'Person?'
Baek Yiheon echoed my words back at me.
"Kim Do-hyun pulling off a kidnapping? No way. A quest, then?"
He downed the drink the server had brought in one gulp.
"Not a quest. A request."
Taking Norpa Jeran to the workshop was for repairing the compass, and it wasn't quest-ified, so it wasn't exactly a lie.
"Hmm..."
The guy was annoyingly sharp, but without that keen eye, he'd be useless as a transporter anyway.
He eyed my unchanging expression with suspicion but couldn't find any real leverage.
"A request, huh... The ice mage infamous for being cold in the arena, now doing favors for someone."
Baek Yiheon smirked.
"How many? You know the drill—game reset means no more Heaven-Earth Bag like the old days. Can't stuff people in sacks anymore."
"Can't do it?"
"Nah, I can. Jeez, still cutting people off like always."
"...Go on."
"Why do you think I picked the duchy?"
He ordered another drink as he spoke.
"As the Memory Keeper title hints, remnants of Dimension World 1 linger in this world—the one we played before."
"..."
"Every world has transporters. Teleport circles only hit fixed spots, but transporters can take you anywhere you want."
"So?"
"Everyone's obsessed with magitech, so they see the duchy's rail lines as just dungeon transit. But the real value isn't the engineering—it's the rails."
Just as I thought...
Called Mad Dog, but he had the analytical eye of a top ranker.
"Can't spill exact details, but my Memory Keeper title gives buffs for transport skills and affinity building."
He rubbed his thumb and forefinger like counting coins.
"No Heaven-Earth Bag, but I maxed affinity with the rail authority fast. Behind the duke's back, of course."
He winked.
"That's why you sought me out, right? Rail tickets need authority approval, and passenger info reports to all three ducal houses."
"Worth calling you."
"Heh... Anywhere in the duchy, I can move you. Where to?"
"Jahal's territory and Modo's workshop. Duke's dwarf smith first."
"Hmm..."
"And if possible, inside Modo's workshop. Possible?"
Baek Yiheon stroked his chin, lips pursed in thought.
"Yeah. But it'll cost a bundle."
"Good. Fitting for a Mystic Transporter."
"Wasn't I Mad Dog earlier?"
"That too."
He chuckled at my words.
Anyone seeing just that would peg him as a clean-cut, mannerly guy.
"How much?"
"Money's fine. What, between us?"
I frowned at that.
No friendship between us, so if not cash, he wanted something else.
"Instead, let me tag along."
"Said it's just a request. Isn't the transporter code to keep client details secret?"
Baek Yiheon swirled his second glass with a sly grin.
"Nah, that's Mystic Transporter rules. Dimension World 1 ended ages ago—still on that? I'm not a transporter anymore. This is just a hobby."
"..."
He spoke of his five-year character with zero regret.
If you can't go back, adapt to reality fast—makes sense.
"Fine. If you don't wanna talk this job, whatever. Won't pry in Jahal's lands or hammering at Modo's. What I want in on is different."
"...What?"
"Your real plan."
His eyes sharpened.
"No clue what you mean. After this, I'm heading back to Deus Union. My crew's there."
"Then I'll follow."
"Crazy bastard."
My slip made him look oddly pleased.
"Following means leaving your clan for mine?"
"If you want."
"...I'm not Kwak Yeon. Only Yuldo takes Mad Dogs. Shut up and stay put."
Yuldo Clan, domestic rank 5, led by archer Kwak Yeon with 200 elites.
Small, but every member was a big name.
Kwak Yeon herself famous for unique archery.
From top player Baek Yiheon to alchemist Lan Mingming, who first brewed plague potions wiping a mid-city—stacked with stars.
Why only rank 5? Kwak Yeon's style.
'Do what you want. But own your messes—never drag the clan down.'
Pure laissez-faire.
Great individuals, but strong personalities meant poor unity.
'Yuldo and Muak uniting could challenge the Eight Clans...'
Both "play your way," but vibes clashed.
Muak's upright; Yuldo's wild frontier martial world.
I imagined the alliance briefly, then shook my head.
"Obviously. You can't master us. More fun guy exists. Still, our 'five' had good times, right?"
"Never had fun with you. No ties beyond this job. Decide if you're taking the request."
"I am. I am."
He twitched a grin at my chill reply, deciding without hesitation.
"Won't push tagging along either. Got the Jahal route lined up. No fee."
"..."
"Reunion gift."
He set down his empty glass and stood.
"Midnight, Kasar Shop."
"...What?"
I stared, but he waved dismissively and left, done talking.
"Of all places..."
Good luck or bad? Motram's Muhar shop.
"Gonna get noisy."
Unlike my mood, the guild hall buzzed.
"'Five,' huh..."
I flicked the bar glass and stood.
Dwelling on the past stalls the future.
Five minutes to midnight.
Streets quieted; buildings dark, magilights piercing the gloom.
"Ah, magitrains stopped too? Now what?"
"Hunt outskirts, duh."
Night prowlers: mostly players.
Chiiiik—
A lone train rolled into Risal on tracks spanning the duchy.
People smacked lips at the black-painted cars.
"Silver tickets for late-night runs, right? Sigh, jealous. When's our turn?"
"Need 'Very Friendly' rep with duchy. Even Eight Clans' top brass only."
"Damn, picked here for community level grinding, didn't expect night limits."
"Balance starting zones, probably... But night dungeons? Eight Clans monopoly."
They eyed boarding groups—envy, jealousy mixed, voices low.
"Shh! Quiet. Know what today is?"
"Not casual dungeon runs."
Warning hushed them instantly.
Chiiiik—
Train exited city; players trickled out on foot.
"Screw it, ants can't do much. Daily quests for rep. Gold tickets? Dream on. Silver'll take months..."
"Yeah. Big stuff's all Eight Clans anyway..."
Finally venting pent-up gripes.
"Managed to snag tickets."
Squeak—squeak—
Under the swaying
Kasar Shop
sign, I turned from their complaints.
"Games always got exploits."
Unlike guild black leather now, Baek Yiheon waved a silver card-ticket.
"Who to move?"
"Two."
Red Sickle and Norpa emerged from alley at my nod.
"Huh? Heroic-grade NPC at 80?! Kim Do-hyun... Always unpredictable. Hmm, but this one..."
Sharp instincts drew him more to cloaked Norpa than Red Sickle.
Luckily, shadow cloak from Obela auction hid his info.
"...Not human?"
Couldn't mask dwarf looks fully.
"Whatever. Promised no prying. Guessing Modo's for this. Jahal for dwarf smith too."
"Chatty."
No hiding dwarf now he'd clocked it—just muzzle loose lips.
"Next train to Jahal territory."
Reading my glare, he shrugged.
"Probably just us aboard. Nice and easy."
"Why?"
"Saw the earlier group? Kingdom and Owner clan execs. Obvious—only Eight Clans hit silver rep early."
"And?"
"Jahal House: only duchy spot without players. Early choosers bailed seeing Eight Clans."
Makes sense. Gaps widen over time; no point sticking with losers.
"Today's negotiation day with Jahal duke."
"Negotiation?"
"Kingdom or Owner. Pick one—or territory falls."
"Same cartel anyway."
He scowled like I was clueless.
"Eight Clans allied on paper, but hierarchy's real. Los Clan's top dog; rest compete underneath."
Eyes sparkled like a kid awaiting festival.
"Kingdom and Owner eyeing each other hard. Jahal winner takes duchy—flips their pecking order."
"Headache."
"Nah, opposite."
"...What?"
"Powerhouses clump, trouble brews. Eight Clans or not, itching for dick-measuring. Chaos incoming—we slip into ducal house amid it."
Familiar glint... Pre-battle eyes from his Mystic Transporter days.
"Baek Yiheon."
I called, uneasy.
"...What class did you switch to?"
"Who knows."
He grinned at me.
"Transport gigs got boring."
Behind the smirk, fangs gleamed like a beast's.
'Where fighting dogs gather, blood winds blow.'
Any arena vet knows it.
Mad Dog.
He was back.