Ranker’s Return

“This is the first time we’re meeting. I am Robinson Rockefeller. I am Mason’s father.”

Hyeonu momentarily lost his mind upon hearing the greeting from Robinson Rockefeller, a giant of the era. Rather than giving a natural response, he creaked like a broken robot: “Yes, hello. I am Gang Hyeonu.”

When Mason saw such a Hyeonu, he couldn’t hide his laughter, and it brought Hyeonu back to his senses.

‘I won’t be having any further contact with him anyway.’ Hyeonu felt at ease when he thought so.

There was no need to feel uncomfortable. He thought about how they would never meet again, and the awkwardness he felt due to the gap in status between him and Robinson Rockefeller was largely resolved. To Robinson Rockefeller, Hyeonu was just a teammate, and to Hyeonu, this was the father of someone he treated as a little brother. It was nothing more and nothing less. 

Hyeonu looked at Robinson Rockefeller with a lighter expression.

‘He’s come to his senses.’ Robinson Rockefeller’s eyes shone when he noticed Hyeonu’s visible transformation. Hyeonu’s frozen expression relaxed like it was melting in the spring breeze.

‘He’s able to look so comfortable in front of me, Robinson Rockefeller?’ Robison Rockefeller remarked inwardly. There weren’t many people who could make such a calm expression in front of Robinson Rockefeller—a giant of the world. At most, it was a double-digit number out of the over seven billion people in the world.

“Hey, gray hair. What are you doing there? If you came to see your son, just look at him. Why are you killing my dongsaeng?” Kim Seokjung appeared. He had left the hall to go to the bathroom earlier and had just gotten back. Upon his return, Kim Seokjung immediately spoke to Robinson Rockefeller like they were close friends.

Robinson Rockefeller greeted Kim Seokjung just as comfortably: “No matter how hard I looked for you, I couldn’t see you. Were you hiding somewhere? Did you hear I was coming here?” 

It was like watching the conversation between Yeongchan and Hyeonu.

“Hiding? Me? You sound ridiculous. This Kim Seokjung doesn’t hide.”

“Then I’ll think of it as that.”

Mason and Hyeonu were surprised to hear the conversation between the two men. Mason was surprised by a sight he had never seen before, while Hyeonu was surprised that Kim Seokjung was so close to Robinson Rockefeller.

Robinson Rockefeller felt the eyes of the two younger men and introduced his relationship with Kim Seokjung to Mason: “20 years? No, it was around 30 years ago. We ran into each other in California. At that time, he had nothing, but I felt good about his confident personality and the look in his eyes.” 

“It wasn’t nothing. Isn’t that a bit harsh? Didn’t I say that the reason I came to California was to buy a farm?” Kim Seokjung got angry. This was an obvious fabrication of the past. The first time he met Robinson Rockefeller, he had come to California to build a farm. It was a deal that cost tens of billions of dollars.

“In addition, it was 20 years, rather than 30 years. I remember you showing me a photo of your child at the time,” Kim Seokjung corrected Robinson Rockefeller precisely. He’d first met Robinson Rockefeller after Mason was born. In fact, it was the exact year when Mason had been born and not 30 years ago.

“Is that so? Honestly, I don’t remember exactly when I met you. If I’m wrong, I’m sorry,” Robinson Rockefeller said with a smile. Then he turned around to look at Mason. “Let’s go have a small chat, Mason.”

Robinson Rockefeller left with Mason. Once they disappeared, people flocked to Hyeonu’s side. Among them were Reina and Mascherano.

“It has been a while, Mister Gang.”

“It has been a long time, Hyeonu.”

Hyeonu noticed the two people and greeted them. It was an unexpected visit from guests. Still, it was more of a pleasure than a surprise since they were already good friends. They had met dozens of times in Arena and completed quite a few battles and quests together. Since they had actually met more than a few times, it would be stranger if they were not close.

“Should I thank you for coming all the way to South Korea? Since you are here, I hope you enjoy your stay.” Hyeonu smiled and held out a glass full of champagne.

“Coming to South Korea isn’t difficult. All we needed to do was make the trip. Everything was already prepared.” Mascherano recalled the process of coming to South Korea as he clinked their glasses together.

There had been nothing difficult or bothersome. A chartered plane had been waiting at John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport. Then in South Korea, the vehicles the two people had talked about in advance had also been waiting for them. It had been a more comfortable trip than when he moved with the support of the team. All he had to do was move his body.

“Is that so? Then I’m glad.” Hyeonu took a sip of champagne and swallowed it while smelling the scent.

He felt the pungent carbonation go through his esophagus and frowned slightly. Reina looked at Hyeonu and asked, “The next time we meet will probably be in the United States?” 

‘The United States?’ Hyeonu briefly thought about what Reina’s words meant and nodded. He replied, “Yes, that’s correct. Arena Week is in the United States.”

Perhaps their next meeting would be at Arena Week. In the meantime, they wouldn’t be able to meet even if they wanted to. Arena Week was a very big and important competition that required a lot of preparation.

‘Um...? Isn’t this an atmosphere where I should leave?’ Mascherano saw the two people starting a conversation and detected a subtle atmosphere. He looked back and forth between the faces of the two people. However, it was Kim Seokjung who caught Mascherano’s eyes, and he sent strong glances toward Mascherano. Mascherano recognized what Kim Seokjung meant and left quietly.

“Then I’ll invite you at that time. I feel burdened and sorry because I am only receiving things from you every time,” Reina said.

“There is no need to be sorry... If you invite me, I won’t refuse,” Hyeonu replied.

Reina and Hyeonu chatted without even noticing that Mascherano had disappeared. Their conversation was mainly focused on small talk. In fact, there wasn’t much to share seriously. They just asked about how each other was doing.

“Do you have a girlfriend?” Reina asked suddenly. Upon hearing that, Hyeonu cocked his head in surprise, but his answer emerged in a mild manner. Although the question was a bit out of the blue, he didn’t think it was something that couldn’t be answered.

“No, I don’t have one now. It has been quite some time since I’ve dated...”

Hyeonu’s last relationship was before he went to the military.

“Really? Why so long...” Reina was surprised by Hyeonu’s answer. She knew roughly that he wasn’t in a relationship at the moment. However, it was her first time finding out that he had been alone for so long. On the surface, he was a man with no shortcomings. There were many people around him, so it was hard to understand why he was alone.

“There were just a lot of circumstances.”

At Hyeonu’s words, the atmosphere settled down. A sad sincerity could be felt from his brief words.

“What is your ideal type? Are you single because you’ve got your sights set too high?” Reina asked a light question to rekindle the mood. It was similar to the kinds of questions that were asked at a blind date.

“My ideal type? I’m not that picky...”

“Really? Then what is it?”

“Just... someone I can communicate with and has a pretty heart?”

“Pfft,” Reina burst out laughing. Hyeonu’s words were funny. Reina had heard such words more than once or twice. Every time she heard them, she felt they were very ordinary, so she didn’t know why they were so funny today.

“Why are you laughing?” Hyeonu looked at the laughing Reina with a sullen expression. He told her his ideal type, and all she could do was laugh.

‘It’s all true. What’s the problem?’ 

Hyeonu’s ideal type was exactly like this. It was someone who had similar interests to him. She should also be a bit more outgoing than Hyeonu to lead the conversation. Appearance didn’t matter.

‘It would be good if she were pretty, but...’

He knew full well that looks weren’t everything.

“Isn’t the atmosphere over there unusual?”

“I smell something...”

“Were the two of them originally so close?”

Conversations took place in the spacious hall around Hyeonu and Reina, and most of them included expressions of surprise that Hyeonu and Reina were so friendly.

“I was right as expected?”

“I thought the two of them looked good together.”

Only Kim Seokjung and Gang Junggu understood to a certain extent and nodded with happy smiles. They were different from the others who questioned it.

“Then let’s get started.”

“Good, Hyung-nim.”

The two of them had united smiles as they walked toward Hyeonu and Reina.

***

Hyeonu dressed in all types of clothes to protect him from the cold as much as possible as he stood at the entrance of the hotel.

‘Why am I standing here?’

This hotel was the same hotel where the party was held yesterday. Hyeonu returned here to meet someone.

‘Why did I make such a promise?’

He’d agreed to it when the atmosphere of the party had been at its peak—in other words, when Hyeonu was in a state where alcohol was endlessly flowing through his body. Kim Seokjung had been sitting at the same table with Hyeonu, and he had said in a quiet voice, “I looked at Reina and said she should have a guide around South Korea since she came so far.”

At the time, Hyeonu had nodded in agreement without any doubts because he thought that was obvious. Reina had flown from the US to join the party, so it was a fine idea to leave her good memories of South Korea.

‘So why should I do it?’

The problem was that the guide was Hyeonu. Nevertheless, Hyeonu couldn’t refute the logic Kim Seokjung put forward. The guide needed to be a person who knew South Korea well and could move with Reina without discomfort. Only Hyeonu satisfied both conditions. The rest didn’t meet the latter condition.

‘I hoped Mascherano would come as well...’

Matters had become worse because Mascherano was sleeping due to excessive alcohol intake last night, so he was now completely passed out. Hyeonu couldn’t ask him to come at all.

Just then, Reina walked out of the hotel elevator. She was very beautiful in white sneakers.

“She is pretty,” Hyeonu couldn’t help saying to himself. No, it wasn’t just Hyeonu. Anyone would say the same thing when they saw Reina.

“Hello,” Reina greeted Hyeonu as she approached with gentle steps.

“Are you feeling well? You seemed like you drank a lot yesterday,” Hyeonu led the conversation naturally.

“I didn’t drink much, so it’s fine. Hyeonu... are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine as well. This is good enough.”

After Hyeonu replied, Reina raised her white hand and covered her smiling mouth.

‘Why is she smiling?’ Hyeonu cocked at Reina who was smiling for no reason.

Then he asked, “Do you know of any places you want to visit in Seoul?”

Reina lowered her hand and answered Hyeonu’s question, “Namsan.”