Ju-Won froze, his body instinctively tensing. The voice came from behind him—sharp, insistent. His mind raced as he turned to face the source.
A tall man in a black jacket stood near the alley's mouth, his arms folded across his chest. His expression was one of casual amusement, but there was something in his eyes that made Ju-Won pause. The man's clothes weren't particularly flashy, but his presence was unnerving, like he didn't belong here, didn't belong in this world. He wasn't a hunter, that much was clear. He wasn't here for the gate or the monsters. He was here for something else.
Ju-Won wasn't the type to get involved with random people. He knew better than to engage with strangers in this city.
But the man's demeanor was different. Unbothered. He didn't seem like someone who feared the rift opening nearby, or the creatures that might come crawling out of it. He wasn't rushing toward the action, wasn't showing the usual signs of a hunter itching for a fight.
Ju-Won's lips curled into a small, skeptical smile. "What do you want?" he asked, his voice low and guarded.
The man stepped forward, his gait slow, deliberate. "Nothing much. Just noticed you walking by, and I figured we might have a… mutual interest."
Ju-Won's brow furrowed, his grip tightening around the artifact in his pocket. "I'm not looking to make deals."
The man chuckled. "Don't worry. I'm not here to sell you something. I'm offering an opportunity. You're a smart guy, right?"
Ju-Won didn't answer immediately. He didn't have time for games.
The man, sensing Ju-Won's hesitation, took a step closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I know what you're after. The artifact. The stone you've got in your pocket. You're not the first one to come looking for it that old man shop."
Ju-Won's heart skipped a beat. He could feel the heat of the stone against his chest, the faint pulse of energy it gave off. But the man couldn't have known about it. Could he?
The stranger's grin widened, his eyes gleaming in the dim light. "Oh, I'm not guessing. I've got my sources. And I think you and I could help each other."
Ju-Won stepped back, his posture becoming tense. "What do you want from me?"
"Simple," the man said. "I can tell you exactly where to sell that artifact. I know a buyer who would pay a high price. A price that would solve your problems in one go."
Jin-Ho's heart pounded in his chest. He had considered selling the stone, sure. But doing so had its risks. There was no telling what kind of power it contained, no way to be sure if it was safe to even possess. And if he sold it to the wrong person…
"I don't need your help," Ju-Won said, turning on his heel to leave.
But the stranger wasn't finished. He stepped in front of him, blocking his path.
"I'm sure you don't, but I think you'll change your mind when I tell you that I know exactly where the next rift is opening," he said, his tone smug. "And I know what's waiting on the other side."
Ju-Won's mind raced. Was this some kind of setup? A trap to get him involved in the madness of the gates? Or was there something more behind this stranger's offer?
"Why are you telling me this?" Ju-Won asked, eyeing the man suspiciously. He didn't trust him. Not one bit.
The man smiled again, this time showing teeth. "Because I'm looking for someone with your… talents. Someone who isn't afraid to go where the action is. And in exchange for your help with a little job of mine, I'll give you everything you need. Money. Resources. And that buyer for the artifact you're holding. You'll never have to worry about rent again. Or your sister's medicine."
Ju-Won stood there, caught between two choices. The stranger had him backed into a corner. And the hell did the stranger knew about his sister or he needs to pay his house rent. But he decided to let it go. He knows that he could walk away, but something told him he'd never get another offer like this again. The stakes had never been higher. He didn't have the luxury of time.
"What's the job?" Ju-Won asked quietly, his eyes narrowing.
The man's grin grew wider. "A small heist. There's a vault full of artifacts, powerful ones. Locked away in a private facility, but I know how to get in. I need someone with your… skills. The vault's not guarded by monsters, but it's far from empty. It'll be dangerous, no doubt. But if we pull this off, the payout will be worth it."
Ju-Won considered it for a long moment, the weight of his sister's illness pressing heavily on his chest. This was a gamble, no doubt. But what other choice did he have?
"You have my attention," Ju-Won said, his voice steady. "But you better make sure that the buyer actually has the cash. I'm not here to waste time."
The stranger chuckled, his eyes glinting with something dangerous. "Trust me. The buyer will have more than enough. And if you're looking for an easy way out of your problems, this is it."
Ju-Won's hand moved to his pocket, fingers brushing the smooth stone inside. The rift had opened, but tonight, the real hunt wasn't for monsters or fame. It was for survival.
And he wasn't going to waste another second.
The city pulsed with life even in the dead of night. Neon lights flickered in the distance, reflecting off the wet pavement, while the faint hum of electric signs buzzed in the air. The occasional honk of a car, the laughter of drunken patrons stumbling out of bars, the distant wail of sirens—Seoul never truly slept.
Ju-Won walked in silence beside the stranger, his hands buried deep in his pockets. The weight of the artifact felt heavier than before, as if it knew its fate was about to be decided. The man's name was still unknown to him, and Ju-Won had yet to ask. He wasn't sure if he cared. Names didn't mean much in the kind of life he was living.
They turned a corner into a quieter street, away from the crowds and the towering glow of skyscrapers. Ju-Won felt the tension in his shoulders tighten with every step. He had agreed to listen, but that didn't mean he trusted the bastard.
"So," Ju-Won finally spoke, breaking the silence. "What's the real catch?"
The stranger smirked, as if he had been waiting for that question. "Smart." His voice was smooth, amused. "You know, most people don't bother asking that until it's too late."
"Most people are idiots," Ju-Won said flatly.
The man let out a low chuckle. "Fair enough." He slowed his pace, turning to face Ju-Won directly. "There's no real 'catch.' The job is exactly as I told you. A high-value vault, filled with things worth more than either of us can count. We get in, take what we need, get out. Simple."
Ju-Won's eyes narrowed. "Nothing's that simple."
The man tilted his head slightly, his smile never wavering. "You're right. There's one small complication."
Ju-Won exhaled sharply, already regretting this conversation. "Go on."
The stranger took a step closer, his voice dropping. "The vault is owned by the Global Hunters Corporation."
Ju-Won's expression didn't change, but inside, his mind was already racing. The GHC—the most powerful organization in the world when it came to rift-related affairs. They controlled the biggest hunter guilds, managed the largest gates, and oversaw nearly every aspect of the industry. If someone wanted to be a top hunter, they worked for the GHC. If someone wanted to survive in this world, they stayed out of their way.
Ju-Won clenched his jaw. "You're insane."
The man only smiled. "Maybe. But I'm also right. You know what's inside that vault? It's not just money. It's artifacts—things pulled straight out of the rifts that no one even knows exist. Some of them have powers beyond what hunters could ever imagine. Some of them… could change everything."
Ju-Won stared at him for a long moment. He had heard rumors, of course. Stories about hidden treasures within the GHC's private collections, relics that could make even the weakest human strong enough to stand against monsters.
But rumors were just that—rumors. And he wasn't about to risk his life based on bedtime stories.
"I'm not looking to get myself killed," Ju-Won said, voice cold. "Find someone else."
The stranger sighed, shaking his head. "I knew you'd be stubborn."
Ju-Won turned to leave. He had wasted enough time. His sister was waiting, and he still had to find a buyer for the artifact in his pocket.
Then the stranger spoke again. "You know, I looked into you, Kim Ju-Won."
Ju-Won stopped in his tracks.
The air suddenly felt heavier.
"I know why you need the money. I know about your sister. I know about the hospital bills piling up. I know that, no matter how hard you try, you'll never make enough with a normal job. And I know… that artifact alone won't be enough."
Ju-Won's fingers curled into fists.
The stranger took a step forward. "You're backed into a corner. And I'm offering you a way out."
Ju-Won closed his eyes for a brief second, inhaling deeply. This bastard.
He had always hated people like this. The ones who knew how to poke at wounds that had never healed. The ones who spoke with confidence, like they understood his pain, like they cared.
But the worst part?
He wasn't wrong.