Trait Absorption Hunter Hunter Part 2 Episode 52
52. Operation commencement
After work, Choi Seong-min stopped by a cell phone store.
I needed to get an extra cell phone just in case.
After that, he went into a cafe and killed time by drinking coffee.
‘It’s time.’
As the operation time approached, Choi Seong-min stood up from his seat.
Before that, I didn’t forget to send a text message to Song Chi-hyun.
[Choi Seong-min: I’ll start working soon.]
[Song Chi-hyun: Okay.]
I had no worries because I had already decided whose side I would be on.
Choi Seong-min, who was heading somewhere using public transportation, stopped walking.
On the building opposite, there was a sign that said Team Crush.
‘First, I have to meet Yang Jo-young as planned.’
It would have been quicker to go to the association to meet Yang Jo-young, but I came here on purpose.
Because Choi Sung-min’s role was to lure Yang Jo-young out of the association.
“hello.”
As I opened the office door and entered, Do Eun-jeong, who was passing by, stopped walking and looked at me with surprised rabbit eyes.
“Seo, Seongmin, your junior?”
“It’s been a while, senior.”
Actually, there was no need to call them seniors and juniors since they were kicked out of the team, but I did it as it suited me.
Even deliberately showing a welcoming smile.
However, Do Eun-jeong corrected her words with a serious expression on her face, as if she was in no mood to keep up with the rhythm.
“You’re not my junior anymore. What brings you here, Seongmin?”
Judging from the stiff tone of your speech, I guess there is something sad about you.
‘Maybe it’s because I’ve been chewing on the text all this time.’
Not only that, but leaving the team without saying anything may have also played a role.
‘It’s not that I left voluntarily, but rather that I was kicked out.’
At that moment, a person walked from behind Do Eun-jeong.
It was strict.
“Huh? Newbie?”
“Hello, Senior Eom.”
“What? Who’s here?”
Even Shim Sung-jin and team leader Bang Tae-man came over after hearing the sound.
‘Everyone was in the office.’
I wanted to keep the number of people to a minimum, as I didn’t want to involve anyone else.
‘Is the wind just the wind?’
There was nothing I could do since it had come to this.
When their eyes met, Choi Sung-min nodded.
“Senior Shim, Team Leader Bang. Hello?”
“Who is this? Isn’t this Choi Sung-min, who abandoned loyalty and became the direct subordinate of the Great Hero?”
Choi Sung-min smiled awkwardly as he felt the prickle in the team leader’s words.
“I’m sorry, Team Leader Bang. I had no other choice.”
“Don’t be sorry. Even if we were in that situation, we would have gone under the Great Hero.”
“That’s right. To be honest, the captain is not on the same level as the great hero.”
“Thank you for your understanding.”
But the team members weren’t finished talking yet.
“But even so, wouldn’t it have been better to at least say hello before leaving?”
“Yeah, I wish I had at least said goodbye and congratulated you.”
Even though he was kicked out, he seemed upset that he didn’t even get to say goodbye.
‘I didn’t think we’d become close enough to greet each other… … .’
I guess that wasn’t the case for the team members.
‘Is this it? We became close after hunting together for a month?’
I thought we would never see each other again, so I cut ties without saying anything, and this is what happened.
“I’m sorry for leaving without saying anything. It may sound like an excuse, but I was out of my mind because I had to go to work the next day. I was also embarrassed because I had to leave so suddenly.”
“But I wish you had taken the time to stop by the office.”
“Do you know how sad we were when you left without saying a word?”
“Not me. I feel so comfortable and happy without you.”
Although Eom Jeong-sik was complaining, Choi Seong-min was not affected at all.
It wasn’t a new thing for a guy who liked Do Eun-jeong to be holding himself back.
“I’m sorry, everyone.”
But for the sake of the plan, Choi Sung-min deliberately bowed his head and pretended to reflect.
Deceitful people meant nothing to him.
“Ahem, you don’t have to be so sorry… … .”
“I just feel sad, so I’m raising my head.”
“Yeah, we’re not in a position to tell them to do this or that.”
Choi Sung-min’s sincere apology seemed to have eased the mood of the team members to some extent.
But Do Eun-jeong’s expression was still cold.
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“Mr. Sungmin, why did you ignore my texts? And you didn’t answer my calls either. Are you doing that on purpose?”
“Huh? Did you send a text? Or a call?”
When Choi Sung-min pretended not to know, Do Eun-jeong’s eyebrows twitched.
“You didn’t know?”
“Yes… … . I changed my cell phone since then. The Great Hero said it would be a good idea to make a new one… … .”
“… … .”
The excuse that I had changed my number was simple, yet effective.
Because Do Eun-jeong’s expression, which was as cold as ice, showed confusion.
“No, then you should have called me first and told me that your number had changed.”
“I’m sorry, Eunjeong. I forgot to transfer my contacts when I changed my phone.”
“So you’re saying my number isn’t saved right now?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll give you the number, so save it quickly! But more importantly, tell me Sungmin’s number. I’ll save it again!”
Do Eun-jeong tried to exchange numbers with a glint in her eyes, as if she intended to keep in touch.
‘You’re persistent, really.’
Seongmin Choi took out the cell phone he had prepared for such a situation and gave his number.
‘It would have been difficult if I didn’t have two cell phones.’
While exchanging numbers under Eom Jeong-sik’s warm gaze, Team Leader Bang asked.
“So, Seongmin, are you going to work at the association?”
“yes.”
“I’m jealous. You caught the eye of the great hero. But why did you suddenly come to my office? I don’t think you came by just to say hello.”
Everyone silently stared at Choi Sungmin, wondering why.
“That’s… … I want to meet Hunter Yang Jo-young.”
“Captain?”
“The captain isn’t here. Why? What are you trying to say?”
“I can’t tell you the details. It’s a conversation I have to have with Hunter Yang Jo-young alone.”
At those words, Eom Jeong-sik chuckled.
“Hey, do you think our captain is a carefree person like you? Why would he meet a retired D-rank hunter?”
Although he was laughed at as a D-class, Choi Sung-min was already a B-class.
It seems like he never thought he would be on the same level as Yang Jo-young.
“Mr. Yang Jo-young will meet you.”
“On what basis?”
The corners of Choi Sungmin’s mouth slightly went up.
“I’m thinking of joining Team Crush again.”
* * *
An hour before Choi Sung-min came to Team Crush.
Yang Jo-young was waiting for someone at the cafe.
It was none other than the second oldest brother, Yang Jo-wi.
“Brother, are you here?”
“How have you been, Jo Young-ah?”
“Well, how have you been?”
The two people exchanged friendly greetings, ordered coffee, and sat down.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve had coffee like this with my brother. Has it been about a year?”
“Has it been that long?”
“Right. We’ve been in contact often, but it’s only been a while since we’ve seen each other in person.”
Yang Jo-young was an illegitimate child and the two were half-brothers, but that doesn’t mean they were on bad terms.
Rather, they maintained a close relationship by keeping in touch.
“What are you doing these days?”
“I’m in charge of the training center and I’m always visiting the association.”
“You used to say you wanted to hunt because you were tired of working, but now that the dungeon is open, it’s the same?”
“Ah, this is my situation. Even if I wanted to hunt and grow, they wouldn’t give me the chance.”
Yang Jo-young let out a long sigh, but to Yang Jo-wi, who was an ordinary person, it sounded like a full stomach.
“What kind of wealth and honor do you want to enjoy while growing up here? A B-grade is fine, isn’t it?”
“Do you think I look okay now?”
Yang Jo-young suddenly took on a serious expression.
“I lived my whole life not knowing who my father was, until I finally found out when my mother passed away from a chronic illness. Then, I was lucky enough to awaken as a hunter and thought that all that was left was for me to rise through the ranks. But how are you now?”
“… … .”
“It’s been over 10 years since I became a B-class Hunter, but the label of being an illegitimate child still torments me. My father avoids me like I’m some kind of trash, and not long ago, a great hero even laughed at me and called me an illegitimate child.”
“Great hero? Who?”
“Of course there is more than just Song Chi-hyun?”
Yang Jo-young couldn’t hold back his anger as if his teeth were gnashing just thinking about the humiliation of that time.
“Now, there’s no one in the association who doesn’t know that I’m the illegitimate child of the chief secretary. Even if they don’t say it out loud, they’re probably laughing at me on the inside.”
“No. That won’t happen… … .”
“What do you know, hyung? You, who is still living a comfortable life under our father, don’t you know how I feel after being teased for over 10 years?”
“… … .”
Since there was nothing wrong with what he said, Yangjo-wi had no choice but to remain silent.
“Do you know why this is all happening? It’s because I have no strength.”
“Hey, if you’re at the B-rank level, you’re pretty strong. You have tens of thousands of hunters under you… … .”
“That won’t do. You need to have the strength to the point where you can’t even look at them. The strength to the point where you can be called an illegitimate child.”
Yang Jo-young had no intention of settling for his current position.
He longed to climb higher even if it meant trampling on others.
“You know, hyung? I want to be acknowledged by my father.”
“Yeah, I told you before.”
“Surely, if I become stronger than I am now, my father will acknowledge me.”
“But you’re so busy with work that you don’t have time to hunt?”
“Yeah. That’s why I have a small business.”
“business?”
“I think I told you before. I have a team that I’m raising.”
“Oh, yeah. Was your name Tim Crush?”
“That’s right. Do you know why I created that team?”
“Isn’t this supposed to be a stable source of income? You’re supposed to take a cut of what they earn?”
“no.”
Yang Jo-young shook his head and smiled bitterly.
“I will raise that team to Class B and present it to the president.”
“To the great hero Kwak Min-cheol?”
“Oh. I heard that the president of the association has a hobby of gathering skilled B-class hunters.”
“So you’re going to offer up the team you created as a bribe? Like offerings to an altar?”
“Yeah. I nurture them with care until they become B-grade, just like tending to a vegetable garden. Only for the sake of the president.”
“… … .”
“Then wouldn’t you care more about me, even if it’s just because you have the virtue of sincerity? For example, you could give me full support so that I can hunt and grow, or you could accept me as your direct subordinate.”
“I understand wanting to look good to the president… … but was this something you agreed upon with the Team Crush kids?”
Yang Jo-young shook his head and said indifferently.
“Their doctors don’t matter, do they?”
“But they should know what will happen to them later… … .”
“If you knew, would you still stay on our team?”
“Of course I will stay. Wouldn’t it be better if I went under the chairman?”
Yang Jo-young let out a chuckle.
“When did I say I was going down? I just told the chairman that I have a hobby of gathering hunters.”
“Isn’t that it? Or maybe… … ?”
“Hehehe. As expected, hyung doesn’t know anything about the president.”
There was something fishy smelling, but as an ordinary brewer, there was no way he would know about the association president’s hobbies.
“Then tell me. Why is the president gathering B-class hunters?”
“I don’t know the details. All I know is that if you sell out to the association president, things could end badly for you.”
“Knowing that, you’re still going to sell it?”
“What happens to them? It’s none of my business.”
Yangjowi shook his head as if he was tired of Yangjoyoung’s cold tone.
“When I see you like this, I say you look just like your father.”
“Of course, because he’s my child.”
“I don’t think Hyung Jo-gon would think that way?”
First, when the topic of Yang Jo-gong came up, Yang Jo-yeong’s expression hardened.
Because unlike the second son, Yang Jo-wi, he hated Yang Jo-yeong to death.
“Does Hyung Jo still hate me?”
“Still the same. Haven’t we been in touch recently?”
“What about contact? It’s been over five years since we last spoke.”
“Even if I tried to reconcile them in the middle, it didn’t work. For some reason, they wouldn’t even say anything.”
“… … .”
Yang Jo-young also didn’t know why his eldest brother hated him so much.
‘I want to get along with my brothers as best as possible… … .’
I can only guess that he hates me because I am his illegitimate child.
“Jo Young, do you want to reconcile with your older brother too?”
“Of course. My heart is always open to you, hyungs.”
“Then we’re having a family meal today. Do you want to come too?”
At the suggestion of his second brother, Yang Jo-young dilated his pupils and then narrowed them again.
“Tch, they made plans among themselves again without me?”
Although he was clearly a family member, he was treated no better than an outsider.
Of course, it wasn’t something that happened once or twice, so there was no need to get hurt again.
“Okay, you guys go. Father only called you guys. I can’t just barge in and interrupt without asking.”
“But if I keep showing my face, won’t my father open his heart?”
“No. To open Father’s heart, I have to rise to a higher position.”
“Ugh… … .”
Seeing Yang Jo-yeong only looking at power, Yang Jo-wi, his older brother, couldn’t help but feel sorry.
At that moment, a text message arrived on Yangjowi’s cell phone.
“Huh? Is this your father calling?”
“Did your father call you?”
“Yeah. You’re suddenly asking me to come to the association?”
Yang Jo-young sighed as he looked at his cell phone, which was quiet, unlike his brother.
“I guess I didn’t call since you didn’t send me a text?”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
Yang Jo-wi stood up with an expression of apology for some reason.
“I’ll go first because my father called.”
“Okay. See you later, bro.”
At that time, I was lying there with a sad expression on my face after sending my brother off.
Deuuun- Deuuun-
A call came to Yang Jo-young’s cell phone.
‘no way?’
I picked up the phone cheerfully, but as soon as I saw the caller, my spirits sank.
That’s because it was a call from Team Crush Team Leader Bang Tae-man.
“what’s the matter.”
-Excuse me, Captain. There is someone here who wants to see you right now… … .
“Who is it?”
Yang Jo-young, who had always maintained an indifferent expression, soon couldn’t help but be surprised.
“Choi Seong-min?”
Because the guy who was kicked out of the team came back on his own two feet.
That’s also because I want to rejoin the team.
“Okay. I’ll be there now, so stay there and don’t move.”
Yang Jo-young readily allowed Choi Seong-min to meet him.
‘f*ck, you thick-skinned bastard. You’re screwed.’
I was already feeling irritated, but now I have someone to vent my anger on.
