Harpy Skies Cleared, Second Agent Drawn
The Saintess's Tears seemed to have a major effect on improving a mage's capabilities beyond just boosting mana.
Rrrrrumble...
I now realized that even Jenny's distortion magic had a concept of "cleanliness."
The twisting space warped like heat haze, so natural it was hard to discern with the naked eye. Since I was the target, I could still spot it easily enough.
The duration of the distortion had also lengthened. The physical strain felt less taxing. All in all, even just three days in, the effects were pretty noticeable.
The focal point was Yecheon. After reviewing from the operations room, that gate was set to open first. Right on the predicted schedule, the gate message popped up.
The Management Bureau must've sent an email ahead of time.
I hadn't opened this one. The subject was 【Yecheon Gate Situation Update】. No doubt it was them sharing details as politely as possible while hoping I'd make my own call.
I'll just handle it myself.
One reason: Even in a cooperative relationship with the Bureau, I was on guard against it slipping into a command structure disguised as goodwill.
"We're cooperating, but you won't help?!" The second I sense that vibe, I'll make them regret it instantly.
A gate was opening over Yecheon. Soon, those terrifying big-sis harpies would pour out in droves. Regular hunters were tensing up, entering combat readiness.
Click.
I chambered a round into [Signature Unknown]. After two days of training, I'd internalized the subtle differences from air bullets. Conclusion: "Overwhelmingly superior in every way."
[Penetration] Applied (00:59...)
[Chain] Applied (00:59...)
The harpy wave was basically live-fire training for me.
Kieeeek!
Right around the timeline analyzed in the ops room, the harpies started emerging. The hunters were hyping themselves up to boost morale amid the tension.
You guys won't have to fight today.
▷ [16]
▷ [15]
▶ [14] With Chain/Penetration already applied, flying in from such high altitude in a perfect clump, no friendly fire worries—it's just like an aerial bot training ground.
▷ [13]
They looked disgusting, but the setup was so similar to training that I felt less tension than usual. I pulled the trigger on [Massacre].
Phut!
Kwaaaang...
From this distance, it sounded like a proper explosion. Twelve harpies vaporized from a single shot.
This was where [Signature Unknown]'s effect shone. Air bullets felt like something had smashed them hard; this just erased them. Subtle difference, but yeah.
In terms of DPS on the gate clear log, it was ridiculous. New gun, new ammo.
"...Hoo."
Since the initial wave died instantly, I steadied my breathing and maintained focus while waiting for more targets.
The hunters were milling about in confusion. No one would die or get hurt today—they should be thrilled.
Enough targets had piled up. Time to show semi-auto's true power.
Phut!
Phut! Phut!
Kwaang... Kwaaaang...
Hearing living flesh burst like explosions felt weird. But as a sniper, I had no mercy—I kept unleashing hell.
Kwaang... Kwaaaang...
[Penetration] Applied (00:07...)
[Chain] Applied (00:07...)
◈ All Harpies Eliminated [100/100]
◈ Boss ‘Black Harpy’ Eliminated [1/1]
"Huh?"
I thought no more were coming, but turns out I'd wiped them all. No memory of the boss, but it must've gotten chain-penetrated as part of the combo platter.
One dark one seemed to retreat into the gate—guess that was it.
MVP? Solo clear, unregistered. Hunters just stood there after a point. Good—no aerial interference to cramp my style.
Back to my corner room. Yecheon gate cleared fast!
Clack!
"Great work, Captain!"
Along with Jenny's cheer, laced with intense discipline,
Level up. New skills and shelter upgrades unlocked. All good. Growth for survival is always welcome.
But this level up felt different.
[Agent Hiring Available] (1)
[Establish 'Agent Quarters' immediately.]
The message I'd been waiting for appeared, and Jenny snapped her head up, hands on hips. No idea what pose that was,
"It's your junior!"
"Ooooh!"
Time for the second agent.
《Jeju Island - Seongsan Ilchulbong》
MARK-67 activated his radar to detect energy flows. Being on-site allowed him to pick up subtler currents than the Bureau's ops room.
Yoon So-i added specificity using her spirit orb. Soon, their analyses converged.
"Underground. Strong energy confirmed."
"We need to enter the dungeon."
Kwaaaang!
Cheon Seung-hyuk immediately slammed his holy sword into the designated spot. He repeated it several times, but they needed to go deeper.
"A bit further down."
After digging deep underground, a massive black sludge mass got caught amid the damp soil. Its scale was immeasurable.
"A real dungeon."
As Cheon Seung-hyuk glared at it with his intense eyes, Yoon So-i pierced part of it with holy power.
Paaat!
Cheon Seung-hyuk entered immediately. Seol of Hongmaehwa, watching from beside, dissolved into red mist and followed.
......
The interior reeked of pure foulness and dampness. It took the form of a cave, walls coated in sludge. Flickering candles provided visibility.
Far larger than estimated from outside—like a village. They'd found a Necrophilia base.
External noises didn't penetrate. But three nearby villains sleeping against the dungeon wall spotted Cheon Seung-hyuk and Seol.
"!!!"
They jolted up to attack, but
Puk! Puk! Puk!
Seol pierced their throats with daggers before Cheon Seung-hyuk could move.
"You're too noisy."
"...Thanks to you, I saved strength."
Their goal: root out the source of the gate flows and uncover Necrophilia's second plot.
Plan to sweep and investigate fast. Seol darted invisibly and silently, eliminating villains everywhere.
One apparent executive barely blocked her dagger. "Intruders!!!" He screamed before his throat was slit.
Dudududu...
Villains converging.
"Might as well end it all at once."
"Yeah. Thanks for the work."
As Seol wiped blood from her dagger, Cheon Seung-hyuk used Lion's Verdict to neutralize the horde.
Some endured the red killing intent—executives. They were the key targets.
Paat!
Seol flashed past the executives amid crumpling villains. They foamed and fell, red ropes binding their limbs.
Soon after,
Cheon Seung-hyuk, having slain all remaining villains, called in Yoon So-i and MARK-67.
Flinch!
Yoon So-i froze at the scene upon entry, face like she'd given up.
"...Hongmaehwa's turn, huh."
"Kghhh... Khup...!"
Torture.
Of ten executives, one remained. Nine were mangled beyond human form, dead.
The survivor seemed the highest-ranking, and
Seol's flat voice continued as she ravaged his flesh alive.
"So where is it? This Holy Relic."
"Khup, kghh!"
Despite the question, his lips were sewn shut, unable to answer. He convulsed, near death.
"You can answer now, right?"
"Hghhh. Hup!"
Slice!
She slashed the sewn lips with her dagger.
"Huff, huff. You... can't stop us even if you know. Never! The gate will open, and inside—nothing like you can handle!"
Puk.
Seol jabbed a thin needle into his neck. Blood acupuncture. Pupils dilated, drool flowed. He answered like a sleepwalker, slurred.
But his info was limited—only shallow details.
"That's enough."
Puk. Seol stabbed his head, then organized the intel. Kim Chun-gyu, listening live from ops, responded.
"Correct."
Cheon Seung-hyuk replied instead. As they summarized, Yoon So-i, maxing her spirit orb, spoke.
"Found it. The Holy Relic."
!!!
Deepest part of the dungeon. Massive mana aura, so Cheon Seung-hyuk and MARK-67 tanked ahead, Yoon So-i following.
Hongmaehwa's Seol didn't enter, casually gathering torture tools.
No reply—she dissolved into red mist and left. Her mission to extract info was done.
Seol emerged from the dungeon to Seongsan Ilchulbong.
Shush! Shush!
Hongmaehwa members appeared as if waiting: muscle monster, veiled woman, blind swordsman.
"What's up?"
She hadn't called them. They came to her.
"Chinese Bureau entered unregistered for recruitment."
Hongmaehwa's intel dominance caught Chinese movements.
"Purpose?" Seol asked. Guild member: "Essentially recruit the unregistered; extremely, assassinate."
"The unregistered... by them?"
How?
She couldn't find him—where'd their confidence come from? One thing clear: No shadows in Korea but hers.
Especially moves on the unregistered.
"Guide me. Their location."
Time to see Chinese hunters' faces. Confirm what they're up to first.
Then maybe add "Hongmaehwa style."
《Management Bureau》
Kim Chun-gyu analyzed via situation reports.
【Holy Relic】 【Jackal Mask】
Found quick. But no item description access. Bigger issue: "Jackal Mask" preserved in glass case at dungeon core,
Yoon So-i and Cheon Seung-hyuk tried various ways, but couldn't retrieve the mask or even the case.
"What's this time."
Per investigation, something called [Gate]. Jackal Mask opens it; unimaginable horror emerges.
Ops radar confirms Jeju's [Supreme] energy flows. Gate soon.
But instinct: Necrophilia not prepping supreme gate. Just mask's energy forming high-difficulty gate.
Real deal elsewhere.
Gate alone tough. Plus, multiple relics inferred. Global ripples, especially superpowers, support it. Korea just one.
"US, Japan, China, Russia."
Roughly those. International Hunter Alliance investigating; Necrophilia relics progressing.
Similar pace, but Korea leads in discovery. Then,
"...Gangneung. This time."
[Advanced] gate flows in Gangneung.
Kim Chun-gyu, briefed by staff, didn't rage—just lit a cigarette in ops, expression incredulous.
Checked an email again.
[Unread]
Unregistered ignored Bureau's "situation share" email, massacred Yecheon harpies.
Sent another for Gangneung, but felt guilty each time—like exploiting. Inevitable reliance.
Am I imagining extra silent message in that [Unread]?
Unknowable entity.
Bureau wanted to end one-sided aid requests. Only way: Build self-reliance.
"Hae-dong Hunter arrived!"
"Kim Chi-gon Hunter ready!"
"...Right. Good work."
Reported Gangneung gate to Baek Moon-seong.
The white-haired elder reviewed footage: Harpy gate cleared in under a minute.
...More ruthless. Unregistered.
"We'll prioritize Bureau resolution again."
Kim Chun-gyu submitted strategy doc. Two high-rankers on-site.
Pausing footage, Baek Moon-seong checked it, murmuring.
"China's moving. Probably recruiting unregistered."
"..."
Knew it.
Even China's trickiest assassin S-rank, bounty hunter Heukhae included.
China's detector Baekya too, rivaling Japan's top.
No half-measures.
Recruit fail? Bloodshed intent.
Understandable. What power, growth? That casual dominance—foreign powers covet or fear it.
...But won't be easy.
His overwhelming presence...
They'll learn soon enough.
Kimchi soup drinking is essential for agent gacha.
Prep: Basin, bottled water.
Perform ancestral ritual.
"Hoo... Jenny. Proceed."
"Saintess! Pope! Saintess! Pope!"
Jenny provided fervent prayer BGM per my training.
Pray sincerely over water-filled basin.
"Heaven earth spirits Jesus Christ."
Embrace all gods. When radiant light swirled in my heart, I opened eyes for main ritual.
[Shelter Upgrade – Area] [1 UP]
[Shelter Upgrade – Area] [1 UP]
Widen area nicely first.
Start with bed placement. Agent quarters need beds.
For our Saintess Pope Savior. Deliberated, picked basic 1M gold standard.
[Standard Bed Purchased]
[1,000,000G Deducted]
Mine, Jenny's, next savior's. Neatly in a row.
Shoooo...
System pixel effect, then instant new bed. "Wow!" Jenny gasped.
Immediately establish [Agent Quarters].
[Searching suitable location for Agent Quarters installation...]
Dazzling light settled on the bed, as expected.
[Installing Agent Quarters... (100%)]
[Installation Complete]
No time to waste. Straight to it.
[Proceeding with 2nd Agent Hiring.]
Chirararak!
Again, cards—easily over a hundred—fanned out backs-up before me.
[Draw 1 Agent Card.]
Ready.
Rrrrrumble...
Jenny wrought space distortion over the cards.
No reason—just pour all power in.
Eyes closed, focus sniper senses sharp.
Sweep hand side to side, trust gut muscle twitch, stop at one spot.
"Going."
Hand stopped at second from right.