Blood Demon of the Past Life – Chapter 101

Chapter 101: Spotlight （1）

900 days of trials.

While repeating battles in the stat training center, Kang San fell into thought during the occasional free time.

‘In a situation where I can’t reveal the information about the upcoming disaster, what’s the best way to prevent the S-rank Outbreak?’

Even if he pinpointed the location in advance.

Nothing would really change.

He didn’t know how strong he would become by then, but what could Kang San possibly do in the face of a disaster that even swept away the S-rank Lee Han-seong? From the beginning, this trial wasn’t a fight for Kang San to solve all the problems. It was about buying some time, enduring a little longer. Suppressing the disaster from spreading quickly was the best Kang San could do.

However.

He could add details.

How to buy time, and how to quickly inform people about the danger once the disaster strikes.

As he was completing the plan from the smallest details, Kang San suddenly remembered a once-famous incident.

‘The LA Rescue Wave.’

It was 10 years ago.

An insanely talented individual who was assessed as A-rank through congenital awakening appeared in LA, USA.

He was practically guaranteed to be a future S-rank, and people from all over the US swarmed to recruit him. The problem was that an A-rank Link incident broke out in LA at that time. Usually, a disaster of that scale would easily kill tens of thousands of people, but absurdly, the Link incident was suppressed with less than a thousand casualties.

The future talent.

It was because of the efforts of the groups trying to recruit him.

Everyone was eager, worried that he might get hurt, and thinking that they might gain favor by rescuing him first. People called it the LA Rescue Wave, or the Miracle of LA. It was a representative case where, although an unpredictable variable occurred, the damage was minimized because a valuable person was present.

‘Half a year after leaving the training center. If I maximize my value, the situation might change because of me.’

Now was not the time to worry about the plausibility of the trial.

How were you there, why do these things keep happening because of you?

Even though there might be questions like the famous detective CoX from classic masterpieces, Kang San’s priority was to deal with the insurmountable disaster. Plans were forming in his head. How to increase his value, a solid plan was needed to have an impact comparable to the LA Wave, even if not quite as much.

900 days.

It wasn’t just a time for physical strengthening.

Kang San was able to think deeply, and when he came out, he had already formulated a plan.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Kang San’s interview.

It was immediately turned into an article.

Kang San’s unexpected name was mentioned in the article announcing Project B team’s victory.

『……Officials couldn’t hide their surprise at the outcome of this confrontation. Since Cheonsang announced the project teams, Team B had never once defeated Team A. It was widely believed that Team B was essentially excluded, but because they won overwhelmingly, officials questioned whether there was something that created this ‘upset’. Based on this reporter’s investigation, behind this miraculous victory was a party led by D-rank Hunter Kang San.』

It was an unrealistic story.

The story that Project B team was able to defeat Team A in just fifteen days thanks to the teachings of a mere D-rank Hunter.

People who read the article were dumbfounded and didn’t believe it, but industry officials like Cheonsang couldn’t ignore this story. They had information obtained in advance. Kang San’s party was actually in charge of training Project B team, and that Kang San was someone special who couldn’t be judged solely by his superficial rank. Because there were records of the recent isolation incident, everyone was busy trying to learn about Kang San even before the article was published.

And in this situation.

“This is a bit troublesome.”

Team Leader Gu Jun-ho of Daeyang grimaced.

Recruiting Kang San.

It was a matter he was putting effort into.

Whenever he had time, he always sent Kang San messages like this:

『The weather is so nice today.』

『Kang San-nim, I’m sending you a coffee gift certificate. You must be tired, so recharge with caffeine and cheer up!』

『If you ever need Daeyang’s help, please feel free to contact us. Daeyang is always open to Kang San-nim.』

He believed that even a sturdy tree would fall if you knocked on it ten times.

Knowing Kang San’s special qualities, he took his time, gradually appealing to his heart without rushing.

But now.

The article was suddenly published.

He had been relieved because Kang San was still only a D-rank Hunter, but according to the information he was hearing, the situation wasn’t looking good.

A spy sent him this information:

“Cheonsang is currently busy trying to recruit Kang San. And as revealed in the article, with the fact that Kang San was behind Project B team’s victory becoming known, it seems that other management agencies are also closely monitoring this situation. It wouldn’t be surprising if someone snatched Kang San up from now on. If he was just a simple D-rank Hunter, it wouldn’t be worth paying attention to, but there’s his performance in the recent isolation incident. If that incident and this incident are combined, it’s clear that intangible value will be created.”

A fire was lit under his feet.

It wasn’t at the level of Cheonsang and Daeyang’s interest yet, but there was no way the hyenas running the management agencies would just let it slide.

‘I can’t let Kang San go.’

The C-rank test.

And the isolation incident.

Gu Jun-ho watched the videos countless times.

In particular, the way he fought the Werewolf Lord was what made Kang San even more special to Gu Jun-ho. Someone who could withstand an A-rank Lord with just D-rank stats. If such a person grew further, Gu Jun-ho thought he might change the landscape of Tankers. Of course, it was an uncertain future, but Gu Jun-ho wasn’t soft enough to let someone he had his eye on be taken away.

Gu Jun-ho immediately contacted Kang San.

He knew that securing a meeting with him first was the best way in this situation.

But.

『The call cannot be connected…….』

“Has someone else already made a move?”

Dozens of calls.

Dozens of failures.

No matter how many times he called, the unanswered phone made Gu Jun-ho unable to hide his anxiety.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

At that moment.

Bang━!

Jo Dong-jae walked out, slamming the door violently.

His flushed face didn’t hide his explosive emotions.

“……Bastard. Even though we lost, he won’t even meet me?”

A little while ago.

He went to see Jeong Chan-hyeok.

Even though they lost the match, he wanted to maintain Project A team with Jeong Chan-hyeok’s help. It was just one loss. They had shown good results so far, it didn’t make sense to disband like this.

But.

He wouldn’t even meet him.

What was even more absurd was that Jeong Chan-hyeok was now eager to recruit a guy named ‘Kang San’.

‘To throw me away like a worn-out shoe to recruit a mere D-rank Hunter. Jeong Chan-hyeok, you made the wrong judgment. Just because we don’t receive support as a project team doesn’t mean that what we’ve built up will disappear. We’re still promising talents, and if Cheonsang doesn’t treat us well, there’s no reason to stay. And it’s clear that every management agency in Korea will welcome talent like ours with open arms.’

If this was how they were going to treat him.

There was no reason to stay at Cheonsang.

On his way out, Jo Dong-jae found a contact on his phone.

『Daeyang Manager』

It was a contact he received a while ago.

He had been told to contact them anytime if he was interested, so he called right away.

Click.

『You contacted us first! I guess this is why I felt good this morning.』

A friendly voice was heard from the start.

This was it.

Jo Dong-jae thought he deserved this kind of treatment.

“I’m calling you because I want to transfer.”

『Are you serious?』

“Yes, I’m not someone who talks nonsense, am I? I don’t know if you’ve heard the news, but Cheonsang has decided to reduce support for the project teams. I have no intention of staying at Cheonsang and being treated like this, and I’m going to contact my team members and leave Cheonsang as a group. So, what can Daeyang do for me? Starting with this call, I’m going to contact the management agencies on my phone and transfer to the one that offers the best conditions.”

『First of all, thank you so much for giving us this opportunity. We’ll hold an internal meeting and decide on truly satisfactory conditions and contact you again.』

“Alright, then…….”

『Oh, can I ask you just one thing?』

Before hanging up.

The manager asked urgently.

Jo Dong-jae, whose heart had already melted at the other person’s attitude, spoke in a friendly voice.

“Yes, ask me anything.”

『There’s a rumor that Cheonsang is trying to recruit a Hunter named Kang San. Have they already finished contacting him?』

Suddenly.

His face contorted.

“Why are you asking me that!”

Thud.

He hung up the phone.

Daeyang’s question just now.

It crossed the line.

Kang San was the one who helped Project B team, and Jo Dong-jae was leaving Cheonsang because of his defeat against them. The manager, who had been bowing and flattering him until just now, couldn’t have not known that. Then, the fact that he still asked this question, even though he knew he might lose Jo Dong-jae because of it, meant that there was a reason he had to ask.

“……What’s so great about a D-rank Hunter.”

He was angry.

He couldn’t understand.

He would have understood if Project B team was in the spotlight.

But in this strangely unfolding situation, Jo Dong-jae felt completely irritated.

“Bastards. Alright, I was going to leave quietly, but I can’t just stand by and do nothing.”

He picked up his phone again.

And he called somewhere.

Click.

“Yes, Reporter Kang. This is Jo Dong-jae.”

✦✦✦✦✦✦

An hour later.

An article was immediately uploaded.

『Cheonsang’s Disappointing Move!』

It was a blatant attack article.

The content of the article criticized Cheonsang’s decision to choose Team B after just one match, despite Project A team’s excellent performance so far. The problem didn’t end there. Jo Dong-jae’s personal malice even affected Kang San.

『……Meanwhile, there are rumors that a Hunter named Kang San influenced the outcome of this match. That’s practically impossible. Kang San is someone who only passed the D-rank test six months ago, and his talent is so lacking that he acquired F-rank through acquired awakening and remained at F-rank for years. It’s a considerable leap to say that such a person taught Project B team and achieved this result.』

Jo Dong-jae’s request was clear.

He couldn’t allow Kang San to benefit from his defeat.

『Based on this reporter’s personal investigation into Kang San, his past actions are highly suspicious. How could he, who was considered a failing student during his school days, lead Project B team to victory? This can be understood by looking at the party members. Kang San’s party includes a D-rank Hunter named Jeong Chan-woo. That person is the younger brother of Jeong Hye-mi, the team leader in charge of Project B team. That’s right. This was a fabricated rumor from the start. Team Leader Jeong Hye-mi, through some kind of connection, boosted Kang San’s value and made Project A team’s achievements seem like nothing. Cheonsang has gone down the wrong path. In this current situation where they are excluding truly talented people and pursuing personal gain through personal connections, Project A team has become an innocent victim.』

Kang San and Cheonsang.

Both were disparaged.

The effect was immediate.

Cheonsang and Daeyang, who knew Kang San’s value, were not greatly affected, but the management agencies that were showing interest in Kang San were inevitably hesitant. It wasn’t entirely wrong. Jeong Chan-woo was indeed in Kang San’s party, and although he had recently shown tremendous performance in the isolation incident, his past was not good.

The days when he was stuck as an F-rank human shield.

And his academic record, which was evaluated as a failing student regardless of his actual skills because he couldn’t take the test due to disasters every time.

There were plenty of things to criticize.

Kang San’s plan.

It was hindered in an unexpected place.

Around that time.

A woman checked the article and expressed her displeasure.

“What is this?”

She was Reporter Kim Min-yeong.

Kim Min-yeong was already irritated.

Kang San was the person she was most interested in recently, and she was meticulously organizing data to write an article about him someday. But another reporter beat her to it. With the situation where another reporter was promoting Kang San on a large scale, saying that he was the one who led Project B team to victory, she felt regretful.

It was what she wanted to do.

When the time came, she wanted to shine the spotlight on Kang San and properly promote what kind of person he was.

She lost the first article she meant to write in that sense.

She couldn’t hide her regret, and now she found a malicious article that was openly attacking him.

A positive article?

That would be understandable.

But in the case of this article, which was criticizing Kang San without even knowing what kind of person he was.

“Isn’t this a bit much?”

Kim Min-yeong couldn’t stand it.