Chapter 14
Guild scouts are more impressive than one might think.
It’s common for them to participate in exams directly as test-takers to scout for talent that outsiders can’t access.
Park Pyung-sik was one such case.
This approach allows them to secure genuine talents early.
Although this method isn’t widely used yet, it will become the norm in the future. In this sense, Park Pyung-sik was an early adopter.
Suho nodded and asked,
“It’s unlikely that the test results have been leaked, so you must have participated in the exam as a test-taker as well?”
“Yes, that’s correct. I’ve been watching you since your duel with Player Park Yong.”
That made the conversation quicker. This was a good opportunity for Suho.
“Then there’s no need for lengthy explanations. So, what terms are you thinking of?”
Park Pyung-sik brightened at the mention of terms. It would be easier to recruit someone straightforward like this.
“Since you’ve just become a hunter, it might be hard to offer extremely favorable terms, but we can promise the best treatment among newcomers.”
“The best treatment for a newcomer… but it’s still for a newcomer.”
“That’s true, but given you have no accomplishments as a hunter yet, even if you go to Hexagon, the contract terms would likely be similar to ours.”
“Do you really think so?”
“Excuse me?”
“You know about the recent Sindorim Station unregistered gate incident, right? The one that happened yesterday.”
“Yes, I’m aware. But why bring that up now…?”
“Your information is quite outdated for someone from Prime Guild. Maybe because it’s only been a day? Anyway, I’m the solo clearer of that gate.”
“……What?”
“If you don’t believe me, you can check the articles later. Shall we discuss the terms again then?”
“Wait, what… hold on a second!”
“Well, you’ll need to discuss this internally anyway, right? Take your time and contact me. Oh, and here’s my number.”
Suho gave his number to Park Pyung-sik and left first.
Park Pyung-sik, holding Suho’s number, stood in a daze for a moment before hurriedly calling his guild.
It was an unexpected emergency.
***
The next day.
Nothing unusual happened.
Given the times, the results came out in a day, and Suho received the news of his exam success directly from Jeong Cheolmin.
– Aigoo, congratulations on passing, Suho-sshi.
“Thank you, Team Leader.”
– Haha, thanks to you, we caught a lot of cheaters. As you said, they were all using skill doping. This will be reported to the media soon, and exam regulations will be stricter in the future.
That was good news. If just anyone became a hunter, it would lower gate-clearing efficiency and result in many innocent casualties.
“That’s great. Exams should be fair.”
– Haha, indeed. And, by the way… this will be announced soon, but you are the overall top scorer in this exam. Congratulations again.
Suho laughed at that. Of course. After causing such a stir, they couldn’t not give him the top spot.
“Thank you, thanks to you, I got to be the top scorer.”
– Haha, I didn’t do anything… The list of successful candidates will be announced on the Korean Association’s website this afternoon. The top three names will be displayed at the top, so you can check it out.
“Okay, I understand.”
As Suho was about to end the call, Jeong Cheolmin hesitated before continuing.
– By the way, Suho-sshi, I know it might be a bit premature to ask this right after you passed, but do you still want to join the Korean Hunter Association?
Suho chuckled at his words. It seemed Jeong Cheolmin was very eager, especially since Suho had clinched the top spot.
“Of course. Even though I’ve received scouting offers from major guilds, my decision is firm.”
Jeong Cheolmin’s face broke into a wide smile at that.
– Thank you! I’ll inform you as soon as we have the exam schedule or public recruitment dates. Rest well, you must be tired!
“Thank you.”
The call ended, and Suho immediately dialed the next person. With the top spot secured, it was time to handle some business. The next call was to Director Kim Soo-ae.
– Hello, Suho-sshi. Today is the announcement day for the results, right?
Kim Soo-ae answered right away, clearly expecting Suho’s call.
“Yes, Director. I’m calling about that. I just received word from a contact that I passed as the top scorer, and the official announcement will be on the Korean Hunder Association’s website in a few hours. Once you verify it, you can proceed with the payment as per the contract.”
– Hoho, congratulations on passing. I knew you’d pass with flying colors. By the way, Suho-sshi, if you don’t mind, how about joining Nexus Guild? We can offer you better conditions than any other guild.
As expected.
Suho had anticipated that Kim Soo-ae would be interested in recruiting him. Any guild would react the same to the top scorer.
Not to mention, he had cleared a gate before officially becoming a hunter—what guild wouldn’t be eager?
The reason Suho had confidently asked for 300 million won was to set up these kinds of opportunities. After establishing a connection, it wouldn’t be too late for guild offers.
Suho pondered Kim Soo-ae’s proposal.
‘Why not test the waters a bit?’
He asked,
“Prime made a similar offer. What kind of conditions can Nexus offer?”
There was a brief silence before Kim Soo-ae responded.
– Have you already met with Prime?
“A scout had infiltrated the exam as a test-taker, so I caught their attention.”
A faint gasp was heard on the other end. It seemed she had just realized such methods existed.
However, her professionalism quickly took over, and she made her offer.
– Whatever Prime offers, I can do better.
“Do you know what Prime offered?”
– Not exactly, but I can make a more definitive promise than a mere scout. I have the authority for it. Moreover, since you’re a scholarship student from our academy, it should be easier to adjust the conditions. Why don’t we meet and discuss this in person?
She was very proactive. However, Suho decided to decline for now. It wasn’t the right time to join a guild yet.
“No, I have personal plans today. You can send me the conditions via text, and I’ll consider them. Given that I am a Nexus scholarship student, it would look better if I joined Nexus over another guild, wouldn’t it?”
– Absolutely! I’ll quickly prepare the conditions and get back to you. Suho-sshi, please don’t sign with any other guild in the meantime, okay?
“Haha, of course. I’ll be waiting for your call.”
With that, the call with Kim Soo-ae ended.
After hanging up, Suho headed straight to the nearest community center.
Having passed the exam and being officially registered as a hunter in the system, it was time to get his physical license.
Once he received his license, Suho hailed a taxi and headed to the Dongdaemun Market.
Before starting his hunter activities in earnest, he needed to do some light shopping.
The taxi carrying Suho headed toward Dongdaemun.
***
Sometime later, at the Hexagon Guild headquarters.
Scouters and team members related to the current hunter exam project were gathered. They were there to confirm the soon-to-be-announced top scorer of the hunter exam.
“I’m sure Kihyun will be the top scorer this time.”
“Of course. We’ve worked so hard to recruit an Olympic prospect, so this time Hexagon will definitely come out on top.”
The gap between Hexagon and Prime, who competed for the top spot in the industry, was quite narrow. This rivalry extended to the hunter exams as well.
However, Hexagon had not been able to outdo Prime in the hunter exams for several terms, which is why they brought in their secret weapon, Olympic prospect Kim Kihyun.
Just then, someone entered the meeting room.
“Hello, everyone.”
It was Han Taehyun, the deputy guild leader of Hexagon.
Since this project was of great importance to the entire guild, the deputy guild leader had come to check the results before reporting to the guild leader.
Han Taehyun naturally took the head seat in the meeting room and spoke.
“This time, we can beat Prime, right?”
“Of course, Deputy Guild Leader. Our Kihyun will definitely show them.”
“Haha, I’m looking forward to it.”
Just then, a team member who had been refreshing the Korean Hunter Association website spoke up.
“Oh! The results are out.”
At those words, everyone’s eyes, including the deputy guild leader’s, turned to the screen at the front of the meeting room.
The results popped up on the Korean Hunter Association website.
Everyone was ready to celebrate their anticipated victory. It seemed obvious that Kim Kihyun would be the top scorer this time.
However, when the results appeared, everyone, including Han Taehyun, furrowed their brows.
“Uh…?”
“What the…?”
“What’s going on?”
When announcing the results, the Korean Hunter Association always lists the top, second, and third place at the top of the list.
Naturally, Kim Kihyun’s name should have been at the very top.
But no matter how hard they looked, Kim Kihyun’s name was nowhere to be found at the top.
Instead…
Ahn Suho
Park Yong
Kang Dae-han
Jang Hyun-wook – Kim Soo-hyun – Ahn Hyun-san
Pil Jeong-woo – Sa Hyun-min – Kim Kwang-hyun
Joo Do-hyun – Lee Myung-hoon – Han Pyun-gwang
Song Min-woo ……
Unfamiliar names adorned the headline.
Everyone from Hexagon Guild was momentarily speechless.
***
Dongdaemun Market.
This is one of Korea’s representative open markets where the shady and the bright coexist. It is said that you can find anything here, no exaggeration.
Suho slowly shopped around, buying the necessary items. He had plenty of money. Shortly after his call with Kim Soo-ae, the scholarship funds were deposited.
After buying most of what he needed, Suho headed to his final destination.
[Do-young Hardware Store]
That was what the sign read.
The place looked old and was located in a very secluded area, but surprisingly, this was Suho’s final destination.
When Suho entered the shop, the old owner, wearing only a sleeveless shirt, didn’t even glance at him and continued watching TV.
“Welcome.”
It was a perfunctory greeting. Most shop owners in Dongdaemun Market were like this.
While the stores on the main street might have been more aggressive in drawing customers, shops like Do-young Hardware, located in secluded areas, didn’t bother being friendly because only those who knew the place came by.
Suho responded straightforwardly.
“I’m looking for some lightweight spears to use. I just became a hunter.”
The owner finally gave Suho a cursory glance before pointing to a corner where a pile of spears was stacked.
There were plenty of cheap spears standing there.
