“I just stopped by. I had some business here.”

The giant shadow leaning against the door gradually brightened in the moonlight.

Baek Ijoon. The first S-rank hunter in Korea and currently operating as Maestro in the United States.

[The Second S-rank Hunter Produced by Korea, ‘Baek-ya,’ Who is He?] [A-grade gate in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, subjugated under Baek-ya’s command in just 5 hours. Achieves the highest record in East Asia.] [S-rank Hunter Baek-ya Establishes the Wolf Guild. The Wolf Will Become Korea’s Best Sword and Shield.]

Jehwi, who left for the United States across the sea, first learned about Gwihoon, or rather, Baek-ya’s existence through articles gossiping about him.

And they actually met quite some time later in the fall of 2009 at an S-rank gate that appeared in Taiwan.

‘Are you the Maestro? I’m Baek-ya, also known as Shin Gwihoon.’
“…It would not be good if it were known that Baek-ya, praised in Korea, first requested a handshake from a traitor.”

“Doesn’t matter. You and I are Korea’s first S-rank hunters who survived the turbulent early days. I’ve always wanted to meet you.”

“S-rank hunters who survived the turbulent early days?”

“Why are you laughing?”

“It sounds like we survived because we were S-ranks. Doesn’t it sound a bit different?”

“… ”

“We became S-ranks because we survived, that’s all.”

Even after that, on occasions like the World Hunter Day festival or events between Korea and the U.S., although not many, Jun and Gwihoon faced each other a few times.

They couldn’t be called friends. They didn’t share the same beliefs or values.

They couldn’t be called colleagues either. They were just contemporaries who lived in the same era.

But there was an undeniable commonality between them.

The first generation of S-rank hunters in Korea. Heroes of the dawn. Both were called that.

“How’s your health?”

Jun walked over and plopped down on the chair near the bed. His ash-gray pupils looked at Gwihoon attentively.

Even after a decade since they last met, it was a dry exchange of greetings. Gwihoon responded with a smile.

“If you’re okay, that’s fine. And if you’re not, what can be done? Right now, I have only two things to do. Quietly waiting for death and…”

Gwihoon, who had stopped, moved his hand again to trim the orchids.

“…Protecting the wolves to the end.”

Suddenly, the framed picture on the wall gleamed vividly in the moonlight. It was a painting of a wolf howling at the cliff’s edge.

“It’s still the same. In a situation where I might die tomorrow, it’s not easy to keep talking about guilds like that.”

“Because protecting the wolves is equivalent to protecting Korea.”

If the Association revised the Korean Hunter Law and built the system, the elevated status of Korean hunters was largely due to the wolf’s contributions.

In reality, the wolf invested heavily in hunter training and education-related businesses using their power and assets, even constructing specialized hunter hospitals like S Hospital.

All of this was achievements led by the wolves.

Even Jun, who had been living in the U.S., was well aware of that fact.

“But Baek Rang seems to have slightly different thoughts?”

As soon as the name ‘Baek Rang’ came out of Jun’s mouth, Gwihoon’s movement abruptly stopped.

How did Jun know about Baek Rang, who had never shown himself to the public even once? Well, somehow he could know. He was the Maestro, after all.

“…Whether the child wants it or not is not important. Creating a better future. That’s the only thing we should think about. That’s the responsibility that both I and that child, the wolf, must bear.”

“It might be a bit burdensome for your son to shoulder that responsibility alone.”

Shrugging, Jun received Gwihoon’s dry laughter with a wry smile.
“It might be a bit burdensome for your son to shoulder that responsibility alone.”

Gwihoon shrugged and flashed a wry smile at Jun.

“Impossible.”

Gwihoon, who was leisurely trimming the orchids, laid a handkerchief on the table.

“That child’s talent exceeds mine. Perhaps it might surpass yours as well.”

At that moment, the perpetual smile on Jun’s lips disappeared for a moment.

Gwihoon’s face was filled with confidence. It wasn’t merely the expression of a proud father.

“He just hasn’t bloomed yet. That child has the power to dominate not just the wolves but the entire Korea.”

“Really? Saying that much makes me curious.”

Jun leaned against the back of the chair. Slowly stroking his chin, he smiled faintly as if having a good idea.

“Shall we check it out? Let’s see how much potential Baek Rang, who hasn’t bloomed yet, really has. I happen to know quite a few hunters who are worth considering.”

Gwihoon’s gaze silently turned towards Jun.

“There will be conditions.”

“Fast talker.”

Leaning his chin, Jun formed his eyes into a crescent moon shape. Then, in a lowered tone, he opened his mouth as if whispering.

“The F-rank concept hunter recently contracted with Baek Rang. I’ll bring him.”

Gwihoon’s eyes changed in an instant.