Ch 56 - Upgrader

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Jason entered the van and settled in the driver's seat. On the other hand, Jin-Woo locked his gaze on the young American man named Adam White. 

Adam smiled and said, "There is a piece of information we'd like to share with you, Hunter-nim."

"Information, is it….?"

"Yes. And you won't ever hear about this information from any other existing country or organization in the world. Except ours, of course."

Jin-Woo tilted his head slightly.

"Why are you willing to share such information with me?"

Jin-Woo's probing question only managed to elicit another round of a refreshing smile from Adam White.

"We certainly will get something in return by revealing this information to an exclusive group of a specially chosen few."

"Specially chosen few,"

Which meant that the Americans considered Jin-Woo to be eligible to enter that category now. Sure enough, that roused his curiosity rather greatly.

"Okay, let's hear it."

"That is as far as I'm permitted to tell you, Hunter-nim. As for the rest, you'll have to hear it from our deputy director."

Adam White must've thought that he was successful in stoking the flames of Jin-Woo's curiosity because he finally delved into the main topic at hand.

"We have a car ready nearby. How about accompanying me to meet up with the deputy director?"

Unfortunately for him, Jin-Woo smiled and replied.

"I'll sleep on it, and give you a call later."

"…!!"

Adam felt like someone had just punched him in the back of his head as this unexpected turn of the conversation left him reeling in shock.

'What? The deputy director of the Hunter Bureau came all this way to share information, yet he's ignoring that and wants to go on his way??'

Jin-Woo didn't look like he was bluffing here, because he already turned around and walked towards the van.

Jason who was sitting inside and watching everything laughed out loud as he had heard the entire conversation just now. And the manner in which Jin-Woo rejected was so funny.

But before Jin-Woo could one more step...

"P-please, hold on!"

Jin-Woo shifted his disinterested gaze over to Adam White. Hoping to rouse

Jin-Woo's curiosity further, even if it was only by a fraction, Adam White hurriedly continued.

"Upgrader…."

"An Upgrader?"

Adam formed an expression of a defeated man and explained the meaning behind the word he just spat out.

"Did you know that there is an Awakened who can enhance the abilities of other Awakened?"

'Yup, you should've started with that from the beginning.'

Finally, Jin-Woo felt compelled enough now and turned towards the man again.

Adam could sigh a sigh of relief after seeing that.

"Whew…"

When he raised his head, though, Jin-Woo was already standing a couple of inches away from him.

"Jesus H. Christ?!" 

The startled Adam White took a step back in fright, but Jin-Woo didn't care about that and simply asked the man.

"Where am I supposed to go?"

Jin-Woo didn't need to say anything to Jason and only waved his hand before entering the car of Adam White.

Jason knew what was going to happen anyway so he started the car and drove it towards home.

But he got stuck in the traffic on his way after a few minutes of drive.

'What's going on?'

He had never seen this road packed with vehicles like that. He spread his senses and found the cause of it.

A gate had opened in the middle of the road!

Vrrrr…

Just as he was about to exit the vehicle, his phone vibrated rather noisily. He checked the ID of the caller.

'…It's the Association President?'

Jason tapped the 'Answer' icon.

– "Hunter-nim. It's Go Gun-Hee speaking."

Go Gunhee then explained the situation taking place in the middle of Seoul in a calm voice.

– "Our agents have evaluated it as a rank B Gate. Would you like to take care of it for us, Hunter-nim?"

Jason smiled and said, "Well then, thank you for the opportunity."

He climbed out of the van and began walking after the trace of the magic energy leaking out from the Gate.

"….Yes. Everyone, the black hole in the air you see behind me is the Gate that has appeared in the city today….."

"….According to my sources, this Gate has been ranked at B, a high-ranking Gate that requires the participation of a large Guild…."

Reporters had already formed a cordon around the Gate by the time he got there, and the Association employees, as well as the members of the local police force, were restricting access.

'Hmm…'

Jason brushed past the wall of the reporters and approached the Gate, but then, a female Association employee with a by-the-book demeanor abruptly blocked his path.

"Please hold it! What do you think you're doing?!"

She pushed at his chest and spoke loudly.

"You can't just barge your way in here like this!"

Too bad, no matter how hard she pushed with her small hands, Jason didn't show any signs of budging from the spot. Only then did she belatedly realize that the guy standing in front of her was a Hunter.

"Are you… a Hunter?"

Jason pulled out his license and showed it to her with a smile. Naturally, her eyes grew super large.

'A N-N-National Level? *Sss* H-Hunter Hades???!'

Finally learning of his identity, the female Association employee raised her head to take another look.

"Is there something on my face?!" Jason asked in a joking manner.

"N-N-No, no," The female employee hurriedly waved her hands.

However, it was also natural for people with discerning eyes to exist within the large crowd gathered here.

"Uh??"

"Isn't he…?"

"Who is he?!"

"Is he a high-ranking hunter?!"

"I think he came here to personally deal with the Gate!"

However, the female employee completely disregarded the reactions of the citizens and politely bowed down, signaling him to follow her.

Jason shrugged his shoulder and completed the small procedure before jumping into the gate.

It happened at that moment.

Screams were rising up from here and there.

"Uhhh? What's going on here??"

"Why is it changing to red color?!"

Right after Jason stepped past the Gate, the eerie color of blood slowly spread over its black surface. It was a Red Gate!! A terrifying event was unfolding right now.

"Ah…..!"

The female employee felt slightly scared and worried for Jason.

But after a few seconds, she felt a presence standing close to her. Raising her head, the

female employee found Jason standing before her.

"M-mommy?!" 

She got royally frightened out of her wits as if she saw a real ghost just now.

Jason simply threw a grin at her way and walked right past her.

He glanced at the trembling gate with a smile. In just a span of half a day, he killed all the monsters inside the dungeon. Or more specifically the shadow of the Ant King did that.

'That brat is definitely a killing machine. I like it!

When he entered inside, he found himself in a place like the Amazon Jungle.

The monsters inside the gate were at most at the lower A-ranks.

As the gate closed, the traffic opened and he drove away his Mustang back home.