The Assassin Hunter Stops Time
The document delivered by Baek Yeojin had reached the hands of Hunter Association President Lee Kwansu.
But…
“I won’t release the document.”
Kwansu said with a firm expression.
At that moment, Vice President Choi Iryeong, facing him, showed a puzzled look.
“Why? If this document is made public, Korea will be completely turned upside down.”
“That’s exactly why it shouldn’t be released. The Red Circle has already collapsed even without this document. Everyone already knows how corrupt they were.”
“But those who enabled that corruption must be punished. Only then can such things never happen again.”
Iryeong insisted strongly.
The corruption of the Red Circle acquired through Baek Yeojin was far from ordinary crime.
They didn’t treat people as human beings, and many died in the process of their gain.
Naturally, they and those behind them all had to be arrested and punished.
But…
“Not right now. We have to handle the aftermath of this incident… we need their strength.”
“……What do you mean by that?”
Kwansu gripped his throbbing head and said. He couldn’t quite figure out where to start explaining.
“There are a lot of things we need to deal with because of this incident.”
Including the destroyed city and the many issues that needed to be resolved due to the guild war.
And…
“Above all, the association agreed with the surrounding circumstances regarding this guild war. If we stir up this document, we’ll have no choice but to face attacks from that side either.”
After all, we had pushed one guild.
Only then did Iryeong understand Kwansu’s words.
But…
“You’re not thinking of completely covering it up, are you?”
“Absolutely not. After this incident is properly sorted out, we can investigate and punish those involved in this document then.”
“……I’ll trust you.”
Relations intertwined like this.
It wasn’t something that could be explained with just a few words.
But since the association president’s will to not let it slide was confirmed.
“Understood. I will follow Chairman Kwansu’s words.”
Iryeong no longer argued aggressively.
After all, the priority right now was to sort out the hunter world, which was filled with confusion.
A heavy atmosphere.
The two men had silently agreed to the situation, and now they started handling the tasks that needed immediate attention.
* * *
“What?”
Dojin’s ears almost failed him.
The man in front of him replied with a calm yet slightly tense expression.
“I want to join the Firebird Guild.”
“Why?”
That was the fundamental question.
Why did they want to come to the Firebird Guild.
Especially since it was the one that had brought down the Red Circle.
The man continued without hesitation.
“We only joined the Red Circle because we wanted to grow stronger. We never knew it was so rotten until now.”
“What does that have to do with wanting to join the Firebird Guild?”
“We want to grow even stronger at the Firebird Guild and learn a lot.”
The Firebird Guild was currently backed by SW Technology and receiving their support.
The level of support from SW Technology was beyond words.
“……”
It’s because you’re here.
He couldn’t say the words out loud.
“……Haa.”
Just by looking into their eyes, he could guess the reason.
Dojin said.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t have the leisure to teach or nurture anyone.”
“We don’t expect you to take us on. We’ll just steal and learn on our own.”
“……”
Suddenly, Dojin’s expression hardened.
No, more precisely, because their sincerity in that statement was felt.
I will steal and learn everything and become stronger.
It was suddenly triggered by a certain someone.
Snicker.
“……?”
The hunter who had been speaking was startled by the sudden upward curve of Dojin’s lips.
There was no reason to laugh.
But Dojin.
“What’s your name?”
“What?”
“Your name.”
“Park Mugyeol.”
“Mugyeol… Got it. But can you actually be responsible for that?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“That ‘I’ll steal and learn on my own.’ It means you’re ready to keep following me without giving up halfway.”
An ominous question.
Rather, if he gave up now, it would be fine, but if he gave up halfway, it would be a huge problem.
But Mugyeol clenched his fists.
“Of course. Did you think I could come here with half-baked resolve?”
“What about the others?”
“Of course.”
“Of course! You think coming here is easy?”
“There is no halfway giving up.”
Their eyes flashed with the same determination.
At that, Dojin said.
“Fine. All of you will be accepted.”
And inside, he didn’t say the last word.
‘Welcome to hell.’
A thick smile appeared on Dojin’s face.
* * *
A pitch-black space existed.
In the darkness where no light entered.
Pop!
As a square screen lit up with light.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
The same rectangular screens lit up one after another.
“Kang Seungho’s death is a huge loss.”
“Indeed. How much effort did we put into nurturing that guy… only to lose him at the very end.”
Irritation and sigh.
A tone mixed with multiple negative emotions flowed out.
Seungho, who they had put forward to completely control Korea, had died too absurdly.
At that moment, a voice came from another screen.
“Are you investigating Dojin?”
“We are investigating right now… but SW Technology’s defense is strong. It might take some time.”
“That old fox Gu Jinmo is interfering.”
Anger toward Gu Jinmo was felt in the voice.
Another person said.
“But what is the relationship between Gu Jinmo and Dojin? Are you saying Gu Jinmo dug up that guy Dojin to interfere with us?”
“Gu Jinmo has been following us from the past. We thought he gave up because he got no results so far….”
“So we finally got a usable blade.”
Various speculations flowed out.
The important thing was that Gu Jinmo was finally reaching them a little bit.
But then.
“We shouldn’t rush to that conclusion yet. Doing something he couldn’t do for a long time suddenly… there must be other variables.”
Perhaps Dojin wasn’t just someone who moved on Gu Jinmo’s orders.
But…
“No matter the reason, anyone who interferes with our work will fall into hell.”
“Then… since Seungho is gone, shouldn’t we bring in another guy?”
Even though it was a waste of effort, the incident had already happened.
At that moment, another square screen flickered.
“Right now, it seems more important to watch the Korean atmosphere. Because of this incident, the Korean hunter world is very alert.”
“El’s right. Right now these guys are on high alert for all situations. If we mess around when things are like this, we might get hurt instead.”
And what was more worrying than the Korean hunters’ alert.
Was.
“Because of this incident… other countries are also watching Korea closely. Right now we should just watch the situation.”
“Noblesse, what about their movements?”
“So far it seems there’s nothing special. But they can’t not know about this situation.”
Noblesse was more important than anything else.
Those burning with that strange sense of justice could be the biggest obstacle.
“First, we’ll keep watching Korea a little longer. Rather, now it would be better to focus our strength on the other side and move quickly.”
“I agree with that idea. Rather than acting while watching the moves, it would be better to quickly proceed with the other side when all eyes are on Korea.”
“I agree.”
“I agree.”
Words of agreement lined up.
“Then, as soon as the detailed plan comes out, I’ll share it.”
Bam!
With those words, the screens went dark.
But…
“……”
The screens had changed to a dark one.
The middle-aged man sitting alone on the opposite side chewed his lips while looking at the screen displaying Dojin’s face.
* * *
“Uncle!”
Training room at SW Technology.
Sohee shouted happily when she saw Dojin calling her.
Munchang standing beside Sohee greeted Dojin.
“Long time no see.”
“Long time no see.”
Dojin looked at Sohee.
She had clearly changed every time they met.
As she said, the desperate effort to live was felt keenly.
Dojin said.
“Let’s test your skill.”
“……Suddenly?”
“You had enough time, didn’t you?”
Even though Seungho was dead and the Red Circle had collapsed, there were many things left to do.
And in those things.
‘Now… Sohee is needed.’
If it was a fight between people, Dojin alone would be enough.
He had no intention of dragging his other teammates into this bloody place.
But…
‘There are things I need to obtain in the dungeons that will appear in the future.’
To go there, skill was important, but above all, a trustworthy ally was needed.
Dojin said.
“You’re not at a level you can trust yet, are you?”
“Hey, what are you saying? I’m the ace even in high-level dungeons!”
Sohee retorted loudly.
Then she walked into the training room.
“Come in. I’ll surprise you.”
With a confident expression, Sohee activated her armor.
Soon she was holding a shield and mace, the very image of a tank.
Dojin picked up Arkal’s Wrath.
But…
“Hmm……”
It didn’t seem right, so he clenched his fist.
“I won’t use weapons.”
“Huh? Uncle, you’re not underestimating me too much, are you?!”
If he had seen Dojin fighting Red Circle guild members, he would never have said that.
Sohee’s retort made Dojin give a faint smile and enter the training room.
The defensive formation soon formed around them, and Dojin nodded.
“Then I’ll start.”
“Come on whenever you want.”
At Sohee’s words, Dojin rushed at her at lightning speed.
Bam!
“……”
Sohee’s eyes shook greatly at the sudden disappearance of Dojin.
Where did he go?
And…
“Ugh!”
Sensing the presence beside her, Sohee twisted her body hurriedly and swung her mace.
“Hit!”
Woong!
Contrary to the sense of hitting, there was no feeling in her hand.
A sudden chill made Sohee hurriedly raise her shield.
Kwaang!
Soon after, the shock was as if her body would break.
Sohee, gripping the shield, was pushed back at least five meters.
At that moment, cold sweat ran down her spine.
‘Definitely…’
She had heard he awakened this year.
Of course she knew Dojin was strong.
But didn’t it require some amount of physical time?
How could an assassin hunter who had only awakened for seven months…
‘With bare hands too…’
Could produce this kind of destructive power.
“T-this is cheating!”
“If you last ten minutes, you win. Start.”
“W-wait a second!”
The following bombardment forced Sohee to crouch and take the hits.