Chapter 19 : The Looming Dark Curtain. (1)
Chapter 19: The Looming Dark Curtain. (1)
The Looming Dark Scheme. (1)
At the top of an 88-story skyscraper in Gangnam, Seoul, sat the office of the representative of the Dikaiosyne Guild.
As the Combat Squad team leader and an A-rank hunter, Lee Yu-seol stood behind someone and delivered her report.
“Starting next week, we planned to begin full-scale activities to improve the Dio Guild’s image.”
She usually wore a full-body suit, but today she wore a white shirt and a skirt for a change.
“First, as part of our hunters’ volunteer work, we will visit a stray dog shelter, and…….”
Her bobbed hair and clear diction as she continued the briefing made her resemble a sleek cat.
Of course, the chilling nature hidden beneath her beauty was infamous even within the Dio Guild.
“We will set up a free meal station for the homeless at Seoul Station. It would be good if you personally come out to distribute the meals, sir. I’ll arrange the reporters in advance. Ah, right, speaking of reporters……”
Though Lee Yu-seol was usually confident, today she seemed particularly tense.
It was because the person receiving her report was no ordinary figure.
Dressed in a dark navy suit, he stood with his back toward her, gazing out the window.
His name was Go Ju-hoon.
He was one of the few S-rank hunters in Korea and the representative of the Dio Guild.
Lee Yu-seol continued.
“It’s regarding the Geonguk Daily. They attacked us again this morning.”
The Dio Guild employed criminals and people with problematic pasts as hunters. Because of this hiring practice, public perception of them was poor.
Reporters of Geonguk Daily, one of the country’s top three media outlets, often wrote negative articles about the Dio Guild.
“If you wish, sir, I’ll take care of it. Just like always.”
These were turbulent times.
Making a few reporters’ deaths look like natural causes was as easy as drinking water.
“What would you like to do, sir?”
Lee Yu-seol quietly waited for his command.
Without turning around, Go Ju-hoon crooked his finger.
“Yu-seol. Come here.”
“…….”
To call her like that. Anyone else would have been offended, but Lee Yu-seol silently walked toward him.
She was the type who obeyed those stronger than her without complaint.
She stood beside Go Ju-hoon.
Beyond the glass wall, Gangnam spread out beneath them.
People bustled along the sidewalks. On the eight-lane road, buses and cars moved like miniatures.
Go Ju-hoon lowered his gaze.
“When you look closely, don’t they look just like a swarm of ants?”
“……Yes.”
Lee Yu-seol didn’t think much of it. Rather, the strong scent of his cologne bothered her more.
She sneaked a glance at his profile.
His slicked-back hair, held with pomade, didn’t have a single strand out of place. His smooth skin and sharp nose made him the picture of a classic handsome man.
A face that most women would find appealing.
But Lee Yu-seol knew better.
She knew just how terrifying the ambition hidden within this seemingly elegant man truly was.
Go Ju-hoon spoke.
“My father gave me everything I ever wanted when I was young. Food, clothes — always the best. I especially had more toys than I could ever play with. Thanks to that, I had a plentiful childhood.”
He often brought up the topic of his father.
“Then there was just one time when he scolded me. It was when I killed ants at the playground.”
Go Ju-hoon’s father was the founder of the Dio Guild and one of Korea’s famous first-generation superhumans.
Lee Yu-seol knew.
Go Ju-hoon’s father had dreamed of entering politics but got caught in a web of schemes, was wrongly imprisoned, and died a lonely death.
“My father told me this. Ju-hoon.”
Go Ju-hoon turned toward Lee Yu-seol. His intense gaze pierced her.
“You don’t torment the weak. You rule them.”
Fierce mana smoke rose from Go Ju-hoon’s body. Lee Yu-seol felt as if her heart had frozen over and held her breath.
Finally, Go Ju-hoon retracted his aura.
“Leave them be. One day they will all be beneath our feet.”
He looked back out at the city.
Hearing the word ‘our’, Lee Yu-seol felt relieved.
‘Yes. This man will someday rise to the top. And someday…….’
Go Ju-hoon placed a hand on her shoulder.
“Until then, you’ll help me, right, Yu-seol?”
Her face flushed like the sunset. She secretly harbored feelings for him.
On the day his ambitions were finally realized, she planned to confess her heart.
“Yes. I will stay by your side, sir.”
Just then, a rosy atmosphere formed between them.
“Team Leader!”
The office door burst open and a bald head came through.
“Oh, you were in the middle of a conversation. Hello, sir!”
Seo Gwang-pal’s booming voice echoed.
Lee Yu-seol’s brow furrowed.
‘……That bald bastard. The mood was perfect.’
Behind Seo Gwang-pal, the secretary rushed in.
“Seriously! I told you that you can’t just barge in like this!”
“Oh, I’m so sorry, sir. I had something urgent to report to the team leader. Should I step out?”
Go Ju-hoon smiled kindly.
“It’s fine, Secretary Kim. Go back to your work.”
“Yes, sir.”
Once the secretary left, Seo Gwang-pal strode in and grabbed the silver kettle on the shelf.
“I ran here, so I’m thirsty. Sir, may I drink this?”
The part about running was an excuse.
He was hungover again after drinking himself senseless last night.
Before receiving permission, he put his mouth on the kettle and gulped it down.
There was no trace of dignity in his behavior.
But Go Ju-hoon simply smiled.
Instead, Lee Yu-seol clenched her teeth.
‘That octopus-headed freak. Just wait till we’re outside.’
She imagined throwing Seo Gwang-pal out the window.
Go Ju-hoon spoke.
“So. What’s the urgent report?”
“Ah, well, you see.”
Seo Gwang-pal wiped his lips with his collar.
“That bastard. We found him.”
He pulled a photo from his pocket — an image captured by CCTV.
“I ran around everywhere gathering every scrap of information I could, and I found the motorcycle that carried him off!”
Seo Gwang-pal shrugged his shoulders, bragging.
“That quick delivery bastard kept his mouth shut like he’d die before talking, but when I threatened to kill his girlfriend, he finally started spilling everything……”
Lee Yu-seol couldn’t stand it and cut in.
“Just get to the point.”
“Ah, yes. It’s the Ilsan Hunter Industrial Complex. He said he dropped the guy off at the entrance there.”
Lee Yu-seol nodded.
“Fine, so leave. Don’t make a scene in front of the representative.”
Only then did Seo Gwang-pal notice the sharp look in her eyes.
“……Ah. Sorry.”
Just as he was about to step out—
“Who did you say you found?”
“It’s nothing important, sir.”
Lee Yu-seol smoothly covered.
“There was someone we were curious about. We were thinking of possibly scouting him for our guild, so we were looking into him.”
Go Ju-hoon, who prided himself on valuing skill above all, narrowed his eyes.
“Is he strong?”
“……Yes. Very.”
Her honest evaluation sparked competitive fire in Go Ju-hoon’s gaze.
Before being the head of a guild, he was a hunter.
Pursuing strength was almost instinctive for him.
“Tell me more.”
“He’s the one who took down Big Lava recently.”
“That purple mask? They called him the Purple Devil, right?”
Because the media covered the case extensively, Go Ju-hoon also knew of him.
“That’s right.”
“Hm. Bring him in. If he’s truly that skilled, I’d like to meet him myself.”
“You, personally?”
“Why? Is there a problem?”
When Go Ju-hoon smiled faintly, Lee Yu-seol waved her hands.
“Of course not. Understood. Hunter Seo, you heard the representative? Bring him immediately.”
“Ah, well.”
Seo Gwang-pal scratched his bald head.
“I know he went there, but the complex is huge. There must be thousands of workers.”
Lee Yu-seol screamed inwardly.
‘You blockhead! Then why did you even come?’
She forced herself to stay calm.
“Hunter Seo. Then we’ll just bring some staff and investigate together, won’t we?”
“Well, yeah, I guess.”
Lee Yu-seol bowed her head.
“Then sir, please rest. I’ll head out now.”
“Wait.”
Go Ju-hoon stopped them.
“Take the twins with you.”
“What?”
The twins he referred to were A-rank hunters belonging to the Dio Guild.
They had multiple life sentences for assaulting hunters inside gates. Lee Yu-seol let out a short breath.
‘Those battle lunatics are such a pain.’
Go Ju-hoon picked up the silver kettle with both hands.
Crunch!
With just a bit of force, the kettle crumpled like paper. It was made of Burnlight metal.
“You said he was incredibly strong. You never know.”
Go Ju-hoon was still smiling, but an unspoken threat froze the other two in place.
“Understood, sir. I’ll do as you say. Let’s go.”
Lee Yu-seol grabbed Seo Gwang-pal by the scruff of his neck and pulled him out of the office.
“Da-jang. I’m sooo! anxious.”
While working in the factory, Kkalkki said, glancing around nervously.
“What are you anxious about?”
As I carried Burnlight materials, Kkalkki trailed behind me.
“You left all that money under my bed! I’m so anxious I can’t live!”
We had robbed Cha Chi-do’s safe, taking cash and gold bars.
We stored everything under Kkalkki’s bed.
The Ilsan Hunter Industrial Complex had dormitories for foreign workers.
Two people per room, about the size of a goshiwon.
“Why? You think Khan will steal it?”
I mentioned Kkalkki’s roommate.
“That bastard’s too much of a coward to do something like that.”
“Then it’s fine.”
“That’s not the problem, Da-jang!”
While we bickered, Park Chang-seong approached.
“You two dating or something? You brats aren’t even working.”
I pointed at Kkalkki.
“I’m working hard. He’s the one slacking.”
“Wow, Da-jang! That’s so cheap! You tattled on me?”
“I didn’t tattle. I just spoke the truth.”
Park Chang-seong muttered, “These idiots,” while looking around.
“Where’s the boss? Why hasn’t he shown up lately?”
“The boss bastard went to see Madam Shin.”
“Good grief. This factory’s going to fall apart.”
Quietly working, I thought:
Now that I had obtained massive capital,
I was ready to take over this factory whenever I wished.
‘Soon.’
Park Chang-seong checked the time.
“Alright, boys, let’s eat.”
“Yes!”
Everyone removed their safety gear and stopped working.
“Da-jang. Do you know what today’s menu is? It’s Pikachu pork cutlet again. Damn it. Was there a ghost who died because they couldn’t eat pork cutlet and cursed this place? Why is it always that damn pork cutlet?”
As I walked with Kkalkki toward the cafeteria, my phone rang.
The caller was an unknown number.
“Hello?”
– Hello. Do you know Ma Seon-woong by any chance?
Ma Seon-woong?
A name I had never heard before.
“No. Who are you?”
– I’m his girlfriend.
The woman’s voice trembled over the receiver.
– It’s just that……
As the woman began to sob, something came to mind.
I reached into my factory jumper and pulled something out.
A crumpled business card.
– Dalbong Quick Express Service!
: Ma Seon-woong.
The man who took me on his motorcycle the day I defeated Big Lava.
I had sent him a thank-you message.
– Thanks. I’ll buy you a meal next time.
A short text. Looks like he saved my number.
The woman struggled to speak through her sobbing.
– Seon-woong told me never to say anything, but he’s been hurt really badly.
“He was hurt? Accident?”
– No. I think someone beat him up.
A sudden, ominous feeling washed over me.
Maybe he got dragged into trouble because of me.
“Where are you?”
After confirming her location, I hung up.
“Chief. I’ll eat lunch outside today.”
“Oh. Sure.”
“Da-jang! Where you going? Take me too! Don’t be petty and go eat something good alone!”
“I’ll bring back cream bread.”
“Ooh. Okay, Da-jang! Hurry back.”
I hurriedly climbed onto my motorcycle. Without realizing it, my grip tightened.
Kicking up dust, I spun the motorcycle halfway around.
I sped off, cutting through the wind faster than ever.