I Became The Rankers’ Number One Pick [EN]: Chapter 156

156.

“Can I refuse?”

– No, please, I’m begging you. I’m in big trouble if you don’t come, Hunter Park Seo-a!

I knew they couldn’t force Seo-a to go if she didn’t want to.

But what did the front-line public officials do wrong? They’re just delivering the message because they were told to.

‘Well, it’s not hard to just take a look. I’m also curious.’

It was also an opportunity to find out if Oscar Jackson would really be a threat to Korea in Yoo Ji-an’s current life.

“Okay, tell me the time and place.”

– Thank you! I’ll send it to you in a text message soon!

The call ended.

“Hmm.”

Seo-a belatedly wondered if she had done the right thing.

‘What am I going to do when I meet him?’

Anyway, if it’s this afternoon, I’ll have to head out soon.

Seo-a checked the text message from Team Leader Lee. The meeting place was a bit far from here, and it said they would pick her up by car if she told them her location.

After sending a reply text message, Seo-a hesitated for a moment.

‘Should I get some advice before I go….’

First, Baek Eun-hee said she was busy, so she called Yoo Ji-an.

However, it rang for a long time, and he didn’t answer.

‘Is something wrong?’

She was starting to worry. It was hard to imagine that he would be in any physical danger, but you never know.

“Hmm, then next is….”

She tried calling Cha Tae-woon. He didn’t answer either. Seo-a muttered while looking at the phone screen.

“Am I… being ostracized?”

After going to the gate, she realized, ‘Park Seo-a is a nuisance.’ Or, ‘This is all because of the elixir.’

She didn’t feel like calling Song Jin-a or Choi Eun-gyeol.

‘But I should say hello to Hunter Song Jin-a separately.’

Because she was the top contributor to curing Geon-hoo.

A while later, she received a call saying the car had arrived.

Seo-a went to her room and called Geon-hoo.

“Geon-hoo.”

“What?”

Geon-hoo had already turned on the computer in his room and was installing a game.

She tried to nag him, but held back for now. She wondered how much he wanted to do it while he was in the hospital.

“I’m going out; take care of yourself. The housekeeper will be here later.”

“Okay!”

Geon-hoo waved his hand without even looking at her.

“Tsk.”

Seo-a scratched her head and left the front door again.

Going downstairs, she saw a car parked at the entrance of the building, and the driver came out and greeted Seo-a.

“I was instructed to pick you up. Please get in.”

Seo-a nodded and got into the car.

***

The place Seo-a arrived at was the Special Ability Department building in Seoul.

As soon as she arrived, several public officials ran out.

“Hello, I’m Team Leader Lee Sang-joon, who you spoke with on the phone earlier.”

He was an ordinary middle-aged man.

She had heard that the Special Ability Department also had hunters, but this man had no magical power reaction at all, so he didn’t seem to be a hunter.

He bowed politely to Seo-a, and Seo-a awkwardly bowed with him.

“Where is Oscar Jackson?”

“He’ll be here soon. This way, please….”

Following Lee Sang-joon, she arrived in front of the Minister’s office. Seo-a’s expression frowned.

“You didn’t say anything about meeting the Minister?”

Then Lee Sang-joon bowed his head as if he was in trouble.

“I’m sorry, the Minister heard that Hunter Park Seo-a was coming here and rushed over, saying he had to see you….”

“Hoo.”

Seo-a’s image of Minister of Special Abilities Choi Dal-soo was not very good. And the fact that he wanted to see her today was probably not a welcome reason.

“Okay.”

Lee Sang-joon stepped back, and the Minister’s secretary came out and guided Seo-a.

‘If he makes unfair demands….’

Seo-a recalled Yoo Ji-an’s attitude when dealing with Choi Dal-soo. Seo-a herself wouldn’t be able to do that, but she wouldn’t be dragged along unconditionally.

As Seo-a entered, Choi Dal-soo, who was on the phone, smiled and waved his hand.

“Uh-huh.”

And he pointed to the sofa with a gesture. It seemed to mean sit down.

‘Should I just leave?’

As soon as she thought about it, Choi Dal-soo hung up the phone and stood up.

“Oh, Hunter Park Seo-a! Please sit down, make yourself comfortable!”

“Ah, yes.”

As Seo-a sat down, Choi Dal-soo naturally sat in the seat of honor.

“So, Oscar Jackson? I heard that person wanted to see Hunter Park Seo-a.”

“Yes, so I came.”

“Oscar Jackson was invited by our President. He was invited with difficulty to learn about the capabilities of Korean hunters and to strengthen the alliance between Korea and the United States, so please treat him well when you see him later.”

“…Ah, yes.”

She felt uncomfortable about why they were asking an American hunter about the capabilities of Korean hunters, but Seo-a answered vaguely.

“But why did you want to see me?”

“Hmm, I guess you’re a hunter, so you have a hasty personality. Ah, I’m not criticizing you. Aren’t I a hunter too? I also have a very hasty personality.”

Choi Dal-soo didn’t get to the point and beat around the bush. Seo-a looked at Choi Dal-soo without answering.

“I heard that you don’t belong to any guild yet.”

“Yes, not yet.”

“Do you have any in mind?”

“…Well.”

It was a problem she had been thinking about all along, but Seo-a still hadn’t made a decision. But why is the Minister asking this?

“Let me be frank. Our government would prefer that Hunter Park Seo-a not belong to any side, if possible.”

“Why is that?”

At that time, the secretary brought out two cups of tea. Choi Dal-soo took a sip of tea and continued.

“Actually, that’s right. S-class hunters are very valuable resources from the country’s point of view. However, as they each establish their own guilds and build their own power, the waste of power is enormous.”

She didn’t know why that was a waste of power, but Seo-a listened quietly.

“I know that all the other S-class hunters want Hunter Park Seo-a. Anyway, isn’t it difficult for Hunter Park Seo-a to choose one guild?”

“That’s true, but….”

“So what we’re proposing is to create a new group centered around Hunter Park Seo-a. Yes, what is it? A movie in the United States where heroes gather to protect the Earth? Don’t you have something like that? Something like that.”

“…The Avengers?”

“It can be seen as a pan-guild team that other high-level hunters who want Hunter Park Seo-a can join, regardless of the guild they belong to. Of course, if the hunter agrees, our government will support it.”

“And I have to follow the government’s instructions, right?”

As Seo-a smiled brightly as she asked back, Choi Dal-soo smiled awkwardly.

“Hehehe, well… to some extent.”

In the end, the government needs a group of hunters that they can easily control and that suits their taste.

Also, a powerful armed group consisting of S-class hunters centered around Seo-a.

Naturally, she felt repulsed.

When Seo-a didn’t say anything, Choi Dal-soo said a little more strongly.

“If one of the existing guilds takes Hunter Park Seo-a… you may have some difficulties.”

“What do you mean?”

When Seo-a frowned and looked at Choi Dal-soo, Choi Dal-soo smiled as if he was a good person.

“It’s nothing. Wouldn’t a light tax investigation begin? Anyway, a guild is also a company. If you털 [search thoroughly] it, dust will come out.”

This was a threat.

It was meaningless to threaten Seo-a herself, who was an S-class hunter, so they changed the method. It meant that the guild would be harmed by Seo-a.

Seo-a was furious. As she stared at him silently, Choi Dal-soo’s complexion suddenly turned pale.

“Th, th, threatening the Minister in a place like this…!”

“Yes?”

“Ugh, I’ve said everything I need to say, get out, get out! Is an S-class hunter threatening me, a mere D-class!”

“Ah.”

Seo-a had also felt S-class hunters pressuring her with their momentum alone. Baek Eun-hee or Yoo Ji-an used to stop them back then.

‘That’s it.’

She didn’t want to use it now, but the timing was right.

Anyway, the word go was welcome. Seo-a got up without hesitation.

“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear today’s proposal.”

“Do, don’t take my words lightly!”

He said that, but he couldn’t meet Seo-a’s eyes. His terrified expression wasn’t too bad.