150. Ominous!
"Where the hell is this?"
Even after racing over 400 kilometers upstream along the Yalu River toward the east, No Song-rin was still in denial about reality.
"Where else? We're almost at Da Hong Dan County. They say potatoes are the local specialty here—want a whirlwind potato on the way? Oh? Is that Baekdu Mountain over there?"
Gripping the steering wheel, Kang Moo-hyuk gazed leisurely at the scenery as if he were on a sightseeing tour.
Yi Suk-young, seated in the passenger seat, leaned over to peer out the driver's side window and nodded.
"Yessir, that's Baekdu Mountain."
"I never got to see it properly back in my Titan days—we were always supporting the northern defense line along the East Sea route near Chongjin City. What about you, Hyeon Jeong-geon? You went out on a raid support to Hoiryeong City before, right?"
"That's about 100 kilometers from Da Hong Dan. You can't see Baekdu from there. After leaving Titan, I was stuck in Sinuiju, so I never made it over. Same for Hwang Dong-soo Hunter, yeah?"
Hyeon Jeong-geon replied calmly, then glanced out the opposite window.
Hwang Dong-soo, peering at the towering mountain beyond Hyeon Jeong-geon with No Song-rin sandwiched in the middle backseat, answered.
"Yeah. I've seen it a few times crossing through Makyung for hunts. But this is my first time viewing it from our side of the border. We couldn't go anywhere outside Sinuiju except toward Dandong..."
Hwang Dong-soo trailed off, a note of fresh emotion in his voice.
In the end, No Song-rin was the only one stuck in the awkward middle seat in the back.
"Guild Leader, why do I have to go into Makyung? Why tag me onto this party?"
"I explained it already, didn't I?"
"Yeah, I heard. To scout the gate where the Chinese are plotting something."
"As expected of No Song-rin Hunter. You grasp it perfectly."
"Grasp, my ass. Why me, that's what I'm asking."
Kang Moo-hyuk extended a hand to the side, and Yi Suk-young pulled a document from a file folder and handed it over. He skimmed it briefly before passing it back. No Song-rin took it almost reflexively and asked,
"What's this?"
"Your personal tactical evaluation sheet, No Song-rin Hunter. Your survival score is top-notch. Stealth and recon are elite-tier too. And your combat skills were already proven in Ujungdo."
"This is from Jo Choong-hyeon, isn't it? How can you trust a traitor to judge me?"
"It's from the vice guild master right before I took over. Not everything, but he evaluated the high-rankers and key guild hunters meticulously. That's the basis for selecting you for this Makyung scouting party. Congratulations."
"Why the hell is this worth congratulating?!"
As No Song-rin protested, Kang Moo-hyuk added,
"Kim Myeong-jun keeps reaching out, right? Digging for info on Sinuiju."
"Well, he's a spy, after all?"
"Feeding him scraps with excuses has its limits. I've spread the word in the guild that you're being deployed for Makyung scouting. Kim Myeong-jun's the type who'd leave a leak somewhere, one way or another. If not, I'll make one. Once you're in Makyung, no contact—that kills any suspicion."
"Kim Myeong-jun's not that stupid. His eyes were suspicious last time; he'll sniff out the double-agent play quick."
"He's cautious. He won't tip his hand until he's sure. Keeping things ambiguous for his schemes is his specialty."
"I get what you're saying... but why's this guy holding a knife to my throat?"
No Song-rin pointed at Hwang Dong-soo sitting to her right.
"You calling me a spy?"
"Hearing 'spy' from a North Korean? Kinda stings. Didn't you hear? Double agent. Sigh, Guild Leader. You really making me go with these guys?"
"Hwang Dong-soo Hunter has crossed deep into Makyung multiple times. He'll be useful."
No Song-rin gave up, facing Kang Moo-hyuk's purely rational responses that ignored any emotional appeals.
Fine. Giving up's easier. Yeah, easier. But Makyung sure as hell ain't easy.
No Song-rin scanned the other passengers.
Hyeon Jeong-geon, Hwang Dong-soo, Yi Suk-young, and herself.
Kang Moo-hyuk was tagging along for admin procedures and intel gathering on the Makyung scout, but ultimately, these four would form the party entering Makyung.
Excluding Yi Suk-young as the guide, they were all high-rankers with proven skills from the Sinuiju incident—a top-tier party rare even on the northern defense line.
The problem was the scouting location: Makyung.
And the Chinese bastards are probably glaring daggers too.
Any wildcard could mean burying their bones in Makyung.
For No Song-rin, who'd sworn off dangerous spots after hitting A-rank, it was the last place she wanted to go.
That thought sparked another question: why Da Hong Dan as the entry point?
"Why not head straight into Makyung from Sinuiju? I heard the terrain there's brutal too."
"Sinuiju's blocked by Dandong. It's fully incorporated Korean territory now, so plenty of eyes watching Yalu River entries into Makyung. Even big Chinese guilds can't monitor the entire Korean border. That's why the Baekdu Mountain route or Tumen River line."
Kang Moo-hyuk's concern wasn't unfounded.
They couldn't scout the far side precisely, but given the scale of the Chinese guilds' Makyung plot, entry controls were a logical response.
His swift action meant other routes excluding Sinuiju were still free of their surveillance.
"Almost there."
Welcome to Da Hong Dan County.
The crooked welcome sign greeted them—or rather, the wind from the passing vehicle knocked it flat.
No Song-rin's sharp eyes caught the scene.
She twisted back to stare at the now pillar-only facility, unable to look away.
Ominous! Totally ominous!
Da Hong Dan County—its name evoked fields of azaleas and rhododendrons blooming red in spring, abruptly cut off at the rapids.
The county's center was spanned east-west by the Noeun Mountains, with peaks over 1,000 meters forming the southwest border, making it a key stronghold for the northern defense line against Makyung.
"Mm, cold. Hoo..."
Stepping out, Kang Moo-hyuk shivered despite his winter parka equivalent. The other hunters seemed unfazed in Iron Will's thin armor coats.
Windproof, dustproof, waterproof, slash-resistant, bulletproof.
A versatile coat that activated various effects with minimal mana.
Hunters' bodies were naturally resilient to cold and heat anyway.
"It's January, so yeah. Averages near minus twenty around here."
Yi Suk-young smiled, handing over a hot pack she'd been rubbing. Kang Moo-hyuk gratefully pressed it to his face. His reddened cheeks warmed slightly, but the effect was minimal.
"First, permission at the forward outpost. Then join the unaffiliated hunter combo here. You know someone, right, Yi Suk-young Hunter?"
"Yessir. All familiar faces. Best intel comes from the combo. Southerners don't know—it's all connections."
"Then everyone rest in the waiting room. Guild code handles procedures. I'll go alone."
Kang Moo-hyuk's entry process was quick. They downed vending machine coffee and snacked on chips from the shop by the time he returned.
"Morning slots ended at eight. Afternoon starts at two. Three hours left. Eat first, then pick up guild gear. Meanwhile, I'll hit the combo with Yi Suk-young Hunter."
Driving into the nearby town outpost, they grabbed a casual meal at a butcher shop by the county office. Casual meant ten servings per person, easily devoured.
Kang Moo-hyuk watched contentedly, satisfied by their hearty appetites. Cards swiped millions per meal, but no regrets.
His gaze, like a farmer eyeing fat pigs, nearly gave No Song-rin indigestion—unhunter-like.
"Not eating more? Big job ahead—gotta fuel up."
"Feels like heading to the slaughterhouse."
"Makyung's dangerous, but the party's built for it. With your skills, No Song-rin Hunter, it's no slaughterhouse. Avoid fights, no problem."
"Sometimes I wonder: do you really not know, Guild Leader, or just pretending?"
"Any party operation feedback, I'm all ears. What specifically?"
No Song-rin threw up her hands in surrender. Either way, beyond her pay grade.
"Then Yi Suk-young Hunter and I will head to the combo. Guild folks at the county office soon. Check gear, confirm no issues."
"Hey? Guild Leader!"
A familiar voice—Choi Mi-ran waved in an ill-fitting fur coat for Da Hong Dan, Kim Seong-hyeon bowing behind in guild armor coat.
Old Taeseong parking lot first-timers, bodyguards during Jo Choong-hyeon's dam blast block.
"Choi Mi-ran Hunter, Kim Seong-hyeon Hunter. You two brought the gear?"
"Yup. Escort duty. An Ji-il Team Leader sent staff for distribution."
"Could've waited at county office—no need to come out."
"Gotta eat. We work to eat. Wanted Da Hong Dan whirlwind potatoes too."
"Tourists? North Pocheon boring you? You two weren't on escort rotation."
"W-well... Ahem! Anyway, guild work. Not slacking, swear."
"Who said anything?"
Kim Seong-hyeon shook his head at Choi Mi-ran's guilty confession.
She'd swapped shifts again—extra nights for him, but fresh air consoled.
"Eat up, meet at county office in an hour."
Kang Moo-hyuk let it slide. Minor mischief for hunters.
Titan had drunks brawling guilds or freelancers—headaches from civilian assaults. This was cute.
Kang Moo-hyuk and Yi Suk-young headed to a three-story building near the county office. Low but wide lot, substantial footprint.
"Nothin' fancy inside. Old Da Hong Dan potato factory remodel—spacious."
"Snagging a spot like this shows the combo's pull."
"Yessir. Looks humble, but solid. Makyung intel, Tumen border rumors—all funnels here. Aigoo, kept the Guild Leader out too long. Cold—hurry in."
As Yi Suk-young reached for the combo gate, snowflakes fell.
Kang Moo-hyuk worried about driving in this cold with snow, glancing up.
"!!"
Piling on the ground wasn't snow. It was powder shed by fluffy, jellyfish-like creatures drifting in the sky.
Kang Moo-hyuk shouted,
"Spore bloom!"
Without looking up, Yi Suk-young tackled him.
BOOM!