(Chapter 63)

The second day of the dungeon break of S-Rank Gate in Japan.

All of the eyes of the countries around the world are staring at Japan and are worried that after the Giants had finished laying waste to Japan, it would cross the ocean and start causing destruction in other countries too.

Japan had lost over half of its participating S-Rank Hunters for the sake of the Koreans.

So, the world was asking, why were the Koreans only watching on the crisis unfolding in their neighboring country and not doing anything to help.

The scale of destruction and the death toll continued to be revised hourly.

People grew outraged and grieved for the losses.

As the feelings of sympathy grew larger and larger for the Japanese, the criticisms towards Korea grew harsher and harsher in turn.

The mass media of the world was boiling over.

And before long, another question rose up, the one about why Japan hadn't requested South Korea with the subjugation of the monsters.

And so, as the fourth day dawned on this tragedy.

Go Gun-Hee as the Chairman of the South Korean Hunter's Association released the statement.

"I express my condolences at the tragedy unfolding in Japan. And also, I'd like to reveal the position of South Korea's own Hunter's Association."

That a little earlier in the day, the American Hunter Bureau also released a statement, as well.

"We're currently gathering Hunters to one location. However, it's not for Japan's sake."

And the spokesperson pointed at the big screen behind her that showing another Gate before continuing.

"According to the measurement taken by our investigative team, this Gate is also an S-Rank, exactly like the one that has appeared in Japan. This nation's top Hunters will focus all their efforts in closing this Gate, instead."

Japan was finished.

The Giant-type monsters were advancing south as it destroyed everything in their path. People escaping up north were slowly but surely being forced onto a cliff, as well.

In this situation, Korea finally broke her silence over the matter and clarified her position as well.

Go Gun-Hee stood in front of the reporters and spoke up.

"We will not get involved in Japan's matters."

Then the Association Chairman proceeded to reveal every little detail of what the Japanese Hunters were trying to do back at the Jeju Island to these reporters.

The proof he presented only solidified the inscrutable truth even further.

The CCTV footage of the President of the Japanese Association, Matsumoto Shigeo, brazenly yelling at the top of his lungs at his Korean counterpart even after he put into motion such a dastardly scheme left a serious shock to all the reporters watching on.

And the Japanese reporters, hoping for South Korea to come to their aid, could only watch the footage with utter devastation.

Before long, their hands holding the cameras were pointing down to the floor.

Only a short moment ago the Americans said that they couldn't help Japan.

In such a situation, the explosive revelations from the Korean Hunter's Association were no different from passing a death sentence to the Japanese people.

Thick, burning tears began falling from the eyes of the Japanese reporters.

"... This is everything I wanted to say."

The Association Chairman Go Gun-Hee finished saying what he came to say.

Normally, this would be the time when countless questions started inundating him, but no reporter present here could unshackle their mouths from the nasty shock and astonishment to do so.

The poor atmosphere of the press conference was broadcast live to the rest of the country through the various TV cameras.

Only then did the viewers watching on realize why the Koreans had maintained their silence over the crisis unfolding in Japan.

But then, they heard him again.

"However..."

Go Gun-Hee looked as if he'd be turning around to leave as the press conference had come to an end but then, he continued to speak on.

"This is the decision of the Hunter's Association, and ours alone. We won't stop any individual Hunters from doing what they wish to do."

'What was he even talking about now?...'

Like animals lazily waking up from their winter hibernation, the reporters still frozen in shock began slowly exchanging glances with each other again.

"There is one such person. No, let me correct that. There's one such person with his three friends that wishes to go to Japan and get rid of the giant monsters..."

'... Who could that be?'

'Who wanted to head to Japan under the current situation by only four people?...'

The bottomed-out atmosphere of the press conference venue suddenly began boiling over.

'... Wait, four?... Then!?'

Korean reporters' eyes widen to their thoughts of one possibility about the identities of these people.

They remembered one article for the past few days about the double dungeon incident within the country.

Even the Japanese reporters shedding tears raised their cameras with their trembling hands.

'Please... Please!... Let him be included!...'

The lone strand of hope was busy hammering away in their hearts now.

One of the Korean reporters raised his hand up.

The Association Chairman pointed to this man.

Perhaps fearing that his turn would be snatched away from him, he quickly asked his question.

"... Just who are these people?"

The attention of everyone present in the venue was directed to Go Gun-Hee.

He took his time for a moment or two, before pressing his lips as close to the mic as possible.

"It's Sung Jin-Woo Hunter-nim with his guildmates..."

That one sentence caused hundreds of cameras to explode in a wall of blinding flashes.

Incheon International Airport.

"Ah, hold on. We're passing through!"

Yoo Jin-Ho and Han Sen parted the sea of people blocking their path and walked forward in an imposing manner.

A huge pair of sunglasses hid their faces, and both of their hands were carrying two suitcases packed full of their gear.

The determination oozing out of their expressions were serious enough to shame the top movie star about to make their grand appearances in the climactic battle scene.

"We're passing through!"

Yoo Jin-Ho carved out a path with Han Sen, and the others are wordlessly followed behind.

But Yang Manli can't stop her giggling while hugging Shyrveen's arm as she looks at the back of Yoo Jin-Ho and Han Sen.

"Darling... Hahaha! It's understandable that brother Jin-Ho is doing that. But... Sen! The fuck are you in this too!?"

"What!?... C'mon, I missed playing Dollar, let me be Manli."

Han Sen complained while being playful in a time like this.

He knows that this ancestral planet is facing disaster all over the world, but he doesn't feel any kind of emotion towards this news.

Just like any other planet in the universe.

Yoo Soo-Hyun giggles too after seeing this and took a last glance at Sung Jin-Woo before staring at the back of Han Sen.

'... I know that this is unfair and unjust but... I know too that I don't have a chance to win his heart over... Is it acceptable to try myself to look for another man?... Maybe with this... My heart will be at ease...'

Shyrveen facepalmed and Yang Manli's giggles became louder after hearing the amusing question of Sung Jin-Woo.

"Dollar?"

"In that place, brother Sen is known to be Dollar while wearing his signature golden armor and because he steal the kill from one of the three strongest people in the base of fourth stage creature.

Since, there's no knowledge about the fifth in the public yet, you should already know how expensive and rare one is, right?

And unfortunately for that man to be snatched of that 'thing' and gear of the humanoid creature by brother Sen. The fourth stage creature is a minotaur that wielding an axe. Common from games, you know."

Then Sung Jin-Woo recollects the golden minotaur that swinging like a monkey while fighting the god statue.

"Oh... Is that what I saw when he shapeshifted into one in the double dungeon?"

"Yup. Then, of course, me. Don't have personal powers to kill creatures from the past, I used your soldiers to play as 'Bill' and the last visit to the sanctuary a few days ago. I played 'Coin' after getting the ice and add that I don't have your soldiers."

Shyrveen shrugs after elaborating how it became like that.

Since Sung Jin-Woo is in the middle following Yoo Jin-Ho and Han Sen, and Yoo Soo-Hyun is beside him while the lovers are at his back,

He glances at the back to Shyrveen with confusion.

"... Wait... So, after I armored myself and inserted my mana to the soon-Super Armor... I'll be recognized as this 'Bill' person then?"

Yang Manli puts up a thumbs up to Sung Jin-Woo.

"Of course, brother Jin!"

He didn't know either to cry or to laugh after hearing that his conclusions are right.

"... Do I have too?"

"Yes. Because there will be a time that we will travel not only in that place..."

Shyrveen nodded and hinted to Sung Jin-Woo, that after a few seconds realized his hint.

'Ah... Yeah... Another universe is it? With humanity in Type 1 Civilization or above... Then...'

"Huh?... Wait... You serious, Hyung-nim?..."

"Do I look like?..."

"... Yes?..."

Shyrveen asked after staring at Sung Jin-Wo, who scratched his head after seeing the same dead eyes of Shyrveen, but he continued in mumbles before setting his foot to the stairs of the private jet.

"How nice... I want to see the space with glittering stars up close."

But everyone heard him because of highly-attuned senses, and Yang Manli stated a fact as a daughter of a noble mother and military father.

"It's possible. But so hard to be done though..."

Because she already experienced it once, traversing the space from Star to Star with spaceships that equipped with a device that can create a space-time warp portal.

Then Go Gun-Hee with Woo Jin-Cheol appeared just came to see them off.

"Even now, I wish I could change your minds."

Go Gun-Hee said while looking at the six faces and the only members of Ahjin Guild.

"I'm sorry. We want to go there."

Sung Jin-Woo replied as he wanted to kill those Giants and raise his level, as well as to increase the number of his Shadow Soldiers.

This was the reason why he demanded all rights to these monsters be handed over to him, and the Japanese government welcomed that very obvious demand with wide-open arms.

Shyrveen, Yang Manli, and Han Sen already agreed with this for they don't need the corpse but the Magical Cores instead.

They will try to see if the Magical Cores of the Giants are pure or elemental ones.

When they were at the Hunter's Association four days ago, Shyrveen asked for Go Gun-Hee if they still have Magical Cores of S-Rank except from the ants in the Jeju Island.

Because they already noticed that the Mana inside the cores of the ants are Earth Mana.

Go Gun-Hee let a genial chuckle escape from his mouth after hearing the same thing but different this time from Sung Jin-Woo's mouth.

"Is it because of the monsters over there?"

Sung Jin-Woo grinned as well, and gestured for the trio.

"I simply wish to fight against the monsters... We all."

"... If that's what you all wish for, then there's nothing we can do."

Go Gun-Hee extended his hand out and Sung Jin-Woo firmly shook that hand.

As their clenched hands rose and fell, the former bade his earnest goodbye.

"I pray that you all will come back to us safe and sound."

Hundreds of camera lenses captured the sight of these two men shaking their hands in its full glory

While not forgetting to include the new official reassessed S-Rank Hunter, Dragon's Summoner, and two other new A-Rank Hunters beside him, Han Sen and Yang Manli.

With the model A-Rank Hunter, Yoo Soo-Hyun, and the last but not the least reassessed C-Rank Hunter, Yoo Jin-Ho from being an D-Rank Hunter.

Upon arriving at Kansai International Airport.

Shyrveen summoned Apollyon when he took his first step on the land of Japan.

Then Han Sen and Yang Manli jumps on Apollyon's back.

"I will move first onto the farthest and upper place of Tokyo to check the status there while I'll drop brother Sen and Yang Manli around Fukushima while on the way."

"Okay, Hyung-nim. I'll take care of this side, see you in Tokyo."

"See in there too."

Then Sung Jin-Woo with Yoo Jin-Ho and Yoo Soo-Hyun saw Apollyon became a forty meters Ice Chinese Dragon and disappeared on the horizon just under a minute.

Before the three of them proceed to enter that airport building just to meet Association Chairman Matsumoto Shigeo.

'This man was strong!...'

Matsumoto had been the Association Chairman for many years, and he got to meet many powerful beings up until now.

That was how he could tell from just one glance.

He stood next to countless Hunters in his life so far, but hadn't encountered many situations where the hair on the back of his neck stood up straight from the unbelievable chill he felt.

However, Matsumoto judged that, no matter how strong Hunter Sung Jin-Woo was, he alone would not be enough to contend with all those monsters.

So, he made a desperate plea.

"Please, I beg of you to focus on defending us, with Osaka as the center!"

The Japanese Hunter's Association wanted Sung Jin-Woo to focus solely on defense and buy them enough time so that they could negotiate with either the Americans or with the Russians.

Too bad, that plan was immediately thrown out the window with one short sentence from the man in question.

"I refuse."

Sung Jin-Woo curtly stated his position.

"Then... Then, what will you do, instead?"

Matsumoto could only ask with a tightening chest, while he thought that Sung Jin-Woo changed his mind and decided not to kill the giant monsters now.

But he forgot that there were three missing people beside them now because he is mainly focused on Sung Jin-Woo.

That is the same with the other people that went with Matsumoto to welcome the Ahjin Guild.

No, they only care about Sung Jin-Woo, because of his feats and achievements that made into international, and they carelessly ignored the rest of the members of the Guild...