Chapter 170 : Chapter 170

Chapter 170

After ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍leaving Ironflame and stocking up on several items, I headed to Seoul’s District 5.

It ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was because I had arranged to meet Park Chaeshin at Yun Jeongseop’s apartment.

He ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍had already resigned from White Bottle in District 2.

He ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍would understand what it meant for an awakened being of unknown identity to live without the protection of the Special Affairs Division…

It ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍would be best if everything ended safely and he could return to the Special Affairs Division, but no one could know the future.

Moreover, ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the moment I took a leave of absence as a probationary investigator, my investigator credentials were temporarily suspended.

The condition under which I could be employed on probation by the Special Affairs Division had been to graduate from the academy without any issues.

“You are late.”

“Where in the world have you been wandering?”

When I arrived at the apartment, Yun Jeongseop and Park Chaeshin had already set the table and were tipping back drinks.

“It is not even evening yet, and you are already drinking?”

“What does time have to do with eating and drinking?”

Park Chaeshin asked back, his face already flushed.

Well, this would likely be our last bit of camaraderie before I went to Gangwon-do, so there was no need to interfere with them enjoying it.

I took off the human skin mask to one side, sat down, and accepted a glass.

As he poured, Yun Jeongseop asked,

“So where did you go? Human Ji Seokhyeon.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“What is what?”

“Why are you adding ‘human’?”

“You took a leave of absence, so it would be strange to call you a cadet. And judging by how things are going, it does not look like you will return.”

Ah, that was the conclusion he had reached.

Still, even a student on leave should remain part of the academy.

“I went to District 7. To get used to the human skin mask, and to the blacksmith guild. Once I went, I found there is a certain pleasure in browsing items.”

“From the perspective of someone who wore only a cadet uniform all the time, I suppose.”

“Is it not healthier than someone who keeps joining shady religious gatherings? As people say, there are countless clothing items worse than a cadet uniform. And now I cannot even wear a cadet uniform anyway.”

“Hmph. I only meant that you are not used to awakened society.”

“I am not used to it?”

“Yes. When I first saw you, you felt as though you had come from another world. Not only me, everyone probably felt that way. You can tell such foreignness just by looking.”

Park Chaeshin cut in.

“Ah, I know what you mean. Like a tourist who lived his whole life far from superpowers and then first set foot in Seoul. But Ji Seokhyeon is not from somewhere far from superpowers, is he?”

“If we exaggerate, it would be more fitting to say he came from beyond a rift.”

“Right. Sometimes I wonder if he is even human.”

They were enjoying themselves.

The two of them could chatter for hours about me whenever they had the chance.

Partly because they got along so well, but also because after I had spoken to them about Gangneung recently, the distance between us had narrowed.

One might say we had become the closest people to one another outside of family.

Or rather, since the three of us had no family, it was more accurate to say we were simply the closest.

“But what about that?”

Park Chaeshin asked.

“What?”

“The person you said you had in mind. For going to Gangwon-do.”

“Ah, that.”

“Is it someone I know? Since it is that place, they must be strong in combat.”

Had Park Chaeshin known him?

I thought for a moment, but it had to be a first meeting.

“If he were a Hunter, he would have been at least B-Rank. At least.”

“At least B-Rank means a veteran. Would it not be troublesome if he is too well known?”

“That is true. But it will be fine. His name is fairly well known, but it would not be strange if he vanished without a trace.”

“What is that supposed to mean? Who are you talking about?”

“It is still a secret.”

“Have you recruited him?”

“No. I have not even made contact. He is the sort of person who keeps to himself.”

“Keeps to himself… Well, you must have decided for your own reasons. For today, let us just enjoy one last supper in society.”

As he spoke, Park Chaeshin lifted his brimming glass.

But then Yun Jeongseop’s smartphone buzzed.

He checked the message and handed the phone to me at once.

“It is yours.”

It was a Mammoth Market notification.

It was the result of the MA13 bid I had placed yesterday through Yun Jeongseop’s account.

That is, Hunter Bruno’s revolver.

Staring at the screen, I spoke.

“I am sorry, but…”

“Hm?”

“What is it?”

“I have urgent business, so I will get going first.”

***

I headed straight for the outskirts on the edge of Seoul.

The outskirts were the most densely populated region in the world, yet the fringe bordering Gyeonggi-do was a place even outer-district residents avoided.

Because Dispel, which barely functioned even in the outskirts, could not extend its influence to the fringe.

Moreover, most awakened beings who lingered there were those who had been driven out of the outskirts.

Those who had to conceal their identities, those with bounties on their heads, those pursued by someone’s grudge until death…

“Or defeated Psychic Mafia members who have slunk in to find a place to hide.”

I entered an abandoned building on the fringe, stopped Assimilation with environmental mana, and released my mana in all directions.

As though emitting pheromones, as though luring someone.

Sure enough, I sensed an awakened being’s mana approaching at high speed from afar.

Soon, the figure who revealed himself inside the building was none other than Hunter Bruno, Catalina’s second-in-command.

“…It has been quite a while. This is the first time since the Spring Scholastic War, is it not?”

“Phantom Thief… Is that a human skin mask?”

“You knew, after all.”

“I could never forget your scent.”

The Psychic Mafia’s territory war that took place two days ago had ended in Camellia’s victory.

Catalina, whose main business had been contract killing, had lost its boss and, centered around Bruno, had been driven all the way to the fringe.

According to the Special Affairs Division’s report, Catalina’s forces had been reduced to near annihilation.

Those dozens of faint mana signatures I felt nearby were likely the mafia members who had fled with Bruno.

“Even in a crisis, you still watch Mammoth Market. Impressive.”

“It is a keyword alert. I thought you might approach like this.”

He expected I would use Mammoth Market?

Did he know I had disposed of MA6 under the Phantom Thief’s name…?

Well, it did not matter.

“So you knew it was a lure, yet you appeared alone. Why?”

“I came to retrieve what is mine.”

“How?”

Click.

With the question, Bruno raised the muzzle of his gun.

“By a method that is very rational and simple.”

“Do you think you can defeat me? Here, within this shadow?”

Bruno did not answer.

Even he could feel it.

The quantity and quality of the mana I was releasing now were unmistakably different from before.

So he was gauging my strength.

Whether I was an opponent he could pull the trigger on, or not.

“……”

As expected, Bruno lowered the gun.

If he intended to rely on force alone, he would not have come like this.

“You are the one who has business with me, are you not?”

“It feels like the first time our words have actually reached each other.”

“…Get to the point.”

“It is not the point. It is a condition. If you accept my condition, I will hand over MA13.”

“That sounds like a threat.”

“It is not entirely wrong.”

Bruno hesitated briefly, then answered at last.

“What is your condition?”

“I am going to Gangwon-do within a few days. I want you to accompany me.”

“What?”

“More precisely, I want you to serve as a guide.”

“I do not know what you mean.”

“Pretending ignorance will not help. I have already noticed that you are from Gangwon-do.”

“…!”

A flicker of bewilderment crossed Bruno’s face, which rarely showed emotion.

“When I first met you in the guise of the Phantom Thief, you said this to me, did you not? ‘It has been a long time since I smelled something so alluring.’”

“……”

The meaning was simple.

It meant he was not smelling the scent of my shadow mana for the first time.

In other words…

“You have met my clan before. Either you lived in Gangneung more than ten years ago, or you traveled in and out of Gangwon-do often.”

Was my guess correct?

He did not answer, persisting in silence.

The character Bruno was an antagonist who appeared from time to time even in the original work.

His role had not been large, so his background had never been properly explored.

Therefore, this setting, that he was connected to Gangwon-do and knew the scent of my mana, was the Avid Reader’s doing.

I did not know what he had been thinking, but ironically, Bruno was a valuable existence to me.

If it was true that he had even some grasp of Gangwon-do’s geography, he would certainly be useful in a search for a magical artifact that otherwise had no end in sight.

Of course, the notion that he had met my clan was also faintly unpleasant.

“I would like an answer here. Neither of us has much time.”

“…What are you going to do in Gangwon-do?”

“I do not need to brief someone who has not even accepted the condition, do I?”

“You are still insolent.”

“At this stage, I can only say that I can put Camellia in a difficult position. You seem to have quite a grudge against them. Do you not?”

“Camellia…”

The spark that ignited the territory war between Camellia and Catalina had been the assassination of Catalina’s boss.

To Bruno, universally acknowledged as Catalina’s second-in-command, it had become the worst stain.

Moreover, because the defeat had been near annihilation, Catalina’s revival was almost impossible.

In the end, he would merely cling to life on Seoul’s fringe while avoiding Camellia, and eventually, all the members would scatter to the winds.

As an aside, in the original work, Bruno became Catalina’s boss and wielded influence.

The very fact that a territory war had occurred at this point in time was itself an event that did not make sense.

“So? What will you do?”

“Unfortunately, I refuse.”

“…What?”

“MA13 is precious to me. As you say, it is true that I am familiar with Gangwon-do’s geography. However…”

A brief silence.

In that short moment, I could see grief flicker across Bruno.

It must have been mourning for Catalina’s assassinated boss.

It was oddly striking to see a mafia man whose trade was contract killing mourn a human death.

Well, even the mafia had its own culture.

“But right now, I have something I must do.”

“To gather the mafia again?”

“No. Revenge.”

“…So the one who assassinated your boss was on the inside.”

“Yes.”

It was a plausible conclusion.

Organizations like this often fell into ruin because of an internal spy.

“Why do you think so? Do you have a clue?”

“The scent. There was an alien scent of mana on the boss’s corpse.”

“Then that means an outsider.”

“No. That scent was a means to conceal the true mana. It was something of a category you cannot smell from a human.”

Mana meant to conceal mana…

It was a different ability from my Assimilation.

Assimilation hid mana within the surrounding environmental mana, and even a perception-inhibiting ability like Stealth could not conceal mana.

“Still, that does not prove the existence of a spy.”

“From the day before the boss was killed, no mana other than our own was present within Catalina’s territory.”

I see…

He had not sensed it, then.

This was becoming troublesome.

I had thought MA13 was an excellent bait, yet I did not expect it would still fail to move Bruno.

Could Park Chaeshin and I truly find the magical artifact alone?

Relying entirely on the Demonic Eye would be foolish.

Gangwon-do was a monster field no different from beyond a rift.

Soil, rock, trees…

Everything carried mana, and the Demonic Eye’s efficiency dropped sharply.

Which meant I had to bring Bruno along, no matter what.

Ha. In the end, did I have no choice?

Half resigned, I asked,

“So you only need to identify the traitor or the spy.”

“Hm?”

“I will find him for you. In exchange, once it is done, you will follow without complaint.”

“What…?”

“I do not want to involve myself in your story, but I also have ill feelings toward Camellia. So do not think of refusing. Let us call it a temporary partnership. …Shall we go see your boss’s corpse first?”