Chapter 110 – Threatening Call

‘Ahn Kwang-hyun? My old colleague?’

A somewhat familiar name.

Hwang Ui-chul carefully searched his memories.

Then buried memories from the past surfaced.

‘Could it be that assassin?’

There was a party member he occasionally encountered while running dungeons in the past.

An assassin class who often got into arguments with him due to conflicting opinions.

‘His name was Ahn Kwang-hyun.’

A madman who cut his colleague’s wrist in anger, claiming he stole loot from prey he had almost finished.

Though they never met after that and the memory gradually faded, Ahn Kwang-hyun was the only one with that name.

-Surely you haven’t forgotten me?

“I remember. The crazy bastard who cut his colleague’s wrist claiming his share was stolen.”

-Ah, so you do remember. Well, I did leave quite an impression at the end. But think about it. Some bug interfered with a monster I nearly killed and ate it with low contribution. Wouldn’t that make your blood boil?

“Forget the past and tell me where our Da-yeon is.”

Min Do-jun swallowed at Hwang Ui-chul’s angry voice.

‘First time seeing Teacher this angry.’

But Ahn Kwang-hyun on the call showed no signs of intimidation.

-Hehe, you think I’ll tell you because you lower your voice threateningly?

“Answer…”

-Let me ask something first. Do you have the legendary sword?

“Answer me, you bastard!!!”

Everyone in the café turned startled at Hwang Ui-chul’s shout.

“Teacher, drawing attention won’t help. Please calm down.”

“Huu, huu…”

Despite Min Do-jun’s words, Hwang Ui-chul could hardly contain his excitement.

-Kukukuku! What an excellent reaction. Kidnapping his daughter was indeed the right choice.

“You bas…”

That’s when.

-Dad!

The daughter’s voice they’d been waiting for.

“Da-yeon!”

-D-dad…! *sob* *sob*

“Da-yeon, are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere? Dad will come right away…”

-Well, now that we’ve confirmed she’s alive…

The call switched back to Ahn Kwang-hyun.

-Shall we talk business?

“Ahn Kwang-hyun, you son of a…”

-Let me ask again. The legendary sword, do you have it? You better have it, if you don’t want to see your daughter hurt.

“You bastard, if you touch even a hair on Da-yeon’s head, I’ll definitely take your…”

-Tsk tsk. Are you stupid or still don’t understand the situation? Then I’ll have to make you realize.

Ahn Kwang-hyun spoke in a chilling voice.

-Boys. Cut off one of her fingers.

-Yes!

Screams were heard along with the response through the call.

-Kyaaah!

“No, stop…! Stop it you bastard!!!”

-Stop.

Faint sobbing could be heard.

It wasn’t hard to imagine what had happened.

-Hehehe… A little later and it would have been cut off.

“You bas…”

-I’ve been generous until now, but you should watch what you say from now on. If you want your daughter safe.

“Urgh…”

Hwang Ui-chul had no choice but to swallow his words.

He finally realized his daughter’s life was in their hands.

-Good. Now you seem to listen.

“What do you want?”

-I thought you were listening but seems you didn’t hear a word. I’ve been saying what I want. This is ridiculous.

“The legendary sword? Yes. I have it.”

-Hehehe, how honest. Well, I knew it. You were the only hunter who met the Association President.

“Name the place. I’ll give you the sword as you want. But don’t touch Da-yeon at all. If you leave even one scratch…”

-Ah ah. Don’t worry about that. We won’t go near your daughter from now. Can’t damage the goods during a transaction.

Hwang Ui-chul bit his lower lip at the comment treating his daughter like goods.

-I’ll grant your request, so I have one demand too. Or should I say warning?

“…”

-3 AM tomorrow, come alone to the location I’ll text you. If we find out you brought even an ant – civil servant hunters, colleague hunters, police, association, etc. – we’ll immediately tear your daughter to pieces and run. Choose wisely. Understand?

“…Understood.”

The call ended immediately after his answer.

“F*ck!”

Hwang Ui-chul covered his face with both hands after slamming the table.

“Haah…”

Devastating emotions flooded in.

“Teacher…”

Min Do-jun who had heard most of the call carefully asked.

“Are you really going to hand over the legendary sword?”

“Isn’t it obvious? My daughter’s been kidnapped!”

This uncharacteristically excited state of Hwang Ui-chul was completely unfamiliar to Min Do-jun.

“Someone will hear, Teacher.”

“Damn it!”

Hwang Ui-chul who had been breathing heavily in anger started sighing deeply and eventually showed tears.

“*sob*… Da-yeon, I’m so sorry. Because of me…”

Tears fell thinking of his daughter trembling in fear.

“I shouldn’t have accepted such a dangerous item… *sob*…”

“It’s not your fault, Teacher. It’s all because of that bastard.”

Though Min Do-jun tried comforting him out of sympathy, Hwang Ui-chul’s tears wouldn’t stop.

No comfort would reach Hwang Ui-chul’s ears right now.

‘To think they’d kidnap Da-yeon…’

Min Do-jun bit his lip.

Now he understood what they meant by the operation succeeding.

From the start, Black Sea Guild had targeted his daughter, not Hwang Ui-chul.

‘They knew torturing Teacher wouldn’t make him give up the legendary sword. That’s why they kidnapped his daughter.’

It was a scheme planned knowing the tendencies of their old colleague Hwang Ui-chul.

‘Damn! I was so focused on protecting Teacher, I didn’t think about Da-yeon.’

Originally, Min Do-jun had planned to create an impersonator’s existence and use that as an excuse to infiltrate Black Sea Guild and destroy them from within.

‘But to think they’d make the first move like this…’

Was it because there was still quite some time until Hwang Ui-chul’s death?

Honestly, he had been complacent.

‘He said his name was Ahn Kwang-hyun?’

Min Do-jun checked the rankings recalling the kidnapper’s name.

Though uncertain, this person must be Black Sea Guild’s master.

Rank 114 – Ahn Kwang-hyun (b.1972) – Level 2,455 (A-rank)

‘He said he was in the same party as Teacher before, but his level is higher.’

The gap probably widened after Hwang Ui-chul became a civil servant hunter.

Civil servant hunters don’t have much time to hunt.

‘Looking at level, he’s similar to Kim Pedro. Then…’

In a one-on-one fight, level 2,020 Hwang Ui-chul would likely lose.

‘Of course, level alone doesn’t determine skill. It varies greatly depending on traits. But…’

Given the circumstances, Ahn Kwang-hyun was Black Sea Guild’s master.

Someone who could become the head of a guild must have considerable skills as well as traits.

‘Plus there’s no guarantee it’ll be one-on-one.’

If he mobilizes guild members to attack Hwang Ui-chul, the result is obvious.

‘They won’t let Teacher live.’

That must be why they told him to come alone.

To take the sword and kill Hwang Ui-chul.

‘If you go alone, you probably won’t return alive.’

Now he understood.

Why Hwang Ui-chul was killed by Black Sea Guild in his previous life.

‘All because of the legendary sword…’

This mess happened because of the weapon entrusted by the Association President.

Though Black Sea Guild’s machinations were behind it, clearly it happened because of the sword.

‘Maybe Justin Walker planned this from the start.’

It was incomprehensible that he entrusted an S-rank weapon to Korea which wasn’t even his home country.

‘Originally there should have been 1.5 years until Teacher’s death. For it to be moved up like this…’

It could only mean the future changed due to Min Do-jun’s actions.

‘Because I killed Kim Pedro and destroyed the Order? Is that why Black Sea Guild started earlier than planned?’

That was the most plausible hypothesis for now.

‘Anyway, it’s dangerous for Teacher to go alone.’

When Hwang Ui-chul stopped crying and calmed somewhat, Min Do-jun spoke.

“Are you really going alone? It’ll be dangerous…”

“…What choice do I have?”

Hwang Ui-chul knew too.

That at just level 2,020, he would struggle to defeat Ahn Kwang-hyun and his subordinates.

But what wouldn’t a father do to protect his daughter?

‘Even if I’m walking into a fire pit, I’ll protect Da-yeon no matter what.’

Hwang Ui-chul had already made his decision.

To hand over the legendary sword and save his daughter.

Even at the cost of his life.

“Teacher…”

“I know what you’re thinking.”

Hwang Ui-chul looked at Min Do-jun.

“You want to help me, right?”

“Of course. Naturally.”

“I’ll say it clearly. I don’t need help. Stay out of this.”

“Teacher.”

“Not just you, but Da-yeon could be in danger too.”

“But you know it’s dangerous alone… That Ahn Kwang-hyun’s level isn’t low…”

“Yes, I know. He stood out even back then so it won’t be easy to win. His level is 400 higher than mine.”

“That’s why let me help…”

“No. This is my problem. I can’t involve you too.”

“Do you have some plan?”

“What plan? I’m going to give them the sword and save Da-yeon.”

“But they won’t just back off…”

“I know. Still, I’ll protect Da-yeon by any means necessary. If I can protect Da-yeon even at the cost of my life, that’s enough.”

“…”

Min Do-jun remained silent for a while at Hwang Ui-chul’s determination to save his daughter even at the cost of his life.

‘Teacher is my lifesaving benefactor. I must help.’

Min Do-jun completely ignored Hwang Ui-chul’s words about not needing help.

This was his chance to repay the debt of gratitude, so he intended to help no matter what.

‘If I let Teacher go alone, he’ll be killed like in my previous life. I must prevent that.’

Black Sea Guild’s master was also among Min Do-jun’s revenge targets.

Natural to want revenge against the enemy who killed his benefactor.

‘I must kill him with my own hands.’

Min Do-jun broke the silence.

“Teacher, why not leave this to me? I’ll take responsibility and bring Da-yeon back.”

“Do-jun. As I said before…”

“Don’t tell me to stay out of it. How can I ignore when my lifesaving benefactor needs help?”

“No. Stay out because it’s dangerous.”

“It might be dangerous for you Teacher, but not for me.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean I’m stronger than you, Teacher.”

“What…?”

Before Hwang Ui-chul could respond, Min Do-jun silently vanished.

He had used Invisibility.

“Can you see me?”

“…No.”

Hwang Ui-chul couldn’t sense Min Do-jun’s presence.

He wouldn’t have known without being told.

He understood what this meant.

“So you really are stronger than me…”

Being unable to detect invisibility meant having lower combat power than the opponent.

Hwang Ui-chul quickly accepted that he was weaker than Min Do-jun.

“Fine. I understand you’re strong. But how will you help? If you’re thinking of secretly following using invisibility, forget it. If Ahn Kwang-hyun’s combat power is higher and he notices the invisibility, Da-yeon will be in danger.”

“Well. I think differently. Though he spoke aggressively, would he really harm Da-yeon when you have the sword? Even if I appear, rather than running he’ll try to continue the deal somehow.”

“We can’t know that. Can’t take unnecessary risks.”

“I understand. Then how about this? What if my combat power is higher than his? Then couldn’t I save Da-yeon without being detected?”

“Hey. You’re only level 1,700. No matter what, how could you against a hunter over level 2,400…”

“800,000.”

“What?”

“That’s my current combat power.”

“…”

Hwang Ui-chul showed a dumbfounded expression.

“Wouldn’t this be enough even against a level 2,400 hunter?”