S-Class Awakener
Incheon's upscale Songdo apartment district.
There, in the penthouse that was rumored to be the most expensive of them all, Gu Jinwoo—the hunter of the White Tiger Guild and one of the Seven Calamities of South Korea—stepped out after finishing his shower.
"I'm done with Kang Juhyuk. Even Master has decided to let that bastard go, so keep that in mind."
Already frowning at the sight of him in nothing but a bathrobe, Lee Miryeon answered, "Was that bastard really that strong?"
"You didn't even feel it from the report?"
"I understand that he was strong. I'm just not sure he's someone you’d go that far for."
Well, since she hadn't faced him herself, it was understandable that she thought that way.
But still.
Kang Juhyuk had had the power to kill him even before he used his ability, and yet he had stood there until the very end and watched what Gu Jinwoo would do.
He must've known from the start.
That he could beat him.
His strength was beyond anything I imagined.
So much so that the thought of fighting him again never even entered his head.
A rematch with Kang Juhyuk is too dangerous.
Because before he could even think about winning or losing, he'd have to put his life on the line.
That was Gu Jinwoo's conclusion, and so he gave up on an all-out war with Kang Juhyuk. Why bother with a fight he couldn't win? If there had been even a sliver of a chance, maybe—but there wasn't.
"I've already told Master as well. Don't poke that guy anymore. The goods have already made it all the way to Korea, and if we go starting a war with the wrong people for no reason and botch the business, that'll be a problem."
Miryeon gave a small shrug. "If both you and Master are saying that much, then I can't argue. Fine. I'll pull back from Kang Juhyuk. Just make sure you finish everything that came through Incheon Port this time."
"Got it. Don't worry. Everything the Association wanted has already arrived at the port, and the rain isn't supposed to stop for another two days. As long as the other guild punks don't jump in, it'll be easy."
"And the money?"
"The Association's sending coins through China. Money only moves when the goods move, so don't worry about that."
"...Fine."
Ending the conversation, Gu Jinwoo pulled a shirt from the closet.
"Anyway, I think Oppa is pretty pissed. Keep an eye on him so he doesn't do something stupid out of anger."
"Do you think he's a child?"
"If he were a child, it'd actually be a relief. At least he'd listen."
"True enough, caw—!"
As Miryeon transformed into a crow and flew out past the window, Gu Jinwoo put on a crisp white suit and took off the cracked hahoetal mask, setting it on the table with a click.
He had dark skin, the kind that was rare among native Koreans, and features that made it obvious he was mixed-race at a glance. His deep eyes and straight nose made for a striking face—if you ignored the huge X-shaped scar cutting across his face from the bridge of his nose.
If a hunter is strong enough to be that guy, then he probably knows exactly what this scar means.
Gently brushing his fingers over the mark, Gu Jinwoo then opened a drawer and took out a new hahoetal mask.
"When the time comes, we'll have to meet again."
However this turned out, the man had spared his life.
He ought to go thank him.
* * *
The Far East Group had risen to become one of the top five conglomerates in South Korea through its semiconductor business.
And the man at its helm, Jung Myungchul, had run into a serious problem.
His precious only daughter, born to him after he had already passed sixty.
Jung Heeyeon.
Raised in the United States on an elite-track education, she had shocked everyone by making an announcement the moment she graduated from an Ivy League university.
"Dad, I awakened."
The first awakening among the children of chaebol families.
She already had wealth and status beyond what most could imagine, so there was no guarantee she'd ever become a hunter. Still, depending on her ability, it was a development big enough to alter her fate.
"What kind of ability?"
When Chairman Jung Myungchul asked, Jung Heeyeon, with her long straight hair, answered, "The name of the ability is Bathory's Nightmare."
"Bathory's Nightmare?"
"If I drink someone's blood, I can know everything about them."
"Everything?"
"Not just their biological structure, but their memories, knowledge, thoughts, and even their emotions. I tested it before coming back to Korea."
Heeyeon opened a notebook and showed it to her father.
"If I don't think too deeply, I can know this much right away."
"When you use the ability, how does the information come to you?"
"If I think about what I need, their information appears in front of me like a hologram. I can even close my eyes and still see it in the dark."
Jung Myungchul slowly closed his eyes.
An ability that lets you know everything about your opponent.
Hunters were reluctant to reveal their abilities, so ordinary people had very limited information about them.
But Jung Myungchul, as a conglomerate chairman, had paid enough to gain a fair understanding of hunter abilities.
And because of that...
He could tell just how extraordinary his daughter's ability was.
This is at least S-rank level.
He had never imagined such an incredible power would end up in his daughter's hands.
Of course.
There was the condition that she had to drink blood.
But as long as she didn't reveal her ability first, the limitations were not severe.
Though I don't know how far its range extends.
Heeyeon's awakening was an ability with enormous potential in every direction.
It could play a major role not only in civilian business, but also in the power struggle among hunters, where everyone fought to seize dominance.
But it's too dangerous.
If her ability became known to the world, the strong would surely move to seize her.
"How many people know about your ability right now?"
Heeyeon turned and looked at the elderly secretary in the room.
"Only Chief Jin knows."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Good."
Jung Myungchul opened a drawer and took out a pistol, then without hesitation aimed it at Chief Jin.
"You've worked hard all this time. I'll make sure your family is fully provided for and lives well."
Bang!
The stench of scorched powder stabbed at the nose, and Chief Jin's body went limp as he collapsed.
"A... ah... ah..."
Heeyeon couldn't even scream from the shock.
As if this were nothing at all, Myungchul simply put the pistol back into the drawer and said, "Jung Heeyeon, pull yourself together."
He'd killed a man right in front of her and was telling her to calm down?
She had already lost her mind the moment she saw the blood soaking into the floor.
But Myungchul's voice remained crystal clear.
"From this moment on, you are no longer an awakener."
"......"
"If your awakening is exposed, the world will start moving to take your ability."
"The world?"
"Yes. Not just in Korea—people will come after you from all over the world without rest. Men so strong that I couldn't stop them even with money."
Heeyeon understood immediately what he meant.
But fear and resentment were both churning inside her as she thought of how far he had gone, even killing the secretary who had stayed by her side all these years.
"Look."
Myungchul lightly dipped a finger into the blood of the fallen Chief Jin and held it out to Heeyeon.
"See what Chief Jin was hiding."
Heeyeon swallowed hard and brought her trembling lips to the blood.
As her awakened ability manifested and several seconds passed, she gasped, "Th... this is insane!"
What she saw was a horrifying memory.
Chief Jin reporting information about her father and company secrets to the White Tiger Guild.
He was like a benefactor to me, always telling me it was okay no matter what I did and helping me whenever I needed it.
And he had been such a person?
"Chief Jinmyunggi, who had been by your side since you were little, was a tail for White Tiger."
Heeyeon shuddered violently.
"I-I'm sorry, Father. I had no idea. I told Chief Jin everything you said was secret up until now."
"It's fine. I already knew his true identity long ago. That's why I killed him—to protect you."
"Father..."
"Wait here for a moment."
Jung Myungchul let out a long sigh and called someone.
After a long conversation, he set his expression in hard resolve, took Heeyeon's hand, and helped her up.
"Soon, a hunter will come who will protect you from now on. Whatever happens, stay by his side at all times."
* * *
Late that night, a message arrived for Director Kim Jaegyu of the NIS Second Branch.
The sender was Jung Myungchul of the Far East Group.
To summarize the contents:
His daughter had awakened, and it seemed likely that White Tiger had noticed it.
Unfortunately, her ability was exactly the one they needed most.
He needed the government's help, secretly.
"Choi Junhyuk, right now put together about ten hunters of B-rank or higher and head to the Far East Group headquarters immediately. Chairman Jung Myungchul will explain the situation when you get there."
Upon receiving the order, Choi Junhyuk headed straight for the Far East Group headquarters.
He had met Chairman Jung Myungchul a few times before through Director Kim Jaegyu.
Though he didn't know the reason, the NIS's elite team arrived at the Far East Group headquarters to carry out the order.
Choi Junhyuk and the agents opened the door to the chairman's room and stepped inside.
Creak.
But inside the room, there was only the sound of curtains rustling in the wind blowing through the wide-open window, and the floor was soaked red with someone's blood.
And there was the body of the bodyguard hunter who had been protecting Chairman Jung Myungchul.
"...Too late, I see."
Choi Junhyuk immediately called Kim Jaegyu.
"I'm sorry. It seems we missed him."
"Missed him?"
"Chairman Jung Myungchul is not here."
"?!"
One of the agents checking by the window picked up a bird feather, and Choi Junhyuk gave a short nod before continuing.
"Looks like White Tiger's work. Shall we begin pursuit?"
"...Damn it, no. If the NIS officially intervenes in a private matter, it could be exploited politically."
"Then what should we do?"
After a moment of silence, Jaegyu clicked his tongue and said, "You know those bounty hunters from the U.S. who are in Itaewon right now? Contact them and tell them there's a five-hundred-million-won bounty on Jung Myungchul's head. They'll move immediately."
"Understood."
"Ah, right, and one more thing!"
"Yes?"
"Just in case, ask Kang Juhyuk too."
Choi Junhyuk slowly turned his gaze to the window.
"Mr. Kang Juhyuk isn't someone who moves for money—"
"I know that! I'm saying it because we're desperate. I know it probably won't work, but ask him anyway."
"...As you command."
* * *
Clatter, clatter, clatter.
Kang Juhyuk rummaged through the wanted notices he'd received from the NIS and asked, "Lee Minho, do you happen to have 300 million?"
"Uncle, do you know how much money 300 million is?"
Minho shook his head, thinking that a sum like that was not something a student could casually lay hands on.
"I'm asking if you have it."
"Do you think I would?"
The same man who hadn't even had 30,000 won a little while ago and was eating Mexican pork belly at 5,000 won per pound had gone to another world and come back with a terrifyingly broad wallet.
"You money-grubbing bastard."
Hello.
Weren't you the exact same kind of beggar just a few days ago?
"If not having 300 million makes me a beggar, wouldn't there be way too many beggars in this world? Not long ago, even 30,000 won was a precious amount to us."
"...Was it?"
"It was."
"Anyway! I need 300 million within five hours. What should I do?"
What would his uncle need money for?
Minho sorted the possibilities in his head.
First, it's definitely something related to games.
1. Buy a rare item from an auction.
2. Try to restore a failed gear enhancement.
3. Raise cash for a chance-based item draw.
Judging by the amount, the most likely was number one.
The time limit and the amount both sounded ridiculous.
"Did a rare item show up at the auction house?"
Kang Juhyuk paused for a moment, then put the wanted notice down and nodded.
"How'd you know? You learn mind reading or something?"
Or maybe because if his uncle had 300 million, there was only one thing he'd spend it on.
"Uncle, aren't you spending way too much money on games?"
"That's my freedom. It's my money."
"Sure, but if that's the case, I think it would be better to move our house first."
"Don't worry, we're leaving this place soon anyway."
"We're moving?"
"Yeah, the owner said we have to be out next month. It's scheduled for redevelopment."
Dude, that's not moving. That's getting kicked out.
Then he should be worrying about moving expenses before game items.
Just as Minho lifted a finger to say something, beep, beep, beep—
Juhyuk's phone rang.
The name displayed on the screen was Choi Junhyuk, the NIS hunter.
Juhyuk answered calmly, and when the call ended, he broke into a bright smile.
"Lee Minho, let's go get 300 million."
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