--
Minutes after the first battle ended and the second round was postponed until tomorrow, Nayun ran through the corridors of the association building, her small hands stretched toward her mother.
(Nayun (hugging Ji-won)
"Mom! Mom! You were amazing! I was so scared for you!"
(Ji-won (hugging her and kissing her head)
"Do not be afraid, little one. I am fine. As I promised you."
(Nayun (raising her head, her tears not yet dry)
"But that huge man hit you hard! I saw you fly through the air!"
(Ji-won (wiping her tears with a smile)
"And did you see me get back up?"
(Nayun (looking at her with wide eyes)
"Yes! You stood up and laughed! You laughed so much!"
(Ji-won (laughing)
"Because I was happy, little one. Happy because I found someone who would fight me sincerely."
(Anas (standing beside them, placing his hand on Nayun's shoulder)
"Did I not tell you that your mother is stronger than you imagine?"
(Nayun (looking at him with a smile)
"You said so, Dad. But I was afraid anyway."
(Anas (patting her head)
"Fear is not a flaw. Courage is being afraid but not stopping. And that is what you did."
A servant approached them, wearing an elegant formal uniform, black with a silver collar. He was in his thirties, his face neutral, his eyes reflecting no emotion. He bowed respectfully.
(Servant (in a polite voice)
"Mr. Anas, Mrs. Park, Miss Nayun. Your accommodations have been arranged at the Royal Sejong Hotel. The hotel is under the organization's full protection during the testing period. Please, follow me."
(Anas (calmly)
"Let us go."
(Nayun (jumping with joy)
"A hotel? We are staying at a hotel? Which hotel?"
(Servant (with a polite smile)
"The Royal Sejong Hotel, Miss. It is one of the largest and most luxurious hotels in Korea."
(Nayun (looking at her mother)
"Mom, have you ever seen a hotel like this?"
(Ji-won (laughing)
"I have never seen a hotel like this before. But I will see it tonight."
The three left the association building. The sky had grown completely dark. Seoul's lights sparkled in every direction, and black limousines lined up in front of the main entrance.
They got into a black limousine with dark windows and luxurious leather seats. Nayun pressed her face against the glass, watching the city.
(Nayun (in an astonished voice)
"Dad, look at the lights! How beautiful they are!"
(Anas (calmly)
"Seoul is beautiful at night. It was beautiful then, and it still is."
The car drove for several minutes, then stopped in front of a massive building gleaming like gold in the darkness.
Royal Sejong Hotel.
Its facade was of reflective black glass, surrounded by white marble columns. Illuminated fountains sprayed water in front of the main entrance, and a red carpet stretched from the sidewalk to the revolving glass door. Security guards in black suits stood on both sides, each with a communication device in his ear.
(Nayun (shouting with joy)
"Wow! This is a hotel? It looks like a palace!"
(Ji-won (admiring it)
"Truly beautiful."
They entered the main lobby. The floor was of polished white marble, and massive crystal chandeliers hung from a ceiling three stories high. On the walls were oil paintings of old and modern Korea. In the corner, a white piano played by a man in a black suit, soft musical notes filling the space.
(Servant (gesturing to the private elevator)
"Please, this way. Your suite is on the upper floor."
They entered the elevator. Its interior was covered in glossy walnut wood, with mirrors on the walls and dim lights. The elevator rose quickly, without them feeling any movement.
The elevator doors opened onto a private corridor that led to only one door. A massive wooden door with a white-gold handle.
(Servant (opening the door)
"This is your suite. I wish you a pleasant stay."
They entered.
The suite was incredibly spacious. A living room large enough for twenty people, its floor of white marble, its furniture of black and gold leather. A full wall of glass overlooked the lights of Seoul and the Han River. Small chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and hidden lights gave a warm atmosphere.
(Nayun (running toward the glass)
"Dad! Mom! Look! The whole city is beneath us!"
(Ji-won (walking around the room)
"This... this is unbelievable. It is much larger than our old apartment."
(Anas (sitting on the sofa calmly)
"This is temporary. Tomorrow we return to the penthouse."
(Servant (bowing)
"Do you need anything else?"
(Anas (shaking his head)
"No, thank you."
(Servant (stepping back)
"I wish you a pleasant night."
The servant left and closed the door behind him.
---
In another suite in the hotel, the atmosphere was completely different.
Park Jin-ah, the master of the Crimson Fox Guild, sat on a red velvet sofa. In her hand was a crystal glass containing dark red wine. She wore a black silk robe, her long red hair flowing over her shoulders. Her green eyes were half-closed, watching the fire in the fireplace.
She was a woman in her forties, but she looked ten years younger. Her face was beautiful but stern, as if life had taught her not to smile easily.
The door opened quietly, and a young woman in her twenties entered, wearing a tight black suit, her short black hair, her sharp black eyes. She bowed respectfully.
(Subordinate (in a low voice)
"Jin-ah... we could not find any useful information about Anas Sharif Yazeed or his family."
Park Jin-ah raised her eyebrow slowly.
(Park Jin-ah (in a cold voice)
"What do you mean?"
(Subordinate (speaking quickly)
"All information about them is hidden. Encrypted. Access prohibited. We tried through three different channels, all failed. Even the association's database shows only the basics: name, nationality, visible rank. No family history, no financial records, no previous tests, nothing."
Park Jin-ah paused for a moment. Then she placed her wine glass on the side table very slowly, as if thinking about every word just spoken.
(Park Jin-ah (smiling a cold smile)
"This... is interesting."
(Subordinate (raising her head)
"My lady?"
(Park Jin-ah (looking at her with piercing eyes)
"Imagine with me. A man appears from nowhere. No past, no history, no trace in any database. Suddenly, he becomes the strongest hunter in Korea. His wife transforms from an ordinary office worker into an unconquerable phoenix. Their daughter is an ordinary child yet protected incredibly. Then a test of this magnitude comes, and all the world's dignitaries attend to watch it. Do you not find this interesting?"
(Subordinate (hesitantly)
"It is... strange, my lady."
(Park Jin-ah (taking a deep breath)
"The strange is what we must pay attention to. Ordinary people are boring. But the strange... may be a treasure, or may be a fire that burns everything. Continue searching. But carefully. Do not draw anyone's attention. And do not approach his family."
(Subordinate (bowing)
"As you command, my lady."
(Park Jin-ah (raising her glass again)
"And if you find anything... anything small... tell me first."
(Subordinate (stepping back)
"I will."
The subordinate left and closed the door behind her. Park Jin-ah remained alone, staring into the fire, as if seeing in it what others could not see.
(Park Jin-ah (whispering to herself)
"Who are you really, Anas Sharif Yazeed?"
---
In a very private section of the hotel, the Han Family had taken over an entire suite.
The suite was different from the rest of the hotel's suites. It was not just luxurious rooms; it was a massive self-contained apartment: a meeting room, a dining room, a kitchen, four bedrooms, and even a game room. The furniture was of dark wood and black leather, and the walls were covered with paintings of old merchant ships, a reference to the family's history in trade.
In the meeting room, Han Tae-won, the Supreme Advisor, sat at the head of the long table. He wore an expensive gray suit, his gold-rimmed glasses on his nose. His face was calm, but his eyes moved quickly, watching everyone in the room.
To his right sat Han Yeon-soo, the eldest son. He wore a dark blue suit, his hands clasped before him. His face was stern, his lips pressed tightly together.
To his left sat four family elders, all in their sixties and seventies, their faces wrinkled, but their eyes still sharp. They wore black suits and gray ties.
At the end of the table sat Han Ji-hoon, the second son, leaning sideways in his chair, one leg crossed over the other. He wore a garish red suit, his shirt unbuttoned at the top, a gold chain hanging from his neck. He looked at the ceiling with obvious boredom, as if he had not heard a word of what was said.
(Han Tae-won (in a quiet but firm voice)
"We are here for one reason: to build strong relations with the Phoenix. She is the key to reaching her husband, Anas. And that man... will soon become an SSS-rank hunter."
(Han Yeon-soo (adding in a cold voice)
"And access to an SSS-rank hunter means unlimited influence. If we can be the first to approach them, we will be in a position of power not to be underestimated."
(One of the elders (an old man with a thick white beard)
"But the information we have gathered about them... is nearly nonexistent. All we know is what they themselves reveal. And that is concerning."
(Another elder (bald, with pale blue eyes)
"Not just nonexistent. It is prohibited. I tried to access some old records, and I received a personal warning message."
The elder raised his hand and took out his small phone from his inner pocket. He opened the screen and read in a low voice.
(Bald elder (reading)
"'Whoever looks into what does not concern him will see what he does not wish to see. Stop, or else...' The rest is deleted. I could not identify the sender. The encryption is beyond my team's capabilities."
A heavy silence fell over the room.
(Han Tae-won (staring at the elder)
"A threat message?"
(Bald elder (shaking his head)
"More than a threat. It is... a warning. As if someone knows that we are searching, knows that we will not find anything, and is telling us to stop before we regret it."
(Han Yeon-soo (coldly)
"Who could send a message with that level of encryption?"
(Bald elder (hesitating)
"The association itself... or one of the SSS-rank hunters... or..."
(Han Tae-won (interrupting him)
"Or Anas himself."
Everyone fell silent.
(Han Tae-won (sighing)
"For this reason, I will say it clearly: we stop searching. Completely. No more attempts to breach their privacy. If they want the world to know them, they will let it happen. And if they want to remain in the shadows, we will leave them."
(Another elder (thin, with small eyes)
"But how do we build a relationship with someone we know nothing about?"
(Han Tae-won (smiling faintly)
"We do not need to know everything about them. We only need them to be indebted to us. Simple support here, a small help there. Not directly, but through untraceable channels. If the Phoenix feels that we are not a threat, but potential allies, she may open doors for us."
(Bald elder (with admiration)
"A shrewd plan."
(Han Yeon-soo (adding)
"And we will begin tomorrow. After the test, we will send someone to congratulate her personally. Not us directly, but an intermediary. One of our trusted servants."
(Han Tae-won (nodding)
"Good. Execute it."
Suddenly, everyone heard a soft sigh from the end of the table.
Han Ji-hoon was contemplating the ceiling with boredom, then turned his chair slightly toward them.
(Han Ji-hoon (in a quiet voice, as if thinking aloud)
"All these plans... all this caution... over one woman?"
(Han Tae-won (looking at him sharply)
"What do you mean?"
(Han Ji-hoon (smiling confidently)
"I mean the solution may be simpler than you think."
He turned his chair fully toward them and placed his feet on the table. His brother Han Yeon-soo looked at him with disdain but did not comment yet.
(Han Ji-hoon (confidently)
"The Phoenix is, after all, a woman. And women... love attention. Instead of all these complicated maneuvers, why not take a more direct approach?"
(Han Yeon-soo (coldly)
"Speak clearly."
(Han Ji-hoon (explaining, as if telling them something obvious)
"I will get close to her. Not as a beggar asking for favors, but as a man who knows his worth. Elegant gifts, kind words, genuine attention. Women melt before this. And then, we will have a window to her husband."
The attendees paused for a moment. One elder looked at another, then their eyes returned to Han Ji-hoon.
(Han Tae-won (sharply)
"Do you hear yourself?"
(Han Ji-hoon (not seeming bothered)
"I hear myself well. You want a relationship with them, and I am giving you the way. The Phoenix is a beautiful woman, and her husband... does not seem like the romantic type. Perhaps she is looking for someone who truly appreciates her."
(Han Tae-won (his fists clenching on the table)
"You are talking about seducing the wife of a man who may become an SSS-rank hunter tomorrow."
(Han Ji-hoon (coldly)
"May become. Not certain yet. And even if he does... what is the problem? Men at the top have wives, and wives... have their needs."
A loud slam on the table.
Han Tae-won had struck the wood with his fist. The table shook, and the water glasses nearly fell.
(Han Tae-won (in a loud, angry voice)
"Stop this nonsense immediately!"
Han Ji-hoon did not retreat, but he slowly removed his feet from the table.
(Han Tae-won (looking at him with burning eyes)
"Do you know what would happen if you spoke one inappropriate word to the Phoenix?"
(Han Ji-hoon (feigning calm)
"What would you do? Shout at me? Throw me out of the family?"
(Han Tae-won (approaching him, his voice becoming quieter but more dangerous)
"No. I would do nothing. Because the Phoenix herself would act. You saw what she did to her opponents today. She played with them like a cat with a mouse. She was not fighting with all her power, that is clear. Perhaps she used only a small fraction of it. Imagine what she would do to you if you truly angered her."
(Han Ji-hoon (staring at him, but not responding)
(Han Tae-won (shouting suddenly)
"But worse than the Phoenix... is her husband!"
Everyone fell silent.
(Han Tae-won (breathing heavily)
"Anas Sharif Yazeed. The man who will face three true SS+ rank hunters tomorrow. The man who was unaffected by the aura of Saif bin Hamoud and Lukas Steiner together. The man who will be an SSS-rank hunter tomorrow."
He looked at Han Ji-hoon with warning eyes.
(Han Tae-won (in a low voice)
"If you anger him, if you speak one bad word about his wife, if you look at her the wrong way... he will simply erase the Han Family from existence. He has nothing to stop him. He has nothing to lose. And he is too powerful for anyone to hold him accountable."
(Han Ji-hoon (laughing with difficulty)
"Do you not think you are exaggerating?"
(Han Tae-won (cutting him off)
"I am not exaggerating. You are ignorant of this world. SSS-rank hunters... are not just powerful. They are like natural laws. You cannot negotiate with an earthquake. You cannot seduce a hurricane. They are above any family, above any guild, above any nation. If one of them wants to destroy you, it will be over before you even think of resisting."
(One of the elders (in a trembling voice)
"I saw Saif bin Hamoud's aura. I felt death itself pass by me."
(Han Tae-won (looking at Han Ji-hoon)
"And this man... Anas... was unaffected by their aura. He sat drinking water as if nothing had happened. Do you now realize how dangerous he is?"
(Han Ji-hoon (was silent for a moment, then whispered)
"Fine... I understand."
(Han Tae-won (sitting down again)
"I will not allow you to destroy everything we have built. I will not allow you to disgrace our family because of your arrogance and poor judgment."
(Han Yeon-soo (suddenly speaking, in a cold voice)
"You know, Ji-hoon? I knew you were limited in intelligence. But I did not know you were this impulsive and arrogant."
(Han Ji-hoon (looking at him angrily)
"What do you want?!"
(Han Yeon-soo (standing from his seat and approaching him)
"You have caused countless problems with your reckless behavior. You tried to court Baek Min-joo last year, and insulted her with your vulgar words. Do you know what happened?"
(Han Ji-hoon (silent)
(Han Yeon-soo (continuing)
"Baek Ha-yoon, the head of the Baek Family, called our father personally. Not through a secretary, not through an intermediary. She herself. And told him that if he did not apologize formally, she would consider our family enemies. Our father, a man in his seventies, had to go himself to the Baek Family headquarters and apologize. Personally."
(Han Ji-hoon (whispered)
"That... was not my fault alone..."
(Han Yeon-soo (raising his voice)
"And what you did with the Geom Family last month? You challenged their first son to a duel, then lost, then accused him of cheating in front of everyone. You nearly started a war between the two families!"
(Han Ji-hoon (looking at the floor)
(Han Yeon-soo (returning to his seat, but not stopping)
"And were it not that you are a true S+ rank hunter, and were it not that our father loves you despite everything... you would not be in this life."
He looked at Han Ji-hoon with a disdainful gaze, then added in a quieter but sharper voice:
(Han Yeon-soo (continuing)
"And let me remind you of something you may have forgotten. You did not reach this rank through your own effort or talent alone. An asteroid supported you. Granted you its power. Otherwise, you would be B or A rank like the rest of the spoiled brats. Think about that before you become arrogant about your strength."
A heavy silence fell. Han Ji-hoon looked at his brother, and a hidden anger burned in his eyes, but he did not respond. He knew the words were true.
(Han Ji-hoon (raising his head suddenly, trying to regain his confidence)
"Fine. Perhaps I made mistakes in the past. But this time is different. The Phoenix is not like other women. I will deal with her carefully."
(Han Tae-won (sarcastically)
"Carefully? You do not know the meaning of caution. You only know recklessness and arrogance."
(Han Ji-hoon (challenging)
"And what do you propose? Flattery and begging? Sneaking through intermediaries? That is beneath a family of our stature."
(Han Tae-won (shaking his head)
"What is beneath our family is a son who destroys its reputation because of his desires and whims."
One of the elders, the bald one, intervened with a quiet voice.
(Bald elder (quietly)
"Master Ji-hoon, advice from a man who has seen much. Do not play with fire. The Phoenix is not an ordinary woman. And her husband... is not an ordinary man. Stay away from them, and leave the relationships to those who understand them."
Han Ji-hoon looked at the elder, then at his father, then at his brother. He was angry, but he was also aware that he could not win this confrontation.
(Han Ji-hoon (in a faint, hesitant voice)
"Fine... perhaps you are right."
He stood from his seat slowly. He did not look at anyone. He simply turned toward the door.
(Han Ji-hoon (in a frozen voice)
"I will leave now."
(Han Tae-won (looking at him)
"Where are you going?"
(Han Ji-hoon (not turning)
"To rest. I will need my focus tomorrow."
(Han Yeon-soo (sarcastically)
"Your focus? You are not one of the contestants. You are only a spectator."
(Han Ji-hoon (heading to the door)
"Spectator or not, I will see this so-called god with my own eyes. And then... we will see who was right."
He opened the door and left.
The room fell silent for a moment.
(Han Tae-won (sighing deeply)
"My God... I hope he does not do something foolish."
(Han Yeon-soo (coldly)
"I will send someone to watch him. He will not escape us."
(Han Tae-won (nodding)
"Do it. And do not let him approach any of the contestants."
(Han Yeon-soo (standing)
"I will."
He left the room behind his brother.
Han Tae-won and the four elders remained in silence. One of the elders looked at the advisor.
(Bald elder (in a low voice)
"Are we safe?"
(Han Tae-won (looked at him, then at the fire in the fireplace)
"Safe? No one is safe in this world. But we... will try to survive."
—