Chapter 86

Chapter 86

The viewers' reaction to Eunseong was.............. nothing short of explosive.

[Viewer] That's insane for real;;;
[Viewer] Strong as hell..........
[Viewer] Just straight-up crazy lol....
[Viewer] What was that just now?
[Viewer] Is that even possible??
[Viewer] I need to watch the recording;;; way too fast;;;

Tens of thousands of viewers went wild over the scene Eunseong had produced.

[Viewer] Anyone know who that is???
[Viewer] Who is he?
[Viewer] I've seen him somewhere;;

Many viewers were curious about Eunseong's identity.

[Viewer] He's ridiculously good-looking though lol
[Viewer] Handsome, no debate
[Viewer] He IS good-looking;;

In the midst of it all, there were many viewers who recognized Eunseong.

[Viewer] Isn't that Cha Eunseong?? The one who was on the news a few months ago??
[Viewer] Oh;; yeah?
[Viewer] Who's Cha Eunseong?
[Viewer] That's the Cha Eunseong from the TechnoMart incident lol;;
[Viewer] I knew he looked familiar

Unintentionally, Eunseong was already a fairly well-known public figure.

It was thanks to the photographs taken by reporters during the TechnoMart incident and the catalyst of Minister Ahn's public remarks.

Using that as a springboard, Eunseong's high school classmates, relatives, and college peers had leaked information to the press, so it was no exaggeration to say his personal details had already been fully exposed.

Of course, since Eunseong couldn't see the broadcast, he was "completely" unaware of the viewers' reactions.

Even if he had known, he wouldn't have cared, nor was he the type of person to be swayed by such things.

Though he had been a Supporter, as a 10-Star Hunter who had once commanded the world's attention, this level of interest wouldn't amount to even a handful.

"S-sorry...... Chairman...... you donated so much...... GRRK!"

Song Hakdu, who had already reattached his torso, was far from attacking Eunseong. Instead, he peeled the smartphone from his face and bowed his head.

"J-just...... wait a moment...... I'll show you again...... real soon...... can't let the donations...... stop...... the broadcast...... continues......"

"......"

Eunseong was rendered speechless.

That he could still cling to his broadcast even in this state.

"......A professional really is a professional, I suppose."

Eunseong didn't know about anything else, but he acknowledged Song Hakdu's dedication to his craft, at least.

It seemed there was a reason he'd become a Broadcast Ghoul—an earthbound spirit haunting Bucheon Station.

"Huh? B-but a mission like that is......"

Song Hakdu spoke to a viewer through his smartphone, sounding troubled.

"That's impossible even for another 100 million. No matter what the mission is, that's a bit...... Huh? 200 million?"

Song Hakdu froze for a moment.

From Eunseong's perspective, he looked like a madman muttering to himself.

It seemed he was having a bit of a back-and-forth with Wi Taewoong.

Eunseong watched Song Hakdu with his arms crossed.

Curious to see what the hell he was up to.

"N-no...... still, that's a bit...... 300 million won't do it either. Even for you, Chairman...... 1 BILLION???"

Song Hakdu's breathing grew ragged.

"Hff! As expected of you, Chairman. Yes, yes, understood. Mission...... accepted."

CLINK—!

BA-DA-BA-BA-BAAAM—!

FWEEEE—!

Flashy sound effects accompanied Song Hakdu's ear-splitting shout.

"Chairman! Thank you for the 1 billion! Allow me to bow to you!"

THUD—!

Song Hakdu stood on his hands and slammed his own head into the concrete floor.

CRACK—!

The concrete floor shattered into pieces.

"Everyone! I'll be carrying out the 1 billion won mission! The 1 billion won reaction is...... suicide! Hahahaha!"

THUD—! THUD—! THUD—!

Song Hakdu smashed his head against the floor over and over, like a condemned prisoner performing penance.

"Whatever the Chairman tells me to do!"

THUD—!

"I'll do it!"

THUD—!

"If he tells me to die!"

THUD—!

"I'll die!"

THUD—!

"Chairman! You're watching, right! Hahahaha!"

Song Hakdu laughed like a maniac, blood streaming from his head.

"Subscribe! Like! Turn on notifications! Please!"

CRACK—!

Song Hakdu's head shattered into pieces.

Of course, this wouldn't be the end for Song Hakdu.

Given time, he would revive and resume broadcasting while roaming the outskirts of Bucheon Station.

......For all eternity.

"To be like this even in death......"

Eunseong muttered in contempt as he approached Song Hakdu's corpse.

He had nothing to say.

He was only approaching to deal with Song Hakdu's true body—that is, his smartphone—which was still intact.

[Viewer] Insane lolololololololololol
[Viewer] For 1 billion, dying is fair lol
[Viewer] lolololololololololol
[Viewer] He actually did it lololol
[Viewer] All-time legendary lolololololol

Slowly.

From above, looking down.

Eunseong's gaze fell upon Song Hakdu's smartphone.

[Viewer] Gasp
[Viewer] Ooh.......
[Viewer] Look at those eyes;;;
[Viewer] Holy crap

The chat speed momentarily slowed.

Because the expression and gaze with which Eunseong looked down at the smartphone were so utterly cold......

CRUNCH—!

A single kick from Eunseong shattered the smartphone into pieces.

Eunseong's kick.

That was the last thing Song Hakdu's viewers ever saw.

***

Outside the Bucheon Station Gate.

BZZT, BZZZT......

Static and black-and-white noise filled Wi Taewoong's smartphone screen.

Song Hakdu, who had been running the broadcast, was dead, so the transmission had been cut.

"Oh my."

Wi Taewoong made a troubled face.

"Our dear junior seems to be in quite a foul mood. Haha."

Seated at the bar of the coffee truck, Wi Taewoong gestured to the owner.

"Hey, you."

"Yes?"

"Make me a Jack and Coke. Not that garbage coffee."

"Oh, yes sir!"

The coffee truck owner whipped up a Jack and Coke in a flash and set it before Wi Taewoong.

"Surely he won't hold it against me? Over a little prank."

GLUG GLUG—!

Wi Taewoong downed the Jack and Coke in one go.

"Haah. Still, I spent a billion as an apology, so. He'll appreciate it."

Wi Taewoong wiped his lips with his sleeve and muttered to himself.

"Um, Boss?"

Lee Hyun, who had been standing silently nearby, cautiously spoke up.

"Speak."

"What's so special about that guy that you pay him so much attention? He doesn't seem all that impressive."

"He doesn't look impressive to you?"

"No."

"Well, I suppose I can see how you'd think that."

Wi Taewoong nodded as if he understood completely, then asked Lee Hyun a question.

"How long has it been since you became a Hunter?"

"A little under two years."

"Right, 4-Star in two years is pretty fast. You'll hit 5-Star soon too. But that kid? It's been two months."

"Come on, no way."

Lee Hyun smirked.

"I'm serious."

"What?"

"Dead serious."

"He's really...... only been at it for two months?"

Lee Hyun's voice trembled.

"I did my homework. The timing of his Awakening is clear, and the testimonies of the survivors who were with him all match up."

"Th-that's impossible."

Lee Hyun couldn't accept it.

For ordinary Hunters, reaching 4-Star took anywhere from three years on the short end to over five years on the long end.

In cases where talent was lacking, it was common enough for people to plateau at 3-Star.

But reaching 4-Star in a mere two months was unprecedented.

Even setting aside—with a hundred concessions—that someone had raised their grade in a short period, a Hunter needed a certain level of real combat experience, diverse skills, and knowledge to truly prove their worth.

And those things belonged to the domain of time.

No matter how talented one was, these were not the kind of things that could be bridged in a short span.

"A genius...... is that what he is?"

"Not enough."

"......?"

"A genius among geniuses."

Wi Taewoong said flatly.

"That family has good bloodlines."

"What do you mean by that?"

Lee Hyun frowned.

Using the word "bloodlines" was unusual enough in this day and age, and he couldn't fathom what kind of family could warrant such a statement.

"His grandfather is a legend of the Naval Intelligence Unit, and his father goes without saying. His mother is a former Olympic gold medalist in badminton."

"......"

"Think of them as royalty in our industry. Their starting line is different from the very beginning."

What Wi Taewoong referred to as "our industry" meant the market in which special warfare-related business was conducted.

"He's still a tiger cub, so he'll have plenty of shortcomings for now...... but give it just a little time and he'll become a full-fledged beast soon enough."

"You want to bring a tiger cub into the fold?"

"Taming a beast is always dangerous. You have to be prepared to get bitten at any time...... Heh!"

Wi Taewoong chuckled.

"Are you jealous?"

"No."

"Don't lie. Your eyes just changed."

"......"

"Just in case, I'm telling you now—don't do anything stupid."

"What kind of stupid thing?"

"Don't kill him."

"Come on, why would I kill him? I'm stronger."

"From what I can see, it's already touch and go."

"That's going a bit far."

"Brat, getting all riled up."

Wi Taewoong stood and dusted himself off.

"Anyway, try to get along. You'll be colleagues soon enough."

"Yes, sir."

Lee Hyun answered curtly.

His gaze was fixed toward the Gate.

***

"Everyone, loot well and have a good training session. Don't die."

"Yes, sir!"

After Wi Taewoong departed, Lee Hyun and several Abyss Clan Hunters headed for the Bucheon Station Gate.

It wasn't for Etherium mining.

Training.

Their goal was to hone their real-combat instincts through Gate raids and grow stronger by absorbing Ether from the monsters they slew.

If they happened to acquire Runes, items, or rare monster parts along the way, all the better.

As such, the target for the team Lee Hyun belonged to was not the outskirts of Bucheon Station where Broadcast Ghouls roamed.

The station interior.

Exploring the deep zone that lay beyond it was their destination.

"You've all reviewed the strategy, so we push through the outskirts fast."

"Copy."

"Hyun, look after the team. Report anything out of the ordinary immediately."

The team leader turned to Lee Hyun, the vice team leader.

"Yes, Team Leader."

Lee Hyun nodded.

"Team, move out."

"Moving out."

Lee Hyun's team entered the Bucheon Station Gate.

Their movements were flawless.

Front and rear were divided, left and right flanks secured, and a formation materialized naturally.

Rehearsed movement.

The result of repeated training.

'Two months, two months.'

Lee Hyun brooded internally.

The number refused to leave his head.

'It's a lie. Just to provoke me.'

Lee Hyun didn't believe Wi Taewoong's words.

Even if he wanted to, he couldn't bring himself to.

On Jebudo, too.

And just moments ago, when Eunseong had dispatched the Broadcast Ghouls.

Eunseong's movements were not those of someone who had Awakened only two months ago.

"Genius among geniuses, my ass."

A low scoff escaped Lee Hyun's lips.

'He must've been hiding his Awakening......'

Just then.

"Hey everyone! We're doing an outdoor broadcast today—!"

A Broadcast Ghoul lunged at Lee Hyun.

Lee Hyun didn't even turn his head.

SCRAPE—!

The Broadcast Ghoul's body was cleaved diagonally in two.

Along with the smartphone it had been holding.

'......He must have just come out of hiding.'

That was the conclusion Lee Hyun settled on.