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Kang Hyuk entered the room and met the gaze of several hunters. They were all spread apart in the room that resembled a wealthy home office more than a common club’s VIP room. 

Seven in total. Kang Hyuk looked for Hwang Kyuho’s face, meeting the gaze of each hunter one by one. All had very cruel faces and kept their weapons close. One was stealing glances at Kang Hyuk while adding ice to a glass of whiskey. A hunter holding open a pornographic magazine with a cigarette in his mouth. A hunter chopping up pills with a knife. A hunter counting bundles of cash in his bag while sitting on top of the table. A hunter flexing his crossed arms glaring at Kang Hyuk. Everyone was watching Kang Hyuk, someone they had never seen before. 

But Kang Hyuk was here for Hwang Kyuho. He turned his gaze to another once he realized that the face he was looking at was not Hwang Kyuho. Each time he turned his gaze, the eyes watching him took on a more hostile look. The hunter that Kang Hyuk had first laid eyes on asked, “What is it? Aren’t you someone working under Kyuho?” 

“You’re right. I’m Oh Taeho,” replied Oh Taeho. 

“What’s that then?” asked the hunter. 

“Ah, he’s Kang Min’s older brother,” answered Oh Taeho. 

“What?” 

At Oh Taeho’s reply, the hunters quickly exchanged glances with each other.

Kang Hyuk asked a hunter sitting across from the room’s entrance, “Hwang Kyuho’s not here. Where is he?” 

The hunters all frowned at Kang Hyuk’s question. One hunter scooted closer to the door. One that had made eye contact with Kang Hyuk shoved all the money into the bag and got up. He was wearing a black suit. 

“You’re Kang Min’s older brother?” 

Pat, pat– 

His approaching footsteps were even, and it was obvious from his sculpted body that he had had plenty of battle experience. He seemed to be in his forties. Baring his teeth, he said, “The rumor that’s been going around about the Association’s guild master had returned must have been true.” He stuck his hand out to Kang Hyuk and continued, “I’m Goo Changwoo. I’m in charge of the Gargoa Guild’s attack squad. Hwang Kyuho is my guild underling. Ah, please sit first. Hey, bring something to drink. The late guild master’s older brother’s here and you guys aren’t doing anything?” 

The hunter with the pornographic magazine got up at Goo Changwoo’s question. 

 “Kyuho does come around here often. What did you want to see him for?”

“Personal matters. Where is he?” 

“Well... Why don’t you sit down first? Kyuho’s been entangled in a bit of a messy business lately. I can’t really tell you where exactly he is,” continued the hunter, “You can tell me what the personal matter is about, and I can contact him.” 

“Contact him now.” 

Goo Changwoo’s lips twitched. Damn this bastard. He keeps talking so casually to me. Makes me want to kill him. He subconsciously balled his hand into a fist, but he had to make sure to not glare. Having found out that the rumours that Kang Min’s brother had returned were true, he knew what he had to do. I’ll let it go only because he’s a returner. 

To Kang Hyuk, he said, “Haha, Kyuho doensn’t really accept calls nowadays. I can tell the underlings to do something about it, so let’s talk first. If you just come out of nowhere asking information on a guild member, we can’t really just hand it to you, you know? Gargoa Guild isn’t a call center after all.” 

Smiling at Kang Hyuk, Goo Changwoo gestured towards the comfortable couch. A hunter came back with drinks, holding his pornographic magazine in his armpit. 

Kang Hyuk sat down on the couch since he wasn’t here only for Hwang Kyuho. He intended to kill anyone slightly responsible for his brother’s death. The death he had witnessed through Gaze of the Deceased. It was possible that there were other hunters involved, and Kang Hyuk needed information. The Association’s information was not enough, and the more information he had, the better it would be. 

“It’s an honor to meet the older brother of the highly respected guild master, Kang Min,” said Goo Changwoo, rubbing his hands together with a sly smile. 

To Kang Hyuk, Goo Changwoo’s hand rubbing annoyed him as if it were a rattlesnake’s tail twitching. Holding in his compulsion to slice off his hands, he spat, “Tell me whatever you know about Hwang Kyuho.” 

“Ah, of course, I’ll tell you. I don’t know about him as much as you’d probably hope, but we’re on friendly terms. Haha,” laughed Goo Changwoo. 

Goo Changwoo explained the current situation Hwang Kyuho was in to Kang Hyuk. 

A hunter that noticed Oh Taeho standing behind Kang Hyuk came closer. He boasted a shaved head and stabbing scars in an almost checked pattern. His thick neck’s veins and the tattoos on his broad shoulders intimidated Oh Taeho. 

“Are the others not here?” asked the man with the shaved head. 

“Sorry?” questioned Oh Taeho. 

“The ones that went into the dungeon with you today.” 

Upon hearing the hunter’s reply, Oh Taeho recalled the scene where the other hunters had met their terrible deaths. He recalled the skeleton soldiers’ power in one-sidedly massacring the hunters. It was a fear he had never felt since becoming a hunter. This fearful memory made Oh Taeho hesitate to answer. 

“Well... At the dungeon...” he stammered. 

“What about the dungeon?” 

Oh Taeho glanced over at Kang Hyuk. The tension in the room increased. Oh Taeho thought, I’m gonna die here if I reply wrong here. 

“They died fighting the boss,” said Oh Taeho. 

“What?” 

A hunter sitting besides Oh Taeho got up. 

“What was the monster?” 

“Huh?” stuttered Oh Taeho, “Ah... I’m not really sure. It was the first time I’ve seen it.” 

The hunter approached Oh Taeho, looking closely at his face. 

“You. If you’re lying, I’ll kill you. Speak the truth.” 

“I’m not lying. The demonic beast was much stronger than we had expected.” 

“Kyuho said that he took care of the boss himself and left the cleanup to the rest. But you’re saying everyone died? Who’s the liar here?” 

Oh Taeho felt his lips freeze shut. Did Hwang Kyuho stop by? He could not open his mouth. He was too nervous that he started explaining without thinking, “Ah, that’s... He did defeat the boss and left first, but...” 

“But?” 

“We were doing the cleanup, but some demonic beasts ambushed us...” trailed off Oh Taeho as the hunter slapped his face. He felt his head bob. Oh Taeho glanced at Kang Hyuk. He could see his back and Goo Changwoo’s face. Kang Hyuk didn’t turn to look despite the slap.

Only Goo Changwoo spoke, “Hey, what are you doing?” 

“Just teaching the newbie a lesson. He’s saying that the other hunters died from an ambush in the dungeon after defeating the boss. He’s acting like this is some excuse. My hand went up to hit him without me even noticing,” replied the hunter. 

“We have a special guest here. Behave.” 

“Yes, sir.” 

The buzzcut put his thick arm around Oh Taeho’s neck, “You’re saying you got ambushed by a bunch of other demonic beasts after defeating the boss?” 

“...Yes,” replied Oh Taeho. 

“Then how did you survive? You’re the weakest out of all of them. Did the demonic beasts take pity on you? Is that what happened?” 

The buzzcut lightly punched Oh Taeho’s chest. 

“That’s...” Oh Taeho glanced over at Kang Hyuk, “He saved me.” 

“What?” 

The other hunters that had been watching Oh Taeho with a sly smile turned to look at Kang Hyuk. 

“The guild master’s brother saved you?” 

“Yes.” Oh Taeho looked at Kang Hyuk again. He was listening to Goo Changwoo without even throwing a glance his way. 

“What’s his ability?” 

“That’s...” Oh Taeho didn’t know what to do. Was he supposed to truthfully say what Kang Hyuk’s ability was? It was clear that Kang Hyuk was a necromancer considering how he had controlled those skeleton soldiers. The problem was that necromancers were the center of attention on Earth and not for a good reason. As ability users with a power of a whole military, their tendency for crime was strong. There hasn’t been a necromancer returner until now. Would it help me if I told him? 

Before Kang Hyuk returned, all the necromancers on Earth were those who had awakened on Earth, not returners. If the sole necromancer returner also happened to be late Kang Min’s brother? It would garter the attention of all hunters. Oh Taeho was hoping that Kang Hyuk’s existence would get him out of the situation he was in and protect him. What if he kills me for revealing his ability without asking? 

At the moment that Oh Taeho decided to answer, Goo Changwoo spoke, “That’s all I know.” 

Kang Hyuk and Goo Changwoo were getting up. 

“Huh? Are we leaving now?” 

“Is there more to talk about?” 

“Ah, no, no. Haha.” 

Kang Hyuk overtook Oh Taeho, saying, “Follow me.” 

Oh Taeho’s gaze followed Kang Hyuk. The Buzzcut’s arm tightened around Oh Taeho’s neck. 

“Where do you think you’re going? You have unfinished business here,” he said. 

Kang Hyuk’s steps stopped, “Buzzcut, his business is to follow me.” 

“What? Buzzcut? You’re a bit harsh, don’t you think?” 

Goo Changwoo spoke up, “What are you doing? Let them go. He has things to do.” 

“But what about how the other hunters died...?” 

“I said let them go, you bastard. Since when did you care about that stuff?” replied Goo Changwoo. 

The Buzzcut pushed Oh Taeho towards Kang Hyuk as if to throw him. He said, “You come back here as soon as you’re done, okay? Or I’m gonna go find your sister.” 

“...Okay.” 

The hunters watching Oh Taeho trail Kang Hyuk laughed. 

Goo Changwoo spoke to Buzzcut after the door closed, “You shithead. Who permitted you to fuck around in front of a returner?” 

“Nah, but returners are only strong when it’s a 1v1 situation. They’re all humans still. There’s no chance if we go at them in numbers,” replied Buzzcut. 

“Right. There’s strength in numbers. It’s not like we’ve never killed a returner before. We can kill them all if we just properly went at it,” said another hunter. 

“He’s Kang Min’s older brother. You shouldn’t fuck around when you don’t even know his ability. I told you to be careful around returners you don’t know!” scolded Goo Changwoo. He put a cigarette in his mouth and returned to his desk. The hunters followed. 

“But what did you tell him? You didn’t tell him where Kyuho is, did you?” 

“Bastard, do you think I’m retarded? Why would I trust someone I don’t even know?” replied Goo Changwoo. 

“What did you tell him on the note earlier then?” 

Goo Changwoo inhaled and grinned. “I told him the incineration plant address.” 

The other hunters grinned with him. 

“You sent a tired returner to that place?” 

“He sent him there to rest eternally since he’s so tired. No one’s as considerate as him.” 

“Should we tell the others since it could become a problem? He’s a returner after all.” 

“There are returners at the plant. They’ll take care of it,” replied Goo Changwoo. 

“Why was he looking for Kyuho?” 

“That’s the suspicious part. The dudes at the plant will find out for us. How dare he speak so casually. He’ll learn that he can’t fuck around on Earth just because he’s a returner once he tastes his own blood.”

“Can I go watch at the plant?” 

“You think the incineration plant’s a playground? Go get your jobs done.” Goo Changwoo took his smartphone out to dial a number in. After a moment, another man’s voice came through the phone. 

Changwoo, what is it? 

“Hwang Kyuho. Where are you right now?”

I’m having some fun right now. Aren’t my squad members there yet? If they are, send them here please. If you’ll come too, I’ll prepare some fresh girls. 

Goo Changwoo took the cigarette out of his mouth. “Come to my office.” 

I’ll be there once I’m done here. 

Looking at the smartphone screen, Goo Changwoo put the cigarette back in his mouth. He recalled Kang Hyuk’s behavior just earlier. He was bothered by the feeling of intense pressure. The ones at the plant will take care of him, so why do I feel so anxious?