The Sword's Return
"Snow."
As I quietly called her name, Snow withdrew the aura she had been radiating.
She then slyly averted her gaze, clearly aware that she had done wrong.
I'd told her not to cause any trouble like that...
The moment I looked away for a second, she tried to stir things up. It was obvious now who Suli had learned her antics from.
I stared at Snow, who was avoiding my eyes, for a moment before turning away.
In the direction I'd shifted my gaze, Song Jae-ha—who had just left moments ago—stood scanning us with a tense expression.
His eyes were filled with confusion.
"Hm."
At my light scrutiny, Song Jae-ha took half a step back.
His unceasing vigilance was impressive.
And while keeping his eyes fixed on me, he never once glanced away from the Cheongsong Sword in Snow's hand...
...So that's how it is, huh?
I couldn't be certain, but from Song Jae-ha's demeanor, I could piece together the situation.
"What's your relation to Hunter Song Myung-sin?"
"...He's my uncle."
Song Jae-ha's delayed response, delivered after his return, made me nod slowly.
That turned my guess into certainty.
The seeds I'd sown in the past were coming back around like this.
Should I deal with him?
The thought crossed my mind for an instant, but I shook it off.
The situation wasn't right for it now.
Fighting someone on Kazuma's level here—wrong place, wrong conditions.
If I couldn't handle it now, then...
"Hunter Song Myung-sin was a good hunter."
"...You knew my uncle?"
"We had our share of history."
We'd fought to kill each other, so it was no ordinary connection.
Of course, recalling the circumstances, it was less a fight and more a one-sided massacre—but no need to mention that.
I watched Song Jae-ha for a moment, then turned to Snow.
She hadn't said a word, yet her delicate features were already furrowing slightly.
I understood her feelings, but I didn't want any unnecessary commotion now.
Snow glared at Song Jae-ha with sharp eyes.
Even an SA-rank like him might struggle under her blatant pressure, but surprisingly, he seemed fine.
No, his trembling body said otherwise—but he'd endured her near-murderous hostility admirably.
Snow let out a small exclamation of surprise.
"Impressive."
She handed me the sword she held.
A sign of permission.
"Take it."
I passed the sword straight to Song Jae-ha.
He accepted it carefully with shaking hands and bit his lip hard.
Was he holding back a surge of emotion?
I silently watched him suppress whatever was rising inside.
"...Thank you."
After a long silence, Song Jae-ha bowed deeply.
I simply nodded lightly in response.
He offered a return favor afterward, but I politely declined.
It was like giving poison and then the antidote anyway, and for me, avoiding a fuss was reward enough.
Besides, earning a debt from an SA-rank hunter tied to the Association—like their hunting dog Song Jae-ha—just for a single sword was a huge profit.
Personally, it was a shame I couldn't use this as an excuse to fight a strong opponent like him, but I could live with that.
There were still two SA-ranks left to face anyway.
The only downside was Snow's reaction to handing over the gift I'd given her.
Even after promising something better later, she was thoroughly sulking—and it looked like it'd last a while.
It must have been especially precious as my first gift to her.
This was clearly my mistake.
I'd have to make it up properly later...
Time to hunt for a gift she'd love.
On the way back to guild headquarters after parting from the mysterious man and woman, Song Jae-ha glanced out the window.
She said it was a gift, right?
From the circumstances, the man who appeared afterward must have gifted the Cheongsong Sword to the woman.
So where had that man gotten his uncle's sword—the one he'd vanished with in the labyrinth?
"......"
The joy of reclaiming the sword was short-lived; rising doubts furrowed his brow.
He didn't want to imagine it, but having seen plenty of dirty dealings, Song Jae-ha couldn't help picturing the worst.
"...I shouldn't jump to conclusions."
Muttering to himself, he calmly ordered his guild member.
"Investigate those two. Leave nothing out."
He wouldn't suspect rashly, but he wouldn't trust blindly either.
Two people with such power, yet unknown to the world—investigating wouldn't reveal their identities easily, but he couldn't just sit idle.
Especially with the dangerous aura the man exuded.
"...Could they be the backers the Black Market boss trusts?"
If those two were why the boss acted so boldly, it made sense.
Song Jae-ha himself thought they'd make excellent backers.
If so...
"Hold off on reporting to the Association for now."
Regardless of danger, they were his benefactors for returning the sword.
He wouldn't reveal their info until the minimum investigation was done.
"If they're truly unconnected to my uncle's disappearance..."
Then he'd drop the suspicions and treat them purely as benefactors.
Sorting his thoughts silently, Song Jae-ha gently caressed the reclaimed Cheongsong Sword.
Time passed.
With massive bribes silencing the Association and government's forces for the night, the final battle for control of Korea's underworld was about to begin.
Unlike Japan's utterly collapsed black market, China's remained intact.
In its deepest core, Zhang Wei rubbed his furrowed brow.
Like the Yamamoto expedition, he'd already bribed the Association and government heavily, so he knew about the raid in advance.
He'd even requested reinforcements from China ahead of time, but...
"Damn it... 'Just wait a bit'? We're about to be finished here."
The public saw Zhang Wei as an SA-rank hunter, Wang Feng's sworn brother, fearless—but reality differed slightly.
He was undeniably skilled as an SA-rank, but he didn't wield unchecked power as Wang Feng's brother.
There were over a hundred such "brothers."
"Even now, this rivalry. If the 'big boss' finds out, we're all dead... Do they have brains or not?!"
Wang Feng's sworn brothers numbered over a hundred.
Some, like Zhang Wei, were top hunters; others wielded massive influence in politics and business.
United, they'd be unstoppable—but they weren't.
Most had submitted to Wang Feng's power reluctantly, constantly vying for his favor, checking and antagonizing each other.
The biggest issue: Wang Feng himself knew and tolerated it.
He enjoyed it, even—once casually mentioning how amusing it was to watch them scramble.
A true tyrant, fitting his nickname.
This rivalry persisted even now, a massive setback for the cornered Zhang Wei.
Wang Feng's name would save him at worst, but this desperation was hellish enough.
His loyal subordinates would die regardless.
"Damn... Shouldn't have taken this job."
He'd jumped at Wang Feng's offhand "Anyone want to take that little peninsula next door?"
With Wang Feng's prestige and his men, conquering the declining peninsula should've been easy...
But reality differed.
"Those damn island monkeys..."
They should be kneeling before a great power's hunter, yet several precious brothers were already lost.
Recalling his fallen men's faces, Zhang Wei ground his teeth.
He could grind them to dust and still not be satisfied.
"Mr. Zhang Wei, they're here."
At his subordinate's urgent report, Zhang Wei nodded slowly.
Fine. Since it's come to this, let's see it through.
Show those watching "damn brothers" back home and the fearless monkeys.
That he was Zhang Wei.
"Move as planned. Show those monkeys who crawled into our lair what happens."
His calm words prompted his waiting subordinates to bow in unison.
"Hm..."
Watching his men enter Zhang Wei's black market building one by one, Kazuki quietly crossed his arms.
They surely knew of the approach, yet their response was lackluster.
No real resistance—like they'd given up and fled.
Had they really?
"Ridiculous. Zhang Wei wouldn't quit this easily."
Observing, Kazuki scoffed lightly.
The man he'd faced wouldn't fold so soon.
He'd have plans, executing them meticulously to the end.
So this situation meant...
"...A trap, Zhang Wei?"
Kazuki's gaze on the building turned cold.
The flashy structure suddenly resembled an antlion pit.
"...Hmph. Dare treat Kazuki's Yamamoto expedition like ants?"
Scoffing again, he called Yoshida waiting nearby.
"Yoshida. They've set a trap."
"Yes, sir. Don't worry—I'll smash them trap and all."
Kazuki nodded at Yoshida's confident tone.
"Can I trust you?"
"Yes, sir! Leave it to me. I'll lead the vanguard!"
Kazuki watched Yoshida's reliable shout for a moment.
"...Fine. Vanguard's yours. Clear the path. Make Zhang Wei kneel before me."
"You got it."
With that, Yoshida led a group of hunters forward.
Kazuki stared at Yoshida vanishing inside, then issued orders to the others.
The Yamamoto expedition hunters swiftly entered one by one.
Leaving one S-rank and a group outside, Kazuki entered last.
And a man and a woman quietly observed the Yamamoto expedition's movements.