Chapter 3

National Intelligence Service.

NIS (National Intelligence Service).

Abbreviated as NIS. It’s South Korea’s top anti-espionage agency.

Its predecessor was the ‘Agency for National Security Planning’.

There’s also the ‘Central Intelligence Agency’, famous from movies like “The Man Standing Next” and “1987”. Lee Seong-han felt his throat burning.

“Here, shall we eat? It’ll get cold.”

“Ah, thank you.”

Snacks laid out on a round table.

A delicacy not even sold at the PX.

Lee Seong-han carefully looked down at the food. What’s the intention?

‘Why does the National Intelligence Service want me?’

Lee Seong-han swirled his café latte and took a sip.

There’s definitely something.

He felt it instinctively.

[Automatic Combat] is screaming too.

‘Well, running around like a dog is a common thing, so let’s say that’s normal.’

Suddenly, discharge?

Has South Korea ever sent someone away?

Thinking about it, it’s strange.

A country that digs up a 30-year-old bad law for the issue of Awakened Ones leaving.

You shouldn’t expect such normal things.

Getting discharged early… Still. Even from Lee Seong-han’s perspective, it’s unimaginable.

Clearly, that was a lie.

Like the bluffing gamblers often do.

They say fakes are like a disease.

They don’t do it for no reason.

What, boiling eggs? It won’t be that easy.

“Strange, isn’t it?”

“Strange. Did you think it wouldn’t be?”

Kang Jin-young looked at Lee Seong-han as if amazed.

Then, after a dry cough.

“Discharge is the best offer we can make, right?”

“Can’t you just improve the water bottles or something from the Korean War? It looks ominous.”

“Oh my, you’re good at jokes!”

Kang Jin-young chuckled.

“It might be worse than that. But we’re not the army. We’re South Korea’s top intelligence organization.”

“I’m concerned that it’s not discharge. Is it really me?”

“I directly observed and recorded the Hunter camp. We need someone like you. A lot.”

Yeah, they won’t let me go easily.

Lee Seong-han brushed his chin.

“How do you see me?”

“The best.”

“?”

“S-Rank. No, even higher!”

Kang Jin-young stood up abruptly.

Where would such talent come from?!

Not even a penny comes out in reality.

They had to buy him out immediately.

‘Especially that irregular Frog. Catching that precious thing without a single scratch?’

Other Awakened Ones were busy running away with tears and snot.

But this man was different.

A man of the world.

He even won against a mutant.

Alone!

No wonder they’re amazed.

Lee Seong-han peeled the candy wrapper with his teeth.

It was sweet chocolate.

Mmm, delicious.

“Do you like sweets?”

“I do.”

Buttoning his military uniform, he awkwardly smiled.

“By the way, if you need an Awakened One like me, it must be for combat. It’s going to be a pretty dangerous mission. May I ask why the National Intelligence Service is looking for me?”

Kang Jin-young clicked her tongue.

“Want to?”

“Depending on the conditions. If they offer discharge, who wouldn’t do it? Any fine young man or woman in South Korea would do it.”

Kang Jin-young interlocked her fingers.

“I’m also called the Magician of Namsan.”

“Magician of Namsan.”

They say water knows the answer.

What a creepy nickname.

“Shall we test your personality first?”

Eyes glowing blue.

She was using a skill.

Messages popping up one after another.

[Essence Grasp Lv. 9]

[Inquiry Lv. 6]

[Memory Scanning Lv. Max]

“Is this normal?”

“Huh? Nothing’s happening? No dizziness or anything.”

“Nothing.”

“That’s ridiculous—”

Suddenly.

Kang Jin-young’s words stopped.

[Unidentified target confirmed.]

[Deploying ‘Mental Barrier’.]

Zzap——!

Sparks flying fiercely on the table.

Kang Jin-young’s eyes widened as she was pushed back.

Enough to make the chair suddenly fall.

Thud!

Kang Jin-young holding her head.

She might be angry, but she was grinning like she saw something amazing.

“Mental Barrier…”

Lee Seong-han was also embarrassed.

When did I get such a trait?

“Male Awakened Ones have all the good abilities, huh? This is tempting.”

Gulp.

The sound of sticky saliva swallowing.

“NIS. Come in.”

Firmly refused.

Absolutely declined.

Lee Seong-han expressed ‘denial’ with his whole body.

“No. Absolutely. NEVER! Decline. The work-life balance isn’t good there.”

“Eh. Work-life balance is good~”

“Huh.”

Lee Seong-han looked shocked as if disgusted.

But the indomitable Lee Seong-han.

To get discharged?

He’d even shake hands with the devil.

He crumpled the paper cup he had finished.

“I’ll do what you said.”

“The National Intelligence Service too?!”

Kang Jin-young’s face lit up.

They say you can’t spit on a smiling face, but it was a bit hasty to judge.

“Let’s take some more time to think.”

“Are you refusing?”

“If the conditions are good, I’ll go. If not, I won’t.”

“Too bad! Too bad~ I needed a few successors too. Well. There will be another chance, right?”

“Probably.”

Kang Jin-young took out a document from her briefcase.

“Take it.”

It was a kind of contract.

A stiff form.

The kind of document association ink-slingers often use.

“Huh, interesting.”

“Familiar, so it’s easy to read, right?”

“It’s the usual form.”

Hunter standard labor contract.

Lee Seong-han quietly read it with his eyes.

A moment of silence.

“Just a regular gate raid.”

“That’s right. Gate raid.”

“Getting discharged for such an easy mission.”

“There are signs of a release.”

Release.

In other words, a wave.

The phenomenon where monsters fill the gate and are expelled outside.

The manifestation of gates can happen anywhere, so it’s natural to eliminate the threat. The 10th country she belongs to specializes in that.

Lee Seong-han leaned back in his chair.

Then leisurely replied.

“Bullshit has its limits. Do I look like water to you?”

“Hahaha!”

Such an easy task?

No way.

Anyone would think it’s a rigged game.

Monster grades E~F.

Small scale.

Even non-Awakened freelance hunters can easily subdue them.

Using a hoe to block what should be blocked with a shovel. National organizations don’t do such inefficient things. If they’re sane.

His eyes opened sharply.

“Regular raid. No. Right?”

Kang Jin-young met his gaze with a ‘sharp’ look.

Then one word.

“We’re going into the tower.”

“The tower. Wait, you can enter the tower?! I heard modern technology can’t enter. Even nuclear missiles can’t destroy it, right?! The North Koreans failed miserably. Ugh.”

“Of course. It’s still the same.”

Lee Seong-han clicked his tongue.

Then how do you expect me to enter?

“With skills.”

“Skills?”

“The tower is the source of monsters and the system. It’s natural that it applies.”

Gray Tower.

A mysterious structure that appeared one day in the capitals of the world.

Since then, the number of Awakened Ones exploded.

The problem is, it’s been 30 years since the Gray Tower appeared.

Nothing has happened.

A few countries have fallen, been eroded, but.

30 years ago or now, nothing has changed.

“Now, now, our contract is a complete tower raid. Perfect extermination!”

“Is it dangerous?”

“Usually, the crazier the country, the more lunatics rise. Doesn’t that mean you have to go crazy to survive?”

Kang Jin-young crossed her legs gracefully.

“But I don’t want too many lunatics.”

“Hard to manage?”

“Bingo.”

As expected.

There’s a reason for this.

“This is top secret. Got it?”

“Like in the movies.”

“Right. If you leak it, you’ll become fish food in the East Sea.”

“I also don’t want to die in a military uniform. I’d rather have a dishonorable discharge, but the country won’t let me go.”

He signed the contract and tossed it.

Too lazy to drag it out.

“Oh my. You’re quite bold for a man.”

“Problem?”

“None, none~ Hmm.”

Lee Seong-han stroked his neck.

He really doesn’t want to fall.

Socially or realistically.

Especially in a military uniform!

I’d rather desert.

“Hmm!”

Kang Jin-young checked the contract again and reached out to Lee Seong-han.

As if to shake hands.

“Now, shall we go?”

Huh?

Shake hands?

Lee Seong-han was dumbfounded.

“Must be the entry method.”

“…Your deduction skills are extraordinary.”

“Of course.”

Zzap!

* * *

“Huh? Why did you call? Is it urgent enough to call? Send it by document. I’m busy now.”

Clickety-clack.

“Who do you recommend for this raid? Awakened. Active duty. Re-enlistment.”

The keyboard was pressed and released repeatedly.

Kang Jin-young stared at the monitor with tired eyes.

It’s her.

The one and only her contacting me.

Kang Jin-young felt something was off.

It’s been decades since their relationship went sour.

To others, they didn’t show it, but they were practically blood enemies.

She skillfully entered the name and various personal information on the keyboard.

Then a document appeared on the monitor.

The same document already on Kang Jin-young’s table.

“Sister, I know that person too.”

-…….

“Of course, I can add him if you want. On the condition that I accompany.”

……!!

“Bullshit? Don’t talk nonsense? If you don’t like it, quit. There’s no one to replace, but I can change personnel of this level.”

-………….

Click.

Kang Jin-young’s face brightened after ending the call.

“Calm down. Stay calm. Handle it calmly.”

Hard to manage expressions.

Why?

I don’t know.

Just happy.

She had been aiming for him since long ago. Even longer than Kang Mi-young. He had to be hers. Not her sister’s.

Competent.

Handsome.

Great personality?

She had to get him first. Before other bugs swarm.

“Uh, uh, uh. What should I say? This time, I must properly establish a connection. Can’t let it slip by like last time.”

Kang Jin-young picked up the personal document.

The dark office seemed to brighten instantly.

Lee Seong-han.

Kang Jin-young took out a photo obtained through the intelligence agency.

Carefully hugged it in her arms.

Careful not to crumple it.

“Ah, the best~”

Her voice trembled intermittently.

“This time, definitely.”

[Affection level has increased.]

[Affection level has increased.]

[Affection level has increased.]

…

…

…

[Acquired Kang Jin-young’s trait, ‘Mental Barrier’!]

“I must have it.”

A strong woman must have the best male, right?

Kang Jin-young thought so too.

* * *

Zzap!

[South Korea’s Gray Tower]

“Ugh… my head.”

Lee Seong-han slowly opened his eyes while rubbing his head.

Looking around.

It was a place like a building waiting room.

No, an interview room?

Something like that.

“You’re awake.”

“Is the teleportation process always like this?”

“Of course.”

Lee Seong-han rubbed his sore back.

Kang Jin-young, brushing her messy bangs, slightly raised the corner of her mouth.

She was lying on the floor, unable to get up.

“Can you help me up?”

“Are you okay?”

“It’s hard to get up alone. Must have hurt my back. Ugh.”

She reached out her arms to Lee Seong-han.

“Let’s stop the jokes here.”

Click.

Someone intercepted Kang Jin-young’s hand.

It was Kang Mi-young.

The Iron Blood Empress.

South Korea’s top superstar and S-Rank Hunter.

Why is that cold-blooded woman here?

“Still the same. That eccentric behavior.”

“Sister, do you think you’re any better?”

Kang Jin-young buttoned her suit after being helped up.

“Sister, don’t tire people out.”

“The more effort, the safer the environment for the operation.”

“Still optimistic and deceiving people. Sister’s taste is really bad. Must admit your eye is good. This time, I won’t give him up.”

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

A mysterious power struggle.

Lee Seong-han felt like a shrimp caught in a whale fight.

“Ah, loyalty.”

“Loyalty!”

He saluted properly, and the woman turned her head.

“You. Responded to the recommendation. Thanks, but I showed an embarrassing side. I’ll apologize.”

Kang Mi-young.

The madwoman who tried to take me to the Hunter Management Bureau.

She was in front of me.

In combat attire.

“Let me introduce. This is my sister. Her name is Kang Jin-young. She collaborated with the National Intelligence Service for your recruitment and tower raid. Lately, there’s a lack of talent.”

“I’ll leave now.”

You have to make such a statement once in a while.

“You. You came in freely, but leaving isn’t.”

“Ah.”

Damn!!

I was tricked!!

That guy was on Kang Mi-young’s side too!