You Will Be Blessed If You Do Good Deeds¿-Chapter 185

The sunset was setting over the Han River.

It was one of Seoul’s most famous and beautiful views, but sweat beads were forming on Kim Ihyun’s face as he gazed at the scenery.

‘Ah, why aren’t they picking up the phone?!’

During lunch, he had slipped away and called the upper echelons of the Hunter Association, but all he got were excuses to delay things as long as possible. So, he had asked the restaurant to stretch out the lunch as long as possible and even promised to take them on a drive to show off some tourist spots in Seoul, but...

Honestly, it was reaching its limit.

It was the same when he looked at Theo’s face.

[What the hell are we doing?]

Though the translation came through a machine, so the tone was hard to gauge, Theo’s cold expression clearly showed his anger.

After all, Theo had said he would be leaving Korea in five hours, but instead of the promised five hours, they'd spent half the day.

The plane tickets had already been canceled long ago.

The excuses about traffic and delays had, of course, been exhausted by now.

Kim Ihyun swallowed hard.

His life had always been a struggle, but he had somehow made it this far—only to be pushed out completely because of this mess.

[If things continue like this, I need to reconsider this contract...]

"Wait, wait! Just a second! I’ll try calling again!”

Kim Ihyun was drenched in sweat as he dialed Kang Kyung-jun’s number.

His face, usually something he could proudly show off, was now a sweaty mess, making it hard to look at.

Luckily, Kang Kyung-jun answered quickly.

"Uh, manager... should we bring the client in now...?"

Hey, can’t we do this anymore?

Like Kim Ihyun, Kang Kyung-jun had been waiting for the investment meeting and, knowing the dire situation, let out a long sigh.

"Yeah, now they're really saying there's no more time."

Really? Sigh... these guys... just wait.

Then there was a moment of silence on the other end of the line. Perhaps Kim Ihyun’s desperation had been felt.

They say it’s fine now. They just arrived!

Kang Kyung-jun’s voice was filled with relief.

Apologize to the client and bring them in. You know where it is, right?

"Ah, yes, yes! It’s the Cheongdam ㅇㅇ Hotel, right?"

Yeah, tell them well! See you soon.

Kim Ihyun hung up and turned to look at Theo, still waiting with a dissatisfied expression.

"I-I’m sorry. I just got word. Actually, we booked a hotel, but there was a bit of a mix-up with the reservation... I’m really sorry."

[No need for excuses. Let’s go, if possible.]

"Yes, understood!"

He was relieved.

Honestly, that was all Kim Ihyun could think.

The car soon arrived at the scheduled hotel. Kim Ihyun hurriedly handed the keys to the doorman and entered the hotel banquet hall with Theo Yobanovich.

"Ah, Mr. Client! Hello, I’m Kang Kyung-jun."

Waiting at the entrance of the banquet hall, sweating like Kim Ihyun, was Kang Kyung-jun.

He bowed politely to Theo Yobanovich.

"We deeply apologize for the delay caused by our mistake today."

[Apologies are enough. Let’s go inside.]

Despite clearly being displeased, Theo didn’t care about Kang Kyung-jun’s apology and walked into the banquet hall without a word.

Kang Kyung-jun let out a relieved sigh and patted Kim Ihyun’s back.

"Hey, you did well."

"Ah, manager... what the hell is this? I mean, we’re showing investors around Seoul with no product to show for it."

At Kim Ihyun’s grumbling, Kang Kyung-jun patted his back.

"Come on, don’t be petty. Can’t you just handle this calmly? Are you going to sulk over something like this?"

"But..."

"You have no choice. I knew they weren’t calling their secretary, so they must have called you for this. You’re good at handling things on the fly. Think of it as being recognized for your abilities."

"Well, yeah, but..."

"Hey, don’t pout. The old guys didn’t mean to mess with you this time, they really needed more time. I should have seen their faces, they’re all exhausted."

By the time Kang Kyung-jun finished speaking, Kim Ihyun couldn’t keep showing his dissatisfaction. He eventually loosened his shoulders and nodded weakly.

Actually, he wasn’t completely in the dark about the situation.

"Well, it’s not easy to reduce the sentence for a criminal and smuggle items out."

"Shut up, someone will hear you."

Kang Kyung-jun chuckled lowly.

"But the gains are huge, right? High risk, high return."

"...That’s true. Has there been any talk with the government officials?"

"Yeah, they said it’s all set up."

Kang Kyung-jun and Kim Ihyun exchanged glances and smiled.

Kim Ihyun felt sorry for Jeong Da-on, but there were a few things he hadn’t told her about this deal.

"Well, who doesn’t like easy money, right?"

Even though the Hunter Association didn’t have a central figure like Yoo Han-ul, they weren’t in such a desperate position that they’d cling to a foreign investment like this.

After all, they were Hunters.

Since monsters existed and only Hunters could hunt them, it made sense that there wouldn’t be a weak organization to represent them.

But the reason they were ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ fixated on this investment in the "training infrastructure" that Theo Yobanovich proposed was simple.

The Association was a profit-driven organization that represented a certain group, often relying on government subsidies for its activities.

So, if the Hunter Association brought advanced European education infrastructure to Korea?

The government would have no choice but to support it.

And that support, of course, would come from taxpayers' money.

"Talked with Representative Yoo Ho-jung too. He’s planning to make a big article about it."

"Is he already preparing for the presidential race?"

"It’s a good case for him. Whether it’s S-class or D-class votes, they all count. Plus, there’s a facility to teach self-defense to ordinary people."

Kang Kyung-jun chuckled, a nasty smile creeping onto his face.

"I can hear the sound of money rolling in."

So, this was roughly the scenario.

Theo Yobanovich would hand over an item, and in exchange, Theo would sign a business agreement with the Korean branch of the Hunter Association to bring over European Hunter training infrastructure.

Once this agreement was published as an article, a representative who was friendly with the Association would actively support it in the National Assembly, using it as their own agenda.

And of course, public safety was something the majority of citizens wanted, right?

There was a greater call for training for lower-level Hunters from the public.

So, if the representative scratched that itch for the people, they would naturally gain supporters, and the government would have a reason to allocate a special budget.

And that special budget would eventually be used to build the training infrastructure...

Kang Kyung-jun let out a small laugh.

"I envy them. Just how much will they make?"

"Yeah, who knows?"

The government departments didn’t really know how to handle it, so they had to entrust the work to the Association. The special budget, which might end up in the billions, would go to the Association.

And while they might get some complaints for wasting money on a statue commemorating the signing of the agreement with Europe, it would be difficult to reclaim the lost money.

In the end, only about 10% would actually go towards the infrastructure, but that was a common occurrence in South Korea.

After a few years, the infrastructure would be a bit subpar, but that was something to worry about later.

By then, the taxpayers' money would have disappeared into various pockets, and the representative would be boasting about their achievements.

The upper echelons of the Association, fattened up by taxes, would have already sent their kids off to Europe.

‘Damn it.’

Kim Ihyun thought of the amount of money flowing through and felt a bitter taste in his mouth.

It wasn’t that he was morally against it.

‘If that money were mine, I could short it right now and turn it into 50 times, no, 500 times the amount...’

In reality, this wasn’t even about morality.

Kim Ihyun thought about it this way.

This was just the kind of politics that existed in any society.

Politics wasn’t some big act. It was simply about helping the people live better lives and balancing mutual interests, wasn’t it?

In the end, it was all about each person pursuing their own gains.

And everyone in this world was trying hard to do just that.

The reality in South Korea was mostly run like this, and the ones who didn’t get a piece of it would be seen as fools.

If you missed this flow, you’d be the so-called "sudden beggar."

Everyone had to look out for themselves.

"Still, we have to show Jeong Da-on the results she brought, right?"

"Ah, of course. I have something to say to her too."

"Yeah."

So, both Kang Kyung-jun and Kim Ihyun wanted to hold on to power within the Association.

If this matter ended successfully, they would get a little something in their pockets, but since they weren’t the ones driving the main force, it would only be a small hush money.

Neither Kang Kyung-jun nor Kim Ihyun planned to live like this, running errands forever.

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"Even if we fail to sway the investor’s mind, it still has value in maintaining connections. We need to stay close to Jeong Da-on, that way we’ll have opportunities."

Right now, the old men were holding onto the Association, but once an S-class Hunter came in, the power would shift that way.

So, helping Jeong Da-on and indebting her wasn’t a bad thing.

"Just do well. Keep in touch. Who knows? Maybe something will come of it."

"Well, I’ve been texting her, but she hasn’t replied much."

"Guys like you, they’re a dime a dozen. Learn to talk, learn to talk... Ah, I think we need to get in there soon."

Kang Kyung-jun peered through the slightly open door of the banquet hall.

"Here, here! Smile for me! Yes, just a little more!"

The photographer’s urgent voice rang out.

Although they had called it a big investment meeting, the contract had already been reviewed.

The job would be done once the item from Nam Seong-hee was handed over.

But they’d chosen to book this expensive hotel’s banquet hall because documenting the scene with photos was crucial.

Ultimately, the evidence they needed was to show that the business agreement had been properly made.

The elderly legislator, red-faced from running around with the item, shook hands with Theo Yobanovich and had the moment photographed.

Theo, though clearly displeased, seemed to understand that it was one of his duties.

They were all using Theo like a mannequin, taking turns photographing him.

"I can’t believe it. That old man... now he’s going to go over to the other hall for an interview with the reporters."

"Good stamina. By the way, when do we go in?"

"Well, Jeong Da-on said to take it out and show it right away. She said we might lose the results if the other old guys see it."

"Let’s go in now. The photos should be wrapping up."

"Okay, let’s do that... huh?"

Just as Kang Kyung-jun was about to open the door to the banquet hall, he stopped.

Kim Ihyun asked.

"Why?"

"I think I saw something move on the floor... maybe just my imagination."

"It might have been a rat. The hotel’s old."

"Stop talking like that. Ah, the client’s looking this way."

Kang Kyung-jun adjusted his clothes and entered the banquet hall. Kim Ihyun followed him.

As Kang Kyung-jun said, Theo Yobanovich was looking their way.

Was it because they had been with him all day?

Then, as they entered the banquet hall, someone criticized.

"Hey, Kang Kyung-jun, Hunter. Why are you coming in here instead of standing guard outside?"

"Come on, let me say hello. I did something..."

"Ah, come on, what’s the big deal... well, taking one photo isn’t hard..."

After a usual back-and-forth, Kang Kyung-jun cleared his throat and looked at Theo Yobanovich.

Theo, who had been posing for photos like a revolving sushi plate, was now staring at Kang Kyung-jun.

He looked even more intimidating up close.

Kang Kyung-jun cleared his throat and extended his hand.

"Mr. Client, could you take a look at this?"

Having been given the green light to take the photo, Kang Kyung-jun figured no one would interrupt for a moment.

He was about to show the item, just as Jeong Da-on had asked.

A special glow emerged as he took the item out from his inventory.

After just a second or two...

A small, dark red orb lay in the palm of his hand.

Theo’s eyes widened in horror as he noticed it.

"...What is this?"

"Ah, do you recognize this? Actually, it’s—"

Just as Kang Kyung-jun was about to explain, a strange discomfort washed over him.

Hmm?

Before he could even point it out...

The situation changed in an instant.

WHAM!

Something rushed in and struck the palm of Kang Kyung-jun's hand.

"That, that bastard is insane!"

Kim Ihyun screamed, but it was too late.

The Soul Core in Kang Kyung-jun’s hand fell to the ground and shattered.

CRASH!

A sound like breaking glass echoed, and Kim Ihyun, feeling an inexplicable pull, turned his head.

In the corner of the banquet hall, where things were a bit chaotic, a ghostly figure stood.

It was Jeong Da-on.

She had a chilling smile on her face.

But before Kim Ihyun could even ask why she was there...

A Dungeon Break is happening.

A burst of light engulfed everyone in the banquet hall.

"After all, humans never change."

Suddenly, it felt like he heard that voice.