The Final Clause
Go Jang-young once again carefully scanned the notebook densely packed with the key points of the testimonies.
'This is strange. Song Si-hun, who requested the disciplinary action, is the guild master of Cheonroehoe, yet his team leader Do Jin-yong is subtly defending a carrier who broke the rules. And the same goes for An Seong-ho, the team leader of Gwanpo Guild. They're saying Pink Team did something wrong, but not wrong enough for punishment.
Even among raiders, if they're from different guilds—or even the same guild but different teams—they tear into each other. But this raid... something abnormal happened. Yet no one is talking about the truth.
What went down in that dungeon? Hmm, this is getting awfully intriguing.'
The chairman looked up and fixed his gaze on Pink Team's buffer.
The buffer, who was also a client of the Crazy Buffer, had already finished his prepared testimony and answered the other committee members' questions.
Only Go Jang-young's turn remained.
"I already know everything that happened inside the dungeon."
Yeom Sang-taek's eyes wavered at those words.
The other committee members, having heard the testimonies together, glanced at Go Jang-young in surprise.
"I know you're trying to help your friend, but I'm giving you a chance right now to rethink if that's truly for his benefit. A chance to tell the truth."
Yeom Sang-taek lowered his head and took a slow breath.
'Skyla's amazing. How did she predict this exact question? She's got real experience. If I hadn't prepared, I would've spilled everything.'
"Well, speak."
Go Jang-young said softly.
"We encountered a Nuclataurus in there."
"What?"
The committee members shot to their feet.
Go Jang-young frowned at Yeom Sang-taek.
"Is that true?"
"Didn't you say you already knew everything?"
The moment he heard Yeom Sang-taek's retort, Go Jang-young realized there was a seasoned figure backing Pink Team. He wouldn't get much from questioning the rest of the team either.
"Call the next one."
Go Jang-young said.
Pacing alone in the break room, Go Cheolmin hurriedly pulled out his phone at the ringtone.
"Sunbae!"
―One secured.
"Really?"
―So relax now. Even if the chairman rules for discipline, it'll fail 4-3.
"Thank you."
―Buy me a drink later.
Choi Min-su hung up curtly.
Go Cheolmin wanted to tell Pink Team the news, but that would just jinx it.
Relieved, he bought a cold canned coffee from the vending machine.
Even sitting in his office, Lee Wan-yeol had been on edge about the disciplinary committee's hearing room. He glared at the door at the urgent knock.
"Come in."
"Section chief, we persuaded one."
Park Myung-seop, head of Guild Management Division 1, entered with an excited face.
"Who?"
"Heo Myung-ho."
"Heh, the one who'd give up his liver and gall for his guild and raiders flips first. That's why I don't like uneducated ex-raiders."
"Now, regardless of the chairman's judgment, discipline will pass. Uramata Guild will shut down."
"Go Jang-young has no flexibility. So it'll be 5-2. Good work, Park. Drinks later."
"Yes, section chief."
As Park Myung-seop left, Lee Wan-yeol smirked.
If Uramata closed, Choi Min-su and Yeon Un-jae would rethink the Association's power. They'd learn what happens when they act on their own.
Kim Jun sat alone on the bench.
Skyla's prediction that he'd stay until the others finished testifying held true again.
"Save the good food for last."
She'd said last night.
Bored, he flipped through the Dungeon Association rulebook he'd been carrying. Thousands of pages crammed with countless regulations.
How do you follow all these?
Hard enough to memorize.
'Oh right, the chairman said he memorized them all. Not human.'
He found the rule: Items acquired by carriers belong to the Association. Skyla had explained why.
A tiny fraction of carriers smuggled items out and sold them dearly, causing issues, so the rule was added long ago.
He felt eyes from behind.
At the far end of the hall, Go Cheolmin's head peeked out, grinning widely. Kim Jun knew the issue was resolved.
As the monitoring staff turned, Go Cheolmin vanished.
Yoo Min-jeong's testimony was short. Out in 15 minutes, she glanced at Kim Jun before heading to the waiting room under escort.
Kim Jun entered the hearing room, rulebook in hand.
The committee scanned him like harsh interviewers.
"Sit."
He sat slowly on the lone chair.
He gave testimony, answered questions—as Skyla predicted.
Then Go Jang-young spoke up.
"No need to drag this out. We've heard enough—let's decide now. Raise your hand if you support the disciplinary request."
"What? Is this even allowed?"
"Seems fine to me. What do you think?"
One committee member protested, but faltered at Go Jang-young's calm response.
"But the subject's here..."
Go Jang-young eyed Kim Jun.
"Problem?"
"No, no."
Kim Jun shook his head. Something different from expected. All but Go Jang-young looked flustered. Seeing their stern faces twist satisfied him a bit.
"The subject says it's fine. Let's begin."
Two committee members raised hands first, then a third.
"Huh? You? You were against?"
"And you, Heo chairman, for?"
The mood suggested an upset—arguments broke out.
Excluding the chairman: 3-3.
The chairman's vote would decide Uramata's fate.
Kim Jun sensed something off.
'Something wrong?'
Tension built.
Go Jang-young stared at Kim Jun.
"As chairman, I strictly enforce rule violations. I will here too. But if you tell the truth about what happened in the dungeon as a carrier, I might reconsider."
Kim Jun got it.
He'd seen beyond the Incheon F-rank raid report—there was more truth.
Telling it could save Uramata? He couldn't let it close, not after barely reopening once.
"If not, I'll have to discipline. Uramata closes on your choice. Sadly."
Go Jang-young observed every twitch, pressing calmly. His words stabbed like blades.
Overwhelmed, Kim Jun dropped the rulebook.
A smile crept on Go Jang-young's lips.
'Cornered him mentally. He'll crack soon.'
Reaching for the fallen book, Kim Jun felt a strange sensation.
Memories of running alone in dungeon darkness, chased by monsters. Same intense loneliness now.
He eyed the committee.
Watching his every move. Then it hit him.
'These people... are monsters. This is a dungeon. I'm sitting still, but really being hunted. Only difference: caught, Uramata dies—not me.'
Fear mixed with unease faded fast.
To face monsters, win—you calm your mind first.
Then weaknesses show.
Staring at Go Jang-young, Kim Jun found no gap.
Too stubborn. No words would topple that conviction.
"Last chance. Reveal the truth, save Uramata."
Go Jang-young shook him again.
Kim Jun's shoulders slumped. No time for weakness.
'Block discipline first.'
Grabbing the book, he glimpsed the last rule.
Lightning and earthquake in his mind.
Found the monster's weakness!
He looked up at the chairman.
"Heard you memorized this whole rulebook."
"God-given memory. Decided? I want your story."
"Nothing to say about the raid."
"Then Uramata's license is revoked—"
"But about this rulebook, I do."
"What? Fine. Speak."
Go Jang-young crossed arms, curious what this cocky carrier would say.
"Know why carriers can't acquire items?"
"Of course. Carriers sold dungeon items on black market."
"Then to apply it to me, prove I acquired the Cheonroegeom to sell on black market? I'm no thief. And dungeon gates changed—no carrier can smuggle items now."
"The clause is outdated? Unfair?"
"Yes."
"Your team leader said that. Here's my answer: Laws can't reflect every case. Nor should they. Even flawed, laws create safety when all follow. Every rule in that book guarantees minimum safety."
Go Jang-young spoke slowly, like a professor to a student.
Then Kim Jun's eyes gleamed.
"Why not follow the last rule?"
"...What?"
"Article 712: Regulations can be changed, deleted, or added as needed anytime."
"......"
Go Jang-young uncrossed arms, straightening. Unexpected counter.
"If carrier clauses must be followed for safety, same for 712."
"...So?"
"Wise chairman, better to change or delete the unfair clause causing discipline than punish? Then all rules properly followed, everyone safe."
Silence fell.
Go Jang-young glared, fingers laced on table.
Committee members glanced at him.
Air taut as a bowstring. Tension so thick no one swallowed.
Kim Jun stared back, resolved: yield, all over.
Poison faded from Go Jang-young's eyes.
'Checkmated. He read me perfectly—targeted my convictions. No other excuse works.'
"I heard your opinion. Leave."
Kim Jun bowed and exited to the hall.
Lee Wan-yeol glared at the door. News should've come by now.
Prediction wrong.
Heo Myung-ho flipped to Association—like Do Jin-yong to guild side. Discipline hinged on Go Jang-young.
'Why so long? Just stamp it like always.'
That story nagged: cocky carrier questioning chairman on rules. Delaying decision?
'No. Go Jang-young wouldn't waver for a rookie.'
Then Park Myung-seop entered.
His crumpled face said it all.
"...Sorry, section chief."
"Out!"
"Yes."
Lee Wan-yeol stood by the window.
'That carrier swayed Go Jang-young. In a 3-3 tie. He enforces rules like a blade. And that carrier caused issues before. Kim Jun, that bastard...'
Turning to his desk, he punched the phone.
"Bring everything on Kim Jun."