#232. Just Close Your Eyes for a Moment.
Thomas mimicked a baby's playful hand-clapping, folding and unfolding his palms repeatedly.
Mana winds slipped between his fingers. Moisture clung to his grip, while a warm fire stirred in his dantian.
Everything around him was mana. The buildings were made of it, and so were the people.
At last, Thomas could handle mana with ease.
"Looks stable."
"I can't maintain it for long. We need to finish the job before then."
"What's the plan?"
"All bee-type monsters are sensitive to sound."
"Monsters always have sharp ears—it's in their nature."
"Bees take it to another level. Loud noises can agitate the entire hive. They're a hive mind species with active communication between individuals. Sometimes they interpret sounds as enemy attacks and go on the offensive to eliminate threats before they reach the nest."
"So this mess started because something triggered them?"
"Or they came under direct attack."
In other words, someone had poked the hornet's nest.
"Ah? You mean that method you mentioned earlier...?"
"We'll lure them with sound. Of course, they'll see us as enemies and come swarming. Just stand guard while I prepare my magic."
"No problem there. But luring with sound? That'll require one hell of a racket. Got a way to make it?"
"It's not my invention, but it's something we can use."
Thomas smiled with quiet confidence.
"Eul-ji, you okay?"
Kim Nari gazed worriedly at Go Eul-ji, who was spaced out, not even wiping the dried blood from her nose.
Pitying her blood-smeared face, Nari dabbed at the crust with a handkerchief, but it wouldn't come off easily. The venue was such a wreck that heading to the bathroom felt awkward. Resigned, she grabbed a rolling water bottle from the floor and used it to wash Eul-ji's face.
"Hng~ Come on, let some blood out. Hmph!"
"Hng!"
"Good girl. You're doing great. Let me see... Perfect. Nosebleed's stopped. No other injuries, right?"
"Yeah."
"Then what's wrong? You look off."
"Nah, body's fine. My heart hurts."
"Why?"
"I can't forgive myself."
"You did amazing today. Best ever. You saved a ton of people."
"But I abandoned my oppa. I'm trash. As a fan, I should've dropped everything to save them."
"BTA oppa are all safe. Event staff came out and said so earlier."
"That's a relief, but... still, as a hunter, I ditched my oppa for duty. The fact that I made that choice? Shocking."
Kim Nari understood Go Eul-ji's turmoil.
Eul-ji wasn't a sasaeng fan, but she was hardcore enough. She'd never shown her face publicly for years, nurturing her hunter powers under her grandfather's watchful eye—only to join a guild for a mere idol meal voucher. That proved her BTA devotion.
"Eul-ji, you're overthinking it. If you hadn't stopped those monsters here, your oppa would've been in danger too. You upheld your fan loyalty better than anyone."
"R-really?"
"Totally~!"
"Right? I did good?"
"BTA fan certified."
"I-I acknnowledge thwis."
A garbled Korean phrase burst from nearby. Turning, they saw a foreigner raising her hand—the blonde girl Eul-ji had saved earlier.
"Oh? You're safe too. Glad to hear it."
"Thwank youu, huntwess."
"Your Korean's good. But no need to say 'hunter' in Korean."
"I knwo. Huntwess giwl."
"It's kinda cringy when it's half-assed. I got a translation item, so English is fine. We're around the same age—speak casually."
Go Eul-ji tapped the brooch on her collar. The girl's tense expression eased, like a burp finally escaping.
"Phew, thank goodness. I taught myself Korean, so it's rough. I'm Catherine. Thanks again for saving me."
"Eh, no biggie. Fans gotta help fans."
"No biggie? You saved everyone's lives here."
Catherine gestured around. Only then did Go Eul-ji notice the crowd's stares. Their eyes held respect and affection. Unaccustomed to attention after years in hiding, she felt flustered.
"What's the hunter's name? I'll remember it forever."
"Yeah, tell us."
"Wishing you health and luck always."
"Thank you for the rescue."
Following Catherine's lead, voices rose into a unified cheer. Deafening applause erupted as someone started clapping, everyone joining in.
"Name's... kinda hard to share... Ugh, too much pressure."
Go Eul-ji whispered to Kim Nari. She wasn't unhappy, but the hero's welcome was overwhelming.
As she floundered for a response, a message pierced her mind.
"No hyung?"
"Yeah. Carnivorous wasps are wrecking the city. Comms are down. Took time to get in message range. Concert got hit too?"
"Ahh, the concert... waited months for that..."
"You handled it somehow? Captain says join up."
"Captain Kang's safe?"
"That guy's not dying easy. Worry if you're the wasps. Hunt?"
"O! Hunt?"
"Yeah. Raid the hive."
"Ugh, vacation raid? This is straight-up slavery past overtime."
"FYI, rest of concert's canceled."
"Ma's behind it."
"Overseas wrecked, so idols back home soon. Meal vouchers usable then."
"Where's Captain Kang Moo-hyuk?"
"Hunter Crime Division."
Go Eul-ji's expression turned grave.
No Song-rin's message cut off. She'd left skill range.
"What'd he say?"
Kim Nari asked. Go Eul-ji whispered back.
"Not just here—LA's chaos everywhere. Told Captain our situation; says stand by? Looks like raid incoming."
"Raid?!"
Kim Nari yelped in shock. Go Eul-ji clamped her mouth shut.
Too late—"raid" had spread.
Cheers turned to murmurs. People realized it wasn't just the concert. Comms dead meant big trouble. Some recalled spring's gate outbreak. Panic swelled.
Go Eul-ji wanted to calm them but didn't know how. Great hunter or not, she was still a teen.
How does Captain Kang handle this every time? I'd die first...
Kang Moo-hyuk could do nothing immediate.
He'd given advice, but this was America. His influence meant zilch.
Even an S-rank guild master is a rookie here. No standing in the world hunter scene. My words carry no weight.
World Hunter Federation leverage? Too risky.
Considering Federation-politics, politics-Supers, Federation-Supers and major guilds—meddling could backfire.
Federation always pisses off big guilds.
Conflicting interests barred casual use.
As he pondered approaches, Hamilton returned from the bunker.
"As you said, Captain Kang. Ithaca Guild shuttered HQ."
"Ithaca?"
"Branch chief says their rep's poor."
"Bad rep, solid skills. A major guild bailing? Mids and smalls notice fast. Gives cover to others hesitating."
"Taking the heat first."
"No. Could be smart."
"Smart?"
"Initial backlash, sure. But as more guilds flee LA, it fades. Cling to early leavers for excuses? Late movers get screwed. Forced to side and shape opinion."
Hunter world had no good guys, bad guys. Heroes turned villains overnight. Pure good was suspicious.
Hamilton knew the game, worry creasing his face.
"Then warn guilds first?"
"Doubt it. Survival trumps warnings."
"Any good ideas?"
"Mind lending White House name a bit?"
"Name...?"
"Hand over some authority, I'll sweet-talk a few majors."
"How?"
"Simple, Mr. Hamilton. Just close your eyes for a moment to the East's request."