"So, what exactly can you do for me, Mr. Lee?"
THUMP-
Jang Dong-pil slammed his fist on the table.
SHAKE-
The impact sent everything on the table trembling.
ROLL...
TINK-
Simultaneously, Shi-woo's prized fountain pen rolled off the table and fell to the floor.
It was the pen he'd brought out for Jang Dong-pil's signature.
'It can't get scratched…'
A gift from his father after he landed the job.
An heirloom from his mother, cherished for years.
He wanted to keep it pristine.
SWOOSH-
Shi-woo quickly bent down to retrieve it.
But then,
CRUNCH-
Jang Dong-pil's foot came down on the pen.
How dare he touch my mother's keepsake?
A surge of rage blinded him.
CRUNCH-
Shi-woo's right hand clenched into a fist, hidden from view.
He imagined snatching the pen back and jabbing the blunt end into the man's temple, philtrum, and solar plexus.
WHACK-WHACK-WHACK-
The sounds of impact echoed in his mind.
After those blows to his vital points,
"Ugh…"
The man would writhe in agony.
Even a Hunter's powers were significantly weaker on Earth, outside the Gates.
Or so he thought.
"Hey! Mr. Lee! Are you even listening to me?"
TAP-TAP-
Jang Dong-pil tapped Shi-woo's head with his fingers.
"Huh? Oh! Yes? Mr. Jang, the Hunter?"
Damn it!
He'd zoned out again, lost in another useless fantasy.
Shi-woo looked up at Jang Dong-pil, still half-crouched.
Jang Dong-pil sneered.
"What's with you? No wonder you're stuck as a deputy manager in a company the size of an ogre's nostril. All that studying in college was for nothing. Tsk, tsk."
Jang Dong-pil's expression dripped with contempt.
'You bastard.'
Shi-woo's stomach churned.
This guy hadn't even come close to matching his grades in college.
He'd spent his time drinking and chasing girls.
Back then, Jang Dong-pil was a lazy bum who blamed everyone else for his failures.
And now, he was being humiliated by him?
'Damn it!'
How different was he?
He'd studied relentlessly, earning every possible certification, spending countless nights in the library and lab.
He'd landed a solid job at Kiri & Tech through his hard work.
A reputable mid-sized company in the industry.
He'd achieved the near-impossible feat of becoming a regular salaryman in this day and age, through sheer effort.
And yet, their lives had diverged so drastically?
He was overwhelmed with emotion.
He wanted to flip the table.
'Haa…'
But he couldn't.
Why?
Jang Dong-pil was a Hunter, an absolute VIP to his company.
Those who traversed the Gates, bringing back rare materials.
Hunters.
People with extraordinary powers beyond the wildest dreams of ordinary humans.
And Jang Dong-pil wasn't just any Hunter.
He was a C-Rank Guild Hunter, a lucky one.
He was a member of Thunder, a B-Rank Guild, one of the top 15 in South Korea.
The guild responsible for 15% of his company's revenue.
So, Shi-woo did his best to keep his smile.
One wrong move, and he and his company would suffer greatly.
If he upset Jang Dong-pil, he'd be fired and face a lawsuit.
Images of his student loan, his family's living expenses, and his sibling's tuition flashed through his mind.
'Haa…'
He was angry, frustrated, and miserable, but…
'I have to endure. I have to!'
Shi-woo plastered a smile on his face.
"What's with the weak smile?"
Jang Dong-pil smirked and slipped his hand into the blouse of the girl beside him.
"Oppa…"
"Just be quiet, you."
He groped her breasts, not caring if Shi-woo was watching.
Why bother being discreet?
This was that kind of establishment.
From his perspective, he was a king, free to enjoy himself.
He was a Hunter.
An absolute VIP!
'Ahem.'
Shi-woo's stomach was in knots.
'Yeah, none of this is your money, is it?'
The expensive liquor, the lavish snacks, the high-priced girls.
He'd be paying for it all.
All because of this damn college buddy.
GLANCE-
As Jang Dong-pil explored the woman's body, Shi-woo reached for his pen.
'Damn it, it's scratched.'
He'd cherished this pen, afraid of it getting damaged.
Why had he brought it today?
"Use this for important contracts. A fine pen speaks for your character, just as your mother always said."
His father's words echoed in his mind as he gave him the pen.
And today, Shi-woo had hoped to secure a major contract through Jang Dong-pil.
That's what he'd been led to believe.
"Hey! Shi-woo! We're college buddies, right? You think I'd leave you hanging?"
Jang Dong-pil had promised to land him a big deal.
Over drinks tonight, he'd sign the contract.
But now, he was asking what he could do for him?
'Haa…'
It was just business.
The company had set a rebate range.
But Jang Dong-pil wanted more than the usual kickback.
"What? You can't even handle that? Mr. Lee, are you really that useless?"
Jang Dong-pil demanded an exorbitant amount, far beyond Shi-woo's means.
He'd eaten and drunk his fill, and now he was talking nonsense.
'Filthy bastard.'
Of course, Shi-woo couldn't give him that money.
CRUNCH-
He gritted his teeth and glared at Jang Dong-pil.
'That guy…'
Watching him bury his face in the woman's breasts, he felt a surge of rage.
'Damn you!'
He imagined grabbing Jang Dong-pil by the collar and slapping him senseless.
SMACK-SMACK-SMACK-
The man's head snapped back and forth.
"Puh! Puagh!"
Blood spurted from his mouth.
What a satisfying image.
But then,
"Hey, Mr. Lee? Are you trying to kill the mood with that frown?"
'Huh? Me?'
Shi-woo snapped out of his reverie and quickly composed himself.
A salesperson's golden rule: poker face!
Never lose your smile!
But he'd broken the rule, lost in his thoughts.
Ever since he'd been under a lot of stress, he'd developed a habit of zoning out and daydreaming.
"S-sorry, Mr. Jang, the Hunter."
They were the same age.
They'd spoken casually in college.
But now, he couldn't.
The man was the boss, and he was the subordinate.
No.
More accurately, Jang Dong-pil didn't want him to treat him like they used to in college.
"Even if we're college buddies, we're in different leagues now. Speak formally."
That's what Jang Dong-pil had told him when they first met at the company.
He just wanted to assert his power.
"Tch, this is a real mood killer. And you can't even take care of me properly."
The one who'd farted was the one who was mad. After eating and drinking, he was complaining about not getting a contract.
"Aish. Hey! What are you doing? Let's get out of here."
Jang Dong-pil stood up and spoke to his female companion.
"Huh? What? Oppa?"
"What are you waiting for? Let's go for round two. Hey, Mr. Lee?"
"Yes?"
"You're paying for the drinks anyway, so you can cover the girls' second round too."
"The second round? Me?"
"What? You don't want to? Damn it, does your company treat Hunters like this?"
Ah…
He was…
So angry he could explode.
But,
SQUEEZE-
Shi-woo clenched his fist and suppressed his anger.
Then he said,
"N-no. Of course, I'll take care of it."
Smirk-