Chapter 216: Burning Bridges

Episode 216

[Will you be alright?]

Kim Jinsung suddenly asked Park Do-joon, who was listening with a slightly shocked expression.

[…With what?]

[Following me after hearing all this. If I achieve my goal, you’ll be out of a job.]

[…!]

Park Do-joon’s eyes wavered.

[I’ll say it again. If dungeons and monsters disappear, the profession of ‘information broker’ might become obsolete.

Can you still help me, even then? Can you return to Korea, where your future is uncertain, after making a fortune as the ‘best Korean information broker’?]

Kim Jinsung continued, looking at Park Do-joon, who was hesitant to answer.

[You need to make a choice. Will you follow the path of ‘idealism’ that I’ve chosen, or will you choose the path of ‘reality’, which is no different from the present?

Of course, if you choose reality, the world of ‘anti-government groups’ that you desire will never be realized.]

[…Why?]

[Do you think you can drive out the clans in the Center Zone without me?]

* * *

Park Do-joon couldn’t answer.

‘…He’s right. Kim Jinsung’s achievements prove it.’

The bombing of the Celcecheong, the Paladin headquarters, and the secret transport subway.

The assassination of Celcecheong Director Finlay and Paladin Director Graham.

Kim Jinsung had done it all alone. It was no coincidence that he had gained the absolute support of the anti-government groups.

‘The current anti-government groups are united under Kim Jinsung.’

He was the undisputed leader of the anti-government movement. If he disappeared or left…

The united front would crumble in an instant. A group without a leader couldn’t survive.

‘…We have no choice but to follow him, since we’re in the same boat.’

It was an unavoidable situation, even if Kim Jinsung’s ultimate goal didn’t align with his own.

‘Actually, if we consider the people of the world, Kim Jinsung’s ideal is the right answer…’

But it wasn’t a desirable outcome for those who had established themselves in the New Continent, like Park Do-joon.

If Kim Jinsung’s words became reality, hunters like him would become useless.

‘…He’s amazing, Kim Jinsung. He’s already thinking about what will happen after achieving his ideal, even though it’s uncertain if it’ll even be realized.’

He shook his head in admiration, impressed by Kim Jinsung’s foresight.

Not only was he challenging an ‘ideal’ that no one else even considered, but he was also thinking about the future of his comrades.

‘Thinking about it this way, there’s no need to hesitate anymore.’

He quickly searched for a number on his phone and pressed the call button.

The call connected immediately, and he heard Kim Jinsung’s voice.

– You’re awake?

“I’ve investigated the list you mentioned yesterday.”

– The clans aiming to enter the New Continent?

“Yes. 21 clans have already infiltrated the four major ports. There’s even one from Korea.”

– Which one?

“I’ll tell you their location right now. You should meet them in person.

I’ll send you a message as soon as we hang up.”

He was about to end the call when

– You’ve made up your mind, haven’t you?

Kim Jinsung asked, and he chuckled and replied,

“There’s no need to make up my mind. We’ve been sailing on the ‘anti-government’ ship for too long. It’s too late to jump off now.”

To be honest, he wasn’t following Kim Jinsung out of pure idealism.

‘I don’t even need to worry about what happens after his ideal is realized. The fact that he’s already thinking about my future means he’ll definitely take care of me.’

Kim Jinsung was already concerned about the well-being of his comrades after his ideal was achieved.

It meant he would definitely reward him after everything was over.

‘And I’m curious to see what Kim Jinsung, the hero of the world, will do afterwards.’

One thing was certain: Kim Jinsung, the hero who saved the world, wouldn’t live an ordinary life afterwards. Even if he wanted to, the world wouldn’t let him.

The same went for his closest comrades who helped him.

‘…Of course, that’s all assuming Kim Jinsung achieves his goal.’

All his assumptions were just wishful thinking.

Forget about the ideal, it was already difficult enough to drive out the Major Clans from the Center Zone.

‘First, we need to win over the clans that have entered the ports.’

He sent a message to Kim Jinsung with the name and phone number of the clan’s representative.

* * *

“I’m sorry I’m late.”

A beautiful woman in a black suit stood in a hotel room in the heart of the B-15 Zone.

“I arrived on time, but there was a bit of a commotion near the hotel entrance…”

She bowed her head apologetically.

It was Hong Hyeonjinn, the current Master of the Baekdu Clan, one of the four major clans in Korea.

“…Commotion?”

Kim Jinsung, who had been waiting for her, asked.

“I got into a fight with some guys who approached me with bad intentions. I had to teach them a lesson,” she replied.

“You just ‘taught them a lesson’?”

“Yes, well, some of them were seriously injured, but they could still walk to the hospital…”

“You should have killed them.”

“…Excuse me?”

Hong Hyeonjinn’s eyes widened in shock.

“You can’t afford to show mercy to hunters in the B Zone. This place is full of crazy people who will hunt you down until you’re dead if you make an enemy of them.”

“But killing them right after meeting them… I know about the B Zone’s reputation, but I’m always in a delicate position…”

“That might be true in Korea, but not here,” Kim Jinsung said coldly.

“Here, you’re just an ordinary woman, an easy target for those animals.”

“……!”

“The Baekdu Clan’s reputation is lower than even the most common clans in the B Zone, in the eyes of the New Continent’s citizens.”

She frowned, but he continued,

“That’s your current position. You need to be aware of your own limitations to understand how powerful the clans in the Center Zone are.”

She quickly composed herself and put on her usual charming smile.

“I’ll take your advice to heart. Thank you.”

“And killing a few people here isn’t even considered a crime.”

He started giving her more information.

“The Paladins are currently focusing on maintaining order only up to the Green Zone. They’ve practically abandoned the other areas.

And the B Zone, the outermost area of the city, is a lawless zone.”

The Paladins had officially declared that they were no longer responsible for the B Zone.

But nothing had really changed in the B Zone.

Because it had always been a lawless zone.

“If you get into a fight around here, kill them first and ask questions later.”

“…Alright. I’ll try.”

“You don’t have to ‘try’. You’ll learn soon enough what kind of place this city is.”

He chuckled.

‘I’ve become a true citizen of the New Continent.’

He had told her the same things that Karen had told him when he first arrived in the New Continent.

It had only been a few months, but he had already adapted to the New Continent’s harsh reality.

“Let me ask you something.”

He sat down on a chair at the table in the center of the room.

She sat down across from him, and he asked,

“Why are you trying to enter the New Continent? You’ll be making an enemy of the Korean Clan.”

The reason why the other four major clans in Korea hadn’t touched the honey pot that was the New Continent for centuries

was because of the Korean Clan, which had already established itself there.

If they crossed the Korean Clan, the representative of Korea, even the four major clans would face difficulties in their future activities.

The Korean Clan’s influence in Korea was that strong. No, it was absolute.

Hong Hyeonjinn, the Master of the Baekdu Clan, was fully aware of this risk, and yet she was trying to enter the New Continent.

“I have no other choice.”

She answered immediately.

“The Korean Clan controls most of the New Continent and domestic markets. The BK Clan practically monopolizes exports to North America and Europe. And the K3 Clan has a stranglehold on Southeast Asia and Japan.

Even China and Russia, which our clan used to monopolize, are being encroached upon by the BK and K3 Clans.”

“Isn’t that because of the Baekdu Clan’s incompetence?”

She nodded at his sharp question.

“You’re right. I can’t deny it. But I have to make one excuse.”

She continued, her eyes filled with a quiet determination,

“If my father hadn’t suddenly collapsed, the Baekdu Clan wouldn’t be in such a precarious position.”

Kim Jinsung didn’t react,

but he agreed with her.

‘Hong Sung-heun’s sudden collapse was global news.’

No one had expected Hong Sung-heun, the second-ranked hunter in Korea, to suddenly collapse.

He had always been healthy, even at over 100 years old. No one had imagined that he would succumb to old age and be bedridden until his death.

The Baekdu Clan had suffered the most from his collapse.

Hong Hyeonjinn, his designated successor, had only been training for a year.

She had done an admirable job as the interim Master, but that was only temporary.

By the time she officially became the Master, the K3 and BK Clans had already taken a large chunk of the Baekdu Clan’s business.

“Anyway, the Baekdu Clan is practically excluded from the four major clans now. Even in Korea, people are starting to refer to them ‘three major clans’, excluding the Baekdu Clan.

I tried everything to revive the clan. But it’s not easy to regain lost momentum.

That’s when I heard about the chaos in the New Continent.”

“…So you decided to enter? For the sake of your clan.”

“That’s right.”

Her eyes were filled with a quiet determination.

“The entire Baekdu Clan, including me, has staked everything on this venture. The Korean Clan already knows about it, so there’s no turning back for us.

And I recently learned that you’re a former member of Ukobachi, the nemesis of the Korean Clan and the other Major Clans in the Center Zone.

So I’m asking for your help.”

She stood up and bowed deeply to him.

“Please join us. We’ll help you with anything you need. I sincerely beg you.”

He asked immediately,

“Anything?”

She looked up at him and nodded.

“Yes. Anything.”

—