Chapter 340 – Part 2 – Crush

“Oh? You came early today?”

Sim Seong-jin tilted his head looking at Bang Tae-man who had come to work early, unlike usual.

But the truly surprising thing happened next.

“Seong-jin.”

Bang Tae-man called his name with a serious voice.

Unlike always cursing him as “Shim Seong-jin,” he spoke with a grave expression.

“What? Suddenly setting the mood like this.”

“Come sit over here.”

When Sim Seong-jin sat on the opposite sofa, Bang Tae-man opened his mouth.

“Whose office do you think this is?”

“What’s that supposed to mean out of nowhere? Of course it’s the captain’s.”

The captain in Team Crush referred to Yang Jo-young.

“That’s right. The captain’s. But that captain is dead. You confirmed it through the rankings too, right?”

“Yes……”

The Team Crush members who hadn’t been able to contact Yang Jo-young for a while checked the rankings as soon as midnight came.

And they saw it.

Yang Jo-young’s name had disappeared without a trace.

There was only one meaning to that.

Death.

Yang Jo-young’s unexpected death was enough to confuse the members.

“I was so shocked when I heard the news at dawn. To think Captain Yang really passed away……”

“That’s not all. Secretary Yang Baek-du’s name doesn’t come up in searches either.”

“Yang Baek-du… you mean the captain’s father?”

When Bang Tae-man nodded, Sim Seong-jin asked in surprise.

“Then even the captain’s father passed away?”

“That’s right. I don’t know how it happened, but…”

It couldn’t help but be shocking in many ways.

“Anyway, the captain is dead. So what will happen to this office rented under the captain’s name?”

“Well? What happens?”

“It’ll close. And we’ll be kicked out by the building owner.”

“Ah……”

It was a natural result.

Since the tenant had died, they could no longer operate the office.

They couldn’t maintain the team either.

“D-don’t tell me our team is disbanding?”

Bang Tae-man’s head moved up and down.

“That’s right.”

“W-we can maintain it among ourselves. How much could the office rental cost be?”

“Cost isn’t the problem.”

“Then what?”

“What do you think allowed us to freely enter and exit dungeons until now? It was because of Hunter Yang Jo-young.”

“The captain?”

“That’s right. Thanks to the captain’s name value, we could receive a 3:7 ratio instead of the usual 2:8, and we could easily enter dungeons just by telling the Association and managers. But now that Hunter Yang Jo-young is dead?”

Bang Tae-man’s expression went beyond serious to grave.

“It could actually be dangerous.”

“Dangerous?”

“Think about it. The captain and Secretary Yang Baek-du are dead. How did they die? Did the two of them really commit suicide?”

“There’s no reason for suicide, right? They were such successful people……”

“Right. Then it means murder, but who killed them?”

“I wouldn’t know that.”

“Right. We don’t know who killed them. It’s not important either. What’s certain is that someone strong enough to kill an A-rank hunter did it. And not just the Secretary, but his son too.”

“But what does that have to do with us?”

As if asking how he could still not understand, Bang Tae-man looked at him with pitying eyes.

“Hunter Yang Jo-young was assassinated. His father Hunter Yang Baek-du died too. What if the assassin wants to kill everyone related to Hunter Yang Jo-young? Whose turn would be next?”

Sim Seong-jin’s eyes widened as he thought quietly.

“D-don’t tell me…… us?”

“Right. It’s just speculation, but the assassin might try to kill even us. For the reason of being Hunter Yang Jo-young’s team.”

“Ah……”

“Whether we like it or not, the moment we entered Hunter Yang Jo-young’s team, we got involved in this matter.”

Unlike Bang Tae-man who showed a calm attitude, Sim Seong-jin trembled slightly.

He seemed to have belatedly recognized the situation.

“W-we should run away quickly, shouldn’t we? It’s dangerous to stay like this.”

“Don’t be too scared. It’s just speculation.”

“B-but…!”

“Think about it. When did Hunter Yang Jo-young go missing?”

“12 days ago?”

“Right. Then we should assume he was assassinated then, based on circumstances?”

“Right?”

“But why are our lives still attached? Even now, 12 days later.”

“Huh? That’s right? Why haven’t they killed us yet?”

“Maybe they’re not paying attention to us. My speculation about an assassin might be wrong.”

“That’s right! If they were going to kill us, they would have done it long ago!”

Sim Seong-jin’s anxious face brightened completely.

“But it’s too early to be relieved. We might be exposed to danger as I speculated. It’s better to be careful.”

“Then what’s your plan now?”

“We should lay low for a while. Naturally, disbanding the team is the right thing to do.”

“Ah……”

Deep regret appeared on Sim Seong-jin’s face.

Bang Tae-man felt the same regret.

“……It’s a shame.”

“It can’t be helped. Without a captain and with a team that might be dangerous, we don’t know what might happen if we maintain it.”

“How about making a new team instead?”

“Do you think the Association won’t be able to track us just by changing the name? What if that assassin is from the Association?”

“Hmm……”

“Either way, if we want to preserve our lives, it’s better to suspend activities for a while. Until the situation is resolved.”

Sim Seong-jin nodded.

It seemed better to follow Bang Tae-man’s judgment.

“When the others come to work, let’s tell them our opinion and go in the direction of disbanding.”

“……Right.”

Shortly after, the office door opened and someone entered.

It was Eom Jeong-sik.

“Good morning, seniors! Good morn……”

Eom Jeong-sik, who had entered energetically, read the atmosphere and trailed off.

“Why are you all like this? Is it because of the captain’s death…?”

“First come here and listen to what we have to say.”

Bang Tae-man told him his speculation and future plans, just as he had told Sim Seong-jin.

“So today is the last day……”

“That’s about right.”

Eom Jeong-sik’s shoulders drooped.

It was because quite a bit of affection had built up in the short time of a few months.

Seeing him so dejected, Bang Tae-man changed the subject to lighten the mood.

“How are things with Eun-jeong? Still no progress in your relationship?”

“You can see for yourself. No matter how much it doesn’t seem like it, she puts up such an iron wall.”

Eom Jeong-sik’s sigh deepened.

Bitter smiles appeared on the team members’ faces.

“Try asking her to meet separately after the team disbands. You never know, it might be different if you meet privately.”

“By then she’ll probably cut off contact completely?”

“Still, you never know……”

“Team leader, give up. Seeing how she hasn’t shown interest even once despite you pursuing her like that every day, she really dislikes you.”

“Ah, Senior Sim. How can you suddenly fact-bomb me like that……”

“I’m amazed Eun-jeong still hasn’t blocked your number.”

“Ah, really. Senior!”

“Hahahaha!”

The atmosphere lightened.

A few more jokes were exchanged and it completely returned to the old atmosphere.

That atmosphere where you could feel the close friendship despite the bickering.

Everyone enjoyed this moment, temporarily setting aside the despair of team disbandment.

“Continue your conversation. I’ll go make some coffee.”

“Oh, what wind is blowing that you’re volunteering to make it?”

“It feels weird to drink alone.”

“Should we try coffee made by the youngest for the first time in a while?”

“What do you mean youngest?”

“When Eun-jeong isn’t here, you’re the youngest.”

“Youngest, we’ll enjoy it in advance. Keke.”

Eom Jeong-sik shook his head at the seniors’ teasing and entered the break room.

That’s when it happened.

Creak-

Just then the office door opened, so Bang Tae-man and Sim Seong-jin turned their heads with smiling faces.

“Did Eun-jeong come?”

“Perfect timing. You can have coffee too……”

But the person who entered wasn’t Do Eun-jeong.

“Who… are you?”

A man wearing a deeply pulled hood entered while equipped with armor.

‘A hunter?’

Whatever business he came for, the man’s atmosphere was ominous.

“What brings you here……”

Just as Bang Tae-man was about to approach.

Tssss-

Sim Seong-jin saw a sword being summoned in the man’s hand and screamed.

“Team leader! Be careful!”

“Huh?”

Bang Tae-man turned around, but it was already too late.

Slice-

The floating head fell with a thud at Sim Seong-jin’s feet.

“Huk.”

Sim Seong-jin, who made eye contact with Bang Tae-man, barely held onto his consciousness that was about to faint.

Now wasn’t the time to be shocked by the team leader’s death.

Tssss-

Sim Seong-jin immediately equipped his hunter gear and drew his sword.

“Keke. You want to try me? A mere 10,000 combat power?”

“Y-you bastard……”

Even after killing someone, the hooded man’s voice was calm.

A voice that didn’t care, as if he had just swatted a bug.

Sim Seong-jin raised his sword with trembling feelings.

The gap with his opponent was clear.

He would probably die here.

‘In that case……’

Suddenly he thought of Eom Jeong-sik who had entered the break room.

Sim Seong-jin used his wits.

“Who are you! Who are you to suddenly barge in and kill our team leader!”

He loudly broadcast the situation.

So that Eom Jeong-sik in the break room could hear the situation and hide.

‘Please don’t come out of there, Jeong-sik. Only I should die.’

While thinking such thoughts, the man suddenly giggled and laughed.

“To care for your comrade even in this situation…… Impressive. I’ll praise you for that.”

Just as Sim Seong-jin’s eyes widened, the hooded man swung his sword.

The world split in two.

It happened before he could even blink.

Thud-

Sim Seong-jin’s corpse fell onto the sofa.

Blood dripped down and stained the office.

“I killed two people in an instant? I need to kill more? Where did the rest hide?”

Song Chi-hyeon, who was deliberately narrating the situation for fun, moved with light steps.

Then he discovered a trembling man in the break room.

“So you were here?”

“Hiik!”

Eom Jeong-sik had heard all the situation outside, but there was nowhere to run.

There was nowhere to hide either.

There was only one thing he could do.

“What were you doing?”

Save Do Eun-jeong.

* * *

Ding-

A text came.

Do Eun-jeong opened her phone and looked at the text, then.

“Huh?”

Her eyes widened.

[Eom Jeong-sik: Don’t come to the office. Today’s meeting is canceled. If you’re coming, go back. Got it?]

Suddenly canceling the meeting.

“Ah…… I’m almost there.”

Do Eun-jeong stopped walking in front of the office building and sent a text with a disappointed heart.

[Do Eun-jeong: How can you tell me that now, senior? Then is no one at the office?]

[Eom Jeong-sik: Yeah, no one. So go back.]

She sighed involuntarily.

“If you were going to tell me, you should have told me earlier. I made a wasted trip.”

Do Eun-jeong grumbled and turned around.

When she hadn’t walked a few steps.

Ding-

A text came and when she looked, it was from Eom Jeong-sik.

[Eom Jeong-sik: Ah, sorry sorry! I mistook it for another day. Now that I think about it, today is the meeting day. Let’s meet at the office as usual.]

“Ah, what?”

Do Eun-jeong said irritably and turned around again.

Going back and forth like this was annoying.

Creak-

Do Eun-jeong opened the office door without any suspicion and frowned.

‘What’s this smell?’

A strange scent stung her nose.

‘Some kind of metallic smell……’

Do Eun-jeong couldn’t continue her words.

She could identify the smell after walking just a few steps.

‘Blood……?’

She could see what looked like bloodstains on the sofa.

The moment she approached closer to see clearly.

“Hup!”

Do Eun-jeong had no choice but to cover her mouth.

Otherwise, she felt like she would vomit.

“S-senior……!”

Before her eyes was Sim Seong-jin’s corpse.

She could also see Bang Tae-man’s head.

Tremble tremble tremble-

Naturally her hands and feet began to shake.

The shock she couldn’t handle manifested throughout her body.

“You came quickly?”

At the voice heard out of nowhere, Do Eun-jeong’s head whipped around.

A hooded man was holding something in his hand.

It was Eom Jeong-sik’s head.

“Urp!”

“Ah, sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”

Song Chi-hyeon casually threw the head.

“It’s your fault for showing up just when I was killing them?”

“Aah……”

When people are shocked, they can’t make rational judgments.

This was why Do Eun-jeong was sitting down and trembling.

“You have the thought that you should run away, but your body won’t follow, I see.”

Even though the murderer who had killed her team members was approaching, Do Eun-jeong couldn’t move.

“Staying seated like that is better than running. If you had tried to run, I would have cut your throat right away.”

Song Chi-hyeon had approached close by.

It was close enough to reach with an extended blade.

“Don’t worry. I’ll send you off without pain. Since you have that kind of relationship with our Seong-min, I should give you special treatment.”

“……?”

When Choi Seong-min’s name came up, Do Eun-jeong finally raised her head.

The criminal’s face visible under the hood strangely resembled someone.

“Take comfort in the fact that you were alive even for a little while before you go.”

With those words, just as he raised his sword.

Splatter-

Something splashed on his clothes. It was an unknown liquid.

“What?”

Just as he was turning his head, Song Chi-hyeon saw it.

A third party who had appeared out of nowhere was swinging a dagger at his throat.

“Kuk!”

He barely avoided it and saved his life, but his carotid artery was slightly cut.

As blood flowed down, the third party’s second attack came.

‘Now! Sword Dancing!’

Song Chi-hyeon’s sword moved splendidly.

Papapapapapak-!

However, he only shredded the innocent sofa, while the assassin who had targeted him was already far away.

‘I thought he had entered my range, but already?’

It was movement that could only be seen as predicting and responding.

Song Chi-hyeon glared at the third party who had interfered with a hardened expression.

“Who are you?”

It was a man wearing a black mask.