Night of the Ambush
The day after the eve of the storm. The legal procedures were mostly wrapped up by now. I needed to check the yield on additional byproduct funds right away... and update myself on the info I'd missed over the past few days.
I logged into the gallery and scrolled through the posts.
1. Management Bureau - Nationally certified, so safest. But as you know, fees and taxes are fucking atrocious. Last time 10 of us cleared an E-rank and after deductions, we had just enough left for a bowl of cheap soup. Fuck.
2. Association - Big guilds and mid-tiers' turf. Freelancers or tiny guilds draw a number and wait forever. Our guild's kid waited so long he just switched to private.
3. Private Fintech - Best rates, fast payouts. But top target for tax audits—got a letter from the IRS demanding proof of funds (not from experience ).
4. Personal Exchanges
Huge scam risk. Some legit ones, but filter at your own peril.
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Someone actually got one of those brick delivery memes for real.
Looks like I'd been lucky. Suppose I'd used the Management Bureau or private fintech. My fund flows and movements would be crystal clear. Myth Guild's surveillance net would lock on in real-time.
A broker with untraceable identity was my safest vault right now.
The ID gave me pause, but skills were legit, so no issue.
Choosing the dark path had been smart.
How were things lately? I tapped the popular tab and refreshed.
One recent post with sky-high views caught my eye.
Word is a famous named hunter from Gangnam got half-crippled in a dungeon and carted out.
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Rumors were already flying. From Myth's top brass perspective, it'd be suffocating.
The guild chair's daughter and next franchise star turned into a vegetable from some inexplicable phenomenon.
If the incentive-crazed idiots bit the bait?
Facts mixed with truth would balloon into fake news copies.
Plus, I had the record chip backed up, ready to drop anytime, with Han I-seo holding the line behind me.
That's why they couldn't just crush me outright, even if they wanted to kill me yesterday.
But if Ryu Jin-hyuk blows the board here...
The guy steering Myth's strategy would be stressing hard.
Scenario proceeding as planned.
Then my phone rang.
Caller: [Jo Dong-hyuk]
Been wondering why no call lately.
The line flooded with sizzling meat, clinking soju glasses, and rowdy restaurant din.
"Hello."
"Hey, Sa-eon."
Instead of his usual gruff silence, Dong-hyuk hyung said my name first.
"Heard the news. Something went down at that Gangnam gate Myth was handling. You okay? No injuries?"
"Yeah... not a single bone broken. All good."
"...Right. You eating properly?"
What a stubborn guy. Even if the world ended, he'd check on meals first. That nosy streak thawed my sharp-edged mind just a bit.
Ten years ago, China's dungeon break.
Orphanage crumbled, bonds started in the victim shelter we crashed in.
When I roamed illegal mining ops, hyung appointed himself my protector.
First to awaken E-rank, never slacked—steady labor, saving cash.
A man seriously planning retirement, one I truly respected.
"Haven't eaten yet. How's the Busan subcontract rate?"
"Don't ask. Ruled D-rank but C-rank beasts popped out, people dying, and Management Bureau and Association are zipped. Fucking—"
"Oppa. Is that Sa-eon? Let me talk."
A voice cut in from the receiver.
Knew it. They're together, obviously.
Scuffle of noise, then a familiar voice hit my ear.
"You crazy bastard! I'm so worried the meat's going up my nose or mouth, who knows!"
"Noona. Doing well?"
"Call sometimes. No call, I don't know if you're dead or alive!"
Relief seeped through her rough words.
Yun-ha noona.
Like Dong-hyuk hyung, we rolled together back-to-back in mining hell.
She's E-rank too, scraping bottom.
Din faded, voice got closer.
Stepped outside, probably.
Click. Lighter flick. Noona lighting a smoke.
"Fucking punk... you're really... whatever. Alive's good. We'll head up to Seoul soon."
Dong-hyuk hyung chimed in behind.
"Hyung'll cover soju tab. Don't get hurt, take care."
E-rank pair, side by side. In a world of giant guild power plays, useless as firepower by my side.
Normally, I'd cut irrational ties like that.
But from the trash heap mines, they were the ones who wouldn't stab my back.
Only deficit that didn't piss me off.
Huh.
Odd train of thought made me chuckle. I looked up at the evening sky.
"Got it. But hyung, noona."
"Yeah?"
Voices overlapped.
"Gonna be busy from now. I'll call again."
Click.
Hung up without hesitation. No spilling on powers or theft yet—not time.
Work to do today. Activated mana sense right away.
Alert. System scanning ambient mana flows.
Core pulsed, probing surrounding mana.
Caution. 2 mana waves detected within 50m radius.
Pinned locations. Across the road, under the convenience store parasol. Alley mouth by the goshiwon, behind the utility pole.
Busy lurking since early morning.
Myth Guild surveillance team, huh.
Pick a spot.
Goshiwon noisy, no soundproofing, witnesses everywhere—not ideal.
Somewhere witness-free to smash Ryu Jin-hyuk. Space to unleash Crimson Flame full blast without issue.
Texted Han I-seo.
Reply in under a minute.
Dusk thickened on the streets.
Prepped, I turned toward a red commuter bus parked roadside and boarded.
Neon Seoul blurred past the window.
Suwon, Hwaseong, Pyeongtaek.
Left the dense buildings, hit a deserted Gyeonggi outskirts provincial road.
Caution. Killing intent toward user detected. Approaching at steady intervals.
Black SUV doggedly tailing the bus.
Tinted windows, probably glaring daggers inside.
Grateful they came to hand over skills and core first.
Trembling from fear and hostility—not me, core remnants.
Calm down. It'll end soon.
Ryu Jin-hyuk's malice intensified, core bristling.
Cha Do-yeon's lingering ego screaming.
Not pleasant.
Screech—
Bus halted at empty stop.
Walked into Gyeonggi outskirts abandoned factory lot, no streetlights.
Found rusted drum in the middle, perched crooked on top.
What time? 11:40 PM.
Perfect for dunking someone.
Headlights sliced the factory silence.
Screech—!
Spotted me, braked hard.
This time, I was the villain in the setup.
Pondered a greeting.
No manners on their side, so clean and polite from mine.
Ahem.
Cleared throat, mimicked gentlemanly tone.
“Fancy meeting you again, Team Leader Ryu. Come on in.”