- "…So, you're telling me he cleared the Sealed Gate?"

"Yes, that's correct."

- "The Swamp of Despair? The one I think it is?"

"Yes, that very Swamp of Despair."

- "The one said to be even more dangerous than the Nameless Sword Gate?"

"Yes, that's exactly it."

- "Ha…"

Baedonghyuk, the Nexus Guild leader, couldn’t help but let out a disbelieving laugh as he listened to the report from Park Guwan, the head of public relations.

Taking the phone from his ear for a moment, he leaned back in his chair and muttered to himself.

"This is… beyond incredible."

Ahn Suho.

He’d always known he was an impressive individual, but this was beyond his imagination… no, this was beyond anything imaginable.

Baedonghyuk finally gave up all resistance after seeing the verification photos Park Guwan sent him.

It suddenly occurred to him that this man might just be far too monumental for even his Nexus Guild to contain.

Park Guwan’s voice echoed from the speaker.

- "What should we do?"

Taking a moment to steady his breath, Baedonghyuk answered.

"Compile all the materials and keep them on standby. I'll give orders myself when the timing’s right."

- "Understood, sir."

Once the call ended, Kim I-gang, the operations director, entered the office.

"Sir, did you hear?"

"If it’s about Hunter Ahn Suho's success in the Swamp of Despair, yes, I just heard."

"Yes, because of that, I rushed here to discuss something with you."

"A discussion? What kind of discussion?"

Kim I-gang seemed almost breathless with excitement.

Having risen to the top of Nexus’s operational ladder at a young age, he was the guild’s most brilliant strategist, and he couldn’t afford to let go of an opportunity—no, a chance as rare as Ahn Suho.

After all, Ahn Suho was, for all intents and purposes, a temporary presence in their guild until the year-end recruitment closed.

With a gleam in his eye, Kim I-gang spoke up.

“Hunter Ahn Suho isn’t going to be around by year’s end, right? Let’s make the most out of him while we still can.”

"Make the most of him?"

"You know the upcoming events we had scheduled? Let's push them forward and have him participate before he leaves. And let’s start producing some merchandise, too."

"Merchandise? So soon?"

"Take a look at this, and you’ll understand."

Kim I-gang showed him Nexus’s official social media accounts.

The posts were brimming with comments and direct messages.

- "When are we getting Sword God merch?"
- "Make some Ahn Suho products already, damn it!"
- "I want an Ahn Suho photocard!"
- "Make a Sword God keychain!"
- "Nexus, are you even working?!"
- "Make hay while the sun shines!"
- "This is why you need to have a good agency…"
- "Give us figures too!"

Seeing the reactions, Baedonghyuk couldn’t help but exclaim.

“What in the world…?”

"This is the current public opinion surrounding Hunter Ahn Suho. Not long ago, people were criticizing him for joining Nexus, but now that he’s tackled his second Sealed Gate, they’re turning into fans. And with his latest success at the Swamp of Despair, we’re looking at a stable, unwavering fan base. A ‘concrete’ fanbase, if you will."

"A steadfast fanbase… So, finally, our Nexus…?"

"Yes, we’ve finally got our ‘star player,’ something Hexagon and Prime had but we didn’t."

“...!”

Baedonghyuk’s eyes widened in realization as he took in Kim I-gang’s confident words.

A star player!

As the world settled after the advent of the Awakened, people had come to admire players even more than athletes or celebrities.

With their rarity, abilities, and thrilling visuals, players provided spectacles more captivating than sports or games.

Until now, Nexus hadn’t had a player influential enough to be called a star.

Or, more accurately, no "star player" had survived for long.

A star player wasn’t just someone with exceptional Hunter skills but also someone who could consistently stay alive.

And with Ahn Suho, who had single-handedly cleared two Sealed Gates no one else could tackle…

‘He’s got potential…!’

Potential to survive, and that was the most important factor.

After all, only the living could generate star power and marketability.

As Baedonghyuk’s gaze sharpened with interest, Kim I-gang added in a mild tone.

“I know it’s a bit harsh to say, but from the guild’s perspective, merchandise sales will be fleeting.”

“True, right?”

“There’s also a possibility that Hunter Ahn Suho might not even make it to the year’s end. So, we need to start planning our business model now.”

Though his words were blunt, as the guild’s operations manager, Kim I-gang was simply taking a realistic view—guilds, after all, needed to maximize profits, much like businesses.

Baedonghyuk nodded in agreement.

“Alright, proceed right away.”

“Thank you.”

With a look of excitement, Kim I-gang left the office, only for Baedonghyuk’s phone to ring shortly after.

A new number.

Who could it be?

When he picked up, a familiar voice greeted him.

- "Hello, is this Nexus Guild Leader Baedonghyuk?"

“Yes, this is he. May I ask who’s calling?”

- "Ah, I’m Jang Kyunghwan, the president of the Korean Hunter Association. A pleasure to speak with you."

“Oh! President Jang!”

Baedonghyuk’s eyes widened at the mention of the Association president.

But why would he be calling?

They didn’t have any direct business.

That’s when President Jang chuckled and spoke up.

- "Do you have a moment? I have something I’d like to discuss with you."

Suddenly?

Baedonghyuk narrowed his eyes.

Why was the Association president asking to meet him all of a sudden?

But the answer was obvious.

‘It must be because of Hunter Ahn Suho.’

If it was about Hunter Ahn Suho, everything made sense.

News of the Sealed Gate clearance would likely reach the Association or military faster than Nexus, especially with the upcoming recruitment exam in discussion.

‘Clearing two Sealed Gates… seems it’s gotten the Association’s attention.’

If that were the case, he would need to be prepared.

‘We can’t afford to ignore them.’

Thus, while Ahn Suho remained in Nexus, they needed to foster a good relationship with the Association.

With enthusiasm, Baedonghyuk replied.

“Ah, yes, of course. Shall I come to the Association?”

- "If that’s convenient for you, that would be perfect."

“Yes, I’ll head over. But how about dinner instead, if you’re open to it? I’d like to host you somewhere nice.”

- "Shall we? Haha, a light meal sounds good. I’ll await your call."

“Absolutely. I’ll contact you shortly.”

Once the call ended, Baedonghyuk immediately called Kim I-gang back in.

---

On his way back to Seoul after clearing the Swamp of Despair, Suho received a call from Baedonghyuk.

“Yes, yes, understood. I’ll do that.”

As he ended the call, his driver, Jo Jinhwi, asked.

“Is something up?”

“The Association president wants to meet with our guild leader.”

“President Jang Kyunghwan? Ah, it figures. Being a former politician, he’s certainly proactive.”

“Yes. They’re meeting over dinner tonight, and our leader wants me to join.”

Knowing the context, Jo Jinhwi understood immediately without further explanation.

A sudden thought crossed Jo Jinhwi’s mind, and he tilted his head, curious.

“But wasn’t that Baedonghyuk’s number just now?”

“Yes, why?”

“I’m just surprised. Given Nexus’s position in relation to the Association, I wouldn’t have expected the guild leader to request your presence, even if he’s meeting in a subordinate position.”

Hmm.

It did seem a bit unusual.

People generally didn’t like showing vulnerability to others, especially someone they valued.

Suho chuckled at Jo Jinhwi’s remark.

“Well, our leader isn’t the head of the third-largest guild for nothing. I’m sure he’s got his reasons for wanting me there.”

“I see… I’m curious about what will be discussed. Shouldn’t you also have a plan prepared for this kind of meeting?”

“Actually, I do have something in mind. I’ll tell you more afterward, and I’ll make sure to clarify which parts you can use in your articles.”

“As expected, Suho, you’re so thorough. But don’t you think you’re going a bit overboard?”

“You’re driving and helping out, so this much is the least I can do. Speaking of which, can I change the GPS location? Given the timing, I think we should head straight to the restaurant.”

“Oh, of course. But where is the dinner?”

“A place called Damhwa, a Korean restaurant in Apgujeong.”

“Ah, Damhwa’s great. If you get a chance, try their specialty, the grilled pork. It’s my personal recommendation.”

“Sounds good. I’ll keep it in mind.”

“We should have a meal together sometime, too. We live together, yet our schedules never seem to line up.”

“Haha, well, finding time for a

 meal is easy enough. Let’s do it soon.”

“Absolutely. You know I run a blog with food reviews, right? I’d love to take you to some of my favorite spots.”

“Haha, looking forward to it.”

The two continued chatting about food as they made their way to Damhwa.

Finally, as they arrived in front of Damhwa.

“Suho, we’re here.”

“Thank you. Are you heading to the station now?”

“Yes, I’ll standby with the article on the Swamp of Despair until the green light to publish it. I’ll coordinate with Nexus beforehand, of course.”

“Of course. See you later, and let’s definitely have that meal soon.”

“Absolutely. Take care!”

With a hum, Jo Jinhwi’s car smoothly pulled away from Damhwa.

Once Jo Jinhwi was out of sight, Suho quietly smirked as he looked at the Ring of Emotions.

‘So much energy from him.’

The constant conversation on the way here served one purpose.

To gather positive energy, the White emotion, from Jo Jinhwi.

Thankfully, Jo Jinhwi’s positivity was so genuine that their talk had maximized Suho’s White energy levels.

‘Now, let’s get going.’

With that, Suho entered Damhwa.