Chapter 104
“It’s been a while. This is our first meeting since the interrogation.”
The man with a friendly-looking smile sat down after serving tea that carried a strong scent of jasmine.
“So, what brings you all the way to our company?” Yeonho asked, getting straight to the point.
As soon as Juhyeok returned to Korea from Japan, the first place he came to was the Hyunho Candy headquarters.
“I’d like to ask for a bit of help.”
“Help, you say….”
There was a soft clinking sound.
Yeonho took a light sip of his tea before replying.
“I’ve already heard about it. If you’re asking for help, it must be related to the organization that caused the increase in Gates, right?”
“Yeah. I need your information network.”
The Gate problem that had been dealt with not only in South Korea but also in Japan.
Just like before, he traced the Gates back to their source, found the demon, gave it a light warning—and the issue was resolved almost immediately.
Because of that, the opposing organization should have realized that something had gone wrong.
I thought rumors would spread among the demons and everything would leak back to the organization… but judging by the expression of the one handling Japan, they seemed completely clueless.
That meant the organization itself hadn’t received any information about him at all.
Originally, he’d planned to let information slip so the other side would make the first move, but the demons’ annoyingly tight lips had made things more troublesome.
Still, they must’ve combed through all the flight records. They probably have a rough idea that I’m the one behind it.
All the bait had already been laid.
There were many things to prepare before they flew to South Korea and confronted him directly.
“If you have any organizations in mind, I’d like you to pass that information along.”
“…Organizations that come to mind.”
A silence fell as Yeonho crossed his legs.
After pondering for a long while, he opened his mouth again.
“If we’re talking about groups capable of mass-producing Gates by contracting demons to their members, there are a few organizations that fit.”
“About how many?”
“Too many to narrow down easily.”
There was no shortage of organizations dissatisfied with the world.
Groups that threatened public security usually existed in every country.
Even in relatively safe South Korea, there were several underground organizations like Hyunho Candy operating in the shadows. In countries with worse public order, it went without saying.
“The problem is, there aren’t many organizations that would dare to take on the entire world.”
“What?”
“Most illegal organizations exist for one reason—money.”
Illegal groups created purely to make money.
Most of them used illegal routes to earn far more than registered Hunters ever could.
“In many cases, even governments turn a blind eye to that kind of activity.”
As long as they didn’t cross the line, authorities pretended not to see the actions of illegal Hunter organizations.
After all, even if they cracked down and wiped them out, new ones would always pop up. Rather than exhausting themselves eradicating them over and over, it was more rational to monitor them where they could see them.
“The organizations know that too, so they operate carefully without crossing certain lines.”
As Yeonho continued speaking, he uncrossed his legs.
“But this situation is very different.”
He took another sip of tea.
“They didn’t just increase Gates in one country—they acted on a global scale. That means it’s reasonable to assume they’re acting with a cause, much like Hyunho Candy.”
The scale was far too large to be about money.
If they’d gone that far, it was proof their motives lay beyond profit.
Like Hyunho Candy, they were pursuing something other than money.
“If their purpose is a grand cause, they’re probably operating under hidden names.”
“Yeah. Even the names the members know for each other are all different.”
“A cell-based organization, then. Unless you’re in upper management, you’d hardly know anything about the inside.”
That made them troublesome to deal with.
Even if they captured hostages and tried to extract information, what they could learn would be limited.
Other than waiting for the enemy to reveal themselves first, there wasn’t much to be done.
“It doesn’t look like we’ll be of much help,” Yeonho said honestly.
Hyunho Candy couldn’t offer Juhyeok much in terms of information.
Juhyeok fell silent for a moment at that answer, then spoke.
“What I’m asking of Hyunho Candy isn’t just information.”
“…Then does that mean there’s something else we can help with?”
“Protection.”
Their identities were already exposed.
The opposing organization had likely already figured out that Juhyeok was the one who eliminated the Gates.
There was no way they’d confront an S-rank Hunter like him without a plan.
“They’ll probably try to threaten me by targeting people I’m close to.”
If Juhyeok had multiple bodies, it’d be fine—but unfortunately, he didn’t have a cloning ability, so protecting each person individually wasn’t easy.
Asking random Hunters for help was risky too. They might be taken down instead—or even bought off.
“The girl who carried out that terror incident with Seong Jia last time wasn’t bad. I want people around that level to guard those close to me.”
“Our kids don’t come cheap. I’m not sure if you’ll be okay with that.”
“Money’s not an issue. I’ve got plenty to spare these days.”
He’d already made a considerable amount in China.
Spending a few hundred million on protection wouldn’t hurt much.
“The protection period will last until the opposing organization is completely wiped out. I’ll pay the commission afterward.”
Juhyeok stood up as he spoke.
“You can start right away, right? I’ll send you the details of who needs protection by message.”
Fortunately, Juhyeok didn’t keep many people close, so there weren’t that many to guard.
Yeonho thought for a few seconds, then nodded.
“Understood. We’ll take the job.”
With the request entrusted to Hyunho Candy, Juhyeok felt a bit more at ease, knowing the possibility of his loved ones being taken hostage had been preemptively blocked.
“So that’s the situation. Please take good care of my mom.”
“I’ve already heard everything. Don’t worry—just go train.”
“And just so you know, it’s a secret from Mom. No need to make her anxious.”
Juhyeok showed no sign of ending the conversation in front of the bakery.
He’d explained the situation to everyone else briefly via messages, but when it came to his mother’s protection, he was far more thorough.
“If they show up, wipe them out quietly so no one notices.”
“Got it~ Enough already~”
The briefing had been going on inside the car for thirty minutes now.
He kept saying the same things in slightly different ways, and listening to it all while sitting there felt like it was driving her crazy.
Of course, since it concerned his mother, it was only natural for him to be this cautious.
She’d listened patiently for a while, taking that into account, but her patience was starting to run out.
“Unless an S-rank shows up, I can handle things on my own, so don’t worry.”
“…So it’d be dangerous if an S-rank came?”
“A little.”
The conversation just wouldn’t end.
That wasn’t what she meant, but she hadn’t expected him to latch onto that.
Jia opened the car door and said,
“If it’s an S-rank, I can hold them off for about an hour. You’d just need to get here.”
“Right. And if the organization shows up, make sure to contact me—even if they look weak.”
“Yes, yes, I know.”
Before getting out and closing the door, she added one last thing.
“I’ll go inside first, so you hurry off to training.”
“Don’t let your guard down. If anyone even gets close to Mom, be on alert.”
“Got it.”
Now listening with one ear and letting it go out the other, Jia closed the door and let out a deep sigh.
Is my ear going to start bleeding or something?
Even when she’d skipped volunteer hours and gotten caught by Yeonho, she hadn’t been nagged this much.
It really showed how deeply he cared about his mother.
Well… she’s his only family, so of course she’s important.
Just as she had Hyunho Candy, he had his mother.
And she was the only person among those being protected with no combat ability, so his worry was only natural.
It was tiresome, but not incomprehensible.
After confirming the car had driven away, Jia entered the bakery.
“Welcome~”
A warm voice greeted her cheerfully.
The woman came out to the counter, saw Jia’s face, and smiled brightly.
“Oh my, you’re here pretty early today?”
“Yes. It’s my day off, so I came for brunch.”
Among all the guards, Jia had volunteered to protect his mother no matter what.
Protection was one reason—but she had another motive too.
Protecting her while legally eating freshly baked bread on the spot? That’s killing two birds with one stone.
As a flour addict, it was an environment she could never give up.
With light steps, Jia piled a mountain of freshly baked bread onto her tray.
“You don’t need to pay. Juhyeok already paid for everything since he knew you’d be coming.”
“What? No, that’s really—”
“He said you helped him a lot on that business trip you took together last time. He said it made things much easier for him.”
Jia had indeed been a big help during the trip to China.
Even without her, it wouldn’t have been disastrous—but it was true she’d helped a lot with the Gates.
“Being a manager isn’t easy, right? He said this was his way of thanking you for all your hard work, so just accept it comfortably.”
“….”
It seemed Juhyeok had glossed things over by calling it “manager work.”
In truth, all she’d done in China was act as a porter and do some sightseeing, so her conscience stung a little.
But continuing to refuse would only make his mother uncomfortable.
Deciding to bring a gift next time, Jia bowed her head.
“Then I’ll enjoy it. Thank you.”
“Good. You must be hungry, so go sit down and eat.”
Carrying the bread under the warm smile of his mother, Jia sat down.
Not paying made her feel a bit awkward, but the moment she took a bite, that thought vanished completely.
How is it this good?
A flavor that made her marvel every single time.
Of course, freshly baked bread was always good—but this was on another level entirely.
Warmth that filled her from deep inside.
A chewy texture with every bite.
A gentle butter aroma that teased the senses without being overwhelming.
“This is insane….”
As she sat there in awe, customers began to trickle in.
Whether her tongue was trustworthy or not, the bakery slowly grew busy in the morning hours, and the bread started disappearing.
Good thing I came early.
As she watched people come and go while finishing off the piled bread, the crowd gradually thinned.
By the time there was hardly any bread left in the shop, the place had grown quiet again, leaving only Jia behind.
As expected, people really know a good place when they see one.
Seeing proof that her taste wasn’t wrong filled her with a strange sense of pride.
Just as she was savoring the moment, tearing off a piece of croissant—
A man wearing a delivery uniform entered the bakery.
“…”
Something about him felt familiar.
Her attention, which had been focused on the bread, shifted to the man.
“Is Jung Juhyeok here by any chance?”
“No. May I ask what you need him for?”
A faint clinking of metal.
A subtle scent of gunpowder.
An ordinary person wouldn’t have noticed, but Jia—who’d smelled it countless times—recognized it instantly.
“This is a delivery that has to be received by him or a family member. May I ask what your relationship is?”
“Oh, I’m his mother.”
“I see.”
The moment he got his answer, the delivery man hurled the package to the floor.
His arm shot toward her.
But it never reached its target.
“Found us pretty fast.”
The reason was a small Gate that swallowed his arm.
The man flinched, startled, and quickly yanked his arm back.
“…Hng!”
Jia stood up from her seat.
Still chewing bread, she walked toward the man, who was staring at her in shock.
“Ma’am, please go inside.”
“Huh?”
“Hurry. Just in case, contact Juhyeok too.”
“…O-okay.”
Startled, the woman hurried into the bakery kitchen.
Now there was no need to worry about hiding her abilities.
The assailant in the delivery uniform quickly recovered from his surprise and looked Jia up and down.
“You’ve contracted a demon. All you can do is open Gates—can you really handle this?”
“That’s all Gates do?”
Jia didn’t even laugh, just chewed her bread some more.
Munching, she replied,
“If that’s what you think, then come at me.”
“I’ll gladly oblige.”
The assailant lunged forward.
In response, Jia opened a Gate directly in front of him.
As long as I just dodge, it’s over.
Unless he entered the Gate himself, there’d be no problem.
Keep some distance from the Gate, sidestep at the right moment, and attack—done.
Aside from the speed at which she opened Gates, he didn’t seem any different from the other contract users she’d seen.
Thinking that, she stepped right up to the Gate.
Just as he was about to circle around and attack her from the side—
Krrrgh—!
An unknown roar echoed.
The sound stiffened his body, and instinctively, the assailant twisted and threw himself aside.
Crunch—!
Where he’d been standing, a monstrous creature burst out of the Gate with its jaws wide open.
The assailant collapsed to the floor.
He recognized the creature instantly.
Three heads….
Three heads atop a massive body far larger than a human’s, too big to fully emerge from the Gate.
Drool dripping as it stared at him, he realized what it was.
“Cerberus….”
Frozen at the appearance of an S-rank monster, the assailant could only stare.
Looking at him, Jia smiled lightly and said,
“Say hello. This is my friend, Jingki.”
