Levelling Up In An Exclusive Dungeon

Chapter 39

With just a few words exchanged, Han Young-seok’s mask was easily removed.

He realized the exciting truth and quickly bit his tongue, but the atmosphere was already beyond repair.

Ultimately, Han Young-seok resolved to discard any pretence of insincerity.

When he thought about the new type of monster he had been eyeing as a primary material, there was no need to be cautious anymore.

“Tsk, tsk. From the look on your face, it seems that friend of yours didn’t succeed very well.”

Han Young-seok clicked his tongue in a manner that suggested genuine disappointment.

After all, using precious materials on an ordinary aluminum baseball bat was incomprehensible behavior for anyone.

Had it not been for the absence of dwarves, Kang Jin-hyuk would likely not have even considered such a tactic.

“If you’re going to use it so uselessly, perhaps you should sell it to us instead. You’ve been too greedy.”

Kang Jin-hyuk felt no inclination to respond to Han Young-seok’s reprimand.

People like him would simply ignore an explanation anyway.

It was far more efficient to ignore him than to waste time speaking to a brick wall.

“Stop meddling in others’ affairs and focus on the operation.”

“I already know what to prepare even without your prompting.”

Before Kang Jin-hyuk’s arrival, the Titan guild members had been scouting the area around Tyrant’s branch to plan their attack.

Considering the possibility that this could be a site of actual human trafficking, they needed to proceed with caution.

As three hunters returned from their reconnaissance mission, Han Young-seok hurriedly welcomed them.

“Did you learn anything new?”

“Yes.”

“It seems the tip-off was indeed factual.”

The hunters glanced meaningfully at Kang Jin-hyuk with knowing eyes.

“So, is it true that the Tyrant guild is engaged in human trafficking?”

“Based on the evidence, it certainly appears to be.”

The mobile phone handed to Han Young-seok was filled with photographs taken during the scouting.

While he examined each image, the hunters continued their report.

“We found several bones in the woods near the building, presumed to be human.”

“They’ve deployed three layers of barriers to prevent outsiders from peering inside.”

“From the detected movements, at least 25 individuals are guarding the building.”

After hearing the report, Han Young-seok nodded slowly, as if to show he understood.

“It seems we have the upper hand in terms of waterways.”

“However, a frontal assault could be perilous.”

“I’m aware.”

Han Young-seok was not foolish enough to recklessly rush into the enemy’s main stronghold.

Despite his greedy nature, he was very much an executive member of Titan.

Since his position was not obtained through luck, he possessed sufficient qualities as a commander.

“I will need someone to confirm what lies within. Is anyone willing to volunteer?”

As soon as Han Young-seok finished speaking, numerous hunters stepped forward, eager to take on the task.

Seeing the courage of his guild members brought a satisfied smile to Han Young-seok’s face.

“How many can actually infiltrate?”

“Only one.”

“Can we increase that number?”

“That’s as far as our skills can take us.”

“If we try sending more, the chances of getting caught are incredibly high.”

After hearing this, Han Young-seok didn’t push the issue any further.

He trusted the scout’s conviction and the reasons behind their firm stance.

“Only one can go, huh…”

The conditions placed him in a quandary.

If he had to send just one person into a location guarded by over twenty-five individuals, they needed to be at least an A-rank hunter and possess stealth skills.

However, they had to conserve those capable individuals for the actual raid.

It would be wasteful to expend them on such a dangerous task.

‘Ah-ha.’

A brilliant idea struck Han Young-seok, and his eyes lit up.

Concealing his excitement, he spoke to Kang Jin-hyuk in a seemingly troubled tone.

“I’m sorry to ask you, but could you lend a hand?”

“Help? In what way?”

“Stealth operations.”

Kang Jin-hyuk, who had overheard the discussion between Han Young-seok and the hunters, understood the perilous nature of the task.

The request was aimed at him, implying he, of all people, should take on such a risky endeavor.

“Just say you want to send me out to die.”

“Why would you say something like that? I think you’re the most suitable person for the job.”

Seeing Han Young-seok’s playful smile, Kang Jin-hyuk was overwhelmed by the urge to punch him.

“How on earth do you see me as suitable? Anyone would know I’m a C-rank hunter.”

“Perhaps that may be true for a typical C-rank hunter.”

What Han Young-seok intended to express was obvious.

‘You are not an ordinary C-rank hunter; you caught a new breed of monster all by yourself.’

It was an unspoken suggestion for him to drop the pretense of humility.

‘What a ridiculous thing to say.’

Once Kang Jin-hyuk had previously asserted that no C-rank hunter could take down a new type of monster, it was evident that his capabilities were well beyond the norm.

Despite knowing this, he guarded his skills like sacred secrets.

“While it would be easy for others to claim C-rank simply based on their guild membership, I’m asserting that your abilities differ.”

“I still would prefer someone more capable for this.”

After watching him persistently reject the offer, Han Young-seok raised an eyebrow.

“Why must you always think negatively? I’m simply providing you a chance to gain merit.”

“And if I refuse?”

As soon as Kang Jin-hyuk voiced the question, a number of heavily built hunters closed in around him.

Towering in stature, they formed a formidable circle, their intentions all too clear.

“In that case, it’d be best to keep a safe distance if you don’t want to interfere.”

Of course, rejecting them now meant he would gain nothing from the operation.

Han Young-seok espoused a nonsense argument that left no space for reasonable objections.

“If you wish to withdraw from this plan, you’ll walk away empty-handed with no reward.”

Kang Jin-hyuk understood this twisted logic all too well.

Han Young-seok was indeed presenting him with zero consideration of win-win principles.

Instead, it was a clear ultimatum meant to coerce him into a corner.

“I suppose I have no other option…”

Kang Jin-hyuk’s mind raged at the imposition.

Life or death battles felt far more appealing than this frustrating back-and-forth negotiation.

“Just think how difficult it might be to get your hands dirty fighting against a C-rank.”

“People as cowardly as you are just better off evading.”

“Stop undermining me. I’m giving you an opportunity, not obstructing you.”

“I see. So, you’re giving me a chance even while standing in opposition?”

“Haha, perhaps a little misinterpretation may have occurred there…”

When no other counterargument seemed feasible, Kang Jin-hyuk decided to head towards Han Young-seok’s direction, steeling his resolve.

“Let me set the terms first.”

As soon as he couched, Han Young-seok’s expression brightened further.

“Of course, that would be ideal. What do you want?”

“Inside the building—regardless of what I find—all spoils are mine.”

“Of course. That’s reasonable enough.”

A C-rank hunter who believed he could walk out of the den of twenty-five Tyrant guild members with loot?

Han Young-seok smirked inwardly, thinking about how improbable it was going to be.

How could a C-rank hunter extract spoils from fifty members guarding an entrance?

There was no way any of Kang Jin-hyuk’s expectations would come to fruition.

“Fine. It’s a deal, then.”

Han Young-seok internally shoved aside the thought of that “deal.”

Little did he realize the repercussions of his disbelief.

“Now, I need to prepare. Just wait a second.”

Kang Jin-hyuk rose from his seat, departing the conversation that was barely skirting around the edge of sanity.

* * *

While the Titan guild members created a narrow opening in the barriers, Lucia quietly asked Kang Jin-hyuk.

“Are you truly going to go along with their whims?”

“What other options do I have?”

“There are plenty of ways out.”

Lucia pointed towards her bow and arrows, implying that she could handle the entire situation by herself.

By simply putting her mind to it, she could easily subdue all of the hunters surrounding them.

“I appreciate your enthusiasm, but that will cause unnecessary chaos.”

Imagining the rumor spreading that thirty Titan guild members had fallen to just one person might trigger unbearable consequences dealing with the aftermath.

“I have a plan I’m following, so don’t worry.”

There was a different condition protecting that “plan,” and Kang Jin-hyuk appeared confident in his approach.

Lucia sighed, contemplating what the real reason could be behind his bold demeanor.

“I’m worried about you. I’m just saying those idiots bother me.”

“Stop overthinking. There’s nothing new about their antics.”

It was perfectly commonplace for large guilds willing to bully those weaker than themselves.

As Lucia wore her exasperated expression, her eyes suddenly lit up.

“What if someone follows you in?”

“Don’t worry. Everything’s under control.”

As dusk settled and the guild prepared to proceed, Lucia stepped back and advised him.

“Contact me if anything goes wrong.”

Holding up a small crystal that sparkled with a purple hue, it served as an emergency communication item.

Though cell phones existed, some hunters kept these crystals as backups, allowing contact even in areas without signal.

Kang Jin-hyuk thought this was an ideal item for someone like Lucia, who struggled with technology.

“Are you ready to go?”

At the guild member’s questioning, Kang Jin-hyuk nodded in affirmation.

“Then proceed directly towards that building.”

A building lit even in late hours loomed in sight; it appeared to be an ordinary factory from the outside.

“Must we approach in a straight line?”

“Unless you want to get caught, you can zigzag all you like.”

Before Kang Jin-hyuk stood an imposing barrier less than 50 meters away.

Even top-notch hunters, specializing in traps and barriers, could barely create a hole without detection, and those openings only remained for mere seconds.

“Even attempting to make multiple openings will give you away. You only get one shot for this.”

“If I fail, what will come of it?”

“You can bet we’ll abandon you on the spot without hesitation.”

“That’s quite cruel.”

Though harsh, it was too logical of a decision to ignore.

In reality, Titan owed no loyalty to Kang Jin-hyuk.

To them, he was merely an outsider in a convenient position for scapegoating.

“Running a 50-meter dash is certainly a rare occurrence.”

He had to reach the building within nine seconds; faltering even slightly would equate to failure.

While that threshold might seem tough for an average civilian, it posed no true challenge for a hunter.

“Run as soon as I hit three. One, two…”

On the sound of “three,” the hunter raised a hand over his head.

Simultaneously, Kang Jin-hyuk propelled himself forward.

He didn’t even need to count to nine, arriving at the building in just three seconds.

Without an alarm, it appeared the barriers weren’t activated.

“This place…”

Crossing into the barrier’s territory, Kang Jin-hyuk couldn’t help but chuckle to himself.

Despite appearing ordinary from the outside, the interior seemed like a fortress, with barred windows blocking off every entry point.

It seemed the barrier did more than detect intruders; it concealed the building’s true appearance as well.

“What a waste of time.”

Kang Jin-hyuk mused, realizing all the information gathered could very well be inaccurate.

He swallowed hard to calm his nerves, taking slow steps deeper into the building’s heart.

* * *

As Kang Jin-hyuk slipped through the barrier unnoticed, a Titan guild member sighed in relief.

“Phew. He’s got decent skills, it seems.”

Just as he was about to head back to report, a strange mark on the ground caught his attention.

“What’s this?”

Four deep impressions in the terrain emerged; two were created by Kang Jin-hyuk landing and pressing into the ground, but the other two marks were inexplicable.

“Did he train while waiting?”

Looking around, he realized two hunters had joined him aside from Kang Jin-hyuk.

The Titan guild member dismissed the unusual marks without concern, as the mission remained paramount.

It was a trivial matter whether there were four holes or five.

As long as their operations proceeded without a hitch, such discrepancies wouldn’t bother him in the slightest.