"THE FOUR SEASONS Guilds have been inford about the existence of the Anti-System Extremists."
Wonhee nodded politely while listening to Captain Lee Jiho’s explanation.
"Right now, we’re keeping the existence of this group under wraps from the public," Captain Lee Jiho added. "Surprisingly, for a group of extremists who declared themselves as Anti-System, they’re quiet compared to the Watchdogs– another rebel group. They only target the high-ranking Awakened People because they believe that the higher an Awakened Person’s rank is, the more they are favored by the System. That’s why these extremists started attacking the Big 4 since the Big 4 are the highest-ranked Hunters in Korea." He paused for a mont to give Wonhee a pointed look. "And, now, you’re on the sa level as the Big 4, Miss Chu."
"I’ll be more careful, Captain Lee," Wonhee said softly. "Thank you for sharing this information with ."
"Huh?"
For so reason, the captain looked surprised.
But she wasn’t done talking yet.
"And I apologize for being difficult this morning," Wonhee said shyly. "I was supposed to cooperate with you because of the attack, but I left everything to my older siblings to attend an audition." She bowed her head in apology. "I’m sorry for my shaful behavior. I’ll cooperate better with the authorities from now on, Captain Lee."
SNIFF.
She raised her head and was shocked to see the stoic captain suddenly crying his eyes out like a child. "C-Captain, are you alright?" she asked worriedly while opening her purse. Then she handed a handkerchief to Captain Lee. "Here."
"Thank you, Miss Chu," Captain Lee Jiho said when he accepted the handkerchief from her. "I’m sorry for showing you this embarrassing side of . I was just moved that an S-Class like you thanked . You even apologized even if you didn’t have to."
"What do you by I didn’t have to apologize? Captain, it was reckless of to leave my penthouse after I had just been attacked by rebels. If anything, you should have scolded ."
"Who would dare scold the precious younger sister of the God Alchemist and the Blacksmith God?"
"You can do that if I did sothing wrong, Captain."
"See? This is why I’m moved to tears, Miss Chu," Captain Lee Jiho said while wiping the tears off of his face with the handkerchief he got from Wonhee. "The Big 4 mbers are entitled because they know the country will collapse without them. They never said thank you to the people helping them, and they never apologized either even though they blatantly commit cris left and right. Especially that basta– I an, Hunter Song Moonhoo-ssi."
Oh.
[Moonho-ssi’s reputation isn’t really that great, huh?]
"You’re a breath of fresh air, Miss Chu. I hope you don’t change," Captain Lee Jiho said. "Anyway, APA and our division will invite Miss Chu and the Big 4 later for a grand eting since we’ll need your cooperation to catch the Anti-System Extremists. For now, please stay safe. As soon as the Big 4 is complete, we’ll contact you again."
"Does it an Hunter Hwang Yejun will be officially welcod as a Hunter again?"
"That will be discussed in the eting."
"I see. Thank you for letting know in advance, Captain Lee."
The captain smiled, and then he beca teary-eyed again. "Hunter Hwang Frost often solo-ed dungeons illegally in the past. Hunter Han Graham’s physical fights against Hunter Song Sunho caused the city hundreds of millions in damages. Hunter Jang Semi would sell her potions to the Black Market from ti to ti. And Hunter Song Moonho committed unspeakable cris..."
Trauma.
It was trauma, no doubt.
[The Big 4 gave poor Captain Lee PTSD...]
"Finally, we have a naturally awakened S-Class who is kind and honest," Captain Lee said. And, for the first ti, he gave Wonhee a bright smile. "Miss Chu, I promise you that the Special Forces (Cracks Division) will protect you with our lives."
Wonhee laughed softly. "Thank you, Captain Lee, but please don’t sacrifice your lives for ."
***
["WE DIDN’T ddle when our Hee-ya was dating you even though we all think my granddaughter is too good for you because we didn’t want to upset her. However, after what your family did to our Hee-ya, I don’t want you near my granddaughter, Hunter Lee Seodam. Have you seen the whole video when your mother tried to harm our Hee-ya? If you haven’t, then I’ll show it to you."]
That was what Seodam heard from Hunter Yeon Suk-yong before the forr South Korean President put his phone on the table and left the lounge room.
He knew Hunter Yeon Suk-yong did that to give him privacy.
Hence, he ended up watching the video playing in the old man’s phone. After all, the version that he had seen was the one played during the press conference.
Wonhee’s voice from the video echoed in the room.
["Ma’am, let ask you one last thing before I leave. Did you ask to et because you wanted to slap with kimchi?"]
["Why did you rent out this house to us and keep it a secret, huh? In the first place, why would you even buy a house for us? Are you looking down on my family?"]
["That’s exactly why I didn’t tell you, ma’am– I didn’t want Seodam Oppa and your family to think that I was looking down on you."]
["If you knew we’d feel that way, then why did you still do it?"]
["Because I was grateful to you, ma’am."]
["What do you an by that?"]
["I still clearly rember the day that I bought this house. After all, it was a special day for . I always get sick during my parents’ death anniversary."]
Seodam rembered that mont.
After all, it was the ti he asked his family for the first ti to visit Wonhee at her penthouse in his place.
["Seodam Oppa wasn’t a Hunter yet back then, but he couldn’t visit because of his part-ti job. But Madam Sook-ja, Seorin Unnie, and Seojin visited that day. You may not rember it, ma’am, but you brought porridge that day. Then Seorin Unnie filled my ref with side dishes that the two of you made together, ma’am. And our Jin brought fruits with his allowance."]
Ah, that brought back mories.
Seodam rembered that Wonhee got along well with his family at first. He didn’t know what went wrong.
["I lost my parents twice, so I was really happy when Madam Sook-ja took care of when I was sick that day. For the first ti after a long while, I felt a mother’s love and affection. Foolishly, I thought we could be a family back then."]
Ah.
Seodam felt a pang in his chest.
Wonhee wanted to be family with him.
He dated her because he really liked her.
However, Seodam didn’t have the luxury to think of starting a family of his own with Wonhee when he was too busy supporting his family.
But Wonhee pictured having a family with Seodam.
["In return for the kindness you showed that day, I brought this house for you, ma’am– because I wanted to keep your family safe. And because I didn’t want to lose a mother for the third ti."]
It hurt to hear that.
Seodam would admit it: he thought Wonhee was living well all this ti.
Hence, admittedly, he overlooked the fact that she could still be sad even when she had everything she wanted and needed.
["I thought about telling Seodam Oppa that I brought a house for his family, but co-incidentally, a few days after I beca the official owner of this house, Seodam Oppa awakened as a B-Class Hunter. Seodam Oppa said that he was glad he could finally provide for his family. I didn’t want to discourage him, so I asked Mr. Kim to help ..."]
So, that was the reason why Wonhee didn’t tell him that it was her house.
But Lee Seojin, his younger brother, was right when he said Seodam should have noticed since he was the one dating Wonhee.
That was when the realization hit Seodam hard.
[I never paid that much attention to Wonhee the way I should have.]
***
"STUPID MA Yong-deuk’s son..."
"Grandpa, stop cursing out President Kwon and go," Wonhee scolded her grandfather while gently pushing him to the car that ca to pick him up. "Be nice and give APA a proper report regarding your successful mission."
Yes, her poor grandpa was already caught.
It seed like President Kwon Jiwoong heard that her grandpa was at the Special Forces (Cracks Division) Station.
An APA officer ca to pick up her grandfather, after all.
"Alright, alright. If my precious granddaughter says so, then I should go and do a good job," Grandpa Suk-yong said, and then he gave Wonhee a big hug. "Get ho safely, Hee-ya. Ahyeon-ah, take care of my precious granddaughter."
Ahyeon nodded and bowed politely. "I will, Grandpa-nim."
’Grandpa-nim’ was weird.
But Grandfather Suk-yong insisted that Ahyeon should call him ’grandpa’ the way Wonehe did.
Ahyeon was too polite for that so he added ’-nim’ even though it sounded weird.
[But since it’s Ahyeonnie, it still sounds cute coming from him.]
"And you," Grandpa Suk-yong said when he turned to Lee Seodam. "Think about my offer carefully. The price doesn’t matter, so don’t hesitate."
Lee Seodam’s face darkened, but he bowed politely without saying a word.
Wonhee felt bad for so reason.
But before she could demand an explanation from her grandfather, he already got in the car as if he was escaping from her.
Moreover, the APA officer approached Wonhee.
The officer was a lady in her late forties to early fifties, dressed professionally.
"Miss Chu, I’m Choi Dong-mi from the Cracks Managent Division," the gentle older lady said while shaking Wonhee’s hand. "I’d love to talk more, but President Kwon is waiting. Did Captain Lee already tell you about the grand eting we’re having later?"
"He did, Miss Choi," Wonhee said politely. "Apparently, we’re just waiting for the Big 4 to be completed."
Miss Choi nodded in response.
Semi was in the Isolated Laboratory with Graham.
And Yejun was still in the dungeon.
"President Kwon was worried about you, Miss Chu. But Vice President Yeon stopped him from personally checking on you and put Captain Lee in charge of the investigation."
Ah, that was why the Special Forces (Cracks Division) summoned Wonhee.
[Oppa is abusing his authority again to hide from President Kwon.]
At least, Wonhee now knew that Captain Lee Jiho could be trusted.
"See you at the grand eting later, Miss Chu," Miss Choi said, and then she turned to Lee Seodam. "Hunter Seodam, please take Miss Chu ho safely."
Lee Seodam only bowed and didn’t say anything.
[Seriously...]
Wonhee waited until the car where Grandpa Suk-yong and Miss Choi were drove away before she faced Lee Seodam. "Oppa, what was Grandpa talking about earlier?"
"Hunter Suk-yong-nim offered money to stay away from you, Wonhee-ya."
What?
Wonhee was too stunned to react.
On the other hand, Ahyeon covered his mouth with his hands when he gasped. And then he whispered to himself. "C-Chaebols are scary..."
Wonhee let out a sigh. "Oppa, I’m sorry for–"
"Don’t apologize, Wonhee-ya," Seodam said, gently cutting her off. "I should be the one apologizing to you."
And then tears suddenly rolled down Seodam’s cheeks.
***
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