Isthart.
They had landed in Korea.
Since it was an official visit, they followed the proper entry procedures and entered the airport. As a result, the Korean government had to struggle to keep journalists and civilians at bay.
“The public has the right to know!!”
“Can you really suppress press freedom like this in a free democratic country?”
The outcry from the people was quite troublesome, but the government had no choice but to enforce control.
It wasn’t just because of the Isthart Guild—there were so many people gathered that an accident could have occurred.
“You must be having a hard time.”
“Now it’s time for the Director to truly have a hard time.”
As Jeon Young-joo muttered while watching the staff and agents controlling the crowd, Team Leader Kang Kyung-heon gave a wry smile.
Ding.
“Ah, Director. Just now, Kyu-seong has arrived at the Awakening Headquarters!”
“Kyu-seong? What impeccable timing.”
They had been worried because Isthart was arriving soon, and Kyu-seong had yet to return from the dungeon.
But they couldn’t blame him—Isthart had suddenly announced their visit to Korea, leaving little time to prepare.
Ring ring.
“Why would they call instead of just texting…….”
Right after confirming via text that Kyu-seong had arrived at headquarters, another subordinate called.
Since they had just arrived at the airport and were about to greet the Isthart Guild members, it was a bothersome situation.
“Just pick it up.”
“Understood.”
Kang Kyung-heon answered the call.
And then, his face froze.
“D-Director.”
“What is it now?”
“Right now, at headquarters, Kyu-seong is…………….”
“You just told me that earlier. What’s the big deal?”
“K-Kyu-seong is here with Hassan al-Din Sinan.”
‘Did I mishear? Who did he say was with him?’
Jeon Young-joo stiffened and replayed Kang Kyung-heon’s words in his mind.
But no matter how much he thought about it, what he had heard seemed correct.
But is that even possible?
Wasn’t that man one of Isthart’s executives, who had just arrived in Korea?
‘There must be some mistake.’
Jeon Young-joo ultimately chose to dismiss it.
“Hassan is not on the list of Isthart Guild members coming to Korea. It must be a misunderstanding.”
“What? No, that’s not it. I’m saying he’s actually at headquarters with Kyu-seong.”
“What kind of nonsense is that?!”
“Aah, they just sent a photo as well.”
A photo?
This better not be a joke…………….
But in the photo sent by the subordinate, Kyu-seong, Ara, and an elderly man were clearly visible.
Bizarrely enough, the elderly man was even making a peace sign with his fingers, looking completely at ease.
Kang Kyung-heon, who saw the photo together with him, was at a loss for words.
Just in case, he examined the old man’s face closely.
But there was no doubt—it was Hassan al-Din Sinan.
Even Kyu-seong seemed to have noticed, so there was no way two people well-versed in Awakeners could fail to recognize him.
“That’s really Hassan, isn’t it?”
“What are the chances it’s a fake Hassan?”
“There’s such a thing as a fake Hassan?”
“You just said it’s the real Hassan, Director.”
“……Ha.”
He was so dumbfounded that he couldn’t even speak properly.
Why was Hassan, a Level 9 Awakener and a high-ranking executive of Isthart, here?
And with Korea’s VIP, Kyu-seong, no less.
Wait, is Kyu-seong not even scared?
He should definitely know who he’s dealing with.
‘Or does he not know?!’
But that couldn’t be the case, because even the subordinate who took the picture recognized him as Hassan.
In the end, Jeon Young-joo called the headquarters directly.
“Why is Hassan there?”
—W-We’re still investigating the circumstances.
“If he came with Kyu-seong, that means they were together since the dungeon. And even after all that happened, you’re still this lax?!”
Of course, this was just Jeon Young-joo venting his frustration.
There wasn’t a single Awakener in Korea who could have prevented Hassan from infiltrating.
—W-We’re sorry.
“Is there any problem between them?”
—No! In fact, they seem to be getting along very well. Especially Hassan—he’s taking great care of Kyu-seong. It seems like there might have been some kind of deal between them.
“That sounds plausible. Someone like Hassan wouldn’t go out of his way to meet Kyu-seong for nothing.”
After saying he understood, he instructed them to take good care of the two before ending the call.
“Director. They’ve disembarked from the plane.”
“……Now we should get going too.”
As soon as the call regarding Hassan ended, it was time to welcome the Isthart Guild.
Even in the midst of chaos, Jeon Young-joo carried out his duties.
‘The only executive listed in the Isthart Guild’s delegation was a low-ranking officer.’
Do they even know that their highest-ranking executive, Hassan, is already here?
And just then, Jeon Young-joo found his answer.
The Isthart Guild members could be seen in the distance.
The atmosphere was unusual.
True to their reputation as a secretive guild, they exuded an ominous aura.
It was overwhelming enough to justify their rank as the number one guild in the world.
Swallowing nervously, he waited as they approached.
A man at the front spoke first.
“I am Abdulaziz Ahmed Abdullah Al-Muqrin.”
“Nice to meet you, Abdulaziz Ahmed Abdullah Al-Muqrin. I am Jeon Young-joo, the Director of the Awakening Headquarters.”
“Please, call me Abdulaziz.”
After brief introductions, they immediately set off.
As they boarded the vehicles prepared to escort them, Abdulaziz looked impressed.
“This is my first time in Korea, and it is truly a developed country. To be honest, I didn’t have high expectations.”
“I’m glad it met your expectations.”
From the start, Abdulaziz subtly provoked.
However, Jeon Young-joo merely smiled and brushed it off.
“By the way, have you managed to contact that Awakener, Lee Kyu-seong? We don’t have much time to spare…….”
“He has already arrived at the place we are heading to.”
“That’s a relief. Well, I suppose he couldn’t afford to ignore our guild.”
Abdulaziz was a Level 8 Awakener.
His abilities were unknown, but being an Isthart executive meant he was anything but ordinary.
‘Even so, he’s quite arrogant.’
Jeon Young-joo made his assessment internally but spoke in a flattering tone.
“Korea does not disregard any guest. Of course, we pay even more attention to guests from the Isthart Guild.”
“By the way, you’re the Director, right? That means you must know quite a bit about Lee Kyu-seong?”
“I wouldn’t say we’re strangers.”
“Then let me ask you something.”
Abdulaziz leaned in with a smug smile.
“Is he really such an incredible Awakener that someone of my status, an Isthart executive, has to personally come here? No matter how much I hear about him, I just don’t see it.”
With that statement, Jeon Young-joo was certain.
Abdulaziz had no idea that Hassan was already here.
According to the subordinate, Hassan had taken a liking to Kyu-seong.
And yet, this low-ranking executive dared to look down on him?
‘Heh.’
Even better.
Let him underestimate him all he wants.
“Well, wouldn’t it be best if you judge for yourself? After all, you came here to meet him, didn’t you?”
“Hah, how pathetic that I had to come all this way myself because of incompetent fools.”
Now, he was even speaking informally.
But the more he did, the broader Jeon Young-joo’s smile became.
And as they got closer to headquarters—
He couldn’t suppress his laughter.
Having heard that the Isthart Guild members were on their way, they waited for a moment.
In the meantime, Ara and Hassan were engaged in a heated debate.
***
“The rhinoceros beetle is the strongest!”
“There are countless insects in the world, and some are stronger than the rhinoceros beetle. If only I could show you, it would be easier to understand.”
“RHI!NO!CER!OS! BEE!TLE! IS! THE! STRONGEST!”
Why were they even arguing about this?
And why was Ara suddenly so stubborn, something she usually wasn’t?
As they watched the argument unfold, a staff member entered and reported to them.
“They have arrived!”
Hassan stretched and stood up.
“So, Abdulaziz is here? That brat was spoiled rotten by his father, Ahmed. I had to discipline him several times.”
“It’s fortunate that you know him.”
“Of course, I do. I’m Isthart, after all. It’d be stranger if I didn’t.”
“Ah, right. You just feel so familiar that I forgot for a second.”
“Haha. I’m glad to hear that. Anyway, don’t worry too much. I’ll handle most of the talking.”
Wait—weren’t they coming to recruit me into Isthart?
From what Hassan was saying, it felt like something unpleasant was about to happen.
‘Are they planning to force me into submission? Why is he saying that?’
As if reading my mind, Hassan spoke again.
“Isthart is an extremely closed-off guild. They’re highly hostile to outsiders. You got a glimpse of that from the ones who visited last time, didn’t you?”
“Back then, we only exchanged greetings…………..”
“Muhammad is one of my subordinates, so he at least has some social skills. But the others in Isthart? No chance.”
Knock knock knock.
“They’re coming!”
They were finally getting out of the vehicle and heading this way.
Three minutes later—
Director Jeon Young-joo and the Isthart Guild members entered.
‘Huh?’
And Hassan had suddenly disappeared.
Wait, weren’t you supposed to back me up?!
Where did you go?
“Kyu-seong, it’s been a while.”
“Hello, Director.”
“Hello there!”
After greeting the familiar face of the Director, I looked at the people who followed him inside.
Isthart, the world’s number one ranked guild, yet most of its members remained shrouded in mystery.
‘They look terrifying.’
Why were they all scowling?
Their first impression wasn’t great.
“I am Abdulaziz Ahmed Abdullah Al-Muqrin.”
The man at the front immediately spoke to me in an informal tone.
At first, I thought he simply didn’t know how to use honorifics, but then I saw him using a translation item.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Lee Kyu-seong.”
“What’s your Level?”
He asked about my level out of nowhere.
His name was too long to remember, so I decided to just call him Abdul.
“I’m Level 1.”
Didn’t they already know that before coming here?
Why ask again?
Of course, right now, I was actually a Level 3 Awakener.
All thanks to the golden crops.
Thinking about the golden strawberries I still had left, I unconsciously swallowed.
“Pfft!”
“Hahahaha!!”
“Kehehehe!”
Suddenly, the Isthart members burst into laughter.
What the hell was this reaction?
“We came all the way to this remote, backwater country for a mere Level 1 Awakener.”
“This is ridiculous.”
What the hell was their problem?
Dumbfounded, I glanced at Director Jeon Young-joo.
But even he looked stunned, watching their behavior with a stiff expression.
“Hey, Lee Kyu-seong. Level 1 Awakener.”
“You should be kneeling and thanking us just for coming to meet you. Understand?”
Blatant disrespect.
It was my first time experiencing something this absurd, and I was too shocked to speak.
Then, Ara stepped forward and pointed a finger at Abdul.
“You’re being rude!”
“What’s this little brat? Oh, are you that Level 1 weakling’s weakling pet?”
“……..That’s going too far.”
I could ignore them mocking me.
But insulting Ara was unacceptable.
“What?”
“You went too far. Apologize to Ara.”
“Why should I apologize? I just stated a fact.”
They say when you’re truly furious, your head cools down.
Feeling the chill in my fingers, I stared at him.
I could have ordered Ara to make them all kneel right now.
But I wanted to see how far they would go.
However, my plan quickly fell apart.
Whoosh!
Thud!!
“Guh!”
Abdul was suddenly grabbed by the collar and slammed into the wall.
The Isthart members, shocked, prepared to use their abilities—until they saw who had appeared.
And then they froze.
“You really crossed the line. I was going to see if you had improved, but you forced my hand.”
“Wh-Who the hell…ugh.”
Abdul barely managed to look up at his attacker.
But before he could even process it, all the Isthart members immediately prostrated themselves.
“We greet the Sage of the Mountain!!”
Sage of the Mountain.
Hassan al-Din Sinan.
As he made his entrance, time, which had seemed frozen, began moving once more.
Cliche Novel 