Chapter 38

"Hmm……"

Tick-tock.

The sound of the clock's hands moving over the silence felt unusually loud. After making a slight groan, Jehwi finally opened his mouth.

"Mr. President, this is Catherine, who came from America…."

Siwoo abruptly cut Jehwi off and turned his gaze to Catherine.

"What brings you all the way from America?"

It was Catherine who seemed flustered by the direct question, not Jehwi, who had been made a mere screen. Jehwi let out a short groan, "Ah…" and glanced at Catherine.

"I have come here, putting aside important matters. I hope for your understanding."

Siwoo sat down on the sofa and tidied his disheveled bangs.

Catherine smiled and put down her teacup, as if to say it was no problem.

"I apologize for the sudden visit, Hunter Shin Siwoo. I am Catherine Hudson, affiliated with Clamp Management, a subsidiary of Chaser Guild."

Catherine extended her business card to Siwoo, just as she had done to Jehwi.

Siwoo narrowed his eyes and stared intently at Catherine's business card.

Chaser. It's really Chaser.

What could the American Hunter Guild possibly want with a wolf, the Princess of Black Flame?

First, be cautious and suspicious. That was also the long-standing policy of the wolf. Perhaps it was a trait of dogs.

Siwoo, having taken his eyes off the business card, now slowly scanned her.

Behind the transparent lenses, her emerald-green eyes curved into a crescent moon shape. It was a smile that seemed more skilled than beautiful. In other words, it was the type Siwoo disliked.

"I came today to make a proposal regarding the Princess of Black Flame, who is contracted to the wolf."

"…Why did you come to me?"

At Siwoo's probing question, Catherine smiled.

"Well, she is not contracted to the wolf, but to Hunter Shin Siwoo. To you."

"…"

"Is that not the case?"

Siwoo did not answer but stared at her as if trying to peel her apart.

Catherine Hudson. No, Chaser, how did they know this? And when did they find out?

Siwoo shot a glance at Jehwi, who, like a pigeon, flapped up and shook his head vigorously. It's not me! He seemed to assert strongly.

"Here."

Catherine picked up the carry-on bag she had placed nearby and put it on the desk for all to see. She then opened the bag with neat hands.

"…!"

Jehwi's eyes widened as he confirmed the contents. The bag was filled to the brim with an enormous amount of dollar bills, leaving no room for even a small gap.

'How much is all that?'

Swallow. His Adam's apple moved awkwardly.

Siwoo, however, stood with his arms crossed, his face indifferent, and his gaze fixed on Catherine, not the dollars. Was this what she meant by business? If it was something like this, he wouldn't have come.

Despite Siwoo's increasingly cold demeanor, Catherine managed to maintain her smile, as if she had long been immune to such reactions.

"My superior is interested in the Princess of Black Flame. If you agree to our proposal, we will, of course, provide full compensation for the breach of contract…."

"I refuse."

Siwoo stood up as if there was no need to hear more.

"What I need is not money. Go back and tell your superior."

His blue eyes suddenly turned frighteningly cold.

"Tell him to lose interest."

As if she had expected this, Catherine spoke calmly.

"I apologize. I may have been too direct. My superior added that, in addition to the compensation, Chaser will send an A-grade Hunter, specially trained for five years, to you on a three-year contract, of course, without pay."

"Even if you offered an S-grade Hunter, my answer would be the same."

The air around them froze. Despite the room having no windows, it felt as if a cold wind was blowing in from somewhere.

"Is that so?"

Catherine adjusted her glasses and closed the bag. Had she anticipated this turn of events? Her expression didn't show any particular regret.

Between Catherine and Siwoo, Jehwi looked anxious, trying to read the situation.

'Why is Mr. President so angry?'

Was his pride hurt by offering such a small amount of money to the great wolf?

Well, it was a sum that would make Jehwi's eyes pop out, but it might not be the same for Siwoo, the young master of the wolf.

But is that really something to get so angry about? As always, it was difficult to understand him.

"I understand. I will convey that message."

"Hold on."

Just as Catherine was about to leave the room, Siwoo blocked her path.

"Your superior. You should tell me who they are before you go."

Not the Hunter Association, nor any of the large Korean guilds, but an American guild across the sea wanting the Princess of Black Flame—what could be the reason?

'Especially when they are willing to offer such a large sum of money to dig into it.'

Whatever the reason, Siwoo had no intention of breaking his contract with Yehwa. But he needed to know who wanted Yehwa and what they were up to.

Facing Siwoo's blue eyes, Catherine stared at him intently. If she hadn't been immune to such a gaze, her legs might have given out from the cold, piercing look.

But she had experienced similar situations dozens of times. She wasn't about to be intimidated.

"He will introduce himself directly, not me."

Click. As she turned the doorknob, she said softly,

"Until we meet again, Hunter Shin Siwoo."

＊＊＊

The next morning.

Yehwa, who had given her bedroom to Minju, woke up on the sofa. She slowly sat up and pulled back the curtains. The bright morning sunlight, due to the south-facing room, shattered like waves on the marble floor.

Yehwa yawned softly, put on her slippers, and headed to the bedroom where the boy was.

It was time to have breakfast and head to the police station. The boy seemed to be sound asleep, as there was no sound coming from the room.

"…"

No.

Yehwa, who had stopped in her tracks, listened carefully. The room was unusually quiet.

Knock knock.

She knocked on the bedroom door.

There was no response.

After a few more knocks, Yehwa slowly opened the door. As expected, no one was there.

"…Where did he go?"

Yehwa, standing in place, muttered softly.

The bed sheets were perfectly smooth.

The windows were tightly closed.

The slippers were neatly placed.

It felt as if the night before, when she had put the boy to bed, had been a dream. The bedroom was so neatly organized.

Suddenly, a post-it note on the bed sheets caught her eye. Yehwa walked over to it.

"Thank you, Black Flame sister~!!!"