A grin spread across Kim Ducheol’s face.

‘Finally, you’re out!!!’

He rubbed the space where his index finger and thumb used to be.

The wounds had been healed by a skill—no scar left—but the severed fingers hadn’t grown back. His right eye was still a hollow pit too.

‘You’re dead, you son of a bitch.’

Kim Ducheol gritted his teeth at the memory of that day. Then he grabbed his phone.

“Yes, you can start preparing now. The Gold you wanted is ready, so don’t worry. Understood.”

When he ended the call, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

‘Just wait, you stupid mark.’

Right as Kim Ducheol was burning with fighting spirit, a call came through.

[Park Donggu]

It was Park Donggu, the one tailing Ha Gangwoo.

Kim Ducheol answered with a loud guffaw.

“Yeah, where’s he headed?”

“Uh… well… it’s… you know that place where we gouged that bastard’s eye out? …He went inside.”

Kim Ducheol’s lips curled upward. Going there of all places—he could see right through Ha Gangwoo’s intentions.

“Yeah? I’m on my way. If he moves again, report immediately.”

“Yes… Yes sir!!!”

A malicious smile spread across Kim Ducheol’s face as he hung up.

‘You want revenge? How amusing.’

Coming right out of the Tower and heading straight to that old spot—he must be dreaming of payback.

‘Couldn’t be more perfect.’

An unused location.

A basement they’d once used for holding people.

‘Walking right into the tiger’s den.’

Kim Ducheol’s lips twisted into a sinister grin as he set off for the place.

“I’ll send you the address. Please come there.”

With that person he’d hired, of course.

***

Kim Ducheol stepped out of the black sedan and looked around. Nothing but abandoned buildings—not a trace of anyone nearby.

‘Not here yet.’

He bit down on a cigarette.

The Player he’d hired was a whopping D-rank. And his level was pushing 40.

The moment a Player takes money to join a crime, they fall under the Association’s watch, so finding one had taken some effort.

Lucky the timing worked out and he got the call—if his luck had been bad, he might’ve lost the first pick.

The grade seemed a bit lacking, but it was more than enough to crush some idiot fresh out of the Tutorial.

‘With stats like that, this’ll be a blowout.’

Kim Ducheol smirked and glanced at his phone.

‘That brat better be keeping an eye on him. Can’t trust that dumbass.’

Just as Kim Ducheol started doubting Park Donggu on the tail—

Zing—a message flew in.

[Still inside the building. Request immediate backup.]

It was from Park Donggu.

“Shit, the kid actually found something.”

Kim Ducheol smiled, satisfied, and drew the gun he’d kept ready.

The hired Player alone would’ve been enough—but he wanted to handle the finishing blow himself.

He flicked his finished cigarette to the floor and ground it under his heel with a twitch of irritation.

The reason: the hired Player hadn’t shown up yet.

Frustration surged through him in a hot wave.

“Fuck, if you’re gonna take my money, move your ass! What’s taking so long?!”

The curse had barely left his lips when—

“Sorry for the delay.”

A chilling voice rang out from behind him.

“AHHHH!!!”

Kim Ducheol spun, startled—and there stood the hired Player.

The man towered well over two meters, his face hidden behind a black mask. Clearly, he wanted his identity concealed.

‘As long as he gets the job done, I don’t give a damn.’

A subtle grin crept across Ducheol’s face as he looked the hired Player over. Even at a glance, the guy radiated raw power.

“Ah—no, sir. Let’s head out now.”

“The Gold?”

“Right here.”

Ducheol handed over the prepared Gold.

Five hundred thousand Gold up front, with another five hundred thousand promised upon completion.

“You’ll get the rest once the job’s wrapped up cleanly.”

The hired Player opened the pouch of Gold and slid it into his Inventory.

He was checking the amount, it seemed. A simple gesture, but it made the Player’s imposing presence hit home.

Gulp—Ducheol swallowed dryly without meaning to, and as he looked at the hired Player, the man spoke.

“Where’s the bastard?”

“That building. Let’s go.”

And so Kim Ducheol’s revenge began.

***

Footsteps shuffled through the gloom.

The building’s basement was steeped in darkness, thick with the stale reek of mildew.

Kim Ducheol strode forward, chest puffed with confidence. With the hired Player at his side, there was no reason to hide.

“Donggu! YAAAAAA!!!”

Ducheol’s voice echoed, bouncing off the basement walls.

Then, from within the shadows, Park Donggu’s voice answered.

“Hyung… Hyung-nim……”

The hired Player and Ducheol followed the sound, and soon Park Donggu came into view.

“Long time no see?”

But Donggu wasn’t alone. Standing right there, next to the man Ducheol wanted to gouge his eyes out of, was Ha Gangwoo.

Gangwoo was grinning, a knife pressed against Donggu’s neck.

“Is this all you’ve got? You’re underestimating me too much.”

At those words, the masked man’s brow twitched.

“Fresh out of the Tutorial, and already this cocky.”

Kim Ducheol scowled and bellowed.

“What? Underestimate?! You’re dead today. Let’s see how long you can keep that attitude!”

As if in answer, Ha Gangwoo drew the blade he’d held to Donggu’s neck across it.

Shlick— Thud—

Park Donggu’s severed head thudded against the floor. Blood should have sprayed everywhere, but not a single drop splattered. There was one reason for that.

‘Makes things easy.’

Whoosh—Celeritra’s temperature had been cranked to maximum, searing the cut surface clean as it passed through.

Ha Gangwoo held Celeritra in one hand and walked toward Kim Ducheol.

Kim Ducheol backed away as he looked at Ha Gangwoo and shouted.

“What the hell are you doing?! Kill him already!!!”

Kim Ducheol couldn’t care less about Park Donggu’s death. A disposable tool, that’s all he was. Alive or dead, what difference did it make.

But the hired Player just stared at Ha Gangwoo, making no move at all.

So Ha Gangwoo and the hired Player faced each other, eyes locked.

Ha Gangwoo looked up at the two-meter-tall man and spoke in a low voice.

“So we meet again.”

At Ha Gangwoo’s words, the hired Player’s eyebrow twitched, then he pulled off his black mask.

“Look at this bastard. How’d you know?”

The mask came off, revealing a familiar face. The man from the third floor. Choi Jangbok. It was him.

He’d pretty much figured it out.

Kim Ducheol, dreaming of revenge, had hired a Player, while Choi Jangbok was in the middle of tracking down Ha Gangwoo.

Their paths had crossed.

‘Guess I really should finish things properly.’

Ha Gangwoo realized the importance of that lesson all over again.

He scratched the back of his head and answered Choi Jangbok.

The reason he’d recognized Choi Jangbok was entirely down to his Sense stat’s subtle Mana-analysis ability, but he decided to just wing it.

“Guess even a mask can’t cover up ugly.”

At that, a vein bulged on Choi Jangbok’s forehead.

“You son of a bitch!!! Let’s see how long you keep acting cocky!!!”

Because of Ha Gangwoo, Choi Jangbok had gotten a B-grade Trait but still registered as a D-grade Player.

Thanks to that, the contract he’d already signed with the Association was cancelled, and he joined a third-rate guild, waiting for this very day.

*Shimmer*—A red aurora rippled around Choi Jangbok’s body.

“I’ll make you beg me to kill you!”

Choi Jangbok grinned as he spoke. He’d been waiting for this day, had even finished Scenario 1. On top of that, he’d done his Job Change.

For the class known to be the best in PVP.

Ha Gangwoo looked at Choi Jangbok with an intrigued smile.

‘Third floor, that was five days ago? How much did he level up.’

Compared to back then, the power he felt was absurdly strong.

‘Looks like he got a carry.’

A smile spread across Ha Gangwoo’s lips as he watched.

‘Still, this means I can take care of all the annoying stuff at once.’

What pleased him most right now was the thought of dealing with all his headaches in one go.

As Ha Gangwoo grinned, Choi Jangbok’s entire body turned to stone. He was using his Trait.

Choi Jangbok gritted his teeth, regripping his will to fight.

‘I won’t let it go down like last time.’

Getting taken out on the third floor—that was pure carelessness. If he’d used his Trait from the start, there was no way he’d have been retired that easily.

“You son of a bitch, stop fucking smiling!!!!!”

Jangbok’s eyes flashed as he swung his sword. His job-changed class was Berserker—the stronger he got with every wound, a perfect match for his own Trait.

That confidence ran deep.

“Die!!!”

Choi Jangbok’s sword carved an arc through the air. Ha Gangwoo tracked the slash with his eyes, twisting his body leisurely to evade.

Swish—the blade hissed past Gangwoo’s ear, a cold, slicing sound.

But on Gangwoo’s face, there was nothing but ease.

‘Why is he this pathetic???’

Maybe it was because Antero’s Swordsmanship had become second nature to his eyes. This felt like a kindergartner swinging a twig.

Whiff—Jangbok swung again without fail, but Gangwoo sidestepped the blade with casual grace.

Jangbok’s wild flurry began like that, and Gangwoo dodged every single strike.

But Kim Ducheol watched the scene with a greasy grin creeping across his face.

‘Nice! The stupid bastard’s been all show—he’s barely keeping alive back there!’

A complete layman when it came to swords, Kim Ducheol believed Jangbok held the upper hand.

‘Killing him outright’d be a waste, for now. Let’s start by gouging out both those eyes.’

That was the moment Kim Ducheol began spreading his wings of happy fantasy.

Thunk—

“AAARGH!!!!!”

Both of Choi Jangbok’s legs were severed clean off.

“Huh?! What the hell?!”

Kim Ducheol’s legs gave out unconsciously; he slumped to the ground with a thud.

He couldn’t make sense of the situation. They were definitely winning—so why were the hired Player the one crumpled on the floor?

And then, the moment Kim Ducheol’s eyes met Ha Gangwoo’s. Ducheol understood. That everything had gone wrong.

The Player he’d trusted so completely was grabbing at his own mangled legs, writhing in agony.

In an instant, a whirlwind of thoughts tore through Kim Ducheol’s mind.

‘What do I do? Just run? Can you even run from a Player? Then… beg.’

He’d weathered every humiliation through sheer silver tongue, hadn’t he? Ducheol decided to attempt a negotiation.

With trembling hands, Kim Ducheol extended the remaining 5 million Gold meant for Jangbok and prostrated himself on the ground.

“I’m sorry… I was shortsighted. I won’t touch you ever again… Please, just give me one more chance.”

And as he begged, lifting his head to meet Ha Gangwoo’s face—

Goosebumps erupted across his entire body.

That coldly settled expression held no hesitation.

‘I’m… gonna die.’

Kim Ducheol sensed death on pure instinct, and with hands shaking uncontrollably, he murmured low.

“If you just let me live, I’ll do anything. I’ll work under you, I even have a wide network of connec—”

“Shut the fuck up.”

Ha Gangwoo cut Kim Ducheol off, slowly lowering himself to meet the loan shark’s gaze.

Then, he parted his lips and whispered.

“I learned something else today.”

What Ha Gangwoo learned today. That there are no exceptions.

The seed he’d sown at the Tower entrance—Choi Jangbok—had been watered on Floor 3, and today it bore fruit.

His connection to Kim Ducheol, that poisonous thread, had stretched and followed him all the way here.

So now, he would end everything.

“Goodbye.”

*Shiiink—*

A brutal blade sang through the dark, and a dull *thump*—something striking the floor—echoed into the shadows.

***

Ha Gangwoo turned his steps toward the hospital.

‘Invisible’s even better than I thought.’

He’d torched everything left in the building with Fireball. Then, on his way out, he’d sealed off any loose ends with Invisible.

Just like when the scouts had surrounded him, the ability to erase traces was an incredible advantage.

Ha Gangwoo opened his Inventory and looked at the rewards from this fight.

[Remaining Gold: 58,125,310 Gold]

An amount that made him smile just to look at it.

Choi Jangbok had contributed 8 million Gold; Kim Ducheol, 5 million.

‘At least maintenance won’t be a worry.’

His sister’s Repository upkeep cost about 10 million won a month. He’d need a lot more money going forward.

He needed to convert the Gold to Korean won eventually, but since he wasn’t sure of the exact date for the next payment…

He needed to go check first.

Arriving in front of a hospital, Ha Gangwoo scanned his surroundings.

Under a clear sky, people moved about, peaceful and lively—as always.

A year ago, Gangwoo himself had been no different from them.

‘Where did it all go wrong.’

Dwelling on the past only deepened the bitterness.

And so Ha Gangwoo headed to the place where his sister slept.

***

[Our next story: the Gate that appeared in Mangwon-dong around 4 AM yesterday.]

Inside the Repository, a TV broadcast the news about the Gate.

[We have an interview with Hunter Moon Seongchan, who subjugated the Gate.]

Kim Hyojoo, a Hope Repository employee, stared at the screen as if watching her beloved.

“Whoa~! So cool. Wish I could date an Awakener like that sometime.”

“Come on~ Awakeners have way too high standards.”

“Team Leader! I’m pretty enough, right~!”

They were handling complaints, chattering away with their usual small talk.

Just then, the team leader gave Kim Hyojoo an assignment.

“Stop watching TV and contact the guardian for Room 1301. No contact for two months. Leave a message saying if we don’t hear back by today, we’ll proceed with disposal.”

“Yes~! I’ll call right now~”

Kim Hyojoo immediately dialed the number she’d looked up on the computer.

*Ttuk… ttuk…*

The ringing tone continued, and the team leader’s words kept circling in Kim Hyojoo’s head.

‘I’m pretty enough, aren’t I? And working at Hope Repository is like landing a job at a top corporation, right? So my conditions aren’t bad—why does the Team Leader always pick on me!’

Hyojoo was grumbling to herself like that when—

*[We’re sorry, the customer you are trying to reach is currently unavailable…]*

A recorded voice came through the receiver.

‘Dodging me again, huh.’

This kind of thing happened often at Hope Repository. Ten million won a month—even for someone wealthy, that was a stretch.

At first, they all swore they’d raise the money by any means. Barely anyone made it past the first year.

‘Storage period: three months. Guardian’s age: 23. Tough break.’

Hyojoo was wearing a pitying expression, just about to report to the Team Leader, when—

A man approached the desk.

“Yes? How can I help you?”

Hyojoo put on a kind smile and addressed him.

“I’m the guardian for room 1301. Could you tell me the payment deadline?”

“Huh?!”

It was the very guardian she’d been calling just moments ago. Unwashed, disheveled—one look at him and she understood everything.

‘Can’t even afford his phone bill.’

With the picture clear, Hyojoo’s mind started turning.

‘Yeah, being nice won’t work on this one.’

Cases like this—they usually begged for a few more months.

The answer was to be ruthlessly blunt.

Steeling herself, Hyojoo answered the man’s question first.

“Today, by 6 PM.”

“Ah~! I see.”

The man glanced at his watch.

It was 5:30. Only thirty minutes left.

The man frowned, a hint of anxiety in his expression, and continued.

“Ah… I don’t have any cash on me right now. Would it be okay if I made the deposit tomorrow?”

Hyojoo’s face went cold. She’d been hearing this excuse for over four years.

In this high-tech era, insisting on cash was just a stall tactic. She knew it well.

“I’m sorry. After 6 PM, the remains will be disposed of starting tomorrow.”

At her firm answer, the guardian rubbed his chin in frustration before speaking.

“I just came out of the Tower today. I didn’t have time to get cash. If you could just give me one day’s grace, I’d be grateful.”

Hyojoo’s expression darkened further.

‘Stubborn guy.’

She’d seen plenty of these cases too.

People who Awakened today and asked for time until they joined a guild—people who said they’d earn money from Awakening and just needed to wait until then.

A flash of irritation surged through her, but she forced herself to stay calm and continued.

“Do you have a Player Certificate, then? If you’re B-Rank or above, I can make an exception.”

There wasn’t actually a rule dividing by rank, but she wanted to give him an easy way to back out.

“They said the Player Certificate won’t come out for another week.”

Was he not getting it? She’d clearly said only B-Rank or above, yet he kept pestering.

In a flash of anger, Hyojoo snapped.

“Ah—seriously, so what’s your grade?”

“L-Grade.”

“L-Grade???”

You had to at least lie believably. L-Grade, of all things. Kim Hyojoo let out a hollow laugh—she couldn’t believe the audacity.

“Listen. There’s only one L-Grade in the entire world. I know what that person looks like, and Team Leader back there knows too. Drop the act and give up. The living have to live on. Just let go.”

Right then.

[Breaking news!!! The world’s first L-Grade—the player who received that rank—has emerged from the Tower of Tutorial today. We bring you this report…]

A breaking news segment flashed across the TV. And the content—stunningly—was the appearance of an L-Grade Player.

“Huh…?”

For a second, Kim Hyojoo doubted her ears. She stared at the screen—and the man standing right in front of her was being broadcast on the TV.

“No… way~!!!”