Baiting the Trap
About 30 minutes later. Hanbit's group left the city and headed toward the snowy mountains. Gorik and Zenon, who had accompanied them, vanished from sight after passing through the gates. They'd probably reappear once they reached the destination.
As he walked, Hanbit checked the community posts.
<Hidden Skill Coordinates Dropped.>
Black Dragon's stream revealed the Snow Drake's location.
The first one there really gonna snag the Dwarf's Legacy?
Hand it over to Gorik and you can learn Dwarf Blacksmithing.
Ifrit's tallest peak in the snowy mountains, go go.
Corpo kids are all digging through the snow, so sneak in when they're not looking?
Still holding strong at #1 on the RP community hot posts. Hanbit scrolled through the exploding comments before switching to the latest posts.
<Breaking) Suspected Fortress Entrance Found>
Vanguard Blood Team cracked open a weird-looking crevasse.
It's glowing like crazy inside—looks like it leads to the fortress for sure?
Prepping to enter now.
-They're the ones who found it;
-But info's already leaked everywhere. lol
-Just gotta be first to claim it?
-Heading out now.
-Won't get wrecked by Blood?
└lol, go ahead and tank the penalty if you dare.
└Yeah, die and that's that~
-Info) Place is swarming already.
-How to beat the vanguard for first?
└'Work hard'
└Crying Black Dragon gets my upvote.
└Vanguard must look like a joke now. lol
The already-discovered fortress entrance was drawing massive attention. Vanguard Blood had found it first—a player Hanbit vaguely remembered from past chats.
'Not someone to underestimate.' Hanbit respected the vanguard's strength and experience. Pushing ahead so quickly in this world for the first time wasn't easy. He'd even incorporated Rainzer, who'd tried to screw him over, into his plans because of that power.
"They already found it? You good?"
Kim Jaeha, walking beside him, asked quietly. He'd been checking the community vibe too.
"We're fine. We'll get there without falling behind."
The crevasse Blood found was just the entrance. Even inside, it wasn't a straight shot to the fortress. If they tangled with the Snow Drake first, it wouldn't derail the plan at all.
"But how strong is this Blood vanguard anyway?"
"Blood? Inside 6,000, right?"
-Yeah.
-Exactly 5,812th.
-4,000s wall is too high.
-Still, that skill's busted AF. Strong as hell.
-Fr, so cool.
-Nick lives up to the legend.
The chat flooded with extra details. Hanbit's interest piqued at the follow-up donations.
[SkillExpert donated 1,000 won.]
[Blood's hidden skill Sahyeol is a god.]
"Sahyeol, huh?"
The word triggered a sharp memory. Avant-garde jumped in quick at the reaction.
"Only known user is Blood. It's a hidden skill that literally manipulates the opponent's blood, but no detailed info's out there. All speculation."
"I see."
Sahyeol. A technique to extract and control a living being's blood with mana. Usually on monsters, but it shone brightest in human wars—from crafting small weapons to massive AoE destruction. Hard to gauge its limits.
It could even impact Hanbit's plan big-time.
"What about the people tailing us?"
Avant-garde glanced back slyly.
Players had been shadowing them since leaving the city. Enough to make ignoring them tough.
"Ignore 'em for now."
Hanbit didn't spare them a look and kept moving. As they entered the snowy foothills' edge, he veered diagonally.
"Oh, there they are."
A barren slope dotted with skeletal trees. About ten people clustered in the middle.
"Hey!"
A yellow-haired human guy spotted Hanbit and yelled. Overly groomed looks, but the prickly vibe screamed who he was.
"That's the department head, right?"
"Yeah. Character fits the creep even more."
Kim Jaeha nodded with disgust. Hanbit stepped forward.
The department head had closed in a few steps, glaring at Jaeha.
"You crazy bastard, really pushing it? Made me wait damn near two hours? I snuck out like you said, all careful and shit!"
-?
-Who the hell is this asshole?
-Who dis?
-Want me to spam his DMs, master?
-Already sent friend request.
-Guy's personality's trashed, bet his face is too;
-Listen to that mouth. 100% ugly potbellied boomer dad.
The sudden barrage of trash talk turned the viewers' keyboards into weapons.
"You...!"
The department head, watching the stream, gaped and trembled.
Hanbit, now close, said, "Those texts? I told you to send 'em."
"What?"
"Meet at 3 PM—I said that. Busy, might run late. Oh, and the 'sneak out' bit? Just testing you."
"You little shit...!"
No manners at all. The department head ground his teeth, glancing at his underlings before leaning in low.
"Still don't get it? One word from me, and you're done."
"So quit the bullshit and let's do business. You want the hidden skill info, right?"
"...Tch."
He'd planned to lowball, but backed off with a click of his tongue. As long as he got what he wanted, fine. No time to waste with the vanguard and players swarming.
"So, the info?"
"Dwarf's Legacy spot. That's it. Fortress entrance is already found, yeah?"
"Hm."
He stroked his chin, pondering. Then his face shifted—like he'd caught on.
"Trying to play me in front of everyone?"
"Play you?"
"Toss some crumbs and snatch the real prize? Useless then. We gave up a talented employee for free."
He smirked, eyes flicking to Jaeha. The blacksmith's fists clenched instinctively.
But this was exactly the flow Hanbit wanted.
-Wtf is this?
-Explain plz.
-Giving that asshole info?
-Who even is he?
-Some lowkey bullshit going on.
The chat, already simmering, was now full blaze. Hanbit waved it off with a grin.
"Viewers, chill. Info in exchange for recruiting Jaeha-hyung."
-EPL vibes?
-Transfer market real asf
-Info) RP scene's straight transfer market.
-Jaeha-ham solid tho.
-Hidden skill info too big a price?
-If it's just info, whatever...
Opinions split at the reasonable excuse.
"...Yeah, that's right. Our Jaeha's got a high price tag."
The department head played along, like he'd sussed the intent. Hanbit found the guy's attitude repulsive, but doom awaited them anyway.
"Info's not enough? Fine, I'll lead you straight to the Dwarf's Legacy."
"Lead us?"
"Not spoon-feeding, though. Figure the death risk yourself."
"...Hm."
He pretended to mull it over. Inside, he was cheering—exactly what he wanted. His lips twitched despite the calm facade.
"Not bad, but..."
He narrowed his eyes, greed still burning.
Glancing at his map, he added, "One more thing. Gimme the legacy spot upfront."
"Why? I'm leading you there."
"You gonna babysit forever? We need flexibility."
-Bullshit. lol
-Trying to ditch and grab it first.
-Just kill him already?
-Yeah, Jaeha-ham's ours.
-Wanna taste fire?
His intentions were obvious even to viewers. Hanbit sighed after fake deliberation.
"Gorik'll pop up before the fortress. Use the token, share the spot then."
"Talking so smooth. That's what ability gets you—things just click. Watch and learn, you lot. Got it?"
He lectured his underlings. They nodded on reflex.
'Sitting ducks.'
Hanbit chuckled inwardly after the act. Testing the guy's greed—it exceeded expectations. Perfect as a big, dumb bait, just as planned.
"So, when we heading out? To that crevasse Blood found?"
The pumped-up department head prodded.
Hanbit eyed the group. "Tough. Not enough tickets."
"Tickets?"
-?
-Tickets too?
-Where to farm?
-Buying scalped ones.
-Reported.
No one knew about entry tickets. But it made sense—anyone waltzing into the Snow Drake's fortress? Nah.
"Black Dragon-nim!"
Suddenly, someone burst from the trees. Gaudy accessories and hat, voice-amplifying magic tool in hand.
"Who're you?"
"Ah! I'm streamer MintyOctopusStirfry!"
"...What?"
-Oh no;
-This guy's finally here.
-Nickname's a disaster.
-Aggro-pulling machine.
-Fake reporter vibes hard. lmao
-Kill and ignore go go
The intruding streamer drew savage flak. The reason clicked fast.
"Thoughts on the developer collusion allegations?"
"Collusion? That's not..."
"Rumors you're dating some mega-corp subsidiary president's girlfriend! Climbing fast with love's power—true?"
"No..."
-Mute this clown already?
-Black Dragon had a gf?
-Disappointed.
-Big yikes.
-Don't buy it;
The wild questions kept coming. Pure fabrication—absurd.
'Guess weirdos exist.'
Using the hidden zone as bait worked, but not foolproof. Some, like Riwei, just didn't care.
This odd streamer reeked of negativity.
"Clarify the political ties controversy! With both parties eyeing RP..."
"You okay?"
"...Pardon?"
Not yes or no—just "you okay?" The streamer looked baffled.
Hanbit pointed up. Then—
Whoosh—
A massive shadow blanketed the streamer's head.
Boom—!
No time to dodge. Something crushed him. The impact shook the ground.
"What the—!"
The department head flailed, toppled backward.
Crack—
A weird noise hit his ears. Chills crawling, he looked up slowly.
And locked eyes with—
Screeech—!
A colossal white wyvern.