Chapter 9: Hunter Manager

The sun hung high in the sky, pouring golden rays over the bustling city. The hum of cars blended with distant chatter and the clatter of footsteps—typical afternoon noise in a place that never seemed to rest. Lee Seung entered his small, dimly lit apartment, the door clicking shut behind him. Dropping his bag onto the worn-out couch, he let out a deep breath and headed straight for his gaming setup.

'A few rounds won't hurt,' he thought, powering up his computer. The screen flickered to life, bathing his face in a cool blue glow as the familiar game menu appeared.

He leaned back in his chair, fingers moving swiftly across the keyboard and mouse. In minutes, he was absorbed in the virtual world, where winning came as naturally as breathing. Hours slipped by unnoticed, and it wasn't until he let out a tired yawn that he checked the time.

"Already two hours?" he muttered, rubbing his eyes. "Time flies, huh?"

Pushing his chair back, he cracked his knuckles and got up from his desk. He had other things to prepare for tonight—something far more important than his usual gaming sessions. But before that, there was one more thing he needed to do.

"Next target is warming up," he mumbled with a smirk.

Closing his eyes, he whispered, "Resummon Clone."

A shimmer of light flickered before him, and his clone materialized, dressed in the casual outfit Seung had given him a day ago—a simple hoodie and jeans. The clone stared back at him with the same unreadable expression.

"Long time no see, little guy," Seung greeted with a grin. "We're going to start making real progress today. First up, you and I will be working out."

"Okay, master. What do you need me to do?" the clone replied, his tone flat and obedient.

"Go for a jog on your own until evening," Seung ordered, adjusting his watch. "Then, we'll both hit the gym and push ourselves hard."

Without a word, the clone turned and left the apartment, the door closing quietly behind him. Seung watched him disappear down the stairs before heading to the kitchen, rummaging through cabinets for something to eat. An hour later, the sun dipped lower in the sky, painting the horizon in soft oranges and purples.

By the time his clone returned, Seung could see exhaustion etched into its features. Sweat soaked through its clothes, and its chest heaved with labored breaths. Curious, Seung glanced at the clone's energy level.

[24/100]

"Not bad for a warm-up," Seung said nonchalantly, grabbing a towel from the couch. "Let's get moving. We've got a gym to find."

Changing into his workout gear, Seung led the way down the stairs, his clone following closely behind, its hood pulled low to conceal its identity. As they walked through the busy streets, Seung's thoughts drifted to his sister—his real motivation for getting stronger. He couldn't rely solely on his clone's abilities. To face what lay ahead, he had to push his limits, train relentlessly, and test himself in the heat of battle.

His jaw tightened. 'If I'm going to save her, I need to surpass my own potential. I'll have to train like my clone, and hunt like there's no tomorrow. That's the only way I'll reach the level I need in the next few months.'

Soon, they reached a modest-looking gym tucked between a row of shops. The neon sign buzzed overhead, casting a faint glow across the entrance. Pushing open the glass door, they stepped inside, greeted by the clanging of weights and the rhythmic pounding of running machines.

A young man with a strong, muscular build noticed them from across the room and walked over with a friendly smile. "Hey there, looking to sign up for some training?"

Seung nodded. "Yeah, we're here to get stronger."

The man led them to a table near the reception desk, handing them forms to fill out. When it came time for the clone's registration, Seung paused, realizing he couldn't just write 'Clone' on the sheet. After a moment's thought, he scribbled down the name 'Lee Quinn'—it was the first thing that came to mind.

Once the paperwork was done, the instructor offered, "Need help with the equipment? I can give you a quick run-through."

"Thanks, but we'll figure it out ourselves. Just stick around in case we need guidance," Seung replied with a confident grin.

The instructor nodded and left them to explore. But before they could settle in, Seung's clone spotted a particularly heavy barbell resting on a rack. Without hesitation, it walked over and attempted to lift it. Muscles strained and veins bulged as the clone gripped the metal bar, sweat beading on its brow. But despite the effort, the barbell barely budged.

The instructor burst out laughing from across the room. "No way your buddy's lifting that! That's the personal barbell of Kim Eunji, one of the strongest female Hunters around. It weighs over four hundred pounds, and she handles it like it's nothing! Nobody else here can touch it!"

Seung's eyes narrowed as he watched his clone struggle. A new determination sparked within him. 'If I can lift that thing one day, I'll be on my way to becoming the strongest.'

He walked over, rolling his shoulders before wrapping his hands around the barbell. Gritting his teeth, he pulled with all his might, muscles trembling as he strained against the impossible weight. But the bar didn't move an inch, its mass stubbornly anchored to the ground.

"Give it up, dude!" the instructor called out with a smirk. "It's not a tissue paper. Even with concentrated effort, you'll hurt yourself trying."

Seung released the barbell with a frustrated groan, slumping down onto the floor, breathless and drenched in sweat. "Damn thing's glued to the ground…" he muttered, wiping his forehead.

Time passed, and the sky outside grew dark. Seung and his clone left the gym, their muscles sore and spirits bruised. "I need to clear my head," Seung said, stretching his arms as they walked. But then, a realization struck him like a bolt of lightning.

"The meeting!" he blurted out, face-palming. "I would've called if I hadn't left the business card at home…"

Before he could panic further, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, and to his relief, it was the manager, Choi Minho. The message was short and to the point—the meeting was set at a nearby restaurant.

Minutes later, a taxi dropped them off at the venue. Seung left his clone outside, instructing it to wait in the shadows. Inside, the restaurant was almost eerily quiet, with only a few dim lights casting a warm glow over the empty tables. He spotted the manager sitting at the back, a cup of steaming coffee in front of him.

"Good evening," Seung greeted, taking a seat across from him. "Sorry for keeping you waiting."

Choi Minho waved it off with a casual smile. "No problem at all. Let's order something to drink first."

Soon, two cups of hot coffee were placed between them, the steam curling lazily in the air. The atmosphere grew more serious as the conversation began.

"So," Choi Minho started, leaning forward slightly, "I assume you want to know more about my guild?"

Seung nodded, his gaze steady. "Yes, tell me about it."

"It's only been a month since we got registered. Right now, I'm building it up from scratch, doing everything alone," Minho admitted, his tone laced with both pride and weariness.

"How many Hunters have you recruited so far?" Seung asked, eyes narrowing slightly.

The man's confident demeanor wavered for a split second. He cleared his throat before answering. "You're actually the first to accept my card. Why do you ask?"

Seung shrugged, brushing it off. "Just curious."

Minho sighed and took a sip of his coffee, the warmth soothing his nerves. "May I ask what your ability is?"

"Just cloning," Seung replied, letting a mischievous grin spread across his face.

The response drew an immediate reaction from Minho. His eyebrows furrowed in disappointment as he leaned back in his chair. "Cloning? That's dangerously close to Ghost Cloning—the worst ability of its kind. If you're not careful, those clones can turn on you, and you'll end up killed by your own shadows."

Seung's smile never wavered. "I know all about the risks, but I'm still alive, aren't I?" He casually motioned toward the entrance. "Come in, little guy."

The clone stepped out of the shadows and walked toward them, its presence silent and unnervingly smooth. Minho stiffened, eyes widening in disbelief as he turned to see what approached him—a mirror image of Seung, down to the last detail.

"This… this is your clone?" Minho stammered, his voice tinged with awe and fear.

Seung casually stood up and walked over to stand beside his clone, draping an arm around its shoulder. "I knew saying 'just cloning' would get that kind of reaction, given what most people assume about it. But what I've got here is more than just a shadow."

The manager's stunned silence spoke volumes. He finally composed himself, wiping his brow as he realized the potential standing before him. "Incredible… I didn't expect this at all."

Seung's grin widened as he returned to his seat. "Now, Mr. Choi, can I see the contract?"