Chapter 166: Episode 166

We took the manager’s car to Garam headquarters to process Samia’s hunter registration. Certified hunters didn’t even need work visas. Though she was a Tanzanian citizen, all she had to do was register her affiliation with Garam Management, and they would handle the rest of the paperwork. Her contract was nearly identical to the Fourth Floor Team’s, but as a certified rank-3, her signing bonus and guaranteed salary were significantly higher.

With the registration complete, we drove to Sanggye-dong.

“Manager? This isn’t the usual route.”

A new building had sprung up in Sanggye-dong, one I’d never seen before. The manager smiled and pulled the car over.

“I thought I’d stop and show you. This is your guild’s headquarters, Mr. Kim.”

“Ah…!”

It was the first headquarters of my future mage guild—a six-story building with three basement levels. It was less a skyscraper and more a sprawling complex, reminding me of a large shopping mall. The basic structure had been completed while I was in Tanzania. I’d heard construction had sped up with the introduction of magic stone facilities, but I hadn’t expected this.

“It will be fully completed soon.”

“I can’t wait.”

Samia gave me a look of newfound respect. “So you really are ridiculously wealthy, Hunter Kim Yusin.”

“…Haha, I wouldn’t go that far.”

Unfortunately, we couldn’t go inside yet. The manager drove us around the perimeter once before dropping us off at the station.

Samia and I entered the Magic Tower together.

“Welcome!”

“Welcome back!”

Everyone clapped, giving our new family member a warm welcome. The Fourth Floor Team was currently away on a dungeon assignment, so I introduced Samia to Ea, Jin Bora, Jeong Seojin, and Eunsol.

“I am Ea, the homunculus administrator of the Magic Tower.” Ea approached, her mystical silver hair flowing around her.

Even seeing an otherworldly being floating in mid-air, Samia remained composed as she shook her hand. “I’ve heard a lot about you. This may be our first meeting, but I imagine it isn’t for you.”

“Affirmative. I have observed your activities with great interest.”

Jin Bora, who had been buzzing at Ea’s side, bounced forward with a grin. “Nice to meet you! I’m Jin Bora! Wow! It’s my first time seeing a teleporter in person!”

“The honor is mine. I’ve heard much about the famous potion specialist.”

The unexpected compliment made Bora blush as she waved her hands dismissively. “Hehe, well, I’m not the only potion specialist out there!”

Next, Jeong Seojin stepped forward. “Jeong Seojin, administrator of the second floor.”

“Ah, so you’re Hunter Kim Yusin’s strategist. It must be difficult managing such a colorful cast of characters. You have my respect.”

“You’re the first person who’s recognized my struggles upon arrival.”

The two cynics shook hands, a flicker of mutual understanding passing between them.

And finally…

“Sol, come say hello.”

“…Nngh.”

Eunsol, ever shy, peeked out from behind me before inching forward. “H-hello.”

A faint blush colored Samia’s cheeks. “Surely this adorable child isn’t a homunculus as well?”

“Hahaha! Of course not. This is Eunsol, our third-floor administrator.”

As Samia wheeled herself closer, Eunsol flinched and darted back behind me. Samia smiled, a hint of disappointment in her eyes. “It seems I’ll have to work harder to win her over.”

After the introductions, I officially appointed Samia as the 5th-floor administrator, engraving the crest on her left wrist.

[5th Floor Administrator has been registered.]

[Privileges: Dimension Keeper Lv.10, Dimensional Engineering Lv.10, Spatial Perception Lv.10.]

“Congratulations on becoming the fifth-floor administrator, Samia.”

“Woohoo!”

“Congratulations!”

Everyone clapped, welcoming her once more. Samia’s eyes widened as she noticed her new traits. She tested her powers, teleporting a few small objects around the room before nodding in satisfaction.

“My senses are definitely sharper.” She turned to me. “Hunter Kim Yusin, I’d like to see this fifth floor where I’ll be working.”

“Of course. I’ll take you right now.”

I led her to the Dimension Hall. While the golden lobby hadn’t fazed her, this was different. She studied the dimensional magic circle blueprints and warp gate schematics with the intensity of a zealot.

“The concept of magical formulas is still new to me, but it doesn’t feel impossible to grasp. There are many similarities to teleportation.” She tapped her temple. “And thanks to this Dimensional Engineering trait, I’m picking it up quickly. Give me one week, and I’ll have meaningful results to report.”

“I love the enthusiasm! I look forward to seeing what our new administrator can do.”

It seemed the fifth floor had found its perfect manager. She was brilliant; I had no doubt she’d excel in her new role.

“Well then…” I turned to Ea. “It’s time to deal with him, isn’t it?”

“Yes, Tower Master.” Ea nodded. “We have located Wayne Jones.”

* * *

Antarctica.

“The north side of the base is compromised!”

“Seal the bulkheads!”

“Block all routes! Now!”

Communications through radios were being shot through. Personnel armed with mana rifles scrambled out of the base into the blinding blizzard. Across the snow, monsters snarled as they closed in. The soldiers quickly took positions and aimed.

“Are they insane? Why are they attacking us now?”

“This has never happened before.”

’Grrrr! Graaah!’

The monsters bared their teeth and charged. The senior officer barked into his radio, “Open fire! Everything you’ve got!”

“Copy!”

“Hold this line! Don’t let them inside, even if it kills you!”

Automated turrets erupted from the ground and began firing, while the soldiers held their ground, unleashing a torrent of mana-infused rounds.

“Where’s Valiant? He can control monsters!”

“He already tried! They’re too agitated! He can’t get through to them!”

“This is the northern gate! We need backup!”

The frantic calls reached the control room deep within the underground base. A man at the console responded, “Sending ten more men to the northern gate. Just hold on!”

He put down the radio and stared at the central map. Red dots, representing the monsters, had completely surrounded the facility.

“Have we ever been attacked on this scale before?”

“N-never, sir! I was just thinking something felt off—!”

’BOOOOM!’

A deafening explosion rocked the base from outside.

“What now?”

’Whoosh!’

The control room door slid open, revealing a man in a navy-blue robe. The staff inside jumped, leveling their weapons.

“Wh-who are you—!”

A volley of blue arrows from a Spin Guide Arrow spell materialized around the man and shot forward in streaks of light. Before anyone could react, they were struck, collapsing to the floor.

“Agh…!”

One man, still conscious, clutched his forehead and raised his rifle. “Who the hell are…!”

“Just rest.”

’Pshnk!’

An arrow curved through the air and struck him in the back of the head. His eyes rolled back, and he crumpled.

-All personnel are unconscious. No fatalities, Ea reported.

“Sealing the bulkhead.”

I summoned a Frozen Heart in my palm and hurled it at the doorway. Following it with an Ice Javelin spell, I watched as a thick wall of ice erupted from the core, sealing the entrance solid.

“Where’s the main computer?”

-The large pillar in front of you, Tower Master.

I nodded and stood before the main computer, plugging in a USB drive.

-System activated. Hacking the base’s main computer, Ea announced.

While she worked, I scanned the room.

’So this is Wayne Jones’s little operation.’

Then, a low growl echoed from within the room. The skin on three of the unconscious men began to peel away as their bones twisted and reformed. Grotesque monsters rose in their place.

“Finally showing your true colors,” I said with a smirk. The demonkin, each in a different monstrous form, glared at me.

Just as they were about to pounce, they all froze. Blood trickled from their mouths as they collapsed. My Deva’s Eye confirmed it: bullets were lodged in each of their hearts and skulls.

“Samia!”

“The outside is clear, Hunter Kim Yusin.” Samia teleported in, still seated in her wheelchair. “So the demonkin have revealed themselves completely. There’s no denying it now.”

“Looks like it. While Ea hacks the computer, let’s search the facility.”

“Understood.”

I picked up a glass vial from a test tube rack. It was filled with a murky, viscous liquid.

’What is this? What were they researching here?’

“Hunter Kim Yusin, look at this.”

Samia teleported over to a triple-locked safe, broke it open, and pulled out a stack of documents. “A research log.”

“Oh, nice find.”

I took the file and began flipping through it.

’Delos Saliva Research Log?’

’Large quantity of saliva from the undead monster Delos, known to have an infectious effect on humans, has been secured. Transporting to H-Lab.’

’Small amount of Delos saliva administered to test subject. Infectious effect is minimal. Saliva becomes harmless in the human body over time.’

’Delos saliva mixed with CY and CI solutions injected into test subject.’

’Subject deceased. Improvement of CI solution required.’

’Infectious effect confirmed upon injection. Experiment successful. Proceeding to secondary verification.’

“These bastards are insane,” I said, setting the file down. “They were developing a drug to turn people into monsters.”

“Hmm. A straightforward sort of evil. Only demonkin would be capable of this.”

She handed me another document, this one a list of financial transactions.

’Secured Restricted Areas where Delos appear in seven countries, including the Philippines.’

’Logistics contract signed with DSL Logistics. Expedited transport to site.’

“Wow. I figured the demonkin had their own network, but I never imagined it was this systematic.”

“They are far more meticulous and calculating than most people realize,” Samia said. “They’re scattered across the globe, wielding significant influence.”

“Just like with the Hakan incident. The Hunter Association wasn’t immune, either.”

I muttered to myself, then glanced back at the main computer. “Ea, how’s the hack coming along?”

-Uploading key data. Almost finished.

“Just a little more.”

’Flicker! Fzzt!’

Suddenly, all the lights in the lab died.

-Electromagnetic pulse detected, Ea reported. -It’s an EMP device!

“What?”

-I believe it was triggered from equipment within the base. All systems in the operations room are down. The USB is fried.

“Those bastards…”

Just then, an announcement blared through the facility.

“Base self-destruct in five minutes. 04:59.”

My face hardened. An EMP followed by a self-destruct sequence. They were determined to keep this information from getting out, no matter the cost.

“Samia, we need to leave! Now!”

“Right!”

I dispelled the Frozen Heart blocking the door, but it was too late. Steel bulkheads had slammed down, sealing every passageway. They intended to bury us here.

“Leave it to me.”

Samia closed her eyes and focused. A moment later…

’KABOOOOM!’

A massive explosion ripped through the Antarctic base.

* * *

On a hill several hundred meters away, a man watched the scene unfold. Wayne Jones exhaled a cloud of cigar smoke, his face an emotionless mask.

“Life is full of surprises. To think I’d be the one to destroy this place with my own hands…”

He watched the underground base burn with a flicker of regret in his eyes, then raised his radio.

“This is Wayne. The Antarctic base is completely destroyed. The data leak has been contained, and the intruder, the Archmage, has been eliminated along with it. Over.”

’Chzzt!’

“Confirm the Archmage’s status and report back. Over.”

* * *

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