Mission: Unease
A click.
An unpleasant sound rang out.
Mae Gyu-pil immediately pulled his hand away from the core mine and stepped back slightly.
What the hell is this?
Fortunately, it didn't explode.
That sound... it was a kind of warning. Either the process of extracting the core mine had gone wrong, or he'd mishandled the detonator with improper force, or there was a problem with the thin legs attached to the mine.
If he didn't want to die in a place like this, he had to start over from the beginning.
Tensing up would only make it worse.
Sweat poured down in rivulets.
A moment later, another faint click-clack echoed.
A chill ran up his spine.
He counted to five in his head, but luck was on his side again this time.
Thinking about it, the last time he'd installed or disarmed a core mine was nearly ten years ago.
Ten years was long enough for the core mine's very design to have changed. Even a couple of minor alterations could mean instant detonation if he tried to disarm it with his old methods.
He felt eyes on him.
Lifting his head, he spotted Yeom Sang-taek peering at him from around the corner.
His face was filled with genuine tension and worry—not an act, real concern.
Damn kid.
Mae Gyu-pil refocused on the core mine.
He had three options now: pull, twist, or press.
Normally, twisting was how to disarm it, but if that mechanism had changed over the past decade... it would blow in seconds.
Nearly a minute passed.
Sweat beaded on his brow and dripped down.
No choice but to try.
Mae Gyu-pil gripped the core mine's frame and gave it a slight twist.
Click.
An odd noise.
In that instant, a foul, acrid stench stabbed at his nose.
Ah, you son of a bitch!
Mae Gyu-pil instantly deployed his Pressure Ball, enveloping the core mine. A high-level skill no third-rate guild team leader could ever afford—but if he didn't want to die here, there was no other way.
The moment the silvery, mercury-like liquid fully covered it, a faint thud vibrated through the ground. Then acrid smoke rose up.
His hands trembled. The core mine's explosive force had shaken through his hand, up his arm, and into his neck.
"...You okay?"
It was Yeom Sang-taek.
Mae Gyu-pil forced a grin and looked at him.
"Yeah, this one's a dud. Got lucky."
"What was that? It swelled up like a balloon."
Yeom Sang-taek had seen the Pressure Ball.
For a split second, killing intent surged.
If he told Bang Yun-a or Skyla about this, those two experienced women would suspect something immediately.
Should he kill Yeom Sang-taek right here?
His usual self would have decided and acted in an instant, but for some reason, that approach didn't sit right now.
"That? It's a new model core mine—with proper safety mechanisms inside."
"Ah, got it."
The naive Yeom Sang-taek bought it hook, line, and sinker.
Mae Gyu-pil nearly burst out laughing. That dumbstruck expression chased away his irritation.
Exhaling deeply, he moved to the second core mine. He absolutely couldn't fail this time. More focused than ever, he began the disassembly.
Thanks to trial and error, he extracted the first one intact in under three minutes. The rest went smoothly after that.
Bang Yun-a and Skyla approached.
They'd just scouted Han Ye-jin's Apgujeong team and Jason Tyler's Grintree team—positions and status confirmed.
They'd already decided where to plant the core mines.
Mae Gyu-pil liked their efficient style.
"Just tell me the exact spots. I have to do the work alone."
At those words, the two women's gazes shifted.
It made sense. He was stepping up like a man for a life-risking job, and even Do Jin-yong's toad-like looks couldn't block that fatal charm.
Which one?
Mae Gyu-pil eyed them alternately.
Bang Yun-a was lively and thrashing like a fresh sea bream—good hand-feel. Skyla was the type you could actually talk to.
After the core mine scare, he could forget his usual rules for a thrilling bonus.
If they escaped the relic intact, he'd think seriously about it. As Mae Gyu-pil moved to start planting in earnest, An Seong-ho cut in.
"Hold on."
"What?"
Bang Yun-a's voice had a slight edge.
She'd meticulously planned this, and they were just about to execute—anyone interrupting would get that reaction. As temporary leader of the Pink Team, she probably hated wasting time on half-baked ideas.
"Do we really have to kill Grintree and Apgujeong?"
"We settled that already. You know better than anyone how hard capture is. Right?"
"We don't need to capture them."
"What?"
Bang Yun-a furrowed her brow.
"Let's hear him out."
Mae Gyu-pil said.
Bang Yun-a glanced at him. He'd just risked his life disarming core mines, so ignoring him wasn't an option.
"Spit it out quick."
Skyla urged.
An Seong-ho glanced at his teammates, then calmly laid out his idea.
After hearing it all, Mae Gyu-pil looked at An Seong-ho anew—like discovering a shiny pearl late.
The plan from An Seong-ho's mouth would deliver a far bigger blow to that bastard Kwon Joo-chan without spilling a drop of blood.
"What do you think?"
An Seong-ho eyed his team with anxious eyes.
"I'm good with it."
Mae Gyu-pil spoke first.
"Me too."
Skyla followed.
Bang Yun-a looked at Yeom Sang-taek.
"Perfect."
The buffer gave a thumbs-up.
Bang Yun-a swept back the hair falling over her forehead and nodded at An Seong-ho.
"Great plan. Should've said it sooner."
"I thought that was best back then."
An Seong-ho scratched his head.
"Alright, let's move."
Bang Yun-a said.
* * *
Han Ye-jin stared into the darkness.
True darkness, invisible in the city—pure black that seemed to suck you in if you gazed too long. Romantic only from afar.
Somewhere in that darkness, the Pink Team was finished. Core mines had blown; not even bodies would remain.
Yoo Wan-seop's daughter was outside the relic. Choi Min-su's son had led as temporary leader but still dodged the blasts.
Coincidence?
No way.
Only raiders without 'backing' had died.
Yeom Sang-taek, Skyla, Bang Yun-a, Do Jin-yong, and even An Seong-ho.
They'd clawed their way here on meager talent, but in the end, they'd crashed hard.
The moment Han Ye-jin's Apgujeong fell out of favor with giants like Jushin or Cheonhondan, they'd end up the same. It stung her pride, but she was just like Bang Yun-a—slightly luckier, same background as team leader.
Dungeons enforced the law of the jungle as fiercely as any jungle. To survive here, forget ethics or loyalty. Nothing trumped survival.
She knew that, yet her chest felt tight, suffocating.
Faint voices drifted over.
"Kim Jun!"
"I'll kill him!"
"It's all your fault!"
Choi Muhyun was bellowing.
Han Ye-jin understood. If Kim Jun hadn't acted so recklessly as leader, if he'd been more realistic, the Pink Team wouldn't have shattered like that.
They'd dared touch Jushin.
Footsteps approached. She knew who by the sound alone—no need to turn.
"Team leader, is it true?"
Cha Hyun-joo whispered.
Han Ye-jin turned slightly to her second buffer.
"I overheard earlier—might not be an accident. They say Mars planted the core mines on purpose."
"...Who said that?"
"Seong-min oppa."
Han Ye-jin knew who 'Seong-min oppa' was. Pacific's second buffer, handsome enough to be popular with female raiders.
Irritation boiled into rage.
Anyone watching could guess as much. But voicing it? Jeong Seong-min was marked now.
And Hwang In-su, his team leader, who couldn't control his member from blabbing—disappointing.
Han Ye-jin swung her palm lightly.
Slap.
Cha Hyun-joo's head whipped around. She stared at her leader in disbelief.
"One more rumor like that, and you're out. Be ready."
"S-sorry."
Cha Hyun-joo bowed in fright.
She was probably cursing inwardly, but Han Ye-jin didn't care. Think what you want—just keep it inside.
If that reached Kwon Joo-chan's ears through the grapevine, Apgujeong's future would shake violently.
The team's mood plummeted.
Veteran tanker Lee Yun-tae stepped forward.
"I'll scout around."
"Go."
Lee Yun-tae took second buffer Cha Hyun-joo with him.
Han Ye-jin knew why. Probably to console the hurt maknae somewhere quiet. Maybe trash the leader together.
She'd done the same before becoming leader—no plans to ban it. Just be discreet around her.
Watching their retreating backs, Han Ye-jin realized why she was so on edge, so irritated.
No matter how careful she was, how strictly she followed survival of the fittest, if a giant like Jushin decided... Apgujeong would share Pink Team's fate. No escape.
Effort couldn't change it.
It depended on the whims of those 'big shots' above.
That frustration fueled her nerves.
This was reality. Best to flatter the high and mighty.
Then, a panicked voice.
"Team leader!"
Cha Hyun-joo.
Han Ye-jin dashed forward.
Turning the corner, she saw Cha Hyun-joo approaching with light glowing. Her face was ghostly pale—something had happened.
"Yun-tae oppa..."
"Speak clearly."
"He... stepped on a core mine."
"Where?"
"That way."
Han Ye-jin sprinted in the direction Cha Hyun-joo pointed, soon spotting Lee Yun-tae grimacing down at his foot.
"...Team leader."
"Don't move."
She spread mana across the ground. Sure enough, an intense core pulsed under his right foot.
Why a core mine here?
The answer hit instantly.
The nightmare scenario unfolded.
Mars, who obliterated Pink Team... now burying Apgujeong in the relic too.
Why?
Had they pissed off Kwon Joo-chan?
No.
She'd practically played dead to avoid it!
Irritation turned to fury.
Han Ye-jin suppressed her emotions, focusing on saving Lee Yun-tae.
Couldn't ask Mars, who planted it. If she'd known, she'd have taken the Dungeon Association's core mine seminar.
Ah, right!
Jason Tyler had been a scout once. Scouts mastered mine installation/disarmament.
Han Ye-jin eyed the teary Cha Hyun-joo.
"Go back now. Tell Jeong-hwa. Explain to Grintree's leader and ask for help. Hurry."
"Yes, team leader."
Cha Hyun-joo vanished into the dark.
Han Ye-jin looked at Lee Yun-tae.
"Jason knows how to handle it. Just hold on."
The tanker nodded slowly.