* * *
When Beom Sinje gave a silent nod, Park Chanoh quickly handed over the number.
“Also, give me the guide’s contact information.”
“The guide doesn’t speak English well; they mostly use Zulu. It’s better to communicate through the interpreter.”
“That’s fine. Just give me the number. I’ll handle it.”
“Understood.”
Though hesitant, Park Chano eventually handed over the rest of the information.
Frustrated by his lack of progress despite his efforts, he couldn’t refuse Doyoung’s offer of help.
However, the situation didn’t improve.
After 20 minutes of attempts, neither the guide nor the interpreter could be reached.
“Let’s move to another location for now.”
Seeing no other option, Beom Sinje finally suggested an alternative.
Park Chanoh realized then how conspicuous they’d become, standing out in a crowded airport as a group of hunters.
Even airport security seemed to be heading their way.
“Shall we move over there?”
Park Chanoh hurriedly looked around and soon spotted a nearby café.
Leaving the airport entirely could lead to them missing each other, so he decided to wait somewhere close to the agreed meeting point.
However, Beom Sinje shook his head.
“No. Arrange for a hotel nearby.”
“A hotel?”
“Since we can’t reach them, it seems like there’s a problem. It’d be better to secure accommodations before it gets any later.”
He had a point. It was already nearing midnight.
Instead of waiting aimlessly, finding a place to stay seemed like the more sensible choice.
“I already called. The shuttle’s coming to pick us up. Let’s head outside.”
Park Chanoh, about to touch his phone screen, turned his head at those words.
Doyoung was holding up his own smartphone.
While they had been talking, Doyoung had already contacted a hotel near the airport.
“Luckily, they had a room. Let’s go.”
Doyoung spoke casually as he took the lead, not bothering to add that the reason for the availability was because the hotel was five-star and the cost per night was steep.
Seeing his composed demeanor, Park Chanoh couldn’t help but look at him with a touch of admiration.
Pfft.
As Park Chanoh was about to start walking, he heard a faint sound of air escaping somewhere.
He turned in the direction of the sound, but all he saw was the guild leader’s stoic face.
‘Did I imagine it?’
Beom Sinje wasn’t someone who laughed easily. For him to stifle a laugh?
‘It must’ve been my imagination.’
As Park Chanoh took another step forward, the taller and more imposing figure of the guild leader strode up to Doyoung and matched his pace.
“Ah…”
Come to think of it, there was one peculiar moment when Beom Sinje seemed different than usual: whenever he was with Doyoung.
“Hunter Park Chanoh?”
Doyoung, who had been walking alongside Beom Sinje, turned back abruptly.
Startled by the inquisitive look in his eyes, Park Chanoh quickly came to his senses.
“I’ll stay here a bit longer to wait. Just let me know the name of the hotel.”
“Hmm… but I can’t leave you alone here.”
Doyoung stopped as well, and it looked like he intended to wait too.
This caused Beom Sinje’s eyes to narrow sharply.
Seeing him about to say something, Park Chanoh quickly interjected.
“No, it’s fine. You must be tired after traveling all this way. Secretary Na, please go ahead and rest with the guild leader.”
He didn’t want to keep someone who already looked pale and exhausted, only to risk provoking the intimidating guild leader.
Park Chanoh wasn’t entirely sure what had transpired in the house over the past week, but he knew that Beom Sinje had barred all visitors except doctors, which indicated that Doyoung’s condition had been serious.
‘For someone like that to come all this way, I’ve been too oblivious.’
He should’ve arranged for a hotel earlier and sent them there.
Especially considering the guild leader’s increasingly unusual behavior since that day.
“You’re right, Hyung. Let Hunter Park handle this.”
“But I can’t just leave him here alone.”
When Doyoung still showed no intention of moving, Beom Sinje turned his gaze to the others in their party.
The two hunters, desperate to avoid eye contact, were pretending not to notice.
Even though they were strong hunters, they still preferred the comfort of a hotel.
“Hunter Lee Jihoon. Stay behind with him.”
Someone was bound to fall into the guild leader’s radar eventually.
“Me? Here? Alone?”
The chosen Hunter Lee Jihoon looked crestfallen, while the others quietly rejoiced as they moved toward the hotel.
By the time it was nearly midnight, Park Chanoh returned with a dark expression.
Doyoung immediately understood: he hadn’t met the local guide or interpreter.
“They didn’t show up?”
Beom Sinje’s tone was firm, as if he already knew.
“No. It seems like something has happened.”
“What about the broker?”
This time, Doyoung asked.
Park Chanoh shook his head.
The broker, likely still in Korea, should have been reachable during business hours.
If even they were unresponsive, it suggested either a mistake in communication or a larger issue.
“For now, it doesn’t seem like something we can resolve immediately. Let’s rest and look into it again tomorrow.”
Judging by how things were going, it didn’t seem like they’d have much luck tomorrow either.
Still, finding another solution would require daylight.
When Beom Sinje decided against waiting any longer, Park Chanoh nodded with a somber face.
“I’ll do that.”
“Hunter Park Chanoh, have you eaten?”
Though it wasn’t his fault, Doyoung noticed the hunter’s sullen expression and asked gently.
He also calculated that Park Chanoh likely hadn’t had a proper meal while running around all evening.
“I was planning to grab something after returning to my room.”
Hearing this, Doyoung glanced at Beom Sinje.
With just that look, Beom Sinje understood his intent and spoke.
“If you don’t mind, both you and Hunter Lee Jihoon can join us at the restaurant. I’ll make sure everything is ready.”
“Oh, that’s not necessary…”
“At this hour, room service might already be closed. There probably won’t be anything suitable in the minibar, either.”
After some persuasion, Park Chanoh reluctantly agreed.
“All right, then. I’ll head to the restaurant with Hunter Lee Jihoon.”
“Let’s not single them out. Have the others join too.”
When Doyoung suggested bringing the rest of the team along, Park Chanoh, who hadn’t considered that, quickly nodded.
“Understood. I’ll do that.”
“See you in 15 minutes.”
After Park Chanoh left, the pair headed to the restaurant.
Despite the late hour, a few patrons lingered, thanks to the bar operating alongside it.
They ordered an incredible amount of food, enough to astonish anyone watching, and soon after, Park Chanoh and Lee Jihoon arrived.
“Please, have a seat.”
As the hunters nervously fumbled under the guild leader’s gaze, Beom Sinje gestured to the opposite side of the table.
The meal, though abundant, was over within 20 minutes—an obvious outcome for ravenous hunters.
“Thank you for the meal! See you tomorrow.”
With his belly full, Lee Jihoon’s face brightened as he bowed politely.
After expressing their thanks, the others also excused themselves, leaving Doyoung and Beom Sinje behind.
“Shall we move over there for a drink?”
Doyoung gestured toward the bar, lined with bottles under soft lighting.
With the meal winding down, he had casually suggested earlier that they stay for a drink, leaving the two of them alone.
“Sure.”
Beom Sinje stood up first.
* * *
