206 – HGL 206

206

General Assembly.

After the Day of Change, Ham Seok-jeong created a kind of General Assembly to cope with the rapidly changing situation. The meeting place, time, and number of people gathered are different each time. Most of the time, the Awakened Management Bureau hosts and invites Hunters, but sometimes individuals or Guilds host it.

In the Wave Guild’s conference room, there were only three people in the large conference room. Cha Eui-jae, Lee Sa-young, and Bae Won-woo. Eui-jae was sitting alone in the center seat with a tablet. Bae Won-woo was standing on the platform in front, explaining the General Assembly. He must have heard it before, but he said he needed to know more details.

Lee Sa-young was sitting a little away from Eui-jae, busy dealing with the remaining work, half-listening. In the end, this was a one-person lecture just for Cha Eui-jae.

‘I, I feel pressured.’

Eui-jae scribbled on the tablet, pretending to take notes. Fortunately, he wasn’t caught doing other things thanks to the mask. Bae Won-woo, standing on the platform, pointed to the screen with a pointer.

“I attended while Sa-young was unconscious, right? There were four or five times in three months.”

Bae Won-woo said, folding his thick fingers.

“From experience, it feels like the direct decision-maker comes instead of the boss. The Vice Guild Leader usually attends. I don’t think the Director expects much either.”

“Are all the Hunters who attend Rankers?”

“Yes. It seems like they only invite Rankers who are relevant to the agenda at the time. Influential Hunters are constantly invited. There are a few fixed members. Seowon Guild, Wave Guild, Samra Guild, HB Guild, etc.”

“They mainly invite large-scale Guilds.”

“But it’s surprisingly secretive and persistent. They send official documents with different content and make personal calls? If they only make calls, many people ignore them.”

“What do they talk about wearing a mask?”

“Ah…. I have a lot to say about that too. The last General Assembly was noisy because of the Invasion Dungeon. It was one of the agenda items.”

Bae Won-woo frowned and scratched his head.

“Researchers from the Rift Management Bureau requested to investigate the Invasion Dungeon…. Well, it’s not like they’re investigating for free, and they said they’d pay a usage fee, so I said okay.”

“Yes.”

“But the Samra Guild insisted that they absolutely couldn’t give up their Dungeon. Seriously…. Who asked them to transfer ownership? They just said they’d investigate and leave.”

Suddenly, Song Jo-heon’s smiling face came to mind. A long time ago, I thought he was a trustworthy person. Maybe because he was a former soldier, he had the face of a veteran who had experienced all kinds of hardships. There was no better adult to see than that for a high school student. However, Song Jo-heon, whom I saw again….

“……”

A black, thick line was drawn straight on the tablet screen. Bae Won-woo sighed deeply.

“Anyway, the meeting was an hour longer because of that. It was so boring, really.”

“In the end, to summarize, it’s a place where people gather and talk.”

“Yes, that’s right. It’s also a place where they fight to avoid losing money. Well, J wouldn’t have to fight, though!”

Bae Won-woo gave a thumbs up. Well, that’s right. Because I have nothing to lose. It’s easier to have nothing. Eui-jae put down the tablet pen. Bae Won-woo turned the file and muttered.

“At this General Assembly… it seems like they’re going to deal with Doomsday believers. They maliciously undermine the image of Hunters, incite distrust and discord… they’re those kinds of guys, but their power has grown quite a bit.”

“……”

“It seems like they’re also dealing with Hunter kidnapping cases… there will be quite a few attendees.”

“Are many Hunters being kidnapped?”

“Ah, I know there are quite a few. Many Hunters who are unaffiliated or from small and medium-sized Guilds have been kidnapped. Those who disappeared like that…. Um.”

Bae Won-woo blurred the end of his words and coughed on purpose. Eui-jae’s hand tightened.

Bear.

The bear that appeared with a hideous appearance with thorns all over its face and body. He must have become like that. Eui-jae suddenly looked at Sa-young. Naturally flowing black hair and pale skin. If Lee Sa-young had become like that too. If he couldn’t withstand the terrible experiment and his body and ego collapsed.

If there was no other way but to kill him.

“……”

Sa-young raised his head as if he felt the gaze. He blinked and asked with his mouth. Why? Eui-jae shook his head as if it was nothing and grabbed the pen again.

The roots of the two organizations are the same. Prometheus. Those who insist on stopping Doomsday with human power, not relying on the power of the System.

In order to prevent Doomsday, Doomsday must come.

“……”

What is this anxiety? Eui-jae closed his eyes tightly. He heard the sound of thunder coming.

Swaaa…. It was pouring rain. Tok, todok, raindrops collided with the leaves and slipped. In the deep forest covered with greenery, someone suddenly appeared on the overgrown grass where people’s footsteps did not reach. It was a middle-aged man in a suit and a young man with a kind face holding an umbrella next to him. The man grumbled.

“Geez…. Where is this?”

“According to the GPS…. It’s Inwang Mountain, Magok Guild Leader.”

The young man shook his head, putting the machine away.

“Inwang Mountain is a mountain that many people visit…, how did you find such a remote place? It’s quiet even though it’s raining.”

“It’s probably The Artisan’s skill.”

“Yes?”

“People who have been to the Artisan Exhibition said that they were provided with personal waiting rooms. Even in another dimension. I think it was a measure to prevent fighting….”

“…Then is this place also The Artisan’s other dimension?”

“Probably. There’s no place as perfect as this in terms of security.”

“It’s a little scary….”

“Scary.”

The young man shrugged, but the middle-aged man snorted and moved his steps. The young man hurriedly followed and put up an umbrella.

“Do you know where you’re going?”

“You can see that shining thing in front of you. It must be there.”

“Ah.”

As he said, a house with a greenish glow was visible far away in the dark forest. The Hunter ID hanging around the neck of the young man, who was sticking his head out and looking into the distance, suddenly popped out. The name that flashed was…

“Ryu Han-baek.”

“Yes, Magok Guild Leader.”

A strong hand grabbed Han-baek’s collar and pulled him in. Han-baek, who was suddenly grabbed and dragged, widened his eyes. The Guild Leader whispered as if spitting out.

“The most recent guy who disappeared was your best friend, so I brought you along…. Never, ever act up. Got it?”

“……”

“It’s a meeting where prominent Hunters gather. It’s a meeting that you wouldn’t even know existed under normal circumstances… you’re barely attending as a witness. Don’t even think about interfering, just stay still.”

“…Yes, I understand.”

“Yes, that’s right….”

Han-baek nodded slowly. The Guild Leader let out a short sigh and released the hand that had been gripping his collar. Then, after tidying up his crumpled shirt, he patted his shoulder.

“Let’s do well. Huh?”

“Yes!”

“Let’s go.”

The distance that seemed quite far was closer than expected. Was it an illusion? Han-baek folded his umbrella, looking around, and shook off the raindrops towards the outside. The Guild Leader opened the door of the old wooden house. The scenery that unfolded with the creaking sound was….

“……”

“This is….”

It was a huge round table conference room. It was too wide and huge to be inside an old wooden house, and it was also splendid. The candlelight placed densely on the wall flickered. Then someone reached out to the Guild Leader.

“You’ve arrived, Magok Guild Leader.”

“Ah, ah. Hunter Jung-bin. Nice to meet you.”

Jung-bin, still dressed without any gaps, smiled. He shook hands lightly and pointed to somewhere on the round table.

“Magok Guild Leader’s seat is prepared over there. I’ll guide you.”

“Ah, yes. Please do.”

Creak, creak, the feeling and sound of stepping on wooden planks were clear. It felt like a real space. Han-baek looked around with his mouth open. The Guild Leader asked carefully.

“Is this… a space created by The Artisan?”

“Ah, yes. That’s right. I wonder what fantasy movie you watched this time…. It would be nice if you could make it a little more ordinary.”

Jung-bin trailed off. Somehow, his gentle face seemed to be filled with worry. The Guild Leader asked back with a puzzled face.

“Yes?”

“Haha, it’s nothing. Please sit down. It will start soon.”

After finishing the guide, Jung-bin disappeared to greet other guests. The Guild Leader sat in a chair and looked around. Han-baek stood behind his seat. As Jung-bin said, most of the seats were taken, and there were many Rankers. Hong Ye-seong blowing bubbles into the air, Honeybee sitting with her hat pulled down low, Gyu-Gyu yawning while stretched out on a chair, and Nam Woo-jin pressing his forehead with a tired face.

The Director was also sitting in her seat, but strangely, both sides of her seat were empty.

‘Are they originally left empty?’

The moment Han-baek had a question, he heard the sound of the door opening.

The air changed.

“……”

“The protagonists of the scandal are coming.”

The Guild Leader muttered unpleasantly. Everyone’s eyes were focused on one point. Tak, the Walker stood on the floor. Lee Sa-young was still wearing a Gas mask and a long coat. His presence was considerable, but the energy emitted by someone standing behind him was terrible. Han-baek ignored the cold sweat and fixed his gaze on the door. Lee Sa-young, who had a brief conversation with Jung-bin, stepped aside next to the door. And.

A black mask appeared from the darkness.