Chapter 40

Chapter 40
## Chapter 40

### Chapter Title: Tainted Charity

—

Ja Su-jeong brushed the displayed inventory with her knuckles and went on.

“In any case, after traveling from Europe to Korea and back again, you can’t really anticipate finding anything of quality.”

Tins of food long past their prime, bottom-tier processed meats, and potatoes that had sprouted eyes—that was the cargo on the return journey.

“Does that include the humanitarian aid?”

Ja Su-jeong paused for a second at my inquiry before giving a reply. What was behind that hesitation? Was there something specific regarding the relief goods?

“Sixty percent of the aid moved by rail consists of sustenance, yet eighty percent of that portion is Reprocessed Organic Compound Powder No. 65.”

“Reprocessed organic what? What exactly is that?”

She fired the explanation back instantly.

“It is food scrap material that has been dehydrated at temperatures exceeding 390 degrees and ground into dust.”

The “No. 65” designation represented the concentration of ‘reprocessed organic matter’ within the mixture—meaning 65 percent.

Good grief. I was stunned into silence.

“You just combine it with water and boil it into a meal.”

To put it plainly, it was a sterile version of infant cereal.

“I suppose there’s no other way.”

Ja Su-jeong appeared truly taken aback by my observation.

“Actually, I’ve heard that Korea possesses the resources to provide far superior ingredients.”

I answered with a cold tone.

“And who do you imagine those superior ingredients would actually be fed to?”

This was the true irony. If you provide food fit for human consumption as aid, the probability of it reaching the intended victims is practically zero.

What occurs when high-quality meat, grains, or greens are sent as relief? I was intimately familiar with the patterns of war-torn regions.

The local warlords holding these territories would seize every bit of it for themselves.

“Something like that, at least… stands a better chance of reaching the mouths of those on the verge of starvation.”

Anyone with even a modicum of resources wouldn’t desire such supplies. Even the low-level thugs they employed wouldn’t bother with it.

Therefore, if they wished to maintain a facade of generosity, they would pass it directly to the destitute without a second thought.

“But it’s still being consumed by people.”

“Try offering that perspective to someone moments away from starving to death.”

Extreme hunger—specifically the kind that precedes the end—erodes every scrap of human dignity.

The state of the world was a disaster. And there were likely many more who couldn’t even secure that much.

“Ah, I’m going to go clean up now.”

I gave a nod and drifted into my own thoughts.

“Complete lunatics.”

After resting in silence for a time, I spat the words out quietly.

“Dammit, my own morals wouldn’t permit me to go along with it.”

Not long after my arrival in Poland, my respect for the Dangun’s Descendants group had cratered into the depths.

The world functioned this way now, and there was nothing I could do to change it in this moment.

But an organization that manipulated Erosion Cores to regulate Erosion Zones and beasts, all while praying this broken world would persist indefinitely?

The Devil himself would beg to serve as their unpaid intern just to study their brand of malice.

“Hey, could you pass me a towel?”

Hearing the request from the washroom, I set a towel near the entrance and returned to my contemplations.

“The things Lee Se-eun said in the vehicle, too.”

It all clicked now. If you were ignorant of how the external world operated, you might think Dangun’s Descendants were making a valid point.

That was why I had mentioned I understood why Lee Se-eun felt that way—she simply didn’t know the truth.

“That look of hers was clearly one of revulsion.”

Regardless, if Lee Se-eun were to ask me again, I could give a firm response. Dangun’s Descendants or whatever they called their group—they were a plague that had to be dealt with.

And if the Korean government was indeed in league with them, I held no affection for them either.

“National interest, my foot.”

I grumbled that to myself and collapsed onto the mattress, staring out at nothing through the glass.

“Ah, whatever.”

I simply couldn’t sit idly by because it infuriated me. That alone was plenty of motivation to oppose Dangun’s Descendants.

Ever since I first crossed paths with them on Demon Island, it had taken a bit of time to finally categorize them as the enemy.

“Hoo.”

Ja Su-jeong finished her shower and stepped out. I rose immediately.

“Take a break if you need to, then go back. I’m heading out for a while.”

“Y-Yes…?”

She was using a towel on her hair and gave me a confused glance.

What was with the ‘yes?’ I finished my farewells, exited the premises, and made my way toward the royal palace where Lee Se-eun was staying.

“I’m here to see Hunter Lee Se-eun.”

The Mazurka guardsmen stationed at the palace verified my credentials and reached out to someone for confirmation.

“Understood, we will guide you inside.”

After being shown through the halls, I finally stood before her.

“I’m rather occupied at the moment. Say what you need to say, quickly.”

Lee Se-eun was dressed in athletic gear, her bangs pinned up with rollers, as she scanned through various files.

“Dangun’s Descendants are attempting to seize control of Erosion Cores.”

She shifted her gaze from the documents at my statement.

“I learned this from one of their associates I encountered back on Demon Island.”

“Why mention this only now…?”

She began to say something further but paused, clicking the top of her pen.

“You’ve finally reached a conclusion, I see.”

“Yeah. I don’t believe I can ever see eye-to-eye with those people.”

I had an affection for Korea as well. I was born and raised there, after all. Everyone wants their homeland to prosper.

But when that prosperity is twisted into something like this, I couldn’t find any common ground.

“Excellent.”

Her tone of approval was directed back at me.

“You were a junior with great potential, and now you’re reaching the same verdict.”

“I’m curious what you would have done if our perspectives had clashed.”

She looked somewhat pensive.

“There would have been some form of conflict eventually. I’m relieved it hasn’t come to that.”

Then she slid a mug of liquid toward me.

“I was planning to drink this. Go ahead, take it. I’ll make a fresh one.”

I took a mouthful of the hot liquid and immediately felt like I needed to scrub my tongue with a tool.

“What… is this stuff?”

“Milk tea.”

Milk tea, like hell it was. It was so sugary my very brain felt a sting. Was there more sugar here than actual liquid?

I felt like my teeth were rotting on the spot! While I was recovering from the sugar rush, Lee Se-eun received a notification and looked my way.

“It seems Han Sang-ah has arrived as well.”

Han Sang-ah was here? For what reason? I pondered it for a second, and the solution was obvious.

She had encountered that man with the piercings from Dangun’s Descendants on Demon Island alongside me and had heard their plans.

Witnessing the condition of Warsaw likely brought her to the same realization I had reached.

“You and Hunter Han Sang-ah handled a collaborative mission on Demon Island, correct?”

Lee Se-eun appeared to be thinking along the same lines. She granted Han Sang-ah permission to enter, and shortly after, we were all gathered together.

“The state of Warsaw is honestly difficult to process, even when seeing it firsthand.”

Han Sang-ah got straight to the point the moment she walked in. Lee Se-eun gave a subtle grin.

“Is Korea unaware of the conditions in other nations?”

“Hardly. Miss Geumyang Group.”

Han Sang-ah appeared slightly flustered by the comment.

“If I weren’t a hunter, I likely would have spent my entire life in the dark.”

Even setting aside family power struggles, Han Sang-ah was a member of the Geumyang Group’s founding family. Had she not awakened as a hunter, she would have had no cause to ever depart from Korea.

Consequently, she would have had no opportunity to witness Warsaw or understand the reality of the world beyond the borders.

“I find this entire situation unacceptable.”

Lee Se-eun looked at Han Sang-ah with a softened expression and spoke.

“You’re aware that Geumyang Group operates a social welfare arm?”

“You’re referring to the Hanuri Foundation.”

It was impossible for her to be ignorant of Geumyang’s internal dealings. Lee Se-eun presented something to her.

“I manage one personally as well.”

“You mean the Neulbom Social Welfare Corporation?”

Wait, what? They were discussing interesting topics without involving me. I looked at Lee Se-eun.

“You weren’t aware?”

Would I have this expression if I were? Han Sang-ah chipped in,

“That Siberian train was also transporting Neulbom relief aid.”

Ja Su-jeong had mentioned that eighty percent of the food was Reprocessed Organic No. 65.

“The remaining twenty percent belongs to Neulbom.”

High-calorie pastes or biscuit-style ready-to-eat meals, along with essential nutrient pills—nothing at all like that reprocessed refuse.

“I lived on it for a month myself once. No health issues. To be honest, the taste isn’t great, but.”

“The risk of warlords seizing it…?”

Lee Se-eun let out a scoff at my question.

“That is exactly why one needs a reputation. Neulbom belongs to me. You think Europe’s minor warlords would dare steal it? That would be a direct declaration of war against me.”

That wasn’t just bravery; it was pure confidence. Regardless, I knew she funded that foundation out of her own pocket.

“But why mention Geumyang’s Hanuri all of a sudden?”

Lee Se-eun shifted her gaze back to Han Sang-ah.

“Hunter Han Sang-ah, with just a bit of initiative, you could be the one overseeing a welfare foundation.”

“Yes. There’s a perfect role model right here.”

Charitable foundations were separate from corporate succession battles. With Lee Se-eun’s example as a precedent, Geumyang could easily be persuaded to allow it.

“The reality is, the intent behind Hanuri isn’t exactly selfless.”

“I’m well aware.”

Lee Se-eun crossed her arms and made a proposal to Han Sang-ah.

“Swap out the person in charge, and the staff will fall in line accordingly.”

She visualized Han Sang-ah taking the reins of Hanuri’s projects and forming a partnership with Neulbom. I watched the two of them and let out a quiet sigh.

“What about you? Any interest?”

Lee Se-eun directed the question at me. I shook my head in refusal.

“Not really my area.”

Their eyes both locked onto me.

“Acts of kindness are wonderful. It’s impressive that you hunters can balance that as well.”

But it wasn’t enough. It only served to prevent immediate death.

“My focus will be on the eradication of Erosion Zones.”

Feeding the hungry and offering medical care to the infirm was noble work, certainly.

“If a patient is dying of a tumor, you have to destroy the tumor.”

Of course, keeping them stable in the interim was vital. But in the end, without extracting the cancer, everything else was futile.

At the heart of all this suffering were the Erosion Zones.

“Hunters are clearing Erosion Zones at a steady pace.”

“The Grade 1s.”

To her counter-argument, I stated firmly.

“We require hunters who are consumed by the thought of Grade 1 and higher. Individuals with the drive to confront them and the talent to succeed.”

Grade 2s, 3s, and the unranked—there was no shortage of hunters for those. Any competent group could manage them.

But a Grade 1? That was an entirely different league. I took a piece of paper and began writing.

1. Greenhouse (USA)
2. Gonzalok (China)
3. Club Sandai (Israel)
4. Al Ramadi (Saudi Arabia)
5. Ristorante (Italy)
6. Winter Closet (Canada)
7. Polbora (Argentina)
8. Kasan Factory (Australia)

The eight most devastating Erosion Zones on the planet. The Great Eight.