Reviewing the Old, Grasping the New (3)

"Want some info? Something no one else knows? Then hire an information broker. He knows everything about the world. But good luck meeting him—he's never shown his face to anyone, not even once."

That's what a famous ranker once said about a man named Kabel.

Kabel was renowned worldwide as the ultimate information broker and assassin.

His power might even surpass that of Korea's rank 1, I-hwan.

What forged Kabel into this legend were his unbreakable ironclad rules.

He'd established several of them and never once violated a single one. Thanks to that, his face remained unknown to the world, and he'd never failed as an information broker.

Those rules were everything to him.

They built his clients' trust—and through them, Kabel himself.

But those rules had been shattered multiple times... all within the borders of a single territory, by a single man.

First rule: Never stay in one territory for more than a month.

Broken. By a little guy named Bokdeongi.

The reason? To avoid getting attached to anyone—NPC or user alike.

Second rule: Never betray a client.

Broken too.

Again, because of Bokdeongi.

At some point, he'd started caring for the pup. Kabel wanted to protect him.

It had even become one reason for him to leave.

'That's the only way I can keep you safe.'

Staying put meant he couldn't grow stronger.

Third rule. Sad and cruel, but the straightest path that shaped the Kabel of today.

'Form no bonds.'

He had to.

An orphan, Kabel was used to loneliness.

Bonds bred emotions that clouded judgment and warped reason.

Hyun's Forge? Hyun-soo?

Watching them, he'd felt something uniquely special.

'Staying here taught me the scent of humanity, the power forged by the unbreakable ties of the strong. If someone asked where I belong—or forced me to choose—I'd pick Hyun's Forge.'

That was just a hypothetical, of course. A world where he had to belong somewhere.

But now, the third rule that defined Kabel was starting to crack.

It began with a sleek dagger Hyun-soo had pressed into his hand.

His body still trembled faintly, but he reined it in.

Startled as he was, he composed himself quickly—that was Kabel.

Once more, he examined the artifact shaking his greatest rule: Form no bonds, and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠make no small concessions that lead to them.

Even looking at it again, it was unbelievable.

The moment it touched his ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hand, a red aura visible only to Kabel flowed over his skin.

'A dagger that grows stronger with every strong foe slain...?'

Yes, it was clearly Legend grade now—but not quite.

The instant he claimed ownership, it would improve beyond its current state.

'Base crit at 60%, and fully grown? The embedded crit chance hits 90%...'

For assassins, critical hits were everything.

Normal assassins dealt 50% more damage on crits than other classes.

Their one-strike focus demanded dagger mastery.

And something even more shocking.

'A multi-hit passive.'

Rankers coveted multi-hit passives.

Average users got 2-3 hits per attack from their gear.

Wealthy rankers splurged for 4-6 hits.

But this? It activated Six Stabs right away.

'After 10 growths, one attack becomes 16 stabs?'

Imagine it.

A single strike landing 16 hits!

Of course, Six Stabs' trigger rate was a measly 3%.

But one proc could fell most enemies.

'Fully grown, it reaches Transcendent.'

Pure awe-inspiring perfection.

Plus, Kabel planned to challenge the legendary Asura assassin on the Chinese server, using his info network.

'Succeed, and I'll rise as a continental legend, second only to user Hyun-soo.'

But fear gripped him.

Hyun-soo forging Twin Dragon Swords at Transcendent was grueling—so too was Kabel's path to Asura.

'With this dagger, my odds skyrocket.'

Greed surged within Kabel.

As the world's top broker, he knew.

'Will I ever get another like this?'

Impossible. Even if possible, not for two years.

"Satisfied?"

Hyun-soo's voice snapped Kabel from his thoughts.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

In that greed, Kabel made his decision—in his own way.

"20 billion. I'll pay now."

Overpaying to sever ties, clinging to his no-bonds rule.

"It's exceptional, true. Potential Transcendent, yes. But it has a flaw. Growth tied to slaying strong foes—and the bar rises with each evolution."

Hyun-soo nodded slowly.

"Few can push it to Transcendent."

'Anyone but me,' Kabel didn't add.

No clues about himself.

"Legends average 7 billion now. Factoring growth merit? 13 billion value. But pay 7 billion extra, and we close this deal now..."

Hyun-soo shook his head.

"Just 10 billion."

"What? First time someone's turning down more gold. 20 billion, take it..."

"Won't sell if it's over 10."

"......"

Kabel's mouth snapped shut.

Hyun-soo smiled faintly.

"You said 13 originally? Let's haggle to 10."

"Why go that far..."

Kabel trailed off, understanding.

The description was clear.

'Master Craftsman Hyun forged this for an unnamed friend...'

And Kabel knew nothing would be settled here.

An orphan, a man crafting his own isolation.

"I won't tell a soul. Just... I want you to achieve what you desire. For real."

For real.

Those words touched Kabel.

Even if he never returned, Hyun-soo would cheer him on.

'Is this what a friend feels like? Awkward as hell.'

Someone to root for you from afar, even if paths never cross again. Hyun-soo planted new emotions in Kabel.

Hyun-soo whispered a code number.

"Transfer it. I'm out."

Watching him go, Kabel realized something else.

'He already knows.'

The dagger was worth 13 billion raw—but in Kabel's hands, over 25.

Only he could take it to Transcendent.

Hyun-soo had seen it coming.

And.

'Smart bastard.'

He knew Kabel wouldn't forget this favor.

Now, with the dagger, Asura's path lay open.

Suddenly, a thought flashed through Kabel's mind.

He pulled out paper, scribbled something, folded it, and—mimicking Hyun-soo—blocked his path, offering the note.

"It'll help."

A gift from the world's top broker.

"...No idea what it is, but thanks."

"Check it after I'm gone."

They turned and walked opposite ways.

Kabel sent the gold to Hyun-soo and walked away from Bokdeongi's distant whines.

When the barks faded entirely, he designated himself the Wicked Dagger's user.

As expected.

Only Kabel was a perfect match for this dagger.

Turning back, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠he gazed at distant Atlas.

'Not bad.'

Kabel had gained a friend in Hyun-soo.

Forced, maybe—but a first for him in life.

That's why.

The note he'd written.

'I'm certain. It'll spur your massive growth. And serve as a stepping stone to truths you never knew.'

Kabel walked on.

'My repayments? Two in total.'

One gift for Hyun-soo's growth. The next? Kabel trusted its power utterly.

'That power will shield you, Bokdeongi, and Atlas from danger.'

Ares' supreme.

Three years running as the most influential user.

Idol of all players, unofficial and official world rank 1.

The one user nearing level 500: Bahala. He had a nagging worry.

"Handle it myself? At this point, Purum Corp just has bad taste."

He eyed Babylon, the sword said to cleave demons.

An ancient legend, the finest blade—proven the moment he gripped it.

But Bahala smirked bitterly.

Babylon had lost its edge, melted into an unrecognizable lump.

An irreparable artifact.

"Transcendent sword in hand, but unusable. Ridiculous."

Bahala had dreams to chase, quests to clear.

This sword was key—but years away, it seemed.

As he stowed it bitterly, a whisper arrived.

'What?'

Bahala's eyes widened at the sender.

A message from the world's greatest information broker.