Episode 20 #8 The Unexpected Guest (Part 2)
Kim Myung-chul clicked his tongue.
It wouldn't have been impossible to recapture the bastard who fled if he exerted full effort. But the moment Jeong Ho-san stepped forward, he abandoned that thought. Hadn't Kim Myung-chul come here precisely to win that bastard's favor in the first place?
He came to earn Jeong Ho-san's loyalty—losing him over this would defeat the entire purpose.
Kim Myung-chul made a small gesture to Jeong Ho-san.
"Leave your friend for now. Let's handle the people here first. Don't you want to know what happened here too?"
At these words, Jeong Ho-san bowed his head again with gratitude. His face radiated profound remorse.
"Who are you people?"
The men remained silent at Kim Myung-chul's question. Their terrified expressions made even Kim Myung-chul uncomfortable.
"I know you've been illegally mining here. That's obvious at a glance, so lying won't help."
"W-we're sorry."
"Don't apologize to me."
These criminals had been caught by Kim Myung-chul of all people—someone who couldn't tolerate injustice. Though understanding their predicament, he had no intention of threatening them.
He could roughly guess what drove them to crime. Kim Myung-chul thoroughly inspected the men.
Though disheveled, none bore injuries. Moreover, someone had provided them with mana stone pouches.
"Just answer one thing. What did that bastard do there?"
For the sake of Jeong Ho-san—who hung his head like a criminal himself—Kim Myung-chul hoped the friend wasn't truly evil. But no desired answer came.
The men kept their mouths firmly shut despite coaxing. Using force against these emaciated men who might die from a mere touch was unthinkable—their blue-tinged lips and fingertips clearly showed little life remained.
After an eternity of suffocating silence, Secretary Hwang emerged from the gate.
Kim Myung-chul perked up and asked, "Well? What's inside?"
"Five bodies that don't appear to have been dead long."
Jeong Ho-san's shoulders trembled.
"Huh."
The culprit was obvious. Now that he thought of it, that bastard had reeked of blood.
Kim Myung-chul studied the silent Jeong Ho-san. Could his friend truly have done all this?
'I never took him for a murderer.'
Five killings, no less.
When they'd first tracked the GPS here, Kim Myung-chul imagined an unfortunate Awakener caught in illegal gate operations. The reality proved completely different.
The presumed victim had become the murderer.
Secretary Hwang's voice cut through Kim Myung-chul's thoughts:
"There were more bodies deeper inside."
"His work too?"
"No. Those had been dead much longer. No external wounds—likely severe mana addiction cases."
"Worked them to death?"
This brutal exploitation was rare even among illegal gate operations. Crews usually showed each other some courtesy.
"Must've been after one big score."
Kim Myung-chul frowned. Secretary Hwang nodded in agreement.
"The deceased seem to be hunter guards stationed here. We collected their IDs—none belong to proper guilds."
They spared the miners while eliminating the guards.
"Vigilantes?"
That explained not harming the miners. Their silence might be cooperation rather than coercion.
Yet something nagged at him.
"Why take matters into his own hands when we have dedicated Awakener crime units? Why would a civilian...?"
"The GPS still points here."
Kim Myung-chul clicked his tongue. The bastard had discarded his tracker and fled with stolen mana stones. However noble his intentions, the results were disastrous.
"What now, Ho-san? Your friend seems..."
Kim Myung-chul grimaced at Jeong Ho-san's crumpled expression. To have a brother-like friend turn criminal—what a mess.
"Ho-san, I'll overlook helping him escape today. But never again."
Kim Myung-chul spoke soothingly. Covering for him before outsiders would cause trouble.
But Jeong Ho-san kept making childish denials:
"Yi-sin would never do that."
"Heh! He killed five—"
"They must've deserved it!"
"No one deserves death!"
Kim Myung-chul's roar echoed. Jeong Ho-san had crossed a line.
"Are we gods? We're just humans with extraordinary power! Crimes require legal judgment!"
Jeong Ho-san exhaled slowly. He'd joined Guild precisely because of Kim Myung-chul's integrity—his vigilance against injustice and Awakener power abuse.
"My apologies. That was out of line."
Kim Myung-chul tsked at the immediate apology. While understanding the attachment, firmness was crucial now.
"We'll issue a bounty. Wrong remains wrong regardless."
Discarding his tracker alone warranted pursuit, let alone five killings. Even if victims were criminals, even if he's your friend—we can't ignore this."
"No, I'll—"
"How? You're a 5-star physical Awakener. Useless for tracking."
"Leave it to professionals."
"What if they hurt him? Kill him?"
The previously compliant Jeong Ho-san now resisted.
"There must be circumstances."
Yet Jeong Ho-san himself didn't know those circumstances. The Kang Yi-sin at the scene wasn't the friend he knew. What changed in that brief time?
Kim Myung-chul shared Secretary Hwang's findings:
"That Im Hyun-soo said your friend owed massive debts."
"Debts?"
He wasn't wealthy, but not debt-ridden either.
"Something must've happened."
"He'd have told me."
"Sometimes that's why friends hide things."
"...Just capture him alive."
"Fine."
Kim Myung-chul dismissed him:
"Ho-san, call Team 1. We need to relocate these people."
After sending Jeong Ho-san away, Kim Myung-chul asked Secretary Hwang:
"Your take?"
Unlike tactless others, Hwang answered immediately:
"Professional work. Not some amateur's first kill."
"Hmm."
Jeong Ho-san might trust Kang Yi-sin, but Kim Myung-chul couldn't—not after seeing the bodies.
"No hesitation. First and third victims—confirmed kills after subduing. Second was pure ambush. Premeditated murders."
Murder remained a capital crime even in this Awakener era—especially between Awakeners.
"Never thought him a killer."
"Either he fooled you from the start, something happened recently, or your judgment's flawed."
The habitual criticism made denial impossible. Noting Kim Myung-chul's sour expression, Hwang quickly added:
"Judging by Mr. Jeong's reaction, the friend wasn't normally like this."
Kim Myung-chul groaned.
"If only we knew what happened inside that damned gate."
The gate vanished completely thirty minutes after Hwang exited. All evidence gone—should've filmed inside.
The miners kept silent too.
"Ugh. Started with good intentions, ended like this."
Kim Myung-chul gazed ahead with troubled expression.
That day, Kim Myung-chul handled everything personally—reporting to Awakener Crime Unit, relocating victims.
Though unable to treat their mana addiction, he arranged hospital transfers.
He repeatedly tried questioning them about Kang Yi-sin's whereabouts, but they remained tight-lipped.
Even promises the bastard wouldn't return fell on deaf ears. With death approaching, they'd taken their secrets to the grave. What could even Kim Myung-chul do?
What could one say to those begging to spend final days with family?
"Han Ju-hee might know something."
"Han Jo-hee."
"Details matter less."
"Names aren't details."
Kim Myung-chul glared at the meticulous secretary before continuing:
"Worked with Kang Yi-sin, right?"
"Yes, but not publicly close."
"Why risk saving someone not close? There's more. What about Im Hyun-soo?"
The illegal gate broker had long been on Kim Myung-chul's radar.
"Under investigation by the task force."
"Update us with any leads. Red Dog will cooperate."
He added:
"Tell miners we'll buy mana stones at premium prices. Show maximum leniency—they're dying anyway. Exploit that weakness."
Secretary Hwang nodded.
"Though the fastest way remains finding Kang Yi-sin."
Kim Myung-chul wrinkled his nose.
"For Ho-san's sake, we must find that friend."
Elsewhere, someone echoed:
"We must catch this friend.”
