In a grimy small office, whose windows were plastered with banners reading “Urgently Need Cash—Welcome”, a man’s irritated voice rang out. Even though it was daytime, it was dark enough to need the lights on, and the stale smell of cigarettes hung heavily in the air.
“Hell, how was I supposed to know and deal with that? I’m telling you, it was just bad luck!”
“You little shit, do you think this is just going to end like that? Damn it, you worthless bastard!”
Thud!
“Aaagh!”
The man went tumbling across the floor after being struck on the head by a thick palm. If Won Deokcheol or Lee Yunho had seen this scene, they would have been shocked, and for good reason. The man who’d just been hit and sent rolling was the very CEO of Shining they’d treated like the sky itself. He was being mercilessly kicked by a flashy-shirted, middle-aged man with a small frame.
“I told you not to open the dungeon to just anyone! How are you going to take responsibility for this, huh?!”
“Damn it! Stop hitting me already!” After being kicked around for a while, the man who’d been playing the role of Shining’s CEO using a homeless man’s stolen identity, finally snapped and sprang to his feet. “Chief Han, isn’t this a bit much? At worst, it’s just a short stint behind bars. If anyone goes, it’ll be me. It’s not like you’re the one going, right?”
“I don’t give a damn if you’re screwed! Because of you, the police investigation might end up tearing through our office too! If the cash flow gets blocked, are
you
going to take responsibility for that?”
Damn bad luck.
The man called Chief Han looked around the office. The five or six burly thugs sitting at computers glanced at him nervously, then one by one turned their heads away.
Displayed on the monitors were online gambling sites.
This office was both a work site and a loan-sharking operation. The company that supposedly managed the garbage-dump dungeon under the name Shining was nothing more than a front. This was the real operation.
“Not a single one of you is actually useful, damn it!”
“This isn’t something you can fix by roughing up some small fry, Chief Han.” The one who spoke was another middle-aged man, lounging casually on a sofa with his legs propped up, completely unfazed by the beating happening right in front of him. “I gave you that information out of goodwill, and now I’m about to get dragged into this mess too. How are you planning to take responsibility for that?”
“Ah, Deputy Director Gi.” Chief Han hurriedly bent at the waist.
Deputy Director Gi’s real name was Gi Jeonghyeon, a high-ranking official from the Central Management Office. To a loan shark like Chief Han, he was a valuable connection. Thanks to the information Gi Jeonghyeon had provided, a company that barely even existed, Shining, had somehow managed to win a dungeon bid. Any favor from him required a considerable sum of money, but once paid, he reliably delivered. The fact that he’d come all the way to the office first thing in the morning meant this incident was serious.
Just today alone, Chief Han had bowed dozens of times already. His back was starting to ache. “This has become truly embarrassing. You trusted us with this.”
“So why the hell did you bring in an S-rank Hunter and cause this kind of disaster? Of all people, you had to involve Han Jaeyeong, that viper-like bastard.”
“Viper?”
“Yeah. Slimy, impossible to tell what they’re thinking. Damn it. I’m retiring soon, and now it looks like I’ll be forced to strip off my uniform before then.”
“Don’t worry, sir. I’ll make sure that bastard takes full responsibility for everything, Deputy Director!”
“Agh!”
As he said that, Chief Han kicked the man who’d been acting as CEO one more time. It was just for show, but when sucking up to someone higher up, that kind of performance mattered.
This time, though, it didn’t seem to work.
Gi Jeonghyeon clicked his tongue. “You think one disposable figurehead like that is enough? Hm? From what I hear, they found a lot of bodies in that dungeon. I really don’t know anything about that, you see.”
“Of course. You don’t know anything at all, Deputy Director! It all happened because
we
neglected management.”
“But it’s not going to be that easy to brush aside. You know how harsh the world is these days. Hell, even college alumni don’t go easy on each other anymore.”
Hearing that, it was obvious what he wanted this time as well.
Damn bastard.
Chief Han clicked his tongue inwardly.
With an S-rank Hunter like Han Jaeyeong involved, it was true that this wouldn’t pass as quietly as usual. But judging by the way Gi Jeonghyeon was laying the groundwork, it seemed he wouldn’t settle for just any ordinary amount.
Just how much does he want this time?
The meaning behind Gi Jeonghyeon’s words was painfully clear. He wanted a bribe, one big enough to buy off whoever could make this whole incident disappear.
“Everyone knows how little civil servants make, yet they still act like they’re the only clean one. What, do they think they’re Yu Hanul or something? Anyway, just try to scrape together about five hundred million won. In cash.”
“Deputy Director Gi, you want it in cash
today
?”
“Hey, stop whining. Five hundred million isn’t even that much. Business has been good for you, hasn’t it?”
“Well… I mean… heh.”
For all the intimidation, the amount was smaller than expected. In fact, cash flow had been especially good lately.
Chief Han put on a servile smile and rubbed his hands together. “Then, um, Deputy Director, if I have it ready by lunchtime today, what about this whole matter…?”
Clink.
The office door suddenly opened.
Startled, Chief Han turned around, thinking it might be the police, then let out a sigh of relief. The person who entered was a young woman wearing a patient gown with a light coat draped over it.
In a good mood now that things seemed settled, Deputy Director Gi waved his hand lazily while chewing gum. “Oh, looks like a customer. Go take care of it first. I’ll just wait here.”
“Ah, yes. Miss, this way, please.”
These days, you could get loans through your phone, so customers who came in person were rare. Chief Han gave the woman a quick once-over.
Hospital bill loan? That’s not very profitable.
When people came looking for loans to cover medical expenses, they usually had to borrow under a family member’s name. If the patient died, there’d be no way to get the money back. “How did you hear about us?”
The woman coughed softly,
hack, hack
, as she looked around the office. “Is this Shining?”
“Huh? Geez, where’d you hear that unlucky name? Ah, you saw it online, didn’t you? You play baccarat, miss?”
In that case, it wasn’t strange for her to know the name Shining. On illegal gambling sites, they even sent messages promising guaranteed loans from Shining to customers who’d lost a lot of money. It was just that, with a police investigation currently underway, the name Shining had become nothing but bad luck.
“We don’t use that name anymore. Well, names don’t really matter anyway. What matters is how much you need.” Smiling, Chief Han rubbed his thumb against his fingers. He’d never once considered how repulsive it might look to others. “Heh. Have a seat. I’m Chief Han.” It wasn’t his real name, neither the surname nor the given name, but that hardly mattered. “So, how much do you need?”
“My credit isn’t very good. I don’t even have a job.”
“Ah, that’s fine! Miss, that’s not a problem at all. It’d be a problem at a bank, sure, but people like us don’t look at things like that. What is it, medical bills?”
“Yes. About three million won…”
“Oh, that’s a small amount. Everything’s fine, but…medical bills, huh.” Chief Han gave the woman in the patient gown another look. “It’d be better if you had a joint guarantor. Family, or a friend?”
“Why? Afraid I’ll die without paying you back?”
“Hey now, that’s a bit sharp for such a young lady. We’re not running a charity here.”
“Do you need an ID?”
“A copy of your ID would be best.”
People who came in after racking up gambling debts usually had no trouble selling out their family or friends, and more often than not, they brought along a family member’s ID. That, too, became a new source of business. But judging by how she spoke, this customer didn’t seem to have anyone she could really call family.
“If you don’t have a guarantor, I don’t think we can lend to you. So, did you bring one?”
“…Actually, I’m a Hunter.”
At the woman’s hesitant admission, Chief Han’s eyes widened. “A Hunter? Then why are you coming to a place like this to borrow money?”
The look of surprise was pure acting. Once someone got addicted to the thrill of gambling, it didn’t matter whether they were a Hunter or not; they’d gamble even if it cost them an arm. And in truth, the algorithm of the illegal gambling sites this operation ran was designed to place ads on pages Hunters frequently searched. Hunters showing up here wasn’t surprising at all.
“I just haven’t been able to find work right away, so I’m short on cash for the moment. The patient gown is because I was injured while clearing a dungeon…”
“Oh, well, that figures if you’re a Hunter. You’ll pay it back in no time.”
“And I also heard through the grapevine that you introduce jobs here, too.”
“Oh? Word about us has gotten around?” Chief Han grinned broadly.
Another one caught,
he thought to himself.
Hunters really are a gold mine.
“Well, honestly, it’s about doing a good deed. Officially distributed potions are ridiculously expensive, right? If we provide all the ingredients, you just have to process them. It’s something any Hunter knows how to do. The pay gets deposited right away.”
The woman frowned. “Isn’t that…illegal?”
“Illegal? Isn’t it more illegal to sell potions, something Hunters absolutely need, at such outrageous prices? If potions were cheaper, you wouldn’t be stuck wearing a patient gown right now.”
Because mages sold potions at absurd prices, this kind of business was bound to arise. Chief Han truly believed that. The quality might differ a bit, but how many people desperately needed medicine right now? In his eyes, the law was what was wrong. There was nothing inherently wrong with this.
“…It does sound appealing.”
“Then let’s start with the contract right away—”
“But I’m not very good at potion-making. Is there any other kind of work?”
That wasn’t an unheard-of response. Since it was illegal in name, some Hunters hesitated at first. But that didn’t mean there weren’t other ways to make money. Chief Han smiled.
A young woman with injuries, no money for hospital bills, and seemingly no family.
“Such a young lady, lacking confidence like that? Hmm. In that case… there’s also part-time work where you go to a dungeon we designate and gather materials. This one’s completely legal. It’s just a request. A commission.”
It was a lie. In reality, there were no materials to collect, and no commission at all. They lured low-ranking Hunters with fake requests and sent them into designated dungeons. In return for sending people, Shining’s account simply received payment from a “business partner.”
The woman asked, her expression clearly intrigued, “Really? Where is it?”
“Ah, um… are you going to do it, miss? There used to be one nearby, but that dungeon can’t be used anymore…”
“Was that dungeon the one used as a dumping ground?”
“Huh? How did you know?”
“I see.” Her previously faint voice suddenly became clear. “I think that’s enough of a confession, Daon.”
“Yeah.”
Snap!
The lights went out.
“Wh-what is this?”
“Damn it, the monitors shut off!”
“Are you kidding me? I was just about to land a big one!”
“Chief Han! What the hell is going on?!”
Whether the power had been cut entirely or not, the monitors were completely dead. The employees who’d been working, as well as Deputy Director Gi lounging on the sofa, all jumped to their feet in alarm.
Chief Han looked around in a panic. “No, did someone flip the breaker? Why is this—”
Click.
Amid the commotion, a metallic sound rang out, oddly distinct.
“What are you doing?”
“Good question.”
The young woman in the patient gown had locked the office door. The atmosphere was clearly wrong.
Cautiously, Chief Han reached for a tool set on the corner of his desk. It was a knife, its edge sharply honed. Even if they were just low-ranking Hunters, scuffles weren’t unheard of, so he always kept it ready. “Whatever you think you’re doing—” he began.
“An illegal gambling den, illegal potion distribution, and on top of that, fraudulent commissions. Thank you for laying it all out so clearly.”
“What are you talking about—”
“H-h-hey!” Deputy Director Gi shouted, his face flushed with anger, at Chief Han.
“What the hell did you say to her?”
“No, I was just explaining the contract—” As he spoke, Chief Han realized something.
Why did I spill everything in such detail?
Thinking back, it had been strange from the start. No matter how shady he was, he wasn’t sloppy enough to blab every aspect of the business to a woman who’d just walked into the office. Not at a time like this, when Shining’s corruption was already exposed and under investigation.
It was as if he’d been possessed, compelled to say everything.
Why?
“M-magic… This is hypnosis magic!” Having inadvertently confessed all his secrets, Chief Han shouted, his face burning red, “This is illegal, you know that? It has no legal validity as testimony!”
He’d heard that some mages used hypnosis to make people spill their secrets effortlessly. But testimony obtained like this, casting magic without consent and secretly extracting information, wasn’t recognized as valid in court.
“I’m protected by the law!”
“Illegal, you say.”
The woman standing by the locked door smiled faintly. In the darkened office, dim even in daytime, her sickly appearance looked strangely ominous.
“I didn’t think you were the type to worry about that.”
“Where the hell did you come from, pulling this kind of illegal investigation?!” Gi Jeonghyeon, now realizing the situation, shouted in a strained voice, “I will not stand for an investigation this unlawful. State your affiliation and your name!”
“Choi Miyeon.” The woman named Choi Miyeon answered with a smile, “As for my affiliation, if I had to say, I’d call myself an accomplice of the devil.”
“What?”
Both Chief Han and Gi Jeonghyeon were momentarily struck dumb. Choi Miyeon’s smile deepened.
“I hate villains who can’t be punished by human laws.”
“What are you saying?”
“And I just happen to know a devil who can deal with villains like that.”
At that absurd declaration, neither Chief Han nor anyone else in the office noticed that while they were talking to the woman in the patient gown, a massive magic circle had been drawn across the office floor.
Whoooosh!
Mana whirled violently as the magic circle split open like a monstrous maw.
Choi Miyeon spread her arms wide in welcome. “Now, please, come in.”