Chapter 37: Skirmish (1)
Jeong Bo-hoon lifted his teacup, savored the aroma, and spoke.
“How exactly did you sweet-talk Association President Yoon Soo-ho into holding that kind of press conference?”
“Are you curious?”
Chae Jin-young tilted his head as he asked. Jeong Bo-hoon flinched mid-sip.
“You’re not about to say something like ‘I’ll let you experience it firsthand too,’ are you?”
“As expected of the Intelligence Director. You really are like a ghost.”
Jeong Bo-hoon let out a long sigh.
“…Anyway, thanks to Association President Yoon Soo-ho becoming more proactive than before, it’s become a lot easier for us to move around. All because of you.”
Jeong Bo-hoon had certainly suffered stress because of Chae Jin-young, but he had no choice but to acknowledge that the man was indispensable.
He had been resolving—swiftly and decisively—matters that the Intelligence Department had long found too difficult to touch.
In fact, not just the Intelligence Department—no one else could have handled them so easily.
If Chae Jin-young had been a civilian Hunter instead of an Intelligence Department agent, he would already have become a global star, holding immense wealth and fame in his hands.
But Chae Jin-young seemed to have little interest in such things.
“Director, you’re 3rd-grade right now, aren’t you?”
The sudden question made Jeong Bo-hoon narrow his eyes.
“Why are you suddenly asking that?”
“How long has it been since you last took a break after becoming Intelligence Director?”
“Look here, you psycho… no, Jin-young. As you can see, I’m old. I’m past the age of fighting on the front lines.”
“Do monsters give old people a pass?”
“…”
Jeong Bo-hoon tried to think of a way out, then gave up.
No matter what he said, once he met those eyes, there was no escaping.
“Director. How about we go into a dungeon together soon? Don’t you want to live a long life?”
“If it weren’t for you, I probably would live longer.”
“You’ve gotten a lot better at joking lately.”
Jeong Bo-hoon tried to laugh it off, but Chae Jin-young was dead serious.
Monsters leaking out of the contaminated zone was not something to take lightly.
In the pre-regression timeline, rumors of monsters descending from North Korea had started circulating about a month before the Monster Wave began.
If things followed the same pattern this time, they had at most a month left.
The Monster Wave might progress faster than expected.
Back then, even though Korea possessed Hunter power ranked in the global top 10, it had been helplessly overrun by the Monster Wave.
Because Korea was the initial outbreak point, there were no precedents from other countries to reference, and no countermeasures had been prepared at all.
Countless monsters poured out from the vast contaminated zone, and the North Korean Border Command was annihilated in less than an hour.
Conservative estimates put the number of monsters in the hundreds of thousands, and most critically, two 1st-grade boss monsters were among them.
‘Paju and Goyang were rendered completely irreparable.’
The only 1st-grade Hunter capable of mounting a proper response—Shin Soo-jeong—had been away on a raid, and Yoon Soo-ho had hurriedly established a defensive line in northern Seoul, but it wasn’t enough.
If not for the sacrifices of Hunters like Jeong Bo-hoon, Seoul might have been wiped off the map that day. Including himself.
In the previous timeline, they had barely held out until Hunters from the International Federation arrived as reinforcements.
This time would be different.
‘We’ll end it before they even cross the North Korean border.’
Chae Jin-young couldn’t cover that entire vast region alone, but if he dealt with the 1st-grade boss monsters, the rest could be handled afterward.
Sharpening the Intelligence Department colleagues, his sister Chae So-young, and Association President Yoon Soo-ho had all been preparation for exactly this.
Moreover, this time he had a Hunter specialized in wide-area attacks ready.
‘I should check Eun Ji-eun’s condition soon.’
While Chae Jin-young was momentarily lost in thought, Jeong Bo-hoon continued.
“…Anyway, I have too much work. I don’t think I’ll have time for training.”
“You can always make time. What’s the advantage of being a Hunter?”
“…”
Jeong Bo-hoon had a bad feeling that answering would be a mistake.
Regardless, Chae Jin-young kept talking.
“You can stay awake for days without feeling tired. Even serious injuries heal quickly.”
“Hearing that from you makes it sound like a downside.”
“So clear your schedule. I’ll be going now.”
“Before you head to the North Korean Contaminated Zone, get some rest. And I mean stay home—don’t leave the house.”
At Jeong Bo-hoon’s words, Chae Jin-young simply raised a hand in a casual wave.
Tzzzt—
Chae Jin-young disappeared through the black portal.
Left alone, Jeong Bo-hoon leisurely lifted his teacup—then suddenly checked the vibration from his watch.
His face immediately hardened.
***
“The meeting with the Intelligence Director is scheduled for two days from now in the evening.”
“Good.”
Association President Yoon Soo-ho nodded at Chief Secretary Nam Ji-yoon’s report.
“Next is the invitation from Shin Young Group Chairman Jeon Young-su. He insists you won’t regret it and asks that you please accept this time.”
Yoon Soo-ho pondered for a moment at the follow-up.
In the past, he would have rejected it outright, but the secret agent’s advice came to mind.
‘With the SP Guild gone, now is a good opportunity to tame Shin Young Group.’
Among Korea’s major conglomerates, Shin Young Group had the most expertise in Hunter-related technology.
Thanks to their long-standing cooperation with the SP Guild.
Of course, given their deep ties to Min Hae-joon, there were bound to be shady aspects.
It was Yoon Soo-ho’s job to cut out the rotten parts cleanly.
“He said the limited-menu Korean restaurant in front of headquarters, right? Schedule it for lunch three days from now.”
“Yes, understood. Next is the North Korean Contaminated Zone matter. Responses from the Guilds regarding the boundary duty orders have arrived.”
“What’s the reaction?”
“Some Guilds said they’ll comply, but most claim they lack the capacity and it’s impossible.”
“Compile a list of the Guilds that said impossible and bring it to me.”
“Yes.”
Nam Ji-yoon bowed her head in acknowledgment, then immediately asked a question.
“President. Monsters leaking from the North Korean Contaminated Zone is certainly something to be wary of, but is there a particular reason we’re going this far?”
Yoon Soo-ho stroked his chin at the question.
He couldn’t exactly say it was because of the secret agent’s advice.
“Right now it’s just one or two at a time, but later it could increase to ten, a hundred. There’s no harm in preparing early.”
“I understand what you mean.”
Nam Ji-yoon nodded.
Ever since he defeated GODS villains in the contaminated zone and rescued the survivor, Yoon Soo-ho had changed in many ways.
Those changes might bring unfavorable results, but she still viewed them positively.
Doing nothing would be worse.
“Speaking of which, how’s the formation of the Rapid Response Team progressing?”
“I suggested the position of team leader to Crystal Guild Vice Master Jeong Yeon-jun, but he didn’t seem very interested.”
Yoon Soo-ho’s brow furrowed at Nam Ji-yoon’s words.
Jeong Yeon-jun.
Now that Min Hae-joon was gone, if asked who the strongest 2nd-grade Hunter was, nine out of ten would name him.
His skill was exceptional, but the problem was his personality.
He was prickly and cold, making it hard to get close to him.
There were even rumors that the only person capable of handling him was Crystal Guild Master Shin Soo-jeong.
“Set up a meeting with Hunter Shin Soo-jeong. Tell her to clear a lot of time. There’s a lot to discuss.”
“Yes, understood.”
***
Thud thud thud.
At the sound of knocking on the iron door, a man approached and spoke in Chinese.
“The black horse gallops across the plain.”
“It soars into the sky.”
When the correct password came from beyond the door, the man immediately opened it.
First, large men in black suits and sunglasses appeared.
As they stepped aside, a woman in a striking red cheongsam walked out.
Her pale skin and black hair tied high gave her a breathtaking beauty that could topple nations.
“Is Ma Du-hwan inside?”
Even her voice was captivating, as if it could enchant anyone who heard it.
The man guarding the door swallowed hard and stammered.
“Y-Yes. He’s inside. Please follow me.”
After walking some distance down the dark underground corridor, they reached a large open space.
Numerous tables were crowded with people playing mahjong.
Everyone was so focused on their games that they didn’t even glance at the woman’s group passing by.
Passing through the gambling hall like that, they entered a room deep in the back.
A man was meticulously polishing a greatsword larger than most adult men.
“Boss, the Dragon Head of the Red Flower Society has arrived.”
Dark Horse’s boss, Ma Du-hwan, paused his polishing and looked up.
The Dragon Head of the Red Flower Society, Zhu Meiling, smiled beautifully and asked,
“Are you managing to get by in a place like this?”
“Thanks to you, I’m doing fine.”
His darkly tanned skin and solidly muscled body made him look like a single black stallion.
Zhu Meiling approached Ma Du-hwan closely, stroking his arm muscles as she spoke.
“I was worried it was too shabby, but I’m relieved.”
It was the kind of temptation that would make most men fall head over heels, but Ma Du-hwan’s expression didn’t change in the slightest as he replied,
“If it means staying hidden, I can endure this much.”
“You really are broad-minded.”
Zhu Meiling caressed Ma Du-hwan’s chest.
“But may I ask why the Dragon Head came to see me?”
“Oh, it’s nothing major. My older brother asked me to deliver a request.”
“You mean Commander Zhu Yinchang of the People’s Liberation Army?”
For the first time, unease flickered across Ma Du-hwan’s otherwise unchanging face.
China had one Zero-grade Hunter and six 1st-grade Hunters. Excluding the out-of-standard Zero-grade, the person holding the most power was none other than Zhu Yinchang.
His younger sister, Zhu Meiling, was the boss of the Red Flower Society—one of the top three triads in China.
Together, the siblings tightly controlled both the light and dark sides of China.
That was precisely why Ma Du-hwan believed that giving in to Zhu Meiling’s temptation would be the same as crossing a river of no return—so he restrained himself with every ounce of willpower.
Zhu Meiling stepped back from Ma Du-hwan and sat gracefully in a chair before getting to the point.
“Originally, Dark Horse was supposed to have expanded the Byeonsan Contaminated Zone in Korea, right?”
“I apologize once again for the operation’s failure.”
Ma Du-hwan immediately bowed his head.
“Do you still not know who the Hunter was that purified the contaminated zone?”
“Until recently, we had no leads at all… but now there’s one person I’m suspicious of.”
“Surely you’re not about to say Yoon Soo-ho.”
At Zhu Meiling’s words, Ma Du-hwan opened his mouth, then hesitated.
But he spoke with a confident expression.
“Of course Yoon Soo-ho couldn’t have done it alone. If the entire Guardian Guild had mobilized, we would have noticed long ago. Excluding them, there’s only one possibility: the Intelligence Department.”
“Hmm, our thoughts align. Do you have any information on the Intelligence Department agents?”
“Min Hae-joon once casually mentioned that a new secret agent had joined the Intelligence Department. He said it wasn’t anyone worth paying attention to, so we both brushed it off at the time… but…”
“Interesting.”
Zhu Meiling’s eyes curved into crescent moons.
“So I just need to capture that arrogant bastard?”
Ma Du-hwan asked, but she shook her head.
“Dealing with that insolent fool is my job. Your organization has a different task. Soon, a great ritual will begin in Korea, and there are preparations needed for it.”
“A great ritual… you mean?”
“You of all people should know, Ma Du-hwan. About Korea’s Black Society.”
Ma Du-hwan nodded.
“The only organization in Korea that competed with our Dark Horse.”
“I don’t know if that’s why, but their arrogance is excessive. They’ve been ignoring my requests for days now. A mere organization from a small country.”
Zhu Meiling’s beautiful face twisted slightly.
“What should I do?”
“Meet the so-called boss of the Black Society and deliver this message: Bow your head to the Red Flower Society. If they refuse…”
“…”
“Kill them all on the spot.”
At her final words, Ma Du-hwan swallowed hard.
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