Chapter 82

Alone Leveling: Ragnarok Chapter 81

"Shuhuo, you heartless guy! How long has it been?"

"Uncle, you saw me last month, didn't you?"

"Hehe. Was it really that long ago?"

Eugene Ho, with an incredibly delighted expression, pulled Shuhuo into a hug and burst into laughter.

The hunters, who were suddenly left standing like scarecrows, could only gape in shock.

'Uncle?'

Shuhuo calling him uncle was surprising, but what truly stunned them was Eugene Ho's 180-degree change in demeanor.

'Eugene Ho, the CEO, could act like this?'

Who was Eugene Ho?

He was a legendary figure who had founded Ajin Soft, Korea's leading software company, with his bare hands after breaking away from a wealthy family. He was a meticulous and cold businessman who earned the trust and loyalty of his employees.

But now, his usual cold expression was gone, and he had suddenly transformed into a warm and friendly uncle, having a heartfelt conversation with Shuhuo.

"Hey, you. If you went to art school, you should have safely drawn pictures, not do such dangerous physical work. Let me see. Are you really okay? Should I call a healer?"

Eugene Ho thoroughly examined Shuhuo's body and then, at some point, started poking his muscles with a fascinated look.

"Wow, look at how solid this guy's body has become? What kind of muscles are these, like tires? Did you awaken as a tank?"

"Maybe it's because I've been working out really hard lately."

Shuhuo's expression seemed a bit sad as he answered.

Underneath his shadow, there was always Ammut, a truly terrible gym manager.

"Uncle, but why are hunters coming here for a game you're making?"

"Do you know FIFA?"

"The soccer game? Yes, I do."

Now, soccer games allowed players to move their bodies in virtual reality to play soccer.

"Similar to that, we've been developing a virtual reality game featuring hunters for the past two years. The system is almost complete, and now it's time to create the characters."

"Oh."

With that, Shuhuo finally understood why the hunter guilds were so flustered to come to the game company.

"When this game is released, users will be able to experience becoming real hunters. They'll explore dungeons and hunt monsters in virtual reality."

Thus, the real hunters who serve as models for these characters will inevitably gain worldwide recognition.

"It sounds really fun. Non-awakened people would surely want to try it."

"If it comes out, it will be a huge hit. Of course, there's still a long way to go before it's completed."

Shuhuo was genuinely impressed.

It had only been two years since the Great Cataclysm began.

Ajin Soft becoming the best game company was no coincidence.

"So, what's the name of the game?"

Sensing Shuhuo's innocent curiosity, Eugene Ho grinned and answered.

"Alone Leveling."

"…Alone Leveling?"

Shuhuo's expression became a bit awkward upon hearing the game's name.

"Yes. It's a single-player game. To let players experience a wide variety of hunter classes and types, leveling up is essential."

Eugene Ho looked genuinely pleased with the title he had come up with.

"Of course, some might think, 'What's so special about leveling up in a game? There are plenty of similar games out there.' But the key is this: how much can the game characters make us feel excited and thrilled!"

Eugene Ho, clenching his fist, was so enthusiastic that the driver who had brought Shuhuo here sighed softly.

'Here we go again.'

In fact, this was Eugene Ho's true self.

Outwardly, he was a meticulous businessman, but when it came to games, he transformed into a teenage boy, his eyes sparkling as he chatted excitedly.

"But 'Alone Leveling' is different. We plan to feature active hunters as characters."

An ordinary leveling game that anyone could make.

But with one unique element, the realism that would give players a thrilling excitement.

That's why Ajin Soft was willing to pay the high fees of hunters to collaborate on this project.

It required such a massive amount of funding that no other game company could even attempt such a large-scale project.

Shuhuo's gaze suddenly turned to the hunters from the Xuanwu Guild standing awkwardly behind him.

They were fully armed, probably to impress Eugene Ho with their appearance.

'…This feels a bit strange.'

It was quite coincidental.

The game's title seemed to match his current situation quite well.

[Hmm. Hmm…]

And there was a gaze from the shadows, intently watching Eugene Ho.

[Perhaps it's not a coincidence.]

Berg whispered in a voice only Shuhuo could hear.

'Not a coincidence?'

[Yes. In a forgotten era, this 'Eugene Ho' was a lackey who followed the king closely. If those memories linger in his subconscious…]

The memories of a ruler transcend time.

Shadow Ruler Seong Jin-woo was a being whose mere existence had a powerful influence on the world.

And Eugene Ho, as Berg said, was the human who had watched Seong Jin-woo's battles more closely than anyone else.

The moments Eugene Ho had witnessed were undoubtedly the most intense and stimulating memories in the entire universe.

And…

[This human had the same expression back then.]

Now, Eugene Ho, with a look of admiration and excitement, was enthusiastically explaining the game he was making, as if all the scenes were vividly etched in his mind.

[Truly fascinating. It's clear that his memories haven't returned, but to express them through a game…]

"Ah! I've been talking too much. Hehe. Anyway, that's the game, Shuhuo."

Eugene Ho, who had been chatting nonstop, suddenly came to his senses and laughed heartily.

"Come on, let's go inside and talk."

"Mr. CEO! We haven't finished talking…!"

As Eugene Ho pushed Shuhuo's back to enter his office, the hunters called out urgently from behind.

"Oh."

Eugene Ho, realizing he had forgotten about the hunters, stopped and turned around.

But the warm smile he had for Shuhuo instantly turned cold and indifferent as he looked at the hunters.

"I have an important schedule, so why don't you all go back? I'll review your proposal and get back to you later."

"Ah…"

The hunters had no choice but to close their mouths at the firm dismissal.

But one person was different.

Manager Lee Young-ho of the Xuanwu Guild.

He had recognized Shuhuo, who called Eugene Ho 'uncle,' and his eyes lit up.

'It's Seong Shuhuo! I didn't expect to find him here!'

Manager Lee Young-ho had sent a subordinate to Shuhuo's house early this morning to find out his address.

Even for a hot talent, he didn't need to personally handle a C-rank hunter.

Instead, from a guild publicity perspective, it was a much bigger deal to secure a collaboration with Ajin Soft.

But the meeting with CEO Eugene Ho, which he had finally arranged, was suddenly postponed, and he even received a call from his subordinate that they had lost track of Seong Shuhuo.

'This must be a sign from the heavens to solve everything at once!'

Manager Lee Young-ho immediately realized that Eugene Ho's 'important schedule' was related to Seong Shuhuo and decided to approach Shuhuo instead of Eugene Ho.

"Haha, Hunter Seong Shuhuo! What a coincidence to meet you here. It seems we have a connection."

"Hmm?"

Manager Lee Young-ho's sudden friendly approach made Eugene Ho stop and turn to look at him.

"Shuhuo, do you know this person?"

As Shuhuo was about to answer, Manager Lee Young-ho quickly interrupted and handed him a business card.

"Haha, of course, Mr. CEO. We'll become very close from now on. Hunter Seong Shuhuo, I'm Manager Lee Young-ho of the Xuanwu Guild. We can offer you the best conditions in the industry. How about signing a contract with our guild?"

"…Best in the industry? For our Shuhuo?"

Twitch.

It was Eugene Ho, not Shuhuo, who reacted to those words.

Manager Lee Young-ho, noticing Eugene Ho's slight smile, felt a surge of triumph.

'It worked! This is the right approach! Haha, as expected of a countryman!'

Indeed, who would have thought that the great CEO Eugene Ho was related to Seong Shuhuo!

And the timing couldn't be more perfect, with this three-way meeting happening just as he arrived at Ajin Soft.

'Haha, what a lucky day. Even if the best conditions in the industry are just standard for a C-rank hunter, the opportunity cost of building a relationship with CEO Eugene Ho is much more valuable.'

Manager Lee Young-ho, smiling brightly, stepped closer to Shuhuo and emphasized in a subtle tone.

"Hunter Seong Shuhuo? I heard you've only been awakened for a short time, but our Xuanwu Guild rarely recruits new hunters without experience. However, Hunter Seong Shuhuo is exceptionally talented…"

While enthusiastically introducing the guild to Shuhuo, Manager Lee Young-ho's attention was entirely focused on Eugene Ho's facial expressions.

He was putting everything on the line for this collaboration.

'Publicity is war.'

For a hunter guild to grow, it needed many skilled hunters to join or want to join.

The most important thing was, ironically, how well the guild's image was promoted to the general public, not the hunters.

The public revered hunters but also feared them.

To the general public, hunters were not much different from monsters that could harm them at any moment.

Especially after the villain Im Myung-sung, that fear had become very real.

But no hunter wanted to be treated as a 'monster.' They wanted recognition and respect.

Hunters were a high-paying profession, and once people had money, the next thing they sought was honor.

'That's why this collaboration is so important.'

If Xuanwu Guild's hunters appeared in the game, how much closer could they get to the public?

Once their fame spread worldwide, requests for dungeon raids from overseas would surely flood in.

'Then, my promotion and salary… Haha.'

However, Manager Lee Young-ho, lost in the thrilling dream, failed to notice one thing.

The expression on Shuhuo's face as he held the Xuanwu Guild's business card was rather indifferent.

"Xuanwu Guild…"

"Haha, yes, that's our guild's name. With the best conditions in the industry, there's no need to hesitate. I'll have one of our staff bring the contract over shortly. And although we usually don't offer signing bonuses to C-rank hunters, this time it's special…"

Manager Lee Young-ho kept talking nonstop to prevent Shuhuo from having any second thoughts.

Then, suddenly,

"Ah."

A single word slipped out of Shuhuo's mouth.

"I remember. You're the guild that spied on my house with a drone this morning."

"Oh. Hehe. One of our staff did that? He must have been a bit too enthusiastic. I'll give him a stern talking to…"

"Who used a drone to spy on what?"

Freeze.

Manager Lee Young-ho froze at the cold voice from beside him.

"Manager Lee Young-ho of the Xuanwu Guild. I think some explanation is needed here."