Ch.9935. Yuri’s Visit to Busan (1)

The tears did not stop quickly.

She tried somehow to calm her heart. But tears were flowing out regardless of Yuri’s will.

The ice-attribute mana that was flowing out uncontrollably. It even turned those tears into ice, making them fall to the ground like snow.

‘Why… why is he kissing Soso?’

No, if it were just a simple kiss, it wouldn’t be this shocking. She hated seeing Soso sitting side by side with Minsu.

And that image of the two embracing each other so tightly. Yuri couldn’t accept it. Even if they desired only each other’s bodies, without any feelings. She hated that too.

Just the fact that Minsu was connecting with another woman seemed to make her world collapse.

‘No! Minsu… must never… look at another woman that way…’

Those eyes that used to look only at her with love should never be directed at another woman. But at the same time, Yuri realized.

The fact that Minsu’s gaze had left her. The fact that they couldn’t go back, just like with Eins. It was all her fault.

‘It’s all… my fault for creating the eternal barrier that imprisoned Minsu…’

She regretted it terribly. Because her trust in Minsu wasn’t complete. But even so, she didn’t want to break up with him.

She was like a childish kid. Perhaps she felt like a child hiding their most precious doll deep inside their room, tucked away under their blanket.

But whatever the reason for her decision to imprison Minsu. It was clear that their relationship could never return to what it was before because of that incident.

‘Still… I want to go back…’

But the current Yuri knew. Now that she was fully aware of her feelings for Minsu. She couldn’t give up these feelings, these emotions.

Her heart, no, all her thoughts were freezing over.

Yet at the same time, as if hearing a voice in her heart. To Yuri, who felt like she couldn’t breathe from the terrible pain of having her loved one taken away, someone’s whisper reached her ears.

– Are you really going to let another woman take your man?

Yuri hesitated for a moment. This was a deserted alley now. She was alone in this secluded corner. This wasn’t a dungeon, so she couldn’t be hearing cursed hallucinations.

But that voice whispered once more in Yuri’s ear.

– I’ll help you. So that Lee Minsu can’t escape from you.

Indeed, looking around, there was no one. That cold, female voice was coming from within Yuri.

However, it was a sweet temptation like that of a devil. If she and Minsu were to become nothing to each other. That would be a greater pain than death.

She wasn’t this scared even when facing the great demon Crosel. Because Minsu was by her side then. But if Minsu were to leave her.

If they were to become unable to meet like the past two years. That was more frightening than hell. Enough to make her whole body freeze. Enough to make her tremble from the terrible mental chill.

– How?

So Yuri unconsciously asked that voice. The voice answered.

– If he tries to run away from you, just imprison him.

At those words, Yuri stopped crying.

***

After spending time with Soso at the cafe, I returned to the Busan branch.

Flame’s Busan branch wasn’t far from the cafe, so we arrived quickly. All the meeting participants, including the executives of Red Breakers, were already gathered at the branch.

And as previously notified, Yuri had arrived at the Busan branch. Seeing Yuri after three months, she looked the same as usual.

“Have you been well?”

With an expressionless and cold face. Soso and I exchanged brief greetings with her, but we soon entered the conference room as it was time for the meeting.

As the guild master, Yuri sat at the head of the table. Although reports from Busan were regularly sent to headquarters.

Since the guild master herself was attending this meeting, I explained the progress using the meeting materials I had prepared in advance.

“…And so, Busan is now completely divided between Red Breakers in the east and Dead Arms in the west. And now we’re facing a confrontation.”

“You said you’ve already given prior notice.”

“Yes. We formally requested Dead Arms to join as a subordinate guild of Red Breakers, but they naturally ignored it.”

The expressions of the participants became serious. All that remained was the confrontation between the two guilds. Yuri continued.

“No matter how much unregulated hunter guilds are like mafias, they still need to be mindful of public opinion and can’t throw the city into chaos.”

At those words, the people from Red Breakers focused on Yuri. As she said, it would be troublesome if a large-scale confrontation broke out and civilians got caught up in it.

Since this was a fight between hunters, not dungeon clearing or villain subjugation, a large-scale battle that would throw the city into chaos would draw too much attention.

“So we need to strike quickly and decisively. Attack Dead Arms’ stronghold and force them to submit. We already have justification.”

As Yuri said, since the two groups couldn’t come to a peaceful compromise, it was better to use force quickly to end the situation.

“Sporadic fights between hunters of the two forces are breaking out all over Busan. The more frequently such incidents occur, the more anxiety will grow among Busan citizens. As the guild master said, we need to reach a conclusion quickly.”

Pyo Sunghoon also agreed with Yuri’s opinion. After some more discussion on the matter, the meeting concluded.

The date of action was set for two days later. And regarding that matter, Flame’s people and Pyo Sunghoon stayed behind to discuss further.

“Dead Arms’ headquarters is in Yeongdo. But I’ve heard that recently, unless you’re from a guild affiliated with Dead Arms, it’s not even easy to enter Yeongdo.”

As Pyo Sunghoon said, Dead Arms’ guild office is in Yeongdo, Busan. Yeongdo is an island in Busan, but it’s actually a large island adjacent to the mainland of Busan, almost like the mainland itself.

But recently, it has become Dead Arms’ stronghold, making entry difficult.

“Even most of Dead Arms’ people gather at Busan Port near Yeongdo, not inside Yeongdo itself, to carry out guild business. So the first place we need to enter is…”

He displayed a map on the screen in the conference room.

“First, this warehouse district in Busan Port. I’ve heard that hunters affiliated with Dead Arms often gather here for meetings. So we should first attack and take control of this area, then observe Dead Arms’ reaction.”

Yuri’s expression became serious at Pyo Sunghoon’s words.

“If Dead Arms’ hunters are gathered at Busan Port anyway, it would be better for us to target that area first before directly entering Yeongdo. You’re right. But I’m still concerned about Yeongdo.”

After pondering for a moment, she addressed the participants.

“This is highly confidential information that just came in from the Association, but one of Talhonma Seo Munyeom’s subordinates has escaped from Japan.”

Talhonma Seo Munyeom. A powerful figure comparable to the Five Heavenly Kings, and a member of the Four Demons, villains. And an executive of the Red Lake. As such, his direct subordinates were also extremely dangerous villains.

“S-class villain Lee Sunwoo. He might be in Busan.”

The subordinate of Seo Munyeom that Yuri mentioned had been under surveillance by the Association for a long time. And the last whereabouts of him confirmed by an Association agent couldn’t be ignored.

“A cargo ship heading to Busan…”

His last known whereabouts in Japan were confirmed. The final destination of the cargo ship that Lee Sunwoo boarded was Busan Port.

Since Busan Port is now Dead Arms’ territory, Seo Munyeom’s subordinate might also have some kind of relationship with Dead Arms.

‘And if something is happening inside Yeongdo…’

I had an ominous feeling. The remaining group continued to discuss the matter.

It was decided that hunters from Red Breakers and their allied guilds would attack Busan Port, while a small elite force including Flame members would head directly to Yeongdo, where Dead Arms’ guild office is located.

“I’d like to participate directly in this operation, but due to my position as guild master and various political issues, it’s difficult for me to get involved this time. So I’ll be counting on all of you.”

At those words, Pyo Sunghoon bowed.

“Leave it to us!”

As Yuri said, there were circumstances that prevented her, as the guild master, from taking direct action. Flame’s headquarters already had countless pending tasks.

Some of those missions were directly commissioned by the Association, so Yuri probably had to create a non-existent schedule just to come down here.

And Yuri is the daughter of Andrei, the Grand Duke who is the chairman of the parliaments of both countries. The Association turns a blind eye to guild confrontations if there’s a reason, but they don’t want such matters to escalate externally.

‘If public safety deteriorates to the point where large-scale confrontations break out, the Association’s justification for controlling Korea weakens.’

So it’s awkward for someone of Yuri’s high status to step forward.

Also, Flame is an Association-certified guild, and its rating has risen to S+. If she, as the guild master of such a guild, directly participates in combat, there would be insufficient justification to quietly pass this incident off as a minor dispute between local hunters.

“But Team Leader Yeon Soso and Employee Lee Minsu here are the guild members I trust most in Flame. It’s as if Flame has given more than half of its strength to Busan.”

“We in Busan know that best. We’ve directly confirmed the skills of both of them.”

Pyo Sunghoon expressed his trust in Soso and me.

“So I believe you all can take control of Busan.”

“We won’t disappoint you!”

“Also, until the action begins in two days, I’ll provide all necessary support through Team Leader Yeon and Minsu. I wish you all good luck.”

With that, the meeting concluded, and everyone left the conference room.

***

After finishing today’s work, I returned to my accommodation.

It was a reunion with Yuri after a long time, but she seemed very busy. After once again conveying her message as guild master about the upcoming battle, she left the Busan branch.

‘Team Leader Yeon and Minsu, both of you be careful of Lee Sunwoo.’

And Yuri’s parting words made my head a bit complicated. I had guessed that something was happening in Yeongdo.

Of course, it’s an area under the administrative power of the Korean government, so ordinary people can enter, but hunters affiliated with Flame couldn’t.

‘They said guilds affiliated with Dead Arms are desperately blocking entry.’

The records from Busan’s standby MCI observatory were also abnormal recently. Yeongdo, where the readings were unusually high.

So I had an ominous feeling that this might be more than just a feud between hostile guilds. With the S-class villain Lee Sunwoo also coming to Busan at this time, things might not go smoothly.

‘No, this is actually an opportunity.’

But if he’s Seo Munyeom’s subordinate, then Lee Sunwoo is also a member of the Red Lake. For me, it was as if prey had come looking for me.

After the Busan matter is settled, my next target is Seo Munyeom, one of the Four Demons. So eliminating his limbs in advance wouldn’t be bad for me at all.

‘So I must succeed in this Busan operation.’

With that determination, I turned on my laptop to organize the plan for the confrontation in two days.

At that moment, the room bell rang. I was living in a hotel room in Busan, but the doorbell sound was unfamiliar.

‘I’ve never used room service or anything like that. What could it be?’

I checked the hotel’s video intercom. And as soon as I saw the activated video intercom screen, I was surprised.

Yuri was standing there in the screen.