The Assassin Hunter Stops Time
Tap, tap, tap.
Through the floor-to-ceiling glass, Hyejin’s figure came into view.
Her breathing tube was attached, and bandages wrapped her entire body tightly.
Looking at the state she was in, Dojin turned to Seonghyun standing beside him and asked.
“When did it happen?”
“That… a few days ago, we were moving to break the Red Circle Guild’s dungeon…”
“Do you know who did it?”
“That is…”
Seonghyun let out a heavy sigh.
Ever since the recent incidents at Firebird Guild, his heart had refused to settle.
Seonghyun recalled the situation from back then.
“Suddenly, I received a call from an unknown number.”
When he rushed to the dungeon upon receiving the emergency call.
“He just… tossed her like a piece of garbage.”
The sight of Hyejin, who should have been dead, thrown so casually.
Seonghyun clenched his fist tight.
“It was Jang Gwangho… although he’s not widely known to the public, he’s called Red Circle Guild’s de facto second-in-command.”
“Jang Gwangho?”
Dojin’s eyebrows twitched.
With his eyes slightly shaken, a memory from the past flashed across his mind.
‘Jang Gwangho…’
He had never faced him directly, but he had certainly known of the man.
An immense skill.
The only person in Red Circle Guild said to stand against Kang Seungho.
But…
‘The falling out with Kang Seungho led to a major conflict.’
The incident that turned Dojin into Kang Seungho’s shadow.
Two years later.
Jang Gwangho would lose his life at Kang Seungho’s hands.
What had begun as covert operations suddenly found the spotlight.
It was nothing but a fortunate turn of events.
Right after the enormous growth of the rival Black Chain Guild.
‘Back then, before SW Technology was acquired… Red Circle Guild was still growing slowly.’
At that time, Black Chain Guild’s rapid rise had blocked Red Circle’s path.
The conflict forced Red Circle Guild to draw its swords and wage full-scale war against Black Chain Guild.
Meanwhile, the covert Jang Gwangho stepped into the public eye.
Because battling head-on required a strong hunter.
And…
‘He had secured the victory as the vanguard in that battle.’
Because of that, the name Jang Gwangho had entered the public record.
Countless spotlights followed.
He probably hadn’t forgotten that electrifying moment of applause and acknowledgment of his strength.
‘Jang Gwangho…’
His power was enough to rival Kang Seungho.
He possessed sufficient qualifications to dream of a rebellion.
But he only failed.
‘If he had succeeded, it would have been a revolution… but in the end, Jang Gwangho lost his life to a failed rebellion.’
Perhaps to Dojin, Jang Gwangho was also a predecessor.
He hadn’t belonged to the Shadows, but the work he performed was similar.
Yet, now that Jang Gwangho had moved…
“That means the situation has grown dire indeed.”
“Excuse me?”
“It’s nothing. How is the atmosphere at Firebird Guild right now?”
“Probably… if Master doesn’t wake up, the guild will be dissolved.”
All the core hunters of Firebird Guild who had moved with Hyejin were dead.
They had only kept Hyejin alive as a warning.
‘Since the incident occurred inside a dungeon, it can’t be legally challenged.’
More importantly, Firebird Guild had been the aggressor first.
Dojin looked at Seonghyun.
“Go home first. You look like you haven’t slept in days.”
“C-can you help us?”
Seonghyun’s voice was filled with desperation.
It wasn’t simply because his workplace was disappearing.
For Seonghyun, Firebird Guild meant far more than just “a company.”
Dojin nodded.
“I’ll make sure your anger doesn’t grow any stronger. Seonghyun, please pray that Hunter Lee Hyejin wakes up.”
Prayer.
Hyejin’s condition was so poor that even prayer seemed like his only hope.
After that, Dojin turned his body.
First, there were things he needed to verify.
* * *
“Yes, I knew about it.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t think it was something that had to be spoken about.”
Kyungtaek spoke in a calm voice.
Although Dojin had some connection to Firebird Guild, this matter was of a somewhat different nature.
Even if Dojin was involved behind the scenes.
“Guild versus guild conflicts are quite common. In an infinite competition society, aiming at each other’s dungeons or engaging in power struggles continues even now.”
It was just not rising to the surface.
The fierce battles taking place in the shadows were unknown to ordinary people and still being fought right now.
Dojin knew that better than anyone.
After all, he had ruled over those shadows.
“But because it involves me, you’ve suffered damage, haven’t you?”
“To the public, it’s a guild fight. And if Hunter Ha Dojin intervenes in this situation, it’s the same as SW Technology getting involved in a guild dispute.”
“…”
“It would create an even greater ripple effect than you imagine. Supporting you as Hunter Ha Dojin versus supporting another hunter guild has a vastly different weight.”
Whether SW Technology created and operated its own guild or not, the current situation left them without a reason to intervene.
“If Firebird Guild had been attacked unilaterally, then maybe. But this case arose from counterattacks, so it’s even more so.”
In the worst case, even if they helped Firebird Guild and succeeded in countering, Red Circle Guild would have nothing to complain about.
SW Technology, a global corporation, had stepped into a hunter guild fight that the association already tacitly recognized.
They could even shift the bad press by posing as victims.
Dojin let out a small sigh.
He hadn’t thought about it emotionally, but he had never expected the rift between the hunter world and ordinary corporations to be so vast.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. I understand how you felt when you said that, Hunter Ha Dojin. And if I report this to Chairman Gu, he will surely listen.”
That was why Kyungtaek couldn’t bring up the matter to Gu Jinmo.
Chairman Gu’s support for Ha Dojin had been full-scale, but it was never for the company’s sake.
Dojin understood that feeling as well.
“Then, what should we do?”
“…”
Kyungtaek looked surprised at Dojin’s question.
This man had always handled everything alone.
Dojin had never expected to receive advice like this.
But…
A faint smile.
It was actually better.
Because it felt like a request for “help” rather than “prepare” something necessary.
Kyungtaek continued.
“As you know, SW Technology is an enormous company. And Chairman Gu Jinmo, the CEO, possesses incredible power.”
“I know.”
That was why he had handled unthinkable tasks all this time.
Kyungtaek went on.
“As I mentioned earlier, there’s no reason for SW Technology to intervene between guild and guild. But… if SW Technology creates a hunter guild, the situation changes.”
“…Excuse me?”
“We can’t publicly intervene in the hunter world as a corporation, but creating a hunter guild changes everything.”
“…”
The scale of thought was completely different.
Dojin watched him with a slightly surprised expression.
“Of course, I don’t have that ability. But if it’s Chairman, it won’t be difficult.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Let me know when you decide. It might actually be less burdensome than directly intervening myself.”
“Thank you for always worrying about this. I’ve always been grateful to you, Director.”
“I’m happy I can help Hunter Ha Dojin as well.”
It was a sincere feeling.
No, more precisely…
‘If this man had been in an antagonistic position toward SW Technology…’
It was unlikely, but the mere thought was chilling.
Kyungtaek continued.
“I will consult Chairman regarding this matter and give you a response. It seems Hunter Ha Dojin’s decision alone will suffice.”
Dojin nodded at Kyungtaek’s words.
And…
—Mr. Yoo Seonghyun—
Looking at the phone list, he saw Seonghyun’s name.
First…
Ring, ring, ring, ring, ring!
It didn’t seem like a problem he should solve alone.
Dojin picked up the ringing phone and waited.
First, he would ask for their opinion.
Help would come later.
“Hello?”
“Can I talk for a moment?”
* * *
“Y-yes?!”
Park Seonggwang, who had come out with Seonghyun, jumped in his seat at Dojin’s words.
Seonggwang said with a startled expression.
“T-that’s something I can’t decide.”
“I know. That’s why I asked you to discuss it in a meeting and tell me.”
Dojin looked at Seonghyun.
Actually, there was no need to go this far.
But wasn’t this their fault as well?
‘Destroying everything around him… and leaving no one with the strength to rise up—that was Kang Seungho’s style.’
Perhaps Firebird Guild had been an easy prey for someone like Dojin who had almost no surrounding allies.
But the only connection was SW Technology and Firebird Guild.
‘SW Technology would be hard to touch.’
Firebird Guild was weak.
That was why such a mess had happened.
“So… would you create a hunter guild under SW Technology…?”
Seonghyun, listening from the side, said cautiously.
That couldn’t be right.
Why would SW Technology suddenly create a hunter guild?
And then absorb Firebird Guild under that guild?
But Dojin spoke calmly.
“The matter has already been settled.”
Before meeting the two of them, he had received a call from Kyungtaek.
Chairman Gu Jinmo’s approval to support whatever was needed.
So Dojin thought.
What could he do for those who had been sacrificed because of him?
In his past life.
Dojin, who had taken countless lives throughout his lifetime.
‘Now… many things have changed.’
Or rather, he had been trying to change them.
It could also be revenge against Kang Seungho and atonement for the actions he had taken in the past.
Even in his past life and now, Firebird Guild was walking the path of ruin because of him.
He hoped they wouldn’t fall this time.
That was why, when creating a guild with SW Technology’s help, he had decided to employ every member of Firebird Guild.
‘That would give SW Technology a reason to intervene.’
Of course, other hunters like Dojin would join the guild as well.
But it was something they would have done sooner or later anyway.
He had only been chasing Kang Seungho, but he had learned that many others were tied to that goal.
Up to now, he had only focused on Kang Seungho.
“Discuss it thoroughly and let me know. There’s no time limit.”
Yeah, there was no hurry.
Problems that would arise in the future would be gone soon.
Now…
‘It seems the time has come to draw the final line.’
With that guy and me.
The rotten grudge tied to my past life.
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