Chapter 99: Even Better

“You’ve arrived, Hunter Taejun.”

The next day, at the Hwiryung Guild’s main office in Yongsan, I nodded to the Hwiryung Guild Leader, who had come to greet me at the entrance.

“Let’s go. A seat has already been prepared for you upstairs.”

As I followed Ko Youngmin to the elevator, I glanced at him.

As always, his frail-looking face was marked with dark circles, and his skin was deathly pale. It was clear he hadn’t slept a wink the previous night.

A Russian mercenary guild has sent an official request to Hwiryung for a joint expedition.

Ko Youngmin had delivered this news immediately after my meeting with Biyeong at the Horizon of Communication yesterday.

To be honest, I wasn’t surprised. Go Geonho had already hinted at this possibility.

Now that I was officially recognized as the Nine Heavens Bone King’s disciple and heir to Blood Magic, my name had spread across the globe.

He had warned me that those who harbored grudges from the past would try to test my abilities in an attempt to tarnish my reputation.

Still, I hadn’t expected them to strike so soon.

Less than three days after the press conference, they were already approaching me in this manner.

But that’s precisely why…

“This is actually perfect.”

After all, I needed to seize every opportunity to relentlessly improve myself to meet my Synchronization Rate target.

If they’re offering me such a chance on a silver platter, why would I refuse?

Of course, that doesn’t mean I’ll waste my time dealing with every Tom, Dick, and Harry.

Would it be more efficient to grind my Synchronization Rate by exploring dungeons alone?

Or would it be more profitable to exploit every last resource from these fools who dare to approach me?

After weighing the two options, I simply chose the better one.

And considering all factors, this “joint expedition proposal” clearly fell into the latter category.

Moreover, depending on the outcome, it could yield returns far exceeding expectations.

“You say ‘even better’? What do you mean by that?” Ko Youngmin asked, having overheard my muttering.

“Nothing. Has he arrived yet?”

“Yes. He’s been waiting since before I came to work.”

“He must be quite curious about me.”

“Probably.”

Ding!

The elevator stopped and the doors opened, but Ko Youngmin hesitated to step out. Instead, he turned to me.

“Um, Hunter Taejun… you’re not actually considering accepting their proposal, are you?”

When I didn’t answer, only meeting his gaze, Ko Youngmin stroked his ponytail and continued.

“No, um… This is just my personal opinion, but I have a strong feeling that this public expedition is a trap.”

“Why do you think so?”

“I’ve been in similar situations quite a few times before. It was back when I first officially took over as the second Guild Leader of Hwiryong after my uncle.”

“I see…”

“Back then, we received numerous collaboration expedition proposals from groups with no ties to Hwiryong—internationally renowned mercenary groups and famous guilds from other countries. They all offered us ridiculously advantageous terms, just like this proposal.”

“I understand.”

“Yes. But their only condition was that I personally accompany the expedition.”

A shadow fell across Ko Youngmin’s eyes.

“At first, I eagerly accepted. The offers were too good to refuse. But…”

It was a disastrous move.

Whether the joint expedition succeeded or failed, Ko Youngmin and the Hwiryung Guild’s reputation began to plummet.

Malicious articles compared Ko Youngmin unfavorably to the Nine Heavens Bone King, belittling him at every turn.

Interviews with guild leaders from other nations or representatives of mercenary groups dripped with mockery.

Videos circulated online showed Ko Youngmin flailing helplessly, surrounded by monsters, painting a pathetic picture.

This was a major reason why Hwiryung, once ranked seventh in the Power Rankings, had fallen into disgrace in just three years.

Ko Youngmin had never been fit to lead a guild in the first place.

While he had repeatedly made mistakes alongside Jo Yongtae, much of the blame lay with those who had maliciously approached him, seeking to tarnish the reputation of his uncle, Go Geonho.

“I understand perfectly what you’ve said,” he replied, a faint smile playing on his lips.

“But you don’t need to worry.”

Ko Youngmin had fallen into a trap and suffered irreversible wounds.

But I was different.

I possessed the ability to snatch the honey pot from a trap and escape unscathed.

I could even make the one who set the trap flounder in their own snare.

”…Yes.”

Ko Youngmin stared at me with a hint of surprise before shrugging.

“Of course. What concern could someone like me possibly have for Hunter Taejun? Let’s go.”

Only then did the Hwiryong Guild Leader finally step out of the elevator.

We walked down the long corridor and soon arrived at our destination: the Expedition Planning Room.

The room was no different from a slightly larger conference room in the main office.

It was a space surrounded by Magic Mirrors on all four sides, with a rectangular table in the center.

About six people were already seated around the table.

With a creak, the door to the Expedition Planning Room swung open.

The six Hunters seated around the table immediately turned their gazes toward me.

Their attire was identical, save for one exception: pitch-black Hunter suits emblazoned with a white snowflake emblem on the left breast.

Saint Winter’s.

An international mercenary group under Russian command.

Its predecessor was a notorious Russian mercenary group infamous for contract killings and civilian plundering even before the Great Change.

Of course, the predecessor was merely history.

The current Saint Winter’s was one of the most prestigious Hunter Guilds globally, boasting a vast international fanbase.

Its Guild Leader, Sergei Mavrodi, was one of Russia’s most revered Great Cataclysm Heroes.

Under his leadership, Saint Winter’s had conducted numerous international relief expeditions and charitable endeavors over the past two decades.

This, combined with the support of the Russian Orthodox Church, had imbued Saint Winter’s with a religious aura.

Saint Winter’s had become a renowned guild, earning the title “Light of the Far East.”

But the reality is completely different.

I already knew the true identity of this mercenary group’s leader.

And why they had approached Hwiryong.

I calmly surveyed the Hunters seated around the table.

True to its international mercenary guild status, the Hunters present were diverse in every aspect except their uniforms.

Hair color, skin tone, eye color, height—every physical trait varied.

When those myriad eyes all turned to focus solely on me,

“We apologize for the wait. This is Vice Guild Leader Hwiryong Lee Taejun,” Ko Youngmin announced, breaking the silence.

There was a brief pause as the translation devices in the Hunters’ ears activated.

Soon, one of the Hunters rose from his seat.

A man with a sharp, piercing gaze behind rimless glasses, his eyes narrowed in what seemed like a smile.

He wore a Hunter suit distinct from the others, its crimson hue contrasting sharply with the usual pitch-black. In addition to the snowflake emblem, intricate dragon and tiger motifs were embroidered across the fabric.

It was immediately clear that he held the position of leader among these mercenaries.

He pushed his chair back and slowly approached me.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Hunter Lee Taejun.”

A hand was abruptly extended toward me.

I wasn’t sure if they had exchanged greetings before my arrival, but this gesture completely disregarded Ko Youngmin, who stood beside me.

”…”

A sidelong glance revealed Ko Youngmin, his face shadowed as he bit his lip.

“I am affiliated with Saint Winter’s as a Fourth-Class Hunter…”

Before the man could continue, I cut him off with a calm voice.

“I am Vice Guild Leader Hwiryung.”

”?”

“This person beside me is Guild Leader Hwiryong. Shouldn’t you greet President Ko first?”

”…”

The mercenaries behind the man wore blank expressions. Even Ko Youngmin, standing beside them, turned his head with a look of confusion, as if wondering what was happening.

But the moment passed quickly.

“My apologies for the oversight,” the man said, adjusting his rimless glasses with a smile. He extended his hand toward Ko Youngmin.

“I’m Team Leader Chen Weiting of Saint Winter’s. These are the members of my Saint Winter’s Saber Tiger team.”

“Ah, yes. I’m Ko Youngmin, President of the Hwiryung Guild.”

Ko Youngmin glanced at me, feigning a touch of emotion.

But I wasn’t looking at him.

Jin Wijeong.

A famous name.

Until about five years ago, he had been a rising star in the Heavenly Flow Society, the top-ranked guild in China’s Power Rankings.

He was also one of the four disciples personally trained in swordsmanship by Jeong Ilryong, the first Heavenly Flow Society Leader and Sword Saint.

Yet before Jin Wijeong could even begin his full-fledged career as a Hunter,

He vanished from the Heavenly Flow Society.

And four years ago, he began working as a mercenary for Saint Winter’s.

Unlike Jeong Ilryong’s notoriously reclusive disciples, Jin Wijeong boldly showcased his swordsmanship in high-profile international expeditions, proving his overwhelming skill to the world.

He was currently known as the second-in-command of Saint Winter’s, second only to Sergei himself.

As I was lost in thought, Jin Wijeong’s voice drifted into my ears.

“Then may I offer my greetings once more, Hunter Lee Taejun?”

A hand was extended toward me again.

A hand scarred and calloused, belonging to someone who made their living by the sword.

When I looked up, Jin Wijeong was gazing at me with a faint smile.

This time, I clasped his hand.

“Lee Taejun.”

And suddenly…

Warning! Mana invading your body detected. - Notification from My Body Information

A Status Window immediately appeared before my eyes.

Mana invading your body.

There was only one logical conclusion.

I lowered my gaze to our clasped hands.

Outwardly, there was nothing unusual.

No trace of mana manipulation, no hint of its presence.

Is he testing me already? I wondered, but that wasn’t it.

He maintained a perfect poker face.

In other words, Jin Wijeong was currently attempting to probe my body with the utmost discretion, pushing his mana manipulation skills to their limits.

He was likely channeling a minute amount of mana into my body, circulating it to gather physiological data.

Having detected his scheme, I…

…did nothing.

I simply held his hand and quietly stared at him.

In truth, there was nothing I needed to do.

Barely three seconds had passed since we shook hands.

Zap!

Jin Wijeong’s eyebrow twitched at the spark.

For a fleeting moment, his meticulously maintained poker face crumbled.

After glancing at the status window that had popped up in the corner of his vision, I shifted my gaze to Jin Wijeong.

Staring at him as his poker face crumbled, revealing a hint of panic, I said, “My apologies. I’m just prone to static electricity.”

Jin Wijeong nodded and released my hand, his eyes still filled with suspicion and confusion.

Meanwhile, Ko Youngmin, completely unaware of what had transpired in that fleeting moment, looked around at the Saint Winter’s Hunters and opened his mouth with a smile.

“Now that we’ve exchanged greetings, shall we get straight to business?”

”…Therefore, for the reasons stated above, we are proposing a joint expedition to the A-72 Gate to the Hwiryung Guild.”

Jonathan, a black mercenary who had introduced himself earlier, had just finished his hour-long presentation.

I crossed my arms in silence.

After all, he was merely a puppet reciting a prepared script.

And the script’s explanation for “Why propose a joint expedition to Hwiryung?” was nothing more than fabricated nonsense designed to conceal their true motives.

Saint Winter’s, is it?

Last night, I had confided in Go Geonho about Saint Winter’s approach.

Sergei Mavrodi, that hypocrite, is finally resorting to his dirty tricks.

Go Geonho’s voice, coming through the communication line, was dark.

Then he told us:

Sergei Mavrodi, the current leader of Saint Winter’s, was one of the “heroes” who had committed crimes in Korea 25 years ago and been judged by the Nine Heavens Bone King.

In other words, he was someone who harbored a deep grudge against the Nine Heavens Bone King.

This explained everything about the proposed joint expedition.

When I remained silent, Jonathan asked, “May I ask for your opinion on the cooperation proposal?”

“Uh, I…”

Instead of answering, Ko Youngmin glanced at me nervously.

I turned to Jin Wijeong, who was sitting across from me.

“I have a few questions. May I ask them?”

“The questions should be directed to me…”

“I’d like to hear this directly from Team Leader Chen Weiting.”

Jin Wijeong, as if anticipating the question, replied with a smile. “Please, go ahead.”

“As I understand it, the A-72 Gate was auctioned off for over 10 billion won. Are you saying you’re willing to share expedition rights for less than 10% of the auction price?”

“That’s correct. We’ll be relying heavily on the Hwiryung Guild’s assistance during this expedition.”

Jin Wijeong continued without a flicker of hesitation.

“As you saw in the Gate Information section earlier, the Byurosen Giant observed residing in A-72 is known to be particularly vulnerable to Undead-type Summoned Beasts.”

”…”

“And Hwiryong is considered a holy ground for Necromancer-type Hunters in Korea.”

This was true when Go Geonho, the Nine Heavens Bone King, was the Guild Leader, but it’s no longer the case.

Of course, I didn’t bother to add that detail.

“Therefore, we’re offering you an unprecedented proposal to secure your company’s full cooperation.”

“You’ll specify everything clearly in the contract, right?”

“Absolutely. The contract will be drafted in strict accordance with the International Headquarters’ regulations.”

This was beyond unprecedented—it was a deal where Saint Winter’s could at best break even, and more likely suffer significant losses.

But that wouldn’t matter.

What they wanted—what Sergei wanted—wasn’t material gain.

“In return, Hwiryong only needs to confirm two conditions,” Jin Wijeong said with a smile, extending his index finger.

“First, the monster extermination operation must be conducted as a publicly broadcast expedition, with real-time updates on the situation.”

He then extended his middle finger, driving home the point.

“Second, Vice Guild Leader Hwiryong, Hunter Lee Taejun-nim, must participate in this expedition.”

”…”

Ko Youngmin’s expression darkened.

But Jin Wijeong continued, his gaze fixed on me.

“We intend to use the A-72 Gate as an opportunity to further enhance Saint Winter’s recognition in South Korea. With Hunter Lee Taejun-nim, currently the most prominent figure in the Korean Hunter World, joining us, achieving this goal should be easily within reach.”

”…”

“So, if you can confirm just those two points, that will be sufficient for us.”

As Jin Wijeong fell silent, a momentary stillness descended upon the conference room.

All eyes turned to me.

Ko Youngmin’s earnest gaze, pleading me to reconsider.

The Saint Winter’s Hunters’ expressions, tinged with mockery and disdain.

Even Jin Wijeong’s eyes, dark as the unfathomable depths of the sea, their depths unreadable.

“Very well,” I replied.

Before him, the words came easily.

“However, I would like to propose a slight modification to the conditions you’ve outlined.”