The Simulator Gambit
Of course, he'd rig the simulator to give Pink Team a top score. Then the clueless B Group team leaders would have no choice but to accept the results.
On top of that, Jeong Myeong-ho would earn himself an image as a fair and just Raider.
Smart guy. Sharp as ever. Best at the dirty tricks.
Hwang In-su tossed out the key question.
"What happens after the relic expedition ends?"
—Gotta clean it up neat. See you later.
The call ended.
Jeong Myeong-ho was one arrogant, cunning bastard.
Using Kim Jun as a scapegoat Raider, then ditching him inside the relic. That's what he meant.
"Heh, you think it'll go your way?"
Over twenty years as a Raider, his martial prowess had stagnated at some point, but his eye for people? He took pride in that—it was top-tier.
Even landing team leader in a B-rank guild called Omnibus? That came down to spotting true talent in others.
To Hwang In-su, Kim Jun was... a yokai. A monster in human skin.
He should've died ages ago.
Out of curiosity, he'd dug deep into Kim Jun's path—from Carrier to Raider, then team leader.
Too many parts that made no sense. Unfathomable.
Moments that made him slap his knee in admiration, too. Above all, that combo of razor-sharp judgment and relentless drive in crises... unlike anything he'd seen.
Could Jeong Myeong-ho—smart and strong, but who's coasted to expedition leader without a real setback—really use Kim Jun like a disposable paper cup and toss him?
Hwang In-su recalled Kim Jun standing tall in the team leaders' meeting, boldly firing off that question.
He hadn't exploded in rage.
This feels off, right? What do you think? Doesn't that make sense?
A truly peculiar guy, giving off that vibe.
"Anyway, this'll be entertaining."
Truth be told, he didn't care how it played out.
As sub-captain, he'd just watch the show and grab the popcorn. Ambition to climb higher? He'd ditched that long ago. Something more valuable had taken root in him—worth more than getting stronger or rising up.
The door opened, and his adorable daughter bounded in.
"Daddy! Mommy says dinner's ready!"
Hwang In-su killed the treadmill instantly, rushed over, scooped her up, and swung her high.
"Did my princess sleep well? Dream of Daddy? I dreamed of you!"
"Sorry. No dreams. Sorry, Daddy."
Hwang In-su burst out laughing, hugging her tight as he headed out of the training room to the living room. The rich aroma of seafood hotpot wafted in.
His wife beamed at her husband.
Back in his youth, he'd known nothing of this happiness.
"Go wash up."
His wife said.
"Yeah."
Hwang In-su planted a kiss on his daughter's cheek, then ducked into the bathroom. The irritating news was long forgotten from his mind.
* * *
Reporters had staked out near the apartment entrance.
Choi Muhyun parked the jeep along the roadside path, checked his watch.
6:50 a.m.
The hazy shift from dawn to morning.
He pulled out his phone, scrolled the news again. A sigh escaped. Part ridiculous, too.
"So like you."
Most folks would just roll with it, but not him. Never.
Forty minutes ago, Yoo Min-jeong had called.
Choi Muhyun, crashed out in the guildhouse locker room next to Yeom Sang-taek, snatched his phone—and bolted awake at her voice.
Less than five minutes to throw on clothes and roll out. Now here, close to Kim Jun's place.
Glanced at the watch again.
6:56.
Then—a thud.
Choi Muhyun whipped his head around, spotted Kim Jun landing on the grass. Looked up. Probably scaled the wall from the roof, then jumped the last bit.
Kim Jun hopped into the passenger seat.
Choi Muhyun peeled away from the apartments, then shot him a look.
"What the hell happened?"
Kim Jun dug boiled eggs and kimbap from his bag.
"Want some?"
"...Yeah."
The savory sesame oil on the kimbap hit his stomach hard. Kim Jun peeled an egg, casually recapped last night like it was nothing.
Choi Muhyun stuffed his mouth with kimbap, then couldn't hold back—yanked the jeep to the roadside.
"What? That... fuckin' run bastard... all of 'em?"
"Here, drink."
Kim Jun handed over a water bottle.
"Oh, thanks."
"Anyway, Baek Seungtae’s fine. Few days in the hospital, but nothing major."
"Then... Jeong Myeong-ho leaked that news to drag you into the relic interior. Scapegoat for the breach."
"Oh ho, finally decided to use your head?"
Kim Jun grinned at his friend.
"Saved it for a moment like this. Gonna get scary now—you better tense up. What's the plan?"
Choi Muhyun couldn't hide his excitement.
The Kim Jun he knew? Hit once, hit back double—with interest.
Kim Jun just smiled.
That expression said it all.
The guy was already deep in "Operation Screw Jeong Myeong-ho." Probably buzzing, plotting every detail. Once the skeleton and fine points locked in, he'd execute his way—and it'd hit like a thunderbolt.
Near the guild, cars lined the road. Reporters swarmed at the sight of Kim Jun. He tugged his cap low; Choi Muhyun swung into the back lot.
Guild doc O Won-jin, Carrier leader Kang Jin-gu, and instructor Jang Man-ho herded the press away.
Choi Muhyun nodded thanks, then headed inside with Kim Jun.
Flashes popped nonstop.
Felt like an idol star's road manager.
Go Cheolmin, Skyla, and Yeom Sang-taek approached. They all piled into the master room; Kim Jun laid out last night. Choi Muhyun, already briefed, drifted to the window overlooking the lot.
More reporters piling in.
"Persistent bastards."
Now he got why his dad hated them.
"I'll talk to the guild master. You lot—train as usual. Stay inside unless you have to go out."
Go Cheolmin.
Pink Team filed down to the briefing room.
Silent stares all around.
"Pfft."
Kim Jun let out a light chuckle.
Skyla shot him a glare. Laughing now?
She'd raced a taxi here the second she heard—took this deadly seriously.
Kim Jun met her eyes softly.
"I know Jeong Myeong-ho's dangerous as hell."
"And you're laughing?"
Skyla, pissed solid.
"More dangerous than Kim Se-wi?"
"......"
Skyla went quiet.
"Didn't show it, but back then? Scared shitless. Not anymore. Not a bit. With my Pink Team here—what's to fear?"
Only then did Choi Muhyun get why the news barely fazed him. Worry? Sure, but just annoyance. Nothing deeper.
Compared to everything so far... this was nothing.
Life-or-death close calls? Countless.
This might demand staking his neck again—but that's Raider life. Everyone worries.
Kim Jun eyed Yeom Sang-taek.
Shockingly, Yeom was the calmest here. Even nodded playfully at Kim Jun.
The old timid Yeom Sang-taek? Gone for good.
Now Kim Jun fixed on Skyla.
She was still chewing over Jeong's scheme and the ramped-up risks. But true to her veteran reporter chops, she conceded.
"Right. Jeong Myeong-ho's no Kim Se-wi. That's for sure. But this isn't just one guy. Sokcho Dungeon expedition's got teams and guilds tangled up. Beating Jeong doesn't end it. Don't forget."
Skyla's sharp point.
"I know. That's why I need help."
Kim Jun gazed at her with big doe eyes. Skyla disarmed in a heartbeat.
"Fine, fine. What do I do?"
Kim Jun rattled off requests—like he'd queued them up. Mostly stuff suiting her reporter network.
Skyla grabbed her phone and stepped out.
Kim Jun eyed his buddy.
Choi Muhyun eyed back.
Eyes sparkled. Now this is how you play the game! Hell yeah!
Go Cheolmin entered the briefing room.
"Kim Jun, the guild master's calling."
Yoo Wan-seop.
Choi Muhyun stood, glanced at Yeom Sang-taek.
"Let's start training."
"Yeah."
They hit the track running.