Misunderstandings Keep Piling Up 2
Would you like to acquire the Magic Pattern <Haste> by permanently consuming 50 Intelligence?
Would you like to acquire the Magic Pattern <Earth's Barrier> by permanently consuming 50 Intelligence?
Amid the hectic preparations for the guild relocation and raid team formation, the results of the white ink auction finally arrived.
I didn't hesitate to permanently consume 100 Intelligence to learn two 20-division magic patterns.
Haste consumed 50 mana to boost movement and attack speed by 100% for 3 minutes, with a 20-minute cooldown.
Earth's Barrier also cost 50 mana, summoning up to three earthen walls, as the name implied. Useless against magic defense, but its physical defense was insanely tough—solid enough to withstand special attacks from SS-rank monsters.
The barriers could be used up to three times within a 5-minute window, each lasting 5 seconds once summoned. Even if not fully used, the count reset to zero after time expired, and the magic pattern's cooldown was also 20 minutes.
After learning them, I tried engraving 20-division patterns onto leather armor and truly felt the difference.
Testing with the 10-division Leap, I'd thought I could fit up to six 20-division patterns per side, but seeing them changed my mind.
The key difference was the line thickness. The S-shaped curves had varying widths midway, and failing to mark that precisely prevented activation. The faint dotted lines showed where, but with my lacking dexterity, scaling down made it impossible to replicate proportions accurately.
In the end, I couldn't even manage four per side—two was the max, and that took forever.
I didn't dare tell the other guild members out of embarrassment, but while engraving Haste, I snapped two-digit numbers of engraving pens, finally understanding their fervor for white ink.
Even more shocking, I was one of the better ones. Two enchanters at the Enchanter Workshop had challenged 20-division patterns: Choi Deokhui and Kim Seungmin.
Kim Seungmin gave up after 14 hours, smashing his desk. Choi Deokhui succeeded, but it was a pyrrhic victory—she broke every engraving pen in the workshop, halting work due to shortages, and even raged about tearing up the magic pattern book, forcing the other enchanters to restrain her.
Thank goodness for white ink to finish the job.
Time passed, and moving day arrived.
The Hunter Management Bureau had relocated to the former Yongsan U.S. military base, now a park and exhibition space after the Americans left.
The Support Guild got two buildings: a 5-story shop-only structure on the outskirts, and a 10-story behemoth (3 basement levels, 7 above) for workshops and living quarters deeper inside.
The move wrapped up without a hitch. No need for extra muscle with hunters around, and sensitive items prevented outside help.
Well, one surprise: Ha Yeji drove the rented moving truck, handling it like a pro. One-handed parallel parking in reverse left my jaw on the floor.
With the move done, I was back at it in the new place, snapping engraving pens.
Crack.
The thirteenth pen shattered. Repeated mistakes at the same spot ignited my pent-up rage.
Since it was Kang Jeonghun's armor, I tried to stay calm and rush, but it wasn't that easy. Failing even on faint lines left no one to blame—the fury was unreal.
"Hoo, this won't do. Time for a break."
I exploded and decided to step away. Redrawing now would just fail again, so I left the desk for the sofa.
Clearing my head, I glanced at the raid application forms on the table and sensed something off. Skimming them confirmed it.
'Ah, damn it.'
I'd grabbed the wrong raid applications. Part of the first-round selections was missing.
Recalling, I'd left the box in my old room.
'What a mess.'
A ridiculous mistake drew a wry laugh.
'Fine. Might as well get some fresh air.'
Shaking it off—already planning a break from the failures—I headed out for night breeze, feeling calmer.
Thus, I returned to the old building.
"Yes? Understood. I'll make sure it's done."
Heo Jinhyuk's face hardened at Ga Gyeonglim's orders, prompting Jong Li-chu watching nearby.
"What's up, hyung? What orders?"
"Extermination. And using the enemy to control the enemy."
Jong Li-chu's face stiffened too.
"Range?"
"Use Kim Suho as bait to wipe out all Japanese forces crossing over, then publicize the corpses to spark Korea-Japan conflict."
Jong Li-chu stared incredulously.
"That make sense?"
"It's feasible. Exposing ninja corpses makes Korea think Japan targeted Kim Suho, triggering massive retaliation. But Kim Suho can't reveal his identity. Japan can't either—admitting involvement dooms the op and invites Korea's wrath. You know the bad blood."
Still puzzled, Jong Li-chu pressed.
"But doesn't Japan profit? Loses some ninjas, but Kim Suho roots deeper in Korea."
"If it ends there, sure. But they won't sit idle—they'll gather proof of his Japan ties. Not our problem anyway. We can't worry now."
Pausing, frowning, Heo Jinhyuk continued.
"Full White Night Sect deployment for this mission."
"What?"
Genuine shock from Jong Li-chu—only twice before since joining, both brutal slaughters.
"Why? Just handle his escorts, right? You telling us to storm Japan and take ninja heads?"
"Koga and Iga are mobilizing big. Orders to eliminate all."
"Shit. Us alone against Koga and Iga?"
Jong Li-chu's curse was justified. No reinforcements in 4-5 years; barely 50 left versus peak near 1,000. Facing ninjas? Suicide.
'Hyung, we've been abandoned?'
He swallowed it.
China ran multiple units like White Night Sect. Some elite outshone them—until they vanished overnight. Instinct screamed they were next.
"We expected this. They didn't say when. We never lose. Never die. We survive, like always. No weak thoughts."
Heo Jinhyuk barked firmly, but knew it wouldn't be easy. No running—they never forgave deserters.
'We absolutely, absolutely won't die.'
As resolve hardened, White Night Sect members began entering Korea one by one.
"What? They're packing up?"
Heo Jinhyuk couldn't hide panic at the sudden report. Full forces due today for immediate action—now moving?
"Find out where."
Waiting anxiously, the reply floored him.
"Entered the Hunter Management Bureau?"
Never imagined that. Two days post-Jong Li-chu's failed ambush, no reaction—suspicious, but this ploy?
Blindsided.
'Japan's moves part of their plan? Where are they really?'
Stuck, he kept White Night Sect on standby, watching.
Night deepened when contact came.
"Exited the Bureau?"
Another shock rattled him.
'Why leave now?'
Couldn't fathom Kim Suho's actions, but couldn't ignore the chance—he might not emerge again.
"Tail him, send real-time location. Heading out."
"What? Back to guild HQ?"
Real-time tracking hit Heo Jinhyuk like a hammer while tailing.
'Trap?'
While Kim entered Bureau, they dropped surveillance on old guild. Maybe fully prepped, waiting.
Outplayed.
But halting pursuit risked him holing up again. Contacted Ga Gyeonglim—no answer. Wouldn't matter; she wouldn't retreat from a trap.
Only choice: dive in, knowing or not.
'Trap or not, smash it all.'
In the crunch, Heo Jinhyuk alerted White Night Sect via earpieces.
"Cowards dug a trap. Scared? Smash everything, kill them all."
Voice thick with bloodlust over comms.
Cars halted 3km from target at a construction site. Heo Jinhyuk led White Night Sect out, madness and killing intent radiating pre-battle.
Glancing at them, he told Jong Li-chu.
"Lead."
Experienced infiltrator for entry guide.
Jong Li-chu ahead, Heo Jinhyuk next, then the rest.
"Here. Up leads to target basement level 3."
Via sewer connecting to B3. Ready to breach.
"I take point."
White Night rule: strongest leads. Heo Jinhyuk never yielded it.
Jong Li-chu fell back; Heo first up the vertical pipe into B3.
Halfway in when vibrations hit.
Vrrr.
Climbers sped up; Heo sought source.
Stronger rumble—hole punched in far wall.
Masked figures in similar gear poured out.
No need to check: obvious who.
But baffling.
'Why are you emerging there?'
Should be ambushing inside. No time to ponder—Heo charged, Jong Li-chu and sect behind.
Leaders drew weapons, rushing to meet him.
To be continued in the next chapter...