Chapter 81: Seed of Contaminated Stone (1)
Polar asked in a bewildered voice.
“……Just like that?”
“Yes.”
“No, shouldn’t you at least hear the conditions before deciding?”
“I’m sorry. I have no intention of leaving my current guild.”
Sa-hyeok did have the thought of becoming independent from Kwonmu-mun.
Of course, it was a veeeeery long-term thought, so he had absolutely no intention of acting on it right away.
Besides, he didn’t plan on leaving like this.
However, Polar wasn’t planning on backing down either.
She didn’t want to miss out on a talent who possessed the unique power of telekinesis, the peculiarity of wielding multiple magic attributes, and above all, the special ability to unlock junk artifacts.
Polar calmly began her persuasion once more.
“Of course, we’re not asking for service based solely on a sense of duty. Combat Officers receive an annual starting salary of 1 million dollars, which is about 1.35 billion won in Korean currency.”
“I earned about double that in less than half a year.”
“……There are also incentives. As your years of experience increase, your annual salary will naturally rise as well……”
“That’s not the problem.”
“Hmm.”
Polar organized her thoughts for a moment before speaking again.
“Alright, Mr. Min. Tell me your desired conditions. We’ll try to accommodate them as much as possible.”
“The conditions aren’t the issue. If I join the Quarantine Organization, most of my work will be focused on securing and managing dangerous artifacts, which means my raid time will be significantly reduced, wouldn’t it?”
“Umm……”
Polar was at a loss for words.
Because Sa-hyeok was right.
Hunters belonging to the Quarantine Organization don’t participate in many raids.
Raids are the fastest and most efficient way for a Hunter to earn money, but they would hardly be able to do that.
Polar said.
“Mr. Min, we certainly can’t compensate for all the income loss you’ll incur from not being able to participate in raids. However, if you join the Quarantine Organization……”
“Wait a minute, it’s not about the income.”
Huh?
“You said the problem was not being able to participate in raids?”
“It is a problem. If I can’t participate in raids, I can’t k*ll monsters.”
“Then…… you’re saying it’s not about money?”
“Money? More is always better. But what’s more important than money is that if I go to the Quarantine Organization, my opportunities to k*ll monsters will decrease.”
“……You’re saying that the reason you participate in raids isn’t for the money, but solely to k*ll monsters?”
“Yes.”
Polar had never seen a Hunter like this before.
Refusing to join because he thought his opportunities to k*ll monsters would decrease.
Most Hunters hunt monsters for money.
Or they fight with a sense of duty to protect people.
But she had never seen a Hunter who genuinely killed monsters for the sole purpose of killing monsters.
Sa-hyeok said.
“Then let me ask you one thing.”
“What……?”
“Why me?”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m asking why you suddenly tried to scout me.”
“Because of those bracelets.”
An answer without a single second of hesitation.
Saying that, Polar pointed to the bracelets Sa-hyeok was wearing on both wrists.
Sa-hyeok asked.
“What about them?”
“Those are PT-37, junk artifacts, aren’t they?”
“Wait, how did you……?”
“I told you, I’m with the Quarantine Organization. I have information on every artifact reported to academia so far. Origin or junk, it doesn’t matter, I know them all.”
“……!”
“Anyway, Mr. Min, you activated and used those junk artifacts. I first saw it in the YouTube video of you taking down the King Septaferus at the theme park. But I wasn’t sure just from the video, so I followed you here. And it was real.”
A famous YouTuber uploading a single video sure causes a lot of trouble……
“Anyway, Mr. Min, you’ve succeeded in something unprecedented that no one has ever been able to do before. Unlocking a junk artifact. Anyway, combining all these facts……”
“……Tell me.”
“It leads to the conclusion that Mr. Min has the power to alter the structure of artifacts.”
It was an accurate deduction.
Even Sa-hyeok was inwardly impressed.
“Our organization controls artifacts and fights against artifacts. If someone like Mr. Min, who has the ability to manipulate the very structure of artifacts, were to join us, it would be a tremendous asset. And…… we could significantly reduce the sacrifices of our agents.”
Sacrifice.
Polar’s voice trembled slightly as she uttered the word.
Hunters of the Quarantine Organization, even though they didn’t just fight monsters, were risking their lives fighting in their own way.
Sa-hyeok spoke to Polar in a slightly softened tone.
“As I said before, my goal is to k*ll monsters.”
But only his voice had softened.
“……Therefore, I have no intention of joining your organization.”
He had no intention of accepting the scout offer.
Polar understood that sentiment.
But she still had one negotiation card left.
“Mr. Min, I understand your thoughts. But we can offer you something that ordinary guilds can never provide.”
“What is it?”
“Authority and information.”
Sa-hyeok’s eyes wavered for a moment.
Polar didn’t miss that opening and continued speaking.
“It’s our Quarantine Organization that holds the authority over the distribution and appraisal of artifacts worldwide. Furthermore, we hold information on all sorts of mysterious artifacts and items. Mr. Min, is the reason you k*ll monsters, perhaps, to aim for their extinction?”
Sa-hyeok silently nodded.
“Then all the more reason you should join forces with us. You can’t eradicate monsters just by hunting them in the periphery. You need a more fundamental and global approach. Mr. Min, step onto a bigger stage. You deserve it.”
Polar extended her hand.
But once again, Sa-hyeok shook his head instead of speaking.
Polar withdrew her hand with a faint smile.
“Alright. But you might change your mind someday, so please take this.”
Sa-hyeok accepted the business card Polar offered.
Sa-hyeok said.
“I apologize for not being able to give you the answer you wanted, despite you coming all the way here.”
“Please be safe.”
Saying that, Sa-hyeok left the scene.
Beep beep beep-
Polar answered the phone.
It was a call from the massive man who was on the helicopter.
“How did it go?”
“I got rejected.”
“Oh……”
“There was some progress. He took my business card.”
“Do you think he’ll come to us?”
“I don’t know now. But we’ll see him again soon. Let’s focus on our mission for now.”
Saying that, Polar gazed at the spot where Sa-hyeok had disappeared.
══════════════════
The next day, 10 AM.
Kwonmu-mun Guild Headquarters Lobby.
Click-clack, click-clack. A woman entered through the main entrance with the sound of her heels.
And a massive man followed behind her.
The eyes of everyone in the lobby were drawn to the woman.
“Wow……”
“Who is that?”
A stylishly dressed black suit look.
An appearance captivating enough to instantly draw attention, regardless of gender.
The woman walked towards the lobby desk, her long, flowing gray hair fluttering.
“Hello, I’m Polar Greyney, Combat Supervisor of the Quarantine Organization. I’m here to see Mr. Min.”
“Ah, you’re from the Quarantine Organization! The Vice Master received a call earlier. You can find Hunter Min Sa-hyeok in the basement training ground.”
Meanwhile, at the basement training ground.
Many Hunters, including Sa-hyeok, were training there.
Sa-hyeok had just finished sparring with Jang-hoon.
Shaking his protein shake bottle, Sa-hyeok said to Jang-hoon.
“I’m dying, seriously. You’re ridiculously strong.”
“Whatever, you weakling.”
“Seriously, if I only had a weapon, I could totally crush you.”
“Hey, you using a weapon would be cheating.”
“And what about you going all out against a magician like me who can’t even enhance his body?”
“What kind of magician are you? You’re a hybrid, a mixed bag.”
As the two bickered while drinking their protein shakes.
Suddenly, the training ground fell silent, and everyone’s attention focused on the entrance.
“What’s going on?”
Sa-hyeok and Jang-hoon also turned their heads towards the entrance.
Standing there were Polar and the unidentified massive man.
Even Jang-hoon was momentarily speechless upon seeing Polar’s beauty.
She looked like a magazine model that had jumped straight into reality.
Sa-hyeok was also surprised.
Of course, his surprise was, ‘Why is she here?’
Polar said.
“Mr. Min, did you get home safely after rejecting me yesterday?”
Whoosh!
The sharp gazes of all the male Hunters flew towards Sa-hyeok.
Jang-hoon also looked at Sa-hyeok with a shocked expression and said.
“You didn’t actually reject someone like that, did you……?”
“What nonsense are you talking about? What do you mean I rejected her?”
Polar interjected.
“But Mr. Min said I wasn’t good enough for him, sniff……”
“I said your organization wasn’t good enough for me! Don’t twist my words! You speak Korean perfectly well!!”
But Sa-hyeok’s protest didn’t reach anyone.
In the eyes of the people in the training ground, Sa-hyeok had already become the j*rk who cruelly rejected a beautiful woman.
Sa-hyeok said to Polar.
“Let’s step outside for a moment.”
“Step outside?!”
“Let’s go outside together!!”
The empty lot behind the guild building.
Sa-hyeok, Polar, and the massive man went there.
Sa-hyeok said.
“What’s going on all of a sudden? I told you I’m not joining……”
“This isn’t a scout request. It’s something bigger.”
“What?”
“Huh? Haven’t you heard from the Vice Master yet?”
“From Master?”
Beep beep beep-
Just then, Sa-hyeok’s phone rang.
It was a call from Jeong-kwon.
“Yes, Master.”
“Sorry for the late contact. I’ll have a helicopter ready, so go straight to the rooftop helipad.”
“What’s going on?!”
“You can hear the details from Ms. Polar. I have to enter the gate right away, so I’ll hang up.”
Click.
After ending the call, Sa-hyeok looked at Polar.
“……What exactly is happening?”
“A forbidden artifact has gone berserk. That’s the reason we came to Korea in the first place.”
“What?”
“And we need Mr. Min’s help to reseal it.”
“Wait, you’re saying an artifact has gone berserk?”
“Someone planted a ‘Seed of Contaminated Stone Golem’ in an abandoned quarry. If left unchecked, an entire city could be completely destroyed.”
“……!”
“Go back and pack your equipment. We don’t have much time.”
══════════════════
Tatatatata-
The helicopter took off, carrying Sa-hyeok, Polar, and the massive man.
Sa-hyeok thought.
An artifact going berserk and the risk of a city collapsing.
Just hearing the outline was enough to understand the gravity of the situation.
The problem was, he didn’t quite understand the details of the situation yet.
Sa-hyeok asked.
“First of all, what is this ‘Seed of Contaminated Stone Golem’?”
“Before I explain that, let me explain this first.”
Slide.
Polar pulled a square lump out of her bag.
It was a fist-sized gray rock cube.
With a white bead embedded in the center.
Sa-hyeok asked.
“What is this?”
“This is simply an artifact called the ‘Seed of Stone Golem’. If you plant this in soil or on a stone floor, the surrounding soil will gather towards the seed, forming a golem.”
“A golem…… What’s that used for?”
“Usually, Earth Sorcerers use them as combat puppets. Earth Sorcerers can control soil, rocks, and sand.”
“Ah……”
“As you can see, a regular ‘Seed of Stone Golem’ is harmless. Even if you lose control, it just crumbles and that’s it. However, a ‘contaminated’ Seed of Stone Golem is a different story.”
“If you plant the contaminated one……”
“A contaminated Stone Golem is created. They move on their own, out of control, harming people and destroying their surroundings. But their biggest problem is ‘proliferation’ and ‘expansion’.”
“Proliferation means……”
“Their numbers keep increasing. Contaminated Golems create contaminated seeds, and from those seeds, more contaminated Golems are born.”
“Then what is ‘expansion’?”
“Contaminated Golems have a habit of creating and expanding their own dungeons underground. Regardless of what’s buried underground, they blindly expand their dungeons. This is ‘expansion’.”
“Oh dear……”
“Now, Mr. Min, what lies beneath the city?”
“Sewage systems, power grids, gas pipes, communication networks, subways.”
“Yes, a significant portion of modern society’s infrastructure is located underground. But what would happen if their underground dungeons continue to expand and reach the underground infrastructure?”
“……!”
The possibility of the city collapsing.
That was no exaggeration.
