Suspicious Probes and Hidden Overtures
A day had passed since the countdown began. The sky over Guro District was choked with dark clouds. More than twenty-four hours had elapsed since Silver Lining Guild entered, but the powerful distortion haze showed no signs of lifting. The forge's TV blared nonstop emergency news.
The screen showed people being carried out on stretchers. The survivors' clothes were in tatters, and some muttered nonsense, still out of their minds. But surviving at all was a miracle. No previous rescue team had achieved anything like it.
Beings devoured by the kaeyi tale, stripped of their humanity and bound to its laws. Saving those who had become residents was an entirely different challenge from extracting oneself from a kaeyi tale. Their corrupted souls needed purification, or the tale's core had to be destroyed to sever the bonds. It might prove too heavy a burden even for Park Cheolwoo and his guildmates.
I figured as much, but this could be tougher than expected... Seojun didn't change the channel; he just turned down the volume.
Customers still poured into the forge. Trust in his equipment had skyrocketed since the Goryeo Workshop incident. The line for mass-produced flails and steel plates showed no signs of thinning.
"Welcome."
Seojun greeted the incoming customer. But something felt off. The man was geared like a hunter, yet it all seemed amateurish somehow. His sharp eyes scanned the surroundings, and he clutched something suspicious in his pocket. He poked and prodded the displayed mass-produced gear before blurting out,
"Boss, that armor Silver Lining Guild was wearing on the news."
"Yes."
"You made that here too?"
"That's right."
Seojun nodded. There was no point hiding it. His pioneering anti-kaeyi equipment production and Silver Lining Guild's frequent visits made it impossible to deny.
"In that case, can I order some of that armor too? Like the brigandine or the two-piece lamellar. Money's no object."
Seojun had fielded this question plenty of times before, so he shook his head firmly.
"Sorry, but we don't sell those items."
"Why not? I can pay whatever."
"They're under exclusive contract with Silver Lining Guild. Circumstances prevent outside sales."
Seojun delivered his prepared response.
The customer's face twisted oddly.
"Exclusive contract... so it's a monopoly. Isn't that a bit much in times like these? If you've got good gear, everyone should share it to get through the crisis, not just favor one guild..."
The man subtly pressured Seojun, using the public good as an excuse to decry the monopoly.
But Seojun didn't budge.
"I think there's a misunderstanding. It's not about wanting a monopoly."
"Then what?"
"Materials. The special alloy in those items was made from rare ores Silver Lining Guild procured directly from a dungeon. Supply is extremely limited—we barely had enough for them."
Seojun lied calmly. It was something he'd coordinated with Park Cheolwoo beforehand. The only minor issue was that securing eggs and yin iron had actually gotten harder, but that wasn't pressing right now.
"If materials are the issue, no helping it. I'll stop by again."
The customer left with a dissatisfied expression, though he didn't seem ready to give up entirely. Even as he exited the forge, he kept glancing back and muttering to himself. Suspicious as hell, but Seojun had no time to dwell.
"Pardon me, but I'll cut in line."
A man pushed through the crowd. Black suit, tie, silver badge on his chest. It was Kim Hyungseok, team leader of the Hunter Management Bureau's investigation unit.
"Good to see you, Im Seojun."
Kim Hyungseok greeted him first. Gone was the stiff, aggressive demeanor from before. He even wore a polite, gentle smile.
Seojun took off his gloves to greet him.
"Long time no see, Team Leader."
"You're busy. I hear the forge's popularity is through the roof these days."
Kim Hyungseok picked up a displayed flail, nodding appreciatively at its solid weight.
"Definitely quality stuff. Can't compare to the shoddy knockoffs from other places."
"You're too kind."
"Too kind? Nah. Our field agents are singing its praises. Makes me want one myself."
Kim Hyungseok set down the flail and met Seojun's eyes. His gaze deepened.
"Honestly, I'm impressed. Didn't expect you'd be researching anti-kaeyi equipment so early on."
Seojun didn't answer rashly. A careless word could give them leverage. It might even lead to suspicions about his kaeyi connections.
"Just got lucky with some materials and experimented. Pure chance."
Seojun kept it straightforward, leaving no openings.
"Luck, huh... Humble as ever. Well, luck is a skill too."
Kim Hyungseok chuckled softly, slowly surveying the forge interior. The new anvil and furnace, the unfamiliar tools on the workbench. Even a layman could tell this wasn't an ordinary setup.
"The Bureau's keeping a close eye on it too. On certain kaeyi."
Kim Hyungseok said it abruptly. It sounded like musing to himself, but it was clearly aimed at Seojun. Seojun didn't react.
"With kaeyi tale incidents piling up, the higher-ups are getting busy. They've realized dungeons alone have limits."
He suddenly lowered his voice.
"So we're attempting contact. With entities that have long inhabited this peninsula."
Seojun's mind raced. Indigenous kaeyi, probably. The Hunter Management Bureau contacting them? Unforeseen intel.
"Of course, it's top-secret—known only to a select few in the Bureau. Officially, kaeyi are for extermination. But as they say, the enemy of my enemy is my friend."
Kim Hyungseok flashed a meaningful smile, his eyes conveying certainty. He might even suspect a deep connection. But he didn't press further.
"Just be careful. Strange folks are prowling around these days. Like that customer who just left."
"Customer?"
"Reporter. From a third-rate magazine, but infamous for being tenacious. Won't hesitate to stake out for a scoop."
Seojun kept his composure but heightened his internal vigilance. He'd suspected as much from the shady behavior. Even if the guy lurked nearby, spotting kaeyi clients visiting the forge wouldn't be easy. If it were, someone—Bureau agents or passersby—would've reported it ages ago.
"And... if you ever need help, don't hesitate to call. The Bureau always prioritizes citizen safety."
Kim Hyungseok handed over a business card and turned to leave. It had a new direct line scribbled on it. A strange tension lingered in his wake.
Shifts in the Hunter Management Bureau's attitude. Attempts to contact kaeyi. Things were getting complicated.
What's really going on here?
Seojun stared at the card, lost in thought. He had no clue about the identities of the kaeyi the Bureau claimed to contact.
Can't just ask outright.
His tone hadn't felt like fishing, but it seemed they'd made contact with indigenous kaeyi. Still, even among them, they varied wildly, leaving a nagging unease.
He's sharp, so he probably handled it fine.
No plans to collaborate with the Bureau, though. Their goals and methods differed too much; it'd only be an unpleasant partnership.
The real issue now...
Seojun turned to the TV. The shady kaeyi visitor had dropped a lead on the kaeyi tale—and ties to the foreign kaeyi-linked Baegbaekgyo.
They'd better come out safe.
The plan had been to temper Silver Lining Guild into an anti-kaeyi tale force. But variables had arisen, altering the situation. Unforeseen casualties could result.
Nothing to do but trust those three.
He wouldn't have crafted their reinforced anti-kaeyi gear otherwise.