Against the Clock: The Team Leader’s Pursuit of Glory

'I managed to sneak in somehow... Hm, as expected, other places are heavily guarded. They've even set up booby traps and alarm spells. For just one Hunter and one civilian, that's a lot of spending. The facts I know must be truly critical after all.'

Hyun Junggeon made full use of his stealth abilities to find a route out of the prison village. Unfortunately, communications were still down in this area. Putting away his smartphone, which showed no signal bars, Hyun Junggeon continued searching for a way to escape outside of Sinuiju.

Perhaps the heavens rewarded his perseverance, for he finally discovered a path through an underground tunnel. Although Zhang Zhongxun's men were guarding this place too, the underground passage was so vast and complex that even Zhang Zhongxun didn't know all the routes.

"I might just be able to find a way out."

Walking through the pitch-dark tunnel, Hyun Junggeon thought about his next plan. Even if he could contact Iron Will, there were still numerous things to consider.

How to rescue Kang Mu-hyuk, what stance to take regarding Sinuiju afterward. If he had to intervene, should it be through negotiations or battle, and so on.

'If blood is to be shed, it's better to minimize it. Should I return to my old job? Honestly, I don't like assassination. It ends too easily. If Kang Mu-hyuk's life weren't at stake, this situation would actually be quite enjoyable.'

Just as his thoughts were about to get tangled in disappointment and temptation, a sensation swept over his entire body, instantly blanking his mind.

"Damn it!"

It was a close call. A thin rapier had just pierced the spot where Hyun Junggeon had been standing moments before.

'When did they-!'

A stealthy ambush so silent that he didn't even sense it.

'It's an assassin.'

Hyun Junggeon realized the attacker was a fellow Hunter like himself. He hid himself deeper into the darkness, trying to suppress his presence as much as possible. Using his stealth skill to their fullest, he tried to escape the enemy's notice.

'My God. The problem is I know someone is here, yet I can't feel anything?'

Despite scanning the surroundings intently, Hyun Junggeon was shocked to find no trace of any life form.

During his days as an assassin for the Titan guild, he had secretly killed many enemies who were a threat to the guild. Most of his targets were villains, and although some had no criminal record, they had secretly committed evil deeds, ultimately meeting their end by his blade.

This made him a highly recognized professional assassin in terms of secret killing.

'It's been a long time since I fought someone like this... No, this is the first actually. I've faced many strong Hunters, but never one who surpasses me in stealth and assassination.'

Later, Guild Master Lee Cheoljung exposed and dismantled the Titan Vice Guild Master Ma Taesu's private assassination group.

Kang Mu-hyuk was the one who had noticed and orchestrated that. Hyun Junggeon, angry at losing the thrilling games he enjoyed, chose Kang Mu-hyuk as his final assassination target in Titan.

He then infiltrated the strategy team as an experienced recruit, settling there while plotting how to kill Kang Mu-hyuk in the most painful way, eventually becoming the deputy team leader.

'I'm straying from the matter at hand. Focus, focus. A slip-up could mean my funeral today.'

Regaining his lost focus, Hyun Junggeon realized that even a brief lapse had been a mistake. An overwhelming force pressed down on him. Instinctively, he leaped aside to avoid it.

Boom!

"Shit! What kind of assassin uses such loud weapons?!"

"I'm not an assassin."

"What?!"

"I'm a professional spy."

The shock of being outmaneuvered was short lived. Dozens of daggers flew out of Hyun Junggeon's hands at the same time.

"Gasp, you're not an easy target, huh?"

Despite the noisy and flailing movements of the enemy, which were no different from those of a novice, strangely, none of Hyun Junggeon's daggers hit their mark. As if attacking shadows, all the daggers ended up stuck in the floor and walls.

The opponent yelled out in frustration.

"You're the one shooting dangerous weapons at me!"

"Are you really saying that to me after seeing the hole your attack created?"

"I didn't do that."

"What?"

"Ah, that was me."

A voice came from behind. It was the second time in his life that he had been caught off guard from behind. To think both times had happened on the same day.

"Oh, damn it. This is far from fun."

Swish!

[Tenfold Shackles]

Invisible chains wrapped around Hyun Junggeon's body in an instant.

"I'm especially missing my personal weapon today. I should've stolen it when I left Titan."

"What? You're from Titan?"

"Do you know Titan?"

"Oh. Now it all makes sense. No wonder it was strange. There's no way we'd lose contact for no reason."

"You're the only one who gets it. Can't you tell me what's going on? Why suddenly bring up Titan?"

"Huhu, pretending to be oblivious now won't help you. A professional spy like me can tell just by looking into your eyes. You're one of Ma Taesu's men, right? Upset that Kang messed up the last mission?"

"I did make a lot of enemies working under Ma Taesu...but it seems like you're off target?"

"Look at this guy, still playing dumb, huh? Hey, what did you do with Guild Leader Kang?"

"Guild Leader Kang? You mean Kang Mu-hyuk?"

"Look at him, Eulji, this guy's a fucking good at acting. I don't think talking will get us anywhere with him."

"What should we do?"

"Beat him up."

"That's my specialty."

"W-wait a minute. I think there's a misunderstanding here...."

"Beat him up until he talks!"

"Hey, listen to me... Ugh! Agh! Oi, you bastards...! Ugh! I won't... Argh!"

"Wow, this guy's no joke! He's still holding out after that? Even Park Beom-il from White Tiger was knocked out after this attack. What should we do, Mr. Cho?"

"My philosophy is simple. No man is strong in front of a beating."

"Got it, I'll keep pounding him."

After a barrage of shouts and screams echoed through the tunnel, Hyun Junggeon finally went limp. No matter what they hit him with, the pain persisted despite him using all his mana to defend.

"You bastards... Guild Leader Kang... w-was working with... such brutes? Ugh."

"Huh? Mr. Cho, this guy seems to know Mr. Kang."

"Stop. Oi, stop hitting him. Dude, chill, limits, yeah? You were the same when you attacked me in the past."

"You gotta give me clear signals."

"Oi, listen. Oi, he's not breathing. Put him down. Hey, breathe. Breathe!"

Mr. Cho laid Hyun Junggeon on the ground and attempted CPR. Suddenly, Hyun Junggeon regained his breath, swung his legs, and wrapped them around Mr. Cho's neck.

In a flash, he rolled with Mr. Cho, held his back, and pressed a dagger from his pocket to her throat.

"You bastard, you tricked me?!"

"You jerks, listen to me! I'll slit her throat!"

"Wow, goosebumps. How is he so good at acting like he's dead?"

"Don't come any closer. Or I can't guarantee this guy's life."

"I don't really care. We're not that close."

"Oi, Go Eul-ji, you fuc─!"

Hyun Junggeon let out a dry laugh as he watched the two, unsure if they were joking, acting, or serious.

"Mr. Kang... He was working with these fun guys alone? How annoying."

"You don't seem sane to me either."

Even as a hostage, Mr. Cho didn't stop talking.

At that moment, the sound of dozens of footsteps echoed from the other end of the tunnel.

"They're over there!"

"I heard an explosion from that direction!"

"Your voice is too loud. They heard everything!"

"That's because of you guys!"

"Let's stop arguing and just run, yeah? We'll talk once we get out of here."

Hyun Junggeon flinched. That was because he heard the voice of the man he had restrained, Mr. Cho, come from a few steps away. He wasn't holding anyone anymore. He was holding a dagger against empty air.

"When did he... You're quite skilled, huh?"

"I told you, I'm a professional spy. If I couldn't do this much, I'd be out of business."

"What are you two doing? Let's get out of here first!"

"Ha?"

Hyun Junggeon laughed heartily and followed the two.

Kang Mu-hyuk's threat left Hwang Dongsu with no choice but to sit quietly on the chair next to him.

'Did he take my mother hostage? Is this all a trap? Damn it, he's definitely an ordinary person. I don't get what on earth is going on.'

Hwang Dongsu glared at Kang Mu-hyuk, who was watching him silently.

"I swear, if anything happens to my mother, I will rip you apart."

"Now we can finally talk. Don't worry. Nothing will happen to your mother."

"How can I believe that?"

"Because I haven't done anything."

"What?"

"I haven't done anything. I haven't taken her hostage. In fact, I don't even know where your house is."

Hwang Dongsu stared at Kang Mu-hyuk with a bewildered expression. It took him about five seconds to understand what he was saying.

"But earlier, you clearly..."

"I'm not the one who's going to harm your mother."

"If it's not you, then who?"

"Disease. I heard she's very ill. Non-external wounds can't be cured with potions. There's no proper medical facility in Sinuiju to treat her. Maybe advanced mana therapy at a large hospital might help."

"As if I don't know that? Hey, do you even understand the situation here? We can't afford such luxuries. People in the prison village can't."

"Exactly. No matter how much money you have, the people of Sinuiju can't access those services."

"You're not mocking me, are you? This is ridiculous."

"But I can treat your mother, Mr. Hwang."

"What... What did you just say?"

"You must know who I am."

"Yeah, Kang Mu-hyuk..."

"Not just my name."

"Well... I'm not up-to-date with the world..."

"I am the leader of the Iron Will Guild. Iron Will is part of Taesung Group, the fifth-largest conglomerate in the country, which has one of the best medical foundations in the country. I can arrange for your mother to receive treatment there."

Hwang Dongsu felt his strength drain. Leaning back in his chair, he stared blankly at the ceiling.

Kang Mu-hyuk continued, "I've heard a lot about this place today. It's very different from what I read in texts. It's hard to ignore. So, I've been thinking about what to do. But then, you showed up here. So, I decided to start with you."

"Start with what?"

Hwang Dongsu's voice trembled with unease. He couldn't even look Kang Mu-hyuk in the eyes, feeling it was better not to.

Kang Mu-hyuk added, "Let's start by taking over this place."

"Name!"

"No Song-rin."

"Age!"

"36."

"Occupation!"

"Oi. Can't you just tell by looking? I'm a Hunter. You guys call us huntsmen. You know it. Why do you keep annoying me by asking over and over?"

"Affiliation!"

"Jesus. What is this? The Hunter Investigation Agency? This is giving me trauma. Tch! Don't cross the line while I'm going easy on you. Who do you think you are to act like this?!"

"Us? We're the patrol unit guarding this village. You're acting very suspicious right now!"

"God. I can't beat them up. Oi, all I did was make a few kids cry, and you're treating me like a criminal for that?"

"You got caught sneaking into the village through a closed underground tunnel. Do you know that route is used for smuggling? Drugs come through there too. So why should we trust and let you go?"

"Wow, just my rotten luck. I followed you quietly to avoid making a scene, and now I have to endure this humiliation. I hate druggies the most. What do you take me for? Should I just beat you all up and run?"

Creak!

"Enough."

A man suddenly opened the door and walked in. The person interrogating No Song-rin stood up straight and saluted him.

"Welcome, Captain!"

"Finally, someone in charge. If you'd been any later, I would've turned this place upside down. Even though I've become more patient, there are limits."

"You bastard! How dare you act rude in front of the Captain!"

"Let it be. Step out for a moment. I need to talk to him."

"Yes, sir."

No Song-rin realized the man before him was a big shot when he saw how quickly the subordinate responded to his superior's orders.

'I think his rank is similar to mine? Hmm, I can't say for sure. He's hiding his energy quite well.'

The man extended his hand for a handshake.

"You seem to be a rank-3, high-grade Hunter like me. My men were rude to you. I apologize for the late introduction. I'm Yeon Jung-moon."