The Time-Limited Leader Makes the Raid a Success - Chapter 428



Only Noblemtl

Episode 428

#428. Isn’t that the screw?

Pietro said, only then did he remember.

“We were just talking about that. Johanna Hunter applied for reinstatement online. By the way, you were at Johanna’s party, right? You were a pair partner. That’s great. The shooter is back.”

“Was it because of Ms. Johanna that the lobby was messy?”

“Oh. There’s an expedition reorganization at the end of this year. Miss Johanna is a bit short on rank, but if she’s in her pre-leave form, it’ll only be a matter of time before she gets an A+. The tanks with overlapping positions are already in chaos. It’s probably awkward that the most promising candidate is coming back at this time. I think it’ll be heated up for a while because of the competition. We’ll have a lot to see, so it’ll be fun, though.”

Unlike Pietro, who was excited about the expedition team selection, Emma was not optimistic about Johanna.

Although she was happy that Johanna, who had taken care of her like a real older sister, was returning, she was also worried.

‘Have you overcome the trauma?’

Emma was the only guild member who knew why Johanna had taken an extended vacation on the Sabbath.

If this fact had been known to the guild leadership, Johanna would have had no choice but to resign immediately, so she kept it a secret until the end.

Thanks to that, Johanna was able to remain a hunter in the Gloria Guild.

It was a unilateral notice of leave that was close to an unauthorized departure, but her superiors, who knew Johanna’s abilities and potential, reluctantly approved a long-term leave.

When someone like that comes back, I want to believe that the problem has been solved, but I am worried that he might not be able to overcome it and might be coming to take steps to quit.

“So when are you coming?”

“Well? Tomorrow? The day after? I heard you’re in Korea right now. I don’t know if there’s a direct flight to Venice.”

“korea?”

“Oh, Korea. By the way, I heard that Nagaga showed up in Asia a few days ago. Did Johanna Hunter get stimulated by that? It could be possible, seeing as she suddenly returned to work.”

“Going to Asia… … ?”

Emma had a bad feeling about this.

I hadn’t seen a single fin since Naga left Venice last November, like the tide was going out. And now, out of the blue, he’s going to Asia?

‘Besides, Miss Johanna coming from there… does that have something to do with it?’

Emma looked up at the ceiling.

There was no way he wouldn’t know that what he felt was above.

‘What’s going on?’

* * *

“Your Majesty, we received offers from both Japan and China at the same time. What do you think?”

A hunter who is respectfully referred to as Grand Duke by Vito, the master of the Gloria Guild.

A man with medium-length brown hair combed back and a neatly trimmed beard growing out neatly under his nose and on his chin.

A man wearing a suit that doesn’t suit a hunter, but who has an air of someone more like something out of the Godfather than a businessman.

Said Edoardo Asburgoeste, an Italian S-rank hunter.

“Dismissed.”

Vito flinched at those words.

‘Ugh. I knew this would happen… But I can’t just let it go from my perspective.’

Edoardo was the first Master of the Gloria Guild and rose to S-Rank, where he still wielded great influence.

A hunter who can be called the so-called king.

Officially, he was the godfather of the guild, but the public called him the Grand Duke because of his dignified behavior and charisma.

To Edoardo, honor and pride were important.

He had not bowed to the demands of the United States to sell Flying Seahorses, so there was no way he would bow to another country.

But that was only Edoardo’s position, and it was not a very pleasant ending for Vito, who actually managed the guild.

“I’ll be honest with you. We spent a lot of money on the reconstruction of the Naga battle last year. Our shipments of Flying Seahorses are also poor. The conditions of both countries are considerable. Honestly, I hope they accept it.”

“Is it the management’s decision? Or is it the operating team’s decision?”

“It is the family’s decision.”

Edoardo spoke of the professional managers made up of non-hunters and the leadership made up of hunters separately, but Vito called them all a family.

In Italy, where the nostalgia of the mafia past still lingers, anyone who came in with the name of ‘family’ could not be carelessly kicked out.

In other words, Vito was strongly insisting that this matter be reconsidered.

“You’re still living in the mafia era.”

“Don’t put me with that bunch of criminals.”

Edoardo spoke as if scolding Vito, looking at him with a displeased expression.

“I don’t know if you remember. I must have told you once.”

“I will listen.”

“Whether you are a manager, an operator, an ordinary person, or a hunter, when you want to do big business, you definitely need a cause.”

“Yes. I remember hearing that.”

“We are the best guild in Italy. We are one of the most prestigious guilds in Europe. There is something more valuable than money to a guild like that.”

Vito also knew this. He had heard it a hundred times. Edoardo repeated the information he already knew.

“Killing monsters, saving people, saving the country. All of these things become our reputation. Reputation breeds honor, and honor always gives us a reason when we need it. That’s power. Don’t you know that if you just lightly shake your butt to gain a little bit of a profit, all of this will disappear like an illusion?”

“I know. I know, but the world has changed. It’s a world where power is the cause, not a cause. Power comes from swords and money. Swords and money bring in hunters. Those hunters strengthen our guild again. The source of our guild’s strength is the Flying Seahorse Ranch. Things aren’t going well there right now. If it collapses, it’s like a part of the guild will collapse. I hope you reconsider selling outside of Europe.”

Since Vito made an earnest request, Edoardo could not refuse outright. His mind was already made up, but he had to avoid giving a direct answer for the sake of the current Gilma’s reputation.

“By the way, I heard that Johanna Ceretti Hunter is also coming with the Korean personnel? What do you think? Are you also hoping to purchase the Flying Seahorse?”

“Unlike China or Japan, they haven’t yet come up with clear terms. Honestly, I don’t know if Korea has anything to offer that’s worthy of Gloria’s name other than money.”

“But isn’t there a Rider Wolf there? He’ll be of great help at the gate.”

“This is a ranch that is just starting to turn around. We have existing customers, and it will take several years to secure the quantity we want. We need the money right away, so we can’t wait.”

“I guess that’s why he didn’t make the offer.”

“yes?”

Vito furrowed his brows. He was a hunter, but he was quick with numbers. He liked numbers that were visible more than uncertainties. In that sense, he didn’t even consider the Korean doctor.

But when Edoardo mentions it, I can’t help but feel embarrassed.

“Johanna, I’ve been keeping an eye on that guy. He’s not that kind of a sloppy hunter. He’s a rare real hunter. And he suddenly wants to be reinstated and mentions that Korea is interested in the Flying Seahorse? Maybe he’ll come up with something interesting.”

Vito was nervous.

He read that Edoardo was not merely interested in this matter, but intended to intervene directly.

‘It’s out of my hands.’

Vito swallowed a bitter smile.

At the same time, he conveyed words of comfort to the negotiators from each country who were flying to Italy.

‘Will they be able to persuade the Archduke? It’s a shame that my judgment is weak, but I can’t help but feel sorry for them who have to deal with the Archduke.’

* * *

Kang Moo-hyuk and his party arrived at Marco Polo Airport in Venice via Istanbul.

Kang Mu-hyeok looked tired after a 15-hour flight.

In contrast, the hunters who were with him were completely unmoved.

When everyone in the group got their luggage, Kang Mu-hyeok tried to catch a taxi.

At this point, Johanna stepped forward.

“Sir, there’s a long-term parking lot for hunters at the airport. My car is there, so you can just take it.”

“It must have been parked for over a year. Is the car in good condition?”

“I called a few days ago and requested maintenance service. There won’t be any problems.”

In Korea, they did not allow separate parking lots for hunters at the airport, claiming it was a privilege and unfair, but in the case of the United States, which has a large land area, or other EU countries with frequent travel to other EU countries, various services for hunters were considerable.

Kang Moo-hyuk thought that Korea also needed to improve in this area.

Providing services only for a small number of hunters may seem unreasonable at first, but as the world gradually breaks down the national boundaries of hunters, it cannot be viewed with only a negative view forever.

For a long time, Korea was treated as a frontier country for hunters and thus was left out of the hunter headhunting market, but in foreign countries, it was already common for hunters to be taken away.

With Joo Seah rising to S-Rank, resolving the Demon Realm incident, and even Mirage being driven out, many countries were going to pay attention to Korean hunters.

If we were not careful, we could lose all of our key hunter talents to foreign countries and even our gate security could be threatened.

‘Necessary systems must be introduced, but social consensus is not easy to obtain. The longer we delay, the more it will be the people who will suffer in the end. Knowing this, there are too many who use this as a political tool.’

While Kang Moo-hyuk was pondering the future of the Korean hunter world and contemplating a solution, the group arrived at the hunter-only parking lot.

There were a lot of supercars covered in dust.

There were quite a few regular SUVs among them, but upon closer inspection of the car emblems, I realized that these were also expensive vehicles made using Gate resources.

Mr. Joe was delighted to learn that he would be traveling by private vehicle rather than by inconvenient public transportation or taxi.

“I was thinking about renting a car. But since I’m going in a flashy car, I guess I’ll still feel like I’m traveling in Italy.”

“I’m not here on vacation.”

“Chief Kang, pay attention. It’s mind control. You have to think of it as a vacation so you don’t get depressed.”

“Oh, I see. So, where should we go for sightseeing tomorrow?”

“Oh, were you planning on going to see the tourist attractions too?”

“Mr. Joe, please be mindful. We’re talking about business. Where’s the time for sightseeing?”

“Are you taking revenge on purpose now?”

“… … .”

“Huh? Silence? That’s a yes?”

“No comment.”

As Kang Mu-hyeok walked ahead, dragging his trunk, Yohanna stopped just as Mr. Joe was about to stop him.

“Where are you going? We’re all here. Get in the car.”

“Oh! Tea! Where is it? What kind of tea is it? Let’s take a look.”

“The car right in front of me.”

The car Johanna was pointing to was an old-fashioned SUV that didn’t look like it belonged in this parking lot.

The car was so old that the paint was peeling off in some places and some of the rear bumper was still showing signs of corrosion.

Mr. Joe turned his creaking neck in disbelief and asked Johanna.

“Is this perhaps a retro feeling… something like that? Something soft on the outside and soft on the inside. When I look into it, it looks like a car made from gate resources?”

“This is a Fiat 700DX. It’s a model produced at the beginning of the Great War.”

“The beginning of the Great War… I wasn’t even born yet?! Is this even possible? Or is this a commoner cosplay?”

“It’s my grandfather’s car, but it starts.”

“Start? Start?”

Mr. Joe repeated Johanna’s words in disbelief.

Johanna tapped the front wheel with her foot as if nothing was wrong. A metallic rolling sound was heard, as if a screw had come loose from somewhere.

“Sometimes when I drive hard the tires are on the verge of coming off, but they haven’t come off yet.”

“Safety cannot be guaranteed.”

“Don’t worry. No hunter here will die from a traffic accident. And I will take responsibility for you and make sure you escape safely.”

“Miss Johanna, don’t you think something is off with the pint right now? Or is there a screw missing somewhere?”

“It’s okay. It runs fine even if a screw or two are missing.”

“The screw I’m talking about isn’t that screw?”