Wolf Among the Sheep (2)
“Me? Really?”
Han Min-ah stared at Ju Kang-rim with a puzzled look.
Ju Kang-rim just flashed a grin and said nothing.
“Well, honestly, more than that, the real change that hits home for awakeners is stuff like the subsidies.”
“Yeah. They seem pretty generous... I wonder if it's really okay.”
In reality, awakeners received hefty national support based on their rank. Even just hitting C-rank meant you could live comfortably without financial worries. Of course, you had to keep grinding to maintain that rank.
At S-rank, you'd get insane government backing, welfare perks, and even corporate sponsorships. No need to ditch your country for somewhere else.
“National defense budget's shrunk so much they don't need it anymore, so no worries. The subsidies alone should naturally improve the zombie hunters' image and boost welfare.”
Zombie hunters were already getting the short end of the stick socially compared to their grueling work. If they got tempted by crime, nothing good would come of it.
Forgotten financially and socially, zombie hunters turning to crime was the obvious path—especially since they had powers that made killing easy. Immortals like Kangryeong Daegun exploited that weakness masterfully to build their forces.
That was why the Awakener Management Act's core was policy support to keep them from straying. It wasn't just subsidies or oversight—some measures were setups to catch immortals.
Ju Kang-rim was sketching the big picture, rolling it out step by step.
“Hmm, got it. So, what's your rank right now, Mr. Ju?”
“D-rank.”
“...D?”
“Haven't reported any standout achievements.”
He'd absorbed every black core into his Saingeom, and his immortal and criminal kills would land him in prison if exposed. His official skill, 'Canine Eyes', didn't seem special either, so D-rank was inevitable.
Of course, if Ju Kang-rim wanted, he could spill blood and snag at least A-rank.
“Not chasing ranks right now, but we should bump yours up first, Ms. Han.”
“Huh? Why me?”
“You wanna research everywhere, right? Major subjugation ops ahead require a minimum rank to join.”
Ju Kang-rim planned to max out Han Min-ah's rank. She needed to be essential for upcoming gate subjugations—easier to drag along that way. Among high-rankers who might hide immortals, one reliable ally made moves smoother.
And if his hunch was right, Han Min-ah could be a hard counter gripping immortals by the throat.
“Makes sense. So how do I raise my rank?”
“Hunting zombies works, but the fastest one-shot way is...”
Ju Kang-rim glanced at his Biman, checking yesterday's new mission.
Mission: Weeping Blood Pool
Objective: Slay Abomination 'Overbreeder'
Reward 1: 1,000 soul coins
Reward 2: Guaranteed Legendary 'Today's Fortune'
“...Taking down abominations or enhanced zombies.”
Ju Kang-rim and Han Min-ah arrived at Uijeongbu's outskirts.
The area surrounding outer Seoul was under evacuation orders, with barely any signs of life. It lay outside the influence of the Bukhan Mountain Gate, but new gates kept flickering open and shut around Seoul, as if mirroring the instability in the heavens.
Up ahead, where military barricades blocked vehicles, eight hunters gathered.
As Ju Kang-rim and Han Min-ah stepped out, a man who seemed the leader approached.
“Mr. Ju! Long time no see.”
It was Lee Tae-hu—the zombie hunter who'd saved Ju Kang-rim from exhaustion after an enhanced zombie fight, right from the hospital.
“Mr. Lee. Thanks for taking my call.”
“No, I was shocked you called. Back then, I wanted to recruit you, but Yoo Wol-ryeong shut it down cold. And now you bring such a precious ally.”
Lee Tae-hu greeted Han Min-ah warmly too.
Ju Kang-rim eyed Lee Tae-hu's overly chummy vibe, puzzled. He'd only told him Han Min-ah was a healer—no reason for this enthusiasm.
Not just her—feels like he's buddying up to all of us.
Lee Tae-hu suddenly asked, “Brings me to wonder—Ms. Yoo say nothing about you joining a ragtag op like this?”
This was a makgong—ad-hoc hunter squad for a specific job. Most raids were tight-knit, but interests aligned strangers sometimes. They called those makgong.
“Nah, this is personal. She's not here.”
“Figures. With the Awakener Management Act, everyone's busy curating careers.”
Lee Tae-hu seemed to interpret it positively on his own.
“As you know, military wants the Uijeongbu Gate core located. Extra pay if we close it. Could get guide gigs for re-raids later.”
“Got it.”
Ju Kang-rim could've soloed this, but he formed the makgong for 'witnesses'. Rank-ups factored in teamwork and performance scores, not just zombie kills.
“Looks like we're all here—let me introduce folks. You know me, and this is...”
“Save the intros for after. Let's move already.”
A bob-cut hunter snapped irritably. Scar on her forehead stood out.
Lee Tae-hu's lips twitched, but he held back—fighting pre-raid was pointless.
Ju Kang-rim sized up Lee Tae-hu, bob-cut, and the group, grasping the dynamics. Now he got the overfriendliness.
Lee Tae-hu's crew: 4. Bob-cut's: 3. Lone wolf: 1. Plus Ju and Han: 10 total.
Lee Tae-hu's side held numbers and leadership sway. Makgong success hinged on control—early power plays were standard.
But excess infighting spelled doom. Lee Tae-hu's chumminess was a bid to lock in Ju Kang-rim.
Just play along with Lee Tae-hu.
Backing the strong prevented pointless drama. Lee wasn't a bad guy anyway.
Lee Tae-hu muttered with a sigh, “Her handle's 'AllDieExceptCats'.”
“Then we'll call her 'GodaJuk', yeah.”
Bob-cut's face twisted instantly. But she hadn't given her name first.
“My name is...”
As she grudgingly opened her mouth, Lee Tae-hu cut in quick.
“All good. I'll intro the rest gradually.”
Ju Kang-rim nodded.
Lee Tae-hu smoothly led the hunters forward. GodaJuk flushed red-purple.
Soldiers at the entrance counted heads and opened the barricade.
A sergeant tallied, “Nine? Short of expected. All here?”
“Yeah. Two bailed—family funerals.”
“Raid days always spike funerals, huh.”
The soldier joked about hunters ghosting last-minute with funeral excuses. Lee Tae-hu, who'd heard the same, forced a wry smile.
“Vibe's off. What now?”
Han Min-ah whispered anxiously before entering.
Ju Kang-rim, used to this, shrugged. “They're just extras. Ignore 'em.”
“Quiet, huh.”
“Uijeongbu is being evacuated because of the Bukhan Mountain Gate. There are fewer casualties.”
Even with the evacuation orders, some people still refused to leave. Others returned once it seemed that Bukhan Mountain’s reach was limited.
Low population meant fewer zombies—safer, but abominations showed regardless.
“No ID on this area's abomination yet?”
“Nah. Night sightings of something huge, but details fuzzy.”
“Civilian tracks—survivalist camps hunting?”
“Yeah. Apartment ahead has a group. We'll trade supplies, intel, then roll.”
Gate squatters: 'survivalists'. Refused to flee for home, sick, or reasons. Potential bandits, government headache—but no raiding through zombies for arrests.
Lee Tae-hu caught Ju Kang-rim's concern. “Solid folks. Won't abandon hometown. Led by ex-hunters forming a militia. Fortified the place.”
“Good to hear.”
“Oh yeah—what's your awakening, Mr. Ju?”
Makgong etiquette: disclose skills upfront. Lee trusted Yoo Wol-ryeong's vetting, so he was clueless.
Ju Kang-rim tapped under his eye. “See ghosts.”
“...Pardon?”
Canine Eyes skill. Sees ghosts.”
“Skill like that exists? Damn. Seeing any now?”
“Not inside gates.”
“...Useless in gates then?”
“Useless? Too kind. Useless outside too. What good's ghost-seeing?”
Lee Tae-hu's face soured—per Ju, zero powers.
But knowing Ju's hospital bloodbath survival, he nodded calmly.
“Hmm. Still better than me maybe. Truth is, no awakening for me.”
Ju Kang-rim blinked. Rare, but pros like Lee should've awakened. Veteran vibes.
“Never hit rock bottom for the trigger. But trust my skills.”
“That's more impressive, no? No powers, no near-deaths—insane survival.”
Veteran sans awakening meant rock-solid basics. Explained Yoo Wol-ryeong subcontracting him.
Lee Tae-hu grinned sheepishly at the praise. “Thanks. Some cheap out sans powers, but Samdo Group always pays fair. Oh, apartment's 'round this corner...”
His words halted.
Apartment visible—as said. But upper floors had a massive sack dangling mid-center. Not a blanket—spanned 3-4 stories, writhing like a water bag.
Lee Tae-hu gnashed his teeth. “Goddamn it.”
Hunters sped up, Lee Tae-hu in the lead.