Ground Zero (1)

Of course, from Kang-hoo’s perspective, it might have seemed like a cunning plan, but for Jang Si-hwan, it was a straightforward path to success.

The hunters of the Fortuna Guild could now freely come and go in Seoul without any concern.

The agreement for mutual cooperation and full exchange was, in essence, no different from a guild alliance or union.

In emergency situations, Jang Si-hwan could help Casey or vice versa without it being seen as unusual.

In this way, Jang Si-hwan narrowed the physical and psychological distance with the other members of The Thirteen Stars.

After laying the groundwork thoroughly, they would later move as one unified body.

Seeing this, people were more likely to view them as a grand ‘Hero Legion’ rather than question the authenticity of the alliance.

This was Jang Si-hwan’s grand scheme.

Or, more precisely, the karma of the original author who set up the stage for the protagonist, Jang Si-hwan… but that’s another story.

‘In the original work, it was a scene brimming with excitement.’

Kang-hoo bit his lower lip.

Jang Si-hwan, the protagonist who gained the recognition of Casey Rex, one of the named hunters in the USA!

“Look! See how impressive the protagonist in your novel is!” That was the meaning behind the scene.

From Shin Kang-hoo’s perspective, it looked like a sinister design of evil people, making it uncomfortably irksome.

If he could, he would have rushed in and broken up the entire setup. That was how displeasing the combination was.

“Seoul is quite complicated.”

In Seoul, where even mercenary activities were not allowed, it must always be under the control of the Jeonghwa Guild.

The workaround was to work for the Hunter Public Safety Bureau, but a government agency was not a good option.

Every action was recorded, making covert activities impossible. Moreover, the scope of work was limited.

And in a broader sense, the Hunter Public Safety Bureau in Seoul was essentially a second division of the Jeonghwa Guild.

“I’d like to avoid getting too involved with the Jeonghwa Guild, but I wouldn’t mind getting a piece of any decent benefits.”

A major event under the leadership of the Jeonghwa Guild was happening soon.

It was the assault on a super-large dungeon known as ‘Judgment Hell’.

The raid involved a thousand people, and it was the only case where mercenaries from outside were hired.

This provided a way to leave room for outsiders as part of a talent scouting initiative.

Since the Judgment Hell dungeon was owned by the Jeonghwa Guild, there was no risk of conflict.

Kang-hoo contemplated applying to participate.

The dungeon, true to its name of being super-large, housed many middle bosses and a multitude of secret internal terrains.

It was also a dungeon where Jang Si-hwan often reaped great benefits whenever his growth stalled in the original work.

In other words, there were many opportunities for Kang-hoo to benefit. He was well-informed.

Gulp- Gulp-.

Kang-hoo gulped down the large can of coffee he had just purchased from the convenience store.

It was a 500ml can, supersized, so there was still plenty left after two sips.

Just then, a woman’s voice was heard from behind.

“You’re not from Seoul, are you?”

Without any connections in Seoul, Kang-hoo didn’t expect the voice to belong to someone he knew.

The husky, low-pitched voice carried a hint of awkwardness.

It sounded like that of a fluent foreigner speaking Korean.

Curious, he turned around and recognized the face.

‘Yu Cheonghwa.’

He had naturally remembered her face and name from his previous meeting with An Yeong-ho.

Yu Cheonghwa, a Chinese national, was a member of The Thirteen Stars and a skill copyist.

She was easily identifiable as Yu Cheonghwa.

A black blouse was worn in such a way that her cleavage was distinctly visible.

A red rose tattoo stretched from her collarbone to her upper chest.

Small star-shaped tattoos below both eyes – these were her signature traits.

Red hair, red lipstick, a red jacket, and red pants—

and high-heeled shoes.

The dress code, unmistakably red, was undoubtedly Yu Cheonghwa’s preference.

“What brings you here?”

Kang-hoo responded with feigned casualness.

Yu Cheonghwa wouldn’t have initiated a conversation if she knew who he was, but since they had no prior interactions, showing panic or overreacting would only raise unnecessary suspicion.

“I just thought you looked like a hunter from another city. Hunters who are usually in Seoul don’t pay much attention to the billboards.”

“I see.”

He nodded, as her observation made sense.

Kang-hoo had indeed been paying close attention to the news in Seoul.

“Seoul is boring, isn’t it? The cost of living is murderous, and everywhere you go, the same people are taking advantage of everything.”

It was a valid point, but hearing it from Yu Cheonghwa made him almost laugh.

There she was, secretly reaping benefits from the Jeonghwa Guild, while calling others opportunists.

Her Korean was impressively fluent.

If not for the subtle foreign accent, one might have mistaken her for a native speaker.

Kang-hoo’s gaze naturally settled on Yu Cheonghwa as he braced himself to counter her abilities.

Yu Cheonghwa, known for her skill copying, also had mental abilities as a secondary trait.

The moment their eyes met, Kang-hoo flooded his mind with dark and complex thoughts.

The reason was simple.

It was an effortless way to dodge her ‘mental scan,’ which sought to probe his mind.

When Yu Cheonghwa, who had locked eyes with Kang-hoo, showed a hint of surprise and then smiled, it was apparent.

She had attempted a subtle scan on Kang-hoo, but her initial failure forced her to reassess him.

Naturally, avoiding a mental scan like this indicated being at a higher level than the opponent.

Alternatively, it was achievable for a professional hunter who had undergone rigorous training against mental abilities.

Even from the confirmed constellation information, one could tell she would grow into a tricky figure.

Three constellations were visible.

However, the ‘Silent Woman’ constellation blocked information about other constellations.

It was safe to assume that information about other constellations was unknown.

Dimension Plunderer expressed surprise at his inability to delve deeper into Yu Cheonghwa’s constellation information.

It was no coincidence that she was a member of The Thirteen Stars.

The core constellations contracted by each member were as mighty as those held by Dimension Plunderer.

“There.”

“Yes?”

“Let’s stop with the pointless attempts. I have no intention of opening the gate, so please stop knocking.”

“You’re sharp. Did you anticipate that I would use mental abilities?”

“I’m not that great a hunter. Don’t worry about it.”

He deflected the conversation smoothly.

While he was not averse to Yu Cheonghwa’s interest, there was no need to draw her attention unnecessarily.

They were destined to become enemies in the future. Getting closer would bring no benefits.

“Seeing you deny being a great hunter only piques my curiosity more. It’s like dealing with a contrary child.”

“……”

When Kang-hoo remained silent, Yu Cheonghwa pulled out a business card wallet from her jacket pocket and handed him a card.

The business card was trimmed in bright gold against a red background, bearing a familiar name.

‘Shinto Guild.’

It was one of the top-tier guilds in China, ranking within the top five.

“If you find domestic activities boring or need full-fledged support, come to us. We even have a department dedicated to Koreans.”

“So, this card is like a free pass?”

Kang-hoo inquired lightly.

“Exactly. I give this card only to those who have successfully resisted my abilities at least once.”

“I passed a test?”

“You could say that. Show this card anytime, and you’ll be able to talk to key personnel.”

“I understand.”

“Or this might be a good option too. Feel free to contact me here.”

Yu Cheonghwa handed over another card.

It bore her personal name and number.

“Is this your personal card?”

“That’s correct. Contact me whenever you wish. The more you reach out, the more I’ll open up.”

Her lips curled into a smile, and her piercing gaze fixed on Kang-hoo.

Despite the clear flirtation, Kang-hoo displayed no particular interest.

“I’ll remember that.”

“Until we meet again.”

“If fate permits.”

With those words, the encounter with Yu Cheonghwa concluded.

It was an unexpected meeting, yet it ended smoothly and naturally.

A connection with one of The Thirteen Stars had been formed.

Should he exploit this connection aggressively, or dismiss it from his memory as if it had never occurred?

That was a question worth considering.

After all, the decision to closely observe or maintain a distance from those who would eventually become enemies was not about right or wrong, but strategy.

He had to be careful.

While waiting for the Gyeongui-Jungang Line train at Seoul Station to Imjingang Station in Paju, Kang-hoo observed a large demonstration near Seoul Station, deep in thought.

“Hunter Public Safety Bureau, quickly subdue the Abyss! Disband it!”

“Arrest and execute the chief, Lee Hyun-seok, immediately!”

“If we can’t handle it ourselves, let’s recruit the help of the Jeonghwa Guild to take down the warlords!”

Such protests were not confined to a single location.

The Abyss.

One of the warlords closest to the capital region was a thorn in the side of the Jeonghwa Guild and Jang Si-hwan.

The Abyss persistently raised questions about the identity and misdeeds of the Jeonghwa Guild.

In the original story, Jang Si-hwan was annoyed by the baseless rumors spread about him by the Abyss.

But considering the ‘Devil’s Accomplice’ ending, the words of the Abyss were not baseless rumors; they were the truth.

‘If I want to align myself properly, joining the Abyss would be the right choice. The Jeonghwa Guild finds them troublesome.’

The Abyss was not a clumsy mercenary group or a disorganized crime organization; it was in a different dimension.

A giant military organization.

So, if he wanted to operate under the influence of a large organization, the Abyss was a decent choice.

Of course, Lee Hyun-seok, the leader of the Abyss, was a staunch meritocrat, so for now, he would probably be treated coldly.

Kang-hoo, glancing at his text messages, noticed one that had been pushed aside by spam.

The sender was An Yeong-ho.

A name of significance and value, one he had saved.

“Right, there’s Japan.”

Kang-hoo’s face lit up with satisfaction.

He didn’t have to confine his thoughts to domestic affairs.

Thanks to the good connection he had made with An Yeong-ho, he could expand his considerations internationally.

For Kang-hoo, who wanted to constantly inject momentum into his growth, this was an excellent card to play.