ICPBAG CH 09

Team Leader Song Seokwoo, dressed sharply in his stiff uniform, was giving a briefing while casting an unpleasant glance toward Cha Wooshin, who sat across from him at the center.

The way he lounged arrogantly deep into his chair, idly tapping on his phone, was already unsightly enough—but the man who had come as the guild’s representative hadn’t even properly worn the guild uniform.

Instead, he wore a high-saturation blue silk shirt, the top buttons casually undone. It was clear Song Seokwoo found it extremely displeasing.

Behind Cha Wooshin, men like shadows stood spread out on both sides.

Song Seokwoo clicked his tongue. I could roughly guess what kind of curses he was muttering to himself.

This was the reception room of the Southern Management Headquarters of the National Hunter Association.

An issue had arisen regarding loot distribution from the joint raid conducted this time.

A high-value rare core, classified as a top-tier drop, had been obtained from a dungeon whose level exceeded initial estimates.

According to cooperation law, the region’s loot should be split 5 to 5.

However, when it came to a high-level dungeon, the situation changed.

High-level dungeons were classified as national disaster-grade threats due to their danger.

Using that as leverage, Cha Wooshin had proposed an 8 to 2 split.

Naturally, it was an absurd ratio for the Association to accept.

“Director.”

I was seated immediately to Cha Wooshin’s right. Lowering my voice, I spoke, and he smiled lightly.

“Why?”

“It would be better if you put your phone down for now.”

“Should I?”

“Yes. There are reporters outside as well.”

Cha Wooshin straightened his slouched posture and placed his interlocked hands on the table.

I carefully observed his every movement. If necessary, I had to apply the brakes.

“Team Leader Song Seokwoo.”

The smile had completely vanished.

“Instead of spouting nonsense like your mouth’s got a draft running through it, I’ll make a proposal.”

“Are you trying to show how uneducated you are? Why are you talking down to me like that?”

“Exactly. This uneducated thug bastard is trying to offer an opinion.”

“You little—”

“If I’m little, then I outrank you. Are you stupid?”

Cha Wooshin tapped his temple with his finger as he asked.

A few guild members burst into laughter, but the expressions of Song Seokwoo and the Association officials turned ice-cold.

“Director.”

Time to apply the brakes.

Song Seokwoo was a veteran in this field; there was no need to create unnecessary trouble.

When I sent him a steady but firm gaze, Cha Wooshin leaned slightly and whispered, mimicking my tone.

“He suddenly started complimenting me.”

Of course, he wouldn’t listen.

Once this meeting ended, reporters would flood in with interview requests.

They would dig into everything—why we gathered, what conflicts arose, and what conclusion we reached.

“I’ll say this just once, so hold your breath and listen carefully.”

“8 to 2, my ass.”

“Right. Even I think it sounds like something a complete thug would say. After all this time and loyalty between us, it doesn’t look good to others.”

“Then what are you trying to do?! You barged in here this morning—!”

“5 to 5. Let’s go with the original ratio.”

“…What? 5 to 5?”

Song Seokwoo asked blankly.

“But. Hand over that rookie of yours to me.”

“……”

“Clean, right?”

It was a clean, yet brutal proposal.

Normally, Cha Wooshin wouldn’t have come here himself, let alone spend his time like this.

Saying he wanted Park Juhwan instead meant dragging that life back toward death.

The rookie hunter, barely twenty, had been hovering on the brink of death and had only just been moved to a general ward.

There was a good chance he would suffer trauma so severe that even seeing a gate entrance could trigger panic.

I had seen countless hunters like that.

I had hoped my ominous prediction would be wrong, but it wasn’t.

Cha Wooshin made excellent use of everything around him.

He knew exactly what kind of life I had risked everything to save.

So it must have been easy for him.

To gain a perfect advantage, this level of provocation meant nothing.

Even Song Seokwoo seemed at a loss for words.

The authority to make this decision lay above Song Seokwoo.

They would likely stall, trying to resolve things peacefully.

But the Cha Wooshin I knew wasn’t patient enough for that.

“Are you not afraid of anything?”

Song Seokwoo crushed the documents in his hand, veins bulging.

It was obvious he wanted to grab Cha Wooshin by the collar.

“How could I not be? Someone in my territory almost died.”

“Who almost died—!”

“Because of that useless rookie you sent in, I almost had to collect a corpse. You don’t get it?”

“So that’s why you insist on 8 to 2?”

“I’m giving you options. Partnership mindset.”

One thing was certain.

Even if I hadn’t saved Park Juhwan, Cha Wooshin would have found another excuse.

Even if he seems lax when cooperating with the Association, his true intentions…

In the end, Song Seokwoo and the Association officials couldn’t give an answer.

“Hunter Kang Iseo. A moment.”

Before leaving the room, Song Seokwoo stopped me.

He held something in his hand.

A letter?

“No.”

That answer didn’t come from me.

Before I knew it, Cha Wooshin had approached, wrapping both arms around my shoulders.

“No. I don’t like it.”

“Ah, damn it, I was asked to deliver this! This!”

“You’re supposed to say ‘help me,’ got it?”

“…What the hell. This is creepy now. Are they dating?”

For Song Seokwoo to react like that, it must have looked truly absurd.

“Take it. Park Juhwan asked me to give it to you. Said thank you for saving his life!”

Grumbling, Song Seokwoo finally handed it over.

A pale pink letter.

I took it, somewhat dazed.

I tried to thank him, but he backed away as if horrified.

It had been a long time since I’d received a handwritten letter.

When I unfolded it, the page was filled to the brim.

“To Hunter Kang Iseo.

Hello. This is Park Juhwan. I wanted to thank you in person, but since I don’t know when that will be possible, I decided to write this letter. Please excuse my poor handwriting.

I already knew of you. Among the many guild hunters, you were the only one I respected.

Seeing you in person that day is something I’ll never forget. You were far more impressive than anything I had heard or seen in videos.

That day, I thought I was going to die. I remembered the rule that if infected, a hunter must end their life before turning into a demon—but I couldn’t do it.

I was simply afraid. I was accepting my death helplessly.

At that moment, when my body was stiff and breathing was difficult, a warmth I had never felt before enveloped me.

Though my memory is faint, through it I saw your face…”

“Looks like we need to run an ideological check on this rookie.”

Cha Wooshin snatched the letter away.

“What are you doing?”

In an instant, the paper in his hand burst into flames and burned away.

“You shouldn’t accept things like this so carelessly. It’s filthy.”

“…That’s for me to decide. What right do you have to take my belongings?”

“Right? This is my right.”

“……”

“What of yours even exists? Even you are mine.”