The Superhuman Club's Invitation
Han Seol-ah put Park Se-ah and Kim Hyung-sik in a different car, then took the wheel herself, riding up alone with Taejeong.
"How'd you end up here?"
"Killing two birds with one stone. I had a message to pass along, too. Heard you became the regional commander. Congrats, even if it's a bit late. They say you made a huge splash in the territory war? Incredible. To pull off something like that in such a short time... And you've only been in the guild for three months?"
"It's all thanks to you helping me out back then, noona."
"What, that was nothing special. But because of this, Seo Jin's starting to take an interest in you."
"The leader?"
"Yeah. I think the World War national battle will be your final evaluation."
"Then..."
"Depending on your contributions, you'll get the green light to join. Of course, your own will matters most."
Taejeong's heart began to race at the unexpected words. Joining the club. Even at face value, getting into that place as an individual was monumental. Just look at how Gold Lion and Invincible hadn't made a peep earlier. It was an off-the-books group no one dared touch. An inviolable domain. Any man worth his salt would dream of challenging it at least once.
Of course, that chance wasn't given to everyone. It was an ultra-limited resource, and even among those, only the super-elites got the privilege.
What surprised Taejeong was how soon it had come. He'd figured it'd take years of grinding.
"Still the same mindset? You want in?"
"Yeah. It's the dream of every hunter, right?"
"A dream, huh. Once you're in, you'll see it's not. Oh, right—have you been to the labyrinth yet?"
"Ah, yeah."
"Then you know the rules."
"I've got them memorized for now."
"Oh, really? Good job. You'll figure it out more as you grow, but you'll get access to a ton of hidden info the world doesn't know about. A privilege for the hidden ones. Or maybe a burden you'd shoulder. Anyway, focus on growing. The World War's only half a year away, tops."
"Got it. But..."
"Yeah, spit it out."
"You think those guys will back off quietly?"
"Who? Oh, those idiots? They have no choice. The more you have to protect, the more cowardly you get."
Han Seol-ah's words rang true, backed by her infamous reputation. To the tiny circle of people close to her, she seemed normal enough, but to everyone else, she was the incarnation of evil. The tale of her slaughtering three thousand people overnight was still talked about. She was undoubtedly the only hunter in the country to pull off a massacre like that. Sure, it happened overseas, but it wouldn't have been different at home. The group she belonged to didn't follow Hansan-do's laws. They were equals who negotiated on the same level. In other words, if she said she'd do it, she would.
"You know how to drive, right? I'll pull over up ahead."
"You're just gonna head out?"
"Seo Jin sent me to check it out. The club's a mess with the war right now."
With that, she pulled over on a quiet road, got out, and left. Taejeong followed her out.
"What're you taking?"
"Me? This."
A portal suddenly appeared in front of Han Seol-ah. She stepped through leisurely and vanished. The portal disappeared just as quickly.
"Man, she's like a ghost."
Gold Lion executive meeting room.
The atmosphere was like a funeral parlor after the morning's events. In the end, Gold Lion decided to accept all of Han Seol-ah's demands.
"Damn it. Infuriating. I'm about to lose my mind from the rage."
Choi Cheol-ho, the only one left in the room, was so furious he looked ready to drop dead. He'd never imagined the empress would intervene like this.
"That crazy bitch. No, Hansan-do's the real problem. A whole country's leaders can't control a bunch of gangsters like that, and this is the mess they make."
Choi Cheol-ho had trusted Hansan-do. The secret pact between the Superhuman Club and them: no meddling on either side. But today's events threw that out the window. The top Korean ranker from Hansan-do hadn't said a word and just let her go. What blew his mind even more was that they'd sided with her, not them.
"The country's gone to hell. So corrupt I wanna get the hell out."
Unable to contain his anger, he kept grumbling when the meeting room door opened. It was Shim Hyeon-seop, the security chief.
"What? More bad news?"
"The initial investigation results from Central C District Warehouse 1 are in."
"Yeah? Who the hell ate it?"
"Well... The guards on duty are cleared. Solid alibis, clean inventories."
"Then? What, a ghost came and looted it?"
Already pissed, the report only made Choi Cheol-ho angrier. Shim Hyeon-seop, reading the mood, spoke cautiously.
"But the guards said Raid Team 2's deputy captain came and went briefly at dawn."
"Choi Da-som?"
"Yes. Said she was there to check the security systems."
"Choi Da-som checking security? She doesn't have clearance. What the hell does that mean?"
"I thought it was weird too, but they all said the same thing."
"Choi Da-som was there... Choi Da-som. So? Where is she now?"
"Working at the raid team office."
"You idiot."
"Pardon?"
"If the interrogation points to her, drag her in for questioning right now! What are you doing? Do you know how big this is? Not one or two billion—1.8 trillion won. 1.8 trillion."
"But the deputy captain is the guild master's..."
"Screw that. Bring her in—now!"
"Ah, yes!"
Not long after the talks with Gold Lion, Jenix began getting back their seized businesses one by one. Han Seol-ah's threat had worked perfectly. The guild regained its energy, but Taejeong was still deeply worried.
What happened? Did I get her in trouble for nothing?
Choi Da-som had told him not to worry, but he couldn't help it. Without her help, would things have turned out like this? Even Han Seol-ah couldn't have done much without it. To him, Choi Da-som was practically his lifesaver. And she wasn't some stranger—she was a friend.
In the end, he picked up his phone.
"Hey, Seok-ho. Any word from Da-som?"
-Nah. Why?
"Nothing much. Gimme her number."
-Oh, finally gonna hit her up? Smart move.
"Not what you're thinking. Just text it to me."
-OK.
Moments later, her number came through. He called right away.
-Hello?
"Choi Da-som?"
-Ah, Taejeong? Yeah, it's me.
"Yeah, it's me... Just checking if everything's okay."
-Okay? All good here.
"Not in trouble because of me or anything?"
-Trouble? I told you, I've got a way out.
"I didn't see it myself."
-You're still the same as ever.
"What?"
-Worrying about stuff that hasn't even happened.
"Our side doesn't have time to worry about warehouses. You know what we're dealing with."
"True, but the amount's no joke."
-I'm really fine. For real. I'm touched you're worried, but I'm swamped prepping for an overseas trip I've had lined up for a year.
"Overseas trip?"
-Yeah. Big project in the works. Thanks for checking in before I go—I was gonna call to say don't worry, but I've been slammed.
"Got it. I was just worried you were in a bind because of me. Glad it's all good. Guess contact'll be tough for a while?"
-Probably. Only guild long-range comms will work.
"When you coming back?"
-Dunno. First step into Europe—might take a solid 1-2 years living there.
"That long? Hit me up when you're back."
-Why?
"Can't just shut up after you helped me that much. Call when you return."
-Hearing you talk like that, you gonna buy me a house or something?
"Like it's about a house."
-Uh? Taejeong, gotta go for prep. I'll tell you all about it when I get back.
"Yeah, okay. Prep well, safe travels. Thanks, really. I'll repay this debt."
-Sure.
Click.
Only then did Taejeong finally exhale. From the sound of it, no major issues. With Jenix alone keeping her busy, plus what he knew of her position in Gold Lion—top 30 in guild hierarchy, tight with a high-up, even engagement rumors.
"Looks like she got through okay, but..."
Choi Da-som's quarters at Gold Lion.
After hanging up with Taejeong, she fiddled with her phone and muttered.
"This should do it, right?"
A loaded remark. What exactly had she pulled off?
As she left the room, she heard movement in the living room. A familiar silhouette of a man came into view. Slightly startled, she schooled her expression and asked.
"How long you been here?"
"Just arrived."
"You hear?"
"..."
"You did."
"I'm sorry."
"Pretend you didn't."
"I heard on the way over—security's in an uproar."
"I know."
"Why did you do it?"
"Interrogating me?"
"No, it's just... your safety as deputy captain."
She cut him off.
"How long we known each other? Six years?"
"Yes. That day, despite everyone's objections, you came into the dungeon to save me—even though we were strangers."
"You were the only blood relative of the uncle here who looked after me. Couldn't just leave you."
"It was reckless."
"You lived. That's what matters. Remember what you said when your dad died, coming to me? You'd always be on my side. Protect me."
"How could I forget? It was his dying wish."
"Then keep that promise."
"But deputy captain."
"This isn't an order—it's a request. You might think I'm a fool, but I have something to protect. If I lose it... living won't mean living anymore. Can you keep it secret to the end? That's protecting me."
"..."
He couldn't answer easily. He knew the ordeal ahead, yet she wanted him to stay silent. And he'd already heard. But he knew her type: she did what she said. That's why, six years ago, she'd stormed that place alone—survival rate under 10%—defying everyone to save him.
"Is he that important to you?"
"Important? He's my everything. And once... he was mine too. So help me. Please."
At her desperate gaze, he finally looked away and grudgingly agreed.
"I don't get it at all... but alright. I'll do it."
"Thank you."