"What? What happened?"
When his son remained silent, Lee Jin-ho grew impatient.
Of course, he had every right to be.
Who was his son, after all?
A young man filled with responsibility and self-sacrifice when it came to family matters.
And yet, this very son had quit his job without a word.
'This has to be the lottery! It must be!'
Just as Lee Jin-ho's intuition was about to kick in—
"Father."
"Yes, son. I'm ready."
"Ready for what?"
"The lottery, right? Huh? You hit the jackpot, didn't you? No? Then... a pension lottery?"
Good grief, Dad.
"Pfft."
Lee Si-woo couldn't help but burst into laughter.
But he wasn't here just to laugh. There was something important he needed to say.
There was no reason to beat around the bush.
"Father."
Si-woo wiped the smile from his face and spoke seriously.
"I've awakened as a Hunter."
"What?"
"I said, I became a Hunter."
"Is that for real?"
Rustle—
"Here, look. This is my Hunter license."
Si-woo pulled the license from an envelope and handed it to his father.
"Let's see... E-rank Hunter? Whoa. Is this really true?"
"Yes, Father."
"My son... has become a Hunter?"
"That's right."
"My God! My son is a winner!"
Lee Jin-ho gripped Si-woo's shoulders firmly.
A 'winner.'
It was a term that everyone in this era knew well.
"You..."
Lee Jin-ho's eyes filled with emotion as he looked at his son.
"Father."
Si-woo met his father's gaze, just as moved.
"Phew."
Jin-ho let out a deep breath before speaking.
"You've been dreaming of becoming a Hunter for so long... and now this day has come."
"It took seven years, but I finally made it."
"Yeah. You were so determined that you even got a job at a Hunter-related company. But..."
Jin-ho's expression turned slightly worried.
"What is it, Father? What's on your mind?"
"Being a Hunter... isn't it a dangerous job?"
"Not as dangerous as you might think."
"Still, I hear that dozens of Hunters die every year. No matter how much money is involved, isn't a safer job better?"
It was a rare sight—his father's genuine concern.
But Si-woo had no intention of giving up because of his father's worries.
This was his dream.
He wanted to earn a fortune and give his father and younger sister a better life.
But more than anything, there was a deeper reason—a reason he had never once forgotten.
And now, it was time to tell his father the truth.
"Father."
"Yes, Si-woo?"
"I didn't just want to be a Hunter for success."
Jin-ho's brows furrowed, as if recalling a distant memory.
"Hmmm."
He let out a short sigh and shook his head.
"You know better than anyone that chasing money alone can ruin a person, don't you?"
"I do. You told me so yourself."
"That's right."
"But my desire to succeed isn't just about money."
"Then what is it?"
Jin-ho's gaze wavered with unease.
'No… he couldn't be talking about that, could he?'
He prayed that Si-woo wouldn't bring up the past.
But fate was rarely so kind.
Rustle—
Si-woo reached into his pocket and pulled out a photograph.
A picture taken twenty-three years ago.
Though slightly faded, it couldn't mask the beauty of the woman in it.
'Mother.'
A familiar pain gripped Si-woo's chest.
The woman in the photo was his mother, who had passed away from an illness when he was only eight years old.
"You don't mean—"
"That's right, Father. I have never forgotten Kang Myung-joon."
At the mention of that name, Lee Jin-ho's face went rigid.
How could he forget?
The man who had pushed him to ruin, crushed him completely.
Because of him, Jin-ho lost everything—and worst of all, his wife died because they couldn't afford the surgery that would have saved her.
"You were only eight. You didn't even know the whole story."
"Maybe not, but I remember how much pain Mother was in. So, I started digging. Since high school, I've been investigating your connection with Kang Myung-joon."
"Ah..."
"That man... he was directly responsible for Mother's death."
Clench—
Si-woo's fists tightened as he fought back his rising emotions.
Jin-ho, stunned, nearly lost his balance.
"Father!"
Alarmed, Si-woo quickly caught him.
"I'm fine, Si-woo."
Jin-ho patted his son's arm, but his hands trembled slightly.
"No, you're not. Let's get you to your office."
Si-woo carefully helped his father inside.
Thunk—
He set a large box on the table.
After settling Jin-ho on the office couch, he had gone to his room to retrieve it.
"Sigh."
Jin-ho let out a heavy breath before downing a glass of water in one gulp.
"Are these all the documents you've gathered?"
"Yes."
Si-woo studied his father's expression.
Jin-ho looked as if he had made a firm decision.
It made sense.
For twenty years, he had buried the truth deep inside him.
But now, it had resurfaced through his own son's words.
There was no running away anymore.
"Phew."
Si-woo understood his father's struggle.
And so, he intended to bring everything to a conclusion today.
"Father."
"Yes."
"I know you once tried to kill Kang Myung-joon."
"Did you find the police records, too?"
"It cost me some money, but yes. I'm sorry."
"There's nothing to apologize for."
Jin-ho's eyes turned red, lost in painful memories.
The past had returned.
"Why did you stop? According to the records, you had the chance but didn't go through with it."
Jin-ho's eyes flickered.
He was reliving that moment.
"Do you think I should have killed him?"
"Yes."
"I see. But Si-woo…"
Scratch—
Jin-ho picked up a cigarette. His hand trembled slightly.
But he continued speaking.
"In that moment, all I could think about was you and your sister."
"Me and Si-yeon?"
"Yes. I could have done it. I had the ability. But... I couldn't throw you both away."
"Ah."
Si-woo finally understood.
If his father had killed Kang Myung-joon, Si-woo and his sister would have lived as the children of a murderer.
Now, it was Si-woo's turn.
"Father."
"Yes, Si-woo?"
"I will destroy Kang Myung-joon."
Jin-ho sat up straighter.
"How?"
Si-woo smirked.
"Step by step, I've planned everything."
It was time to begin his revenge.