Chapter 51
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 051
Chapter Title: Goyang-gu Baron Kim Seok-hee - [2]
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In the official vehicle as it started moving again, I called Park Mi-hyeong. I vented to that lady about how utterly pathetic the police who'd come to help us had been just moments ago.
"......Like I told you, the cops who showed up to assist us were completely useless, right? It seems like they only sent total trash. Could you call the mayor or the police chief and request a personnel change?"
Dozens of minutes later, Park Mi-hyeong called me back. And wouldn't you know it, she explained in a voice full of deep regret.
I'm really sorry to say this to you, Kim Geuk, who's out there working so hard at the scene, but from what I looked into separately, it looks like it'd be the same even if they sent different cops?
What the hell did that mean?
From what she told me, it went something like this.
The gang calling themselves the crew of Goyang-gu's self-proclaimed Baron Kim Seok-hee—they weren't holed up just in Goyang-gu. They were actively sending members to neighboring Bupyeong and Bucheon to offload cigarettes.
Whether they were growing their own tobacco or siphoning stock from the tobacco company, they were dumping packs that retailed for fifteen thousand won these days at half price—eight thousand won a pop. That was their business, and since it hurt national tax revenue, it was obviously something that needed to be cracked down on. But the police weren't touching their members.
Not because the local cops were pocketing fat bribes from the gang, but because if they poked that bear, they wouldn't be able to handle the backlash.
"They're letting that slide in the capital region? Does that even make sense?"
Well, apparently that gang has more than one or two Awakeners in it. And even overseas, they take a hands-off approach with gangs made up of Awakeners. Not just in developing countries—even advanced nations with strong public authority hesitate to mess with Awakener gangs?
"So you're saying those bastards don't fear the law, and the cops are scared of them?"
That's how it seems. Our mayor got so pissed after hearing what happened at the scene that he stormed into police headquarters himself? He's super invested in the Incheon Reclamation Project. He needs this achievement to snag that gold badge...... But the cops say there's nothing they can do. They compared trying to take those guys on with police power to charging a tank with spears?
"Come on, still."
As I sat there dumbfounded, Park Mi-hyeong hemmed and hawed.
Would it be tough to shift operations somewhere else first?
"That doesn't make sense. We're running out of spots to clear anyway. You know we have to secure Goyang-gu first to keep monsters from spreading to the surrounding areas, right? Leaving it as a monster den doesn't fly."
In the end, Park Mi-hyeong apologized profusely again before hanging up.
Not long after, we arrived at Gyeyang Mountain, the greatest peak in Eurasia—or so they claimed.
After getting out of the car, I briefed the Hunters participating in this operation. Only after warning them to watch out for potential clashes with gang members did we begin the hunt.
The hunt itself went smoothly. And why not? I'd come a long way from those days when Naito-san nearly got plugged by goblin gunfire—I was far more skilled and powerful now.
Not just raw power, but my mastery of it had improved dramatically. I'd even trained to react to bullets, steadily boosting my response speed.
Deathclaws still felt fast, but dealing with their movements was way easier now, no doubt about it.
I used my mental web to scout monster positions in advance and moved accordingly. Taking them down group by group meant no casualties or injuries—we kept the hunt rolling.
Then a big one showed up. Baek Dam-bi, back from scouting, reported.
"Looks like you'll have to handle this one yourself, Kim Geuk."
Sure enough, I grabbed a single hammer and advanced.
A pack of Deathclaws had spotted our approach and was glaring at us from ahead.
Among them stood out one particularly eye-catching Deathclaw.
It was obviously a rare, powerful variant—one that had additionally awakened as a Rock Spirit.
Having blades that could slice through anything, plus armor that shrugged off bullets? Terrifyingly threatening.
Even a decent A-rank Hunter wouldn't rush in against a beast like that. You'd need special prep to hunt one.
Which meant rocket launchers or bust. But not for me.
One hammer was plenty. Impossible back then, but doable now.
"Where you looking? Eyes on me!"
I roared and charged. As the Deathclaws tensed their legs to face me, gunfire erupted from the Hunters behind.
Gunshots rang out, dropping the other Deathclaws one by one, but the one covered head to toe in rock took it unfazed.
The monster leaped at me.
And I teleported. Mid full-speed charge, my view shifted.
Running at max effort, suddenly the rear end of that hyena blanketed in rock appeared right in front of me.
I didn't miss the instant it whipped at empty air and landed. My hammer smashed its rocky armor.
With a boom, the rocks encasing it shattered off entirely.
Two more hammer blows reduced it to pieces. Thinking back to how much I'd struggled against my first Rock Spirit, the difference was night and day.
Once its movements stopped, the octagon illusion hit, followed by euphoria.
Glancing at Baek Dam-bi, she seemed to have absorbed the dead spirit's power too. Her lips twitched as she fought back the rush.
Just as I'd grown stronger by absorbing same-type power from a Physical Enhancement beast, this would amp up my Round Girl too. Satisfying.
Savoring the newfound power swelling inside, I thought.
This process of evolving into a superior being was irresistibly thrilling. Not just for me—the people around me and Incheon's citizens all benefited. That joy was immense.
Let some stringbean punks try to disrupt this sacred hunt?
Absurd. Unforgivable.
We wrapped up the morning hunt without a hitch and were eating when it happened.
With my mental web minimized for rest, one Hunter suddenly yelled—he'd spotted something.
"Who the hell are you guys?!"
Sure enough, something glinted in the brush below. It tore through my mental web, and a shot fired.
That speed—it was a bullet, no question. Not from our side. From theirs.
So who was it aimed at?
One of our Hunters. But not the torso or head—the ankle. My mental web confirmed the trajectory.
Not trying to kill, just injure to intimidate us Hunters.
No need to check, then. Sniper was one of Kim Seok-hee's gang for sure.
And I wasn't the only one to react fast.
Naito-san. Reflexes so sharp you'd suspect he was Awakened. He moved quick again.
Spotting the muzzle flash, Naito-san's eyes widened. The instant the gang's bullet left the barrel, he sprang into action.
He shoved the Hunter who'd been in the bullet's path. Then stood in his spot—meaning the round was headed for Naito-san's gut.
Like last time, that couldn't happen on my watch. No way I'd let him play hero martyr.
I teleported, landing in front of Naito-san who'd shoved the Hunter. The next instant, the bullet thudded into my chest—but barely tore the skin, failing to pierce muscle.
Gunfire followed. Bang!
Even seasoned Hunters weren't used to human ambushes. As they froze, Naito-san swiftly blasted his shotgun toward the shot's origin.
No hit, so suppressive fire? Pathetic coward.
I teleported again. Right beside the bastard who'd aimed at the Hunter's ankle.
Before he could freak, I snatched his gun and stomped his Achilles.
"Argh—"
As he crumpled, surrounding gang members swung guns my way.
"Shoot if you wanna."
Provoking them, one guy's face twisted—and he actually fired. Not surprising. Punks do dumb shit on impulse without thinking ahead.
That's where training with Seong Mun-yeong paid off. Couldn't catch bullets barehanded yet, but reacting to their speed? Nailed it.
The instant the bullet breached my web, instinct screamed danger. I reflexively teleported.
Landing behind the idiot who'd shot at me, the bullet just grazed where I'd stood. Kicked him down too, and the rest froze solid, not daring a move.
Subduing the rest was tricky—not from resistance, but worry I'd crush something vital if I didn't control my strength.
Late-arriving Hunters helped tie them up.
"Kim Geuk? Once again, my deepest thanks......"
As Naito-san started thanking me, I hid my smug superiority and asked.
"Matsumoto-san, you wouldn't happen to be an Awakener, would you?"
Sudden question threw him off.
"Pardon?"
"Bullets keep heading your way. Makes me think you're one of those metal-attracting Awakeners or something. Come to think of it, HuntWeb's Cyber Magneto never revealed his powers...... You wouldn't be him, would you, Naito-san?"
"No, I'm not? You know I'm just a good Hunter—why say that......"
"Could be a burner account. Keeping it secret from others, right? Spill the truth."
Teased him a bit before heading back to my team. Seong Mun-yeong looked ready to gripe about tanking again, so I cut in.
"You browse HuntWeb, so you know Cyber Magneto? The site's Nazi. His posts seem kinda pervy, and to me, Naito-san fits the bill."
Confirmed Baek Dam-bi was listening nearby and said it loud on purpose. Seong Mun-yeong looked baffled.
"Huh? What're you on about? Got proof?"
"Naito-san's pervy, and so's Cyber Magneto. Perfect deduction, right?"
Savoring Baek Dam-bi's lips trembling with anger this time, I eyed the bound gangsters.
Turned to the Hunters and said.
"You all get the situation, I'm sure. Like I said before heading out, some gang? Wait, gangs in Korea? Buncha mob punks claiming this as their turf, trying to chase us off. Knew that much, but didn't expect gunfire. Dangerous, right? Should we pack it in?"
The Hunters' responses were pure Hunter.
"Nah, Deathclaws are way riskier than those clowns."
"True, but pushing on like this is reckless, isn't it?"
I egged them on, and another Hunter yelled indignantly.
"Reckless my ass—let's keep hunting! Way riskier blasting Deathclaws every time a Gate pops—we do that daily! Kim Geuk-hyung's map-hacking for us? Pure honey right now. Quitting 'cause it's a tad riskier? No way!"
Looking at that punkish Hunter, I thought with satisfaction.
HuntWeb's Gangsta...... Kim Seok-hee, who sent these goons, was an ex-Hunter, right?
Guess he'd forgotten what Hunters were like after retiring too long. Hunters shrug off a teammate's guts spilling mid-hunt or head lopped off—with a drink and it's forgotten.
To these gathered Hunters, death in the hunt was routine. A gang threat? Less scary than one Deathclaw.
In the end, Kim Seok-hee couldn't stop our hunt.
Despite two disruptions, we finished the day's quota as darkness fell and descended the mountain.
At the base, cops stood around blankly. I held back from chewing them out for an hour. They'd just stood watch to keep the gang from mischief?
Handed over the bound gangsters.
"Take these guys."
Heading home after wrapping everything, I anticipated Kim Seok-hee's retaliation. Dig up my mom's grave? Or something unexpected......
And sure enough, something unexpected happened.
But it wasn't Kim Seok-hee behind it.
I woke up, was eating breakfast, when Park Mi-hyeong called. Furious tone.
Kim Geuk, you see the morning news? Me and the mayor are so pissed we can barely speak!
Wondering what got her that mad, I checked the news—and was floored.
The gangsters who'd shot at Hunters on Gyeyang Mountain— the ones we'd nabbed yesterday—all released.
News said we'd locked them in the local station's holding cell, but that evening, gang members stormed it.
And the cops there? Offered zero resistance and meekly let them go.
Made no sense—I zoned out a bit. Then the doorbell rang.
Outside, reporters swarmed. One shoved a mic at me.
"Kim Geuk? Heard the news? Total outrage this time!"
"Outrage meaning those guys all got sprung from holding?"
"Yes, exactly! What's your take right now......"
News must've aired, drawing reporters to my door. Yeah, they'd want my pissed-off reaction for interviews......
"So, you want an interview, right?"
Expectancy lit their faces. Reporters love my interviews. HuntWeb reactions prove they rack up insane views for being hilarious.
"Yes! If you're okay......"
They figured I'd rage. But no such plan.
I smiled. Not forced—genuinely amused.
"Of course. Place is a bit humble, but come in and let's start?"