Joint Patrons and the Thunder Brain Sword
As Yeon Un-jae, dressed in refined hanbok, made his entrance, camera flashes erupted.
Yeon Un-jae smiled warmly, exchanging knowing nods with a few familiar reporters. He stepped up to the microphone.
"I'm truly sorry for dragging all you busy journalists here on such short notice with this old man's sudden press conference."
The head of the Yeon family grinned cheekily, eyeing the reporter right in front of him.
"Reporter Song, I heard your wife got so mad she went back to her parents' house. Did it all work out?"
"I groveled enough, and she came back after three days. But these days, I'm starting to think it was a bad idea."
The reporters burst into laughter.
The tense atmosphere melted away in an instant.
"I'm sure you're all wondering about the topic of today's conference. I'd love to get right to it, but unfortunately, this isn't a solo announcement. Allow me to introduce the pillar of Cheonhondan—Team Leader Choi Min-su."
Yeon Un-jae gestured toward the door, and the reporters' cameras flashed in unison.
Choi Min-su, wearing sunglasses, strode out waving casually.
As he stood beside Yeon Un-jae and removed his sunglasses with a broad smile, several female reporters gasped at his rugged, handsome features.
If Brave Guild's Lee Hwan exuded an aristocratic air, Choi Min-su radiated the raw charm unique to a tough guy.
Choi Min-su took the microphone.
"You all know my personality. Straight to the point. You're aware of the internal dynamics at Cheonhondan. To be honest, things between the elder and me weren't great. But that's the past. Yes, that's right—not anymore. Why, you ask?"
Every reporter fixed their gaze on Choi Min-su's mouth.
"The elder here will explain the reason."
Choi Min-su smiled and yielded the floor to Yeon Un-jae.
Impressed by how Choi Min-su handled the press in his own distinctive style, Yeon Un-jae stepped forward.
"Team Leader Choi and I have decided to become joint patrons."
An announcement no reporter could have imagined!
Joint patronage was unprecedented. Especially for these two former bitter rivals.
And!
"Joint" meant a single client.
Excited reporters jumped to their feet, firing questions.
"Who on earth is the client you've both accepted?"
"Is it Young Master Yeon Jong-ho?"
"Ah! Could it be Team Leader Choi Min-su's son?"
"How did you arrive at such an unprecedented decision?"
Yeon Un-jae raised his hand, and the heated atmosphere gradually settled. Only after the reporters sat did he speak.
"Our client is waiting just behind us. Let him introduce himself."
Choi Min-su nodded at the words.
Grinning, he leaned into the mic and whispered.
"Come on out."
Kim Jun entered gripping the cloth-wrapped Cheonroegeom tightly in his right hand. He'd worried the flashes might blind him, but that fear proved unfounded.
Not a single one of the dozens of reporters could press their shutter.
They were simply lost in stunned silence at the surreal scene. Does this make any sense? That was the only question hanging in the air.
Why is that carrier here?
No one had dreamed the carrier at the center of recent buzz would show up here.
"I'm Kim Jun."
As Kim Jun bowed in greeting, flashes finally flooded the room. Reporters leaped up again, pelting questions at him, Choi Min-su, and Yeon Un-jae.
Choi Min-su spread both arms wide and clapped.
The sound wasn't loud, but the shockwave rippled through the reporters' clothes and hair.
Startled, they instinctively fell silent.
"Go ahead, Elder."
Choi Min-su said, looking at Yeon Un-jae.
"Thank you. Reporters, and all you citizens watching this broadcast—I'm sure you're wondering why Team Leader Choi and I have taken on a mere carrier like young Kim as our client."
Yeon Un-jae glanced at Kim Jun.
"Rather than a long explanation, it's better if you see for yourselves."
Kim Jun unwrapped the cloth and raised the Cheonroegeom.
"Th-that's the Cheonroegeom!"
"It's real!"
"...He's holding the Cheonroegeom and he's fine?"
Reactions rippled from a few reporters.
Yeon Un-jae interjected.
"Correct. This sword is the Yeon family's symbol and treasure—the Cheonroegeom. And young Kim is its master, the Lord of the Thunder Brain Sword. Choi Muhyun from Uramata Guild—a Raider and Team Leader Choi's son right here—reported to the Association that he had acquired the Cheonroegeom for his friend Kim. Isn't that friendship truly beautiful? In any case, the true owner of the Cheonroegeom is young Kim."
Reporters unleashed a barrage of questions on the details they craved.
Yeon Un-jae and Choi Min-su deftly selected and answered what they could.
Among them was the fact that Kim Jun would enroll in Yeonmu Academy to learn the Yeon family's foundational martial arts.
While questions and answers flew, all Kim Jun had to do was stand there holding the Cheonroegeom.
To endure the awkward time, he mulled over the Tan step of Mokhonbo, pondering how to execute it most efficiently.
The success rate is only 15%. I need to raise it to at least 70%.
Choi Min-su, glancing at Kim Jun, nearly burst out laughing.
That dazed look in his eyes and relaxed posture—he was clearly lost in some random thought again.
"I plan to formally request an awakening test from the Dungeon Association alongside the Elder. Yes, young Kim will be taking that test. Though he shows no known signs of awakening, I'm certain he'll pass."
The reporters exploded once more.
One spotted a Dungeon Association official watching from the back.
"Guild Management Division 1's Section Chief Park Myeong-seop! What are your thoughts on Team Leader Choi Min-su's statement? Carriers have never taken an awakening test, have they?"
The broadcast camera swung to Park Myeong-seop.
"...W-we'd need internal discussions before I can comment. Because this issue is extremely complex, extremely unprecedented, and extremely difficult..."
Flustered, Park Myeong-seop rambled incoherently.
Then, a reporter in the front stood.
"How can we confirm that sword the carrier's holding is really the Cheonroegeom?"
"Daily Raider's Reporter Park Myeong-hwan. Come on up front. We'll verify it as much as you like."
"...No need to go that far."
"I insist."
Choi Min-su flashed a mischievous grin and dragged the protesting Park Myeong-hwan to Kim Jun.
At Choi Min-su's nod, Kim Jun extended the Cheonroegeom toward the reporter.
Park Myeong-hwan hesitated but gripped the hilt under the gaze of his colleagues—only for crackling sparks to erupt, coiling around his arm.
Even after Choi Min-su swiftly snatched the sword back and returned it to Kim Jun, Park Myeong-hwan drooled and collapsed unconscious.
While hotel staff carried him out, reporters frantically snapped photos.
"After passing the awakening test, will Kim Jun join Cheonhondan?"
Another reporter asked.
For the first time, Choi Min-su and Yeon Un-jae looked to Kim Jun for his answer.
Kim Jun spoke.
"I'm a Raider with Uramata Guild. That won't change."
In that moment, Kim Jun spotted Choi Muhyun in the back among the onlookers, hat pulled low.
A smile lit up Kim Jun's face at the sight of his friend.
A sharp-eyed photographer captured that fleeting moment—the photo that would soon grace news outlets and papers.
The press conference ended.
* * *
That night, Choi Muhyun arrived.
Guild Master Go Cheolmin and everyone welcomed him warmly. Concerned questions about his health, queries on why he'd gone radio silent, lighthearted banter—all flowed naturally.
A lavish spread was laid out.
Delivery food like pork belly and chicken, but everyone dug in freely. Beer flowed too. Laughter bloomed enough to forget the recent chaos and peril.
As night deepened, they retired to their rooms one by one.
Only Kim Jun, Choi Muhyun, and Yoo Min-jeong remained in the living room.
"We'll clean up. You go rest."
Choi Muhyun said.
"...Okay."
As Yoo Min-jeong headed to her room, something felt off. She removed her earrings and set them on the vanity, then realized the source of her unease.
Those two barely talked all evening. Something's up between them. What happened in that old warehouse?
Worried, Yoo Min-jeong returned to the living room.
Only leftover food and bottles remained—no sign of the two.
She checked the garden, but they weren't there. The basketball hoop area was empty.
Maybe...?
Yoo Min-jeong descended to the basement and approached the training room.
Murmured voices drifted out.
Opening the door, she found the two staring each other down from about five meters apart. They noticed her.
"What are you doing?"
"Burned off some dinner. We'll really clean the living room, so don't worry."
It was Choi Muhyun.
Yoo Min-jeong looked at Kim Jun, who nodded.
"Then, mind if I sit here and watch you sweat it out?"
Yoo Min-jeong sat against the training room wall.
"Cool?"
Choi Muhyun asked.
"Sure."
Kim Jun replied.
The two, locked in stares, each took a step back and assumed stances.
Choi Muhyun spread his arms wide to the sides, raised them overhead, then slowly lowered his clasped hands toward his nose and chest—the signature pose of the Wolyeong Geumgang Heart Technique.
Kim Jun let his arms hang, stepping his left foot forward and right foot slightly back and wide.
Are they seriously going to fight?
Yoo Min-jeong was startled but had missed her chance to intervene.
Choi Muhyun moved first.
Whoosh.
As he thrust his right fist forward, a hazy golden light shot ahead, splitting the air with a whoosh to either side.
Kim Jun dodged swiftly, and a boom! exploded where he'd stood.
That's Geumgang Fist! A direct hit could... kill!
Her mind screamed to stop the fight, but the words wouldn't come. There must be a reason. But... should I just let this go?
Three powerful Geumgang Fist strikes detonated perilously close to where Kim Jun had evaded.
Then, Choi Muhyun relaxed his stance.
"Still wearing the heavy training weights?"
"...Yeah."
"That's rude. Take 'em off."
"Forgot."
Kim Jun removed the heavy weights from his arms and legs, setting them down in front of Yoo Min-jeong.
"This guy's been wearing those even at the Yeon estate. Had them on fighting Yeonmu Chilsu too."
Choi Muhyun explained.
"...For real?"
Yoo Min-jeong glared at Kim Jun with an angry face.
"Yeon Yuksuga lunged out of nowhere—no time to take them off."
"Wear them only during training from now on. That's an order as team leader."
"Yes, Team Leader."
Kim Jun stepped back toward Choi Muhyun.
The fight resumed.
"Let's get serious."
Choi Muhyun said.
"Yeah, serious."
Finishing his words, Kim Jun charged at blinding speed. Before Choi Muhyun could raise a defensive barrier, he slipped inside and hammered consecutive punches into his friend's solar plexus and gut.
Then he retreated.
"Done."
Kim Jun grinned satisfactorily and glanced at Yoo Min-jeong.
But Yoo Min-jeong stared not at him, but at Choi Muhyun—who staggered back but stayed on his feet.
Following her gaze, Kim Jun turned.
I thought I'd gotten ridiculously stronger these past few days, but Muhyun's no different.
"That really hurts. You sure you're my friend?"
Choi Muhyun groaned, rubbing his chest and stomach.
"I went easy."
"Really?"
"Nah."
It was true. Not full power, but no holding back either.
Kim Jun lunged.
Having felt that speed once, Choi Muhyun blocked adeptly.
Yoo Min-jeong watched in silence as the exchanges accelerated relentlessly.