"Hey, Reporter Ryu! Wake up."
"Ugh, what? Yes!"
Ryu Seon-young suddenly woke up in a daze.
Still in a groggy state, she looked at the person who had woken her up and saw a familiar-faced detective.
Ryu Seon-young rubbed her mouth and quickly sat up.
"Detective Im, what’s going on?"
"I’m not sure how to explain this... Just co out for now."
Detective Im Geon-woo scratched his ssy hair. The dark circles under his eyes made him look even more exhausted and disheveled.
"Seriously, in 20 years of detective work, this is the first ti I’ve seen sothing like this."
"Really, what’s going on?"
"You’ll find out when you co out. Oh, wash your face first. You’ll regret it if you don’t."
"Eh? Okay, got it."
Both Detective Im and herself hadn’t had much rest lately, so she knew they both looked terrible.
But so what?
For reporters like Ryu Seon-young, who wandered around the police station, it was common to rent a small room in the station and nap while waiting.
Especially in the Jongno-Hyehwa area, which was known for nurous petty fraud cases.
Ryu Seon-young had been particularly covering cases where hunters were involved in such frauds.
Even if a case worth investigating ca up, it wasn’t common for a detective to tell her to wash her face before coming out to investigate...
Still unsure, she quickly threw on a wrinkle-free shirt and slacks in five minutes.
After washing her face, Ryu Seon-young headed toward the Intelligence Cri Investigation Team and was truly surprised.
"This... this is quite an unexpected turn for us, but..."
Detective Im, looking disheveled, scratched his head and smiled brightly when he saw Ryu Seon-young.
"Oh, you’re here. Reporter Ryu, please talk to this person."
"Uh, uh, uh...!"
Although Ryu Seon-young was an experienced journalist, she had not expected this situation, and she was caught off guard.
"Are you the reporter? Hello, I’m Han Jae-young."
"Ha... Han Jae-young, the Hunter?!"
She never imagined she would et such a big shot so suddenly and without preparation.
Amid the heavy and dull atmosphere, Han Jae-young’s presence felt distinctly out of place.
Tall with a clean-cut face, there wasn’t a trace of dishevelnt on him.
There had been rumors among reporters that Han Jae-young was quite a handso man, but seeing him in this somber setting was shockingly unexpected.
Even without considering his status as an S-rank Hunter and Guild Master of HP Guild, he stood out.
Ryu Seon-young shook his hand, sowhat dazed.
"Uh, but... why is Hunter Han Jae-young, or rather, Guild Master, here?"
Han Jae-young’s eyes narrowed slightly, and his long eyelashes cast a shadow over his face.
The smile on his face was almost one that could be captured in a painting, and Ryu Seon-young almost fainted from being so close to it.
Perhaps it was the aftereffects of working late recently.
"As a Hunter, that’s enough. Reporter or I, we’re both here for similar reasons at the Intelligence Cri Investigation Team."
"You didn’t get scamd, did you?"
Han Jae-young’s smile deepened.
"If that was a joke, it was a good one."
Currently, Ryu Seon-young was at the Intelligence Cri Investigation Team at the Jongno Police Station.
Even though it was an intelligence cri team, the cases handled by the police at a local precinct were mostly small frauds.
If Han Jae-young was involved, it had to be a major case, but such cases were usually investigated directly by the Seoul tropolitan Police Agency or prosecutors.
'Did sothing big happen while I was sleeping?'
Wondering, Ryu Seon-young glanced at Detective Im Geon-woo, but he just shrugged his shoulders, looking bored.
"We’re chasing a case too. Are you familiar with the incident that happened a few months ago at the trash dump dungeon in Yeongjongdo, Incheon?"
"Ah, you an the case where a D-rank Hunter was found dead?"
Of course, she was aware of that case.
After the deceased Hunter’s sibling wrote a post about it online, it beca quite the topic, and Ryu Seon-young had investigated it.
Unfortunately, the fraud organization involved had disappeared without a trace before a proper investigation could be done, and there had been no progress.
Ryu Seon-young nodded.
"I’m currently looking into the case of missing low-level hunters. So yes, I’m aware of it."
"Yes, I heard from Detective Im that you’re working on a special article about the missing low-level hunters."
"That’s right."
Being a reporter wasn’t as highly regarded these days.
The job of a reporter, which was originally to inform the public about events happening around the world, had changed with the rise of online dia.
Now, gaining a lot of views had beco the tric for professional success.
Because of this, the term "fake news" had beco commonplace, and articles with little fact-checking, focusing solely on views, were everywhere.
In such an environnt, the disappearance of low-level hunters was far from the most popular story.
The desk had even suggested she focus on other stories.
Honestly, the desk’s judgnt was correct.
Spending so much ti on this special article about missing low-level hunters wouldn’t get much attention.
The gossip about a celebrity posted that day would likely get more attention.
And in a capitalist society, anything that doesn’t make money is considered useless.
But despite its lack of profitability, so things still had to be done in the world.
So Ryu Seon-young decided to stick with it a little longer.
"Low-level hunters who just finished their mandatory service are in a position where they’re prone to being scamd, but the cases of them disappearing and being lost are increasing. That’s why it was transferred to the Intelligence Cri Investigation Team... This must be tied to an organized cri syndicate."
Low-level hunters weren’t that much of a focus in Korean society.
If a few of them disappeared, it was hard to tell whether they died in battle in a dungeon or just went missing.
Han Jae-young nodded.
"I think the sa. That’s why I’m here to help."
"Help? Wait, why is Han Jae-young, the Guild Master, personally helping with this case? Why?"
Ryu Seon-young couldn’t believe it.
She had been covering this article for months, but never imagined that soone like Han Jae-young would be involved.
"Is there soone from HP Guild involved in this case?"
"No way. Even if we were scamd, we have a legal team in the guild, so it wouldn’t have blown up this much."
"Ah, I see."
As expected, a large guild like HP was thorough.
She felt a bit envious and deprived.
"Honestly, after seeing how the disappearances of low-level hunters are leading to deaths, I just couldn’t sit still anymore. If an organized cri syndicate is involved in these disappearances, it’s only right to root them out."
"So, you’re helping out because of your sense of justice?"
"You sound surprised."
"Well, honestly, yes."
No matter how much she was stuck with a worthless article, she couldn’t just ask a big shot like Han Jae-young for help unless there was so hidden agenda.
But Ryu Seon-young wasn’t foolish enough to think that Han Jae-young would act just out of a sense of justice.
"Well, suspecting other motives is your job as a reporter. I’ve already answered you."
Of course, Han Jae-young wasn’t soone to take an unpleasant question to heart. He smoothly deflected it with a calm deanor.
Ryu Seon-young felt a slight sense of disappointnt.
The Guild Master of a major guild was definitely experienced.
"Anyway, it’s not that rare for hunters to assist in investigations. Detective, you’re going to the dungeon where the low-level hunters were last seen, right?"
"Yes, that’s correct. But there’s a backlog at the central agency, so..."
When a cri involving a hunter happens in a dungeon, it’s difficult for a non-awakened police officer to investigate.
No matter how experienced a detective is, they can’t go into a dungeon alone.
So, when the police request cooperation from the central agency, a hunter from there will join them and help with the investigation.
It was a reasonable system, but manpower shortages were a chronic issue.
The central agency also struggled to recruit hunters, which ant long waiting tis.
"If I accompany you, there will be no problem, so let’s go today."
"...If an S-rank Hunter is coming, there won’t be any problems. But what about Reporter Ryu? Is it okay if she cos too?"
It was a bit awkward for Detective Im, as it was an unexpected bonus, but Han Jae-young didn’t seem to mind.
"Yes, it’s fine."
"I’ll write the article honestly. Your na, Guild Master Han Jae-young, will probably be in it. Is that okay?"
"Yes, that’s fine. But if there are any inaccuracies, the guild will respond."
Though it wasn’t a threat, it was definitely sothing to consider.
Ryu Seon-young thought about the underlying aning of that statent when Han Jae-young continued.
"Oh, and we’ll have another hunter joining us, is that alright? I might have trouble handling both of you on my own."
"That’s fine. We’ll be the ones receiving help."
Since there were likely more than one or two HP guild mbers joining them, Ryu Seon-young didn’t give it much thought.
...But later, she would have liked to know exactly who it was.
Han Jae-young smiled, looking relieved.
"Oh, here they co."
"How do you know...?"
"I heard a loud engine sound outside. I’m used to it, since it’s my car."
If it was loud enough to be called a roar, could it be a sports car? She thought she heard a noisy sound from afar.
And after so ti...
The door opened, and a person confidently entered.
It was a girl, still youthful.
And at her feet was a dog with gray fur, quietly wagging its tail.
For such a dreary police station, it was a strikingly unusual sight.
Han Jae-young smiled and spoke.
"You should’ve co with in my car. Why were you so stubborn about driving on your own?"
"If you hadn’t added, 'Still can’t get your driver’s license? Are you sure you don’t have spatial awareness problems?' maybe I would’ve."
"You’re so petty... I was just asking out of curiosity."
"Yeah, right."
Ryu Seon-young swallowed hard. Honestly, it took her breath away.
Despite the considerable age difference, the oddly friendly conversation was almost too much for her to handle.
'This isn’t so all-star event...'
If Hunter reporters saw this, they’d be crying tears of blood.
The most wanted figure in the dia was right here.
'Why is Jeong Da-on here?!'
No matter how much Ryu Seon-young worked in the social section, she couldn’t not know Jeong Da-on.
The 9th S-rank Hunter to appear in Korea.
Recently, the competition to cover Jeong Da-on online had been intense.
From the day of her awakening, videos had been circulating, and it was no surprise that she was often involved in dungeon breaks.
For conspiracy theorists, she was a pri gossip topic.
Ryu Seon-young had also heard rumors about Jeong Da-on from reporters who were caught up in the last dungeon break in Eunpyeong-gu.
‘They said she saved them, but her personality isn’t the best...’
It was a very common evaluation, so it seed trustworthy.
"Let’s introduce ourselves first. This is Jeong Da-on, the Hunter, and this is Detective Im Geon-woo. And this is the reporter..."
"Ah, hello, Jeong Da-on Hunter."
Ryu Seon-young didn’t want to miss the chance to introduce herself.
"Ryu Seon-young from the Korean Economic Newspaper."
In person, Jeong Da-on was indeed very expressionless, just as the rumors had said.
Her face didn’t lack emotion, but it looked as though she had no interest in the person in front of her.
It felt like she was looking at soone as if they were a stone, not a person.
Even a strange sense of pressure seed to emanate from her.
‘What if she brushes my hand away...?’
Just as Ryu Seon-young, who had extended her hand, felt tense.
"Hello, Reporter Ryu Seon-young."
A bright smile blood on Jeong Da-on’s face.
The change was so dramatic that Ryu Seon-young almost froze in surprise.
She truly had the kind of refined beauty that people said would have suited her if she had been an idol.
But seeing that smile break out on her previously expressionless face made her unrecognizable, so much so that Ryu Seon-young was amazed.
Though still a bit youthful, she was a very beautiful girl with a future that made people believe great things were ahead for her.
Jeong Da-on’s wrist was adorned with a delicate bracelet carved with intricate patterns as she reached out to shake hands.
"I’m Jeong Da-on. Nice to et you."
"Ah, yes, yes!"
Her voice was pleasant, and her tone was gentle.
‘This is completely different from what I heard...'
Having seen the viral videos of Jeong Da-on, the gap between her reputation and the reality was quite a shock.
Why had people been spreading rumors about her personality and social skills?
At that mont.
"Oops..."
Looking around, Han Jae-young had his hand on his mouth.
It seed like he was either trying to hold back a laugh or was about to throw up.
But why was he doing that?
"..."
Just as Ryu Seon-young tried to understand Han Jae-young’s strange expression, it quickly turned into a professional smile after a single glance from Jeong Da-on.
"Hahaha."
"See, you look better when you smile."
"Are you trying to get to control myself?"
"No, I have other examples for that."
"You look just like them."
Han Jae-young and Jeong Da-on seed unexpectedly close, as the rumors had suggested.
No matter the circumstances, the two beauties' laughter brought an unexpected glow to the dim police station.
"Yes, let's go right away."
Detective Im, who had finished organizing so docunts, stood up. Only then did Ryu Seon-young regain her composure.
"Ah, I’ll go grab my things then."
Even though hunters were accompanying them, they still needed to bring a few essential supplies for entering a dungeon.
And she would need to carry extra notebooks and pens as well...
Just as Ryu Seon-young started to move, Jeong Da-on spoke.
"Ah, Reporter Ryu Seon-young, could you show your cara?"
"Excuse ?"
"I just want to cast a protection spell on it so it doesn’t get damaged."
Jeong Da-on smiled as she spoke.
"You might need to record so footage, just in case."
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