Chapter 25

25. Seoul Station, F-Rank and S-Rank – 4

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"Hey, look! The dome is disappearing!"

The people gathered around Seoul Station, the soldiers, players, and reporters all sighed in amazement.

Han Tae-sung had only entered for less than five minutes, and the dome began to vanish as if by magic.

"Indeed, Taho, a lazy tiger, but when he rises, he astonishes the world!"

Nearby, the reporters from the broadcasting companies began to urgently relay the situation on the ground.

Naturally, the most frequently mentioned person was 'King of Fists' Han Tae-sung.

"But it's too early to celebrate. What's crucial is how many of the civilians trapped inside Seoul Station can return safely, so we need to wait and see a bit more."

While there was a sense of relief that the incident was resolving, it couldn't yet be called good news.

What mattered was not the disappearance of the dome, but the safety of the people trapped inside.

Thus, any positive message about the current situation had to be reserved.

However, in the next moment, the joy in Seoul Station Square, and indeed in South Korea, was inevitable.

"Hey! People are starting to come out!"

Immediately after the dome completely disappeared, a huge number of people began to emerge orderly from Exit 1 of Seoul Station, escorted by AMT soldiers.

Finally, the hell was over.

Dozens of cameras captured the scene in full.

"Look over there! Fortunately, there seem to be a lot of survivors."

And strangely enough, they all looked perfectly fine. The paramedics, who had been waiting, expecting a blood-soaked hell, looked at each other in confusion.

And...

"Wait, what? Really?"

The reporter, after asking someone off the microphone, turned back to the camera.

His expression was complex and nuanced.

Stiff and rigid on one hand... yet filled with a sense of elation.

"Viewers... I know it's hard to believe... but..."

He paused for a moment, then slowly spoke.

"...all, all of them survived!"

It was a statement that no one could easily believe.

"Let me repeat that! All the civilians trapped inside the Seoul Station Lucky Event area have returned to us in very good health! The AMT operation was a complete success! The details are not yet known, but it seems the AMT has done an excellent job!"

It was estimated that at least hundreds of people would have died, given the unknown internal situation.

But as the veil of the dome was lifted, the greatest of all twists was revealed.

"It really seems like a miracle!"

Yes, it was almost a miracle.

This news spread around the world and began to be reported under titles like "The Miracle of Seoul Station."

Meanwhile, Lee Hyun-wook was at the front of the line of citizens leaving Seoul Station.

While the scene of AMT soldiers escorting the citizens was quite impressive, he had moved to the front to avoid running into Han Tae-sung again, which would have been a headache.

However...

"Hi, we meet again?"

A woman leaning against one side of the stairs leading down to the station square spoke.

A woman in a white suit, Yoo Hae-na.

She lowered her purple sunglasses slightly and smiled.

As the head of the Seoul Strategy Department of the guild responsible for this area, she had been waiting on the scene.

"Indeed."

"I told you, we can't help but meet often."

She smiled.

"By the way, you were lucky. You were trapped in there but survived. I heard you... are F-rank?"

"..."

"Huh, what...?"

Her lips curled up in a mocking smile.

"..."

"How did you know? You used the phone as I told you to, right? But F-rank? I'm a bit disappointed. I thought you were at least C-rank and even gave you my card... but..."

"Yes, today, and when I fought the orc, it was just pure luck."

With that, Lee Hyun-wook passed by her.

"Are you keeping my card? If you accidentally threw it away... well, you shouldn't have, but my card might bring you luck. Who knows what kind of luck it might bring in the future."

While insulting him, she subtly hinted that he should contact her.

This way, she reminded herself of her superiority.

However, if Lee Hyun-wook really contacted her, she would feel a brief satisfaction, play with him a bit, and then brutally discard him.

To make him fully realize the overwhelming gap between them...

Lee Hyun-wook knew this was that spider-like woman's twisted hobby.

"Well, it's a bit disappointing that you're F-rank, but you did fight well. If you're interested, contact me."

With that, Yoo Hae-na turned and walked away.

And she secretly smiled.

'I can't help but be intrigued.'

She recalled the moment Lee Hyun-wook had refused her card.

It was so infuriating.

So she wanted to make him submit even more.

'How could an F-rank person... have the nerve to refuse my card?'

That's why when she accidentally spotted him just now, a nameless fire in her heart flared up again, and she deliberately mentioned the card to make him take the bait.

'When you can't resist the temptation of Blue Fire, I'll show you the difference between my position and yours. Take the bait... quickly...'

Her greatest weapon was the two characters 'Blue Fire' (靑火) engraved on her card.

That name meant 'power,' 'honor,' and 'money' today.

Blue Fire was a world that every player wanted to enter and was also her surname. Once someone stepped into Blue Fire, no matter who they were, they had to bow down to her.

In other words, Yoo Hae-na had the power to grasp and shake almost every player's desire.

However, that rule didn't apply to everyone.

"Hey! Yoo Hae-na!"

A loud voice echoed in Yoo Hae-na's ears.

'Han Tae-sung... '

He was an exception even in the Blue Fire guild.

S-rank players...

They were beings that transcended all rules.

"True to our promise, I came right away and did the job! Let's have dinner tonight, right?"

"Can't do it."

"Huh? Why! Don't tell me you're breaking your promise again?"

She put her sunglasses back on.

"Let's have it later... I need to submit a report on this incident now."

Her voice, usually elegant and calm, was very stiff.

And her eyes showed a hint of caution.

This was because she knew she couldn't do anything about him.

"Huh? What, a guild girl writing a report herself? Hey, I came all this way at your request, shouldn't you at least buy me a meal?"

"We agreed not to ask about the Lucky Event rewards. Isn't that enough for now?"

The Lucky Event had a high chance of producing a hero-grade item, and it was a given that it would go to Han Tae-sung.

But...

"Wait, that...?"

Han Tae-sung scratched his head, looking embarrassed.

"Hey, I wasn't first?"

Yoo Hae-na tilted her head in confusion.

"What do you mean? Didn't you kill the boss monster?"

"That's true, definitely true, but... I don't understand... I beat the boss monster to a pulp, but... before that, some guy stabbed it with a dagger."

"..."

"Turns out, I was second... after it was all over..."

"..."

In other words, the hero-grade item went to another player.

But who could have taken it from Han Tae-sung?

'Is there anyone among the AMT rescue team, players level 15 and below, who could have done that?'

Yoo Hae-na put her sunglasses back on.

And she turned around.

"Alright, got it. See you later."

"Hey, you really won't buy me a meal?"

"I'm really busy today, I'll contact you later."

"Got it! Then you have to buy me a meal next time!"

Yoo Hae-na moved away from Han Tae-sung, secretly rolling her eyes.

'What? Second place? What does that even mean? If this gets out, it'll be quite embarrassing...'

The image of the S-rank player from the Blue Fire guild saving the citizens of Seoul Station was about to be ruined.

And about 30 minutes later...

"Wait, what did you just say?"

While reviewing the interim report on the incident, Yoo Hae-na heard a surprising piece of news.

"Excuse me? Which part would you like me to repeat?"

The team leader, sensing Yoo Hae-na's unusual reaction, asked nervously.

"Wait, you just said... an AMT soldier... was the most active in this incident?"

"Yes, although his identity is not yet confirmed, it's what the trapped citizens all said."

"Was he part of the follow-up rescue team?"

"Well, according to the station security, he was there from the beginning."

"Wait... you mean...?"

Although not certain, Yoo Hae-na had a feeling she knew who the soldier was.

A soldier who was not part of the rescue team but was 'trapped'...

Lee Hyun-wook's face came to mind.

'What? Just... lucky?'

Reflecting on it, even that strange calmness at the time was annoying.

According to her, that was not an expression an F-rank player could have.

'If it really was him... '

That strange calmness he had shown would truly irritate her.

Her mood became even more complex.

***

Meanwhile, Lee Hyun-wook was facing the battalion commander.

Kim Gang-seok looked at Lee Hyun-wook with a stern expression.

"I have a lot of questions for you."

It couldn't be helped.

"What exactly happened inside? How was all of this possible...?"

Every expert in the world had predicted that numerous casualties were inevitable.

Honestly, Kim Gang-seok had to agree with that.

'Frankly... I thought it would be a success if we could save even half of them.'

He made great efforts not to lose even the smallest hope.

If he, as the operation commander, lost hope, the direction of the operation would falter.

'But... '

...a complete anomaly occurred.

No, it was more than an anomaly; it was a miracle.

Everyone survived, and Lee Hyun-wook's performance seemed to go beyond mere ingenuity.

Now, it was more than admiration; it was suspicion.

'Lee Hyun-wook, what is this guy really?'

Kim Gang-seok trusted Lee Hyun-wook.

His unique qualities...

But this incident couldn't be accomplished by that alone.

Thus, he felt suspicion.

And 'suspicion' is the first step to 'awe'...

Kim Gang-seok knew this to some extent.

'This feeling, it's not the first time.'

He was one of the earliest players.

But the world of players is not one where being old means being the best.

He had seen countless late-awakening players surpass him.

'Han Tae-sung, Ki Baek-joon, Seo Eun-ha, and probably Choi Young-joon in the future...'

When they first appeared, the world's first impression was 'suspicion.'

But as they repeatedly proved themselves, the world's view changed to 'trust' and 'admiration.'

Lee Hyun-wook might also be in that process.

Not just becoming a capable officer, but becoming a hero...

'But he's F-rank...'

The aforementioned individuals continue to grow.

But Lee Hyun-wook has a clear limit.

He would eventually be broken by fate.

Kim Gang-seok suppressed his bitterness and looked at Lee Hyun-wook.

"Private Lee Hyun-wook, I have a lot of questions, but first... there's someone you need to meet."

Kim Gang-seok turned his head to somewhere.

It was the Seoul Station Square.

"Everyone, clear the area! The teleport will open!"

A colonel shouted, clearing the space, and beside him, a junior officer wearing a headset looked up at the sky and began to shout.

"Preparation complete! Three! Two! One! Open!"

At that moment, a bright blue beam of light poured down from the sky.

Zzzzzzzz-

It was a large-scale teleport.

All eyes in the Seoul Station Square were drawn to it.

And from the light, a group of AMT soldiers emerged.

At the center stood the 3rd Anti-Demon Brigade Commander, General Choi Jung-cheol.

Kim Gang-seok stood up, straightened his uniform, and turned to Lee Hyun-wook, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"The brigade commander wants to meet you."

Kim Gang-seok's voice was tense.

But Lee Hyun-wook's mind was filled with a different thought.

'A one-star reward has fallen from the sky.'