The Ace Team
With Hashashin’s blessing, there hadn’t been time to erase the evidence, but thanks to Tae-min’s testimony, they’d slipped through the net unharmed. The killing was judged to have been done in self-defense, and because they couldn’t find any proof that the executive wing had issued an organized order, Echo Guild wasn’t put under a separate investigation, either.
An undisturbed daily life continued. So he thought. But that had been an illusion.
-Kill him. Kill him already.
It was a voice unlike any he’d heard before. Full of malice, it repeated the same command over and over, telling someone to kill.
“This is insane.”
The words slipped out of him in a mutter, born of frustration. For two days now, he’d had to keep hearing that voice thick with murderous intent at regular intervals.
He needed a change of pace.
Hyun-jun found the business card Tae-min had given him tucked in his wallet. Since he was going out for some fresh air anyway, he decided to meet the man and collect the reward he’d mentioned earlier.
If I get out for a bit, maybe I’ll feel better.
It was a vague hope, but he had no better option. He dialed the number printed on the card.
-This is Kim Tae-min.
After a short ring, a deep male voice came through.
“This is Kang Hyun-jun. You remember me, right?”
-Ah, Mr. Kang Hyun-jun? Of course. How could I forget my savior? As it happens, I’ve been waiting for your call because I had something to give you.
“Oh? Is that so?”
The corner of his mouth curved. So they had remembered the debt. He could respect that. He valued that highly.
-If it’s not too much trouble, could you come near our guild office? Because of the conflict with Echo Guild, I can’t really leave my post for long.
It was fine to go there. Of course, if they were too far away, he’d have told them to come to him instead.
“Where is Wraith Guild’s office?”
-In Namguro.
Closer than he’d expected. He could have told the man to come over, but if he had circumstances, then for once Hyun-jun was willing to move his own body. He’d been planning to go out for a walk anyway, so this worked out well enough.
“I’ll come by. Send me the exact address by message.”
-Thank you for your consideration, Mr. Kang Hyun-jun. I’ll send it right away.
“When’s good for you?”
-Any time is fine.
“Understood.”
The call ended. He checked his smartphone, and there was already a message with the address of Wraith Guild’s office. After confirming it, Hyun-jun grabbed his coat. Since Tae-min had said any time would do, he intended to go right away.
He took a taxi. He had enough money, and he’d keep earning more, so it didn’t feel like waste. When he arrived in front of Wraith Guild’s office, Hyun-jun called Tae-min again. The man answered at once.
-Yes. This is Kim Tae-min.
“I’m in front of the guild office now.”
-I’ll come out immediately.
There was no annoyance in his voice. No reluctance, either.
“I’ll wait at the cafe on the first floor.”
The call ended. Just as he’d said, Hyun-jun waited in the cafe with an Americano. He’d expected to wait five minutes, but after only three, Tae-min came into the cafe. He spotted Hyun-jun right away and broke into a pleased smile.
“Mr. Kang Hyun-jun! Did you have to wait long?”
“No. I just got here.”
“That’s a relief. I was a little late because I had to prepare the item I promised you.”
He had only waited three minutes, but Tae-min still looked apologetic, as though even that counted as delay. The way he was so completely focused on Hyun-jun made it seem like...
Like he’s serving a lord.
Even after revealing that Hyun-jun was only a C-Class Hunter, Tae-min was still treating him this way, which could only mean that Tae-min and Wraith Guild’s leadership held him in very high regard.
“You said you had something for me?”
Forget everything else. What interested him right now was the reward Wraith Guild and Tae-min had prepared.
“Yes. I’m sure you’ll like it.”
With that answer, Tae-min took a black leather pouch from inside his coat and placed it on the table. Hyun-jun recognized it immediately.
“Isn’t this an subspace pouch?”
It was worth at least fifty million won.
“It’s a custom piece. About one and a half times larger than a normal subspace pouch.”
Then it was at least one hundred million.
“You can bind it to yourself right now. It’s yours now, after all, Mr. Kang Hyun-jun.”
“I’ll accept it gratefully.”
He knew from the internet how to claim ownership of a subspace pouch. Hyun-jun cut his finger, then dropped the blood onto the pouch. Once it drank in the blood, it released a faint white glow.
“The binding is complete. Why don’t you test it once?”
At Tae-min’s words, Hyun-jun wiped away the smile beginning to spread at his lips. Then he put the dagger he carried with him into the subspace pouch and took it back out again.
“It works properly.”
“I’m glad. Please make good use of it.”
“I won’t forget Wraith Guild’s sincerity.”
That was enough of the pleasantries.
“Let’s get to the point. There’s something you need me for, right?”
He might have saved his life, but Wraith Guild’s finances probably weren’t so healthy that they could casually hand out a gift worth over one hundred million won. Unlike Echo Guild, Wraith Guild was barely above the bottom of the Bronze tier. The fact that they even had an executive wing was surprising.
“You’re incredibly sharp, aren’t you?”
Apparently he’d hit the mark. But Tae-min didn’t look flustered; he nodded easily in acknowledgment.
“We need your help, Mr. Kang Hyun-jun.”
“I don’t know what it is yet, but I’m a C-Class Hunter. Is there really something I could help with?”
“That isn’t an issue. What matters is that your raw combat power far surpasses mine, even though I’m a B-Class Hunter.”
At that, Hyun-jun smiled. It was a faint smile, restrained enough not to betray any excitement. Being acknowledged was a good feeling.
“I’d like to ask you once more. Please... help me, help Wraith Guild.”
He bowed his head.
“First, can you tell me what’s going on?”
By this point, Hyun-jun was curious. He had a rough idea, but he wanted to be sure.
“This isn’t something I can discuss here. Let’s move to my office first.”
“Understood. Lead the way.”
They moved to Tae-min’s office inside the guild building.
“Now then. Tell me. What do you need help with?”
“There’s going to be an unofficial guild battle with Echo Guild.”
“What’s an unofficial guild battle?”
Unfortunately, he didn’t know much about that. Still, he could tell it was different from a normal guild battle.
“To put it simply, it’s an unofficial fight between guild executive branches. Unlike ordinary guild battles, which are handled like sparring matches, there’s no referee, so killing the other side is allowed.”
The Blood-Soaked Killer, Ripper, whispers that you should accept the proposal. If you satisfy the bloodthirsty killer, an enormous reward will follow.
At the sudden voice, Hyun-jun frowned.
I haven’t even heard everything yet, you bastard!
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The Blood-Soaked Killer, Ripper, repeats his proposal. He needs some object held by one of Echo Guild’s executive officers. It’s a very important item to Ripper. If you bring it back, an enormous reward may be waiting for you.
The voice kept whispering.
An important object?
He didn’t know what it was. But if there was an enormous reward, he couldn’t help being interested. Gathering information would be a pain, but if something that valuable was waiting at the end of it, it wasn’t impossible.
Do not worry. If the object is nearby, Ripper will react. You only need to eliminate the obstacles.
The voice was unusually kind today. Was that just his imagination?
“What do I get out of accepting the proposal?”
In any case, because of Ripper’s little treasure hunt, a conflict with Echo Guild had become unavoidable. Their forces were smaller, but if they could get Wraith Guild’s help, that would be welcome. Hyun-jun kept all of those circumstances to himself, though. If things went well, there might be room to squeeze out even more benefit.
“We haven’t set an exact amount yet, but there will be financial compensation.”
“Not bad. But that can’t be all, right?”
Money was best. But it wasn’t enough.
“If the matter is resolved favorably, we’ll give you permission to use Wraith Guild’s executive hunters.”
Hyun-jun looked at Tae-min with interest. He had expected Wraith Guild to be desperate, since they had to face Echo Guild, a much larger organization of the same tier, but to think they’d bring out their own guild’s powerful combat force as a bargaining chip. He hadn’t expected this much.
“Is it really all right to give an outsider that kind of authority?”
“The guild leader has already approved it. Without your help, we’re destined to be trampled by Echo Guild. We’re desperate too, so we have to put this kind of card on the table.”
Tae-min spoke plainly.
“Fine. I’ll help you.”
Up to this point, it had been a back-and-forth of negotiation. In any case, the item Ripper wanted found was inside Echo Guild. Even if he showed up and demanded it, there was no chance they’d just hand it over, so conflict was unavoidable. If he was going to fight them anyway, then it was better to do it alongside Wraith Guild’s executive force, however small it might be. And on top of that, he’d get more compensation. How good was that?
This is what you call killing two birds with one stone.
A faint smile curved Hyun-jun’s mouth.
“You’ll really... help us?”
“Yes. I’ll help. Just keep your promise.”
“T-thank you!”
It was something he had to do anyway, but Tae-min, who didn’t know that, thanked Hyun-jun sincerely.
“So when is it?”
“There’s one week left until the unofficial guild battle.”
That was Tae-min’s answer to his question. He could still clear at least one more dungeon before then.
“Call me when the time comes.”
“Yes. We’ll send a vehicle.”
“Take care.”
Leaving Tae-min behind, Hyun-jun turned and headed out. Instead of returning to his one-room apartment, he went to the Dungeon Management Bureau. Before the unofficial guild battle, he intended to clear one more dungeon, loosen his body up, and raise his synchronization rate with his past lives a little more.
According to the knowledge flowing in along with the blessings, the more he used the knowledge of his past lives and the more he used their techniques and blessings, the more his synchronization rate would rise, and the stronger he would become.
“Hello, Hunter. What can I help you with today?”
The clerk greeted him with a bright smile. Hyun-jun sat down at the counter and spoke.
“I’d like to be matched with a C-Class dungeon.”
“Could you wait a moment?”
The clerk tapped rapidly at her keyboard. But soon her expression darkened.
“Hunter, I’m sorry. There’s a huge backlog in the queue, so C-Class dungeon matching will be difficult for a while.”
It was bad news. Hyun-jun frowned slightly, but that wouldn’t solve anything. That said, he had no intention of going to a lower-level dungeon.
“An upper-level dungeon won’t work, right?”
“No, Hunter. To enter an upper-level dungeon, you either need to be an A-Class hunter or go along with a guild party or an official clearing team.”
The clerk answered. Hyun-jun nodded. Then something flashed through his mind. Wait. An official clearing team, had she said? As he stepped away from the counter, he hurriedly took out a business card from his wallet.
Official Clearing Team: Ace.