinnam got out of the car.

He slowly looked up at the Hunter Association's headquarters building.

It's always an impressive building.

"Let's go."

Yes!

They looked more like gangsters than Hunters.

They entered the association building, resembling a scene from an old crime movie poster.

But then,

"That's impossible."

"No, I'm telling you, they said they don't know you at all upstairs."

In the lobby, someone was having a dispute.

"Please, just check one more time. Okay?"

The security guard, holding his throbbing head, spoke again.

"Look, I asked just in case, and I got a thorough scolding. Anyway, it's not possible, so please leave."

"Wow, that guy's useless. He acted like he'd give me the world before."

"I don't know what you're saying, but if you keep insisting, I'll have no choice but to use force."

Huh.

A chuckle escaped Jo Jinnam's lips.

"This isn't some flea market."

"There are always troublemakers like that everywhere. Don't worry about it, Boss."

Just then.

Ding!

The elevator, which only the chairman used, arrived at the first-floor lobby.

And someone rushed out in a hurry.

With a very urgent and anxious face.

And it was a familiar face.

Following closely, Secretary Woo Doyoung, the chairman's right-hand man, stepped out of the elevator.

Heh.

A smile of greed and satisfaction spread across Scorpion Guild Master Jo Jinnam's face.

Looking this way, he seemed so surprised and pleased that his face was flushed.

If this weren't the lobby, he might have bowed.

It must have been really urgent, just as the deputy guild master said.

Seeing that, he thought today's deal would yield a lot.

Thud, thud, thud!

The chairman ran toward them at full speed.

Raising his hand, Jo Jinnam approached Park Daehan with an outstretched hand.

"Oh my, how did you know I arrived and came running out like this? Haha! With this kind of welcome, I'm really looking forward to today's meeting..."

But then.

Whoosh!

Ignoring Jo Jinnam completely, Park Daehan rushed past them.

As if they were of no importance.

And then, Park Daehan's eyes caught sight of the convenience store owner's son and the security guard trying to force him out.

"Heyyyyy! Wait a miiiinute! Stoooop!"

Park Daehan couldn't help but scream at the top of his lungs.

The burly security guard holding Tae Ihyun turned his head.

There stood Park Daehan, his face flushed red, panting heavily.

"Oh, Chairman."

"You, you. You! Let go of that, that, that hand!"

Park Daehan pointed a trembling finger at the security guard's hand holding Tae Ihyun.

"Sorry?"

"That hand, I mean. That wicked hand!"

No way, really?

"Ah. Yes."

Tae Ihyun, freed from the security guard's grasp, dusted off his clothes.

"......"

"Haha... Oh, who do we have here? How have you been?"

Forcing a smile, Park Daehan greeted Tae Ihyun, who looked quite displeased.

"Well, I've been alright, I guess. Until I was about to be unceremoniously kicked out."

"I'm really sorry. I never imagined you'd come by. And I thought I gave you my direct contact."

"I lost it. I didn't think I'd ever need to contact you again."

"......"

Isn't that the same as saying he threw it away?

"Ahem, ahem! Anyway, I don't know why you're here, but how about we go upstairs and talk?"

"Sure. Do you have that drink? I'm parched."

"Oh, that one? Of course, of course. Isn't that your favorite drink? My fridge is always stocked with it."

"I don't drink anything past its expiration date."

"Don't worry about that. Hahaha!"

Park Daehan and Tae Ihyun got into the VIP elevator leading directly to the chairman's office.

And the way Park Daehan treated Tae Ihyun was nothing short of respectful.

Once Park Daehan disappeared with Tae Ihyun,

Silence.

The lobby felt like the calm after a storm.

Huh...

The expressions of Jo Jinnam, the Scorpion Guild Master, and his entourage were even more spectacular.

After a moment of being dazed, Jo Jinnam looked at Secretary Woo.

"Hey, Secretary Woo. Who on earth is that guy for the chairman to make such a fuss?"

"Well, it's..."

Finally, Secretary Woo spoke,

"They say he's the son of some convenience store owner."

"...What?"

But neither Secretary Woo, the Scorpion Guild, nor the security staff could understand the situation.

Who exactly is this convenience store owner's son?

...Did he have an outstanding tab or something?