Tailing them
Tailing them. "Why didn't I think of this sooner?" Cha Yaeun grinned from ear to ear as she devoured Lebalheonda, analyzing the information and starting to track down likely spots where villains might be hiding.
It seemed the mockery she'd faced recently during an interview—when she'd brought up Lebalheonda—had played a big role. The mental shock had made her forget the simple fact that reading Lebalheonda held the answers.
Reflecting on her own foolishness, Cha Yaeun spread out a map and began diligently cross-referencing publicly available association data with the novel, marking spots with checks.
What she was checking were candidates for real-world villain hideouts, based on descriptions of villains and criminal organizations from Lebalheonda.
"This is a gate where plant-type monsters mainly appear... The forest environment means people could hide out here easily. Perfect spot for a villain drug manufacturing facility."
She was tracing villains' movements by matching novel elements to real-world info.
There was no need for her to capture villains or wipe out organizations herself. Just reporting tips—and if they panned out—earned her points. With multiple candidates, hitting on even a few would fill her point deficit.
The association was in chaos right now, with gate-related crimes surging, so they'd jacked up bounties big time. The time was ripe.
Cha Yaeun's eyes gleamed as she plotted to scour hard, report every villain she found, and rack up points. No direct fights with villains, no risk—just contribute to society and score real gains. With a goofy grin, she geared up just in case.
She was heading out to tail villains, like undercover stakeout work, so full armor was out. She only packed the custom-order storage-type halberd she'd splurged on.
A short rod about 50 centimeters long. But activate it, and it became a full halberd. Hunter gear made with mana cores. Thinking of all the savings it'd guzzled still stung, but it was worth every penny—portable enough for street carry, tough as nails, and built exactly to spec.
Tucking it away for self-defense, Cha Yaeun launched her villain-hunting spree that very day.
Honestly, it was strikeout after strikeout. Even association agents—villain-hunting pros—struggled with busts. No way a newbie like her could tail them on the first try. She'd probably spotted villains without realizing it and let them slip away.
Time dragged on without results, weariness set in, but she didn't quit.
"A capable hunter must be capable at tracking their prey too." Recalling that line from Lebalheonda, she circled gates and scoured crime syndicates.
And finally...
"Found it...!"
On her twelfth gate visit, she spotted traces.
Lebalheonda was right after all! Her eyes sparkled as she recalled the story that had led her here.
After re-evaluation, Kim Min rocketed straight to A-rank hunter, drawing the world's eyes. But it also put him in the crosshairs of the association's higher-ups.
The public cheered him for smashing Steel Guild and leaping from F to A-rank in one go, getting their catharsis fix. But to those who'd lost their Steel Guild cash cow, he was just an annoying radical.
Without Kim Min, they could've kept milking Steel Guild for dirty profits and cover-ups. Instead, they were forced to dispose of it because of him. Of course it grated.
"Those pig-dogs prop him up, and he gets all high and mighty..."
"We should step on him a bit, right?"
"How about this?"
Guys like that always felt others' stab wounds less than their own hangnails. Leaving the one who'd caused their pain alone? Unthinkable. They schemed to "discipline" Kim Min.
"Isn't it about time for a Black Gate raid?"
"Huh, has it been that long already?"
The Black Gate, humanity's worst disaster. Too packed with overpowering monsters for current forces to close it outright. But leave it be, and it'd break.
So they couldn't close it, but periodic raids kept monsters culled, mana cores and stones harvested, and mana buildup vented to prevent blowouts. Usually every five years—and that time was approaching.
The massive Black Gate straddling what used to be North Korea's bandit lands, spanning Korea and China. The two nations teamed up for raids, per treaty—not for closing glory, just mutual management without wasting top talent.
"We draft that arrogant punk into the Black Gate raid. With the pig-dog public calling him a hero, we've got perfect justification."
"Hoo."
A backroom deal. Shoving fresh sprout Kim Min into the deadly Black Gate? Trials build talent, sure—but this was insane. Other countries would've nurtured him properly via their systems. A-rank prospect or not, he'd been F-rank days ago—handle with care.
But these gathered bigwigs wanted him broken or dead in the Black Gate. Revenge for wrecking their Steel Guild toy.
The association's rotten brass plotting a Black Gate-assisted murder.
"Solid idea. Let's do it. If he shines in the Black Gate, great. If he dies or gets wrecked? Even better."
They chuckled, knowing either way, sending Kim Min in profited them.
Endless malice toward Kim Min. But it wasn't just wallet rage. They were spooked. What if he'd sniffed out their corruption smashing Steel Guild? Grabbed proof and was biding his time to expose it?
No wonder they'd dumped Steel Guild at the right moment. They hated how it bit the hand, acting out with "ungrateful" ideas, leash off, plotting rebellion. What proof had they prepped for that? Vague dread that Kim Min now held it.
To wipe that fear clean, shove him into hell. Never dreaming it'd choke them instead.
"These bastards?"
Kim Min strode toward the now-visible Black Gate prep, sensing his name tossed around. Instinct screamed: association plot.
No hard proof. But he'd guessed at the black ties between Steel Guild and association from the guild master's deathbed ravings. He'd hoped not, but events confirmed it—they wouldn't sit idle.
What to do.
Kim Min pondered. Truth was, Black Gate suited him fine. He wanted in to chase traces of his brother, lost inside.
But Black Gates weren't casual jaunts. State-managed specials—no raid apps or permits for normies.
So raid time for mana venting was his shot. This mess delivered it... but feeling the push to doom soured it. Wanted or not, this method sucked.
And not just that.
Minji getting left behind worries me too.
Finding brother Kim Minwoo's relics mattered, but family did too. What if something happened to little sis while he was gone? Unforgivable.
Decision made: While hunting brother's traces in Black Gate, point his blade at the association to ensure no one touched his weaknesses—or pulled crap on sis.
"I'll make sure they got no time to mess with me or my sister."
Thus Kim Min's "hunt" began.
No solid intel, but leads aplenty. Basing on guild master's dying blather, he tore through the underworld.
Tail association brass's connections till he nailed them.
"Spill what you know. No clue? Cough up other dens with guys who do."
Deadline: Black Gate raid schedule and official raid team lock-in. Public opinion—thanks to association spin—already pegged him in.
Bail and defy the hype? They'd spin that into more schemes. No intent to refuse, but refusal was dicey anyway. So crush it all before team formation—physically smashing villains and syndicates.
Result?
"You the punk nosing after the bigwigs lately?"
The association came first. Special Task Force 0.
Officially nonexistent—association's shadow arm for jobs too dirty even for Steel Guild. "Nonexistent" agents handling top-secret wetwork.
One showed to "handle" Kim Min.
"Always one rat like you who doesn't know his place. Keeps me fed, though~."
The agent rolled his shoulders, casual as ever. Kim Min smirked back.
"Rat, huh... Real rats probably just wipe association asses like yours, no?"
Facts hurt.
"You little shit..."
Agent's killing intent flared. Kim Min assumed stance.
Association hitman vs. supernova Kim Min—the showdown began.