Player Hunting (3)
All television channels cut their regular broadcasts. Emergency air raid sirens blared alongside urgent disaster announcements. Disaster alerts flooded every citizen’s phone, replacing normal programming with emergency broadcasts.
— Air raid alert issued. Air raid alert issued. Please evacuate immediately to the nearest underground shelter.
— This is the Seoul Metropolitan Civil Defense Alert Control Center. At this hour, we are issuing a real air raid alert across the entire country.
The sirens continued to wail in unison.
— This is a real air raid alert. This broadcast is not a drill. At this hour, we are issuing a real air raid alert across the entire country.
With the alert in effect, sirens erupted across every street. Military forces swarmed onto the rooftops of high-rise buildings in the capital, setting up anti-aircraft guns. Combat police and regular officers blocked major roads in the city center, while armored vehicles and troops streamed through the cordoned-off streets in an unbroken line.
Every subway shelter opened its doors and began storing emergency power. Counter-terrorism units advanced toward buildings engulfed in flames and rubble. American and Korean reconnaissance satellites scanned the Korean Peninsula and North Korea, while warships departed from both the east and west coasts.
It was a full wartime posture. The response had been swift, unfolding while the entire nation watched in stunned silence.
While a red banner with white text announcing the air raid alert still dominated the screen, the broadcast abruptly cut out and switched feeds. An emergency address from the President began airing, the same alert banner running along the bottom.
“Good evening, fellow citizens.”
The setting appeared to be indoors, likely chosen for security. Behind the President stood a massive screen and the national flag.
“An unidentified organization has launched a large-scale, coordinated terrorist attack targeting players in Seoul. We have therefore issued an air raid alert.”
The nation was already on emergency footing. Every military unit, from the front lines to the rear, had declared the highest state of alert. Aircraft were fueled and ready; a single order could plunge the peninsula into war.
Shocking reports flooded both domestic and international media: if North Korea was behind the attack, the Korean Peninsula would become a battlefield.
Major networks worldwide, including those in the United States, ran breaking news banners about the crisis in Korea. The President continued in a calm yet resolute tone.
“We have long anticipated scenarios like this and prepared accordingly. The Korean government is fully ready to confront terrorism under a wartime posture.”
At the same moment, a press conference was already underway at the Player Management Agency headquarters.
“How could such a catastrophe happen?!”
“Was this North Korea’s doing?”
“Have you identified the organization behind the terrorists?”
“We have nothing we can share at this time.”
The answers were standard and noncommittal.
“The situation is currently under investigation. However, we have captured one terrorist alive.”
“How were they able to carry out simultaneous attacks in so many locations?”
“Why do you think the terrorists targeted only players?”
“That is also still under investigation, so I cannot give a precise answer… Once the relevant inquiries are complete, we will disclose everything.”
“Vague statements like that won’t reassure the public!”
Director Mun Gwon-su looked increasingly cornered. He knew that one wrong word could spark an actual war.
“Director, you mentioned this was an organized crime targeting players. If you have any suspected organizations or forces in mind, please tell us!”
“…”
Mun Gwon-su clenched his fists and bit his lip.
“The investigation is ongoing. Please follow the government’s guidance…”
His claim was true. Choi Junseok and the frozen terrorist had only just been rushed to the basement of the agency building.
Choi Junseok’s party and the frozen terrorist had arrived in the underground level. Kang Jinsu stared at the captive in disbelief.
“The terrorist is a player too…”
What unsettled the team leader even more was the man’s affiliation.
“He’s Korean…”
National Intelligence Service agents entered the basement and examined the frozen operative. They paid no attention to Choi Junseok or the two women, speaking flatly.
“Please vacate the premises.”
It was not a request. They began laying out chilling tools from their bags—simple restraints for limbs and vials of unidentifiable drugs.
“This man is a player. Do you know why we couldn’t capture a single terrorist or even find their bodies at the scenes?”
The NIS agent looked openly annoyed but listened in silence.
“The moment they finished their work or sensed death approaching, they immediately transferred into a Magic Tower.”
“Correct. It means they’re highly trained.”
“It’s fine. We’re not idiots—we already suspected as much. We’ll drill a hole through the ice and inject a special drug into his skin. Then it’ll all be over.”
“Um… excuse me…”
Song Hana, who had been quietly watching, tried to speak up. Her voice was too soft to cut through the tense exchange between the NIS agents and Kang Jinsu.
“Um… excuse me… over here…”
“This is the only prisoner we managed to capture alive. Are you certain that drug will work?”
“Of course. It has never failed. Our interrogation capabilities during wartime are unmatched.”
“Um…”
“Once the ice breaks, the man inside will wake up. He isn’t unconscious.”
“Er… excuse me…”
“Good. Once the drug is injected, he’ll wish he were unconscious.”
Choi Junseok finally stepped in. He knew exactly what Song Hana wanted to say.
“Can we even break that ice in the first place?”
The NIS agents shot him a look that said “Who does this guy think he is?”
“We have micro drills that can bore through diamond. A needle-sized hole won’t be a problem.”
“Then try it.”
Choi Junseok’s tone made the agents glare, but they turned back to their equipment. The fact that he had reached this heavily secured basement proved he was no ordinary person.
They produced a tiny electric drill. One agent checked the ice’s temperature, tapped it lightly to gauge hardness, and muttered,
“It’s cold, but this isn’t ordinary ice—it’s closer to crystal. The hardness is considerable.”
“Doesn’t matter. We have to inject the drug. Start.”
The drill they had pulled out so confidently began spinning furiously, spraying coolant.
Zzzzzzzzzz!
Yet no matter how hard they pressed, the drill refused to penetrate.
“What the—why the hell isn’t this going through?!”
Zzzzzz—
The motor whined uselessly against the surface.
“Um…”
Song Hana watched them worriedly.
“Would it be all right if I wake him and knock him out right away?”
The agents’ faces were flushed, sweat dripping as they strained against the ice.
“What did you say?”
“I think I can break the ice and knock the man out at the same time…”
“Simultaneously?”
“Couldn’t we just knock him out while he’s still frozen?”
One NIS agent folded his arms and stepped back. He had no intention of moving aside—until Kang Jinsu spoke.
“Song Hana is an S-grade player. Trust her.”
The mention of her rank instantly changed the agents’ attitudes.
“…S-grade? But players can’t use skills outside the towers, can they?”
“Most can’t, but some universal skills work outside. Like appraisal skills.”
“Then… we’ll leave it to you.”
“Don’t worry. We all want the country to be safe and to see justice done.”
“P-please leave it to me!”
Song Hana pulled a yellow talisman from her robes and began drawing on it with her finger.
“A talisman…?”
The agents looked skeptical, but seeing Kang Jinsu’s calm expression, they held their tongues and watched.
As she worked, Song Hana spoke.
“I’m the one who froze him in the first place! So… don’t worry!”
“In that case, we have nothing to fear.”
She exhaled softly, then slapped two talismans onto the ice in quick succession. Cracks immediately spiderwebbed across the surface that even diamond drills couldn’t scratch.
Crack—crack! Crash!
White powder scattered as the NIS agents stared in shock. The real surprise came next.
The trapped man’s head snapped up. His eyes had clearly regained consciousness—only for him to immediately slump forward, unconscious again. Kang Jinsu caught his limp body with practiced ease.
“…Impressive.”
“Eheh! Thank you!”
The agents promptly injected four consecutive syringes into the man’s arm, then hoisted him up and left without another word. Kang Jinsu merely shrugged, signaling that the rest was no longer his concern.
While the high-intensity interrogation continued, Choi Junseok, Song Hana, and Lee Nayeon headed toward temporary lodgings arranged by the agency. Seoul was deep into the night, yet the city buzzed with activity. Although the air raid alert had been lifted, the shock of the incident had sent countless people fleeing the capital; traffic streamed outward in heavy lines. Their vehicle moved in the opposite direction without hindrance.
Kang Jinsu, driving, spoke up.
“North Korea remains the prime suspect, but they’re already trying to distance themselves. Korea hasn’t launched any retaliatory strikes yet, and reports say North Korean forces near the DMZ are actually pulling back their supplies.”
The reason was obvious—they wanted to prove the attack wasn’t their doing. North Korea wanted full-scale war even less than the South.
“It’s a relief that things haven’t escalated.”
“Not really. Once it’s confirmed that North Korea was involved, immediate military retaliation could begin. Though that’s beyond my pay grade.”
“…”
“The biggest question is that the terrorists appeared to be South Korean players, not North Korean ones. Their affiliation registered as Korean. They might have used some ability to manipulate their status windows, like Song Hana here.”
That same night, while Choi Junseok and his companions rested at the hotel, Kang Jinsu delivered a follow-up report.
— The masterminds have been identified. You might want to clear the Suseo Magic Tower first and return, but…
— According to current findings, Japan is confirmed to be involved alongside North Korea.
“Japan…?”
Choi Junseok muttered the name in surprise. Song Hana flinched violently. Sensing her reaction, he turned to her—her eyes were wide with terror.
“I… I think I know… who was behind it.”