Chapter 168
Chapter 168
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 168
Chapter Title: The Bird of Kapke Island
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Chapter 168
Chapter 168
"The gate we're hoping to entrust to you this time is called 'The Bird of Kapke Island.'"
Park Hwan's words made Jeong-hyeon tilt his head.
"'The Bird of Kapke Island'?"
It was a pretty unusual name.
Mission gates typically had names that directly hinted at the task inside.
Of course, the hints weren't completely absent.
"Yes. If you exclude 'bird,' there's nothing else that gives away what's inside."
The problem was that it was just one single word.
"Likely some kind of avian monster, then."
"That's the issue."
Park Hwan nodded enthusiastically in agreement with Jeong-hyeon's guess.
Kapke Island was probably just a proper noun.
No deeper meaning as a hint.
That left 'bird,' which naturally suggested the monsters inside would be avian types.
And avian monsters were notoriously tricky.
The most well-known ones were harpies, griffins, and thunderbirds.
They appeared across various level ranges, but avian types generally showed up in gates one level higher than similarly powered monsters.
Not just hunter opinion—like, "this one's tougher than that one"—but systemically, in higher-level gates.
The implication was simple.
Their flight ability was a massive penalty for hunters.
"'Archers or mages aside, there's no real way to hit them.'"
Spirits at least flew low enough for melee hunters to reach, but true flying monsters soared to heights incomparable to spirits.
Even dropping a simple rock from that altitude was a nightmare to deal with from the ground.
"The detected energy levels aren't high, but with avian monsters confirmed, our guild hunters are all avoiding it."
"Not enough mid-to-long-range specialists?"
"We have some, of course, but without frontline protection, even they shy away from raiding it. Especially since it's a mission gate."
Jeong-hyeon nodded.
It was a tricky situation.
For standard gates, you could brute-force with numbers and secure enough firepower, but mission gates limited party size.
Frontliners lacked attack options, backliners lacked protection—no wonder it was avoided.
"Hmm... How many can enter?"
"Six-person gate."
Park Hwan answered immediately.
Six was more spacious than the gates Jeong-hyeon usually ran.
"'Even if it's me and Won-ho hyung, that leaves four spots.'"
Jeong-hyeon pondered for a moment.
The HJH Gate Office's current weakness was obviously the lack of backline firepower.
Sure, Jeong-hyeon could play all-rounder with his Throwing Skill, but treating him purely as backline was a stretch.
Logically, rejecting a gate like 'The Bird of Kapke Island'—obviously full of avian monsters—was the smart call.
Logically speaking.
"Let's hear the terms first."
"'Just bring a backliner along.'"
Jeong-hyeon had no intention of turning it down from the start.
They advertised preferential treatment for walk-ins on the website, so as long as it wasn't fatally flawed, they should take it.
He'd hunted with outsiders before, after all.
The only concern was the system weirdly scaling difficulty like last time, but that was the fate of mission gates—he'd accepted it.
"'And after that emergency patch, if they have any conscience, it'll be fair this time.'"
After all the fuss with Ashurek and forces of nature, maybe it'd be tame.
No way a griffin king—rare even in level 6 gates—would boss a level 5.
"Yes? Oh, the terms."
Even Park Hwan hadn't expected Jeong-hyeon to accept so readily and fumbled with his briefcase in surprise.
"'Looks like I won't get called to the director's office today!'"
He was inwardly cheering.
The Panser Guild's proposal was printed across several sheets of a project file.
Jeong-hyeon skimmed the conditions and nodded.
"Looks fine. We can go with this."
"Really?!"
Was this what they called a 'cool deal' in secondhand markets?
Truly, generosity led to success.
When Jeong-hyeon accepted the proposal as-is without nitpicking, Park Hwan bounced in his chair with joy.
Truthfully, the terms were more generous than standard gate office commissions.
The guild brass was heavily invested, and after multiple unanswered online submissions, the rewards had crept up.
He'd worried this hot office might not be satisfied, but the deal closed instantly.
"'Gotta earn quick and relocate the office. A rep for instant walk-in accepts will boom business.'"
Jeong-hyeon had his own calculations.
Online requests weren't bad, but face-to-face chats yielded better intel.
Plus, rumors of better offline success would heat up the guilds.
Of course, he laid some bait too.
"Honestly, 10 billion feels a bit light... but with the artifact transfer and no break imminent, we're discounting it."
"Of course. This saves my face."
Not that their offer was great—it was his courtesy.
But Park Hwan, finally breaking through the stalled project, just basked in relief.
"And can I pick the party members going in with us?"
"Ah, I'll propose it upstairs. Should pass without issue."
Why else had Park Hwan pushed so hard for HJH ties?
Sales team pressure, sure, but constant brass nagging.
No way they'd nix a done deal over party picks.
Clack-
"Take care."
"Yes, thank you."
Park Hwan left Jeong-hyeon's office in high spirits, unlike his arrival.
"Take care."
"Take care!"
"Hup, yes, yes. You two as well."
Though he still couldn't get used to Min-ji and Won-ho's over-the-top service smiles.
***
Two weeks later, a quiet Incheon beachfront.
Unusually, quite a crowd had gathered.
"Oh, great to meet you like this. Yu Jeong-ho, Panser Guild executive director."
"You look even sharper in person. Kim Sung-ryong, executive director."
"Ah, yes. Nice to meet you too. Han Jeong-hyeon."
"'Why are all these guild execs here...?'"
This was the site of 'The Bird of Kapke Island,' the gate Panser had commissioned Jeong-hyeon for.
The crowd was naturally Panser Guild and HJH Gate Office folks.
The odd part? Gate entry imminent, yet guild HQ execs swarmed the field.
Guild directors were rarely hunters.
Many had sponsored early chaotic hunter groups financially, becoming directors now.
One was fine, but six or seven? Highly unusual.
Their reason was simple.
Leave a good impression on Jeong-hyeon, somehow.
Panser was a mid-tier guild aiming for top-tier in Korea.
Snagging a superstar prospect like Jeong-hyeon would skyrocket their status.
To him, just more hassle.
"'If I were solo like before, I'd blow them off, but as office president, can't now.'"
He wanted to huddle with entry hunters and discuss strategy.
But as a hunter industry leader now, he wasn't dumb enough to trash connections and rep.
He greeted them all properly.
Won-ho, sensing Jeong-hyeon's discomfort, wedged his massive frame between him and the execs.
"Sorry, but we need final strategy briefing now. You've all greeted, so save the rest for post-raid."
"Hup!"
"Ahem. Sure."
"If it's for the raid..."
Won-ho's glare—even seasoned hunters like Park Hwan dreaded it.
To distant execs, nightmare fuel.
Suddenly, an invisible circle formed around Jeong-hyeon—no one within range.
"Thanks."
"Let's go, President."
Jeong-hyeon gave simple thanks.
Office casual: just "President" with informal speech.
Public: strict formal, "President."
"'My eye for people hasn't failed.'"
They headed to a beachside tent.
The entry hunters waited inside.
"Nice to meet you all."
"Ah, hello."
Jeong-hyeon entered and greeted; the waiting hunters stood and replied.
B-Rank "Unerring Spear Technique" Level 5: Jo Yu-jun.
B-Rank "Thousand-Mile Eyes" Level 5 archer: Park Sang-hee.
A-Rank "Storm-like Raging Wind Magic" Level 4: Kim Byeong-ju.
C-Rank "Healing that Mends Even Severed Limbs" Level 5: Yu A-young.
Jeong-hyeon had tested and selected them over a week at Panser Guild.
Mid-tier guild lived up to the hype—plenty of level 5 talent.
C-Rank healer trait was a nitpick, but Jeong-hyeon had reasons.
She was a med student originally—sharp instincts and healing proficiency in crises.
Only known after hunting together.
"'Plus, levels Won-ho hyung's and my Blunt Technique proficiency. Not bad.'"
Jeong-hyeon had run level 5 gates multiple times that week with Panser members and Won-ho.
Won-ho's proficiency didn't hit 4, but Jeong-hyeon's crash course boosted his basics.
Roles differed—melee DPS Won-ho, agility Jeong-hyeon—but now Won-ho had Blunt Technique too.
Rumor had it Won-ho crumbled under Jeong-hyeon's Spartan training midway.
Ample time allowed solid elite picks.
As Jeong-hyeon eyed his handpicked team, another entered the tent.
"President, why is this so heavy! Ugh, how do you hunt with this crap?"
Min-ji, dragging his gear-filled large carrier.
Panser execs had whisked him away on arrival, leaving her to haul it.
Most weight: Cursed Armor.
Griffin leather was heavy enough, but melted dullahan armor iron bulked it more.
That alone, she'd gripe less.
Eyes naturally went to her shoulder.
"Seen it before, but... that pickaxe just doesn't sit right."
Jeong-hyeon's new main: the pickaxe.
'Tsk.'
Jeong-hyeon inwardly clicked his tongue.
Left mace and artifacts with Doil for Harald upgrade; pickaxe returned first—stuck using it.
Artifacts auto-adjusted parts anyway.
Useful in Lizardman Sanctuary, and confirmed suspicion: Blunt Technique applied to pickaxes.
Obvious on reflection—where else but Blunt?—but weak weapon image bred doubt.
Including that, performance topped Onyx mace.
Admit it, mood killer.
"'Just drop another artifact. I'll melt it down.'"
But a hunter wielding a pickaxe?
Image issues.
Thus, pickaxe yet to earn full Jeong-hyeon approval.