LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 36: Ground Zero (1)
From Kang-hoo’s perspective, it might have seemed like a cunning plan, but for Jang Si-hwan, it was a straightforward path to success.
The hunters of the Fortuna Guild could now freely come and go in Seoul without any concern.
The agreement for mutual cooperation and full exchange was, in essence, no different from a guild alliance or union.
In emergency situations, Jang Si-hwan could help Casey or vice versa without it seeming unusual.
In this way, Jang Si-hwan narrowed the physical and psychological distance with the other members of The Thirteen Stars.
After laying the groundwork thoroughly, they would later move as one unified body.
Seeing this, people were more likely to view them as a grand ‘Hero Legion’ rather than question the authenticity of the alliance.
This was Jang Si-hwan’s grand scheme.
Or, more precisely, the karma of the original author who had set up the stage for the protagonist, Jang Si-hwan… but that’s another story.
‘In the original work, it was a scene brimming with excitement.’Kang-hoo bit his lower lip.
Jang Si-hwan, the protagonist who had gained the recognition of Casey Rex, one of the named hunters in the USA!
“Look! See how impressive the protagonist in your novel is!” That was the meaning behind the scene.
From Shin Kang-hoo’s perspective, it looked like a sinister design of evil people, making it uncomfortably irksome.
If he could, he would rush in and break up the entire setup. That was how displeasing the combination was to him.
“Seoul is quite complicated.”
In Seoul, where even mercenary activities were not allowed, the city must always be under the control of the Jeonghwa Guild.
The workaround was to work for the Hunter Public Safety Bureau, but a government agency was not a good option.
Every action was recorded, making covert activities impossible. Moreover, the scope of work was limited.
And in a broader sense, the Hunter Public Safety Bureau in Seoul was essentially a second division of the Jeonghwa Guild.
“I’d like to avoid getting too involved with the Jeonghwa Guild, but I wouldn’t mind getting a piece of any decent benefits.”
A major event loomed on the horizon, spearheaded by the Jeonghwa Guild.
The assault on a super-large dungeon known as ‘Judgment Hell’ was imminent.
This massive raid would involve a thousand people, and it was the only occasion where mercenaries from outside were hired.
It served as a means of leaving room for outsiders as part of a talent scouting initiative.
Additionally, since the Judgment Hell dungeon belonged to the Jeonghwa Guild, there was no risk of conflict.
Kang-hoo contemplated applying to take part in the raid.
The dungeon, true to its reputation of being super-large, featured many middle bosses and a plethora of secret internal terrains.
It was also the dungeon where Jang Si-hwan often reaped significant benefits when his growth stalled in the original story.
In other words, for Kang-hoo, there were plenty of opportunities to gain advantages. He was well-informed.
Gulp- Gulp-.
Kang-hoo guzzled the large can of coffee he had just purchased from the convenience store.
It was a 500ml can, supersized, so even after two gulps, there remained plenty.
Just then:
“You’re not from Seoul, are you?”
Suddenly, a woman’s voice came from behind.
Having no acquaintances in Seoul, Kang-hoo did not expect to recognize the speaker.
The husky, low-pitched voice carried a hint of awkwardness.
It seemed like the voice of a fluent foreigner speaking Korean.
Curious, he swiveled his head and recognized the woman.
‘Yu Cheonghwa.’
He had instinctively remembered her face and name upon meeting An Yeong-ho previously.
Yu Cheonghwa, a Chinese national, was a member of The Thirteen Stars and a skill copyist.
Identifying her as Yu Cheonghwa was effortless.
She wore a black blouse that boldly revealed her cleavage.
A red rose tattoo sprawled from her collarbone to her upper chest.
Small star-shaped tattoos adorned the area below both eyes – these were her distinctive features.
Red hair, red lipstick, a red jacket, and red pants.
With high-heeled shoes to match.
The dress code, undeniably red, was a clear indication of Yu Cheonghwa’s preferences.
“What brings you here?”
Kang-hoo asked with feigned nonchalance.
Yu Cheonghwa wouldn’t have initiated a conversation if she knew who he was.
After all, they had not previously interacted.
Showing panic or reacting too strongly here would only serve to arouse unnecessary suspicion.
“I just thought you seemed like a hunter from another city. Hunters who usually stay in Seoul don’t pay much attention to the billboards.”
“I see.”
He nodded, understanding the logic.
Kang-hoo had, in fact, been closely observing the news in Seoul.
“Seoul is quite tedious, isn’t it? The cost of living is exorbitant, and wherever you go, the same people are exploiting everything.”
Although the observation was astute, Kang-hoo found it almost comedic coming from Yu Cheonghwa.
Here she was, reaping clandestine benefits from the Jeonghwa Guild, yet calling others opportunistic.
Her command of Korean was remarkably fluent.
Had it not been for her faint foreign accent, one could easily mistake her for a native speaker.
Kang-hoo’s gaze involuntarily shifted to Yu Cheonghwa, as he braced himself to counterbalance her capabilities.
Yu Cheonghwa, famed for her skill mimicry, also possessed mental abilities as a secondary power.
The moment their gazes locked, Kang-hoo cluttered his mind with dark and complex thoughts.
His tactic was straightforward.
It was a defense mechanism against her ‘mental scan,’ designed to thwart her attempts to delve into his mind.
When Yu Cheonghwa, having made eye contact with Kang-hoo, displayed a brief look of surprise and then a smile, the outcome was clear.
She had attempted to subtly scan Kang-hoo, but her initial setback forced her to reconsider her assessment of him.
Naturally deflecting a mental scan like this meant one had to be of a superior level than the adversary.
Alternatively, it was within the realm of possibility for a professional hunter who had undergone rigorous mental resistance training.
[Misleading Fox]
[When no specific mental defenses are present, it acquires the status window information of targets of lower levels.]
[Great Replicator]
[Through repeated study and learning, it can replicate a target's skill. However, the efficiency of the replicated skill does not exceed 20% of the original.]
[Silent Woman]
[Under any circumstances, information about contracted constellations other than the two main ones will not be disclosed.]
Even by looking at the confirmed constellation information, one could tell she would become a tricky figure.
There were three visible constellations.
However, due to the ‘Silent Woman’ constellation blocking information about other constellations,
it was safe to assume that information about other constellations remained unknown.
[Interesting. There are worlds I cannot scrutinize.]
The Dimension Plunderer expressed surprise at not being able to delve deeper into Yu Cheonghwa’s constellation information.
It was no coincidence that she was a member of The Thirteen Stars.
The core constellations contracted by each member were as mighty as those held by the Dimension Plunderer.
“There.”
“Yes?”
“Let’s stop with the pointless attempts. I have no intention of opening the gate, so stop knocking.”
“You’re sharp. Did you anticipate that I would use mental abilities?”
“I’m not that great a hunter. Don’t worry about it.”
He deflected the conversation smoothly.
While he wasn’t averse to Yu Cheonghwa’s interest, there was no need to draw her attention unnecessarily.
They were destined to become enemies in the future; getting closer would bring no benefits.
“Seeing you deny being a great hunter makes me even more curious. It’s like a child saying the opposite of what they mean.”
“……”
When Kang-hoo didn’t respond, Yu Cheonghwa took out a business card wallet from her jacket pocket and handed him a card.
The business card was adorned with bright gold trim on a red background, bearing a familiar name.
‘Shinto Guild.’
It was one of the top-tier guilds in China, ranking within the top five.
“If you find domestic activities tedious or need comprehensive support, come to us. We even have a department dedicated to Koreans.”
“So, this card is like a free pass?”
Kang-hoo asked casually.
“Absolutely. I reserve this card for those who have managed to resist my powers at least once.”
“I passed a test?”
“Something along those lines. Present this card anytime, and you’ll gain access to influential figures.”
“I understand.”
“Or perhaps this might interest you as well. Don’t hesitate to reach out to me here.”
Yu Cheonghwa presented another card.
It bore her personal name and number.
“Is this your private card?”
“Exactly. Feel free to contact me whenever you wish. The more you call, the more I’ll reveal.”
Her red lips formed a smile, and her enigmatic eyes fixed on Kang-hoo.
Though her flirtation was evident, Kang-hoo displayed no particular reaction.
“I’ll remember that.”
“Until we meet again.”
“If destiny permits.”
Their encounter ended with those words.
The meeting was unexpected, yet it wrapped up seamlessly.
He had just made a connection with one of The Thirteen Stars.
The question arose: should he make full use of this connection, or should he dismiss it as though it never existed?
It was certainly a question worth considering.
Choosing whether to keep a close eye on them or maintain a distance – they who would eventually become adversaries – was not about morality but strategy.
He had to proceed with caution.
While he waited for the Gyeongui-Jungang Line train from Seoul Station to Imjingang Station in Paju,
Kang-hoo observed a large protest near Seoul Station, deep in thought.
“Hunter Public Safety Bureau, take immediate action against the Abyss! Disband it!”
“Detain and execute the ringleader, Lee Hyun-seok, without delay!”
“If we can’t do it alone, let’s enlist the Jeonghwa Guild to bring down the warlords!”
These vehement demonstrations were occurring in more than one location.
The Abyss (심연).
One of the warlords closest to the capital region was a thorn in the side of the Jeonghwa Guild and Jang Si-hwan.
Because the Abyss persistently raised questions about the identity and misdeeds of the Jeonghwa Guild.
In the original story, Jang Si-hwan became annoyed by baseless rumors about him spread by the Abyss.
But considering the ‘Devil’s Accomplice’ ending, the words of the Abyss were not baseless rumors but the truth.
‘If I want to properly align myself, joining the Abyss would be the right choice. The Jeonghwa Guild finds them troublesome.’
The Abyss was not a clumsy mercenary group or a disorganized crime organization; it was a different dimension.
A giant military organization.
So, if he wanted to operate within the influence of a large organization, the Abyss was a decent choice.
Of course, Lee Hyun-seok, the leader of the Abyss, was a staunch meritocrat, so for now, he would probably be treated coldly.
Kang-hoo, glancing at his text messages, noticed one pushed aside by spam.
The sender was An Yeong-ho.
It was a name of significance and value, one he had saved.
[Seon-gyu hyung, are you doing well? I am An Yeong-ho, whom you helped before.]
[When are you coming to Japan? My uncle also wants to meet Seon-gyu hyung. Please come anytime.]
[The benefits I promised you then are still unchanged. It'll be convenient for you to operate in Japan.]
“Right, there’s Japan.”
Kang-hoo’s face lit up with satisfaction.
He didn’t necessarily have to confine his activities to domestic affairs.
Thanks to the good connection he had made with An Yeong-ho, he could expand his considerations internationally.
For Kang-hoo, who constantly sought to inject momentum into his growth, this was an excellent opportunity.