ã€ŠReturn of the Sword God-Rank Civil Servantã€‹


 Chapter 1

    <strong>Chapter 1</strong>

    A lump of dark red blood spilled from Ahn Suho''s mouth.

    His vision blurred and his breathing came in gasps.

    His heart burned with pain and his internal organs felt as if they were twisting.

    Still, Suho stood upright, holding on to the hilt of his sword - even though only the hilt was left.

    It was a meager resistance.

    No matter how they called him the "World''s Greatest Sword God", a sword god without a sword was neither a god nor anything else.

    Besides, the ones he faced were all S-Rank Awakened ones.

    No, they were above the average S ss yers, in this world, they were revered as heroes, the strongest warriors who knew him better than anyone else. Or rather, his formerrades.

    Seeing Suho''s pitiful state, Alex Morgan, known as the world''s greatest tank, scoffed.

    "A guy with a broken sword still pretending to be all that. You should''ve joined us in the first ce. That''s why officers are so stubborn."

    Official.

    Surprisingly, that was Suho''s official upation in society.

    Even though his skills were strong enough to make him the top member of the Korean Hunters Association and the world, he''d finally chosen to be a civil servant instead of joining a private guild.

    And there was only one reason.

    In the past, Suho had lost his entire family to the Gates, and he truly wished for theplete eradication of the Gates from this world.

    At that moment, someoneughed.

    "Exactly. It doesn''t matter if he''s the Sword God or whatever - they say he''s just not cut out for it, and isn''t this the result? I hate guys in suits for that very reason."

    The woman whoughed was Suzuki Endo.

    The strongest mage in the world, also known as the Witch.

    Archmage, Sage, Arc Mage - of all her numerous titles, the reason she was called Witch?

    It was because her specialty was poison.

    And what would happen if her deadly art, "All Poison", was used on a human?

    Suho didn''t want to know.

    Especially not by experiencing it herself.

    The skin where the poisoned arrowhead had touched had long since melted, and the excruciating pain that felt like his entire body was being torn apart continued without end.

    The only reason Suho could still stand was the effect of the poison immunity he''d received from eating the heart of the poison demon, Venom, in the past.

    Without it, my body would''ve melted away by now.

    Of course, there was no way topletely heal from the Witch''s All Poison.

    Although not even S-rank healing potions like elixirs could cure it, there was one person in the world who could - a Saint-level healer, Isabe, who possessed the power to cure all poisons and diseases.

    Without realizing it, Suho looked at Isabe.

    "Oh, don''t look at me like that. I''m here because I agreed to this mission."

    At her words, Suho said nothing.

    He hadn''t expected anything from the beginning.

    If she''d had a shred of decency, she would have healed me first.

    But Isabe didn''t.

    Exactly as she had said, she was on their side and had agreed to their proposal.

    He found it sickeningly hypocritical.

    For someone who preached hope, love and devotion every day to end up blinded by greed and resort to this.

    Suho spoke up, gasping for breath.

    "Have you no shame? How are you different from the monsters?"

    "At least we didn''t ughter people."

    The man who answered Suho''s question.

    The hero representing Britain, known as the God of Archery, Hex Hood.

    With a regretful expression, he said.

    "Suho, even now, just say you''ll join us. I like you."

    Like me, my ass.

    And that''s why you shot me in the back?

    If Hex hadn''t been a part of this mission, they would never have gotten Suho to this point.

    After all, Hex''s arrows were silent, leaving no trace of wind or sound, making them ideal for assassination.

    Suho closed his eyes silently.

    He had reached his limit.

    Damn it.

    This time, he''d thought he''d finally be able to clear all the gates that were called catastrophes.

    No, he had only managed to clear one of the five catastrophes.

    Right after he''d defeated one of the five disasters, Suho had been hit by the witch''s poison.

    Because of that, he''d believed that he could handle the remaining gates and finally bring peace to humanity.

    And now, betrayal?

    The reason was also absurd.

    They were afraid that if peace came to the world, they would lose their ce.

    How could that be considered logical?

    When he first heard the suggestion, he''d thought it was a joke andughed it off.

    He hadn''t expected it to be real.

    He''d been too careless.

    He should have prepared for this from the beginning.

    "Huu..."

    But it was already toote.

    The milk was spilled.

    Suho took a long breath.

    He didn''t have much time left.

    Nobody knew his body better than him.

    The chance to survive here was zero.

    So he calmed his breathing and took aim again.

    He covered his anger with calm.

    All he could do now was to kill as many of them as possible for the sake of the remaining humanity.

    This was thest duty he believed he had as a hero of humanity.

    I must seed.

    Suho focused his mind.

    The sword was broken.

    There was no de left.

    His endurance was already at its limit.

    But he had onest hidden move that he hadn''t shown anyone.

    Originally, he had nned to reveal it only after he''d fully mastered it, but now he had no other choice.

    At that moment, an incredible aura began to radiate from Suho.

    "Guh!"

    "Don''t be afraid! It''s all a bluff! It''s just the Sword God!"

    Feeling the pressure, Alex immediately raised his shield and frowned, while Suzuki sneered as if it didn''t scare her at all.

    Fine.

    Think like that.

    Get careless.

    Suho slowly raised his arms.

    In his hands, there was a deless sword hilt, and when he raised both hands, they quickly swung down.

    At that moment.

    Slice!

    A sharp, slicing sound.

    At the same time, the witch''s head fell to the ground.

    "Aaaargh!"

    And Alex, holding his shield, had both of his arms severed.

    But wasn''t there a de?

    Even as they watched, they found it hard to believe.

    "Wh-what is this?!"

    Isabe, shocked, btedly tried to heal Alex.

    But.

    "Huh? Why? Why?"

    The healing didn''t work.

    It was strange.

    She was the healer who could even cure the witch''s poison, wasn''t she?

    Seeing this, Suho, panting, lifted the corners of her mouth in a faint smile.

    [You have reached the realm of unity with the Divine Sword.]

    [You have mastered the Ultimate Sword Technique.]

    [ You have mastered the Formless Sword (SS) ]

    [ Congrattions! You are the first to master a skill at the SS level. ]

    [ The system recognizes your... ]

    The messages began to pour in.

    Suho''s eyes widened as he read it.

    The body is the sword.

    The sword is the body.

    For one who follows the sword, this is the sublime realm to which all aspire - unity of body and sword.

    At the same time, he had be the first person in the history of mankind to acquire an SS-rank skill.

    That''s right.

    Suho''s hidden move.

    It was the highest realm known as the Heart Sword or Formless Sword.

    Once mastered, it could even cut through space itself, the true domain of the Sword God.

    Finally, I''ve mastered it.

    Seeing the messages, Suho let out a wry smile.

    He had finally reached the realm he''d wished for so much.

    But it had to be now.

    It was a shame.

    And it was infuriating.

    He had managed to sever the witch''s head and Alex''s arms, but he had no more strength left.

    Suho staggered backwards.

    And just before he fell off the steep cliff, he uttered a curse-like warning to them all.

    I will never forget this day.

    His allotted time hade to an end.

    Suho threw himself off the cliff.

    At the same time, the pain faded and his consciousness slipped away.

    But the system messages continued.

    [As the first to reach the Transcendent Realm, the system offers you the opportunity to be even stronger. ]

    [ Restarting Ahn Suho''s system ]

    ***

    The world turned ck.

    Am I dead?

    But it''s strangely loud.

    Screams and sounds of destruction.

    Is this the afterlife?

    To the irritating sound, Suho slowly opened his eyes.

    As he did so, bright light filtered through his eyelids, while at the same time a foul smell and piercing screams assaulted his senses.

    "Excuse me!"

    It was then.

    Someone picked him up and started running.

    The rough treatment brought Suho to his senses in an instant.

    And the face he saw was that of a man... no, a firefighter.

    The firefighter who had locked eyes with Suho spoke.

    "Are you awake? An unexpected gate has appeared, so please be patient as we evacuate you!"

    An unexpected gate?

    Why?

    I''m sure I was dead.

    Thinking he was dreaming, Suho quickly surveyed his surroundings.

    An overturned asphalt road, half-bent streetmps.

    And small green monsters, about 100 centimeters tall, roaming around below.

    Goblins.

    ''Goblins?

    That wasn''t the only thing that surprised him.

    He also saw a sign in the

    in the distance.

    It was the sign for a subway station he thought he would never see again.

    ''Sindorim Station?

    How was it still standing?

    It should have been destroyed and contaminated after the Gate erupted.

    At that moment, a memory shed through Suho''s mind.

    The moment when he had first awakened as a yer.

    Could this be it?

    Right then.

    "Aaaargh!"

    The firefighter''s scream.

    At the same time, the firefighter copsed forward, releasing his grip on Suho.

    He had been hit by an arrow fired by a goblin.

    Seeing this, the goblins sneered widely and approached the two of them.

    "P-please run!"

    The fallen firefighter quickly got up and pulled a fire axe from his belt.

    But his arm was shaking from the arrow embedded in it.

    Seeing this, Suho stood up without hesitation and grabbed the axe from the firefighter''s hand.

    "I''ll borrow this for a moment."

    "H-hey? What are you...!"

    But before the firefighter could stop him, Suho threw the axe, smashing the head of one of the approaching goblins.

    Crunch!

    The goblin copsed, its skull shattered, and at that moment...

    [Congrattions! You have met the resurrection requirements!]

    [ You are now a yer. ]

    A message appeared in front of his eyes.

    It was the system window for yers only.

    Seeing it, Suho let out an involuntaryugh.

    Everything was exactly the same as when he''d first awakened all those years ago.

    [The system wants you to be even stronger.]

    [Please select the power you wish to pursue.]

    [Warrior]

    [Mage]

    [ Archer ]

    [ Healer ]

    The system prompts continued.

    Right.

    After awakening as a yer, you must choose a profession.

    Naturally, Suho tried to choose the Warrior profession.

    After all, that''s what he had chosen as a swordsman in the past.

    But.

    "I''ll postpone my choice for now."

    Suho didn''t decide right away.

    Instead, he picked up a nearby metal pipe and faced the approaching goblins.

    The fireman looked at him and asked.

    "W-what are you doing? You need to run now..."

    "Shh."

    Suho pressed her finger to her lips.

    Run?

    Why should I?

    The enemies are just little pests - goblins.

    Suho''s eyes shone with a fierce light.

    If I''m not dreaming and I really have returned to the past, there are many things I need to confirm.

    But first.

    Let''s take care of these pests.

    Suho charged at them.

    A true craftsman never mes his tools.

    The same was true for Suho.

    Having reached the unity of body and sword, he could wield anything as a sword as long as he believed it to be one.

    But his body felt heavier than before.

    Although he had awakened as a yer, he hadn''t chosen a profession yet, nor did he have the same statistics as before.

    But what of it?

    His opponents were only goblins.

    Comining about goblins would just be an excuse.

    At least, that''s what Suho thought.

    Closing the distance in an instant, Suho raised the metal rod and swung it down.

    Slice!

    A sharp cutting sound.

    Although it was only a blunt metal rod, a long gash appeared on the goblin''s face.

    He''d used the edge of the metal rod to strike.

    Then.

    [You have a high level of understanding of Vertical sh.]

    [The system will now evaluate your skill]

    [ Congrattions! You have mastered Vertical sh (B) ]@@novelbin@@

    At the system prompt announcing his mastery of the Vertical sh, Suho couldn''t help butugh.

 Chapter 3

    As soon as he entered the Gate, the surroundings changed.

    Suho nced around the Gate¡¯s interior and muttered.

    ¡°It¡¯s exactly the same.¡±

    It was just as he¡¯d seen in the past.

    Thanks to that, Suho could fully realize that he had truly returned to the past.

    He looked around at the scattered corpses of goblins lying on the ground.

    The goblin corpses had green skin.

    They were typical goblins, with slender limbs and bulging bellies.

    However, while goblins had been scattered around the Gate¡¯s entrance, the ones inside had been found dead.

    Suho knew the reason for this.

    Inside, there were special goblins who reigned as predators over the normal ones.

    Suho began to move forward, taking slow, steady steps.

    After a short distance¡­

    *Squelch.*

    The sound was what you¡¯d expect when someone steps carelessly into mud.

    The terrain had changed.

    The ground was no longer solid but had turned into moist, sticky soil.

    The humidity increased as well.

    This environment was ideal for those creatures.

    And then¡ª

    ¡°Keeee¡­¡±

    ¡°Kiiiii¡­¡±

    He turned his head at the eerie cries and saw two red-skinned beasts approaching him.

    *They¡¯ve finally shown up.*

    Suho recognized them.

    They were hobgoblins.

    They looked simr to goblins, but with red skin,rger builds, and far more aggressive temperaments.

    Yes.

    This was the reason this Gate was named *Green Red*.

    It was due to the creatures¡¯ skin color.

    Seeing them, Suho immediately drew his sword.

    He began to sprint directly toward them.

    ¡°Kirik?¡±

    ¡°Kerik?¡±

    The hobgoblins, noticing Suho, tilted their heads in confusion.

    Despite making eye contact with them, he continued to approach, causing their minds to freeze for a moment.

    But soon, they raised their weapons, ready for battle.

    *Good. That¡¯s exactly how I wanted you to react.*

    I knew you wouldn¡¯t run and woulde straight at me.

    Suho looked at the levels disyed above their heads.

    ¨C *Hobgoblin Lv.10*

    ¨C *Hobgoblin Lv.12*

    Unlike the single-digit-level goblins, these creatures had levels in the double digits.

    But so what?

    Whether their level was in double digits or single digits, they were still just goblins.

    Whether they were ordinary goblins or hobgoblins didn¡¯t matter much.

    To my eyes, they were all just insects.

    Suhounched himself toward them.

    The startled hobgoblins immediately thrust their weapons forward defensively.

    *Just as I thought.*

    Suho, who had been diving forward, abruptly nted his left foot and halted his charge.

    At the same time, he bounced backward, creating a small gap between himself and the hobgoblins who had raised their weapons in defense.

    A feint.

    Suho used the gap he created to thrust his de forward like a spear.

    The sword pierced perfectly into the eye of one of the hobgoblins.

    ¡°Kreeegh!¡±

    Without stopping there, Suho twisted the sword in a full circle.

    *With the level difference, my sword might not be able to slice through their skin.*

    That¡¯s why he targeted an area with no defense¡ªthe eyes.

    Of course, if there was a massive level difference or the monster¡¯s attributes were extraordinary, this attack might not work.

    *But against mere hobgoblins? Please.*

    Suho twisted his sword once more and then pulled it out.

    ¡°Keeeeee!¡±

    The hobgoblin, with its eye shredded, fell into a dazed state.

    It wasn¡¯t dead.

    It wouldn¡¯t die just from having its eye gouged out.

    But thanks to that, I now had a one-on-one situation.

    The other hobgoblin, startled, quickly withdrew its weapon and swung it at Suho.

    But¡ª

    *Too slow.*

    Suho watched the hobgoblin¡¯s sword and dodged every swing with ease.

    He didn¡¯t counterattack.

    Suho wanted something from the creature.

    After several evasive maneuvers, it happened.

    **[You have a high understanding of evasion.]**

    **[The system is now assessing your talent.]**

    **[Congrattions! You have mastered Dodge (B).]**

    Got it.

    I finally acquired one of the skills I¡¯d been aiming for.

    The Dodge skill was exactly what it sounded like¡ªa skill that lets you evade nearby attacks as soon as you activate it.

    Having acquired Dodge, Suho finally drew his sword.

    He stopped his evasive movements and began parrying the hobgoblin¡¯s attacks directly.

    ¡°Kirik?!¡±

    The hobgoblin had put all its strength into its attack, yet somehow its swings kept missing the target.

    It was bewildering.

    Enraged, the hobgoblin swung its weapon even harder.

    But the result was the same.

    No matter how many times it swung, Suho, standing in ce, deflected each attack with a few simple parries.

    After some time¡­

    **[You have a high understanding of parrying.]**

    **[The system is now assessing your talent.]**

    **[Congrattions! You have mastered Parry (B).]**

    *Parry.*

    A skill to deflect the opponent¡¯s attack.

    Parrying was a skill with a long history, enough to have dedicated weapons for it.

    It was one of the essential skills to master.

    Parrying was the foundation for several other critical skills.

    Suho nodded to himself, satisfied.

    *That¡¯s enough with this one.*

    I¡¯d managed to acquire two skills from my first encounter with a hobgoblin.

    But anything more seemed unlikely.

    The hobgoblin was exhausted.

    So I decided to finish it off.

    ¡°It was fun.¡±

    *Stab!*

    Suho dodged the creature¡¯s attack once again and this time thrust his sword into the side of its neck.

    The concentrated force at the tip of the sword pierced through the hobgoblin¡¯s neck, emerging on the other side. Suho twisted the de again to maximize the damage.

    ¡°Krrrrgh!¡±

    The hobgoblin, unable to withstand the pain, copsed.

    **[You have defeated a hobgoblin.]**

    The system confirmed the creature¡¯s death.

    Suho then approached the other hobgoblin, who was still writhing in pain.

    *Stab!*

    **[You have defeated a hobgoblin.]**

    There was no need to think further about this one.

    Suho plunged his sword into the back of its neck, putting it out of its misery.

    **[Your level has increased.]**

    **[All stats have increased by 1.]**

    **[You have received 1 bonus stat point.]**

    He had leveled up again.

    After distributing the bonus stat to Mana, Suho turned to continue forward.

    Or rather, he started to¡ªbut then he turned back and stabbed his sword into the chest area of the fallen hobgoblins.

    His sword struck something hard, and when he dug around, he pulled out a small magic stone.

    It was a D-grade magic stone.

    *Well, I should at least collect these.*

    Hunters made a living from the various loot obtained from monster corpses and other materials found on monsters.

    The most important source of ie among these was magic stones.

    The value of a magic stone was usually determined by its size, and gems about the size of a thumbnail were typically ssified as D-grade.

    *Anything smaller would be E-grade.*

    At this size, I could sell each one for about 50,000 won.

    In the past, I wouldn¡¯t have bothered with collecting magic stones, but now I had to.

    I¡¯d returned to the past, and my past self had no money at all.

    Oh, and I¡¯d deliberately skipped looting the goblins outside.

    Those low-level creatures rarely dropped magic stones, and even if they did, the stones were usually worthless.

    After collecting two magic stones, Suho continued moving forward.

    He encountered more hobgoblins and began swinging his sword against them.

    ***@@novelbin@@

    Outside the Gate.

    There was chaos outside.

    It was rare for an unpredicted Gate to appear in the middle of such a densely popted urban area.

    As a result, both private guild hunters and government-affiliated hunters had gathered there, rushing to resolve the situation.

    All the monsters around the Gate had been cleared, so the only task left was to enter the Gate and clear it from within.

    But to their surprise, someone was already inside, clearing the Gate.

    A hunter, frowning, muttered when he found out.

    ¡°Who the hell went in without permission? Which guild are they from?¡±

    ¡°Are they begging for a beating when they get out?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll make sure they can never work in this field again.¡±

    ¡°If they die in there, it¡¯ll be legendary.¡±

    For unpredicted Gates, unless there were special circumstances, entry was typically determined through on-site bidding, allowing hunters from the bidding organization to enter first.

    To hunters, Gates were a precious source of ie.

    Therefore, the order of entry was crucial.

    The moment even one person entered the Gate, it would automatically close. If the Gate were cleared, those left outside would be out of luck, like dogs chasing after chickens.

    Just then¡­

    ¡°What? A Healer went in alone?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I saw it with my own eyes.¡±

    A civilian¡¯s report.

    But the report was odd.

    A Healer entered the Gate alone?

    The witness, a firefighter, insisted he saw it with his own eyes, even showing the arrow wound as evidence to support his im.

    ¡°Are you sure there weren¡¯t any other hunters?¡±

    ¡°Yes, he cut down a few goblins nearby, healed my wound, and then just went in alone.¡±

    ¡°That doesn¡¯t make any sense¡­¡±

    Judging from the level

    of monsters that had been dealt with, the Gate didn¡¯t seem particrly difficult.

    Maybe just some green goblins?

    But still, a Healer going in alone?

    And cutting down goblins on his way in?

    Jung Chulmin, the Gate Management Team Leader dispatched by the Korean Hunter Association, furrowed his brows.

    Then, he turned to his subordinates and instructed them.

    ¡°Stay on standby here and report immediately if there¡¯s any change in the Gate. Report the moment anyonees out of it.¡±

    ¡°Yes, understood.¡±

    The subordinates responded loudly.

    As he heard their voices, Jung Chulmin put a cigarette in his mouth and thought.

    *They must have gone in recklessly without understanding the situation. Who would be crazy enough to enter a Gate alone as a Healer?*

    *Click-click*

    Jung Chulmin lit his cigarette.

    He assumed nothing woulde of this.

    But if, by any chance, this was more than nothing and the Healer actually cleared the Gate alone¡­

    *Then, I¡¯ll make sure we recruit that person, no matter what.*

    Jung Chulmin was serious.

    On the surface, the nation¡¯s safety seemed to be maintained by the government and private guilds together, but in reality, the government was at the mercy of private guilds.

    The reason was simple.

    To control the guilds, the government needed enough power¡­ in other words, talented yers. But unfortunately, the government couldn¡¯t pay as well as the private guilds.

    Although the government offered a substantial srypared to other agencies, it was still nowhere near what private guilds could provide with all their additional benefits.

    As a result, government-affiliated hunters had earned the nickname ¡°Patriotic Pay Warriors.¡±

    Of course, despite the nickname, government hunters¡ªespecially field hunters¡ªwere genuinely dedicated people filled with patriotism and selflessness.

    Without that mindset, they wouldn¡¯t be working here.

    For this reason, it was rare to recruit hunters to the association, but Jung Chulmin hadn¡¯t given up.

    After all, there were still asional cases of hunters who joined as government employees.

    Jung Chulmin picked up his phone and made a call somewhere.

 Chapter 5

    But he hadn¡¯t pierced deep enough.

    The Hobgoblin Chief¡¯s hide was indeed thick, and the level difference was a whopping twofold.

    But that was fine.

    Suho actually hoped the creature wouldst as long as possible.

    <em>Whoosh!</em>

    The Chief¡¯s axe swung down at him, and Suho bent his waist to avoid it. Then, he sprung up like a coil, slicing along the beast¡¯s inner ribs.

    <em>Ssshk!</em>

    Once again, the wound was shallow.

    That thick hide was the culprit.

    Unbothered, Suho moved around, shing again.

    <em>Swish!</em>

    Another cut.

    <em>Thunk!</em>

    And another stab.

    He repeated this process over and over¡ªno, dozens of times.

    Suho continued circling the Chief, never moving too broadly. He simply stayed close, creating wound after wound on the creature¡¯s body.

    The Hobgoblin Chief grew furious, thrashing desperately as if trying to catch its own tail, but none of its attacksnded on Suho.

    The stench of blood hung thick in the air.

    Combined with the humidity, the smell of the creature¡¯s sweat mingled with the blood, creating a stifling odor.

    But Suho wasn¡¯t fazed. He gazed at the creature, now breathing heavily, and mocked it further.

    ¡°Is that all you¡¯ve got?¡±

    ¡°Grrrr...¡±

    The monster didn¡¯t understand human speech.

    Yet Suho was sure it understood his meaning.

    Taunting wasn¡¯t limited to words.

    Enraged, the Hobgoblin Chief let out a bellow and swung its axe at him once more.

    But this move, too, was overly broad.

    Suho effortlessly twisted his body to evade the blow and thrust the Beginner¡¯s Sword forward like a spear, aiming for an exposed gap.

    Atst, the de punctured through what seemed to be an imprable hide, ripping through the thigh muscle in a fatal stab.

    <em>Squish!</em>

    Suho withdrew his sword immediately, and a fountain of blood spurted from the Chief¡¯s thigh.

    At that moment...

    <strong>[You have a high understanding of the thrust technique.]</strong>

    <strong>[The system is reassessing your talent.]</strong>

    <strong>[Congrattions! Your Thrust skill has been upgraded to A-rank.]</strong>

    <strong>[The piercing power of Basic Swordsmanship (B) has increased by 50%.]</strong>

    His Thrust skill had risen from B to A rank, significantly enhancing his swordsmanship¡¯s piercing power.

    Finally, things were falling into ce.

    But there was no time for celebration¡ªSuho suppressed his smile and focused on his next attack.

    And that was just the beginning.

    He resumed circling the creature and continued thrusting his sword. Thanks to the upgraded Thrust skill, it became much easier to create new wounds.

    ¡°Graaaargh!¡±

    The Hobgoblin Chief screamed in pain, the sound escting into another Fear.

    The Chief¡¯s roar was imbued with Fear, as a boss monster¡¯s skill often carried additional effects.

    But this time, Suho felt only a prickling in his ears¡ªnothing more.

    Of course.

    The Fear effect only applies once.

    Suho chuckled coldly to himself.

    ¡°Conquered fears never consume you twice.¡±

    From then on, Suho began treating the Chief like a bull in a ring, piercing its body repeatedly.

    Dozens of stabster, the monster¡¯s entire body was riddled with holes, blood pouring from every opening.

    <em>Thud!</em>

    Eventually, it fell to one knee.

    But it wasn¡¯t dead.

    Of course, it wasn¡¯t¡ªSuho had avoided every vital spot on purpose.

    Standing over the kneeling creature, Suho flicked the blood off his sword and muttered,

    ¡°Healing Light.¡±

    <strong>[Casting Healing Light.]</strong>

    <strong>[The designated area is beginning to heal.]</strong>

    <em>Healing Light.</em>

    A fundamental skill for healers that heals a selected area.

    Suho¡¯s left hand, which he¡¯d pierced earlier to escape Fear, had already healed.

    And not a single one of the Chief¡¯s attacks hadnded on him.

    Yet he cast <em>Healing Light</em> once more¡ªfor the Hobgoblin Chief¡¯s benefit.

    <em>You¡¯re not allowed to die just yet.</em>

    It was as simple as that.

    There was one more skill Suho wanted to extract from the creature.

    It was a skill that would be even harder to acquireter, so he had to get it now, however tedious it might be.

    The Hobgoblin Chief, unaware of Suho¡¯s intentions, looked up in confusion at its healer.

    What was happening?

    Why was he healing it?

    As their gazes met, the Chief could see no malice, no sympathy, no thrill for torture in Suho¡¯s dry, hollow eyes.

    As a beast that relied on instinct, the Hobgoblin Chief understood the look in Suho¡¯s eyes.

    Boredom.

    Nothing but boredom.

    It was as if the creature were nothing more than a tool in Suho¡¯s hands.

    A chill ran down the monster¡¯s spine as it grasped this unsettling reality.

    Once the Chief¡¯s wounds had mostly healed, Suho drew his sword again.

    ¡°Let¡¯s start over.¡±

    <em>Bang!</em>

    Suho kicked the Hobgoblin Chief in the chest, sending it sprawling backward.

    ¡°Kraaaagh!¡±

    Enraged, the Hobgoblin Chief charged at Suho once more.

    How much time had passed?

    Even after all this time, the Hobgoblin Chief was still alive.

    There was only one reason for that.

    ¡°Healing Light.¡±

    It was due to Suho¡¯s repeated healing.

    He¡¯d spent quite some time here and achieved notable progress.

    His Basic Swordsmanship, Basic Footwork, and Parry skills had all advanced to A rank.

    And...

    ¡°Hieek!¡±

    When Suho lifted his hand to cast <em>Healing Light</em>, the Hobgoblin Chief visibly trembled with fear.

    Atst, its primal spirit had been broken.

    But that wasn¡¯t enough.

    Suho cast <em>Healing Light</em> on it again, ignoring its fear.

    After patching up the Chief¡¯s wounds, Suho kicked its chest again, sending it sprawling.

    <em>Thud!</em>

    The Hobgoblin Chief copsed.

    If things went as usual, it would spring up and charge again.

    But...

    <em>Tremble tremble...</em>

    Surprisingly, the Hobgoblin Chief didn¡¯t get up. Ity there, curled up on the ground, trembling uncontrobly.

    Its spirit had shattered sopletely that it lost the will to fight.

    Seeing this, Suho smiled.

    <em>This should do.</em>

    Breaking a monster¡¯s spirit is harder than it sounds, especially when dealing with a boss monster.

    But Suho had managed.

    The method was simple.

    There¡¯s no bravery in the face of pain. Inflict enough physical harm until the creature¡¯s will breaks.

    Of course, this method doesn¡¯t work on all monsters, but for this particr one, it did.

    Despite being a mere goblin, the Hobgoblin Chief had the resilience and mental strength of a boss monster.

    <em>Any missing stamina could be replenished with healing skills.</em>

    Suho approached the now-cowering Chief and gave it a light nudge with his foot, meeting its gaze.

    The moment their eyes locked, the Chief¡¯s head drooped even lower, and it curled up tighter.

    Then, a message appeared.

    <strong>[You possess such overwhelming presence that you have broken even the boss monster¡¯s spirit.]</strong>

    <strong>[The system is reassessing your talent.]</strong>

    <strong>[Congrattions! You have acquired the skill Intimidate (A).]</strong>

    Atst, Suho had obtained one of the essential skills he¡¯d sought¡ª<em>Intimidate.</em>

    <em>Intimidate</em> was a skill not just anyone could learn. When activated, it could suppress an opponent¡¯s spirit to varying degrees.

    <em>And, of course, it¡¯s also a defensive skill against all sorts of mental attacks.</em>

    That¡¯s why Suho wanted it.

    Someone with natural charisma doesn¡¯t easily break, and <em>Intimidate</em> draws on that strength.

    In essence, <em>Intimidate</em> is heavily influenced by inherent talent.

    <em>Though you can learn it with a bit of trickery, as I did.</em>

    That¡¯s why Suho had to acquire it as early as possible.

    As he progressed, monsters would be so fiercely loyal to their instincts that they¡¯d rather die than be subdued.

    Having gained <em>Intimidate,</em> Suho raised his sword.

    It was time for the final blow.

    But there was still one more thing he wanted to extract from the Chief before finishing it off.

    Gripping his sword with both hands, Suho steadied his breath.

    Then, without a moment¡¯s hesitation, he sliced the creature¡¯s neck.

    <em>Sshhk!</em>

    The Chief¡¯s neck was cleanly severed, thanks to the improved cutting power from his A-ranked swordsmanship skill.

    Right then, another message appeared.

    <strong>[You have a high understanding of beheading.]</strong>

    <strong>[The system is reassessing your talent.]</strong>

    <strong>[Congrattions! You have acquired the skill Decapitate (B).]</strong>

    Suho grinned at the message.

    Thest skill he¡¯d wanted from the Hobgoblin was <em>Decapitate,</em> which grants extra effects when beheading.

    <em>With this, my work here is done.</em>

    As the Chief¡¯s severed head hit the ground, a final series of notifications appeared.

    <strong>[You have defeated the Hobgoblin Chief.]</strong>

    <strong>[The Gate has been cleared.]</strong>

    <strong>[You have sessfully solo-cleared the Gate.]</strong>

    <strong>[The MVP of this Gate-clear is ¡®Ahn Suho.¡¯]</strong>

    <strong>[Additional experience awarded for MVP achievement.]</strong>

    <strong>[You have received 1 bonus stat point.]</strong>

    <strong>[Your level has increased.]</strong>@@novelbin@@

    <strong>[All stats have increased by 1.]</strong>

    <strong>[You have received an additional bonus stat point.]</strong>

    Suho¡¯s level had increased again. In addition to the experience from defeating the Hobgoblin Chief, he¡¯d gained extra rewards for clearing the Gate and achieving the MVP title.

    Alongside the system notifications, a portal appeared before him, leading back to the outside world.

    But the system alerts weren¡¯t finished yet.

    <strong>[You have reached Level 10.]</strong>

    <strong>[The system wishes for you to grow even stronger.]</strong>

    <strong>[The system grants you greater power as a reward.]</strong>

    <strong>[You have received 5 additional bonus stat points.]</strong>

    <strong>[All Healer ss skills have been upgraded by one rank.]</strong>

    <strong>[You have learned Cure (E).]</strong>

    Reaching double digits in level brought new perks.

    The rewards included five bonus stat points, a new skill, and an upgrade in all Healer-exclusive skills.

    Of course, for now, the only Healer skill he had was <em>Healing Light</em>, but this was enough at his current stage.

    Seeing the notifications, Suho nodded.

    ¡°Finally, I¡¯ve gained <em>Cure</em>.¡±

    <em>Cure</em> was a skill specialized in treating illnesses, which, at its peak, could even counter the <em>All Poison</em> that had once brought him to the brink of death.

    This skill was, therefore, one he weed the most.

    After distributing the bonus stat points to Strength, Stamina, and Mana, Suho closed his status screen.

    Rather than stepping into the portal immediately, he turned toward the Hobgoblin Chief¡¯s body and drove his sword into its chest.

    The tip of his sword struck something hard inside.

    It was a magic stone.

    ¡°Nice size.¡±

    Judging by its size, this stone was likely at least C-grade.

    After gathering the magic stone and other valuable materials, Suho finally approached the portal.

    ¡°By now, they should be waiting at the entrance.¡±

    Now Suho knew with certainty that this wasn¡¯t a dream but reality.

    With that assurance, he felt the urge to see a familiar face¡ªthe person who had once been closest to him.

 Chapter 6

    "Whoa!"@@novelbin@@

    "The Gate''s shaking!"

    "No way?"

    "Wait, is the Gate line disappearing?!"

    "Does that mean¡­ the Gate has been cleared?"

    When a Gate is cleared, the visible Gate line outside crumbles.

    The people outside, who relied on the line to know the Gate¡¯s status, could only stare in shock as it began to vanish.

    It was understandable¡ªthe sudden appearance of an unanticipated Gate rarely resulted in a sessful first-clear.

    Seeing this, the Association staff hurriedly reported to Team Leader Jeong Chul-min.

    "Team Leader! The Gate¡¯s been cleared!"

    "Uh... I can see that¡­."

    Jeong Chul-min¡¯s eyes grew as wide as saucers as he watched the situation unfold in real-time.

    ording to the firefighters, the person who entered the Gate was a healer. And he had gone in alone.

    But he had cleared an unanticipated Gate?

    Naturally, the crowd couldn¡¯t help but murmur, all eyes fixed on the Gate.

    And it wasn¡¯t just Jeong Chul-min who knew this fact.

    Before long, reporters who¡¯d caught wind of the news began to gather swiftly, and once the Gate linepletely copsed, an exit portal formed.

    And from within, a single silhouette gradually appeared.

    It was Suho.

    ¡°He¡¯s out!¡±

    ¡°What? He really came out alone?¡±

    ¡°No way, did that guy clear it solo?¡±

    The sunlight was blinding.

    As Suho stepped out of the portal, he squinted, surveying the crowd that had swarmed around him like bees.

    ¡®Quite the turnout.¡¯

    However, no one could approach Suho just yet.

    Around the portal, a boundary line formed by the system prevented anyone but the Gate clearer from crossing.

    ¡°Excuse me! Look over here!¡±

    ¡°Who are you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m a scout from the Immortal Guild¡­!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m from the Hwarang Guild¡­!¡±

    People mored for his attention beyond the boundary, cameras shing, voices raised, desperate to catch Suho¡¯s eye.

    But he didn¡¯t spare them a nce. Instead, he scanned the crowd, searching for someone.

    After a moment, he found them.

    Approaching the man who¡¯d been staring at him, Suho stopped at the boundary line and asked, ¡°You¡¯re Team Leader Jeong Chul-min from the Korean Hunter Association, right?¡±

    Jeong Chul-min¡¯s face disyed genuine surprise at being addressed.

    ¡°Pardon? Ah, yes. I am Jeong Chul-min, Team Leader of Gate Management at the Association¡­ but do you know me?¡±

    Taken aback, Jeong Chul-min hurried to introduce himself.

    Seeing this, Suho quietly smiled, thinking to himself, ¡®It¡¯s good to see you again.¡¯

    Suho knew who Jeong Chul-min was.

    In fact, they were more than just acquaintances¡ªthey were quite close.

    After all, Jeong Chul-min would one day be the Association President, leading the Korean Hunter Association.

    ¡®I¡¯ve never met anyone as dedicated and self-sacrificing as Chul-min.¡¯

    If this really was the past he remembered, Suho had already decided he¡¯d work with Jeong Chul-min this time, too.

    After all, he nned to join the Association and be a Hunter civil servant again.

    Suho spoke, ¡°Let¡¯s discuss the details back at the Association. I needed to stop by to get my Hunter license issued anyway.¡±

    ¡°Oh, right¡­ wait, what?¡±

    A Hunter license? So, he was a newly awakened yer?

    Jeong Chul-min blinked in disbelief.

    ***

    Back at the Association, after verifying Suho¡¯s identity, Jeong Chul-min was left speechless.

    They say assumptions can get you in trouble, and it turned out that Suho was indeed an unregistered Hunter.

    And not only that, he was a healer,monly regarded as the weakest of the four job sses.

    ¡®This is beyond absurd¡­.¡¯

    So, he¡¯d only recently awakened? And in that condition, as a healer, he had cleared an unanticipated Gate on his own?

    It was getting more and more preposterous.

    But everything was true, and Suho calmly proceeded with the aptitude tests for his Hunter license issuance.

    When all the tests wereplete, Jeong Chul-min reviewed the results and was once again stunned.

    ¡®What¡­ is this?¡¯

    Looking at Suho¡¯s test results, Jeong Chul-min wore an expression of disbelief.

    All of Suho¡¯s test scores, including his upational aptitude and innate job potential, came out aspletely average.

    ¡®Actually, his scores are a bit below average for a healer.¡¯

    Judging by the results alone, Suho should¡¯ve pursued the path of a warrior or an archer instead of a healer.

    But Suho was undoubtedly a healer.

    He¡¯d personally witnessed Suho using Healing Light and Cure.

    ¡®How on earth am I supposed to exin this?¡¯

    Jeong Chul-min looked up from the test results and asked Suho, ¡°If you don¡¯t mind me asking, what did you do before?¡±

    Suho paused to recollect and replied, ¡°I was a university student.¡±

    ¡°Was? So, you¡¯re no longer enrolled?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I dropped out.¡±

    He remembered clearly.

    The day he was swept into the Green-Red Gate was the same day he¡¯d submitted his withdrawal forms to his school.

    The reason he dropped out?

    Nothing much.

    Suho had been a physical education major, but he found the rigid hierarchy and oppressive atmosphere¡ªwhat they called ¡°discipline¡±¡ªhighly unreasonable.

    So, despite having worked hard to get into the school, he left without hesitation.

    Nodding, Jeong Chul-min asked, ¡°Were you a medical or nursing student by any chance?¡±

    ¡°No, I was in physical education.¡±

    ¡°Physical education¡­ then why did you choose to be a healer?¡±

    From Jeong Chul-min¡¯s perspective, it made no sense.

    If Suho had been a med student, it might have made sense for him to pick the healer ss, but a PE major? Shouldn¡¯t he have chosen to be a warrior or an archer instead?

    Suho shrugged nonchntly and answered, ¡°I hate being in pain, so I chose to be a healer.¡±

    ¡°¡­What?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m serious.¡±

    The truth was, his decision to be a healer had partly been due to his trauma, so his answer wasn¡¯t entirely off.

    But at that moment, his response only left Jeong Chul-min even more dumbfounded.

    After taking a breath to calm himself, Jeong Chul-min continued with his questions.

    ¡°So, you really did clear the Gate on your own?¡±

    ¡°Yes, you saw me exit the portal alone, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Well, yes¡­ but would you mind sharing a bit about the clearing process?¡±

    ¡°When monsters appeared, I fought them. I killed everything that attacked me, and eventually, I cleared it. For reference, the monsters inside were hobgoblins.¡±

    ¡°H-hobgoblins?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    With that, Suho took out the hobgoblin leader¡¯s head he¡¯d collected alongside the magic crystal and ced it on the desk.

    Jeong Chul-min¡¯s eyes widened in shock.

    It was real.

    ¡°This¡­ this is¡­!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the head of the boss monster, the Hobgoblin Chief.¡±

    Suho then set the magic crystal on the desk as well.

    ¡°And this is the magic crystal it had.¡±

    ¡°Whoa¡­¡±

    The head and the crystal¡ªthere was no denying this irrefutable evidence.

    While Jeong Chul-min struggled to process this, Suho spoke up first.

    ¡°I can guess why you¡¯re surprised. Why a PE major chose to be a healer instead of a warrior or archer, and how a recently awakened civilian managed to solo-clear an unanticipated Gate, right?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ yes, I can¡¯t deny it.¡±

    ¡°Everything I¡¯ve told you is the truth. I killed the monsters I saw, chose a beginner¡¯s sword because it looked familiar, and picked the healer ss because I don¡¯t like pain. And now that I¡¯m getting my license, I n to continue working as a Hunter.¡±

    ¡°Can I ask why you decided on that?¡±

    ¡°I hate Gates and monsters. If you check my records, you¡¯ll see I lost my entire family during the Gate Shock Incident. Sure, I got a schrship and military exemption, but what good is all that when my family is gone?¡±

    ¡°Is that why you went into the Gate alone?¡±

    ¡°Yes. It was a bit impulsive, but I saw it as a way to vent my feelings. I¡¯d just submitted my dropout form to my school, which I¡¯d left because of the oppressive hierarchy in the department. I had a lot of pent-up frustration.¡±

    ¡°Hm.¡±

    Hearing Suho¡¯s story, Jeong Chul-min nodded quietly.

    Listening to Suho, he could sense how much anger he¡¯d been holding back all this time.

    Suho continued, ¡°I also thought being in PE might help if I ever awakened. I¡¯d never had formal training with weapons, but it seemed relevant. And now that I¡¯ve be a yer, I think dropping out was the right choice.¡±

    Jeong Chul-min listened attentively.

    Seeing his sincerity, Suho decided it was time to drop a hint that might pique his interest.

    ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean I intend to live consumed by anger. Anger won¡¯t bring my family back.¡±

    The shift in tone made Jeong Chul-min raise his eyebrows slightly.

    ¡°So¡­?¡±

    ¡°I n to work as a Hunter, but I want to focus on people¡¯s safety. For example, with the Korean Hunter Association.¡±

    Jeong Chul-min¡¯s eyes widened as if lightning had struck.

    This was entirely unexpected.

    And with it came a growing curiosity about Suho.

    ¡°If you join the Association, that means working as a civil servant Hunter¡­ are you okay with that? You might have looked it up already, but our pay isn¡¯t¡­ well, it¡¯s significantly lower than that of Hunters

    in private guilds.¡±

    ¡°I know. But the Association holds exclusive rights to clear unanticipated Gates and has authority over yer crimes. I want to work for the greater good, not for personal wealth.¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­!¡±

    Jeong Chul-min couldn¡¯t help but let out an exmation of admiration.

    Many imed altruistic motives during interviews, but most were drawn by the stability and the option to earn without having to face Gates.

    But Suho was different.

    As he¡¯d said, Hunters with the Association held priority for clearing unanticipated Gates, but most preferred to sell this right to private guilds.

    Why?

    Because it was dangerous.

    ¡°Most Hunters aren¡¯t eager to risk themselves for a modest paycheck to clear a Gate,¡± he thought.

    And that was why his heart pounded with excitement.

    Trying to contain himself, he asked, ¡°Then, if you were to work with the Association, where would you like to be stationed¡­?¡±

    ¡°I want to be in the field as much as possible. Ideally, in Gate-clearing operations.¡±

    Ha.

    Hearing this, Jeong Chul-min almost felt faint.

 Chapter 7

    Right.

    Why worry about other concerns?

    Most public servants would do anything to avoid going into a Gate, but if someone willingly volunteered for a field position, that was all the more wee.

    This job didn¡¯t bring much material reward¡ªit required true patriotism and selflessness to endure.

    Suppressing a cheer, Jeong Chul-min responded, ¡°Understood. The registration process and identity verification areplete. Although, this wasn¡¯t exactly intended as an interview, but somehow it feels like it turned into one.¡±

    ¡°When people talk, sometimes the conversation just flows that way.¡±

    ¡°Haha, indeed. So, all that¡¯s left is the aptitude test, written exam, and practical test¡­.¡±

    After checking his phone, Jeong Chul-min added, ¡°You¡¯re aware the exam registration period has already closed for this year, right? But if you¡¯d like, I can arrange a special registration for you.¡±

    ¡°Is that possible?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not illegal or anything. It¡¯s an official rule, and since you solo-cleared an unanticipated Gate, I can get approval from the higher-ups. However, the exam happens to be tomorrow¡­.¡±

    He nced at Suho, hesitant to suggest it too eagerly. After all, preparing for both a written and practical exam on just one day¡¯s notice could be quite demanding.

    ¡®The field and exams are two entirely different things¡­ Sure, having some prior knowledge helps, but if he¡¯s clueless about the specifics, it might be tough.¡¯

    Awkwardly smiling, Jeong continued, ¡°It might be difficult. Otherwise, there¡¯s always the test next month¡­.¡±

    ¡°No, please register me for tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°Pardon?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d like to take the chance for the experience. So, will I be taking the aptitude test tomorrow as well?¡±

    ¡°Oh, no. You can do the aptitude test today if you¡¯re up for it¡­ Is that okay?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s fine. But could I ask you to handle these first? I¡¯m low on registration funds.¡±

    Suho pointed to the hobgoblin¡¯s head and magic crystal, prompting Jeong to grab them right away.

    ¡°Of course. If you start your aptitude test, I¡¯ll handle the sale and deposit the funds immediately. We can also cover your registration fee if you¡¯d like¡­.¡±

    ¡°No, thank you. I¡¯d rather avoid any possible misunderstandings down the line. I¡¯ll pay for it myself.¡±

    Jeong, visibly moved by Suho¡¯s response, quickly agreed.

    ¡°Understood! I¡¯ll get everything ready right away, so please wait just a moment.¡±

    Rising quickly from his seat, Jeong¡¯s brisk movements made Suho chuckle to himself.

    ***

    Everything proceeded smoothly.

    While Suho took his aptitude test, Jeong, using his authority, handled the sale of the hobgoblin head and magic crystal with a tax exemption, depositing the proceeds¡ªabout 3 million won¡ªdirectly to Suho¡¯s ount.

    When Suho finished his aptitude test, he asked, ¡°Team Leader, could I request one more favor?¡±

    ¡°What kind of favor?¡±

    ¡°I believe there¡¯s a library in the Association¡¯s basement. It has reference materials and guides relevant to tomorrow¡¯s exam, if I¡¯m not mistaken. If you allow me, I¡¯d like to prepare there.¡±

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s all? Of course, you¡¯re wee to!¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    The basement library was intended for the Association staff¡¯s personal development. Given that Suho might one day be his subordinate, granting his request was a given.

    The library, though technically a resource for staff, was rarely used, with only a few librarians whiling away their time. It was, in essence, a forgotten space.

    Upon arrival, Suho immediately recognized the familiar smell of the staff library.

    ¡®It¡¯s been a while since I was here.¡¯

    Few people ever used the ce, and the librarians barely took notice of anyone who entered.

    Jeong lowered his voice and said, ¡°You won¡¯t need a staff card to leave, so feel free to stay as long as you need.¡±

    ¡°Yes, thank you.¡±

    ¡°Then I¡¯ll be off to handle some work. Best of luck on tomorrow¡¯s exam.¡±

    After offering his encouragement, Jeong exited.

    Once alone, Suho began scanning the library.

    ¡®Now, where was it¡­?¡¯

    He¡¯de here seeking a hidden skill concealed in the staff library.

    It was a skill rted to memory retention¡ªsomething he would¡¯ve normally dismissed as unnecessary, but given recent events, he needed it more than anyone.

    ¡®Human memory has its limits.¡¯

    As far as he knew, he was the only one who had returned to the past, meaning he had no one to turn to, no one to rely on.

    Thus, he needed his memory to be as urate as possible. He could recall significant events, but as a human, some minor details were fuzzy.

    That¡¯s why he was here.

    Suho moved purposefully toward the ¡°Unknown Books¡± section.

    These were books found inside Gates from other realms, their contents unreadable,beled as ¡°junk items.¡±

    Looking at the random assortment of books, Suho couldn¡¯t help but recall some memories.

    ¡®These were a pain back then.¡¯

    These ¡°unknown books¡± were indeed troublesome.

    They were me-resistant, difficult to discard, and, given their origin, required some level of management, which led them to the Association¡¯s library.

    ¡®Most will be stored in a warehouse eventually.¡¯

    It didn¡¯t take long for Suho to find the book he was looking for¡ªit was thergest in the section.

    ¡®Its size made it easy to spot.¡¯

    Taking it in hand, he walked to a quiet corner of the library.

    Even though he couldn¡¯t read its title, this book held a remarkable secret.

    After ensuring he was alone, he opened the book and rested his head against it.

    Minutester, he heard the system notification.

    [ Wee to the Library of Memories. ]

    [ The Library of Memories is intrigued by your story. ]

    [ Would you like to donate your story to the Library of Memories? ]

    Suho¡¯s lips curled into a smile.

    This was the ¡°Library of Memories¡± hidden skill he¡¯de for.

    As he withdrew his head from the book, he read the system messages with a grin.

    ¡®So, it¡¯s real.¡¯

    The Library of Memories was akin to a photographic memory skill, though one could call it a ¡°curse of memory.¡±

    After all, human resilience is partly due to the ability to forget pain.

    But for Suho, the Library of Memories was essential.

    It allowed him to recover all his memories perfectly.

    As Suho nodded, the system processed the next step.

    [ Your story has been donated. ]

    [ The Library of Memories is delighted by your donation and offers a gift in return. ]

    [ You have acquired the Library of Memories (A). ]

    [ The Library of Memories has started recording and cataloging your memories. ]

    Just then¡ª

    A gust of wind surged through his mind, and an image of a vast library formed within his consciousness.

    The library was empty at first, but as the wind swept through, countless sheets of nk paper appeared, filling with records of Suho¡¯s memories, binding into books, and stacking themselves onto shelves.

    It was mesmerizing.

    And once the library was fully stocked with books, the system message appeared:

    [ The Library of Memories is now open. ]

    Suho now hadplete ess to the Library of Memories.

    [ Library of Memories ]

    - Rank: A

    # Stores every memory you see or hear in a library that you can ess at any time.

    # The Library of Memories may rmend relevant information when necessary.

    The description was simple but effective.

    The effect was all that mattered.

    Suho thought of the person who had first told him about the Library of Memories.

    She was the legendary secretary of Hexagon Guild, the top guild in the industry. Suho had learned about the skill by chance over a meal.

    - Did you know, Suho? I actually used to work for the Association.@@novelbin@@

    - Really? You, Secretary?

    - Yes. Back when I was preparing to switch jobs, I was studying alone in the library¡­.

    She had jokingly mentioned how she acquired the skill, but it had left a strong impression on him.

    - I couldn¡¯t find afortable ce to rest, so I grabbed a random book to use as a pillow, and that turned out to be the condition for discovering the skill!

    He¡¯d been dumbfounded at the time.

    Who would¡¯ve thought she¡¯d acquire an A-rank skill that way?

    ¡®Some people are just born lucky. She must¡¯ve been one of them.¡¯

    With her newfound memory skill, she quickly rose through the ranks and joined Hexagon Guild, known for their memory-based qualifications.

    Once there, her enhanced memory and the skill¡¯s rmendation feature allowed her to manage all the guild members meticulously, and she eventually became the industry¡¯s most renowned secretary.

    Thinking he should treat her to a meal someday, Suho returned the book to its ce.

    With the Library of Memories acquired, no additional skills would be unlocked, but the book remained.

    ¡®Now that I have the skill, let¡¯s give it a light test.¡¯

    Suho tested it by recalling the events before his death.

    In observer mode, he could vividly see his past, including the betrayal by his former allies, which brought a surge of anger.

    ¡®Good. Now I have a new target. I won¡¯t let myself forget this rage.¡¯

    Truly, the Library of Memories.

    Simply recalling his memories reawakened the fury of that moment, solidifying his resolve.

    But then¡ª

    ...

    [ The system has recognized your achievement in reaching the realm of transcendence and grants you an opportunity to be even stronger. ]

    [ Rebooting the system for yer Ahn Suho. ]

    Within his fading memories, Suho saw the unexpected system message.

 Chapter 9

    Suho smiled as he spoke.

    ¡°You¡¯ve made a wise choice. While you¡¯re preparing the contract, would it be alright if I explored the academy a bit? I¡¯d like to take a personal look around, though I know you¡¯ll give me an official tourter.¡±

    ¡°Of course. And could you leave your contact information? I¡¯ll reach out as soon as the contract is ready. It shouldn¡¯t take long.¡±

    ¡°Yes, my number is¡­¡±

    The contract was a safeguard against any potential issues, including duplicate agreements.

    ¡®Contracts are essential in the professional world,¡¯ Suho mused. Especially when it involved a sum as substantial as 300 million won.

    After exchanging contact information, Suho stood up and began his exploration of Nexus Academy.

    ¡®It certainly lives up to its title as thergest in the country.¡¯

    Nexus Academy was vast, featuring a fitness training center, dormitories, mock training grounds, a study hall, a library for written exam preparation, a cafeteria, and numerous other facilities. The academy¡¯syout, built on extensive grounds in Paju, earned it the nickname ¡°Nexus Vige¡± for its resemnce to a small town.

    ¡®Seeing this academy reminds me of my days as an exam candidate.¡¯

    Though Suho wasn¡¯t from a prestigious academy, these dormitory-based academies had always been out of reach, their monthly fees exorbitant. But he had studied hard independently and passed the exam on his first try, even scoring impressively on the aptitude test.

    During that time, he¡¯d chosen the Warrior ss instead of Healer.

    While walking through the facilities, Suho found himself in the private training grounds.

    The ce wasn¡¯t too crowded since it wasn¡¯t ss time, and several candidates were training individually ording to their sses.

    Then, a group of students caught Suho¡¯s attention.

    ¡®Looks like those guys are on the swordsmanship track.¡¯

    The students wielded a variety of swords, from daggers to longswords, practicing their swordsmanship techniques.

    But no matter how he looked at it, their stances seemed clumsy.

    It was only natural¡ªthey were new to the field, lucky enough to awaken as yers but still inexperienced.

    Suddenly, someone familiar came into view.

    ¡®Kang Dae-han?¡¯

    He wasn¡¯t mistaken.

    The Library of Memories had refined Suho¡¯s recall to pinpoint uracy.

    Besides, how could he forget a towering figure, roughly 190cm tall and weighing about 120kg, with a shaved head?

    ¡®So, Kang Dae-han is a Nexus alumnus.¡¯

    Kang Dae-han, the Defender. In the future, he would be one of the top-ranked Hunters in Korea, renowned as one of the country¡¯s best tankers.

    Suho had teamed up with Kang Dae-han on several raids.

    He was sure of it: the bald head and massive build were Dae-han¡¯s trademarks.

    But something seemed off.

    Kang Dae-han was swinging an enormous axe, even though Suho remembered him as a shield-wielder.

    ¡®Ah, he hasn¡¯t found his aptitude yet.¡¯

    A thought urred to Suho.

    ¡®This is perfect. I should get a head start in winning him over.¡¯

    In the future, Kang Dae-han would stay with Nexus. But if Suho established a connection now, there was a chance he could bring him over to the Association instead.

    ¡®A defender like Kang Dae-han would be invaluable in the Association.¡¯

    No matter how strong an individual was, they couldn¡¯t handle everything alone. Problems emerged in various forms across different locations.

    Suho intended to secure skilled allies early, people who would work alongside him.

    ¡®Well, I did say I¡¯d tour the academy, so this should be fine.¡¯

    With that, Suho headed down to the training ground.

    Fortunately, the training area didn¡¯t require a special ess card, and though he was dressed casually rather than in academy attire, no one seemed overly interested.

    Approaching Kang Dae-han, he greeted him.

    ¡°Hello.¡±

    ¡°Huh? Oh, hello!¡± Dae-han replied, putting down his axe.

    Standing close, Suho confirmed that this was indeed Kang Dae-han¡ªthe kind face, the polite voice. He noticed the name embroidered on his academy uniform: ¡°Kang Dae-han.¡±

    No need to ask his name, then.

    Suho asked, ¡°Are you a Warrior?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right¡­ but who are you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just someone passing through, but after watching you, I thought there was something I should tell you.¡±

    Suho was, technically, associated with the academy, so calling himself a ¡°rtion¡± wasn¡¯t a lie.

    Pointing to himself, Dae-han asked, ¡°Me?¡±

    ¡°Yes. If you don¡¯t mind, how long have you been preparing for the exam?¡±

    Blushing slightly, Dae-han replied, ¡°This is my third year.¡±

    ¡°So you¡¯re taking tomorrow¡¯s exam as well?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I registered again this time.¡±

    ¡°Are you nning to use that battle axe for the practical test?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s the n.¡±

    ¡°Can I ask why you chose the battle axe?¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ I¡¯m aiming to be a melee damage dealer, and after discussing it with the academy, they rmended this. They said a weapon like this has great destructive power, and not everyone can wield it.¡±

    Suho felt a twinge of frustration.

    No matter how big someone was, rmending a battle axe to a yer dependent on stats solely because of their size was absurd.

    ¡®And this is supposed to be the country¡¯srgest academy¡­¡¯

    It reminded Suho how outdated this era was.

    Back then, humanity had barely begun to adapt to life with Gates, and much was still rudimentarypared to the future.

    Shaking his head, Suho said, ¡°That¡¯s not quite right. You should use a weapon that¡¯s easy for you to handle. Stats provide support for every yer anyway.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ really?¡±@@novelbin@@

    ¡°Yes, and you can quickly gain proficiency with any skill thanks to stat support. Most of your progress wille from personal knowledge and experience. Based on what I¡¯ve observed, I don¡¯t think the battle axe suits you.¡±

    ¡°But¡­ I¡¯ve been using it for three years now¡­.¡±

    And that was the problem.

    Suho nced at the weapons rack along the ss wall of the training area and said, ¡°Do you see the kite shield in the corner over there?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I see it.¡±

    ¡°Strap it to your left arm and hold a one-handed blunt weapon in your right. That setup will get you a much higher practical score than the battle axe.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ So you¡¯re suggesting I go hybrid?¡±

    A hybrid role meantbining two positions. In the Warrior ss, this could mean a role that was both secondary damage dealer and tank¡ªoften called a ¡°multi-tank.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m rmending you go multi-tank.¡±

    ¡°Is that necessary? I¡¯ve been training with the battle axe for three years, and now you¡¯re suggesting I change positions¡­.¡±

    It seemed he was reluctant to let go.

    But Suho¡¯s memory held an image of Kang Dae-han in the future wielding not an axe but arge shield.

    In other words, future Dae-han eventually abandoned the battle axe after recognizing his limits.

    This time, Suho decided to help him realize it sooner, saving him time.

    ¡°Kang Dae-han, what do you think is the core of a party?¡±

    ¡°Uh¡­ the mage?¡±

    ¡°No. Surprisingly, it¡¯s the tank. The tank draws aggro and protects the mage and healer to ensure the party functions smoothly.¡±

    ¡°Then wouldn¡¯t it be better to just use a shield?¡±

    Not an unreasonable question.

    There was a time when specializing in one skill was seen as the best approach.

    But as Gates evolved, the purely defensive tank lost its role.

    ¡®Later on, even tanks had to counterattack as Gate difficulty spiked.¡¯

    This was the reason why, despite being one of Korea¡¯s top tankers, Dae-han never reached world-ss status.

    He tried switching to hybrid toote, unable to adapt due to his extensive experience as a pure tank.

    So Suho rmended the multi-tank role from the start, anticipating a future where hybrid tanks would be essential.

    Suho exined, ¡°ording to recent international Gate studies, the role of pure tanks is expected to diminish over time. Tanks who can handle crowd control and wield a secondary weapon will be more versatile.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­!¡±

    ¡°And while the battle axe has high burst damage, the dy after each swing is too long. Without a follow-up, you¡¯ll be exposed. With your build, it would be hard for another tank to cover you.¡±

    ¡°¡­!¡±

    The insight struck a chord with Dae-han. Out of all the advice, this resonated the most.

    ¡°Thank you. I think you¡¯re right. The practical test is about endurance against monsters, not weapon proficiency.¡±

    ¡°Exactly. For Warriors, it¡¯s all about how long you can withstand monsters. Skill proficiency isn¡¯t the main factor. Besides, one-handed mace skills are easy to learn, so with a bit of practice, you¡¯ll adapt quickly.¡±

    ¡°Yes! Thank you so much!¡±

    Bowing deeply, Dae-han expressed his gratitude.

    Suho looked around the training grounds to see if there were any other promising figures but found none who stood out.

    After a thorough exploration, he received a message from Director Kim Soo-ae, allowing him to finalize the contract.

    ***

    The next day.

    After sealing the schrship contract with Director Kim and visiting his old apartment, Suho spent the rest of the day resting and returned to the Association the next morning.

    The Association¡¯s entrance was packed with people.

    No surprise¡ªit was Hunter license exam day.

    ¡°Everyone, please line up in the order of your registration numbers! We¡¯ll proceed with the checks one by one!¡±

    Taking the Hunter exam for the first time in over a decade filled him with nostalgia.

    But he wasn¡¯t nervous

    .

    Though the Hunter exam had a pass rate below 20%, that statistic only applied to ordinary candidates.

    After changing into the Association-issued exam uniform, Suhopleted the blood and urine tests before heading to the written exam room.

    ¡®They conduct these tests for possible doping, but¡­.¡¯

    It was practically pointless.

    Real dopers didn¡¯t rely on substances. They used skill buffs.

    Despite the ineffectiveness of these tests, the issue of skill-doping had yet to emerge publicly, so they persisted.

    ¡®I¡¯ll have to bring this issue to light soon.¡¯

    Returning to the past, he realized there were numerous things to expedite.

    Suho was thinking over these ns as he settled into his assigned seat when a woman seated in front of him caught his attention.

    ¡®What¡¯s this?¡¯

    The woman looked utterly ordinary.

    But Suho could sense it.

    An abnormal mana wave emanated from her.

    He knew what it was¡ªskill doping.

 Chapter 10

    ¡®What do we have here?¡¯

    Suho had only recently started thinking about skill doping, and yet he¡¯d already identified someone actively using it.

    The woman in front of him was definitely engaged in skill doping. All examinees had surrendered their personal items and changed into designated test attire upon entry, which meant there should be no enhanced mana waves among them.

    ¡®Besides, every candidate here is likely a Level 1 unregistered Hunter. There¡¯s no way a Level 1 could exude this kind of mana¡ªunless they¡¯re like me.¡¯

    Hunters who lost their license were banned from retaking the exam, which reinforced Suho¡¯s certainty.

    Curious, he decided to discreetly scan the others around him. Focusing his senses to detect mana was a straightforward task. As Suho concentrated, he started picking up on mana flows from several people nearby, not just the woman.

    Then, a notification appeared:

    [Your sensitivity to mana is exceptionally highpared to others.]

    [The system is evaluating your innate talent.]

    [Congrattions! You have acquired Mana Detection (B).]

    He had barely focused, and yet he gained a new skill.

    The skill¡¯s effects amplified his perception, allowing him to distinguish the nuances of mana waves more precisely. Now, he could confirm the abnormal mana flowing from the woman, as well as others nearby.

    ¡®Looks like she¡¯s definitely using a skill.¡¯

    With the Mana Detection skill, Suho could now distinguish between mana produced by skills and items.

    Sighing inwardly, Suho thought, ¡®Things really were a mess back then.¡¯

    Though there wasn¡¯t much he could do right now. As an examinee himself, he couldn¡¯t exactly start using others in the middle of a test. Plus, with multiple cheaters around, calling them out one by one would be impractical.

    But he had an idea.

    Suho¡¯s gaze drifted up to the transparent observation room on the second floor, reserved for overseeing the test and preventing cheating. Inside, he spotted a familiar face watching the scene: Jung Chul-min.

    ¡®As I thought, he came.¡¯

    Suho grinned and waved up at him. After a brief moment, Chul-min waved back. Good, this meant he¡¯d probablye downter to say hello.

    Just then, the written exam began.

    ***

    ¡®He made it!¡¯

    Jung Chul-min¡¯s excitement grew as he saw Suho¡¯s name on the attendance list and confirmed his presence in person.

    Suho was an extraordinary find, the likes of which he hadn¡¯t encountered in years. Though it was a long shot, he genuinely hoped Suho would pass the test.

    And now, Suho spotted him and even waved.

    ¡®This guy¡­ he¡¯s quite entertaining.¡¯

    Jung Chul-min decided he would personally congratte him after the exam and reinforce his intention to recruit Suho into the Association.

    Once the written exam was over and the examinees moved to the practical testing area, Chul-min hurried over to Suho.

    ¡°Did the test go well?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I think it went alright. But what brings you here, Team Leader?¡±

    ¡°Supporting the event. We¡¯re always short on personnel at the Association, so on big days like this, everyone, regardless of their department, pitches in.¡±

    ¡°Sounds like hard work.¡±

    ¡°Haha, I¡¯m used to it by now. But given you had less than a day to prepare, it¡¯s impressive how confident you are. I heard the questions were particrly difficult this time.¡±

    Suho chuckled. ¡°They were manageable. By the way, may I ask you something?¡±

    ¡°Sure, as long as it¡¯s not rted to the test.¡±

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s somewhat relevant¡­ I noticed there¡¯s no skill screening here. Is there a reason for that?¡±

    ¡°Skill screening?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I noticed they did a urine test and a blood test but didn¡¯t screen for skills.¡±

    Chul-min looked confused, clearly unfamiliar with the concept. This was still a time before skill screening had bemon practice.

    However, he narrowed his eyes, lowering his voice. ¡°Is something bothering you?¡±

    ¡°Well, think about it. They confiscate items and make everyone change clothes to prevent item-based cheating. But why aren¡¯t they checking for skill-based cheating?¡±

    For a moment, Chul-min¡¯s eyes widened. He then leaned in closer.

    ¡°¡­Did you see something?¡±

    Suho grinned, confirming his suspicions, and watched as Chul-min¡¯s expression grew serious.

    ¡°Report them to me, and I¡¯ll deal with it immediately,¡± Chul-min urged.

    ¡°Haha, I¡¯d like to, but I can¡¯t be certain. That¡¯s why I brought up skill screening.¡±

    ¡°I understand what you¡¯re suggesting, but¡­ even so, we don¡¯t have the means to implement it. The concept of skill screening is still new to us. Addressing this would require organizing a team to devise a countermeasure, which isn¡¯t feasible right now. So please, just report anyone you suspect.¡±

    Suho realized he¡¯d need to provide a bit more guidance.

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t have to be thatplicated. There¡¯s no need to assemble a team for countermeasures.¡±

    ¡°Hmm?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a skill called Mana Detection, right? If you use it, you can easily identify cheaters.¡±

    ¡°Mana Detection?¡±@@novelbin@@

    ¡°Yes. Specifically, you¡¯d use it to detect the mana output from each person. As you know from entering Gates, each yer emits a unique amount of mana when using skills or items. Since everyone here is Level 1, anyone outputting more than the average can be gged for further inspection.¡±

    ¡°Oh!¡±

    Realization dawned on Chul-min, his eyes widening in understanding.

    Suho added, ¡°Of course, my mana level might be a bit higher. After all, I recently soloed a Gate¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m fully aware. Thank you! This is truly an unexpected bit of advice. And Mana Detection isn¡¯t even that rare, so we should be able to deploy staff quickly.¡±

    ¡°So, you¡¯re nning to implement it for this exam?¡±

    ¡°Yes, we¡¯ll start with the practical test. By the way, Suho, with your Gate achievement and this advice, you¡¯re already operating like a pro Hunter.¡±

    ¡°Haha, I¡¯m far from that.¡±

    ¡°No, really. In fact, there were talks about recruiting you as a special case, but since you signed up for the exam immediately, we thought we¡¯d respect your decision. That said, don¡¯t worry¡ªeven if you don¡¯t pass this time, I¡¯ll push for a special recruitment pathway.¡±

    Suhoughed at the idea of being a special recruit.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s alright. I¡¯d rather pass fair and square. Entering the Association as a regr recruit ensures no future controversies.¡±

    Once again, admiration sparkled in Chul-min¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°Suho, you really are¡­.¡±

    ¡°Well, I¡¯d better head to the practical test.¡±

    ¡°Alright, thank you. Oh, and Suho?¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°Personally, I really hope you pass. I¡¯d love for us to work together.¡±

    Suho acknowledged his words with a smile before making his way to the practical test area.

    ***

    While Chul-min quickly gathered monitors to prepare for Mana Detection, Suho examined the Dive Capsules scattered around the testing facility.

    ¡®Wow, look at these ancient models. Haven¡¯t seen them in ages.¡¯

    Dive Capsules were virtual reality devices developed coboratively by the nation¡¯s tech giants. Once inside, users could connect their consciousness to a virtual world¡ªsomething out of a sci-fi novel.

    ¡®People once thought VR capsules would revolutionize the world¡­¡¯

    But the world changed before that, much more rapidly.

    Nheless, VR remained popr, and Dive Capsules became widely used training tools for yers. Civilians, too, enjoyed them for virtual reality games.

    Just then, the examiner made an unexpected announcement.

    ¡°Attention, candidates! Due to an issue with the Dive Capsules, the test will be dyed by two hours. In the meantime, please feel free to use the lounge or training areas.¡±

    The dy was a surprise, but Suho quickly understood. The capsule issue was a pretense; he could see Chul-min coordinating efforts to catch cheaters based on his hint.

    ¡®Looks like they¡¯ll do a mana check right before entering the capsules. As expected, Chul-min is thorough.¡¯

    Though the practical test would be dyed, only by two hours, that was enough time for Chul-min to organize a team for cheating detection.

    With time to spare, Suho decided to observe the other candidates. The introduction of Mana Detection would mean a steep drop in pass rates due to the elimination of cheaters.

    ¡®There are 1,200 examinees in this session, right?¡¯

    Quite a turnout.

    With an average pass rate below 20%, Suho remembered hearing that this cohort¡¯s pass rate would dip below 10%. It even prompted the test to be slightly eased the following year.

    ¡®So those who pass this time are truly the cream of the crop.¡¯

    This made it all the more worthwhile to assess his fellow candidates. If he found any promising individuals, he could recruit them into the Association, just as he nned with Kang Dae-han.

    As he wandered through the training area, Suho¡¯s eyesnded on an unexpected face.

    ¡®Wait, that guy¡­ no, that punk?¡¯

    Moving closer to confirm, he recognized him instantly, even by his weapon.

    ¡®Park Yong¡ªso he¡¯s part of this cohort?¡¯

    The man, resting against a wall with azy expression, clutching his practice sword in his arms, was indeed Park Yong.

    Despite his unassuming appearance, Suho knew him to be a notorious figure in the future¡ªa criminal of the highest order, infamous for bing a serial killer who targeted Hunters.

    <strong>TL NOTE</strong>: Please don''t skimp on the stars for the trantion - it inspires me and gives me the strength to write more. Thank you~!

    If you want to buy me a /kimsu

 Chapter 11

    It was certain.

    Of course, it was, because he had personally taken Park Yong''s life.

    ¡®So this lunatic is in this cohort.¡¯

    Park Yong was more than worthy of the title "lunatic."

    No, he was a genuine madman.

    A madman obsessed with both the sword and raw power.

    He wielded a sword with almost insane proficiency and was so deeply immersed in swordsmanship that his nickname was "Mad Sword" (¿ñ„¦).

    Suho narrowed his eyes.

    ¡®So if we both make it through, does that mean we¡¯d be in the same intake?¡¯

    That was right.

    Although the industry didn¡¯t really adhere to hierarchies, it could be said that, if anything, they¡¯d be peers.

    And Park Yong would likely pass.

    Suho didn¡¯t recall the exact details of his debut, but he knew that Park was one of the swordsmanship prodigies he respected in his past life.

    ¡®Hmm.¡¯

    Suho rubbed his chin, briefly lost in thought.

    Park Yong was the kind of person who saw everything through a lens of power, relying solely on strength to assess others.

    Moreover, he was so thirsty for strength that he sought out masters at every chance to challenge them to fights¡ªan obsession that ultimately led him down the path of a serial killer targeting Hunters.

    That was why Suho had to take preventive measures now, while he still could.

    If he turned a blind eye, who knew how many innocent people would be his victims?

    ¡®Annoying, but necessary.¡¯

    After considering his options, Suho came up with a suitable approach and walked over to Park Yong.

    He checked the name tag on his chest to confirm it was indeed him before speaking.

    ¡°Hello?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­?¡±

    Park Yong nced at him briefly, then looked away.

    Right, that was typical of him.

    He never paid attention to those he deemed weak.

    But in contrast, he obsessed over strong opponents, almost to the point of stalking them.

    Suho knew exactly how to deal with someone like him.

    Suho asked again, ¡°My name is Ahn Suho. Judging by the sword you¡¯re holding, you¡¯re an aspiring swordsman. How about a sparring match?¡±

    Suho held up a practice wooden sword he had brought.

    At that, Park Yong frowned and replied.

    ¡°Buzz off.¡±

    ¡°Sorry?¡±

    ¡°I said, buzz off.¡±

    The cynical response was just as expected.

    But did he think that would make Suho give up?

    Suho smirked and asked, ¡°A bit harsh, don¡¯t you think? Or are you afraid?¡±

    At that moment, Park Yong¡¯s gaze, which had been avoiding him, suddenly snapped directly onto Suho.

    Ah, ssic Park Yong¡ªso sensitive when it came to anything rted to strength.

    Park narrowed his eyes and asked, ¡°What did you just say?¡±

    ¡°I asked if you¡¯re avoiding it out of fear.¡±

    ¡°Do you think you¡¯re somebody? Why so cocky?¡±

    ¡°Oh? And if I am? Want to find out?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­Ha!¡±

    With that, Park Yong abruptly stood up.

    ¡°I was bored stiff surrounded by weaklings, so this is perfect. Let¡¯s go. Bring it.¡±

    ¡°You should¡¯ve agreed sooner. Follow me. There¡¯s a sparring area over there; let¡¯s use that.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­Crazy bastard.¡±

    Park Yong let out a dryugh, clearly amused by Suho¡¯s brazen attitude.

    In his life, he¡¯d never met someone like this.

    Fortunately, Park Yong followed Suho¡¯s suggestion and headed to the sparring area with him.

    After all, even though they were waiting, they were technically still in the middle of the exam. Park Yong didn¡¯t want to be disqualified over something trivial.

    ¡°A sparring match? Sure, well¡­ alright,¡± the examiner replied, a little surprised but quickly nodding in agreement.

    This wasn¡¯t the first time he¡¯d encountered people like this.

    Soon, the examiner, Suho, and Park Yong made their way to the temporary sparring area set up at the edge of the training grounds.

    Naturally, no one else was using the sparring area.

    After all, no one wanted to risk injury on such an important exam day.

    Perhaps that was why other examinees, bored with waiting, started gathering to watch.

    The examiner spoke up, ¡°You¡¯re only allowed to use the practice weapons provided by the Association, and remember, since this is a sparring match, I¡¯ll stop it if things get too heated. Also, you need to be careful; if you get injured here, you may not be able to take the main exam.¡±

    After agreeing that neither party would hold the other ountable for any injuries, they finally stepped back, creating some distance.

    The onlookers started murmuring.

    ¡°Look at these guys.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s with the fuss on a day like this?¡±

    ¡°They must be attention seekers.¡±

    ¡°Who do you think will win?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m betting on that guy with the sleepy eyes.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°Ever notice inics, the ones with droopy or slit eyes are usually the skilled ones?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s true.¡±

    The "sleepy-eyed" guy they were talking about was Park Yong.

    Suho chuckled.

    ¡®Not wrong, but this time will be different.¡¯

    Park Yong might be talented, but Suho was even more formidable.

    The examiner signaled the start.

    Immediately, Park Yong took his stance, but¡ª

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s with that guy?¡±

    ¡°Why¡¯s he just standing there without even drawing his sword?¡±

    Unlike Park Yong, who had immediately taken up a ready stance, Suho stood with his sword still sheathed at his waist, simply watching.

    Some of the onlookers found it impressive, while others just shook their heads, thinking he was showing off.

    ¡°Look at that poser. Must¡¯ve watched some sword-wielding character in an anime and gotten drunk on the fantasy. One hundred percent.¡±

    ¡°What if he¡¯s actually skilled?¡±

    ¡°If he is, I¡¯ll give up the exam and go eat grilled pork immediately.¡±

    ¡°You better follow through.¡±

    Park Yong shared the onlookers'' disdain, scowling at Suho.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean? We¡¯re sparring. Go on, make your move.¡±

    ¡°This damn bastard¡­¡±

    Seeing Suho just standing there with his sword at his waist, not even taking a proper stance, Park Yong gritted his teeth.

    He resolved to break at least one of Suho¡¯s bones, or maybe two or three, if he had to paypensation.

    With that determination, Park Yong lunged toward Suho.

    But Suho remained still, and when Park Yong¡¯s sword was mere inches from his face¡ª

    Whoosh!

    The sound of air splitting.

    Park Yong¡¯s eyes widened.

    He had missed entirely, as if nothing was there to strike.

    Suho had simply turned his body slightly to evade Park Yong¡¯s attack.

    Beginner¡¯s luck, maybe?

    Sure, even lottery winners existed, so dodging a first strike was possible.

    Thinking that, Park Yong twisted his waist, swinging his sword again in the direction Suho had dodged.

    Or rather, he tried to swing it.

    Thud!

    Just as he was about to swing, something pressed down on the back of his sword.

    Incredibly, it was Suho¡¯s foot.

    Before Park Yong could gather his strength, Suho had stepped on his sword, halting his swing.

    Shocked, Park Yong tried to shove Suho back using both hands, but Suho didn¡¯t budge, like a stone.

    He chuckled.

    Seeing Park Yong¡¯s growing frustration and struggle, Suho couldn¡¯t help butugh to himself.

    Right.

    It must be frustrating.

    But that couldn¡¯t be helped.

    Suho was now level 10.

    Among all the unregistered Hunters in the country¡­ no, among all unregistered Hunters in existence, he likely had the highest level and stats.

    After all, under the global Hunterws, unregistered Hunters were never allowed into Gates.

    Then, with his foot still pinning Park Yong¡¯s movement, Suho pushed hard, sending Park Yong staggering backward.

    Unable to ovee the vast difference in stats, Park Yong nearly stumbled, barely keeping his bnce.

    The crowd fell silent.

    Everyone had expected a chaotic brawl or one-sided beatdown but hadn¡¯t anticipated the match to y out like this.

    The examiner was equally stunned.

    ¡®Who¡­ who is this guy?¡¯

    Exhausted from preparing for the exam, the examiner¡¯s fatigue disappeared upon witnessing Suho¡¯s skill.

    In all his years of watching examinees, including elite recruits backed by major guilds, he¡¯d never seen anyone like Suho.

    Suhoughed.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Noting at me again? Giving up?¡±

    ¡°You¡­!¡±

    Park Yong¡¯s anger red as he ground his teeth but quickly swallowed his rage, lifting one corner of his mouth in acknowledgment.

    Initially enraged by Suho¡¯s toying, Park Yong, a true believer in strength, now recognized Suho¡¯s skill.

    When it came to swordsmanship, Park Yong was dead serious, and he could tell.

    That maneuver wasn¡¯t beginner¡¯s luck or a special skill¡ªit was the real deal.

    With newfound respect, Park Yong adjusted his stance.

    ¡°You¡¯re interesting. Now I understand why you were so confident. Alright, from now on, I¡¯ll take this seriously.¡±

    ¡°You seemed pretty serious a moment ago.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I was serious then too.¡±

    Park Yong¡¯s lips twisted into a chilling smile.

    For a brief moment, Suho felt he glimpsed the true madness that defined Park Yong.

    It was exactly what he had wanted.

    ¡®Perfect. This is exactly what I was aiming for.¡¯

    Suho wanted Park Yong fixated on him. This way, he wouldn¡¯t target anyone else until he had ovee Suho.

    Park Yong shifted into a different stance, and Suho¡¯s mouth opened in surprise.

    It was the basic stance of Park¡¯s original swordsmanship style, *Dragon Sword Technique*.

    ¡®Dragon Sword Technique, huh? It¡¯s been

    a while since I¡¯ve seen that. Although people who know it often call it *Mad Dragon Sword* instead.¡¯

    Why was it called Mad Dragon Sword?

    The reason was simple.@@novelbin@@

    With the name "Mad Sword" and Park¡¯s family name "Yong" (meaning dragon), the style had been named ordingly.

    However, since he was still unlicensed, he wouldn¡¯t have fully mastered the original technique yet. At best, he might have grasped the basics.

    In an instant, Park Yong closed the distance to Suho.

    Not bad at all.

    He clearly had some sort of footwork skill.

    But¡ª

    ¡®I have footwork too.¡¯

    Suho followed Park Yong¡¯s movements with his eyes.

    And as if calcting every move, he dodged each strike, turning his body just before Park¡¯s sword could touch him.

    Once.

    Twice.

    Even three times.

    After three consecutive misses, Park Yong didn¡¯t get angry, nor did heugh maniacally.

    Instead, he stared intensely at Suho with an unnervingly focused gaze.

    As Park prepared a fourth strike, Suho, almost instinctively, leaned his forehead forward.

    Thunk!

    A dull sound echoed.

    Suho¡¯s forehead had met the bridge of Park Yong¡¯s nose.

    With both hands still at his waist.

    A headbutt.

    Startled by the unexpected hit to his nose, Park Yong stumbled back a few steps, covering his mouth as he looked at Suho with utter bewilderment.

 Chapter 13

    Examinees began emerging from the capsules, havingpleted their practical exams.

    The average exam duration was about ten minutes per person. While this seemed short, the program¡¯s adjusted virtual time made it feel like thirty minutes inside the simtion.

    Of course, very fewsted the full half hour. The difficulty was calibrated to end most exams within twenty minutes.

    A candidate who had entered the capsule next to Suho now stepped out.

    ¡°Eleven minutes¡­ shorter than thest cohort,¡± observed Kim, the examiner, shaking his head as he noted the time.

    After hours of supervising, Kim had yet to see any outstanding talents.

    Before calling the next candidate, he turned to ask Park, the examiner beside him.

    ¡°How long has your candidate been in there?¡±

    ¡°Thirty minutes.¡±

    ¡°¡­What?¡±

    ¡°Just crossed the thirty-minute mark.¡±

    Thirty minutes? Could that be possible?

    Stunned, Kim approached Park¡¯s capsule and checked the monitor.

    Indeed, the candidate had been in the dive for over thirty minutes, still fighting like mad against a horde of orcs.

    ¡°Is he a warrior? He¡¯s fighting exceptionally well.¡±

    ¡°No, he¡¯s a healer.¡±

    ¡°¡­What?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s a healer. Look here.¡±

    Park showed the candidate¡¯s information.

    It was true.

    The candidate¡¯s name, Ahn Suho, was listed as a healer on the screen.

    ¡°But¡­ how is he fighting like that? Isn¡¯t he supposed to be a healer? Isn¡¯t this grounds for disqualification?¡±@@novelbin@@

    ¡°Not at all. He meets all the requirements, so there¡¯s no reason to fail him.¡±

    At that moment, Jung Chul-min, who was acting as Park¡¯s partner examiner, spoke up.

    ¡°As a healer, his main objective is to protect his patient. Look at the screen¡ªhe hasn¡¯t left his patient¡¯s side, nor has he abandoned them to fight. He¡¯s even healing them whenever he gets the chance.¡±

    Indeed, Suho was cutting down orcs and tending to his patient when he could.

    ¡°With all conditions met, there¡¯s no reason for disqualification. Besides, the exam program isn¡¯t intervening, so why should we?¡± Jung Chul-min continued, maintaining a serious tone.

    ¡°Ah¡­¡± Kim muttered, impressed.

    With a smile, Jung added, ¡°It seems we already have the top candidate for this exam. Let¡¯s just sit back and see what record he sets.¡±

    Both Kim and Park nodded. After all, they¡¯d never seen anything like this in the history of the practical exam.

    ***

    ¡°Kyahhh!¡±

    Thud!

    Another orc fell.

    Suho had lost count of how many he¡¯d defeated.

    He didn¡¯t mind that he wasn¡¯t earning experience points or items from these battles.

    He was gaining something far more valuable.

    > [Your proficiency with Iaido has increased significantly.]

    > [The system is re-evaluating your talent.]

    > [Congrattions! Your Iaido skill has been upgraded to Rank A.]

    > [Iaido (A): Your draw-and-sh speed and range have increased.]

    His Iaido skill had leveled up.

    And not just that¡ªhis Decapitation skill reached Rank A, and he acquired other skills, such as Hilt Strike, de Strike, and Ankle sh, all of which were also enhanced to A rank.

    ¡®This is an incredible opportunity.¡¯

    Suho was thrilled.

    Without having to enter a Gate, he could restore his skills in this way.

    Of course, he didn¡¯t neglect his patient. While skill recovery was essential, protecting the patient remained his top priority.

    After cutting down yet another wave of orcs, another notification appeared.

    > [Your understanding of swordsmanship is unparalleled.]

    > [The system is in awe of your mastery and fully acknowledges your unique swordsmanship.]

    > [Would you like to register a new swordsmanship skill thatbines basic techniques and footwork?]

    > [Upon registration, the skill will receive a new grade, and you may assign it a name.]

    ¡®Finally!¡¯

    Suho¡¯s eyes widened at the notification.

    Atst, the system recognized his skillspletely.

    Without hesitation, Suho responded.

    > [Please name your newly created swordsmanship.]

    The answer had long been decided.

    ¡°Suho Sword.¡±

    > [Confirm the name as ¡°Suho Sword¡±?]

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    > [Congrattions! The system acknowledges your supreme skill level and has created a new, unique swordsmanship skill just for you.]

    > [You have created the skill ¡°Suho Sword (S)¡±.]

    > [Your basic swordsmanship and footwork skills have both been enhanced by 50%.]

    Suho beamed as he read the notification.

    Finally, he had the Suho Sword.

    In his past life, it had taken him over ten years to create this technique. Now, he had obtained it in just a few days.

    Though he had already been using the Suho Sword as it was ingrained in his body, there were other reasons he wanted to im it officially as soon as possible.

    > [You have achieved a remarkable feat. The system grants you a bonus of 10 stat points.]

    Another notification appeared.

    By achieving the Suho Sword, Suho received an additional 10 bonus stat points.

    This perk was awarded only to those who developed an S-grade skill through their own talent and hard work, rather than from Gate rewards or skill books.

    But the perks didn¡¯t end there.

    Another notification followed.

    > [Your swordsmanship shines with a brilliance admired by all swordsmen.]

    > [The system wishes for you to continue along the path of the sword and grants an additional reward.]

    > [Congrattions! You have received ¡°Sword Mastery (S)¡±.]

    Sword Mastery.

    This was another S-grade skill¡ªa unique bonus bestowed by the system.

    Reading the description, Suho¡¯s smile grew.

    Swordsmanship and physical skills could be acquired through repetition, but certain warrior and rted sses had exclusive skills. With Sword Mastery, he could learn even those skills.

    For a swordsman, swordsmanship was paramount, but sword Hunters couldn¡¯t ignore the importance of skills.

    And not just skills¡ªsome swords were also exclusive to specific sses, only usable by the swordsman ss.

    After checking the skill, Suho closed the notification.

    Looking around, he noticed many orcs still surrounded him.

    But he felt no concern.

    Although it was just an exam program, he remembered that the number of orcs here was finite.

    ¡°Come on.¡±

    Having achieved his goal, Suho continued to y the orcs with renewed enthusiasm.

    ***

    How much time had passed?

    As the exam dragged on, even the other examiners gathered around Suho¡¯s capsule.

    ¡°Exam time¡­ three hours and two minutes?¡±

    ¡°So he¡¯s been in the practical exam for over three hours?¡±

    ¡°Unbelievable.¡±

    Suho had be a legend among the examiners.

    At that moment, Jung Chul-min, who had been quietly monitoring the capsule, spoke up.

    ¡°It¡¯s over.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s see!¡±

    The examiners crowded around.

    But the monitor disyed a rather unusual message.

    > [All the orcs prepared for the practical exam have been defeated.]

    > [Please restart the program.]

    Rather than ending the exam, the program master had requested a restart.

    The examiners, having never seen such a notification, were dumbfounded.

    ¡°Wow¡­¡±

    ¡°He really killed all the orcs?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t know clearing the orcs would trigger a message like this¡­¡±

    They looked toward Suho¡¯s examiner.

    ¡°What are you going to do?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not really going to restart the exam, are you?¡±

    ¡°Of course not.¡±

    This time, Jung Chul-min answered instead of Park.

    Trying to suppress his excitement, he spoke seriously.

    ¡°This situation is unprecedented in practical exam history, but if we force him to retake the exam just because he didn¡¯t die to the orcs, that would cause a lot of problems.¡±

    The examiners¡¯ expressions grew serious before they all nodded.

    ¡°Right¡­ It¡¯s not like he cheated, and his patient is still alive.¡±

    ¡°With so many witnesses, of course he passes. In fact, I¡¯d say he should be designated the top candidate for this practical exam. If he passes even the written exam with the minimum score, I believe he should graduate as the top overall candidate. Think of the publicity this would bring. So, what do you all think?¡±

    Whether it was due to Jung Chul-min¡¯s assertive argument or Suho¡¯s impressive performance, not a single examiner disagreed.

    This marked the birth of an unprecedented top candidate in Hunter exam history.

    ***

    Finally, the exam was over.

    Hearing from Jung Chul-min that he¡¯d likely see excellent results, Suho left the Association.

    But he hadn¡¯t walked far when someone called out to him.

    ¡°Excuse me?¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    Turning, he saw a man he didn¡¯t recognize.

    Who was this?

    He couldn¡¯t recall seeing him before.

    The man pulled a business card from his pocket and introduced himself.

    ¡°Nice to meet you. I¡¯m Park Pyung-sik, a scout for Prime Guild.¡±

    Ah.

    So he was a guild scout.

    And Prime Guild was currently the secondrgest guild in the industry.

    Suho could guess why they approached him.

    But in situations like this, feigning ignorance was polite.

    epting the card, Suho asked, ¡°And?¡±

    Park Pyung-sik politely responded.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be direct. Prime Guild would like to recruit you, yer Ahn Suho. If you¡¯re not already affiliated or negotiating with another guild, would you have time for a chat?¡±

    Just as he thought.

    Suho smiled internally at the scout¡¯s offer.

 Chapter 14

    Guild scouts were more formidable than one might think. Many went as far as entering restricted examination halls undercover as examinees to scout potential recruits.

    Park Pyung-sik was one such scout.

    This way, he could get ahead and secure genuine talents before anyone else. While this approach wasn¡¯t mainstream yet, it would soon be the standard in the future.

    In that sense, Park was an early adopter.

    Suho nodded, then asked, ¡°There¡¯s no way my exam results have been leaked yet. Did you enter as a candidate yourself, Mr. Scout?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I did. I¡¯ve been observing you since your spar with Park Yong.¡±

    That would make things much quicker.

    This was a great opportunity for Suho.

    ¡°Good, then we can skip any lengthy exnations. What kind of terms do you have in mind?¡±

    Park¡¯s face brightened at the mention of terms. Candidates who asked directly were often easier to recruit.

    ¡°You¡¯ve just be a Hunter, so we can¡¯t offer anything extreme. But we promise the best conditions among new recruits.¡±

    ¡°Best conditions for a rookie, huh¡­ but it¡¯s still rookie-level, right?¡±

    ¡°True, but since you don¡¯t have a record as a Hunter yet, even Hexagon would offer a simr contract.¡±

    ¡°Do you really think so?¡±

    ¡°Excuse me?¡±

    ¡°You heard about the Gate at Sindorim Station yesterday, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m aware. But why bring that up now¡­¡±

    ¡°Being from Prime, it seems your information is a bit slow. Maybe because it just happened? Anyway, I was the solo conqueror of that Gate.¡±

    ¡°¡­What?¡±

    ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, check the newster. We can revisit the terms once that¡¯s confirmed, right?¡±

    ¡°W-Wait! Hold on a moment!¡±

    ¡°Oh,e on. You¡¯ll have to discuss it internally anyway, right? Take your time and reach out. By the way, here¡¯s my number.¡±

    With that, Suho shared his number with Park, then took his leave.

    Holding Suho¡¯s number, Park stared nkly for a moment before hurriedly dialing his guild. This was an emergency.

    ***

    The next day.

    No surprises awaited.

    In this digital era, results were released within a day, and Suho received word of his passing directly from Jung Chul-min.

    - ¡°Congrattions on passing, Suho.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Team Leader.¡±

    - ¡°Thanks to you, we managed to catch a lot of cheaters using skill-doping. Just as you said, all of them were juicing up with skills. This is going to be reported in the media, and the exam regtions will be tightened moving forward.¡±

    That was good news.

    If unworthy Hunters filled the ranks, not only would it tarnish the profession¡¯s reputation, but it would also lead to a decline in Gate sess rates and more innocent casualties.

    ¡°I¡¯m d. Fair exams are always better.¡±

    - ¡°Exactly. Also¡­ it¡¯s about to be announced, but you¡¯re the top scorer in this exam. Congrattions once again.¡±

    Suho smiled.

    Of course. After all the fuss, they couldn¡¯t not award him the top spot.

    Still, he replied modestly.

    ¡°Thank you. I guess I¡¯ve done well, thanks to you.¡±

    - ¡°Haha, it¡¯s not like I did anything¡­ The full list will be on the Association¡¯s website this afternoon. Your name will be at the top as the number one candidate.¡±

    ¡°Got it. Thank you.¡±

    Just as Suho was about to hang up, Jung hesitated before continuing.

    - ¡°It feels awkward to ask this right after you¡¯ve passed, but¡­ do you still want to join the Association?¡±

    Suho chuckled at that.

    It seemed Jung was eager to keep him onboard, especially with Suho now at the top of his ss.

    He gave him the answer he wanted to hear.

    ¡°Of course. I¡¯ve already received offers fromrge guilds, but I¡¯m set on joining the Association.¡±

    Jung¡¯s face broke into a wide smile.

    - ¡°Thank you! I¡¯ll notify you as soon as the hiring announcements go up. Get some rest¡ªyou¡¯ve earned it!¡±

    ¡°Thank you, I will.¡±

    After the call, Suho immediately dialed the next person.

    With his top ranking secured, it was time for business.

    The next person was Director Kim Soo-ae.

    - ¡°Hello, Suho. Today is results day, right?¡±

    Kim answered immediately, as though she had been waiting for his call.

    Suho nodded and replied.

    ¡°Yes, Director. I¡¯m calling because of that. I received confirmation from an insider that I passed as the top candidate. The official results will be posted on the Association¡¯s website in a few hours. You can check there and make the transfer as per our contract.¡±

    - ¡°Congrattions on passing! I had faith you¡¯d make it. But Suho, if you¡¯re interested, what would you say to joining Nexus Guild? We¡¯d offer the best conditionspared to any other guild.¡±

    As expected.

    Kim was interested, just as Suho had anticipated. In fact, any guild would react this way to the top candidate.

    Suho could already feel guilds¡¯ eagerness, especially since he had conquered a Gate even before officially bing a Hunter.

    This was why he had demanded the three billion won fee. It allowed him to build goodwill with Nexus while holding off on making any firmmitments.

    ¡®Might as well test the waters while I¡¯m at it.¡¯

    Suho asked, ¡°Prime made a simr offer. How would Nexuspare?¡±

    There was a brief silence before Kim spoke again.

    - ¡°¡­You¡¯ve already met with Prime?¡±

    ¡°A scout from Prime was at the exam, disguised as a candidate, so I guess I caught his attention.¡±

    A faint sound of surprise came from the other end of the line.

    She hadn¡¯t realized such a method existed.

    But her professionalism showed through as she quickly offered her terms.

    - ¡°Whatever Prime offers, we¡¯ll do better.¡±

    ¡°How do you know what Prime offered?¡±

    - ¡°I may not know exactly, but I can promise more than any regr scout can offer. I have the authority, after all. Plus, since you¡¯re a Nexus Academy schrship student, adjusting the terms is easier. Why not meet now and discuss it in person?¡±

    Kim¡¯s persistence was admirable.

    But Suho declined.

    It wasn¡¯t time to join a guild just yet.

    ¡°No, I have a personal schedule today. But feel free to send the terms via text, and I¡¯ll consider them. As a Nexus schrship recipient, it would look better for me to join Nexus, right?¡±

    - ¡°Of course! I¡¯ll draft up an offer and get back to you shortly. Just promise you won¡¯t sign with anyone else before seeing it?¡±

    ¡°Haha, sure. I¡¯ll be waiting.¡±

    With that, the call with Kim ended.

    Next, Suho headed to a nearbymunity center.

    Now that he¡¯d officially passed, his Hunter certification would have been processed in the system, meaning he could receive his license card.

    Once his license was issued, he hailed a taxi to Dongdaemun Market.

    Before diving into Hunter activities, he needed to do a bit of shopping.

    The taxi carrying Suho set off toward Dongdaemun.

    ***

    A whileter, at Hexagon Guild¡¯s headquarters¡­

    Scouts and other team members involved in the Hunter exam project gathered in a conference room to await the announcement of the top-ranked candidate.

    ¡°Our recruit, Gi-hyun, is sure to take the top spot this time.¡±

    ¡°Absolutely. We went through a lot to bring him in as an Olympic hopeful. This time, Hexagon wille out on top.¡±

    Hexagon and Prime Guild were neck-and-neck,peting for the industry¡¯s top spot. They had rivalries across various areas, including the Hunter exams.

    Hexagon had been losing to Prime for several cycles, so they had recruited Kim Gi-hyun, an Olympic hopeful, as their trump card this time.

    ¡°Good afternoon, everyone.¡±

    At that moment, the deputy guild leader, Han Tae-hyun, entered the room.@@novelbin@@

    Given the importance of this project, he was there to review the results before reporting to the guild leader.

    Han took the seat at the head of the table and asked, ¡°So, we¡¯ll finally beat Prime this time, right?¡±

    ¡°No question, Deputy Leader. Gi-hyun will show them what we¡¯re made of.¡±

    ¡°Looking forward to it.¡±

    One of the staff members, who had been refreshing the Association¡¯s website, suddenly spoke up.

    ¡°It¡¯s up!¡±

    All eyes turned to the screen at the front of the room, where the Association¡¯s website disyed the list of sessful candidates.

    They were prepared to celebrate their victory.

    Everyone expected Kim Gi-hyun¡¯s name to top the list.

    But as soon as the results appeared, frowns spread across their faces.

    ¡°Huh¡­?¡±

    ¡°What¡­?¡±

    ¡°What is this?¡±

    When the Association released results, the top three names¡ªfirst, second, and third ce¡ªappeared at the top of the list.

    In other words, the name at the far left should have been Kim Gi-hyun¡¯s.

    Yet his name was nowhere to be seen.

    Instead¡­

    **Top Candidates**

    1. Ahn Suho

    2. Park Yong

    3. Kang Dae-han

    ¡­and so on.

    Familiar but unexpected names filled the list.

    Everyone at Hexagon was momentarily speechless.

    ***

    Dongdaemun Market.

    This bustling, eclectic market was one of Korea¡¯s iconic open markets, filled with both mainstream and niche items.

    Suho strolled through the aisles, picking up the essentials he needed.

    He had plenty of funds.

    Shortly after his call with Kim Soo-ae, his schrship funds were deposited into his ount.

    Finally, after purchasing most of what he needed, Suho made his way to hisst destination.

    **[Do-Young Hardware]**

    The worn sign read exactly that.

    Tucked away in a quiet corner, this old hardware

    shop was Suho¡¯s final stop.

    As he entered, the elderly shopkeeper, d in nothing but a tank top, didn¡¯t look up from his TV.

    ¡°Wee,¡± he said in a t tone.

    It was a routine greeting.

    Dongdaemun¡¯s merchants generally didn¡¯t engage in active salesmanship, especially those in quiet back alleys like Do-Young Hardware, where only regrs knew toe.

    Suho responded just as inly.

    ¡°I¡¯m looking for some light spears. I recently became a Hunter.¡±

    Finally taking a look at him, the shopkeeper gestured to a pile of spears in the corner.

    There, a heap of cheap-looking spears awaited him.

 Chapter 17

    It hadn¡¯t been erased or lost.

    To be precise, it had merged into the palm of Suho¡¯s left hand. When he examined his hand, he noticed the shape of a key etched there¡ªa mark indicating ownership of the Pocket Dimension House, just as Jang Pyung-ho had described.

    The mark soon disappeared. ording to Jang Pyung-ho, it would remain hidden unless he used the Pocket Dimension House.

    Suho clenched his left hand and thought, *¡°I finally have my own personal fortress.¡±*

    Calling it a "fortress" came from Jang Pyung-ho himself, as he had used the Pocket Dimension House like an imprable stronghold, especially for ¡°smuggling.¡±

    *¡°From drugs to national treasures¡ªeven people¡­ there was nothing he wouldn¡¯t handle.¡±*

    Indeed, with the Pocket Dimension House, any smuggling operation became incredibly easy, as it could store living creatures, unlike other pocket dimensions. Moreover, its space could be expanded as long as his Mana stat was high enough.

    Because of this, Jang Pyung-ho had utilized his skill extensively for smuggling, earning him the titles of ¡°Smuggling King¡± and ¡°Drug Lord.¡±

    But even Jang Pyung-ho was eventually caught. Though he was practically invincible while inside the Pocket Dimension House, the drawback was that he couldn¡¯t leave once he entered.

    Thus, as soon as the Korean Hunter Association witnessed him entering the Pocket Dimension House, they surrounded the area and maintained a 24/7 watch until they captured him.

    *¡°It took them over three years to finally catch him.¡±*

    He was a stubborn one. He¡¯d set up the Pocket Dimension House so well that he managed to hold out for over three years alone.

    Having secured the Pocket Dimension House, Suho stepped back out and headed to the next floor without hesitation.

    ***

    Meanwhile, as Suho continued climbing the Tower of Trials, small ripples spread through the Hunter industry.

    - The top scorer in this year¡¯s Hunter exam: Hunter Ahn Suho.

    - Who is Hunter Ahn Suho?

    Such buzz was typical each year, as the top scorer of the Hunter exam always attracted immense attention as a rising star. ordingly, domestic guilds began preparing to recruit Suho, as the top scorer held the highest expectations among all new Hunters.

    However, just as guilds were getting ready, a new article was published that sent shockwaves through the industry.

    - [Exclusive] Hunter Ahn Suho, revealed to be a graduate of Nexus Academy¡­

    - [Exclusive] Hunter Ahn Suho, single-handedly cleared the Guro Station Gate!

    These articles were strategic PR pieces released by Nexus Academy.

    Upon reading the news, guilds reluctantly backed off from recruiting him. If he was a Nexus Academy graduate, it meant he was a top prospect groomed by the Nexus Guild, the thirdrgest guild in the industry. Hexagon and Prime were left feeling blindsided, as they¡¯d assumed thepetition was solely between them, only to be upstaged by an unexpected third yer.

    Watching the flood of inquiries pouring into the Academy, Kim Soo-ae, the director, couldn¡¯t suppress her smile. *¡°The three billion was well spent.¡±* Not only was the Academy gaining prestige, but she even received praise from the guild leader and vice guild leader.

    However, neither Kim Soo-ae nor the Nexus Guild nned to stop there.

    - ¡°Prime got to him first? Doesn¡¯t matter¡ªoffer whatever it takes to recruit him! Money isn¡¯t an issue!¡±

    The Nexus Guild Leader, like everyone else, was ambitious. As a leader, he didn¡¯t want to miss out on this rare opportunity.

    Kim Soo-ae felt the same, which is why she had already attempted to recruit Suho before. *¡°I failedst time, but this time I¡¯ll make it happen¡­¡±*

    This time, the Guild Leader¡¯s orders were clear, meaning they could offer even more enticing benefits than before.

    Just then, another article popped up.

    - [Exclusive] Top scorer Ahn Suho: ¡°My dream is to be a civil servant Hunter.¡±

    The sudden release was not from their own press team. It was an article from PBS, Korea¡¯s top yer broadcasting station, making it all the more credible.

    It was hard to believe. A top scorer couldmand the highest price as a private Hunter, so why would he want to be a civil servant Hunter?

    Could it be a clickbait tabloid article? Unlikely, as PBS wasn¡¯t a tabloid that spread false rumors.

    But hadn¡¯t Suho shown a positive response to her proposal? Confused, Kim Soo-ae read through the article carefully but still couldn¡¯t understand Suho¡¯s intentions.

    *¡°Why?¡±*

    Had something happened? Could the government have made him a secret offer behind their backs?

    Kim Soo-ae bit her lip and called the guild leader, determined not to give up on recruiting Suho.

    ***

    **[You have cleared the 29th floor.]**

    **[Proceeding to the 30th floor.]**

    Who knows how much time had passed? By the time Suho had cleared ten more floors, he finally seeded in breaking the highest official record in the Tower of Trials.

    After clearing the 29th floor, a system message appeared, congratting him on setting a new record.

    **[You have achieved the highest record in the Tower of Trials.]**

    **[For this extraordinary achievement, the system awards you with 5 bonus stat points.]**

    **[If you proceed to the 30th floor, your aplishment will be broadcasted outside the tower.]**@@novelbin@@

    **[Anonymous mode is avable if you prefer to remain unnamed.]**

    Five bonus stat points. He would receive more every time he broke the highest record, which was why he felt a bit of regret. If the previous record had been set lower, he could have umted more bonus stats.

    After a brief moment of thought, Suho declined to reveal his name. While fame had its appeal, he felt it wasn¡¯t toote to reveal his identity afterpleting the next floor.

    *¡°Jo Jin-hwi, I¡¯m sure you¡¯re watching.¡±*

    Though Jo had tried to put on a tough front, his journalist¡¯s curiosity likely prevented him from ignoring the action. By now, he had probably eithere to Pangyo in person or was watching through a personal broadcasting tform.

    Suho hoped Jo Jin-hwi would be kept in suspense for as long as possible.

    Keeping his identity anonymous, Suho stepped through the portal to the next floor.

    ***

    **[The 29th floor has been cleared.]**

    **[A new challenger is attempting the 30th floor.]**

    The moment Suho chose to remain anonymous, the Tower of Trials began broadcasting his progress to those outside, just as it had notified him.

    Everyone who saw the announcement froze in ce, astonished.

    ¡°30th floor?¡±

    ¡°Is someone actually challenging the highest record?¡±

    ¡°Who is it this time?¡±

    The attempt to break the Tower¡¯s record was always a hot topic among climbers of the Tower of Trials. And quite a few had managed to reach the 30th floor, as the monsters on the 29th floor were only Level 29. By then, most party members¡¯ average level would exceed 25.

    However, the 30th floor had yet to be conquered due to a single, daunting reason: the appearance of a ¡°golem,¡± the first of its kind in the Tower.

    ¡°Which team will be crushed this time?¡±

    ¡°Why did they choose anonymity?¡±

    ¡°Probably assumed they¡¯d fail and decided not to reveal their identity.¡±

    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s an internal test by a guild?¡±

    ¡°Could be.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s still better for their reputation to show their real name.¡±

    That was true; in the Hunter industry, proving your skill directly increased your value, and the Tower of Trials served as an effective method of demonstrating one¡¯s strength.

    While everyone spected about the challenger¡¯s identity, one person stared at the Tower¡¯s notification in disbelief.

    It was Jo Jin-hwi.

    After finishing his article, Jo hade to Pangyo on a whim. To his surprise, something extraordinary was indeed happening in the Tower of Trials.

    *Ahn Suho¡­ could it really be you?*

    Ahn Suho, the solo conqueror of the Guro Station Gate, top scorer of the Hunter exam, and the hottest name in the industry.

    However, something seemed odd. Suho had imed he wanted fame, so why climb the tower anonymously?

    *Could it be because of me?*

    If that were the reason, Jo thought Suho was truly crazy. And if the anonymous yer in the Tower was indeed Ahn Suho¡­

    Gulp.

    Jo swallowed nervously, his eyes gleaming as he grinned.

    Just then, a new notification appeared.

    **[The 30th floor has been cleared.]**

    **[A new record has been set in the Tower of Trials.]**

    Upon seeing the message, Jo Jin-hwi and the surrounding Hunters¡¯ eyes widened in disbelief.

    He¡¯d cleared the 30th floor so soon after the 29th?

    It wasn¡¯t a mistake. The system and the Tower clearly indicated the 30th floor had been conquered.

    But the most shocking part was¡­

    **[The challenger is yer Ahn Suho.]**

    **[yer Ahn Suho has begun the 31st-floor challenge.]**

    ¡°¡­!¡±

    Jo Jin-hwi¡¯s eyes nearly popped out of his head as he read the message.

    ***

    **[The 31st floor has been cleared.]**

    **[A new record has been set in the Tower of Trials.]**

    **[The challenger is yer Ahn Suho.]**

    **[yer Ahn Suho has begun the 32nd-floor challenge.]**

    **[The 32nd floor has been cleared.]**

    **[A new record has been set in the Tower of Trials.]**

    **[The challenger is yer Ahn Suho.]**

    **[

    yer Ahn Suho has begun the 33rd-floor challenge.]**

    **[The 33rd floor has been cleared.]**

    **[A new record has been set in the Tower of Trials.]**

    **[The challenger is yer Ahn Suho.]**

    **[yer Ahn Suho has begun the 34th-floor challenge.]**

    ¡­

    With the record-breaking 30th floor cleared, Suho chose to reveal his name, and the outside world erupted. The higher he climbed, the louder the buzz grew.

    Kim Soo-ae, in particr, was stunned.

    ¡°A-Ahn Suho is setting a new record in real-time?¡±

    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am! As you can see in the news, he¡¯s still climbing¡­¡±

    At the Nexus Guild headquarters, Kim Soo-ae had urgently gathered the guild leader and vice guild leader for a meeting to discuss Suho¡¯s recruitment. However, they had to throw their ns aside due to the unexpected development.

    With the news broadcasting the situation in the Tower of Trials live, the guild leader quietly removed his sses, his eyes wide with surprise.

    ¡°This¡­ may require an offer beyond our expectations.¡±

    All the executives in the room nodded solemnly.

 Chapter 18

    Kim Soo-ae wasn¡¯t the only one stunned.

    Jung Chul-min was equally surprised.

    ¡°Suho¡­ is actually climbing the Tower of Trials?¡±

    He pinched his cheek, wondering if he was dreaming, but it wasn¡¯t a dream. A grin crept up his face, lifting his spirits. Jung Chul-min had seen Jo Jin-hwi¡¯s exclusive report, too.

    *¡°Could we really get an unprecedented talent like him to join our association?¡±*

    The thought alone was thrilling. And it wasn¡¯t just anyone¡ªit was Ahn Suho. If he joined the Korean Hunter Association, he would be the equivalent of a triple-S-grade rookie.

    However, as Suho¡¯s achievements mounted, so did Jung Chul-min¡¯s concerns. The benefits offered by the association were modest, hardly enough to attract such a high-caliber talent.

    Just then, his phone rang. The caller ID showed it was the Vice President.

    Jung Chul-min squinted briefly. Both the Vice President and President were people he didn¡¯t particrly like, but he picked up the call out of obligation.

    ¡°Yes, Vice President.¡±

    The Vice President preferred to be called ¡°Vice President¡± rather than ¡°Deputy President.¡± It was an odd preference, but since it was the boss¡¯s choice, everyoneplied, including Jung Chul-min.

    A momentter, the Vice President¡¯s voice came through the line.

    ¡°Where are you right now?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m in Pangyo.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re there for the Tower of Trials?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡±

    ¡°You know Ahn Suho, don¡¯t you?¡±

    How did he know that?

    After a moment of hesitation, Jung Chul-min replied, ¡°We¡¯ve met, but we¡¯re not particrly close.¡±

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. You know him, so that¡¯s good enough. Bring him in.¡±

    For a moment, Jung Chul-min¡¯s ears perked up.

    ¡°Wait! Are you saying you want me to recruit him for the association?¡±

    ¡°What? No, I mean bring him in so he can take a photo with the President.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­¡±

    He should have known. Why else would they call him out of the blue?

    Jung Chul-min¡¯s face crumpled with disappointment.

    Unfazed, the Vice President continued, ¡°Set it up so the President can get a picture with him. Juste up with any excuse for the summons.¡±

    ¡°¡­Understood.¡±

    The Vice President hung up right after giving his instructions. For a moment, Jung Chul-min had the urge to throw his phone, but he calmed himself.

    *¡°This is why all association executives should be Hunters¡­¡±*

    The Korean Hunter Association was still a government department, which meant top positions like the President and Vice President were usually filled by influential former politicians. The current President was a five-term congressman, and the Vice President a four-term congressman.

    While having politicians as executives wasn¡¯t necessarily a bad thing, none of them were yers, meaning theycked understanding of the industry and often relied on impractical, bureaucratic solutions.

    Thisck of understanding was partly why the association struggled to attract talented Hunters.

    - ¡°Hunters are impressive, sure, but what? You think we should spend that much on public servant sries?¡±

    - ¡°Is this a corporation?¡±

    - ¡°Do you think taxpayers¡¯ money is meant for raising your sries?¡±

    - ¡°If Hunters didn¡¯t work for us, would the country copse? Isn¡¯t that what guilds are for? Are we falling apart because we don¡¯t have enough public servant Hunters?¡±

    It was always the same rhetoric.

    Shaking his head, Jung Chul-min returned toward the Tower of Trials, mentally crafting an excuse to summon Suho.

    ***

    **[You have cleared the 48th floor.]**

    **[A new record has been set in the Tower of Trials.]**

    **[For this remarkable achievement, you are awarded 5 bonus stat points.]**

    **[If you proceed to the 49th floor, your achievement will continue to be broadcast outside the Tower.]**

    Time had passed, and Suho now stood before the portal leading to the final, 49th floor.

    Before stepping through, he checked his status screen.

    ¡°Status.¡±

    **[Ahn Suho]**

    - Lv: 39

    - ss: Healer

    - Strength: 95

    - Health: 95

    - Mana: 91

    - Senses: 39

    - Bonus Stats: 5

    Level 39.

    In addition to the stats gained with each level and the 5 bonus stats granted every 10 levels, the bonus stats he received for setting new records in the Tower of Trials had been a major contributor to his current status.

    *¡°These stat bonuses are exactly why Jang Pyung-ho became so powerful.¡±*

    It wasn¡¯t just the Pocket Dimension House that made Jang Pyung-ho a big yer. Initially, he had focused on growing stronger through the stats earned in the Tower. After building his reputation, he¡¯d moved into smuggling.

    After investing his bonus stats into Mana, Suho headed for the portal to the 49th floor, where Jang Pyung-ho had failed.

    **[yer Ahn Suho has begun the 49th-floor challenge.]**

    The scene shifted.

    And then¡­

    ¡°ROAARRR!!¡±

    **[The Tower Dragon uses Fear.]**

    **[You are now in a state of fear.]**

    **[You are immobilized.]**

    The Tower Dragon, guardian of the 49th floor and the one foe Jang Pyung-ho had never defeated, emerged. The master of the Tower of Trials and its final boss.

    Seeing the Tower Dragon, Suho couldn¡¯t help but smile. He had always wanted to see it in person.

    *¡°Finally, I get to face you.¡±*

    Above the Tower Dragon¡¯s head, he read its information.

    - Tower Dragon Lv. 49

    A Level 49 Tower Dragon¡ªthe only being in the Tower of Trials that Jang Pyung-ho had encountered.

    Suho¡¯s blood boiled with excitement. Though he knew the strategy to defeat it, thanks to Jang Pyung-ho, he still felt a thrill.

    After admiring it for a moment, Suho used Cure to break free from his fear.

    **[You used Cure.]**

    **[Fear status is removed.]**

    Fortunately, Cure could dispel the fear effect, likely due to the skill¡¯s upgraded rank from his recent leveling. Suho¡¯s Cure was now at C-rank, as yer ss skills increased by one level every 10 levels.

    Suho began circling the floor¡¯s perimeter. The terrain had changed, transforming into an open coliseum with arge stone tower at its center. The Western dragon-shaped Tower Dragon clung to the stone pir like a lizard.

    Seeing Suho move, the enraged Tower Dragon roared once again.

    ¡°ROAARRR!!¡±

    However, this time, the fear effect didn¡¯t take hold. Surviving one Fear attack had granted Suho a minor resistance to it.

    *¡°Let¡¯s see just how strong this dragon is, the one Jang Pyung-ho couldn¡¯t defeat.¡±*

    Suho stepped forward and broke into a sprint toward the Tower Dragon.

    The Tower Dragon swung its massive front w at him, crashing against the stone tower. Suho leapt high into the air as sharp stone pirs shot up from the ground beneath him.

    It was the Tower Dragon¡¯s ¡°Earth w¡± technique, as Jang Pyung-ho had warned him.

    *¡°Just as expected.¡±*

    The Tower Dragon used Earth w several more times, but knowing how to evade it, Suho dodged the attacks easily. He quickly closed the distance and leapt once more.

    Thud¡ªwhoosh!

    He bounced off the rough parts of the stone tower, soaring higher. With his Strength stat over 90, his jumping power was incredible.

    Now at eye level with the Tower Dragon, the enraged dragon lunged at Suho with its jaws, but Suho twisted his body mid-air, dodging the attack by a hair¡¯s breadth.

    Chomp!

    The dragon¡¯s teeth snapped together in empty air. Using the momentum, Suho stepped on its fang and leapt again.

    **[You have high proficiency in Jumping.]**

    **[The system is evaluating your talent.]**

    **[Congrattions! You have acquired the skill Jump (B).]**

    Suho had acquired the Jump skill. It didn¡¯t surprise him, as it felt like a natural progression.

    *¡°I didn¡¯t even realize I hadn¡¯t learned Jump yet.¡±*

    No matter¡ªit was betterte than never.

    With the skill now at his disposal, Suho¡¯s jump power increased significantly. He sprang off the stone tower again, finally reaching a height where he could look down on the Tower Dragon.

    *¡°The inverse scale should be near the top of its head, right?¡±*

    Suho hadn¡¯t climbed this high just to attack randomly. He was aiming for the dragon¡¯s weak spot, a crucial scale known as the ¡°inverse scale¡± on its head.

    Among dragon-type monsters, the inverse scale was a universally known weakness. And though Jang Pyung-ho had pointed it out, Suho was already familiar with thismon knowledge.

    Amid the sea of dark blue scales, he spotted one that was distinctly teal.

    *¡°There it is.¡±*

    He had located the inverse scale. Now, he just needed to strike it.

    As gravity began pulling him down, Suho flipped himself over, preparing for a vertical dive. Then, he aimed directly at the Tower Dragon.

    Crash!

    The elerating de struck the Tower Dragon¡¯s scales.

    As expected, its scales were incredibly durable. Realizing the dragon¡¯s defenses were too strong, Suho quickly retreated, as his beginner¡¯s sword was now chipped and unusable.

    Just then¡­

    **[The Tower Dragon bes enraged after its inverse scale is attacked.]**

    **[The Tower Dragon uses Dragon Fear.]**

    ¡°ROAARR

    R!!¡±

    Wounded in its weak spot, the Tower Dragon let out a frenzied roar.

    There was no way to avoid the sound-based attack, and its effects were immediate.

    Unlike regr monster Fear, Dragon Fear operated on apletely different level.

    **[You are now in a state of fear.]**@@novelbin@@

    **[You are immobilized.]**

    **[You are experiencing auditory hallucinations.]**

    **[You can no longer hear sounds.]**

    Multiple debuffs rained down on him. His vision blurred, and a ringing filled his ears. Feeling the effects closing in, Suho quickly raised his hand and shouted:

    ¡°Enter!¡±

    **[Entering the Pocket Dimension House.]**

    With a sh of light from his left hand, Suho vanishedpletely.

    Left alone, the Tower Dragon went into a furious rampage.

 Chapter 19

    Upon entering the Pocket Dimension House, Suho struggled with the overwhelming status effects.

    *Dragon Fear.*

    It was leagues beyond ordinary Fear, and its effects were severe. Clenching his jaw, Suho pulled out a Purification Potion he¡¯d bought at Dongdaemun and drank it.

    **[You have consumed the Purification Potion.]**

    **[Purification effect activated.]**

    **[Fear status removed.]**

    **[Auditory hallucinations removed.]**

    Once he consumed the Purification Potion, the debilitating effects lifted, and Suho finallyy down, breathing a sigh of relief.

    *¡°I thought I was a goner¡­¡±*

    Dragon Fear was one reason Jang Pyung-ho had never defeated the Tower Dragon. He had only seen it once and had been forced to flee. But thanks to Jang Pyung-ho¡¯s experiences, Suho knew about the Dragon¡¯s capabilities and came prepared with the potion.

    His Cure skill wasn¡¯t enough to remove the high-grade debuff of Dragon Fear. Only A-level or higher Cure skills could be effective against it.

    *¡°This cost a fortune, but the schrship was worth it.¡±*

    Without it, he would never have been able to afford something as expensive as a Purification Potion.

    *¡°And it¡¯s not like one exposure to Dragon Fear makes you immune. Guess I¡¯ll just have to keep dodging it¡­¡±*

    While most Fear effects could be ovee once experienced, Dragon Fear was different. As one of the most powerful Fears, resistance could only be built with special defensive items or skills. For now, this meant that every time the dragon used Fear, Suho would need to retreat to the Pocket Dimension House and down another Purification Potion.

    *¡°No wonder Jang Pyung-ho couldn¡¯t take it down with these tactics.¡±*

    Jang Pyung-ho had tried to poison the dragon, hoping it would weaken over time while he waited safely in the Pocket Dimension House. But the Tower Dragon was unaffected, andbined with its Dragon Fear and Earth w, it was nearly impossible to approach.

    *¡°But this time, I¡¯m going to defeat the Tower Dragon and clear the Tower of Trials on my own.¡±*

    Suho, now recovered, checked his status screen once again.

    **[Ahn Suho]**

    - Lv: 39

    - ss: Healer

    - Strength: 95

    - Health: 95

    - Mana: 96

    - Senses: 39

    - Bonus Stats: 0

    With his Mana at 96, he was close to his goal but still a bit short. Suho pulled out a skill book and several items he¡¯d bought from Dongdaemun, starting with the skill book.

    **[You have learned the Basic Combination Form.]**

    Skill books were one of the mostmon ways for yers to learn new skills. While skill books usually took the form of a book, rare skills could appear in various objects. This Basic Combination Form was a low-level skill but would serve Suho¡¯s needs.

    Using the Combination skill, he conjured the unique cauldron interface and ced the items he¡¯d collected.

    **[You ced Nameless Thief¡¯s Sock in the cauldron.]**

    **[You ced Nameless Musician¡¯s Instrument in the cauldron.]**

    **[You ced Nameless Cleaner¡¯s Broom in the cauldron.]**

    These items, seemingly useless, were actually items left behind in Gates, collected as loot or rewards. They were ssified as ¡°junk items¡± because most people didn¡¯t know their true value.

    Suho began thebination process.

    **[Combining¡­]**

    **[Wait! The cauldron¡¯s state seems unusual?!]**

    Suddenly, a brilliant light poured from the cauldron.

    **[Congrattions! A rare treasure has emerged from the Basic Combination Form!]**

    **[You have obtained the First Nameless Ring (S+).]**

    **[For this incredible achievement, the system grants you 10 bonus stat points.]**

    *¡°As expected.¡±*

    Suho grinned as he examined the item.

    **[First Nameless Ring]**

    - Rank: S+

    - *Silent Presence, Invisible Footsteps, Vanished Traces.*

    - Abination of items once owned by people who led quiet, unnoticed lives, this item has be a rare treasure.

    - The ¡°Colorless Solitude (S)¡± effect is permanently active when equipped.

    Items that bore the ¡°First¡± designation were rare treasures, usually of S-rank quality. In addition, the ¡°+¡± indicated that this item could grow with its user, meaning its effect would be more powerful as Suho leveled up.

    In his previous life, he¡¯d only possessed an A-rank Nameless Ring because a notorious disassembler, known as the ¡°Mad Disintegrator,¡± had destroyed the original. But this time, Suho had managed to obtain it for himself, a feat that wouldn¡¯t have been possible until muchter.

    Suho slipped the ring onto his finger, smiling. *¡°All for the bonus stats.¡±*

    The ring adjusted perfectly to his finger and then vanished, bing intangible.

    Suho opened his status screen again.

    **[Ahn Suho]**

    - Lv: 39

    - ss: Healer

    - Strength: 95

    - Health: 95

    - Mana: 96

    - Senses: 39

    - Bonus Stats: 10

    With 10 bonus stats in reserve, Suho allocated 4 of them to Mana.

    **[Your Mana stat has reached 100.]**

    **[Your Mana stat has leveled up to Red.]**

    The moment Mana hit 100, its value reset to 1, a red stripe appearing beside the stat, along with an ¡°R¡± to denote the Red level.

    Suho chuckled. *¡°My first Red stat at level 39¡­ This growth is insane.¡±*

    In this world, each stat gained a new color every time it reached a multiple of 100. yers referred to this phenomenon as the Color System, and the highest recorded level was Purple at around 700. Suho, in his previous life, had reached Purple in Strength but had never imagined he¡¯d achieve such rapid progress so early.

    With the remaining points, Suho invested 5 into Strength, bringing it to Red level as well, then added the final point to Health.

    He checked his updated status:

    **[Ahn Suho]**

    - Lv: 39

    - ss: Healer

    - Strength (R): 1

    - Health: 96

    - Mana (R): 1

    - Senses: 39

    - Bonus Stats: 0

    Preparationplete, Suho reached into his inventory for the key item that would help him take down the Tower Dragon¡ªa worn spear he¡¯d bought from a hardware shop.

    *¡°To awaken this, I needed at least 100 Mana.¡±*

    Now that he met the requirement, he began infusing the spear with Mana.

    **[Mana is being infused into ???.]**

    **[The spirit within ??? is beginning to awaken.]**

    The spear vibrated, drawing Mana from him at an astonishing rate. But this time, Suho was able to withstand it thanks to his Red-level Mana stat.

    Pouring his energy into the spear, Suho continued until the Mana absorption slowed and nearly stopped.@@novelbin@@

    sh!

    A dark light pulsed from the once-worn spear, revealing a sleek, polished weapon.

    **[Mana infusionplete.]**

    **[The consciousness of Guiyoung Spear has awakened.]**

    **[Congrattions! You have partially awakened the spirit within Guiyoung Spear.]**

    **[Item information has been updated.]**

    **[You have acquired Guiyoung Spear (A+).]**

    Suho grinned as he examined the new spear.

    *Guiyoung Spear*, also known as the *Spear of Returning Shadows*, was a legendary weapon once wielded by a yer called the Shadow Lord, or ¡°Yeongwang.¡± Suho had finally gained possession of one of his former treasures.

 Chapter 22

    Suho smiled upon seeing them.

    *¡°Ah, I was wondering when they''d show up.¡±*

    The staff quickly formed a human barricade, blocking the crowd''s ess.

    Through this barricade, Jung Chul-min appeared, standing beyond the safe line, gazing at Suho while dialing his phone.

    The recipient, of course, was Suho.

    Suho answered the phone and asked,

    ¡°Hello, Team Leader.¡±

    - *"Suho, I don''t know if I''m dreaming or seeing this for real."*

    ¡°It¡¯s real, Team Leader, unless you''ve been using some kind of drug.¡±

    - *"I would never do that... Suho, you¡¯re always more than I imagined. Anyway, would you please move with us to the Association?"*

    ¡°May I ask why?¡±

    - *"It¡¯s an unprecedented incident. We thought the Tower would never be conquered. The government has been managing it as a public gate."*

    ¡°I know that, but there¡¯s no reason for me to go to the Association, right? There¡¯s no official reason to do so.¡±

    It was obvious.

    Jung Chul-min was probably ordered by the president or vice president to bring him in.

    The reason? Probably for a photo op.

    Those former members of parliament were always so meticulous about their image management.

    *¡°They probably told him to bring me along for some staged photo. Chul-min¡¯s been involved in this kind of stuff often.¡±*

    That¡¯s why Suho wasn¡¯t nning on going to the Association anytime soon.

    If he went, it would be on his terms or out of necessity¡ªnot because those two had called him to take free pictures.

    Upon hearing Suho''s words, Jung Chul-min hesitated and spoke up.

    - *"That¡¯s true, but... considering the scale of the incident, we still need to conduct an investigation."*

    ¡°You didn¡¯t investigate when other major guilds cleared a hard gate like this. If you need any information, just make a separate request.¡±

    - *"...*

    Jung Chul-min fell silent.

    He had nothing to say.

    But despite that, Jung Chul-min wasn¡¯t going to give up.

    Even though he was just a powerless civil servant, he had be a team leader at a young age because of hispetence.

    - *"I understand. But would it be okay if we at least escorted you outside? If we don¡¯t move carefully, there could be a stampede."*

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I can leave on my own.¡±

    - *¡°Huh?¡±*

    ¡°I¡¯ll contact you again soon, Team Leader.¡±

    At that moment¡­

    - *"Huh?"*

    Jung Chul-min was bewildered.

    Suho, who had been standing right in front of him, suddenly vanished.

    It wasn¡¯t just him¡ªothers around also noticed.

    - *"Huh? Where¡¯d he go?"*

    - *"Where did he go?"*

    - *"What¡¯s going on?!"*

    - *"Hey, where¡¯s Ahn Suho?!"*

    But Suho, without any hesitation, walked past them and exited the Tower of Trials.

    [ *Monochrome Solitude* is activated. ]

    Thanks to the first *Mumumu* synthesized for stat boosts.

    Suho leisurely walked out and spotted the yellow Ferrari, ready for departure, at a nearby parking lot. He got into the passenger seat.

    The moment the passenger door opened, Jo Jin-hwi was startled and immediately on guard.

    *¡°Ah! You scared me... Wait, Suho?¡±*

    ¡°Let¡¯s go now.¡±

    ¡°W-How did you get out?¡±

    ¡°I managed to avoid them.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s weird. I was keeping an eye on you through the side and rearview mirrors.¡±

    Even if he kept watching, how could he have seen Suho?

    No matter how hard a regr person looked, the first *Mumumu* caused cognitive distortion.

    Soon enough, the yellow Ferrari roared to life and pulled out onto the highway.

    Once on the highway, Jo Jin-hwi pulled out a business card from his pocket and said,

    ¡°Allow me to formally introduce myself. I¡¯m Jo Jin-hwi, Senior Reporter at PBS.¡±

    At PBS, reporters have a ranking system starting from trainee reporters, to full reporters, senior reporters, and eventually lead and chief reporters.

    Inpany terms, Jo Jin-hwi''s rank was equivalent to an assistant manager.

    Suho responded,

    ¡°Ahn Suho. I¡¯ve already introduced myself by phone, so I don¡¯t need to repeat it, right?¡±

    ¡°Of course. You¡¯ve told me everything I needed to know. But... can I ask you one thing?¡±

    ¡°Of course, you¡¯re a reporter, after all.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about this, and I just can¡¯t understand. Why did you choose to be a civil servant? With your skills, you could be called anywhere, so why this?¡±

    Suho smiled faintly and answered.

    ¡°Money? Sure, I¡¯d probably get paid more. But no matter how strong a private guild is, it can¡¯t match the power of the government.¡±

    At this, Jo Jin-hwi¡¯s eyes widened in surprise.

    He had never heard anyone interpret it this way.

    ¡°Are you serious?¡±

    ¡°Of course.¡±

    ¡°But if you think about it, don¡¯t private guilds have more power? Their collective force is a lot stronger than the national hunters¡¯bined strength.¡±

    ¡°Even so, they¡¯re still just civilian hunters. And why does that matter? Honestly, if it were just about power, they could have started a coup already. But what would they really gain? At best, a brief feeling of achievement. The only ce where they can truly shine is within the infrastructure the government has built.¡±

    ¡°True¡­¡±

    Suho wasn¡¯t wrong.

    Of course, if they went abroad, the treatment they¡¯d receive could match or exceed what they¡¯d get in Korea, but could they ever truly be satisfied living in a foreignnd, especially as native Koreans?

    The answer was no.

    *¡°Why do people who flee overseas because of money or military service issues always want to return to Korea?¡±*

    No matter how luxuriously they lived abroad, Koreans born and raised in their homnd could never bepletely satisfied in foreign countries.

    So, no matter how strong a private guild might be, it wouldn¡¯t dare cross the line against the government.

    If they wanted to enjoy power, it had to be within Korea.

    Suho continued,

    ¡°As I¡¯ve said before, I genuinely want to end the gates. But ending them as an individual is impossible, so I needed an affiliation, and I chose the government as the most effective means.¡±

    ¡°Hm... I see. But you know this, right? Among the Korean yers I know... no, among all Korean yers in history, no one has made an impact as big as yours. There have been others, but they were never as impressive as you.¡±

    At those words, Suho thought of some of the historic star yers.

    But even in his past life, those yers were overshadowed by Suho in terms of recognition and impact.

    It wasn¡¯t surprising.

    Suho lightly nodded and said,

    ¡°I know. That¡¯s why I¡¯m even more determined to join the government.¡±

    ¡°Are you going to apply for the public exam this time? But no matter how I think about it, it seems like such a waste to put someone with your talent in a grade-9 field position.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not aiming for grade-9.¡±

    ¡°Huh? Then are you going for grade-7?¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯m aiming for the grade-5 public exam.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Huh?¡±

    For a moment, Jo Jin-hwi¡¯s mouth dropped open.

    ¡°Are you serious?¡±

    ¡°You keep asking if I¡¯m serious, but I¡¯m always serious.¡±

    ¡°Wow¡­¡±

    ¡°By the way, don¡¯t write about this in the article.¡±

    ¡°Huh? Why not?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m nning a build-up in the future, and it¡¯s too early to reveal it now.¡±

    ¡°Can I know what it is?¡±

    ¡°Sure. There¡¯s no harm in telling you.¡±

    At Suho¡¯s answer, Jo Jin-hwi¡¯s mouth slowly dropped open once again.

    ¡°Ah, is that the n?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s why I asked you not to write about it.¡±

    ¡°Good idea. But... did you juste up with that idea? Could it possibly be rted to a Nexus Academy schrship student? Or are you actually from Nexus Academy? I don¡¯t think so, though.¡±

    Suhoughed at that.

    ¡°Well, I can¡¯t disclose contract details.¡±

    ¡°Ah,e on. I won¡¯t be going around spreading it. I¡¯m not blind to information that could help catch someone like you. That¡¯d be a big mistake.¡±

    Suho, understanding Jo Jin-hwi¡¯s perspective, decided to share a bit of the truth to build some rapport.

    ¡°Actually, I was the one who proposed the schrship. It¡¯s not that rare.¡±

    ¡°Ah, so that¡¯s it... But you must have been pretty short on money, right?¡±

    ¡°Well, I just recently dropped out.¡±

    ¡°Oh, right. You mentioned dropping out due to problems in the department?¡±

    It was an old memory, so there was no real anger about it.

    Realizing the conversation was drifting, Suho naturally changed the topic.

    ¡°Anyway, I don¡¯t really care about that anymore. I¡¯ll help you create more buzz, so feel free to use me for exclusive reports and grow your influence in thepany.¡±

    This time, Jo Jin-hwi smiled.

    ¡°So you¡¯re nning to make good use of me, huh?¡±

    ¡°If I¡¯m going to be friends with a reporter, I might as well make it useful for both of us.¡±

    Jo Jin-hwi nodded and said,

    ¡°In that case, we don¡¯t need to arrange any special interview spots like Newsroom. Just keep up the exclusive coverage on you, and your presence will rise.¡±

    Suho agreed.

    ¡°Exactly. I¡¯ll only release official statements through you, so there¡¯s

    no need to make a big fuss.¡±

    ¡°Then, it¡¯s all easy for me. I won¡¯t have to chase after scoops anymore. By the way, are you heading home?¡±

    ¡°For now, yes.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure? By now, people must be waiting outside your house, having dug up all your personal info.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll get in the same way I got out of the Tower.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t do that. Why don¡¯t you stay at my ce for a while?¡±

    ¡°At your ce?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not suggesting anything weird. I live alone in a big house. If you¡¯re okay with it, you can stay in the guest room. The security¡¯s tight, so only residents can get in.¡±

    ¡°Where do you live?¡±

    ¡°Kaiser Cheongdam.¡±@@novelbin@@

    ¡°Wow.¡±

    Kaiser Cheongdam.

    It was a luxurious residential area worth hundreds of billions of won, one of the top-tier areas in the city.

    It truly matched the golden reputation of a reporter like Jo Jin-hwi.

    Suho asked,

    ¡°That¡¯s quite a ce. But with a ce like that, I assume you¡¯re not just from a regr wealthy family, right? I know you¡¯re a *golden spoon*, but¡­¡±

    There are different levels of being a *golden spoon*.

    But Kaiser Cheongdam wasn¡¯t exactly a ce for just any wealthy person to live.

    Jo Jin-hwi smiled quietly and replied,

    ¡°Not just any golden spoon¡­ Well, I¡¯m the youngest son of the Dae-San Group chairman.¡±

    ¡°Wait, what?¡±

    Suho¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief.

    Jo Jin-hwi casually continued,

    ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal, but you know Dae-San Group, right? I¡¯m the youngest son of the chairman.¡±

    ¡°Wait, but the chairman of Dae-San Group is...?¡±

    ¡°My older brothers have different mothers. My mom was his concubine. So I¡¯m the child of a concubine... a half-blood.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­¡±

    ¡°This is a secret I haven¡¯t shared with anyone at thepany. But since we¡¯re likely to be seeing each other often, I thought I¡¯d let you know. By the way, although my father gave me a lot, I have no influence in Dae-San Group. I don¡¯t have any shares. I even turned down an offer for a subsidiary.¡±

    ¡°Interesting.¡±

    ¡°Right? Maybe we¡¯ll be even closer than we expected.¡±

    Suho smiled, feeling the connection.

    Maybe, just maybe, they would be closer than either of them had anticipated.

    **Boom!**

    The yellow Ferrari roared across the highway.

 Chapter 24

    At that moment.

    *¡°Khh!¡±*

    *¡°Khhh!¡±*

    *¡°Kkgh!¡±*

    The movements of the three people approaching Suho suddenly halted.

    This was the effect of the *S-grade Intimidation* from his *Dragon¡¯s Blood*. Their bodies stiffened as though they had been hit by the fear of a monster.

    *¡®At their current level, these Banshees can probably only stand still and breathe.¡¯*

    Thus, without any further actions, Suho slowly approached them and began removing their hats and masks one by one.

    After removing the first man¡¯s mask, Suho looked at his face and spoke.

    ¡°Kim Hyun-min. You¡¯re the mobility specialist with a teleportation skill, and your upation is a delivery man.¡±

    Next, as Suho removed the second man¡¯s mask, he continued.

    ¡°Seo Kyo-won. You¡¯re in charge of making bombs for terrorist activities, and your upation is a middle school science teacher.¡±

    Finally, Suho removed thest man¡¯s mask and spoke.

    ¡°Kwak Du-ho. You¡¯re a dayborer, and despite your thin frame, you handle the heavy lifting in the team.¡±

    Now, only one person remained.

    The only female member of the team, the founder and leader of the Banshees, the mastermind who devised all the operations and protocols.

    Suho removed thest member¡¯s mask, who was stuck by his *Guiyoung Spear*, and said,

    ¡°Goo Yeon-hwa. A student at Korea Women''s University, the true leader behind the Banshees, and an EMP specialist capable of disabling electronic devices and magical items, right?¡±

    *¡°Hh... Hh...¡±*

    *¡°How... how do you know that?¡±*

    ¡°It''s easy to know if you¡¯re paying attention. But more importantly, take a good look at my face. Who do you think I am?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve never met... how could I know who you are?¡±

    Goo Yeon-hwa responded dismissively, but as she looked into Suho¡¯s face, her expression suddenly shifted to one of surprise.

    *¡°Ah.¡±*

    She knew.

    She, as the brain of the team, would recognize him.

    Her eyes widened, and she stammered.

    ¡°Y-You¡¯re... Ahn Suho?¡±

    ¡°Exactly. Looks like the brain really knows their stuff. Now, tell them, I¡¯m not some weirdo.¡±

    Suho removed the *Intimidation* and *Shadow Binding* effects from Goo Yeon-hwa.

    Her breath, once shaky, returned to normal, and she exhaled deeply, finally rxed. She lifted her head and asked,

    ¡°Who are you really?¡±

    ¡°You should be able to tell by my face. How about we talk about itter?¡±

    ¡°How are we supposed to trust you?¡±

    ¡°If you don¡¯t want to, then don¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°You guys havemitted three terrorist attacks so far, including the one you were about to do today. No civilian casualties yet, but property damage has urred, so it''s still a crime, right? The police have no idea about what you''ve done, but I know everything. How you nned your attacks, how you covered your tracks, I know it all. And I know where you live and who you associate with. Now, how about we talk?¡±

    Goo Yeon-hwa¡¯s eyes trembled with shock.

    *Exactly.*

    No matter how much of a future big yer you were, a Banshee leader, you were still just a university student who had recently started your operations.

    Suho released the pressure from the other three and spoke.

    ¡°Listen up. I¡¯m not from the government, and I don¡¯t n on capturing or harming you. So, let¡¯s talk. Peacefully.¡±

    The four of them exchanged nces.

    Then, Goo Yeon-hwa nodded and said,

    ¡°¡­ Fine.¡±

    ¡°Good. But first, let¡¯s move to a different ce. We can¡¯t talk about such things here, can we? In that case, your hideout is the safest, right? Hyun-min, open the door, and let¡¯s take a cab there.¡±

    At this, Kim Hyun-min, the team''s mobility specialist, mumbled with disbelief.

    ¡°¡­ Crazy.¡±

    ---

    At the Banshee¡¯s hideout on the outskirts of Seoul.

    Once inside, Suho casually sat on the sofa, acting like it was his own ce.

    ¡°Since it¡¯s your hideout, feel free to rx. I¡¯m fine, so if you¡¯re thirsty, help yourself.¡±

    Suho acted naturally, like the owner of the ce. Goo Yeon-hwa, momentarily stunned by his boldness, quicklyposed herself and sat across from him.

    ¡°Alright, enough of the pleasantries. What¡¯s your real identity? Why would a famous figure suddenly appear in front of us? And how did you know about us?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s my personal skill.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s my personal skill. The fact that I appeared in front of you and knew your secrets, all of it is thanks to my skill.¡±

    ¡°Wha...?¡±

    ¡°Why? Don¡¯t you all have a few skills you keep hidden? You¡¯re using them for terrorist activities. I¡¯m doing the same.¡±

    At that, Goo Yeon-hwa went silent.

    She had no rebuttal.

    So, she changed the subject.

    ¡°¡­ So what do you want from us?¡±

    ¡°Work with me.¡±

    ¡°Work?¡±

    ¡°Have you seen my interview with the reporter from PBS? I mentioned some of my ns there.¡±

    When Goo Yeon-hwa nodded, Suho also nodded and said,

    ¡°Then it¡¯ll be easier to talk. You know my goal is to join the Daheon Association, right? I wasn¡¯t just saying that for the interview, it¡¯s real.¡±

    ¡°¡­ What?¡±

    Goo Yeon-hwa¡¯s expression crumpled again.

    It was difficult for her to understand logically.

    But Suho said nonchntly,

    ¡°Don¡¯t give me that look. Everyone I meet keeps asking if I¡¯m serious about this.¡±

    ¡°So, is it really true?¡±

    ¡°Stop asking. Yes, it¡¯s true. In fact, I n to take the grade-5 civil service exam.¡±

    At those words, Goo Yeon-hwa and the others'' eyes widened in shock.

    It made sense, as the grade-5 civil service exam was notoriously difficult, and those who didn¡¯t meet the qualifications wouldn¡¯t even be considered.

    ¡°By the look on your faces, you all know how hard the grade-5 exam is. But it¡¯s true, I¡¯ll be taking the exam, and I will pass. After that, I¡¯ll move up through a couple of positions and eventually enter the Special Department.¡±

    *Special Department.*

    The air grew heavy.

    This was because the reason the Banshees were formed was directly tied to Daheon Association¡¯s Special Department.

    Suho knew this well, as he had once worked in the Special Department himself.

    But Suho didn¡¯t care and continued talking.

    ¡°Why do you all look so shocked? If you can¡¯t even manage your expressions, how do you keep secrets? Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m joining the Special Department for the same reason as you. It¡¯s personal.¡±

    ¡°Personal reasons?¡±

    ¡°You heard me in the interview. I¡¯m a Gate orphan. At first, I thought I was just unlucky, caught in a disaster we couldn¡¯t control. Butter, I realized what I went through was actually a man-made disaster.¡±

    Gate-rted disasters could cause massive chaos and spread monsters, but Suho now understood that his family¡¯s tragedy was no ident. It wasn¡¯t a *natural disaster*, but a *man-made disaster*.

    ¡°Do you know the saying, ¡®Once a shell falls in a ce, another shell won¡¯t fall there again¡¯?¡±

    ¡°I know. It¡¯s the same for Gates, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°Exactly. Once a Gate appears, it doesn¡¯t appear again in the same location. That¡¯s why areas that have cleared Gates are designated as Safe Zones, and the property value skyrockets.¡±

    At this point, Goo Yeon-hwa¡¯s eyes widened.

    ¡°Are you suggesting...?¡±

    ¡°Exactly. The government knew the Gate shock was going to happen that day. But they let it happen on purpose. There were multiple development projects tied to that area. I know who was involved in those projects. That¡¯s why I¡¯m trying to join the Daheon Association.¡±

    ¡°So you n to go in and kill them all?¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯m not going to kill anyone. I¡¯ll seek my revenge in another way. But you all are the same, aren¡¯t you? You¡¯re all targeting Special Department-rted ces for your attacks. That¡¯s why I¡¯m here.¡±

    This was all true.

    Suho¡¯s past and the reason behind the formation of Banshee weren¡¯t fabricated to trick them.

    Suho continued.

    ¡°The Special Department is the most powerful force in Daheon Association. It also influences other government agencies and has investigative and prosecutorial powers over yers. I n to be the head of the Special Department and make those responsible pay.¡±

    Suho looked Goo Yeon-hwa straight in the eyes.

    ¡°The revenge you¡¯re nning, I¡¯ll help you carry it out in a more specific and effective way. But for that, we need a lot of preparation. That¡¯s why I¡¯m here. I need people outside the Daheon Association to be my hands and feet. How about it? Isn¡¯t this an interesting proposal?¡±

    Having said all he needed to say, Suho confidently set the paper with his second phone number on the table.@@novelbin@@

    ¡°Think it over. Or, you can decide after watching me pass the grade-5 exam. But if you go ahead andmit another terrorist act before that, I¡¯ll forget this offer and hand you over to the Special Department. See you.¡±

    With that, Suho coolly left the hideout.

 Chapter 26

    The Hidden Gate, *Blood''s Trace*, is divided into three stages.

    1st Stage: Monster Room,

    2nd Stage: Monster Room,

    Final 3rd Stage: Boss Room.

    In the 1st Stage, the opponent is a legion of *Vampire Bats*, and in the 2nd Stage, you face *Blood Slimes*.

    Of course, this was nothing too difficult for Suho.

    Even in the 2nd Stage monster room, Suho''s *Intimidation* skill showed its effectiveness.

    Thanks to this, Suho was able to level up three times, reaching level 46, and stand in front of the final boss room.

    There was nothing to be afraid of.

    Suho knew well what kind of being was beyond this door.

    As he opened the massive stone b door, he was met not with a rough, cave-like background, but with a vast marble corridor, cleanly arranged.

    At the end of the corridor stood a massive bed, draped ince, with the silhouette of someone lying peacefully in the center.

    It was then.

    [ You have entered the Boss Room. ]

    [ The Boss Monster awakens. ]

    Kugugugu...

    With the notification came the shaking of the surroundings.

    At the same time, *Vampire Bats* that had been hiding in the ceiling pped their wings, and *Blood Slimes* that had been lurking in various ces began crawling out like zombies.

    These were not meant to attack Suho but were shown to amplify the overwhelming presence of the boss monster.

    Simultaneously, the figure on the bed slowly rose without any exertion.

    - How dare you invade this ce... Foolish intruder, do you know what you have just done?

    The figure on the bed never raised its voice.

    Yet, despite this, his voice vibrated through the entire corridor, ringing loudly and creating an immense pressure all on its own.

    [ The Cursed Prince exudes intimidation. ]

    [ Boss-level *Fear* is activated. ]

    The voice itself carried *Fear* within it, and thus its effect was simr to any ordinary *Fear* ability.

    However...

    [ Dragon''s Blood is activated. ]

    [ The mental effect of the *Dragon''s Blood* negates the effect of *Fear*. ]

    Suho remained unfazed.

    This was thanks to the first power of *Dragon''s Blood*, one of the two abilities granted by the *Dragon''s Bloodline*.

    Suho recalled the effect of the *Dragon''s Mind*.

    [ Dragon''s Mind ]

    - Grade: S

    - A choice and innate power granted only to those born with the Dragon''s bloodline.

    - Grants immunity to all mental debuff effects caused by creatures of dragon level or lower.

    This is why bloodlines were so important.

    Simply because of his bloodline, Suho could ignore the *Fear* from the Boss monster.

    Rather than responding verbally, Suho retrieved a spear from his inventory.

    Unlike the one he had used against the *Tower Dragon*, this spear had a faint blue glow.

    Suho used one of his skills on the newly prepared spear.

    [ Holy Power is activated. ]@@novelbin@@

    The skill used was *Holy Power*.

    It was a basic healer skill Suho had acquired upon reaching level 30, which enchanted an item with the *Holy Light* attribute.

    After enchanting the spear, Suho threw it without hesitation toward the silhouette hidden under the nket.

    [ Throwing Spear is activated. ]

    The increased strength and pration power.

    The spear, enhanced by the skill, flew like a missile and struck the figure''s body.

    Kwachik!

    The attack hit.

    And then.

    [ The Cursed Prince, rejected from conversation, is greatly enraged. ]

    [ The Cursed Prince uses *Blood Scream*. ]

    Kiaaaahhh¡ª!

    A scream of blood.

    At the same time, the silhouette and bed exploded, scattering in all directions, finally revealing the true form of the Cursed Prince.

    He had violet skin, long silver hair, and pale white eyes without pupils, constantly weeping blood from them.

    Suho checked the information above his head.

    - *Cursed Prince* Lv.76

    A whopping level 76.

    Compared to Suho, who had just reached level 46 after clearing the 1st and 2nd monster rooms, there was a 30-level difference.

    At that moment, the Cursed Prince, with the spear embedded in his left forearm, screamed in fury.

    - How dare you! How dare you! A filthy intruder, do you dare ignore my words as well!!

    [ The Cursed Prince uses *Blood Scream*. ]

    Another notification.

    And simultaneously, a scream of blood echoed throughout the corridor, and from the Cursed Prince, blood-colored needles shot out in all directions.

    Kakang!

    Suho took out his sword from his inventory and blocked the attack.

    The sword trembled.

    It was just a range-type attack, but the sword quivered, giving Suho a sense of how powerful the Cursed Prince was.

    But that wasn¡¯t enough to stop him.

    The *Tower Dragon* had been the same in the beginning.

    Suho smiled and thought to himself.

    *¡°As expected, it¡¯s the pure silver spear with Holy Power, this effect is amazing.¡±*

    For this Hidden Gate, Suho had specially prepared weapons.

    Weapons made of 100% pure silver.

    It made sense because the master of *Blood''s Trace*, the *Cursed Prince*, was of the *Vampire* race.

    *¡°And not just any vampire, but a real royal bloodline vampire.¡±*

    The first person to discover this ce was once known as the *Blood Grandmaster*, a notorious yer.

    He was a rare mixed-race yer who, after being bitten by the Cursed Prince, transformed from a human into a vampire.

    *¡°Well, technically, a half-vampire.¡±*

    He had worked as a healer at a central blood bank. By chance, he became entangled with this ce and barely made it to the Boss Room, but unfortunately, he couldn¡¯t defeat the Cursed Prince and was bitten, transforming into a vampire.

    Normally, this would have meant death.

    When a yer is turned into a vampire, the system ssifies them as a monster and closes the Gate.

    However, the *Blood Grandmaster* did not ept this fate passively.

    Being a healer, he seeded in neutralizing the vampiric transformation with his skills.

    To his surprise, new vampire skills appeared, and his stats werepletely overhauled.

    His ss hadn¡¯t changed.

    It was just that new abilities had been added.

    Reborn with his newfound power, the *Blood Grandmaster* sessfully defeated the Cursed Prince, conquered the Gate, and became known as the worst viin, *Blood Grandmaster*, whose name spread worldwide.

    *¡°Well, it ultimately ended in my hands.¡±*

    Suho took another spear made of pure silver from his inventory, holding it in his left hand and pointing it at the Cursed Prince.

    The Cursed Prince instantly leapt into the air and began releasing vampire magic.

    - Arise, my soldiers!

    Ssss...

    As soon as the vampire magic was uttered, the *Blood Slimes* that had been scattered throughout the corridor began to gather in one ce, forming a giant golem.

    [ The Blood Slimes fuse. ]

    [ A Blood Golem is summoned. ]

    A system notification confirmed the event.

    Above the golem¡¯s head was its name.

    - *Blood Golem* Lv.72

    It was level 72, nearly the same as the *Blood Golem*.

    However, so what?

    Suho was not deterred and prepared for a counterattack.

    He pulled out his enchanted pure silver spear, aimed at the *Blood Golem*, and threw it.

    The spear struck the golem¡¯s center, and with the impact, the golem staggered.

    - ...!

    Seeing this, the Cursed Prince''s eyes widened in surprise.

    He hadn¡¯t expected his *Blood Golem* to be so severely injured by just one throw.

    In haste, he began summoning more troops.

    - Gather, my soldiers!

    Once more, magic erupted.

    The magic targeted the *Vampire Bats*.

    Together with the magic, the bats began to gather in the air and soon transformed into a giant bat.

    [ The Vampire Bats fuse. ]

    [ A Hundred-Year Bat is summoned. ]

    Following the *Blood Golem*, the *Hundred-Year Bat* appeared.

    It also had a level of 72.

    But so what?

    Suho pulled out a third silver spear, enchanted it with *Holy Power*, and threw it at the new target.

    The spear pierced the *Hundred-Year Bat''s* abdomen, and with the force of the strike, the bat was sent flying, crashing into the wall.

    [ Throwing Spear is activated. ]

    Seizing the opportunity, Suho summoned the *Guiyoung Spear* and threw it at the bat¡¯s shadow.

    [ Shadow Seal is activated. ]

    [ Shadow Bleed is activated. ]

    Dealing with flying enemies was the most troublesome when there were no flying skills avable. Suho had waited to use the *Guiyoung Spear* until just the right moment.

    With the bat immobilized, Suho unsheathed his sword.

    The sword, of course, was another made of pure silver.

    He enhanced it with *Holy Power* and charged toward the *Blood Golem*.

    [ Draw sh is activated. ]

    [ Decapitation is activated. ]

    Close to the *Blood Golem*, Suho used his sword skills, steadily draining the golem¡¯s health.

    He intentionally avoided the core to attack the golem¡¯s body since attacking the body would kill the *Blood Slimes* making it up.

    Every time he attacked, he received notifications:

    [ You have defeated a Blood Slime. ]

    [ You have defeated a Blood Slime. ]

    [ You have defeated a Blood Slime. ]

    ...

    [ Level up! ]

    [ All stats increased by 1. ]

    [ You gained 1 bonus stat. ]

    The experience flowed in as the *Blood Slimes* fell.

    Finally, when the *Blood Golem*¡¯s body was more than half destroyed, Suho received another notification.

    [ You have defeated the Blood Golem. ]

    [ Level up! ]

    [ All stats increased by 1. ]

    [ You gained 1 bonus stat. ]

    Once again, Suho leveled up.

    - This is nonsense...!

    "What''s nonsense?"

    Surprised by Suho''s overwhelming strength, the Cursed Prince stared in shock.

    However, realizing the severity of the situation, the Cursed Prince quickly prepared his next attack.

    In that moment, Suho appeared right before him.

    "Your turn is not yet."

    - No, how!?

    [ Decapitation is activated. ]

    Swish!

    Suho swiftly closed the gap and swung his sword.

    The Cursed Prince¡¯s head fell to the ground, and Suho kicked it far away.

    Then.

    "Summon *Guiyoung Spear*."

    [ Guiyoung Spear is activated. ]

    Kwachik!

    Suho summoned the *Guiyoung Spear* again, embedding it into the Cursed Prince''s decapitated body¡¯s shadow.

    [ Shadow Seal is activated. ]

    [ Shadow Bleed is activated. ]

    With the special options of the *Guiyoung Spear* activated, Suho firmly secured the body and drew his sword again.

    "Just wait a bit longer, I¡¯ll finish off that Hundred-Year Bat first."

    - Wh-what did you say!?

    The Cursed Prince, for the first time, received such horrifying treatment, crying out continuously.

    But the only thing his head could do was scream loudly.

    Suho, having drawn his sword, approached the *Hundred-Year Bat*, whose health was draining from the *Shadow Bleed*, and began ughtering it.

    [ You have defeated the Hundred-Year Bat. ]

    [ Level up! ]

    [ All stats increased by 1. ]

    [ You gained 1 bonus stat. ]

    Suho had finally reached level 50.

 Chapter 27

    The notifications continued to appear.

    [ Congrattions! You have reached level 50. ]

    [ The system grants you higher power. ]

    [ 5 bonus stats have been awarded. ]

    [ All healing ss skills have leveled up by one stage. ]

    [ The system wants you to be even stronger. ]

    [ The Trait system has been activated. ]

    [ The system has begun observing you. ]

    These were all the notifications.

    But they were exactly the same as the ones Suho had seen before.

    ¡®If things go quickly, the trait should be granted within 10 minutes, or at thetest, once this Gate is finished.¡¯

    The granting of traits depended entirely on the system¡¯s judgment.

    However, once the system started observing, Suho knew he could act ording to a set pattern and gain the trait he wanted, regardless of the system''s evaluation.

    So, from now on, this was the golden time.

    Having eliminated the *Hundred-Year Bat*, Suho finally approached the head of the *Cursed Prince*, who was still screaming alone in the corner of the corridor.

    - Kyaaahhh!!

    The body of the *Cursed Prince* was frozen in ce by the *Shadow Seal*, while his head screamed wildly, like a beast who had lost its mind.

    Could this really be called a prince?

    It didn¡¯t matter.

    What mattered was that this creature was a vampire, regardless of whether it looked like a *Duhan* or a beast.

    Suho lifted its head.

    - Let go! Let go of me, you filthy, lowly thing!!

    The head, alone, screeched angrily, just like when *Dura-Han* was yanked from the roots.

    It screamed in agony as soon as it was ripped away.

    Instead of responding, Suho brought the *Cursed Prince¡¯s* head to his arm.

    At that moment, the *Cursed Prince* bit Suho¡¯s arm with all his strength.

    Crunch!

    It hurt.

    Had Suho¡¯s health stat not been at the Red level, his arm might have been torn off from the pain.

    But Suho¡¯s health stat was at Red, and he easily endured the bite.

    At that moment, the following notifications appeared.

    [ You have been bitten by a Royal Vampire. ]

    [ The *Cursed Prince* uses *Blood Drain*. ]

    [ The *Cursed Prince* uses *Bloodline Transformation*. ]

    [ *Bloodline Transformation* in progress... 1%. ]

    System notifications shed before Suho¡¯s eyes.

    The *Blood Grandmaster*¡¯s transformation was starting to ur.

    Simultaneously, a headache and dizziness began to set in for Suho.

    As soon as the dizziness hit, Suho threw the *Cursed Prince¡¯s* head off his arm and into the corner.

    ¡®Just like *Blood Grandmaster* said.¡¯

    When the transformation begins, there would be not only a headache and dizziness but an overwhelming thirst for blood.

    Sure enough, just as those thoughts ended, Suho¡¯s mouth felt as dry as if he had walked through a desert for three hours with no water.

    ¡®I didn¡¯t expect to experience what a vampire feels like.¡¯

    It was certainly a fresh experience.

    But even if it was fresh, he didn¡¯t want to continue feeling this way.

    Experience was best left as an experience.

    At that moment, the *Cursed Prince*, seeing Suho stagger, let out a crazedugh.

    - Hahaha! You idiot! You don¡¯t even know your ce and you¡¯re bringing this disaster upon yourself!@@novelbin@@

    What could he possibly know?

    Suho ignored the *Cursed Prince*ughing maniacally and sat down on the floor.

    The dizziness was too much to stand.

    After about 49% of the transformation wasplete, Suho pulled out the *Purification Elixir* he had prepared from his inventory.

    While the *Purification Potion* was specialized in clearing regr debuffs, the *Purification Elixir* was focused on special debuffs¡ªsuch as zombie or vampire transformations and other undead or demon-rted status effects.

    ¡®I brought 20 bottles just in case.¡¯

    *Blood Grandmaster* had told him that 5 bottles of high-quality *Purification Elixir* would be enough to cleanse the transformationpletely, but Suho had prepared 20 bottles just to be safe.

    Finally, when the *Bloodline Transformation* reached 50%, Suho opened a bottle of the *Purification Elixir*.

    ording to *Blood Grandmaster*, the condition for obtaining vampire traits was when the transformation exceeded 50%.

    But then, it happened.

    [ *Bloodline Transformation* has exceeded 50%. ]

    [ Part of your blood has started to be contaminated. ]

    [ The second power of *Dragon¡¯s Blood* has been unlocked. ]

    [ ¢Ù Level 50 has been reached. ]

    [ ¢Ú Physical and mental life-threatening danger. ]

    [ The second power of *Dragon¡¯s Blood* is unlocked. ]

    [ *Dragon Armor* has been activated. ]

    [ You have learned *Dragon''s Might* (S) from *Dragon Armor*. ]

    [ You have learned *Dragon Skin* (S) from *Dragon Armor*. ]

    System notifications flooded in.

    These were things Suho had not anticipated at all.

    ¡®The second power gets unlocked here?¡¯

    Suho recalled the two conditions for unlocking the second power of *Dragon¡¯s Blood*.

    1. Reaching level 50.

    2. Physical and mental life-threatening danger.

    The second condition had originally been hidden, but Suho had learned about it from the *Dragon¡¯s Horse*.

    So, after reaching level 50, Suho had already prepared for the second power¡¯s unlock with a specific gate.

    But then, suddenly, the second condition unlocked.

    He thought he understood why.

    ¡®I see. The *Bloodline Transformation* itself is life-threatening, so the system recognized it as a danger to my life.¡¯

    With this, Suho couldn¡¯t help but smile.

    Now, not only did he no longer need the *Purification Elixir*, but the result was far better than he had expected.

    As proof:

    [ *Dragon¡¯s Blood* is activated. ]

    [ Due to *Dragon¡¯s Might* from *Dragon Armor*, *Bloodline Transformation* has stopped progressing. ]

    [ *Dragon¡¯s Might* is purging the contaminated blood. ]

    [ *Dragon¡¯s Might* is absorbing the contaminated blood. ]

    Just as expected, *Dragon¡¯s Might*, which was built into the *Dragon Armor*, had automatically activated to purify the contaminated blood caused by the *Bloodline Transformation*.

    Suho checked the details of *Dragon¡¯s Might*.

    [ *Dragon¡¯s Might* ]

    - Grade: S

    # A choice and innate power only avable to those born with Dragon''s blood.

    # It bestows nobility and superiority to one¡¯s bloodline.

    # While the effect of *Dragon¡¯s Might* is active, the yer is immune to any infection or contamination effects and automatically absorbs and purifies the source of the contamination, receiving purification, healing, and learning effects.

    Just as the *Dragon''s Horse* had said.

    Suho focused on the final part of *Dragon¡¯s Might*''s effect.

    [ ¡­absorbs the source of contamination, purifying and healing, providing learning effects. ]

    This meant that the impure vampire blood flowing through his body would be purified, and he would automatically learn the powers granted by the vampire''s contaminated blood.

    ¡®This is why dragons are the strongest beings.¡¯

    There are few creatures stronger than a pure-blooded dragon.

    They rule as protectors of the world, possessing the greatest power, magic, mental fortitude, physical strength, and long lifespans. They are biologically close to perfection and rarely fall ill.

    Was that all?

    ¡®With their innate bloodline superiority, they can quickly learn and counter any attacks from their enemies.¡¯

    That was the power of *Dragon¡¯s Blood*''s *Dragon¡¯s Might*.

    At that moment:

    [ The contaminated blood has beenpletely purified by *Dragon¡¯s Might*. ]

    [ The contaminated blood has beenpletely absorbed by *Dragon¡¯s Might*. ]

    [ You have sessfully learned the unknown power from the absorbed blood. ]

    [ You have learned *Vampirism* (F-). ]

    [ You have learned *Blood Drain* (A). ]

    [ You have learned *Blood Prison* (A). ]

    [ You have learned *Blood Weapon* (A). ]

    The *Dragon¡¯s Might* had sessfully purified and absorbed the contaminated blood.

    As a result, Suho gained four skills.

    Well, actually, three.

    [ *Vampirism* ]

    - Grade: F-

    # Evidence of having almost be a vampire.

    # This skill is sealed.

    *Vampirism*.

    Had it not been for *Dragon¡¯s Might*, Suho would have gained *Vampire Blood* as a skill.

    However, due to *Dragon¡¯s Might*, it had been sealed, and its grade was reduced to F-, indicating it had been downgraded and sealed.

    It was disappointing, but there was nothing to be done about it.

    ¡®*Dragon¡¯s Might* has its own powerful purifying ability, so the process and end result are perfect, but the *Purification Elixir* just stops the transformation.¡¯

    It was too perfect, so unnecessary skills were eradicated.

    Probably, skills like *Blood Soldier*, *Blood Scream*, and *Bloodline Transformation* had been erased during the process.

    ¡®Tch, I guess I¡¯ll have to give up on this trait.¡¯

    It was disappointing.

    Suho had really wanted to acquire *Vampire Blood* here.

    That was the key to getting that trait.

    ¡®Well, who would think to have both *Dragon¡¯s Blood* and *Vampire Blood* at the same time?¡¯

    Suho put aside his disappointment and

    checked the details of the acquired skills.

    [ *Blood Drain* ]

    - Grade: A

    # A technique that extracts only pure blood.

    # The extracted blood is stored in *Blood Prison*.

    [ *Blood Prison* ]

    - Grade: A

    # A mysterious blood storage used only by vampires.

    # It stores excess blood and automatically supplies it as needed.

    [ *Blood Weapon* ]

    - Grade: A

    # A rare skill only usable by noble vampires.

    # Allows the creation of weapons from one''s bloodbined with imagination.

    # If blood runs out, *Blood Weapon* is forcibly deactivated.

    *Blood Drain*, *Blood Prison*, and *Blood Weapon*.

    These were all familiar skills.

    But it wasn¡¯t entirely without its gains.

    Especially *Blood Weapon*, which was a rare skill only avable to high-tier vampires.

    ¡®Thanks to that, I won¡¯t have to worry about weapons for a while.¡¯

    After reviewing the skills, Suho closed the inventory.

    Then, he turned his attention back to the *Cursed Prince*, who was still screaming in the corner.

    However, something seemed off about the *Cursed Prince''s* condition.

    - How can you still be fine after biting me¡­?

    The *Cursed Prince* was now terrified.

    Indeed, from his perspective, it made sense.

    The *Bloodline Transformation* skill of a royal vampire was supposed to work without fail.

    But he was up against the wrong opponent.

    Even a royal vampire was nothing before the bloodline of a great dragon.

    - Is it because I¡¯m cursed...? I¡¯m useless after all...

    Finally, the *Cursed Prince* started toment and self-me for his inability to win.

    It was then.

    [ The *Cursed Prince* begins toment his fate, shedding blood tears. ]

    [ The *Cursed Prince*''s power increases dramatically. ]

    - I¡¯ll kill them all...! I¡¯ll take revenge on the world that made me like this...! I¡¯ll burn everything and trample anyone better than me into the ground...!

    The *Cursed Prince* began to rampage, signaling the start of Phase 2.

 Chapter 28

    As the *Cursed Prince* rampaged, the *Guiyoung Spear* lodged in his shadow was violently ejected.

    At the same time, the head of the *Cursed Prince*, which had been rolling on the floor, flew toward his body like a ma, attaching itself once more.

    Suho immediately created some distance.

    *¡®Here we go.¡¯*

    The *Cursed Prince* was rampaging.

    This wasn¡¯t an unexpected scenario.

    It was the next phase in the fight.

    This was Phase 2 for him.

    - *I will never... never forgive you...!*

    A spine-chilling echo filled the air.

    An overwhelming surge of magical energy erupted from the *Cursed Prince*.

    Simultaneously, a *Blood Scream* was released in all directions, and just as Suho blocked it, a new notification appeared.

    - *Enraged Cursed Prince* Lv.80

    The *Cursed Prince*''s name and level had changed.

    Level 80.

    If it weren¡¯t for the *Blood Golem* and *Hundred-Year Bat*, there would have been a 30-level difference between them right now.

    Suho immediately drew his pure silver spear.

    [ *Holy Power* is activated. ]

    The Holy enchantment covered the spear.

    Upon reaching level 50, instead of acquiring a new skill, all of Suho''s healing skills had been upgraded to A rank.

    Suho, now fully prepared, threw the enchanted spear without hesitation.

    [ *Throwing Spear* is activated. ]

    Swish!!

    The A-rank *Throwing Spear* cut through the air, heading straight for the *Cursed Prince*.

    The *Cursed Prince*, wielding a blood-colored whip summoned with a swing of his arm, deflected the spear away.

    - *I will never... never forgive you...!*

    The *Cursed Prince*, crying blood tears, muttered curses.

    The blood-colored whip was his *Blood Weapon*.

    *¡®So normal weapons won¡¯t work, huh?¡¯*

    Suho had covered the *pure silver spear* with an A-rank *Holy Power* enchantment, but it was still easily deflected.

    No matter, though.

    Just like the *Cursed Prince*, Suho now had his own *Blood Weapon*.

    Suho raised his hand and activated the skill.

    [ *Blood Weapon* is activated. ]

    Whoosh!!

    Suho¡¯s blood began to pour from his body, forming a long sword in his hand.

    The sword took on the shape of the one Suho had carried until thest moment, before his death¡ªa sword that had once been hisstpanion.

    Suho decided to call this weapon the *Blood Sword*.

    *¡®The attack power and durability of *Blood Weapon* scale with my stats,¡¯* he thought.

    This meant that the current *Blood Sword*''s performance was equivalent to the Red level stats.

    Suho believed this was more than enough to face the *Cursed Prince*.

    His stats included three Red level attributes, and the *Cursed Prince*''s level wasn¡¯t even 100. This was a good bnce.

    Suho took a stance, and the *Cursed Prince*, now excited, swung his whip at him.

    Swoosh!!

    The blood whip sliced through the air toward Suho.

    Just as the whip was about to strike, Suho moved forward, wrapping the *Blood Sword* around the whip.

    Then, with the taut whip, Suho pulled.

    [ *Holy Power* is activated. ]

    With the *Holy Power* enchantment, the whip sizzled and burned as the tip was severed.

    The *Cursed Prince*¡¯s eyes widened in surprise.

    Suho, grinning, spoke:

    ¡°Seems the quality of the weapon really matters.¡±

    It was only natural, given that Suho had applied *Holy Power* to his *Blood Weapon* while the *Cursed Prince* was using a standard weapon.

    Seeing the disparity in power, Suho didn¡¯t hesitate to close the distance between himself and the *Cursed Prince*.

    - *Where do you think you¡¯re going?!*

    The *Blood Scream* rained down again.

    But Suho didn¡¯t flinch. He spread his *Blood Sword* wide, blocking all the attacks, before narrowing the de once more.

    ¡°Seems it works,¡± he muttered.

    - *...!!*

    Suho had learned plenty of tricks about *Blood Weapons* from *Blood Grandmaster*. One of the key tricks was that *Blood Weapons* weren¡¯t fixed in shape; they could change their form and be used in different ways.

    Returning his *Blood Sword* to its original form, Suho spun it to gain momentum, then swung it with full force.

    sh!!

    The momentum of the de, powered by eleration, sessfully severed the *Cursed Prince*¡¯s arm.

    - *Kraaahhh!!*

    The *Cursed Prince* screamed in pain.

    At the same time, a muchrger and faster *Blood Scream* poured from his body, far surpassing the previous outburst.

    *¡®This is bad!¡¯*

    Suho quickly attempted to spread the *Blood Sword* again, but the *Blood Scream* came too quickly.

    Suho¡¯s body was pierced by countless blood needles. But¡ª

    *¡®...Huh?¡¯*

    It wasn¡¯t as bad as he expected... In fact, it didn¡¯t hurt at all.

    It wasn¡¯t a bluff or exaggeration. It was real.

    It was more like a slight prick, as if he¡¯d gotten some thorns in his skin.

    *¡®What¡¯s going on?¡¯*

    Was it because his health stat was higher?

    No, that couldn¡¯t be it.

    Even with higher health, the change would only affect his HP and physical recovery. There wouldn¡¯t be a dramatic difference in pain tolerance.

    It was likely due to the *Dragon Skin* effect.

    The second unlocked power of *Dragon¡¯s Blood*, *Dragon Skin*, granted him the skin of a dragon.

    *¡®I didn¡¯t expect it to work this well.¡¯*

    It wasn¡¯t actual dragon skin, but Suho could feel that his body had been significantly strengthened¡ªmore so than ever before.

    Now, Suho felt more confident facing the *Cursed Prince*.

    Suho raised his *Blood Sword* high and activated his skill.

    [ *Holy Power* is activated. ]

    [ *Decapitation* is activated. ]

    sh!!

    Without hesitation, Suho brought the sword down.

    The *Cursed Prince*¡¯s neck was marked with a deep gash, and his body fell again, unable to withstand Suho¡¯s blow.

    Suho wasted no time, kicking the head away with full force.@@novelbin@@

    Then, he summoned the *Guiyoung Spear* and aimed it at the *Cursed Prince*¡¯s shadow.

    Kwachik!!

    The *Guiyoung Spear* lodged perfectly in the shadow of the *Cursed Prince¡¯s* head.

    [ *Shadow Seal* is activated. ]

    [ *Shadow Bleed* is activated. ]

    - *Kraaaahhh!!*

    The *Cursed Prince* cried in pain as his body, now separated from his head, iled, swiping with his ws.

    sh!!

    Phase 2 had begun, but losing his head and iling around was all he could do. Couldn¡¯t even deal with one head?

    Suho began to methodically dismantle the *Cursed Prince¡¯s* body.

    - *Grrr... Grrr...*

    With each strike, the head wrapped in the *Shadow Seal* continued to cry out in pain, though now it could only make muffled sounds.

    Boom!

    Finally, the *Cursed Prince¡¯s* body fell to the ground.

    Arge pool of blood spilled from the fallen body, staining the floor beneath.

    Now, there was only one thing left to do¡ªsmash the head.

    However, Suho didn¡¯t immediately crush the head. Instead, he reached for the fallen body.

    [ *Blood Drain* is activated. ]

    As *Blood Drain* activated, the blood pooled on the floor began to be sucked into Suho¡¯s hand like a vacuum.

    As *Blood Grandmaster* had said, while most vampires use their mouths to feed, the *Blood Drain* skill allowed Suho to absorb blood directly, without needing to bite.

    [ The absorbed blood is stored in *Blood Prison*. ]

    It was then that a translucent ss-like blood gem appeared in Suho¡¯s view, gradually filling with blood.

    It was a *Blood Prison*, visible only to Suho.

    *¡®So, this is how it works,¡¯* he thought.

    It was simr to the *Life Vessel* of a *Lich*.

    As Suho continued absorbing the blood, the *Cursed Prince*¡¯s spasms intensified.

    The *Cursed Prince* could feel it.

    He could feel his precious blood being drained in real-time.

    But Suho didn¡¯t care how much the *Cursed Prince* struggled. He absorbed everyst drop of his blood.

    When he had finished, Suho grabbed the head of the *Cursed Prince*, now barely moving.

    - *You...!*

    It was an amazing sight.

    The *Cursed Prince*, having lost nearly all his blood, looked like a mummy.

    Suho summoned the *Guiyoung Spear*.

    Then, with *Holy Power* applied, he hurled the *Cursed Prince¡¯s* head into the air.

    And then, he threw the spear at the head.

    Kwachik!!

    Unlike the first time when the head had been deflected, the *Cursed Prince*''s head, now nearly drained of all its strength, was pierced by the spear and sent crashing into the wall.

    The head trembled for a while before hanging limp.

    At that moment, a flood of system notifications appeared.

    [ You have defeated the *Cursed Prince*. ]

    [ The Gate has been cleared. ]

    [ The MVP of the Gate clearance is ''Ahn Suho''. ]

    [ Additional experience points are awarded for being selected as the MVP. ]

    [ A bonus stat has been awarded for being selected as the MVP. ]

    [ The Hidden Gate has been cleared. ]

    [ You have sessfully cleared the Hidden Gate by yourself. ]

    [ Due to your great achievement, the system has gifted you 5 bonus stats. ]

    [ Level up! ]

    [ All stats have increased by 1. ]

    [ You have earned 1 bonus stat. ]

    The notifications were different from those during the <em>Tower of Trials</em>.

    And of course, Suho leveled up again.

    It was expected.

    The <em>Cursed Prince</em>¡¯s level had been around 80.

    As the <em>Guiyoung Spear</em>''s shadow absorption effect activated, Suho received another set of notifications.

    [ The <em>Guiyoung Spear</em> reacts to the <em>Cursed Prince</em>''s shadow. ]

    [ The <em>Guiyoung Spear</em> absorbs the <em>Cursed Prince</em>''s shadow. ]

    [ The <em>Guiyoung Spear</em> has been enhanced. ]

    [ The <em>Guiyoung Spear</em> haspletely absorbed the <em>Cursed Prince</em>''s shadow. ]

    Suho had thought the <em>Cursed Prince</em> was a formidable foe, but unfortunately, his magical power wasn¡¯t enough to unlock the next stage of the <em>Guiyoung Spear</em>.

    It didn¡¯t matter.

    There were still plenty of other enemies left to feed the <em>Guiyoung Spear</em>.

    Finally, a portal leading outside appeared in front of Suho.

    But there was still one thing left to wait for.

    At that moment, a final system notification appeared.

    [ The system has finished evaluating you. ]

    [ The system has carefully analyzed your talents and has decided to grant you a fitting trait. ]

    [ You have acquired ''Newblood''. ]

    [ You have obtained a unique trait that only you possess. ]

    [ For achieving this great aplishment, the system has gifted you 10 bonus stats. ]

    It was done.

    The trait had finally appeared.

    But...

    <em>¡®Newblood¡¯? What¡¯s that?¡¯</em>

    <em>Newblood</em>.

    It was a term Suho had never heard before.

    Indeed, it was the first time he had encountered this term, even after thoroughly searching the <em>Memory Library</em>.

    But still, his instincts told him this was something good.

    The system had certainly recognized <em>Newblood</em> as a great achievement.

    <em>¡®There¡¯s no such thing as a great aplishment in a bad sense. If the system recognizes it as great, then it must be something worthy of praise.¡¯</em>

    Suho checked the information for <em>Newblood</em> with an excited heart.

    Just as he was about to check it, another notification popped up.

    [ Due to the effect of <em>Newblood</em>, the seal on <em>Vampire Blood</em> has been lifted. ]

    [ Skill information has changed. ]

    [ You have acquired <em>Vampire Blood</em>. ]

    <em>¡®Huh?¡¯</em>

    The seal that had been ced on the <em>Vampire Blood</em> skill, which Suho had wanted, was finally lifted.

 Chapter 29

    It wasn¡¯t a mistake.

    Suho quickly checked the details of *Newblood*.

    [ *Newblood* ]

    - A new type of bloodline.

    - The foundation of evolution is absorbing andbining existing elements.

    - epts all bloodline effects without differentiation.

    - Grants ''Harmony (S)'', ''Purification (S)'', and ''Qualification (S)'' between owned bloodline skills.

    Suho¡¯s eyes widened as he read the details of *Newblood*.

    This was truly an entirely new trait.

    And, moreover...

    ¡®This is top-tier even among S-rank traits...!¡¯

    Unlike skills, traits didn¡¯t have ranks.

    However, based on the inherent skills or effects of a trait, the association would assign a rank. Traits like *Newblood*, which granted not one but three S-rank effects, were incredibly rare.

    Suho checked each of the effects granted by *Newblood* one by one.

    [ *Harmony* ]

    - Rank: S

    - Prevents conflicts between bloodline skills and preserves their effects as they are.

    [ *Purification* ]

    - Rank: S

    - Removes the negative effects of bloodline skills.

    [ *Qualification* ]

    - Rank: S

    - Grants the original qualifications of bloodline skills.

    After reading through the effects, Suho couldn''t help but smile.

    ¡®With these options, it¡¯s no wonder the *Vampire Blood* seal would be lifted...!¡¯

    Suho then proceeded to check the details of the *Vampire Blood* that had been sealed.

    [ *Vampire Blood* ]

    - Rank: S+

    - The pure bloodline of the original vampires, the ''Royal Vampires,'' known as the aristocrats of the night.

    - Lv.1 - Royal Blood: Original Vampires (S)

    - Lv.2 - [ ??? ] (locked)

    Unlock Conditions:

    ¢Ù Level 100

    ¢Ú Unknown

    - Lv.3...

    Suho¡¯s eyes widened once again.

    This was different from the *Vampire Blood* he was familiar with.

    ¡®Royal Vampires?¡¯

    The *Vampire Blood* that *Blood Grandmaster* had obtained was A+ rank.

    However, the *Vampire Blood* Suho had obtained was S+ rank.

    Moreover, the term ¡®Royal¡¯ or ¡®Original¡¯ had never appeared in *Blood Grandmaster¡¯s* *Vampire Blood*.

    Suho realized it must be the effect of the *Newblood* trait.

    Suho then checked the effect of *Royal Blood*, the first level of *Vampire Blood*.

    [ *Original Vampire* ]

    - Rank: S

    - The first vampires are known as the "Originals."

    - They are the noblest and purest of all vampires, with bloodlines worthy of being called royal.

    - Inherits the power of the *Original Vampires*.

    - Immune to the effects of darkness.

    - Not affected by garlic, silver, crosses, or sunlight.

    The information flooded in.

    Suho was a little surprised.

    ¡®It¡¯s really like this?¡¯

    It was surprising.

    *Blood Grandmaster¡¯s* *Vampire Blood* didn¡¯t have such effects.

    ¡®Moreover, *Blood Grandmaster* was a half-blood yer whose race had actually changed. But my *Vampire Blood* has richer options...¡¯

    He chuckled to himself.

    Having returned to this life, Suho thought he would be stuck with only his previous S-rank skills, but things had turned out far better than expected.

    ¡®Maybe the longer time goes on, the harder it will be to follow my original ns.¡¯

    But it didn¡¯t matter.

    Although things had diverged from his n, he had gained results far better than he had hoped.

    Suho then checked his status screen.

    [ *Ahn Suho* ]

    - Lv: 51

    - ss: Healer

    - Trait: *Newblood*

    - Strength (R): 13

    - Health (R): 13

    - Mana (R): 13

    - Sensory (R): 78

    - Bonus Stats: 17@@novelbin@@

    The newly added trait was disyed clearly.

    Next to it, *Newblood* was boldly written.

    Suho invested all the bonus stats into *Sensory* and closed the status window.

    *¡®Well, should we head out now?¡¯*

    He had captured the *Cursed Prince* and acquired the trait he had been after.

    There was no longer any reason to stay here.

    Suho began walking toward the exit of the Gate.

    ---

    **Back at the Korean Hunter Association (KHA) building.**

    "So, you just let him go like that?"

    "...Yes, that¡¯s correct."

    Jung Chul-min was being scolded by Vice President Park Gyu-man.

    Why?

    Naturally, for not bringing Suho in.

    Jung Chul-min¡¯s voice, filled with tension, made Vice President Park frown.

    "Team Leader Jung."

    "Yes."

    "I didn¡¯t ask you to do something difficult, just bring him in. Why couldn¡¯t you handle that?"

    "...I¡¯m sorry."

    "No, saying sorry won¡¯t cut it. The president even cleared his schedule to meet with him. You need to bring him here no matter what. Got it?"

    "...Yes, understood."

    "Good. I¡¯m counting on you, Team Leader."

    Park¡¯s voice wasn¡¯t loud, but it was filled with frustration.

    Perhaps it was because of this frustration that, as he left the Vice President¡¯s office, Jung Chul-min felt a sense of deep frustration.

    *¡®Should I just quit and join a private guild instead...¡¯*

    This feeling of frustration was not new.

    But then he shook his head.

    *¡®Why did I join the KHA in the first ce?¡¯*

    He had joined to serve the public, for the greater good.

    So, he decided to endure once again and gathered his thoughts.

    At that moment, someone greeted him.

    "Well, well, if it isn¡¯t Team Leader Jung?"

    Jung Chul-min raised his head. The person who had greeted him was someone he disliked just as much as the Vice President.

    The head of the Special Department, *Pi Seong-yeol*.

    "Oh, it¡¯s *Director Pi*."

    "I hear you¡¯ve been having a hard time because of Ahn Suho," *Pi Seong-yeol* said with a smirk.

    *Pi Seong-yeol*, who had been the head of the Special Department for the longest time since the KHA was founded, wasn¡¯t a normal person but rather an ¡®Awakened yer¡¯ like the President or Vice President.

    At first nce, he seemed more capable than the KHA¡¯s management, who didn¡¯t understand the field, but...

    *¡®The more you know someone, the scarier they are. This guy knows too much.¡¯*

    That was why *Pi Seong-yeol* was someone Jung Chul-min disliked.

    But, personal feelings aside, Jung Chul-min put on an awkward smile.

    "Haha, yes, well..."

    He wondered, *¡®Is the Special Department¡¯s intelwork just that fast, or does gossip spread faster in this building?¡¯*

    It hadn¡¯t even been long since the news spread, yet here was *Pi Seong-yeol* bringing it up.

    With an awkwardugh, Jung Chul-min was met with *Pi Seong-yeol*¡¯s subtle voice.

    "How about it, should I help you out?"

    "Director Pi?" Jung Chul-min asked, surprised.

    "Isn¡¯t it easy to bring him in? Just frame him for something, call him in for questioning, and when it¡¯s all over, let him go. No harm done," *Pi Seong-yeol* said with a grin.

    Jung Chul-min grimaced at the suggestion. *Pi Seong-yeol* continued as though giving advice to a younger colleague.

    "Then, if you want a more detailed n, you can have the President release him after a few days of questioning. That¡¯ll make everything fit neatly. I hear that guy wants to join the KHA anyway, right?"

    It was disgusting.

    How could anyone think like this?

    Jung Chul-min forced a smile and responded.

    "Haha, you have quite the sense of humor. But if I mess with a guy like that and something goes wrong... it could be a big problem."

    "A big problem?" *Pi Seong-yeol*¡¯s expression briefly stiffened, then he smirked.

    "Team Leader Jung, I always say, you¡¯re a good person. Why would someone in government like you be afraid of a little hunter?"

    "Haha..."

    "I¡¯m not joking. We have the right to investigate and prosecute yers, you know? People weren¡¯t afraid of prosecutors for nothing. So, Team Leader Jung, why not think outside the box a little? You¡¯re a team leader at the KHA, but you¡¯re acting like you don¡¯t know this."

    "Ah, yes. I¡¯ll keep that in mind."

    "Good. Don¡¯t stick too strictly to the manual. Think more flexibly like me. Anyway, if you need help, just ask. I¡¯ll always be happy to help you out, Team Leader."

    After patting Jung Chul-min¡¯s shoulder, *Pi Seong-yeol* entered the Vice President¡¯s office.

    Jung Chul-min stared at the closed door for a moment before brushing off the touch on his shoulder and heading out.

    ---

    The next morning.

    Suho went to his old apartment to collect his personal items before heading to Kaiser Cheongdam.

    Getting into the apartment wasn¡¯t difficult.

    He had the initial key.

    *Jo Jin-hwi* was busy with work, but he was avable by morning.

    "Good morning, Suho."

    "Did you get up?"

    "Yes, I would¡¯ve liked to sleep more, but there¡¯s a lot of work at thepany."

    "You journalists are always busy, huh? But even if I handle all your issues, it seems like you¡¯re still busy."

    Jo Jin-hwi smiled lightly in response.

    "Before you offered me the partner role, I was already handling some stories. Even though I¡¯m your partner journalist, I can¡¯t just live off of your issues."

    Suho smiled back.

    "That¡¯s why I like you, Jin-hwi."

    "Whoa, such a sudden confession... Anyway, what¡¯s your schedule for today? I¡¯ve got to head out soon."

    "Today¡¯s the day. The one I told you about."

    "Ah, the day you¡¯re going to Nexus?"

    "Yeah, also, I hit level 50st night and got a new trait."

    *¡°Pbbt! Huh?¡±*

    Jo Jin-hwi spat out the water he had been drinking.

    "How long has it been since you left the Tower of Trials, and you¡¯re already at level 50? When you left the Tower, you were still around level 40, weren¡¯t you?"

    "Actually, I¡¯m level 51 now. Anyway, that¡¯s how it happened."

    "Crazy... So you''re really going to Nexus today?"

    "Yes, if I¡¯m going to follow through with the n I mentioned."

    "Unbelievable..."

    It really was.

    Suho was nning to meet with the Nexus Guild members today and join the guild.

    He hadn¡¯t abandoned his goal of joining the KHA.

    This was all part of the preparation to join the KHA.

    Jo Jin-hwi said.

    "Then you¡¯d better dress up nicely for today. Don¡¯t worry,e here. I¡¯ll lend you some clothes and a watch."

    "Nah, I¡¯m good. If I was someone who worried about appearances, I wouldn¡¯t havee here in the first ce."

    "Haha, fair point. But how about a car? With all the eyes on you, a car would be better than public transportation or a taxi, don¡¯t you think?"

    "Ah, that¡¯s true. I¡¯ll take you up on that offer."

    And so, the two of them got ready for the day ahead.

 Chapter 30

    The Nexus Guild headquarters in Seoul was in chaos from the crack of dawn.

    The cause? The unexpected visit of a VVIP guest.

    Because of this, the Guild Master of Nexus, along with the Vice Guild Master, Director Kim Soo-ae, and other important guild executives, were all summoned urgently.

    As they waited at the front entrance, the sound of a supercar engine grew louder.

    *Vroom!*

    From far away, a red Ferrari came into view, stopping right in front of the guild¡¯s main entrance.

    It was the *Chariot* of Jo Jin-hwi, one of his many prized supercars.

    "...Is this really the only one avable?"@@novelbin@@

    "Haha, yes. Apologies."

    "It can''t be helped... but I''ll be grateful for the ride."

    And so, the choice was made.

    After the car stopped and the door opened, Suho stepped out, and the Nexus executives quickly greeted him.

    "Ah, you''ve arrived. Hunter Ahn Suho."

    "Thank you foring all the way here this early in the morning, it''s an honor."

    The identity of the VVIP guest was none other than Suho.

    Just as he had told Jo Jin-hwi, today, Suho hade to join the Nexus Guild.

    Responding to their enthusiastic greetings, Suho replied warmly.

    "Yes, nice to meet you. CEO Bae Dong-hyuk. By the way, where should I park?"

    "Someone help park the car for Hunter. You can leave it with valet service, and we¡¯ll go right ahead to the meeting."

    "Alright, I''ll leave it to you then."

    After handing over the keys, they started moving together.

    The meeting, surprisingly, was held in the highest conference room next to the CEO¡¯s office on the top floor of the Nexus building.

    As Suho looked out the window at the expansive view of the city, he spoke.

    "Your office view is quite impressive."

    "Haha, of course. We didn¡¯t just move into this building for nothing. But before that..."

    A nce was exchanged between the people present.

    They were confirming the information Kim Soo-ae had ryed.

    That¡¯s why Kim Soo-ae, as the representative, was the one to ask.

    "Suho, the call you made earlier... is it really true?"

    "That I¡¯m joining Nexus?"

    "Yes."

    "Yes, it¡¯s true."

    "......!"

    At that, everyone¡ªfrom Guild Master Bae Dong-hyuk to Vice Guild Master Yoon Doo-won, Academy Director Kim Soo-ae, and Secretary Kim Yi-gang¡ªall silently clenched their fists, holding back cheers.

    No wonder.

    Suho was currently the most talked-about rising star in the country... no, perhaps even the best rising star in the industry.

    Perhaps that¡¯s why Kim Soo-ae was the most relieved.

    ¡®He¡¯s grown absurdly fast in just a few days, I honestly wasn¡¯t expecting this...!¡¯

    It was true.

    Suho¡¯s resume was nothing short of spectacr.

    Even before bing a Hunter, he had soloed the Shindorim Station Minor Gate.

    He was the top scorer of the notoriously difficult Hunter Exam.

    In addition, he had soloed the Tower of Trials, something no one had expected, and during his time in the Tower, articles had even been written about him aiming to be a government Hunter.

    Then, out of nowhere, he had contacted her this morning.

    Saying that, if the conditions were right, he would join the Nexus Guild.

    ¡®Right. A government Hunter? With abilities like his, countries outside Korea would be eager to recruit him.¡¯

    That¡¯s why.

    When Suho contacted her, Kim Soo-ae initially thought that the article about him wanting to be a government Hunter was just another publicity stunt.

    Some people did that to raise their market value.

    Then Suho spoke.

    "But as I mentioned over the phone, I n to join only if the conditions are right."

    At that, Guild Master Bae Dong-hyuk immediately responded.

    "Please, just tell us. No one can match the conditions we can offer here at Nexus."

    "I¡¯m d to hear that from you, CEO. Then I¡¯ll speak without hesitation. But before that, I assume everyone here has read the PBS article about me, right?"

    "The one where you mentioned you wanted to be a government Hunter?"

    "Yes."

    "Yes, I¡¯ve seen it, but..."

    Guild Master Bae Dong-hyuk hesitated, unsure of what Suho was getting at with these preambles.

    From his years of experience in society, he deduced...

    ¡®Is he going to say something like... he originally wanted to be a government Hunter, but now he needs more money, so he¡¯s asking for more?¡¯

    He could predict that much.

    However, the words that followed left Bae Dong-hyuk and everyone else shocked.

    "Even though I¡¯vee here today to join Nexus, my ultimate goal hasn¡¯t changed. I still intend to join the KHA and be a government Hunter."

    "Excuse me?"

    "What...?"

    Is he insane?

    Then why did hee here?

    But none of them dared voice those thoughts, and there was a brief silence as they exchanged ufortable nces. Eventually, Guild Master Bae Dong-hyuk spoke up for everyone.

    "Then, with that goal in mind, why would you want to join a private guild?"

    "Honestly, it¡¯s to make it easier to enter the KHA."

    "Excuse me?"

    "I n to take the 5th-level exam at the end of this year."

    The 5th level.

    The highest level that one could enter through an exam.

    For the KHA, this meant starting at the team leader position at the very least.

    At that, Bae Dong-hyuk narrowed his eyes.

    "You mean because of the extra points for being part of arge guild?"

    Suho smiled faintly.

    Indeed, if you had experience in a private guild, you would get extra points when applying for the KHA.

    However, at the 5th level, the bonus points didn¡¯t apply unless you had worked at a guild for at least five years.

    What did that mean for Suho?

    Suho chuckled.

    "No, that¡¯s not it. There are moreplex reasons, but the first one is... do you know the saying ¡®the grass is always greener on the other side¡¯?"

    "Yes, what about it?"

    "Simply put, I n to take advantage of the psychology of wanting what others have. I will continue to rise and be a topic of conversation, bing the most talked-about figure. With that kind of fame and ability, I might even easily pass the 5th-level exam. But, as I mentioned in the interview, if I only show interest in the KHA, I feel like they will treat me like a fish caught in their."

    At that, everyone nodded lightly.

    It made sense.

    If it were the KHA, they could easily treat him like that.

    "Especially the 5th-level exam, where the final interview is the most important. I know the president has a lot of influence there, and he is a former five-term congressman, so he¡¯s very interested in re-election or other public positions."

    Without needing to borate further, everyone agreed.

    If Suho were sessfully brought into the KHA through Nexus, the person who would benefit the most would be the president of the KHA.

    Suho continued.

    "So, I¡¯m proposing a deal to you, CEO. I n to use Nexus to make it easier to get into the KHA, and in return, Nexus can fully utilize me for the next six months."

    With that, Suho had stated his intentions clearly. Bae Dong-hyuk fully understood.

    Now, only the details remained to be discussed.

    But before talking about those, Guild Master Bae Dong-hyuk had one question for Suho.

    "I understand your intention. But before we begin the formal discussion, may I ask you something?"

    "Yes, of course."

    "Given your reasons, why Nexus and not Hexagon or Prime? Why us specifically?"

    It was a somewhat unexpected question.

    If that was truly the reason, there were other top guilds like Hexagon, which was the industry leader, or Prime, often referred to as the KHA¡¯s dog.

    But Suho¡¯s answer waspletely unexpected.

    "I read the speech you made when you founded Nexus."

    "The speech?"

    "Yes, I read it. And while I can¡¯t speak for other guilds, at least Nexus¡¯s goal to contribute to the end of Gates in Korea is something I can get behind."

    Guild Master Bae Dong-hyuk¡¯s speech.

    To others, it might have seemed like just another generic speech, but he had written it from the heart.

    Why?

    Because, like Suho, Bae Dong-hyuk had lost his family to the Gate Shock.

    ¡®In fact, Nexus has done more for Gate-rted disaster relief than anyone else.¡¯

    In his past life, Nexus had also been the most devoted guild.

    At Suho¡¯s words, Bae Dong-hyuk looked as if he had been hit on the back of the head.

    "...What you said in your interview was true. Your ultimate goal really is to end the Gates."

    "Yes, I didn¡¯t lie in the interview. That¡¯s why I tried to clear the Tower of Trials."

    Bae Dong-hyuk chuckled.

    "Now that you say it, I have nothing left to say. But if that¡¯s your goal, do you really need to join the KHA? You can achieve your goal just as easily by working as part of a private guild like us."

    "Well, I suppose that¡¯s one way to look at it. But if I really want to contribute to ending the Gates, I believe I need to take on challenges that others won¡¯t. For example, Gates that are too dangerous and are being managed separately by the government

    ¡ªlike Sealed Gates."

    "Excuse me?"

    "Sealed Gates?"

    "Are you serious?"

    Sealed Gates.

    There had been many failed attempts to clear these Gates due to the high number of casualties, and the government had sealed them off for special management.

    These were, for all intents and purposes, disasters.

    While the five Great Cmity Gates were considered the worst, the Sealed Gates were no less dangerous.

    They were often called "minor cmities" or "cmity-level Gates."

    But paradoxically, solving these Gates would bring the most peace to humanity.

    ¡®And it¡¯s the easiest ce to prove my abilities.¡¯

    Suho was confident.

    In fact, by theter stages, most of the minor cmity Gates in the country had been cleared, and Suho had all the strategies and hidden pieces of information rted to them in his memory.

    This time, he nned to make full use of the Sealed Gates.

    Suho continued.

    "So, over the next six months, all the Sealed Gates that get cleared will carry Nexus¡¯s name. Until I can join the KHA, I n to fullymit as a member of Nexus. And after that, I¡¯m sure¡ª"

    Suho nced around at the faces of those present, then smiled.

    "I¡¯m sure, in six months, the industry¡¯s power bnce will bepletely overturned. Nexus won¡¯t be the third-ce guild anymore; it will be the undisputed number one."

 Chapter 31

    After hearing those words, Manager Kim I-gang reflexively opened his mouth.

    "Right."

    There must be something you want to say.

    So, he spoke first.

    "Yes, of course, this is only applicable while I''m here. But a guild that relies solely on one person¡¯s performance cannot grow in the long term. I''ll do my best to help Nexus expand as much as possible while I''m here. Improvements in member recruitment and training methods, for instance. By the way, do you know the guy who ced third in this Hunter exam? He¡¯s affiliated with the academy here, his name is Kang Dae-han."

    Kim Soo-ae responded immediately.

    "Yes, that''s right. Kang Dae-han, who took the third spot."

    "Didn¡¯t he suddenly change his weapon? I advised him on that. I noticed it by chance when he came in to sign the schrship contractst time, and I helped him adjust."

    "Wait, was that ''mysterious academy official'' actually you, Suho?"

    Kim Soo-ae was truly surprised.

    After all, Kang Dae-han was an unexpected find in this exam.

    But to think Suho was behind that discovery.

    Moreover, she had been trying to figure out who that ''mysterious official'' mentioned by Kang Dae-han was.

    And now she realized it was Suho.

    Suho replied.

    "Yes, at the time, I wasn¡¯t officially staff, so I just passed myself off as an associate. But by now, I¡¯m sure my face has be quite familiar. This should verify my abilities as a trainer, don¡¯t you think?"

    "Of course. ording to our data, we didn¡¯t expect Kang Dae-han to pass this year either. But thanks to you, Suho, he managed to achieve third ce¡­ Truly remarkable."

    Suho smiled, nodded, and then turned his attention to Bae Dong-hyeok.

    "What do you think? Wouldn¡¯t this be a win-win strategy? What¡¯s your opinion, Director?"

    All eyes turned to Bae Dong-hyeok.

    Though he appeared surprised by Suho''s bold proposal, as the head of arge guild, he quickly crossed his arms and spoke with cool detachment.

    "These are excellent conditions, just as you described. To refuse this offer would be foolish. However, there is one question I¡¯d like rified before we proceed as you suggested."

    "What question would that be?"

    "Earlier, you mentioned you would prove yourself through the Sealed Gate. However, as you may know, the Sealed Gates are designated for special government management, making private bids difficult, even forrge guilds like ours. The government prioritizes public safety over generating revenue from bids. So how do you intend to secure ess to a Sealed Gate?"

    Oh, is that all?

    Suho answered nonchntly.

    "I¡¯ll handle that issue separately. Once I bring back the entry pass for the Sealed Gate, we can publish sequential articles¡ªstarting with my joining the guild, followed by the challenge, and finally the clearing of the Sealed Gate."

    "Haha¡­ It seems you have everything nned out, Hunter Suho."

    "Indeed. And with that in mind, let¡¯s hold off on the ''official contract'' for now. I''ll first prove my words by clearing a Sealed Gate. That should be enough to confirm if I¡¯m bluffing or not."

    Bae Dong-hyeok clicked his tongue and said,

    "Really, Hunter Suho, you leave us with no room to refuse."

    "Well, I think this is just the standard approach. No matter how much of a rising rookie I am in the domestic field or even if I cleared the Tower of Trials, I haven¡¯t reached level 100, and at best, I¡¯m still a ¡®rookie.¡¯ I think I need to remove thatbel quickly and prove myself to be a rainmaker for the scene."

    Suho¡¯s wless answer left Bae Dong-hyeok speechless.

    In fact, everyone around him was equally impressed.

    "Let¡¯s continue with the specific arrangements after I secure the entry pass for the Sealed Gate."

    "Understood."

    As Suho stood up, everyone else promptly rose as well, seeing him off to the building''s entrance.

    Once Suho left Nexus and drove away in his red Ferrari, Bae Dong-hyeok spoke.

    "Manager."

    "Yes, Director."

    "From now on, gather all the necessary documents rted to Hunter Ahn Suho and create a special team dedicated solely to him."

    "Already? Shouldn¡¯t we wait until he brings back the pass¡­ or perhaps even until he clears the Sealed Gate?"

    "Timing doesn¡¯t matter much. However, I¡¯d like to show some sincerity by preparing in advance. From what I can tell, Hunter Suho will fulfill every promise he made."

    "Is that an intuition?"

    "Look at his eyes. Those eyes¡­ they were the eyes of someone who had already seen the answer. No hesitation."

    "I see..."@@novelbin@@

    Everyone nodded in agreement with Bae Dong-hyeok¡¯s words.

    ***

    Korean Hunter Association (KHA) Building.

    Jung Chul-min sat at his desk, massaging his temples.

    Not long ago, he had received a call from the deputy head, pressing him about why there hadn¡¯t been any news yet.

    ¡®Ha¡­ How am I supposed to bring Suho here?¡¯

    Despite the fact that the Tower of Trials was operated as a public gate to nurture new Hunters, it was still a dangerous gate that had been cleared, so it was only fitting that Suho be recognized.

    ¡®Maybe we should give him an award?¡¯

    No, that would definitely get shot down by upper management.

    They would probably criticize him for arranging an entire award ceremony just for one photo op.

    Of course, Jung Chul-min knew the real reason behind this excuse.

    Award photos and ¡®friendly-looking¡¯ photos without any official award in hand had vastly different impacts on public perception.

    ¡®This is a pain.¡¯

    Just then,

    Brrr.

    An unfamiliar number appeared.

    Who could it be?

    Jung Chul-min quickly answered.

    "This is Team Leader Jung Chul-min of Gate Management, Team 1."

    - Hello, Team Leader Jung? It¡¯s me, Ahn Suho.

    "Su¡­ Suho?!"

    The person on the unfamiliar number was none other than Suho.

    Startled, Jung Chul-min shot up from his chair like a spring.

    Realizing that his subordinates were watching, he hurried out of the office to find a quiet ce.

    "Suho, this number¡­ is it a new one?"

    - Yes, the calls were too much on my old number, so I set up a secondary line. You can contact me here from now on.

    "I see¡­ Thank you so much for reaching out. Honestly, after the Tower of Trials, I thought I¡¯d never hear from you again."

    - Oh,e on, how could that happen? Anyway, are you free now?

    "Right now?"

    - Yes, I haven¡¯t eaten yet. How about meeting at Songrae Soup House in front of the KHA? I passed the test and became a Hunter, so now we can meet casually, right? If you¡¯ve already eaten, we could just grab a coffee¡­

    "No, no! I haven¡¯t eaten! I was too busy, so I skipped lunch! I¡¯ll book a room at Songrae Soup House under my name and wait."

    - Thank you.

    The call ended.

    Jung Chul-min stared nkly at his phone, wondering what this was all about.

    ¡®Well, I guess I¡¯ll find out.¡¯

    With that thought, he prepared to meet Suho.

    ***

    Songrae Soup House.

    A soup restaurant near the KHA, and a favorite spot for both Jung Chul-min and Suho.

    The restaurant had private rooms, which made it a frequent choice for them.

    Jung Chul-min secured a small room and waited until Suho arrived.

    When Suho entered, Jung Chul-min stood up to greet him.

    "You¡¯re here?"

    "Yes, I was nearby. It¡¯s been a while since I came here."

    "Oh? You know this ce?"

    Of course he did; he used toe here whenever he stayed upte for paperwork or night shifts.

    But he couldn¡¯t say that, so he replied casually.

    "I used toe here often when I was working nearby. Shall we order first? The boiled pork set here is great. I¡¯ll go with that."

    "I¡¯ll have the same."

    "Two boiled pork sets, please!"

    After cing their orders, Suho poured water for them and spoke.

    "Anything troubling you these days? Like the association trying to get me toe in?"

    "Pfft! W-what?"

    Jung Chul-min choked on his water.

    His eyes widened as he stared at Suho.

    "W-what do you mean by that¡­?"

    "I was just wondering why, right after I cleared the Tower of Trials, you tried so hard to bring me to the association. Usually, even after clearing a hard gate, you only request relevant information, not ask someone toe in. So I did some research and found that in cases like this, it¡¯s often to take promotional photos with the association heads."

    It wasn¡¯t just a guess.

    A quick look at the promotional materials would reveal many photos of star yers who had cleared hard gates.

    Caught off guard, Jung Chul-min stammered.

    "T-that¡­"

    "It¡¯s fine. You could have just been upfront with me. It¡¯s not difficult for me."

    "...I apologize."

    Jung Chul-min¡¯s face flushed red.

    He felt as if he¡¯d been stripped bare.

    Suho hadn¡¯t meant to put it so bluntly, but his ns took precedence over Jung¡¯s pride.

    Suho continued.

    "So, it¡¯s true. Still, I appreciate your consideration. I found out that in some cases, they forcibly bring people in under dubious usations. But you were considerate and

    polite."

    Jung Chul-minughed awkwardly.

    "Haha¡­ Well, I can¡¯t be too forceful."

    "So I was thinking, maybe it¡¯s time to visit the association. I appreciate what you¡¯ve done, and as someone aiming for the KHA, it wouldn¡¯t hurt to meet the President and Vice President."

    "Ah¡­ yes, that would¡­ be good."

    "Then, should we go after we eat, or should I schedule it forter?"

    "After we eat is fine! Just a moment!"

    With that, Jung Chul-min quickly stood up to grab his phone.

    He must have been feeling pressured.

    Suho felt a bit sorry for him.

    ¡®Just hold on a little longer, hyung. After this year, I¡¯ll take care of everything.¡¯

    Soon, after arranging Suho''s visit, Jung returned, his face finally showing some relief.

    "They said we can visit after lunch. I¡¯ll cover this meal."

    "Sounds good."

    The two enjoyed their meal together.

    Jung, relieved to have his problem resolved, and Suho, happy to reconnect with an old friend over their favorite soup.

 Chapter 33

    ¡®Hyung must be feeling really frustrated. He knows what a Sealed Gate entails.¡¯

    Even the Nexus guild master he¡¯d recently met had mentioned how difficult it was to secure a Sealed Gate bid.

    Yet, here was the association president casually granting permission as if it were child¡¯s y¡ªno wonder Jung Chul-min would be furious.

    But Suho had deliberately manipted the situation to create this very oue.

    President Jang Kyung-hwan never cared much about matters that didn¡¯t involve his own profit.

    Especially when it came to issues rted to Hunters.

    ¡®As long as it¡¯s not about budget, he doesn¡¯t care how many Hunters get killed. That¡¯s just how the president and vice president are.¡¯

    Right now, Suho needed ess to a Sealed Gate.

    Only then could he prove his abilities.

    So, before Jung Chul-min could say anything further, Suho cemented his advantage in the conversation.

    "After I clear the Sealed Gate, I¡¯ll make sure to mention in interviews that I owe it all to President Jang Kyung-hwan¡¯s support. It¡¯s thanks to his approval that I¡¯m able to do this."

    Jang Kyung-hwan¡¯s face broke into a broad smile.

    Nothing could be better than having his name mentioned by a rising star that everyone was watching.

    Encouraged, Jang continued with more questions.

    ¡°Haha, wonderful, just wonderful. So, are you nning to take the public service exam this year, Hunter Ahn?¡±

    "The public service exam?"

    "For a field position, either Level 9 or Level 7."

    "Oh, I¡¯m actually waiting for a different exam."

    "A different exam?"

    "Yes, I¡¯m nning to take the Level 5 exam at the end of this year."

    "Level 5¡­ really?"

    Both Jang and the vice president widened their eyes in surprise.

    They had assumed that Suho would be aiming for a Level 9 or Level 7 position, so the mention of Level 5 was entirely unexpected.

    The president, stunned, asked,

    "The Level 5 exam is notoriously difficult."

    "I know, but I believe that as a Level 5, I could do more to help eradicate the Gates than I could at lower levels."

    "Such profound thinking¡­"

    Suho¡¯s mention of Level 5 seemed to spark interest in both men.

    Suho read their expressions and quickly added,

    "I¡¯ve consulted with various people, and they said if I want to aim for Level 5, it might be better to build some experience in the field by joining a guild first."

    "Who said that?"

    "Just people from the civil service prep academies."

    "Hmm, that¡¯s not incorrect. We do tend to prefer experienced candidates. But these days, guilds have binding contracts, don¡¯t they?"

    "That¡¯s what I¡¯m struggling with. I want to gain some practical experience, but most guild contractse with terms that restrict my choices. However, if there¡¯s a guild willing to ept my conditions, I¡¯d consider joining until I take the exam."

    "Hmm¡­ if there were such a ce, I¡¯d be quite grateful as well."

    Internally, Suho smiled.

    Perfect.

    Now that the president had said it himself, there wouldn¡¯t be any issues if he joined Nexus. They¡¯d probably even view it favorably.

    Moreover¡­

    ¡®This could be an opportunity to build a natural connection between the association and Nexus.¡¯

    At that moment, there was a knock on the door.

    "President, it¡¯s Pi Sung-yeol."

    Hearing the name from the hallway, Suho¡¯s eyes widened.

    ¡®Pi Sung-yeol?¡¯

    As the door opened, Suho saw that it was indeed Pi Sung-yeol.

    ¡®So, I¡¯m seeing him here¡­¡¯

    Special Division¡¯s Pi Sung-yeol.

    He was one of the figures Suho had marked for punishment, just as he had marked the president and vice president.

    After all, Pi Sung-yeol was also involved in the Gate Shock incident that had taken his family from him.

    Realizing there was a guest, Pi Sung-yeol gave a surprised nod.

    "Oh, I didn¡¯t realize you hadpany¡­ my apologies. I¡¯lle back another time."

    "No, it¡¯s alright. We were just wrapping up. In fact,e in and introduce yourself. This is Hunter Ahn Suho, the man who conquered the Tower of Trials."

    "Ahn Suho¡­ Ah!"

    Recognizing Suho¡¯s name, Pi Sung-yeol approached him with a friendly smile, extending a hand.

    "I¡¯m Pi Sung-yeol from the Special Division. I¡¯ve heard a lot about you. Thanks to the president, I get to meet such a prominent figure."

    "Ahn Suho," Suho replied as he shook Pi Sung-yeol¡¯s hand.

    Pi Sung-yeol grinned, shing his trademark gold tooth.

    "I¡¯ve read so much about you. You¡¯re the hottest figure these days, I hear?"

    "Haha, that¡¯s an exaggeration."

    Suho exchanged pleasantries with a polite smile.

    Though he had once already punished this man, it didn¡¯t mean he¡¯d forgiven him.

    After all, this Pi Sung-yeol was still in the period before his reckoning.

    But Suho wasn¡¯t an amateur.

    He wouldn¡¯t let his emotions interfere.

    The vice president added,

    "While you¡¯re here, take a good look at Hunter Ahn Suho. He¡¯s nning to take the Level 5 public service exam this year."

    "The Level 5 exam?"

    When Pi Sung-yeol looked at him in surprise, Suho answered quickly.

    "Yes, that¡¯s the n."

    Pi Sung-yeol raised his eyebrows in astonishment, then smirked, once again showing his gold tooth.

    "Wow, the Level 5 exam is incredibly challenging. You¡¯re so young and ambitious!"

    Encouraged by Pi Sung-yeol¡¯s admiration, the vice president began to borate.

    "Haha, and that¡¯s not all. Our association has even granted Hunter Ahn ess to a Sealed Gate. He¡¯ll be challenging one soon."

    "A Sealed Gate?"

    Pi Sung-yeol¡¯s surprise grew.

    Anyone could take the Level 5 exam, but a Sealed Gate was a different story.

    This time, his reaction was notably distinct from the president¡¯s and vice president¡¯s.

    "Uh¡­ Hunter Ahn Suho, are you sure? You know how dangerous Sealed Gates are, right?"

    His voice carried genuine concern.

    As an awakened Hunter himself, Pi Sung-yeol understood the risks of Sealed Gates.

    But Suho answered calmly.

    "Yes, I¡¯m aware. They¡¯re too dangerous for most guilds to handle, which is why the association manages them."

    "You¡¯re well-informed. Still, challenging it¡­ if that¡¯s your decision, I won¡¯t try to dissuade you. I do hope you seed. If you clear a Sealed Gate, then the Level 5 exam is practically¡­"

    The vice president interjected,

    "Hey, Pi. Don¡¯t say things like that. We don¡¯t know who will pass the exam. It¡¯s a fair process, after all. Though, of course, clearing a Sealed Gate would certainly demonstrate one¡¯s abilities¡­"

    "Haha, of course. Hunter Ahn Suho, I support you. If you manage to clear the Sealed Gate and pass the exam, I hope we get a chance to work together."

    Pi Sung-yeol¡¯s eyes gleamed with genuine enthusiasm.

    He was truly interested.

    ¡®Specifically, he¡¯s always looking for new ¡°hunting dogs.¡±¡¯

    The vice president jumped in again.

    "Now, now, Pi. I believe Hunter Ahn Suho has his heart set on the Gate Division."

    "The Gate Division? Why?"

    "His dream is to eradicate the Gates. He wants to take full advantage of priority ess to them."

    "Oh, I see. Well, the Special Division could offer something simr, don¡¯t you think, Team Leader Jung?"

    Pi Sung-yeol finally acknowledged Jung Chul-min, who responded awkwardly.

    "Haha¡­ yes, perhaps."

    "By the way, if Hunter Ahn passes the Level 5 exam, how will his position rte to Team Leader Jung? Well, we¡¯ll see at the end of the year. Anyway, Hunter Ahn Suho, I genuinely wish you the best."

    Pi brought up the issue of hierarchy in an offhand way, creating a subtle tension.

    A fox-like schemer as always.

    Clearly, he was deliberately trying to difort Jung.

    So, Suho decided it was time to wrap things up.@@novelbin@@

    "Thank you. I¡¯ll take my leave now. Enjoy the rest of your conversation."

    "Of course. It was a pleasure to meet you, Hunter Ahn. As for the Sealed Gate, you can discuss it with Team Leader Jung on your way out."

    "Thank you, then."

    With that, Suho and Jung finally left the president¡¯s office.

    However, Jung¡¯s expression was anything but happy.

    Suho knew why.

    But he pretended to be unaware as he turned to Jung.

    "Thanks to the president and vice president, I¡¯ve been given such a great opportunity."

    "Well¡­"

    Jung hesitated, struggling to hold back his words.

    Seeing this, Suho chuckled and asked,

    "Team Leader, you smoke, don¡¯t you?"

    "Uh? Oh, yes¡­"

    "Then why don¡¯t we take a break for a smoke?"

    "¡­Alright."

    They made their way to the smoking room on the top floor.

    Once inside, Jung wordlessly lit a cigarette, his expression full of turmoil.

    Suho sat down on one of the chairs provided in the smoking area and noticed Jung¡¯s puzzled look.

    "You¡¯re not smoking?"

    "No, I don¡¯t smoke."

    "Then why¡­?"

    "You seemed like you needed it. You¡¯ve looked tense for a while."

    Jung gave him a strange look, then awkwardly smiled.

    "

    ¡­Haha, was it that obvious?"

    With a sigh, Jung sat down too.

    "Mind if I go ahead?"

    "Of course. That¡¯s what we came to the smoking room for, isn¡¯t it?"

    "Thank you."

    Jung took a deep drag and released a long sigh, his breath dissolving into the air.

    Seeing this, Suho spoke.

    "You¡¯re worried about me, aren¡¯t you?"

    Jung looked at Suho, then dropped his gaze to the floor.

    "Yes, to be honest, I am very worried. I like you, Suho. I feel like you¡¯ll be someone truly great someday. I don¡¯t want to lose you. If possible, I want to help you grow safely."

    "Wow, I didn¡¯t realize you thought that highly of me. Thank you."

    "I mean it. Frankly¡­ Suho, as a new Hunter, you might not fully understand, but Sealed Gates are truly dangerous. They¡¯re managed by the government for a reason."

    "Oh, I know. I¡¯m aware that evenrge guilds rarely get entry rights due to the safety concerns."

    "Then why¡­?"

    "Because I¡¯m confident."

    "What?"

    "The association manages a gate called the ¡®Formless Sword,¡¯ right? One of the Sealed Gates."

    "Yes, we do. It¡¯s a notoriously challenging gate."

    "I know how to clear it."

    "¡­What?"

    At that moment, Jung¡¯s eyes grew wider than Suho had ever seen.

 Chapter 34

    Jung Chul-min stared at Suho with wide eyes.

    ¡°Are¡­ are you joking?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not joking.¡±

    Suho¡¯s expression was dead serious.

    This wasn¡¯t a lie.

    Perhaps because of that, Jung swallowed nervously at Suho¡¯s unwavering seriousness.

    After a moment of silence, he asked, ¡°But¡­ how?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a secret.¡±

    ¡°A¡­ secret?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­¡±

    Jung¡¯s disappointment was evident.

    Understandable, considering they were talking about a Sealed Gate.

    Suho thought to himself, *¡®Sealed Gates are all designated with S-rank difficulty, which is why they¡¯re called Sealed Gates in the first ce. Of course he¡¯d be curious to know how I can clear it.¡¯*

    But Suho had no intention of revealing his strategy. He didn¡¯t have to, nor was there a rule requiring him to disclose his methods before being allowed to enter a Sealed Gate.

    Even if Jung were to resist or demand an exnation, there was little he could do since Suho already had the president¡¯s approval.

    And this wasn¡¯t the first time Suho had unexpectedly cleared something; he had conquered the Tower of Trials alone, a feat many thought impossible.

    Jung had no choice but to believe him.

    Suho added, ¡°Think of how I discovered the strategy for the Tower of Trials. It¡¯s simr. If you trust me and let me into the Formless Sword Gate, I¡¯ll start there and gradually clear the other Sealed Gates too.¡±

    ¡°Y-you¡¯re nning to clear other Sealed Gates as well?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Ha¡­¡±

    Clearing the Formless Sword Gate was hard enough to believe, and now Suho imed he¡¯d go through other Sealed Gates too¡­

    Jung¡¯s mouth fell open, and at the same time, he sensed that Suho wasn¡¯t bluffing.

    After all, Suho was like a tiger among men, and who was he, a mere human, to understand a tiger¡¯s intentions?

    Resigned, Jung let out a sigh.

    ¡°¡­Alright, then. I¡¯ll make the arrangements and contact you as soon as it¡¯s ready.¡±

    ¡°Actually, why don¡¯t we head out now? I¡¯m already prepared.¡±

    ¡°Right now?¡±

    ¡°Yes. The Formless Sword Gate is in Gyeongju, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s true, but¡­ are you serious?¡±

    ¡°Yes, as they say, strike while the iron is hot. I¡¯d like to get this done today.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ one moment.¡±

    At Suho¡¯s urging, Jung stepped aside to make a call.

    A few minutester, he returned with an awkward smile.

    ¡°They said it¡¯s possible. Would you like to travel with us to Gyeongju?¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯ll head there separately. I have someone I need to bring along. I already know the gate¡¯s location, so I¡¯ll meet you at the entrance.¡±

    ¡°¡­Understood.¡±

    With that, Jung let out a slight chuckle, preparing to leave.

    ***

    ¡°Almost there.¡±

    Roaring along the highway was Jo Jin-hwi¡¯s sedan.

    After leaving the KHA building, Suho had called both Jo and Nexus Guild Leader Bae Dong-hyuk.

    The call to Bae was to inform him of Suho¡¯s sess in securing the Sealed Gate entry, and he had called Jo to request his presence as a journalist to document the journey.

    Originally, Suho nned to take a train, but since Jo offered his sedan, it made more sense to travel together.

    Upon entering Gyeongju, they arrived at the Sealed Gate¡¯s entrance shortly thereafter.

    The gate was under military guard, and the atmosphere was tense.

    After verifying their identities, they entered, where the outer appearance of the Sealed Gate gradually became visible, thanks to a cloaking item.

    *¡®The Square is still the same.¡¯*

    The Square was a structure built around the gate portal, designed to contain monsters and prevent shocks. It was named for its square shape.

    Made from high-grade alloys and steel, the Square held back monsters that asionally emerged from the gate, as well as suppressed shockwaves.

    As Suho exited the car, Jung Chul-min and the person in charge of the Formless Sword Square approached him.

    ¡°You¡¯re here.¡±

    ¡°Yes, you arrived early.¡±

    ¡°We took the train. Who is this beside you?¡±

    Jo Jin-hwi handed over his business card with a polite nod.

    ¡°Nice to meet you. I¡¯m Jo Jin-hwi, a journalist with PBS.¡±

    ¡°A journalist?¡±

    Seeing Jung¡¯s slightly surprised reaction, Suho exined on Jo¡¯s behalf.

    ¡°Nothing will be published immediately. He¡¯s just here to take photos for documentation. Just a few shots after the gate is cleared¡ªis that alright?¡±

    ¡°Oh, yes, that¡¯s fine. It¡¯s not a restricted area, after all. I was just surprised that you personally brought a journalist along.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for allowing it. And actually, it may be good for you to know that you¡¯ll likely see him frequently from now on.¡±

    ¡°Haha, noted.¡±

    At that moment, the Square¡¯s administrator, Major Kim Jong-woo, introduced himself.

    ¡°I¡¯m Major Kim Jong-woo, the administrator of this Square.¡±

    ¡°Ah, thank you for your service. I¡¯m Ahn Suho.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s an honor to meet you. But¡­ are you really nning to clear the Formless Sword Gate alone?¡±

    Despite having been briefed by Jung, Major Kim couldn¡¯t help but double-check.

    It made sense¡ªclearing the gate alone was almost unbelievable.

    *¡®Understandable. So many people have died here.¡¯*

    Suho knew that over 200 lives had been lost in attempts to clear this gate, which was why it was S-rank and designated as a Sealed Gate.

    Suho replied confidently, ¡°Yes, I intend to clear it alone.¡±

    ¡°Um¡­ if I may ask, what¡¯s your level?¡±

    ¡°Level 51.¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­¡±

    A faint sigh escaped Kim¡¯s lips, but Suho was unfazed.

    ¡°I understand your concerns, Major, but please trust that nothing unfortunate will happen. I¡¯ll handle it.¡±

    Major Kim looked over at Jung Chul-min, who gave a nod. Exhaling heavily, Kim replied, ¡°Alright. We¡¯ll be outside, praying for your sess.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for your trust.¡±

    ¡°The interior of the Square is prepared. You can enter immediately.¡±

    They had even cleaned it for him.

    Jo Jin-hwi asked as they approached the entrance, ¡°How long do you think it¡¯ll take?¡±

    ¡°Well, if all goes smoothly, I¡¯ll be out in under an hour.¡±

    ¡°Clearing a Sealed Gate in under an hour¡­¡±

    Most people would call him crazy if they heard that.

    But Jo Jin-hwi couldn¡¯t help but feel an inexplicable sense of confidence in Suho.

    ¡°Take care in there.¡±

    ¡°Will do.¡±

    With a nod, Suho entered through the open Square entrance, courtesy of the military.

    As soon as Suho stepped inside, a soldier¡¯s voice echoed, ¡°Sealing the entrance!¡±

    The gate closed securely, and those outside began observing Suho¡¯s movements through cameras installed in the Square.

    Suho looked around the softly glowing interior and thought, *¡®They¡¯ve kept it tidy.¡¯*

    There was a faint smell of blood in the air.

    Since unimed gates periodically expelled monsters, the military often handled them with heavy weapons.

    Monsters that could be subdued by artillery were managed by the military; otherwise, the KHA or external guilds were called in.

    The monsters from Formless Sword, however, were generally controble with standard weapons.

    At the far end of the Square, a portal shimmered, marking the entrance to the Formless Sword Gate.

    *¡®It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve been here.¡¯*

    Suho had been here before.

    Seven times, to be precise.

    The first time he¡¯d entered, he barely escaped with his life after failing to defeat the boss monster within.

    Unlike other gates, Formless Sword allowed yers to leave without killing the boss.

    Determined, Suho had trained relentlessly after his first failure to prepare for another attempt.

    However, he failed five more times, experiencing six consecutive defeats in total.

    Yet, he never gave up.

    On his seventh attempt, driven by sheer grit, he finally conquered the Formless Sword Gate.

    *¡®This gate holds a special meaning for me.¡¯*

    No one knew the strategy for clearing this gate better than Suho.

    While everyone else had failed, he had seeded after countless trials.

    The moment Suho set foot into the gate, messages began to sh.@@novelbin@@

    [Entering the Gate.]

    [Retrieving gate information.]

    [Formless Sword]

    - Entry Condition: Open to all.

    - Max Entry Capacity: 1 person.

    Though anyone could enter, only one person was allowed, which exponentially increased its difficulty.

    Suho¡¯s vision flickered as he stepped forward.

    ***

    ¡°He¡¯s inside now.¡±

    ¡°Ha¡­ do you think he¡¯ll be alright?¡±

    ¡°All we can do now is trust.¡±

    In themand room outside the Square, Jung Chul-min, Major Kim Jong-woo, and Jo Jin-hwi watched the monitor with tense expressions.

    They saw Suho disappear into the gate, and Kim Jong-woo voiced his worries.

    ¡°No matter how you look at it¡­ I¡¯m still uneasy. This isn¡¯t a ce you can clear just by having high stats or a high level.¡±

    ¡°True. Inside the Formless Sword Gate, the Sword Emperor awaits.¡±

    ¡°And Hunter Ahn Suho is¡­ a healer, isn¡¯t he?¡±

    At this point, Jung spoke up in Suho¡¯s defense.

    ¡°That shouldn¡¯t matter.¡±

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t matter?¡±

    ¡°Yes. From what I¡¯ve seen, Hunter Ahn Suho is only a healer by title.¡±

    ¡°Only a healer by title?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. Of all the Hunters I¡¯ve ever seen¡­ no one wields a sword like Ahn Suho.¡±

    Kim frowned.

    ¡°¡­Are you serious?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I was present for his practical exam, and even

    though he was a healer, he passed by taking down all the monsters with a sword.¡±

    Jo Jin-hwi, surprised, rified, ¡°Wait, aren¡¯t healer exams usually about protecting a patient until you yourself are taken down? They¡¯re supposed to assess a healer¡¯s willingness to sacrifice themselves for others, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes, exactly. But instead of sacrificing himself, Ahn Suho focused on ensuring the patient¡¯s survival. He picked up a nearby sword and killed every single orc that came his way.¡±

    ¡°Insane¡­¡±

    This story was news to Jo, as the only thing that had circted was that Suho had graduated top of his ss.

    Reflecting on Suho¡¯s unconventional approach, Jung mused, *¡®I may not know his exact strategy, but maybe¡­ this time, the Sword Emperor will finally fall.¡¯*

    With a renewed sense of anticipation, the three men watched the screen, their eyes filled with hope.

 Chapter 36

    Simultaneously, a flood of system notifications lit up Suho¡¯s vision like a shower of stars.

    > [The Gate has been cleared.]

    > [The MVP of the Gate clearance is ¡®Ahn Suho.¡¯]

    > [Additional experience points are awarded for being the MVP.]

    > [A bonus stat point has been awarded for being selected as the MVP.]

    > [You have sessfully cleared a Gate that no one else could tackle alone.]

    > [A remarkable achievement! The system grants you 5 additional stat points.]

    > [Your level has increased.]

    > [All stats increased by 1.]

    > [You have acquired an additional bonus stat point.]

    With bonus stats piling up, it was clear the system acknowledged his feat¡ªthis was no ordinary Gate, one that had imed countless lives. The system recognized his aplishment as a notable feat, awarding him richly. Given that the only true monster in the entire Gate was the one he defeated, the experience points were substantial, enough to push Suho from level 51 to 52 in a single leap.

    Looking at the defeated creature¡ªa wraith that had once been a Sword Emperor¡ªSuho muttered to himself.

    ¡°In hindsight, this guy was actually easy. So why was it such a struggle back then?¡±

    Still, he felt a measure of gratitude. The creature was like a mentor who asionally resurfaced in his thoughts on Teachers¡¯ Day.

    It made sense. That was the only time in his life he¡¯d been utterly consumed by the art of swordsmanship.

    On a whim, Suho summoned his *Guiyoung Spear* and attempted to pierce the creature''s body, but no shadow emerged. He tried his *Blood Weapon* skill, but the attempt was simrly futile.

    The creature was a wraith¡ªa phantom swordsman with neither blood nor shadow.

    The creature¡¯s body crumbled into dust, vanishing entirely, leaving behind only a single item: an old sword it had wielded. Suho picked it up to inspect it.

    > [Nameless Sword of the Nameless Swordsman]

    - **Grade**: F

    - An old sword once wielded by the Nameless Swordsman.

    An F-grade sword, without embellishment, true to its name. Initially, Suho tucked it away in his inventory as a simple memento of the Sword Emperor. It was only yearster, when clearing out his overstocked inventory, that a friend pointed out its true value.

    Suho examined the Nameless Sword closely, gripping its de and hilt, and applied pressure. The sword broke with a sharp snap, revealing its hidden power that had remained dormant for years.

    > [You have used the Nameless Sword.]

    > [Sword Understanding activated.]

    > [The soul of the Nameless Sword infuses your swordsmanship.]

    > [Suho Sword has been upgraded.]

    The information changed. The S-rank Suho Sword had gained an added effect and was now upgraded to S+.

    Suho checked the updated information.

    > [Suho Sword]

    - **Grade**: S+

    - A unique swordsmanship style created by Ahn Suho.

    - Bnced in offense, defense, and evasion, remaining true to the fundamentals.

    - Infused with the spirit of the Nameless Sword, now graded S+.

    - The Suho Sword now carries the Nameless Sword¡¯s spirit, allowing for limitless growth.

    Satisfied with the new information, Suho nodded. Among the many Sealed Gates, he had deliberately chosen the Nameless Sword as his first target. It wasn¡¯t just because he could clear it with existing skills and without special items¡ªthe main reason had been for this Nameless Sword.

    ¡®My swordsmanship journey starts now.¡¯

    Suho had wielded the Suho Sword like second nature for a long time, but now, as an S+ rank with growth potential, its true power could emerge. This level would allow him to master his ultimate sword techniques, the ones that earned him his reputation.

    Having absorbed the skill, Suho walked toward the exit portal that appeared before him.

    ---

    **Control Room**

    Around half an hour after Suho had entered the Gate, Kim Jong-woo, who was watching the screen, spoke up.

    ¡°It seems like it¡¯s going to take a while. I¡¯ll go on a quick patrol.¡±

    ¡°Yes, go ahead.¡±

    Just as Kim Jong-woo was about to leave, Jo Jin-hwi, who was watching the screen, suddenly stood up.

    ¡°Wait, what?¡±

    Jung Chul-min also jumped to his feet.

    ¡°The Gate! The Gate is...¡±

    ¡°What?!¡±

    Kim Jong-woo rushed back, looking at the screen in disbelief.

    ¡°The Gate has... been cleared?¡±

    ¡°Quick, let¡¯s go! Now!¡±@@novelbin@@

    When a Gate is cleared, an external indicator line begins to disintegrate, signaling to outsiders whether the Gate has been conquered. Now, this line around the Gate began to copse. In disbelief, Kim Jong-woo ordered the entrance to the square opened, while Jo Jin-hwi recorded the event on camera.

    The three stood at the square¡¯s entrance, hearts pounding, waiting for Suho to emerge. Soon, a smiling Suho appeared from the shadows of the square.

    ¡°Suho!¡±

    ¡°Hunter!¡±

    Jung Chul-min and Jo Jin-hwi rushed over to Suho, calling his name in excitement. Kim Jong-woo, who wasn¡¯t as close, let out augh, expressing his amazement.

    Suho calmed the two men, who looked like they were about to throw him into the air in celebration.

    ¡°Please, calm down.¡±

    ¡°How can we calm down? This was a Sealed Gate! Suho, you cleared the Nameless Sword, which took more than 200 lives!¡±

    ¡°And it hasn¡¯t even been 30 minutes! How did you manage that?!¡±

    Their excitement was palpable. Finally, Kim Jong-woo spoke up, albeit somewhat shyly.

    ¡°Well done, Hunter.¡±

    ¡°It was nothing. It was an easy ce for me.¡±

    ¡°Easy...?¡±

    ¡°Yes, very easy for me.¡±

    Kim Jong-woo, hearing Suho¡¯s calm response, couldn¡¯t help but be awestruck. There was no arrogance in his tone, only a sense of having aplished something routine, like a man on a leisurely walk.

    Suho then suggested, ¡°Now that the Gate is cleared, let¡¯s take a photo tomemorate.¡±

    ¡°A photo?¡±

    ¡°Yes, for verification. It¡¯s not for a keepsake but purely as proof.¡±

    It was purely practical¡ªa verified photo could be used for press releases. That was why Jo Jin-hwi hade along. Photos taken by a PBS reporter would carry unquestionable credibility.

    Kim Jong-woo hesitated. ¡°Since I¡¯m military, maybe I shouldn¡¯t be in the photo...¡±

    Noticing his difort, Jung Chul-min stepped in with a yful yet convincing tone.

    ¡°Oh, Major, this isn¡¯t somememorative picture. It¡¯s for future reference and official records! The Nameless Sword isn¡¯t just any Gate¡ªit¡¯s a ssified site! Ahn Suho Hunter just saved us from sinking taxpayer money into an unresolved Gate.¡±

    ¡°No, no, you¡¯re right. My apologies! Let¡¯s get it done.¡±

    Kim Jong-woo quickly acknowledged his misstep and agreed to the photo, causing Suho to chuckle.

    ¡®ssic Chul-min hyung.¡¯

    And so, the three of thempleted a photo session that would soon make headlines across Korea.

    ---

    **On the Way Back to Seoul**

    Suho requested a half-day embargo from Jung Chul-min and Kim Jong-woo on the Nameless Sword Gate clearance before heading to Nexus Guild.

    ¡®Technically, the government isn¡¯t obliged to listen to me,¡¯ he thought. Especially since Kim Jong-woo, being military, would have to report any incident directly up the chain.

    Upon arriving at Nexus, he met with executives who had been urgently called in. He showed them a picture on his tablet.

    ¡°As I mentioned in my earlier call, I¡¯ve sessfully cleared the Sealed Gate ¡®Nameless Sword¡¯¡ªone of Korea¡¯s highest ssified sites. Here¡¯s the proof, with officials from the Association and the square manager, Major Kim Jong-woo.¡±

    Everyone¡¯s jaw dropped, with Bae Dong-hyuk looking particrly stunned. Though he had been briefed over the phone, seeing the actual photo was a different experience. After all, he had only been informed about the Gate¡¯s clearance contract this afternoon, and it had already been cleared within hours.

    Introducing Jo Jin-hwi, Suho said, ¡°This is Jo Jin-hwi from PBS, my official reporter, who documented the event. You can trust that these images are legitimate.¡±

    Jo Jin-hwi presented his credentials, and Bae Dong-hyuk, waving a hand dismissively, said, ¡°No one here doubts the legitimacy. But... how?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°All of it. How did you get the contract for the Sealed Gate, and how did you clear it in a few hours? You¡¯re aware that over 200 Hunters have died there.¡±

    Without a hint of hesitation, Suho replied, ¡°I met with the Association president to obtain permission, and as for the Gate, I simply entered and killed what was inside.¡±

    ¡°...What?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the truth. No embellishment. I told you exactly what happened.¡±

    ¡°Unbelievable...¡±

    It was indeed true, and Suho wasn¡¯t one to exaggerate.

    Getting straight to business, Suho continued, ¡°Now that my abilities have been proven, shall we proceed with the contract? Set the pay however you wish. My conditions are simple: full support during my time at Nexus, and the ability to terminate my contract should I pass the public exam.¡±

    He paused, adding, ¡°I¡¯ve already informed the Association president. Manyrge guilds have shown interest, but if any guild is willing to meet these terms, I¡¯ll gain some practical experience with them.¡±

    Bae Dong-hyuk, though trustworthy, took a moment to process this before quietly

    instructing, ¡°Secretary, bring the paperwork.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Director.¡±

    Thus began Suho¡¯s official entry into Nexus Guild.

 Chapter 37

    The contract was signed.

    With other formalities and instructions scheduled for the next day, Suho and Jo Jin-hwi left the guild. It was gettingte, and Jo Jin-hwi seemed too exhausted to continue the conversation, so they decided to head back to the Kaiser Cheongdam.

    As Jo Jin-hwi moved to take the wheel again, Suho spoke up.

    ¡°I¡¯ll drive this time.¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯ll do it.¡±

    ¡°But you¡¯re not my manager, and I can¡¯t keep relying on you to drive me everywhere.¡±

    ¡°I actually am your manager, you know?¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Well, kind of, don¡¯t you think? You¡¯re giving me these exclusive scoops so regrly; I figure the least I can do is act as your manager. Besides, I¡¯m really fine with it. Switching from a Ferrari to a sedan is prettyfortable for a change. Maybe I¡¯ll just stick to a sedan from now on.¡±

    Suho chuckled at that.

    ¡°I have to admit, the sedan is morefortable. But didn¡¯t you miss work today? Won¡¯t they mind?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. With the exclusives I¡¯vended just today, no one¡¯s going to say a word.¡±

    ¡°Fair enough.¡±

    It was a satisfying situation. After all, this was the kind of arrangement Suho had envisioned.

    Then, as he drove, Jo Jin-hwi broached the topic cautiously.

    ¡°So, I think I¡¯ll lead with the Sealed Gate clearance for the article. Technically, the Nexus contract shoulde first, but there¡¯s no telling how long the government embargo willst.¡±

    ¡°Do what¡¯s best. Go ahead.¡±

    ¡°Looks like I¡¯ll be heading back to the office right after I drop you off¡­ By the way, Suho.¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve been wanting to ask¡ªhow were you so confident about tackling the Nameless Sword Gate?¡±

    ¡°Ah, that?¡±

    Jo Jin-hwi had been holding back that question, but since Suho had answered the Nexus Guild head with just a vague ¡°I killed it,¡± he thought he should give Jin-hwi a bit more detail.

    ¡®The details I tell him will go directly into the article. Might as well flesh it out a bit.¡¯

    Suho began, ¡°Inside the Nameless Sword Gate is the Sword Emperor, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes, the Nameless Swordsman.¡±

    ¡°I knew his reputation well. His skill forces everyone to engage him in sword-to-swordbat, which has led to many deaths, particrly among sword-wielding yers. That¡¯s why I was confident.¡±

    ¡°Confident? How?¡±

    ¡°In a sword fight under those conditions, I knew I¡¯d win. You know I¡¯m technically a healer, but my primary skill is swordsmanship.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ that¡¯s your whole reason?¡±

    ¡°What other reason do I need?¡±

    ¡°But¡­ that Swordsman killed over 200 people, including high-ranked yers. You didn¡¯t feel even a little fear?¡±

    ¡°So what if they were high-ranking? The Sword Emperor¡¯s skill duplicates physical stats, so everything is equalized in that respect. The key to beating him lies purely in swordsmanship¡ªno reliance on items or skills. I trusted my skill and prepared for that.¡±

    ¡°Do you have sword skills?¡±

    ¡°Of course. S-rank. It¡¯s a creation skill, so I¡¯m the only one who has it.¡±

    Jo Jin-hwi¡¯s eyes widened in surprise.

    ¡°S-rank?! When did you learn that?¡±

    ¡°Not long ago. And I¡¯m not going anywhere, so you can take your time with questions. It¡¯s better to release information gradually¡ªkeeps people interested. Feel free to ask me anytime.¡±

    ¡°Man¡­ Suho, you really drive me crazy. I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m getting this excited over a guy¡ªI finally understand why people be fanatics for idols and singers. I never used to get it.¡±

    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s not that big of a deal.¡±@@novelbin@@

    ¡°No, seriously. Thank you again for calling me first, and sorry for doubting you at first.¡±

    ¡°Think nothing of it.¡±

    With a contented nod, Jo Jin-hwi dropped Suho off at Kaiser Cheongdam before heading back to his office.

    Nowfortably at home, Suho sank into his sofa.

    ¡°It¡¯s been a long day.¡±

    The Gate clearing hadn¡¯t exhausted him, but the travel was tiring. Even with his high stats, long-distance trips were still draining.

    After a brief rest, Suho checked his status screen.

    > [Ahn Suho]

    - **Level**: 52

    - **ss**: Healer

    - **Trait**: New Blood

    - **Strength (R)**: 14

    - **Endurance (R)**: 14

    - **Mana (R)**: 14

    - **Perception**: 96

    - **Bonus Stats**: 7

    Seeing the seven bonus points umted, Suho smiled. It was like a magical umtion; just a short break, and they seemed to pile up like multiplying bonuses.

    Following his n, he allocated four points to his Perception stat to reach 100.

    > [Perception stat has reached 100.]

    > [Perception stat has advanced further.]

    > [Congrattions! Perception stat level has reached Red grade!]

    Finally, his Perception stat reached Red grade. With all four main stats in Red, a new notification appeared.

    > [All stats have reached Red grade.]

    > [Unified Effect granted as a special privilege.]

    > [Remaining bonus stats will be used to unify all color stats.]

    > [Stat information has been updated.]

    This new ¡°Unified Effect¡± caught Suho¡¯s attention, so he checked his refreshed status screen.

    > [Ahn Suho]

    - **Level**: 52

    - **ss**: Healer

    - **Trait**: New Blood

    - **Strength (R)**: 14

    - **Endurance (R)**: 14

    - **Mana (R)**: 14

    - **Perception (R)**: 14

    - **Bonus Stats**: 0

    Looking at the unified stats, Suho felt a thrill. Thanks to the Unified Effect, he¡¯d only needed three bonus stats to increase Perception by 11 points.

    ¡®The Unified Effect only triggers when all stats are the same color and if you¡¯re just one stat away from full unification.¡¯

    It was a rare privilege, difficult to achieve since the requirements were strict. Even if all conditions were met, without any avable bonus stats, the effect wouldn¡¯t activate.

    ¡®This is what they call a hidden privilege.¡¯

    With his status screen updated, Suho finally took a proper break.

    After a quick shower, he checked his secondary phone, which had be his main device. Jo Jin-hwi had messaged him¡ªnews of the Nameless Sword Gate clearance had been published.

    ¡®Let¡¯s see how people are reacting.¡¯

    Opening hisptop, Suho saw that every news outlet, social media tform, and onlinemunity was buzzing with his story.

    - "What the hell is Ahn Suho?"

    - "How long has it been since he cleared the Tower of Trials, and now he¡¯s tackled a Sealed Gate?"

    - "How did he beat the Sword Emperor?"

    - "I once challenged the Sword Emperor, and that guy is insane... Suho actually beat him?"

    - "And how is this guy even alive?"

    - "The Nameless Sword Gate lets you escape halfway."

    - "Oh, makes sense."

    - "So is Ahn Suho the new Sword Emperor?"

    - "You don''t just be the Sword Emperor for beating him; he¡¯s probably surpassed that."

    - "What¡¯s beyond the Sword Emperor?"

    - "I don¡¯t know... Sword God?"

    - "Sword God Ahn Suho, huh?"

    - "Mom! I want to be Ahn Suho when I grow up!"

    - "Same here!"

    - "How did he even get ess to the Nameless Sword Gate? Isn¡¯t it under government management?"

    - "Maybe the government gave him a special pass after the Tower of Trials?"

    - "Let¡¯s ask the KHA."

    - "On it!"

    The general reaction was positive, which was to be expected. He hadn¡¯t yet drawn any serious criticism or the kind of ¡°anti¡± sentiment that oftenes with fame.

    ¡®But if I¡¯ve got fans, critics won¡¯t be far behind.¡¯

    Turning his primary phone back on, he was immediately hit with a barrage of missed calls. Scrolling through them, he noticed one name that had called especially frequently: Park Pyeong-sik, the headhunter from Prime, the top-ranked guild.

    ¡®This guy really doesn¡¯t give up.¡¯

    From the recruiter¡¯s perspective, he had likely spotted Suho¡¯s potential early on, trying to recruit him with a ¡°best possible offer for a rookie.¡± Suho could imagine how much the man was kicking himself now.

    ¡®He¡¯s good, but maybe we¡¯ll work together some other time.¡¯

    Switching off his phone again, Suho¡¯s secondary phone rang. He recognized the number immediately, a wee call.

    Answering, he spoke, ¡°Hey, how¡¯ve you been?¡±

    - "You sound pretty rxed."

    The voice belonged to none other than Gu Yeon-hwa, leader of the Banshee faction. She had called him immediately after reading about his sess.

    ¡°So, what¡¯s your answer?¡±

    - "How about we meet in person?"

    ¡°Is that necessary? I just need a yes or no.¡±

    He wasn¡¯t keen on meeting her in person repeatedly. Allowing her to dictate the terms would give her the impression that she had control, which was far from what Suho wanted.

    He was confident. With his abilities proven, it was clear who needed whom more.

    Gu Yeon-hwa replied, - "Confident, aren¡¯t you? You know we haven¡¯t epted your proposal yet, right?"

    ¡°If you don¡¯t want to, then forget it.¡±

    - "What?"

    ¡°I

    don¡¯t need you that badly. Say no if you want.¡±

    - "Why so sudden¡­?"

    ¡°But you should consider this¡ªwill making an enemy of me really benefit you? I could take you all down whenever I wanted.¡±

    There was silence on the other end. Then, with a sigh, Gu Yeon-hwa responded.

    - "Fine¡­ So, what do you need us to do?"

    Suho smiled, satisfied that the hierarchy had been firmly established.

    ¡°Let¡¯s meet tomorrow. Around lunchtime, at the Nexus Academy in Paju. How¡¯s that?¡±

    - "All of us?"

    ¡°Of course.¡±

    - "That¡¯s difficult. Two of our team members have jobs, and I have sses."

    ¡°If your current lives matter more than revenge, then keep living that way. Maybe I misjudged your desperation.¡±

    - "...Fine. See you tomorrow at the Nexus Academy at noon.¡±

    ¡°Good.¡±

    Suho chuckled as he ended the call, feeling thoroughly prepared for whaty ahead.

 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 n 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 negativements?¡±

    ¡°Exactly. Some people are upset because you announced a n to be a civil servant Hunter, only to immediately join Nexus. But it¡¯s not as bad as you¡¯d think¡ªnegativements 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 tost long. If you read thements, most people seem to ept 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 asting impact. Let¡¯s lock in the support of the public.¡±

    ¡°Absolutely. So, do you have something nned?¡±

    ¡°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!¡±

    Suhoughed. ¡°d 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?¡±@@novelbin@@

    ¡°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 ess 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 ess!¡±

    ¡°Did Captain Jung not know better? If Suho requested it, we should¡¯ve granted it immediately!¡±

    ¡°Next time he requests ess, make sure it¡¯s prioritized.¡±

    It turned out that his efforts to get formal approval had only brought him unnecessary criticism. Exasperated, Jung Chul-minmented, ¡°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 Ind 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.

    - *¡°Is Suho Ahn out of his mind?¡±*

    - *¡°Clearing one Sealed Gate wasn¡¯t enough? Now he¡¯s going for another?¡±*

    - *¡°Tell the people who criticized him for joining Nexus toe out! No other Hunter is tackling Sealed Gates for us!¡±*

    - *222222*

    - *3333333333*

    - *444444444444*

    - *¡°I didn¡¯t criticize him. I believed in him from the start.¡±*

    - *¡°Sword God! You¡¯re¡­ incredible!¡±*

    - *¡°From now on, Suho and I are one. Anyone who insults him insults me.¡±*

    - *¡°Suho Ahn, is he a god?¡±*

    - *¡°Mom! I want to be Suho Ahn when I grow up!¡±*

    As the praise poured in, Suho noticed a certain phenomenon unique to Hunters. While celebrities were scrutinized for the smallest mistakes, the public was generally more forgiving toward Hunters. The reason was simple: whatever their motivation, Hunters risked their lives to protect humanity.

    Captain Jung Chul-min observed the Nexus PR team andmented to Suho, ¡°Seeing you here with Nexus really makes it feel official.¡±

    Suho chuckled. ¡°Yes, it does.¡±

    Then, after a moment¡¯s hesitation, Jung Chul-min lowered his voice and asked quietly, ¡°Did you manage to work out those conditions with Nexus?¡±

    He was asking because none of the articles mentioned Suho¡¯s intention to take the 5th Grade Public Hunter Exam at the end of the year. Seeing Jung¡¯s concern, Suho smiled and replied, ¡°Yes, almost all the conditions we discussed with the Association President have been included in the contract. But remember¡ªthis is our little secret.¡±

    ¡°Of course! My lips are sealed!¡± Jung Chul-min mimed zipping his mouth.

    Suho found the gesture amusing and endearing.

    ¡°Thank you, Captain. Alright, let¡¯s get started.¡±

    Wasting no more time, Suho approached the entrance of the Swamp Gate. As the Gate¡¯s door opened, Jo Jin-hwi and the PR team quickly snapped photos until the door closed behind him.

    As the team lowered their cameras, the PR manager asked Jo, ¡°Do you think he¡¯ll clear this one too?¡±

    ¡°I believe in him. This is Suho Ahn we¡¯re talking about.¡±

    ¡°I know he¡¯s amazing, but I still get nervous watching these. It doesn¡¯t seem real.¡±

    Jo thought for a moment, then smirked. ¡°Care for a little bet to ease your nerves?¡±

    ¡°A bet?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll put 1 million won on Suho seeding.¡±

    The PR manager hesitated, then with a sly smile replied, ¡°Well, I can¡¯t say no to a bet. Though, of course, my true feelings are the opposite. But I¡¯ll put 1 million won on him failing, just for the fun of it.¡±

    ¡°Perfect. Now, let¡¯s head to the control room. We can¡¯t exactly wait outside forever, can we?¡±

    ¡°Agreed.¡±

    The two walked to the control room and settled in.

    Then, something unexpected happened.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    Jung Chul-min, watching the screen, furrowed his brow. Suddenly, he stood, bringing his face close to the monitor with an expression of utter disbelief.

    ¡°The Gate line¡­ it¡¯s disappearing?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    Both the PR manager and Jo crowded closer, their eyes widening. The Gate line¡ªthe energy field that signaled an uncleared Gate¡ªwas indeed vanishing.

    And just a few minutester, the Gate portal itself disappeared, reced by an exit portal that began to emit a bright light.

    Then, from within that portal, Suho Ahn emerged.

    It wasn¡¯t a mistake. The equipment wasn¡¯t malfunctioning. And it was certainly not some borate trick.

    Right there, live on the monitor, stood Suho Ahn, exiting the Gate.

    ¡°W-w-what¡­?¡±

    ¡°How long has it been? Ten, twenty minutes?¡±

    ¡°Ten minutes? It hasn¡¯t even been five!¡±

    ¡°And yet he already cleared it?!¡±

    Suho waved at the camera, and the site manager immediately unlocked the Gate¡¯s entrance, allowing the entire team to rush out to meet him.

    And there he was, standing casually, as if he¡¯d simply taken a stroll, after clearing yet another Sealed Gate.

 Chapter 42

    The room Suho was led to by the staff was the best one in Damhwa.

    However, contrary to his expectation of only seeing Nexus Guild Leader Baedonghyuk and Hunter Association President Jang Kyunghwan, there were two unexpected figures present as well: Vice President Park Gyumin and Special Division Chief Pi Sungyeol.

    ¡®It makes sense for Park Gyumin to be here since he follows Jang Kyunghwan like a shadow, but why is Pi Sungyeol here?¡¯

    What was their agenda?

    One thing was clear, though¡ªWhite auras, symbolizing positive energy, radiated strongly from the group.

    As Suho entered, they weed him warmly.

    ¡°Oh, herees our Hunter.¡±

    ¡°Haha, we¡¯ve been waiting for you, Hunter Ahn.¡±

    In the ce of honor sat Jang Kyunghwan, with Park Gyumin, the Vice President, and Baedonghyuk seated on either side of him. As Suho approached, Baedonghyuk naturally shifted to allow Suho to sit closer to Jang Kyunghwan.

    Jang Kyunghwan, who had already had a few drinks, seemed to be in a good mood as food started being served for Suho.

    With the table set, Jang Kyunghwan raised a bottle and spoke.

    ¡°First, let me congratte you. I heard you conquered that infamous Sealed Gate in under five minutes? Haha, truly, Hunter Ahn Suho is a national treasure and the future of our country. Now, let¡¯s all raise a toast in honor of Hunter Ahn Suho¡¯s achievement!¡±

    ¡°Haha, yes, let¡¯s do it!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a special day, so Hunter Ahn, why don¡¯t you give us a toast? After all, you¡¯re the guest of honor today.¡±

    At Jang Kyunghwan¡¯s suggestion, Suho smiled lightly and didn¡¯t refuse.

    ¡°Then I¡¯ll suggest something simple. When I say ¡®to everyone,¡¯ let¡¯s all respond with ¡®cheers.¡¯¡±

    ¡°Haha, sounds great!¡±

    ¡°To everyone!¡±

    ¡°Cheers!¡±

    *Clink!*

    After the toast, the atmosphere quickly grew morefortable.

    Eventually, after some idle chatter, Jang Kyunghwan began to address the real reason for inviting Baedonghyuk.

    ¡°By the way, I heard from Hunter Ahn that you didn¡¯t impose any fixed contract term, Baedonghyuk. That¡¯s quite impressive.¡±

    ¡°Oh, yes. Typically, contracts are made on a minimum of three-year terms, but Hunter Ahn is an exceptional person. He¡¯s destined to do great things for the country, so thest thing I¡¯d want to do is hold him back with my own personal interests.¡±

    At that, Jang Kyunghwan smiled approvingly.

    ¡°Haha, as expected, Guild Leader Baedonghyuk¡¯s foresight aligns closely with our own at the Korean Hunter Association. Isn¡¯t that right, Hunter Ahn?¡±

    ¡°Yes, thanks to Guild Leader Baedonghyuk¡¯s consideration, I¡¯ve been able to learn a lot about the industry in a morefortable environment. I believe that this experience will enable me to contribute even more if I join the Hunter Association in the future.¡±

    Joining the Hunter Association to aplish more¡ªthat was Jang Kyunghwan¡¯s ultimate hope for Suho. After all, Suho¡¯s achievements would reflect on his own.

    That was why he¡¯d arranged this meeting.

    Taking a cue, Pi Sungyeol chimed in eagerly.

    ¡°I, too, am thrilled at the thought of Hunter Ahn joining our Association. An outstanding talent like him would not only elevate the Association but also strengthen the country¡¯s safety and prestige.¡±

    ¡°Haha, indeed. With that in mind, the President here has arranged a special certificate of appreciation for Hunter Ahn.¡±

    A special certificate of appreciation.

    Suho couldn¡¯t help but smile inwardly at that.

    A certificate signed by the Association President was practically a ticket guaranteeing sess in the uing 5th-grade Hunter recruitment exams.

    Following Park Gyumin¡¯s words, Jang Kyunghwan added.

    ¡°Haha, truth be told, we should have given it to you after the Nameless Sword Gate. I never expected you to clear another Sealed Gate so soon. I was truly shocked when I heard about your conquest of the Swamp of Despair.¡±

    ¡°It was nothing. Considering the rarity of Sealed Gate passes, I was simply grateful for the opportunity and wanted to make the most of it.¡±

    ¡°Haha, such humility from a young man!¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that the truth?¡±

    Jang Kyunghwan praised him, and Park Gyumin eagerly chimed in.

    A warm atmosphere prevailed.

    Taking a sip of his drink, Pi Sungyeol then asked in a rxed tone.

    ¡°So, could you tell us how you managed to conquer the Swamp of Despair? I¡¯m very curious as a fellow Awakened.¡±

    ¡°Oh, yes. I¡¯m not an Awakened myself, but hearing about a ce with hundreds of casualties¡­ how was it, Hunter Ahn?¡±

    Pi Sungyeol¡¯s question.

    Suho knew.

    This was the start of Pi Sungyeol¡¯s interrogation method.

    ¡®Pi Sungyeol¡¯s specialty is to ask seemingly casual questions to extract information he wants.¡¯

    In that sense, it was true that no one knew much about the interior of the Swamp of Despair.

    ording to Suho¡¯s memory, not even Pi Sungyeol knew about the interior before the ¡®Seeker¡¯ had cleared it.

    Suho decided to mix truth with fiction.

    ¡°The Swamp of Despair is nothing more than a single staircase without any monsters.¡±

    He mentioned the ¡®Stairway of Despair.¡¯

    The best lies always contain an element of truth.

    Suho borated on the Stairway of Despair and its powers before weaving in some alternative strategies.

    ¡°¡­By assessing the dangers of the first step, I thought of using tools rather than stepping on it directly. And it worked.¡±

    Suho exined that he had used his spear to ascend the stairs, allowing him to clear the gate in record time.

    Everyone nodded, impressed by his exnation.

    It sounded convincing.

    Pi Sungyeol, especially, seemed impressed.

    ¡°Hmm¡­ most Hunters would try to rely on mental immunity skills or items, but you used a much simpler method?¡±

    ¡°I just thought of it simply. And I got a bit lucky.¡±

    ¡°Indeed, that¡¯s what makes you exceptional, Hunter Ahn. By the way¡­ what level are you currently at? I heard you¡¯re not even at level 100 yet?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m currently level 53.¡±

    ¡°Level 53! Incredible. Then you must have developed a unique trait as well?¡±

    Pi Sungyeol¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement, and the White aura grew stronger.

    Of course.

    Anticipation is a positive emotion.

    ¡®I see, so that¡¯s what he¡¯s after.¡¯

    It made sense in retrospect.

    While Suho¡¯s primary choice for department was Gate Management, Pi Sungyeol had every intention of recruiting him eventually.

    ¡®A capable ¡®hound¡¯ is always valuable to a handler with a de.¡¯

    In that sense, the first thing he would want to verify was the hound¡¯s trait.

    Information on levels, main skills, and ss could be found with a bit of research, but traits were only revealed if the individual chose to disclose them.

    But Suho had no intention of revealing his traits, such as New Blood, Dragon Blood, Vampire Blood, Pocket Dimension House, or Guiyoung Spear.

    Suho replied.

    ¡°My trait is the Path of the Sword. Although I¡¯m a healer, I tend to rely on swordsmanship, so I developed the Path of the Sword.¡±

    ¡°The Path of the Sword¡­ a rather unusual trait for a healer.¡±

    Pi Sungyeol wore a curious expression.

    But Suho could see it.

    The subtle hint of disappointment in Pi Sungyeol¡¯s aura as the White aura dimmed.

    ¡®As expected.¡¯

    Suho understood Pi Sungyeol¡¯s reaction.

    The Special Division housed many hunters with rare traits.

    That¡¯s why it annoyed him.

    To be regarded merely as a ¡®hound.¡¯

    He knew this, but disrespect was never easy to stomach.

    And indeed, Pi Sungyeol thought to himself.

    ¡®Well, that¡¯s fine. The Path of the Sword is typically a dealer¡¯s trait, but with a healer, it could mean he¡¯s a hybrid.¡¯

    Perhaps that¡¯s why?

    Pi Sungyeol chose to see it positively.

    After all, Suho was producing results, regardless of his makeup.

    With that thought, the White aura around Pi Sungyeol brightened again.

    At that moment, Baedonghyuk spoke up.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t know you had the Path of the Sword as your trait. It certainly is an interestingbination.¡±

    ¡°Haha, while I mainly use sword skills, I don¡¯t intend to neglect my healing skills. I¡¯m nning to grow further in the healer ss for the time being, and any support from you, Guild Leader, would be greatly appreciated. As you know, Hunter lifespans are short.¡±

    Baedonghyuk offered a somewhat bitter smile.

    ¡°Of course. I¡¯m well aware that the higher Hunters climb, the greater their mortality rate. As a guild leader, I understand that better than anyone. It¡¯s truly concerning. While I¡¯m thrilled to have someone as talented as Hunter Ahn Suho with us, it pains me to think of the dangers he will have to face.¡±

    He sounded genuinely troubled.

    The White aura dimmed as a sign of his sincerity.

    Then, as he munched on some appetizers, Jang Kyunghwan added.

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s widely known that Hunters have a high mortality rate. I hope Guild Leader Baedonghyuk will continue to support him, as guilds are often more adept than the Association at nurturing Hunters.¡±

    ¡°Haha, certainly. I¡¯ll do my best. I¡¯m always ready to help with any other tasks the

    Association may have.¡±

    And he meant it.

    After all, the reason Baedonghyuk attended this meeting was to maximize Nexus¡¯s rtionship with the Association through Suho.

    This was the best course for Nexus, which usually received little attention from the Association.

    ¡®A strong guild can aplish so much more.¡¯

    Satisfied with Baedonghyuk¡¯s response, Jang Kyunghwan smiled.

    At that moment, Park Gyumin, who had been waiting for a chance to interject, seized the moment.

    ¡°As expected of Guild Leader Baedonghyuk. I¡¯ll do my best to act as the bridge andmunication channel between the Association and Nexus so that our country can be safer and more reputable. Now, let me pour us another drink.¡±

    Typical Park Gyumin.

    Attending a meeting just to make himself known and grab any benefits.@@novelbin@@

    Suho recognized this trait from his previous life and intended to make the most of it.

    epting Park Gyumin¡¯s ss with a smile, Suho replied.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be counting on you, Vice President Park.¡±

    ¡°Haha, of course, of course. Hunter Ahn, don¡¯t hesitate to reach out if you need any assistance, regardless of rank.¡±

    Pi Sungyeol, seated next to Park Gyumin, also raised his ss with a smile.

    ¡°And don¡¯t forget me. My contact is always open. Since I¡¯m a field agent, I can help with the smaller issues.¡±

    ¡°With everyone here offering their support, I feel very reassured. I¡¯ll continue to clear not only the Sealed Gates but every Gate in Korea for the sake of the nation.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the spirit of a young Hunter. Such ambition!¡±

    ¡°Haha! Indeed!¡±

    Laughter filled the air, apanied by the glowing White aura of mutual ambition.

    Each of them hadid their intentions bare.

    With their mutual goals understood, all that remained was for each to secure their interests.

    As the evening reached its peak and the gathering finally ended, Suho¡¯s eyes gleamed.

    What he truly intended to achieve from this meeting was just about to begin.

 Chapter 44

    Suho''s taxi headed to Bucheon.

    He stopped in a secluded neighborhood in Bucheon, where shabby vis were clustered together.

    ording to the records in the Library of Memories, it was certain that the person he was looking for was here.

    Suho slowly walked towards "Pungcheon Vi" and checked the electric meter.

    ¡®This is the ce.¡¯

    Among the shabby vis, one particr unit had abnormally high electricity usage.

    Unit 101.

    And it wasn¡¯t on the first floor, but a semi-basement unit.

    Suho approached unit 101 and activated his sensing ability right in front of the door.

    [ Magic detection is activated. ]

    As his B-grade magic detection took effect, he immediately sensed arge amount of magic power beyond the door.

    ¡®This is it.¡¯

    Having found what he was looking for, Suho stepped back and moved to the side of the vi.

    There, he saw the only window to the semi-basement, slightly open, with faint smoke rising from it.

    It was cigarette smoke.

    ¡®This ce feels like a den of roons...¡¯

    The smoke was already rising from the window, so the inside must be unbearable.

    Suho picked up a nearby brick and threw it at the semi-basement window.

    *Clink!*

    Immediately, a string of curses erupted from within.

    ¡°Damn, what¡¯s that?¡±

    ¡°Who¡¯s out there?¡±

    ¡°Hey! Someone¡¯s outside!¡±

    ¡°Go catch them!¡±

    Suho didn¡¯t run away. He stood confidently, waiting.

    A momentter, the sound of footsteps approached, and four men appeared.@@novelbin@@

    They all looked like rough types, but one of them red at Suho and shouted.

    ¡°Hey, are you crazy? Drunk or something?¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯m not drunk, and I¡¯m not crazy.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re the ones, right? The ones who only steal digital wallets in strange ways.¡±

    At those words, their expressions shifted immediately.

    ¡°Seems like he knows. Then, Seogiwon must be here too, right?¡±

    Seogiwon.

    Suho¡¯s familiar name made the men narrow their eyes and start whispering among themselves.

    ¡°Who¡¯s that guy?¡±

    ¡°How does he know?¡±

    ¡°Is he a cop?¡±

    ¡°Cop or not, we should catch him first.¡±

    ¡°Are you stupid? If we touch a cop, we¡¯re screwed.¡±

    ¡°Who cares? We¡¯re already in too deep. Let¡¯s just shut him up first, and then figure it out.¡±

    ¡°Damn¡­¡±

    Their strategy meeting concluded.

    The n was simple¡ªcatch Suho and shut him up.

    Suho, with his keen hearing, overheard their conversation and chuckled.

    ¡°Idiots.¡±

    Go ahead, try it.

    If you catch me, I¡¯ll recruit you all.

    As the men prepared to approach, Suho immediately drew his Guiyoung Spear.

    He threw it and pierced one of the men¡¯s shadows.

    [ Shadow Binding is activated. ]

    [ Shadow Hemorrhage is activated. ]

    ¡°Ugh!!¡±

    The man with the spear embedded in his shadow let out a pained groan.

    That¡¯s right.

    It hurts.

    The Guiyoung Spear not only immobilizes but also causes a painful hemorrhage effect.

    ¡°Jiseong!¡±

    ¡°Damn you!¡±

    At Suho¡¯s preemptive strike, the thugs immediately went intobat mode and rushed toward him.

    Swords, shields, and spears¡ªordinary weapons at first nce.

    Suho used his Suho Style to evade their attacks and activated his Blood Weapon at the same time.

    [ Blood Weapon is activated. ]

    A long staff materialized in Suho¡¯s hands.

    He intentionally summoned a staff rather than a sword.

    These weren¡¯t monsters meant to die¡ªthey were valuable sacrifices for Pi Sungyeol.

    Suho decided to call it a ¡°blood club¡± and used it to smash the vicle of the nearest thug.

    ¡°Ugh!¡±

    The man whose vicle shattered rolled on the ground in agony.

    Suho swiftly crushed the shield of the next attacker and shattered both of his arms.

    Then he kicked the thug¡¯s shin, breaking his leg and leaving him unable to move.

    ¡°Y-You crazy¡­!¡±

    Now only the one holding the spear remained.

    The man rolled his eyes, clearly conflicted.

    Should he attack or run?

    His hesitation didn¡¯tst long.

    He fled.

    Suho, seeing the man running away, smirked.

    ¡°Typical scumbags.¡±

    Suho transformed his blood club into a sharp spear and threw it at the fleeing man.

    [ Throwing Spear is activated. ]

    *Crack!*

    The spear pierced the man¡¯s calf and exited through his shin.

    The man copsed to the ground, squirming in pain.

    Suho walked up to the one trapped in the Shadow Binding and kicked his thigh with all his might.

    With his red-grade strength, the thug¡¯s thigh exploded.

    ¡°Ugh!!¡±

    The man, wracked with pain, tried to copse but couldn¡¯t move because he was still impaled by the Guiyoung Spear, only able to scream in agony.

    Good.

    With that, they were all incapacitated.

    Suho opened his Pocket Dimension and threw the incapacitated thugs inside, closing the portal afterward.

    The Pocket Dimension was the safest ce to contain them for now.

    Suho then made his way to the semi-basement.

    The interior of the semi-basement was more disorganized than he expected.

    There were cash, ying cards, and gaming chips scattered around the living room as if a gambling session had just ended. Empty cigarette packs, ashtrays, and take-out containers littered the floor.

    Suho, disgusted by the rancid smoke, used his magic to expel the stale air from the room.

    The smoke dissipated, and his vision cleared.

    With the room now breathable, Suho started checking the rooms one by one.

    It didn¡¯t take long before he found what he hade to Bucheon for¡ªSeogiwon.

    ¡®So, this is where he was.¡¯

    Suho¡¯s reason foring to Bucheon wasn¡¯t just to find a viin for Pi Sungyeol.

    He hade to find Seogiwon, someone crucial for Suho¡¯s ns going forward.

    Seogiwon was slumped in front of aptop.

    He wasn¡¯t dead or unconscious.

    His personal ability had just been activated.

    ¡®He should wake up soon.¡¯

    Suho sat down in front of him and waited.

    He waited for Seogiwon to regain consciousness on his own.

    ***

    How much time had passed?

    Finally, Seogiwon¡¯s body began to move.

    He twitched his fingers as if waking from a sleep, and after a moment, he turned his body and raised his head with a groan.

    Upon meeting Suho¡¯s gaze, his body stiffened.

    ¡°U-uh...?¡±

    ¡°Hello?¡±

    ¡°W-who¡­?¡±

    ¡°Nice to meet you. I¡¯m Ahn Suho.¡±

    Suho greeted him with a friendly smile.

    Seogiwon blinked in shock, his mouth half open, and then his eyes widened in disbelief.

    ¡°Ahn Suho?! The Ahn Suho I know?!¡±

    ¡°You know me?¡±

    ¡°Y-You¡¯re really Ahn Suho? The one who¡¯s all over the news?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s me.¡±

    ¡°W-What are you doing here¡­? Wait, what happened to the guys who were here¡­?¡±

    Seogiwon¡¯s words came out in a jumble.

    It made sense.

    He had been held captive by the four men he called ¡°bosses¡± for six months, so his mental state was unstable.

    During those six months, he had endured daily beatings and abuse.

    Suho extended his hand to him, sensing that dialogue was not possible in his current state.

    Then, the effect of the item activated.

    [ The Ring of Emotions reacts to the target¡¯s strongest emotions. ]

    [ The absorbable emotion is ¡®ck.¡¯ ]

    [ Absorbing the emotion. ]

    Suho heard a rush of wind in his ears as the negative energy, the ck emotion, was absorbed by the ring.

    As the energy was absorbed, Seogiwon¡¯sbored breathing slowly stabilized, and in no time, his mind and body became much calmer.

    ¡®There¡¯s no better item for emotional healing than the Ring of Emotions.¡¯

    This was a technique Suho had learned from the Seeker.

    While its effects weren¡¯t permanent, using it when necessary allowed for at least some degree of continuous care for an individual.

    Seogiwon, now calm, still looked shocked, but he was moreposed. He alternated his gaze between his hands and Suho¡¯s face.

    ¡°Are you feeling better now?¡±

    ¡°How could this¡­?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s just a skill effect. You seemed unstable, so I took action.¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­¡±

    Seogiwon nodded at Suho¡¯s exnation.

    Finally, they could have a normal conversation.

    Seogiwon spoke first.

    ¡°So¡­ what happens now?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you already know everything?¡±

    ¡°Yes, more or less, I¡¯ve gathered the details.¡±

    ¡°Of course¡­¡±

    He seemed to despair.

    It was only natural.

    Seogiwon knew that everything he had done during his six months of captivity had been illegal.

    He lowered his head and spoke.

    ¡°Am I going to prison?¡±

    ¡°Prison?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°Because everything I did was bad¡­¡±

    ¡°Everything you did was under duress. You were forced to do it while being held captive.¡±

    ¡°¡­Right?¡±

    ¡°So why would you go to prison?¡±

    ¡°...I guess you¡¯re right?¡±

    Suho almost burst intoughter at his response.

    ¡®Seogiwon¡­ I didn¡¯t know the famous ¡®Meteor¡¯ was like this.¡¯

    Meteor.

    That was Seogiwon¡¯s nickname, given by those who respected him.

    His nickname came from the fact that, in his past life, he had sacrificed himself to destroy a star to save people.

    Suho smiled faintly as he asked, ¡°So, you know me?¡±

    ¡°Yes, well¡­ wouldn¡¯t it be strange if I didn¡¯t know? You¡¯re the most famous person in Korea right now.¡±

    ¡°True, I guess that¡¯s true.¡±

    It would be strange not to know him, considering how much he was covered in the media every day.

    Seogiwon asked, ¡°But¡­ how did you know I was here? I thought you weren¡¯t part of the Association yet?¡±

    Suho nodded and replied, ¡°That¡¯s right, I¡¯m not part of the Association yet. But I have a special ability that no one knows about, and that ability helped me find you.¡±

    ¡°A special ability?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I have a prophetic ability.¡±

    ¡°¡­What?¡±

    Seogiwon¡¯s eyes widened in surprise.

    Of course, it was a lie.

    The truth was, there had never been any prophetic abilities, skills, or items discovered in Suho¡¯s current or past lives.

    But Suho had to lie. To get Seogiwon, also known as Meteor, involved in his ns, this level of deceit was necessary.

    Suho said, ¡°Seogiwon, I¡¯ve never revealed my prophetic ability before. But the reason I¡¯m telling you about it now is because you¡¯re an essential part of my future ns.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I am?¡±

    ¡°Yes. You¡¯re the only one in Korea who possesses the ¡®Digitation¡¯ ability, and you are needed for what¡¯sing next.¡±

 Chapter 45

    **Digitization.**

    It is the name of the unique ability in the cyber system among the many abilities in the world. Its effect is to transmit a yer''s mind onto the.

    That was the only effect of Digitization, and it was an extremely rare ability that had only manifested in two people worldwide.

    Of course, initially, no one knew how amazing Digitization was.

    In fact, no one even knew it existed.

    ¡®That was until Overload appeared.¡¯

    **Overload.**

    He, along with Seogiwon, was one of the only two people in the world with a cyber system ability. He was also the owner of Digitization.

    Overload was an elite graduate of the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology, which might exin his sharp intellect. He quickly realized how powerful Digitization was.

    With this understanding, Overload spent about ten years preparing and eventually used Digitization to take control of all the Earth¡¯swork systems, creating an unprecedented situation.

    Suho shook his head as he recalled that time.

    ¡®Thinking about it again, it was really absurd.¡¯

    It truly was an unprecedented event.

    After all, Overload had literally taken control of all the electronic systems on Earth¡ªthe entire.

    At first, everyone thought it was impossible.

    However, Overload confidently took control of all thework systems and eventually held the world hostage using nuclear weapons from various countries. At that time, people thought the world would end because of Overload, not the Gates.

    Even though the world was undergoing massive changes and the yer system was born, modern society still relied heavily on the intework systems.

    So, Overload arrogantly called himself the Overlord of the Earth and the ruler of the.

    And then appeared Seogiwon.

    Seogiwon asked, ¡°Why? What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°Because only you can prevent the future disaster.¡±

    ¡°A disaster?¡±

    Seogiwon¡¯s eyes widened at the mention of a disaster.

    If it were someone else, he would haveughed and dismissed it as a joke.

    But the man in front of him was none other than Suho Ahn¡ªthe talk of the town and the ultimate issue maker.

    Moreover, wasn¡¯t it Suho who had found him and rescued him when neither the police nor the Association could?

    Suho continued, ¡°Yes, in the near future, a man-made disaster will threaten the world. Someone with the same ability as you will emerge in another country.¡±

    ¡°¡­Ah!¡±

    The moment Suho said this, Seogiwon immediately understood.

    He knew how powerful his ability was.

    ¡®In fact, Seogiwon had already used his ability to escape on his own.¡¯

    How did he escape?

    It was simple.

    Like Overload, Seogiwon had undergone a mental awakening due to the excessive stress of being imprisoned for a year. Using his Digitization ability, he called the police and escaped.

    Of course, afterward, he fled during the police investigation.

    He had be disillusioned with being involved with people and was sick of it.

    After that, he disappeared.

    With Digitization, erasing one¡¯s traces from the world was an easy task.

    But just when it seemed like he would live in hiding forever, Overload appeared, forcing Seogiwon to resurface.

    Seogiwon realized then that only he could stop Overload.

    So, he uploaded a self-written autobiography to the inte, like a will, and chose to perish with Overload.

    Unlike Suho, who had been quietly living his life, Seogiwon decided to end Overload¡ªthe immensely powerful being who had dered himself a god and ruler of the.

    Seogiwon became known as Meteor because of his sacrifice.

    He had ended Overload.

    ¡®But this time, neither the birth of Overload nor Seogiwon¡¯s death will happen.¡¯

    Suho had nned it so.

    Suho continued, ¡°Seogiwon, through my ability, I can foresee future events. That¡¯s why I was able to clear the Tower of Trials and the Sealed Gates. And that¡¯s why I need you. This world will eventually be destroyed by the Gates and the system, and I can¡¯t stop it alone. So, Seogiwon, will you join me?¡±

    Seogiwon¡¯s eyes began to tremble, as if struck by an earthquake.

    Not only was he surprised that he had been rescued by such an unexpected person, but now, that person was offering to make him a partner.

    Moreover, the reason was something grand.

    The world is going to be destroyed?

    Perhaps that¡¯s why.

    Seogiwon felt his head might explode.

    It was hard to logically ept this absurd situation.

    But¡­

    [ The Ring of Emotions reacts to the target''s strongest emotions. ]

    [ Absorbing emotions of ¡®ck¡¯. ]

    [ Absorbing emotions from the target. ]

    As Seogiwon¡¯s emotions became unstable, Suho immediately activated the Ring of Emotions.

    Seogiwon¡¯s mind cleared up miraculously, and he could think calmly again.

    ¡®What should I do?¡¯

    Seogiwon found it difficult to make a decision.

    But that hesitation didn¡¯tst long.

    There were three reasons for this.

    The first reason was that while he was imprisoned, he had once sworn that if he could escape, he would sacrifice his soul to a demon.

    The second reason was that he felt too guilty to refuse Suho, who had saved him.

    After all, Suho was his savior.

    And the final reason was¡­

    ¡®There¡¯s someone like me¡­¡¯

    Seogiwon swallowed nervously.

    He knew exactly what his ability was capable of.

    So, he vaguely understood the type of disaster Suho had mentioned.

    That¡¯s why he couldn¡¯t refuse.

    Seogiwon had always been a kind-hearted person, overflowing with altruism.

    After much deliberation, Seogiwon couldn¡¯t help but answer.

    ¡°¡­I¡­ agree.¡±

    A slow response.

    But he had given his permission.

    And with that, Suho smiled.

    ¡°Thank you for epting.¡±

    ¡°No¡­ I¡¯m the one who should thank you.¡±

    Seogiwon¡¯s eptance.

    Suho had expected him to ept his offer.

    From Seogiwon¡¯s autobiography, Suho knew that he was a selfless person, willing to sacrifice himself for humanity.

    Suho smiled and said, ¡°Well then, before we get into the details, shall we go grab something to eat?¡±

    ¡°Food?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    With that, Suho nced around.

    There were empty convenience store lunchboxes, bags of bread, and empty milk cartons around Seogiwon¡¯sptop.

    He had been living like a prisoner, eating these kinds of foods.

    In the corner was an old nket, which was Seogiwon¡¯s bed.

    Suho turned his gaze back to Seogiwon.

    Seogiwon, swallowing his saliva out of hunger, said, ¡°But I don¡¯t have any money¡­¡±

    ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll treat you. Don¡¯t worry about the money.¡±

    ¡°Well, then, please just this once¡­¡±

    Seogiwon said awkwardly, lowering his head and smiling.

    Suho was a bit surprised by his actions.

    He hadn¡¯t expected Seogiwon to say something like that in such a situation.

    That¡¯s why Suho was even more determined to punish the four who had kidnapped Seogiwon.

    ¡®To lock up such a kind person for half a year¡­¡¯

    What was even more absurd was that the four who imprisoned Seogiwon were like brothers to him, having grown up in the same orphanage.

    Suho shook his head, reached into his inventory, and pulled out slippers that he had prepared earlier, handing them to Seogiwon.

    Seogiwon¡¯s eyes widened again.

    ¡°How¡­?¡±

    ¡°You know, so go ahead and wear them.¡±@@novelbin@@

    ¡°¡­Thank you.¡±

    Suho had intentionally brought slippers for Seogiwon.

    ording to his autobiography, while he was imprisoned, Seogiwon had been made to live without even shoes to prevent him from escaping.

    The two of them left the basement, climbed the stairs, and when they finally stepped outside, Seogiwon saw the blue sky, clear and without a cloud, and the bright shining sun.

    Seogiwon was stunned.

    He hadn¡¯t realized how much time had passed, but also, it had been so long since he had seen the clear sky and the bright sun.

    ¡°Ah¡­¡±

    It was hope rediscovered for Seogiwon.

    ---

    Suho took Seogiwon to a quiet old soup restaurant nearby.

    Luckily, since it was an old ce, no one recognized Suho, and the two could eatfortably in peace.

    When the soup came, Seogiwon ate it quickly.

    It was the first proper meal he¡¯d had in a long time.

    Suho, seeing him finish his meal so quickly, ordered another bowl of soup and some boiled pork, and Seogiwon didn¡¯t refuse, though he was embarrassed.

    Once Seogiwon¡¯s stomach was filled, he finally let out a sigh of relief.

    He smiled awkwardly and said, ¡°Haha¡­ Sorry. It¡¯s just that it¡¯s been so long since I had a proper meal, I didn¡¯t realize¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. You eat well, so it¡¯s nice to see.¡±

    ¡°Thank you. But¡­ if it¡¯s okay, I have a question.¡±

    ¡°Of course. We¡¯re a team now.¡±

    ¡°Thank you. But¡­ how should I address you?¡±

    Seogiwon asked carefully.

    Suho smiled and said, ¡°Just call me casually. We¡¯re only one year apart, so you can call me by my name.¡±

    ¡°Oh, no! Even though we¡¯re only a year apart, you¡¯re still older. I¡¯ll call you ¡®Hyung,¡¯ then. You can speak casually with me too.¡±

    ¡°Alright, then.¡±

    The term ¡®Hyung.¡¯

    Maybe because he had lived in the orphanage for a long time, Seogiwon

    was morefortable with that term.

    Seogiwon said, ¡°Hyung, then why the Association?¡±

    ¡°Why the Association?¡±

    ¡°Well, with a prophetic ability like yours, you could create your own guild or join anotherrge guild, right? Wouldn¡¯t joining the Association limit your activities?¡±

    Suho chuckled.

    He had been asked the same question before.

    But since Seogiwon had lied about being a prophet, Suho couldn¡¯t give him the same answer.

    Suho said, ¡°Because it¡¯s a national agency.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°No matter how big a guild gets, it can¡¯tpare to the authority of the government. And I n to prevent theing destruction of the world, but I also want to minimize the damage caused by other things before that. For that, there¡¯s no better ce than the Association.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­¡±

    Seogiwon nodded, understanding Suho¡¯s reasoning.

    Suho continued, ¡°Of course, I¡¯m not asking you to join the Association. You¡¯re you, and I¡¯m me. What we do together is separate from that. But I promise you this: while you¡¯re with me, I¡¯ll make sure this never happens again.¡±

    Seogiwon smiled, feeling reassured by Suho¡¯s words.

    ¡°Yes, thank you. I¡¯ll trust you, Hyung.¡±

    ¡°In that case.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s do something together first.¡±

    ¡°Something? What kind of¡­¡±

    ¡°You know the guys who imprisoned you.¡±

    ¡°Ah, yes.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s take care of them first.¡±

    ¡°¡­Huh?¡±

    ¡°Follow me.¡±

    With a grin, Suho left the restaurant with Seogiwon.

 Chapter 46

    ¡°¡­What? Who? A thief?¡±

    - Yes, that¡¯s correct. Senior.

    Special Division of the Great Union.

    Upon receiving Suho''s call, Pi Seongyeol furrowed his brow in disbelief.

    - If you check the list of wanted criminals, you¡¯ll see a thief. The ones who only target digital wallets.

    At Suho''s exnation, Pi Seongyeol gestured to his subordinate, who quickly disyed the thief¡¯s data on a tablet and handed it to him.

    Pi Seongyeol silently read through the data on the thief.

    Then, without realizing it, he let out a chuckle and spoke.

    ¡°There is a thief. At first, I thought it was just a hacker because he was only targeting digital wallets, but it turns out that arge amount of magical energy was detected from the damaged wallets. They¡¯re ssified as viins, not just ordinary criminals.¡±

    - Yes, that¡¯s right.

    "So, where are they now?"

    - I''ve already dealt with them, and they¡¯re under my control. Of course, I¡¯ve also gathered all the evidence, and although not all the stolen digital currency, I¡¯ve seized all that they had.

    ¡°What? Already?¡±

    - Yes, Senior, I took care of everything beforehand so all that¡¯s left is to send them in.

    At Suho¡¯s words, Pi Seongyeol narrowed his eyes once more.

    It was a look of truth, and at the same time, one of admiration.

    With his trademark voice, rough as if something were stuck in his throat, Pi Seongyeol spoke.

    ¡°Ha¡­ I knew it. You¡¯re something else, Junior. I haven¡¯t even told you what to do, but somehow you managed to handle everything just like I would.¡±

    - Haha, you tter me.

    ¡°tter? Who¡¯s ttering here¡­ You can¡¯t learn this kind of thing. It¡¯s a natural talent. So, where are they? I¡¯ll send some support right away.¡±

    - Thank you. The location is here, let me give you the address.

    Suho gave the address, then ended the call.

    Afterward, he entered the underground hideout where the thieves were staying.

    Inside, Seogiwon, the former ''boss'' now known as ''the thief,'' was beating up the criminals.

    ¡°Ugh! I¡¯m sorry! I¡¯m sorry!!¡±

    ¡°Please! Please! I won¡¯t do it again!¡±

    ¡°Ahh!!¡±

    Suho watched the scene with satisfaction.

    The suggestion he had made to Seogiwon at the soup restaurant.

    It was for Seogiwon to personally punish the ones who had made him like this.

    This wasn¡¯t the only reason for the suggestion, but the main one was to help Seogiwon erase the trauma left in his heart.

    ¡®ording to his autobiography, Seogiwon had suffered from his past memories for a long time after going into hiding.¡¯

    That¡¯s why Suho had made this suggestion.

    By personally punishing them this way, it would aid in Seogiwon¡¯s mental healing.

    ¡®If it¡¯s not enough, I can take care of it myself.¡¯

    Suho had the means.

    He had the Ring of Emotions.

    At that moment, Seogiwon, hearing Suho¡¯s presence, wiped the sweat from his brow and lowered his head in greeting.

    ¡°Hyung, you¡¯ve arrived?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. By the way, did you beat them up good?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I only beat them enough that they won¡¯t die this time.¡±

    ¡°Good job.¡±

    Seogiwon spoke with a sense of relief.

    Seeing his expression made Suho think that the Ring of Emotions was truly impressive.

    After all, if it wasn¡¯t for the Ring, Seogiwon would have found it difficult even to look at these criminals, let alone punish them.

    As Seogiwon continued his physical punishment, Suho began to check the documents he had prepared earlier.

    It was a handwritten confession from the criminals themselves. It detailed their motivations formitting the crime, how they had kidnapped and confined Seogiwon, and the crimes they hadmitted using him.

    ¡®This should be enough.¡¯

    Seogiwon was indeed a powerful individual, but Suho had no intention of hiding his existence from Pi Seongyeol.

    Currently, only Suho knew the full value of Seogiwon.

    ¡®Besides, hiding it would just seem suspicious.¡¯

    So, Suho nned to make Seogiwon appear as a pitiable victim, shifting Pi Seongyeol¡¯s focus away from him.

    Suho was confident.

    From what he knew about Pi Seongyeol, the man would never show affection unless he saw usefulness, so if Seogiwon could remain low-profile for now, Pi Seongyeol would likely stay on his good side.

    After a while, the officers sent by the Special Division arrived at the vi.

    However¡­

    ¡°Wow¡­ Junior, you¡¯ve been suffering here alone all this time?¡±

    Surprisingly, Pi Seongyeol himself appeared at the scene.

    Suho, taken aback, hurriedly greeted him.

    ¡°Senior, you¡¯vee? But how did you find the time toe in person¡­¡±

    He didn¡¯t expect Pi Seongyeol to show up in person.

    Pi Seongyeol smiled as he spoke.

    ¡°Haha, it¡¯s a little surprise, don¡¯t you think? We¡¯re special, after all, aren¡¯t we?¡±

    Special, my foot.

    But it was a bit surprising.

    Who would have thought that Pi Seongyeol, so busy, would actuallye here in person?

    But the fact that he did meant that Suho was receiving Pi Seongyeol¡¯s affection and attention.

    Looking at the trembling thieves lying on the floor, Pi Seongyeol asked,

    ¡°Are these the thieves?¡±

    - Yes, that¡¯s right.

    ¡°I see. But¡­ why are they like this?¡±

    As it happened, their treatment had just finished, and their condition was now fine, but the healing light couldn¡¯t erase the bloodstains on their clothes.

    However, Suho remained calm and confidently responded.

    ¡°Actually, there was some resistance during the process of subduing them.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡±

    Pi Seongyeol gave the criminals another nce.

    ¡°But I don¡¯t see any injuries?¡±

    ¡°I made sure to treat them thoroughly.¡±

    ¡°What? Hahaha!¡±

    Pi Seongyeol burst intoughter.

    He seemed genuinely amused, even tears welling up at the corners of his eyes.

    Wiping them away, he said,

    ¡°Oh, this is hrious. I didn¡¯t think you had this in you, Junior. You¡¯re very straightforward with your work, huh?¡±

    ¡°Sorry about that. It¡¯s just that this is my first time in this kind of situation¡­¡±

    ¡°No, no. Am I scolding you? I¡¯m praising you. I guess you¡¯ve never been on a real mission, huh?¡±

    Pi Seongyeol moved closer to Suho and lowered his voice.

    ¡°If they were regr criminals, maybe we¡¯d care, but for viins, as long as we don¡¯t kill them, it¡¯s fine. Our people will heal them, and the evidence will disappear anyway.¡±

    ¡°Oh, really?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, honestly, for ordinary criminals, as long as you don¡¯t kill them, you can beat them up. Our people are great at healing, after all. How long are we going to keep worrying about criminals'' rights?¡±

    ¡°Special Division, as always.¡±

    Pi Seongyeol proudly stated.

    Suho knew this approach well, having once worked in the Special Division himself.

    And he had learned this style of handling things from Pi Seongyeol.

    ¡®How could you catch yer criminals without leaving any wounds?¡¯

    In that sense, Suho was d he had chosen to be a healer rather than a warrior this time.

    Before, he had always brought a partner healer or used medicine on criminals, but now he didn¡¯t have to do that anymore.

    Soon, Suho handed the prepared documents to Pi Seongyeol, who flipped through them and nodded.

    ¡°Wow, this paperwork is nice and clean. We could deploy this immediately.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°The motives for the crime are clear, and all the stolen ounts are listed. But¡­¡±

    As he read through the documents, Pi Seongyeol¡¯s gaze shifted to Seogiwon.

    ¡°Did they use him?¡±

    - Yes, that¡¯s right.

    During the investigation, Seogiwon had been following Suho¡¯s instructions and sat looking as pitiful as possible.

    In reality, even without trying, Seogiwon¡¯s appearance already resembled that of a homeless person.@@novelbin@@

    Unkempt hair, dark circles under his eyes, tattered clothes that hadn¡¯t been washed in who knows how long¡ªhis disheveled appearance served as raw proof of the hardship he had endured.

    Suho quickly added,

    ¡°Seogiwon and these criminals are from the same orphanage. Once they learned about his unique traits, they kidnapped and confined him to n their crimes.¡±

    ¡°Tsk tsk, they deserve to be killed. But this cyber ability¡­ I¡¯ve seen many types, but this is the first of its kind. What¡¯s the principle behind it?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not a real technology but a yer ability used for system crimes. That¡¯s how they were able to crack theplicated digital wallets.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that risky? We should manage this carefully.¡±

    ¡°Is it really necessary? As far as I know, Seogiwon is the only one with this ability.¡±

    ¡°Are there no others abroad?¡±

    ¡°I looked into it, and there are none.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡±

    Listening to Suho¡¯s exnation, Pi Seongyeol nodded. Then, he narrowed his eyes and asked with subtle interest,

    ¡°But¡­ can this Digitization ability be used in the Gate?¡±

    As expected, Pi Seongyeol¡¯s focus was elsewhere.

    No matter how rare the ability, the real question was whether it could be practically used.

    Suho

    quickly shook his head.

    ¡°I already asked, and since it¡¯s a cyber ability, it has nothing to do with the Gate or simr matters.¡±

    ¡°So, it¡¯s a skill that can only be used in the real world?¡±

    - Yes, that¡¯s right. It¡¯s likely that private guilds specializing in security would want to hire him.¡±

    ¡°Hm, if it¡¯s security, then it¡¯s useless for us. We don¡¯t needbatants or support in that area.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I guess if that¡¯s your standard, it makes sense. By the way, Senior¡­¡±

    ¡°Hmm?¡±

    ¡°May I ask what will happen to Seogiwon? Since he¡¯s a victim, will he face punishment as well?¡±

    Suho carefully asked.

    However, the tone and expression subtly implied that he hoped Seogiwon wouldn¡¯t be punished.

    He had intentionally done so.

    Currently, Pi Seongyeol seemed to be favoring Suho, and since Suho had proven his abilities with the thieves, it was highly likely that Pi Seongyeol would agree with his wishes.

    ¡®That way, I¡¯ll gain even more of his favor.¡¯

    After all, how could Pi Seongyeol refuse a request from someone who had humbled himself so much?

    Pi Seongyeol grinned and said,

    ¡°Why? Did taking care of the victim make you soft?¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say I¡¯ve be soft, but¡­ he really looks pitiful.¡±

    ¡°Ha ha, yeah. As you said, we can¡¯t punish the victim. Thew is more humane and warm than people think. So don¡¯t worry about the aftermath. He¡¯ll be cleared of charges, and I¡¯ll help him getpensation from those guys.¡±

    ¡°Really? Thank you, Senior.¡±

    ¡°Thank me? I¡¯m just doing what¡¯s fair. But¡­¡±

    Pi Seongyeol narrowed his eyes again and asked,

    ¡°How did you find out about this case in the first ce?¡±

 Chapter 48

    Seogiwon, clearly stunned, asked,

    ¡°Aputer virus? You¡¯re saying I¡¯m supposed to level up using aputer virus?¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    Suho said it as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

    It was exactly as he said.

    Suho was nning to level Seogiwon up using aputer virus that he had prepared himself.

    Suho continued exining.

    ¡°I told you earlier, right? This is different from virtual reality. This ce affects the real world. If you die or get hurt here, it¡¯ll have consequences in the real world. You¡¯ve experienced that, haven¡¯t you?¡±

    Seogiwon quickly nodded, saying,

    ¡°So, theputer virus could kill me?¡±

    ¡°Exactly. The virus was created with the goal of either destroying or hacking the target. So, you¡¯ll have to fight these guys with your life on the line.¡±

    ¡°Me?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, who else is going to fight them? Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be drawing aggro with you.¡±

    Suho opened his inventory and handed Seogiwon a spear, one that he had purchased earlier.@@novelbin@@

    ¡°Can you handle a spear?¡±

    ¡°I can use it a little.¡±

    ¡°I thought so. For beginners, a spear is easier to handle than a sword. By the way, what ss are you?¡±

    ¡°A mage.¡±

    Suho asked even though he already knew the answer.

    It made the conversation feel more natural.

    Suho nodded and said,

    ¡°Then you can use the spear as a defensive tool. I¡¯ll tank up front, and you can shoot magic from the back and get the feel of things again. It¡¯s been a while since you¡¯ve hunted, right?¡±

    Suho had no intention of making Seogiwon rush things or push himself too hard.

    For him, the most important thing wasn¡¯t just rapid leveling but helping Seogiwon recover the skills he had forgotten after being locked away for half a year.

    Was it because of this?

    Seogiwon, clearly moved by Suho¡¯s words, replied,

    ¡°Okay, I understand. And thank you, Hyung.¡±

    ¡°No need to thank me. Alright, let¡¯s open the door.¡±

    Suho nodded and opened the door marked "Free File Cleaner."

    Surprisingly, the door opened smoothly, and it didn¡¯t seem like it contained any virus at all.

    Seogiwon quietly remarked,

    ¡°Well, as expected of a virus¡­ the name is quite fitting.¡±

    ¡°Free cleaners are perfect for hiding viruses.¡±

    As they entered, they found themselves in a space resembling a restaurant counter, with an attendant standing behind the counter.

    When the two entered, the attendant spoke,

    ¡°Wee, are you here to use the free file cleaner?¡±

    The attendant was a woman, dressed neatly and looking very trustworthy.

    However, instead of answering, Suho chuckled and said to Seogiwon,

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t it look convincing?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I almost answered.¡±

    Neither of them responded.

    Why? It was simple.

    As soon as they answered that question, the door they had opened would automatically open, releasing the viruses hidden inside the file into Jo Jin-hwi¡¯sptop.

    For example, the attendant there was like an auto-responder programmed into a file-clicking program that asks the user questions.

    - Would you like to run the file cleaner?

    That¡¯s why they didn¡¯t answer.

    They didn¡¯t have to worry about the attendant¡¯s gaze either, because she wasn¡¯t really a living person. She was just a shell of a program.

    Seogiwon nodded and said,

    ¡°This is my first time seeing a file with a hidden virus. I didn¡¯t expect the inside to be like this.¡±

    ¡°What about the digital wallets? You¡¯ve only been hacking cryptocurrency wallets so far, right?¡±

    ¡°There are firewalls and encryption programs installed there, but structurally, it¡¯s simr to this ce. If you enter normally, the program will ept you, and you just input the password... so instead of going through the front door, I attacked the building¡¯s outer wall to steal the cryptocurrency. The outer wall was thick, so it was a bit difficult.¡±

    That¡¯s why Seogiwon hadn¡¯t been caught by the cryptocurrency exchange.

    When the sudden external attack happened, the exchange kept running antivirus programs, but it wasn¡¯t a hack or virus infiltration. From the program¡¯s point of view, Seogiwon was an irregr presence, appearing in an unexpected way and destroying the exchange¡¯s program.

    Suho asked,

    ¡°So, what did you use to break in?¡±

    ¡°I used the magic skills I had learned before. At first, I tried using a pickaxe and hammer, but using magic skills turned out to be the most efficient way.¡±

    ¡°Interesting.¡±

    ¡°I thought it was interesting too, at first.¡±

    Suho nodded as he looked around.

    Then he spotted an entrance that clearly looked suspicious.

    There was no door.

    It was just an open space that resembled a door.

    Suho walked toward it.

    The attendant didn¡¯t stop them.

    She wasn¡¯t a real attendant, but an auto-programmed shell.

    As he approached and peeked inside,

    ¡°Wow.¡±

    Suho could see it.

    Beyond the dark entrance was a vast space.

    And inside, he saw zombies¡ªno,puter viruses that resembled zombies¡ªwandering around aimlessly with vacant eyes.

    Their heads hadbels like this written above them:

    - Kkdokmshp Lv.??

    Viruses whose names and levels were unknown.

    Their names were like that because they were viruses.

    But their levels were somewhat predictable.

    ording to Seogiwon¡¯s autobiography, they had levels simr to the first person they encountered.

    Seogiwon, who had just entered, was horrified when he saw the endless swarm of them.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t there too many?¡±

    ¡°Viruses are like that. They were originally created to destroy other people¡¯sputers, so they should be as numerous as insects.¡±

    ¡°Do we have to defeat all of them?¡±

    ¡°No, this is more like a field than a dungeon in a game. We can leave this ce, but they can¡¯t. Remember how we didn¡¯t answer the attendant¡¯s question?¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­¡±

    ¡°So, if you feel like you¡¯re going to die, you can run toward the exit. If you fail to escape, you¡¯ll die. So stay sharp.¡±

    Suho activated his skill.

    [ Blood Weapon is activated. ]

    A blood sword materialized in his hand.

    Suho, holding the blood sword, said,

    ¡°I¡¯ll draw their attention, so you just stay near the exit and shoot your magic. If it feels like you¡¯re going to die, just run for the exit.¡±

    ¡°What about you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll manage to escape. By the way, these viruses won¡¯t respawn once they¡¯re killed. So once we take them all down, the game¡¯s over. And since they¡¯re viruses, there¡¯s nothing to gather from them, just kill them.¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s start. Focus.¡±

    ¡°Okay!¡±

    The hunt began.

    Swoosh!

    Suho¡¯s sword swung toward the virus zombies.

    ***

    How much time had passed?

    ¡°Haah¡­ haah¡­¡±

    Seogiwon, lying on the ground, gasped for air as if he were about to faint.

    He didn¡¯t know how long it had been.

    But one thing was certain: it had taken a long time, and they had killed all the zombies.

    Still lying down, Seogiwon gasped and said,

    ¡°Hyung¡­ I feel like I¡¯m going to die¡­¡±

    ¡°You did well. But people don¡¯t die that easily.¡±

    ¡°Ha, haha¡­ yeah, you¡¯re right.¡±

    ¡°How many levels did you gain?¡±

    ¡°Um, just a minute¡­ five levels.¡±

    ¡°Hm, not bad.¡±

    Seogiwon¡¯s level was now 55.

    Suho¡¯s level had increased by the same amount.

    Unlike Seogiwon, who had little mana and hadn¡¯t engaged in much physicalbat, Suho had been fighting nonstop.

    Suho checked his status.

    [ Suho Ahn ]

    - Level: 59

    - ss: Healer

    - Trait: NewBlood

    - Strength (R): 21

    - Health (R): 21

    - Mana (R): 21

    - Sensitivity (R): 21

    - Bonus Stats: 13

    He was one level away from 60, which felt a bit frustrating.

    Suho had invested the bonus stats from his recent level-up, along with the ones from before, into his strength.

    ¡®Eventually, I¡¯ll bnce everything out, so there¡¯s no need to split it up now.¡¯

    So this time, he focused on increasing his strength first, nning to raise his mana next.

    Health and Sensitivity had already reached the red grade, so raising themter wouldn¡¯t make much of a difference.

    After finishing his stat allocation, Suho looked over at Seogiwon, who was still catching his breath.

    ¡®He¡¯s a lot more capable than I expected.¡¯

    Seogiwon¡¯s main ss was a mage.

    And since he had reached level 50 to unlock his trait, he had a basic sense ofbat.

    Suho thought that it wouldn¡¯t be bad to raise Seogiwon as a strong dealer, not just as a Digitization user.

    ¡®If I turn him into a nuking mage, he¡¯d be a great match with the banshees.¡¯

    Suho pulled Seogiwon to his feet and said,

    ¡°Let¡¯s head out, you can restfortably at the house.¡±

    ¡°Okay, understood.¡±

    The two of them walked out of the virus file with light steps.

    ***

    By the time they got out, it was already night.

    Seogiwon, exhausted, stumbled to a bed and copsed, falling asleep, while Suho took out a can of beer and gulped it down.

    ¡®Refreshing.¡¯

    After drinking for a while, Suho sat back down on the living room sofa and opened hisptop.

    Then, he used the file scanner he had prepared earlier

    to check the "Free File Cleaner" and was surprised to find that no viruses were detected inside.

    ¡®I knew it, but seeing it in person is kind of funny.¡¯

    It wasn¡¯t an antivirus program, but rather a physical method to remove theputer virus.

    Suho wasn¡¯t an expert inputers, but he knew that the method he and Seogiwon had used was unprecedented¡ªno programmer would even dare imagine such a method.

    ¡®Thanks to Seogiwon, now I have a way to level up without entering a Gate.¡¯

    In the virtual reality program, they would grind skill proficiency, and in theputer virus dungeon, they would gain pure experience and realbat experience.

    It was an approach only Suho coulde up with.

    As he thought about using the bansheester, Suho opened the inte.

    But the world¡­ no, the inte was once again buzzing.

    The fact that Suho had cleared the Abyss of Despair was now public.

    - Holy crap, Suho cleared the Abyss of Despair?

    - Wow, that¡¯s insane¡­

    - Shouldn¡¯t the government give him a que of gratitude?

    - The official announcement hasn¡¯t been made yet, but word is he cleared it really fast?

    ©¸ How fast?

    ©¸ They say it took less than an hour?

    ©¸ Crazy, do you think the Sealed Gate is like a joke?

    ©¸ Stopining, the rumor is true.

    - Rumor or not, Suho is a god. He¡¯s just amazing. The King of Kings.

    - The light.

    - In the beginning, there was Suho, and there was light.

    ©¸ Sword Master.

    ©¸ Spear Master.

    - Nexus must be happy, haha. It¡¯s been a while since a rising star came out of Nexus.

    ©¸ But if you die, it¡¯s all for nothing, right?

    ©¸ That¡¯s true.

    ©¸ Sword Master doesn¡¯t die. Don¡¯t say that kind of nonsense ??

    The whirlwind of positive public opinion.

    Seeing this, Suho couldn¡¯t help but smile.

    ¡®Yeah, hunters don¡¯t need anything else as long as they handle Gate raids well. They¡¯ll get all the recognition.¡¯

    And with that, Suho decided to execute his next n.

    After checking the online buzz, Suho picked up the phone.

    - Hello, Hunter. How may I assist you?

    The person who answered was Bae Donghyuk, the leader of Nexus Guild.

    Suho spoke.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got something to discuss.¡±

    - What is it?

    ¡°I think my start date for the Great Union will being up sooner than expected.¡±

    - ¡­What?

    At Bae Donghyuk¡¯s question, Suho exined the big deal he had discussed with Pi Seongyeol.

    Bae Donghyuk, hearing this unexpected news, swallowed a nervous gulp.

    As expected.

    For him, Suho was now a big catch who had just joined Nexus.

    But with only a few months on his contract, it was going to be tough to make a profit, and now the time was being halved, which left him in a panic.

    That¡¯s why Suho was giving him a heads-up.

    It was better to clear things up first and resolve any issues quickly.

    Suho said,

    ¡°So, as an apology, I¡¯d like to make a proposal.¡±

    - ¡­What proposal?

    ¡°There¡¯s an S-rank Gate that Nexus owns, right?¡±

    - Yes, we do have one¡­ Why?

    ¡°That Gate. I¡¯ll clear it for you. Of course, all the loot thates out will go to you.¡±

    At Suho¡¯s words, Bae Donghyuk¡¯s eyes widened like the full moon.

 Chapter 49

    At Suho¡¯s proposal, Bae Donghyuk swallowed hard and asked back.

    ¡°¡­Are you serious?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I am. Since the contract period has ended much sooner than expected, this much is the least I can do.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­¡±

    Bae Donghyuk paused, taking a moment to collect himself before responding.

    Indeed, the contract had been shortened unexpectedly, leaving him with a sense of disappointment¡ªno, to be honest, he was very upset about it.

    If they left Nexus in just a month or two, it would look as though they had been used.

    While they had already made some appearances with the Association at previous meetings, it¡¯s always better to have everything firmly in ce, as people¡¯s attitudes can change unexpectedly.

    In that sense, Suho¡¯s offer to tackle an S-rank gate and turn over all the loot from it was a reasonable gesture to soothe the feelings of those involved.

    ¡®Profit aside, if he¡¯s going this far, there¡¯s really nothing more toin about.¡¯

    Then, what kind of gate did Nexus possess?

    It was a gate with substantial potential for profit¡ªsomething that had been secured with great effort.

    But Suho knew.

    A gate with high potential profits always came with a high level of difficulty.

    ¡®That¡¯s just how S-rank gates are.¡¯

    An unimed S-rank gate is a double-edged sword.

    No matter how much a guild owns the rights to it, if casualties umte, the state would step in to reim control for safety management.

    Because of this, Bae Donghyuk had refrained from attempting a full-scale conquest of the gate.

    He had tried several times but had failed each time.

    And that was when Suho had made his proposal.

    Bae Donghyuk spoke.

    ¡°I appreciate the offer, but¡­ Hunter, are you aware of the nature of the gate we hold?¡±

    ¡°I know. It¡¯s the Miners¡¯ Lair, isn¡¯t it? A mine with an immense deposit of magic stones, but there are so many Earth Keepers inside that you can¡¯t even gather the stones, let alone advance.¡±

    ¡°¡­You¡¯re well informed. So, you must understand that we can¡¯t just send you in alone because of the mining?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I understand. That¡¯s why I suggested it. I¡¯ll handle all the Earth Keepers inside myself. I¡¯ll form the team, and all you need to do is send in a mining crew with us. There¡¯s no rush¡ªtake your time. In the meantime, I¡¯ll reinforce my team¡¯s strength.¡±

    Straightforward and efficient work.

    Bae Donghyuk couldn¡¯t help butugh.

    ¡°Understood. And thank you. You could have kept the special recruitment a secret, but I appreciate you mentioning it first and being considerate.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. We¡¯re in this together, after all, so this much is only natural. I¡¯m the one who¡¯s sorry for joining the Association sooner than expected.¡±

    ¡°Hunter, you¡¯re really something¡­¡±

    Bae Donghyuk was genuinely moved.

    And with those words of gratitude exchanged, the call ended.

    After the call ended, Suho stretched and muttered.

    ¡°Finally, I¡¯ll get to see that guy.¡±

    Suho was looking forward to tomorrow.

    **Nexus Academy**, located in Paju.

    Inside the personal training room reserved exclusively for S-rank guild members.

    Suho appeared there, apanied by **Seo Giwon**, whom he had recruited for his team.

    ¡°Wow¡­¡±

    Seo Giwon marveled at the vast scale of Nexus Academy.

    It was worth being amazed.

    Nexus Academy boasted thergest scale in the country.

    Especially the S-rank training center, which offered facilities of the highest caliber in Korea.

    Pointing at the banshees who were already training under **Infinity**, Suho spoke.

    ¡°See those people who got here first?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re my team members. And they¡¯re also the people you¡¯ll be working with from now on.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ so they¡¯re with the Nexus Guild, too?¡±

    ¡°No, not yet.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°Guilds have strict standards for skills. They won¡¯t take in people whose abilities haven¡¯t been verified yet.¡±

    ¡°Well, that makes sense.¡±

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go ahead and wake them up and make introductions, like we talked about¡­¡±

    Suho was about to exin the day¡¯s schedule to Seo Giwon.

    But then he heard someone approaching from outside and turned his gaze.

    There stood a familiar face peeking in from outside.

    It was none other than **Kang Dae-han**.

    ¡®Oh?¡¯

    So he really dide after being told to meet him here if he wanted to.

    The timing was perfect.

    Suho had thought he would need to meet **Kang Dae-han** eventually.

    Suho quickly moved toward the door and greeted **Kang Dae-han**.

    ¡°Hello?¡±

    ¡°Oh! Hello, Hunter Ahn Suho!¡±

    Kang Dae-han greeted him in his typical bright, cheerful tone.

    It was so like him.

    Suho smiled and replied.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to reallye. It¡¯s been a while, Hunter Kang Dae-han.¡±

    ¡°Haha, of course, I should adjust my schedule for you, shouldn¡¯t I? Thanks to you, I passed my test.¡±

    ¡°Even if it wasn¡¯t because of me, you would have passed the test someday, Mr. Dae-han. Please,e in.¡±

    Suho naturally let him in and guided him to the lounge area in a corner of the training hall.

    Seo Giwon was with them as well.

    Introducing **Kang Dae-han** to **Seo Giwon**, Suho spoke.

    ¡°This is Hunter Kang Dae-han, who took the test in the same cohort as I did. He ced second and is currently affiliated with the Nexus Guild.¡±

    ¡°My name is Seo Giwon.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m Kang Dae-han.¡±

    The two greeted each other, followed by Suho¡¯s question.

    ¡°So, what have you been up totely, Mr. Dae-han? Have you been assigned to a team yet?¡±

    ¡°Haha, I¡¯m still in training, so rather than team assignments, I¡¯m gaining field experience by rotating through various gates.¡±

    Field experience.

    It was exactly that.@@novelbin@@

    Usually, when joining a guild, members were assigned to teams based on their skill level, and teams would tackle gates together.

    However, a team wasn¡¯t assigned immediately upon joining; basic field training was required first.

    This was to increase survival rates.

    Suho asked with a smile.

    ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. Would you be interested in gaining some practical experience with me sometime soon?¡±

    ¡°W-What, with you, Hunter?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I need to clear a gate soon, and I thought it¡¯d be a good opportunity if you joined me, Mr. Dae-han.¡±

    Kang Dae-han¡¯s eyes grew as wide as tes at those words.

    ¡°Are¡­ are you serious?!¡±

    ¡°Yes, absolutely.¡±

    As Suho nodded, Kang Dae-han¡¯s cheeks twitched as if his smile could hardly be contained.

    It was apletely natural reaction.

    How many people would not react like this when someone as famous as Suho in the country expressed interest in them?

    Undoubtedly, unless they were sworn enemies, there would be no one.

    Suho continued.

    ¡°I¡¯ll take care of the details, so if you¡¯re interested, feel free to contact me¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh! Of course, I¡¯m interested! Just call me anytime!¡±

    ¡°Then let¡¯s start right now.¡±

    ¡°Pardon?¡±

    ¡°The gate I¡¯m heading to is quite challenging. Besides, I have an obligation to help you gain field experience, and the purpose of gaining field experience is to increase survival rates in gates, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right?¡±

    ¡°So, let¡¯s start together now. All the members who will be joining this gate are here already.¡±

    ¡°Ah, yes! Understood!¡±

    Why put it off?

    If he was going to handle it, starting now was best.

    Afterward, Suho brought the two of them into **Infinity**.

    ***

    ¡°This time, go to the side!¡±

    ¡°Okay!!¡±

    **Kunlun.**

    The training ground Suho set up for the Banshees through the **Infinity** program.

    They had beening here every single day for several days now to spar with Suho¡¯s avatar.

    Progress was evident.

    Previously, they would die within three seconds of starting the fight, but now they could at least hold out for over ten seconds.

    However.

    sh!

    Approximately ten seconds.

    That was it.

    Suho¡¯s avatar decapitated the Banshees, and as soon as their heads were severed, they respawned in the air,nding on the ground with a thud.

    ¡°Ugh¡­¡±

    **Gu Yeonhwa** bit her lip in frustration.

    At that moment.

    ¡°You¡¯resting a bit longer now, huh?¡±

    At Suho¡¯s words, **Gu Yeonhwa** and the rest of the team turned their heads sharply.

    And it made sense because Suho¡¯s avatar had been programmed to never praise them.

    When the real Suho appeared instead of the avatar, **Gu Yeonhwa¡¯s** eyes grew wide as saucers.

    ¡°Uh¡­!¡±

    ¡°What do you mean ¡®uh¡¯? Do I look like a fish to you? Why ¡®uh¡¯?¡±

    ¡°When did you get here?¡±

    ¡°Just now.¡±

    As Suho arrived, the four people who had been sitting down quickly stood up and lined up, and Suho nodded in satisfaction at their disciplined demeanor.

    ¡°It seems like the atmosphere has changed a bit in the past few days?¡±

    ¡°¡­Of course. It¡¯s not just once or twice; every time wee here, we die at least hundreds of times. How could the atmosphere not change?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a good sign. Judging by your intense gazes, you all seem to have be a bit detached from death, and you look even more tenacious. On that note

    , let me introduce you. This is Mr. Seo Giwon, and this is Mr. Kang Dae-han.¡±

    At Suho¡¯s words, the four people gave a slight bow, and Suho then introduced the Banshees to **Seo Giwon** and **Kang Dae-han**.

    ¡°These are the people who joined before you two. In order, this is **Gu Yeonhwa**, **Kim Hyunmin**, **Seo Gyowon**, and **Gwak Duho**.¡±

    ¡°Ah, nice to meet you. My name is Seo Giwon.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m Kang Dae-han.¡±

    Once introductions were finished, Suho spoke to the Banshees.

    ¡°Thanks for all the hard work you¡¯ve been putting in during training. You must be getting tired of this ce by now, right?¡±

    ¡°¡­No, not tired at all.¡±

    ¡°Huh? You¡¯re not tired?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    With that, **Gu Yeonhwa** and the Banshees looked toward Suho¡¯s avatar standing in the background and said,

    ¡°I don¡¯t think we¡¯ll ever get tired until we finally take that thing¡¯s head off.¡±

    They were serious.

    Given how many times they had been killed, how could they possibly feel boredom?

    Even if it took more time, the Banshees were determined to eventually defeat Suho¡¯s avatar.

    Satisfied by their intense resolve, Suho nodded approvingly and spoke to **Seo Giwon** and **Kang Dae-han**.

    ¡°See? Both of you need to build up that level of tenacity as well.¡±

    ¡°T-That much?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s how you survive in a gate. With that in mind, from now on, both of you will report here and train alongside them. Oh, by the way, training starts today. **Yeonhwa**.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°That person there is a mage, and that one is a tanker, right? Since they don¡¯t need swordsmanship, organize your team ordingly and try challenging it again.¡±

    ¡°Got it. But¡­ a gate, you say?¡±

    ¡°Ah, I was so focused on introductions, I forgot to mention the gate. You can¡¯t just train endlessly, right? Soon, you¡¯ll be heading into the field with me, so be prepared.¡±

    ¡°A gate? Which gate?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s one. But anyway, it¡¯s time to sort out titles, don¡¯t you think? We can¡¯t just keep calling each other ¡®you¡¯.¡±

    At that, **Gu Yeonhwa** paused briefly before nodding.

    ¡°What should we call you, then?¡±

    ¡°What do you want to call me?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ not sure?¡±

    Given her personality, **Gu Yeonhwa** didn¡¯t really feel like calling him ¡°Oppa.¡±

    Knowing that, Suho thought for a moment before replying.

    ¡°From now on, just call me ¡®Team Leader.¡¯ We¡¯re a team now.¡±

    ¡°Understood, Team Leader.¡±

    ¡°So, everyone¡¯s been attending regrly? What about school and work?¡±

    At that, **Gu Yeonhwa** red at Suho and replied.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that if we¡¯re talking about our everyday lives, it means we¡¯re not desperate enough?¡±

    ¡°Right. You get it. But don¡¯t worry too much. I¡¯ll take care of whatever you¡¯re concerned about. Now, keep up the good work, and contact me when you¡¯re der.¡±

    With that, Suho left **Kunlun** first.

    Then, Suho¡¯s avatar, who had been quietly standing in the background, lifted its sword and spoke again.

    ¡°What are you looking at, you trash? If you¡¯ve got time to stare, hurry up ande at me.¡±

 Chapter 50

    Before entering the Earthkeepers'' mine, Suho had nned to visit another location.

    In order to obtain everything he wanted from the mine, a few preparations were necessary.

    So, he called a taxi and headed to Paju.

    More specifically, the outskirts of Paju.

    Though Nexus Academy was also located in Paju, this area was on the edge of the city, often referred to as the most valuablend in the region, the "Safe Zone." The ce Suho had just arrived at was once a hub for various businesses but nowy in the outer line of Paju.

    ¡®Currently, it¡¯s practically wastnd.¡¯

    Why had it be a wastnd?

    It was obvious.

    With frequent gate appearances, there was no longer any Hunter workforce to manage such an isted area.

    Of course, it wasn¡¯t truly a wastnd in the literal sense.

    Though it had been abandoned by most, ironically, it had be a haven for a particr group of people¡ªillegal traders.

    ¡®It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve been here.¡¯

    As Suho gazed at the cityscape, reminiscent of a slum, he fell into reflection.

    This ce was called ¡°Paju Vige.¡± While Dongdaemun Market was thergest open market where Yang and Yin merged, this was one of thergest ck markets in the country.

    After paying the fare, Suho got out of the taxi.

    The taxi driver, visibly tense, fled as soon as Suho stepped out of the vehicle.

    This was a natural reaction.

    Crimes were rampant here, and taxis from outside the area were prime targets for thieves.

    So, Suho had deliberately not brought a car.

    Though he had borrowed a car with Seo Giwon from Jo Jin-hwi to reach the Academy, Paju Vige didn¡¯t offer safe parking like the Academy did.

    Suho triggered the ¡°Monochrome Solitude¡± from his **Mumu Mumu** item and leisurely began to walk through the vige.

    The atmosphere was eerie.

    Unlike the usual bustling market energy, there were homeless people or drug addicts sprawled out across the streets, discarded like forgotten objects.

    ¡®If it weren¡¯t for the gates, Paju wouldn¡¯t have ended up like this.¡¯

    The current South Korea¡ªor rather, the current world¡ªwas experiencing a surge in drugs, crime, hunger, and poverty, all of which had escted dramatically.

    And it was all because of the gates.

    The sudden surge of gates had caused devastation in many parts of the world, increasing the wealth disparity and darkening the world¡¯s shadows.

    That¡¯s why Suho thought he needed to put an end to the gates as soon as possible.

    Among the homeless in Paju Vige, there were even teenagers.

    Suho continued walking and eventually stopped in front of a shop.

    It was an odd store with a thick shutter down, and it had a door attached to the shutter itself, a fairlymon sight in Paju Vige.

    This setup offered a degree of security and safety.

    When Suho knocked on the door, a small window in the shutter opened, revealing only a pair of wrinkled eyes from an old man.

    ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡±

    Without caring much, Suho responded to the question.

    ¡°I¡¯m here to buy a mine.¡±

    ¡°Identification?¡±

    At his question, Suho momentarily deactivated the **Monochrome Solitude**. Immediately...

    ¡°Ah, Hunter Ahn Suho?¡±

    The shopkeeper¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, clearly startled.

    Suho nodded.

    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s me.¡±

    ¡°W-Wait a moment.¡±

    The window was closed, and Suho heard multiple clinks from inside as locks were undone.

    Finally, the door opened, and a small, wiry man greeted Suho.

    ¡°Ah, wee. It¡¯s an honor to meet you, Hunter Ahn Suho.¡±

    Suho nodded and entered the shop.

    The man quickly shut the door behind him and re-locked it.

    After thest lock clicked shut, the man hurried over to the counter and stood there like the owner.

    Suho asked with a smile, noticing the man¡¯s odd demeanor.

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t the mask make you ufortable?¡±

    ¡°¡­Huh? Oh, no, what do you mean?¡±

    ¡°The imitation mask you''re wearing,¡± Suho pointed out. ¡°If I¡¯m the only guest, you can rx.¡±

    ¡°¡­.¡±

    The shopkeeper paused for a moment, then chuckled.

    ¡°How did you know?¡±

    ¡°Just could tell.¡±

    ¡°The imitation mask is visible?¡± the man asked with augh, then grabbed his chin and pulled, causing skin to tear away as a mask was revealed in his hand.

    Suddenly, the old man with wrinkles became a youthful woman.

    ¡°Impressive. Only someone who has conquered two sealed gates would be able to see through that,¡± she said with a smile.

    ¡°Yes, well. But more importantly, are you in business?¡± Suho asked.

    ¡°Of course. If I wasn¡¯t, would I have let you in?¡±

    Suho knew who she was.

    Her name was **Choi Yun**, and she was the most famous gate broker in Paju Vige.

    No, she was one of the most prominent gate brokers in the entire country.

    It was true.

    Suho had bought several gates from her in his past life.

    She asked, ¡°How did you find out about this ce?¡±

    ¡°I could figure it out if I wanted to.¡±

    ¡°Hmmm¡­¡±

    Suho¡¯s vague answer made her smile faintly.

    She was curious.

    After all, **Choi Yun** had only just started her gate business.

    ¡®She¡¯ll be famous once she joins the Union, the country¡¯srgest underground guild.¡¯

    Given the timeline, she was most likely already a member of the Union.@@novelbin@@

    However, she was still preparing her business quietly.

    With Suho mentioning the term "mine"¡ªa code for gates¡ªand detecting the **Imitation Mask**, which altered her appearance, it was no surprise that her curiosity was piqued.

    But Suho had no intention of satisfying her curiosity.

    She asked, ¡°Alright. Then, what kind of gate are you looking for?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m interested in the entrance to the Twisted Forest.¡±

    ¡°You know about the Twisted Forest?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­¡±

    Suho¡¯s request made her narrow her eyes.

    It made sense. The Twisted Forest had only been avable as a product for three days¡ªit was still a fresh addition to the market.

    Her narrowed eyes asked, ¡°How did you know?¡±

    ¡°What about it?¡±

    ¡°How did you know I had the Twisted Forest?¡±

    ¡°Should I not say it at the ck market?¡±

    ¡°Well, yes, but¡­ it¡¯s still a bit surprising.¡±

    ¡°I can see why. But, I¡¯d rather you not ask too many questions. I don¡¯t ask the owner where they got the Twisted Forest, do I?¡±

    She paused, then let out a softugh.

    ¡°You¡¯re right. I got a bit too curious.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. Just don¡¯t let it happen again.¡±

    ¡°I understand. Have you used Paju Vige before?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve brought cash. I¡¯m fine with it now; I want to enter the Twisted Forest as soon as possible.¡±

    ¡°Thorough as always. But do you know the price of the Twisted Forest entrance?¡±

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I be able to prepare that much for a single entry?¡±

    In gate transactions, there were usually two types of products.

    The ownership of the gate itself and an entry ticket that allowed one-time ess.

    Naturally, the ownership was more expensive.

    However, entry tickets could vary in price depending on how one entered; the more people entering, the higher the price since the likelihood of the gate being conquered increased with each additional person.

    **Choi Yun** asked, ¡°You¡¯re thorough. How many people will be entering with you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be going alone.¡±

    ¡°Alone?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­¡±

    At Suho¡¯s words, **Choi Yun** didn¡¯t speak immediately. She hadn¡¯t expected him to go alone.

    Swallowing her surprise, she said, ¡°I understand. Let¡¯s first settle the payment. The entry fee for the Twisted Forest is 100 million for one person.¡±

    Suho showed her the 100 million won in cash he had prepared earlier.

    Then, he handed her a bundle of 100,000-won bills.

    ¡°I¡¯ll pay the rest in front of the gate.¡±

    A standard transaction.

    She nodded, then led him to the garage at the back of the shop.

    There, a sturdy-looking off-road vehicle was parked, and Suho noticed the Union mark engraved on the side, nodding inwardly.

    ¡®So, she¡¯s part of the Union now.¡¯

    **Choi Yun** gestured toward the vehicle.

    ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the gate.¡±

    They both got into the vehicle, and she opened the garage door with a remote.

    As soon as the car appeared, people¡¯s eyes were drawn to it, but those who recognized the car quickly turned away.

    It wasn¡¯t just because of **Choi Yun**''s influence; it was also because of the Union mark on her vehicle.

    ¡®As expected.¡¯

    In a ce like this, backing is everything.

    It keeps unnecessary fights at bay.

    The vehicle started moving.

    ***

    The vehicle passed Paju and crossed the Imjin River toward Gaeseong.

    However, neither Suho nor **Choi Yun** was surprised, even though they were heading toward Gaeseong.

    After the world-changing event, North Korea had been nearly destroyed.

    ¡®The current North Korea is almost like awless zone.¡¯

    At first, China had eyed the deteriorating North Korea.

    But now, the area bordering China was filled with ''them,'' and no ordinary hunters¡ªno, even China¡¯s elite forces¡ªcould easily approach.

    **Choi Yun** nced at Suho and asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you surprised we crossed into the North?¡±

    ¡°Not really.¡±

    ¡°Wow, you¡¯re quite the stoic. You didn¡¯t seem that way when I read about you in the news.¡±

    ¡°I guess my impression

    was good?¡±

    ¡°Haha, you have an interesting personality.¡±

    The vehicle eventually stopped.

    They arrived at a ce where several tents could be seen. As soon as **Choi Yun**''s car appeared, people flooded out of the tents.

    They all wore a mix of casual clothes and equipment¡ªtypical street hunters.

    **Choi Yun** and Suho stepped out of the car and approached them.

    The man standing at the front greeted them.

    ¡°It¡¯s **Choi Yun**. As I mentioned earlier, this is the person who will be entering the Twisted Forest.¡±

    At the mention of Suho, the man briefly nced at him and grinned.

    ¡°Is that really Ahn Suho?¡±

    ¡°Yes, be respectful. He¡¯s a guest.¡±

    ¡°Of course. But what about the payment?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s all settled, including the deposit. What about you?¡±

    ¡°The boss is here.¡±

    At that moment, a voice came from inside the tent.

    Soon, a man walked out from the tent.

    When Suho saw him, his eyes widened.

    ¡®That guy¡­¡¯

    It wasn¡¯t a mistake.

    The man walking out from the tent wasrge and bald, making it even more unmistakable.

    He was the leader of one of the most notorious human trafficking rings in Korea during Suho¡¯s past life¡ª**Bang Dook**.

    <strong>TL NOTE</strong>: Please don''t skimp on the stars for the trantion -it inspires me and gives me the strength to write more. Thank you~!

    If you want to buy me a /kimsu

 Chapter 51

    The "Woodcutter" Bang Dueok.

    This was the nickname he earned during his infamous career in human trafficking.

    The reason for this nickname was simple.

    Since long ago, human traffickers had referred to the people they abducted as ¡°logs,¡± and Bang Dueok cut down so many people, he became known as the Woodcutter.

    ¡®But was that guy part of the Union?¡¯

    In the future, Bang Dueok would be arrested by the Special Unit of the Grand Association and sentenced to life imprisonment.

    However, during the process, no records were found linking him to the Union.

    That¡¯s why Suho found it a bit strange.

    Suho asked, ¡°Is he the gate owner?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Apparently, Bang Dueok was the gate owner.

    This was information even the Library of Memories didn¡¯t hold.

    It was reasonable, considering all Suho had known was that Choi Yun had managed the Twisted Forest.

    Bang Dueok approached the two and looked at Suho, then let out a chuckle.

    ¡°Wow, you really are Hunter Ahn Suho, aren¡¯t you? What brings such a famous person all the way here?¡±

    Before Suho could answer, Choi Yun spoke up for him.

    ¡°Why else? He¡¯s here for the gate, of course. As we discussed earlier, you can let him enter now, right?¡±

    ¡°Sure, he can enter, but¡­¡±

    Bang Dueok narrowed his eyes and gave Suho a once-over.

    ¡°I thought about it¡­ Usually, selling entrance tickets makes sense. But if the challenger is Hunter Ahn, who¡¯s cleared two sealed gates on his own¡­ the math doesn¡¯t add up.¡±

    ¡°Excuse me?¡±

    ¡°Well, think about it. Why would a gate owner sell entrance tickets? Because they don¡¯t expect the gate to be cleared, right? But if Hunter Ahn is the challenger¡­¡±

    He wasn¡¯t called the Woodcutter for nothing; his mind was sharp in such matters.

    His words hit close to home, as Suho had indeed nned to clear the gate with only the entrance fee paid.

    But so what?

    Isn¡¯t that the risk he was taking by selling entrance tickets to the gate?

    Suho was about to speak when Choi Yun cut in.

    ¡°So, you¡¯re nning to raise the price on the spot?¡±

    Her arms crossed, she stared Bang Dueok down with a steely gaze.

    Bang Dueok chuckled slyly and backed off.

    ¡°No, I¡¯m just saying that it doesn¡¯t quite add up¡­ I wouldn¡¯t dare to raise the price on the spot.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t fear of Choi Yun herself that kept him in check¡ªit was his awareness of the Union to which Choi Yun belonged.

    Suho noted her handling of the situation with a nod.

    ¡®As expected of Choi Yun. She mediates like a seasoned broker.¡¯

    Thanks to her, he didn¡¯t have to step in himself.

    If things had gone south, Suho would¡¯ve simply cut down everyone present.

    They were just criminals, after all.

    And even if things gotplicated, Piseongyeol would take care of the aftermath.

    Choi Yun nodded and said to Suho, ¡°It¡¯s settled. Shall we pay and proceed?¡±

    Suho handed her a bag of money, and she counted it in front of Bang Dueok, taking two bundles of bills as her share.

    ¡°This is mymission.¡±

    ¡°Twenty percent is a bit steep, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°The safer the tform, the higher the fee. Look on the bright side¡ªyou didn¡¯t even have to advertise this gate, yet here¡¯s your customer.¡±

    ¡°But that customer is Ahn Suho¡­¡±

    She responded with a slight smile, then turned to Suho.

    ¡°Everything is ready. I¡¯ll be waiting outside until you return, so please proceed.¡±

    The reason she waited outside was for the safety of her clients.

    Sometimes, lowlifes would ambush failed challengers as they exited the gate.

    Gate brokers needed not only skill and information but also the strength to ensure their clients¡¯ safety and fairness in transactions.

    ¡®That¡¯s why reliable gate brokers are rare.¡¯

    As Suho nodded, Bang Dueok took out an item and activated it.

    The hidden gate suddenly appeared before them.@@novelbin@@

    Bang Dueok shed a grin, exposing his yellowed teeth.

    ¡°Good luck in there.¡±

    Suho gave Choi Yun onest look and nodded before stepping toward the gate portal.

    [Entering the gate.]

    [Loading gate information.]

    [Twisted Forest]

    - Entry Requirement: Level 99 or below.

    - Maximum Entry: Up to 8 people.

    The gate information appeared, just as he remembered from his past life.

    After confirming the entry requirements, Suho stepped into the portal without hesitation.

    ---

    As he entered, the surroundings shifted.

    A lush green expanse.

    Or, more urately, what once had been lush greenery.

    The massive jungle-like area looked simr to a tropical forest, but a closer inspection revealed signs of decay.

    After all, this was the Twisted Forest.

    ¡®I never thought I¡¯d see the Twisted Forest in person.¡¯

    While he¡¯d never been here himself, he knew about this ce well enough.

    Someone had made a name for themselves here with items they discovered.

    And Suho hade here for the same purpose.

    Summoning his spear, Guiyeongchang, Suho moved forward slowly.

    After a short while¡­

    *Creeeak¡ªcrack!*

    The sound of wood splitting filled the air.

    Suho halted and scanned his surroundings, then activated a skill.

    [Activating Mana Detection.]

    With Mana Detection active, he noticed an odd greenish aura entwined around some trees.

    These weren¡¯t ordinary trees; they exuded a strange mana.

    They were moving, making creaking noises as they did¡ªtree-like monsters known as Ents.

    ¡°Grrr¡­¡±

    Like zombies, the Ents rose slowly, their twisted faces peering out from behind yellow eyes.

    - Twisted Ent Lv. 91

    - Twisted Ent Lv. 90

    - Twisted Ent Lv. 93

    Ents with a minimum level of 90.

    There were three of them initially.

    Suho activated a skill on Guiyeongchang.

    [Holy Power Activated.]

    As the holy power surged, a radiant white light surrounded the spear.

    He hurled Guiyeongchang at one of the rising Ents.

    [Spear Throw Activated.]

    *Crack!*

    With a swift throw, Guiyeongchang struck the Ent¡¯s forehead squarely.

    Simultaneously, Suho summoned Blood Weapon, gripping the blood-red sword in his hand.

    ¡°Axe might be better for chopping wood, but you¡¯re not just any trees.¡±

    At that moment, two Ents, enraged by the preemptive strike, charged toward Suho with a guttural roar.

    *Boom! Boom! Boom!*

    Massive trees, over four meters tall, stretched out w-like hands as they came at him.

    Suho gripped his blood sword with both hands.

    He didn¡¯t imbue it with holy power; he wanted to test something first.

    When the closest Ent swung its massive hand at him, Suho swung his sword vertically with all his might.

    [Decapitation Activated.]

    *sh!*

    The sword cut through the air in a crescent arc.

    However, the de stopped near the Ent¡¯s thick wrist.

    The wooden arm was simply too solid.

    ¡°Hmm.¡±

    Suho promptly retrieved his sword and swung again.

    This time, it sliced cleanly through the Ent¡¯s wrist, severing one of its massive hands.

    ¡°Graaaah!!¡±

    The Ent howled, not in pain¡ªsince they felt none¡ªbut in rage over losing a limb.

    Another Ent, slower to arrive, thrust both hands at Suho like spears.

    *Boom!*

    The ground where Suho had been standing caved in.

    But Suho had already moved, evading the attack.

    Taking several steps back, Suho furrowed his brow in thought.

    ¡®At level 90, they¡¯re not so easy to cut down.¡¯

    His level was currently 59, while the Ents¡¯ levels were at least in the 90s¡ªa gap of over 30 levels.

    And if he remembered correctly, the creature ruling over the Earthkeepers'' mine was even higher in level and sturdier than these Ents.

    ¡®Time to prepare.¡¯

    Even though this world now functioned like a game, it wasn¡¯t an actual online game or virtual reality.

    If any variable arose, even beings with far lower stats could defeat him in this world.

    Just like in the nameless swordsman gate.

    With that in mind, Suho advanced again, purposefully not using holy power.

    What he needed now was toplete his training without any supplementary skills.

    ---

    How much time had passed?

    Suho continued forward slowly, using every creature in the Twisted Forest as practice dummies for his sword.

    He refrained from horizontal or diagonal shes, focusing solely on vertical cuts, training his *Decapitation* skill.

    As a result, his pace through the gate was much slower than usual.

    But that was fine.

    Patience bore fruit, and what he sought was worth the effort.

    And he was confident he would obtain it, for he had once reached this level before.

    Suho checked his status window.

    [Suho Ahn]

    - Lv: 63

    - ss: Healer

    - Trait: New Blood

    - Strength (R): 42

    - Stamina (R): 25

    - Mana (R): 25

    - Perception (R): 25

    - Bonus Stat: 0

    He¡¯d leveled up four times just from defeating monsters, and all bonus stats were allocated to Strength.

    The rewards didn¡¯t stop there.

    Upon reaching level 60, he gained a new Healer skill.

    [Heal]

    - Rank: F

    # Light of Healing A ¡ú Heal F

    # With Light of Healing reaching its highest rank, it has

    evolved into the more potent skill, Heal.

    # Consumes mana to quickly restore a designated area with minor regenerative effects.

    The new skill was named ¡°Heal,¡± an upgraded version of Light of Healing. While it returned to F rank, its power far surpassed its A-ranked predecessor.

    ¡®Up to level 40, I received individual ss skills. At level 50, they all upgraded to A rank¡­ and from level 60 onwards, the skills improve sequentially.¡¯

    At level 100, a major choice awaited him¡ªa pivotal career path shift.

    With a satisfied nod, Suho resumed his advance.

    Before long¡­

    [A boss monster has appeared.]

    Suho finally came face-to-face with the master of the Twisted Forest.

 Chapter 55

    [ You have defeated an Earthkeeper Kobold. ]

    [ You have defeated an Earthkeeper Kobold. ]

    [ You have defeated an Earthkeeper Kobold. ]

    The notifications repeated endlessly.

    Suho moved through the mines like a force of nature. With each swing of his sword, at least two kobolds fell. His team members were left with only a few kobolds that fled sideways in panic, scarcely able to challenge Suho¡¯s overpowering presence.

    Despite this, none of them felt rushed or hopeless. Suho had already briefed them on what to expect, and they acted ording to the training they¡¯d received.

    ¡°Begin mining as soon as we pass through,¡± said Gu Yeon-hwa, leading the mining team. Upon her cue, An Sung-won, the team leader, instructed his men.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get started!¡±

    "Yes, sir!"

    *ng! ng! ng!*

    The mining team began their work. They had only picks and shovels¡ªno modern tools. Modern electronic devices never worked inside gates, so they relied on manualbor.

    Meanwhile, the collection team carefully gathered materials from the kobold corpses, salvaging whatever could be useful. Within thirty minutes, the operation was well underway, and the mining system was running smoothly.

    Suho pressed forward, showing no signs of fatigue as he bulldozed his way through the mines, his sheer power leaving everyone around him speechless.

    *¡®This is the Swordmaster, Ahn Suho¡­ the man who cleared two sealed gates alone¡­¡¯*

    *¡®Wow, Hyungnim is amazing¡­¡¯*

    After over two hours of ying kobolds alone, Suho finally came to a halt at a fork in the path. Finishing off thest kobold in the area, he straightened and called his team.

    "Everyone, gather up."

    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±

    The team gathered around. Even Seo Giwon, who had lower stamina than the others, was a little out of breath. Although Suho had handled most of the fighting, he had purposely let a few kobolds slip to the rear, so the team could practice under real conditions.

    ¡°Do you see that fork in the path?¡± Suho pointed ahead. ¡°This is the point I told you about.¡±

    ¡°Yes, we¡¯ve reached the fork as you mentioned.¡±

    ¡°This is where Nexus gave up, overwhelmed by the swarm of kobolds when they tried to push further.¡±

    ¡°Are we splitting up to advance?¡± one member asked.

    ¡°No, I¡¯ll be the only one going in.¡±

    ¡°Pardon?¡±

    Without further exnation, Suho walked up to the entrance of the right passage, raised his sword, and swung it at the wall with all his might.

    [ Steel Cutter is activated. ]

    *Boom!*

    The wall crumbled partially under his blow, covering nearly twenty percent of the entrance. Suho struck several more times until ny percent of the entrance was blocked.

    He did the same with the left passage, leaving only narrow gaps in both entrances, just wide enough for a kobold or two to squeeze through. His team members watched in awe, swallowing hard.

    *¡®Someone who can copse an entrance with a sword swing¡­¡¯*

    *¡®How strong is he really?¡¯*

    *¡®Is this even physically possible?¡¯*

    With both entrances blocked, Suho turned to his team.

    ¡°You¡¯ll stay here and guard the right entrance. I¡¯ll go through the left.¡±

    ¡°This is the n?¡± someone asked, skeptical.

    ¡°Yes, this is the n. I would¡¯ve blocked the left entirely, but you need some practice. After I go in, no matter what happens, don¡¯te looking for me. Trust me and wait here for twelve hours. I¡¯lle out before then. If I don¡¯t, leave without me.¡±

    Suho¡¯s instructions were clear. He needed at least twelve hours inside to gather everything he¡¯de for.

    ¡°Understood,¡± his team replied.

    ¡°Good. I¡¯ll see you soon.¡±

    Without another word, Suho disappeared through the narrow entrance on the left, sealing the opening with one final swing behind him. He didn¡¯t want any kobolds following him from that direction.

    Once he was gone, his team exchanged uneasy nces.

    ¡°Are we really just leaving him in there?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s alone in there¡­¡±

    ¡°Is this the right decision¡­?¡±

    Seo Giwon, looking calm, spoke up.

    ¡°I trust the captain. Let¡¯s wait and have faith.¡±

    The rest nodded. None of them doubted Suho¡¯s skills.

    ---

    Having sealed his path, Suho muttered to himself.

    ¡°Well, then¡­ time to begin.¡±

    Though it seemed he was cutting off his own retreat, he didn¡¯t block the path out of desperation. Instead, he wanted to ensure his team could focus on their defense with minimal risk.

    Suho was eager for his team to grow stronger; he needed them to be valuable assets in the future. With this in mind, he turned to face the kobolds who had gathered after hearing the entrance copse.

    - Earthkeeper Kobold Lv. 72

    - Earthkeeper Kobold Lv. 74

    - Earthkeeper Kobold Lv. 73

    The kobolds, mostly in the low 70s, were no threat to Suho. Compared to the level 90+ ents and golems he¡¯d fought before, they were barely worth his attention.

    But there was one key challenge with the kobolds¡ªthey were incredibly numerous.

    *¡®This mine was given an S-rank for a reason.¡¯*

    The Kobold Mines were currently under Nexus¡¯s control, but eventually, it would fall to the government due to the overwhelming number of casualties in future incursions.

    On the surface, the gate¡¯s level restrictions andrge team limit made it appear easy, but the endless swarms of kobolds quickly dispelled that illusion.

    *¡®Plus, being in a mine saps stamina faster than expected.¡¯*

    Mines came with countless hazards, and few people had experience fighting in such conditions. The mine¡¯s true terror wasn¡¯t just the kobold horde but the hidden boss who ruled the entire ce.

    Even Nexus¡¯s previous attempts had ended in catastrophe, forcing them to hand the gate over to the government.

    Suho, however, was confident. This gate, despite its S-rank, had been conquered by hunters in his past life. He knew all its secrets.

    He swung his sword at the kobolds rushing him.

    *sh!*

    [ You have defeated an Earthkeeper Kobold. ]

    Suho continued his steady advance.

    ---

    Six hourster, after half a day of mining, An Sung-won finally straightened his back.

    ¡°Let¡¯s take a meal break!¡±

    ¡°Lunch time!¡±

    ¡°Food!¡±

    ¡°Prepare the kitchen!¡±

    The exhausted mining team took a well-deserved rest. After checking that his team was ready, An Sung-won walked over to the attack team.

    ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard, everyone.¡±

    ¡°Oh, Head Leader! You came just in time,¡± one of them replied.

    ¡°By the way, it¡¯s been half a day already. How are you holding up?¡±

    ¡°Oh, we had a bit of a rush earlier, but it¡¯s been quieter since.¡±

    An Sung-won looked in awe at the pile of kobold bodies stacked near the entrance.

    ¡°Even if theye one or two at a time, this number is no joke¡­ As expected from Hunter Ahn¡¯s team.¡±

    "Haha, thank you.¡±

    An Sung-won wasn¡¯t exaggerating. After six hours, the attack team was managing the kobold flow smoothly, thanks to their training and Suho¡¯s clever cement of the entrance barriers.

    Gu Yeon-hwa thought to herself,

    *¡®If they came all at once, we¡¯d have been overrun within the first hour¡­¡¯*

    Despite her confidence in Suho¡¯s skills, she couldn¡¯t help but worry about him. Six hours had passed since he ventured alone into the depths.

    *¡®I¡¯ll trust him. It¡¯s all I can do for now.¡¯*

    Resolving herself, Gu Yeon-hwa decided to focus on her own duties.

    ---

    Meanwhile, deep in the mine, Suho finished his brief rest and stood.

    *¡®Time to meet him.¡¯*

    He had spent thest six hours inflicting terror on the kobolds. With so many dead, the remaining kobolds now avoided him like the gue. There was no point in hunting any more of them; it was time to confront the gate¡¯s true boss.

    As he moved deeper into the mine, the surviving kobolds retreated, hiding in the shadows. Thanks to them clearing his path, Suho strolled forward almost leisurely until he reached the end of the mine.

    He stopped at a cliff.

    More urately, he¡¯d reached the uncharted depths of the mine, where the kobolds hadn¡¯t yet excavated. Suho took a re from his inventory, a tool designed to emit a bright light when deployed, perfect for illuminating dark spaces.

    He aimed it down into the abyss and fired. The re rocketed downward, its light flickering as it revealed glimpses of the surroundings.

    Finally, it burst open at the bottom, flooding the area with a blinding glow.

    In the newfound light, Suho saw it¡ªthe real master of this mine, slumbering peacefully.

    The creature was nestled among heaps of magic stones and various ores, breathing heavily.

    - Snooore¡­ Snooore¡­

    Its giant form, buried under the minerals, was unmistakable.

    Suho scaled the wall down to the mine floor andnded softly near the sleeping creature.

    He looked up at the beast, a massive form roughly four to five meters tall, with a body thatbined elements of an elephant and a bear. Above its head floated the ominous title:

    - Bulgasal, Lv. 99@@novelbin@@

    Bulgasal. Named "The Undying" because it was said to be impossible to kill. This monster was one of the primary reasons why the Kobold Mines had

    been designated a sealed gate.

    *¡®One of the top three monsters below the first-star tier...¡¯*

    Summoning his spirit spear *Guiyeongchang*, Suho enchanted it with divine energy. He took aim at the monster¡¯s forehead and hurled the spear with all his strength.

    [ Javelin Throw is activated. ]

    *Swish!*

    The spear shot through the air, aimed precisely at Bulgasal¡¯s forehead.

    But¡ª

    *Ping!*

    The spear bounced off harmlessly, failing even to scratch its thick hide. The creature¡¯s skin was as hard as steel.

    But it was enough to disturb its sleep.

    *Rumble¡­*

    The ground shook as Bulgasal began to wake, a rumbling growl resonating through the cavern.

    *¡®Here we go¡­¡¯*

 Chapter 56

    - ¡°Kiiiiiiieeee!!¡±

    The Bulgasal, woken from its slumber, began to roar.

    It wasn¡¯t crying out in pain but rather in anger. It had been sleeping peacefully, filled and drowsy after a heavy meal, only to be rudely awakened. The deafening sound echoed through the mine, causing it to shake violently, as though an earthquake had struck.

    The first to be rmed were the nearby Earthkeeper Kobolds.

    ¡°Kiiirrr!¡±

    ¡°Kieeee!¡±

    To the Earthkeeper Kobolds, Bulgasal was a disastrous existence. No matter their numbers, they couldn¡¯t hope to confront such a mysterious and terrifying creature. They had long since learned to avoid it at all costs.

    In the past, they had tried to reim ownership of the mine, risking everything for their kin¡¯s survival. However, they had suffered massive casualties, with over half of their forces annihted without even scratching the creature. After that, they had chosen to coexist quietly, abandoning any hope of confrontation.

    The Kobolds avoided outsiders, considering them a threat. If they lost their refuge, with Bulgasal already looming over them, they would have nowhere else to go.

    ¡°Aaahhh!¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t this whole ce going to copse?!¡±

    Next to react in panic was Nexus¡¯s raid team stationed at the rear. Not knowing of Bulgasal¡¯s presence, they had been anxiously waiting for Suho, growing more fearful by the second. Gu Yeon-hwa, in particr, was especially worried.

    ¡®Where on earth is he? Is he even alive?¡¯

    But they decided to wait, trusting Suho¡¯s instructions. Gu Yeon-hwa and the raid team resolved to stay for at least twelve hours, holding onto the hope that he would return.

    *Thump! Thump!*

    The Bulgasal began to rise. It wasrger than any golem or Ent Suho had previously encountered. Its skin was tougher than even those of the twisted forest golems. As it stood, it red down at Suho with a look of utter irritation, enraged that such a lowly creature would dare interrupt its rest.

    Once more, the Bulgasal let out a furious cry.

    - ¡°Kiiieeeeee!!¡±

    [The Bulgasal is using Boss-level Fear.]

    An alert from the system appeared.

    But.

    [Dragon¡¯s Blood is activated.]

    [Due to the Dragon¡¯s Mentality effect, the Fear is negated.]

    Even a creature as formidable as Bulgasal could not match the potency of Dragon Fear. Suho merely stood still, his hair and clothes slightly ruffled by the wind pressure, showing no reaction.

    Bulgasal, intrigued by Suho¡¯s calm demeanor, began to chuckle. This was the first time it had ever encountered such a strange creature. Out of curiosity, it decided to put Suho to the test.

    *Whoomp¡ª*

    Bulgasal inted its cheeks, preparing to unleash something massive. Seeing this, Suho promptly summoned his Blood Sword.

    [Blood Weapon is activated.]

    The crimson sword emerged from his hand. Bulgasal smirked, amused that this tiny creature dared to draw a weapon against it.

    Alright, let¡¯s see how long you can keep up this arrogance, thought the Bulgasal, as it finally spat out a massive projectile.

    [Bulgasal uses Steel Spit.]

    The projectile was exactly what it sounded like¡ªBulgasal had gathered minerals stored within its body, molded them into steel, and spat them out at high speed. The destructive power was immense, the projectile speeding toward Suho like a cannonball.

    Yet Suho didn¡¯t evade. Instead, he raised his arms and stretched his Blood Sword like a staff, wielding it with ease.

    [Steel Cutter is activated.]

    The extended Blood Sword, empowered by Steel Cutter, met the projectile with a swift sh.

    *Slice!*

    ¡°¡­¡­!¡±

    Bulgasal¡¯s eyes widened in shock. It wondered if it was seeing things due to its prolonged sleep. But no, this tiny creature had extended its sword and, with a single swing, cut through the steel projectile it hadunched with full force¡ªsomething that no one had ever blocked or destroyed before.

    With a resounding impact, the split steel projectile embedded itself in the walls on either side, kicking up a cloud of dust.

    Suho retracted the Blood Sword, thinking to himself, ¡®It was worth gathering blood from those Kobolds.¡¯

    Unlike Ents and golems, the Kobolds had blood he could use, which now served him well. With a quick circr sweep of his sword, Suho dispersed the dust, revealing Bulgasal¡¯s stunned face.

    *Prrrk!*

    Bulgasal¡¯s shock didn¡¯tst long, however, as it soon grew enraged. Its massive, bloated cheeks trembled with fury. Then, just like a rhino, it charged at Suho with all its might.

    ¡°Crazy beast.¡±

    It seemed Bulgasal now intended to use its own body as a weapon. Seeing the creature charge, Suho prepared himself, his body filling with strength as he focused on his legs, his movement speed reaching blinding levels.

    *Crash!*

    The spot where Suho had been standing exploded as Bulgasal¡¯s head struck the ground, causing the mine to quake again. But Suho, unfazed, had already moved out of its path. He scaled the walls, leaping higher and higher until he was above the creature.

    [Leap is activated.]

    With the skill boosting his jump, Suho soared even higher. He raised his sword overhead once more.

    [Blood Weapon is activated.]

    His Blood Sword extended like a staff, consuming all the gathered blood to maximize its reach. Grasping the sword with both hands, he unleashed another skill, pouring his strength into it.

    [Steel Cutter is activated.]

    *Slice¡ª!!*

    The lengthy de, propelled by the skill¡¯s momentum, sliced through the air, carving a clean line.@@novelbin@@

    *Slice!!*

    The impact was heavy and precise.

    - ¡°Bweeeeeeee!!¡±

    The Steel Cutter-enhanced Blood Sword sessfully severed Bulgasal¡¯s tail. Suho shortened the sword andnded safely on the ground as the massive tail crashed down beside him.

    *Thud!*

    Suho nced at the severed tail and smiled. As he had expected, the Steel Cutter skill worked perfectly regardless of the sword¡¯s length.

    There was, of course, a well-known traditional method to defeat Bulgasal: fire.

    ¡®Bulgasal is historically known to be vulnerable to mes.¡¯

    In his previous life, he had heard of Bulgasal being subdued with fire magic. But Suho hadn¡¯t opted for that approach. He had a simple reason¡ªsummoning a fire strong enough to subdue Bulgasal would require an unimaginable scale and heat.

    ¡®And where would I, a swordsman, get such mes?¡¯

    So he made the best choice avable to him: to resolve the battle as a swordsman, by the sword.

    Just then.

    [Bulgasal initiates Regeneration by reducing its body size.]

    The system¡¯s notification appeared.

    Simultaneously, Bulgasal¡¯s massive body began to shrink, its tail regenerating in the process.

    ¡®That¡¯s its regeneration, then.¡¯

    Bulgasal couldn¡¯t truly be killed. It would shrink its body to heal any injuries, as was happening before Suho¡¯s eyes. Bulgasal consumed a vast amount of minerals to store energy for this very purpose.

    Suho steadily approached the creature, which had now shrunk by about thirty percent. Bulgasal flinched.

    - ¡°Brrrk?¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s with all the burbling?¡±

    - ¡°Brrrrr!!¡±

    Though its body had shrunk, Bulgasal¡¯s fighting spirit hadn¡¯t diminished, and it was still confident in the minerals stored within. However, it no longer underestimated its foe, now realizing Suho¡¯s true strength.

    [Bulgasal uses Overpower.]

    This was one of Bulgasal¡¯s signature techniques, consuming stored minerals to reinforce its exoskeleton.

    Bulgasal shrank even further, pouring all its energy into the exoskeleton, until its size was reduced to match Suho¡¯s. When the transformation wasplete, a dark, matte finish covered its body.

    Both Bulgasal and Suho, now equally sized, wore expressions of confidence.

    ¡°Now that¡¯s more like it,¡± Suho muttered, gripping his sword.

    Without hesitation, Bulgasal sprang into the air, curling into a ball. It spun rapidly like a wheel and charged toward Suho.

    [Bulgasal uses Hyper Spin.]

    This technique was a powerful attack, with Bulgasal¡¯s entire body spinning like a rolling boulder to deliver catastrophic damage.

    But Suho wasn¡¯t the least bit intimidated. Instead, he smiled.

    He wasn¡¯t even nning to dodge.

    He was simply curious to see what the power of Bulgasal, known as one of the highest-grade boss monsters, truly was. And whether he could split it with his sword.

    As Bulgasal¡¯s spinning body hurtled toward him, Suho raised his sword and swung.

    [Steel Cutter is activated.]

    ***

    After the mine had shaken several more times, the Earthkeeper Kobolds stopped emerging. The mining team, havingpleted their work, rested, leaving only Suho, who had ventured alone.

    Although no one voiced it, their faces showed deep concern.

    Then it happened.

    [The gate has been cleared.]

    [The MVP of the gate clearing is ¡®Ahn Suho.¡¯]

    A notification appeared before everyone¡¯s eyes, signaling the gate¡¯s conquest.

 Chapter 58

    The Earthkeeper Kobolds'' mine had indeed been a goldmine. The mining team collected a remarkable amount of magic stones, valued in the billions. But that wasn¡¯t all¡ªthere hadn¡¯t been a single injury, not even a minor one, making it a perfect raid.

    ¡°President, this is incredible!¡±

    Kim Yi-gang, the office manager, barely contained his excitement as he reported to Bae Dong-hyuk.

    Bae Dong-hyuk, who had anticipated great results, couldn¡¯t hide his joy.

    ¡°Yes, Hunter Ahn has given us quite a gift.¡±

    Though Suho¡¯s special recruitment meant a shortened contract period, this kind of result was more than enough for Nexus. The reward wasn¡¯t just the financial gain from the mined magic stones; it was also about solving a strategic issue.

    The Earthkeeper Kobolds¡¯ mine gate had been a problem for Nexus, as they had struggled to determine how to clear it. The gate, left untouched for too long, risked bing a high-risk "sealed gate" and could be seized by the government.

    ¡®But thanks to Hunter Ahn¡¯s sess in clearing the gate, we¡¯ve made profits and preserved the guild¡¯s reputation.¡¯

    The damage to their image from failing to clear a gate and having it seized by the government would¡¯ve been incalcble. Suho had resolved that problem, and for that, Bae Dong-hyuk was deeply grateful. Upon receiving the full report the next day, he immediately summoned Suho.

    ¡°Yes, President,¡± Suho replied, meeting Bae Dong-hyuk in his executive office on the top floor of Nexus headquarters. Bae Dong-hyuk had arranged a private meeting.

    As Suho entered, Bae Dong-hyuk greeted him with a smile.

    ¡°Hunter Ahn, I just wanted to thank you once again.¡±

    ¡°No need. I didn¡¯t evenplete my contract period. This much was the least I could do.¡±

    ¡°Haha, nothing is a given. Many people would simply take what they could get for themselves. There aren¡¯t many like you who value integrity and loyalty.¡±

    ¡°I appreciate the kind words.¡±

    ¡°On that note¡­¡± Bae Dong-hyuk took a few papers and handed them to Suho.

    ¡°What is this?¡±

    ¡°This is an initial valuation of the mining team¡¯s collected materials.¡±

    Suho took the papers and reviewed them. The amount listed was a staggering 7.2 billion won.

    Bae Dong-hyuk continued, ¡°The quality of the magic stones was much higher than expected, and their size increased their value even more. After secondary processing through our guild¡¯s workshop, the profit could easily exceed 10 billion.¡±

    Indeed, even after deducting all expenses, the profit was estimated to be over 10 billion won. Suho could hardly keep a straight face, especially since the minerals he had personally gathered using Bulgasal far outstripped this amount.

    ¡®Even just the raw ore I collected is worth more than 10 billion.¡¯

    Satisfied, Suho reflected on why he had used his Dominion Orb on Bulgasal. Financial security was essential for his ns; until the association underwent reform, his ie as a public servant would be modest. Even with reforms, his earnings would be limitedpared to other hunters.

    ¡®My own needs are minimal, but I¡¯ll need far more funds to realize my future ns.¡¯

    For Suho, Bulgasal¡¯s mining activities were like finding an oasis in the desert.

    Bae Dong-hyuk continued, ¡°I¡¯ve given this a lot of thought and decided to give 10% of this gate¡¯s profit to your team, Hunter Ahn.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°No matter the reason for your assistance, it feels wrong not to share such substantial profits.¡±

    Suho quickly declined, ¡°No, thank you, President. Really, I insist.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s no trouble. Please ept it, Hunter Ahn. It¡¯s the least I can do.¡±

    Suho genuinely wanted to refuse, considering the amount of minerals he had already taken. But Bae Dong-hyuk was equally sincere, offering out of genuine gratitude rather than as a calcted move to curry favor with Suho.

    After a bit of back-and-forth, Suho suggested apromise.

    ¡°How about this instead?¡±

    ¡°Oh? What do you propose?¡±

    ¡°I have a favor I was considering asking. Since you insist on a bonus, perhaps you could help me with this instead.¡±

    ¡°Of course. Just name it.¡±

    ¡°You haven¡¯t even heard it yet.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re Hunter Ahn! Whatever you ask, I trust it¡¯s a reasonable request.¡±

    ¡°Haha, well¡­¡± Suho smiled. Bae Dong-hyuk¡¯s straightforward personality was why he had chosen Nexus.

    ¡°Actually, this issue is what I wanted to discuss. As you know, I¡¯m soon to be appointed through a special recruitment to the Great Hunter Association,¡± Suho began.

    ¡°Yes, and?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d like to set up a covert task force within Nexus to operate under my direction.¡±

    ¡°A covert task force?¡±

    ¡°Yes, it would be my personal team. Since I¡¯ll soon be a civil servant, managing an independent strike team will be difficult. That¡¯s why I¡¯d like to ce my team within Nexus, where they could receive guild support and resources.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll need a cover, then. But your idea makes sense¡ªcivil servants can¡¯t usually take on additional roles.¡±

    Suho borated, ¡°Yes, exactly. I want my team to operate under Nexus, albeit discreetly. It would benefit both of us. Although it¡¯s my personal team, as Nexus guild members, they¡¯ll also take on guild assignments. They¡¯re all trained by me, and I n to support them regrly.¡±

    Understanding Suho¡¯s intentions, Bae Dong-hyuk chuckled. Suho hadn¡¯t said it outright, but his implication was clear¡ªhe intended to continue hunting activities discreetly even after joining the Great Hunter Association.

    ¡°I understand. We¡¯ll treat your team with the same care as we treat you. Were those friends from the gate raid your team?¡±

    ¡°Yes, they were.¡±

    ¡°And what about Hunter Kang Dae-han?¡±

    Suho paused, then shook his head. Kang Dae-han, although temporarily recruited, was still untested in terms of loyalty and alignment with his goals.

    ¡®It¡¯s better to keep him as a mercenary for now. He¡¯ll develop faster if he gains experience outside my team.¡¯

    Suho replied, ¡°I¡¯ll leave out Kang Dae-han for now.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±@@novelbin@@

    ¡°Also, since my team will be taking on missions equivalent to their rank, can we arrange at least A-rank benefits for them?¡±

    ¡°A-rank benefits?¡± Bae Dong-hyuk pondered.

    Suho¡¯s team had only recentlypleted the mine raid. There were no other concrete aplishments yet. After a brief moment of thought, Bae Dong-hyuk proposed, ¡°How about this? While some level of documentation is legally required, once all team members reach Level 100, I¡¯ll grant them A-rank benefits. Until then, they¡¯ll be provisionally B-ranked, but they can continue to use the training rooms.¡±

    Suho smiled in agreement. Bae Dong-hyuk had cleverly addressed his intentions. Suho nodded.

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s perfect. I¡¯ll ensure everyone meets the minimum level requirement and obtains certification.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for understanding. Then, the 10% bonus we mentioned will be allocated to your team.¡±

    ¡°Thank you. And if you could also see that Hunter Kang Dae-han receives a little extra separately¡­¡±

    ¡°Haha, leave that to me.¡±

    ¡°Thank you. I look forward to working with you.¡±

    Their handshake marked the beginning of a solid, ongoing rtionship with Nexus.

    Reflecting on it, Suho thought, ¡®If I weren¡¯t a regressor, I could never have made such a proposal.¡¯

    He believed in reaching out first to build trust, but betrayal in his past life had taught him caution. Bae Dong-hyuk, however, had proven his character, allowing Suho to pursue this connection.

    After their meeting, Suho headed to the Academy training room. There, his team, minus Kang Dae-han, was training through the Infinity simtion. He logged them out remotely, and the first to emerge was Seo Gi-won, who greeted him warmly.

    ¡°Boss, you¡¯re here?¡±

    ¡°Yes, how¡¯s the training going?¡±

    ¡°Good! Everyone¡¯s made noticeable progress since the field experience.¡±

    Gu Yeon-hwa and the rest of Banshee¡¯s team nodded in agreement.

    Suho took a seat and addressed them.

    ¡°I¡¯m here to share an important announcement.¡±

    ¡°An announcement?¡±

    ¡°From today on, you¡¯re all registered with Nexus.¡±

    ¡°¡­!¡±

    Everyone¡¯s eyes widened in surprise.

    ¡°Since some of you left stable jobs to train here, I arranged for you all to join the guild and receive regr sries. You¡¯re now officially assigned to my personal team with a provisional B-rank status. Once you reach Level 100, you¡¯ll be promoted to A-rank, and your pay will increase ordingly.¡±

    The team members nodded eagerly, as some of them had even left school to join him.

    Suho turned on hisptop and said, ¡°From now on, your sole focus is leveling up. Target level is 100. Seo Gi-won, would you mind helping out?¡±

    ¡°Yes, but¡­ does that include me too?¡±

    ¡°Of course, you¡¯re part of the team. Set up the hunting zones.¡±

    ¡°Uh¡­¡± Seo Gi-won took theptop with a reluctant expression, while the rest of the team looked on with puzzled faces.

 Chapter 60

    Suho looked down at the name he¡¯d finally located and tucked the documents into his jacket, feeling a sense of relief.

    ¡®Found him sooner than expected. Now, I just need to bring him in.¡¯

    He turned to Choi Yoon. "You know that safe house Union has in Cheongdam, right?¡±

    She frowned. "How do you even know about that?¡±

    Of course, Suho knew. Coming from ater world where gate cmities were nearly wiped out, there was little information he didn¡¯t possess. Korea was meticulous about documentation, and he¡¯d once had almost unrestricted ess to that information.

    ¡°Well, I do know. And I¡¯d like to use it,¡± he said casually.

    She sighed, leaning back in her chair. ¡°Look, the safe houses have different levels, and the one in Cheongdam is high-security¡­¡±

    "Didn¡¯t you say you owed me one?¡±

    Choi Yoon clicked her tongue in frustration. "Getting those documents wasn¡¯t enough?¡±

    ¡°Is my saving your life worth only a few sheets of paper?¡± he countered.

    ¡°Come on, it¡¯s not like that, and you know it! But still¡­ of all ces, it had to be Cheongdam?¡± she groaned.@@novelbin@@

    ¡°I can pay if that¡¯s the issue.¡±

    ¡°Ugh¡­ does it really *have* to be Cheongdam?¡±

    ¡°It does. Or do I need to spell out why?¡±

    ¡°Fine!¡± she huffed, pulling out her phone to call her superiors.

    After a few minutes, she returned, looking exasperated. ¡°They agreed.¡±

    ¡°See? I told you they would.¡±

    ¡°Of course, they had conditions,¡± she added. ¡°If you ept them, you can use the Cheongdam safe house for half the usual cost.¡±

    Surprised by the discount, Suho responded cautiously, ¡°I¡¯ll need to know what those conditions are first.¡±

    She sighed, realizing there was no simple answer with him. "They want you to clear a gate for them. Apparently, it¡¯s a newly-discovered gate they haven¡¯t posted on the grid yet.¡±

    ¡°A gate? I thought Union had people for that?¡±

    ¡°The gate¡¯s location is too visible. Normally, securing a gate involves a lot of red tape and attention, and this one¡¯s in Namhansan.¡±

    Namhansan? Suho raised an eyebrow, realizing it¡¯d be nearly impossible to redirect public attention from there.

    ¡°What¡¯s the difficulty and theme?¡±

    ¡°We sent in a survey team, and only yers level 110 and below can enter. The ce is called Sky Mountain, and it¡¯s full of wyverns¡ªextremely agile ones.¡±

    ¡°Sky Mountain?¡± Suho echoed, suppressing a grin. He knew exactly which gate this was.

    ¡°Yes, Sky Mountain. And they don¡¯t expect you to clear it alone. Just join the existing team to help them. No one expects a solo clear, even from you.¡±

    Suho chuckled to himself, his thoughts racing. He asked, ¡°Do the wyverns happen to have a light blue color?¡±

    Choi Yoon blinked, taken aback. ¡°How¡­ how did you know?¡±

    His smile widened. It was exactly as he remembered. "Alright. So, just clearing the ce is enough?¡±

    ¡°Yes, but all loot from the gate must go to Union. ording to the scouts, there¡¯s arge stone mountain inside with a wyvern nest at the top. The main loot would be the wyvern eggs. If you could collect all of them, that would be ideal.¡±

    ¡°And how many eggs are there?¡±

    ¡°Six,st the scouts counted.¡±

    ¡°Fine. When do they want it done?¡±

    ¡°They said right now is fine if you¡¯re avable.¡±

    ¡°Then let¡¯s go.¡±

    ¡°R-right now?¡± she stammered.

    ¡°Yes, right now. Let¡¯s add one more condition.¡±

    ¡°What now?¡±

    ¡°Tell them I¡¯ll solo the gate. In exchange, I¡¯ll use the Cheongdam safe house free of charge and get thergest unit¡ªthe 80-pyeong one.¡±

    Choi Yoon was shocked. "You¡¯re serious about going in alone?¡±

    ¡°When have I ever joked with you?¡±

    Though she found his tone blunt, she wasn¡¯t offended¡ªin fact, she was intrigued by his confidence.

    After some quick arrangements, Suho and Choi Yoon arrived at Namhansan, where Union personnel managed ess to the Sky Mountain gate, which had yet to be posted publicly. As they stepped out of their cars, they were met by the gate manager, who greeted Suho respectfully.

    ¡°So, you¡¯re Ahn Suho, the hunter? I¡¯m Kim Soo-won, head of this operation.¡±

    ¡°Pleasure,¡± Suho replied, keeping his attention focused on the gate.

    Kim Soo-won exined, ¡°We¡¯ve scouted the interior twice, and it¡¯s formidable. You¡¯ll need to scale a vast spiral mountain under constant attack from wyverns. The winds are fierce, too.¡±

    ¡°But you found the nest, right?¡±

    ¡°Correct, but we had to retreat due to the wyverns¡¯ relentless attacks.¡±

    Suho nodded, satisfied. ¡°Good thing it¡¯s essible. And yes, I¡¯ll be going alone.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure? It¡¯s incredibly tough up there¡­¡±

    Suho¡¯s calm reply left Kim Soo-won speechless.

    After some contemtion, Kim Soo-won finally replied, ¡°If that¡¯s your decision, then I¡¯ll respect it. If you need any support items, we¡¯ll provide them.¡±

    ¡°No need.¡±

    Kim Soo-won was stunned at his casual refusal. Any other hunter would have jumped at the offer, but he reminded himself this was a man who had soloed two sealed gates. With nothing more to say, he stepped back, letting Suho approach the entrance.

    As he entered, a series of notifications appeared:

    [Entering Gate¡­]

    [Loading Gate Information¡­]

    **[Sky Mountain]**

    - **Entry Level**: Level 110 and below

    - **Max Entry**: 31 yers

    This was indeed the gate Suho had read about in the memory archives. He confirmed it was the one from his recollections before stepping forward.

    Watching him disappear into the gate, Kim Soo-won turned to Choi Yoon. "Do you think he¡¯ll seed?¡±

    She shrugged, though her expression held a trace of belief. ¡°Knowing him, yes.¡±

    ¡°Just because he¡¯s Ahn Suho?¡±

    She smiled knowingly. ¡°Exactly.¡±

    Meanwhile, Suho¡¯s surroundings shifted. He found himself in a dark cave, apanied by the sound of howling winds. Exiting the cave, he was met with a vast view of Sky Mountain towering above him.

    ¡®So, this is Sky Mountain,¡¯ he thought, recalling the records in the association¡¯s database. This gate was infamous inter years for devouring countless hunters. At the time, only the most carefully crafted partypositions¡ªtanks, archers, and healers¡ªhad any chance of survival.

    However, Suho had no ns to follow traditional strategies. Instead, he summoned his Blood Sword, a weapon versatile enough to handle both close and rangedbat.

    The cold, gusting wind greeted him as he took his first step onto the mountain.

    **[Leap Activated]**

    Ignoring the winding path that spiraled up the mountain, Suho relied on the jagged rocks jutting out from the cliff face to leap in a straight line upward.

    ¡°Kiieeeeek!¡± The familiar screech of wyverns echoed in the distance as he climbed. A group of blue-scaled wyverns hurtled toward him, their agile bodies slicing through the turbulent winds.

    Suho tightened his grip on the Blood Sword, ready to carve his way to the top.

    <strong>TL NOTE</strong>: Please don''t skimp on the stars for the trantion - it inspires me and gives me the strength to write more. Thank you~!

    If you want to buy me a /kimsu

 Chapter 63

    ¡®So, the Queen has finally made her entrance.¡¯

    The reason the Union¡¯s advance teams had never managed to conquer <em>Sky Mountain</em>.

    It wasn¡¯t just the mountain¡¯s formidable height or the swarming wyverns utilizing aerial tactics¡ªit was because at the peak awaited the true ruler of the mountain, the <em>Sky Wyvern Queen</em>.

    <strong>- Kwoooohhh!</strong>

    The eggying <em>Sky Wyvern Queen</em>, due to her female characteristics, was farrger than the <em>Sky Wyvern King</em>.

    However, unlike the <em>Wyvern King</em> or the other wyverns, the Queen could not fly¡ªa small relief.

    Moreover, her primary instinct was to protect her eggs, which meant she would never leave the summit. As long as no one approached her nest, she wouldn¡¯t descend to lower altitudes.

    ¡®But get too close to the peak, and the <em>Wyvern King</em> will go berserk.¡¯

    The protective instincts of a family¡¯s guardian.

    This was exactly what Suho aimed to exploit.

    The <em>Wyvern Queen</em> could wait; his immediate target was the <em>Sky Wyvern King</em>.

    Suho carefully calcted the distance at which the Queen would not intervene and etched a line into the ground¡ªa clear <em>dead zone</em>.

    With that, he turned his attention back to the <em>Wyvern King</em> and the remaining wyverns.

    <strong>Crash!</strong>

    The <em>Sky Wyvern King</em> charged aggressively, smashing into the ground where Suho had been standing moments before.

    As expected, the King had grown increasingly agitated and began attacking more recklessly.

    Suho weed this development.

    He continued shing and leaping atop the wyverns, keeping them off bnce.

    After some time, Suho thought, ¡®They should be switching tactics soon.¡¯

    He had intentionally avoided killing the wyverns outright, inflicting only minor injuries to ensure they could still fight.

    Eventually, as he predicted, their attack patterns changed.

    <strong>- Kyoooo!</strong>

    At the <em>Wyvern King¡¯s</em>mand, the wyverns briefly retreated, only to reappear carrying massive boulders.

    The wyverns flew high before releasing their payloads, intending to crush Suho beneath the falling rocks.

    Suho smirked and gripped his sword.

    <strong>[ Quick Draw activates. ]</strong>

    <em>sh!</em>

    He didn¡¯t use <em>Steel Cutter</em>¡ªthis time, it was all about precision with <em>Quick Draw</em>.

    His de shed horizontally and diagonally, slicing through the boulders with ease.

    The peak of <em>Sky Mountain</em> glowed faintly red from the light of Suho¡¯s strikes.

    Each swing of his de left a luminous trail in the air, a mark of his refined skill.

    Suddenly, another howl echoed.

    <strong>[ The Sky Wyvern Queen begins Rolling Rocks. ]</strong>

    The howl came from the Queen herself.

    Unable to remain passive, the <em>Wyvern Queen</em> had joined the fray.

    From the summit, she began rolling enormous boulders toward Suho, sending them crashing down in rapid session.

    Watching the cascading rocks, Suhoughed once more.

    A more challenging environment was always wee¡ªit only brought him closer to his goal.

    Even now, he continued to rely solely on <em>Quick Draw</em>, slicing through the falling rocks with relentless precision.

    For a long while, the battle continued in a monotonous yet tense rhythm.

    Then, a shift urred in the wyverns¡¯ behavior.

    They began dropping rocks from just beyond Suho¡¯s effective range, retreating quickly after each drop.

    But Suho didn¡¯t grow frustrated.

    Heughed instead.

    Even when his de couldn¡¯t quite reach them, even when they resorted to hit-and-run tactics, heughed.

    And then, he swung again.

    <strong>[ Quick Draw activates. ]</strong>

    The red arc of his de shed through the air, striking a retreating wyvern in the nose.

    ¡°...!¡±

    The wyvern¡¯s snout burned with pain, a fresh wound dripping blood.

    Itsrades were equally shocked, wide-eyed and trembling.

    The distance had seemed safe¡ªhow had the attack reached?

    Suho¡¯s smirk deepened as he watched their confusion.

    The wyverns, wary of a repeat, moved farther back before attempting another attack.

    But as they released their boulders and turned to retreat:

    <strong>[ Quick Draw activates. ]</strong>

    Another sh of red, and another wyvern¡¯s snout was shed open.

    ¡°Kyiaaa!!¡±

    The wyverns began to panic.

    Why?

    How?

    Their calctions had been perfect¡ªso why were they still getting hit?

    Despite their anger, none dared charge Suho directly.

    Even at a distance, he was terrifying.

    Just as the wyverns hesitated, another red sh lit the sky.

    One of the wyverns maintaining a safe distance suddenly had its neck cleanly severed.

    ¡°...!¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    The wyverns froze, their eyes widening in disbelief.

    How?

    At this range, even <em>Quick Draw</em> shouldn¡¯t have been able to reach them.

    But this was no coincidence.

    <em>sh!</em>

    Another wyvern fell, cleaved in two.

    And then another.

    And another.

    Every wyvern that remained at a distance met the same fate, cut down by Suho¡¯s relentless strikes.

    <strong>- Kyoouu!</strong>

    The <em>Sky Wyvern King</em> roared, sensing the dire situation.

    It ordered its forces to retreat.

    The wyverns began soaring upward, desperately fleeing the battlefield.

    But even this was futile.

    <em>sh!</em>

    Suho¡¯s crimson de extended upward, cutting through the retreating wyverns like a relentless predator.

    For the first time since entering <em>Sky Mountain</em>, Suho¡¯s face lit up with genuine joy.

    <strong>[ Your understanding of swordsmanship is unparalleled. ]</strong>

    <strong>[ The system acknowledges your mastery of ¡®Quick Draw¡¯ and grants it a higher rank. ]</strong>

    <strong>[ Congrattions! The skill ¡®Quick Draw¡¯ has been upgraded to S-rank. ]</strong>

    <strong>[ Your ¡®Quick Draw¡¯ can now cut even the clouds in the sky. ]</strong>

    <strong>[ Swordsmanship Awakens. ]</strong>

    <strong>[ The unnamed spirit within your sword acknowledges your growth and blesses you. ]</strong>

    <strong>[ You have acquired ¡®Hogongryu Second Style: Cloud Cleaver (S+).¡¯ ]</strong>

    <strong>[ As a reward for your extraordinary achievement, you receive 10 bonus stat points. ]</strong>

    Suho grinned as he read the notifications flooding his vision.

    Finally, he had achieved the breakthrough he had been striving for.

    ¡®With <em>Cloud Cleaver</em>, long-rangebat is no longer an issue.¡¯

    For most melee fighters, the inability to attack at range was their greatest weakness.

    But Suho had ovee this limitation by pushing his <em>Quick Draw</em> to its ultimate form.@@novelbin@@

    The ability to extend his de¡¯s reach had be the cornerstone of hisbat strategy.

    This was why he had chosen to conquer <em>Sky Mountain</em> alone.

    The remaining wyverns cowered, hesitant to approach.

    Even the <em>Sky Wyvern King</em> paused, its cautious gaze fixed on Suho.

    With his de at his side, Suho took a deep breath.

    <strong>[ Cloud Cleaver activates. ]</strong>

    For a brief moment, his sword glowed crimson.

    The <em>Sky Wyvern King</em> narrowed its eyes, confused.

    What was this?

    Why was he swinging his sword at nothing?

    But then¡ª

    <em>Shrrk!</em>

    The <em>Sky Wyvern King¡¯s</em> face split in two.

    The sh extended down its neck and across its chest, bisecting its massive body.

    ¡°...!¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    The wyverns were paralyzed with shock.

    Even at this impossible height, where no sword should have been able to reach, Suho¡¯s de had struck.

    As the <em>Sky Wyvern King¡¯s</em> body fell, Suho¡¯s de sliced cleanly through the clouds behind it, revealing a patch of clear blue sky.

    <strong>[ You have in the Leader Wyvern. ]</strong>

    Suho lowered his sword, his gaze turning toward the summit where the <em>Sky Wyvern Queen</em> awaited.

    It was time to face the true ruler of <em>Sky Mountain</em>.

 Chapter 64

    Suho¡¯s mastery of <em>Cloud Cleaver</em> turned what had been repetitive training into a one-sided massacre.

    <strong>[ You have in a Sky Wyvern. ]</strong>

    <strong>[ You have in a Sky Wyvern. ]</strong>

    <strong>[ You have in a Sky Wyvern. ]</strong>

    <strong>[ You have in a Sky Wyvern. ]</strong>

    With each swing of his de, wyverns fell¡ªno matter how far they were.

    The only way they could survive was to flee in apletely different direction.

    When the ughter finally ended, Suho reached the summit.

    <strong>- Kyoooohhh!</strong>

    <strong>[ The enraged Sky Wyvern Queen roars. ]</strong>

    The Queen¡¯s anguished cries echoed across the peak.

    She had lost her mate and all her subordinates before her very eyes¡ªher fury was inevitable.

    But Suho felt no sympathy for her rage or grief.

    His focusy solely on the cave nest behind her.

    Inside, Suho could see freshlyid, unhatched wyvern eggs.

    Gripping his sword, he muttered, ¡°Let¡¯s finish this quickly.¡±

    Then, he charged toward the <em>Sky Wyvern Queen</em>.

    <strong>[ You have in the Sky Wyvern Queen. ]</strong>

    <strong>[ The gate has been cleared. ]</strong>

    <strong>[ The MVP of the gate conquest is ¡®Ahn Suho.¡¯ ]</strong>

    <strong>[ MVP bonus experience points awarded. ]</strong>

    <strong>[ MVP bonus stat awarded: +1. ]</strong>

    <strong>[ Level up! All stats increased by 1. ]</strong>

    <strong>[ Bonus stat awarded: +1. ]</strong>

    The moment the <em>Sky Wyvern Queen¡¯s</em> head fell, a cascade of system notifications appeared.

    Suho nced through them, unsurprised.

    ¡°No additional perks this time, huh.¡±

    By now, he was used to receiving bonus stats, and without any monumental achievements, the rewards felt a bit underwhelming.

    Still, it was fine.

    After all, he had aplished his primary goal: mastering <em>Cloud Cleaver</em>.

    Distributing his bonus stat points into strength as always, Suho updated his status window.

    <strong>[ Ahn Suho ]</strong>

    <ul>

    <li><strong>Level:</strong> 73</li>

    <li><strong>ss:</strong> Healer</li>

    <li><strong>Trait:</strong> New Blood</li>

    <li><strong>Strength (R):</strong> 80</li>

    <li><strong>Stamina (R):</strong> 35</li>

    <li><strong>Magic (R):</strong> 35</li>

    <li><strong>Perception (R):</strong> 35</li>

    <li><strong>Bonus Stats:</strong> 0</li>

    </ul>

    Level 73.

    Gaining three levels in <em>Sky Mountain</em> was respectable progress.

    ¡°My strength stat¡¯s already at 80. Not long until the next rank.¡±

    Closing the status window, Suho stepped past the <em>Sky Wyvern Queen¡¯s</em> corpse and entered the cave nest.

    The interior was vast and deep¡ªit had to be, to amodate the Queen¡¯s massive size.

    Yet, the eggs she hadid were rtively ordinary, only slightlyrger than ostrich eggs.

    Counting them, Suho noted there were twelve in total.

    ¡°Hm.¡±

    The Union¡¯s advance team had reported seeing six eggs.

    After a brief moment of thought, Suho stored two of the eggs in his spatial storage and ced the remaining ten in his inventory.

    As he approached the portal at the summit¡¯s edge, Suho abruptly stopped and turned back.

    ¡°Oh, almost forgot about that.¡±

    He had been so focused on collecting the eggs that he nearly overlooked the Queen¡¯s corpse.

    Monster corpses were valuable for their materials, and the <em>Sky Wyvern Queen¡¯s</em> body was no exception.

    At her level, her remains would fetch a high price.

    But Suho wasn¡¯t particrly interested in crafting items or earning money.

    Instead, he summoned <em>Shadow Spear</em> and drove it into the Queen¡¯s shadow.

    <strong>[ Shadow Spear reacts to the Sky Wyvern Queen¡¯s shadow. ]</strong>

    <strong>[ Shadow Spear absorbs the Sky Wyvern Queen¡¯s shadow. ]</strong>

    <strong>[ Shadow Spear is enhanced. ]</strong>

    Suho wasn¡¯t collecting the Queen¡¯s corpse for profit¡ªit was all for <em>Shadow Spear</em>.

    The shadow of a powerful monster provided the perfect nourishment for his weapon.

    When the spear finished consuming the shadow, another notification appeared.

    <strong>[ Shadow Spear has fully absorbed the Sky Wyvern Queen¡¯s shadow. ]</strong>

    For a brief moment, <em>Shadow Spear</em> glowed faintly before returning to its normal state.

    ¡°Looks like it just needs one more big meal to evolve,¡± Suho noted, having observed the weapon¡¯s near-transformation.

    With the Queen¡¯s corpse fully consumed, nothing remained but to exit the gate.

    <strong>Outside Sky Mountain Gate</strong>

    ¡°What the¡­?¡±

    ¡°No way¡­¡±

    ¡°Is the gate copsing?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me¡­ he cleared it?¡±

    ¡°Unbelievable¡­¡±

    As the gate trembled, Union members stationed outside began murmuring in disbelief.

    When the gate line vanishedpletely, their astonishment turned to awe.

    ¡°Wow¡­¡±

    ¡°So this is the Sword God.¡±

    ¡°His title isn¡¯t just for show.¡±

    ¡°I honestly thought the rumors about him clearing sealed gates were exaggerated¡­¡±

    ¡°This is insane¡­¡±@@novelbin@@

    Among the onlookers were several hunters who had previously failed to clear <em>Sky Mountain</em>.

    No one could doubt Suho¡¯s sess now.

    Kim Soo-won, a Union officer, was especially impressed.

    ¡°To think he actually did it¡­¡±

    Kim Soo-won had firsthand experience of how difficult the gate was. Even with a full raid team, sess was never guaranteed.

    Yet Suho had cleared it solo¡ªnot even Level 100, and a healer at that.

    Next to him, Choi Yoon smirked.

    ¡°He cleared it.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, he did.¡±

    ¡°Impressive, right?¡±

    ¡°Sure is. ¡­But why do you look so pleased?¡±

    ¡°Me? Oh, no reason. Must be your imagination.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t her imagination. For some reason, Choi Yoon couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of pride in Suho¡¯s aplishment.

    Soon, a figure emerged from the gate portal.

    It was Suho.

    The surrounding hunters quietly murmured in admiration but didn¡¯t approach him¡ªtheir professionalism kept them from behaving like starstruck fans.

    Only Kim Soo-won and Choi Yoon stepped forward to greet him.

    ¡°Congrattions, Hunter Ahn Suho. You¡¯ve sessfully conquered <em>Sky Mountain Gate</em> on your own.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, congrattions!¡±

    Suho responded with humility.

    ¡°It was just a job. Anyway, here.¡±

    He retrieved the ten wyvern eggs from his inventory and handed them to Kim Soo-won.

    Kim¡¯s eyes widened in shock.

    ¡°Ten eggs?! There were that many?¡±

    ¡°I took everything I could find. Unfortunately, the King and Queen¡¯s bodies fell off the mountain during the fight, so I couldn¡¯t recover them.¡±

    ¡°No problem at all. We didn¡¯t expect to get the bodies anyway. But ten eggs¡­ that¡¯s incredible.¡±

    Kim Soo-won was genuinely impressed¡ªnot just by Suho¡¯s ability to clear the gate but also by his honesty. Suho could have kept several eggs for himself, but he brought them all back as promised.

    After a moment¡¯s hesitation, Kim Soo-won asked cautiously, ¡°Um¡­ may I ask you one question?¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°How did you deal with the wyverns? Did you¡­ cut them all down with your sword?¡±

    Kim¡¯s curiosity was genuine, stemming from both admiration and professional interest.

    Suho chuckled softly and replied, ¡°Yes, I cut them all down.¡±

    ¡°All of them?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°...Wow.¡±

    Kim Soo-won was left speechless with awe.

    After finishing his conversation, Suho walked toward the car with Choi Yoon.

    ¡°Is that enough for you now?¡± Suho asked.

    ¡°Of course. You not only cleared the gate but brought back ten eggs! That¡¯s more than enough.¡±

    Suho continued, ¡°So, as agreed, I¡¯ll get unrestricted ess to thergest property in Cheongdam.¡±

    ¡°Of course. Our boss always keeps their word. When do you want to move in?¡±

    ¡°Today. Oh, and one more thing.¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    Suho handed her a document from his inventory.

    ¡°There¡¯s a patient named Nam Hae-won at Yeongdeungpo Rehabilitation Center. Find out everything about them.¡±

    ¡°This person¡­ is that the engineer you mentioned earlier?¡±

    ¡°Do I need to exin everything when I make a request?¡±

    ¡°Fine, fine! But don¡¯t you think we¡¯re close enough for a little chit-chat?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    Despite her grumbling, Choi Yoon agreed to his request.

    A short whileter, Suho received confirmation that both the Cheongdam property and Nam Hae-won¡¯s information were ready.

    As he reviewed the data on Nam Hae-won, Suho smirked.

    ¡°Easier to recruit than I expected.¡±

    With his new ns in mind, Suho turned his car toward Yeongdeungpo.

 Chapter 67

    When Suho exited the dimensional pocket house, the Changshik Gang''s building waspletely empty.

    Naturally.

    After the chaos he¡¯d caused, no idiot would linger around the area.

    Instead, Bulgasari sat nearby, patting its bloated belly after finishing its meal.

    <strong>"You done eating?"</strong>

    <em>"Bul-bul."</em>

    <strong>"Go back and rest."</strong>

    <em>"Bul-bul."</em>

    Suho dismissed Bulgasari and contacted the Banshees, summoning them to Yeongdeungpo.

    He had work for them.

    After finishing the call, Suho headed back to Nam Hae-won¡¯s house.

    <strong>"Nam Hae-won?"</strong>

    When Suho knocked, Nam Hae-won opened the door.

    <strong>"Oh, you¡¯re here?"</strong>

    He greeted Suho with a forced smile, wrapped tightly in a nket like someone suffering from chills.

    It was withdrawal symptoms from <em>Illusion</em>.

    <em>"Well, it¡¯s not like he only took it once or twice."</em>

    Recovery may have been excellent for treating illnesses, but drug addiction required long-term care. Even the best healing skills weren¡¯t miracle cures capable of fixing everything in one go.

    <em>"Maybe higher-level skills could do it, but¡­"</em>

    Only specialized healers like Isabe could achieve such results.

    <strong>"You seem to be experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms. Let me help. Come in."</strong>

    <strong>"Ah, thank you!"</strong>

    Inside, the gangsters were nowhere to be seen.

    After learning that the infamous Hunter Ahn Suho had dealt with them and discovering their headquarters had fallen, they had already fled.

    Suho sat Nam Hae-won down and activated his skills and items.

    Combined Healing

    <em>[The Ring of Emotions reacts to the target''s strongest emotion.]</em>

    <em>[The emotion detected is "ck."]</em>

    <em>[Absorbing the target¡¯s emotions.]</em>

    <em>[Recovery activated.]</em>

    A radiant light enveloped Nam Hae-won. His trembling ceased, and his expression rxed significantly.

    Using both the <strong>Ring of Emotions</strong> and <strong>Recovery</strong> simultaneously, Suho couldn¡¯t help but marvel at the synergy.

    <em>"Thebination of the Ring of Emotions and Recovery is absurdly powerful."</em>

    Recovery healed physical wounds but couldn¡¯t provide mental stability. Mental stabilizing skills were rare and typically only unlocked at very high levels. Suho recalled only a handful of healers ever mastering such skills.

    <em>"Most healers don¡¯t specialize in pure healing."</em>

    For survival, many opted to be hybrids after leveling up. Late-game gates were akin to walking on thin ice, making pure healers like Isabe exceedingly rare.

    <em>"Well, Isabe was a specialized healer trained openly in Russia, so that¡¯s a unique case."</em>

    Once Nam Hae-won waspletely calm, Suho ended the Recovery.

    <strong>"Are you feeling better?"</strong>

    <strong>"Yes, much better. Thank you so much, Hunter Ahn Suho."</strong>

    <strong>"You recognize me now?"</strong>

    <strong>"Haha¡­ I was too out of it earlier. I apologize."</strong>

    <strong>"No need to apologize. Here."</strong>

    Suho pulled a document from his inventory and handed it to Nam Hae-won.

    It was one of the debt contracts he had found in the Changshik Gang¡¯s headquarters.

    <strong>"This¡­!"</strong>

    <strong>"I just disbanded the Changshik Gang. I found this among their records."</strong>

    <strong>"Disbanded?!"</strong>

    <strong>"Yes, disbanded."</strong>

    <strong>"I¡­ I can¡¯t believe it¡­"</strong>

    Nam Hae-won stared at the document in disbelief, his hands trembling despite thepleted treatment.

    Suho continued exining.

    <strong>"The amount you borrowed wasn¡¯t much, but the interest rates were insane. No wonder the interest kept consuming the principal and spiraling out of control. Despite that, you were paying it back diligently. That¡¯s probably why they resorted to injecting you with drugs to keep you under their thumb."</strong>

    <strong>"¡­That¡¯s right. Because of my personal trait, I could somehow keep paying off the debt. But that only made them keep me around longer, using drugs to trap me. They¡¯re truly¡­ truly evil people¡­"</strong>

    As he spoke, Nam Hae-won¡¯s voice cracked, and tears began streaming down his face.

    It was only natural.

    Before Suho appeared, his life had been nothing short of hell.

    Sobbing, Nam Hae-won continued.

    <strong>"Hunter, do you know how hard I tried? I went to detox centers and even secretly made antidotes and neutralizers to counteract the drugs. But every time, they found me and forced the drugs back into me¡­"</strong>

    His efforts had been immense. He¡¯d used his personal trait to create neutralizers in secret and sought help from detox programs, but the gang¡¯s overwhelming numbers made resistance futile.

    <strong>"The police and the association offered no help. They¡¯re all¡­ all the same. Just as evil as the gangsters."</strong>

    Nam Hae-won wasn¡¯t naive.

    He had sought help from both the police and the association, but his cries for help¡ªthose of a drug addict with a history of debt¡ªfell on deaf ears.

    In modern Korea, where areas like Yeongdeungpo had turned into slums, pleas from its residents were routinely ignored.

    <em>"Everyone¡¯s too busy passing the buck."</em>

    The police imed they couldn¡¯t handle awakened individuals. The association med ack of manpower.

    Suho resolved once again to join the association and enact internal reforms.

    <strong>"You¡¯ve endured so much. But because you did, I was able to find you and help. Thank you for holding on."</strong>

    <strong>"Thank you¡­ thank you so much¡­"</strong>

    Nam Hae-won cried openly, and Suho let him release his pent-up anguish.

    Though Suho could have used the <strong>Ring of Emotions</strong> to calm him, he refrained.

    He didn¡¯t see Nam Hae-won as a task to bepleted but as a fellow human being.

    Once Nam Hae-won had calmed down and wiped his tears, he hesitantly asked:

    <strong>"If I may ask¡­ why did you attack the Changshik Gang so suddenly?"</strong>

    Suho replied matter-of-factly.

    <strong>"I happened to meet another victim recently, and that¡¯s how I learned about the Changshik Gang. I couldn¡¯t ignore it once I knew."</strong>

    <strong>"Ah¡­"</strong>

    <strong>"Also, I¡¯ll be joining the Great Hunters¡¯ Association soon. Think of this as me tackling the job a bit early."</strong>

    <strong>"I see¡­"</strong>

    Nam Hae-won chuckled awkwardly, still embarrassed about his earlier resentment toward the association.

    Suho changed the subject to lighten the mood.

    <strong>"By the way, I have a proposal for you."</strong>

    <strong>"A proposal?"</strong>

    Nam Hae-won tensed slightly.

    Even though Suho was his savior, the Changshik Gang had also targeted him because of his personal trait.

    Suho asked, <strong>"Your personal trait¡­ it¡¯s ''Synthesis,'' correct?"</strong>

    Synthesis.

    A rare ability, perhaps even rarer than digitization. While there were two known users of digitization, Nam Hae-won was the only one with Synthesis.

    People had dubbed him <em>Mix Smith</em>, a nickname reflecting his ability tobine materials to create something entirely new.

    That was why he was known as a cksmith.

    Suho had no intention of letting him go.

    Unlike synthesis skills that required precise recipes, Nam Hae-won¡¯s trait ensured no failures.

    <strong>"Yes, that¡¯s correct. I canbine two materials to create a single item with harmonized properties."</strong>

    <strong>"In that case, I¡¯d like to formally hire you. As I mentioned earlier, I encountered many victims of the Changshik Gang. I can¡¯t care for them all alone."</strong>

    <strong>"What do you mean?"</strong>

    <strong>"You mentioned making antidotes and neutralizers, right? How about using this opportunity to create a proper drug neutralizer? It would help me assist people more effectively. Of course, I¡¯llpensate you fairly. For instance, I¡¯ll personally treat your withdrawal symptoms in a safe house, far from ces like Yeongdeungpo."</strong>

    Nam Hae-won¡¯s mouth dropped open.

    He understood the value of having a healer like Suho, let alone one personally providing treatment.

    <em>"Is this man an angel?"</em>

    Even now, Suho wasn¡¯t boasting or demanding gratitude. He was offering a fair deal to help others.

    Overwhelmed, Nam Hae-won eventually stammered:

    <strong>"I¡­ I¡¯ll do it. Please, hire me."</strong>

    <strong>"I¡¯m d to hear that. Let¡¯s work together."</strong>

    Thus, Suho sessfully recruited Nam Hae-won, a future member of the Banshees.

    <em>"I¡¯ll start him with neutralizers and gradually train him as Mix Smith."</em>

    Nam Hae-won wasn¡¯t just talented; he was destined to seed.

    A year from now, he would develop a powerful neutralizer, cure himself of withdrawal, andpletely escape the Changshik Gang.

    Just then, Suho¡¯s phone buzzed.

    <strong>"Hyung-nim, I¡¯ve arrived at the address you mentioned,"</strong> came Seo Gi-won¡¯s voice.

    <strong>"I¡¯ll be right down."</strong>@@novelbin@@

    The Banshees had arrived.

    Suho went downstairs with Nam Hae-won and began distributing the documents from the Changshik Gang to the Banshees. He also exined the situation.

    <strong>"You don''t need to worry anymore. You won''t have to live in fear. Also, make sure you keep track of their whereabouts. I''ll be providing regr deliveries of drug neutralizers for them."</strong>

    <strong>"Understood, hyung."</strong>

    Seo Gi-won, one of the Banshees, asked.

    <strong>"Hyung, if we¡¯re doing this, wouldn¡¯t it be simpler to use my abilities and handle this remotely? Why do we need to meet in person?"</strong>

    While it made sense in terms of efficiency, Suho shook his head.

    <strong>"It¡¯s not just about being a victim. These people are drug addicts and victims of illegal loans. Some of them don¡¯t have phones, and some are hiding from the Changshik Gang. That¡¯s why we need to meet them in person and reassure them. If necessary, I¡¯ll use Nexus¡¯s name to assure them, and I¡¯ll make sure the guild knows what¡¯s happening."</strong>

    <strong>"Ah¡­ I see now. Sorry about that."</strong>

    <strong>"It¡¯s fine, just make sure to get moving."</strong>

    The Banshees quickly scattered toplete their tasks.

    Suho then turned to Nam Hae-won.

    <strong>"Let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll drive you to a safe ce."</strong>

    <strong>"Ah, okay!"</strong>

    Suho led Nam Hae-won to the car, heading toward Cheongdamgaok, where they would begin his new life and work.

 Chapter 68

    <strong>"Wow..."</strong>

    Cheongdamgaok, the safe house.

    This ce was a luxurious single-family house in Cheongdam-dong, and true to its status as the highest-grade safe house owned by the Union, everything about it was incredible.

    The three-story house might even surpass the Kaiser Cheongdam in terms of size and quality.@@novelbin@@

    <em>"And they even have management staff waiting nearby to respond within minutes of a call..."</em>

    Suho had only heard about this ce, but seeing it in person was beyond his imagination.

    Everything was beyond expectation.

    But, he couldn¡¯t let his astonishment show in front of Nam Hae-won, so he acted naturally.

    <strong>"You can choose afortable room to stay in, and for theboratory, you¡¯ll use the one on the third floor. For materials needed for your research, you can order them through a shopping service."</strong>

    <strong>"Thank you!"</strong>

    Suho had already received information about the house on his phone, so he knew itsyout well.

    After sending Nam Hae-won a guide for the guest house, Suho got ready to head to the Nexus headquarters.

    Now that he had secured Nam Hae-won, it was time to handle some business with Nexus.

    But just then, his phone rang.

    It was Jo Jin-hwi.

    Suho couldn¡¯t help but chuckle when he saw Jo Jin-hwi¡¯s name on the screen.

    <strong>"Perfect timing."</strong>

    He had been nning to contact Jo Jin-hwi soon anyway, and here he was calling first. The man really had a knack for timing.

    Suho happily answered the call.

    <strong>"Hello?"</strong>

    <ul>

    <li><strong>"Hunter Ahn, what are you up to?"</strong></li>

    </ul>

    <strong>"I was just about to head to Nexus."</strong>

    <ul>

    <li><strong>"Why Nexus?"</strong></li>

    </ul>

    <strong>"Actually, there¡¯s something I wanted to tell you, and this is a good opportunity."</strong>

    <ul>

    <li><strong>"To me?"</strong></li>

    </ul>

    <strong>"Yes, I had an encounter earlier today..."</strong>

    Suho briefly exined the situation with Nam Hae-won and the Changshik Gang.

    Jo Jin-hwi listened casually at first but soon adjusted his posture, cing the phone on his shoulder and typing on hisptop.

    <strong>"I see."</strong>

    <ul>

    <li><strong>"Wow..."</strong></li>

    </ul>

    A pure exmation of admiration.

    It was understandable.

    Suho had gone into the heart of a gangster''s den, knocked out thugs, and dismantled the entire organization. Who wouldn¡¯t be impressed?

    Especially considering it had all taken ce in one of Seoul¡¯s most notorious slums, Yeongdeungpo.

    After finishing his typing, Jo Jin-hwi leaned back in his chair and spoke.

    <ul>

    <li><strong>"By the way, based on what you''re telling me, it seems like you want this incident to be covered in the media. What focus should we take?"</strong></li>

    </ul>

    <strong>"The ipetence of the police and the Great Hunter''s Association should be the focus. Nam Hae-won kept reaching out for help, but both organizations ignored him."</strong>

    <ul>

    <li><strong>"The police, sure, but the Great Hunter''s Association too?"</strong></li>

    </ul>

    Jo Jin-hwi asked with some surprise.

    It made sense for him to be confused.

    The police had no direct connection with Suho, but the Great Hunter¡¯s Association was the very organization Suho was about to join.

    But Suho brushed it off, speaking nonchntly.

    <strong>"I have no reason to cover for the organization I¡¯m joining. If something is wrong, it should be criticized. That way, they¡¯ll learn not to do it again."</strong>

    <ul>

    <li><strong>"Haha, well, government organizations won¡¯t change just because they¡¯re criticized, but it¡¯s definitely something we can stir up. If that¡¯s your aim..."</strong></li>

    </ul>

    <strong>"What do you mean?"</strong>

    <ul>

    <li><strong>"Publishing just one or two short articles about this incident won¡¯t have much impact. So, how about we make it a special feature? We¡¯ll start by showcasing the reality of Yeongdeungpo¡¯s slums, highlighting the Changshik Gang, which has been consuming the area. Then, when we find out that the gang was dismantled, we¡¯ll reveal Suho¡¯s involvement. We¡¯ll grab attention that way."</strong></li>

    </ul>

    Suhoughed.

    Jo Jin-hwi really knew how to read the situation.

    This was exactly the kind of media coverage Suho was aiming for, but asking for it outright would be a bit awkward.

    Fortunately, Jo Jin-hwi, with his sharp sense, knew exactly what Suho wanted.

    <strong>"You¡¯re making it sound like I nned this from the start,"</strong> Suho said humbly.

    <ul>

    <li><strong>"Oh, you¡¯re always so modest. A modest guy like you called me even before tackling the Tower of Challenges?"</strong></li>

    </ul>

    <strong>"Haha, that¡¯s true."</strong>

    <ul>

    <li><strong>"Alright, I¡¯ll try building up some momentum. A special feature in parts 3 to 4 should get some reactions. I¡¯ll contact you once the draft is ready."</strong></li>

    </ul>

    <strong>"I¡¯d really appreciate that. Oh, and by the way, I forgot to mention¡ªbecause of this incident, I n to assist with the rehabilitation of the drug victims affected by the Changshik Gang."</strong>

    <ul>

    <li><strong>"Oh, that¡¯ll give us even more material. And it¡¯ll improve Nexus¡¯s image as well. Was this your n too?"</strong></li>

    </ul>

    <strong>"Haha, it¡¯s just that Nexus is a guild I trust, so I wanted to help."</strong>

    <ul>

    <li><strong>"Haha, I got it, I got it. But now that I have some free time, I was thinking of having a meal with you, but looks like things are getting busy again."</strong></li>

    </ul>

    <strong>"We¡¯ll have dinner another time. Actually, I think I¡¯ll have a housewarming soon."</strong>

    <ul>

    <li><strong>"Huh? So sudden? I¡¯m going to miss the smell of people around here. It was nice having some human presence..."</strong></li>

    </ul>

    <strong>"Did you really get a chance to enjoy it? You barely even showed your face."</strong>

    <ul>

    <li><strong>"Haha, I guess you¡¯re right. Alright, where is your new ce?"</strong></li>

    </ul>

    <strong>"Close to your ce, actually. It¡¯s not far, so feel free to drop byter."</strong>

    <ul>

    <li><strong>"Got it, I¡¯ll visit."</strong></li>

    </ul>

    Suho ended the call and happily hopped into his car.

    Vroom!

    His car headed for the Nexus headquarters.

    <strong>At the Nexus Headquarters</strong>

    <strong>"The Changshik Gang?"</strong>

    <strong>"Yes, their name is Golden Maiden Hand, and they are a criminal gang operating in Yeongdeungpo."</strong>

    Suho exined to Bae Dong-hyeok about Nam Hae-won and the Changshik Gang.

    The main reason he was telling Bae Dong-hyeok was to bring Nam Hae-won into Nexus and officially recruit him as a Banshee member.

    The second reason was to involve Nexus in assisting the drug victims of the Changshik Gang, thus improving Nexus¡¯s public image.

    <em>"Good intentions are useless if no one acknowledges them."</em>

    In life, working like a bear is fine, but the more sessful path is being a fox who knows how to show off their efforts.

    Suho wanted Nexus to be that kind of fox¡ªa trusted and loved one by the public.

    As he mentioned Jo Jin-hwi¡¯s special article, Bae Dong-hyeok chuckled.

    <strong>"Haha, seems like you¡¯ve got it all nned out, Hunter. Of course, if you''reying the groundwork like this, we should definitely support you. It¡¯d be foolish not to. If you give us the list, we¡¯ll take care of it."</strong>

    <strong>"Thanks."</strong>

    <strong>"But are you really going to make the neutralizers yourself? That¡¯s not an easy task."</strong>

    <strong>"It¡¯s fine. Nam Hae-won is already working on it, and soon he¡¯ll have a decent neutralizer. So..."</strong>

    <strong>"Ah, of course. As long as the performance is solid, we¡¯ll buy all of it and use it to help people."</strong>

    <strong>"Thanks."</strong>

    Bae Dong-hyeok gave his approval.

    Suho knew that soon Nam Hae-won would create an excellent neutralizer.

    Nam Hae-won had already been using his personal trait to create neutralizers and detoxify himself.

    Suho had requested Nexus to buy those neutralizers so that Nam Hae-won could benefit significantly.

    <em>"It¡¯s a win-win situation where I don¡¯t even need to spend my own money."</em>

    Bae Dong-hyeok spoke up again.

    <strong>"By the way, it seems like Jo Jin-hwi picked the perfect timing. From what you¡¯re saying, it sounds like the article wille out after you¡¯ve joined the Great Hunter¡¯s Association. That¡¯s perfect timing for the spotlight on you."</strong>

    <strong>"I wasn¡¯t nning on that, but it does look like that¡¯s how it¡¯ll y out."</strong>

    <strong>"Haha, in that case, once the articlees out, the Great Hunter¡¯s Association will owe you one."</strong>

    It was true.

    The article would criticize the police and the association as a whole, and if Suho¡¯s aplishments were highlighted, the association could use that opportunity to improve their image.

    Suho shook Bae Dong-hyeok¡¯s hand with a smile and left the headquarters.

    Before heading back to Cheongdamgaok, he activated his skill.

    <em>[Entering Dimensional Pocket House.]</em>

    Inside the Dimensional Pocket, chaos awaited.

    <em>"What a mess."</em>

    Everywhere there were signs of destruction.

    Im Changshik had gone wild, unable to endure his withdrawal symptoms.

    Bloodstains were smeared on the walls and floors, where he had scratched or headbutted in a desperate frenzy.

    Suho saw Im Changshik crouched in the corner, a shattered syringe still clenched in his hand.

    <strong>"Nice effect."</strong>

    The timing had been perfect.

    If he had appeared earlier, Im Changshik might have attacked him.

    Suho retrieved several <em>Illusion</em> syringes from his inventory and ced them before the man.

    He then used <strong>Recovery</strong> on him.

    <em>[Recovery activated.]</em>

    White light enveloped him.

    Im Changshik flinched before slowly lifting his head.

    <strong>"Ugh...?"</strong>

    <strong>"Stop pretending. Get a grip."</strong>

    <strong>"!!"</strong>

    Im Changshik¡¯s eyes widened as he recognized Suho. He charged at him.

    With the effects of <strong>Recovery</strong> neutralizing some of the drug¡¯s influence, Im Changshik¡¯s sanity returned quickly.

    But Suho kicked him hard and pinned him down.

    Even though he was pinned, Im Changshik was still furious.

    <strong>"You bastard! Get me out of here! Please, let me out! I¡¯ll do anything, anything! Please! Please!"</strong>

    <strong>"Still not sober, huh? It¡¯s only been a day, right? You sure have a lot of energy. You¡¯ve already used up the drug I left for you."</strong>

    <strong>"You bastard! Please, let me out!"</strong>

    <strong>"No."</strong>

    Suho kicked him again, breaking his shoulder.

    The pain made Im Changshik scream, and when Suho kicked him in the head, he copsed unconscious.

    <strong>"How many victims are there, and how much pain did they endure? After just a day, you think you can get off easy? Not a chance."</strong>

    With the life draining out of him like a fresh fish, Suho decided it was time to leave.

    He exited the Dimensional Pocket and headed back to Cheongdamgaok.

    But as soon as he arrived at Cheongdamgaok, he heard footsteps.

    <strong>"Hunter!"</strong>

    Nam Hae-won came rushing downstairs from the upper floor.

    Suho asked, <strong>"What¡¯s wrong?"</strong>

    <strong>"I did it! I made it!"</strong>

    <strong>"Made what?"</strong>

    <strong>"The neutralizer!"</strong>

    <strong>"What?"</strong>

    Suho couldn¡¯t believe it. He had only been gone for two hours. How had Nam Hae-won already made a neutralizer?

    Suho stared at the neutralizer with an astonished expression.

 Chapter 69

    It was a transparent liquid inside a ss bottle, and Suho checked its information.

    [ Hammer 2 ]

    <ul>

    <li><strong>Grade</strong>: C</li>

    <li><strong>Description</strong>: A drug neutralizer created by ¡®Nam Hae-won.¡¯</li>

    <li><strong>Effect</strong>: Strong neutralizing effect against a drug called ¡®Fantasy.¡¯</li>

    </ul>

    Huh?

    Is this for real?

    Suho asked with a surprised look on his face.

    ¡°How did you make this?¡±

    ¡°This is an improved version of the neutralizer I usedst. That''s why I named it Hammer 2. Since it''s an improved version, I was able to make it easily. Still, I can guarantee its effectiveness. Hammer 1 was a D-grade, you know.¡±

    ¡°Wait, what? But why name it ¡®Hammer¡¯?¡±

    ¡°The drug is called Fantasy. I named it ¡®Hammer¡¯ because it crushes all the effects of Fantasy.¡±

    Ah.

    Now that he said that, Suho remembered.

    Nam Hae-won hadter mentioned in an interview that what saved him was the A-grade Hammer 4.

    ¡®Even if there was a prototype, to already have the second version ready...¡¯

    Suho was truly astonished.

    Of course, he would be.

    There was no clearer proof of quality than the upgrade of an item¡¯s grade.

    ¡®Items created by yers are usually vaguelybeled for their effects...¡¯

    Thus, the most undeniable proof of value is the grade marked on the item.

    Suho sincerely expressed his admiration.

    ¡°That''s really impressive.¡±

    ¡°Haha, no, it''s all thanks to you, Hunter. I was nning to create Hammer 2 soon, and I was saving up for the materials. But you supported me with the workshop and materials, so I just did the synthesis grind.

    Actually, with enough time and money, I can make these easily. Since my synthesis trait is unique to me, there''s no recipe in the world, and it¡¯s purely a numbers game. Well, this time, I just got lucky and managed to make it quickly.¡±

    Nam Hae-won said, almost shyly.

    He was being humble, but Suho didn¡¯t think so at all.

    On the contrary, he felt excited.

    ¡®If he¡¯s showing this much ability now, what would happen if he reached level 100 and his trait evolved further?¡¯

    He would probably experience an insanely rapid growth, far beyond what he was capable of now.

    Suho smiled and said.

    ¡°This is a great oue. Should we mass-produce Hammer 2 and distribute it right away? I didn¡¯t expect a neutralizer toe out so quickly.¡±

    ¡°I''ve figured out the form, so as long as you provide the materials, we can make it anytime.¡±

    ¡°Perfect, I¡¯ll prepare it right away. But, Hae-won, what¡¯s your current level? I saw you were level 50 on the document.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m level 51 now. I didn¡¯t know, but when you seed in synthesis, you get a bit of experience.¡±

    ¡°Oh, really?¡±

    Suho hadn¡¯t known that.

    He learned a new piece of information and decided to level up Nam Hae-won with his synthesis trait for now.

    He could always go to the Digitation dungeon to save the victimster.

    Just as Jo Jin-hwi had predicted.

    <ul>

    <li><strong>Where is the justice in Yeongdeungpo? Part 1.</strong> Views: 512</li>

    </ul>

    The article, titled "Yeongdeungpo Series," had been posted as a special feature.

    It had been a day since the article was posted, but the views hadn¡¯t even surpassed a thousand.

    This wasn¡¯t surprising.

    After all, there were many areas in society that had be slums.

    So the story about the police and Daehyeonhyup ignoring requests for help wasn¡¯t a big topic.

    However, Jo Jin-hwi, Suho, and Nexus weren¡¯t disappointed.

    This was merely the foundation for the bigger picture.

    That¡¯s why Suho continued to work hard on helping the victims before moving on to the next step.

    ¡°Here are the neutralizers, food boxes, and water. Don¡¯t skip your meals and take them regrly.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, really thank you.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll eat well.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for helping us¡­¡±

    Suho sessfully tracked down every single creditor and drug victim that Changshik''s gang had.

    It wasn¡¯t difficult to find them.

    With the help of Nexus¡¯ personnel and Banshee''s intelligencework, finding people was a piece of cake.

    Of course, in between all this, Suho didn¡¯t forget to check in on Im Changshik.

    ¡°Recovery.¡±

    [ <strong>Recovery</strong> is activated. ]

    ¡°Ughhh! Please! Please help me!¡±

    ¡°Not yet, go back.¡±

    As expected from a high-level yer and a warrior ss, his life force was surprisingly tough.

    Suho had never intended to kill him, but the recovery and asional food, water, and a few doses of Fantasy were more than enough to keep Im Changshik alive like a cockroach.

    While Suho was busy with his relief efforts, his phone rang.

    Suho, seeing the caller ID, smirked.

    ¡°Hello, Senior.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>Hey, Junior. How are you doing?</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°I¡¯m doing well, thanks to you. How are you, Senior?¡±

    <ul>

    <li>I¡¯m always fine. By the way, I was thinking of holding a thank-you ceremony tomorrow. How about it?</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°I¡¯m fine with that.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>Good, then wear something neat ande to the association around noon. I¡¯ll be there waiting after setting everything up. I¡¯ve called in a lot of journalists, so make sure to put on a face mask before you sleep tonight.</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Alright, thank you.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>See you tomorrow, then.</li>

    </ul>

    Finally, the thank-you ceremony wasing.

    If everything went as nned, the special recruitment would happen right after the award ceremony.

    Suho immediately called Jo Jin-hwi to let him know about the thank-you ceremony tomorrow.

    <ul>

    <li>Ah, of course, I should attend. I¡¯m sure PBS has contacted you, so I¡¯ll go in your ce.</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Thanks, I¡¯ll count on you. But, are you sure? Even though the view count is low, you still made such a special article?¡±

    <ul>

    <li>The world doesn¡¯t care if the view count is low. It¡¯s fine.</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Well, if that¡¯s the case, I understand.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>Haha, it looks like your special recruitment is right around the corner. There hasn¡¯t been anyone who joined Daehyeonhyup as quickly and as high up as you. Really, congrattions.</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Thanks. By the way, when do you n on uploading Part 2 of the article?¡±

    <ul>

    <li>I¡¯ve been timing it. I¡¯ll upload Part 2 today and the thank-you article tomorrow¡­ But, by the way, this is a personal question, but do you not use SNS?</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°SNS?¡±

    <ul>

    <li>Yeah, if you had stayed with Nexus, they would have asked you to create an official SNS ount. Why haven¡¯t you done that?</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°No, they never brought it up. It¡¯s probably because of my job transition timing, but why SNS?¡±

    <ul>

    <li>I¡¯m just curious. Someone of your caliber could have an SNS ount with significant influence. It would be a waste not to use it, you know? There¡¯s even some disappointment in your fan cafe about it.</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Fan cafe?¡±

    <ul>

    <li>Didn¡¯t you know?</li>

    </ul>

    Suho nodded, but the fan cafe he knew was from his past life, not the present.

    In fact, it was still too early for a fan cafe to exist at this point.

    Suho hadn¡¯t expected it.

    ¡°Actually, I didn¡¯t know. What¡¯s the fan cafe¡¯s name?¡±

    <ul>

    <li>It¡¯s called ¡®Anshinjeon.¡¯</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°What?¡±

    <ul>

    <li>

    It¡¯s abination of your name, Ahn Suho, and your ss, Healer. They even added a bit of a religious joke to it, calling it ¡®Anshinjeon.¡¯ By the way, the fan name is ¡®Suho Priest,¡¯ and they call each other ¡®followers.¡¯

    </li>

    <li>

    Wait, Suho Priests¡­?

    </li>

    </ul>

    In his previous life, Suho¡¯s fan cafe was called Suho Shield.

    His ss was a swordsman, and he only started gaining recognition after defeating the Sword King.

    But now, the name waspletely different.

    ¡®As expected, the history is changing.¡¯

    And the scale of the fan cafe had already surpassed 30,000 members.

    Suho was astounded by the scale.

    ¡°That''s impressive.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>Yes, we¡¯ve already gathered 30,000 domestic fans, and the post generation speed is fast. The activity is vibrant. So, since you can¡¯t engage in entertainment activities after joining Daehyeonhyup, how about creating an SNS ount? Fans would love it.</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Hmm¡­¡±

    In other words, Suho was being asked to engage in fan service.

    However, Suho had never used SNS in his past life either.

    He considered it a waste of time and a source of mistakes.

    Of course, he was aware of the positive aspects of SNS.

    Since he was a returnee this time, he thought he might give it a different approach.

    ¡®I roughly know the parts I should avoid and the incidents I should stay away from.¡¯

    With the Library of Memories, the likelihood of making unexpected mistakes was almost nonexistent.

    At that moment, as Suho was scrolling through the fan cafe, he noticed something suspicious.

    It was the fan cafe president¡¯s name.@@novelbin@@

    ¡®Golden Horse?¡¯

    Suho had a fleeting thought, and then he asked.

    ¡°Journalist.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>Yes?</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Just in case, is the fan cafe president named Golden Horse, by any chance you?¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡­¡­</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°...No?¡±

    <ul>

    <li>Hmm, how did you know?</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Your nickname is Golden...¡±

    <ul>

    <li>Hmm, yes, that¡¯s right. You really are sharp, Mr. Ahn. But the fan cafe name and the fandom name were chosen by vote. I didn¡¯te up with it myself.</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Ah... I see.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>Yes, it was all strategically done for you. The guild didn¡¯t make the fan cafe, so I, as the designated journalist, had to run it. That way, no controversies will arise, and the cafe will be easier to manage. Plus, if needed, I can stir up public opinion...</li>

    </ul>

    That wasn¡¯t an inurate statement.

    Jo Jin-hwi was a trusted person whom Suho had selected himself, and he wasn¡¯t someone who¡¯d run a fan cafe for his own selfish reasons.

    Suho nodded.

    ¡°That makes sense¡­ If it¡¯s you, I understand.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>Thank you for understanding. So, what do you think about SNS? If you¡¯d like, I can manage it for you.</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Do you know how to do that?¡±

    <ul>

    <li>I used to be into it. I also run a blog, after all. Managing your ount would just be about posting big updates like on an official ount. It¡¯s not hard.</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Hmm.¡±

    Suho had to admit, that made sense.

    As a public servant, he needed to be more cautious about his words and actions.

    ¡°I¡¯ll make an ount. But I¡¯ll handle the management. Just send me the photos and the posts, and I¡¯ll copy-paste them.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>Oh, that¡¯s more than enough. And for the fans, maybe asional photoshoots or selfies...</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°That¡¯s a bit difficult since I¡¯ve never done that before.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>Haha, it¡¯s hard at first, but after that, it gets easier. Of course, I won¡¯t pressure you. If you ever feel like it, I can help.</li>

    </ul>

    Alright, then, I¡¯ll create the SNS ount, and when it¡¯s ready, I¡¯ll send you the ID. You can spread the word in the fan cafe, and after Part 2 of the article goes up, the aggro will definitely get pulled in. After the award ceremony tomorrow, you¡¯ll gain followers easily.

    Once Suho gave his approval, Jo Jin-hwi immediately began outlining the n. It was almost a little scary how ready he was.

    Suho awkwardly chuckled and responded.

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll do it. Is there anything else?¡±

    <ul>

    <li>No, not for now. By the way, I just wanted to say, an SNS ount on Bestagram should be enough. It¡¯s the biggest and trendiest one.</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Got it.¡±

    After the call ended, Suho immediately installed Bestagram and signed up.

    He then sent Jo Jin-hwi the ount details.

    A whileter.

    [ zary456 started following ahnsuho0107. ] [ new_year88 started following ahnsuho0107. ] [ prime_king00 started following ahnsuho0107. ] [ ive_love started following ahnsuho0107. ] [ super_divar started following ahnsuho0107. ] [ cuvely9456 started following ahnsuho0107. ] ...

    Suho¡¯s phone went crazy with notifications.

 Chapter 70

    The next day, in the Daehyeonhyup auditorium, Suho''s thank-you award ceremony was held.

    However, there was a problem.

    Originally, the event was nned to be a small and simple gathering with only journalists invited, but arge number of unexpected civilians showed up.

    As the Daehyeonhyup staff moved to the venue, they were in a panic.

    ¡°Why are so many people suddenly here?¡±

    ¡°I heard they¡¯re all fans of Hunter Ahn Suho. Was it Suho Priest?¡±

    ¡°I know, but how did they find out? This event hasn¡¯t even been posted on the official website yet.¡±

    ¡°Well... that¡¯s true¡­¡±

    The identity of the crowd?

    They were none other than Suho¡¯s fan club, "Suho Priests."

    Just as the staff had said, today¡¯s thank-you award ceremony was not posted on the Daehyeonhyup official site yet.

    Of course, this wasn¡¯t a private event, so there was no rule preventing the public from attending.

    Anyway, the event was to celebrate Suho, so it made sense for people toe.

    However, it was the first time in Daehyeonhyup¡¯s event history that so many people had shown up for an event that wasn¡¯t even officially announced.

    The people gathered in the auditorium spoke excitedly.

    ¡°When¡¯s the Sword God getting here?¡±

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t the main character always show up a littlete?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m finally going to meet him in person.¡±

    ¡°I skipped ss today just to see the Sword God in person.¡±

    ¡°By the way, is the president noting today?¡±

    ¡°I heard he has some work, so he won¡¯t be able to make it.¡±

    ¡°Golden Horse will be pretty disappointed.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s take a lot of pictures and post them for him.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s do that.¡±

    At that moment, someone coughed awkwardly.

    It was Jo Jin-hwi, sitting in the press section.

    It made sense because the "president" they were talking about, and the owner of the fan club, Golden Horse, was Jo Jin-hwi himself.

    When Jo Jin-hwi had established the fan club, he had promised never to reveal himself.

    If he did, things would getplicated in various ways.

    ¡®But at least I¡¯m fulfilling my duty as the fan club president...!¡¯

    It was true.

    Jo Jin-hwi was the one who had informed the Suho Priests about the thank-you ceremony in the first ce.

    Jo Jin-hwi texted Suho.

    <ul>

    <li>Hunter Ahn, there are so many fans of yours here at the Daehyeonhyup auditorium.</li>

    </ul>

    Suho quickly replied.

    <ul>

    <li>

    I know. I¡¯m watching.

    </li>

    <li>

    Huh? You¡¯re already here?

    </li>

    <li>

    Yes, I arrived early and have been watching.

    </li>

    <li>

    Where are you?

    </li>

    <li>

    I¡¯m inside the auditorium.

    </li>

    <li>

    Huh?

    </li>

    </ul>

    It was true.

    Suho had arrived earlier than Jo Jin-hwi and had been watching everything quietly.

    But why hadn¡¯t anyone noticed him?

    The answer was simple.

    [ <strong>Monochrome Solitude</strong> has been activated. ]

    Thanks to the S+ rank item, the first of its kind, <strong>Monochrome Solitude</strong>.

    Even though he was right in front of them, no one recognized Suho¡¯s presence.

    Soon, he received a message from Pi Seong-yeol, asking where he was, and Suho quickly went to meet him to start the ceremony preparations.

    When Pi Seong-yeol saw him, he remarked, ¡°Junior, you''re quite popr.¡±

    ¡°Haha, it¡¯s nothing.¡±

    ¡°No, really. I¡¯ve never seen so many people at a thank-you ceremony before. This is the first time. It¡¯s actually a good thing, considering the public opinion was a bit bad because of yesterday¡¯s article.¡±

    Yesterday''s article.

    It was the second part of the Yeongdeungpo series written by Jo Jin-hwi.

    Pi Seong-yeol narrowed his eyes and said, ¡°That journalist, Jo Jin-hwi, why did he write such an article to annoy people? Tsk... right?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡±

    ¡°Well, anyway, it¡¯s about to start, so go ahead and get your award. I have some urgent business, so I¡¯ll go ahead.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Senior. Please go ahead.¡±

    Pi Seong-yeol left the scene.

    As soon as Pi Seong-yeol was gone, Suho wiped the fake smile off his face and thought, ¡®Some things never change. People around me still aren¡¯t interested in anyone else.¡¯

    Even though he knew that PBS reporters would be there, he didn¡¯t even try to make contact with them. Their name tags were visible, and it wouldn¡¯t have been hard to notice Jo Jin-hwi if he had paid a little attention.

    But perhaps it was thanks to hisck of interest that Jo Jin-hwi¡¯s face wasn¡¯t exposed to the public.

    ¡®But he¡¯s definitely paying a lot of attention to me.¡¯@@novelbin@@

    As evidence, Jo Jin-hwi had personallye to the event, even though he didn¡¯t have to.

    The ceremony began, and Suho moved to the front to take his designated seat.

    At that moment, the fans sitting behind him started to cheer loudly.

    ¡°Wow.¡±

    ¡°Unbelievable.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the Sword God.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s so handsome.¡±

    ¡°Look at those eyes... no wonder we¡¯re all in love.¡±

    ¡°Just look at that jawline... this is what they mean by ¡®ss¡¯.¡±

    ¡°I just wish I could get a single sh from him.¡±

    ¡°I agree.¡±

    People were whispering, excitedly.

    Sorry, but I can hear all of that.

    It was quite embarrassing.

    The event continued, and Suho moved to the stage to receive his award.

    When he stood face to face with the president, Jang Gyeong-hwan, the host spoke.

    ¡°¡­ And so, we present this thank-you que to Ahn Suho, presented by Daehyeonhyup President Jang Gyeong-hwan.¡±

    <strong>Click! Click!</strong>

    As the que was handed to him, the shes from the journalists¡¯ cameras began to flood the room.

    Suho naturally posed with Jang Gyeong-hwan, holding the thank-you que.

    While posing, Jang Gyeong-hwan whispered to him, almost as if he was speaking through ventriloquism.

    ¡°You¡¯re used to posing, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to your guidance.¡±

    ¡°Haha, I heard from Chief Pi that your efforts in Yeongdeungpo have been incredible.¡±

    ¡°I just moved to help the victims, that¡¯s all.¡±

    ¡°Haha, as expected from Hunter Ahn. I¡¯m looking forward to what you¡¯ll do next. Expect some good news soon. I¡¯ll send it to you within a few days.¡±

    ¡°Yes, thank you.¡±

    Good news.

    Suho smiled at the words.

    The good news was most likely referring to his special recruitment.

    The photo session ended, and Suho stepped up to the mic to give his speech.

    ¡°Thank you. I believe I¡¯m just doing what I should, but receiving this award makes me feel even more motivated. I¡¯ll continue to work hard in the future.¡±

    A short and conventional eptance speech.

    After his speech, the Suho Priests cheered loudly.

    ¡°Wow!¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s amazing!¡±

    ¡°We love the Sword God!¡±

    ¡°The Sword God is the best!¡±

    ¡°Haha, thank you.¡±

    Amid the loud cheers, the host tried to calm the crowd, and it was now time for the journalists to ask questions.

    The first journalist to speak was from HunterNet.

    ¡°I¡¯m Kim Sang-un from HunterNet. First of all, congrattions on receiving the thank-you que, Hunter Ahn. I¡¯d like to ask you, do you still have the desire to join Daehyeonhyup?¡±

    The Q&A session had begun.

    It was the expected procedure, but there were no pre-approved questions prepared.

    Preparing questions and answers in advance was something done when high-ranking people were involved in a scandal, so that wasn''t the case here.

    Suho responded.

    ¡°Yes, I still do.¡±

    The second journalist asked.

    ¡°I noticed you¡¯ve opened a Bestagram ount recently. Why did you open one now, after not having one before?¡±

    ¡°I was encouraged by people around me, so I decided to try it. SNS is a personal choice.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve already surpassed 50,000 followers in just one day. Are you aware of that?¡±

    50,000?

    Has it already reached that number?

    After turning off notifications all day because the phone was buzzing constantly, Suho hadn¡¯t realized his follower count had already reached that high.

    But he didn¡¯t think it was surprising.

    Bestagram was much more essible than the fan cafe.

    ¡°I just found out because I turned off the notifications.¡±

    ¡°You haven¡¯t posted anything yet, but what will your first post be?¡±

    ¡°Well, today I received this thank-you que, so maybe I¡¯ll post that? I¡¯ve heard SNS is about sharing daily moments.¡±

    More routine questions followed.

    It wasn¡¯t surprising that, at an award ceremony like this, no journalist would try to stir up controversy.

    Then, finally, it was time for thest question.

    Coincidentally, thest person to ask was someone Suho knew.

    It was Jo Jin-hwi.

    ¡°I¡¯m Jo Jin-hwi from PBS.¡±

    At the mention of Jo Jin-hwi, the crowd started murmuring.

    Of course, everyone there had read the Yeongdeungpo special article Jo Jin-hwi had written.

    When Jo Jin-hwi raised his hand, Vice President Park Gyu-min red at the nearby staff.

    ¡°Jo Jin-hwi? Isn¡¯t that the guy who wrote the special article recently?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡±

    ¡°Why the hell did they invite him? Are they out of their minds?¡±

    ¡°W-We were told that¡­¡±

    ¡°Just get rid of him!¡±

    Haha.

    I can hear everything.

    Why are you yelling now? Should¡¯ve checked things properly.

    As Suho chuckled internally, Jo Jin-hwi¡¯s question continued.

    ¡°Did you see the Yeongdeungpo special article I wrote?¡±

    Heh.

    You¡¯re asking this question here?

    This ce is a tiger¡¯s den for Jo Jin-hwi.

    But still, his boldness was impressive.

    Suho smiled.

    ¡®As expected, this is the aggressive, no-holds-barred reporter style.¡¯

    The so-called ¡°blunt, no-nonsense manly style¡± of Jo Jin-hwi.

    He was the type to ask whatever he wanted without a care, which was why Suho had recruited him.

    Suho smiled and responded.

    ¡°Yes, I saw it.¡±

    Jo Jin-hwi also smiled faintly and continued.

    ¡°I understand that both the police and Daehyeonhyup have been criticized for their selective approach toward public safety. Are you aware of this?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I am.¡±

    As the questions continued, the expression on President Jang Gyeong-hwan¡¯s face became more and more rigid.

    Seeing Jang Gyeong-hwan¡¯s expression, Park Gyu-min urged the staff to end the questioning, but unfortunately, Jo Jin-hwi¡¯s questions came too fast.

    ¡°Then, if Hunter Ahn joins Daehyeonhyup, do you think we can expect Daehyeonhyup¡¯s stance to change?¡±

    He didn¡¯t ask a difficult question about what Suho thought of the current Daehyeonhyup, but asked indirectly, in a way that would benefit Suho.

    At Jo Jin-hwi¡¯s question, all eyes were on Suho.

    Just as Suho was about to answer, he saw President Jang Gyeong-hwan and Vice President Park Gyu-min moving toward the back of the auditorium, preparing to leave.

    Thanks to that, Suho was able to give his answer with the most natural smile.

    ¡°Yes, of course. If I join Daehyeonhyup, I¡¯ll do everything I can to change things so that those kinds of criticisms never arise again. I will make sure to root out every bit of corruption.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for your answer, Hunter Ahn.¡±

    The ceremony ended.

    Suho quickly left the auditorium, and his Suho Priests followed behind, while the journalists hurried to write articles based on his responses.

    Of course, the Suho Priests never found him again.

    As soon as he left the auditorium, he activated <strong>the first MuMuMu</strong>.

    After sitting in the car, someone naturally climbed into the passenger seat after a while.

    It was Jo Jin-hwi.

    Suho smiled and greeted him.

    ¡°You came?¡±

    ¡°Ah, the Daehyeonhyup staff were staring at me so hard. I thought I was going to die from the tension the whole way here.¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you willingly enter the tiger¡¯s den? Now you¡¯re overacting?¡±

    ¡°Haha, you saw through me? Anyway, my questions were a bit intense, weren¡¯t they? Sorry about that. My boss told me not to stir things up at the association, but I had to push the 3rd part of the article and get your followers up, so I took a gamble.¡±

    It was an excuse.

    But it didn¡¯t matter.

    Because thanks to that, he could say what he wanted.

    Suho smiled and replied.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. Thanks to you, I was able to say what I wanted.¡±

    ¡°You wanted to say something?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that I will change the Daehyeonhyup.¡±

    ¡°... Wasn¡¯t that just ament?¡±

    ¡°No, I wouldn¡¯t lie at an award ceremony. As you asked, I¡¯ll work hard. I¡¯ll make sure there won¡¯t be any more criticisms.¡±

    ¡°Haha... then I¡¯ll really be looking forward to it.¡±

    ¡°Of course. Anytime.¡±

    A few dayster, Suho¡¯s Grade 5 special recruitment was confirmed.

 Chapter 71

    Suho¡¯s special recruitment as a Grade 5 civil servant had been in the works for a while, but it happened much faster than anyone expected.

    And for good reason.

    After the thank-you award ceremony, three installments of articles were uploaded, causing the already growing view counts to explode.

    "Where is Justice in Yeongdeungpo? Part 1."

    Views: 7,488,486

    "Hunter Ahn Suho Appears in Yeongdeungpo! Part 2."

    Views: 7,345,845

    "The Changshik Gang and Their Victims. Part 3."

    Views: 6,812,877

    The numbers were insane.

    The view count for Part 1, which had barely hit 500,000 initially, was now averaging over 7 million.

    Jo Jin-hwi looked at the explosive stats with a satisfied smile.

    ¡°This is why I do journalism.¡±

    View counts are my power.

    Comments are my power!

    The rise in viewership was due to several factors.

    For example, articles from other reporters who attended the ceremony yed a role.

    But the biggest driver was undoubtedly the addition of one keyword that had been missing in Part 1: Ahn Suho.

    Jo Jin-hwi scrolled through thements, checking them one by one.

    "Wow¡­ The only light to appear in the forsaken Yeongdeungpo¡­"

    "I always believed in you, Sword God."

    "Absolutely badass. How can anyone even do that?"

    "But isn¡¯t it kind of hrious? Why is a private citizen doing what the police, prosecutors, or Hunter Association should be doing?"

    "Isn¡¯t Nexus behind this?"

    ©¸ "Why would a guild waste their time ordering someone to beat up gangsters? Use your brain."

    "I caught a glimpse of him at the ceremony. The man is ridiculously handsome."

    "I¡¯d love to be cut by the Sword God just once."

    "Mom! When I grow up, I want to be the Sword God!"

    There was no shortage of praise.

    Of course, not all thements were positive.

    "Isn¡¯t this just vignte justice?"

    "He¡¯s not a cop or a judge. Isn¡¯t this going to get him in trouble if someone files aint?"

    "Why is he acting all high and mighty? Ahn Suho seems like a bit of an attention seeker, don¡¯t you think?"

    Some raised valid concerns.

    Others, however, simply disguised their insults as criticisms.

    Whenever suchments appeared, Suho¡¯s supporters were quick to retaliate:

    "Isn¡¯t this just vignte justice?"

    ©¸ "And? What¡¯s your point?"

    ©¸ "At least he¡¯s doing something while you¡¯re sitting in your room scratching your belly and hammering away on your keyboard."

    ©¸ "What can you do?"

    ©¸ "So what¡¯s your solution?"

    "He¡¯s not a cop or a judge. Isn¡¯t this going to get him in trouble?"

    ©¸ "Are you dumb? Do you really think the gangsters are going to make Suho¡¯s life hard? Or will it be the other way around?"

    ©¸ "Maybe the one with the problem isn¡¯t Suho¡¯s head but yours."

    "Why is he acting all high and mighty? Ahn Suho seems like a bit of an attention seeker."

    ©¸ "Isn¡¯t the real attention seeker the person writing thisment?"

    ©¸ "Ignore the trolls."

    ©¸ "Why is someone as insignificant as you even bothering to act high and mighty?"

    ©¸ "Public education in this country has really gone down the drain."

    ©¸ "Well, it¡¯s true everything¡¯s been falling apart since the Great Catastrophe¡­ oops, Judge, I didn¡¯t say anything!"

    With Suho¡¯s supporters stepping up to defend him, Daehyeonhyup realized they needed to recruit Suho as quickly as possible.

    Doing so would at least allow them to escape some of the criticism being hurled at both the police and Daehyeonhyup, putting thetter in a better light.

    As soon as Suho¡¯s special recruitment was confirmed, Daehyeonhyup flooded the media with reports:

    "Yeongdeungpo¡¯s Hero, Ahn Suho, Joins Daehyeonhyup."

    "Sword God Ahn Suho: Specially Recruited at Grade 5."

    "Hunter Ahn Suho Joins Daehyeonhyup for Real."

    "Interview Bes Reality: Ahn Suho¡¯s Daehyeonhyup Appointment!"

    The reaction to the news was explosive.

    Jo Jin-hwi¡¯s Yeongdeungpo Series quickly faded into the background.

    People¡¯s responses were nothing short of ecstatic:

    "At this timing? Absolutely insane!"

    "Wait, the interview on the award ceremony day was real?"

    "Ahn Suho! Ahn Suho! Ahn Suho! Ahn Suho!"

    "Mom! I want to grow up to be the Sword God!"

    And, as expected, Suho¡¯s poprity, which was already through the roof, shot even higher.

    Daehyeonhyup, now associated with Suho, faced far less criticismpared to the police and even started receiving praise:

    "At least Daehyeonhyup recruited Ahn Suho. What did the police do?"

    "The police? They¡¯re just mold at this point."

    "They probably just stood around saying, ¡®Oh no, oh no!¡¯ while doing nothing."

    It went on like this.

    Before long, the public¡¯s attention shifted to none other than the Nexus Guild.

    "So, what happens to Nexus now?"

    "Yeah, didn¡¯t they still have a lot of time left on the contract?"

    "Does this mean Ahn Suho bailed on Nexus?"

    ©¸ "No way he¡¯d do that."

    ©¸ "Let¡¯s wait and see what they say."

    In a way, it was an inevitable turn of events.

    You only notice the side dishes after fully enjoying the main course.

    Nexus understood this all too well and had prepared for it in advance.

    ¡°It seems like people are starting to talk about us now.¡±

    ¡°Shall we get ready?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I think it¡¯s time to start releasing the articles.¡±

    Following the orders of Chief Secretary Kim I-kang, PR Team Manager Park Gu-wan began rolling out the pre-prepared articles.

    They weren¡¯t going to miss this opportunity.

    As the saying goes, you row the boat when the tidees in. In this case, they weren¡¯t just rowing¡ªthey were attaching a motor to it. This was the perfect moment to polish their image.

    The first step was Nexus¡¯ official statement:

    <ul>

    <li><strong>"Nexus: Blessings on Hunter Ahn Suho¡¯s Path."</strong></li>

    <li><strong>"Nexus: A Heartfelt Farewell with Ahn Suho!"</strong></li>

    <li><strong>"Nexus: Doing What Needed to Be Done."</strong></li>

    <li><strong>"Nexus: We Never Even Took an Advance Payment."</strong></li>

    <li><strong>"usations of Contract Breach? Baseless, Nexus Official Statement."</strong></li>

    </ul>

    Jo Jin-hwi joined in on the article blitz.

    He didn¡¯t fabricate anything¡ªhe just dressed up the facts and presented them attractively. He simply packed the details that people wanted to know into a well-rounded narrative, like a heaping bowl of rice pressed tightly together.

    And as expected, the public went wild over Nexus¡¯ articles:

    <ul>

    <li><em>"Wow¡­ Nexus delivers once again."</em></li>

    <li><em>"As expected of the best!"</em></li>

    <li><em>"5252, I always believed in you!"</em></li>

    <li><em>"From now on, the industry¡¯s number one is ¡®Nexus.¡¯"</em></li>

    <li><em>"Just call them ¡®Golden Nexus.¡¯"</em></li>

    <li><em>"Pure brilliance."</em></li>

    <li><em>"It couldn¡¯t have been an easy decision. How did they so coolly terminate the contract? Even if they cared about public opinion, long-term gains usually matter more than short-term image."</em></li>

    </ul>

    ©¸ <em>"You don¡¯t know much, do you? Companies care more about their image than anything. A good image is something money can¡¯t buy."</em>

    They weren¡¯t wrong.

    Even though public opinion yed a role, a contract was still a contract.

    Of course, the public didn¡¯t know the intricate details of the agreement between Nexus and Suho. But thanks to this turn of events, Nexus¡¯ image had firmly established itself as highly favorable in the Hunter industry.

    Where there is light, there is shadow.

    The sudden rise of Nexus inevitably cast a dark shadow over theirpetitors, Hexagon and Prime, who held the industry¡¯s top two positions.

    <ul>

    <li><em>"Tsk tsk,pared to Nexus, Hexagon and Prime are¡­"</em></li>

    <li><em>"No need to even mention them. They¡¯re just money-hungry exploitative guilds."</em></li>

    <li><em>"Aren¡¯t they notorious for overworking their Hunters and pulling power trips?"</em></li>

    </ul>

    ©¸ <em>"Don¡¯t you remember that incident? They dyed giving potions to a struggling Hunter, and he ended up dying in a gate."</em>

    ©¸ <em>"That¡¯s not all. How about the Mage who copsed from mana depletion because they forced him to keep pushing?"</em>

    ©¸ <em>"Amazing, Hexagon. Just pure garbage."</em>

    ©¸ <em>"Apologize to literal garbage forparing it to Hexagon!"</em>

    ©¸ <em>"Trash, I¡¯m sorry! Humanity apologizes to you!"</em>

    The officials at Hexagon and Prime quietly fumed as they read thesements. However, they couldn¡¯t refute them. Every usation was based on real incidents, and suing for defamation of character over factual statements wasn¡¯t an option.@@novelbin@@

    Nexus followed up with an interview with their CEO, Bae Dong-hyuk, strategically releasing it as the next step in their PR campaign.

    <strong>Q:</strong> <em>"Was the sudden termination of Ahn Suho¡¯s contract influenced by public opinion?"</em>

    <strong>A:</strong> <em>"No, not at all. This was something we had discussed with Hunter Ahn Suho from the start. His dream was to join Daehyeonhyup. Until the annual recruitment process at the end of the year, he wanted to gain practical experience wherever conditions were right, and our guild happened to fit the bill."</em>

    <strong>Q:</strong> <em>"Do you have any regrets?"</em>

    <strong>A:</strong> <em>"It would be a lie to say we don¡¯t. But we believe that Hunter Ahn Suho can contribute far more to humanity by working at a national institution like Daehyeonhyup than he could with us at Nexus."</em>

    The interview was standard but exuded humility and selflessness, the type of message the general public loves.

    People cheered once again, and CEO Bae Dong-hyuk earned nicknames like "Father" and "Light" for his inspiring remarks.

    To seal the deal, Nexus released one final piece¡ªa report on their "Yeongdeungpo Relief Efforts." This move cemented their new title as the "Nation¡¯s Favorite Guild."

    Watching the flood ofments and soaring follower counts, Jo Jin-hwi remarked, ¡°The response over the past few days has been incredible.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to you, journalist Jo.¡±

    ¡°Come on now, all I did was add some seasoning. The foundation was all provided by you, Pro Ahn.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re amazing, Team Leader!¡±

    At Suho¡¯s safe house in Cheongdam-dong, the atmosphere was cozy.

    The next day, Suho would officially start his first day at Daehyeonhyup. To celebrate, he invited Jo Jin-hwi over for a small afterparty.

    The Banshees had already met earlier to reconnect, but this gathering had a special purpose: to formally announce Nam Hae-won¡¯s induction into the team.

    Nam Hae-won¡¯s joining was a natural oue of their relief efforts and aligned perfectly with Suho¡¯s goals.

    From now on, Suho wasn¡¯t just "Mr. Suho" or "Hunter Ahn Suho." He was <em>Team Leader Suho.</em>

    Jo Jin-hwi asked, ¡°So, does this mean the victims¡¯ treatments will soon bepleted?¡±

    ¡°Yes, ording to thetest data from Nexus, it looks that way. And it¡¯s all thanks to Hae-won¡¯s Hammer 2,¡± Suho replied.

    ¡°Haha, thank you,¡± Hae-won said, scratching the back of his head in embarrassment at the praise.

    Nam Hae-won was still living in the Cheongdam safe house and nned to stay there indefinitely. He wasn¡¯t the only one; other Banshees were wee to live there, but only Seo Gi-won epted the offer.

    Seo Gi-won, meanwhile, was busy leveling up and undergoing rigorous training at Nexus Academy.

    ¡°Looks like we can wrap up the special report with Part 4, focusing on the victims¡¯ recovery,¡± Jo Jin-hwi said with a smile. ¡°You¡¯ve done an incredible job. Let¡¯s toast to that.¡±

    ¡°Sounds good to me.¡±

    ¡°Here¡¯s to your first day tomorrow. Don¡¯t forget about us when you¡¯re there!¡±

    ¡°Haha, of course not. We¡¯re partners for life.¡±

    <em>Clink!</em>

    The sound of their sses meeting rang clearly in the room.

    The next day, as nned, Suho officially started his first day at Daehyeonhyup.

 Chapter 72

    <strong>Suho¡¯s First Day at Work</strong>

    As expected, reporters were swarming the entrance on Suho¡¯s first day.

    <em>Click! Click!</em>

    The shes of cameras went off relentlessly.

    And along with them:

    <ul>

    <li>¡°Sword God!¡±</li>

    <li>¡°Hunter Ahn Suho!¡±</li>

    <li>¡°You¡¯re amazing!¡±</li>

    <li>¡°You¡¯re so handsome!¡±</li>

    </ul>

    The entrance to Daehyeonhyup was packed, not only with reporters but also with Suho¡¯s fan club, the <em>Suho Priests,</em> who had gathered to catch a glimpse of his first day.

    Suho recalled Jo Jin-hwi¡¯s advice from the previous day.

    ¡°I noticed you tend to use skills or items to mask your presence when you¡¯re out and about, but tomorrow, make sure to show your face on the way in.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°Because people areing specifically to see you. If you don¡¯t show up, they¡¯ll be pretty disappointed. Sure, something like this won¡¯t turn diehard fans against you, but it wouldn¡¯t hurt to be cautious, especially since some folks are already using you for their own PR stunts.¡±

    It made sense.

    This was the kind of advice only someone like Jo Jin-hwi could give.

    <em>¡°Being too enigmatic isn¡¯t always a good thing.¡±</em>

    Even in his previous life, Suho hadn¡¯t deliberately cultivated a rough or mysterious image. He simply let things flow naturally¡ªif someone requested an interview, he gave one; if there was a broadcast opportunity, he took it.

    As a result, unlike other star yers, he had no major controversies. People just assumed, <em>¡°He¡¯s only doing this because someone higher up told him to.¡±</em>

    Once inside Daehyeonhyup, Suho witnessed an amusing sight:

    Association President Jang Gyeong-hwan and Vice President Park Gyu-min were there to greet him personally.

    ¡°Ah, our dear Hunter Ahn!¡±

    The two greeted him warmly.

    It was obvious why¡ªthey were ying to the cameras trailing behind Suho.

    <em>Of course. Politicians can¡¯t resist putting on a show in front of cameras.</em>

    Suho returned the courtesy with a polite bow.

    ¡°Good morning, President Jang.¡±

    ¡°Hoho, good morning! Hunter Ahn, of course I had to be here to wee you on your first day. Shall we?¡±

    <em>Didn¡¯t ask, but sure¡­</em>

    Jang Gyeong-hwan eagerly emphasized his personal presence as if to ensure the reporters captured every angle of his involvement. The shes went off again in rapid session.

    <em>Snap! Snap! Snap!</em>

    Even as they entered the elevator, Jang Gyeong-hwan stuck close to Suho, his smile unwavering until the elevator doors closedpletely.

    Once they were out of public view, Jang¡¯s demeanor shifted. He stepped back slightly, adjusted his voice, and asked:

    ¡°So, did you have a chance to unwind?¡±

    <em>Dropping formalities already, huh?</em>

    Moments ago, he¡¯d been all polite for the cameras, but now he was speaking casually.

    Not that Suho minded¡ªafter all, Jang Gyeong-hwan was now his top boss.

    ¡°Yes, thanks to you, I was able to spend time with good people and rx.¡±

    ¡°Hoho, that¡¯s great to hear. By the way, has anyone briefed you on your uing schedule?¡±

    ¡°Not yet.¡±

    ¡°Ah, well, the Vice President will go over everything with you. Make sure to give it your best, and if you run into any issues,e to me anytime.¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±

    The elevator soon stopped, and Suho got off on the 5th floor with Vice President Park Gyu-min.

    President Jang continued up to the top floor, where his office was located. Meanwhile, Park Gyu-min led Suho into a conference room on the 5th floor.

    Inside, Suho found two unexpected faces: Pi Seong-yeol and Jeong Cheol-min.

    As Park Gyu-min entered, the two men stood up from their seats. Park patted Suho on the shoulder and said with a smile, ¡°These two will guide you through the details. Good luck today!¡±

    <em>Of course. Should¡¯ve known.</em>

    It made sense that Park Gyu-min wouldn¡¯t personally handle this.

    After Park left, Pi Seong-yeol grinned and said, ¡°Ah, our junior has finally arrived.¡±

    ¡°Hello. It¡¯s been a while.¡±

    ¡°Since the thank-you award ceremony, right? Well, sit down first. Team Leader Jeong, can you grab some drinks?¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±@@novelbin@@

    At Pi¡¯s request, Jeong Cheol-min hurried to prepare beverages.

    <em>I knew Park Gyu-min would dump this on someone else, but I didn¡¯t expect it to be Pi Seong-yeol and Jeong Cheol-min.</em>

    The pairing was unusual. Pi had a clear reason¡ªhe was here to recruit Suho into the Special Forces. But Jeong Cheol-min?

    <em>Their departments arepletely different. Why is he here?</em>

    Though curious, Suho decided to set aside his questions for now.

    Pi Seong-yeol spoke again.

    ¡°Junior.¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir?¡±

    ¡°Hoho, already calling me ¡®sir¡¯? No need for that between us. Once a senior and junior, always a senior and junior. Just call me ¡®senior¡¯ in casual settings. Save the formalities for official asions.¡±

    Hearing that, Suho couldn¡¯t help but chuckle internally.

    <em>This guy¡¯s got a thing for titles.</em>

    Pi Seong-yeol was notoriously picky about how people addressed him.

    <em>Looks like he¡¯s taken a liking to me.</em>

    And why wouldn¡¯t he?

    Suho wasn¡¯t just any skilled hunter; he was one of the rare talents who had single-handedly sealed multiple gates.

    He responded, ¡°Yes, senior.¡±

    ¡°Good. Now, here¡¯s a question for you, junior. What do you think your responsibilities at thepany will be now?¡±

    In the Association, people didn¡¯t call it an association¡ªthey referred to it as "thepany."

    The reason? No one knew. It was just how everyone referred to it.

    Suho replied, ¡°Since I¡¯ve just joined, I understand that I¡¯ll need toplete a probationary period first.¡±

    ¡°Correct. Normally, Grade 5 officers go through a four-month managerial training program at the Talent Development Center, followed by several months at a local government office as probationary administrators. This is the same for anyone who¡¯s promoted from Grade 6 to Grade 5.

    ¡°But that¡¯s for ordinary civil servants. We¡¯re part of the Association, dealing with awakened-rted tasks, so our system is a bit different.¡±

    ¡°Yes, that makes sense,¡± Suho agreed.

    ¡°In our case, instead of the Talent Development Center, we have our own in-house training program. It involves rotating through all departments for about two to three months each.¡±

    As Jeong Cheol-min brought over drinks, Pi Seong-yeol picked one up and added, ¡°But don¡¯t worry too much. I¡¯ll make sure to handle the promises we made earlier. However, you still need to go through the proper procedures. After all, you¡¯re quite the public figure now.¡±

    In other words, Suho had to follow formal processes because there were too many eyes on him.

    This wasn¡¯t unexpected for Suho. After all, in his past life, he had also gone through the Grade 5 ranks.

    With the exnation over, Pi Seong-yeol introduced Jeong Cheol-min properly.

    ¡°By the way, you¡¯re already acquainted, right? I specifically assigned Team Leader Jeong as your overall manager. Sure, every department has its own evaluation officer, but you need someone to handle yourprehensive evaluations and questions. So rely on him from now on.¡±

    Suho bowed politely. ¡°I look forward to working with you.¡±

    ¡°Same here,¡± Jeong replied.

    ¡°Well, now that I¡¯ve seen our junior¡¯s face, I think my job here is done. Take good care of him, Team Leader Jeong.¡±

    With that, Pi Seong-yeol stood up to leave.

    It made sense¡ªthere was no real reason for someone of Pi Seong-yeol¡¯s rank toe all the way here.

    But Suho knew the real reason:

    <em>¡°He¡¯s here to send a silent message that the Gate Division shouldn¡¯t even think about taking Jeong Cheol-min. He wants to emphasize the bond between himself and Jeong.¡±</em>

    Not that Pi needed to bother with such warnings¡ªhis position as head of the Special Division was powerful enough to make such things unnecessary. Still, this kind of petty maneuvering was typical of Pi Seong-yeol.

    <em>¡°Such a prickly personality.¡±</em>

    After Pi left, Jeong finally rxed and smiled awkwardly.

    ¡°It¡¯s been a while.¡±

    ¡°Yes, it has. How have you been?¡±

    ¡°Haha, same as usual. I never expected to be assigned as your overall manager.¡±

    ¡°Neither did I, but I think it¡¯s for the best. I look forward to working with you.¡±

    ¡°Oh, please, I should be the one saying that. Let me exin the training process.¡±

    Jeong pulled a set of printed materials from his bag and handed them to Suho.

    ¡°Do you know which departments are in Daehyeonhyup?¡±

    ¡°Yes. There are five in total: the Special Division, Management Division, Awakening Division, Gate Division, and Resource Division.¡±

    ¡°Do you know what they do?¡±

    ¡°Yes. The Management Division handles HR, public rtions, and general support. The Awakening Division manages human resources, both awakened and non-awakened. The Gate Division handles gate-rted tasks, while the Resource Division manages items and skill books.

    ¡°And the Special Division oversees everything else, such as apprehending and judging yer-criminals or handling unique tasks other divisions can¡¯t.¡±

    Jeong smiled, clearly impressed. ¡°You¡¯ve done your homework. As Director Pi mentioned, you¡¯ll rotate through all five departments during your training. By the way, even though you¡¯ve joined as a special Grade 5 recruit, you¡¯re still officially on probation, so be careful how you speak to others.¡±

    Suho nodded as if hearing it for the first time. ¡°Understood. Which department will I start with?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll begin with the Awakening Division. Based on the schedule, it makes the most sense to start there. As Director Pi mentioned, each department has an evaluation officer who will assess you. You¡¯ll need to pass all their assignments and tests toplete your training. Let¡¯s head to the Awakening Division now.¡±

    The two left their seats and headed to the Awakening Division on the second floor.

    <em>¡°The Awakening Division¡­¡±</em>

    It had been a while since Suho had dealt with them.

    Although Suho had never worked in the Awakening Division, he was familiar with its key figures and major incidents.

    <em>¡°If I¡¯m right, that person should be here now.¡±</em>

    Stepping into the Awakening Division and entering the department head¡¯s office, they were greeted by the head himself: Lee Wan-ik.

    ¡°Wee. I¡¯m Lee Wan-ik,¡± he said, standing to greet them.

    Lee Wan-ik, the head of the Awakening Division, was part of Association President Jang Gyeong-hwan¡¯s inner circle. Like Jang, he was a non-awakened civilian.

    Suho recognized him immediately.

    <em>¡°I only met him briefly before his retirement, but he looks exactly the same.¡±</em>

    His slicked-back hair, streaked with ck and white, and a mustache that could make him look like either a bureaucrat or a dictator, left a strong impression.

    Suho hadn¡¯t interacted with Lee Wan-ik much in his past life¡ªafter all, Lee retired a few yearster to work elsewhere.

    But Suho knew him better than most.

    <em>¡°After his retirement, it came to light that he was secretly involved in human trafficking while working at the Association. Everyone knew about it once it was exposed.¡±</em>

    Of course, that scandal never reached the public. The case was buried because of its potential to threaten Jang Gyeong-hwan¡¯s position.

    <em>¡°In short, Jang covered it up.¡±</em>

    But this time, things would be different.

    Much had changed from the past.

    Looking at Lee Wan-ik, Suho¡¯s lips curled into a faint smile.

 Chapter 73

    Lee Wan-ik smiled warmly.

    ¡°A national superstar has graced our department first. Oh, by the way, I¡¯ll be your evaluation officer, Suho. So, I¡¯ll be counting on you.¡±

    Lee extended his hand with a grin, and Suho shook it with a polite smile.

    ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll be counting on you as well.¡±

    ¡°Team Leader Jeong, you can head out now. I¡¯ve received the President¡¯s instructions, and if we need anything, we¡¯ll contact you.¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir. I¡¯ll take my leave.¡±

    With that, Jeong Cheol-min exited.

    This didn¡¯t mean Suho was left without guidance. Jeong¡¯s role was as a general overseer, managing Suho¡¯s overall progression. For each department, however, there were specific trainers responsible for his onboarding.

    After Jeong¡¯s departure, Lee picked up the phone and called someone. A few momentster, the door to his office opened.

    ¡°Ah, Officer Eom.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Director. I heard Suho was here, so I came right away.¡±

    Officer Eom Jun-seong¡ªhe would be Suho¡¯s direct supervisor in the Awakening Division.

    Lee introduced him with a gesture.

    ¡°Allow me to introduce you. This is Officer Eom Jun-seong, who will be overseeing your time here in the Awakening Division.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m Ahn Suho. Nice to meet you.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m Eom Jun-seong. Pleased to meet you.¡±

    The two exchanged greetings before Lee continued, ¡°I¡¯ll leave the specifics to Officer Eom. I¡¯ll see you againter.¡±

    With that, Lee offered a casual goodbye.

    *Well, that¡¯s expected.*

    As the evaluation officer, Lee wouldn¡¯t personally handle Suho¡¯s daily activities. In bureaucratic circles, such positions were typically reserved for higher-ups, while the actual work was delegated to subordinates.

    Eom led Suho to a small meeting room. Sitting down, Eom spoke, ¡°I¡¯ve heard a lot about you. It¡¯s a bit surreal to be working with someone so high-profile.¡±

    ¡°Haha, I¡¯m not sure about that.¡±

    Eom Jun-seong, like other officers below the rank of team leader, was addressed simply as "Officer" in Daehyeonhyup.

    This might exin why Suho had no clear memory of Eom.

    *Different departments, no direct ovep. No wonder.*

    Eom chuckled at Suho¡¯s modesty.

    ¡°Come now, someone like you is definitely a big deal. Anyway, don¡¯t worry too much about the details. Just get a sense of what the Awakening Division does. Everyone already knows where you¡¯ll end up, right?¡±

    ¡°Where I¡¯ll end up?¡±

    ¡°Haha, no need to y coy. The rumors are all over the ce.¡±

    *Hmm.*

    If even a departmental supervisor like Eom knew about this, Pi Seong-yeol must have been rather tant in spreading it around.

    Not that Suho minded. In fact, it worked in his favor. Having someone as influential as Pi build his reputation within the Association would only make things smoother.

    *¡°Never thought I¡¯d get the royal treatment.¡±*

    In bureaucratic ng, "royal" referred to those who had strong connections with influential figures. Currently, Suho was undeniably "royalty."

    Smiling at the thought, Suho nodded.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯ll leave myself in your capable hands.¡±

    ¡°Haha, likewise. To start, here are the condensed manuals for our Awakening Division. Normally, there would be several thick volumes, but we trimmed it down for you.¡±

    It was true. Manuals in departments like this were usually lengthy enough to fill entire bookshelves. However, Suho¡¯s "royal" status had earned him a neatly summarized version.

    As Suho flipped through the materials, Eom continued, ¡°You probably know that our Awakening Division is divided into two main sections: Awakening Resources and Non-Awakening Resources. Beneath those, there are multiple teams.

    ¡°For your training, you¡¯ll take a theory test based on the condensed manual, thenplete one field training session in both sections. That¡¯s all you need to pass your evaluation, so don¡¯t stress too much. Here.¡±

    Eom handed Suho additional printouts.

    ¡°These outline the teams you¡¯ll be working with in each section. Review these before your fieldwork. As for the theory test, you can take it whenever you feel ready. For now, spend the morning reviewing these materials and deciding which section you¡¯d like to start with.¡±

    Eom¡¯s exnation was thorough and helpful.

    Suho skimmed through the printouts before asking, ¡°Is the theory test really based entirely on this manual?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Just memorize that, and you¡¯ll be fine. The test is graded on an absolute scale, so as long as you meet the passing score, you¡¯re good. The cutoff is 70 points.¡±

    ¡°Can I take it in 30 minutes?¡±

    ¡°Pardon? So soon?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Thirty minutes should be enough to review everything once.¡±

    ¡°¡­?¡±

    Eom seemed momentarily surprised but quickly checked his watch and nodded.

    ¡°Alright. If that¡¯s what you¡¯d like, we can finish the theory test before lunch. Do you want to prepare here? I¡¯lle back in about 40 minutes to give you some extra time, just in case.¡±

    ¡°That works.¡±

    ¡°Here are a pen and some paper. If anythinges up, you can contact me at this number.¡±

    Eom handed Suho his business card before leaving.

    As the door closed, Suho nced at the card and thought, *¡°At least he trusts me to handle this.¡±*

    The uing test wasn¡¯t about showing off.

    For someone with Suho¡¯s "Library of Memories," a theory test based on memorization was a trivial task.

    *¡°It¡¯s practically like taking a test with the answer sheet in front of me.¡±*

    Most of the material was already familiar to him. Reviewing it in the condensed manual only solidified what he knew.

    Suho smiled faintly, confident that this would be over in no time.

    Forty minutester, Eom Jun-seong returned as promised, bringing the theory test with him. Suho breezed through the 50 questions in less than ten minutes and handed it back without a single hitch.

    As Suho submitted the test so quickly, Eom shook his head in amazement.

    ¡°Wow¡­ you really went through that without hesitation. I¡¯ll let you know the results by tomorrow at thetest. In the meantime, take a break before lunch, and this afternoon you can start your field training in either the Awakening Resources or Non-Awakening Resources section. You can choose which one you¡¯d like to start with, so take your time deciding.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    ¡°Oh, do you know where the cafeteria is?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I do. And you don¡¯t need to worry about me. I already have lunch ns.¡±

    ¡°Ah, I see.¡±

    Eom wasn¡¯t surprised or offended by Suho¡¯s response. Someone like Suho having pre-arranged ns for lunch was expected.

    Eom smiled and stood up. ¡°Alright, then. I¡¯ll see you this afternoon. Enjoy your lunch.¡±

    ¡°You too, Officer Eom. Have a good meal.¡±

    After Eom left, Suho waited briefly before pulling out his phone to call Jeong Cheol-min. The call was answered almost immediately.

    <ul>

    <li>¡°Yes, Suho?¡±</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Are you busy?¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°No, not really. What¡¯s up?¡±</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°I just finished the theory test, and I thought I¡¯d ask if you¡¯d like to have lunch together if you¡¯re free.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°Oh, I¡¯d love to. Wait, theory test? Already?¡±</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°That¡¯s surprising. Even though it¡¯s graded on an absolute scale, it¡¯s not an easy test. There are 50 questions, and the manual is pretty dense.¡±</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Yes, but the condensed manual helped streamline the preparation. So, where should we meet? I¡¯ll go with your rmendation.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°Ah, in that case, how about we grab a <em>baekban</em>? There¡¯s a ce nearby called Mijeong that serves different side dishes every day. It¡¯s pretty good.¡±</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Sounds great. I¡¯ll head over and reserve us a table. Let¡¯s meet there at noon.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°Thanks, I¡¯ll see you then.¡±</li>

    </ul>

    After ending the call, Suho calmly put his phone away. On the other hand, Jeong Cheol-min was left staring at his phone, dumbfounded.

    <em>¡°He finished the theory test today? Right after being assigned to the department?¡±</em>

    Even with a condensed manual, passing the test in such a short time seemed almost impossible unless someone had an extraordinary memory.

    Just then, Eom Jun-seong walked into Jeong¡¯s office.

    ¡°Team Leader Jeong?¡±

    ¡°Oh, Officer Eom. What brings you here?¡±@@novelbin@@

    ¡°Well, I¡¯ve brought Suho¡¯s theory test. I thought you might want to grade it andpile the results.¡±

    ¡°Ah, yes, that¡¯s my responsibility.¡±

    ¡°I know this might sound strange, but Suho just took our department¡¯s theory test. I wanted to make sure it¡¯s graded properly.¡±

    ¡°¡­I see.¡±

    Jeong had already heard from Suho about the test, but seeing the physical test paper in front of him made the situation feel surreal.

    As Jeong looked at Eom in mild disbelief, Eom scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

    ¡°I was pretty shocked, too. But I don¡¯t think he¡¯s bluffing. Look, he¡¯s answered everything.¡±

    Eom raised his eyebrows as he handed over the test.

    It was Suho, after all. There was no way someone like him would lie about something so trivial.

    Jeong nodded and took the OMR sheet to the grading machine. Eom stayed behind¡ªnot out of formality but out of sheer curiosity to see the results.

    When the machine finished grading, both men¡¯s eyes widened in shock.

    ¡°¡­?¡±

    ¡°¡­Huh?¡±

    The reason for their surprise: Suho had scored a perfect 100%.

    Thinking there might have been an error, Jeong ran the sheet through the machine again. The result was the same.

    For good measure, he manually checked the answers against the answer key. The result? Still perfect.

    After triple-checking, Eom muttered in genuine awe, ¡°Wow¡­ how is this even possible?¡±

    Jeong let out a dry chuckle. ¡°Hah¡­.¡±

    Even with a condensed manual, a perfect score was almost unheard of.

    Eom gave a thumbs-up. ¡°Now I see why Director Pi has his eye on him. Royals are really in a league of their own.¡±

    ¡°Haha¡­ I suppose so.¡±

    Unlike Eom¡¯s pure admiration, Jeong¡¯s smile was tinged with bitterness.

    <em>¡°Once upon a time¡­ no, originally, I wanted to recruit Suho first. I wanted to work with him.¡±</em>

    But reality was cruel. Compared to Pi Seong-yeol, Jeongcked both the rank and influence to hold on to someone like Suho. There was no way he couldpete.

    Jeong sighed inwardly and resolved to move on.

    When lunchtime rolled around, Jeong headed to the <em>baekban</em> restaurant where Suho was waiting for him. Suho greeted him warmly.

 Chapter 76

    <strong>[Digitalization Activated.]</strong>

    The trio soon found themselves inside Seo Gi-won¡¯s phone. The interface was far simpler than a typicalputer desktop¡ªdesigned intentionally for any unexpected scenarios.

    Seo Gi-won approached one of the numerous virtual doors on his home screen, selecting the one marked with a phone icon. Opening it revealed three morebeled doors: ¡°Keypad,¡± ¡°Recent Calls,¡± and ¡°Contacts.¡± He chose the ¡°Recent Calls¡± door, which disyed the number of Ham Dae-ho, thest person they had called.

    ¡°Let¡¯s move,¡± Seo Gi-won said.

    Without hesitation, the three dove into thework. The transition was instantaneous¡ªlike traveling along an open phonework rather than trudging barefoot across a scorching desert. Within moments, they opened their eyes in a foreign space.

    The transition was a sess. Behind them stood a prominent doorbeled with Seo Gi-won¡¯s number, confirming their arrival. Seo Gi-won surveyed their surroundings and nodded.

    ¡°Looks like we¡¯re in the right ce.¡±

    ¡°Yeah. Now we just need to find traces of hismunications with the drug supplier or any transaction records. Focusing on texts or messaging apps should be the quickest way,¡± Suho suggested.

    ¡°I heard they used Pelegram for transactions. Let¡¯s start with that app,¡± Seo Gi-won replied.

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    Pelegram, a foreign-made messaging app, was notorious for refusing to share user data, even withw enforcement. It had long been a tool for various criminal activities. ording to their informant, Ham Dae-ho used Pelegram for his drug deals. After a brief search, they found the app¡ªbut it was locked behind a password.

    Seo Gi-won frowned, his brows furrowing in disappointment. ¡°As expected, it¡¯s locked.¡±

    ¡°No problem. Hyun-min will crack it,¡± Suho said confidently.

    ¡°Hyun-min? What¡¯s his special ability?¡± Seo Gi-won asked.

    ¡°Gate creation,¡± Suho replied with a smirk. ¡°Hyun-min, you¡¯re up.¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Hyun-min replied, stepping forward.

    Hyun-min¡¯s unique ability, <em>Gate Creation,</em> allowed him to craft portals that could bypass any barrier, no matter how secure. Suho had relied on this ability in his past life, particrly during the Banshee team¡¯s precise operations. It was why Hyun-min had been selected for this mission.

    Apps like Pelegram were designed to alert users if there was a sudden breach attempt. While it was possible to circumvent such protections slowly, Suho wasn¡¯t interested in wasting time. Responding to Suho¡¯s signal, Hyun-min ced his hand against the app¡¯s digital wall and activated his ability.

    <strong>[Gate Creation Activated.]</strong>

    A rectangr door formed where Hyun-min¡¯s hand touched the wall. Seo Gi-won watched in awe.

    ¡°Wow¡­ Do you know how many hours I¡¯ve spent brute-forcing firewalls? I¡¯ve tried everything from spamming skills to manual data mining.¡±

    His frustration was genuine. Seo Gi-won had resorted to every tedious method imaginable in the past. Watching Hyun-min create a portal with such ease left him feeling both impressed and hollow.

    ¡°Why so down? Without you, we wouldn¡¯t even be here,¡± Suho said, trying to console him.

    ¡°That¡¯s true, but still¡­ thinking about all that effort is depressing.¡±

    ¡°Hey, at least you don¡¯t have to do it anymore. Look on the bright side,¡± Suho added.

    ¡°You¡¯re right about that.¡±

    Through the portal, the trio safely entered the Pelegram app. Inside, they found three simple doorsbeled ¡°Friends List,¡± ¡°Chat List,¡± and ¡°Settings.¡±

    Suho approached the doorbeled ¡°Chat List¡± and opened it. Inside, there was only one chatroom.

    ¡°There it is.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s the one.¡±

    ¡°No doubt about it.¡±

    The chatroom title, <em>Drugs,</em> left little room for ambiguity. Seo Gi-won opened the chatroom door, revealing a sparse virtual room with a table, two chairs, and a stack of papers piled on the table. More striking, however, were the faint silhouettes seated in the chairs¡ªhuman-like figures resembling holographic avatars.

    Seo Gi-won gestured toward the figures. ¡°Those avatars represent Ham Dae-ho and the supplier. Luckily, they haven¡¯t left the chatroom yet.¡±

    Pointing to the stack of papers, he added, ¡°And those are the chat logs.¡±

    He was right. The table was covered with documents, each filled with written records of conversations between Ham Dae-ho and the supplier. Suho skimmed through the logs, confirming the supplier¡¯s identity.

    ¡°So, we follow this trail next?¡±

    ¡°See that door behind the supplier¡¯s avatar? Going through it will take us to their Pelegram ount.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    Following the same process, the trio transitioned into the supplier¡¯s phone. This new space revealed multiple chatrooms, each representing the supplier¡¯s clients.

    ¡°Damn¡­ They¡¯ve been busy,¡± Suho remarked.

    ¡°No kidding. If all these people are using drugs from Kim Goong-won, there¡¯s no way he avoids a conviction,¡± Seo Gi-won added.

    ¡°He¡¯s bound for Blue Jade Prison. He¡¯ll rot there for years. Now, let¡¯s trace this further up the chain.¡±

    ¡°On it.¡±

    They began systematically extracting data: contact lists, text histories, and call logs. It was a tedious process, but it yielded valuable information. Eventually, they uncovered a key connection to Kim Goong-won.

    ¡°This number shows up frequently,¡± Suho noted.@@novelbin@@

    ¡°Looks like this is their supplier. Following this should lead us to their primary distributor.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s move.¡±

    The trio repeated the process, climbing further up thework. Each step revealed more about Kim Goong-won¡¯s careful nning and extensive operations.

    ¡°How manyyers of middlemen does this guy use?¡± Suho asked, exasperated.

    ¡°Well, given his business, he¡¯s probably trying to be as cautious as possible,¡± Hyun-min replied.

    ¡°Still, we¡¯re close now.¡±

    ¡°Based on the data, this should be Kim Goong-won¡¯s contact information,¡± Seo Gi-won confirmed.

    Finally, they breached Kim Goong-won¡¯s phone. It was undoubtedly his¡ªthe device was filled with incriminating evidence, including photos and records.

    ¡°Yep, this is Goong-won¡¯s phone,¡± Suho said, satisfied.

    Seo Gi-won flipped through the photo gallery, chuckling. ¡°Wow, this guy loves himself. So many selfies.¡±

    ¡°Maybe he¡¯s prepping for an obituary photo,¡± Suho quipped. ¡°Is the GPS on?¡±

    ¡°Yep, let me grab the location.¡±

    Momentster, Seo Gi-won pinpointed Kim Goong-won¡¯s current location.

    ¡°Judging by the geotags in these photos, this is his home. Perfect timing,¡± Seo Gi-won said.

    ¡°Where is it?¡± Suho asked.

    ¡°Gangnam, Seoul.¡±

    ¡°Right under our noses,¡± Suho muttered. ¡°Good work. Let¡¯s head back.¡±

    "Yes," Seo Gi-won replied.

    After confirming the location, the three quickly returned to the real world. Suho turned to hispanions and issued instructions.

    "Gi-won, great job. Hyun-min, go and bring Yeonhwa. You¡¯ll being with me, so get ready."

    "Understood," Hyun-min replied.

    "Hey, boss," Seo Gi-won called out, just as they were about to head out to apprehend Kim Goong-won.

    "Yeah?" Suho responded.

    "I was wondering... I noticed earlier that Kim Goong-won made a decent amount of money selling doping drugs. When he¡¯s caught, will all that money be confiscated too?"

    "It¡¯ll go to the state treasury. Why?"

    "If they can¡¯t locate his hidden assets, let me know. I think I can dig them up."

    "Oh? That¡¯s a good point," Suho mused, realizing the practicality of the suggestion.

    Hidden assets usually boiled down to two options: liquid cash buried somewhere or cryptocurrency. Either way, Seo Gi-won¡¯s skills were perfectly suited for the job.

    Suho chuckled. "All right. While I¡¯m busy bringing in Kim Goong-won, you can focus on stripping his hidden funds clean."

    "Understood," Seo Gi-won replied, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.

    The reason behind Seo Gi-won¡¯s amusement was simple. If he returned now, he¡¯d just spend the entire day dealing with Suho¡¯s avatar back in Gonryun, a tedious and exhausting task. Digging up Kim Goong-won¡¯s hidden assets was a far more appealing alternative.

    ¡®I¡¯ll squeeze everyst penny out of him,¡¯ he thought gleefully.

    Seo Gi-won was genuinely excited¡ªfinally, he had a productive and satisfying outlet for his pent-up stress.

    ***

    <strong>Acro Tower, located in Gangnam, Seoul.</strong>

    A premium residential area synonymous with Gangnam, it was not only equipped with Safe Zone protocols but also housed numerous skilled Hunters, making it a ce that ordinary people wouldn¡¯t dare approach.

    Kim Goong-won¡¯s residence was located here.

    ¡°Haha, thanks to you, Mr. Goong, our profits have been through the roof again this time.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Goong.¡±

    The nickname referred to Kim Goong-won. At that moment, he was hosting a guest in his home.

    The guest was none other than Son Baek-geum, leader of the ¡°tinum Gang,¡± a major gang organization in Gangnam. Despite starting with no notable reputation, Son had quickly risen to prominence in Gangnam¡¯s criminal underworld, all thanks to his partnership with Kim Goong-won, who supplied him with specialized doping drugs.

    At Son Baek-geum¡¯s praise, Kim Goong-won reclined smugly on the sofa, his expression filled with arrogance.

    ¡°Haha, my skills didn¡¯t just appear overnight, you know¡­ But more importantly, you¡¯ve made sure the police are fully under control, right?¡±

    ¡°Of course. We¡¯ve got the police, prosecutors, and even the GAA covered. There¡¯s no way they¡¯ll ever catch us.¡±

    It was at that moment.

    <strong>Crackle, crackle.</strong>

    A sharp electrical buzzing sound came from somewhere, and the room momentarily plunged into darkness before the lights flickered back on. Kim Goong-won furrowed his brow.

    ¡°A ckout?¡±

    ¡°Looks like it.¡±

    ¡°How does a ce this expensive have a ckout? And it¡¯s not like there¡¯s been a Gate rupture.¡±

    ¡°Tsk tsk. They charge hundreds in management fees, and this is the kind of service we get? Someone needs to have a word with them.¡±

    ¡°Not to mention how slow the food delivery has beentely. Chairman Son, you should really say something.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll handle it. Hey.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Chairman.¡±

    ¡°You heard him. Go give them a piece of our mind.¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±

    At Son Baek-geum¡¯smand, two subordinates bowed respectfully before hurrying out of the living room.

    But then it happened.

    <strong>Boom! Boom!</strong>

    Loud, heavy crashes echoed through the space. Startled, Son Baek-geum and Kim Goong-won jumped to their feet. From the corner of the living room, a figure emerged.

    It was Suho.

    ¡°Found you, Goong-won.¡±

    ¡°Wha¡­ what?¡±

    ¡°Who¡­ who are you?¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t recognize me? That¡¯s disappointing,¡± Suho said, grinning. He punctuated his words by tossing the two men who had just left the room onto the floor, unconscious.

    They were the very subordinates sent by Son Baek-geum.

    Dusting his hands, Suho smiled brightly. ¡°Allow me to introduce myself. I¡¯m Ahn Suho, Records Officer from the Awakening Division of the Great Awakening Association. Mr. Kim Goong-won, you¡¯ve been deliberately avoiding records updates for the past few years. That alone warrants an on-the-spot arrest, so I suggest you cooperate.¡±

    ¡°Ahn Suho? You mean <em>the</em> Sword God, Ahn Suho?!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, <em>that</em> Ahn Suho. But who gave you permission to talk so casually to me? Do you want to die?¡±

    Despite the cold threat, Suho¡¯s smile never wavered as he began walking toward them.

 Chapter 77

    <em>Rumble, rumble.</em>

    Son Baek-geum and Kim Goong-won trembled uncontrobly, kneeling on the floor. Their clothes were torn to shreds, and traces of their blood were sttered everywhere.

    And yet, there wasn¡¯t a single visible wound on their bodies.

    Why?

    Because Suho had healed thempletely.

    Dragging a chair in front of the two trembling men, Suho sat down casually.

    ¡°Man, I gotta say, the Stat Meter works like a charm.¡±

    The <em>Stat Meter</em>.

    It was an essential tool for Records Officers, taken straight from the Awakening Division¡¯s supply room. Designed by the government, it allowed officers to gauge the stats of individuals without viting the system¡¯s restriction against viewing others¡¯ status windows. Though its uracy was typically around 70%, Suho had managed to achieve a 100% sess rate.

    His method was simple.

    He had beaten Kim Goong-won with the Stat Meter until the man told the truth.

    Pointing the now-dented Stat Meter at Kim Goong-won, Suho spoke with a grin.

    ¡°Just so you know, if the numbers change the next time I check, it¡¯s going to hurt even more. Got it?¡±

    ¡°Y-Yes! I understand!¡±

    ¡°Good. You¡¯re all set now. Next¡­¡±

    With Kim Goong-won¡¯s status updated, Suho had no further business with him. Turning his gaze, he focused on Son Baek-geum, who was still kneeling.

    Son Baek-geum, in histe thirties, had risen to prominence in Gangnam with Kim Goong-won¡¯s help. Their encounter today had been purely coincidental.

    ¡®Talk about good timing,¡¯ Suho mused.

    It was indeed fortunate timing¡ªSon Baek-geum was one of those people who needed to be apprehended sooner orter.

    However, arresting him now was a bit tricky. Suho was here as a Records Officer, conducting an on-site evaluation.

    Still, how could he ignore a criminal kneeling right in front of him?

    ¡°Mr. Son Baek-geum?¡± Suho called out.

    ¡°Y-Yes¡­!¡±

    ¡°You said something interesting earlier.¡±

    ¡°W-What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°Something about bribing both the police and the Awakening Association.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°So, who exactly did you bribe in the Association?¡±

    To bribe someone¡ªto grease palms in advance, ensuring silence or manipting official duties to suit one¡¯s interests. While the exact interpretation varied, it was clear the bribes had been for Kim Goong-won¡¯s benefit.

    And Suho couldn¡¯t overlook that.

    Here he was, living his second life as a civil servant for the sake of world peace, only to find someone spreading chaos like this.

    Son Baek-geum quivered at the question, then tightly closed his eyes.

    Suho let out a dryugh. ¡°Oh? Closing your eyes? Are you seriously closing your eyes when I¡¯m asking you a question?¡±

    ¡°N-No, it¡¯s not that! I wasn¡¯t doing that! I was just¡­ just about to answer!¡±

    ¡°Good. Because if you pull any more stunts like that, it¡¯s not going to be fun for you. You¡¯re not an Awakened, so you don¡¯t need the Stat Meter¡ªI¡¯ll just use my bare hands.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°Answer.¡±

    ¡°Y-Yes, sir! I understand!¡±

    As Son Baek-geum stammered his response, shaking like a leaf, Gu Yeonhwa, watching the scene unfold from a distance, clicked her tongue.

    ¡°Wow¡­ I knew he wasn¡¯t an ordinary guy, but seeing him like this is terrifying. Don¡¯t you think, Hyun-min?¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say terrifying¡ªhe¡¯s just capable.¡±

    ¡°...?¡±

    Gu Yeonhwa tilted her head, not fully understanding Kim Hyun-min¡¯s response. But he meant it sincerely¡ªhe had firsthand experience with Suho¡¯spetence.

    The reason Suho had brought Gu Yeonhwa and Kim Hyun-min with him to Acro Tower was to ensure a quiet infiltration.

    Even with his unparalleled skills, Suho couldn¡¯t navigate the tightly controlled environment of Acro Tower alone. To bypass the security, he needed Gu Yeonhwa¡¯s EMP ability, which could disable electronic devices, and Kim Hyun-min¡¯s mobility skills.

    The earlier ckout? That had been Gu Yeonhwa¡¯s handiwork.

    Returning his attention to Son Baek-geum, Suho repeated his question.

    ¡°So, who did you bribe?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ it was Vice President Park Kyu-min.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    Now that was unexpected. Park Kyu-min was involved?

    This revtion caught Suho off guard. Nodding, he pressed further.

    ¡°And?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s it.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s it?¡±

    ¡°Yes, just him. Only him.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure?¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes! I swear it¡¯s the truth! Please believe me!¡± Son Baek-geum frantically waved his hands, trying to prove his sincerity.

    Judging by his reaction, he probably wasn¡¯t lying.

    But Park Kyu-min¡­

    ¡®So does that mean Park Kyu-min has no idea about the uing evaluation and awakening event?¡¯

    It seemed likely. If Park Kyu-min had known, he wouldn¡¯t have allowed something that could jeopardize himself to be included in the assessment.

    Still, this raised another question.

    ¡®Then whose idea was it to include this task in the evaluation? Park Kyu-min¡¯s personality would¡¯ve ensured he made good on his bribe. Whoever included it must¡¯ve deliberately targeted him.¡¯

    One name popped into Suho¡¯s mind.

    ¡®Could it be Pi Seong-yeol?¡¯

    It didn¡¯t make sense for Section Chief Lee Moon-ho to include this in the evaluation just to deal with routine tasks. Park Kyu-min would have indirectly or directly influenced him.

    If Lee Moon-ho still assigned this task, it must¡¯ve been under pressure from someone else.

    ¡®Whoever pressured Lee Moon-ho must either outrank Park Kyu-min or hold equal power.¡¯

    This narrowed the suspects down to two people: Chairman Jang Kyung-hwan or Special Division Head Pi Seong-yeol.

    While Pi Seong-yeol didn¡¯t officially outrank Park Kyu-min, his influence within the organization was widely regarded as stronger.

    ¡®And considering Jang Kyung-hwan values Park Kyu-min as a trusted subordinate, he wouldn¡¯t deliberately harm him.¡¯

    That left Pi Seong-yeol.

    But even then, it didn¡¯t add up.

    ¡®Were those two on bad terms?¡¯

    Suho couldn¡¯t recall any such friction.

    Then why?

    After pondering for a while, Suho reached a conclusion.

    ¡®I¡¯ll just wait and see.¡¯

    If news of Kim Goong-won¡¯s capture reached either Pi Seong-yeol or Park Kyu-min, one of them would react.

    There was no need to shake the tinum Gang unnecessarily in the meantime.

    ¡®Whatever happens, it won¡¯t take long.¡¯

    Standing up, Suho turned to Son Baek-geum and spoke.

    ¡°See you around, maybe.¡±

    ¡°¡­Excuse me?¡±

    ¡°Take care.¡±

    With that, Suho left Acro Tower with Kim Goong-won in tow, apanied by his team of Banshees. Left alone, Son Baek-geum stared after them in disbelief.

    ¡°¡­He¡¯s just leaving like that?¡±

    ***

    "Senior."

    "Oh, Suho, you''re here?"

    <strong>The Great Awakening Association Headquarters.</strong>

    Suho returned to the Awakening Division and went to find Han Ho-seong, who was rxing on a break. Han Ho-seong was napping in the lounge, his face radiating ease andfort. He sat up straight and yawned.

    "Yaaawn¡­ So, did you find Kim Goong-won?"

    "Yes, I found him."

    "See? I told you, this job might look easy at first, but it¡¯s actually harder than it¡­ Wait, what? What did you just say?"

    "I found Kim Goong-won, updated his status window information, and, just in case, I left him in the investigation room."

    "...?"

    Han Ho-seong furrowed his brows and tilted his head, his expression one of disbelief. He seemed to be questioning whether he¡¯d heard Suho correctly.

    But his ears were working just fine, and Suho wasn¡¯t one to lie.

    Suho gestured toward the door. "Let¡¯s go."

    "Ah, yeah, right, of course, let¡¯s go," Han Ho-seong stammered, snapping back to reality. He hurriedly followed Suho, making a beeline for the investigation room.

    ***

    ¡°Unbelievable¡­¡±

    Han Ho-seong let out a hollowugh as he stared at Kim Goong-won, seated in the investigation room chair. His expression was one of disbelief.

    How could this be possible?

    Kim Goong-won was a notorious unregistered yer, a menace to the system, and ranked among the most troublesome S-ss offenders. For years, no one had even seen a trace of him.

    And yet, Suho had managed to capture him¡­ in just a single day? No, within a matter of hours?

    But that wasn¡¯t all.

    Looking over the status window data that Suho had handed him, Han Ho-seong could only marvel further.

    <strong>"Even the stat results are nearly perfect?"</strong>

    It was almost inconceivable. The Stat Meter had an uracy of only 70%. To get even close to reliable numbers, you¡¯d typically have to engage in an exhausting battle of wills with an unregistered yer.

    Yet somehow, Suho had done it.

    Effortlessly.

    As though it was the simplest thing in the world.

    And what¡¯s more, Kim Goong-won was being remarkably cooperative.

    While Han Ho-seong sat there, ck-jawed, Suho spoke casually, as if none of this was a big deal.

    "Now that we¡¯ve confirmed his charges, you can hand him over to the Special Division."

    "Ah, yeah, of course¡­ absolutely. But, Suho," Han Ho-seong stammered.

    "Yes?" Suho replied.

    "How¡­ how on earth did you catch him?"

    "Oh, I just asked around here and there and got lucky. Speaking of which, can I handle the rest of the unregistered yers on my own? This is part of my on-site evaluation, after all."

    "Oh¡­ uh, sure, of course¡­ Actually, wait, no. How about Ie along to help?" Han Ho-seong offered.

    "No."

    "What?"

    "I want to catch them all myself and get the highest evaluation possible. If I need help, I¡¯ll let you know. For now, I¡¯d just appreciate it if you could handle the handoff to the Special Division."

    "Ah¡­ yeah¡­ sure¡­"

    Han Ho-seong found himself unable to object to Suho¡¯s firm yet polite request.

    No, he didn¡¯t even feel like he had the right to object.

    ¡°What is this¡­?¡±

    To him, Suho was simply on another level¡ªapletely different kind of person.

    ***

    From that point on, everything proceeded smoothly.

    These weren¡¯t violent criminals¡ªthey were just unregistered yers. How difficult could they be?

    Over two days, Suho managed to apprehend every single person on the list. Each time, Han Ho-seong could only gape in amazement, utterly speechless.

    As a result, Suho naturally became the hottest topic within the Association, with his name on everyone¡¯s lips once again.

    ¡°Have you heard? Hunter Ahn¡­ I mean, Probationary Officer Ahn.¡±

    ¡°You mean the one who caught all those unregistered yers?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I heard he wrapped up everything in just two days! Even professional Records Officers couldn¡¯t do that.¡±

    ¡°He really is a Sword God, isn¡¯t he? The way he works is just on another level.¡±

    ¡°But doesn¡¯t this make the other Records Officers look bad?¡±

    ¡°Hmm, I guess so?¡±

    It was a reasonable concern. After all, a probationary officer aplishing what seasoned professionals couldn¡¯t was bound to inviteparisons.@@novelbin@@

    But reality turned out to be very different.

    ¡°Probationary Ahn! Probationary Ahn! Probationary Ahn!¡±

    ¡°Ahn Suho! Ahn Suho! Ahn Suho!¡±

    ¡°Sword God! Sword God! Sword God!¡±

    ¡°We love you! We love you! We love you!¡±

    The reception wasn¡¯t jealousy or resentment¡ªit was pure, unfiltered admiration.

    Suho had be nothing short of the Awakening Division¡¯s biggest idol.

    ¡°Suho, can¡¯t you just stay with us forever and never transfer anywhere else?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t usually say things like this, but I¡¯ve never seen someone as talented as you.¡±

    ¡°I even joined Suho¡¯s fan club. From now on, call me a Suho Disciple.¡±

    ¡°Ahn-men.¡±

    ¡°Sword-men.¡±

    Why were the people in the Awakening Division so thrilled? The answer was obvious.

    For years, they had borne the brunt of endless criticism due to the unregistered S-ss yers. Now Suho had resolved the issue entirely, sparing them further scolding and scrutiny.

    ¡®If we¡¯re going to be criticized regardless, I¡¯d rather suffer once and be done with it,¡¯ was the collective sentiment.

    Thanks to this, Suho achieved a perfect score on his on-site evaluation as expected and smoothly transitioned to the next stage¡ªworking with the Non-Awakened Division as part of his training.

    Just as Suho was wrapping up his work with the Awakening Division, his phone buzzed.

    <strong>Vrrr, vrrr.</strong>

    A call.

    Seeing the caller ID, Suho grinned.

    ¡°That was fast.¡±

    Answering the call, he greeted with a polite tone.

    ¡°Yes, senior.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°Ahn, are you busy? If not,e see me for a moment.¡±</li>

    </ul>

    The caller was none other than <strong>Pi Seong-yeol</strong>.

 Chapter 78

    At Pi Seong-yeol''s summons, Suho made his way to the Special Division Chief¡¯s office.@@novelbin@@

    Upon his arrival, Pi Seong-yeol greeted him with a sly smile, rising from his seat.

    ¡°You¡¯re here, junior?¡±

    ¡°Yes, senior.¡±

    ¡°Have a seat.¡±

    The room was muchrger and more sophisticated than Lee Wan-ik¡¯s office¡ªan unmistakable testament to the disparity in power.

    As Suho sat down, Pi Seong-yeol opened the mini-fridge beside him, pulled out a can of soda, and ced it in front of Suho.

    ¡°I hear you had some fun in the Awakening Division?¡±

    ¡°Not at all.¡±

    ¡°Not at all? Word is, your performance there was extraordinary. That¡¯s the Suho I know¡ªalways exceeding expectations.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°Drink up.¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±

    At Pi Seong-yeol¡¯s encouragement, Suho opened the can and took a sip. Only then did Pi Seong-yeol begin to speak.

    ¡°The first one you caught was Kim Goong-won, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡±

    ¡°I heard you went to Acro Tower.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I did.¡±

    ¡°Did you see anyone else there besides Kim Goong-won?¡±

    A subtle expression crossed Pi Seong-yeol¡¯s face. Clearly, he already knew the answer.

    This would make things easier.

    Without hesitation or change in expression, Suho answered, ¡°I also saw Son Baek-geum.¡±

    ¡°Then why did you leave him there?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t think he was someone I could handle.¡±

    At that, a spark lit in Pi Seong-yeol¡¯s eyes, and a faint grin tugged at his lips.

    ¡°Interesting. What makes you think you know what I was going to say about that?¡±

    ¡°Weren¡¯t you going to talk about Son Baek-geum¡¯s connections?¡±

    ¡°Pahaha.¡±

    Pi Seong-yeol burst outughing at Suho¡¯s response. He took a sip from his own can, still grinning, and set it back down.

    ¡°Exactly. I was going to talk about his connections. So, you left him because you thought you couldn¡¯t handle it?¡±

    ¡°To be honest, yes.¡±

    ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you report it to me?¡±

    ¡°I was waiting for the right justification.¡±

    ¡°Justification?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Even though I¡¯m expected to join the Special Division, I¡¯m not officially a member yet. Plus, your name didn¡¯te up in this situation. I thought it would be presumptuous to bring up Son Baek-geum without proper justification, so I waited. I figured either you or the Vice President would call me eventually.¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­¡±

    Pi Seong-yeol narrowed his eyes, clearly impressed.

    The response was exactly what he had hoped for.

    With both corners of his mouth now lifted in a pleased smile, he said, ¡°Suho.¡±

    ¡°Yes, senior?¡±

    ¡°Well done.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, senior.¡±

    ¡°From now on, if there¡¯s anything you can¡¯t handle, report it all to me. I¡¯ll tell you how to deal with it.¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not even asking why?¡±

    ¡°You must have a reason for it, so why should I question it?¡±

    ¡°Pfft¡­ You crazy bastard.¡±

    Now fullyughing, shoulders shaking, Pi Seong-yeol looked entirely pleased with Suho.

    Reaching into his wallet, he pulled out a card and handed it to Suho.

    ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard. When you¡¯re done for the day, take your close friends out and eat something good. None of that cheap pork belly nonsense¡ªgo for Korean beef or seafood. If you want to drink, drink. I won¡¯t care how much it costs.¡±

    ¡°No, really, I haven¡¯t done anything to deserve this.¡±

    ¡°Hey, when an elder gives you something, just take it and say thank you.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°Good. Take care. See you next time.¡±

    Suho stood, bowed lightly, and left the office, tucking the card into his pocket as he walked away.

    As he exited, he thought to himself, <em>There¡¯s definitely something going on between the Vice President and Pi Seong-yeol.</em>

    Still, he hadn¡¯t expected Pi Seong-yeol to let the matter slide without saying anything.

    At the very least, Suho had thought he¡¯d be instructed to bring in Son Baek-geum. Theck of any such directive struck him as suspicious.

    <em>Hmm.</em>

    After a brief moment of contemtion, Suho pulled out his phone and dialed Seo Gi-won.

    <ul>

    <li>¡°Yes, boss.¡±</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m about to send you some numbers. Gather all the photos, text messages, call logs, and messenger conversations tied to them. Bring Hyun-min if you need help.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°Got it.¡±</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°You¡¯re not even asking whose numbers these are?¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°If you¡¯re asking me to do it, it must be important.¡±</li>

    </ul>

    Suhoughed at that. He realized this must have been how Pi Seong-yeol had felt earlier when he¡¯dughed at Suho¡¯s responses.

    ¡°Good. Put in the work, and let¡¯s grab dinner after you¡¯re done. Talk to Hae-won about what you want to eat¡ªI¡¯ll cover something expensive.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°Hell yeah! Got it.¡±</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Great.¡±

    Ending the call, Suho sent Seo Gi-won the contact information for Pi Seong-yeol and a few other individuals.

    ***

    After meeting with Pi Seong-yeol, Suho headed to the Non-Awakening Division with Eom Jun-seong.

    Their first stop was to meet Lee Se-hyun, the head of the division. The moment Lee saw Suho, he greeted him enthusiastically.

    ¡°Oh my, Suho, you¡¯re here?¡±

    ¡°Nice to meet you. I¡¯m Ahn Suho.¡±

    ¡°Haha, sit down, sit down. I¡¯m Lee Se-hyun, head of the Non-Awakening Division. I¡¯ve heard so much about you. They say you performed spectacrly in the Awakening Division?¡±

    From the moment they met, Lee unleashed a flood of praise. Suho responded with a modest smile.

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡±

    ¡°Nothing? I heard you even scored perfectly on the theory exam. Being too humble can be a bit off-putting, you know? Haha, just kidding. So, do you know what you¡¯ll be doing in the Non-Awakening Division?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I heard briefly that the focus is on locating unregistered yers.¡±

    ¡°Correct. But finding unregistered yers is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Unless we have specific tips, we don¡¯t actively investigate. So, for this evaluation, just find one person. That¡¯s all. Find one, and your field assessment here is done.¡±

    As expected.

    Suho had anticipated that the Non-Awakening Division would assign him to locate unregistered yers. He had already prepared a shortlist of candidates for registration.

    With confidence, Suho replied, ¡°Understood.¡±

    ¡°As expected of Hunter Ahn Suho. So full of energy. Here, these are all the reports we¡¯ve received so far. Eom Jun-seong will guide you through the details. Best of luck, Hunter Ahn.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, I¡¯ll do my best.¡±

    ¡°Haha, great! Good luck, then.¡±

    It felt like night and daypared to before¡ªSuho was now treated with immense respect.

    Suho couldn¡¯t help but feel good. Being weed wherever he went was undeniably satisfying.

    In the division¡¯s meeting room, Eom handed Suho the materials from Lee Se-hyun and began exining.

    ¡°As the head mentioned earlier, this evaluation focuses on locating unregistered yers. But unlike unupdated yers, unregistered yers are like needles in a desert. Finding even one can be a daunting task.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s okay. We still have to try.¡±

    ¡°I knew you¡¯d say that. I¡¯ll arrange for the relevant officer to assist you.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    After finishing his exnation, Eom left to fetch the designated officer. While waiting, Suho began reviewing the provided materials.

    <em>¡°These are all just tip-based reports.¡±</em>

    It was inevitable. Unregistered yers were virtually impossible to identify unless they came forward themselves.

    <em>¡°Unless they¡¯ve leveled up significantly, most low-level yers have very few options.¡±</em>

    To level up, one had to enter Gates. But to do that, they needed to register as a yer and pass the Hunter exam. Although the Hunter exam wasn¡¯t mandatory, yer registration was. It was a safeguard against potential disasters.

    Still, some people avoided registration entirely. They despised the idea of being ssified as an Awakened or had jobs that only non-yers could do.

    <em>¡°Athletes are a prime example.¡±</em>

    Others avoided registration due to societal perceptions or personal reasons. Finding and registering such individuals was the primary role of the Non-Awakening Division.

    That¡¯s why Suho had already prepared a list of potential candidates for his field evaluation.

    Just then, the meeting room door opened, and someone entered.

    It was Cho Seong-gil, the unregistered investigator assigned to oversee Suho¡¯s evaluation.

    ¡°Hello, Probationary Officer Ahn.¡±

    ¡°Hello.¡±

    Cho Seong-gil. Another unfamiliar face from Suho¡¯s past.

    Sitting across from Suho with his characteristic cheerful demeanor, Cho spoke.

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard a lot about you. They say you achieved record-breaking results in the Awakening Division.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I just followed the evaluation requirements.¡±

    ¡°Haha, then I guess you¡¯ll do the same here in the Non-Awakening Division. By the way, Han Ho-seong from the Awakening Division is my colleague from training. He couldn¡¯t stop praising you¡ªso much that it¡¯s raised my expectations.¡±

    <em>A critic turned fan is always the loudest,</em> Suho thought.

    It made sense. Han Ho-seong had once been one of Suho¡¯s harshest critics.

    As Suho responded with an awkward smile, Cho leaned forward with a subtle expression.

    ¡°So, are you nning to work solo on this one as well?¡±

    Ah, so that¡¯s what he was aiming for.

    Fine.

    Suho had been nning to request the same thing anyway, so there was no reason to refuse.

    Suho nodded. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll handle this one on my own.¡±

    ¡°Haha, understood. If you run into any issues, don¡¯t hesitate to reach out.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, I will.¡±

    Havingpleted his meeting with the Non-Awakening Division¡¯s officer, Suho stood and prepared to leave. It was time to visit the candidates he had earmarked for registration.

    ***

    <strong>Swoosh!</strong>

    An arrow flew through the air.

    And then¡ª

    <strong>Thud!</strong>

    The arrownded squarely in the bullseye.

    It was Park Goong¡¯s shot.

    The coach immediately shouted, ¡°First ce goes to Park Goong! That means Park Goong will be representing us in tomorrow¡¯spetition.¡±

    ¡°Wooow¡­!¡±

    The coach¡¯s deration drew cheers from the group.

    At the same time, though, everyone reacted as if it were a foregone conclusion.

    ¡°As expected of Goong.¡±

    ¡°Park Goong never disappoints.¡±

    ¡°With this level of skill, Goong¡¯s definitely going to win the tournament tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, no doubt about it.¡±

    <strong>Park Goong.</strong>

    The pride of Anseong High¡¯s archery team and one of Korea¡¯s brightest archery prospects.

    Everyone believed it without question.

    And Park Goong himself had no doubts about it either.

    After practice, one of his teammates approached him and asked, ¡°Goong, what are you doing after this? We¡¯re nning to hit up karaokee with us.¡±

    ¡°Nah, you guys go ahead. I have to help out at my mom¡¯s shop today.¡±

    ¡°Seriously? We finished early today because of the tournament tomorrow, and you¡¯re still helping at your mom¡¯s shop?¡±

    ¡°Sorry, but I¡¯ll feel better if I do.¡±

    ¡°Man, you¡¯re the only one around here who¡¯s such a good son.¡±

    ¡°True that. Goong¡¯s the golden child, and you¡¯re the delinquent.¡±

    ¡°Hey,e on! But okay, I¡¯ll admit it.¡±

    ¡°Alright, see you tomorrow!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, sorry about this. See you!¡±

    Park Goong was well-known for his filial devotion.

    Living alone with his single mother, Park Goong always helped out at her shop on days when practice ended early, just like today.

    He had never thought of it as a burden.

    No, he believed it was only natural.

    He knew that it was thanks to his mother, who supported his dreams despite their tough circumstances, that he was able to be where he was now.

    With that thought, Park Goong headed to his mother¡¯s shop to lend a hand as usual.

    But then¡ª

    ¡°¡­Huh?¡±

    He froze the moment he arrived.

    Park Goong couldn¡¯t believe his eyes.

    Standing in his mother¡¯s shop was none other than the famous <strong>Ahn Suho, the Hunter.</strong>

    <em>Blink.</em>

    Park Goong blinked as he stared at Suho.

 Chapter 79

    ¡°Wha-wha-wha-wha!¡±

    Park Goong was still just a teenager.

    Caught off guard, his voice instinctively rose in shock, but before he could let it out fully, his mother appeared and mped a hand over his mouth.

    ¡°Shhh!¡±

    ¡°Mmm, Mom?¡±

    Wearing her rubber gloves, she pressed a finger to her lips in a gesture to keep quiet. Only when Park Goong nodded did she finally let go of him. She whispered softly, ¡°Don¡¯t go bothering our guest while he¡¯s eating.¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­¡±

    It was only then that Park Goong noticed Suho sitting at a table, eating.

    Two kimbap rolls and a bowl of ramen.

    Since it was a quiet time of day, Suho was the only customer. Realizing he had almost interrupted such a peaceful moment, Park Goong nodded apologetically.

    ¡°Got it. Sorry, Mom.¡±

    ¡°Good. Now, why are you here? Shouldn¡¯t you still be at practice?¡±

    ¡°They let us off early since thepetition is tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°Then you should be resting or hanging out with your friends. Why are you here at the shop?¡±

    ¡°Mom, I know you¡¯re working here alone. How could I note help?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ve never taken time off just because of apetition. Speaking of which, Mom¡ª¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°You haven¡¯t taken that guest¡¯s payment yet, right?¡±

    ¡°No, not yet.¡±

    ¡°Then can I handle it?¡±

    At his request, his mother chuckled.

    ¡°Sure, go ahead.¡±

    ¡°Awesome.¡±

    Grinning from ear to ear, Park Goong eagerly hovered near the counter, waiting.

    Not long after, Suho finished his meal and approached the register.

    ¡°Time to pay.¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯ll be 10,000 won!¡±

    ¡°Here you go.¡±

    ¡°Would you like a receipt?¡±

    ¡°No, that¡¯s fine. By the way¡­¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°Are you, by any chance, Park Goong?¡±

    ¡°Huh? Wha¡ªwhat?¡±

    ¡°If not, forget I said anything.¡±

    ¡°N-no! That¡¯s me! I¡¯m Park Goong.¡±

    Just as Suho finished paying, he suddenly recognized Park Goong and addressed him, leaving the boy utterly stunned.

    It was a natural reaction.

    After all, this wasn¡¯t just anyone¡ªthis was <strong>Ahn Suho, the Sword God</strong>, and he knew his name.

    Suho smiled and asked, ¡°Do you have a moment to talk? I¡¯m Ahn Suho, from the Great Awakening Association, and I¡¯d like to speak with you privately for a bit.¡±

    ¡°Ah, sure, of course¡­ Wait, what? From where?¡±

    ¡°The Great Awakening Association.¡±

    ¡°¡­Ah?¡±

    In that instant, Park Goong¡¯s eyes shook as if an earthquake had hit.

    He began to back away awkwardly, mumbling excuses.

    ¡°Ah¡­ haha¡­ I¡¯m sorry, but I¡¯m really busy right now¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯ll only take a moment. Are you sure?¡±

    ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry!¡±

    With that, Park Goong turned and bolted.

    His mother noticed the scene but by the time she approached Suho, her son was already far from the shop.

    Panting heavily, Park Goong finally stopped after running as far as he could.

    Once he felt safely distanced from the shop, he hid and tried to catch his breath.

    ¡°Huff¡­ huff¡­¡±

    As his breathing slowed, he crouched down, burying his face in his knees.

    ¡°Why now, of all times¡­¡±

    The reason for his escape was simple: guilt.

    The boy couldn¡¯t outrun his own conscience. Slowly, he lifted his head and stared at the empty air in front of him.

    [ Choose the power you wish to pursue. ]

    [ Warrior ]

    [ Mage ]

    [ Archer ]

    [ Healer ]

    What appeared before him was none other than the <strong>job selection screen</strong>.

    Park Goong was an Awakened.

    Specifically, an <strong>Unssed Awakened</strong> who had deferred selecting a job.

    He had awakened only a few days prior, but he had kept it a secret.

    From everyone.

    Even from his beloved mother.

    Why?

    For one reason alone.

    <em>¡°If anyone finds out I¡¯m an Awakened, I¡¯ll have to quit archery.¡±</em>

    And it was true.

    Thew prohibited Awakened individuals from participating in professional sports for non-Awakened people.

    Why?

    Because the stats of Awakened yers would ruin the fairness ofpetition.

    Of course, Park Goong¡¯s level was 1, and he hadn¡¯t even chosen a job yet.

    In simple terms, all his stats were still at 1, and he hadn¡¯t received any bonus stats, making him no different from an average person.

    In the future, thew would be revised to allow level 1 Awakened individuals to participate in professional sports as long as their level and stats were verified.

    But that wasn¡¯t the case now.

    Which was why Park Goong had kept it a secret.

    If he registered as an Awakened, he would have to give up archery¡ªthe thing he loved most.

    That was why he had run.

    Meeting the Sword God Ahn Suho was thrilling, but realizing Suho worked for the Great Awakening Association had sent him into a panic.

    <strong>Vrrr, vrrr.</strong>

    Just then, his phone buzzed.

    The caller ID showed it was his mother.

    After a moment of hesitation, he answered.

    ¡°H-hello?¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°Hey, Goong. Where are you?¡±</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°I¡¯m nearby¡­ why?¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°Well, Hunter Ahn Suho said he wanted to talk to you, but you just ran off. Is something wrong?¡±</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ that¡¯s all he said?¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°Hmm?¡±</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°That¡¯s really all he said? Nothing else?¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°Of course. Why? Is there something else I should know?¡±</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°N-no, nothing. Um, Mom, I¡¯m not feeling great today. I think I¡¯ll head back to the dorm and rest early. I need to prepare for thepetition tomorrow.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°What about dinner?¡±</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°I¡¯ll handle it myself.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°Alright, if you say so¡­ but are you sure everything¡¯s okay?¡±</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Yes! Nothing¡¯s wrong!¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°Geez, no need to yell. Fine, I get it.¡±</li>

    </ul>

    The call ended.

    Fortunately, his mother didn¡¯t sound suspicious or worried.

    If Suho had said anything, she would have picked up on it immediately.

    Park Goong knew his mother better than anyone.

    The fact that she seemed unconcerned meant that Suho must not have said anything to her.

    His heart pounded.@@novelbin@@

    <em>Did he intentionally stay silent?</em>

    <em>Why?</em>

    No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn¡¯t figure it out.

    Should he continue pretending?

    Should he keep running away?

    But they say there¡¯s no salvation in a life spent running¡­

    The questions weighed heavily on his mind.

    Yet, no matter how troubled he felt, there was one thing he knew he couldn¡¯t give up: tomorrow¡¯spetition.

    <em>¡°I can quit archery. But thepetition tomorrow¡­ I can¡¯t let that go.¡±</em>

    The reason for his obsession with tomorrow¡¯s event was simple.

    It was the prize money.

    Thepetition was thergest high school archery tournament in the country. Winning would earn him 50 million won.

    And Park Goong desperately needed that money¡ªfor the hospital bills of his grandmother, who was currently hospitalized.

    <em>¡°I¡¯ve worked so hard, all for tomorrow¡¯spetition¡­ Just one more day. After the tournament, I¡¯ll register officially. That¡¯ll be fine.¡±</em>

    Determined, a sharp glint of resolve shone in Park Goong¡¯s eyes.

    ***

    The Next Day.

    Park Goong cautiously arrived at school to participate in thepetition.

    Thankfully, Suho was nowhere to be seen.

    Relieved, he waited nervously for his coach. Then, out of nowhere¡ª

    ¡°Goong, what are you up to?¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ Wonsuk?¡±

    The person sitting beside him was Hong Wonsuk, Park Goong¡¯s closest friend and the runner-up in yesterday¡¯s selection round.

    Unfortunately, Wonsuk couldn¡¯t join thepetition.

    The Future Automobile Archery Competition only allowed one participant per school.

    Wonsuk asked, ¡°Are you nervous?¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t look so great.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ no, it¡¯s not that.¡±

    Observant as always.

    But Wonsuk wasn¡¯t wrong¡ªPark Goong wasn¡¯t feeling his best. He¡¯d been up all night, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

    Still, he was doing his best to pull himself together. He¡¯d worked too hard for thispetition to let it all fall apart now.

    Wonsuk grinned. ¡°So what if you¡¯re not feeling your best? You¡¯ll still take first ce.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not a given.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean? Have you ever not taken first ce since you joined this school? You¡¯ve beaten even the seniors to im the top spot every time. If that¡¯s not talent, I don¡¯t know what is.¡±

    Wonsuk sighed in resignation.

    And who could me him? Despite his own remarkable skills, Wonsuk had always been stuck in second ce, earning him the nickname ¡°eternal runner-up.¡±

    Trying to console him, Park Goong replied, ¡°Come on, that¡¯s not fair. Look at you¡ªyou¡¯re always second, even ahead of the seniors. Isn¡¯t that talent too?¡±

    ¡°Idiot. The world only remembers first ce. Plus, with how much money my family¡¯s spent on me, I¡¯d better at least get second. You know how my dad is.¡±

    ¡°If the seniors or other students heard you say that, they¡¯d give you hell.¡±

    ¡°Haha, maybe. Anyway, make sure you win thispetition. You¡¯ve got a good reason to.¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­ I have to win.¡±

    Wonsuk, being his best friend, understood better than anyone why thispetition meant so much to Park Goong.

    The two bumped fists, easing some of the tension building inside Goong.

    But then¡ª

    ¡°Goong, the coach wants to see you.¡±

    The coach¡¯s summons.

    Time to head out?

    Hearing the call, Park Goong quickly made his way to where the coach was waiting.

    But¡ª

    ¡°¡­What?¡±

    Behind the building, where the coach stood waiting, there was someone else.

    Someone he had absolutely no desire to see.

    Suho.

    ¡°Why¡­ why is he here¡­¡±

    Goong¡¯s chest tightened, his heart pounding violently.

    Why?

    Why now?

    Even as he saw it with his own eyes, he couldn¡¯t believe it.

    Why?

    Why?

    The coach noticed Goong and gestured for him toe over.

    ¡°Hey, Goong! Come here for a second.¡±

    His limbs trembled, his jaw quivered.

    His stomach churned, his head spun.

    The world before him blurred and tilted.

    But his feet wouldn¡¯t move.

    He had nowhere left to run.

    Like amb being led to ughter, Goong slowly shuffled toward the coach and Suho, trembling all the way.

    When he finally stood before them, the coach gave Suho a slight nod before stepping aside.

    Suho spoke calmly.

    ¡°Park Goong.¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes?¡±

    ¡°Were you very busy yesterday?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ um¡­¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve awakened, haven¡¯t you?¡±

    Awakened.

    That one word made Goong¡¯s vision go ck.

    His lips trembled.

    He was so shaken, he couldn¡¯t speak.

    But he had to answer.

    Should he tell the truth?

    Or should he lie?

    In a few moments, thepetition would begin.

    If he could justpete, he was confident he¡¯d win.

    With the prize money, he could pay for his grandmother¡¯s hospital bills.

    At least, that¡¯s what he believed.

    Suho, his voice calm and firm, spoke again.

    ¡°Be honest. This is a very important matter.¡±

    An important matter.

    Having someone from the association would have been nerve-wracking enough. But having <strong>the Sword God</strong> himself standing before him was overwhelming.

    Goong shrank even further.

    The courage to lie convincingly vanished.

    After a long, agonizing silence, Goong finally admitted it.

    ¡°¡­Yes, I¡¯ve awakened.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for being honest. I rmend you file your awakening report now and withdraw from thispetition. If you¡¯d like, I can ensure the coach and others won¡¯t hear about this.¡±

    ¡°Excuse me!¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°Can¡¯t¡­ can¡¯t Ipete just this once? I haven¡¯t even chosen a ss yet, and I¡¯m still level 1. You know as well as anyone¡ªlevel 1 yers are no different from regr people! If I don¡¯tpete, I¡¯ll¡ª!¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°I understand your situation and what you¡¯re trying to tell me, but thew is clear. And even if I overlooked this now, reporting your awakening after thepetition would invalidate all your results from the past two months.¡±

    ¡°What? Really?¡±

    ¡°Yes. So reporting now is the better option.¡±

    ¡°How is that even¡­¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s head to the association now.¡±

    ¡°¡­.¡±

    Defeated, Goong hung his head.

    Suho quietly escorted him to his car.

    This was, in Suho¡¯s view, the best course of action.

    Because in his previous life, after thispetition, Goong had indeed won, just as he¡¯d hoped. But shortly after, his supposed friend and teammate Hong Wonsuk reported him, leading to his disqualification and the revocation of his award¡ªa disgrace that haunted him.

    ¡®And that¡¯s when he spiraled, turning into a full-fledged viin.¡¯

    Not just any viin, but the notorious <strong>Bow Demon</strong>.

    ¡®Better one wound now than twoter.¡¯

    Suho climbed into the car with Goong.

 Chapter 80

    Suho drove Park Goong to the Daehyeon Association headquarters.

    Throughout the journey, Park Goong sat slumped in his seat, his head hanging low as if he were a criminal.

    Seeing this, Suho kept his gaze fixed on the road ahead and spoke.

    ¡°Why are you acting like a criminal?¡±

    ¡°¡­Aren¡¯t I one?¡±

    ¡°Why would you be?¡±

    ¡°I hid the fact that I awakened.¡±

    ¡°So what?¡±

    ¡°¡­What?¡±

    ¡°Think about it simply. All you have to do is go to the association and file your awakening report yourself. That¡¯s it. Nothing else happens.¡±

    ¡°Wait¡­ what? Why?¡±

    ¡°Why not?¡±

    ¡°¡­What?¡±

    ¡°Did hiding your awakening cause any harm to anyone?¡±

    ¡°No¡­ I don¡¯t think so, but¡­¡±

    ¡°Then that¡¯s all that matters. Look, I may be in charge of this because of my current position, but I have no interest in treating you like a criminal over something that hasn¡¯t hurt anyone. Just go in, say you¡¯ve awakened suddenly, and file the report.¡±

    ¡°¡­.¡±

    Hearing this, Park Goong lowered his head even further.

    Suho continued.

    ¡°When we get to the association, go to the reporting center on the first floor and make the report yourself. After that¡­ well, it¡¯s possible¡ªno, it¡¯s likely¡ªthat you won¡¯t be able to do archery again. But that¡¯s just how thew is right now. Even so, you¡¯ll find a way forward. You¡¯re an excellent archer, after all.¡±

    He wasn¡¯t saying this as a titude. Suho meant every word.

    Before long, Suho¡¯s car pulled up at the association. He personally escorted Park Goong to the reporting center before stepping outside.

    At that moment, Suho ran into Jo Sung-gil, who was standing near the building¡¯s entrance, smoking a cigarette. Jo spotted Suho and approached him.

    ¡°Ah, Intern An!¡±

    ¡°Ah, Investigator Jo.¡±

    ¡°How¡¯s the job going? Doing everything alone must be tough, huh?¡±

    Jo spoke with a smile, though half-jokingly.

    After all, finding unregistered yers wasn¡¯t exactly an easy task.

    But Suho answered honestly.

    ¡°Not really. It¡¯s not tough at all.¡±

    ¡°¡­What?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve only just started.¡±

    ¡°Just started? So¡­ you don¡¯t need any help?¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯m good.¡±

    Ignoring Jo¡¯s surprised expression, Suho gave a brief nod and walked away, already dialing a number on his phone.

    ***

    ¡°Here you go, Mr. Park Goong. Your yer Registration Certificate is ready.¡±

    ¡°¡­Thank you.¡±

    The yer registration process wasplete.

    Holding the certificate in his hand, Park Goong stepped out of the registration center with a heavy heart.

    His name, carved in neat letters on the certificate, seemed to mock him.

    There was no turning back now¡ªno return to the ordinary life of a civilian.

    Even so, he felt a strange sense of relief.

    The constant anxiety of hiding his awakening, lying to everyone, had taken its toll.

    <em>I should probably tell Mom first.</em>

    With that thought, Park Goong took out his phone and dialed his mother¡¯s number.

    But¡ª

    <ul>

    <li><em>¡°The person you are trying to reach cannot take your call right now. Please leave a message after the beep¡­¡±</em></li>

    </ul>

    No matter how many times he called, she didn¡¯t answer.

    <em>What¡¯s going on?</em>

    Worried, he rushed to her shop.

    But as he approached, he couldn¡¯t believe his eyes.

    ¡°What¡­ is this?¡±

    The scene before him was surreal.

    A line of customers stretched absurdly far outside his mother¡¯s small snack shop.

    Some of the customers noticed him and began murmuring among themselves.

    ¡°Hey, isn¡¯t that¡­?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that Park Goong?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s him, right? The archer from Anseong High?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s definitely him!¡±

    He hadn¡¯t misheard.

    Several people recognized him, and a few even approached.

    ¡°Excuse me¡­¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re Park Goong, right? The rising star from Anseong High?¡±

    ¡°Could I take a picture with you?¡±

    ¡°N-Nani?!¡±

    He was stunned.

    <em>Pictures? With me?</em>

    Sure, he was a promising archer, but athletes only started gaining real poprity after winning gold medals at events like the Olympics or Asian Games.

    <em>I haven¡¯t even participated in suchpetitions, let alone won anything!</em>

    Still bewildered, he awkwardly posed for a few pictures. Finally, he mustered the courage to ask one of the customers a question.

    ¡°Um, excuse me.¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°How¡­ how did you all find out about our shop?¡±

    ¡°This ce? It¡¯s famous! Didn¡¯t you know? It¡¯s a ¡®Sword Saint-Approved Restaurant.¡¯¡±

    ¡°Sword Saint-Approved¡­ restaurant?¡±

    ¡°Yeah! Didn¡¯t you see the post? Sword Saint himself posted about this ce on Stargram, saying the food was great. That¡¯s why we¡¯re here.¡±

    ¡°¡­What?¡±

    ¡°Here, take a look.¡±

    The customer pulled out their phone and showed him the post.

    There it was, a picture of a bowl of ramen and two rolls of gimbap, captioned with:

    <ul>

    <li><em>Park Goong¡¯s Snack Shop. Delicious.</em></li>

    </ul>

    That was it.

    But¡ª

    <ul>

    <li><em>87,153 likes.</em></li>

    <li><em>47,546ments.</em></li>

    </ul>

    The engagement numbers were absurd.

    ¡°H-How¡­¡±

    There wasn¡¯t even a long description¡ªjust a single hashtag: <em>#TastySpot.</em>

    And yet, the post had gone viral.

    The customer exined further.

    ¡°People have been curious about when Sword Saint would finally make his first post. And then¡ªbam! Out of nowhere, a restaurant review. Isn¡¯t that just adorable?¡±

    ¡°Uh¡­ Y-Yeah, I guess so. But how did you all know <em>I</em> was Park Goong?¡±

    ¡°Oh, doing some research before a pilgrimage is basic etiquette.¡±

    ¡°¡­Oh.¡±

    The reasoning was surprisingly simple, leaving Park Goong feeling both relieved and deted.@@novelbin@@

    Another customer asked, ¡°So, Mr. Park Goong, did you meet Sword Saint?¡±

    ¡°Uh, yeah. I even handled his bill myself.¡±

    ¡°Nice! Feels like we¡¯vee to the right ce, then. But shouldn¡¯t you be helping your mom? She looked like she was swamped earlier.¡±

    ¡°Ah!¡±

    Only then did he remember his mother, likely struggling alone inside the shop.

    Rushing inside, he found her bustling around, managing the kitchen and serving customers all by herself.

    ¡°Mom!¡±

    ¡°Oh, Goong! What are you doing here? What about thepetition?¡±

    ¡°T-That¡­ I¡¯ll exinter. Let¡¯s focus on helping out first. Where should I start?¡±

    ¡°Take care of those orders over there!¡±

    ¡°Got it!¡±

    Thrown into an unexpected situation, Park Goong rolled up his sleeves and dove into helping his mother.

    It wasn¡¯t until hourster, when they¡¯dpletely run out of ingredients, that they were able to rest.

    For the first time ever, his mother hung up a <em>¡°Sold Out¡±</em> sign. She copsed into a chair, exhausted but amazed.

    ¡°Oh, my¡­ What on earth just happened?¡±

    ¡°Seriously¡­ What kind of chaos was that?¡±

    It had been an overwhelming few hours.

    The most popr items were just two simple dishes: tuna kimbap and ramen.

    Dubbed the ¡°Sword Saint Set,¡± thebination had gone viral, breaking the shop¡¯s all-time sales record in a single day.

    Sipping a ss of water, his mother finally turned to him.

    ¡°But really, why are you here? What happened to thepetition?¡±

    ¡°Ah, well¡­¡±

    It was time to tell her the truth.

    But before he could begin¡ª

    <em>Click.</em>

    The door opened, and a man walked in.

    ¡°Excuse me.¡±

    His mother quickly addressed the visitor.

    ¡°Sorry, we¡¯re out of ingredients and have closed for the day.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I saw the sign. I¡¯m not a customer, though¡­¡±

    The man handed over a business card, which Park Goong epted and read aloud.

    ¡°Cho Jin-hwi¡­ journalist?¡±

    The man smiled and introduced himself.

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s me. I¡¯m a reporter with PBS. I was hoping to interview you, Mr. Park Goong.¡±

    ¡°Me?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I received a tip. Apparently, you voluntarily withdrew from a majorpetition to file a conscientious awakening report. Is that true?¡±

    ¡°¡­What?¡±

    Hearing this, Park Goong blinked in shock.

    And then¡ª

    ¡°A¡­awakening report? Goong, what¡¯s going on?¡±

    His mother, finally realizing the truth, looked equally bewildered.

    ***

    The <em>Future Auto Cup High School Archery Tournament</em>.

    This tournament, thergest high schoolpetition in the country, spanned four days.

    Following Park Goong¡¯s sudden withdrawal, Hong Won-seok was chosen to represent Anseong High in his stead.

    The coach patted Won-seok on the shoulder and said, ¡°Won-seok, you¡¯ll do great, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Coach. I¡¯ll give it my all¡ªfor both myself and Goong,¡± Won-seok replied with a confident smile.

    But inwardly, he was ecstatic.

    He had never expected Park Goong to withdraw from thepetition before he could even make his nned report.

    <em>¡°Well, now I get to make my debut.¡±</em>

    Originally, Won-seok had nned to report Goong after thepetition.

    His goal was to let Goong rise to the peak¡ªwin the <em>Future Auto Cup</em>¡ªbefore dragging him down to rock bottom.

    Why?

    The reasons were simple: betrayal and rage.

    <em>¡°How dare that nobody, with a family like his, shoot so well.¡±</em>

    Won-seok seethed with anger.

    He had respected Goong wholeheartedly, but learning that his talent might have been aided by the yer System left him furious.

    He didn¡¯t know when Goong had awakened or how far along his stats or abilities were. He only knew about Goong¡¯s awakening because he had overheard him muttering to himself in the locker room one day.

    Regardless, Won-seok felt a burning sense of betrayal.

    <em>¡°He had to have cheated. That¡¯s the only way I can make sense of why I was always second to him.¡±</em>

    And now, this tournament was his chance.

    <em>¡°If I win this, my family will finally acknowledge me.¡±</em>

    The tournament began, progressing through four days of intense matches starting with the Round of 64.

    Won-seok dominated each round, soaring like a bird with newfound wings.

    ¡°Wow, Won-seok¡¯s on fire!¡±

    ¡°Looks like he¡¯s finally breaking free from Goong¡¯s shadow.¡±

    ¡°Won-seok was always talented, though. This was bound to happen.¡±

    The attention thrilled him.

    It felt like the world was finally his.

    By the end of the semifinals, he had secured his spot in the finals.

    But on the night before the finals, an unexpected visitor appeared at Won-seok¡¯s lodging.

    ¡°An Su-ho?¡±

    ¡°The Sword Saint?¡±

    ¡°Why is he here?¡±

    Whispers of curiosity spread among the students and staff.

    Won-seok stepped forward, staring at the unexpected guest¡ªnone other than Su-ho.

    Su-ho addressed him calmly, ¡°Mr. Hong Won-seok?¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll need you toe with me to the Association.¡±

    ¡°What? Me? Why?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not something I can exin here, but an investigation is underway, and we¡¯ll need you to cooperate. It may take about a day.¡±

    ¡°A day?! What are you talking about? My finals are tomorrow! What kind of investigation is this?¡±

    Won-seok¡¯s protests were fierce.

    And rightfully so¡ªbeing asked to leave the night before his big match was akin to being forced to forfeit.

    But Su-ho remained firm.

    ¡°I¡¯ll exin everything on the way. For now, I suggest youply.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere! Hell no! Would you go if you were in my shoes? Tomorrow¡¯s the finals! How can you expect me to leave?¡±

    ¡°Do you know Hong Dong-seok?¡±

    ¡°¡­What?¡±

    ¡°Your brother, Mr. Hong Dong-seok. He¡¯s currently under investigation for draft-dodging through fraudulent awakening ims. As per standard procedure, all immediate family members are subject to a mandatory awakening verification process. That includes you.¡±

    ¡°That¡­ That can¡¯t be¡­¡±

    ¡°This case involves not only Mr. Dong-seok but also others implicated in simr fraudulent activities. It¡¯s a high-priority investigation. Your cooperation is mandatory.¡±

    Won-seok¡¯s face turned pale.

    ¡°Now, let¡¯s go,¡± Su-ho said curtly, grabbing Won-seok by the arm.

    With no room for argument, Su-ho led the stunned archer out of the building.

 Chapter 81

    After the Great Cataclysm, many countries reinstated conscription.

    While most gates couldn¡¯t be subdued by the military, they could still be monitored and managed.

    South Korea was no exception.

    The country already had mandatory conscription, so not much changed in that regard, but new exemption uses were added to the existing system.

    One such use pertained to awakened individuals, effectively exempting them from military service.

    ¡°Awakened yers might be deployed to gates at any time.¡±

    Of course, it wasn¡¯t an unconditional exemption.

    The procedure wasplex¡ªthey had to obtain a Hunter¡¯s license, raise their level by at least two tiers, undergo a stats evaluation, and pass a final examination to qualify forplete exemption.

    This exemption wasn¡¯t an act of goodwill; it was about utilizing them as Hunter resources rather than regr soldiers.

    ¡°The problem is, thisplex procedure was only introducedter.¡±

    Currently, yers were exempted from conscription as soon as they awakened and received their yer certification.

    It was a loophole that existed because society hadn¡¯t stabilized long after the Cataclysm, leaving the system full of holes.

    Hong Dong-seok, the elder brother of Hong Won-seok, exploited this loophole tomit draft-dodging fraud.

    Upon hearing the full story, Hong Won-seok was too overwhelmed to say anything during their ride to the association.

    ¡°He¡¯s probably dealing with a whirlwind of emotions.¡±

    It was only natural.

    Hong Won-seok had no idea his brother was a draft dodger.

    Why?

    There wasn¡¯t aplicated reason.

    It was simply the result of poormunication between two brothers who didn¡¯t get along.

    When they arrived at the association, chaos reigned. The department was in an uproar because of the draft-dodgers Su-ho had apprehended, along with their families.

    ¡°This is bullsh*t! I really did awaken!¡±

    ¡°Who the hell reported me?!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re the ones who issued my yer ID! Why are you harassing me now?!¡±@@novelbin@@

    The audacity was unreal.

    The uproar was like nothing anyone had ever seen.

    The department¡¯s staff and clerks were sweating bullets, trying to handle the unprecedented mess.

    Meanwhile, Su-ho leisurely observed the chaos.

    As a mere trainee, he wasn¡¯t obligated to take on active duties.

    ¡°It¡¯d be overstepping to make a trainee handle frontline work.¡±

    At that moment¡ª

    ¡°You bastard!¡±

    Suddenly, Hong Won-seok, who had been standing beside Su-ho, lunged at someone.

    The target was none other than his brother, Hong Dong-seok.

    <strong>BAM!</strong>

    A punchnded squarely, sending Dong-seok sprawling to the floor. Won-seok climbed on top of him, grabbing him by the cor.

    ¡°You son of a b*tch! Because of you! Because of you!¡±

    Overwhelmed by rage and sorrow, he shook his brother violently.

    Eventually, the clerks intervened and separated the two. Watching the scene unfold, Su-ho shook his head and turned away.

    But just as he was leaving, Jo Sung-gil, who had spotted him, called out urgently.

    ¡°Su-ho!¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°Where are you going? Help us out here!¡±

    ¡°Me? Help?¡±

    ¡°Who else is going to help? Can¡¯t you see how busy we are?¡±

    ¡°I can see that. But as a trainee, I¡¯m not permitted to perform active duties. I¡¯m also still under field evaluation.¡±

    ¡°What? Field evaluation? But you¡¯re the one who caught all these people¡ªwhat does some field evaluation even matter at this point?¡±

    Jo Sung-gil trailed off, realizing that Su-ho wasn¡¯t technically wrong.

    As Sung-gil fell silent, Su-ho offered him a polite nod and left the department.

    ¡°Trying to boss me around, huh?¡±

    Haven¡¯t I done enough? What more do they want?

    Su-ho left the department, got into his car, and drove off.

    Now it was time to properly deal with the field evaluation.

    Su-ho¡¯s destination was a PC caf¨¦ in Incheon.

    The caf¨¦ was located on the second floor, and as soon as he entered, a thick cloud of cigarette smoke greeted him.

    ¡°They still allow indoor smoking here?¡±

    Well, it made sense.

    In such a remote area, it wasn¡¯t a Safe Zone, so the rules werex.

    Plus, who even uses PC caf¨¦s these days?

    After the Cataclysm and the rise of virtual reality, PC caf¨¦s and online gaming industries had rapidly declined.

    It was inevitable.

    PC games, limited to monitor screens, couldn¡¯tpete with the immersive experience of VR games.

    Su-ho looked around the caf¨¦.

    There weren¡¯t many customers¡ªmostly middle-aged men ying old games they were familiar with.

    Then, a young man sitting at a corner station caught Su-ho¡¯s attention.

    Quietly, Su-ho approached and observed the game he was ying.

    The young man was engrossed in a game called <em>Overstrike</em> (often abbreviated as <em>Ops</em>), a legendary FPS that had captivated the world before the Cataclysm.

    Su-ho had yed it back in the day as well.

    After watching the young man y for a while, Su-ho sat at a nearby station, logged into <em>Ops</em>, and entered the basic training mode to reacquaint himself with the game mechanics.

    After some time, the young man nced at Su-ho¡¯s screen and struck up a conversation.

    ¡°You y <em>Ops</em>?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Did you sit here on purpose?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    The young man chuckled at Su-ho¡¯s straightforward answer.

    ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve seen anyone y this game. Let¡¯s y together. It¡¯s rare to find someone else online.¡±

    ¡°Sure, if that¡¯s okay with you.¡±

    ¡°Of course. Add me as a friend¡ªmy ID is Railgun.¡±

    ¡°Railgun¡­ Wait, are you <em>the</em> Railgun?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve heard of me?¡±

    ¡°Who hasn¡¯t? You were ranked number one for years before <em>Ops</em> shut down.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s embarrassing.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s an honor. I never thought I¡¯d get to y with the legendary Railgun.¡±

    Railgun smiled sheepishly, clearly unused to being recognized.

    The two of them yed <em>Ops</em> together for a while. Their skill gap was significant, but in a game with so few yers, skill didn¡¯t really matter. Just having someone to y with was meaningful.

    As they yed, Su-ho struck up casual conversation.

    ¡°Do you work here?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, the owner lets me y games when there aren¡¯t many customers.¡±

    ¡°Sounds like a good boss.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s great. Hey, are you hungry? Let me treat you to some instant ramen.¡±

    ¡°No, I should be the one treating you. ying with Railgun is already a privilege.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous.¡±

    Railgun smiled warmly and got up to head to the counter. Su-ho followed him.

    As Railgun prepared the ramen, Su-ho leaned against the counter and asked casually:

    ¡°By the way, Railgun.¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°Your real name is Kim Gwon, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°¡­What?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m from the APA Non-Awakened Division. My name is An Su-ho. I¡¯m here to see you. May I check your ID?¡±

    ¡°¡­.¡±

    Kim Gwon froze, the ramen seasoning packet still in his hand.

    The two locked eyes for a moment before Kim Gwon finally spoke.

    ¡°How did you find out?¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t disclose that. Please show me your ID.¡±

    ¡°¡­.¡±

    Without a word, Kim Gwon nodded and moved toward the back storage room.

    However, instead of retrieving his ID, he bolted out the rear exit, running as fast as he could.

    Watching him flee, Su-ho sighed.

    ¡°Knew it.¡±

    He gave chase.

    Kim Gwon sprinted through alleys, zigzagging through the maze-like streets, his heart pounding in his chest.

    Finally, he copsed against a wall, gasping for breath.

    ¡°Dammit¡­ How did they find me?¡±

    Just as he was catching his breath, a calm voice rang out behind him.

    ¡°Done running?¡±

    ¡°Ah!¡±

    Su-ho appeared out of nowhere and flicked Kim Gwon on the forehead with enough force to knock him t.

    ¡°Argh¡­¡±

    As Kim Gwon groaned in pain, Su-ho crouched down, meeting his eye level.

    ¡°Why run? You know that makes this an immediate arrest, right?¡±

    ¡°You bastard¡­¡±

    Ignoring the insult, Su-ho smiled faintly.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go. We need to sort this out.¡±

    ***

    Su-ho and Kim Geon arrived at a vi situated on a steep hill, not far from the PC caf¨¦.

    Kim Geon¡¯s residence was located in the semi-basement of the building.

    Kim Geon unlocked the door and entered first, with Su-ho following close behind. Inside, Su-ho¡¯s eyes immediatelynded on the figure lying on a bed in the living room¡ªthis was the <em>real</em> Kim Geon.

    Approaching the bed, Su-ho bent down and ced a finger under Kim Geon¡¯s nose.

    There was breath. His pulse was steady.

    He wasn¡¯t dead.

    He was in a catatonic state.

    Su-ho nodded slightly and spoke.

    ¡°Let me see your ID.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­¡±

    At Su-ho¡¯s request, Kim Geon red at him momentarily before reluctantly retrieving two IDs and handing them over.

    One was Kim Geon¡¯s ID, and the other belonged to his younger brother, Kim Gwon.

    After confirming both IDs, Su-ho addressed him.

    ¡°Mr. Kim Geon, when did your brother awaken?¡±

    ¡°Uh¡­ yesterday.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s not lie. You were working at the PC caf¨¦ earlier. A quick look at the work records will tell me exactly when you started. Your possession ability only works on other yers, doesn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­!¡±

    Kim Geon¡¯s eyes widened in shock at the mention of possession.

    It was just as Su-ho suspected.

    Kim Geon¡¯s special trait was <em>Possession</em>. He was one of the rare <em>Possession yers</em> in the country¡ªan individual Su-ho had specifically been tasked to track down as part of this field evaluation.

 Chapter 82

    Kim Geon''s widened eyes trembled as if shaken by an earthquake.

    For a moment, he was speechless. Then, ring at Su-ho with venomous intensity, he growled.

    ¡°So, what now?¡±

    ¡°Pardon?¡±

    ¡°Are you going to report my brother as an unregistered yer now? Fine, go ahead! You think I wanted to do this? You think I had a choice? My legs are paralyzed from an ident, my brother is a vegetable, and we have no parents or money. This was the only way for us to survive! What else could I do? Hell, maybe it¡¯s for the best now¡ªjust report us both. At least in prison, we¡¯d get some care!¡±

    His voice was filled with bitter despair as he poured out his frustrations.

    But everything he said was the truth.

    Kim Geon had once been a decent Hunter, reaching level 50 and obtaining a personal trait. However, a gate raid left him severely injured and paralyzed from the waist down. To make matters worse, his younger brother¡ªan ordinary person¡ªwas hit by a car in a hit-and-run ident, leaving him in a vegetative state.

    The brothers¡¯ lives had spiraled rapidly downward.

    Having lost their parents in a gate-rted incident years earlier, their savings quickly evaporated under the weight of hospital bills and daily expenses. Eventually, they were forced to move to the outskirts of the city, barely scraping by with irregr meals.

    Then, when it seemed like all hope was lost, his brother awakened as a yer¡ªa miracle, but also theirst and only chance.

    For someone like Kim Geon, whose <em>Possession</em> trait only worked on yers with lower overall stats, his brother¡¯s awakening was a lifeline.

    After that, he kept his brother¡¯s awakening a secret, using his brother¡¯s body to work part-time jobs and manage both his own incapacitated body and his brother¡¯s vegetative state during the periods of possession.

    Why keep it a secret?@@novelbin@@

    There was no choice.

    His brother, still technically a vegetative patient, was receiving disability benefits. If they reported the awakening, those benefits would be cut off. Furthermore, only he, with his <em>Possession</em> trait, could confirm the awakening. So, as long as he kept his mouth shut, no one would know.

    They hadn¡¯t done anything illegal apart from this.

    Kim Geon had done everything in his power just to ensure the survival of both brothers.

    As Kim Geon red at Su-ho with eyes full of resentment, Su-ho responded calmly.

    ¡°Who said anything?¡±

    ¡°What¡­?¡±

    ¡°I told you, didn¡¯t I? I¡¯m here to help you two. So calm down, and hear me out. I don¡¯t lie.¡±

    Kim Geon was momentarily stunned by Su-ho¡¯sposed tone. Then his brows furrowed again in suspicion as he asked cautiously.

    ¡°And why should I trust you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll stake my name on it.¡±

    ¡°Your name? Are you kidding me? Who the hell are you to think your name means anything?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s natural to think that. But if I lie, you¡¯re free to report me to the press. That would hurt me too, wouldn¡¯t it? By the way, my name is An Su-ho.¡±

    ¡°An Su-ho?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Haven¡¯t heard of me? The Sword Saint, An Su-ho.¡±

    ¡°The Sword Saint, An Su-ho?¡±

    Although Su-ho felt slightly embarrassed, he used his title as proof of identity¡ªit was the clearest way to establish trust.

    Momentster, recognition dawned on Kim Geon.

    ¡°The Sword Saint, An Su-ho?!¡±

    His eyes widened in shock once more.

    There¡¯s no better tool for proving one¡¯s identity and gaining someone¡¯s trust than fame.

    Su-ho didn¡¯t bother hiding his renown and openly revealed everything to Kim Geon.

    Eventually, Kim Geon epted Su-ho¡¯s sincerity and canceled his possession.

    ¡°Ugh¡­¡±

    As the possession was released, Kim Gwon¡¯s body slumped forward while the real Kim Geon, lying on the bed, let out a groan.

    Slowly regaining consciousness, Kim Geon strained to push himself into a seated position.

    Finally upright, he addressed Su-ho.

    ¡°¡­Are you satisfied now?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s all I needed to confirm.¡±

    At Su-ho¡¯s words, Kim Geon let out a deep sigh before using his arms to maneuver himself into a wheelchair parked beside the bed.

    Watching him move with practiced ease, Su-ho remarked.

    ¡°You¡¯re quite adept at this.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve been living like this for years. Now, what exactly do you mean when you say you¡¯ll help us? What¡¯s your n?¡±

    Kim Geon¡¯s voice was desperate. Even if the offer seemed too good to be true, his situation left him with no choice but to cling to any hope.

    Su-ho nodded and said with a faint smile.

    ¡°There¡¯s an old saying: ¡®If you want to help a homeless person, don¡¯t give them money; give them a job.¡¯¡±

    ¡°¡­Are you calling me homeless?¡±

    ¡°No, Mr. Kim Geon. I¡¯m saying I want to help you find a job.¡±

    ¡°A job?¡±

    ¡°Yes. How about resuming your work as a Hunter?¡±

    ¡°¡­What?¡±

    Frowning, Kim Geon stared at Su-ho in disbelief.

    ¡°Excuse me.¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°Do you see my legs?¡±

    ¡°I do.¡±

    ¡°And?¡±

    ¡°But your Hunter license is still valid, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me¡­ Are you suggesting I use my brother¡¯s body to raid gates?¡±

    ¡°Of course not. I¡¯m suggesting you personally enter gates and resume Hunter activities.¡±

    ¡°¡­That¡¯s absurd. Are you joking? If I could do that, I would¡¯ve done it already. Besides, I¡¯m over level 50. I can¡¯t even ess low-level gates anymore. How is that even possible?¡±

    He wasn¡¯t wrong. Even if he could enter lower-level gates, using long-range weapons to hunt rabbits or farm resources wasn¡¯t an option due to the system¡¯s restrictions on entry levels,monly referred to as ¡°farming caps.¡±

    Su-ho, however, remained unperturbed.

    ¡°Are you familiar with the concept of a <em>Partner Item</em>?¡±

    ¡°A¡­ Partner Item?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Every yer has an item that perfectlyplements their abilities. That¡¯s what we call a Partner Item.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ I¡¯ve heard of it, but isn¡¯t that basically like winning the lottery? Only a handful of yers in the world have ever found one.¡±

    Partner Items, also known as ¡°Life Items¡± or ¡°Companion Gear,¡± were rare items perfectly suited to a yer¡¯s unique traits. However, finding one was akin to winning the lottery¡ªno one could predict which item would be their match.

    ¡°But I know,¡± Su-ho said confidently, ¡°exactly what Partner Item suits someone with the <em>Possession</em> trait.¡±

    ¡°And how do you know that¡­?¡±

    ¡°Because in my previous life, Mr. Kim Geon, you used that very item to make a name for yourself.¡±

    While it was true that his fame had been built on infamy, this time, Su-ho intended to rewrite that story.

    He added with a reassuring smile, ¡°I¡¯d like to use this opportunity to give both of you a new lease on life.¡±

    Kim Geon was speechless, a mix of emotion and disbelief crossing his face.

    ¡°Why¡­?¡± he finally asked.

    ¡°Why what?¡±

    ¡°Why now? After leaving us to fend for ourselves, why are you suddenly offering help? What¡¯s in it for you?¡±

    His skepticism was understandable. In the past, every time he¡¯d sought help¡ªfrom welfare centers to local organizations¡ªhe¡¯d been met with cold indifference. Society had turned its back on a former Hunter reduced to a cripple.

    Su-ho shook his head and replied softly.

    ¡°It¡¯s not neglect.¡±

    ¡°¡­What?¡±

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t neglecting you. I just hadn¡¯t found a way to help you until now. But I¡¯m here now, aren¡¯t I?¡±

    With a warm smile, Su-ho bowed his head slightly.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for beingte. I should¡¯ve helped you sooner. Please, let me make it up to you.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t just words¡ªSu-ho¡¯s apology was heartfelt.

    While Su-ho wasn¡¯t personally responsible for the systemic failures that had led to their suffering, as a civil servant of the state, he felt a deep sense of ountability.

    Moved by Su-ho¡¯s sincerity, Kim Geon eventually apologized for his earlier hostility, and Su-ho graciously epted it.

    ¡°It¡¯s all right. If I were in your shoes, I¡¯d feel just as angry and overwhelmed.¡±

    ¡°¡­Thank you for understanding.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll assist you with reporting your brother¡¯s awakening,¡± Su-ho said reassuringly. ¡°And of course, I¡¯ll make sure that his disability benefits remain intact.¡±

    ¡°Really? Are you serious?¡± Kim Geon asked, his voice filled with cautious hope.

    ¡°Absolutely. I¡¯ll handle it as a field-confirmed case, so you won¡¯t even need to be involved. However, for your future Hunter activities, it might be a good idea to start wrapping up your current job at the PC caf¨¦. But¡­¡±

    ¡°But?¡±

    ¡°Have you ever had issues with unpaid wages at the caf¨¦?¡± Su-ho asked, just to be sure. It wasn¡¯t umon for businesses like these to exploit their employees.

    Kim Geon immediately waved his hands, strongly denying the suggestion.

    ¡°Oh, no, no! Not at all! The owner has been so kind to me. Thanks to them, we¡¯ve been able to survive up to this point. Actually¡­ I was wondering, if it¡¯s all right, could I continue working there in my brother¡¯s body until they find a recement?¡±

    Hmm. That was unexpected.

    Most ces like that would have at least some history of wage theft, but it seemed this wasn¡¯t the case.

    Su-ho nodded in agreement. ¡°That¡¯s fine. Suddenly quitting would be an inconvenience for the owner, so you can keep working there until they hire someone new. Oh, and for your Hunter activities, I¡¯ll be introducing you to a guild. You should hear from them soon. The guild¡¯s name is Nexus.¡±

    ¡°Nexus?!¡± Kim Geon repeated, shocked.

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s the only guild I¡¯m personally connected to.¡±

    ¡°But Nexus? I¡¯m not qualified to join such a ce¡­¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. Once you¡¯ve started using the Partner Item I¡¯ll be arranging for you, you¡¯ll fit right in with Nexus.¡±

    ¡°What kind of Partner Item could possibly¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll show you when it¡¯s ready. For now, take a few days to rest. We¡¯ll meet again soon.¡±

    With that, Su-ho gave a polite bow and left Kim Geon¡¯s home.

    ¡°This wraps up both the field evaluation and the Non-Awakened Division case,¡± Su-ho thought to himself as he stepped outside.

    Filing the paperwork would be a simple task for him. In practical terms, the case was already closed.

    Instead of heading back to the APA headquarters, Su-ho set his navigation system to the Nexus Guild¡¯s main office.

    ¡°No one but me knows how much potential Kim Geon truly has,¡± he mused.

    While Nexus would undoubtedly take care of Kim Geon out of respect for Su-ho¡¯s influence, Su-ho felt that wouldn¡¯t be enough.

    ¡°True redemptiones from rebuilding your life with your own strength.¡±

    As Su-ho drove toward Nexus¡¯s headquarters, he picked up his phone and called Kim I-gang, the guild¡¯s secretary general.

 Chapter 83

    The next day.

    As usual, Su-ho reported to work.

    The paperwork for Nexus and the Kim brothers had already been handled the day before. Today, he was set to receive the results of hisprehensive evaluation from the Awakening Department and proceed with his departmental transfer.

    Feeling rxed, Su-ho strolled toward the APA headquarters, only to encounter an unexpected visitor at the entrance.

    ¡°Hunter!¡±

    It was Park Goong.

    Caught off guard but pleasantly surprised, Su-ho greeted him warmly.

    ¡°Park Goong? Hello!¡±

    ¡°Ah, yes. Um¡­¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°Well, this¡­¡±

    Park Goong hesitated before handing Su-ho a ck stic bag. A savory aroma wafted from it¡ªit was tuna kimbap.

    Blushing slightly, Park Goong exined.

    ¡°My mom packed this for you. Uh¡­ thank you, Hunter. For everything. The social media post, the journalist¡­ all of it. Thanks to you.¡±

    The article by Jo Jin-hwi had made <em>Park Goong¡¯s Snack Bar</em> even more famous. Long lines now formed before the store opened, and they¡¯d had to hastily hire more help.

    Despite the busyness, Park Goong hade to the APA early in the morning purely to thank Su-ho in person.

    To him, Su-ho was nothing less than a benefactor.

    He continued.

    ¡°I wanted to call you, but I didn¡¯t have your number, so I thought I¡¯d just wait here. I figured if I stayed long enough, I¡¯d see you.¡±

    Su-ho chuckled.

    ¡°If I¡¯d known, I would¡¯ve given you my number. Thanks for the kimbap. Please tell your mom I said thank you as well.¡±

    ¡°Of course. Um¡­ but, may I ask you something?¡±

    ¡°Go ahead.¡±

    ¡°Why¡­ Why are you being so kind to me?¡±

    At this, Su-ho smiled faintly.@@novelbin@@

    ¡°I haven¡¯t done anything special.¡±

    ¡°Pardon?¡±

    ¡°I posted on social media because your mom¡¯s food was genuinely delicious. It¡¯s my personal ount¡ªI can post what I like, can¡¯t I?¡±

    ¡°Well, yes, but¡­ the journalist¡­¡±

    ¡°Did the journalist say I tipped them off?¡±

    ¡°No, but¡­ I just thought it might¡¯ve been you.¡±

    ¡°Then you don¡¯t actually know who it was.¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­¡±

    Awkwardly, Park Goong scratched the back of his head. It was true.

    Su-ho chuckled again. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯ll enjoy the kimbap. It¡¯s unfortunate you can¡¯t continue archery, but I think this might open up better opportunities. You¡¯re incredibly talented, after all. By the way, have you changed your ss?¡±

    ¡°Oh, yes! I switched to Archer.¡±

    ¡°Good. Do you have any ns for Hunter work?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m still considering it. I only switched sses because the notification window wouldn¡¯t stop popping up.¡±

    ¡°That happens. But here¡¯s my take: soon, scouts from various guilds will be lining up to recruit you.¡±

    ¡°The journalist said something simr¡­ Do you have any guilds you¡¯d rmend?¡±

    At this, Su-ho smiled knowingly. The timing was perfect.

    ¡°Well, of course, Nexus. I¡¯m from Nexus, after all.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ Then Nexus it is.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that a bit hasty?¡±

    ¡°No, not at all. I¡¯d been considering bing a Hunter. After all, I awakened as a yer, and with archery off the table, my options are limited. Bing a Hunter seems like the best choice.¡±

    ¡°Then meet with Nexus. I¡¯ll ask them to send someone to your mom¡¯s snack bar.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°Of course. You won¡¯t be starting Hunter work immediately, and you¡¯ll need training, so it¡¯s best to go somewhere that can amodate you.¡±

    ¡°Hah¡­ I came to thank you, but now you¡¯re helping me again.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Honestly, I¡¯m just d you¡¯ll still be able to shoot arrows. Oh, and here¡¯s my personal number. Call me if you need anything.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Hunter!¡±

    After exchanging contact information, Park Goong bowed repeatedly in gratitude. Su-ho waved him off with a smile and entered the building, carrying the tuna kimbap, which smelled delicious.

    ¡°They packed quite a lot.¡±

    The bundle looked like it contained at least ten rolls.

    As Su-ho scanned his employee ID and stepped into the APA building, his phone buzzed.

    The caller ID surprised him.

    ¡°Vice President?¡±

    What could this be about?

    Su-ho answered.

    ¡°Yes, Vice President?¡±

    <ul>

    <li>"Where are you?"</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°I just arrived at the office.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>"Come see me in the Vice President¡¯s office."</li>

    </ul>

    Click.

    Park Gyu-min ended the call abruptly after giving his instructions.

    Su-ho smirked and made his way to the Vice President¡¯s office, already having an idea of why he¡¯d been summoned.

    The Vice President¡¯s office, located on one of the top floors, was grand and imposing. Inside, Park Gyu-min was waiting alone.

    ¡°Come in, Hunter An. Please, have a seat.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Vice President.¡±

    Su-ho sat down, but it seemed there was no time for refreshments. The moment he was seated, Park Gyu-minunched into his questioning.

    ¡°I hear you¡¯ve been doing remarkable work in the Awakening Department.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I was simply doing my job.¡±

    ¡°No, no. From what I¡¯ve seen, you¡¯ve gone above and beyond. Especially with the Non-Awakened Division and the recent evaluations¡­ you¡¯ve handled some truly challenging tasks. It¡¯s impressive. But I called you because I¡¯m curious.¡±

    ¡°Curious?¡±

    ¡°Yes. In both the Awakening and Non-Awakened Divisions, you¡¯ve achieved results that are¡­ extraordinary. Particrly with the Non-Awakened evaluation¡ªyou handled tasks that weren¡¯t even part of the criteria.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s your secret?¡±

    At this, Su-ho smiled inwardly.

    <em>So, it¡¯s you¡ªthe man behind Lee Wan-ik.</em>

    The specificity of Park Gyu-min¡¯s question, especially regarding the Non-Awakened Division, suggested he was connected to the recent draft-dodging scandal.

    <em>Why else would he be so interested in the source of my information?</em>

    The Vice President, notorious for delegating his responsibilities, wouldn¡¯t suddenly be curious about Su-ho¡¯s methods without a vested interest.

    Su-ho decided to dangle some bait.

    ¡°I simply followed up on some tips and conducted field investigations.¡±

    ¡°Field investigations?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°But the tips didn¡¯t seem directly connected to the draft-dodging cases you handled.¡±

    Oh. You¡¯ve already reviewed the tips?

    Su-ho¡¯s suspicions were confirmed. Park Gyu-min was deeply tied to this mess.

    Feigning modesty, Su-ho nodded. ¡°Of course, I didn¡¯t rely solely on the tips. I also gathered additional intel through mywork.¡±

    ¡°Yourwork?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I have connections from my time as a Hunter. They provided some assistance when they heard I was undergoing evaluation.¡±

    ¡°Connections? Who exactly?¡±

    ¡°Just people in the information trade. They have ties everywhere and offered help as a service.¡±

    ¡°Ties? Where?¡±

    ¡°Well, you know¡­ here and there¡­¡±

    ¡°Here and there, where exactly?!¡±

    As Su-ho continued to dodge the question, Park Gyu-min¡¯s patience snapped.

    He was clearly agitated, which only confirmed his guilt.

    Feigning reluctance, Su-ho finally ¡°admitted,¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s a government agency. I¡¯m not at liberty to say.¡±

    ¡°A government agency? Does our association have ties to them?¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t know¡­¡±

    ¡°Hunter An, we¡¯re on the same side, aren¡¯t we?¡±

    <em>Oh, we are? Since when?</em> Su-ho thought, but he maintained his facade, acting conflicted.

    As Park Gyu-min¡¯s frustration grew, Su-ho decided to throw him a bone. ¡°I¡¯ve heard rumors that our association has some connections, but I don¡¯t know any details.¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­¡±

    Satisfied for the moment, Park Gyu-min leaned back, stroking his chin in thought. After a pause, he leaned in and whispered conspiratorially.

    ¡°Hunter An.¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°Could you arrange for me to meet these ¡®information¡¯ people?¡±

    ¡°That might be difficult. They value their anonymity.¡±

    ¡°What if I approach them as a client?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­¡±

    ¡°Come on, don¡¯t be like this.¡±

    ¡°¡­I¡¯ll ask.¡±

    ¡°Good. Let me know by today.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    ¡°Oh, and one more thing¡ªI called you here to praise you. You¡¯ve been doing excellent work. I¡¯m keeping an eye on you.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°Alright, you can go now.¡±

    <em>Praise, my ass.</em> Su-ho left the Vice President¡¯s office with a faint smile.

    The conversation had gone even better than he¡¯d hoped.

    Heading toward the Non-Awakened Division, Su-ho noticed that the investigation into the draft-dodging scandal was still underway. Familiar faces from the day before were still lingering, including Hong Won-seok, who looked utterly drained.

    It was no surprise. The archery finals had already started, but he was stuck at the association, powerless to do anything.

    His brother, Hong Dong-seok, still hadn¡¯t apologized.

    <em>They brought this on themselves,</em> Su-ho thought.

    His actions weren¡¯t motivated by personal vendetta but by adherence to thew. Justice was being served, in and simple.

    As Su-ho waited in a nearby meeting room, Um Jun-sung, who had just arrived, greeted him.

    ¡°Ah, Su-ho, you¡¯re early!¡±

    ¡°Yes. By the way, is my evaluation finished?¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­ haha¡­ about that¡­¡±

    Um Jun-sung hesitated, nervously scratching his head.

    ¡°Well, the Awakening Department is a bit backlogged right now. It might take a few days. Could you wait just a bit longer?¡±

    <em>What the hell is this now?</em> Su-ho¡¯s brow furrowed.

 Chapter 84

    It was just as it appeared.

    The Non-Awakened Division¡ªand in fact, the entire Awakening Department¡ªwas in chaos because of the draft-dodgers Su-ho had apprehended.

    After assessing the situation, Su-ho began to speak but stopped, nodding instead.

    ¡°Understood. Where should I wait in the meantime?¡±

    ¡°Wait? Oh, right, waiting. That¡¯s¡­ uh¡­ an issue, isn¡¯t it? You don¡¯t have an assigned desk yet¡­ hmm¡­ what should we do?¡±

    <em>No n at all.</em>

    Even with all the work piling up, they didn¡¯t even have a desk for him.@@novelbin@@

    As Um Jun-sung pondered, Su-ho cut in.

    ¡°If it¡¯s an issue, I¡¯ll stay with the general manager. My training at the Awakening Department is already finished.¡±

    ¡°Oh, would you? That works. I¡¯ll let you know as soon as the evaluation ispleted.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    It could take a few days¡ªor maybe even longer. The Awakening Department was in a full-blown emergency.

    <em>This might actually work out well.</em>

    The longer he waited, the more free time he¡¯d have.

    Pulling out his phone, Su-ho called Jeong Cheol-min.

    ¡°Ah, Su-ho,¡± Jeong answered promptly.

    ¡°Hello, sir. Are you in the office today?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m in the Gate Division right now. Why?¡±

    ¡°Ipleted my training with the Awakening Department as of yesterday. But ording to Um, everyone handling evaluations is too busy, so they¡¯ve asked me to wait. I don¡¯t have a desk, though. Is there anywhere I could wait?¡±

    ¡°Wait, you finished your training already? That¡¯s fast! I heard there was some incident at the Awakening Department yesterday¡­ I¡¯lle down to see you. Meet me by the elevator.¡±

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    <em>Huh. Seems like news travels slowly around here.</em>

    Su-ho waited at the elevator, and soon Jeong arrived.

    ¡°Want to grab a coffee?¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s head to our usual spot.¡±

    ¡°Sounds good.¡±

    The two headed to the courtyard, where they got two cups of coffee from the vending machine. Handing a cup to Su-ho, Jeong spoke.

    ¡°But how did you finish training so quickly? Theory exams are one thing¡ªyou¡¯re smart, so I get that¡ªbut field training isn¡¯t exactly a breeze.¡±

    ¡°Well, somehow I managed to get through everything.¡±

    ¡°Geez¡­ you might be the only person who can talk about field training so casually. But I heard something on the way down¡ªapparently, the chaos in the Awakening Department is all because of you. Is that true?¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say it¡¯s because of me, but the Non-Awakened Division is busy dealing with draft-dodgers. I caught over twenty of them yesterday.¡±

    ¡°Draft-dodgers?!¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Su-ho briefly exined how these individuals had exploited the Awakeningws to dodge military service. As he spoke, Jeong nearly dropped his cup of barley tea.

    ¡°What the¡­ no wonder everyone¡¯s been so tight-lipped.¡±

    ¡°Tight-lipped?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, no one from the Awakening Department would say a word about what¡¯s going on. Everyone¡¯s just watching the situation unfold in silence.¡±

    <em>Ah, that makes sense.</em>

    It wasn¡¯t exactly good news, and departments don¡¯t usually advertise their failures. The less noise about it, the better for their reputation.

    Changing the subject, Su-ho asked, ¡°By the way, sir, do you know much about office politics?¡±

    ¡°Office politics? Why do you ask?¡±

    At the mention of politics, Jeong¡¯s expression stiffened slightly, but Su-ho remained nonchnt.

    ¡°Well, I figured it¡¯s about time I learned. Wherever you go, there are factions and alliances, right? I¡¯m not looking to join any, but I¡¯d like to know enough to avoid stepping on the wrong toes.¡±

    ¡°Ah, that makes sense.¡±

    Jeong visibly rxed, his expression softening.

    <em>What an open book,</em> Su-ho thought. <em>This is why I asked him.</em>

    Despite appearances, Jeong was sharp and cautious, someone who survived by walking a tightrope in office politics.

    Jeong finally replied, ¡°On the surface, there are two main factions: the Vice President¡¯s faction and the Special Division Head¡¯s faction.¡±

    <em>What?</em>

    Su-ho was taken aback. He hadn¡¯t known that Park Gyu-min and Pi Seong-yeol were faction leaders.

    By the time Su-ho had started paying attention to politics in his previous life, the two were on the same side.

    <em>So it wasn¡¯t an alliance¡ªthey were absorbed into one faction.</em>

    In the past, it seemed like Pi Seong-yeol had more power, which likely meant he had absorbed Park Gyu-min¡¯s faction.

    <em>He must¡¯ve slowly gathered information and tightened his grip, like with the recent scandals.</em>

    It all started to make sense now. Even in his previous life, Pi Seong-yeol had been secretive, rarely sharing information with anyone outside his closest circle.

    Jeong continued, ¡°It¡¯s actually pretty simple. Each department¡¯s senior managers stick together. The Awakening and Administration Divisions are aligned with the Vice President, while the Gate and Resource Divisions are with Pi Seong-yeol.¡±

    ¡°And the Association President?¡±

    ¡°The President doesn¡¯t need a faction¡ªhe¡¯s at the top. He just has to focus on finishing his term smoothly. He¡¯s more concerned with external rtions.¡±

    ¡°That makes sense.¡±

    ¡°Anything else you want to know?¡±

    ¡°No, that¡¯s all. I just wanted to be cautious. I¡¯ll keep this in mind and be careful with my words and actions.¡±

    ¡°Good. By the way, what are you going to do about not having a desk? If you want, I can set up a spot in the Gate Division for you.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s kind of you, but if it¡¯s alright, could I study in the caf¨¦ or the underground library instead? If I¡¯m in the Gate Division, people might keep asking me about the Awakening Department.¡±

    ¡°True. Okay, I¡¯ll get you some materials. Head to the library, and I¡¯ll bring them over.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Jeong chuckled. ¡°You might want to start with Administration. It¡¯s all desk work¡ªno field training. You¡¯ll probably just have to sit through a lot of exams.¡±

    ¡°Got it.¡±

    True to his word, Jeong brought study materials from various departments. Su-ho reviewed them thoroughly in the underground library before storing them in his inventory.

    ¡°This should cover the theory exams¡­¡±

    Now, it was time to prepare for the task given by the Vice President.

    Su-ho left the association building and made a call.

    ¡°Team Leader.¡±

    ¡°Oh, Yeon-hwa. Are you in Paju?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I am. Why?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be there in 30 minutes. Gather the team.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    Hanging up, Su-ho drove to the Nexus Academy in Paju. Despite arriving early, the Banshees were already there, waiting for him.

    ¡°Boss!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re here.¡±

    ¡°Yeah. Take a seat.¡±

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you on duty?¡±

    ¡°This is legitimate leave. Anyway, it¡¯s time to get started.¡±

    ¡°Started with what?¡±

    ¡°The promise I made to you.¡±

    ¡°Oh.¡±

    The promise to the Banshees: revenge against the APA.

    Though a heavy subject, the mood was serious as Seo Gi-won leaned in, fully focused. He now knew the Banshees¡¯ backstory.

    Ku Yeon-hwa, her face grim, asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you still in training? You said revenge would start once you joined the Special Division.¡±

    ¡°That was the n, but during training, I learned something interesting. If things go well, we might stir things up before then.¡±

    Su-ho shared everything he¡¯d discovered during his training and the information he¡¯d gotten from Jeong. When he finished, Yeon-hwa asked cautiously, ¡°So you¡¯re nning to sow discord through the Vice President¡¯s request?¡±

    ¡°No. The opposite.¡±

    ¡°The opposite?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re going to take him down.¡±

    ¡°Take him¡­ down?¡±

    Su-ho outlined his n. The Banshees were stunned as they listened.

    ¡°Is this¡­ really okay?¡±

    ¡°Why not? Sowing discord isn¡¯t as easy as it sounds. Let¡¯s keep things simple.¡±

    ¡°But¡­¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll take full responsibility.¡±

    Seeing the determination in Su-ho¡¯s eyes, the Banshees exchanged nces before nodding.

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    ¡°Good. Let¡¯s move.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll meet them?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Come with me.¡±

    Su-ho deliberately timed his visit to the Vice President¡¯s office for the end of the workday. Convincing him that he¡¯d arranged a meeting with the information brokers, Su-ho personally drove him to a remote location outside Seoul.

    After a long drive, they arrived at an isted roadside area. As Su-ho parked the car, Park Gyu-min looked around, annoyed.

    ¡°What kind of people insist on meeting in a ce like this?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re very security-conscious. The meeting locations always change. Please understand.¡±

    ¡°Tsk¡­ so, where are they?¡±

    In the distance, figures began to approach. d in ck suits and wearing eerie masks, they were the Banshees.

    Seeing them, Park Gyu-min visibly tensed. The darkness and the eerie silence of the area didn¡¯t help.

    Still, he trusted one thing¡ªhe was with the Sword Saint, An Su-ho.

    That was when Su-ho turned to face him directly.

    ¡°Vice President.¡±

    ¡°Huh? What?¡±

    ¡°Apologies for deceiving you.¡±

    ¡°What? What are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s simple. You¡¯ve been kidnapped.¡±

    ¡°Wha¡ª¡±

    ¡°Go to sleep.¡±

    <strong>BAM!</strong>

    With one swift punch, Su-ho knocked Park Gyu-min unconscious. The Vice President copsed sideways onto the ground.

 Chapter 85

    ¡°Ugh¡­¡±

    How much time had passed?

    As his senses returned, Park Gyu-min groaned. Then, like someone waking from a nightmare, he gasped and opened his eyes wide.

    For a moment, panic overtook him, but he quickly regained hisposure, controlling his breathing.

    <em>¡°A kidnapping! That bastard An Su-ho said I was kidnapped¡­!¡±</em>

    He remembered it vividly. It wasn¡¯t a dream¡ªit was all real.

    Slowly, he raised his head to take in his surroundings.

    <em>¡°Where¡­ am I?¡±</em>

    He tried to survey the area, but his view was obstructed by wooden boards, making it hard to discern his location.

    <em>I¡¯ll have to get up, won¡¯t I?</em>

    Reluctantly, he decided to lift himself.

    At least the ce wasn¡¯tpletely dark¡ªthere was light, indicating he was indoors.

    He cautiously raised his body, peeking over the boards.

    ¡°...!¡±

    The moment he looked beyond, he froze. His breath caught in his throat.

    His head dropped back down, and he curled into a ball on the floor.

    <em>Thud, thud, thud¡ª</em>

    His heart raced uncontrobly.

    <em>What was that? What did I just see?</em>

    His mind reeled, trying to process what his eyes had glimpsed.

    The scene beyond the boards looked like something out of a horror movie, smeared with blood and gore. The most terrifying sight was a figure crouched at the center of it all.

    <em>¡°That¡­ that was a person¡­! It had to be a person!¡±</em>

    Clenching his teeth, Park Gyu-min stifled the scream threatening to escape. But fear crept through his body, making him tremble uncontrobly.

    <em>¡°Where the hell am I? What did I do to deserve this? Why are they doing this to me?¡±</em>

    In moments of crisis, the human mind works at lightning speed. Yet no matter how he spun his thoughts, he couldn¡¯t think of a way out.

    He could do nothing but lie there, paralyzed with terror. After all, he wasn¡¯t an awakened yer or a Hunter¡ªjust a powerless civilian.

    And then¡­

    ¡°Grrrrrr¡­¡±

    A guttural growl reached him from beyond the boards, like the wail of some monstrous beast.

    <em>Sh-sh-sh¡­</em>

    The sound of something scraping across the floor.

    It was moving.

    And the noise was growing louder.

    <em>Why is it getting louder?</em>

    A chilling realization struck him¡ªit wasing closer.

    His heart pounded wildly in his chest.

    <em>What do I do? What can I do? What choice do I have?</em>

    The sound was now mere inches away.

    Finally, when he couldn¡¯t bear it any longer, Park Gyu-min¡¯s fear erupted.

    ¡°AAAAAHHH!!¡±

    Unable to hold back, he scrambled up, bursting out of the boards. The wooden nks shattered as he fled like a madman.

    But he didn¡¯t get far.

    In the stark white room, he ran straight into a wall, mming into it with a sickening <em>thud</em>.

    Pain barely registered in his mind¡ªhis terror drowned out everything else.

    ¡°AAAHHH! HELP ME! PLEASE! SOMEBODY, ANYBODY! PLEASE SAVE ME!¡±

    He was on the brink of losing his sanity.

    And then¡­

    <em>Clink, clink¡­</em>

    The sound of chains rattling brought the movement to a halt.

    Park Gyu-min blinked through his tears, trying to understand. He could see now that the figure was chained around the neck.

    ¡°Grrr¡­¡±

    The creature tugged at its chains butcked the strength to break free. After several futile attempts, it copsed in ce.

    Finally, Park Gyu-min¡¯s screams subsided. Still trembling, tears and snot streaming down his face, he began to examine the figure.

    <em>It¡¯s¡­ a person?</em>

    In disbelief, he whispered, ¡°A¡­ a person¡­?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right, it¡¯s a person.¡±

    The voice startled him,ing from just beside him.

    He turned his head, and there stood Su-ho.

    ¡°You¡­ you!¡±

    ¡°¡®You?¡¯¡± Su-ho repeated with a raised brow.

    With that single word, Su-ho summoned a weapon into his hand¡ªa blood-red club crafted through his <em>Blood Weapon</em> skill.

    Without hesitation, he swung it down, shattering Park Gyu-min¡¯s wrist.

    <em>CRACK!</em>

    ¡°AAAAAGHH!!¡±@@novelbin@@

    The gruesome sound of bones breaking was followed by a howl of agony. Park Gyu-min copsed, clutching his wrist and writhing in pain.

    Coldly, Su-ho stared down at him.

    ¡°Vice President, get a grip. You knew you were kidnapped, and yet you¡¯re still acting recklessly? Are you stupid, or are you doing this on purpose?¡±

    ¡°Ughhh¡­¡±

    Park Gyu-min could only sob, clutching his mangled wrist.

    But Su-ho didn¡¯t feel the slightest bit of pity.

    Reaching out his hand, Su-ho cast a skill.

    [<strong>Heal Activated.</strong>]

    As the healing magic took effect, Park Gyu-min¡¯s wrist slowly began to mend.

    ¡°Stop whining. It¡¯s annoying.¡±

    ¡°W-why are you doing this to me? What did I do to deserve this?¡±

    ¡°You really don¡¯t get it, do you?¡±

    Still speaking in casual tones, Su-ho raised his blood-red club once again. Before he could bring it down, Park Gyu-min dropped to his knees, grabbing at Su-ho¡¯s pants.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry! I mean¡ªI¡¯m really sorry! Please don¡¯t hit me again!¡±

    ¡°You should¡¯ve said that earlier.¡±

    Su-ho dragged a nearby chair over and sat down, speaking with a calm smile.

    ¡°Now that you¡¯vee to your senses, let¡¯s have a serious talk. I¡¯d rather not have to hit you again.¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes! I understand!¡±

    ¡°But just to make sure you¡¯re paying attention¡­ You see that thing over there?¡±

    Su-ho gestured toward the chained figure.

    ¡°That¡¯s Im Chang-shik. He used to run a gang in Yeongdeungpo, dealing drugs and loans. You¡¯ve read about him, right?¡±

    ¡°Im Chang-shik? Oh, yes, I¡¯ve heard of him!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve been keeping him around as a personal project. Would you like to take a closer look?¡±

    Su-ho grabbed Im Chang-shik by the scruff of the neck and disyed his face¡ªa grotesque mess of scabs and dried blood. The sight made Park Gyu-min shiver uncontrobly.

    After tossing the man back to the ground, Su-ho returned to his seat.

    ¡°Let¡¯s be clear. Whether you live as Park Gyu-min or end up like Im Chang-shik depends entirely on what you do from now on.¡±

    ¡°I-I understand¡­¡±

    ¡°Good. Now that we¡¯re on the same page¡­¡±

    Su-ho tossed a notebook and pen at him.

    ¡°Start writing. From the draft-dodging scandal to the bribes you¡¯ve taken from Son Baek-geum. List every crime you¡¯vemitted at the APA, whether you led it or just went along. Leave anything out, and you¡¯ll be joining Chang-shik.¡±

    ¡°A-all of it?¡±

    Su-ho sighed and summoned his club again, smashing it into Park Gyu-min¡¯s shoulder.

    <em>CRACK!</em>

    ¡°AAAGHH!!¡±

    This time, his shoulder and corbone snapped under the force.

    Su-ho let him writhe in pain for a moment before using <em>Heal</em> again.

    ¡°Don¡¯t make me repeat myself. Next time, I¡¯ll break all your limbs.¡±

    ¡°Y-yes! I understand! I¡¯ll write everything down!¡±

    Trembling, Park Gyu-min picked up the pen and began scribbling furiously.

    Seatedfortably, Su-ho watched him.

    <em>¡°Nothing gets results like this.¡±</em>

    Su-ho had learned from experience¡ªmany people don¡¯t respond to kind words. Force is faster and more effective.

    He had no intention of resorting to violence unnecessarily. His goal was to take control of the APA far faster than in his previous life, using its resources to crush his future enemies.

    <em>Time is precious.</em>

    When Park Gyu-min finally handed over the notebook, shaking, Su-ho skimmed through it.

    ¡°Well, well¡­ I knew you were scum, but this is impressive. No wonder Pi Seong-yeol has you under his thumb.¡±

    ¡°What¡­ what do you mean?¡±

    ¡°You seriously don¡¯t know?¡±

    As realization dawned, Su-ho began toy out his n, breaking down the web of betrayal around Park Gyu-min.

    By the end, the Vice President was pale and groveling.

    ¡°Please, help me survive. I¡¯ll do whatever you say!¡±

    Kneeling at Su-ho¡¯s feet, Park Gyu-min pledged his loyalty.

    With that, Su-ho had gained another pawn.

 Chapter 86

    Su-ho handed a small orb to the trembling Park Gyu-min.

    ¡°Swallow it.¡±

    ¡°W-What is this?¡±

    ¡°A bomb.¡±

    ¡°W-What?!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s an item bomb that only responds to mymands. Once you swallow it, it will be absorbed into your body and remain undetectable by any search skill. It¡¯s expensive, so hurry up and eat it.¡±

    ¡°B-But why would I¡­¡±

    ¡°Otherwise? How do you expect me to trust you?¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    Park Gyu-min was at a loss for words.

    Truthfully, he had been plotting ways to stab Su-ho in the back the moment he escaped from here. But to think Su-ho would resort to such a barbaric method.

    With shaking hands, Park Gyu-min reluctantly took the orb. After ncing nervously at Su-ho, he swallowed it. The thought of an explosionter seemed less immediate than the threat of a beating now.

    ¡°Ugh!¡±

    The bomb tasted bitter.

    The moment it touched his tongue, it melted and disappeared. As Su-ho had said, it was absorbed into his body, leaving him with a strange sensation, as if something about his physical state had changed.

    Su-ho watched the trembling man clutching his stomach and thought to himself.

    <em>¡®What a load of crap.¡¯</em>

    An item bomb undetectable by search skills?

    There was no such thing.

    It was just a bitter-tasting pill.

    But such measures were necessary to ensure Park Gyu-min didn¡¯t try to betray him.

    Su-ho spoke again, his tone sharp.

    ¡°Listen carefully. From now on, you¡¯re going to clean up the messes you¡¯ve made, one by one.¡±

    ¡°Messes¡­?¡±

    ¡°Yes, messes. You want to survive, don¡¯t you? Then you need to make sure Pi Seong-yeol can¡¯te after you. And the first step is cleaning up the wrongs you¡¯ve done so far.¡±

    ¡°Clean up¡­¡±

    Park Gyu-min muttered under his breath, his voice trembling.

    Su-ho¡¯s expression remained cold as he continued.

    ¡°You¡¯ll need to take care of this quietly. Pinning it on someone else shady is fine, but if you harm an innocent person just to save your own skin¡­ you know what¡¯ll happen, right?¡±

    ¡°Of course! I would never do that.¡±

    ¡°Good. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t just sit back and watch, either. So don¡¯t waste time fretting. Just answer my questions honestly and do as you¡¯re told.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I understand.¡±

    ¡°Then, as soon as we return to the Association, let¡¯s start with resolving this military draft-dodging scandal.¡±

    ¡°How should I handle it?¡±

    At Park Gyu-min¡¯s question, Su-ho nced at the corruption report he had submitted.

    ¡°Looks like the ones involved in this scheme are you, the Awakening Division Chief, and the Non-Awakening Affairs Deputy Chief.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I secured the deals, and the Chief and Deputy Chief handled the on-site execution.¡±

    ¡°How was the money divided?¡±

    ¡°...I took 70%, and the rest was split between them, 2:1.¡±

    Su-ho shot Park Gyu-min a disgusted look.

    <em>So this bastard pocketed most of it after subcontracting the dirty work to others? Shameless.</em>

    With a furrowed brow, Su-ho asked, ¡°You still have the list of people you arranged deals with and the money you took, right?¡±

    ¡°I have it, but I¡¯m not sure about the others below me.¡±

    ¡°Then get it back from them or fill in the gaps yourself. First, return all the money and shut those people up. Only then can we quietly deal with the Chief and the Deputy Chief.¡±

    ¡°R-Return all of it?¡±

    ¡°Of course. If you don¡¯t, they¡¯ll raise hell, and who¡¯s going to deal with the fallout?¡±

    ¡°Ugh¡­ Fine. What should I do about the ones below me?¡±

    ¡°me everything on them before the media gets wind of it and have them dismissed. Remember, dismissed¡ªnot terminated. If they¡¯re terminated, it¡¯ll affect their pensions, and they won¡¯t sit still. You need to leave them a way out so they won¡¯t retaliate.¡±

    ¡°...Understood.¡±

    ¡°Handle this first, and then we¡¯ll proceed. Oh, and once we¡¯re back, push through my Awakening Division evaluation immediately. The field assessment and theory test are done, so why am I still waiting? Do I look like I have time to waste?¡±

    ¡°...I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    ¡°Close your eyes.¡±

    ¡°Pardon?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t make me repeat myself.¡±

    ¡°Ah! S-Sorry!¡±

    The moment Park Gyu-min closed his eyes, Su-ho struck him on the head, knocking him out cold.

    This was the subspace house.

    No one could know how people entered or exited this ce.

    ***

    "What exactly are they doing in there?"

    "Beats me."

    In the outskirts of Seoul, by a rural highway, stood a lone container.

    Inside the container, Su-ho had entered with Park Gyu-min, leaving the Banshees to stand guard outside. He gave strict orders not to let anyone approach, which only fueled their curiosity.

    After all, no sound wasing from inside.

    Time dragged on.

    Eventually, the container door swung open.

    ¡°They¡¯re out,¡± one of the Banshees muttered.

    Su-ho emerged, carrying the unconscious Park Gyu-min over his shoulder. It didn¡¯t take a second nce to see that Park Gyu-min¡¯s condition was far from good.

    Goo Yeon-hwa, eyeing the limp figure, asked bluntly, ¡°Did you beat him?¡±

    ¡°Only beat him?¡± Su-ho scoffed. ¡°If I was doing it properly, you wouldn¡¯t have heard a thing.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Enough talk. Put him in the car.¡±

    After handing over Park Gyu-min, Su-ho began briefing the Banshees on what had transpired in the container, showing them the corruption notebook and exining the steps they¡¯d take moving forward.

    Looking over the notes, Goo Yeon-hwa frowned. ¡°You¡¯re really nning to erase all this? It¡¯s a lot to cover.¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t need to erase everything. All we need to know is how much Pi Seong-yeol is aware of regarding Gyu-min¡¯s corruption.¡±

    ¡°And how do we figure that out?¡±

    ¡°Gi-won will dig into it. Besides, even if Pi knows about everything here, it¡¯s fine. We¡¯ll just use Park Gyu-min and toss him aside when he¡¯s no longer useful. Speaking of which, if anyone here has a personal grudge against him, now¡¯s the time to let me know. We can adjust his ¡®disposal¡¯ n ordingly.¡±

    At Su-ho¡¯s words, the Banshees exchanged nces, excluding Seo Gi-won. However, none of them spoke up.

    ¡°No issues here. We don¡¯t have any unfinished business with him.¡±

    ¡°Good.¡±@@novelbin@@

    The reason Su-ho had asked wasn¡¯t surprising.

    Despite the Banshees¡¯ loyalty, they had yet to fully reveal why they formed the group in the first ce or the vengeance they sought. Su-ho never pressed them for answers.

    Not because he wasn¡¯t curious.

    But because he already knew.

    <em>¡°Being a regressor has its perks.¡±</em>

    They say curiosity is the hardest thing to resist. But Su-ho, already knowing their stories, chose to quietly wait, earning their trust in the process.

    It was then that Seo Gi-won spoke up.

    ¡°By the way, hyung.¡±

    ¡°Yeah?¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t think Park Gyu-min might snap and try to blow himself up, do you?¡±

    He was, of course, referring to the fake bomb Su-ho had fed the man earlier.

    Su-ho shrugged casually. ¡°Who knows?¡±

    ¡°That doesn¡¯t worry you?¡±

    ¡°Why would it?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°Guys like Park Gyu-min, who have a lot to lose, are also the most afraid of dying. And even if he does decide to go kamikaze, if he finds out the bomb¡¯s fake, we¡¯ll just deal with him another way. Simple.¡±

    ¡°Ah, I see.¡±

    ¡°Anyway, Gi-won, what about the numbers I gave youst time?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ I¡¯ve been digging, but there¡¯s still nothing substantialing up on either Pi Seong-yeol or Park Gyu-min.¡±

    ¡°What about the others? Division Chief Lee Wan-ik or Deputy Manager Lee Moon-ho?¡±

    ¡°Same deal with them. Nothing noteworthy.¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­ What about deleted texts or messages? Can those be recovered?¡±

    ¡°No, for that, we¡¯d need ess to the servers of the messaging apppanies. My skills only go as far as peeking into active data.¡±

    ¡°Alright. Then what about any numbers in Lee Wan-ik¡¯s contact records that aren¡¯t saved but show regrmunication?¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ There were a few, but they looked like spam, so I didn¡¯t pay much attention. Should I check again?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, focus on those. See if any of those numbers appear in Lee Moon-ho¡¯s contact records as well.¡±

    ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll check.¡±

    ¡°How long will it take?¡±

    ¡°If I work with Hyun-min, we should have it done quickly. It¡¯s not like there are many numbers to go through.¡±

    ¡°Alright, let me know as soon as you find something.¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±

    With that, everything was in ce.

    The only thing left was to begin trimming Park Gyu-min¡¯s branches, starting the very next day.

    After the meeting, Su-ho and Seo Gi-won returned home, the next phase of their operation ready to unfold.

    ***

    A Few Hours Later

    Su-ho was reclining in the massage chair on the first floor, enjoying a rare moment of rest, when Seo Gi-won came stomping up to him like a storm.

    ¡°Hyung!¡±

    ¡°At this rate, you¡¯ll bring the house down. What¡¯s the rush?¡±

    ¡°I found it! Pi Seong-yeol¡¯s alternate number!¡±

    Hearing that, Su-ho sat up straight.

    ¡°Seriously?¡±

    ¡°Yes! Just like you said, I focused on the unfamiliar numbers in Lee Wan-ik¡¯s contact records that showed regrmunication. There was only one. So, I traced it, and lo and behold, it also had records of contact with Lee Moon-ho, the Awakening Division Deputy Chief.¡±

    ¡°What about texts or messages?¡±

    ¡°There weren¡¯t any. Just call logs. It looks like all the texts have been wiped. No photos or other contacts, either. Judging by how clean it is, I¡¯d bet it¡¯s a burner phone he uses exclusively tomunicate with the Awakening Division people.¡±

    ¡°Thorough.¡±

    ¡°Very.¡±

    ¡°Well done. It would¡¯ve been nice if there were recorded calls, though.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, no luck there. He deliberately uses a phone that doesn¡¯t allow call recording.¡±

    ¡°Thorough.¡±

    ¡°Very.¡±

    ¡°Still, finding the number is the important part. We¡¯ll probably need to pay him a visit soon, so when I give the order, track his location right away.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    ¡°Good work. By the way, have you eaten yet? If not, take a shower and get some food.¡±

    ¡°I was actually nning to eat with Hyun-min when he gets here. Hyung, you want to join us?¡±

    ¡°Hyun-min? Oh, right. He¡¯sing back today?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, he said he¡¯s on his way home now.¡±

    ¡°Ah, good. Let¡¯s wait for him and eat together. You¡¯re ordering delivery, right? Handle it.¡±

    ¡°Got it!¡±

    The residents of the Cheongdam house included Su-ho, Seo Gi-won, and Nam Hae-won¡ªthree in total. The house was spacious enough to amodate them, and both Gi-won and Hae-won were close allies Su-ho wanted to keep nearby.

    Nam Hae-won, however, had recentlypleted a long and grueling process of oveing a drug addiction and had gone on a solo trip¡ªa dream of his for years. Today marked the day of his return.

    As Su-ho settled back into the massage chair, he thought to himself:

    <em>¡°Just in time. I was starting to need Hae-won¡¯s help.¡±</em>

    Nam Hae-won possessed a synthesis trait far superior to the makeshiftbination recipes Su-ho had temporarily learned.

    The reason for its superiority?

    Simple. Unlike the fragile recipes that risked total failure if even one step was off, Hae-won¡¯s synthesis ensured the main material always survived.

    Given enough time and resources, sess was guaranteed with his trait.

    Anticipating Hae-won¡¯s arrival, Su-ho began cing orders with the support staff stationed outside.

    The staff, however, raised an eyebrow as they reviewed the order list.

    ¡°Uh¡­ Are you sure you want to order all of this?¡±

    ¡°Yes, absolutely. If it¡¯s not enough, we¡¯ll order more, so bring everything you can.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    Still puzzled, the staff decided it wasn¡¯t their ce to question further and left to fulfill the request.

    Not long after, just as the delivery food Seo Gi-won had ordered arrived, Nam Hae-won showed up in casual attire.

    ¡°Hey, everyone!¡± Hae-won greeted, his voice bright.

    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re back?¡±

    ¡°Hae-won hyung!¡±

    With a spring in his step, Nam Hae-won looked noticeably healthier than before, his solo trip clearly having done wonders for him.

    But something felt off.

    Su-ho gave him a once-over before asking, ¡°Hae-won, where¡¯s your bag?¡±

    ¡°Bag? What bag?¡±

    ¡°You know, your luggage? Didn¡¯t you take one for the trip?¡±

    ¡°Nope, didn¡¯t take one.¡±

    ¡°Huh? Why not?¡±

    ¡°Because I had this.¡±

    Hae-won pulled out a check card with a grin.

 Chapter 87

    Nam Hae-won waved his card with a satisfied grin.

    ¡°What¡¯s the point of having money if you don¡¯t use it? With this, I don¡¯t need to lug around a heavy bag and hurt my arms.¡±

    ¡°Well, aren¡¯t you something¡­¡± Su-ho muttered, shaking his head.

    ¡°Wow, Hae-won hyung¡¯s way of thinking is next level. I should learn from him,¡± Seo Gi-won added enthusiastically.

    ¡°Learn what? Does that look like healthy spending habits to you?¡±

    ¡°Still, he earned that money fair and square, and it¡¯s not like he spent it on anything bad. I¡¯d say it¡¯s reasonable.¡±

    ¡°...Fair point.¡±

    Now that he thought about it, that made sense.

    Buoyed by Seo Gi-won¡¯s support, Nam Hae-won wore a smug expression as he plopped down at the dining table.

    ¡°It¡¯s my money, so it¡¯s my choice how I spend it, right? Besides, I¡¯ve always wanted to travel like this at least once. You have no idea how hard it was living in that dingy little ce in Yeongdeungpo all those years.¡±

    ¡°Fair enough. Do whatever you want. But first, eat.¡±

    ¡°Wow, let¡¯s dig in!¡±

    Nam Hae-won started eating with obvious joy, his face lighting up at each bite.

    Watching him, Su-ho couldn¡¯t help but notice how much he¡¯d changed in the time they hadn¡¯t seen each other.

    ¡°You know,¡± Su-ho said, ¡°your face looks a lot better now. I¡¯m not joking¡ªit¡¯s like your skin has cleared up.¡±

    ¡°Probably because I¡¯m not stressed anymore. They say the biggest enemies of healthy skin are stress and UV rays.¡±

    ¡°Hmm, that makes sense. So, does this mean your break is over?¡±

    ¡°Yep,pletely over. I¡¯ve been everywhere I wanted to go across the country, so I think I¡¯ve gotten it all out of my system.¡±

    ¡°Where left the biggest impression?¡±

    ¡°Busan.¡±

    ¡°Donkin Donuts?¡±

    ¡°Are you seriously making jokes that old? That store closed down after a Gate incident.¡±

    ¡°Is that so? Then¡­ gukbap?¡±

    ¡°Gukbap¡¯s great, but surprisingly, Busan is all about street food.¡±

    ¡°Street food? There¡¯s no shortage of that in Seoul.¡±

    ¡°Busan¡¯s different. There are these amazing tteokbokki and gimbap ces. Maybe it¡¯s the local pride mixed in, but it tasted incredible.¡±

    ¡°Listen to this guy talking about ¡®pride¡¯ when he just finished rehab. What kind of pride are we talking about?¡±

    ¡°Ugh,e on! It¡¯s not that kind of pride. I mean <em>vibes</em>, okay? Vibes!¡±

    ¡°Alright, sorry. So, what now? Got any ns?¡±

    ¡°Not really. I figured I¡¯d think about it after I got back. Besides, I don¡¯t need to make any more of the Hammer Series, right?¡±

    The <em>Hammer Series</em>, the anti-narcotics Su-ho and Hae-won had developed tobat the Changshik gang¡¯s drug victims, was no longer necessary now that all the victims had been treated.

    At that, Seo Gi-won, who had been quietly listening, smirked and asked slyly, ¡°Then can we send Hae-won hyung to <em>that ce</em> now?¡±

    <em>That ce</em> clearly referred to the Digitization Dungeon.

    Now that Hae-won¡¯s rehab wasplete and the Changshik gang¡¯s victims had been helped, it was indeed time for him to start leveling up, just as Seo Gi-won had hinted.

    But Su-ho shook his head.

    ¡°No, Hae-won still has one more thing to do with me.¡±

    ¡°Something to do?¡±

    Both men looked at Su-ho curiously.

    Su-ho bit into a slice of pizza before answering, ¡°Making clothes.¡±

    ¡°Clothes?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, but not the kind you¡¯re thinking of. These are clothes only you can make.¡±

    ¡°Clothes like that exist?¡±

    ¡°They do. But let¡¯s eat first.¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±

    Hae-won stacked two slices of pizza together, dipped them generously into garlic sauce, and took a big bite, his appetite matching his newfound enthusiasm for life.

    ***

    After the meal, Su-ho began hauling the delivery boxes that had started arriving upstairs to Nam Hae-won¡¯sb on the second floor.

    Watching the boxes pile up in his workspace, Hae-won asked in disbelief,

    ¡°Team Leader¡­ What is all this?¡±

    ¡°I told you, we¡¯re making clothes.¡±

    ¡°This much stuff?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re only making one outfit. All this is just the materials for that one piece.¡±

    ¡°What kind of clothes are you even trying to make? Are you sure this is even clothing?¡±

    ¡°What else would it be? You think I¡¯m making fake clothes?¡±

    At Su-ho¡¯s response, Hae-won opened one of the boxes and frowned as he looked inside.

    ¡°What¡¯s all this? You said it was for clothes, but it¡¯s just a bunch of¡­ stones?¡±

    ¡°Not just stones. Those are <em>Slime Stones</em>.¡±

    ¡°Slime Stones?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve never heard of them?¡±

    ¡°I know what they are, but¡­¡±

    Slime Stones were fragments of a slime monster¡¯s body. When pieces of a slime detached from the main body, they hardened into rock-like substances through exposure to mana.

    On their own, Slime Stones had no particr function¡ªthey were just solidified bits of slime.

    But for the outfit Su-ho was nning to create, they were crucial.

    Hae-won picked up one of the stones and held it under a light.

    ¡°These really are Slime Stones¡­ But as far as I know, these are junk-tier materials nobody even bothers picking up. Are you sure you need them for this?¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have bought them if I didn¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°How are they supposed to help?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯ll serve as the fabric for the outfit. Your job is to synthesize them all into a single piece.¡±

    ¡°All of these?!¡±

    Hae-won¡¯s eyes widened in shock at Su-ho¡¯s words.

    It wasn¡¯t surprising¡ªhalf theb was already filled with boxes, and more were still being brought in by the delivery staff.

    But Su-ho remained calm.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. The overall size won¡¯t increase. Instead, the item¡¯s properties will change. Just focus on synthesizing them into one solid material. Using your synthesis trait is the only way to ensure the result doesn¡¯t explode or fail halfway through.¡±

    ¡°Hah¡­ This is way too much, though. Look, they¡¯re still bringing more boxes in!¡±

    ¡°If it¡¯s not enough, we¡¯ll get moreter. Look on the bright side. You need to level up anyway, right? Synthesis gives you experience points, doesn¡¯t it? This is probably the easiest leveling opportunity you¡¯ll ever have.¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ That¡¯s true, but¡­ What will you be doing while I¡¯m stuck with all this?¡±

    ¡°Me? I¡¯ll be gathering the other materials. Slime Stones are the only ones I can buy with money. The rest¡­ I¡¯ll have to get on my own.¡±

    ¡°Ugh¡­ Fine. But what exactly is this final item supposed to be?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll find out as you synthesize. Once you hit the point where no further synthesis is possible, it¡¯s finished.¡±

    ¡°That makes no sense¡­ Are you serious?¡±

    ¡°Of course, I am. Now, I¡¯m counting on you. Get to it.¡±

    After giving Hae-won his task, Su-ho headed down to the underground garage.

    With a low hum, Su-ho¡¯s car smoothly exited the parking lot, disappearing into the night as he set off to gather the remaining materials.

    ***

    After driving for some time, Su-ho arrived at a quiet vige on the outskirts of Gyeonggi Province.

    Parking his car in a discreet spot, he made his way toward his destination.

    <em>There it is.</em>

    The ce Su-ho had reached was an old rural home surrounded by a low stone wall. As was typical of such areas, the houses were spaced far apart, creating a sense of istion. The spacious yard seemed to double as a storage area, with various items scattered around.

    <strong>[ Grayscale Solitude activated. ]</strong>

    Su-ho activated <em>Grayscale Solitude</em>, erasing his presence entirely.

    Stepping into the yard, he moved quietly, scanning his surroundings.

    The yard was silent. There was no guard dog, and the owner appeared to have gone to bed early; the lights in the master bedroom were off.

    After confirming that no one was around, Su-ho began to inspect the items scattered throughout the yard.

    <em>This is the ce.</em>

    The property resembled a medieval market, with items ranging from armor that looked straight out of European history to statues, ceramics, and other objects of unknown origin. To an untrained eye, it might appear to be a collection of junk rather than antiques.

    But Su-ho knew better.

    This was one of the locations connected to incidents involving so-called "Cursed Items," which had caused harm to civilians.

    Activating a skill, Su-ho began his search.

    <strong>[ Mana Detection activated. ]</strong>

    With <em>Mana Detection</em>, Su-ho¡¯s senses red to life, identifying traces of mana in the surrounding area.

    He scanned the items carefully, his eyes eventually settling on a suspicious object emitting a faint red aura.

    It was a waist-high statue in a seated pose, resembling a traditional Korean <em>Bangasayusang</em> (Maitreya in contemtion). While its form mimicked that of a Gilt-Bronze Maitreya Bodhisattva statue, Su-ho recognized it for what it truly was¡ªa vessel of ominous energy.

    Su-ho picked up the statue without hesitation and moved it to a more isted location.

    ¡°...¡±

    The statue remained eerily silent, as if trying to hide its presence.

    Once he was sure no one would disturb him, Su-ho set the statue on the ground and summoned his <em>Blood Sword</em>.

    <strong>[ Blood Weapon activated. ]</strong>

    The de materialized in his hand, its crimson edge glinting in the moonlight.

    Without hesitation, Su-ho swung his sword.

    <em>Schwing!</em>

    The statue split cleanly in half, its upper portion sliding apart.

    As soon as the cut was made, a red mist began to pour out of the statue.

    <em>A screeching metallic sound erupted¡ªa noise straight out of a horror movie.</em>

    The mist thickened, coalescing into the broken halves of the statue. A grotesque, blood-like substance began to bind the pieces together, merging them back into a single form.

    <em>Crack! tter!</em>

    The statue reassembled itself, now infused with a sinister, glowing red light in its eyes. It moved, as though suddenly imbued with a will of its own.

    <em>¡°Looks like I found it.¡±</em>

    The entity animating the statue was a <em>Parasite Spirit</em>. More specifically, it was a malevolent soul bound to an artifact known as the <em>Soulstone</em>.

    <em>¡°People started dying mysteriously not too long ago. The culprit turned out to be cursed items like this one.¡±</em>

    The <em>Soulstone</em> was an artifact designed to trap spirits¡ªspecifically, evil ones. Over time, however, the spirit trapped within began to treat the artifact as its home. While it remained dormant most of the time, any attack on the <em>Soulstone</em> would trigger a violent response, earning it thebel of a cursed item.

    <em>¡°It¡¯s like a hermit crab in a shell.¡±</em>

    Cases of harm caused by Parasite Spirits had gone unnoticed for years. This was because the spirits used the energy of their victims to repair their Soulstones, then concealed their presence once more.

    Now, the Parasite Spirit inhabiting the statue began to transform it into a soldier-like figure, adopting abat stance as it prepared to attack Su-ho.

    <strong>[ Iron sh activated. ]</strong>

    Before the statue could move, Su-ho struck again with his sword.

    <em>Schwing!</em>

    The blow split the statue vertically this time, reducing it to quivering halves on the ground.

    The statue¡¯s remnants trembled violently, releasing another burst of red mist. This time, however, the mist surged toward Su-ho.

    The <em>Soulstone</em> had been destroyed, forcing the spirit to seek a new host.

    <strong>[ The Parasite Spirit invades your mind. ]</strong>

    <strong>[ The Parasite Spirit begins to possess your body and shatter your psyche. ]</strong>

    The mist seeped into Su-ho¡¯s body, attempting to take control.

    It might have seeded¡ªif not for Su-ho¡¯s unique trait.

    <strong>[ Dragon¡¯s Blood activated. ]</strong>

    <strong>[ Dragon Armor¡¯s Draconic Endurance nullifies all mental corruption. ]</strong>

    The Parasite Spirit¡¯s invasion faltered as the <em>Dragon Armor¡¯s</em> inherent ability blocked its effects.

    <em>¡°...!¡±</em>

    The spirit, realizing it had encountered an unimaginable force, began to panic.

    But Su-ho¡¯s <em>Dragon Armor</em> wasn¡¯t finished.

    <strong>[ Dragon Armor¡¯s Draconic Endurance begins purifying the Parasite Spirit. ]</strong>

    <strong>[ Dragon Armor¡¯s Draconic Endurance begins absorbing the Parasite Spirit. ]</strong>@@novelbin@@

    The armor¡¯s purification effect cleansed the spirit, breaking its hold on the material world.

    <strong>[ The Parasite Spirit has been fully purified. ]</strong>

    <strong>[ No knowledge could be gained from the absorbed Parasite Spirit. ]</strong>

    <strong>[ The <em>Soulstone</em> has been liberated. Item information updated. ]</strong>

    Holding the liberated <em>Soulstone</em> in his hand, Su-ho smiled.

 Chapter 88

    Su-ho immediately checked the details of the item.

    <strong>[ Liberated Soulstone ]</strong>

    <ul>

    <li><strong>Grade</strong>: A</li>

    </ul>

    A prison for souls crafted by a necromancer.

    Originally created to seal malevolent spirits, it became a cursed object after part of the Soulstone was damaged, preventing it from fully containing the spirit.

    The malevolent spirit has been purified by an external force.

    After reviewing the item''s information, Su-ho nodded in satisfaction.

    <em>¡°Just one more to go.¡±</em>

    With that thought, he finished cleaning up the scene and promptly headed back home.

    ***

    A Few Days Later: Monday

    The weekend had passed, and it was now Monday.

    Yet, Nam Hae-won still hadn¡¯t finished his task.

    As Su-ho prepared to leave for work, Hae-won spoke in a voice that sounded half-dead.

    ¡°Team Leadeeerrr¡­¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°Please¡­ save me¡­¡±

    ¡°Save you from what?¡±

    ¡°This synthesis¡­ it¡¯s never going to end¡­¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll be fine. People don¡¯t die that easily.¡±

    Su-ho¡¯s calm response made Hae-won snap his eyes open in disbelief.

    ¡°And how would you know that?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve been to the Sealed Gate, haven¡¯t I? Everyone else who went there died, but I didn¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°¡­How is that the same thing?¡±

    ¡°Think about it positively. Isn¡¯t this better than the way you used to live in Yeongdeungpo?¡±

    ¡°Wow, you¡¯re really pulling out the cheat codes, huh?¡±

    ¡°Cheer up, Hae-won. You¡¯ve got this.¡±

    ¡°Hah¡­¡±

    With a defeated look, Hae-won trudged back to hisb.

    Watching him retreat, Su-ho couldn¡¯t help but feel reassured.

    <em>¡°All he needs is time and materials. He¡¯ll pull through.¡±</em>

    As Su-ho was heading out for work, his phone rang.

    ¡°Hello, Vice President.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°I¡¯ve returned the money to everyone on the list and made sure to keep their mouths shut.¡±</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Remember to speak casually unless we¡¯re alone. It looks less suspicious.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°¡­Ahem. Understood. Anyway, it¡¯s all taken care of. I told them the incident was the result of an anonymous tip-off, so none of the draft dodgers will raise a fuss.¡±</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°And what about Chief Lee Wan-ik and Deputy Manager Lee Se-hyun?¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°I¡¯ll summon them separately today and deal with them immediately.¡±</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Got it. Also, take care of my evaluation while you¡¯re at it. Oh, and one more thing¡ªabout the Resource Division, please transfer me there after Management.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°Resource Division? Why?¡±</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Do I need to exin?¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°¡­No. My apologies.¡±</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°I¡¯ll hang up now.¡±

    <em>¡°Why even ask? Just do as I say.¡±</em>

    Still, Su-ho couldn¡¯t deny that Park Gyu-min was proving unexpectedlypetent, likely due to the metaphorical sword hanging over his neck.

    Thanks to him, things were running smoothly. Non-Awakened Affairs was unusually quiet, and none of the draft dodgers had shown their faces after the weekend investigations wrapped up.

    <em>¡°Now all that¡¯s left is my evaluation.¡±</em>

    Su-ho¡¯s goals were progressing steadily. He had Park Gyu-min in his pocket and had resolved the draft-dodging scandal in one clean sweep. All that remained waspleting his Awakening Division evaluation and moving on to the next department.

    During his lunch break in the underground library, his phone buzzed.

    The caller was none other than Park Gyu-min.

    Su-ho smiled as he answered, ¡°Yes, Vice President?¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°The Awakening Division evaluation has been finalized. The two individuals involved have been dismissed for their roles in the incident.¡±</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Did you mention Pi Seong-yeol?¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°Tch, as soon as I brought him up, they both mmed up. Thanks to that, it seems like there won¡¯t be any further noise.¡±</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Of course. They fear Pi Seong-yeol more than they fear you.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°¡­That¡¯s something I can¡¯t argue with. Anyway, your next assignment will be with the Management Division, followed by the Resource Division.¡±</li>

    </ul>

    <em>¡°So he doesn¡¯t like being reminded that Pi is scarier than him. Interesting.¡±</em>

    Su-ho chuckled. ¡°I heard the Management Division evaluation is just a written test. I¡¯ll finish it today, so please expedite the process.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°Today? That¡¯s quick. The test isn¡¯t exactly easy, you know.¡±</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°It is for me. I¡¯ll wrap it up by today, so be ready. Also, send me the contact details for the Management Division head and their subordinate managers.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°Why do you need their numbers?¡±</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Because I said so. Let me know if anythinges up.¡±

    Su-ho ended the call before Park Gyu-min could respond.

    Afterward, Su-ho received a call from Eom Jun-seong.

    <ul>

    <li>¡°Su-ho, where are you?¡±</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°I¡¯m at the underground library. What¡¯s up?¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°I just wanted to inform you that your Awakening Division evaluation isplete.¡±</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°That was faster than expected.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°It surprised me too. Anyway, the results came back perfect, as expected. Team Leader Jung will contact you soon. Congrattions on finishing the process.¡±</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Thank you, and thank you for your hard work as well.¡±

    <em>¡°Having the right connections really pays off.¡±</em>

    Not one to waste time, Su-ho called Team Leader Jung directly.

    <ul>

    <li>¡°Ah, Su-ho, I was just about to call you.¡±</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Is this a good time?¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°Yes, of course. Did you hear from Eom Jun-seong?¡±</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s why I¡¯m calling. I¡¯m ready for the Management Division test. Can I take it right away?¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°Already?¡±</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°The study materials you provided were very helpful. I¡¯d like to take all the tests at once, like I did back in school. Is that possible?¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°If you¡¯re sure, I¡¯ll make the arrangements. But it might have to wait until after lunch. Could youe to the second conference room in the Management Division afterward?¡±</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Understood. By the way, is the Resource Division next?¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°That¡¯s correct. Why do you ask?¡±</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Just curious. I¡¯ll see you after lunch.¡±

    With the Awakening Division test and his transfer to the Resource Division on track, Su-ho couldn¡¯t help but feel impressed with how well things were progressing.

    <em>¡°At this rate, I might even find what I need in the Resource Division today.¡±</em>

    Rxing into his ns, Su-ho began mentally preparing for the next steps.

    Just then, he received a message from Park Gyu-min containing the contact information for the Management Division staff.

    <em>¡°All familiar names.¡±</em>

    Forwarding the list to Seo Gi-won, Su-ho tasked him with running thorough background checks, specifying a few individuals for closer scrutiny.

    <em>¡°At this speed, I¡¯ll finish my training in less than two weeks.¡±</em>

    If so, Su-ho would be the youngest and fastest trainee to everplete the program in the history of the association.

    <em>¡°Once I¡¯m a Grade 5 civil servant, I¡¯ll probably start as a deputy team leader.¡±</em>

    Deputy team leaders served as second-inmand for various departments. Most spent one to three years in the role before advancing to team leader. Given the current trajectory, Su-ho was likely to start in the Special Division.

    <em>¡°But that¡¯s not going to happen.¡±</em>

    While that had been his original n, Su-ho had revised it after uncovering the inner workings of the association.

    Now, he intended to use Park Gyu-min to shape his career path exactly as he desired.

    Thinking about it brought a smile to Su-ho¡¯s face.

    <em>¡°Who knew office life could be this fun?¡±</em>

    Once again, Su-ho marveled at the privileges of being a regressor.

    ***

    After Lunch

    Su-ho had gukbap for lunch and then proceeded with the full theoretical exam for the Management Division as scheduled.

    Naturally, it was easy.

    For someone like Su-ho, who had ess to the <em>Library of Memories</em>, this type of test was no different from copying answers straight from a cheat sheet.

    Perhaps it was because of this reputation that an unprecedented number of department heads participated as proctors for the test. Upon receiving Su-ho¡¯s answer sheet, they could only react with astonishment.

    ¡°Wow¡­¡±

    ¡°Incredible¡­¡±

    ¡°Is this even possible?¡±

    ¡°He got a perfect score?¡±

    ¡°This is insane¡­¡±

    The reactions were particrly strong from the heads of the Legal Affairs Division, with its massive volume of material to memorize; the General Affairs Division, with itsplex calctions; and the Audit Division, with its focus on practical applications.@@novelbin@@

    Each had the same thought.

    <em>¡°At this rate, he¡¯llplete his training in no time¡­¡±</em>

    <em>¡°Think there¡¯s a chance we can keep him as a deputy team leader in our department?¡±</em>

    <em>¡°Probably not. He¡¯s rumored to be one of Pi Seong-yeol¡¯s prot¨¦g¨¦s¡­¡±</em>

    <em>¡°A royal¡­¡±</em>

    <strong>An Su-ho.</strong>

    A once-in-a-lifetime genius and ace of the Korea Hunter Association.

    With his remarkable record in the Awakening Division, it was no surprise that the department heads were drooling over the prospect of recruiting him.

    However, none dared to make a move.

    The rumor that Su-ho was a <em>Royal</em>¡ªa direct prot¨¦g¨¦ of Pi Seong-yeol¡ªmade them hesitate.

    <em>¡°Looks like the Special Division will only grow stronger¡­¡±</em>

    <em>¡°What a shame¡­¡±</em>

    <em>¡°They get all the good talent.¡±</em>

    As Su-ho had instructed, the Management Division test results were processed immediately, allowing him to transfer to the Resource Division without dy.

    Moving to the Resource Division

    While heading to the Resource Division with Team Leader Jung Cheol-min, Su-ho received congrattions.

    ¡°Congrattions, Su-ho.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Team Leader.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m honestly curious about what kind of mischief you¡¯ll get into at the Resource Division. Should I give you another cheat sheet this time?¡±

    ¡°Haha, I¡¯d appreciate that.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the tests there aren¡¯t too hard. The Resource Division focuses more on field evaluations. By the way, do you know the two main departments in the Resource Division?¡±

    ¡°Yes, the Resource Management Department and the Research & Analysis Department.¡±

    ¡°And do you know their roles?¡±

    ¡°Yes. The Resource Management Department oversees the storage and organization of all items, while the Research & Analysis Department handles research on existing items and analysis of newly discovered ones.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve done your homework. The field evaluation for the Resource Management Department shouldn¡¯t be too difficult¡ªit¡¯s mostly logistics work, simr to a warehouse team.¡±

    Su-ho nodded, fully aware.

    The Resource Management Department handled countless items stored in the Association¡¯s warehouses, spending entire days moving and categorizing materials.

    <em>¡°But because of that, it¡¯s a treasure trove.¡±</em>

    Su-ho vividly remembered items that were initially dismissed as ordinary butter recognized for their extraordinary value.

    The Research & Analysis Department was no different in that regard.

    <em>¡°And there¡¯s also the final material I need for Kim Geon¡¯s partner item.¡±</em>

    With a small smile, Su-ho said, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter where I¡¯m assigned. I¡¯ll approach it with a mindset to learn and work hard.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the spirit, Su-ho. Well, here we are¡ªthe floor for the Resource Division¡­¡±

    Unexpected Call

    <em>Bzzzz.</em>

    Su-ho¡¯s phone buzzed.

    The caller ID disyed the name <em>Pi Seong-yeol</em>.

    Seeing this, Su-ho chuckled to himself.

    <em>¡°I was wondering when he¡¯d call. Took him long enough.¡±</em>

    It seemed there were a lot of things Pi needed to confirm before reaching out.

    Turning to Jung Cheol-min, Su-ho said, ¡°Team Leader, it¡¯s Director Pi Seong-yeol. I need to take this.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ sure.¡±

    After receiving permission, Su-ho answered the call.

    ¡°Yes, Senior.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°Junior, where are you right now?¡±</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°I just finished the Management Division¡¯s theoretical test and was on my way to the Resource Division.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°I see. Then put off the Resource Division training until tomorrow ande see me now. It¡¯s almost quitting time anyway¡ªyou won¡¯t get much done there today.¡±</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Ah¡­ understood.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°Come immediately. I¡¯ll be waiting.¡±</li>

    </ul>

    Pi hung up without waiting for a response, clearly in a hurry.

    Su-ho stifled augh and turned back to Jung Cheol-min.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Team Leader. I¡¯ll need to visit the Resource Division tomorrow instead. Could you let the department head know?¡±

    ¡°Of course. Don¡¯t worry about it.¡±

    Jung Cheol-min¡¯s understanding was appreciated, though it was clear Pi¡¯s actions were rather inconsiderate. Still, who in the Association would dare challenge Pi Seong-yeol over something like this? Especially considering the Resource Division was firmly within Pi¡¯s sphere of influence.

    Heading to the Special Division

    After thanking Jung Cheol-min with a polite nod, Su-ho made his way to the Special Division, reflecting on the situation.

    <em>¡°He must have something urgent to discuss.¡±</em>

    With that thought, Su-ho smiled faintly as he walked through the halls.

 Chapter 89

    <strong>Knock, knock.</strong>

    ¡°Come in.¡±

    At the sound of Pi Seong-yeol¡¯s voice, Su-ho opened the door and stepped inside.

    The room was empty except for Pi. Clearly, this was intentional.

    As Su-ho entered, Pi gestured for him to take a seat.

    ¡°Sit down.¡±

    The atmosphere was heavy.

    It had to be. Two of Pi¡¯s well-ced pawns had been taken out in a single move¡ªhow could he not be furious?

    Yet Su-ho maintained an expression of innocence as he took his seat.

    Pi studied him in silence before letting out a faint chuckle and speaking.

    ¡°I hear you aced both the Awakening Division and Management Division evaluations?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡±

    ¡°I thought you were just good with your sword, but it seems you¡¯re sharp with your mind too.¡±

    ¡°Not at all. I was just lucky.¡±

    ¡°Luck favors the prepared. Anyway, congrattions.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Senior.¡±

    ¡°But let¡¯s talk about the draft dodging case. That was your doing too, wasn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°Yes, it was.¡±

    ¡°How did you manage it?¡±

    <em>So, it¡¯s finallye to this.</em>

    If he was going to ask anything, it would be this.

    Prepared for the moment, Su-ho calmly gave his pre-nned response.

    ¡°There was an anonymous tip-off.¡±

    ¡°A tip-off?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Someone threw a set of documents onto my desk, and inside was all the information on the draft dodgers involved in the case.¡±

    ¡°...Is that true?¡±

    ¡°How could I lie to you, Senior?¡±

    The mention of an anonymous tip seemed to catch Pi off guard. His expression turned contemtive, clearly not expecting this exnation.

    ¡°What about the person who delivered it?¡±

    ¡°I couldn¡¯t catch them. They ran off too quickly.¡±

    ¡°You couldn¡¯t catch them? You, a <em>Sword Saint</em>?¡±

    ¡°I apologize. I had to make a choice between chasing the person or securing the documents, and I prioritized thetter.¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­¡±

    Pi¡¯s brow furrowed deeply as he considered this.

    <em>¡°Fair enough. In that situation, it makes sense.¡±</em>

    Seeing the gears turning in Pi¡¯s mind, Su-ho added, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for not reporting this to you earlier, Senior. I didn¡¯t think it was significant at the time¡­¡±

    As Su-ho bowed his head apologetically, Pi stared at him for a moment before sighing and speaking softly.

    ¡°...No, it¡¯s fine. How could you have known? Good work. There¡¯s nothing else to report, is there?¡±

    ¡°No, nothing else.¡±

    ¡°Alright. From now on, report everything to me, no matter how small. Like this tip-off.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡±

    ¡°Your next assignment is the Resource Division, correct?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll go to the Gate Division after that and then back to me. I¡¯ll talk to the department heads for both divisions to ensure your training goes smoothly. After you finish your Special Division training, we¡¯ll revisit your cement.¡±

    ¡°Understood, Senior.¡±

    ¡°Off you go.¡±

    At Pi¡¯s dismissal, Su-ho left the office and made his way to the elevator, his mind buzzing with satisfaction.

    <em>¡°He must be feeling pretty conflicted right now.¡±</em>

    There was no way Pi could suspect Su-ho at this stage.

    The story was airtight, and the evidence pointed elsewhere.

    If anything, Pi would start doubting Park Gyu-min.

    That was precisely the point of the false information Su-ho had leaked.

    <em>¡°An anonymous tip, the dismissal of Lee Wan-ik and Lee Se-hyun¡ªit¡¯s all too convenient. He¡¯ll likely conclude that Park Gyu-min was behind it.¡±</em>

    Everything was going ording to n.

    With Pi now forced to act, Su-ho knew the game was shifting to the next phase.

    <em>¡°Time to tread carefully. Too many coincidences will eventually draw suspicion.¡±</em>

    But even if Pi caught on, could he stop Su-ho?

    <em>¡°I handled you in my past life. What makes you think I can¡¯t do it again?¡±</em>

    After clocking out for the day, Su-ho called Park Gyu-min.

    ***

    The next day, Su-ho arrived at the Resource Division with Jung Cheol-min as nned.

    Their first stop was the department head¡¯s office, where Do Hak-hyeon, the head of the Resource Division, greeted them warmly.

    ¡°So you¡¯re the one I¡¯ve been hearing so much about. I¡¯m Do Hak-hyeon.¡±

    ¡°An Su-ho, sir. Looking forward to working with you.¡±@@novelbin@@

    Do Hak-hyeon had the most rxed demeanor Su-ho had seen in a department head so far.

    <em>¡°No wonder. Compared to other departments that are constantly overworked, the Resource Division¡ªespecially for someone like Do Hak-hyeon in a managerial position¡ªis as cushy as it gets.¡±</em>

    As someone firmly within Pi Seong-yeol¡¯s faction and holding a singr managerial role, Do Hak-hyeon truly held a golden seat.

    Smiling, Do Hak-hyeon said, ¡°I heard you aced the theoretical exams in both the Awakening Division and Management Division. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll have no trouble here. Our tests focus more on memorization than application. As for the field evaluation, don¡¯t worry¡ªI¡¯ve arranged for the easiest tasks to make your time herefortable.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, sir.¡±

    ¡°Shall we start with the theoretical exam, then?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I studied in advance.¡±

    ¡°This one¡¯s got spirit! Alright, let¡¯s have you take the test first. A supervisor should be arriving shortly to oversee it.¡±

    Hearing this, Jung Cheol-min spoke up. ¡°If it¡¯s just the theoretical exam, I can supervise and grade it on the spot if you¡¯d like.¡±

    ¡°Really? That¡¯d be a big help. Let¡¯s do that, then.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, sir. I¡¯ll take care of it.¡±

    With Jung¡¯s help, the theoretical exam process was significantly streamlined, and Su-ho passed in one go. The cheat sheet Jung had provided earlier had been instrumental.

    When the Resource Division training supervisor, Kim Seok-hoon, arrived and saw Su-ho¡¯s results, he couldn¡¯t hide his amazement.

    ¡°Wow¡­ I thought it was a stretch, but you really scored a perfect mark here too.¡±

    Jung, holding the answer sheet, chuckled confidently as he left the room.

    ¡°I¡¯ll send over the study materials for the Gate Division and Special Division testster.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Team Leader.¡±

    After Jung left, Su-ho introduced himself to Kim Seok-hoon.

    ¡°I¡¯m Kim Seok-hoon. I¡¯ll be overseeing your training while you¡¯re with the Resource Division.¡±

    ¡°An Su-ho. Nice to meet you.¡±

    After a brief handshake, Kim suggested they move on.

    ¡°Shall we head to the Resource Management Department first? I¡¯ll exin the field evaluation on the way.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    The Resource Management Department

    As they walked, Kim asked, ¡°How familiar are you with the Resource Management Department? Do you know about the five teams?¡±

    ¡°Yes. The department is divided into:

    <ul>

    <li>The Equipment Team, which handles item storage.</li>

    <li>The Book Team, which manages skill books.</li>

    <li>The Consumables Team, responsible for consumable items.</li>

    <li>Special Team 1, which deals with misceneous and material items.</li>

    <li>Special Team 2, which handles so-called ¡®Cursed Items.¡¯¡±</li>

    </ul>

    Kim raised an impressed eyebrow. ¡°You¡¯ve done your homework. The field evaluation will be split into two parts. One will cover the four standard teams, and the other will focus on Special Team 2.¡±

    Su-ho nodded knowingly. <em>¡°Makes sense. Unlike the standard teams, Special Team 2 deals with high-risk items.¡±</em>

    Though he was well aware of the department¡¯s workings from past experience, Su-ho listened attentively as Kim continued to exin.

    ¡°So, the evaluation will happen in two stages. Don¡¯t worry too much about the cursed items¡ªwe¡¯re only exposing you to entry-level cases for experience. Honestly, the first part of the test, involving logistics, might feel more tedious. It¡¯s pure manualbor.¡±

    As they approached the department, they met Gu Min-hwan, the Resource Management Department head.

    ¡°I¡¯m Gu Min-hwan. I¡¯ve heard a lot about you.¡±

    ¡°An Su-ho, sir. Looking forward to working with you.¡±

    ¡°From what I¡¯ve heard, you¡¯ve already aced the theoretical exam. Is that right?¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±

    ¡°Impressive. So, Seok-hoon, what¡¯s the order for the field evaluations?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll start with the joint evaluation covering the four standard teams, followed by the second evaluation for Special Team 2.¡±

    ¡°That works. But isn¡¯t it theprehensive inspection season? Won¡¯t the first evaluation be difficult to arrange?¡±

    <strong>Comprehensive Inspections</strong>

    These inspections were notorious for their intensity, examining every aspect of a department¡¯s operations to ensure they were functioning properly.

    <em>¡°Inspections are hell for any department, but I guess it¡¯s Resource¡¯s turn.¡±</em>

    Kim quickly reassured Gu, ¡°Yes, but I¡¯ll handle the first evaluation myself to avoid adding to the team¡¯s burden. I¡¯ve already gotten approval, so it just needs your okay.¡±

    ¡°Fine by me. Let¡¯s get started. Su-ho, we¡¯ll meet againter.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    The External Resource Warehouse

    Kim escorted Su-ho to the department¡¯s massive external warehouse.

    ¡°The division head and department head work in the desk offices, but most of the work happens here in the warehouse. You know why, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes. The Resource Division manages an enormous volume of items.¡±

    ¡°Exactly. For now, your task will be to familiarize yourself with the locations and organization of each team¡¯s materials, as well as the retrieval and categorization process. While it¡¯s all outlined in the theory exam, practical application is a bit different.¡±

    ¡°Is it significantly different?¡±

    ¡°The theory is straightforward, but there are a lot of variables in practice. That¡¯s what makes it tricky.¡±

    ¡°I see. That should be manageable.¡±

    ¡°¡­Confident, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I am.¡±

    Su-ho¡¯s confidence wasn¡¯t unfounded. He had previously worked a rotation in the Resource Division and was no stranger to its operations.

    <em>¡°It was tough back then¡­¡±</em>

    Many underestimated the Resource Division, assuming it was just a matter of sorting and managing inventory.

    But reality hit differently when faced with the scale andplexity of the job.

    Kim smirked, amused by Su-ho¡¯s optimism. <em>¡°Let¡¯s see if that confidence holds up.¡±</em>

    Handing Su-ho two sheets of paper, Kim said, ¡°Here¡¯s a condensed version of the test. Start by retrieving the items listed here.¡±

    ¡°Understood. Where should I bring them?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll wait at the warehouse entrance. Just bring them there.¡±

    With that, they reached the warehouse, and Su-ho was struck by its enormity.

    <strong>The Warehouse</strong>

    The sprawling, multi-tiered structure was filled with towering shelves stacked with countless items. Workers in helmets and uniforms bustled about, shouting instructions.

    ¡°Careful with that!¡±

    ¡°Item 2a123abing up!¡±

    The atmosphere was bustling and intense.

    Suddenly, a worker shouted, ¡°Heads up! A helmet¡¯s falling!¡±

    <em>ng!</em>

    A helmet fell from a high shelf, striking another worker square on the head. The worker copsed on the spot.

 Chapter 90

    ¡°Stretcher! Get a stretcher!¡±

    ¡°Over here! Quickly!¡±

    ¡°Ji-hoon, stay with us!¡±

    A falling object ident¡ªan urrence all toomon in the resource warehouse.

    Fortunately, the injured worker had been wearing a helmet imbued with impact absorption magic, so the injuries likely weren¡¯t severe.

    Watching themotion, Kim Seok-hoon sighed and said, ¡°...That¡¯s one of the variables I mentioned earlier. Sometimes, items react to mana fluctuations and move on their own, causing them to fall. Even if they¡¯re secured properly, they somehow loosen. That¡¯s why you have to be extra cautious.¡±

    Handing Su-ho a safety helmet, Kim added with a smile, ¡°Here, take this. Better safe than sorry.¡±

    The ident was a perfect opportunity for Kim to teach Su-ho a lesson about the unpredictability of the job without much effort.

    But to his surprise¡ª

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Su-ho replied with his trademark smile, cheerfully taking the helmet and putting it on.

    ¡°Should I get started now?¡±

    ¡°Huh? Oh, yes, you can, but¡­ are you sure you¡¯re okay?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°Well, you just saw that ident happen¡­¡±

    ¡°That was dangerous, but I wouldn¡¯t really call it a variable. With proper caution, it can be avoided. I¡¯ll head in now.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    Despite witnessing the ident up close, Su-ho remained undeterred, his determination unshaken.

    Without a hint of hesitation, he strode confidently into the warehouse.

    Kim Seok-hoon could only gape in astonishment, shaking his head in disbelief.

    <em>¡°This guy¡¯s something else.¡±</em>

    <em>***</em>

    <em>¡°Falling object idents in the resource warehouse? That¡¯s just another day here.¡±</em>

    Su-ho stepped deeper into the warehouse and began methodically searching for the items listed on his evaluation sheet.

    <em>¡°Let¡¯s start with the ones for the test.¡±</em>

    The so-called logistics retrieval test, part of the first evaluation, was a breeze for Su-ho. During his past rotation in the Resource Management Department, he¡¯d done this task to the point of exhaustion.

    Filling his inventory with the required items, Su-ho also began searching for something else¡ªsomething not listed.

    <em>¡°If my memory¡¯s correct, it should be in this warehouse around this time¡­¡±</em>

    Su-ho preferred the Resource and Gate Divisions over the Awakening and Management Divisions.

    Of course, this was a perspective shaped by his regression.

    While the first two divisions offered connections with people, thetter two also provided tangible rewards¡ªvaluable items and skills.

    <em>¡°Even if most items are logged in the database and can¡¯t just be taken freely¡­¡±</em>@@novelbin@@

    What Su-ho sought were hidden treasures¡ªitems with concealed properties overlooked by others.

    As he scoured the warehouse, his eyes lit up.

    <em>¡°Found it.¡±</em>

    There, in the section colloquially called the ¡°junk storage,¡± sat an unassuming object.

    It was a simple item, carelessly ced amidst other unremarkable trinkets.

    Su-ho checked its details.

    <strong>[ Stone Apple ]</strong>

    <ul>

    <li>A stone-crafted apple.</li>

    <li>Its maker is unknown, and it appears rather crude.</li>

    </ul>

    The description was as simple as the item itself.

    Likely categorized as a junk item due to itsck of apparent functionality, it had been dismissed by the warehouse staff.

    Su-ho picked it up and pretended to study his evaluation sheet while keeping his movements casual.

    He avoided ncing around too much and was especially careful not to look at the security cameras positioned diagonally above. Drawing unnecessary attention was thest thing he needed.

    <em>¡°Now, let¡¯s see what happens when I inject mana¡­¡±</em>

    Su-ho slowly infused the apple with mana.

    At first, nothing happened. Then, faint luminous patterns began to appear on its surface.

    <em>¡°There it is. It¡¯s reacting.¡±</em>

    This simple act¡ªinjecting mana¡ªwas all it took to reveal the apple¡¯s hidden properties.

    Such a minor effort, yet the Resource Division had never discovered the secret. The reason was straightforward: most of the staffcked the mana capacity to unlock the hidden potential.

    <em>¡°You need at least red-grade mana for this.¡±</em>

    Finding someone with that level of mana in the Resource Division? Impossible.

    <em>¡°Which is why this treasure has stayed hidden until now.¡±</em>

    Mindful of the cameras, Su-ho made a show of acting startled, as if the item was malfunctioning.

    He exaggerated his reactions, mimicking rm and pretending to try and drop the apple from his hand¡ªbut to no avail. The act was deliberate. If questionedter, he could use this performance to feign ignorance.

    The apple began to vibrate and glow ominously.

    From its back, something long and slender slithered out.

    A snake.

    A semi-transparent serpent, small enough to be a newborn, emerged from the apple.

    <em>¡°There you are, Venom-Eater Snake.¡±</em>

    Su-ho¡¯s eyes gleamed.

    The snake wasn¡¯t merely a physical being; it was a spectral creature¡ªa type of <em>Phantom Spirit</em>.

    Feigning shock, Su-ho pretended to struggle as the snake quickly slithered up his arm and bit into his neck.

    <strong>[ You have been bitten by the Venom-Eater Snake. ]</strong>

    <strong>[ The Venom-Eater Snake is merging with you. ]</strong>

    <strong>[ A quest has been triggered. ]</strong>

    <strong>[ Do you ept the quest ¡®Trial of the Snake¡¯? ]</strong>

    Su-ho barely suppressed a grin as he read the notifications.

    <em>¡°So this is how I¡¯ll obtain the foundation for the Venom Dragon.¡±</em>

    In his previous life, venomous beasts were among the most fearsome foes. Of these, three were legendary, collectively known as the <em>Three Venoms</em>:

    <ul>

    <li>The Venom Dragon.</li>

    <li>The Venom Demon.</li>

    <li>The Venom King.</li>

    </ul>

    Each wielded venom as their primary weapon and possessed unparalleled resistance to poisons.

    <em>¡°I¡¯ll getplete poison immunity eventually¡­ but that¡¯s a long way off.¡±</em>

    In thete stages of the Gate campaign, Su-ho had acquired the supreme skill <em>Venomproof Immunity</em> by consuming the heart of Venom Sovereign Venomus.

    But for now, he needed a way to resist poison¡ªand this was the perfect starting point.

    <em>¡°I¡¯ll need this foundation to deal with <em>her</em>.¡±</em>

    The <em>her</em> in question was Suzuki Endo.

    A renowned Japanese Hunter, she was one of humanity¡¯sst defenders and a former ally. But now, she was nothing to Su-ho.

    Suzuki¡¯s title as the <em>Witch</em> came from her mastery of venomous magic.

    <em>¡°I¡¯ll make sure you choke on your own venom, Endo.¡±</em>

    There was no greater humiliation than being overwhelmed in the area of your own expertise. Su-ho was determined to return the favor.

    The <em>Trial of the Snake</em> quest was the key to creating the Venom Dragon, one of the Three Venoms.

    Without hesitation, Su-ho epted the quest.

    <strong>[ You have epted the quest. ]</strong>

    A detailed quest window appeared in front of him, but Su-ho dismissed it with a nce.

    Pretending to remain startled by the glowing apple, he ensured his performance was convincing.

    <em>¡°That should do it for now.¡±</em>

    Satisfied, Su-ho carefully returned the apple to its original ce.

    For now, he would y dumb.

    If questionedter, he nned to exin that he hadn¡¯t called for help because he feared losing points during the evaluation.

    With his objective secured, Su-ho resumed his evaluation, ready to continue as if nothing had happened.

    ***

    Not long after Su-ho disappeared into the warehouse, Kim Seok-hoon was confident he¡¯d soon see him return empty-handed or at least asking for help.

    After all, the resource warehouse was notorious for being a nightmare for first-timers.

    <em>¡°There¡¯s a reason it¡¯s called the ¡®Labyrinth.¡¯¡±</em>

    With mana-reactive items that frequently fell or stuck together, and the asional random item outburst¡ªeven when confirmed to be non-cursed¡ªthe warehouse was as unpredictable as it was vast.

    Only someone deeply familiar with its quirks and pitfalls could navigate it effectively.

    But before long, Kim realized his assumption had been dead wrong.

    ¡°Just dropping these off for now!¡±

    Su-ho appeared with a bright smile, dumping a load of items onto the ground before Kim.

    Every single one was from the evaluation list.

    And that wasn¡¯t all.

    Su-ho went back into the warehouse multiple times, each time returning with more items until, finally, he¡¯d brought back everything on the list.

    After depositing thest batch, Su-ho meticulously checked the items against the list and handed the evaluation sheet to Kim with a cheerful grin.

    ¡°That¡¯s everything. Would you like to double-check?¡±

    ¡°Uh¡­ yeah.¡±

    Kim took the sheet, trying to mask his astonishment as he beganparing the items to the list.

    But the more he checked, the more his jaw dropped.

    ¡°Holy¡­ what the hell?¡±

    An involuntary curse slipped from his lips.

    The list had nearly 100 items, yet Su-ho had retrieved every single one without missing a beat.

    Even the ones deliberately designed to trip him up¡ªambiguous names, confusing codes, and colors¡ªwere all ounted for.

    <em>¡°I even added those killer items to make it harder¡­¡±</em>

    Despite instructions from above to go easy on Su-ho because he was a <em>Special Division royal</em>, Kim had ignored them.

    As a Grade 5 special hire, Su-ho was expected to quickly rise to team leader status, and Kim believed such individuals needed to prove theirpetence thoroughly.

    Yet Su-ho had wlessly tackled even the so-called "killer" items, leaving Kim in awe.

    <em>¡°People like this actually exist¡­¡±</em>

    Kim had assumed that Su-ho¡¯s reputation was exaggerated, chalking up his achievements to exceptionalbat skills rather than administrative prowess.

    But now, witnessing this firsthand, Kim realized Su-ho wasn¡¯t just a genius¡ªhe was an all-around prodigy.

    ¡°You¡¯re incredible,¡± Kim admitted.

    Su-ho chuckled modestly. ¡°Not at all.¡±

    ¡°No, really, you are. Next, we¡¯ll move on to the categorization portion of the evaluation¡­¡±

    But here too, Su-ho excelled.

    Despite the hundreds of items that poured into the categorization warehouse daily, Su-ho wlesslypleted all three stages of the sorting process without a single mistake.

    By the time the first test was over, Kim could only ept the truth.

    ¡°...You¡¯re amazing.¡±

    ¡°Haha, thank you, but it wasn¡¯t that hard.¡±

    ¡°No, it really was. And I¡¯m not just saying this because I¡¯m from this department, but I think our Resource Division¡¯s work is harder than any other. Most trainees receive their lowest scores here, yet you¡­¡±

    Kim trailed off, clearly impressed.

    Su-ho agreed.

    He¡¯d found Resource Division tasks grueling in his first life.

    But now, with his second chance and extensive experience, the work felt rtively straightforward¡ªespeciallypared to other challenges he¡¯d faced.

    <em>¡°If you¡¯ve been a pyramid ve, construction work feels like a breeze.¡±</em>

    More importantly¡­

    <em>¡°It looks like no one noticed the stone apple.¡±</em>

    Su-ho had expected as much. With so many CCTV feeds in the warehouse, it was impossible for the staff to monitor every moment.

    While there was always the chance of a slip-up, no news was good news.

    Su-ho smiled. ¡°So, do I move on to the second test with Special Team 2 now?¡±

    ¡°Yes, but¡­ there¡¯s a bit of a problem,¡± Kim replied hesitantly, scratching his cheek awkwardly.

    ¡°A problem?¡±

    ¡°Yes¡­¡±

    Kim¡¯s difort was evident, leaving Su-ho curious about what issuey ahead.

 Chapter 91

    Kim Seok-hoon continued speaking.

    ¡°Well¡­ to be honest, I didn¡¯t expect the first test to be finished today or tomorrow, so I scheduled things for the day after tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Haha¡­ I¡¯m really sorry¡­ Usually, the first test takes at least two days, so I set the schedule like it¡¯s always been done¡­¡±

    Kim Seok-hoon scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

    But he wasn¡¯t lying.

    Up until now, tasks like retrieving logistics or sorting them always took at least a day each. But Su-ho had shattered that tradition bypleting both tests in a single day.

    Su-ho asked, ¡°So, what am I supposed to do now?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ it seems like we won¡¯t be ready until at least tomorrow afternoon because of the schedule.¡±

    ¡°I understand. Then I¡¯ll wait. In the meantime, I¡¯ll study the theory for the next training department.¡±

    ¡°Oh, you¡¯d do that?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve had a simr experience before, so I studied in the underground library.¡±

    ¡°Phew, that¡¯s a relief. Thank you for your understanding. I¡¯ll contact you as soon as we¡¯re ready. But no matter how fast we prepare, it won¡¯t be before tomorrow afternoon, so feel free toe after lunch.¡±

    ¡°Then, what about today?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing else to do, so you can head out early.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Grateful for Kim Seok-hoon¡¯s consideration, Su-ho smiled lightly and began preparing to leave.

    ¡®This works out perfectly.¡¯

    He had things to take care of after work anyway, and now he not only got to leave early but didn¡¯t have toe back until tomorrow afternoon.

    Starting his car, Su-ho dialed a number, the sound of the engine rumbling to life as he made the call.

    ***

    <strong>Not Stuck in Traffic, Su-ho Quickly Arrived Home</strong>

    The house was silent.

    Seo Ki-won was away training in Paju, and Nam Hae-won had fallen asleep, exhausted from synthesizing material items.

    Thanks to this quiet, Su-ho could focus on his personal tasks without interruptions.

    He made his way to the underground training room located beneath the building.

    "Looks like everything''s prepared nicely."

    Inside, the items Su-ho had requested through an external helper had arrived, neatly arranged.

    What he had ordered was none other than <strong>poisons</strong>.

    Su-ho picked up the bottle on the far left of the table, which was filled with an assortment of poisons, and checked its details.

    <strong>[Inferior Misceneous Poison]</strong>

    <ul>

    <li>

    A nameless, origin-unknown poison.

    </li>

    <li>

    Its toxic effects are minimal.

    </li>

    </ul>

    But it wasn¡¯t just the inferior poisons. As the bottles were arranged from left to right, the poison grades increased step by step. All of this was for the uing quest Su-ho had to face.

    He opened his quest window and reviewed the <strong>"Trial of the Snake"</strong> quest he had previously unlocked.

    <strong>[Trial of the Snake]</strong>

    <ul>

    <li>

    A test granted only to those chosen by the venom-eating snake.

    </li>

    <li>

    Within your body lies a dormant egg of the venom-eating snake. To hatch the egg, you must directly ingest poisons and provide the venom as sustenance for the egg.

    </li>

    <li>

    If venom supply is dyed by more than 10 minutes, you must restart the process from the beginning. Failing to provide venom three times will result in the quest''s failure, and the venom-eating snake¡¯s egg will immediately disappear.

    </li>

    <li>

    If detoxification urs, the venom-eating snake¡¯s egg will also vanish instantly.

    </li>

    </ul>

    The quest¡¯s content was surprisingly straightforward. Simply put, as long as he didn¡¯t detoxify and ensured no break longer than 10 minutes between ingesting poisons, the quest could bepleted.

    "Alright, let¡¯s get started."

    Su-ho took a deep breath.

    While the quest seemed simple on paper, the actual task of drinking poison and enduring it was far from easy.

    But Su-ho was confident. The key to seeding in this questy in how long he could endure the poison he consumed.

    <strong>"If there¡¯s one thing I¡¯m good at, it¡¯s enduring."</strong>

    He immediately opened the bottle of inferior misceneous poison.

    ¡°Hoo¡­¡±

    Even though it was only an inferior poison, any poison after experiencing Suzuki Endo¡¯s venom was enough to send a shiver down his spine.

    <strong>"I¡¯ll ovee this."</strong>

    He had to, if he wanted to deal a heavy blow to that wretched woman.

    Like drinking a shot of herbal ginseng, Su-ho downed the poison in one go. The bitterness of the venom coated his tongue and throat, searing its way down his esophagus before beginning to irritate his stomach.

    This reaction was only natural¡ªit was poison, after all.

    After cing the poison box on the floor, Su-ho sat cross-legged in front of it. Normally, he didn¡¯t meditate like this, but for this battle of mental endurance, he purposely adopted the position.

    <strong>[You are now in a state of inferior poisoning.]</strong>

    The poison¡¯s effects began to take hold. Being an inferior poison, its effects were also minor. He took damage in small, gradual increments, while the burning sensation in his stomach intensified.

    <strong>"Still manageable. But how does the egg respond to this?"</strong>

    Closing his eyes, Su-ho focused his mind, attempting to sense the snake¡¯s egg somewhere in his body.

    That¡¯s when he felt it¡ªa faint, writhing movement near his sr plexus.

    It wasn¡¯t a muscle spasm caused by the poison. It was apletely independent motion from an entirely different existence within his body.

    <strong>"There you are."</strong>

    The egg twitched for a while before settling down. Then¡ª

    <strong>[The state of inferior poisoning has been cured.]</strong>

    The poisoned state was lifted. Su-ho hadn¡¯t used any antidotes or recovery items¡ªit had simply disappeared. This wasn¡¯t due to his Newblood passive ability either; if it were, there would have been a system notification.

    No, this was something else entirely.

    <strong>"So, the egg really is absorbing the poison as sustenance."</strong>

    That exined why the term "supply" was used in the quest description.

    Unfortunately, it seemed Newblood didn¡¯t ssify poisoning as a form of contamination, meaning it wouldn¡¯t activate to assist.

    <strong>"A bit disappointing, but it makes sense."</strong>

    If Newblood had nullified the poisoning, he wouldn¡¯t need to go through this entire process in the first ce.

    Finishing his thoughts, Su-ho opened his eyes and drank another dose of the inferior misceneous poison. Before long, his sr plexus began to writhe again, followed by another system notification.

    <strong>[You are now in a state of inferior poisoning.]</strong>

    The same process repeated. The egg wriggled briefly, then stopped, and the poisoned state was lifted.

    Su-ho gave himself a short break and drank another dose of the same poison.

    <strong>[You are now in a state of inferior poisoning.]</strong>

    <strong>[The state of inferior poisoning has been cured.]</strong>

    Over and over, the cycle repeated. Like taking shots of soju, Su-ho continued to empty bottle after bottle, eventually reaching the 30th and final bottle of the inferior poison.

    <strong>[You are now in a state of inferior poisoning.]</strong>

    He waited for the usual reaction, but this time, the egg didn¡¯t move. No matter how long he waited, there was no response.

    Even the poisoned state didn¡¯t dissipate.

    <strong>"Hmm."</strong>

    It seemed the egg had reached its limit with this grade of poison.

    epting that the inferior poison was no longer effective, Su-ho picked up a bottle of the next grade¡ªa poison that could cause minor poisoning.

    <strong>Pop!</strong>@@novelbin@@

    As he removed the cap, a much stronger stench assaulted his senses. Grimacing, Su-ho gulped the poison down in one go.

    <strong>[You are now in a state of minor poisoning.]</strong>

    The effects were immediate. The irritation in his mouth and throat was far more intense than before, and his stomach felt like it was on fire.

    But then¡ª

    <strong>Wriggle!</strong>

    The egg finally reacted again. Having understood the mechanism, Su-ho refocused his mind, sitting cross-legged to endure the process.

    <strong>"So this is how it works."</strong>

    Now that he knew the process, all that remained was to endure and push through. When the minor poisoned state eventually lifted, Su-ho drank another bottle without hesitation.

    ***

    <strong>"Ughhh¡­."</strong>

    <strong>[You are now in a state of advanced poisoning.]</strong>

    <strong>[The state of advanced poisoning has been cured.]</strong>

    How much time had passed?

    Su-ho had moved from low-grade poisons to mid-grade ones, and now, he had reached the advanced level.

    But the advanced poison was unlike anything he had encountered before¡ªit was excruciating.

    <strong>¡°It feels like drinking hydrochloric acid,¡±</strong> he thought grimly, barely exaggerating.

    Typically, poisoning urred through the ws or fangs of a monster, with the afflicted area itself bing painfully inmed.

    But drinking advanced poison directly, like alcohol? That was a whole other level. His mouth and esophagus were anything but intact.

    Still, Su-ho endured. He drank bottle after bottle, suppressing his agony every time, because the egg inside him reacted with each dose.

    Finally, when he downed thest bottle of advanced poison¡ª

    <strong>[You are now in a state of advanced poisoning.]</strong>

    The state of poisoning was confirmed. But there was no reaction.

    The egg, which should have responded by writhing, remainedpletely still. Su-ho bit his lip in frustration.

    <strong>¡°Damn it¡­ Is advanced poison not enough anymore?¡±</strong>

    He scowled, his gaze shifting to the bottles of supreme poison sitting nearby.

    <strong>¡°That¡¯s pure venom...¡±</strong>

    Supreme poison was no joke. Consuming it could result in immediate death.

    For someone without sufficient resistance and stamina, even advanced poison was already near-lethal. The only reason Su-ho had survived dozens of bottles of advanced poison was because of his <strong>Red-Grade stamina stat</strong>.

    But now, retreat wasn¡¯t an option.

    Su-ho took a deep breath, his eyes fixed on the supreme poison bottle. His skin was already a sickly shade of gray, his eyes bloodshot, and his lips cracked and dry¡ªall ssic symptoms of severe poisoning.

    Yet, he had no choice.

    Atst, Su-ho uncorked the supreme poison bottle.

    <strong>Hiss¡ª</strong>

    Even the fumes from the poison stung his skin.

    Still, without hesitation, he tipped the contents into his mouth.

    <strong>¡°Gahhh!!¡±</strong>

    It felt as though his mouth and esophagus were melting. And realistically, they probably were¡ªthis was supreme poison, after all.

    <strong>[You are now in a state of supreme poisoning.]</strong>

    The notification popped up.

    And then, it happened.

    <strong>Drip¡­ Drip-drip¡­ Drip¡ª</strong>

    Bright red drops began falling to the ground.

    Not drops. Blood.

    Blood was seeping from Su-ho¡¯s eyes, nose, and ears, a result of the brutal effects of the poisoning.

    His breathing grewbored. His heart pounded wildly. His senses dulled, and the burning pain in his organs felt like they were disintegrating entirely.

    Even his tongue felt as though it was being severed.

    But Su-ho endured.

    Because the more he suffered, the more violently the egg inside him began to stir.

    However, his stamina was depleting far too quickly. The agonizing pain made him feel as though death was just moments away.

    With his vision fading, Su-ho tightly shut his eyes and activated a skill he hadn¡¯t used until now.

    <strong>[Heal has been activated.]</strong>

    A warm light enveloped his body.

    Healing was fine. It wasn¡¯t an antidote, after all.

    The current use of Heal was akin to pouring water into a bottomless vessel¡ªineffective against the poisoning symptoms, but enough to keep him alive.

    And at this moment, that was all Su-ho needed. Heal was his only option to bring the egg to fruition.

    <strong>¡°I have to endure. I <em>will</em> endure.¡±</strong>

    The warmth of Heal spread through his body, turning him into a living paradox¡ªa warm hell of agony and regeneration.

    In that hellish state, Su-ho drank another bottle of supreme poison.

    <strong>¡°Arghhhh!!¡±</strong>

    The pain was indescribable.

    But Su-ho persevered.

    <strong>Thump! Thump! Thump!</strong>

    The more he endured, the more violently the egg shook within him.

    <strong>[Heal has been activated.]</strong>

    <strong>[Heal has been activated.]</strong>

    <strong>[Heal has been activated.]</strong>

    Again and again, Su-ho unleashed Heal upon himself, barely holding onto consciousness. Even as he teetered on the brink of death, he stubbornly clung to life, pouring everyst drop of his energy into sustaining himself.

    Then, just as his mana reserves were about to run dry¡ª

    <strong>Crack¡ª</strong>

    A sound.

    <strong>Crack-crack!</strong>

    It wasn¡¯t his imagination.

    <strong>Craaaaack!</strong>

    The sound of something splitting open.

    Atst, the long-awaited moment had arrived.

    The <strong>venom-eating snake¡¯s egg</strong> had begun to fracture.

    And finally¡ª

    <strong>BANG!</strong>

    The egg burst apart, releasing a radiant light that filled the room.

 Chapter 92

    <strong>Shuaaa!</strong>

    The egg shattered.

    At the same time, a brilliant light erupted, and like water spiraling down a drain, the venomous energy coursing through Su-ho¡¯s body converged at his sr plexus and disappeared.

    The excruciating pain that had been suffocating him¡ªthe pounding heart, the splitting headache¡ªsubsided like waves gently receding to the shore.

    ¡°Phew¡­¡±

    A deep, ragged breath escaped him.

    His once-erratic breathing calmed, and Su-ho shifted out of his meditative position, leaning against the wall to rest.

    As the sense of peace gradually returned, system notifications began to flood his vision.

    <strong>[You have sessfully hatched the venom-eating snake¡¯s egg.]</strong>

    <strong>[The quest has beenpleted.]</strong>

    <strong>[The venom-eating snake acknowledges you as its master and coils around you.]</strong>

    <strong>[Congrattions! You have acquired the Venom-Eating Snake (S+).]</strong>

    <strong>[You have achieved a remarkable feat! The system rewards you with 5 bonus stat points.]</strong>

    Seeing the notifications, Su-ho couldn¡¯t help butugh softly.

    <strong>"I finally did it."</strong>

    He had endured unimaginable agony to reach this moment. That made the rewards before him feel even sweeter.

    Among the system messages, his eyes lingered on the name of the newly acquired skill.

    <strong>Venom-Eating Snake (S+).</strong>

    This was no ordinary skill. Dubbed one of the ¡°poison dragons,¡± it stood among the rarest poison-rted S-rank skills in the world.

    <strong>"No, it¡¯s not just S-rank¡ªit¡¯s a plus-tier skill."</strong>

    This was why he had to obtain it at all costs.

    The <strong>Venom-Eating Snake</strong> wasn¡¯t just rare; it was one of the few S-rank poison skills with <strong>growth potential</strong>, signified by the ¡°+¡± designation.

    Su-ho opened the skill window to examine its details.

    <strong>[Venom-Eating Snake]</strong>

    <ul>

    <li>

    Rank: S+

    </li>

    <li>

    <em>The legendary serpents born of a single head each possess immense power.</em>

    </li>

    <li>

    The Venom-Eating Snake responds to its master¡¯s call.

    </li>

    <li>

    The Venom-Eating Snake consumes all poisons provided by its master.

    </li>

    <li>

    The Venom-Eating Snake can digest any poison without exception.

    </li>

    <li>

    The Venom-Eating Snakebines consumed poisons to create entirely new types of venom.

    </li>

    <li>

    The Venom-Eating Snake can only produce venom in amounts equivalent to what it has consumed.

    </li>

    </ul>

    After carefully reviewing the information, Su-ho extended his hand.

    ¡°Come out.¡±

    He wanted to confirm the second point in the skill description: <em>"The Venom-Eating Snake responds to its master¡¯s call."</em>

    A small, translucent snake with a dark, ck body encircled by a faint purple hue slithered out of his palm.

    <strong>¡°Sssss¡­¡±</strong>

    It moved fluidly, stretching out across his hand, and let out a wide yawn as though it were bored. Su-ho chuckled at the sight.

    <strong>"So even a poison dragon starts this small, huh?"</strong>

    The snake was the reason behind the <strong>"poison dragon"</strong> moniker. Those who wielded the Venom-Eating Snake skill often manifested it like a summonable creature.

    While technically not a summon, the snake was a skill-made physical entity. Given its ability to grow and adapt based on the poisons it consumed, it wasn¡¯t far off from being a proper summon.

    Su-ho spoke to the snake.

    ¡°Your name is now ¡®Poison Dragon.¡¯¡±

    <strong>¡°Ssss! Ssss!¡±</strong>

    The snake nodded as if it understood, responding enthusiastically to the new name.

    This nickname would now serve as a trigger word for activating the skill, making it much easier to use.

    Before standing up, Su-ho nced at the three remaining bottles of supreme poison in front of him.

    Three bottles. A dangerously small margin.

    <strong>"If those hadn¡¯t been enough to hatch the egg¡­"</strong>

    He might have missed his chance to acquire the Poison Dragon forever.

    Preparing for contingencies had been the right call, but the sess had been far too close forfort.

    Su-ho uncorked one of the bottles and offered it to the snake.

    ¡°Eat.¡±

    <strong>¡°Ssss!¡±</strong>

    The snake eagerly began drinking the poison, showing visible delight. Now that he had the Poison Dragon, Su-ho no longer needed to ingest venom himself¡ªit could be handled like this.

    As the snake consumed the poison, new notifications appeared.

    <strong>[The Poison Dragon consumes the venom.]</strong>

    <strong>[The Poison Dragon is highly satisfied with its meal.]</strong>

    Clearly, the supreme poison was to its liking. No surprise there¡ªits hatching had only begun to elerate after Su-ho started using poisons of that caliber.

    <strong>"Raising this thing is going to cost me a fortune."</strong>

    Poisons were more expensive than people realized, especially potent ones with numerous additional effects. The crafting and storage of high-grade venoms required immense effort and resources.

    <strong>"Oh well, doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯ve got more money than I know what to do with now."</strong>

    Once the Poison Dragon finished all three bottles, Su-ho noticed two circr indicators appear in his field of vision. One was a small, filled purple circle, while the other was empty.

    The design resembled the <strong>Blood Gems</strong> he had seen before, but these circles represented something new. The filled circle denoted the amount of venom the Poison Dragon had consumed, while the empty circle indicated how much venom had been processed into usable poison.

    <strong>"It can only use what it¡¯s digested and converted,"</strong> Su-ho thought.

    The Poison Dragon had exined before that while it could digest any poison, the time required varied depending on the venom¡¯s strength andplexity.

    For now, the key to efficient use was feeding it moderate doses frequently, rather than overwhelming it with powerful toxins.

    <strong>"I¡¯ll need to train it diligently before facing Suzuki. That way, it¡¯ll be ready to counter his venom in battle."</strong>

    After feeding the Poison Dragon, Su-ho deactivated the skill and surveyed his surroundings.

    <strong>"This ce is aplete mess."</strong>

    The area around him was more chaotic than he had expected. The process of enduring the venom had left behind sweat, blood, and traces of poison, all sttered across the floor.

    Still, it didn¡¯t matter.

    He had seeded in obtaining the Poison Dragon, and that was all that mattered.@@novelbin@@

    Emerging from the underground training room, Su-ho was greeted by sunlight. Checking the time, he realized it was already approaching noon.

    <strong>"I started this quest around 6 PM yesterday¡­ How many hours was I buried down there?"</strong>

    Oddly enough, he didn¡¯t feel tired. If he hadn¡¯t seeded in acquiring the Poison Dragon, he might have been furious, but now? He felt content.

    Su-ho allocated the 5 bonus stat points from the quest into his <strong>Strength</strong> stat and began preparing to head to work. He climbed to the first floor¡ªonly to bump into Nam Hae-won.

    ¡°Team Leader?¡±

    Startled, Nam Hae-won stared at him as she descended the stairs. Su-ho greeted her casually.

    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re up?¡±

    ¡°Uh¡­ yeah, but¡­ what happened to you? Why do you look like <em>that</em>?¡±

    ¡°Like what? I was just doing some training in the underground room.¡±

    ¡°In the training room?¡±

    Her shock was understandable. Su-ho¡¯s body was still covered in dried sweat, blood, and traces of venom, leaving him a horrific sight.

    Hae-won asked hesitantly, her face pale.

    ¡°There¡¯s¡­ no one <em>else</em> down there, right?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t spout nonsense. I look like this because Ipleted a quest. How¡¯s your synthesis going?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m still at it.¡±

    ¡°Taking your time, huh?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m working hard! Besides eating, sleeping, and¡­ well, everything else, I¡¯ve been grinding slime stone synthesis nonstop. Does this even have an end?¡±

    ¡°Of course it does. I told you, when it stops letting youbine, that¡¯s the end. Still synthesizing?¡±

    ¡°Yes¡­¡±

    ¡°Then you¡¯ve got a ways to go. Keep it up.¡±

    ¡°Aaaaahh!!¡±

    ¡°I appreciate the effort. Let me know when you¡¯re done.¡±

    ¡°Your words are the worst¡­ Aren¡¯t you going to work?¡±

    ¡°I am. That¡¯s why I came up.¡±

    ¡°Huh? Can civil servants just change their start times whenever they feel like it?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s all approved, don¡¯t worry.¡±

    ¡°This ce is so weird¡­¡±

    ¡°Whatever. I¡¯m going to wash up. Let me know when you¡¯re done synthesizing.¡±

    Finally, Su-ho headed off to get cleaned up, scrubbing off the venom and dried blood from his body.

    ***

    <strong>¡°Su-ho, where are you right now?¡±</strong>

    ¡°I¡¯m on my way to the warehouse.¡±

    <strong>¡°Ah, then I¡¯ll see you shortly.¡±</strong>

    Just as Su-ho was nearing the warehouse after arriving at the Association, his phone buzzed. It was a call from Kim Seok-hoon.

    <strong>"Perfect timing."</strong>

    When Su-ho reached the warehouse, he found Kim Seok-hoon waiting for him. As soon as they met, Kim began leading him to a different location for the second test.

    ¡°The first test takes ce in the Resource Warehouse, but the second test is conducted in the Special Warehouse.¡±

    ¡°Because it¡¯s filled with cursed items, it¡¯s called the Special Warehouse, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes, exactly. When I told the Special Team 2 leader yesterday that we needed to move the test up, he nearly had a fit¡­ I barely managed to get everything scheduled.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve had a rough time.¡±

    ¡°Haha, no, it was my mistake for being toox. That being said, the theme of the second test is purification and destruction.¡±

    ¡°Purification and destruction?¡±

    Though Su-ho already knew what this meant, he feigned ignorance. Kim Seok-hoon eagerly exined.

    ¡°Yes, as you might recall from the theory section, items ssified as cursed are generally handled in three ways: purification, destruction, or sealing. Sealing is used for cursed items that can¡¯t be dealt with otherwise¡ªwe lock them away in storage. However, most cursed items are either purified or destroyed.¡±

    It was exactly as he described.

    Cursed items identified by the Research and Analysis Department were handed over to Special Team 2 of the Resource Management Division. The team would then conduct various experiments to determine the best way to dispose of each item.

    <strong>"But most end up being destroyed."</strong>

    The reason was simple: the conditions for purification were often too difficult to meet, and sealing every cursed item would result in a severe waste of storage space.

    That¡¯s why this department¡ªthe Special Team 2 of the Daehan Association¡¯s Resource Management Division¡ªhandled more item destruction than anywhere else in the country.

    <strong>"And this is where <em>he</em> is."</strong>

    Su-ho already knew what the second test would entail. They would give him a mass-produced cursed item with a predetermined solution, and he would need to purify or destroy it.

    For Su-ho, this test was trivial. He had already memorized all the basic forms for purification and destruction.

    What truly interested him wasn¡¯t the test itself but something else entirely.

    When they arrived at the Special Warehouse, the leader of Special Team 2, Jo Geon-hyuk, greeted them at the entrance.

    ¡°Ah, wee! I¡¯m Jo Geon-hyuk.¡±

    Su-ho shook hands with him.

    Following Jo Geon-hyuk¡¯s lead, they entered the Special Warehouse. Inside, members of Special Team 2 were engrossed in their tasks.

    The facility resembled a researchb, with each workspace separated by thick, bulletproof ss. Within the rooms, team members worked on various items, performingplex operations.

    As Su-ho slowly scanned the area, his gaze stopped at one particr spot.

    <strong>¡°There he is.¡±</strong>

    Su-ho¡¯s eyes fixed on a man working alone on purification in one of the rooms. He was thin, with prominent dark circles under his eyes, his movements weak and lifeless.

    <strong>Kang Seul-gi.</strong>

    Though the name Kang Seul-gi might not have meant much now, he wouldter be infamous as the <strong>"Mad Disassembly Schr."</strong>

    Su-ho¡¯s eyes gleamed as he observed the man known for dismantling items at the molecr level.

    <strong>"Found him."</strong>

 Chapter 93

    Su-ho bore no ill will toward Kang Seul-gi¡ªnot in this lifetime, at least.

    In fact, his feelings were overwhelmingly positive.

    After all, in his previous life, Kang Seul-gi had shredded cursed items into usable materials, some of which Su-ho now relied on for his gear.

    <strong>¡°Who would¡¯ve thought past trolling would help in the present?¡±</strong>

    For that reason, Su-ho had already decided that Kang Seul-gi was someone he needed on his side at the Daehan Association.

    Jo Geon-hyuk broke into a smile and said, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get started with the second test without dy.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I understand.¡±

    ¡°The testing area is ready. The second test is divided into two parts: purification and destruction. But before that, you know what those terms mean, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Purification refers to removing the curse from cursed items, making them safe for use or storage. Destruction, on the other hand, involves incinerating items that can neither be purified nor stored.¡±

    ¡°Exactly right. Let¡¯s begin with the purification assessment.¡±

    The Purification Assessment

    The assessment took ce in an area known as the <strong>Purification Wing</strong>, where a temporary testing room had been set up.

    As soon as Su-ho entered, he was given protective gear¡ªprecautionary measures in case of idents.

    <strong>¡°Special Team 2 is far more dangerous than most other departments.¡±</strong>

    Though Su-ho didn¡¯t actually need such protection, few here were aware of his capabilities.

    Once the test began, Su-ho entered the room alone, where a box containing a test cursed item awaited him. Its contents were concealed beneath a dark cloth.

    <strong>¡°I hope it¡¯s something I know.¡±</strong>

    With that thought, Su-ho lifted the cloth.

    <strong>¡°Oh? This is¡­¡±</strong>

    Su-ho¡¯s eyes widened slightly as he examined the item. It was something he recognized all too well.

    A voice came through the internal speakers¡ªJo Geon-hyuk¡¯s.

    <strong>¡°You may begin the purification process using the tools provided. Good luck.¡±</strong>

    The time limit was two hours. Laid out before him were 21 purification tools, each representing one of the 21 currently known methods for purifying cursed items.

    <strong>¡°That number will exceed 50 in the future.¡±</strong>

    Cursed item research was a global endeavor, after all.

    This test item, in particr, could be purified using several methods, not just the 21 avable here.

    <strong>¡°Of course, one of these tools does work on this item. That¡¯s why they chose it for the test.¡±</strong>

    But Su-ho had other ns. He intended to use a purification form that hadn¡¯t yet been revealed publicly. It would serve as the perfect opportunity to approach Kang Seul-gi naturally.

    <strong>¡°The reaction might be intense if I reveal this now, but¡­¡±</strong>

    No matter. What mattered was sticking to his schedule.

    Su-ho began by confirming the details of the cursed item.

    <strong>[Hoomu Fruit]</strong>

    <ul>

    <li>A fruit harvested from the Hoomu Tree.</li>

    </ul>

    A simple description.

    The Hoomu Tree, often called the <strong>Hoomu Wood</strong>, was a magical treemonly found in gates. Its most notable trait was its frequent production of Hoomu Fruits.

    Naturally, Hoomu Fruits were ssified as cursed items because they grew from a magical tree.

    Though the fruit appeared fresh and appetizing, those who ate it for the first time often experienced mild to severe poisoning. Worse still, when subjected to significant impact, the fruit released toxic spores that created a venomous mist.

    <strong>¡°That¡¯s why it¡¯s ssified as a cursed item.¡±</strong>

    Cursed items were simply those with harmful traits not listed in their descriptions.

    Su-ho shifted his gaze to one of the tools provided¡ªa <strong>Mana Torch</strong>, the designated purification tool for Hoomu Fruits.

    The Mana Torch used mana instead of gas to generate intense heat. When exposed to such heat, the Hoomu Fruit¡¯s toxins, spores, and explosive properties were neutralized, leaving behind only its sweet, edible flesh.

    After some thought, Su-ho surveyed the room.

    <strong>¡°Hmm. The floor will have to do.¡±</strong>

    Taking a stance reminiscent of a baseball pitcher, Su-ho wound up and prepared to throw the fruit at the ground.

    The moment Su-ho¡¯s motion became apparent, shouts erupted from outside the room.

    <strong>¡°Hey! Stop!¡±</strong>

    <strong>¡°What are you doing?¡±</strong>

    <strong>¡°No, don¡¯t!¡±</strong>

    But Su-ho was faster.

    <strong>BAM!!</strong>

    He hurled the fruit with all his strength. The impact produced a deafening crash, and shards from the reinforced ss walls rattled from the shock.

    The fruit smashed into the ground, creating a resounding noise. Though debris scattered, no dust rose¡ªthe flooring¡¯s protective coating was too effective.

    Everyone outside the room froze in shock.

    Since there was no dust cloud, they could clearly see Su-ho¡¯s actions and the fruit lodged in the floor.

    The stunned silence didn¡¯tst long. Snapping out of it, Jo Geon-hyuk grabbed the mic and shouted.

    <strong>¡°What the hell are you doing?!¡±</strong>

    His anger was understandable. The Special Warehouse was one of the most secure facilities in the Association, on par with researchbs and construction sites.

    But Su-ho remained unfazed. He picked up the fruit from the floor and said calmly, ¡°I¡¯ve purified it.¡±

    <strong>¡°What? What did you do?¡±</strong>

    ¡°Would you like to see?¡±

    Su-ho offered the fruit with a bright, innocent smile, his demeanor so pure and devoid of malice that those watching were left dumbfounded.

    <strong>¡°What¡­?¡±</strong>

    Jo Geon-hyuk was the first to react. Donning his protective gear, he entered the testing room to examine the fruit.

    As soon as he read its updated description, his eyes widened in disbelief.

    <strong>¡°Wh-what¡­?¡±</strong>

    ¡°See? It¡¯s been purified, hasn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°How¡­ How is this possible?¡±

    ¡°All the curse options have been removed. It¡¯s now safe to handle, even if subjected to physical impact or consumed. Additionally¡­¡±

    Su-ho brought the fruit closer, tilting it slightly in front of Jo¡¯s eyes.

    <strong>¡°¡­it now has a minor recovery option.¡±</strong>

    <strong>Recovery!</strong>

    The absurdity of that word caused everyone outside to rush into the room, eager to confirm the fruit¡¯s details for themselves.

    One by one, they read the updated description, their faces filled with shock and confusion.

    <strong>¡°How¡­?¡±</strong>

    <strong>¡°This can¡¯t be real.¡±</strong>

    <strong>¡°But it is!¡±</strong>

    <strong>¡°Wait, wasn¡¯t physical impact listed as a purification method?¡±</strong>

    They weren¡¯t wrong. Among the 21 purification tools was a shock hammer specifically designed to purify cursed items through impact.

    Su-ho exined, ¡°The shock hammer exists, yes. But the method I used involves applying a much greater force.¡±

    <strong>¡°Greater force?¡±</strong>

    ¡°Yes. A shock hammer can¡¯t unlock the Hoomu Fruit¡¯s hidden recovery option unless the user¡¯s strength stat is above Red Grade. Anything less won¡¯t work.¡±

    <strong>¡°Red Grade strength¡­ Write that down! Someone, record this!¡±</strong>

    ¡°Get the team together! If this holds up, it¡¯ll shake the academic world!¡±

    Just as Su-ho had predicted, his revtion caused an uproar. Special Team 2 scrambled to document the new method and verify the purified fruit¡¯s properties.

    Even Kim Seok-hoon was dumbfounded. While he¡¯d known Su-ho was extraordinary after the first test, he hadn¡¯t expected anything like this during the second¡ªespecially in the purification assessment.

    Approaching Su-ho, he stammered, ¡°S-Su-ho?¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°Do you realize how groundbreaking this is?¡±

    ¡°Is it?¡±

    ¡°¡®Is it?¡¯ You just added the 22nd purification method to global research! The entire world will adopt your method now. You¡¯re the discoverer of a major breakthrough!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s great news. But what about my score? Am I in danger of failing for not using the standard methods?¡±

    Before Kim could respond, Jo Geon-hyuk cut in, his voice filled with excitement. ¡°Don¡¯t even worry about that! As long as I¡¯m in charge, you¡¯re getting full marks. Hell, do you have any other methods up your sleeve?¡±

    ¡°Maybe. I¡¯ll think about it.¡±

    ¡°Good! Let me know if anythinges to mind. Oh, and once we finalize the data, I¡¯ll send it over. If this pans out, you could make a fortune!¡±

    Jo¡¯s enthusiasm was so intense that his speech wavered between formal and casual, but Su-ho didn¡¯t mind. The promise of passing the test with flying colors was all he needed.

    Kim Seok-hoon sighed, smiling faintly. ¡°Well, if the team leader says so, I can¡¯t object.¡±

    There was no room for concern. Su-ho was already being treated as a royal asset by the higher-ups.

    Grinning, Su-ho replied, ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll leave it in your hands.¡±

    <strong>¡°By the way¡­¡±</strong>@@novelbin@@

    Jo hesitated, ncing at Su-ho. ¡°Would you like to move straight to the Research and Analysis Division evaluation today?¡±

    ¡°If it can be done quickly, I¡¯m all for it.¡±

    And just like that, Su-ho¡¯s exceptional performance forced yet another schedule adjustment. As Kim Seok-hoon rushed off to make arrangements, Su-ho found himself momentarily alone. His gaze swept across the bustling scene beforending on one person.

    He approached with a natural air, offering a greeting.

    ¡°Hello.¡±

    The person Su-ho greeted was none other than <strong>Kang Seul-gi</strong>, the future <strong>Mad Disassembly Schr</strong>.

 Chapter 94

    Kang Seul-gi.

    Technically, he wasn¡¯t just a team member¡ªhe held the position of deputy team leader.

    <strong>"His penchant for disassembling things aside, he waspetent at his job."</strong>

    When Su-ho greeted him with a smile, Kang Seul-gi responded with an awkward smile of his own.

    ¡°Oh, uh, hello.¡±

    ¡°Looks like you¡¯re working on purification?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Short answers.

    Su-ho hadn¡¯t noticed it in his previous life, but now Kang Seul-gi struck him as a peculiar person. Normally, someone in his position might have made small talk or at least shown some interest in Su-ho¡¯s groundbreaking purification method from earlier.

    But Kang Seul-gi didn¡¯t. Instead, he simply turned away and focused on his purification task, as if Su-ho weren¡¯t there.

    At that moment, Jo Geon-hyuk passed by and called out to Su-ho.

    ¡°Su-ho, can I speak with you for a moment?¡±

    Seeing Su-ho hovering near Kang Seul-gi, Jo gently led him a bit farther away and spoke cautiously.

    ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard today. If there¡¯s nothing else on your schedule, feel free to call it a day.¡±

    ¡°Thank you. But if you don¡¯t mind, would it be alright if I stayed a little longer to look around the Special Warehouse?¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­ there¡¯s no harm in that. Just be careful around that deputy team leader you were just talking to.¡±

    ¡°The deputy team leader? Why?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ he¡¯s a bit peculiar. Likes working alone.¡±

    <strong>"Peculiar."</strong>

    A tactful way of saying he wasn¡¯t the most sociable person.

    Normally, such ament would dissuade most people from approaching Kang Seul-gi. But Su-ho needed a connection with him.

    ¡°Understood. That¡¯s a shame, though.¡±

    ¡°Shame? What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°The items he¡¯s working on¡­ I think I¡¯ve seen one of them before in the Sealed Gate.¡±

    ¡°The Sealed Gate?¡±

    The mention of the <strong>Sealed Gate</strong>¡ªalong with Su-ho¡¯s feigned familiarity¡ªsparked Jo Geon-hyuk¡¯s interest.

    ¡°Yes, but I can¡¯t quite recall the details¡­¡±

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, you should¡¯ve said so earlier! Come on, let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll talk to the deputy team leader myself.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure? If he¡¯s ufortable, I can wait¡­¡±

    ¡°Nonsense! This is important¡ªit¡¯s rted to purification work. That makes it part of the job.¡±

    Jo was adamant. To him, Su-ho wasn¡¯t just anyone¡ªhe was the discoverer of the 22nd purification method. Letting Su-ho inspect the items was more than justified.

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll leave it to you, then,¡± Su-ho replied with a faint smile.

    Jo strode confidently to Kang Seul-gi. ¡°I¡¯m counting on you, deputy.¡±

    ¡°¡­Understood,¡± Kang Seul-gi replied tersely.

    Silent Observation

    Once the arrangement was made, Kang Seul-gi returned to his work in silence. Su-ho stood nearby, watching him intently.

    The atmosphere between them was quiet.

    Kang Seul-gi didn¡¯t acknowledge Su-ho¡¯s presence, and Su-ho wasn¡¯t bothered by theck of attention.

    Methodically, Kang Seul-gi continued his task. One by one, he picked up cursed items from the towering pile beside him, performing purification processes on each. If an item couldn¡¯t be purified, he tossed it into the destruction bin; if it was sessfully purified, it went into the storage bin.

    This routine continued until, at one point, he was about to discard an item into the destruction bin when Su-ho spoke.

    ¡°Deputy Team Leader.¡±

    ¡°¡­Yes?¡±

    ¡°You missed a step in the purification process for that item.¡±

    He had. Out of the 21 recognized purification methods, Kang Seul-gi had skipped one.

    Su-ho¡¯s observation halted Kang Seul-gi, who stared at the item briefly before nodding.

    ¡°You¡¯re right. Thank you.¡±

    Su-ho responded with a light smile and resumed watching Kang Seul-gi work.

    <strong>¡°¡­¡±</strong>

    From that moment on, Su-ho¡¯s presence began to bother Kang Seul-gi. Yet, the deputy team leader didn¡¯t say anything, continuing his work with machine-like precision.

    But not long after¡ª

    ¡°You missed another step.¡±

    ¡°Deputy Team Leader, that one too.¡±

    ¡°And that one.¡±

    Time and time again, Su-ho pointed out small errors in Kang Seul-gi¡¯s process.

    The other members of Special Team 2 were too preupied to notice. They were busy documenting Su-ho¡¯s purification discovery, contacting other departments, and reviewing existing materials. Even Jo Geon-hyuk had left them alone.

    This left Su-ho and Kang Seul-gi isted from the rest, an ind of their own.

    A Confrontation

    After some time, Su-ho spoke again.

    ¡°Deputy Team Leader.¡±

    Hearing his name, Kang Seul-gi paused and turned to Su-ho, his brow slightly furrowed. His expression seemed to ask, <em>What now?</em>

    But he didn¡¯t speak first, waiting instead for Su-ho to exin.

    Su-ho, wearing his ever-friendly smile, said, ¡°How about taking a break for some coffee?¡±

    ¡°Coffee?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine. I don¡¯t like coffee.¡±

    ¡°Then just listen to what I have to say.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Have you been stealing items like this all along?¡±

    The moment Su-ho finished his sentence, Kang Seul-gi¡¯s eyes widened in shock for the first time. His heart began pounding in his chest.

    ¡°W-what are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°Do I look like an idiot to you?¡±

    Su-ho stepped closer, still smiling. The gap between them shrank to just a few steps, their voices now low enough to be inaudible to anyone else.

    Lowering his voice, Su-ho continued, ¡°Admit it. You¡¯ve been deliberately tossing usable items into the destruction bin to smuggle them out.¡±

    ¡°W-what? That¡¯s ridiculous!¡±

    ¡°Are you going to keep ying dumb? If you keep this up, I¡¯ll reveal everything you¡¯ve been hiding¡ª<em>including what¡¯s in your stomach.</em>¡±

    Kang Seul-gi froze, visibly rattled.

    The usation of item theft was one thing, but Su-ho¡¯s mention of what was <em>in his stomach</em> struck a nerve. He swallowed hard, sweat trickling down his back and soaking his shirt.

    As Kang Seul-gi struggled to find words, Su-ho leaned in, his smile unwavering.

    ¡°Deputy Team Leader.¡±

    ¡°Y-yes?¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s grab that coffee.¡±

    ***

    In the backyard.

    Su-ho led Kang Seul-gi to a quiet spot he often shared with Jung Cheol-min.

    ¡°Coffee? Or maybe some barley tea?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll have barley tea¡­ please.¡±

    ¡°Sure. Do you have any coins?¡±@@novelbin@@

    ¡°Excuse me?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m out of coins.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ yes, here.¡±

    Taking the coins from Kang Seul-gi, Su-ho got two cups of barley tea and handed one to him.

    ¡°Enjoy.¡±

    ¡°Ah, thank you¡­¡±

    They drank in silence for a while, the warm tea serving as a temporary reprieve from the tension.

    After a few sips, Su-ho finally broke the silence.

    ¡°Deputy Team Leader.¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°When did it start?¡±

    ¡°When did what start?¡±

    ¡°The thing in your stomach.¡±

    Kang Seul-gi froze. His eyes widened, and his lips pressed tightly together.

    How did Su-ho know? This was supposed to be a secret known only to himself.

    After a long silence, Kang Seul-gi spoke, his voice trembling.

    ¡°How¡­ how did you find out?¡±

    ¡°Does that matter right now? What matters is the thing embedded in your stomach.¡±

    ¡°¡­.¡±

    ¡°Let me see it.¡±

    Kang Seul-gi hesitated, then sighed deeply. Slowly, he untucked his shirt and began unbuttoning it, revealing an inner undershirt beneath. Pulling it up exposed a thin, lightweight internal armor.

    But this wasn¡¯t ordinary armor.

    He didn¡¯t wear it because he was a member of Special Team 2. The armor existed solely to conceal something attached to his abdomen.

    When he unzipped the armor, whaty beneath was finally revealed.

    <strong>Rrrr¡­ rrrr¡­</strong>

    A faint mechanical noise became audible as the zipper was halfway undone. It sounded like machinery, and in truth, that¡¯s exactly what it was.

    As the armor came offpletely, it exposed two interlocking shredders spinning in his lower abdomen where flesh should have been.

    <strong>¡°It looks so tamepared to what it¡¯ll beter.¡±</strong>

    The shredder in his stomach was no mystery to Su-ho. He knew exactly what it was.

    Its name was <strong>Mega Crusher</strong>, one of the cursed items ssified under the "High Technology Series" of advanced artifacts from another civilization. Among the most dangerous cursed items, the Mega Crusher was considered a <strong>parasitic device</strong>.

    <strong>¡°In simple terms, Kang Seul-gi is its host.¡±</strong>

    Su-ho nodded and said, ¡°That thing in your stomach¡ªit¡¯s called the Mega Crusher, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°How do you know that?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a trade secret. But what¡¯s more important is this: you¡¯ve been stealing items to satisfy its demands, haven¡¯t you? You couldn¡¯t keep up with what the Mega Crusher required.¡±

    Kang Seul-gi bit his lip, his face pale. After a moment, he nodded slowly.

    ¡°¡­Yes, that¡¯s true.¡±

    ¡°That must have been hard for you. Alright, you can cover it back up.¡±

    Kang Seul-gi zipped his armor back up and adjusted his clothes, sitting quietly beside Su-ho. He gripped the paper cup in his hands so tightly it crumpled slightly¡ªa clear sign of his anxiety.

    Su-ho watched him in silence for a while, understanding the weight of the burden he carried.

    Kang Seul-gi hadn¡¯t always been this withdrawn.

    His transformation was directly tied to the Mega Crusher.

    Years ago, while working a solo night shift at Special Team 2¡¯s warehouse, he had been ambushed by the cursed item, which had been sealed there for safekeeping. From that moment, he became its host.

    At first, he had debated telling someone. Surely reporting the incident would lead to treatment or a solution. But the grotesque nature of the device embedded in his body made him hesitate. He couldn¡¯t bear the thought of revealing it, especially when no simr cases had ever been reported, even internationally.

    <strong>¡°The Mega Crusher was ssified as a cursed item that couldn¡¯t be purified or destroyed. It was sealed away because no one knew how to deal with it. What if I end up the same way¡ªlocked away and discarded?¡±</strong>

    Unable to trust anyone, Kang Seul-gi kept the secret to himself. To ensure no one discovered the truth, he distanced himself from others.

    <strong>¡°He didn¡¯t quit because only here could he ess the items needed to keep the Mega Crusher satisfied.¡±</strong>

    It was a choice born of necessity.

    But despite his efforts, the Mega Crusher¡¯s existence was eventually exposed to the world. Yearster, after Kang Seul-gi became a team leader, the cursed itempelled him to shred every artifact stored in the Special Warehouse.

    <strong>¡°All because of the Mega Crusher.¡±</strong>

    The device wasn¡¯t just dangerous. Though it appeared calm now, it would grow more demanding over time, consumingrger quantities of items and steadily eroding its host¡¯s mind, driving them to madness.

    This was why, in the future, Kang Seul-gi would be infamous as the <strong>Mad Disassembly Schr.</strong>

    Su-ho broke the silence.

    ¡°Deputy Team Leader.¡±

    ¡°¡­Yes?¡±

    ¡°You want to get rid of the Mega Crusher, don¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°What? I mean¡­ what did you just say?¡±

    ¡°You heard me. Would you like me to remove the Mega Crusher for you?¡±

    Kang Seul-gi¡¯s eyes widened, almost as if they would pop out of his skull. Not only did Su-ho know about the Mega Crusher, but he also imed to know how to remove it.

    After a brief moment of shock, Kang Seul-gi nodded frantically.

    ¡°Yes! Please! Do you know how? I¡¯m begging you¡ªplease, help me! I¡¯ll do anything!¡±

    His voice trembled with desperation, his entire demeanor pleading. It looked as though he might drop to his knees at any moment.

    Seeing his desperation, Su-ho nodded internally. It was fortunate that Kang Seul-gi had not yet experienced the hidden powers of the Mega Crusher.

    <strong>¡°That¡¯s probably why he can still ask for help like this.¡±</strong>

    Su-ho smiled and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll take care of it for you.¡±

    ¡°You¡­ really?¡±

    ¡°Yes, really.¡±

    That smile¡ªso calm and reassuring¡ªappeared to Kang Seul-gi like the smile of an angel.

 Chapter 95

    ¡°But to do this, there¡¯s one item I¡¯ll need.¡±

    ¡°An item?¡±

    Kang Seul-gi¡¯s expression changed at the mention of an item.

    ¡°Yes, but it¡¯s nothingplicated¡ªjust something simple and easy to acquire. Do you know of an item called the <em>¡®Third-Person Controller¡¯s Viewer¡¯</em>?¡±

    ¡°The Third-Person¡­ what?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s an item stored in the Resource Warehouse, ssified as junk. With that, I can remove the Mega Crusher from your body.¡±

    ¡°R-really? The Third-Person what? Controller?¡±

    ¡°The <em>Third-Person Controller¡¯s Viewer</em>. I noticed it in the junk storage while taking the first test.¡±

    The <em>Third-Person Controller¡¯s Viewer</em>¡ªnicknamed the <strong>Tri-View</strong>¡ªhad absolutely no connection to the Mega Crusher.

    However, Su-ho needed the Tri-View for a different purpose.

    It was the final ingredient for a partner item he nned to craft for Kim Gun.

    <strong>¡°But given the circumstances, there¡¯s no way I can take the Tri-View without leaving a trace.¡±</strong>

    Even in a warehouse overflowing with items, any missing inventory would eventually be discovered during a stock check. Such a careless act could bring unnecessary trouble, and Su-ho wasn¡¯t about to take that risk.

    The same was true for Kang Seul-gi.

    Kang Seul-gi hesitated, his expression conflicted.

    ¡°But if it¡¯s already in the Resource Warehouse, taking it out might be a problem¡­¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re right. Normally, it would be difficult. But now we have a way.¡±

    ¡°A way?¡±

    ¡°I just discovered the 22nd purification method, didn¡¯t I? That means the Resource Division will need to re-examine all their items. Who knows what hidden options the 22nd method might reveal?¡±

    <strong>¡°Ah!¡±</strong>

    Su-ho¡¯s logic was sound. With a new purification method revealed, the Resource Division would have no choice but to conduct a full reinspection of their inventory. And a clever person like Kang Seul-gi immediately realized the opportunity this presented.

    Su-ho asked, ¡°Do you think you can do it?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll find a way to make it happen. No, I¡¯ll absolutely make it happen.¡±

    ¡°Alright. Once you¡¯ve secured the item, contact me here.¡±

    With that, the issue of the Tri-View was resolved. Su-ho shared his personal contact information and began to rise from his seat.

    But just as he stood, Kang Seul-gi hesitated and called out to him.

    ¡°Uh¡­ Su-ho?¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry to ask, but¡­ how did you know about the Mega Crusher? I mean¡­ that it¡¯s inside me?¡±

    Kang Seul-gi¡¯s face was filled with anxiety.

    <strong>¡°Of course he¡¯s worried.¡±</strong>

    He had believed this secret was his alone. To hear it from someone who wasn¡¯t even part of Special Team 2, and a recent hire at that, must have been deeply unsettling.

    After a brief moment of thought, Su-ho answered casually, ¡°It¡¯s one of my personal skill effects.¡±

    ¡°A¡­ skill effect?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Normally, I wouldn¡¯t share this, but I¡¯m telling you as a favor. So don¡¯t worry¡ªnobody else knows about this except me.¡±

    ¡°R-really?¡±

    ¡°Of course. You can trust me. In fact, you <em>have</em> to trust me¡ªI¡¯m very discreet.¡±

    Su-ho gently patted Kang Seul-gi¡¯s shoulder a couple of times before walking away.

    Now, all that was left was to wait.

    ***

    The next day.

    The discovery of Su-ho''s <strong>22nd purification method</strong> had a far greater impact than he anticipated. So much so that it led to an automatic pass for his next evaluation at the Research and Analysis Division.

    Su-ho learned this through a phone call from Kim Seok-hoon.

    ¡°So, you¡¯re saying I¡¯ll receive full marks for the Research and Analysis Division evaluation as well?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s what the higher-ups decided. Honestly, your discovery is a monumental breakthrough for our Resource Academy.¡±

    <strong>¡°That¡¯s true.¡±</strong>

    After the Great Upheaval, all topics rted to the system had be priority issues for every nation. Su-ho¡¯s discovery was nothing short of revolutionary.

    Still, he feigned ignorance.

    ¡°But the Research and Analysis Division isn¡¯t directly part of Resource Management, is it?¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s not, but it falls under the Resource Department umbre. That allowed them to make this decision.¡±

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s great. So, does this mean I can move straight to the Gate Division for training?¡±

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s been decided that way. However, due to the sensitivity of the situation, we¡¯d like you to remain on standby at home until we contact you again.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    After ending the call, Su-ho nodded and muttered to himself, ¡°They¡¯re really pulling out all the stops.¡±

    He was pleased. Passing an evaluation this decisively was a wee surprise.

    <strong>¡°Still, this kind of downtime is frustrating.¡±</strong>

    Su-ho was eager to finish his training and jump into practical work as soon as possible.

    After a moment of deliberation, Su-ho picked up his phone again and made another call.

    ¡°Hello, Vice President?¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°Ah, Su-ho. What¡¯s the matter?¡±</li>

    </ul>

    The person Su-ho called was none other than <strong>Park Gyu-min</strong>, the Vice President.

    Su-ho exined everything that had happened in the Resource Department and requested an expedited transition to the Gate Division training, skipping the wait time.

    <ul>

    <li>¡°That¡¯s what happened? I see. Alright, you have a valid reason, so it shouldn¡¯t be a problem.¡±</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll be waiting. Oh, and by the way, since I discovered the 22nd purification method, I think the Resource Warehouse should re-examine all their items. I suggest starting with the junk items first.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°Is there a particr reason?¡±</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°There¡¯s always a reason. But do I really need to exin it?¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°¡­I understand. I¡¯ll handle it immediately.¡±</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Thank you. And about the other matter¡ªtaking care of your personal affairs¡ªI hope you¡¯re handling it well?¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°¡­I am.¡±</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Make sure you deal with everything you can on your own. If you don¡¯t, it¡¯ll only make things harder for you. Let me know if somethinges up. Take care.¡±@@novelbin@@

    Ending the call, Su-ho smirked. <strong>¡°Having connections really makes life easier.¡±</strong>

    Sure enough, not long after, Su-ho received another call, this time from Jung Cheol-min.

    ¡°Yes, Team Leader?¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°Su-ho! I heard about what happened. I heard you stirred things up in the Resource Department again?¡±</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Haha, stirred up might be a bit of an exaggeration. Things just happened.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°Well, same difference. Anyway, you were supposed to be on standby at home, but I just got an order from above. You¡¯re cleared to start training at the Gate Division immediately. Honestly, it¡¯s great news. Having someone like you sit idle would be such a waste.¡±</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Thank you. Hearing that makes me happy.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°Haha, I¡¯m just stating the obvious. Anyway, you¡¯ll start Gate Division training under me.¡±</li>

    </ul>

    Hearing this, Su-ho smiled faintly and nodded. <strong>¡°Of course.¡±</strong>

    ¡°Really? That¡¯s great news.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°Juste directly to the Gate Division floor tomorrow after you clock in. You know the location, right?¡±</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Yes, I do.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°Alright. Onest thing¡ªwill you be starting with the theory test again?¡±</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Yes. I¡¯ve already studied the materials you provided.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°Hah, I knew it. In that case, I¡¯ll prepare for both the theory test and the field training evaluation so you can jump straight into hands-on practice after the test.¡±</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°That would be fantastic. Thank you.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°Alright. See you tomorrow.¡±</li>

    </ul>

    Ending the call, Su-ho immediately pulled out a pen and paper to review his schedule.

    <strong>¡°The Gate Division training will cover both Detection and Management.¡±</strong>

    The Gate Division was split into two departments: Detection and Management. Initially, there had only been the Detection Department, but as gate incidents increased, the Management Department was established to handle oversight of existing gates.

    <ul>

    <li>The <strong>Detection Department</strong> monitored precursor phenomena to predict and prepare for gate formations.</li>

    <li>The <strong>Management Department</strong> handled overall gate supervision after gates were formed.</li>

    </ul>

    <strong>¡°For the Detection Department, they¡¯ll probably test predictive forms and monitoring methods. The Management Department will focus on standard gate management protocols.¡±</strong>

    As Su-ho reviewed his notes, he lingered on the term <strong>Detection Department</strong>, prompting memories of his past life.

    Su-ho had lost his entire family to a <strong>Gate Shock</strong> caused by a newly formed gate. He was one of many <strong>gate orphans</strong> left in the aftermath.

    <strong>¡°I imprisoned the culprits in Cheongsong and Cheongok prisons in my past life. But that doesn¡¯t erase their crimes.¡±</strong>

    As he had revealed to the banshee, the Gate Shock incident had been entirely preventable. Corruption and greed among higher-ups had led the government to ignore clear warnings, resulting in the loss of countless lives, including Su-ho¡¯s family.

    When Su-hoter learned the truth, he had methodically hunted down those responsible and brought them to justice¡ªnot through vignte actions, but through proper legal channels.

    <strong>¡°I¡¯ll make sure they face justice again.¡±</strong>

    Although he had already punished them in his past life, returning to the past meant those individuals had also returned to their pre-punishment state.

    <strong>¡°But it¡¯s not time yet. Right now, I¡¯m still just a trainee. I¡¯m not ready to wield the de.¡±</strong>

    Still, Su-ho was confident. This time, justice woulde far sooner.

    Returning his focus to the present, Su-ho began searching his <strong>Library of Memories</strong> for gate-rted materials to prepare for his training.

    While reviewing his findings, something caught his attention.

    <strong>¡°This gate opens around this time?¡±</strong>

    It was a gate that piqued his interest¡ªno, more than that, it was a gate he absolutely desired to investigate.

    <strong>¡°If that¡¯s the case, I need to make contact right away.¡±</strong>

    A smile spread across Su-ho¡¯s face, the perfect timing of this discovery filling him with anticipation.

    ***

    <strong>The Next Day</strong>

    Su-ho arrived at the <strong>Gate Division</strong> as nned.

    As soon as he entered, <strong>Jung Cheol-min</strong> greeted him warmly and quickly escorted him to meet the head of the Gate Division.

    ¡°Nice to meet you. I¡¯m <strong>Go Seong-rok</strong>.¡±

    Go Seong-rok, the head of the Gate Division.

    He was part of <strong>Pi Seong-yeol¡¯s faction</strong>, one of the power yers within the association. More importantly, he had been one of the key figures behind the <strong>Gate Shock Incident</strong> that imed Su-ho¡¯s family¡ªan event known as the <strong>Redevelopment Gate Case</strong>.

    Since he had yet to face justice in this timeline, his face was infuriatingly bright and self-satisfied.

    Despite this, Su-ho maintained his professionalism, extending his hand for a firm handshake.

    ¡°An Su-ho. A pleasure to meet you.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard so much about you. They say you¡¯ve been making waves in every department you¡¯ve joined?¡±

    ¡°Not at all. I¡¯ve just been lucky.¡±

    ¡°Haha! Luck onlyes to those who are prepared. With that in mind, I have high expectations for you. I wonder what kind of ¡®incident¡¯ you¡¯ll cause in our Gate Division.¡±

    <strong>¡°Incident, huh?¡±</strong>

    Fine. He could call it an incident.

    Su-ho intended to cause one¡ªa very big one.

    After the formalities, Su-ho received a few token words of encouragement from Go Seong-rok before moving on to his first task with Jung Cheol-min.

    The Theory Exam

    The theory exam was the first hurdle, and the results were predictable: a perfect score.

    When the scores were disyed, Jung Cheol-min merely chuckled, not even surprised anymore.

    ¡°If you get a perfect score on the Special Division¡¯s exam, you¡¯ll be the first person in the history of the Grand Awakened yer Association to achieve a clean sweep of perfect marks.¡±

    ¡°I hope it works out that way. So, do I move straight to the field evaluation now?¡±

    ¡°Exactly. You¡¯ll start with the <strong>Management Department</strong> and then move on to the <strong>Detection Department</strong>. First, let¡¯s meet the head of the Management Department, and then we¡¯ll proceed with the evaluation. Incidentally, I¡¯m the team leader for the Management Team, so I¡¯ll be overseeing your test.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    Together, the two made their way to the <strong>Management Department</strong>.

 Chapter 96

    The meeting with the Head of the Management Department was brief.

    The head showed little interest in Su-ho.

    After all, no matter how much of a ¡°royal¡± Su-ho was, he was just a rookie destined to move up to the Special Division soon. As far as they were concerned, it was enough if they kept things civil.

    Finally, after the obligatory formalities ended, Jeong Cheol-min spoke as they moved toward the management team.

    ¡°So, what do you think the Management Department evaluation will cover?¡±

    ¡°Well, since it¡¯s the Gate Management Department, it¡¯ll probably focus on field management assessments.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s correct. But do you know which teams exist in the Management Department?¡±

    ¡°As far as I know, there¡¯s the <strong>Management Team</strong>, which handles regr gates, the <strong>Trading Team</strong>, which leases and sells gates to private entities, and the <strong>Sealing Team</strong>, which is responsible for managing sealed gates.¡±

    ¡°Right. As you said, the Trading Team doesn¡¯t really conduct field evaluations. So if there is an evaluation, it¡¯ll likely involve the Management Team or the Sealing Team. But since the Sealing Team is too dangerous, the evaluation will be focused on the Management Team¡¯s tasks.¡±

    As expected.

    Su-ho had already anticipated this and prepared a n ordingly.

    Jeong Cheol-min continued, ¡°With that in mind, this time¡¯s evaluation will be about the general gate management protocol¡­ By the way, is there any specific gate you¡¯d like to visit?¡±

    Hearing this, Su-ho chuckled internally.

    ¡®So they¡¯re sticking to tradition, huh.¡¯

    The Gate Management Department had a longstanding tradition passed down through generations.

    Instead of pre-selecting evaluation locations, unlike other departments, they gave candidates the option to choose a gate themselves.

    Why this tradition?

    The Gate Management Department had a reputation as one of the most grueling divisions both inside and outside the APA. Offering candidates such ¡°kindness¡± was a way to entice them into joining.

    ¡®Like the surgery department in a university hospital.¡¯

    Of course, how many people would actually choose to join because of this little gesture? Still, it was a tradition started in an attempt to leave a good impression.

    In response to Jeong Cheol-min¡¯s question, Su-ho replied, ¡°Can I choose any gate?¡±

    ¡°Oh, hearing you say that makes me think you already have one in mind. But what kind of ce would make you drop such a hint this early?¡±

    ¡°Haha¡­¡±

    Su-houghed awkwardly.

    At that, Jeong Cheol-min gave him a suspicious look.

    ¡°¡­You¡¯re not seriously thinking about a sealed gate, are you?¡±

    Su-ho just smiled silently in response.

    That smile made Jeong Cheol-min close his eyes briefly and shake his head.

    ¡°¡­I can¡¯t believe it. I had my doubts, but you really are something, Su-ho.¡±

    ¡°Haha¡­ Is it impossible?¡±

    Su-ho¡¯s awkwardugh prompted Jeong Cheol-min to stare at him for a moment before smirking.

    ¡°Well, you¡¯ve already said it out loud, so why not? Besides, if it¡¯s you, I think it¡¯ll be fine.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°So, which gate are you interested in?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d like to visit <strong>Iron Valley</strong>.¡±

    ¡°Iron Valley¡­ You mean the one that was recently designated as a sealed gate?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s the one.¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­¡±

    <strong>Iron Valley.</strong>

    As Jeong Cheol-min had just mentioned, Iron Valley was only recently designated as a sealed gate.

    That was precisely why Su-ho needed to go there now.

    ¡®The sooner, the better when ites to Iron Valley.¡¯

    No, this might be his only chance. If he missed this opportunity, he might never find the right timing again.

    After a moment of deliberation, Jeong Cheol-min nodded.

    ¡°Alright. Since Iron Valley was only recently designated as a sealed gate, it might actually fit well with the evaluation guidelines. After all, it¡¯s still one of the gates with unrestricted ess.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for allowing it.¡±

    ¡°No problem. I already gave my word, didn¡¯t I? Then shall we head out right away? You know Iron Valley is in Gangwon Province, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I know. I can drive; we can take my car.¡±

    ¡°Oh,e on, we can¡¯t tire out the candidate before the evaluation. I¡¯ll drive; let¡¯s use my car.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for the consideration.¡±

    Though it was a bit of a long trip, Gangwon Province wasn¡¯t too far from Seoul.

    With that, the two got into Jeong Cheol-min¡¯s car and set off for Gangwon Province.

    ***

    After Entering Gangwon Province

    As they neared the Iron Valley Gate, signs of the controlled area and stationed soldiers began to appear. By the time they fully entered the restricted zone, they could see the external surroundings of the gate, with thepleted construction of the square around it.

    When the two stepped out of the car, Major Kang Hyuk, the person in charge of the area, came out to greet them.

    ¡°Wee.¡±

    ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Jeong Cheol-min. I spoke with you on the phone earlier.¡±

    The two exchanged pleasantries, and Jeong naturally introduced Su-ho and exined the purpose of their visit again.

    ¡°Please take care of us.¡±

    ¡°No, the pleasure is ours. If you need anything while using the facilities, just let us know.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    After receiving permission to use the facilities, Jeong Cheol-min began exining the details of the field evaluation.

    The evaluation itself was straightforward.

    The task was to demonstrate the order and method for inspecting managed gates and to check each element ording to protocol. Unsurprisingly, Su-ho passed every part with ease.

    ¡°As expected from you, Su-ho. This is your first time on-site, isn¡¯t it? How are you so good at this?¡±

    ¡°I just followed what was in the manuals.¡±

    ¡°Well, you¡¯ve passed the external management procedures¡­ and the square inspection method¡­ Now, shall we take a quick look inside the gate and head back?¡±

    This was the final step.

    Gate management was divided into two main categories: checking external factors and conducting internal inspections by entering the gate itself.

    In the case of Iron Valley, the internal inspection had already beenpleted. However, since Su-ho was here as an examinee, he had to enter for evaluation purposes.

    After Jeong exined the internal evaluation process and requested gate ess from the person in charge, the square opened up.

    ¡°Even though this is a sealed gate, make sure to be as cautious as possible,plete your test, ande back out immediately.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    After receiving the instructions, Su-ho entered the square with Jeong.

    It wasn¡¯t long before they saw the gate portal leading to Iron Valley, located inside the square.

    ¡®It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve seen a gate portal.¡¯

    Having been upied with association activities, it felt nostalgic to see one again.

    ¡°Shall we go?¡±

    At Jeong¡¯s prompt, the two of them stepped into the portal together.

    [ You are entering the gate. ]

    [ Retrieving gate information. ]

    [ <strong>Iron Valley</strong> ]

    <ul>

    <li>Entry Condition: Level 99 or below.</li>

    <li>Maximum Entry Limit: 40 people.</li>

    </ul>

    The information matched exactly what Su-ho remembered from his past life.

    ¡®To think I¡¯de here now.¡¯

    A small smile tugged at his lips as a sense of familiarity washed over him.

    Momentster, Su-ho¡¯s vision was enveloped in darkness.

    ***

    After Entering the Gate

    The moment they entered the gate, the surroundings changed.

    The dark interior of the square transformed into a lush green meadow, with the <strong>Iron Valley</strong>, the gate¡¯s namesake, visible in the distance.

    Jeong Cheol-min, who had entered with Su-ho, spoke up.

    ¡°How is it? Satisfied now?¡±

    ¡°Yes, thanks to you, I finally made it here.¡±

    Although Jeong Cheol-min was of a lower level, he was still a Hunter and an experienced yer, which allowed him to enter the gate alongside Su-ho.

    Afterward, Jeong once again went over the evaluation points with Su-ho before beginning the internal assessment.@@novelbin@@

    The result? A perfect score.

    The internal evaluation was much easierpared to the external one. It was nothing more than a formality.

    Once the evaluation wasplete, Jeong pulled a thermos out of his inventory.

    ¡°A thermos? What¡¯s that for?¡±

    ¡°I brought it to have a cup of coffee.¡±

    At the mention of coffee, Su-ho chuckled.

    Serving coffee inside the gate was another one of the Gate Management Department¡¯s long-standing traditions.

    Thoughtfully, the coffee was iced.

    After Su-ho poured coffee into a paper cup handed to him by Jeong, he returned the favor by pouring some into Jeong¡¯s cup as well.

    The two then found afortable spot to sit and looked out at the breezy fields.

    ¡°The view¡¯s nice, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°Yes. If this weren¡¯t inside a gate, it¡¯d feel like I was on an overseas vacation.¡±

    ¡°The interiors of gates do have that kind of charm. You seendscapes here that you¡¯d never find in the bleakness of the city¡­ That¡¯s why I like the Management Department within the Gate Division.¡±

    ¡°Even with the heavy workload?¡±

    ¡°Well, isn¡¯t it the same in every department? Everyone thinks their job is the hardest. Still, I feel this ce suits me.¡±

    Jeong¡¯s expression grew contemtive, his eyes tinged with a hint of wistfulness.

    Seeing this, Su-ho almost burst outughing.

    He knew exactly what Jeong was doing.

    Even the words and that sentimental gaze were all calcted moves¡ªpart of an borate strategy to lure recruits into the Gate Management Department.

    The so-called <strong>Romantic Strategy</strong>.

    Like enjoying a cold beer after a hard day¡¯s work, they stirred emotions, subtly enticing people into joining the department.

    But it wouldn¡¯t work on Su-ho.

    He was far too seasoned¡ªone of the most experienced veterans in the association.

    Still, he didn¡¯t dislike the Gate Division. On the contrary, he quite liked it.

    It was just that the Romantic Strategy didn¡¯t have any effect on him.

    As Su-ho sipped his coffee, he casually spoke up.

    ¡°Team Leader.¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°Actually¡­ I want to join the Gate Division.¡±

    ¡°¡­What?¡±

    Jeong¡¯s eyes widened in shock.

    What was he saying?

    Out of nowhere?

    But Su-ho paid no mind to Jeong¡¯s surprise and continued speaking.

    ¡°I¡¯m well aware of the rumors about me¡ªthat I¡¯m some kind of prodigy being groomed by the Special Division, a ¡®royal.¡¯ Even Deputy Director Pi has been spreading that around. But honestly¡­ I want to work in the Gate Division more than in the Special Division.¡±

    ¡°¡­.¡±

    Jeong¡¯s jaw dropped halfway open.

    Never in his wildest dreams did he think Su-ho would say something like this.

    And because of that, his heart began to race.

    ¡®If Su-ho joins the Gate Division¡­¡¯

    It would mean the chance to aplish things they had never been able to do before¡ªthings they had only dreamed of.

    After all, wasn¡¯t it Jeong himself who had first discovered Su-ho in the association?

    ¡®I¡¯ve imagined it before¡­ Working alongside Su-ho.¡¯

    But Su-ho was too exceptional. Naturally, others set their sights on him, and in the end, someone far more powerful than Jeong had taken Su-ho away.

    Jeong had no choice but to let go of the name "An Su-ho" in his mind.

    Yet here was Su-ho, saying he wanted to join the Gate Division instead of the Special Division.

    Su-ho continued, ¡°You were the first person I met from the association. Maybe that¡¯s why I want to join the Gate Division even more.¡±

    ¡°¡­.¡±

    Su-ho offered an awkward smile.

    Seeing that smile, Jeong felt his heart sink.

    Here was Su-ho, genuinely expressing his desire to join the Gate Division, and yet Jeong couldn¡¯t do anything to help him.

    Was this how Romeo and Juliet felt?

    His mouth tasted bitter.

    After a long moment of thought, Jeong made a decision.

    Fine.

    If it wasn¡¯t going to happen anyway, he could at least offer someforting words. That way, it wouldn¡¯t sting as much.

    Just as Jeong was about to open his mouth, Su-ho spoke first.

    ¡°Team Leader.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Su-ho?¡±

    ¡°You know that once this training ends, I¡¯ll start as a Deputy Team Leader, right?¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­ Yes, I¡¯m aware. But why do you ask?¡±

    ¡°What if I told you there¡¯s a way for me to join the Gate Division instead of the Special Division? Would you be willing to help me?¡±

    ¡°¡­What?¡±

    Jeong¡¯s eyes widened again, even more than before.

    What was Su-ho nning now?

 Chapter 98

    Seeing the tremble in Jeong Cheol-min¡¯s eyes, Su-ho smiled with confidence.

    Yes.

    He must be curious.

    No, it was inevitable.

    As a person.

    As a man.

    As a yer.

    As a Hunter.

    There was no way he couldn¡¯t be curious.

    After all, no one had ever seen Su-ho in a proper battle. Not once.

    ¡®Of course, Cheol-min saw me during the healer exam¡­¡¯

    But back then was different.

    At that time, Su-ho had no skills, no real power¡ªjust a sword in hand, fighting to protect the injured.

    This was precisely why Su-ho had baited him.

    ¡®Cheol-min is someone with a deep yearning forbat.¡¯

    Jeong Cheol-min had been a Hunter and a yer.

    However, due to his age andck of innatebat talent, he gave up on the Hunter lifestyle and joined the APA.

    But that decision had been based on objective self-assessment, choosing a realistic path in life. It didn¡¯t mean he¡¯d given up his long-held dreams and passion.@@novelbin@@

    What someone is good at and what they love are often very different things.

    Su-ho broke the silence.

    ¡°Think about it this way: In the APA, as long as the result is good, nobody cares if the process isn¡¯t perfect. That¡¯s the kind of organization we work for. And I promise¡ªif anything even slightly dangerous happens, I¡¯ll leave the gate immediately.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Jeong Cheol-min remained silent for a while.

    For someone who had always followed the rules, Su-ho¡¯s suggestion went against everything he believed in.

    But curiosity was a dangerous thing. It gnawed at him, making it impossible to decide easily.

    And yet.

    ¡°...Are you serious?¡±

    In the end, Jeong Cheol-min was only human.

    A man with fiery passions and dreams buried in his heart.

    Seeing Jeong¡¯s cautious yet positive reaction, Su-ho¡¯s smile grew wider.

    ¡®That¡¯s the Cheol-min I know.¡¯

    After spending so much time with him, how could Su-ho not know his nature?

    This was a calcted move, nned from the start.

    Moreover, Su-ho had a personal reason. If there was anyone he wanted to show hisbat prowess to, it was Jeong Cheol-min.

    After all, seeing is believing. If Jeong witnessed his abilities firsthand, he would support Su-ho in the future during simr situations.

    Su-ho spoke again, his tone reassuring.

    ¡°I¡¯m serious. I promise.¡±

    ¡°¡­Fine. I get it. You¡¯re pushing this so hard¡ªhow could I say no? But let me be clear: I don¡¯t approve of this sort of thing lightly. I¡¯m only agreeing because it¡¯s you, Su-ho.¡±

    ¡°Of course. That¡¯s why I came to you.¡±

    Yes, of course.

    Su-ho thought, <em>That¡¯s how you always are, hyung.</em>

    Now, the hard part was over. The first hurdle is always the toughest; the second is much easier.

    With Jeong¡¯s approval, all that remained was to conquer the <strong>Iron Valley</strong> and cement his skills in Jeong¡¯s mind.

    Su-ho crushed the empty coffee cup in his hand and stood up.

    ¡°By the way, Team Leader, what¡¯s your ss?¡±

    ¡°Well, I¡¯ve transitioned into an archer ss. Why?¡±

    ¡°Just curious. Not that it¡¯ll happen, but if things get dangerous, you¡¯ll need to run for your life.¡±

    ¡°¡­Ahem.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t wrong.

    If things went south, Jeong was more at risk than Su-ho.

    ¡°And one more thing. What I¡¯m going to show you today¡ªmy skills, items, and such¡ªmust stay a secret. Just between us.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a given. I understand.¡±

    ¡°Good, then.¡±

    [ <strong>Blood Weapon Activated</strong> ]

    Su-ho summoned a crimson de into his hand and gripped it tightly.

    ¡°I¡¯ll go ahead and clear the area. Stay back and follow at a safe distance. Try not to draw attention.¡±

    ¡°What? Right now?¡±

    ¡°See you soon.¡±

    With that, Su-ho dashed forward, moving with incredible speed toward the front.

    Jeong could only stare, stunned, as Su-ho disappeared into the distance.

    ***

    [ <strong>You have defeated a Valley Lion.</strong> ]

    [ <strong>You have defeated a Valley Lion.</strong> ]

    [ <strong>You have defeated a Valley Lion.</strong> ]

    [ <strong>You have defeated a Valley Lion.</strong> ]

    ...

    The exhration was intoxicating.

    For the first time in a while, Su-ho felt like a fish returned to water as he roamed the field. His sword strokes were unrelenting, and the blood-soaked ground left behind by the in Valley Lions painted a gruesome river of crimson in his wake.

    [ <strong>Blood Prison Activated</strong> ]

    Not a single drop of blood was wasted. Opportunities like this were rare, and Su-ho intended to take full advantage.

    Watching this disy, Jeong Cheol-min couldn¡¯t help but be utterly shocked.

    Was it the Blood Prison absorbing the blood?

    Not at all.

    ¡®That movement... it¡¯s unreal.¡¯

    What captivated him was Su-ho¡¯s fluid, almost acrobatic movements.

    Although this wasn¡¯t his first time seeing Su-ho fight¡ªhe¡¯d watched him in action during the healer exam, battling orcs¡ªthis was on apletely different level.

    Back then, Su-ho was impressive but far from this polished. Now, his movements were faster, sharper, and far more dazzling.

    There were reasons for that.

    This time, Su-ho had skills he hadn¡¯t possessed then, such as the <strong>S-rank Leap Skill</strong>, which allowed a double jump.

    When Su-ho vaulted into the air, stepping on nothing as if it were solid ground, Jeong¡¯s eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets.

    ¡®Is that¡­ is that Air Step? No, it has to be! I just saw him fly into the air!¡¯

    But it didn¡¯t stop there.

    Every sh of Su-ho¡¯s sword seemed to cut through anything in its path. Even the most intimidating Valley Lions faltered, their resolve crumbling as they attempted to flee, only to meet their end.

    Watching this one-sided ughter, a single thought ran through Jeong¡¯s mind.

    ¡®A cmity¡­ That¡¯s what Su-ho is. He¡¯s a living cmity unleashed upon Iron Valley.¡¯

    After who knows how many lions had been cut down, a deafening roar echoed through the valley.

    <ul>

    <li><strong>Ka-hooooonnn!!</strong></li>

    </ul>

    The entire valley trembled with the sound.

    Simultaneously, a system notification appeared before them.

    [ <strong>A Boss Monster has appeared.</strong> ]

    The notification was the clearest warning that the ruler of the valley had arrived.

    Unlike the cries of the other lions, this roar was on apletely different scale.

    <ul>

    <li><strong>Grrr...</strong></li>

    </ul>

    Su-ho looked up to meet the gaze of the creature standing atop the highest point in the valley.

    <ul>

    <li><strong>Monster Lion Lv. 113</strong></li>

    </ul>

    The <strong>Monster Lion</strong>.

    Just as Jeong had described, its name was self-exnatory. Its level had grown even higher, now reaching 113.

    ¡°113...¡± Su-ho murmured to himself.

    His current level was 73. A gap of 40 levels.

    But it didn¡¯t matter.

    Thest boss monster Su-ho faced was the <strong>Sky Wyvern Queen</strong>, who had been level 120. Compared to her, this was a 7-level difference in his favor.

    ¡®This is manageable. No, this is actually fortunate.¡¯

    But Jeong didn¡¯t share Su-ho¡¯s confidence.

    ¡®Its level has risen again?!¡¯

    The Monster Lion¡¯s level was higher than thest time Jeong had seen it. It was only natural for him to feel uneasy.

    He¡¯d heard Su-ho hadn¡¯t yet reached triple-digit levels.

    ¡®How can he be so confident with that kind of level gap?¡¯

    Moreover, the Monster Lion¡¯s hide was so resilient that even elite raid teams had failed to leave a scratch.

    Still, what was done was done.

    Jeong closed his eyes and muttered a silent prayer.

    ¡®Alright. I¡¯ll trust him this time. If things go south, we¡¯ll just run for it.¡¯

    ¡°Team Leader!¡± Su-ho called out. ¡°Make sure to keep your distance so you don¡¯t get caught in the boss monster¡¯s fear aura! I won¡¯t be able to protect you once we start!¡±

    ¡°Yes, understood! Don¡¯t worry about me!¡± Jeong replied.

    <ul>

    <li><strong>Khuoooonng!!</strong></li>

    </ul>

    Before Su-ho¡¯s warning had even finished, the Monster Lion let out a roar that activated its <strong>Fear Aura</strong>.

    [ <strong>The Monster Lion uses Boss Monster-level Fear.</strong> ]

    The overwhelming Lion¡¯s Fear was enough to make most Hunters crumble under severe debuffs.

    But Su-ho remained unfazed.

    Lion¡¯s Fear?

    <em>That¡¯s nothingpared to a dragon.</em>

    [ <strong>Dragon Blood Activated</strong> ]

    [ <strong>The Dragon Spirit Effect negates Fear.</strong> ]

    The blood of the dragon coursing through Su-ho nullified the Fear Aura entirely. The effect was so cooling, it felt like a natural air conditioner.

    Seeing the notification, Su-ho smirked.

    ¡°This is what I call natural air conditioning.¡±

    Still, he wondered if Jeong was holding up okay. The Fear Aura had been a nightmare for even the most elite raiders, and Jeong¡¯s lower level likely meant he was incapacitated.

    Thankfully, Jeong had already retreated to a safe distance and was observing from afar.

    ¡®As expected of Cheol-min-hyung¡¯s cockroach-like survival instincts. That¡¯s why they call him ¡°Jeong the Survivor.¡± You can¡¯t underestimate the experience it takes to be a Gate Division team leader at his level.¡¯

    Turning his attention back to the Monster Lion, Su-ho locked eyes with the beast again.

    He smirked, taunting it with a subtle, mocking lift of his lips.

    <em>Come down.</em>

    Stop meowing like a kitten from up there in the valley.

    The message seemed to get through.

    The Monster Lion began moving, descending slowly. Its demeanor was calm and regal, like that of a true king.

    ¡®That¡¯s what it means to be royalty, huh?¡¯

    The Monster Lion was unlike the other lions in the valley.

    While the others had tawny fur, this one had a mix of ash and ck in its coat, its eyes glinting golden with an intense green hue swirling within.

    More notably, the other lions, typically known for moving in packs, had vanished entirely upon its arrival.

    From the start, the Monster Lion had been in a league of its own, bearing the title of boss monster alone.

    Su-ho summoned his <strong>Phantom Spear</strong>, gripping it firmly as he muttered to himself.

    ¡°Let¡¯s see just how unbreakable that famed hide of yours really is.¡±

    It was a greeting¡ªa formal acknowledgment of the beast¡¯s reputation.

    With all his might, Su-ho hurled the Phantom Spear at the Monster Lion.

    [ <strong>Throwing Spear Activated</strong> ]

    The spear surged forward, aimed directly at the lion¡¯s forehead.

    <em>ng!</em>

    Even with the spear enhanced by its throwing skill, it bounced harmlessly off the lion¡¯s forehead.

    But what was more impressive was the lion¡¯s reaction.

    It didn¡¯t flinch. It didn¡¯t even turn its head. The spear hit dead center, and the lion merely stood firm, as if it had expected the attack.

    That level of confidence could onlye from absolute trust in its imprable hide.

    Watching this, Jeong squeezed his eyes shut.

    ¡®Of course¡­¡¯

    He¡¯d hoped that Su-ho could ovee the legendary <strong>Indestructible Hide</strong>, but it seemed futile.

    Yet Su-ho, rather than looking frustrated, smiled, admiration gleaming in his eyes.

    ¡°Impressive. Yeah, this is what it means to be the Lion of Nemea.¡±

    His respect was genuine.

    The <strong>Monster Lion</strong> before him was no ordinary beast.

    It was a mythical being¡ªone Su-ho had always dreamed of facing: the legendary <strong>Lion of Nemea</strong>.

 Chapter 99

    The <strong>Lion of Nemea</strong>.

    A mythical creature known to those well-versed in lore. It was the first of the legendary Twelve Laborspleted by the demigod hero <strong>Heracles</strong>.

    ¡®And it¡¯s also infamous as the qualification test for those aiming to be ¡°Heracles Candidates.¡±¡¯

    The Lion of Nemea wasn¡¯t named so for nothing. Its alias, the ¡°Monster Lion,¡± was derived directly from the myths surrounding the Lion of Nemea.

    Defeating this creature granted the victor one of the <strong>Powers of Heracles</strong>.

    ¡®The Power of Heracles¡­ This time, it¡¯ll be mine.¡¯

    Su-ho recalled the man who once bore the title of Heracles in his past life.

    He was a towering ck man, the first toplete the Twelve Labors spread across the world.

    ¡®That¡¯s how the ¡°ck Heracles¡± was born.¡¯

    It wasn¡¯t about racial stereotypes¡ªhe had chosen the name himself.

    He took immense pride in his skin color and referred to himself as ck Heracles, or simply <strong>Bless</strong>.

    ¡®Bless¡­ He was a good man.¡¯

    Su-ho didn¡¯t just know of Bless; he was close friends with him.

    Bless, proud of the Heracles title, walked a path of heroism and ideals that aligned closely with Su-ho¡¯s.

    Because of this, Su-ho knew all the strategies for oveing the Twelve Labors.

    But now¡­

    ¡®Sorry, Bless. This time, I¡¯m taking the Power of Heracles.¡¯

    While trustworthy allies were important, that principle had changed after Su-ho¡¯s betrayal in the wake of conquering his first cataclysmic gate.

    The knife stabbed into his back had reshaped his values.

    Where once he believed in delegation¡ªletting experts handle what he couldn¡¯t¡ªhe now resolved to acquire every skill and power for himself.

    Su-ho discarded his sword.@@novelbin@@

    If the <strong>Phantom Spear</strong> couldn¡¯t pierce the lion, his <strong>Blood Sword</strong> wouldn¡¯t fare any better. Neither would his de techniques like Steel Slice or Cloud Cleave.

    He needed a different approach.

    Deactivating the Blood Sword, Su-ho transformed the <strong>Blood Weapon</strong> into <strong>double gauntlets</strong> that encased his arms and shoulders.

    <strong>Blood Gauntlets.</strong>

    Su-ho decided to call them <strong>Blood Gloves.</strong>

    <em>Bang!</em>

    He mmed his fists together, testing their durability.

    Seeing this, the Lion of Nemea leaped at him with the agility of a feline predator.

    <ul>

    <li><strong>Grrraaahh!!</strong></li>

    </ul>

    As the lion charged, Su-ho didn¡¯t retreat. He ran straight toward it.

    ¡°What the hell?!¡±

    Jeong Cheol-min shouted in disbelief.

    He had expected Su-ho to keep his distance, using ranged attacks to wear the lion down. Instead, Su-ho opted for a head-on collision, even engaging in <strong>hand-to-handbat</strong>.

    The Lion of Nemea wasn¡¯t just famous for its near-indestructible hide. Its <strong>razor-sharp ws</strong> were legendary, capable of tearing through any shield or armor.

    And yet, Su-ho charged directly into those ws.

    <em>Boom!</em>

    A thunderous sound echoed as Su-ho¡¯s and the lion¡¯s sh shook the valley.

    ¡°No¡­ freaking¡­ way!¡±

    Jeong gasped in awe as Su-ho not only endured the lion¡¯s attack but met it head-on.

    Su-ho stared into the lion¡¯s fierce, golden eyes tinged with deep green¡ªa gaze that radiated a chilling, reptilian menace.

    ¡®Most yers would lose their nerve just from this stare.¡¯

    The gaze of a powerful monster carried a psychological effect as strong as its fear aura.

    But Su-ho was different.

    With the blood of dragons and vampires coursing through his veins, the lion¡¯s intimidating gaze was no more threatening than a kitten¡¯s re.

    ¡°Whew¡­¡±

    Exhaling through clenched fists, Su-ho stabilized his footing.

    The lion¡¯s ws never made contact; Su-ho had caught the creature¡¯s paw between his hands.

    This was basicmon sense.

    No matter how strong Su-ho was, the lion¡¯s ws were a deadly force to be reckoned with. Carelessness would mean death.

    ¡®Let¡¯s go!¡¯

    Taking a deep breath, Su-ho unleashed a sudden burst of strength.

    The Lion of Nemea staggered, momentarily losing its bnce.

    Though the lion quickly regained its footing, it wasn¡¯t fast enough. In that fleeting moment, Su-ho darted behind it.

    ¡°Gotcha!¡±

    <ul>

    <li><strong>Graaaahhh!!</strong></li>

    </ul>

    Su-ho seized the lion¡¯s neck and locked it in a tight chokehold.

    The <strong>Lion of Nemea¡¯s Weakness.</strong>

    Even the mythical Heracles couldn¡¯t pierce its hide and had to resort to strangtion to defeat it.

    Bless had used the same method, and so would Su-ho.

    <ul>

    <li><strong>Graaaahhh!!</strong></li>

    </ul>

    [ <strong>The Monster Lion uses Boss Monster-level Fear.</strong> ]

    [ <strong>Dragon Blood Activated.</strong> ]

    [ <strong>Fear is negated by the Dragon Spirit Effect.</strong> ]

    The lion roared in desperation, thrashing wildly. Its instincts warned it of imminent danger, and it struggled to escape the chokehold.

    But Su-ho¡¯s grip only tightened. The lion¡¯s roars were nothing more than a cat¡¯s cries to someone protected by dragon blood.

    ¡®I never thought I¡¯d be putting a lion in a rear-naked choke.¡¯

    It wasn¡¯t exactly the most ¡°Sword Saint-like¡± method, but against the Lion of Nemea¡¯s defense, human ingenuity was the best weapon.

    Even Heracles himself had resorted to this very technique.

    <ul>

    <li><strong>Graaaaahhh!!</strong></li>

    </ul>

    The lion thrashed violently, its efforts growing more desperate.

    But the harder it struggled, the more firmly Su-ho clung to its back like a stubborn insect.

    Letting go wasn¡¯t an option.

    If Su-ho released the chokehold, there wouldn¡¯t be a second chance.

    ¡®This is it. My first and only opportunity.¡¯

    Su-ho clenched his teeth, pouring all his strength into the hold.

    Though his level was only in the 70s, his stats were far beyond that, thanks to countless battles and meticulous nning.

    ¡®The Lion of Nemea will only grow stronger. Today is the weakest it¡¯ll ever be.¡¯

    Su-ho remembered a quote from a luxury brand CEO: <em>¡°Our products are cheapest today.¡±</em>

    The same applied here.

    The <strong>Lion of Nemea</strong> grew stronger as it leveled up, making it increasingly impossible to conquer the gate it guarded. This scaling system filtered out all but the most worthy challengers for the title of <strong>Heracles Candidate</strong>.

    Su-ho¡¯s body bore the brunt of the lion¡¯s struggles. He was battered and bruised, his arms and legs scratched and bloodied.

    The <strong>Blood Gloves</strong> endured the onught, regenerating with each blow. Ordinary armor would have long been shredded to ribbons.

    ¡°Please¡­!¡±

    From a distance, Jeong sped his hands in prayer, sweat dripping from his brow as he watched the brutal battle unfold.

    The sh of dragon and lion stretched on for what felt like an eternity, leaving parts of the valley shattered and the air thick with dust.

    Finally, the chaos subsided.

    [ <strong>The ruler of Iron Valley, the Monster Lion, has been defeated.</strong> ]

    [ <strong>The gate has been conquered.</strong> ]

    [ <strong>MVP: An Su-ho.</strong> ]

    Jeong stared at the notification in stunned silence before erupting with a shout.

    ¡°Yes!!¡±

    His prayer had been answered.

    Meanwhile, Su-ho, seeing the same notification, finally released his grip on the lion and copsed onto the ground.

    [ <strong>Bonus EXP granted for MVP selection.</strong> ]

    [ <strong>One bonus stat awarded.</strong> ]

    [ <strong>Level up! All stats increased by 1.</strong> ]

    As the notifications rolled in, Su-ho chuckled at the sight of the lion sprawled lifelessly beside him.

    ¡°Damn stubborn thing¡­¡±

    Even in a world turned into a game, who could have imagined defeating a lion with a chokehold?

    It had been a grueling yet oddly exhrating experience.

    ¡°Now then¡­ Time to clean up.¡±

    Despite his aching muscles, Su-ho summoned the <strong>Phantom Spear</strong> to finish the job.

 Chapter 100

    <strong>CRACK!</strong>

    Su-ho hurled the Phantom Spear he had summoned toward the shadow of the dead monstrous lion, embedding it into the shadow.

    Immediately, a reaction urred.

    [The Phantom Spear reacts to the shadow of the monstrous lion.]

    [The Phantom Spear absorbs the shadow of the monstrous lion.]

    [The Phantom Spear is strengthened.]

    The Phantom Spear, having finally been fed, eagerly sucked up the shadow of the monstrous lion, consuming it with a satisfying gulp.

    Su-ho watched the scene with contentment.

    ¡°Eat well, Yeongchang.¡±

    Watching the Phantom Spear, it felt almost like caring for a pet, and he couldn¡¯t help but feel proud.

    Hopefully, after this, the third stage of its awakening will finally be triggered.

    Su-ho then opened his status window.

    <strong>[An Su-ho]</strong>

    <ul>

    <li>Level: 74</li>

    <li>ss: Healer</li>

    <li>Trait: New Blood</li>

    <li>Strength (R): 86</li>

    <li>Stamina (R): 36</li>

    <li>Magic (R): 36</li>

    <li>Sensory (R): 36</li>

    <li>Bonus Stats: 2</li>

    </ul>

    His level had risen by one, and he had gained two bonus stats.

    Su-ho allocated all the bonus stats into Strength and then turned his gaze toward Jeong Cheol-min, who was approaching.

    ¡°Su-ho-ssi!¡±

    He lookedpletely unscathed, suggesting that he had carefully avoided any damage.

    Su-ho was relieved by that.

    If Jeong Cheol-min had been injured, it would have been a bit upsetting for him.

    As Jeong Cheol-min closed the distance, Su-ho smiled and spoke.

    ¡°You¡¯re here? Are you hurt anywhere?¡±

    ¡°Ah, no. Thanks to you, Su-ho-ssi, I¡¯m perfectly fine. But what about you? Are you okay?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine, of course. After all, I took down that monstrous lion, didn¡¯t I?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s true, but... Su-ho-ssi, I really watched with my hands sweating. How did you even think about facing that monstrous lion head-on?¡±

    ¡°I thought it was the only way.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°There was a scene in a martial arts novel I once read. The hero used a technique to choke out an opponent who had perfected the unbreakable body technique. So I thought I might try it, and I didn¡¯t expect it to work, but it did.¡±

    ¡°Wait... What? Are you serious?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m serious. You saw it for yourself, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    Su-ho smiled brightly in response, and Jeong Cheol-min looked at him with a somewhat dumbfounded expression.

    <strong>"He decided to face the monstrous lion head-on just because of that? I knew he was unusual, but could he possibly be a little crazy?"</strong>

    Now that he thought about it, there did seem to be a bit of entricity about him.

    Noticing Jeong Cheol-min¡¯s strange expression, Su-ho chuckled and said,

    ¡°Anyway, I really appreciate you, Team Leader. Thanks to you, I was able to tackle another sealed gate.¡±

    Su-ho bowed his head in gratitude, but Jeong Cheol-min waved his hand in a flustered manner.

    ¡°Ah, no, it¡¯s nothing. What have I done? I should be the one thanking you on behalf of everyone. Thanks to you, we saved the taxpayers'' money again.¡±

    Managing a single sealed gate required substantial manpower and taxpayer funds.

    In that sense, Jeong Cheol-min genuinely felt grateful to Su-ho.

    If there was anyone who genuinely cared about the country and its people, it was Jeong Cheol-min.

    Su-ho smiled and spoke again.

    ¡°Then, would it be alright if I take the loot?¡±

    ¡°Loot?¡±

    ¡°Yes, loot,¡± Su-ho said, pointing to the corpse of the monstrous lion.

    Ah, right.

    There was still the matter of the loot to settle.

    In theory, ording to the rules, the loot obtained from a gate cleared by a civil servant Hunter was supposed to belong to the state.

    This was one of the most notoriousws, one that would only change after a massive reform within the Hunter Association in the future.

    <strong>¡°This damnw is still in effect.¡±</strong>

    However, Su-ho had no intention of returning the loot from the monstrous lion to the state.

    After all, what kind of treasure was this?

    Still, he had no intention of deceiving Jeong Cheol-min.

    Su-ho believed that even the smallest things, like taking loot, needed to be permitted by Jeong Cheol-min. He needed to gain his trust and favor.

    ¡°Hmm¡­¡±

    At Su-ho¡¯s question, Jeong Cheol-min paused for a moment, stroking his chin.

    In principle, the loot from the Iron Valley gate should have been returned to the state, but¡­

    ¡°Go ahead, Su-ho-ssi. You can take it.¡±

    No matter how much Jeong Cheol-min valued honesty, he thought thisw was absurd.

    Su-ho smiled at Jeong Cheol-min¡¯s cool answer.

    As expected of Cheol-min hyung. He knew he would say that.

    Su-ho replied,

    ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s okay? ording to the rules, it¡¯s not allowed.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s true, but Su-ho-ssi, you¡¯re still in your probationary period, right? Civil servants in their probationary period aren¡¯t considered full-fledged employees yet.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°And I didn¡¯t see anything. We were so busy fighting the monstrous lion, when would I have had time to collect the loot?¡±

    ¡°Haha, that¡¯s true,¡± Su-houghed at Jeong Cheol-min¡¯s sharp wit.

    At that moment.

    [The Phantom Spear haspletely absorbed the shadow of the monstrous lion.]

    The Phantom Spear¡¯s meal was finished.

    Su-ho observed the weapon with a slightly tense expression.

    And then, in that moment.

    [Mana supply is sufficient.]

    [The consciousness of the Phantom Spear awakens.]

    [Congrattions! You¡¯ve sessfully awakened part of the Phantom Spear¡¯s consciousness.]

    [Item information has changed.]

    Another system notification appeared.

    Su-ho¡¯s face lit up with joy, and he quickly checked the updated information for the Phantom Spear.

    <strong>[Phantom Spear]</strong>

    <ul>

    <li>

    Rank: S+

    </li>

    <li>

    Stage 3 consciousness has awakened in the Phantom Spear.

    </li>

    <li>

    With strong mana absorption, the Phantom Spear has sessfully unlocked some of its former strength, greatly enhancing all of its abilities.

    </li>

    <li>

    The first master who awakens its consciousness is recognized, and the user can now summon the ¡®Phantom Shadow (S)¡¯ from their shadow at any time.

    </li>

    <li>

    If damaged, the Phantom Spear can be repaired and resummoned anytime with just shadow and mana, thanks to the ¡®Shadow Regeneration (S)¡¯ effect.

    </li>

    <li>

    The ¡®Shadow Bind (S)¡¯ skill can now be used to fix the target¡¯s movements by biting their shadow.

    </li>

    <li>

    While the target has a Shadow Fang embedded in their shadow, the ¡®Shadow Bleed (S)¡¯ effect will cause them to take bleeding damage every second.

    </li>

    <li>

    The ¡®Shadow Pierce (S)¡¯ skill can be used on targets covered in shadow, allowing for guaranteed pration of any defense.

    </li>

    </ul>

    The joy on Su-ho¡¯s face grew even stronger. He had finally obtained the <strong>¡°Shadow Pierce¡±</strong> option, one of the core techniques used by the Shadow King in his past life.

    <strong>¡°As long as the target is covered by shadow, no matter how strong their defense, it will be pierced. Even a Nemean Lion.¡±</strong>

    <strong>¡°Only two more stages left.¡±</strong>

    Su-ho knew that the Phantom Spear¡¯s consciousness was divided into five stages, and he had now unlocked three. Only two more remained.

    <strong>¡°It¡¯s growing faster than I expected. This speed is way beyond what I saw in my past life.¡±</strong>

    He was highly satisfied with the progress. Su-ho called the Phantom Spear back to its resting form and approached the Nemean Lion¡¯s massive corpse.

    <strong>¡°It¡¯s so much bigger up close.¡±</strong>

    He thought that if the lion had been even a bitrger, his arms wouldn¡¯t have been long enough to choke it out.

    Summoning his Blood Sword, Su-ho gripped it tightly and swung at the lion.

    [Steel Cutter activates.]

    The sword swiped through the air, leaving a red trail behind. However¡­

    <strong>ng!!</strong>

    The Blood Sword struck the lion¡¯s hide with a sh of sparks but left no mark.

    <strong>¡°It really doesn¡¯t work.¡±</strong>

    Su-ho had suspected this but hoped for a different oue. He was d he hadn¡¯t started with the sword.

    Jeong Cheol-min spoke as he watched.

    ¡°Hmm, I guess the unbreakable skin really is different. Even with that sword, it couldn¡¯t cut it.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, the skin,¡± Su-ho replied calmly.

    ¡°What?¡± Cheol-min asked, confused.

    ¡°It¡¯s just the skin that¡¯s invulnerable.¡±

    Without waiting for a response, Su-ho swung his sword again.

    Once more, <strong>Steel Cutter</strong> activated.

    <strong>Swish!</strong>

    This time, the Blood Sword cut through the Nemean Lion¡¯s hide with ease, the sound of the slice sharp and crisp.

    Cheol-min¡¯s eyes widened in surprise as he saw it.

    ¡°Wait... what¡¯s going on? How is it cutting the skin?¡±

    Su-ho just shook his head.

    <strong>¡°The w is sharper than the skin.¡±</strong>

    ¡°What? Really?¡±

    ¡°Really. You can see it for yourself.¡±

    Cheol-min was still trying toprehend what was happening.

    Su-ho continued to cut through the lion¡¯s chest, and once again, the w sliced through it with ease.

    <strong>¡°I¡¯m going to get a great item out of this.¡±</strong>

    Su-ho¡¯s ns for strengthening himself with this loot were already forming.

    <strong>[Phantom Spear]</strong>

    <ul>

    <li>Rank: S+</li>

    <li>The third-stage consciousness of the Phantom Spear has awakened.</li>

    <li>Absorbing powerful mana, the Phantom Spear has sessfully unlocked a portion of its past power, greatly enhancing all its abilities.</li>

    <li>The first person to awaken its consciousness is recognized as the master, and can now summon ¡°Phantom Shadow (S)¡± from the master¡¯s shadow at any time.</li>

    <li>A damaged Phantom Spear can be repaired and resummoned using only shadow and mana, thanks to the effect of ¡°Shadow Regeneration (S).¡±</li>

    <li>The ability to use ¡°Shadow Bind (S)¡± is now avable, which fixes the target''s movements by biting into their shadow.</li>

    <li>While the ¡°Shadow Fang¡± is embedded in the target¡¯s shadow, the ¡°Shadow Bleed (S)¡± effect causes the target to take bleeding damage every second.</li>

    <li>The ability to use ¡°Shadow Pierce (S)¡± is now avable, allowing unconditional pration of the target¡¯s defense as long as they are covered by shadow.</li>

    </ul>

    Su-ho¡¯s face flushed with exhration as he reviewed the information. He had finally acquired the Phantom Spear''s <strong>¡°Shadow Pierce¡±</strong> option¡ªone of the key techniques used by the Shadow King in his past life.

    <strong>¡°Shadow Pierce,¡±</strong> Su-ho thought, his mind racing with excitement. <strong>¡°If the target is covered by shadow, no matter how tough their defenses, the spear will pierce right through. Even if it¡¯s a Nemean Lion.¡±</strong>

    <strong>¡°Now there are only two stages left,¡±</strong> Su-ho thought, knowing the Phantom Spear¡¯s consciousness was divided into five stages. He had already unlocked three. Only two remained.

    <strong>¡°It¡¯s growing faster than I expected.¡±</strong> The speed of the Phantom Spear''s growth was unimaginable whenpared to the previous life of the Shadow King.

    Satisfied with the progress, Su-ho recalled the Phantom Spear and approached the massive corpse of the Nemean Lion.

    <strong>¡°It¡¯s huge up close,¡±</strong> he muttered. <strong>¡°If it had been just a little bigger, I might not have been able to choke it with my arms.¡±</strong>

    Su-ho summoned the Blood Sword and gripped it tightly. With a single motion, he swung it toward the lion.

    [Steel Cutter activated.]

    The sword swiped through the air with a red trail behind it, but¡ª

    <strong>ng!!</strong>

    The Blood Sword hit the lion¡¯s hide, creating sparks, but not even leaving a scratch.

    <strong>¡°It really doesn¡¯t work.¡±</strong>

    Su-ho wasn¡¯t surprised, but he still felt a little disappointed. He was d he didn¡¯t start by using the sword in the first ce.

    Jeong Cheol-min, watching the scene, spoke up.

    ¡°Hmm, as expected, the skin of the Indestructible Body is different. Even that sword couldn¡¯t cut through it.¡±

    ¡°The skin, yes,¡± Su-ho replied nonchntly.

    ¡°What?¡± Cheol-min asked, confused.

    ¡°It¡¯s just the skin that can¡¯t be cut.¡±

    Without waiting for an answer, Su-ho swung the sword again.

    Once again, <strong>Steel Cutter</strong> activated.

    <strong>Swish!</strong>

    This time, the Blood Sword cut through the lion¡¯s hide, creating a clean, crisp sound.

    Cheol-min¡¯s eyes widened in surprise as he heard the clean cut.

    ¡°But the skin¡­ How is it still intact?¡± he asked, astonished.

    Su-ho merely smiled.

    <strong>¡°The w is sharper than the skin.¡±</strong>

    ¡°What? Really?¡±

    ¡°Really, you see it yourself.¡±

    Cheol-min still looked puzzled as he observed the cut. Su-ho continued to cut through the lion¡¯s chest, and as he did, the skin that had been unyielding to the Blood Sword began to split with ease, like it was being sliced with a ruler.

    Cheol-min¡¯s eyes widened in shock.

    ¡°Wha¡ªwhat? How is the skin cutting like that?¡±

    ¡°The ws are sharper than the lion¡¯s skin,¡± Su-ho exined casually.

    ¡°Really? Is that true?¡± Cheol-min asked.

    ¡°It is, as you can see.¡± Su-ho replied.

    ¡°Well¡­ I never expected that,¡± Cheol-min muttered, shaking his head in disbelief.

    The irony was that while the lion¡¯s ws were sharp enough to slice through its own hide, the hardness of the ws was still weaker than the skin.

    So, the ws could be cut by the Blood Sword.@@novelbin@@

    <strong>¡°I heard that even Hercules used the ws of these lions to skin them.¡±</strong>

    After splitting open the lion¡¯s chest, Su-ho reached inside and began feeling for the heart. After a moment, he found itrger than his own hand¡ªand without hesitation, he crushed it.

    [You havepleted the first of the Twelve Labors of Hercules.]

    [The system grants you the qualification to possess Hercules'' strength.]

    [A new trait has been added.]

    [You are now a ¡°Hercules Candidate.¡±]

    [You have achieved a great feat, and the system rewards you with 10 bonus stats.]

    As Su-ho crushed the lion¡¯s heart, a cascade of system notifications flooded his screen.

    Su-ho quickly checked the newly added trait, <strong>¡°Hercules Candidate.¡±</strong>

    <strong>[Hercules Candidate]</strong>

    <ul>

    <li>You have obtained the minimum qualifications to possess the power of the hero Hercules.</li>

    <li>Only those who achieve the Twelve Labors first will be recognized as the true Hercules.</li>

    <li>While you carry the Hercules trait, your attack power with unarmed strikes, swords, blunt weapons, and bows increases by 100%.</li>

    </ul>

    This was a hefty bonus. Su-ho had heard about the <strong>Hercules Candidate</strong> trait before, but seeing it firsthand was a different experience.

    <strong>¡°As Iplete each task, I gain additional options,¡±</strong> he thought, looking through the trait¡¯s details.

    He closed the system window, unable to suppress a smile.

    <strong>¡°I knew I¡¯d seize power quickly after returning, but to have dual traits before even reaching one star? This is incredible.¡±</strong>

    The potential to possess multiple traits wasn¡¯t unheard of, but it was extremely rare. Most powerful individuals had ess to multiple traits, but it wasn¡¯t guaranteed that the person with many traits would always be the strongest.

    <strong>¡°Of course, having many traits doesn¡¯t automatically make someone powerful,¡±</strong> Su-ho thought.

    He allocated all the bonus stats to Strength, then walked over to the spot where the Nemean Lion had been. He collected its hide and ws as loot.

    <strong>¡°These are valuable materials.¡±</strong>

    These items would significantly strengthen Su-ho¡¯s future abilities.

    After collecting the loot, Su-ho turned to Jeong Cheol-min.

    ¡°Well, shall we head out now?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Oh, yes. Let¡¯s go,¡± Cheol-min replied, still trying to process everything.

    The two of them finally finished the internal evaluation and left the gate.

 Chapter 101

    [The Iron Valley Gate has been cleared.]

    Outside the gate, the notification from the system signaled thepletion of the gate conquest as the gate line disappeared.

    As a result, chaos ensued outside.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    ¡°Why is the gate line gone?¡±

    ¡°Wait, is it possible?¡±

    ¡°No way, could it be?¡±

    The soldiers were buzzing, confused, but no one mistook this for a dream from an early shift. It was still the afternoon.

    Among them, Major Kang Hyuk, who had been waiting at headquarters, was the most shocked.

    Then, they saw Su-ho and Jeong Cheol-min on the internal CCTV of the square. The soldiers rushed to the entrance of the square, waiting for the two to emerge.

    As soon as they did, Jeong Cheol-min awkwardly smiled.

    ¡°Heh¡­ Oh, hello?¡±

    ¡°What happened? Did we really clear the gate?¡±

    ¡°Heh, yes... Actually, here¡¯s what happened¡­¡±

    As the person in charge of the examination, Jeong Cheol-min exined the situation on behalf of Su-ho.

    To be precise, he was lying on Su-ho¡¯s behalf, but no one doubted him. Instead, they were more concerned about the situation.

    ¡°Oh my¡­ Are you okay?¡±

    ¡°Yes, thanks to Su-ho-ssi, I barely managed to survive.¡±

    ¡°Hah¡­ as expected, you really are incredible, just like the rumors said.¡±

    When Jeong Cheol-min praised Su-ho, Major Kang Hyuk and everyone else marveled in awe.

    The situation was quickly wrapped up neatly.

    As they were heading back to Seoul, Jeong Cheol-min, who was driving, spoke up.

    ¡°But you know, right? Even if I act like I don¡¯t know, after this incident, some rules are likely going to change.¡±

    ¡°Such as?¡±

    ¡°Probably starting with the tradition of the Gate Management Department. The practice of letting trainees choose which gate they want to tackle during the gate training.¡±

    It was a reasonable response.

    Until now, they hadn¡¯t considered it dangerous, so they hadn¡¯t interfered, but now that there had been an unexpected attack, the training gates would likely be assigned by the department from now on.

    ¡°But, well, that¡¯s not really my concern.¡±

    After all, it wasn¡¯t such an extraordinary privilege. It had just been a tradition to lure people into the Gate Management Department.

    ¡°If it¡¯s that important, I¡¯ll make sure trainees can still choose, but excluding the sealed gates.¡±

    In fact, there was a way to prevent this problem from ever being raised.

    Su-ho had Park Gyu-min in his corner.@@novelbin@@

    However, Su-ho couldn¡¯t exactly say that, so he simply showed a sorry expression.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to cause the department¡¯s valuable tradition to disappear.¡±

    Jeong Cheol-min chuckled at that.

    ¡°Why apologize?¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean for you to apologize, Su-ho-ssi. I¡¯m just saying that what we did this time is likely to bring about some consequences. More urately, it¡¯s showing us how the government work process is handled. This is your first time in public office, right?¡±

    ¡°I guess it is.¡±

    ¡°Do you know the difference between being apany employee and a government worker?¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the difference?¡±

    ¡°Apany is a ce where profit is pursued. Even if the process is a little risky, as long as the rewards outweigh the risk, they¡¯ll often ignore it. But in the government, it¡¯s different.¡±

    Jeong Cheol-min continued to speak while driving.

    ¡°An organization that doesn¡¯t need to make a profit will only seek safety. So, to avoid risks and prepare for future problems, most of the dangers are removed. The military is a perfect example. I¡¯m not sure if it¡¯s still like this nowadays, but in the past, if a soldier choked on instant noodles or got injured, the PX would stop selling them altogether.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Isn¡¯t that a bit ignorant of a solution?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, it sounds dumb, but they don¡¯t really lose anything. The officers can still go outside and buy food. But if the soldiers get hurt, there¡¯s a personal cost, so they take extreme measures. Anyway, in that regard, the reason I decided to ignore the situation was that I wanted to see you fight in the gate, but I also judged that reducing the number of sealed gates was a better choice than keeping the tradition of the department.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Oh.¡±

    Su-ho, who had been feigning ignorance until now, finally let out a genuine exmation.

    ¡°As expected of Cheol-min hyung.¡±

    Romance and dreams were one thing, but when it came to serious matters, Jeong Cheol-min knew how to handle them with precision.

    And that was the Jeong Cheol-min Su-ho knew.

    Su-ho smiled and said, ¡°Thank you for exining. I¡¯ve learned a lot.¡±

    ¡°Haha, thanks for saying that. Nowadays, if you exin things like this, some people treat it as nagging.¡±

    ¡°Those people are just young and inexperienced. You might end up being my mentor, so I¡¯m going to learn a lot from you.¡±

    ¡°A mentor¡­ I really hope that¡¯s the case.¡±

    ¡°In that case, isn¡¯t it better to speak more casually now?¡±

    They had already been close, treating each other like brothers.

    That¡¯s why Su-ho wanted to quickly talk to Jeong Cheol-min as an equal.

    Jeong Cheol-min chuckled and responded, ¡°If you trulye under me, I¡¯ll drop the formalities then. Until then, we have to keep things professional.¡±

    ¡°Haha, understood.¡±

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ve told you what I needed to. By the way, just to rify, the Gate Management Department¡¯s evaluation for this one is full marks. It would be ridiculous to deduct points after clearing a sealed gate, wouldn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°Thank you. So, does that mean I¡¯ll move on to the Gate Management Department evaluation tomorrow?¡±

    ¡°Well, if there¡¯s no issue, you¡¯ll go for that evaluation. After that, you¡¯ll move on to the Special Forces Division. By the way, do you know what the Evaluation Department¡¯s test will be about?¡±

    The Evaluation Department...

    Su-ho already knew, but he decided to act as though he didn¡¯t.

    ¡°It¡¯s probably going to be about gate detection, right?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s the simple guess. But honestly, a gate can appear anytime, anywhere. We just monitor the magical energy levels in the assigned areas, and when they rise, we start to prepare. So, rather than detection itself, the evaluation will probably focus more on the preparation process after the gate is detected.¡±

    ¡°I see. So, we just follow the guidelines for that preparation process, right?¡±

    ¡°Following the theory will definitely give you full marks. Are you confident about this one?¡±

    Why wouldn¡¯t he be?

    He had passed every evaluation so far with full marks.

    ¡°Of course. I¡¯ve handled all the evaluations like this so far.¡±

    ¡°I figured. So I¡¯m not worried about the detection evaluation. What I am worried about is something you said inside the valley.¡±

    ¡°Something I said... about using media pressure to put pressure on the Association Chairman?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, that.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. I was already nning to start working on it. In fact, I¡¯ll make use of the sealed gate I cleared today for that.¡±

    ¡°Hmm, trying to cover up the situation with a palm-sized exnation... it¡¯s not going to work. Solving a sealed gate should be something to be praised.¡±

    Su-ho smiled at Jeong Cheol-min¡¯s words, then immediately dialed a number.

    <ul>

    <li>Yes, it¡¯s me, Mr. An.</li>

    </ul>

    The person who picked up the phone was none other than Jo Jin-hwi.

    Su-ho smiled as he spoke.

    ¡°How have you been?¡±

    <ul>

    <li>Haha, thanks to you, I¡¯ve been doing great. I heard you¡¯re on probation, how¡¯s it going? Managing okay?</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Yes, the training process is almost finished, so it¡¯ll be over soon.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>Really? Already? How long has it been since you started?</li>

    </ul>

    Jo Jin-hwi, though not a public servant, had a good understanding of the system. As a yer-focused journalist, he was very familiar with the Hunter Association.

    So he was surprised.

    Normally, even the shortest training periodssted over a month, so this was highly unusual.

    Su-ho chuckled.

    ¡°Actually, I¡¯m calling because of my training process. You see, I¡¯ve¡­¡±

    Su-ho omitted the details of what had happened during the training and only mentioned that he had scored full marks on the theory test and the field evaluation.

    ¡°... So, I ended up clearing the sealed gate in the Iron Valley.¡±

    This included the Iron Valley gate conquest they had justpleted.

    After Su-ho finished exining, there was a long pause.

    <ul>

    <li>...</li>

    </ul>

    It wasn¡¯t amunication failure.

    He was simply too stunned to speak.

    After a moment of silence, Su-ho asked again.

    ¡°Mr. Jin-hwi?¡±

    <ul>

    <li>Ah! Yes! Wow... I was so shocked I didn¡¯t know if I was hearing it right.</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°I see.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>Still, as expected of you. I knew you were extraordinary, but to be writing your own legend as soon as you joined the Association? That¡¯s got to be the best record in the history of the Association, right? If you get full marks on the remaining evaluations, you¡¯ll be the first and only person to ever do so!</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°That¡¯s probably true. That¡¯s what I¡¯ve heard as well.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>I guess the Sword Saint is different after all. But suddenly, you¡¯re calling and talking about your own achievements... I¡¯m guessing you have something nned?</li>

    </ul>

    Su-ho chuckled at Jo Jin-hwi¡¯s sharp instincts.

    This guy was good at sniffing things out.

    Su-ho replied, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m working on something big, and I need a little prep work for it.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>Heh, if that¡¯s the case, you should¡¯ve told me sooner. I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re working on, but from the sounds of it, I¡¯ll make sure to pump up your reputation in the media again.</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Thank you, as always, Mr. Jin-hwi.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>By the way, is it alright for the results to leak while you¡¯re still in training? I¡¯d love to write the article, but I¡¯m worried it might cause trouble for you.</li>

    </ul>

    At that, Jeong Cheol-min, who had been silently listening, answered.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>...Who are you?</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°I¡¯m currently Su-ho¡¯s overall training supervisor. I¡¯ve been the onepiling his scores, and I just came from the sealed gate mission with him.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>Ah? So you¡¯ve been listening this whole time?</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Yes, we¡¯ve been listening together.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>...Haha?</li>

    </ul>

    Jo Jin-hwi, clearly caught off guard,ughed in disbelief.

    Stillughing in surprise, he asked Su-ho.

    <ul>

    <li>Have you already started making allies there too?</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Yes, he¡¯s be my ally. He was the first Association member I met.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>Ah?</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Just write it as ''ording to an insider,'' so people won¡¯t just think it¡¯s gossip. That way, it¡¯ll have some credibility, even if the source isn¡¯t fully named.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>Of course. That¡¯ll be more than enough. Is there anything else you need?</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°No, for now. But when you do write the article, please make sure to mention how solving the sealed gate saved taxes and was a great oue for everyone involved.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>Got it. You don¡¯t need to worry, I¡¯ll report it properly. When would you like the article to go out?</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°The military will report it soon, but I¡¯d like the world to know by tomorrow morning, before I even arrive at work.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>Okay, I¡¯ve got it. I¡¯ll get it all set up. And I¡¯m looking forward to the big picture you¡¯re working on too.</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Haha, you¡¯ll be able to see it soon. Thanks again for your help.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>Always a pleasure!</li>

    </ul>

    Jo Jin-hwi excitedly ended the call.

    Su-ho smiled as he put his phone back into his pocket and looked at Jeong Cheol-min.

    Jeong Cheol-min responded with a matching smile.

    It was the moment when a new, unshakeable bond formed between them.

 Chapter 102

    "Then, see you tomorrow."

    "Yes, thank you for the ride. Have a good night."

    By the time they were returning to Seoul, it was already near the end of the workday.

    After dropping Su-ho off at his house, Jeong Cheol-min returned to the Association alone.

    Su-ho could have gone home right away, but since he was responsible for handling various follow-up tasks as his supervisor, he needed to stay a little longer.

    Su-ho understood this, so he didn¡¯t ask any further and just watched as Jeong Cheol-min¡¯s car drove away.

    ¡®Then, I guess I should start making some moves myself.¡¯

    He had already given orders to Jo Jin-hwi, but there were still many others he needed to contact.

    The most important of these were Park Gyu-min and Pi Seong-yeol.

    Even though his rtionship with Jeong Cheol-min had be stronger, it still felt a little off to make a call right in front of him.

    Su-ho called Pi Seong-yeol first.

    <ul>

    <li>"Oh, junior. What''s up?"</li>

    </ul>

    "Senior, I needed to report something."

    <ul>

    <li>"What is it?"</li>

    </ul>

    "During the Gate Management Department¡¯s field evaluation today..."

    Su-ho gave a brief report to Pi Seong-yeol.

    He exined that he had conquered a sealed gate and why it had happened.

    After hearing the exnation, Pi Seong-yeol chuckled lightly.

    <ul>

    <li>"That''s impressive. This makes it the third sealed gate, right?"</li>

    </ul>

    "Yes, that''s right."

    <ul>

    <li>"You¡¯re really something. Good work. Are you injured?"</li>

    </ul>

    "No, I¡¯m fine. I treated all the wounds myself."

    <ul>

    <li>"Haha, it¡¯s nice when the inspector can also heal. Alright, understood."</li>

    </ul>

    Su-ho didn¡¯t receive much of a response about the sealed gate conquest, just a few words of acknowledgment.

    It made sense, though. To Pi Seong-yeol, the cleared sealed gates weren¡¯t a big deal.

    Su-ho knew this very well, but since he was now required to report everything, no matter how small, he reported it anyway.

    Just in case something came upter and they tried to make a big deal out of it.

    ¡®There¡¯s a high chance that someone will hold a grudge for being thest one to know something that everyone else already knows.¡¯

    That was the kind of person Pi Seong-yeol was.

    Next, Su-ho called Park Gyu-min.

    <ul>

    <li>"Oh, Hunter An. What¡¯s going on?"</li>

    </ul>

    "I have something to tell you."

    Su-ho repeated the same details to Park Gyu-min that he had shared with Pi Seong-yeol.

    <ul>

    <li>"You cleared the sealed gate?!"</li>

    </ul>

    "Yes, it should have been reported to the military by now, and I think the dismantling of the square will begin in a few days."

    <ul>

    <li>"What the... So, is there anything else I should know?"</li>

    </ul>

    "Yes, there is. Up until now, I¡¯ve just been reporting, but now I have something important to say."

    The mention of "something important" made Park Gyu-min start to tense up.

    Su-ho continued.

    "First, Senior, are you aware that there¡¯s been talk within thepany that I¡¯m considered ''royal''? And that after my training period ends, I¡¯ll likely start at the Deputy Team Leader level, probably in the Special Forces?"

    <ul>

    <li>"Well, it would be odd if I didn¡¯t know about that. Why?"</li>

    </ul>

    "I¡¯m asking if you¡¯re okay with me going to the Special Forces."

    <ul>

    <li>"¡­What do you mean?"</li>

    </ul>

    "It seems that we need to start keeping an eye on Pi Seong-yeol¡¯s influence. He¡¯s been openly saying that he¡¯s bringing me to the Special Forces, but no one dares to say anything because they¡¯re all trying to please him, right?"

    <ul>

    <li>"That¡¯s true, but how exactly are you nning to check Pi Seong-yeol¡¯s power?"</li>

    </ul>

    "I¡¯m thinking of stirring up some media coverage about the existence of ''royals'' within the Association and rumors surrounding the Special Forces. The term ''royal'' implies favoritism, and if it gets into the public¡¯s ears, people will naturally think that the Special Forces are involved in corrupt appointments."

    After hearing Su-ho¡¯s words, Park Gyu-min thought for a moment before responding.

    <ul>

    <li>"I see. Even if it¡¯s normal for top performers to get good positions, using the ''royal''bel will definitely turn it negative. But do you think Pi Seong-yeol will even care about public opinion? He probably won¡¯t acknowledge it."</li>

    </ul>

    Pi Seong-yeol was indeed the type who would ignore any media bacsh.@@novelbin@@

    He had a strong sense of superiority and often looked down on others.

    Su-ho nodded.

    "He won¡¯t care, but the Association Chairman will."

    <ul>

    <li>"Ah!"</li>

    </ul>

    Park Gyu-min¡¯s voice revealed a hint of realization.

    He wasn¡¯tpletely naive.

    As soon as Su-ho mentioned the Association Chairman, he understood the n immediately.

    <ul>

    <li>"So, you want me to fan the mes and get the Chairman¡¯s attention to make sure Pi Seong-yeol¡¯s influence gets checked?"</li>

    </ul>

    "Pretty much. But I need you to ask for a cement in the Gate Department. If you try to get me ced in the management or awakening departments under your line, Pi Seong-yeol will suspect you, and that could cause trouble. You haven¡¯t wrapped up your own personal matters yet, right?"

    <ul>

    <li>"Hmmm, true¡­ but Gate Department is Pi Seong-yeol¡¯s line. If I put you there and the public opinion dies down, I¡¯ll call you back to the Special Forces. Wouldn¡¯t it just undo the whole point of this?"</li>

    </ul>

    "It¡¯s fine. The media buzz around ''royalty'' willy the groundwork for checking Pi Seong-yeol¡¯s power. The Gate Department cement is something I specifically requested. There¡¯s something I need to do there."

    <ul>

    <li>"Something you need to do?"</li>

    </ul>

    "Yes. But don¡¯t just ce me in the Gate Department for that. Going there first will give me the chance to help youter. In the meantime, you need to keep aligning yourself with the Chairman."

    <ul>

    <li>"The Chairman?"</li>

    </ul>

    "Yes. The Association has two factions¡ªthe Chairman¡¯s faction and Pi Seong-yeol¡¯s faction. The Chairman isn¡¯t going to be interested, though."

    <ul>

    <li>"That¡¯s true."</li>

    </ul>

    "But once the royal controversy starts, the Chairman won¡¯t be able to ignore it. If unnecessary noise arises now, it¡¯ll be troublesome for him, especially when he¡¯s trying to rise to an even higher position."

    Park Gyu-min fell silent for a moment, considering the logic. He had never really thought about aligning himself with the Chairman before, but now the possibility was clear to him.

    <ul>

    <li>"So?"</li>

    </ul>

    "From the moment the royal controversy starts, you should act like a loyal advisor to the Chairman. If you y this right, he¡¯lle to see you as an asset. And when the timees, the Chairman will naturally support your ascension."

    <ul>

    <li>"Heh... I get it."</li>

    </ul>

    "Exactly. But to truly gain power, you need to be someone who helps the Chairman. Keep pushing those issues that will help him, and he¡¯ll eventually back you up. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll prepare those issues for you."

    Su-ho didn¡¯t believe that Park Gyu-min could ovee Pi Seong-yeol¡¯s influence, even with all his efforts.

    ¡®The difference in natural ability is too vast. No matter how much he tries, he¡¯ll only be breaking the smaller pieces.¡¯

    That¡¯s why Su-ho was considering using the Chairman.

    But Su-ho wasn¡¯t just nning to use the Chairman to promote Park Gyu-min.

    He continued.

    "Do you know the easiest way to gain poprity and power in the world?"

    <ul>

    <li>"What?"</li>

    </ul>

    "It¡¯s by attaching yourself to a star. Get close to a popr star and do things that their fans would appreciate. Then the fans will naturally start liking you too."

    <ul>

    <li>"Are you talking about yourself as the star?"</li>

    </ul>

    "Yes. Think of it like politicians campaigning before elections. In the end, it¡¯s all about who has the poprity."

    Whether through appointments or elections, poprity heavily influenced the oue.

    The Chairman wouldn¡¯t be unaware of this, so if Park Gyu-min aligned himself with the Chairman, Su-ho knew that he would get the Chairman¡¯s backing.

    ¡®Then, my power and Park Gyu-min¡¯s power will grow. After that, I¡¯ll start to slowly remodel the internal structure of the Association.¡¯

    Su-ho was relying on Park Gyu-min to be a key part of this n.

    Even though Su-ho had advanced quickly, as a young man in his early twenties, he still had a long way to go to reach the top.

    The same applied to Jeong Cheol-min.

    So for now, the best way to achieve quick results was to utilize the existing infrastructure.

    ¡®Even if I discard themter, I¡¯ll use them efficiently for now.¡¯

    Park Gyu-min nodded fervently.

    <ul>

    <li>"I understand. But what kind of issues are you preparing? If you tell me early, I can start making moves."</li>

    </ul>

    "I¡¯ll tell you when the timees. For now, focus on preparing for the royal controversy. I¡¯ll be in touch."

    With that, Su-ho ended the call.

    Even though Park Gyu-min had asked to know more details, Su-ho didn¡¯t share them.

    The reason was simple.

    He didn¡¯t trust Park Gyu-min¡¯s judgment fully.

    ¡®I can¡¯t even trust him with one task, so there¡¯s no reason to tell him everything in advance.¡¯

    Mistakes, especially verbal ones, could explode at any moment.

    After ending the call, Su-ho finally started heading home.

 Chapter 103

    Slime Stone.

    It was a hardened piece of slime flesh that had turned into stone, and its value as a material item or an ordinary item was among the lowest of the low.

    However, the Slime Stone that Nam Hae-won brought was different from the ordinary kind in appearance from the start.

    Nam Hae-won spoke.

    ¡°It seems like this is the top-tier version, as it can¡¯t be synthesized any further. The item information says so too.¡±

    Su-ho took it and checked the information.

    [Meta Slime Stone]

    <ul>

    <li>

    Rank: S

    </li>

    <li>

    Description: A body fragment of the Meta Slime, known as the ultimate slime.

    </li>

    <li>

    Meta Slime is said to be abination of regeneration,position, and expansion.

    </li>

    </ul>

    The Meta Slime Stone.

    This was the final form of the Slime Stone.

    And Su-ho, who knew the true nature of the Meta Slime Stone, smiled with satisfaction.

    ¡®I really knew this would work.¡¯

    He was certain.

    After all, it was a rare synthetic ability, almost unique on Earth.

    That¡¯s why he believed that by attempting to craft the Meta Slime Stone based on that synthesis, it would just take time and materials, but sooner orter, sess was inevitable.

    Su-ho smiled proudly as he spoke.

    ¡°Good job, Hae-won.¡±

    ¡°Hehe, I really worked hard. When you subtract the time spent eating, sleeping, and... well, actually, I was synthesizing even while pooping,¡± Nam Hae-won replied with a chuckle.@@novelbin@@

    ¡°I know, I know. You think I wouldn¡¯t know how hard you worked? So, did you level up a bit?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I leveled up quite a bit. I also got bonus stats whenever the Slime Stone¡¯s grade increased.¡±

    ¡°Good job. A synthesis specialist grows like that. Anyway, thanks for your hard work. The rest of the materials shoulde in soon, so I¡¯ll need your help again when that happens.¡±

    ¡°Yes, of course.¡±

    Su-ho had secured the Meta Slime Stone.

    Now, only one material item remained.

    Just then¡­

    Bzzz!

    The phone vibrated.

    It was Su-ho¡¯s phone.

    When he saw the caller ID, he couldn''t help but chuckle.

    ¡®This person really can¡¯t be called a gentleman.¡¯

    The caller was none other than Kang Seul-gi.

    Su-ho answered the phone.

    ¡°Yes, Deputy Team Leader.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°Su-ho, is this a good time to talk?¡±</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s fine. What¡¯s going on?¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°I¡¯ve got the item you asked for. Can I meet with you now?¡±</li>

    </ul>

    Kang Seul-gi¡¯s voice was urgent.

    It seemed like she was really in a hurry.

    Su-ho understood.

    She probably wanted to get rid of the cursed Mega Crusher as soon as possible.

    Su-ho smiled and responded.

    ¡°Of course. Where would you like to meet? Are you at the Association right now?¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°Yes, I¡¯m at the Association, but I¡¯lle to you. Just tell me the location.¡±</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°You sure you want toe all the way here? Alright, my address is¡­¡±

    Su-ho gave her his address and started waiting for her arrival.

    ***

    Did she fly here? Kang Seul-gi arrived much faster than Su-ho had expected.

    Sweating profusely, Kang Seul-gi couldn¡¯t hide her embarrassment as she put the car into Su-ho''s garage.

    <em>She lives in Cheongdam-dong Safe Zone and on top of that, she lives in such a huge mansion...?</em>

    Su-ho was a nationally famous figure, that much was clear.

    Right now, for example, the entire country was buzzing about the third sealed gate that was being targeted.

    But no matter how much of a rising star he was, she knew the period wasn¡¯t very long, and yet, she never imagined he¡¯d already be living in a house like this...

    But instead of voicing unnecessary thoughts, she decided to focus on work.

    What mattered right now wasn¡¯t that.

    Su-ho greeted Kang Seul-gi warmly.

    ¡°You¡¯ve arrived? I could¡¯ve gone to you, but you¡¯ve had a long journey. I appreciate youing.¡±

    ¡°No, no. It wasn¡¯t during rush hour, so the roads weren¡¯t blocked. First, about this¡­¡±

    Kang Seul-gi quickly pulled out the three-pronged item from her coat and handed it over.

    Knowing how urgent her situation was, Su-ho decided to check the item first before leading her to a seat.

    [Third-Person Pilot Viewpoint]

    It¡¯s difficult to make a good pilot, but even harder to preserve their strength. Most die on the battlefield along with their machines.

    Su-ho chuckled after reading the item description.

    <em>Right.</em>

    This description, which was incredibly unhelpful.

    It was exactly the three-pronged item Su-ho had been looking for.

    The real description of the item¡¯s true options would have to be discovered in another way, but Su-ho wasn¡¯t particrly concerned.

    He already knew what the real options were, so there was no need to uncover the hidden exnation.

    After confirming the item description, Su-ho stored it in his inventory and said,

    ¡°You found it well and brought it. Thank you for your hard work.¡±

    ¡°No, no. The higher-ups gave the order, and I just added the spoon to the table that was already set. What did I really do?¡±

    ¡°Still, it¡¯s something I couldn¡¯t bring myself at the moment. So, in that sense, the treatment of the three-pronged item¡­¡±

    ¡°Yes, while using the 22nd purification method, the curse option was suddenly activated, so I had no choice but to report it as destroyed.¡±

    ¡°Clean and tidy.¡±

    As it was, just as he said.

    Even though he knew what was in the junk item storage, Su-ho still decided to borrow Kang Seul-gi¡¯s help¡ªnot only because of the Mega Crusher, but because he had the perfect alibi of being the deputy team leader of Special Team 2.

    <em>¡°Now, the three-pronged item will be a legally recognized item not in the Grand Union of Craftsmen.¡±</em>

    No.

    Once the synthesis work ispleted and Su-ho makes the final item he¡¯s aiming for, it will be something that doesn¡¯t exist in this world.

    Su-ho guided him down to the basement and said,

    ¡°Since you¡¯ve brought the three-pronged item, let¡¯s get to work on separating the Mega Crusher.¡±

    ¡°Really? Thank you! Thank you so much!¡±

    At the mention of separating the Mega Crusher, Kang Seul-gi¡¯s face brightened more than Su-ho had ever seen.

    Perhaps because of that?

    Seeing that bright expression made Su-ho feel a bit sorry for him.

    <em>¡°How much mental strain has he gone through alone until now?¡±</em>

    The nickname ¡°Disassembler¡± wasn¡¯t just because Kang Seul-gi crushed a lot of items.

    The "Mad Crystallizer" title, with the ¡°mad¡± modifier, came from the fact that as time passed, the Mega Crusher slowly drove him insane.

    <em>¡°That¡¯s why the Mega Crusher is a cursed item.¡±</em>

    Of course, the Mega Crusher didn¡¯t turn someone into aplete lunatic, but it continuously injected specific desires into its user, slowly warping their mind into something half-mad.

    If Su-ho had to describe it, it would be more of a subtle madness.

    Because of this, the Mega Crusher was an extremely dangerous item for an ordinary person.

    <em>¡°This is true for all the interdimensional civilization series.¡±</em>

    The so-called Technology Series.

    Each one of them was a terrible creation that slowly consumed the user¡¯s mind, drawing out their power in the most horrifying way.

    Su-ho shook his head as he led Kang Seul-gi to the basement and sat him in the chair he had prepared.

    ¡°Shall we start immediately?¡±

    ¡°Ah, yes. I think we can start right away.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    The moment Kang Seul-gi gave his approval, Su-ho began fastening special handcuffs to Kang Seul-gi¡¯s wrists and ankles.

    ¡°...?¡±

    Kang Seul-gi looked at his own wrists and ankles with a confused expression, then looked up at Su-ho with a slightly fearful gaze.

    ¡°It¡¯s going to hurt a bit. The process of removing the tumor on your body will be painful, and we¡¯re talking about an entity that¡¯s been upying your lower abdomen entirely, right?¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­ yes¡­ um, then, is there any kind of anesthesia¡­?¡±

    ¡°I was about to anesthetize you now.¡±

    ¡°Do you have anesthesia? But isn¡¯t it illegal to possess or use it without proper authorization¡­?¡±

    ¡°Of course, it¡¯s illegal. That¡¯s why I¡¯ll be personally administering the anesthesia.¡±

    ¡°Excuse me?¡±

    At that moment.

    <em>Thud!</em>

    Su-ho struck the back of Kang Seul-gi''s neck with a karate chop, instantly knocking him unconscious.

    As his head dropped forward, Su-ho raised the corners of his mouth in satisfaction.

    <em>¡°Should¡¯ve done this a few times already.¡±</em>

    A karate chop to knock someone out might seem like something straight out of a cartoon, something impossible in reality. But for Su-ho, it was incredibly familiar and easy.

    After all, when you work in a special division for a long time, you pick up quite a few ways to knock someone unconscious.

    No, even if you don¡¯t want to know them, you have to.

    It just made handling things easier in many ways.

    When Kang Seul-gi¡¯s body went limp, Su-ho ripped his shirt off with brute strength, exposing his upper body.

    Beneath it, he saw the inner clothing meant to hide the Mega Crusher, and Su-ho removed it as well, finally revealing the Mega Crusher to the world.

    <ul>

    <li><em>Grind¡­ grind¡­</em></li>

    </ul>

    The Mega Crusher turned slowly.

    Now that its host was unconscious, its movements were sluggish as well.

    <em>¡°It¡¯s just like a worm.¡±</em>

    A worm with steel teeth, that is.

    There were actually many ways to remove this creature.

    The mostmon and simplest method was to cut the item directly out of its host¡¯s body.

    But that came with a high risk of killing the host.

    <em>¡°I can¡¯t go that far just for one item.¡±</em>

    Another method that only Su-ho could use was to throw the Mega Crusher to an immortal beast, a creature that could eat steel.

    But that couldn¡¯t be done either.

    Because the chaos the Mega Crusher would cause while being consumed by the beast was unpredictable.

    <em>¡°Either way, it would probably result in death or some kind of aftereffects.¡±</em>

    That¡¯s why Su-ho was nning to use the most straightforward and safe method.

    After confirming that Kang Seul-gi was unconscious, Su-ho activated one of his skills.

    [Recovery has been activated.]

    <em>Whoosh!</em>

    Recovery, a skill that heals status ailments.

    It was an upgraded version of Cure, a skill that treated poison, and now it could heal not only poison but various other debuffs as well.

    <em>¡°And one of those status ailments is ¡®parasitism.¡¯¡±</em>

    Parasitism was definitely harmful to a yer.

    Just having something parasitic imnted in the body could cause dot damage and a host of other diseases.

    That¡¯s why Recovery, as an advanced version of Cure, was capable of healing it.

    <em>¡°Honestly, Recovery is like a deworming treatment.¡±</em>

    Of course, Recovery wasn¡¯t all-powerful.

    The Mega Crusher currently imnted in Kang Seul-gi¡¯s body was still in its early stage, not yet fully evolved. That was why Su-ho''s Recovery skill was able to work.

    <em>¡°If it evolves furtherter, ordinary Recovery won¡¯t even make a dent.¡±</em>

    Thinking about it this way, Kang Seul-gi from his past life seemed like a truly unfortunate person.

    If only he hadn¡¯t been so scared and had told people about his condition from the start, he could have gained freedom long before the ¡°Disassembler Incident¡± ever happened.

    <em>¡°But thanks to that, he learned thebinations for many items¡­¡±</em>

    It was an ironic situation¡ªsomething to feel sympathy for while also being grateful.

    And then, it happened¡ªthe moment when Su-ho¡¯s Recovery began to seep into the Mega Crusher.

    <ul>

    <li><em>Whirr? Whirr?</em></li>

    </ul>

    As Recovery seeped into the Mega Crusher, the object, which had been turning slowly, began to stir.

    The parasite instinctively sensed something.

    It could feel that the light that was spreading through it was very harmful to its existence.

    Perhaps that¡¯s why?

    <ul>

    <li><em>Wiiiiing!!</em></li>

    </ul>

    Sensing danger, the Mega Crusher suddenly went berserk, starting to rampage wildly.

    <em>¡°I knew it.¡±</em>

    This was exactly why Su-ho had knocked Kang Seul-gi out.

    If he had been conscious, the unbearable pain in his lower abdomen would have made him faint instantly.

    As the creature began thrashing around, Su-ho also poured his mana into the situation, not holding anything back.

    It was something that needed to be removed quickly¡ªnot carefully coaxed out like a delicate object, but forcefully removed like a malignant tumor.

    <em>Shudder, shudder, shudder¡ª</em>

    Kang Seul-gi¡¯s body began to tremble.

    Even though he had lost consciousness, his body was shaking in response to the excruciating pain in his stomach.

    Was that why?

    Kang Seul-gi¡¯s body quickly became soaked in cold sweat, and a faint groan escaped his lips.

    Then, at the moment when the sharp pain tried to bring his consciousness back to him¡­

    <ul>

    <li><em>Kwahhh!!</em></li>

    </ul>

    Unable to withstand the Recovery, the Mega Crusher exploded outwards, much like a mimic¡¯s assault, spraying itself forward.

 Chapter 104

    <ul>

    <li><em>Crrr¡­</em></li>

    </ul>

    Like a scene from an old foreignedy movie, it sprayed out like an elderlyedian''s dentures.

    ¡°Oh dear.¡±

    Its trajectory was aimed directly at Su-ho.

    It wasn¡¯t by chance.

    When the host being parasitized bes in danger, the parasite instinctively tries to move to the nearest avable host.

    That was why Su-ho naturally dodged its charge.

    <ul>

    <li><em>Grind! Grind! Grind!</em></li>

    </ul>

    The thing that fell to the floor began desperately moving its teeth, trying to maintain its consciousness.

    But no matter how much it tried to turn its gears, nothing entered its mouth, and without its host, the thing quickly lost all power, stopping its rotations.

    <em>¡°It¡¯s stopped.¡±</em>

    Its movements hadpletely ceased.

    It wasn¡¯t pretending to stop and preparing for a sneak attack.

    The Mega Crusher, even though it was a cursed item, was still not a monster.

    However, instead of recovering the Mega Crusher, Su-ho immediately went to Kang Seul-gi.

    He began casting Heal.

    [Heal has been activated.]

    Fortunately, Kang Seul-gi was still unconscious.

    It must have been quite painful, but thankfully, he seemed to have passed out quickly.

    Su-ho didn¡¯t hesitate to pour healing energy into him and began checking his condition.

    <em>¡°His abdomen is fine.¡±</em>

    The area that needed the most attention was his lower abdomen.

    The Mega Crusher had been embedded there for a long time, so Su-ho had no idea what kind of changes might have urred.

    Luckily, the gap left by the Mega Crusher didn¡¯t seem toorge. There was no missing flesh, either.

    Su-ho used Heal intensively to restore the area, making itpletely recover, as if nothing had ever happened.

    As Su-ho healed him, Kang Seul-gi¡¯s expression gradually became more peaceful, as though he was feeling morefortable.

    <em>¡°Done.¡±</em>

    Once Su-ho had healed him enough that he wouldn¡¯t need more healing, he unlocked the handcuffs and moved Kang Seul-gi to the bed nearby.

    Only then did he finally turn his attention back to the Mega Crusher, still lying alone, and checked its information.

    [Mega Crusher]

    <ul>

    <li>Grade: B</li>

    </ul>

    Superior technology from another world.

    Capable of grinding anything.

    Su-ho couldn¡¯t help butugh in disbelief after reading the information.

    A simple description.

    It was absurd.

    Even though it clearly had curse options attached to it, the item had tried to disguise itself as an ordinary one, pretending to be normal after it detached from its host.

    And its grade was B.

    Despite being capable of evolving, it was pretending to be B grade¡ªthis was a typical feature of the Technology Series.

    <em>¡°I¡¯ll make good use of you.¡±</em>

    Like poison when used as medicine, the Mega Crusher could have different applications depending on how it was used.

    Though it was a cursed item, it still had many hidden advantages.

    That¡¯s why the Mega Crusher should only be owned by someone powerful enough to control it.

    After securing the Mega Crusher, Su-ho entrusted Kang Seul-gi to the external staff and returned home.

    ¡°Heewon.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Team Leader.¡±

    ¡°The materials are all gathered.¡±

    ¡°Really? But why now¡­?¡±

    She had just escaped from the hellish world of synthesis.

    She had nned to rest properly today after rushing down the stairs.

    But Su-ho smiled gently, and in the end, Nam Heewon had no choice but to prepare for the final task.

    ¡°Let¡¯s just finish this and then rest. I¡¯ll buy you whatever you want.¡±

    ¡°Okay¡­¡±

    Nam Heewon answered weakly.

    Still, the preparations werepleted quickly.

    In fact, there was hardly any preparation needed.

    Unlike the Slime Stone work that required time and effort, making partner items only involvedbining the prepared materials.

    The two of them went upstairs and ced the gathered materials on the table.

    <ul>

    <li>

    Meta Slime Stone

    </li>

    <li>

    Freed Spirit Stone

    </li>

    <li>

    Third-Person Pilot Perspective Device

    </li>

    </ul>

    After Su-ho double-checked the items, he nodded, and Nam Heewon lifted her special goggles and asked,

    ¡°Shall we begin?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, go ahead.¡±

    With the goggles on, Nam Heewon began the synthesis.

    The goggles were necessary because of the intense light phenomenon that urred every time the synthesis characteristics activated.

    It wasn¡¯t needed for just a few times, but since the Slime Stone work had been ongoing recently, the goggles had be essential.

    Then, the synthesis began.

    [Synthesis begins.]

    [The item to be used for synthesis is Meta Slime Stone.]

    [The item to be used for synthesis is Freed Spirit Stone.]

    [The item to be used for synthesis is Third-Person Pilot Perspective Device.]

    The items were selected, and notifications appeared in front of her eyes as the system double-checked the choices.

    Nam Heewon confirmed it, and the synthesis began.

    [Synthesis begins.]

    The process started, and the light began to shine, causing the selected items to glow as well.

    <em>¡°This is always fascinating to watch.¡±</em>

    Su-ho had worked with Nam Heewon in his past life too, asking for her help with synthesis a few times.@@novelbin@@

    After all, Su-ho was humanity¡¯s strongest dealer, and she was one of humanity''s best cksmiths.

    That¡¯s why Su-ho¡¯s trust in her was unshakable.

    So, he had entrusted the Slime Stone work to her as well.

    As the synthesis reached its peak, the light reached its zenith.

    <em>sh!</em>

    The light burst forth like a camera sh.

    And the items that had been ced on the table disappeared.

    Instead, a small, unfamiliar object was now in Nam Heewon¡¯s hand.

    It was a tiny orb, about the size of a walnut, but it was exceptionally clear and dazzling, like a jewel.

    Nam Heewon took off her goggles and smiled.

    ¡°I think it¡¯s a sess.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°Yes, would you like to take a look?¡±

    Nam Heewon handed over the orb, and Su-ho took it and checked its information.

    [Mystical Meta Suit for Soul Mecha]

    <ul>

    <li>Grade: S</li>

    </ul>

    Ancient mystical technology.

    Advanced technology from another world.

    Fusion technology.

    A pilot suit usable only by a possessor.

    The Mystical Meta Suit for Soul Mecha has a 150% influence on the pilot¡¯s status window.

    The Mystical Meta Suit for Soul Mecha allows possession.

    The Mystical Meta Suit for Soul Mecha allows pilot control.

    The Mystical Meta Suit for Soul Mecha can undergo appearance transformation ording to the pilot¡¯s will.

    The Mystical Meta Suit for Soul Mecha can regenerate as long as the pilot has sufficient mana.

    The information about the item flooded in front of Su-ho¡¯s eyes.

    He couldn¡¯t help butugh.

    Nam Heewon had done it right.

    <em>¡°The materials were good, so the name¡¯s also¡­ no, it¡¯s changed a lot.¡±</em>

    The Mystical Meta Suit for Soul Mecha wasn¡¯t its original name.

    Once, the most popr partner item among possessors had been called the ¡°Soul Suit,¡± which was merely a substitute avatar to rece a person¡¯s physical body.

    But as thete-stage cataclysm unfolded, many Soul Suits for possessors appeared, and in the process, the Third-Person Pilot Perspective Suit was introduced.

    That had been the core item that enabled the existence of the previous Kim Geon.

    <em>¡°Adding the Meta Slime Stone was thanks to the advice from the previous Kim Geon.¡±</em>

    Every field had what people called the "final item."

    It was also known as the ultimate item, graduation item, and so on¡ªtypically discussed in fields where equipment yed a major role. For possessors, the Soul Suit was always a key topic.

    The Meta Slime Stone was rmended as a material in those discussions.

    That¡¯s why the item created, the Mystical Meta Suit for Soul Mecha, was now called the strongest Soul Suit of all.

    <em>¡°In theter stages of the cataclysm.¡±</em>

    This was a final item based on theter stages of the cataclysm.

    Su-ho, after checking the item information, smiled with satisfaction, and Nam Heewon, who had been holding back her smile, expressed her excitement.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that really good?¡±

    ¡°Really good.¡±

    ¡°I thought so. This time, it even came with 10 bonus stats.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°Yes, this is the second time after the Meta Slime Stone.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t just that they made an S-grade item.

    The item they created was an incredibly high-spec final item, and along with that, it carried absurd modifiers like ¡®Ancient Mystical Technology¡¯, ¡®Advanced Technology from Another World¡¯, and ¡®Fusion Technology¡¯.

    <em>¡°An item like this can only be made by Heewon.¡±</em>

    There were officially three types of the Technology Series:

    <ul>

    <li>Lost Technology from Ancient Civilizations</li>

    <li>High Technology from Otherworldly Civilizations</li>

    <li>Over Technology from Mythological Civilizations</li>

    </ul>

    And unofficially, there was Fusion Technology, whichbined two or more types of these technologies.

    The three mentioned earlier were ssified independently, but the fusion technology could only be created by someone like Nam Heewon, who was at a unique singrity.

    <em>¡°That¡¯s why you got 10 bonus stats again this time.¡±</em>

    Su-ho genuinely congratted her.

    ¡°Well done. You know, 10 bonus stats are worth the equivalent of 10 levels, right?¡±

    ¡°Of course, I know. Thanks to this synthesis, I¡¯ve gained the equivalent of more than 20 levels.¡±

    ¡°Then I¡¯ll be counting on you from now on.¡±

    ¡°Of course! Understood! Loyalty!¡±

    ¡°Alright, go ahead and rest now.¡±

    ¡°Wow!¡±

    Nam Heewon was genuinely happy at the order to rest.

    She really felt like she had earned her freedom now.

    There wasn¡¯t anything else Su-ho needed from her for the time being.

    At that moment.

    <ul>

    <li>Teacher, the guest has woken up.</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯ll be down in a moment.¡±

    Just in time, Kang Seul-gi had woken up.

    The timing was perfect.

    Su-ho finished preparing and headed back downstairs.

    There, Kang Seul-gi was waiting with a warm cup of tea in hand.

    ¡°You¡¯re awake?¡±

    At the sight of Su-ho, Kang Seul-gi jumped up from his seat.

    Then, he quickly approached Su-ho and bowed deeply, folding at a 90-degree angle.

    ¡°Thank you, Su-ho. Thank you so much. I will never forget this kindness.¡±

    Kang Seul-gi kept bowing deeply, showing his gratitude with his whole body.

    It was sincere.

    Kang Seul-gi had gone through difficult times.

    And Su-ho had ended the hellish life he had been living.

    Even though it wasn¡¯t an unconditional favor but a conditional removal, it still meant a lot to Kang Seul-gi.

    Su-ho smiled and patted him gently.

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I helped you in exchange for a reward.¡±

    ¡°No, no. Even if you were rewarded, don¡¯t doctors get thanked by their patients? Su-ho, you are the savior of my life. And not only did you help me first, but you also approached me and offered assistance. I will never forget this favor.¡±

    ¡°Haha, then, while I¡¯m at the association, I¡¯ll be counting on you.¡±

    ¡°Of course! If there¡¯s anything I can help with, just let me know. Even if it¡¯s something like the three-pronged item, I¡¯ll be happy to help anytime.¡±

    Kang Seul-gi¡¯s eyes sparkled.

    It wasn¡¯t just words fueled by emotion; it was sincere from the bottom of his heart.

    That¡¯s why Su-ho couldn¡¯t help but smile.

    He could feel the sincerity in his voice.

    And, having found someone in the Resource Division who could be cultivated and removed Pi Seong-yeol¡¯s influence, Su-ho felt optimistic.

    <em>¡°I¡¯m looking forward to tomorrow.¡±</em>

    It was a satisfying end to the day.

 Chapter 105

    The next day.

    The entrance to the Grand Union was packed with reporters.

    It was because of the article about Su-ho that had erupted the day before.

    They had been waiting since morning, hoping to snap a photo of Su-ho on his way to work. However, due to the initial chaos, they couldn''t even see him pass by, despite being so close.

    <em>¡°Sorry, but I''ll make sure to give you better bait soon.¡±</em>

    As Su-ho walked toward the elevator, he saw Jeong Cheol-min, who had arrived early at the Gate Division entrance, waiting for him.

    ¡°Here already?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Did you manage to rest yesterday?¡±

    ¡°I went home right after reporting and took a rest. I left early today just in case, but it¡¯s quieter than I expected.¡±

    ¡°Well, there¡¯s no reason for it to be noisy. If there were any issues, they¡¯de from the higher-ups. You reported yesterday, right?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡±

    ¡°But it¡¯s still quiet, so¡­¡±

    As he said, there was no reason for things rted to Su-ho, like the sealed gate raid, to cause any internal noise. External chatter was one thing, but internally, it wasn¡¯t a big deal.

    <em>¡°It¡¯s not like this is my first time.¡±</em>

    While there were certainly fans of Su-ho within the association, they were colleagues, so they couldn¡¯t approach him due to the potential trouble it might cause.

    Others might acknowledge Su-ho¡¯s greatness, but it wasn¡¯t something that had a significant impact on them, so they treated it as small gossip.

    Therefore, it was usually reporters or outsiders who buzzed about his actions.

    Su-ho smiled and spoke.

    ¡°By the way, you''re starting your training with the Detection Division today, right?¡±

    ¡°Ah, yes. I¡¯ll meet with the division head and start the evaluation shortly. But since it¡¯s still early, would you like to grab a coffee?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll go for a morning barley tea. Shall we head to the backyard?¡±

    ¡°Sounds good.¡±@@novelbin@@

    In just one day, Jeong Cheol-min¡¯s attitude toward Su-ho had be friendlier and more rxed.

    All of this was because they had a secret between them.

    Su-ho was pleased to have grown closer to Jeong Cheol-min and spent some time in the quiet backyard.

    The backyard was peaceful.

    Since it didn¡¯t require passing through the front gate, it was a perfect ce to avoid being seen, making it their long-time hideout from previous lives.

    When work hours began, Su-ho and Jeong Cheol-min met with the head of the Detection Division, Ma Du-won.

    ¡°I¡¯m Ma Du-won. It¡¯s an honor to meet the star of the moment.¡±

    ¡°Haha, thank you.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard the story. You went from the Management Division and then raided the Iron Valley, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡±

    ¡°It must have been dangerous, but I¡¯m d you made it out safely. That being said, our evaluation here won¡¯t be as risky. Have you heard about it?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve heard a brief overview.¡±

    ¡°Great. Well, then, for this evaluation, let¡¯s have Team Leader Jeong take charge, since we¡¯ve had some magic surges recently, and we¡¯re a bit short-handed.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    This was a fairlymon urrence when working in the same department.

    The work between the Detection and Management Divisions wasn¡¯t vastly different.

    Ma Du-won checked the time and asked,

    ¡°Shall we begin now?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I think that would be best.¡±

    ¡°Alright, then. We¡¯ve got about five or six gate spots set aside for evaluation. Choose one from them. All of them are around 90% charged for summoning.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    After finishing their greetings, the two men left the division head¡¯s office. Su-ho smiled and said,

    ¡°This is nice. I¡¯m d I¡¯m with you again for this.¡±

    ¡°Same here. By the way, just like with the Management Division¡¯s evaluation, we can choose the gate spot this time too, right?¡±

    ¡°Oh, are you giving me the choice?¡±

    ¡°I was going to. We usually prepare a lot of gate candidates for evaluations.¡±

    Su-ho already knew that.

    But he pretended not to.

    The two of them quickly moved to a quiet room, where they began reviewing the chosen gate spots.

    <em>¡°Please be there¡­¡±</em>

    Su-ho¡¯s heart raced as he scanned the gate spot candidates.

    He had a reason to be anxious¡ªit was because the gate that was created around this time would show up on the Detection Division¡¯s radar.

    <em>¡°I¡¯ve adjusted my schedule for this.¡±</em>

    It was true.

    Su-ho knew the gate creation schedule, so he had adjusted his evaluation schedule a few days prior on purpose.

    This way, he could "coincidentally" encounter it at the right time.

    As they flipped through the pages, Su-ho almost burst outughing.

    <em>¡°Of course, I knew I wouldn¡¯t miss it.¡±</em>

    Luckily, the ce he was aiming for was among the candidates.

    It was all thanks to the Library of Memories.

    That¡¯s why Su-ho didn¡¯t hesitate and pointed to one of the gate spots.

    ¡°I¡¯ll go with this one.¡±

    ¡°Any reason?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not too far, not too close, so I picked it.¡±

    ¡°Such a practical reason. Shall we head out right now?¡±

    ¡°Yep, let¡¯s go. This time, I¡¯ll drive.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I don¡¯t want to hear anyints about not managing the evaluator¡¯s stamina. I¡¯ve parked behind the car, so let¡¯s go through the back door.¡±

    The two of them quietly left the association after choosing the evaluation gate.

    ***

    The evaluation gate spot was located in Dongducheon.

    While not as bad as Paju, Dongducheon was still one of the ces with poor security. However, it wasn¡¯t entirely devoid of people and had a poption scattered around.

    <em>¡°But in the future, it will bepletely purified and revitalized.¡±</em>

    A littleter, as they entered the gate spot managed by the Grand Union, people from the association began to appear, and Jeong Cheol-min parked the car in front of the temporarymand center.

    ¡°Ah, Team Leader Jeong, you¡¯re here?¡±

    As the two got out of the car, the head of the temporarymand center, dispatched from the Detection Division, greeted them warmly.

    Su-ho, introduced by Jeong Cheol-min, naturally greeted the head and was able to take a quick look around the site before the official evaluation began.

    ¡°The gate charge is almost at 97%, so if we¡¯re lucky, we might even see the gate creation process.¡±

    ¡°Seems like we¡¯re lucky today.¡±

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s not exactly pure luck. In ces like this, the magic measurement work was finished, and the stability assessment passed, but you never really know. Gates can open unpredictably, right?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s true.¡±

    ¡°Alright, let me walk you through the evaluation items. First, we¡¯ll¡­¡±

    After some light chatter, Jeong Cheol-min began exining the evaluation process.

    But Su-ho wasn¡¯t really paying attention to his exnation.

    He already knew the process well, and he was confident enough in it to get a perfect score without thinking much.

    What truly upied his mind was, of course, the gate spot just about to be generated.

    <em>¡°97%...¡±</em>

    97%.

    It was somewhat ambiguous.

    Usually, once the charge exceeds 95%, the magic tends to explode, and the gate opens all at once.

    Of course, it wasn¡¯tmon, but Su-ho needed the gate to open right then.

    This way, he could enter the gate without raising suspicion.

    <em>¡°I guess I¡¯ll have to give it a little push.¡±</em>

    So, Su-ho decided to stimte the gate and make it open a little earlier.

    Normally, he¡¯d wait for the gate to naturally open, but if he did that, he¡¯d likely just finish the evaluation without ever seeing the inside of the gate.

    In this case, it was simple to trigger the gate¡¯s opening earlier.

    At least, it was for Su-ho, who had lived through the future.

    <em>¡°If it were only 80% charged, I wouldn¡¯t be able to do anything, but with 95%, I can adjust it without anyone noticing.¡±</em>

    If the gate¡¯s charge had been 80%, Su-ho wouldn¡¯t have dared try.

    He knew how to do it, but with an 80% charge, there would be too much preparation needed, and it couldn¡¯t be done secretly.

    <em>¡°But with 95%, it¡¯s easy to adjust without anyone noticing.¡±</em>

    At that moment, Jeong Cheol-min finished his exnation.

    ¡°...So, do you understand everything?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I understand. Shall we begin right away?¡±

    ¡°Yes, please use this device to check the area around the gate spot. Then you can check the gate charge yourself.¡±

    Su-ho had been nodding along, so Jeong Cheol-min didn¡¯t suspect he was thinking about anything else.

    Su-ho had always shown a proper demeanor.

    So, when Jeong Cheol-min handed him the device to check the first evaluation item¡ªessentially, a machine to measure the concentration of magic around the gate¡ªSu-ho epted it and walked toward the gate spot.

    <em>¡°I can start right away.¡±</em>

    The timing was perfect.

    To stimte the gate, he needed to get close to the spot, and since he needed to check the charge anyway, he could approach naturally.

    Su-ho brought the device to the spot and, at the same time, injected his mana into it, sending it toward the gate.

    <em>Beep¡ªbeep¡ªbeep¡ªbeep¡ªbeep-beep-beep-beep-beep!!</em>

    The device began to beep rhythmically as it started measuring the mana, but once it received Su-ho¡¯s mana, the beeping elerated rapidly.

    It was a natural reaction.

    The device was meant to detect mana, and Su-ho had just intentionally injected his mana into it.

    Maybe because of that?

    As the beeping sped up, everyone nearby stopped what they were doing and turned their attention to Su-ho.

    And just as they were about to tell him to move away from the gate spot¡­

    <strong>[Gate has been generated.]</strong>

    <em>Bang!</em>

    The gate was created.

    And at the same time, a sh of light erupted, and Su-ho, standing closest to the gate spot, suddenly disappeared without a trace.

    <em>Click!</em>

    The gate had been created.

    And just as quickly, the gate¡¯s door closed.

    ¡°¡­Huh?¡±

    Cold sweat ran down Jeong Cheol-min¡¯s back as he witnessed the spectacle up close.

    ***

    Su-ho¡¯s field of vision changed.

    And as his view, which had briefly disappeared, returned, he saw a brief system notification pop up in front of him.

    <strong>[You have entered the gate.]</strong>

    This was a notification that normally wouldn¡¯t appear.

    Usually, just before entering a gate, notifications would pop up to inform the user about entering the gate, fetching gate information, and details about the gate being entered.

    However, there were times when this notification would appear, and there was only one reason for that.

    <em>¡°It only happens when you¡¯re forcibly dragged into a freshly opened gate.¡±</em>

    In simple terms, it was a phenomenon seen in "kidnapping-type" gates.

    But that was exactly why Su-ho had chosen this one.

    He knew better than anyone that the gate he had chosen was a kidnapping-type gate.

    Su-ho lifted his head and looked up at the towering stone pagoda in front of him.

    <em>¡°So this is the famous ¡®Library of Mu-hak.¡¯¡±</em>

    The Library of Mu-hak.

    Once designated as a sealed gate, it had been cleared by someone other than Su-ho.

    The hunter who cleared this gate had the title <strong>¡®The King of Martial Arts.¡¯</strong>

    <em>¡°King of Martial Arts, Gu Taek-su. Sorry, but this time, I¡¯m going to take the treasure of your sacred ce.¡±</em>

    Gu Taek-su, known as the King of Martial Arts, had earned the title for a reason.

    He was a typical all-arounder dealer, excelling in all physicalbat without any genre limitations, and his ¡°sacred ce¡± that had shaped him was the Library of Mu-hak.

    But this time, Su-ho wanted to im that sacred ce for himself.

    There were skills to be learned here that could only be acquired with it.

    Having made his decision, Su-ho began to ascend the towering stone pagoda.

 Chapter 106

    With the system''s appearance, countless gates began to appear, and people started analyzing them, offering numerous opinions, and contemting their definitions.

    By theter stages of the cataclysm, humanity had finally managed to define what gates were.

    <em>¡°A gate is a kind of ¡®themed dungeon¡¯ created by the system.¡±</em>

    The gates that had appeared in the world so far numbered in the hundreds. If you counted the recurring gates like the Iron Valley, the number rose into the thousands. But one thing was certain: everything inside these gates was an instance dungeon provided by the system to aid in the yer¡¯s growth.

    Thus, they were defined as themed dungeons.

    <em>¡°Because each gate had a different concept.¡±</em>

    For example, one gate was set in a typical otherworldly dungeon, another took ce in the martial arts world, and some even depictedpletely unknown alien civilizations.

    Of course, there were also gates based on unique Earth cultures.

    A prime example of this was the Iron Valley, which was based on the myth of Heracles.

    In this sense, the Library of Mu-hak was a gate with a typical martial arts theme.

    In China, some had imed that the martial arts-themed gates were a representation of their culture, but¡­

    <em>¡°So what?¡±</em>

    It wasn¡¯t an important issue, and no one really paid attention to it.

    Su-ho continued to climb the stone pagoda.

    In fact, calling it a pagoda was a bit of a misnomer; it was more like a towering stone mountain.

    Yet, it was still called a pagoda because it resembled a celestial tower that seemed to reach the heavens.

    <em>¡°They said climbing this was the first trial.¡±</em>

    In his previous life, he wasn¡¯t on bad terms with Gu Taek-su, the so-called King of Martial Arts.

    In fact, they were quite close.

    Gu Taek-su was someone who purely pursued martial arts, and true to his title, he had a deep interest in swordsmanship. This was why he had always shown a keen interest in Su-ho¡¯s sword techniques, as he was known as the Sword Saint.

    <em>¡°Of all the people I¡¯ve met, his swordsmanship was among the top five.¡±</em>

    However, despite his incredible skill, Gu Taek-su was never able to defeat Su-ho.

    At least when it came to swordsmanship, Su-ho was a few steps ahead¡ªno, many steps ahead¡ªsince he was known as the Sword Saint globally.

    Ironically, this was the very reason why they could get along so well.

    Whenever they met, they would have at least one sword duel, and then spend the rest of the day talking about swordsmanship.

    <em>¡°I learned about the Library of Mu-hak back then.¡±</em>

    How long had he been climbing the pagoda?

    After a long ascent, Su-ho finally saw the pagoda¡¯s peak, which spread out like an ind.

    Upon reaching the top, he used the edge to support himself like adder and climbed onto the roof. Only then could he finally set foot at the top of the pagoda.

    ¡°It took forever.¡±

    As he said, it really had taken a long time.

    If it hadn¡¯t been for his Red-tier physical stats and S-tier Jumping Skill, he would have copsed long ago.

    But knowing that he had everything prepared, he had boldly challenged himself to climb it.

    The Library of Mu-hak wasn¡¯t long after its creation before it was put up for auction.

    Why was it auctioned off?

    There was nothing special about it.

    The Library of Mu-hak wasn¡¯t considered a particrly dangerous gatepared to its fame. The first reason was that ess was freely allowed, and the second was that most people gave up climbing the pagoda.

    <em>¡°Then Gu Taek-su conquered it.¡±</em>

    For a long time, no one had cleared the Library of Mu-hak.

    The reason was simple: the level restriction on the gate was too high, and the height of the pagoda was so daunting that most people gave up midway.

    But Gu Taek-su was different.

    Even though his level was rtively low, he had been pursuing martial arts since before the cataclysm, and he was the first to conquer the pagoda.

    That¡¯s why Su-ho had to clear it before it was put up for auction.

    Otherwise, Gu Taek-su would conquer it again.

    <em>¡°In that sense, being part of the Grand Union is pretty sweet for monopolistic growth.¡±</em>

    There was no reason for Su-ho to return to being a public servant hunter in an environment as harsh as this.

    There were opportunities here to seize power sources that would never be avable for money, and Su-ho was the first to get a chance at it.

    Su-ho looked up and surveyed his surroundings.

    This ce, which resembled arge training hall, seemed a bit like Kunlun, the training ground for the banshees, but what set it apart was the massive library at the top of the stone pagoda.

    <em>¡°That must be the famous Library of Mu-hak.¡±</em>

    The Library of Mu-hak, shaped like a U, resembled a bookshelf, and various books were stored inside.

    ording to Gu Taek-su, now that he thought about it, the books stored there were highly likely to be martial arts manuals.

    That was why Su-ho confidently approached the library.

    At that moment.

    <em>Drrrr-</em>

    The sound of something turning.

    Hearing that unfamiliar noise, Su-ho stopped moving.

    <em>¡°That must be it, the sound of the mechanical device activating.¡±</em>

    There was enough data about the Library of Mu-hak.

    Gu Taek-su, who liked to talk more than expected, had said that once a person reached the top of the pagoda and approached the library, the real trial would begin.

    And that trial started with the activation of the mechanical device lying dormant inside the library.

    At that moment.

    <em>Hooong!</em>

    The sound of wind cutting through the air.

    As soon as Su-ho instinctively lowered his head, a massive spear passed overhead, flying swiftly.

    ¡°That¡¯s quite the weing gesture.¡±

    The spear, which had flown by, split the pagoda and disappeared into the distance.

    And then, it began.

    <em>Drrrr-</em>

    <em>Hooong! Hooong!</em>

    This time, two sounds rang out in quick session, and Su-ho instinctively dodged just a beat faster.

    <em>Bang! Bang!</em>

    This time, two massive hammers came flying.

    It seemed like they were firmly fixed somewhere, but using the rebound force, they swung violently, hitting the ground with powerful force, leaving destructive marks.

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s warm up.¡±

    <em>Drrrr-</em>

    Once again, the mechanical device below the library hummed into action.

    And then.

    <em>Hooong! Hooong! Hooong!</em>

    This time, the mechanical devicesunched attacks from three directions.

    But once again, Su-ho smoothly dodged.

    And thus, the true trial of the Library of Mu-hak began.

    The all-out barrage of mechanical strikes.

    ***

    How much time had passed?

    <em>¡°Phew...¡±</em>

    Sweat dripped down his face.

    His physical stats were at Red tier, yet¡­

    It wasn¡¯t a matter ofcking stamina.

    Even though his sensory stats had long since reached Red tier, just those physical and sensory stats alone were pushing him to his limits in the Library of Mu-hak¡¯s trial.

    <em>¡°Gu Taek-su came here when his stats weren¡¯t even Red¡­¡±</em>

    That insane monster.

    For someone like him to havee here when his stats weren¡¯t even Red, and still managed to clear this? How did he manage that with only colorless stats back then?

    <em>¡°Well, he was always a crazy kind of guy.¡±</em>

    That¡¯s why Su-ho had no intention of giving up or failing.

    Even when his stats were colorless, there was someone who cleared this ce with confidence. There was no way someone with far better conditions like Su-ho would fail.

    But even though the trial in the Library of Mu-hak felt like an endless evasion fight, there were still some results.

    <em>Drrrr-</em>

    The sound of mechanical gears turning.

    At the same time, Su-ho activated his Mana Sense.

    [Mana Detection activated.]

    Why did he use this skill?

    It was simple.

    No matter how much this ce unted its martial arts theme, at its core, it was still controlled by the system.

    Which meant, the force that operated the gate was mana, not internal energy.

    So, Su-ho used Mana Detection.

    <em>¡°It¡¯s all just a concept. Whether it¡¯s internal energy or something else, it all ultimately flows from mana.¡±</em>

    At least, the system that had consumed Earth seemed to focus on this concept.

    Of course, depending on the person or gate, mana might be called internal energy, force, or even ether. But in the end, they all shared one thing inmon: they were all forms of mana.

    That¡¯s why by using Mana Detection, Su-ho could predict the movement of the mechanical devices, and thanks to his repeated use, he had even leveled his Mana Detection skill from B-tier to A-tier.

    <em>¡°There¡¯s no skill that doesn¡¯t level up more easily than Mana Detection. This is definitely a good harvest!¡±</em>

    At that moment.

    <em>Drrrr-! Hooong! Hooong!</em>

    Weapons began flying at him.

    But Su-ho¡¯s movements were quicker.

    Using Mana Detection, he was able to dodge two beats faster, and once again sessfully avoided the traps in the Library of Mu-hak.

    Then, it happened.

    <em>Drrrr-! Crack!</em>

    A strange sound.@@novelbin@@

    It was the sound of something breaking, but it was slightly different from what he had heard before.

    Yet, hearing that strange noise, Su-ho finally smiled.

    <em>¡°Finally!¡±</em>

    He knew what that sound meant.

    It was the sound signaling the end of the first trial in the Library of Mu-hak.

    As evidence, a new system notification appeared before Su-ho.

    [A boss monster has appeared.]

    The boss monster, the end of the trial, had appeared.

    Su-ho wiped the sweat from his chin with the back of his hand and took a deep breath.

    Then, the floor at the center of the library cracked open, and a steel pir rose from within.

    No.

    It wasn¡¯t just a regr steel pir.

    What Su-ho had thought was a pir suddenly sprouted arms and legs, resembling a wooden puppet, and soon took the form of a human.

    <em>¡°So it¡¯s you, the Mokuzan, the guardian of the library.¡±</em>

    Mokuzan.

    That was the nickname for the guardian of the Library of Mu-hak, a name given by Gu Taek-su himself.

    <em>¡°He said it resembled the wooden martial artist puppets from old games, and that¡¯s why he named it Mokuzan.¡±</em>

    The character¡¯s name was also Mokuzan.

    Though it had a real name, it didn¡¯t feel like a name, so Gu Taek-su had given it the nickname.

    That¡¯s why Su-ho decided to call it Mokuzan too.

    Su-ho had be more familiar with that name.

    The figure stepped forward, creaking joints that weren¡¯t even there.

    <em>¡°Gu Taek-su said this guy was like the Sword Emperor.¡±</em>

    The Sword Emperor was the nickname of a nameless swordsman boss from the Mugyeong Gate.

    Just like that.

    ording to Gu Taek-su, Mokuzan, like the Sword Emperor, would have the same status window as the person it was facing.

    Maybe that was why?

    As soon as Mokuzan appeared, it immediately used its unique skill.

    [The Guardian of the Library activates the Battlefield of Belief.]

    [While the Battlefield of Belief is active, the status window of the Guardian of the Library will match the challenger¡¯s.]

    [While the Battlefield of Belief is active, allbatants within the area may only use the weapons designated by the Guardian of the Library.]

    The status window would be copied.

    And the weapon usage would be restricted.

    This meant the fight would be under the same conditions, which meant Su-ho would have to fight using only his pure swordsmanship, without any of his usual tricks.

    That was why only Gu Taek-su had managed to clear this gate.

    Among all the people who had pursued martial arts before the cataclysm, Gu Taek-su was the only one who had the skills to conquer this trial.

    But Su-ho was confident in this domain as well.

    <em>¡°Even Gu Taek-su couldn¡¯t defeat the Sword Emperor, right?¡±</em>

    As Su-ho took a step forward.

    [The Guardian of the Library designates a weapon.]

    [The designated weapon is the ¡®sword¡¯.]

    [The battle begins.]

    A sword appeared in Mokuzan¡¯s grasp.

 Chapter 107

    ¡°A sword, huh?¡±

    Seeing the notification, Su-ho couldn¡¯t help but smile.

    Out of all the weapons, of course, it had to be a sword.

    ¡°I¡¯ll finish this quickly.¡±

    He thought it was actually a good thing.

    In the Library of Mu-hak, where he had to fight against Mokuzan, who had mastered all kinds of martial arts, if the first round was a sword fight, then Su-ho could finish it faster than anyone.

    With that thought, Su-ho reached for his weapon.

    [Blood Weapon activated.]

    As the skill activated, the Blood Sword appeared in Su-ho¡¯s hand.

    Mokuzan, too, was armed.

    At some point, a steel sword appeared in its grasp, and Mokuzan stared at Su-ho for a moment before charging at him like an enraged bull.

    Crash! Crash! Crash! Crash!

    With each step, the Library of Mu-hak seemed to tremble.

    But Su-ho didn¡¯t dodge. He simply watched as Mokuzan charged at him like a bull.

    Then, just as Mokuzan thrust its sword forward like a horn, Su-ho swung his sword in a single motion.

    ng!

    The Blood Sword sliced through the air.

    It collided with Mokuzan¡¯s sword.

    Screech!

    To Su-ho¡¯s surprise, Mokuzan¡¯s sword snapped in half, with its de sliced clean through the middle.

    <ul>

    <li>¡­¡­.</li>

    </ul>

    Mokuzan, having lost its weapon, paused for a moment.

    It seemed this was a first for Mokuzan.

    Perhaps that was why?

    [The Guardian of the Library acknowledges its defeat.]

    [The gate has been cleared.]

    [The MVP of the gate clear is ¡®An Su-ho.¡¯]

    [Bonus experience awarded for MVP.]

    [Bonus stat of 1 point awarded.]

    [Level has increased.]

    [All stats have increased by 1.]

    [You have gained a bonus stat.]

    To Su-ho¡¯s surprise, the Guardian of the Library acknowledged its defeat, and at that moment, the gate was cleared.

    Looking at the flood of system notifications, Su-ho recalled the Blood Weapon and said, ¡°Truly, martial artists are different.¡±

    The whole purpose of the Library of Mu-hak was to test the challenger¡¯s abilities, so Mokuzan had no choice but to acknowledge defeat cleanly.

    And Su-ho appreciated that.

    Most gates involved boss monsters obsessed with killing, unlike Mokuzan.

    After the gate was cleared, Mokuzan stood still, trembling for a moment, before freezing into position like a stone statue.

    Su-ho walked toward the library and took a close look at Mokuzan.

    ¡°It¡¯s solid.¡±

    Touching it, Su-ho could feel the heavy, steel-like weight.

    Even the broken sword de was just as solid.

    But despite that, the fact that such a sturdy steel de had been broken meant that Su-ho¡¯s Blood Sword was tougher.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t even use a skill. This is pure physicality.¡±

    Of course.

    Even Gu Taek-su, the King of Martial Arts, couldn¡¯t defeat Su-ho when it came to pure swordsmanship.

    Su-ho nodded in satisfaction as he walked closer to the library.

    The Library of Mu-hak contained numerous martial arts manuals.

    As Su-ho looked around, he reached out, and a system notification appeared before him.

    [Wee to the Library of Mu-hak.]

    [Having defeated the Guardian of the Library, you may now receive 1 book of knowledge from the Library.]

    Just as Gu Taek-su had said.

    The Library of Mu-hak granted knowledge to those who defeated the guardian, and this knowledge, of course, came in the form of skills.

    Soon, a few options appeared before Su-ho.

    [Swordsmanship]

    [Footwork]

    [Grappling]

    The three options appeared before him.

    Su-ho looked at thest option and couldn¡¯t help but smirk.

    ¡°Grappling, huh?¡±

    He knew what Swordsmanship and Footwork were.

    But Grappling?

    Grappling wasn¡¯t a martial art in itself, but a collection of other misceneous techniques. But just because they were ssified as ¡°misceneous¡± didn¡¯t mean they were insignificant.

    Su-ho never underestimated them. He knew exactly what skills could be learned from the Library of Mu-hak, and he already knew all the options avable.

    In fact, that¡¯s why he decided to choose Grappling.

    When Su-ho pointed to Grappling, the system confirmed his choice.

    [You have chosen Grappling.]

    [You have learned ¡®Acupressure (B)¡¯.]

    With the system notification, the Acupressure skill was learned.

    Su-ho smiled as he saw the notification.

    ¡°Finally, I¡¯ve learned Acupressure.¡±

    Acupressure was a technique that targeted specific pressure points in the human body to trigger special effects.

    That¡¯s why it was ssified under Grappling.

    Acupressure wasn¡¯t a martial art or a footwork technique, so it made sense that it was categorized this way.

    Su-ho confirmed the details of the newly learned Acupressure skill.

    [Acupressure]

    <ul>

    <li>Grade: B</li>

    </ul>

    A mysterious blood-based technique from the martial world.

    Those who learn Acupressure can see key pressure points in the human body, and by stimting them precisely, they can trigger special effects tied to each pressure point.

    It was a simple description.

    Su-ho was sure this was the Acupressure he was familiar with.

    That¡¯s why he felt satisfied.

    Although Acupressure was a fairlymon technique in martial arts, in the post-cataclysm world, only a handful of people had managed to learn it up until theter stages of the cataclysm.

    ¡°There has to be a supply for there to be owners.¡±@@novelbin@@

    Just as Su-ho closed the info window, a sudden sh of light enveloped the entire library, and the light began to coalesce into a small orb.

    The orb floated in front of Su-ho and slowly transformed into a scroll.

    [You have acquired ¡®Library of Mu-hak¡¯s Essence (S).]

    An S-tier item.

    Su-ho checked the information on the Library of Mu-hak¡¯s Essence.

    [Library of Mu-hak¡¯s Essence]

    <ul>

    <li>Grade: S</li>

    </ul>

    A painting containing the essence of the Library of Mu-hak.

    Only those who have defeated the Guardian of the Library inherit it.

    On the night of a full moon, challengers may once again enter the Library of Mu-hak.

    ¡°Just as Gu Taek-su said.¡±

    The Guardian of the Library was simr to the Sword Emperor in terms of attributes.

    You could only fight using the weapon designated by the library, and if you lost the fight, the library would acknowledge your defeat and hand over a manual.

    However, unlike the Sword Emperor, who only had one thing to offer, the Library of Mu-hak had a lot to give to challengers.

    That was why Gu Taek-su had be the King of Martial Arts in the end¡ªthanks to the Library of Mu-hak¡¯s Essence.

    ¡°So, it means I can return on a full moon to enter again.¡±

    While Acupressure was a nice skill to learn, Su-ho still had much more to gain from the Library of Mu-hak.

    Among them were more techniques, like Footwork and other misceneous skills. But the one he was most interested in was the ultimate martial arts manual, considered the Library of Mu-hak¡¯s greatest treasure.

    ¡°Now, should I head out?¡±

    Having obtained what he wanted, Su-ho decided to leave the gate.

    ***

    Outside the gate.

    The members of the Detection Department were pacing nervously in front of the Library of Mu-hak gate, waiting for Su-ho.

    The gate, which should have posed no problem at all, had suddenly led to Su-ho¡¯s disappearance, and that left them with no choice but to worry.

    Especially Jeong Cheol-min, who was in a panic.

    ¡°This is crazy¡­¡±

    He understood the situation with Iron Valley.

    He had entered the gate himself.

    And when things went wrong, he was the first to back out.

    But this time, the situation waspletely different.

    There was no data¡­ no, an unexpected variable had urred in this gate.

    So, it was impossible for him not to feel anxious.

    ¡°What if something happens to Su-ho?¡±

    Ah.

    Just thinking about it was terrifying.

    That was why Jeong Cheol-min had nothing left to do but pray to a god he never believed in.

    Did he believe in Su-ho?

    Of course.

    But no matter how much belief he had, it didn¡¯t stop the fear.

    Then, it happened.

    ¡°Ahh!¡±

    ¡°The gate line! The gate line is copsing!¡±

    ¡°No way?!¡±

    Themotion spread among the people.

    At those words, Jeong Cheol-min reacted immediately.

    And sure enough, he saw the gate line slowly vanishing, and a chill ran down his spine.

    ¡°N-No way!¡±

    At that moment, someone appeared from the gate.

    It was Su-ho.

    Su-ho, looking as casual as someone who had just been out for a walk, stepped out of the gate with a rxed expression.

    ¡°Ah, so you guys were all waiting here.¡±

    ¡°Su-ho!¡±

    People crowded around him.

    Among them, Jeong Cheol-min was the first to rush to Su-ho.

    ¡°Do you know how worried I was? What happened?¡±

    With a slightly awkward smile, Su-ho replied to Jeong Cheol-min¡¯s heartfelt worry.

    ¡°Well¡­ It seems like my mana suddenly surged, and that¡¯s what caused all this. Luckily, the gate itself wasn¡¯t too difficult, so I was able to make it out safely.¡±

    ¡°Ahh¡­ Thank god¡­ I¡¯m so relieved¡­¡±

    ¡°You were really worried, huh? Haha¡­ Sorry about that.¡±

    ¡°Worried? Of course! I was really, really worried. My legs are still shaking.¡±

    Seeing Jeong Cheol-min so genuinely relieved made Su-ho feel a little guilty.

    Even though he knew what kind of gate this was before approaching, seeing Jeong Cheol-min breathe a sigh of relief made Su-ho feel a tiny bit guilty.

    Su-ho smiled awkwardly and said.

    ¡°Well, I made it out safely. But... What about the field evaluation?¡±

    ¡°Is that really important right now? What matters is that you made it out alive.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s true, but...¡±

    After all, it was still a test, right?

    Afterward, Su-ho strongly suggested doing the evaluation at another gate, and of course, he earned a perfect score again.

    ¡®Finally, the Special Department.¡¯

    After taking the evaluation at another gate, Su-ho left early and headed home.

    Now, the only remaining training department was the Special Department.

    And naturally, Su-ho wasn¡¯t too worried about the evaluation there.

    The Special Department was the most favorable ce for him.

    Once home, Su-ho quietly opened his status window.

    [An Su-ho]

    <ul>

    <li>

    Lv: 75

    </li>

    <li>

    ss: Healer

    </li>

    <li>

    Traits: <New Blood> <Heracles Candidate>

    </li>

    <li>

    Strength (R): 99

    </li>

    <li>

    Health (R): 37

    </li>

    <li>

    Mana (R): 37

    </li>

    <li>

    Sense (R): 37

    </li>

    <li>

    Bonus Stats: 2

    </li>

    </ul>

    Level 75.

    And 99 Red-tier Strength stats with 2 bonus stats.

    All of these hade from the Library of Mu-hak.

    Su-ho deliberately avoided distributing his stats.

    He wanted to enjoy the moment when his stats would finally rise to Orange-tier.

    So, for now, he allocated one bonus stat into Strength.

    [Your Strength stat has reached 100.]

    [Your Strength stat has grown further.]

    [Congrattions! Your Strength stat level has risen and is now Orange-tier!]

    His Red-tier Strength stat had be Orange-tier.

    At the same time, the stat value of 100 was reset to 1, and the red border turned to orange.

    Next to it, instead of the "R" symbolizing Red-tier, an "O" symbolizing Orange-tier appeared.

    Seeing the notification, Su-ho chuckled in disbelief.

    He had felt the same way when he first obtained the Red-tier stats, but this growth rate was truly ridiculous.

    *¡°I wasn¡¯t even at 1-star, and I¡¯m already at Orange-tier...¡±

    With this growth rate, Su-ho felt confident that he wouldn¡¯t lose to anyone in this life.

    ¡°No, maybe I could even clear the first Cataclysmic-tier gate by myself.¡±

    He was confident.

    It was a gate he had already cleared once.

    Could two attempts be too difficult?

    Though, going solo would require additional preparation.

    Su-ho invested his remaining bonus stat into Mana and closed his status window.

    Just then, his phone rang.

    He checked the caller ID and got up.

    It was a call from Pi Seong-yeol.

 Chapter 108

    Suho stared at the ringing phone for a moment.

    <em>Why is he calling?</em>

    <em>Does he have something to say?</em>

    After a brief hesitation, he picked up.

    "Yes, senior."

    <ul>

    <li>"Hey, rookie. Busy?"</li>

    </ul>

    "Not at all. Just rxing at home. What''s the matter?"

    <ul>

    <li>"Not much. You''re starting your Special Division training tomorrow, right? Just wanted to give you a heads-up."</li>

    </ul>

    "Ah, thank you. I should have called you first to check in, though..."

    <ul>

    <li>"Haha, what would you have even said? ¡®Now that I¡¯m starting my training, please take care of me, senior¡¯? That¡¯s just awkward."</li>

    </ul>

    "Haha, I suppose you''re right."

    The exchange was casual and lighthearted¡ªbanter without much depth.

    <em>But why did he call?</em>

    Surely, it wasn¡¯t just for small talk.

    As the pleasantries faded, Pi Seong-yeol got to the point.

    <ul>

    <li>"So, I hear you got perfect scores in all your Gate Division evaluations?"</li>

    </ul>

    "Yes, that''s correct."

    <ul>

    <li>"If you manage the same in the Special Division, you''ll be the first and youngest in Association history to achieve that. Quite the feat, huh?"</li>

    </ul>

    "That''s what I¡¯ve heard."

    <ul>

    <li>"You punk, shouldn¡¯t you be more excited about this? This is a big deal."</li>

    </ul>

    "Haha... Sorry about that."

    <ul>

    <li>"Nothing to apologize for. Anyway, I called because... I''ll be overseeing your Special Division evaluation myself."</li>

    </ul>

    "Really? You''re doing it personally?"

    Pi Seong-yeol, taking the lead?

    Why?

    Sure, Suho was a promising junior, but was there really a need for someone of Pi¡¯s status to take such an active role?

    The answer came quickly enough.

    <ul>

    <li>"That¡¯s right. And get this: I¡¯mbining the evaluations for the Special Operations Department and the Special Investigations Department into one."</li>

    </ul>

    The Special Division was split into two departments:

    <ol>

    <li>Special Investigations Department: Focused on handling crimes involving yers.</li>

    <li>Special Operations Department: Dealt with everything else¡ªdangerous, specialized tasks no one else could manage.</li>

    </ol>

    Naturally, the Special Operations Department had more authority. Though their work was broadly defined as "everything else," it epassed high-stakes missions no other department could handle.

    This meant the Special Operations Department could step in and perform tasks from any other department, including investigations.

    <em>¡°Combining evaluations for both departments?¡±</em>

    As far as Suho knew, this was unprecedented.

    Then again, with someone as influential as Pi Seong-yeol pulling the strings, the impossible became usible.

    <em>¡°It¡¯s not like the Association President would object.¡±</em>

    What exactly was Pi nning? How would he structure thebined evaluation? Suho decided to listen.

    "Combining them into one test?"

    <ul>

    <li>"Yep, one test. No need to check in with Jeong Cheol-min anymore, either. I¡¯ll handle everything from here."</li>

    </ul>

    Since the Special Division was Suho¡¯sst rotation, it seemed Pi wanted to take full charge of him now.

    <em>¡°This feels like he¡¯s setting something big up. Maybe it¡¯s time I leak a story to the press?¡±</em>

    <ul>

    <li>"Anyway, just keep that in mind for now."</li>

    </ul>

    "Understood. Will you let me know the details tomorrow?"

    <ul>

    <li>"What, you¡¯re curious?"</li>

    </ul>

    "Of course. Who wouldn¡¯t be?"

    <ul>

    <li>"Haha, fair enough. But it¡¯ste, so I¡¯ll exin everything tomorrow at the office."</li>

    </ul>

    "Understood."

    <ul>

    <li>"Alright, get some rest. See you tomorrow."</li>

    </ul>

    "Goodnight, sir."

    As the call ended, Suho ced his phone on the side table, deep in thought.

    <em>¡°What is he nning, being so secretive?¡±</em>

    The intrigue was growing.

    After a moment¡¯s reflection, Suho picked up his phone again and dialed Jo Jin-hwi.

    ***

    The next day, Suho headed to the Special Division, timing his arrival with Pi Seong-yeol¡¯s.

    He had already spoken with Jeong Cheol-min on the phone, who, surprisingly, hadn¡¯t been informed that he was no longer Suho¡¯s supervisor.

    ¡°He just went ahead without telling Cheol-min hyung? Typical bulldozer behavior.¡±

    Still, Cheol-min understood the situation, and Suho waited nearby until it was time to enter the Special Division¡¯s director¡¯s office.

    "Oh, you¡¯re here?"

    Pi Seong-yeol greeted Suho warmly as he stepped into the room.

    "Take a seat."

    "Yes, sir."

    As Suho sat down, Pi removed his jacket and settled into the main seat. His expression was rxed, almost amused.

    "I heard you pulled off something impressive in the Detection Department as well?"

    "It wasn¡¯t anything significant."

    "Haha, if you say so, then it must be true. But you know, the rest of the world doesn¡¯t see it that way. Good job, though."

    "Thank you, sir."

    "Well, here you go."

    Pi handed Suho a folder.

    Opening it, Suho immediately recognized a familiar name.

    Kim Goong-won.

    Pi spoke as he pulled out a cigarette.

    "That bastard, Kim Goong-won, is rotting away in Cheong-ok now."

    Of course.

    Cheong-ok was the ultimate prison for yer criminals¡ªa hellish ce where even the most defiant and vicious yers were forced toply.

    But why was he bringing up Kim Goong-won now?

    "Does my evaluation involve Kim Goong-won?"

    "In a way, yes. Do you remember when we arrested him?"

    "Yes, I do."

    "Who was with him back then?"

    "Son Baek-geum was."

    "Flip to the next page."

    Suho turned the page as instructed, revealing a profile and photo of Son Baek-geum.

    Lighting his cigarette, Pi continued.

    "Why did we leave Son Baek-geum behind back then?"

    "I reported that we couldn¡¯t handle him at the time."

    "Right. But what if you could handle him now?"

    Pi took a long drag from his cigarette, exhaling smoke that formed hazy patterns in the air.

    At that moment, Suho understood what Pi was orchestrating.

    ¡°This is all about countering Park Gyu-min.¡±

    The evaluation was just a pretense to address unresolved matters while simultaneously gauging Suho¡¯s abilities. It was also a move to solidify Pi¡¯s influence over him.

    ¡°He¡¯s testing me while ensuring I get my hands dirty. That way, I¡¯m bound to him.¡±

    Suho smirked, nodding.

    "If it¡¯s within my ability, I¡¯ll take care of it."

    His immediate, unwavering response made Pi grin, the gold of his tooth glinting as his ambitions shone through.

    "Good. Go deal with Son Baek-geum. If you wrap this up neatly, I¡¯ll ensure you get perfect scores in both department evaluations."

    "Just ¡®deal with him,¡¯ sir? That seems a bit too simple."

    "Of course not. I need you to ¡®deal with him¡¯ and gather evidence on his connections. Bring me receipts."

    "Understood."

    "You didn¡¯t even ask who his connections are?"

    "If I can¡¯t figure that out myself, I wouldn¡¯t be much use, would I? I¡¯ll handle it thoroughly."

    "Efficient as always. How much time do you need?"

    "As much as you think is reasonable."

    "Take a week. Treat it as yourst bit of downtime. Once this is over, you¡¯re stepping into the deputy team leader role in the Special Division."

    "Yes, sir."

    Suho¡¯s precise and resolute answers seemed to amuse Pi, who let out a chuckle amidst a cloud of smoke.

    "Suho."@@novelbin@@

    "Yes, sir?"

    "Want to hear an interesting story?"

    "What kind of story, sir?"

    "Aren¡¯t you curious about how I know everything about the connection between Son Baek-geum and the Vice President?"

    At Pi Seong-yeol¡¯s words, Suho¡¯s eyes widened slightly.

    Why bring this up now?

    Still, the curiosity was there. How exactly did Pi Seong-yeol know about all of this?

    Suho decided to ask.

    "If I may, I¡¯d like to carefully ask about it, sir."

    "There¡¯s nothing to be careful about; it¡¯s simple. Son Baek-geum came to me before he ever went to Park Gyu-min."

    "¡­?"

    Huh.

    This waspletely unexpected.

    But it did clear up the mystery in an instant.

    Pi Seong-yeol continued speaking.

    "That bastard Son Baek-geum may have grown big thanks to Kim Goong-won¡¯s drugs, but he¡¯s not just a thug dealing substances. The guy has business acumen and solid instincts. So naturally, he came to me first. Had a good eye, that one. Figured I was a better bet than the Vice President."

    "Then why did you turn him down, sir? Ethics?"

    "Ethics? Do we look like the kind of people who care about that?"

    "Then why, sir?"

    "Because it¡¯s filthy."

    "Excuse me?"

    "Taking money from filthy bastards makes you filthy too. You know where I worked before this, don¡¯t you?"

    Ah.

    At that moment, Suho remembered exactly who Pi Seong-yeol had been and where he hade from.

    Pi rified it himself.

    "I used to work for the prosecution. Seoul Central District Prosecutor¡¯s Office, to be exact. Then I awakened, and here I am now."

    And that was exactly how it happened.

    He had been one of the top prosecutors in Seoul Central.

    But regardless of his status, the system didn¡¯t discriminate. Awakening as a yer stripped him of his position.

    Korea, like other countries, had strict rules barring awakened individuals from holding certain positions, including judges and prosecutors.

    ¡®That applies to all judges and prosecutors, too.¡¯

    Why were awakened individuals banned from those roles?

    Who knew?

    It was something decided by people at the top.

    For Pi Seong-yeol, awakening meant the abrupt end of his career and the power that came with it. From that moment, his obsession with power only grew.

    Power was like a drug¡ªonce tasted, it was impossible to quit.

    ¡®And his way back to power was through the Association.¡¯

    For Pi Seong-yeol, it was the best move.

    The Association was one of the few government institutions where awakened individuals could work while still holding power.

    His skills as a former prosecutor earned him a spot, and he rose rapidly through the ranks.

    Even as an awakened individual, Pi Seong-yeol deliberately avoided leveling up. He relied solely on the abilities he had honed as a prosecutor, eventually bing the head of the Special Division.

    Pi Seong-yeol¡¯s superiorityplex stemmed from this.

    He already viewed himself as nobility, and losing everything overnight only made him cling harder to his belief in his inherent superiority.

    Blowing out a puff of smoke, Pi Seong-yeol said,

    "So here¡¯s the deal. Now that you¡¯re one of my people, don¡¯t even think about lining your pockets behind my back. That¡¯s something I will never tolerate."

    "Of course, sir."

    "Good. Always remember this¡ªjust because someone looks human doesn¡¯t mean they¡¯re all the same. You and I, we¡¯re cut from a different cloth. So don¡¯t ever take dirty money from those thug bastards dealing drugs. If you have power, money wille to you naturally."

    "Yes, sir. I understand."

    Right.

    This was who Pi Seong-yeol was.

    A man who didn¡¯t care for petty riches, only obsessed with pure, unadulterated power.

    If Park Gyu-min was the kind of guy who chased both power and wealth, Pi Seong-yeol was a lunatic wholly consumed by the pursuit of power alone.

    ¡®This type of person is scarier. He knows exactly what he wants and goes after it without hesitation.¡¯

    That¡¯s why he could orchestrate catastrophic events like the redevelopment gate incident without batting an eye.

    Pi Seong-yeol asked,

    "Anything else you need? Any questions?"

    Suho hesitated briefly, pretending to deliberate, before bringing up a carefully prepared request.

    "If it¡¯s not too much, sir, could I ask for one personal favor?"

    "A personal favor?"

    Pi Seong-yeol tilted his head slightly, intrigued by Suho¡¯s unexpected response.

 Chapter 109

    Pi Seong-yeol asked, "What is it?"

    "I¡¯ll handle the task you¡¯ve assigned without any mistakes. However, alongside that, could you allow me to take the evaluation for the Special Division as originally nned?"

    "What?"

    The expression on Pi Seong-yeol¡¯s face was one of utter bewilderment.

    But Su-ho was dead serious.

    ¡®I don¡¯t want thising back to bite meter.¡¯

    Pi Seong-yeol was someone Su-ho intended to bring down eventually. Dealing with someone who had nothing to lose was always both frightening and bothersome.

    ¡®Not scary, but definitely bothersome,¡¯ Su-ho thought.

    That was why he wanted to take the evaluation properly. Of course, there was another reason as well.

    ¡®I don¡¯t need anyone pulling strings to get me a perfect score. I can achieve that on my own.¡¯

    Su-ho wanted to im the title of the first and youngest perfect scorer without Pi Seong-yeol¡¯s taint on his record.

    Then, it happened.

    "Hahaha!"

    Pi Seong-yeol burst intoughter, his voice echoing through the room.

    Looking at Su-ho with an amused smirk, he said, "Wow, kid. You¡¯re crazier than I thought."

    "Ha ha... My apologies. I just can¡¯t pass up the opportunity for a perfect score," Su-ho replied with a sheepish grin.@@novelbin@@

    "Fine, I¡¯ll allow it. But only the written test. I left out the practical evaluation deliberately because of the Son Baek-geum case. I don¡¯t want to waste time on redundant work."

    "Thank you. In that case, I¡¯d like to take the written test today before heading out to deal with the Son Baek-geum matter."

    Su-ho waspletely serious. After all, how hard could a written test be?

    But to Pi Seong-yeol, it sounded a bit different.

    "This kid¡­ You think the Special Division¡¯s written test is like any other? Sure, I know you¡¯ve aced every test up until now, but do you realize how much harder ours is? And you want to take it today?"

    "I¡¯ll give it a try."

    "Confidence or just foolishness¡­"

    Pi Seong-yeol nced at Su-ho, intrigued. Suddenly, an idea popped into his mind. Smirking, he pulled out a stack of papers from his desk drawer.

    "Alright, I¡¯ll y along. Let¡¯s see this so-called perfect score in real time. I¡¯ll bring the test paper shortly. In the meantime, go through these. Consider it study material."

    No senior could resist a junior¡¯s bold challenge, and Pi Seong-yeol was no exception. On the contrary, he found this quite entertaining.

    Su-ho started reading the provided material. A short whileter, Pi Seong-yeol returned, test papers in hand.

    "Need more time?"

    "No, I¡¯ve read enough."

    "You lunatic. Listen, I¡¯m telling you, our test isn¡¯t easy. Don¡¯t ruin your perfect record just to show off. You can back out now."

    "I can do this."

    "Fine, fine. A man¡¯s gotta have guts, I suppose."

    Under Pi Seong-yeol¡¯s watchful eye, Su-ho began tackling the test with swift precision.

    Before long, he put down his pen and said, "I¡¯m finished. But you didn¡¯t give me an OMR card."

    "Forget it. I¡¯ll grade it myself."

    Pi Seong-yeol started grading the test, flipping through the pages one by one.

    Scratch, scratch. The sound of his pen filled the room as he checked answers. Eventually, he flipped back to the first page, then pped the papers down on the desk with a loud <em>thud</em>.

    Looking up at Su-ho, he stared in silence.

    Su-ho merely curled the corner of his lips slightly, waiting for Pi Seong-yeol to speak.

    Finally, the senior couldn¡¯t hold back a chuckle. "You crazy bastard. You actually did it?"

    "Thank you. It was only possible because you gave me easy questions."

    "Sure, sure... I¡¯ll make sure this score is officially recorded. Don¡¯t worry about that. Anything else you need?"

    "No, sir."

    "Good. And don¡¯t askter either. Just go do your work."

    "Understood. Thank you."

    "Alright, good job."

    Hearing the word "perfect score," Su-ho allowed himself a faint smile. He bowed politely before leaving the office.

    After Su-ho left, Pi Seong-yeol stared at the closed door for a moment, then pulled out a cigarette and lit it.

    "Haah¡­" He exhaled, watching the smoke dissipate into the air.

    He gazed at the faint traces of smoke and muttered under his breath, "Crazy bastard¡­"

    Crazy bastard. That was all he could say.

    Was it admiration for Su-ho¡¯s perfect score? No, it wasn¡¯t just that.

    Theck of an OMR card wasn¡¯t an oversight. The questions Su-ho had answered weren¡¯t the official written test for the Special Division.

    They were the "special problems" Pi Seong-yeol had designed himself¡ªquestions meant to weed out the truly exceptional from the merelypetent.

    Pi Seong-yeol narrowed his eyes as he reviewed the answers again.

    ¡®He solved them all¡­ perfectly.¡¯

    Even scoring full marks on what was essentially a bar exam-level difficulty.

    "A de that sharp can be dangerous¡­"

    He frowned slightly, taking another drag of his cigarette, before a faint smile crept onto his lips.

    ***

    As soon as Su-ho left the room, he couldn¡¯t help but think, <em>"Smoking indoors? Seriously? What century are we living in?"</em>

    Smoking had never agreed with him, whether in this life or his past one. Sure, Awakened individuals weren¡¯t significantly affected by things like nicotine or sugars, but that didn¡¯t make the pungent stench of cigarettes any less unpleasant.

    Shaking off the irritation, Su-ho walked away from the Special Division¡¯s offices. Once he was far enough, he pulled out his phone and made a call.

    ¡°Ah, yes, Hunter Ahn,¡± answered Park Gyu-min on the other end of the line.

    ¡°Are you busy right now?¡± Su-ho asked.

    ¡°Not particrly. What¡¯s on your mind?¡±

    ¡°I just met with Director Pi Seong-yeol.¡±

    Hearing Pi Seong-yeol¡¯s name, Park Gyu-min straightened his posture instinctively. ¡°And?¡±

    ¡°He said I only have the Special Division training left, and he¡¯s willing to mark me with perfect scores on both the written and practical evaluations. But there¡¯s a catch¡ªhe wants me to handle a task in return.¡±

    ¡°A task?¡±

    ¡°He wants me to retrieve some records connected to you from Son Baek-geum. So, I need to ask¡ªwhat exactly is your current rtionship with Son Baek-geum?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ that¡¯s¡­¡±

    Park hesitated, his answer faltering. Su-ho stopped walking, sensing something off.

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ve handled almost everything else, but dealing with the Baek-geum faction is moreplicated. It¡¯s not something I can just resolve on my own.¡±

    Su-ho frowned at the timid tone in Park¡¯s voice. <em>Seriously? The vice president of the Association can¡¯t handle one thug?</em>

    <em>Hah¡­</em> Frustration welled up in Su-ho.

    This man was a four-term congressman and vice president of the Grand Hunter Association, and yet here he was, cowering in front of a petty gangster.

    <em>No wonder the quality of this country¡¯s public servants and hunters is so abysmal.</em>

    Still, Su-ho quickly suppressed his anger, reminding himself of something.

    <em>"I never had high expectations for him in the first ce. If you don¡¯t expect much, you won¡¯t be disappointed, and if you¡¯re not disappointed, there¡¯s no reason to get angry."</em>

    So, he chose not to be angry. After all, relying on someone else to clean up a mess had never been his style. In the end, he only trusted himself.

    ¡°Where¡¯s the money?¡± Su-ho asked bluntly.

    ¡°All prepared and ready,¡± Park replied.

    ¡°Then why can¡¯t you just pay him off? Is Son Baek-geum refusing the money?¡±

    ¡°He said he won¡¯t take it anymore. ims he¡¯ll never die alone, no matter what, so the negotiations have beenpletely stalled.¡±

    ¡°Understood. Where¡¯s the money now?¡±

    ¡°I have it. Converted it all into cryptocurrency.¡±

    ¡°Are you in your office?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m here.¡±

    ¡°Stay there. I¡¯lle by.¡±

    Ending the call, Su-ho headed straight to the vice president¡¯s office. Inside, he found Park waiting nervously, looking like a child caught stealing. The sight made Su-ho sigh in exasperation.

    ¡°Hand me the wallet,¡± Su-ho said, extending his hand.

    ¡°H-here it is,¡± Park stammered, hastily offering the digital wallet.

    ¡°Is everyst cent ounted for?¡±

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s all there.¡±

    ¡°What about everything else besides Son Baek-geum¡¯s matter?¡±

    ¡°Almost everything has been resolved. It should all be sorted out within a week.¡±

    ¡°Good. Once Son Baek-geum is dealt with, there won¡¯t be anything left for Director Pi Seong-yeol to use against you, correct?¡±

    ¡°Yes¡­ that¡¯s right.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll take care of Son Baek-geum. In the meantime, keep your head down. If any new skeletons pop out of the closet, you¡¯ll be the one locked away next time¡ªnot that guy you showed me in that room back then. Got it?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I understand¡­¡±

    Without so much as a goodbye, Su-ho turned and left the office.

    ¡°Huuuh¡­¡±

    Once Su-ho was gone, Park let out a shaky breath and clutched his chest, trying to calm his racing heart. It was only then that he managed to collect himself.

    ***

    <strong>Peymond za, Gangnam.</strong>

    A four-star "safe hotel" and one of the primary bases of the Baek-geum faction. Su-ho arrived at the underground parking lot but didn¡¯t get out of the car. Instead, he pulled out his phone and called Son Baek-geum directly.

    ¡°Hello?¡± came the gruff voice on the other end.

    ¡°Ah, good to speak with you, Mr. Son Baek-geum,¡± Su-ho said smoothly.

    ¡°Who is this?¡±

    ¡°This is Ahn Su-ho, a civil servant and hunter from the Grand Hunter Association. You know who I am. We¡¯ve met before.¡±

    ¡°...What?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m currently in the parking lot on the first basement level, standing in front of your hotel¡¯s elevator. Come down quickly.¡±

    Before the gangster could respond, Su-ho hung up.

    A short whileter, Son Baek-geum emerged from the emergency staircase with a crowd of hisckeys in tow.

    <em>Ah, these thug types¡­ why do they always show up in packs?</em> Su-ho thought with a sigh. <em>Do I look like I came here to arrest all of you?</em>

    He remained seated in his car until Son Baek-geum finally arrived, descending from the elevator behind the rest of his goons. Stepping out, Su-ho tossed his car keys to one of the henchmen.

    ¡°Park it for me. Send me the valet feeter if needed. And Mr. Son, I understand I asked you toe quickly, but must you make it so obvious you¡¯re a gangster? What¡¯s with bringing an entourage?¡±

    ¡°What do you want?¡± Son Baek-geum snapped, ignoring the jab.

    ¡°Let¡¯s head upstairs. I called you here so you could escort me. I¡¯d rather not cause a scene by arguing at the front desk.¡±

    ¡°What the hell are you trying to pull?¡±

    ¡°Pull? I came to see you, didn¡¯t I? Don¡¯t make me repeat myself.¡±

    ¡°You little¡ª!¡±

    Before Son Baek-geum could respond, one of hisckeys scowled and stepped forward.

    Su-ho closed the distance in an instant, grabbing the man¡¯s jaw with a firm grip.

    ¡°Who do you think you¡¯re calling ¡®little¡¯? And do you not understand the situation? Who gave you permission to interrupt while adults are talking? Want to wear a bib for the rest of your life?¡±

    With just a slight squeeze, the man¡¯s face turned beet red, veins bulging under the pressure.

    Despite their tough appearances, they were just ordinary humans. For someone like Su-ho, whose stats were equivalent to the "Orange" tier in strength, dealing with them was child¡¯s y.

    Seeing theirrade subdued so easily, the otherckeys began pulling out knives and other weapons from their coats.

    ¡°Oh, look at this,¡± Su-ho scoffed. <em>Do they not realize who they¡¯re dealing with?</em>

    Su-ho was on the verge of summoning his bloodied baton when Son Baek-geum barked out a sharpmand.

    ¡°Put your weapons away! Now!¡±

    His voice carried a chilling authority that made theckeys freeze. Begrudgingly, they sheathed their weapons and stood down, though their expressions remained tense.

    Watching the absurd disy, Su-ho couldn¡¯t help but chuckle.

    ¡°This is ridiculous.¡±

    With that, he shoved the man he was holding backward. Theckey stumbled and crashed into hisrades like a bowling ball, toppling them in a heap.

    Amused, Su-ho turned to Son Baek-geum with a smirk.

    ¡°You must be quite the beloved leader, Mr. Son. They know who I am, yet they still tried to attack me. Are all of them Awakened, by any chance? Because if not, I can¡¯t imagine what made them think they could take me on.¡±

    ¡°...Let¡¯s head upstairs,¡± Son Baek-geum said stiffly.

    ¡°Not just any room. Take me to the suite you use as your office. Anything less would be boring.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    Though silent, Son Baek-geum didn¡¯t refuse. After all, silence often meant consent.

    Su-ho followed him, and the two headed up to the gangster¡¯s private suite alone.

 Chapter 110

    The condition of the room was better than expected.

    Although it was just a four-star hotel, significant money had been poured into its construction, and the Royal Suite had been meticulously designed by Son Baek-geum to serve as both his office and residence.

    However...

    "It¡¯s not as good as my ce," Su-ho muttered.

    ¡°¡­¡­¡±

    He was being honest.

    This so-called four-star Royal Suite couldn¡¯tpare to his safe house in the Cheongdam Safe Zone.

    Sittingfortably in the chair meant for business discussions, Su-ho gestured. ¡°Have a seat.¡±

    Son Baek-geum hesitated but eventually pulled up a chair and sat down nearby.

    As the gangster settled into his seat, Su-ho spoke again.

    ¡°I hear you¡¯ve been keeping a low profiletely.¡±

    ¡°...When have I ever been noisy?¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to shout to make noise. Back when you were peddling drugs with Kim Goong-won, you stirred up plenty ofmotion. Now that Kim Goong-won¡¯s been caught, you¡¯ve beenying low for a while, haven¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°...So, why are you here?¡±

    ¡°Why did you refuse the money Vice President Park Gyu-min offered you?¡±

    At the mention of Park Gyu-min, Son Baek-geum¡¯s face stiffened as he finally understood the situation.

    ¡°Should I be honest with you?¡±

    ¡°Were you nning to lie to me?¡±

    ¡°No, that¡¯s not it... Fine, I¡¯ll tell you. The reason I refused the money is simple¡ªit doesn¡¯t mean anything anymore.¡±

    ¡°Why not?¡±

    ¡°Park Gyu-min is my only remaining connection. After all the things I¡¯ve done for him, it¡¯s obvious he¡¯s trying to cut ties and throw me under the bus. If I¡¯m going to go down, I might as well drag someone else with me. That¡¯s why I didn¡¯t take the money.¡±

    The scariest people are those with nothing to lose.

    That¡¯s why people at rock bottom can be so terrifying.

    Su-ho nodded slightly.

    ¡°Fair enough. A cornered rat will bite the cat. But then... what does that make me?¡±

    ¡°...What?¡±

    ¡°If Park Gyu-min is the cat and you¡¯re the rat, what am I?¡±

    Son Baek-geum blinked in confusion. ¡°Aren¡¯t you here on Park Gyu-min¡¯s orders?¡±

    ¡°Nope.¡±

    ¡°...Then why are you here?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m here for personal reasons.¡±

    ¡°...What?¡±

    The situation was bing increasingly absurd.@@novelbin@@

    Su-ho leaned forward slightly and asked, ¡°Do you want to live?¡±

    ¡°...Excuse me?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m asking if you want to live.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t a mere question. It was a veiled threat, and Son Baek-geum¡¯s eyes darted nervously as he tried to figure out Su-ho¡¯s intentions.

    <em>Does he mean to kill me right here and now?</em>

    With Su-ho¡ªthe de God¡ªsitting before him, asking such a question, that was the only usible conclusion.

    Realizing the gravity of the situation, Son Baek-geum abruptly stood up. ¡°Excuse me for a moment.¡±

    He hurriedly disappeared into the adjacent room, only to return momentster carrying a luxurious duffle bag¡ªthe kind reserved for high-end brands.

    cing the bag on the table, he took a step back and bowed slightly with his hands sped in front of him.

    Su-ho opened the bag to find it filled with cash. He nced between the bag and the groveling Son Baek-geum before bursting into incredulousughter.

    ¡°Hah. Are you serious right now?¡±

    ¡°...Excuse me?¡±

    ¡°Did I ask you to bring me money?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t this what you wanted?¡±

    ¡°What do you think I am, huh? You¡¯re impossible to talk to. Fine, let¡¯s fix that.¡±

    Su-ho stood up and began approaching Son Baek-geum, who stumbled backward in fear and copsed into a chair.

    Looking down at the trembling man, Su-ho said, ¡°Do you know what mistake people who overthink things often make? They oveplicate simple problems. From now on, think simply. The pain you¡¯re about to experience will be the price for failing to do so.¡±

    ¡°W-wait! What are you¡ª?! Hold on!¡±

    ¡°Toote.¡±

    Su-ho activated a skill.

    [ Point Strike activated. ]

    The moment the skill was triggered, pressure points all over Son Baek-geum¡¯s body lit up. Su-ho pressed his fingers¡ªindex and middle¡ªfirmly into one of the most excruciating points.

    ¡°AAAAAAHHHHHH!¡±

    A blood-curdling scream echoed through the suite.

    Theckeys waiting outside the door burst into the room, only to copse to the floor foaming at the mouth as Su-ho activated another skill.

    [ Intimidation activated. ]

    ¡°Kuhhh!¡±

    The thugs fell unconscious as if struck by lightning, their whites showing and limbs twitching.

    Su-ho¡¯s Intimidation skill, normally at Grade A, was temporarily boosted to Grade S thanks to his Dragon Blood effect. It was a skill that even powerful monsters and hunters struggled to endure¡ªso ordinary thugs didn¡¯t stand a chance.

    Su-ho turned his attention back to Son Baek-geum, who was writhing in agony.

    The pressure point Su-ho had pressed was one of the worst spots, designed to inflict unbearable pain.

    After leaving Son Baek-geum like that for over a minute, Su-ho finally pressed another point to release him from the torment.

    Still trembling, Son Baek-geum barely clung to consciousness as Su-ho crouched to meet him at eye level.

    ¡°They say a dumb head leads to a sore body. Don¡¯t overthink things in front of me. Just do what you¡¯re told. Got it?¡±

    ¡°Yes¡­ I understand¡­¡±

    ¡°Good. Now stand up.¡±

    ¡°Ugh¡­¡±

    Despite his trembling legs and lingering pain, Son Baek-geum forced himself to his feet, his body quivering like a leaf. The pain from the pressure point might have subsided, but the fear of Su-ho far outweighed it.

    Once he managed to stand, Su-ho resumed his seat and spoke calmly.

    ¡°You have the bribe ledger you gave to Park Gyu-min, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I do.¡±

    ¡°Bring it. Oh, and not just that one. Bring me every ledger you¡¯ve got¡ªwhether it¡¯s for bribes to the Association, the police, or the prosecutors. Bring them all.¡±

    For someone who had just experienced Point Strike, refusal wasn¡¯t an option. Son Baek-geumplied without hesitation, returning momentster with several ledgers.

    Su-ho flipped through them casually and smirked.

    ¡°You¡¯ve been spreading money around quite a bit¡ªfrom prosecutors to police. Must¡¯ve cost you a fortune, huh?¡±

    ¡°N-no, not really¡­¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t lie. Even the richest gangster would need to work hard to afford a ce like this hotel.¡±

    Su-ho continued flipping through the ledgers until a few familiar names caught his eye.

    ¡°Well, well. What do we have here?¡±

    The ledgers were filled with names he recognized¡ªnames that brought a wry smile to his face.

    ¡°Gangnam sure is a profitable ce to y, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    Satisfied, Su-ho ced the ledgers into his inventory and looked at Son Baek-geum again.

    ¡°Mr. Son Baek-geum.¡±

    ¡°Y-yes?¡±

    ¡°Keep living quietly like you¡¯ve been. If you do, I¡¯ll let you live.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    Son Baek-geum remained silent, knowing exactly what Su-ho meant: no more drug business, no more schemes. Lay low and stay out of sight.

    Su-ho¡¯s tone turned colder.

    ¡°Even a dog knows not to return to its filth. If you want to survive, you¡¯d better cut those bad habits. Otherwise, you¡¯ll see me again.¡±

    ¡°...I understand.¡±

    ¡°Oh, and one more thing.¡±

    Su-ho nced at his phone and checked the date.

    ¡°Take a vacation abroad for about a week.¡±

    ¡°A-abroad?¡±

    ¡°Think of it as a short break. Take the earliest flight avable and send me your itinerary. And don¡¯t tell anyone about today. As far as anyone knows, I wasn¡¯t here. You¡¯re leaving because you felt like it. Understand?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I understand.¡±

    ¡°Good. Just in case¡­¡±

    Su-ho pressed another point near Son Baek-geum¡¯s navel.

    [ Point Strike activated. ]

    ¡°This one¡¯s insurance,¡± Su-ho said with a smirk.

    ¡°I-insurance?¡±

    ¡°For about a week, you won¡¯t be able to perform as a man. I pressed a spot that¡¯ll ensure that. Keep your promises, and I¡¯ll fix it for you.¡±

    ¡°W-what?! Does that mean I¡¯m¡­ impotent now?!¡±

    ¡°If you¡¯re curious, feel free to test itter. See you around.¡±

    With a pat on Son Baek-geum¡¯s shoulder, Su-ho left the room, leaving the gangster slumped in fear and despair.

    ***

    Having secured the bribery ledgers, Su-ho returned home.

    Once there, he contacted an external supplier to ce an item order and began sorting the documents in earnest.

    First, he separated the ledgers into two main categories: police and prosecutors. Within each category, he further grouped the names by their affiliations and roles.

    With the sortingplete, Su-ho opened hisptop and began assigning specific individuals to the respective groups. After hours of meticulous work, he finally leaned back and called Seo Gi-won.

    ¡°Gi-won.¡±

    ¡°Yes, hyung-nim?¡±

    ¡°I need you to dig into the personal details of the people listed here.¡±

    ¡°Yes, hyung-nim. I¡¯ll get on it right away.¡±

    Su-ho sighed as he looked at the remaining work. There was no shortage of people he needed to meet over the next week.

    As he reached for the next set of documents, his phone buzzed with an iing call. Checking the caller ID, Su-ho answered with a cheerful tone.

    ¡°Yes, Mr. Kim Geon.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°Hello, Hunter! This is Kim Geon. How have you been?¡±</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Same as always. What about you? What¡¯s the asion?¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°Oh, I just wanted to let you know that I¡¯ve wrapped up things with the PC caf¨¦ and everything else around it.¡±</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Oh, really? Have you heard from Nexus yet?¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°Yes, they did reach out. I decided to speak with you first before visiting them.¡±</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°You did well. Shall we meet briefly? I happen to have a partner item ready for you.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°I¡¯m free anytime. Where should I go?¡±</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°I¡¯lle to your ce. It¡¯s more convenient that way.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>¡°That¡¯s quite a distance for you¡­ Thank you.¡±</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°No problem. See you soon.¡±

    The timing couldn¡¯t have been better. Su-ho estimated it would take some time to gather the personal information he needed anyway, so he got into his car and headed straight for Incheon.

    ¡°Hello?¡±

    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re here!¡±

    When Su-ho knocked on the front gate, he was greeted by Kim Geon, sitting in his wheelchair.

    Seeing him, Su-ho grinned. ¡°Did you go out of your way to be in your original body just because I wasing?¡±

    ¡°Haha¡­ I¡¯m trying to get used to it. Except when maintaining my younger brother¡¯s body, I¡¯ve been spending more time like this.¡±

    Su-ho nced at the bed in the living room, where Kim Geon¡¯s brother, Kim Gwon, was lying.

    He didn¡¯t ask, <em>"How¡¯s he doing?"</em> Words like that coulde across as pity, which Su-ho knew could sting more thanfort. Instead, he spoke brightly, as usual.

    ¡°That¡¯s a great mindset. On that note, I¡¯ve brought what I promised. Would you like to try it out now?¡±

    From his inventory, Su-ho took out an orb and handed it to Kim Geon.

    The orb he held wasn¡¯t just any item¡ªit was a Mystical Meta Suit crafted for a Soul Cavalryman.

    TL Note: Hyung-nim = ''brother'' (in a figurative sense, used as an address for an olderpanion)"

 Chapter 111

    Kim Geon held the suit in his hands and asked,

    ¡°Is this¡­ my partner item?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Normally, it takes this form as a sphere, and I¡¯ve decided to call it a <em>Suit Ball</em>,¡± Su-ho replied.

    ¡°<em>Suit Ball</em>?¡±

    ¡°Yes. For now, try checking the item information,¡± Su-ho suggested.

    Following his advice, Kim Geon examined the information about the suit. The moment he read the second line, his eyes widened in shock.

    ¡°W-wait a minute. This¡­ this is an S-rank item!¡±

    ¡°Yes, which is why it was hard to obtain. It¡¯s a very rare item.¡±

    ¡°W-why would you give me something so precious?¡±

    ¡°I promised, didn¡¯t I? I told you I¡¯d find you a job. I want you to work as a Hunter, and there¡¯s nothing better suited to you than this. So, why don¡¯t you try it on?¡±@@novelbin@@

    ¡°This?¡±

    ¡°Yes. The item information says it¡¯spatible with your possession ability. Using it is simple¡ªpossess the suit just like you would possess your brother¡¯s body. Once you do, everything else wille naturally.¡±

    ¡°...Naturally?¡±

    Kim Geon hesitated for a moment, fidgeting with the <em>Suit Ball</em> in his hands before finally nodding as if he had made up his mind.

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    After a brief pause, Kim Geon ced the <em>Suit Ball</em> on the empty bed and used his possession ability. His body visibly rxed as the <em>Suit Ball</em> began to glow, signaling a sessful possession.

    Su-ho quietly observed as the ball started to change.

    And soon, it began to move.

    The <em>Suit Ball</em> expanded, forming a human-like shape reminiscent of y spreading out. Gradually, the shape took on the appearance of an assassin with a ssic, almost retro design. However, it remained a monochromatic y figure with a ckish-purple hue,cking any real details.

    Finally¡ª

    <em>sh!</em>

    A bright yellow light radiated from its eyes, and Kim Geon¡¯s consciousness sessfully settled into the suit. At that moment, the mannequin-like stiffness of the suit disappeared, and it began to move fluidly, like a real human body.

    ¡°...¡±

    Seated within the suit, Kim Geon began to move his hands cautiously, examining them as if to confirm they were real. Slowly, he clenched his fists, marveling at the smooth and natural motion.

    ¡°Hunter¡­,¡± he said, his voice trembling with emotion, so overwhelmed that tears seemed to gather at the edges of his words.

    Su-ho smiled. ¡°How does it feel?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ amazing. It feels like it¡¯s my own body.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m d you¡¯re satisfied.¡±

    ¡°This is more than satisfaction. I¡¯m so moved I could cry¡­,¡± Kim Geon admitted.

    He was sincere. Until now, he had lived with the guilt of borrowing his brother¡¯s body. But now, with this suit, he could enjoy freedom without burdening his brother.

    Su-ho continued, ¡°If it feels that good already, then you¡¯ll be d to know there are two modes in the suit. Have you discovered them yet?¡±

    ¡°Yes, there¡¯s a first-person mode and a third-person mode.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re in first-person mode now, correct?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Try switching to third-person mode.¡±

    ¡°Third-person¡­ mode? Oh, oh!¡±

    The moment Kim Geon switched to third-person mode, his surprise deepened. The reason was simple. While first-person mode felt simr to his usual possession ability, third-person mode presented a control interface eerily familiar to him.

    ¡°This¡­ This is¡­ Ops, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s simr to the Ops control UI,¡± Su-ho confirmed.

    And it truly was.

    In third-person mode, Kim Geon¡¯s perspective shifted. He wasn¡¯t just controlling a body anymore; he was a ¡°yer,¡± observing andmanding the suit as if it were a character in a video game¡ªspecifically, in <em>Over Strike</em>, a game he knew all too well.

    ¡°That¡¯s why I had to get the <em>Tri-Core Device</em>,¡± Su-ho exined. ¡°The third-person mode of the <em>Meta Suit</em> adapts to the user¡¯s most familiar control environment. I was certain that for you, it would mimic the <em>Over Strike</em> system.¡±

    ¡°This¡­ This can¡¯t be real¡­.¡±

    ¡°See for yourself. I¡¯m sure it even includes a keyboard and mouse setup. And look at the suit¡¯s design¡ªit¡¯s modeled after your main character from <em>Over Strike</em>, isn¡¯t it? The assassin, ¡®Kenji¡¯?¡±

    ¡°Y-yes. When it asked me to imagine a familiar form, I instinctively thought of Kenji¡­.¡±

    ¡°I bet it even replicates Kenji¡¯s basic skills and movements. Maybe not the special effects, but the motions should be identical. Try it out.¡±

    At Su-ho¡¯s encouragement, Kim Geon began controlling the suit, fully immersing himself in the familiar mechanics.

    And sure enough, Kenji¡¯s movements¡ªfluid and precise¡ªcame to life through the suit. It was a wless recreation of the assassin¡¯s iconic ystyle, leveraging shortcuts andmands that only someone with Kim Geon¡¯s intimate knowledge of the character could execute.

    ¡°Kenji truly is unparalleled. As someone who used to y <em>Over Strike</em>, seeing Kenji in real life feels nostalgic,¡± Su-ho remarked.

    ¡°Haha¡­ It¡¯s like a dream. It feels exactly like ying Ops, but my character is moving in the real world¡­.¡±

    ¡°You realize, right? Kenji is just the beginning. You can transform into any character¡ªor anything, for that matter. Want to give it a try? You know how, don¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Yes, give me a moment.¡±

    Kim Geon experimented with the suit¡¯s transformation ability. Momentster, the suit shifted, and standing before Su-ho was an exact copy of himself.

    ¡°Did you do this on purpose?¡± Su-ho chuckled, amused.

    ¡°Haha, well, you¡¯re right in front of me, so it was easy to replicate your appearance. I hope you¡¯re not offended.¡±

    ¡°Not at all. In fact, I was going to suggest you try mimicking me at some point. However, you haven¡¯t quite figured out how to replicate colors yet, have you?¡±

    ¡°Give me another moment.¡±

    Kim Geon adjusted the suit further, and soon, the ckish-purple hue disappeared, reced by a perfect replication of Su-ho, down to thest detail.

    ¡°How does it look?¡± Kim Geon asked.

    ¡°Perfect. If I didn¡¯t know better, I¡¯d think I had a twin,¡± Su-ho replied, handing him a mirror.

    ¡°Wow¡­¡± Kim Geon muttered in awe.

    ¡°Now that you¡¯re familiar with the controls, let¡¯s move on to business. I¡¯d like to hire you, Kim Geon.¡±

    ¡°Hire me? You mean, personally?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s why I got you this partner item.¡±

    With the <em>Meta Suit</em>, Kim Geon was arguably one of the most versatile operators Su-ho knew. He could adapt to any role¡ªdamage, defense, or assassination¡ªthanks to the suit¡¯s ability to change forms and itsck of traceable biological signatures like fingerprints or hair.

    Su-ho continued, ¡°Of course, the employment would be unofficial. As you know, I¡¯m currently a civil servant. First, I¡¯ll help you register with <em>Nexus</em>, and then I¡¯ll contract your services through them. What do you think?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re serious? How could someone like me possibly help you¡­?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯d be a great help. As someonemitted to ending the Gate crisis, I¡¯m always in need of capable people. And rest assured, the pay will be more than satisfactory. Additionally¡­¡± Su-ho nced at Kim Geon¡¯s bedridden brother, Kim Gwon. ¡°When my healing abilities advance enough, I¡¯ll ensure your brother is the first person I heal.¡±

    Kim Geon¡¯s eyes widened.

    ¡°My brother¡­ He can be healed?¡±

    ¡°Modern medicine can¡¯t help him, but a healer with transcendent abilities could.¡±

    ¡°I searched everywhere for someone like that, but even the best healers couldn¡¯t curea patients¡­¡±

    ¡°They were using the wrong methods. Just like diseases require specific treatments, healers have different skills suited for various conditions.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t a lie. A saint in Russia, Isabe, had once sessfully healed a vegetative patient.

    ¡®I just need to replicate her method.¡¯

    Shaken by Su-ho¡¯s words, Kim Geon took a moment to gather himself before answering firmly.

    ¡°If you hire me, I¡¯ll give it my all.¡±

    ¡°Great. Then let¡¯s start by heading to <em>Nexus Academy</em> for your registration test.¡±

    ¡°Test? How long will it take? I can¡¯t leave my brother unattended for too long¡­¡±

    At that moment, the doorbell rang. Su-ho smiled.

    ¡°It¡¯s the helpers I called to take care of your brother while you¡¯re away. Let¡¯s get going.¡±

    Together, they left for the <em>Nexus Academy</em>.

 Chapter 112

    ¡°So... you''re saying this individual has a possession ability, and their current appearance is altered through an item?¡±

    ¡°Not just altered¡ªthis appearance itself <em>is</em> the item.¡±

    ¡°...The appearance itself?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct. Mr. Kim Geon?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    At Su-ho''s nod, Kim Geon transformed his appearance from his usual form to resemble Kenji from <em>Ops</em>.

    The shifting and squirming process startled Kim I-gang, the Nexus administrator, but he quickly regained hisposure, now brimming with admiration.

    ¡°Wow, this is...¡±

    ¡°You know <em>Ops</em>, right? The game <em>Overstrike</em> that was all the rage back in the day? This is Kenji, the assassin character from that game.¡±

    ¡°Of course, I know it! I used to love <em>Ops</em>. I heard the yer base dwindled after the Great Cataclysm, but to think I¡¯d see Kenji here in real life...¡±

    ¡°Well, that makes things easier. Mr. Kim Geon, while we¡¯re on the topic, why don¡¯t you show him a Kenjibo?¡±

    ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll demonstrate the most iconicbo, <em>Wind Cutter sh</em>.¡±

    ¡°<em>Wind Cutter sh</em>!?¡±

    Kim I-gang was visibly shocked at the mention of the move.

    It was no wonder¡ª<em>Wind Cutter sh</em> was synonymous with Kenji, his signaturebo that defined his character. But more than that, what stunned I-gang was that Kim Geon was the creator of the legendary <em>Wind Cutter sh</em>bo.

    Momentster, in the expansive training ground, Kim Geon executed the <em>Wind Cutter sh</em>.

    Soaring forward as if slicing through the wind, he delivered four attacks seamlessly in one motion¡ªa perfect reproduction of the move seen only in the game.

    Perhaps that was why.

    Witnessing the move, Kim I-gang involuntarily dropped his jaw, trembling in awe.

    ¡°This... this is insane. A live-action <em>Wind Cutter sh</em>...¡±

    Kim I-gang, a devoted Kenji fan who mained the character in <em>Ops</em>, was over the moon. Seeing the <em>Ops</em> world champion bring Kenji to life in full scale and perform the signature move was almost overwhelming.

    Su-ho didn¡¯t stop there. He instructed Kim Geon to transform into other <em>Ops</em> characters like Leonhardt and Banjo, demonstrating their iconicbos. Each performance pushed I-gang further into a state of admiration.

    Finally, without hesitation, Kim I-gang handed over a contract.

    ¡°This is more than enough. Let¡¯s sign right away.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the rank?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re assigning him to your personal team, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Then he¡¯ll start at B-rank. Once he hits Level 100, we¡¯ll promote him to A-rank.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°By the way, have you decided on a name for your personal team?¡±

    A name for the team.

    Su-ho hadn¡¯t given it much thought, but now it seemed necessary. He decided to use a name he already had in mind.

    ¡°Yes, we¡¯ll call it <em>Banshee</em>.¡±

    ¡°<em>Banshee</em>... Got it. I¡¯ll make a note of it. Oh, and could I make a personal request?¡±

    ¡°What kind of request?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m a huge fan of Kenji. Could I get a photo of him transformed into Kenji?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s easy enough. Mr. Kim Geon?¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡±

    At Su-ho¡¯s request, Kim Geon transformed into Kenji and posed for the photo.

    Afterward, Su-ho turned to I-gang.

    ¡°Also, could you prepare an ess card for Mr. Kim Geon as well? And one more thing...¡±

    Su-ho shared additional requests, which I-gang nodded to as he listened.

    ¡°That won¡¯t be an issue. Since you¡¯re covering the cost with the funds from the Tangji Mine payment, we can arrange it immediately. Should we proceed?¡±

    ¡°Yes, please. Oh, by the way, do you know how Hunter Kang Dae-han is doing these days?¡±

    ¡°Hunter Kang Dae-han is steadily working with his assigned team. Why do you ask?¡±

    ¡°We worked together before, and I was curious about his progress. What level is he now?¡±

    ¡°If I remember correctly, he should be in the Level 80 or 90 range. If you¡¯re interested, why not give him a call? He¡¯s been waiting for your contact.¡±

    ¡°Why is that?¡±

    ¡°Nothing in particr. You¡¯re Su-ho, after all. A call from a superstar like you is worth waiting for.¡±

    ¡°Hmm.¡±

    Su-ho understood the sentiment.

    However, he knew it wasn¡¯t the right time yet.

    For a tank like Kang Dae-han, on-field experience was invaluable.

    ¡°When Hunter Kang Dae-han reaches Level 100, let me know. Before the offers from other ces flood in, I¡¯d like to meet him first.¡±

    ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll contact you once his guild card and other arrangements are ready.¡±

    ¡°Reach out to Kim Geon. He¡¯ll handle it.¡±

    ¡°Got it. Let¡¯s proceed with the registration process.¡±

    Kim Geon officially began his Nexus guild registration. After confirming the additional uses Su-ho had requested, only Kim Geon¡¯s signature remained.

    Once all the paperwork wasplete, Su-ho spoke.

    ¡°With your signature here, you¡¯ll officially be a B-rank member of the Nexus guild.¡±

    ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll work hard.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t thank me just yet. What I¡¯m about to exin is the most important part.¡±

    Su-ho pointed to the special uses.

    ¡°I mentioned that I¡¯m hiring you, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll be assigned to my personal team, making me your direct supervisor. From now on, you¡¯ll call me ¡®Team Leader.¡¯¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir. I¡¯ll remember that. And?¡±

    ¡°Regarding the partner item I provided, as noted here, it¡¯s only avable for use when you¡¯re working with my personal team. Outside of that, it cannot be borrowed.¡±

    It was a critical point¡ªnothing in the worldes for free.

    Kim Geon nodded without hesitation.

    ¡°And?¡±

    ¡°You must maintain confidentiality about your Nexus affiliation, my personal team, and the partner item I¡¯ve provided.¡±

    ¡°Is that all?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s everything.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s simple enough. I¡¯ll uphold it without fail.¡±

    Kim Geon didn¡¯t hesitate to agree.

    For him, Su-ho was a savior; there was no reason to refuse.

    Su-ho smiled.

    ¡°I like your enthusiasm. Lastly, I have a personal proposal for you.¡±@@novelbin@@

    ¡°A personal proposal?¡±

    ¡°Yes. If there¡¯s no pressing reason otherwise, how about living here?¡±

    ¡°Here, as in the Nexus Academy?¡±

    ¡°Yes. The training facilities are here, after all. Naturally, amodations for you and your brother will be provided, along with a caretaker for him while you¡¯re on duty. Think of it as part of our team¡¯s benefits.¡±

    The offer made perfect sense.

    ¡°Absolutely. I have no reason to refuse. Thank you so much.¡±

    ¡°Great. Let¡¯s sign, then.¡±

    With a final signature, the contract wasplete. Kim Geon officially joined the <em>Banshee</em> team.

    Su-ho shook his hand.

    ¡°Congrattions on joining. Let¡¯s work well together.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s my honor, Team Leader. Thank you again for this opportunity.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s move. I have people to introduce you to.¡±

    ¡°Understood. And feel free to speak casually with me. You¡¯re my superior, after all.¡±

    ¡°Shall I?¡±

    Age-wise, Kim Geon was older, but such things mattered little in their line of work.

    Handing thepleted contract to I-gang, Su-ho guided Kim Geon to <em>Banshee</em>¡¯s dedicated training center.

    Inside, team members were undergoing intense training through Infinity.

    Su-ho pointed at the external screen showing their activities.

    ¡°See that?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Our routine is simple: half the day is spent in revival duels, and the other half in dungeon runs.¡±

    It was exactly as described.

    With no orders from Su-ho, <em>Banshee</em> members trained against his avatar or hunted virus monsters in the virtual dungeons created by Seo Gi-won.

    Watching the intense battles, Kim Geon was amazed.

    ¡°But isn¡¯t that... you?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s my avatar. They practice swordsmanship against me daily.¡±

    ¡°And they always fight in outnumbered scenarios?¡±

    ¡°They have to. Fighting my avatar one-on-one would mean instant death. The avatar¡¯sbat data is based on my actual abilities.¡±

    ¡°Wow...¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be too surprised. You¡¯ll be joining them soon.¡±

    ¡°...Me too?¡±

    ¡°Of course. This isn¡¯t <em>Ops</em>. It¡¯s the cold, harsh reality. Besides, if you want to resume your work as a Hunter, you¡¯ll need the skills to match, right?¡±

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s true, but...¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s been a while since you hit a wall while working as Railgun, hasn¡¯t it? Get ready to feel that wall again.¡±

    Su-ho manipted Infinity, programming an avatar that urately reflected Kim Geon¡¯s unique traits.

    Then, he attempted to log Kim Geon into Infinity.

    But¡ª

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    Kim Geon failed to connect to Infinity.

    It turned out that the issuey in the fact that the Kim Geon entering the device wasn¡¯t his real body but the "suit mode" version of himself.

    ¡°Ah, of course. Infinity connects based on biological data, but you¡¯re in item form right now. That won¡¯t work.¡±

    ¡°Then what should we do?¡±

    ¡°What else? We¡¯ll move your actual body here and try again. Looks like moving is our first priority.¡±

    After thinking for a moment, Su-ho continued.

    ¡°Geon, is there anything at your ce you want to throw away? We don¡¯t need to bring over every single pot and pan, do we?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s true. Honestly, I don¡¯t even have much clothing or belongings...¡±

    ¡°Then, if it¡¯s okay with you, I¡¯ll hire movers to handle everything. A full-service move means they¡¯ll pack and transport everything to the new ce. We¡¯ll also arrange care for your brother, so there¡¯s really no need for you to go yourself. You can just inform thendlord over the phone.¡±

    ¡°If you¡¯re willing to do that, I¡¯d be grateful. Should I just wait here in the meantime?¡±

    ¡°Do you want to? Or, maybe grab a bite to eat... Ah, right, in your current form, you don¡¯t get hungry, do you?¡±

    It was true.

    The body Kim Geon currently upied wasn¡¯t his real body but an item.

    ¡°This is why possession abilities with suits are considered overpowered.¡±

    Not only hunger¡ªhe likely wouldn¡¯t feel fatigue or the need to sleep either.

    Kim Geon nodded in agreement.

    ¡°That¡¯s definitely true. If you don¡¯t mind, Team Leader, could I stay here and watch the others spar while I wait?¡±

    ¡°You won¡¯t get bored?¡±

    ¡°Bored? This is all part of my study. Analysis is crucial, you know.¡±

    Ah.

    Come to think of it, he had a point.

    Why else would the phrase ¡°post-match review¡± exist?

    Su-ho nodded just as his phone vibrated.

    A message notification.

    It was from Son Baek-geum.

    - I¡¯m leaving the country now. I¡¯ll contact you before I return.

    Well, that was fast.

    After reading the message, Su-ho smirked and immediately called Jo Jin-hwi.

    - ¡°Yes, Mr. An?¡±

    ¡°The article we prepared¡ªrelease it immediately.¡±

    - ¡°Understood.¡±

    As soon as Son Baek-geum left the country, Su-ho published the article regarding the unfair personnel decision.

    He had deliberately held onto the information. Timing it this way allowed Su-ho to adjust the schedule to his liking.

    At that moment, Su-ho received another call¡ªthis time from Seo Gi-won.

    ¡°Hey, Gi-won.¡±

    - ¡°Hyung-nim, I¡¯vepleted the search for the individuals you mentioned.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡±

    Perfect timing.

    A sly grin spread across Su-ho¡¯s face.

 Chapter 113

    Su-ho received the materials from Seo Gi-won on his phone, then asked Kim I-gang to handle Kim Geon¡¯s move before heading to his parked car.

    As he made his way to the parking lot, he called Park Gyu-min.

    - ¡°Yes, Hunter An.¡±

    ¡°I just released the article about the unfair personnel decision we discussed. Keep an eye on the timing and schedule a meeting with the association president.¡±

    - ¡°You¡¯ve already released it?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    - ¡°Understood.¡±

    With orders given to Park Gyu-min, Su-ho set aside any concerns about that issue.

    If there were any further follow-ups, the most he would have to deal with would be a call from Pi Seong-yeol.

    Su-ho skimmed through the documents Seo Gi-won had sent and made another call.

    - ¡°Yes, this is Prosecutor Kim Seung-hwan.¡±

    The person on the other end was a sitting prosecutor.

    Hearing the response, Su-ho smiled as he replied.

    ¡°Hello? This is Hunter An Su-ho from the Grand Hunter Association.¡±

    - ¡°Hunter An Su-ho?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡±

    - ¡°Hunter An Su-ho from the Grand Hunter Association... You mean the Sword Saint An Su-ho?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s me. If you¡¯re avable, could I treat you to a cup of coffee today? I have something to discuss regarding former Prosecutor Pi Seong-yeol.¡±

    - ¡°...¡±

    Former Prosecutor Pi Seong-yeol.

    Since he was no longer in office, he was referred to as a former prosecutor.

    After a brief silence, Kim Seung-hwan replied.

    - ¡°Understood.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for agreeing. I¡¯ll text you the time and location.¡±

    Ending the call, Su-ho got into his car and started the engine.

    There was no time to rx before meeting him.

    There were many preparations toplete beforehand.

    <strong>That evening.</strong>

    Su-ho chose a quiet, secluded location for their meeting and waited.

    Before long, an unfamiliar vehicle arrived, and Prosecutor Kim Seung-hwan stepped out.

    Su-ho greeted him warmly with a friendly smile.

    ¡°Hello, Prosecutor Kim Seung-hwan?¡±

    ¡°...So you¡¯re really Hunter An Su-ho.¡±

    ¡°Haha, did you think I was lying?¡±

    ¡°To be honest, I thought it was a prank call at first. Hunter An Su-ho has no connection to me whatsoever.¡±

    ¡°Well, not until now, thanks to a certain someone named Pi Seong-yeol.¡±

    Kim Seung-hwan fell silent for a moment before speaking again.

    ¡°How did you find out?¡±

    ¡°Find out about what?¡±

    ¡°About me and Pi Seong-yeol.¡±

    ¡°If you look, you can find anything. No secret in the world is perfect. Besides, how many people in this world hold a grudge or anger against someone like Pi Seong-yeol?¡±

    Kim Seung-hwan furrowed his brow briefly before tilting his head.

    ¡°From the way you¡¯re speaking, it sounds like you have some personal grudge against Pi Seong-yeol as well.¡±

    ¡°Of course I do. That¡¯s why I asked to meet with you.¡±@@novelbin@@

    ¡°So, are you behind all the rumors spreading in the media about him?¡±

    ¡°Which rumors? The ones about the royal factions within the Grand Hunter Association and the resulting unfair personnel decisions?¡±

    ¡°Was it you?¡±

    ¡°Yes, it was me. If not me, who else could pull this off?¡±

    Su-ho answered boldly without hesitation.

    This response left Kim Seung-hwan slightly stunned.

    ¡°No matter how much we both hate Pi Seong-yeol, isn¡¯t this too much information to reveal to a stranger?¡±

    ¡°Well, if you were the type to get shaken over this, I wouldn¡¯t have asked to meet you in the first ce. Let¡¯s not get tense¡ªlet¡¯s have coffee first. That¡¯s what we nned to do today, right?¡±

    Su-ho handed Kim Seung-hwan one of the takeout coffees he had prepared in advance.

    However, after taking a sip, Kim Seung-hwan let out a dry chuckle.

    But while his lips smiled, his eyes grew sharper.

    ¡°It¡¯s caf¨¦ mocha.¡±

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s caf¨¦ mocha.¡±

    ¡°Most people would bring iced americanos for takeout. At best, a hottte.¡±

    ¡°True, but you prefer iced caf¨¦ mochas, without whipped cream.¡±

    Su-ho took a sip of his own coffee and smiled.

    Kim Seung-hwan¡¯s expression, however, grew even colder.

    ¡°You¡¯ve got a bad habit, Hunter An. unting your power in front of a prosecutor is not a good look.¡±

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t unting power.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t unting power¡ªI was demonstrating my informationwork. What good would it do to intimidate an ordinary prosecutor?¡±

    ¡°...Seriously.¡±

    Su-ho¡¯s casual retort made Kim Seung-hwanugh again.

    This time, it was genuineughter, mixed with disbelief.

    ¡°You know everything about me already, so let¡¯s skip the posturing and get to the point. You can¡¯t investigate me anyway¡ªI¡¯m an Awakened. Only the Grand Hunter Association has jurisdiction over me.¡±

    It was true.

    The authority to investigate or prosecute Awakened individuals rested solely with the Grand Hunter Association¡¯s Special Division.

    That was why Pi Seong-yeol had aligned himself with the Special Division. He understood the power that came with deciding who could be prosecuted or not.

    Kim Seung-hwan spoke up.

    ¡°You must not have looked into my personality, then. If you had, you¡¯d know I¡¯m someone who lives for justice and integrity.¡±

    ¡°I know. You¡¯re more upright and righteous than anyone. But you¡¯re also someone who broke under pressure because of it, right?¡±

    ¡°...Yes, I am. What¡¯s your point?¡±

    ¡°My point is that you need to learn to bend a little. After all, you¡¯ve been transferred to Gyeonggi Province and haven¡¯t been as driven in your work as before.¡±

    Kim Seung-hwan fell silent.

    It was true.

    Once a paragon of justice, he had fallen into burnout and disillusionment after being outmaneuvered by Pi Seong-yeol.

    Su-ho continued.

    ¡°Have you seen my interviews?¡±

    ¡°...Which ones?¡±

    ¡°The ones where I talk about why I joined the Grand Hunter Association.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I saw them. You said it was to put an end to Gates.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s genuine. I joined the Grand Hunter Association because I truly want to end Gates.¡±

    Kim Seung-hwan raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°What does that have to do with anything? Wouldn¡¯t joining arge guild make more sense if that¡¯s your goal?¡±

    ¡°No. Guilds prioritize their own profits over humanity¡¯s security. The Grand Hunter Association, as a state-run organization, exists for the public good. That¡¯s why I joined¡ªto have ess to Gates before anyone else.¡±

    ¡°And?¡±

    ¡°To end Gates, I need to cleanse the rot within our systems first. People like Pi Seong-yeol are obstacles to progress. They use their power as a means to an end, exploiting the association for personal gain. You¡¯ve experienced that yourself, haven¡¯t you?¡±

    Kim Seung-hwan remained silent for a long time before finally speaking.

    ¡°So, is this personal revenge for you?¡±

    ¡°Not at all. If it were personal, I wouldn¡¯t bother with all this. I¡¯d just hunt down everyone involved in that incident and end them. My nickname should tell you enough about my abilities.¡±

    The Sword Saint An Su-ho.

    A man with unparalleledbat prowess who had cleared multiple sealed Gates alone.

    Su-ho¡¯s tone turned serious.

    ¡°I want to end Gates. To do that, I need trustworthy allies. That¡¯s why I¡¯m proposing this cleanup¡ªto ensure the upper ranks are filled with people who lead by example.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re idealistic to a fault.¡±

    ¡°Dreams are meant to be pursued, not abandoned.¡±

    ¡°Why me, though? What if I change once I taste power?¡±

    ¡°Then I made a mistake. But for now, you¡¯re the most suitable person I¡¯ve found.¡±

    Su-ho grinned as he took another sip of his coffee.

    ¡°And if you ever think of straying, I¡¯ll be watching. So stay honest, won¡¯t you?¡±

 Chapter 114

    Su-ho smiled.

    However, despite the smile, his words were sharp and chilling.

    Kim Seung-hwan frowned.

    ¡°So, are you telling me I need to live under your watchful eye, Hunter An?¡±

    ¡°Everyone lives under someone¡¯s watch. Who in this world lives without it? But for people like us, even just meeting like this and forming an alliance can be a significant weakness for both of us. So, isn¡¯t it better if we both just live honestly? After all, isn¡¯t that why our country has a separation of powers?¡±

    ¡°Good grief...¡±

    His reasoning was as smooth as silk.@@novelbin@@

    And yet, there was no way to refute it.

    That was how Kim Seung-hwan felt about Su-ho.

    Su-ho continued.

    ¡°In the end, someone must wield power. Not that I intend to be president or anything. What I aim to be is a sword capable of checking both corrupt leaders and rogue hunters. And that¡¯s the same for you, Prosecutor Kim. I¡¯m not asking you to be president¡ªI just want you to ensure that the prosecution functions as it should.¡±

    Kim Seung-hwan fell silent, deep in thought, before finally asking,

    ¡°Then is your goal to be the president of the Grand Hunter Association?¡±

    ¡°My goal is to end Gates. I have no interest in positions like the presidency.¡±

    ¡°But you say you want to be someone who can keep hunters in check?¡±

    ¡°Does that position necessarily have to be the president? If the association itself is efficient and systematic, it will naturally ensure that control. My goal is to reform the association into such an entity.¡±

    ¡°...I see. I understand what you¡¯re trying to say and what you want from me.¡±

    ¡°Do you really understand?¡±

    ¡°Yes, you¡¯re telling me that since I¡¯ve broken once, I need to learn how to bend. To stop acting so righteous and be a monster to catch monsters.¡±

    ¡°Close enough. All I¡¯m saying is that we should stick to our professional responsibilities. Prosecutors should do what prosecutors are supposed to do, and hunters should do what hunters are supposed to do.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    ¡°Then, since we¡¯re on the same page, how about a toast? We¡¯ll use this as our celebratory drink.¡±

    Su-ho raised his takeout cup, prompting Kim Seung-hwan to smirk and lift his coffee cup as well.

    They each took a sip, and at that moment¡ª

    <em>Bzzzzzzzt.</em>

    Su-ho¡¯s phone buzzed. Checking the caller ID, he chuckled.

    ¡°Sharp ears as always. This one¡¯s no gentleman either.¡±

    ¡°Is it Pi Seong-yeol?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Su-ho held up the phone, showing the caller ID to Kim Seung-hwan before answering.

    ¡°Yes, senior.¡±

    - ¡°Where are you right now?¡±

    It was Pi Seong-yeol¡¯s voice, filled with tension.

    Likely, he had seen the article that Jo Jin-hwi had released.

    Su-ho replied calmly,

    ¡°I¡¯m at home, resting.¡±

    - ¡°Where¡¯s Son Baek-geum?¡±

    ¡°Well... When I went to apprehend him, I found out he¡¯d already left Korea.¡±

    - ¡°He left Korea?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I heard he went on a short vacation. He¡¯s scheduled to return in a few days, so I nned to meet him at the airport. Ick the authority or qualifications to forcibly bring him back. I apologize.¡±

    - ¡°...¡±

    There was a long pause on the other end of the line.

    Pi Seong-yeol seemed to be debating whether to scold Su-ho as he would his other subordinates or let it slide.

    After a moment of silence, Pi Seong-yeol spoke again.

    - ¡°Have you seen the news?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I have.¡±

    - ¡°What do you think?¡±

    ¡°I n to follow whatever instructions you give me, senior.¡±

    - ¡°Whatever instructions I give, huh...¡±

    He was undoubtedly conflicted.

    The article had only been out for a few hours. While it might not seem like much time, the topic involving Sword Saint An Su-ho had already stirred significant public interest.

    Under normal circumstances, Pi Seong-yeol might have dismissed it outright, but his voice, filled with restrained anger, suggested he had already been reprimanded by President Jang Kyung-hwan.

    ¡®If not, his reaction wouldn¡¯t make sense.¡¯

    Pi Seong-yeol finally said,

    - ¡°I understand. Make sure you¡¯re prepared to report back to me with all relevant records as soon as Son Baek-geum returns. Ignore the news.¡±

    ¡°Yes, understood.¡±

    As expected of Pi Seong-yeol.

    He didn¡¯t tell Su-ho not to worry because he wouldn¡¯t make promises he couldn¡¯t keep.

    After ending the call, Su-ho turned to Kim Seung-hwan, who had been listening quietly.

    ¡°Was that call about the article?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°What did he say?¡±

    ¡°He told me to ignore the news and focus on the tasks at hand. The fact that he didn¡¯t say not to worry suggests he¡¯s still deliberating.¡±

    ¡°Fascinating.¡±

    ¡°What is?¡±

    ¡°You haven¡¯t been with the association long, have you? How do you know Pi Seong-yeol so well? You seem to know him better than I do.¡±

    ¡°Maybe I hate him more than you do. People often pay more attention to what they hate than what they love. They say knowing your enemy is the key to victory, so I¡¯ve studied him thoroughly. I want to make sure he never gets back on his feet.¡±

    ¡°What, are you nning to kill him?¡±

    ¡°Not at all. If I were, I wouldn¡¯t havee to you.¡±

    ¡°Then what?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll deal with him as an Awakened should be dealt with.¡±

    ¡°Cheongok Prison?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Sometimes living can be more painful than dying.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s terrifying. I¡¯d better stay on your good side.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s never good to make enemies. On that note, here¡¯s something for you.¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°This.¡±

    Su-ho handed over a copy of the bribery ledger he had obtained from Son Baek-geum, filtered to include only judiciary figures.

    ¡°...What¡¯s this?¡±

    ¡°You know the Baek-geum gang in Gangnam, right?¡±

    ¡°The one led by Son Baek-geum?¡±

    ¡°Yes. He used to run a drug operation with an Awakened alchemist named Kim Goong-won. Kim Goong-won¡¯s been captured and is lying low. Oh, and by the way, I¡¯m the one who captured him.¡±

    ¡°And?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m currently undergoing special training, including a stint with the Special Division. During this, Pi Seong-yeol told me to obtain the bribery ledger from Son Baek-geum as part of an evaluation.¡±

    ¡°...What?¡±

    Kim Seung-hwan looked at Su-ho in disbelief.

    It was absurd to assign such a task to someone still in training, even if they were the Sword Saint.

    Reading his expression, Su-ho exined,

    ¡°I¡¯m a special case. Pi Seong-yeol is using this as both apetence test and a way to dirty my hands. He wants to use the ledger to tighten his grip on those listed.¡±

    As Kim Seung-hwan scanned the ledger, his brow furrowed.

    ¡°...They¡¯re all police officers and prosecutors.¡±

    ¡°Yes. That¡¯s why I¡¯m giving it to you. I need you to handle the judiciary side of things.¡±

    ¡°What about the others?¡±

    ¡°The Grand Hunter Association. I¡¯ll take care of that.¡±

    ¡°Not everyone in the association is Awakened. You might need my help there.¡±

    Su-ho smiled.

    ¡°True. I¡¯ll reach out when the timees. But for now, this ledger is a one-time bomb. It¡¯ll be more effective if we detonate it all at once, at the right moment.¡±

    Kim Seung-hwan nodded.

    ¡°You know I can¡¯t do much on my own with this. Most of the names here are tied to Gangnam Police and Seoul¡¯s prosecutors. I¡¯m in Gyeonggi Province.¡±

    ¡°Then you¡¯ll have to rebuild your strength and return to Seoul.¡±

    ¡°Return to Seoul?¡±

    ¡°Are you nning to stay in Gyeonggi forever? To catch a tiger, you must enter the tiger¡¯s den. I¡¯ll help you get there.¡±

    ¡°How?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll provide cases that will help boost your performance and build your reputation. Guild leaders, corporate heads¡ªeven dirty prosecutors within your own office. I¡¯ll get you all the evidence you need.¡±

    Kim Seung-hwan swallowed hard.

    ¡°...Is that even possible?¡±

    ¡°For me, it is. I¡¯m not just anyone. So let¡¯s both work diligently in our respective fields. That¡¯s the best oue for everyone, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°...It¡¯ll be a lonely fight.¡±

    ¡°Because of the backstabbing?¡±

    ¡°Any organization ostracizes those who hunt their own.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not the type to care about that. And why would you be lonely? Once the system is cleansed, only people like you will remain in the prosecution.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re full of idealistic dreams. But I like that. Dreams aren¡¯t meant to be broken¡ªthey¡¯re meant to be pursued.¡±

    ¡°In that case, can I ask you something?¡±

    ¡°Go ahead.¡±

    ¡°What will you do once the Gates are eradicated?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll retire. Ending Gates is my ultimate goal.¡±

    ¡°Won¡¯t you feel unfulfilled?¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s there to feel? My dream is to retire by forty. I¡¯m not fond of working.¡±

    Kim Seung-hwan chuckled.

    ¡°You and I think alike. Understood.¡±

    ¡°Send me the names of the people who need help. I¡¯ll review and proceed. Let¡¯s talk again once the n is ready. For now, I¡¯ll take my leave.¡±

    Waving goodbye, Su-ho got into his car and drove off.

    Watching the car disappear, Kim Seung-hwan pulled out a cigarette and lit it.

    ¡°Good grief...¡±

    What an extraordinary life he was living.

    But as strange as it was, he couldn¡¯t think of it as bad.

    It felt like he could finally continue the life he had once dreamed of as a prosecutor.

    And so, Kim Seung-hwan resolved,

    ¡®If I don¡¯t want to be caught, I¡¯ll have to live impably.¡¯

    More than anyone else, he decided to keep a close eye on Su-ho, remaining neutral and vignt.

    That was the role he believed he was meant to y.

 Chapter 115

    ¡°Director Pi.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Association President.¡±

    ¡°How much longer until Hunter An¡¯s evaluation isplete?¡±

    ¡°It should be finished within a week.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s his score looking like?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s expected to be the first and youngest candidate to achieve a perfect score.¡±

    ¡°Hm.¡±

    Jang Kyung-hwan, the Association President, fell into thought.

    The sudden controversy over ¡°royal favoritism¡± had blindsided him.

    He didn¡¯t know why the issue had erupted so suddenly, but both he and Pi Seong-yeol were equally vexed by it.

    It was natural for any organization to grant privileges and priorities to top performers. It was a reward for effort.

    By that logic, Su-ho, the first and youngest perfect scorer in the Association¡¯s history, deserved to join the best department¡ªthe Special Division.

    But now, with the uproar over ¡°royal favoritism¡± and ¡°unfair personnel decisions,¡± the situation was a headache.

    <em>¡°This is maddening.¡±</em>

    Normally, Jang Kyung-hwan didn¡¯t concern himself with the minor personnel decisions handled by department directors.

    But with the media moring incessantly, he had no choice but to pay attention.

    Such controversies could hinder his future ambitions.

    It was then that Park Gyu-min stepped forward.

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better to weather the storm for now? Transfer him to another department temporarily until the public outrage subsides, then move him back to the Special Division once things calm down.¡±

    ¡°Then where should we send him?¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t suggest the Management or Awakening Departments at a time like this. Instead, how about the Gate Division? I¡¯ve heard that Team Leader Jung Cheol-min there is close to Hunter An Su-ho.¡±

    ¡°You...¡±

    Just as Su-ho had predicted.

    Even though Jang Kyung-hwan typically avoided office politics, he couldn¡¯t be ignorant of the factions led by Pi Seong-yeol and Park Gyu-min.

    For Park Gyu-min to propose sending Su-ho to a department aligned with Pi Seong-yeol rather than his own faction, it forced Jang Kyung-hwan to reevaluate him.

    ¡°Director Pi.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Association President.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re aware of the public uproar, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±

    ¡°I understand your frustration. Putting aside the talk of favoritism, isn¡¯t it natural to assign top-performing individuals to the best departments? It¡¯s not as if they didn¡¯t earn it.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s true. I won¡¯t deny it.¡±

    ¡°Right... But as you know, people don¡¯t care about right or wrong. Theytch onto the immediate sparks in front of them. So, as frustrating as it might be, how about dying the Special Division appointment for now? Once the public calms down, you can use rotational duty as an excuse to bring him back.¡±

    <em>Damn.</em>

    The very scenario Pi Seong-yeol had feared hade to pass.

    But did he have the authority to refuse?

    The one speaking was the Association President himself.

    All he could do was bow his head.

    ¡°...Then where do you n to send him?¡±

    ¡°Since you were going to assign him to the Special Division, let¡¯s go with the Gate Division or the Resource Division. How about the Gate Division? Team Leader Jung Cheol-min seems to value Hunter An a lot.¡±

    A small relief.

    At least Park Gyu-min hadn¡¯t tried to push his own faction into the mix.

    Pi Seong-yeol nodded.

    ¡°Understood. Starting as an assistant team leader there should be fine.¡±

    ¡°Right. It¡¯s unfortunate we can¡¯t care for him directly in the Special Division from the start, but this will have to do for now. Just hold out a little longer, Director Pi.¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir. I understand.¡±

    ¡°Good. Let¡¯s proceed with this n, and we¡¯ll issue a suitable statement to the media.¡±

    With that, Pi Seong-yeol quietly bowed and exited the president¡¯s office.

    His mouth tasted bitter.

    Normally, he wouldn¡¯t have cared one bit about the opinions of what he often referred to as the ¡°sheep-like masses.¡±

    But with the president personally invested in the matter, he couldn¡¯t voice his dissent.

    The only constion was that Su-ho had been assigned to the Gate Division rather than falling into Park Gyu-min¡¯s hands.

    <em>¡°Tch, I suppose I should think of it as a win.¡±</em>

    Pi Seong-yeol picked up his phone and dialed a number.

    The recipient of his call was none other than Jung Cheol-min.

    ***

    "That''s great news."

    "It really is. Just like Hunter An predicted."

    After finishing his call with Pi Seong-yeol, Jung Cheol-min immediately called Su-ho.

    Everything had unfolded exactly as Su-ho had said.

    Su-ho was assigned to the Gate Division¡¯s Management Department, and he would even serve as Jung''s subordinate.

    This wasn¡¯t a coincidence¡ªPi Seong-yeol had personally called and requested Jung to keep Su-ho under his watch.

    Su-ho chuckled.

    "Does this mean you''ll finally believe everything I say from now on?"

    "When did I not? Anyway, wee to the Gate Division. I''m genuinely happy we¡¯ll be working together."

    "I''m delighted as well. So, does this mean we can finally drop the formalities?"

    "Uh... shall we?"

    "Haha, much better."

    "I don¡¯t mind speaking casually, but have you heard anything from Director Pi?"

    "No, nothing so far. I¡¯m guessing he¡¯ll tell me on my official return date. No need to announce this sort of thing in advance."

    "True enough. It¡¯s not exactly good news, is it? By the way, where are you right now?"

    "I¡¯m waiting on Son Baek-geum. Director Pi asked me to handle him and retrieve any bribery ledgers he might have."

    "Son Baek-geum? The infamous gangster from Gangnam?"

    "Yes."

    "Good grief... Even if you were recruited as a Level 5 special appointee, sending someone still in their probationary period to deal with Son Baek-geum is..."

    Jung Cheol-min, quick to grasp the implications, could see through the ploy.

    But voicing such thoughts outright wasn¡¯t a good habit, so he simply clicked his tongue in sympathy.

    Su-ho, however, spoke nonchntly.

    "I¡¯m sure he gave me the job because I¡¯m capable. By the way, in a week, I¡¯ll be reporting to your team. What kind of work will I be doing?"

    "You¡¯re still in training and already curious about your future assignments?"

    "Of course. It¡¯s not exactly a distant future."

    "Well..."

    Jung Cheol-min furrowed his brow.

    Under normal circumstances, Su-ho would be tasked with gate inspections in assigned areas.

    But Su-ho wasn¡¯t just anyone.

    Jung hesitated before asking cautiously,

    "Be honest. Are you asking out of pure curiosity, or do you have some other scheme in mind?"

    "Come on, you make it sound like I¡¯m always up to something."

    "Don¡¯t pretend otherwise. Just be straight with me. I¡¯ll try to amodate your preferences if I can."

    Su-ho chuckled.

    That was typical Cheol-min hyung¡ªacting reserved but more amodating than anyone else.

    Feigning reluctance, Su-ho offered his opinion.

    "In that case, could I handle some of the tasks the Gate Division hasn¡¯t been able to touch?"

    "Tasks we haven¡¯t been able to handle?"

    "Like tackling sealed gates."

    "Hey, you..."

    Indeed, sealed gates fell under the Gate Division¡¯s purview. Gate strategies were part of the Management Department¡¯s responsibilities, and their hunters generally dealt with less dangerous gates.

    Each gate cleared brought performance bonuses.

    This included sealed gates¡ªthough they were left untouched due to their difficulty.

    Jung sighed deeply.

    "Why do you always insist on taking the hardest path?"

    "Because someone has to deal with sealed gates eventually."

    "You¡¯re not wrong, but..."

    He wanted to say, <em>¡°Why does it have to be you?¡±</em>

    But he couldn¡¯t.

    He understood Su-ho¡¯s goals and why hunters, especially public servant hunters, existed in the first ce.

    After some thought, Jung sighed again.

    "Fine. I¡¯ll make the arrangements."

    "Really?"

    "You came here aiming for this anyway, didn¡¯t you? Even if I tried to block you, you¡¯d find a way."

    "Haha..."

    Su-houghed instead of replying.

    It was true, after all.

    But he didn¡¯t feel guilty¡ªhandling sealed gates would expedite Jung¡¯s promotion, too.

    Su-ho grinned.

    "Think of it this way. If you handle the nning and I handle the execution, we¡¯ll both rise through the ranks quickly."

    "That¡¯s assuming you survive. Do you think sealed gates are called that for no reason? I can¡¯t even deploy you alone for something like this. If necessary, we might have to request outside help."

    "I anticipated that, so I made preparations. We can start with lower-level gates and gradually ramp up the difficulty. That way, the higher-ups will be more inclined to approve solo strategies."

    As Su-ho spoke with a smile, Jung responded, exasperated.

    "Just how far ahead have you nned this?"

    "My dream is to be an artist."

    "I give up. Fine, let¡¯s talk more in a week. We can have a wee ceremony or whatever."

    "Got it. I¡¯ll see you in a week."

    "Alright. Let me know if you need anything."

    "Thank you."

    After ending the call, Su-ho leaned back and smirked.

    "Everything¡¯s falling into ce."

    Even though he had expected things to go this way, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a little tense.

    Unforeseen variables could always arise.

    He immediately called Seo Gi-won.

    - "Yes, hyung?"@@novelbin@@

    "Where are you, Gi-won?"

    - "I was just about to head out to Paju."

    "For training?"

    - "Yeah."

    "You mentioned looking into Kim Goong-won¡¯s hidden assets. How did that go?"

    - "...Huh?"

    <em>This brat.</em>

    Su-ho chuckled.

    "Spill it. I need it now."

    - "Haha... I was just about to tell you."

    "How much did you find?"

    - "So far, I¡¯ve tracked down about 3.2 billion won."

    "Only that much?"

    - "Only? Hyung, this is hidden cash. 3.2 billion in liquid assets is massive."

    <em>Is it?</em>

    In his past life, hundreds of billions had seemed trivial, so 3.2 billion felt small byparison.

    Su-ho nodded.

    "Where is it now?"

    - "It¡¯s in my crypto wallet."

    "You emptied Kim Goong-won¡¯s wallet?"

    - "Yes."

    "What do I need to do to ess it right now?"

    - "I¡¯ve got a physical card for withdrawals. Should I bring it to you?"

    Withdrawal cards¡ªmodern technology allowed cryptocurrency to be instantly converted for use like a debit card.

    "How long will it take to prepare?"

    - "Are you heading home? I¡¯ll have it ready before you arrive."

    "Alright, I¡¯ll see you at home."

    - "Got it, hyung. Oh, by the way!"

    "What now?"

    - "I swear, I was going to tell you about this. I didn¡¯t mean anything shady by keeping quiet."

    "Who said you did?"

    - "I just didn¡¯t want you to misunderstand, given the circumstances. Haha..."

    "As long as you¡¯re honest, that¡¯s all that matters. But don¡¯t even think about trying to fool me. You know what my abilities are, right?"

    - "Of course, hyung. I always keep that in mind."

    "Good. Let¡¯s do this right."

    - "Yes, I¡¯ll see you soon."

    Ending the call, Su-ho chuckled to himself.

    "Such a cheeky kid."

    ***

    <strong>That Evening</strong>

    Su-ho spent the entire day driving towards North Gyeongsang Province.

    After hours on the road, he finally saw a familiar sign.

    - <em>"Wee to Cheongsong."</em>

    Su-ho¡¯s destination was Cheongsong.

    Once he entered the area, he headed straight for Cheongsong Prison¡ªor more specifically, Cheongok Prison, which was located next to it.

    Cheongok Prison was perched atop a mountain.

    Built alongside a cliff, the prison was surrounded on the rear by steep precipices and nked by rugged mountain ridges. Aside from the front gate, escaping seemed utterly impossible.

    Pulling up to the prison entrance, Su-ho parked his car.

    A man emerged from the facility to greet him.

    ¡°Wee. I am Kim Gil-yeon, warden of Cheongok Prison.¡±

    The warden, Kim Gil-yeon, bowed respectfully to greet the visitor.

    In response, a figure stepped out of the passenger seat and returned the gesture.

    ¡°Thank you for your hard work.¡±

    The man stepping out and responding was none other than <strong>Pi Seong-yeol</strong>.

 Chapter 116

    It wasn¡¯t a mistake.

    The man standing there was undeniably Pi Seong-yeol.

    Behind him, Su-ho emerged from the driver¡¯s seat, standing like an aide.

    Pi Seong-yeol spoke.

    ¡°Let¡¯s head inside.¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±

    At Pi Seong-yeol¡¯s words, Warden Kim Gil-yeon immediately stepped forward to guide them.

    Kim Gil-yeon couldn¡¯t hide his nerves.

    It was understandable.

    Cheongok Prison managed Awakened inmates and was technically a subordinate institution of the Grand Hunter Association (GHA), under the direct oversight of the Special Division. As such, even the warden had to tread carefully around someone like Pi Seong-yeol.

    Under Kim¡¯s guidance, they arrived at a special visitation room.

    This room had one wall made entirely of special ss, like an interrogation chamber. While the interior was hidden from outside view, it allowed for easy monitoring from the outside.

    Pi Seong-yeol entered the monitoring room adjacent to the visitation area, while Su-ho went into the room alone.

    Testing the microphone connected to the visitation room, Pi Seong-yeol turned to Kim Gil-yeon.

    ¡°Bring in inmate number one. And as I¡¯ve mentioned, everyone else should leave the area. No one is to hear what¡¯s about to take ce.¡±

    ¡°Yes, of course.¡±

    At his firm order, Kim Gil-yeon quickly bowed and dismissed everyone else.

    Once the staff had cleared out, Pi Seong-yeol pressed the microphone button and spoke to Su-ho inside the room.

    ¡°They¡¯re gone.¡±

    ¡°Great, nice work.¡±

    As soon as the others left, Pi Seong-yeol addressed Su-ho respectfully, and Su-ho responded just as casually.

    Why was this dynamic possible?

    The answer was simple: the Pi Seong-yeol outside the visitation room wasn¡¯t the real one.

    The person currently assisting Su-ho was none other than Kim Geon, using his Suit Ball to impersonate Pi Seong-yeol.

    ¡°Having Geon around makes this so much easier. Truly convenient.¡±

    Beforeing to Cheongok Prison, Su-ho had proposed this arrangement to Kim Geon as part of their work.

    Cheongok Prison was an imprable fortress, even for someone like Su-ho. However, having someone disguised as Pi Seong-yeol¡ªa high-ranking GHA official¡ªmade ess effortless.

    ¡°Even in the military, high-ranking officers bypass checkpoints without needing to give passwords.¡±

    The same applied here, even in a ce as secure as Cheongok Prison, which housed the most dangerous Awakened criminals.

    After waiting for some time in the visitation room, Su-ho finally heard footsteps.

    The guards brought in the inmate Pi Seong-yeol had requested: Kim Goong-won.

    Kim Goong-won wore special cuffs that nullified his magical powers. The moment he saw Su-ho, he let out a dryugh.

    ¡°Well, if it isn¡¯t the nation¡¯s favorite star who locked me up.¡±

    With his usual cocky demeanor, Kim Goong-won sat across from Su-ho.

    Su-ho grinned.

    ¡°Kim Goong-won, how¡¯ve you been?¡±

    ¡°Do I look like I¡¯ve been doing well?¡±

    ¡°Honestly? Yeah, you look pretty good. Even in Korea¡¯s toughest prison for Awakened, your face looks clean and polished.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, well, when you¡¯re stuck in a ce like this, eating is about the only thing you can do. I¡¯ve been livingrge, eating well. Money solves everything, doesn¡¯t it?¡±

    He wasn¡¯t wrong.

    Even in these chaotic times, human rightsws prevented prison staff from mistreating inmates.

    But those rules didn¡¯t necessarily apply within the inmate hierarchy.

    In prison, wealth equaled power. Those with money could buy privileges and even secure alliances with others for when they were released.

    Su-ho chuckled at Kim¡¯s words before speaking in a more rxed tone.

    ¡°Goong-won.¡±

    ¡°What now? Goong-won?¡±@@novelbin@@

    ¡°What? You call me whatever you want. Can¡¯t I do the same?¡±

    ¡°Man, you¡¯re something else... Aren¡¯t you supposed to be a civil servant?¡±

    ¡°And you¡¯re the onecking awareness.¡±

    ¡°What was that?¡±

    ¡°How much money do you have left in yourmissary ount?¡±

    ¡°What does that have to do with anything?¡±

    ¡°Better start saving. That¡¯s all the money you¡¯ve got left.¡±

    ¡°...What?¡±

    At Su-ho¡¯s remark, Kim Goong-won tilted his head in confusion before narrowing his eyes suspiciously.

    ¡°Hey, what¡¯s your deal?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re still putting on airs? Don¡¯t you get the situation yet?¡±

    ¡°What the hell are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°Your hidden assets. 3.2 billion won, right? All converted into cryptocurrency.¡±

    Su-ho pulled out a withdrawal card and dangled it in front of Kim.

    ¡°It¡¯s all right here.¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    Kim¡¯s eyes widened to their limit, as if they might pop out of his head.

    ¡°Careful, your eyeballs might fall out,¡± Su-ho thought, smirking as he pocketed the card.

    ¡°Save yourmissary funds. You¡¯ve got years left here, and I bet you¡¯ve spent quite a bit of money trying to keep up appearances among the inmates.¡±

    ¡°You bastard...! Stop lying. Even if you figured out how much I had hidden, how the hell would you have stolen it?¡±

    ¡°And yet I caught you, didn¡¯t I?¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t remember? No one in the GHA could find you, but I tracked you down at your own house. So why wouldn¡¯t I be able to locate your hidden assets?¡±

    ¡°Bullshit.¡±

    ¡°Bullshit? You¡¯ll see soon enough. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re still counting on Son Baek-geum.¡±

    Su-ho pulled out the bribery ledger from his coat and tossed it on the table.

    When Kim saw it, his eyes grew wide again.

    ¡°This...!¡±

    ¡°Son Baek-geum¡¯s already been dealt with. Don¡¯t get it twisted¡ªhe didn¡¯t hand over your assets. No one but you knew about them, after all. But just so you know, I hold Son Baek-geum¡¯s leash now. So stop pretending you have any cards left to y. You¡¯re broke, and your only ally is out of the picture.¡±

    Kim¡¯s face turned pale, like a sheet of paper.

    It was no wonder¡ªhis entire existence revolved around his wealth, and now it was gone.

    Su-ho leaned in, his tone calm but cutting.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you curious?¡±

    ¡°C-Curious about what?¡±

    ¡°In Cheongok, the prison with the highest inmate death rate, how long do you think you¡¯ll survive without money or power?¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    Kim fell silent, his lips pressed tightly together.

    After a deep breath and a moment of contemtion, he finally spoke, his voice subdued.

    ¡°...Alright. What do you want from me?¡±

    ¡°Looks like you¡¯re finally getting the picture.¡±

    Kim¡¯s sudden humility amused Su-ho.

    Su-ho pulled out a pen, a sheet of paper, and a pack of cigarettes from his inventory.

    ¡°Have you ever heard of a plea bargain?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re asking me to be a snitch?¡±

    ¡°Why not? Your neck¡¯s on the line here.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Get real. And don¡¯t expect any reduced sentences. I don¡¯t cut deals with scumbags. But I can make sure you don¡¯t get beaten to death here. Think about it carefully.¡±

    Kim Goong-won was a despicable man.

    He had created performance-enhancing potions, ruining sports and otherpetitive fields, and had even supplied illegal drugs.

    That¡¯s why the Baek-geum faction had risen to power.

    Su-ho had no intention of forgiving him.

    ¡°Squeeze him for all he¡¯s worth, then discard him when he¡¯s no longer useful.¡±

    Kim asked, ¡°What exactly do you want me to write down?¡±

    ¡°Smart question. Write down every name of every shady person you¡¯ve worked with. You designed the drugs, so you should know your clients, right?¡±

    ¡°Are you going to round them all up?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t ask for your opinion.¡±

    ¡°S-Sorry.¡±

    ¡°Son Baek-geum might know some of this, but you¡¯re the supplier. Your list will be the most urate.¡±

    ¡°Why haven¡¯t you arrested Son Baek-geum yet?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s none of your business.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s my decision. Your only concern should be your survival. Unless you want to meet an untimely end in Cheongok.¡±

    Su-ho nced at the clock.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be back in an hour or two. When I return, I¡¯d better see these papers filled to the brim. See youter.¡±

    With that, Su-ho stood and left the visitation room.

    Kim stared nkly at the paper in front of him.

    But he had no choice.

    As Su-ho had said, without money, he was as good as dead.

    After sitting quietly for a while, Kim grabbed the pack of cigarettes Su-ho had left and lit one.

    ***

    As Su-ho stepped out of the visitation room, Pi Seong-yeol followed closely behind.

    Waiting outside, Kim Gil-yeon, the warden of Cheongok Prison, approached the two men with a polite bow.

    ¡°Is the investigationplete?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Pi Seong-yeol replied curtly. ¡°We¡¯ll revisit Kim Goong-wonter. For now, bring in the next one.¡±

    At hismand, Kim Gil-yeon guided them to a second special visitation room.

    Once again, there were no other observers. Su-ho entered the visitation room alone, while Kim Geon¡ªstill disguised as Pi Seong-yeol¡ªremained outside, monitoring.

    Shortly after, the second inmate requested by Pi Seong-yeol was brought in.

    He was a solidly built man with an imposing physique.

    What stood out most was his gaunt, dark-circled eyes, and the bright red badge on his chest, marking him as a death row inmate.

    Su-ho smiled warmly.

    ¡°Are you Yun Hyun-chul? It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you. I¡¯m Su-ho An, a civil servant with the Grand Hunter Association.¡±

    Su-ho greeted him with respectful politeness, but Yun Hyun-chul merely stared at him with cold, unfeeling eyes.

    Undeterred, Su-ho maintained hisposure, continuing to smile.

    ¡°You¡¯re a man of few words, I see. But staying silent won¡¯t help Hyeon-chan, now will it?¡±

    At the mention of his younger brother¡¯s name, Yun Hyun-chul¡¯s expression twisted, and he mmed the desk in front of him as he lunged at Su-ho.

    The force of his movement was so powerful that deep marks were left on the sturdy visitation table.

    Yet, despite the ferocious blow, Su-ho effortlessly caught the man¡¯s clenched fists with his own hands.

    Yun Hyun-chul red at Su-ho with murderous intent.

    ¡°Who the hell are you? What gives you the right to bring up my brother?¡±

    ¡°As I mentioned, I¡¯m Su-ho An, a public official with the GHA. Haven¡¯t you heard of me on the news?¡±

    ¡°Never heard of you, you bastard!¡±

    Bang!

    Yun Hyun-chul twisted his body to deliver another blow, the sheer power of his movement creating a gale-like wind in the room.

    This won¡¯t do, Su-ho thought. We can¡¯t have a proper conversation like this.

    With ease, Su-ho sidestepped the attack and brought his index and middle fingers together, pressing into the pressure points on Yun Hyun-chul¡¯s body.

    [ Pressure Point Activation. ]

    As the skill triggered, Yun Hyun-chul¡¯s massive frame copsed to the ground with a loud thud.

    He wasn¡¯t unconscious.

    Instead, Su-ho had targeted specific pressure points to block the flow of energy in his body, rendering him unable to summon strength.

    Yun Hyun-chul¡¯s mind remained sharp, though his body was paralyzed.

    Su-ho calmly followed up by sealing the man¡¯s vocal cords with a secondary pressure point technique, ensuringplete silence.

    He crouched down to address Yun Hyun-chul, speaking in a measured tone.

    ¡°From what I¡¯ve heard, Cheongok Prison is home to two untouchable monsters. One of them is you¡ªYun Hyun-chul, also known as the ¡®Hidden Dragon.¡¯¡±

    Su-ho smiled, his tone still calm.

    ¡°I have a proposition for you. Listen carefully before you decide.¡±

    Yun Hyun-chul struggled against his restraints, veins bulging in his neck as he attempted to shout.

    ¡°Ughhh!¡±

    But his voice was sealed, and his body refused to move.

    Su-ho observed him with a rxed expression.

    ¡°Let¡¯s see how long it takes for the Hidden Dragon to calm down,¡± he thought.

 Chapter 117

    The Hidden Dragon, Yun Hyun-chul

    It was undeniable.

    Yun Hyun-chul¡¯s massive physique was not just bulky¡ªit was a well-maintained, solid build. His body resembled polished armor.

    However, despite his impressive frame, his sunken eyes and indifferent expression conveyed apathy, as though nothing in the world mattered.

    But Su-ho knew better.

    Though Yun Hyun-chul was known as the "Hidden Dragon" now, in the distant future, he would be called the "Mad Dragon," Yun Hyun-chul.

    ¡®I must tame him and bring him to my side before he loses control and sumbs to madness.¡¯

    Now, and in the future, there was no other inmate in Cheongok Prison as strong as him.

    Su-ho casually sat on the fallen Yun Hyun-chul like he was a cushion, smirking.

    ¡°You seem quite agitated. Should I start by calming you down?¡±

    ¡°Ughhh!¡±

    ¡°Wow, you¡¯re really worked up¡­ Anyway, let¡¯s get straight to the point. I know why you¡¯re on death row. You were sentenced to death for killing every single Hunter who gang-raped your girlfriend. Even here, you didn¡¯t let anyone mess with you. You beat up every inmate who provoked you¡ªsome ended up disabled, while others¡­ well, didn¡¯t make it.¡±

    If one were to tally all the people Yun Hyun-chul had crippled or killed, the number would already exceed ten.

    That¡¯s why he was now a death row inmate.

    Su-ho continued.

    ¡°Still, I don¡¯t think you¡¯re a bad person. If the same thing had happened to my girlfriend, I¡¯d have done exactly what you did. And if I ended up in prison afterward, I¡¯d probably act like I¡¯d lost everything, just like you.¡±

    ¡°Ughhh!¡±

    This was no mere titude¡ªit was the truth.

    ¡®No matter how many lives I¡¯ve lived or how experienced I am as a civil servant, I¡¯m no Buddha or saint.¡¯

    But Yun Hyun-chul seemed to want to scream, "What would someone like you know?" Despite having his pressure points sealed, he shook violently, struggling to express his defiance.

    Su-ho ignored this and kept talking.

    ¡°Even though I don¡¯t think you¡¯re in the wrong, the world doesn¡¯t share my sentiment. Neither does thew. But wouldn¡¯t it be too sad to keep living like this, with dead eyes and no purpose in life?¡±

    Rising from his seat on Yun Hyun-chul, Su-ho helped him into a chair. He adjusted the pressure points in his lower body so he could sitfortably.@@novelbin@@

    Although Yun Hyun-chul¡¯s gaze was still filled with murderous intent, Su-ho paid it no mind and pressed on.

    ¡°You grew up in Aram Orphanage, didn¡¯t you? You were admitted there with your younger sister.¡±

    At that moment, Yun Hyun-chul stopped struggling entirely.

    Seeing his reaction, Su-ho smiled.

    ¡°I understand your sister was adopted shortly after entering the orphanage, while you aged out. I also know you spent years trying to find her after leaving the orphanage.¡±

    Su-ho released the remaining pressure points.

    Yun Hyun-chul clenched his fists, but instead ofshing out, he sat properly in his chair, ring at Su-ho.

    ¡°Your sister¡¯s name is Yun Hyun-hee, correct? I know where she is. I know what she¡¯s doing and where she lives.¡±

    Su-ho took a folder out of his inventory. Inside were personal details and recent photos of a woman¡ªYun Hyun-hee.

    Yun Hyun-chul¡¯s eyes widened as he examined the photos, disbelief evident on his face.

    ¡°She¡¯s still in Korea, fortunately,¡± Su-ho said. ¡°But her life hasn¡¯t been easy. Though she was adopted into a good family, she lost everything to Gate Shock when she became an adult. She married early to a man she met during those difficult times, but¡­¡±

    Su-ho pulled out more photos.

    The images were heart-wrenching¡ªYun Hyun-hee¡¯s face covered in bruises, clearly the result of domestic violence.

    ¡°Her husband is an alcoholic and gambler. I hear he turned to gambling after losing his business to Gate Shock twice, and now he¡¯s deeply in debt.¡±

    Yun Hyun-chul¡¯s face turned red, his expression resembling a volcano on the brink of eruption.

    But Su-ho remained calm, rising to release his pressure points entirely.

    This time, Yun Hyun-chul didn¡¯t scream or curse. Instead, he sat quietly, suppressing his rage, and spoke in a low voice.

    ¡°¡­What do you want from me?¡±

    ¡°I want you to be the king of Cheongok Prison.¡±

    ¡°The king?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Despite the chaos of our times, human rightsws still prevent prisons from treating inmates harshly. At best, their freedom is restricted. But I believe that¡¯s not enough. The purpose of a prison is reform. Yet even here in Cheongok, rich inmates livefortably while others suffer. How can reform happen in such an environment?¡±

    Yun Hyun-chul frowned but said nothing.

    ¡°Let¡¯s be honest. I want you to be Cheongok¡¯s king not just to enforce discipline but to deal with inmates I don¡¯t have time to handle personally. In exchange, I¡¯ll take care of Yun Hyun-hee. I¡¯ll ensure she lives a stable, safe life.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Su-ho didn¡¯t bother dressing up his intentions. If Yun Hyun-chul wanted to see him as maniptive, so be it.

    This was a transaction, in and simple.

    For Su-ho, it was just one of many strategies to eradicate Gates more efficiently.

    Yun Hyun-chul understood that too.

    He was a man living each day without purpose, merely surviving. Yet, out of nowhere, Su-ho had given him a reason to live¡ªa chance to protect his only family, Yun Hyun-hee.

    ¡°Think of it this way,¡± Su-ho added. ¡°You¡¯ll spend your life in here, but outside, I¡¯ll take responsibility for your sister. All I ask is that you manage Cheongok.¡±

    ¡°¡­If I do this, will you really keep your promise?¡±

    ¡°Of course. I¡¯m a public figure¡ªI wouldn¡¯t dare lie about something like this. If you¡¯d like, I can even arrange for your sister to visit you.¡±

    ¡°¡­No. Don¡¯t tell her about me. Just¡­ take care of her like a shadow. Quietly.¡±

    ¡°Are you ashamed to face her?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Yun Hyun-chul remained silent, and Su-ho didn¡¯t press him further.

    ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll do as you wish. Now, let¡¯s discuss the specifics of your role.¡±

    ¡°What else do you want?¡±

    ¡°Think of it as improving efficiency.¡±

    ¡°¡­Go on.¡±

    ¡°Do you know Kim Goong-won?¡±

    ¡°Kim Goong-won?¡±

    ¡°The drug maker in Cheongok. I want him as your subordinate.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t need him.¡±

    ¡°You do. Someone needs to handle the grunt work while you focus on bigger issues. Cheongok is vast, and you can¡¯t manage it all alone. That¡¯s why I want you to be not just a king but an efficient one.¡±

    Su-ho pulled out two banana milk cartons from his inventory, handed one to Yun Hyun-chul, and said,

    ¡°Kings createws, andws establish order. I want you to be a terrifying tyrant¡ªa king so fearsome that inmates dread returning here, and the outside world fears your reputation.¡±

    ¡°¡­That¡¯splicated.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s simple. Think of it as Hammurabi¡¯s Code¡ª¡®an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.¡¯ Just follow that principle and handle any additional requests I might have. Oh, and Kim Goong-won isn¡¯t just a drug maker¡ªhe can also produce healing and buff potions. He¡¯ll be useful.¡±

    Yun Hyun-chul stared at Su-ho for a long time before nodding.

    ¡°¡­Fine. I ept the deal.¡±

    Su-ho smiled, extending his hand.

    ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll make regr visits to check in, so don¡¯t worry.¡±

    As they exited the room, Kim Geon, still disguised as Pi Seong-yeol, turned to Su-ho.

    ¡°Shall we move on to the next one?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Let¡¯s go.¡±

    Finally, it was time to meet thest target.

    When they arrived at the third visitation room, a hulking man entered,ughing boisterously.

    ¡°Well, well! I wondered who¡¯d call for me at this hour. You¡¯re that guy from TV, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Cho Gwang-ho?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s me. But wait¡ªaren¡¯t you the Sword Saint, An Su-ho?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. And you¡¯re one of Cheongok¡¯s two monsters¡ª¡®The Iron Mace.¡¯¡±

    ¡°Ha! Even someone as famous as you has heard of me?¡±

    Su-ho didn¡¯t reply.

    Instead, he stood and began pressing pressure points on Cho Gwang-ho¡¯s massive body.

    [Pressure Point Activated.]

    [Pressure Point Activated.]

    [Pressure Point Activated.]

    With each strike¡ª

    ¡°Arrrgh!¡±

    Cho Gwang-ho copsed to the ground, writhing in agony as Su-ho watched calmly.

 Chapter 118

    "It Hurts! I Said It Hurts!!"

    ¡°Annoying.¡±

    Su-ho¡¯s ears were ringing from Jo Gwang-ho¡¯s agonized screams.

    To silence him, Su-ho pressed additional pressure points, including Ahyeol and Gushimhyeol.

    Jo Gwang-ho froze in ce, unable to move, his body trembling uncontrobly.

    The pain must have been unbearable.

    Su-ho had deliberately targeted every point that could induce pain, including Akyeol (bad blood points).

    ¡®Good thing I¡¯ve been boosting my strength stat.¡¯

    Even the most vicious criminals in Cheongok were typically no stronger than 1-star Awakened.

    Anyone stronger couldn¡¯t be subdued and brought to prison; most of them were executed on the spot during apprehension.

    This worked to Su-ho¡¯s advantage.

    Although his pressure point skill (Jeomhyeol) appeared versatile, it required physical contact to be effective. If the target¡¯s stamina or defense rating was too high, the skill would fail entirely.

    Fortunately, with orange-tier strength stats, Su-ho could easily handle 1-star Awakened individuals.

    Su-ho gazed down at the trembling Jo Gwang-ho.

    Jo Gwang-ho¡¯s nickname was Cheolgwe (Iron Club).

    He earned this name because his body was as tough as reinforced steel.

    Like Yun Hyun-chul, Jo Gwang-ho was a martial artist, but his unique trait hardened his body, making him one of the strongest monsters in Cheongok.

    The key difference?

    Jo Gwang-ho was cunning and calcting, a stark contrast to Yun Hyun-chul, whomitted murder in a fit of rage. Jo Gwang-ho was a "pure evil" who hadmitted countless murders and rapes without remorse.

    Su-ho waited patiently until Jo Gwang-ho was thoroughly immersed in pain.

    When he decided enough time had passed, Su-ho checked his watch and finally released all the pressure points.

    ¡°Huff¡­ huff¡­¡±

    Even with his pressure points freed, Jo Gwang-ho couldn¡¯t stand.

    His body was soaked in sweat, tears, and saliva, and he shivered with residual fear, unable to move despite the cessation of pain.

    Dragging a chair forward, Su-ho sat down in front of Jo Gwang-ho.

    ¡°Gwang-ho.¡±

    ¡°Y-yeah?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve been living way toofortably, haven¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°W-what are you talking about¡­?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t y dumb. You¡¯re worse than trash. By some fluke, you awakened as an Awakened, made a decent living, and indulged in luxury. But then, you got caught raping and killing your teammates inside a Gate. That¡¯s why you¡¯re here in Cheongok, yet you¡¯re still living like a king.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°And despite your brutish appearance, you¡¯re surprisingly clever. You built a gang and enjoyed theforts of power here. Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s time you faced real punishment?¡±

    ¡°W-what are you trying to say?¡±

    Su-ho grabbed Jo Gwang-ho by the scruff and set him upright in the chair.

    ¡°Sit properly.¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir!¡±

    Jo Gwang-ho¡¯s body stillcked strength, but his sharp mind kept him alert, forcing him toply.

    ¡°Hmm.¡±

    Su-ho stared at him for a moment, as if calcting something.

    How could he ensure that Jo Gwang-ho would live the rest of his life in repentance and agony?

    The answer wasn¡¯tplicated.@@novelbin@@

    ¡°You¡¯ve enjoyed too much until now.¡±

    Su-ho pressed several new pressure points on Jo Gwang-ho¡¯s body.

    [Pressure Point Activated.]

    [Pressure Point Activated.]

    [Pressure Point Activated.]

    He carefully chose points that would maximize Jo Gwang-ho¡¯s suffering.

    One point sealed his vocal cords, rendering him mute.

    Another targeted his left ankle, leaving it limp and forcing him to drag his foot.

    Finally, both wrists were weakened, making even holding a spoon a struggle.

    Su-ho had considered crippling him entirely, as he had done with Son Baek-geum, but he deliberately refrained.

    ¡®Let him suffer in other ways. With no strength in his hands and burning desire in his body, he¡¯ll be tormented endlessly.¡¯

    This was Su-ho¡¯s punishment for Jo Gwang-ho¡¯s history of sexual violence.

    Having finished his task, Su-ho rose from his chair.

    Jo Gwang-ho desperately tried to speak, only to emit muffled cries.

    ¡°Ha-ah!¡±

    He froze, shocked that no words came out.

    The Ahyeol point had effectively muted him.

    Su-ho didn¡¯t respond to his pitiful attempts.

    Instead, he shed a kind smile and left the visitation room.

    Kim Geon followed closely behind.

    Su-ho checked the time. Less than an hour had passed.

    Next, they headed toward the room where Kim Goong-won was waiting.

    The visitation room was filled with smoke when Su-ho entered.

    Kim Goong-won jumped to his feet.

    ¡°Well, it looks like it worked.¡±

    Su-ho nced around the smoke-filled room.

    ¡®Shouldn¡¯t have left him cigarettes.¡¯

    The ce resembled a roon den.

    Using mana, Su-ho gathered the smoke into a dense ball and dispelled it.

    The table before Kim Goong-won was covered in sheets of paper.

    He must have poured every ounce of his memory into writing them down, desperate to survive.

    ¡°Finished?¡± Su-ho asked.

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve written almost everything.¡±

    Su-ho skimmed through the pages before tucking them into his coat.

    These documents were meant for Prosecutor Kim Seung-hwan.

    Although the drugs themselves fell under the Special Division¡¯s jurisdiction, the clients were mostly civilians¡ªperfect targets for prosecution.

    Su-ho continued.

    ¡°Done reflecting yet?¡±

    ¡°Yes, a lot.¡±

    ¡°Then I have one more job for you.¡±

    ¡°...A job?¡±

    ¡°What, don¡¯t want to do it?¡±

    ¡°No, no! I was just curious what it might be.¡±

    ¡°You know Yun Hyun-chul, right?¡±

    ¡°Yun Hyun-chul¡­ You mean the Hidden Dragon?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the one. Starting tomorrow, he¡¯s going to take charge of Cheongok. Your job is to be hisckey.¡±

    ¡°Wait, what? That guy? He¡¯s a loner who doesn¡¯t bother anyone unless provoked.¡±

    ¡°We made a deal. So from now on¡­¡±

    Su-hoid out the details of Kim Goong-won¡¯s new role.

    Before leaving, he issued a warning:

    ¡°Don¡¯t even think about taking advantage of this. If I catch you cking off or trying to exploit the situation, you¡¯ll regret it.¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir! I understand!¡±

    Kim Goong-won¡¯s voice was unusually loud.

    It was understandable.

    Su-ho had just handed him the key to survival in Cheongok.

    As Su-ho turned to leave, Kim Goong-won hesitated before speaking.

    ¡°Uh, one thing¡­¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ You might not know this, but Yun Hyun-chul isn¡¯t the only strong one in Cheongok. There¡¯s someone just as powerful¡­¡±

    His voice trailed off, wary.

    ¡®He must mean Jo Gwang-ho.¡¯

    Su-ho smirked.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about him. I¡¯ve already dealt with it.¡±

    ¡°...You mean Jo Gwang-ho?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. I¡¯ll check in at the end of the month, so have your reports ready.¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir!¡±

    With that, Su-ho¡¯s business in Cheongok wasplete.

    He nodded to Kim Geon, and the two left the facility.

    Warden Kim Gil-yeon escorted them to the exit.

    Before climbing into the passenger seat, Kim Geon pped Kim Gil-yeon on the shoulder.

    ¡°Good work today. Remember, no matter what, don¡¯t acknowledge me if we cross paths again. Got it?¡±

    ¡°Yes, understood.¡±

    ¡°From now on, I¡¯ll be the one handling visits.¡±

    Kim Geon¡¯s words prompted a slight nod from Su-ho.

    Warden Kim Gil-yeon returned the gesture with a smile as Su-ho¡¯s car departed.

    As they drove away from Cheongok, Kim Geon reverted to his original appearance.

    ¡°Good work,¡± Su-ho said.

    ¡°You worked harder than I did, Team Leader.¡±

    Su-ho chuckled at Kim Geon¡¯s humble response.

    ¡°You were convincing for your first mission.¡±

    ¡°I just followed orders.¡±

    ¡°Any questions?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­¡±

    Kim Geon hesitated before asking cautiously, ¡°Are you sure this is okay?¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Impersonating the Special Division Chief.¡±

    Su-houghed.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. Warden Kim is a cautious man who avoids unnecessary risks. He¡¯ll handle it discreetly.¡±

    ¡°I see.¡±

    ¡°Honestly, I thought you¡¯d ask about something else.¡±

    ¡°Like what?¡±

    ¡°The inmates we met today.¡±

    ¡°Should I be curious about them?¡±

    Su-houghed again.

    ¡°Fair point.¡±

    ¡°I read somewhere that curiosity can lead to misery. I¡¯m finally close to happiness and don¡¯t want to lose it again.¡±

    ¡°Good mindset.¡±

    ¡°I trust you, Team Leader. You saved me and my brother.¡±

    ¡°Great attitude. Now let¡¯s head back to Seoul.¡±

    ¡°Want me to drive?¡±

    ¡°You can drive?¡±

    ¡°I got my license as soon as I turned eighteen. Back in the day, I even owned two cars. I¡¯m not tired in suit mode, so I can handle it.¡±

    ¡°Go ahead.¡±

    They pulled over to switch seats before continuing their journey to Seoul.

    ***

    After dropping off Kim Geon in Paju, Su-ho began his drive back to the safehouse.

    ¡®I still have a few days left.¡¯

    The leave granted by Pi Seong-yeol was for about a week.

    In just one day, Su-ho had wrapped up the matters with Son Baek-geum, Kim Seung-hwan, and the business in Cheongok Prison.

    The added bonus was his reassignment to the Gate Division, achieved through his media y.

    Now, only a few minor tasks remained.

    Su-ho was determined to make the most of the remaining six days.

    ¡®I¡¯ll spend all six days diving into Gates.¡¯

    Without dy, Su-ho picked up his phone and made a call.

    ¡°Ah~ Su-ho! Long time no see!¡±

    The call was answered almost instantly. The person on the other end was Choi Yoon, a Gate broker affiliated with Union.

    If Su-ho nned to focus on Gates for the next six days, Choi Yoon¡¯s assistance would be essential.

    Su-ho got straight to the point.

    ¡°I need ess to some Gates. Do you have any listings avable?¡±

    ¡°Ugh, is that all you have to say after calling me for the first time in ages?¡±

    ¡°What else would I say?¡±

    ¡°You could at least ask how I¡¯ve been! I know everything about you from the news, but it wouldn¡¯t hurt to exchange pleasantries, you know.¡±

    ¡°You know about me from the news, so there¡¯s no need. Now, about the listings?¡±

    ¡°Still as stiff as ever, aren¡¯t you? What kind of Gates are you looking for?¡±

    ¡°I have a few requirements. First, I need Gates that leave no trace and are ideal for leveling up. Difficulty doesn¡¯t matter, but the monsters should be 1-star or higher.¡±

    ¡°1-star or higher¡­ You really don¡¯t care about the difficulty?¡±

    ¡°Not at all.¡±

    ¡°Well, I can think of a few options. But there might be entry restrictions. What¡¯s your current level?¡±

    ¡°75.¡±

    ¡°In that case, I have three thate to mind. Are you in Seoul right now? Should I find something close by?¡±

    ¡°Location doesn¡¯t matter. Even if it¡¯s far, I¡¯ll take all three.¡±

    ¡°Wow, someone¡¯s got deep pockets. Alright, when do you want to start?¡±

    ¡°Immediately.¡±

    ¡°Geez, what¡¯s the rush? Are you running from something?¡±

    ¡°I just want to clear as many as I can while I have time. So, can I start now?¡±

    ¡°You can, but it¡¯ste, so there¡¯ll be a nighttime surcharge.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s fine.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re no fun, you know that? Any other preferences?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m looking for Gates rted to dragons, vampires, poison, or full moons.¡±

    ¡°What kind of theme is that? Pretty specific, huh?¡±

    ¡°Do you have any that match?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ Actually, there¡¯s one that fits both your initial requirements and the themed ones, but it¡¯s a bit far. Is that okay?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s fine.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll text you the address. Come quickly.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    As expected of Choi Yoon.

    The moment their call ended, Su-ho received a text with the address.

    He input the location into his GPS, turned the car around, and headed straight there.

 Chapter 119

    It was far.

    The Gate Su-ho had been introduced to this time was located in Sejong.

    After arriving at Bihaksan Mountain, Su-ho pinpointed the exact location of the Gate through a phone call with Choi Yoon. Not long after, he met with Choi Yoon, who had arrived ahead of him.

    ¡°Over here, here!¡±

    Choi Yoon wasn¡¯t alone.

    He was with the owner of the Bihaksan Gate, a group that felt distinctly different from the Bang Dueok gang Su-ho had dealt with before.

    The Gate owner, Kim Won-hu, let out a dry chuckle as he saw Su-ho approaching.

    ¡°Well, damn¡­ You¡¯re actually An Su-ho?¡±

    Choi Yoon had informed him in advance that the buyer was An Su-ho.

    Previously, when Choi failed to mention Su-ho¡¯s name, a certain someone (Bang Dueok) had developed unwanted thoughts, leading to problems.

    Kim Won-hu extended his hand for a handshake.

    ¡°I¡¯m Kim Won-hu. You might have already heard, but when I heard you were the buyer, I wanted to propose selling the entire Gate outright instead of just entrance tickets. What do you think?¡±

    An outright sale.

    This meant handing over ownership of the entire Gate.

    Usually, private Gate owners would sell tickets to extract as much profit as possible, but because Su-ho was the buyer, Kim Won-hu wanted to sell it all at once.

    In his mind, Su-ho would clear the Gate anyway.

    Su-ho nodded and replied, ¡°If the price is reasonable, I¡¯ll buy it.¡±

    ¡°How much are you offering?¡±

    ¡°That depends. Shouldn¡¯t the seller set the price first?¡±

    ¡°Fine. Ten tickets'' worth. I need to make something out of this too.¡±

    ¡°Ten tickets, huh¡­¡±

    Ten tickets meant 1 billion won.

    Hearing the amount, Su-houghed.

    ¡°1 billion? Is that someone¡¯s pet name or what?¡±

    ¡°How about 100 million instead?¡±

    ¡°¡­100 million? Did I hear that right?¡±

    ¡°You heard correctly. You might think 1 billion is fair to recoup your costs, but this Gate isn¡¯t worth that much. I¡¯ll propose another condition.¡±

    ¡°Another condition?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll leave all the monster byproducts inside to you.¡±

    ¡°Hmm?¡±

    It was simple.

    Why would Su-ho pay 1 billion won just to clear a Gate when he could challenge a Virus Dungeon instead?

    The difference was in the experience points.

    The monsters in Virus Dungeons matched the yer¡¯s level, which made leveling up inefficient despite the time investment.

    ¡®Since both sides are at the same level, it takes too much time for the same amount of experience.¡¯

    Su-ho was currently a No-star Awakened, but his skills and power were already above 1-star. Even if it cost a bit of money, clearing Gates was a far more efficient method.

    That said, Su-ho wasn¡¯t about to throw money away recklessly.

    In his past life, Su-ho had more wealth than he could ever spend. But in this life, he wasn¡¯t there yet.

    ¡®But that doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯ll act like a bandit.¡¯

    Sure, he could just kill everyone here and take over the Gate once or twice.

    But if he kept solving things that way, no one would trust Choi Yoon to handle their Gates anymore.

    ¡®They¡¯d hide their Gates and trade them secretly instead.¡¯

    Even if Choi Yoon was affiliated with Union, a broker with the highest trust rating in the country, trust could easily be lost.

    In the long run, such actions had to be avoided.

    Money could always be earned, but unofficial Gates that left no traces were too difficult to locate alone¡ªeven for a regressor like Su-ho.

    So, he proposed an alternative.

    Kim Won-hu rubbed his chin for a moment, then nodded.

    ¡°You know what kind of Gate this is, right?¡±

    ¡°No idea.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll regret it once you find out.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not concerned. Just grant me exclusive rights to the boss monster.¡±

    ¡°For 100 million?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case¡­ Alright. But we won¡¯t help you at all inside, you know that, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Don¡¯t help me under any circumstances.¡±

    The deal was struck.

    Choi Yoon, stunned that Su-ho hadpleted the negotiations without consulting him, pulled Su-ho aside.

    ¡°What are you doing right now?¡±

    ¡°Negotiating.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I got that part, but don¡¯t you think this is a terrible deal for you?¡±@@novelbin@@

    ¡°Paying 1 billion would have been worse.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a Werewolf Gate. The ce will be swarming with wolves. Do you have any idea how expensive Werewolf hides are?¡±

    Werewolves.

    And their valuable hides.

    It wasn¡¯t just their hides, either.

    Their heads, teeth, and ws were all worth a fortune.

    But so what?

    ¡°I¡¯m here for experience points, not for byproducts,¡± Su-ho said coldly.

    ¡°Seriously¡­¡±

    ¡°From now on, I want all my deals handled like this. With minimal costs.¡±

    ¡°I swear, this is insane¡­¡±

    ¡°Is it unreasonable? They agreed, didn¡¯t they?¡±

    ¡°Well, no, but¡­ Ugh, whatever. I¡¯ve never seen a deal like this before. Just remember: this kind of arrangement only works because you¡¯re An Su-ho.¡±

    Normally, Gate sellers wouldn¡¯t apany buyers into the Gate.

    If the buyer failed to clear it, not only would the seller lose their investment, but they might end up dead as well.

    But Su-ho was different.

    Officially and unofficially, he had already solo-cleared multiple sealed Gates.

    There was no reason not to trust him.

    At that moment, Kim Won-hu spoke up.

    ¡°Give us an hour. This was unexpected, so we need time to gather our team and equipment for harvesting.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    Considering the short notice, an hour was reasonable.

    Su-ho decided to use that time to take a quick nap.

    Walking toward his car, Su-ho said, ¡°I¡¯m going to rest for a bit. Wake me up when you¡¯re ready. It¡¯s fine if you go a little over an hour.¡±

    ¡°Seriously¡­¡±

    Su-ho reclined the passenger seat,id back, and quickly fell asleep.

    ***

    When Su-ho opened his eyes, two hours had passed.

    ¡°Unbelievable.¡±

    Did none of them have experience functioning in society?

    He had said it was fine to go a little over an hour, not nearly two hours.

    Still, he had already spoken those words, so Su-ho simply stood up withoutining further.

    ¡°Haha, I¡¯m sorry¡­ Preparing everything on such short notice took longer than we expected.¡±

    It was Kim Won-hu, apologizing with a sheepish expression.

    Fine.

    He had apologized, so that was enough.

    If he had acted shamelessly instead, Su-ho would have genuinely been irritated.

    Su-ho nodded as he replied, ¡°It¡¯s fine. My proposal was sudden, after all. So, are we ready now?¡±

    ¡°Yes. We¡¯re all set.¡±

    A quick nce confirmed they had indeed prepared thoroughly.

    Kim Won-hu had filled the Gate¡¯s maximum entry capacity entirely with harvesters.

    Not a singlebatant was in sight.

    Su-ho asked casually, ¡°There aren¡¯t anybatants. Aren¡¯t you trusting me a bit too much?¡±

    ¡°Who else would citizens trust if not a public servant?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s true.¡±

    ¡®If only people trusted public servants this much all the time¡­¡¯

    With that, Su-ho reached out and touched the Gate.

    [ You are entering the Gate. ]

    [ Loading Gate information. ]

    [ Full Moon Forest ]

    <ul>

    <li>Entry Requirement: Level 99 or below.</li>

    <li>Maximum Entry Capacity: 16 people.</li>

    </ul>

    The Gate was called Full Moon Forest.

    Su-ho had never entered it before, but he had heard of it.

    Without much thought, he stepped into the Gate.

    Kim Won-hu¡¯s group followed closely behind, filing into the Gate one after another.

    ***

    The moment Su-ho passed through the Gate portal, a thick darkness enveloped the surroundings.

    The Gate¡¯s name was clearly Full Moon Forest, yet there wasn¡¯t even a hint of moonlight. It was quite strange.

    ¡®It¡¯s because of the clouds.¡¯

    Looking up, Su-ho noticed the sky waspletely overcast.

    The clouds obscured the moonlight, preventing it from shining down on the world.

    No matter.

    Even if the ce was draped in darkness, it posed no obstacle to Su-ho.

    [ Due to the Original Vampire effect, you are unaffected by darkness restrictions. ]

    Seeing the skill notification, Su-ho smirked.

    It once again reminded him that vampire blood flowed through his veins.

    ¡®Royal blood or not, can I truly call myself a vampire when crosses, silver, and even garlic don¡¯t harm me?¡¯

    Well, who cares?

    As long as the system ssified him as a vampire, that was enough.

    Summoning his Blood Weapon, Su-ho turned to Kim Won-hu.

    ¡°Everyone, stay put for now. Start working only when I give the signal. While I did hand over the rights to the monster parts, I never promised to guarantee all of your safety.¡±

    ¡°We understand. It¡¯s not like we brought a bunch of clueless fools either. You should take care of yourself, though.¡±

    ¡°Sure. Let¡¯s get started then. You¡¯ll need to pick up the pace.¡±

    After finishing his words, Su-ho pulled several arrows out of his inventory and nted them in the ground.

    Then, he summoned a Blood Bow in his left hand.

    It wasn¡¯t the usual Blood Sword¡ªthis time, Su-ho had summoned a Blood Bow.

    Su-ho fitted one of the arrows into the bowstring, which instantly ignited as if by magic.

    The arrowhead burst into mes, burning brightly.

    Kim Won-hu¡¯s eyes widened in shock.

    ¡°H-Hey? What are you¡ª?¡±

    ¡°Here we go.¡±

    Whoosh!

    Su-ho fired the ming arrow.

    The zing arrow arced gracefully through the air, embedding itself into the forest beyond.

    As soon as itnded, the mes spread rapidly, consuming the surrounding leaves and foliage, growingrger by the second.

    ¡°Nice, it¡¯s working well.¡±

    The arrows Su-ho used were specially crafted fire arrows purchased externally.

    The arrows ignited in response to magic, requiring no oil, and their enhancedbustion properties allowed them to spread fire easily with just the right catalyst.

    Without hesitation, Su-ho fired another arrow, then another.

    Within moments, the surrounding area was engulfed in mes.

    Kim Won-hu stared in disbelief, his eyes bulging.

    ¡°W-What are you doing?!¡±

    ¡°Wolf hunting.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t this a werewolf Gate? We¡¯re here to hunt wolves. I didn¡¯te here to y around. You took two hours to prepare when you said it¡¯d take one. Time¡¯s short now.¡±

    ¡°N-No! Even so, setting the whole ce on fire¡ª!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s why I told you to stick close. Now, the werewolves will flee from the fire. We¡¯ll cut them down as they appear. Oh, and don¡¯t worry¡ªI¡¯ll extinguish any mes thate our way, so just follow me closely. At least you won¡¯t burn to death.¡±

    ¡°W-What kind of nonsense is this?!¡±

    Smiling, Su-ho¡¯s eyes gleamed sharply.

    At that moment, a skill activated.

    [ Mana Detection has been activated. ]

    The upgraded Mana Detection skill allowed him to sense a broader range of mana.

    Monsters, no matter how well they suppressed their power, couldn¡¯t hide their uniquely murky mana.

    And with the forest now aze, they would be even easier to spot.

    ¨C Kyaaaaaang!

    There you are.

    Hearing the faint howls, Su-ho summoned a Blood Spear and threw it in the direction of the sound.

    Crash!

    [ You have in a Werewolf. ]

    One shot, one kill!

    The hunt was off to a great start.

    Summoning his Blood Sword, Su-ho dashed forward, heading straight into the firelit forest.

    The Hunt Continues

    [ You have in a Werewolf. ]

    [ You have in a Werewolf. ]

    [ You have in a Werewolf. ]

    [ You have in a Werewolf. ]

    The ughter continued without pause.

    The mes Su-ho had set spread relentlessly, consuming the forest like an unstoppable wildfire.

    The werewolves, panicking at the sudden cmity, scattered in all directions¡ªstraight to their deaths.

    Kim Won-hu, frantically keeping up behind Su-ho, looped ropes around the werewolf corpses to im them, tying them to his waist as he ran.

    ¡®This lunatic¡­!¡¯

    What else could describe Su-ho?

    He fought like a madman, ran like a madman, and controlled the fire like a madman.

    For a long while, Su-ho rampaged through Full Moon Forest, shing through werewolves left and right.

    The Full Moon Appears

    [ The moonlight watches over the forest. ]

    Suddenly, a system message appeared.

    At the same time, the dense clouds parted, revealing the bright, radiant full moon hanging in the night sky.

    The moonlight bathed the entire Full Moon Forest, and wherever it touched, the mes extinguished as if smothered.

    ¨C Awooooooooo!!

    [ The Boss Monster has appeared. ]

    The master of the forest had finally shown itself.

 Chapter 120

    ¡°Here ites.¡±

    At the top of a high hill.

    Basking in the moonlight, the creature appeared. It was farrger than the werewolves Su-ho had encountered so far, and its fur shimmered silver rather than the typical brown.

    The werewolf-like creature stood upright, a ssic bipedal form, ring down at Su-ho with glowing red eyes.

    Su-ho spoke up.

    ¡°I mentioned this before.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±@@novelbin@@

    ¡°I¡¯m not obligated to protect you. If you don¡¯t want to get caught up in the boss fight, you¡¯d better get as far away as possible.¡±

    The mes had died down, and most of the werewolves had been eliminated.

    Now, only the boss remained. If they wanted to survive, they needed to run far away, as the boss¡¯s mobility meant the entire scorched forest could be a battlefield.

    ¡°E-Everyone, scatter! Form teams of three and move out!¡±

    To make it easier for them to flee, Su-ho deliberately walked toward the boss monster.

    The Silver Lycanthrope¡¯s piercing gaze followed Su-ho, recognizing him as the primary threat rather than the fleeing stragglers.

    The distance between them closed gradually.

    Suddenly, the Silver Lycanthrope leaped from the cliff,nding with a resounding crash.

    ¨C Awooooo!!

    [ The Silver Lycanthrope lets out a fearsome howl. ]

    [ A Boss Monster-grade Fear effect has been triggered. ]

    So, its name was Silver Lycanthrope.

    ¡®What azy name.¡¯

    Whether they were called werewolves or lycanthropes, the two were essentially the same. However, some Gates assigned greater significance to lycanthropes over werewolves.

    The Silver Lycanthrope, having leaped from the cliff, dashed toward Su-ho at an incredible speed.

    Its movements, reflecting the moonlight, gave it an oddly elegant, almost mesmerizing appearance, with its silver mane leaving a shimmering trail.

    As the creature entered his range, Su-ho saw its name disyed above its head.

    ¨C Silver Lycanthrope, Lv. 132

    A high level.

    Good.

    High levels meant more experience points.

    Su-ho dismissed his Blood Bow and summoned his Blood Sword, gripping it tightly.

    With a sharp motion, he drew the de back and shed forward with explosive force.

    [ Cloud Slice has been activated. ]

    The de extended into a wave, surging toward the Silver Lycanthrope.

    But the attack nevernded.

    The moment the strike was released, the Lycanthrope leaped effortlessly into the air, dodging the attack.

    Its movements were so fluid and natural that Su-ho couldn¡¯t help but smirk.

    ¡°Just as I thought.¡±

    It was, after all, a Lycanthrope.

    If it couldn¡¯t dodge a simple sh, it wasn¡¯t worthy of the name.

    As the Lycanthropended, Su-ho released his grip on the sword¡¯s hilt.

    A dark rod rose from the ground, finding its way into his hand.

    The Ghost Spear, one of Su-ho¡¯s summoned weapons.

    Without hesitation, Su-ho hurled the spear at the descending Lycanthrope.

    [ Spear Throw has been activated. ]

    The upgraded Ghost Spear streaked toward the creature with deadly precision.

    The Silver Lycanthrope¡¯s glowing eyes widened slightly in shock¡ªit hadn¡¯t anticipated this move.

    Trapped mid-air, there was no way to evade.

    Crash!

    The Ghost Spear pierced the Lycanthrope, driving through its silver hide and twisting its body in mid-air.

    Without wasting a moment, Su-ho dashed forward.

    This wasn¡¯t some turn-based RPG.

    There was no reason to wait for the enemy¡¯s counterattack.

    Reaching out, Su-ho recalled the Blood Sword, which reappeared in his hand.

    The gap between them closed in an instant.

    The Lycanthrope snarled, twisting its body and raising its ws to strike back, but it was futile.

    Gripping the Blood Sword with both hands, Su-ho swung it upward like an axe.

    [ Steel sh has been activated. ]

    Swish!

    The de carved a diagonal line, leaving a shimmering, silver-red wave in its wake.

    A deep wound appeared on the Lycanthrope¡¯s body, splitting its shadow into two.

    The first to fall was its severed arm.

    ¡®As expected of a Silver Lycanthrope.¡¯

    The boss¡¯s reflexes were exceptional.

    Su-ho had aimed for its neck, but the Lycanthrope twisted at thest moment, minimizing the damage.

    Landing awkwardly, the creature spun twice mid-air before touching down gracefully, almost as if it belonged in a superhero movie.

    ¨C Grrrrrr¡­

    ¡°Impressive.¡±

    Even with only one arm remaining, the Lycanthrope maintained its bnce, refusing to copse.

    Still, a boss was a boss.

    Prodding the severed arm with the tip of his sword, Su-ho lifted it.

    ¡°You¡¯re not taking this?¡±

    ¨C Grrrrrrr!!

    A slight taunt.

    The effect was immediate.

    The Silver Lycanthrope bristled, its fur standing on end as its red eyes burned with fury.

    [ The Silver Lycanthrope enters a state of intense rage. ]

    [ Empowered by the full moon, the Silver Lycanthrope¡¯s strength increases significantly. ]

    It seemed the injuries and humiliation had pushed it into its Phase 2.

    ¡°Good. The sooner you start Phase 2, the better.¡±

    Most monsters at 1-star and above had a second phase, and the Silver Lycanthrope was no exception.

    As its second phase began, the creature grewrger, its mane bing even more lustrous and full.

    Su-ho acted immediately.

    This wasn¡¯t a kids¡¯ show where the viin patiently waited for the hero to transform.

    While the Lycanthrope shifted phases, Su-ho closed the distance and swung his de again.

    [ Steel sh has been activated. ]

    This time, the silver-red wave struck true, severing the creature¡¯s neck cleanly.

    Thud. Roll¡­

    The Lycanthrope¡¯s head tumbled to the ground, followed by a fountain of blood.

    Momentster, its massive body copsed, first onto its knees, then fully forward.

    [ You have in the Silver Lycanthrope. ]

    [ The Gate has been cleared. ]

    [ MVP of the Gate Clear: Su-ho Ahn. ]

    [ Additional experience points awarded for MVP. ]

    [ Bonus stat point awarded for MVP. ]

    [ Your level has increased. ]

    [ All stats have increased by 1. ]

    [ You have gained 1 bonus stat point. ]

    As the system messages flooded in, Su-ho flicked the Blood Sword, sending the blood sttered on its de flying.

    A new notification appeared.

    [ The Ghost Spear reacts to the Silver Lycanthrope¡¯s shadow. ]

    [ The Ghost Spear absorbs the Silver Lycanthrope¡¯s shadow. ]

    ¡°Take your share. You earned it.¡±

    While the Ghost Spear devoured its spoils, Su-ho opened his status window.

    [ Su-ho Ahn ]

    ¨C Level: 79

    ¨C ss: Healer

    ¨C Traits: £¼New Blood£¾ £¼Candidate of Hercules£¾

    ¨C Strength (O): 5

    ¨C Stamina (R): 41

    ¨C Mana (R): 42

    ¨C Perception (R): 41

    ¨C Bonus Stats: 5

    Four levels gained.

    Five bonus stats earned.

    Not a bad haul for one night¡¯s work, especially since the cost had only been 1 billion won.

    Su-ho invested all five bonus stat points into Stamina.

    By then, the Ghost Spear had finished its meal.

    [ The Ghost Spear has been strengthened. ]

    [ The Ghost Spear has fully absorbed the Silver Lycanthrope¡¯s shadow. ]

    No visible changes yet, but that was expected since its third awakening had urred not too long ago.

    ¡°Is it¡­ over?¡±

    Kim Won-hu approached hesitantly, his subordinates following behind him.

    Seeing the Silver Lycanthrope¡¯s lifeless body, Su-ho gestured with his chin.

    ¡°As you can see.¡±

    ¡°You¡­ really cleared the boss on your own.¡±

    ¡°Of course. If you find another Gate like this, contact me through Broker Choi Yoon. If you notify me before you start selling passes, the opening costs will be much lower.¡±

    ¡°I understand, but¡­¡±

    Kim Won-hu¡¯s gaze lingered on the Silver Lycanthrope¡¯s corpse, his eyes filled with greed.

    Noticing this, Su-ho smirked.

    ¡°What? You want it?¡±

    ¡°W-What?¡±

    ¡°The body. I¡¯ve already taken the important parts, but the hide is mostly intact. If you want it, I¡¯ll sell it to you.¡±

    ¡°You would?¡±

    ¡°For 1 billion won. A 1-star boss monster¡¯s hide is worth far more if processed correctly, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±

    Of course.

    There¡¯s no such thing as a free deal in this world.

    Still, Su-ho¡¯s proposal wasn¡¯t bad. The cleanup was efficient, and the job was handled cleanly.

    Kim Won-hu deliberated for a moment before nodding.

    ¡°Let¡¯s do it.¡±

    ¡°Great. Then take it with you and head out first. Transfer the payment to Broker Choi Yoon.¡±

    ¡°What about you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve got some unfinished business here.¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­ Got it. But there are still some carcasses we haven¡¯t collected yet, so we¡¯ll head out shortly after wrapping that up.¡±

    ¡°Go ahead.¡±

    A satisfactory transaction.

    Everything was tied up neatly. Even after ounting for themission to Choi Yoon, it was still a profitable arrangement.

    Kim Won-hu and his group scattered to gather the remaining werewolf carcasses.

    Su-ho tilted his head upward and looked at the sky.

    The moonlight was exceptionally clear.

    The full moon, which had appeared alongside the Silver Lycanthrope, had now pushed away the clouds, illuminating the forest like a second sun.

    ¡®This is why I came here first.¡¯

    Su-ho had chosen this location because one of the requests he had made to Choi Yoon included something rted to the moon.

    Still gazing at the moonlight, Su-ho pulled a scroll, the Seogohwa, from his inventory.

    The seemingly ordinary scroll shimmered under the moonlight.

    [ The moonlight is abundant. ]

    [ The gates of the Seogohwa are opening. ]

    [ Would you like to enter the Martial Library? ]

    A prompt appeared, asking Su-ho for confirmation.

    The answer, of course, was yes.

    The moment Su-ho affirmed, his body was pulled into the scroll.

    ***

    [ You have entered the Martial Library. ]

    No gate notification appeared.

    Perhaps it was because this wasn¡¯t his first time here?

    Nothing seemed to have changed.

    Before him stood a towering stone pagoda, and just like before, Su-ho began to climb it.

    The ascent of the pagoda was quick.

    The first journey might have felt long, but once a path has been walked, it always feels shorter the next time.

    The moment Su-ho stepped onto the Seogopyeong, the t summit of the pagoda¡ª

    Whoosh!

    An arrow shot toward him.

    Of course.

    It seemed that being a returning visitor didn¡¯te with any special privileges.

    Su-ho immediately activated a skill.

    [ Mana Detection has been activated. ]

    Su-ho chose to view the situation positively.

    Where else could he train his mana detection skills?

    He deftly avoided the iing automated attacks and weed the Martial Library¡¯s intense greeting.

    After dodging for some time¡ª

    Crack! Boom!

    The sound of something breaking echoed, and the mechanical system ceased its operation.

    Then¡ª

    Thud!

    A massive iron pir emerged before him.

    Simultaneously¡ª

    Screeeeech¡ª

    Limbs extended from the iron pir, revealing the form of the library¡¯s guardian.

    It was a Mokuzan.

    [ A boss monster has appeared. ]

 Chapter 122

    Arriving at the Korean Hunter Association parking lot, Su-ho sprayed a liquid onto the original bribe ledger before stepping out of the car.

    Ssss...

    The liquid hissed as it soaked into the ledger, leaving no visible changes on the outside.

    However, the moment a specific keyword set by the creator was triggered, the text would alter exactly as Su-ho intended.

    ¡®With this, I can erase Park Gyu-min¡¯s name at a critical moment.¡¯

    This was a specially prepared item, designed specifically for today.

    With preparationsplete, Su-ho headed to the office of Pi Seong-ryeol, the Special Division¡¯s chief. Upon knocking, Pi Seong-ryeol greeted him warmly.

    After exchanging polite greetings, Su-ho handed over the bribe ledger he had secured from Sohn Baek-geum.

    ¡°Good work.¡±

    ¡°It was nothing.¡±

    Pi Seong-ryeol took the ledger, skimmed through the contents, and, upon confirming the expected names, smiled faintly. Closing the ledger, he looked up at Su-ho.

    ¡°Did you take a look?¡±

    ¡°Pardon?¡±

    ¡°The contents of this. Did you check it?¡±

    ¡°No, I didn¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t lie. Whether you saw it or not, it doesn¡¯t really matter. But don¡¯t tell me you actually didn¡¯t look.¡±

    ¡°I really didn¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°Fine, let¡¯s say you didn¡¯t.¡±

    Why ask if you¡¯re not going to believe me?

    Pi Seong-ryeol smirked and casually tossed the ledger onto the table. Crossing his legs and cing his hands on his knees, he spoke again.

    ¡°You saw the news, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I did.¡±

    ¡°So, here¡¯s the deal. You¡¯re going to spend some time in the Gate Division.¡±

    The inevitable had arrived.

    Su-ho, already expecting this, feigned surprise.

    ¡°The Gate Division¡­ sir?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t like it?¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s not that. I¡¯m just curious¡ªwhy the Gate Division?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s under my purview. That¡¯s why.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    ¡°Feeling upset?¡±

    ¡°No, sir.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t take it too hard. Public sentiment is what it is. The association president is keeping a close eye on this. Just spend a little time there ande back. Later, I¡¯ll use the excuse of rotational duty to bring you back. Oh, by the way, your supervisor there will be Team Leader Jeong Cheol-min.¡±

    Pi Seong-ryeol smiled brightly.

    ¡°Oh, really?¡±

    ¡°Look how happy you are. This cement is entirely my doing. So stay there for a bit and thene back. Where else would a talent like you work if not in the Special Division?¡±

    ¡°Thank you, sir.¡±

    ¡°Speaking of which, here.¡±

    Pi Seong-ryeol walked over to his desk and brought back a small box.

    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±

    ¡°Open it. A gift tomemorate the end of your probation.¡±

    ¡°Ah, thank you.¡±

    Inside the box was a handkerchief, from a luxury brand no less.

    Su-ho smiled.

    ¡°A handkerchief. I was thinking about getting a new one anyway. Thank you, I¡¯ll use it well.¡±

    ¡°Do you always carry a handkerchief?¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir. I always take one with me when I go out.¡±

    ¡°Ha! Even more gentlemanly than I thought. A true gentleman should always carry a handkerchief.¡±

    That talk about being a gentleman again.

    In truth, Su-ho didn¡¯t carry handkerchiefs. Everything he said was tailored to Pi Seong-ryeol¡¯s tastes.

    ¡®I got one of these in my past life too. Same spiel about it being a gentleman¡¯s essential.¡¯

    It wasn¡¯t just Su-ho who received a handkerchief. For Pi Seong-ryeol, they were a sort of mark, a way of saying, I¡¯m watching out for you.

    In his ignorance back then, Su-ho had once been delighted to receive it.

    ¡®I must have been insane.¡¯

    As Su-ho tucked the handkerchief into his coat, Pi Seong-ryeol pulled out an envelope.

    ¡°Take this too.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±

    ¡°Just a little spending money.¡±

    ¡°Spending money?¡±

    ¡°We had ns for a small award ceremony to honor the youngest-ever perfect scorer in the association¡¯s history, but public opinion being what it is, everything got scrapped. Even the association president is disappointed. I¡¯m sure you were expecting some recognition too, but¡­ well, this is how it turned out.¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­¡±

    It made sense.

    With Su-ho¡¯s record-breaking performance, the association likely nned to give him amendation for excellence in training.

    Frankly, it was a relief.

    From Su-ho¡¯s perspective, thest thing he wanted was a cumbersome ceremony.

    ¡°The training period officially ends today, right? Finish it off well. Starting tomorrow, report directly to the Gate Division.¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir. Thank you.¡±

    ¡°Good. Keep calling me ¡®senior¡¯ whenever we meet, okay? Officially, though, you know the drill.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I understand.¡±

    ¡°Alright, off you go. You¡¯ll get your official employee ID from Team Leader Jeong tomorrow.¡±

    Pi Seong-ryeol, seemingly reluctant to see Su-ho go, offered a few final words of encouragement.

    As Su-ho left the Special Division office, he thought to himself:

    ¡®It¡¯s finally over.¡¯

    Or rather, the time for lying low was over.

    Tomorrow marked the official end of his probationary period and the start of his career as a full-fledged civil servant under the Korean Hunter Association.

    ¡®Before officially reporting in, there¡¯s someone I need to meet.¡¯

    One unresolved matter that absolutely couldn¡¯t be postponed any longer.

    Getting into his car, Su-ho began driving toward his destination.

    ***

    Afterpleting his preparations, Su-ho traveled to Seoul Station and boarded a train heading for Daejeon. Upon arriving at Daejeon Station, he took a taxi to his destination.

    ¡®Thanks to Reverse Morphology, moving around is so much easier now.¡¯

    Before boarding the train, Su-ho altered his appearance. This allowed him to avoid changing clothes or using the First Silent Shadow technique. Nobody recognized him.

    Stepping out of the taxi, Su-ho entered an office located in Yuseong District, Daejeon.@@novelbin@@

    ¡°Excuse me.¡±

    ¡°Who are you?¡±

    ¡°Is this On-gang Cash?¡±

    ¡°Yes, it is. Are you here to borrow money?¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯m here to purchase a debt.¡±

    ¡°A debt?¡±

    ¡°Yes, the debt belonging to Lee Dal-won. It¡¯s held here, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°Lee Dal-won... let me check. Yes, we hold that debt. Who are you?¡±

    Lee Dal-won was the husband of Yoon Hyun-hee, the younger sister of Yoon Hyun-chul. Currently, he was drowning in loan shark debt after failing in two business ventures. This was why Su-ho hade.

    ¡°I¡¯m just someone who knows him. Anyway, I¡¯d like to buy that debt. Can you sell it to me?¡±

    ¡°Well, as long as you¡¯re willing to pay, we can talk. Why don¡¯t you take a seat?¡±

    The owner of On-gang Cash, Hwang On-gang, rose from his chair and gestured for Su-ho to sit. Another employee brought tea while a different staff member retrieved Lee Dal-won¡¯s debt documents.

    Su-ho nced over the papers and remarked, ¡°The principal is 40 million won, and the interest is 80 million?¡±

    ¡°Yes. The payments were dyed repeatedly, so the amount ballooned. Still, it¡¯s not apletely unrecoverable debt.¡±

    In other words, Hwang was implying there would be no discounts.

    Su-ho nodded and pulled a paper bag from his inventory, handing it over.

    ¡°Here¡¯s the 40 million for the principal.¡±

    ¡°What about the 80 million in interest?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s illegal interest. Based on the records, the amount he¡¯s already paid in interest far exceeds the legal limit. I won¡¯t pay that.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    The atmosphere in the office instantly grew tense.

    The previously friendly expression on Hwang On-gang¡¯s face darkened.

    But Su-ho¡¯s tone remained calm.

    ¡°I¡¯m busy. Let¡¯s wrap this up quickly.¡±

    ¡°Hah! Are you kidding me?¡±

    ¡°Not at all.¡±

    ¡°What did you say?¡±

    ¡°You heard me.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re out of your mind, aren¡¯t you? Boys!¡±

    ¡°Yes, boss!¡±

    Bang!

    Before Hwang could shout further, Su-ho grabbed his head and mmed it onto the table.

    Hwang copsed immediately, groaning in pain.

    ¡°H-Hyungnim!¡±

    The other employees moved to intervene but copsed frothing at the mouth before they could act.

    It was Su-ho¡¯s Overwhelm skill.

    After neutralizing them, Su-ho used Recovery to wake Hwang.

    ¡°Ugh...¡±

    ¡°Sit up.¡±

    ¡°You... you!¡±

    ¡°I said sit.¡±

    The murderous intent in Su-ho¡¯s voice made Hwang realize he was dealing with someone far beyond an ordinary person.

    ¡°Y-you¡¯re an Awakened?¡±

    ¡°Correct. So don¡¯t bother Lee Dal-won and his wife anymore. If I hear otherwise, I won¡¯t let it slide.¡±

    Su-ho grabbed the debt documents and the paper bag of cash before standing to leave.

    Hwang, panicking, stammered, ¡°What about the money?!¡±

    ¡°You should have taken it when I offered. You refused, remember?¡±

    ¡°Th-that doesn¡¯t make sense!¡±

    ¡°Does it look like I¡¯m joking?¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    Of course not.

    Hwang was left speechless as Su-ho walked out.

    ***

    After leaving On-gang Cash, Su-ho hailed another taxi and traveled to a different location¡ªa neighborhood left in ruins.

    ¡°...¡±

    Reviewing one of the documents he¡¯d brought, Su-ho surveyed the scene.

    This was a site hit by a Gate Shock six months ago, still unrecovered.

    It was also where Lee Dal-won¡¯s second business had been located.

    ¡®The situation is worse than I thought.¡¯

    Outside of metropolitan areas and major cities, most ces looked like this.

    Even with Korea¡¯s limitedndmass, there simply weren¡¯t enough resources to rebuild everywhere, perpetuating a vicious cycle of misfortune.

    After inspecting the site, Su-ho hailed another taxi and headed to a new destination: a restaurant.

    The sign read Yuseong Cold Noodles, and it was currently closed for a break.

    Seeing the sign, Su-ho entered the restaurant.

    A woman at the counter said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but we¡¯re closed right now.¡±

    ¡°I know.¡±

    ¡°Excuse me?¡±

    ¡°Is Yoon Hyun-hee working here?¡±

    ¡°...Yoon Hyun-hee?¡±

    At the mention of the name, the woman¡¯s expression turned wary.

    This was understandable, as Hwang On-gang had previously visited the restaurant over the debt.

    Feigning ignorance, the woman shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not sure who that is.¡±

    Her pretense made Su-ho chuckle internally.

    She seems stern, but she¡¯s surprisingly kind.

    ¡°I¡¯m not a loan shark. I have other business with Yoon Hyun-hee. Could you tell her someone from Aram Orphanage is here to see her?¡±

    ¡°...Please wait.¡±

    Still cautious, the woman eventually ryed Su-ho¡¯s message to Yoon Hyun-hee, who was resting in the staff lounge.

    Shortly after, Yoon Hyun-hee appeared. Su-ho greeted her with a warm smile.

    ¡°May I have a moment of your time?¡±

    ***

    Since it was the start of their break, there was plenty of time to talk.

    The restaurant owner even offered them some privacy.

    Seated in a nearby caf¨¦, Su-ho got straight to the point.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be blunt. I was sent by your older brother, Yoon Hyun-chul.¡±

    ¡°...What?¡±

    Her eyes widened in shock.

    Of course.

    Yoon Hyun-chul was her only remaining blood rtive, someone she could never forget.

    She had long nned to see him one day, but the chaos of life¡ªthe Gate Shock, losing her adoptive parents¡ªhad left her overwhelmed.

    Hearing Yoon Hyun-chul¡¯s name from Su-ho¡¯s lips, she asked in a trembling voice, ¡°Where is he now?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s currently imprisoned in Cheong-ok Penitentiary.¡±

    ¡°...What?¡±

    ¡°Yoon Hyun-chul is serving a death sentence for killing multiple people. He¡¯s currently incarcerated at Cheong-ok.¡±

 Chapter 123

    ¡°That, what do you mean...?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s true.¡±

    Su-ho handed a document he had prepared to Yoon Hyun-hee.

    The document confirmed that Yoon Hyun-chul was serving time at Cheong-ok Penitentiary. As she took the paper, Yoon Hyun-hee¡¯s hands trembled as if an earthquake had struck her world.

    ¡°It seems like you didn¡¯t know anything about your brother¡¯s current situation.¡±

    ¡°...Yes.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a story behind this. I¡¯m not sure how you¡¯ll take it.¡±

    ¡°A story?¡±

    ¡°Yes, a story.¡±

    Su-ho retrieved another document from his inventory, one he had prepared in advance.@@novelbin@@

    It was the case file detailing the murdermitted by Yoon Hyun-chul. As Su-ho presented it, he began exining why Yoon Hyun-chul had been driven to kill.

    ¡°...¡±

    Yoon Hyun-hee listened intently to Su-ho¡¯s words.

    At the same time, she examined the documents he brought.

    She was clearly shaken.

    And understandably so.

    After more than a decade of not hearing a word about her brother, the first news she received was this¡ªit would shake anyone to their core.

    But that was precisely why Su-ho didn¡¯t evade the subject.

    Instead, he chose to confront it head-on.

    <em>¡°Hyun-chul asked me to keep it a secret, but that¡¯s too naive.¡±</em>

    Yoon Hyun-hee wasn¡¯t a fool.

    Nor was she the kind of person who would live as though her brother didn¡¯t exist.

    Even if Su-ho tried to help covertly, as her situation improved, she would inevitably begin searching for information about him. When she eventually learned the whole truth, the shock could be unbearable. It was better to be upfront.

    Of course, this was Su-ho¡¯s perspective.

    He believed this approach was the best course of action.

    In the unlikely event that Hyun-hee disyed a negative reaction or even hatred toward her brother over this, Su-ho was prepared to deal with that as well.

    He had contingencies in ce.

    After all, Su-ho genuinely wanted everyone connected to him to find happiness.

    Atst, Su-ho finished his exnation.

    ¡°...¡±

    Yoon Hyun-hee remained silent.

    Su-ho quietly waited for her to speak first.

    She sat there, staring nkly at some point between the air and the file in her hands.

    After a long silence, she finally spoke.

    ¡°...Hic.¡±

    It began with a sob.

    ¡°Hic, sob...¡±

    Tears.

    After sitting in stunned silence, she suddenly began to cry.

    Su-ho reached into his coat and pulled out a handkerchief, offering it to her.

    It was a handkerchief he had received from Pi Seong-yeol.

    Hyun-hee took it and wiped her tears for a while. Her red, swollen nose quivered as she spoke.

    ¡°How hard it must have been for my brother.¡±

    The moment she uttered those words, Su-ho felt a wave of relief.

    It was fortunate.

    That she was a good person.

    That she didn¡¯t resent or me her brother.

    She continued to speak.

    ¡°My poor brother... My truly poor brother...¡±

    She cried for quite a while.

    Until the handkerchief Su-ho had handed her was soaked through.

    Su-ho waited quietly for her to process her sadness on her own.

    Finally, when her tears began to subside, she spoke again.

    ¡°...I¡¯m sorry. I cried so much by myself.¡±

    ¡°No need to apologize. Ipletely understand. And I should be thanking you¡ªfor understanding the pain of Yoon Hyun-chul.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s my family. Of course, I have to understand. Well, I suppose not everyone always understands their family, but... Do you think my brother did what he did because he wanted to? I understand the circumstances he was in back then. And above all... he¡¯s already serving his punishment for the mistakes he made.¡±

    Sadness lingered on her face as she spoke.

    Even though she said those words, it was clear she was still heartbroken.

    Heartbroken by the circumstances that forced her brother to make those choices.

    She continued.

    ¡°Oh, by the way, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve asked for your name yet. You said my brother sent you, right? What¡¯s your connection to him?¡±

    At her question, Su-ho answered without hesitation.

    ¡°My name is An Su-ho. At one point, I was in business with Yoon Hyun-chul. So, if you¡¯re asking about our rtionship, I was his business partner.¡±

    Su-ho disclosed his name honestly.

    Though only his name.

    With his appearance altered by Reverse Morphology, there was no way she would ever suspect he was the Sword Saint unless she checked his identification.

    Her eyes widened in surprise.

    ¡°Business partner?¡±

    ¡°Yes. While working as a Hunter, your brother ran a few side businesses as part of a financial investment strategy for the future. Among those ventures, there were several he partnered with me on. But when things went south for him, he had to liquidate all his business assets.¡±

    As Su-ho continued speaking, he retrieved another document from his inventory.

    It was a debt certificate he had acquired from Hwang On-gang.

    When she saw the document, Hyun-hee¡¯s eyes grew even wider.

    ¡°Th-this is...!¡±

    ¡°Your husband¡¯s name is Lee Dal-won, correct? After looking into it, I found out that Hwang On-gang, the owner of On-gang Cash, held all of his debt. So, I purchased it.¡±

    ¡°Wait, you bought it?!¡±

    ¡°Yes. Hyun-chul told me, ¡®I don¡¯t need money since I¡¯m in prison anyway. If you ever find my younger sister, could you transfer my assets to her?¡¯ He offered me a percentage of the proceeds as amission, but given the years we worked together, I refused.¡±

    Su-ho nced at the stunned Hyun-hee and continued.

    ¡°Honestly, I should have found you sooner, but I had to wrap up the business, manage my own schedule, and conduct a thorough background check on you. So, it took some time. Now, I have a question for you, Ms. Yoon Hyun-hee.¡±

    ¡°A question...?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Hyun-chul wanted to transfer his assets to you and asked me to help you find true happiness. While searching for you, I discovered some troubling details about your life. So, I¡¯ll be direct.¡±

    Su-ho shifted his gaze to the name "Lee Dal-won" written on the debt certificate and asked.

    ¡°Do you still love your husband?¡±

    They say marital disputes are like slicing water with a knife.

    But what Su-ho had uncovered wasn¡¯t the sort of disagreement that could be described with proverbs.

    Debt, alcohol, gambling, even domestic violence.

    Lee Dal-won was a deeply wed man.

    Su-ho had already decided on how to deal with him.

    Still, he asked the question to confirm the truth.

    Hyun-hee bit her lip.

    She closed her eyes.

    After a brief period of thought, she opened them again and replied.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡±

    ¡°Why not?¡±

    ¡°I just... I don¡¯t know how I feel. Is this love? Or something else? I married him because I loved him, and I know why he¡¯s changed. But...¡±

    She trailed off.

    She knew.

    The things Lee Dal-won was doing to her now were not actions someone who truly loved another couldmit.

    <em>¡°How can destroying someone you care about be called love?¡±</em>

    Su-ho had never experienced a passionate love.

    There were always too many pressing tasks and too many realities choking him for him to fall in love.

    But even without experiencing it firsthand, he knew right from wrong.

    Su-ho nodded and said.

    ¡°Yes, I understand the situation. Two failed businesses, both destroyed by Gate Shocks. That left him buried in debt, struggling with unbearable hardship, and robbed him of peace of mind. But.¡±

    Su-ho put the debt certificate back into his coat and said.

    ¡°If someone truly loves another, they try to be a source of hope even in difficult times¡ªnot despair. Of course, I understand that the root cause of his situation is the Gate Shock. But I believe this: Even if it hadn¡¯t been the Gate Shock, Mr. Lee would have behaved the same way toward you.¡±

    Su-ho stood up and said.

    ¡°People don¡¯t change easily. And I¡¯m sure Mr. Hyun-chul wouldn¡¯t want his beloved sister to suffer in the name of love.¡±

    He nced at the time and said.

    ¡°Looks like your caf¨¦¡¯s break time is almost over. I¡¯ll step out for a while and return when your shift ends.¡±

    Su-ho offered a light bow and was about to leave the caf¨¦ when she called out.

    ¡°Wait.¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°What if he promises to change?¡±

    Promises to change.

    Su-ho smirked and said.

    ¡°Maybe he can. People do talk about being reborn. But as I said earlier, most people don¡¯t change easily. Let me go find out for sure¡ªabout the truth behind the feelings you¡¯re struggling with.¡±

    With those words, Su-ho left the caf¨¦.

    After he departed, Hyun-hee stared nkly at her now-cold drink.

    In the reflection of the cold drink, another version of her stared back.

    ***

    Su-ho got into a taxi and headed to another location.

    The destination was a run-downmercial building with no signboards. When he reached the second floor, he was met with an old iron door.

    Su-ho raised his head to look at a CCTV camera mounted near the ceiling.

    He pulled out some cash from his inventory and waved it in front of the camera.

    With a click, the door unlocked.

    As the door opened, a cacophony of noise spilled out.

    Thick cigarette smoke.

    And cutting through it, curses and the sound of tables being mmed.

    It was a gambling den.

    As Su-ho stepped inside, a heavily tattooed man, who appeared to be a staff member, approached him.

    ¡°Here to y?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Sure, but first, I need to find someone,¡± Su-ho replied.

    ¡°Why are you looking for someone?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve got some business to take care of. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t disrupt the atmosphere. I¡¯ll just talk and leave quietly. So, where can I find a man named Lee Dal-won?¡±

    Su-ho handed the man a few bills as he spoke. The tattooed man smirked, pocketed the money, and nced around.

    Finally, he pointed to a man sitting in a corner ying cards.

    ¡°That guy in the ck cap. That¡¯s Lee Dal-won.¡±

    Su-ho walked toward the direction the man had indicated.

    There sat a man ying cards, his hollowed eyes staring nkly ahead.

    It was Lee Dal-won.

    ¡°Yep, that¡¯s him,¡± Su-ho murmured to himself.

    The man¡¯s appearance matched the photo perfectly.

    When the stranger called his name, Lee Dal-won looked up with sunken eyes and saw Su-ho. Without waiting for an invitation, Su-ho took the seat next to him.

    ¡°You¡¯re Lee Dal-won, right? I¡¯m here on behalf of On-gang Cash. Can we have a quick chat?¡±

    ¡°...I already told your boss I¡¯d payst month¡¯s interest along with this month¡¯s,¡± Dal-won replied.

    ¡°I know. But the boss wanted me to ask you something.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s someone among the boss¡¯s acquaintances who seems to have a favorable impression of your wife. He asked if you¡¯d consider introducing her in exchange for waiving three months of interest.¡±

    At that moment, Dal-won stopped dealing the cards and looked at Su-ho with slightly widened eyes.

    ¡°...What did you say?¡±

    ¡°If you find it offensive, you can refuse.¡±

    ¡°...Ha.¡±

    Dal-won let out a hollowugh.

    He spat into an ashtray before sighing deeply. Then, he looked back at Su-ho and said,

    ¡°Six months.¡±

    ¡°Sorry?¡±

    ¡°If you waive six months of interest, I¡¯ll make the introduction.¡±

    ¡°Six months, huh.¡±

    Hearing this, Su-ho chuckled.

    ¡°Haha, thank you.¡±

    ¡°For what?¡±

    ¡°I was just worried for a moment. What if you turned out to be a decent person?¡±

    ¡°Excuse me?¡±

    At that instant¡ª

    Bang!

    Su-ho smashed Dal-won¡¯s head into the ashtray on the table.

 Chapter 124

    Lee Dal-won copsed unconscious on the spot.

    He wasn¡¯t dead.

    How could he be? Su-ho had deliberately controlled his strength.

    The reaction from those around him, however, was even more absurd.

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    The silence in the room was absolute.

    But it wasn¡¯t because they were afraid of Su-ho.

    Each person nced at Lee Dal-won briefly, then immediately returned their attention to their cards.

    That was just the kind of ce this was¡ªa gambling den.

    Still, there was one person who showed some interest.

    Just one.

    The tattooed man who had earlier pocketed Su-ho¡¯s tip.

    ¡°Hey!¡± he barked.

    The tattooed man strode toward Su-ho, his brow furrowed. He nced at the unconscious Lee Dal-won and then turned to Su-ho.

    ¡°If you¡¯re going to cause a scene, do it outside. Don¡¯t disrupt the mood in here.¡±

    That was all he said.

    Thanks to that, Su-ho was able to hoist Lee Dal-won up and quietly leave the gambling den, heading for the rooftop of the building.

    The rooftop was empty.

    Su-ho unceremoniously tossed Dal-won onto the ground.

    ¡°...¡±

    No reaction.

    Had he hit him too hard earlier?

    Su-ho used <strong>Recovery</strong> to revive the man.

    ¡°Ugh...¡±

    Lee Dal-won groaned as he regained consciousness. The moment he fully awoke and saw Su-ho, his face twisted in fear.

    ¡°Wh-why are you doing this to me?!¡±

    Instead of answering, Su-ho pressed a pressure point on Dal-won¡¯s neck.

    He then jabbed several points on the man¡¯s lower body, locking his energy flow and immobilizing him. Only then did Su-ho speak.

    ¡°Guys like you usually seem to have all the luck with people. You¡¯re not even good-looking, so how did you manage to fool someone like Yoon Hyun-hee?¡±

    ¡°Ugh...!¡±

    ¡°See this?¡±

    Su-ho pulled out the debt certificate he had taken from On-gang Cash and waved it in front of Dal-won.

    ¡°I¡¯ll keep this short. Divorce Yoon Hyun-hee and never show your face to her again. If you do that, I¡¯ll nullify this debt.¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    Dal-won¡¯s eyes widened more than Su-ho had ever seen before.

    Shock was one thing, but the man¡¯s gaze was filled with pure, unadulterated joy, as though he had witnessed a miracle.

    <em>¡°Tsk, even if I handed him a treasure like the Rhotiple, he wouldn¡¯t look this happy.¡±</em>

    Su-ho asked calmly, ¡°If you agree, nod your head.¡±

    Nod! Nod! Nod!

    Dal-won nodded frantically, his head moving so vigorously it was almostical.

    At least it was fortunate Yoon Hyun-hee wasn¡¯t here to witness this.

    If she had seen this pitiful disy, it would have broken her heart all over again.

    Clicking his tongue, Su-ho pulled out another document.

    It was a divorce agreement.

    ¡°This is a mutual divorce form. Put your thumbprint on it.¡±

    Su-ho grabbed Dal-won¡¯s hand and smeared his bloodied thumb from his forehead onto the paper, creating a makeshift ink stamp. He then had him stamp the other prepared documents as well.

    Only afterpleting the paperwork did Su-ho hand over the debt certificate.

    Dal-won¡¯s trembling hands clutched the certificate, his eyes quivering with a mix of relief and disbelief.

    As Su-ho unlocked the pressure points on Dal-won¡¯s legs, he asked casually, ¡°Are you left-handed or right-handed?¡±

    Dal-won raised his right hand in response.

    The moment he did, Su-ho immediately jabbed the pressure points on the man¡¯s wrist and hand. He followed this by pressing another series of points on his lower body.

    The result was permanent damage.

    ¡°Ugh?!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d love to cripple you entirely, but I¡¯ll settle for this. Since you¡¯ve used your mouth to hurl insults, you¡¯ll lose your voice forever. Since you used that hand to hit your wife, you won¡¯t be able to use it properly ever again. And as for...¡±

    Su-ho¡¯s gaze shifted downward to the man¡¯s groin.

    ¡°As a man who failed in his duties as a husband, consider this punishment. Be grateful this is where it ends. The only reason I¡¯m not killing you is because part of this is society¡¯s fault for creating people like you.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    With his taskplete, Su-ho turned and left the rooftop.

    ***

    Having dealt with the issue of Lee Dal-won, Su-ho headed to the cold noodle restaurant where Yoon Hyun-hee worked.

    Since there was still some time left before her shift ended, he decided to have a meal there first.

    ¡°I¡¯ll have cold noodles with sashimi, beef pancakes, and dumplings, please.¡±

    The order was taken by none other than Yoon Hyun-hee herself.

    She gave Su-ho a slightly perplexed look but, seeing as he was a customer, she epted the order and went about her duties.

    When the food was served, Su-ho enjoyed his meal thoroughly.

    As he was finishing his meal, Yoon Hyun-hee, now out of her work uniform, approached him.

    Seeing her, Su-ho asked, ¡°Are you done with your shift already?¡±

    ¡°The boss let me off early.¡±

    ¡°Oh, is that so?¡±

    What a considerate boss.

    Su-ho offered a polite nod of gratitude toward the restaurant owner before stepping outside with Yoon Hyun-hee.

    After they had walked a short distance from the restaurant, Su-ho pulled out the divorce papers he had obtained from Lee Dal-won.

    ¡°What¡¯s this...?¡±

    ¡°The moment I mentioned the debt, he didn¡¯t hesitate for even a second before stamping these papers. Everything you need for a mutual divorce is already signed. All that¡¯s left is for you to sign them and submit the documents. These days, the process for a mutual divorce has been simplified due to changes in thew.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    Yoon Hyun-hee was momentarily at a loss for words as she stared at the divorce papers in her hands.

    The sight stirred many thoughts within her.

    But she didn¡¯t cry.

    In fact, she felt grateful.

    Thanks to Su-ho, she could put her feelings in order much faster than she had anticipated.

    Su-ho had also refrained from mentioning the offer Lee Dal-won had made about ¡°introducing his wife.¡± There was no need to twist the knife and hurt her further.

    After folding the papers and putting them into her bag, Yoon Hyun-hee said, ¡°You seemed to have anticipated all of this and prepared everything in advance.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s less about anticipation and more about my dislike for unnecessary hassle. I prefer to be prepared for every possible oue.¡±

    ¡°...I have a few questions. May I ask them?¡±

    ¡°Feel free.¡±

    ¡°If I go to Cheong-ok Penitentiary, will I be able to see my brother?¡±

    ¡°Visits require the inmate¡¯s consent. But if you¡¯d like, I can pass along your request. Your brother said he wasn¡¯t confident about facing you.¡±

    ¡°Then, please let him know I¡¯d like to see him. Also... I¡¯ve been meaning to ask this but kept hesitating...¡±

    After a brief pause, she finally asked, ¡°My brother¡¯s girlfriend... How is she doing now?¡±

    ¡°She passed away.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°After everything that happened, and with Yoon Hyun-chul being sent to Cheong-ok Penitentiary, she fell into despair and ended her own life.¡±

    ¡°Ah...¡±

    This was something Su-ho hadn¡¯t even mentioned to Yoon Hyun-chul.

    Su-ho knew the truth but had avoided bringing it up, and Yoon Hyun-chul had deliberately kept silent about it.

    But Yoon Hyun-hee needed to know. She deserved to know.

    ¡°...So, did my brother kill all of those people?¡±

    ¡°Well, if we¡¯re speaking in terms of the end result, yes.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡±

    ¡°One of them survived originally. At the time, it was a one-versus-many situation, and while your brother intended to kill them all, one of the perpetrators managed to narrowly escape death.

    ¡°However, that man was eventually caught and imprisoned for his crimes. Because of the nature of his charges, he ended up in Cheong-ok Penitentiary. It was there, while they were incarcerated together, that your brother killed him.¡±

    ¡°Ah...¡±

    It was an inevitable oue.

    If the survivor had been a civilian criminal, he would have been ced in a separate facility to avoid potential retaliation. But since they were all Awakened criminals, most of them were sent to Cheong-ok Penitentiary due to their heinous offenses.

    This kind of incident was bound to happen.

    Su-ho then asked, ¡°What about you, Ms. Yoon? What are your ns now?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°You came to Daejeon because of your husband, didn¡¯t you? Now that you¡¯re divorced, there¡¯s no reason for you to stay here, is there?¡±

    ¡°Well...¡±

    He wasn¡¯t wrong.

    The only reason she had moved to Daejeon was that it was her husband¡¯s hometown.

    But it wasn¡¯t as if she had a hometown of her own to return to.

    As she hesitated to answer, Su-ho offered a suggestion.

    ¡°Why not move to Seoul?¡±

    ¡°...Seoul?¡±

    ¡°You grew up in Seoul, didn¡¯t you? It¡¯s a good ce to start fresh. Not only is Seoul safer than Daejeon, but the money your brother left behind is more than enough to support you in a secure area.¡±

    Su-ho fiddled with his phone and sent a message to hers.

    ¡°That¡¯s my contact information. I know today has been overwhelming, so take some time to think about it and let me know. Also, you don¡¯t need to worry about Lee Dal-won. I¡¯ve ensured he won¡¯t show up in your life again. I even made it a condition that he stays out of sight. You can keep the security deposit for the house you¡¯re living in as well.¡±

    ¡°Ah... Thank you.¡±

    ¡°And don¡¯t forget to contact me about transferring your brother¡¯s assets. Oh, one more thing¡ªmay I ask a small favor?¡±@@novelbin@@

    ¡°A favor?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I need to provide proof to your brother that I met you. Could we take a photo together?¡±

    ¡°...A photo?¡±

    ¡°Please?¡±

    ¡°Oh, alright...¡±

    With her permission, Su-ho politely took a selfie with her.

    ¡°Thank you. And onest thing...¡±

    After taking the photo, Su-ho extended his hand toward her.

    [ <strong>Healing is activated.</strong> ]

    [ <strong>Recovery is activated.</strong> ]

    A warm glow enveloped her as Su-ho used two skills on her.

    This was to erase any bruises she still had from Lee Dal-won¡¯s abuse and to heal any lingering minor ailments she might have.

    Finally, havingpleted his tasks, Su-ho bowed politely and headed toward Daejeon Station.

    When he arrived at Seoul Station, his phone began to buzz.

    It was a call from Jo Jin-hwi.

    Su-ho answered.

    ¡°Yes, Mr. Reporter?¡±

    ¨C ¡°Mr. An, where are you right now?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m at Seoul Station.¡±

    ¨C ¡°Seoul Station? Not Daejeon?¡±

    The reason Jo Jin-hwi was asking this...

    Actually, the reason he had called at all was due to a post Su-ho had made on Stargram while riding the train.

    ¨C ¡°Yuseong Cold Noodles in Daejeon are delicious.¡±

    It was the second post Su-ho had ever uploaded to his ount.

    Just like the first post about Park¡¯s Snack Shop, it was a simple photo of food apanied by a single line of text.

    Even this time, the only hashtag he had used was #GreatEats.

    But the response was explosive.

    ¨C ¡°The Sword Saint says Yuseong Cold Noodles is a great spot!¡±

    ¨C ¡°Let¡¯s all head to Yuseong Cold Noodles!¡±

    ¨C ¡°Damn it, this was my hidden gem. Now I can¡¯t enjoy it quietly anymore.¡±

    ¨C ¡°Wow, train tickets to Daejeon are already sold out.¡±

    ¨C ¡°His first rmendation was amazing, so this ce must be legit too.¡±

    The likes andments on the post were already flooding in, despite it having been posted not long ago.

    That was why Jo Jin-hwi had called.

    After all, Su-ho was supposed to be in Seoul, not Daejeon.

    ¡°I just took a quick business trip,¡± Su-ho exined.

    ¨C ¡°Ah, I see. By the way, did you really get assigned to the Gate Division?¡±

    ¡°Oh, I meant to tell you. Yes, I¡¯ve been reassigned to the Gate Division. Division Chief Pi Seong-yeol himself confirmed it.¡±

    ¨C ¡°It seems things turned out exactly as you wanted. Congrattions.¡±

    ¡°Thank you. The official announcement shoulde out tomorrow, stating there was no favoritism or royal treatment involved.¡±

    It was amusing.

    Strictly speaking, Su-ho should have been assigned to the Special Division based on merit. Yet, in response to a bit of public uproar, the Association had sent its youngest-ever perfect scorer to the Gate Division instead.

    <em>¡°But thanks to theirck of backbone, I can now do as I please.¡±</em>

    Jo Jin-hwi chuckled. ¨C ¡°So, how about a quick photo session on your way to work tomorrow?¡±

    ¡°Do I look like an idol promoting a new album? Why would I need a photo session?¡±

    ¨C ¡°Consider it fan service. It¡¯s also a good way to show there¡¯s no controversy. Lots of people in your fan caf¨¦ are requesting pictures of you.¡±

    ¡°Alright. You¡¯ve always helped me out, so I¡¯ll meet you at the entrance during my morning shift.¡±

    ¨C ¡°Haha, thank you! Oh, by the way, since your probation period has ended, shouldn¡¯t we have a small celebration? I bet they didn¡¯t even give you amendation, despite you being the youngest perfect scorer.¡±

    As expected of Jo Jin-hwi.

    He had a knack for picking up on such things.

    Su-houghed. ¡°How about a casual drink at my ceter?¡±

    ¨C ¡°Sounds great! See youter then!¡±

    With that, the call ended, and Su-ho, chuckling to himself, headed toward the parking lot at Seoul Station where his car was waiting.

 Chapter 125

    The next day.

    As promised, Su-ho arrived at the main gate of the Great Korea Hunter Association (GKA) right on time.

    ¡°There¡¯s An Su-ho!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the Sword Saint!¡±

    ¡°Get the cameras! Cameras!¡±

    Cameras were everywhere.

    Of course, it made sense.

    Everyone knew this was Su-ho¡¯s first day reporting to work as a full-fledged civil servant, no longer a probationary employee.

    ¡°An Su-ho! Over here, please!¡±

    ¡°Sword Saint! Look this way for the camera!¡±

    ¡°Hunter An!¡±

    ¡°An Su-ho!¡±

    Reporters, YouTubers, and fans all called out to him in their own ways.

    Su-ho walked toward the gate, neither too fast nor too slow. At one point, he nced toward a particr direction and made a V-sign with his fingers.

    That direction was where Jo Jin-hwi¡¯s camera was positioned.

    <em>¡°A good service gesture.¡±</em>

    The previous night, Jo Jin-hwi had shared drinks with Su-ho and his housemates at Su-ho¡¯s safe house. By the end of the night, Jo had sessfully secured a promise for this very moment¡ªa photo-worthy gesture.

    <em>¡°Better upload this to the Sword Saint Shrine quickly.¡±</em>

    Snapping away with his camera, Jo Jin-hwi captured more than enough shots to satisfy himself and quietly left.

    There was no need for an interview. They had already agreed that once Su-ho received his official employee ID, he would send Jo a photo for use.

    Su-ho, true to his word, continued walking past the reporters and entered the main gate.

    As soon as he stepped inside¡ª

    ¡°Ah, so busy, even early in the morning.¡±

    The person weing him at the entrance was none other than Jeong Cheol-min.

    As always, Jeong had arrived early, and upon seeing the crowd of reporters, he had decided to wait inside for Su-ho.

    Seeing Jeong, Su-ho smiled and said, ¡°Hello, you¡¯re early today.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m always early. But what¡¯s this? You¡¯re on time today? You¡¯re usually early.¡±

    ¡°I drank a bit too muchst night, so I took it easy this morning.¡±

    ¡°Drank too much? Forget the drinking¡ªdo you even get hangovers?¡±

    ¡°Of course, I do. I¡¯m human too.¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­?¡±

    <em>As if.</em>

    Jeong Cheol-min knew better. Su-ho wasn¡¯t your average Awakened; he had already reached a level far beyond normal humanity. Moreover, with <strong>Recovery</strong>, Su-ho could easily rid himself of any hangover symptoms.

    For Su-ho, hangovers didn¡¯t exist, and they never would.

    Even so, Jeong tilted his head in mild disbelief and said, ¡°Anyway, congrattions on your first official day. Here¡¯s a little something for you.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s this¡­?¡±

    Jeong handed him an official employee ID,plete with the GKA¡¯s insignia.

    Su-ho took the ID and smiled.

    ¡°Finally got it.¡±

    ¡°Happy about it?¡±

    ¡°Of course. Let¡¯s get going.¡±

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go. There are a lot of people I need to introduce you to.¡±

    ¡°Before that¡­¡±

    <em>Click!</em>

    Su-ho took a picture of his new ID, making sure the text ¡°Gate Division¡± was clearly visible.

    Seeing this, Jeong asked, ¡°Who are you going to show that to?¡±

    ¡°Just a keepsake photo.¡±

    ¡°Boring.¡±

    The two of them headed toward the Gate Division.

    Their first stop was the office of the Gate Division Chief.

    Sitting inside was Chief Go Seong-rok, who greeted Su-ho with his signature bright smile.

    ¡°Wee, Hunter An¡ªno, I should say Deputy Team Leader An now, right?¡±

    Go Seong-rok, as usual, exuded an irritatingly immacte appearance.

    After all, he no longer had to go out into dangerous field operations, spending his days approving paperwork from the safety of his office.

    Su-ho returned the smile, offering a polite and practiced response.

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. I look forward to working with you, Chief.¡±

    ¡°Same here. Let¡¯s work well together while you¡¯re in the Gate Division. Now, go ahead and get to work.¡±

    After that, they moved on to meet Department Head Ma Do-won, who oversaw the Gate Management Department.

    Like Go Seong-rok, Ma also looked far too rxed and polished.

    ¡°Haha! So the star of the hour has joined our department. Life sure is full of surprises, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    Ma chuckled as he spoke, his tone dripping with insincerity.

    Hearing this, Jeong¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, though he kept a smile on his face.

    Jeong knew.

    Despite being well aware of the circumstances surrounding Su-ho¡¯s reassignment, Ma chose to speak without any consideration.

    Su-ho, however, maintained hisposure and replied with a smile.

    ¡°Indeed. I look forward to working with you.¡±

    ¡°Haha, same here. Deputy Team Leader Jeong will take good care of you. By the way, has Deputy Team Leader An handed out his <em>probationary rice cakes</em> yet?¡±

    Probationary rice cakes referred to the traditional practice of probationary employees distributing rice cakes to their colleagues upon bing full-time employees. It was meant as a gesture of gratitude, though it had long since be a meaningless formality.

    Hearing this, Su-ho smirked inwardly.

    <em>¡°Right, the GKA is technically a government institution, so they¡¯d have this silly tradition too.¡±</em>

    Modern probationary rice cakes were an outdated practice.

    Or rather, they had always been outdated.

    It wasn¡¯t about genuine gratitude but an empty ritual that had persisted over the years.

    The thought made Su-ho recall an incident from his past.

    <em>¡°I got scolded over rice cakes once.¡±</em>

    The reason Su-ho had been scolded wasn¡¯t because he had failed to distribute rice cakes.

    No, the issue was that he had distributed them¡ªand still receivedints.

    Why?

    Because when he handed out rice cakes, he had given <em>actual rice cakes.</em>

    <em>¡°It was ridiculous.¡±</em>

    Hearing the term <em>probationary rice cakes,</em> Su-ho had naturally assumed they referred to literal rice cakes. So, he bought <em>baekseolgi</em> (steamed rice cakes) from a local shop and handed them out.

    What followed was a barrage ofints.

    <em>¡°Who hands out rice cakes these days? Cookies or fruit cups would¡¯ve been better!¡±</em>

    That day, most of the rice cakes he had bought went uneaten. In the end, Su-ho had to purchase cookies from a trendy caf¨¦ and distribute those instead.

    Back then, he had felt like he had no choice.

    As Ma asked the question, Jeong was about to respond on Su-ho¡¯s behalf, but Su-ho spoke first.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t handed any out yet. Do I have to?¡±

    ¡°Huh? What do you mean by that?¡±

    ¡°I was just curious. I heard that in some ces, they don¡¯t bother with the tradition anymore. But if it¡¯s necessary, I¡¯ll do it. Should I bring actual rice cakes?¡±

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Jeong whispered sharply, jabbing Su-ho in the ribs. His eyes widened in rm.

    Even Ma looked taken aback, letting out an awkwardugh.

    ¡°Haha¡­ Deputy Team Leader Jeong, you¡¯ve got your work cut out for you.¡±

    ¡°Apologies, Deputy Team Leader An is still young and new to all this. I¡¯ll make sure to guide him properly.¡±

    ¡°Alright¡­ Take care of him. Deputy Team Leader An, I¡¯ll see you around. Congrattions on your appointment.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Department Head.¡±

    After exchanging farewells, Su-ho left the office, practically being dragged out by Jeong.

    The moment they stepped outside, Jeong lowered his voice.

    ¡°Seriously, Su-ho¡­ Why did you say that?¡±

    ¡°I did it on purpose.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    "If I hadn¡¯t asked first, you would¡¯ve had to exin it to me, and I didn¡¯t want to burden you, so I figured I¡¯d ask someone higher up directly to rify.¡±

    ¡°...Huh?¡±

    Jeong Cheol-min let out a hollowugh at Su-ho¡¯s response. Then, smirking, he said, ¡°Su-ho, you¡¯re a real piece of work, aren¡¯t you? But you know, I might not have found it burdensome at all.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I know you¡¯re a good person, Team Leader, which is exactly why I figured you¡¯d find it ufortable. And¡­ I was also thinking of using this opportunity to get rid of the probationary rice cake tradition altogether.¡±@@novelbin@@

    ¡°What do you mean by that? Getting rid of the rice cake tradition?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s something I¡¯m good at.¡±

    ¡°Su-ho, don¡¯t tell me¡­¡±

    ¡°Haha.¡±

    Su-ho merelyughed, offering no detailed exnation.

    Jeong, quick on the uptake, clicked his tongue in disbelief.

    ¡°Man, the more I see, the more I think you really live life¡­ not justfortably, but easily.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it better to make things easier when you can? But you¡¯re not against it, are you?¡±

    ¡°Nope, not at all. Honestly, I¡¯ve never been a fan of the rice cake tradition either. Who even benefits from it?¡±

    As expected.

    Su-ho had a feeling Jeong would say that, and he couldn¡¯t help but feel pleased.

    Compared to his previous life, their current rtionship was still shallow, but Jeong Cheol-min remained the same person at his core.

    Jeongughed and said, ¡°Alright then, let¡¯s head to our office.¡±

    ¡°Got it.¡±

    Jeong led Su-ho to a corner of the Gate Management Department where his team was stationed.

    <strong>Special Management Team 2.</strong>

    That was the official name of the team Jeong Cheol-min headed.

    <em>Starting with the Special Management Team, huh.</em>

    The Gate Management Department was divided into three teams:

    <ol>

    <li><strong>Transaction Team</strong>: Handled the trading of gates with private entities.</li>

    <li><strong>General Management Team</strong>: Oversaw public gates and those ssified as safe.</li>

    <li><strong>Special Management Team</strong>: Dealt exclusively with gates deemed potentially dangerous.</li>

    </ol>

    Jeong was the leader of the second unit within the Special Management Team.

    As Jeong nced around the empty office, he remarked, ¡°Oh, right. Everyone¡¯s out on assignments today.¡±

    This wasmon.

    With only two units in the Special Management Team, the team members were rarely around.

    At that moment, a new voice called out.

    ¡°Hey, Team Leader Jeong. Is that the new guy?¡±

    Turning toward the voice, Su-ho saw a man addressing Jeong as if they were old acquaintances.

    It was <strong>Oh Bong-ju</strong>, the team leader of Special Management Team 1.

    Jeong greeted him. ¡°Ah, yes. This is An Su-ho, who¡¯s just been assigned as the deputy team leader for our team. Su-ho, this is Team Leader Oh Bong-ju of Special Management Team 1.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m An Su-ho. Pleased to meet you.¡±

    ¡°Haha, nice to meet you. Ho-rook.¡±

    Oh Bong-ju chuckled as he sipped his coffee.

    Su-ho knew exactly who he was.

    <em>¡°So it¡¯s Oh Bong-ju, huh. At this point in time, he¡¯s still the leader of Team 1.¡±</em>

    Oh Bong-ju was not only Jeong¡¯s colleague but also his senior from high school, which exined his casual tone.

    And he was far from a good senior.

    Favoring strict hierarchies, Oh Bong-ju ced significant emphasis on seniority. Since he was not only Jeong¡¯s high school senior but also from an earlier recruitment batch, he often dumped the tasks he didn¡¯t want to handle onto Jeong.

    <em>¡°Jeong went through a lot because of him.¡±</em>

    While Su-ho had heard about this from Jeong in his past life, he hadn¡¯t experienced it firsthand. By the time Su-ho joined the Gate Division, Oh Bong-ju had already been promoted to department head, so their interactions had been minimal.

    For that reason, Su-ho had no personal grudge against him.

    Then, Oh Bong-ju sipped his coffee and asked, ¡°By the way, Su-ho.¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°This is your first department, so you haven¡¯t handed out your probationary rice cakes yet, have you?¡±

    Ah.

    The infamous probationary rice cakes.

    Su-ho answered, ¡°No, not yet.¡±

    ¡°You know you have to distribute them to the entire department, right? Ideally, cookies. We¡¯re not really into rice cakes. Oh, and the cookies from Queen¡¯s Bakery nearby are pretty good. Just a tip, you know. Other departments wouldn¡¯t even bother telling you this. Consider it a little favor from us.¡±

    He even added a yful wink.

    <em>Ha.</em>

    Sure, better this than them silently judging me for not knowing. But as someone in their second round of civil service, this isn¡¯t exactly helpful advice.

    Sensing the awkwardness, Jeong quickly stepped in.

    ¡°Haha, I already mentioned that to him. Anyway, we should get started on work, so we¡¯ll excuse ourselves now.¡±

    ¡°Alright, go ahead. Oh, by the way, Team Leader Jeong, don¡¯t forget what I mentioned before. The deadline¡¯sing up.¡±

    ¡°Ah, yes. I¡¯ll take care of that soon and let you know. Su-ho, let¡¯s head to the meeting room. I¡¯ll walk you through everything.¡±

    ¡°...Understood.¡±

    Su-ho sighed inwardly and followed Jeong out of the room.

 Chapter 126

    Su-ho followed Jeong Cheol-min into an empty meeting room.

    Jeong turned on the lights and said, ¡°Let¡¯s talk here.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re avoiding someone, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Of course. If I stay out there, the other team leader will keep talking my ear off. Want some coffee?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll make it.¡±

    ¡°How are you going to make it when you don¡¯t even know where anything is?¡±

    ¡°I noticed where everything was earlier. Just a moment.¡±

    Su-ho headed to the pantry with practiced ease and returned shortly with two cups of hot Americano.

    Jeong took a sip and chuckled. ¡°Not bad. How are you good at even making coffee?¡±

    ¡°Haha, it¡¯s not exactly rocket science. By the way, are you going to show me my deskter?¡±

    ¡°What? Haha, of course. Were you about to get upset because I didn¡¯t show it to you first?¡±

    ¡°Come on, I¡¯m not that petty. So, what should I start working on?¡±

    Jeong smiled at Su-ho¡¯s enthusiasm. ¡°You¡¯re eager, huh?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s my first day as a full-fledged employee. Of course, I¡¯m excited.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the right attitude. But about what we discussed earlier¡ªwere you serious?¡±

    Jeong was referring to their previous conversation about the tasks the Special Management Team hadn¡¯t been able to handle, like tackling sealed gates.

    Su-ho nodded. ¡°I don¡¯t say things I don¡¯t mean.¡±

    ¡°I know that¡­ I figured you¡¯d say that. Honestly, it¡¯d be ridiculous not to use someone as skilled as you for gate missions. But you know how it is. You¡¯re such a high-value asset that if something went wrong, people would start pointing fingers.¡±

    ¡°At who?¡±

    ¡°Who else? Jang Kyung-hwan and Pi Seong-yeol, obviously.¡±

    That was inevitable.

    The Gate Division had only gotten Su-ho because public opinion had prevented his transfer to the Special Division. If they recklessly assigned him to a dangerous mission and he got seriously injured or killed, the me would fall squarely on Jeong.

    ¡°He¡¯d take the heat like no one else.¡±

    It wouldn¡¯t just be criticism¡ªhe¡¯d bepletely cklisted.

    For most people in Jeong¡¯s position, Su-ho¡¯s request would be hard to grant.

    But this was Jeong Cheol-min.

    A typical office worker might be focused on self-preservation, but Jeong had recognized Su-ho¡¯s potential from the moment they met. He had even imagined what it would be like to work with someone like him, solving problems that the Special Team could never tackle on their own.

    And now, Su-ho had proven himself to be more capable than Jeong had dared to hope.@@novelbin@@

    Su-ho grinned and asked, ¡°So, are you going to put me to use or not?¡±

    ¡°How could I not? As much as it pains me to send my subordinates into trials and tribtions, we¡¯re Awakened civil servant hunters. It¡¯s our duty to rise to the challenge. Especially you¡ªAn Su-ho, the Sword Saint. Speaking of which¡­¡±

    Jeong stepped over to his desk and returned with a set of documents. These were records of gates that Jeong had personally organized.

    He handed them to Su-ho and said, ¡°You know it won¡¯t be easy to get approval for this work through normal channels, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I imagine it would get rejected the moment it hit the department head¡¯s desk.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s why, if you really want to tackle these tasks, we should go with your approach.¡±

    ¡°My approach?¡±

    ¡°Act first, reportter. And maybe sprinkle in a bit of media exposure.¡±

    ¡°If you openly handle a sealed gate as part of the Gate Division and get some favorable articles published, the Association President, who¡¯s so sensitive to public opinion, will have no choice but to back you.¡±

    Hearing this, Su-ho nearly burst outughing. The n aligned perfectly with what he had envisioned.

    ¡°This is why I can¡¯t help but like Jeong.¡±

    This was exactly how Su-ho had wanted to handle things. However, since he had a direct superior, he had wanted to follow proper procedures and get official approval to avoid disrespecting Jeong.

    Su-ho smiled and asked, ¡°Do you really think this will work?¡±

    ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°Honestly, I thought the same thing. But I held back because I didn¡¯t want to act on my own.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re something else... Alright, let¡¯s go for it. I¡¯ve even narrowed down the options to rtively safe targets. Of course, calling a sealed gate ¡®safe¡¯ is a stretch, but you get the idea.¡±

    ¡°Got it!¡± Su-ho said enthusiastically.

    Jeong began exining the gates he had shortlisted, and Su-ho listened intently.

    ¡°Not bad.¡±

    There weren¡¯t many sealed gates that could be considered bad choices. Due to their high difficulty, most of them came with decent rewards. Su-ho had nned to clear all the gates owned by the Association anyway, so he decided to start with one of Jeong¡¯s suggestions.

    ¡°Do I get to choose?¡± Su-ho asked.

    ¡°I¡¯d like to give you the freedom to choose, but it might be better to pick one with solid reasoning, just in case.¡±

    ¡°That makes sense.¡±

    Su-ho scanned the list and pointed to one. ¡°Then I¡¯ll go with this one.¡±

    ¡°Why that one?¡±

    ¡°The gate¡¯s characteristics don¡¯t affect me.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean? Why not?¡±

    In response, Su-ho activated a skill and began exining it to Jeong.

    Jeong¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°So everything you¡¯ve done so far has been¡­?¡±

    ¡°Yes. That¡¯s why it won¡¯t be an issue for me.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­ With that, this gate would definitely be advantageous for you. But is your level high enough?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s more than enough.¡±

    Having convinced Jeong in one go, Su-ho deactivated the skill and smirked.

    In truth, his reasoning was just a convenient excuse. The real reason he had chosen this gate was much simpler.

    ¡°It¡¯s the closest one to the Association.¡±

    Of course, saying that outright would make him seem crazy. So he provided a more practical exnation.

    ¡°When can I head out?¡± Su-ho asked.

    ¡°I¡¯ll call the gate manager and let them know. You can go whenever you¡¯re ready.¡±

    ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave right now.¡±

    ¡°Right now?¡±

    ¡°Yes. It¡¯s work hours, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°Unbelievable... Fine. I¡¯ll prepare the necessary paperwork, so don¡¯t worry about that.¡±

    ¡°Oh no, it¡¯s alright. I¡¯d like to write the first report myself.¡±

    ¡°Do you even know how to write a report?¡±

    ¡°Piece of cake.¡±

    ¡°Forget it. I¡¯ll handle it. If I¡¯m not doing the paperwork, what¡¯s the point of me being team leader? You handle the fieldwork, and I¡¯ll handle the rest.¡±

    ¡°You need to get promoted soon. And make sure to pull me up with you.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, right. Like someone who climbed up by exploiting their subordinates would actually help themter.¡±

    ¡°Haha.¡±

    Su-ho stood up and picked up the two empty coffee cups. ¡°I¡¯ll throw these out on my way. See youter.¡±

    ¡°Later? You talk about sealed gates like you¡¯re just going for a casual stroll.¡±

    ¡°Well, we¡¯ll see, won¡¯t we?¡±

    Su-ho walked out first.

    Watching him leave, Jeong shook his head in disbelief.

    ***

    As soon as Su-ho left the meeting room, he called Jo Jin-hwi.

    ¨C "Yes, Mr. An."

    ¡°I¡¯m heading to a sealed gate now. Would you like toe along for coverage?¡±

    ¨C ¡°Oh! That¡¯s fantastic news! I¡¯ll head out right away.¡±

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll send you the location via text. I¡¯ll be waiting at the entrance.¡±

    With Jo Jin-hwi on board, the final preparations wereplete.

    Su-ho got into his car and started driving.

    The gate wasn¡¯t far away.

    It couldn¡¯t be, as this particr gate was located in Seoul.

    When Su-ho arrived at Gaehwa Station on the outskirts of Seoul, he met up with Jo, and they switched to Su-ho¡¯s car.

    Jo, getting into the passenger seat, remarked, ¡°I could drive, you know.¡±

    ¡°It makes more sense for the authorized personnel to be behind the wheel when entering a sealed zone.¡±

    ¡°Fair point. By the way, how long do you think this gate will take?¡±

    ¡°Not long. By my standards, the difficulty isn¡¯t that high.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re probably the only person in the world who can talk about sealed gates like that.¡±

    ¡°Haha, you might be right.¡±

    When they arrived at the sealed zone, military personnel stopped Su-ho¡¯s vehicle for inspection.

    However, upon seeing Su-ho¡¯s government-issued ID, they immediately granted him entry.

    Watching this, Jo furrowed his brows in amazement.

    ¡°Wow... This is power, isn¡¯t it? True. Official. Power.¡±

    ¡°Haha, it¡¯s not power; it¡¯s just part of the job.¡±

    ¡°Oh, forgive me, sir. Your humble servant is overwhelmed by the majesty of your government authority.¡±

    After indulging in some banter, they finally arrived at the square.

    When Su-ho¡¯s car pulled up, the site manager came out to greet him.

    ¡°You¡¯re from the Great Korea Hunter Association, correct? I received the notification. I¡¯m Im Yeon-hyeon, the manager here.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m An Su-ho. I also brought a reporter with me.¡±

    ¡°A reporter?¡±

    At the mention of a reporter, Im Yeon-hyeon¡¯s eyes sparkled with interest.

    It wasn¡¯t hard to figure out why. Bringing a reporter to a sealed gate was a bold move, signaling a high level of confidence in the mission.

    And this wasn¡¯t just anyone¡ªit was the renowned Sword Saint, An Su-ho.

    Clearing his throat, Im asked cautiously, ¡°Ahem, as you¡¯re surely aware, you know what kind of gate this is, correct?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m well aware. That¡¯s why I¡¯m here.¡±

    ¡°How long do you think it will take to clear it?¡±

    ¡°Well, I¡¯ll have to see once I get started, but based on my calctions, it shouldn¡¯t take too long.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    Hearing that it wouldn¡¯t take long, Im¡¯s smile grew even wider. Perhaps he was entertaining the thought of finally being relieved of this post.

    Noticing this, Jo leaned in close to Su-ho as they walked and whispered, ¡°That guy¡¯s strange. Being a square manager is considered one of the cushiest jobs. Why does he look so happy about this?¡±

    ¡°Who knows? While it¡¯s true that the position isfortable, it doesn¡¯t really help with career advancement.¡±

    ¡°Ah? It doesn¡¯t?¡±

    ¡°Only tough assignments improve your evaluation scores. Since squares are rtively safe, they don¡¯t contribute much to promotions, unless something very special happens.¡±

    ¡°Ah, I see.¡±

    ¡°Well, I¡¯ll be going now.¡±

    Su-ho gave a polite bow and entered the square.

    Following the open path, he soon came across an ancient-looking portal.

    [You are entering the gate.]

    [Loading gate information.]

    [Swamp of the Mountain]

    ¨C Entry conditions: None.

    ¨C Maximum participants: 2.

    The Swamp of the Mountain was the sealed gate Su-ho had chosen to clear.

    Although it had no specific entry conditions, the maximum number of participants was limited to two.

    ¡°That¡¯s what makes it tricky.¡±

    As soon as Su-ho entered the gate, his surroundings began to shift.

    ***

    Upon entering the gate, Su-ho found himself enveloped in pitch-ck darkness.

    The surroundings were shrouded in shadows.

    But Su-ho quickly adjusted.

    [Due to the effects of Original Vampire, you are unaffected by darkness.]

    Thanks to the Vampire Effect, his vision adapted seamlessly to the dark environment, revealing the arched ceiling above him, shaped like that of a cave.

    However, this was no ordinary cave.

    ¡°Let¡¯s test the rumors, shall we?¡±

    ncing around, Su-ho summoned his Blood Sword and stabbed it into the wall of the gate¡¯s interior.

    That¡¯s when it happened.

    ¨C KUUOOOOOOOOHHH!!!

    The entire cavern began to tremble.

    A deafening scream reverberated through the space, tearing at the air.

    The sound echoed endlessly, as if the very walls of the gate were alive and reacting to his intrusion.

 Chapter 127

    But that wasn¡¯t all.

    RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE!

    As the ground trembled violently, a sound began to rise in the distance¡ªa sound like crashing waves.

    The sound wasn¡¯t that of ocean waves breaking on the shore.

    This was ¡°acid¡±¡ªthe corrosive kind found in hydrochloric acid.

    That¡¯s why this ce was called the Swamp of the Mountain.

    Su-ho scanned his surroundings.

    There was no ce to run.

    No ce to hide.

    No matter how fast someone might be, no one could outrun a deluge of liquid flooding in.

    The tide of acid surged toward Su-ho.

    CRASHHHHH!

    The wave filled the cavernpletely.

    There was nowhere to escape.

    The delugested several seconds before gradually receding, leaving the floor exposed once more.

    The surroundings fell silent.

    And in the wake of the acid wave, something new appeared¡ªa massive red basalt rock, towering as high as a person.

    It stood there like a boulder, though it hadn¡¯t been visible before.

    Then, the red basalt began to squirm.

    Much like gtin shifting and wobbling, it started to take on the shape of a person.

    Its transformation continued, resembling abat suit worn by soldiers.

    The transformation began at the feet, gradually covering the legs, torso, and finally moving up toward the head.

    But what emerged where one might expect a helmet wasn¡¯t a featureless mask.

    It was a human face.

    Su-ho¡¯s face.

    Encased in the red suit, Su-ho revealed only his face and muttered, ¡°Phew, the smell¡­¡±

    He wrinkled his nose in disgust¡ªnot because of the overwhelming tide of acid, but because of the stench that apanied it.

    No wonder.

    The ¡°acid¡± flooding the Swamp of the Mountain wasn¡¯t hydrochloric acid. It was gastric acid, the digestive fluid secreted by stomachs¡ªstomach acid.

    Su-ho nced again at the spot where he had stabbed the wall earlier with his Blood Sword.

    The surface wasn¡¯t a typical rocky cave wall but resembled the flesh of a living creature. The "wall" had split, revealing muscr tissue oozing with blood.

    Nodding to himself, Su-ho remarked, ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve seen a gut-themed gate.¡±

    A gut theme.

    That¡¯s exactly what this was.

    The Swamp of the Mountain wasn¡¯t an ordinary cave but rather the interior of a colossal living organism.

    That exined the wave of stomach acid and the anguished scream that had echoed through the cavern when Su-ho stabbed the wall.

    For any living creature, pain in the intestines was particrly excruciating.

    As Su-ho surveyed the ceiling, he thought to himself, ¡°This must be inside a Mega Worm, right?¡±

    The Mega Worm was a type of worm-like monster known for its characteristic ability to grow endlessly through feeding.

    That¡¯s why a gate with this kind of theme had formed.

    When a creature bes too massive, its interior can be perceived as a battlefield from a certain perspective, thus qualifying it as a gate.

    For this reason, the skill Su-ho had shown Jeong Cheol-min as justification for choosing this gate was his Blood Weapon.

    The stomach acid of a Mega Worm was potent enough to dissolve even the most robust equipment. Many yers had met their ends here, their gear and bodies alike reduced to nothing.

    However, Su-ho¡¯s Blood Weapon wasn¡¯t made of ordinary metal. It was a manifestation of his mana, shaped from his very blood.

    Thus, the stomach acid of a mere overgrown worm couldn¡¯t harm it.

    ¡°Well, if there¡¯s a massive stat gap, even I could bepletely dissolved.¡±

    Fortunately, Su-ho¡¯s red-grade mana provided ample protection.

    Based on Su-ho¡¯s knowledge, the Mega Worm¡¯s level was at most around the 1-star mark, far from threatening to him.

    Havingpleted his initial survey of the area, Su-ho manipted his Blood Weapon to extend and cover his entire face.

    This wasn¡¯t because he particrly enjoyed wearing a helmet but because he had no desire to endure the stench of stomach acid directly.

    ¡°Alright, time to move forward.¡±

    With his equipment secured, Su-ho began walking deeper into the Swamp of the Mountain.

    ***

    ¨C KUUOOOOOOHH!!

    CRASHHHHH!!

    The tide of acid surged once more.

    But Su-ho didn¡¯t dodge or retreat.

    Instead, he moved forward deliberately, steadily, like a rhinoceros charging with its horn.

    ¨C KUUOOOOOOHH!!

    CRASHHHHH!!

    The Mega Worm¡¯s cries echoed less frequently now.

    But the waves of acid continued to pour out without pause.

    It was inevitable.

    Su-ho had deliberately sharpened the soles of his shoes and was scraping them against the ground as he walked.

    ¡°Man, this thing is such a crybaby,¡± Su-ho muttered with a faint smirk.

    Why was he doing this?

    Simple. To provoke it.

    The Swamp of the Mountain gate required enduring at least several dozen waves of acid before transitioning to the second phase.

    ¡°The first reason this gate is so difficult to clear is the relentless waves of stomach acid.¡±

    With only two people allowed to enter, countlessbinations of teams had been tried over the years:

    <ul>

    <li>Tanker and healer.</li>

    <li>Tanker and tanker.</li>

    <li>Tanker and mage.</li>

    <li>Mage and healer.</li>

    <li>Mage and mage.</li>

    <li>Even healer and healer.</li>

    </ul>

    Yet nearly all of them had failed.

    The waves of acid, corrosive enough to dissolve even the most durable equipment, required top-tier magical defenses. However, very few mages or healers could endure the relentless onught of dozens of waves.

    It was then.

    ¨C KIKIKIKIKIIII!

    ¨C KIRRRRRRRRRRRR!

    Shrill cries echoed from deeper within.

    Monster howls.

    Su-ho¡¯s lips curved into a smile.

    ¡°Finally,¡± he said softly.

    After enduring countless waves of acid, Su-ho had walked through an endlessly long intestinal corridor.

    Atst, the guardians of the Swamp of the Mountain, heralds of the second phase, appeared.

    ¨C Parasite Lv.107

    ¨C Parasite Lv.103

    ¨C Parasite Lv.105

    ¡­

    The guardians of the swamp.

    They were none other than Parasites.

    Su-ho analyzed the situation.

    ¡°The second reason the Swamp of the Mountain is so difficult: after enduring the waves of acid, you¡¯re immediately assaulted by an endless swarm of parasites.¡±

    The creatures that emerged moved like clumps of hair caught in a drain¡ªwrithing and iling.

    But upon closer inspection, it became clear how grotesque they were.

    As the saying goes, ¡°Life is aedy from afar, but a tragedy up close.¡±

    Given the immense size of the Mega Worm, it was no surprise that its parasites were equally enormous.

    They resembled the parasitic worms found in whales but scaled up to a monstrous degree.

    And there were so many of them.

    Each parasite was asrge as a typical worm monster, and they never traveled alone.

    At minimum, they came in groups of ten or more.

    Su-ho, who had been advancing with only his bare hands, finally extended his right hand.

    The Blood Weapon in his body began to writhe, and soon a massive Blood Sword materialized in his grip.

    Without hesitation, Su-ho drove the sword into the wall beside him.

    ¨C KUUOOOOOOHH!!

    CRASHHHHH!!

    The Mega Worm let out another tortured scream as a fresh wave of acid poured forth.

    Simultaneously:

    ¨C KIAAAAAAA!!

    The parasites, enraged by Su-ho¡¯s actions, began to swarm toward him.

    Behind them, the tidal wave of stomach acid surged closer.

    Watching the chaotic scene unfold, Su-ho smirked and adjusted his stance.

    Taking a firm grip on his sword, he prepared to strike.

    ***

    [ Level Up! ]

    [ All stats increased by 1. ]

    [ You have earned 1 bonus stat. ]

    How much time had passed?

    After endlessly stabbing the Mega Worm and battling the Parasites, Su-ho¡¯s level finally increased.

    Now, Su-ho was level 99.

    He invested his bonus stat into stamina before continuing forward.

    ¡°Just one more level to reach 100.¡±

    Reaching level 100 would mark a turning point for any yer.

    At level 100, a yer¡¯s traits would evolve into a second-tier form, referred to as the Second Trait.

    For Su-ho, this was a moment of great curiosity.

    His unique trait, New Blood, was somethingpletely unprecedented, even to him.

    ¡°I wonder what form it will take when it evolves?¡±

    Su-ho looked around as he pressed forward.

    ¡°Still, this Mega Worm is holding out longer than I expected.¡±

    The Swamp of the Mountain was a sealed gate but not entirely unexplored.

    While it had no entry-level restrictions, it was eventually cleared in the distant future by two heavily armored tankers who managed to ovee its challenges.

    Thus, Su-ho already knew the general method for clearing this gate.

    ¡°The key is to push the Mega Worm to its limits until it forcibly ejects me from its body.¡±

    No creature could tolerate having its internal organs repeatedly stabbed.

    The strategy was simple yet effective: continually provoke the Mega Worm by attacking its insides until it had no choice but to expel the yer.

    To achieve this, Su-ho had sharpened his shoes and kept stabbing relentlessly.

    In the past, those tankers who cleared this gate reported that moving around and spreading out the attacks caused more irritation than targeting a single spot repeatedly.

    Once again, the Mega Worm roared.

    ¨C KUUOOOOOOHH!!

    CRASHHHHH!!

    Another wave of stomach acid surged forward.

    Su-ho, ustomed to this by now, reversed his grip on his sword and drove it into the wall, anchoring himself securely.

    The next wave of acid engulfed him entirely.

    THUD!!

    A heavy impact.

    Something collided with Su-ho.

    He couldn¡¯t see it.

    The waves of acid were murky and opaque, making it impossible to see anything during the surge.

    Even with the Original Vampire Effect, which negated the disadvantages of darkness, Su-ho couldn¡¯t ovee this visibility issue.

    ¡°What was that?¡±

    Was it a Parasite?

    It wasn¡¯t umon for Parasites to be swept up by the acid waves and collide with him.

    Judging by its size, it seemed usible.

    Gripping the embedded blood sword with his left hand, Su-ho summoned another blood sword into his right hand.

    [ Steel sh Activated. ]

    SLASH!

    The de connected with a heavy, solid resistance.

    Su-ho was certain he had cut something.

    Yet no system notification appeared, meaning he hadn¡¯t defeated an enemy.

    The system¡¯s alerts worked regardless of visibility, so the absence of a notification was unusual.

    When the acid wave finally subsided, Su-ho saw it.

    ¡°Hmm?¡±

    As the acid drained away, something remained on the ground ahead of him.

    A shriveled, desated form.

    It wasrge.

    Half of it had been cleanly severed, with the other half presumably carried away by the acid tide.

    ¡°What is this?¡±

    Curiosity piqued, Su-ho halted his movement to examine it closely.

    Ordinarily, he would have ignored it and continued forward, but he had been exploring this ce for quite some time and had never seen anything like it before.

    His eyes widened in recognition.

    ¡°This¡­!¡±

    The object before him was shriveled and hardened, making it difficult to identify at first nce.

    But Su-ho knew exactly what it was.

    It was a Body Worm (Chechung)¡ªa creature that lived inside the Mega Worm¡¯s body.

    ¡°A Body Worm? There are Body Worms here? But why does it look like this?¡±

    Body Worms were not pests but symbiotic organisms that lived harmoniously with massive creatures like the Mega Worm.

    They served as internal caretakers, much like the rtionship between crocodiles and plover birds.

    Su-ho had encountered Body Worms before.

    In the mid-tote stages of the Great Cataclysm, gates featuring massive creatures with interior-themed environments often appeared.

    In such cases, the guardians were usually Body Worms rather than external Parasites.

    Surveying the shriveled Body Worm and the countless Parasites around him, Su-ho finally realized the true nature of this gate.

    ¡°The main objective isn¡¯t the Mega Worm itself.¡±@@novelbin@@

    The true focus of this gate and its ultimate challengey in eradicating the Parasites that had overrun the Mega Worm¡¯s body.

    The Swamp of the Mountain¡¯s real conquesty not in defeating the host but in purging its invaders.

 Chapter 128

    Su-ho smirked to himself.

    ¡°So this was a Hidden Gate.¡±

    Hidden Gates weren¡¯t exclusively those concealed in obscure locations like the Blood Tower hidden within the Seoul Blood Bank.

    Gates with multiple, unorthodox conquest methods could also qualify as Hidden Gates.

    Initially, Su-ho hadn¡¯t realized this ce was one.

    He had chosen it merely because it was close to the Daehyun Association, had been conquered in his previous life, and was manageable given his current abilities.

    Who would have thought this gate would turn out to be a Hidden Gate?

    Even the presence of Parasites hadn¡¯t tipped him off.

    Parasites were rtivelymon in gates with internal body themes like this one.

    But discovering the desated corpse of the Body Worm had changed everything.

    As Su-ho ran his hand over the trembling, fleshy walls of the Mega Worm¡¯s intestines, he murmured,

    ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t realize.¡±

    In his previous life, the yers who had cleared this gate endured countless waves of stomach acid and swarms of Parasites for hours. They were eventually swept away by a massive acid surge and expelled through the Mega Worm¡¯s anus.@@novelbin@@

    Su-ho had assumed he would have to take the same approach.

    That¡¯s why he had been heading toward the intestines rather than the esophagus¡ªfilthy as it was, he wasn¡¯t going to give up on conquering the gate just because it was disgusting.

    But who would have thought there was a hidden method of clearing it?

    ¡°I guess it¡¯s time to change tactics.¡±

    Su-ho reshaped the sharp spikes on his shoe soles into t surfaces.

    Walking on sharp soles had been a convenient way to irritate the Mega Worm¡ªit allowed him to harm it just by walking.

    But that approach was no longer necessary.

    If his understanding of simr Parasite-based gates was correct, continuous assaults on the smaller creatures would eventually draw out the boss.

    He wanted to keep tormenting the intestines¡ªevery stab caused the Mega Worm to tremble and release more Parasites.

    However, if he continued, he would likely get expelled through the anus before reaching the real target.

    And Su-ho had no intention of enduring that indignity when the hidden rewards were within reach.

    Gripping his blood sword tightly, Su-ho broke into a sprint.

    [ Mana Detection Activated. ]

    Regretting the time he had wasted stabbing random internal walls, Su-ho focused his mana senses and began systematically exterminating the Parasites hiding throughout the Mega Worm¡¯s body.

    [ You have defeated a Parasite. ]

    [ You have defeated a Parasite. ]

    [ You have defeated a Parasite. ]

    [ You have defeated a Parasite. ]

    Each one fell effortlessly under Su-ho¡¯s de.

    The Parasites were not difficult to deal with¡ªthey were nothing more than Mini Worm-level creatures with soft, fleshy bodies that made them satisfying to cut.

    Even in groups, their levels¡ªhovering around the low 100s¡ªwere no match for Su-ho¡¯s strength.

    An idea suddenly struck him.

    ¡°This might turn into a prolonged battle¡­¡±

    Acting on his thought, Su-ho summoned Bulgasari, his loyal summon.

    ¡°Bulgasari.¡±

    ¡°Bulbul!¡±

    The small creature, about the size of a Maltese dog, responded to Su-ho¡¯s call.

    ¡°Grow bigger,¡± Su-homanded.

    ¡°Bulbul.¡±

    Bulgasari began to grow, swelling to the size of a pony.

    Mounting it, Su-ho asked, ¡°Am I too heavy?¡±

    ¡°Bulbul,¡± the creature shook its head.

    ¡°Good,¡± Su-ho replied. ¡°Let¡¯s run.¡±

    ¡°Bulbul!¡±

    With Su-ho riding atop it, Bulgasari charged forward.

    Su-ho shifted his weapon from the usual longsword to a whip-like flexible de.

    As Parasites swarmed toward him, he swung the weapon like a il.

    [ You have defeated a Parasite. ]

    [ You have defeated a Parasite. ]

    [ You have defeated a Parasite. ]

    [ You have defeated a Parasite. ]

    The momentum from the galloping mount made his strikes even sharper.

    The whip-de, a weapon Su-ho asionally used for variety, synergized perfectly with his mountedbat style.

    After some time, the notifications changed.

    [ Bulgasari has leveled up. ]

    [ Congrattions! Your summon has reached level 100. ]

    [ You are the first to raise a high-grade summon to level 100. ]

    [ For achieving this feat, the system rewards you with 5 bonus stats. ]

    [ Bulgasari gains a new evolution trait. ]

    Seeing the notifications, Su-ho smirked.

    ¡°Leveling it up didn¡¯t take long.¡±

    Summons didn¡¯t earn experience just by being summoned.

    They had to fight alongside their master to gain experience¡ª¡°no pain, no gain,¡± as the saying went.

    By riding Bulgasari and having it actively participate, Su-ho had ensured theirbat counted as a joint effort, maximizing its growth.

    ¡°Good work, Bulgasari,¡± Su-ho said, patting the creature.

    ¡°Bulbul.¡±

    After checking Bulgasari¡¯s evolution trait, Su-ho dismissed it back to its dimension.

    With its evolution in progress, there was no need to rush its development.

    Su-ho opened his status window and distributed the 5 bonus stat points, allocating 4 to stamina and 1 to mana.

    [ Your stamina stat has reached 100. ]

    [ Your stamina stat has evolved further. ]

    [ Congrattions! Your stamina stat is now Orange Grade. ]

    This marked Su-ho¡¯s second stat to reach Orange Grade.

    He reviewed his updated status.

    [ Su-ho An ]

    <ul>

    <li>Level: 99</li>

    <li>ss: Healer</li>

    <li>Traits: <New Blood>, <Candidate of Hercules></li>

    <li>Strength (O): 25</li>

    <li>Stamina (O): 1</li>

    <li>Mana (R): 63</li>

    <li>Perception (R): 61</li>

    <li>Bonus Stat: 0</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Now I just need to hit level 100 myself.¡±

    Although not nned, Bulgasari had reached level 100 before him.

    Now, it was Su-ho¡¯s turn to level up.

    As he finished adjusting his gear and stats, a notification interrupted his thoughts.

    [ Mana Detection Activated. ]

    ¡°Hmm?¡±

    Su-ho turned his head toward the source of the overwhelming mana signature.

    The ground and walls trembled.

    RUMBLE¡­

    At the far end of the tunnel, darkness spread like an encroaching tide.

    It wasn¡¯t true darkness, however¡ªit was a massive, living entity radiating intense vitality.

    As the colossal form approached, a system notification appeared before Su-ho¡¯s eyes.

    [ A Boss Monster has appeared. ]

    Su-ho¡¯s lips curled into a grin.

    ¡°Finally, you¡¯re here.¡±

    In his past life, no conquerors had ever encountered a boss monster in this gate.

    But now, standing right before Su-ho, was the unmistakable figure of the boss.

    This meant that the creature in front of him was likely the head of the Parasites he had been hunting.

    Su-ho immediately shifted his weapon back to its standard form, gripping the blood sword tightly.

    At that moment¡ª

    BOOM!

    The encroaching darkness rushed toward him like a freight train, mming directly into him.

    The impact was like a high-speed car crash.

    The pain was immense.

    The enormous entity filling the entire intestinal passage wasn¡¯t just darkness¡ªit was another Parasite.

    However, unlike the others, this one was massive.

    After being struck head-on, Su-ho finally got a clear look at the creature¡¯s namete:

    [ Mega Parasite Lv.131 ]

    The jet-ck monster, its massive head pressed firmly against Su-ho, continued its relentless charge forward.

    ROOOOAR!!

    [ The Mega Parasite uses a boss-level Fear aura. ]

    [ Dragon Blood activates. ]

    [ The mental effects of Fear are nullified by the Dragon Spirit effect of Dragon Blood. ]

    The Mega Parasite roared with a bone-rattling screech that seemed to tear at Su-ho¡¯s eardrums.

    If not for the protection of Dragon Blood, the mental assault would have left him incapacitated.

    Su-ho spat out a mouthful of blood that had risen from the deep recesses of his body.

    Almost being dragged along by the creature¡¯s momentum, he steadied himself atop its face.

    Gripping the blood sword in a reverse hold, he drove it toward the creature¡¯s forehead.

    CLANG!

    The strike was precise, but the de skidded off the creature¡¯s imprable hide, sparks flying.

    ¡°What the...?¡±

    Even as he thrust repeatedly at the monster¡¯s face, his attacks failed to prate its skin.

    ¡°How is this not cutting through?¡±

    The awkward angle was part of the problem.

    This wasn¡¯t a proper battlefield¡ªSu-ho was clinging to the nose of a rampaging monster, unable to use his full strength or body mechanics.

    ¡°If only I had solid footing, I¡¯d use my Steel Cutter skill¡­¡±

    An idea suddenly struck him.

    Switching the blood sword to his left hand, Su-ho extended his right hand.

    From the shadow beneath his palm, a dark weapon materialized, coalescing into his hand¡ªGuiyeong Spear.

    ¡°Let¡¯s see if you can handle this.¡±

    The conditions were perfect.

    The creature¡¯s massive body filled the passage, casting thick shadows.

    Using the darkness enveloping the Parasite¡¯s head as a foundation, Su-ho drove the Guiyeong Spear straight into its face.

    BOOM!

    [ Shadow Pration activates. ]

    A notification appeared, and Su-ho¡¯s grin widened.

    ¡°No matter how tough your hide is, it¡¯s no match for shadow-based attacks.¡±

    The spear pierced cleanly through the Parasite¡¯s forehead, emerging on the other side.

    ROOOOAR!!

    The Mega Parasite howled in pain, thrashing violently.

    [ Shadow Bleed activates. ]

    Although the conditions weren¡¯t met for Shadow Shackles, the Shadow Bleed effect began inflicting steady damage, leaving the creature in agony.

    Su-ho didn¡¯t let up.

    Gripping the Guiyeong Spear in a reverse hold, he relentlessly stabbed the Parasite¡¯s face.

    ROOOOAR!! ROOOOAR!!

    The Mega Parasite¡¯s howls grew louder, its speed slowing as it staggered under Su-ho¡¯s onught.

    The creature writhed in pain, its body twisting violently.

    Even the Mega Worm itself began to roar in anguish, affected by the Parasite¡¯s thrashing.

    Su-ho smirked as he raised the spear for another strike.

    ¡°Both of you are making quite a racket.¡±

    CRUNCH!

    He drove the Guiyeong Spear deep into the Parasite¡¯s forehead onest time.

    The monster finally stopped its charge, convulsing in ce.

    Su-ho leapt off the creature¡¯s face,nding some distance away.

    Drawing his blood sword, he lowered it to his hip, adopting a ready stance.

    Hoo¡­

    Taking a deep breath, Su-ho steadied himself.

    He had taken a solid hit earlier and wasn¡¯t about to let the battle drag on any longer.

    In a single, explosive movement, Su-ho unleashed his strike.

    [ Cloud sh activates. ]

    SWOOSH!

    A crimson arc split the air, bisecting everything in its path.

    The Mega Parasite¡¯s head and body were cleaved cleanly in two, along with the intestinal walls of the Mega Worm.

    SPLATTER!

    Blood and viscera sprayed as the creature copsed, utterly defeated.

    ¡°That¡¯s one way to end it.¡±

    Su-ho surveyed the aftermath, his blood sword still humming with residual energy.

 Chapter 129

    A red line, cutting across the horizon, sliced Su-ho¡¯s view in half.

    In the process, the Mega Parasite was also perfectly split in two, marking its end.

    [ Mega Parasite has been defeated. ]

    [ The Gate has been cleared. ]

    [ The MVP of the Gate clear is ''An Su-ho''. ]

    [ MVP designation grants additional experience points. ]

    [ MVP designation grants 1 bonus stat. ]

    [ Level Up! ]

    [ All stats have increased by 1. ]

    [ You have acquired 1 bonus stat. ]

    The system notifications flooded in.

    Su-ho¡¯s lips curled upward as he read them.

    These were notifications that the previous conquerors would never have seen.

    Unlike those who had been forcibly removed, Su-ho hadpleted the hidden condition by defeating the boss monster and proudly imed the MVP title.

    And that wasn''t all.

    [ Your level has reached 100. ]

    [ Congrattions on achieving a great feat! The system rewards you with 5 bonus stats. ]

    [ You have reached a significant milestone. ]

    [ ss quest is now active. ]

    [ Trait quest is now active. ]

    [ The first unlocking condition for the third power of Dragon''s Blood has been met. ]

    [ The first unlocking condition for Vampire''s Blood has been met. ]

    The system continued to chime with additional notifications.

    Thanks to reaching level 100, Su-ho couldn¡¯t hide his smile as he reviewed the sudden influx of alerts.

    "Finally, a rank 1 level," he thought.

    It was remarkably fastpared to his previous life.

    Su-ho opened his status window and began distributing his stats.

    [ An Su-ho ]

    ¨C Lv: 100

    ¨C ss: Healer

    ¨C Traits: <New Blood>, <Heracles Candidate>

    ¨C Strength (O): 26

    ¨C Vitality (O): 2

    ¨C Mana (R): 70

    ¨C Sensitivity (R): 62

    ¨C Bonus Stats: 0

    He invested all of his bonus stats into Mana.

    He closed the status window, satisfied, noticing the quest activation marks next to the ss and trait categories.

    Su-ho¡¯s gaze shifted to the now-dead Mega Parasite''s corpse.

    He summoned Guiyeong Spear and embedded it into the carcass.

    [ Guiyeong Spear reacts to the Mega Parasite''s shadow. ]

    [ Guiyeong Spear absorbs the Mega Parasite¡¯s shadow. ]

    The shadow feeding was nowplete.

    Su-ho then turned his attention to the now-split Mega Worm''s interior, which had once been a wall.

    "Hmm."

    Had the Mega Parasite been too reckless, hiding the pain of the cut?

    When it had been pierced by the Blood Sword earlier, it had screamed in agony. But now, no cries could be heard, not even the sounds of gastric acid waves.

    Su-ho moved closer to examine the cut surface.

    "Cleanly sliced."

    The cut was smooth, as if it had been done in one swift motion.

    Su-ho looked beyond the cross-section and saw the strangendscape thaty beyond.

    Beyond the cut.

    It wasn¡¯t the external part of the Mega Worm.

    Whaty beyond was another set of internal organs, sprawling in every direction.

    And it wasn¡¯t just that.

    The severed intestines began to wriggle, regenerating not long after the cut.

    This was why, in a gate themed around internal organs, no one could simply destroy the insides and escape.

    "Of course, if someone foolishly tries a power game approach, they might force their way out¡­"

    But no intelligent yer would make such a reckless move.

    First, no one knew whaty outside this gate, and if they failed to gain recognition for clearing it, all they''d aplish was wasting their energy and potentially destroying the entire gate.

    Just then, Guiyeong Spearpleted its feeding.

    [ Guiyeong Spear is enhanced. ]

    [ Guiyeong Spear haspletely absorbed the Mega Parasite¡¯s shadow. ]

    After the third-level ritual was unlocked recently, the enhancement was only minor, with no major changes.

    However, something more valuable was left behind at the site of absorption.

    That was the Mega Parasite''s carcass.

    Su-ho recalled Guiyeong Spear and retrieved a material item from his inventory.

    He held up none other than the monster lion¡¯s w.

    "Nothing better for piercing this tough exterior than this."

    Of course, with techniques like Cloud sh or Steel Cutter, he could easily slice through.

    But now, Su-ho was focused on loot gathering.

    If he had swung arge sword recklessly, the inside of the Mega Parasite could have been damaged, ruining the loot.

    Thus, when gathering loot, it was important to proceed like an archaeologist carefully excavating ruins.

    With this in mind, Su-ho gently sliced the Mega Parasite¡¯s body with the monster lion''s w. The skin, which had resisted even the Blood Sword, parted as easily as silk.

    Su-ho began to tear the creature¡¯s body apart with the w.

    Soon, he started to methodically rummage through its insides.

    Before long, he had collected some excellent loot.

    The first item was a magic stone.@@novelbin@@

    "Indeed, a boss monster''s magic stone is on a whole different level."

    A magic stone from a rank 1 boss monster, even if small, started at an S rank.

    Even if one had a lot of money, there was no reason not to take it.

    From S-rank magic stones onward, they weren¡¯t just for profit but valuable material items.

    Next, he secured the monster¡¯s heart.

    "Parasite-type monsters have regeneration abilities beyond those of trolls."

    It also had a special regenerative ability called "Meal Regeneration," which heals through consumption.

    But the most important loot had not yet appeared.

    After carefully examining the creature¡¯s body, Su-ho finally found what he had been searching for.

    It was a ck jewel, about the size of a melon, which Su-ho quickly checked.

    [ Unhatched Mega Parasite Egg ]

    An unhatched Mega Parasite egg.

    In order to hatch the egg, sufficient nutrition must be supplied, and the egg will absorb nutrition from its surroundings in response to life energy.

    Su-ho smiled after reading the item description.

    An unhatched Mega Parasite egg.

    It wasn¡¯t just any egg, but one from a giant parasite.

    "Depending on how it¡¯s used, it could be a deadly curse or a terror weapon."

    Su-ho carefully ced it into his inventory.

    He hadn¡¯te specifically for this, but he knew very well what it could be used for.

    That was enough.

    Having finished the loot gathering, Su-ho finally turned toward the portal leading out.

    ***

    Outside the Sealed Gate.

    How long had it been?

    Su-ho, who had said he¡¯d be back soon, took longer than expected, and just as everyone was about to drift off to sleep from waiting, the news finally came in.

    ¡°Oh, oh!¡±

    ¡°The Gate line is down!¡±

    ¡°The Gate has been cleared!¡±

    The soldiers on duty were the first to report the news about the gate being cleared.

    ¡°Yesss!!¡±

    Director Lim Yeon-hyun was particrly overjoyed.

    Seeing this, Jo Jin-hwi quickly grabbed his camera and captured the moment.

    Then, smiling, he asked, ¡°Is the fact that the Gate was cleared really that exciting to you?¡±

    ¡°Oh, of course! How can you even ask that?¡± Director Lim responded with a chuckle.

    ¡°Hmm, honestly, it looks to me like you''re more happy about finally being able to escape here,¡± Jo Jin-hwi teased.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s not entirely wrong¡­¡± Director Lim hesitated. ¡°Wait, can you not write that exactly as you just said?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯ll just be an article about ¡®a soldier celebrating the sessful clearing of the Sealed Gate¡¯ or something like that.¡±

    ¡°Well, thank goodness for that.¡±

    The two of them then headed toward the gate entrance to wait for Su-ho, and after finishing the follow-up shots with Jo Jin-hwi, they were able to leave the Sealed Zone.

    Jo Jin-hwi casually headed for the driver¡¯s seat and spoke.

    ¡°I¡¯ll drive on the way back.¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯ll drive. You can interview me while we¡¯re at it and save some time.¡±

    ¡°Is that so? But if you¡¯re tired, we can do the interviewter.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine, it¡¯s not that tiring.¡±

    ¡°Ah, I see, the pro¡¯s stamina¡­ Alright then, let¡¯s begin the interview. First off, how was the inside of the Gate? I heard that there are parasite creatures crawling around and waves of gastric acid that feel like sulfuric acid. How did you clear it this time?¡±

    Su-ho smiled naturally and started to exin how he had blended the methods used by previous conquerors with his own hidden tactics, without directly mentioning that it was a hidden strategy.

    Since the Mountain Swamp Gate had never been cleared in the current timeline, he couldn''t just say that he used a hidden method.

    ¡°Of course, Su-ho, so what came out of the Mega Parasite?¡± Jo Jin-hwi asked.

    ¡°From the Mega Parasite¡­¡± Su-ho began to answer but suddenly stopped.

    He thought for a moment before speaking to Jo Jin-hwi.

    ¡°Journalist.¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°How about preparing a special feature article this time?¡±

    ¡°A special article?¡± Jo Jin-hwi¡¯s eyes gleamed at the word.

    He quickly flipped to a new page in his notebook and grabbed his pen.

    ¡°What kind of special article do you have in mind?¡±

    ¡°A special article about thepensation for Gate-clearing civil servant hunters.¡±

    ¡°Compensation for Gate-clearing¡­ Wait, are you implying what I think you¡¯re implying?¡±

    As expected, Jo Jin-hwi, the expert on yer-rted journalism, picked up on it immediately.

    Su-ho nodded and continued, ¡°As you know, in our country, civil servant hunters have almost no rights over the Gates they clear. Unless the items are forcibly acquired by the system, everything they find inside the Gate must be returned to the state.¡±

    ¡°Right, and thispensation system only exists in our country, isn¡¯t that so?¡±

    ¡°Why do you think that is?¡±

    ¡°It seems like it¡¯s a problem created by people who don¡¯t understand the industry, makingws about awakened individuals here.¡±

    ¡°Exactly. And because of these outdated, unreasonablews, the poprity of national hunters has hit rock bottom. While the role of a hunter is noble and created for the benefit of humanity, where else can you find people as dedicated as national hunters?¡±

    ¡°True. All hunters deserve better treatment, but national hunters should at least receive the same respect as the military¡­ But this country has always treated patriots like dirt. It¡¯s the same with soldiers and firefighters.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s why I want to sketch out the blueprint for correcting this injustice.¡±

    Jo Jin-hwi chuckled lightly at Su-ho¡¯s words.

    ¡°You¡¯re actually telling me this early this time?¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t handle everything on my own for this one. I need your help.¡±

    ¡°Haha, something like this requires concrete examples andparison data, so it¡¯ll be a lot of work. But don¡¯t worry, you can count on me. Though¡­ you¡¯re nning to make a big reveal of itter, right?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯llbine it with other issues and drop it all at once. That way, people will actually pay attention.¡±

    ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll make sure to have a solid blueprint ready by then. And what about the Mountain Swamp Gate you just cleared?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll share the details as soon as I get the approval.¡±

    ¡°Alright. Thanks to this, I¡¯ll be quite busy for a while. If you want, I can even expand the special article. I can already see a lot of details I can work with, like including interviews with national hunters who couldn¡¯t even get properpensation and were forced to retire due to injuries.¡±

    As expected, Jo Jin-hwi was thorough.

    Su-houghed and replied, ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave it in your capable hands.¡±

    ¡°Of course, always happy to help.¡±

    Vroom!

    With that, Su-ho and Jo Jin-hwi headed straight for the Great Hunter Association.

 Chapter 130

    When they returned to the association, the entire Gate division was quiet.

    It was past working hours.

    ¡®Since there are a lot of field dispatches here, it¡¯s rare for people to stayte.¡¯

    It was actually a good thing.

    If no one was around, he could get his work done quietly.

    Just as he was about to head to his desk, a problem arose.

    ¡®...But where¡¯s my desk?¡¯

    He realized that he hadn¡¯t even been told where his desk was yet.

    Damn.

    He didn¡¯t want to call Cheol-min to ask where his desk was.

    Just then, as he was trying to figure out what to do, the conference room door opened and a familiar face appeared.

    It was Jeong Cheol-min.

    ¡°Team Leader?¡±

    ¡°Hey, you¡¯re back?¡±

    ¡°You haven¡¯t gone home yet?¡±

    ¡°Nope, not yet. So, you finished the Gate clear and came here directly?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, sort of... But, did you wait for me?¡±

    ¡°Well, kind of?¡±

    Surprisingly, Jeong Cheol-min really had been waiting for Su-ho.

    Since he thought Su-ho would probably clear the Gate today ande back to this ce.

    Checking the time, Cheol-min said, ¡°You¡¯re not toote. I guess it¡¯s because the Gate was in Seoul.¡±

    ¡°Still, didn¡¯t you just wait for me without knowing when my clearance would finish?¡±

    ¡°Come on, it¡¯s you. I thought you¡¯d finish quickly.¡±@@novelbin@@

    ¡°Even so¡­¡±

    ¡°Still, I wasn¡¯t just waiting for you. I¡¯ve been writing your report and catching up on some of the backlog paperwork. I¡¯ve been fairly busy.¡±

    Jeong Cheol-min smiled his usual warm, friendly smile.

    Though he said that, Su-ho knew the real reason was because of him.

    Because Cheol-min was that kind of person.

    So, Su-ho smiled back.

    ¡°Thank you. I was actually struggling to figure out where my desk is.¡±

    ¡°Oh, right. I sent you straight to work without telling you where your desk was because of Team Leader Im. In that sense, your desk is over there.¡±

    It was by the window.

    One of Su-ho¡¯s favorite spots.

    ¡°Nice.¡±

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure, so I even set up your desk while you were gone. You can set yourputer password, and... as for the handover of tasks¡­¡±

    Cheol-min, who had been continuing his sentence, awkwardly smiled and said,

    ¡°If you have any questions, just ask me. It¡¯ll be easier that way.¡±

    Su-ho understood why Cheol-min was acting so awkward.

    The problem of task handovers was one of the biggest issues in government institutions.

    ¡®People just delete the work they¡¯ve done or leave files all over the ce¡­ So when you¡¯re handed over the job, you end up starting from scratch.¡¯

    Why did this happen?

    It was simple.

    They just didn¡¯t want to take responsibility.

    If any problem urred with the assigned tasks, the previous person would just me it on the way they had done it, saying something like, ¡°Well, that¡¯s how the previous person did it¡­¡± and the ce would end up even more chaotic, especially when it came to task handovers.

    In his previous life, Su-ho had struggled a lot with paperwork.

    Though he had joined as a 9th-grade field employee, he couldn¡¯t avoid handling paperwork entirely.

    Still, he eventually mastered it.

    He was a public servant after all.

    Su-ho smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯ll try going through the manual first and if I can¡¯t figure something out, I¡¯ll ask you.¡±

    ¡°Good. Do that. But why are you here? There¡¯s nothing for you to do here.¡±

    ¡°Obviously, I came to write the Gate clearance report, right?¡±

    ¡°Eh? What do you mean? I said I¡¯d write that.¡±

    ¡°Eh? You weren¡¯t joking?¡±

    ¡°Am I the kind of person who jokes around with you? I wasn¡¯t kidding. While I was waiting for you, I got bored, so I actually wrote it. Want to see?¡±

    Jeong Cheol-min brought over the report he had written and showed it to Su-ho.

    Oh, man.

    He really wrote it.

    And not just that, he even marked parts where Su-ho could fill in the details.

    As expected from Cheol-min.

    His work was really efficient.

    However, despite how well Cheol-min worked, Su-ho couldn¡¯t help but feel guilty.

    He awkwardlyughed and said, ¡°Sorry. Even though I¡¯m your junior...¡±

    ¡°Here you go again. You¡¯re the one who went into a restricted area and worked hard. This is the least I can do to help you save face as your superior. Don¡¯t say that again.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, I¡¯ll work harder on clearing Gates.¡±

    ¡°Hmph, well, that wasn¡¯t what I meant... By the way, are you hurt anywhere?¡±

    Now that he mentioned it, Su-ho¡¯s appearance was clean and neat.

    Since he was such a tough guy, Cheol-min had overlooked it at first, but now that he thought about it, the Gate Su-ho had just cleared was the Mountain Swamp.

    Su-ho¡¯s Blood Weapon was made of materials that didn¡¯t corrode in the mountains, but his clothes or skin were a different story.

    To this, Su-ho wrapped his body with his Blood Weapon and said,

    ¡°I covered myself like this.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that only something you can use as a weapon?¡±

    ¡°I used it widely when I fought the monster lion. Didn¡¯t you see?¡±

    ¡°Ah, that¡¯s right. By the way, the more I see that Blood Weapon, the more amazing it is. So, can you really make anything with it?¡±

    ¡°Yeah?¡±

    ¡°Then could it make a back scratcher or a cross screwdriver?¡±

    ¡°¡­What?¡±

    A back scratcher and a cross screwdriver?

    He hadn¡¯t even thought about that¡­

    So, since the topic was brought up, Su-ho decided to give it a try.

    ¡°Want me to show you?¡±

    [ Blood Weapon activated. ]

    As the skill activated, Su-ho¡¯s Blood Weapon began to take form, slowly wriggling and transforming into a red back scratcher, exactly as Su-ho had imagined.

    Seeing this, Jeong Cheol-min was impressed.

    ¡°Wow, that red back scratcher is pretty.¡±

    ¡°Honestly, I think you¡¯re the only one who would think of a back scratcher when seeing this.¡±

    ¡°Why not? I use a back scratcher all the time. If this thing is used properly, it could be really convenient. Heck, you could even adjust the size, so it could be a toothpick or a spoon if needed.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­¡±

    Su-ho was left speechless.

    It was such a typical idea from Jeong Cheol-min.

    Su-ho shook his head and said, ¡°I really wouldn¡¯t want to use my Blood Weapon for that. Anyway, should I just add to this report?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. But can you even do it? Since you¡¯re here, why not just do it with me? Or you cane in tomorrow and do it. I¡¯m just saying, if we start now, it¡¯ll probably be toote.¡±

    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t mind¡­¡±

    Su-ho thought for a moment before saying,

    ¡°Team Leader.¡±

    ¡°Hmm?¡±

    ¡°Is it possible to dy submitting the report for a few days? Or maybe I could just clear one more Gate and submit everything together?¡±

    ¡°Why¡¯s that?¡±

    ¡°To be honest, I just hit level 100.¡±

    ¡°100? Really?¡±

    ¡°Yes, so I need to progress with my job quest. I figured, to proceed with what we¡¯ve nned, it¡¯d be better to handle the job quests and such first, and then continue with the rest.¡±

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s possible! Totally possible! Why didn¡¯t you tell me earlier! Congrattions on hitting level 100!¡±

    Level 100.

    This was an important milestone for a yer, marking a significant change in their traits and ss.

    Furthermore, from rank 1 yers onwards, they were weed by any guild or country.

    Even the Grand Hunter Association, though a bit outdated, didn¡¯t make a big deal out of such facts.

    Hunters were valuable human resources.

    Jeong Cheol-min said,

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you take a special leave for your singrity and get moving? Didn¡¯t you know? The Grand Hunter Association offers special leave for singrities.¡±

    ¡°I know. But it¡¯s only for three days.¡±

    ¡°Right... that¡¯s true.¡±

    Jeong Cheol-min¡¯s voice became quieter.

    He knew that three days wasn¡¯t enough to get everything done.

    Although the three-day period was based on statistics from the Bureau of Statistics...

    ¡®Every yer¡¯s singrity is different. How can everything be wrapped up in three days?¡¯

    Forrge guilds, when a yer reached their singrity, they typically gave them about fifteen days of leave.

    If more time was needed, it was extended.

    Of course, the Grand Hunter Association would also grant more time upon request, but...

    ¡®Submitting detailed documentation is a hassle.¡¯

    There¡¯s always the risk of statistical traps when working with data.

    However, Su-ho had already set his singrity to "Sword Path" through Pi Seong-yeol, even outside of official business.

    The "Sword Path" was amon trait for any swordsman, something Su-ho was very familiar with from his past life.

    If his actual trait was "Sword Path," three days would have been enough¡ªmaybe even just one day.

    The issue was that Su-ho''s trait wasn¡¯t "Sword Path."

    So three days might not be enough.

    Su-ho replied,

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m not sure how it¡¯ll turn out, so I¡¯d prefer to allow myself a little more time for preparation. My personal trait is Sword Path, but as you know, I¡¯m a healer, right?¡±

    ¡°Oh, right. That could create a variable. So, you¡¯re nning to insert the Sealed Gate in there?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that way, I¡¯ll have more leeway with the preparation and clearance periods.¡±

    Jeong Cheol-min paused, then smiled lightly and said,

    ¡°You¡¯re really straightforward.¡±

    ¡°Suddenly?¡±

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s just that your level is your business. You knew the singrity would happen once you cleared the Mountain Swamp Gate, right? But still, you went ahead and cleared the Gate and now you¡¯re asking for permission. You¡¯re¡­¡±

    Ha-ha.

    I may not be that straightforward, but I can see why Cheol-min would think that.

    However, Su-ho didn¡¯t vocalize the reason.

    Su-ho smiled and said,

    ¡°Even so, we¡¯re partners. I wouldn¡¯t deceive you, my superior.¡±

    ¡°I appreciate that, but if I had known, I would¡¯ve just said it from the start. I would¡¯ve set the n up properly before the Mountain Swamp.¡±

    ¡°Hey, it¡¯s wrong to receive consideration for something that hasn¡¯t even happened yet. This isn¡¯t a club, it¡¯s a workce, right? So, I thought it would be better to first focus on actual work and then handle my singrity issue afterward. By the way, the Gate candidates you showed in the meeting earlier¡ªcould I take another look at those?¡±

    ¡°Oh, sure.¡±

    Jeong Cheol-min brought over the materials, and Su-ho pointed to one of the Gate options.

    ¡°Here. The environmental characteristics make it a tough one to clear, and it will take time, right? It also had the longest yer stay times in the Gate. So, let¡¯s aim for this one and use that period to take care of my personal issues while we clear it.¡±

    ¡°Hm¡­¡±

    Jeong Cheol-min stroked his chin thoughtfully.

    Truthfully, it didn¡¯t matter which Sealed Gate they entered¡ªevery one of them was dangerous.

    Moreover, Jeong Cheol-min wasn¡¯t high enough level to even enter a Sealed Gate.

    So in the end, he would have to follow Su-ho¡¯s lead.

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s do that. Share the process and any required steps with me. I¡¯ll cooperate as much as I can. This is just between you and me, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯d really appreciate it.¡±

    ¡°Good. Then, you handle the details yourself¡­ By the way, do you have some time tomorrow?¡±

    ¡°For what?¡±

    ¡°You know the Shibo-tteok, right? I¡¯ve ordered it. Juste out tomorrow and take care of it.¡±

    ¡°Eh?¡±

    ¡°Juste and turn the wheel. I¡¯ve already paid, so don¡¯t feel pressured. Juste, stamp your presence, and turn the wheel. I know no one likes the Shibo-tteok tradition, but if you don¡¯t do it, you¡¯ll get looks from people.¡±

    ¡°Well, even so¡­¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s consider it my weing gift for you. It¡¯s the only thing I can do for you as your team leader. So, once again, congrattions on your promotion.¡±

    ¡°Team Leader¡­¡±

    Jeong Cheol-min awkwardly smiled and patted Su-ho¡¯s shoulder.

 Chapter 131

    The next day, Su-ho decided to go along with Jeong Cheol-min¡¯s suggestion.

    ¡°I¡¯m An Su-ho, the new vice-team leader of the Special Management Team 2,¡± Su-ho said, holding the cookies that Jeong Cheol-min had ordered for him and greeting the people in the department.

    Normally, he wouldn¡¯t have done this.

    It was a task he had tried to avoid, as he didn¡¯t have particrly fond memories of handing out Shibo-tteok before.

    But since Jeong Cheol-min had kindly ordered cookies for him, how could he pretend not to notice?

    ¡®Refusing to act humble to the end would be inappropriate as a junior.¡¯

    So, he epted Jeong Cheol-min¡¯s kindness and passed out the cookies.

    He greeted everyone properly and made sure to leave a good impression.

    People¡¯s reactions were positive.

    After all, Su-ho wasn¡¯t just a regr neer; he was a 5th-grade special recruit and, moreover, someone with influencer-level poprity.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t this from Queen¡¯s Bakery?¡±

    ¡°Wow, you can tell? Your taste is different from others!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m going to brag that I got cookies from a Sword Saint.¡±

    Especially, Team Leader Oh Bong-ju from the Special Management Team 1 was particrly pleased.

    ¡°Looks like Team 2 has great taste, huh? You¡¯ve learned well.¡±

    Ha-ha.

    It wasn¡¯t that Team 2 had great taste¡ªit was Jeong Cheol-min who had great taste.

    But not wanting to ruin the positive atmosphere, Su-ho responded with a smile.

    After handing out all the cookies and returning to his seat, Jeong Cheol-min greeted him with his usual warm smile.

    ¡°Did you pass out all the cookies?¡±

    ¡°Yes, thanks to you, I was able to hand out the Shibo-tteok sessfully. Thank you, Team Leader.¡±

    ¡°Thank you? But still, I appreciate you not refusing.¡±

    ¡°Well, it was a meal already prepared for me, so I had to do my part. By the way¡­¡±

    Su-ho looked at the empty seats in the Special Management Team 2.

    ¡°No one¡¯s here again today?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, everyone had to rush out to other sites.¡±

    ¡°Always so busy¡­¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s our job. And it¡¯s your future, too. By the way, since you¡¯ve handed out all the Shibo-tteok, are you heading out now?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s the n.¡±

    After checking the time, Jeong Cheol-min said, ¡°Great, then I¡¯m heading out to another region, so let¡¯s split up here. If anythinges up, contact me.¡±

    ¡°Yes, understood.¡±

    ¡°Alright, take care.¡±

    Jeong Cheol-min was usually out in the field.

    But he hade in briefly because of Su-ho.

    He and Su-ho had already discussed the n the day before.

    Su-ho would clear the ss and trait quests first, then tackle other Sealed Gates, submitting his reports all at once.

    This way, he could finish his singrity schedule without needing to take special leave.

    With that in mind, just as Su-ho was about to leave the department with Jeong Cheol-min¡­

    ¡°Su-ho, wait a moment.¡±

    Someone called for him.

    Turning around, it was Team Leader Oh Bong-ju from Team 1.

    ¡°Yes, what¡¯s up?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not much, but I just wanted to take a photo with you.¡±

    ¡°A photo?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m also a bit of a star, you know? I thought I¡¯d post a picture with the Shibo-tteok you gave me. Is that alright?¡±

    Oh Bong-ju smiled broadly.

    He was serious.

    He didn¡¯t want to miss a chance like this.

    Su-ho was about to refuse but then decided to just take one photo.

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re so cool, Su-ho.¡±

    After the photo was taken, Su-ho said, ¡°Thanks for rmending the Shibo-tteok, Team Leader. I followed your suggestion and bought Queen¡¯s Bakery products, and everyone¡¯s reaction has been great.¡±

    ¡°Ha-ha, right? Who else would have told you that? I¡¯ll keep helping you, so just trust me.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll be relying on your guidance moving forward.¡±

    Su-ho bowed politely and left the association.

    Then, he opened his phone and searched for Oh Bong-ju¡¯s Stargram ID.

    As expected, there was a post on Oh Bong-ju¡¯s feed with the photo they had just taken.

    ¨C Took a shot with Vice-Team Leader An Su-ho, who handed out Shibo-tteok! By the way, I told him to buy Queen¡¯s Bakery cookies~ haha.

    After seeing the post, Su-ho chuckled to himself and turned off the screen.

    ¡®Well, I guess he¡¯ll handle the aftermath.¡¯

    He had intended to forget about the Shibo-tteok situation, but since Oh Bong-ju was making it public, there was nothing to do but appreciate it.

    Oh Bong-ju probably didn¡¯t know how reckless his actions were.

    And soon enough, he would learn just how easily people misinterpret others'' good intentions, sometimes even in a negative light.

    ¡®But that¡¯s not my problem.¡¯

    Now, all he had to do was sit back, rx, and enjoy.

    Su-ho got into his car and headed home.

    The house was quiet.

    At this time, everyone would be at Paju for personal training.

    Su-ho quickly changed and headed to his basement practice room.

    He then checked his status window.

    ¡°Check status window.¡±

    [ An Su-ho ]

    ¨C Lv: 100

    ¨C ss: Healer

    ¨C Traits: <New Blood>, <Heracles Candidate>

    ¨C Strength (O): 26

    ¨C Vitality (O): 2

    ¨C Mana (R): 70

    ¨C Sensitivity (R): 62

    ¨C Bonus Stats: 0

    A ¡ø appeared next to the ss and trait sections.

    The triangle indicated that quests had been activated, and touching it would immediately trigger the rted quests.

    ¡®Let¡¯s start with the ss quest.¡¯

    As Su-ho touched the triangle next to the ss section, the following notifications appeared:

    [ ss quest has been activated. ]

    [ The system wants you to be stronger, as you now have the minimum qualifications. ]

    [ ¡ö¡ö wants to test you. ]

    [ Once you ept the test, trials to prove yourself will begin. ]

    [ Will you ept the trial? ]

    The system''s question.

    This was how the first singrity ss quest worked.

    That¡¯s why Su-ho hade home.

    Without any hesitation, he epted the challenge.

    [ You have epted the trial. ]

    [ Moving to the trial grounds. ]

    The system notification sounded, and in an instant, Su-ho¡¯s vision went ck.

    ***

    ¡°Ughhh!!¡±

    A sharp scream.

    At that moment, Su-ho¡¯s mind snapped back into focus.

    And what appeared before his eyes was nothing but a blood-soaked battlefield.

    BOOM!!

    ¡°AAAAAH!!¡±

    ¡°Monsters are invading!!¡±

    ¡°Everyone, counterattack!!¡±

    ¡°Do not retreat!!¡±

    The scene before Su-ho unfolded like the battlefield of orcs he had seen during the Hunter practical exam, except here, it was a deadly fight for survival between humans and monsters.

    ¡°Heal!! Heal!!¡±@@novelbin@@

    ¡°Help me!!¡±

    ¡°Hey, what are you doing there!!¡±

    ¡°Fight! Fight!! Everyone, get up!!¡±

    This wasn¡¯t the modern world. It was somewhere in another world, based on medieval Europe.

    Here, Su-ho wasn¡¯t Su-ho.

    He was one of the survivors¡ªhis limbs were thin, his body covered in wounds, but he still had enough strength to grip a sword, a shield, and bandages.

    At that moment, someone shouted at him.

    ¡°What are you doing! If your limbs are intact, grab a sword and get up! The monsters are attacking!¡±

    The person shouted, grabbed a sword, and rushed forward.

    And then, he began to fight desperately against the monsters trying to break through the barricade.

    Around that time, a sword appeared in Su-ho¡¯s field of vision.

    It seemed to be signaling for him to take it and move forward, just like the others.

    ¡°AAAAH!!¡±

    ¡°My arm! My arm!!¡±

    ¡°Help me! Please, someone help me!!¡±

    ¡°Medic¡­ Medic¡­!¡±

    At the same time, cries of pain started echoing around the battlefield.

    The wounds were deep and severe, and some were so infected they could make anyone gag.

    And then, Su-ho saw recovery potions and bandages scattered around.

    ¡®So this is how it works.¡¯

    It was as if he was being asked to choose between one or the other.

    No other choices were offered.

    Of course, there might be other options, like fleeing, but Su-ho knew that, in the first singrity for healers, these two choices were all there was.

    ¡®I heard the system determines the direction of my power based on my choices here.¡¯

    It was just like when he was granted traits.

    The system would observe, and the yer would prove their abilities and tendencies through action.

    Su-ho turned his head and looked around.

    This was the Monster Battlefield.

    This was the name of the ce.

    Every healer going through their first singrity had to go through this battlefield.

    In other words, that damned Saintess Isabe had also been here.

    ¡®And Isabe... she died while treating patients with bandages until the very end.¡¯

    Did she prioritize the patients¡¯ lives more than her own?

    Absolutely not.

    She was a nned yer created in Russia.

    In the great upheaval where powerful yers became a country¡¯s strength, there weren¡¯t many choices left for a declining nation.

    So, Russia and several other countries poured all their efforts into creating nned yers, and Isabe was born as humanity¡¯s greatest healer through that process.

    That¡¯s why there was no sincerity in her choices.

    Only a ruthless performance to make it look like she truly cared.

    ¡®Well, that was possible because she was from the KGB.¡¯

    To deceive the system, the outward appearance was the most important.

    The system judged solely based on what was visible.

    That¡¯s why the majority of the yers trained in Russia¡¯s yer cultivation project were former military personnel.

    Few countries forced self-hypnosis on their military the way Russia did.

    In that sense, Isabe was a KGB agent, and even though she was awakened as a yer and thrust into the project, she demonstrated the greatest ability among the project members.

    ¡®Individually, the Spetsnaz might have betterbat power, but the KGB, with its espionage work, excelled at acting and self-hypnosis.¡¯

    That¡¯s why she could hold bandages in the Monster Battlefield until the end.

    Su-ho raised his head and looked around.

    On one side, there were monsters trying to break through the barricade, and in front of them, people were fighting with weapons to push them back.

    On another side, there were wounded people crying in pain, and others were wrapping bandages and using medicine to try to save them.

    As time passed, the bodies would pile up, and the blood would turn into rivers.

    But Su-ho didn¡¯t hesitate.

    From the moment he decided to be a healer, he had already nned for the singrity.

    Su-ho picked up a sword lying nearby.

    [ The system is observing your actions. ]

    As Su-ho gripped the sword, the system message appeared.

    The system was watching, meaning he needed to be careful with his actions.

    But Su-ho¡¯s decision had already been made.

    ¡°Please... please, save me...!!¡±

    It was at that moment, as Su-ho picked up the sword, that a patient, who was closest to him, grabbed his pants leg and begged for help.

    The patient had been severely injured, with most of his lower body torn apart by a monster.

    The war zone was filled with blood and screams, and the kind of wounds this man had could never be healed with just ointment or bandages.

    But the man¡¯s will to live was more desperate than anyone else¡¯s.

    Su-ho knew that.

    And that was why he raised the sword.

    With the sword in hand, Su-ho swiftly cut down the man who had begged for help right in front of him.

    Swoosh!

    The sharp cutting sound of the sword.

    At the same time, the man¡¯s body, which had been screaming for his life, copsed limply to the ground.

 Chapter 132

    It continued like this.

    Su-ho continued to slice down one by one the people with irrecoverable wounds.

    ¡°What the hell are you doing!!¡±

    ¡°What are you doing right now!!¡±

    ¡°You madman!!¡±

    At Su-ho¡¯s sudden actions, people began to lose it.

    These were the people who had been holding bandages and healing ointments.

    They screamed at Su-ho after the people they were trying to heal died, their eyes wide with madness as they protested.

    However, Su-ho remained calm, his eyes shing with killing intent as he spoke.

    ¡°Open your eyes and look carefully.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°If you have eyes, open them and look properly. What you should be doing right now.¡±

    ¡°W-what are you talking about¡­¡±

    ¡°Look carefully!!¡±

    Su-ho pointed with his sword at the battlefield.

    At the tip of his sword, there wererades, each wielding their weapons, fighting against the monsters.

    ¡°What you should be doing right now isn¡¯t sitting around, bandaging wounds. Whether it¡¯s healing or providing aid, you can only do that after you¡¯ve survived. So stop pretending to be righteous, bandaging wounds, and pick up a weapon! Fight! Fight, survive, and after that, heal yourrades and families.¡±

    Su-ho spoke firmly, then shifted his gaze.

    He moved to another area and began taking patients away from those who were holding bandages instead of weapons.

    If anyone was too dazed to respond, Su-ho struck them to bring them back to their senses.

    As a result, people went into a frenzy.

    But as time passed, one by one, they began to gather themselves and picked up weapons.

    ¡°Y-yeah, you¡¯re right.¡±

    ¡°Only if we survive can we heal, or do anything.¡±

    ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    ¡°I was reckless.¡±

    It was a dramatic change.

    At the same time, the atmosphere began to shift drastically.

    The battle, which had been slowly tipping in favor of the monsters, started to push back the creatures as the people who had been distracted by healing joined the fight.

    However, not everyone joined.

    ¡°No!! No way!!¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s my brother! My brother!!¡±

    ¡°Would you do the same if it were your family? Would you do this to your family!!¡±

    There were people refusing to join.

    These were the people who had already suffered immense psychological trauma, unable to make rational decisions.

    Su-ho left them alone.

    If he took the patients from these people, they would turn into enemies.

    Su-ho made a calcted decision.

    ¡®Sacrifice? Sure, sacrifice is good. A healer¡¯s virtue is sacrifice, just like Isabe always emphasized. But what¡¯s the point of sacrifice if nothing is left in the end?¡¯

    Sacrifice is something that should be made when you can protect what needs protecting.

    That¡¯s why Su-ho picked up the sword.

    It may seem ruthless, but he had to cut down the patients.

    The ultimate goal of a healer was to save as many people as possible.

    And so, he chose this path.

    For the best possible oue.

    After finishing with the patients, Su-ho turned his sword toward the monsters and fought for a long time.

    He cut down monsters, cut down those who were hindering his allies, and cut down anyone he judged as an enemy.

    Throughout the process, there was no healing from Su-ho.

    Bandages and healing ointments appeared in his vision, but instead of that, he picked up a spear and swung his sword again.

    He saved hisrades and protected those beside him.

    Finally, when all the monsters on the battlefield were in, the survivors began to cheer.

    ¡°We won¡­?¡±

    ¡°We won¡­?¡±

    ¡°We¡­ we won!!¡±

    ¡°Yeah! We won!¡±

    ¡°We won!!¡±

    ¡°Yaaaay!!¡±

    The people began to cheer.

    The monsters were all dead, and the fighting had ended.

    But the celebration didn¡¯tst long. Instead of reveling in victory, people rushed to treat the wounded.

    Only then did Su-ho drop his sword and pick up the healing ointments and bandages.

    ¡°My hand! My hand!¡±

    ¡°Ughhh!¡±

    ¡°Painkillers! I need painkillers!¡±

    The aftermath wasn¡¯t a happy ending.

    The survivors treated their wounds and began rebuilding the ruins in order to live another day.

    At first nce, there was no joy left in them, nothing like the happiness of old.

    But...

    ¡°¡­Thank you.¡±

    ¡°Because of you, I could protect my little sister.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for before.¡±

    Surprisingly, one by one, people came up to Su-ho to express their gratitude.

    These were the ones who had been pped out of their stupor by Su-ho.

    Su-ho smiled lightly in response and continued with the healing activities.

    Yes.

    The monsters had passed, and there was no happiness like before.

    But still, they had a new hope.

    ¡°I¡¯m so d¡­ really d¡­¡±

    ¡°Thank you for surviving¡­ truly thank you¡­¡±

    ¡°Mom¡­¡±

    Su-ho quietly treated them.

    At the same time, he felt their emotions¡ªtheir joy, sorrow, anger, and love.

    Because of this, Su-ho had no regrets about his decision.

    In fact, he thought it was the right choice.@@novelbin@@

    And so, as he continued his healing work...

    [ The trial isplete. ]

    [ The system has finished its evaluation of you. ]

    [ The system has decided to open the path most suited for you. ]

    A sudden system notification appeared.

    At the same time, Su-ho¡¯s vision darkened again, and when his vision cleared once more, he found himself back in his basement practice room at home.

    ¡®It¡¯s over.¡¯

    He saw his own limbs¡ªstrong and sturdy, not the thin ones from before.

    It was all back to normal.

    Then, the next notification arrived.

    [ ss information has changed. ]

    [ You have been given a new name. ]

    [ You are now a Crusader. ]

    [ Congrattions! You are the first Crusader! ]

    [ Having achieved a great feat, the system has awarded you 10 bonus stats. ]

    [ As a reward forpleting the ss quest, you have received 5 additional bonus stats. ]

    [ You have learned Blessing (F). ]

    A flood of system notifications.

    The system¡¯s observation was over.

    At the same time, the ss quest had beenpleted, and Su-ho had sessfully transitioned from Healer to the new ss of ¡°Crusader.¡±

    Looking at his newly changed ss name, Su-ho smiled inwardly.

    ¡®Thank goodness. I really became a Crusader like this.¡¯

    Crusader.

    This was an extremely rare ss that only a few yers who walked the healer path could obtain.

    Usually, healers would transition into clerics, pdins, or monks based on the weapons they used, but rarely, the path of the Crusader would open up.

    Su-ho had aimed for the Crusader.

    No, he had aimed for it from the beginning.

    ¡®Among the routes a healer can take, there is no better route than Crusader.¡¯

    Clerics can obtain the most powerful healing skills on the healer tech tree, but they are specialized only in healing and support,ckingbat abilities, making them useless in battle.

    Pdins and monks are the same.

    They are specialized inbat but possess only a fraction of the healing power of a cleric, not even close to half.

    But the Crusader was different.

    Inbat, healing, and support, the Crusader showed above-average abilities in all aspects that a healer could have.

    However, despite such a good tech tree, humanity had barely seen the benefits of the Crusader ss.

    This was because the route to bing a Crusader was discovered only toward theter part of the great upheaval.

    ¡®Isabe regretted it a lot. She said that if she had known about the Crusader route earlier, she would have chosen it instead of the Cleric path.¡¯

    Su-ho recalled the first man to ever be a Crusader.

    He was a healer from the PMC mercenary group, and despite being a healer, he enjoyed fighting on the battlefield like Su-ho, eventually acquiring the Crusader route by chance.

    Thus, he was also known as the ¡°First Crusader.¡±

    Su-ho knew a lot about him.

    Despite his fame abroad, Su-ho had been interested in the Crusader ss itself.

    ¡®And that interest at the time became the foundation for where I am now.¡¯

    Thanks to that, Su-ho was now able to be the ¡°First Crusader¡± himself.

    Su-ho invested all 15 bonus stats he had obtained into his magic stat and updated his status window.

    [An Su-ho]

    ¨C Lv: 100

    ¨C ss: Crusader

    ¨C Traits¡ø: <New Blood>, <Heracles Candidate>

    ¨C Strength (O): 26

    ¨C Health (O): 2

    ¨C Magic (R): 85

    ¨C Sensitivity (R): 62

    ¨C Bonus Stats: 0

    With the ss name changed, the triangle indicator next to it disappeared.

    Thanks to being the first to take the Crusader path, the bonus stats he received were substantial, and his magic stat had reached 85.

    Now, he had just be a 1st-tier yer, but his growth was so much more remarkable than in his past life.

    Su-ho then proceeded to check the newly obtained skill information.

    [Blessing]

    ¨C Grade: F

    Crusader-only skill

    While magic is being consumed, all stats increase by 10%.

    A simple exnation.

    However, the fact that it was a Crusader-exclusive skill was enough to exin its value.

    ¡®I guess if I had be a Cleric, I would have received stronger healing skills.¡¯

    But it was okay.

    He felt no regret for the skills he didn¡¯t obtain.

    After all, Su-ho had already made solid preparations for the skills that could only be obtained by taking the Cleric route.

    ¡®The ss quest is done now... next is the trait quest, I guess?¡¯

    Su-ho opened his status window again and clicked the triangle next to the trait section.

    [Trait Quest is now activated.]

    [This is a one-of-a-kind trait.]

    [Exclusive quest activated.]

    [Evolving Blood]

    ¨C Difficulty: S

    Unlock the third power of Dragon¡¯s Blood.

    Unlock the second power of Vampire Blood.

    The quest window appeared in front of Su-ho.

    Reading through it, Su-ho narrowed his eyes.

    ¡°Hmmm¡­¡±

    The quest content wasn¡¯t particrly unusual.

    There were asionally trait quests like this, which set conditions to enhance skill options.

    But such quests were mostly utility types, often linked to crafting skills.

    ¡®Is it because it¡¯s a unique trait?¡¯

    Given the current situation, Su-ho guessed that it probably was.

    Since everything about New Blood and Dragon¡¯s Blood was new, there wasn¡¯t much additional information avable.

    So, the difficulty was rated S.

    ¡®But if I remember correctly, the conditions for unlocking both Dragon¡¯s Blood and Vampire Blood were listed as unknown¡­¡¯

    With that thought, he checked the information on Dragon¡¯s Blood.

    [Dragon¡¯s Blood]

    ¨C Grade: S+

    The bloodline of a great dragon.

    Those with Dragon¡¯s Blood, though not born as dragons, can wield the power of dragons depending on their efforts.

    Lv.1 ¨C Dragon Blood: Intimidation (S), Dragon¡¯s Spirit (S).

    Lv.2 ¨C Dragon Armor: Dragon Kin (S), Dragon Skin (S).

    Lv.3 ¨C [ ??? ]

    : Locked

    ©¸ Unlock conditions

    ¢Ù Reach Level 100.

    ¢Ú Defeat the true dragon.

    Lv.4...

    As Su-ho read through the Dragon¡¯s Blood information, his eyes widened.

    Clearly, the previously hidden conditions for unlocking the third level of power had now been revealed.

    ¡®Could it be the same for Vampire Blood?¡¯

    Curious, he checked the information on Vampire Blood as well.

    Much to his surprise, Vampire Blood also had the same ¡°unknown¡± condition listed.

    After seeing both sets of information, Su-ho smiled.

    ¡®Now this changes things.¡¯

    Su-ho raised the corner of his mouth and immediately pulled out his phone to call Choi Yoon.

 Chapter 133

    Su-ho spoke to Choi Yun after she answered the phone.

    ¨C Why?

    Her tone was blunt.

    It was understandable. At one time, Su-ho wished that she would contact him more often, but after he pushed himself too hard while going on gate raids, she hadpletely gotten tired of him. So, when he contacted her again within just a few days after jokingly telling him not to contact her anymore, her reaction was not surprising.

    However, Su-ho didn¡¯t mind at all and replied:

    ¡°I need you to find a gate for me.¡±

    ¨C Another gate?

    ¡°Is that a problem?¡±

    ¨C No, it''s not that... You know why I¡¯m reacting this way, right?

    ¡°This time, just one gate.¡±

    ¨C ¡­Really?

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¨C Hm, in that case, I can find one for you quickly. But is that really all the conditions?

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s all.¡±

    ¨C Alright. I¡¯ll contact you by tonight if I can find it, or by tomorrow noon at thetest.

    ¡°Thank you. By the way, have any of the gates I previously asked about been found?¡±

    ¨C You mean the vampire, poison, and full moon gates?

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¨C Not yet. I¡¯ll contact you as soon as I find any of those.

    ¡°Please, I appreciate it.¡±

    ¨C I¡¯ll look for them along with the new request.

    The call ended.

    Su-ho nodded and put his phone away. He then activated the Library of Memories after a long time, thinking to himself:

    ¡®Choi Yun will take care of the gate, but the remaining issue is with the person...¡¯

    When he saw the newly activated characteristic quest, Su-ho immediately figured out the perfect strategy toplete it.

    That''s why he had asked Choi Yun for help.

    However, toplete the quest, not only the gate but also a suitable person was required.

    As Su-ho browsed through the Library of Memories for a while, his gaze stopped at one entry.

    ¡®This person?¡¯

    A smile appeared on Su-ho¡¯s face.

    He had found someone perfectly suited for the conditions of this quest.

    Su-ho organized the person¡¯s details and then immediately started preparing for tracking.

    <ul>

    <li></li>

    </ul>

    A car drove into a quiet, sparsely popted hillside.

    It was Su-ho''s car.

    Havingpleted his preparations, Su-ho drove to Gwangju, Gyeonggi-do, specifically to Gonjiam.

    He parked his car at the designated address after following the navigation.

    The address led him to Shin Daeri in Gonjiam.

    This area was ssified as a rural town, so there wasn¡¯t much foot traffic, but there was an oldndmark that had been famous for a long time.

    Thatndmark was the Gonjiam Psychiatric Hospital.

    Frequently used as a setting in ghost stories and horror films, the Gonjiam Psychiatric Hospital had been demolished for years, but it still attracted visitors as a kind of eerie tourist destination.

    However, such visits had be rare now.

    The reason was the appearance of a massive gate that had torn the Gonjiam area to shreds long ago.

    ¡®It caused a lot of casualties before it was finally cleared.¡¯

    Anyway, the gate had been cleared.

    But perhaps because of the huge number of casualties at the time, or because of the aftermath of the Gate Shock that followed, people had started leaving the area.

    Now, Gonjiam was almost deserted, with no one to be found.

    However, the person Su-ho was looking for was here.

    Su-ho reached a point where it seemed impossible for cars to enter anymore, so he got out of the car and began to slowly climb the hill.

    The Gonjiam hillside was quiet.@@novelbin@@

    Although birds should have been heard, the area had an eerie atmosphere, with a chill in the air even though it was still before sunset.

    Su-ho didn¡¯t mind this at all.

    After climbing the hill for a while, he finally found what he had been looking for.

    Su-ho smiled as he saw a massive wall in front of him.

    The tall wall, reminiscent of a wealthy neighborhood in Seongbuk District, was clearly man-made.

    Su-ho walked along the wall, searching for an entrance.

    But no matter how much he searched, the entrance was nowhere to be found.

    At this point, it was clear there was no entrance.

    So, Su-ho simply decided to climb over the wall.

    Climbing over wasn¡¯t difficult.

    The wall was high, but that didn¡¯t matter.

    Like a ninja, Su-ho lightly scaled the wall and finallynded on the other side.

    At that moment...

    Kugugugu...

    The ground trembled slightly, and the sound of dirt crumbling was heard.

    It was a faint noise that would be hard to detect unless one was very sensitive, but Su-ho clearly heard it.

    Turning his head toward the sound, Su-ho smiled in satisfaction at what he saw.

    "I found it."

    Emerging from the broken dirt were skeletons.

    Upon seeing them, Su-ho used his Blood Weapon to summon his Blood Sword.

    ¡°Can you see me with the shared vision? You won''t be able to stop me with just these. If you know who I am, juste out quietly.¡±

    But no response came.

    Only the skeletons, each holding a weapon, slowly approached Su-ho.

    Su-ho rested the Blood Sword on his shoulder and nodded.

    Well, he hadn¡¯t expected them toe out so easily.

    Anyone hiding in a ce like this wouldn¡¯t just appear on the first try.

    So, Su-ho decided to force them out.

    After speaking, he secured his Blood Sword at his waist and assumed a stance.

    [Cloud Cut activated.]

    Swoosh!

    The Blood Sword swung, creating a red arc.

    Simultaneously, every being within the path was split at a sharp angle, showing clean cuts.

    [Rising Skeletons defeated.]

    [Rising Skeletons defeated.]

    [Rising Skeletons defeated.]

    [Rising Skeletons defeated.]

    ...

    A flood of notifications filled Su-ho¡¯s view.

    Seeing the notifications, Su-ho became more convinced.

    The skeletons he had in were not regr skeletons, but ¡®Rising Skeletons.¡¯ These were summoned minions, not monsters provided by the system, but ones summoned by a yer.

    ¡®Let¡¯s see how long theyst.¡¯

    Su-ho swung his sword and moved forward.

    *

    How much time had passed?

    Bang!

    Bang¡ª!

    Kwang¡ª!!

    After Su-ho had climbed over the wall, he started tearing up the area, cutting down skeletons and disabling traps by the hundreds.

    Yet, despite all of this, the master of the skeletons never revealed themselves.

    ¡®This is really annoying.¡¯

    Normally, if things had escted to this point, it would be expected for the owner of the skeletons to reveal themselves out of anger.

    But the owner remained hidden.

    After some time, Su-ho finally discovered what the wall had been guarding.

    A mansion.

    No, rather, it would be more appropriate to call it a grand mansion.

    After advancing for a while, Su-ho found a massive mansion that seemed out of ce in the Gonjiam hillside area.

    ¡°Guess they¡¯re not called hikikomori for nothing...¡±

    Su-ho shook his head as he stepped into the garden of the mansion. At that moment, skeletons that had been hidden throughout the garden began to reveal themselves.

    ¡°Hah, the audacity...¡±

    With a sigh, Su-ho swung his sword.

    [Rising Skeleton defeated.]

    [Rising Skeleton defeated.]

    [Rising Skeleton defeated.]

    [Rising Skeleton defeated.]

    ...

    None of the skeletons could stop Su-ho.

    After cutting down all the skeletons in his path, he confidently approached the mansion¡¯srge door and opened it.

    The interior of the mansion was dark, quiet, and eerie, resembling an abandoned haunted house.

    However, the darkness wasn¡¯t much of an obstacle for Su-ho.

    [Due to the Original Vampire effect, you are not affected by the limitations of darkness.]

    With the effect of his skill, Su-ho¡¯s vision brightened as if it were daylight, and he activated another skill.

    [Mana Detection activated.]

    By activating his mana senses, Su-ho detected skeletons and traps hidden all over the mansion.

    He clicked his tongue.

    ¡®They¡¯ve really made this a hassle.¡¯

    He decided to suppress his frustration.

    ¡®Let¡¯s be patient. The only thing Ick right now is time.¡¯

    He decided to speed up a bit.

    At this point, the one hiding wouldn¡¯te out anyway. It would be faster to force them out directly.

    With that, Su-ho increased his pace and started locating all the mana-detectable targets in the house.

    If it was a skeleton, he shed it. If it was a trap, he destroyed it.

    By the time he searched through the first floor and down to the basement, he was almost done with the second floor of the mansion.

    ¡®Only one ce left.¡¯

    There was only one room remaining.

    Located at the farthest corner of the second floor, this room was the most distant from the mansion¡¯s entrance.

    Su-ho approached without hesitation and opened the door.

    It was a library.

    The room, reminiscent of a small library, was filled with books. At the farthest end, there was an intense mana aura emanating from the area.

    This must be the mansion¡¯s master.

    Su-ho squinted, trying to gauge the height of the energy source.

    Then, without any hesitation, he swung his sword.

    Swoosh!

    The de struck the bookshelves in the room.

    At that moment¡ª

    Kugugugu¡ª! Bang!

    The bookshelves, shed at an angle, copsed, sending a cloud of dust into the air.

    Su-ho used his swordwind to blow the dust away.

    The room was still dark.

    The master of the mansion remained crouched in the shadows, but for Su-ho, unaffected by the darkness, everything was visible.

    Su-ho spoke while keeping his distance.

    ¡°Gong Da-won, I can see you crouching there. I won¡¯t get any closer. Let¡¯s talk for a moment.¡±

    Gong Da-won.

    He was the very reason Su-ho hade to Gonjiam for this characteristic quest.

    A level 100 necromancer yer, Gong Da-won was someone Su-ho needed for unlocking the Dragon Blood feature as part of his quest.

    ¡°...¡±

    However, there was no reply to Su-ho¡¯s question.

    Su-ho asked again.

    ¡°Gong Da-won?¡±

    ¡°I¡ª I don¡¯t want to...¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°I¡ªI don¡¯t want to!!¡±

    Suddenly, Gong Da-won screamed.

    At the same time:

    [yer Gong Da-won activates Necro Field.]

    Kugugugu¡ª!!

    Gong Da-won activated Necro Field.

    Necro Field was a wide-area skill that, as long as the caster¡¯s mana supported it, continuously summoned undead in a set area. It was a terrifying skill.

    As a result:

    Shudder, shudder...

    The sounds of rattling bones.

    In the library, hidden skeleton soldiers began to rise, grabbing their weapons and standing at attention for their master.

    Su-ho sighed, cing a hand on his forehead.

    ¡°Hah, this is crazy¡­¡±

    This was why necromancers were so troublesome.

    That¡¯s why Su-ho decided it was time to stop ying nice.

    He had acted gentlemanly enough. The refusal came from their side.

    ¡°I gave you plenty of chances.¡±

    Having made his decision, Su-ho swung his Blood Sword with force.

    [Cloud sh activated.]

    Swoosh¡ª!

    With one sh, the summoned undead were instantly decimated.

    And...

    ¡°Gahh!¡±

    Gong Da-won himself was struck by the Cloud sh, falling forward, bleeding.

    [Necro Field is deactivated.]

    The Necro Field was dispelled.

    The situation was over.

    Of course, Su-ho didn¡¯t kill him.

    He had deliberately controlled his strength.

    Su-ho approached Gong Da-won, who was lying on the floor and squirming.

 Chapter 134

    "Ugh... ughhh..."

    Gong Da-won, who had been cut by the sword, was curled up on the floor, groaning in pain.

    Su-ho watched this scene for a while.

    He was observing his wounds.

    "Stop exaggerating... you weren''t even cut that deeply."

    It was true.

    How carefully had he controlled his strength?

    But Gong Da-won was gasping for air as though he was about to die, and so Su-ho used a skill on him.

    [Heal activated.]

    Woosh!

    As the healing light enveloped Gong Da-won, his health and wounds started to heal.@@novelbin@@

    Su-ho spoke as he healed him.

    "You weren''t even cut that deeply, so stop overreacting."

    "Ugh... why... why are you... doing this to me...?"

    "You know the reason better than anyone, Gong Da-won."

    "I-I don¡¯t know...! I really don¡¯t know anything...!"

    Despite the healing, Gong Da-won remained curled up, trembling with fear.

    Su-ho looked down at him with a troubled expression.

    His name was Gong Da-won.

    He was a level 100, 1-star necromancer yer and wouldter be known as the ''Gonjiam Lord'' or the ''Gonjiam Necromancer.''

    However, more fitting than those titles was the nickname ''Paranoid Necromancer.''

    Su-ho recalled the information about Gong Da-won that he had seen in the Library of Memory.

    "He was originally a normal person, but he suffered a severe head injury in a gate and ended up like this."

    It was true.

    He had been struck in the back of the head duringbat, and hearing about it didn''t do justice to how severe the injury was when Su-ho saw it in person.

    "Such a shame. Mental illness is something I can¡¯t cure, even with my current abilities."

    ording to the records, Gong Da-won was suffering from a severe delusional disorder.

    For example, he believed that everyone in the world was trying to harm him.

    Because of this, his paranoia grew, and he entered Gonjiam, using his abilities to create a fortress and hide away.

    From a certain point of view, there wasn''t much of an issue.

    He was just one of many hunters who retired due to injury and, in modern society, he was no different from any mentally ill person suffering from delusions.

    However, the problem arose from the abilities he was using.

    ¡®The "Rising Series," which involves using actual corpses, is one of the banned techniques in our country.¡¯

    The Rising Series was a skill that allowed a necromancer to raise undead from actual corpses and turn them into skeletons and zombies. It was strictly forbidden under currentws in South Korea.

    Of course, using it inside a gate, wherebat was allowed, was fine, as the gate was considered a wartime scenario.

    But outside of a gate, it was strictly prohibited.

    The reason was that using actual corpses vited human dignity.

    ¡®Gonjiam... I heard there were many uncollected bodies from therge gate that tore through this area in the past.¡¯

    Was it a coincidence that Gong Da-won ended up in Gonjiam?

    It didn''t matter.

    What was important was that he was using his abilities to raise bodies of unknown origin and turn them into his minions, which was the real issue.

    Of course, Su-ho didn¡¯te to see Gong Da-won to use him of any crimes.

    Su-ho was here purely because of his characteristic quest.

    Su-ho asked:

    ¡°Gong Da-won, do you have a ¡®Bone Dragon¡¯ among the undead you¡¯ve summoned?¡±

    ¡°B-Bone Dragon?¡±

    ¡°Yes, a Bone Dragon.¡±

    ¡°No... not something so... amazing...¡±

    ¡°Then do you have any Beast-type skeletons?¡±

    ¡°B-Beast-type... yes, I do.¡±

    ¡°Please show me.¡±

    ¡°W-Why...?¡±

    ¡°If you don¡¯t, I will kill you, Gong Da-won.¡±

    ¡°Ah... ah...!¡±

    Dealing with a mentally ill person might seem difficult at first nce.

    But dealing with Gong Da-won, who had a delusional disorder, was surprisingly easy.

    After all, he had entered the Gonjiam hillside and built a fortress because he believed someone would try to harm him. Su-ho, with his overwhelming power, threatened to kill him, and Gong Da-won, wanting to live, had no choice but toply.

    Shaking with fear, Gong Da-won started to bring out the Beast-type skeletons he had stored in his space.

    ¡°Hm.¡±

    Beast-type skeletons.

    There were many types.

    From wolves to tigers and even elephants.

    It looked like he had looted the Gonjiam zoo or something.

    Su-ho nodded as he looked at them.

    "Which of these skeletons is the hardest to control?"

    ¡°T-that one...¡±

    At Su-ho¡¯s question, Gong Da-won pointed to a specific skeleton.

    It was simr in size to an elephant, and as soon as Su-ho saw it, he immediately recognized its original form.

    ¡°A troll?¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes¡­¡±

    Su-ho nodded in satisfaction after seeing the troll skeleton.

    That was enough for him.

    Su-ho spoke:

    ¡°Gong Da-won.¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes?¡±

    ¡°It would be better if you rested for a bit.¡±

    Su-ho struck the back of his neck, knocking him unconscious.

    As a result, the necromancer¡¯s skills were canceled, and the summoned skeletons reverted back to their original skeletal form.

    Su-ho left the unconscious Gong Da-won behind and walked toward the window, which was covered by curtains.

    He opened the window wide and looked out at the Gonjiam hillside area.

    ¡°Hm.¡±

    After a brief moment of contemtion, Su-ho made a call.

    *

    ¡°Ugh...¡±

    How long had he been unconscious?

    Gong Da-won slowly began to regain his senses.

    However, as soon as he came to, the face of Su-ho, the one who had attacked him, shed in his mind.

    ¡°No, no!!¡±

    The moment he remembered Su-ho¡¯s face, Gong Da-won¡¯s breath became rapid and his blood pressure began to rise.

    The thought chain that Su-ho was going to kill him quickly set off extreme stress.

    But at that moment...

    ¡°...Huh?¡±

    It was as if the air had been let out of a balloon. His anxiety dissipated in an instant.

    At the same time, his mind became clear.

    It was an odd sensation he had never experienced before.

    It felt like he had taken some kind of tranquilizer, and Gong Da-won looked around in bewilderment, eyes wide open.

    ¡°Wh-what is this? How... how is this...?¡±

    ¡°Are you feeling calmer now?¡±

    ¡°Y-yes?¡±

    Gong Da-won turned his head toward the voice, and there stood Su-ho.

    Upon seeing Su-ho, Gong Da-won¡¯s anxiety disorder triggered once more, and his breath became erratic, and his blood pressure spiked.

    Su-ho, seeing this, used an item.

    [Ring of Emotions activated: Responds to the subject¡¯s most intense emotion.]

    [Can absorb the emotion ''ck''.]

    [Absorbing emotions from the subject.]

    The item Su-ho used was the Ring of Emotions.

    As soon as Gong Da-won was about to have another breakdown, Su-ho quickly used the Ring of Emotions to absorb all of his negative energy, the ''ck.''

    ¡®Definitely, mental illness is mental illness. I extracted the highest-grade ck just a moment ago, and now it''s already filled again with this much high-grade ck.¡¯

    Su-ho was d to have the Ring of Emotions.

    If he didn¡¯t have it, the only thing Su-ho could have done when Gong Da-won started to panic would have been to knock him out with a blow to the neck.

    Looking at Gong Da-won, Su-ho spoke.

    ¡°How about it? Are you feeling better now?¡±

    ¡°Y-yes... But... how... how is this...?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s because I did something for you. But more importantly, I need to ask you for a favor. Would you listen to it?¡±

    ¡°A favor...?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I need to kill a Bone Dragon due to my circumstances. So, Gong Da-won, I was hoping you could create a Bone Dragon for me.¡±

    ¡°...What?¡±

    Su-ho wasn¡¯t joking.

    He was serious.

    The reason for this was because one of the conditions for unlocking the third power of Dragon¡¯s Blood, part of his characteristic quest, was to ¡°y a Bone Dragon.¡±

    ¡®But realistically, how could I possibly meet a Bone Dragon right now?¡¯

    Bone Dragon.

    Su-ho had seen one once in his life.

    But its level was in the hundreds, and the only time he saw it was in thete stages of the Great Cataclysm.

    Now, to hunt one of those?

    That was out of the question.

    ¡®The system doesn''t give quests that yers can''tplete.¡¯

    Despite its appearance, the system was quite clever and fair. It only gave trials that yers could realistically ovee.

    So, depending on how the conditions of this quest were interpreted, the difficulty could vary greatly.

    ¡®I also know what the system¡¯s intention is.¡¯

    Gong Da-won looked at Su-ho in disbelief.

    ¡°W-Wait, how would I create a Bone Dragon?¡±

    ¡°Why can''t you? You''re a Necromancer yer, Gong Da-won.¡±

    ¡°But... how can I...! Even Daniel, the number one ranked Necromancer in the world, said he hasn¡¯t even seen a Bone Dragon, let alone create one!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re a 1-star yer. And if you can control a Troll Skeleton, you should be able to manage a Bone Dragon.¡±

    ¡°But... how would I do that?¡±

    ¡°You can use a sub-species of a dragon, not a real dragon.¡±

    ¡°Wha...?¡±

    ¡°Look around.¡±

    At Su-ho¡¯s words, Gong Da-won finally looked around the room.

    His eyes widened in shock.

    ¡°W-wait... what...?¡±

    ¡°Do you recognize those?¡±

    ¡°A-Are those... Drakes?! No, how... how are there so many of them?!¡±

    Gong Da-won¡¯s surprise was warranted.

    Just as he had said, surrounding them were the corpses of Drakes Su-ho had killed.

    Su-ho hadn¡¯t bought them from the ck market.

    They were in a gate, and it was one provided by Choi Yoon.

    Su-ho had brought Gong Da-won into his personal space and entered the Drake gate provided by Choi Yoon.

    Before Gong Da-won had woken up, Su-ho had prepared the best possible environment for crafting within the gate.

    Su-ho said:

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing to be surprised about. Since you¡¯ve managed Troll Skeletons, creating a Bone Dragon shouldn¡¯t be a problem.¡±

    ¡°But... but those are Drakes, not Bone Dragons...¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s true. But if you use your ¡®Bone Reconstruction¡¯ and ¡®Species Evolution¡¯ skills, you can¡¯t create an actual Bone Dragon, but you can at least make a decent imitation. That¡¯s all I need.¡±

    ¡°Can... can that really be done?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll find out once you try it. I guarantee the results.¡±

    ¡°Wh-what... Are you telling me the truth? Are you going to torment me and try to kill me like this?!¡±

    Gong Da-won suddenly broke into a panic over what seemed like an impossible request.

    However, Su-ho wasn¡¯t fazed. He used the ring again.

    [Ring of Emotions activated: Responds to the subject¡¯s most intense emotion.]

    [Can absorb the emotion ''ck''.]

    [Absorbing emotions from the subject.]

    Suddenly, Gong Da-won calmed down as if it was all a lie.

    Su-ho, with the ring in his hand, asked:

    ¡°You can do it, right?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll... I¡¯ll try.¡±

    ¡°Good, then let¡¯s give it a try together.¡±

    Su-ho gently patted Gong Da-won¡¯s shoulder, smiling kindly.

 Chapter 135

    "I-I can''t do it..."

    "You can."

    "Why... why are you deciding that?! You''re trying to work me to death, aren''t you? That¡¯s it, isn¡¯t it?!"

    [The Ring of Joy and Sorrow reacts to the target¡¯s most intense emotion.]

    [The absorbable emotion is ¡®ck.¡¯]

    [Absorbing emotion from the target.]

    "You can do it."

    "...Okay."

    While Gong Da-won was crafting the Bone Dragon, Su-ho¡¯s role was straightforward:

    using the Ring of Joy and Sorrow to keep him under control.

    Given the current circumstances, that was the extent of what Su-ho could do.

    "It''s... it''s too hard."

    "No, you can push a bit harder."

    "N-no, I can''t. I feel like I''m going to die."

    [Heal is activated.]

    [Recovery is activated.]

    [Blessing is activated.]

    "Better now?"

    "Ughhh! What kind of person does this?! You''re really trying to kill me with overwork!"

    "Not at all."

    [The Ring of Joy and Sorrow reacts to the target¡¯s most intense emotion.]

    [The absorbable emotion is ¡®ck.¡¯]

    [Absorbing emotion from the target.]

    "Ughhh..."

    Gong Da-won was undoubtedly a skilled necromancer yer.

    However, despite his abilities, his fragile mental state due to mental illness made him highly sensitive and in constant need of care.

    But if securing a Bone Dragon was the reward, Su-ho could endure any amount of caregiving¡ªhundreds of times, if necessary.

    Su-ho ensured Gong Da-won didn¡¯t run out of mana by continuously supplying mana potions. After exhausting a dozen drake corpses:

    [yer Gong Da-won has sessfully crafted a Bone Drake.]

    Gong Da-won finally managed toplete the crafting of a Bone Drake.

    The Bone Drake creaked and groaned as it moved.

    Getting to this point had been a long journey.

    Su-ho, genuinely pleased, congratted him.

    "See? I told you that you could do it."

    "Y-yeah, I guess so..."

    "Now that you''ve seeded in crafting a Bone Drake, the rest should be easier, right?"

    "Y-yeah, easier..."

    "Then let¡¯s rest for a bit and start again. What would you like to eat?"

    "Ah, anything is fine..."@@novelbin@@

    "Alright, I¡¯ll get it."

    Su-ho handed him a bento box and some water he¡¯d brought from outside, smiling.

    Everything was proceeding smoothly.

    At this rate, it seemed feasible to craft the Bone Dragon soon enough.

    ¡®Since this is Daniel''s method, it should be foolproof.¡¯

    The method to craft a Bone Dragon from a Bone Drake was shared by Daniel Hunter, the world¡¯s top necromancer yer.

    ¡°Skeleton series undead can be upgraded through bone reconstruction and species evolution. For example, you can even craft a dragon from a wyvern.¡±

    "Then why don¡¯t you make a Bone Dragon yourself?"

    "Because it¡¯s fake, not the real thing. I¡¯ve never worn knockoffs, even as a kid."

    "That¡¯s your reason?"

    "It¡¯s important. A fake is a fake. No matter how good it looks, it can never surpass the original."

    Using Daniel¡¯s theory, Su-ho had adapted it to Gong Da-won. Failure wasn¡¯t an option, not when the method came directly from Daniel.

    After finishing the bento, Gong Da-won handed back the empty box and cautiously asked,

    "Um... How did you know I was here?"

    "That¡¯s a secret."

    "Huh? A secret?"

    "Is that all you wanted to ask?"

    "Then¡­ one more thing!"

    "What is it?"

    "Why did you pick me? Surely, there were other necromancers?"

    Why you?

    If he answered honestly, it would probably hurt his feelings:

    Because you¡¯re the easiest to handle.

    Crafting a Bone Dragon required a minimum of a one-star necromancer, and there were very few of those in Korea.

    ¡®Even if there were, they¡¯d belong torge guilds.¡¯

    Contacting such people in secret and convincing them to help? Unlikely.

    ¡®Even if I seeded, it¡¯d create endlessplicationster.¡¯

    That¡¯s why Su-ho chose Gong Da-won¡ªunaffiliated and hassle-free.

    Su-ho answered, "Because out of all the necromancers I know, you¡¯re the most talented."

    "M-m-me?!"

    "Yes. Now that you¡¯ve rested, let¡¯s get started on the next step. Since you sessfully crafted a Bone Drake, you can now use Rise Bone Drake, right?"

    "Y-yes, I can... Alright."

    To use Rise Skeleton with an actual corpse, one needed prior experience in assembling at least one skeleton.

    That¡¯s why Gong Da-won had been meticulously arranging the drake bones.

    Su-ho replenished Gong Da-won¡¯s mana with potions and had him demonstrate Rise Bone Drake.

    [yer Gong Da-won uses Rise Bone Drake.]

    Kugugugu!

    As Rise Bone Drake was cast, Bone Drakes began rising from the scattered drake corpses.

    Although Gong Da-won¡¯s mana depleted rapidly, Su-ho replenished it precisely when needed.

    "Hold on."

    "Ughhh! It¡¯s so hard!"

    "You can do it."

    "You¡¯re just trying to drain my mana and kill me, aren¡¯t you?!"

    [The Ring of Joy and Sorrow reacts to the target¡¯s most intense emotion.]

    [The absorbable emotion is ¡®ck.¡¯]

    [Absorbing emotion from the target.]

    "You can handle it, right?"

    "Ughhh! I-I¡¯ll try!"

    He really was easy to manage.

    That¡¯s exactly why Su-ho chose Gong Da-won.

    Over a dozen Bone Drakes rose. Satisfied, Su-ho said,

    "Let¡¯s move on. To craft a Bone Dragon, we¡¯ll need at least two Bone Mega Drakes. And we already have¡­"

    Su-ho pointed to a massive drake corpse, farrger than the others, lying in a corner.

    It was the boss of the drake gate: the Mega Drake.

    "Since we already have one Mega Drake, we just need to make one more. Let¡¯s get to it."

    "Y-yes..."

    "But after this, you¡¯re not going to¡­ you know, abandon me, are you?"

    [The Ring of Joy and Sorrow reacts to the target¡¯s most intense emotion.]

    [The absorbable emotion is ¡®ck.¡¯]

    [Absorbing emotion from the target.]

    "Of course not."

    "I-I¡¯ll work hard!"

    Gong Da-won began crafting the second Mega Drake with determination.

    ***

    How much time had passed?

    [yer Gong Da-won uses Bone Reconstruction.]

    [The Bone Drake enters a restructured state.]

    [yer Gong Da-won uses Species Evolution.]

    [The Drake''s bones begin to evolve.]

    How many attempts had it been by now?

    Species evolution was akin to weapon enhancement: sess was never guaranteed, and failure was always a looming possibility.

    Su-ho looked at the piles of bone dust left behind from failed attempts, silently praying for sess this time.

    Then, as the skill was activated, the drake¡¯s bones began to glow.

    [The evolution of the Drake''s bones was sessful.]

    [The bones have evolved into Mega Drake bones.]

    "I-it worked! It worked!"

    Gong Da-won¡¯s hands trembled with excitement as he saw the notification.

    Finally, sess.

    Su-ho, remaining calm, said, "Quickly, assemble it."

    "Y-yes, sir!"

    The precious bones of a Mega Drake were now in their hands.

    At Su-ho''s urging, Gong Da-won steadily and meticulously reassembled the bones. Finally, as thest piece clicked into ce:

    [Bone Reconstruction has beenpleted sessfully.]

    [A Bone Mega Drake has been crafted.]

    Fwoosh!

    As the skill seeded, a dazzling light radiated from the bones, and a massive Bone Mega Drake appeared before them.

    Its presence wasmanding, its majesty undeniable.

    With a smile, Su-ho said, "See? I told you it was possible."

    "Y-yeah, I guess you were right..."

    "Now that we¡¯ve seeded in crafting the Bone Mega Drake, you can use Rise Bone Mega Drake, correct? Go ahead and try."

    "Y-yes! Right away!"

    Gong Da-won immediately used Rise Skeleton on the boss monster¡¯s Mega Drake bones.

    [Rise Bone Mega Drake is activated.]

    At Gong Da-won¡¯smand, the massive Bone Mega Drake began to rise.

    Atst, the minimal requirements for crafting the Bone Dragon were in ce: two Bone Mega Drakes.

    As he gazed at the two massive Bone Mega Drakes, Gong Da-won hesitated.

    "U-um... but..."

    "What is it?"

    "To create a Bone Mega Drake, we used two sets of Bone Drake remains each time, right?"

    "That¡¯s correct."

    "But... we barely seeded after several attempts. What if we fail this time? What will we do then?"

    It was a valid concern. Gong Da-won had used up nearly all the Drake bones avable in the gate just to create one Mega Drake.

    Su-ho had anticipated this issue long before. That¡¯s why he came prepared.

    "You¡¯ll use this."

    "W-what¡¯s this?"

    "A skill potion."

    "A s-skill potion?"

    "Yes, it increases sess rates by up to 75%."

    Skill potions came in various types¡ªsome boosted skill effects, while others mitigated skill drawbacks. The one Su-ho brought increased the probability of sess.

    ¡®The current limit of human technology is 80%.¡¯

    Even so, 80% potions were out of reach, as the alchemists capable of making them operated overseas.

    Su-ho had settled for the next best thing: a 75% sess potion.

    ¡®It cost a fortune, but it¡¯s worth it.¡¯

    To Su-ho, it wasn¡¯t a waste; it was an investment in the future.

    Handing the potion to Gong Da-won, Su-ho said, "I can¡¯t guarantee 100%, but 75% is a gamble worth taking. I brought two potions¡ªuse one for Species Evolution and the other for Bone Reconstruction."

    "Y-you¡¯re really serious about this..."

    "Of course I am."

    "What if we fail?"

    "If we fail..." Su-ho nced at the piles of bone dust scattered around them and said, "We start over from scratch."

    "W-what?!"

    "I mean it. So make sure it works this time."

    The weight of Su-ho¡¯s words felt more like a threat than encouragement.

    Swallowing hard, Gong Da-won gulped down the potion.

    A notification signaled the potion¡¯s activation, and Gong Da-won proceeded to use Bone Reconstruction.

    [yer Gong Da-won uses Bone Reconstruction.]

    [The Bone Mega Drake enters a restructured state.]

    [yer Gong Da-won uses Species Evolution.]

    [The Mega Drake''s bones begin to evolve.]

    As the Mega Drake¡¯s bones started glowing, both of them silently prayed for sess.

    Then¡ª

    [The evolution of the Mega Drake¡¯s bones was sessful.]

    [The bones have evolved into Quarter Dragon bones.]

    "...!!"

    "It worked!"

    Atst, they had seeded in obtaining the bones necessary to craft the Bone Dragon.

    The journey toward their goal had reached a critical milestone.

 Chapter 136

    "It worked!! It really worked!!"

    The bones from the two Mega Drakes merged, creating a new, powerful bone.

    The name was Quarter Dragon.

    Su-ho smiled as he saw the notification.

    ¡®Just like Daniel said.¡¯

    A Quarter Dragon was a dragon with only one-fourth of dragon blood. And since the system recognized at least a Quarter Blood as part of the original dragon species, the newly evolved bones were now named Dragon instead of Drake.

    Su-ho spoke with determination.

    "Let¡¯s craft it immediately."

    "Yes, okay!"

    At Su-ho¡¯s request, Gong Da-won consumed a skill potion and immediately used the next skill.

    And then¡ª

    [Bone Reconstruction sessful.]

    [A Bone Quarter Dragon has been crafted.]

    The result was a sess.

    As the skill seeded, light erupted from the bones, and before them stood a colossal Bone Dragon, farrger than the Mega Drake.

    "I-I made a Bone Dragon...!"

    Though it was only a Quarter Dragon, Gong Da-won had seeded in creating a Bone Dragon.

    As a result, Gong Da-won received bonus stats for his achievement, and Su-ho finally came face to face with the Bone Dragon he had been hoping for.

    But then, something unexpected happened.

    "Ugh!"

    Gong Da-won¡¯s expression turned urgent, like a staff member who had just discovered a massive ident.

    And then, soon after¡ª

    "R-run! Get out of here!"

    "Is it out of control?"

    "Y-yes?"

    "I thought it might be."

    "W-what do you mean?!"

    "Take a rest for now."

    Su-ho immediately struck him at the back of his neck with a swift blow, knocking him unconscious.

    Then, he ced him inside the space house. As the system notification appeared before Su-ho¡¯s eyes, he knew what had happened.

    [The Bone Quarter Dragon has escaped Gong Da-won¡¯s control.]

    It was exactly as it appeared.

    The Bone Quarter Dragon had broken free from Gong Da-won¡¯s control and had started rampaging on its own.

    The proof was the namete that appeared above the Bone Quarter Dragon¡¯s head¡ªone that had never been seen before.

    ¨C Bone Quarter Dragon Lv.151

    A staggering level of 151!

    But that level was limited to the artificially created Bone Quarter Dragon¡ªit could only reach this level due to the circumstances.

    ¡®If it were the real thing, it would be at least 200.¡¯

    The Bone Quarter Dragon hadpletely lost control and began to rampage.

    ¨C Krrrraaaah!!

    Crash!!

    The Bone Quarter Dragon, now rampaging, swung its enormous tail and attacked Su-ho.

    That creature...

    For a skeleton with no vocal cords, it certainly knew how to scream.

    However, there was a bit of good luck.

    [The Bone Quarter Dragon uses Dragon Piercer.]

    [Dragon Blood activates.]

    [The Piercer does not affect Su-ho due to Dragon Blood immunity.]

    Even though the Bone Quarter Dragon was at level 150, its species was still a dragon, and Su-ho, with his Dragon Blood, was immune to the Piercer attack.

    Su-ho immediately summoned his Blood Sword and began charging forward.

    Then, he activated a skill.

    [Blessing activates.]

    A buff skill that Su-ho had finally obtained at level 100, Blessing increased all stats by 10% as long as mana permitted when activated.

    And then¡ª

    [Holy Enchant activates.]

    Su-ho used the upgraded Holy Enchant from his Sacred Power, causing the red Blood Sword to glow a pure white.

    The opponent was an undead Bone Dragon. There was no better skill than Holy Enchant to deal with undead.

    Su-ho, fully prepared, dodged the Bone Quarter Dragon¡¯s tail attack and immediately charged toward its vulnerable side.

    ¡®Trying to face a dragon head-on would be pure madness.¡¯

    Su-ho had only encountered dragons twice in his past life.

    Counting the Tower Dragon in this life, it would make three, but through those experiences, Su-ho learned that no matter what, a dragon could never be faced head-on¡ªit was impossible to match its size directly.

    That was because dragons were simply too powerful.

    So, Su-ho had always targeted the backline or used strategies to weaken them.

    Even when he faced the Tower Dragon, Su-ho had utilized hit-and-run tactics, making use of his space house to strike at opportune moments.

    As soon as Su-ho caught the Bone Quarter Dragon¡¯s rear, he immediately targeted its tailbone.

    Crack!

    ¨C Krrraaaah!!

    Even though it was an undead with no vital points, it still knew it had been struck.

    Using his incredible mobility, Su-ho focused his attacks on the Bone Quarter Dragon¡¯s tail, dodging its iling attempts to crush him.

    ¨C Crash! Crash! Crash!!

    Each time, the Bone Quarter Dragon reacted like it was being attacked by pests, thrashing around to try and crush Su-ho under its weight.

    But such basic tactics would never work on Su-ho.

    ¡®If it were a gate-monster, it might have been tricky, but as a yer-owned summon, you¡¯re just a big punching bag.¡¯

    Monsters that lost control but were once under the yer¡¯smand were mostly like that.

    Had it been a gate-affiliated monster, it would have been far stronger, able to use its own skills. But a creature like this, one created artificially by the yer, wouldn''t have decent skills.

    Thinking that, Su-ho swung his sword again.

    Clunk! Swoosh!

    This time, his attacknded properly.

    Finally, the Bone Quarter Dragon could no longer endure the umted damage, and its tail was severed.

    ¨C Krrraaaah!!

    As the tail was torn off, the Bone Quarter Dragon erupted in even more frantic thrashing.

    It was a sign of fear.

    But despite its frantic movements, it struggled to regain its bnce.

    ¡®Monsters with tails often rely on them for bnce.¡¯

    Taking advantage of the creature¡¯s imbnce, Su-ho plunged his Guiyeong Spear into its shadow.

    [Shadow Binding activates.]

    [Shadow Bleed activates.]

    As the Bone Quarter Dragon faltered, Su-ho drove the spear into its shadow, binding it in ce.

    There was arge level gap¡ªabout 50 levels¡ªso it wouldn¡¯tst long.

    But that didn¡¯t matter.

    Even a short duration was enough for Su-ho.

    Using his speed and precision, he scaled the Bone Quarter Dragon¡¯s body and began attacking its spine.

    Crack! Crack! Crack!

    The joints of its spine were just like a well-made suit of armor.

    But that didn¡¯t mean it was invincible.

    Su-ho focused his attacks on one of its many vertebrae, as he had with its tailbone earlier.

    [Steel sh activates.]

    sh!

    Su-ho used Steel sh as well.

    However, the Bone Quarter Dragon¡¯s bones were stronger than steel.

    Even though it was only a Quarter Blood Dragon, the name Dragon was still included in its species.

    ¨C Krrrraaah!!

    [The Bone Quarter Dragon uses Dragon Piercer.]

    [Dragon Blood activates.]

    [Dragon Blood¡¯s immunity negates the effect of Dragon Piercer.]

    The Dragon Piercer of the Bone Quarter Dragon.

    The piercing sound nearly ruptured Su-ho¡¯s eardrums, but he gritted his teeth and endured.

    At that moment, his Guiyeong Spear was flung far away, as though its chain had snapped.

    Bang!!

    ¡®This is bad!¡¯

    The difference in power, caused by both the inherent strength of the Dragon species and the 50-level gap, was pressuring Su-ho from all angles, but he didn¡¯t think for a second that he would lose.

    ¡®It¡¯s just a big brute! Nothing more!¡¯

    After casting Heal on his ear, Su-ho closed the distance and stayed right on the Bone Quarter Dragon¡¯s tail.

    ¨C Krrrhaa!!

    [Cloud Cutter activates.]

    Ka-kang!

    It was time for hit-and-run tactics.

    Having already severed the tail and destabilized its bnce, Su-ho knew that now was the time to target the spine¡ªthe core of the creature¡¯s center of gravity.

    This was the optimal strategy againstrge skeleton monsters, something Su-ho had learned well.

    [Steel sh activates.]

    Crunch!!

    The Blood Sword, glowing white, deeply embedded itself into the Bone Quarter Dragon¡¯s spine.

    Su-ho¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement.

    ¡®It¡¯s over!¡¯

    Su-ho raised his sword once more, gripping it in reverse, and with all his might, plunged it into the Bone Quarter Dragon¡¯s spine.

    Crunch!

    The moment the destructive noise echoed, the Bone Quarter Dragon¡¯s spine shattered like a domino effect.

    The cracks spread throughout its body.

    Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!

    The shattered bone fragments scattered in all directions.

    With the umted damage, the Bone Quarter Dragon¡¯s spine could no longer support its massive weight, and a chain reaction of destruction started, causing its entire body to copse.

    ¡°Phew.¡±

    Su-ho stepped back and watched as the creature crumbled.

    ¨C Krrrraah!!

    The Bone Quarter Dragon copsed.

    Even as it fell, the dragon¡¯s roar, filled with frustration, continued, but it finally stopped when its head hit the ground.

    ¡°Did we take it down?¡±

    A spell capable of reviving even the dead was useless here.

    But the Bone Quarter Dragon was truly defeated.

    The once-terrifying blue glow in its eyes had now faded, like a candle that had been extinguished.

    At that moment, a brief notification appeared before Su-ho¡¯s eyes:

    [You have defeated the Bone Quarter Dragon.]

    [Your level has increased.]

    [All stats have increased by 1.]

    Su-ho smiled with a sense of aplishment.@@novelbin@@

    ¡®Guess I wasn¡¯t selected as MVP after all.¡¯

    It didn¡¯t matter.

    He had already received the MVP bonus from defeating the Mega Drake.

    Su-ho immediately invested his bonus stat points into mana.

    Fwoosh!

    Suddenly, the bones of the Bone Quarter Dragon began to glow.

    The light scattered in all directions, then began to absorb into Su-ho¡¯s body.

    Simultaneously, a system notification appeared.

    [You have defeated the Bone Dragon.]

    [The third power of Dragon Blood has been unlocked.]

    [Conditions for unlocking the third power of Dragon Blood have been fulfilled.]

    [¢Ù Reached level 100.]

    [¢Ú Defeated the Bone Dragon.]

    [Absorbing Dragon Bones.]

    [The third power of Dragon Blood has been unlocked.]

    [Dragon Grow has been unlocked.]

    [You have acquired Dragon Bone (S) from Dragon Grow.]

    [You have acquired Dragon Body (S) from Dragon Grow.]

    [You have acquired Dragon Sense (S) from Dragon Grow.]

    A flood of notifications appeared.

    They informed Su-ho that by fulfilling the conditions for defeating the Bone Dragon, the third power of Dragon Blood had been unlocked.

    ¡®Dragon Grow¡­¡¯

    Su-ho immediately checked the details of the newly unlocked powers.

    [Dragon Bone]

    <ul>

    <li>Grade: S</li>

    <li>Description: A choice and inherent power only avable to those born with dragon blood.</li>

    <li>Effect: Reces the bones of the body with dragon bones.</li>

    <li>While Dragon Bone is active, the strength and regeneration of the bones are proportional to the user¡¯s mana, with the lowest baseline being the weakest dragon bones.</li>

    </ul>

    [Dragon Body]

    <ul>

    <li>Grade: S</li>

    <li>Description: A choice and inherent power only avable to those born with dragon blood.</li>

    <li>Effect: Reces the flesh, muscles, and all bodily functions with that of a dragon.</li>

    <li>While Dragon Body is active, the strength and regeneration of the body are proportional to the user¡¯s mana, with the lowest baseline being the weakest dragon¡¯s physical attributes.</li>

    </ul>

    [Dragon Sense]

    <ul>

    <li>Grade: S</li>

    <li>Description: A choice and inherent power only avable to those born with dragon blood.</li>

    <li>Effect: Awakens a special sixth sense that only dragons possess.</li>

    </ul>

    Su-ho smiled after reviewing the information.

    ¡°Nice.¡±

    This wasn¡¯t just good; it was amazing.

    These were options that no yer in either his past or present life had ever gotten, not even the greatest yers. These were powers he had never seen before.

    ¡®Then how much stronger would the Newbloods be if they had these as their conditions?¡¯

    Su-ho grinned, finally leaving the gate.

 Chapter 137

    ¡°Ugh¡­¡±

    As his hazy consciousness returned, Gong Da-won slowly came to his senses.

    Where is this?

    A strange ceiling.

    Bright surroundings.

    It didn¡¯t take long for Gong Da-won to figure out where he was.

    ¡°This is¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re awake?¡±

    A voice greeted him as soon as Gong Da-won regained his consciousness.

    The person wore a blue shirt and blue pants with the words "Somang Medical Center" embroidered on the chest.

    Upon seeing this, Gong Da-won¡¯s pupils dted in an instant.

    ¡°A h-hospital?¡±

    ¡°Yes, this is the Mind Healing Center at Somang Medical Center. How are you feeling?¡±

    ¡°M-Mind Healing Center? Does that mean¡­ a mental hospital?¡±

    ¡°Well, yes, people call it that.¡±

    ¡°W-why am I here?¡±

    ¡°Well, you¡¯ve been showing symptoms of severe delusional disorder and anxiety.¡±

    ¡°T-That¡¯s ridiculous! Why would I bebeled as mentally ill? You¡¯re doing this on purpose, aren¡¯t you?!¡±

    ¡°Sir, please calm down!¡±

    ¡°Die!¡±

    Enraged, Gong Da-won extended his hand.

    In his mind, he imagined activating an attack skill that would instantly subdue any perceived threat.

    But...

    ¡°¡­Huh?¡±

    Nothing emerged from his outstretched hand.

    Even as he tried multiple times, the result was the same.

    That¡¯s impossible¡­

    At that moment, Gong Da-won noticed something on his wrist.

    The nurse spoke up.

    ¡°Since you¡¯re a Level 100+ yer, you¡¯ve been equipped with a special suppression device to prevent unforeseen incidents. While the device is active, you won¡¯t be able to use mana or skills. So please cooperate calmly and focus on your treatment.¡±

    ¡°W-What?! W-Who gave you the right? I didn¡¯t consent to this! Who authorized this?!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s been approved by the government. Please cooperate with the treatment process.¡±

    ¡°Noooo!!¡±

    Gong Da-won began to thrash wildly.

    However, no matter how much Gong Da-won struggled, nothing changed.

    This was the high-risk ward within the Mind Healing Center at Somang Medical Center, specifically designed to handle dangerous patients.

    Gong Da-won wouldn¡¯t be able to leave this ce until his delusional disorder and anxiety were fully treated.

    Through a video call, Su-ho observed Gong Da-won and spoke to the head nurse.

    ¡°Please take good care of him.¡±

    ¡ª ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll make sure he¡¯s well cared for.¡±

    The head nurse responded with a cheerful smile.

    Why was Su-ho asking for special care for Gong Da-won?

    The answer was simple:

    Su-ho was the one who had arranged for Gong Da-won to be ced in Somang Medical Center.

    There was no other choice.

    Gong Da-won was a 1-star yer who couldn¡¯t be properly cared for in a regr hospital. Despite his troubled circumstances, he was a mentally unstable individual who had used a deceased person¡¯s body without the family¡¯s consent and could potentially harm civilians.

    Thus, instead of Cheongok Prison, he was admitted to Somang Medical Center, which was affiliated with the Grand Hunter Association.

    As Su-ho ended the video call, he reflected:

    ¡®I feel bad for Gong Da-won, but I couldn¡¯t just leave him there alone.¡¯

    Gong Da-won was a mentally unstable patient.

    He absolutely required stable treatment, and while it might take time, Su-ho resolved to eventually acquire a mental healing skill that could cure even the mind.

    For now, this was the best option for both Su-ho and Gong Da-won.

    Just as Su-ho was about to call someone else, his phone vibrated.

    ¡°Hmm?¡±

    The call came from an unfamiliar number.

    Is it a telemarketer?

    However, seeing the number start with 010, Su-ho decided to answer.

    ¡°Yes, this is Su-ho.¡±

    ¡ª ¡°Ah, Su-ho, it¡¯s me, Team Leader of Special Management Unit 1.¡±

    Team Leader of Special Management Unit 1.

    It was none other than Oh Bong-ju.

    Hearing his anxious voice, Su-ho couldn¡¯t help but smile.

    He knew why the man sounded so flustered.

    Feigning ignorance, Su-ho asked, ¡°Ah, Team Leader Oh. What¡¯s the matter?¡±

    ¡ª ¡°Well, uh, you see¡­ it¡¯s about¡­ that¡­ um¡­¡±

    ¡°Yes, go ahead.¡±

    Oh Bong-ju hesitated, fumbling for words.

    Of course.

    The reason for his call had to be the recent Stargram post.

    After a moment of hesitation, Oh Bong-ju finally spoke.

    ¡ª ¡°Su-ho, do you happen to use Stargram?¡±

    So he brought up Stargram.

    Su-ho replied, ¡°Yes, I do.¡±

    ¡ª ¡°Then you¡¯ll get this. You know that photo I took with my deputy recently? I posted it on Stargram, and now I¡¯m getting all this bacsh!¡±@@novelbin@@

    ¡°Bacsh from people?¡±

    ¡ª ¡°Yeah, yeah.¡±

    ¡°Can I take a look?¡±

    ¡ª ¡°Sure, hold on.¡±

    Shortly after, a screenshot of Oh Bong-ju¡¯s Stargram post arrived. It was indeed the same post Su-ho had seen earlier.

    Su-ho immediately logged into Stargram to check thements.

    Thements were brutal:

    ¡ª ¡°LOL, still forcing interns to do sibong-tteok? This is why civil servants are a joke.¡±

    ¡ª ¡°Wow, this was a thing back in my day too. Guess it never stopped.¡±

    ¡ª ¡°If you¡¯re gonna give sibong-tteok, at least make it voluntary. Who are you to force it on others?¡±

    ¡ª ¡°Queen¡¯s Bakery? The cookies from there are pricey. Did you make the intern buy those?¡±

    ¡ª ¡°Facts: interns are broke, but Sword Saint is loaded.¡±

    Su-ho chuckled as he read through thements.

    ¡°Oh, thements are harsh.¡±

    ¡ª ¡°Right? It¡¯s driving me crazy. It¡¯s not just thements;ints about me are piling up too.¡±

    ¡°You must be having a hard time.¡±

    ¡ª ¡°I knew you¡¯d understand, Su-ho. So, could you, uh¡­ maybe post a rification on your Stargram?¡±

    ¡°A rification?¡±

    ¡ª ¡°Yeah, like, let people know it wasn¡¯t forced. Just that you willingly bought the cookies.¡±

    A request, huh?

    Could this even be called a request?

    But Su-ho saw no reason to refuse.

    In fact, agreeing promised far more amusing oues.

    With a friendly tone, Su-ho responded, ¡°Shall I?¡±

    ¡ª ¡°Really? You¡¯d do that?!¡±

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s not a problem. I¡¯ll take care of it.¡±

    ¡ª ¡°I knew I could count on you, Su-ho! Thank you so much!¡±

    Oh Bong-ju sounded genuinely relieved, as if he¡¯d found a savior.

    After ending the call, Su-ho immediately wrote a post on his Stargram:

    Hello, this is An Su-ho.

    Recently, there¡¯s been some discussion regarding a Stargram post about sibong-tteok.

    It¡¯s true that Team Leader Oh Bong-ju rmended Queen¡¯s Bakery cookies to me, but the purchase was entirely my own decision.

    Please rest assured there was no coercion involved.

    Have a great day.

    Satisfied with his work, Su-ho put his phone away and left for his next destination.

    Momentster¡­

    [An Su-ho¡¯s post has received ament.]

    [An Su-ho¡¯s post has received ament.]

    [An Su-ho¡¯s post has received ament.]

    And simultaneously¡­

    [Oh Bong-ju¡¯s post has received ament.]

    [Oh Bong-ju¡¯s post has received ament.]

    The bacsh intensified.

    ¡ª ¡°Oh, this idiot went crying to the Sword Saint, huh?¡±

    ¡ª ¡°This is borderline power harassment.¡±

    ¡ª ¡°Even Su-ho, who rarely posts, feltpelled to rify. That¡¯s saying something.¡±

    ¡ª ¡°Sword Saint or not, he¡¯s just another office worker. Poor guy.¡±

    ¡ª ¡°LOL, instead of keeping quiet, you just made things worse. Justice ising for you.¡±

    ¨C ¡°I used to work under that bastard Oh Bong-ju. What an insufferable guy. Do you know what he did back then¡­¡±

    ¨C ¡°Oh Bong-ju? I was his ssmate. That guy was a piece of work even back in the day¡­¡±

    And not in a good way.

    But there was no need for Su-ho to pay further attention to this.

    He proceeded to make the call he had intended earlier.

    The call was answered by Vice President Park Gyu-min.

    ¨C ¡°Ah, Hunter An.¡±

    Su-ho asked, ¡°Vice President, is the task I mentioned underway?¡±

    ¨C ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve already dispatched the relic excavation team and specialists to the site.¡±

    ¡°Good. It might take some time, but please handle it thoroughly. This will work in your favor in the long run.¡±

    ¨C ¡°I understand. I¡¯ve already given clear instructions to ensure everything is done meticulously. But¡­ you¡¯ll make sure the article is published, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve already spoken to the reporter. But even if I hadn¡¯t, wouldn¡¯t you have arranged it yourself anyway?¡±

    ¨C ¡°Well¡­ ahem, there¡¯s a difference between me doing it and you handling it.¡±

    ¡°A difference in appearance, perhaps. Anyway, please keep me updated periodically. I¡¯ll contact you again soon.¡±

    ¨C ¡°Alright, leave it to me.¡±

    While cing Gong Da-won in the mental hospital, Su-ho had set another task into motion.

    It was none other than locating and returning the remains of unidentified individuals buried in the Gonjiam area to their bereaved families.

    If Su-ho hadn¡¯t known about it, it might have been excusable. But now that Gong Da-won had brought it to his attention, he couldn¡¯t ignore it.

    In fact, this was a task the Grand Hunter Association should have taken up from the start.

    ¡®This is the best I can do for now.¡¯

    He believed it was enough.

    After all, no one person could handle all the world¡¯s problems alone.

    To make things more efficient, Su-ho had enlisted Park Gyu-min¡¯s help. Since this issue involved human remains, the Awakened Division had to be mobilized¡ªand that division was under Park Gyu-min¡¯s jurisdiction.

    Having finished his business, Su-ho was about to hang up when he called out again.

    ¡°Oh, Vice President.¡±

    ¨C ¡°Yes, what is it?¡±

    ¡°You know Team Leader Oh Bong-ju from the Special Management Unit 1 of the Gate Bureau? He¡¯s been getting quite a bit of k on social media because of his connection to me, and it¡¯s bing a nuisance.¡±

    ¨C ¡°Team Leader Oh?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Just a moment ago, he asked me to write something on Stargram to help clear his name, and honestly, it¡¯s starting to get annoying. Could you handle it on your end? Also, I¡¯ve noticed that he keeps offloading his work onto our team, and I¡¯m not pleased about that either.¡±

    The mention of shirking duties wasn¡¯t baseless. Su-ho had overheard Oh Bong-ju passing tasks onto Jeong Cheol-min in passing.

    He decided to bring it up because he didn¡¯t like it. What he disliked, he made clear.

    Hearing Su-ho¡¯s words, Park Gyu-min started to get riled up.

    ¨C ¡°He¡¯s been doing that?! I¡¯ll summon him right away and deal with this properly. How dare that bastard¡­!¡±

    ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll leave it in your hands.¡±

    Satisfied, Su-ho ended the call with a relieved expression.

    ¡®At least that should keep him from bothering me anymore.¡¯

    Now, there was only one more issue to tackle: Vampire Blood.

    As Su-ho thought about it and began reviewing the information on Vampire Blood, his phone buzzed again.

    It was a call from Jeong Cheol-min.

    ¡°Hello, Team Leader.¡±

    ¨C ¡°Su-ho, where are you right now?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m currently working on a specialized quest. What¡¯s the matter?¡±

    ¨C ¡°The Detection Division just picked up on an unusual Gate. I thought it might pique your interest.¡±

    ¡°An unusual Gate?¡±

    ¨C ¡°The detected mana level is¡­ S-rank.¡±

    ¡°¡­!¡±

    Su-ho¡¯s eyes widened.

    ¡°I¡¯ll head there right away.¡±

    ¨C ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll send you the address.¡±

    As soon as the call ended, Su-ho got into his car without hesitation.

 Chapter 138

    Gate rankings are determined by various factors, but the most critical determinant is the mana level measured at the moment the gate appears.

    When a gate is measured at S-rank mana, it¡¯s a state of emergency for the Gate Bureau.

    The higher the gate''s rank, the greater the potential shockwave it could release, leading to widespread destruction.

    It was understandable why Jeong Cheol-min had urgently summoned Su-ho.

    Without dy, Su-ho drove to the address provided.

    Fortunately, it wasn¡¯t far.

    The gate had appeared at Yeongwolru, located in Yeoju.

    When Su-ho arrived at the scene, the area was already cordoned off with restricted ess guidelines.

    As he parked his car, Jeong Cheol-min, who had been notified of his arrival, came out to meet him.

    ¡°You¡¯re here?¡±

    ¡°I left as soon as I got your call.¡±

    ¡°Where were you to get here so quickly?¡±@@novelbin@@

    ¡°I was in the Gonjiam area, working on a quest there.¡±

    ¡°Really? The timing worked out perfectly. So, did you finish the quest?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s still a bit left to do for my Trait Quest.¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­ I must¡¯ve called you at a crucial time. But I hope you understand¡ªit¡¯s an S-rank gate.¡±

    ¡°Of course. Even though you¡¯ve been considerate of my schedule, work must take priority.¡±

    Su-ho nced around.

    ¡°But it seems the others aren¡¯t here yet?¡±

    ¡°Well, since I was already in charge of this area, I called in the Exploration Team first, rather than the whole crew.¡±

    Gate Bureau Teams Exined

    The Gate Management Team is divided into several groups:

    <ol>

    <li>Exploration Team: The first responders, sent to survey the gate and determine its characteristics.</li>

    <li>Raid Team: If the Exploration Team deems it feasible, the Raid Team is dispatched to attempt a full clearance.</li>

    <li>Management Team: Handles overall gate monitoring and lower-priority gates.</li>

    </ol>

    Amon feature of these groups is that every member is Awakened.

    However, the Exploration and Management teams are fixed inposition:

    <ul>

    <li>The Management Team isposed of low-level personnel focused on logistics and monitoring.</li>

    <li>The Exploration Team performs the riskiest tasks, staffed by the most experienced hunters.</li>

    </ul>

    But even "experienced" is rtive¡ªwithin the Special Management Team, they were mediocre at best.

    In other guilds, these so-called "veterans" would barely qualify as support staff.

    The Exploration Team had no hunters above Level 100. This fact alone spoke volumes.

    The reason?

    It was obvious: government hunters had minimal incentives. Performance bonuses were low, and all loot obtained inside gates belonged to the state.

    In essence, the Raid Team didn¡¯t even exist in practice. If the Exploration Team could handle it, they were sent in to deal with the gate themselves.

    Su-ho had no expectations for the Exploration Team.

    His memories from his past life confirmed there wasn¡¯t anyone notable among them.

    Still, Jeong Cheol-min called them in¡ªthey were the Exploration Team for the Gate Management 2nd Unit, after all.

    Jeong Cheol-min led Su-ho into the Detection Unit tent.

    The atmosphere inside was tense.

    The rare urrence of S-rank mana had everyone on edge.

    If the gate went berserk and triggered a Gate Shock, the consequences would be catastrophic.

    The Detection Unit 3rd Team Leader, Son Do-won, spotted them and approached with a weing smile.

    ¡°You¡¯re here?¡±

    Jeong Cheol-min gestured.

    ¡°Let me introduce you. This is Son Do-won, Team Leader of Detection Unit 3. We joined the bureau at the same time.¡±

    Su-ho bowed politely.

    ¡°I¡¯m An Su-ho. I was recently assigned as Deputy Team Leader of the Special Management 2nd Unit.¡±

    Son Do-won smiled and extended his hand.

    ¡°Nice to meet you. I¡¯ve heard a lot about you from your evaluation at the Detection Department. But¡­ did youe here alone?¡±

    At his question, Jeong Cheol-min answered,

    ¡°I called the Exploration Team as well. But honestly, even if theye, it won¡¯t make much of a difference. Su-ho here is the highest-level person in our unit.¡±

    Son Do-won raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°This guy? What¡¯s his level?¡±

    Before Jeong Cheol-min could reply, Su-ho answered,

    ¡°Level 100.¡±

    In truth, Su-ho was Level 104, but he deliberately understated his level.

    Revealing his true level would invite a barrage of questions about which gates he had cleared.

    Hearing this, Son Do-won¡¯s lips pursed in surprise.

    ¡°Have you finished your Special Trait Quests?¡±

    ¡°I haven¡¯t even taken my Trait Leave yet.¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­ so you¡¯re at a crucial stage. Wait, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re thinking of adding him to the Exploration Team?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m considering it. But realistically, sending the Exploration Team into an S-rank gate is a bad idea. What if they die for nothing?¡±

    ¡°Then why call them?¡±

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s protocol. Besides, Su-ho isn¡¯t officially part of the Exploration Team yet.¡±

    ¡°Fair enough¡­¡±

    After a moment¡¯s thought, Son Do-won turned to Su-ho.

    ¡°Su-ho.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Team Leader.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not trying to pressure you, but since you¡¯ve been clearing Sealed Gates¡­ are you interested in S-rank gates? Just curious¡ªno pressure.¡±

    Su-ho responded without hesitation.

    ¡°I¡¯m interested.¡±

    ¡°¡­Really?¡±

    ¡°Yes, absolutely. And I agree with my Team Leader. The Exploration Team members are all under A-rank. Sending them into an S-rank gate would be reckless.¡±

    ¡°What about you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine with it. If I get permission, I¡¯ll explore the gate on my own.¡±

    The moment Su-ho finished speaking, Son Do-won¡¯s eyes widened, and his jaw dropped slightly.

    ¡°You¡¯re serious?¡±

    ¡°Absolutely.¡±

    ¡°¡­I see.¡±

    Even Jeong Cheol-min had considered letting Su-ho handle the gate alone.

    But no matter how skilled Su-ho was, sending a subordinate into an S-rank gate alone felt reckless.

    Understanding Jeong Cheol-min¡¯s hesitation, Su-ho spoke in a reassuring tone, almost as if he were making a request:

    ¡°I prefer working alone. If you approve, I¡¯d like to attempt a solo exploration.¡±

    ¡°¡­Are you sure about this?¡±

    ¡°Of course. It¡¯s not like this is just another sealed gate. If no one explores it, the S-rank gate will end up unexamined and sent to auction. That would be such a waste, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    Su-ho wasn¡¯t wrong.

    If the Grand Hunter Association gave up on exploring a gate, it would be transferred to the Trading Division and sold at a private auction.

    This was how most high-level gates were handled.

    As much as it was a shame, there was little choice.

    The governmentcked the personnel to explore such gates, and holding onto them would only result in wasted resources and tax revenue.

    But now the Grand Hunter Association had something new¡ªa top-tier asset: the Sword Saint.

    Jeong Cheol-min knew this all too well, which was why Su-ho had been his first call.

    Jeong Cheol-min nodded and said:

    ¡°Honestly, if you insist, how can I say no? But keep in mind that high-level unexamined gates are very different from sealed gates. At least sealed gates have some collected data. An unexamined gate is pure randomness. You know that, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I understand.¡±

    ¡°Alright then. If you¡¯re still determined after hearing that¡­ How much charge time is left?¡±

    ¡°12%.¡±

    ¡°How long will that take?¡±

    ¡°At the current rate, about 12 hours.¡±

    ¡°Hmm, in the meantime, you can prepare and consult with the Exploration Team when they arrive.¡±

    12 hours.

    Su-ho nodded at the estimate.

    ¡®If I were to wait for it to open naturally, sure.¡¯

    But time was gold.

    If he was going in alone, he didn¡¯t want to waste 12 hours.

    He didn¡¯t need preparation.

    ¡®Even if it¡¯s an unexamined gate, whether it¡¯s in Korea or overseas, if it¡¯s within the timeline I lived through, I should know about it.¡¯

    Su-ho had once reviewed every known gate in the world as part of his professional evaluations.

    And with his Library of Memories, it was impossible not to recall details about any gate he had encountered before.

    If possible, Su-ho wanted to speed up the gate¡¯s opening.

    ¡°Team Leader, may I step out for a moment?¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°I was in the middle of a quest when I came here. There are a few people I need to contact.¡±

    ¡°Oh, in that case, go ahead. We still have 12 hours.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Su-ho moved to his car and essed his Library of Memories.

    He began searching for records of S-rank gates that had opened in Korea around the current year.

    After sifting through the library for a while, he found a likely match.

    The timing and location were too perfect to be a coincidence.

    ¡®If the gate opening at Yeongwolru right now is the same Yeongwolru Gate I¡¯m thinking of¡­ this is amazing.¡¯

    There could be no duplicates.

    A gate never appeared in the same location twice.

    Realizing this, Su-ho couldn¡¯t help but smirk as he rubbed his chin.

    ¡®If this is the Yeongwolru Gate, I couldn¡¯t ask for better.¡¯

    With his decision made, he stepped out of the car and returned to the Detection Unit tent.

    ¡°Did your call go well?¡±

    ¡°Yes, thank you. By the way, Team Leader.¡±

    ¡°Hmm?¡±

    ¡°I have a proposal for Team Leader Son. Could you join us for this?¡±

    ¡°A proposal? Now I¡¯m curious¡ªand a bit scared. Son! Are you busy right now?¡±

    Hearing his colleague call, Son Do-won approached.

    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±

    ¡°Su-ho has a proposal for you.¡±

    ¡°For me?¡±

    Son tilted his head in curiosity, and Su-ho began to speak.

    ¡°Team Leader Son, have you ever heard of Fast Opening?¡±

    ¡°Fast Opening?¡±

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s a method for elerating gate openings. It¡¯s currently being used overseas.¡±

    ¡°Overseas? Never heard of it.¡±

    That was expected.

    Fast Opening would eventually be a widely used technique, but at this point, it was still a secret method employed only in select foreign operations.

    Su-ho exined further:

    ¡°This method isn¡¯t well-known yet, so it makes sense you haven¡¯t heard of it. By using Fast Opening, we can significantly reduce gate charging time.¡±

    ¡°You can speed up gate openings? Without waiting for them to open naturally?¡±

    ¡°Yes. By injecting highly refined mana into the gate itself, the opening process can be elerated. There¡¯s no need to wait.¡±

    ¡°That kind of method exists¡­? But is it safe?¡±

    ¡°Safe¡­¡±

    The truth was, it wasn¡¯t entirely safe.

    High-level mana-infused gates carried a small risk of triggering Gate Shock, and at this point, there was no surefire way to suppress such an event.

    ¡®Suppressing Gate Shock requires specialized skills or items¡­ but neither are avable yet.¡¯

    The necessary items hadn¡¯t been developed, and the relevant skills wouldn¡¯t be discovered for some time.

    While it was possible to acquire these with significant effort, it was inefficient to do so just to handle a single gate.

    For now, Su-ho decided to bend the truth slightly.

    The Yeongwolru Gate, while containing high-level mana, hadn¡¯t caused any Gate Shocks in his past timeline.

    ¡°If you¡¯re worried about Gate Shock, there is a way to determine if it might happen.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a way to predict Gate Shock?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Would you like to hear it?¡±

    Son Do-won¡¯s eyes sparkled with curiosity.

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s hear it.¡±

    Seeing his interest, Su-ho smiled and began his exnation.

    The way Son¡¯s expression shifted suggested he was almost convinced already.

 Chapter 139

    Naturally, Son Do-won couldn¡¯t help but be intrigued.

    How could the Team Leader of the Detection Department not be interested in a method to distinguish Gate Shock and elerate gate openings?

    ¡°¡­So, if you inject the mana of a yer with a Red stat into the S-rank gate, it speeds up the opening process?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡±

    ¡°And during this process, if the yer is calm, there¡¯s no Gate Shock. If there¡¯s difort or pain, the chance of a Gate Shock increases?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s what I¡¯ve heard.¡±

    ¡°Hmm.¡±

    Of course, this was a lie.

    But there was no need to reveal the truth.

    There was no way for them to verify it right now.

    ¡®Just like during the previous test with the Detection Department.¡¯

    Son Do-won narrowed his eyes and said:

    ¡°Well, if you put it that way, it¡¯s notpletely urate. Given that situation, it seems a bit risky to gamble with uncertainty, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    ¡°From a safety standpoint, yes. But there are instances where this method has been tested overseas. Therefore, we also need to gather our own data through experimentation. After all, such data isn¡¯t easily shared, and we stillck sufficient data and technology here in Korea.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s true¡­¡±

    Son Do-won hesitated for a moment.

    But ultimately, he knew he would have to approve Su-ho¡¯s proposal.

    As a member of the Detection Department, he understood better than anyone that Korea stillgged in data and systemspared to other countries.

    He finally asked:

    ¡°So, Su-ho, you¡¯re nning to inject the mana yourself?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll do it if you give me permission. My mana stat is Red, and I¡¯ve been curious about this for some time.¡±

    At Su-ho¡¯s response, Son Do-won nced at Jeong Cheol-min.

    Jeong Cheol-min furrowed his brow.

    ¡°Why are you looking at me?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s your subordinate.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s true, but... I don¡¯t actually have the final say here. If Su-ho wants to do it and it¡¯s not too extreme, my job is to approve it.¡±

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s a good boss.¡±

    ¡°If I were ipetent, I¡¯d at least let you do whatever you wanted.¡±

    Son Do-won shifted his attention back to Su-ho.

    ¡°You heard him, right? Go ahead.¡±

    ¡°Thank you. Shall we start now?¡±

    ¡°Well, do you need any preparation?¡±

    ¡°No, there¡¯s nothing specific to prepare. After all, I¡¯m the one going in for the exploration, so even if I get suddenly pulled into the gate likest time, it won¡¯t matter.¡±

    ¡°Wow, you¡¯re really full of confidence¡­¡±

    Son Do-won almost wanted to say, "Hunters like him often die young," but he kept it to himself.

    Some things are better left unsaid.

    Having received permission, Su-ho finally approached the gate.

    Unlike the previous test, this time he confidently injected his mana into the gate in front of everyone.

    Everyone watched him intently.

    As soon as Su-ho began injecting his mana, the mana-detection machines, which had been signaling at a steady rhythm, started ringing rapidly.

    The people around them buzzed with excitement.

    ¡°Is this... really happening?¡±

    ¡°The charging speed is increasing fast?¡±

    ¡°Is this the Fast Opening technique?¡±

    ¡°How does he know about this? I always check the overseas forums¡­¡±

    Su-ho continued to inject his mana, undeterred by the growing chatter.

    Then, from a distance, Son Do-won urgently called out:

    ¡°Su-ho! It¡¯s almost at 100%! How does it feel?¡±

    ¡°It feels great. Not a bit of pain!¡±

    ¡°Really?¡±

    The fact that there was no pain meant that the probability of Gate Shock was low.

    But despite that, everyone remained tense.

    Everyone except Su-ho.

    Su-ho wasn¡¯t nervous.

    He knew.

    The Yeongwolru Gate had never caused a Gate Shock.

    And finally, when the gate¡¯s charge reached 100%, a burst of light erupted.

    A bright sh.

    At the same moment, a system notification appeared in front of Su-ho.

    [Gate has been created.]

    The gate was sessfully opened.

    As the light faded, everyone could see the portal opening smoothly, without any shocks.

    The onlookers couldn¡¯t help but murmur in awe.

    ¡°Wow¡­¡±

    ¡°Crazy¡­¡±

    ¡°He really did it¡­¡±

    ¡°Is this really happening?¡±

    The Detection Department staff shivered with excitement.

    It was inevitable.

    This method of reducing the gate opening time was something that had never been seen before¡ªsomething that no one had ever even thought of trying.

    Son Do-won was shocked, while Jeong Cheol-min showed a slight expression of disbelief, as though thinking, This crazy guy, I knew he¡¯d cause trouble again.

    Su-ho, seeing their surprised faces, shed a light smile and waved with a victory sign.

    ¡°Shall we begin the exploration now?¡±

    ¡°R-right now?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that the nned course of action?¡±

    ¡°Well, yes, but... wow... Team Leader Jeong, is he normally like this?¡±

    ¡°¡­Every time I see him, I¡¯m still mystified and amazed.¡±

    Jeong Cheol-min shook his head, as though resigned.

    Su-ho spoke with determination:

    ¡°I¡¯ll enter right away.¡±

    ¡°Be careful.¡±

    ¡°Got it!¡±

    Su-ho gave a salute with his hand before stepping into the portal.

    As he entered, the gate information appeared before his eyes.

    [Entering the Gate.]

    [Loading Gate Information.]

    [Wonryeongnaru]

    ¨C Entry Condition: Level 100+, at least one Red stat.

    ¨C Max Entry: 5 people or fewer.

    Wonryeongnaru.

    The true name of the Yeongwolru Gate.

    Seeing the name, Su-ho smiled in satisfaction and stepped into the gate.

    ***

    [Entering Wonryeongnaru.]

    A system notification appeared that Su-ho had never seen before.

    When the entry condition requires a minimum level of 100, the gate is considered a 1-star gate.

    And from a 1-star gate, there are changes in both big and small aspects, including the notifications.

    Su-ho checked the system notification and then surveyed his changed surroundings.

    ¡®So, this is where I¡¯ve ended up.¡¯

    Wonryeongnaru.

    This was a surprisingly famous gate.

    It made sense, though, because Wonryeongnaru was where a certain Crusader, a famous pdin yer in his past life, obtained the power tied to his identity.

    Su-ho looked up.

    The sky above looked like a navy blue storm cloud.

    But it wasn¡¯t the sky.

    It was a river.

    What he was standing on wasn¡¯t stone or concrete¡ªit was dirt.

    In other words, this ce existed beneath a river, with the river wrapping around the space instead of a sky above it.

    Su-ho then lowered his gaze and observed the surroundings.

    Though this ce was beneath a river, the floor wasn¡¯t muddy.

    It wasn¡¯t sand, either, but rather a fine soil, colored between dark soil and yellow earth.

    However, the reason the soil had this color was that it had been contaminated with Corpse Poison¡ªa toxic substance from dead bodies.

    ¡®So this is Wonryeongnaru.¡¯

    At that moment:

    [The lingering resentment in the riverbed reacts to the vitality and awakens.]

    A system notification.

    At the same time, something ck began to wriggle up from the ck soil beneath Su-ho.

    ¨C ck Remnant Spirit Lv.112

    ¨C ck Remnant Spirit Lv.110

    ¨C ck Remnant Spirit Lv.114

    ¡­¡­

    ck Remnant Spirits.

    As the name implied, these were beings made of lingering resentment, existing in a ck, shapeless form.

    ¨C I can''t forgive...

    ¨C I will kill...

    ¨C Grr...

    The ck Remnant Spirits... The Crusaders had referred to them as Remnant gue.

    This was because they were filled with nothing but lingering resentment, reacting only to vitality, bing enraged, and targeting the living, their sole purpose being to kill.

    ¡®Considering their backstory, they¡¯re truly pitiful creatures.¡¯

    But Su-ho knew better than to sympathize too quickly.

    Their sole purpose was to rip challengers apart and kill them.

    Su-ho clicked his tongue as he looked at the Remnant gue that filled the riverbed beneath him.

    ¡°There sure are a lot of them.¡±

    ording to records, before the Crusaders appeared, Wonryeongnaru was one of the most difficult gates to clear.

    One reason for this was the sheer number of Remnant gue. But another reason was that only five people could enter the gate at once.

    Perhaps that was why?

    As the Remnant gue gathered together like something created from darkness, it looked like a ck wave.

    But the difficulty of clearing Wonryeongnaru wasn¡¯t solely due to therge numbers of Remnant gue and the restricted number of entrants.

    The real challenge began when they started to prepare for an attack.

    The first sign of this was their transformation.

    [The ck Remnant Spirits mimic your appearance.]

    [The ck Remnant Spirits mimic your appearance.]

    [The ck Remnant Spirits mimic your appearance.]

    ¡­¡­

    The alerts poured in.

    And it was as it seemed.

    The Remnant gue began to perfectly replicate Su-ho¡¯s appearance.

    Soon, ck-and-white versions of Su-ho filled the area, and astonishingly, despite their appearance, they weren¡¯t Undead.

    They were ghost-type monsters with only the Evil attribute.

    Su-ho, seeing the creatures mimicking him, clicked his tongue.

    ¡°They¡¯re like Doppelgangers.¡±

    Su-ho had cleared a Doppelganger Gate several times before.

    But Remnant gue was a different feeling altogether. It wasn¡¯t exactly pleasant.

    In fact, it was eerie and disturbing.

    Anyone would feel ufortable seeing countless creatures that looked just like themselves.

    Because of that, Su-ho decided to take care of them quickly.

    This wasn¡¯t about granting them salvation.

    They were far beyond the point of salvation, consumed entirely by resentment. No matter what Su-ho did, they couldn¡¯t reach salvation.

    Su-ho had already prepared for this when he learned about Wonryeongnaru.@@novelbin@@

    He activated one of his skills.

    [Blessing is activated.]

    The first part of his preparation was Blessing.

    Su-ho¡¯s stats immediately increased, and he quickly used his second skill.

    [Holy Enchant is activated.]

    The second skill was Holy Enchant.

    Su-ho used Holy Enchant a second time.

    The first one was cast on his blood sword, and the second on his body.

    A pure white light enveloped Su-hopletely, and amidst the ck-and-white Remnant gue, only the original Su-ho shone brightly in white.

    Finally, his preparations wereplete.

    Su-ho smiled as he moved forward.

    ¡°Come at me slowly; I won¡¯t dodge.¡±

    That was the signal.

    ¨C I will kill!

    ¨C Kill!

    ¨C Grahh!

    The Remnant gue surged toward him all at once.

    They looked like moths diving into a fire.

    Su-ho didn¡¯t dodge their attacks. Instead, he raised his sword and gently blocked their strikes.

    And the moment his sword touched them:

    [Holy Enchant effect activates Exorcism.]

    A burst of light exploded.

    At the same time, the Exorcism effect embedded in Holy Enchant triggered, and the Remnant gue, ghost-type monsters with the Evil attribute, turned to ashes and crumbled away like dust.

    But that wasn¡¯t all.

    The moment Su-ho¡¯s sword touched them, and even when their swords touched him, light exploded.

    [Holy Enchant effect activates Protection.]

    Su-ho¡¯s protective Exorcism version activated.

    So, their attacks couldn¡¯t hurt Su-ho.

    From that moment on, Su-houghed brightly and slowly moved forward.

    With a yful swing of his sword, he erased the Remnant gue with every strike.

    Among the ck Remnant gue, there was no one who could stop him.

    It was the moment when the disaster of Wonryeongnaru descended upon them.

 Chapter 140

    [The ck Remnant Spirits have been in.]

    [The ck Remnant Spirits have been in.]

    [The ck Remnant Spirits have been in.]

    [The ck Remnant Spirits have been in.]

    ¡­¡­

    The notifications poured in.

    No one could stop Su-ho in Wonryeongnaru.

    Of course, not all of the Remnant gue were cleared in one go.

    Even if they weren¡¯t all exorcised in a single blow¡­

    [Holy Enchant effect activates Exorcism.]

    [Holy Enchant effect activates Protection.]

    [The ck Remnant Spirits have been in.]

    At least by the second strike, it was finished.

    ¡®Looks like I didn¡¯t have to do anything special here.¡¯

    The level difference was not insignificant.

    However, despite that, the overwhelming difference in ability came from Su-ho¡¯s Stat Level, which far surpassed the conditions required by the gate.

    ¡®The gate only required a single Red stat... which means, at minimum, you need one Red stat to evenpete here.¡¯

    But Su-ho had two Orange stats and two Red stats.

    In fact, both Red stats would soon turn into Orange stats.

    So, the Remnant gue of Wonryeongnaru, which only required one Red stat, could never be a match for Su-ho.

    As Su-ho advanced through the scattered Remnant gue, the experience gained was substantial.

    One reason why this ce was categorized as a Hard Gate was the sheer number of Remnant gue.

    [Your level has increased.]

    [All stats have increased by 1.]

    [You have gained 1 bonus stat.]

    Su-ho leveled up.

    Then, after a while, when his level increased again, Su-ho finally saw a new system notification.

    [The ck Remnant Spirits merge into a single,rger Remnant.]

    The Remnant gue had changed.

    This was no ordinary change. The Remnant gue had fused together to form onerger Remnant.

    It wasn¡¯t just a couple of thembining.

    After seeing Su-ho¡¯s overwhelming power, the Remnant gue must have realized that they couldn¡¯t win individually, so they stopped charging at Su-ho and decided tobine their strength.

    [A gigantic Remnant appears.]

    Boom!

    A giant Remnant, resembling a titan, emerged.

    Its name was simple.

    ¨C Gigantic Remnant Lv. 154

    Its level exceeded 150.

    In terms of pure level, this was even higher than the Quarter Dragon Su-ho had defeated earlier.

    Su-ho looked up and saw that the giant¡¯s head almost touched the ceiling of the river cavern.

    It seemed that was its limit.

    ¡®It can¡¯t go beyond that height.¡¯

    It made sense.

    No matter how chaotic things got, there were boundaries.

    Su-ho was careful not to hit the ceiling as he prepared to face the giant.

    With its massive size, the Gigantic Remnant¡¯s sword came crashing toward Su-ho.

    But Su-ho didn¡¯t dodge.

    Instead, he raised his Blood Sword and took a defensive stance.

    He was curious.

    How strong would the Gigantic Remnant, formed by the fusion of the Remnant gue, really be?

    Just as the giant''s sword descended toward him:

    sh!

    The moment the giant¡¯s sword met Su-ho¡¯s, a brilliant white light exploded.

    At the same time, Su-ho¡¯s sword cleaved through the giant¡¯s sword like a cutter through paper.

    ¨C ¡­!

    The Gigantic Remnant, realizing the power difference, quickly withdrew its sword.

    But it was toote.

    Its sword was already split down the middle, leaving it in a pitiful state.

    The giant¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief.

    At the sight of this clumsy scene, Su-ho also raised the corner of his mouth and flicked his sword, as though shaking off some water from a kitchen knife.

    ¡°Your size has increased, but not much else has changed.¡±

    If anything had changed, it was that the Gigantic Remnant was slightly sturdier than the individual Remnant gue.

    But the difference wasn¡¯t that significant.

    Fighting the Remnant gue felt like popping a balloon, while fighting the Gigantic Remnant was like slicing tofu.

    But in the face of steel, whether it¡¯s a balloon or tofu, does it really make much difference?

    What was certain was that, despite the higher level, this Gigantic Remnant was no match for the Quarter Dragon Su-ho had previously defeated. Its ws were nothingpared to the dragon¡¯s.

    Su-ho drew his sword to his waist and took a stance.

    Then¡­

    [Cloud Cutter is activated.]

    sh!

    As the skill was activated, a massive burst of light shed, and a white sword line appeared across the giant¡¯s neck.

    Swoosh!

    A clean cutting sound.

    At the same time, the giant¡¯s head dropped and disintegrated into ash, scattering into the wind.

    [You have in the Gigantic Remnant.]

    Seeing the notification, Su-ho furrowed his brows.

    At this rate, it seemed more efficient to hunt a truckload of 120-level Remnant gue for experience.

    ¡°Tsk, tsk. I should hurry up and take down the boss.¡±

    The rest of the process was the same.

    Now, Gigantic Remnants appeared in groups, but none of them managed to break through Su-ho¡¯s Holy Enchant.

    Still, there were some rewards.

    While there were fewer Gigantic Remnants than Remnant gue, Su-ho was able to level up one more time while clearing them.

    After advancing for a long time, when no more Gigantic Remnants appeared, Su-ho finally reached the end of Wonryeongnaru.

    The end of Wonryeongnaru was more beautiful than expected.

    Having traversed the long tunnel-like passage of the gate, the boss room waspletely surrounded by the surface of the river, except for the direction Su-ho hade from.

    It was a truly mysterious ce.

    Although the lighting was dim and not a single fish could be seen, the river surrounding it seemed to be constantly flowing, as if to prove that it truly was a river.

    While Su-ho admired the boss room, the system notifications finally popped up.

    [You have entered the boss room.]

    [The boss monster awakens.]

    Only then did the system notifications appear.

    This was indeed the boss room.

    As soon as the system notification appeared, the path Su-ho had walked closed off, and the water began to rise, filling the room.

    ¡®They¡¯ve really isted me now.¡¯

    The entrance, now filled with water, darkened the entire area.

    Then, in front of Su-ho, a swirling ck ash-colored Remnant appeared, swirling like a cloak around what resembled the shape of Drac.

    sh!

    A purple glow, void of pupils, began to form in the shape of eyes on the figure.

    Then, a namete finally materialized above its head.

    ¨C Envoy of Vengeance Lv.159

    The Envoy of Vengeance.

    That was the name of the owner of the Wonryeongnaru Gate.

    It was then.

    Whiiioooo!!

    Suddenly, a fierce wind began to blow.

    The strong wind swirling within the boss room carried with it a peculiar ashen hue, and it spun around Su-ho, circling him before ultimately enveloping him.

    However, Su-ho remained still.

    He knew very well that this was not an attack.

    The ashen vengeance that covered Su-ho¡¯s body swept across every corner of him, lingering for a moment before eventually pulling away, returning to its master.

    Standing in the same position, Su-ho, still scanned by the entity, addressed the Envoy of Vengeance.

    ¡°Is the scan finished?¡±

    In response, the Envoy of Vengeance only narrowed its eyes.

    Then, it spread one side of its cloak, and from that direction, silhouettes of human forms began to rise from the ground.

    The Envoy of Vengeance then spread the other side of its cloak.

    From there too, two more human-shaped silhouettes emerged.

    Four in total.

    The condensed vengeance swirled, taking on more details, gradually forming the ¡®Vengeance Bottles¡¯ that were finally revealed to Su-ho.

    But as Su-hoid eyes on these Vengeance Bottles, he couldn¡¯t help but burst out inughter.

    ¡°Haha, it really was them?¡±

    The reason for Su-ho¡¯sughter?

    It was because the Vengeance Bottles created by the Envoy of Vengeance were the very same four betrayers who had stabbed a knife into Su-ho¡¯s back in his past life.

    Alex Morgan of the U.S. Sacred Fortress.

    Endo Suzuki, the witch from Japan.

    Hex Hood, the British archer.

    Isabe Mikhail, the saint from Russia.

    What was more striking was that these forms were the exact appearances of these individuals right after they had betrayed Su-ho.

    It made perfect sense.

    One of the Envoy of Vengeance''s abilities, Vengeful Creation, allowed it to bring forth the darkest memories of a target and manifest them as they were.

    That¡¯s why the Envoy of Vengeance had left Su-ho untouched when scanning him.

    He¡¯d only needed to wait a moment to witness something that no amount of money could buy¡ªa fascinating sight.

    Su-ho reminisced as he gazed at the faces of oldrades¡­ no, of those bastards.

    ¡°Well, well¡­ how nice it is to see them... maybe a sight I won¡¯t see again.¡±

    It was true.

    The figures created by the Envoy of Vengeance were based on Su-ho¡¯s memories, ones that would never be seen in the current timeline.

    ¡®They don¡¯t even know I exist in the present.¡¯

    After finishing his sightseeing, Su-ho slowly raised his sword.

    He had seen enough.

    Now, it was time to truly enjoy the creations of the Envoy of Vengeance, to tear them apart and savor the experience.

    After Su-ho¡¯s remark, the Envoy of Vengeance gave a slight nod.

    Then, above each of the betrayers'' heads, nametes appeared, and their eyes red with the same eerie light as undead beings.

    ¨C Alex Morgan Lv.159

    ¨C Endo Suzuki Lv.159

    ¨C Hex Hood Lv.159

    ¨C Isabe Mikhail Lv.159

    Their levels matched that of the Envoy of Vengeance itself.

    As soon as the mes ignited in their eyes, the four betrayers scattered in all directions without anyone saying a word.

    Su-ho couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at the sight.

    ¡®Seems like it properly referenced my memories.¡¯

    Back when Su-ho and the four betrayers had been on the same team, they had formed several formations to maximize their efficiency in each role.

    They had always moved ording to those formations, adjusting them as necessary during gate expeditions.

    Now, even though these were mere copies, the betrayers were once again moving ording to those same formations in order to hunt Su-ho.

    It felt strange.@@novelbin@@

    But Su-ho couldn¡¯t afford to remain lost in nostalgia.

    As Alex Morgan rushed towards him, Su-ho tightened his grip on the sword.

    ¡°Right, this was one of the most basic formations. The world¡¯s best tank, you, charging first to draw aggro.¡±

    Like a bull... no, more like a dump truck that exuded the force of a bulldozer, Alex bore down on Su-ho.

    Without hesitation, Su-ho dashed forward to meet him.

    Then, just before colliding with Alex, Su-ho suddenly leaped into the air.

    It was as if performing a circus bullfight.

    Su-ho leaped beautifully into the air, spinning in a spiral, and during the motion, he summoned his Guiyeong Spear.

    With a final twist in mid-air, he threw the spear after taking another quick step,unching it with the force of his enhanced movement.

    [ Spear Throw has been activated. ]

    The Guiyeong Spear, now imbued with skill effects, was thrown.

    The spear cut through the air with a terrifying screech!

    It struck with a sickening sound.

    The target pierced by Su-ho¡¯s Guiyeong Spear was none other than Hex Hood, the British archer, who had once inserted an arrow into Su-ho¡¯s back during his past betrayal.

 Chapter 141

    A clean hit.

    Itnded perfectly.

    As proof, system notifications appeared in front of Su-ho¡¯s eyes.

    [ Shadow Bind has been activated. ]

    [ Shadow Bleed has been activated. ]

    [ Shadow Piercing has been activated. ]

    Normally, the conditions for activating Shadow Piercing were strict, but the pitch-ck floor of Gangnaru was an exception.

    This ce was filled with more darkness than light.

    Moreover, Hex''s position involved assassination and long-range arrows for harassment.

    So when the formation activated, it automatically took cover in the darkest, most sinister spots.

    Su-ho, well aware of this, initially focused on Hex.

    But that wasn¡¯t all.

    Fwooosh! Boom!!

    A burst of pure white brilliance exploded.

    [ Holy Enchant activates Exorcism. ]

    The Vengeance Bottles, made through the Vengeful Creation, were ghost-type monsters imbued with evil attributes, much like the Vengeance Spirits.

    Despite their human-like appearance, they were still monsters.

    Hence, the Exorcism effect from Holy Enchant worked perfectly.

    Whoosh...

    Twitch... twitch...

    The head of Hex''s Vengeance Bottle exploded from the Holy Enchant¡¯s exorcism, and it squirmed on the ground, scattering ashen smoke.

    Then, finally:

    [ Hex Hood has been defeated. ]

    The creature''s life had been extinguished.

    "One down."

    At that moment, Alex''s Vengeance Bottle, who had only just realized it had been yed, thrust a huge shield toward Su-ho, closing the distance again.

    Su-ho, seeing this, immediately jumped back into the air the moment hended.

    He soared higher than before, reaching the very ceiling of Gangnaru.

    Suspended in midair, Su-ho looked down.

    At the end of his gaze, he saw a foolish bull, lost and aimlessly wandering, unable to find its target.

    ¡®Right. It¡¯s just a replica.¡¯

    Although Vengeance Bottles were made from the target¡¯s deepest rage, they only replicated their outward appearance and actions, not the full essence of their original selves.

    A replica could never surpass the original, and this cheap Vengeance Bottle failed to recreate Alex''s true skills as a shield bearer.

    ¡®If it were the real Alex, he would have tried to catch my ankle the moment I left the ground.¡¯

    Therefore, Su-ho decided to punish this pathetic copy.

    Drawing his sword to his waist, he quickly unleashed a strike.

    [ Cloud sh has been activated. ]

    Whoosh!

    A long beam of light dropped onto the head of the foolish bull.

    The bull looked up toote, and that was itsst gesture.

    The instant it raised its head, its body was cleanly severed, as if measured by a ruler.

    [ Alex Morgan has been defeated. ]

    Su-ho casually dismissed the notification beforending on the ground again.

    He then turned his attention to a foolish woman, struggling to understand what to do next.

    It was Isabe''s Vengeance Bottle, a mimic of the saint.

    This replica of Isabe hesitated, confused by the sudden loss of her twopanions.

    ¡®Tsk, tsk. She¡¯d probably want to use healing or buffs, but she¡¯s already dead with a single strike. What can she possibly do?¡¯

    Swish!

    Su-ho swung his sword, decapitating the replica.

    [ Isabe Mikhail has been defeated. ]

    Now only one replica remained.

    Su-ho turned his head.

    At that moment...

    Whooosh!!

    A massive fireball raced toward Su-ho.

    Boom!!

    The ground of Gangnaru shook with an explosive sound.

    The final replica, Suzuki Endo''s Vengeance Bottle, hadnded the blow.

    And the prediction was correct.

    In the mes, there was a dark figure¡ªit was unmistakably Su-ho.

    But...

    Swish!

    The sound of slicing.

    Before the sword hit, the sound was already audible.

    And when Suzuki recognized it, a long gash had been carved into her forehead.

    Simultaneously, the mes split, revealing Su-ho, untouched and dignified, with no trace of soot.

    By then, Suzuki''s sword was diagonally cleaved into two.

    [ Suzuki Endo has been defeated. ]

    The mes dissipated.

    Su-ho remained unscathed.

    No special measures had been taken.

    Thanks to the Holy Enchant''s protective effects, Su-ho had been shielded by a holy barrier.@@novelbin@@

    This had been inevitable.

    The Vengeance Bottle, made to mimic Suzuki, had only recreated her outward appearance, not her unique magical power.

    Thus, the mes she produced, though seemingly fiery and intense, were, in reality, infused with evil attributes and ashen Vengeance Spirit energy.

    And evil attributes couldn¡¯t touch Su-ho.

    Watching as Suzuki''s form faded into smoke, Su-ho muttered to himself.

    "I''ll truly cut you down next time."

    It was sincere.

    He remembered the time he was poisoned by Suzuki, the dreadful pain that he never wanted to experience again.

    That was why Su-ho vowed:

    The next time he met Suzuki, he would offer her vengeance far worse than the poison¡ªsomething more lethal.

    In that sense, the one who had just died wasn¡¯t even worth calling a proper imitation.

    If it had been the real Suzuki, she wouldn¡¯t have been using these unwarranted fire magic attacks. She would have summoned vast amounts of hydrochloric acid and poured it down, just as she did.

    That was her style.

    Finally, Su-ho shifted his gaze to the Envoy of Vengeance.

    Its purple eyes were still glowing, but something about the look felt pitiable.

    Su-ho spoke, looking at it.

    "Stop pretending to be surprised. Hurry up and bring out the next phase. Otherwise, I¡¯ll finish this right now."

    Creak...!!

    The Envoy of Vengeance gritted its teeth.

    At that moment, its eyes shed brightly, and its entire body of Vengeance Spirits surged and pulsed as if burning with fury.

    [ The Envoy of Vengeance is greatly enraged. ]

    [ The Envoy of Vengeance absorbs the power of the deceased in Wonryeongnaru. ]

    Whoosh!

    The enraged figure began to absorb the grudge of countless unnamed spirits resting beneath Gangnaru.

    Its body grewrger, and the cloak wrapped around it transformed into the appearance of a well-crafted Death Knight¡¯s armor.

    The sword was gone.

    Naturally.

    It was a mage, after all.

    The Envoy of Vengeance had finished its transformation into Phase 2 and raised its hand.

    What followed was a remarkable sight.

    The Envoy of Vengeance, afterpleting its transformation, began to multiply endlessly, as if using a shadow clone technique.

    Moreover, unlike the original, the clones each wielded different weapons.

    They were the Envoy of Vengeance¡¯sst and final creation¡ªthe Vengeance Bottle Legion.

    Su-ho nodded and drew his sword.

    "Finally, I¡¯ll get to see the famous Crusader¡¯s military technique."

    The Envoy of Vengeance¡¯s ability, known as the Crusader, was based on summoning soldiers who resembled the caster.

    The technique¡¯s name was Legion Tactics, a signature move of the Crusader ss.

    When the Crusader used this skill, an army of powerful pdins would appear on the battlefield.

    Su-ho¡¯s goal was precisely to see this technique in action.

    Though he felt bad for the Crusaders, their Legion Tactics would make it easier for him to unlock the second power of his Vampire Blood.

    As the Vengeance Bottles began to charge toward him, Su-ho started to prepare his skills.

    [ Blessing has been activated. ]

    [ Holy Enchant has been activated. ]

    Brilliant white light enveloped him.

    The first Vengeance Bottle rushed at Su-ho and swung its weapon.

    Crash!

    A heavy impact.

    The first Vengeance Bottle wielded a hammer.

    Su-ho blocked the hammer strike with his Blood Sword.

    And with a grin, heplimented the enemy.

    "Well, you¡¯re definitely different from those fake betrayers."

    Growl!

    The Vengeance Bottle raised its hammer again.

    In that brief moment, Su-ho traced a white sword line beneath its raised arms.

    Whoosh!

    The light exploded.

    [ Holy Enchant¡¯s exorcism effect activates. ]

    Cough!!

    The first Vengeance Bottle disintegrated into ash and exploded.

    No surprises here.

    "Next."

    Su-ho swung his sword at the next Vengeance Bottle.

    ***

    How much time had passed?

    Su-ho, who had been at the entrance of the boss room, had now moved to the very edge of it.

    Before him stood the Envoy of Vengeance, who had lost everything and was cornered.

    There were no surprises.

    There was nothing left in Su-ho¡¯s wake.

    The Vengeance Bottle Legion, created by the Envoy of Vengeance with all of its power, had perfectly be Su-ho¡¯s experience, granting him two levels.

    Su-ho pointed his sword at the powerless Envoy of Vengeance and spoke.

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing left, is there?¡±

    ¨C ¡­¡­.

    The Envoy of Vengeance remained silent.

    Good.

    This was enough.

    Well done.

    It had drained everyst ounce of its strength, and in doing so, became nourishment for Su-ho¡¯s levels.

    Thus, without further mockery, Su-ho swiftly struck.

    [ Steel sh has been activated. ]

    [ Holy Enchant¡¯s Exorcism has been activated. ]

    Two skills were activated.

    A long, white sword line was etched across the Envoy of Vengeance''s body.

    Boom!!

    Along with the engraved sword line, a massive white explosion erupted.

    [ The Envoy of Vengeance has been defeated. ]

    [ The Gate has been cleared. ]

    [ MVP of the Gate clearing is ¡®An Su-ho¡¯. ]

    [ Additional experience points awarded for MVP selection. ]

    [ Bonus stat +1 awarded for MVP selection. ]

    [ Level Up. ]

    [ All stats increased by 1. ]

    [ Bonus stat +1 obtained. ]

    The Envoy of Vengeance was defeated.

    At the same time, system notifications poured in, and a massive cross appeared in the ce where the Envoy of Vengeance had been.

    A gigantic cross.

    It was a tombstone and a memorial cross, meant to honor the unknown deceased who had been buried beneath the river.

    Su-ho stared at the cross for a while before gently touching it with his hand.

    Then, he prayed sincerely for them.

    Although this ce was a false battlefield created by the system, Su-ho knew that some gates were directly copied from real locations in another dimension. So, just in case, he prayed for them.

    It was then.

    [ You prayed for the unknown deceased. ]

    [ The Envoy of Vengeance sends you a small gift. ]

    [ You have learned Legion Tactics (A). ]

    Su-ho heard the notification and slowly lifted his head as he began to exit the gate.

 Chapter 143

    Su-ho, after receiving the call, headed straight to Daejeon Station.

    Upon arriving at the station and parking, he made his way to the designated cafe. There, Yoon Hyun-hee was already waiting.

    Of course, Su-ho didn¡¯t forget to use Reverse Morphology to change his appearance to the one he had shown earlier.

    Yoon Hyun-hee greeted him as soon as she saw him.

    ¡°You got here quickly?¡±

    ¡°Ah, yes. I was nearby. By the way¡­¡±

    As Su-ho sat down, he spoke.

    ¡°Have you truly made up your mind?¡±

    ¡°Yes, and I¡¯ve decided how I want to live from now on.¡±

    ¡°How did you decide?¡±

    ¡°As you suggested, I¡¯ll go to Seoul. But before that, I want to meet my brother.¡±

    Su-ho smiled at her decision.

    It was the exact decision Su-ho had hoped for.

    ¡°I understand. I know it must have been a tough choice, but I¡¯m grateful you made a bold one. As for the property transfer, I can handle that through a personalwyer. The only thing left is meeting your brother...¡±

    Su-ho hesitated for a moment, then asked.

    ¡°By the way, have you finished taking care of things here?¡±

    ¡°Yes, well. There wasn¡¯t really much to take care of. The house is already on the market, and once I find a new ce, I¡¯ll call a movingpany to transfer my things.¡±

    ¡°And your job?¡±

    ¡°I told them already. Luckily, they were very understanding.¡±

    ¡°Is that so?¡±

    It seemed like her affairs were more thoroughly settled than Su-ho had anticipated.

    Su-ho thought for a moment, then nodded.

    ¡°Understood. In that case, I¡¯ll need to prepare to meet your brother as well, so please wait for a bit. I came here as soon as I got the call. In the meantime, would you like to finish your preparations and maybe say your goodbyes to people around here?¡±

    ¡°How long will it take?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll prepare as quickly as possible. But it won¡¯t take long. No matter what, I¡¯ll finish it by tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    After Su-ho sent Yoon Hyun-hee off, he made a call to Choi Yoon.

    ¨C What¡¯s up?

    ¡°I¡¯m in Daejeon right now, and I need some help.¡±

    ¨C Daejeon? Why Daejeon¡­ Never mind, I shouldn¡¯t ask. What kind of help do you need?

    ¡°It¡¯s about¡­¡±

    Su-ho exined what he needed, and Choi Yoon nodded before responding.

    ¨C I¡¯ll call you back in 30 minutes.

    ¡°Got it.¡±

    The call ended.

    Now, all that was left was to wait.

    As Su-ho casually sat back, sipping his coffee, a call from Choi Yoon came through shortly after.

    ¨C I¡¯ve sent a number to your phone. Call it. I¡¯ve already spoken to them, so you can handle the payment directly.

    ¡°Thanks.¡±

    Su-ho dialed the number that had been sent to him.

    ***

    How much time had passed?

    In truth, Yoon Hyun-hee didn¡¯t have much to sort out.

    She could simply talk to the real estate agency about her house, and she had already had sufficient conversations with the owner of the cold noodle restaurant she worked at.

    In Daejeon, where she hade following her ex-husband, she didn¡¯t have any friends or acquaintances.

    Moreover, it was her first time in a long while having some free time.

    She couldn¡¯t even remember what she used to do on her days off.

    So after much deliberation, Yoon Hyun-hee decided to head back to the cold noodle restaurant.

    "What¡¯s this? Why are you here?"

    The owner of the cold noodle restaurant, Lee Gye-bok, greeted Yoon Hyun-hee with a puzzled expression.

    Yoon Hyun-hee smiled and, without responding, removed her coat and put on an apron.

    "I had some free time."

    "Wait, you¡¯reing back here just because you have free time? Why are you wearing the apron again?"

    "I thought I¡¯d help out. You¡¯ve been busytely, especially after that photo on ByeolStar."

    The photo on ByeolStar.

    It referred to the photo of the restaurant''s food that Su-ho had posted from the train on his way to Seoul.

    For Lee Gye-bok, this was quite a strange urrence.

    He had never done any advertising, and due to the location of his restaurant, no famous personalities or influencers had ever visited or shown interest.

    But now, someone who wasn¡¯t just anybody¡ªthe most popr Sword Saint in the country¡ªwasing to his ce?

    Though he was getting older, he couldn¡¯t have missed the visit of such a famous personality.

    But despite his thinking, he couldn¡¯t recall seeing the Sword Saint himself, and the staff said they didn¡¯t recognize him either.

    However, on his ByeolStar, there was a post showcasing his restaurant''s food, titled "Must-Try Restaurant," and even a "Sword Saint Set"bo meal had been created. As a result, the restaurant had be popr, with a constant flow of customers.

    "Anyway, I¡¯m here to help because I had nothing else to do."

    "Ah, no! How can I make the person who¡¯s leaving help? You¡¯ve already made your decision to leave."

    "Excuse me!"

    "Yes~!"

    But instead of responding, Yoon Hyun-hee went to serve a customer who had called.

    Lee Gye-bok, watching this, shook his head in disbelief before letting out a wryugh.

    "Good grief... I can¡¯t believe you."

    Then, he too returned to serving customers.

    ***

    The business hours were over.

    The restaurant had closed, and after sending the employees home, Lee Gye-bok set up a light drinking table with Yoon Hyun-hee.

    "So, you have to wait until that person contacts you?"

    "Yes."

    "Comes like the wind and disappears like the wind. What a strange person."

    "I think so too... but I¡¯ve seen something, so..."

    Lee Gye-bok knew Yoon Hyun-hee well enough.

    He was someone who, if anything, cared for his employees like family.

    So, at first, Yoon Hyun-hee had felt too embarrassed by her situation to say anything, but after being protected by a loan shark, she hadpletely followed him.

    The two of them passed the bottle back and forth for a while.

    When she had first said she was quitting, they had shared a cup of tea, and that was all. She didn¡¯t want to trouble the busy owner withints.

    But now, because of Su-ho, she had some free time and this meeting came about.

    Yoon Hyun-hee was, in some ways, grateful to Su-ho for that.

    Lee Gye-bok, heavily intoxicated, spoke.

    "Sigh... girl... don¡¯t suffer in Seoul, live happily... Think of this as thest chance your brother gave you..."

    Yoon Hyun-hee had told Lee Gye-bok all the facts.

    She trusted him, and she followed him.

    And just as she trusted him, Lee Gye-bok had never criticized or pointed fingers at her brother, even after hearing about him.

    Instead, like Yoon Hyun-hee, he worried for Yoon Hyun-chul and felt pity for him.

    With his usual nagging, Yoon Hyun-heeughed and replied.

    "I want to do that too. But... how can I be happy while my brother¡¯s in prison?"

    "Does that mean you¡¯re going to live unhappily? If you do that, it¡¯s like you¡¯re killing your brother twice. Never do that. So..."

    Thud!

    In the end, she couldn¡¯t withstand the alcohol and copsed onto the table, lying down.

    Yoon Hyun-hee watched him for a while, then chuckled and finished the drink in her ss.

    Just then...

    Tap tap¡ª

    Outside the restaurant¡¯s ss window.

    Someone knocked on the window.

    It was Su-ho.

    "Su-ho?"

    Yoon Hyun-hee quickly opened the restaurant door, and Su-ho cautiously stepped inside.

    "Shouldn¡¯t you be resting? Did you really work?"

    "Haha... I realized I really didn¡¯t have anywhere to go."

    Su-ho had sent her a message beforehand.

    If he finished his work before midnight, he would be at the restaurant, so she shoulde here.

    That¡¯s why he hade.

    Yoon Hyun-hee asked.

    "Have you eaten?"

    "Yes, well. But it¡¯s gettingte. Would you prefer to leave tomorrow at your own pace? I drove, so I can¡¯t take the train anyway."

    "Let¡¯s go straight to Cheongsong, then?"

    "Yes, that¡¯s the n."

    "Then I¡¯ll go to Cheongsong Station by tomorrow morning or lunchtime. If I take a taxi, I can get to Cheongok Prison, right?"

    "That¡¯s possible, but just contact me, and I¡¯ll pick you up. I wanted toe sooner, but I had a lot to prepare, so I¡¯m a bitte."

    "Oh, no. I¡¯m really grateful for your help."

    "Understood. I¡¯ll see you tomorrow."

    Su-ho politely said goodbye and stood up.

    He thought it would be better to have onest meal with the cold noodle restaurant owner, maybe even for a hangover cure, before taking her to the prison.

    Vroom!

    Su-ho¡¯s car was heading toward Cheongok Prison.

    ***

    "You¡¯ve arrived."

    When Su-ho arrived at Cheongok Prison, Chief Guard Hwang Se-don came out to greet him.

    It wasn¡¯t that Su-ho came alone and the prison warden didn¡¯te out.

    He had contacted them in advance and told them not toe.

    ¡°There was no need for the warden toe out for something that isn¡¯t formal.¡±

    Although people are different, usually when a person in power acts kindly, it makes a bigger impression than usual.

    And in Cheongok, Su-ho held the status of a high-ranking figure from a superior organization.

    That¡¯s why Su-ho had purposely told Kim Gil-yeon not toe.

    Kim Gil-yeon would view Su-ho favorably, and any necessary proceedings would go smoothly.

    As proof of that, Hwang Se-don, who came out in Kim Gil-yeon¡¯s ce, acted with utmost respect toward Su-ho.

    ¡°The inmates you mentioned are prepared in the same visitation room asst time.¡±

    ¡°Understood. Then, let¡¯s meet Kim Goong-won first.¡±

    With Hwang Se-don¡¯s guidance, Su-ho entered the visitation room and was able to meet Kim Goong-won.

    When Su-ho entered the room, Kim Goong-won immediately stood up, bowing respectfully.

    ¡°Big Brother, you¡¯ve arrived!¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    Su-ho was surprised by Kim Goong-won¡¯s formal demeanor.

    What¡¯s this?

    Why has he changed so much?

    Su-ho chuckled and asked.

    ¡°What¡¯s changed so much? Why are you acting like this all of a sudden?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I was just short-sighted back then.¡±

    ¡°Looks like you understand something. But why am I the ¡®big brother¡¯?¡±

    ¡°Of course, you are the biggest big brother. We¡¯re all moving based on your words.¡±

    ¡°Then what do you call Yoon Hyun-chul?¡±

    ¡°I just call him ¡®big brother.¡¯ But when I speak to him, I¡¯ll refer to him as the younger big brother.¡±

    The older big brother and younger big brother.

    Su-ho chuckled again and asked.

    ¡°So, how¡¯s everything going these days?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve been carrying out the tasks you¡¯ve asked for, following your instructions carefully.¡±

    ¡°Report.¡±

    ¡°Well, as you wanted, the younger big brother has be the king of Cheongok.¡±

    ¡°Already?¡±

    ¡°Actually, aside from Jo Gwang-ho or Yoon Hyun-chul, Jo Gwang-ho was the most powerful in Cheongok, so it was only a matter of time once Jo Gwang-ho became what he is now.¡±

    That¡¯s true.

    That¡¯s exactly why Su-ho had made sure Jo Gwang-ho was ced in that position.

    Su-ho asked.

    ¡°How¡¯s Jo Gwang-ho doing?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯spletely a useless punching bag, the town¡¯s punching bag.¡±

    ¡°Useless punching bag?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s limping on one leg and can¡¯t even grip anything properly. But the karma from all the people he¡¯s tormented in the past... once people found out, they all started to turn on him, and that¡¯s how he became the punching bag.¡±

    ¡°Make sure he doesn¡¯t kill himself. That guy needs to suffer through his life.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I will make sure of it. And as for everything else¡­¡±

    As Kim Goong-won¡¯s report continued, Su-ho couldn¡¯t help but nod in satisfaction.

    It was no wonder.

    There had been significant changes in Cheongok ever since the power dynamic among the inmates shifted.

    Changes that aligned perfectly with Su-ho¡¯s wishes.

    ¡°¡­So now, everyone is living cautiously. If they mess up, the younger big brother will strike immediately. The guards are really happy about it. Things have gotten a lot easier for them.¡±

    ¡°Right, the public servants work hard. They shouldn¡¯t be bothered. Now, that¡¯s enough of the report¡­¡±

    Su-ho waited for the camera in the visitation room to be turned off before continuing.

    ¡°I came here because I have something else I want to assign.¡±

    ¡°Something else?¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡±@@novelbin@@

    ¡°I was thinking of staying here in Cheongok instead of Yoon Hyun-chul for a while.¡±

    ¡°¡­Pardon?¡±

    At Su-ho¡¯s words, Kim Goong-won¡¯s eyes trembled, as if there had been an earthquake.

 Chapter 144

    ¡°W-What do you mean, stay in his ce?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s exactly what it sounds like. I have something to do here. So while I stay here pretending to be Yoon Hyun-chul, you¡¯ll need to adjust ordingly and assist me.¡±

    Hearing Su-ho¡¯s words, Kim Goong-won furrowed his brow, still not understanding.

    He understood the words, but how?

    Seeing his confusion, Su-ho said:

    "Still not understanding?"

    A picture is worth a thousand words.

    Su-ho immediately began using Reverse Morphology on the spot.

    The face he was about to create was Yoon Hyun-chul¡¯s.

    As Su-ho¡¯s face began to change in real time, Kim Goong-won¡¯s mouth slowly opened in astonishment. His eyes widened as Su-ho¡¯s face fully shifted into Yoon Hyun-chul¡¯s.

    ¡°T-this is¡­ nonsense¡­¡±

    ¡°This is how it¡¯s going to proceed. Now, do you understand?¡±

    ¡°Ah, I understand!¡±

    ¡°Just to be sure, let¡¯s add a little insurance.¡±

    ¡°Insurance?¡±

    After finishing his words, Su-ho stood up and pressed a few pressure points on Kim Goong-won¡¯s body.

    [Pressure Point Technique Activated.]

    As the skill activated, Su-ho took out a piece of gum from his pocket and handed it to Kim Goong-won.

    ¡°Try this.¡±

    ¡°¡­?¡±

    Kim Goong-won hesitated but chewed the gum as instructed.

    However¡­

    ¡°Uh, uh?¡±

    Kim Goong-won¡¯s eyes widened further.

    It was no surprise.

    The gum tasted like nothing.

    ¡°I¡¯ve sealed your sense of taste. I¡¯ll restore it when we¡¯re about to leave. If you don¡¯t want to live your life with taste blindness, cooperate.¡±

    ¡°Ah, no, do you not trust me?¡±

    ¡°Would you trust yourself if you were me?¡±

    ¡°Wow, you¡¯re really saying such hurtful things.¡±

    ¡°You want me to show you what ¡®hurtful¡¯ means?¡±

    ¡°Ah, no, I didn¡¯t mean it like that, big brother!¡±

    ¡°Better be good when I¡¯m smiling. By the way, not just your tongue, but I¡¯ve also sealed your lower body. It¡¯d be best not to do anything foolish.¡±

    ¡°Y-You sealed my lower body?¡±

    ¡°If you¡¯re curious, check in the morning or at night.¡±

    ¡°W-What, big brother!¡±

    ¡°Shut up. For the rest of the time, assist me well. If you do your job right, I¡¯ll make sure to give you enough pocket money when we leave.¡±

    ¡°¡­Yes.¡±

    This was enough insurance.

    By restricting two of the three basic needs, how could Kim Goong-won betray him?

    Of course, if his hatred for Su-ho grew enough to take such a risk, he could still cause trouble, but Su-ho knew his capabilities.

    ¡®It¡¯s not like he¡¯s serving a life sentence. He¡¯s someone who could endure for a few years, so there¡¯s no way he can¡¯t handle this short period.¡¯

    After warning Kim Goong-won one more time, Su-ho headed to the next visitation room.

    In the next room, Yoon Hyun-chul was waiting.

    Su-ho smiled as he greeted him.

    ¡°Long time no see.¡±

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s been a while.¡±

    ¡°You look much better than before.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t wrong to say that.

    His face, once filled with dissatisfaction and indifference, still looked intimidating, but it now had a hint of rxationpared to before.

    He casually replied.

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing special.¡±

    ¡°Haha, if Yoon Hyun-chul says so, then it must be true. Now, let me get to the point¡­¡±

    Su-ho took out a blindfold from his pocket and said.

    ¡°Could you wear this for a moment?¡±

    ¡°Why the blindfold?¡±

    ¡°Just wear it. I want to show you a surprise.¡±

    ¡°¡­?¡±

    Hearing Su-ho¡¯s words, Yoon Hyun-chul tilted his head, but because it was Su-ho¡¯s request, he obediently wore the blindfold.

    Once he put it on, Su-ho stood up, helped him up, and slowly began pulling him backwards.

    ¡°¡­What are you doing?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯ll only be for a moment.¡±

    After walking a few steps backward, Su-ho spoke.

    ¡°You can take the blindfold off now.¡±

    ¡°¡­?¡±@@novelbin@@

    What¡¯s the difference?

    Yoon Hyun-chul thought to himself as he took off the blindfold.

    And then¡­

    ¡°¡­!¡±

    His eyes widened to the size of tes.

    It was inevitable.

    Just moments ago, he was in the visitation room.

    But now, whaty before him was not the visitation room, but somewhere else entirely.

    ¡°This ce¡­?¡±

    A cafe.

    Yes... this was a cafe.

    He almost didn¡¯t recognize it at first because it had been so long since he had been to a cafe, but looking at the interior and atmosphere, he realized this was the coffee shop he knew.

    With a stunned expression, he asked Su-ho.

    ¡°¡­What did you do?¡±

    ¡°I used a bit of magic.¡±

    ¡°Magic?¡±

    ¡°Yes, but my magic isn¡¯t finished yet. For now, let¡¯s go over there.¡±

    Su-ho led Yoon Hyun-chul toward the farthest room in the cafe.

    Though Yoon Hyun-chul had a bewildered expression, he followed Su-ho¡¯s instructions and walked along.

    But when they arrived at the door to the far room, Yoon Hyun-chul unconsciously stiffened.

    ¡°...S-Sis?¡±

    The voice of a woman.

    The identity of the voice was none other than Yoon Hyun-hee.

    Upon seeing her, Yoon Hyun-chul froze.

    Is this a dream?

    Or a ghost?

    No, this was, unbelievably, reality.

    ¡°¡­Oppa!¡±

    Unable to hold back, Yoon Hyun-hee rushed into Yoon Hyun-chul¡¯s arms.

    He couldn¡¯t resist and embraced her.

    And instinctively, he realized.

    This voice.

    This warmth.

    Yes.

    It was her.

    "My, my brother...?"

    Yoon Hyun-chul stood there, frozen in disbelief as he took in the sight of his sister, Yoon Hyun-hee, in front of him. Her voice, her warmth¡ªinstantly, he knew it was truly her. Despite the years of separation, instinctively, he recognized his sister in an instant.

    Without realizing, he embraced her, his trembling hands gently ced on her back. Through her clothing, he could feel her tremble, too. She clung to him, crying for what seemed like an eternity.

    She kept saying, "I missed you so much," and "I really missed you."

    And then, in a voice filled with sorrow and regret, she added, "...I''m sorry, I''m truly sorry."

    His own emotions spilled over, and despite his best efforts, tears welled up in his eyes.

    Suddenly, Su-ho''s presence came to mind.

    As he was wiping away his tears, Yoon Hyun-chul snapped his head toward the direction Su-ho was standing.

    Su-ho was standing by the door.

    "You...!"

    Yoon Hyun-chul¡¯s words caused Su-ho to awkwardly raise both hands, showing he meant no harm, and smile sheepishly.

    "I¡¯m sorry. This was the best I could do."

    "I asked you to do this...!"

    In that moment, Yoon Hyun-hee grabbed Yoon Hyun-chul¡¯s arm and spoke.

    "Don''t do this."

    "...What?"

    "I asked for this to happen. So, don''t me anyone else. If you''re going to say anything, say it to me."

    "..."

    Yoon Hyun-chul fell silent. But after a long pause, he finally epted his sister''s request.

    "...Alright, I understand."

    This was a relief for Su-ho.

    Honestly, he hade prepared for a p or worse.

    In the meantime, Su-ho quickly pulled out the takeout coffee he had prepared and said.

    "Shall we sit down and talk?"

    Yoon Hyun-chul nodded silently in agreement.

    Yoon Hyun-hee followed and sat down as well.

    It was a relief.

    Su-ho had feared that Yoon Hyun-chul might get angry.

    After all, he had not nned to reveal everything about Yoon Hyun-chul¡¯s situation just yet. But he knew he couldn¡¯t let him be in the dark anymore. Su-ho had his own reasons for that.

    He didn¡¯t want Yoon Hyun-chul to be involved in the darkness any longer.

    Su-ho had made a decision long ago¡ªYoon Hyun-chul was meant to stay by his side, helping him until the world was saved from the Gates. He would be the one to take action when it mattered, and Su-ho wanted him to find true happiness.

    The future of the world was uncertain, and it might take a long time to fix everything, but Su-ho wanted him to be happy¡ªforever. He wasn¡¯t about to let the man live in anger and bitterness.

    That¡¯s why Su-ho chose this method to help him.

    To solve a fundamental problem, one had to face it head-on and deal with it directly.

    Of course, the chances were fifty-fifty.

    Su-ho had prepared a backup n just in case. A backup involving the Ring of Emotions.

    If Yoon Hyun-chul got angry or upset, Su-ho could use the ring to calm him down and try talking things through.

    ¡®I¡¯m d I didn¡¯t use it just yet,¡¯ Su-ho thought.

    Generally, Su-ho didn¡¯t like to use the ring at the first sign of trouble. After all, it was an item that forcibly controlled emotions.

    Before bringing Yoon Hyun-chul here, Su-ho had confessed everything to Yoon Hyun-hee. He showed her his true face and told her who he was and what he had asked Yoon Hyun-chul to do. There was no eternal lie in the world, so he couldn¡¯t keep pretending.

    She was shocked, but she nodded in understanding.

    "Then it was you who posted the picture of the cold noodles, wasn¡¯t it?"

    "Yes, it was a great ce."

    "Goodness..."

    And then, she smiled. It seemed like she felt a sense of relief in knowing the truth.

    That¡¯s why Su-ho was able to count on her help.

    After giving them both coffee, Su-ho exined everything in detail.

    When all the exnations were finished, Yoon Hyun-chul was silent for a moment, then nodded.

    "...I understand. I respect your choice and judgment, Su-ho. And thank you. Even though this was a transaction, you helped my sister."

    "It¡¯s nothing. Once you¡¯ve chosen this path, I think it¡¯s only natural to do what¡¯s needed. By the way¡­ while we¡¯re on the topic, I have one more suggestion."

    "A suggestion?"

    "Yes, a suggestion. It''s not an ordinary one, but I would like it if you could ept it."

    "...?"

    What kind of request could it be that he was being so cautious?

    However, without hesitation, Yoon Hyun-chul responded.

    "I don¡¯t know what it is, but I¡¯ll do it."

    "Thank you. Then, for a while, how about taking a trip with your sister?"

    "...What?"

    Yoon Hyun-chul was immediately suspicious.

    A trip?

    I¡¯m a death-row inmate!

    But Su-ho was sincere.

    "I don¡¯t think just one or two short visits will resolve everything between the two of you. So, how about a few days off, a trip? Of course, since your status is what it is, traveling abroad would be difficult, but we can go somewhere in the country."

    "Are you serious?"

    "Yes, of course. This schedule will be unofficial and the prison won¡¯t know about it. While you¡¯re away, I¡¯ll stay here in your ce."

    "You, Su-ho?"

    "Yes, would you like to see?"

    Su-ho immediately used Reverse Morphology to take on Yoon Hyun-chul¡¯s face.

    Then, he began to wear an item he had prepared earlier.

    It was a type of bodysuit, simr to the disguise mask Choi Yoon had worn previously.

    The item was called Muscle Skin.

    As Su-ho put it on and adjusted the settings, his body swelled to match Yoon Hyun-chul¡¯s size.

    Outwardly, he now lookedpletely identical to Yoon Hyun-chul.

    With the added Voice Modtor device¡­

    "Ah."

    Once the voice modtor was in ce, Su-ho was now a perfect Yoon Hyun-chul.

    Both of them looked at Su-ho in astonishment.

    "Wh-what is this¡­"

    "Whoa, that¡¯s crazy..."

    Su-ho smiled and said.

    "I have some business with the inmates at Cheongok. So, I was thinking of staying here in Yoon Hyun-chul¡¯s ce for a while. This is my request. While I¡¯m staying here as him, you two can have some time together. Of course, since our identities are what they are, I¡¯ll have to make some adjustments to you."

    "Adjustments?"

    "Yes, something like this."

    Su-ho raised his fingers and pressed on a few of Yoon Hyun-chul¡¯s pressure points.

    After a while, Yoon Hyun-chul''s eyes widened in surprise.

    Some parts of his body became numb.

    Su-ho exined.

    "Because of the restraints on your wrists, you won¡¯t be able to use your magic or skills. So I¡¯ve made a physical restriction. You¡¯ll be fine for daily life, but you won¡¯t be able to harm anyone. We¡¯re in this together, but just in case, I had to take these precautions. Of course, I¡¯ll also change your face. At least you¡¯ll be able to travel freely."

    Yoon Hyun-chulughed in disbelief.

    But then¡­

    "Alright. I¡¯ll do it."

    He epted Su-ho¡¯s proposal without hesitation.

 Chapter 145

    In truth, it wasn¡¯t a bad offer for Yoon Hyun-chul.

    As a death row inmate, there was no further fall for him even if Su-ho caused an incident at Cheongok Prison.

    "There''s no punishment worse than life imprisonment for someone already sentenced to death in a country without the death penalty," he thought.

    Su-ho expressed his gratitude for the swift decision.

    "Thank you for the clear decision."

    "It¡¯s nothing. When do you n on staying?"

    "As soon as the meeting is over, I''ll start. But that said, I think we need to get to work right away."

    "You mean the face-changing procedure you mentioned earlier?"

    "Yes, that''s the one."

    When Yoon Hyun-chul nodded, Su-ho immediately began his work.

    The first step was a transformation of his appearance using Reverse Morphology.

    As the skill activated, Su-ho''s usual terrifying face shifted into a kind, approachable one.

    Seeing this, Yoon Hyun-hee chuckled.

    "This face suits you much better, oppa."

    "¡­What do you mean ''better''?"

    Despite his words, Yoon Hyun-chul smiled.

    It seemed that, after a long time, meeting his sister had loosened the heavy emotions that had been weighing on him.

    In addition to the face change, Su-ho also used items to make Yoon Hyun-chul appear like apletely different person, such as wrist restraints disguised as a watch.

    These items were all sourced through Choi Yoon.

    "With this, the basic preparations areplete. Now I¡¯ll take a moment to prepare, so please feel free to chat while I¡¯m gone. By the way, we¡¯ve rented out the entire ce, so you don¡¯t need to worry about speaking freely."

    After giving his instructions, Su-ho left the caf¨¦.

    ¡®I need to hurry up and get ready.¡¯

    Su-ho nced around the caf¨¦''s surroundings.

    The empty surroundings of the caf¨¦.

    This ce, which looked like a regr street, was surprisingly not outside the prison walls.

    It was, in fact, inside Su-ho''s Pocket Space House.

    Looking at the environment that was meticulously arranged to resemble a real street, Su-ho nodded in satisfaction.

    "Truly, the technicians are amazing."@@novelbin@@

    When Su-ho had visited Daejeon Station, he had requested help from Choi Yoon¡ªspecifically, to find people who could build structures using skills and characteristics. This way, the two of them could operate undetected in Su-ho''s Pocket Space House.

    Su-ho had kept the existence of his Pocket Space House a secret, even from his close acquaintances, as it was one of his trump cards.

    So, though it was a bit cumbersome, this n had been set in motion.

    Pretending to exit the caf¨¦, Su-ho then re-entered through the Pocket Space House and returned to the meeting room.

    The meeting room was empty.

    Su-ho waved his hand and activated another skill.

    [ Military Strategy is activated. ]

    The activated skill was Military Strategy.

    Su-ho recalled the information about the Military Strategy skill.

    [ Military Strategy ]

    <ul>

    <li>Grade: A</li>

    <li>Consumes mana to summon clones that resemble the caster in both appearance and behavior.</li>

    <li>Clones have a slight sense of autonomy and possess the strength of the abilities assigned by the caster.</li>

    <li>Can exchange positions with the clones by consuming mana proportional to the distance.</li>

    </ul>

    This was the Military Strategy skill, once wielded by the Crusaders, and now it was Su-ho''s.

    As Su-ho activated the skill, one of his clones, identical to him, appeared.

    "Not bad looking."

    After admiring his first clone for a moment, Su-ho began changing the clone¡¯s appearance, just as he had done for Yoon Hyun-chul.

    The disguise was wless.

    For this, he had brought plenty of disguise items.

    Once finished, Su-ho removed the transformation from Yoon Hyun-chul and instructed his clone on what needed to be done.

    Next, he called Hwang Se-don.

    "The meeting¡¯s over. Please send the prisoners back. I¡¯ll be leaving now."

    "Understood. I¡¯ll escort you to the entrance."

    As Su-ho stood up, the guards escorted Yoon Hyun-chul back to his cell, and Su-ho left with Hwang Se-don, making his way out of Cheongok prison with ease.

    Once outside, Su-ho drove the car away from the prison.

    After reaching a spot with a scenic view of the river, Su-ho re-entered the Pocket Space House and went back to the caf¨¦.

    "Ha-ha, really?"

    "Yeah! You wouldn¡¯t believe how much I cried that time!"

    The sound of a lively conversation came from the back room, where the two were catching up.

    After all the waiting, it seemed they were finally settling into their conversation.

    Smiling, Su-ho said,

    "Sorry for the wait. The preparations areplete, shall we head out now?"

    "Oh, sure."

    The two barely touched their coffee.

    They must have had so many stories to catch up on.

    Su-ho handed them blindfolds.

    Seeing this, Yoon Hyun-hee asked,

    "Do we have to wear them again this time?"

    "Yes, it will be a bit of a hassle, but please bear with me for just a moment."

    "Understood."

    Without any difort, the two quickly put on their blindfolds.

    Su-ho took their hands and, with a flick of his wrist, created an exit from the Pocket Space House, leading them outside.

    Once outside, Su-ho let go of their hands and said,

    "You can remove the blindfolds now."

    At his words, the two removed their blindfolds.

    Before their eyes, a refreshing view of the river unfolded.

    After gazing at the beautiful river scenery for a moment in silence, Yoon Hyun-chul finally spoke.

    "...It''s nice."

    His words were sincere.

    During his time in Cheongok, being a death row inmate, he had never seen such a view, only catching glimpses of it on TV.

    Su-ho smiled and responded,

    "I hope you get to see even better views while traveling."

    "Thank you for making this opportunity possible."

    "Haha, I asked for it because I wanted to, no need to thank me. But more importantly, here."

    As Su-ho continued speaking, he handed over a wallet filled with cards and cash, as well as the keys to the car he had driven.

    "It''ll take at least five days, so feel free to rx during that time. Spend as much money as you need, and use my car. If you need anything else, just contact me through my phone. I''ll also reach out to Hyun-hee."

    "Understood. But are you sure about this?"

    In response, Su-ho chuckled.

    "There''s no need to worry about that. This isn¡¯t something I started without preparation. After all, you¡¯re out here in broad daylight, aren''t you?"

    "¡­That''s true. I should stop worrying. You¡¯re someone of a different caliber than me."

    "Then I¡¯ll be in touch. I hope you both have an enjoyable trip."

    After politely bidding them farewell, Su-ho left first.

    The two waited until Su-ho had left before heading to the car.

    However, naturally, as Yoon Hyun-hee climbed into the driver''s seat, Yoon Hyun-chul chuckled and asked,

    "Can you drive?"

    "I¡¯ve worked hard to live. Driving is essential for that."

    Hearing that, Yoon Hyun-chul grinned.

    "Right. Let¡¯s see what it''s like riding in a car driven by my little sister."

    With a brighter smile than usual, Yoon Hyun-chul got into the passenger seat.

    ***

    After parting ways with the Yoon siblings, Su-ho immediately began to disguise himself as Yoon Hyun-chul once he was out of their sight.

    "I really need to level up Reverse Morphology or something. It''s such a hassle to keep doing this," he thought.

    Currently at B-rank, Reverse Morphology could only change his face, but once it leveled up, it would be able to alter his body and even his voice.

    That¡¯s why he was eager to head to Cheongok.

    If this project, designed to raise the rank of Blood Furnace, went smoothly, he wouldn''t have to worry about skill upgrades anymore.

    Havingpleted his disguise, Su-ho checked his appearance onest time before activating Military Strategy¡¯s Clone Movement.

    Clone Movement was another option provided by Military Strategy.

    The Crusader yers became famous not only for their legions of Pdin clones but also because of this very skill, which allowed them to move stealthily and unpredictably.

    "When a simple Pdin yer can move like that, their utility bes immense," Su-ho mused.

    That¡¯s why he had been determined to acquire Military Strategy.

    As the skill activated, a list of possible clones to move appeared in his view.

    There was only one clone avable.

    It was the person currently imprisoned at Cheongok instead of Yoon Hyun-chul.

    Su-ho selected the clone and used the Clone Movement skill.

    [ Clone Movement is activated. ]

    Swish!

    As the skill activated, Su-ho¡¯s real body vanished without a trace.

    ***

    The movement urred in the blink of an eye.

    When Su-ho opened his eyes after the move, he found himself in the prison''s yard, where the inmates exercised.

    "This must be around the time for outdoor activities," he thought.

    Cheongok Prison was operated differently from regr prisons.

    Most of the time, the prison focused on reducing inmates'' stress and reforming them, because the prisoners here were much more dangerouspared to regr inmates.

    "No matter how much they''ve been bound with special restraints that limit their magical power, you can''t control everything," he mused.

    There was no one around Su-ho.

    Normally, you¡¯d expect to see a group of people around the leader of a section, but here, Su-ho was alone, sitting by himself. It seemed the other inmates were extremely wary of Yoon Hyun-chul.

    Then, Su-ho noticed a familiar face in his line of sight.

    It was Kim Goong-won.

    Kim Goong-won was sitting at a distance, staring at Su-ho. When he saw him, Su-ho gestured for him toe over.

    Kim Goong-won''s eyes widened, and he quickly hurried over, whispering as he approached.

    "...Are you the big brother?"

    "Yeah, it''s me."

    "Whoa!"

    When Kim Goong-won heard "big brother," his eyes grew wide in surprise.

    Su-ho asked,

    "Why are you so shocked? I didn''t hide this from you."

    "Ah, no, it¡¯s just... surprising, you know? But what happened? Just a little while ago, the ''little brother'' didn''t seem quite... right."

    "What do you mean ''didn''t seem right''?"

    "He was answering, but he seemed a bit out of it?"

    Hmm.

    He had heard that clones have a small degree of autonomy, but it didn''t seem too awkward.

    "Still, I can''t expect perfect acting," Su-ho thought.

    It was fortunate that Yoon Hyun-chul was the target, as he was a man of few words.

    Su-ho then asked,

    "Why are you sitting so far away instead ofing to sit next to me?"

    Kim Goong-won hesitated for a moment before answering honestly.

    "Well, I noticed something was off with your condition earlier, so I kept some distance."

    "...You''re good at spotting things, huh?"

    "Haha, well... But, big brother, may I ask why you''re here at Cheongok instead of Yoon Hyun-chul?"

    "I''m just here to make life difficult for the bad guys."

    "Eh? You''re going to make them suffer?"

    "Yep, that''s my goal."

    There was no need for Su-ho to go into the specifics of his ns with Kim Goong-won. After all, the work would proceed quietly.

    Perhaps that¡¯s why Kim Goong-won looked at Su-ho with a strange expression.

    "Alright, I understand. But... is there anything I can do to help with that?"

    "There is. You''re smart, right? You probably know most of the guys here in Cheongok, right?"

    "Yes, I know most of them."

    As expected, Kim Goong-won was sharp. Those who were weak had to be well-informed about these things to survive.

    Su-ho continued,

    "Then let''s have everyonee in for a one-on-one interview. They shoulde by their respective prison blocks, and not a single person should be left out. Also, when you bring them, make sure you find out what crimes they were charged with and how much time they have left."

    "Understood."

    Though Kim Goong-won tilted his head, unsure of the exact reason, he nodded and agreed.

    Since it seemed like Su-ho wasn¡¯t going to offer any more details, Kim Goong-won quickly started moving.

 Chapter 146

    From that point on, Su-ho''s group interviews began.

    After Kim Goong-won informed the block leaders, he brought them to Su-ho, following the order of the room numbers.

    The leader of the first room, Room 1-1, Oh Yun-ho, immediately bowed his head and greeted Su-ho as soon as he stood before him.

    "I am Oh Yun-ho, the leader of Room 1-1. Allow me to introduce the others in order..."

    The cells at Cheongok Prison usually housed a minimum of six and up to eight inmates.

    Following Kim Goong-won¡¯s instructions, Oh Yun-ho began introducing the names, crimes, and remaining sentences of the inmates in the room, starting with himself. When thest introduction was made, Su-ho narrowed his eyes and said,@@novelbin@@

    "...There are no decent people here."

    It wasn¡¯t an exaggeration.

    Room 1-1 had eight inmates, and apart from the leader, Oh Yun-ho, almost all of them were violent offenders ¡ª murderers, rapists, robbers, arsonists ¡ª the worst kinds of criminals.

    The only one who wasn¡¯t a violent offender was the youngest, who was in prison for theft.

    At Su-ho''s words, none of the inmates spoke up. Of course, they all grumbled inwardly.

    ¡®He¡¯s...¡¯

    ¡®How many people did he kill to end up here...¡¯

    ¡®Why is he suddenly making a fuss...?¡¯

    Su-ho observed their faces for a while, then pulled a small pill bottle from his pocket.

    The bottle, which looked like an ordinary medicine bottle, was filled with small white pellets that resembled BB gun pellets. Su-ho took out the correct number to match the number of people in the room and handed them out to the inmates of Room 1-1.

    He then asked the youngest inmate.

    "You¡¯re in for theft, right?"

    "Yes, that''s correct."

    "What did you steal?"

    "A car..."

    "A car? Whose car?"

    "I don¡¯t know the person..."

    "Why did you steal it?"

    "Because I wanted to drive it..."

    You didn''t buy this chapter

    Buy Now (3 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 148

    Swish!

    Blood sttered.

    The blood pouring from Im Chang-sik¡¯s chest sprayed in all directions, and as expected, Su-ho was drenched in it.

    It was Im Chang-sik¡¯s blood.

    Im Chang-sik trembled.

    But he couldn¡¯t groan or shudder.

    That¡¯s because his pressure points had been activated.

    [ Heal is activated. ]

    Four days had passed since Su-ho first started cutting Im Chang-sik.

    And today marked the fifth day.

    Tomorrow, Yoon Hyun-chul would return.

    That¡¯s why Su-ho had given his all to torture Im Chang-sik today.

    For thest five days, Su-ho had been cutting Im Chang-sik for a specific skill.

    That skill only granted experience from living enemies, so Su-ho had to push himself to get the most out of it.

    But it seemed that even five days of effort were still far from enough.

    ¡®Then again, I didn¡¯t realize that until I was over level 200 myself.¡¯

    Beep beep beep! Beep beep beep!

    Just then, the rm on Su-ho''s phone went off.

    It was time to return.

    Unfortunately, he had to stop here.

    Su-ho dismissed the Blood Sword and released the pressure points from Im Chang-sik.

    "Ughh!!"

    Im Chang-sik copsed to the floor, gasping for air.

    It couldn¡¯t be helped.

    While he couldn¡¯t move with the pressure points on, the pain from his chest wound had been steadily building up.@@novelbin@@

    Now, with all the umted damage, he couldn¡¯t help but convulse, his eyes rolling back in his head.

    You didn''t buy this chapter

    Buy Now (3 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 149

    ¡°Yoon Hyun-chul, it¡¯s your visitation.¡±

    The next day.

    When Yoon Hyun-chul¡¯s name was called, Su-ho quietly stood up.

    It was just past noon.@@novelbin@@

    As Su-ho got ready to leave, Kim Goong-won bowed deeply.

    ¡°Please be careful, big brother.¡±

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    After Su-ho released all the pressure points from Kim Goong-won, he finally began moving with the guards.

    The destination was the special visitation room, as it always was.

    Two visitors were already there when Su-ho arrived.

    Upon seeing them, Su-ho smiled faintly and sat down. As soon as the guards left, only Su-ho and the two visitors remained in the room.

    Su-ho continued smiling.

    It made sense.

    One of the visitors was none other than Su-ho himself, in the form of ¡®An Su-ho.¡¯

    However, his true identity was Kim Geon, who had transformed into Su-ho using a Meta Suit.

    The person who came with Kim Geon as hispanion was the real Yoon Hyun-chul, dressed sharply in a suit.

    Su-ho spoke to Yoon Hyun-chul, who was standing like an attendant.

    ¡°Hyun-chul, you should sit down too. We¡¯ve turned off the cameras, so no one will be entering.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>A parasite that grows by absorbing the host''s energy.</li>

    <li>It has absorbed the host''s experience and vitality, reaching its best form.</li>

    </ul>

    <ul>

    <li>The Apothecary¡¯s Vessel Fragment, necessary for creating elixirs.</li>

    <li>The Artisan¡¯s Shard, always required when making elixirs rted to skills.</li>

    </ul>

    You didn''t buy this chapter

    Buy Now (3 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 151

    "You¡¯ve arrived at the gate you chose?"

    Soon after, they reached the gate they had decided to raid. It wasn¡¯t long before a familiar car appeared, roaring towards them.@@novelbin@@

    It was Jo Jin-hwi¡¯s yellow Ferrari.

    Jo Jin-hwi got out of the car and waved his hand to greet them.

    ¡°Yo! An Pro-nim!¡± he shouted.

    His expression was bright. But as Su-ho got closer, he noticed that despite the cheerful face, his dark circles were quite heavy.

    Su-ho immediately cast Heal and Recovery on him as he spoke.

    ¡°Your dark circles are pretty intense. Did you pull an all-nighter?¡±

    ¡°Wow, the healing from the Sword God...! Is it really okay to use this so freely?¡±

    ¡°It''s just a little bit of mana.¡±

    ¡°Heh, in that case... yeah, I¡¯ve been pulling an all-nighter. I¡¯ve been really busy with the special articletely.¡±

    ¡°A special article? Oh!¡±

    ¡°What, did you forget about it?¡±

    ¡°Ah, no way.¡±

    In truth, he had momentarily forgotten. With the five days in prison and everything else on his mind, Su-ho had briefly lost track of what he had asked Jo Jin-hwi to do.

    Su-ho chuckled and asked, ¡°So, is everything ready?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, just like I saidst time. I¡¯ve been searching for retired government hunters who didn¡¯t receive properpensation and I¡¯ve managed to get interviews with some who are struggling in hospitals. I got approval from the desk too.¡±

    The request Su-ho had made to Jo Jin-hwi was about the gate rewards for government hunters.

    Currently, the government was taking all the loot obtained by government hunters in gates for themselves.

    <ul>

    <li>Entrance Conditions: Level 100-140, at least 1 Red Stat required.</li>

    <li>Max Entry Members: 2 people.</li>

    </ul>

    You didn''t buy this chapter

    Buy Now (3 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 152

    Kang! Kang!

    The sound of metal scraping.

    Su-ho''s blood sword struck the superrge Giant Mimic.

    Though the stat difference was vast, the steel mass of the superrge Giant Mimic didn¡¯t even receive a scratch.

    Yet, Su-ho showed no concern and continued to swing his sword.

    ¨C ¡­¡­.

    The superrge Giant Mimic remained silent.

    Normally, mimics strike when their opponents show weakness or when they are tired.

    But even when it was struck again and again, not even a scratch appeared. Was there any reason for it to tire first?

    None.

    The superrge Giant Mimic thought this way.

    It had always been this way, and it intended to continue.

    It certainly thought so.

    Until the pain came.

    Sting!@@novelbin@@

    ¨C ¡­¡­?

    The Mimic''s eyes widened.

    It was a sting.

    It was certainly a sting.

    The Mimic inspected its body within the steel mass.

    And it found it.

    A faint but small scratch.

    That was when it happened.

    Sting!

    You didn''t buy this chapter

    Buy Now (3 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 156

    An Su-ho stood quietly in the spotlight as the scripted press conference unfolded before him.

    ¡°We deeply regret the recent incident and extend our sincere apologies on behalf of the Grand Hunter Association¡­¡±

    The speech was painfully predictable.@@novelbin@@

    Regret for the incident. Acknowledgment of the hardships endured by affiliated hunters. A pledge to eradicate the remnants of outdated practices moving forward.

    Jang Kyung-hwan, the speaker and Vice President of the Grand Hunter Association, paused as his aide handed him a mana stone. It was a first-star-grade mana stone obtained from the Dark Canyon¡ªa boss monster''s core, secured by Su-ho during the recent operation.

    ¡°¡­To demonstrate ourmitment beyond mere words, I hereby grant this first-star-grade mana stone, obtained from the sealed gate campaign, to Officer An Su-ho.¡±

    Upon hearing his name, Su-ho stepped forward, maintaining hisposed demeanor. Cameras shed incessantly as he epted the mana stone, his movements measured and deliberate.

    The scene resembled an award ceremony, almostical in its theatrics. Something Su-ho was entitled to by merit was being presented as a grand gesture. But he showed no outward reaction, merely epting the mana stone and retreating to his previous position.

    Jang Kyung-hwan resumed the speech, his delivery polished but devoid of sincerity.

    ¡°We also pledge active support for retired national hunters injured in the line of duty¡­¡±

    <ul>

    <li>The Sword Saint Bows His Head at the Press Conference, Calling for Continued Public Attention¡­</li>

    <li>Hunter An Su-ho Donates Mana Stone to Support Retired Hunters!</li>

    <li>Unprecedented Moment: Journalists Apud During Press Conference!</li>

    <li>The Sword Saint¡¯s Plea to the Nation!</li>

    </ul>

    You didn''t buy this chapter

    Buy Now (3 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 158

    Seeing is believing.

    Without hesitation, Special Management Team 2 set off for Nexus Academy in Paju.@@novelbin@@

    Though they were technically on duty, obtaining approval wasn¡¯t difficult¡ªafter all, Team Leader Jeong Cheol-min himself was part of the group.

    Su-ho had arranged in advance with Director Kim Soo-ae to secure ess to an S-rank training facility under the pretense of a tour.

    The moment the team stepped inside, they couldn¡¯t contain their awe.

    ¡°Wow¡­¡±

    ¡°This is the Nexus¡­¡±

    ¡°This is insane.¡±

    Their reactions were understandable.

    For most of them, the only training they had ever experienced was the basic drills before the hunter qualification exam.

    In terms of quality, the gap between their past training and this was akin toparing a neighborhood ser club to a professional Premier League team.

    After bringing the team into the Infinity training system, Su-ho activated the same program used by the Banshees.

    The setting: Kunlun.

    Even Jeong Cheol-min was not exempt¡ªsince he was the one approving this, he had to experience it firsthand.

    As they adjusted to the hyper-realistic simtion, Su-ho stood before them and addressed the group.

    ¡°Now, let¡¯s discuss the training I mentioned earlier.¡±

    ¡°Are you personally going to train us, Team Leader?¡±

    ¡°Something like that.¡±

    With a snap of his fingers, a sword materialized in the hands of every team member, himself included.

    ¡°I could exin this a hundred times, but it¡¯s better if I just show you.¡±

    ¡°That makes sense¡­¡±

    ¡°So,e at me.¡±

    You didn''t buy this chapter

    Buy Now (3 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 159

    Su-ho arrived at the designated caf¨¦ on the outskirts of town, and as soon as Jo Jin-hwi stepped out of his car, he raised his hand in greeting.

    "Ah, Pro-nim!"

    Su-ho weed him with a nod.

    "Thanks foring all this way."

    "Haha, not at all. It was actually a nice drive¡ªI¡¯ve been cooped up in my office writing articles non-stop, so this was a good excuse to get out."

    Then, Jo Jin-hwi¡¯s expression turned expectant.

    His curiosity was obvious.

    What kind of information is he going to drop on me this time?

    Su-ho chuckled.

    "You really are a journalist through and through. If you take on this case, you¡¯ll be in for even more trouble than thest feature piece. You sure you¡¯re up for it?"

    "A chef has to work hard to make a delicious dish, just like a journalist has to struggle to bring the truth to the people! No need to worry¡ªjust tell me what you¡¯ve got. What¡¯s the scoop this time?"

    He rubbed his hands together in excitement.

    Su-ho pulled out a sheet of paper and handed it over.@@novelbin@@

    It resembled an organizational chart, but it was unusual¡ªaside from names and branching connections, there was no additional information.

    Yet, as soon as Jo Jin-hwi scanned the names, he stiffened.

    All of them were big names.

    "...What is this?"

    "This is a list of individuals connected to arge-scale Gate incident that I¡¯ve been sitting on for a long time."

    "Arge-scale Gate?"

    His eyes darted back to the list.

    How the hell are this many people connected to a single Gate?

    And it wasn¡¯t just hunters or government officials.

    You didn''t buy this chapter

    Buy Now (3 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 160

    Things were progressing smoothly.

    It was all thanks to the emergency press conference.

    After the press conference, people within the Association both respected and feared Su-ho. He had always been popr, but now, his image was close to that of a "hero," making it impossible for anyone to treat him carelessly.

    One of the biggest changes stemming from this was his work environment.

    For instance, not only was it impossible to issue unfair orders to him, but if Su-ho proposed something in the interest of the public, rejecting it outright became difficult.

    It was precisely the situation Su-ho had wanted.

    As a result, many of Jeong Cheol-min''s proposed projects were swiftly approved.

    One such project was the Infinity training program for the Special Task Force Team 2¡¯s exploration unit.

    Naturally, the funding came from Nexus.

    Once Kim I-kang, the administrative officer, gave the go-ahead, the support was immediately secured, and an article was published at the same time. Nexus used this as another opportunity to build up its positive image.

    ¨C As expected of the industry¡¯s No. 1.

    ¨C Nexus made the right call recruiting An Su-ho. Their foresight is insane. LOL

    ¨C What are Hexagon and Prime even doing these days?

    ©¸ Don¡¯tpare them to those tiny hole-in-the-wallpanies.

    ©¸ Hexagon and Prime? LOL, third-rate garbagepanies.

    However, the biggest achievement of all was the Sealed Gate Conquest Project.

    After reviewing the project report, Ma Do-won, the head of the Detection Department, furrowed his brows and asked,

    "¡­You''re nning to clear a Sealed Gate?"

    "Yes, Deputy Team Leader An Su-ho will personally take action."

    "Right, I figured he would. But he¡¯s not going alone, is he?"

    "No, Deputy Team Leader An Su-ho will be tackling it solo."

    "What? That¡¯s way too dangerous."

    "Bringing team members along would actually be more dangerous. And besides, he and I have conducted a thorough analysis of the gate, so there¡¯s no need to worry too much."

    "Wait, Sealed Gates are ces that even top-tier guilds have analyzed and given up on. How are just the two of you going to¡ª No, never mind. I¡¯m not about to argue against someone doing good work. I heard you''ve already cleared two, right?"@@novelbin@@

    "Yes, that¡¯s correct. The Dark Canyon we clearedst time is detailed in the attached report¡ª"

    "No, no, that¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll authorize clearance rights for Deputy Team Leader An Su-ho, so he can handle things freely from now on."

    <ol>

    <li>A Strange Sociologist¡¯s Bookmark</li>

    <li>A Scolded Bureaucrat¡¯s Eraser</li>

    <li>The Foolish Judge¡¯s Hammer</li>

    </ol>

    You didn''t buy this chapter

    Buy Now (3 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 161

    Song Kang-chul¡¯s hammer swung.

    It was massive.

    Threatening.

    And¡ª

    "Fast!"

    It was a mistake to assume that a two-handed hammer would be slow.

    He wielded it with both hands like it was a mere toy.

    But.

    "Too slow."

    No matter how fast it seemed, that was only inparison to the usual speed of two-handed weapons.

    Su-ho dodged with ease and raised Blood Club.

    Then, he struck Kang-chul¡¯s wrist.

    "Gaaah!"

    Song Kang-chul let out an involuntary groan.

    At the same time, he instinctively let go of the hammer with one hand and clenched his fist.

    The pain was intense.

    But more than the pain, his face twisted in confusion.

    "How the hell¡­?"

    That was the only thought running through his mind.

    It was understandable.

    Song Kang-chul was a warrior yer on the verge of reaching 2-star rank.@@novelbin@@

    Not only did he pride himself on his heavy attacks, but he had also never neglected his stamina and defense.

    He even called himself a DPS-Tank hybrid.

    And yet, for the first time in ages, he had taken a hit that left him in agonizing pain.

    His face contorted like a child holding back tears, and Su-ho grinned.

    "Looks like that hurt."

    "You son of a¡ª!"

    Kang-chul moved to counterattack.

    But Su-ho smashed him in the head with Blood Club before he could.

    WHACK!!

    You didn''t buy this chapter

    Buy Now (3 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 162

    Su-houghed as he read the system notification.

    Not only had he sessfully obtained The Talent of Atonement, but he had also received 10 bonus stat points as a reward for creating it.

    "Looks like I was the first to craft it again."

    Whenever someone obtained an item for the first time, the system recognized it as a Great Achievement.

    And the reward was always 10 bonus stats.

    Satisfied, Su-ho checked the item¡¯s details.

    "Check The Talent of Atonement."

    [ The Talent of Atonement ]

    ¨C Grade: S

    The Talent of Atonement grants the user the ability to redistribute their stats by sacrificing an equivalent amount of points.

    The required stat cost is deducted separately from each redistributed stat.

    Su-ho grinned as he reviewed the information.

    "Perfect. With this, I won¡¯t have to dy getting the Unified Stat Bonus ever again."

    Without hesitation, he opened his status window.

    [ An Su-ho ]

    ¨C Level: 112

    ¨C ss: Crusader

    ¨C Traits: <New Blood> <Hercules Candidate>@@novelbin@@

    ¨C Strength (O): 38

    ¨C Stamina (O): 14

    ¨C Magic Power (O): 31

    ¨C Perception (R): 77

    ¨C Bonus Stats: 10

    He had 10 bonus stats.

    But since they would be essential for the Unified Stat Bonus, he left them untouched.

    Holding The Talent of Atonement, which resembled a handheld bell, Su-ho gave it a shake.

    The item¡¯s effect activated.

    [ The Talent of Atonement is now active. ]

    As the bell rang, golden threads burst from it, wrapping around the floating status window.

    A system prompt appeared.

    You didn''t buy this chapter

    Buy Now (3 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 165

    For a moment, Su-ho thought he had misheard.

    But the so-called Sea God repeated himself in the same booming tone.

    ¡ªKahahaha! You pathetic creatures! Not a single one of you will leave this ce alive today!

    His voice was so exuberant that it almost felt... jovial.

    What was this?@@novelbin@@

    Had this thing always been like that? Su-ho nced up at its head, trying to check its namete.

    But the creature was too tall. He couldn¡¯t see it.

    Still, there was no doubt¡ªit was a boss monster.

    And in that moment, Su-ho realized why he could hear such words from it.

    [Animal Communicate is currently active.]

    It was the ability he had copied from Kim Noah.

    Understanding the truth behind it, Su-ho smirked.

    ¡®So, at the end of the day, this thing is just an animal too, huh?¡¯

    Regardless of whether it called itself the Sea God or a boss monster, its true identity remained the same¡ªa colossal octopus.

    Just then¡ª

    ¡°Deploy the barrier! Now!¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir!!¡±

    A sharpmand rang out from an unfamiliar man.

    A mage.

    One whom the ship¡¯s captain had wisely stationed aboard in case of emergencies.

    Themanding mage was the lead magician, and upon his order, his subordinates spread out and began chanting.

    Before long, runes and spell formations appeared around the ship, coalescing into a massive protective barrier.

    [A barrier has been created to protect the ship.]

    [The barrier is not invincible. If the boss monster is not defeated in time, the ship will sink.]

    A system alert shed before Su-ho¡¯s eyes.

    You didn''t buy this chapter

    Buy Now (3 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 169

    Arriving at Cheongdam House, Martin Park nced around andmented.

    "You live in a modest ce."

    "Is that so?"@@novelbin@@

    Cheongdam House¡­ modest?

    But considering the mansions owned by American millionaires, it made sense that he might think that way.

    Martin Park wasn¡¯t just anyone¡ªhe was a top-tier hunter ranked beyond two stars, an elite among elites.

    ¡®And since he¡¯s also an artist, the wealth he¡¯s umted must be beyond imagination.¡¯

    That¡¯s why people called him entric.

    With that kind of money, he could have hired people to gather his painting materials.

    But his obsession with craftsmanship made him insist on collecting everything himself.

    Su-ho led him to a guest room.

    It was one of the vacant rooms, spacious enough to rival the master bedroom of most apartments.

    After looking around, Martin Park asked:

    "This will do for my bedroom. Now, where¡¯s the studio?"

    "The studio¡­ If you don¡¯t mind the basement, I can set it up for you there."

    "I don¡¯t like basements. Too stuffy. If there¡¯s a terrace, give me a room with one upstairs."

    "¡­Understood."

    Su-ho had assumed he¡¯d paint in his bedroom, but the man was particr.

    Still, withoutining, Su-ho gave him a vacant room on the second floor.

    The second floor was just as spacious as the first, with plenty of unused space despite Nam Hae-won using part of it as a studio.

    After exining how the house¡¯s facilities worked, Su-ho ordered all the supplies Martin might need.

    Just as he was about to leave, Martin Park spoke up.

    "Wait a moment."

    He suddenly pulled out a notebook and a pen from his pocket.

    Then, he walked out onto the terrace and sketched the scenery before him.

    Finally, he added a massive full moon to the center¡ªsomething that wasn¡¯t actually there.

    You didn''t buy this chapter

    Buy Now (3 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 171

    How long had it been?

    During that time, Yuk Kyung-bae had gone through countless emotional shifts.

    He had tried getting angry.

    He had tried begging.

    He had even tried cursing.

    But none of it mattered in the face of overwhelming pain.

    Especially when Su-ho ensured that he never got used to it¡ªconstantly switching up the variations to keep him suffering.

    Applying pressure points to inflict internal agony was just the beginning.

    He healed him quickly enough to prevent shock-induced death but slow enough to maximize the suffering.

    Whenever Yuk Kyung-bae¡¯s mind threatened to break, Su-ho used the Ring of Joy and Sorrow to keep him conscious.

    The floor was now covered with his blood, sweat, and tears¡ªas well as¡­ other bodily fluids.

    It was inevitable.

    Once a person experiences pain beyond a certain threshold, their body loses all control.@@novelbin@@

    Eventually, when Su-ho had inflicted enough suffering to meet his personal quota, he finally lowered the whip.

    "Hah."

    He hadn¡¯t even bothered to move to another location.

    Even though there was a warehouse nearby where Im Chang-sik was locked up, Su-ho had chosen to beat him down right here¡ªon the fabricated streets inside his Subspace House.

    Why?

    Because for someone like Yuk Kyung-bae, who prized his public image above all else, being treated like trash on the street was a psychological wound in itself.

    Wiping the sweat off his brow, Su-ho finally spoke.

    "Mr. Kyung-bae."

    "Y-Yes!!"

    "Sit up properly. Let¡¯s talk."

    You didn''t buy this chapter

    Buy Now (3 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 173

"Of course, this didn''t mean we would be starting entirely with Park Gyu-min.@@novelbin@@

    You didn''t buy this chapter

    Buy Now (3 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 174

    ¡°Ha¡­¡±

    Suwon District Prosecutors¡¯ Office, Investigation Room.

    Park Gyu-min sat there, looking like the world had copsed on him.

    ¡°Ha¡­¡±

    All he could do was sigh.

    His luck was absolute shit.

    White Gold¡¯s junket room had never been busted before.

    Why the hell did they get raided today, of all days?

    He was frustrated.

    If things weren¡¯t meant to go well, then this was the worst-case scenario.

    ¡®At least¡­ I wasn¡¯t the only one who got caught.¡¯

    That was one small relief.

    When he nced around earlier, he had seen actors, singers, athletes¡ªa whole mix of celebrities rounded up along with him.

    So even if the media got hold of the guest list, he was sure that the spotlight wouldn¡¯t be on him.

    As long as he yed his cards right with the Association President, he might even get away with just internal disciplinary action.

    At that moment, the prosecutor who led the raid walked into his investigation room.

    Kim Seung-hwan.

    However, Park Gyu-min had no idea who he was.@@novelbin@@

    At first, he considered calling up some of his connections in the prosecution office, but he decided against it.

    For now, he wanted to observe the situation before making a move.

    ¡®No need to panic and humiliate myself prematurely.¡¯

    In the past, he would have immediately shouted, Do you even know who I am?!

    But that was the old Park Gyu-min.

    The current him was different.

    Because after dealing with An Su-ho, he had learned the hard way.

    That there were monsters in this world¡ªpeople who didn¡¯t give a damn about political titles or four-term assemblyman backgrounds.

    He had already been torn apart once, and that experience had humbled him.

    Kim Seung-hwan sat across from him and spoke.

    You didn''t buy this chapter

    Buy Now (3 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 175

    "I''m sorry! No, I apologize! It''s all my fault!"

    All Su-ho did was take off his wristwatch.@@novelbin@@

    And yet, Park Gyu-min trembled like a terrified pup facing a predator, looking as if he would piss himself any second.

    His PTSD from the past was kicking in.

    But more than anything, what he feared the most was the bomb nted inside his body.

    After all, during his "education", Su-ho had forced him to swallow a fake remote bomb as insurance.

    Su-ho spoke.

    "Youmitted two sins against me.

    First, when I told you to confess everything, you hid the Shock Project, a crime of massive scale.

    Second, I told you toy low, but you ignored me and shamelessly crawled back into gambling dens."

    "I''m sorry! I''m sorry! I wasn''t thinking! I truly apologize!"

    "Does saying sorry make this go away?"

    "N-No! It doesn''t, but¡­!"

    Su-ho summoned his Blood Club.

    With a single swing, he smashed both of Park Gyu-min¡¯s wrists as he knelt and begged.

    CRACK!

    "Aaaaghhh!!"

    A horrifying scream filled the interrogation room as Park Gyu-min copsed to the ground, writhing in unbearable pain.

    Without hesitation, Su-ho reshaped the end of his weapon into a sharp spike.

    Then, he began prodding Park Gyu-min with it.

    "Is. It. That. Hard?

    All. You. Had. To. Do. Was. Stay. Still.

    Are. You. Just. That. Fucking. Stupid?"

    Each word was punctuated with a stab from the weapon''s razor-sharp tip.

    The pain was unimaginable.

    Park Gyu-min thrashed like a salted eel.

    His shattered wrists, his body riddled with piercing agony¡ªhe felt like he would pass out at any second.

    But Su-ho remained emotionless, continuing to stab him without pause.

    "Just. Fucking. Stay. Put.

    You didn''t buy this chapter

    Buy Now (3 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 178

    Vroom!

    A car entered the parking lot of Suwon District Prosecutor¡¯s Office.

    It was the car of Son Baek-geum, who had arrived after receiving Kim Seung-hwan''s call.

    As Son Baek-geum stepped out of the car, he looked up at the building, muttering to himself.

    "Well, I never thought I¡¯d walk into the prosecution office on my own two feet."

    He¡¯d met with prosecutors before¡ªusually to deliver bribes¡ªbut he¡¯d nevere to the prosecutor¡¯s office willingly.

    Bribe-takers were always fond of receiving money, but they hated when those offering it showed up in their territory.

    Because of that, Son Baek-geum had always tried to avoid being seen by the prosecution.

    It was a matter of business etiquette for him.

    Yet now, being summoned by the prosecutor, anding here as a part of the process, made him feel¡­ uneasy.

    Just then, his phone vibrated.

    Vrrr!@@novelbin@@

    Was it Kim Seung-hwan?

    No, it wasn¡¯t.

    It was a number he had saved but never really used.

    It was Pi Seong-yeol.

    Curious, he answered the call.

    "Yes, Director Pi."

    ¨C "Where are you right now?"

    You didn''t buy this chapter

    Buy Now (3 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 180

    In the outskirts of Seoul, where there were few people, ck cars suddenly swarmed in. Like ninjas, they appeared quietly, stopping at a specific point, and one by one, people began to get out.

    The ce they arrived at was brightly lit, despite the fact that there was not a single streetlight. What was unusual was that only up to a certain point was it as bright as the daytime, and beyond the boundary of light, the darkness was as thick as pitch.

    Kim, the deputy chief, looked at the bright spot in the air and muttered, "Phosphorescent powder¡­"

    Even though it was dark night, the reason why it was so bright here was because of the phosphorescent powder. More than twenty people had gathered here. They were all from the Special Division Team 2, the direct subordinates of Pi Seong-yeol.

    By the way, where is that guy?

    The surroundings were quiet, and there was nothing visible to conceal anyone.

    Could he be ying a prank?

    Kim dialed the employee in Suwon again.

    At that moment.

    Beep! Beep!

    The sound of a mobile phone rm.

    Everyone''s attention turned toward the direction of the sound.

    It was the darkness.

    Then, a phone was thrown from within the darkness towards them.

    Beep! Beep!

    It was the phone of the employee from Suwon.

    After that, the phones of the other employees were thrown next to it.

    Kim frowned.

    "Seems like he likes to show off."

    At those words, someone was thrown from within the darkness.@@novelbin@@

    It was the employee from Suwon.

    You didn''t buy this chapter

    Buy Now (3 coupons)</a>