Chapter 560
Just like Magic Johnson said—the glorious party of the victors was over.
Now that the oil field called the Gate had caught fire, explosions were bound to erupt across the world. No—they already were.
Right now, it was just that some unseen hand was covering it all up.
“Ah, fuck…”
I muttered like a groan and turned to Team Leader Choi.
“You’re not saying the situation here in Korea is the same, right?”
The real meaning behind my question: Are there incidents like the ones in America happening here too—ones I haven’t heard about?
Team Leader Choi paused in thought before replying.
“We’re always prepared for that possibility. But to my knowledge, no.”
“This has to be certain, Team Leader.”
“I understand. That’s why I was planning to arrange a meeting again.”
Hearing this, Magic Johnson asked,
「A meeting? With who?」
“People I’ve somehow ended up connected with. I don’t believe they would lie to me… but you never know how people’s hearts can change.”
「True. Especially politicians.」
At Johnson’s blunt remark, Choi quietly nodded.
“So you were aware.”
「At Mr. Lee’s state funeral, you looked busy. A lot of people were asking for you.」
Both Choi and I attended Lee Jeongryong’s state funeral to pay our respects.
We each had different motives, but it wasn’t just about maintaining appearances.
“They’re probably just looking for a new place to hide under. It’s what I wanted, too.”
Political and financial elites—once suffocated under the Ares Guild—were now turning their attention to us.
Of course, more than half of them approached me first. But from the beginning, I already had my answer for them.
‘Don’t waste your breath on a nobody Hunter like me. Talk to our Team Leader Choi instead.’
Getting a seat at Lee Jeongryong’s funeral—filled with influential giants—meant they had all clawed their way up to success in this world.
They understood exactly what I meant and quickly began scrambling to arrange meetings with Choi.
「The powerless are ignored, but the powerful get hands extended to them from everywhere. No matter how much the world changes, that will never change.」
Magic Johnson’s words hit with sharp truth.
No one used to look for me or Choi. Or Peace Guild.
But now, Peace Guild had emerged as the only real counterforce to the Ares Guild.
Maybe the general public hadn’t caught on yet—but the people sitting at the top of this society understood better than anyone.
By now, political and business figures were probably wracking their brains to figure out which side would give them the most gain, and whose shadow would offer the most shelter.
And the mid-to-large guild owners were likely itching to use this chance to break Ares’s monopoly.
Thus, Team Leader Choi had gained new reinforcements—and the power they brought with them.
It was the first step toward fully digesting the feast called “Ares.”
Perhaps that’s why the next words that passed from Choi’s lips—firm and resolute—came with more weight than ever before.
“I won’t refuse the hands they extend to me.”
Magic Johnson stared at Choi for a long moment, then suddenly spoke.
「So… it was true after all.」
“What was?”
「The rumor. That he and Choi were connected.」
“There’s no reason to hide it anymore. It’s true.”
Magic Johnson’s eyes widened.
「Didn’t expect Choi to admit it so easily. Or have you already told all your new connections the truth?」
“No. But even without saying it, they already know. Who the blood in my veins comes from.”
Pfft.
A quiet scoff escaped from between the Archmage’s thick lips.
「Yeah, that’s something no one can deny. The only true noble bloodline left in the 21st century.」
No current noble or royal could compare to Team Leader Choi.
Even that stuck-up Prince Felix of the UK becoming king wouldn’t change a thing.
If his ancestor built a mighty empire on which the sun never set, then Cheon Tae-min made it so that billions of people could see the sun rise the next day. A true savior of humanity.
「And not mentioning that heritage directly? Wise. People who are quiet and don’t flaunt themselves are naturally trusted.」
“Thank you.”
「No need. It’s the truth.」
Gone was his usual playful, jovial tone. Magic Johnson spoke with calm seriousness now.
「But Choi, remember this. Your grandfather—wherever he may be—and I, we both knew what mattered most. We risked our lives for a better future. I believe in the East, they call that ‘Da-ui’ (大義)? The greater cause.」
He was referring, in a roundabout way, to the real crisis at hand—not Ares Guild, but the looming global threat.
After a short pause, Team Leader Choi responded.
“I won’t forget, Mr. Johnson. But I’m not targeting Ares for personal reasons.”
「I know what kind of person you are. You’re weakening Ares and strengthening Peace Guild—not for revenge, but to prepare for what’s coming. Because you can’t take down a tiger with baby teeth.」
Choi gave a bitter smile.
“A hyena, huh… Can’t deny it.”
Even with the death of their central figure, Lee Jeongryong, Ares was still Ares.
Peace Guild had risen rapidly, partly because of my presence, but toppling Ares’s fortress of decades wouldn’t happen overnight.
「As long as it’s not for personal gain, I’ll help you grow stronger. Wizard Guild will support you. And if needed, I can introduce a few friends I trust personally.」
“I’d appreciate that. Some unfinished business from the past still lingers.”
「You mean that young man… Mr. Seok.」
Magic Johnson furrowed his brows slightly.
「Didn’t know him well, but I always had a bad feeling. Right, Jin?」
I nodded without hesitation.
“Total piece of shit.”
「You can tell just from his name. Sounds like ‘Suck.’ Even back when he ambushed you while you were investigating the Arch Lich’s base, I had a bad feeling…」
Johnson’s voice turned serious.
「He’s even more dangerous now. Jin, you were right in front of him—didn’t you notice?」
“…Well, I did fart while I was standing there.”
「…What the fuck.」
“…Sorry. I know. It was bad. But Seok Gojun was always a dangerous bastard.”
「Yeah, yeah. But from now on, please don’t fart when I’m standing behind you.」
“…Yes, sir.”
Even I had felt nervous leaving my back to Johnson. But since I was the one who farted, I didn’t have much to say.
As I awkwardly avoided his gaze, Magic Johnson wrinkled his nose and continued.
「Alright. That’s enough for today. Just know—if no one else, I trust you two completely.」
He looked at me and Team Leader Choi with a warm gaze, then turned toward the other two in the room—no, one person and one monster—and added,
「You two as well, of course.」
Skeleton King and Im Jeok-jung answered simultaneously:
“Don’t take me to any more gay bars.” (T/N: WTF, I cant imagine King’s face after visiting that gay bar. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA)
“I, I don’t speak English.”
「…So reassuring.」
Muttering with an expression that said the exact opposite, Magic Johnson pulled out a small glass vial and drank it down.
Judging from its glow, it was a mana-recovery potion.
I asked,
“Heading back?”
「Yeah. Time for me to get moving. I need to contact some friends I haven’t seen in a while.」
“Friends, meaning…”
「The ones I mentioned earlier. Some of them are retired now, but they can still help a lot. Oh—and if Choi wants, I can take him with me right now. How about it?」
Choi flinched under Johnson’s burning gaze and quickly shook his head.
“I-I’m fine. Thank you.”
「Shame. Joseph’s quite interested in you.」
“I’m flattered, but… Wait. Did you just say Joseph?”
「Unless you misheard—yes.」
“You mean… former U.S. President Joseph Biden?!” (T/N: I know. I know. But please, lets not be all politics about this. This is just a novel. I’m surprised though that the author is using real influential people.)
「That’s the one. He retired a while ago, but we still meet once a month for drinks. Though he barely drinks now—man’s ancient.」
What the…
Even Team Leader Choi wasn’t the only one stunned. Im Jeok-jung and I both had our jaws on the floor.
“That Joseph Biden?!”
“Oh! I know him! I know Joseph Biden!”
I never cared much about American presidents—be they Trump, Obama, or Kim Cheolsoo—but the name Joseph Biden was drilled into us at Hunter training.
During his term, the Great Cataclysm struck. He suffered more than the fictional mayor of New York in superhero movies.
‘His connections are on another level…’
In the U.S., he was practically regarded as a second founding father after George Washington.
I already knew Magic Johnson was a big deal—but this level of personal network was jaw-dropping.
「No need to overreact. We’ve just been close for nearly fifty years. Though most people don’t know—it’s a private friendship.」
Team Leader Choi froze at the word “close,” and Johnson quickly added,
「Forget the ‘close’ part. We’re just friends. Good friends.」
「Shit. Can’t believe I’m explaining this.」
“Mr. Johnson. In Korea, we have a saying: You reap what you sow.”
「Goddammit. Got me good. So—what’s it going to be, Choi?」
Without hesitation, Choi replied,
“Let’s go. I’ll be in your care.”
「Great choice. The motion sickness from teleporting across continents is rough, though.」
“Motion sickness is nothing.”
With a calm reply, Team Leader Choi took Johnson’s outstretched hand.
With a nod of farewell, a massive surge of mana engulfed them both.
Fwoooosh!
A brilliant flash of light launched the two of them into the unknown.
And then—
The three who remained—Im Jeok-jung, Skeleton King, and I—felt our smartphones erupt in violent vibrations.
* * * * * * *
(T/N: I’m alive! 😂 Just dropping in with a quick update. Still not back to a regular upload schedule, but I’ll be uploading at least 5 chapters per series every week, in order based on the most recent series I picked up. No fixed days yet, but I’ll keep the bulk uploads coming as best as I can!)
