Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: We Invite You
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📰 Breaking News - Breaking: Lotus Guild fucked after Sword Princess's death [21] - So who the hell is that kid on Han Gyeo-ul's stream?! [9] - Asked who the kid is for the 13,839,021st time [2] - Tried a focused analysis once lol [14] - No matter how you look at it, isn't this just an A-rank hunter Heavenly Wolf or some other guild is hiding? [15] - Fuck, I really want to kill I-an [13] ⭐ Top Comment — Anonymous (1.41) [Fuck, I really want to kill I-an] That bitch I-an got drunk and killed my girlfriend, but because she's a hunter, mentally unstable, drunk, first offense, she got 3 years suspended. Does that even make sense? Plus, she begged for leniency because of her dual citizenship, fuck. They wanted a settlement? Of course, an A-rank hunter's gotta have shitloads of money. I really, really want to kill I-an, rip her fucking mouth out and grind her guts, but there's no way, fuck, just no way. Fucking society, fucking hunters, I wish they'd all just fuck off and die. [Likes: 3] [Dislikes: 2] — Anonymous (111.19) Oh, this the one from the news? That freelance hunter got drunk, caused a scene in a bar, killed a woman? ↳ Anonymous (1.41) You know it, you saw the news. But fuck, suspended sentence of 3 years? Because she's a hunter, first offense, drunk, dual citizenship? Ha... fuck. ↳ Anonymous (111.19) Sucks, but what can you do? Opponent's an A-rank hunter, you're just a regular joe. ↳↳ Anonymous (1.41) Yeah. ↳↳ Anonymous (111.19) You could file a civil suit, do a one-man protest, petition, whatever. But that's it. Who does the government prefer, an A-rank hunter or one random civilian? You know. If hunters piss you off, awaken yourself or bitch to a guild, but even that takes some skill. ↳↳↳ Anonymous (1.41) Ha... fuck, I wanna die. Should I just kill myself? ↳↳↳↳ Anonymous (111.19) Don't. ↳↳↳↳↳ Anonymous (1.41) Why? ↳↳↳↳↳↳ Anonymous (111.19) You might miraculously awaken. Just live like a total asshole, with the mindset of getting revenge on that I-an fucker. ↳↳↳↳↳↳↳ Anonymous (1.41) Ha... alright for now. — Anonymous (15.09) Who's I-an anyway fuck? ↳ Anonymous (111.19) Freelance hunter, dual Korean-US citizenship, woman, A-rank, that's why 3 years suspended. ↳↳ Anonymous (15.09) Damn, total outlaw lololol. "Ha... fuck, how am I supposed to live from now on..."
A dark room.
The floor covered in trash.
A shaggy head and unkempt beard on a messed-up face.
Dark circles under weary, fatigued eyes.
Kim Hyun-seok, a 28-year-old man, hammered at the keyboard with a venomous, irritated scowl.
To Hyun-seok, his girlfriend had been his savior, the one who pulled him from the brink.
From a school bully in his youth to a thug in society, after getting his first girlfriend, he resolved to change.
He sought out those he'd tormented as a kid, knelt sincerely and apologized, quit the gangster life, and started working honest jobs.
He slaved away daily, earning money, even served in the military.
He'd worked so hard to give his girlfriend a happy life... but I-an, that damned A-rank hunter, took it all away.
"Oh... booze is all gone."
He shook the beer cans on the desk, realized they were empty, and tossed them irritably to the floor.
This was his daily routine.
Since his girlfriend died, he'd holed up like a shut-in, rotting away in a trash-filled room.
"Haa..."
Hyun-seok banged out another post demanding punishment for I-an.
Every day, every single day.
After finishing the post, as he went to shut down the computer...
Ding— "What the hell."
A long message arrived in Hyun-seok's email.
He sluggishly opened it with a grubby hand, clicking on an email from an unknown sender.
📧 Invitation 📧 Subject: Hello, Mr. Kim Hyun-seok From: Frost Flower Do you want to kill I-an? "...What is this shit."
The chilling opening line hit him right away.
Hyun-seok sensed something was off from the start.
Yet, like he was possessed, he slowly scrolled down.
Like a drug addict hooked on smack, or a cat obsessed with catnip.
📧 Invitation 📧 Subject: Hello, Mr. Kim Hyun-seok From: Frost Flower Do you want to kill I-an? If so, we can help you. https://gall.deep-sea.kr/data/file/specimen/angler_fish_04.jpg/?exec=true&gate=HADAL Follow this link. You'll get what you want, Mr. Hyun-seok. We are all fish swimming the ocean, Mr. Kim Hyun-seok. Ride the currents to the deep abyss. We invite you here. "...Get what I want?"
Enthralled, Hyun-seok clicked the link.
Click, click.
A few soft mouse clicks echoed.
Moments later, the email vanished, and one fish slipped into the deep sea's depths.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Thank you for your hard work, Miss Yeon Mu. We've confirmed your A-rank hunter license as well. You're free to go now."
"Thanks for your hard work..."
After wiping out every monster in the train, cops and hunters rushed in frantically.
They freaked at the train's state and the monster corpses everywhere, then came running to me.
"Haa... how many hours has it been..."
After giving statements, explaining the situation, showing ID, justifying the gun, and flashing my hunter license...
Finally, finally! Released from this bullshit.
"Fuck... when am I getting to Daegu."
Current time: 6:57 PM.
Took way too long.
Planned to hit Daegu by 8 PM. Train would've been quick.
But the train's fucked.
Location: Somewhere in Daejeon.
How to get to Daegu from here? Time's awkward too, fuck...
"What a shitshow."
Time's weird, so phone taxi it is.
Gonna cost a fortune, but no choice to make time.
No telling when another train or bus terminal trip.
"Wonder when it'll get here."
Called a cab, should be 5 mins. Browsing phone while waiting...
"Um, excuse me!"
A fresh, perky voice from somewhere.
"Um, excuse me...!"
Desperate call for someone. Turned to look...
"Me?"
"Yes, you!"
A woman panting, staring at me.
Brown hair, cute face, but a ripped, muscular body that didn't match.
Her—the hunter bitten by that manater earlier.
Why's she looking for me all sudden?
"So, why me?"
"Uh... could I get your number maybe?"
"? Why?"
CIA agent? Interpol?
Fuck, that Interpol guy I killed in France catching up? Tail already?
Camellia Flower, you fucking incompetent.
"Oh, uh, I'm just so, so grateful, wanted to buy you a meal sometime... could you give me your name and number?"
Yeah, Camellia Flower wouldn't fuck up like that.
She's just a regular hunter.
My name's no big secret. Gave her my everyday smartphone number too.
"Your name's... Yeon Mu?"
"Yep."
"Oh, single syllable??"
"Yeah."
"I see..."
What, so? First time seeing a monosyllabic name?
"Anyway, thanks so much for saving me...! I'll buy you a real meal sometime!"
She promised a meal someday.
Free food? No reason to refuse. Nodded vaguely and left.
Found the arriving cab, hopped in, headed to Daegu.
"Sir, to Daegu Seomun Market please."
"Huh...? That's super far from here."
"Money's no issue, just go."
"Alright."
Sank into the taxi seat as it started moving, drifting into sleep.
Driver'll wake me when we arrive.
Just a bit of shut-eye.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Be careful moving them, everyone. Each container's worth more than your lives."
Daegu outskirts, somewhere on the Pohang highway link.
Hundreds of workers hustled cargo, overseen by one man.
"Load the containers straight onto trailers for Seomun Market transport. Careful, always careful."
Workers loaded containers onto trailers per his orders.
Loaded trailers and trucks headed to Seomun Market.
One, two, four, eight, sixteen, thirty-two.
The endless convoy in formation was a sight to behold.
"Ah, welcome everyone. You here for the escort gig?"
Mid-loading, a group arrived; the man smiled to greet them.
The group was armed to the teeth—spears, swords, bows to modern firearms.
"Welcome, everyone. I'm the auction overseer... Camellia Flower."
"Skip it. Money?"
"Just sent 500 million advance. 1.5 billion more post-auction."
"Not bad."
"Right? Five of you, 400 million each."
"So, where to now?"
"Tree Tree hasn't arrived yet, so hop on any empty truck there and head to the market first. I'll follow shortly."
"Who's Tree Tree?"
At the question, Camellia Flower's face nearly twisted grotesquely, but he kept pro composure.
Still smiling sweetly at them.
"Tree Tree is the head of security for this auction."
"Head?"
"Yes, she'll command you and the other guards... that work?"
"I see."
"Yes."
The apparent leader nodded okay and boarded a Daegu-bound truck.
The rest followed, heading out.
"...Ha."
Once they were gone, Camellia Flower pulled a cigarette, took a slow drag, savoring the nicotine.
"Tree Tree, you're in for a rough day."
But I specially saved you a prime Abrams, so be satisfied.
He muttered emptily.
Then resumed directing the massive logistics.
Worth hundreds of millions—no, trillions.