CHAPTER 30

Chapter 30

Sung Jinwoo stood amidst the gathering of elite hunters, his eyes quietly observing the Japanese team before him. His gaze settled on a man standing at the forefront—Goto Ryuji, Japan's most formidable S-rank hunter.

So that's Goto Ryuji? Japan's S-rank hunter... Jinwoo thought to himself, assessing the man.

Beside him, Akari Shimizu tilted her head in curiosity, her sharp eyes flicking between the two men. "Hm...? Who's that person?" she asked, nudging Hanakawa for an answer.

"Ah. He is a hunter named Sung Jinwoo, who recently became an S-rank," Hanakawa replied, her tone neutral but laced with the tiniest hint of curiosity.

Goto Ryuji observed Jinwoo carefully, his sharp instincts picking up the faint traces of a hidden power within the younger man. An assassin-type hunter... but trying to suppress such an enormous presence is impossible. His sharp eyes narrowed as he continued to evaluate the Korean hunters, his gaze eventually landing on Choi Jong-In, the Guild master of the Dragon Knight Guild.

Choi Jong-In met Goto's gaze head-on, an amused smirk playing on his lips. To him, Goto's attempt to measure up felt laughable. The Japanese hunter's aura flared slightly, an instinctive show of dominance, but Choi simply watched him, unaffected.

How cute. He's trying to intimidate me? Choi mused, his lips curling up into a knowing smirk. Does this Japanese hunter think of himself as a big deal?

In response, Choi Jong-In let out his mana, his energy flaring like an inferno, thick and suffocating. The air around them crackled with heat, the sheer potency of his magic sending a wave of shock through the surrounding hunters. Even Jinwoo, who had been quietly observing, raised an eyebrow at the sheer intensity of Choi's mana.

Impressive. His mana is like thousands of tiny needles pricking against my skin... like standing too close to an active volcano. Jinwoo thought, feeling the dense magical energy in the air.

Goto, despite his best efforts to maintain composure, found himself sweating slightly under the pressure. He quickly forced himself to suppress his reaction, unwilling to show any weakness.

"He must be a pretty talented assassin," Goto finally said, shifting his attention back to Jinwoo.

Hanakawa, still reeling from the mana pressure, blurted out, "What? That person is a magic-type hunter?"

"What? A magic type? There's no way," Goto responded, his voice tinged with disbelief.

Hanakawa nodded, reaffirming, "It is officially confirmed information."

Lim Tae-Gyu, standing beside Cha Hae-In, chuckled softly. "Your Guild Master hasn't changed one bit. Still the same guy, answering power with power, even though he's always preaching about peaceful discussions."

He then glanced at Jinwoo, his eyes studying the younger hunter. "Hmm... that's Sung Jinwoo? The one who ruined our Min-Sung's stage?"

Cha Hae-In, standing quietly, looked up at Choi, her expression unreadable. You haven't changed, Guild Leader, she thought before shifting her gaze towards Jinwoo. Sung Jinwoo...? No wonder the air around us felt different. That presence... it's coming from him.

Meanwhile, on the training grounds, Baek Yoon-Ho continued his sparring session, his raw physical power sending shockwaves through the ground. Hanakawa, still standing beside Goto, made an arrogant remark, "Apparently, this is Korea's top. There's no need to see more."

Goto, still processing the mana he had felt from Choi Jong-In, responded, "Is that so?"

Hanakawa smirked. "I have seen how Goto-san raids. Over your shoulder, it is possible that you are more than an S-rank now."

Goto, shifting his attention to Cha Hae-In, said, "That is not always the case. There's one more useful hunter besides that guy."

Park Jongsoo, who had been listening nearby, narrowed his eyes at Hanakawa's words. "Korean hunters aren't good? Did you think I wouldn't understand your Japanese? I studied that language in high school."

Jongsoo's assistant, standing beside him, shouted excitedly, "Of course! Since it is Big Bro!"

Hanakawa looked puzzled. "Who...?"

Jongsoo's assistant proudly declared, "This person is none other than the Dragon Knight Guild's Vice Guild Master, Boss Park Jongsoo!"

From above, Choi Jong-In, who had been observing, sweatdropped and muttered under his breath, "Jongsoo, you really need to control your temper."

However, beside him, both Jinwoo and Go Gunhee thought the exact same thing: You should apply that advice to yourself, Choi.

Yoontae, Park Jongsoo's subordinate, stepped forward and proudly stated, "Even though Big Bro is not an S-rank hunter, he is the Vice Guild Master of the Dragon Knight Guild!"

Jongsoo, sighing, placed a hand on Yoontae's shoulder. "Stop bragging."

Hanakawa, unimpressed, scoffed, "An A-rank hunter? Participating in the raid? I thought only S-rank hunters were allowed."

Jongsoo cursed under his breath, "Shit."

Goto, sensing the growing tension, addressed Hanakawa. "Hanakawa, what conversation are you having? If you're being rude, stop it."

Jongsoo, unwilling to let the insult slide, coldly retorted, "What would a translator who follows someone like a dog know about real combat?"

Hanakawa's eyes flared with irritation. "Do you want to confirm that? I'm Japan's A-rank hunter, Hanakawa. There's no way I'd lose to a hunter who only tags along as a translator, right?"

Jongsoo's expression turned ice cold. "Hey, translator. There's a limit to how much you can underestimate someone."

Hanakawa smirked. "Are you perhaps a non-combat hunter?"

Jinwoo, watching from the sidelines, mused to himself, A clash between Korea and Japan's A-rank hunters...

Choi Jong-In, unable to resist, shouted in perfect Japanese, "Beat the shit out of that girl, Jongsoo! She's looking down on you!" He chuckled to himself, fully aware of Jongsoo's temperament.

Cha Hae-In and the other Korean hunters sweatdropped at Choi's immaturity. Meanwhile, the Japanese S-rank hunters looked at Choi with puzzled expressions.

Jongsoo sighed, but he understood his Guild Master all too well. "The rules are simple: whoever snatches the other person's wrist wins."

Hanakawa narrowed her eyes. If I throw a punch and get caught, it's over. I can't attack carelessly.

Jongsoo, nonchalantly placing his left arm in his pocket, said, "Don't worry. Besides, when I grab your wrist, I won't need to use both hands."

Hanakawa studied his stance and thought, He must be confident in his speed. She then declared, "Okay. Let's start."

Hanakawa dashed forward, throwing a swift punch at Jongsoo, but he effortlessly dodged without even trying. She grit her teeth. That arrogance... I'll crush it now.

However, before she could react, Jongsoo's leg flicked out, deflecting her punch with minimal effort. Hanakawa's eyes widened in shock.

Jongsoo smirked. "Ah, keep in mind, I'm not hitting you. I just slightly pushed you. You know the difference, right?"

Hanakawa sneered. "I don't understand dialects too well."

She rushed at him again, but in the blink of an eye, Jongsoo appeared in front of her. Before she could react, he grabbed her wrist.

"Too slow, Ms. Translator."

Hanakawa stood frozen, her mind racing. What just happened?

Jongsoo tightened his grip slightly. "You're the type to hide behind tankers, aren't you? I could have killed you if I had a knife in my hand. That's the difference between our skills, even though we're the same rank."

End of Chapter 30