Chapter 108
Early morning.
Lee Yu-seol came to the Dio Guild representative’s office.
She knocked, and a voice drifted from the other side.
“Come in.”
When Yu-seol stepped inside, she shut her mouth.
“……”
The sight before her left her at a loss for words.
Steam curled lazily through the air.
The warm, damp heat made it hard to breathe.
The representative’s office was really a penthouse that doubled as an office. It had a giant screen for watching movies, and it even came with a sauna.
Go Pil-hun had just come out of the bathroom, apparently fresh from a shower, and was stretching naked as the day he was born.
“Ugh. I still can’t shake the hangover.”
With damp hands, Go Pil-hun pulled out a cigar, bit down on it, and lit it.
“Hoo.”
Thick smoke spread through the humid air.
Yu-seol studied his body with detached eyes.
It’s a mess.
Go Pil-hun had once been a B+ rank hunter, too.
But now, as if he’d long since given up on training, fat had gathered in all the wrong places. His belly bulged, and there wasn’t a trace of muscle anywhere.
If he fought Yu-seol, an A-class hunter, what would happen?
Go Pil-hun would lose, without question.
But this was a guild, and the hierarchy was crystal clear.
Just like any workplace, there were proper ranks here.
Without saying a word, Yu-seol bowed her head obediently toward him.
“Good morning, Representative.”
Go Pil-hun waved a hand lazily.
“Morning, Director Lee.”
Then he spread his arms wide.
Three secretaries crowded around him at once.
They brought him underwear, then helped him into his pants and shirt.
Go Pil-hun summoned them like a king indulging every whim.
“Ugh. My head feels like it’s splitting.”
“Are you in pain?”
“I was drinking with the overseas guys all night yesterday.”
The overseas guys meant the foreign buyers who wanted to get their hands on Dio Guild.
Yu-seol forced her face to remain neutral and clenched her fist tightly.
“Tch. Those sharp-nosed bastards. They tried to lowball us so hard it was ridiculous.”
Fortunately, the negotiations had fallen apart.
That was only because the price Go Pil-hun had demanded was absurdly high in the first place.
If this keeps going like this…
One day, Dio Guild might really end up in foreign hands.
For reasons she couldn’t quite explain, Yu-seol felt a bleak sense of despair.
Go Ju-hun, the man she had admired.
The kingdom he had built was now at risk of collapsing because of some low-class thug like this.
If Go Ju-hun learned the truth…
He’d crawl out of his coffin.
Go Pil-hun pointed here and there with his fingers.
“Not that tie. Bring me the ruby red one. And shoes—brown ones.”
At a single snap of his fingers, the secretaries bustled back and forth in and out of the dressing room.
Yu-seol bit her lip.
The suit, the tie, the cufflinks, the shoes, the watch—everything Go Pil-hun wore had once belonged to Go Ju-hun.
What a disgusting hobby.
His excuse that he and the dead man had similar builds was just that—an excuse.
The real reason was something else entirely.
Go Ju-hun had always preferred only the finest goods.
And his tastes had been bizarrely particular, too.
He never chose even a tie pin without care.
Go Pil-hun dangled one ankle and muttered, “These loafers are incredible. Feels like I’m stepping on elf skin. Wait—could they actually be real elf leather? Kuku!”
He had hated Go Ju-hun so much when the man was alive.
Was he trying to become his older brother or something?
Yu-seol frowned.
Standing at the very peak of Dio Guild.
The one entitled to enjoy all its privileges.
It isn’t you.
Go Pil-hun walked over to Yu-seol.
“So, what’s the matter this early in the morning?”
“I came to inform you of today’s meeting schedule.”
“Tell the secretary to handle that. Right—did you check on that other thing?”
“Which thing are you referring to?”
“The yacht.”
Sell the guild and secure a massive fortune.
Then live the rest of his life in luxury and comfort.
That was the goal Go Pil-hun wanted from life.
“……I’m looking into it.”
Yu-seol’s voice grew smaller.
“If we can, make it the most lavish one possible, and the biggest. You understand what I mean, right?”
“……Yes, Representative.”
Even though the conversation seemed to be winding down, Yu-seol remained standing there.
Everything before had been a smokescreen.
This was where the real operation began.
“What now? You’ve got something else to say?”
“I have a report.”
“Spit it out.”
“Last night, three hunters left the designated area without permission.”
“Hm?”
Go Pil-hun spoke as if it meant nothing.
Dio Guild was full of troublemakers. It was nothing unusual for hunters to drink and wander outside the restricted zone without permission.
“It’s not like it’s the first time. I used to get drunk and leave the area all the time myself. What about it? Don’t tell me…”
Go Pil-hun’s expression hardened.
“Na Sang-min?”
The strongest combatant in Dio Guild.
If it was S-class hunter Na Sang-min, that changed everything.
If Na Sang-min was away, it meant there was a hole in the guild’s current strength.
“Na Sang-min is currently in Japan for spear training, but he’s using a private helicopter, so if anything happens, he can return immediately.”
Na Sang-min had set down his sword and taken up the spear anew.
He was there to meet a master swordsman in Japan and learn spear technique from him.
Go Pil-hun relaxed.
“Whew. You scared me. Then just bring back the ones who left without permission. Make them write apology statements or whatever. Why are you reporting every little thing like this?”
“One of them is Lee Ji-jun.”
Go Pil-hun fixed Yu-seol with a sharp look.
Lee Ji-jun was one of the most promising hunters in Dio Guild lately.
He had also risen to A-class in the shortest time.
“Lee Ji-jun too? Where’d he go?”
“Busan.”
“Busan? Why?”
“He apparently followed Choi Yongki there. For the monster extermination operation.”
“……”
Go Pil-hun’s face stiffened.
Choi Yongki.
He remembered their first meeting.
The man had shown no fear standing in front of him, radiating a feral, unapologetic gaze.
“The Gangnam Hero. Choi Yongki?”
“Yes.”
Lee Ji-jun had clear priorities when it came to the guild.
Wealth, fame, and fast promotion.
Thirsty for success, he was always cooperative with the guild.
He was obedient in front of Go Pil-hun, too.
But Choi Yongki was…
Like a wolf that had never been tamed.
Go Pil-hun had wanted to use Choi Yongki to refresh Dio Guild’s image.
If Choi Yongki had appeared in magazine spreads, interviews, and all sorts of variety shows, he might have become even more popular.
Of course, Choi Yongki had turned it all down.
Because he had failed to row when the tide was in, the image of the Gangnam Hero had slowly faded from public memory.
An idiot who couldn’t even swallow food someone else was feeding him.
“Why’d Choi Yongki go down to Busan?”
“For a fan signing event. They were planning to raise his profile again while the momentum was still there…”
“They’re always late to the party.”
All at once, Go Pil-hun was seized by a sense of unease.
If you stay too close to ink, you get stained black.
After all, a white egret left beside a crow would eventually take on the crow’s color.
If this kept up, Lee Ji-jun might also…
Slip beyond my control.
Go Pil-hun said, “What monster extermination? Pull him out. Tell him to come back if he doesn’t want disciplinary action.”
“But Representative. The monster expected to appear this time is said to be nearly apocalypse-class. Busan branch alone won’t be enough…”
“Didn’t you hear me? Get him back up here right now!”
After the world changed, everything— infrastructure, political power, everything—was concentrated in Seoul.
Whatever happened to some outlying city had nothing to do with Go Pil-hun.
“What if he refuses to return?”
Go Pil-hun frowned.
Lee Ji-jun was a good boy who listened well; he probably wouldn’t do that, but still…
“Use force.”
Forced execution.
He meant they should dispatch another hunter and drag him back, even if it came to violence.
If they let him run wild as he pleased, they’d lose the leash.
“Yes. Understood.”
Yu-seol bowed her head.
Then she checked the brooch pinned to her chest.
Hidden inside it was a tiny GoPro camera.
……As expected. Amazing.
With that, they had secured evidence that Go Pil-hun had interfered with the Busan operation.
Everything was unfolding exactly as Choi Yongki had predicted.
Go Pil-hun was dancing in the palm of Choi Yongki’s hand.
What an incredible man.
To Yu-seol, Choi Yongki was practically an enemy.
He had attacked Dio Guild members, threatened her, and killed the man she had admired.
And yet.
If someone asked her who she wished were in charge of Dio Guild—
Without a shred of hesitation,
I’d choose Choi Yongki.
Go Pil-hun waved a hand.
“I need to sober up, so get out.”
“Yes, Representative.”
Yu-seol turned away.
All the while, she sharpened the blade of revenge in her heart.
Just wait.
Soon enough, this matter would
come back at you like a tidal wave.
Only after stepping outside the door did Yu-seol finally allow herself a relaxed smile.
Sunlight poured over Gwangalli Beach.
Since it was winter, there weren’t many people around.
The sea rolled gently, peaceful and calm.
On that deserted stretch of sand, there were people lying face-down in a row.
“This is way too quiet.”
Mun Dal-su said that as he waited on the beach for the second hour already.
He yawned so widely his jaw cracked.
“Aaaah. I’m getting fidgety over here. Hunter Choi. This is today, right? We didn’t get the date wrong, did we?”
I checked the time.
How could I forget?
November 11th.
Today’s date stretched long before me like the day itself.
No doubt about it.
It was the day of battle, the day that called to mind the Dirty Kraken’s long, writhing tentacles.
“That’s right.”
The rest of the Dio Guild Busan team chimed in one by one.
“Come on now, Team Leader Mun. If Hunter Choi says it’s right, then it’s right.”
“That’s right. Let’s wait a little longer.”
The sound of swallowing echoed especially loud.
The owner of that sound was sweating nervously from head to toe.
It was the team’s youngest, Jang Na-ik.
“Nervous?”
“……Yes.”
“Don’t worry too much. Just do what I tell you.”
“……Yes.”
Na-ik kept repeating the same answer like a parrot.
Then my phone vibrated.
The moment I answered, a frantic man’s voice stabbed into my ear.
“- Hyung-nim! Hello?”
“Yeah. Su-hwan.”
- Hyung-nim. Headquarters just issued a return order.
Bang Su-hwan went on.
- They said if we don’t head back immediately, they’ll convene a disciplinary committee. Three months’ pay cut, rank demotion, and what else was it? Anyway, they were screaming their heads off and threatening us like crazy. Unbelievable.
It was exactly what I’d expected.
At the same time, it meant one thing:
Yu-seol did exactly what I told her to do.
Bang Su-hwan’s voice continued through the receiver.
- Hyung-nim. What should we do?
Even after headquarters had issued the order, even though they should have rushed back immediately, Bang Su-hwan was asking for my permission first.
That meant he trusted me that much.
“Ignore it.”
- Yes! Understood!
For some reason, Bang Su-hwan sounded delighted.
- Hey. Give it here.
Another voice cut in over the line.
That’s Lee Ji-jun.
- Choi Yongki.
“Yeah. Joon.”
- Can you really handle this? What are you thinking?
Lee Ji-jun usually cared a lot about connections and alliances.
If he botched this, he might fall out of favor with the representative and get kicked out of the guild.
He had to shoulder that kind of risk.
“I’ll take responsibility.”
Silence spilled through the receiver.
- Bullshit! What the hell are you going to take responsibility for? And I’m responsible for myself. Don’t act all high and mighty when you don’t even have jack shit!
I snorted.
I’d said it on purpose.
There was no way Lee Ji-jun would head back to Seoul now.
- Put Se-na on too.
Finally, the voice of Ha Se-na, the only woman among our classmates, came through.
- I’ve got something to ask. Is this Dongbaek Guild team leader a total lunatic or what? The second he saw me, he offered me mandrake tea. Said healers need to drink this much, or something like that.
So she met the Geumwi captain.
Each of Busan’s guilds was working as a team to guard the coast.
“He may not look it, but he’s an S-class healer. Learn as much as you can while you’re there.”
- Tch. I guess he does seem to have real skills.
“Se-na. Sorry. You’ve had to put up with a lot because of me.”
- Seriously, forget it. Let’s not be cheesy with classmates.
Faithful Bang Su-hwan.
Proud Lee Ji-jun.
Even dependable Ha Se-na.
I’d only just realized it, but all this time, when I needed them, my classmates had been willing to stand beside me.
- The guy with the mustache is calling me. I’m busy, so I’m hanging up.
“Yeah. Good work.”
And then it happened.
“Ah—look over there!”
Jang Na-ik pointed somewhere in a panic.
I raised the high-powered telescope to my eye.
Through the round lens, the horizon came into view.
The boundary where sea and sky met shuddered, signaling something unnatural.
Far away, white foam rose.
The froth surged rapidly toward the shore.
It wasn’t a wave.
Crash!
They were countless monsters, long and thin like sea eels.
There were so many of them I couldn’t even begin to count.
At last.
The Dirty Kraken’s tentacles were surging toward land.
“Men.”
I brushed the sand from my body and stood.
“Prepare the Trap Net.”
The warriors of Busan rose with solemn faces and followed me.