CHAPTER 25

Chapter 25

The moment Choi stepped out of the airport, the crisp morning air of America greeted him, along with the faint hum of bustling activity. His sharp eyes scanned the area, immediately locking onto a familiar presence. A young woman in a neatly pressed suit, her auburn hair tied back into a practical ponytail, approached him with a professional smile.

"Good morning, Sir Choi. Welcome to America. It's an honor to meet you in person. My name is Alice, and I have been assigned to escort you to Mr. Andrei's residence," she said, bowing slightly.

Choi returned the greeting with a nod, his lips curling into a polite smile. "Thank you, Alice. I appreciate the warm welcome. Let's not waste any time."

Alice led him to a sleek black vehicle that was waiting at the curbside. As they drove through the city streets, Choi leaned back into the leather seat, his mind already occupied with the reason for his visit. The situation was dire—if left unchecked, it could have catastrophic consequences.

"I hear the weather is much colder in Korea these days," Alice remarked, attempting small talk.

Choi glanced at her, momentarily pulled from his thoughts. "Yeah, winter is setting in. America, on the other hand, feels a bit warmer."

Alice chuckled. "Well, hopefully, your stay will be pleasant. Mr. Andrei has been expecting you eagerly."

Choi merely nodded in response.

His mind drifted back to his first meeting with Andrei. It had been years ago, during an S-rank dungeon raid in the Philippines.

Choi had been on vacation at the time, enjoying some much-needed rest, when the emergency request came in. Given that he was the closest national hunter available, he had no choice but to step in. Coincidentally, Andrei had also been there, drawn by the same call to action.

They had stood side by side, gazing at the massive swirling vortex that was the dungeon gate.

"How about a friendly competition?" Andrei had said with a cocky grin.

Choi had smirked. "Fine by me. Let's see who clears more monsters."

They had entered the dungeon together, their camaraderie forming amidst the chaos of battle. Andrei's raw strength and relentless attacks had been a sight to behold, but Choi's refined techniques and precise execution had been equally impressive. By the time the dungeon was cleared, they had developed a mutual respect for each other—a respect that would later solidify into genuine friendship.

As the car pulled up to Andrei's estate, Choi was greeted by a large, muscular figure standing by the front steps. Andrei's deep laughter echoed through the courtyard as he spread his arms wide.

"Choi! My friend! Welcome to America!"

Choi chuckled as he stepped out of the car, accepting the bear hug Andrei offered. "It's good to see you again, Drei. How have you been?"

Andrei smirked. "Better now that you're here. So, what brings the great Choi all the way to my doorstep? This is unlike you."

Choi's expression turned serious. "I think a big war is about to happen, Andrei."

Andrei's joyful demeanor vanished in an instant. His eyes sharpened. "And what makes you think that?"

Choi exhaled slowly, his gaze darkening. "The gates are appearing more frequently. Not only that, but the monsters coming out of them are getting stronger. Something is happening, and to be honest we need to be prepared."

Andrei ran a hand through his blond hair, sighing. "And what exactly do you propose we do?"

"For now, just prepare. There's no stopping it, but we can brace ourselves for what's coming."

Andrei nodded solemnly. "Understood. But something tells me that's not the only reason you're here."

Choi leaned forward, his eyes sharp. "Control that guy of yours."

Andrei frowned. "Who?"

"Hwang."

Andrei let out a heavy sigh. "I had a feeling you'd say that. He's been getting more reckless lately. I'll keep an eye on him."

Before their conversation could continue, Andrei's phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen before looking up at Choi. "Looks like something interesting just happened. The American Hunter Association just found a man inside a dungeon—alive. And he's speaking Korean. They're requesting a translator."

Choi smiled. He already knew who it was.

Before Andrei could suggest sending Hwang, Choi interrupted. "How about we go there ourselves?"

Andrei smirked. "I was hoping you'd say that."

They arrived at the facility shortly after, where Choi immediately spotted a man sitting inside an observation room, clad in an orange prison uniform.

Sung Ilhwan.

Choi took a deep breath before stepping inside. As soon as he entered, Sung Ilhwan looked up, his sharp gaze meeting Choi's.

Choi offered a small smile. "You look like you've been through hell. How are you feeling?"

Sung Ilhwan studied him carefully before responding. "I've had better days. And you are?"

"Choi," he said simply, taking a seat across from him. "I'm here to see how you're doing and to answer any questions you might have."

Sung Ilhwan narrowed his eyes. "You're from Korea."

Choi nodded. "That's right."

For the next hour, the two men talked. Choi explained the current state of Korea, filling Sung in on what had happened in his absence. The conversation was calm, almost friendly—until Choi suddenly asked, "Are you Sung Jinwoo's father?"

Sung Ilhwan stiffened, his body tensing as he released a faint but potent aura. The pressure in the room intensified instantly.

Choi merely smiled and released his own aura in response.

The walls trembled. The air grew heavy.

Outside the room, Andrei's lips curled into an excited grin. "Well, well… something fun is happening in there."

Meanwhile, inside the room, Sung Ilhwan was shocked. Choi's aura wasn't just strong—it was oppressive, like thousands of needles pressing against his skin. He hadn't expected this level of power.

After a few tense moments, Choi suddenly retracted his aura and grinned. "Of course, I know who Jinwoo is. He's about to become an S-rank hunter. And besides, we're kind of acquaintances."

Sung Ilhwan shocked by what he heard about his son and sighed, rubbing his temples. "I apologize for my reaction."

Choi waved it off. "No harm done."

He then glanced toward the observation window and gave Andrei a thumbs-up, signaling that everything was under control.

But deep down, Sung Ilhwan couldn't shake a nagging thought.

If we were to fight… who would win?

The next day, Choi bid farewell to Andrei.

"Take care, Drei."

Andrei grinned. "You too. Don't die before we have another friendly competition."

As Choi boarded his flight back home, he found himself seated next to Sung Ilhwan. The two sat in silence for a while before Choi casually asked, "Do you think a big war is coming?"

Sung Ilhwan stiffened slightly at the question. He turned to look at Choi, studying him carefully.

This man is not a fragment holder… so how does he know about this?

After a brief pause, Sung finally responded. "Yes, I think so too."

Choi smiled.

End of Chapter