Chapter 463: Taming (2)

“First, this is the signing bonus I have in mind.”

On the tablet PC she held out once again, there was a number written with a whole lot of zeros attached to it.

The number 10 billion won.

“This is strictly a signing bonus. Literally, it is nothing more than compensation for you joining our HK Guild, Hunter Choi Kanghyuk.”

A signing bonus.

It was not money that had to be paid back, nor was it an amount that would later be deducted from his settlement.

Literally, it meant that it was money they would simply give him just for joining HK.

A full 10 billion won.

It looked like an absurdly large sum of money, but Joo Hyungyeong thought differently.

‘Considering all the benefits Dark Knights gained because of Kang Taeseok alone, this amount is nothing.’

Joo Hyungyeong also presented various other conditions.

“If you go to an A-rank gate. We will give you the right to select whichever colleagues you want from within the guild. It would also be fine for you to form an entirely dedicated team.”

This would remain valid even after Choi Kanghyuk became an S-rank hunter.

S-rank gates did not open very often anyway.

During periods when no S-rank gates opened and they had time to rest, most S-rank hunters would visit A-rank gates as a way to loosen up.

“If you wish, Hunter Choi Kanghyuk, we can also assign you a dedicated driver or manager.”

In addition, she presented various other conditions regarding the settlement ratio and other matters.

“Furthermore, once you rise to S-rank, Hunter Choi Kanghyuk, we will pay you an additional incentive at that time. Twice the signing bonus promised earlier.”

Joo Hyungyeong kept the words she had spoken.

A succession of unprecedented conditions.

They were certainly contract conditions unlike anything that had ever existed in the Republic of Korea.

But why was that?

The longer the conversation continued, the more sweat slowly trickled down Joo Hyungyeong’s back.

‘Why, why is there no reaction?’

That expression was, how should she put it.

Indifferent? Bored?

He was not interested even in conditions like these?

Was it an act to gain the upper hand in the contract?

‘That is not it.’

Because it was not as though she had met only one or two people like that before.

Her thoughts were correct.

Choi Kanghyuk had little interest in wealth and glory.

Someone once said.

That one should be most wary of a person who claimed, ‘I am not interested in money.’

Because such a person was the one most obsessed with money.

But Choi Kanghyuk truly did not have much interest in it.

It was because of the experiences he had when he was Mujin.

The emperor’s closest confidant. Beneath one man and above ten thousand. Because he had experienced possessing absolute authority.

Choi Kanghyuk had not been someone who wielded power however he pleased, but if he wanted to, he could do anything.

No matter how astonishing the conditions Joo Hyungyeong presented were, they were nothing particularly special to Choi Kanghyuk.

Of course, it was not as though he had no need for money at all.

It had only been four months since he had anxiously worried because making a living had been difficult.

Conversely, as long as there was no problem with making a living, he did not have much greed either.

Ah. And exercise on top of that.

Because to Choi Kanghyuk, exercise itself was life.

In any case, because of Choi Kanghyuk’s indifferent reaction, Joo Hyungyeong grew increasingly anxious.

‘Did another guild already make the first move? Could it be Dark Knights?’

How could she attract the interest of that gym addict hunter?

‘Wait? Gym addict?’

Inside her mind. A brilliant idea suddenly flashed.

“We will build a private gym exclusively for Hunter Choi Kanghyuk, filled with the latest exercise equipment.”

At that, Choi Kanghyuk’s eyes changed completely.

Brightly sparkling eyes.

Feeling that this was it, Joo Hyungyeong opened her mouth.

“And every day, we will provide you with unlimited quantities of the finest chicken breast and protein supplements? In any case, all exercise-related nutritional supplements will be provided free of charge!”

“Oh. Ooooooh!”

A huge gym addict was being reeled in with protein and a Smith machine.

Inside Joo Hyungyeong’s mind. Joy and sorrow crossed paths.

The joy of landing a huge catch. And.

‘He likes a private gym and protein supplements more than 10 billion won? Is he really sane?’

The sorrow of wondering whether it was truly right to stake the future of the guild on a person like that.

***

Fortunately or unfortunately, the contract was not concluded immediately.

As the conversation continued, the course dishes were placed on the table one by one.

“It seems we have spoken only about business. Let us eat comfortably.”

Choi Kanghyuk gladly devoured the salad and steak.

After completing his protein intake, Choi Kanghyuk opened his mouth in a noticeably calmer tone.

“May I ask you just one thing?”

He was not about to ask the brand of exercise equipment that would be placed in the private gym.

Nor was he about to ask what type of protein supplement it would be.

“Yes. Go ahead.”

“You do not look like someone who would only give things to me one-sidedly. So, in exchange for giving me all of that, what do I have to do?”

Having quickly finished replenishing his protein, Choi Kanghyuk’s mind had become clear.

‘Right. A private gym or supplements are things I can buy as long as I have money anyway.’

It was certainly an enticing offer, but not enough for him to immediately bite the bait.

‘I earn close to 100 million won just by going to an A-rank gate once, so do you think I would fall for that much!’

Even the money Choi Kanghyuk had received in settlement after clearing the gate where Sandworms appeared last time had been roughly 80 million won.

It was not that Choi Kanghyuk had earned a particularly large amount.

Rather, because it had been a desert-type gate, the settlement had been relatively low compared to the effort involved.

Because there had been few by-products they could additionally obtain.

These days, A-rank hunters in the hunter industry earned tens of billions of won per year on average.

Even this was only because there were quite a few hunters compared to the number of A-rank gates.

If they cleared A-rank gates every single day, they might earn far more.

A daily wage of 100 million.

An enormous sum ordinary office workers could not even dream of.

That was also why hunters headed into gates despite the danger.

Even if they were not people like Kim Jicheol, who worked out of a sense of duty.

At Choi Kanghyuk’s question, Joo Hyungyeong took a sip of wine and spoke.

“You only need to continue as you have been. Grow quickly and become an S-rank hunter. And when an S-rank gate opens. You only need to participate in clearing the S-rank gate as a tank.”

“That is unexpected. I thought you would attempt the same thing Dark Knights did.”

When an S-rank gate opened. Freely designate which S-rank hunters would go together.

Joo Hyungyeong had said.

That Dark Knights had obtained enormous benefits through this.

At Choi Kanghyuk’s frank observation, Joo Hyungyeong revealed a confident smile.

“I have no intention of using petty methods like Dark Knights. And it would be meaningless anyway.”

When Choi Kanghyuk made a puzzled expression, Joo Hyungyeong added a simple explanation.

“If Hunter Choi Kanghyuk becomes S-rank, there will be nine S-rank hunters. And two tanks.”

“Ah.”

The ratio would break.

Five people made one party.

If two of the nine were tanks, then rather, one position would remain open.

“Just by Hunter Choi Kanghyuk becoming S-rank, it will become possible to stop Dark Knights from running unchecked. After that, I imagine there will probably be competition over the right to clear S-rank gates.”

And Joo Hyungyeong considered that alone sufficient.

“It means that we will finally be able to compete with Dark Knights on equal footing.”

She was confident. Under the same conditions, she was confident that she could rise above Dark Knights.

The more he listened, the more enticing it seemed.

No risk, high return.

“Then is it truly fine for me to continue doing what I originally did? As long as I become an S-rank hunter?”

“Yes.”

“Even if I work together with the Association, or form a party with hunters who do not belong to the guild?”

“Hmm. I would prefer it if you associated with hunters from the guild, but I have no intention of forcing it through the contract.”

He only had to become an S-rank hunter.

Then a 10 billion won signing bonus and an incentive of 20 billion won. An enormous sum of 30 billion won would simply be given to him.

He did not want to become a puppet tied to the guild who had to move according to Representative Joo Hyungyeong’s orders.

Even if she gave him hundreds of millions.

But this was a contract where the other side was unilaterally giving things to him.

Of course, becoming an S-rank hunter was not as easy as calling someone’s dog, and it was not an easy task.

And A-rank or S-rank gates were extremely dangerous places, so it was no different from risking one’s life.

That was to say, in the case of other hunters.

‘At my current pace, it seems I will reach S-rank within a few months with plenty to spare?’

Furthermore, he had already experienced battles where he risked his life to the point of exhaustion in the martial world.

All the conditions Joo Hyungyeong had presented were nothing particularly special to Choi Kanghyuk.

‘Would I be a fool to refuse this much?’

Of course, if he accepted this contract, he could become entangled in disputes over interests between various major guilds.

But the opposite case was the same.

After hearing Representative Joo Hyungyeong’s story, ultimately, the moment he became an S-rank tank. It was a situation where he would inevitably become entangled even if he did not want to.

Then, if he was going to become entangled anyway, would it not be better to take the free money?

Having organized his thoughts, Choi Kanghyuk calmly opened his mouth.

“Then I will ask just one final question.”

“Yes. Go ahead.”

“Could you tell me the brand of the latest Smith machine you said you would buy for me earlier?”

He had absolutely not been tempted by the latest exercise equipment.

“Ah! What about a power rack instead of only a Smith machine? The dumbbells should also be as heavy and sturdy as possible. I may not look it, but I have surpassed! A total of 1,000 kilograms in the big three.”

In any case, he had not.

***

Choi Kanghyuk walked along while humming.

“Hmmmmmm~~”

The latest Smith machine, power rack, and dumbbells.

His muscles naturally twitched.

Well, they were not arriving today immediately.

While walking with his muscles twitching, Choi Kanghyuk arrived at the gym building.

Immediately after reaching the gym entrance by using the stairs. Choi Kanghyuk opened his mouth with a bitter smile.

“Ah! Did you perhaps come to register at the gym? I am sorry. I have been busy with other matters, so I have now stopped recruiting members.”

At the gym entrance. A middle-aged man dressed in a suit was standing still.

At Choi Kanghyuk’s greeting, the man replied with a smile.

“Hahahaha. I did not come because of gym registration, Hunter Choi Kanghyuk.”

He took one step toward Choi Kanghyuk, then took out a business card from his inner pocket and held it out.

“Hello. I am Park Hyungjin, head of the Strategic Planning Office of Dark Knights Guild.”

Choi Kanghyuk smiled faintly.

‘I knew I would become entangled, but I did not expect it to begin like this from today?’

It felt as though the situation was becoming interesting.

“Nice to meet you, Director Park Hyungjin. But then, what business brings you to our gym?”

“Naturally, I came for the same reason as Representative Joo Hyungyeong.”

Park Hyungjin added with a gentle smile.

“Ah! That does not mean we dared to monitor Hunter Choi Kanghyuk or anything of the sort. The person we were keeping an eye on was Representative Joo Hyungyeong. Since we are competitors, is it not unavoidable? Hahahaha.”

When Choi Kanghyuk said nothing, Park Hyungjin let out an awkward cough.

“Ahem. In any case, Dark Knights also wishes to scout Hunter Choi Kanghyuk, so I, the head of the Strategic Planning Office, came here personally.”

“I see.”

Choi Kanghyuk nodded and quietly looked at Director Park Hyungjin.

As though telling him to continue speaking.

At that, Park Hyungjin also gladly continued.

“Our proposal is simple. Whatever amount Representative Joo Hyungyeong offered, we would like to offer twice that amount.”

“Twice the amount without even knowing how much it is?”

Park Hyungjin smiled leisurely.

“Perhaps you could call it the difference between first place and second place in the industry? Hahahaha.”

It was the same confident laughter, but it felt completely different from Representative Joo Hyungyeong’s smile.

“Hmm. I understand that the larger a corporation is, the more it works people in proportion to what it gives them. Seeing as you have presented such conditions, it seems there must also be many things you want from me.”

“Ah! You do not need to worry about that part at all. There are only two conditions we want. To be precise, you only need to follow one of the two.”

“One of the two?”

“Yes. The first condition is that after becoming an S-rank hunter as a member of our guild, you continue clearing S-rank gates as a member of the guild.”

In a way, it was the same offer as Representative Joo Hyungyeong’s.

“And the second condition is for you to retire as a hunter just as you are.”

“Retire?”

At Choi Kanghyuk’s dumbfounded reaction, Park Hyungjin replied with a leisurely attitude.

“Yes. In truth, is the work of a hunter not extremely, extremely dangerous? Furthermore, tanks are even more dangerous than other positions. Work where one risks one’s life. You cannot remain bound to this for your entire life, can you?”

“.......”

“Therefore, we will actively support Hunter Choi Kanghyuk’s retirement. A huge signing bonus large enough for you to live in leisure for the rest of your life. You may take this signing bonus as your retirement fund.”

The corners of Choi Kanghyuk’s mouth naturally twitched.

Together with the thought, ‘Look at these bastards?’