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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: A Matter of Chocolate
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Ever since that day, Go Du-yeol had sent gifts consistently, without missing a single day.
*Knock, knock—.*
Whenever someone knocked, a high-end gift would be waiting outside.
“Today it’s a Hanwoo gift set…”
As Lee Su-bin spoke, shaking her head, Kang-jun shoved a hand under his T-shirt and began scratching his belly as he asked back.
“Was yesterday’s gift abalone?”
“Wasn’t yesterday wild ginseng?”
“I think the ginseng was the day before yesterday.”
Lee Su-bin let out a deep sigh and replied.
“Kang-jun, I think it’s time you told him that he really doesn't need to send any more gifts…”
At her words, Kang-jun shrugged his shoulders once and answered.
“I’ve told him a few times, but he just keeps denying it.”
“What does he say?”
“He insists he doesn’t know anything about it.”
It seemed Go Du-yeol was thoroughly engrossed in his ‘Tiger Older Brother’ game.
No matter how many times Kang-jun told him to stop, he just kept playing dumb.
“What are we going to do with all this…”
The gift offensive, which had started with expensive premium brand children’s clothing, had shifted to all sorts of rare delicacies over the past few days.
From pricey Hanwoo beef sets to abalone and wild ginseng, and even unfamiliar ingredients like sturgeon eggs and truffles…
Even with so many mouths to feed, the rate at which they ate simply couldn’t keep up with the rate at which the gifts piled up, to the point where it was becoming a problem.
“There’s no more room in the fridge…”
“Well, he’ll probably get tired of it soon enough.”
“Be sure to tell him we’re very grateful…”
After speaking, Kang-jun peeled off the Post-it note neatly attached to the Hanwoo gift set.
- If only my family hadn't been poor when I was young, if only I could have eaten plenty of healthy food, my frame would have been even grander…
- If I can just ensure my nephew eats only healthy and precious foods and grows up strong, I will have no other wish…
After reading the note, Kang-jun scowled and muttered under his breath.
“Seriously, if you’re that big without eating well, just how much bigger were you supposed to get?”
Just as Kang-jun crumpled the Post-it note into a ball and tossed it into the trash can…
*Bzzzzzzzz….*
The phone in his pocket began to vibrate. He checked it and saw an incoming call.
[Idiot]
It was none other than Go Du-yeol.
“Speak of the devil.”
As soon as Kang-jun answered the phone, a voice filled with anticipation came from the other side.
- I had a feeling your unknown ‘Tiger Older Brother’ might have left a gift again today, so I thought I’d call to see.
“Uh…”
- For some reason, I feel like he would have gifted some Hanwoo beef today, rich in protein and creatine. Don’t overcook it, or it’ll get tough. Just sear it lightly…
After a lengthy explanation on how to cook beef, Go Du-yeol casually mentioned.
- Ah, but I actually called for a different ‘reason’…
“A reason?”
- It’s about ‘that thing’ you asked for last time, little brother.
At those words, Kang-jun muttered, “Ah,” and glanced sideways at his sister, who was organizing the refrigerator, before replying.
“Go on.”
Kang-jun had asked Go Du-yeol to help him accompany the ‘Reclamation Team’ that was scheduled to be dispatched to the Southeast Asian continent.
Although the thought of playing the hero—a role that didn't suit him at all—was dreadful, wasn't this a direct request from his own daughter?
‘Cause Seowi is scawed of monstawrs…’
‘And I’m wowwied about the fwiends who wive in the monstawr countwy….’
His plan was to head to the Southeast Asian continent with the Reclamation Team, then take care of things swiftly and secretly so no one would notice.
For that reason, he had repeatedly asked Go Du-yeol to give him a heads-up as soon as the team’s overall schedule and plans were decided.
- The Hunters included in the Reclamation Team are scheduled to gather at the Bureau’s Seoul branch this Saturday evening for a ‘preliminary meeting.’
“How’s the lineup?”
- It’s a gathering of Hunters who are second to none in the country, so there’s no room to doubt their strength.
After finishing his sentence, Go Du-yeol continued his explanation.
- I believe an official notice with the same information will be sent out today to the B-rank Hunter you’re close with, Hyoja Kim Bong-gu…
Kang-jun then asked.
“If possible, I’d like to attend the preliminary meeting too.”
To move around without drawing attention, he needed to know the plans and movements of the Hunters on the Reclamation Team in advance.
- If one of the Hunters on the team registers you as their ‘manager,’ you should be able to attend the preliminary meeting without any trouble.
“Manager?”
- It’s quite common for Hunters to move with a manager who handles their schedules and other minor tasks…
Go Du-yeol went on to explain various details.
- Most are ordinary managers who haven’t awakened any abilities, but you could say there are occasionally Awakened ‘sidekicks’ mixed in.
“I get the gist.”
- If you need, I can register you as my manager or sidekick. Then you should be able to attend the meeting without much difficulty.
Kang-jun replied with a quick “No,” then continued in a calm tone.
“That’s a bit much…”
Becoming the manager of Go Du-yeol, who was already the center of public attention, would undoubtedly attract a lot of unnecessary notice.
“It would be better to ask Bong-gu.”
After a brief pause, Go Du-yeol replied.
- It’s a shame, but that approach does seem like it would be much more helpful for your secret hero activities, little brother.
Just as the conversation was about to wrap up…
“I’ll see you on Saturday, then.”
As Kang-jun was about to end the call, Go Du-yeol shouted in a hurried tone, “W-Wait!” and added.
- This is just personal curiosity, but I was wondering if there’s anything you’d like to request from your ‘Tiger Older Brother’…
Kang-jun replied, “There isn’t,” and then added.
“I’m going to make a three-line acrostic poem with the word ‘Ttukbaegi.’ It’d be great if you could give me the first syllable.”
At that, Go Du-yeol asked, “An acrostic poem?” his voice tinged with anticipation.
- Ttuk?
The moment he gave the prompt.
*Click.*
Kang-jun abruptly hung up the phone.
“What a pain…”
He hated pointless calls.
A few days passed in a flash, and the day of the scheduled preliminary meeting arrived.
“Papa, where are you going?”
Just as Kang-jun was about to leave the house, Seol-i came toddling after him and asked urgently.
“Papa has something important to do, so I have to go out for a bit.”
At Kang-jun’s words, Seol-i’s face lit up. She immediately opened the shoe cabinet and pulled out her shoes.
They were shoes that lit up and squeaked with every step.
“Seowi will go wif you!”
She had just started to enjoy walking, and ever since Bong-gu had gifted her the squeaky shoes, she seemed even more captivated by it.
Kang-jun looked troubled. “Um…” he hummed, then continued in a cautious tone.
“Seol-i, I’m really sorry, but I don’t think you can come today.”
“Hmph…”
“But I promise we’ll go out for a long walk together tomorrow.”
Still, Seol-i looked crestfallen…
“I’ll buy you your favorite snack on my way home instead.”
Only after Kang-jun made this groundbreaking promise did Seol-i’s eyes sparkle as she asked him back.
“Macawons?”
Ever since she had her first macaron at a café a while back, she seemed completely enchanted by the sweet taste.
It had gotten to the point where she would sing “Macawon, macawon,” whenever she had the chance.
“Papa, pwomise!”
Making pinky promises was another thing Seol-i had recently taken a keen interest in.
Of course, she wasn't quite used to interlocking her finger yet, but she could imitate the gesture quite convincingly.
“Alright, promise.”
As soon as he left the house, a sedan with its hazard lights on came into view.
It was the luxury sedan the Bureau had sent to assist with Bong-gu’s transportation.
“Hyung-nim, you’re here?”
Kang-jun nodded in response to Bong-gu’s question, checked the time on his phone, and casually asked.
“Hey, think we might be late?”
“No, we have plenty of time.”
“Then let’s stop by a café on the way.”
He couldn’t risk forgetting his promise to Seol-i, so his plan was to stop by a café first and buy the macarons in advance.
Besides, if the preliminary meeting ran later than expected, all the cafés might be closed, and he wouldn't be able to buy them.
“By the way, the lineup for this Reclamation Team is insane, you know?”
“Is that so?”
“It seems like almost all the big-name Hunters have gathered.”
Bong-gu then began to list the aliases of the famous Hunters who had joined the Reclamation Team, one by one.
Of course, among them was ‘Go Du-yeol,’ who had slyly established himself as Kang-jun’s sworn brother.
“And I’m just saying this just in case, but you should be especially careful not to get involved in any ‘unnecessary fights.’”
“Fights?”
“This is just what I’ve heard, but apparently, when famous Hunters gather, fights are bound to break out.”
At that, Kang-jun muttered in displeasure.
“I can already see how this plays out. A bunch of nobodies, probably too busy forming cliques and playing ranking games…”
He then added.
“Even if someone tries to pick a fight, I’ll do my best to endure it without causing a scene, so don’t worry.”
There was nothing to be gained from attracting attention, so avoiding any conflict was the best course of action.
How much time had passed?
When the sedan they were in stopped in front of a nearby café, Bong-gu immediately offered.
“Hyung-nim, I’ll go.”
Kang-jun replied, “It’s fine,” and got out of the car, asking Bong-gu.
“Bong-gu, you want a coffee too?”
“That’d be great.”
“I’ll be right back, just wait here.”
Since the macarons were a gift for his daughter, he planned to carefully consider and choose various flavors himself.
Entering the café, Kang-jun walked to the counter and looked at the display case.
“I’d like to buy some macarons.”
“What flavors and how many would you like?”
Kang-jun scanned the colorful macarons neatly arranged behind the display case, grunted, “Ugh…” and then answered.
“One of each, every kind you have.”
There were far more varieties than he had expected, which made it difficult to pick just a few.
‘She’s going to love this…’
There were so many kinds that just seeing them all displayed, with their vibrant colors, was enough to lift one’s spirits.
‘I can’t wait to give them to her.’
It had only been a few minutes since he’d left Seol-i at home, but he was already looking forward to his return.
Not long after, Kang-jun and Bong-gu arrived at the meeting place, the Bureau’s Seoul branch building.
“Let’s see, they said to come to the 4th-floor conference room…”
Bong-gu, looking around for an elevator, glanced at Kang-jun and casually asked.
“By the way, why did you bring the macarons? They seem like they’d just get in the way. You should have left them in the car…”
At that, Kang-jun retorted in a blunt tone.
“Do you have no sense of security?”
“Sir?”
“What if someone steals them?”
Muttering under his breath, “Who on earth would steal those…,” Bong-gu suddenly stopped in his tracks and said, his body tense.
“I think this is it.”
Bong-gu began to open the door to the 4th-floor conference room, the designated location for the preliminary meeting…
As the door slowly opened, the faces of famous Hunters could be seen scattered throughout the room.
But for some reason…
Quite a few of them were sending unpleasant glances their way and exchanging words.
“Is that guy the hotshot rookie?”
“He just became a B-rank…”
“What is the Bureau thinking?”
“Why bring in someone who’ll just drag us down…”
“Look at him, he even brought a manager.”
Most of the Hunters in the room were ‘S-rank,’ and the rest were at least high-level ‘A-ranks.’
It seemed they were all displeased that Bong-gu, a mere B-rank, had joined the Reclamation Team.
The only saving grace was…
The ones openly expressing their dissatisfaction were mostly A-rank Hunters who saw Bong-gu as a competitor.
Most of the S-rank Hunters, after a single glance, seemed to be waiting silently for the meeting to begin.
“I think these are our seats.”
Just as Bong-gu was about to take an empty seat, a man with a sharp expression sitting next to it spoke up.
“You should go back now.”
Around the man’s neck hung a lanyard with the words ‘A-rank Hunter, 3rd in Ranking, Choi Min-gi’ printed on it.
“Excuse me?”
When Bong-gu asked back, bewildered, Choi Min-gi immediately added in a cold, sunken tone.
“You’re well aware of it yourself, but it’s obvious this isn’t a place for a greenhorn like you to be meddling in, isn’t it?”
He then glared daggers at Bong-gu and added.
“Are you always this bad at knowing your place?”
Perhaps because Choi Min-gi was deliberately speaking in a loud voice, intending to humiliate Bong-gu in front of everyone…
In an instant, the attention of every Hunter in the room focused on the standoff between Choi Min-gi and Bong-gu.
“I was just thinking it was a shame things were going so smoothly today, but of course, this was bound to happen.”
It was a quiet murmur, almost to herself, from the 15th-ranked S-rank, ‘Ice Witch Seol Eun-bin,’ who was sitting far away.
At her words, the 5th-ranked S-rank Hunter, Black Wolf Kang Seong-hyeon, nodded in agreement.
“It’s pathetic how every single one of them seems completely detached from words like ‘cooperation’ or ‘teamwork’…”
Meanwhile, the 6th-ranked S-rank Hunter, Iron Man Go Du-yeol, was for some reason clenching his fists and fuming.
“That, that bastard…”
If it weren’t for his little brother’s request not to acknowledge him in front of others, he would have slapped him across the face already.
“Oh?”
Muttering softly, the 3rd-ranked S-rank Hunter, ‘Swift Sword Yun Hui-su,’ narrowed her eyes and began to observe Kang-jun.
“That person is from last time…”
Realizing that all eyes in the room were on him, Choi Min-gi cleared his throat, “Ahem, hem,” and sneered again.
“On top of that, you’re already so full of yourself, thinking of dragging a manager around…”
He saw this as a golden opportunity to show off his presence.
Choi Min-gi’s gaze shifted to the bag in Kang-jun’s hand.
“Well, well, what’s this?”
*Snatch!* He snatched the bag from Kang-jun’s hand, opened it to check the contents, and added with a smirk.
“Macarons?”
After speaking, Choi Min-gi immediately took out a macaron, popped it into his mouth, and added casually while chewing.
“I was getting hungry. Perfect timing.”
“I’ll be confiscating these macarons.”
He then looked back and forth between Bong-gu and Kang-jun before asking.
“What are you two doing just standing there staring?
“You want to go at it right now? Get lost, now!”
It was then that Kang-jun spoke.
“Bong-gu, I was really trying to let it slide.”
“Yes, Hyung-nim…”
“But that bastard just had to eat the ‘chocolate flavor.’”
At those words, Bong-gu nodded a few times and replied.
“Yes, of all the flavors…”
He then added.
“The chocolate one is grounds for self-defense, isn’t it?”
“Yes, probably…”
“Honestly, you can’t just let the chocolate one slide, right?”
“I agree…”
Was it a twist of fate?
“What’s the big deal about the chocolate flavor…”
Of all the macarons, Choi Min-gi had eaten the ‘chocolate flavor,’ Seol-i’s absolute favorite.
Kang-jun leaned in close to Choi Min-gi’s ear and began to whisper in an utterly chilling tone.
“Some people lose their lives over the ‘chocolate flavor.’”
At that, Choi Min-gi muttered, “Who…”
“You.”
Finishing his word, Kang-jun offered a gentle smile.
But for some reason…
To Choi Min-gi’s eyes, that smile looked just like the smile of a demon.
