Chapter 29
“Seo Hunter.”
After stepping outside and walking for a bit, Jeong Hamin finally stopped gnawing at his lip. He looked dead serious.
This guy's inner voice just slipped out, you bastard.
“I don't usually tell people things that benefit them, you know?”
“But that insurance contract you just signed... it's kinda weird, don't you think?”
“I suppose you could see it that way.”
“...Anyone would think that...”
Jeong Hamin ruffled his hair in frustration.
“You've already signed it, so the contract's in effect. It's your own doing, so don't blame me later for not stopping you.”
“Of course not.”
“So... what I'm saying is, don't kill me.”
...?
“Anyway, I'm outta here. Lost my appetite for sushi.”
“Sure.”
I stared at the back of Jeong Hamin's head for a long while as he vanished into the crowd.
Even knowing his personality, he's unpredictable.
Worry or deception?
Better keep my distance.
Anyway.
“Time to send it off.”
I headed to a deserted spot, pulled out my phone, and held it to my ear.
Playing the recording file, the conversation came through crystal clear.
Electronic devices jammed?
With the mana stone SD card used by broadcast reporters, it's invincible against signal interference.
After verifying it a few times, I sent the recording file.
To its original donor.
My thigh started vibrating about twenty minutes later.
I set down my half-eaten burger and answered the call.
“Yes, Reporter?”
-Wonseok! Is this for real?
“No tampering.”
-No way... this is a bank? Even the shady loan sharks wouldn't pull this crap!
“That's the ugly face of Hunter society.”
-Haa... I'll keep a copy of this file, just in case. Or maybe bundle it with the article I'm working on and drop a bombshell.
A reporter who wields a knife instead of a pen?
“No. Let it sit.”
-...? This contract looks straight-up bad for you, Wonseok.
“Exactly. Imagine how bad it'll sting the bank when the time comes.”
-Even if—just hypothetically—it ends up benefiting you somehow, they might not honor it! A place that writes contracts like this! Even with Jeong Hamin as witness...
“Reporter.”
I wiped the red sauce from my thumb.
“Do you know what a bank and its customer trade?”
-Duh. Money.
“Wrong.”
I cleaned the ketchup off with a tissue as I spoke.
“Banks and customers trade credit.”
-...
“If they don't honor it, that's your cue to step in.”
-Credit... credit...
Gija-ryeong muttered it like she was chewing on fries, then spoke softly.
-Do we have any credit left?
“That's why I sent the recording.”
-Mm.
A groan came from the other end.
-Alright, one tip for you. It's securities market gossip, though.
“What is it?”
-Word is, Seo Boseok's joining the Greenbelt Gate incident in Paju.
“Me?”
-Not you! Seo. Bo. Seok!
What the hell?
I rushed straight to my brother's place.
I didn't expect him to be home in the afternoon.
He might show up late tonight or tomorrow.
No matter how long, I'd camp out by the door and wait.
No matter how urgent, I wouldn't barge into an empty house.
About thirty minutes later.
The elevator doors opened, and there was my brother.
“Whoa, what's up, superstar? What brings the busy man here?”
He knew. He knew I was at the center of the chaos at the 64 Building. As always, he didn't mention it to avoid making me uncomfortable.
“Hyung.”
“Whoa, you're scaring me.”
I strode up to him with a bit of edge in my step. His eye level was just a half-inch above mine.
“...Been out somewhere?”
That was all he could muster.
“Me? Just dropped Naeuni off at kindergarten.”
“You're late. Usually you just see her off at the bus stop. Walked her all the way today?”
“...”
My brother stared at me with sunken eyes, then let out a resigned sigh.
He pressed the elevator button.
“Let's talk over food.”
He nodded toward the open elevator interior.
“What makes you think you know what I wanna talk about?”
“You're here about me joining the Greenbelt Gate, right?”
“...”
His face might seem a bit dim at first glance, like he forgets people easily.
But my brother was the smartest person I knew.
No way he'd willingly step into the line of fire. The guilds must've pushed him into it after their 'Seo Boseok disposal' plan backfired, using all sorts of tricks.
Exploiting his ironclad sense of justice.
I need to convince him.
If that's impossible...
At least shove it back at the shadowy forces behind it.
“Auntie! More kimchi here, please!”
My brother shoveled down his bean sprout soup with gusto, grinning toothily.
I sat across from him, performing a ritual incense offering to the rising steam.
“Asking for more kimchi while eating kimchi bean sprout soup! You think I sold land to run this place?!”
“Your kimchi's just that good, Auntie.”
“It's store-bought!”
“Hahaha! Domestic's all that matters!”
Auntie scolded him but plunked down a mountain of kimchi anyway. My brother reached for it with his chopsticks.
“Eat up. Hunters gotta eat big when they can. Sometimes you go days without food in an Abyss Gate. Even a single bean from outside haunts you then.”
“...Got a question.”
“Pick up your spoon, and I'll answer.”
“...”
I did.
Before diving into the main topic, I opened with some small talk to ease in.
“Why do you always ask for more kimchi midway? Must be a hassle for Auntie, and her back looks bad.”
“Hey now, Auntie's tougher than she looks. Watch.”
Auntie was swatting flies with a flyswatter, her movements sharper than my past life's. Awakened, maybe?
“Wonseok.”
My brother lowered his tone.
“Know what hurts the most since I became a Hunter and started clearing gates?”
“...Burning pain?”
“Nope.”
He shook his head firmly.
“When there's no one to talk to. When you feel utterly alone—that's the worst.”
He glanced at Auntie.
“Auntie's by herself.”
“...? Her son used to help before.”
“Remember that Abyss Gate they let sit in Gangneung? Turned into a Gate Break.”
“...Oh.”
“He died then.”
The soup joint had been open 365 days a year. The 'temporary closure' sign had hung for ages, and now the full story came out.
My brother continued.
“But Auntie reopened the place. Amazing, right? So I carefully asked her once—maybe take a break?”
“And?”
“Said she'd end up following her son if she just killed time alone.”
“...”
“That's why. Asking for kimchi, chatting a bit more.”
Damn...
“You know what Paju's like, where the Greenbelt Gate popped up?”
Paju was a border town. Historically battered, plagued by depopulation and aging.
“But people still live there.”
He said it sternly.
“Today dropping Naeuni off, lots of parents were there. Capital area kindergarten, but in Paju, even elementary kids walk holding grandma or grandpa's hand.”
“...”
“That's their home. Kids might head to Seoul later, but losing your hometown? I can't even imagine the pain.”
The TV blared news. Anchors with grim faces warned about the Greenbelt Gate.
“It's not like the guilds begged me to go. I hate those guys too. But I have to.”
He's the smartest person I know.
But I'd forgotten.
This guy was as bullheaded as they come, a purebred stubborn mule.
I listened silently, then picked up my spoon. I started devouring my food so aggressively it startled him.
I slammed my empty bowl down and said to my brother, who'd been watching my mukbang in a daze,
“I'm going too.”
“...Wonseok, you...!”
“What's the big deal? I'm Seo Star.”
“No, still...”
“Korea's top Hunter can't be a hypocrite.”
“Haa...”
He slicked back his hair neatly. He knew my character as well as I did.
“No point talking to you.”
He muttered, then pulled a purple orb from his pocket.
A product mana stone. Generous valuation, it'd fetch at least 30 Credits (30 million KRW).
“No matter how good you are, you can't go in naked. Convert this to Credits and gear up.”
“...!”
“Need more, just say.”
He's a tightwad. For him to hand over this much so readily...
This covers a potion ring with 30 Credits left over.
“Not a gift. As a Hunter, self-sufficiency matters. Pay it back.”
He smiled.
“...Hyung.”
Words failed me.
At the same time, the 'plan' I'd only sketched in my head sharpened into focus.
With this money.
It's possible.
The guild forces trying to push him off the cliff.
I could bankrupt one of them outright.
I pocketed the mana stone without hesitation.
“I'll pay you back.”
Favors double.
Grudges squared.
I wouldn't blow the mana stone my brother gave me on a potion ring right away.
Hunter stores are all sales tactics. Potion rings are good gear, sure, but worth 70 million KRW? Debatable.
I planned to grow this money.
With the most familiar method for modern folks.
Hunter stocks.
I texted Gija-ryeong right after parting with my brother.
Quick reply.
A crowded subway was perfect for a meetup spot.
“Wonseok.”
Gija-ryeong arrived right on time this time.
We claimed a bench between crossing subway lines. No time wasted—I got straight to business, pulling it from my pocket.
“That big a paper fits in your jacket pocket?”
Hemo's disguise clothes had massive storage. The whole box fit.
“Special fabric.”
“Thanks for the thoughtful explanation that ignores the other party's curiosity. Business first, anyway.”
“Agreed.”
I handed over the stack of papers. I stared straight ahead.
In the dark safety doors of the subway, I saw Gija-ryeong's reflection flipping pages with trembling hands. My own blinking eyes too.
Was it my imagination?
I shook my head and told her,
“It's the transaction ledger between North Ocean and KBC. No need to memorize the numbers. Key parts are highlighted.”
“...My god. This much...”
“Gate outbreak forecasts cost a fortune in intel value.”
That's why I was sure North Ocean was tangled in the Greenbelt Gate. KBC suspiciously amplified Paju's panic on air.
Like baiting someone.
Gija-ryeong turned her wide-eyed shock to me.
“Why hand this over suddenly? You said prep stage earlier.”
“Situation changed.”
Thanks to her tip on my brother's involvement.
“This is just a snippet of the transactions.”
She handed back the ledger and asked,
“What's the connection between these deals?”
“Know Gamuchi Media?”
“A bit? Joint venture between North Ocean and KBC.”
“Shell company.”
“...!!”
As I said, KBC's chairman was a chaebol.
And money talks loudest to the rich.
“Ghost company they set up to launder slush funds. The amounts I showed? Private payoffs disguised through Gamuchi Media.”
“...That deep.”
“That's how they stay hidden.”
Gija-ryeong swallowed dryly.
“...Too risky to hit KBC or North Ocean head-on, so start gnawing at the subsidiary shell?”
“Quick on the uptake.”
However.
“Not striking yet.”