Chapter 36

Chapter 36

Minister Ahn checked the sender and was startled.

The mysterious 10-Star Hunter who had thrown the entire world into an uproar.

He had never expected to receive a DM from him.

[Supernova] Why is there still no movement?

Minister Ahn could not reply carelessly.

His mind was complicated.

Who was Supernova, and what were his intentions?

With no information about him whatsoever, it was difficult to decide what he should say.

[IronBlood] What do you mean, no movement?

[Supernova] Exactly what I said. I clearly gave you a warning, did I not?

[IronBlood] Are you referring to Jebudo?

[Supernova] Jebudo?

[IronBlood] The coordinates you marked. They are Jebudo, territory of the Republic of Korea. The Special Force Training Center is located there. Did you not know?

[Supernova] Do I need to know even that? Jebudo, is it? Looking at it again, it is a tiny island whose location is barely worth noticing.

[IronBlood] ........

[Supernova] I have no interest whatsoever in where that place is. I merely provided the information as a gesture of goodwill.

[IronBlood] Goodwill?

[Supernova] Let us call it love for humanity.

“Love for humanity.”

Minister Ahn chewed over the words of this mysterious 10-Star Hunter and gave a bitter smile.

At some point, Hunters had begun trying to reign as the nobles of a new era, while those who truly worked for humanity were gradually disappearing.

[IronBlood] This may sound unpleasant, but I am in a situation where I cannot even trust whether you are genuine.

[Supernova] Yes, I suppose so.

[IronBlood] To be honest, it only looks as though you are irresponsibly hiding behind anonymity and manipulating public opinion.

[Supernova] You could see it that way.

[IronBlood] If you want us to trust your words, should you not reveal yourself first?

[Supernova] I am sorry, but if I were in a situation where I could do that, I would not have written anonymously from the start. I have my own circumstances as well.

[IronBlood] Then I have no basis whatsoever for trusting you, do I?

[Supernova] A basis for trust. For example, whether I am truly a 10-Star Hunter or not. That must be what you are most curious about.

[IronBlood] It would be the minimum basis, at least.

[Supernova] I will prove it.

[IronBlood] Is that truly possible?

[Supernova] I will go to your Nest.

“……!”

Minister Ahn was startled by Supernova’s bold statement.

For a Hunter to enter another Hunter’s Nest required tremendous courage and trust.

A Hunter exerted absolute influence inside their own Nest. Therefore, when visiting another Hunter’s Nest, it was standard practice to exercise the utmost caution.

One could suffer severe mental damage if something went wrong, and in serious cases, the effects could even extend into reality.

[Supernova] Two hours from now. I will go to your Nest.

[IronBlood] Very well. I will wait.

Minister Ahn immediately accepted Supernova’s proposal.

If he was coming to his Nest first, there was no reason to refuse.

***

Immediately after making the appointment.

“Hoo.”

The thought of going to the Minister’s Nest made me tense.

Minister Ahn was one of the First-Generation Hunters who had Awakened first in human history, and he was a major figure who had reached 7-Star.

Going to such a Hunter’s Nest of my own accord was not exactly a pleasant prospect.

‘I have to stay sharp. If I make even the slightest mistake, the Minister could turn the tables on me. If it goes badly, my identity might be exposed.’

I steeled myself.

Putting aside his rank as a Hunter, Minister Ahn was by no means an easy man to deal with.

Even before he Awakened as a Hunter, he had been a brigadier general, a general-grade officer. There was no way someone responsible for the national defense of the Republic of Korea while serving as Minister would be soft.

‘If Hunter Link judged my rank to be 10-Star, I should be able to exert enough power even against Minister Ahn. However, I must be careful with my words.’

Nationality, gender, age, and so on.

It was forbidden to provide any clue that could allow him to infer information about me.

‘In any case, this is the limit of what I can do. If Minister Ahn does not move, I will have no choice but to escape on my own.’

I had no intention whatsoever of remaining idle at the Special Force Training Center and dying when I knew perfectly well that a large-scale Transference Phenomenon would occur.

In fact, from my perspective, I was already trying everything I could.

The very fact that I had not yet left the Special Force Training Center meant I was shouldering a certain degree of risk.

***

After accessing Hunter Link, Minister Ahn waited for Supernova in his own Nest.

Minister Ahn’s Nest was almost identical to his office in reality. The difference was that it was not the office of the Minister of Defense Strategy, but the office of a military general.

In fact, the nameplate in front of Minister Ahn’s desk did not state his title as Minister of Defense Strategy. Instead, it stated his position as commander of a Special Forces Brigade.

That probably meant Minister Ahn considered the days when he had been the commander of a Special Forces Brigade, before the Transference Crisis occurred, to be happier than the present, when he was the Minister of Defense Strategy.

“Yes, if you are truly a 10-Star Hunter, you will come. If not, you will not appear.”

With that mutter, Minister Ahn’s gaze rested on the clock hanging on the wall.

11:59.

There was exactly one minute left until the promised time.

‘If I can confirm that he truly is a 10-Star Hunter, that will be enough basis for me to move.’

It was when Minister Ahn thought that.

THUD, THUD!

Footsteps sounded from far away.

“……!”

Minister Ahn was startled.

The Nest was merely decorated like the office of a brigade commander. There was no space of any kind beyond the door.

Nevertheless, the fact that footsteps could be heard this clearly meant……

CREAAAK!

With a spine-chilling sound from the hinges, the door opened.

“Urgh!”

The moment Supernova entered, Minister Ahn could not withstand the immense pressure. He clutched his chest and sank to the floor.

‘T-This cannot be!’

Minister Ahn could not believe the current situation.

Supernova could exert this much pressure even after visiting another Hunter’s Nest, and the Nest of Minister Ahn, a 7-Star Hunter, at that.

“Your name was…… Ahn Gukseon, was it?”

He opened his mouth.

Drip……

Blood streamed from Minister Ahn’s ears.

Although it was a low voice, the sound waves were overwhelmingly powerful.

‘Without a doubt…… he is 10-Star.’

Minister Ahn thought that and tried to stand, but his body would not obey him.

“Urrrrgh!”

The pressure pouring from Supernova was so powerful that even raising his head to check his face was impossible.

Of course, because Supernova had pulled the hood attached to his cloak deep over his head, confirming his face would have been impossible anyway.

“Do you believe in my existence now?”

“I…… believe. Urgh.”

“Good.”

A satisfied voice flowed from Supernova’s mouth.

However, Minister Ahn could not tell what language he was using.

Communication through Hunter Link was conducted not through language or writing, but through consciousness.

“Then you must also understand my goodwill toward vermin like you.”

“Vermin……?”

“Do you think the likes of you have any meaningful value to me? By my standards, a few Koreans are worth less than flies.”

“Th-That is……”

Minister Ahn could not refute it.

At the present time, a 10-Star Hunter was an existence outside the standard.

It was impossible to even estimate how strong he was.

“Then why give us a warning in advance? As you said, we should be nothing.”

“I told you. It is love for humanity.”

“Do you expect me to believe that?”

“Heh.”

Supernova laughed.

“Were you not also fighting for humanity?”

“……!”

“My goal is only to win this war. At the very least, those damned things that shattered our ordinary lives must pay the price. Whoever they may be.”

“Is that truly so?”

“Whether you believe it or not is your freedom. I merely provide information. I have no intention of forcing you. How you accept the information I give you is up to you.”

“That is not wrong, but…… if you have some other intention……”

“I will say it again. Whether you believe it or not is your freedom. Do not try to seek a basis for judgment from me. I merely give you an opportunity. Then, I will take my leave.”

With the sound of footsteps, Supernova left Minister Ahn’s Nest.

Minister Ahn simply let Supernova go.

Just being in the same space as Supernova made it difficult even to breathe……

“Supernova…… he truly is a monster. Hoo.”

After ending his access and returning to his own office, Minister Ahn clicked his tongue as if appalled.

“An opportunity. In the end, whether it is truly an opportunity or a trap is something I can only wait and see…….”

Minister Ahn repeated Supernova’s words and placed a cigarette in his mouth.

***

“Hoo.”

As soon as I ended my access to Hunter Link, I exhaled the breath I had been holding.

Because I had expended so much mental strength exerting my presence inside Minister Ahn’s Nest, my entire body was drenched in sweat as though I had just woken from a nightmare.

Still, I had accomplished the purpose itself, so I thought this much should be enough.

As I had said earlier, the choice would be Minister Ahn’s.

“Urgh.”

Not only the clothes I was wearing, but even the sheets were drenched in sweat. I showered, changed my clothes, and came out……

WEEEEEEEEEEE!

A siren suddenly blared.

• The Director of Training at the Special Force Training Center announces.

A broadcast flowed from the speakers installed throughout the facility.

• All personnel currently inside the Special Force Training Center, please gather all of your belongings immediately and assemble at the parade ground.
• I repeat.
• All personnel, please gather all of your belongings immediately and assemble at the parade ground.
• Since an evacuation order has been issued by the Defense Strategy Department, the Special Force Training Center will be closed as of this moment.

The meaning was clear.

‘It worked.’

A faint smile appeared on my lips.

Minister Ahn had clearly made his decision.

Of course, it could not have been an easy decision.

Since it was not something the Minister could decide unilaterally on his own, it would certainly come with political burden.

It was like throwing excellent prey to his opposition, so it would serve as an opportunity for his position to become precarious.

Nevertheless, the fact that he had made this decision meant that, at the very least, Minister Ahn was someone who prioritized people’s lives over his own safety.

‘That is probably why he did not survive long.’

When I suddenly remembered Minister Ahn’s final moments, a bitter smile emerged.

Yes, a hero’s end was always miserable……

I packed my belongings and headed to the parade ground.

“What on earth is going on?”

“Is this because of that 10-Star Hunter called Supernova?”

People were arguing back and forth.

“Eunseong, sir, what is happening?”

Jeong Hobin approached and asked.

“I do not know either.”

WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

The siren blared.

• Emergency, emergency!
• Transference Phenomenon observed three kilometers to the west! Transference Phenomenon observed!
• All personnel, prepare for combat!
• All instructors, command the trainees and prepare for a monster attack!

I doubted my ears.

“……It was today?”

I felt hollow.

To think the large-scale Transference Crisis at the Special Force Training Center had happened on the first day of entry for this Cohort.