Chapter 31

"Mr. Hansol, do you really believe everything Cha Seo-un said?"

"Are you saying that one of our guild members, who is part of the tunnel team, met with Cha Seo-un? If there's anyone suspicious, let me know. It's already a well-known fact that Cha Seo-un went into hiding for a while, so who among us could it be?"

Kim Hansol blamed the guild leader for his lack of insight.

DK guild leader Ki Yong sighed repeatedly. At the age of thirty, he was a high-level player who had the record of solo-killing a 4th-stage mutant. While 4th-stage mutants are considered mid-high level, he received a higher evaluation for successfully hunting alone.

"If the other guild's deputy leader discovered the tunnel before us, it would be a headache. According to the rules of the Underworld, the one who discovers the mutant first gets to claim it."

"That's why I suggested we split it equally."

"Mr. Kim Hansol, team leader! Split it equally?"

"Is there a better solution? Even though the other guild has downsized, they still have three top-tier mutants and three near-top-tier mutants. I don't have the confidence that we can win in a direct confrontation."

Ki Yong pondered. He couldn't suggest a direct confrontation because he knew their combat capabilities well.

6th-stage mutants have only appeared twice so far.

They were considered monsters of the Zhuque and Xuanwu level, which only existed in legends.

The former DK guild leader died to a 6th-stage mutant, the Phoenix. As a deputy leader, Ki Yong provided rear support, but he could only watch the battle between the top-tier mutants. If Cha Seo-un hadn't blocked the Phoenix's flames, those in the back would have been obliterated.

That day, Ki Yong learned that the Cosmos could change shape in various ways. It wasn't just for surrounding weapons; it could also be spread like a curtain to serve as a shield. Even though he saw it, Ki Yong couldn't fully understand it.

"The bigger problem now is... we can't compromise by splitting it equally anymore."

"You mean they're going to eat it all?"

"Today, a 6th-stage mutant is believed to have appeared in the tunnel."

"Mr. Kim Hansol, are you going to keep spouting nonsense?!"

Ki Yong indirectly asked how a 6th-stage mutant could have survived.

"Fortunately, both Cha Seo-un and Cha Haya were there. Otherwise, the mutant might have reached here."

Kim Hansol pointed to the Seongra Department Store, a landmark in the northwest.

"If they both came, it means they really intend to eat the tunnel..."

Those young brats want to eat the northwest? Ki Yong had no intention of trading the northwest for the southeast.

"Guild leader, now that a 6th-stage mutant has appeared in the tunnel, we can't keep it a secret. We need to announce it to the entire Underworld."

"This might be our last chance."

"For about three months after discovering the tunnel, the highest level was 4th-stage. But you know that a 5th-stage snake mutant appeared recently, right?"

When the tunnel was first discovered, DK tried to investigate the inside. They sent a party of guild members into the tunnel, but none returned. After three failed attempts, they only hunted mutants at the tunnel entrance.

"If 5th to 6th-stage mutants keep pouring out, we need to destroy the tunnel. If just three 6th-stage mutants appear, half of the Underworld's population could die."

"But there's no guarantee that such mutants will keep appearing. Mr. Kim Hansol, we have enough U-gems for five years, right? Even if we split them, we can survive in Korea for two years. If such a situation arises, we can retreat to Seoul and plan for the future, can't we?"

Kim Hansol nodded several times as if he understood. Then he stood up abruptly. He should have seen this coming when he chose the VIP lounge on the top floor of the department store as his residence.

"I hereby resign from the DK guild."

"Mr. Kim Hansol, team leader! Can't you be a bit more spontaneous?!"

"I want to live longer than two years. Can we eliminate a 6th-stage mutant by ourselves? Mr. Ki Yong, you just sit there and enjoy your honey. Show some gratitude to the person who protects your honey."

Instead of flipping him off, Kim Hansol gave a final bow.

"Hey! Kim Hansol!"

Ki Yong, who had kicked the table, grabbed Kim Hansol by the neck.

"Ugh! You're crazy...!"

"Damn, you've become so arrogant after being treated well by a weak healer. 6th-stage? Bullshit, let it come. Even top-tier mutants will have to hunt to survive, right?"

Kim Hansol's face turned bright red from the chokehold.

"Did you know that I stopped the deputy leader from locking you up and just using your abilities? You should know that you need to be grateful when you're treated well, got it?!"

Kim Hansol punched his pocket.

Beep! The alarm in his pocket went off loudly. At the same time, guild members who had broken down the entrance to the VIP lounge rushed in. They were all from Team 1, which Kim Hansol commanded.

"What are you doing?! Let go of the team leader immediately!"

Team 1, with their swords drawn, were fiercely protective. Kim Hansol, still choked, chuckled.

This situation arose because he monopolized the VIP lounge. There were no other guild members to help Ki Yong since the place was only open during meetings.

"Team 1, you guys! You're under me, not Kim Hansol!"

Ki Yong barked, but Team 1's loyalty was with the gasping Kim Hansol. Ki Yong grabbed her hair and tried to take her hostage with a sword.

Ugh! A switchblade thrown by one of the team members pierced Ki Yong's palm, pinning his hand to the wall along with the sword.

"Ahh! You crazy bastards!"

As Ki Yong's sword was enveloped in Cosmos, Team 1 charged to block it. Someone threw a sword that pierced Ki Yong's neck. Ki Yong, spitting blood, couldn't believe what was happening.

He had deflected all five swords... Looking down with bloodshot eyes, he saw Kim Hansol with a dagger in her hand. She had stabbed him and was letting out a controlled amount of Cosmos to cause pain without killing him.

"I tried to end this as respectfully as possible."

She removed her hand after finishing her sentence. Ki Yong, with the dagger still in his neck, coughed up blood repeatedly. As he lay dying, he grabbed her ankle in a silent plea, but it was futile. Saving him would only cause future trouble, and Kim Hansol responded coldly.

"What do you want to do?"

She looked at Team 1, who had been with her in the tunnel today.

"If things stay this way, the deputy leader in Seoul will become the guild leader, right?"

"If the deputy leader comes, should we just kill him? He doesn't hunt mutants and only takes U-gems."

A young man with freckles on his cheek showed no restraint.

"Unless he acts like Ki Yong, I don't think we should kill him outright. I considered moving to Tachun with you guys, but I'm not sure if they would accept us."

"Then, should I try to make contact first?"

A land mage who had narrowly survived being burned alive.

"Oh, right. Ji Hwang. I was so busy I forgot to mention it, but it wasn't me who saved you, right?"

"Me?"

The land mage, Ji Hwang, asked in confusion.

"Well, I'm not sure what happened, but the energy that saved you was Cha Seo-un's Cosmos."

My person, I will protect!

The last thing Ji Hwang heard was Cha Seo-un's desperate cry. He then lost consciousness and woke up in Kim Hansol's car. When he learned that the salamander had already been captured by Tachun, he assumed he had been healed by Kim Hansol.

"No way. Cha Seo-un is a swordsman."

"That 6th-stage mutant was definite. I couldn't heal it."

Ki Yong's last breath was cut off as Kim Hansol spoke calmly.

"Just enjoy the honey you're given, pathetic human."

The biggest and strongest of the group pulled the dagger from the dead Ki Yong. Wrapping the body in a carpet, he slung it over his shoulder like a roll of rice.

"Just in case, don't feel guilty. Think about how many people the guild leader sent to their deaths in the tunnel."

Contrary to Kim Hansol's concerns, everyone seemed relieved. They should have taken better care of the guild members. Kim Hansol clicked her tongue and looked out the glass window at the northwest.

But what was that...?

When Cha Seo-un collapsed with his sword, Cha Haya's white Cosmos began to rage. It devoured all the flames and then swallowed the mutant whole, an event that happened in an instant despite the earlier struggle.

The Cosmos surrounding the mutant rapidly shrank into a circle, and the mutant transformed into U-gems under intense pressure.

Cha Haya, catching the fallen gem, slowly walked over and lifted Seo-un's body.

"Stop looking, sister."

Cha Haya smiled at the entranced Kim Hansol.

"Our deputy leader doesn't like showing his unconscious self."

Holding Seo-un's limp waist, Cha Haya lifted his arm and waved. Kim Hansol was taken aback by this gesture.

To avoid getting entangled with those crazy people, the best option is to enjoy my honey. But first, I need to deal with the tunnel...

"Was it the Tachun people who first proposed the trade of the northwest for the southeast?"

The six witnesses nodded in agreement.

"Let's trade."

You didn't know a 6th-stage mutant would appear, did you?

Kim Hansol decided to retreat to the southeast, the farthest from the tunnel.