Chapter 47: Jang Si-hwan (2)
Where did you come from?
Yangyang. Its a bit far.
You seem to be a mercenary, isnt that right? Yangyang in Gangwon Province is well-known as a gathering place for mercenaries.
Yes.
Kang-hoo nodded.
There was no need for Jang Si-hwan to know the specifics.
He gave Yangyang as his origin because, as the man said, it was a place where many mercenaries gathered.
With so many mercenary groups there, there was no need to specify which one he belonged to.
A moment of silence passed.
Jang Si-hwan looked at him intently, as if expecting him to recognize him at any moment.
Being fussed over meeting a celebrity was the exact opposite of Kang-hoos character.
No, it was embarrassingly and uncomfortably impossible for him to even mimic.
On the other hand, there was also no reason to bother recognizing him. Whats so great about this guy?
How do they view the Jeonghwa Guild and me in Yangyang?
Jang Si-hwan changed the subject.
Even then, he seemed to want to impress upon Kang-hoo what kind of person he was.
Kang-hoo answered with an awkward smile.
There is a lot of interest in the Jeonghwa Guild and Mr. Jang Si-hwan, who created the orderly Seoul of today.
Oh, is that so?
Everyone wants to join the Jeonghwa Guild. Theres no need to wander, and you get support.
Thats pleasant to hear.
It was a lie to make him feel good.
Kang-hoo, who had never been to Gangwon Province, let alone Yangyang, fabricated a lie effortlessly.
Unless someone could sift through his thoughts, there was no way to detect the lie.
Jang Si-hwan continued.
Then, are you interested in joining our Jeonghwa Guild?
It would be a lie to say Im not interested. But unfortunately, I dont have the skills for it.
Our guild is always open for entry tests.
Im still embarrassed.
Youre very modest. Most hunters take pride in their skills, whether big or small.
Perhaps its because Ive been bested so often, but I really lack confidence.
Their conversation unfolded, with both probing and learning about each other.
The exchange could have been casual, but Kang-hoo found himself tense throughout it.
You never know when or how the situation might change.
For some reason, Jang Si-hwan seemed unusually interested in him.
He was amiable, but not one to engage in lengthy conversations with a stranger.
With nothing more to say, Kang-hoo glanced back and noticed Jang Si-hwans protective hunters beginning to stir.
They were simply doing their job.
Silently pressuring anyone who lingered too close to their unidentified charge.
The message was clear: dont overstay your welcome. Such was their security protocol.
I should get going now. It was a pleasant visit to Seoul.
Take care. Brief though it was, it was good to meet you.
Wish you always well.
Kang-hoo exchanged insincere pleasantries before leaving.
The keen gaze of the escort hunter followed him until he was out of sight.
Perhaps because he avoided eye contact as much as possible, his face seemed unlikely to be remembered.
I should not come here often.
In the descending elevator, a bitter smirk crossed Kang-hoos face.
The observatory was a place of rest and reflection for Jang Si-hwan, and considering his frequent visits, it was probable they would encounter each other often.
To Jang Si-hwan, Kang-hoo was still just an inconsequential hunter, his interest only mildly aroused, if at all.
That was for the best.
There was no need for premature recognition until it was inevitable that his name and face became known worldwide.
Later on.
Kang-hoo settled into a safety bus bound for the bus terminal near Gwangjusongjeong Station in Seoul, lying down comfortably.
He had scrutinized his surroundings until boarding the bus, managing to evade Cha So-hees notice.
Despite its cost, the premium safety bus offered ample comfort.
Each seat was solitary, complete with small curtains, guaranteeing a decent amount of privacy.
Yet, the bus was sparsely populated with hunters.
The entire area near Gwangjusongjeong Station had originally been a massive battleground, leaving no reason to venture there unless you were a mercenary.
One could be dragged into a battle at any time, anywhere, and there was no point in risking your life unless you had a specific purpose like Kang-hoo or were employed by an organization involved in the conflict.
Hmm
Kang-hoo skimmed through the data he had collected earlier, filling in the gaps with his memory.
The content from the original work would be implemented exactly as it was.
The reason the entire area of Gwangsan-gu in Gwangju had become a battleground was straightforward.
There were three enormous magic stone mines located there, right inside open-type dungeons.
These were five times larger than the Cheongmyeong Magic Stone Mine, connected to the Cheongmyeong Detention Center where Kang-hoo had been held.
The daily net profit from these mines was at least 1.5 billion won, making them literal gold mines.
In a month, an organization could amass 450 billion won. Who would pass that up?
Four forces were fighting over these mines.
Three guilds and one mercenary allianceCheongho, Haeohwa, Yusu, and the mercenary alliance Kingdomwere involved in the contest.
Cheongho was the original guild established in the area, the local power.
The other three forces were outsiders entangled in this battle, with the Haeohwa Guild setting up a satellite branch.
Originally from Busan, they had extended their reach here, lured by the magic stone mines.
As Seoul was known for Jeonghwa, Busan boasted Haeohwa, a guild so influential that there was a saying about it.
Consequently, the Haeohwa Guild had established a foothold in Gwangju and continuously dispatched hunters.
The Yusu Guild took root in Gwangju later, siphoning many members from Cheongho.
Kingdom, an alliance of mercenaries, was solely focused on claiming the rights to the magic stone mines.
They might have had less camaraderie than other organizations, but they boasted numerous skilled individuals driven by profit.
The atmosphere was charged with tension.
Not because they were frightening, but because any place could suddenly become a battleground.
With so many forces entangled, even those uninvolved could be mistaken for combatants and caught in the fray.
If it were just small-time troublemakers, he could deal with them himself.
But when the higher-ups got involved, things turned messy.
After a restful nights sleep, Kang-hoo awoke at the bus terminal near Gwangjusongjeong Station.
Some passengers had alighted along the way, and by the time he got off, he was the last one.
Without delay, Kang-hoo headed to a dungeon near exit 3.
He had pinpointed its location beforehand and wanted to assess how the area was managed.
An authentication system.
Just as he expected.
No police officer stood guard at the dungeons entrance.
However, the Hunter Public Safety Bureaus flag was prominently displayed, and a secure iron door blocked access to the dungeon.
In other words, entry was barred without a duly issued or authorized dungeon license.
Though considered a toothless tiger, the Hunter Public Safety Bureaus intervention in altering the structure constituted a criminal offense.
The vicinity was under full surveillance by CCTV, and meddling with the Bureaus property made one a potential target of the Jeonghwa Guild. Hence, even the most audacious hunters refrained from tampering with the facilities.
Collaborating with the Hunter Public Safety Bureau in sweeping for criminals and tracking fugitives could prove to be quite the nuisance.
About six hours to go.
Kang-hoo checked the approval time for his dungeon license on the app and walked away.
Since he couldnt enter the dungeon for another six hours, he decided to look for a place to rest.
Thats when he heard it.
Hurry up! Move it, you lot!
Snap to it! Were not here just to laze around!
Lets roll, Haeohwa! Move out, Haeohwa!
A clamorous group of hunters, moving swiftly, captured his attention.
They belonged to the Haeohwa Guild.
Fully equipped and with a sense of urgency, they appeared to be heading into battle.
The hunters from the Haeohwa Guild had a notorious reputation.
They didnt bother with prisoner exchanges; torture and murder were part of their daily routine.
The other three competing organizations collaborated to keep them in check, as they were so brutal.
On the battlefield, members of the four organizations would first target Haeohwa Guild members when they mingled.
Kang-hoo stopped in his tracks
and quietly watched them from a distance.
However, one of the hunters, who appeared to be the leader, noticed Kang-hoos behavior and shouted immediately.
Hey, whats with that guy? Why is he loitering here? Get him! Take him down!
Kang-hoo didnt want to expend energy before entering the dungeon and hoped for a peaceful passage.
But the Haeohwa hunters, visibly on edge, displayed hostility towards Kang-hoo without attempting to identify him.
Kang-hoo said,
Just go your way. Im not from here. If you dont want to get hurt, go do your job.
What did you say, you punk! Sounds like a Kingdom guy. Kill him! Go for the neck!
As expected, the conversation deteriorated after just one sentence, and Kang-hoo immediately assumed a combat stance.
There were nine opponents.
Five were hunters contracted with constellations; the rest were insignificant.
Being misunderstood was exasperating, but it seemed better to issue a clear warning.
Tadadat!
Entering an accelerated state, Kang-hoo charged towards the group, quickly closing the distance.
Unperturbed by the numerical disadvantage, his actions were decisive.
Just as he was about to close the gap with the leader, who also held a dagger,
Swoosh.
Kang-hoo deftly shifted from in front of the leader to behind him.
It was an unexpected change of position.
Fwoosh!
The leaders arms back spurted blood.
Kang-hoo had struck with his dagger.
Furthermore, he stabbed another hunter who was beside the leader in the side.
It served as a stark warning.
Crazy.
What the?
He disappeared and then suddenly appeared behind us, and we couldnt even react!
The expressions of the Haeohwa Guild hunters who had witnessed the entire sequence quickly hardened.
Anyone with eyes could see Kang-hoos movement.
Of course, their eyes werent following the movement but rather catching up with the situation belatedly.
From an observers perspective, it might have seemed like a spectacle, but for the involved parties, it was a life-threatening afterthought.
The quick-witted among them realized that Kang-hoo could have killed the two but chose not to.
Hes no ordinary guy.
Lets get out of here.
Move quickly to the battlefield! Hes not our designated target!
Three hunters left.
Ironically, the ones bearing constellations were the first to retreat.
They knew the value of their lives.
The ones left with the leader were just small fries.
The observant ones made a swift exit.
The constellations werent worth much, so there were no regrets there.
Had they possessed more useful constellations, perhaps things would have been different.
Selfish but wise.
Kang-hoo smiled as he watched the three hunters leave without looking back.
But six foolish ones, not yet favored by Lady Luck, remained in front of him.
It was time for a swift cleanup.
This content is taken from fr(e)ewebn(o)vel.𝓬𝓸𝓶