Episode 79

Time passed quickly.

Kang-hoo declined their offer to meet in the morning out of consideration for their situation.

Instead, he met with them right away.

He could feel the heartache of parents whose child was being left alone even at that moment.

Although Kang-hoo had many emotionally worn-out parts, he was still capable of inferring and understanding others’ emotions.

Since he didn’t prioritize sleep above all else, he wasn’t inclined to sleep either.

The couple, Park Min-sung’s parents, were the master and vice-master of the Spitfire Guild in the UK.

Their names were Ganiere and Melissa. Kang-hoo only remembered them after he learned their names.

They were not prominent characters, but they had been mentioned a few times in passing in the original work.

Regardless, Kang-hoo led Ganiere and Melissa to where Park Min-sung was.

There were no issues while traveling to Ground Zero in their privately arranged security vehicle.

At the site, they recovered Park Min-sung’s body.

Thanks to the unique geographical environment of Ground Zero, Park Min-sung’s body was almost undecomposed.

It looked like the body of someone who had died only a few hours ago, save for a bit of pus. The rest was intact.

Ganiere and Melissa, with tears streaming down their faces, placed their son in the freezer compartment of the security vehicle.

Watching the two of them weeping profusely, Kang-hoo could somewhat understand the heart of a parent.

On the other hand, he marveled at how they could give so much love to an adopted child, not related by blood.

It was an emotion difficult for him to comprehend with his practical and highly rational mindset.

After they completed the recovery, by the time the unique musty smell of Ground Zero had somewhat dissipated on the road, Ganiere, who was driving, stopped the car for a moment and asked Kang-hoo for a talk.

It lacked etiquette and formality to have a conversation in the car.

And they needed to discuss important matters, unsuitable for a crowded area.

Kang-hoo, indifferent to the setting, exited the vehicle and walked to the side of the road.

The route to Ground Zero was nearly deserted and silent.

Ganiere initiated the dialogue.

“I really don’t know how to thank you. Thanks to you, we managed to retrieve our child.”

“I extend my deepest sympathies. I can’t fathom the extent of your grief.”

“Although we adopted him, we loved and raised him with our whole hearts. It’s heartbreaking, but we have to move past it.”

Ganiere dabbed at his eyes.

Melissa had been silently crying, struggling to articulate her words.

Kang-hoo inquired.

“Were you unaware that your son was in Korea?”

“The last update we got from Min-sung was that he was heading to Japan to connect with a hunter friend. It came through a phone call.”

“Hmm…”

“It’s confirmed that he made a stop in Tokyo. But the whereabouts of the friend he planned to meet remain a mystery.”

“Do you possess any leads?”

“I’m not sure. The only connection to Korea he ever mentioned was the Jeonghwa Guild…”

The guild’s name surfaced unexpectedly.

Could the Jeonghwa Guild be implicated in this incident? Was Park Min-sung an individual of such consequence?

Without the full context, speculation is all that remains.

Yet, it seems improbable that the Jeonghwa Guild would expend considerable effort targeting Park Min-sung, given his seemingly minor importance.

The narrative shifts when the identity of Park Min-sung’s parents is considered.

In the source material, both the UK and France were depicted as nations staunchly opposing Jang Si-hwan.

They were cast as the ‘antagonists.’

However, from this new vantage point, they appeared as bastions of justice that stood firm against the collaborators to the bitter end.

In any case, the evidence at hand is scant.

Drawing connections without substance is futile, for there’s no rationale to be discerned.

“Would you like to join our Spitfire Guild as an Observer when you come to the UK, if it’s alright with you?”

Ganiere, perhaps thinking it would lead to a fruitless conversation, changed the subject.

Ultimately, investigating the death of Park Min-sung was a task for the grieving parents.

They did not want to burden Kang-hoo, who had helped recover their son’s body, with additional responsibilities.

Observer.

The term varies in different countries, but in Korea, it is often referred to as an ‘invited mercenary.’

Essentially, it is about formally welcoming an external guest at the guild level.

Though not a member, an observer receives treatment and support equal to that of guild members.

They enjoy certain privileges and rights as necessary, without being bound by the organization.

It is a common practice when guilds want to invite external hunters or bolster their forces.

In English-speaking regions, this role is also termed ‘Observer.’

Kang-hoo responded.

“I would be grateful for such consideration. I am well aware of the Spitfire Guild’s reputation.”

It was lip service.

In truth, he had only remembered it that day, but words are what you make of them.

The offer was welcome to Kang-hoo.

Being the best in Korea does not mean being the best in the world.

Jang Si-hwan in the original work was no different.

After conquering Korea and expanding overseas, his initial experiences consisted of severe beatings.

Of course, those experiences became a catalyst for his awakening, and he later emerged as a world-conquering power.

In any case, expanding overseas was essential, and he needed to lay the groundwork beforehand.

He had created a reliable connection in Japan with An Yeong-ho.

Although he needed to consider his options carefully, through Yu Cheonghwa, he could make connections with the Shinto Guild in China.

And now, the UK.

Through Ganiere and Melissa, an opportunity to connect with the Spitfire Guild had presented itself.

The Spitfire Guild, ranked among the top 15 in the UK, specialized in daring adventures, uncharted territories, and pioneering efforts.

It possessed several rare dungeons that were not widely known, offering a plethora of exciting opportunities.

“This is an Observer-exclusive license. It has my electronic signature on it, so it will be authenticated immediately.”

“Is it alright for you to give this to me?”

“You returned our son safely to us. You can use it personally or even sell it; it doesn’t matter. This is a token of our gratitude, considering all you’ve done.”

Except for the electronic necessities, the Observer license was crafted entirely from gold.

It was so exquisitely designed that merely looking at it stirred a strong desire to possess it.

“What’s the duration?”

“It’s indefinite. You can join our Spitfire Guild as an Observer at any time for life.”

It was the ultimate reward.

Observer licenses were typically issued for brief periods.

Since it’s a one-sided privilege granted to outsiders, the guild had no need to maintain it indefinitely.

He had secured an opportunity that money couldn’t buy.

‘Indefinite’ meant he could reap benefits from the Spitfire Guild at any time in the future without any obligation or responsibility to them.

Melissa, having just dried her tears, chimed in,

“We really appreciate it. Please know that we’re also prepared to offer monetary compensation.”

“We will give you our private security contact. If you need anything, let us know. We’ll also issue a guild-endorsed gold card.”

Gold card.

That referred to a credit card with a monthly reset spending limit.

One could spend freely within a fixed amount.

The limit varied depending on the agreement, but it typically started at a minimum of 1 billion won.

In essence, one could spend up to 1 billion won each month without worry. And that was just the starting point.

Kang-hoo believed the Observer license alone was ample recompense.

But he didn’t want to turn his back on additional benefits he could reap, especially since he had earned them.

Kang-hoo asked, smiling.

“What’s the monthly limit?”

Afterward, Ganiere and Melissa, having recovered their son Park Min-sung’s body, headed straight to the UK.

They planned to inter him in a family tomb they had prepared in advance for such a future event.

Unlike their frantic trip to Korea, they used their private jet for their more subdued return to the UK.

Now, Park Min-sung would be laid to rest in his second homeland, where he had lived with his adoptive parents.

“Good deeds are rewarded, right?”

Kang-hoo looked at the Observer license and the gold card in his hands and smiled.

Now he had the privilege of using the dungeons and internal infrastructure of the Spitfire Guild at his leisure.

Moreover, he had been given a credit card with a staggering monthly limit of 2 billion won.

He had assumed the gold card would have a usage limit of a few years, but Ganiere had clarified from the outset.

As long as Kang-hoo used it personally, its validity would be indefinite. It was a lifetime privilege, provided it wasn’t transferred to an outsider.

Overwhelmed by a sudden wave of fatigue after the flurry of rewards, Kang-hoo checked into a hotel near Suwon Station.

After a restful night, he intended to visit the Onnuri Guild and apply for a dungeon conquest license, just as he had done before.

If he could re-enter the Baltman Dungeon, mastering new tricks as he had previously wouldn’t pose a challenge.

That night, having slept deeply from morning until late at night without interruption, Kang-hoo headed straight for the Onnuri Guild.

Han Seung-hyeok, chief of the dungeon management team, greeted him once more.

Kang-hoo anticipated a smooth discussion, but an unexpected obstacle arose.

Their dungeon conquest schedule was fully booked for the next month.

In addition, Han Seung-hyeok expressed curiosity about Kang-hoo’s persistent interest in the Baltman Dungeon as an outsider.

He persistently tried to uncover any unknown sweet spots or hidden rewards.

Furthermore, the cost of renting the license had been raised to 10 billion won, as if they had no intention of actually renting it out.

As a result, the negotiations broke down before they could even start.

Kang-hoo didn’t exclusively need the Baltman Dungeon, so he didn’t cling to Han Seung-hyeok.

Thus, Kang-hoo’s new destination became Yeosu.

The warlord of Yeosu was Jagang.

Among their dungeons, there was one where skill book tricks, similar to those in the Baltman Dungeon, were possible.

Though it had a different name, the dungeon’s internal structure and layout were more than 95% similar to the Baltman Dungeon.

The leader of the warlord ‘Jagang’, Kim Jah-ho, was of Chinese descent, and many of his affiliated hunters were also from the Chinese community.

As a result, as he entered their territory, the atmosphere felt reminiscent of Chinatown.

Sure enough,

“Hey! Outsiders should walk in from here! Don’t think about driving comfortably in your car.”

Before he could even enter their managed area, he had to disembark from his car.

They seemed displeased with the sight of outsiders driving around comfortably.