SWNOVELXO Chapter 162: Spectrum (2)
Brooklyn was puzzled.
How could he view such a splendid item, something that made his body itch with greed, with that kind of gaze?
“Impressive.”
It was the first time someone had rejected her proposal so decisively.
Thanks to such a unique reaction, Brooklyn became even more interested in the other person.
If he could remain so calm in front of an S-Class Hunter, the reality of that Oriental man being a true powerhouse was gaining more weight.
“I brought something that you might really need after some consideration. Did we miss the mark somewhere?”
“Well, I’m not sure.”
“What exactly does the Hunter want? Even a rough idea would help. Power? Fame? Hmm…”
With a curious look, Brooklyn bore into the man’s gaze. Standing there was a man in a strangely burnt suit.
“But, regardless of what it is, it seems like it’d be difficult to attain such things in a small country like this.”
Kim Gi-ryeo tilted his head up, lifting his gaze to follow her voice.
“I don’t mean to speak ill, but the reality is what it is. A selfish country like Korea, where everyone’s status is forced into a digital system, and if you die working, your family isn’t even looked after.”
“……”
“But my homeland is different. America will guarantee your freedom and ….”
“……”
“If you protect us, you could be hailed as a global hero. Kim, that is the position that suits you.”
There wasn’t a single falsehood in her words.
As she said, the Korean government couldn’t offer better conditions no matter how much one fluttered about.
When they came with such a determined proposal, the Awakened had no choice but to comply.
Wasn’t it a reasonable choice?
Rather than serving like a dog for the country and getting a nice grave at best.
Instead of filling the pockets of the thieves of the nation who raise taxes at the drop of a hat.
“I’ll ask again. Hunter, please become our American Hunter.”
Brooklyn and the officials from the management agency deeply bowed their heads in front of the blond man.
They genuinely wanted to recruit that Korean Hunter.
And in this moment, Gi-ryeo distinctly thought of one sentence.
‘What should I eat when I get home after this?’
……As one can tell, he had completely lost focus midway through the conversation.
Am I out of my mind with the number one Hunter in America right in front of me?
But he couldn’t help it. No matter how fervently they begged, he had no intention of changing his decision.
‘To think I was judged that this kind of magic tool couldn’t even buy a city…’
[Dragon’s Heart].
After about 50 seconds of observation time facing the item, Gi-ryeo’s interest rapidly waned.
He had high hopes since it was said to boost magic power.
Yet, based on the Great Mage’s standards, it was negligible.
Most of all, with a body that was rotting away in a sickly black state, it was evident he wouldn’t be able to fully enjoy even that trivial effect.
‘Even if I accumulate magic power in my inadequate state… the real output would only improve slightly.’
A 20% increase in power.
Some might view that as an impressive figure, but the issue was Kim Gi-ryeo’s base value.
Multiplying anything close to zero wouldn’t change much.
‘Ugh.’
A special enhancement method like [Dragon’s Heart] should only be considered far into the future. For now, the efficiency wasn’t worth it.
He had no desire for a magic tool he couldn’t even use. Besides, the conversation was flawed from the start.
What they wanted to hire was a strong person from Korea with a flashy resume.
But standing here was a glass body that would shatter with just a touch.
‘Hmm. I mentioned I’d listen to the story, but can I really comfortably refuse this? Surely, they aren’t going to hold me hostage like a multi-level marketing scheme…?’
He worried, like someone at the bottom of the food chain, as he gauged the atmosphere.
“Hunter.”
And at that moment.
Brooklyn, sitting on a nearby leather sofa, spoke sweetly.
“By the way, do you know…?”
With eyes resembling a sea reminiscent of someone’s hometown, she blinked and gazed at him.
“Putting aside the matter of conditions and compensation, the biggest reason we want to scout you is me.”
“Excuse me?”
“I wanted you. Personally, I believe if we work together, we can achieve really good results.”
“Is that so?”
“What do you think?”
Seeing Gi-ryeo remain unresponsive, she suggested another bait.
What kind of person was Brooklyn Morgan?
Setting aside her model-like appearance, she was destructively alluring.
She was the world’s only S-Class Healer, after all.
With her powerful and fast healing magic, she could appear as if recovering in an instant.
She was a person capable in both combat and support, which always led to a buzz of people wanting to be Brooklyn’s ally.
One could line them up and circle the Earth with the number of them.
“Kim, I’m genuinely fond of you. I’ve thought this since the last party.”
Thus, Morgan Hunter’s interest would be seen as an opportunity not even ordinary Hunters could dream of.
However, she had chosen the wrong target to woo.
The person standing before her was a master of restoration magic, worthy of the title of an unparalleled magician of healing.
And on top of that, he had fundamental issues.
‘I’ve thought this before…’
A unique sense of dissonance from a distorted soul.
Soon after, he displayed a reaction no one could have imagined.
With a peculiar unfamiliarity in his gaze, he observed Brooklyn.
‘As expected, Earthlings are opaque and a bit creepy. It’s been quite a while since my reincarnation, but when will I fully adapt…’
Gi-ryeo fell into another train of thought.
This brief exchange of glances brought an unexpected shock to the American Hunter.
‘Oh my.’
My goodness. Staring at the precious S-Class Hunter like they were just some offal hanging in a butcher shop. There’s a limit to being cold-hearted.
Brooklyn quickly realized that the other person was not very fond of her and promptly retreated.
“Okay, I understand. You aren’t interested in the Dragon Heart, are you?”
If it had been a lung or something, she might have pretended to think for a moment.
But regardless of what kind of compensation they brought, on their side, they were just a bunch of no-good trash who couldn’t afford to pay the price in the first place, so what kind of contemplation did that hold now?
Finally, Kim Gi-ryeo responded.
As you said, I’m not interested in this item and am not considering migrating to America.
Then, since the trader’s intentions were firm, what use was there in continuing the conversation?
“If you’re done speaking, may I take my leave now?”
Kim Gi-ryeo’s voice was translated into English through a pixie’s translator.
Upon hearing this, one of the Spectrum agents nodded, courteously escorting him to the corridor until the very end.
“This time, I really messed up.”
“Ms. Morgan, please don’t take it to heart. If someone would refuse a Dragon Heart, presenting something else would yield the same result.”
“It’s strange. I truly thought that Hunter would certainly need that…”
A few seconds later.
While Brooklyn conversed with the remaining agents, she noticed something leaned against the suite’s bed.
A beautifully wrapped box.
“Hmm?”
It was a welcome gift prepared for the S-Class Hunter from abroad.
Gi-ryeo had hurriedly run away, fearing they might not hand it over easily, forgetting to deliver the gift.
“Oh, [God’s Droplet]! I completely forgot to express gratitude for the time borrowed from our guest.”
One of the American agents mentioned the contents of the box and reached for it.
But a voice to stop him rang out.
“Don’t touch that.”
Brooklyn Morgan still had matters to attend to in this country.
“I’ll go myself.”
She stood up from the back of the sofa and picked up the box.
*
Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.
Brooklyn Morgan, dressed in 7cm high heels, strutted confidently while leaping ahead.
As she passed through the softly illuminated hotel lobby and stepped outside, thankfully, she found the silhouette she had been searching for was still nearby.
An Awakened with absolutely no traces of magic, colorless and odorless.
“……I see. Since you made it this far, it’s only polite to at least see your face…”
The man seemed to sense the presence of the S-Class who had followed him, eventually stopping his words and averting his gaze.
“Just a moment. I’ll hang up for a while.”
In the Oriental man’s hand was a spherical smartphone. He had apparently been on the phone with someone until just now.
“Gi-ryeo! You left the gift behind.”
Brooklyn, happily attempting to pronounce the name she had secretly practiced, cheerfully extended the envelope in her hand.
At that moment, Kim Gi-ryeo let out an exclamation as if he had just remembered.
Come to think of it, hadn’t they said they would give a reward as long as they had the time?
“Oh wow, what’s this….”
The otherworldly Great Mage hid a crumbling smile as he approached.
No matter if they were young or old, the moment one receives a gift is always exciting.
Yet, this action was akin to walking into the jaws of a tiger.
“It’s nothing special. Just take it~”
Brooklyn’s second reason for coming to Korea was to directly verify Kim Gi-ryeo’s abilities.
‘Sophia’s absurd stories were insufficient. I might get scolded a little for doing this later, but it’s fine. I need to confirm this exactly.’
What method should she employ to unravel the veil surrounding this man?
It had been a constant topic of inquiry even on the flight to Korea, but since the Demirich operation had failed, perhaps simplicity was the way forward this time.
“I hope you like this gift.”
If he had awakened as S-Class, some power must come with it.
Exceptional reflexes that could even count the wings of a bee. Quick magic detection. In other words, abilities relating to cognition.
Thinking about it, such basic agility would indeed be tough to replicate with an item.
‘Just a bit more.’
Brooklyn thought, as the cold-looking Asian drew nearer, she planned to tear off his right arm completely.
‘Just a bit closer.’
There would be no lasting scars.
With the talent gifted by the gods, using her awakening skill, even shredded flesh would return to its place in an instant.
Brooklyn raised her magic as she looked at Gi-ryeo, who was now only a breath away.
As swiftly as thoughts traveled through her nerves. And stealthily.
‘Got it.’
Now that she had closed in at this distance, everything would happen in the blink of an eye.
She was confident she would complete the process of tearing and healing within a second.
Just as Gi-ryeo’s last step ended.
Brooklyn began to twitch her fingers, trying to lift the veil on the other person’s abilities.
However, what she heard instead was not the sound of muscle tearing.
KWAANG!
A heavy thud.
Right after a tumult that felt like it would burst her eardrums, coarse dust rose in the front yard of the five-star hotel, where pedestrian access had been restricted.
Surprisingly, an S-Class from America was robbed of the chance by someone who had appeared from the right.
“Hm, Brooklyn Morgan?”
The newcomer revealed the unique features of a top-ranking Awakened as they made their entrance.
Superb reflexes came with transcendent senses.
He used this to anticipate the action Brooklyn had intended to take and kicked her, sending her crashing into the flower bed.
“What brings someone who said they were here for bibimbap to this place?”
He was another S-Class Hunter from Korea, Kang Chang-ho.
As a side note, he didn’t seem to be in a pleasant mood. He currently wore a frown as he raised his curved eyebrows in suspicion.
This was the minimal safety mechanism Kim Gi-ryeo had set.
After casually slipping a message that something was proposed from America and that he would check it out, that habitual stalker would of course be watching the contractor’s state.
Glancing.
Gi-ryeo, watching Brooklyn, who struggled to rise with a shattered arm, thought.
‘Hmm.’
At least he had managed to secure some insurance, but…
Somehow, seeing the actions of the insurance agent made him feel like their side would have a much larger liability…