Chapter 25
In the conference room of the Tiger's Den Government Office, bureaucrats gathered around the table for a tense meeting. Led by President Han Sung-ho, Prime Minister Shim Hyun-baek, Defense Minister Lee Gyu-cheol, and other heavyweights from various ministries pressed on with a heated strategy session. The evaporation phenomenon—that inexplicable terror—had become an undeniable time bomb squeezing their throats. The invisible scales of power tipped daily toward the anti-government faction.
It has to be Choi Ah-rin's doing! Everyone was convinced. A woman as skilled in strategy and tactics as her would have this well within her calculations. They lacked hard evidence, but the suspicions were rock-solid. They couldn't just sit idly by.
Intelligence had come in: Choi Ah-rin was meeting with the leader of the Changseong Guild. Political foxes never missed an opportunity like this. They decided to make full use of this golden chance.
"Assigning the Choi Ah-rin elimination op to Kim Dae-gon... that's a brilliant idea!" Prime Minister Shim Hyun-baek said, clasping his hands in admiration.
"No loss either way, right?"
"Exactly. If Kim Dae-gon gets caught in the evaporation, it all but confirms Choi Ah-rin's behind it. And if he succeeds in killing her, we've got one less headache."
"Kim Dae-gon's a loose cannon on our side anyway. Causes too many problems. Using him as bait this time isn't a bad call."
The other old snakes, steeped in politics, chimed in.
"Just think of it as tossing out a disposable pawn."
"It's an investment, isn't it? Heh heh."
The Minister of Economy quipped lightly. A sinister smile crept across Prime Minister Shim Hyun-baek's lips.
"Send him under the guise of a negotiation team, and if he vanishes, even the wavering players will be convinced it's Choi Ah-rin's crew."
"Whispers are already circulating internally that it's her. This'll be like pouring gasoline on the fire."
"Seems worth a thorough review... What do you think, Mr. President?"
All eyes turned to the head of the table. President Han Sung-ho lifted his head from his clasped hands. His sunken irises burned with desire more fiercely than ever.
"...No issues. Put it into action immediately."
This is insane! Yoo Tae-han, a member of the Eterna Guild, couldn't wrap his head around the current situation. Why isn't anyone suspicious of Sertina? Anyone else, maybe—but she was the harbinger of life's end, Sertina. The worst and most vicious world boss, infamous for butchering half the life in another dimension, delighting in torture and cruelty.
Yoo Tae-han owed his life to her rescue, sure. But watching the guild members act so carefree without a shred of doubt made his blood boil.
The monsters appearing now all followed Astria's exact lore. The fallen king and people of the Eldorado Kingdom still clung to their corrupt doctrines. Lizardmen instinctively sought damp areas or swamps. White mountain wolves roamed in packs toward cold peaks or the north. And it was the same for intelligent monsters.
Just because they could speak human tongue didn't make them human. Sertina was no different.
She's wearing the mask of an innocent girl for now, but lurking beneath is a blood-mad killer. With Astria's settings manifesting, there's no room for doubt!
He'd felt it facing her directly. She possessed considerable intelligence—something utterly alien compared to ordinary folks like them. She wasn't acting now for some reason. Under the banner of purging corrupt power, Sertina operated. But twist that perspective, and the answer was clear.
She's stoking conflict to make us fight among ourselves, then wipe out the survivors once our numbers dwindle.
Even Sertina couldn't handle every player in gaming powerhouse Korea alone. To make it easy, she'd have to use her head. That's why Yoo Tae-han convinced one guildmate to join him in Room 301: Lee Ye-rin, an operator from the old Immortals Guild like him.
"Haa... I really don't know if this is right."
Lee Ye-rin sighed deeply, rubbing her forehead as she entered. Yoo Tae-han scratched his head apologetically.
"To slip past monsters and reach Silver Tree Guild, I need your operator skills. Sorry, but could you help out?"
"Does it have to be now?"
"The country could fall any minute! This is serious!"
He couldn't reveal Sertina's existence publicly yet. After all, she was aiding the anti-government side against the pro-government faction right now. But a heads-up was in order. To Choi Ah-rin, Silver Tree Guild leader—inform her of Sertina's emergence and discuss countermeasures.
If they could turn Sertina against the pro-government forces... Not a bad idea. Then prepare contingencies for her inevitable betrayal. They could stop her!
"Let's head out now."
"Ugh, whatever."
Thanks to the prior notice, Lee Ye-rin grumbled but followed obediently. She regretted it soon enough.
Kim Dae-gon waved cheerfully at Yoo Tae-han emerging from the entrance.
"Hey, you there!"
"Fuck..."
Yoo Tae-han's face hardened the instant their eyes met. Kim Dae-gon sauntered over, hands deep in his pockets.
"Well, if it isn't my Immortals Guild pals? Let's see... Eterna now, right?"
He bent slightly to check the guild name—unnecessary, but a show of dominance. The gangster tactic: emphasize your leisure to intimidate.
"Why are key players like you here? Huh? Seoul's defense is stretched thin as it is."
His tone dripped with feigned ignorance. Yoo Tae-han and Lee Ye-rin's faces soured. Kim Dae-gon grew more certain.
"Things are chaotic with all the disappearances. Too risky hanging out carefree like this—your guildmates must be worried!"
He prodded their nerves with mocking jabs, rubbing his chin, eyes gleaming as he openly scrutinized them. The air grew frigid, oppressive. Suddenly, Kim Dae-gon's gaze sharpened.
"Or... are you two accomplices in the disappearances?"
Lee Ye-rin flinched; Yoo Tae-han stepped in front. A heavy silence, tense standoff. Then Kim Dae-gon burst into laughter, relaxing his face.
"Puhahaha! Just kidding, kidding! Why so tense?"
"Didn't sound like a joke."
Yoo Tae-han scowled. Kim Dae-gon nodded perfunctorily without looking at him.
"Yeah, yeah. Truth is... you're right. But I don't care if you're behind the vanishings or not."
Kim Dae-gon licked his lips, fiddling with his brass knuckles. Yoo Tae-han's expression twisted.
"What are you getting at?"
"Getting at? Does it need spelling out?"
Kim Dae-gon closed in slowly. As a mage, Yoo Tae-han was disadvantaged up close, but he couldn't back away—it'd look like an admission. Right in his face, Kim Dae-gon tapped his toe on the ground, then suddenly grabbed his collar and hoisted him up.
"Guhk!"
"Just die already?"
BAM! An impact too brutal for flesh on flesh. Yoo Tae-han tumbled across the pavement with a thunderous crash.
"T-Tae-han!"
Lee Ye-rin cried out, rushing forward—but fighter Kim Dae-gon was faster. Blocking her path, he seized her wrist with a sneer.
"What's the rush, missy?"
"L-Let go!"
She struggled, but couldn't match his close-quarters prowess.
Crack!
"Kyaaaaagh!"
Her wrist twisted back with a horrifying scream. Kim Dae-gon, nonchalant as if routine, flung her beside Yoo Tae-han. She curled up, trembling and groaning on the ground.
"It... hurts..."
Kim Dae-gon and his crew tightened the encirclement. Clutching his gut, Yoo Tae-han staggered up, aiming his staff at Kim Dae-gon.
"Why the hell are you doing this?!"
"Huh? Just 'cause. It's fun. Plus, I need gold."
"You psycho...!"
Rage twisted Yoo Tae-han's face. Killing granted the victim's gold—a fact proven by overseas crimes. A chill blue glow flickered from his staff.
From Ha Hyun-joo's mech, the Techno Master on Kim Dae-gon's side, mocking laughter erupted.
"You gonna take us on? Power gap's tenfold. Think you stand a chance?"
Clank. A dozen barrels locked on his heart. One wrong move, and he'd die. Yet Yoo Tae-han smiled bitterly, self-mockery on his lips.
Why did calm wash over him? He'd turned his back on that existence. Why, in this pinch, did her image flicker in his mind?
Human whims were unknowable—even one's own. Pathetic. Gripping his staff like it might snap, Yoo Tae-han steeled himself.
"Can't win... but I'll buy time!"
"Time? What good's stalling? Praying to a god?"
"She... will come soon."
"She...?"
Ha Hyun-joo tilted her head in her mech. Then—
"What exactly are you doing to my guild members right now?"
The girl's icy voice sliced through the air, dominating the space.