The villa near Seobinggo Station that Jin Yoonho led him to stood tucked away in a quiet corner.
Jinhyuk parked Duram No.1 out of sight and scanned the neighborhood. There were quite a few CCTV cameras around.
All of them were dead.
Whoever did this wasn't ordinary.
"This is the building," Jin Yoonho said.
"Give me a moment. I'll take a quick look around."
"Yes. Unit 304."
After confirming that Jin Yoonho had moved away, Jinhyuk called out softly.
"Yodel Ranger Vice-Captain Kancho."
Because Jin Yoonho was still nearby, Kancho whispered directly into his ear.
It tickled.
Before Jinhyuk could say anything, Kancho hopped down and began sniffing the air.
"Commander. I smell blood."
"What? From where?"
"It's not fresh blood. It's a scent soaked into someone's body."
"You can tell that?"
"Of course! I tracked down that traitor Grandpa Toto by the scent of tea that clung to him."
He'd just gone on vacation, hadn't he?
Still, impressive. No wonder he was vice-captain of the Yodel Rangers.
"It leads to that house. And…"
Kancho bounded up to the rooftop in a few leaps. Jinhyuk kicked off the ground and followed.
"From the house, it continues straight that way."
"Can you track it?"
"It's faint, but no problem. Leave it to me."
"Good. Give me thirty seconds."
He dropped back down and slipped through the open window of Unit 304.
Just as he landed inside, Jin Yoonho and Yoon Miri opened the front door—and froze.
"Oh—you're already here."
"Yeah. I'm not certain yet, but I found a small clue. I'll head out first."
They exchanged looks.
It hadn't even been three minutes since they arrived.
A clue?
"If you send us the location, we'll dispatch a team immediately," Jin Yoonho said.
"I need to follow it a bit to confirm. I'll send you updates along the way."
"At least let a Hunter accompany—"
His habit of worrying was about to flare up again.
Who exactly did he think could serve as Jinhyuk's escort?
That was like assigning a fox to guard a tiger.
Jin Yoonho shook his head a couple of times and relented.
"No. I apologize. We'll follow your lead."
"I'll keep you posted."
With a brief smile, Jinhyuk leapt back out the window.
Vroooom!
Duram No.1 roared to life before the engine had even cooled. Kancho scampered up his body and perched on his shoulder.
"Straight ahead!"
"If you stay there, you'll get blown off."
"That would be unfortunate."
Kancho quickly climbed down and positioned himself between the dashboard and Jinhyuk.
"Ready! I'll guide you!"
"Alright."
Jinhyuk twisted the throttle and shot out of the alley.
The chase had begun—with the capable vice-captain of the Yodel Rangers at his side.
Namsan Tower.
Kang Woojin rose to his feet.
His deliberation was over.
It was a shame to discard something he'd spent over two years cultivating—but what choice did he have?
His tail had been stepped on. It had to be scrapped.
He glanced around at the humans dangling in midair.
They were the first step of the disposal process.
He had many places to visit next.
"CEO Kang! Listen to me! We're still useful—"
Slash.
Another head disappeared.
The others squeezed their eyes shut, screaming.
Then Kang Woojin tilted his head.
"You're not afraid? You haven't screamed once."
The woman glaring at him bit her lip.
Unlike the others, she wasn't suspended like livestock. She'd been brought here because she'd stubbornly pursued her convictions.
"Sorry about this. If I'd known we'd be exposed so quickly, I wouldn't have bothered bringing you."
HBS reporter Min Yujin drew a breath and spoke.
"Then let me go. If you've realized it's over, even now."
"You know I won't."
"I'll pretend I saw nothing. Heard nothing."
"You wouldn't. If you believe something needs to be done, you'll see it through. That's the kind of person you are. I don't dislike people like you. You're competent."
"Thanks for the compliment. If you're going to kill me anyway, at least answer one question. It's my last one."
"Ha."
Kang Woojin laughed.
He'd known she had guts. He hadn't expected this much.
What a waste.
If she'd been just a little stronger, she wouldn't be getting discarded like this.
"Very well. One question. Keep it brief. I don't have much time."
"What are you?"
Some might say it was vague for a reporter.
But nothing else came to mind.
Min Yujin stared at him.
Since the Awakening, incidents involving Players had skyrocketed. When she was abducted, she assumed she'd been caught up in one of those cases.
She'd been wrong.
The people bound here—all familiar faces.
A famous broadcasting director. A high-ranking police official. The chairman of a major security firm.
Powerful figures in South Korea.
And Kang Woojin manipulated them like game pieces.
No—no one treated chess pieces that cruelly.
To him, they were insects he could crush at any moment.
"Are you even a Player?" she asked. "I've been in this field a long time. I've never heard the name Kang Woojin before."
The strength he'd shown earlier was at least equivalent to an 80th-floor climber. That would make him a low-ranking but recognized Ranker.
Not knowing his name or face made no sense.
And considering how he'd controlled powerful figures, it was hard to believe he was some reclusive master.
"A Player," he repeated. "That's what they call those who climb the Tower of Despair, isn't it?"
"That sounds like you're saying you're not."
"That would be… sad."
He shrugged, lips curling.
"To mistake me for such inferior beings."
He stepped closer and lowered his voice.
"Before the Tower appeared, what were these 'Players'?"
"They weren't Players."
"Exactly. No power. No ability. Hit by a car—they break. Face a beast—they're eaten. Caught in disaster—they're swept away. That's what they were. But not me."
He bared his teeth.
"I've always been a predator. Unlike you, who are nothing without the Tower."
"Since when?" she pressed.
"Since long before. Before your ancestors' ancestors. Before their ancestors even existed."
A chill ran down her spine.
If anyone else had said it, she would've dismissed them as delusional.
But looking into his eyes—she didn't sense a lie.
"What's a predator's purpose?"
He shook his head.
"I said one question. That goes beyond the scope of the first."
He straightened.
"I'll grant you a choice. Would you like to die first—or last?"
Min Yujin sucked in a breath.
Instinctively, she understood.
This was his version of mercy. He was sparing her from having to watch the others die one by one.
"If you can't decide, I'll choose for you. Die first. It's kinder."
His hand shot out.
And then—
BOOM!
A thunderous explosion erupted, and Kang Woojin vanished from her sight.
In his place stood someone wearing a motorcycle helmet.
Shorts. Three-striped slippers.
Like he'd just stopped by a convenience store.
While she stared blankly, the man glanced between his phone and her.
"You're Reporter Min Yujin, right? I'm here to rescue you."
"Th-thank you."
"Are you hurt?"
"No."
"I'll untie you. Head downstairs. A team from the Player Hunter Bureau will be here soon. Director Mi-ri's been worried."
After finishing, Jinhyuk turned around.
"Get going—"
Swoosh!
He slashed aside a dagger that came flying at him.
He'd held back earlier because Min Yujin had been close, but the recovery was faster than expected.
"Who are you?" Kang Woojin stood on the railing, brow furrowed. "And why are you so rude?"
Jinhyuk studied him quietly.
That right shoulder had definitely been shattered.
Now it was perfectly intact.
A regeneration ability?
"Hm? Wait. Wait."
A grin spread across Kang Woojin's face.
"Is it you? The one who killed Maredo?"
Jinhyuk was honestly surprised.
To bring up Maredo's name immediately…
They really were connected.
The rabbit from the Tower of Despair and this human in reality.
"What's your relationship with that rabbit?"
"Think of it as the one who moves the pieces and the piece itself. Now my question. Did you kill Maredo?"
Jinhyuk nodded.
Kang Woojin's smile stretched wider.
"Well, well. A pleasure. I've wanted to meet you."
"Me?"
"Yes. I was quite shocked. I never imagined Maredo would fall here."
Jinhyuk drew a slow breath—not from nerves.
But because through Camela's Eye, the vision he'd engraved before, he could finally see what lay within the man before him.
—Use the Eye the moment you arrive.
Camela hadn't said that for nothing.
The body was one.
What it contained was well over a thousand souls.
"You look human. But what's inside you definitely isn't."
"Ah?"
Kang Woojin gasped.
For the first time.
A human had seen through him.
So that's what it meant.
A being whose scent carried the heavy trace of blood.
Seeing the number of suppressed souls, it made sense.
After clearing his throat, Kang Woojin spoke.
"There's no need for lengthy conversation. I'll give you an opportunity."
He extended his hand.
"You have the qualifications. The qualifications to become a predator. What do you say? Join me. I can grant you what every human desperately desires—eternal life—"
"Not interested. But thanks."
Kang Woojin's brow twitched.
What?
For a moment, he thought he'd misheard.
Surely this man didn't understand the offer.
"Why? Was I unclear? Or are you lacking comprehension? Let me explain again—"
"First, I already have immortality. Second—"
"May I warn you not to interrupt me aga—!?"
Kang Woojin's eyes widened.
In an instant, Jinhyuk stood directly before him.
He finished the sentence calmly.
"You're too weak."
BOOOOOOM!!!
Another violent explosion tore through the top of Namsan Tower.
Kang Woojin was embedded into concrete.
Jinhyuk looked down at him with a faint smile.
How could such an offer ever sound tempting?
An invitation from someone far weaker than himself.
Swoooosh—
Hundreds of weapons rose into the sky.
And then—
They all pointed at Kang Woojin.
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T/N:
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