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Join the Server“What did you just say?”
“Huh?”
“You asked if I smoke. Do you have a cigarette?”
“Huh?”
Sung Ji-woo’s voice was hollow. Jason was caught off guard by the sudden change in attitude.
“You said earlier you don’t smoke…”
“That’s right. But now I suddenly feel like I do…”
Jason awkwardly took a cigarette from his pocket and handed it over—brand new, still in the wrapper. Sung Ji-woo looked down at him and shook his head with a sigh.
“Ha… no, it’s fine. Thank you.”
Instead, he stepped away from the wall he had been leaning on.
“Let’s go in now.”
Whatever it took, he had to see Yu Hiro. Since Yu Hiro was also a Regressor, perhaps he was seeing the same system window right now.
Sung Ji-woo quickened his pace. Jason followed behind, still trying to make sense of the situation.
He had wanted to slip away and try to recruit Yu Hiro privately, but there hadn’t been a single chance to even bring it up.
“Maybe this guy is even more formidable than I thought.”
Jason looked at Sung Ji-woo’s retreating back with a serious expression. Ji-woo didn’t glance back even once.
“Hah… huff…”
By the time they arrived back at the restaurant, Sung Ji-woo was panting heavily. From afar, Yu Hiro stood abruptly as soon as he was spotted.
Morgan seemed to be talking, but Yu Hiro was entirely focused on Ji-woo. He weaved through the crowd and returned to his seat.
Grasping Yu Hiro’s shoulder, he finally caught his breath.
“Are you hurt? What’s wrong?”
Yu Hiro asked with concern, lightly tapping Ji-woo’s back as he panted.
“You… you…”
He wanted to ask, Did you see it? but Morgan’s unwavering gaze prevented him. Ji-woo only moved his lips without speaking.
Instead, he muttered a flimsy excuse to leave.
“I think I left the air conditioner on at home.”
It was long past summer, and yet he could think of no better excuse. He bit his lower lip nervously. Yu Hiro should have picked up on it…
Glancing at him, Yu Hiro appeared deep in thought. He hummed and then addressed Morgan:
“This is a problem. We don’t want the electricity bill to be too high due to progressive rates.”
“…Excuse me?”
Morgan, sitting across, asked in bewilderment.
“Looks like the meal is finished. Can we go now?”
Yu Hiro tilted his chin toward the table. Humorously, only his plate was clean. With Yu Hiro signaling the meal’s end, Morgan could not object.
“If you’re not in a rush, could we discuss a bit more…”
“You’re asking us to go to the U.S. and eliminate Z Gate, right?”
Suddenly, the previously unnoticed onlookers’ attention shifted to Yu Hiro. Sung Ji-woo shivered—these people, who had seemed like background, were also members of the International Hunter Association. In short, Morgan’s team.
Ji-woo pressed closer to Yu Hiro, nervous under the implicit siege. He tugged at Yu Hiro’s sleeve, sensing it wise to gauge their response.
“We can’t make a decision immediately, and you didn’t intend to resolve this verbally today, either.”
“…That’s true. Still, I can give a rough explanation for now…”
Yu Hiro let out a faint sigh, slightly annoyed. Morgan’s gaze sharpened instantly.
“What about expected personnel deployment?”
Jason interjected beside him.
“That’s classified information.”
“And the gate strategy?”
“That’s classified as well.”
“Fine. Then the timeframe?”
“That’s also undisclosed…”
Yu Hiro raised his chin as if to say, What’s the point of talking further?
“There’s no reason to continue this discussion here. We’re not having tea to chat casually.”
Jason remained silent. This meeting was arranged to subtly establish rapport while laying the groundwork for persuasion.
Most hunters were favorable toward the International Association. Many sought connections with Morgan, visiting him after ceremonies or on his way home, trying to act familiar.
Perhaps things had gone awry then. The hunters the association wanted to contact weren’t present. Later, Ji-woo heard they went out for a casual gathering, while the Bright Guild, led by Yu Hiro, disbanded efficiently without such events.
It was fortunate Ji-woo had delivered the invitation in time; otherwise, this meeting might have been canceled.
Jason scanned the lavishly decorated restaurant, realizing the cost must have taken months of his salary, and abandoned the thought.
Looking forward, tension remained.
To Jason, Yu Hiro appeared like an unafraid puppy, utterly fearless. For nearly twenty years, he had observed hunters attempting to rival Morgan—most failing spectacularly.
Jason calmed his breathing.
“We understand your positions. We should have allowed more time for consideration, and apologize for our impatience. Regarding the next meeting, I will contact you directly. Thank you for your time.”
Sung Ji-woo listened as if in a trance, nodding unconsciously.
“Yes… I understand.”
He realized that if the matter were urgent, they wouldn’t have gone to the lengths of arranging such a meeting. Jason’s intervention allowed him to finally relax.
“Still, as Yu Hiro said, this isn’t something that can be decided hastily. We need time to think. We’ll take our leave now.”
They bowed. Jason followed suit. Sung Ji-woo guided Yu Hiro, still standing firmly, out of the restaurant.
He noticed that most of the restaurant guests hadn’t eaten; only a glass of water sat on their tables. Perhaps they were pretending to be casual while listening to the entire conversation—an unsettling thought.
“Those people…”
“The two of them?”
“No, the guests here.”
“Why?”
“Do you think they understand Korean?”
“Unlikely. Not with their abilities.”
“I see.”
Sung Ji-woo sighed. Even if they couldn’t speak Korean, with Morgan’s intervention, simultaneous translation for everyone present would be trivial.
“…They didn’t, right?”
Yu Hiro shrugged, seemingly unsure.
“So… you saw it too?”
Sung Ji-woo asked from the passenger seat, fastening his seatbelt. Yu Hiro leaned over to buckle it for him.
“Saw what?”
Ji-woo hesitated, unsure if Yu Hiro could even see the system window.
“You saw it too, right?”
“Saw what?”
“The window… the one that popped up just now telling us to defeat Z Gate.”
“Hm…”
Yu Hiro tapped the steering wheel lightly with his fingers.
“Maybe… something did pop up…”
“Or maybe I didn’t see it properly because I was with that person earlier…”
“No. Honestly, I’ve never bothered to look properly.”
“What?”
Sung Ji-woo stared, incredulous. Yu Hiro laughed sheepishly.
“When it first popped up, it told me nonsense about protecting world peace and changing my mind. I ignored it from then on.”
“….”
“Ah, when you graduated, another one popped up… I ignored that too.”
That must have been the mentoring review session. He had completed a quest and acquired a title then. Sung Ji-woo realized that Yu Hiro likely saw the same “Save the World” quest, yet had never acted on it.
“Ridiculous.”
“….”
“They send me here on their whim, then tell me to follow their instructions.”
Sung Ji-woo fell silent. Yu Hiro started the engine, and the vibrations echoed.
“So… the quest you received back then was what exactly?”
You’ve got to see this next! Can Love Be Styled Too? will keep you on the edge of your seat. Start reading today!
Read : Can Love Be Styled Too?
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