Dungeon & Commander (70)
Putting together the scraps of information she'd gathered from all over, Skyla reached one inescapable conclusion: three guilds, backed by the Dungeon Association, had joined forces to swallow Uramata whole.
"I joined a guild that might vanish any day now. Without knowing a damn thing."
Skyla gave a wry smile. She didn't regret it. Her mistake had ruined one man's life—Kim Jun's—and now his very survival hung in the balance.
Then, a sudden thought flashed through her mind.
Tilting her head, Skyla pictured her editor-in-chief, Choi Yeon-hee. How much did the editor know? With connections even wider than her own, it was impossible that someone so plugged-in had missed this filthy truth entirely.
Skyla called Choi Hyeon-seop, the agent who'd slipped her the memory stick with those two videos. She learned he'd been fired from Dungeon Management Division 1 just days ago.
Digging deeper, she found out the bastard had already fled the country.
Was it coincidence that he'd given her those videos right before a raid?
No way. Someone's pulling strings. The Dungeon Association? Highest probability, but truth could pop up from anywhere unexpected—I can't say for sure.
Just then, the door opened. Light from inside the apartment spilled into the elevator hall.
The man who stepped out was Kang Jin-gu. He climbed the stairs and sat beside Skyla.
"…Out already?"
"No one's come out. But things are getting weird… You know something, don't you? I'd like to hear it."
Skyla met Kang Jin-gu's gaze and shared what she knew. Even a brief rundown was enough for the veteran to piece together far more.
"So, they're merging it into a big guild to clean up the chaos from the last disaster."
"…Yeah."
Skyla was startled. Kang Jin-gu had nailed the Dungeon Association's true aim.
"Even if the kids come back safe, the Association will see Uramata as a thorn in their side. Unless they bulk up fast."
"I think so too."
Skyla glanced at Kang Jin-gu. A veteran with over 200 raids under his belt—he was clearly no ordinary carrier.
"Might just be an old man's nagging, but hear me out."
"Go ahead."
"I hope you don't quit being a journalist."
"…How'd you know?"
"Figured with your personality, choosing Raider meant leaving journalism behind."
"Can't focus as a Raider if I'm still playing reporter."
"I'm not saying clock in at the paper like before. Just don't throw away those hard-earned connections and your writing chops."
"…I don't get it."
"Go Cheolmin's a fine man. Stubborn as hell—once he sets a path, he won't bend, even if it breaks him. But that doesn't always help run a guild. Especially since he's friendly with reporters on a personal level but clueless about wielding public opinion effectively."
"And?"
"You could help Uramata in a fresh way. That Raider who got famous twisting dungeon tales… Name escapes me."
"You mean Dungeon Striker Lee Ha-yoon?"
"Right, Lee Ha-yoon. She wrapped lies in a neat package, and people ate it up. Because they don't know better. You write circles around her—you know how to move hearts. If you penned it yourself, your influence would dwarf hers. Am I wrong?"
Skyla caught his drift.
If Uramata stayed weak, the Association and other guilds would keep stirring trouble from outside. Not just this raid—next dungeon run could go sideways too.
But if Uramata blew up in fame, backed by public opinion, even the Association or big guilds wouldn't touch them lightly.
A failure would bring public backlash, forcing some big shots to take the heat.
"You're no ordinary guy, sir."
In her reporter days, she'd met plenty who seemed average but shone with insight. Kang Jin-gu was among the elite few.
He smiled faintly.
"…How's the mood inside?"
"Kim's mom is in the master bedroom, but she's got her ear tuned to the TV in the living room. His little sister's dozing on the sofa but still watching the broadcast."
Skyla sighed. If she could, she'd bolt right now.
"Sometimes, you just gotta shoulder it."
Kang Jin-gu reached out and patted her head.
Skyla barely held back tears.
Skyla stepped out of the elevator clutching a plastic can of gasoline. She walked the hallway, opened the door, and headed to her desk.
Setting down the can, she scanned the room.
"Always wanted to do something like this someday."
Skyla climbed onto the desks, splashing gasoline freely. Printers, stacked papers, phones, trash bins—all gleamed slick with fuel.
One spark, and not just this place—the whole building would go up in flames. This rotten fortress built on lies would crumble to ash.
She sat in a chair, feet up on the desk, waiting silently. In her hand, a Zippo lighter.
Moments later, the door opened. In walked Editor-in-Chief Choi Yeon-hee, silver hair suiting her perfectly.
She wrinkled her nose at the gas can beside Skyla and flinched.
"…You wouldn't."
"Better not run."
Skyla flicked the lighter. The dancing flame sharpened her features.
"Don't be stupid. Why'd you drag me here?"
"Sit."
Skyla kicked out the chair in front of her.
Choi Yeon-hee approached slowly and sat, eyeing Skyla intently.
"Still hung up on that? Tsk, not very professional."
Skyla tossed the lighter upward.
Choi Yeon-hee gasped, startled. It landed safely back in Skyla's palm.
"Why so jumpy? Not professional."
"…That's over."
"No. This is just the start."
"Start of what?"
"Who?"
Skyla lobbed the question to achieve her goal in summoning the editor here.
"Who what?"
"The one who manipulated me into writing that article. You know who, right? Don't lie—or we both burn here."
"…"
Choi Yeon-hee just glared.
"You know I'm no saint with patience. I can wait forever if needed, but not for worthless lives. Ten seconds. Countdown: Ten, nine, eight, seven…"
Choi Yeon-hee crossed her legs.
No fear there. She radiated certainty Skyla wouldn't light it.
Seeing that, Skyla said "Five" and casually tossed the Zippo sideways.
The flaming lighter arced down.
Choi Yeon-hee's eyes widened.
Skyla watched the shift with amusement.
It hit the floor, igniting the gasoline. Flames raced across desks and to the door, trapping the two in a red cage.
"You crazy bitch!"
"Talk."
"Fucking psycho!"
Choi Yeon-hee tried to escape, but the long, licking flames and choking smoke blocked the entrance.
Then, an unbelievable sight.
White mist poured from Skyla's body, flash-freezing the fire. But as it receded, flames roared back.
"Wh-what…?"
"Sorry for hiding it. I'm an ice dealer."
"…"
"Better decide quick. I'm torching Daily Raider next, then hopping a morning flight to the States. Say it or not—doesn't matter. And if word gets out, the US government won't extradite a top-tier ice dealer like me."
Skyla stared at Choi Yeon-hee.
She looked calm, but turmoil churned behind those quiet eyes.
After coughing through the smoke, Choi Yeon-hee spoke.
"Yang Hee-seon."
"…What?"
"The Crazy Buffer's behind it."
"Why would Yang Hee-seon…?"
"Ask her yourself. Now put out the fire!"
Confirming her attitude, Skyla unleashed cold from her silver bracelet, blanketing the office. Flames vanished; the room chilled like max AC.
"And I've got a proposal."
"A proposal? Unbelievable."
"I'm writing about guilds and dungeons. Could serialize exclusively with Daily Raider if you want."
Choi Yeon-hee's eyes sharpened. Near-death forgotten, she was all business now.
"Spill the details."
"Freelance. You pay me."
"Writing about guilds and dungeons—what's that mean?"
"Oh, forgot the big part. I joined Uramata Guild. If Pink Team returns safe, I'll be their second dealer."
"…"
Choi Yeon-hee was speechless.
"Guild life, dungeon raids—I'll write it all. Immersive, addictive stuff. You know better than anyone it's leagues above amateurs like Dungeon Striker."
"Fine. One hundred million per installment. Deal?"
"Two hundred."
"…Done."
She'd crunched the numbers in her head. Skyla's writing outclassed brutes like Lee Ha-yoon.
"Plus incentives based on views."
"Got it."
"One more condition."
"Getting picky."
"Thanks to you."
"Out with it."
"Personally sponsor Uramata. You're loaded—ten billion won should do."
"…What?"
Choi Yeon-hee was floored.
"Pass if you want."
"No. Accepted."
Skyla was too valuable to lose. Her hidden ice dealer gig alone guaranteed serialization gold.
Skyla stood.
"Thanks for everything."
"One thing: Why become a reporter?"
"Secret."
Skyla walked out into the hall.
Yang Hee-seon stepped from the house into the garden pond area.
Rain fell to thirty centimeters above her head, then bounced off an invisible barrier. She glided elegantly to the pond, not a drop on her hair.
Despite the downpour, silk carp swarmed the surface, flaunting vibrant bodies.
Yang Hee-seon gazed down at the creatures but fed them nothing. They bumped each other, waiting.
She extended a hand; a large carp floated up. Red and black patterns gleamed as it wriggled, mouth gaping helplessly.
"Feed them, and they just eat—no thoughts, right?"
Smiling, she flicked her wrist. The carp plunged back with a splash and vanished.
Yang Hee-seon sat in the gazebo. Her knees ached.
My mistake. Thought I was feeding it solo. Didn't expect the Dungeon Association meddling behind the scenes. Poured oil on the fire.
She'd meant to forge a hostile environment for Kim Jun's rapid growth. Life never follows plans. That's what makes it fun.
Footsteps approached. Not Secretary Choi Hee-kwon's. This loose, forceful gait matched her grandson's wild personality.
"Here?"
Yang Hee-seon turned slowly.
"Why'd you do it?"
Jang Geon-ho stormed into the gazebo, eyes bloodshot.
"How'd you know?"
"Because of you, Kim Jun might die in there. Sang-taek too."
"They'll make it."
She eyed her grandson. Genuine worry etched his face. Spoiled as he was, he clearly adored Lee Sang-taek and Kim Jun.
"And if they don't?"
Jang Geon-ho glared.
"I'll teach you Ultimation."
"…Ultimation?"
Never beaten her in a bet—and it comforted him now like never before.
"But if you lose, you do what I say."
"Deal."
Then, Secretary Choi Hee-kwon emerged from the dark, phone in hand.
"I'm out."
Jang Geon-ho vanished toward the pond.
Yang Hee-seon's gaze on her secretary burned fierce.
"Daily Raider's editor-in-chief, ma'am."
"…Really?"
After the Association's interference, this call was another surprise.
Yang Hee-seon took the phone.