[I can't believe I'm getting a call from you, Hunter... Is something the matter?]

“It seems I won't be able to keep my promise if things continue like this.”

[What... do you mean by that.]

“I'm currently working with the Cleanup Clan.”

[...!!]

I had no intention of dragging out the call. Besides the people from the black market, only these two knew that I was clearing Poison Dungeons. Iron Arm and Pyo Hyeok-gyu.

I mentioned the 'Cleanup Clan' directly. The Cleanup Clan was by no means a famous group, but given the recent situation with the Poison Dungeons being cleared, it was bound to catch Pyo Hyeok-gyu's eye.

[I see... I thought as much. There has been a clan clearing Poison Dungeons at a rapid pace lately....]

“There's no problem with me working for a clan, is there?”

[Of course not. The Association's only goal is to close the Poison Dungeons; we don't care who clears them.]

Right.

I knew he would say that. Iron Arm was staring at me with wide eyes, but I ignored his gaze and continued the conversation.

“Recently, all the applications submitted by the Cleanup Clan have been rejected. I believe the Glory Guild is interfering.”

[The Glory Guild? That can't be...]

A dry laugh escaped me at Pyo Hyeok-gyu's reaction. He too had implicitly revealed that the Glory Guild had nothing to do with 'justice'.

[I will look into the situation. If a recommendation comes down from the Association, even the Glory Guild won't be able to do anything about it.]

“That's a relief. I'll be waiting then.”

As soon as I hung up, Iron Arm rushed over and asked me.

“Hunter Cheon Hae-seon. Who were you just talking to?”

“An official from the Association. I asked them to get rid of the meddlers.”

“Is... is that possible? The Glory Guild is the one that put the restrictions on the dungeons.”

“They'll most likely comply. They won't want to make an enemy of the Association over mere Poison Dungeons.”

Iron Arm had a doubtful expression. He was someone who trusted me more than anyone, but considering who the opponent was, he thought it would be difficult this time.

However.

“Huh?!”

It didn't take long for his trust in me to deepen even further. As if in disbelief, Iron Arm, who had been rubbing his eyes for a while, looked this way and raised both his hands.

“It worked! Hunter Cheon Hae-seon! All the rejected permits have been approved! How could this...!!”

“I told you it would work.”

I gave a satisfied smile toward the jumping Iron Arm.

“What? Where did you say?”

Gu Geon-yi asked his chief secretary, frowning.

“They're called the Cleanup Clan.”

“This is ridiculous... Are you saying our Glory Guild was pushed aside by some measly clan?”

“A recommendation came down from the Association, so we couldn't do anything about it. We judged that there was no need to get worked up over Poison Dungeons.”

Permits to clear dungeons in one's jurisdiction were a sensitive matter. Most were handled with Representative Gu Geon-yi’s approval, but for dungeons rated 3-star or lower, or for Poison Dungeons, the responsible manager made the decision directly. This was because of a direct order from none other than Gu Geon-yi himself: 'Don't report every single approval for non-profitable matters'.

'Dammit.

If I had known, I would have told them to report everything.' Gu Geon-yi regretted it later, but the train had already left the station. The three newly emerged Poison Dungeons would now be handled by that Cleanup what's-it-called.

Since they had neglected the Poison Dungeons in their jurisdiction until now, trying to assert their rights at this point would only be embarrassing.

“How is that half-wit doing?”

“There are no particular changes.”

Gu Geon-yi clicked his tongue and spat out the words.

“Tsk tsk... You can't expect a dragon to rise from a ditch.”

The man Gu Geon-yi called a 'half-wit' was Yoo Ji-won. He was the son of the Hunter Association's Vice Chairman Yoo In-won. Yoo Ji-won, whose inferiority complex had exploded while taking the test with Cheon Hae-seon, had overused his ability during the qualification tests and suffered severe internal injuries.

Looking at his potential alone, he could have become a B-rank or higher healer, but the final rank he received was 'E'. Considering the spotlight he had received as the son of the Association's Vice Chairman, it was a pitiful report card. What was more serious was that Yoo Ji-won's Healing Ability was deteriorating day by day.

'Is this a side effect of forcibly injecting him with Ether before the test...?' Gu Geon-yi had avoided the law and taken him to the Glory Guild research labs to inject him with Ether. It was a top-secret matter that he hadn't even told his closest confidant, Maria.

Wasn't Maria the type to mutilate herself with guilt after every battle? He couldn't tell that needlessly noble woman that he had committed an illegal act. 'I took him in, but... he's a difficult one to care for.'

Although he received an 'E'-rank judgment, the Glory Guild recruited Yoo Ji-won. Considering their usual recruitment strategy, it was a rather unusual measure. But by 'doing him the favor' of recruiting him, Gu Geon-yi was able to form a closer relationship with the Vice Chairman.

After all, he had recruited someone who was practically a cripple as a Hunter and was now trying to 'heal' him. 'To think that poison chips could help a healer with internal injuries...'

According to a recent report from the Glory Guild research labs, research showed that refining 'poison chips', known as the drug of the dungeons, could restore Healing Ability. It was officially illegal for a Guild member to collect 'poison chips', but Gu Geon-yi, as always, was a man who believed he could evade the law at any time.

Not only was he saving an 'E'-rank piece of trash, but he was also going to improve his Healing Ability? If that happened, the Glory Guild might be able to get its hands on the entire Gyeonggi Province during next year's jurisdiction selection process.

“Things are getting complicated trying to clear these unexpected Poison Dungeons. Bring me a list of all Poison Dungeon locations nationwide.”

“Yes, sir.”

Having to give up the dungeon in his own backyard to clear one in another area. Gu Geon-yi felt like he was burning up inside, but there was no other way. No matter how much they were the nation's top military force, behind the Association were the 'nation' and the 'people'.

'Cleanup Clan, was it. I'll make you pay dearly for getting in my way.' Gu Geon-yi was thus aiming his arrow of anger in the wrong direction.

The dazzling golden orb I received from Pyo Hyeok-gyu. No, maybe 'mottled orb' is a more fitting description now. As usual, I was injecting Black Ether into the Gold Core.

<Current Black Core conversion rate 58.2%> I could tell even without the information displayed by the V1.

Now, the Core's color was more black than gold. Once it becomes a perfect Black Core, I should be able to absorb this thing. Just imagining how much growth awaited me made my heart pound.

Especially since absorbing the Gold Core before me was said to greatly increase physical attack. My Knight rank is still at a 'D' level, but if I add the Gold Core's ability to the Phantom Strike I learned in the black market, I should be able to take on most Knights.

“But this... is completely useless.”

<Grants critical hit properties when used as a weapon> Critical hit properties.

Even if I didn't use it as a weapon, that trait would belong to me once I absorbed this thing. The problem was that this trait was completely useless to me. Because I already possessed the most 'lethal' weapon in the world.

Black Ether.

This substance, the source of my power, acts as a deadly poison to all living things. Kiril had said that Black Ether was the king of poisons. He said that there was no substance that could overcome Black Ether, not just in the human world, but among Monsters as well.

For someone like me, the 'critical hit effect' provided by the Gold Core was as good as nothing. No matter how outstanding the critical hit effect was, it couldn't possibly be more threatening than Black Ether. 'I wonder if they're all doing well.'

Kiril and Dr. Jin. It was a brief encounter, but they were unforgettable moments. Kiril still seemed to be in hiding, and Dr. Jin, who said he would contact me after moving, had been silent ever since.

I wanted to show them I've gotten a little stronger. But for now, it seemed I wouldn't be able to show them my growth.

Ah.

There was one person. Someone I could show my ever-growing progress to. At first, I was beaten like a dog and looked a mess, but the longer I trained, the cleaner my face became.

Master Oh Ji-ho of 'Phantom Strike'. During the hiatus when the Cleanup Clan's permits weren't being approved, I frequented the black market. Before, I would just get beaten up one-sidedly, but now, I could slowly see Master Oh Ji-ho's movements.

Not the illusion on the surface, but the 'real body' hidden within it. 'The left... it seems!!' I throw my chest at Oh Ji-ho's left hand, which flies in like a blade.

For a normal attack, it would be a crazy act to present yourself as a target, but now I know. That when it comes to 'Phantom Strike', there is no safer place than where an attack is coming from.

Swish.

The hand-blade that flew in as if to kill me instantly vanished as if it had never been there. And I turned my body and raised my right hand.

Shwoong! Bingo.

Master Oh Ji-ho's fist flew toward my right hand, where there had been nothing. 'Just like this...' There are two key points to Phantom Strike.

First, to use psychic power in the area where you stand to create an illusion. And the other is to have the movement to return the opponent's attack as is.

Whick.

I deflected Oh Ji-ho's 'real attack' and returned the hand-blade. A dull thud. Did I succeed?

I opened my eyes wide, but unfortunately, his other hand was blocking my attack.

“Ah, come on.”

How could I not land a single attack? We had exchanged blows over a hundred times, but I hadn't managed to land a clean hit on Oh Ji-ho even once. What was the point of training with Oh Ji-ho every day?

This pathetic...

“Excellent.”

Excellent, my ass. ...

Huh?

“I think I misheard you...”

“Excellent. There is nothing more to teach you.”

I see what he's doing. I had been visiting Oh Ji-ho often lately. But still, even so.

To so blatantly try to push me away?

“You're just annoyed, aren't you? Lately.”

“No.” “But you're telling a disciple who hasn't landed a single hit to leave the mountain?”

“It's too dangerous to continue.”

“My goodness. It's obviously dangerous when you attack like you're trying to kill me. What are you talking about now...”

“Not for you. For me.”

“Huh?”

A sharp, rugged face reminiscent of a war veteran from the old days. His eyes, already deep-set, seemed to have sunk even further.

“Phantom Strike is called a 'strike', but in truth, it's a technique closer to a sleight of hand. The longer the exchange, the more the opponent catches on and gets closer to its true nature.”

“Hmm.”

That certainly made sense. I had been in numerous conflicts while frequenting the black market. Most were petty thugs that didn't require Oh Ji-ho's intervention, but among them were skilled Knights like Kim Gwan-tae.

And Oh Ji-ho had finished off most of them within three exchanges. I thought he was just trying to get things over with quickly and efficiently, but it turned out there was such a drawback behind it.

“Knights above a certain level are likely to catch on during an exchange. And if we were to trade similar blows, my chances of winning would drop sharply.”

I didn't need to ask why. If a street punk and a boxer fought, the boxer would obviously win.

'Weight class' is meaningless in that context.

But what if two boxers of similar skill fought each other? From that point on, 'weight class' becomes an insurmountable, fourth-dimensional wall. It doesn't even take much; a difference of just about 5kg can create a significant gap.

Among Hunters, 'weight class' is divided by 'rank'. Against those who don't know the secret of 'Phantom Strike', one can expect results that transcend 'rank', but if the opponent can also use 'Phantom Strike', Oh Ji-ho, an 'E'-rank Knight, would be at an absolute disadvantage.

Even I, a 'D'-ranker just one level above him, would be impossible for him to beat.

“In the 108 exchanges we've had so far, neither you nor I have landed a valid hit. It will be the same in the future.”

“...”

“In that case, the remaining amount of Ether and the strength of our bodies will decide the match. Right now, we are similar, but it's clear who will win in the future.”

I would win. Oh Ji-ho had gone through that long exchange to explain that reason to me.

“Therefore, there is nothing more for me to teach. All that's left is for you to apply 'Phantom Strike' in actual combat.”

Oh Ji-ho had never once called me 'disciple' while teaching me. Let alone disciple, he had barely even called me by my proper name. But his face now was that of a master watching his disciple leave the mountain.

It was a truly human expression I had never seen since coming to the black market.

“... Thank you for everything, Master.”

“Don't mention it.”

As if his teaching time was over, Oh Ji-ho disappeared from his spot in an instant. Well, I'll be. So now that his business is done, he has no more use for me.

I think I'll have to take back what I said about him having a human side.

'Still...' Every wound. Every bruise.

Even though they had healed, the 'Phantom Strike' he taught me was deeply ingrained in my body. These instinctive movements would surely save my life in a moment of mortal danger.

“Live a long life, Master Oh Ji-ho.”

I quietly bowed my head toward the spot where he had been standing.