Eyes Everywhere
Ignoring Seoya's thoroughly unimpressed expression, Kwon Yooseok led her into the room. A woman who had been sitting in front of a computer stood up and bowed.
"You've arrived."
"Get us a drink. Coffee... no, orange juice instead?"
"Yeah."
"Fine. Just one juice for her, then. Has the guild master left?"
"Yes, he went ahead since he figured you'd feel uncomfortable with him around."
"Got it. Ah, have a seat here."
Kwon Yooseok gently pulled out a chair for her. As Seoya awkwardly settled into it and glanced around, he flashed a smiling face and spoke up.
"Not what you expected, right? Our guild runs on a small core team, with members spread across branches... no need for everyone to crowd into one spot."
"I didn't think it'd be this small."
"This is the guild master's private space. Hunters need to be dispersed so we can cut off tails if info ever leaks... not that it would."
Seoya shot Kwon Yooseok a glare as his words grew increasingly shady. Lee Gayeon had once explained that BlackPen dabbled in plenty of shady dealings, but she hadn't expected to hear it straight from a hunter's mouth like this. Her gaze toward him turned ever more suspicious.
Meanwhile, Kwon Yooseok kept up his perpetual grin, turned on the monitor in front of them, sat down at the computer, and began tapping away at the keyboard furiously.
Soon enough, something oddly familiar appeared on the screen.
"That's my info."
Seoya's official registration details. Name, gender, resident registration number, address, family relations... that sort of thing.
"I've been camped out on the National Intelligence Service servers waiting for your info to update."
This world makes it way too easy to steal personal data. Having it all logged in computers seemed to make info spread faster than on Toda, where tech was primitive.
That bureau chief Han Daejun swore our data was secure...
If she told Lee Gayeon about this, she'd probably complain on Seoya's behalf.
"Checked the CCTV footage, and you've been hanging with Neverending guild folks for quite a while now."
"How'd you see the CCTV?"
Kwon Yooseok gave a sly little smile and slowly crooked his finger.
"I'll show you too."
Thousand Li Eye
As Kwon Yooseok wiggled his finger and recited the skill name, countless CCTV feeds projected onto the wall.
Seoya frowned at the sight.
"That's surveillance."
"I've just planted my eyes in a few CCTV control rooms. Our guild master's skill is even better for this kind of watching."
This world had way too much surveillance and control. It was hard for Seoya to get used to.
"We're a guild of hunters specialized in info gathering. Even trivial bits add up to something useful..."
"So you can just admit to spying on me right to my face?"
"Ah, did I rub you the wrong way?"
"...Ugh, whatever."
Seoya waved him off with half-irritated gestures. What was the point of snapping at someone weaker than her?
"Hmm, anyway, pretty much all recorded info flows to us..."
Kwon Yooseok took the juice from the secretary-looking woman and handed it to Seoya. She sniffed it to confirm it was orange juice, then gulped it down.
"Is the whole BlackPen guild like this? You got dirt on every other hunter too?"
"Yup~ We're an info-centric guild."
"What the hell do you even do with all this?"
Seoya's tone came out a bit curt. Kwon Yooseok pondered how to explain, then seemed to sort his thoughts and spoke.
"...Well, our guild's kinda a haven for hunters who suck at straight-up fights. If you're gonna lose anyway, why not use whatever info you've hoarded and play dirty?"
"So basically, you don't fight fair."
Pure scheming and backstabbing. That was BlackPen in a nutshell.
"By the way, where the heck are you even from?"
As Seoya's trust in BlackPen visibly plummeted, Kwon Yooseok changed the subject. The guild's public image was already shady, but he shouldn't pile on in front of this innocent-looking kid.
"One day you just dropped outta the sky like that—no info at all~."
"Close enough."
"Can't pry deeper?"
"Nope. Don't ask."
Seoya stared him down with wide eyes. Kwon Yooseok, who'd been smiling nonstop, made a vague face and nodded.
"That's an order, huh? Then I'll happily obey."
"You follow orders?"
"I know my place..."
Sure, if you call dancing on the edge of the line 'knowing your place.' Seoya shrugged without saying it.
Suddenly, one monitor flared with garish light. Kwon Yooseok scowled, shut it off, and apologized to Seoya.
"Sorry, glitches sometimes... Anyway, I wanted to meet the new face and pass on a few words for you."
"Like what?"
"Ever think you might be in danger down the line?"
"Nope."
"Haha, World Rank 0 lives up to the hype~? Attitude just like Go Heejae's. Zero worries about personal safety."
Kwon Yooseok pretended to wipe a tear while laughing, then continued with a tone laced in contempt.
"Humans are all rotten to the core. They'll do anything for their own gain."
"Not really."
Seoya shot back firmly. She knew how devoted Ibin and Taesa had been to her. And the people she'd met on this world had all treated her kindly.
"Sure, nothing'll happen for now. The world's power players are all on your side."
The power players here were Hunters, and since they obeyed her will, she was safe. She already knew that.
"Our guild worked hard too... Dug into government agencies and media, grabbed some leverage for blackmail, controlled your info flow, twisted news articles to our liking~."
"And?"
"But long-term? Not sure it'll hold..."
Kwon Yooseok whispered.
"Before you showed up, guild factions were at each other's throats. Neverending and WithYou clashed endlessly over dungeon monopolies~. Small guilds picked sides for connections, politicking nonstop."
"Doesn't seem like it now."
"Yeah, now there's a new top dog, so they play nice and kiss the ring. But give 'em breathing room, let other thoughts creep in, and boom—back to squabbling over profits~?"
Humans fighting over gains? Just thinking of Toda's headquarters chief made it clear. That's why Seoya was stuck on Earth now.
"Knew it the moment I saw you. I figured if guilds started fighting again, it'd be over magic stones or dungeons like old times..."
Kwon Yooseok grinned oddly.
"But now I get why everyone's clinging to you. That System-born, irresistible favor. The power that forces obedience..."
"Cut to the chase."
She hated roundabout talk.
"They'll fight to monopolize you."
"Huh?"
Seoya blinked in confusion. What the hell was he on about?
"They're sharing nicely for now, but soon they'll scramble to win more of your favor... and eventually, duke it out to claim you exclusively."
As Seoya opened her mouth to respond, one of the CCTV monitors blared with light again.
"What the—?"
"Ah, gate just popped."
Kwon Yooseok swiftly maneuvered the mouse, pulling up a feed on the big monitor.
In front of what looked like an apartment's commercial building, a blue gate hummed ominously into existence. A few people had already been sucked inside, while others fled, desperately calling names.
That's a dungeon.
Seoya shot to her feet. These disasters were Ibin's creation, so it was her duty to clean them up.
"You heading out, Seoya?"
"Yeah, where is it?"
"Nearby CCTV, so pretty close... Hang on, ah, here."
Kwon Yooseok showed a map with a red dot, but it wasn't enough to pinpoint.
As Seoya stared silently at the map, he caught on.
"Three minutes by car. Hurry and you might save everyone without casualties. Wait, I'll come too."
"You?"
Seoya glanced back at him from the door. He was barking orders at his secretary and gearing up, clearly intent on joining her in the dungeon.
"I'm a hunter, after all. Dungeon nearby? Makes sense I go."
"Didn't peg you for the righteous type."
"Answer a few questions on the way, and I'll drive you there."
"Like what?"
"Just~ curious what skills World Rank 0 has? Stuff not in records."
"You said you know your place?"
Monopoly, infighting—tough concepts for Seoya. She didn't fully get it, but one thing was clear: Kwon Yooseok didn't see her as an untouchable powerhouse. He viewed her as someone fragile, needing protection from other hunters' power plays.
He wasn't afraid of her.
But.
"You're misunderstanding something. Yeah, I protect people."
For a split second, Seoya thought her voice sounded just like Ibin's perpetual chill.
"But not the kind who trade lives for deals."