Hijack: Becoming The Strongest Hunter By Stealing Skills.

Acknowledging Rin's performance during their sparring match, Min-Ju spoke in a calm yet firm voice.

"You really impressed me during the fight," she said. "But you need to string your punches together and maintain your balance.

You can't just throw punches at your opponent—you have to observe. Be a fighter, not a brute. That's what I have to say about our fight today. We should do this more often."

After finishing her statement, she extended a hand toward Rin, offering him support to get up. He hesitated for a moment before taking it, gripping her hand tightly as he pulled himself to his feet. Min-Ju turned to leave but suddenly stopped as if remembering something.

"Oh, right," she said with a small smile. "Your gift for today—we're going out. After your lesson with Hayes, get something nice to wear and meet me at the parking lot."

With that, she left, leaving Rin standing there, slightly puzzled but intrigued.

---

After taking a moment to steady himself, Rin made his way to Hayes' study, where he was scheduled to go over the written portion of the Hunter Academy entrance exam.

Upon entering the study, he found Hayes completely engrossed in his research. The man sat at his desk, surrounded by stacks of books, loose papers, and scattered research notes. He was so immersed in his work that he didn't even notice Rin's presence.

Not wanting to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere, Rin spoke softly.

"Hayes, you told me to meet you here for the academy exam training."

Hayes finally looked up, his sharp eyes meeting Rin's. His voice was neither too harsh nor too gentle as he responded, "Don't call me Hayes when I am about to teach you. Call me 'sir.' I am the one instilling knowledge in you."

Rin straightened his posture. "Yes, sir," he replied, his voice loud and clear, showing his attentiveness.

With a nod, Hayes stood up and moved toward the shelf. He pulled out a retractable board, humming a low, melodious tune as he did so. Rin watched closely, fascinated by how smoothly Hayes moved, his hand gliding effortlessly across the board as he wrote.

"You move like you've been teaching for decades," Rin remarked, his voice quiet yet curious.

Hayes didn't pause as he replied, "It's not about training for years. You just have to give your mind to it, and you can become a pro at anything of your choice."

Rin nodded, his focus now locked onto the board. He wanted to absorb everything. Seeing his eagerness, Hayes added in a smooth, reassuring tone, "Don't rush.

You can always look up these details online or in the books here. Focus on the main points and explanations—those will stick with you more than blindly copying notes you'll never read."

Realizing the wisdom in Hayes' words, Rin slowed down, paying closer attention to the core concepts rather than just jotting everything down. By the time they finished the lesson, he felt prepared and ready for his evening out with Min-Ju.

---

After his class, Rin went to take a shower before getting dressed. He chose a pair of cargo pants and a relaxed t-shirt, completing the look with white sneakers, a watch, and a baseball cap. After checking his reflection a few times in the mirror, ensuring everything was in place, he headed out to meet Min-Ju at the parking lot.

As he stepped into the lot, his eyes immediately found her. She was dressed in a sleek black gown, paired with high heels that accentuated her posture. Rin couldn't help but admire how effortlessly elegant she looked.

"You look gorgeous in that dress," he said, his voice calm yet sincere. "It fits you perfectly."

Min-Ju smirked but didn't reply. Instead, she gestured for him to get into the car. As she started the engine, Rin glanced around, noticing Hayes was missing.

"Where's Hayes?" he asked. "Isn't he coming with us?"

Min-Ju shook her head. "No, he's busy with his research and couldn't make it today."

With that, they began their night out.

Their first stop was a stylish restaurant, the lighting warm and inviting. The decor was sophisticated, and the aesthetics were off the charts.

After a bit of difficulty choosing from the menu, they finally ordered their meals. The food was exquisite, and the conversation between them flowed naturally, shifting from training to personal stories.

After their meal, they headed to the arcade, where they played a variety of games—car simulations, nostalgic video games, and even some competitive matchups.

Rin found himself enjoying the experience far more than he had expected. From there, they moved on to the cinema, watching an action-packed film that left them both buzzing with energy.

To end the night, they drove to the beach, arriving just in time to witness the sunset. The sky was painted in hues of orange, pink, and purple, the ocean waves rolling in a rhythmic, soothing motion.

The breeze was warm against their skin as they sat quietly, simply taking in the moment. Before heading back home, they treated themselves to ice cream from a nearby food truck, savoring the last bit of their evening together.

---

Upon arriving home, Rin found Hayes waiting for him. The older man took one look at Rin's bright smile and let out a small chuckle.

"You really enjoyed yourself today," Hayes said, his voice calm and soothing. Then, in a slightly remorseful tone, he added, "Sorry I couldn't make it. I was really busy with work."

Rin shook his head, signaling that it was fine. The day had been one of the best he had in a long time. But he had no idea that the joy of this single day would soon be followed by relentless, grueling training.

The days that followed were some of the toughest in his life. Every morning, he underwent brutal combat training, pushing his body to its limits. Afternoons were dedicated to knowledge acquisition—studying, memorizing, and strategizing under Hayes' strict guidance. The exhaustion was unrelenting, but Rin refused to back down.

Finally, the day of his final combat test arrived.

Once again, Rin found himself standing in the same ring where he had started training two months ago. Across from him stood Min-Ju, her stance firm, her expression unreadable.

The moment the match started, Rin dashed forward, throwing a punch at Min-Ju, determined to win through sheer offense. But she wasn't going to make it easy for him. She swiftly blocked his punch with her forearm.

However, Rin wasn't about to let the opportunity slip. Spotting an opening, he quickly adjusted, launching a kick toward her exposed side. But Min-Ju was a step ahead. Reading his movements, she sidestepped his trajectory, attempting to throw him off balance and strike one of his vital points.

Rin saw it coming. At the last moment, he bent his back to dodge her attack, narrowly avoiding what could have been a decisive hit. Regaining his balance, he smirked.

"You really thought you could get me with that?" he teased. "Try harder, or I'm winning this time."

Min-Ju laughed, a glint of excitement in her eyes. "Then show me what you've got."

They circled each other, their breathing heavy, eyes locked, both refusing to back down.

The fight was far from over.