75

75

As we walked out of the restaurant, Kim Yoo-Jeong and I were surprised.

The people who had been walking around just a while ago were all gone, as well as the cars that had been parked in the street. The place was empty and silent, except for two people in front of us.

One of them was the woman who we had just seen in the restaurant, Emilia Mills, one of the big three. She was with a man who looked quite strong, almost twice as strong as Gi-Hoon.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Lee.”

He was speaking my language. Even though he was not using his translation skill, his language was admittedly very impressive. He spoke like a true native Korean.

“I’m Ash Howard, the director of the CIA.”

“CIA?”

“Central Intelligence Agency. I work there.”

I liked this first impression of him. We shook hands naturally.

If someone was polite to me, I behaved politely as well, but if someone were to behave rudely, then I would simply return the favor.

The man in front of me was being polite.

“I never expected to see you like this, but we have finally met. I welcome you to America, the strongest country in the world right now.”

He was using my language to express his country’s power and respect for our country as well. Though it was complicated, I liked his attitude.

It was easier to work with this type of man. I was sure that he could communicate with me efficiently.

“We discovered that you killed Bartolomeu Diaz. Could you tell us the reason why?”

“Did I kill someone that I shouldn’t have?”

Ash laughed. “Not at all. He was a man who had connections with the Mafia, anti-Hunter organizations, and all other criminal organizations. He has a lot of enemies. He would have been dead immediately after the dissolution of the Hunter Authority.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, he would have died soon. I’m just asking for the reason to check whether you did it for those criminals. I know that you are not the type of person to do that, but I’m just checking.”

“I’m not related to those criminals who want vengeance on that president.”

Ash smiled brightly. “Great! I’ll take care of his case. There’s no need to worry.”

I blinked in astonishment. Yoo-Jeong was surprised as well.

What kind of situation was this?

“…And I would like to ask for your help. Read this document.”

He brought out some documents which were written in their language. I passed it to Kim Yoo-Jeong to translate for me. As she used her skills, Ash noticed that I didn’t have any translation skills.

Kim Yoo-Jeong read the document. After finishing it, she looked up in surprise.

“Is this true?”

Ash nodded. “Yesterday, a gate appeared in the Bermuda triangle region.”

To be honest, A-rated or S-rated gates are quite low for me. If they wanted me to clear it, that means that the gate that appeared in the Bermuda region is SS-rated.

“Yes, you got it. It’s an SS-rated gate.”

“It appeared when I cleared the gate in London.”

“That is correct as well.”

“But I didn’t hear of this news.”

Ash got serious. “Every gate detected is then managed by the Hunter Authority.”

“Yes?”

“Yes. After spotting a gate, the Hunter Authority must report it to the government. Then Sophie Winsted will measure the power of the gate, and the information is published. In other words, Bartolomeu hid the existence of this gate.”

That made me smile, and I had to ask.

“Why did he hide it?”

“……”

“Ash, it seems that you’re hiding something. Is it something I need to know?”

“I don’t know where to start. It’s quite complicated.”

However, he did mention one thing. “We don’t negotiate with terrorists. Please keep that in mind.”

That made him more credible, in my opinion.

“Now, shall I continue the explanation?”

“Go on.”

“The gate is SS-rated. We wanted our SS-rated Hunters to clear it, but we can also let you clear it.”

“Oh, me?”

Why would they let me clear the gate? That was quite weird.

“We will never take your rewards. It’s all yours, and I’ll give you twice as much as the UK offered.”

“Twice as much, huh?”

“Also, I heard that you received land near the ocean. I’ll give you a building near Florida.”

This was getting weird and unusual. Is he trying to deceive me?

“You can use it as your training area or the main office of your PMC. I heard that you also got a soccer team in the UK. How about American football? We can offer you that as well.”

Alright, this was definitely doubtful.

“Are you really the director of the CIA?”

“Yes. You can search me up on the internet if you want. Or your mass-teleporter, Yoo-Jeong, can confirm it for you.”

She typed something in her smartwatch and showed it to me.

Ash Howard, director of the CIA.

When he was still a Hunter, his nickname had been Blue Lion. I supposed he was telling the truth, but…

“Aren’t those rewards too much?”

We didn’t need Jeong Gi-Hoon to negotiate at this point.

“We are America. We would never make the same mistake that the UK did.”

Ash continued to explain, “We’ll provide all the supplies you need. Of course, we are not planning to use you to clear the gate, we’ll support you so that you can be the main character. We will be your sidekicks.”

They would let me do the things I did in the UK. They also confirmed it so that there would be no issues.

I supposed that was why the US was the strongest country in the world.

But what should I do?

“Let me think about it.”

“Sure, as long as you want. Also, we would like to guide you to your hotel. Is that alright?”

I looked at Ash. I was starting to like him more.

“The room I’ll be staying in would be…”

“Luxury, of course. I’ll provide the most expensive room we have.”

I smiled. He was just like Sophie. I liked him.

“Let’s be friends.”

“As you wish.”

***

When I entered the hotel room, I turned on my smartwatch and video called my brother.

[ Are you still in the hotel? ]

“Yes, I’m still in the hotel.”

He thought of something and smiled.

[ I can see that you’re in America. What about the job? ]

He was talking about Bartolomeu.

“I killed him.”

[ I’m surprised that it’s still peaceful, despite that. ]

“The director of the CIA took care of everything. I like him.”

[ You mean Ash Howard? ]

“You know him?”

[ Yes, he was known as Blue Lion. He was a CIA agent who served as a Hunter in the beginning. He is a capable man; I think you can talk to him freely. ]

I looked at Lee Ho.

[ What’s with that look? ]

“I must ask. Why are you angry?”

I could see that Ho was smiling, but I knew that it was not his true emotion. He sighed and laughed bitterly.

[ How did you know? ]

“I’m your brother. Of course, I know you.”

He sighed again and told me about what happened in Japan. I also told him about the events in America and how Bartolomeu hid the fact that an SS-rated gate appeared in the Bermuda region.

We updated each other about the things we did the past few days. After hearing his story, I can understand his emotions.

“Now I get it. Need my help?”

Lee Ho shook his head.

“Why?”

[ This is my business. I don’t want to rely on you like a younger version of me. I’m a grown man now. ]

That made me smile. If I were him, I would be rushing like a mad cow.

Lee Ho wanted to eliminate the gates. That was why he worked so hard. Even if he didn’t want to, he became a hero and endured the heavy responsibilities that came with that title. He didn’t run away from that.

And then these people interfered in Ho’s path. If they were competing for the same purpose, it would be understandable, but what they have done was backstab Hunters who were working hard.

This intolerable business was going on behind his back.

The Godfather used a smart method to persuade all the other Hunters to join him. His superficial goal was quite attractive, so that’s why plenty of other people supported him. Even unique skill holders were persuaded as well.

Lee Ho had been a clown for them. The organization used him as a distraction and grew their power. Everything was possible since he was there; he had been used.

Lee Ho was furious, and that was why he acted immediately.

No one knew how far he would go. He was just like me. He never stopped until he achieved what he wanted to achieve.

[ You don’t need to care about it. Just clear the gate. ]

By the way…

“Are you in a spa right now?”

[ Yes, I’m in Japan. ]

“But why is the water red? Is that blood?”

I could see that he didn’t kill someone; he just beat them up.

[ To hunt Tiamat, we have two options. One is to leave it to you, and the other is to unite all the other Hunters and fight. But it seems that the latter is impossible. ]

“Why?”

[ You know that it’s too dangerous to have incapable men on our side. They might even backstab us. ]

“So you’re planning to kill those traitors?”

[ Yes, I need to clean up this mess. ]

I looked at him.

“Always ask if you need help. I heard that the Godfather ran away through a portal.”

[ …He did. ]

“Call me when you’re in Switzerland. I’ll back you up.”

[ I will. See you around. ]

With that, we ended the call.

I turned my head and saw mixed emotions on Yoo-Jeong’s face.

“…The Godfather appeared?”

75

As we walked out of the restaurant, Kim Yoo-Jeong and I were surprised.

The people who had been walking around just a while ago were all gone, as well as the cars that had been parked in the street. The place was empty and silent, except for two people in front of us.

One of them was the woman who we had just seen in the restaurant, Emilia Mills, one of the big three. She was with a man who looked quite strong, almost twice as strong as Gi-Hoon.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Lee.”

He was speaking my language. Even though he was not using his translation skill, his language was admittedly very impressive. He spoke like a true native Korean.

“I’m Ash Howard, the director of the CIA.”

“CIA?”

“Central Intelligence Agency. I work there.”

I liked this first impression of him. We shook hands naturally.

If someone was polite to me, I behaved politely as well, but if someone were to behave rudely, then I would simply return the favor.

The man in front of me was being polite.

“I never expected to see you like this, but we have finally met. I welcome you to America, the strongest country in the world right now.”

He was using my language to express his country’s power and respect for our country as well. Though it was complicated, I liked his attitude.

It was easier to work with this type of man. I was sure that he could communicate with me efficiently.

“We discovered that you killed Bartolomeu Diaz. Could you tell us the reason why?”

“Did I kill someone that I shouldn’t have?”

Ash laughed. “Not at all. He was a man who had connections with the Mafia, anti-Hunter organizations, and all other criminal organizations. He has a lot of enemies. He would have been dead immediately after the dissolution of the Hunter Authority.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, he would have died soon. I’m just asking for the reason to check whether you did it for those criminals. I know that you are not the type of person to do that, but I’m just checking.”

“I’m not related to those criminals who want vengeance on that president.”

Ash smiled brightly. “Great! I’ll take care of his case. There’s no need to worry.”

I blinked in astonishment. Yoo-Jeong was surprised as well.

What kind of situation was this?

“…And I would like to ask for your help. Read this document.”

He brought out some documents which were written in their language. I passed it to Kim Yoo-Jeong to translate for me. As she used her skills, Ash noticed that I didn’t have any translation skills.

Kim Yoo-Jeong read the document. After finishing it, she looked up in surprise.

“Is this true?”

Ash nodded. “Yesterday, a gate appeared in the Bermuda triangle region.”

To be honest, A-rated or S-rated gates are quite low for me. If they wanted me to clear it, that means that the gate that appeared in the Bermuda region is SS-rated.

“Yes, you got it. It’s an SS-rated gate.”

“It appeared when I cleared the gate in London.”

“That is correct as well.”

“But I didn’t hear of this news.”

Ash got serious. “Every gate detected is then managed by the Hunter Authority.”

“Yes?”

“Yes. After spotting a gate, the Hunter Authority must report it to the government. Then Sophie Winsted will measure the power of the gate, and the information is published. In other words, Bartolomeu hid the existence of this gate.”

That made me smile, and I had to ask.

“Why did he hide it?”

“……”

“Ash, it seems that you’re hiding something. Is it something I need to know?”

“I don’t know where to start. It’s quite complicated.”

However, he did mention one thing. “We don’t negotiate with terrorists. Please keep that in mind.”

That made him more credible, in my opinion.

“Now, shall I continue the explanation?”

“Go on.”

“The gate is SS-rated. We wanted our SS-rated Hunters to clear it, but we can also let you clear it.”

“Oh, me?”

Why would they let me clear the gate? That was quite weird.

“We will never take your rewards. It’s all yours, and I’ll give you twice as much as the UK offered.”

“Twice as much, huh?”

“Also, I heard that you received land near the ocean. I’ll give you a building near Florida.”

This was getting weird and unusual. Is he trying to deceive me?

“You can use it as your training area or the main office of your PMC. I heard that you also got a soccer team in the UK. How about American football? We can offer you that as well.”

Alright, this was definitely doubtful.

“Are you really the director of the CIA?”

“Yes. You can search me up on the internet if you want. Or your mass-teleporter, Yoo-Jeong, can confirm it for you.”

She typed something in her smartwatch and showed it to me.

Ash Howard, director of the CIA.

When he was still a Hunter, his nickname had been Blue Lion. I supposed he was telling the truth, but…

“Aren’t those rewards too much?”

We didn’t need Jeong Gi-Hoon to negotiate at this point.

“We are America. We would never make the same mistake that the UK did.”

Ash continued to explain, “We’ll provide all the supplies you need. Of course, we are not planning to use you to clear the gate, we’ll support you so that you can be the main character. We will be your sidekicks.”

They would let me do the things I did in the UK. They also confirmed it so that there would be no issues.

I supposed that was why the US was the strongest country in the world.

But what should I do?

“Let me think about it.”

“Sure, as long as you want. Also, we would like to guide you to your hotel. Is that alright?”

I looked at Ash. I was starting to like him more.

“The room I’ll be staying in would be…”

“Luxury, of course. I’ll provide the most expensive room we have.”

I smiled. He was just like Sophie. I liked him.

“Let’s be friends.”

“As you wish.”

***

When I entered the hotel room, I turned on my smartwatch and video called my brother.

[ Are you still in the hotel? ]

“Yes, I’m still in the hotel.”

He thought of something and smiled.

[ I can see that you’re in America. What about the job? ]

He was talking about Bartolomeu.

“I killed him.”

[ I’m surprised that it’s still peaceful, despite that. ]

“The director of the CIA took care of everything. I like him.”

[ You mean Ash Howard? ]

“You know him?”

[ Yes, he was known as Blue Lion. He was a CIA agent who served as a Hunter in the beginning. He is a capable man; I think you can talk to him freely. ]

I looked at Lee Ho.

[ What’s with that look? ]

“I must ask. Why are you angry?”

I could see that Ho was smiling, but I knew that it was not his true emotion. He sighed and laughed bitterly.

[ How did you know? ]

“I’m your brother. Of course, I know you.”

He sighed again and told me about what happened in Japan. I also told him about the events in America and how Bartolomeu hid the fact that an SS-rated gate appeared in the Bermuda region.

We updated each other about the things we did the past few days. After hearing his story, I can understand his emotions.

“Now I get it. Need my help?”

Lee Ho shook his head.

“Why?”

[ This is my business. I don’t want to rely on you like a younger version of me. I’m a grown man now. ]

That made me smile. If I were him, I would be rushing like a mad cow.

Lee Ho wanted to eliminate the gates. That was why he worked so hard. Even if he didn’t want to, he became a hero and endured the heavy responsibilities that came with that title. He didn’t run away from that.

And then these people interfered in Ho’s path. If they were competing for the same purpose, it would be understandable, but what they have done was backstab Hunters who were working hard.

This intolerable business was going on behind his back.

The Godfather used a smart method to persuade all the other Hunters to join him. His superficial goal was quite attractive, so that’s why plenty of other people supported him. Even unique skill holders were persuaded as well.

Lee Ho had been a clown for them. The organization used him as a distraction and grew their power. Everything was possible since he was there; he had been used.

Lee Ho was furious, and that was why he acted immediately.

No one knew how far he would go. He was just like me. He never stopped until he achieved what he wanted to achieve.

[ You don’t need to care about it. Just clear the gate. ]

By the way…

“Are you in a spa right now?”

[ Yes, I’m in Japan. ]

“But why is the water red? Is that blood?”

I could see that he didn’t kill someone; he just beat them up.

[ To hunt Tiamat, we have two options. One is to leave it to you, and the other is to unite all the other Hunters and fight. But it seems that the latter is impossible. ]

“Why?”

[ You know that it’s too dangerous to have incapable men on our side. They might even backstab us. ]

“So you’re planning to kill those traitors?”

[ Yes, I need to clean up this mess. ]

I looked at him.

“Always ask if you need help. I heard that the Godfather ran away through a portal.”

[ …He did. ]

“Call me when you’re in Switzerland. I’ll back you up.”

[ I will. See you around. ]

With that, we ended the call.

I turned my head and saw mixed emotions on Yoo-Jeong’s face.

“…The Godfather appeared?”