Seoul suburbs. The Hunter Association’s secret meeting room.
Kim Taesung was sitting in a space meticulously designed for only one person. Alongside him was only Baek Eunseol. She participated under the guise of an attendee, but in truth, she was in the position of a bodyguard.
‘……The time is almost up.’
Kim Taesung looked down at his wristwatch. 23:58. According to the Progenitor, her servant would arrive in attire that would be "obvious at a glance." What would they look like? If they were a messenger of the Progenitor, it was highly likely they were far from ordinary.
Just then, a voice came through his in-ear monitor.
- Association Chairman. An individual presumed to be the VIP has arrived at the building.
It was a report from the 1st-floor Security Team who had detected the approach. Kim Taesung adjusted his posture. The real work was beginning now.
Not long after, exactly at midnight, the door to the meeting room opened and a woman entered. She wore a simple Black Suit, and her ebony-colored hair was cut in a bob. Below it, she wore a white Cat mask.
‘……!’
Kim Taesung calmed himself and assessed his opponent. She did not exude an overwhelming intimidation. In fact, it was the exact opposite. He could not feel any aura from her at all. However, that fact alone told him that this woman was no ordinary person.
What stood out most was that Cat mask.
‘What does that signify?’
If the purpose was merely to hide her face, there would have been no need for such a specific shape. A cat. A beast that moves without sound, stalks its prey in the darkness, and reveals its claws only at the critical moment.
‘Is she hinting at what kind of existence she is?’
Perhaps it was a symbol indicating the position she held within the "group" led by the Progenitor. While Kim Taesung was lost in these thoughts, Baek Eunseol was also observing the woman.
‘It’s not her.’
That was the first thing she confirmed. Both her physique and atmosphere were different from the Vampire who had saved her in Seollim-dong. If it had been her, she would have recognized it instantly.
‘……However.’
Baek Eunseol’s gaze swept over the masked woman’s entire body.
‘This woman, too, is absolutely not ordinary.’
Even just by looking at her posture and movements, it was clear she was a formidable strong individual. Most of all, she made no sound when she walked. No matter that the floor was carpeted, it would be normal to hear at least a faint sound at this distance. However, he couldn't even hear that from her. Her overall atmosphere was like that of a well-trained assassin.
At that moment, the masked woman turned her head. For a moment, her eyes met Baek Eunseol’s.
What flashed beyond the eye holes of the mask was—
Red eyes.
Baek Eunseol felt goosebumps rise all over her body in an instant. Of course, not everyone with red eyes belonged to the vampire race. Among the Awakened, there were often cases where those with unique classes underwent physical mutations.
However, perhaps it was because she had met strong vampires one after another recently, but Baek Eunseol had a strong intuition that this woman was also a vampire.
In the meantime, Kim Taesung stood up as politely as possible.
"Messenger of the Progenitor-nim. Thank you for making the long journey. Please, take a seat."
The masked woman nodded once without a word, walked silently, and sat in the designated seat. Kim Taesung followed and sat down.
"We once again express our deepest gratitude for your consideration of our rude past attempts at contact and for accepting this meeting."
He bowed his upper body slightly.
"We have prepared a tribute for the Progenitor-nim; may I explain it to you?"
"……."
The masked woman merely nodded again. Kim Taesung carefully pushed a black box that had been sitting on the round table toward her. As the box opened, an ID card and a high-end card finished in gold on a black background were revealed. Kim Taesung pointed to the ID card first.
"This is a special ID card for the Progenitor-nim. It can be used anywhere, and all records of this identity are sealed as the Association’s top-level secret. Even we will not access them."
"And here—"
He continued, pointing to the card.
"This is a physical card linked to a completely anonymous account. The account number is written in the enclosed document, and the default PIN is written at the bottom, so you may reset it to a number of your choosing."
ID card and an account.
The masked woman quietly looked down at them, then reached out and tucked them into her clothes. Then, for the first time, she opened her mouth.
"There will be no lies in your promises, will there?"
Her voice was cold and hard. Kim Taesung answered immediately.
"I swear there won't be. All the pledges I have made to the Progenitor-nim will be fulfilled under the names of myself, Kim Taesung, and the Hunter Association of South Korea."
"……."
The gaze behind the mask studied him for a moment. Finally, the woman spoke again.
"My Master said..."
"That if you keep your promises well, she is willing to treat the Association favorably."
"……!"
Kim Taesung felt a thrilling shiver.
‘This is a huge achievement.’
The Progenitor’s declaration of goodwill. That was worth far more than all of today’s tributes combined. His strategy had succeeded brilliantly. Kim Taesung struggled to maintain his composure as he replied.
"I am humbled by your words. The Association shall never break our promise under any circumstances."
"Understood."
The masked woman answered briefly.
"Then, I will ask one more thing."
She tilted her head slightly. The sight was strangely chilling.
"Association Chairman. You said that even if it is something that deviates from the laws of the world, you would help my Master as much as you can."
"Yes, that is correct."
Kim Taesung nodded.
"If we utilize all the means the Association can mobilize, we can provide unofficial assistance even in quite wide-ranging matters."
"Then," she asked in a low voice.
"—Does killing hundreds of humans also fall into that category?"
'?!'
An abrupt, brutal remark. Kim Taesung’s heart skipped a beat.
"Even if such a thing were to happen, are you capable of assisting?"
The masked woman said, staring straight at Kim Taesung.
‘What does this mean?’
His mind raced. Is it a threat? Or a show of power? His head was spinning. However, he couldn't afford to look like he was stalling or weighing his options too much. Kim Taesung judged quickly and opened his mouth calmly.
"If that were to happen... I am sure the Progenitor-nim must have a grand reason for it."
He made a gesture to imply he would respect and guarantee her autonomy as much as possible.
"As long as it is not the massacre of innocent citizens, we will, of course, help you."
Instead, he drew one final, clear line. He could not tolerate the loss of a large number of human lives without any cause. What was the reason for offering tribute to a disaster anyway? Wasn't it to prevent them from harming people? Even if the Progenitor were to be enraged, asking who he thought he was to limit her, there was nothing he could do about it.
‘Let’s see how she reacts…….’
Kim Taesung stared at the masked woman nervously. She listened quietly, then stood up without a word. Just like when she entered, she left the meeting room without a sound.
Click.
"Phew……."
Only after the door closed completely could Kim Taesung let out a long breath. His hands, which he had been clenching tightly without realizing, were slick with cold sweat.
"Hunter Baek Eunseol."
Kim Taesung looked at her.
"What did you think of that?"
She seemed quite exhausted, likely because she had been very tense herself.
"……It’s not certain, but that woman seemed like a vampire, too."
"As I thought."
Kim Taesung nodded, as if he had expected it.
"Judging by the circumstantial evidence, it is highly likely that the Progenitor, befitting the weight of her title, is the leader or a high-ranking official of a vampire collective."
In both their minds, the perception of the Progenitor was solidifying into that of a ruler of darkness.
"Still, looking at her earlier, I’m relieved she doesn't seem to have the heart to harm innocent citizens," Kim Taesung said.
Then, Baek Eunseol spoke as if something had just occurred to her.
"But Association Chairman. That remark from earlier. About killing hundreds of people."
"Yes."
"Could she perhaps have been referring to the Black Calf incident?"
"……!"
Kim Taesung’s eyes widened. The annihilation of a massive Dark Guild. If she had been speaking in code about that event.
‘……Was that it?’
Everything fit together. By implicitly revealing that they were a group possessing that level of armed force, she had also been testing the Association’s stance. It wasn't just a simple question, but a test layered with multiple intentions.
‘The Progenitor. She is a high-level strategist, not just a wielder of power.’
Kim Taesung admired her inwardly.
"……It seems you are right. Still, it is a relief that she is an opponent we can communicate with. She did say she would treat us favorably if we keep our promises."
"That’s true."
Baek Eunseol agreed. Originally, monsters are fundamentally hostile to humanity, but high-intelligence monsters sometimes use reason to suppress those instincts. Sometimes, they even conspire with humans to create Demons.
However, one can never be completely at ease. That is because when monsters do that, they usually have a special ‘reason’. The same would be true for the Progenitor and the vampire faction.
Moreover, seeing as they remained hidden thoroughly until now, and only rose to the surface to move at this specific point in time, it was clear that they had some definite intent or a grand plan of their own.
What could it possibly be?
The two were lost in deep thought.
"Siyeon! Welcome back, you’ve worked hard."
"Yes, Master. And I have also bought the melon flavored ice cream you ordered without forgetting."
"Oh, well done!"