LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 39
Chapter 39
With just a few words, Han Young-seok’s mask was easily stripped away.
He realized he was excited and quickly shut his mouth, but the atmosphere was already beyond recovery with just a cough.
In the end, Han Young-seok decided to throw away any pretense.
Thinking about it, he had already used the whereabouts of the new monster he had his eye on, so there was no need to be cautious.
“Tsk tsk. Looking at the way you think, you’re not a very successful friend.”
Han Young-seok clicked his tongue as if he truly felt sorry.
Indeed, using a precious material on a common aluminum baseball bat, not even a rare item, was an act anyone would find hard to understand.
If it weren’t for the Dwarf’s existence, Kang Jin-hyuk wouldn’t have even thought of such a method.
“You should have sold it to us rather than using it so pointlessly. Your greed was excessive.”
Kang Jin-hyuk felt no need to respond to Han Young-seok’s criticism.
It was obvious that that kind of person wouldn’t listen even if he bothered to explain.
Ignoring him was a hundred times more efficient than wasting time talking to a brick wall.
“Stop caring about other people’s business and focus on the operation.”
“I’m already preparing everything even if you don’t rush me.”
Even before Kang Jin-hyuk arrived, the Titan Guild members were investigating the surrounding environment to raid the Tyrant Guild branch.
If it was truly a place where human trafficking was taking place, they needed to approach cautiously as there might be some kind of surveillance.
As the three Hunters in charge of reconnaissance returned with the results of their investigation, Han Young-seok hurriedly greeted them.
“Did you find anything?”
“Yes.”
“It seems the tip was true.”
The Hunter glanced at Kang Jin-hyuk with a meaningful look.
“You’re saying that the Tyrant Guild was really involved in human trafficking?”
“Circumstantially, it’s certain.”
The phone the Hunter handed to Han Young-seok was full of photos taken during reconnaissance.
While Han Young-seok looked through the photos one by one, the Hunters continued their report.
“Numerous bones presumed to be human were found in the forest surrounding the building.”
“They have a triple-layered barrier to prevent outsiders from looking inside.”
“Judging by the detected presence, at least 25 people are guarding the building.”
After hearing the report, Han Young-seok slowly nodded his head in understanding.
“We have the upper hand in numbers.”
“But a frontal assault is dangerous.”
“I know.”
Han Young-seok wasn’t foolish enough to rush into the enemy’s base.
Even though he was greedy, he was still an executive of Titan.
As it wasn’t a position he earned through a card game, he had sufficient qualities as a commander.
“First, we need someone to check the inside. Any volunteers?”
As soon as Han Young-seok finished speaking, many Hunters stepped forward, saying they would take on the task.
Han Young-seok smiled with satisfaction after confirming the bravery of his guild members.
“How many of them can infiltrate?”
“Only one.”
“Can’t we increase the number?”
“That’s the limit with our skills.”
“The barrier is so tightly secured that if we try to infiltrate more people, we’ll be caught immediately.”
Han Young-seok didn’t persist after hearing that.
He believed that the reconnaissance Hunter had a good reason for being so firm.
“Only one person can go in…….”
Han Young-seok fell into deep thought due to the limited conditions.
If they had to send someone alone into a place guarded by more than 25 people, it had to be at least an A-rank Hunter with decent stealth skills.
However, they had to save personnel with such abilities for the main attack.
It was too wasteful to use them for a dangerous mission where they might be countered.
‘Aha.’
Han Young-seok’s eyes sparkled as he thought of a brilliant idea.
But without showing it, he spoke to Kang Jin-hyuk with a troubled expression.
“I’m sorry, but could you help us with this?”
“Help you with what?”
“Infiltration.”
Kang Jin-hyuk had been listening to the conversation between Han Young-seok and the Hunters, so he knew how dangerous the task they were trying to assign him was.
The fact that they were asking him, of all people, to do it, clearly showed their intentions without them having to say anything.
“Just be straightforward. You want me to go die.”
“What are you saying? I’m bringing this up because I think you’re the right person for the job.”
Kang Jin-hyuk felt the urge to punch Han Young-seok in the face when he saw his sly smile.
“How can you say that? Anyone can see that this isn’t a job for a C-rank Hunter.”
“That would be the case for an ordinary C-rank Hunter.”
It was obvious what Han Young-seok was trying to say.
‘You, who hunted a new species of monster alone, can’t be an ordinary C-rank Hunter.’
In other words, it meant that he shouldn’t try to hide his skills now.
‘How dare he say such a thing.’
Just a while ago, he was stubbornly insisting that a C-rank Hunter couldn’t possibly have hunted a new monster.
From Kang Jin-hyuk’s perspective, it was a nauseating attitude.
Still, managing his expression, Kang Jin-hyuk politely declined.
“There are many others with skills far superior to mine. Let’s leave it to them.”
“I’d like to do that too, but no matter how much I think about it, it seems like you’re the right person to go.”
“What kind of nonsense…….”
“It’s not nonsense. Think about it.”
Han Young-seok started listing the reasons he had just come up with, with a straight face.
“Wouldn’t you just disrupt the atmosphere and teamwork if you joined us here?”
“…….”
“It would be much more efficient for us to move on our own than to coordinate with someone who suddenly joined.”
“So you’re telling me to get lost so I don’t get in the way?”
“Tsk tsk. You’re always thinking negatively. I’m just giving you a chance to earn some achievements.”
“What if I refuse?”
As soon as Kang Jin-hyuk’s question was asked, bulky Hunters gathered around Han Young-seok.
The Hunters who surrounded them in a circle were by no means approaching with good intentions.
“Then I’d appreciate it if you’d stay away so you don’t get in the way.”
Of course, if that happened, he wouldn’t be able to claim any spoils since he wouldn’t have contributed to the operation. Han Young-seok presented his absurd logic.
The fact that this whole plan started because of Kang Jin-hyuk’s tip meant nothing to him.
“If you’re going to act like that…….”
Han Young-seok thought Kang Jin-hyuk would back down.
If he valued his life, he wouldn’t go alone against more than 25 Tyrant Guild members.
But Kang Jin-hyuk’s answer was different from his expectations.
“Let’s do it.”
“Are you out of your mind?”
“You’re saying that after ordering me to do it?”
It was a familiar sight to see people from large guilds spouting nonsense.
Since they were people he couldn’t reason with anyway, there was no point in arguing his righteousness here.
Kang Jin-hyuk chose to act rather than tire his mouth out talking.
If they were going to act like this, he would make them regret their choice for a long time.
He was going to show them the ending they least wanted.
“But don’t interfere with whatever I take from inside.”
“Of course not.”
Han Young-seok scoffed openly, without even bothering to hide it.
A C-rank Hunter getting spoils from the infamous Tyrant Guild members?
And by raiding a branch guarded by more than 25 people?
Han Young-seok believed that there was no way Kang Jin-hyuk would get the result he wanted.
What kind of chaos his words would unleash.
He didn’t know at all back then.
◈◈◈◈◈◈
While the Titan Guild members were creating a small gap in the barrier, Lucia quietly asked Kang Jin-hyuk.
“Are you really going to do what they want?”
“There’s no other way.”
“Why not?”
Lucia tapped the bow and arrows she was holding.
It meant that if she wanted to, she could subdue all the Hunters here by herself.
“I appreciate the thought, but it would be difficult to clean up afterward.”
Kang Jin-hyuk shuddered at the thought of what would happen if rumors spread that 30 Titan Guild members were annihilated by just one person.
“I have something in mind, so I’m doing as they say. Don’t worry.”
Kang Jin-hyuk had a confident expression, as if he wasn’t just bluffing.
Lucia couldn’t help but sigh when she saw his face.
“Worry my foot. I just don’t like the way they’re acting.”
“Don’t mind them. It’s not like it’s the first time they’ve acted like this.”
It was a common occurrence for large guilds to make unreasonable demands.
It was pointless to ask those who were born that way why they lived like that.
Lucia, who was lamenting about how difficult life was, suddenly brightened her eyes and whispered in a voice so low that no one else could hear.
“What are you going to do about the guy following you?”
“You don’t have to worry about that either. It’s all going according to plan.”
“Then I won’t say anything.”
When a guild member signaled that it was time to begin, Lucia stepped back and said.
“If anything happens, contact me with this.”
Lucia took out the small crystal that Kang Jin-hyuk had given her beforehand and shook it.
The amethyst-like purple crystal was a communication item that could be used to contact anyone within a 10km radius.
Although there wasn’t much demand for it due to the existence of cell phones, some people kept it for emergencies because it could be used even without a signal.
Kang Jin-hyuk thought it was the perfect item for Lucia, who didn’t know how to use a cell phone.
“Are you ready?”
Kang Jin-hyuk nodded in response to the Guild member’s question.
“Then you just need to approach that building in a straight line from here.”
There was a building with lights on even at this late hour, where the Guild member was pointing.
From the outside, it looked like an ordinary factory.
“Does it have to be a straight line?”
“If you want to get caught, you can walk in a zigzag.”
Right in front of Kang Jin-hyuk, less than 50 meters away, a tight barrier was spread out.
Even Hunters who specialized in traps and barrier could only manage to create a hole that wouldn’t be detected if they strained themselves, and even that hole could only be maintained for a few seconds.
“If we make a hole more than twice, we’ll be caught. You only have one chance.”
“What happens if I fail?”
“Of course, we’ll withdraw without hesitation, leaving you behind, Mr. Kang Jin-hyuk.”
“That’s harsh.”
It was a heartless statement, but it wasn’t something he couldn’t understand.
To be blunt, there was no reason for Titan to be loyal to Kang Jin-hyuk.
To them, Kang Jin-hyuk was just an outsider, and therefore, the easiest to cut off.
“It’s been a while since I’ve run 50 meters.”
Failure if he didn’t reach the front of the building within 9 seconds.
Failure if he stumbled on the way.
Both were quite difficult conditions for an ordinary person, but not so much for a Hunter.
“You can start running as soon as I say three. One, two.”
Three. As soon as the Guild member finished speaking, his hand went up above his head.
And at the same time, Kang Jin-hyuk’s legs kicked off the ground with force.
It took Kang Jin-hyuk only 3 seconds, not even 9, to reach the front of the building.
The barrier didn’t seem to be activated, as no alarm went off.
“Well, this is…….”
Kang Jin-hyuk let out a chuckle as he entered the barrier.
The building that looked ordinary from the outside.
Now looked like a prison with all its windows and doors blocked with iron bars to Kang Jin-hyuk.
It seemed that the barrier also had the function of concealing the appearance in addition to detecting intruders.
“I guess all the effort we put into investigating was for nothing.”
Perhaps the information that more than 25 people were guarding the building was also incorrect.
Kang Jin-hyuk gulped to relieve his tension and moved slowly.
◈◈◈◈◈◈
The Titan Guild member breathed a sigh of relief as Kang Jin-hyuk safely passed through the barrier.
“Whew. He seems to have some skills after all.”
As the Guild member turned around to head back to their position for a report, he noticed a strange mark left on the ground.
“Huh?”
Four deep marks on the ground.
Two were made when Kang Jin-hyuk kicked off the ground, but he couldn’t figure out what the other two were.
“Did he practice or something?”
Looking around, there was no one but Kang Jin-hyuk, the archer who came with him, and himself.
The Titan Guild member decided it was nothing and stopped worrying about it.
Whether there were four or five holes.
As long as the operation was proceeding smoothly, it didn’t matter to him.