Chapter 157
– Yes, Hunter.
Kim Seung-hwan answered the call immediately.
“Are you busy?”
– Haha, with someone backing me, I must always stay busy. But not so much that I can’t answer a call from you, Hunter.
“Haha, your voice sounds much softer compared to before. But did you see the article?”
– Yes, I was just about to contact you after a long time, but you reached out first. This doesn’t sound like a simple check-in, though. What’s the reason for your call?
As expected, Kim Seung-hwan was sharp.
Suho laughed and replied.
“I think it’s time to get rid of Pi Seongyeol.”
– Already?
“I thought it would be most effective to stir things up while public sentiment is leaning in our favor.”
– Well, that’s true, but… You know, right? I’m still at the Suwon District Prosecutor’s Office. And we haven’t caught all of the people you provided data on yet.
“Yes, well. I didn’t expect you to finish everything in a few days. But thanks to that, aren’t you currently rising in reputation at the Suwon District Prosecutor’s Office?”
Suho had already confirmed this fact.
The man, who had been demoted to Suwon due to political battles, was thought to be lying low, but now he was reportedly dancing with a sword as if possessed.
No one, however, viewed this negatively.
He wasn’t attacking anyone within the prosecutor’s ranks—just diligently doing his job.
– That’s true… but wasn’t the plan to start once I moved up to Seoul?
“No, it wasn’t.”
– Pardon?
“If we work that way, how long would it take to catch Pi Seongyeol? What I expected from you was the removal of figures who might hinder the resolution of the Gate crisis. And that must continue even after we catch Pi Seongyeol, until I achieve the goal of ending the Gate crisis.”
– …….
Kim Seung-hwan was silent for a moment.
It seemed he had misunderstood something.
After the silence, Kim Seung-hwan asked.
– Then why are you calling? I doubt you’re just calling to tell me about catching Pi Seongyeol.
“That’s exactly why I called. To catch Pi Seongyeol, we’re about to expose a massive case, which will lead to the immediate proposal of a Special Prosecutor Act. You’ll join in that process as well, so I called to inform you in advance.”
– …What?
Kim Seung-hwan doubted his own ears.
What was he hearing?
Could that really be possible?
However, Suho spoke as if it were nothing significant.
“You heard right. I told you before, let’s do what we can from our respective positions. In the prosecution, the only person I trust is Prosecutor Kim Seung-hwan. That’s why I’m calling you like this.”
– Ah, no… You do know how the Special Prosecutor Act works, right?
“Yes, so?”
– Which is why I can’t understand. I don’t have the seniority yet; I can’t become a Special Prosecutor or even lead a team under one.
“You don’t have to. Even if you can’t take the role, you’ll participate in the case as a dispatched prosecutor. Then, after going through this process, your contributions will be acknowledged, and you’ll be reinstated in Seoul.”
– Excuse me, what?
“You’ll understand everything soon enough. Until then, just keep catching the bad guys honestly and righteously. I’ll contact you again.”
Suho ended the call after finishing his words.
This was indeed why he had called.
‘Still, he’s on the same side, so he should at least be mentally prepared.’
Of course, that wasn’t the only reason for the call.
By giving Kim Seung-hwan a heads-up about the upcoming incident, Suho intended to show him a glimpse of his own power.
Though Kim Seung-hwan was the only prosecutor Suho trusted and decided to rely on through the Library of Memories, he couldn’t predict how people’s minds might change.
So he deliberately showed some power.
‘Instilling fear is the most efficient way to handle people.’
Nodding, Suho began to think about the “big case” he had mentioned to Kim Seung-hwan.
A big case.
Once initiated, it would likely go down in the history of South Korea as a massive, unprecedented scandal.
This was because Suho intended to expose none other than the “Redevelopment Gate,” the truth of which his past self had discovered much later.
‘A lot of people were arrested back then.’
Suho had lost both his home and family due to the Gate Shock.
Back then, he believed it was an unavoidable disaster, but after joining the Korean Hunter Association and rising through its ranks, he learned the truth of that day.
It was a man-made disaster.
Although the Detection Department had identified the danger early enough to prevent it, they had deliberately allowed the shock to occur for real estate gains—a calculated crime.
And the real estate involved in this redevelopment wasn’t just one or two properties.
In other words, this crime had been ongoing for a long time.
Thus, it was destined to be an unprecedentedly massive case.
For the real estate profiteering of corrupt individuals, hundreds… no, thousands of innocent civilians had been systematically massacred in a horrifying crime.
‘It took a long time to resolve back then, but this time, I’ll round up everyone at once, efficiently.’
This case was known as the “Redevelopment Gate.”
Even long after the Special Investigation Team was established, people connected to the Redevelopment Gate continued to be exposed.
That’s how many people were involved and how many had profited from it.
Suho intended to take down Pi Seongyeol in the same sweep.
He had no intention of giving Pi Seongyeol any special treatment; he was trash to be disposed of, just like the rest.
‘What makes him think he deserves special treatment?’
And soon, Pi Seongyeol would end up in Cheongok Prison.
The place where the Mad Dragon, Cho Gwang-ho, and the Dormant Dragon, Yoon Hyun-cheol, resided.
‘It’ll be a busy time ahead.’
Suho slowly walked toward his team members who were waiting for him.
However, upon reaching the Gate Division, an unexpected figure was there, waiting for Suho.
One of the people involved in the Redevelopment Gate, and the current Head of the Gate Division, Go Seong-rok.
“Suho!”
Go Seong-rok, looking touched, rushed over and embraced Suho tightly.
What is this?
Why are you here, Oban?
Go Seong-rok, who had warmly embraced Suho, looked at him with a moved expression.
“I watched your speech, Suho. How can anyone be like that? I was genuinely moved.”
“…Haha, not at all.”
“I’m really proud that you’re a part of our department, Suho. So keep up the good work, and I’ll support you fully.”
“Thank you. I’ll do my best.”
“Alright then, go for it, Sword God Ahn Suho!”
Go Seong-rok gave him an enthusiastic pat on the shoulder.
Suho was speechless.
As one of the members involved in the Redevelopment Gate, what sense of professional calling could he possibly feel so moved by?
But it wasn’t only Director Go Seong-rok who was touched.
Suho’s speech had deeply resonated with those who shared his affiliation, conveying words they had all wanted to say.
So, when Suho appeared at the office, everyone greeted him with applause.
“You’re amazing, Suho!”
“Thank you!”
“Thanks for saying that on our behalf!”
The warm reactions poured in.
Suho responded with an awkward smile, bowing his head to express his thanks, and finally made his way to Special Management Team 2.
But waiting there, with grins just as wide as Go Seong-rok’s at the entrance, were his teammates from the Special Management Team 2.
Suho laughed in embarrassment.
“Why is everyone standing up?”
“Suho, let me give you a hug just once.”
“Ah, why are you being so cringy?”
“Assistant Team Leader! No, Team Leader!”
“Hug us too!”
“Long live the Sword God!”
Led by Jung Chul-min, the team members surrounded him.
Everyone congratulated him and expressed their gratitude, but the people from Special Management Team 2 were the most enthusiastic in their celebrations.
Perhaps that’s why.
Suho felt the warmest and most genuine congratulations from his teammates.
Riding the momentum, Jung Chul-min suggested.
“Suho, want to grab some yulmucha in the backyard?”
“Sounds good. Team Leader’s buying, right?”
“Of course! I’ve got plenty of coins! Let’s go, everyone, to the backyard!”
“To the backyard!”
The members of Special Management Team 2 headed to the backyard in a cheerful group.
“Ugh…”
Watching their retreating figures with a look of regret was Oh Bong-sik, the leader of Special Management Team 1.
***
As expected, it was the backyard.
Even with reporters swarming everywhere, not a single one had appeared in this secluded spot.
Jung Chul-min handed out steaming cups of yulmucha, bought with his plentiful coins.
“Here it is, my special yulmucha. It’s a famous treat you can only get here, so don’t be shy, dig in.”
“Thanks! I’ll enjoy it!”
“I didn’t know our association building had a place like this. I had no idea.”
“It was my secret hideout, but now it’s become a hideout for me and Suho.”
“So, does that mean we’re allowed to join now?”
“We’re all in the same team, so of course.”
“Haha! That’s true.”
Suho chuckled as he listened to his teammates’ conversation.
Noticing Suho’s smile, Jung Chul-min asked with a subtle expression.
“You looked really solemn earlier, but how do you feel now? You were already a star, but you’re an even bigger one now, right?”
“There’s nothing much to express. I just put my heart into it.”
“But a feature article… when did you even prepare for something like that?”
“Well… I thought it was something necessary at some point, so I quietly prepared for it.”
One of the team members nearly choked on his yulmucha.
“Huh? So you prepared this feature article yourself, Assistant Team Leader?”
Instead of answering, Suho just smiled.
Everyone, except Jung Chul-min, stared at each other with stunned expressions, mouths open in awe.
“Wow…”
“Insane…”
“Incredible…”
No one would have imagined.
He had promised to ensure that no one would be treated unjustly once he became Team Leader, but no one expected he would handle it like this.
The team members realized something.
The Sword God Ahn Suho might be even more extraordinary than they had thought.
Suho said.
“Anyway, policy changes and things like that will take some time, so let’s observe them over time… Now, shall we talk about work?”
Work matters.
This was the first time Suho brought up business since becoming the exploration team leader.
So everyone, including Jung Chul-min, watched him attentively.
Jung Chul-min asked.
“Do you already have a plan?”
“Yes. First of all, Assistant Administrator Lee Won-an and the rest, excluding the Team Leader and myself, are all of the warrior class, right?”
“Yep, that’s right.”
“And your primary weapon is the sword.”
“That’s correct.”
In response to Suho’s question, everyone pulled out their swords from their inventories.
The reason there were no other classes was simple.
Other guilds fought over archers, mages, and healers, so only warriors, who were less in demand, were available.
That’s why exploration attempts or conquest attempts became even more impossible.
If they even had a single healer, their survival rate would increase, but since everyone was a warrior class, their options were surprisingly limited.
Suho nodded and said.
“I think our treatment may improve a bit due to this recent incident, but I don’t think we’ll suddenly have new members joining. Even if there are new recruits, they’ll have to go through either a special or open recruitment process. So, one realistic way I see for team improvement is to train our current team members.”
“Training?”
“Have you ever heard of something called Infinity?”
“Infinity?”
“Yes, it’s the name of a virtual reality device.”
Suho explained Infinity with a grin.