[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]

Chapter 186: The Avenger (1)

Kwon Hanul was so flustered that he couldn’t form coherent words.

It was a natural reaction — someone completely unexpected had shown up.

And it wasn’t just Kwon Myung-woo who had come alone.

“It’s been a while.”

A man with no hair, no eyebrows, and a face covered in scars greeted Kwon Hanul.

It was Gu Eon, head of Iron Corps, the Punishment Division of the Hyukcheon Family, infamous for their ruthless discipline.

“First time since the Mei Hong incident, isn’t it?”

Gu Eon’s eyes, dark like soot, turned to Mei Hong. She shrank back.

“Considering I haven’t heard anything since, I assume you've kept your leash tight.”

Each time Gu Eon opened his mouth, it felt like the air turned thick and sticky.

It wasn’t because he was exuding force — it was just the oppressive aura he naturally carried.

“Still, don’t get complacent. I’m always watching the both of you—”

“What’s this bastard blabbering about now?”

Suddenly, Kwon Myung-woo smacked Gu Eon on the back of the head with his palm, making Gu Eon bow forward sharply.

“D-Director!”

“What the hell is that crap you’re spewing at someone doing a damn fine job?”

Kwon Myung-woo raised his hand as if to strike again, and Gu Eon instinctively flinched.

“If you ever talk to our Hanul like that again, it won’t end well! Got it?!”

“……”

“Oh, what’s this? Not answering? Want me to make you kiss the floor in front of everyone?”

“I-I’ll watch my mouth…”

Seeing this otherwise insufferable man lower his head so quickly left Kwon Hanul speechless.

“My bad, Hanul.”

“No, it’s fine. But what brings you here, sir?”

“You really have no clue, do you?! There’s only one reason I’d come here!”

Just as Kwon Myung-woo let out a hearty laugh—

Grrrrrrk.

A loud stomach growl echoed through the room.

Silence fell.

Kwon Myung-woo sheepishly rubbed his belly.

“Let’s eat first.”

* * *

Kwon Hanul quickly looked for a restaurant.

Catering to Kwon Myung-woo’s meat-heavy preferences, he rented out a popular BBQ joint known for quality meat — not luxurious, but well-regarded.

Kwon Myung-woo and the Hyukcheon unit sat scattered around the restaurant, ravenously devouring the food served by waiters.

“Mmm! Not bad at all!”

Kwon Myung-woo grabbed an entire roasted pork leg and tore into it.

His vigorous, almost barbaric way of eating left the waiter in the back wide-eyed in shock.

“You should eat too.”

Kwon Hanul awkwardly smiled and cut into the steak in front of him.

To be honest, just watching Kwon Myung-woo inhale his food made Hanul feel full without eating.

“You guys too! Eat like that and how are you gonna build muscle?! For Hunters, it’s all about food! You fight with your stomach!”

He wasn't just scolding Hanul — he addressed the entire Dark Shade Unit. Kwon Hudon, Mei Hong, and Gael Garcia all began to eat faster.

“So-ri, you eat with such gusto! You’re a prime candidate to lead a branch!”

“T-th-thank y-you s-sir!”

Kwon So-ri, sitting across from him, jolted in surprise, overly nervous in a way that was unlike her.

“Three more servings, please!”

It wasn’t just Kwon Myung-woo eating this much — the Hyukcheon members were also putting away food at a shocking rate. The waitstaff were visibly scrambling.

That’s when something odd occurred to Kwon Hanul. He turned to Gu Eon beside him.

“Gu Eon.”

“What is it?” Gu Eon snapped. The blow to his head still clearly bothered him.

“Is Iron Corps not eating with us?”

Only the Hyukcheon unit was seated in the restaurant. The accompanying Iron Corps weren’t in sight.

Gu Eon’s lip twisted into a frosty smile.

“Why would masters dine with dogs?”

He didn’t treat the Iron Corps as subordinates — he considered them dogs.

Given Iron Corps's position, it wasn’t exactly surprising.

They were the division tasked with capturing and working criminals within Hyukcheon — until they died.

“They’re standing guard around the restaurant. Don’t mind them.”

Kwon Hanul nodded and didn’t press further.

Truthfully, he didn’t care much about the Iron Corps.

There was only one person he was interested in.

Bae Cheol-min.

A member of the Bae Clan and a carrier of Healthy Bloodline.

Currently imprisoned in the Iron Corps for attempting to assassinate the clan head.

‘The Bae Clan has been treated horribly by Hyukcheon for aiding my father.’

To be precise, it wasn’t the entire clan — it was the heir, Bae Cheol-su, who had helped his father.

Kwon Hanul was only alive because Bae Cheol-su had aided his father.

Bae Cheol-su had died for that, dragging his entire clan down with him.

That’s why he couldn’t help but care.

‘Cheol-min saw me too.’

When Kwon Myung-woo arrived, Hanul had spotted Bae Cheol-min among the Iron Corps.

Cheol-min had also looked directly at Hanul — and even smiled when their eyes met.

“Just… I hope you understand.”

“That the Bae Clan did what it could for your father.”

Hanul resumed slicing his steak and popped a bite into his mouth.

But it tasted like nothing.

Everyone focused on eating for a while.

Eventually, Kwon Myung-woo slowed down noticeably.

Sensing his moment, Hanul asked, “So, can you tell us why you’ve come to Parsak?”

“Ah, I almost forgot.”

Wiping his mouth with a napkin, Kwon Myung-woo finally spoke.

“I came looking for Bloodflame Blade Mei Xiao.”

The sound of silverware clattering rang out. Mei Hong was staring at him with widened eyes.

She looked like she had a thousand questions. Hanul spoke up in her place.

“Are you saying Mei Xiao is in Parsak?”

“To be precise, we suspect she’s hiding somewhere in Badakshan.”

Kwon Myung-woo downed a glass of wine before continuing.

“There’s a rumor that a hidden vault of the Mei Family has surfaced in Badakshan. Hyukcheon’s intel division suspects Mei Xiao is behind the leak.”

“You’ve found proof?”

Kwon Myung-woo shook his head.

“No hard proof. But the timing is too suspicious. And according to our sources, Mei clan members have been spotted frequently in Badakshan.”

There were too many red flags to ignore — so Kwon Myung-woo had come personally.

“I intended to stay here and hunt her down. But the moment I heard you were here, I rushed over.”

Suddenly, he asked with a curious expression, “But why are you here, Hanul? Don’t tell me you came chasing the same vault rumor?”

Hanul glanced at his team. They exchanged uneasy glances.

The mood turned tense, and Kwon Myung-woo slapped his forehead in frustration.

“Ah, Hanul. Don’t tell me you actually fell for that nonsense. So you’re just a book-smart fool, huh?”

“No, it’s not like that—”

“Vaults and whatever sound fancy, but there’s usually nothing special about them. Why chase after a ruined clan’s leftover storeroom when you’ve got Hyukcheon’s own vaults at your fingertips?”

He clicked his tongue, scolding Hanul. Hanul couldn’t help but feel wronged.

He wanted to tell the truth and clear the misunderstanding. But this wasn’t a decision he could make alone — he’d have to discuss it with Mei Hong and the Dark Shade unit first.

“What are you daydreaming about?!” Kwon Myung-woo barked.

Hanul swallowed his frustration and quietly endured the lecture.

Fortunately, he was freed from the scolding before long.

Kwon Myung-woo had gotten distracted by the dessert course.

While he was focused on sweets, Hanul slipped out to the outdoor terrace.

He leaned on the railing, enjoying the breeze.

“That’s far enough. Come out.”

Hanul spoke without turning around.

A figure emerged from the shrubbery lining the terrace.

Small frame. But a solidly built body.

“Bae Cheol-min. It’s been a while.”

“So you remember me.”

Cheol-min smiled in satisfaction.

“I’m glad to see you again. Iron Corps’s not a place you survive easily.”

He cracked a joke, but Hanul could sense it — the smile was a mask.

“Bae Cheol-su.”

The moment that name left Hanul’s lips, the mask shattered.

Cheol-min’s face twisted, and his eyes sharpened.

“So you found out who helped your father.”

His voice trembled, and he placed a hand on his chest to steady himself.

Then, as though overtaken by emotion, he dug his fingers into his chest.

His nails tore into flesh and muscle. Blood streamed down.

“…How did you find out about him?”

“I can’t tell you that. But that’s not the point, is it?”

Hanul’s reply made Cheol-min laugh bitterly — almost like a madman.

“You’re right. That’s not what matters. What matters is what we do next.”

Cheol-min grinned.

“Bae Cheol-su… he was my older brother.”

Hanul was taken aback.

That meant Cheol-min was a direct descendant of the Bae Clan.

“We were far apart in age. When my brother sacrificed himself for you, I was still a brat who didn’t even know how to use my powers properly.”

So he couldn’t have fully understood what had happened.

But one thing was clear.

“My brother acted with honor. He gave his life to protect your wrongly accused father. He didn’t think of the consequences.”

Anger flickered in Cheol-min’s eyes.

“…And what happened to your clan afterward?”

Hanul’s voice lowered.

He didn’t really want to know — but he had to.

“We were stripped of all privileges and reduced to laborers. Sent to mine resources in hazardous dungeons.”

“Dungeons?”

“Our Healthy bloodline is highly adaptable. Perfect for toxic zones and acid swamps other Hunters can’t even enter.”

Cheol-min scoffed.

Hanul suddenly noticed the scars all over Cheol-min’s body.

Some were old wounds — others looked like melted, seared skin.

It wasn’t hard to imagine the hellish life Cheol-min had lived since youth.

“That’s why, Kwon Hanul… I have a proposal.”

Cheol-min looked him dead in the eyes — unable to hide the anticipation in his face.

“Join me in taking revenge on Hyukcheon.”

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]