T7RFHE 25💸

Chapter 25

“Elder, does this 4885 fellow… by chance, have a tattoo of a snake crawling around a skull, with numbers inscribed on it?”

Jang Sunam asked politely, even as the old man seethed with anger.

“Eh? That, I wouldn’t know.”

The reply was unexpected.

“No one’s ever seen his face. He’s like a ghost.”

So then—how had the name 4885 come about?
The answer was simpler than expected.

“Every sakura tile he throws always has 4885 written on it. That’s all.”

So that’s why he’s called 4885.

But this alone wasn’t proof that he was the very same Collector Sunam was after.
It could still be coincidence.

Either way… I’ll have to confirm it myself.

And he wouldn’t even need to search.
If the old man’s words were true, then this lunatic couldn’t resist smashing houses.

I’ll just build something so flashy it’ll make his fingers itch… and I’ll reel him in.

Sunam chuckled, tapping his shoulder with the poleaxe’s shaft.

Three hours later

With terrifying speed, he stripped the area of resources and, with practiced hands, completed an absurdly extravagant wooden base.

“Hoho… young man, you’ve got quite the talent for house-building.”

The structure soared seven stories high, designed in an upside-down triangular shape.
It was so artistic it could almost be called a masterpiece.

“…But.”

The elder’s gaze drifted down, fixing on the first floor supports.

“That’s one hell of an aggro magnet.”

Because of the inverted design, the entire structure rested on a single support beam.
Break it, and the whole building would collapse like dominoes.

No villain would be able to resist.

“Are you really intending to catch him, young man?”

“I need to confirm if he’s the one I’m looking for.”

At that very moment, a chill ran down Sunam’s spine.
On pure instinct, he twisted his torso—

Whish!!

A projectile sliced through the air where his heart had just been, burying itself in the wooden pillar.

Someone had attacked.

So he’s here!

Lowering his stance, Sunam hid behind the beam.
Together with the old man, he peeked at the embedded weapon.

It was a sakura tile—
and etched into it were the numbers 4885.

The rumors were true.

“Elder, may I take care of him?”

“I won’t stop you. Best way to live long is to steer clear of lunatics.”

A fair point. In a world where bizarre skills reigned, avoiding the insane was often the wisest choice.

“You’re wiser than most, Elder. I wish more people were like you.”

Smiling, Sunam pressed a pouch of 100 coins into the old man’s hands.

“Don’t refuse it. Think of it as allowance from your grandson. Now, please excuse me.”

“Aigo, young man! I have my pension… oh, wait, that’s gone now.”

The old man tried to refuse, then slyly pocketed it.
Truly, a man of wisdom.

4885… I’ll see for myself whether you bear that tattoo.

With that, Sunam dashed off. The attacker had vanished, but footprints led south.

Smart. Hiding among the crowds, are you?

The tracks led toward a safe zone—a plaza known as Machi Square, a cross-shaped gathering place where no monsters spawned.

The plaza bustled with life.
Every hunter here was E-rank or higher, each with their own narrow, stacked base surrounding the square.

“Stay a night for 10 coins! Ten nights for 90! Breakfast included!”

“Sell me this land, old man. I’ll pay you well.”

“SKTU+ Machi Square branch is open! Free intranet! Consult us before heading into danger!”

The air buzzed with commerce, the inevitable result of hunters clustering in a safe zone.

Finding 4885 here wouldn’t be easy.

He’ll have ditched the robe by now.

Scanning left and right, Sunam spotted no suspicious figure.

“Hey there, brother. These skewers are delicious. Five for 2 coins.”

“I’ll pass.”

The price would’ve drawn curses back in the novice zone.
But here in E-rank territory, where even one Gobbig dropped at least seven coins, it was reasonable.

“Seriously, just try one. On the house.”

The vendor thrust a skewer toward him.

Strange… it’s cold, and the sauce has no smell. Almost like poison, not seasoning.

Sunam narrowed his eyes.

And then he saw it—
a tear in the man’s shirt revealed skin.

Beneath it: a tattoo of a snake coiled around a skull, numbers branded across.

Got you.

He slowly extended his hand, feigning acceptance.
But instead of taking the skewer—

“You’re 4885, aren’t you?”

He seized the man’s wrist.

“Shit!”

The vendor lashed out with the other skewer, aiming for Sunam’s eye.
Forced to release him, Sunam dodged back.

“You bastard, stop right there!”

But 4885 shoved through the crowd, fleeing.

Catching him here would’ve been easy—
Sunam only had to shout “4885!” and every hunter in earshot would mob him to death.

But that wouldn’t do.
He needed the man alive—for information about the Seed of the Evil God.

So instead, he deliberately let him run, maintaining just enough distance to keep pursuit.

After a while, they reached a quiet, deserted stretch.

“Hahaha! This far out, no chance of a mob.”

4885 stopped and turned, sneering.

“Chasing me was your mistake, Crow. I’m not cornered—you are.”

His smile oozed cruelty.

“You dared steal my prey, the Bloodstone?!”

Sunam’s eyes narrowed.
So it was him—the one who had pilfered the Bloodstone that day.

“Prepare yourself, Crow! I’ll strip every last coin from your corpse!”

With a roar, 4885 lunged, pulling a massive warhammer from his inventory.

Boom! Crack!!

The hammer smashed into the ground, shards flying like daggers.

Ting ting ting ting!

If not for his Goblin Warlord armor, the shrapnel alone would’ve maimed him.

“Kya-ha-ha! That’s Bloodstone armor, isn’t it?!”

The lunatic pressed on, swinging again and again.
His blows were strong and swift—enough to deny Sunam any easy counterattack.

Not bad.

He could win with time, but why waste effort?

If there’s an easier way, that’s the best way.

“Crow! I’ll make you beg for mercy!”

4885 raised the hammer high for a crushing blow.

“Jelly.”

“Leave it to me, nya.”

Sunam’s shadow erupted upward, engulfing the enemy.

“What—?! Ghhk!”

Sssshhhhk!

It was Jelly, cloaked as shadow, spewing acidic slime.

With his newly enhanced E-rank +6 Summoning Ring, the attack was devastating.

“Graaaghhhh!!”

4885 shrieked, writhing in agony.

But as an E-rank hunter, he had defensive skills that slowed the corrosion.

Which was fine.
Sunam simply drove his poleaxe into the man’s neck, finishing the job.

“Thanks for running somewhere private. Makes it easier to use Jelly.”

Blood spurted. The lunatic gurgled, eyes wide with regret.

He had chosen the wrong opponent.

Thirty minutes later

“Phew…”

Sunam exhaled, staring down at the bound 4885, restrained by Jelly.
He had already forced a confession with a truth serum that caused balding as a side effect.

The intel was maddening.

“…So Bloodstone was just a figurehead?”

“Yes. He thinks the Seed of the Evil God chose him as master of White Authority… but the real one is someone else.”

Sunam’s temples throbbed.

He had believed he destroyed White Authority completely.
But no—its true master was still alive.

Stubborn bastards…

Was it always like this, in every loop?
Or was this hidden master a new wrinkle in the seventh regression?

Hard to say.

But one fact was certain: another target now demanded swift elimination.

“What’s his name?”

“Hong Taegyun. I only know he’s hiding somewhere in Gwanjeo-dong.”

A name Sunam had never heard before.
Clearly, the man stayed well out of sight.

So… the zombie apocalypse hasn’t ended after all.

The true Guild Master of White Authority—Hong Taegyun.

He was planning to unleash a large-scale zombie virus in the E-rank zone of Gwanjeo-dong.

The reason was obvious: to torment survivors and harvest their despair, fueling the chaos energy.

And 4885 had been one of the operatives meant to carry it out.
Had Sunam not captured him, the plan would have unfolded in secret, sparking an apocalypse before anyone realized.

Terrifying…

This had to be stopped.
Though vaccine production had begun, there wasn’t nearly enough to counter such an outbreak.

If E-rank hunters and monsters turned into zombies, even the beginner zones would be wiped out.

The Seeds would certainly drive them there—because mass suffering meant endless chaos energy.

No rest for me today…

Unless he eliminated Hong Taegyun before the release, there would be no going back.
The zombie apocalypse would begin in earnest.