Red Gate Massacre
The Red Circle guild's raid team had been completely wiped out in the Red Gate dungeon.
They deliberately triggered a dungeon break?
Emergency! Red Circle's crimes!
The name Red Circle had flooded real-time search trends and every major portal site.
The unprecedented mana spike in the Red Gate dungeon.
Thanks to the shocking statement from Park Namhee, the master of the Black Chain guild who had cleared the dungeon and emerged.
The event had snowballed.
Naturally, every operation of the Red Circle guild had been halted.
“...... What the hell happened?”
The atmosphere inside the conference room was pure hellfire.
It crackled with the urge to draw a blade and swing.
Not a single executive had opened his mouth.
“Did the association call?”
Because it was a special dungeon, the retrieval team had moved at the direct command of the Hunter Association.
The single piece of information Kang Seungho had been waiting for was simple: the whereabouts of the Cartel Crystal.
But......
“We checked the insiders, and they say they haven't found a Cartel Crystal.”
“Then one of the hunters inside must have taken it with him?”
“Right now, that's the most likely scenario.”
Jang Junyeong answered cautiously.
Seungho swept his gaze across the room.
“Everyone, what are you all doing?”
“......?”
“Huh?”
“Once you know there's nothing at the association, you should've searched the raiding guilds that entered the dungeon, right? You had to find that Cartel Crystal!”
One moment and the entire Red Circle would be in deep trouble.
Not just themselves, but the Hwangryong guild tied to them would follow.
The moment word leaked that China had supported a dungeon break inside Korea, it would be over.
‘Everything is finished.’
Even standing on Korean soil would become impossible.
“What the hell are you all standing there for!”
“Ah, yes!”
“We’re moving right now!”
“Yes!”
The executives scattered out of the conference room in a panic.
Even Red Circle's executives were powerless in the current situation.
Soon, Seungho was alone in the conference room, clenching his fist.
‘Who the hell is ......’
In this situation that defied all intuition, he could only grind back the rage and figure out damage control.
* * *
“Is that true?”
“Yes.”
Gu Jinmo's expression hardened like stone at Dojin's answer.
He never imagined the highest-ranked guild in the country would commit such an act.
But......
“From what I learned, Red Circle gathered its elite hunters near the Red Gate this week.”
“......I see.”
Gu Jinmo exhaled softly after glancing at the tablet Kyungtaek handed him.
They were photos of Red Circle hunters gathered near the Red Gate.
Next, Gu Jinmo's eyes landed on the four purple crystals on the table.
“What are these?”
“They called them Cartel Crystals. They installed them inside the dungeon in areas of strong mana and tried to amplify the power to force a break.”
“Truly unbelievable. A dungeon of this scale, if it broke, the damage would be beyond imagination.”
Hundreds of square kilometers around the gate would turn into wasteland, and hundreds of thousands of people would die.
Those at the absolute front line knew the truth better than anyone.
‘How could this happen ......’
His chest ached with the horror unfolding on Korean soil.
But Gu Jinmo quickly steadied himself and asked Dojin.
“What can I do for you?”
“Please examine exactly what these items are. And how they were made.”
“Do you have any leads on who is behind them?”
“I have a strong suspicion.”
“The Hwangryong guild?”
“Yes.”
Gu Jinmo sighed quietly at Dojin's answer.
If it were Dojin, he would dig until everything was exposed.
Gu Jinmo said, “The Hwangryong guild is one of China's top three giants. While individual hunter strength isn't far behind Korea's, scale favors them overwhelmingly.”
Dungeons sprouting across the continent outnumber Korea's by fifty times.
Hunters in China have grown stronger and gained resources through them.
But Dojin shook his head. “Still, we have to find out. Otherwise the same thing could happen again.”
“What about Red Circle? With this evidence we could crush them without mercy.”
“Not now.”
Even if it were true, Red Circle had too many ways to spin the story.
First, cut off every thread they had.
And......
‘As long as Kang Seungho is alive, Red Circle can rebuild anytime.’
Because Seungho was Red Circle, and Red Circle was Seungho.
Gu Jinmo nodded.
He had no idea what plan Dojin was cooking up, but he had decided to support him to the utmost.
“If you need anything else, just say the word.”
“Thank you for your constant help.”
“Huff huff huff, at first I was just repaying a debt, but now it's an investment.”
Ha Dojin was for real.
After watching so many hunters for so long, he had never seen one as skilled.
Even overseas.
Gu Jinmo was certain: right now he was supporting Dojin, but someday SW Technology would soar to the top of the world because of him.
Soon, staff from the research lab carried the Cartel Crystals away.
Gu Jinmo told Dojin, “The most trustworthy people. We'll handle the inspection with maximum security; don't worry.”
“Thank you.”
“Then, what are you going to do from now on?”
“I think it's time I examined what I possess.”
“What you possess ......?”
Gu Jinmo looked at him curiously.
The man had called it “what I possess.”
He wanted to ask what it was, but......
“Huff huff huff, it will be interesting to see it for the first time.”
Gu Jinmo just laughed, watching him.
He couldn't read Dojin's thoughts, but one thing was clear: it would be fascinating.
Dojin stood up and headed for SW's training hall.
* * *
Bam! Bam! Kwadak!
Every day.
He endured pain until his hands bled.
Sometimes so tough he wanted to cry, but he pushed through.
‘This kind of training ......’
Compared to that hell, it was nothing.
“Uwaaaaaaaaah!”
Kwaaang!
Sohee blocked Munhyeok's charge and held her ground firmly.
“...... Pass.”
Munhyeok watched Sohee, who didn't step back an inch, and spoke quietly.
A month ago she would have been sent flying and rolling on the floor.
The fact that she had formed teams and cleared dungeons to raise her level had helped a lot.
As an SR-rank awakener, her growth rate was impressive.
‘Her shield proficiency had increased a lot.’
Overall, her combat skill had skyrocketed.
Munhyeok said to Sohee, “You worked hard. Really well done. I don't think there's anything left for me to teach you.”
“Thank you for teaching me ...... for all this time.”
Munhyeok unconsciously smiled.
He didn't know what it was called, but his heart felt warm.
He was the youngest he had trained among his hunters.
But the most mature and fastest-growing.
Munhyeok felt inexplicably proud.
But then.
“Has the training ended?”
“Uncle!”
Sohee shouted at the approaching Dojin.
Munhyeok turned to him with surprise.
‘When ......?’
He hadn't even hidden his presence.
‘I didn't sense him at all.’
Even though he was an A-rank hunter, he prided himself on his senses.
The sound of footsteps, the presence facing him...... it was faint.
Like watching a hunter who had trained to the limit.
Munhyeok bowed and greeted, “You have come.”
“How much training does Sohee have left?”
“Just finished. I have nothing more to teach her.”
“I see.”
Dojin looked at Sohee.
Only a little over a month since he entrusted her to Munhyeok.
‘I never thought I'd hear “nothing left to teach” from an SW Technology instructor.’
She was truly a fast grower.
Then now.
“It's time for real combat.”
“Real combat ......? We've been clearing dungeons with the Firebird guild attack team.”
“It shouldn't be difficult for you.”
“Ah ...... that's ......”
“What level are you at now?”
“Level 61.”
The last time he trained with her was in her mid-50s.
Since then, with the Firebird guild, she had gained about 5 levels.
‘Not bad ......’
But not enough.
The opponents he would face in the future...... Sohee needed to reach at least level 150.
And......
‘With this timing ...... I can shake them up.’
Red Circle members weren't all trash like Seungho or the first raid team.
There were many who followed him believing they could change the world.
Like the old him.
* * *
Whoosh!
A place Seungho never sought.
Only if it was a moment of real importance.
Seungho had driven the car far beyond the Paju military base.
Soon he saw a large building in the distance.
It looked like a decent-sized school, or the dormitory used for training camps.
Passing the gate, someone walked out.
“What brings you here?”
“Are things going well?”
“There are still some areas lacking, but ...... it's pretty satisfying.”
A man with a large scar over his left eye.
Sharp jawline and thick lips radiated stubbornness.
Broad shoulders and the firm muscles visible through his shirt showed he had trained hard.
“I didn't want to use it yet ...... but the situation has worsened.”
“I heard about it.”
Seungho glanced at the building.
He could feel someone staring, but couldn't gauge the exact number.
It was clear they had become skilled through thorough training.
“I need the Shadow.”
“How many?”
“Five.”
The man's eyebrows twitched.
Five Shadows could wipe out an entire small guild in a single night.
It showed how desperate Seungho's heart was.
But......
“Understood. I'll prepare them immediately.”
“First, let me see your skills. I came all this way for that.”
The man's neutral face showed a faint smile.
“You might regret it.”
“Then even better.”
Soon, Seungho entered the building and faced the Shadows.
“...... Huh?”
He couldn't hide his shock at their overwhelming skill.