Global Hunt Fails as Gates Erupt Worldwide

China's Official Hunter Management Bureau

The agreement Korea had been pushing through the International Hunter Federation fell through. Korea had truly resolved the Cartibes incident on its own within the country.

Even the offer sent to the Unregistered was flatly rejected. Upon confirmation, the Unregistered hadn't even bothered reading the contract terms before turning it down.

China's Management Bureau Director, Jing Wei, issued orders to his subordinates with an imperial air.

"Find out within three days. Who the hell that guy is. If you fail, be prepared to pack your bags."

"……!"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Japan's Official Hunter Management Bureau

Mitsuo Tanaka, the Defense Minister overseeing hunter management under the Ministry of Defense.

"We failed to identify the Unregistered, who claimed the greatest credit for suppressing the Cartibes incident."

"Fukuda. If even you say that."

Shinji Fukuda. Japan's top detection hunter. His Dōryoku scouting, intel, and search capabilities using pupil power stood out on a world-class level.

He had especially pushed hard in this Unregistered investigation, even deploying Thousand-Mile Eyes.

"Don't you know what it means for national prestige when we're the first in this field not to know?"

"……My apologies."

The situation was the same in the 'United States'.

However, the U.S. Management Bureau Director stationed at the International Hunter Federation's operations room had no time to rage over the failed recruitment of the Unregistered.

Starting with Alaska, Nevada, Minnesota, and Florida in the U.S., gate currents were surging worldwide—including Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Back in my one-room apartment from the training grounds, I mulled it over.

It looked like I'd need some adaptation time for the new semi-automatic sniper rifle 'Massacre'.

I decided to experiment a lot with simultaneously applying the skills Chain and Pierce. The problem was that Chain's effect bounced around unpredictably—

a skill I absolutely couldn't use if allies or civilians were nearby. Even more caution if combining with Pierce.

Since I'd partially addressed my weaknesses in attack speed and single-target damage, the gains were solid.

I paused training and headed to the operations room. Time to plan strategy in detail.

Gangneung, Yecheon, Gimhae, Jeju.

Clear gate currents (▲) in all four spots. Seoul had one too, but it was flickering ambiguously.

By color coding, Jeju was ultra-high-grade. The rest were all high-grade. Definitely problematic—gates this intense popping up simultaneously.

The operations room radar covered from Korea to Japan, and it looked like Japan was in chaos too. Two high-grades. China similar.

'What the hell is Necrophilia up to now.'

I recalled them messing with energy to boost gate frequency and difficulty during Cartibes.

"Fastest: half a day. At latest, within two days."

Not immediate fallout, but prep time was now.

Prioritize highest-difficulty gates while maximizing safety.

Bonus hope of snagging a Power Fragment, but even without, better to level up and grow preemptively—things could tangle unpredictably.

'Then first battlefield: Jeju.'

I enabled all gate alerts and left the operations room. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Detour to the Sniper Shop.

One item I'd eyed before—after agonizing, I decided to buy it. Not a ghillie suit.

New ammo.

Upgrade over air bullets.

No 30% damage reduction—in fact, 10% stronger than standard. Air bullets' perks (trajectory, trace invisibility) now at authority level.

Air bullets released trapped wind pressure, so zero tail risk—but not entirely traceless. This? Nada.

Unknown Cause of Death hides via Concealment across mid-flight, outer ballistics, and terminal phases. On impact, formless energy erupts, erasing the target.

But pricey. 1 million gold each.

Compared to 100k for air bullets, yeah, hesitation material.

Yet Unknown Cause of Death had precision leagues beyond air bullets.

Weight, material, coating, balance—all superior. Even without details, stats overwhelmed.

Balance was hefty, no burden. Thanks to the Management Bureau's full support. Maintenance costs rising, so gold flow secured.

Retraining to feel Unknown Cause of Death. Straight to [Training Grounds].

One task first. Arguably core to my forces, top priority.

"Captain! It's done! Much faster this time! My skills improved!"

……Right, Jenny.

'Unregistered' wasn't just me anymore.

First, gold.

For her sick family, earning gold on Earth. She looked elementary age—what circumstances?

"I-I want to earn gold hard for Mother!"

Wondered if prying was right, so asked what I could do.

"Complete missions hard with Captain, become great agent, earn gold later!"

"When's later?"

"When I'm good!"

"How much?"

1 million gold.

"……Aigoo."

Head rang. She deflated saying it—like an employee begging advance on personal woes.

'Arcana ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and Earth gold values differ big time.'

10 million won—not chump change here either, but peanuts to my gold.

"Jenny, do you know how much agents earn?"

"S-Some amazing ones earned 50k gold! But I can't expect that! I'll work harder!"

"Whoa……."

Settled on monthly 10 million gold.

Exhausted but never quitting—my agent. Pennies compared to luck from meeting her.

Short time here, massive boost to sniper life.

Wanted to give more, but considering future agents, raise ongoing once gold stable.

"??????????"

Jenny froze blinking at gold. Nudged her—no response. Just stiff-staring amount.

Worried, observed closely. Her emotional shift in four phases:

Finally eye-contact, waving hands to return it.

"Jenny, it's yours. Compared to your help, I want to give more—let's push together!"

"??????"

To me, skimpy amount—her reaction just guilt-inducing.

Still, income dwarfed family send-home, so eased mind. 10 billion? Lump sum trouble.

Left regressing Jenny (Phase 1) to ponder further 'agent management'.

Second: Stamina management.

Jenny's weakness: stamina. Kid, can't wield full power. Good robe, but her level can't max it.

Tried slipping new ring [Requiem] on frozen hand—no equip. Status: [Level too low—cannot accept yet].

'Gotta care for Jenny herself.'

Solution: Sniper Shop had [Agent Supplies] section!

All agent-only—I couldn't wear. [Magic Type].

Discovered intriguing: Arcana worldline items. Jenny's origin—compatibility hope.

Searched support/consumables boosting mage capacity.

Perfect find: 'Potion'.

5 million gold each. Bought one.

Tiny—barely 10ml. Ivory liquid with soft glow. Screamed expensive/rare.

Approached ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠still-frozen Jenny to feed.

Blank stare, so pop! uncorked and handed.

God—no, archdemon gaze as she asked:

"Wh-what is this! Captain!"

"Good for body—better magic, no fatigue. Drink."

No price reveal—another freakout. Hands shaking, so poured like cold meds. Then—

"Whoa!"

Stunned.

"No way?"

Jenny flexed hands, baffled. Eyes still softly glowing.

"Mana surged hugely! Feels like I can do anything!"

Vitality returned—bouncing up/down, shock briefly gone.

"Can a kid like me drink this???"

Hm. 30 doses for 'low chance transcend'—monthly regimen, but overreacting already.

"Jenny, healthier/stronger mage = us stronger. Let's grind!"

"!!!"

Flash of gold memory—regressing to Phase 1.

'Phase 1 agent management… good for now.'

Before next agent, me + Jenny honed in combat. Smart gold split grows team.

'I'll survive. No quitting.'

Left Jenny resting, entered training grounds.

Time to master Unknown Cause of Death.

Two days later, Management Bureau.

Director's funeral wrapped. High-rankers, staff, citizens back to routines/posts.

Mourning waves subsided, but Bureau tension unchanged.

Worldwide gate frequency/difficulty skyrocketing exponentially. Korean peninsula currents ominous,

"Status report!"

"Gate stirring in Yecheon! Opening soon!"

Finally hitting Korea.

Necrophilia chase draining, but gates worse than Cartibes.

No drop below mid-grade. Yecheon one: minimum high-grade.

"High-rankers tied up?"

"Possible, but instant response no! Minimum 1 hour with general hunters!"

Issue: Necrophilia currents ID'd in Jeju—high-rankers clustered there.

Available manpower far from Yecheon—generals hold briefly. Casualty/civilian minimize tough.

High-rankers elite but few—Korea's chronic shortage exposed.

"Japan/China high-grade stirs too—no support!"

Normally mutual aid from neighbors, but global gate crisis too dire.

"Gyeongbuk branch calling! Manpower plea!"

Korea's reality. Cartibes boosted prestige via mystery variable—unknown name/power.

Coop request sent, but Unregistered's call. Can't bet lives on uncertainty.

'Still insecure nation.'

Vs. U.S./Japan/China/Russia's solid might—Korea unsafe from gates.

"Kim Chi-gon ETA 1 hour."

"Cheon Seung-hyuk left Jeju! Time…"

Then—

"Damn it!"

Veins bulging, Kim Chun-gyu slammed the ops table. Prolonged crises like this—Cartibes irrelevant, gates doom us.

Past civilian safeguards? Distant dream.

'Way faster than predicted.'

Detections trickier—off predicted ranges.

"Send all general forces. Chungju already en route—hold just a bit!"

Harpy: typhoon speed, assassin-level burst. Tricky flyer like gargoyles—need ranged bad.

Issue: Yecheon general ranged standouts countable on fingers.

'High-grade wave.'

Worse than Seoul gargoyles maybe.

That moment—

- Skreeeeeeeeee!

Tracking Necrophilia in Jeju, Cheon Seung-hyuk couldn't investigate—rushing to high-grade gate, cleaving air.

'Insufficient.'

Feeling capacity lack lately. Rank 1, world 3—unprecedented overwhelm.

Cartibes to nationwide clears. Overmatched.

- Grind.

Unacceptable. Grow stronger. Surpass stages, mock 'that guy's' feats.

Then—

- Cheon Seung-hyuk! Yecheon gate cleared! Wave done! Spilling it straight—sorry!

"?"

- BOOM!

Got Kim Chun-gyu's comms, crash-landed mountainside. Speed cratered ground, exposed roots.

"What? Gate just opened."

- ……He helped.

"!!!"

No more needed. Knew 'him'.

Rushed real-time data.

"……."

- Rumble…

Gate opening. Yecheon skies… massive high-grade wave scale. Exactly Cheon's worry.

- SKREEEEEE!

Ear-splitting screech even on video. Harpy legion cry. Center: smaller but black-shrouded, energy-pulsing boss 'Black Harpy'.

Gate opened precisely.

Harpy horde wriggled out en masse, itching for Earth battle.

"……."

Then—

- KABOOOOOM!

"!!!"

~10 harpies still inside—obliterated instantly. Not exploded—erased formless. Then—

- KABOOOOOM!

- KABOOOOOM!

10, 20 vanishing simultaneous. No screams heard.

Overwhelming slaughter. Harpies died at gate mouth, world unseen.

- Kik, SKREEK. SKREEEE!

Boss 'Black Harpy' sensed wrongness, fled inward. But inner horde pushed it out—

- KABOOOOOM!

With remnants, boss gone.

■ MVP = Unregistered

'Just how far…'

Rank 1 instinct knew.

Unregistered. Stronger now.