RG 18
by Lubai「New Rank 1 Appears?! Shocking Defeat of Hunter Kwon Taehyeok…」
「Rank 1 Has Changed! What’s the Fate of Yesung Guild’s Stock?」
「Mysterious Hunter… How Long Will the Top Spot Be Maintained?」
「Face and Origin Shrouded in Mystery? The Newly Ranked 1st Hunter Veiled in Secrecy!」
「Online Buzz with ‘Cover’ Craze… New Hunter Emerges Like a Comet!」
After three years, the top spot in the rankings has changed. Who is the Hunter known as ‘Cover’?
(image)
▲ Two Hunters preparing for the Ranking Match (Photo Source: Hunter Channel TV)
On the night of October 31st, a battle that determined the top spot in the public square unfolded.
The protagonist of the stage was Kwon Taehyeok, the leader of the Yesung Guild and the current Rank 1, facing an unidentified Hunter as the opponent.
After an intense battle that lasted for over an hour, the Ranking Match concluded as one side fell.
Surprisingly, the defeated party was none other than Kwon Taehyeok.
The spectators watching the Ranking Match were momentarily shocked by Kwon Taehyeok’s unexpected defeat, but soon erupted in enthusiasm with the emergence of the new top-ranked Hunter.
(image)
▲ The newly crowned top-ranked Hunter supporting the unconscious Kwon Taehyeok (Photo Source: Hunter Channel TV)
This is an unexpected result that no one could have anticipated.
The new top-ranked Hunter, who emerged as the winner, also exhibited manners by supporting CEO Kwon Taehyeok until the end.
Immediately after the ranking battle concluded, an interview was requested, but the anonymous Hunter declined all interviews and calmly left the scene.
Despite media outlets eagerly trying to uncover the identity of the Hunter, with no disclosure of face, name, or guild affiliation, there has been no news so far. Netizens are referring to the Hunter by the name ‘Cover’, which was written on the denim jacket worn during the event, in the absence of any official information.
In addition, Yesung Guild has yet to provide any response regarding conceding the top spot.
KHS News, Reporter Park Jeonghwan
Comments:
(Anonymous 1) What’s the second picture? LOL Is that Kwon Taehyeok?
└ Princess carry HAHAHAHA
└ He looks so pitiful LOL
└ He’s clearly going to get roasted big time in the future
(Anonymous 2) Kwon Taehyeok has been at the top for a long time; isn’t it about time for someone to take him down?
(Anonymous 3) When a guy with chuunibyou syndrome becomes strong, this is what happens.
(Anonymous 4) I get it all, but what’s with the mask? ;;
(Anonymous 5) Fell for the title and clicked in; so, what’s the identity, you press scum -_-
(Anonymous 6) The one called ‘Cover’ is seriously stylish…
└ Yeah, if something like BBANG was written, they would have been called BBANG-stard or something similar. Cover is seriously stylish.
└ That’s what I’m saying. Isn’t it intentionally worn for this purpose?
(Anonymous 7) But was that even possible? Applying for a Ranking Match anonymously and grabbing the top spot?
└ Shouldn’t be possible.
└ You apply through the association, and if the association is okay with it, it seems fine.
└ Then the association must know who this Hunter is.
└ If the association knew, they would have already revealed the identity. The media only said they’re still digging into it now.
└ If the association doesn’t know, how did they apply in the first place?
(Anonymous 8) Seriously sorry, but the second picture is too funny.
└ They look good together; might as well start dating.
└ Starting a relationship that begins with hatred
(Anonymous 9) Kwon Taehyeok♥
(Anonymous 10) Kwon Taehyeok, what do you think about that second picture spreading LOL Your dignified and calm concept has completely gone down the drain haha
(Anonymous 11) I’m really curious about who it is, they say it’s an S-class.
(Anonymous 12) ☆★Rank 1 Hunter Cover Fan Cafe Open☆★ Come join@@@@ (Link)
└ ???
└ Why is there already a fan cafe and chaos?
└ Well~ Unless we do that, we won’t be able to maintain the top spot~ hehe
(Anonymous 13) I watched the Ranking Match video, and it really seems like a fluke victory…
└ KTH kept pressing relentlessly, but it suddenly turned around in the end, hard to understand.
└ Honestly, this needs a rematch in a proper arena;
└ True.
(Anonymous 14) I wonder if Kwon Taehyeok will accept that result.
└ If not, what can he do? hehe Just take it easy.
└ What’s there to take easy? Did you watch the video?
└ You watched it, right? He lost, didn’t he? Either accept it or win.
└ Kwon Taehyeok still hasn’t said anything…
└ It’s been a few days, and since there’s no word from Yesung Guild, it seems like he’s accepting it. Why are you fussing around? LOL
(Anonymous 15) If there were really an issue, Kwon Taehyeok would have raised objections by now. Considering how quiet it’s been, he’s probably just accepting the defeat.
└ Kwon Taehyeok is keeping quiet, but the keyboard warriors are more vocal.
(Anonymous 16) In the video, around 37 minutes and 12 seconds, you could see strands of blonde hair under the hat. Among S-class Hunters, who has blonde hair?
└ Is this for real?
└ Blonde hair? Really?? Blonde???
└ 37 minutes and 12 seconds? Checked, and I don’t see that; is this a joke?
└ Whether it’s dyed or naturally blonde, nobody knows.
└ Honestly, hair color doesn’t mean much,,
(Anonymous 17) There’s also the possibility of being an overseas S-class Hunter.
└ How can an overseas Hunter participate in a domestic ranking battle?
└ If you look at it that way, the fact that they applied anonymously is already a problem.
└ Seriously, the main issue is that Kwon Taehyeok accepted the challenge even though it was anonymous.
└ Why did he even accept it in the first place? Did he think he would win? LOL
***
“What a mess…”
While lying on the sofa, I scrolled through internet articles on my phone. It gave me a headache, so I quickly threw the phone onto the table.
It had been two days since the battle with Kwon Taehyeok and the sudden takeover of the top rank. All kinds of attention were now focused on me, and anticipating this, I had been avoiding going out as much as possible.
‘Well, if I go out in my original appearance, no one will recognize me anyway.’
It was comforting to have two different appearances.
Still, it was prudent to be careful and quietly navigate through this period without using my hidden skills. Even if I were suspected and caught, I could deny it easily since I was wearing a mask. However, dealing with such misunderstandings was just bothersome.
The unexpected factors were the Yesung Guild and Kwon Taehyeok. I thought they would officially address the issues with the Ranking Match, but they remained unusually quiet.
‘By now, Kwon Taehyeok should have realized that something was off about his defeat.’
The Kwon Taehyeok I faced was much stronger than I had anticipated.
Not only in skill utilization but also in physical combat and instincts, he surpassed me by a wide margin. Looking back now, the fact that I could thrust an attack at Kwon Taehyeok’s shoulder was possible because he, in his own way, allowed it to happen.
Rather than aiming to maintain the top rank by winning, Kwon Taehyeok’s goal was to dominate me and unveil my mask. The evidence was in him offering his shoulder to my sword and reaching out to grab my neck.
‘His accepting an anonymous Ranking Match request was already strange.’
As Hyeon Dowun found out, Kwon Taehyeok hadn’t been accepting ranking battle requests for the past two months. Of course, he couldn’t keep rejecting requests indefinitely. There was a restriction that after four months, he had to start accepting requests to maintain his rank. However, considering the flexibility within the timeframe, he could have easily rejected my request.
Looking back, when I met Kwon Taehyeok at the public square, he showed an excessively sharp and sensitive attitude towards me.
At that time, I thought my masked appearance, coupled with my refusal to reveal my identity, might have made him uncomfortable as they created a distance from fair play. But the more I thought about it, it seemed there might be more to the reason.
“This feels a bit unsettling.”
Kwon Taehyeok was the first to notice the laboratory where Cha Sahyeon and I were trapped. He took it upon himself to gather the other guilds and launch an attack.
Certainly, like me, Kwon Taehyeok must have become a target for those related to the laboratory. And there’s no way he wouldn’t know about it.
“Hmm…”
Staring blankly at the ceiling while pondering, I picked up the phone I had thrown earlier. Then, I sent a message to Hyeon Dowun.
Hey
Heeyheyheyheyheyyyy
Help me~
Hyeon Dowun
?
What’s up, damn
Are you busy? Haha
What about the things I asked you to find out?
What did you find?
Hyeon Dowun
F*ck off, you bastard
As soon as I sent the question, a response full of curses flew back. Hmm, judging by the reaction, it seems like there hasn’t been any worthwhile information discovered yet.
I had asked Hyeon Dowun to gather all the data related to the laboratory, so if Kwon Taehyeok is involved with those people, there’s a possibility that his information might be mixed in.
‘If Kwon Taehyeok has become a target for them like me…’
Depending on the situation, would it be okay to request cooperation?
Of course, explaining Cha Sahyeon’s identity would be difficult, so I would have to come up with another excuse.
I was insufficient in protecting Cha Sahyeon alone. This became even more evident during the Ranking Match with Kwon Taehyeok.
The fact that Kwon Taehyeok is strong is true, and there are many areas where I am still lacking. With my current level of skill, it wouldn’t be easy to fully protect Cha Sahyeon in the event of an incident.
Since there are limits to improving combat skills in a short period, I needed a collaborator. A collaborator like Kwon Taehyeok, who is strong and holds the position of Yesung Guild’s CEO.
‘If Kwon Taehyeok cooperates willingly, I couldn’t ask for more.’
I thought about giving it a try, but considering how I used an illegal method to snatch the top spot from him in the Match, he was unlikely to grant my request. Plus, who knows if he’ll come running to kill me as soon as we meet?
Becoming close with my real appearance is difficult, and my S-class body has drawn unwanted attention. It’s quite frustrating when both directions are blocked, and all that comes out is a sigh.