Chapter 20: Episode 20: Han Jin woo

Chapter 20: Episode 20: Han Jin woo Episode 20: Han Jin woo The morning sun had barely started to rise, casting a golden haze over the city, when Han Jin-woo (the man formerly known to the streets as Jomo) sat alone in his dimly lit office at WN Agency. The walls were lined with steel filing cabinets, aged leather-bound books, and half-drunk mugs of coffee. The air smelled like burnt toast, recycled paper, and the stale cologne from yesterday’s suit. Light spilled in from the blinds behind him, but only in thin lines, striping across the papers scattered on his desk like bars of a cage. He rubbed his eyes, clearly exhausted. The night hadn’t offered much sleep. His mind had been too loud. Too busy replaying the threats he received the night before. "Just one. Just one that will stay." The voice echoed in his skull, not his own but the man on the other end of the call, who spoke with a cold weight. That wasn’t just pressure. It was a promise. If Han Jin-woo failed to recruit someone worthwhile soon, he knew what came next. He didn’t want to think about what happened to the last recruiter who failed. He let out a sigh and leaned back, staring up at the cracked ceiling. That’s when the office door opened with a soft creak. Kim Do-hyun (김도현) stepped in slowly, still a bit unsure. He looked around as if trying to memorize the place, eyes glancing at the shelves, the high wall clock ticking like a countdown, and the man behind the desk who once handed him a business card. Han Jin-woo straightened his back. His eyes lit up with forced warmth, though his lips were heavy with fatigue. "Ah! Do-hyun, you actually came. Have a seat, my boy." Do-hyun nodded and took the seat directly across from the desk, hands in his lap, legs slightly apart, just enough to show alertness but not aggression. There was a moment of silence between them. Han Jin-woo broke it. "So, what brings you here?" "I wanted to ask a few things," Do-hyun said. "I’m not sure how this world works yet. But I want a place where I can grow without being thrown to the wolves. Somewhere that even someone like me can hunt." Han nodded, tapping his pen on a notepad. His eyes studied Do-hyun carefully. The kid didn’t look particularly strong. He didn’t have the air of a fighter or the arrogance that came from confidence. But he didn’t have fear either. "Fair enough," Han said. "We have some beginner dungeons under our network. Nothing too lethal. Some might even call them playgrounds. But we take safety seriously. The fee is minimal, and support is available. We do this to groom new Hunters properly." Do-hyun hesitated, then leaned forward just a bit. "My skill is cloning." Han Jin-woo blinked. The words hung in the air like they needed clarification. "Cloning?" he repeated, as if trying to remember if that was supposed to be good or trash. He had heard of illusion clones before. Skills that looked cool in theory but didn’t actually help in real battle. Most of them couldn’t even hold a blade. They’d just flicker and vanish with a single hit. "Hmm..." He coughed politely, then put on a big smile. "Cloning, huh? That’s a rare one. Very useful in the right hands. Very tactical. Think of the possibilities. Distractions, recon, combat trickery." Inside, though, he was sweating. Illusion clone? If that was all, the kid was worthless. He had quotas to meet. And his boss wasn’t the type who believed in second chances. Do-hyun, watching the recruiter’s expression, said nothing. He only smiled faintly. He didn’t need to reveal anything more. Not yet. Han Jin-woo pulled open a drawer and brought out a printed contract. It was thick and stiff like dried parchment, with golden trim and holographic stamps on the corner. He placed it on the desk. "This here is a basic WN Agency onboarding contract. Nothing fancy. It gives you access to three low-tier dungeons, a month’s worth of equipment rentals, and connections to a healer network if you’re injured during a run." Do-hyun reached out, fingers brushing the edge of the document. He did not open it yet. His gaze stayed fixed on the text across the top: [WN AGENCY - HUNTER INITIATION PROGRAM] The title alone gave him chills. Not because it sounded important, but because it felt like the first door he’d opened since his Awakening. He was still holding the business card too, tucked between his fingers. The card had no smell, but it somehow felt warm. Maybe it was just the moment. Maybe it was fate finally breathing. Han Jin-woo waited. Do-hyun’s eyes scanned the paragraphs. They were written in dense legalese, but the parts that mattered were bolded. ’Full agency rights for a 1-year minimum.’ ’Termination clause applicable only with injury or death.’ ’All dungeon access requires prior approval.’ ’Earnings split: 60-40 (Hunter-Agency)’ He kept reading, then leaned back. "Mind if I take a minute to think?" "Take all the time you need." Han Jin-woo smiled again, this time less forced. He leaned back in his seat, watching the kid with quiet curiosity. It wasn’t every day someone asked for the basics so honestly. Most F-ranks were too prideful or too desperate. They either signed without reading or stormed out, thinking they deserved more. But this one was... different. The two men sat in that silent office, across the divide of a polished desk, both knowing that something was starting. Do-hyun still hadn’t said yes. He was staring at the paper. Staring like it held more than just ink. And maybe it did.