Chapter 18
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Running into the Team Leader
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The black nose of the crookedly standing Walker glistened. Do Jaegyu's eyes widened.
"Do you think I wouldn't know that? Since you're monitoring undetected gates via satellite, I figured you'd naturally dispatch a team, Team Leader."
Han Kitae tilted his head slightly upward, as if displeased with Do Jaegyu's response.
The shadow cast over his face was chillingly cold.
"We've been on the same team for years. Your moves are predictable as ever."
Han Kitae's eyes flashed with a murderous glint at Do Jaegyu's casual demeanor, but it quickly faded.
"Is that so."
His flat voice carried a sharp edge of suspicion toward the man who had just emerged from the gate.
He probably wants to ask.
Why you're here.
But Han Kitae didn't open his mouth easily.
His predatory gaze, sizing up its prey, stabbed piercingly all over Do Jaegyu's body.
"Don't jump to useless conclusions like I'm stalking you or something."
Han Kitae furrowed his brow in disgust at the playful tone. But the expression vanished in an instant.
His voice was as sharp as his ice-cold face, laced with reprimand.
"Still as unserious about everything as ever."
Seeing Han Kitae's eyes still treating him like a subordinate ignited a spark of anger within Do Jaegyu.
It's been ages since I left the team.
His silver eyes, cold even at a glance, flickered with faint pity.
"Is that right."
Do Jaegyu scanned Han Kitae up and down, noting his impeccably worn uniform.
"It's just my natural personality."
He shrugged, and Han Kitae let out a low sigh.
As always, Han Kitae's flawless face was smeared with exhaustion.
Meeting me probably tires him out.
Even knowing that, Do Jaegyu couldn't stop prodding at his nerves.
If Han Kitae started paying attention beyond the gate, it would give him a headache.
Only he could uncover Black Shadow's identity and track her down.
Only he could grasp her desperate hand.
He had no intention of handing over the perfectly set table, so Do Jaegyu continued provoking Han Kitae with his flippant attitude.
Even back on the team, he'd treated him like an oddball.
He'd probably chalk this up as one of his quirks too.
"Sorry for making you come all this way for nothing."
As if emphasizing it was a waste of time, Do Jaegyu gestured toward the gate shimmering red in the distance over his shoulder.
"What are you thinking? You know protocol is to report an undetected gate immediately upon discovery, right? Looks like the Guild Leader needs some retraining."
Even at the jab implying he could gauge its level without looking, Do Jaegyu didn't wipe the smile from his face.
"As if."
From afar, Myeongjin looked around before spotting the two in standoff and came running breathlessly.
Panting heavily was a bonus.
"You're out of breath from a short sprint? You need to work out."
"Why are you picking on me all of a sudden?"
"Just stating facts."
Myeongjin pushed up his fogged glasses.
"What is this?"
Han Kitae lowered his voice at the two ignoring him like a fifth wheel.
Only then did Myeongjin seem to notice him and bow slightly.
"Team Leader Han Kitae, hello."
"Ha."
Han Kitae let out a hollow laugh at Myeongjin's perfunctory greeting.
"For Korea's top guild, your chain of command is a mess, isn't it?"
"I don't like rigid hierarchies. Horizontal relationships are all the rage these days. You know what that means, right?"
Han Kitae stared indifferently at Do Jaegyu, who drew a straight line with his fingers.
"Yours is still vertical, though? Stiff as a board? Some things never change."
Do Jaegyu's face looked amused as he fired back without missing a beat, but his eyes were hard.
"Is that why you bolted from the team? Over something so trivial?"
"Well, can't say that's not part of it."
Han Kitae pinched the bridge of his nose in fatigue. A pad suddenly thrust in front of him as he clamped his mouth shut, unwilling to continue the exchange.
"Here. I already reported to the Director. Got verbal approval before entering, and the official permit's on the way."
The pad Myeongjin held out clearly displayed the gate entry permit stamped with the Director's seal.
"There you go."
Han Kitae didn't drop his suspicion at Do Jaegyu's smug shrug.
"I need more explanation."
"More explanation? Like what?"
"Fine, say you stumbled on an undetected gate by coincidence. But the Guild Leader who hates the Director's guts gets prior approval to clear it? You expect me to buy that?"
"That's exactly what happened."
"Who do you take……."
Crunch. Muscles bunched tightly in Han Kitae's protruding jaw. He swallowed the rest like it was gravel, but Do Jaegyu could guess what came next.
Yeah. You're no fool to let it slide.
Myeongjin rolled his eyes uneasily, wedged between the two tense hunters.
"Uh…… kind of a talent donation?"
"What?"
"Think of it as a talent donation. Makes it easier, right? No need to see each other's faces and get tired."
There wasn't a shred of courtesy in his plea for agreement. Han Kitae tilted his head as if swallowing his emotions and squeezed his eyes shut.
"It's the agency I used to work for. Can't just ignore when it's in trouble."
"What trouble?"
"Oh, you know, this and that?"
"Stop beating around the bush and spit it out."
Han Kitae stepped forward as if ready to throw down.
"Like that Stone Mountain Station incident last time."
Han Kitae's fist clenched at the direct hit.
"I hear the government's hunter numbers are pretty short. Bidding on gates recklessly anyway. Ha, what a mess. The Director's greed leaves you and the other hunters suffering."
His face grinned nonstop, belying the concern in his words.
"On top of that, you're handling tracking duties too. You'd need ten bodies to keep up."
Do Jaegyu nodded sympathetically.
Myeongjin just watched Han Kitae anxiously, witnessing his boss's masterful sarcasm.
"Must be exhausting."
Do Jaegyu's lips curved upward relentlessly.
"Worrying about my fatigue too? Should I be grateful?"
Even as he mocked Elite Team 1's beleaguered state amid public backlash, Han Kitae's expression didn't change.
"Gratitude's overkill. But we go way back."
"If it was that kind of connection, you'd have cut ties ages ago."
Do Jaegyu forced his lips into a grin, unfazed by the frostbite-cold sarcasm.
How long can that guy hold back?
Han Kitae crossed his arms, his well-toned muscles bulging through his thick uniform.
Do Jaegyu stroked his chin, eyeing Han Kitae who showed no sign of leaving.
At this rate, Sejin—Black Shadow inside the gate—wouldn't get a chance to come out.
Hm.
He should've cleared the creatures faster. Who knew Han Kitae would move this quick?
She was told to stay put, but would she really wait? What if Sejin couldn't hold back and burst out? Do Jaegyu glanced anxiously at the gate.
His gaze shifted to a figure rapidly approaching from afar.
An Elite Team 1 hunter was closing in fast.
"Oh, hello, Senior."
No Yunyoung faltered at the tense aura between the two.
After greeting Guild Leader Do Jaegyu, she glanced at Han Kitae, wondering what was going on.
"All the government hunters with any social skills show up at once, huh?"
"Haha…… I get called friendly wherever I go."
Han Kitae shot No Yunyoung a glare before snatching the pad from Myeongjin and tossing it aside with a whoosh.
"Oh. The permit."
"Verify what happened."
"Got it."
No Yunyoung raised her phone at Han Kitae's order.
Half-turning her body, she glanced at the two while continuing the call.
"You don't believe it even after seeing the report. Must suck for the junior."
"Who's the junior?"
Han Kitae's scowl sharpened, as if telling him to cut the nonsense.
"Does anyone not know I was on Elite Team 1?"
"No self-awareness of the storm you caused when you left?"
His icy silver eyes swelled with killing intent, as if ready to devour Do Jaegyu on the spot.