[VIP Meeting Room]

Ha Gangwoo looked over the room, then slowly stepped inside.

*Creak—*

A crisp floral scent brushed against his nose.

A woman sat there, composed.

Long blonde waves. A neat office look—Emily Nancy.

Emily Nancy saw Ha Gangwoo and casually opened her palm, gesturing to a seat.

“You’ve arrived. Please, sit.”

Ha Gangwoo narrowed his eyes at her.

‘Just as I thought.’

His Sense Stat picked it up.

That Madre Silvio was also in this space, not just Emily Nancy. But it didn’t matter.

Emily Nancy was already holding the important cards.

Ha Gangwoo sank into the plush sofa and spoke at once.

He didn’t want to waste much time on this meeting.

“What do you want.”

His tone carried a barb.

But Emily Nancy, as if she’d expected it, placed something on the table.

“I pulled some strings. I figured you’d want this kept hidden.”

Mimic’s Association-registered info, photos and footage from when she hunted monsters in the field.

The quality was better than any video online—several shots with her face in clear detail.

‘So that was it.’

It had been strange.

No matter how much he searched the internet, there wasn’t a single photo with Mimic’s face.

‘……’

As Ha Gangwoo stared at the photos, Emily Nancy leaned back leisurely into the sofa.

At that moment, a sweet fragrance emanated from her body.

“Did I do something unnecessary?”

“……”

Ha Gangwoo stared at Emily Nancy’s face, lost in thought.

‘She said she was building a team.’

The reason Emily Nancy had gone this far was that at their last meeting, Ha Gangwoo had given her an ambiguous answer.

Back then, Ha Gangwoo had thought Emily’s offer wasn’t a bad deal.

Her power was beyond doubt, and her influence was considerable.

So he’d given her a vague answer.

So that a friendly hand could turn hostile at any moment.

But now, Ha Gangwoo’s thinking had shifted.

Lord of Ruin.

With this power alone, he could raise an army without the cumbersome system of a Party — all by himself.

“No. I appreciate you thinking that far, but I still want to go it alone.”

And so, this time, he intended to draw a clear line.

“Hmm… Is that so.”

Emily touched her red lips at Gangwoo’s answer, mulling it over, then let out a long sigh.

“This is hard… I don’t usually do this, so I’ll just be honest.”

In that instant, Emily Nancy’s intense gaze locked onto Ha Gangwoo’s pupils.

“I won’t ask you to come under me. Let’s be together. What’ll it take to work with me?”

Rather than wrestle with a complicated compromise, Emily chose to fold her cards and make that call.

Madre was utterly stunned by Emily Nancy’s move.

‘What the hell has this bastard done to deserve that…?’

A Rank 9 title isn’t something you just stumble into.

The woman with the power to save a doomed nation single-handedly.

Even foreign presidents lower their heads and pander to her moods.

Yet here she was, bending over backward like that for a Player who’d only Awakened a month ago.

*Grind-*

Madre felt a surge of jealousy toward Ha Gangwoo.

Gangwoo, too, knew exactly who he was dealing with, and it made him uneasy.

‘Why go that far?’

Emily Nancy lacked nothing.

In terms of power or force, her abilities surpassed his in every way — she could crush him without a second thought.

But since Emily had folded a piece of her hand like this, Gangwoo had only one course of action left.

“I’m looking for a Resurrection skill.”

Revealing his own cards.

The moment the words left his mouth, Emily Nancy’s expression flickered subtly.

Did she know something about the Resurrection skill?

Gangwoo pressed his curiosity immediately.

“Have you ever seen the Resurrection skill?”

“No. I’ve never seen a Resurrection skill.”

“I see.”

Seeing Gangwoo’s disappointment, Emily Nancy seized the opportunity and spoke up.

“However,”

“However?”

“I have a full grasp of some related information. I’ve seen plenty of people after that skill besides you, Gangwoo.”

The instant a change flickered across Gangwoo’s face, Emily Nancy curled her lips and continued.

“Do you need it? If you want, I’ll have it organized and sent to you right away.”

In that moment, the current of the air shifted toward Emily Nancy.

Her delicate face — at best, she looked no older than twenty-five. But her conversational skill and her knack for reeling people in were anything but ordinary.

‘Not bad.’

Gangwoo found himself tempted by Emily’s offer.

After all, what Emily Nancy wanted was nothing more than an equal partner.

“I do.”

Ha Gangwoo accepted Emily Nancy’s terms, and at his answer, Emily Nancy’s lips curled into a slow, sharp smile.

“The Resurrection skill…”

And so Emily Nancy handed over a wealth of information with hardly any strings attached.

The factions that had once sought the Resurrection skill.

The organizations that had researched it endlessly.

The corporations that had finally reaped its fruits—precious knowledge no ordinary citizen could ever uncover.

Ha Gangwoo listened in silence, ear tuned to Emily Nancy’s every word. Roughly twenty minutes passed before the outline of the story came to a close.

Emily Nancy’s expression brightened with satisfaction as she spoke.

“I’ll compile the detailed information into a document and deliver it to you later.”

An utterly lavish gift of intel.

Emily Nancy could have easily used this data to bargain.

Ha Gangwoo wanted the Resurrection skill, and the information she held was rare beyond measure, unobtainable anywhere else.

But she hung nothing on it.

On the contrary, she even offered to organize the data more thoroughly for him.

That’s when Ha Gangwoo decided to trust Emily Nancy.

After all, all she wanted was a teammate to clear Scenario 3 together.

“I look forward to working with you.”

As Ha Gangwoo extended his hand for a handshake,

“Whoa~! Does that mean you’re accepting?!”

Emily Nancy’s smile spread wide, flashing her teeth.

“You’re heading to Scenario 2 now, right? What level are you? No, actually—you don’t have to say. I can help you. Think you can clear it in about three days?”

Emily usually wore an expression like a straight-laced boss, but now she looked suddenly giddy, like an excited kid.

Ha Gangwoo answered Emily Nancy firmly.

“It’s fine. I want to at least try getting through Scenario 2 on my own.”

“Ah, is that so.”

“I’ll come find you as soon as I reach Scenario 3.”

“Okay! Got it.”

She looked a little disappointed at his refusal, but his promise to seek her out in Scenario 3 seemed to satisfy her.

And so, at that moment, the alliance between Emily and Ha Gangwoo was drawing to a successful close.

Then Ha Gangwoo narrowed his eyes as if a good idea had struck him, and spoke.

“By any chance, could you do me a personal favor?”

He could have handled it himself, but with a packed schedule ahead…

“Of course! We’re teammates now, aren’t we?”

Emily readily agreed, and Ha Gangwoo continued without pause.

“There’s a Player affiliated with the Association named Hong Seongsik. I owe him a considerable debt. If it’s not too much trouble, I was hoping you could help me with it.”

His tone was calm, but threaded with a chill intent.

Emily Nancy caught on to what Ha Gangwoo was really saying.

Emily curled her lips in a sinister smile and answered.

“A debt… That’s right up my alley. Understood.”

With that, Ha Gangwoo rose from his seat and left the meeting room. Left alone, Emily Nancy smiled, looking thoroughly pleased.

“Now, the real game begins.”

***

Clink—clink—

“Whoa… she really eats a lot. Could be a food fighter.”

“I know, where does all that go?”

The Association-run cafeteria.

At its center, Mimic was cramming an enormous amount of food into her mouth.

“She eats well…”

Watching her, Chae Seohyun scratched her cheek, looking flustered.

Short bits of conversation had passed between them.

What the little girl’s name was, what her father did, and so on.

The information she’d gathered was this:

The girl’s name was Mik. She had no mother, and her father was a Player.

Mimic had answered according to the manual Ha Gangwoo had drilled into her.

Unaware of this, Chae Seohyun nodded in understanding, and their brief meal came to an end.

“Phew… I’m full!”

Mimic patted her round, bulging belly.

Watching her, Chae Seohyun smiled without realizing it and met her eyes.

“Unni has to go now. Do you have a phone?”

“A phone?”

Mimic, who naturally didn’t know what a phone was, tilted her head, and Chae Seohyun pulled a smartphone from her pocket to show her.

“This—you don’t have one?”

“Ah!”

That rectangular thing—wasn’t it what she’d get when this waiting was over?

“No, but I’m going to buy one soon!”

As Mimic raised her small hand and said this, Chae Seohyun rummaged through her pocket and pulled something out.

“Here’s my number. Call me when you’re hungry—I’ll buy you something tasty again.”

“Wow~! Again? Okay!”

Mimic took the business card Chae Seohyun handed her and then remembered.

—Wait here until I come back.

The order Ha Gangwoo had given her.

“Ah! Then goodbye!”

Mimic hastily bowed to Chae Seohyun and headed for the Association lobby. Chae Seohyun watched her go, a satisfied smile spreading across her face.

‘How long has it been since I last smiled?’

A bittersweet smile touched Chae Seohyun’s lips at the unfamiliar emotion, and she turned to leave.

Meanwhile.

“?”

Ha Gangwoo came down to the Association lobby, craning his neck to look around.

But Mimic was nowhere to be seen.

Just as he was about to spread his Sense to find her—

Thump—

Something burrowed into his stomach.

Wham!!!

The sharp impact made him frown involuntarily, and a clear voice struck his eardrums.

“Master! I’m right here!”

It was Mimic.

Mimic curled her lips into a grin, as if she’d been there the whole time, but Ha Gangwoo could tell at a glance.

Starting with her clothes, sauce was smeared all over her face.

Mimic—she’d clearly been somewhere else just now.

But glancing at their surroundings, it seemed fine.

“Let’s go. You said you want a phone?”

“Yes!”

Ha Gangwoo and Mimic stole a brief pocket of peace in the midst of the bustling city.

***

Ding-

[You have entered My Room.]

“Whoa~! A phone!”

The moment they stepped into My Room, Mimic spotted the new phone and lit up with joy.

Then she pulled something out and started tapping away at it.

“What are you doing?”

Gangwoo tilted his head at her, then shifted his gaze.

“Hope they’re holding up alright.”

Because he was curious.

Had the Job-Changed Ruin Construct: Ru actually been hunting properly? What level had she reached by now?

So Gangwoo moved his feet.

“Take a rest.”

“Yes!”

Normally she’d be clamoring for a Sparring match, but the new phone seemed to have snagged her interest. She obeyed without a fuss.

Leaving Mimic behind, Gangwoo strode forward.

Ding-

[You have entered the Forest of Lament.]

Squelch.

Damp earth. Wet ground that made his whole body prickle with discomfort.

Gangwoo stood at the forest’s heart and swept his gaze around.

‘There, maybe?’

He didn’t even need to search.

Boom!!!!

A massive explosion was still echoing from beyond the treeline.

Just as Gangwoo began to step slowly toward the source—

Ding-

[You have defeated a Lizardman of the Forest of Lament.]

[You acquired 150,000 EXP!!]

[The Perk’s effect granted you an additional 300,000 EXP.]

A welcome chime rang in Gangwoo’s ear.

To think EXP was coming in even from this distance.

‘Not bad.’

A satisfied smile touched his lips as he activated the Controller.

*-All of you, come to me.*

[You have issued an order to the Ruin Constructs.]

No sooner had the command landed than eight Ruin Constructs materialized before Gangwoo.

He began checking their statuses.

Ding-

[Ru]

Level:95 →96(1↑)

Ruin Construct: Ru had gone up one level.

Considering how brutally the growth rate slowed once a Ruin Construct reached 90, this was an insane pace.

How much had the others grown?

Gangwoo walked over to the leftmost Construct, the one wearing a red muffler.

Ding-

[Red]

Grade:F

Type:Ruin Construct

Level:43→76(33↑)

HP: 100/100

MP: 10/10

Strength: 10

Agility: 10

Vitality: 10

Mana: 10

Sense: 10

Luck: 10

Unallocated:525

“Whoa…”

Gangwoo’s mouth fell open of its own accord as he let out a breath of admiration.

All seven Ruin Constructs had hit Level 76.

Levels that Ha Gangwoo had scraped and clawed for, and here they climbed like it was nothing.

‘A carry really is something else.’

Satisfied with his Ruin Constructs’ growth, Ha Gangwoo turned his gaze.

*Thrummm—*

There lay the Lizardman’s corpse, brutally slaughtered.

Ha Gangwoo’s lips curled at the sight of it.

*Ding-*

[Absorbing 40 Chaos Energy.]

This was the real reason—the bonus reward.

From the dead Lizardman, he could harvest Storage amount,

*Ding-*

[Catalog acquired.]

[Rusty Halberd acquired.]

and a variety of items besides.

*Thump—thump—*

Ha Gangwoo heard his heart hammer as he gripped the halberd in his hand, knuckles white. *Crack.*

Because today at the Association, he’d learned a hard lesson.

‘I was way too arrogant.’

Ha Gangwoo.

He had been growing at an unnatural pace.

As a result, he’d surpassed Kang Seongbin—who’d lived an S-Rank life—and proved his abnormal growth against the Ranker Madre in combat.

But that was a massive delusion.

Because today, he’d felt that truth in his bones.

On his way to the Association, Ha Gangwoo had been wearing only the Warp Ring.

That was when it hit him.

Without items, he was worse than an ordinary Player.

Even with a Legend job, his own raw power as Ha Gangwoo was pitifully weak.

So weak that his Sense stat had even reacted to Hong Seongsik—a man he’d only briefly passed in the hallway.

*You can’t beat him. Run.*

They said Scenario 2 zones were already a steep difficulty spike, and here he was, hitting the wall before he’d even started.

‘I need to grow.’

Ha Gangwoo’s eyes went cold.

Because he’d made a decision.

Maximize every ounce of combat power he could raise right now.

So Ha Gangwoo cleared his thoughts.

His funds were nearly infinite. The first thing to do was gear.

‘But buying…’

The problem was that sourcing items through the Auction House was inefficient.

So Ha Gangwoo acted immediately.

*Ding-*

[Login used.]

[Violet]

Grade: F

Type: Ruin Construct

Level: 76

HP: 100/100

MP: 10/10

Strength: 10

Agility: 10

Vitality: 10

Mana: 10

Sense: 10

Luck: 10

Unallocated: 525

He was going to job-change this very Ruin Construct into a Blacksmith.

*Thump—thump—*

Ha Gangwoo’s heart pounded as he picked up the Book of Job Change.

“Let’s go.”

The moment Ha Gangwoo spread the book wide in his hands—

*Ding-*

[DLC—Book of Job Change: Legendary Blacksmith used.]

Dazzling light swelled until it filled his vision.