NOVPUB
Chapter 81
“Suho, you rascal! How long has it been?”
“You saw me last month, Uncle.”
“Oh, did I?” Jinho warmly pulled Suho into a tight embrace as he burst out a hearty laugh.
The hunters, feeling incredibly ignored, were astonished.
Uncle?! He looks like a completely different man, a hunter thought.
They were taken aback by the sudden shift of his personality.
Jinho was a living legend. He had rejected a comfy inheritance and founded his own company. Then, he made it into one of the largest corporations in the country through sheer hard work. He was a shrewd entrepreneur with an ice-cool demeanor who had earned the trust and loyalty of his employees.
But his usual self disappeared in front of his nephew. He transformed into a warm-hearted middle-aged man who was now engaged in a friendly conversation.
“You’re an art student. You should be drawing at school. Why are you putting yourself in danger like this? Let me take a look. Are you sure everything is okay? Should I call a healer? I know a guy,” Jinho said as he carefully examined Suho. He started poking Suho’s muscles with an intrigued expression. “Hey, someone has been working out. Your muscles are as thick as tires! Did you awaken as a tank?”
“Well, I’ve been hitting the gym pretty hard lately,” Suho replied with a tinge of sadness. Under his shadow, Ammut, the ruthless manager of the most brutal gym in the world, lurked beneath. “By the way, what kind of game are you making? And why do you need all these hunters?”
“You know FIFA, right?”
“The soccer game? Yeah, sure.”
Thanks to advancements in virtual reality, it was possible to physically move and play soccer as your favorite team.
“For the past two years, we’ve been working on a virtual reality game with hunters. The system construction is mostly done, and now it’s time to create the characters.”
“I see.” Suho finally understood why the hunters were there.
“Once this game is released, players will be able to experience what it’s like to be a hunter. Inside virtual reality, they can conquer dungeons and hunt magic beasts for real.” 𝚗ovp𝚞b.𝚌om
The characters were based on real-life hunters, so it was going to be a great opportunity for hunters to gain worldwide recognition.
“That sounds like a great game. I’m sure anyone who hasn’t awakened would definitely give it a try,” Suho said.
“People will be lining up for it. But there’s still a long way to go until it’s fully developed.”
Only two years had passed since the Great Cataclysm, so Suho was impressed by his uncle’s foresight. Ahjinsoft is the best in the country for a reason. “So, what’s the name of this game?”
Sensing his nephew’s curiosity, Jinho chuckled. “Solo Leveling.”
“Solo Leveling?” An unexplainable awkwardness settled over Suho.
“Yeah. It’s a single-player game. It lets players experience a wide range of hunters of various ranks and types, and leveling up is essential. Of course, you might say, ‘This sounds like just another RPG.’ But it’s all about the stories of these characters and how much they can inspire us!” Clenching his fists, Jinho spoke with great enthusiasm.
Meanwhile, the driver let out a small sigh. Here he goes again.
Jinho was a resolute businessman, but when it came to talking about video games, he transformed into a chatty teenage boy, sparkling with excitement.
“Solo Leveling will be different from the rest. We’re planning to feature active hunters as characters in the game,” Jinho said. Anyone can make an RPG. But if there’s one thing that can make a game stand out, it’s the dose of reality provided by real-life people featured in the game!
This was why Ahjinsoft was willing to collaborate with hunters despite the hefty costs they commanded. Due to the immense financial resources required, it was a colossal project that no other gaming company would dare attempt.
Suddenly, Suho’s gaze turned to the hunters from the Black Tortoise guild standing somewhat awkwardly behind them. He had wondered why they were fully armed, but it turned out that they were trying to make a good impression.
This all feels a bit strange, Suho thought. The game eerily matched his current situation.
“Hm... It might not be a mere coincidence,” Beru whispered in a voice audible only to Suho.
What do you mean? Suho thought.
Beru was able to understand him telepathically. “Now it’s a forgotten timeline, but in it, Yoo Jinho was a fiercely loyal follower of the Monarch of Shadows. If memories from that time lingered in his mind subconsciously...”
The memories of Monarchs transcended time. Sung Jinwoo’s mere existence exerted a powerful influence over the world. Jinho’s past self had witnessed the Monarch of Shadows fight up close more than anyone else. The moments Jinho had captured at that time were undoubtedly some of the most vivid and stimulating memories found across the entire universe.
“This human had the same enthusiasm back then.”
Jinho’s expression as he explained the game was the same one Beru had seen when he was admiring Sung Jinwoo’s incredible battles in the past. The plans for his games were likely based on the subconscious memories vividly etched in his mind.
“It’s truly fascinating. It doesn’t seem like his memories have returned, but expressing those memories through a game... Now that’s something,” Beru said.
Jinho suddenly snapped back to reality. “Ah! I’ve been talking too much, haven’t I? Anyway, that’s the game I’m trying to make, Suho.” A sheepish grin appeared on his face. “Well, why don’t we go to my office and talk some more?” Jinho grabbed Suho by the shoulder and started walking towards his office.
Then a hunter urgently called out from behind, “B-but, sir! We haven’t finished discussing—”
Jinho, realizing he had overlooked the hunters, abruptly halted his steps and turned around. The bright smile he had for Suho was replaced by a cold, stern gaze as his attention shifted to the hunters. “I have an important appointment, so we should do this another time. I will carefully consider your proposal and get back to you.”
The hunters had no choice but to turn back. The only one who didn’t look dejected was Lee Yeongho of the Black Tortoise Guild. His eyes gleamed as soon as he had recognized Suho. To find this guy in a place like this!
Yeongho had found out Suho’s home address and had sent his junior hunters there that morning. Suho was in hot demand, but he didn’t feel the need to personally headhunt a C-rank hunter. His main priority was securing a partnership with Ahjinsoft. The potential benefits were much more significant than securing a C-rank hunter on the rise.
After going to extraordinary lengths to arrange a meeting with Yoo Jinho, it seemed everything was about to be postponed. Moments before this, he had received a call that his scouts had failed to speak to Suho at his house.
I felt like nothing was going right today, but I’ve been blessed by a divine intervention! Yeongho decided to shift his focus to Suho rather than Jinho. “Mr. Sung Suho! This must be fate telling us that we were bound to meet.”
As Yeongho suddenly approached Suho with a friendly greeting, Jinho’s steps halted once again.
“Suho, do you know this person?” he asked.
Before Suho could respond, Yeongho quickly handed him his business card. “Of course, he does, Mr. Yoo. I’m sure we’ll be working closely together in the near future. Remember me? Lee Yeongho, the Head of the Black Tortoise Guild’s Second Management Department? We’re prepared to offer you the best rates in the industry for your rank. How about considering a contract with our guild?”
“The best in the industry? Our Suho?” Jinho sounded more interested than his nephew.
Yeongho caught Jinho’s smile, and he silently celebrated his clever move. It worked! Getting to his nephew was indeed the best strategy! I’m the best!
Fortune favored the brave, and he was incredibly lucky to have run into Suho with his uncle at Ahjinsoft.
Lady Luck is on my side. The best in the industry for a C-rank hunter is still not that much. It’s peanuts compared to the cost of building a good rapport with the CEO of Ahjinsoft. That’s worth much more than his salary.
With a bright smile, Yeongho cheerfully stepped forward toward Suho. “I heard you awakened not too long ago. Now, our guild doesn’t normally fresh rookies, but considering your exceptional skills, well...”
Yeongho’s body was facing Suho, but his eyes were entirely focused on Jinho’s reactions. He knew how much was at stake. Promotion is warfare.
For a guild to grow, it needed many skilled hunters. The most effective way of attracting hunters was through a positive brand image and exposure. The public both revered and feared hunters. Ordinary people knew that hunters with the wrong motivation could be as dangerous as magic beasts. The recent disaster created by Lee Minsung was proof of how things could go tragically wrong.
No hunter wanted the public to see them as monsters. They desired recognition and respect. Successful hunters made more money than they’d ever need, and for any human, the next best thing after money was often honor.
This collaboration is crucial. If our hunters appear in the game, we will be more recognized and loved by the public, Yeongho thought. He knew that they would gain worldwide exposure, which would lead to a surge of requests from all corners of the globe for their services. I’ll be promoted with a huge page rise!
However, Yeongho, inflated by dreams of success, failed to realize something. Ever since Suho received his business card, the kid clearly looked displeased.
“Black Tortoise Guild...” Suho muttered.
“That’s who we are. We offer the best conditions in the industry. If you wait a moment, one of my staff will bring you a contract right away. Oh, and normally, we don’t give a substantial signing fee to C-rank hunters, but this time...” To leave no room for Suho to entertain other thoughts, Yeongho spoke quickly without pause.
“Ah, now I remember. You’re from the guild that flew a drone in front of my window this morning.”
“My goodness! Did one of our scouts go that far? They are really passionate about their jobs. I’ll make sure to have a stern with whoever was responsible for that—”
“What is this about a drone?” Jinho asked curtly.
The coldness in his voice made Yeongho freeze in place.
“Lee Yeongho of the Black Tortoise Guild. It seems like an explanation is in order.”
