Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Capturing the Killer
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The branches of the Walking Tree burrowed into my body, sucking my blood. With dozens of branches wrapping tightly around me, it felt like I was sinking into a swamp made of wood.
My regeneration wasn't working well, probably because it was draining my blood.
My consciousness was fading.
[Skill: Venomous Blood (A) acquired.]
[Regeneration skill level increased from D to C.]
[Sturdy Body skill level increased from D to C.]
The rapid-fire status window alerts snapped my eyes open.
C-rank Regeneration allowed me to absorb surrounding life force and use it for my own recovery. I stretched out my arm and jammed my fingers into the Walking Tree's trunk.
I could feel its life force being sucked into my fingers. In turn, the Walking Tree withered like a mummy.
My blood, altered by the Venomous Blood skill, melted the branches that had pierced my body. It wasn't just acidic—it was a deadly poison. The poisoned Walking Trees collapsed like rotten logs.
Lost in a trance, I lashed out at every Walking Tree within reach.
[Level increased.]
After massacring dozens of Walking Trees, my level rose. I hadn't gained any levels since arriving for this subjugation, but it went up right when I needed it.
I absorbed life force from the few surviving Walking Trees and turned toward the direction where Na-young had been dragged. My heightened senses picked up its footprints clearly.
The stolen life force gradually regenerated my wounds, and my running speed picked up accordingly.
I gritted my teeth so hard they felt like they'd shatter as I bounded up the mountain.
I tried to make a call while running, but my phone was smashed—either from the Walking Tree or a bullet, I couldn't tell.
"Damn it...."
A curse slipped out naturally. Recovering from my head injury and tracking them had taken too much time. It was a fast-moving hunter; no telling how far it had gone.
I pushed my leg muscles to the breaking point and leaped forward.
Had I run for about ten minutes? Up ahead, I spotted it sprinting with Na-young slung over its shoulder.
I followed as quietly as possible, minimizing my footsteps.
It didn't seem intent on harming her right away, but I couldn't attack recklessly with her captured. I kept my distance and trailed behind.
A black sedan was parked in an open lot by the road. It tossed Na-young into the back seat and hid the rifle under the trunk floor.
I held my breath and waited, then charged out the moment the trunk slammed shut.
"Huh?!"
It recoiled in surprise, but I pressed on and swung my fist.
Even startled, it easily dodged my punch. For it to evade an attack from my Agility stat over 50, it had to be at least B-rank—maybe even A-rank.
I swung relentlessly, but annoyingly, it was faster than me.
It retreated while drawing a pistol from its waist and firing at me. Its agility in backpedaling and rapid-firing was impossible to match.
My Sturdy Body had leveled up too, so even mana-infused bullets only pierced my skin.
"They said you were C-rank—how is this possible?!"
Seeing its bullets fail to penetrate, it yelled in frustration and rage.
"Who sent you?"
"Just die, you bastard!"
It aimed for my head, so I dodged only the barrel's line while doggedly closing in.
But the damn thing was too fast, leaving me with constant minor wounds. If I collapsed again, it'd fill my head with bullets. Then it'd drive off with Na-young.
Now it was a battle of endurance: whether my regeneration gave out first or its mana ran dry.
I dodged another round and approached, but a spent bullet curved toward my temple.
Time seemed to slow. I saw a triumphant smirk on its face. If that bullet hit my temple, my brain would rattle, and I wouldn't dodge the next one.
[Agility increased by 2.]
It rose at the perfect moment. My speed surged, letting me turn my head and evade.
But I moved a fraction too late—the bullet grazed my temple.
My brain shook, and I dropped to one knee. It wasn't as bad as the rifle hit earlier, but I lost balance for a second.
"This bastard's a handful.... Let's end it."
It aimed its pistol and advanced.
There was still distance, but I swung at the approaching figure.
"Who're you swinging at?"
Blood from my fist splattered onto its clothes.
"Huh? Huh?! Gahhh!"
My blood corroded its clothes and started melting its skin. If it had been wearing thick armor, this much blood might've failed.
Poisoned, its breathing grew ragged, and its eyes lost focus. A lower-rank hunter might've dropped dead, but it seemed to have high vitality and didn't die instantly.
I shook my head to clear it and stood. It raised its pistol too, but its aim and power were shot.
I dodged the bullet, closed in, blocked the barrel with my palm, and kicked its gut.
Its stomach caved in, and it collapsed.
"Hoo...."
I couldn't count how many crises I'd faced during this supposedly routine subjugation.
I checked on Na-young in its car. Her breathing was steady and color good—no issues.
I pulled a recovery potion and antidote from Na-young's pouch and poured them into her mouth.
She wouldn't wake right away, but this eased my worries.
With the antidote, I went to the collapsed gunman and forced it down his throat. He couldn't die here. I had questions.
A few slaps, and he groaned awake.
"Who sent you?"
"What do you mean, who?"
I grabbed his right index finger.
"Last chance."
He eyed his lifeline, hesitating.
"I'll decide for you."
I crushed it like squeezing, and bone cracked.
"Gaaaahhh!!!"
"Potions or elixirs can fix it so far, but once the finger's gone, that's it. You know that, right?"
"Shinwoo!! Shinwoo sent me!"
"Why didn't you say so sooner."
I released his finger.
"Proof?"
"I recorded video for insurance when the job came in...."
Sure enough, Tak Dong-yeon's face was on the video from his phone. Gotcha.
I bound him and headed back to base camp with the car to Section Chief Baek Young-shin.
"Ah.... Assassination?"
Baek Young-shin, at base camp, stared wide-eyed like a rabbit at me, Na-young, and the killer.
"It's the same guy who blocked me from that gate last time. We have evidence, and he'll testify."
"This is bigger than I thought. Beyond me or even the Awakener Management Bureau. I'll report up—wait here."
The Awakener Security Division, superior to the Awakener Management Bureau, had the strongest influence among government agencies today.
Shinwoo, a major corporation, could cover economic crimes with bribes, but not audits involving Awakeners.
Neglecting high-rank hunters or talents like Jae-in drove them overseas, a direct hit to national security. That's why it was an independent powerhouse.
While waiting for Baek Young-shin to handle it, I transferred data from my broken phone to the new one from the Bureau—and it rang.
"Hunter Lee Ji-seok, this is Yoo Hyung-bin from Hyeonseong Investigations. Urgent intel: Tak Dong-yeon hired a killer for you."
Fast work.
"It's already here."
"Yes?! You okay?"
"You're really worried, huh?"
"W-Well, yeah."
"I'm fine. Caught him and handed to the Bureau. Next time, faster."
"S-Sorry...."
Things proceeded smoothly after.
The killer proved Tak Dong-yeon's instigation, and he spilled endlessly like he held a grudge against Im Sung-jun.
He'd even bugged Im Sung-jun's office with cameras and recordings, full of betrayal.
Releasing footage of Im Sung-jun assaulting Tak Dong-yeon made Im lose it again.
Tak's testimony unearthed far more corruption than what he'd done to me and Na-young.
The agency dug up surprisingly solid intel, helping nab them big time. More useful than expected.
Im Sung-jun got life for murder, solicitation, bribery, tax evasion, assault, etc. Killer: 20 years. Tak Dong-yeon: 10, for cooperating.
If it'd been a monster, I'd have killed it and done. But couldn't just off a chaebol heir—took longer than thought. Now, truly over.
* * *
"Thanks so much. I don't even know how many times you've helped me, Ji-seok. Hellhounds, saving my mom, now this."
With everything settled, Na-young sat beside me.
"Just happened that way."
"I'll work harder to repay you. Since it came up, want me to curse someone?"
I got her intent, but the wording was off.
"I'm good now. Rest up. Jae-in called; heading to the workshop."
"Can I come? Never been."
"Sure."
Jae-in's workshop was overflowing. Barely built, yet expanding already.
"Jae-in, where are you?"
"Here."
She emerged from item piles, dark circles under her eyes. She nodded to Na-young, who greeted back.
"Boss, item's done."
She handed me a box.
"No.... I said take it slow—why push so hard...."
The Fairy Suit for combat was more useful than regular armor or clothes, so no real complaints.
"Keeps coming to mind when I hold it or lie down. Couldn't stop."
"Appreciate it, but ease up."
"Yeah. Try it on."
She brushed off the rest command.
"But the color?"
Opening the box, it was translucent rainbow like a queen fairy's wings.
"Isn't this too flashy?"
"Try it first."
"How do you even....?"
It was just pretty fabric strewn in the box; I lifted it asking.
"Huh?!"
It slipped under my clothes, wrapping my body.
"Ooh...."
Shirt off, the tight new suit gleamed. Super thin, no hindrance to movement—perfect fit.
"But the color's still...."
"Infuse mana and imagine your color."
"Hmm.... Black...."
Rarely used mana, so tricky, but focusing shifted the pretty rainbow to matte black.
"It changed!"
Na-young, watching, was more excited than me.
"Covers your head too. Blends same color—hard to spot hiding."
Bonus feature, unrequested. Useful later.
"Float magic?"
"Wind magic integrated. Activate same way: mana and image. It'll lift."
Mana in, fabric fluttered long from spots, body lightening. Like low-gravity, bouncing lightly.
"Works. Needs practice."
"Attack penetration: 95%. 100% impossible. Self-repair with your mana over time. Item rank B, due to unique specs."
"Rank doesn't matter. Great work in short time."
No defense, so accessory class. Good specs for accessory, hence B.
"That.... Cost a fortune. Hwagok Collection boss fronted materials—you'll need jobs to repay."
Poured money for speed, huh.
"Money's earnable. Good job."
Itching to test the item ASAP.