Night had fallen over the city. Kai Draven stepped out of his apartment. Director Han's words still echoed in his mind.
"It's an A-Rank gate."
Kai looked at his phone. A location had already been sent. He started walking.
The hunt was about to begin again.
Meanwhile — Inside a Guild Headquarters
Far away, inside a luxurious high-rise building…
A man sat behind a massive desk. The Guild Master of the Iron Fang Guild. One of the top-ranked guilds in the country. A report lay open before him. His eyes scanned the document slowly.
(Confidential Report)
Multiple unstable dungeons under the Hunter Association.
Several gates cleared secretly.
No official raid teams recorded.
Clearance speed exceeds elite guild teams.
The Guild Master frowned. "Anonymous team…"
He tapped the desk lightly.
"C-Rank to B-Rank dungeons…"
"Cleared faster than my elite hunters?" His expression darkened.
"This doesn't make sense."
Another line caught his attention. All related information blocked by Director Han. The Guild Master leaned back in his chair.
"So… Han is hiding something." He smiled faintly.
"And something big."
He pressed a button on his desk. Two hunters entered the room. Both high-ranking members of the guild.
"Sir."
The Guild Master spoke calmly.
"I want you to investigate something." He slid the report across the desk.
"Watch Director Han." "And find out who is clearing those dungeons." The two hunters exchanged glances.
"Understood." The Guild Master's eyes sharpened.
"If there's a hidden hunter…"
"…I want to know who it is." Because in the hunter world—
Power meant control. And control meant dominance.
**
Back to Kai
Kai arrived at the meeting point. A quiet underground facility controlled by the Hunter Association. Director Han was already there. But this time… He wasn't alone. A woman stood beside him. She wore a simple hunter uniform. But her presence felt sharp. Calm. Dangerous.
Han looked at Kai. "You're here." Kai nodded. Then his eyes moved toward the woman.
"Who's this?" Han replied,
"Someone you'll be working with."
The woman stepped forward. Her expression was calm but confident.
"Name's Aria Vance."
"B-Rank Hunter."
Kai studied her for a moment. She didn't seem arrogant like most hunters. Her eyes were steady. Focused.
Han spoke again. "She's one of the few people I trust."
Kai raised an eyebrow.
"And you want her involved?" Han nodded.
"If you keep working alone, suspicion will grow." He glanced at both of them.
"This way, your operations look more… normal."
Kai understood immediately. A cover.
Aria crossed her arms.
"I don't care about your secrets." She looked directly at Kai.
"But if we're working together…"
"…don't slow me down." Kai smirked slightly."
You should worry about keeping up.
" For a moment—
Silence.
Then Aria smiled faintly.
"Good."
Far away, outside the facility…
Two figures stood in the shadows.
Watching. Guild hunters.
They observed the entrance carefully.
"One male…" "One female…"
"And Director Han."
They recorded everything.
Because the hunt had already begun.
But this time—
Kai wasn't the hunter.
He was the one being watched.
Back inside the facility… Han activated the screen. The dungeon information appeared.
Dungeon Classification: A-Rank
Status: Unstable
Clearance Team: Confidential
Han looked at both of them.
"This will be your next mission." Kai smiled. Aria cracked her knuckles.
And deep beneath Kai's feet—
His shadow moved.
His army was ready.
END OF CHAPTER 25