123. So They Say It's Not Fun.
Hyeon Jeong-geon laughed as if he found it amusing, but Kang Moo-hyuk cut him off bluntly.
Not fun.
No need to get so serious about it. You're the one who always stirs up the fun stuff all by yourself.
Kang Moo-hyuk glared at Hyeon Jeong-geon once more. The sharp intensity in his eyes made the man swallow his foolish grin.
Ignoring the other's attitude, Kang Moo-hyuk continued.
Having a bridgehead doesn't mean they can just waltz into the Korean Peninsula whenever they want. There are other countries watching, and any overt attempt to seize control would be even harder.
True. Even if Korea's hunters aren't as spry as they used to be, they've got the experience. No way they'd go down easy. Plus, with the UN resolution in play, invading another country's hunter market isn't straightforward.
Then the Makyung incident must be preparation to utilize that bridgehead. They knew Sinuiju would fall but couldn't—or wouldn't—stop it. Or they created a situation where they couldn't afford to care.
Could just be a completely separate event.
Really no connection at all?
It's just a possibility. In reality, it stinks to high heaven. No hard evidence, but the story's so obvious it's suspicious as hell.
That's why you called me? Because you don't want to see the obvious play out? To smash it?
No matter how I crunch it, no one's better at screwing over monsters or hunters than you, Commander. I'm no patriot, but watching the Chinese trash run wild in my own home? Pisses me right off.
That was when it happened.
I knew it. Pretending otherwise, but you knew all along, didn't you, Mr. Hyeon.
A man speaking Chinese had appeared on the road across the tracks without a sound.
Kang Moo-hyuk could feel the man's hostility radiating off him. He tapped the tie pin holding the translation skill he'd gotten from the Federation. Suddenly, the Chinese words slotted neatly into his ears.
You've been holed up tight in that Prison Village, making it hard to get a look at you. But now you step out, and I hardly know what to do with myself, Mr. Hyeon.
Haha... Jang Jung-shin. Talk about a big fish showing up out of nowhere.
From their exchange, Kang Moo-hyuk picked up two key details.
First, Prison Village.
According to the data from No Song-rin, it was a slum. Built around the old Sinuiju Prison site, hence the name.
The reason to pay special attention to it in Sinuiju was that most of its residents were descendants of old North Korean hunters or newly awakened ones following in their footsteps. They were no pushovers, holding firm even amid the dominance of Chinese hunters.
'Wondered how Hyeon Jeong-geon stayed alive while poking the Chinese guilds. Figures—he was in Prison Village.'
Next was the Chinese man before them: Jang Jung-shin.
'Expedition leader of Nakwa Guild, a foreign outfit based in Sinuiju. If No Song-rin's intel is right, A-rank. Definitely a big shot around here.'
Nakwa was known as a Sinuiju-based guild, but his presence here alone proved he was a lackey for one of the Chinese guilds Hyeon Jeong-geon had mentioned.
The fact that a hunter of his stature had come personally to deal with Hyeon Jeong-geon underscored just how perilously dangerous this situation was.
Mr. Hyeon. Useless curiosity shortens your life...
Yeah, yeah, I get it. Even with my shitty Chinese, I catch the drift. Know too much, and you drop dead? Why do all you villains have such long tongues?
Ha? Villain?
Jang Jung-shin snorted in derision.
If I'm the villain, what does that make you? Some apostle of justice? To me, you're just an extra. A speck of dust about to vanish today. And I'm here personally to sweep you away. Be grateful.
Taking your sweet time bragging about killing me.
Jang Jung-shin closed in. A sword slid from his back. Moonlight from the rising moon licked the cold blade. Hyeon Jeong-geon's reflection gleamed on it. He smirked at the man.
Dust kicking up irritates the throat. You think I'd just take it lying down?
In an instant, a gun whipped out from his coat. Not a pistol—a submachine gun. Compact enough to fit in the hand, but unmistakably an SMG.
Where the hell did you get a gun...!
Tat-tat-tat-tat-tat!
As Hyeon Jeong-geon gleefully squeezed the trigger, Kang Moo-hyuk ducked low and darted to the car.
Jang Jung-shin didn't even bother dodging the hail of bullets. His dull gray armored coat boasted formidable physical defense on its own, but as an A-rank hunter, his raw resistance rendered guns useless anyway.
Pathetic thrashing.
With an irritated sigh, Jang Jung-shin closed the gap in a flash. His sword slashed at Hyeon Jeong-geon's neck.
Gah!
The blade cut empty air. What he'd sliced was an afterimage.
Hyeon Jeong-geon, head ducked just under the blade, grinned wickedly. His extended arm reached Jang Jung-shin. Palm open, he struck the man's exposed side with pinpoint precision, twisting viciously.
Think a gun makes me some civilian?
Jang Jung-shin realized he'd been had.
'No intel anywhere said this guy was a hunter...'
The price was his ribs. As bones cracked, he gritted his teeth and swung again.
But Hyeon Jeong-geon was already out of range.
As he wound up for another strike, the roar of a car engine filled his ears. Headlights blinded him out of nowhere.
Hyeon Jeong-geon leaped onto the roof of Kang Moo-hyuk's speeding car, stabbing his handblade into the metal to hold on.
Jang Jung-shin activated his Dark Vision skill to adjust against the glaring light. But Kang Moo-hyuk killed the headlights right on cue. Suddenly deprived of light, Jang Jung-shin's vision went pitch black.
Kang Moo-hyuk rammed him head-on. The bumper crumpled as Jang Jung-shin tumbled over the hood. The windshield cracked, and he clambered onto the roof. Hyeon Jeong-geon, flattened there, flicked him off like a volleyball toss.
Bye now. Don't come back.
Thud!
Ugh! You bastards!
Jang Jung-shin hit the ground in humiliation and hurled his sword at the driver's side, but Hyeon Jeong-geon deflected it with a thrown dagger.
Persistent prick.
Ahead!
As he taunted the receding Jang Jung-shin, Kang Moo-hyuk's warning cut through.
Hyeon Jeong-geon whipped his head forward. Hunters were bursting from the trees lining both sides of the road.
Frontal assaults aren't my specialty!
In a blink, dozens of darts flew from his coat. They struck the vitals of the hunters swarming the car, dropping them all with groans.
But the crisis persisted. More hunters gave chase on foot. Without a car, their pace would catch the SUV soon enough.
Hyeon Jeong-geon shattered the passenger window and climbed inside, yelling.
Commander Kang, is that all you got? Floor it!
Should've known better than to get tangled with you.
Kang Moo-hyuk clenched his jaw and stomped harder on the accelerator. The engine screamed in protest, shoving the heavy SUV forward.
Following the tracks, the car soon reached a river—a tributary of the Yalu, wide and deep as any major stream.
The iron bridge crossing it loomed ahead. Kang Moo-hyuk veered to follow the road, but Hyeon Jeong-geon stopped him.
Go right, and we're screwed. Hidden guys waiting.
Then where?!
There was only one option left. Before Hyeon Jeong-geon could answer, Kang Moo-hyuk cranked the wheel. The car smashed through the barricade and onto the bridge.
The rails embedded in the deck made the vehicle bounce wildly. The hunters caught up as speed dropped.
Damn, gotta fight?
As Hyeon Jeong-geon steeled himself, Kang Moo-hyuk eyed the rearview—hunters spreading along the railings.
Mr. Hyeon, do you trust me?
What the hell? Outta nowhere in this mess. Do you trust me, Commander Kang?
No.
Fair enough. That's how you survive this game. But right now, it ain't helping.
Still, I trust your skills as a hunter. So, handle the rear.
Rear?
Suddenly, Kang Moo-hyuk yanked the wheel toward the river. The car smashed the railing and sailed off the bridge. It flew through the air before slamming into the water. Airbags deployed around the front seats.
Splash!
The stunned hunters on the bridge watched bubbles rise as the car sank.
Jang Jung-shin, arriving late, berated his men.
What are you staring at, idiots! Hyeon Jeong-geon's a hunter! You think that'll kill him?!
Wha—he's a hunter?
What, you punks?! A hunter? You saying he's a hunter?!
Urk! Ugh! Ahhh...!
Furious at the underlings questioning what they should've known, Jang Jung-shin beat the one who'd spoken mercilessly.
Only after the hunter lay a bloody mess did he bark orders, breathing hard.
What are you waiting for?! Dive in and find him! Fail to catch him today, and your heads roll!
Not far from the bridge, on the Sinuiju side of the riverbank.
Hyeon Jeong-geon hauled himself up the embankment, parting the current. Kang Moo-hyuk dangled from one hand. He grabbed the limp man's collar and dragged him from the water.
Ugh...
Hurts? Damn right it does, you fool. You just drove straight into the river like that. Without me, you'd have smashed more than limbs—your skull would've cracked. Mr. Kang Moo-sik.
At Hyeon Jeong-geon's mockery, Kang Moo-hyuk rasped through the pain.
Higher odds than breaking the encirclement.
Hey, you're no hunter. Normal folks don't make calls like that. Think this is an action flick? You weren't this reckless back in the day. What changed you into such a madman?
Figured you'd handle it. And you did—threw yourself to shield me.
What if the river'd been dry? It's dry season now.
Knew there'd be water. Checked data beforehand—after the Sinuiju Dam, they built weirs everywhere to store irrigation water. This spot too.
Ha? Even staring death down, that mouth's still alive and kicking?
Hyeon Jeong-geon laughed in disbelief.
It'd been a solid call in the end, but Kang Moo-hyuk's disregard for his own life was shocking. Like old Titan days, yet somehow different.
'Beyond expectations. This just got way more fun.'
Hyeon Jeong-geon welcomed the change in him.
Commander Kang, starting like this—what fun you got planned for later?
Kang Moo-hyuk's pale face twisted in a rough cough.
Cough, cough... So I said it's not fun...
Hey, what's—damn, blood on the back of your head...? Told you not to trust me. Hey, Commander! Stay with me!
Hyeon Jeong-geon hoisted Kang Moo-hyuk onto his back. Pursuit would start soon. He needed a safe spot to treat him first.
Don't die on me yet. The real fun's just starting, right?
When Kang Moo-hyuk opened his eyes, an unfamiliar ceiling greeted him.
His unfocused vision spun with vertigo. Closing his eyes brought a whiff of clay. Swallowing a few times cleared the ringing in his ears. His body still felt heavy, head pounding, but the room sharpened.
He finally took in his surroundings properly.
He was in a low attic with wooden rafters—a space rare these days.
A ceiling so low he'd bump his head standing, a narrow window letting in faint sunlight, barely showing the outside.
A night had passed. Awareness snapped him alert.
Where... Gah! My head...
Kang Moo-hyuk touched the bandage wrapped around his head. But he instinctively knew the throbbing wasn't from the injury.
'Mana addiction's flaring up.'
The sensation of thrashing in water. Head heavy, world spinning like lost balance. A subtle difference from usual symptoms sapped his strength.
'Come to think of it, skipped the injection yesterday. Weird, though? Missing one day shouldn't tank me like this. Aftermath of the crash?'
As he puzzled over the sudden decline, Hyeon Jeong-geon climbed the stairs.
Oh? Awake already. Man, that was close. Lucky I had some potions stashed, or you'd have been toast.
Potions?!
Kang Moo-hyuk jolted in shock.
Yeah, potions. Why? Worried it was fake? Relax—low-grade, but legit stuff.
Then it clicked why he felt this way. Potions triggered early mana addiction symptoms.
Damn it, potions are poison to me.
Poison? What're you on about?
My clothes. There was a case in the jacket pocket. Where is it?
Case? Oh, the syringe one? Tossed it. All smashed up.
Kang Moo-hyuk let out a hollow laugh at Hyeon Jeong-geon's innocent shrug.
Ha? This is insane. Should've never come.
Whoa, this is nuts. Where the hell am I now?
No Song-rin was lost. Or had there ever been a path? He was in Sinuiju's underground sewers. Hiding from endless foes, he'd pried open a manhole as a last resort.
They said they dug these for wartime. When'd they turn 'em into sewers?
As a kid, his dad had told him about Sinuiju's underground. He'd wondered about it—the vast network used as kids' secret bases or emergency shelters.
But inside, it was absurdly huge. Even discounting the sewer conversions, it could fit Sinuiju's whole population with room to spare.
And it wasn't one level. Two, three layers deep.
As he wandered, a presence stirred at the tunnel's end.
'Five.'
No Song-rin melted into the shadows of a bend.
'Light footsteps. Trained assassins?'
Light pierced the dark, shadows stretching long. They approached his spot. He gripped his karambit tight.
'Take 'em out fast and bolt.'
As a faint shadow touched his feet, No Song-rin erupted with killing intent, lunging from the gloom.
Die!
Kieeee!
Whoa!
A piercing shriek froze No Song-rin's feet in place.
Wh-what the hell are these...?
Waaah!
Uwaaaah!
Ueeeeng! Ueeeeng~!
No Song-rin looked down in panic. Tiny dwarves barely reaching his waist. The very things he hated most—maybe more than monsters—stared up, bawling.
Wh-why are kids down here...? Hey, what're you doing here?
Waaah!
Wu iiiing~!
H-hey, stop crying. Look, I hate this stuff. Keep it up, and this uncle's gonna punish you? Eat you up!
Desperate amid the endless wails, he bared his killing aura in threat—but that backfired spectacularly.
Pwaaaang!
Huaaaang!
Ah... what have I done...
As the kids clutched his pant legs and sobbed harder, No Song-rin's mind reeled into chaos.