#310. See, He Admits He's a Shameless Bastard.
"Mirage? That Mirage I know?"
"Yes. That's the one."
Kang Moo-hyuk rarely showed agitation. Ever since contracting mana addiction, it was practically nonexistent.
But the moment Gwan-hong uttered the word "Mirage," he was so stunned that a brief silence fell over the conversation.
Mirage? Are they the ones behind this incident?
There was no need to even question it.
Gate-related terrorism was one of Mirage's signature activities.
Mirage.
The French word for "mirage" had once named a fighter jet but, in the gate era, had become far more infamous as the world's most notorious terrorist organization.
They preached anti-hunter ideology, corrupting hunters and sowing discord among nations.
Their scale, location, and even the identity of their leader remained shrouded in mystery.
"So Mirage conducted gate opener experiments in Xinjiang Uyghur?"
"They committed terrorism. An entire village vanished. Probably a test run."
"First I've heard of it."
"It wasn't publicized. The guilds clamped down on reporting."
Kang Moo-hyuk could guess why Huang Long Guild had buried the incident. The gate opener was key.
Revealing that Mirage had wiped out a village with a gate would inevitably expose the opener's existence.
Huang Long, planning to use it themselves, wouldn't want that getting out.
These are the kinds of selfish desires keeping the gate wars from ending.
Hiding his displeasure, Kang Moo-hyuk continued.
"And Huang Long got involved, recovered it, and used it in the Makyung?"
"You're not judging right and wrong, are you?"
"Just confirming the facts."
"Fair enough. Yes. We finished it and used it."
Something in Gwan-hong's response nagged at Kang Moo-hyuk.
"'Finished' means it was incomplete when recovered?"
"It was badly damaged in the fight with Mirage remnants. Took three years to restore and fill the gaps."
"Three years? That's odd."
"What is?"
"From the Xinjiang incident to using it in the Makyung. With all that time, there should've been terror news about gate openers somewhere. No country can censor like China."
"Well..."
Gwan-hong trailed off, at a loss. He realized it was suspicious too.
Why didn't I think of that? It's obvious in hindsight. Should've questioned it.
Humans test power when they get it. Why hadn't Mirage used their machine since?
Gwan-hong puzzled over his oversight.
Then it hit him: greed had blinded him. Too busy reveling in their new power to check basics.
Kang Moo-hyuk pressed further with hypotheses.
"Maybe Mirage stopped using it for a good reason?"
"Like what?"
"Internal issues. Disagreement on use, or funding shortages."
"Plausible, but Mirage is massive—no money woes. Their leader's absolute; his word is law. Dissent wouldn't stop them."
"Then my mind draws a blank on possibilities."
Kang Moo-hyuk paused. Gwan-hong held back from prompting, suddenly realizing what he meant—and why he'd stopped.
"You mean they let it slide on purpose?"
"The opener nearly sparked a gate war mixing China, Russia, Korea, and Japan in the Makyung. Zmei Gorynych razed a Russian city. Music to Mirage's ears, right?"
"Huang Long... played by Mirage? Ha! That's a stretch."
"Stretch or not, investigate. You'd need insiders for that. Huang Long needs a purge."
Gwan-hong broke into a cold sweat.
Mirage specialized in guild and hunter division, corruption.
Everyone knew their tendrils reached top guilds.
He mentally mapped where to start digging.
"And now it's Korea's turn."
Kang Moo-hyuk, plotting his own starting point, added.
Gwan-hong warned.
"Be careful, Commander. They're insidious and persistent. If they're truly in Korea causing outbreaks, this won't be the last."
Kang Moo-hyuk pulled the receiver from his ear, gazing south out the window toward Seoul.
Conspiracy brewed unseen again. He sensed this incident was no coincidence.
"That's my specialty. We'll see who's tougher."
* * *
Kang Moo-hyuk decided gathering Mirage intel was the first step.
Korea had been a Mirage-free zone—no terror, no info, no immunity.
Handling the open gate was priority, but plenty could manage that.
He needed to prepare for worse.
First move: dialing a number he'd never called.
He opened with his standard courtesy.
"Kang Moo-hyuk speaking."
"I know. This line's yours alone."
"Not thrilled to hear from me? Did I wake Bertrand the hunter?"
On the other end: Bertrand Lefebvre, S-rank of New York Rockets Guild.
"It's 8 p.m. here. Not bedtime, even for kids."
"Good."
"Not thrilled, though."
"You admit I'm helpful to you?"
Bertrand recalled Kang Moo-hyuk's deeds.
The confession via Korea's S-rank Joo Se-ah.
A courtship of his homeland, France.
It flipped Rockets' power dynamics.
The guild master no longer dominated the homecoming-eligible Bertrand. Now anxious about his contract end.
"Fair. Guild life's fun for once. Teasing the master—priceless. So? Calling to collect?"
"I'm not that shameless."
"You hit the president right away?"
"He swung first."
"Ha! Storming the White House—refreshing to watch. Fine, you amused me. What's the ask?"
"Know anything about Mirage?"
Silence stretched like the thousands of kilometers between New York and North Pocheon.
Kang Moo-hyuk repeated.
"French-origin group. You clashed with them in France?"
"Why those bastards? They hitting Korea?"
"Probably?"
"For real? Actually in Korea?"
"Not confirmed. Time to find out."
"Congrats or condolences? Tough call."
Congratulating a terror incursion?
"What do you mean?"
"Mirage doesn't pop up anywhere. When they do: terror, base-building, or both."
"Base?"
"Terror hotspots or emerging powers. Usually S-rank nations. Joo Se-ah made Korea one. Mirage recognizes hunter powerhouses."
Ironic: an S-rank birth inviting terrorists.
Kang Moo-hyuk recalled Mirage articles. Dozens around Korea—China, Japan, Russia. Korea alone safe? Odd.
Bertrand's words unraveled it.
"Terror starts now?"
"And cells. Recruiting Korean hunters to their cause. They betray guilds—somehow. Even U.S. top guilds sweated purging them."
Kang Moo-hyuk knew the rumors.
Top guilds outing spies, backstabs wiping raid teams.
In Korea?
Horrific. Guild distrust would worsen; unity like Tumen River defense impossible.
He needed deeper intel.
"Their leader—anything?"
"Mirage's head? 'Illusion'?"
"His moniker. Real name, age, appearance?"
"Why 'Illusion'? No one knows his name—so no age, looks. Even gender's mystery. French-born S-rank—that's it, self-admitted."
"Self-admitted?"
"As I said, I fought them. He got chatty—claimed French roots. Brotherhood pitch? Tch. Gloomy guy, sparks aside. Oh, lightning affinity too."
Bertrand added: Illusion always masked face, voice-modded. Flowing robes hid build; self-repair suggested unique gear.
"Tallish—probably male? Not sure. Creepy anyway. Avoid if possible... but you're no pushover. Now curious: who spins better webs?"
"Webs? I propose constructive plans."
"Constructive blades to throats, constructive threats? Very constructive. 'Constructive' doesn't make it so. Saying it proves shamelessness."
"Anyone with conscience in this game?"
"See? Admits he's shameless."
Bertrand, riled by Kang Moo-hyuk's vibe, vented.
Helpful, sure—but irritating.
"Called for trap intel. This makes countermeasures hard. Guess bottom-up it is."
"That jogs a memory."
"What?"
"Mirage has one rule for new countries: target the strongest guild first. Success or fail, doesn't matter. Slayer for Korea. Chat them up."
* * *
"Seong Seon-je. Slayer Guild strategic team leader. 3% probability."
The curly-haired man scanned the hunters sealing Bukhansan Gate from afar, one by one.
"Gam Woo-young. Slayer expedition 3rd party leader. 7%. Ha Hye-seong. Same team's ace. 11%."
He cross-checked against his dossier.
Then, his eyes locked on one.
"Joo Se-ah. S-rank. Iron Will Guild. Probability: zero or 100%."
He stared piercingly at her back.
"Hm, want a closer look. Too close risks notice? Pity. Need to confirm which."
Licking his lips in regret.