Chapter 146
Chapter 146
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 146
Chapter Title: Chapter 27: Bounty Hunter (4)
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Ethan had been wearing a terrifying scowl even before stepping into the cafe.
Just looking at that murderous expression—like he was ready to drop dead anyone in his path—made Yang Tae-ho's voice echo in my head.
*Loosen up that face of yours.*
I wondered if that's how I looked in his eyes.
The thought left a bitter taste.
Maybe I'd dragged Ethan into this mess for no good reason.
But that didn't mean I'd waver in my decision.
I shook off the pointless thoughts and sent a chat message.
- K: First time seeing you in person in two months?
- Ethan Lembron: Yeah, the last time was that brief glimpse in Vicheta.
It felt a bit ridiculous, sitting nearby and chatting like this.
But this was the best way to meet face-to-face without exposing our connection.
The obvious reason for going to these lengths was the bounty mission.
- K: Sucks that I've got bad news for our reunion.
- Ethan Lembron: That's not on you, K. So, what do I need to do to join you on these bounty hunts?
- K: Just stay put there.
After replying to Ethan, I glanced at the chat window's side panel.
HIDDEN MISSION
[Bounty Hunter Recruitment (1/4)]
Position yourself within 500m of a player you wish to recruit as a Bounty Hunter for 30 minutes or more.
- Enter the code name of the Bounty Hunter to recruit.
:
[Reward]
Bounty Hunter added
I'd been thinking about it ever since the bounty mission list appeared.
That I couldn't solve every problem happening around the world.
But back then, with a ten-day timer ticking down, I prioritized leaving the country first.
Focusing on immediate crises only highlighted the physical limits of distance.
*Players messing around with monsters will only increase, not decrease.*
Handling it all alone was impossible.
So, grasping at straws, I'd said it out loud.
-Hey, System. If you leave it all to me like this, we're screwed.
I'd appealed to the System about the need for help.
With the Capitalism trait still active, conveying my intent wasn't an issue.
The perverted voyeur System was surely watching me through it.
The big question was whether it'd respond.
And surprisingly, it did—with a positive reaction.
The new mission floating before my eyes was the result of a quick patch from the System.
*You can't just sit back and take it—you have to push back.*
Voice complaints and suggestions actively, and things change.
Feeling a twinge of pride, I entered Ethan's name in the mission window's blank.
It reacted immediately.
[Bounty Hunter Recruitment Progress: 0.1%]
[Bounty Hunter Recruitment Progress: 0.2%]
[Bounty Hunter Recruitment Progress: 0.3%]
....
- Ethan Lembron: It says Bounty Hunter Recruitment Progress. That right?
- K: Probably.
*Normally, the System said direct intervention wasn't allowed.*
But it seemed to be exploiting a loophole via the Capitalism trait attached to me.
The arbitrary 500m condition suggested it was intervening with Ethan through that trait.
- Ethan Lembron: At this rate, it's gonna take a while.
- K: Yeah. Guess we kill time somehow.
*Too many eyes around to train mana control.*
Maybe memorize the array for the water magic I absorbed this time?
I still couldn't handle water-attribute mana properly, and the spells were beyond my current mana levels anyway.
*But I can gather the mana I need.*
Better than wasting time doing nothing.
But just as I focused to memorize the mana array, a message from Ethan popped up.
- Ethan Lembron: It's our first tea time together, though. Shall we take it easy for once?
I read Ethan's chat and scanned the surroundings.
*Tea time, huh...*
Here, I was just another unfamiliar Asian guy.
No matter how long we stayed, our connection wouldn't be exposed.
*Plus, I deliberately took off the magitech gear now that word's getting out about it.*
Even if Director Yang Jo-cheol, whom I'd ditched right after landing at London City Airport, walked by, he wouldn't recognize me.
*It's not like I'm the only Easterner wandering London.*
If he wanted to relax, there was no reason not to.
*Tempting.*
Come to think of it, my last overseas trip was nearly ten years ago.
*Right before high school, tagging along with Dad to the States.*
I straightened up, taking in the exotic cafe interior, and typed a message.
- K: Got a menu recommendation?
- Ethan Lembron: A question no Brit can ignore.
I'd heard Brits take tea time seriously, but I never imagined it was this real.
Stunned by unfamiliar terms, but it let me relax properly.
Just like at the Rashaar estate, munching and sipping leisurely.
Of course, all conversation happened via chat.
It started with swapping info on inter-faction politics, front-line updates from different bases, and game intel.
By the time the teacups were empty, we were discussing players' situations on Earth.
- K: Attaching a worthless monitor and letting you out—Selena's got guts. Heard Korea won't allow personal trips outside.
- Ethan Lembron: That's why we're extra careful. If a player causes trouble here, Selena gets leverage on her.
- K: Yeah, if she waves human rights to let you out and you cause an incident right away, she's got nothing to say.
- Ethan Lembron: Exactly. I tell my party that all the time—no screw-ups.
Exchanging stories like that convinced me.
Recruiting Ethan as a Bounty Hunter was the right call.
He cherished this peace he now had.
He wanted to reclaim these ordinary moments he'd lost.
To do that, he knew players couldn't cause problems.
*Leave Europe to Ethan—it's efficient.*
England, Germany, Norway.
The three remaining European missions could go to him without issue.
Same for future bounty missions.
Relieved my choice was solid, I steadied myself as progress hit 98%.
Time to wrap this up.
- K: Sticking around Vicheta in Bihar?
- Ethan Lembron: Probably for a bit. You?
- K: Most of my connections are in Havon, starting from there.
- Ethan Lembron: Heard they're taking a new castle soon. Joining?
- K: Obviously.
- Ethan Lembron: Not scared? Last main scenario was dicey.
Why ask something so obvious?
- K: I'm human—I get scared when death's staring me down.
But fear doesn't mean backing off.
My goal was ending the war in Bihar.
The vision from Mephroseta's authority kept haunting me.
Familiar buildings in black smoke, explosions, screams—and at the center, Yeon-woo and Kim Yul.
A horrific nightmare, a future I had to stop.
I let out a long sigh and stood.
- K: Gotta go. Got someone tailing me—don't wanna keep them waiting too long.
- Ethan Lembron: Shame, but can't be helped. Next time, let's chat more leisurely.
Next time. That single phrase stuck in my throat.
Only then did I realize we couldn't take "next time" for granted.
- K: Yeah, next time.
But I couldn't point it out to Ethan, who said it so casually, so I played it cool and left the cafe.
Crossing the street deliberately, I brushed past Ethan's terrace seat.
「Congratulations! HIDDEN MISSION - Bounty Hunter Recruitment (1/4) completed.」
「Bounty Hunter (Ethan Lembron) added as success reward.」
「View records in the Bounty Hunter icon.」
「HIDDEN MISSION - Bounty Hunter Recruitment (2/4) generated.」
System messages appeared, and a red dot blinked on the new Bounty Hunter icon in my left field of view.
Opening it showed our code names listed.
We could check each cleared bounty mission record too.
Right after, Ethan confirmed the bounty mission popped for him successfully.
Purpose of coming to England: achieved.
*Ethan's skilled—top among the silvers.*
Seemed like yesterday he was sobbing, begging to live, but now he was a proper player.
Plus, his identity was exposed to the government from the start, so he didn't hide his face.
Active in association work, he had influence among European players.
*He'll handle bounty missions well.*
Any social fallout from murders or player clashes—Selena's side would clean up.
*That's enough.*
Killing and covering it up wasn't ideal.
But I'd chosen this path, no turning back.
*So, onward.*
No stopping, just keep going.
* * *
Rubbing his throbbing temples, Director Yang Jo-cheol checked his watch.
*Already two hours.*
He'd been parked in the London City Airport lounge for two hours straight.
The reason he was killing time here was obvious: K.
-It'll take two hours tops.
-Don't wander far—hang around the airport.
K had ditched him with those words right after landing in London.
Not just this time.
At every prior destination, K moved solo, excluding him.
Impossible for a mere human like Director Yang to keep up.
Result: constant anxiety that K might not return.
That's why, five days out of Korea, his face looked haggard.
Today was no different.
If anything, worse—after seeing K return reeking of blood every time.
*At first, just worried about him bolting.*
Now, even his death factored in.
The dozens of real-world problems stemming from that were headache fuel enough.
Minutes of temple-rubbing later, his leg started jittering.
Anxiety reflex.
Luckily, it didn't last.
"You'll jinx it like that."
"Ah."
K was back.
Director Yang plopped down beside him—no, checked K's state quickly.
Not his appearance, of course.
He'd grown used to the unfamiliar white guy's face.
What Yang saw was K's vibe.
*Looks okay this time.*
No tension-inducing blood scent either.
*Yesterday was bad.*
Couldn't pinpoint the change.
But from yesterday, something in K had shifted.
The change lingered, but fainter than before.
Made starting a conversation easier than yesterday.
"K, I've said it before, but this can't keep up. I need to know your movements to clean up if things go south."
"No need. I don't leave traces."
"...."
"If any country mentions me in connection to these incidents, demand proof. Make them show evidence K killed those players."
Absent that, deny entry/exit records outright.
"Just visiting when an incident happens doesn't make you the perp, right?"
That's when it hit him.
*He doesn't care if he's a suspect in murders.*
Unusual.
Humans tend to downplay guilt, deny faults.
Plenty can't admit wrongdoing.
But K seemed to want his actions known.
*This is...*
Appealing to non-player forces, like.
Signaling they were containing issues.
*He wants harmony.*
Caring about player-nonplayer conflict.
Realizing K's intent, Director Yang held his tongue briefly.
Meanwhile, K warned him more firmly.
"Just so we're clear—don't strain to follow. You get spotted by someone else first, you could die."
The targets were murder-desensitized players.
"You haven't even gotten dragged into this game—why risk it?"
"...."
"Luckily, like-minded folks make handling it this way easy."
Stay out, don't force involvement.
"Anyway, let's head out. What time's the flight?"
K stood first, no room for objection.
Staring up at him, Director Yang sighed shallowly and rose.
"9 PM."
He'd heed the warning.
Checking his watch again, Director Yang guided K toward the international gate.
"About an hour left—time for boarding procedures."
Next stop: America.
Damn System