The world turned upside down.

Because of Su-ho.

Things had been quiet since the second Big Gate, so people had been wondering whether nothing much was happening, but it turned out he’d gone into Africa by himself and driven the monsters to extinction.

- Isn’t he seriously insane?

- No, but was that even possible in the first place? lolllllllll

- Tell me this is a hidden-camera prank.

- At this point, isn’t the Director basically the system and the system basically the Director?

- fr; so all of this was staged from the start after all ;;

- Normally I’d say stop talking bullshit, but now I honestly think it sounds plausible.

- Good thing the Director didn’t get any evil ideas. If he’d wanted to, he probably could’ve just conquered Earth and founded the Su-ho Empire.

- Honestly, I kind of wish he’d just conquer it and save my life. It’d probably be better than what I’ve got now no matter what.

└ Even Su-ho’s grandpa couldn’t fix that.

└ You wanna die?

The African landing operation announced through Jo Jin-hwi had now become known to everyone in the world.

Naturally, as soon as Su-ho returned, he filmed a few simple interview videos with Jo Jin-hwi, and during that process he also revealed the method of subjugation people would be curious about.

- I am the master of all shadows, the great Hollow Jack himself!!

There was no need for many words.

The moment they called it an interview, Jack popped out on his own and excitedly started running his mouth.

Thanks to that, the world turned upside down once again.

Because of Jack’s existence, and because of the terrifyingly enormous number of Black Army troops commanded by Su-ho and Jack.

- ...At this point, isn’t the Director the only actual Hunter and everyone else just miscellaneous labor?

- He really could conquer Earth by himself.......

- He could probably conquer space too......?

- I can only make a puppy with my shadow.......

- I can make a turtle. Wanna see?

- No.

In truth, just in terms of scale, this was one of the biggest incidents Su-ho had caused so far—something comparable to a Big Gate, or depending on how you looked at it, the biggest of all.

Because he had done nothing less than conquer an entire continent by himself.

Just when people were starting to feel there wasn’t even any way left to be shocked anymore, Jo Jin-hwi asked during the interview shoot,

“Director?”

“Yes?”

“To be honest, if you can conquer a continent by yourself and clear out two Big Gates by yourself...... would it be fair to think that the system is no longer a threat to humanity?”

“Depending on how you look at it, maybe, but I wouldn’t say that. In the end, the system is unpredictable, and while I’ve handled things by myself so far, there’s no telling when I might die or when an even greater Great Cataclysm might occur.”

A textbook answer.

He did not indulge in arrogance or abuse.

Because Su-ho alone knew the secret of the world that no one else on Earth knew.

'Gates on Earth aren’t the issue anymore. The real problem is the independent game.'

But Su-ho never revealed this fact.

No, he had no intention of revealing it in the future either.

At this point, it was hardly an exaggeration to say the fate of the world was nearly the same as his own life.

'I understand how Umbra felt.'

Was there any reason to say it out loud and stir up people’s worry and anxiety?

There wasn’t.

It was enough for me alone to carry this brutal burden.

After finishing the interview, a call came to Su-ho’s personal phone.

The caller was the President.

Su-ho calmly answered the call.

“Yes, Mr. President.”

- Mr. Su-ho, it’s me. Do you have a moment to talk?

“Yes, I do.”

- I heard the news. They say you conquered Africa by yourself?

“Yes, that’s right.”

- First of all, thank you. You’ve done something truly immense. All of humanity ought to thank you, but as the President representing the people of our country, I thought I should personally call and offer my thanks. In all honesty, I’d like to invite you to the Blue House, but...... you’ve become too great a person for me to summon you over something like this, haven’t you?

As expected of the President.

He understood Su-ho’s disposition better than anyone.

Of course, if he called, Su-ho would have gone to the Blue House out of courtesy.

After all, he was the President working on behalf of this country.

“I was actually planning to contact you soon anyway, so thank you for calling first.”

- I see. Well then......

The President hesitated.

He had no choice.

The other party was Su-ho.

Su-ho was no longer just the superstar the world recognized. Because of this incident, he had proven himself to be the strongest one-man army capable of subduing an entire continent by himself, which made him someone people couldn’t help but tread carefully around, whether they wanted to or not.

No matter how docile a tiger might be with its handler beside it, to a stranger it was still, in the end, the king of the mountain.

Of course, people had already been careful around him before, but handling a Big Gate and cleaning up an entire continent felt completely different to ordinary people.

Su-ho said,

“Mr. President, it sounds like there’s something you want to say, so I’d appreciate it if you’d speak comfortably without worrying about how I might take it.”

- ......Thank you. Actually, one reason I called was because there were a few things I wanted to ask.

“Ask?”

- Well...... by any chance, are you planning to remain affiliated with the Association?

What?

Hahaha!

At that, Su-ho burst out laughing without realizing it.

Naturally, he covered the mouthpiece so the President wouldn’t hear and laughed quietly.

“Yes, of course. My original workplace is the Grand Hunter Association, so if not the GHA, where else would I work?”

- But...... in truth, haven’t you become someone who no longer needs to work at a small institution like the GHA? To be blunt, at this point you’re more influential and more powerful than the President of the United States, aren’t you? And what about wealth and fame?

“I won’t deny that. But separate from being a Hunter and the Director of Save the World, the fact that I’m an employee working at the GHA isn’t going to change. Besides, didn’t we recently talk about promotion-related matters?”

- We did. Actually, that’s also part of why I’m calling now, since personnel transfer season is coming up. I wanted to ask whether we should proceed with what we discussed back then as planned, or whether.......

“Please proceed as planned. Frankly speaking, if the system and the Gates come to an end someday, and as a result all Players become ordinary people again, then what am I supposed to live on when that day comes?”

- Pardon?

“I’m serious. I like my job. So I don’t think you need to worry about that going forward. I plan to fill out my full term and collect my pension too.”

- Hahahahaha!

Laughter came through the receiver.

It was heartfelt laughter.

Without exaggeration, the President could have proudly said that of everything he had heard in his life, Su-ho’s answer just now was the funniest.

- Ah, it’s been a long time since I laughed out loud like that...... Understood. If that is truly your wish, then of course it should be respected. Then I’ll proceed as we discussed back then. And just as you said, Mr. Su-ho, for the day peace finally comes to the world someday, your position ought to remain waiting for you as well.

“Thank you for respecting my wishes.”

- I’m the one who’s thankful that you are who you are, Mr. Su-ho. I’m not so presumptuous as to call you first without reason, so if there’s ever anything you need, please call me anytime while my term remains.

“Yes, thank you, Mr. President.”

Before long, the call ended, and Su-ho also let out a faint chuckle as he slipped his phone away.

'He’s an even better man than I’d thought.'

His memories of the President in his previous life had never been bad.

That was why he’d been able to work with this man without any particular trouble.

Since the President had called anyway, Su-ho thought it might be a good time to stop by the Association for the first time in a while.

He’d already been thinking he should go at least once, and since they said to strike while the iron was hot, it seemed like a good time with personnel transfer season upon them and after getting the President’s call.

Before long, when he arrived at the Association riding Cheolma, the Association President and Jeong Cheol-min, having heard the news, came running out.

“Manager Ahn!”

“Su-ho!”

As the two men came hurrying out, Su-ho smiled at them.

“If you’d stayed inside, I would’ve come to see you anyway, so why are you already out here?”

“How could I just sit still inside? And you wouldn’t know this, but whenever you show up riding Cheolma, the report comes to us first. ‘Cheolma’s up!’ Like that.”

“Come on now, what’s with all the fuss.......”

“All the fuss? You of all people are more influential than the President of the United States, so how could we possibly sit still? If you want peace and quiet, then you’re the one who needs to sit still first, you punk.”

That was a fair point.

Still, Jeong Cheol-min really was Jeong Cheol-min.

No matter what kind of person Su-ho had become, he treated him the same as ever.

'That’s why I like Cheol-min hyung.'

Soon, the three of them moved to the president’s office, and the moment they sat down inside, Su-ho started by telling them about the call he’d received from the President.

“Good grief...... the President must’ve had a lot on his mind too. So then, what did you say?”

“I just told him I’m going to keep working here. If the system disappears someday, I still need a way to make a living.”

“......?”

He didn’t mention the personnel transfer issue.

He only talked about whether he planned to remain with the Association.

At those words, Im Cheol made a baffled expression, then soon cleared his throat.

“Ahem, I see. But setting that aside...... now that Manager Ahn is here, there’s actually something I wanted to discuss with you.”

“What matter would that be?”

“Well, you may have been too busy to pay attention to it, Manager Ahn, but...... do you know that it’s personnel transfer season right now?”

“Yes, I know.”

“Have you heard anything related to it by any chance?”

“As for anything related to it......”

At that, a smile spread across Su-ho’s lips.

“By the way, Association President, have you heard anything?”

“I haven’t. Even when I quietly probe the higher-ups, not a single one of them gives me a straight answer, so it’s driving me out of my mind. That aside...... by the way, do you know that both the ruling and opposition parties were previously trying to seat you as the next Association President?”

“Yes, I know.”

Of course I do.

That was why I went to the Blue House.

“Did the President perhaps give you any hint about it?”

“He did.”

“What did he say?!”

Im Cheol and Jeong Cheol-min’s eyes widened at the same time.

Seeing that, Su-ho flashed a grin and said,

“I said no.”

“What?”

“Huh?”

“Why are you both so shocked?”

“No, Manager Ahn. If you’re not going to be Association President, then who is? You said you were going to keep being a civil servant.”

“Yes, I did. But there’s such a thing as order, isn’t there? Director Jeong is still above me, so how could I go up first?”

“Come on, Manager Ahn. Even so, your accomplishments aren’t even in the same league, so what kind of nonsense is that?”

“It’s not nonsense. And I made my intentions perfectly clear to the President. So with that said...... how about hearing it directly?”

“Directly?”

Su-ho immediately called the President.

And after explaining the whole situation, laughter came through the receiver—hahaha!—and then it soon switched to speakerphone.

- It’s me.

“Ah, yes! Mr. President! I’m receiving the call right now!”

- Hahaha, yes. I just heard the story a moment ago. And Mr. Su-ho and I already discussed this matter earlier. So then, since an official document will be sent out soon anyway, let me give you an early notice...... President Im, I’d like you to take the position of Association President for one more term this time.

“Pardon?”

- Manager Ahn recommended you. Why, it’s a good thing, isn’t it? Thanks to Manager Ahn, our country has become a superpower, and since Manager Ahn is affiliated with ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) the GHA, the GHA now has the greatest power among all government institutions, doesn’t it? So there doesn’t seem to be any better position than that, which is why I’d like you to serve one more term as Association President.

“A-ah, no, what exactly do you mean by that.......”

He answered like that, but the corners of Im Cheol’s mouth were already soaring into the sky.

- Ah, and I heard the Head of the Special Division is there too?

“Yes, Mr. President. He’s right here beside me, listening to the call as well.”

- Manager Ahn said he’d like Director Jeong to take the position of Vice President of the Association.

“Pardon?”

- Instead, he asked for the position of Head of the Special Division for himself. He said that level of promotion would be acceptable.

“What in the.......”

Jeong Cheol-min stared at Su-ho with his mouth hanging open.

At that, Su-ho flashed a grin and raised his hand, making a V sign and waving it.