Chapter 87
Song Hwa-rin tried to turn away as though she had no interest.
But Cha Mu-jin's next words caught her attention.
"That man... cooks miracles."
"...Miracles?"
"Yes. He treated a Hunter suffering mana rampage with a single dish. He temporarily restored the mind of an old man losing his memories to Alzheimer's disease."
Cha Mu-jin continued.
"I've even heard that people from the underground world become obedient sheep after tasting his food."
He carefully exaggerated and distorted the truth, deliberately feeding her curiosity.
"His cooking contains a special power."
His voice became softer.
"Perhaps... he may be the only key capable of breaking your curse."
Song Hwa-rin's eyes trembled.
"You mean... he could really... restore my tongue?"
She quickly snatched the tablet from Cha Mu-jin.
On the screen, Hong Man-gi cooked with a confident expression.
"I can't guarantee it."
Cha Mu-jin lowered his voice to a snake-like whisper.
"But isn't it worth finding out?"
He smiled.
"He's currently running an outdoor restaurant at the entrance to Bichi Forest. You'll find him there."
Song Hwa-rin stared intensely at Hong Man-gi on the screen.
"Bichi Forest... Hong Man-gi... you're certain?"
Cha Mu-jin immediately pressed further.
"However, Guild Master, there's one thing you should remember."
"What?"
"He's an extremely proud chef. Half-hearted threats or money won't move him."
Cha Mu-jin paused deliberately.
Then he smiled cruelly.
"And if he fails to satisfy you...."
His implication did not need to be finished.
Song Hwa-rin's eyes burned red.
Cha Mu-jin had created the perfect scenario.
Song Hwa-rin would personally seek Hong Man-gi.
If Hong Man-gi failed to satisfy her damaged palate, the unstable S-rank Hunter would kill him herself.
The Association would never need to dirty its hands.
Song Hwa-rin stood.
"Prepare everything."
She roughly swept her messy hair backward and glared at Cha Mu-jin with bloodshot eyes.
"And you."
Her killing intent sharpened.
"If this information is false... I'll chew you up first."
Cha Mu-jin politely bowed.
"It would be an honor."
Soon afterward,
a convoy of the White Lotus Guild's highest-grade vehicles sped toward Bichi Forest.
Inside the center vehicle sat Song Hwa-rin,
the S-rank tyrant driven mad by hunger.
Meanwhile,
the clearing of Bichi Forest had become a festival.
"More meat over here! Put some extra honey on it!"
"Owner! This yukhoe bibimbap is seriously a work of art! Can I get one to go too?"
Despite being a temporary outdoor restaurant, the excitement rivaled famous restaurants in downtown Seoul.
The dishes produced by Hong Man-gi's hands comforted Hunters exhausted from dungeon raids.
Kang Jae-min flew between tables with both hands full of plates.
Lee Yu-han barely had time to breathe while handling payment and takeout orders.
Even the rough-looking members of Black Hound now wore aprons and diligently carried charcoal.
"Hey, rookie! Table three's fire is weak! Add more charcoal!"
"Yes, hyung!"
The sight of a once-deadly PK team meekly working as kitchen assistants had become another attraction for the customers.
Hong Man-gi sweated in front of the grill while cooking meat.
'Not bad.'
He smiled with satisfaction.
Cha Mu-jin's interference had become an opportunity instead.
The money and reputation earned here would become valuable assets for the future of the Full Moon Restaurant.
Then,
"Wait."
"Doesn't this feel creepy?"
"Something's wrong."
The birds and insects that had filled the forest with sound suddenly fell silent.
"...Huh?"
Hunters eating meat began stopping one after another.
"Why did it suddenly get this quiet?"
"Hey, you feel that too? The air... it got cold."
It did not feel like a simple change in temperature.
A heavy, sticky pressure crushed the entire forest.
Their skin prickled.
Breathing became difficult.
It was primal fear.
[Tremble....]
The monsters reacted first.
Low-level monsters wandering around the restaurant flattened themselves against the ground and began trembling without even daring to scream.
"This presence...."
Kang Jae-min's face hardened.
Even as a B-rank Hunter, the killing intent sent chills down his spine.
This did not feel like pressure from a monster.
It felt like a Hunter.
"Chef."
Kang Jae-min approached Hong Man-gi.
"Something's coming."
His face was serious.
"Something very dangerous."
Hong Man-gi put down the meat he had been grilling and stared toward the entrance of the forest.
"Yeah... I can feel it too."
