Chapter 41

I have not been watching or observing for long, but the biggest problem right now could be summed up in one sentence.

“I understand there are no Hunters who are currently attempting to remove those Erosion Zones, or even preparing to do so.”

“That’s right. Barely suppressing those Erosion Zones is all they can manage. They don’t even think about challenging them. ”

Barely suppressing it is all they can manage? I couldn’t agree with that opinion.

“They are simply not making the attempt.”

Come to think of it, the incredibly skilled Hunter in front of me, Lee Se-eun, was ranked tenth on the List of Hope.

That meant there were nine other Hunters even stronger than her. If those people all attacked together, would it really be impossible to clear out a first-class Erosion Core one by one?

Of course not. In fact, there was no need for all nine to gather. If just five of them teamed up, it would be enough.

“Everyone has their own interests, you know.”

“I know. I am not expecting them to all come together anyway.”

For most, maybe the world was harsh, but for highly skilled Hunters, this was not such a bad place to live. When someone reached a certain position, they usually stopped welcoming risky adventures.

“But I will do it.”

If someone with talent was shown the path to fully realize that talent, they could grow.

“I will specialize solely in attacking first-class Erosion Zones.”

Naturally, I would also rake in a fortune in the process, then build a few fancy buildings and live well after accomplishing my goal.

Since it was first-class Erosion Zones I would be targeting, I did not even have to worry about payment.

“You certainly have guts. But even if there are many who agree with your goal, how many do you think would actually join you?”

In response to Lee Se-eun’s question, I gave her a simple answer.

“You were the one who said that becoming famous was enough.”

Leaning back in her chair, she replied.

“That is true. If you become famous, people who agree with your cause will appear, and some of the skilled ones might join you. However.”

She tapped the table before continuing.

“You will have to become extremely famous. At your current level, it is impossible.”

“I know.”

This was not about gathering friends to hang out with. This was about recruiting comrades who would target not only first-class Erosion Cores but even the Great Eight. I needed to become a giant.

She downed the rest of her drink, a sugar-lump concoction called milk tea, then wiped her mouth.

“When a kid says their dream is to become a YouTuber with ten million subscribers, no one takes it seriously.”

I answered without hesitation.

“When you think I have the skill and standing that meets your standards, you can join me then.”

“That I can promise. I agree with your goal of rooting out the source too.”

At that, Han Sang-ah spoke up.

“I can join you right now.”

If I remembered correctly, her goal was to destroy Club Shaddai, one of the Great Eight based in Israel. She had no reason not to join me.

And she was a member of the Geumyang Group family. That meant she could also serve as an emergency money bag.

“What should we call ourselves? Team Rocket?”

It would be perfect if we also raised a talking cat. But Han Sang-ah looked puzzled at my words.

“What does a rocket have to do with us?”

Nothing at all. In fact, I didn’t care about the name. Managing a company was already a headache, and I only wanted to focus on removing Erosion Zones.

If I could find someone to handle that kind of management, it would be nice, but looking for such a person now would be going too far.

“All is fine, but I would like you to carry out the request we are currently facing with sincerity first.”

“You don’t have to worry about that.”

After my conversation with Lee Se-eun, I glanced briefly at Han Sang-ah.

Originally, I had planned to give her exactly as much help as I received from her, but…

She would provide me with useful elixirs, and I would give her a matching amount of help. But things have become different now.

This young lady had talent. If she followed the right path, she could be a great asset.

I did not expect us to stay together forever, but at least until Club Shaddai was destroyed, our goals would align and we could work together.

Lee Se-eun spoke, looking troubled.

“If you go past Poland into Germany, you will encounter a warlord named Kaiser.”

“Kaiser, as in Emperor?”

They were not cooperating with transportation yet.

“How about letting me handle it my way?”

She looked at me suspiciously.

“And what exactly is your way? I’m getting a bit nervous.”

It wasn’t anything too impressive. I ran my hand along my spear and spoke.  

“Once you crack a few skulls, people tend to become polite.”

Lee Se-eun wasn’t suited for it. Her image as a Hunter was already well-established, and it leaned strongly toward the positive side.

But I was different. I might be well-known enough to give interviews and appear on broadcasts, but…

“I do not have a fixed character yet after all.”

She had much to lose if she acted too aggressively, but I didn’t.

“Since we will be staying in Poland for a while to distribute relief supplies, I will take care of it in the meantime.”

“Are you sure?”

I nodded.

“Before the relief distribution in Poland ends, I will bring back good news.”

Time to introduce my German friends to some otherworldly diplomacy. Kaiser? Emperor my ass. They are just a bunch of thugs leeching off others.

“Kaiser’s Hunter company partners are Robco and Veramin.”

“Do you think they will make a move if I stir things up?”

She agreed immediately.

“Of course.”

Han Sang-ah made a small sound of concern and looked at me.

“Isn’t that dangerous?”

“It’s not.”

I was not going there to wipe out the Kaiser warlord faction.

“You just focus on what I taught you. If you haven’t improved by the time I get back, I will make sure your butt catches fire.”

With that, I stood.

“Please request cooperation from Mazurka, and inform Kaiser of my visit. I will go straight to Germany.”

“Kaiser’s base is Hamburg’s city hall.”

The south of Germany was dangerous because of Ristorante, one of the Great Eight based in Italy, so they had set up in Hamburg, one of the largest cities in the far north.

“Hoping that future generations will protect the freedom won by their ancestors.”

That was the Latin inscription on the city hall. I’m sure the warlords squatting there as kings would make their dead ancestors so proud.

“Well then, I will be waiting in Hamburg.”

After saying goodbye, I left Lee Se-eun’s guest house. The distance from Warsaw to Hamburg was nearly 850 kilometers. It was too far to drive, so I needed a helicopter.

I saw Jozef hurrying toward me, looking flustered. He must have been informed.

“Wait, you can’t just suddenly leave like this.”

“You have a helicopter, right?”

He was a warlord, after all. At my words, Jozef spoke quickly.

“I heard you informed the Kaiser's faction. If we send a helicopter, they will attack it for sure!”

“Let them. Sounds like fun.”

I looked him over and smiled.

“I trust Mazurka will cooperate, Warrant Officer Jozef.”

“We…!”

Before he could finish, I gripped my spear.

“You what?”

Mazurka’s soldiers, watching the situation, began raising their rifles to aim at me. But before they could aim, every gun was destroyed.

“You are starting something you cannot handle.”

Instead of answering, I extended my spear toward Jozef. The tip lengthened instantly, grazing his throat.

“It seems like you are the one starting something you can’t handle, Officer Jozef.”

“Do you think… Mazurka will just let this slide?”

I shook my head and made a sad face.

“It is a pity you will not be around to see Mazurka’s retaliation.”

You’ll die here. Realizing what I meant, his face stiffened. I bared my teeth in a grin.

“Are you worrying about Mazurka’s retaliation or about what might happen to me in this situation?”

I nudged his cheek with the tip of my spear.

“You can either provide me with a helicopter or die here.”

It’s not exactly a hard choice, right? It’s only two options.

“You are crazy. Do you know what will happen to you if I die?”

“That does not sound like an answer to my request. And why would I care? If you are dead, you will not be around to see what happens to me afterward.”

He would not want to die. Unless his life was already worthless, a warlord’s Warrant Officer would have too much to lose.

“Fine, lower your spear please.”

I withdrew the spear and stepped forward, smiling as I held out my hand.

“Thank you for your cooperation. I just have a job to do, and when obstacles get in my way, I tend to use strong measures. I hope you understand.”

He could hardly complain. Forcing people into silence with power was a tactic they themselves used often.

Jozef said nothing. Being forced to hand over a helicopter at spearpoint was not exactly a happy moment for anyone.

“Alright, I will put it to good use.”

After receiving the helicopter, I boarded it and headed for Hamburg. Before long, we crossed into what used to be Germany.

“Uh… H-Hunter Yoo Chan-seok? Sir, we are receiving a transmission. They say if we do not turn back immediately, they will open fire.”

I immediately took the radio and responded.  

“Go ahead, fire, you bastards. The moment anything hits this helicopter, I swear I will drag at least three thousand of you to hell with me. This helicopter is going to Hamburg, and I already gave notice.”

There was sudden silence on the other end after I poured out my curses. I had heard that radio protocol involved saying something like “over” after speaking, but why should I care?

— … Kaiser is under no obligation to respond to that notice.

I cut him off and spoke.

“And I am under no obligation to follow your notice. You think squatting in Hamburg city hall for a few years makes you the German government?”

In a country without public authority, acting like kings in place of the state must have gone to their heads.

“I am a Hunter affiliated with the officially recognized Korean Hunters Association. You lot are just a gang occupying Hamburg city hall and stealing the German government’s weapons.”

Who needed permission to cross into Germany? Ridiculous. At best, they were a missile-armed street gang.

— I will say it again. Turn back or we will open fire.

“Go ahead, let’s see what happens! Fire, you bastards, fire! This helicopter is reinforced with my mana, so you will need at least a missile to bring it down.”

In the end, they did not attack. My aggressive radio talk might have helped, but the real reason was the cost.  

They could not justify firing a missile just to take down a civilian helicopter. The more reasonable option was anti-aircraft guns, but my bluff about the magical reinforcement seemed to take that off the table.

Of course, that had been a lie. No amount of magic reinforcement could make an aluminum-frame light helicopter withstand anti-aircraft fire.

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