No. 159

The alarm blared through the base.

Troops immediately arrived at the scene, but no confrontation arose.

First of all, an Asian man had just fallen from the sky.

Secondly, despite that ridiculous situation, he was now casually talking to the Korean Special Defense Agency representative, Chae Shin-young.

Nobody would misunderstand the scene. Everyone knew who the man was, even if it was the first time they had seen him.

Besides, the bases top-ranked official was already with him. Hed witnessed what had happened with his own eyes, but rather than awe, he felt somewhat frustrated.

Next time, I hope you go through the proper security channels. We have a gate, the man said with a stern expression.

Chae Shin-young immediately translated his words to Yoo-seong. The middle-aged man was Colonel Mike Francis Foley, whose position was second only to the State Defense Commander.

Before Yoo-seong could respond, the stubborn colonel spoke again. I dont know if you dont respect the military in your country. But here I hope you behave properly, even just for the sake of saving your countrys face.

Although Yoo-seong couldnt understand the words, the tone was obviously sarcastic. Chae Shin-young translated it without changing the words, but she lowered her tone as if trying to urge Yoo-seong to be rational.

..

With an unreadable expression, Yoo-seong told her, Please relay this clearly.

Okay Chae Shin-young was worried. You cant be thinking about fighting him, she thought. She was frightened as to what might happen. Beads of cold sweat flowed down her back, and she felt lightheaded. The only thing in her mind right then was how she could subtly change what Yoo-seong would say.

However

I sincerely apologize, Yoo-seong said.

Huh? What?

Chae Shin-young? Yoo-seong raised an eyebrow at her. Let me finish.

Chae Shin-young bit her lip.

Yoo-seong turned his head to the colonel and spoke to him directly. As you said, breaking in without permission was wrong and inexcusable. As I was trying to reach Chae Shin-young quickly, tracking her phone, I made an unintentionally disrespectful move. I had no intention of disrespecting the Colonel and the Nevada State Guard.

Yoo-seong made eye contact with the colonel as he spoke, and Chae Shin-young translated in almost real-time, only one phrase late. After speaking, Yoo-seong humbly bowed his head to the colonel.

It was obvious to the colonel that there was no deception in the translation, just a pure, polite apology. He acknowledged it with a simple nod.

Okay Lets make it quick. I hope you faithfully follow the rules as long as youre here. Our relationship is one of cooperation. It would be great if we could finish the operation without clashing with each other.

Thats right, Yoo-seong agreed.

The colonel then moved on to another matter, signifying that the situation was over.

I gave the briefing to your manager. It will be much more efficient if she gives it to you in your language rather than go through the hassle of interpreting.

Then the colonel turned around and left them. Yoo-seong turned to Chae Shin-young.

What was that just now? Why did you go huh, what? in the middle of translating?

.

She didnt know how to respond.

Well, I I thought you would complain about

You thought I would be dissatisfied? Yoo-seong looked surprised. Isnt he right? Ive been in the military myself. If a foreigner just came to our premises, we would surely get angry. Surely you didnt think I was so arrogant as not to realize my mistake? he asked.

That Chae Shin-young was speechless.

Also, we are here on business bearing our countrys flag. My actions will reflect on our Special Defense Agency.

Chae Shin-young began to consider. Do I have some trivial prejudice against Yoo-seong?

Well, whats done is done, so I dont want to take too long. Its a little sad, though, that you underestimate my intelligence

Oh, if you

Lets talk about the briefing, Yoo-seong cut her off.

At this, Chae Shin-young effortlessly conveyed the briefing to Yoo-seong. The amounts they talked about are the same as the ambassador told us in Korea. Of course, it will remain the same unless you negotiate for a revision, she finished.

What kind of monsters are they talking about?

Its they didnt disclose anything about the monster species in the operation area. I dont think they have that information.

Unconfirmed? Yoo-seongs eyes widened. Until now? A few days have already passed since the crack opened.

Yoo-seong couldnt hide his surprise. Of course, hed been expecting that the monster or monsters in question were something really powerful. Otherwise, Miracle Boys juniors would have been enough to take on the job. They wouldnt have had to reach out across the Pacific to contact Yoo-seong.

However, it didnt make sense that they could not even get the minimum of information about the monsters after such a long time.

Chae Shin-young took a few photos from a manila envelope. Here you go, she said as she handed them over.

Satellite photographs and an aerial view of the operation area. Natsville was a small town, an old western frontier built in the wilderness of Nevada.

However, it couldnt be seen in the photos. Something was blocking the view.

Fog? Or some kind of a gel-type shield? Yoo-seong thought.

The village was covered in a dull, gray film.

Per their observation, the gray film started to spread out right after the crack was created, and it stopped right after it covered the entire village.

What about the hunters who entered?

They sent a total of eighty-six people. Of those, eighty-five were existing hunters who were deployed after the creation of the rift. The other one

Yoo-seong nodded and finished her sentence. The other one was a special force sent after those eighty-five people.

Chae Shin-youngs eyebrow raised a little, but she continued speaking. Action cams and communicators dont work inside the gray area. Fourteen hours after all eighty-five hunters failed to return, the National Guard dispatched another hunter.

Of course, he would have been carrying different communication equipment that should have worked?

Chae Shin-young nodded. Its said that he came in with different types of equipment, but the only one that worked was the most basic. A beeper that used Morse code.

But that hadnt lasted long either.

He reported that the village was empty. Then the signal got cut off. They havent heard from him since. Chae Shin-young leaned in closer. Your special mission is to rescue that person. Bring him back no matter what state hes in.

Then Chae Shin-young leaned back and narrowed her eyes as if she thought it was a little strange.

Certainly something is weird, she muttered. They didnt even talk about the eighty-five people who went in first. I feel that the focus is on the one missing person rather than the gray curtain covering the village right now she added.

Wouldnt that be natural?

Yes?

The one in there is version two of Miracle Boy.

Yoo-seong, with a matter-of-fact tone, began telling Chae Shin-young what hed been through after leaving Korea. The trouble in Hawaii and what happened when he arrived in California.

Of course, he left out some personal details, but

Even the gist of the story was enough to make Chae Shin-young exclaim in surprise.

This is too, too

big, yes, Yoo-seong helped her.

It was definitely something huge, even in her experience. She was a sheriff in the Special Defense Agency. More than capturing dangerous hunters who committed crimes, shed also had to undertake various forms of dirty work to stop foreign entities from trying to use or take out domestic hunters.

But this scale, my God damn it! I dont know what to say! Do you know what youve done?

I always know what Im doing.

Well, such a person! Its Alvin Hawkins! The US Vice Presidents son! Chae Shin-young exclaimed. This isnt something you can take responsibility for yourself. No, no matter what you think, you shouldnt even try!

This was an entirely different story. It was a high-level problem far beyond simply hunting monsters and closing rifts. The situation involved foreign companies, and there were astronomical amounts at stake.

Yoo-seong shouldnt have intervened in Hawaii in the first place. If he had quietly contacted Chae Shin-young once he arrived in California, the terrible situation would have been avoided.

If anything goes wrong How many ramifications will come as a result of your actions?!

Hmm.

Really, who do you think you are to

Im a hunter. Yoo-seongs firm voice cut off Chae Shin-youngs words.

What?! For a man calling himself a hunter

Why wouldnt I get involved in such a situation, regardless of the scale?

Politicians and entrepreneurs had the same choices as hunters. To make society better for its citizens or to keep creating more wealth for themselves. Every word they said or action they took could affect the lives of countless others.

They have power, and they take for granted the fact that their actions can have consequences for other peoples lives, Yoo-seong stated.

Werent they here because they were trying to avoid the eyes of those in power in Korea?

But I, as a hunter I have power, too, and a lot of it. Why cant I do something that will affect other people?

Well, do you think that makes sense? Chae Shin-young challenged him.

Im not saying it makes sense. But it is the reality.

Yoo-seong was firmly convinced that he was right.

Anyway, even if I choose not to get involved, another person will use their power to make waves around the world. What I want is to decide the direction of the waves at my disposal.

You consider yourself the worlds justice. You think youre always right and can never be wrong, Chae Shin-young scoffed.

Not at all! Yoo-seong laughed.

Justice.

I dont want to make everything right in the world, he explained. But I cant just keep still while something is going wrong around me. Its my personality.

And I desperately want this personality to change, he wanted to add. As I told Alvin, everything is a matter of luck and probability. I dont know whats waiting for me, but I eagerly hope that I can find something that will make me feel satisfied enough to take my weary body out of this battle.

I I I dont know. Chae Shin-young shook her head. Why would the Director like a person like you? He trusts you so much You just

Its probably because Im a risky ball, and he doesnt know where Ill bounce next, Yoo-seong agreed.

Then Yoo-seong turned around and started walking toward Natsville, the operation area.

Please tell the colonel one thing for sure, he said. I havent stamped the contract yet. What I will receive in return for this operation, I will negotiate after the hunt.

Do you think they will accept those ridiculous terms?!

They will, Yoo-seong affirmed without even looking back.