Red's Betrayal
Night had fallen, but Rain City still dazzled with its brilliant nightscape. In the heart of Zone 1's developed downtown, amid throngs of people, Zien gazed up at the building before him and addressed Jin Yura.
"Bigger than I expected."
"Christie Auction House? Yeah, it's ridiculously oversized for an auction venue. But you're not from this city, right?"
"What makes you say that?"
"Just a hunch. With your skills, no one around here would be unknown, and the locals always carry at least one mountain of cash in their pockets as a baseline."
Jin Yura pulled out a cigarette, slipped it between her lips, and fumbled in her pocket.
"...Got a light?"
Zien pressed his index finger to the tip of her cigarette and channeled mana.
Fwoosh.
As the flame ignited, Jin Yura took a long drag before speaking to him.
"Quick on the uptake, huh? Mana trick?"
"Yes."
"Talented, too. If this job goes smoothly, I'll put in a good word upstairs... But when the hell is this woman showing up?"
Just as Jin Yura grumbled irritably, a figure appeared in the distance—Red.
"Sorry~ Did I keep you waiting?"
A black long umbrella, women's suit, and striking red high heels that stood out. Jin Yura clearly wasn't thrilled with Red's leisurely stride.
"...Tch. I already cleared it with the manager, so just head in. I'll head back to Sky Town once my business here is done, so wrap up your recon and get back to the lady."
"Understood."
With that, Jin Yura departed from the auction house's first floor, leaving Zien to ride the elevator up with Red. Christie Auction House held different auctions on each floor, and the VIP auction Yume would attend was all the way up on the seventh.
"So, why'd you sign on as Sky Group's bodyguard?"
As the elevator ascended, Red flashed a smile and asked Zien.
'Reason I joined?'
Zien's original goal was the quest. On a grander scale, it was clearing the Gate. But Red was a resident of that Gate—he couldn't tell her the truth.
"It's a big corporation."
"With your skills, you could go anywhere."
For a moment, Red's expression turned icy cold. She was clearly recalling some memory. But it passed in an instant.
"Treatment for Hunters here isn't great."
They stepped out of the elevator, but the conversation continued.
"Then why'd you take a job here?"
In response to Zien's question, Red pressed her palm against the building's wall instead of answering.
"I never told you my Trait, did I?"
A mysterious rune etched itself into the wall.
"This is one of them—[Surveillance Rune]. Just like the name, it lets me monitor anywhere the rune is carved. How many people are there, what they're saying, even the little details."
Red continued with a meaningful look.
"Your question? Consider it answered by this. Not a good memory."
"...Surveillance Rune?"
Zien reached out and touched the rune on the wall.
'This...'
The pure, high-grade mana emanating from the rune gave Zien a rough estimate of Red's power. The conversation halted, a strange tension hanging between them. Fortunately, a man with white whiskers appeared just then, greeting Zien and Red warmly.
"Oh! You must be the ones from Sky Group? I rushed over the moment I heard you were coming!"
The Christie Auction House manager was a notable figure himself, but he bowed willingly at the mention of Sky Group.
"Haha, with Lady Yume coming, it's no wonder you're concerned about security! Rest easy—I'll show you our pride and joy, the full security system. No need to worry!"
Under the manager's guidance, Zien and Red entered the auction house.
Dennis Raphael.
The sole existing 7th-rank Saber.
Even at night, he showed no signs of fatigue as he monitored the Gates' situations. Thanks to him, Metis couldn't easily step away either. After about an hour, Dennis spoke to Metis.
"This is getting interesting."
Dennis had been fixated solely on the 5th-rank Gate Zien's party was in. It was due to the gap in difficulty between 4th- and 5th-rank Gates, and Zien's unique movements.
"I-Interesting, you say?"
"What a coincidence. I've studied the history of that Hunter's Night."
"Oh! You mean—"
"Zone 1. Around 2023 in Rain City."
Dennis continued slowly, almost leisurely.
"The Hunter who appeared in that history left quite an impression."
"Could you share the name?"
Metis asked, but Dennis shook his head.
"He has no name."
Dennis's words turned Metis's expression grave. As a veteran among veterans, Metis understood immediately.
"The Nameless Hunter!"
A man known only by his moniker.
One of just five 7th-rank Hunters produced in all of Zone 1. Metis's face mixed worry and anticipation.
"How could someone like that be in a 5th-rank Gate?"
"2023 was before his awakening. And Rebellion only had four members at that time."
Metis was genuinely impressed by Dennis's knowledge.
"I see! So it's still the era where he's just a 5th-rank Hunter!"
"That's why the Gate's difficulty is measured at 5th-rank... but."
Whether he was truly enjoying this, Dennis rarely smiled. His long silver hair and beauty evoked an androgynous allure.
"It's unfair."
Currently a 5th-rank Hunter, the Nameless Hunter—Jeokhyeol—was a prodigy who would grow to 7th-rank. His potential far surpassed ordinary 5th-rankers. The cast in this 5th-rank Gate was too high-level. Metis fell deep into thought. After a long pause, he spoke.
"Then it violates fairness."
A lot was riding on this Gate for Metis. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say his entire political career hung in the balance.
'But this unfair difficulty.'
Metis had even considered canceling, but Dennis disagreed. He wasn't here to side with Metis—he was the Elder Council's proxy, judging if the policy was a success.
"Even that variable is part of the Gate's nature. If anything, it's fair."
Dennis's voice carried an intimidating force.
"If this raid fails."
Dennis's eyes pierced Metis.
"The policy is scrapped as planned."
The resolute tone made even the battle-hardened Metis swallow hard.
'This is a 7th-rank Saber...'
Gate Management Minister. Metis.
His political future depended on Zien's party's raid.
Dawn at Sky Town.
Someone walked the fifth-floor corridor toward Yume's quarters. Stealthy yet confident steps. Not a single sound escaped them.
The Hunter used mana.
Scanning the room with her Trait. Only one presence inside. No other signs of life.
Click.
The door to the quarters opened silently.
The rune carved into the wall activated, illuminating the room. Approaching the bed, the intruder whispered softly.
"You're not even worth dirtying that man's hands."
A woman's voice filled the quarters.
She used her Trait to form a red mana orb in her hand—a pure mana sphere that could erase its target without a trace. The orb, now the size of a bowling ball, shot toward the bed.
Bang!
The ear-splitting whoosh shattered the silence. But she—Red, or rather Jane—was stunned.
"W-What?"
Her target hadn't died.
The figure on the bed wasn't her target at all.
"Hello, Rebellion."
"...Y-You!"
Red's ever-composed face twisted in panic. Waiting for her on the bed was Zien, Black Fragrance in hand.
"You trusted the rune, but it wouldn't work normally."
Zien aimed Black Fragrance at Red.
The magic tool's anti-mana power surged black around the blade, rippling faintly.
"H-How did you—?"
"Real name: Jane. 5th-rank Hunter with Rebellion."
"Who the hell are you?!"
Jane screamed like a banshee at Zien's murmur. As he said, she was a Rebellion Hunter. Her target: Yume's life, naturally. But all her plans had crumbled.
"...Seeing your ability jogged my memory. We've met before."
Zien ignored any broadcasts, smiling faintly at her. Viewers would probably assume his knowledge came from history books.
'But.'
The truth was different. Her mistake was the Surveillance Rune. In his past life, Zien had cleared countless Gates. And among them, he'd faced Rebellion. Traits were a Hunter's unique power. Zien smiled, dredging up vague memories.
"Back then, you were a 6th-rank Saber."
Surveillance Rune. Red bullets. Even teleportation—Jane had wielded various Traits. She'd grown following Rebellion's leader, Jeokhyeol, reaching 6th-rank Saber. Or she should have.
"This Gate's history doesn't allow that future."
"What nonsense is that?!"
Jane shrieked furiously, and at the same moment, the room's lights flared, revealing hidden Hunters.
"...I-It’s real?"
Jin Yura looked incredulous. She'd used her Trait, [Presence Concealment], to mask Yume and Zien's party's presences.
"You did great picking her? A bodyguard turns out to be an assassin. What if Zien hadn't been here?"
Yume glared down at Jin Yura with contempt. No excuse would fly. Jin Yura muttered weakly.
"Z-Zien was my pick too..."
"Shut it."
Yume silenced her instantly. In Zone 1, power mattered less than influence.
"You think I'm some idiot? As if knowing changes—"
Jane's eyes grew murderous.
Then, a spiderweb wrapped tightly around her right arm.
"G-Got her!"
"Good work!"
Sin Ha-seong praised Kumo before hurling his spear. It carried his Trait, [Breakthrough]. Jane desperately fired a red mana orb, but the spear pierced through, impaling her arm.
"Argh!"
"Don't move. Next one's your heart."
"A 5th-rank Hunter like me! Losing to trash like you...!"
Jane frantically gathered mana.
Her ace: the Trait [Teleport]. If it activated fully, capture would be impossible.
"Team leader! Leave her to me!"
But if Franklin touched her with his Trait [Mana Seal], he could block the teleport.
"Reach!"
As Franklin lunged and the distance narrowed to a sheet of paper, Jane's body enveloped in red light.