No. 115

For Yang Chang-guk, the past few hours had been agonizing.

When hed learned that Yoo-seong had flown to Japan, he had arranged for real-time updates about his whereabouts to be sent to him. Worry had coursed through his veins.

Why had Yoo-seong done this now? Now, when the occurrence of cracks had been steadily rising all over the world

Yoo-seong was a Single. He was a hunter powerful enough to handle low-level to intermediate cracks alone.

Such a Single had flown over to a neighboring country without Yang Chang-guk knowing. Of course, he knew that Oh Yoo-seong wouldnt be seeking asylum there. He had flown over to Japan in search of their lost Tech, but that hadnt made Yang Chang-guk any less worried.

He, too, was in a top-ranked government position. He knew that every government around the world wanted an Oh Yoo-seong on their side. They would do everything to get him to stay.

Then word had come in, just three hours after Yoo-seong arrived in Japan.

What? A sudden rift?

It had been early morning when he received the information. A crack had appeared earlier than expected in the middle of Tokyo.

Rather than a sudden rift, it was an error in calculating the time of appearance, hed decided.

Yang Chang-guk had honestly expected a catastrophe. A crack of that size in such a largely-populated area would surely result in three-digit civilian casualties. However

Why did Yoo-seong intervene?!

Yang Chang-guks voice had resonated far outside his office. Oh Yoo-seong had just prevented a disaster in a foreign land. Pride and joy had filled Yang Chang-guk, but at the same time, he felt more anxious.

An emergency meeting had been called. The news had not reached the public yet. Yang Chang-guk knew he had to act.

He had organized all the information they had and thought about his decision a few times.

Prepare the helicopter. I will go to Japan myself, he had instructed his subordinates.

What do you mean, Director? His employees were confused.

I want you to inform the Japanese embassy.

There had been no information about Oh Yoo-seong after the operation ended, but Yang Chang-guk had a few assumptions.

There was a great chance that the Japanese Metropolitan Police Department had arrested Yoo-seong. They might have detained him and interrogated him harshly.

However, they might also be doing real harm to him.

Director! I understand this is a matter that has to be taken seriously but do you have to go yourself?

His subordinates were understandably puzzled by their Directors decision.

A Special Defense Agency director visiting another country without properly seeking permission

I know. Yang Chang-guk had put on his coat as he spoke. But I have to go myself.

Hed remembered the last conversation hed had with Yoo-seong. The young hunter had asked him for a month. Once that month ended, and his expedition turned out to be a wild goose chase, Yoo-seong would take full responsibility.

Until Yoo-seong has been proven wrong, Yang Chang-guk had thought, I have an obligation to support him.

Like every other hunter in this country.

Isnt that my job?

***

Now Yang Chang-guk was fussing over Yoo-seong.

Are you alright? Your face your injuries look serious!

Well Im fine, Yoo-seong assured him.

Yang Chang-guk had no choice but to accept Yoo-seongs words. He looked around.

When hed arrived at the Japanese Police Department and the Disaster Management Office for a sudden emergency meeting, he hadnt realized that a disaster of this scale was happening.

Several buildings had collapsed.

The road was turned over almost like a gravel field, and everything on it cars, streetlights, stalls were smashed. That wasnt all.

It seemed that a barrier line hadnt even been successfully established.

Of course, there were no people around the area where Yoo-seong and the Thunder Ape had fought. However, just across the block, Yang Chang-guk could see a lot of people hiding in buildings.

If Yoo-seong hadnt been able to stop the Thunder Ape, who knew how many people would have been buried alive?

Yang Chang-guk tilted his head.

I heard quite strange news on my way here, he began.

Strange news?

Tokyos top hunters were observed leaving the operation site after receiving a call from the Disaster Management Agency. A lot of civilians witnessed it. Its all over the Internet now.

Yoo-seong did not respond. The two men kept silent for a few moments.

What could have happened to the Japanese industry? Yang Chang-guk thought out loud. Their director, Kodama, is not an incompetent person

Pop-!

As Yang Chang-guk was speaking, Yoo-seong pulled something from his slot: a computer hard drive.

Yang Chang-guks eyes widened. Thats

I promised to bring it back, Yoo-seong said before placing it back in his slot.

The surprise on Yang Chang-guks face did not disappear. It really exists

Thats not all, Yoo-seong added. But its too long a story to be told here.

I dont know what else happened, but I have a feeling that you also know where the hunters went.

Yes. Yoo-seong nodded and gave Yang Chang-guk a summary of what had happened earlier, who he met, where he went, and what he went through.

So, you mean that Yang Chang-guk could hardly believe it. The first-class hunters left Tokyo because of Leto Group?

Yes.

They sent hunters after you? And Kodama was the Leto Chairmans son-in-law?!

Yoo-seong nodded. Yang Chang-guks mouth hung open.

Finally, when his brain accepted the situation

These guys are god damn them! Yang Chang-guk felt dizzy with anger.

The corruption of the Japanese Special Defense Agency had cost a lot of civilian lives.

This is completely unthinkable! These men are crazy sons of bitches!

Yang Chang-guk had never felt this angry before. No matter how much he thought about it, he couldnt comprehend the idiocy of his counterparts. They were monsters.

Whatever the situation was, a Special Defense Agency should always make the private sectors safety their top priority.

Lets go, Oh Yoo-seong.

With iron in his voice, Yang Chang-guk pointed at the helicopter waiting for them.

Perhaps, by now, a hold departure order has been made to prevent you from leaving the country. Whether it is to detain you or to thank you properly before letting you go, they will do everything they can

Yang Chang-guk clenched his fists.

Once we arrive at our embassy

Embassy? Yoo-seongs brows furrowed. Are we just going to stay here?

Yes. Until the situation is over, things are about to get busy.

Yang Chang-guks expression showed how nervous he was. He was literally risking his neck for this trip to Japan but, somehow, he felt confident.

Fortunately, there is plenty of evidence of your contributions to this country. Every post on the Internet is about you right now. No matter how much they fabricate information, the evidence will prove them wrong.

Yang Chang-guk paused for a second before continuing. And about what Kodama did I will make sure he gets what he deserves. It is my duty.

They had to arrive at the embassy without delay.

Come on, come on! Yang Chang-guk beckoned.

Yoo-seong agreed with Yang Chang-guks opinion. He had got their Tech on the hard drive but besides that

The Leto Group still had debts to pay.

At this, Yoo-seong and Yang Chang-guk began walking towards the helicopter.

***

A tense atmosphere filled the room as they watched the video playing. It was a collection of action cam footage taken by a hunter and instantly stored in the cloud.

Kodama and Tatsuo Sukune were silent.

-Fall back; the attack doesnt work!

-Prepare an insulation suit

-Oh!

The footage abruptly jumped into another scene.

A colossal ape was slaughtering helpless hunters one by one.

What did you say the name of this beast was? The Thunder Ape?

Yes. Kodama was flustered.

They were the first words Tatsuo had spoken since the video started. The old man looked exhausted. Still, his heavy eyes were locked onto the monitor.

Kaah-!

The Thunder Apes horn glowed with the energy of the lightning from the crack.

The beast turned its head side-to-side, spewing lethal voltage everywhere.

Ka-!

Finally, the ivory horn lost its light. From then on

Dooung-!

The Thunder Apes six humps sustained its offensive.

It was enough to finish off every remaining survivor in the center. The action cams captured the agony of the hunters faces as life faded out of them.

This is useless, Tatsuo said. Move forward.

Kodama skipped about twenty minutes and resumed the video where the Thunder Ape had already moved beyond the barrier line. The next pieces of footage were from the dead hunters.

Although their owners were already gone, the action cams had continued to film their surroundings. They had captured the duel between Yoo-seong and the Thunder Ape from different angles.

The Thunder Ape, perhaps in a desperate move after getting stunned by Yoo-seongs blow, began to summon his lightning once again.

Its ivory horn glowed intensely as lightning continued to be stored in it. However, before the final bolt could reach it, Yoo-seong attacked.

He cut off the horn! Kodama exclaimed as he witnessed Yoo-seongs wrist blade shooting fire.

The chairmans eyes also lit up with excitement as they watched the Thunder Apes horn disappear.

I have to recover that thing. Do you understand, Kodama? He took it.

Kodama didnt respond.

Kodama!

Ah, ah, yes!

Whats with that stupid expression?! Chairman Tatsuo barked.

Sorry, sorry Kodama bowed.

However, he was having other thoughts. What had happened was their responsibility.

If they had not pulled back the top hunters, no matter how great the Thunder Ape was, it wouldnt have gone beyond the barrier line. Civilian lives could have been saved.

Are you scared?!

No, Chairman.

Upon seeing this, the old man growled with displeasure.

Anyway, all the evidence that he caught the monster is in our hands. If you could secure him, we would have no problem assigning the recognition to our hunters.

Youre right, Mr. Chairman.

How could he be in Tokyo, by the way? He must have escaped this facility, but he shouldnt have reached as far as Tokyo. The chairman couldnt even guess how Yoo-seong had arrived in Tokyo with several hunters after him. Anyway, Yang Chang-guk is with him now, right?

Yes, Chairman. He arrived exactly fifteen minutes ago, and three minutes ago, we received a report that their helicopter had left the site.

Kodama was 100% sure that they were heading for the Korean embassy.

However, before Yoo-seong and Yang Chang-guk could reach it, several measures would be put in place.

At Kodamas instructions, the top hunters who had been looking for Yoo-seong earlier were deployed for another mission.

Any of them could fly and intercept the helicopter. As a safety measure, he also instructed the Metropolitan Police Department to send a squadron of police officers near the embassy.

Yoo-seong wouldnt be able to fight police officers on the ground, with civilians all around them.

I hope he gets upset and hurts some of the police, Tatsuo remarked. Cant we make it seem like he beat up the police even if he doesnt?

Before Kodama could answer, his phone rang. Hello?

-This is Team D. We found the helicopter. Were in position.

Do it right away.

Tatsuo Sukune looked satisfied as he watched his son-in-law give commands.

The pieces were now in place to recover what Yoo-seong took. More than that, he was determined to get the horn filled with lightning energy.

The dragon flame that Yoo-seong had shown in the battle and whatever Yoo-seong had used to leave this place and reappear in Tokyo

Tatsuo Sukune must have them all. However

What?! With his phone to his mouth, Kodama raised his voice.

What do you mean that hes not in the helicopter?!

Tatsuo shifted in his wheelchair. What happened?

Then where is he?! Kodama was now yelling at his phone. Find him right away! He couldnt have left Tokyo!

After a few hours, they would learn what Yoo-seong had done, and it would stun them as if they had been hit with a hammer.

***

Meanwhile, Yoo-seong was moving.

Huh Huh!

Despite his heavy breathing, Yoo-seong felt indescribable joy.