The Association President arrived exactly two hours and thirty-seven minutes after my testing. I know because I spent that entire time sitting in what they called a "VIP waiting room" but was really just a glorified office with better coffee and nervous staff members peeking through the door every ten minutes.
Go Gun-hee entered like he owned the place, which I suppose he did. The man had presence—the kind that made everyone in the room straighten their spines without him saying a word. Behind him trailed what looked like half the Association's leadership, all trying to look important while clearly being out of their depth.
"Mr. Cross," he said, extending his hand. His grip was firm, direct. No wasted motion. "I apologize for keeping you waiting."
I stood and shook his hand, noting how his eyes never left mine during the exchange. This was a man used to reading people, and I could practically see him cataloging every detail about me.
"No problem at all. I imagine this doesn't happen every day."
"Indeed it doesn't." He gestured for me to sit. "In fact, your awakening presents us with several... interesting challenges."
The way he said 'interesting' made it sound more like 'catastrophic,' but I kept my expression neutral. Around us, the Association officials had arranged themselves like some kind of corporate war council. Director Park sat to Gun-hee's right, still looking shell-shocked from earlier.
"The readings from your evaluation," Gun-hee continued, "are unprecedented. Our equipment couldn't properly measure the upper limits of your abilities."
"Is that unusual?" I asked, playing the confused civilian perfectly.
"Mr. Cross, in the twenty years since gates first appeared, we've never recorded measurements like yours. Not from Thomas Andre, not from Liu Zhigang, not from any of the known National Level hunters."
I watched several officials exchange glances at that statement. The political implications were probably giving them headaches. Korea suddenly having a hunter who might be stronger than the established powerhouses would shift international dynamics overnight.
"What does that mean exactly?" I asked.
Gun-hee leaned back in his chair. "It means you're potentially the strongest hunter in the world. And that creates certain... responsibilities."
There it was. The hook I'd been waiting for. They couldn't just let someone with my supposed power level wander around unsupervised. I needed to be integrated into their system, monitored, managed. Which was exactly what I needed to hunt my targets.
"What kind of responsibilities?"
"First, we'd like to conduct some practical assessments. Combat trials, ability demonstrations. Nothing dangerous, just enough to understand what we're working with."
I nodded. "That makes sense."
"Second," and here Gun-hee's expression became more serious, "Korea would very much like to ensure your... continued cooperation. There are certain benefits that come with being a registered National Level hunter. Significant financial compensation, access to high-rank dungeons, government protection for your family."
Family I didn't have, but Adrian Cross would. The system had been thorough in creating my background—parents who'd died in a car accident three years ago, no siblings, no close relationships. Clean and simple.
"And if I refused?" I asked, curious about their contingency plans.
The temperature in the room seemed to drop a few degrees. Gun-hee's smile never wavered, but something shifted in his eyes.
"That would be... unfortunate. For everyone involved."
Not exactly a threat, but not not a threat either. I had to admire the diplomatic approach. They needed me cooperative, not antagonistic. A rogue National Level hunter could level half of Seoul before anyone could stop them.
"I'm not looking for trouble," I said. "Just want to understand where I stand."
"Excellent." Gun-hee's warmth returned instantly. "Then let's discuss the practical matters. We'll arrange for combat testing tomorrow morning. After that, assuming everything goes well, we'll need to decide on your official classification and guild affiliation."
Guild affiliation. That was interesting. Most National Level hunters operated independently, but they still maintained relationships with major guilds for political and logistical support.
"Do I have to choose a guild?"
"Not immediately, but it would be advantageous. The major guilds have resources—information networks, support staff, access to the most profitable raids. And frankly, having guild backing makes certain administrative matters much smoother."
Translation: guilds were easier to monitor and control than independent operators.
"I'll keep that in mind."
Gun-hee stood, signaling the end of the meeting. "Director Park will coordinate your testing schedule. We've arranged temporary accommodations at the Association facility—for security reasons, you understand."
I did understand. They wanted me somewhere they could keep an eye on me until they figured out what to do with me. Standard procedure when dealing with potential world-ending threats.
As the officials filed out, Gun-hee lingered for a moment.
"Mr. Cross, may I ask what you plan to do with your abilities?"
It was a loaded question. He was trying to gauge my intentions, my motivations. Whether I'd be a stabilizing force or a destabilizing one.
"Honestly? I haven't really thought that far ahead. A week ago I was working a dead-end job and worrying about rent. Now you're telling me I might be the strongest person on the planet. It's a lot to process."
He nodded slowly. "Power changes everything. How it changes you... that remains to be seen."
After he left, I sat alone in the VIP waiting room, staring out the window at Seoul's skyline. Somewhere out there was my target—the Shadow's Rival, a Rank B defect with stolen abilities. But getting to them would require patience, planning, and most importantly, access to the hunter community's inner circles.
The testing tomorrow would be the first step. I needed to demonstrate enough power to earn respect and fear, but not so much that they'd consider me an immediate threat to be eliminated. A delicate balance.
My phone buzzed—a text from an unknown number.
*Welcome to the Association, Mr. Cross. Looking forward to working with you. - Cha Hae-In*
I stared at the message for a moment. Cha Hae-In, the S-rank hunter from the White Tiger Guild. One of Korea's strongest, and apparently already reaching out to the new player in town. The guild recruitment had begun faster than I'd expected.
I typed back a simple response: *Thank you. Likewise.*
Within seconds, my phone buzzed again. This time it was a different number.
*Heard about your awakening. Impressive. Let's talk soon. - Choi Jong-In*
The Hunters Guild's guild master. Then another message, and another. Word was spreading through the hunter community at lightning speed, and everyone wanted to get their hooks into the potential new National Level hunter before anyone else could.
I turned off my phone and leaned back in the chair. Tomorrow's testing was supposed to be about measuring my abilities, but I was starting to realize it would be more like a job interview. Every major player in Korea's hunter scene would be watching, evaluating not just my power but my potential value as an ally or threat.
The irony wasn't lost on me. I'd been sent here to hunt a defect, but instead I was about to become the center of attention for every hunter, guild master, and government official in the country. My target could probably operate completely unnoticed while everyone was busy trying to figure out what to do with me.
Maybe that was for the best. The system had given me time to establish my cover identity and integrate into hunter society. By the time I actually started hunting, I'd have access, resources, and most importantly, the kind of reputation that would let me move freely through their world.
I stood up and walked to the window, looking out at the city lights. Somewhere out there, monsters were crawling out of gates, hunters were risking their lives to stop them, and one particular anomaly was pretending to be something they weren't.
Soon enough, I'd be doing the same thing.
The hunt would begin when I was ready. Until then, I had a role to play and a world to convince that Adrian Cross was exactly who he appeared to be.
Just another hunter trying to make sense of his new reality.
***
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