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chapter 115
Poland.
Bielsko-Biała.
At a villa located at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains, bordering the Czech Republic, the elite X-Team of White Burn appeared.
Hoo—
A towering man over two meters tall with a fierce expression, his right arm covered in tattoos, frowned deeply.
Team leader Kang Yoon-su muttered as he placed his hand on the mask at his waist.
“Looks like we’ve got another visitor, everyone. Prepare to greet them.”
As the team nodded and readied themselves, the bushes rustled, and several familiar faces emerged.
“Hah… why are those drug-addled bastards, who should be across the sea, here?”
Kang Yoon-su tilted his head in disbelief.
The newcomers were dressed in black, but their sharp, aggressive nature was unmistakable.
Hitmen operated by the City Cartel.
They were human weapons who fought under the influence of drugs, completely indifferent to their own deaths.
“White Burn X-Team and the Dark Mask.”
“The boss’s orders. They need to die here.”
Snap—
Fwah—
They moved.
Kang Yoon-su grumbled as he donned his mask.
“Chinese bastards, teaming up with drugged-up punks now? They must really be cornered. I guess we’re doing a good job, huh?”
At that moment, click!
The moment he put on the mask, his temperament changed.
A mask painted with a tiger’s expression.
His aura became equally fierce.
Fwah!
The X-Team collided with the hitmen.
South Africa.
Limpopo Province.
In a wildlife preserve, hidden from the outside world, Y-Team leader Oh Jin-taek pulled the spear on his back and planted it firmly into the ground in the middle of the jungle.
Thud!
“I lost my family as a child because of a cult. That’s why whenever I see these cult bastards, I can’t help but shudder.”
The team members following him immediately formed a defensive stance.
“Come out.”
Kiaaaak!
Suddenly, the night sky darkened, a veil of darkness descending.
Patsut-sut-sut—
And a black haze rose from the ground.
A figure stepped forward, deep in the folds of their robe.
Although standing alone against the elite Y-Team of White Burn, Oh Jin-taek perceived that inside the figure, dozens—maybe hundreds—were restrained.
Alone, yet not alone.
There was only one place with such unusual combat traditions: the Gizzard Cult.
A cult worshipping the Great Mother God, said to reside in the underworld.
The priest drew a staff from the folds of their robe and touched the ground.
“The blood of unbelievers will quench the Great Mother’s thirst; their flesh will satisfy her hunger. Return to her embrace and repent!”
Fwaaaak!
The robe fluttered, spreading a thick black mist.
“It seems the Central Hero Committee has allied with the Gizzard Cult to check us. Inform the guild master as well.”
“Order confirmed.”
As one subordinate fell back, the entire Y-Team moved.
Kwaaaang!
South Korea.
Seoul.
White Burn, Underground Training Room.
“Congratulations.”
“…You’re really congratulating me, right?”
Kim Min-jung leaned against the wall, exhausted, mumbling. Her hair was soaked with sweat.
Lee Hyun nodded.
“Of course.”
The resident hunters in the underground training room erupted in excitement.
“Wh-what was that just now?”
“The light pillar just exploded! Right? Right?”
“Whoa… she really became a Ranker?”
“So we actually saw a new Ranker with our own eyes?!”
“Insane. She crushed it, seriously.”
One by one, the hunters cheered and sent congratulatory messages to Kim Min-jung.
“Congratulations, Deputy Kim!”
“Wow! You worked so hard, and you actually did it!”
“Promotion!! Congratulations!”
Kim Min-jung responded with a faint, tired smile and a small wave of her hand.
Truthfully, she didn’t even have the strength to respond properly.
In the past few days, she had trained like a madwoman in the underground room, rolling and struggling tirelessly.
Even the hunters who usually used the facility were stunned.
‘Team Leader Z really pushed her to the limit.’
‘Watching her, I almost felt sorry for her…’
‘But yesterday, that zombie finally broke through a Ranker. The training works. Maybe I should just trust him and ask for more?’
Lee Hyun didn’t conduct meticulous training for Kim Min-jung and Um Ki-seon. He simply faced them.
Even when they showed signs of exhaustion, he kept going, again and again.
-There’s no reason you can’t break through now. You have the experience, you have the skills. But one thing is missing: urgency.
With no rest, they quickly became ragged. By the fourth day, sheer stubbornness and grit drove them against Lee Hyun relentlessly.
Yet Lee Hyun still overpowered them without a hint of fatigue.
At some point, their temperaments shifted dramatically.
For Um Ki-seon, it was yesterday. For Kim Min-jung, today.
“Damn… if I… keep doing this with senior… I’m not… human…”
“Want some water?”
“Give it here!”
Only after regaining some strength could Kim Min-jung drink and quench her thirst.
Lee Hyun smiled broadly.
“Good thing you made it in time. I was worried you wouldn’t finish by today.”
To Kim Min-jung, the smile was infuriating. She glared at him.
“Are you using me to entice the others at the meeting?”
“Come on. Don’t be so petty. I just wanted to show that joining our team can make you grow this fast—think of it as welfare.”
“Welfare…? This?”
“Manager Um jumped for joy, remember?”
“You’re sugarcoating her rage?”
She shook her head in disbelief.
At the same time, she realized Lee Hyun’s tactics in the meetings would probably work well. Many former Blue Thunder members were simple-minded, after all.
“Senior, you’re too sly these days.”
“Maybe. I call it life’s leisure.”
“That makes me angrier.”
Lee Hyun found his feisty junior adorable.
“So, how do you feel?”
“…Good, I guess.”
“That’s it?”
Kim Min-jung exhaled deeply, then explained.
“My mana feels much more stable. The purity seems deeper. I can clearly see the narrative in the tradition now.”
“Try to carry this feeling into everyday life. You’ll gain more from it.”
Kim Min-jung nodded. Even if the advice was playful, she could sense its sincerity.
“Also…”
“Yes, speak.”
Lowering her voice, she said,
“When I became a Ranker, I saw a shadow with a strange horse head. It’s starting to merge with my original tradition… this is the same phenomenon from The Sun and Moon’s Melodic Grain, right?”
The residual thought of the Uma King’s temperament had finally gained spiritual essence.
Lee Hyun nodded.
“Handle it well. It’ll definitely help you.”
“But it’s so violent… almost like demonic energy. Isn’t it dangerous?”
Demonic energy (Mage) is power that usually requires a pact or tradition. Its power is tremendous but unpredictable and sometimes corrupting.
However, Kim Min-jung’s Mage was different. Clear and almost indistinguishable from regular mana.
Still, caution was natural.
Lee Hyun reassured her:
“Don’t worry. She’s not foolish. But if it gets out of hand, tell me. I’ll help.”
Kim Min-jung nodded, trusting him not to reveal the Mage’s nature immediately.
“Big brother will be pleased when he sees her. Talented, open-minded.”
Son Oh-gong’s evaluation made Bongma-wang tilt his head.
“First brother would indeed like her, but where did you even find a kid like that? And how did the tradition get passed?”
“From a fragment of my myth.”
“What? Just a fragment, and she’s this strong?”
“She’s not the only one. Three others following her also trained using fragments from the same myth.”
“…Lucky kid, huh?”
“Ha! Madam, you’ll keep being amazed! It’ll never end at this rate!”
As Saojeong laughed, a visitor arrived: Supervisor Seo Aeri.
“Team Leader, Deputy Kim, the guild master wants to see you.”
Lee Hyun tilted his head in curiosity.
“Let’s see. We’ll clean up and go.”
Lee Hyun and Kim Min-jung changed into formal attire and went to the executive office.
“What could this be about?”
“Maybe they knew about tonight’s meeting at Major Jung’s residence? Or to congratulate you on becoming a Ranker?”
“If that’s the case, they could have just sent someone… I don’t know.”
They had no clue.
They entered the office, greeted by Director Geum Ji-sang of the Dungeon Strategy Headquarters and A-Team Leader Lim Won-young. Executive Ho and several company executives were present.
In the center, Morjeong-gyeon held a long white cheolik loosely, holding a bamboo flute. Her phoenix hairpin was stunning.
“You’ve come. Sit anywhere.”
Kim Min-jung and Lee Hyun took seats. Geum Ji-sang and Lim Won-young showed subtle surprise—recognizing Kim Min-jung’s improvement.
Morjeong-gyeon smiled.
“Your progress with Z-Team is fast. Did the blocked areas open up?”
“Lucky, yes.”
Kim Min-jung bowed slightly. She had met Morjeong-gyeon frequently during A-Team days.
“Luck is skill too. Nothing opens if you’re not ready. I heard that the thunder boy from Astra finally unleashed his sword energy? Executive Ho must be happy.”
“Yes. He checked this morning. The more we train them, the harder they work. We’ll keep pushing them.”
Morjeong-gyeon’s mouth twisted slightly.
“You’ll be fully engrossed in raising the juniors.”
“Having a good leader is my luck. Even late in life, I feel fortunate. Ha ha.”
Her gaze was warm, with a hint of competitiveness beneath.
Morjeong-gyeon asked Kim Min-jung:
“If you want, I can make a team under you. B-Team and E-Team leaders’ positions are open…”
“No.”
Lee Hyun interrupted.
Morjeong-gyeon tilted her head.
“Why not?”
“They’re mine. Both of them.”
Kim Min-jung looked surprised.
Morjeong-gyeon laughed smoke into the air.
“Someone would think this is your company, huh?”
“Still, no.”
“Heh. So stubborn, I see.”
She brushed the bamboo ashes and continued.
“Good. The model is forming, but it’ll take time to polish. Keep handling them for now.”
“Thank you.”
“But when they’re grown, you must be able to let them go.”
“I will, even if they don’t want to leave.”
Kim Min-jung sighed in relief. She had no intention of leaving Z-Team yet.
Lee Hyun seemed unfazed even in front of Morjeong-gyeon, which was remarkable.
“Now, the main point.”
“Yes.”
“Plan to strike the Committee Headquarters once Z-Team is complete?”
Kim Min-jung’s eyes widened.
‘How does the guild master know…?!’
They had only briefly mentioned catching Seo Chang-woo at Major Lee’s mansion. Security was crucial.
Yet Morjeong-gyeon knew.
Lee Hyun nodded knowingly.
“Yes. But a detailed plan will be submitted separately.”
“Move it up. Those Dangjol bastards are resisting.”
Geum Ji-sang handed documents.
“Today, X-Team and Y-Team blocked attacks from the City Cartel in Poland and the Gizzard Cult in South Africa on the Committee’s secret villas.”
“……!”
“Fortunately, no major damage. But other factions are trying to involve themselves in the Committee’s affairs.”
Morjeong-gyeon twirled the bamboo.
“So now you strike their headquarters boldly?”
“Yes. Maybe even chop the traitor Shi Chang-you’s head off. Wouldn’t that be a sight?”
Morjeong-gyeon clearly knew the target was Seo Chang-woo.
“But that’ll provoke other factions more. Are you okay with that?”
“Are you asking me? I’m Morjeong-gyeon. Even if the whole world attacks, I wouldn’t flinch. You go dance with your sword and come back.”
Her smile twisted.
“I’ll protect you.”
Lee Hyun bowed.
“Yes. I’ll return having danced well.”
