Five years ago.
Woo Jinchul had already noticed the changes in the world.
"…He didn't come in today either?"
"No, sir."
Jungbu Police Station, Violent Crimes Unit office.
Detective Sung Jinwoo's desk had been empty for days. But his colleagues didn't show any worry or concern. Because this wasn't unusual. Detective Sung Jinwoo was an elusive person and often disappeared like this. But despite that, he was 'untouchable', not even receiving a reprimand, let alone writing a single report. For a public official, this was an extremely exceptional case. But it was only natural.
A secret backer?
Was it because Chief Woo Jinchul was supporting him? No… it was simply because his performance was outstanding. Who would reprimand a Violent Crimes detective who was good at catching criminals? Especially when Detective Sung Jinwoo disappeared and returned, he always brought numerous felons with him. Most of them were those that other departments, or even other regional police stations, had practically given up on investigating. That day was always a day for the entire Violent Crimes Unit to have a dinner party. As if expecting him to show such eccentricity again, none of Sung Jinwoo's fellow detectives worried about him, even though his seat had been empty for days. They were too busy cleaning up after the criminals he caught to worry about the living legend of the Jungbu Police Station Violent Crimes Unit.
Detective Sung Jinwoo was great, but the problem was that he only caught criminals and left all the troublesome paperwork to his subordinates. Of course, he shared the credit with his subordinates who did the paperwork, or even gave them the entire credit, so he was a truly unpredictable senior. There was a reason why there were rumors that he was doing this as a hobby. But despite that, there was one person worrying. For some reason, this time, Chief Woo Jinchul's expression was a bit dark as he looked at Detective Sung Jinwoo's empty seat.
'…It's taking him a particularly long, this time.' Woo Jinchul knew that catching criminals was just an excuse for Sung Jinwoo to disappear for days. Actually, he would have been struggling alone in a place no one knew to protect the world. And he only caught a few hidden criminals on his way back because he couldn't return empty-handed. But in recent years, The number of times Sung Jinwoo disappeared has been increasing. Of course, each time, it wasn't for long, but… He had a feeling that this time… his leave would be longer.
"Huff." Woo Jinchul looked out the office window and up at the sky and he spoke as if sighing,
"Let's mark it as vacation this time."
"Yes? But Detective Sung didn't apply for vacation…"
"I'll authorize it myself."
"…Yes, sir."
Was there any other option? When the police chief himself said he would take care of it.
Thud
The door closed, and Woo Jinchul sat alone and sighed deeply. And he thought of Sung Jinwoo, who would be fighting something that threatened humanity's survival somewhere in the world even at this moment. And he firmly believed that he would eventually return, as always. Smiling as if nothing happened. …Just like he always did. But why…?
'It feels different this time.' Even though he knew Sung Jinwoo's power, Woo Jinchul felt a strange anxiety this time. Why were ominous premonitions always right? Not days, but months. Not months, but a year, two years… No matter how much time passed, Sung Jinwoo didn't return.
'…I should prepare myself.'
Woo Jinchul's eyes hardened as he looked at his empty seat covered in dust. Of course, even at this moment, he wasn't worried about Sung Jinwoo's safety. At least for Woo Jinchul, Sung Jinwoo was a god, no, an even greater existence. He couldn't even imagine the possibility of Sung Jinwoo being in danger. Rather, he focused on how formidable the enemies who were keeping him for so long were. And as time passed…
* * *
About two years ago, Woo Jinchul's premonition finally came true.
'The Cataclysm'
Bang—!
When the news that the first Gate was discovered in Seoul came, Woo Jinchul took action without hesitation. The moment of the Cataclysm, when Earth connected with other dimensions. While the leaders of countries around the world were in chaos, Woo Jinchul didn't panic. At least for him, this wasn't the first time, was it?
'First, awakening.'
The process wasn't difficult since he had already experienced it once. The alien energy flowing from the Gate into the atmosphere, He skillfully grasped that 'mana'.
Flash—!
He immediately awakened as an A-rank Hunter, just like before.
'The total amount of magic power is the same as before. Is this my limit?' Woo Jinchul, after gauging his own magic power, immediately assessed the situation. He didn't even entertain the vain hope of awakening as an S-rank this time. Since he was a thoroughly rational person, he only thought about and planned how to utilize this situation.
'So they awaken the same as in the previous world, depending on their magic power aptitude. This is rather good. It reduces errors.' He knew exactly what he could do and what he had to do.
"I need to create the Association first."
Woo Jinchul immediately put his plan into action.
'In the previous world, the Association was organized when Chairman Go Gunhee awakened as an S-rank Hunter. But unfortunately, Chairman Go has already passed away.' In the end, the only one who could fill Chairman Go Gunhee's role in the current world was Woo Jinchul himself. Moreover, he was already the one who became the Association President in the previous world. It wasn't a difficult task since he had already done it once. However, if there was a problem,
'I am not Chairman Go Gunhee.' Chairman Go Gunhee, the head of a large corporation, organized the Association with his vast funds and power. But Woo Jinchul didn't have that. With just a police chief's authority, he couldn't even compare to those with real power.
'But I have the memories of the past.' Woo Jinchul was living his second life thanks to Sung Jinwoo. And thanks to being much older than back then, he had enough experience and wisdom.
'Depending on how I use them, my memories are no different from knowing the future.' Woo Jinchul was fundamentally a righteous person, but he wasn't a pushover. Knowing that personality well, Chairman Go Gunhee also assigned him to the 'Hunter Association Surveillance Department.' And due to the nature of that Department, they dealt with a lot of confidential information…
'Even if the future changed, the past remained the same. The corruption committed by those in power and the second and third generation chaebols decades ago is also the same.' Woo Jinchul also remembered all the information he handled back then. But since it was corruption from decades ago, incidents that were thoroughly forgotten and covered up, he couldn't take any action as a 'police chief.'
'…But if I'm a 'Hunter,' it's a different story.' The current situation was the era of the Cataclysm, where lawlessness was rampant. This meant that it was a world where it was difficult to deal with criminals even if they broke the law, but conversely, it also meant that an era had arrived where criminals could be 'punished regardless of the law.' In that sense, the first thing Woo Jinchul did was take out the corruption data of politicians he had collected over the past few years using his position as police chief. And he neatly organized them into files, appropriately linking them to the depravity that had been covered up decades ago. And he went straight to the Prosecutor's Office and influential politicians, presenting those files.
Thud—!
"Minister, could you spare me a moment?"
"Wh-what? Who are you! How dare you… This is…!"
"Ah, I've put the guards outside to sleep. No one will come even if you scream."
"…?!"
They couldn't help but be bewildered by Woo Jinchul's unannounced visit. Encountering famous people with power or money was quite difficult. Naturally, they didn't meet just anyone, nor did they waste their precious time on something that wasn't beneficial. Especially since no one wanted to be involved with the police. Even if Woo Jinchul was the police chief, it was basic etiquette to contact them in advance and make an appointment through their secretary to meet an influential person. But that was before the Cataclysm. Now was an era where force reigned supreme over power and money. Especially in the early days, when there weren't many Awakened yet, the bodyguards of influential people were just ordinary people without any magic power. Although the term villain hadn't been properly established yet, what Woo Jinchul did wasn't much different from the villains he arrested later.
Woo Jinchul, visiting the politicians without warning, pushed up his black sunglasses with a meaningful smile. He presented the old data he organized and put a collar on their necks.
"Minister, wouldn't it be quite troublesome if this information leaked to the press?"
"Wh-what…! How can a police chief commit such an outrageous act and not fear the consequences?! And what effect would this outdated information, past the statute of limitations, have now…!"
"Yes, you're right. Everything you're saying is correct. But…" The smile that had been on Woo Jinchul's face disappeared.
A memory suddenly came to mind. The history forgotten by everyone now. The time when he became the Association President after Chairman Go Gunhee in the previous world. He was immediately summoned by the president and received a request, or rather, a demand, to use Sung Jinwoo as a promotional ambassador for national prestige. First, a promotional ambassador, And then, President Kim Myungchul gradually tried to exploit Sung Jinwoo's name politically…
– Hehehehe, unlike with someone, I can reason with you, Association President Woo Jinchul. Yes, I would like you to put in some effort, Association President Woo. This isn't just for my benefit.
'Unlike with someone.' It wasn't difficult to figure out who he was referring to. Woo Jinchul gritted his teeth silently and said,
– Former Association President Go Gunhee was a true gentleman.
– Yes, yes. He was too principled for a gentleman.
– I am very different from Association President Go Gunhee.
– Hehehe. That's right. The Hunter Association should change like that. How long should it be bound by old rules? – Woo Jinchul was dumbfounded by the president's proposal. And he was angry that he was caught up in this mess as soon as he became the Association President.
'…They must be underestimating me.' Because he wasn't former Association President Go Gunhee. Now that the one, who had been acting as a breakwater for the Association, was gone, the political world immediately targeted him. They wanted him to work for them. But… Woo Jinchul found himself feeling relieved as well as angry. Association President Go Gunhee always said, That the Hunter Association should create an environment where Hunters could focus on their work as Hunters.
'…And that's not just for the good of Hunters, but also for those who aren't Hunters.' Recalling those memories, Woo Jinchul slowly raised his magic power in front of the Minister of National Defense.
Rumble—!
"Y-you… what are you…?!"
The minister couldn't help but be terrified as the building shook as if it would collapse from Woo Jinchul's magic power. The man he thought was just a police chief was suddenly emitting the aura of a giant predator.
"Minister." Woo Jinchul calmly spoke to the minister, whose face had turned white, The same words he said to President Kim a long time ago.
"How long do you think it would take me to kill everyone in this building, including your bodyguards, if I wanted to?"
"You!"
The minister jumped to his feet, but his body froze from his killing intent. Woo Jinchul didn't overestimate his power. Just an A-rank. With this meager power, he was nothing but a fly before those great Monarchs or Rulers. But at least… among fellow humans, the power of an A-rank Hunter was a disaster. How could a human, helpless even against a tiger or bear, possibly handle an A-rank Hunter?
"A few hours? No, it wouldn't even take a few minutes." Woo Jinchul calmly continued, looking at the minister who was turning pale from his killing intent,
"Then how many people would it take to stop me from rampaging? Well, perhaps if you mobilize all the police and soldiers in Seoul and endure until my magic power runs out, you might be able to stop me somehow." Woo Jinchul's calm expression as he spoke those terrible words further fueled the minister's fear.
"J-just… why…" He wanted to say something, but his lips wouldn't move properly, suppressed by the killing intent.
"In that time, I could kill you, the minister, and then your family one by one. Ah, of course, I'll only kill those who committed wrongdoings in the past, as recorded in this document."
"…!"
"And as you said, I just have to run away until the statute of limitations expires."
"J-just… what do you want from me?" The terrified minister finally succumbed to his threats. At that moment, Woo Jinchul's killing intent disappeared, and he adjusted his black sunglasses grinning.
"Hmm, well. First, help me establish the Association… And one more thing." Woo Jinchul took out a strange stone from his pocket.
"I'm trying to collect these, would you mind helping me?"
"Wh-what is that?"
"It's called a 'rune stone', although no one knows about it yet."
Thus, with the 'consent' of various politicians, the Hunter Association was quickly established. And after that, Woo Jinchul kept his promise with them and spared the lives of those who committed corruption in the past. But only their lives. After everything was over, they were all imprisoned in the Jisan Prison that Woo Jinchul created.