Chapter 607
Pentagon.
This massive five-sided building was practically impenetrable.
With a security force of over a thousand, each one a high-ranking Hunter, and the overwhelming flow of mana surrounding its interior and exterior, the Pentagon’s might was evident at a glance.
“Amazing, right?”
Magic Johnson, having just finished the authentication process, smiled knowingly at me and Team Leader Choi, who were looking around wide-eyed.
“Since it was first built during World War II, the Pentagon has only been attacked twice. 9/11. And the Great Cataclysm. I’m sure you both know how that turned out.”
Team Leader Choi nodded solemnly.
“Even during the massive assault by Demon King Asmodeus and the monster army, it never fell.”
“Exactly. It was the second fiercest battle of my life. The first, of course, was ‘Victory Day.’ And both times, we barely made it through thanks to one man.”
If you were a citizen of Earth—not just an American—you’d know.
The only person who managed to stop the Demon King Asmodeus when he descended upon this world during the Great Cataclysm—and ever since—was one man.
“Cheon Taemin. Your grandfather, whom Americans call Sky. If it weren’t for him, neither I nor the Pentagon would be here today.”
Magic Johnson’s gaze drifted, seemingly lost in memory, as he looked at Team Leader Choi.
“I see you’re thinking the same thing, Johnson.”
A sudden voice interrupted. The speaker wasn’t me, or Team Leader Choi, or even Skeleton King hiding in my inventory.
Step. Step. Step.
A pair of rugged boots approached. Wearing wrinkled jeans and a disheveled shirt, with wild white hair, the elderly white man strode toward us and thrust out both hands.
“I can’t decide who to shake hands with first, so let’s do it together. I’m Chuck Hagel. Just call me Chuck.”
His very first greeting was overflowing with the raw energy of a true Texas tough guy.
Something about his face seemed familiar. I stared as I shook his hand.
“I’m Jin Taekyung. But wait, are you…”
“The Chuck Hagel you’re thinking of? That’s right. I may not be as famous as you, but back in the day, I did my share of monster slaying.”
“Ooh… ooohhh.”
Even seeing him in person, I still couldn’t believe it. But this old man was indeed the S-rank Hunter of a past generation, once known as Uncle Chuck.
I never imagined I’d get to meet one of my childhood war heroes from the Great Cataclysm. I enthusiastically shook his hand up and down.
“I’m a fan. A real fan. I used to collect your Hunter cards back in elementary school.”
“Hunter cards? They sold those in South Korea?”
“They probably sold them in North Korea too. I saved my allowance just to buy them.”
“Well, looks like another dumb kid who helped fund my big royalty checks. Not that they lasted—I blew all that money on five divorces.”
So much for childhood nostalgia. Chuck Hagel smiled fondly as he continued.
“If you still have one of my cards, bring it sometime. I’ll sign it for you.”
“Oh, I already traded them.”
“What?”
“I collected ten and traded them for a Cheon Taemin card my friend had. Honestly, Uncle Chuck’s cards weren’t that rare.”
“…”
The smile drained from Chuck Hagel’s face as he sighed.
“Damn it. And you traded it for no one else but Mr. Sky. I can’t even be mad about that.”
“His rarity and value weren’t even close. My friend wanted twenty cards for it, but I talked him down…”
“Alright, alright, that’s enough.”
Shaking his head, Chuck Hagel turned to shake hands with Team Leader Choi.
“You take after your grandfather. It’s good to meet you, Choi.”
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Hagel.”
“I told you—call me Chuck. I’d expect ignorance from some brainless idiots, but you and that turncoat beside you have earned the right.”
Calling me a turncoat just for trading cards… I grumbled inwardly.
Team Leader Choi answered calmly.
“Please understand, Mr. Hagel. As the head of the Pentagon and Secretary of Defense of the United States, calling you by your first name would feel improper.”
“Hmm. Fair point. I guess you’d be mindful of appearances, especially since you now oversee two major guilds.”
I blinked at their conversation.
“The head of the Pentagon? Secretary of Defense?”
“What? You didn’t know?”
“Of course not.”
“Really? I thought Johnson would’ve told you.”
Magic Johnson scratched his chin awkwardly under the scrutiny of the man likely to become the next Secretary of Defense.
“I assumed you already knew, Jin. Seriously?”
At this point, I felt like an idiot. I replied in a bitter tone.
“I really didn’t know. Did you just get appointed a few days ago or something? Maybe that’s why I missed it.”
Chuck Hagel gave a short, blunt reply.
“This is my eighth year.”
“…Oh.”
“Well, it’s not exactly something you needed to know. Compared to what I’m about to tell you, that’s not very important. Alright, follow me.”
Chuck Hagel casually pulled a cigar from his uniform pocket and lit it. We followed him as he led the way.
Every time he puffed the cigar, smoke billowed up and triggered a flashing red warning light accompanied by a loud alarm.
Weee-oooh! Weee-oooh!
“Fire hazard! Fire hazard!”
Bang! Without hesitation, Chuck Hagel smashed the alarm.
“Fucking siren.”
He wasn’t just a tough guy—he was nuts. Hidden safely in my inventory, Skeleton King whispered,
“Is he really human? Not a monster?”
Even I had my doubts. But this behavior matched exactly what I remembered from the description on his old Hunter card.
Born in Texas, dreamed of being a cowboy, and supposedly once tamed and rode a minotaur with his bare hands. Among other unbelievable tales.
Clomp. Clomp.
No one dared stand in the way of Chuck Hagel’s unstoppable march.
Researchers, Hunters, and staff affiliated with the Pentagon all parted like the sea before a disaster, while “Moses with a cigar instead of a staff” passed through, exhaling smoke like a chimney.
Of course, he didn’t forget to throw in some trash talk along the way.
“Will this damn hallway ever get wider? Every time I see it, I want to smash it.”
“Hey, Smith, put away that damn vape or I’ll have your name added to the fallen. If you bring that goddamn strawberry scent near me again, you’re toast. Cigars are fine, though.”
“Gordon. The alarm in Sector 3 is busted. Go fix it. Who broke it? Listen carefully—it was your fucking superior officer.”
No one could stop the raging bull that was Chuck Hagel.
In just five minutes, poor Smith had his vape juice confiscated, innocent Gordon had to sprint off to repair the broken alarm, and seven more alarms were smashed to bits by cigar smoke.
Gordon would probably be fixing those too.
This guy’s completely insane.
As I was wondering who on Earth had the crazy idea of making this man Secretary of Defense, Magic Johnson whispered to me,
“Hey, Jin. Chuck’s been on edge lately because of the terrorist situation. Deep down, he’s a good guy. Try to understand.”
No sooner did he finish than Chuck Hagel punched the wall.
“This goddamn hallway! Hallway! Hallway! Didn’t I tell them to make the damn hallway wider?!”
Bang! Bang! BANG!
Team Leader Choi watched the expanding hallway and asked earnestly,
“Is he really a good guy?”
“…Maybe. He might look like that, but his abilities and drive as Secretary of Defense are unmatched.”
Of course they are. One wrong move and your life would be over.
As Magic Johnson responded with waning confidence, Chuck Hagel passed through a mana recognition system and pointed to a tightly closed door.
“We’re here. This is Building 5.”
“Building 5?”
“It’s called the E-Ring. Just so you know, as far as I’m aware, it’s been 25 years since a foreigner set foot in here.”
Chuck Hagel glanced at Team Leader Choi and added with a grin,
“There’s only been one outsider ever allowed to come and go freely here. Mr. Sky. He was treated like the President of the United States.”
Even setting aside everything else, the fact that Chuck Hagel consistently addressed Cheon Taemin as “Mister” was proof of his standing.
“And now, his grandson and a young hero have inherited the baton. Welcome… all of you, to Building 5.”
The moment he finished speaking, light poured out from the door.
Fwaaah!
No, this wasn’t just light—it was magic.
I didn’t resist the stream of mana scanning my whole body and accepted it.
As dazzling light filled my vision, the space around us distorted.
‘This feeling…’
As I blinked, I realized what this familiar sensation was.
[Teleport].
I had arrived in a completely new and unfamiliar place.
As my vision adjusted, I saw people seated around a five-sided table.
“So, the forces to be deployed to the Middle Eastern front will… Ah. Our guests have arrived.”
With a beep, the hologram illuminating the dark chamber vanished, and the neatly dressed middle-aged man seated at the head of the table rose from his seat.
His face was all too familiar.
A public figure constantly exposed by every form of media, he looked older than he did on TV, exuding even more charisma than in the papers.
“You’re later than expected, Secretary Hagel. I hope you didn’t break another alarm system again.”
With a wry smile, the man spoke, and Chuck Hagel flicked the glowing tip of his cigar off with his finger.
“Just deduct it from my paycheck.”
“Funny you mention that. The Treasury Secretary already said your entire salary this month went into Pentagon repair costs.”
“Damn it. Again? At this rate, I won’t even be able to afford alimony to get divorced again.”
Chuck Hagel sighed and turned to us.
“No need for introductions, I presume?”
Indeed, this time, none were needed.
Team Leader Choi, me, even Skeleton King—all of us knew exactly who that middle-aged man was.
– Wretched human… is that old man by any chance…?
Yes. I gave a small nod and whispered the name to myself as he approached with composed steps.
‘Donald Doramp Jr.’ (T/N: Yep! It was really spelled Doramp. lol)
A name eclipsed by an even more famous title: President of the United States.