The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 120

120. Special Grade Bait (3)

As soon as I planned the kidnapping, the first place I went to was ‘Happy Hamster’s’ – a shabby hamster specialty pet shop that looked like it was barely staying afloat. Dohamin was there.

It turned out the detective agency was just a side hustle; the pet shop was his main gig. The money he made from detective work was just being poured back into the pet shop. Unlike the run-down exterior, I found Dohamin inside a store meticulously decorated with hamsters in mind.

‘I just helped find people!’

It wasn’t hard to coax him, even though he was protesting loudly. Maybe because he hadn’t suffered as much yet, he was much softer and more timid than the Dohamin I remembered.

‘You’re already too well-known. If you keep going like this, you’ll have to start worrying about your safety.’

Based on the hardships Dohamin had told me about before the regression, I mentioned a few people who would likely target him. His face quickly paled. When I suggested he come work under me, where he’d be protected and receive a good salary, Dohamin nodded without much hesitation.

‘If you let me open a pet shop in the building…’

He said it might be difficult for ordinary customers to visit, but that didn’t matter since most of his transactions were online. He was practically giving away hamster supplies at cost. After enduring a long, passionate explanation of the charms of various hamsters, I managed to recruit him without too much trouble.

‘Would you like some of this?’

Dohamin must still be tracking my location regularly. Song Tae-won answered my question indifferently, pointing to the lunch box Myungwoo had brought during his visit.

‘I’ll pass.’

‘It’s delicious.’

I already ate dinner, and all that’s left are snacks. Even those are half-empty. Everything Myungwoo makes is delicious, but the yakgwa [Korean honey cookies] were especially amazing. If I could just get Song Tae-won to try one, maybe that stone-like face would melt a little?

‘You seem overly relaxed. Even if Han Yoojin himself is the goal and there’s no direct harm, don’t let your guard down.’

‘Are you worried about me? I thought you resented me, but you’re being kind.’

‘I have no resentment. It’s only natural for me to worry about Han Yoojin’s safety, given my position.’

A wooden answer. After our conversation in the interrogation room, he seemed even stiffer towards me. Song Tae-won gave a polite, business-like farewell and left, reminding me to be careful.

As I was doing a crossword puzzle while popping the last yakgwa into my mouth, the closed door reopened. There’s a bone in the word… what was it?

‘Hunter Han Yoojin, you will be transferred to another detention center due to external circumstances.’

The man who entered the cell said. His uniform marked him as a detention center hunter.

‘I was just starting to get attached to this room; it’s a shame. But are you working this late?’

‘Accidents don’t keep regular hours.’

‘You’re working hard.’

I put down my pen and stood up. The man held out handcuffs. I obediently put out my hands and opened my mouth.

‘My brother, Han Yoohyun, the head of the Haeyeon Guild, is AB type. I’m B type. What’s your blood type?’

The man looked at me like I was spouting nonsense, and then I felt the curse resistance activate. *Do not tell anyone Han Yoohyun’s blood type.* It was a condition of the first contract I wrote.

The meaning of breaking Contract No. 1 was ‘the kidnappers have arrived.’

I was using the contract as a means of communication based on curse resistance, so Yoohyun could know my condition at any time, even when I couldn’t use a phone. I even put a note with a list of contracts in my inventory in case I forgot. Thanks to the curse resistance, inventory sealing didn’t work either.

‘It felt like I wrote all the contracts I’d use in my life…….’

Since the rewards couldn’t overlap, I bet on all sorts of things.

‘Let’s go.’

On the way out, I ran into other hunters, but none of them reacted. The number of guards was small due to the nature of the hunter detention center, but still, everyone was unresponsive. Was I given a false notice of transfer, or are they all in on it?

I hope it’s the former. Even if things are corrupt, they should be *moderately* corrupt.

* * *

Noah Looheer silently cut through the night sky. The splendid golden scales didn’t lose their luster even in the darkness, thanks to his stealth skill – one of Dio Valshesis’ twin title skills, Dragon in the Mist. It blurred the caster’s appearance, making it possible to deceive even the senses of an A-class hunter.

[They just left the detention center.]

Dohamin’s voice flowed from the thin headset on Noah’s ear. The dragon, wrapped in a hazy mist, slowly circled the detention center. A car entering the road caught his eye.

– I found them.

The car sped up, but Noah quickly caught up with a single flap of his wings. After checking the license plate and relaying it, he continued to follow. The car stopped on a quiet roadside, and they transferred to another car waiting.

When Han Yoojin’s figure appeared, Noah unconsciously twitched. He could snatch him away at any time, but impatience tickled his scales as he tried to endure, even with him right in front of his eyes.

– They transferred to another car. Vehicle number ○○woo ○○○○. Starting again.

The car drove for a while and arrived at the airport. A foreign woman approached the car that stopped in a secluded area. As soon as she grabbed Han Yoojin’s arm, the two disappeared.

– It seems they used a teleport skill!

[Just a moment, about 300 meters northeast. And again—]

Noah moved according to Dohamin’s instructions. Han Yoojin’s figure wasn’t visible from the air, perhaps because he had entered a building. Noah found the two again next to a private plane. He quickly relayed the plane’s markings.

– It looks like they’re preparing to depart. I’ll follow them as is.

[Thank you.]

It was Han Yoohyun’s voice. The golden dragon lightly landed on the plane.

* * *

It’s a good world to commit crimes in.

If you get a good grade and awaken, your strength increases, and you gain useful skills. There are plenty of ordinary people to wield it against, so many people must feel a distorted impulse.

If awakeners had appeared without dungeons, serious social problems might have erupted. Of course, just because dungeons satisfy some awakeners’ desires doesn’t mean awakener crimes don’t happen.

‘Teleportation is a really good skill to use for dirty deeds.’

Space movement is the best, but I’ve never seen anyone with it besides goblins. Even with just teleportation, you can do bad things without leaving evidence.

Like taking me to this plane.

‘I didn’t know I’d be leaving the country this quickly.’

Even if I left Korea, I thought it would be by sea, but a private plane? They’ve prepared a lot. I looked at the female hunter sitting across from me in a seat so wide I couldn’t believe it was inside a plane.

‘Excuse me, can I ask where we’re going?’

‘Hong Kong.’

Not too far. If it’s Hong Kong, it’s within range of Yoon Yoon’s ultra-long-distance gate. Noah said he’d follow, so I could get his help in an emergency.

‘There’s also Eunhye’s earring barrier skill.’

She prevented me from taking the earrings, insisting there should be a way to protect me if someone tried to steal them. I put Eunhye in my inventory, then secretly took it out after the body search and wrapped it around my ankle, hiding it with my clothes.

As I sat quietly, pretending to be intimidated, the plane slowly began to move.

‘My first overseas trip is a kidnapping.’

Illegal entry and exit without a passport. I don’t have any money either. According to the plan, I’m supposed to be kidnapped for about 3 days, so I want to buy souvenirs if I have time. Should I ask to borrow money?

As I struggled not to fall asleep, the plane landed.

Hong Kong was one of the places where dungeon break damage was severe. Above all, it was largely due to the fact that a significant number of high-ranking hunters were poached by mainland China. Upper-level dungeon management wasn’t done properly, so it exploded several times, and since the land was small, the downtown area was uncontrollably destroyed each time.

Due to such instability, the economic level was also rapidly declining. I heard that anti-China sentiment was much worse than before the dungeons appeared. It’s understandable.

‘Welcome, Hunter Han Yoojin.’

As soon as I got off the plane, a middle-aged man with a pleasant demeanor greeted me with a bright smile. What is this? I don’t know how to react as a kidnapping victim. He even immediately released the handcuffs, though he did put on an inventory sealing bracelet.

‘I’m Henry Gregson.’

Mr. Gregson, who looked like an Asian, asked for a handshake. What the heck is this?

‘Now that you’ve come all the way here, please relax as much as possible.’

‘…Ah, yes.’

Relax… What the hell is this kidnapper talking about? Is he telling me to get Stockholm syndrome? After passing through the airport without inspection, a limousine was waiting. The driver opened the car door with a service-oriented smile.

…If I said I wanted to go sightseeing, they’d guide me on a full tour and even cover my expenses. What is this? Should I buy souvenirs for the kids?

‘To be honest, I’m quite embarrassed, but I’ve been kidnapped, and Mr. Gregson is the kidnapper… right?’

Mr. Gregson, who got into the limousine with me, laughed heartily. Of course, it wasn’t just him; a hunter who seemed to be a bodyguard also accompanied him.

‘If Hunter Han Yoojin was even C-class in stats, the atmosphere wouldn’t be so gentle. But there’s no need to oppress someone who’s no different from an ordinary person.’

Then Gregson introduced himself as an awakener manager. He said he mainly finds useful awakeners in poor developing countries and finds them jobs.

‘Isn’t that just human trafficking?’

‘The brokerage fee is just a little expensive. I have high expectations because Hunter Han Yoojin’s fee is expected to be the highest ever.’

I have a lot to say, but I have nothing to say. You’re very brazen. I want to kill this bastard and go home. Suppressing my urge to call Noah right away, I asked him.

‘So, is Mr. Gregson the mastermind behind my kidnapping?’

‘Of course not. Unfortunately, this time I’m just a broker. There’s someone else who acquired and delivered the goods.’

So it’s not this guy. It seems to be a Korean national related to the association. Haeyeon and Seseong must be gradually tracking down the tail by now.

Passing through streets with traces of destruction here and there, the limousine stopped in front of a magnificent hotel. I was even more dumbfounded when I entered the lobby, where the ceiling and floor were shining brightly. This isn’t what I imagined. Well, a 5-star hotel is better than a brutal prison.

‘You must be tired from the long trip, so please rest well.’

The slave trader smiled, saying that if I needed anything, I should say so. So I asked for a smartphone that could communicate, but he refused, saying that it wasn’t allowed.

Then, I was guided to a luxurious suite with a killer view. My first 5-star hotel suite is a kidnapping and confinement location. Life is really unpredictable. Yoohyun, don’t worry too much; it seems like your brother will be living comfortably.

‘I’ll leave guards in front of the door so you don’t feel uncomfortable during your stay. Please feel free to use the hotel services. Of course, you can also use facilities such as the swimming pool, fitness club, and lounge.’

‘Ye… es.’

Damn it, I almost said thank you. The slave trader reiterated to rest comfortably and left the room. Is he really leaving me alone? Of course, I can’t escape on my own, but still, what is this?

I wondered if Noah was nearby, so I tried to go out to the terrace, but the door was tightly locked. I pushed and pulled it a few times before giving up, but a piece of paper was stuck to the glass door.

[Are you okay?]

The letters were crooked, like the work of a child who had just started learning Korean. I couldn’t see him, but it was Noah.

‘I’m okay. OK.’

I nodded, only moving my lips, thinking there might be a surveillance camera.

[Be careful. I’m here.]

He’s here? Um, is he going to be standing guard on the terrace? Just go to sleep. I couldn’t say anything, so I just smiled.

I went to the sofa, covered my hand with a cushion, and took out a Tilla branch from the inventory and broke it off. *Do not break the Tilla branch that Yoohyun gave me.* It is the condition of the fifth contract.

The curse resistance activated. The meaning of the contract was that I’m fine; I’m safe.

* * *

The next morning, as it was an expensive room, I slept well and woke up, and a guest came to visit me. A familiar face that I didn’t expect to meet here.

‘…Why are you here?’

‘I’m a guest.’

The head of the Seseong Guild said. What is he saying, crazy?