Chapter 120: Preparation (1) |
“Sure.”
Kang-hoo doesn’t usually talk about the past first, but since there’s no reason to hide it, he answered honestly.
“How was it?”
“When we were dating, everything was great.”
He remembered his time with Han Seo-yeon.
Looking back on Shin Kang-hoo’s life, before he awakened as a hunter, those were the happy times.
When Han Seo-yeon became a hunter, that’s when their relationship started to face problems.
Their worlds became different, and as their ability to empathize with each other started to diverge, conflicts became frequent.
At some point, Kang-hoo concluded that it was right for them to break up, for Han Seo-yeon’s sake as well.
He was convinced that his existence, as a non-hunter, would only be a burden.
Thus, Kang-hoo unilaterally sought to break up and intentionally did not respond to Han Seo-yeon’s contacts.
Was it because he disliked her? No.
It might seem like a nonsensical reason, but it was for her sake. He didn’t regret that decision even now.
“After parting so cruelly, I looked for her as soon as I got out of Cheongmyeong Detention Center. I really have a thick face.”
Kang-hoo smiled bitterly.
On one hand, he was grateful to Han Seo-yeon for worrying about him, burying the sorrow of the past.
He hoped that she would be able to grow her dreams further in the Jeonghwa Guild.
Moreover, he hoped they would never face each other as enemies in the future. He did not wish for a tragedy.
Having finished his thoughts, Kang-hoo asked Ban Se-yeong.
“And you?”
“Me? I did have someone I was seeing.”
“Did you break up?”
“We did break up, but, um… would ‘widowed’ be the right term? It turned out that way.”
“Hmm.”
For hunter couples, or in cases where one of them is a hunter, becoming widowed is more common than one might think.
The death rate for hunters is tens of times higher than that of non-hunters, or regular people.
There are countless deaths inside dungeons, and it’s common to be killed due to entangled interests.
Especially in the outskirts of the capital region, where law enforcement is poor, the death rate is much higher.
Therefore, Ban Se-yeong’s story of widowhood was not particularly surprising.
“We were ambushed by Eclipse.”
“Eclipse… an ill fate.”
“Right. Though for a different reason than Se-hyuk, both of us really hate Eclipse.”
“Couldn’t find the culprit?”
“No. We only managed to recover some of my boyfriend’s belongings. The dungeon reset before we could retrieve his body.”
“It must have been hard.”
“Well, it’s something I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life. I made a promise at my boyfriend’s columbarium.”
“What was it?”
“I promised that if I could look at my boyfriend’s photo placed there and still manage to smile, only then would I meet someone new.”
“That’s a good resolve. Your boyfriend would want you not to be tied to the past forever.”
“I guess so. But so far, every time I go, I end up crying. Seems like I’m still far from smiling.”
Ban Se-yeong’s eyes welled up with tears.
Given her usual lively and bubbly appearance, it was unexpected she carried such a heavy story.
It seemed all the more pitiful that she had experienced such deep pain at such a young age.
Perhaps feeling embarrassed for getting too emotional, Ban Se-yeong awkwardly scratched the back of her head and asked.
“So, you don’t have anyone you’re seeing now?”
“I don’t want to. I think that anyone I love will just end up in danger.”
“Why?”
“No comment.”
Kang-hoo didn’t want to go into detail about the path he wishes or needs to take in the future with Ban Se-yeong.
He mimed zipping his lips, concluding the conversation.
Love, always a thrilling and pleasant word, but… Kang-hoo thought it was a luxury for him.
He believed it was right not to pursue love, for his own sake and for the sake of anyone who might be by his side.
That afternoon.
After discussing the strategy for the Hell of Judgment, Kang-hoo and Jeon Se-hyuk agreed to meet again for the dungeon handover procedures.
They had chosen a place they liked, but the transfer of ownership was more complicated than expected.
Since there was no immediate rush for the dungeon, simply setting the appointment was sufficient.
After exchanging contact information with Park Dong-jae, Kang-hoo headed back to Seoul early.
The strategy meeting for the Hell of Judgment was scheduled for the next day at 6 PM.
As planned, Kang-hoo was assigned to the scouting team, which meant he would depart later than the main force.
The main force was to enter the dungeon at 3 PM the next day, leaving a 3-hour gap.
The reason for the main force’s earlier entry was simple: they would only move along a previously scouted safe route, making it unnecessary for the scouting team to enter any uncharted areas first.
Inside the L Hotel in Myeong-dong, overlooking downtown Seoul.
Kang-hoo was taking a rest there.
Despite the exorbitant cost of a night’s stay, it was incomparably peaceful for a quiet stay.
“Paired in twos. Partner: Jin Hyo-young. I have no idea who that is.”
Kang-hoo reviewed the information received in preparation for joining the next day.
The scouting teams were organized in pairs.
Teams were formed to cross-verify the internal scouting information.
The Jeonghwa Guild isn’t foolish.
Sending just one person into an unknown territory and taking their word for it was out of the question.
Thus, they were organized into pairs, serving as checks on each other. All scouting teams were arranged this way.
Jin Hyo-young.
The attached photo showed a woman with blue-black hair and a noticeable pink headband, not affiliated with any group. This implied she was a mercenary, though her origins were unclear.
“I’ll find out when I meet her.”
Meeting someone unknown wasn’t strange. It would be stranger to meet someone familiar.
Gulp, gulp.
Kang-hoo took in the view outside the window, drinking the canned coffee he’d bought in abundance before entering the hotel.
Even just a few sips would empty the can, but Kang-hoo enjoyed its unique aftertaste.
Sweet yet bitter, tantalizingly straddling an ambiguous line, perhaps?
“I should go to Japan.”
It seemed like the right time to use the An Yeong-ho chance.
Having joined forces with the Shadow Sovereign, Kang-hoo now had dark energy stats.
To utilize dark energy, one must use skills based on dark energy, meaning such skills needed to be plundered.
However, among the domestic bosses, few had skills related to dark energy.
Even those that did weren’t very useful in combat. The efficiency was also quite bad.
It’s not for no reason that hunters, especially the higher-ranked ones, operate internationally.
There’s a ‘deficiency’ in resources that cannot be filled by operating solely within the country.
That’s why Casey Rex, master of the Fortuna Guild in the USA, formed ties with the Jeonghwa Guild.
From their perspective, there are quite a few rewards available only in Korea.
Then, a call came in.
Now that he had shared his number with many, simply receiving a call didn’t indicate who it was from.
The caller was Lee Ye-rin.
“Yes.”
-Mr. Seon-gyu, how have you been?
“What’s the request about?”
-Ah! I started with a greeting. You should at least react. It’s embarrassing otherwise, isn’t it?
“Have you been well?”
-You sound like a machine.
“I hear that a lot.”
Despite the frivolous conversation, Lee Ye-rin chuckled, seemingly amused by Kang-hoo’s character. Perhaps because she was surrounded by eloquent and witty male mercenaries, Kang-hoo felt even more unique to her.
-We’ve received a request. It’s not specifically for a mercenary, but it does specify a profession.
“An assassin, you mean?”
-Yes. It’s related to a pharmaceutical company. You can guess the general idea, right? I can’t mention the target beforehand.
“Let’s hear the details.”
-The request is to set fire to a laboratory where a certain pharmaceutical company is conducting secret human experiments.
“It sounds like you’re trying to portray it as stopping inhumane, unethical experiments.”
-Ho ho. Right. If you strip away the packaging, it’s just about keeping competitors in check.
It seemed like bait.
This marks the beginning of what’s known in the original story as the “White War,” a competition among pharmaceutical companies.
The White War was waged over the distribution and supply rights for stimulants, namely drugs.
Hence the name White War.
Unlike in the Americas and Europe, where the restructuring around major pharmaceutical companies was nearly complete,
the Asian sector was characterized by a proliferation of numerous pharmaceutical companies.
While some companies steadfastly refused to deal with drugs,
others were willing to research and develop even beyond drugs if it meant profit.
As a result, there were massive defections of researchers from existing pharmaceutical companies through headhunting,
or entire companies being acquired by large capitals, leading to a shift in direction.
It was indeed an era of chaos.
The spark of the White War seemed to have been definitively ignited by a previous incident involving an electric pharmaceutical company.
“Let’s put it on hold.”
-Pardon?
“I have some personal matters to attend to. I’ll contact you again after handling this.”
-Should I pass it on to someone else?
“It seems like we’ll continue to receive similar requests in the future. Please do that.”
-Understood. Please make sure to contact me as soon as you’re done. I have high expectations for Mr. Seon-gyu.
“I’m looking forward to it as well.”
-Hmm?
Kang-hoo ended the call with words that left a peculiar aftertaste.
The White War is essentially a war of mercenaries, a proxy war representing pharmaceutical companies.
Therefore, it was highly likely that mercenaries, not just from within the country but also from abroad, would be heavily involved.
And if cheap mercenaries were sought, hands would likely extend towards China or Russia.
“Either this or that.”
Regardless of the country, dealing with mercenaries was always going to be problematic.
However, given there’s no counter to sheer numbers, it was hoped that foreign mercenaries would only come in moderation.
Of course, such wishes were nothing but dreams.
Reality always turns out to be much filthier and more chaotic than imagined. The White War would be no different.
The next day at 2:30 PM.
Kang-hoo arrived at the meeting place much earlier than the scouting team’s entrance time at 6 PM.
He had chosen to enter a nearby café.
The entrance to the Hell of Judgment was located near the Paju Publishing Complex.
By then, the site was already crowded with numerous journalists who had come to cover the event and fans supporting the Jeonghwa Guild.
According to estimates by the Hunter Public Safety Bureau, over 10,000 people.
That count only included those at major thoroughfares, and in reality, the number was likely several times higher.
The scene, managed by not just public safety officers but also soldiers, was truly a spectacle to behold.
‘This brings back memories.’
Kang-hoo’s reflective mood wasn’t due to today’s operation. It was because this was the place where Shin Kang-hoo, in the original story, lost his left arm to Jang Si-hwan.
The critical injury and loss of his left arm here ultimately hampered Shin Kang-hoo beyond recovery, painted as a villain with convictions and a tragic backstory, his death at the hands of Jang Si-hwan saddened many readers.
‘No reruns this time.’
Of course, such an event would absolutely not happen again. Or rather, it must be prevented.
Just then,
A strong perfume scent that sharply stimulated Kang-hoo’s senses entered along with the sound of the café door opening.
The intense fragrance didn’t fade but quickly approached Kang-hoo.
Curious, he turned to look, and there was the female hunter he was supposed to meet as his scouting team partner.
“Mr. Jung Seon-gyu?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Hello? I’m Jin Hyo-young.”
A typical and expected greeting for a first meeting. However, Kang-hoo felt a strange sense of déjà vu from her.