Chapter 6
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Dodging the Agency, Guild Leader's Fancy
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Han Kitae ground his teeth, glaring in the direction where the unregistered hunter had vanished like a dot by the narrowest margin.
"Hah. Slipped away again?"
His tone sharpened at No Yunyoung's lighthearted voice, as if the matter had nothing to do with her.
"Watch your mouth."
No Yunyoung shrugged nonchalantly as she approached Han Kitae, her expression unperturbed despite his icy retort that wasn't a one- or two-day occurrence.
"We're in deep now. The Poison Toad's gonna chew us out again."
"The director's no Poison Toad. Mind your words."
"Yeesh."
No Yunyoung pouted at Han Kitae's incoming lecture.
"But calling the Poison Toad 'Poison Toad'... what else are we supposed to say?"
Han Kitae started to reply to her genuinely curious tone but clamped his mouth shut.
"Anyway, what kept you? You just show up now...?"
When he asked why she'd arrived so late, No Yunyoung blinked her big eyes innocently and pressed her index finger to her lips.
It was an adorably naive expression that suited her youthful face perfectly, but Han Kitae's expression darkened coldly.
"Feel like ditching the car? This thing's paid for by taxpayer money."
Han Kitae shot a sharp glare at No Yunyoung's snarky remark.
"Anyway, judging by the gate's color, looks like it closed up already after they came out."
No Yunyoung wandered around the area, eyeing the gate entrance that now glowed red, unlike when it first opened.
"Do we really have to catch 'em?"
Han Kitae rubbed his furrowed brow with a finger at her dismissive comment, unworthy of a response. His frown lines refused to smooth out.
"You call that a question?"
His words came out syllable by syllable, laced with barely contained fury.
Only then did No Yunyoung seem to read the mood from Team Leader Han Kitae's edged voice, pretending nonchalance as she backed away.
"Ugh, why's the car making that noise? Is it busted?"
Han Kitae clicked his tongue in pity at No Yunyoung's retreating figure as she headed toward the perfectly fine van parked in the middle of the road.
This was how many times she'd slipped right through his fingers now?
Han Kitae stared into empty space before shaking his hand, his sword vanishing with a trail of light.
Why the hell...?
If she was a hunter with no record, she could just register, earn legit pay, and operate properly.
She wasn't even collecting byproducts separately. Though her rank was unknown, Black Shadow's taming ability was rare.
A tamer, one of the few in the world...
If she registered as a hunter, other guilds would surely scramble to recruit her.
That's why the government had kept quiet about Black Shadow's primary skill being taming. His orders were capture, not kill.
Damn it.
He clicked his tongue, displeased by that fact.
Unregistered hunters are a crime just by existing. No matter the circumstances.
A vicious grinding sound emanated from his clenched teeth.
Black Shadow's elusive figure kept flickering in his mind's eye.
Should I just kill her?
It went against orders from above, but the killing intent welled up uncontrollably.
Beasts unworthy of existence.
Han Kitae's rage toward unregistered hunters surged, his silver eyes growing even colder.
3. Silver Spirit Guild Leader Do Jaegyu
"Whoa! Nice one!"
At that moment, Do Jaegyu clapped enthusiastically while watching Sejin flee astride Queen Hornet.
"Our Black Shadow's great at making a getaway."
"You seem awfully pleased, sir."
Kim Myeongjin, who had stepped out of the luxury sedan following Do Jaegyu, asked with a weary expression.
"Isn't it obvious?"
"Which part?"
"She stuck it to Han Kitae and got away. Of course I'm thrilled."
So which part exactly? Kim Myeongjin knew his boss's twisted personality all too well, but still.
He shook his head.
Ignoring Kim Myeongjin's thoughts entirely, Do Jaegyu flashed a grin like he'd leaped straight out of an ad. Something about that smile sent a chill down Kim Myeongjin's spine.
Do Jaegyu swept back his vivid red hair fluttering in the wind with his fingers.
Judging by looks alone, he resembled a strikingly handsome male model.
A frame over 190cm packed with muscle so tight not even a needle could slip through.
Plus, his refreshingly masculine features exuded enough testosterone to captivate any woman.
No wonder even those who hated Hunter Do Jaegyu struggled to hate his face.
His fame among hunters wasn't just due to his rank. That flashy visage played a big role too.
But knowing the rotten temperament lurking beneath, Kim Myeongjin's eyes clouded with dismay.
His personality's the worst. Or is it just plain nasty?
Of course, as the man footing his paycheck, he swallowed the words rising to his throat.
Think of the paycheck!
Only then could he barely rein in his insolent gaze toward his boss.
Why does he hate—no, despise—government hunters so much?
Was it resentment from when he ditched the government in the past? But even that didn't explain the depth of his hatred.
Did they brutalize him or something? Nah, who'd dare mess with an SS-rank hunter unless they had a death wish? Kim Myeongjin tilted his head.
He could only assume there was some reason he didn't know about.
"What now?"
"Huh?"
"We rushed here the second we heard Black Shadow showed up, but we missed her again without even a glimpse."
They'd hounded the driver all the way from the city just to arrive, but Black Shadow—the one Do Jaegyu was so eager to meet—had vanished without a trace, not even a single hair left behind.
Did Black Shadow even know she was Silver Spirit Guild's top recruitment target?
"Eh. Plenty of chances later."
Do Jaegyu shrugged, watching proudly until Black Shadow shrank to a dot.
Kim Myeongjin swallowed a sigh at his inscrutable boss's peculiar tastes.
"Heading back now, then?"
"Hm."
Do Jaegyu, half-seated in the sedan, cocked his head.
"We're already here—might as well grab something tasty. I'm starving. You free, Kim Secretary?"
I'm busy. Super busy! Unlike some leisurely soul!
Kim Myeongjin tamped down his rising frustration, piled high with work.
"Sure. Of course."
A workaholic drone screaming for work-life balance had only one reply.
Kim Myeongjin! Think of the paycheck!
This month's expenses were... let's see.
He had to endure. Do Jaegyu was a jerk, but the pay was damn good.
You got this, Myeongjin!
Even with twice the bodies, he'd be swamped—but the salary worked wonders.
It took a mere five seconds to plaster on a forced smile.
"Shall I book a spot at a hotel restaurant nearby? You said it was great last time."
"Hmm."
Do Jaegyu, lounging in the back seat with legs crossed, tilted his head. Kim Myeongjin in the passenger seat perked up his ears.
"Craving something different today."
"Something else?"
What the hell now, you maniac.
His mouth said one thing, but inside, Kim Myeongjin seethed.
"How 'bout that one?"
Do Jaegyu pointed down the street lined with shops.
"Check out that grandma's face. Doesn't she look thrilled? Total vibe of a hidden gem."
"Th-that gukbap joint over there?"
The boss he served, Do Jaegyu, was infamous for his picky palate.
The guild even had a dedicated chef just for him. And now, street gukbap? Seriously?
At Do Jaegyu's incomprehensible whim, Kim Myeongjin double-checked like he'd misheard.
"You mean the gukbap place at the end of that alley, right?"
His polite tone couldn't quite mask the are you nuts? undertone.
Do Jaegyu kicked the front seat in annoyance at the repeated confirmation.
"Sorry. My bad."
No hint of actual apology in his voice—it screamed intentional.
The kick was deliberate.
"Yes, sir. Let's go."
Kim Myeongjin, mere employee, gave the desired response.
Paycheck covers everything, huh?
Screw that.
The life of a powerless salaryman was brutal.
"Why? Can't I have gukbap?"
His voice dripped with offended pique. Was it just his mood, or did his grudges drag on forever too?
"No, not at all. Of course you can."
"Right?"
His calm tone, as if nothing was wrong, nearly made Kim Myeongjin feel guilty now.
You never touch the stuff usually!
He knew full well this was the guy who'd drop his spoon at the slightest off freshness in ingredients. Kim Myeongjin rubbed his forehead.
Ugh.
If the boss said eat shit, he'd eat shit.
With a resigned look, Kim Myeongjin turned toward the direction Do Jaegyu indicated.
He eyed the sign—'50-Year Tradition: Grandma Kim Makrye's Handmade Gukbap'—with foreboding.
As if boasting its status as a local favorite, it featured an image of who must be Grandma Kim Makrye in elegant hanbok.
A few spoonfuls in, and he'd whine it was no good.
Kim Myeongjin could picture the future all too clearly as he gestured to the driver gripping the wheel.
"Right this way, sir."
The car glided smoothly at the driver's word. Unlike some idle folk, Kim Myeongjin had mountains of work, his fingers flying over the tablet in his lap.
Poor me.
Of course, grumbling only in his head.