Return of the Sword God-Rank Civil Servant-Chapter 200

Su-ho didn't hide his emotions.

The air in the meeting room grew cold, as if an intimidation skill had been used.

Surprised by the tension, Oh Bong-ju quickly spoke up.

"Su... Su-ho, what's wrong? They didn’t mean it like that..."

"Exactly. I'm just making sure I understand correctly, so I’d like to ask the representatives. Since you’ve brought your own hunters, wouldn’t it be better if the representatives themselves spoke up now? Or..."

Su-ho turned to Na Hyeon-il.

"Should I assume that what Na Hyeon-il just said reflects the intentions of the representatives?"

At Su-ho's firm question, Oh Bong-ju quickly fell silent.

In the chilling atmosphere, the only sound was the sound of eyes darting.

After a brief silence, the first to speak was none other than Kim Su-baek, the representative of Hexagon.

"... First of all, it seems that Hunter Na got a bit too excited, and his words may have been a little too intense."

"Too intense?"

"Yes, would we really think so little of the hard work and sacrifices of the national hunters and the Grand Hunter Association? People in our industry always feel immense gratitude toward the government and the association."

Kim Su-baek spoke gently, continuing.

"Also, as you mentioned, we are fully aware of why hunters and guilds came into existence. But, Administrative Officer, there’s something you need to understand clearly as well. The sacrifices and efforts are not only carried by national hunters. Awakened individuals from all over, despite their affiliations, have been bearing the same burdens and making sacrifices in the face of the catastrophe of the Great Change."

Su-ho listened in silence, his expression unchanged.

Kim Su-baek continued.

"I've heard a lot about your recent work, Administrative Officer. Honestly, I was quite surprised. I heard you were tackling all those gates by yourself. At first, I thought I must have misheard. But after checking the gate transactions through the trading team, I confirmed it was true. However, I am concerned. Right now, you are handling Level 1 gates by yourself, but what if something happens to you and you get seriously injured?"

Kim Su-baek then shifted his gaze to Ma Sang-il, the representative of Prime Guild.

Ma Sang-il naturally added to the conversation.

"Yes, that’s our biggest concern. We may belong to different guilds, but we all work for the safety and peace of humanity, and we’d like for someone as talented as Administrative Officer An to stay in the field for a long time. So, from a long-term perspective, we’d rather you didn’t overburden yourself by handling everything alone."

Su-ho smiled inwardly.

It was no surprise these representatives were skilled in business talk, handling the situation much more refined than Na Hyeon-il, who just blurted things out.

But despite their polished words, Su-ho had seen through them.

He had dealt with people like them many times before.

Su-ho quietly replied.

"Well, it's touching to know that you care about me even more than my own team leader. So, does this mean you're asking me to share the gates and take them down a notch?"

"Haha, we’re saying let’s share the burden. It’s like the saying, ‘Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.’ It’s great that someone like you is growing so fast, but in the end, we all need to grow together to be ready for any sudden danger."

"I see. That makes sense. I do agree with some of your points. But there’s a bit of a problem with what you're saying, especially since it involves my job."

"A problem?"

"Yes, I’m currently leading the exploration and clearing teams of the Special Management Team 2 in the Gate Division. As you both know, these teams are responsible for investigating new gates and attempting first clears."

"Right?"

"But until now, the exploration and clearing teams didn’t have enough personnel, so both teams have been made up of the same members. That hasn’t changed, but because of this, I couldn’t change out personnel. As a result, we’ve only been able to do minimal exploration and clearing, leaving the rest to the trading team. However, now that I’m the new team leader, I feel that I need to give my best to the task."

"Right?"

"So, according to my professional ethics, I’ve been doing my best. But..."

Su-ho gave a slightly embarrassed smile.

"I've always # Nоvеlight # thought that if things get dangerous, I should pull out immediately, but every time I enter a new gate, I end up clearing it."

"... What?"

"Yes, really. I don’t mean to brag, but as you know, the roles of the exploration and clearing teams are almost identical right now. I just go into the new gates to see what they’re like, and once I feel it’s worth trying, I give it a shot. And before I know it, it’s been cleared."

"Wait, that’s...?"

"Is that even possible?"

The two representatives stared at him in disbelief.

Su-ho chuckled inwardly.

‘Of course, it’s possible. Why wouldn’t it be? I was once a top ranker and now I’ve regressed. A Level 1 gate is nothing for me.’

But Su-ho still kept his embarrassed expression as he spoke.

"Yes, well. As you know, I’m a healer, but not just an ordinary healer, right? It’s a bit awkward to say this myself, but I’m known as the Sword Saint, focusing on dealing damage. So, with self-healing, dealing, and mobility, solo raids aren’t too difficult for me."

"So..."

"And that’s the dilemma. I’m a civil servant, receiving my salary from the people’s taxes, so I should work hard for the amount I’m being paid, right? As a public servant hunter, I mustn’t hold back when it comes to ensuring the safety and peace of the people. You know, just like the police, who don’t avoid danger when capturing criminals."

"..."

"..."

The two representatives were left speechless.

Su-ho had wrapped his explanation with care, even though it was disguised as concern for his safety. But now that he said he was fine, what could they do?

If they suggested he stop handling so many gates, it would disrespect Su-ho’s professional ethics.

The atmosphere was too tense to speak casually.

‘That’s why I started off so sharp.’

Su-ho had expected this kind of situation.

In his previous life, everyone’s growth was more or less the same until they became top rankers, but this time, Su-ho was advancing far faster than anyone else.

‘Especially since, in Korea... no, globally, there are less than 20 Level 2 players so far.’

So, Su-ho had no intention of handing over any gates.

The true turning point of the Great Change would begin when 20 players reached Level 200, regardless of country or race, and that moment hadn’t even arrived yet.

Su-ho said.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

"Still... if you’re really worried, and if I feel like I can’t handle it or that it’s too much, I’ll abandon the mission and put the gate on the auction. Like you said, this isn’t something I should bear alone."

"... I see."

"So, have you all said everything you wanted to?"

Su-ho asked with a wide smile.

The expressions of the people in the room visibly soured.

But with Su-ho’s unyielding logic and calm demeanor, it was impossible for them to argue. freewebnøvel.com

"... Yes, I suppose."

"Then, if there’s another good opportunity, I’ll see you then. I need to return to the field as I’m on duty. I still have new gate exploration tasks to finish."

As Su-ho stood up, Jeong Cheol-min quickly followed suit.

The two exchanged a light bow and left the meeting room.

"..."

"..."

"..."

Only the cold silence remained in the room.

***

As Su-ho and Jeong Cheol-min exited the meeting room, Lee Won-an and other civil servants who had been waiting outside followed them.

Su-ho reassured them with a brief explanation.

"That’s what happened..."

"Still, really..."

"Of course, you're the team leader."

Su-ho sent the reassured team members back to the training center before heading to the parking lot with Jeong Cheol-min.

Once the two were alone in the elevator heading to the parking lot, Jeong Cheol-min let out a deep sigh.

"Ah... I thought I was going to die from the tension."

"Why are you so nervous? We haven’t done anything wrong."

"It’s a reflex of sorts. All this time, the Grand Hunter Association’s Gate Division... No, the entire association has been struggling with gate operations. We’ve only been doing fake exploration with chronic manpower shortages and then sending gates to private auctions. Or just piling up the gates no one could clear."

"But now, it’s changed because of me."

"Yeah, it’s all because of you. Everything. I guess... I never imagined days like this would come."

Jeong Cheol-min’s expression was oddly mixed as he sighed.

Su-ho glanced at him and smiled, then asked, "Aren’t you feeling a bit nostalgic?"

"Nostalgic... I never dreamed this day would come. I mean, when you spoke seriously, the stiff representatives immediately started watching their words, and the rankers couldn’t stay silent either. How many times have we had to worry about them when we came here?"

"I know."

Su-ho smiled, recalling the times when he had been just like them, worried about those same representatives.

But that didn’t mean Su-ho hated them.

The biggest cause of their stiff postures was the government’s foolish handling of things.

"If the national hunters had been treated properly from the start, and if the Grand Hunter Association had been managed correctly, the guild system wouldn’t have gotten so out of hand."

In modern society, after the Great Change, the guilds formed were essentially PMC (Private Military Companies)—private mercenary companies.

They risked their lives in gate challenges, but the government didn’t provide them with proper treatment, so they banded together.

Most countries that followed a path toward ruin had the same problem.

“That’s why in places like the United States, soldiers are respected and honored as much as any other profession.”

But unlike in his previous life, many things had changed this time.

Su-ho had reformed the association and corrected the treatment of national hunters, which in turn was establishing the most basic and ideal form of government protection for the citizens.

"If the loot distribution is done properly, there will be no reason for hunters to stick with guilds."

At least not for hunters with ambition and a desire for growth.

Su-ho intended to gather talent in this way.

Anyway, as long as cataclysmic gates continued to spawn, hunters would need to fill the void left when Su-ho wasn’t there.

"So, for now, I need to hit level 200 first."

The title of being the first.

And the power that no one could challenge.

Those would combine to make him a powerful leader and boss.

Su-ho smiled as he spoke.

"Alright, let’s get back to work. I’ll handle the clearing, and you handle the leveling."

"...Sigh, fine."

Just then, his phone rang.

The caller ID showed Ion, the representative of the Union.

Su-ho checked the screen, then answered the call.

"Hello?"

– Hunter, the Inagawa Guild has started an attack.