So, What's the Situation Outside?
“So, what's the situation outside?”
“As expected, we're all wanted criminals now. The neighborhood doesn't have posters yet, but the major buildings in the city do. They'll probably start distributing flyers soon.”
“Hmm… faster than I thought.”
“But it was strange. If we're wanted, our cards should be frozen, right? But they worked fine. I think they only know our faces. They haven't figured out our names or other info yet.”
“We permanently deleted all the data at headquarters, so it'll take time. Wait, you used the card?”
“Yes.”
“So you bought stuff normally? Won't that sell your face?”
“I thought about it a lot. I considered just sweeping everything up, but that would make it a huge issue right away. There are tons of CCTVs in the mart. Luckily, no one recognized me.”
“Hmm. So what do you think we should do?”
“I'm no expert, but I think we need to resolve everything within a week. The longer we wait, the more flyers they'll spread, and people will get used to spotting us. So, I think we should make a trip to Seoul.”
“At this point?”
“We're far away, but the more we stir things up here, the higher the chance they'll pinpoint our location. So we hit Seoul, then intentionally leak that we're nearby.”
“That could get risky if we're spotted.”
“I can cover it myself. We still have skills they haven't seen. I'll pick thirty fast movers.”
“Hmm. Alright. Discuss with the raid captain, pull the personnel, make a plan, and execute.”
“Yes. Oh, and it looks like a good number of Blue Moon survivors are out there too. They're wanted with us, so they're probably hiding somewhere. Once we're sorted internally, we should look into them. They're victims like us, so they could be a big help down the line.”
“Got it. We'll discuss that later.”
After briefing the chief of staff, Park Taemin stepped out and went to find Yu Hyuk.
“We need to pull some people for supplies. Prioritize fast movers—thirty should do.”
“Right now?”
“Yes. Chief of staff approved.”
“Understood.”
He gathered the personnel from Yu Hyuk, led them out of the dungeon, and divided them into three teams, assigning tasks.
“Once inside the mart, move separately. Team 1 with me hits the food section, Team 2 daily necessities, Team 3 household goods. Sweep them up. This is high-risk, so no solo actions. Round trip before dawn.”
“Yes, sir.”
In the dead of night, dozens of hunters emerged from a portal in a secluded Seoul mountainside. They were all from Wolfsrein in Yongin.
“Leave the portal here. Alright, Haste and let's move.”
Taemin led, the hunters followed.
Their target was a large brand mart in a quiet apartment zone. They slipped through the dark main entrance, disabled the security with magic, and entered.
“Let's start.”
At Taemin's signal, they split into three teams and began sweeping their assigned items.
They stuffed their inventories to the brim and regrouped, exiting the mart in no time. It took just 30 minutes.
Back at the temporary base, they dumped the supplies and food at the entrance, then headed back. After seven round trips, the mart was cleaned out.
“Looks like nothing left to take.”
“Grab those biscuits at least.”
Taemin pointed at the snack aisle. Five or six hunters swarmed it, and the pile vanished into their inventories in seconds.
Having swept even the unplanned extras, they deployed a portal in a deserted spot. Taemin ordered the return.
“Head back first.”
“What about you, Captain?”
“I have a detour.”
“You'll have to walk then. Want one of us to stay?”
“No need. I can use that thing from earlier. Go ahead.”
After sending the hunters off, Taemin turned toward the Hunter Market.
Even at dawn, many shops were open. He picked a dark one, entered, and grabbed every potion in sight.
Sorry to the owners, but insurance would cover it. Once they realized, investigations and compensation would follow.
He snagged a few other item types too, then casually left the market.
“Guess I can't come back to Seoul for a while.”
Using the portal from the initial mountainside, he returned to base, reported in, and headed to the warehouse to unload the potions.
The guarding hunters' eyes went wide at the massive haul.
“Please sort them.”
“Yes, Captain.”
Leaving the sorting to them, he stepped out. Seo Ji-hoon, pitching a tent nearby, spotted him and approached.
“Hyung.”
“Hey, Ji-hoon. Good work.”
“This is nothing. Everyone's doing it. So, how's it outside?”
“Wanted posters are up. Our faces are all over.”
“For real? What about our families? Isn't that dangerous?”
“Don't worry. All they know are our faces.”
“Still…”
“We burned every record. It'll be fine. Where do your parents live again?”
“Ulsan.”
“Close. Mine's Busan. Once things stabilize, we'll go down together. Anyway, tents okay?”
“Not sure. We're using what's given, but seems sufficient.”
“Yeah?”
“Yes. But man, I could eat. Three days of snack crumbs and plain rice—my stomach's glued to my back.”
“Proper meals starting today. Look forward to it. Hey, what's that over there?”
Taemin pointed at hunters working by the lake.
“Oh, that? Trying to build a bathhouse, I think. Not going well. Eight hours in, still at it.”
“We're not pros. Let 'em suffer.”
“Yes, hyung.”
As they talked, Kim Hana, passing by, greeted him.
“Captain.”
“Ah, Hana.”
“Just back? The returnees said you had a stopover.”
“Checked the situation, hit the market. Grabbed potions too. Management's busy, huh?”
“Same everywhere. More fun than hard.”
“Good to hear, even if polite. Need anything?”
“Not yet. Tents and tarps—one per person. Plus personal stashes. Food? They piled a mountain. No worries for a while.”
“Good. Tell me if you need something. I can get most things.”
“Will do. Oh, exec quarters are set. Wanna see?”
“Later. When's chow?”
“Was heading to prep. Rotating tens, extras help. I'm on today—any requests?”
“Nah, no luxuries here. Easy bulk stuff—quantity over quality for 300+.”
“Still, tell me later if you want. I'll make it special.”
“Appreciate it.”
At the former Hunter Bureau Marshal's residence, Ham Ik-hyeon, who had seized power, conversed with his right-hand, Chief Secretary Shim Won-seop.
“Suwon rebels, huh? Idiots. I saw it coming. They were never gonna accept us.”
“What can those punks do? Our forces overwhelm.”
“Not that simple. Major guilds like us can't leave Seoul. If China gets ideas, obvious what happens. Incheon Union alone? We'd lose. They're the Seven Strong for a reason.”
“So what's the plan?”
“Pressure to keep 'em pinned for now. Meeting China's rep tomorrow to settle it.”
“Will they move solo?”
“We'll make 'em. They want one thing. If they can't crush Suwon, nothing gained. Bribe 'em right, they'll flip. We'll talk tomorrow. No word from Gangwon yet?”
“No, nothing.”
“How many troops on the eastern front?”
“About 10,000.”
“Wish we could absorb them.”
“Tough. Most backed former Marshal Park Dae-hyeon. Whole Gangwon's like that—his hometown.”
“Harder than thought. Guess force it is…”
“Pull portal guards to combat? Seoul's yours now—no need for excess watch. All guild property anyway. Sane fugitives won't hunt. They'd know it's suicide.”
“Makes sense. Keep frontline troops, recall the rest. Tell other guilds too.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Those vanished Wolfsrein guys… wonder what they're up to now.”