Ch.128Change Is Dangerous (4)

Ding!

Ding!

Ding!

[Master, have you seen the news?]

[The situation seems similar to last time.]

[Maybe the guilds are working on something again……]

As I was watching the news in the living room, crunching on scorched rice, urgent messages arrived one after another from Song Hayeon.

To be honest, the content was pretty much what I had expected.

‘Well, it was about time this came up.’

In the past two weeks alone, I’ve cleared over twenty dungeons. Moreover, most of them were B-rank or higher.

When I had nothing else to do, I even cleared two dungeons at once, so the dissatisfaction of other guilds capable of clearing high-rank dungeons must have reached its peak.

They too couldn’t grow or gain various benefits if they couldn’t conquer dungeons.

But what could I do?

Equal growth? More fair opportunities?

Even if I looked after those things and filled the pockets of other guilds, they still wouldn’t match me alone.

The Association knew this too, which is why they were taking my side as much as possible.

‘The public is on my side anyway.’

Who am I?

I’ve already cleared two S-rank dungeons, revived the dead Chaehwa-in, exposed America’s conspiracy, and now brought two S-rank hunters to Korea through my excellent connections.

Essentially, I’m already a national hero. Someone who should be praised by everyone.

It was obvious that any attempt to undermine my popularity, which had reached its peak, would be futile.

That’s why I didn’t even care about their actions. I thought they would just get tired and drop out if I ignored them and focused on my work.

However, propaganda and fabrication have proven throughout history to be among the most powerful tools.

A few days later, I could only furrow my brow in displeasure as I witnessed the rapidly changing public opinion.

【Professor Jang of Gyeyoung University: “One person, many dungeons—it’s clear what serves the people and the nation best.”】

【Guild Master Jang Manpil of Yukdo Guild: “We respect high-ranking hunters, but more hunters are needed in the field.”】

【Association Management Response Team 1 Leader Choi Jeongseok on proper resource management.】

Self-proclaimed experts unanimously called for efficiency and practicality, claiming the guilds’ arguments had merit. Even citizens who initially showed no interest gradually began to be swayed by this wave.

– Well, they’re not wrong, are they? There are tons of dungeons, and high-rank hunters can’t be deployed to all of them.

– True. There’ve been over ten dungeons near my home, but I’ve literally never seen an A-rank hunter or above.

– When it comes to high-rank dungeons, maybe, but ultimately it’s the lower-ranked hunters who are responsible for the safety of the vast majority.

Efficiency and safety.

These are keywords that are inevitably sensitive to ordinary citizens.

From the perspective of citizens who don’t know the detailed circumstances, the plausible opinions of experts resonated more deeply.

Eventually, public opinion shifted, and citizens urged the Hunter Association to take action, saying appropriate regulations were needed to neutralize this controversy.

Various communities, most public opinion, and even public media.

All expressed similar opinions, criticizing me knowingly or unknowingly.

Some extreme opinions even went so far as to label me as a villain who acted recklessly and only cared about myself.

Watching these reactions, I suppressed my rising irritation and called Seo Dahye, the Vice President of the Association.

“…Yes, Baek Eunha.”

“Don’t, don’t tell me you’re falling for that nonsense too?”

“Of course not. We’ll do our best on our end. However, the public reaction is too strong……”

In short, even the Association might not be able to help if things got worse.

I hung up the phone irritably and paced around the living room for a while with my brows deeply furrowed.

‘These swine, really……’

It was common knowledge that major guilds had been taking advantage of implicit agreements among themselves all this time.

It was truly pathetic that they were throwing tantrums just because I took a few dungeons.

‘…This is annoying.’

I could have let it go as bad luck, but I was fuming no matter how I thought about it.

I was willing to do everything and protect them, yet they dared to raise their heads against me?

Strictly speaking, most Korean guilds were classified as non-combat forces by my standards.

It meant they were as useless as roadside leaves in front of a true expert.

Just one Ryan, who was thoroughly beaten by me, would annihilate Korean guilds. Seoha, Lee Jicheol, Choi Hamin, and others might stand a chance if they joined forces, but everyone else would be wiped out.

After hours of venting my frustration, I eventually became exhausted.

Afterward, a familiar sense of powerlessness enveloped my body. At the same time, one thought unconsciously came to mind.

“Then let them handle it themselves.”

I declare that from now on, I will merely watch whatever crisis unfolds in Korea.

I’ll make sure to tell Helena and Serejia too, and whether an S-rank dungeon appears or a break occurs that destroys Seoul, I’ll just play games at home.

Then, when that time comes, will other guilds and the public still show the same reaction?

“Heh, hehehe.”

Determined to put this wicked thought into action, I ordered various essentials through a shopping app, then crawled into my room and turned on my computer.

‘…Go ahead and try to manage on your own.’

There will be no negotiation. Certainly no compromise.

Citizens swayed by public opinion without principles? I could understand to some extent, but now was the time for drastic measures.

“That’s how it always is. You only know what you had when it’s gone.”

Everyone would soon deeply realize how pathetic Korea was without Baek Eunha.

#

Bang!

“Do you people not think at all?”

“Wh-what?”

“I’m asking what’s in your heads.”

Seo Injae, a trusted aide of the Korean Hunter Association President, walked to the center of the conference room while trying to hide his frustration, and continued speaking.

From what he’d been hearing, the opinions were so stupid that he simply couldn’t stand it anymore.

Above all, it was truly disheartening that even at the core of the Association, which should act with cool-headed rationality, such people were running rampant.

“What exactly do you want? What have you learned from everything that’s happened so far?”

“…How rude. If you want to express an opinion, speak with proper respect and formality.”

Hwang Jeonggil, the leader of the faction directly opposing the current Association President and who narrowly lost the presidential election as the runner-up.

He was essentially the main culprit disrupting the president’s atmosphere.

And the content was, of course, mainly about the conflict between Baek Eunha and the major guilds.

“Actually, he’s not entirely wrong, is he? Or are you dismissing the fundamental role of guilds and the importance of low-rank hunters?”

“I have no intention of engaging in wordplay anymore. This shouldn’t have been a matter for debate in the first place.”

“On what grounds?”

Tired of the countless repetitions of the same arguments, Seo Injae decided to be more bold and addressed everyone in the conference room, knowing his words might cause controversy.

“The guilds that submitted complaints, thirty-four in total.”

“……”

“How long do you think it would take Hunter Baek Eunha to annihilate all of them?”

“Wh-what? Are you in your right mind?”

Everyone turned to Seo Injae in shock, and some even frowned as if they had heard something beneath their dignity.

However, Seo Injae continued steadfastly without changing his expression.

“It probably wouldn’t take a full day. Perhaps everything would be over within half a day.”

“Huh, what nonsense……”

“I apologize, but this is the clear truth as judged by the Association. And you are continuing to set off bombs using the complaints of a few guilds as an excuse in front of such a hunter.”

Baek Eunha was already unpredictable enough, and Seo Injae couldn’t even imagine the consequences if they were to upset her through this incident.

“N-no matter what, such a thing couldn’t possibly……”

“It is possible. Have you been letting the information we’ve shared flow through your throat instead of your ears? She has done enough unbelievable things to that extent. Frankly speaking, other guilds that don’t even possess S-rank hunters have no value in front of her.”

These were statements too extreme and irresponsible for someone holding a key position in the Association.

However, everyone could understand that this was Seo Injae’s sincere judgment precisely because of that.

“……”

Hwang Jeonggil’s faction showed some hesitation as the situation seemed to be taking a strange turn.

But just then, Seo Injae received a phone call.

Ring ring.

Ring ring ring.

After hearing the content, Seo Injae’s expression contorted as if he had become a demon, and he immediately kicked open the door and left the conference room.

Bang!

Those who remained could only repeatedly clear their throats, trying to dispel the frozen atmosphere with bewildered expressions.