Return of the Sword God-Rank Civil Servant novel Chapter 39

Kim Soo-ae was taken aback by Suho's words.

“Today? You mean today?”

“Yes, as they say, strike while the iron is hot. I plan to challenge it today.”

For a moment, she was too shocked to respond. A Sealed Gate wasn’t something one could just casually decide to tackle.

But Suho was entirely serious.

“I’ll fill you in on the details as they get sorted. For now, I need to call Reporter Jo Jin-hwi,” Suho said before ending the call.

He immediately dialed Jo Jin-hwi.

“Ah, yes, Mr. Professional!” Jo’s smooth, cheerful voice answered, clearly in a lighthearted mood.

Suho chuckled. “What’s with the ‘Professional’?”

“Isn’t it friendlier than just ‘Hunter’? So, what can I do for you?”

“I hear you’ve already published the article about my Nexus entry?”

“Yes, I did. Took you long enough to react! It’s been up for hours.”

“I’ve been tied up, so I only just saw it. I called you right after Director Kim Soo-ae mentioned it.”

“Understood. And I have to tell you, it’s generating a lot of buzz. Given the situation, I’d suggest avoiding your phone for the next few days.”

“Because of the negative comments?”

“Exactly. Some people are upset because you announced a plan to be a civil servant Hunter, only to immediately join Nexus. But it’s not as bad as you’d think—negative comments are maybe 40%?”

Only 40%. Less than Suho had anticipated; he’d expected around 70% would be critical.

“Better than I thought.”

“Yes, and I don’t expect it to last long. If you read the comments, most people seem to accept the logic. They understand that with your abilities, you could tackle Gates through a private guild too. And it’s not as if the Korean Hunter Association has the best reputation.”

“That’s good, then. But with the attention on me, this is the perfect time to make a lasting impact. Let’s lock in the support of the public.”

“Absolutely. So, do you have something planned?”

“Yes. Let’s prepare a follow-up article. Title it: ‘Suho Ahn’s Second Sealed Gate Challenge.’”

“Oho...!” Jo Jin-hwi clenched his fist in excitement. “As expected, Mr. Professional! You never disappoint. My respect!”

Suho laughed. “Glad you’re enjoying this. It’d be best to publish the follow-up soon to keep up the momentum. And now that I’m with Nexus, I should raise its profile too, right?”

“A hundred percent agree. So, which Gate are you aiming for this time?”

“The Swamp of Despair.”

“The Swamp of Despair? You mean *that* Swamp of Despair?”

“Yes, that’s the one.”

The Swamp of Despair was an S-rank Sealed Gate under government management, notorious for its high death toll, surpassing that of the Nameless Sword Gate.

The main reason was simple: *Unlike the Nameless Sword Gate, the Swamp of Despair had no survivors.*

In fact, it wouldn’t be cleared until about a decade from now, and Suho knew exactly who would clear it and how.

This made it the perfect choice. As things currently stood, he was likely the only person in the world capable of conquering it.

“Anyway, please go ahead with the follow-up. Speak with Nexus’s PR team for additional details. I haven’t told them yet, so this will be news to them too. Now, I need to deal with obtaining entry access to the Swamp.”

“Of course! And, uh, mind if I tag along again? Just call me when you’re ready!”

“Will do.”

Ending the call, Suho quickly contacted Jung Chul-min.

“Captain, do you have a moment?”

---

Obtaining the entry permit for the Swamp of Despair turned out to be surprisingly easy.

“A Hunter of Suho Ahn’s caliber? Naturally, we have to give him access!”

“Did Captain Jung not know better? If Suho requested it, we should’ve granted it immediately!”

“Next time he requests access, make sure it’s prioritized.”

It turned out that his efforts to get formal approval had only brought him unnecessary criticism. Exasperated, Jung Chul-min lamented, “I guess with this Sealed Gate clearance, you’ll probably be able to enter any Gate you want in the future.”

“Thanks to you, Captain.”

The Swamp of Despair was located on Yongjong Island near Incheon. Suho, once again, rode with Reporter Jo Jin-hwi, and upon arrival, they met with Jung Chul-min, the site manager, and members of Nexus’s PR team.

The follow-up article was already out, titled, *“Nexus’s Suho Ahn Challenges a Second Sealed Gate Without Rest!”* Public excitement quickly turned to fervor, with reactions flooding in.