Chapter 63

Chapter 63. Why All of a Sudden?

A full three days had passed since the terrifying chaos of Sia losing control.

Thanks to Rokan attending to my needs with utmost diligence, the lingering fallout had eased substantially. Granted, I was still far from fit enough to clear Gates or participate in strenuous combat workouts, yet my strength had returned sufficiently to handle ordinary routines.

Sia was following a similar path. According to Rokan, achieving a full recovery would demand several more days, but her body was healing at an unusually fast pace nonetheless.

Rokan had offered an additional remark on the matter.

‘The credit belongs to you. Since you forcefully put a halt to her violent surge, her mana reserves were spared from draining to absolute zero.’

Learning that Sia was progressing well brought relief, yet an unsettled knot remained firmly anchored in my chest.

‘What if the emotional scars linger?’

The event that afternoon had been an unpredictable calamity, striking without warning much like an earthquake or any other catastrophe of nature. Yet Rokan noted that Sia was placing the entire burden of blame upon her own shoulders.

To substantiate that concern, she had completely abandoned the daily video calls she once made without fail. She refrained from standard voice calls as well. The entirety of her communication was reduced to sporadic, brief sentences over text.

With her demeanor flipping a full one hundred and eighty degrees, anxious thoughts naturally consumed me.

‘No matter how often I reassure her that none of this was her fault…’

Her thoughts were already locked in place. Regardless of the warmth or reassurance I poured into my words, they likely had no way of penetrating her distress right now. At this juncture, my only recourse was to bide my time, praying that the passage of days would gradually mend her pain.

I swallowed a measure of the Elixir Rokan had provided, then stretched out across the mattress. It was difficult to discern whether this lingering haze stemmed from the accident’s aftermath or simple mental fatigue born from an overload of concerns, but a sluggish fog had gripped me for days.

Knowing that deep rest was the surest cure, I prepared to shut my eyes, only for my smartphone to suddenly chime with an incoming ringtone. Looking at the screen, an unrecognized string of digits met my gaze.

‘Is this another guild scout or an eager journalist…?’

I tapped the volume key to quiet the chime. While such inquiries were not bombarding my line as relentlessly as they had immediately following the update to my Hunter rank, another ring invariably interrupted whenever the noise seemed to die down.

Powering down the mobile device entirely was out of the question, as Sia could attempt to reach me at any minute. It appeared I would simply have to endure the nuisance until Rokan managed to officially establish the guild.

‘That will take a fair amount of time, though.’

He was already buried under duties—nursing both Sia and myself, overseeing restoration on the dungeon Gate, and handling assorted matters. Where could he possibly carve out spare hours to build a fresh organization from the ground up?

For the moment, the wisest path was to push the dilemma out of my head. I rested the device near my pillow and shut my eyes once more.

Or at least, that was my intention.

A sharp knock came from the entrance.

Having ordered no parcel deliveries or takeout meals, I presumed it was Rokan stopping by and pulled the door open without hesitation.

Yet the figure waiting outside was not Rokan. Standing before me was an unfamiliar face, and he was undeniably foreign.

The individual was a towering Caucasian male clad in a sharp, tailored suit, standing practically two meters tall. What conceivable circumstance would bring a suited foreigner directly to my front door unannounced?

“…Who might you be? Wait, no. What is this?”

Nothing about the scene fit into normal reality, causing my words to stumble out in genuine bewilderment.

“Pardon the interruption. Would you happen to be Hunter Yoon Minjun?”

Flawless, articulate Korean flowed from his lips, creating a stark contrast with his foreign appearance. My initial shock had obscured it, but on closer inspection, a translation artifact rested against his collar.

“…That is correct. What can I do for you?”

Concealing my bewilderment as best as I could, I inquired with a steady tone.

“My name is Chris Wood. I serve as the chief executive secretary to Lia Black, the Guild Master heading the Aura Guild.”

“…Pardon?”

The Aura Guild was a household name even within the United States—the world’s foremost powerhouse of Hunter operations—and maintained a firm position among that country’s top ten entities. Beyond that, its leader, Lia Black, stood among the exceedingly rare SSS-rank Hunters across the globe.

Putting that renown aside, what possible motive drove the Aura Guild to seek me out? Had the reports regarding my updated rank managed to cross the ocean all the way to America?

Even assuming it had, an empire like Aura was bound to be brimming with elite talents and remarkable candidates. Why make the journey across continents just to find someone in Korea?

As I remained frozen in pure disbelief, Chris spoke further.

“Our Guild Master was profoundly struck by your recent accomplishments, Hunter Minjun. For that reason, she wishes to speak with you in person.”

The head of an internationally renowned syndicate had dispatched her personal secretary purely to request an audience. Numerous representatives had reached out to me before, yet never had the supreme leader of such a titan reached out directly.

The moment the explanation registered, conflicting reactions clashed within my mind. A wave of irritation surfaced over how they had tracked down my private number, uncovered my personal background, pinpointed my residence, and presented themselves uninvited.

Concurrently, a feeling of awe surfaced knowing that the Aura Guild had crossed oceans from the United States solely to recruit me.

…The combination felt utterly bizarre. Was anger appropriate here, or was appreciation the proper sentiment?

Furthermore, an underlying obstacle remained.

‘My path is already determined anyway…’

While I could acknowledge the lengths they went through to approach me, I harbored zero desire to accept any contract, regardless of the riches or benefits laid on the table. My focus was never centered on wealth or influence. My true objective was to awaken dragon power at the earliest possible moment so I could stand alongside Sia.

Naturally, that was not an explanation I could voice aloud.

“If this sudden appearance has caused you displeasure, please accept my deepest apologies. Causing you distress was never our intention, Mr. Minjun.”

“…Ah, understood. Do not worry about it.”

He offered his apology before I could utter a single complaint, almost as if discerning my internal dialogue, making an outright rejection feel twice as awkward.

“Should this meeting be deeply unwelcome, I shall withdraw this instant. Even so, if you could grant a moment of tolerance, would you allow me to finish my message before I leave?”

Displaying the refined poise expected of a top aide attending a dominant guild master, Chris maintained an exceptionally courteous delivery.

“The truth is, our Guild Master has flown to Korea in person solely to converse with you, Hunter Yoon.”

“…?”

It went beyond sending an aide? A genuine SSS-rank Hunter had undertaken an international flight from the United States just to see me?

“The Guild Master made it clear that securing your membership in the Aura Guild is her primary ambition. Yet, setting any formal contract aside, she strongly desires to meet you face-to-face and share a candid discussion, Hunter to Hunter.”

“…”

What drove this relentless pursuit? Handling the aide alone exerted enormous pressure, yet the Guild Master herself had arrived on foreign soil for this purpose?

“There is no requirement for this to occur today. Whenever your schedule allows, the Guild Master has stated she will shift her commitments to accommodate you.”

Evidently, the leader of the Aura Guild possessed an extraordinary ability to corner people psychologically. Never had I encountered such a relentlessly aggressive recruitment pitch.

‘Is this the standard American business approach?’

A chill of nervous sweat began to trace down my spine. With them going to such staggering lengths, how could I simply turn them away with a stern refusal before even granting her an audience?

Besides, figures who held the title of SSS-rank Hunter were not individuals one could encounter by chance.

“…Understood. Since you have made this much effort, turning down an audience would be unreasonable. However, I have only just woken up and require time to prepare. Could you allow me an hour?”

“Certainly. I shall return to your door in precisely one hour.”

Chris bowed respectfully and stepped away without pressing further.

‘What kind of situation am I walking into?’

While sorting myself out to head outside, I analyzed the circumstances thoroughly, yet numerous pieces remained utterly baffling. Setting everything else aside, was my worth truly substantial enough to prompt an SSS-rank Hunter to travel across continents for recruitment?

“There has to be an underlying motive behind this.”

I lacked solid proof to confirm it. Yet familiar wisdom held that no profound favor arrives without hidden strings attached. An individual possessing immense authority, someone accustomed to having complete control in every negotiation, had traveled directly to me and treated me like royalty. An unspoken motive had to be at play.

The exact nature of that motive remained a complete mystery to me, however.

It seemed I desperately required Rokan’s insight on this development. Once my clothing was arranged, I dialed his number.

Regrettably, whether tied up with Gate reconstruction or managing other critical matters, Rokan failed to pick up. Consequently, I typed out a quick note detailing the unfolding situation, sent it his way, and stepped outside my residence.

“Allow me the honor of guiding you.”

Surrounded by hospitality that felt nearly excessive, I fell into step behind Chris.

*

Chris eventually came to a halt beside an opulent foreign vehicle that appeared as though it carried a price tag of multiple billion won. Stepping forward, he pulled open the door and ushered me inward, noting that a mini-chiller stocked with refreshments was available for my use.

Driven by a touch of intrigue, I unlatched the cooling unit, only to discover a collection of high-end liquors whose very containers radiated immense expense.

‘Why go to such extremes for me?’

A sense of trepidation began to stir beneath the surface. No matter how brightly they rated my potential, or how fascinated and hopeful they were regarding my growth, this level of reverence crossed into absurdity.

They unquestionably sought something far beyond a mere contract signature.

As I waited for any sign of a response from Rokan, my mind continuously searched for their genuine objective, yet despite running through every angle, no clear answer presented itself.

Before long, Chris spoke up. “We have arrived.”

He unlatched the passenger door to let me out. Given that our discussion would center on a recruitment proposal, I had envisioned pulling up to a calm, secluded establishment.

That expectation proved entirely incorrect. Rising before me stood an establishment recognized as one of the country’s five grandest, most lavish hotels.

By this stage, apprehension was overtaking whatever awe or satisfaction I might have felt.

“The meeting with your Guild Master is taking place inside this hotel?”

“Indeed it is.”

Chris escorted me toward the private suite currently occupied by Lia Black, leader of the Aura Guild. The second we reached the entrance, he pressed the bell.

“Guild Master, Mr. Minjun is present.”

“Come inside.”

Chris turned the lock and held the way open. As I crossed the threshold, I was brought directly before the legendary figure responsible for calling me here: Lia Black.

Her complexion held a rich, sun-kissed bronze hue, paired with tresses as black as an empty midnight sky and captivating, uncommon eyes the color of amber.

‘Her presence in person is… completely staggering.’

Lia Black possessed a worldwide reputation not merely for her overwhelming combat strength, but for an astonishing, unmatched allure. Encountering her up close, the sight of her far eclipsed any mental image I had formed.

It was not merely her facial beauty. The sheer atmosphere enveloping her was utterly magnetic. My devotion to Sia shielded me from its sway, but virtually any unattached man would have surrendered to her allure in an instant.

It seemed entirely plausible that women would be just as captivated by her presence.

‘And that attire…’

While I understood that foreign styling leaned far bolder than conventional standards in Korea, the sheer openness of her outfit caught me completely off guard. My eyes struggled to find anywhere polite to settle.

Had Sia witnessed this, she would have panicked and shoved her hands over my eyes without a second thought.

Whether she observed my inner panic or simply ignored it, Lia curved her lips into a calm smile. Her greeting arrived in a tone so intoxicatingly sweet it bordered on dizzying.

“A warm welcome to you, Mr. Minjun. Traveling all this way must have taken a toll on you.”