Into the Lion's Den
The next day, Taejeong, who had asked Park Se-ah to gather intel on Gold Lion Guild headquarters, headed to the guild's Grade 1 archive managed by his regional team.
"You've arrived, Regional Commander."
"I'm here today to inspect the warehouse alarm systems."
"The commander himself?"
"There's some stuff I need to check out, and everyone else is swamped. Gotta lead by example at times like this."
"As expected. Understood. Then, shall I call in our security team members..."
"No need. I can handle it alone."
"Pardon?"
"It's a simple check. No point dragging in a bunch of people. Anyway, keep up the good work. I'll head inside."
"Ah, yes. Good luck, sir!"
After brushing off the security chief, Taejeong entered the warehouse interior and faced the first system.
"This is the Grade 2 area, right."
Normally, he'd swipe a card to enter, but today, getting in wasn't the goal.
Know thyself, know thy enemy—victory in a hundred battles.
He wanted to test just how far his Cloaking skill could take him.
Based on what he'd overheard at the entrance, he activated the skill right away.
In an instant, Taejeong vanished.
He crossed the security line without hesitation.
The warehouse echoed only with silence.
"Grade 2 cleared."
Using an ID key, he passed through the first door and stood before the second security line.
This was the final checkpoint into the inner area, secured with a higher-level system.
Taking a deep breath, he strode forward confidently.
Click.
Again, only silence in the warehouse.
He passed this one without issue too.
Dropping Cloaking, the alarms blared immediately.
After lingering a few minutes as if finished, he exited the warehouse.
"Looks like it works up to our top security, Grade 3."
Gerard's assessment was a bit off, but Cloaking handles basic Grade 3.
Grades within the same level varied, so it wasn't perfectly precise, but confirming it worked to some degree meant he wouldn't get caught in normal situations.
"Less worry about alarm magic now. Next, guild layout..."
He'd asked Park Se-ah, but he couldn't just sit around waiting.
Information quality mattered, so he planned to scout areas she couldn't access.
But there were hardly any restricted archive rooms she couldn't enter—her access level was S1, same as his.
"Only one answer in a pinch."
Something clicking in his mind, he headed off somewhere.
Taejeong arrived at the Strategic Planning Division, deeply intertwined with his regional team.
They ran the guild's second-largest intel unit. Maybe they'd know something.
"Regional Commander, welcome."
"Yeah. Here to see the director. Is he in?"
"Oh dear. He just left for lunch with the chief of staff. Come back later or wait a bit?"
"I'll wait. Can I go inside?"
"Of course. You're no stranger here. Coffee?"
"Nah, I'll grab one myself."
Entering the director's office, Taejeong casually pulled a drink from the fridge.
It was routine; no big deal.
The regional team and division were practically symbiotic—overlapping ops, budgets pulled from here, constant back-and-forth.
That built more familiarity than with other execs, letting him lounge in the office like this.
"Man, the director's really into paintings. Another one's up."
The growing collection fascinated Taejeong each visit. One wall was nearly covered.
Bored, he stood to check the new piece when a file on the desk nearby caught his eye.
He'd ignore it normally, but the label was too intriguing.
[Gold Lion Invincible Guild 1st Negotiation Team]
"What? They're really going? But why no word to our regional team?"
Too curious to resist peeking, but it was another department's file—he couldn't just open it.
As he set it down, a paper underneath drew his gaze.
"Looks like a letter from Gold Lion."
Reading the open sheet, Taejeong's expression turned serious.
It tied directly to him.
"So that castle by Tonggok River was theirs. No wonder."
Two castles captured near Tonggok River during the territory war.
The ones he'd hit on a whim belonged to Gold Lion and Invincible Guild.
It was all because of him.
The proposal insisted on including Taejeong.
"But next week, and no one's told me?"
As Taejeong puzzled over it, the door opened, and the director entered.
"You're here already?"
Kim Taek-hee, the director, asked awkwardly.
Taejeong set down the paper and replied.
"Didn't mean to snoop, but this letter..."
"Oh, that. It's nothing. Don't worry about it."
The director rushed to his seat, stuffing files into a drawer.
But Taejeong had already seen.
"They want my apology, it seems. No official notice to regional team—maybe planning to go without me..."
"What's the point? Easier all around if we just go ourselves. Don't sweat it. You stay here and..."
"Director."
Taejeong's gaze sharpened.
Kim Taek-hee, knowing his temperament, looked troubled before reluctantly spilling.
"...That's how it is. Truth is, you didn't commit some grave sin. No need to bow your head."
"Then why are the execs going? Isn't it to apologize?"
"Just trying to smooth things over."
"All the more reason I should go. I started this."
"Look, Regional Commander. Don't you get it? We're trying to save your face."
"I appreciate it, but I'm fine. Apologizing's no big deal. Put me on the negotiation team."
"You're impossible."
"Should I ask the guild master directly?"
"Sigh. Fine. If you're set on it, I'll bring it up at the next meeting. But what brings you without notice?"
"Ah, right... Wondering if you have any docs on Gold Lion HQ. Layouts, blueprints, that sort."
"Why?"
"Just curious..."
"Hmm. No idea why, but we got nothing. First visit for us too, and despite their thug vibes, they're top-tier. Security's airtight—no info on the place."
"Figures. Got it. Please follow up on what I mentioned."
Leaving the planning division, Taejeong glanced back at the building, thinking.
'Actually works in my favor. Like a free preview before the heist.'
His request to join wasn't just about bowing his head.
Intel.
He needed it.
To clear a quest for a powerful short-term skill, he had to scout Gold Lion HQ.
Impossible as an outsider, so this was his chance for clues.
The apology? He'd collect tenfold later.
"Negotiations over two days, twice. Gotta pack in as much as possible."
Three days after visiting planning, at the regular meeting, Taejeong's attendance was approved.
Guild master and total commander tried dissuading him repeatedly, but his resolve held.
Whatever the reason, the guild suffered because of him—universal fault or not, guildmates bore responsibility.
Of course, intel was a bonus.
The day before the team departed.
"You're going too?"
He asked Park Se-ah, packing her bags.
"Of course. Who'll assist the boss if not me?"
"Assist, huh. That the right term?"
"Pardon?"
"Never mind. Tomorrow we'll finally ride in style then."
"Yes. Oh, and this is prohibited items. Check it. They scan inventories too, so empty yours."
Taejeong took the memo from Park Se-ah, skimmed it, and handed it back.
Nothing special: electronics and equivalents like cameras, recorders, wide-area 3D scanners.
Mana stone gear included, but irrelevant to him.
He had Gerard, the superior AI.
"Early night for tomorrow."
Next morning, Taejeong and Park Se-ah exited the building and boarded Kim Hyung-sik's waiting car.
He'd been flying everywhere lately—no rides—but it felt nice.
"How much longer?"
"15 minutes. Shall we?"
"Let's go."
"Driver, head out."
"Yes, sir."
At the assembly plaza, sleek black luxury cars lined up.
Everyone disembarked, exchanged greetings, checked headcount, then exited by rank.
"As I said yesterday, no doing these things there."
"Got it. Fully briefed."
"No phone use, so tell me if you're going anywhere."
"Action radius is tiny anyway. They invite us and nitpick everything. Hey, your makeup's heavy today, no?"
"Pardon?"
"Heavier than usual."
"N-no way."
"Wipe the lipstick at least. What if those gangsters fall for your looks and try to keep you?"
His sudden words flustered her, cheeks flushing.
He cleared his throat, mumbling.
"Ahem. Don't read into it. Just want everyone back safe, no incidents."
"Y-yes, understood."
Time passed; cars slowed near the destination.
"Ah, that must be it."
Park Se-ah, fixing her makeup, pointed left.
A massive wall and giant Gold Lion statue loomed into view.
The castle-like building he'd passed pre-awakening.
His old pal Seok-ho's grumbles about it ruining the cityscape flashed in Taejeong's mind.
'Who'd have thought I'd be entering that place.'