Chapter 15 – Taking the Bait
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“What would you like to drink?”
“Water will do.”
“Got it. Secretary Kim, bring some water and step out for a moment.”
Ji Hyun-woong spoke to a woman who appeared to be his secretary. She brought a glass of water and quietly exited the room.
I was now at the headquarters of the Hyunwoong Faction, here for a private meeting with Ji Hyun-woong.
Stopping the Dungeon Break had been a prerequisite quest to set up this meeting, so this was a natural progression.
However.
“…Didn’t you say we would meet privately?”
“Yes, I did.”
“Then who is that person?”
A private meeting.
A one-on-one conversation.
Yet, behind Ji Hyun-woong stood a short-haired woman armed with a sword.
“She’s the leader of our Hunter Team 1, but…”
“That’s not the point, is it?”
“Don’t mind her. Just pretend she’s not here.”
“No, that’s easier said than done…”
“Yujin, could you just let this slide? I tried to dissuade her, but she insisted on acting as my bodyguard…”
“……”
“I didn’t expect you to be this strong.”
“Sigh.”
The reason?
It all stemmed from the ‘One Punch’ skill I had used against the Blade Wolf boss.
Its impact had been so overwhelming that it spurred concerns of assassination should we meet alone, leading to the insistence on a bodyguard.
‘Displaying my abilities too well is proving troublesome.’
“…Fine.”
“Thank you!”
I eventually accepted her presence.
After all, there wasn’t a strict need for me to speak to Ji Hyun-woong alone.
‘This is another debt.’
If I could leverage this situation to gain an advantage, it would be more beneficial.
“By the way, we suffered minimal damage thanks to you. I owe you my gratitude.”
Having resolved the issue of the bodyguard, Ji Hyun-woong first bowed his head to me.
“It’s nothing.”
“No, really. Especially since our youngest member says you saved his life.”
The 1-star Hunter I rescued during the battle.
Apparently, he was the youngest in the Hyunwoong Guild.
‘Come to think of it, he did seem inexperienced.’
Hearing he was the youngest made sense.
But one question lingered.
“Was it really necessary to go that far?”
In other words, was it necessary to risk the life of such a novice in dangerous combat?
Technically, abandoning the Dungeon Break defense was always an option, so I had to ask.
“…Could we just stand by and let people die?”
But Ji Hyun-woong seemed to have never even considered the idea of leaving the Dungeon Break unchecked.
His mindset placed the value of human life above the organization’s losses.
I was genuinely impressed.
“That must have been a tough decision. You have my respect.”
“Haha. It’s only natural.”
Ji Hyun-woong responded with a laugh, as if it were no big deal.
But my admiration was sincere.
‘The Ironclad Faction would never do this.’
They would never take a course of action that could harm the organization.
That was the Ironclad way.
For Hunter organizations, not defending against a Dungeon Break wasn’t a big issue.
In fact, rationally speaking, it was often seen as a futile exercise.
The exact timing of a Dungeon Break couldn’t be perfectly predicted, making the time spent waiting essentially wasted.
Moreover, the fact that the Dungeon had reached the point of breaking implied that it hadn’t been cleared successfully—meaning the monsters were stronger than the organization’s forces.
Trying to defend against it would only risk injuries or deaths among the Hunters.
In such cases, it was more practical to withdraw, wait for the monsters to weaken over time, or drive them into another area.
But.
‘The Hyunwoong Faction is different.’
They stationed themselves right in front of the Gate and stopped the Dungeon Break.
You might say, “What’s the big deal about that?”
But the monsters that spilled out right after a Break were at their strongest, only weakening over time.
The Hyunwoong Faction had willingly faced the most dangerous moment to minimize civilian casualties.
Even going as far as deploying low-ranked Hunters.
‘If it weren’t for me, the damage would have been significant…’
And so, I was even more impressed.
In a world where most were obsessed with their own interests, it was heartening to see a group like this exist.
I nodded inwardly.
‘The rumours were true; this is a good place.’
Choosing to come to the Hyunwoong Faction, and not another organization, had been the right decision.
After some small talk, we finally moved on to the main topic.
“I think we’ve done enough pleasantries. So, what’s the reason you wanted to meet me?”
This was about why I had requested to see Ji Hyun-woong.
I got straight to the point.
“I’d like to establish a short-term contract with the Hyunwoong Faction.”
I was essentially asking to join them for a while.
“…A short-term contract?”
“Yes.”
“Why short-term? If you’re going to join, why not stay longer… No, let me rephrase that.”
Ji Hyun-woong shook his head and asked again.
“Why us?”
His gaze was intent, as though trying to discern my true intentions.
I met his eyes calmly and gathered my thoughts.
‘Thanks to ‘One Punch,’ Ji Hyun-woong currently sees me as an exceptionally high-ranked Hunter.’
The destructive power of ‘One Punch’ that I used to defeat the Boss Blade Wolf.
Because of that, Ji Hyun-woong likely thought I was at least a 4-star Hunter.
‘Even the woman standing guard behind him probably thinks there’s a chance I’m stronger than Ji Hyun-woong himself.’
So, of course, he was curious.
Why would someone like me want to join a small, provincial organization like theirs?
‘It’s true that as a 4-star Hunter, I could head to Seoul and get much better terms than here.’
Unless I aimed to become the leader of an organization, like Ji Hyun-woong or Ma Gwang-chul, most 4-star Hunters would choose to move to Seoul.
‘Sure, there are issues like taxes and citizenship, but for a 4-star, those are manageable.’
So it was natural for him to wonder why I would choose to affiliate with them, even temporarily.
But.
‘For now, this is the right choice.’
For various reasons, I judged it premature to move to Seoul just yet.
First and foremost, I hadn’t fully assimilated my newfound power.
Aside from using the ‘One Punch’ skill, I couldn’t utilize my mana to its fullest potential.
In particular, my inability to use ‘Aura’ was a critical flaw.
‘Only those who can wield Aura are truly recognized as 4-star Hunters.’
‘Aura’ is a technique synonymous with 4-star Hunters.
But currently, I couldn’t use it.
I had enough mana, but I hadn’t had the opportunity to properly train in the technique.
That’s why I needed more time.
That wasn’t the only issue.
‘I also need to practice swordsmanship.’
I had obtained the Everfrost Sword, a unique-grade treasure.
But I was certain I wasn’t even utilizing 10% of the sword’s potential.
‘Of course, the ‘One Punch’ skill is immensely powerful, but…’
While ‘One Punch’ is undoubtedly an excellent skill—capable of delivering a devastating blow—it comes with a severe penalty: Mana Exhaustion.
This made it impossible to rely on the skill excessively.
So, to improve my overall combat capabilities, practicing swordsmanship was an absolute necessity.
In other words, I needed time to enhance my value—and I planned to use the Hyunwoong Faction to buy that time.
‘…There’s no need to share all of this outright.’
This was my primary goal, but there was no reason to be completely transparent about it.
The surface-level reasons I provided would suffice.
Looking Ji Hyun-woong straight in the eye, I spoke.
“The Hyunwoong Faction is a great organization, isn’t it?”
“…Ahem. Surely, that’s not the only reason.”
While it was true that the Hyunwoong Faction was an admirable group, that alone wasn’t enough of an explanation.
I decided to provide another reason.
“I have a bad history with the Ironclad Faction.”
The Ironclad Faction.
The garbage guild I had been stuck in for the past three years.
I had already burned bridges with them and saw no reason to let them linger as a potential threat.
“Hmm.”
Ji Hyun-woong let out a low hum before continuing.
“I heard Yong Tae-soo was completely wrecked. Was that your doing?”
“That’s correct.”
Although it had only been a few hours, Ji Hyun-woong already knew.
Rumours spread quickly.
‘Now that I think about it, that makes sense.’
Even if they didn’t know the details, many people—not just members of the Ironclad Faction—must have witnessed Yong Tae-soo being destroyed.
“They said some porter got lucky and awakened, but that’s not the case, is it?”
“……”
Correction.
He hadn’t just heard rumours; Ji Hyun-woong must have a source of information inside the Ironclad Faction.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t know these specifics.
“You’re well-informed.”
“Someone made quite a spectacle, after all.”
Shrugging, he continued.
“But here’s the thing.”
“Yes?”
“If you’re the Hunter from those rumours, a short-term contract might be difficult.”
“Why’s that?”
“The Ironclad Faction is frantically searching for you. As you know, we’re not in a position to openly oppose them.”
He wasn’t wrong.
The Ironclad Faction and the Hyunwoong Faction shared neighbouring territories, with the Ironclad Faction holding a clear upper hand.
Sheltering someone who had gone rogue from the Ironclad Faction would undoubtedly sour relations with them.
However, I thought to myself.
‘He’s playing hard to get.’
This wasn’t a genuine concern; it was a calculated move.
“So, are you saying you won’t take me in?”
“You’re quite confident. Are you assuming I won’t reject you?”
“Yes.”
“And why’s that?”
Feigning confusion, Ji Hyun-woong furrowed his brow.
But I was certain.
He had no choice but to accept me.
‘I was confident I could persuade him before, but now I’m sure.’
“You plan to take down the Ironclad Faction eventually, don’t you?”
“……!”
My words visibly startled him.
Though he quickly composed himself, his stiff expression betrayed his surprise.
As I watched him, I continued.
“Otherwise, there’s no reason you’d know so much about their internal affairs.”
Based on the fact that he already knew my story, I deduced that Ji Hyun-woong had a line of information inside the Ironclad Faction.
And there was only one plausible reason for that.
‘This isn’t some sophisticated intelligence network. The Hyunwoong Faction is just a small, regional organization. The only reason they’d have such a connection is…’
Ji Hyun-woong was planning to take down the Ironclad Faction.
At that moment.
Shhhk—
The bodyguard standing stiffly behind Ji Hyun-woong placed a hand on the hilt of her sword and spoke.
“Guild Master. Should I kill him?”
Momentarily dumbfounded, I asked her.
“Weren’t you supposed to act like you weren’t here?”
“…I can’t let our plans be exposed. Please make a decision—”
“That’s enough.”
Ji Hyun-woong raised a hand to stop her.
“Youn-hee, I told you to control your temper, didn’t I?”
“But, Father…”
Her response caught me off guard.
The two were related?
Judging by appearances, they looked nothing alike.
“Just leave it to me. I’ll handle this.”
“…Understood.”
Ji Hyun-woong, having resolved the issue with his bodyguard, turned his attention back to me.
“I apologize for the commotion earlier.”
“I’ll keep it in mind.”
The incident just now was clearly an act of discourtesy on their part. I wouldn’t let this slip and planned to use it as leverage during negotiations.
“…Haha.”
Ji Hyun-woong let out a slight chuckle, seemingly resigned.
“Who exactly are you?”
“You know, don’t you? A porter who got lucky and awakened as a Hunter.”
“It’s quite clear you’re more than just that.”
It felt as though Ji Hyun-woong’s assessment of me had risen a notch. He seemed ready to end the back-and-forth here, which worked perfectly for me.
“You were right. The Ironclad Faction is… a target that must be taken down someday.”
“That’s correct.”
“…Are you not going to ask why?”
His hesitant question made me smile faintly. This man liked to talk more than I’d initially thought. While the reason was easy to guess, it seemed like he wanted to share it, so I humored him.
“I’m curious.”
“…Well, I feel like I’m being coaxed into this.”
He shook his head slightly before continuing.
“You used to be in the Ironclad Faction, so you must know well how it’s a haven for all sorts of crimes.”
“I know. In fact, I probably know better than most.”
The Ironclad Faction wasn’t just a Hunter organization that bullied me relentlessly. It was practically a criminal syndicate, engaging in activities like violence, drug smuggling, illegal loans, and human trafficking—anything that could turn a profit.
“Good to hear. Leaving them unchecked isn’t an option, is it?”
“I agree.”
As I thought, Ji Hyun-woong intended to bring down the Ironclad Faction.
The Ironclad Faction and the Hyunwoong Faction.
These two Hunter guilds, located right next to each other, were polar opposites in nature.
Unlike the infamous Ironclad Faction, the Hyunwoong Faction enjoyed a positive reputation.
In simple terms, the Ironclad Faction represented evil, while the Hyunwoong Faction leaned toward good.
Because of this, the two groups were constantly at odds with each other.
‘I was planning to use this dynamic to convince the Hyunwoong Faction to shelter me from the Ironclad Faction’s retribution.’
Initially, my plan was to leverage this aspect to secure protection from the Hyunwoong Faction against any retaliation from the Ironclad Faction.
However, the situation was better than I’d anticipated.
The Hyunwoong Faction and I already shared a common goal: the downfall of the Ironclad Faction.
“But.”
“?”
“Even so, I need to give more thought to recruiting you.”
“Why is that?”
I assumed Ji Hyun-woong would have no reason to refuse me, yet he suddenly seemed hesitant.
It was obvious that without my help, taking down the Ironclad Faction was impossible.
The gap in strength between the two factions was overwhelming.
My allegiance to the Hyunwoong Faction was the only way they could even the odds.
Curious, I waited for his explanation.
“For this endeavour, justification is key.”
“Hmm.”
“While we undoubtedly hold the moral high ground, I don’t want to leave room for counterattacks.”
“So, you’re saying you doubt the circumstances under which I left the Ironclad Faction.”
“…That’s one way to put it.”
Officially, I was known to have worked as a porter in the Ironclad Faction before awakening and leaving the organization in a spectacular manner.
The rumours would have included how I crushed Yong Tae-soo and even walked away with my severance pay.
From my perspective, my actions were justified, but they could easily be spun to paint me as a troublemaker.
“You don’t have to worry about that.”
I hadn’t expected Ji Hyun-woong to care so much about justification, but I had already prepared for this.
It was one of the reasons I’d refrained from unnecessary killings back then.
“Here’s a recording of what happened in the Ironclad Faction.”
I handed him a USB drive.
The recordings would clearly demonstrate that my actions were in self-defense.
“Oh-ho. So, you’ve got justification and evidence?”
“You can verify it yourself.”
I smiled and added another carrot to the stick.
“I also have evidence of the Ironclad Faction’s crimes. Would that interest you?”
“…!”
During my time in the Ironclad Faction, I had meticulously gathered evidence of their many misdeeds while enduring their abuses.
Frankly, the evidence was so damning that even the most indifferent authorities wouldn’t be able to ignore it.
I was never one to simply endure without retaliation.
“You…”
Seeing this, Ji Hyun-woong exclaimed.
“You’re a godsend!”
He had taken the bait.
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