Shadows of Authority
In a dark room, a man in a suit sat rigidly in a stiff leather chair, his face tense with anticipation. Directly across from him was a small-statured figure. The room was so dim that all he could make out was a slender silhouette. He swallowed hard, betraying his nerves, but kept his expression perfectly neutral. One could never show weakness first.
A chill hung in the air...
"Ah, what the hell?! Turn on the damn light!"
Baek Yena grumbled irritably as she fumbled along the wall for the switch. The room flooded with light in an instant, and the air warmed just as quickly. The man let out an awkward chuckle.
"Haha... Some people prefer the dark sometimes..."
"Enough. Let's get to the point."
Lee Gayeon, standing behind Seoya's chair, spoke up with a stern expression.
"What about the CCTV recording?"
"It's off."
"It's been a while, Bureau Chief."
Lee Gayeon bowed politely in greeting, and only then did the man addressed as Bureau Chief visibly relax, nodding in return.
The Dungeon and Monster Special Disaster Safety Countermeasures Headquarters of the Republic of Korea—a place whose full name no citizen could ever remember. Commonly known as the Dungeon Safety Bureau, its chief was Han Daejun.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you like this."
Even as he spoke, Han Daejun stole glances at the girl seated before him. Her face looked far too young to be an adult, her innocent expression naturally disarming any wariness. Yet those indifferent navy-blue eyes gave nothing away, and she hadn't uttered a single word since arriving. She wasn't someone to take lightly.
As chief of the Dungeon Safety Bureau, Han Daejun had dealt with countless top-tier hunters and knew a few unbreakable rules.
Never trust appearances at face value.
And sitting before him was the world rank 0th who had shaken the globe.
The higher the rank, the crazier they are.
It was common knowledge in the hunter industry that top-rankers were all half-mad.
-Why the hell should I waste my time on the likes of you?
World rank 1st Go Heejae, rude and arrogant as if manners were beneath him.
-Ooh~ You want our guild to take the loss for the good of the people...? Loss? Loss~? Are you kidding me right now?
World rank 2nd Na Seonghyeon, eyes glazing over at the mere mention of money.
-Hey! The situation's fucked, so why can't I act like it is?! That doesn't make sense!
World rank 4th Baek Yena, who started rampaging the moment something rubbed her wrong.
-Hey!!! You in the black SUV!!!! Drive straight, damn it!!!!
World rank 5th Gwak Mansu, hot-tempered and all action, no thought.
-Oh, I hadn't even thought of that~ Hehe! But~ the public are just pigs, right?
-Eunyoung-ah, no need to be so harsh. You call pigs 'pigs,' don't you?
World rank 8th So Eunsu and 9th So Euneung, whose every word made you question your own ears.
-A gate opened in front of a convenience store? Ah~ You mean the one you visited around 3 PM on February 27th, Bureau Chief~? Don't worry, we'll cooperate, of course...
And world rank 10th Kwon Yooseok, smiling sweetly while plotting behind the scenes with all the intel.
Just thinking about them tires me out...
Han Daejun knew exactly how chaotic things got when those types gathered. He steeled himself, refusing to let his guard down.
He double-checked the documents on his desk—information on the individual called Seoya, pre-submitted by Neverending Guild.
Everything about this screams suspicious.
Details he might gloss over normally stood out as glaring red flags upon closer inspection. Suddenly registered as family to people long dead? No records of where she'd lived after their passing. No vaccination history, no school records, no insurance—nothing.
To probe naturally, Han Daejun opened his mouth.
"First, let's confirm a few facts. Are you the one previously known as the 'invisible hunter'?"
"Yeah."
"As expected... Records show you were at both events."
Reviewing the CCTV footage again before the world rank 0th's arrival, he'd spotted her at both sites—the only unidentified figure amid the hunters.
She blended in too well as a civilian to suspect.
At least the government’s long-sought 'invisible hunter' mystery was solved.
"And ascending to rank 0th now means you used those skills back then without being an official hunter?"
"Mm..."
"She was a hunter even then, just unranked. Probably too powerful for standard measurement periods," Lee Gayeon interjected smoothly, not batting an eye at the lie.
Seoya hadn't shared the full truth about the System with Lee Gayeon... but Lee Gayeon assumed Seoya herself didn't know much, and fabricated the story to hide her otherworldly origins.
"Then what does 'national affiliation changeable' mean?"
Because she's not from Earth.
Lee Gayeon swallowed the real answer and spun another tale.
"Who knows? The System says so. But... we'd appreciate Korea keeping in mind that her affiliation can change anytime."
"...I understand perfectly."
Lee Gayeon was threatening him: Think hard about losing such talent if Seoya switched countries.
Whether it was coincidence that both rank 0th and 1st hailed from Korea... well, plenty of nations would welcome her with open arms if she naturalized.
Rank 0th seems surprisingly level-headed.
It surprised Han Daejun. A nasty-tempered hunter would've blown up already, but she didn't seem uncomfortable.
"Have you never attended school?"
"Nope."
"There should be high school equivalency exam records, though?"
"Yes, but it's just verification procedures... What about vaccinations or hospital visits?" Lee Gayeon cut in swiftly.
"Ah, there's circumstances. Don't pry. It's not important, right?"
Under Baek Yena's sharp glare, Han Daejun had no choice but to back off. His position wasn't one to be trifled with, but times had changed. Powerful hunters could upend society. With all power gravitating toward them, he stayed silent.
"Ahem. And you wish to keep your identity hidden going forward? We understand the reasons, but..."
Han Daejun glanced at Seoya, her eyes wide and alert. Seventeen, maybe younger-looking. Easy to underestimate.
Kwon Yooseok at rank 10th had awakened even younger, but he had a powerful backing and started outside the top 10, drawing little attention. Seoya was different. World rank 0th—the focus of global scrutiny. Revealing her would spark political and social frenzy to recruit her. Unless she was the violent type, it’d overwhelm someone so young.
"Still, the public has a right to know basics. We'll officially announce that the rank 0th is still a minor, so identity is withheld for protection. Acceptable?"
"That works. And issue a hunter license under a pseudonym. I'll need to enter dungeons occasionally without outing myself as rank 0th."
"Understood. Finally... on compulsory mobilization."
Han Daejun gauged the hunters' reactions. Lee Gayeon's face was unreadable, Baek Yena's eyes fierce, and Seoya... blank.
"As you know, legally, A-rank hunters and above must respond to A-rank dungeons or monster waves..."
"I'll handle it myself."
Seoya spoke to Han Daejun for the first time since arriving.
"No need to drag me. I'll save people on my own."
"Ah, yes... But really..."
"I hate being controlled."
Memories of Toda flickered through Seoya's mind, wrinkling her brow. Hating headquarters bred instinctive distrust of Earth's hunter management agencies.
"For now... understood. We'll proceed that way."
Even if she seemed normal, as a top hunter, Han Daejun couldn't relax. They all had violence in them somewhere.
"That concludes verification. We've bent some laws for this special case, but it is special. Hong, the deputy chief, will handle your temporary license outside."
"What'd Na Seonghyeon pull this time?"
"Pardon?"
Baek Yena tossed out the blunt question as usual.
"You're agreeing too easily. Normally, you'd haggle more."
"Not particularly."
"Bet he showered you with donation money, huh."
Han Daejun flashed a politician's smooth smile, betraying nothing. The massive influx to the Dungeon Safety Bureau's ever-open 'Dungeon and Monster Special Disaster Donation Fund' screamed Na Seonghyeon. And the texts from local assemblymen pleading favoritism? Pure Gwak Mansu.
"Anyway, a just outcome for all."
"Yeah, good enough."
Lee Gayeon and Han Daejun exchanged knowing smiles.