“You’ve arrived, Master.”

The Immortal Guild’s secondincommand, Jaemin, who had arrived in Busan earlier, was the first to greet Yuhwan.

Yuhwan responded briefly with a “Hmm,” and casually scanned the surroundings. Even at a glance, he could tell there were fewer people.

“As you can see, the situation is that not all guild members, including Doseongyoon, have returned yet.”

Yuhwan quietly stroked his chin at Jaemin’s report.

Immortal’s thirdincommand, Iron Man Doseongyoon. No further explanation was needed. It was because he trusted him. Even if all the other guild members were annihilated, he was confident that he alone would survive and return.

But he did not return.

‘You’d better discard the common sense you have. At least during this mission.’

Indeed. Yuhwan raised the corners of his mouth as if amused, and Jaemin stealthily peeked at him from the side.

“Umm… Master. There is actually one more thing I need to report.”

“Hmm?”

“The Black Flame Princess, a contract hunter hired by the Wolf Guild, has trespassed into the gate without permission.”

“What?”

Yuhwan’s expression hardened. The point he focused on was not ‘trespassed without permission,’ but ‘Wolf.’ Jaemin hurriedly added to Yuhwan’s increasingly menacing face.

“Ha, however… The hunter is said to be Frank. So there’s no big problem—.”

“Nonsense.”

Yuhwan cut off his words sharply.

“Do you really think Wolf would send an Frank hunter here?”

Yuhwan’s unique deep voice resonated as if whispering from within a cave. The cheerful smile disappeared from his face, and it looked as ferocious as that of a wild beast.

The air froze in an instant.

But as if nothing had happened, Yuhwan burst into hearty laughter right after.

“It doesn’t matter. Consider it an extra spoil of war.”

But no one could laugh along with Yuhwan. The stillchilling presence was crawling over their skin.

Yuhwan walked past his subordinates and stared at the black crevice swirling like a black hole.

The gate’s entrance was still open. That is, while it was impossible to come out from inside, it was possible to go in from outside. That alone was enough.

“Clean up the outside in 20 minutes.”

A black whirlpool that would make even veteran hunters involuntarily tremble stood before Yuhwan as he casually began stretching.

“I will go with you, Master.”

Thud, thud, the sound of bones cracking stopped as Yuhwan, without turning his head, spoke shortly and firmly.

“I’m enough on my own.”

It was at the moment when he stepped toward the whirlpool without hesitation.

Woo woo woo woo──

“Ma, Master!”

The black whirlpool, which had been quietly swirling, began to scatter like broken pixels. As if caught in a typhoon, the surrounding twigs and gravel were scattered indiscriminately.

“Wh, what the hell….”

“It worked.”

Yuhwan dodged the flying gravel just by moving his neck. What’s so special about an unknown gate?

“That Doseongyoon guy has never disappointed me.”

Jaemin turned his head hastily at his muttering.

“Di, did Doseongyoon return?”

“Yes. He’s finished conquering the gate. What are you doing without getting the extensions? We have to sweep up what’s useful before it’s completely closed.”

With a broad smile revealing his teeth, Yuhwan focused on the gate entrance with eyes full of certainty.

And soon after, someone came out from there just as he had said.

“Gasp! That woman is….”

One of the Immortal guild members froze in place. It was unmistakable. A strange woman in a black dress, the Black Flame Princess.

Click, click─

The Jagalchi Fish Market. The lonely sound of heels echoed clearly over the squawking seagulls in the morning wind.

“He, Hunter. That person over there….”

Jehwi, who was following Eunha, cautiously licked his lips. He whispered something to Eunha’s ear, and her pitchblack eyes turned here.

“…….”

“…….”

Yuhwan’s and Eunha’s eyes met headon. Yuhwan was watching her leisurely with his arms crossed, and Eunha resumed her paused steps.

Click, click─

“Wait.”
Stopping her was not the Emperor. A man wearing sunglasses, who missed a galaxy rushing into the gate last night, was in front of her.

“You, how did you get out?”

“How did I get out?”

Cha Eun Ha replied indifferently, as if asking something obvious. To get out of the gate, it was procedure to defeat the boss, and Cha Eun Ha had followed that procedure.

“…….”

The man scanned Cha Eun Ha from head to toe. A disheveled appearance compared to before entering the gate. Though he might not know, it seemed that quite a great battle had been fought inside the gate.

“I didn’t touch any of the resources inside, as promised. You can go in and check if you like.”

Cha Eun Ha gestured lightly towards the gate entrance with a tired look in her eyes.

“Let’s go.”

She then spoke to the Park siblings following her. The Park siblings closely clung to Cha Eun Ha, occasionally glancing around.

“Ah.”