Chapter 07: Brain Installation

At the Hunter Management Bureau located in Daejeon City Hall, Kim Kyung-il hurriedly walked towards the Hunter Registration Office.

"Ah, Guild Master! What brings you here? The director is currently on an external assignment..."

"CCTV!"

"Excuse me?"

"Where are the CCTV records? I need to see the face of the hunter whose identity was restored after being erased yesterday."

"Y-You need to go to the General Affairs Division's control room..."

Kim Kyung-il was in a hurry. He needed to see it with his own eyes. As soon as he entered the control room, he pressured the security guard.

"Play it back quickly!"

"Y-Yes, sir."

As the Guild Master of Daejeon's top hunter guild, his authority rivaled that of the mayor. No one dared to dawdle.

The video stored on the hard drive was played back, and finally, the scene he was looking for appeared.

A man appeared, dressed in old clothes but wearing unusual leather armor, carrying a three-section spear at his waist.

'Jung Yun-ho? Is it really you? Why... why are you still alive?'

Who stabbed a knife into the femoral artery of that guy's thigh? It was him.

'It's impossible!'

He was sure he had killed him. Blood had gushed out, and the man had stopped breathing. He had seen the body with his own eyes before leaving the dungeon.

But he was alive?

Killing in the dungeon was always a perfect crime. The monsters would dispose of the body, the best evidence.

When he went back to the scene later, only bloodstains remained, and the body was gone. He never thought there would be any problems.

'Why now...'

Even if the guy had survived by sheer luck, three years had passed. What had he been doing all this time? And to reappear as a B-rank hunter!

He couldn't be left alone. This would ruin everything. The guy should have stayed dead.

'I just need to kill him again. Once is hard, but twice...'

Kim Kyung-il gave instructions to the guild members who had come with him. They were all his loyal subordinates.

"Delete all the CCTV footage from the Hunter Management Bureau! Restore everything to its original state! It must not be revealed that he is alive!"

"B-But that's..."

"I'll take responsibility. Delete the record of his rank re-evaluation and erase his identity again! The same goes for his license."

Fortunately, this happened in Daejeon. If so, he could control it. The Hunter Management Bureau, the police, and the media as well.

Nothing had happened. It must be that way. It will be that way.

"We need to find him. Mobilize all the guild members! And the police too."

"B-But he's a B-rank hunter, isn't he?"

"Contact the hounds. I'll give 100 billion to whoever brings his head."

"Understood!"

Among the hunters, there are those who are more skilled at killing humans than monsters. They are called hounds, who make a living as professional assassins.

B-rank? With four or five hounds, even a B-rank hunter wouldn't stand a chance.

'But how will Hye-jung react when she finds out he's alive?'

Kim Kyung-il smirked. It would be nice to see her flustered face again after so long.

* * *

At that moment, Yun-ho was in Seoul.

He had withdrawn the money from selling items and put it in a backpack, then came to Seoul. He didn't know when his account might be frozen.

Kim Kyung-il, at least, was a powerful figure in Daejeon. Once he found out Yun-ho was alive, he would try to hide that fact first. He had the ability to do so, and the Shinmyeong Group was behind him.

If a bomb is about to explode, you need to change the fuse.

Hong Min-ki, the representative lawyer of Hong & Jang Law Firm, regretted wasting his time on the shabbily dressed man with a backpack in front of him.

No matter how busy he was, he wasn't so idle that he would meet just any hunter.

At least, that was the case until he heard that this man, Jung Yun-ho, had important information about the Daejeon Shinmyeong Dungeon's mana iron mine.

But his appearance made Hong Min-ki suspect he had been deceived.

"I don't have much time. As you know, a lawyer's time is money..."

"I am Jung Yun-ho."

"Excuse me?"

"Jung Yun-ho."

What is this guy? Is he crazy?

Hong Min-ki's expression turned sour. Indeed, he was a lunatic. Just stating his name? What a waste of time.

"Right, I'm Hong Min-ki. If you have nothing more to say, please leave. If you need help, I can call security."

"Ah! You don't know! I thought you would..."

"Ha, don't joke around. If you're just here because you're a hunter..."

"Let me add a few more words. I am Jung Yun-ho, the former guild master of the Oryong Guild in Daejeon, three years ago. I was also the original owner of the Oryong Dungeon."

"Damn! You're not making any sense. So, you're the guild master, not just a regular hunter? Do you think being a guild master means anything? A guild in a backwater like this... Wait, Daejeon? Daejeon... Hold on!"

Hong Min-ki's expression suddenly changed.

"Y-You mean the Oryong Guild, the former name of the Daejeon Shinmyeong Guild?"

"Yes."

"The guild master who was reported dead?"

"That's right. Check it out."

Yun-ho handed over his hunter license to Hong Min-ki.

"I've completed the DNA test. Of course, the records might have been deleted. There are people who don't want me to be alive. But I am still Jung Yun-ho."

Hong Min-ki was shocked, alternating his gaze between Yun-ho's face and the license.

"Unbelievable! You really were alive? Are you sure it's you?"

"Do I look like a ghost to you?"

Hong Min-ki immediately sat up straight. If this was true, it would be a nuclear-level case.

Hong & Jang Law Firm represented the Daeyoung Group, one of the largest conglomerates in the country.

Daeyoung International had monopolized the import and distribution of mana iron ore through its subsidiary, but the discovery of a large mana iron mine in the Daejeon Shinmyeong Dungeon had pushed the company from fifth to sixth place in the business world. They were gnashing their teeth at the Shinmyeong Group.

"I will hire you as my attorney. You can request any evidence needed for identity verification, DNA, fingerprints, etc. As long as I can prove I am Jung Yun-ho, the rest should be straightforward, right?"

This is an opportunity.

"I-I accept."

"Then, I want to start with a preliminary injunction to stop the mining of the mana iron ore in the Daejeon Shinmyeong Dungeon..."

"Ah!"

A 400 trillion won case, or even more.

Hong Min-ki's mind was racing. He was thinking about how to best utilize this opportunity given by heaven.

And Hong Min-ki was a capable lawyer.

Yun-ho smiled and said,

"Do you know any media outlets? We should spread the news through the media and social networks. I don't mind being in the spotlight."

"Sure, I can handle it. Can I record an interview video first?"

"Sure."

"You might have to appear in court..."

"That's fine too, as long as my safety is guaranteed."

"Don't worry about that. I'll ensure your safety."

Yun-ho shook hands with Hong Min-ki. Thus, a new fuse was installed on the bomb, ensuring it would not fail.

* * *

Yun-ho spent a considerable amount of time at the law firm.

He testified about the reasons for his supposed death and the process of living in hiding through an interview. Of course, he omitted the part about interdimensional travel and adapted the story appropriately.

After providing DNA and fingerprint samples, Yun-ho left the law firm, setting a date to meet again in ten days.

Hong Min-ki tried to persuade him to stay in Seoul for safety, but Yun-ho refused.

He planned to go to the Elron continent. Where could be safer than another dimension?

He then went to a department store.

'The key is dimensional contribution.'

To bring and take complete items, customs duties are required. Additionally, he needed to bring something that could help the development of the Elron continent.

Something easily obtainable but hard to find on the Elron continent, or if similar items exist, they are of different quality or concept.

Why not just share knowledge instead of bringing items?

It's a good idea, but how?

It's not that simple. Scientific theories weren't created overnight.

Starting from ancient Greek natural science, through the medieval dark ages, accepting alchemy from West Asia, and through the achievements gained, modern physics, genetics, chemistry, and more blossomed and bore fruit in the modern era.

All this scientific knowledge accumulated, was revised, and interconnected to form modern science.

To explain one thing, you need to explain another that it is based on, and to understand that, you need to explain its background.

Moreover, Yun-ho is a humanities major.

'It would be great if there was a medieval enthusiast or an alternate history writer.'

But there's no time for that now. He can look into it later.

For now, providing the seeds for civilization's development through the exchange of items. Like how the magic array on the spearhead of a training spear could provide the initial idea for enchantment magic.

Simple items, easy items. But items with relative value.

What items should he bring to the Elron continent? This is his biggest concern right now.

'Refrigerators, TVs, game consoles... no way! Impossible.'

They require electricity, and not just any voltage and current, but a steady supply. But there's a bigger issue.

Yun-ho initially thought about bringing a smartphone. Even if communication wouldn't work, he could fill it with encyclopedias and useful videos. He had a power bank too.

But.

He was crazy. The customs duty was crazy. 154,890 points? 150,000? With dimensional contribution points usually in the tens, suddenly 150,000?

It's not just the phone. All electronic products have similar scores. So, he gave up.

Actually, the customs duty is one thing, but he needs to start small.

One of the purposes of what Yun-ho is doing is to promote the growth of the stagnant civilization of the Elron continent. To plant seeds for the prosperity of the dimension.

To break the monopoly of knowledge and information by the privileged and reduce the excessive reliance on magic, returning the driving force of development to the general public. This is how to contribute to the dimension.

'Let's go to the market instead of the department store.'

It's a shame. How great would it be to bring a smartphone or a tablet? The dimensional contribution points would be enormous.

'Is there a way to contribute to the dimension more effectively?'

Yun-ho eventually left the department store.

On the street, he saw people holding donation boxes. It was early January, and charity organizations were seeking help on the streets.

Especially noticeable were people who had suddenly lost their jobs and were forced onto the streets.

Not all workers are equal. Some unions aim to pass on jobs to their children with generous year-end bonuses, while others just want to keep their jobs.

'Are they the affected ones?'

Their appearance was not good.

Yun-ho had a certain nostalgia for the word "family."

His mother had passed away from illness when he was young, and his father died in the dungeon. That's why he didn't want to easily sell the guild and dungeon, his father's legacy.

'Let's help them a bit.'

About 5 million won should be enough.

Yun-ho took a stack of 50,000 won bills from his backpack and put them in the donation box. The person holding the box was slightly surprised.

"T-Thank you."

"Stay strong and work hard..."

"Wow!"

Indeed, righteous deeds are rewarded.