Normally, Go Gun-Hee would've needed time—time to analyze, discuss, and hold meetings before agreeing to something of this scale. But as he flexed his hands and felt raw vitality surge through his body, he knew there was no need for second thoughts.
His body wasn't just healed — it was restored. His muscles felt alive again, his mana flowed freely, and for the first time in decades, he felt like the man he was twenty years ago.
'A man capable of pulling an A-rank dungeon boss outside and killing it effortlessly… and now this?' he thought, still amazed. 'And he did it like it was nothing.'
Go Gun-Hee's sharp mind raced. If they rejected Ethan Carter's offer, another country could seize the chance — politicians would swarm like vultures, trying to control him. The consequences would be catastrophic. And if they somehow offended Ethan… Gun-Hee didn't even want to imagine what that would mean.
No, this wasn't a man you pushed away. This was someone you kept close.
He looked at Ethan, who sat calmly beside his wives, relaxed as if he were on a casual vacation rather than in a high-stakes negotiation.
Go Gun-Hee decided to bet on his gut feeling, Ethan Carter, for all his terrifying strength, seemed genuinely interested only in his wives and his "honeymoon."
'He doesn't seem like someone hiding malicious intent,' Gun-Hee mused. 'But no sane man reveals all his cards in a foreign world. That display of power… that was just the tip of the iceberg.'
From the reports Woo Jin-Chul and others gave, Ethan's strength was terrifying — to drag an A-rank boss out of its dungeon and kill it without even entering? That was national-level hunter territory, maybe beyond.
After nearly thirty minutes of discussion, the decision was made.
The deal was formalized quickly: The Hunters Association would provide a comfortable, private temporary residence and work diligently to establish an untraceable, secure identity for the trio. In return, Ethan would offer his support to South Korea in times of existential need, including healing the most critical injuries and assisting Hunters with significant power growth.
"Excellent. Transparency and cooperation. That's what I like to see," Ethan said, standing up and offering the Chairman another confident handshake.
Jean and Anna both offered genuine, thankful smiles.
"We plan to stay for around two or three months. We look forward to being in your care until it's time to leave."
Gun-Hee raised an eyebrow. "A short stay?"
Ethan smiled slightly. "Just long enough to enjoy our honeymoon and… finish some business matters."
Jean silently watched Ethan, a wave of dread washing over her. 'Please, don't tell me he plans to open an Aeon Biotech branch here, too. We're on our honeymoon, for God's sake, not scouting the Omniverse for new business locations!'
Anna caught the strained look on Jean's face and instantly knew what she was thinking. She sighed internally. 'If Ethan sets up shop here, we'll be worked to death... wait, no.' Anna corrected herself with a sharp, internal jab. 'He loves us too much to let us die. Damn it, that's worse! We'll be stuck working for eternity.'
They exchanged a charged, knowing glance and a silent nod: this ambitious plan of Ethan's needed to be revised immediately, using the special—and highly effective—'negotiation tactics' reserved for later that night.
Ethan unknown to all this, estimated their stay would be approximately two to three months—a timeframe he secretly calculated would be sufficient to shepherd the Solo Leveling plot along, enjoy some sightseeing with his wives, and, most importantly, secure some powerful Monarchs abilities for Jean and Anna.
They all agreed that having Ethan as an ally was far better than the alternative. His healing alone could save countless lives.
Woo Jin-Chul, Choi Jong-In, and Cha Hae-In silently came to the same conclusion — this man wasn't just powerful; he was strategic, composed, and surprisingly diplomatic.
Chairman Go turned toward Jin-Chul. "Arrange suitable accommodations for them. I'll handle their identification papers."
"Understood," Jin-Chul said with a bow.
Ethan rose from his seat. "Thank you, Chairman Go. We appreciate your hospitality."
Jean and Anna echoed, "Yes, thank you."
Sensing it is the correct time, Choi Jong-In was quick to seize the opportunity. He flashed a brilliant, professional smile. "Mr. and Mrs. Carters, please feel free to reach out to the Hunters Guild for any personal needs or local recommendations during your stay. We'd be happy to assist in any way."
The offer was clearly less about hospitality and more about establishing a crucial relationship with a potential National-Level ally.
Jean leaned slightly toward Ethan, 'He's already trying to recruit you.'
Ethan chuckled softly. 'He's smart — I'll give him that.'
Everyone noticed Jong-In's attempt to form a connection, but no one said anything. Having Ethan Carter as an ally was a prize any guild would kill for.
Then Ethan asked curiously, "Actually, Guild Master Choi, I do have a request. Since we've established that our universe doesn't have these neat 'Gates' and 'Magic Beasts,' my wives and I are quite curious. We'd love to observe a proper Dungeon Raid. And see how exactly do you guys handle a high-level Gate? Are there any dungeon raids scheduled soon?"
Jong-In's smile broadened. This was the perfect opportunity to showcase his Guild's power. "That is an excellent idea. Our Second Raid Team is scheduled to enter a high-difficulty B-Rank Gate tomorrow morning. I can certainly arrange for you to observe the entire process. No risk involved for you, and it will give you a perfect idea of our Hunters' capabilities."
Ethan's eyes glimmered with interest. "That sounds perfect."
He turned to Jean and Anna. "What do you two think?"
Jean smiled. "Sounds fun. I want to see how these hunters fight."
Anna grinned. "As long as we get popcorn."
Woo Jin-Chul interjected carefully. "However, Mr. Carter, since your identities aren't registered yet, we can't risk public exposure. I've already ordered everyone at the site earlier to keep silent about what they saw. But until we confirm your documents, I advise caution."
Chairman Go nodded in agreement. "Mr. Woo is right. The fewer who know about your presence, the better."
Ethan nodded thoughtfully. "That just means I shouldn't be seen, then."
Before anyone could ask what he meant, Ethan snapped his fingers.
In an instant, he, Jean, and Anna vanished from sight—completely gone, without a trace of mana or sound.
Woo Jin-Chul's instincts kicked in immediately as he reached for his comms. "All units—"
Before he could even finish, Choi Jong-In's eyes widened. "They're gone..."
Cha Hae-In, who had been quiet until now, straightened in her seat. Her sharp senses scoured the room, her aura extending out like a radar — but there was nothing. No trace. No sound. No scent. Just empty space.
Go Gun-Hee also stood up while scanning the area as his brows furrowed.
Then, from the same spot where Ethan had been sitting moments ago, a familiar voice rang out — calm, amused, and slightly teasing.
"Relax, everyone. No need for panic," Ethan's voice echoed from thin air. "I just used one of my little tricks."
Everyone turned toward the sofa — and in the blink of an eye, the trio faded back into view as if reality itself rewound.
Jean immediately reached out and twisted Ethan's side with an irritated smile. "Don't scare them like that! I'm sorry, Chairman Go — my husband's just showing off. He wanted to demonstrate that he can make us completely undetectable with magic."
Anna sighed and added with a grin, "Yeah, sorry about that. He likes dramatic entrances and exits."
Ethan rubbed his side with an exaggerated wince. "Betrayed by my own wives… and it's not even six months since we got married."
That earned a few chuckles.
For the first time, Woo Jin-Chul's lips twitched upward — barely. Jong-In shook his head, still half-stunned, while Cha Hae-In silently observed, her golden eyes narrowing.
'Undetectable to even S-rank perception… That's not just stealth. That's absolute concealment,' she thought, her instincts both wary and impressed.
Go Gun-Hee chuckled warmly, breaking the tension. "It's good to be young," he said with a grandfatherly smile. "But perhaps you need some advice on married life, young man."
Ethan's eyes lit up. "Chairman, that sounds like a great idea! We should definitely have a private meeting about that."
Jean and Anna both deadpanned at him in perfect sync.
"Don't push your luck," Jean muttered.
Anna sighed. "You're hopeless."
Jong-In chuckled, seizing the chance to redirect the conversation. "Since Mr. Carter and his wives might be exploring soon, perhaps it would be good to assign a guide — someone experienced, trustworthy… and capable of keeping up with them."
His gaze shifted toward Hae-In. "I think Miss Cha Hae-In would be perfect for that."
Hae-In blinked, caught off guard. "Me?"
Ethan's face instantly brightened. "That's an excellent idea!"
Jean's eyebrow twitched. "You seem very happy about that, dear."
Anna gave him a knowing smirk.
Then Jean met Anna's gaze, both sharing the same unspoken thought. The faint hum of psychic energy between them carried more than words ever could.
'Looks like tonight's going to be a long one,' Jean's tone half resigned, half amused.
Anna crossed her arms, 'Yeah, sugar. We definitely need to have a little... chat with our dear Ethan.'
Jean sighed softly but smiled. 'An in-depth discussion, then.'
Anna chuckled, the mischief glinting in her eyes. 'Oh, it's gonna be real in-depth, alright.'
They both glanced toward where Ethan was sitting, blissfully unaware of the storm and teasing that awaited him later that night.
Ethan coughed lightly, trying to hide his grin. 'Perfect. With Hae-In guiding us, she'll meet Jinwoo tomorrow at the raid — and fate can take it from there.'
Jong-In adjusted his glasses, observing the playful energy in the room. "It seems things will be… interesting from now on."
Go Gun-Hee chuckled again, his laughter filling the meeting room. "Young people these days…"
The meeting soon concluded. Ethan, Jean, and Anna left to settle into their new accommodations, Choi Jong-In and Cha Hae-In also left, while Jin-Chul lingered behind.
He looked at the Chairman with concern. "Chairman… are we sure it's wise to let them stay? A being like that — if his intentions change—"
Go Gun-Hee raised a hand, silencing him. "I know, Jin-Chul."
He looked at his rejuvenated hand — strong, steady, young again — before his gaze shifted to the door where Ethan had disappeared moments ago.
"Let's just hope," he said softly, "that he really is here for his honeymoon."
His eyes narrowed thoughtfully, the faintest smile curving his lips.
The warmth of life thrummed beneath his skin, a reminder of Ethan's gift — and his power.
'Keep your friends close,' Go Gun-Hee thought, 'and your enemies closer…'
He exhaled slowly, looking out the window toward the city skyline.
'I think,' he mused, 'I just acquired the most powerful ally in this entire universe.'
....
Thanks to Woo Jin-Chul's efficiency, Ethan and his wives were escorted to a luxurious suite within the Hunter Association's guest quarters. The room was elegant — soft lighting, polished marble floors, and a spacious balcony overlooking the city skyline.
Ethan whistled softly. "Not bad. Guess showing off does come with benefits."
He waved his hand, a shimmer of faint blue energy washing over the walls, ventilation, and fixtures. "Clean. Not a single wiretap or surveillance spell," he announced, satisfied. "Seems my dramatic display of strength has earned us a modicum of privacy."
Jean dropped onto the king-sized bed, groaning softly as the tension finally eased from her shoulders. "Good. I'm mentally exhausted. Dealing with high-level military personnel while trying to convince them you're an interdimensional tourist is surprisingly draining."
Ethan raised a hand with a tired grin. "For the record, I did most of the explaining part."
Jean, lying on the bed with one arm draped over her forehead, didn't even bother to look at him. "Good job scaring them half to death with your little power show," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Anna snorted from the corner while trying to hold back a laugh. "Yeah, sugar, real diplomatic of ya. Nothing says 'friendly visitor' like making everyone think you're some kind of god."
Ethan sighed while rubbing the back of his neck. 'Great. I save the day, and I'm still the bad guy at home. Some honeymoon this turned out to be…'
Then Anna snapped her fingers to change her tailored suit into a silk bath wrap, walked toward the master bath, pausing at the doorway. She tossed her hair back, her emerald eyes glittering.
"Well, you know what fixes mental exhaustion, darling?" she purred while leaning against the frame. "A long, hot soak. Care to join me, Mr. Carter?"
Ethan smiled, but shook his head. "As tempting as that is, Mrs. Carter, I have an important chore. We're only here for a limited time, and if we want a comfortable exit, the Omni-Watch needs fuel."
He reached up, pulling the antique silver pocket watch from his neck chain. The dial glowed faintly, showing a small energy bar hovering at 50%.
Jean lifted her head from the pillows. "Fifty percent? That's still better than I expected after the jump. How do you plan to charge it here?"
Ethan's smile turned mischievous. He reached into the void of his spatial inventory and pulled out a fist-sized, crystalline blue object.
Anna's eyes widened slightly. "Is that…?"
"Yes, my dears. A Mana Stone," Ethan confirmed before twirling the crystal. "This is the reward for all my hard work, making sure those stones were 'accidently' expelled from the dungeon. Think of it as a severance package for that poor, headless Ogre."
"Is it really a 'severance package' if the former owner wasn't aware they were contributing?" Anna teased, walking back toward him. "You've been here less than a day, and you're already a thief, Ethan."
Jean sighed while massaging her temples. "We've been here less than a day, and we're already committing interdimensional theft. Wonderful start to our honeymoon, Mr. Carter."
"You need to wait for more surprises, Mrs. Carters," Ethan countered, kissing her and Anna quickly.
Before either woman could reply, he added with a playful salute, "Farewell for now, ladies."
He vanished into thin air — the air around him rippling like water before settling again.
.
.
.
A second later, Ethan stood in a mirrored space — an infinite reflection of the outside world stretching endlessly in every direction.
"Alright," he muttered, stepping forward. The space twisted, forming a narrow path marked by glowing red runes. He approached one of them and pressed his palm against it.
The rune pulsed brightly, then unfolded into a swirling portal. Without hesitation, Ethan stepped through.
He emerged into a metallic chamber, filled with the hum of dormant machinery.
In the center stood a figure — part man, part machine — slumped against a reinforced stasis frame.
A large, gaping hole was visible in its chest, and two antenna-like structures, resembling focused laser emitters, extended from its back.
"Long time no see, Rudy Jones," Ethan greeted, his voice taking on little sorrow.
The creature—the transformed, mutated janitor from DC universe—slowly lifted its head, its voice a weak, mechanical whisper. "Please… let me out of here."
"I will, Rudy, I promise," Ethan said. He hated this part. "In two months, I'll find your replacement and make you human again. Then I'll send you home." He paused, his resolve firming. "I'm thinking one of the Monarchs will serve nicely as a personal, perpetual battery."
The Parasite's eyes didn't register the horror of that statement; its nervous system was too altered to process complex emotion.
Ethan exhaled softly. "Yeah, I don't like it either. But you know how it is — this watch refuses to charge with my own energy in another universe. Tried feeding it nuclear energy once — it barely ticked up by two percent over a few days. Humanity's best tech isn't worth squat for this thing."
He slowly took the Mana Stone back from his Inventory, approaching the suspended creature.
He used his medical knowledge and magic spells to analyze the Parasite's physiology, the result of a LexCorp accident that had given the man the ability to absorb and mimic energy—a power Ethan had refined into a battery.
Then after gaining the Genesis Authority, Ethan had refined the Parasite's physiology again—evolving it into a perfect internal generator that could convert absorbed energy into usable power. The output wasn't particularly high, but that hardly mattered anymore. With the vast reserves of energy coursing within him now, even a small conversion rate was more than enough to sustain what he needed.
He gently pressed the Mana Stone into the hole in the Parasite's chest.
The Mana Stone dissolved instantly, absorbed into the creature's core. The Parasite's eyes glowed a vibrant, pulsing blue.
"Now, mimic the frequency," Ethan commanded.
He placed his hand firmly on the Parasite's abdomen, pouring his own Life Energy and Genesis Power into the creature.
This wasn't just charging; this was frequency calibration. The Omni-Watch required energy that matched the signature of the current universe to anchor the location and save it's coordinates in spacetime.
By feeding the Parasite the Mana Stone (the local energy source) and his own power, Ethan was instructing the creature to convert his pure energy into the Solo Leveling universe's specific cosmic frequency.
Once synchronized, the watch would not only recharge but also record the universe's exact frequency pattern, ensuring that he could return here whenever he wished.
He pulled his hand back, and the Parasite, now surging with calibrated power, aimed the two metallic antennae on its back upward, toward the waiting Omni-Watch on Ethan's hand.
The antennae fired two parallel beams of light directly onto the watch's silver casing.
The watch readout climbed swiftly: 51%... 55%... 60%...
Ethan watched silently as the charging progressed, the silence broken only by the hum of energy.
"Just a little while longer, old friend," Ethan murmured to the Parasite. "Then you get to be human again."
Once the dial hit 100%, Ethan cut the connection, satisfied. He slipped it back around his neck, and vanished again, leaving the Parasite in stasis to await its freedom.
He reappeared instantly in the luxurious suite. Jean and Anna were gone, the sound of running water echoing from the bathroom.
Ethan stripped off his clothes, 'Now, for the other half of this honeymoon,' he thought while moving toward the sound of the shower.