Chapter 37

The response from Seo Sang-ho brought a smile to Kang Jin-hyuk’s face.

Seo Sang-ho, driven by the mindset of risking nothing and gaining nothing, had responded with support of 30 members.

However, the rationale behind his bold decision was not to recruit Kang Jin-hyuk as a guild member.

As the leader of a major guild, he couldn’t just stand by and watch as things unfolded.

As evidence of his commitment, Seo Sang-ho requested nothing in return for this support.

“With a guild leader like this, I can’t understand why the Titan guild is in such disarray.”

It’s possible that individual strength alone cannot prevent a corrupt organization from falling apart.

Even if one is a soaring S-rank hunter, what they excel at is hunting monsters, not engaging in human politics.

“We need to prepare quickly. We can’t fall behind schedule.”

Kang Jin-hyuk’s grim remark raised a question mark above Lucia’s head.

She tilted her head to the left like a puppy, blinking her eyes.

“Are we sure we need to go since other guilds are stepping in?”

“We should at least pick up the leftovers.”

They had uncovered Tyrant’s nefarious deeds, and it didn’t sit right with him to become a passive observer now.

“Plus, I’m not sure if the hunters coming for support will actually do their jobs diligently.”

Seo Sang-ho was overseas at that moment, unable to directly oversee the guild members within the country.

Therefore, those dispatched for support would likely be commanded by an A-rank hunter from Tyrant.

Kang Jin-hyuk recalled how the hunters from Tyrant had reacted upon seeing him.

Without a doubt, they were not friendly faces.

Even as they fought for their lives, there were those who would stab him in the back.

It was a relief that they weren’t actively hostile.

As his thoughts reached that point, he knew he couldn’t avoid the situation any longer.

Kang Jin-hyuk left the dungeon without delay and made all the necessary preparations.

He took out the expensive potions that had been stored in the depths of his refrigerator and placed them in his inventory.

Additionally, he made sure to grab a return scroll in case of emergencies.

This scroll was effective even from a distance of 300 km, making it an expensive item, but if there was ever a time to use it, it was now.

“What are you packing so much for?”

Lucia gazed at him with an expression of disbelief as she enveloped her mouth with wind magic.

Her fidgeting as he shoved odds and ends into his inventory drew a deep sigh from her.

“Are you planning to leave today?”

Lucia, feigning exasperation, lamented about the delay.

“Just hold on. I’ll finish up soon.”

“Seriously. Why does the one who claims it’ll be wrapped up quickly have to rummage through his closet?”

Upon discovering the items stacked high within the closet, Lucia gasped in shock.

Although she wanted to intervene immediately, there was no need for her to take action.

Just then, the doorbell rang, causing Kang Jin-hyuk to pause his frantic packing.

* * *

After dealing with the brown-haired man at the bar, Yun Song-ho did not stop hunting until the sun rose the following day.

He had no intention of resting until he found the whereabouts of Choi Seo-hoon, someone who knew the secrets of Tyrant.

After wandering in pursuit of Choi Seo-hoon’s trace, he arrived at a run-down area filled with dilapidated buildings.

Few people appeared to reside in this quiet neighborhood, making it an ideal place for hiding.

Considered discreet and modest, it was a fitting location to lay low.

Yun Song-ho took out a tracking item and began scanning the surroundings again.

“No matter how many times I check, this is the most promising location.”

The device, resembling a compass, contained a strand of hair obtained from Choi Seo-hoon.

As long as Choi Seo-hoon’s DNA hadn’t been altered, avoiding detection with this item would be impossible.

“The arrow is pointing to…”

Following the device’s response, Yun Song-ho’s gaze fixated on a specific building.

“That must be it.”

Thanks to the item’s effectiveness, he had never failed to find someone before.

Confidently, he concealed his presence within a nearby building.

After about a minute, he stepped back outside, clad in a different outfit.

Aside from swapping out his mask for a surgical face mask, he now resembled an ordinary delivery man.

“Better to be safe than sorry.”

Although he had never failed a disguise, Yun Song-ho wasn’t foolish enough to be complacent.

As he prepared a box to present as a delivery, he hid a dagger within his sleeve, ready to strike.

He was confident that he could slice through the target’s carotid artery within a split second should they show any sign of suspicion.

“Am I going too far to target a C-rank hunter?”

Yun Song-ho had done his homework on the individual residing at the address he intended to visit.

“Seems he’s created quite the buzz online, but…”

There was no way he could match up to him.

Yun Song-ho was convinced of that.

Not even the new breed of monsters could pose a challenge for him.

He had dealt with over fifteen hunters without anyone below B-rank in his trail.

Self-assured, he rang the doorbell.

After several beats, a voice came from within.

“Who is it?”

“Delivery!”

It was a magical response that compelled anyone to open the door.

Before long, Kang Jin-hyuk pushed the door open, sticking his head outside without hesitation.

“Did you say delivery?”

Yun Song-ho sensed something was off about Kang Jin-hyuk’s demeanor.

Typically, people would be focused on the box the delivery person held.

It was only natural to care more about the package that would become theirs than a transient delivery worker.

However, Kang Jin-hyuk was fixated on the would-be assassin posing as a deliveryman.

‘Has he figured it out?’

Yun Song-ho thought it was impossible.

Though he merely changed his clothes, his skill should have hidden any signs of exposure.

Even an A-rank hunter might not realize anything until it was too late.

A mere C-rank hunter wouldn’t be able to detect him either.

Yun Song-ho retained his composure.

“Yes, you’re Kang Jin-hyuk, right? Please sign here.”

As Yun Song-ho extended a pen for Kang Jin-hyuk, he was confident it would release a paralysis toxin upon contact, rendering him unable to fight back.

The venom was potent enough to incapacitate large animals instantly; even a hunter wouldn’t stand a chance.

There was always the option of simply slitting his throat with the knife tucked in his sleeve.

He was ready for anything.

Yun Song-ho was sure there was no way for Kang Jin-hyuk to escape this predicament.

However, there’s no absolute certainty in this world.

Suddenly, Kang Jin-hyuk flicked his fingers together, creating a sound that caused Yun Song-ho to jump in surprise.

“Yikes!”

Before Yun Song-ho could comprehend why he had acted, arrows began flying toward him from inside the house.

By reacting on instinct, he was able to dodge, but not without sustaining an injury to his shoulder.

As he staggered back, Kang Jin-hyuk’s right fist landed a precise hit to his jaw.

The shock resonated throughout his upper body, making his consciousness waver.

Realizing he would lose everything if he passed out here, Yun Song-ho fought to keep his eyes wide open.

“Damn it…!”

Yun Song-ho twisted away, falling beneath the railing without looking back.

He hurried to escape the scene.

Kang Jin-hyuk observed this with a steady gaze, lifting a hand to halt Lucia.

She promptly released the bowstring as instructed.

“Let him go like that?”

“It’s fine. He’ll come back anyway.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“There’s no way someone who planned so meticulously would just back off after encountering failure.”

Kang Jin-hyuk assessed the assassin’s karma, noting it was above 900.

While those engaged in human trafficking for Alraune’s profit were around the 200 to 300 range, this hunter’s score far exceeded that.

Killing someone must have seemed as common to him as brushing an ant off his shoe.

“While I may not know exactly why he’s targeting me, this works out perfectly.”

Kang Jin-hyuk had been grappling with the aftermath of the Tyrant guild raid and how to cover for such an action.

Even if Titan’s hunters had stepped in to assist, it wouldn’t adequately resolve the situation.

If he put the blame on Titan, a full-blown conflict with Tyrant would be inevitable.

Having previously attempted human trafficking to create Alraune, it was highly likely they wouldn’t hesitate to engage in a fight in the middle of the city.

Kang Jin-hyuk didn’t want even the slightest bit of chaos, and if it meant shifting the responsibility to someone else, then so be it.

All he needed was someone expendable to absorb the backlash.

Then, serendipitously, the right person showed up at his front door.

“What remains is figuring out how to reel him in…”

* * *

As Kang Jin-hyuk pondered, Yun Song-ho exited the residential zone, gasping for air as he slumped against an alley wall.

Reaching into his pocket, he pushed a rag against his mouth to stifle a scream as he pulled the arrow from his shoulder.

“…!”

Thanks to biting down on the cloth, he managed to suppress his scream, but the pain radiated through his jaw.

After sprucing up the wound with a potion to staunch the bleeding, he wrapped the area with bandages.

He never expected he would end up using first-aid skills he had practiced for emergencies on a mere C-rank hunter.

“No, he’s not just a C-rank.”

Shaking his head, Yun Song-ho recalled the person inside the house.

Although obscured by shadows, he remembered the figure wielding a weapon with a slender frame.

How could someone with such delicate features shoot arrows so quickly?

If he were tapping into skill-enhanced power, he’d need to be at least B-rank.

Otherwise, there was no way he could evade an A-rank hunter’s attack and strike his shoulder so easily.

“It’s going to be tough if they have backup.”

He acknowledged his miscalculation.

Assuming his opponent was merely a C-rank hunter, he completely overlooked the possibility of assistance.

As a veteran, he understood he had to be much more vigilant.

“Next time, I’ll make sure to investigate thoroughly before moving.”

Grinding his teeth, he got back to his feet.

He had avoided a critical hit, and with the initial treatment done, he could still move without issue.

Retreating now went against his pride, and Yun Song-ho was determined to seize another chance before the day ended.

“I’m going to make him regret daring to act like this.”

If he had just revealed Choi Seo-hoon’s whereabouts, it might have ended with just a passing knockout.

But given the forceful opposition he’d faced, he couldn’t let it slide without ensuring there would be consequences.