Episode 24: Inquiries (3)
“Please, have some.”
“Thank you.”
The coffee exuded a rich yet floral aroma—so luxurious that its mere scent hinted at its premium quality. Si-moon took a sip before speaking.
“So you came to me about a request?”
“Yes.”
Si-moon nodded at Park Jin-wook, a burly man who clashed with the refined coffee setting—more suited to tequila than delicate porcelain.
“I need to find someone.”
“A person... Well, you’ve come to the right place. We excel in such matters.”
Park Jin-wook smirked, one corner of his lip curling upward. To an outsider, he might have resembled a gangster prowling the underworld. But Si-moon merely acknowledged his words.
Finding one person should be trivial for the Night Hunter.
Park Jin-wook, the Night Hunter.
Despite his rough, gangster-like appearance, he was a master of the assassination world. His SS-rank trait, “Blessing of the Night,” was tailor-made for covert kills. And like many top assassins, his skills extended beyond murder to espionage and intelligence gathering.
That’s why Si-moon had sought him out...
But why is this guy here?
Si-moon’s gaze shifted to the handsome young man across from him, head bowed like a penitent child, fingers fidgeting. Had he sensed the stare? Kim Si-hyuk’s head drooped further.
Si-moon sighed quietly.
“Hey. What’s with you?”
“H-huh?”
“I said, what are you doing? Lift your head. People will think I’m about to devour you.”
And for good reason—his infuriatingly perfect younger brother looked like a condemned criminal, a far cry from the bright, refreshing image he was known for.
In truth...
“Just lift your head, kid. What’s holding you back?”
Si-moon already guessed why his brother acted this way.
Probably the incident ten years ago.
Like Yoo-jeong, whom he’d met at Galaxy Agora... Si-hyuk likely carried guilt over the event that left Si-moon mana-disabled. The irony? Even in his past life, after Korea’s fall and their first reunion, Si-hyuk had worn this same expression.
That’s why...
“Enough. People will misunderstand. Lift your head.”
Si-moon couldn’t bear seeing his brother so defeated.
“One Yoo-jeong moping around is plenty.”
He’d said the same when meeting Lee Yoo-jeong at Agora. Even if he rewound time, he’d choose those words again.
Did they work?
“Yoo-jeong?”
For the first time, a flicker of life sparked in Si-hyuk’s dull eyes.
“Yeah. I met her at Agora recently. She didn’t tell you?”
“N-no... I heard nothing... Wait—why were you at Agora?!”
“To sell gear, dumbass. Why the interrogation?”
“Th-that’s not—! But why meet Yoo-jeong? Weren’t you two out of contact?”
“Ran into her by chance at Sung-sam’s shop.”
“Sung-sam?!”
Beyond a spark—his eyes now blazed. Voice sharpening, Si-hyuk demanded:
“Hyung! Are you okay? Did something happen?!”
“Why the panic? You’re scaring me.”
“S-sorry...!”
“Don’t be. Nothing happened anyway.”
Well, except nearly being scammed off his [Hobgoblin’s Battle Axe] at Sung-sam’s shop. But that was minor—and admitting he’d misjudged an item’s future commonality would raise too many questions.
“Really, it’s fine.”
Si-moon shrugged lightly.
“Okay...”
Si-hyuk propped his chin, nodding hesitantly. The conversation felt oddly like an interrogation, but Si-moon changed tack.
“Speaking of—Si-hyuk.”
“Yeah?”
“You know Mr. Park here?”
The reason was simple:
In my past life, Park Jin-wook only became Si-hyuk’s ally after Korea’s fall. They shouldn’t be connected yet.
“Huh? Oh! Uh... that’s...”
Si-hyuk’s refreshing smile remained plastered on, but his darting eyes betrayed him.
“Haha! Si-hyuk’s not just my junior from the academy—he’s also one of my top clients!” Park Jin-wook boomed, dissolving Si-moon’s suspicions.
“A client?”
“Indeed. Rankers like him face... inconveniences. I handle those.”
“Ah.”
Ranker.
A dream title for players, yet one fraught with sacrifices.
They’re practically celebrities—no privacy, constant exposure.
Especially for those like Si-hyuk, guildless at this stage.
“I see. I didn’t realize you two were connected. Close, are you?”
“No. We’re sworn enemies.”
“Huh?”
“His Ranker status means I’m stuck tending to him. Like a slave.”
Park Jin-wook grinned, stretching his rugged face into a terrifying smile.
“Ugh... Senior.”
Si-hyuk massaged his temples, radiating long-suffering exhaustion.
“Sounds exhausting,” Si-moon said, mirroring Park’s smile instead of defending his brother.
“Speaking of, this kid’s a magnet for trouble.”
“Hyung?!”
“As expected of an older brother—you know him well.”
“I try. He’s not all edges. Go easy on him.”
“Hahaha! I like you already!”
Park Jin-wook erupted in laughter, thrusting a meaty hand forward. As Si-moon shook it, Park savored Si-hyuk’s withering glare.
“So, this person you’re seeking—overseas?”
“No. Domestic.”
“Good. My success rate skyrockets locally.”
Park retrieved a tablet, pen poised.
“Details? The more the better.”
“Name: Ko Mal-sook. 24, resides in Busan.”
“Same age as my useless junior here. A woman, I assume... Acquainted?”
“Ye—...No. Not exactly.”
Si-moon barely caught himself.
She’s someone I knew in my past life—not this one.
“If you’re strangers, an address will suffice.”
“Can you find her?”
“Hah! If I fail with this intel, I’ll retire!”
“Then retire now, Senior.”
Si-hyuk fluttered documents Park had handed him earlier, eyes glittering with vengeful glee.
“It’ll take days, but not long,” Park dismissed, ignoring the jab. Normally, such disrespect would earn a fist to the face, but...
Is he behaving because Hyung’s here?
Watching Si-hyuk grind his teeth was deeply satisfying.
“Glad to hear it. Your fee?”
“Given the ample information and simplicity...”
Park tapped his iPad cheerfully, side-eyeing Si-hyuk’s scowling form.
“First request, and I like your style—no charge.”
“Generous, but unacceptable.”
Si-moon shook his head firmly.
“You’re Diamond-rank. I can’t exploit that.”
“Hah! You’re nothing like your brother! Makes me want to comp you more!”
Park glanced at Si-hyuk.
“If you insist on paying, bill this idiot.”
“...Fine.”
“Knew you’d say that.”
“No,” Si-moon cut in. “My request, my responsibility.”
“Hyung, I can—”
“I said no. This isn’t about money.”
He brushed off Si-hyuk’s protests.
“It’s about connections.”
“Oh? Seeking a long-term partnership?”
“Yes. I want ties with the Night Hunter.”
“To refuse free help... You two really share blood?”
Both brothers twitched imperceptibly—too subtle for even Park to notice.
“Hence, let’s barter instead.”
“Barter?”
“Rumor says you’ve been buying high-grade materials...”
Park’s face froze.
Just as I remembered.
“Relax—no ill intent. I can help.”
“Help?”
“Yes.”
As Si-moon nodded confidently, Park’s eyebrow arched, his menacing aura intensifying. Unfazed, Si-moon smiled.
The Night Hunter—a Diamond-rank powerhouse who quit the arena to run a cash-only operation.
Essentially a fixer.
Why?
Magic sclerosis.
A post-Korea’s-collapse revelation—Park had joined Si-hyuk’s guild, revealing his abrupt retirement stemmed from this arena disease, where mana slowly petrifies.
The cure’s recipe surfaces in five years.
Simple ingredients, etched in Si-moon’s mind from his own mana disability research pre-Emerald Tablet.
Moreover—
Having Park join earlier benefits Si-hyuk.
As the brother who’d guard Si-hyuk until Jong-ri-chu killed him, Park’s early allegiance could mitigate future conflicts.
“Judging by your materials... it’s magic sclerosis, right?”
“What?! Senior—you’re arena-sick?!”
Si-hyuk shot up, but Park ignored him, glaring daggers at Si-moon.
“You traced my purchases? The black market’s leaky as ever.”
“The black market trades in coin, not trust.”
Park sighed, scrubbing his face.
No use asking how he knows. Can’t touch the brother of Korea’s rising star anyway.
“So,” Park growled, composure regained, “how exactly will you ‘help’?”
“Simple. Give me those materials. I’ll make your cure.”
“...What?”
Even Si-hyuk gaped.
“Hyung! That’s impossible! Diamond alchemists can’t cure arena diseases!”
“No need to explain. Just know I can.”
Si-moon sipped his cooled coffee, calm.
“Decline if you doubt me.”
Park’s jaw clenched.
Who’d refuse?
Arena diseases were incurable—until now. Even a lie was worth believing.
“One question,” Park said. “Why barter when I offered free?”
Si-moon smiled cryptically.
“Let’s say... I like your straightforwardness.”
Matching his infuriating junior’s inscrutable grin.
“Well?”
“...Do I have a choice?”
Park extended his hand.
“You’ll get the materials. Deliver the cure.”
“Wise decision. Don’t worry—”
Si-moon shook it, winking.
“I won’t run off with your supplies.”
