Isn't There Another Way?
“Isn't there a way?”
Kim Jun asked.
It was a question laced with a peculiar resonance. As if it concealed other meanings like let's find it together or there must be another path. There was no hint of blame or attack directed at the other person.
“What?”
Even the fired-up Bang Yun-a faltered a bit.
“You know this situation better than I do. Things won't change if we just sit idle. Even fighting tooth and nail, it's questionable if anything shifts.”
“So you're dead set on getting your team killed?”
“I'll tell the whole team everything I know. If it's this dangerous and anyone wants out, they should be able to leave.”
An Seong-ho was startled by those words.
As a team leader, he'd never once revealed the implications of an unreasonable command decided in a leaders' meeting to his own team. A single misstep could tank morale, lead to boycotts and dropouts, and... deliver a fatal blow to his career as leader.
An Seong-ho realized why.
Because he didn't trust his team. Or rather, reality made it impossible to trust them fully. Not everyone had the mental fortitude to accept that harsh truth.
“If a team falls short on numbers for an already-scheduled raid... the guild pays the penalty. They could lose their license. You won't get off scot-free either.”
“I can't sacrifice team members for a license. Fortunately, none of the ones following me will back out.”
An Seong-ho glanced at Do Jin-yong.
Do Jin-yong was looking back at him.
The two exchanged silent questions. Would your team stick it out too? They both realized they couldn't answer with Kim Jun's confidence.
“Fine? Do whatever you want then. You'll regret it once you've lost your team—too late by then.”
Bang Yun-a flung the door open and stormed out. She sighed at the sight of the two men, then vanished.
Kim Jun approached.
“Do you two think the same?”
“Can't ignore reality.”
An Seong-ho replied.
“That's a shame.”
Kim Jun left it at that.
As they descended to the parking lot with Do Jin-yong, An Seong-ho didn't utter a word. Those words echoed in his ears.
That's a shame.
Irritation surged suddenly.
From the moment he'd first heard the name Kim Jun, he'd dismissed and openly scorned him for a long time. Even after witnessing his prowess in the dungeon and predicting he'd rise in the Raider world someday, he'd still viewed him from above.
Even as fellow Raiders—even as fellow team leaders... he'd considered himself the senior.
Now it felt like looking up from below.
The expedition leader's command authority and the vertical hierarchy among participating team leaders was a problem that absolutely needed resolving. Outlets like Daily Raiders occasionally covered it in columns. TV shows brushed against it too.
But it was an issue that could never resolve without Raiders—especially the team leaders bearing the brunt—taking action.
Everyone hoped someone else would step up, yet feared the backlash of doing so themselves. That was the frustrating reality.
“Drink?”
Do Jin-yong asked.
An Seong-ho nodded.
* * *
A red Ferrari pulled into the Best Guildhouse parking lot.
Stepping out, Kim Jun saw team members who'd rushed over at the sound. They were all waiting for details on the Sokcho raid plans.
“Where's the master?”
“He called earlier—running late.”
It was Choi Muhyun.
“Everyone, briefing room.”
Kim Jun headed to the bathroom and splashed cold water on his face. He'd spoken and acted as planned in the conference room and emergency stairs, but seeing his team—now in greater danger because of his choices—weighted his heart.
Bang Yun-a's words resurfaced.
“You'll regret it once you've lost your team—too late by then.”
He recalled Go Cheolmin, who'd lost guildmates on Devils Day and drowned in booze afterward. How tormented must he have been to need alcohol just to sleep?
If he lost even one team member in the dungeon... he'd never forgive himself for posing that question.
He felt the weight of the team leader position. It wasn't a role you could bulldoze solo. One decision could save the whole team—or wipe them out.
He entered the briefing room. Hot gazes turned his way.
Kim Jun handed Yoo Min-jeong the memory stick.
Yoo Min-jeong plugged it into her laptop port. Soon, a list of Sokcho raid files appeared on the wall-spanning screen via projector.
“Pull up the execution plan.”
Kim Jun said.
Yoo Min-jeong clicked 'Execution Plan'.
PowerPoint launched.
A highly detailed plan filled the screen: raid objectives, each team's roles, hourly positions, and more.
“...It's a relic.”
Skyla's eyes widened.
“I've never even seen a relic.”
Choi Muhyun said.
“First relic raid for me too.”
Yeom Sang-taek added.
Kim Jun detailed the question he'd posed at the leaders' meeting, the texts received, and his clash with Bang Yun-a. He wanted their honest takes.
“Knew you'd stir something up.”
Choi Muhyun said.
His face was overly cheerful, belying the words.
Kim Jun couldn't tell if it was praise or the opposite.
Choi Muhyun extended a hand to Skyla. With a sigh, she slapped two crumpled 50,000-won bills into it. Choi Muhyun eyed Yeom Sang-taek, who handed over 100,000 won.
They'd bet on the leaders' meeting.
Shaking his head, Kim Jun looked at Skyla.
“Is the leaders' meeting always like that?”
“Worse sometimes. You're famous, though. Media hangs on your words, so the captain went easy.”
Kim Jun was shocked.
Becoming a carrier had been his goal for so long.
After gaining the Lycosaurus's recovery via contamination, brushing death multiple times, and achieving bone transformation, passing the awakening test became the new aim.
Now those were done.
Instead, he'd unexpectedly risen to lead a team.
Maybe it was time for a fresh goal.
Yeon Mu-jin's question echoed: How far will you go? He'd answered Association President.
Association President.
Half-joking. Official Raider status was near-impossible for a carrier. So once Raider... aim impossibly high like president to climb as far as possible.
Of course, the other half was serious.
Ju Shin's blatant stunt at Honor Hall on awakening test day had been possible only with the Association's tacit approval.
Kim Jun eyed his team.
“Because of me, Pink Team will face disadvantages in this Sokcho raid. And as long as I'm leader, it'll continue. Can't hold back questions.”
“I'm for it.”
Choi Muhyun.
“I wasn't done.”
“Oh? Still for it.”
Kim Jun was deeply grateful for Choi Muhyun.
He knew exactly what Kim Jun meant to say, how tough it was, so as a friend, he stepped up first to back him.
“That's why—I want to change this system. I agree the captain needs strong authority for unified expedition movement. But an atmosphere where you can't even question... that's deeply broken.”
The briefing room fell silent abruptly.
Kim Jun understood the hush.
Even with freer Raider relations than before, climbing as team leader... expedition leader with more power... raid boss for higher-grade dungeons required careful stepping stones.
One career snag shatters dreams.
For Kim Jun, Raider was life's goal. For them, it was just the start.
“Don't misunderstand, leader. Not opposing—just thinking how to change the system.”
Skyla.
“...Me too.”
Yeom Sang-taek.
Kim Jun looked to Yoo Min-jeong.
“Use media attention? Serialize prep up to Sokcho raid—hard to mess with then. Public interest might sway other leaders too.”
Yoo Min-jeong said, glancing at Kim Jun and the team.
Choi Muhyun and Yeom Sang-taek cheered the idea, but Kim Jun stayed quiet. From his demeanor, Skyla seemed to know the fallout too.
She knew well, as a journalist, what unleashing media brought.
Skyla spoke up.
“Serializing will draw massive interest. Media will cover it naturally. Problem's the backlash. Remember... my article on you? The aggro video one. Most cheered you, but you nearly died in the dungeon.”
Skyla looked at Kim Jun, eyes shaky with lingering guilt.
Kim Jun smiled as brightly as possible.
Skyla continued, facing the team.
“Same could hit any of you. Kim Jun was the main target so far—protruding nail gets hammered. But exposing raid process via series? We'll all be targets. Hard to imagine now. How grueling it is...”
Heavy silence descended.
Choi Muhyun's gruff voice shattered it.
“That which does not kill me makes me stronger.”
Kim Jun and the others stared, stunned.
“Why the looks? Can't I say that?”
“Know who said it?”
Yoo Min-jeong.
“Socrates.”
Kim Jun burst laughing at the bold reply.
Skyla clutched her stomach, cackling; Yoo Min-jeong buried her face in the table, shoulders shaking. Yeom Sang-taek glanced around awkwardly before chuckling.
Choi Muhyun tilted his head for his second guess.
“...Aristotle then?”
The room flipped again.
“Nietzsche. Nietzsche.”
A voice from behind.
Kim Jun spotted the figure leaning by the door, arms crossed—the sole early escapee from the West Building among the alternates.
“S-Sa Yeonggyo!”
Choi Muhyun shot up.
Skyla, turning, looked shocked too.
“What's up?”
Kim Jun asked.
“Joining Pink Team. My skills should suffice.”
Mouths gaped.
The Association President's granddaughter, genius who'd jetted to Africa for solo play, ditching top guilds like Ju Shin for a third-rate one.
Kim Jun wasn't overly surprised.
Sa Yeonggyo had contacted Choi Min-su about internal matters—a move against Ju Shin and Association intent.
Understanding her turmoil, her choice to come here made some sense.
Kim Jun said,
“Too bad, dealer spots are full. Korea's top fire dealer and...”
He glanced at Yoo Min-jeong, then Skyla.
“America's top ice dealer are on our team.”
All eyes turned to Kim Jun.
As if saying, Are you nuts? Dissing Sa Yeonggyo?
Sa Yeonggyo stared, incredulous.
Kim Jun had no intention of letting her slip away.
“One buffer spot open, though.”
Offering a top-tier dealer prospect a buffer role could be seen as grave insult.
As expected, Sa Yeonggyo's gaze chilled.
Kim Jun met it head-on, hoping she'd grasp his intent.
Not to humiliate. Just to check if the Association President's granddaughter—her pride—could set aside status to truly join the team.
Sa Yeonggyo was a solo player.
No resolve like this, no team spot. Her expression shifted.
“Fine. I'll start as buffer.”
Kim Jun loved the response.
Start as buffer—but she'd decide how far to climb. A warning: she'd eye his leader spot too.
Kim Jun stepped forward, offering his hand.
“Welcome.”
Sa Yeonggyo clasped it.
“Please take care of me, leader.”