Chapter 14. Sponsorship (3)
“H-How much money is this...?!”
The donation entered under Kim Si-hyeon's name.
The amount was beyond imagination.
Kim Jin-cheol had expected Yoo Han-seok, a man famous for loving his family, to reward them generously.
But this went far beyond that.
It was...
“Equivalent to the Association's entire annual budget.”
Chief Secretary Choi Tae-woo, who had come on Yoo Han-seok's behalf, spoke calmly.
“...”
Kim Jin-cheol could only stare blankly at the numbers displayed on the laptop.
South Korea prohibited domestic conglomerates from owning Guilds.
Why?
Because conglomerates already possessed enormous financial power and political influence.
If they also obtained overwhelming military power, the result could become a national disaster.
South Korea wasn't the only country with such laws.
Looking at the amount in front of him now, Kim Jin-cheol deeply understood why.
They said capitalists made insane profits from new materials and energy after the Great Upheaval... Just how much money did they make?
“The Chairman wanted to come personally and express his gratitude, but an urgent overseas trip prevented him.”
“So you're really donating this entire amount?”
“There are plans for additional sponsorship as well.”
“...Additional?”
Kim Jin-cheol's face went blank again.
Then he recovered and asked,
“Wait. You said there are plans.”
“Yes. The additional support comes with conditions.”
Of course.
Kim Jin-cheol's expression cooled, though his eyes remained fixed on the laptop.
Even as compensation for saving Yoo Han-seok's children, the amount was absurd.
That meant Iron Blood Yoo Han-seok had another calculation in mind.
“Ahem. Requests involving special favors may be difficult.”
He somehow forced the words out despite being unable to look away from the numbers.
“If it's within my authority, I'll consider it.”
“There are two conditions. You don't need to worry. Both are proposals you'll probably like.”
“Then tell me quickly.”
The Association desperately needed money anyway.
When Kim Jin-cheol didn't reject the idea, Choi Tae-woo continued.
“First, we would like to provide personal support to the Hunter who rescued the twins.”
“...Personal support?”
Kim Jin-cheol narrowed his eyes.
“Exactly that. We donated the money under Hunter Kim Si-hyeon's name, but considering how the Association works, he won't personally be able to use all of it.”
“You understand correctly. But personal sponsorship isn't possible.”
Kim Jin-cheol crossed his arms.
“You know the rules. A normal Hunter can receive sponsorship. Association Hunters cannot. That would be considered bribery.”
Association Hunters were, legally speaking, civil servants.
Even if it was called sponsorship, they weren't allowed to receive outside income connected to their Association duties.
Of course, if Kim Jin-cheol had known that Kim Si-hyeon had left work right then specifically to earn money, he might have viewed things differently.
“Ah, perhaps I explained it poorly. As I said, this is still additional sponsorship.”
Choi Tae-woo smiled as though he had already found a legal path.
“The additional funds will also be donated to the Association. However, when allocating that money, surely you can exercise some flexibility.”
“Hmm.”
That might work.
Park Min-ho already spent an entire year's budget on Kim Si-hyeon alone...
For an SS-Rank Returnee, giving him that level of convenience was reasonable.
Yoo-seong's intent was obvious as well.
They wanted to establish a relationship with Kim Si-hyeon through additional sponsorship.
So they noticed something about him.
That made sense.
His performance inside the abnormal Gate had gone far beyond anything expected of a rookie.
They had probably already realized Kim Si-hyeon was a special Hunter.
If so...
“Fine. But as you already know...”
“We will keep all information regarding Hunter Kim Si-hyeon confidential. We've already completed security training for every employee who was present. We've also spoken to the Shinhwa Guild.”
As expected of Yoo-seong.
“Good. Very good. And what's the second condition?”
Perhaps because Kim Jin-cheol already sensed the negotiations would go well, a satisfied smile spread across his face.
Hunter Kim Si-hyeon really is a blessing.
The nickname Massacre sounded terrifying, but what did it matter?
Kim Jin-cheol himself rarely had to face him directly.
I wonder what our lucky Hunter is doing right now.
Meanwhile, inside the Special Division office...
“Ji-woong...”
“Yes... Director...”
Park Min-ho had just returned after hearing from Association President Kim Jin-cheol that Yoo-seong had made an enormous donation.
The amount was so large that the Association President, who had recently been calling him bastard this and bastard that, had suddenly started calling him “our Min-ho.”
“Our Min-ho! You've worked so hard. Go tell Hunter Kim Si-hyeon that we'll support him generously from now on!”
Park Min-ho had rushed straight back to the Special Division with the happy news.
But...
“What do we do?”
“...Yeah.”
“Yeah?”
Park Min-ho stared at Choi Ji-woong.
Then...
“You crazy bastard!”
His roar shook the Special Division building.
“What do you mean Hunter Kim Si-hyeon disappeared?!”
“Well...”
It was exactly what it sounded like.
Kim Si-hyeon had disappeared.
Choi Ji-woong had gone to the safe house to pick him up for work.
Instead of Kim Si-hyeon, he found a note.
[Money.]
Only one word.
Then another note underneath.
[Annual leave.]
“That's... not really how you submit annual leave...”
Choi Ji-woong muttered beside him.
Park Min-ho grabbed his forehead.
“Haah. I'm going insane. What about the search?”
“Everyone's out looking!”
“You... you...!”
No wonder the Special Division building felt empty.
“Haah.”
Park Min-ho sighed.
“What the hell do we do?”
This wasn't something they could take lightly.
An SS-Rank Hunter had vanished.
Not just any Hunter.
A Returnee known as the Massacre.
What if he was secretly evil?
Of course, everything Kim Si-hyeon had done so far suggested the opposite.
He had even rescued the twins alone, which looked downright heroic.
But the problem was his terrifying power and killing intent.
Based on killing intent alone, Kim Si-hyeon seemed more vicious than any criminal alive.
What kind of person emitted that sort of pressure?
Someone who had destroyed an entire world?
This is a disaster.
No one knew what kind of incident he might cause.
And they couldn't even organize a large-scale search.
Finding an SS-Rank Hunter who was deliberately hiding would already be difficult.
But Kim Si-hyeon's existence itself was top-level classified information.
They couldn't request broad support.
Worse...
“America, Saudi Arabia, Russia... China... No unusual activity from foreign agents?”
That note saying “Money” bothered him.
