Chapter 403 – Ripple
Let’s assume for a moment.
A situation where someone is buying another’s labor for money.
Simple examples could be outsourcing, employment, and subcontracting.
So what choice would you make?
If you don’t have much money or don’t want to waste it, you’d prefer someone with little experience or a newbie.
On the other hand, if you want guaranteed quality or results, you’d spend money to hire experienced people.
And this is somewhat similar to the situation we’re in right now.
The Hunter Association President, who can be seen as the leader of the Guild Association.
If he’s in that position, he must at least not be financially struggling.
So why did he choose us?
“I don’t understand this. Why did the association’s president choose our guild?”
– “To be precise, the president requested a collaboration with your guild based on a guild he commissioned.”
[Ah, it’s subcontracting.]
‘Ah, these bastards.’
In a fit of anger, I decided to refuse the proposal.
“I’m not doing it. Nope. It’s subcontracting.”
– “Instead, he agreed to transfer all the rewards he offered for this collaboration.”
“Don’t lie. Is that even a thing?”
It just didn’t make sense.
It’s ridiculous to talk about it now.
Our guild’s reputation is already in shambles.
Sure, it has a lot to do with the slander against me.
[We’ve agreed to call it fact, not slander.]
‘Anyway, it’s slander.’
Since Hyeji has a history of wrecking other guilds.
Therefore, there’s no reason for other guilds to request collaboration with us.
There’s no need for more discussion; the estimate is clear.
It’s voice phishing.
“You’re Chinese, you bitch.”
– “Ah, no! I’m a pure-bred Korean!”
“Have I not fallen for voice phishing once or twice?”
– “I-I’m really the president’s secretary!”
A woman’s voice urgently rebuffs my words.
But I can’t fall for this.
Who would confess they’re doing voice phishing?
And to impersonate the Hunter Association’s secretary?
This person must be genuinely crazy.
So I asked a question to verify if she was really the president’s secretary.
“If that’s true, can you say ‘President, you dog’?”
– “President, you dog! Got it?”
With no hesitation, the woman’s straightforward answer.
At first glance, it seems she answered correctly, but.
That reaction only made my face stiffen instead.
“You’re trained for that, right? I know.”
– “No!!!”
Being a secretary for the president should involve some hesitation.
“Try again. Then I’ll believe you.”
– “I’ll say it a hundred times! President, you dog! A useless bitch who can’t even get it up!”
The moment the woman desperately screams those curses in a panicked voice.
Suddenly, a deep voice came from the other end of the line.
– “Did you call?”
– “Ah, fuck.”
And just like that, the call ended.
[…Was that really a call from the association president’s secretary?]
‘No way.’
And then I received another call.
“Hello.”
– “It’s the president.”
This time, it was the deep voice of a man.
Not only was I dealing with a secretary, but now they were pretending to be the president.
They were taking this situation play-acting a bit too far, especially during sacred meal times.
“What are you talking about? If you’re the president, then I must be crazy.”
– “Who the hell are you to talk to me like that!!!”
“Me?”
– “Yeah!!!”
I retorted curtly to the angrily roaring man’s voice.
“I’m Choi Da-eun, you bastard.”
– Silence.
Quickly, I hung up the phone.
“Shinwoo, what was that just now?”
“Voice phishing.”
And I quickly returned the chicken grease-coated mobile phone to Choi Da-eun.
I figured there wouldn’t be another call.
Even if there was, I couldn’t be bothered to pick it up.
“Thanks for using it.”
“Hey, you bastard!!!”
This was why I hired a receptionist!
Then Choi Da-eun dashed to the bathroom to wash her phone.
Leaving behind a voice close to a scream.
“Leave me some food!”
“Sure.”
And once I confirmed that Choi Da-eun had completely disappeared from sight.
We started devouring the chicken at a speed incomparable to before.
After all, it wasn’t us who wouldn’t get to eat later.
“Will you really leave some for me, husband?”
“Yeah, just gather the bones.”
“I’ll make soup with those bones.”
“Should I soak them in chicken mu soup? If I just leave them, they might rot.”
I didn’t even ask what to leave behind.
Before long, the floor, stained with chicken grease from the box, became visible.
And just as we placed the bony remnants soaked in chicken mu soup onto Choi Da-eun’s desk.
Suddenly, a notification popped up on the guild’s request tablet.
“Is it voice phishing again? Just block it!”
“No, it’s from the association.”
“Since they’re all the same group, isn’t it fine to block them?”
It was a request requiring collaboration from our guild.
It was even bolded as a collaboration for the president’s request.
“Shinwoo, this says it’s the president’s request?”
“Really?”
“Look here.”
“……It’s real.”
As if to prove that the person I just spoke to was truly the president.
‘……Am I… actually the crazy one…?’
[That unsympathetic bastard.]
Regardless, the request’s content was simpler than expected.
Take the president’s son and clear just one dungeon, regardless of the difficulty.
It seemed like the president wanted to show his son what a hunter’s life was like.
However, there were still two things that didn’t make sense.
“Why are they asking us for help?”
“I don’t think it’s a place that Hyeji unnie wrecked… I don’t know…”
First, the guild requesting collaboration from us.
The place the president requested was one of those large guilds that were few and far between.
Moreover, the amount offered as compensation was so substantial it made me doubt my eyes.
To think it was just for a tour, it’s excessive to an outrageous degree.
From a typical perspective, it would make sense for a large guild to take on this request.
They’d have plenty of capable talents, and the request wasn’t difficult either.
So why would they request collaboration from us?
[Don’t you think they’re just scared?]
‘If you think about it like that, it also makes sense…’
But why would they even offer to give all the rewards?
“Look at the conditions. Isn’t it pretty weird?”
“What are these bastards thinking?”
But most importantly, the condition was odd.
“Why am I forced to attend?”
“They’re even enforcing a dress code. What the hell, bastards.”
I had to attend this request, not just show up, but in full armor.
Moreover, it clearly stated that I could only bring one companion with me.
To be honest, I really hesitated about accepting the request.
It seems like there’s something behind this that I just couldn’t figure out.
After all, hunters are always busy stabbing others in the back.
[Wasn’t there a hunter promoting a business they said would make money, but they ended up just selling drugs for ten days straight?]
Meanwhile, the heroines were also saying we shouldn’t accept this request.
“Husband, let’s not do this!”
“According to my succubus sensor, this seems like a trap.”
“Look at my tail! If it’s sticking up like this, it’s definitely dangerous!”
“……Don’t raise your tail between your legs, fuck.”
“Ah, that was a mistake.”
Seeing her unusually worried gaze.
It’s clear the heroines also felt uneasy about this.
But the moment I heard Hyeji’s clear voice.
“After this request, it’s a solo date with Shinwoo, right?”
“””…….”””
Suddenly, the heroines’ gazes turned sharp.
Now, the atmosphere emanating from them felt more unsettling than the request itself.
I quickly opened my mouth to cancel this request, but unfortunately, it was of no use.
“Can we… cancel the request…?”
“Shut your mouth. You have to take it.”
“……Yes.”
In fact, the heroines looked ready to tear me apart with their stares.
“So when is the deadline?”
“Until I spend all the amount received as compensation.”
“No personal spending allowed.”
“Wait a minute! Does using my own coin count as personal spending?”
“That’s considered using trash, so treat it as recycling.”
I had no choice but to keep quiet and watch them.
“The showdown will be rock-paper-scissors. Any complaints?”
“No!”
“That’s what I want.”
“Let’s settle it in one go.”
Immediately, as the heroines got into their ready positions for rock-paper-scissors.
Out of nowhere, everyone except Hyeji exchanged glances and nodded.
As if they had discussed this beforehand.
[……Could they be trying to conspire against me?]
‘So at least they’re aiming to reduce one competitor and leave with an advantage.’
Whether Hyeji was aware of this or not, she just shone her eyes fiercely.
Before long, their intense battle began to determine the winner.
“”””Rock-paper-scissors!!!””””
Despite the fierce atmosphere, the result was rather bland.
Hyeji chose fist, and the others chose cloth.
It was a manipulated loss for Hyeji.
Then the heroines offered consolation to Hyeji, who was clenching her fist tightly.
Of course, judging by their tone and expressions, it was hardly consolation at all.
“What?! How could you be the first to drop out, unnie!”
“That’s unfortunate, but it can’t be helped.”
“The world of competition is ruthless.”
If we were to argue, it was more mocking than consolation directed at the loser.
At that moment, Hyeji began to laugh ominously.
Still gripping her fist tightly as if ready to smash.
Facing her, Elcia bit her lip and spoke.
“Puhuh! Just accept that you lost, unnie—”
– Perk!
Unfortunately, that sentence never got to continue.
Somehow, Hyeji’s fist had already pierced sharply into her side.
“What was that?”
With that question, before Ayeon and Caressy could respond,
Hyeji left them both coldly nailed to the hard ground with a single punch.
“My fist wins over all.”
Soon, Hyeji let out a groan and coldly declared at the ones who fell.
Her gaze was even chillier than the words she spoke.
“If you ever try to manipulate it again, you’ll really get hurt, bastards.”
[She knew… That’s scary…]
‘What’s more terrifying is how she pretended not to know…’
Finally, Hyeji came over to me, folded her arms, and gave a bright smile as if nothing happened.
Anyway, my companion was decided to be the reliable Hyeji, like soup with rice.
“Let’s go, Shinwoo!”
“……Yeah.”
Now it’s truly time to embark on the request.
