Chapter 71 - Designated Request (1)
The next morning.
Kim Sun-woo arrived at Mugung Guild looking sharp and polished.
By now, the Night Team office felt as familiar as his old team ever had.
He brewed himself some coffee in the break room, savoring the quiet leisure of being the first one in.
'They originally wanted me to lead a different team...'
His team leader training had wrapped up ages ago.
If he felt like it, he could assemble a new squad right then and there.
But after mulling it over, he'd gone straight to Han Kang-seok and told him flat-out:
'I won't form a new team.'
Just like Gu Jin-uk and Robert had pointed out, going solo or hopping onto teams as needed felt way more efficient than building one from scratch.
Truth be told, it was a dilemma plenty of top-tier hunters faced.
Finding comrades who could keep up with you in a fight wasn't easy.
Kim Sun-woo's breakneck growth had just thrust him into that bind sooner than most.
Click.
As he sipped his coffee, relaxing in the wait, Robert—the team leader—pushed open the office door and strolled in.
Suit-clad as always.
He slicked back his neat hair and shot Kim Sun-woo a greeting.
"Did you enjoy the banquet last night? Word's spreading fast about your win at the martial tournament."
"Thanks to you guys, I walked away with this."
Kim Sun-woo grinned and lifted the hem of his shirt just enough.
Despite its name, the White Tiger Armor was more like an undershirt you wore beneath your clothes.
They said channeling internal energy into it could block not just blades but even sword aura.
A quick test confirmed it: way tougher than it looked.
Of course, it only stopped the cutting—impacts still hit full force, so caution was key.
"So that's the White Tiger Armor. I figured it'd be more like my own plate armor."
"I thought the same at first. But once I put it on? It's scaly material. Could've sworn it was plastic."
Still, with performance like that, it was basically a spare life.
Robert finished clocking in and joined Kim Sun-woo at the coffee maker.
"Looks like that Huashan Sect gathering yesterday is making waves. They've held similar tournaments before, but nothing this legit. The White Tiger Armor, and the winner not even some famed martial expert... "
The news and forums he'd checked on his commute were plastered with Kim Sun-woo's name.
Seemed like he'd ridden the Huashan Sect's coattails straight to the spotlight.
"Woke up to my phone blowing up. Might need a separate work line."
This level of spam was getting unusable.
Messages and calls flooding in from every corner—people he'd never even met somehow digging up his number and going to town.
It'd been bad after the Gangwon Province mess, but this felt even more intense.
Frankly, it was a hassle. Might as well grab a new phone.
"So, what's the deal with the Association's designated request?"
Robert had said they'd talk details after he clocked in today.
Robert took a sip of coffee before answering Kim Sun-woo's question.
"I don't have the full rundown yet, but remember when the guild master and main raid team headed to Chungcheong Province to handle that massive break?"
"Heard it was a rough one. Anything left to investigate?"
"That's just it—they're starting now. They cleared most of the internal monsters, but the dungeon itself hasn't sealed shut. They want to borrow your insight as someone who's been through it."
"My insight? Come on..."
Kim Sun-woo made a troubled face.
He'd just gone into that break-ravaged dungeon and scrapped with vampires and werewolves.
Everything he'd seen or heard in there—he'd already reported it all to the guild brass and the Association.
Nothing special he knew or was hiding.
"They're not suspicious or anything. It's just... these things keep happening around you. They probably figure there's something even you don't realize. I kinda think the same, honestly. You've got the track record."
"...Fair point."
Kim Sun-woo let out a wry chuckle at Robert's words.
Ever since awakening his martial talent, he'd been dragged into one weird mess after another.
If even he found it odd, anyone else would swear there was something to it.
"So the Night Team's tagging along?"
"Yeah, we're on support. The dungeon's upper C-rank at worst, and most monsters are toast, so it shouldn't be a big deal... "
"...But usually, that's when shit hits the fan, right?"
"Pretty much."
They shared another wry laugh just as the rest of the team started trickling in.
"Good morning!"
"Morning!"
"Good morning, oppa. Team leader."
They were set to wrap up the Association meeting and head out right after.
A designated request from the Association wasn't everyday stuff, so Mugung Guild welcomed it.
Boosted their guild score and performance reviews—handy for next year's dungeon bids and such.
Time to move. Kim Sun-woo headed to the conference room with Robert.
Three reps from the Association.
The two in suits had faint mana signatures—admin types. The third felt like an active hunter.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Lee Jin-hyuk, executive director of the Hunter Association."
"Robert, Night Team leader. And this is..."
"Kim Sun-woo."
"An honor to meet someone whose name is on everyone's lips these days."
Lee Jin-hyuk flashed a wide smile and pumped Kim Sun-woo's hand.
Association executive director and at least a B-rank hunter, by the feel of him.
Had he jumped from active duty to desk work?
Lee Jin-hyuk caught Kim Sun-woo's look and gave an awkward smile.
"You can tell, huh? I hunted back in the day. Retired after an injury and ended up here."
"Doesn't feel like you've slacked off much."
His presence was solid—still training hard.
"Can't compare to you, Hunter Kim Sun-woo."
Lee Jin-hyuk eyed him with sparkling interest.
He'd met plenty of hunters in his Association role.
But in forty years, none hit quite like this.
'No exaggeration saying he'll be the fastest-ever A-rank promotion.'
His growth was absurd beyond words.
Ten years scraping by as F-rank was impressive enough, but in under half a year, he'd skyrocketed ranks and settled at B-rank.
All on his own merits—no guild pull or backroom deals.
Some grumbled he was being pushed too hard, but the Association had nothing to hide.
'No connections or lobbying with Kim Sun-woo.'
Checks confirmed no guild meddling either.
Pure self-made. Meeting him in person made the reason crystal clear.
"As Robert mentioned, the Chungcheong massive break caused huge damage. Anti-break tech has most dungeon breaks on the peninsula locked down, but we can't predict the next disaster. We're investigating early to prep. We specifically requested you because..."
Lee Jin-hyuk paused, giving Kim Sun-woo a meaningful look.
"The Haesinjeon incident was huge. Thanks to you, we know Earth's situation better—and we even got a line to Haesinjeon."
"You can contact Haesinjeon now?"
"One of the Haesinjeon items you handed over had a communication artifact. Seashell-shaped. Tested it on a hunch, and boom—connected straight there. Guy named Jin Hae-don..."
"Dolphin monster form. Stronger than a B-rank hunter. High up in Haesinjeon, from what I saw."
"Right. He said he's their official contact. And he named you their proxy. Insisted anyone visiting Haesinjeon bring you along."
"...Ah, got it."
Now the picture was coming together.
No wonder the Association figured he had some hidden edge.
"And this is just chit-chat, but..."
Lee Jin-hyuk glanced around slyly, lowering his voice.
"Any other abilities you've awakened besides martial arts? It's the only explanation that fits... If legal worries are holding you back, we can smooth it over."
"Sorry to disappoint."
Kim Sun-woo shook his head.
He could guess their thinking, but no other special powers.
"No signs during regular checkups either."
"...You're contracted with Essential Armory too. Their scans are reliable."
Lee Jin-hyuk's gaze lingered.
Maybe something he didn't know about—or tech couldn't detect.
"Anyway, that's the gist. Research team thinks something might linger from that massive break—one of Korea's biggest ever. Several red flags already. If you're game, we'd love your eyes on it."
"No harm in checking it out."
Kim Sun-woo nodded readily.
Association designated requests paid top dollar—more than standard rates.
Plus Association contribution points. Most hunters jumped at them.
'I'm curious too.'
Even with breaks contained, who knew what gold-region Earth-targeting bastards left behind.
Every trip sparked some incident—probably same here.
'Association's banking on that too.'
To spot problems, you had to poke the hornet's nest.
Dragging him there as bait to stir things up.
'And it's about time...'
His hands itched.
Pent-up insights and experience begging release.
In other words, a new technique was on the verge of birth.
A sword style distinct from White Flow Sword Technique.
Not taught by Baek Ryuk Geom—purely his own.
Just as the old master's will intended.
"Perfect. We'll head out once prepped. Looking forward to working with you."
Lee Jin-hyuk spoke with resolve, shaking Kim Sun-woo's hand once more.