A Bitter Compromise
He placed his hand on the wall.
As mana drained from his palm, a hidden magic circle glowed into view.
This magic circle was a secret known to only a handful at the Dungeon Association. The Investigation Bureau fools staunchly believed lockdown had three stages, but the fourth—Final Lockdown—was prepared right here.
He twisted his palm slightly, and the circle activated. The floor and walls trembled.
In three minutes, one of the four buildings comprising the Dungeon Association HQ—the West Building—would collapse in a heap. The Medici Team operating underground, the Investigation Bureau bastards, and even the third-rate guilds would be buried under mountains of concrete. The suspicions raised on broadcast would vanish with them.
As it entered the second stage, the vibrations intensified. The third stage was irreversible.
Then, his phone buzzed.
Ma Jung-hyeon hesitated but pulled it out. The moment he saw the number, a queasy feeling hit him. Still, he couldn't ignore it. The caller was the Association's permanent advisor and Miracle's grand dame.
"Calling at such a late hour."
―Take your hand off the wall.
Yang Hee-seon's voice was firm.
"I'm afraid I don't follow."
Ma Jung-hyeon scanned his surroundings sharply.
Was there a micro-camera hidden somewhere? The Crazy Buffer wasn't the type for such tricks.
―If the West Building crumbles by any chance, Miracle will team up with Cheonhondan and Brave to dig into the suspicions. Even Ju Shin couldn't block three guilds united, and if things go wrong, that precious Ju Shin you've nurtured could splinter into pieces. Believe me. I intend to make it happen.
"I didn't expect such interest from you in this matter. It's not about that client, Yeom Sang-taek, is it?"
―Don't you think you've blown this out of proportion? Even Ju Shin has no right to rampage ignoring the public's eyes. And it's not just my opinion.
"Yes, I understand."
Ma Jung-hyeon halted the Final Lockdown activation.
Strict calculations showed the losses outweighed the gains. Ju Shin mattered more than his pride or face.
The vibrations ceased.
―Wise choice.
After hanging up, Ma Jung-hyeon glared at the phone in his grip. Water surged from the pond beside the shrine, engulfing and crumpling the device.
He swallowed his rage and humiliation.
The key now was cleanup. He had to deal with the Medici Team that botched everything. The exposed Investigation Bureau agents needed tidy handling too.
All in all, it wasn't a total failure.
The original goals were met. Not only had they captured Investigation Director Seo Yunhyeong, but they'd also psychologically cornered Intelligence Director Choi Ung.
From now on, he'd be a puppet.
No one else would strut around like Seo Yunhyeong again.
Knock knock.
Ma Jung-hyeon frowned at the knock. No footsteps, no presence—they'd slipped right up to his door undetected.
He realized who was knocking.
"Choi, come in."
Sure enough, the one who entered was Cheonhondan's pillar, Choi Min-su.
He'd known Choi Min-su breached the lockdown to enter. But this guy, who had business underground, coming up here rubbed him wrong.
"Long time no see, Planning Coordinator."
"Sit."
Choi Min-su was chipper, as if the lockdown never happened. That vibrant face made it feel like morning, not the dead of night.
"What is it?"
Normally, he'd offer tea, but urgency left no room for courtesy, not even patience.
"Found this."
Choi Min-su pulled out a cloth bundle and set it on the table.
Ma Jung-hyeon kept staring at him.
Choi Min-su unwrapped it, holding up a small core.
"An Optitarakum, isn't it?"
"As expected of the Coordinator."
"Why show me this now?"
"Pulled it from the palm of Medici Team's dealer, Yoo Gwan-ho. Know him?"
"Who can say."
He brushed it off, but Ma Jung-hyeon grasped the gravity instantly.
He knew Yoo Gwan-ho's twisted hobby. The dealer was top-notch, meticulous enough to avoid detection post-murder, and targeted only civilians—so Ju Shin had turned a blind eye until now.
If the murder footage stored in that Optitarakum leaked... It would dwarf the live broadcast exposé by that journalist Skyla.
Trust in Ju Shin would hit rock bottom. The Guild Master might bow in a public apology; worst case, public outrage could force him out.
The silver lining: Choi Min-su brought it here.
Ma Jung-hyeon exhaled deeply.
"What do you want?"
"Ju Shin officially recognizes Raider Kim Jun."
"That's all?"
"Release the captured Seo Yunhyeong too."
Ma Jung-hyeon glared. Any ordinary raider would flinch, but this bear of a man grinned back. Power grown fearsome alongside Yoo Wan-seop.
No refusing.
But curiosity lingered, so he eyed Choi Min-su.
"You went underground to subdue Kim Se-wi—no time to extract a core from Yoo Gwan-ho's palm. Who did this?"
He pointed at the bloody core.
"Ask him yourself."
Cold response.
Choi Min-su waited for an answer.
"Fine. Tomorrow morning, Ju Shin's spokesperson will issue a statement congratulating Kim Jun on his awakening test."
Defeat tasted bitter.
He'd executed big and small plans in life, familiar with failure. But never had a sure win unraveled in such an incomprehensible way.
Times had changed, perhaps.
Choi Min-su rose, bowed, then turned back as if remembering.
"Oh, one more thing. Kim Jun, who passed the awakening test today—or yesterday now—is the team leader of Uramata Guild's Pink Team. Just learned it myself; the Guild Master appointed him. If possible, have the spokesperson spread that too."
Ma Jung-hyeon was speechless for a moment.
A carrier passing the awakening test was shocking enough—now team leader?
Half-expecting a joke, he studied Choi Min-su's face. Smiling, but dead serious. Meaning Kim Jun earned his team's recognition before even becoming a raider.
In that instant, certainty hit: the kid who extracted the Optitarakum from Yoo Gwan-ho's palm was that runt.
"As expected of the Coordinator."
Choi Min-su spoke as if he'd waited for it, then left.
Ma Jung-hyeon let out a hollow laugh.