The Bureau's Desperate Gamble
Five hundred million gold, down the drain.
Team 1 Leader Kim Chun-gyu, the bald one, stepped out onto the terrace for a smoke.
It was an electronic cigarette he'd bought secondhand from Kim Chi-gon for 70,000 won not long ago.
Turned out later it was going for 50,000 online.
After puffing away for a good while, Kim Chun-gyu checked his status window.
Unregistered has successfully received the donation.
"Whew. Just keep going like this. Just like this."
Now came the crucial part.
How would Unregistered respond to the Management Bureau's fallback plan—cooperation?
Screw this up, and things would get real tough.
And right on cue—
Click-clack. Click-clack.
A woman in business casual approached, her face etched with worry.
"Senior."
"......"
Kang Ye-bin, the one handling all the fieldwork for Team 1.
"We've collected all the items from the monsters and bosses that Unregistered took down."
"Good work."
Monsters and bosses often dropped items or loot across the field upon death.
Unregistered didn't even bother picking them up—these precious, expensive things.
Finders keepers for field drops, so they'd all fallen under Management Bureau control for now...
But the Bureau aimed to push past mere cooperation toward a full contract someday.
For the moment, they were storing everything without selling or disposing.
Now that cooperation was public, it was time to hand some over to Unregistered at the right moment.
Still, Kang Ye-bin had looked worried sick from earlier.
"What's up? Spill it."
Kim Chun-gyu asked, and only then did she speak in a voice heavy with concern.
"Senior. The cooperation vote with Unregistered is great, but did we have to rush the news broadcast and the subjugation request right now? Isn't it too risky?"
Kim Chun-gyu stared silently at the horizon for a few seconds.
No answer. Frustrated, Kang Ye-bin pressed on.
"We could've taken it slower, right?"
Then,
"Look."
He handed her the documents in his hand.
"Satellite shots of Gwangju in real time."
"!!!"
Kang Ye-bin's brow furrowed at the sight.
The city's outskirts were blanketed in white and yellow.
Like a colossal mushroom sprouting beside the city.
"All 'bones.'"
"All of this is bones?"
"Yeah. Unlike the Apostles of Blood, Shadow, or Flesh... this one's not something a ranker or two can smash solo."
The Apostle of Bones, 'Creper.'
It had fortified part of Gwangju in just one hour.
Even now, Creper's bones were multiplying on their own, expanding the fortress.
"Not content with picking a spot far from the Seoul area, it hunkered down and made itself at home."
That wasn't all.
Gwangju was turning into a land of death right this second.
Creper's fortress dragged in every living vertebrate—human or beast—without discrimination, killed them, harvested their bones, and used them to build its walls. Reports kept coming in that it was even reinforcing the strength.
Not just Hae-dong, but even Cheon Seung-hyuk would finish mopping up remnants around Seoul and head to Gwangju soon.
Meanwhile, signs of the 'Apostle of Souls' were popping up, tying down Yoon So-i.
A dire situation... heading into a massive battle. A siege, no less.
"Its combat power isn't the issue. Defense and sustain are. The longer it drags, the harder it'll be to breach. And above all, it's gathering sacrifices for Cartibes right now."
"Got it. We need every hand on deck."
"Exactly. Breaching that fortress needs overwhelming DPS. We gotta team up. But if one person helps? It'd be a hell of a lot easier. Guess who."
The storm sweeping Hunter Universe,
"Unregistered, right? Understood."
"If that guy steps up now... it'd be perfect."
Even without that, Kim Chun-gyu would've done the same. Opportunities didn't knock often.
"All that's left is his choice."
"Yeah. The ball's in Unregistered's court now."
"......"
Kang Ye-bin didn't reply.
No one knew what would happen. Except Unregistered.
"Yeah, it's a gamble. I rolled the dice. Fuck. Got a problem? You got a problem with it?"
"I'm heading out."
"Pray with me before you go."
"Pray for what?"
"Please, three-eight-nine-of-spades."
"I'm going."
Kim Chun-gyu closed his eyes alone.
'Accept it. This should be fine, right?'
A heartfelt prayer.
I accept.
No need to agonize.
Cooperation means I don't have to share my info, right?
Help where I can, take what I can—maximize gains.
Of course, safely...
'I want that Apostle dead ASAP too.'
■ Apostle of Bones, 'Creper' Subjugation [0/1]
📍 Location: Gwangju
Location: Gwangju.
The real-time footage hit Hunter Universe instantly.
"Jenny. Let's nail down the location and images this time. You got this?"
"Y-Yes! Captain! I won't mess up!"
I showed her the location, footage, even Google Earth.
While Jenny burned with determination, memorizing data and plotting the warp point,
I reorganized my full setup.
Before diving into combat, I'd gear up completely.
【Attack Type】【White Bullet】
Imbues the bullet with a random special property.
(Applies to 1 shot after use)
(Cooldown = 24 hours)
※ Details (View More)
Reviewing the new skill. Attack type.
'Random property, huh.'
No clue. What the hell?
'Speculation's pointless. Better feel it out.'
Jenny was deep in focus, so I entered the [Training Ground] solo. Test three shots, then out.
You have entered the '[Training Ground].'
No specific spot. Just summoned one ground bot.
Whoosh!
White Bullet applying...
No cooldown in the training ground—fire away.
First trigger.
Pfft...
Trigger sound same, invisible bullet same, but
KABOOOOOM!
"Aaagh!"
[Incendiary Round]
Terrifying explosion. Range wasn't huge, but the noise.
Seemed like it kept my raw power but added an element.
'More. Two more.'
Summon another ground bot. Second trigger.
Pfft...
Flash!
"......"
Blinded for a sec. [Flashbang].
Ground bot intact. Non-lethal.
Final, third trigger.
Pfft...
Fwoooosh...
"What the?"
A hazy smoke cloud billowed out.
Bot still fine. But what smoke?
Distracted by it, missed the quick status flash.
No need to check—the smoke hit me.
"Fuck, it's a tear gas round!"
Cough. Cough.
Dizzying. No pain in training ground, but that vile stench.
You have exited the '[Training Ground].'
'Okay, got the gist.'
White Bullet: special ammo with unknown effects.
Saw flashbang in Sniper Shop before, but not incendiary or tear gas.
'Exclusive to White Bullet, or unlockable later.'
Handy someday, for sure.
'Next.'
Shelter [Facility Improvements].
■ LV 35 = Home Theater (Display)
■ LV 40 = Home Theater (Content)
"Fuckin' hell."
"Eek! S-Sorry! My fault! I'll memorize faster!!!"
"Not you—sorry for cursing..."
Pissed. Now it's a damn theater?
Play Pororo for Jenny later.
Next, shelter [New Facilities].
■ Shelter Expansion = Req. LV 100
■ Facility Additions
⋅ Operation Room = Req. LV 40
⋅ Laboratory = Req. LV 50
⋅ (View Restricted)
'Operation Room, huh.'
- Gate status monitoring
- GPS, 3D terrain mapping
- Distance, altitude, position data
- Small meeting functions
"This is it."
Agents' quarters too—lately, [New Facilities] batting high.
Lab details locked for now.
"Jenny, hold up. Gonna show you the real deal."
"R-Really? Yes! Got it!"
Installed Operation Room on the spot. Needed it now. 50 million gold—surprisingly cheap.
Install light scanned dazzlingly, landing on my wall clock.
Quick setup.
You have established the 'Operation Room'.
Up close to the clock, yep.
Took Jenny right in.
"Whoa."
"Whoaaa!"
We both gasped in unison.
A massive screen showed South Korea and surroundings, my position marked with a ●.
Open gates nationwide as ▲, color-coded by rank.
'Insane. Proper facility.'
Other monitors, gadgets for situations—full GPS and terrain functions.
"Jenny, check here."
Sure enough, Creper's ▲ over Gwangju.
Tap it—live feed quality blew Hunter Universe out of the water.
'Perfect.'
Parked Jenny in the Operation Room for location lock, stepped out.
You have exited the 'Operation Room'.
Last up: burn through that massive gold pile.
Straight to [Sniper Shop].
"Whoa, yeah, these would be clutch."
First catch: 'Chameleon Ghillie Suit.'
Effects: morphs to match surroundings—tree-like by trees, water-like on water.
Like a lesser 'Stealth'—not full invisible.
Downside: movement speed near zero.
But when Stealth cooldown's up and I need to keep sniping...
Smart backup to carry.
'Must-buy. Guaranteed help.'
If not for the insane price.
500 million? No way.
Better grind a few more requests, build wealth first.
'Chameleon Ghillie Suit. Buying for sure. Wait for me.'
Hit wishlist (♥). Why even have that?
Then,
Swoosh.
Jenny emerged.
"Captain! I can do it perfectly now!!! Checked hard in the Operation Room!!!"
Operation Room: best facility for my current setup. Godsend for a sniper.
Her confident face fired me up too.
'Alright. Help out, rake in cash.'
"Let's go!"
"Yes!"
Jenny closed her eyes, conjured a warp point in the corner.
Vrrrrm...
Prep complete.
Before heading out, double-checked the Bureau's news: 'Unregistered Cooperation Request & Subjugation Commission.'
Reading it, I got the vibe.
How badly they needed my DPS.
'They can't predict my take.'
Vrrrrm...
Sniper rifle in hand, approached the warp.
Road to Gwangju.
"This oughta answer 'em."
Safety secured, giving my best.
"Here we go."
《Gwangju》
"Ready!"
Click.
"Fire!!!"
Pew-pew-pew-pew-pew...
C-rank archer hunter squads loosed arrows at 'Creper Fortress.' Private guilds and minor factions piled on ranged attacks.
Not at the fortress.
At the undead hordes pouring out like mad.
'Toughest Apostle yet.'
The commanding A-rank hunter sweated bullets.
Skeleton grunts, warriors/mages—way tougher and stronger than standard.
Needed enchanter supports for real damage.
But supporters scarce—most attacked unbuffed.
"Damn. Ready again! Fire!!!"
Pew-pew-pew-pew-pew...
Mage hunters unleashed from afar too.
BOOM-BOOM-BOOOM...
Dozens, hundreds of undead fell or vanished, but replacements spewed endlessly—like a factory inside.
Even elite ghouls, dullahans as squad leaders.
'When're the high-rankers coming?'
Hae-dong from Dokgakchon seemed due in ~10 mins,
But breaching the fortress? Doubtful.
Then,
Thud... Thud... Thud...
'What the hell now.'
A colossal bone golem emerged from the fortress.
"Bone golem?"
Couldn't even handle the mobs—that was impossible.
Would overrun them in under 10.
'Shit, casualties mounting.'
Tension peaked—
CRAAAAACK!
Rumble...
"!!!"
Allied hunters went dead silent.
Some clapped hands over ears instinctively.
Riiiing...
Tinnitus.
From that monstrous impact.
The sound of the bone golem exploding.
Shattered into thousands of shards, slamming into undead flesh around,
Like a grenade—devastated the area, wiped them out.
"Who... Ah!"
Somehow,
No need to check the DPS.