From Kang-hoos perspective, it might have seed like a cunning plan, but for Jang Si-hwan, it was a straightforward path to success.
The hunters of the Fortuna Guild could now freely co and go in Seoul without any concern.
The agreent for mutual cooperation and full exchange was, in essence, no different from a guild alliance or union.
In ergency situations, Jang Si-hwan could help Casey or vice versa without it seeming unusual.
In this way, Jang Si-hwan narrowed the physical and psychological distance with the other mbers of The Thirteen Stars.
After laying the groundwork thoroughly, they would later move as one unified body.
Seeing this, people were more likely to view them as a grand Hero Legion rather than question the authenticity of the alliance.
This was Jang Si-hwans grand sche.
Or, more precisely, the karma of the original author who had set up the stage for the protagonist, Jang Si-hwan but thats another story.
In the original work, it was a scene brimming with excitent.
Kang-hoo bit his lower lip.
Jang Si-hwan, the protagonist who had gained the recognition of Casey Rex, one of the nad hunters in the USA!
Look! See how impressive the protagonist in your novel is! That was the aning behind the scene.
From Shin Kang-hoos perspective, it looked like a sinister design of evil people, making it uncomfortably irkso.
If he could, he would rush in and break up the entire setup. That was how displeasing the combination was to him.
Seoul is quite complicated.
In Seoul, where even rcenary activities were not allowed, the city must always be under the control of the Jeonghwa Guild.
The workaround was to work for the Hunter Public Safety Bureau, but a governnt agency was not a good option.
Every action was recorded, making covert activities impossible. Moreover, the scope of work was limited.
And in a broader sense, the Hunter Public Safety Bureau in Seoul was essentially a second division of the Jeonghwa Guild.
Id like to avoid getting too involved with the Jeonghwa Guild, but I wouldnt mind getting a piece of any decent benefits.
A major event lood on the horizon, spearheaded by the Jeonghwa Guild.
The assault on a super-large dungeon known as Judgnt Hell was imminent.
This massive raid would involve a thousand people, and it was the only occasion where rcenaries from outside were hired.
It served as a ans of leaving room for outsiders as part of a talent scouting initiative.
Additionally, since the Judgnt Hell dungeon belonged to the Jeonghwa Guild, there was no risk of conflict.
Kang-hoo contemplated applying to take part in the raid.
The dungeon, true to its reputation of being super-large, featured many middle bosses and a plethora of secret internal terrains.
It was also the dungeon where Jang Si-hwan often reaped significant benefits when his growth stalled in the original story.
In other words, for Kang-hoo, there were plenty of opportunities to gain advantages. He was well-inford.
Gulp- Gulp-.
Kang-hoo guzzled the large can of coffee he had just purchased from the convenience store.
It was a 500ml can, supersized, so even after two gulps, there remained plenty.
Just then:
Youre not from Seoul, are you?
Suddenly, a womans voice ca from behind.
Having no acquaintances in Seoul, Kang-hoo did not expect to recognize the speaker.
The husky, low-pitched voice carried a hint of awkwardness.
It seed like the voice of a fluent foreigner speaking Korean.
Curious, he swiveled his head and recognized the woman.
Yu Cheonghwa.
He had instinctively rembered her face and na upon eting An Yeong-ho previously.
Yu Cheonghwa, a Chinese national, was a mber of The Thirteen Stars and a skill copyist.
Identifying her as Yu Cheonghwa was effortless.
She wore a black blouse that boldly revealed her cleavage.
A red rose tattoo sprawled from her collarbone to her upper chest.
Small star-shaped tattoos adorned the area below both eyes these were her distinctive features.
Red hair, red lipstick, a red jacket, and red pants.
With high-heeled shoes to match.
The dress code, undeniably red, was a clear indication of Yu Cheonghwas preferences.
What brings you here?
Kang-hoo asked with feigned nonchalance.
Yu Cheonghwa wouldnt have initiated a conversation if she knew who he was.
After all, they had not previously interacted.
Showing panic or reacting too strongly here would only serve to arouse unnecessary suspicion.
I just thought you seed like a hunter from another city. Hunters who usually stay in Seoul dont pay much attention to the billboards.
I see.
He nodded, understanding the logic.
Kang-hoo had, in fact, been closely observing the news in Seoul.
Seoul is quite tedious, isnt it? The cost of living is exorbitant, and wherever you go, the sa people are exploiting everything.
Although the observation was astute, Kang-hoo found it almost codic coming from Yu Cheonghwa.
Here she was, reaping clandestine benefits from the Jeonghwa Guild, yet calling others opportunistic.
Her command of Korean was remarkably fluent.
Had it not been for her faint foreign accent, one could easily mistake her for a native speaker.
Kang-hoos gaze involuntarily shifted to Yu Cheonghwa, as he braced himself to counterbalance her capabilities.
Yu Cheonghwa, fad for her skill mimicry, also possessed ntal abilities as a secondary power.
The mont their gazes locked, Kang-hoo cluttered his mind with dark and complex thoughts.
His tactic was straightforward.
It was a defense chanism against her ntal scan, designed to thwart her attempts to delve into his mind.
When Yu Cheonghwa, having made eye contact with Kang-hoo, displayed a brief look of surprise and then a smile, the outco was clear.
She had attempted to subtly scan Kang-hoo, but her initial setback forced her to reconsider her assessnt of him.
Naturally deflecting a ntal scan like this ant one had to be of a superior level than the adversary.
Alternatively, it was within the realm of possibility for a professional hunter who had undergone rigorous ntal resistance training.
[Misleading Fox]
[When no specific ntal defenses are present, it acquires the status window information of targets of lower levels.]
[Great Replicator]
[Through repeated study and learning, it can replicate a target's skill. However, the efficiency of the replicated skill does not exceed 20% of the original.]
[Silent Woman]
[Under any circumstances, information about contracted constellations other than the two main ones will not be disclosed.]
Even by looking at the confird constellation information, one could tell she would beco a tricky figure.
There were three visible constellations.
However, due to the Silent Woman constellation blocking information about other constellations,
it was safe to assu that information about other constellations remained unknown.
[Interesting. There are worlds I cannot scrutinize.]
The Dinsion Plunderer expressed surprise at not being able to delve deeper into Yu Cheonghwas constellation information.
It was no coincidence that she was a mber of The Thirteen Stars.
The core constellations contracted by each mber were as mighty as those held by the Dinsion Plunderer.
There.
Yes?
Lets stop with the pointless attempts. I have no intention of opening the gate, so stop knocking.
Youre sharp. Did you anticipate that I would use ntal abilities?
Im not that great a hunter. Dont worry about it.
He deflected the conversation smoothly.
While he wasnt averse to Yu Cheonghwas interest, there was no need to draw her attention unnecessarily.
They were destined to beco enemies in the future; getting closer would bring no benefits.
Seeing you deny being a great hunter makes even more curious. Its like a child saying the opposite of what they an.
When Kang-hoo didnt respond, Yu Cheonghwa took out a business card wallet from her jacket pocket and handed him a card.
The business card was adorned with bright gold trim on a red background, bearing a familiar na.
Shinto Guild.
It was one of the top-tier guilds in China, ranking within the top five.
If you find dostic activities tedious or need comprehensive support, co to us. We even have a departnt dedicated to Koreans.
So, this card is like a free pass?
Kang-hoo asked casually.
Absolutely. I reserve this card for those who have managed to resist my powers at least once.
I passed a test?
Sothing along those lines. Present this card anyti, and youll gain access to influential figures.
I understand.
Or perhaps this might interest you as well. Dont hesitate to reach out to here.
Yu Cheonghwa presented another card.
It bore her personal na and number.
Is this your private card?
Exactly. Feel free to contact whenever you wish. The more you call, the more Ill reveal.
Her red lips ford a smile, and her enigmatic eyes fixed on Kang-hoo.
Though her flirtation was evident, Kang-hoo displayed no particular reaction.
Ill rember that.
Until we et again.
If destiny permits.
Their encounter ended with those words.
The eting was unexpected, yet it wrapped up seamlessly.
He had just made a connection with one of The Thirteen Stars.
The question arose: should he make full use of this connection, or should he dismiss it as though it never existed?
It was certainly a question worth considering.
Choosing whether to keep a close eye on them or maintain a distance they who would eventually beco adversaries was not about morality but strategy.
He had to proceed with caution.
While he waited for the Gyeongui-Jungang Line train from Seoul Station to Imjingang Station in Paju,
Kang-hoo observed a large protest near Seoul Station, deep in thought.
Hunter Public Safety Bureau, take imdiate action against the Abyss! Disband it!
Detain and execute the ringleader, Lee Hyun-seok, without delay!
If we cant do it alone, lets enlist the Jeonghwa Guild to bring down the warlords!
These vehent demonstrations were occurring in more than one location.
The Abyss ().
One of the warlords closest to the capital region was a thorn in the side of the Jeonghwa Guild and Jang Si-hwan.
Because the Abyss persistently raised questions about the identity and misdeeds of the Jeonghwa Guild.
In the original story, Jang Si-hwan beca annoyed by baseless rumors about him spread by the Abyss.
But considering the Devils Accomplice ending, the words of the Abyss were not baseless rumors but the truth.
If I want to properly align myself, joining the Abyss would be the right choice. The Jeonghwa Guild finds them troubleso.
The Abyss was not a clumsy rcenary group or a disorganized cri organization; it was a different dinsion.
A giant military organization.
So, if he wanted to operate within the influence of a large organization, the Abyss was a decent choice.
Of course, Lee Hyun-seok, the leader of the Abyss, was a staunch ritocrat, so for now, he would probably be treated coldly.
Kang-hoo, glancing at his text ssages, noticed one pushed aside by spam.
The sender was An Yeong-ho.
It was a na of significance and value, one he had saved.
[Seon-gyu hyung, are you doing well? I am An Yeong-ho, whom you helped before.]
[When are you coming to Japan? My uncle also wants to et Seon-gyu hyung. Please co anyti.]
[The benefits I promised you then are still unchanged. It'll be convenient for you to operate in Japan.]
Right, theres Japan.
Kang-hoos face lit up with satisfaction.
He didnt necessarily have to confine his activities to dostic affairs.
Thanks to the good connection he had made with An Yeong-ho, he could expand his considerations internationally.
For Kang-hoo, who constantly sought to inject montum into his growth, this was an excellent opportunity.
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