Bait in the Honor Hall
Son Juyoung gripped his core gun properly and glanced at Kim Jun. That scene was still vivid in his mind.
When he'd followed No Il-seong into the Honor Hall, a blinding light had engulfed the strike team members, temporarily blinding them.
Only the deafening crackle pierced his ears.
The moment his vision cleared even slightly, Son Juyoung's jaw dropped.
Enormous sparks enveloped one person's body, exploding relentlessly. The sword that person thrust forward pierced the bluish magical barrier, and even there, lightning-like sparks erupted in all directions.
He rushed to No Il-seong's side, shouting, "Vice Captain!" but the roaring sparks drowned out even his own voice.
Then, a flash burst forth with a thunderous boom, shattering the magical barrier.
The magic circle collapsed.
A gale whipped through the room, and though Son Juyoung braced himself, he was still pushed back two meters.
Someone called out to Kim Jun and rushed forward.
Son Juyoung later learned that woman was Sa Yeonggyo, the Association President's granddaughter. She checked the unconscious Kim Jun, secured his airway, and began chest compressions.
It was expert CPR.
When Kim Jun came to, the onlookers cheered.
He passed out again right away, but Sa Yeonggyo examined him and reassured everyone he was fine.
No Il-seong ordered a search.
Son Juyoung teamed up with Kwon Jae-hong to cover the flanks.
Fortunately, the Honor Hall was safe, and the strike team leader along with the rest of the members arrived one by one.
Clang!
The stainless steel tray slipped from the nurse's hands and clattered noisily across the floor.
At the same time, Son Juyoung snapped out of the vivid memory.
He stole another glance at Kim Jun. Sa Yeonggyo was right beside him.
He got that peculiar woman's intuition.
The Association President's granddaughter was definitely interested in Kim Jun.
Curiosity sparked. It felt like watching a drama just getting started. How would this melodrama between a chaebol heiress and a guy with nothing but his body end?
Just then, Captain Nam Jun-sang approached.
"Withdrawal order's come down. Let's head out."
"Yes, sir!"
Right before stepping outside, Son Juyoung looked back at Kim Jun and Sa Yeonggyo one more time.
Huh? Looks like it's still just a one-sided crush from Sa Yeonggyo. Oh man, this is gonna be even more fun. Gotta tell So-jeong about it quick. Should be entertaining to watch from now on. Wonder if So-young's okay, though.
Kim Se-wi paused at the entrance to the Honor Hall, unstrapping and re-strapping his Patek Philippe watch. The heavy, cool metallic touch lifted his mood.
"Shall we?"
He pushed open the heavy door and stepped inside, taking in the unexpectedly wrecked Honor Hall Final Room.
What a mess. Such a shame. All these pieces in here... they were fine works.
Above all, it pained him that the wax doll masterpieces, crafted personally by Jo Jong-man, lay destroyed.
He frowned at the chaos of makeshift beds, examinees lying on them, and swarming medical staff—then spotted Sa Yeonggyo. He was quite surprised to see her next to the culprit, but he masked his emotions as always and walked over.
"Uncle?"
Sa Yeonggyo recognized Kim Se-wi.
"Ah, it's been five years, hasn't it?"
"Sure has. Here for the Ju Shin examinee? There he is."
Sa Yeonggyo pointed at Kang Hyeonseong, sitting on a cot.
Kim Se-wi didn't even glance at Kang Hyeonseong. Instead, he fixed his gaze on Kim Jun, who sat on a bed behind her, peeling a tangerine.
"You're the examinee in question, right?"
Kim Jun, sensing the stare, looked back—but just stared blankly, showing no concern.
The odd tension prompted Sa Yeonggyo to butt in.
"You know the Medici Team? One of Ju Shin's top five. This is their leader, Team Leader Kim Se-wi. He's Ju Shin's Intelligence Chief now."
"Promoted last year, and you knew that?"
Kim Se-wi spoke to Sa Yeonggyo but kept his eyes on Kim Jun.
"Looked it up on the plane."
Sa Yeonggyo grinned broadly.
"I saw your performance. Quite impressive. Especially the Po-noe Strike—magnificent. I'd love to bring you to Ju Shin, but it's impossible. A real shame."
"Thanks for the praise."
Kim Jun's curt reply hung in uncomfortable silence. Kim Se-wi's eyes narrowed slightly.
First time meeting today, and I already sense hostility toward me. Hm, does he know something? Doesn't matter either way.
Kim Se-wi nodded lightly at Kim Jun, then turned and raised his voice.
"Examinees! Attention, please!"
His voice carried clearly even to those far away, amplified like through a precision mic.
It was Voice Magic.
Examinees propped themselves up on cots and turned to him.
A few recognized him and made a fuss.
"I'm Kim Se-wi from Ju Shin, but I'm here as an Association official. What happened today was a most unfortunate accident. On behalf of the Association, I promise it will never happen again."
His precise diction and smooth tone made it sound like a news anchor delivering facts.
"The Association can't simply overlook your suffering. That's why I've come with 'gifts' for everyone here."
Emphasizing "gifts," Kim Se-wi paused, then pulled two books from his bag.
With a flick of his wrist, he tossed one to an examinee five meters away, the other to one twenty meters off.
The books floated lightly like feathers, stopping right in front of them.
A nearby examinee gasped in awe.
"Flame Scripture! It's the Flame Scripture!"
Examinees swarmed instantly. The Flame Scripture topped critic Jo Myeong-cheol's list of the top ten martial arts manuals.
Shouts erupted from the back.
"Plamato Legion!"
Magic-path examinees clustered there. The Plamato Legion was the top-ranked magic tome.
Kim Se-wi smiled faintly.
Everything was unfolding exactly as planned.
The Flame Scripture and Plamato Legion held immense value, but none of these examinees could ever reach their peaks—too high, too perilous.
You could Google an Everest route anytime, but that didn't mean anyone could plant a flag there. They'd dream big seeing these, but achieve next to nothing.
Kim Se-wi glanced sideways.
Sa Yeonggyo was popping tangerine segments into her mouth.
As expected of Sa Yeonggyo. She knows those books have nothing to do with her.
He felt a gaze.
Kim Se-wi spotted Kim Jun watching him.
He had a similar perceptiveness to Sa Yeonggyo, but colder—like he knew exactly why these books were shown to the examinees.
No way. A mere carrier?
Turning away, Kim Se-wi clapped.
Clap!
The inner-power-infused sound drew all eyes back to him.
"The Association has decided to give everyone here a copy of any book from the underground library—Flame Scripture, Plamato Legion, whatever you want. Ownership of copies like the Dark Blood Divine Steps or Gravitas will be recognized."
Kim Se-wi counted inwardly.
One, two, three... Then the reaction exploded.
"Whoa!"
"Yahoo!"
"Best ever! Best!"
He could somewhat understand their excitement.
Martial arts and magic weren't skills you could just learn on a whim. Common paths were direct tutelage from a patroness or via her recommendation. Outside those networks? Impossible access.
Idiots sometimes stole peeks and got caught—expelled from the Association, their mana and inner power destroyed, left worse than civilians.
But official copy ownership? Free to learn as you pleased.
He checked Sa Yeonggyo and the guy again. Neither joined the cheers.
"Not happy?"
Sa Yeonggyo whispered.
"Why? Nothing in life's free."
Kim Jun replied, eyes on Kim Se-wi.
"What do you mean?"
"You'll see soon enough."
Kim Jun glanced at Lee Taeseop in the corner, nodding slightly.
Lee Taeseop nodded back with a smile.
Kim Se-wi's nape prickled, but he ignored it lightly, watching the examinees flail on his hook.
"You all know how unprecedented this is. Imagine—devoting your life to the Flame Scripture or Plamato Legion. The only condition? Entrust the accident's cleanup to the Association. You know the media's harm. Reporters don't care about truth—they stir the masses. If this leaks, they'll paint you fools, tarnish your families, academies, future guilds. As a senior Raider before an Association rep, I say it mustn't happen."
"Well said!"
"I agree! Reporters are... hopeless."
As expected, most examinees agreed fervently.
Kim Se-wi nodded, and his secretaries circulated, handing out waivers.
"Sign here, note your desired book, and you'll get a copy from the sub-library. But leak to media? That examinee's ownership—and all others'—canceled instantly. Understand, the Association has no choice."
"Of course!"
"Sign here?"
The examinees were in festival mode.
Near-death from the revived wax dolls? Forgotten amid top-tier martial/magic ownership perks.
A secretary offered waivers to Sa Yeonggyo and Kim Jun.
Sa Yeonggyo skimmed hers and took the pen—but paused seeing Kim Jun not even reading his.
"What're you doing? Golden opportunity."
"Even the Association President's granddaughter wants a book?"
"Duh. Gramps is strict—doesn't hand out everything. I've been dying for Insinuta. Perfect timing."
The third-ranked magic tome, Insinuta sucked life force from monsters to refill mana.
Hearing that, Kim Jun recalled the top ten martial arts list.
Flame Scripture, Dark Blood Divine Steps, Earth Flow Fist, Yellow Cloud Valley, Mystic Moon Blade Method, and such.
Heart-pounding just imagining... but.
His current Mokhonbo didn't even crack the top hundred. Cheon Noe Geom ranked a measly 17th.
Problem was, Kim Jun knew his place.
Cheon Noe Geom—could he master it in a lifetime? Stronger arts might just scatter his time and effort.
Worse, he could end up half-baked at both.
"Uh, question."
Kim Jun raised his hand. Kim Se-wi turned, frowning slightly.
"I'm listening."
"That ownership—is it just for me? Or transferable?"
Examinees' eyes widened at the question.
Transferable was best—sell if strapped for cash.
Kim Se-wi suppressed irritation.
The guy stirred unnecessary greed.
"Normally non-transferable, but this once, one transfer allowed."
"Whoa! Association forever!"
An excited examinee yelled.
As most signed, Lee Taeseop sidled over to Kim Jun.
"Not signing?"
"Thinking."
"Hm, guess I need to think too."
Waiver in hand, Lee Taeseop fetched a chair, sat by Kim Jun, and started peeling tangerines.
Sa Yeonggyo eyed them and held off signing.
Secretaries collected signed waivers, passing them to Kim Se-wi. He noted exactly three unsigned.
Turning slowly, he eyed Sa Yeonggyo, Kim Jun, and Lee Taeseop. Ironically, the test's Queen and King flanked Kim Jun.
"Sa Yeonggyo, why no signature?"
Kim Se-wi asked as gently as possible.
"Uh, because of this guy."
She nodded toward Kim Jun.
"...Meaning?"
He barely contained his annoyance.
"Curious why Kim Jun isn't signing."
"Ah, I see."
Kim Se-wi realized Lee Taeseop held out for the same reason. He needed utmost restraint.
Flashing a broad smile at Kim Jun.
They locked eyes. Neither blinked; tension thickened fast.
Kim Jun spoke first.
"Did you catch that wax doll?"
"Why do you care?"
Kim Se-wi's gaze flickered. Totally unexpected.
"Obviously. Nearly died."
"Terminated."
Short and firm. To sell a lie as truth, keep it concise.
"You said the Association's investigating the 'doll revival incident.' Who's handling it?"
"An accident. Not an incident. An investigative committee will form soon. You'll learn who's leading when it's convened."
Kim Se-wi praised the genius behind committees—black holes swallowing issues.
"Can I recommend one member?"
"...What?"
His composure cracked.
A carrier daring to recommend?
"Learned a bit about the disciplinary and exam committees lately. Especially today—framed for cheating on the written test, even my college scores questioned. Gets me mad thinking about it. Can't I?"
"Haha, fair point. Fine. I'll reflect your opinion strongly. Who?"
"Investigator Bang Su-cheol."
"Bang Su-cheol?"
A cheek twitched.
The pesky investigator he'd locked out via lockdown—from this guy's mouth, no less.
Regaining calm, Kim Se-wi asked.
"Mind the reason?"
"Only investigator I know."
"Hahaha, got it. But committee formation's beyond my authority. I'll pass your opinion, sure. Promises, though—tough. Understand?"
"Ah, gotcha."
Kim Jun muttered, Beyond his authority, huh... then continued.
"Actually, signing's beyond my authority too. You get why I can't sign, right?"
He threw the words right back.
"...What do you mean?"
"Gotta consult my guild master. I'm a Uramata Guild Raider."
Kim Jun's reply was what Kim Se-wi least wanted to hear.
Tossing Flame Scripture and Plamato Legion aimed to cloud minds with greed. They scribbled dream manuals sans thoughts of academy heads, parents, or patrons.
Mostly top tens, as intended.
Top tens were coveted ultimate skills—but safe to leak outward.
Unlearnable even if known.
Unreachable even if read.
Dozens of Flame Scriptures wouldn't shift guild balances or rankings.
No one could wield it.
But lower-ranked, conditionally learnable arts? Different story. Strengthen one guild, rivals cry favoritism.
Veteran guild masters ignored top tens entirely.
They'd pick post-30 skills their members could handle—balance-breakers.
Kim Se-wi smiled thinly.
The smile earning him "Dungeon Gentleman."
Not ordinary. But stretch legs after gauging the bed.
Suppressing irritation and anger evenly, expression unchanged.
"You know villains infiltrated the Core Country? Lockdown cut external comms. Consulting your guild master? Takes time. Okay?"
"How long?"
"Short: two-three hours. Long: days."
He knew regs allowed 72-hour lockdowns.
"I'll wait. Our guild master's bear-like—temper too. Scary as hell."
Kim Jun feigned fear. Kim Se-wi eyed Sa Yeonggyo and Lee Taeseop.
"You two same?"
Sa Yeonggyo handed over her waiver—signed, Insinuta noted.
Good. Her sticking around would've been trouble.
"And you?"
"Need more time to think."
Lee Taeseop said.
"Fine."
Pocketing the waiver, Kim Se-wi headed for the entrance. The smile gone, his face twisted ghostly.