Simultaneously, a flood of system notifications lit up Suho’s vision like a shower of stars.

     [The Gate has been cleared.]

     [The MVP of the Gate clearance is ‘Ahn Suho.’]

     [Additional experience points are awarded for being the MVP.]

     [A bonus stat point has been awarded for being selected as the MVP.]

     [You have successfully cleared a Gate that no one else could tackle alone.]

     [A remarkable achievement! The system grants you 5 additional stat points.]

     [Your level has increased.]

     [All stats increased by 1.]

     [You have acquired an additional bonus stat point.]

    With bonus stats piling up, it was clear the system acknowledged his feat—this was no ordinary Gate, one that had claimed countless lives. The system recognized his accomplishment as a notable feat, awarding him richly. Given that the only true monster in the entire Gate was the one he defeated, the experience points were substantial, enough to push Suho from level 51 to 52 in a single leap.

    Looking at the defeated creature—a wraith that had once been a Sword Emperor—Suho muttered to himself.

    “In hindsight, this guy was actually easy. So why was it such a struggle back then?”

    Still, he felt a measure of gratitude. The creature was like a mentor who occasionally resurfaced in his thoughts on Teachers’ Day.

    It made sense. That was the only time in his life he’d been utterly consumed by the art of swordsmanship.

    On a whim, Suho summoned his *Guiyoung Spear* and attempted to pierce the creature''s body, but no shadow emerged. He tried his *Blood Weapon* skill, but the attempt was similarly futile.

    The creature was a wraith—a phantom swordsman with neither blood nor shadow.

    The creature’s body crumbled into dust, vanishing entirely, leaving behind only a single item: an old sword it had wielded. Suho picked it up to inspect it.

     [Nameless Sword of the Nameless Swordsman]

    - **Grade**: F

    - An old sword once wielded by the Nameless Swordsman.

    An F-grade sword, without embellishment, true to its name. Initially, Suho tucked it away in his inventory as a simple memento of the Sword Emperor. It was only years later, when clearing out his overstocked inventory, that a friend pointed out its true value.

    Suho examined the Nameless Sword closely, gripping its blade and hilt, and applied pressure. The sword broke with a sharp snap, revealing its hidden power that had remained dormant for years.

     [You have used the Nameless Sword.]

     [Sword Understanding activated.]

     [The soul of the Nameless Sword infuses your swordsmanship.]

     [Suho Sword has been upgraded.]@@@@

    The information changed. The S-rank Suho Sword had gained an added effect and was now upgraded to S+.

    Suho checked the updated information.

     [Suho Sword]

    - **Grade**: S+

    - A unique swordsmanship style created by Ahn Suho.

    - Balanced in offense, defense, and evasion, remaining true to the fundamentals.

    Suho then suggested, “Now that the Gate is cleared, let’s take a photo to commemorate.”

    “A photo?”

    “Yes, for verification. It’s not for a keepsake but purely as proof.”

    It was purely practical—a verified photo could be used for press releases. That was why Jo Jin-hwi had come along. Photos taken by a PBS reporter would carry unquestionable credibility.

    Kim Jong-woo hesitated. “Since I’m military, maybe I shouldn’t be in the photo...”

    Noticing his discomfort, Jung Chul-min stepped in with a playful yet convincing tone.

    “Oh, Major, this isn’t some commemorative picture. It’s for future reference and official records! The Nameless Sword isn’t just any Gate—it’s a classified site! Ahn Suho Hunter just saved us from sinking taxpayer money into an unresolved Gate.”

    “No, no, you’re right. My apologies! Let’s get it done.”

    Kim Jong-woo quickly acknowledged his misstep and agreed to the photo, causing Suho to chuckle.

    ‘Classic Chul-min hyung.’

    And so, the three of them completed a photo session that would soon make headlines across Korea.

    ---

    **On the Way Back to Seoul**

    Suho requested a half-day embargo from Jung Chul-min and Kim Jong-woo on the Nameless Sword Gate clearance before heading to Nexus Guild.

    ‘Technically, the government isn’t obliged to listen to me,’ he thought. Especially since Kim Jong-woo, being military, would have to report any incident directly up the chain.

    Upon arriving at Nexus, he met with executives who had been urgently called in. He showed them a picture on his tablet.

    “As I mentioned in my earlier call, I’ve successfully cleared the Sealed Gate ‘Nameless Sword’—one of Korea’s highest classified sites. Here’s the proof, with officials from the Association and the square manager, Major Kim Jong-woo.”

    Everyone’s jaw dropped, with Bae Dong-hyuk looking particularly stunned. Though he had been briefed over the phone, seeing the actual photo was a different experience. After all, he had only been informed about the Gate’s clearance contract this afternoon, and it had already been cleared within hours.

    Introducing Jo Jin-hwi, Suho said, “This is Jo Jin-hwi from PBS, my official reporter, who documented the event. You can trust that these images are legitimate.”

    Jo Jin-hwi presented his credentials, and Bae Dong-hyuk, waving a hand dismissively, said, “No one here doubts the legitimacy. But... how?”

    “What do you mean?”

    “All of it. How did you get the contract for the Sealed Gate, and how did you clear it in a few hours? You’re aware that over 200 Hunters have died there.”

    Without a hint of hesitation, Suho replied, “I met with the Association president to obtain permission, and as for the Gate, I simply entered and killed what was inside.”

    “...What?”

    “That’s the truth. No embellishment. I told you exactly what happened.”

    “Unbelievable...”

    It was indeed true, and Suho wasn’t one to exaggerate.

    Getting straight to business, Suho continued, “Now that my abilities have been proven, shall we proceed with the contract? Set the pay however you wish. My conditions are simple: full support during my time at Nexus, and the ability to terminate my contract should I pass the public exam.”

    He paused, adding, “I’ve already informed the Association president. Many large guilds have shown interest, but if any guild is willing to meet these terms, I’ll gain some practical experience with them.”

    Bae Dong-hyuk, though trustworthy, took a moment to process this before quietly

    instructing, “Secretary, bring the paperwork.”

    “Yes, Director.”

    Thus began Suho’s official entry into Nexus Guild.