RG 14
by Lubai“Guildmaster.”
A secretary entered the office with a clear knock and handed Kwon Taehyeok a tablet PC. “I’ve looked into it as instructed. However, there isn’t much substantial information available.”
Taking the tablet, Kwon Taehyeok scrolled through the data. An image attached amidst the information displayed the exterior of the research facility raided last week. “What about this person called ‘The Director’?”
“There’s hardly anything substantial about that part too. I apologize.”
During the raid orchestrated by Kwon Taehyeok at the research facility, they managed to rescue dozens of awakened individuals. Yet, testimonies from the victims were scarce.
There was mention of a woman known as the Director, who’d been researching pain-inducing substances. There was little valuable information besides testimony regarding experiments conducted on them for said research. However hard they searched the facility, there was no trace of this Director figure. It seemed she had managed to escape amidst the chaos. Missing the most influential figure in the facility resulted in a decrease in obtainable information.
Kwon Taehyeok sighed, rubbing his temples.
‘I thought we’d finally get decisive evidence this time.’
Would things have been different if they hadn’t missed this Director figure? Irritated, he pondered the possibilities. Regardless of the Director or anyone else, the biggest issue was the Management Bureau that took away all the apprehended individuals.
Kwon Taehyeok had discovered the illegally operated research facility and united the guilds to raid it, only to discover the Management Bureau taking away all the research facility personnel under the guise of offering help in the aftermath. Their rushed interference was absurd. However, he understood this stemmed from the longstanding conflicts between the Hunter guilds and the Management Bureau. They, too, were in a position of scrutiny by the government. However, extracting those individuals did nothing but ruin matters. Thanks to that, Yesung Guild couldn’t interrogate the individuals and only obtained superficial information from the victims.
Missing the equivalent of the core of the research facility–the Director herself. Capturing individuals only to have them taken away by the Management Bureau. And finally, one more thing.
‘That man carrying the young child…’
The image of the man awkwardly smiling and avoiding eye contact had lingered peculiarly in his memory.
Looking back now, there were more than a few odd aspects. Unlike other victims paralyzed by fear or anxiety, that man seemed overly relaxed. He appeared more like a Hunter from a different guild than a victim trapped in the research facility.
The man’s subtle action of shielding the child from his line of sight lingered in his mind.
‘I checked just in case, but he doesn’t seem to appear on the list of victims, as if he had escaped.’
Kwon Taehyeok dabbed at the corner of his mouth with a sinking gaze. After a brief moment of thought, he soon ordered, “I recall there being data on the subject found at the research facility.”
“Yes.”
“Compile that with the list of victims. Be as detailed as possible.”
“Understood.”
The secretary didn’t leave the office after responding. He soon spoke hesitatingly, “Um, Guildmaster, there’s one more piece of news that has come in.”
“What is it?”
“We’ve received an application for a Ranking Match.”
A Ranking Match? At a time like this? Kwon Taehyeok furrowed his brow with a displeased expression. “Didn’t I say not to accept any for the time being?”
“That’s why I intended to reject this one too, but…” The perplexed expression on the secretary’s face continued as he spoke, “I don’t know how, but the application came in anonymously.”
“Anonymously?”
“Yes. There’s no information about which Hunter or affiliation it’s from. Just the date and location. It doesn’t seem to be a formal application through the association.”
“…”
Then, an application coming through professional personnel? If that’s the case, the sender was purposely targeting Kwon Taehyeok.
‘Are they trying to get rid of me through the Ranking Match?’
After demolishing the research facility that had been conducting extensive human experiments, Kwon Taehyeok had expected that someone might aim for him, but not in this manner. He twisted his lips in a derisive smile.
“What should we do? Reject it?”
“No. Accept it.”
“Pardon? You’re serious?”
“Yeah. Along with the data I asked for just now, bring me the application form too. I need to confirm the date and location.”
“Oh, um… Alright. I understand.” The secretary, who seemed flustered, hastily regained composure and replied, “Then, I’ll bring it as soon as the data is organized.”
The bowed secretary hurriedly left the office. Left alone, Kwon Taehyeok lowered his head and glanced again at the picture of the research facility displayed on his tablet PC.
‘Ranking Match.’
He didn’t know what deceitful tactic they intended to employ, but ultimately, the winner would be him.
In fact, this was an opportunity.
As the top-ranked participant in the official Ranking Match, cameras from broadcasting stations would naturally rush in, and there would likely be a crowd of spectators.
If the opponent attempted anything to kill him, it would be captured entirely on video. Furthermore, if he managed to overpower the opponent, he could gain a new witness that the Management Bureau couldn’t touch.
‘How foolish they are.’
How lightly they must regard him to dare challenge him to a Ranking Match.
Kwon Taehyeok’s lips curled upwards. He was looking forward to the upcoming match.
***
I pulled down a hat and layered a hoodie over it, topped with a denim jacket. These clothes were deliberately bought in a loose size to accommodate my hidden skill.
Though I had brought a cloak from the lab, it was too attention-grabbing, so I left it behind for now. I decided to wear it later, opting for the longsword this time.
“Hey, kid.” Having finished my preparations to go out, I called out to Cha Sahyeon, who was staring at me intensely from the sofa. “I’ll be out for a bit, so you need to stay here quietly.”
“…”
“Got it? Don’t wander off anywhere, just stay put. I’ll be back soon.”
“…”
The kid blinked without giving any response. Lately, he had been good at answering, so why the silence now?
Ignoring it felt uneasy. I had to approach him, kneeling down to meet his gaze. “I’m really coming back soon, so don’t go outside on your own. I’ll check when I’m back to see if you listened properly.”
“…”
“If you’re curious about outside, we can go for a walk together later. It’s dangerous at night.”
When I finished my words, Cha Sahyeon finally nodded slightly. Huh, so he was complaining about me going out alone. Well, staying cooped up here continuously would be frustrating. Having finally gotten a response, I stood up.
In a way, I felt like a piece of trash to confine a kid like this at home, but I was not willing to compromise. I hadn’t brought the child here intending to nurture while considering his emotions or mood.
If the seed’s progression increases due to Cha Sahyeon’s dissatisfaction with our current lifestyle, I might consider changing the environment. Otherwise, I have no intention to do so.
‘What can he do? He’s ended up tangled with someone like me—a mess of a human being. He should consider it fate and accept it.’
Muttering words I couldn’t say to the child internally, I opened the window and stepped onto the window frame.
“Don’t close this window. And I’ll say it once more, never go out, just wait.”
“…”
“I’ll be back.”
I leaned my body and leaped out of the window.
With a thud, I landed on the ground and scanned my surroundings. I could have gone out through the main gate of the building, but this side was relatively darker and had fewer people passing by, as it was an alleyway.
‘I’ve already checked that there are no nearby CCTV cameras.’
I planned to exit through that window for future actions.
I pulled my hat down deeper and began walking. My destination was the open space where the Ranking Match would take place. It wasn’t too far, just a 30-minute walk.
‘I never thought Kwon Taehyeok would accept my application for a Ranking Match.’
It benefited me, but I couldn’t fathom why he accepted such an absurd, uncompetitive application. Was he indifferent to whoever came, confident in his skills?
It was unfortunate, but I could understand. Even I hadn’t applied for the Ranking Match intending to win. It was supposed to be a match to determine the top spot, and there would surely be broadcasters and many spectators present. It would be fortunate if I didn’t embarrass myself by being humiliated.
‘It’s my fate…’
I looked up at the sky with a sigh that had become familiar by now. The half-moon visible through the clouds seemed unusually bright today.
[Main Quest: Defeat the current Rank 1 Hunter ‘Kwon Taehyeok’ and claim the Rank 1 position (Remaining time: 2 hours 15 minutes)]