* * *

“There’s no need for you to go yourself, Secretary.”

Park Chanoh followed closely behind Doyoung, visibly uncertain.

Right after finishing the call, the two had left the house and were now stepping into the elevator.

“They mentioned an important guest is coming. Since the Guild Master is in a meeting, it’s only right that I, his direct secretary, go.”

Doyoung replied as he checked the numbers flashing on the display.

Frankly, he couldn’t understand why the Guild Master had never had a secretary until now.

‘Even if it was unintentional, it’s lucky I’m here.’

In the meantime, the elevator reached the basement and came to a halt.

As the doors opened and Doyoung stepped out, Park Chanoh quickly followed, speaking up again.

“How about at least contacting the Guild Master before you go?”

“He’s in a meeting and isn’t answering calls, remember? Even if I send a message, he’s not checking. We can’t just leave the guests waiting indefinitely.”

Unfortunately, even the team leaders who could substitute for the Guild Master were all tied up in meetings as well.

“Ah… Secretary, please, have some mercy. I was told to make sure you stayed put at home, and if we cross paths at the office, I’m going to catch hell from the Guild Master.”

Groaning, Park Chanoh finally let out his true concerns.

“Did the Guild Master specifically order that I stay put at home?”

When Doyoung asked, he noticed Park Chanoh’s gaze wavering, as if realizing only now that he had let something slip.

“No, I mean… not exactly… It’s just, since you weren’t feeling well, he asked that you refrain from going out…”

‘Well, that’s pretty much the same thing.’ Doyoung clicked his tongue internally. It left a rough feeling.

He knew it was out of concern.

But on the other hand, he couldn’t help but wonder if it was also due to a lack of trust in him that such an order was given.

“I apologize. Just go. I’ll report to the Guild Master properly.”

Park Chanoh gave a slight bow, perhaps feeling guilty under Doyoung’s silent gaze.

“It’s fine. Hunter Park Chanoh, you’ve done nothing wrong. There’s no need to apologize to me.”

After all, he was only following his superior’s orders.

If anyone should be confronted, it was the Guild Master.

‘What to do now.’

Having come all this way, it felt like a waste to just go back.

But going to the office and causing trouble for Park Chanoh wasn’t ideal either.

As Doyoung pondered, the phone rang once more.

“Yes, yes? You’re almost there already? Then who’s gone out to greet them? Hunter Jang Jihye? But she doesn’t speak English, right? And aren’t they all foreigners?”

ATE Pharmaceuticals is a global company based in the United States, so it seemed that everyone visiting the guild today was from abroad.

“A translator… Hmm… Yes, please guide them to the small conference room for now. What? They’re all occupied? Then, where’s left?”

Park Chanoh’s tone grew faster, clearly flustered.

The guild had three smaller meeting rooms besides the main conference room, yet somehow all were in use.

“Let’s go.”

The only available space would be the private area used by the Guild Master.

It was not a place that regular guild members could independently decide to use.

It seemed Doyoung, as the Guild Master’s secretary, would inevitably have to take the lead.

After a brief hesitation, Park Chanoh sighed and unlocked the car.

“They said there are three guests. Just try to show them around a bit, stall for time if you can. But only up to the medical center, not the research wing.”

As he took his seat in the passenger side, Doyoung casually suggested.

Park Chanoh’s eyes lit up as if he’d found salvation.

“Hunter Jang Jihye, could you please guide them to the medical center? I’ll inform them that we’re heading there as well, with the secretary.”

With that, the lengthy call finally ended.

Anxious, Park Chanoh drove at a rather aggressive speed.

Thankfully, the road was clear.

‘But why are they here?’

Watching the scenery fly by, Doyoung sorted through his thoughts.

ATE Pharmaceuticals—a company dedicated to enhancing hunters’ abilities and developing drugs to treat side effects—had become one of the world’s top 300 companies within just five years of its founding.

And it was also a multinational corporation Doyoung had secretly established.

‘I instructed them not to come to Korea for the time being…’

Even though ATE was operated separately from Antithesis, you could never be too careful.

Korea was a country with excellent information-gathering abilities; even the slightest hint could be detected.

So, he had assigned the representative role to his closest subordinate, instructing them to focus solely on the U.S. and Europe for a few years.

‘Why would they come here?’

Doyoung’s finger tapped his knee slowly.

Antithesis fostered a strong sense of absolute loyalty to its leader, so he had been confident his instructions would be strictly followed.

‘Well… I’ll have to look into this.’

He’d need to meet them to figure out why they had come to Korea and who had come, exactly.

Finally, the car stopped in the parking lot. Doyoung and Park Chanoh made their way straight to the medical center, where the ATE Pharmaceutical guests were on a tour.

There, he came face to face with a somewhat familiar face.

“Oh, hello. How’s your health?”

It was none other than the doctor who had examined Doyoung.

Smiling warmly behind silver-rimmed glasses, he greeted Doyoung, drawing everyone’s attention, though Doyoung would have preferred to avoid it.

“Thanks to you, I’m doing well. But are these guests from ATE Pharmaceuticals?”

Doyoung replied politely, smoothly shifting the topic.

Then, among the group, he spotted a face he recognized and clicked his tongue internally.

‘I thought it might be…’

There were only a few subordinates at Antithesis with whom he was closely acquainted, and one of them was right here.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

The doctor nodded, then turned to speak fluently in English to the ATE representatives.

A brief exchange followed, creating a warm atmosphere.

“Now that Secretary Doyoung is here, I’ll be heading back.”

Jang Jihye, who had been in charge of guiding them, glanced at Doyoung with a slight smile.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“Oh, it was nothing. The secretary will handle the rest.”

Her once-cold attitude toward Doyoung had completely shifted after seeing his competence over time.

“Haha…”

While conversing with her, Doyoung’s gaze remained on the ATE guests, particularly on the middle-aged woman who had been staring at him intently.

‘I didn’t expect her to come in person…’

It was troubling to see that his subordinate, whom he’d entrusted to lead the company, had shown up personally.

As they left the medical center and moved toward the floor where the Guild Master’s office was located, Doyoung could feel the persistent, almost piercing gaze at his side.

‘At this rate, everyone will notice.’

Clicking his tongue internally, he caught her eyes in the reflection of the glass.

She responded with a warm smile and then introduced herself.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Sarah Choi from ATE Pharmaceuticals.”

It wasn’t Doyoung but rather Park Chanoh who seemed startled by her sudden introduction.

Sarah Choi, who had been speaking English all along, had now effortlessly switched to Korean.

“Oh? Are you Korean?”

“Well, my grandparents were Korean.”

She made it clear she considered herself American, drawing a firm line yet wearing a gentle smile that reminded him of their past collaboration.

“I haven’t heard your names yet. Could you introduce yourselves?”

“Oh, yes, of course. I’m Hunter Park Chanoh, the Guild Master’s personal secretary.”

Park Chanoh responded first and looked at Doyoung.

Knowing what she wanted, Doyoung reluctantly introduced himself, though his expression clearly showed his reluctance.

“Na Doyoung.”

Sarah Choi observed Doyoung in silence for a moment before nodding, choosing not to say anything further.

“Oh, Secretary, I’ve just received word that the meeting has ended.”

* * *