Chapter 86: Recruit Kim Jinsung (1)

## Episode 86: Recruit Kim Jinsung (1)

Kim Jinsung, surprised, cautiously shook Yong Hangil’s hand.

His expression was a mix of surprise, shock, curiosity, and a sense of unreality.

But all those emotions quickly faded, leaving only one emotion on his face: awe.

‘This person…!’

Since awakening, he’d met countless awakened individuals. The most impressive hunters among them were Baek Jun and Jang Seungwook, who were right here.

But Yong Hangil, standing before him, was someone whose name carried a different weight.

The Daehan Clan, the most sought-after clan for those pursuing the path of a hunter in South Korea.

‘And this person is the master of the most prestigious clan in Korea…’

At that moment, Yong Hangil spoke softly.

“Release his shackles.”

Jang Seungwook flinched at those words. He looked at Baek Jun with a “What should I do?” expression, and Baek Jun nodded without any change in his expression.

Jang Seungwook immediately removed the Hunter shackles from Kim Jinsung’s wrists and ankles.

The moment Kim Jinsung’s mana suppression was completely lifted, a surge of energy exploded from Yong Hangil’s body.

“……!!”

Kim Jinsung, instantly overwhelmed by Yong Hangil’s aura, widened his eyes. Even though he hadn’t expected it, the pressure was immense, weighing down on him.

He couldn’t even breathe properly under the intense pressure if he stood there without doing anything.

Kim Jinsung quickly gathered mana, activating his dark energy. He surrounded himself with dark energy to deflect Yong Hangil’s aura.

But that was all he could do.

‘My dark energy can’t expand anymore…!’

The pressure was too intense to push it back and expand the dark energy’s domain. He could only manage to create a thin layer around himself.

Then, something happened. Yong Hangil’s mana aura vanished as if by magic. Looking up, Kim Jinsung saw Yong Hangil smiling at him.

“You’re an interesting one.”

Yong Hangil spoke as if nothing had happened. Kim Jinsung unconsciously let out a sigh of relief.

‘Whew…!’

Yong Hangil, still looking at Kim Jinsung, muttered to himself.

“I understand why everyone recommended him as someone interesting.”

Then, Yong Hangil gestured to Jang Seungwook. Jang Seungwook, understanding immediately, quickly reattached the shackles to Kim Jinsung.

As Jang Seungwook was about to step back, Yong Hangil pulled something out of his pocket.

“Take this.”

Kim Jinsung took it and examined it. It was a business card.

“If you decide to come to the New Continent, contact me. Or you can contact Baek Jun here.”

Kim Jinsung looked at Yong Hangil, surprised by the mention of the New Continent. It was an unexpected statement.

“Someone like you deserves a place in my company in the New Continent.”

“……!”

Kim Jinsung’s eyes widened. He understood the meaning of those words immediately.

South Korea is one of the top ten hunter nations in the world. The Daehan Clan is the undisputed representative clan of Korea.

It wasn’t because they had the strongest hunters in Korea or the most influence. It was because they were the only Korean hunter clan established in the New Continent.

It was incredibly difficult to survive as an independent clan in the New Continent, Sselepoh.

Currently, there were fewer than one clan per country established in the New Continent.

In fact, African countries had given up on surviving independently and formed the AUHC (African Union Hunter Clan) instead.

The Daehan Clan was one of the few that had managed to survive in this hellish place.

The master of the Daehan Clan was offering Kim Jinsung a place in his clan.

“Of course, that’s after you survive the Colosseum.”

Yong Hangil finished speaking and turned his gaze to Baek Jun, as if he had said everything he needed to.

Baek Jun spoke.

“Take him to his accommodation.”

“Yes. This way, please.”

Jang Seungwook, still slightly stunned, led Kim Jinsung out of the room. As they closed the door and stepped out, Baek Jun politely asked Yong Hangil.

“Is there any other participant you’d like to see?”

“Shin Woong? I’d like to see him.”

“Understood.”

Baek Jun immediately turned on his smartphone screen and sent a text to Jang Seungwook.

Then, Yong Hangil spoke to him.

“I apologize for dropping by so suddenly. If I had known you were meeting with Tak Namgyu, I would have come another time.”

“No, it’s fine. I have to help you, especially when it’s a request from someone like you.”

Baek Jun answered politely, having just sent the message.

“By the way, are you not going to contact Minister Tak?”

Yong Hangil had only informed Baek Jun about his visit to Korea. It was right when the transport planes carrying the participants had arrived at the Hunter Bureau.

That’s why Baek Jun hadn’t informed Tak Namgyu about Yong Hangil’s visit and had returned here immediately. He had to cancel his lunch appointment with Tak Namgyu.

Yong Hangil wouldn’t know how hard Baek Jun had struggled to decline the appointment, using a schedule excuse, to avoid Tak Namgyu. If Yong Hangil had informed Tak Namgyu about his visit, Baek Jun wouldn’t have had to go through that trouble.

“Why bother? I’m just here for a short visit. It’s so annoying when I get caught by him. He wants to have meals with government officials, attend events, and advertise. He just makes so many demands.”

“Hahaha…”

“And then he asks me which participant I like. That’s the biggest reason. If I tell him, he’ll force me to take that person to the New Continent!”

As Yong Hangil continued speaking, his expression became increasingly displeased.

“The New Continent is a difficult place to survive, even if you go with a strong will. Those who were forced to go usually end up poorly. You know that, don’t you?”

“Yes…”

Baek Jun replied briefly.

Baek Jun had also been full of ambition once. He had been determined to conquer the New Continent and restore the world to its pre-crisis state. But he had failed and returned to Korea.

‘That’s why I’m helping you now.’

Baek Jun didn’t voice his thoughts.

* * *

“…Yawn.”

Kim Jinsung, waking up from a deep sleep, stretched out on the massive king-size bed.

‘I must have passed out.’

He looked around with sleepy eyes.

He was in the 2901 suite, the best room in the Colosseum Hotel, with its spacious interior.

Everything, from the facilities, furniture, and decorations, was luxurious.

The bed he had been sleeping on was no exception. The pillows and mattress were so comfortable that he felt almost completely recovered from the fatigue of staying up for 24 hours, despite sleeping for only a few hours.

‘Can I really stay in this luxurious room for a week…’

He had gotten used to it now, but when Jang Seungwook had first brought him here, he had felt a bit overwhelmed, as it was unfamiliar.

Jang Seungwook had told him,

– Consider it a small gesture for the most popular star of this season.

‘…Well, I guess I’ll enjoy it.’

Kim Jinsung got out of bed and headed to the kitchen. He grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and took a sip. It was water that cost over 10,000 won per bottle. Of course, Kim Jinsung couldn’t taste any difference.

‘What time is it? …It’s almost 7 PM.’

Just as Kim Jinsung checked the stylish clock on the wall, he heard a ding-dong sound from the speakers on the ceiling. A familiar voice began the announcement.

[This is an announcement for all Colosseum Survival participants. A celebratory party for the participants will be held later today, starting at 7 PM.]

‘A party?’

[The party will be attended by very special guests who have come to see the participants.]

‘If there are guests… it must be the same kind of party I saw on TV in previous seasons.’

[The production team has put a lot of effort into preparing for this event, so you can look forward to it. We’ll see you at the party at 7 PM.]

The announcement ended.

‘Special guests…’

Kim Jinsung reached into his pocket and pulled out the business card he had received from Yong Hangil.

One thing was certain. No matter what guests he met today, none would be more special than Yong Hangil.

That’s what Kim Jinsung thought.

* * *

At that moment, the grand ballroom on the second floor, where the celebratory party was being held, was already bustling with numerous ‘special guests.’ They seemed to know each other, greeting each other and engaging in light conversation.

“Hello, Master Hyun Sangcheol.”

“Oh? Isn’t that Park Jinwoong?”

Park Jinwoong, a thin young man, and Hyun Sangcheol, a muscular middle-aged man, greeted each other warmly.

“You came too? It wasn’t easy to get a ticket, was it?”

“How could I miss this opportunity? I’m a businessman who deals with hunters.”

“Haha, that’s right! You can’t be a fool and miss this opportunity just because it’s expensive!”

“Master, did you find any good prospects this time? The overall level seems high this season. If you recruit just one, it’ll be a huge success, right?”

“I thought so too, but it’ll be tough. Look over there.”

Hyun Sangcheol pointed with his chin, and Park Jinwoong turned to look.

“…Huh?”

His eyes widened.

Near the center of the grand ballroom, two men stood out, attracting a lot of attention. Park Jinwoong recognized their faces immediately, as they were both well over 60.

“Oh Byeong-guk…? And Kang Gyeong-gwon?”

“Yes.”

Hyun Sangcheol nodded.

“The masters of two of the four major hunter clans have come themselves.”

If you asked someone to name the top hunter clans in South Korea, they would likely mention four clans.

The undisputed top clan in Korea, Daehan.

BK Clan, led by Oh Byeong-guk, currently ranked third among hunters.

K3 Clan, led by Kang Gyeong-gwon, currently ranked fourth among hunters.

And Baekdu Clan, founded by Hong Seong-heun, who was ranked second but had recently retired due to old age and illness.

‘So, practically all the clans with masters who can move around are here?’

The Daehan Clan master, Yong Hangil, resided in the New Continent, and Baekdu Clan master Hong Seong-heun was too ill to travel.

“This is amazing. This party is held every season, but this is the first time the masters of those two clans have come in person.”

“That’s what I said. How can I compete when the masters of the four major clans have come themselves?”

“No, it’s possible.”

Park Jinwoong shook his head.

“The master just needs to lower his standards for recruitment. Surely, they won’t go after small fries when the masters of the four major clans are here. They’ll only go after people like Kim Jinsung or Shin Woong.”

“That’s true, but…”

“Surely, they didn’t come here to recruit someone like Kim Jinsung?”

“Nah, they wouldn’t even consider him.”

Hyun Sangcheol shook his head. A superstar like Kim Jinsung was too well-known to be recruited by smaller clans.

“I wonder why the masters came in person? They could have just sent the head of the recruitment department like they did in previous seasons…”

Park Jinwoong looked puzzled as he wondered about this.

Suddenly, a loud murmur came from the entrance.

“…Oh! It’s Hong Hyeonjin.”

At Hyun Sangcheol’s words, Park Jinwoong turned his head towards the entrance.

A beautiful woman, with a haughty walk, entered, attracting everyone’s attention.

It was Hong Hyeonjin, the eldest daughter of Hong Seong-heun, the former master of the Baekdu Clan, and the vice-master of the Baekdu Clan.

(TLN: ………… lets just hope she wont die next chapter)

“…Oh my!”

As soon as she saw Oh Byeong-guk and Kang Gyeong-gwon, her eyes widened in surprise.

“Hello? What brings you two here…?”

She bowed politely, her haughty posture gone. She knew Oh Byeong-guk and Kang Gyeong-gwon better than anyone. She knew what it meant for them to attend in person.

Oh Byeong-guk smiled enigmatically.

“You haven’t heard the news, have you?”

“What? I…”

“He’s here.”

Oh Byeong-guk said, looking towards the entrance where Hong Hyeonjin had entered.

Hong Hyeonjin turned her head to look, and…

“……!!”

Her eyes widened.

A man, over 190 cm tall, walked in, drawing everyone’s attention. He had a slightly Middle Eastern mixed-race appearance, and Hong Hyeonjin recognized him immediately.

‘Nawaf?!’

Nawaf.

The undisputed strongest clan in Saudi Arabia, Al Saud.

Nawaf, the representative of Al Saud’s Korean branch, the strongest clan in the Middle East, had just arrived at the party.

—