#098
“The most likely candidate is this corporate training center. It used to be used by a company for employee training, but it’s been abandoned for years since the company went bankrupt. Given its nature as a training center, it’s suitable for dozens of people to use as lodging, and being isolated deep in the mountains, it’s the most appropriate place for them to use as a base.”
As Lim Gyucheol said, the training center located deep in the mountains was suitable for dozens of people to hide and take shelter.
“They’re human too, so they’ll need food. Secretly put a bounty at nearby markets and supermarkets. Most of them are still in their early twenties. They won’t have the patience to resist food and alcohol.”
“Understood. I’ll take care of it immediately.”
Lim Gyucheol nodded and turned around.
As he was about to turn the doorknob, Gyucheol hesitated and turned his head. Then he asked:
“Guide Lee Eunseok… Aren’t you going to look for him?”
“…”
“Honestly, I thought you’d leave to search for him alone as soon as we arrived here.”
“Indeed, that’s one way to do it.”
“But despite that, you’re choosing not to use that method, right?”
Choi Hanseo lowered his gaze to his tablet without answering. Gyucheol didn’t say anything more and quietly left the office.
Left alone in the office, Hanseo turned his gaze to the gift box. And he made a decision in his heart. Regardless of what the Ability Management Bureau or the country tried to persuade him, he would definitely kill Park Sunwoo. He would show the whole world exactly what the price was for touching Eunseok. And in doing so, he would ensure that no one would dare to lay a hand on him again.
#11
As a result of the guild’s full efforts, they managed to rent a building and set up a temporary branch in just one day. Chartered buses transported guild members to the temporary branch. Those arriving at the temporary branch were volunteer guides and hunters from the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Combat Teams.
The temporary branch quickly became bustling with activity.
Although it was a shabby and cramped space compared to the guild building in Seoul, no one complained about it. Everyone was well aware of the seriousness of the situation. This was none other than a battlefield between hunters. And this shabby building was Baekho Guild’s forward base.
“They already know we’ve come here.”
At Choi Hanseo’s words, the hunters’ eyes became sharp. Some were fired up with fighting spirit, some were tense, and others had complicated expressions at the reality of having to fight other humans.
An emergency system was put in place centered around the temporary branch building.
Park Sunwoo sending the gift box was nothing short of a declaration of war. Combat hunters took turns maintaining 24-hour vigilance. The guides set up a modest guiding room in the safest place. And in preparation for potential combat at any time, everyone took turns receiving guiding to suppress their levels as much as possible.
Naturally, the temporary branch was filled with tension, like a powder keg that could explode at any moment. All hunters went to sleep wearing their armor and holding their weapons.
“Our efforts to secretly place bounties at markets and supermarkets near the four suspected terrorist bases have paid off. We received a tip from a supermarket in the village below the corporate training center, which was our most suspicious location. Last night, two men who looked to be in their early twenties bought dozens of bottles of soju and makgeolli, almost clearing out the stock. The supermarket owner confirmed that both young men were faces he had never seen before.”
At Lim Gyucheol’s report, the leaders of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Combat Teams’ eyes lit up. However, Choi Hanseo remained calm.
“Is there a possibility they deliberately revealed themselves there to divert our attention?”
Hanseo asked.
“That possibility can’t be ruled out. However, even their leader, Park Sunwoo, is a newbie who only recently started working as an esper right after graduating high school. The others who defected with him are similar cases. I think it’s much more likely that these inexperienced youngsters with no social experience simply craved alcohol and used a nearby supermarket.”
“What about conquering the locations sequentially, starting with the most likely one? If only combat hunters move, we can maintain quick movement and continuous searches.”
Han Cheolyong suggested. Lim Gyucheol nodded in response.
“I considered that method as well. However, given that the four candidate locations are quite far apart, and considering the geographical characteristics of Gangwon-do with its high and rugged mountains, I’m concerned about unnecessary energy expenditure during movement.”
Having said that, Gyucheol brought up a monitor screen. The screen displayed the personal information of hunters confirmed or suspected to have joined the terrorist organization.
“As you can see, the terrorist organization includes one S-rank and five A-ranks. While we have the advantage in total numbers, we’re at a slight disadvantage in terms of A-rank hunters. Therefore, to fight on equal terms in case of a full-scale battle, our hunters’ combat power and stamina need to be intact. Of course, dividing into teams for individual attacks is also risky.”
No one dared to suggest attacking the most likely candidate location. If they mobilized their forces to go there and came up empty-handed, who knew what might happen in the meantime. Conversely, the temporary branch might be ambushed and many guides could be kidnapped. Or the terrorists might take the opportunity to move to another area. Or they might be walking into a trap filled with buried explosives.
“What should we do?”
When no one spoke up, Gyucheol looked at Hanseo and asked. Hanseo, sitting cross-legged in the middle of the conference table, tapped the gift box in front of him with his fingertip.
Tap-. Tap-.
Though it was just a small noise, the corners of the team leaders’ eyes twitched with each sound. This was because Hanseo was emitting an intense and wild energy that strongly pressured everyone. He didn’t even seem aware that he was exposing such energy externally.
“Guild Leader?”
Only Gyucheol, being a normal person unable to sense the hunters’ energy waves, urged Hanseo for an answer with a normal face.
Hearing Gyucheol’s call, Hanseo stopped his finger, let out a slow sigh, and finally spoke.
“Let me make some phone calls.”
“Phone calls…”
Gyucheol muttered softly, then slightly raised his eyebrows.
“You’re not thinking of asking the United States for help, are you?”
“With S-rank Park Sunwoo there, if we launch drones, we’ll be detected immediately. So we have no choice but to confirm their location using U.S. military surveillance satellites, right?”
“But if we owe such a debt to the U.S., in the future… Wouldn’t it be better to formally request cooperation through the government?”
Han Cheolyong said with cautious eyes.
“That would be ideal, but it makes things too complicated. It will take a long time.”
At Hanseo’s words, Cheolyong hesitated for a moment before finally closing his mouth.
Indeed, for cooperation at the national level, the procedures to go through were too complex. If it takes too long, we don’t know how the terrorist organization might move. Moreover… the time Eunseok spends captured by Park Sunwoo would be extended accordingly.
“If the Guild Leader personally owes a debt to the U.S., you’ll certainly have to repay it in the future. If they make excessive demands, your position might become difficult. Are you okay with that?”
Gyucheol asked.
“We can’t ignore the current problem because of future difficulties.”
“If that’s how you feel.”
Gyucheol nodded, as if no longer trying to dissuade him. The team leaders exchanged glances but didn’t speak up.
Hanseo didn’t waste time. He immediately dialed his phone and put it to his ear.
After a couple of rings, it seemed the other party answered, and Hanseo began speaking.
“This is Choi Hanseo. I’m calling because I have an important request.”
Fluent English flowed softly from Hanseo’s mouth.
“No. I still have no intention of going to the U.S. I just have a request. Of course, let’s consider this a debt… Certainly. I always repay my debts.”
Hanseo continued to converse with what was likely an important U.S. figure. After a while, Hanseo tapped on his tablet while keeping the phone to his ear. Gyucheol and the three team leaders quietly waited for the call to end.
Hanseo finished the call and slipped the phone into his pocket.
“How did it go?”
“In 30 minutes, they’ll send the surveillance results showing which of the four points the terrorists are hiding in.”
Hanseo paused briefly and lightly placed his hand on the gift box. Then he continued.
“Once their hideout is confirmed, we’ll immediately go to strike them. Everyone needs to be ready within 30 minutes. Can you do it?”
“Of course! We can all leave right now, let alone in 30 minutes!”
The 2nd Combat Team leader exclaimed, jumping to his feet. The other two team leaders also nodded resolutely.
Hanseo didn’t say anything more and lightly gestured for them to leave. The three team leaders quickly exited the conference room.
“Shouldn’t we reinforce our forces a bit more? They have one S-rank and five A-ranks. Even excluding the healer Ji Taeuk, that’s still four A-ranks. We have one S-rank and three A-ranks. While our overall strength is similar, it’s not enough for an overwhelming victory.”
Gyucheol said.
“It’s not just about ranks. Even at the same rank, our combat experience is far superior. There’s no need to involve other guilds or the Bureau against such novices.”
Hanseo, about to face battle soon, seemed even calmer than before.
“Rather, isn’t it that you only mobilized Baekho Guild to ensure Park Sunwoo’s death?”
Gyucheol asked with knowing eyes. Hanseo didn’t bother to deny it.
An S-rank esper is an important national asset and power.
Even though he committed massive terrorism and kidnapped a guide, the country still wanted Park Sunwoo alive. They likely already had plans to imprison him for life under the pretext of his crimes and use him whenever needed. Naturally, Hanseo couldn’t allow Park Sunwoo to survive.
“Once the hunters depart, this place will be completely sealed off and switched to defense mode, with top priority on protecting the guides.”
At Hanseo’s words, Gyucheol nodded and left the conference room to carry out his tasks.
Left alone in the conference room, Hanseo opened the lid of the gift box he had kept close all this time. As he buried his nose in Eunseok’s shirt, he smelled the familiar scent of Eunseok’s body along with the pungent odor of semen. Hanseo’s sensitive nose detected both Eunseok’s and Park Sunwoo’s semen scents simultaneously.
His hand gripping the shirt tightened. A wave of uncontrollable killing intent swept through his mind.
“…I’ll come to get you soon.”
Hanseo whispered softly.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
