Chapter 143

Chapter 143. Bounty Hunter (1)

If I was to elaborate, it was a message I was familiar with.

However, it had been an exceedingly long time since I had seen it in action.

Recalling the events from when this message last appeared was far from pleasant.

“What nonsense is it trying now?”

I couldn’t shake off my skeptical gaze.

The progress meter ticked upward incrementally; slower than a clock’s second hand, yet steadily.

Compared to an update patch, the speed was quite fast.

“At this rate, it should be done in a few minutes.”

I was fixated on the progress bar as I muttered to myself.

“K?”

Yang Jochul, the battalion commander, called my attention repeatedly.

Without taking my eyes off the numbers, I replied, “It’s nothing. Let’s go.”

“… Yes, this way.”

Step by step, the progressively rising numbers grated on my nerves.

After a couple of minutes had passed in this tense state, I boarded the vehicle prepared by the National Intelligence Service.

It was the same car that had brought me from the airport to here.

I took an empty seat and fixed my fierce gaze on the empty space ahead.

The trait that had first activated with the Han Changshik incident.

The trait name changed from a mere question mark to “Capitalism,” but every time that trait activated, it brought hardship.

“It’s not that there weren’t rewards for the hardship.”

But it wasn’t as if I went through the hardship by choice.

It was more like the system pushed me into it.

Perhaps that’s why watching the progress rate climb made my heart clench.

What would the damned system force me to do this time? What grueling task awaited?

Just as resentment mixed with distrust reached its peak, the notification popped up.

“Progress: 100%”

“The HIDDEN MISSION list is being updated.”

HIDDEN MISSION 「Bounty Hunting (Italy-01)」

HIDDEN MISSION 「Bounty Hunting (Germany-01)」

HIDDEN MISSION 「Bounty Hunting (Kenya-01)」

…

“Damn it.”

The system bombarded me with the accumulated burdens of the past half-year.

Yang Jochul, seated in the driver’s seat, flinched at the sudden curse that escaped my lips without so much as a prelude.

But his reaction was the least of my concerns.

“I knew the Bounty Hunter title was exclusive to me!”

I thought.

Not even among the leading figures at the Player’s Association, nor within the community, was there any mention of bounty missions.

It’s as if they were unaware such missions existed.

“But why am I the only one to get these wretched missions, not just once but twice?”

Unlike before, where a single mission concerning Han Changshik sufficed, this time, the missions were numerous.

“One, two…”

There were thirteen missions displayed in the list.

Simply looking with eyes, it didn’t feel like an overwhelming number.

But understanding the weight of that number brought a different perspective.

The system was essentially telling me to kill thirteen people.

“Hoo, hoo.”

I clenched my fists tightly and closed my eyes.

The next best thing to do to avoid cursing the system in front of people… The clarity about the decision I had to make in this daunting emotion made me feel even angrier.

After swallowing my turbulent emotions forcefully, I opened my eyes to see it clearly.

HIDDEN MISSION

「Bounty Hunting (Italy-01)」

A traitor has provided passageways for the enemy. Eliminate them. (0/1)

– You can check the target’s location through the map. (Check Location)

– If you fail to complete the mission within the time limit, the target will be notified about the Bounty Hunter’s location.

「Success Reward」

• Reputation 10

• Random Box (×1)

「Time Limit」

• 239:56:49

Just like the Han Changshik incident, a timer was attached.

“… Ten days.”

While I wanted to console myself, seeing that the timer wasn’t set for just a day, the nation names included in the mission title made it impossible to miss.

There were missions in Kenya, germany, greece, italy, and even Chile.

“What an inefficient system.”

What did the system want from making me handle incidences in other countries that aren’t even Korea?

“How am I supposed to cover the world by myself?”

The excessive workload made my anger boil fiercely. And that wasn’t all.

The fact that targets were scattered across various countries meant that I had to travel to those places personally, an impossibility given the circumstances.

“Using my identity for international travel is as good as confessing I’m K.”

Players have reached the Bronze end mark, and the fast ones have accomplished Silver.

Attacks on the targets, who are players themselves, would mean inevitable confrontations.

Like today, when magic was used to suppress Yun Jihye, the chances of using it again were high.

Even if I employed a barrier to hide magic use, traces would remain, and concealing those would be improbable.

A series of game-related incidents would make international travel records suspicious if shared among nations experiencing similar cases.

“It’s not a problem if player conflicts become known to governments, but…”

If my identity gets compromised while dealing with it, that’s an issue.

While terribly frustrated, I couldn’t dwell on anger once I noted the ten-day timer.

Ultimately, I pondered, trying to come up with a plan.

It was then I noticed Yang Jochul’s profile at the driver’s seat.

“It’s too challenging to move without being caught alone.”

Crossing borders by myself wouldn’t be particularly difficult, but covering the world within ten days would be unrealistic.

Damned if I must also cross an ocean.

“The only viable solution is flying.”

Having finished my brief deliberation, I spoke up.

“Battalion Squad Leader Yang.”

As if monitoring my reactions, Yang Jochul turned around.

“Yes?”

It’s reasonable to consider that I assisted the National Intelligence Service and the government in this incident involving Yun Jihye.

Without someone like Yun Jihye, of the same rank as Yang Hyewon, handling would have been difficult with just the Bronze rank holders.

So perhaps they owed me some help?

Looking directly at Yang Jochul, I asked in earnest.

“Would it be possible to issue a passport?”

Naturally, my voice lowered.

I was practically asking for illegal assistance.

“A passport?”

Yang Jochul reacted rather bewilderedly, as if he was genuinely caught off guard.

Before I explained, I took a moment to consider my words.

How much should I disclose?

Not long after, I spoke in a slightly subdued voice as I leaned back into my seat.

“It’s similar to the Han Changshik incident.”

That explanation was succinct enough.

A player had caused trouble, and it was a situation where someone needed to die.

“But this incident happened overseas… there isn’t a way for me to handle it discreetly alone.”

Yang Jochul assessed me silently for a moment before adjusting his posture.

He appeared to be collecting his thoughts, so I chose to wait instead of urging him.

After what felt like a long silence, he spoke again.

“You don’t plan to reveal your identity, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then you must agree to my conditions.”

“Let me hear them.”

“While it’s not difficult to lend you a paper identity prepared for agents’ mobility, I can’t dispatch just K. So…”

“You mean I should accept an escort?”

“Yes.”

It wasn’t unexpected.

I had been prepared for an accompanying escort/observer.

I was well aware of that when I sought assistance.

“Honestly, shaking them off wouldn’t even be that difficult.”

I wasn’t hoping they’d handle all aftermaths of players themselves; it was beneficial for public knowledge to spread about player interventions.

I merely needed to conceal the name ‘Kang Hyunwoo’.

Making eye contact with Yang Jochul through the rearview mirror, I slowly nodded.

“Fine, as long as it’s not someone like that man from before.”

“You don’t need to worry. I’ll accompany you directly.”

“Directly? Is it okay for you to leave your position such?”

Being in a rank closer to that of a supervisor than a field agent himself, it was surprising enough that he had come all the way to Busan with me.

Yet now he was suggesting accompanying me overseas?

Seeing my bewildered gaze, Yang Jochul smiled wryly.

“Apparently, only seeing through videos poses limitations in grasping the scene. Misalignment in action reports can also occur.”

It hindered swift and accurate decisions.

“Certainly, you might grasp the situation more adeptly on the ground rather than sitting at a desk.”

Yet, it’s not sensible to believe there would never be any conflict when the National Intelligence Service secures players’ identities.

Analyzing the situation through the body cams of field operatives can’t completely cover situations where players conjure fire or flip the earth.

That has led to the rare occurrence of someone like him, who has decision-making authority, appearing on-site.

‘If Yang Jochul accompanies me, it’ll be convenient for me too.’

We were familiar, and he seemed somewhat trustworthy.

Our goals also aligned, at least somewhat fundamentally.

“Then, if we’re all set to go together, how soon can we depart?”

The looming ten-day timer had my nerves on edge.

Fortunately, Yang Jochul replied without hesitation this time.

“I’ll arrange it so you can board an international flight directly from Gimhae Airport.”

“Thank you.”

He immediately began making calls on his phone.

In the meantime, I revisited the bounty mission screen while massaging my temples.

[A traitor who provided a passageway to enemies…]

Essentially, it’s those who contributed to monsters entering the Earth.

Cross-armed, I scrutinized the mission’s words until my head tilted to the side, almost inadvertently.

“Funny how it was silent when I did it?”

Because I, too, had brought monsters to Earth.

Yet, there’s no target within Korea in this list.

“Could someone else be targeting me?”

If so, there wouldn’t be a reason for the system to give me the bounty mission.

It should’ve handled it to those targeting me instead.

‘And Maxim doesn’t seem to be listed either.’

He, too, had transgressions involving smuggling monsters through the hole.

But there are no missions with Russia labeled on them.

Since he is currently under military surveillance and protection, leaving for another country is not an option.

Why is it that neither he nor I have bounties, but the others do?

‘And Yun Jihye isn’t on it either.’

She’s only unconscious, not dead.

Just like Han Changshik, she had killed a fellow kind, so why isn’t Korea on the bounty list?

‘What exactly are the criteria?’

In a flurry of confusion, I unconsciously muttered aloud.

Even as I unintentionally attracted Yang Jochul’s gaze through the rearview mirror, it felt unnoticed.

‘Traitor, traitor…’

Briefly frowning at the negative connotation, I pressed down on my temple as I considered the worst-case scenario.

‘None of these seem aimed at me, thankfully.’

Though it’s essential to be wary of a potential threat targeting me at some point.

‘With the possibility of danger, I can’t return home yet.’

Perhaps I need to contact Jonghun and ask him to pretend I haven’t returned for a while.

I let out a deep sigh, sweeping a myriad of national names with my eyes as I pondered.

‘There’s quite a number of those who brought monsters in.’

I had expected someone to utilize the hole for such ends, but grasping the extent of the chaos they caused is another matter entirely.

‘Surely, those countries listed with bounties aren’t infested with roaming monsters, right?’

Surely not.

‘If they were, it would already have flooded YouTube and social media.’

Hence, incidents have likely not escalated to the degree where the general public encounters monsters routinely.

The notion of monsters having entered the Earth somewhere made my scalp prickle unpleasantly.

I trudged through the Dramal of Bihar, taming this damned system by closing holes, here I was, solitarily grappling with the system’s rhythm. Meanwhile, someone else was exploiting this situation to welcome monsters to Earth.

“Hoo.”

Expressing my anger felt utterly inadequate.

Contemplating why I endured such trials in Bihar induced a growing sense of futility.

Yet, thinking about having to kill individuals whose faces I didn’t know weighed heavily.

Damned System