The small airport saw plane after plane touch down. Most were not standard airliners but various private jets, and few passengers emerged onto the tarmac. At most ten, at least one, leapt off without using the boarding stairs. Song Taewon watched them all in silence.

“Hunter Song Taewon, aren’t you here as a guest this time?”

Beside him, Shishio remarked that, since Amaterasu Guild was overseeing his security, there was no need for him to toil. Yet Song Taewon did not cease his inspection of arriving guests.

“There’s little chance this gathering will end quietly, so we must prepare documentation.”

“Prepare?”

“To protect our nation’s Hunters should this become an international incident. I’d ask that all video feeds be backed up as frequently as possible.”

“And if evidence harmful to Korean Hunters appears?”

“My job is to prevent that before it happens.”

He answered calmly; Shishio looked at him in fascination.

“They say you’re unusual—an S-Rank Hunter acting like an ordinary civil servant.”

“I’m a civil servant before I am a Hunter.”

“Don’t you ever want to let loose instead of playing dour guardian?”

“I do not enjoy that.”

“No way! A tiger in a cat’s skin is still a tiger.”

“Few S-Rank Hunters enjoy merely waiting around.”

“Hmm?”

Song Taewon tilted his head to the sky.

“When the airport reaches capacity—”

Before he could finish, something dropped from the lofty heights above. And then—

KWAANG!

The thick pavement cracked as fragments flew high. Song Taewon calmly took notes.

“France’s... Eric Dicker. Charge him for runway repairs.”

“Do you know him?”

“I’ve never met him. He’s guild master of Tourchen, who once protested to the Korean Hunter Association over Noah Ruhir’s affiliation. He’s likely to pick a quarrel with Chief Han Yujin and Haeyeon Guild, so he’s on our watch list.”

“In that case I’ll remember him too.”

Shishio’s courtesy toward Han Yujin struck Song Taewon as odd. Despite all Han had done to him, Shishio eagerly offered to raise the Flame Horn Lion—surely there was another motive.

“As long as I stand here, no one will lay a finger on Chief Han Yujin!”

Shishio laughed heartily and glared theatrically at the French Hunter heading for his waiting car.

‘...His simple nature plays a big part, surely.’

He certainly held no grudges. Some S-Rank Hunters are carefree, with such power that any loss is soon forgotten on a whim.

In any case, Shishio’s goodwill toward Han Yujin was harmless. Song Taewon resumed checking Hunters disembarking the latest jet.

“Chief Han Yujin sent word to ask Guild Master Amaterasu not to come on the first day.”

“Why!”

Instead of replying, Song Taewon removed his earpiece and its attached microphone and handed them to Shishio.

“Chief Han Yujin!”

[Just one day, just one day. I need a reliable S-Rank Hunter to welcome any latecomers outside the island—because Shishio is so trustworthy!]

“W-well, if that’s the case...”

[Thank you! You’re the best, Shishio!]

“Ha ha ha! Naturally!”

Shishio beamed as he returned the device. Song Taewon felt a prickling unease as he replaced his earpiece. Another person had entered Han Yujin’s circle of trust.

Just then, a familiar jet landed on the runway. Sprinting down the tarmac, the private jet slowed and came to a stop. Before the stairs even reached it, someone sprang lightly from the door: golden hair streaming like a tail, Kang Soyeong stretched both arms in a big yawn.

“I feel like I’ve been trapped for a week, Director Song! Hello!”

She bounced over to Song Taewon and, lowering her voice, whispered:

“It was unbearable in there—only two hours, but the air was so stifling. Hello, Guild Master Amaterasu—loving the hairstyle!”

By then the stairs had docked and the other passengers emerged. Song Taewon’s eyebrows twitched at a familiar dark-red coat. The rumor that Guild Master Han had gifted Silekia’s wings to Guild Master Dodam had spread quietly—but to wear Silekia openly like this was to prove those whispers were false. It would also undermine the notion that the two sides were in close alliance; false intelligence, once disproven, drags down all related rumors.

Following the Sesung Guild Master down the stairs came Evelyn and Chloe. Seong Hyunjae’s gaze passed from Song Taewon to Shishio. Noticing this, Evelyn quietly said:

“I’ll go ahead.”

She turned away at once, clutching her coat. Chloe fell in step behind her. Soyeong glanced around and slipped aside.

“Um, I’m meeting Riette, so I’ll be off.”

As Soyeong hurried off, Seong Hyunjae approached Song Taewon and shrugged.

“You all are so heartless.”

“Even Guild Master Sesung will head to the island—”

Song Taewon began, tongue-clicking, then paused. Among the arriving guests were faces he recognized—and even more whom Seong Hyunjae knew.

“If it’s not too much, would you wait a moment and accompany me?”

At Song Taewon’s request, Seong Hyunjae’s golden eyes curved slightly. To an observer, his smile was warm enough, but Song Taewon easily sensed Seong Hyunjae’s displeasure—Soyeong had called the air stifling on her way here.

The island was sure to be a powder keg of tension. To leave Seong Hyunjae alone there was to toss a pulled grenade.

“Have I ever refused Director Song’s requests?”

He swallowed the words “Many times, though.” Just then Shishio interjected:

“Is it true the rumors say you’ve grown indifferent to Chief Han Yujin, Guild Master Sesung?”

“An odd question.”

“I thought it might flatter him. In any case, I’m glad things seem to have ended smoothly!”

Shishio beamed as though relieved. Song Taewon sighed and said:

“I will continue overseeing this side; Guild Master Amaterasu, please watch the helipad. Disputes are likely as people queue—some may refuse to share lifts with others.”

“Very well.”

Shishio strode off swiftly. Watching a newly arrived Hunter eyeing Seong Hyunjae, Song Taewon spoke:

“If you’ll wait, please remain indoors.”

“Reuniting with familiar faces isn’t a bad thing, is it?”

“There are those who won’t welcome Guild Master Sesung.”

“What a hurtful thing to say! I’ve lived a respectable life!”

Song Taewon frowned slightly and checked his inventory list of attendees still en route. The only relief was that Seong Hyunjae wouldn’t provoke anyone first—if trouble came, Song Taewon would intervene.

“Some chose not to attend. I heard you arranged to receive information on Ki Seung-soo ahead of time.”

“Chief Han delivered the invitations himself. Who could refuse that?”

“He decided to ignore it for now, yes?”

“Have you checked the back of his neck?”

At Seong Hyunjae’s question, Song Taewon’s expression hardened. He’d been uneasy; Han Yujin had called it a mere invitation mark, but it felt wrong.

“Even covered by his magic, it grated on me.”

“Another threat?”

“As always. He surely did not spare himself.”

Seong Hyunjae’s thin smile seemed almost bored.

Several planes landed, took off, and cleared space only for others to fill it again. The airport’s roar buzzed in their ears. A few Hunters watched Seong Hyunjae but thankfully did not approach.

Then yet another jet touched down. Again no stairs were used; the Hunter leapt off wearing a flamboyant Hawaiian shirt, shorts, sunglasses, and timeless beach sandals.

“Guild Master Sesung!”

Hunter Hwang Rim removed his sunglasses with a broad grin. Instantly, Song Taewon’s gaze chilled.

“A long time no see, Director Song. Didn’t we cross paths before? I saw you from afar.”

Hwang Rim approached with genial courtesy.

“You’re not on the list.”

Song Taewon said coolly. Hwang Rim hooked his sunglasses on his collar and smiled.

“I received an invitation under my U.S. name—Richard Hwang. I thought you’d recognize it.”

“An A-Rank Hunter, then?”

“Yes; overseas, calling one an S-Rank can be a hassle. The invitee is indeed A-Rank.”

Hwang Rim drew a cigarette case from his inventory with a playful grin.

“Isn’t drink and tobacco one and the same? I’m here to vend—no need to be so tense.”

He cracked a joke about seizing this promotional moment.

“This time I’m just an ordinary merchant, not an S-Rank Hunter.”

He flung out his arms and turned gracefully to face Seong Hyunjae.

“They say your naughty habits persist.”

“Why are there so many who enjoy gossiping about others’ affairs?”

Seong Hyunjae lowered his gaze, bored. Ignores him, Hwang Rim’s expression brimmed with curiosity.

“It’s probably just rumor, anyway.”

“You stand here unharmed—if it weren’t rumor, you’d be in ruins.”

Hwang Rim laughed aloud.

“You’re not a foe one tires of easily. I’ve missed our Yun-yi so much he’s pining away. I nearly scolded him for wanting to come in his feeble state.”

“I doubt it was wise for Hwang Rim to visit.”

“I was only charmed by him. But, Guild Master Sesung—”

He tapped Seong Hyunjae’s tie with his case.

“Care for one?”

“I’m giving up smoking.”

“Oh dear. To think the walking billboard would refuse—what a pity.”

The metal case vanished at Hwang Rim’s fingertips with a snap.

“You’ll get sick if you hold back too much.”

“Isn’t it the other way around?”

“When something’s precious to me, it’s precious to others too. If you captivate Guild Master Sesung’s taste, they’ll snatch you up in a heartbeat.”

Hwang Rim took a step back.

“I’m merely a spectator who loves peace. Wouldn’t it be better to have a clear owner?”

He departed to set up his stall. A brief hush fell as Song Taewon sighed.

“He also holds U.S. citizenship, and officially the kidnapper of Chief Han Yujin is not a Chinese Hunter.”

“I know that.”

“Don’t kill rashly.”

At Song Taewon’s counsel, Seong Hyunjae tilted his head in mild puzzlement.

“Shouldn’t you tell others that, to prevent a pile of ashes called Richard Hwang from accumulating on the island?”

“.......”

“I’m not particularly offended.”

Song Taewon felt his head throb as he switched his microphone back on.

“How is the situation on the island?”

[It seems a French Hunter picked a fight.]

Han Yujin’s light voice replied.

[He’s not visible here; they’ll handle one troublemaker easily. Oh, smoke’s rising—I hear an explosion.]

It was fully expected. Still, Song Taewon could not suppress a long, weary sigh.