A look of sheer terror.
He had once ruled as a tyrant, but now, in the blink of an eye, he was nothing more than prey caught in a predator's grasp.
'Pathetic.'
Lee Siwoo shook his head.
Oh Seungdeok had long abused his position, tormenting those beneath him.
The office's very own devil.
A textbook example of a power-hungry tyrant.
A man so despised that even his subordinates whispered about him with clenched fists, calling him a demon.
But now? Now he was nothing more than a paper tiger, his power an illusion, his authority a joke.
'There's always someone strutting around with a meaningless title, acting like a king.'
For a brief moment, Siwoo was tempted to slap him across the face.
After all, Seungdeok had been the one to raise his hand first.
But no matter how despicable the man was, Siwoo couldn't ignore the ingrained customs of his society.
Korea still held deep Confucian values—respect for elders ran in its veins.
He glanced around the office.
His colleagues were watching with worried expressions.
But what surprised him most was that no one was stepping in to stop him. No one was rushing to Seungdeok's aid.
'How bad do you have to be for no one to care when you're in trouble?'
Even as they feigned shock, he could tell—they were secretly hoping to see Seungdeok get what he deserved.
Siwoo nodded to himself.
Then, he turned to Seungdeok and spoke.
"Manager Oh, earlier you asked why I was having lunch in Gwanghwamun, didn't you?"
"W-What? I... I did, but..."
Seungdeok's eyes trembled, struggling to grasp the meaning behind the question.
Siwoo ignored his confusion and pulled a business card from his pocket.
"This belongs to Jeon Inho, Director of the KHA. Unlike most business cards, this one has his private contact number on it."
Seungdeok's eyes widened in shock.
"How... How did you get that?"
It was a number that salespeople in the hunter industry could only dream of obtaining.
A direct line to the KHA Director meant unparalleled opportunities—connections, business deals, and more.
And Siwoo had it.
"How the hell did you—"
"I had lunch with him. He gave it to me in case I needed anything."
"Lunch? With Jeon Inho?"
Siwoo nodded.
Seungdeok's face twisted in confusion.
Why Siwoo?
How did he know Jeon Inho?
Siwoo smirked. It was almost amusing—watching Seungdeok's entire demeanor shift the moment he saw something valuable.
The man had no shame.
Siwoo shook his head and continued, "Well, I happened to awaken as a hunter. That's why I was in Gwanghwamun—to get my energy levels assessed. That's also how I ended up having lunch with Director Jeon."
"What... What?"
Siwoo casually pulled out another item.
His newly issued hunter license.
"I got this today."
Seungdeok turned pale.
At the same time, the office erupted in whispers.
"He's a hunter?"
"And not just any hunter—Jeon Inho personally took an interest in him?"
"Oh man, Seungdeok's screwed. He tried to hit him?"
Some of the employees were practically giddy.
It was poetic justice.
Siwoo turned back to the shell-shocked Seungdeok and spoke again.
"And that's why I'm turning this in today."
He handed over an envelope.
His resignation letter.
Seungdeok took it with trembling hands, his mind reeling from everything he had just learned.
A moment ago, he had thought Siwoo was just another powerless employee.
Now, he was standing before someone powerful—someone even the KHA Director sought to befriend.
"Y-You're really quitting?"
For the first time, Seungdeok spoke in honorifics.
Even in the midst of chaos, his survival instincts kicked in.
He was beyond pitiful now—almost pathetic.
Siwoo sighed.
'If I let power get to my head and leave in a storm of vengeance, I'm no different from him.'
There was something worse than suffering under the strong—becoming one of them when given the chance.
So, he held back.
Instead, he looked Seungdeok in the eye and spoke firmly.
"Manager Oh, the way you treated me and our colleagues—it was unacceptable. It was cruel, unnecessary, and completely devoid of respect."
"D-Did I really..."
"Yes. You did. You could have worked with us, trusted us, but instead, you lashed out and made our lives miserable. Please, don't be that person anymore. Learn to trust your team."
Seungdeok turned to the office.
The employees were staring at him, their faces blank.
No sympathy. No warmth. Just... indifference.
For the first time, he felt a sting of realization.
'I was really... that bad?'
Siwoo placed a hand on his shoulder.
"These people don't need to be tormented to do their jobs. They're good people. Encourage them instead of bringing them down. I'm asking you as someone who was once part of this company."
Seungdeok swallowed hard and nodded.
"T-Thank you... Siwoo. No, thank you, Hunter Lee."
Siwoo smirked.
He didn't expect this conversation to magically change the man.
By tomorrow, he'd probably go back to his old ways.
But maybe, just maybe, he'd hesitate before lashing out.
After all, he had learned today that anyone—anyone—could awaken as a hunter.
Siwoo took one last look around the office.
It was over.
His colleagues met his gaze, their faces breaking into warm smiles.
Unlike Seungdeok, they were genuinely happy for him.
That was the difference between them.
He turned back to Seungdeok and smirked.
"Oh, and you'll handle my reimbursement, right?"
"Of course! I'll take care of it with your severance pay. I'll process it as quickly as possible."
Seungdeok even bowed as he spoke.
The way he grovelled before those he saw as stronger...
'Some people never change.'
Siwoo shook his head and walked to his desk.
It was time to pack up and leave.