Solo Leveling : Ragnarok - Chapter 80

– “Goodness, Suho! What on earth happened?”

The loud voice that came over the phone nearly made Suho’s ears bleed.

Suho answered with an awkward smile.

“Ha ha… Hello, Uncle.”

– “Hello, my foot! I almost fell over when I saw your face on the news! How are you? Are you hurt at all?”

“I’m fine, really. I’m not hurt.”

– “Are you sure?”

“Yes, really. I’m totally fine.”

– “Switch to video call!”

Without warning, the call switched to video, and a middle-aged man leaned in close on the other end, scrutinizing Suho’s appearance.

– “Let’s see… still as handsome as ever. And your body… looks like it’s gotten even better? You really are fine.”

“I told you, I’m fine.”

– “That’s a relief.”

Finally, a sigh of relief came from Suho’s uncle, Yoo Jinho.

– “Kid, here I thought you were quietly sketching in school, and now I find out you’re a hunter? If you awakened, you should have told me right away!”

“I’m sorry. Things have been so hectic, it slipped my mind.”

It was hardly an excuse—since his awakening, every day had been packed with incidents.

Even Suho himself could barely believe that just a month ago, he’d been a quiet art student, painting little ants on canvas.

Yoo Jinho clicked his tongue at Suho’s flimsy excuse.

– “There are some things you don’t just forget. You really are your father’s son—so aloof, it must be genetic. You haven’t told your grandparents, have you?”

“No. Telling them would just worry them unnecessarily. They’re happily living in the countryside.”

– “True. If they saw news about this, it would probably be terrible for their hearts. When I saw the news, my own heart almost stopped, and I had to delay all my meetings today.”

“Uncle, it sounds like your heart might be in worse shape than theirs. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Grandpa or Grandma look even a little unwell.”

– “Oh, shut up! Anyway, thanks to you, my schedule is wide open today. Are you free now?”

“Now? Yes, I am.”

– “Do you even know how many people died in that incident? I think my heart will only settle if I see you in person. You know where my office is, right?”

“You want me to come to your office now?”

– “Hmm, no. If you wander around in the current situation, people might recognize you. I’ll send my driver, so just throw on something and get in the car.”

With that, the call abruptly ended, leaving Suho to shrug.

“Well, I guess that works.”

A chance to see his uncle’s face.

And a good way to shake off the annoying pests outside.

Suho put on a casual outfit to head out.

—

Screech.

A black limousine pulled up in front of Suho’s house shortly after.

“Are you Mr. Sung Suho? The chairman sent me.”

‘An awakened one?’

Suho noticed a familiar aura of mana from the driver and felt a glint of interest in his eyes.

‘So he sent a driver who’s also a bodyguard.’

Not all awakened individuals wanted to risk their lives entering dungeons, like Dr. Min Byunggu.

Many preferred safer jobs outside the dungeons as long as they were well-paid.

Thunk.

“Please, take a seat in the back. I’ll open the door for you.”

“No, I can do it myself.”

Just as Suho moved to stop the driver from opening the back door for him—

“Wait! Hold on there!”

“Mr. Sung Suho! We’d like a word!”

The scouts who had been waiting outside his house ran over, blocking Suho’s path.

“We’re headhunters from Hyunmu Guild! We understand you’re still a freelancer—could we have a moment?”

“Just listen to our offer! You won’t get a better deal for a C-rank hunter anywhere else…!”

“Hey! Why are you pushing him? Mr. Sung Suho, let’s go to a nearby café.”

They pushed forward, thrusting their business cards at him, grabbing his wrist, and trying to drag him along.

Suho frowned slightly at their rude behavior.

[Scouts from large guilds are typically like this. Especially with mid-tier hunters, they tend to act high and mighty.]

Quay whispered in a voice only Suho could hear.

Thunk.

“Would you like to get in first?”

The driver, who had come to pick up Suho, removed his black sunglasses and stepped forward.

“I’ll take care of this.”

As he took off his sunglasses, a sharp, almost cutting gaze appeared.

However, the scouts were unfazed by his harsh expression.

Instead, they began pressuring the driver with their own aggressive stance.

“Look here. Do you know when to step back?”

“Do you even know who we are? How dare a mere driver interfere?”

“Do you have any idea what a life-changing opportunity this is for Mr. Sung Suho?”

The issue was, these scouts were also awakened individuals.

Since they regularly dealt with hunters, winning the initial power struggle was key to securing favorable terms.

An unusual tension filled the air as the driver and scouts faced off.

Thunk.

“It’s fine. I’ll handle this.”

Suho raised his hand to stop the driver and stepped forward.

The scouts’ faces brightened as if they’d expected this.

“Ha ha! That’s more like it!”

“A young guy like you knows how to communicate!”

“I guarantee that when you hear our terms, you’ll be….”

Then suddenly—

Thud.

“……!”

The scouts’ faces quickly turned pale.

They’d seen it.

Suho’s calm, deep gaze, like a dark abyss without end.

[Effect: Fear has been activated.]

[All stats of targets will decrease by 50% for 1 minute.]

Suho spoke, breaking the silence.

“I don’t know what kind of offer you’re talking about, but send it via email. Since you managed to find my home address, I’m sure you know my email too. And if you come unannounced like this again….”

Ding.

[You have acquired a new skill: Killing Intent Lv. 1.]

There was no need for further explanation.

As the system message confirmed, Suho’s killing intent was the “real thing,” honed through countless bloody encounters.

“Driver, let’s go.”

Turning away from the scouts, Suho climbed into the limousine.

The driver, who had watched with a curious expression, put his sunglasses back on and nodded.

“Yes, sir. We’re departing now.”

Vroom.

As the limousine drove away, the scouts finally exhaled the breaths they’d been holding.

“…Phew.”

“What… was that?”

“Did you see his eyes…?”

“Wait, isn’t he supposed to be C-rank? Are you sure that info’s right?”

“Wasn’t he a summoner?”

The sound of recalculations ran through their heads as they exchanged glances, quickly revising Suho’s estimated worth.

[Keke, Young Lord, what was that just now?]

As they drove, Beru’s excited voice echoed in Suho’s ear.

[Did you just mimic Rakan’s Fang’s skill, Contempt for the Weak?]

‘Yeah. I tried, and it worked.’

[Ah! Magnificent! You were a prodigy even as a child, Young Lord!]

Ignoring Beru’s fuss, Suho checked his new skill.

[Skill: Killing Intent Lv. 1]

Active Skill.

Mana Required: 100.

Inflicts a state of fear on specified targets for 1 minute with a powerful aura. Can target multiple individuals.

Effect ‘Fear’: All stats -50%

‘It’s almost identical to Contempt for the Weak, just more versatile.’

Regardless of the name, it had similar functionality.

Not that it would work effectively on someone stronger than himself.

—

“We’ve arrived.”

A short while later.

Stepping out of the limousine, Suho looked up at the towering, luxurious building.

[Ajin Soft]

The company that pioneered virtual reality gaming, undeniably the top game company in South Korea.

His uncle Yoo Jinho was the founder of this company.

[Ajin Soft’s CEO Yoo Jinho—A miracle success story of a young entrepreneur who rejected a chaebol succession!]

This was the headline when Yoo Jinho began to gain fame, back when Suho was still very young.

But back then, no one could have predicted it.

No one would have guessed that Ajin Soft, the game company started by the youngest son of a wealthy family, would continue its relentless rise for 20 years, solidifying its place as South Korea’s top game company.

Especially his first success, the virtual reality game *Beautiful World,* which continued to be popular even after 20 years, earning it a long-standing fanbase of middle-aged players affectionately called “Old Bue Gamers.”

“This way, please. I’ll lead you to the CEO.”

“Ah, yes.”

Following the driver, Suho casually observed the grandiose interior of the company.

‘There’s always something interesting to see here.’

As a company famous for its success in virtual reality gaming, the spacious first-floor lobby displayed state-of-the-art virtual reality equipment.

Before his awakening, Suho was a regular gamer, so he checked for any new devices or games as he walked.

‘…Hmm?’

Today, though, something unusual caught his eye.

‘Why are there hunters walking around in a game company?’

Hunters, fully armored and looking fierce, were roaming inside the building.

‘It’s not like a dungeon opened. What’s going on?’

[Perhaps the Young Lord’s arrival here drew these pests?]

[No, they don’t seem to be reacting to the Master. They might be here on business.]

“Business? What kind of business would hunters have at a game company?”

As Quay mentioned, the hunters weren’t paying any particular attention to Suho.

Some of them, sensing Suho’s aura, glanced at him with eyes that held a competitive glint.

“Who’s that rookie?”

“What makes him think he can walk in here so casually dressed?”

‘…Huh?’

Watching the hunters sneer at his casual attire, Suho became even more puzzled.

“Are you curious about those hunters?”

The driver noticed Suho’s expression and explained.

“The company is currently working on a new game that requires consultations with hunters. That’s why so many hunters have been coming by.”

“A game that needs hunters?”

Suho looked even more confused.

“Yes. If the game succeeds, it would be great publicity for the guilds that helped. The rest is confidential, so you can ask the CEO directly. Ah, he’s just over there.”

In the distance, Suho saw Yoo Jinho talking to some hunters.

“Ha ha. Oh, Mr. CEO, come on now. Is there any guild with a better image than our Hyunmu Guild? Working with us would be beneficial in so many ways….”

“Ahem. But you can’t keep coming by like this. I assure you, we’ll select based on fair standards.”

“Oh, of course, fair selection is important. That’s why we’re here in full gear, to give you a little preview….”

Manager Lee Youngho of Hyunmu Guild was eagerly flattering Yoo Jinho.

Just as Suho approached, the armed hunters blocked his way, glaring at him.

“And who are you?”

“Can’t you see they’re in the middle of an important discussion…?”

At that moment—

“Suho! You made it! Good to see you!”

Spotting Suho, Yoo Jinho beamed, abandoning Manager Lee and running toward Suho with a joyful wave.

“…!”

The hunters’ eyes widened in shock at his lively display.