Chapter 47

047. Contract (2)

In the team leader's office of the Silver Guild, documents were piled up like a mountain.

"Huff... Ah, this is tough."

Lee Hae-yeon, the newly appointed team leader of the 'Challenger Management Team,' let out a low sigh.

It was impossible not to sigh at the endless pile of documents that seemed to have no end.

It had been four days since she returned from the Tower of Trials, yet her complexion had not improved.

'Since the day I returned, I haven't had a moment to rest and have only worked.'

If it were someone else, they might have taken a break and enjoyed things they couldn't while in the tower...

But Lee Hae-yeon did not do that. Instead, she immediately informed the Silver Guild about the Tower of Trials.

"We need a team to identify and manage those who have returned from the 'Tower of Trials.' This will undoubtedly bring about a revolutionary change."

This was to prepare for the new world that was changing.

She did not view the Tower of Trials as just a disaster but also as a new opportunity.

The Tower of Trials was certainly risky, but it also provided clear rewards.

Moreover,

"The Tower of Trials is not just for hunters."

Ordinary people who know nothing are also summoned to the Tower of Trials.

This was confirmed within the tower.

Furthermore, the reset of all abilities upon entry only applies to hunters.

Thus, ordinary people entering the tower could use it as a stepping stone for awakening...

'If they survive, they will surely become stronger.'

If she could recruit and bring them back, it would be a definite gain.

This would be the same even for hunters who have lost their abilities.

'Challengers receive rewards while climbing the Tower of Trials...'

Even if their abilities are reset, they will grow enough to compensate and even surpass it.

This was a prediction that was almost certain.

Identifying and building rapport with or recruiting the challengers in advance would definitely pay off in the future.

That's why Lee Hae-yeon established the new 'Challenger Management Team' and became its leader.

Currently, she is using every method to identify and recruit those who have become challengers.

Of course, it wasn't all easy and good as she had thought.

"Even if the challengers are hiding, I didn't expect it to be this difficult to recruit them."

Challengers thoroughly hid their information and did not openly reveal it.

'If I could go back to the tower and recruit them, that would be ideal, but I still need time to return...'

It was a situation that could only be described as being surrounded by mountains.

And...

Except for a few, most were acting thoughtfully, so the number of recruited challengers was barely in the double digits.

Moreover, they were all relatively weak 'Easy' difficulty challengers.

The number of challengers exploring the unknown world of the Tower of Trials to gain a head start was insufficient.

"...If only I could bring back one more challenger of the same difficulty level."

If it were a challenger who had become somewhat powerful...

They would surely have the desire to climb the tower and become even stronger.

Just like the man she saw on the 4th floor.

"By the way, I wonder what he's doing now."

A man so powerful that it was almost an understatement to say he cleared the 4th floor alone.

A man who displayed a level of skill that even experienced hunters couldn't match.

Since adding him as a friend on the 4th floor, she hadn't really talked much with him.

At the time, he spoke little, possibly due to the shock of the killings...

'He didn't talk much even until I returned.'

Given his exceptional skills, he might have already returned and gone back to the tower.

'The more I think about it, the more I regret missing out on such a talented person...'

Not only his incredible growth potential, but also the fact that he had no affiliation.

A case of a hunter aspirant being summoned to the tower and becoming newly powerful.

This made Lee Hae-yeon feel even more regret.

"Maybe I should have made a recruitment offer back then..."

Just as she was about to regret not making an offer when he broke through the 4th floor trial...

Vibration!

"..."

The smartphone she had laid on the desk vibrated, catching her attention.

'What is it? There's no one who should contact me at this time...'

To check if it was a spam message, Lee Hae-yeon reached out.

"..."

When she realized who the message was from...

「This is Han Sung-yun from the 4th floor. If you've returned, can we meet for a moment, Lee Hae-yeon?」

"..."

She could only stare at the message, forgetting to breathe.

***

After sending the message, I put my smartphone back in my pocket.

I was a bit at a loss about what to do if I didn't get a response...

'If he hasn't returned or has gone back to the tower, there's nothing I can do.'

Well, it wasn't a big issue to worry about.

I had resolved my immediate concerns, and I could think about affiliation later.

I just wanted to ask if there was a place that would contract with me under the conditions I was thinking of.

'Whether they accept or not doesn't really matter.'

However...

Just as I was about to leave the café, wondering what to do if I didn't get a response...

Vibration!

"?"

My smartphone, which I had put in my pocket, rang.

"What is it?"

A reply from Lee Hae-yeon came almost immediately after I sent the message.

「Of course! I can meet you anytime!」

For some reason, the message felt oddly excited. Was it just my imagination?

Well, regardless, the energy in the message wasn't bad.

「I see you've returned. Can we meet now? I bought the cheapest return stone, so I don't have much time left.」

Just as I was about to send the message...

Ding!

「Just tell me where you are, and I'll come right away!」

I smiled wryly at the message that arrived before I could even send my reply.

'This person is also quite impatient.'

I wondered if he had chosen the cheapest return stone like me...

But that wasn't important, so I deleted the message I was writing and sent a new one.

A few seconds later, Lee Hae-yeon's reply arrived.

「Understood. I'll come to you shortly. Please wait a moment.」

Just by telling her my location, she said she would come right away and ended the message.

"Looks like he was closer than I thought."

While he didn't specify when he would arrive...

From his message, it seemed I wouldn't have to wait long.

I sat in the café and waited for about 10 minutes.

Ding...

The café door opened, and a tired-sounding breath could be heard.

Turning my head, I saw a beautiful woman in a black suit standing there.

"Mr. Han Sung-yun...?"

Lee Hae-yeon, a hunter affiliated with the Silver Guild, approached and sat down, looking disbelieving.

"When did you return? I thought you would have gone back to the tower by now. I didn't expect you to be here and not reply to my message."

Her tone suggested she hadn't expected to find me here.

It made sense.

Due to my unconventional actions, like returning from the 5th floor and then climbing the tower, she might not have known where I had gone.

'If I had received the message, it would be different, but I didn't even get it...'

It was understandable that she was surprised.

"I had some matters to attend to, so I returned from the 5th floor and then climbed to the 8th floor. I returned today. And the message... I'm sorry, I didn't read it because I was busy."

I was aware of the message, but I didn't have a chance to reply.

"No, you don't need to apologize. But why did you return from the 5th floor...?"

"It's difficult to explain, but I had personal matters to attend to."

"Is that so? Well, that's not important. The fact that we both survived and returned from the tower is fortunate enough."

Lee Hae-yeon smiled slightly and then seemed to recall something, stiffening before speaking.

"Then, are you not planning to climb the tower anymore?"

She asked me with a look that suggested she couldn't believe I would give up.

"No, that's not the case."

Without hesitation, I answered her question.

Climbing the tower was a decision I made before the 8th floor.

'It's too late to give up.'

The moment I felt the thrill of growing and winning.

The option of not climbing the tower and not becoming stronger was no longer an option.

"I plan to climb the Tower of Trials further. The Tower of Trials is an attractive place for me, regardless of the circumstances. That's why I wanted to meet you this time."

"..."

"Since I don't have much time left before I have to return, I'll be direct. I need an affiliation."

"Affiliation...?"

"I need a place where I can go in and out of the Tower of Trials and also participate in dungeon raids."

In other words, I had one request for Lee Hae-yeon.

"I wanted to meet you to ask if it's possible to be introduced to a guild."

"..."

Upon hearing this, Lee Hae-yeon fell silent.

She seemed to be thinking deeply, and I was a bit disappointed.

'Is it impossible?'

I hadn't really expected much, but it was still disappointing.

If I could be introduced to a guild, I could set conditions to ensure I had the freedom to act.

'The Hunter Association forces mandatory participation in emergency gatherings, but a guild might be different.'

A guild is different from the Hunter Association, which imposes strict rules on affiliated hunters.

A guild can set various conditions, such as entrance exams.

That's why I wanted to ask Lee Hae-yeon if she could introduce me to a suitable guild...

But her reaction didn't seem very positive.

'Is it impossible?'

At that moment,

"Mr. Han Sung-yun, are you looking for a guild that allows free entry to dungeons and understands the comings and goings from the Tower of Trials?"

Lee Hae-yeon, who had been sitting quietly, spoke and continued.

"I think I can help you with that."

"Is it possible to be introduced to a guild?"

"Um, it's similar but a bit different."

"..."

"I am currently the team leader of the 'Challenger Management Team' at the Silver Guild."

"Challenger Management Team...?"

"A team that identifies and recruits those who have been summoned to the Tower of Trials."

The Challenger Management Team.

'I didn't expect such a team to already exist.'

It was surprising.

Even the Hunter Association hadn't fully grasped the situation of the challengers, yet the Silver Guild had already established and operated a Challenger Management Team...

'But maybe it's natural.'

Perhaps the Hunter Association's inability to fully grasp the situation presented an opportunity.

If the Hunter Association could identify all the challengers, they would try to affiliate them with the association, so guilds would try to recruit them first.

"If you join my team, I think I can meet your contract conditions to some extent. Of course, I can't match the money..."

After hearing Lee Hae-yeon's additional explanation, I furrowed my brow.

'What should I do...?'

Money is not an issue.

I have 1.2 billion from selling the gate occupation rights.

If I need more, I can sell the items I brought from the tower, so I'm not short on money.

However,

'The conditions the Challenger Management Team can offer are crucial.'

As a challenger who needs to go in and out of the Tower of Trials, the contract conditions are important.

I needed to know how far the Silver Guild could go in meeting my conditions and whether they would be satisfactory in the long run.

'If none of these conditions are met...'

I would have to give up on joining a guild and climb the tower again.

Eventually, when the existence and value of challengers become more evident, I would definitely find an affiliation.

'But I don't want to wait for that.'

At that moment, Lee Hae-yeon, who had been sitting and looking at me, asked cautiously.

"What will you do?"

After pondering, I slowly began to speak.

"I..."