The Planner's Warning
“You must be wondering what dragged a busy man like you—deep in raid prep—all the way out here. But sadly, no time to explain. Here's one piece of advice: abandon this raid.”
Ma Jung-hyeon's smiling features twisted into a scowl, unleashing a tremendously oppressive aura.
Kim Jun's skin prickled, his mind wavering. He hurriedly circulated his inner energy. As the Thunder Heart Technique enveloped his entire body, he broke free from that crushing pressure.
“Impressive, at your age. But if you enter that Sokcho Dungeon, you won't come out alive.”
Ma Jung-hyeon smiled again, and the eye-of-the-storm intensity vanished like a lie.
“A plan even more intricate than the lockdown incident?”
“Heh, don't misunderstand. I'm not interested in the Sokcho raid.”
The moment he heard those words, Kim Jun knew they were true.
Mars from Jushin joining this expedition wasn't Ma Jung-hyeon's doing. Someone else was pulling the strings.
“Who?”
“Gu Mi-yeong, director of finance. A vicious woman. Watch your back around her. See you later.”
Ma Jung-hyeon strolled off with hands clasped behind his back, vanishing across the parking lot in an instant—like he'd used a shrinking-earth technique.
Kim Jun stood frozen.
It was that name.
Gu Mi-yeong was Jushin's director of finance... and Sa Yeonggyo's mother.
He knew a bit about Sa Yeonggyo's relationship with her mother. Sa Yeonggyo had said her mom chose Jushin over family, that she had no mother.
He hadn't taken it at face value.
For the first time, that bold Sa Yeonggyo seemed pitiful. He could almost understand why she'd left home for Africa.
Kim Jun pulled out his phone. He needed to find out where the Master was to meet him.
“Team Leader Kim!”
Bang Su-cheol waved as he approached.
“Hey.”
“Doing great, obviously. Here to see the Master?”
“Yeah.”
“Let's go. He's in the Director's office right now.”
As they headed to the elevator together, Kim Jun wondered why this guy had come down to the parking lot to fetch him.
The answer came quickly.
The Guild Master was investigating that incident where the Absorption Tree had burst through a truck. That's why he'd come to the Investigation Bureau, and met the lead investigator, Bang Su-cheol.
“Grintree's buffer put in the request, right?”
Kim Jun asked casually while waiting for the elevator.
“Yep. Pink Team ditched Grintree for B Group, so they pulled that stunt out of spite. But it wasn't an Absorption Tree. Someone tampered with it from behind the scenes. The problem? Pinning down who is a real pain. It's tied to the black market.”
“Black market?”
“Yeah, underground trade. Totally different world... public authority doesn't reach there.”
The elevator arrived.
Bang Su-cheol stepped in first and asked,
“Anything weird lately? Anyone tailing you or popping up too often?”
Kim Jun tried not to glance at the shopping bag in his hand.
“Not sure.”
“Keep your eyes peeled. That highway incident too. Looks like you're the target.”
Kim Jun felt a flash of clarity.
The connection between the two incidents!
Thinking about it, they shared plenty of common threads.
Requests leading to traffic accidents.
Plant-type monsters like Magic Creepers or Absorption Trees appearing.
People in the elevator recognized Kim Jun. Some grinned in surprise; others glared with furrowed brows.
Bang Su-cheol whispered,
“The Association's split right now. Most staff support you and like you; the rest don't.”
Kim Jun eyed the investigator. He needed more details.
Bang Su-cheol leaned in closer and explained.
“To get promoted here, you can't piss off guilds—or raiders. Clash with them, and your promotion's dead. Worst case, you lose your job. Gotta feed the family, right? So managers grade six and up hate you. You caused tricky issues with guilds and raiders.”
That explained why Guild Management Director Lee Wan-yeol had hidden the USB with dungeon data near a payphone.
“You don't care about promotions, huh?”
“Hahaha, spot on! Just headaches.”
Kim Jun glanced at Bang Su-cheol's face and clothes.
Stubbly skin, patchy beard like a rushed shave, frayed collar, faint kimchi broth stain on the sleeve.
Never married?
Divorced? Separated?
None of his business, but he filed away a new mental drawer labeled Bang Su-cheol with those facts. Uramata folks getting into the locked-down HQ was thanks to this man.
Someday, if he needed a wildcard, he might call on him.
Kim Jun pulled out the wooden box and offered the shopping bag to Bang Su-cheol.
“What's this?”
“Thanks for back then.”
He'd brought the Yeonhyangcho to thank Dungeon Management Director Lee Wan-yeol. But the explanation made clear it'd only hurt him.
No need to spill the details to Bang Su-cheol, though.
“Haha, no need. Thanks. So, what is it?”
“Yeonhyangcho. Light one up—sets a nice mood, good for health too. Give it a try.”
“Got it.”
They'd reached the Director's office.
“Catch you later.”
“Yeah.”
After parting with Bang Su-cheol, Kim Jun approached the secretary.
“Please wait a moment.”
Kim Jun nodded, set the wooden box on his lap, and sank into the plush chair.
The secretary entered the Director's office.
* * *
“I just ran into Section Chief Jeong Yongmin. Carrying a box, and he gave me a murderous glare.”
Yoo Wan-seop said after sipping his tea.
Seo Yunhyeong pretended ignorance, tilting his head.
“Really? Oh, right—he got posted to the Jeju branch. Nice air there, but from his view, it's a demotion. Can't blame him for being sour.”
Security Chief Jo Han-geun, tied to the lockdown, was already off to the Gangwon branch.
Investigation Bureau execs who'd caved to Jushin without resistance would be scattered nationwide via personnel orders.
Of course, the lockdown probe continued.
Once crimes were proven, they'd be stripped and punished, no matter where they hid.
That would restore discipline.
The pity? They couldn't touch Planning Coordinator Ma Jung-hyeon, the lockdown's core. He'd intervened, but no hard evidence despite digging.
No confession, no punishment.
Intelligence Director Choi Ung offered testimony, but confronting Ma head-on wasn't time yet.
“Heard it was a close call.”
“Uramata saved us. Me, the whole bureau.”
No joke.
Ma had gone after Seo Yunhyeong's family to nab him. Wife, daughter, even his son in the military—framed with charges.
If that sly plot succeeded, Seo would've been plastered as a corrupt exec committing every crime; his family would've suffered guilt-by-association coverage.
That petty assault, meshing like gears, halted the instant Kim Jun and Uramata pierced Operation Vacuum. Canceled as a “misunderstanding.”
Search warrants issued, daughter's instrument charges, son's fat bank deposit—all “misunderstandings.” Shockingly, no media ran it.
A small online outlet posted, but it vanished in two hours.
Jushin pulled strings.
He couldn't explain everything to his wife, daughter, and son.
Seo just said it was hardship from his shortcomings as a father.
The Director suppressed boiling rage, compiling a list of bureau staff in that scheme.
Key players got shipped to provinces via orders; minor accomplices got spine-chilling warnings; dissenters got key promotions.
Change accelerates resistance.
Slow and steady would seize the bureau.
“Glad you're both safe. Uramata too.”
Yoo Wan-seop said.
Seo eyed the man—top raider ousted from Jushin for losing an arm.
He didn't know why he'd become Uramata's Guild Master. But Jushin ties were severed irreparably.
To face Jushin, unite max forces. Yoo held massive sway—a prime ally.
That's why Seo extended the hand first.
“Lockdown killed an Association staffer.”
“Villain murder, I heard.”
“Shapeshifter villain. But there's unreleased info.”
Yoo Wan-seop watched the Director silently.
Seo met his gaze.
“Core Country's Oh Jae-gyu Deputy was a whistleblower.”
Yoo's eyes flickered.
“I don't think he was killed just to breach. More like they uncovered his whistleblower status and silenced him.”
“What info did he give?”
“Core smuggling. Tied to Association higher-ups.”
“Higher-ups?”
“Director level or above. Maybe even higher. He didn't spill everything.”
“……”
Yoo's eyes gleamed at Seo.
This chat revealed far more than expected.
“Audit underway, but no leads. Villain's ID is a fog. Checked shapeshifter lists—no suspects on radar.”
Seo shared details. Reciprocity for useful intel.
Yoo pondered, teacup in hand.
Seo patiently refilled it with fragrant tea.
Finally, Yoo met his eyes.
“Mae Gyu-pil.”
“…Mae Gyu-pil?”
“No proof, but worth a trail.”
“Thanks.”
A knock; the secretary entered.
“Uramata's Team Leader Kim Jun is here.”
“Send him in.”
“Yes, Director.”
Secretary out, Seo rose and approached the door. He extended a hand to Kim Jun entering.
Kim Jun, calm-eyed at the Director, glanced at Yoo Wan-seop seated behind.
Yoo nodded; Kim shook Seo's hand.
“Finally meeting you. Wanted to for ages. Sounds like an excuse, but I've been swamped.”
“Pardon?”
Kim puzzled.
Only then did Seo realize Kim didn't know the lockdown's fallout on the Association—especially the bureau.
Seo eyed Yoo Wan-seop.
Sipping tea silently.
Seo got it: Yoo shared only what Kim needed. Focus on raid as team leader.
So he'd play along.
“Villain breach tarnished honor, but we dodged the worst. Thanks to you.”
“Ah, sure.”
Kim nodded lightly, sat by Yoo. Seo said,
“Issues with Sokcho raid?”
“What do you mean?”
“Haven't seen the dungeon, but as bureau Director, I can do plenty. Like probe illegal item acquisition. Most raiders skirt taxes; investigations hit hard. Ties to firms too.”
Even top raiders like Brave's Jeong Myeong-ho or Jushin's Kwon Joo-chan dread real probes.
A blemish stalls guild promotions.
Rivals pounce.
One trusted member snagged on charges? Team crumbles.
Just threatening probes pressures plenty.
Seo offered to bolster Kim Jun, new team leader in the expedition.
Jushin's Mars jumping in? Obvious motive.
Signaling bureau action if Kim's touched? Big help.
Yoo eyed the Director. Unexpected offer.
Seo watched Kim.
What now?
Ask for help? Decline?
“Mind if I keep that offer?”
“What?”
“Keep it. Not now, later. Okay?”
Kim grinned.
Seo burst out laughing. Unexpected—like keeping whiskey at a bar!
Kim wasn't timid or naive idealist. Seo liked that.
Yoo stood.
“I'll visit often.”
“Bring him too.”
“Yes.”
Yoo and Kim shook with Seo; as they left, he grabbed the receiver, punched buttons.
“Team Leader Han, it's me. Dig on Mae Gyu-pil, link to Oh Jae-gyu's death.”
At the window, Director overlooked Seoul.
Change had begun.
Jushin's bureau plants mostly purged. Lockdown gift. Soon full control; probe deeper than ever.
With tailwinds, remake the whole Association.