Chapter 109. Can I Choose My Next Opponent?

Walter didn’t bother hiding his boredom. The only courtesy he showed his opponent was holding back his yawn.

She wasn’t bad, I suppose.

For an S-rank Hunter from such a small country, Yeon Hong-Ah had been decent. However, at the end of the day, she wasn’t a challenge for him. He had expected more from this place, especially considering the country's reputation as home to Ko Cheong-Cheon.

Ko Cheong-Cheon was one of the few people whose abilities rivaled his own. In fact, if he were honest, Ko Cheong-Cheon was probably a bit stronger than him. Naturally, Walter had assumed Yeon Hong-Ah, who trained under him, would be something special too. But it turned out she was just this level.

Yeon Hong-Ah gritted her teeth, frustrated by Walter, who didn’t even bother to mask his contempt.

"Please, let’s do it one more time," Yeon Hong-Ah asked.

She was determined to challenge him again. Walter laughed when the association Interpreter relayed her request.

How many times has it been already? The result will stay the same, Girl...

They had fought multiple rounds, yet not once had he felt even a hint of danger or excitement.

"Let’s call it quits. Nothing’s going to change no matter how many times we do this."

Shaking his head, Walter didn’t wait for her response. He simply turned his back and walked toward his group of Mercenaries. On both sides, the reactions were starkly different. The Americans grinned in victory, while the Koreans gritted their teeth, their faces red with anger.

Yeon Hong-Ah’s anger simmered as well, but she couldn’t force him to fight if he didn’t want to. Begrudgingly, she returned to her place.

As two S-rank Hunters stepped down, the other Hunters from both sides took to the field for the next round. It was time for the A-ranks.

Pathetic.

Walter muttered to himself, sitting down and taking a sip of water while glancing at the Korean Hunters.

None of the Korean Hunters knew that Ko Cheong-Cheon was leaving Baekhwa Gate and joining the Mercenaries. In other words, he was officially relocating his base from Korea to the U.S.

When that happens, Korea would have only two S-rank Hunters left, with one of them being a Healer.

S-rank Healers were rare and valuable, of course, but ultimately, they were still support dependent on combat Hunters. Without Ko Cheong-Cheon left, Yeon Hong-Ah would be the only S-rank combat Hunter left in Korea.

Yet her skills are truly disappointing...

He could already foresee the thorny path Korea was about to walk. Even before, with so few S-ranks, they had relied on foreign support every time an S-rank dungeon appeared. Despite that, they had never lost the initiative, thanks to Ko Cheong-Cheon, who was one of the world’s top Hunters.

Once he left, and only Yeon Hong-Ah remained, the situation would change. The other countries would circle like vultures, eager to exploit a weakened Korea. Korea wouldn’t be able to refuse help either, knowing that doing so would lead to ruin. And leading that charge would be the Mercenaries, of course.

Koreans will probably look at us like they want to kill us.

Walter mused with a smirk. He knew that Koreans would never forgive the Mercenaries for poaching Ko Cheong-Cheon. Not that he cared, anyway. Besides, they’d still save Korea, only for a hefty price.

His eyes wandered back to the field, where the Mercenaries and Korean A-rank Hunters were sparring.

The A-ranks don’t even look impressive.

A-ranks had the potential to become S-rank. However, even within the A-rank group, there were those who’d stay A-rank forever, and those who had a real chance of advancing to the next level. Walter could easily tell which was which just by watching them fight.

None of the A-rank Hunters from the Korean side showed any promise. Barring a miracle, they’d live out their lives as mediocre A-rank Hunters.

As his eyes scanned the group, he suddenly noticed someone new. A man who hadn’t been there a moment ago. For a brief second, Walter’s expression shifted in surprise.

When did he get here?

Walter wasn’t the type to miss the presence of an A-rank Hunter approaching. Sure, if the person were a civilian with no mana, he could’ve slipped by unnoticed.

Wait... No regular civilian would be able to get in here though...

However, this area was restricted because S-rank Hunters were present. Therefore, no regular civilian would be allowed in.

Curious, Walter gestured toward the association staff acting as his interpreter. The interpreter quickly rushed over, eager to assist.

"Yes, sir. What is it?" the interpreter asked.

"Who’s that?" Walter asked, pointing at the unfamiliar man.

The interpreter followed Walter’s gaze, then nodded in recognition.

"Ah, that’s Hunter Kim Do-Joon, sir. He was recently promoted to A-rank."

"What? Seriously? He’s really an A-rank?"

"Yes, sir. Besides, the President of the Association has been paying particular attention to him recently."

It was no secret within the Association, just how much Son Chang-Il favored Kim Do-Joon. He had personally vouched for Kim Do-Joon’s special promotion, and his attitude toward him was noticeably different compared to the other A-rank Hunters.

There were even rumors among the staff that Kim Do-Joon could be a prospective son-in-law chosen by the President himself. Of course, since the President didn’t have any daughters, that gossip quickly died down.

"Oh, really?" Walter raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued.

He knew Son Chang-Il well enough. The man wasn’t someone who extended kindness without a calculated reason. If he was paying special attention to someone, there had to be more to it.

Doesn’t seem like much at first glance.

𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Walter thought, studying Kim Do-Joon closely. Unlike the other A-rank Hunters who carried themselves with a certain confidence, the man didn’t have a remarkable presence.

That left two possibilities: either Kim Do-Joon really was an insignificant presence, or he was someone far stronger than Walter.

Well, there’s no chance it’s the latter.

Walter smirked, dismissing the second option. It was only natural for him to think that way. Even Yeon Hong-Ah, Korea’s second-best or now first-best Hunter was no match for him. There was no way this A-rank could be stronger.

However, that left him with a question.

What did Son Chang-Il see in this guy?

***

Meanwhile, Kim Do-Joon stood quietly, watching the A-rank Hunters spar. The duels were one-on-one, with both sides trying to keep the collateral damage to a minimum. Still, a few stray attacks occasionally flew toward the spectators. Since all the audience were Hunters of A-rank and above, no one flinched.

Is Yeon Hong-Ah done for today?

Kim Do-Joon glanced over at Yeon Hong-Ah. She was sitting off to the side, wiping the sweat from her forehead, looking deflated. Not long ago, she had been burning with frustration.

Walter Harris.

Kim Do-Joon knew the name of the man who had reduced her to this state. Walter was one of the three S-rank Hunters belonging to Mercenaries, one of America’s largest guilds. It was an impressive feat. Korea only had three S-rank Hunters in total, while Mercenaries had three in just one guild. Technically they had four now, but Ko Cheong-Cheon’s defection hadn’t been made public yet.

Looks like that guy is done too.

Kim

Do-Joon thought, noticing that neither Walter nor Yeon Hong-Ah seemed ready to fight again. It was a bit disappointing, since he had come here specifically to see the S-rank duels. Unfortunately, he was too late.

Still, it wasn’t a total loss. At least, he had seen some of Mercenaries’ renowned Hunters in action.

“

Ha...

”

“Looks like we lost again...”

“Who’s up next?”

Voices murmured quietly from the Korean side. The atmosphere was subdued because the duels had been completely one-sided. The Mercenaries Hunters had dominated every match, while the Korean Hunters were defeated one after another.

The Mercenaries Hunter currently in the ring didn’t even bother leaving after each victory. He simply stood there, arms crossed, arrogantly waiting for the next challenger.

“I’ll go,” one of the Korean Hunters declared, stepping forward with determination.

Kim Do-Joon didn’t know the man’s name, but he seemed to be one of the stronger Hunters present, judging by the way the others looked at him with hope.

"

Aargh!

"

However, it wasn’t long before the Korean Hunter was sent flying across the field, defeated like the rest.

The Mercenaries Hunter stayed put, still waiting, still undefeated.

The Korean side was now driven by sheer stubbornness. One by one, Hunters stepped up to challenge, only to be knocked down just as quickly. The cycle continued, and each defeat only crushed their morale further.

Eventually, the Korean camp fell silent. Despite the Mercenaries Hunter’s smug posture, waiting for the next challenger, no one moved.

"Anyone else?"

The Mercenaries Hunter scanned the Korean side, his gaze challenging. However, no one met his eyes. His lips curled into a mocking smile, as if to say, “

Is this all you've got?”

The Korean Hunters only sank deeper into their defeat, their spirits crushed. Then, from the sidelines, Walter motioned for the Hunter to come over. Like an obedient dog summoned by its master, the Mercenaries Hunter quickly rushed to his side. After receiving some instructions, he returned to the ring and spoke again.

"If no one's volunteering, I'll pick someone."

The Korean Hunters glanced nervously at one another, avoiding his gaze. Meanwhile, Kim Do-Joon was beginning to feel a bit bored.

Should I just head out?

With both Yeon Hong-Ah and Walter out of the action, there wasn’t much left to stick around for. Sure, there were things to learn from watching A-rank Hunters spar, but honestly, it wasn’t all that interesting to him.

As he debated whether to leave or not, he suddenly felt the weight of several eyes on him.

"Huh?"

Kim Do-Joon realized the attention was focused on him, and sure enough, the Mercenaries Hunter in the ring was pointing directly at him.

“Uh, the Hunter over there says he wants to spar with you,” the interpreter said hesitantly.

Kim Do-Joon looked puzzled. Why him of all people? He looked over at the Mercenaries Hunter, then shifted his gaze slightly to Walter, who stood behind him. Walter had been watching him, both now and earlier.

At first, Kim Do-Joon had assumed Walter was simply sizing up a new face, but now it seemed like there was more than just casual curiosity. Walter appeared genuinely interested.

Why's he so interested in me?

Then, a thought struck him.

Come to think of it, I already have a rough idea of Yeon Hong-Ah’s abilities.

Kim Do-Joon recalled the magic she had used on the Sky Bridge. While he didn’t think that was the full extent of her power, he felt he had a decent grasp of her capabilities.

In that case, there wasn’t much need to focus on her. What mattered was getting a read on Walter’s strength.

"Alright, let’s do it," Kim Do-Joon said, nodding to the interpreter.

He stood up and made his way toward the ring. As he climbed onto the platform, snickers erupted from the Mercenaries side.

“How many moves do you think he’ll be able to make before he’s down?”

“Hah, this guy looks even weaker than the others.”

“Alright, I’m putting a thousand bucks on one shot, one kill.”

The Mercenaries Hunters laughed amongst themselves, their confidence undiminished. The derision was obvious, even if Kim Do-Joon couldn’t understand their exact words.

“Start!” the interpreter, who had taken on the role of referee, announced the beginning of the duel.

Suddenly, a body flew through the air like a ragdoll, crashing violently into the Mercenary audience.

Boom!

“Haha! See, I told you it would just be one shot, one kill!” one of the onlookers shouted, clapping his hands in amusement.

However, the smile on his face quickly faded. Soon, murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd.

The figure that had been launched was none other than Isaac, the Mercenaries Hunter who had just been taunting everyone. He laid unconscious, eyes rolled back, in a crumpled heap.

All eyes shot back to the ring, where the Korean Hunter they had mocked earlier, Kim Do-Joon, stood calmly, clenching and unclenching his fist.

Then Kim Do-Joon turned to the interpreter.

“Since I was picked this time, does that mean I can choose my next opponent?”

The interpreter relayed Kim Do-Joon’s question, but before anyone could respond, Walter shook his head firmly.

“No,” he said, stepping forward with a glint of interest in his eyes for the first time since arriving. “Because... I’m the next one.”

Walter strode up to the platform, his gaze locked on Kim Do-Joon, his previous boredom replaced by a sharp, focused intensity.