Chapter 108 – Torture

B-rank guild member Park Sang-chul was shocked.

To have his dagger taken so easily.

Even if he was careless, this shouldn’t happen.

Wasn’t the guild member before him just a level 250 low-rank member?

Moreover, he hadn’t even noticed the dagger being taken.

He hadn’t even seen the hand move.

But there was an even more surprising sight.

“Gasp!”

Jang Seok-hyun’s face rippled and changed into that of a man in his 40s.

‘He-he can change faces…!’

He’d never seen anything like this before.

He’d never even heard of such an ability.

‘Could this be Jang Seok-hyun’s real trait?’

As far as he knew, Jang Seok-hyun had an F-rank trait that increased attribute resistance.

But that was just Jang Seok-hyun’s claim.

What if the attribute resistance was a lie and his trait was actually face changing?

The situation before him made some sense then.

‘Wait. But why hide such a good trait?’

Face changing was a blessing for an assassin.

Jang Seok-hyun had no reason to hide it.

If he hadn’t, he wouldn’t be discarded like this.

If revealed, he would have been recognized as indispensable talent and climbed the ranks in Black Sea Guild.

That’s when.

“What are you thinking about?”

Min Do-jun spoke in a chilling voice.

“You’re not still thinking I’m Jang Seok-hyun, are you?”

“Who-who are you?”

“I ask the questions. You just answer.”

As Min Do-jun approached, Park Sang-chul silently vanished.

He had used stealth.

But.

*grab*

“Urk!”

He was immediately caught by the throat by Min Do-jun.

Park Sang-chul’s stealth was dispelled.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Actually, he wasn’t trying to escape but launch a surprise attack, but it was completely blocked.

‘For my stealth to be seen through like this…’

Being detected in stealth meant being outmatched in combat ability.

From the start, he wasn’t an opponent surprise attacks would work on.

Park Sang-chul felt this with his whole body.

‘Ugh… his-his strength is no joke.’

Min Do-jun, who had been choking him, threw Park Sang-chul against the wall.

*crash*

“Urk!”

Debris fell from the impacted wall.

It was incredible strength for using just one hand.

“Uugh…”

Seeing his senior thrown helplessly, Kim Young-hoon backed away hesitantly before turning to run.

“Where to?”

Min Do-jun launched Fire Blast at the fleeing person.

*whoosh*

“Aaaagh! Aaagh!”

Engulfed in flames, Kim Young-hoon collapsed like roasted meat.

[You have killed Hunter Kim Young-hoon.]

[Stolen trait ‘Presence Detection’.]

[Stolen 6 equipment items.]

[Absorbed target’s corpse.]

[Health recovered.]

Park Sang-chul’s eyes widened seeing his junior die from one spell.

‘He-he’s not just physically strong…?’

Though the dead guild member was a C-rank hunter at level 400, he shouldn’t die from one spell.

At least 1,000 magic power would be needed for that.

‘Must escape.’

But Park Sang-chul’s wish wasn’t granted.

Because Min Do-jun broke his ankle.

*crack*

“Arrrgh!”

It wasn’t just one side.

*crack*

“Urrrk!”

Unable to use both legs, Park Sang-chul gave up on escaping.

Or more accurately, he couldn’t think of it through the pain.

“Answer my questions well and I’ll spare your life.”

“Urrgh…”

“What’s your guild’s current plan?”

Instead of answering, Park Sang-chul stuck out his tongue.

Just as he was about to commit suicide without hesitation.

*grab*

Min Do-jun quickly reached into his mouth to stop him.

“Uuuah! (Remove this hand!)”

“Even if you go, you should leave information first.”

Min Do-jun grinned and took out a cursed dagger from his inventory.

*slash*

[Cast Curse of Silence on target.]

[Time remaining: 17 minutes 29 seconds]

“Ah… I was hoping for Curse of Pain…”

“Mmph!”

“Well, we have time.”

Min Do-jun showed an evil smile and began beating Park Sang-chul.

* * *

As soon as the curse wore off, Min Do-jun slashed with the dagger again.

[Cast Curse of Blindness on target.]

[Time remaining: 17 minutes 29 seconds]

Though he didn’t get the desired Curse of Pain, he hadn’t wasted time meaninglessly.

“Won’t you talk?”

*thud*

“Why are you following Hwang Ui-chul?”

*thud*

“Urrrgh…”

Bruises spread across Park Sang-chul’s body.

Still, he never once opened his mouth.

He only opened it to try biting his tongue to commit suicide.

*grab*

“Ah ah, can’t have that.”

Every time he tried to commit suicide, Min Do-jun blocked him with his hand.

“Can’t let you go easily.”

*crack*

“Urrrk…”

Twisting his ankle again, he could see the man trying hard to endure.

“Such impressive loyalty?”

Despite continued torture, Park Sang-chul was a man with a heavier mouth than expected.

“I said I’ll spare you if you just tell me the information?”

“Bull…”

*thud*

“Urk…”

Even attempts at persuasion didn’t work.

Perhaps natural for someone who tried to commit suicide for the guild.

The change in him came when.

“Aaaaargh!”

[Cast Curse of Pain on target.]

[Time remaining: 17 minutes 29 seconds]

When the long-desired Curse of Pain was finally cast.

“Can’t endure this one, can you?”

A light cut with the low-level dagger taken from Kim Young-hoon.

“Arrrrgh!”

Park Sang-chul screamed in agony.

A clearly different scream from during the previous torture.

“How about it? Still won’t talk?”

*slash*

“Urrrrrgh!”

“I have plenty of time. I can keep going as long as needed.”

*slash*

“Urrrrrgh!”

He looked pitiful sweating profusely.

“Shall we see how long you can endure?”

“I-I’ll… talk.”

Unable to endure the cursed pain, Park Sang-chul finally surrendered.

“Wh-what do you want to know?”

“Black Sea Guild’s plan.”

“Hwang Ui-chul has a legendary sword. Our plan is to take it.”

‘Legendary sword?’

Min Do-jun couldn’t hide his surprise.

‘Teacher has something that precious?’

A legendary sword was an item that barely dropped from S-rank bosses.

Not something an A-rank like Hwang Ui-chul could obtain.

‘Though I do have the hard-to-get Magic Core…’

But that was just luck from killing Kim Pedro.

He hadn’t known Hwang Ui-chul also had such a precious item.

“So that’s why you followed Hwang Ui-chul?”

“Yes.”

“What’s the specific operation?”

“…”

Min Do-jun moved his hand without delay.

*slash*

“Arrrrrrgh!!”

“What is it?”

“Sub-subdue Hwang Ui-chul and torture him, that’s all!”

Torture was perfect for making someone give up inventory items.

But Min Do-jun felt something was off.

“Then why call us in midway? You shouldn’t take your eyes off him for a moment?”

“We-we put in another surveillance team.”

*slash*

“Arrrrrrgh!!!”

“I didn’t see any other surveillance team – why are you lying? Won’t tell the truth?”

“Urrrgh…”

Min Do-jun glanced at the system message.

‘Only 5 minutes left on the curse.’

Not much time.

“Why withdraw the surveillance team midway?”

“Hehehe…”

As Park Sang-chul laughed like he’d lost his mind, Min Do-jun slashed multiple times.

“Aaaaargh! Aaaaargh!”

“Speak.”

“Hehe… the-the operation already succeeded… that’s why we withdrew.”

“What?”

Min Do-jun, who had asked again in surprise, lowered his voice and said:

“Don’t lie.”

“It’s true… what other reason would there be to withdraw…”

Park Sang-chul was right.

Reason to withdraw surveillance?

Because no more surveillance was needed.

‘But that doesn’t make sense? Teacher stayed home the whole time?’

He knew from following personally.

That no one had approached Teacher.

“The target’s still at home but the operation succeeded? What nonsense are you talking?”

“I-I don’t really know. I just received orders to withdraw surveillance and silence the rookie… That’s all I kno- Arrrrgh!”

Min Do-jun started slashing relentlessly.

“Tell the truth!”

“Aaaagh! I-I really don’t know! Don’t know! Aaaagh!”

Just then the Curse of Pain effect ended.

He considered casting another curse but changed his mind.

“Really don’t know?”

“Urrrgh… yes.”

“Alright. Goodbye.”

*stab*

[You have killed Hunter Park Sang-chul.]

[Stolen trait ‘Intermediate Stealth’.]

[Stolen 7 equipment items.]

[Absorbed target’s corpse.]

[Health recovered.]

He stopped, feeling further torture would be a waste of time.

He seemed to really not know.

[Trait – Presence Detection]

– Grade: C

– Description: Detects presence within 30 meter radius. Can instinctively distinguish between humans and monsters.

[Trait – Intermediate Stealth]

– Grade: C

– Description: When using Stealth or Invisibility, duration increases by 300 seconds and cooldown decreases by 15 minutes.

He checked Kim Young-hoon and Park Sang-chul’s traits.

‘Not bad.’

Traits that detect presence and enhance invisibility would be somewhat helpful.

‘First need to check if Teacher is in danger.’

Being underground, phones didn’t work.

Min Do-jun took only the car keys from Park Sang-chul’s belongings and left the lodge.

*ring ring*

He immediately called Hwang Ui-chul but.

‘Damn…!’

He’s making people worry by not answering.

Without the wolf, he couldn’t know where he was.

‘Better head to Teacher’s home first.’

*beep*

He pressed the car key and got in the car parked beside the lodge.

*vroom*

Min Do-jun stepped hard on the accelerator.

* * *

Arriving at Hwang Ui-chul’s home in less than an hour, Min Do-jun parked on the street and entered the apartment complex.

At the main entrance, he entered the unit number and pressed call, hearing a familiar voice.

It was Hwang Ui-chul’s wife.

-Who is it? Could it be… Do-jun?

Min Do-jun currently had his original face, not the man in his 40s.

“Hello, ma’am. It’s been a while.”

-Oh my, it has been. But what brings you to our home? Ah, I should open the door-

“No need, ma’am. I just came to ask something.”

-Oh? What is it?

“Is Teacher home? He’s not answering his phone.”

-Ah, that’s because he went exercising. He leaves his phone behind saying it gets in the way.

“Ah…”

-He’s probably at the nearby park, but don’t trouble yourself looking. He’ll be back soon. Want to come in and wait?

“It’s alright, ma’am. Thank you for letting me know. I’ll see you next time.”

He had somewhat expected Hwang Ui-chul wouldn’t be home.

Since the wolf that should be in front wasn’t visible.

‘It probably followed Teacher as I ordered.’

Though she said he’d be back soon, he couldn’t just wait.

Not knowing the situation.

‘Given the operation succeeded, it might already be dangerous…’

Though she said he went to the nearby park, there was no guarantee he was there.

He needed the wolf to know exactly where he was.

‘Dismiss summon.’

Min Do-jun dismissed the wolf wherever it was.

Then used the skill again to call it.

[Woof woof!]

Min Do-jun asked the wolf that appeared before him:

“Bark once for yes, twice for no to my questions.”

[Woof!]

“You were protecting Teacher?”

[Woof!]

“Is Teacher in danger?”

[Woof! Woof!]

Min Do-jun let out a relieved sigh at the negative response.

“No suspicious people approached either?”

[Woof!]

That’s when it happened.

Someone was caught by his presence detection.