97 - Murim Login

Chapter 97 "Oh my, welcome!" A woman who appeared to be in her forties greeted me with a nasally voice. Is it because it's a real estate office close to my house? Her face seemed vaguely familiar, like someone I'd occasionally glimpse while coming home. "A young person has come. What would you like to drink? Coffee? Barley tea? Cola?" "I'll have coffee, please." "Black, cream, or..." "Black." "You must be someone who drinks coffee, young man." Letting her rapid-fire chatter go in one ear and out the other, I sat down. I had something more important to focus on than the chatty real estate lady. 'This is...' A familiar aura flowing through the real estate office. Mana. 'A wiretapping spell?' There's almost no chance that this is a security spell set up by the owner. This isn't a house; it's a real estate office, and pricey magical products wouldn't typically be found here. It's clear the people spying on me had made their move beforehand. 'Well, it was something I pretty much expected.' If they're using familiars, a wiretapping spell is just child's play. The problem is determining how many of them there are and where they are located... "Here you go, the coffee is ready." I accepted the coffee cup with a polite smile. "Ah, thank you." I meant my thanks sincerely. The person was about to unwittingly tell me the location of their base. -So, what brings our handsome boss here today? -I'm looking to find a house. The voice carried by the wiretapping spell was clear. Momentarily disarmed, Kim Junsu, along with another team member and the security team leader, exchanged glances as if by pre-arranged agreement. "Didn't that guy visit a real estate office just a while ago?" "Yes, he went to one in Goyang City. At that time, we weren't on the case yet, so Team Leader 1 received information from Hong Woo-jin and passed it along." "Junsu is correct. Later, we went to the real estate office to investigate, and it turned out he even laid down a deposit." "How much money is currently in his account?" The security team already had a thorough understanding of Jin Taekyung's account status. Upon the security team leader's inquiry, a team member swiftly pulled out a tablet and displayed the report. "About 3.7 billion won. Out of this, a substantial portion will go toward buying the new house." "Are we certain he plans to buy it?" "We've heard he's planning to meet with the homeowner soon for a contract, so it's certain he intends to purchase. Our investigation revealed that it holds special significance because it's in a neighborhood where the target grew up." "I see..." The security team leader frowned. The guy is on the verge of investing a large portion of his assets in the new house. But why is he suddenly looking for another house in this neighborhood now? 'Moreover, the guild is also in Bucheon.' Whatever his reason, it leaves an unsettling feeling. "Hey, turn up the volume a bit." "Yes, sir." Their conversation drifted into the three listeners' ears. -What are your requirements? -I'm looking for something on either a monthly rental or a lease agreement. -We have a few options, but as you know, this neighborhood is within a safety zone, so it tends to be expensive. -That's fine. I’m a Hunter, after all. -Oh my, a Hunter? No wonder you look fit. What’s your rank? Though, I suppose it might be a bit improper to ask? -Well, it's not very high. C-rank. -Oh my, you must earn well. Mind if I touch your arm? Oh ho ho! - Haha, if you show me some good properties, I might consider it. Or just show me everything. If something catches my eye, I might just buy it outright. The three who were listening were dumbfounded. "This guy is really full of himself. Look at him." "Can you blame him? He lived as an F-rank and now, after reawakening, fortunes have fallen into his lap, boosting his confidence." "Yeah, true. There's a phase for that." They all recognized the feeling from experience—the excitement of stepping into a new world. Suddenly, brands that were once untouchable seem trivial, and people's attitudes change. "That guy is exactly in that phase now." "As if he can buy anything that catches his eye. After paying off the remainder for the house, the best he can afford is a lease, that fool." "I envy him, though. What does he eat to keep his hair so thick and lush?" Watching Jin Taekyung's immature antics made them sigh with a mix of pity and amusement. Their previously tense hearts began to relax as if they were simply listening to a radio broadcast. -How about this place? Going for around 500 million if you decide on a lease? Considering the safety zone, it's offered much cheaper than the market price. -It's not bad. Are there other places? -Of course, we've got more. Right next to the place I just showed you, there’s another listing... Oh, it was just snapped up recently. It was a lease, but since the terms were excellent... -Oh, really? -Yeah. If you'd come just a few days earlier, you might have gotten it. The maintenance wasn't top-notch, but the lower lease cost compensated for that. And if you had funds, you could resolve those issues with remodeling. -That's unfortunate. -Yeah, I felt the same. But then some scary-looking man came and practically commanded me to lease it. As if he hired me to manage it... I’d prefer to hand it over to someone young and handsome like you. Don’t you agree? -Oh, sounds like a complete old geezer. -I was too scared to even make a peep, wondering if he was mafia. His body reeked of a bachelor's odor; it was nearly unbearable. Ho ho ho. *Grind.* The sound of gritted teeth came from beside them. Kim Junsu and the team member stifled their laughter. 'That's the team leader.' 'It's him.' A mafioso-like demeanor with the scent of a bachelor. Even this alone was enough to identify the security team leader. The rumor was that his fierce impression was so intimidating that when he first joined the Sangdong Guild, the interviewers hired him without further deliberation, simply out of fear. "Is that woman crazy..." The security team leader ground his teeth, stood with a snap, and turned his head sharply. The two people, with faces flushed from trying to hold back laughter, quickly bowed their heads. "Having a hard time holding back?" "N-no, sir." "Not at all." They tried to deny it, but the team leader, his mood already soured, got up from his seat. Words like "bachelor's odor" were not to be blithely ignored by a single man in his mid-40s. "I'll be heading to the sauna to rid myself of the 'bachelor's odor.' Make sure to have the transcripts ready for review as soon as I return." "Pardon?" Kim Junsu and the other team member were flabbergasted. The conceited C-rank Hunter at the real estate office and the silly lady. What kind of trivial exchange between the two requires a transcript, anyway? "Team Leader, all of this is being automatically recorded..." "Prepare your opinions too. Fill up an A4 page each. This is an important target, so we need to consider the team members' perspectives." Since when have they ever asked for our opinions? And for such an important target, can the team leader really justify going to a sauna? Annoyed by their petty superior's grumblings, the expressions on both of their faces twisted. "Did you not hear me? Acknowledgement in unison, now!" "...Yes." "...Understood." "The kids are just slacking off, thinking their team leader is worth less than dirt." Casting a glaring look at his subordinates, the security team leader stormed out of the room grumpily. Bang! As the apartment door slammed shut, the two left behind finally let out what they had been holding back. "Damn it." "Isn't this taking it too far?" "Why is he venting on us for his bad luck and inability to get married?" "Bad luck aside, hearing from that lady that he talked in a commanding tone shows his character is rotten too." "I'm fed up with this filth." "Agh, this is unfair stress. It's gonna make my hair fall even more." Muttering with teary eyes, Kim Junsu touched the crown of his head. It wouldn’t be surprising if he lost ten strands in that short moment. "So, what about the transcript and opinions?" "What else can we do? If we don’t want to see the team leader throw a fit, we have to write them. Wanna get a medical report?" "Just scribble something. I'll cover for you, saying you couldn't write because of the familiar spell." With a heavy sigh, the two began to seriously badmouth the team leader. Meanwhile, the conversation continued beyond the transmitter. -This looks nice. With a southern exposure, it gets good sunlight. How about the house next door? Don't tell me that's taken too? -Huh? No, not recently... Anyway, young man. -Yes? -Your biceps are really firm. Wow, look at those muscles and those pronounced veins. "Young man, please come again. Anytime!" I left the real estate office, hearing the lady's regretful farewell behind me. The spot on my arm she touched had goosebumps rising up. 'Whether they're ladies or gents, age doesn’t stop them from hitting on younger folks if they're immature.' I left the place as if fleeing from her sticky gaze, but I had already achieved my purpose for visiting the real estate office, so I had no lingering attachments. 'Confirm recently dealt properties.' Today marks exactly five days since the raid with Im Changsu. That means the watchers, at the earliest, only started following me five days ago. 'I tried to be subtle inquiring in a roundabout way...' Knowing about the wiretapping spell, my actions were quite intentional. I wanted to come off as a superficial and extravagant C-rank Hunter. 'Whether they fell for it is another matter.' The conversation with the real estate lady provided crucial clues. I silently recited the addresses I had memorized beforehand. 'Building 5, Unit 901, Building 4, Unit 302, Building 3, Unit 202.' These are the properties traded within the last five days. Taking our house as the reference point, the range was a maximum of 500 meters, the distance a familiar spell could reach. The watchers are definitely somewhere within. 'The challenge is finding them.' My objective isn't merely chasing them away but capturing them to uncover who's behind them. If I act too soon, there's a risk they might escape. 'There’s also the chance they're hiding in a car, so I'd better inspect the parking area too.' If I start searching the nearby houses, they'll catch on, but I can naturally survey the parking lot. Pretending to take a walk, a [Sensory Detection] sweep would wrap it up nicely. [Level 42 Kim Gwondong] "Oh, meet again?" Ah, just like this guy. I greeted Kim Gwondong, who recognized me. "Indeed. Nice to see you again." "You were heading to the real estate office, right? Finished already?" "Just went to inquire. But realizing the property prices, I quickly made my escape." "That's typical for this area. But a young guy like you is doing well. At your age, I was just lazing around at home." "Doing well? Haha." If he knew what "doing well" really meant for me, he'd be shocked. Unaware of my inner thoughts, Kim Gwondong laughed and spoke. "Well, I should go too. Need to circle around that park." "You enjoy walking, huh?" "Huh? It's not really for pleasure, but necessity. At your age, this would be tough." He shook his thin arms and legs intentionally. Without knowing better, he looked like a typical middle-aged man with a thin build and a protruding belly. 'He appears civilian-like.' Someone else might have been fooled. But is it really possible for an average civilian to be at level 42? 'Most likely a C-rank Hunter. Judging by physique, possibly in stealth or pursuit.' Once you know he's a Hunter, there's much you can deduce. I bade Kim Gwondong farewell. "See you next time, then." "Maybe we will, maybe we won't. Haha." I'll be sure to see him again. Though, it won't be in friendly terms with laughter. I'd love to crush him right now, but the time isn’t right yet. Nodding slightly as a farewell, I turned to leave, but his voice stopped me. "Oh, right. That cat of yours is really clever, isn't it? I saw it still over there on my way here." A kind reminder not to forget my familiar. And as he mentioned, the cat awaited at the same spot from before. Meow. Yeah, I'm back, buddy.