Chapter 136

SMH 136

Chapter 45 – Vladimir (1)

TL: Boko

Editors: Frost, StellarRain

The armed intelligence agency ‘White Tiger’ was formed by the South Korean government to watch and protect Sung Joon. They didn’t start watching or guarding him yet, but Na Joon Yeol was made director and things gradually got started.

“I didn’t think Russia would do something like this!”

Kim Ho Joon, an A-rank Hunk Hunter and the team leader in charge of the White Tiger’s foreign agents, read a report submitted by one of his subordinates and immediately stood up with a grave expression. He urgently rushed over to Na Joon Yeol’s office.

However, Joon Yeol wasn’t in his office.

“Where’s Director Na Joon Yeol? It’s urgent,” Ho Joon asked the guard protecting Joon Yeol’s office.

“He went to the situation room ten minutes ago.”

“Thanks.”

Jang Hoon immediately walked over to the situation room. As soon as he entered the situation room, he saw Joon Yeol there, like the guard had said. Joon Yeol was inspecting the devices that they’d installed inside with one of the technical personnel.

“Team Leader Kim Ho Joon? What’s the matter?” Joon Yeol fixed his glasses and asked.

“Russia’s intelligence agency is on the move.”

“Let’s discuss this in my office.”

As soon as the words ‘Russia’s intelligence agency’ came out of Ho Joon’s mouth, Joon Yeol suggested that they move to his office to have this discussion.

Ho Joon nodded his head and the two moved to Joon Yeol’s office. After they sent away the cleaner, Joon Yeol opened his mouth.

“Please explain things in detail.”

“The S-rank Hunter Vladimir, who is part of Russia’s spy team, and his team smuggled themselves into South Korea.”

“Well, at least we figured out that they smuggled themselves in.”

Joon Yeol was astonished. Russia’s spy team was a part of Russia’s intelligence agency and was responsible for both foreign assassination and spying. Russia’s team was quite famous for moving covertly.

It was difficult for them to completely track their movements with just the efforts of White Tiger and the national intelligence agency.

“We honestly only figured this out because we were lucky. The national intelligence agency reexamined the list of all foreigners who they suspected smuggled themselves into South Korea. We figured it out through luck.”

“Then, when did Vladimir enter South Korea?”

“We estimate that he smuggled himself in a month ago. He has probably already made a base in South Korea and has started to move.”

Ho Joon reported his opinion. The members of Russia’s intelligence agency were skilled enough to set up a foothold in South Korea in just a month and control all the information.

“What about his team members?”

It was really important to figure out their enemy’s members during an operation. However, Ho Joon just bowed his head with a serious expression.

“Were you not able to figure out who they were?”

“I apologize.”

Vladimir would be easily recognized as a member of Russia’s intelligence agency, so he was relatively easy to notice, but it would be difficult to find the rest of their members through the national intelligence agency and White Tiger’s efforts.

“It’s a relief that we at least figured out that they smuggled themselves in,” Joon Yeol said. If they hadn’t even figured that out, then there would be no point to White Tiger or the national intelligence agency. They had figured out that Russia’s spies had entered South Korea, even though it was through luck, so they could figure out some countermeasures.

“Please request reinforcements from the national intelligence agency. I’ll station some agents around Mr. Kang Sung Joon’s house, but he might notice, so please tell them not to watch him directly.”

“I’ll dispatch agents at fixed points, so if something goes wrong, we can immediately request for reinforcements.”

Joon Yeol and Ho Joon were well aware of how remarkable Sung Joon’s Presence Detection was.

“That seems best. Please do so.”

“I understand.”

Ho Joon nodded his head at Joon Yeol’s command and replied. White Tiger was beginning to move in earnest.

* * *

The national intelligence agency and White Tiger didn’t tell Sung Joon that Vladimir was aiming for him.

White Tiger’s Director, Na Joon Yeol, insisted that they needed to warn Sung Joon of the potential danger, but the other White Tiger executives used a ridiculous excuse ‒ that they couldn’t share the organization’s info with an outsider.

Because of this, Sung Joon didn’t know he was in danger and was just focusing on his everyday life.

“Construction for Block C is finished,” the construction head replied. Sung Joon had requested security equipment, as well as a separate four-story building as well.

Block A and Block B were two-stories, but Shin Chul and Jang Hoon were using Block A because Block B was much too small for the government dispatched guards to use. Therefore, he had asked for a separate four-story building, Block C to be made.

“Good work. May I look around?”

“Of course.”

Sung Joon surveyed Block C with the head of construction. Everything was set in place such that he could even call the guards right now and settle their room and board. He was extremely satisfied and the manager looked delighted.

To commemorate the installation of security equipment and construction of Block C,  Sung Joon invited Jung Chul, as he’d done the most work.

Jung Chul’s car was able enter through the opened front gates. The latest scanner was installed into the front gate, but as per Sung Joon’s orders, Jung Chul didn’t have to go through it.

“I’m the one who introduced it to you, but it really is like a fortress.”

Jung Chul disembarked from his car and voiced his thoughts. This was his first visit since the installation of all the security equipment was finished. Jung Chul looked at the garden with a sharp gaze.

It looked like a normal garden, but there were automated turrets underneath the grass. There were machine guns set up on the rooftop and if he gave the command to ‘defend’, cover would spring up in certain key points.

“How many bodyguards do you have?”

“Twenty-eight. Amongst them, there are two B-rank Hunters.”

“Twenty-eight bodyguards including two B-rank Hunters… The government’s really putting the effort in.”

Twenty-eight bodyguards was a high number for the government, especially when they were providing them to someone else. Sung Joon knew at least that much as he’d learned about it through places like Hunter.com.

“They’ll need quite a bit of firepower to get through this place, even if you’re not here, Mr. Kang Sung Joon,” Jung Chul smiled faintly and said. Sung Joon nodded his head and opened his mouth.

“It won’t be attacked so easily. The air’s quite cold outside, so why don’t we go inside?”

“Ah… That sounds nice. I’m looking forward to it.”

The two went to the mess hall. Because Shin Chul and Jang Hoon had gone out to drink, only the two of them were in the mess hall.

The caretakers placed dishes with food atop the table. As they ate, they talked about various matters.

Around the time their meal was at an end, Sung Joon opened his mouth with a serious expression.

“Mr. Park Jung Chul. I heard that you’re not part of an assault team right now,” Sung Joon asked and Jung Chul smiled as he raised his wine glass.

“Are you trying to scout me?”

“You could say that.”

He put down his depleted wine glass and turned his gaze towards Sung Joon. The brief silence felt heavy.

Sung Joon hid his concern. If Jung Chul refused him then it couldn’t be helped, but if he could, he wanted to make Jung Chul one of his men. If Jung Chul joined Sung Joon’s team, Jung Chul would add fighting power, yes, but more importantly he would increase their ability to gather information, so he was someone he needed.

“Of course I’ll accept your offer. Where else would I go if the first and sole SS-rank Hunter in South Korea offers me a spot in his regular assault team?” Jung Chul replied. He wanted to have firm connection with Sung Joon. There wasn’t any stronger connection than being part of his regular assault team.

“You’re planning on forming a guild soon, right?”

Jung Chul was quick on the uptake. He didn’t explain anything, but he had figured out Sung Joon’s intent regardless.

“Of course. If I didn’t plan on making a guild, I wouldn’t have gone through the trouble of forming a regular assault team.”

There were several differences between a regular assault team and a guild, but the tax was the biggest difference. However, Sung Joon’s guild was tax exempt, so he wouldn’t have to pay taxes whilst enjoying all the benefits of a guild.

Therefore, one could say that maintaining a regular assault team without making a guild was a loss.

“I believe you’ll give me at least an executive position if you form a guild.”

“You may not be a the Vice Guild Leader, but you’ll obviously receive an executive position. Hahaha,” Sung Joon said and laughed lightly. Jung Chul also smiled and filled his wine glass. The two continued to drink well into the night.

Jung Chul accepted all of Sung Joon’s conditions, including moving into a separate building and living there. That day, Jung Chul called a designated driver late into the night and went home.

The next day, Sung Joon departed for the Dungeon Bureau so that he could grab an appointment for a dungeon assault and increase his synchronization rate.

“It’s unfortunate that Yoo Shin Chul and Park Jang Hoon are still resting,” Rishubalt said. Sung Joon nodded his head as he drove his car.

“It can’t be helped. They are different from me.”

Sung Joon was the only Hunter that could use Roukel’s hidden technique ‘Absorption’. Thus, because he could replenish both his mana and stamina, he could enter dungeons without rest. He did so so often that he received the nickname ‘Unlimited Power’.

“I can open the Awakening Dungeon once your synchronization rate reaches 55%. I’m looking forward to seeing how you get your revenge this time.”

“Me too.”

He was still unclear about the conditions for opening the Awakening Dungeon, but there was one thing that was clear: the Awakening Dungeon would open where Roukel held a grudge.

“I want to know more about the Awakening Dungeon… but there’s nowhere I can learn about it…”

“Sir Zelos was nice to have around at times like this.”

Zelos was a young magic scholar that had followed Sung Joon’s past self, Roukel. He also held a deep understanding of dimensional engineering. If he was by his side right now, he would be a great help.

“We probably won’t be able to meet Sir Zelos again, right?”

“He’s probably dead, so no,” Sung Joon said objectively. Zelos was one of the key members who followed him. When Sung Joon’s past self, Roukel, died in the Ridonia Great Plains, did the Emperor just leave his close associates alone? Nope.

There was probably a large-scale purge, and Zelos would’ve likely lost his life as well. At least, that’s what Sung Joon thought.

“I see. It’s the unfortunate truth.”

It seemed as though Rishubalt felt regretful that he’d never meet Zelos again, as he spoke softly. He was quite close with Zelos.

“The truth is always so cruel,” Sung Joon said with a cold expression. Eventually, they arrived at the Dungeon Bureau’s parking lot, and after Sung Joon had parked his car, he immediately got out.

“We just need to take revenge for Zelos now. Got it?”

“I agree. I will support you to the best of my ability.”

“Good. For now, let’s apply for a dungeon solo run,” Sung Joon said, and Rishubalt nodded his head. The two stopped conversing in order to apply for a dungeon solo run, and entered the Dungeon Bureau.

And on a rooftop far away from them, two men were watching him.

“Nikolai. I’ve confirmed that the target has gone into the Dungeon Bureau.”

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The man watching the Dungeon Bureau with a high magnification telescope reported. Then, a blonde haired man wearing sunglasses and smoking a cigarette lifted his radio.

“Senior Vladimir? This area’s clear.”

“We’ve just gotten access to the server. We’ve confirmed Hunter Kang Sung Joon’s solo play request. We’re going to set a date for the attack, so return to base.”

“Understood.”

A plot was brewing.