The Mole Within
‘I need a stronger shock.’
Kim Se-wi leaned his upper body forward. It was a signal to focus— he had some confidential talk to share.
Sensing his intent, Sa Yeonggyo moistened her lips with her tongue.
“This is something you absolutely cannot repeat.”
“To me, Sa Yeonggyo?”
“Devils Day— high chance it was the Puritans.”
That catastrophe where 35% of the raiders who entered the dungeons vanished— in other words, lost their lives in the dark lands... It might not have been mere grade disturbance, but deliberate terrorism by someone.
Sa Yeonggyo covered her mouth with her hand.
She’d almost let out a gasp.
“If the dungeons are sealed off, raiders lose all value. Then the world rolls exactly as the Puritans want. Of course, it’s just suspicion for now. Finding hard evidence isn’t easy. But if today’s incident ties to the Puritans, we might snag proof through that guy.”
Sa Yeonggyo could no longer defend Kim Jun’s position. With evidence out, the investigation would be thorough. Yet the image of Kim Jun, who’d risked his life battling the wax dolls, still lingered in her mind.
“What now?”
“Grab the tail.”
“You think there’s someone besides Kim Jun?”
“Can’t rule it out.”
Sa Yeonggyo fell silent.
His phone kept vibrating.
Intelligence Director Choi Ung glanced at it discreetly to check the caller. Three missed calls from Choi Min-su? The reason was obvious.
Second lockdown.
With client Kim Jun inside the Association HQ building, his patroness had cause for concern.
“Looks like a call. Take it.”
Planning Coordinator Ma Jung-hyeon tilted the purple teapot, pouring clear tea into the cup.
“No need.”
No matter how close they were, there was a time and place. Ma Jung-hyeon was trusted by the Association President— the one who set the Dungeon Association’s course.
Choi Ung simply powered off his phone.
Investigation Director Seo Yunhyeong checked his own, then long-pressed the power button like Choi Ung.
“This pu’er tea is perfectly brewed. I used my prized Yixing pot just for you two— should be pretty good.”
Choi Ung took a sip.
A deep flavor spread through his mouth alongside the aroma.
‘That purple teapot alone costs 500 million won, and it lives up to the price.’
“Why did you summon us at a time like this, Coordinator?”
The Investigation Director asked.
“Quite direct.”
“We’re under lockdown.”
A hint of irritation showed. Controlling and commanding the lockdown site was demanding enough, yet here they were, summoned by the Coordinator— it boiled their blood.
“Then I’ll be direct too. Villains infiltrated the Core Country, yet Investigation claims no prior knowledge— is that true?”
“Not so. An Investigation officer detected the intrusion and took action.”
“Investigator Bang Su-cheol, right?”
“Correct.”
“You only found out after Core Country’s Oh Jae-gyu deputy died— true?”
“Yes.”
Seo Yunhyeong’s eyes narrowed.
Someone in Investigation was feeding info to the Planning Coordinator.
“Possible without inside help? Is the Association that sloppy? Couldn’t Investigation prevent it preemptively— was it truly unavoidable?”
The Planning Coordinator’s tone carried subtle blame.
The Investigation Director had no retort. But why had this man called him alongside the Intelligence Director? That puzzled him.
Does Intelligence know something?
Ma Jung-hyeon, gauging their expressions with a sly smile, spoke.
“I’ve heard rumors of a mole inside the Association.”
It was like a bomb dropping.
Both Seo Yunhyeong and Choi Ung glared at the Planning Coordinator, eyes wide, momentarily forgetting his rank in their fury.
“‘Rumors’ might irk you. But these are quite convincing. This incident exposed the mole’s existence. Why else bring you two here? I already know the villains escaped the Association. Moles don’t flee, though. If we pool our strength, can’t we catch that mole bastard? The tea’s cooling— precious stuff, so sip while you think.”
Ma Jung-hyeon closed his eyes, savoring his tea.
Unlike him, Choi Ung and Seo Yunhyeong found the room suffocating.
Why was the Planning Coordinator suddenly meddling in the lockdown? They exchanged glances, sharing the same doubt— and realizing neither had answers.
Ma Jung-hyeon stood, went to his desk, picked up the receiver, and dialed an extension.
“Proceed.”
He smiled at the two.
―Proceed.
“Understood.”
Security Section Chief Jo Han-geun hung up and turned to Security 1 Team Leader Jeong Yongmin.
“Orders came down.”
“Plan Charlie?”
Jeong Yongmin asked.
“Core Country goes Plan Charlie. Honor Hall gets Plan Zulu.”
“Zulu?”
His eyes wavered. He knew exactly what Plan Zulu meant.
“Just grant Intelligence Chief Kim Se-wi’s request. Focus on Core Country, Section Chief Jeong.”
“Will do.”
“You’re dismissed.”
“Yes, Chief.”
Out of the chief’s office, Jeong Yongmin spotted Kim Se-wi by the hallway window.
He approached.
“Heard the news?”
“What do you need from me?”
“Simple. Just follow orders.”
Kim Se-wi grinned.
Entering the guest room, Kim Se-wi tossed his jacket on the sofa, wrapped his left hand around his right wrist, and infused mana into the bracelet.
The bracelet— containing trace Podum and substantial Sonorium— the Mreislit, was invaluable when comms networks failed, like now.
But replacing the consumed Podum and Sonorium made it a luxury few raiders could afford.
The Mreislit glowed.
A moment later, a familiar voice echoed in his head.
“Specifically.”
“Gwanho?”
“Don’t tell me...”
Kim Se-wi grimaced.
“Finish quick and get back.”
Kim Se-wi cut the mana, severing the link.
Yoo Gwanho was Medici Team’s main dealer— solid even by Jushin standards— but a walking disaster. They kept him only because profits far outweighed the risks.
This wasn’t a dungeon.
Extra caution was needed.
If Yoo Gwanho caused trouble, derailing the plan, Kim Se-wi would make him pay dearly.
“The old man says quit screwing around.”
Jeong Taek-su, leaning back in his chair, said.
Yoo Gwanho, eyes unfocused, glanced at him but stayed silent.
“Hurry up.”
Jeong Taek-su snapped irritably. If not for the summons, he’d be riding his bike to Gangneung by now, decked in his new genuine leather rider jacket that arrived yesterday.
He raised his hand. Dark brown earth clumped into a sleek, frameless racing bike shape and sped through the air. Soon, a rider formed from earth mounted it.
The flying earth was Spitera. Sometimes called Vitra, but Jeong Taek-su preferred Spitera.
Yoo Gwanho, stroking his red jacket, turned and crossed the empty office to the inner vault.
A single apple floating in midair.
Beyond it, a woman trembling against the vault wall.
The blood-red Jackknife peeled the apple’s skin thinly. The even, elongated strip touched the floor.
Yoo Gwanho reached out; the knife-plunged apple flew to him.
Crunch crunch.
“...P-please, spare me.”
The young woman knelt, pleading desperately.
Blood from the knife slash on her cheek stained her white blouse red. Her shoulder wound was worse— fabric torn, exposing raw flesh inside.
Yoo Gwanho eyed her impassively.
“Why should I?”
Sim Gyeongju nearly screamed. Doing so might send that flying knife into her mouth... or throat.
Her plan had seemed perfect.
Lockdown severed all external networks, disabling security systems. Grab the chance, score big, end the soul-crushing office life.
Sim Gyeongju executed it. Instead of evacuating, she slipped into the restricted zone.
Target: Finance Support Division vault.
Bearer bonds and cash bundles in under ten minutes. Blend with evacuating staff, exit the building— done.
Then disaster struck.
The Jackknife halted before her nose.
Click— the blade nicked her nostril.
Her scream reflexively rose, but the cold tip grazing her throat swallowed it.
A man approached slowly from behind. Jeans, blue jacket— looked like a tall college kid.
Sim Gyeongju recognized him.
And sensed her fate.
As staff fled the building, she was dragged to deserted areas. Escape? Impossible with the Jackknife circling her ear and neck.
The apple seeds crunching snapped her back. Yoo Gwanho wiped his mouth with his sleeve and stared.
“Coin.”
“Pardon?”
“Coin.”
“...I-I have one.”
Sim Gyeongju felt death if she didn’t. She fumbled her pocket— luckily, a 500-won coin.
Trembling, she offered it; the Jackknife scooped it with its blade and returned to Yoo Gwanho.
He showed it to her.
“Number? Or tails?”
“...P-pardon?”
“Pick.”
“...I like both.”
“One.”
“Must it be one?”
Yoo Gwanho’s face hardened coldly.
Instantly, the Jackknife sliced her hair too fast to follow. Strands scattered; she nearly screamed, clamping her mouth with both hands.
“...N-number.”
Finally answering.
Yoo Gwanho smirked, flicking the coin skyward.
It spun in the air.
Sim Gyeongju watched desperately. Number side meant life. She believed it utterly.
Yoo Gwanho snatched it lightly and looked at her. His eyes gleamed with pleasure.
Staring at Sim Gyeongju, he opened his hand.
The number side showed; she sighed in relief.
Then the Jackknife plunged into her throat, severing the carotid.
Blood gushed.
Sim Gyeongju collapsed sideways, gazing up at Yoo Gwanho— eyes questioning ‘Why?’
He stepped closer, peering into her fading eyes.
“Gonna kill you anyway— why the coin toss?”
Jeong Taek-su asked from the wall.
Yoo Gwanho placed a hand on her face, not turning.
Change came fast. Like fast-forwarded footage, her body blued as life ebbed, stench intensifying.
Jeong Taek-su plugged his nose with Spitera.
“Decay skill’s enviable.”
That’s why Yoo Gwanho killed so many without capture. Cops judged TOD by liver or rectal temp; Decay accelerated rot, crumbling investigations.
Yoo Gwanho closed her staring eyes and stood.
“Hurry. Old man rages, we’re both screwed.”
“You...”
“What?”
“Talk too much.”
Yoo Gwanho walked off; the Jackknife followed.
Jeong Taek-su sighed, shaking his head, and trailed after.