Infinite Evolution Hunter [NOVEL] - chapter 26
“It’s not a transferable contract.”
I said as I looked down at the contract Tak Dong-yeon had handed me.
“Our legal team will take care of that. Hunter Lee, all you need to do is sign this transfer and waiver document and take the money.”
“Hm… so where are you really from?”
“Pardon?”
“You’re not from an agency, are you?”
“Y-yes, I am. Look at my business card.”
“You’re not even a hunter, but you’ve got guts.”
I picked up the teaspoon from the cup and bent it in half.
Then I folded it again, and again.
The metal spoon bent as easily as paper.
Tak Dong-yeon swallowed hard.
“Where?”
“…I’m from Shinwoo.”
“Shinwoo? That’s a big corporation. So why’d you come here to scam me?”
“The contract talk is real. If twenty percent isn’t enough, I’ll give you fifty percent more.”
Ah, that part’s true.
“What are you planning to do to Na-young?”
“That’s not something Hunter Lee needs to concern himself with.”
“Ahh… you’re really trying to piss me off.”
The spoon had been folded and folded until it was almost in the shape of a marble.
I rolled the metal ball between my thumb and middle finger, then flicked it.
The metal marble shot past Tak Dong-yeon’s ear and lodged itself into the wall.
Compressed and heated from impact, it smoked where it hit.
“Argh!”
The edge of Tak Dong-yeon’s ear was slightly torn off.
“Oh dear… you alright?”
I stood up, handed him some tissue, and went to the kitchen.
“Do you… do you think you’ll get away with this?”
Without answering, I came back from the kitchen carrying a handful of spoons and dropped them all onto the coffee table.
Then I picked one up and started rolling another ball.
“So… what exactly are you planning to do to Na-young?”
I began folding the spoon.
“I-I really don’t know… I was just ordered by my superior.”
Tak Dong-yeon was sweating, holding a tissue against his ear.
“You look like you know something.”
I could sense he didn’t harbor direct hostility or murderous intent toward me,
but I could also feel that he was lying here and there.
“I’ll be going now.”
As he reached for the contract, I pressed my hand down on it.
“Leave that here.”
He looked troubled, glancing between the metal ball in my fingers and the contract, then let go.
I wanted to grab him and interrogate him,
but unless I planned to kill him and bury him in the backyard, it’d be hard to smooth things over later.
I’d dig deeper in due time.
“I won’t go far.”
He practically fled from the house.
After watching him go, I picked up my phone.
“Hello.”
Na-young answered.
“Na-young, how’s your mother?”
“Thanks to you, she’s completely recovered.
She keeps saying over and over how grateful she is to you, Ji-seok.”
We’d bought the elixir and proceeded with surgery simultaneously,
and everything had gone perfectly.
It seemed she’d fully recovered now.
“Don’t mention it. But there’s something I wanted to ask.
Did something happen between you and Shinwoo?”
“Why do you ask?”
Her bright tone sank.
“Someone from Shinwoo came by, asking me to transfer the contract rights you signed over to them.”
“…Did you?”
“No. That would be a breach of contract.
I keep my promises.”
“Thank you. I didn’t think they’d go as far as to find you.”
“What’s going on?”
“The chairman’s son of Shinwoo Group…
He’s been following me for a while.
When I rejected him, he kept sending people to tail me.
After my mother got sick, he showed up with a contract,
saying he’d pay for the elixir—
but it was complete nonsense.
It didn’t even guarantee my mother’s treatment,
and it would’ve completely stripped me of my freedom.”
Her usually calm voice trembled with anger and disgust.
Now I understood why she hadn’t seemed too hopeful when I first mentioned a contract.
“He spread rumors about my skill,
so it was hard for me to find a party.
Honestly, if my mother’s condition had gotten any worse,
I might’ve signed no matter what happened to me.
No… if you hadn’t appeared,
I probably would’ve grabbed at that rotten rope just to survive.”
“You don’t need to worry anymore.
Your mother’s fine, and I’m not transferring the contract.”
“Thank you.”
I heard her sniffle faintly over the phone.
“Then spend some time with your mother and come back when you’re ready.”
“No, I’ll work tomorrow.”
“Really? Then see you tomorrow.”
After hanging up, I didn’t feel like going to a gate today.
I decided to rest.
—
“Is this Mr. Ji-seok?”
An elderly woman’s voice came from an unknown number.
“Yes, who’s this?”
“I work at the restaurant with your mother, Ms. Sun-ok.”
She worked with my mother at the restaurant.
“Ah, hello. What’s the matter?”
“Judging by your tone, you don’t know what happened yesterday, huh?
I thought it was strange she came in for work.”
“Yesterday?”
“Yesterday some thug came in, caused a scene,
and started yelling right at your mother.
He was shouting, throwing things—
threw a beer glass that shattered,
and one of the shards cut her face.”
A rush of heat shot to my head.
“Was she badly hurt?”
I forced my voice to stay calm.
“Nothing major. Just a scare, really.
The boss told her to take the day off,
but she came in anyway.
That guy was yelling about ‘raising her son right,’
so I thought you might know something.”
“Thank you for calling.
I’ll head to the restaurant right now.”
“I know I shouldn’t meddle in other people’s business,
but she feels like family to me.”
“Thank you.”
I hung up and headed straight to my mother’s restaurant.
When I entered, I saw my mother working with a large bandage on her face.
Just seeing her injured made the world turn red before my eyes.
In my previous life, nothing like this had happened around this time,
so I’d let my guard down.
“Goodness, Ji-seok, what brings you here without calling first?”
“Mom… are you alright?”
“This? It’s nothing.”
“I’m sorry, Mom. This is my fault.
But can’t you stop working now?”
It was my fault, but I couldn’t stay by her side all day.
“We already talked about this. I have to work,
so let’s talk later.”
“Hey, Sun-ok. There aren’t many customers right now—
go have a talk in the back.”
It was the same voice from the call.
The lady guided my mother into a private room
and gave me a nod to follow.
“Thank you.”
I bowed deeply.
“Mom, sit down.”
When she reluctantly sat,
I told her everything that had happened with Na-young—
about Shinwoo trying to buy out the contract,
and me refusing.
“Mom, I’m sorry. It’s because of me.”
“No. Don’t you listen to those bastards trying to bully a young lady.
You did the right thing.”
“So, can’t you stop working now?
I can deal with things better if I know you’re safe.”
She sat quietly for a while.
“Alright. Let’s do that.”
“Mom, that’s a good decision. Let’s go right now.”
“Right now? Today?”
“The boss said you could take the day off, right?
Let’s go.”
“Ah, I thought Hye-ja was acting weird earlier—
was she the one who called you?”
“Yeah.”
Mom went out and bowed apologetically to the restaurant owner.
“I’m so sorry for the sudden notice.”
“It’s alright.
It’s hard to find workers as good as you, Ms. Sun-ok,
but it can’t be helped.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
Mom bowed politely.
“Mom, I’ll grab your clothes and things.”
“Okay.”
While she went to change,
I approached the restaurant owner.
“I’m sorry, sir. I heard what happened yesterday—it’s my fault.”
“No, no, we should’ve protected your mother better.
The police said they’d look into it, but no word yet.”
“It’s fine. Was anything broken? I’ll pay for it.”
“Nah. Nothing like that.”
“Alright, but if you remember anything, please call me.
And I have one favor—
could you send me the CCTV footage from yesterday?”
I handed him my business card.
“Sure thing.”
Thankfully, he was reasonable.
I went to Mom’s house, packed up her essentials,
and headed to my place in Hanam.
The rest could be moved later with movers.
“Mom, this is Jae-in.
He works in the workshop next door.”
“Nice to meet you~”
Mom greeted warmly.
“Nice to meet you, ma’am.”
Jae-in bowed back.
“Mom, go ahead and unpack.
I need to talk with Jae-in for a minute.
Oh, and don’t open the fridge.
There’s a bunch of materials from gates, not food.
I’ll move them later.”
“Alright~”
Once Mom went inside, I turned to Jae-in.
“Jae-in, from now on, prioritize creating defense and security items for this house.
Don’t spare money or materials.
Ask me for anything you need.”
“Are you okay? You look scary.”
I thought I was being calm, but I guess my face showed otherwise.
“I’m fine. Just some pests buzzing around.
I’m counting on you.”
“Got it.”
Leaving the workshop, I called Na-young
and told her about what had happened to my mother.
“I’m so sorry…
I didn’t think they’d go this far.
Transfer my contract to Shinwoo.
Then they’ll leave you alone.”
“No, that’s not why I told you.
I’m not taking back my word over something like this.
I called to tell you to bring your mother and stay at my house.
It’s big enough for two more people.”
“What? I can’t possibly—”
“If something happened to you or your mom,
I couldn’t stay calm either.
Once the security setup’s done,
you two can stay here safely even when I’m out.
Just until this is resolved.”
I didn’t plan to let it drag out.
“I’ll talk to my mom.”
After some discussion,
Na-young and her mother moved into my house.
“I’m so sorry. Because of us…”
Na-young’s mother bowed so deeply
her head almost touched the floor.
“Oh, please, it’s not your fault.
Those bastards are to blame.”
“Still, Na-young owes you so much. Thank you.”
No wonder Na-young was so polite—
she took after her mother.
Once they unpacked, I got back to work.
I hired a private security company to build a wall and install cameras,
while Jae-in laid down magical items throughout the property.
At first, they were experimental,
but later more advanced devices were added,
creating double and triple security layers.
“What’s this?”
I asked, pointing at a post in the yard topped with an orb.
“An item that shocks intruders.”
“Can I test it?”
“How exactly do you plan to test it?”
“By getting hit, of course.”
I walked straight toward the orb,
and lightning burst out, striking me.
Zzzt!
The crackle of electricity filled the air as my muscles tensed.
It hurt almost as much as getting hit by a fairy’s fireball.
The discharge lasted a few seconds.
“Whew… not bad.
Most hunters couldn’t withstand that.
Install more of them.”
“These require a lot of mana stones.
It’ll be expensive.”
“I don’t care. Keep going.”
After relaying my requests to Jae-in, I went to Na-young.
“If anything happens,
get into the panic room,
pull down the blind, and wait.
I’ll be right back.”
With her blind skill,
she could buy time even if I wasn’t there.
“Where are you going?”
“Got some business to take care of.”
Now that the security was set,
it was time to find that bastard.
I watched the footage the restaurant owner sent me,
and my veins nearly burst.
The man was yelling and making a huge scene,
drawing everyone’s attention.
Then he threw the cup,
it shattered on the floor,
and one shard strangely flew and struck my mother’s face.
Judging by his flinch,
it probably wasn’t intentional—
but that didn’t mean I’d let it slide.
I’d already sent his photo to a few private investigators.
Today, they finally called back.