I Thought It Was Just Some Fringe Radical Group's Doing...
“I thought it was just some no-name radical group pulling the strings...”
Sung Hyun-sook is racking her brains: "I never imagined that bastard Milo would be behind it!"
“No wonder the guild master's office felt off when it was so spacious...”
Milo Holt was a man who'd made a name for himself as a player for over ten years. Even before becoming a mega ranker, he was one of the old guard from the same generation as my mom and dad. Naturally, Sword & Glory, the guild he led, boasted a long history and deep traditions.
Sung Hyun-sook clicks her tongue: "Even Sword & Glory has massive backing from Britain's largest financial giant, 'Wise Land'!"
The more I heard, the more ridiculous it got. A guild with such solid sponsorship pulling off a suicide bombing? Reality's stranger than fiction.
“Let's keep watching for now.”
Wanting to squeeze out even one more scrap of info, I continued the playback of Greed Photography.
As I watched on, it wasn't a total bust. Two solid pieces of intel emerged.
“Three days from now, Milo's personally joining a guild-wide gate raid, and the night before is the eve party...”
The other was that only three people in the guild knew about the suicide bombing: the two terrorists who'd just checked out of life and the mastermind, Milo Holt. The last one was the vice leader and Milo's brother, Paul Holt.
“If the top brass are like this, the rank-and-file must be terrified...”
Sung Hyun-sook raises doubts: "If the headwaters are murky, how could the streams be clean?"
“Yeah, we'll see about that.”
Mom had a point. Beyond those three, there were bound to be others harboring radical ideas like 'Kids turned into chimeras are a rampage risk, so we gotta wipe 'em out.' But there's a world of difference between thinking it and actually doing it.
“Dirty underlings or not, the top needs cleaning first.”
Milo Holt had crossed the line. Mega ranker or old-timer or whatever—he couldn't just feed me that massive L and walk away.
“Why else did I spend a month shitting blood in the sanctuary prepping for Full Moon Canyon?”
It was all to save those kids. But fuck. Turn them into bombs? After basking in respect as a mega ranker for over a decade?
“If I'd come out of the sanctuary just one day later... whew.”
Just thinking about it made my vision spin. The fact it blew up the day I returned was a miracle.
Deciding there was nothing more to gain, I stopped the playback—right as the kids suddenly flinched at me in terror.
“Eek...”
What the? Why were they freaking out?
“...Uh, kids? I know I'm not the best-looking guy, but staring like that hurts my feelings—”
Sung Hyun-sook is baffled: "It's not that—your face looks too scary!"
Sung Hyun-sook spits as she emphasizes: "And my son♡ takes after his mom and dad—he's handsome!"
“Did you have to pile on at the end?”
Anyway. My facial muscles felt weird, so yeah, I must've been scowling hard. All Milo Holt's fault.
I quickly kneaded my face to soften it up. The kids peeked at me, looking a bit relieved.
“......”
These kids were fragile. They shrank back at the slightest hint of displeasure.
In Kang Tae-sik's memories, Oh Hyuk-cheol had vented his stress on innocent kids with horrific abuse and violence. That terror was etched deep into their hearts.
“Kids.”
I probably wouldn't understand it even on my deathbed.
“I'll take responsibility and get you back to normal, no matter what.”
Why the world tormented them so. They were blameless victims—why suffer like this?
“So hang in there just a bit longer, even if it's tough and painful. Got it?”
“R-Really... can we go back to normal?”
The oldest girl, like their big sis, spoke up.
Oh right—they hadn't heard yet. That a way back existed.
I nodded with a smile, and tears welled in their eyes.
“Ah...”
“If you're still worried, let's pinky swear.”
“......”
I held out my pinky. The girl, biting her lip through tears, hooked hers in.
“Promise.”
I stamped thumbs and vowed deep down: I'd crush that dogshit Milo Holt.
“Ignoring calls and texts for over a month! Where the hell have you been?!”
“Why make a fuss now? You know I only hit you up when I need something.”
“Don't say it so proudly, you punk!”
Uncle was bursting with energy after a month. Good thing he was built sturdy. Though this mess had him looking worn.
Sung Hyun-sook beams proudly: "Hair might be limp, but he's got strength in that body—phew!"
'Proud' of what...? Anyway.
I had a few things to discuss, so we met in his office. Grateful he made time, especially with the emergency meeting on the bombing looming. A real angel.
“Kidding about only calling when I need you... I was holed up in the mountains in closed-door training, cut off from the world. Sorry.”
“Closed-door training? Out of nowhere?”
“Now that I'm S-rank, gotta keep grinding.”
“Hmm... oh?”
Uncle's eyes widened as he sized me up seriously.
“No lie. You're... yeah. Gotta admit it.”
“Don't make it awkward.”
Still, his genuine assessment felt good. He'd met every top player as association chair.
'Not awakened, but his eye for power is unmatched.'
As I grinned, his tone grew grave.
“My debt to you keeps piling up. If that bombing had gone as planned... can't even think about it.”
“......”
“We're ID'ing the perp. Seems like extreme hatred toward those kids boiled over.”
They wouldn't get far on ID. Milo had laundered and plastic-surgeried Yoon Chang-wook perfectly to avoid loose ends.
What bugged me was the follow-up.
“Hatred toward those kids?”
“I know it's unpleasant for you, but better to know.”
Uncle sighed and pulled up a news article on his screen—for the comments.
“Whoa...”
Couldn't stomach more.
Sung Hyun-sook is horrified: "Are these humans or beasts?!"
Not all comments were like that. Pro-kid ones dominated—maybe 80%.
“......”
Constellation Sung Hyun-sook falls silent, feeling complex emotions!
I got it—that feeling. Never saw this coming. Public splitting over this?
“As you see, some voices of unease exist.”
“Yeah, looks like it.”
“Jae-min.”
Did I look too bitter? Uncle gently took my hand on the desk.
“Doesn't mean your actions were wrong. Even if the sky falls, that's unchanged. Don't get down.”
“Don't worry. I'm not fragile enough for inner turmoil over this.”
“Good.”
Just caught off guard. No need for gloom.
I knew how to restore them. And I was working on it. That's enough.
Sung Hyun-sook urges: "Just focus on fixing those kids!"
Right. Screw what they say—do my job.
Stepping in shit on the street? Annoying, but that's it.
'Nah.'
This time, it's like they threw shit at me. Gotta grab and beat 'em.
'Wait.'
Should I show Uncle the Greed Photography footage? Skipped it for Oh Chae-rin due to complications, but this?
'No.'
Data stored in Greed Photography can only be viewed by the user and the user's constellation!
System caught on? Nailed it shut.
...Can't, huh. Damn.
No hard proof, so yelling 'Milo's behind it!' would just lead to arguments. Stick to plan.
“Uncle, as encouragement, grant a few requests?”
“Every time we meet? And several?”
Bald guy's scowl was scary.
“...Shoot.”
His character shines like his head.
Two days later. Sunset.
Murmurs filled a grand restaurant oozing old-world charm. Fifty-three veteran players gathered.
“Tomorrow, we raid the gate.”
Tuxedos varied, but all bore the same badge on the chest.
- Sword & Glory.
Over twenty pairs of eyes fixed on the man standing, mid-speech.
“Nothing new, except me joining and it being a hidden gate.”
Milo Holt. Unit members gazed with boundless respect.
“We'll clear it without a single casualty, like always. So please.”
Trailing off deliberately, Milo eyed the wine and gourmet food on the round table.
“Don't think of this feast as some 'last supper' nonsense.”
Hahaha.
Laughter and applause rippled. The eve party's hype settled comfortably.
Forgetting tomorrow, they laughed, chatted, clinked glasses. Milo too.
Or seemed to.
“......”
Across from him, brother Paul Holt knew.
'Barely holding back rage with booze.'
His brother was furious. Understandably.
'Yoon Chang-wook, sent with big plans, snuffed out so pathetically.'
Yoon was their perfect pick. Who'd have thought he'd fail?
'Dumbass Asian trash—smart enough to screw us, nothing else.'
That's why they sacrificed him. Regrettable now, but too late.
Facilities' security would tighten because of that trash.
'Bet he's dying to kill Hwang Jae-min.'
Paul felt the same.
Appetite gone, he stood abruptly. Milo asked,
“Where to?”
“Fresh air, smoke.”
Outside, he lit up.
Exhale.
As he went for another drag—
Pause.
Hand froze mid-air, then to mouth.
Exhale again.
Paul spoke.
“World rank 50 couldn't spot stealth this close? Sloppy.”
Something within 5m.
He turned toward the presence.
“Rival guild assassin? What era—”
Then.
Shimmer...
Stealth faded, revealing the figure. Paul was stunned.
“...You'll drop dead.”
Instant rage like fire on oil.
But he grinned outwardly.
“Hwang Jae-min—no, Mr. Hwang! You here out of nowhere. Unbelievable.”
Fake welcome, real shock.
Hwang Jae-min. The bastard who ruined their plans—why here?
...Not entirely unexpected.
“If friendly, no need for stealth.”
Or that skin-prickling killing intent.
Paul tossed his cig, swallowing a smirk.
“Let's talk calmly—”
Glance down from cig, back up—
Gone.
“......!”
In under a second?
'No— I'd sense movement!'
Senses sharp, nothing. Despite the smile, no slacking.
“Where—”
Panicked turn—
Thwack!
Faster. From shadows, Jae-min's grip crushed his skull.