Chapter 126  

Alex Parker’s smile widened when he heard that Hwang Gyeongryong liked to save money. He stretched out his hand.

“Do you understand what I mean?”

“Do you?promise?me five times more?”

“You have good eyes. That’s just where it starts.”

“Hah. Five times.”

Choi Yeonseung was reacting like this out of fear of embarrassing Alex, but he suddenly became curious. Hwang Gyeongryong would’ve taken good care of Choi Yeonseung even if he didn’t have any skills when he returned from the Abyss. That was Hwang Gyeongryong.

So why was this greedy old man trying to buy Choi Yeonseung at such a high price? Of course, Choi Yeonseung was a B-rank hunter and he was drawing a lot of attention right now, but...

It was just a momentary flash. Hundreds of hunters?around the world had a reputation similar to Choi Yeonseung.

“By the way, what would you have me do if you get to hire me? Raids?”

“Raids? The only people obsessed with raids are old-time hunters or hunters who are ignorant of the world.” Alex Parker snorted, irritating Choi Yeonseung slightly. Hunters should do raids. What else should they do? “Dungeons are always filled with danger. No matter how low-grade the dungeon, people can still die. What if a precious talent goes in and gets killed?”

“Isn’t that what hunters are prepared for?”

“Tsk tsk. Talent has to be managed efficiently.”

‘Every word he says is terrible.’

Choi Yeonseung had returned to Earth from the Abyss to protect humanity. Alex Parker promised to add one more zero to the back of his bank account, regardless of whether humanity fell or not. They had such different mentalities that no matter what they said, they wouldn’t be able to understand each other.

“If I hire you, the first thing I’ll do is have you train martial artists. Martial arts are being pushed by magic because of its slow growth rate and limited utilities that make it difficult to play an active role in raids. However, it can be used in many other areas aside from raids.”

Alex Parker was an older man who remembered the time when quite a few martial artists were on active duty. Martial arts were more useful when used against people than in raids! He coveted it even more after witnessing the raid on the research complex.

‘He has a shocking understanding of it.’

Choi Yeonseung was slightly surprised. Alex Parker, who had no interest in raids because he was only interested in money, had an astonishing grasp of the situation. Martial arts were certainly of great use in that aspect. The problem was that it took quite a long time for martial arts to become strong. Even Choi Yeonseung took a hundred years to reach first class. His martial arts was a special case, but...

“What if my teachings don’t produce any good hunters?”

“We’ll just have to wait and see. That level of investment is nothing.”

At the corporate level, the money spent on one hunter was nothing, no matter how much it was.

“In addition, C-grade hunters should be capable enough to reach second-class martial arts. After all, the skills of those under an outstanding hunter are bound to quickly improve.”

Alex Parker wasn’t holding the position of chairman out of luck. His eyes had become discerning after being in a raid-related business for many years. Just as hunters’ magic developed faster under an A-grade hunter’s leadership, he was convinced that it would be the same with martial arts!

“Chairman. It’s time.”

“Ah. Already? That’s a pity. In any case, think it over. It isn’t a loss to you at all.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

***

“Are you really going to join him? I’m not necessarily on my father’s side, but this person is known for seducing people with sweet talks, then throwing them away.”

Choi Yeonseung smiled at Aine, who was still innocent compared to humans like Alex Parker.

“I don’t want to join him.”

“Huh? But earlier, you—”

“If I refuse outright, then I can’t bargain. I have to show the right amount of space so that he remains interested.”

“......!”

Aine was surprised upon realizing what Choi Yeonseung meant.

“You’re going to walk a tightrope against that person?”

“Can’t I?”

“Don’t do it. No matter how I look at it, you’re at a disadvantage.”

There was nothing good about Choi Yeonseung, a hunter, walking a tightrope against a bigshot like Alex Parker. He would end up easily fooled.

Choi Yeonseung spoke in a different tone. “I won’t know until I try it. Anyway, what is he doing now?” Amid the party, Alex entered the room with his servants. Everyone inside stood up and greeted him politely, a testament to his authority. Of course, that alone wouldn’t have been enough to surprise Choi Yeonseung. However, it exceeded his imagination.

“Jacob!”

“Y-Yes, Chairman!”

Alex Parker called out to a young man. Jacob, the eldest son of the chairman, was arrogant like a?third-generation wealthy son, but he trembled from fright when the chairman called out to him.

“The earnings of your company, Parker Energy, have decreased this quarter.”

“About that, f-father...”

“What?”

“... C-Chairman. The monster core supply and demand this quarter was unstable. The Chinese and Korean companies have also grown rapidly, so the competition has increased...”

“What? ”

“... I was wrong. I will follow your orders.”

“You don’t deserve to be at this party. Get out!”

At the chairman’s words, Jacob walked outside with tears dripping from his eyes. He looked pathetic as he stood in the courtyard alone while others were partying.

“Gloria!’

“Yes, Chairman...” Gloria, the second daughter, looked at the chairman with a very nervous expression. She had prepared herself before coming here, but she was still nervous.

“Your company is performing well this quarter.”

“Ah!”

“Wonderful. Enjoy the party.”

“Thank you!”

Gloria smiled with relief as she nodded.

“Why did he even invite others?” Choi Yeonseung murmured as he watched the scene.

“I told you he’s a cold-hearted human being whose hobby is to spur on his children like this.”

The people under the chairman shouted things like, ‘As expected of the chairman! It’s so beautiful to see you raising your children to be strong and loyal!’ but...

Aine thought he was crazy, especially when compared to Hwang Gyeongryong, who raised his children with affection and warmth. Once the chairman’s execution ceremony was over, the party resumed and people began to converse again.

-As expected of Chairman Parker. He treats even his children strictly.

-The Parker family is probably strong due to this thorough attitude.

“Do you think this is right?”

“No. Not really. That’s the perfect attitude to get abandoned once he gets older.”

Aine burst out laughing.

“What’s so funny?”

“......”

Aine stopped laughing as Alex Parker walked up behind them. Did he hear it?

“By any chance, were you talking about what I just said? I’m curious about how you feel.”

“Won’t your children turn against you when you’re older if you keep acting like that?”

‘Hey!!!’ Aine inwardly screamed. Those words should only be said between the two of them, not openly. However, Alex Parker didn’t become angry.

‘Look at this guy?’

No one spoke to Alex Parker like Choi Yeonseung did. Even a fairly successful hunter wouldn’t disrespect the chairman of a large corporation.

Therefore, Choi Yeonseung was rather fresh. Tapping on the floor with his cane, Alex Parker replied, “If they can do that, I would like to see them try. I will hand over my position if they succeed. A lion throws its cub down a cliff and a kite pecks stones to renew its beak. Humans aren’t very different.”

“... Do you know that neither of them actually does that in real life?” Choi Yeonseung asked, seemingly dumbfounded.

In the past, when he was still in the clan, Hwang Gyeongryong would tell him, ‘Hey, Yeonseung, don’t you know the lion throws its cub down a cliff to raise it?’

Lee Changsik then would scold him, saying, ‘Don’t tell him something weird. That’s a false rumor.’

Some humans still believed this story even after 30 years.

“... That isn’t the point.”

Alex Parker turned away, but he momentarily looked embarrassed. He obviously didn’t know if the story was real or not. “The point is I have to whip them like this so that my children can become human, even if just barely.”

“I don’t think that’s the only way to do it.”

Alex Parker’s eyes lit up strangely. “Words don’t mean anything unless you prove it yourself.”

“How do I prove it?”

“Isn’t it easy? You just have to beat one of my children.”

“Richard Parker...”

“... Except for him, of course. He’s a failure.”

“......”

He couldn’t fight Richard Parker? Choi Yeonseung felt regretful.

“You don’t have any other child that’s a hunter, though?”

“You’re right, but what I mean is to win in business.”

“I’m a hunter, though.”

“That’s your problem. That’s why you should be careful when you speak. Even those without any skills can bark.”

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ tells you to crush this unlucky mortal.]

-Successor. You better give this naughty, young mortal a taste of defeat.

‘What are they saying?’

Choi Yeonseung didn’t intend to play with madmen just because they barked nonsense, so he just gave a rough answer.

“I understand. From now on, I’ll make sure to show it with my actions.”

“That’s a good attitude, but that’s not possible.”

Alex Parker had turned around as if he was done talking when Choi Yeonseung suddenly remembered something and called out to him.

“Wait.”

“Are you going to accept the offer I made earlier? The sooner, the better.”

“No. I’ll think about that a bit more. Isn’t there someone called Jerry Kuber under you?”

“I think we do have a lousy bastard with that name...”

“You better reconsider his proposal.”

“... On what basis?”

“Once you reach my martial arts stage, you gain the ability to read their physiognomy. It’s one of the Asian mysterious techniques.”

Aine, who was listening from the side, was startled. Was there such a thing?

“... I’ll give it some thought.”

***

“There isn’t? ”

“No. If there was such a thing, I would’ve shown it to Gyeongryong hyung first.”

“You surprised me! So why did you say that? To cause an estrangement?”

“I have my reasons.”

Alex Parker was wicked, but Jerry Kuber had signed with two evil god constellations. If he were to deceive them and the Parker Group fell into the hands of the evil god constellations... It was better to prevent those beings from dragging Alex down, even if he was a hateful or wicked person. It was unlikely, but he should always be careful.

“If he doesn’t lose money due to you telling him, Dad will be a bit disappointed.”

“... N-No. He won’t be.”

Hwang Gyeongryong would also understand the situation.

… Probably!

‘I think he’s going to be disappointed...’

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ says you need to prepare for a constellation battle!]

[The ‘Manipulator of Dreams and Desires’ says you need to prepare for a constellation battle!]

[The ‘Traitor with a Poisoned Dagger’ challenges the ‘Undefeated Incarnation of Training’ to a constellation battle!]

“!”

In the car on the way back, a constellation battle challenge suddenly came. The opponent was the Traitor with a Poisoned Dagger.

Choi Yeonseung clenched his fists. His next opponent had come faster than expected.magic