bookpower Chapter 356: Ranbir & An Hui-yoon (2)
Chapter 356: Ranbir & An Hui-yoon (2)
Chapter 356: Ranbir & An Hui-yoon (2)
Eighteen hours later.
“The weather’s nice.”
While waiting to clear arrivals at Jeju Airport, Kang-hoo turned on the smartphone he had just pulled from his pocket.
Inspections for all passengers entering Jeju Island were carried out by the Groo Guild and were always thorough.
That was precisely why civilians and hunters visiting Jeju felt safe.
Any person of concern or a hunter who looked likely to spark conflict was prevented from even leaving the airport.
For that reason, if a problematic person tried to come in, uproars sometimes broke out right at the airport.
Like now.
“What is this? Why should I, a Korean, be restricted from entering Korean soil?”
“Would you like this publicly announced?”
“What? Why?”
A rough-looking hunter, both arms held by Groo Guild hunters, was shouting.
From the way he talked alone he looked like trouble, but even Kang-hoo didn’t know his origin.
As the man kept kicking up a fuss, a Groo Guild hunter dressed like a supervisor approached.
Unlike the earlier hunter, he wore a suit—and a Groo Guild epaulet prominently on his shoulder.
“Name: Kim Han-jae. Hunter with the Osho Mercenary Corps. Sentenced to six months in prison, two years probation.”
“Hey—hey!”
“Under investigation by the Yangyang Public Safety Bureau for assaulting a civilian; fled while not detained, current whereabouts unknown.”
“...”
“This punk’s a criminal. Grab him! Assault while on probation? Not just a person of concern, I see.”
“Aw, damn it!”
The supervisor, calmly reciting the past record of the hunter named Kim Han-jae, immediately ordered an on-site arrest.
They had first triggered an alert based on preset info without checking the details— but on closer inspection, he was a criminal.
Before Kim Han-jae could react, he was pinned, made to lie prone, and cuffed on the spot.
At the same time, every display in the airport flashed his face, stamped with a red “ARRESTED” screen.
On Jeju, the Groo Guild’s autonomy extended to maintaining order and apprehending criminals.
Scenes like this at Jeju Airport were commonplace, and nobody found them strange.
Meanwhile—
“Mr. Shin Kang-hoo? Your screening is finished. We wish you a pleasant trip on Jeju Island!”
Kang-hoo’s screening finished as well.
It wrapped up much faster than for others—no doubt the Groo Guild had smoothed things in advance.
They rarely gave such special treatment, but even for them, Kang-hoo seemed to be an exception.
It felt good to receive a bit of special handling.
Being seen differently meant they valued him highly. Unless you were a strict formalist, you couldn’t help but enjoy it.
As he headed toward the gate to meet Ma Jin-ho, Kang-hoo skimmed Japan-side news on his phone.
Specifically, he filtered for hunter-related news published around Fukuoka.
He couldn’t help that Ayane had slipped away—but with her whereabouts unknown, he had been curious for news.
Yet since there had been none so far, he had been readying himself to let her fade from mind.
Then— a headline uploaded thirty seconds ago caught his eye.
It was an official report from a newspaper whose reporter was notorious for special intel from the Fukuoka Liberation Area.
“Kikuchi Jiro is dead.”
Kikuchi Jiro.
The boss of the Fukuoka Liberation Area.
In Korea’s terms, he was like Shin Jun-ho of the Ebony Bone who controlled the Kimcheon Liberation Area.
Kikuchi was both the boss of the Liberation Area and the master of the Hayabusa Guild—dual-hatted, in a way.
And he had died by “sniper fire.” Hunters capable of sniping Kikuchi were few.
Naturally, only one person came to Kang-hoo’s mind.
The article was intriguing.
Judging from insider information and tips, it was certain that Ayane had killed him.
They even threw Ayane’s photo into a breaking-news inset.
Not pleasant for Ayane, perhaps, but for a newspaper it was perfect for drumming up interest.
Rights of publicity and human rights had long since become nominal—this sort of thing was commonplace.
Especially now, there was none of that foot-dragging over criminal identity disclosure, or using old photos as a stand-in.
Korea was the same—every criminal got a mugshot, no mercy.
“She tied the knot she made. In that chaotic Fukuoka Liberation Area, she carried out her revenge to the end.”
Kang-hoo smiled.
Ayane was impressive.
Once she set her mind on revenge, she finished it herself somehow. That wasn’t something ordinary skill could do.
【In accordance with the basic rules of the Hayabusa Guild, the new guild master, Okazaki Izumi, issued an immediate emergency statement.
He made clear that the guild would not seek revenge against “Ayane,” stressing that all hostile acts to date began as Kikuchi’s unilateral vendetta.
He repeatedly apologized, calling it a misjudgment born of insufficient understanding of the special environment of mercenaries and clients.】
“Wise.”
He knew nothing about this Okazaki Izumi. In the original, the name was only briefly mentioned.
But judging by the handling, he seemed better than the late former master, Kikuchi.
Some might ask why a large guild would bow its head to a single hunter.
If that hunter were ordinary, fine—you could always fight and kill them if needed.
But it was different if the opponent was a high-grade gunner. Then it became a headache. You never knew when you’d be shot.
That was why, when Lee Ye-rin first met Kang-hoo, she had used top-tier armored vehicles and facilities.
Back then, Eclipse had set a gunner to tail and target Lee Ye-rin’s life.
That was how gunners—gunfighters—were one of the classes hunters found most troublesome in this world.
Just then— a call came in, perfectly timed.
Her phone had been off, so they hadn’t spoken in a while—what a welcome call.
“Ayane, your popularity is off the charts.”
– Hearing your voice is nice.
“How’s your body?”
– I’m fine. I cleaned up the bad tie I made myself. Should have done it earlier. I feel relieved.
“I’m glad you’re alright.”
He meant it.
He didn’t intend to live Ayane’s life for her, but that didn’t mean he thought it “didn’t matter” if she died.
– To be honest, there was a brush with death—but someone helped me. I still don’t know who...
“Someone tried to snipe you?”
– Yeah. I really want to thank them, but I have no way to find them.
So luck had played a part as well.
Indeed, Hayabusa guild members likely knew the Liberation Area’s terrain better than Ayane.
It made no sense that she had killed Kikuchi without a single brush with danger.
In any case, it was a relief that she was safe, and the Hayabusa Guild had made an official statement.
At least where that guild was concerned, there shouldn’t be headaches. Better for both sides not to have a gunner as an enemy.
Kang-hoo decided to save some of the gladness and relief for later.
He would meet her again, and then they could share the postponed joy.
So he changed the subject.
Just then, there was something the two of them could do together.
“Ayane.”
– Hm?
“The German commission—want to go one more time?”
– You really are a workaholic, aren’t you?
Before she could savor the joy of living, Kang-hoo’s mercenary proposal came barreling in.
On the other end, Ayane let out a helpless laugh and nodded.
Yes—this was just like Shin Kang-hoo.
Meeting Ma Jin-ho right at the gate, Kang-hoo got into the limousine they provided, and they set off at once.
The talk with Ayane had gone well.
She would come along, and until then she planned to completely retool her gear.
No doubt it meant sorting the spoils taken after eliminating the Hayabusa guild members who had tried to kill her inside the Liberation Area.
Even though the limousine was quite large— sitting with the brawny Ma Jin-ho made it feel packed.
Perhaps a bit embarrassed, Ma Jin-ho stroked his forearms—thick as tires—and said with a sheepish face:
“I’m... rather big, right?”
“It’s fine. I’m just grateful for your consideration.”
“It’s an honor to see you again. You must be sick of hearing it, but you truly did a great deed. You’ll be a model to many.”
“Thank you for saying so.”
“Two Japanese hunter friends of mine were killed by Yuuji. It was a murder without even a reason. I wanted to avenge them so badly, but...”
Tears glossed over Ma Jin-ho’s eyes as his words trailed off.
He couldn’t ask for details, but at that level, those were likely close friends.
And yet, with his own power he hadn’t been able to avenge them—then Kang-hoo had executed the criminal.
Gratitude was only natural. Kang-hoo patted his shoulder.
“You have my deepest condolences.”
“No. I’ve laid my friends to rest in my heart. My only regret was not being able to bury that murderer for real—but now I feel at ease. Thank you, from my heart!”
Bowing so hard his head nearly hit the car floor, Ma Jin-ho’s sincerity was plain to see.
Seeing that, Kang-hoo felt he had killed the right man.
For Kang-hoo, Ishihara Yuuji’s death had been solely to unlock the fourth boon of the “Angel of the Battlefield” constellation— but for someone else, it had been a long-sought act of vengeance—clean and final.
Shifting the topic away from Yuuji, Ma Jin-ho continued:
“Our entire guild is waiting to see you. No joke—you’re more popular than our own executives!”
“I’m just a guest. I appreciate the welcome, but please don’t make too much of a fuss.”
A guest should remain a guest.
A reversal of host and guest was not the picture Kang-hoo wanted. It invited bruised feelings in the actual hosts.
Since needless hard feelings could arise, he didn’t want to pick a pointless fight.
“Of course. If you’d feel burdened by it, we mustn’t let that happen. We’ll manage it well.”
“Thank you.”
“In every way, you’re impressive every time we meet. If I’m reborn, I’ll need to be born with Mr. Shin Kang-hoo’s face, ha...”
Kang-hoo almost burst out laughing at his tearful sigh.
He kept his expression as sober as possible and turned his gaze out the window—the face was just too funny.
Then— as if something had come to him, Ma Jin-ho let out an “Ah!” and raised a new topic.
“Mr. Kang-hoo. By any chance—”
“Mm?”
“Do you know a hunter named An Hui-yoon? Or have you at least heard the name?”
“No. Has something happened?”
Instead of answering, Ma Jin-ho thrust out his left forearm.
On the forearm he suddenly presented, two pencil-thick holes gaped from side to side—a through-and-through.
“There’s a hunter named An Hui-yoon living on Jeju. I got this from him. Without even realizing it.”
“An Hui-yoon?”
“Yes, An Hui-yoon.”
It wasn’t a common name—you’d think you’d remember after hearing it once. But it was new even to Kang-hoo.