Bees, Rules, and Spies
Even in this virtual space, Yoo Wan-seop felt invigorated, as if he'd just summited the peak of Jirisan's Daecheongbong.
A biting chill wind rushed in, whipping his clothes with a sharp papap snap.
Kim Jun materialized between the rocks.
Yoo Wan-seop tweaked the settings, swapping the mountaintop for a serene forest clearing.
The only sounds were the chirping of birds, but just standing there calmed the soul. He drew a heavy sword and tossed it to Kim Jun.
This time, Kim Jun caught it with both hands.
Yoo Wan-seop extended his inner energy, tracing a circle on the ground where Kim Jun stood—a two-meter radius centered on him.
"This is a training program for swift swordplay. Just hold out inside that circle. Simple, isn't it?"
The master strode toward a massive ancient tree and opened the settings menu, selecting the "Annoying Training 17" option.
Beehives sprouted from every branch like ripe fruit.
Yoo Wan-seop scooped up a handful of pebbles from the ground and glanced at Kim Jun.
The quick-witted Kim Jun seemed to grasp the drill, his face paling in realization.
Grinning wickedly, Yoo Wan-seop hurled the stones at the hives one by one.
Thud, thud, thud.
Thousands—tens of thousands—of enraged bees swarmed toward Kim Jun.
Yoo Wan-seop erected a barrier of inner energy, crossed his arms, and beamed at the thief who'd stolen his daughter's heart.
* * *
Gradually ramping up his speed on the track had elevated his body control to the desired level. Not only that, but he'd absorbed enough of Do Jin-yong's memories to avoid detection.
Thanks to it, he now fully understood the "Pink Rules" plastered on the briefing room wall.
Maeng Gyu-pil stood before them, staring at the seductive nonsense.
He'd already sensed Kim Jun was no ordinary guy, but he never imagined the team leader was crazy enough to impose rules like these.
His curiosity was growing by the minute.
Bang Yun-a approached.
"How's Blue Lightning holding up?"
"What about it?"
"You haven't checked in? Look after your team. I met some of our Best guildmates yesterday, and their eyes had this spark. Guess what? That sly bitch Sa Yeonggyo... introduced the Pink Rules as interim team leader."
"Ah."
Maeng Gyu-pil realized that any team adopting the Pink Rules would see an instant shift in morale.
The real issue would come when Bang Yun-a resumed leadership. Having tasted the thrilling freedom of those rules, the team wouldn't want to go back. What would they do if the returning leader scrapped them?
"Already worrying about it. Guess I'll figure it out after the raid."
Bang Yun-a climbed into the simulator.
Maeng Gyu-pil spotted An Seong-ho emerging from his session, wiping sweat with a towel. He handed over a bottle of water and casually asked,
"Did Yoo Min-jeong implement the Pink Rules for your team too?"
"...Yeah."
An Seong-ho's eyes flickered just a bit.
Maeng Gyu-pil caught it. An Seong-ho was wrestling with the same dilemma as Bang Yun-a. Having savored that broad freedom to challenge anyone, the team wouldn't easily revert.
Truth be told, there was only one solution.
Skill.
Maeng Gyu-pil smiled unwittingly.
A startling idea flashed through his mind.
Uramata's Pink Team had accepted three team leaders by dispatching highly skilled members on "dispatch." Uramata gained nothing from it, yet they'd made the call.
Maybe Uramata was seeding this addictive drug called the Pink Rules across other guilds.
A rule where anyone could become team leader and rankings could flip anytime... it'd spread like wildfire. Most raiders would embrace it with open arms, clashing with guild masters and team leaders desperate to block it. The Association would inevitably step in.
In the chaos, Uramata—the originators—would gain fame and attract top talent.
With new guild master Yoo Wan-seop already in the headlines, even giants like Jushin or Brave might see defections.
This'll be fun. Heh, this must all be Yoo Wan-seop's blueprint. What does he want to achieve by returning as guild master? Grow Uramata to take on Jushin? Would even Jushin sweat if he went all out?
Maeng Gyu-pil hopped into the simulator.
He set the space to an underground cavern.
Dim light, dangling stalactites, jagged rocks.
Far from Do Jin-yong's taste—he'd pick a coliseum or Olympic stadium.
Maeng Gyu-pil checked the vessel first.
The fire mana in the item vessel embedded near his solar plexus had converted to the earth-based inner energy Do Jin-yong favored. With it, he could unleash skills like To Wolbyeok or Ban To Wol.
Vessels were infamous for poor efficiency.
They lost 40%, sometimes over 50%, of mana or inner energy in conversion, so most raiders dismissed them as junk. But for someone like Maeng Gyu-pil, whose life was deception, they were essential.
Luckily, Do Jin-yong's level was so mediocre that even through the vessel, the skills executed perfectly.
Then a challenge window popped up.
He hit accept.
Bang Yun-a appeared, clad in deep crimson armor that hugged her chest and waist curves.
"Fancy a round?"
"Sure."
"For real?"
Her face showed mild surprise.
Only then did Maeng Gyu-pil recall Do Jin-yong had stubbornly refused her persistent challenges. Another puzzle piece.
"You seem to think tankers are pushovers."
"Nah, just you. Start whenever. I'll take three hits."
Bang Yun-a strode back confidently, beckoning with a finger. In that moment, Maeng Gyu-pil forgot he had to hide his identity until entering the Sokcho Dungeon.
He slammed both palms into the ground. To Wolbyeok erupted, surging forward like a wave.
Pathetically slow.
"Heh, that's all? Typical dumb tanker."
She nimbly dodged behind a rock.
As To Wolbyeok hit the cavern wall, the vibration climbed to the ceiling.
Drop, drop, thud thud.
Stalactites rained down.
Maeng Gyu-pil glanced up casually and advanced slowly.
Startled, Bang Yun-a dodged wildly, then fired fireballs at the falling stalactites heading her way.
Boom!
After weathering the crisis with a few spells, she scanned around—then Ban To Wol activated.
The ground beneath her flipped.
The fire dealer leaped... but Ban To Wol was faster.
Bang Yun-a buried alive.
Maeng Gyu-pil stood atop the mound, hands behind his back.
Lucky this is virtual. For real, you'd be dead already.
Less than a minute later, a rematch request. Her vengeful intent burned through.
Maeng Gyu-pil ignored it, logged out, and stepped outside. If they clashed again, Do Jin-yong's pitiful skills couldn't beat her prideful ass.
He had no doubt he could dominate, but that would raise suspicions.
Just then, Kim Jun entered the raid center, hefting a pitch-black club in both hands.
Maeng Gyu-pil recognized it instantly.
The heavy sword!
A smile tugged at his lips. Bringing the training heavy sword meant he'd started on Yeon Ga Shipil Geom's second form, Yeon Kwae... which signified accessing Yeon Chung-jae's memories via the White Spear.
Everything proceeding as planned.
Maeng Gyu-pil was dying to know.
How much had Yoo Wan-seop figured out?
Even that genius raider couldn't imagine Maeng Gyu-pil had infiltrated the raid center as Do Jin-yong.
Conventional geniuses can't beat the unconventional.
What about Kim Jun?
The team swarmed Kim Jun.
He announced the guild master's verdict: the White Spear was flawless and safe for unlimited use.
"Congrats, team leader. I'd have no regrets with even one fan like that."
Bang Yun-a forced down her envy.
Maeng Gyu-pil thought,
Who'd gift a bitch like you?
He turned to hide his expression when a crow perched on a weathered rooftop across the street caught his eye. It stared right at him.
No way?
Maeng Gyu-pil grabbed a water from the fridge and stretched.
"Gonna step out for some air."
No one responded, though someone might've heard.
Outside the raid center, Maeng Gyu-pil walked straight ahead without looking back. The crow was tailing him, but he resisted checking.
He entered an abandoned factory, its broken door revealing a pitch-black interior.
A loud whoosh of wind echoed.
Crushing an empty water bottle between his hands mid-yawn, Maeng Gyu-pil watched the crow descend through a hole in the ceiling, alighting on a bent rebar.
"Knew it was you."
"Caw, caw! Gregor, Gregor! Why, why there, there?"
The crow's voice was grating and rough.
Maeng Gyu-pil itched to blast it with Flodziston, but suppressed the urge.
The one who'd sent it was an ally, like it or not. And that petty grudge-holder always exacted payback, so no need to create more friction.
They already had ample reason to kill each other at the first chance.
"You don't need to know."
"Oath! Oath! Oath!"
"Got it."
Maeng Gyu-pil dug in his ear with his pinky. The cawing made his ears ring.
Black Society members knew the oath all too well. Break it, and you'd hit the blacklist—not just hunted, but turned from hunter to prey, life forfeit.
"You break oath, I kill you!"
He couldn't—and needn't—hold back anymore.
Maeng Gyu-pil extended his hand toward the crow.
Flodziston erupted, engulfing the airborne bird.
Whoosh, boom!
The crow exploded in flames.
A twinge of annoyance.
This had nothing to do with the Black Society. Why was Hyeon-chu sticking her nose in?
Worth derailing the plan to take her out?
No. He'd gone this far with the transformation; he wouldn't waste the opportunity.
Sending just the crow meant no full commitment yet. Watch and wait. If her pattern shifted, decide then.
Maeng Gyu-pil exited the factory and returned to the raid center.
* * *
A pale hand shredded the zombie's shoulder.
Myeoloksu.
The flung zombie slammed into the wall, tentacles bursting out to wrap it, dragging it inside. It vanished with the gruesome crunch of breaking bones and tearing flesh.
Choi Muhyun focused on tanking with Wall of the Moon and Geumgangbyeok, protecting the team, striking with Myeoloksu whenever an opening appeared.
Myeoloksu was... an unfinished skill.
Emotional control issues dropped its success rate; it needed more focused training.
Then Kim Jun's voice rang from the rear.
"Goal achieved!"
An hour since entering the relic. Pink Team had endured the onslaught of endless monsters.
"Good work, everyone. Log out, clean up, and meet in the briefing room."
Kim Jun disconnected first.
"That skill's badass."
Do Jin-yong, who'd shouldered beside him against the monster waves as second tank, remarked.
Choi Muhyun eyed him steadily.
Today's training had shattered his preconceptions about Do Jin-yong. Still grumpy, but his skills matched a team leader's. His experience had deftly contained stray aggro multiple times.
Had aggro broken, hitting dealers or buffers, Pink Team would've failed.
"Myeoloksu, huh."
"Bloodlines don't lie."
Do Jin-yong grinned at him and vanished—logged out.
Skyla, Bang Yun-a, An Seong-ho, and Yeom Sang-taek followed suit.