#61 It Feels Like We've Incurred a Lot of Debt
"This is a Druid's Life Stone. Even on the Mu continent, high-grade ones like this are rare. Wow..."
Smith couldn't help but marvel. Nothing Choi Kang-ho brought was ever ordinary.
'A gem of this quality is a first for me.'
Once processed, a Life Stone granted a constant high-level healing effect. Kang-ho nodded slowly.
"So I've heard."
He already knew from asking Niva.
"If it's for armor, maybe we could use it."
"It's too precious to pass up. Druid clan items are all invaluable."
Smith continued without hesitation.
"This one's exceptionally high quality. Its value... it's beyond words. Just what else do you have stashed in that warehouse of yours?"
"Who knows."
Kang-ho grinned instead of answering.
—Boss! Order #13 is complete!
Smith nodded to Kang-ho.
"Perfect timing. Napa's commission is done too. Their quality's just as impressive, but today has been full of surprises."
......
Ko Je-hun let out a deep sigh.
As Napa's sub-guild master and S-rank #7, he was one of the BIG 3. For a massive guild like Napa, his rank was low, but Napa prioritized results over raw power.
Ko Je-hun delivered results. In other words, he was a money-maker.
Among the BIG 3, Napa had an unusual structure. While guilds like Baekya, Mercenary, and the Four Great Sects grew steadily around core figures over 30-50 years, Napa was the opposite.
It had exploded in just 15 years through cash.
Napa hired Awakeners with high salaries, implemented performance bonuses, and ran like a corporation. Naturally, raids were their main business—the most lucrative in this era.
Monster byproducts and magic stones were steady, but nothing beat raids.
Yet Napa slyly straddled the line between righteous and unrighteous paths. They took any profitable job, skirting illegality unless massive guilds intervened.
"We're in deep shit."
Ko Je-hun's sigh was justified. King had recently ended his contract. Normally, he'd pay a hefty penalty, but with Choi Kang-ho backing him, that changed.
'We need to stay on good terms with Choi Kang-ho.'
But the guild master he was about to face? No telling how bad it'd be.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
His heart raced. Before him stood the ornate guild master office. As he touched the door, a heavy voice echoed.
—Come in.
"Y-yes, sir..."
Luxury hit him first: an otherworld hardwood table worth 100 million won, sofas in the tens of millions, monster byproduct ornaments everywhere.
Sitting there was a white-haired man with swept-back hair. He wore a white suit and a red glove on one hand. Turned away, he donned sunglasses.
Ko Je-hun knew those pitch-black shades hid glowing red eyes.
Gulp!
He bowed.
"C-congratulations on your return."
"The guild's a mess in my absence."
His name: Robe Gin. Born in Mu continent slums, codename here—
'Big Boss.'
Korea's SS-rank #2, the most secretive top Awakener.
Big Boss's voice reverberated in Ko Je-hun's skull. He swallowed hard and bowed deeper.
"S-sorry, sir."
Big Boss had returned from Japan that morning. Ko Je-hun glanced nervously.
"Lost two raid dungeons, performance in the gutter. Warehouse stripped bare, yet you feasted today. I feed you, so earn your keep—that's only fair."
Chills ran down his spine. Recent failures were disastrous.
Ko Je-hun bowed lower.
"I'm sorry... Give me a chance to make it up."
"King ended his contract?"
The voice carried overwhelming pressure. Ko Je-hun swallowed again.
"Yes..."
"Term wasn't up—"
"W-we claimed the penalty for the remaining time."
"Oh? That merciful?"
Big Boss rose slowly, approaching. He tilted his head.
"Everything from one to ten pisses me off. But you'd better have a damn good reason for this."
"......"
Ko Je-hun spoke carefully.
"H-he became Choi Kang-ho's disciple."
"......"
Big Boss echoed.
"Choi Kang-ho?"
"Yes. As you know, one of the old-era heroes. He suddenly appeared in the city recently."
"Hmm......"
Big Boss stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"You've probably only heard the name, Master. But in Korea, he's a national hero. Before the recent rankings upgrade, we had ten SS-ranks."
Big Boss nodded.
"But Choi Kang-ho wasn't on the list, despite his license. He opted out of rankings—zero interest in worldly affairs."
"And?"
"That man emerged after 30 years in seclusion... and caused a massive incident."
Gulp!
Ko Je-hun continued.
"The video I sent you—"
"Saw it."
Big Boss nodded. He'd checked the Kasumus kill footage.
"Cut him slack for Choi Kang-ho's sake?"
"Y-yes... Contract had only a month left anyway. Proper procedure might stir rumors."
King was popular; Ko Je-hun aimed to avoid backlash while tying it neatly.
"Not a bad call."
Finally, Big Boss approved.
'Dodged a bullet.'
Ko Je-hun sighed in relief.
Big Boss sank into the luxury sofa, leg crossed, head tilted, fiddling with a fountain pen.
"Choi Kang-ho... Choi Kang-ho... Lately, that name keeps popping up."
Indeed: Pocheon raid priority lost to him. Yeongjongdo raid's big share went to him. Failed to re-sign King. Infuriating.
And—
Crack!
The pen snapped. While away, the guild master vault was robbed!
That prized item stung most. The broken pen hit the floor. Big Boss spoke.
"What about that bitch Phantom?"
"Tracking her..."
"She couldn't have gone far. Get that item back, no matter what."
Big Boss sighed deeply. Then to Ko Je-hun:
"Also... Assemble all raid teams in utmost secrecy."
"Pardon?"
"We're heading to Tsushima on the down-low."
"Tsushima...?"
Big Boss nodded.
"No leaks. Full secrecy. We'll link up with Japan's Murasame Guild there."
"......Understood."
"Go."
Big Boss waved him off. Ko Je-hun exited slowly.
'Tsushima out of nowhere?'
Tsushima was hellish, worse than Korea's southern zones. A monster den ringed by sea—a gateway to doom!
Yet there...?
'Murasame Guild...'
They held World Rank #30 Kato Masa, the Ghost Sword, plus five top Japanese rankers. A heavyweight.
Deep in thought, he spotted a ghostly figure pass.
'Ghost...'
Ghost shadowed Big Boss like a clone. His origins unknown.
Ko Je-hun sighed and walked on.
'At least I survived for now.'
In Napa, Big Boss's word was absolute. High pay meant obey or die.
Click.
Ghost closed the door, bowed to Big Boss. Lifting his head, he spoke—not Korean, but Mu tongue.
"Phantom's under surveillance. Digging into the Druid clan; good news soon. Her tail's short—no solid evidence yet."
Big Boss sneered.
"Kill that arrogant thief cat if needed. Secure the item."
"As ordered."
Ghost bowed, then asked:
"About Murasame...?"
"Handled. We head to Tsushima first. They suspect something."
"......Got it."
Ghost bowed. Big Boss finally stood.
* * *
Kang-ho finished with Smith and strolled Yeongdeungpo 21st Street.
'Maybe.'
Perhaps he could show these otherworld exiles their homeland. He blinked at the displaced beings.
Strolling the alley, he suddenly froze.
Whoosh—
For a split second, the air felt frozen solid. Head tilted, he stared ahead.
Through the crowd, far off.
Step. Step. Step.
A man walked indifferently. White hair swept back, white suit.
Suddenly, their eyes met.
An instant, yet it stretched like endless slow motion.
Then, the bustling street resumed.
Kang-ho walked toward him; the man passed silently by.
"Lately, it feels like we've racked up quite a debt."
Big Boss. Napa's guild master, SS-rank #2.
Age ambiguous—50s or 60s. Faint forehead wrinkles, chilling aura hit first.
"You must be Choi Kang-ho."
Kang-ho replied lightly.
"Yeah."
Big Boss stared intently. Red eyes pierced through shades, probing Kang-ho's depths.
Then, he brushed past toward Smith's forge.