RG 32

As I looked around at the chains that had me completely ensnared, I thought to myself, I wouldn’t make it back in time. 

No matter how leisurely Cha Sahyeon was taking his bath, he would have already come out by now. And he would notice I’m missing…

‘Ah, damn it.’

Please just stay calm.

Surely, he wouldn’t have wrecked everything while I was gone, right? Judging by the quiet status window, there didn’t seem to be any major issues yet.

While suppressing my anxious thoughts, I lightly tapped my shoulder with the blade of my sword. Despite being surrounded by the opponent’s skill, there didn’t seem to be any imminent danger to my life. Both sides were simply exploring each other for now.

“It’s not like I need your permission to use a mask.”

“The misunderstanding is awkward, but I’m here not solely because of that.” As the man tilted his head slightly, his hair gently tousled. His hair shimmered like silver in the moonlight. “I’ve told you, right? We’re an information group. Naturally, we’re curious about your identity.”

“My identity…”

“Do you have any intention of willingly revealing it? You said you’re busy, so if you just show your face, I’ll send you back immediately.” The man gestured to my mask. With the deep-set hat and black mask I wore, only my eyes would be barely visible.

‘Even if I take off the mask, my face has changed a bit compared to my face without the skill, so my identity wouldn’t be easily recognizable.’

Though it might raise some suspicion, it would still be difficult for anyone to realize that I was Cha Seohu. Hyeon Dowun registered only Cha Sahyeon as my sibling, so those guys won’t be able to figure out who ‘Cover’ is in the end.

‘But that doesn’t mean I should reveal my hand first. What should I do to get the most out of that man and the large-scale intelligence group ‘Spider’s Web’?’

After calmly considering my options, I said, “You’ve got some nerve.”

“Hmm?”

“You expect me to just tell you for free? Why would I?” I tilted my head mockingly like the man, as if dumbfounded. “We’re both S-classes, so it’s not like I’m in a disadvantageous position here. We’re both hiding our faces, so why should I be the one to reveal mine?”

“Oh, I see. Well, that’s a fair point.” Surprisingly quick to concede, the man asked directly, “Then, should I also just take off my mask?”

“No. Sorry, but I’m not curious about your face.”

Because of the main character’s identity, I needed to encourage as many meetings with that man as possible. That way, we could become familiar or even comrades. Judging by his attitude, if I expressed interest, he’d immediately take off his mask. But if that happened, I’d have to take off mine too… and if his interest in me waned as a result, we might never meet again.

‘By then, how will I find the leader of Spider’s Web?’

If he disappeared overseas or deliberately went into hiding, I’d never find him. So, the best approach was to maintain interest while leveraging the power that guy possessed.

“How about we make a deal instead?”

Fortunately, the man showed some interest in my proposition. “A deal?”

“I’ve been in need of an information group anyway. I’m looking for certain individuals.”

“Are you suggesting we exchange information?”

“Exactly.”

The man adjusted his mask as if organizing his thoughts and readily nodded. “Alright.”

Surprisingly, I was the one taken aback by his response. He accepted the proposal so readily?

“Well, we don’t usually conduct transactions like this… but if we’re the first ones to find out the true identity of the currently famous top-ranked player, it’s not a bad deal.”

“Your immediate acceptance tells me you’re genuinely curious about my identity.”

“Securing information first is crucial. However, there are a few conditions.”

“Go ahead.”

“First, you must not reveal your identity to anyone else before telling me. Otherwise, it defeats the purpose of information acquisition.”

I agreed without hesitation. I was confident in my ability to keep it hidden, and even if it were revealed, no one would believe that I was Cha Seohu.

“Second, you must maintain your position as the top-ranked player. The only value I see in you is your rank.”

This was a bit concerning. My position as the top-ranked player was a product of sheer luck. Maintaining it was a dilemma, but ignoring this matter could mean the Association might remove me from the top spot at their whim.

‘I don’t have grand ambitions for the top spot, but if things are going this way, I’ll have to find a way to hold on.’

I knew I couldn’t beat Kwon Taehyeok again, but I couldn’t cancel the deal now either. So, I nodded. “Is there anything else?” I asked.

“Yes. The last condition: you must not make the same request to any other organization besides ours.”

“Why is that?”

To my question, the man shrugged and explained in a joking tone. “It’s awkward when people in the same industry kill each other.”

“How ruthless. You mentioned a hint of illegality, but now you’re openly talking about killing people?”

“In our line of work, we roam freely in dangerous places. When we encounter someone in such places, we need to know whether they’re enemies or colleagues. If they’re enemies, they must be eliminated.” Despite my jeers, the man remained unfazed and smiled softly. “We need to survive too.”

“Ugh…”

His shamelessness was irritating, but he was right that it wasn’t something I should focus on. With a sigh, I replied, “I’ll accept all three conditions, but I have one of my own.”

“What is it?”

“Stop surveilling me. I’m not planning to run away. If you need anything, inform One Guild.”

“It seems like you have some connection with One Guild after all.”

“Don’t monitor One Guild or its members either. Once I receive the information I need from you, you’ll learn about my identity. There’s no need for surveillance.”

“Alright. If it’s uncomfortable, we’ll stop. Is there anything else you want?”

“…”

Despite the man’s friendly demeanor, a sense of unease kept creeping up on me.

‘What’s with this guy?’

Why is he so readily accepting my proposals? Sure, it’s a fair deal, and there’s nothing wrong from their perspective, but… I couldn’t shake off this uneasy feeling.

As my mind became increasingly complex, the man continued his inquiries, “Let’s wrap up the negotiations here. Now, I’d like to hear the most important part. Who are the people you’re looking for?”

Setting aside my discomfort, I began explaining, “…Recently, there was an incident where several guilds, led by the Yesung Guild, attacked a research facility.”

The man seemed to understand my words well. “I know about it. The incident where the Yesung Guild ended up in trouble due to the intervention of the Management Bureau, right?”

“What I’m after is the information about the research facility’s personnel, especially the whereabouts of a woman known as the ‘Director.'”

“The Director, huh…” the man muttered with a strange atmosphere. Watching him, I swallowed dryly.

‘Can I trust him?’

With “The Spider King” appearing in the status window, it’s unlikely that the person is related to the research facility. 

To be honest, I’m not sure if I should trust just the information displayed in the status window. I’m not even certain about what the status window is, or if it’s really helping me. So, I’ve essentially taken a gamble, prepared for whatever consequences might come. While trying to hide my tension, I silently waited, and soon the man raised his head.

“Understood. I think this is sufficient for now.”

“Just with this information, you can find them?”

“While the details are sparse, the situation is quite unique, and finding someone affiliated with somewhere isn’t too difficult.”

“You seem quite confident.”

Can the Spider’s Web really find the information that Hyeon Dowun couldn’t? It’s a gamble, but if they truly find it, I’ll owe them a big favor.

“I’ll pass on any relevant information to One Guild as I acquire it.”

“Do as you please.”

With that, our conversation concluded. I couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief internally.

‘I’m not too late yet, am I?’

I felt like I could make it back to the office before Cha Sahyeon got angry. With that hope in mind, I was about to turn around and leave when I reflexively twisted my head to avoid a piercing sensation.

The iron chains, appearing out of nowhere, narrowly missed my face as they plunged into the ground with a clang. Instantly, the air around us stiffened, becoming chillingly cold. 

Suppressing my irritation, I turned to face the man. “What now?”

“Before you go.” With a hint of amusement in his voice, the man raised his chin slightly, and the iron chains surrounding me began to move threateningly. “I’d like to confirm something.”

“What confirmation?”

“Well, I want to make sure that you really are the number one Hunter ‘Cover’. After all, our conversation is based on the assumption that you are indeed ‘Cover.'”

“What?”

‘What is this crazy guy talking about?’

Before I could react, I spotted a chain aiming for my thigh, and I swiftly swung my sword to deflect it. Sharp bloodlust rained down on my entire body.

‘This bastard planned this from the beginning…!’

Biting my lip, I glared at the man, who seemed consistently amused.