99 - Murim Login

Chapter 99 The call to the security team leader came just as he finished his sauna session. - "Team Leader, it's Kim Kwon-dong." “Hey, did you finish the transcripts and the statement?” - "No, that’s not it..." “You slacker. I let you off lightly because you’re the senior, but now you’re slacking? Write up the statement and send it in ten minutes.” - "No, please listen. I called to report something unusual." Moments later, the security team leader accidentally dropped the boiled stone egg he was holding. “You said he had a USB?” - "Yes. He confirmed he had the item with an unknown person over the phone, and he even took it out to check himself. Joon-soo saw it directly, so it's certain." “So, what happened?” - "The target has it in their possession, but for now, Joon-soo has no means to address it, which is why we’re reporting it." “Where’s Joon-soo? Put him on immediately.” - "He’s currently observing the target with his familiar, so it might be difficult." The team leader bit his lip. The information he was just given made his thoughts a jumbled mess. 'Who was he on the phone with? What’s the target’s identity? What’s on that USB?' The team leader’s instincts were stirring. “Kim Kwon-dong, you know this was a special directive from the Guild Master, right? I’ve mentioned it several times.” - "Everyone knows that." “If we can get anything out of this, it’s a jackpot for all of us. I get promoted, and you’ve been around long enough to become a team leader." - "...As if it’s as easy as it sounds." He wasn’t unaware that you needed to be at least B-rank to be appointed as a team leader. “I think this is a real opportunity. I don’t know where Jin Tae-kyung rolled in from, but we can see the picture clearly. Just listening to his conversation mentioning our Sanggung Guild..." - "I thought so too." The plan was proceeding smoothly and the Sanggung Guild was none the wiser. And the item was being securely kept. To an outsider, the conversation between the unknown person and Jin Tae-kyung seemed meaningful enough. Especially to the security team of the Sanggung Guild, it was even more so. “That USB is critical. If Jin Tae-kyung is affiliated with a rival guild, trying to undermine ours…” - "If so, it's vital intel. Bonus is a given and promotion optional. Get into the Guild Master’s good books, and you can easily aim for an executive position." At this moment, the security team leader imagined himself as the Guild Master’s right-hand man, while Kim Kwon-dong dreamt of becoming the first C-rank team leader in the Sanggung Guild. “Keep monitoring. I’ll report to the higher-ups and look into Jin Tae-kyung’s call logs.” - "Yes, sir!" “I’ll just change clothes and head over. We should know who the target spoke to by dinner, so let’s prepare a strategy by then.” Just as the team leader was about to rush to the locker room, he was halted. - "Oh, Team Leader. There’s one concern...” “What is it?” The anxiety in Kim Kwon-dong’s voice was palpable. And the bad feeling hit the mark. - "There’s Hong Woo-jin to consider." “Ah, damn it.” A slip-up. The excitement had made him forget about Hong Woo-jin’s presence. The team leader grew anxious. 'It’ll be troublesome if he moves first.' The guild master he knows, Lim Chun-su, was a man with clear rewards and punishments. A newcomer who proved themselves could have the path paved with gold, but if deemed unfit, even a guild member of ten years could be ousted without hesitation. It wasn’t something he’d seen just once. It wouldn’t just end with losing credit to Hong Woo-jin. The team leader’s position was on the line. Money was not the issue. He wished to rise as far as he could in the guild he devoted half his life to. “Kwon-dong.” - "Yes." “That guy, he’s alone at home now, right?” - "Team Leader, no! You can’t!" “I haven’t finished speaking.” Unlike the increasingly louder Kim Kwon-dong, the team leader remained composed. “This ends cleanly if we subdue the target and secure the item. Anyway, he’s C-rank, nothing to fear.” - "It stinks of something shady. We could be on the reverse end if we mess this up." “Get assaulted? A freshly awakened C-rank against a veteran B-rank like me?" “That hurts my pride.” “You're not seriously believing what Lim Chang-su said, are you? If that’s true, Jin Tae-kyung might as well be an A-rank hunter... if so, just say the Guild Master is the spy.” - "Why would you say that?" “Enough. Are we doing this or not?” - "Ah, crap. This is driving me crazy." Kim Kwon-dong heaved deep sighs before making his decision. - "If we get caught, we’re criminals, you know that, right?" “I know. But if we don’t get caught, there’s no crime.” - "Team Leader, you’ve got some nerve." “That’s why I’m the team leader. The guys?” - "They’re all gathered. We’ve scoped out the CCTV since our first day, and we’ve got simple disguises." “Good.” - "When do we start?" The team leader licked his dry lips. “As soon as I arrive.” As the saying goes, strike while the iron is hot. To him, a C-rank hunter was a soft target easily subdued with one hand. He soon felt the thrill of having set the bait successfully. Meow. Miya生 Two familiars attempting to charm me. But this time, it felt different. When they clambered onto the sofa with their short legs, settling comfortably on my lap, I knew for sure. 'They’ve taken the bait.' The USB in my pocket was the lure. By now, the observers were likely going crazy with curiosity. Wondering about the plan I mentioned on the phone, who I communicated with, and what the USB holds exactly. 'I hope they’re bold enough.' Neither I nor they would benefit from dragging this out. On a quiet weekday afternoon, the apartment complex was still, and an uninteresting farming documentary played on TV. “Ah, should I go for a walk up the mountain for a change?” Just as I mumbled to myself and was about to step out the door, the anticipated change occurred. [Lv.2 Cat] [Lv.2 Cat] The familiar magic was lifted. This phenomenon had an obvious implication. 'So, they've finally decided to make their move.' In the form of kittens, they couldn’t steal the USB from me. But if the target—me—moves to a secluded area, the situation changes. 'They'll think a C-rank hunter is easy prey, someone they can rob without worry.' Of course, I expected they'd employ some degree of violence and intimidation in the process. However, the observers were laboring under one major misconception. And that misconception is me. Always the aggressors, they never considered they might become the victims for a change. 'I’m curious to see who they are.' I planned to give them a clear demonstration of the repercussions of illegal stalking without permission. The information Jin Tae-kyung acquired from the real estate was only partially accurate. Unlike the Sanggung Guild’s security team, Hong Woo-jin’s base wasn’t where anyone expected. It was none other than the rooftop of Jin Tae-kyung’s apartment building. “Whew.” Hong Woo-jin, having released the familiar link, opened his eyes in a small storage room attached to the rooftop. With a little cash slipped to the guard, he secured this optimal five-square-meter space for a few days. “This got messy.” Jin Tae-kyung’s suspicious phone conversation and the mysterious contents of the USB. Though he finally gathered something worthy of the term “intel,” so did the Sanggung Guild. Exiting the storage room, he peered down just below the rooftop. Far down, Jin Tae-kyung emerged from the apartment entrance. 'Should I follow or not?' Logically, following would be best regarding the assignment, but something felt off. As Hong Woo-jin contemplated with a conflicted gaze, watching Jin Tae-kyung grow distant, the scene unfolded before him. “Hah, look at that.” First one, and then another. They slithered out, resembling vipers stalking their prey. The total number was six. Each with different attire and behaving like ordinary people, but to Hong Woo-jin, in the same line of work, it was clear as day. “Those are Sanggung Guild thugs.” Not one or two, but six were creeping out. Moreover, the target’s destination was a deserted forested hill; realizing what was about to unfold, his brow creased. “This is getting out of hand.” Violence deviated from Hong Woo-jin’s standards. Though he had been warned when he accepted the initial request, involving the security team should have been a red flag. This had crossed the line. 'I wanted to take down Jin Tae-kyung myself.' Though curious about the man’s true identity, this was as far as he was willing to go. Any further entanglement felt perilous. 'Damn those Sanggung Guild punks.' Clicking his tongue, Hong Woo-jin took out his smartphone and sent a message. The recipient was Team Leader 1, and the message was brief. [I'm pulling out.] Before leaving the rooftop, he silently wished Jin Tae-kyung, who had already disappeared, well. 'It was a filthy assignment, and let’s not see each other again.' For him, in many ways, it was a jinxed job. He ascended the mountain path silently, having long since left the hiking trail. Yet he didn’t stop. He pressed on into the depths until a vast clearing emerged. In the overgrown weeds brushing against my knees, I slowly turned around. “Still enjoying your stroll, I see?” Kim Kwon-dong, whom I’d encountered twice before, remained silent, his face hardened. “No response, huh? Who’s the person next to you?” “A friend.” If Kim Kwon-dong had a commonplace appearance, the man who answered looked the opposite. His demeanor was intimidating enough to make a gangster cry and echoed in his gravelly voice between his lips. “You came all the way here knowing why?” “Since you were trailing me, I wanted to see how far you'd follow. Think of it as training a stray dog for convenience.” The man burst into a hearty laugh. “You're bold for a young one. How old are you?” “No age to be telling fortunes.” “Ah, you've got a knack for getting on people’s nerves.” “Thank you for the compliment, Mr. Choi Byung-il.” The man, Choi Byung-il, fell silent. His eyes trembled. “…How did you know?” “That’s a trade secret. And are you really friends with Kim Kwon-dong? Judging by appearances, you two don’t seem to pair well.” Now it was Kim Kwon-dong’s turn to be flustered. But I hadn’t finished speaking. “Is it difficult to say you’re friends? Then I’ll ask the other four. I hope Park Hyeong-jin, Oh Kyu-hyun, Lee Min-chul, and Kim Joon-soo will answer honestly.” A hum echoed as four people materialized suddenly from the air. Above their heads, displayed were levels, and their faces were as if they’d seen ghosts. “What’s got you so startled? I just gave you the courtesy to breathe easier.” Choi Byung-il gritted his teeth. His initial composure was replaced by anxiety and unease. “This damn... who the hell are you?” Having been insulted first, the respect for elders ended there. I smiled at Choi Byung-il. “You still don’t know? After scraping through my information and going as far as putting up familiars?” ... “Had I been alone at home, I'd have let it slide, but the thought of my family being watched ticked me off. So I threw the bait, and you guys took it.” The six observers shivered. “So, the USB too?” “Oh, that? It’s my lifetime collection of adult films.” A treasure of humanity, carefully stored in my inventory. “That’s impossible! I was sure...” “Hmm. There are indeed many unbelievable works. Any man would naturally have an intuition about it.” I addressed them all standing there in dismay. “Since you’ve answered sincerely, let me ask you one thing.” Each time my eyes met another, they flinched. Finally, my gaze settled on a skinny man in his twenties. Likely the familiar summoner. [Lv.41 Kim Jun-seo] “Jun-soo, are you from the Sanggung Guild?” “Shut up!” Choi Byung-il shouted, but Kim Joon-soo had already answered. His paled face was his response. “Alright, Sanggung Guild. I expected as much.” Hearing my words, Choi Byung-il’s face stiffened. "You should never have uttered that name." "What, are you going to kill me?" "...I'll think about it after capturing you." "That might be quite a challenge." Choi Byung-il’s level was in the mid-60s, with an aura comparable to Im Chang-su's, while the rest were merely at C-rank levels, in the 30s or 40s. The likelihood of these non-professional raiders capturing me was exceedingly slim. "You'd better come at me ready to die if you even want a chance at tying a knot around my wrist." "Attack." With Choi Byung-il's shout, the Sanggung Guild's observers charged at me from all directions. Shiiiing! A dagger came hurtling down toward my shoulder as the first strike. I reached out slowly towards the path which appeared sluggish to my eyes. Simultaneously... 'Open Inventory. Equip.' Crash! The blade, brimming with power, shattered the enemy's dagger. Shards of metal and someone’s blood spilled over the nameless weeds beneath. “Come on, you stalker scum!” A fierce battle cry echoed through the air.