Chapter 13
I tried to ignore the bitter feeling and walk past, but...
"The thing is, unlike the Association, you need a Hunter Card to enter here."
"......"
She was maintaining her silence throughout.
"Hey, you."
Two security guards pushed through the crowd and approached us.
"Please don't cause a scene here and move over there. Our customers are getting uncomfortable."
"Of course not."
The man who'd been picking a fight with me quickly bowed his head. He rubbed his hands together with a sleazy grin—a completely different attitude from how he'd treated me.
"This Awakener here kept eyeing the popup store, so I was just giving him a stern warning."
The guards' sharp gazes shifted to me.
"Is that true?"
"Yes."
I answered plainly.
Their eyes narrowed with suspicion.
"Do you know the entry requirements for our store?"
I was too lazy to explain.
I just shoved my Hunter Card at them.
Both the guard and the sleazy guy flinched.
Guess my appearance didn't inspire much confidence as a Hunter.
"......Is this really yours?"
The sleazy guy's words made the guards look doubtful too. They started grilling me.
"Are you doubting me?"
"Think of it as a verification procedure."
So, they wanted a stare-down.
"I don't feel like answering."
"If it turns out to be real, we'll compensate you for our rudeness on behalf of the store."
"That'd naturally be in Credits, right."
The guard's distinctive eyebrow twitched.
"......If the Hunter Card is real."
Great, I'd really gotten under their skin.
There are plenty of ways to prove it.
The most impactful—and reliable—Seo Boseok Hunter cheat key wasn't an option due to personal reasons.
I had no intention of spreading the word that we were brothers far and wide right now.
What to do.
As the situation turned against me, the hostile onlookers smirked smugly.
That was when it happened.
"Huh?!"
A guy who'd stopped right in front of the popup store darted over quickly.
A familiar face—no, it was the squinty-eyed guy.
"Seo Hunter! Fancy seeing you here!"
Jeong Hamin, the future traitor Hunter destined for infamy.
He shoved the guards and the sleazy guy aside and greeted me warmly.
"......!"
The guards and the sleazy guy couldn't hide their quiet shock.
Jeong Hamin was an R&Y Guild Hunter.
He even had a solid fanbase and considerable fame.
For such a Hunter to publicly acknowledge me as one.
But...
"Saw you yesterday, and now here again. Haha, what a fateful connection!"
Why was he acting like we were buddies...?
We had zero connection, right?
As I froze, someone else butted in.
"Um, uh, Hunter Jeong."
"Hm?"
Jeong Hamin glanced at the guy who'd picked a fight with me. The sleazy guy mustered his courage.
"Do you two know each—"
"Wasn't an invitation to ask questions."
Jeong Hamin's squinty eyes opened dangerously.
"Since when do Awakener trash cut off Hunters mid-sentence? And you guards need better training."
"U-Us?"
The guards recoiled like they'd been struck by lightning from a clear sky.
"Letting low-rank Awakener scum wander near the Hunters' sanctuary?"
"S-Sorry...!"
"Sorry fixes what?"
"We'll report to upper management and compensate in Credits."
In the meantime, one guard dragged the sleazy guy to a shadowy alley. A popping sound echoed soon after—probably my imagination.
The traitor Hunter looked satisfied.
"Good. Low-rank Awakener communicate only in Credits!"
3Ⓒ
Jeong Hamin accepted the compensation he'd nearly been stiffed on.
My response?
"I'll pass."
......Refused.
"......?!?!"
Why the shock?
My bank account might be chilly, but my pride burned hot.
"I appreciate the thought, but I don't live on debts."
It stung to let 3Ⓒ slip away right in front of me. Unlike cash earned from work, Credits were hard to come by in normal society.
"No need to feel burdened at all!"
"Not trying to dismiss you, Hunter Jeong. I'll just take the sentiment."
Plus, rumors swirled that Jeong Hamin tossed money at Hunters under the guise of "friendship fees." He was likely buttering up promising rookies early.
Which raised a question.
Even for a spendthrift Hunter swimming in Credits...
Sprinkling them everywhere still meant some bleeding for Jeong Hamin.
His guildmates must eye him warily for it.
Yet he ignored the side-eye and kept handing them out.
Just building fame? No.
Can't expect that kind of character from a squinty schemer...
This was a litmus test for his future treason.
Throw blind money at clueless but potential Hunters, then later lure them to defect abroad together.
If they refused the cash...? Even as a regressor, I didn't know. They all vanished. Probably bit off something poisoned.
"Mm, hmm."
Jeong Hamin elegantly arched his brow.
He crossed his arms, tapping his bicep rhythmically. The beat felt ominous.
Better cut ties now, even if it earns me a glare.
His interest in me stemmed from my link to Seo Boseok anyway. He wouldn't value plain old Seo Wonseok that highly.
"Too bad, but got it!"
More agreeable than expected.
"No friendship fee, but take the compensation anyway."
Compensation was separate?
And what was this "friendship fee" anyway!
"3Ⓒ must seem insultingly cheap for Seo Hunter, right?"
I'd been ready to swallow tears and let it go.
"Well, yeah, trying to boost your value with your rank... Whoops! Can't say that under the Eternal Pact. Sorry!"
"......"
What a tiresome personality.
Still, thanks to him, confirmed the Eternal Pact binds even big-name Hunters like this.
......Though he seemed to chalk it up to our "bond."
"Friendship fee off the table!"
Jeong Hamin clapped his hands.
He turned to the guard.
"Can I help with the store's compensation plan for Seo Hunter?"
Ah, forgot about that.
The guard looked flustered, like he'd hoped to brush it off. Sweat beaded on his forehead.
"This popup store drags its feet on processing."
Jeong Hamin smirked slyly.
"But flash our guild card, and it speeds up. No cost to you, Seo Hunter—zero burden."
Fair point.
If Jeong Hamin pulls even a little weight, most procedures get fast-tracked.
Whatever—he wanted to build rapport with me.
I had no such plans, but flat-out rejecting his favors repeatedly...
......Might make this traitor Hunter see it as enmity and pull some sabotage. Worst-case scenario.
Were all those vanishing Hunters tied to his treason a coincidence?
Traitors were baseline psychopaths. They'd remove obstacles without hesitation if crossed.
I pretended to mull it over, then nodded.
"I think I can ask that much."
"Thanks for letting me help!"
......Sigh.
So much drama before even entering.
I followed Jeong Hamin into the store.
It was a whole other world.
Shopping here would breed elitism in anyone.
Clearly designed to inflate Hunter pride.
I wouldn't be swayed.
I'll carve out the rotten sores of Hunter society.
My top priority wouldn't change, even in death.
Of course, one man couldn't stem the tide of the superhuman era alone. Awakened were already core to the planet's ecosystem.
But...
"First floor's meh. Second's worth seeing, but B-rank minimum."
Jeong Hamin chattered excitedly.
They tier the store by rank inside too.
Grotesque.
Hunter society was structurally deformed. Even Awakened obsessed over ranks internally. How did civilians look to them?
......Disillusioning. Better stop thinking.
The goal etched in my heart: infiltrate Hunter world's core.
Find and eliminate the shadowy force that ordered our executions.
Exploit Han Biyeol, the blade, to the max.
"Browse around while I wait."
Jeong Hamin dashed to the info desk, leaving me in reality-check mode. Full of pep, that guy.
......Draining.
Might as well look around.
I wandered the store aimlessly.
Saw some gear in past-life Gates that Hunters used.
Weapons dominated the main lineup. Melee to ranged, sharp blades gleaming within arm's reach.
"Tch."
I snorted and looked away without regret.
Those flashy relics were store gimmicks. Rookies bought the shiny bait hook, line, and sinker. The store's ploy to push Gate runs and offload junk.
And rightly so.
Look at those killer prices.
Store weapons performed decently—fine for newbies.
Just the prices suck.
Tens of millions casual, some over a hundred million. As a regressor, I guaranteed they weren't worth it.
Gate drops make these scraps.
Then someone brushed past my arm. Their hand touched the 80Ⓒ Demon Horn Spear.
A store clerk zipped over like lightning.
"Tank build, I take it!"
"Y-Yeah... Got my Hunter Card last month, just graduated Hunter Academy, thought I'd check it out. But I don't have enough Credits yet."
"Aw, tough break! No worries—we've got systems for promising new Hunters like you!"
The clerk rapid-fired the pitch.
"Systems?"
"1.3% Credit discount for rookies! Plus our in-house capital support."
"Capital... like loans?"
"Yep! Low interest, easy terms. C'mon, let's chat at the desk."
The newbie blinked, and suddenly he was seated across from a consultant.
......Hunter society's rotten.
Disgusting.
Luckily, no clerk hawked me. My shabby look, plus tagging along with Jeong Hamin—they'd get caught scamming quick.
Unexpected breather.
I roamed with relief.
Hm?
Thought I mis-saw, rubbed my eyes, looked again.
"There it is."
◈ Perfect facial disguise (1/week)
◈ Height unchanged | Face only
A cheap-looking hockey mask tucked in a blind spot. At a bargain price, relatively.
They sell that here?!
In the future, tycoons gave up at auctions—it was insane. Only two existed worldwide.
And here it was.
Right in front of me.
Surprise Texture Mask.
Effect was simple.
Once a week, disguise as anyone desired. Height fixed, face only—but flawless.
Why chaebols couldn't buy it later?
It's the one Zion wears.
Zion.
About a year from now, a foreign Hunter emerges. Main stage abroad, so guessed foreign—details murky.
Legit world Hunter ranking #3.
His trademark: that mask.
Value inflated by user, not item itself.
Gimmick merch.
Maker starved to death unsold—both copies lingered. Tragic backstory hiked the price.
Thump thump thump.
Heart pounded.
Like unearthing treasure in an antique shop.
Personal Zion fan, too.
Two years from now, around 2 billion Ⓒ.
Insane.
"I want it."
Perfect for my need for stealth ops. Until auctioning later.
That instant.
"Seo Hunter!"
Jeong Hamin waved, approaching.
He thrust a tin case at me.
"Finished negotiating with the store manager! Compensation set at 5Ⓒ for now."
Doubt it.
Probably 2Ⓒ max.
3Ⓒ extra from Jeong Hamin. Total 5Ⓒ.
Three million won free.
Huge win.
"I see."
I held back a grin.
"Haha! More than expected, huh?"
"Yeah. Stunningly so."
His squint narrowed further.
He knew I'd clocked it.
"I advocated hard for you! Lemme brag a bit!"
"Sorry for just taking after meeting yesterday."
"Nah, Hunters gotta help each other."
I gazed quietly at Jeong Hamin.
Come to think... do I even need to clash with him...?
He'd betray R&Y later, absconding with networks abroad. Guild took a massive hit.
If played right...
This traitor could stir chaos for me?
Enemy of my enemy...
One man versus the system? Egg versus rock. Even with absolute ally Seo Boseok, tough against the whole. Best case: mutual destruction.
I'm trying to save everyone.
Use him as smoke screen.
Traitor Hunter—no excess guilt needed.
"From now on."
I added a soft smile.
"Please take care of me, Hunter Jeong."
"......!"
He beamed, touched.
"M-Me too!"
Real or fake—didn't matter.
Jeong Hamin inwardly cheered.
Jackpot!
He'd pulled an all-nighter visiting the store. Shopping to ease stress.
Why? Shaking under blankets from Seo Wonseok's ripple effect.
Didn't know if instant kill or not, per a senior.
That uncertainty terrified more.
At least clarity would've helped!
Tossed sleepless in fear till dawn.
Emotions shifted.
Fear to awe.
Ridiculous.
First SSS-rank Hunter? Not one—Seo Boseok, likely blood-related to Seo Wonseok, got SSS too.
Yet.
The spark for Jeong Hamin's grand delusion?
-Does instant kill exist in second awakenings?
Han Biyeol's offhand remark implanted deep.
Must latch on.
R&Y and allies plotted Seo Boseok's purge. Incidents delayed, but...
They'll try again.
They didn't know.
About variable Seo Wonseok.
Fucking X-gods.
Even without instant kill, high odds of comparable power.
Theory or not, Jeong Hamin picked sides inwardly.
Seo brothers.
Take 'em to America later.
So thinking.
"Please take care of me."
Seo Wonseok reciprocated his goodwill.
"Hit me up anytime you need help!"
......Ready to give it all.