Apart from the conflict in the National Security Agency, the operation to capture the Berserker and the Puppeteer had been completed.
I was classified as a reserve rather than a strike force. It was a precautionary measure to avoid unnecessary conflicts on the scene, considering the clash with Kim Yong-hwan - the operation’s most powerful force.
But I had broken his arm. Could he still fight properly?
Anyway, it’s his business, so he should handle it on his own.
Regardless of the mobilization of government hunters, the plan to reduce the hunting frequency ended in failure. It was the result of various negative words used by large guilds, such as economic recession, unemployment, and management crises. Instead, they decided to reinforce the reserve forces and cooperate in establishing a siege network.
That’s why Yoon-hee also went hunting as scheduled.
“Be careful.”
“I got it.”
As the names of the two villains were brought up, the activities of the villains lurking on the outskirts of the city became more active. With the increase in attacks, each local Villain Response Team became busier.
It had reached the point where the villains could be killed on the scene if they resisted, as stated in an official document.
“If anything happens, send a signal.”
“I hope nothing happens. It sounds like you’re expecting something to happen whenever you say that.”
“That’s not it.”
“I know, but I’m a big girl now, and I’m going to handle this on my own. You got to trust your sister, Brother.”
“Okay.”
Looking at Yoon-hee’s confident appearance, I couldn’t help but feel worried about her.
It would be enough if she just got married well.
I hope she could bring a boyfriend who could stop my attack three times, no more, no less.
After getting ready, Yoon-hee and I headed out together. We had the same destination today.
“But why did you suddenly leave with me today?”
“I have an appointment with Lee Se-hee.”
“What kind of appointment?”
“It’s a personal counseling session. Why do you have that expression on your face?”
Yoon-hee’s expression towards me was like looking at something bizarre.
“Brother needs counseling?”
“Why?”
“No, the kind of brother I’ve seen doesn’t need counseling. He’ll just use his fists.”
“You’re saying that as if I’m a villain.”
“That’s been your impression so far.”
“Do you realize that I’m the one who has caught the most villains in our agency?”
“I don’t think many people know you as well as I do, but counseling should be a good idea. Maybe the team leader can set you on the right path.”
After a while, our car arrived at the Sacred Guild. When we parked and went upstairs, Jung Da-hyun, who had arrived earlier, approached us.
“Oh, Sister Da-hyun?”
“Hello.”
“Why are you here too? Is there really something going on?”
“It’s nothing big. Just a simple counseling session.”
“Brother didn’t do anything major, right?”
“......”
“Yeah?”
I didn’t know why Jung Da-hyun was silent over there.
“Oh, no. Nothing. Believe me.”
“Sister, didn’t you ever heard from others that you’re not good at lying? You’re acting very suspicious right now.”
“It’s really not...”
“If I’m not in a hurry right now, I would have held onto you. But I’m busy, so I’ll come see you later, okay?”
“Okay.”
Jung Da-hyun breathed a sigh of relief as Yoonhee disappeared. Then she checked her phone and spoke to me.
“Se-hee said we can come up right away.”
We headed to Lee Se-hee’s office.
Unlike the previous day, Lee Se-hee had put on full makeup early in the morning and greeted us.
“Welcome. I was surprised that two people suddenly wanted to consult with me.”
“I’m sorry. I know you’re busy. But you’re the only person we can turn to for advice.”
“I don’t mind. And I was curious because it’s about Mr. Jun-ho.”
“It’s nothing.”
“It is something. A really big accident. Enough to require mental preparation.”
“Hmm, really? But before that...”
Lee Se-hee glanced at Jung Da-hyun and smiled mischievously.
“I said this before, but please feel free to speak comfortably, like usual. There’s no need to be so formal here.”
“Is that okay?”
“What’s the matter? Da-hyun, is there anything uncomfortable?”
“...No.”
Despite her words, Jung Da-hyun’s expression seemed uncomfortable in some way. Was it because she didn’t like being spoken to informally? I should speak to her more politely.
“Well then, can you tell me what happened?”
I told her about my collision with Kim Yong-hwan. The collision occurred because I put a stop to his overly ambitious operation. And when Jung Da-hyun mentioned her concerns about future retaliation, Lee Se-hee looked bewildered.
“No, it was actually Jun-ho who caused the accident, but why were you the one more worried?”
“Not really.”
“By the way, I’m more surprised that you were able to fight a Level 8 superhuman evenly. To be honest, I thought Mr. Jun-ho might reach level 8 in a few years, and I was even preparing myself for it. But are you already at Level 8?”
“It hasn’t been measured yet. He’s currently Level 7.”
“...Does that make sense? I’ve never heard of someone in their 20s being Level 8.”
“There are records of it in the United States.”
“Even there, if you convert it to Korean age, it’s around thirty. I thought it was impressive, but I didn’t expect you to openly confront that wicked old man.”
Lee Se-hee gulped down her tea as if her throat was dry.
I debated whether to mention that I had severely broken Kim Yong-hwan’s arm but refrained, fearing that Jung Da-hyun might faint.
“Mr. Jun-ho, you have to answer my question honestly. Seriously.”
“I’m not a villain.”
“I never thought about that, did you? Anyway, why did you become a government hunter?”
The two pairs of eyes directed towards me were filled with curiosity. I thought back to the moment I returned to the past and recalled why I chose to become a government hunter.
“It was my mother’s request. My father agreed as well. And I thought it would be an easy job, so I chose it.”
“......”
Although I was honest, the gazes that came back were full of disbelief.
“I’m telling the truth.”
“Is that all?”
“Yes.”
“If Mr. Jun-ho wanted, he could easily pocket several billion won as a contract fee right away, you know?”
“But you have to work as much as you receive.”
“Well, that’s true, but considering Mr. Jun-ho’s abilities, even such a difficult task wouldn’t have been that challenging.”
Lee Se-hee sighed deeply. Even Jung Dahyun, who had dragged me into the National Security Agency, had a bewildered expression. Was it that surprising?
“I thought there must have been an unimaginable reason behind all this. Da-hyun, did you know?”
“I didn’t know either. I thought it was just for show, and even if there was a reason, I thought there must be a story behind it--“
“And that story was his parents’ recommendation.”
Lee Se-hee looked a little defeated.
“If he was ordered to do it, there’s probably no big lingering attachment. It hasn’t been long since he became a government hunter, anyway.”
“Se-hee, you wouldn’t, possibly...”
Lee Se-hee turned to me, ignoring Jung Da-hyun’s interruption.
“There are two solutions: one, stop being a government hunter. The second is to be officially recognized as a Level 8 by the National Security Agency as soon as possible. These two directions are going to be very different, and they will be determined by what Mr. Jun-ho wants. What does Mr. Jun-ho want most as a hunter?”
“...”
What do I truly want?
All I want in life was a peaceful life for my family. That’s a work in progress. So, what I needed the most was the authority to execute public duties freely as a government hunter.
It would be nice if the workload could be reduced a bit.
As a result, what I wanted to do came down to one thing.
“The non-arrest privilege.” (T/N: ‘Non-arrest privilege’ or ‘immunity from arrest’. It refers to a special right or legal protection that grants someone exemption from being arrested or detained by authorities.)
If I had that, I felt like I could truly excel in my work.
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