Chapter 66
Hunter Lee Shin (2)
“Welcome, Lee Shin!”
“Hong Kong loves you!”
An enormous crowd had gathered at Hong Kong International Airport. News of his arrival must have already spread, as most of them had come to welcome Lee Shin.
“There are seriously so many people....”
“Aren’t you quite popular yourself, Hunter Seong Chanyang?”
“Only in Korea. Thanks to the prestige of being an S-rank hunter, I still receive decent treatment when I go abroad, but... I don’t think even most idols get a reception like this....”
Even Seong Chanyang, who was fairly accustomed to this kind of reaction, seemed surprised.
Lee Shin, however, remained as calm as ever.
There are many people here who need help too.
Just then, Seong Chanyang rolled up her sleeves and stepped forward.
“Ah, if I’d known this would happen, I would’ve brought my manager along. As you know, my lord, his face has quite an impact. It really shines in situations like this.”
“Your manager would be hurt if he heard you say that.”
“Hehe, it’s a secret. Anyway, please wait here for a moment. It’ll be difficult to get through like this, so I’ll clear a path—”
As she said, moving through the crowd in their current situation seemed quite difficult. Just how many people had gathered here?
There was also no telling what kind of incident might occur amid the overheated atmosphere.
Then, at that moment, a man approached from beyond the crowd.
He was an intelligent-looking, middle-aged man dressed in a neat suit.
“It is an honor to meet you, our Savior.”
Upon reaching Lee Shin, the man abruptly bowed deeply before him. The next moment, all the surrounding people bowed their heads exactly as he had.
As though it were the most obvious and natural thing in the world.
“I am Liang Yu, head of the Hong Kong branch of the Lee Shin Salvation Church. I greet the Savior.”
It seemed Ji Seongwi was doing a better job than expected.
***
Before Seong Chanyang could do anything, the vast crowd parted to create a path, like the Red Sea splitting in two.
“...You’re saying that arrogant bastard Lee Shin has entered Hong Kong?”
“That is correct.”
“He must have completely lost his mind. How dare he defy me and still....”
Zhang Jiang frowned deeply.
His secretary soon spoke.
“I suspect it is because he knows nothing about the wider world. Isn’t he merely a frog in a well who has spent his entire life in a cramped little country? Everyone around him flatters him, so he must genuinely believe he is somebody important. That must be why he has failed to show us the proper respect.”
“Ahem. A frog in a well, you say... Those Korean bumpkins are all the same.”
“If he possessed any common sense, he would never have given equipment exclusively to those Westerners without presenting us with anything. Is it not obvious that our great nation is the leader of East Asia and that every other country is subordinate to us?”
“Mm-hmm. Precisely.”
Zhang Jiang nodded.
“Since he comes from such an insignificant and cramped nation, it is only natural that he would not understand proper conduct. How could ignorance itself be considered a crime?”
“Which is exactly why I suggest that the magnanimous and broad-minded Hero Zhang Jiang personally seek out that fool. Show him how vast the world truly is and make it absolutely clear who the master of Asia is—just as you always have.”
“You want me to go personally?”
Zhang Jiang’s eyebrows twitched at the secretary’s suggestion.
“Ahem. What would happen to my dignity if someone of my standing went there personally? I would certainly like to do so, but am I not the very face of our great nation? I cannot behave so rashly....”
“On the contrary. This is your opportunity to display our greatness beyond all doubt.”
The secretary’s eyes gleamed.
Nevertheless, Zhang Jiang somehow remained unenthusiastic.
“...From what I’ve heard, that bastard isn’t exactly a pushover.”
There was only one reason for his reluctance.
Zhang Jiang, the hunter who represented China.
He was the archetypal coward who bullied the weak and cowered before the strong.
The moment he judged someone to be vulnerable or beneath him, he became infinitely confident. But before anyone even slightly superior to him, he shrank into himself without limit.
As far as Zhang Jiang knew, Lee Shin was not merely a simple dimensional traveler who brought equipment back from another world. Several major powers had already tried to make underhanded approaches toward Lee Shin, only to pay the price in blood.
He could close rifts single-handedly and possessed mysterious powers that even the World Hunter Association had failed to identify.... Even an agent of the Communist Party who had never once failed a mission had been helplessly disposed of in South Korea. There was a strong possibility that Lee Shin had been responsible for that as well.
Moreover, Lee Shin had not come to Hong Kong alone. He was accompanied by Seong Chanyang, a hunter who could safely be considered one of South Korea’s strongest and who had reached the world-class level.
Even if Seong Chanyang’s abilities specialized in protecting important figures, subjugating monsters, and fighting as part of a team, Zhang Jiang was still reluctant to clash directly with a proven S-rank hunter. In front of others, he would boast, “Don’t compare me to some Korean wench,” but... Zhang Jiang knew the truth about himself better than anyone.
The real S-ranks lived in an entirely different world from Zhang Jiang.
And Zhang Jiang did not truly want to make enemies of people like them.
Never.
I really don’t want to confront him myself.
That was why Zhang Jiang had always shifted responsibility onto others. If they succeeded, it was thanks to him. If they failed, it was someone else’s fault....
What could be more convenient?
It was the survival method he had learned from his father, who had risen to a high-ranking position within the Party through political scheming alone.
I don’t want to fight unless my victory is absolutely guaranteed.
If their schemes against Lee Shin failed, Zhang Jiang intended to use either the association chairman or some other subordinate as a shield so that he alone could avoid responsibility. That way, even though he had failed to secure anything at this auction, he might still have an opportunity to obtain equipment at the next one.
Of course, both South Korea and the United States were already convinced that Zhang Jiang was the one targeting Lee Shin... but if he had possessed enough intelligence to consider something like that, he would never have resorted to such pathetic schemes in the first place.
...Besides, what if I’m humiliated in front of everyone?
Public criticism was already beginning to emerge.
With the next cycle approaching, even someone as well-connected as Zhang Jiang would find himself in danger if he failed to win over public sentiment. Once an actual crisis was right before their eyes, the people would no longer tolerate him. When that time came, neither controlling public opinion nor dividing the populace would work.
Of course, the greatest reason for his hesitation was his pride and reputation.
“You need not worry.”
The secretary spoke again.
“The Communist Party may place boundless trust in you, Hero Zhang Jiang, but conflicts between hunters who have reached the S-rank realm naturally result in casualties. With the fifth cycle approaching, they do not wish for their most valuable talent—you—to be injured.”
“Ahem. I suppose that is only natural.”
“That is why Association Chairman Wei Chen conducted a thorough investigation.”
“A thorough investigation?”
“I was told that he uncovered facts the South Korean government had concealed during the process.”
“Facts they concealed?”
“Apparently, the full extent of South Korea’s Lee Shin’s power is that he is merely a somewhat superior ‘dimensional traveler.’ His body is no different from that of an ordinary person, and he possesses no extraordinary supernatural abilities.”
“....”
“He may possess the ability to close rifts and bring treasures back from other worlds... but apparently, he has absolutely no practical combat ability. It seems the South Korean government went to extraordinary lengths to conceal that fact. They tried to portray that man as an existence beyond all established standards.”
“Ah, so he’s nothing more than a fabricated legend... Is that it?”
After hearing his secretary’s words, Zhang Jiang bared his teeth in a grin for the first time.
“Now that I think about it... something did seem strange. No matter how exceptional an Awakened might be, there is no way a single individual could possess so many abilities.”
“Isn’t that what those Korean bumpkins specialize in? Whenever anything happens, they claim it has become a global sensation, that America is astonished and China is afraid.... It seems their insignificant nation has resorted to the same pathetic behavior it always does.”
“Then you’re saying that inferior breed dared to humiliate our great nation...?”
“Yes. It was also Seong Chanyang who subdued Wang Tao, the man we sent. As you know, Seong Chanyang has been unusually inactive lately, hasn’t she? Publicly, they claimed it was because she was in poor condition, but in reality, it was all part of a deliberate effort to build up a new figure named ‘Lee Shin.’”
“Yes, now the pieces finally fit together! I heard the association chairman of that insignificant country was also present. That old man who made something of a name for himself in his prime.... He must be in on it too. How could such an inadequate nation possibly produce an outstanding individual?”
Bang!
Zhang Jiang shot to his feet.
“Now that I think about it, I really do need to go myself. Who besides me could accomplish something like this for our great nation?”
“You are absolutely right.”
“We leave for Hong Kong immediately. Make the preparations.”
Having regained his confidence, Zhang Jiang laughed arrogantly.
His secretary bowed respectfully before leaving the room.
And then....
“Was that sufficient?”
“Yes. He was just as simple-minded as we anticipated.”
“He isn’t nearly as cunning as his father.”
Wei Chen, chairman of the Chinese Hunter Association, was waiting in the hallway outside.
“Zhang Jiang will go to Hong Kong without the slightest idea of what awaits him.”
The secretary spoke in a dry voice as he rolled up his sleeve. A tattoo that had not been there before was engraved upon his wrist.
It depicted the face of a mysterious man—a mark symbolizing his membership in the Lee Shin Salvation Church.
“...But are you certain this will be all right?”
“....”
Unlike the calm secretary, Chairman Wei Chen appeared visibly anxious.
“No matter how inadequate Zhang Jiang may be in various respects, an S-rank is still an S-rank. In terms of his overall physical capabilities, he is a superhuman who stands at the world-class level. Moreover, when it comes to fighting other people, he might even rank among the ten strongest....”
Wei Chen could not conceal his concern.
After hearing him, the secretary replied with a perfectly relaxed expression.
“Just whom are you worried about, my new brother?”
The secretary smiled.
“He is the Son of Heaven who descended to save humanity from its confusion. He will set this broken world right and become its light and salt. How could a wicked and foolish man possibly harm someone like him?”
As Wei Chen listened to the secretary, he could not help but seriously reconsider his decision.
“What does the time matter? Faith is what matters.”
Joining these people... really was the right choice, wasn’t it?
“It appears our new brother’s faith is not yet firm enough. Come, let us return and conduct another service to help you become a more devoted believer. You still haven’t memorized the entire gospel, have you?”
“B-But it’s the middle of the night right now...?”
***
Liang Yu, head of the Hong Kong branch of the Lee Shin Salvation Church.
Since only high-ranking members who held the position of elder could become branch heads, he had been an ardent believer since the church’s earliest days. He was one of its founding members, having worked alongside Ji Seongwi since the religion was still small.
What manner of person is the Savior?
Before being entrusted with this mission, Liang Yu had asked Ji Seongwi that question.
After all, Ji Seongwi had once met privately with Lee Shin.
And the answer he had received?
Someone who appears ordinary, yet is more extraordinary than anyone else.
It had been a rather peculiar answer. That sentence alone made it exceedingly difficult to imagine what kind of person Lee Shin was.
And the Lee Shin whom Liang Yu saw in person was—
An ordinary young man.
He was much younger than he had appeared in videos and photographs.
No, rather than young, perhaps it would be more accurate to call him a boy. He looked even younger than Liang Yu’s nephew, who had recently gotten married.
“Ah, the dim sum over there is really delicious. Should we stop and eat?”
“Let’s reach our accommodations and unpack first.”
“Ugh... I’m a little hungry. I should’ve eaten the in-flight meal.”
There was nothing particularly remarkable about his speech or behavior either. In Liang Yu’s eyes, Lee Shin seemed exactly like any other young man in his twenties. He did tend to be unusually calm and indifferent for a hot-blooded young man... but that was all.
If Liang Yu had to choose one distinguishing feature, it would be that there was something mesmerizing about his eyes.
It was almost as if he were looking into the eyes of something that was not human.
...Yes. He may be our extraordinary Savior, but ultimately, he is still a human being like us. If anything, the fact that such an ordinary person will save us makes it all the more moving.
That was precisely why Liang Yu’s mission was so important.
If faithless and blasphemous heretics sought to harm Lee Shin, he was still someone they could injure. Hadn’t something unforgivable happened only recently?
Such a thing could never be allowed to happen again.
If the situation demanded it, Liang Yu would even sacrifice his own life—
“There’s no need for you to do that.”
“...Pardon?”
“If something dangerous happens, protect yourself first. A person’s life is not given to them so that they can throw it away for someone else.”
“Your daughter would be devastated. She desperately wants to walk into her wedding holding her father’s hand. She cherishes the father who raised her alone without a mother. What meaning would the happiest and most blessed moment of her life have if you weren’t there?”
Liang Yu stared blankly for a moment.
Did I ever tell him that I have a daughter?
Did I tell him that I lost my wife when I was young?
No. They had never exchanged such personal details.
More importantly, what does he mean, my daughter is getting married? As far as I know, she isn’t even seeing anyone....
While Liang Yu stood frozen, someone sitting on the street called out to their group.
“...Please, spare me a little money.”
“I haven’t eaten a single meal in three days. Please, anything would help.”
He was a beggar living on the streets. He sat atop a spread of newspapers, his eyes dull and devoid of color.
He was blind.
Most of his face was marred by horrific burns. His disfigured face and body were repulsive enough to evoke disgust merely from looking at them.
“Please....”
Feeling his way across the ground, the beggar crawled forward and clutched the hem of Lee Shin’s trousers. Liang Yu frowned at the sight.
Damn it. I let my attention wander for a moment.
He had allowed a stranger to approach this closely. He had failed in his assigned duty.
...Why is Hunter Seong Chanyang doing nothing?
Hadn’t she accompanied them as his bodyguard?
She should have stopped the man from approaching long ago. Why hadn’t she?
But something about Seong Chanyang’s expression was strange.
She still showed no intention of stopping the beggar.
Instead, as though expressing her faith before witnessing a sacred moment, Seong Chanyang clasped her hands together and quietly closed her eyes.
Then—
“Take this money and go fill your stomach. One of my companions says the food at that restaurant is delicious.”
Lee Shin spoke in Korean, a language the beggar could not understand.
“The fire that day was not your fault. It was not your fault that you were the only one who survived, either. Lying here and barely keeping yourself alive from one day to the next while enduring everyone’s contempt will not atone for anything. So eat until you’re full, get back on your feet, and live in a new world tomorrow.”
Why was it?
The language barrier should have prevented the beggar from understanding, yet he seemed to comprehend every word without missing a single one. Before anyone realized it, tears had welled in the speechless beggar’s eyes.
“Ah... Ah, ngh....”
The next moment, Liang Yu saw it.
A faint light arose beside Lee Shin, and a woman of indescribable beauty briefly appeared within it. Brilliant stars seemed to reside within her eyes, and a halo as radiant as the sun shone behind her. Liang Yu knew what countless religions called such a being.
An angel.
Lee Shin turned around and resumed walking.
After he departed, Liang Yu clearly witnessed the change taking place in the beggar left behind. Light now shone within his once-clouded eyes, while the burn scars covering his face slowly vanished as if time itself were being reversed.
Liang Yu had no idea what he could possibly say.
Just as the mysterious being he had witnessed had brought the religious word angel to mind, the utterly casual act Lee Shin had just performed made Liang Yu think of another religious term.
A miracle.
“Let’s go. We should unpack quickly and then get something to eat.”
“Ah, yes. O-Of course.”
Liang Yu followed after him, stammering without realizing it.
Two hours later, he received text messages from his daughter, who rarely contacted him.
—Dad, there’s someone I want you to meet.
—I truly love him.
Liang Yu thought to himself,
Church Leader, why would you say something so absurd?
Exactly what part of this man is supposed to be ‘ordinary’...?