Chapter 89: Ant Hell (1)
After finishing my talk with the president, I headed to the auction house, where Han Baekgil could approach me easily. I waited for a moment, and sure enough, he appeared.
The guy had already walked into the auction house and was approaching with heavy footsteps.
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Kim Minwoo.”
Han Baekgil offered a handshake, beaming as if he were truly delighted.
‘It’s a clone.’
As expected from such a shady bastard, he was approaching with a clone again this time.
“There’s still about a month left, isn’t there?”
“A month in name only—at this point, you’ve had plenty of time to decide, haven’t you?”
Han Baekgil spoke firmly.
He seemed anxious to hear my answer as soon as possible.
“I refuse.”
“…Why?”
“Suspicious.”
“…”
Han Baekgil fell silent at my curt reply.
But only for a moment.
Staring straight at me, he said.
“That’s a shame.”
“If there’s nothing more to say, I’ll be going.”
I turned and left the auction house.
I’d refused so thoroughly there was no room for persuasion—now they’d start reacting.
‘Time to prepare.’
So we could all enter the gate on friendly terms.
* * *
Where the Shadow members had gathered.
Han Baekgil, seated at the head, scowled deeply.
“The bastard refused.”
“Reason?”
“He said it was suspicious. Seems like he never intended to accept in the first place.”
“Ha, what a cocky prick. Dragged it out this long.”
No one was particularly shocked by the refusal. To be honest, they really were a suspicious bunch.
Even they themselves had been skeptical at first.
EXP copying? What bullshit was that? And offering up sacrifices on top of carrying out missions?
Anyone with a brain would feel uneasy about it.
The early members had joined anyway because their desire to grow stronger was that intense. Plus, their situations back then weren’t exactly comfortable—clinging to any straw in desperation.
But Kim Minwoo was a whole different breed from the people he’d gathered so far.
Wealth, fame, power, and skill—he had it all. Rationally speaking, refusing was the normal response.
That was exactly why they took it so calmly.
Even as they made the offer, they’d wondered if the guy would really show up.
“…We have to take him out, right?”
Everyone fell silent at the words. One by one, they nodded.
He wasn’t just a variable—he was a typhoon.
Better to cut him down before he topples the pillar.
The problem was how.
“Reality’s probably impossible, so we’ll have to do it inside a gate… Think he’ll let his guard down?”
That was the issue.
Kim Minwoo had been a superstar for a long time now. The moment he entered a gate, crowds would tail him like a pack. Swarms of annoying reporters would stick first.
“Yeah. Hell, the government might even bring out a gate detector.”
Best way to block assassins.
Those things were pricey per unit, so usually only the US or big shots got them.
For an awakener of Kim Minwoo’s caliber, it wouldn’t be strange if they provided the service.
Government agents might swarm for escort too.
Han Baekgil spoke calmly.
“I’ve already requested help from the branches in each country. China and Japan agreed. They’ll send at least one S-rank each.”
“That’s good.”
“Ultimately, it boils down to two possibilities. He enters a gate, or he doesn’t.”
“Right.”
“If he doesn’t enter a gate, we handle him in reality. Even if we have to throw trainees at him.”
Trainees.
Rookies carrying out missions without having received formal baptism yet. The Korean branch had a fair number of fresh sprouts like that.
Taking out Kim Minwoo in reality would bring a mountain of headaches.
Starting with grabbing him and forcing a path, to dodging the tightening noose of the investigation.
They’d have to brace for heavy sacrifices on their side too.
The trainees were fodder for that.
“Of course, trainees alone might not cut it. In that case, some of us will have to sacrifice too.”
“…”
Everyone fell silent.
“Do I have your agreement?”
“…Fine.”
“I agree.”
“Can’t go soft on this. I get it.”
Han Baekgil nodded and continued.
“If he enters a gate, we follow him in. Once he’s handled, escape on your own.”
“Got it. But what if they run a detector? It’ll be crawling with awakeners…”
“…We’ll have to force our way through.”
Han Baekgil’s eyes turned fierce.
“…He’s too dangerous. Even if more than half of us die here, we take him out now. We can’t give him any more time.”
“…Whew.”
Someone let out a tense breath.
Getting into the gate was no problem. Dealing with the entrance guards was child’s play for Shadow.
The real problem was getting out.
They’d swarm like a pack of dogs—could they even handle that?
Think it ends with half dead?
Lucky if one or two made it out.
But they couldn’t voice opposition lightly.
Would they run the detector just once?
Trying once meant they could try twice, three times.
They might run it every damn gate entry from now on. If they held back out of fear for the burden, the strengthened bastard would devour them in the end.
Even with double level-up speed, they couldn’t catch him—he was fundamentally different.
Less than three months since awakening, and he was toying with someone on Jo Pilwook’s level. That said it all.
“Best case, he disguises like last time.”
“Yeah. Public stays quiet then.”
Like the Ulpaululu Forest raid—if he disguised again?
If they spotted it beforehand, it’d be the perfect scenario.
Disguising meant avoiding attention, so the followers could crash in without worry.
“But will he? He already knows a shady guy stuck to him.”
Everyone’s gazes slyly turned to Han Baekgil.
“…I’ve never revealed my strength. So he probably just sees me as some cult preacher.”
“Then it’s not zero chance. Look at his early behavior. He avoided the spotlight.”
Shortest F-rank clear?
The guy who smashed Lee Seoyoon at low level.
F-rank gates were nothing—he could’ve cleared E or even D.
But he started with F.
Not enough—he disguised his identity for Ulpaululu Forest too.
Hiding because his level was low made sense, but his level wasn’t sky-high now either.
Chance he reuses a fake ID?
Not zero.
Just pretty damn low.
“Either way, let’s put people on his mansion.”
Everyone nodded at Han Baekgil’s words.
With S-rankers coming from the Japanese and Chinese branches, they would have Nos. 1 through 7—seven people in all. Add Han Baekgil and two more, and the total came to ten.
Ten S-rank awakeners alone.
And that’s not all.
The trainees weren’t slouches either.
B-ranks to A-ranks, well-mixed.
Impressive taking down Jo Pilwook, sure.
‘But he can’t escape this.’
Everyone was convinced.
It was that aggressive a force deployment.
Better than sitting idle and watching a spark burn down the thatched house.
“I’ll open the treasure vault. Everyone, prepare.”
Everyone nodded.
Not everyone here was an assassin, but it didn’t matter.
The treasure vault was stocked with stealth items galore.
They’d easily slip past the gate guards’ eyes.
He’d slapped away the outstretched hand.
Now it was time to hunt him down.
* * *
I picked up the disguise.
Devil’s Castle.
I planned to go quietly here.
‘That way they can crash in without worry.’
I recalled Shadow’s members.
Phase 6 now, so their lineup might’ve changed—or not.
But.
‘They’ve all hit at least 500.’
If that EXP copy event Han Baekgil mentioned was real, the core members’ levels would be pretty high.
‘Minimum eight S-ranks.’
Han Baekgil.
Then No. 1 through No. 7.
If unchanged, that’s eight.
Plus some miscellaneous scrubs.
Think I can’t take them?
‘Hardly.’
Not all S-ranks are equal. To me, Shadow’s crew were just high-level tin cans. I was numb to catching trash like that.
Of course, no variables at all would be nice.
The entity Shadow served.
It might’ve handed out something weird beyond EXP copying.
‘I’ll account for variables like that.’
That’s partly why I chose Devil’s Castle.
The moment the hidden piece activated, the map changed in an interesting way. Shadow would probably be delighted as well.
‘If they don’t show, whatever.’
Just hunt.
If they do, take the sacrifices, open the hidden piece, and play.
Either way, no loss for Kim Minwoo.
‘Wonder how many achievement points…’
No. 1 through No. 7.
Higher rank than Lee Seoyoon, but that’s just now.
These tin-can S-ranks would fall behind in the race soon. Probably not even side characters.
But Han Baekgil was different.
He had main-villain supporting role potential.
A real keeper.
Nail Han Baekgil, and if the achievement machine pops off?
‘At least 500, right?’
500 points meant an S-rank bound skillbook.
Having tasted the rush properly in the Land of Death.
One more skill like that, and my heart would feel all warm and fuzzy.
‘Or buy something else.’
Earning points is never bad.
I summoned Cedric and Merhen.
“We’re heading to a gate. Probably more hunting tails than monsters.”
―…Like those assassins last time?
“Yeah.”
―Understood.
Merhen nodded vigorously too.
I’d already checked what magic she could use.
Preparations complete.
I stepped out of the house.
Hopped in a decent car and headed out. Soon enough, I reached the Incheon gate zone.
Soldiers and awakeners stood guard at the checkpoint.
The queue was practically nonexistent.
B-rank raids required a same-grade party, and that’s where numbers thinned out sharply.
I flashed the A-rank fake ID. The one I’d gotten through the president. A-ranks were few, but not every awakener was a household name.
If S-ranks were mostly known by face, A-ranks were just the celebrities whose names stuck.
No one batted an eye at the new name from the soldiers or awakeners.
“A-rank awakener Han Jinwook. Confirmed. Stay safe.”
“Yes. You too.”
I walked slowly into the gate.
[B-rank Gate: Devil’s Castle entered!]
The castle’s pitch-black interior.
After entering, I waited a moment.
Messages popped up one after another.
[Warning!]
[One outsider currently inside the gate…]
[Warning!]
[Warning!]
[Warning!]
[Warning!]
The warnings blared like mad.
The very last one.
[Warning! 19 outsiders currently inside the gate!]
“Quite the crowd.”
A B-rank gate zone held max 20.
At this point, they were packed in like sardines.
I summoned Cedric and Merhen.
Time to start the hunt.