Return of the Sword God-Rank Civil Servant - Chapter 71

Chapter 71

Suho’s Grade-5 special recruitment had originally been scheduled but was achieved far faster than expected.

It was no surprise.

After the award ceremony, with three articles published, the view count, which had already been climbing steadily, skyrocketed.

– Where Is the Justice in Yeongdeungpo? Part 1.

– Hunter Ahn Suho Appears in Yeongdeungpo! Part 2.

– Changshik Gang and the Victims of Fantasy. Part 3.

Literally explosive popularity.

The view count for Part 1, which had barely hit 500, was now averaging over 7 million.

Jo Jin-hwi nodded with satisfaction as he observed the skyrocketing views.

“This is why I became a reporter.”

The view count was his strength!

The number of comments was his strength!

Many factors contributed to the view count surge.

For example, articles written by other reporters present at yesterday’s award ceremony.

But the biggest influence was undoubtedly the three letters of ‘Ahn Suho’—a keyword absent in the Part 1 article.

Jo Jin-hwi scrolled down and checked the comments.

– Wow… the only light in Yeongdeungpo, which no one even glanced at…

– I trusted you, Swordman.

– He’s seriously so cool. How can a person be like this?

– But isn’t it kind of funny? LOL. Shouldn’t it be the prosecutor, police, or the Hunter Association doing this, not an individual?

– Isn’t Nexus behind this?

└ Would a guild really order its members to take down thugs?

└ Is your brain just decoration on your shoulders?

– I briefly saw him at the award ceremony last time, and he was ridiculously handsome, LOL.

– I want to be cut by the Sword God, even just once.

– Mom! I want to be the Sword God when I grow up! Mom! I want to be the Sword God when I grow up! Mom! I want to be the Sword God when I grow up! Mom! I want to be the Sword God when I grow up! Mom! I want to be the Sword God when I grow up!

– Everyone, the Temple of Ahn is always open. Join anytime. From the Priesthood of Suho.

Numerous words of praise.

Of course, not all the praise was directed at Suho.

– But isn’t this private retaliation?

– He’s not even a vigilante… won’t he be in legal trouble if they sue him?

– Why is he acting like a prosecutor or police officer? LOL. Ahn Suho seems like a bit of an attention-seeker if you think about it LOL. Agree?

Voices expressing concern about real issues.

Or, people pretending to be concerned but just hurling criticism.

But whenever such comments appeared…

– But isn’t this private retaliation?

└ And if it is?

└ What if it is, LOL?

└ Look at you, doing nothing but scratching your belly in your room and furiously typing, LOL.

└ So what can you do?

└ So what now, LOL?

– He’s not even a vigilante… won’t he be in legal trouble if they sue him?

└ Are you an idiot? Would thugs who terrorized people get in trouble, or would the Sword God?

└ Is it possible that it’s your brain that’s in pain, not the Sword God’s.. hehe.

– Why is he acting like a prosecutor or police officer? LOL. Ahn Suho seems like a bit of an attention-seeker if you think about it LOL. Agree?

└ Isn’t the real attention-seeker someone like you, posting these kinds of comments?

└ Ignore the idiot.

└ Why are you trying so hard when you’re nothing?

└ This is the level our public education has fallen to…

└ But honestly, it’s true our education system fell apart after the Cataclysm… uh-oh! Judge, I didn’t say anything!

Other people who liked Suho would step in and defend him.

Because of this, the Korean Hunter Association decided they had to bring Suho on board as soon as possible.

With Suho, at least the association could partially avoid the public criticism targeting both the police and the association.

As soon as Suho’s special recruitment was finalized, the association unleashed a flood of articles on the matter in the press.

– “Yeongdeungpo’s Hero, Ahn Suho” Joins the Korean Hunter Association.

– “Sword God Ahn Suho” Appointed as Grade-5 Hunter in Special Recruitment by the Association.

– Hunter Ahn Suho Really Joins the Association.

– Interview Comes True… Ahn Suho Joins the Korean Hunter Association!

The news of Suho’s special recruitment caused an explosive reaction as soon as it was reported.

It even buried Jo Jin-hwi’s Yeongdeungpo series in no time.

People’s reactions were especially enthusiastic.

– Wow! Joining the association at this timing? Insane.

– Wow… Was the interview he gave on the day of the award ceremony actually real?

– Ahn Suho! Ahn Suho! Ahn Suho! Ahn Suho! Ahn Suho! Ahn Suho! Ahn Suho! Ahn Suho! Ahn Suho! Ahn Suho! Ahn Suho! Ahn Suho! Ahn Suho! Ahn Suho! Ahn Suho! Ahn Suho! Ahn Suho! Ahn Suho! Ahn Su…

– But isn’t the association using Ahn Suho as a shield to stop the bad press?

└ Oh, here we go again. Conspiracy theory for everything.

└ Do you think Grade-5 ranks just pop up out of nowhere?

└ Do you think a Grade-5 position is handed out that easily, even in a special recruitment?

└ Please step out of your room and live in the real world!

Just as expected.

Upon the news of Suho’s special recruitment by the association, his popularity, which was already sky-high, shot up even further, and the association, armed with Suho as a shield, received much less criticism than the police.

In fact, they even received praise.

For example,

– At least the association recruited Ahn Suho. But the police…?

– Is this supposed to be the shield of the people…?

– More like a mold infestation, isn’t it?

– Police, no. Losers, yes.

– I bet it’s obvious. The so-called regular police were probably on the scene just screaming “Oh no! Oh no!”

Like this.

Then, public attention gradually shifted to Nexus Guild.

– So what happens to Nexus now?

– Right? Isn’t there still a lot of time left on the contract?

– Does that mean Ahn Suho just walked out on Nexus?

└ Come on, would he really do that?

└ Let’s wait for their statement.

This was inevitable.

Only after savoring the main dish could people finally see the side dish.

And Nexus had anticipated this and prepared accordingly.

“They’re starting to talk about us now.”

“Shall we start preparing?”

“Yes, we can start releasing the information now.”

Following Administrator Kim Lee-gang’s order, PR Manager Park Gu-wan began releasing pre-prepared articles.

They had no intention of missing the opportunity.

When the water flows, you row—now was the perfect time to ride the wave and shape their image with a motor.

This began with Nexus’s official statement.

– Nexus,

“Wishing Hunter Ahn Suho blessings on his path.”

– Nexus Bids a Warm Farewell to Ahn Suho!

– Nexus, Doing the Right Thing.

– Nexus, Didn’t Take Any Signing Fee from the Start…

– Runaway? False Rumor, Says Nexus Official.

Jo Jin-hwi joined the article flood too.

He wasn’t writing anything that wasn’t true; he was simply wrapping the truth in a more appealing package.

Just packaging the facts that people were curious about, pressing them down like a full bowl of rice.

And, as expected, the articles Nexus released ignited excitement once again.

– Wow… as expected, Nexus.

– Nexus is truly remarkable!

– Believed in them all along!

– From today, Nexus is the industry leader.

– Call them “Imperial Nexus.”

– Pure light.

– This must have been a difficult decision, yet they coolly ended the contract. Even considering public opinion, they’re focusing on long-term gains instead of short-term image.

└ Shows you don’t know much; companies value image most. A good image can’t be bought with money.

They weren’t wrong.

Even if they cared about public opinion, a contract was a contract.

But people didn’t know the details of Nexus and Suho’s contract, and with this, Nexus’s image took a highly positive position within the hunter industry.

And where there’s light, there’s also darkness.

The unexpected rise of Nexus meant that the attention now fell onto Hexagon and Prime, the top two guilds in the industry.

– Compared to Nexus, Hexagon and Prime are…

– Let’s not even go there. They treat hunters as mere money-making tools.

– Aren’t they known for overworking their members and abusing them?

└ Don’t you remember that incident? They delayed potion distribution to a low-ranking hunter, who ended up dying in a gate.

└ And that’s not all. Plenty of magic users were pushed to the point of mana dehydration and had to be carried out.

└ Impressive, Hexagon. Just trash!

└ Apologize to trash!

└ Trash, we’re sorry! Humans are sorry!

Employees at Hexagon and Prime seethed quietly upon reading the articles but couldn’t say anything.

All the incidents mentioned were true, and there was no way they could sue for defamation by citing true events.

Then, the final piece fell into place with an interview with Nexus’s Guild Master, Bae Dong-hyuk.

***

Q. Did you end the contract because of public opinion?

A. No, it was prearranged. Hunter Ahn and I had already discussed it. He told us that his dream was to join the Korean Hunter Association, and if he could gain practical experience before applying for the annual recruitment, he wanted to join a guild that could meet those conditions, which just happened to be us.

Q. Aren’t you disappointed?

A. It would be a lie to say we’re not. However, we believed that Hunter Ahn’s path in a national institution like the association was more beneficial for humanity than keeping him here at Nexus.

A respectful yet humble and altruistic interview that anyone could admire.

People were thrilled once more, and Bae Dong-hyuk even earned titles like “Father” and “Light” from the public.

Then, with the final push—articles on the “Yeongdeungpo Relief Effort”—Nexus finally cemented the title of “Public’s Favorite Guild.”

Watching the flood of comments and followers, Jo Jin-hwi remarked,

“These past few days have been incredible in terms of popularity.”

“It’s all thanks to you, Reporter Jo.”

“Oh, I only added some seasoning here and there. It was all possible because of Director Ahn’s efforts from the start.”

“Exactly! Director is the best!”

Safe house in Cheongdam-dong.

Tomorrow, Suho would officially begin his first day at the Korean Hunter Association.

So he invited Jo Jin-hwi over for a small gathering at his house to celebrate.

Suho had already met with the Banshees earlier, but this time he had organized a separate meeting to announce Nam Haewon’s addition.

Nam Haewon’s joining the Banshees after working on the relief effort felt like a natural progression, and it aligned with Suho’s vision.

Henceforth, Suho’s title shifted from “Mr. Suho” or “Hunter Ahn Suho” to “Director.”

Jo Jin-hwi asked,

“So with a little more care, will the victims be fully healed soon?”

“Yes, according to the materials sent from Nexus, it seems so. And it’s all thanks to the Hammer2 created by Haewon.”

“Haha, thank you.”

Nam Haewon scratched the back of his head, looking embarrassed at Suho’s praise.

Nam Haewon was still staying at the Cheongdam safe house and planned to continue living there.

And it wasn’t just Nam Haewon.

Banshees who wished to stay were all welcome, though only Seo Giwon had accepted the offer.

And Seo Giwon was relentlessly training at Nexus Academy, leveling up as always.

Jo Jin-hwi chuckled.

“Then once we finish the special series with a fourth article on the victims’ recovery, we’re all set. Congratulations. Shall we toast to that?”

“Why not?”

“Congratulations on your first day tomorrow. Don’t forget about me there!”

“Haha, of course. We’re partners forever.”

Clink!

The three glasses clinked with a clear sound.

And the next day, Suho officially started his first day at the Korean Hunter Association.

Return of the Sword God-Rank Civil Servant - Chapter 71

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