Chapter 162. Spectrum (2)

Brooklyn was puzzled. How could he look at such a magnificent object that would make anyone's body itch with greed with such a gaze?

"Impressive."

This was the first time someone had rejected her proposal so decisively. Because of such a unique response, Brooklyn became even more interested in the other person. Seeing how calm he was in front of an S-rank Hunter, the longer time passed, the more it became clear that this person was truly a formidable force.

"I brought something that I thought would be most needed by you after some careful consideration. Did we misjudge something?"

"Well."

"What exactly do you want, Hunter? At least roughly. Power? Fame? Him...?"

Brooklyn stared straight ahead with a curious look in her eyes. There, stood a man wearing a suit that oddly carried the scent of burning.

"But whatever it is, it seems like it would be hard to achieve in a small country like this."

Kim Giryeo turns his head, following the direction of her voice.

"I'm not trying to slander, but the reality is like this. A selfish country like Korea, where every citizen's status is forcibly registered in the system, and even if you die while working, they don't properly take responsibility for your family."

"..."

"But my homeland is different. The United States will guarantee your freedom, and..."

"..."

"If you protect us, you could be hailed as a global hero. Kim, that's the position that suits you."

There was nothing wrong with what she said. As she mentioned, no matter how skilled one might be, most countries couldn't offer better conditions than the United States. When they came forward with a proposal like this, there was no way for an awakened individual to refuse.

Isn't it a reasonable choice? Rather than protecting those who, after serving the country like dogs, only get a decent grave at best. Instead of fattening the bellies of the ones who keep raising taxes day after day to fill the coffers that the country's thieves have been slowly emptying.

"I'll ask you again. Hunter, please become a Hunter for the United States."

"Brooklyn and the members of the Management Bureau deeply bowed their heads before the blond man. They sincerely wanted to recruit that Korean hunter.

And at this moment, Giryeo clearly recalled a single sentence in his mind.

"What should I eat when I get home after this?"

...As this made clear, he had completely lost focus midway through the conversation. Standing before the number one Hunter of the United States—was he out of his mind? But he couldn't help it. No matter how earnestly they begged, he had no intention of changing his decision.

"And to think that this kind of magic tool was considered something that couldn't be bought even if you sold an entire city..."

[Dragon's Heart].

After facing the item, Giryeo's interest quickly faded during the roughly 50 seconds of observation.

He had high expectations because it was said to increase the magical power in the body. But in reality, the increase was not significant by the standards of a great magician. More than that, with his body in a state of decay, sick and rotting, it was obvious that he wouldn't be able to fully enjoy even the modest effects.

"In my current condition, no matter how recklessly I pile up my magic power... the actual output will barely improve, at best."

A power increase of about 20%. To some, it might seem like a significant number, but the problem lies in Kim Giryeo's initial value. When the starting point is a number close to zero, no matter what you multiply it by, the situation doesn't improve much.

"Wow."

Special enhancements like [Dragon's Heart] should only be considered in the distant future. For now, it's not efficient. Giryeo had no desire to covet a magic tool he couldn't even use. Besides, this was a fundamentally misguided conversation belief. What they wanted to hire was a strong Korean Hunter with a flashy background. But standing here was a fragile body that could break at the slightest touch.

"Hmm. Well, I did say I was just listening to the story. But can I really reject this easily? They're not going to start trapping people and trying to persuade them like some pyramid scheme, are they...?"

As someone at the bottom of the food chain, he cautiously observed the atmosphere, his mind filled with timid concern.

"Hunter."

And at that moment, Brooklyn casually sat down on a nearby leather sofa and spoke warmly.

"By the way, do you know that?"

She blinked her blue eyes, resembling someone's hometown sea, and watched the other person intently.

"Putting aside the talk of status and compensation, the main reason we wanted to scout you is actually because of you."

"Yes?"

"I wanted you. Personally, I believe that if we work together, we can achieve really great results."

"Really?"

"What do you think?"

Since Giryeo wasn't reacting at all, she decided to try offering another bait.

What kind of person was Brooklyn Morgan? Putting aside superficial aspects like her model-like appearance, she was an incredibly captivating individual, almost to the point of being destructive.

She was the world's one and only S-rank healer. Her ability to cast powerful and rapid wound regeneration magic was so strong it could almost be considered resurrection. She typically uses this rare ability to its fullest, fighting tough and fierce battles. A person who is capable in both combat and support. That's why the world was always filled with people who wanted to be Brooklyn's ally. Perhaps enough to line them up and circle the Earth.

"Kim, I truly like you. I've felt that way since the last party."

So Hunter Morgan's interest would be a stroke of luck that ordinary hunters wouldn't even dream of. However, she had chosen the wrong person to persuade. The one standing before her was a magician whose regenerative magic was on a level that could easily be called a master of restoration magic. And to make matters worse, he had fundamental issues of his own.

"I've thought about this for a long time..."

A unique sense of alienation due to a twisted soul. He then showed a reaction that no one could have imagined. He observed Brooklyn with a strange unfamiliar gaze.

"As expected, Earthlings are so ambiguous, it's kind of creepy. It's been quite some time since I was reincarnated, but when will I fully adapt to this...?"

Giryeo soon lost himself in other thoughts. This brief exchange of glances struck the American Hunter with an unexpected shock.

"Oh my."

Goodness. To glance at an S-rank Hunter, such a rare existence, as if they were just a piece of meat hanging in a butcher's shop. There's a limit to how cold-blooded a person can be. Brooklyn quickly realized that the other person wasn't very favorable toward her and immediately backed off.

"Alright, alright. Anyway, you're not interested in the Dragon's Heart, right?"

If what was offered had been something like the lungs, he might have at least pretended to think it over. But really, no matter what kind of reward they brought, in the end, he was just a worthless piece of trash with no ability to pay the price. At this point, he wondered what the point of such considerations even was.

Soon, Kim Giryeo answered. As you said, I'm not interested in this item, and I have no intention of immigrating to the United States. Since the trader's intentions are also firm, what's the point of continuing the conversation any further?

"If you have said everything you wanted to say, can I leave now?"

Kim Giryeo's voice was translated into English through Pray's translator. After hearing this, one of the Spectrum agents nodded and respectfully escorted Giryeo all the way to the hallway.

"This time, I really messed up."

"Miss Morgan, please don't worry about it. If he turned down the Dragon's Heart, the result would have been the same no matter what else we offered."

"It's strange. I thought for sure that Hunter would need it..."

A few seconds later, as Brooklyn was talking to the remaining agent, she noticed something leaning against the bed in the suite. A box sealed in fancy wrapping paper.

"Hmm?"

It was a welcome gift prepared for the foreign S-rank Hunter. Fearing that they might not let him go so easily, Giryeo had hurriedly fled, not having enough time to deliver the gift.

"Ah, [Droplet of God]! I forgot to offer a token of appreciation for the time we borrowed from our guest."

An American agent mentioned the contents of the box and reached out for it. However, a voice stopped them.

"Don't touch it."

Brooklyn Morgan still had business in this country.

"I'll go myself."

She got up from the back of the sofa she was sitting on and picked up the box.

***

Tak, tak, tak, tak.

Brooklyn Morgan, even while styling herself with 7 cm high heels, walked swiftly and easily. She passed through the hotel lobby surrounded by soft daylight and went outside, where fortunately, the person she was looking for was still nearby.

An awakened individual with no trace of magic, completely colorless and odorless.

"...Alright. Since you came all the way here, I guess I should at least see your face..."

The man, perhaps noticing the presence of the S-rank individual who had followed, soon stopped speaking and shifted his gaze.

"Wait a minute. I'll hang up for a moment."

The Asian man was holding an old smartphone. It seemed that he had been talking to someone until now.

"Giryeo! You left the gift behind!"

Brooklyn, secretly practicing the pronunciation of the other's name, cheerfully extended the envelope in her hand. At that, Kim Giryeo let out an exclamation, as if he had just remembered.

Now that he thinks about it, didn't they say they would reward him if he just gave them his time?

"Oh, why bother with something like this...?"

The alien archmage approached the other, hiding the trembling corners of their mouth. Whether child or adult, the moment of receiving a gift was always exciting. However, this was no different than walking straight into the tiger's mouth.

"It's nothing. Please take it--"

The second reason Brooklyn came to Korea was to personally verify Kim Giryeo's abilities.

"Sophia's absurd stories alone aren't enough. I'll get in trouble later if I do something like this, but it's okay. I'll have to check this out for sure to feel better."

What method should I use to lift the veil that this man is hiding? This was a topic that she constantly pondered on even on the plane to Korea, but since the soul strike operation failed, it would be better to pursue simplicity this time.

"I really hope you like this gift."

The power that must be acquired when awakening to S-rank. The ability to count even the flutter of a bee's wings with one's enhanced visual acuity. Rapid magic detection. In other words, abilities related to perception. Come to think of it, these basic forms of agility are hard to mimic with items.

"Just a little more."

Brooklyn was thinking of ripping off the right arm of that cold-looking Asian if he got close enough.

"Just a little closer."

There won't be any scars. With the talent granted by the gods and her awakened skill, even a torn body would quickly return to its original state.

Brooklyn, watching Giryeo approaching, began to draw up her mana. It was as quick as thoughts flowing through nerves in her mind. At the same time, it was done secretly.

"That's enough."

With the distance now closed, everything would happen in the blink of an eye. She was confident that she would complete the process of tearing and healing his arm within a second.

Tak.

Just as Giryeo's final step was taken, Brooklyn lifted her fingers to tear away the veil surrounding her opponent's abilities. However, what she heard next was not the sound of muscles being torn apart.

Boom!

A dull, loud noise.

Immediately after the ear-piercing noise, rough dust rose from the front yard of the five-star hotel, where pedestrian access had been restricted. Surprisingly, the S-rank from the United States had been outmaneuvered by someone who appeared from the right.

"Hmm, Brooklyn Morgan?"

The moment that person appeared, they revealed the unique traits of a top-tier awakened being.

With superior dynamic vision accompanied by transcendent senses, he had used them to predict his opponent's actions in advance. The awakened one, whose reptilian-like eyes flickered, spoke the next words after kicking Brooklyn into a flowerbed.

"What is someone who came to eat bibimbap doing here?"

He was Kang Changho, another S-rank hunter from Korea. To add, it seemed he wasn't in a particularly pleasant mood. He was currently expressing his doubts with his arched eyebrows.

This was the minimal safety measure Giryeo had prepared. By casually mentioning through a text message that he had received an offer from the U.S. and would be heading there, that habitual stalker would, of course, keep an eye on the contractor's condition.

Glance.

Giryeo thought as he watched Brooklyn struggle to get up with her broken arm.

"Hmm."

It was good that he had taken out insurance...

But somehow, looking at the actions of the insurance agent, it felt like their side would end up being more at fault...