"So, Jeong Su-hyeon won."
The Vampire Queen, who had been watching the fight through the eyes of her familiar, smiled.
"That damn bastard beat Kang Woojung?"
Ha Jin-su, who had accepted the Queen's diation and moved to a secret location within the black market, asked.
"Yes."
"I only crossed swords with him briefly, but he was quite skilled. That bastard is really getting stronger quickly."
"He even defeated Kang Woojung, who had achieved Ma-in transformation, without much struggle."
"Hehe, not bad. If he's that good, I'd like to fight him too."
"It would be much more enjoyable to fight after he develops further."
"That's right!"
Ha Jin-su laughed.
"If I'm going to kill him anyway, I should enjoy it more. And make it more painful."
"That slippery bastard. To think he's still alive even after I aid for his neck."
Kwak Hyeok-jung, with bandages wrapped around the wounds inflicted by the Queen, spat out words filled with murderous intent.
"Shut up. Do you know how much my head hurts because of the commotion you caused?"
"Ahem."
Ha Jin-su, feeling awkward, pretended not to hear.
"If you were going to co in anyway, you should have at least told . Did you have to enter secretly and create this ss?"
The Vampire Queen sighed.
"So. How will you clean this up? 'They' won't just sit by either."
"Well, what can we do."
The Vampire Queen sighed.
"We'll have to hang him."
"Hmm."
"Hunter Kang Woojung tried to commit fraud in the black market through improper thods, and a disturbance occurred while trying to chase him. As punishnt, his head will be cut off and hung."
"Wouldn't that be fine?"
"It seems a bit forced, but with your reputation, it should be settled at that level."
"If you understand, go think about what punishnt you'll receive."
The Vampire Queen said coldly.
"I'll head back after cleaning up, alright? So you two go ahead."
"......Let's do that."
Ha Jin-su and Kwak Hyeok-jung, who had nothing to say even if they had ten mouths, quietly nodded.
'Should I take this opportunity to put in so effort?'
The Queen smiled, watching Su-hyeon collapse unconscious and Kwon Seung-yeon flustering.
"Alistair."
She closed her eyes and spoke to soone.
"There's sothing you need to do for ."
??????°??☆????°??????
After Su-hyeon collapsed, Kwon Seung-yeon put on his mask and secured the wooden box as he had instructed.
'Ah, damn. What do I do now?'
Kwon Seung-yeon let out a deep sigh looking at Su-hyeon, who had stirred up all this trouble only to faint, when.
"Excuse ."
The security chief sent by the Vampire Queen surrounded the two.
"I am Alistair, the security chief in charge of this area."
He was a white man with blond hair.
'This foreigner speaks Korean really well.'
Kwon Seung-yeon thought, standing stiffly.
These security forces were the only ones in the black market who didn't cover their faces with masks.
'I beat up quite a few of them earlier.'
As Kwon Seung-yeon stood still, feeling guilty, Alistair said in a respectful posture.
"The person I serve has instructed
to escort you two carefully."
Such a respectful attitude that it made her feel sorry.
But despite the situation unfolding differently than expected, Kwon Seung-yeon composed herself.
'Don't panic. If I lose my cool here, Su-hyeon will be in danger too.'
Kwon Seung-yeon recalled Su-hyeon's usual deanor and pretentiously folded her arms arrogantly.
"From the way you speak, you seem to know our identities."
"If I may be so bold."
Alistair said.
"I know Jeong Su-hyeon-nim's face since it was revealed, but I don't know your na."
The power felt from Alistair was clearly above her own.
He probably knew this fact well too, but Kwon Seung-yeon felt pressured by his consistently respectful attitude.
'He's no ordinary person.'
What was more troubling was not knowing why he was approaching so respectfully while knowing their identities and what they had done.
And not knowing who in the upper echelon had given such instructions to this security chief.
But if she didn't accept his offer now, it was crystal clear that she had no way to resolve this situation in place of Su-hyeon, who had completely passed out.
So her deliberation was not long.
"Good. I accept that proposal."
"Understood. I'll escort you right away."
Kwon Seung-yeon asked Alistair, who bowed his head.
"What will you do with the fallen Kang Woojung?"
"......."
Alistair soon replied in a voice devoid of emotion.
"I think it would be better if you didn't know that."
??????°??☆????°??????
When I opened my eyes, Kwon Seung-yeon's face filled my vision from 30cm away.
"You're awake?"
"......Where is this?"
"I don't know either. The security chief there suddenly brought us here."
"......Security chief?"
"I'll explain."
"I see. So that's what happened."
After hearing Kwon Seung-yeon's explanation, I sat up.
"There's no significant injury, right? They said you used too much energy and would recover after sleeping."
"How long have I been asleep?"
"About 8 hours? It's 10 PM now."
"Hmm."
I nodded and said.
"Thank you."
"Damn, do you know how scared I was?"
Kwon Seung-yeon grumbled.
"So. Did I do well?"
"......It seems so."
Alistair.
I knew the identity of that man.
'He's the Queen's confidant.'
Vampire Queen, Seong Yeonhui.
'She's probably been watching
for a long ti.'
The Vampire Queen is a villain who develops an obsessive interest when a player's level of activity exceeds a certain threshold.
'But this situation is a first.'
Such direct intervention would normally only occur much later in the ga.
The train attack was very sudden.
The situation beca more complicated than expected, and I ended up receiving help.
'But there's no major problem at this stage.'
I know the Vampire Queen Seong Yeonhui's motives and objectives.
And I also know the position and ntal state of her confidant, Alistair.
Knock knock.
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
"May I co in?"
"Please do."
The door opened, and Alistair, who made eye contact with , widened his eyes.
"Jeong Su-hyeon-nim, you've awakened."
"Just a mont ago."
"I see. I'm glad to see you're safe."
Alistair said, bowing his head politely.
"Actually, I would like to have a word with Jeong Su-hyeon-nim."
"Since I'm fine now, let's talk while taking a walk."
When I stood up first and suggested it, Alistair looked a bit surprised but quickly returned to his poker face.
"Understood."
The night in the black market was even more clamorous and sticky than the day.
"This must be your first ti seeing such a sight."
Alistair said to
as I leaned on the balcony, looking down at the street.
"Well, yes."
"You don't seem particularly surprised, Jeong Su-hyeon-nim."
"Human affairs are all the sa. It's not like I've lived a smooth life either."
Vampire Alistair.
Uniquely, he was a man who had awakened as a 'vampire' species itself as a subordinate controlled by having his blood drained by the Vampire Queen.
And separately, he was also still a human whose demonic nature transformation had not yet occurred.
Human, yet vampire.
The one he served was Seong Yeonhui, his vampire lord and a Ma-in.
'Quite a complicated character.'
These vampires were always troubleso opponents.
They all possessed strength above the basic level.
Since they had all the characteristics commonly associated with vampires at once, their abilities were quite versatile in many ways.
'It's the sa principle as werewolves or lycanthropes transforming into their species itself as their characteristic.'
"First, let
express my gratitude."
I said.
"There's no need to thank . I rely followed the will of the person I serve."
"Hmm."
While knowing everything, I spoke as if probing.
"It seems that person wishes to remain anonymous."
"Yes, that's correct."
"Then I have no reason to inquire further."
This was a kind of signal sent by the Queen.
A signal not to know more about her.
'If I officially beco aware of the Vampire Queen's existence, the situation will beco more difficult.'
Until I gain sufficient strength.
It was unwise to carelessly learn the identity of an enemy.
In that sense, the Vampire Queen was as troubleso an enemy as Hwang Won-jae.
A powerful figure with considerable shares even in the black market where underground humans from all over the world gather.
Added to this, her personal strength far surpassed even S-rank Awakened.
"Then how can I repay the debt I owe?"
"That person said there's no need for that."
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
But I know.
That promptly wiping my mouth clean here isn't a good choice.
"Even so, I feel uncomfortable, so let's do this."
"What do you an?"
"You probably understand why we ca all the way here, the purpose."
"Yes, I do."
Alistair answered.
"The Golden Insignia that can open Chun Gwangmyeong's vault."
"How about I let you know what ca out of it? You might find it quite interesting."
"......!"
After thinking for a mont, he nodded.
"That sounds good. I won't dissuade you if it's sothing like that."
"I'm glad we understand each other well."
I smiled.
"Then I will convey it that way."
"There's one more thing I'd like to ask."
"I will answer anything within my ability."
"Did you kill Kang Woojung?"
"......An example was needed."
"I understand."
'It would be better if Kwon Seung-yeon doesn't know about this.'
Of course, I didn't feel any compassion for Kang Woojung.
A change appeared in Alistair's gaze as he saw my reaction, which showed no sign of questioning or even caring much.
"Jeong Su-hyeon-nim is a strange person."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. And also a strong one."
A slight competitive spirit flashed and disappeared in his eyes.
"I think I understand why that person is interested in you."
??????°??☆????°??????
Ha Jin-su and Kwak Hyeok-jung, who had returned to the Catacomb, stood bound in the midst of executives sitting in a circle.
"I tried to create an equal relationship among the executives."
Hwang Won-jae said with a cold face.
"But I cannot respect those who act against the organization's greater cause like this. It is an action that goes against 'Him,' undermines the discipline of the organization, and further interferes with our objectives."
Hwang Won-jae looked around at the executives and said.
"If anyone has objections to my words, step forward."
No one stepped forward.
"Good. I shall administer punishnt."
Hwang Won-jae declared.
"You have two choices. One is for
to use my ability to further stimulate your demonic nature."
"......!"
"Hwang Won-jae, that is......"
Even Jang Su-il, who had been looking at Ha Jin-su and Kwak Hyeok-jung with contemptuous eyes, beca surprised.
"If done wrong, those bastards could beco cripples."
"That's why it's a punishnt."
Hwang Won-jae said.
"If you can endure while maintaining your rationality, you will gain even greater power than now. But if you fail, your reason may lt away from excessive pain, and you could beco either an idiot or a battle puppet that follows orders."
If they failed, they would truly be in a terrible state.
"What will you do? If you don't want this, I can conclude the punishnt with just stripping you of your executive positions."
"......."
Kwak Hyeok-jung, who had kept his eyes closed throughout, finally opened them.
"Actions that would have been unchallenged if successful beco reckless due to failure. I have no intention of making ugly excuses or running away, so I naturally choose the greater pain. I will go first."
Ha Jin-su also sighed and said.
"Anyway, if I endure without dying, I might get stronger, right? Then that's what I'll do."
"Hahaha."
Hwang Won-jae laughed, tearing his mouth wide.
"An excellent choice."
??????°??☆????°??????
Finally, Su-hyeon and Kwon Seung-yeon showed the Golden Insignia and opened Chun Gwangmyeong's vault.
The expressions of the two were frozen as if they had seen sothing they shouldn't have.
"......Hey."
"......Tell ."
"I'm not seeing things, right?"
An empty vault.
"Was the vault already robbed?"
"Heheheheheheheng."
Kwon Seung-yeon laughed like a deranged person.
"What is this."
"......So it turned out that way after all."
"Why, do you know sothing?"
"I heard a story from Alistair."
Kwon Seung-yeon, who had heard the story of Kang Woojung discovering the map and finding the insignia in a cave on Mount Baekdu after nurous hardships, frowned intensely.
"So what you're saying is."
"......I think perhaps the map itself was a trap distributed to lure out competitors."
Su-hyeon said.
"They had already emptied the vault themselves, and only left the bait maps floating around sowhere in antique shops."
"So people who took the bait went there and all died?"
"That's plausible."
Su-hyeon nodded.
"This kind of thod and incidents often occurred decades ago. This was just one of the disturbances caused by such old grudges."
"That climbed back through decades and entangled us too?"
"Probably those who held grudges from that era are already dead and gone. Only the traps they left behind have been floating around antique shops like ghosts."
After hearing that far, Kwon Seung-yeon sat down on the floor with a thud.
"Ah, what is this? This is truly futile."
"......Your pants will get dirty."
"Is that important right now?!"
Just as Kwon Seung-yeon was about to burst out again.
"Wait a minute."
Su-hyeon discovered sothing hidden inside the vault.
"There's sothing there."
"Huh? What is it?!"
Kwon Seung-yeon, who sprung up like a spring, discovered sothing inside the vault.
"......Could that be!?"
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