Gear was a hunter. The asphalt streets, filled with sleek right-angled buildings, were an unfamiliar environment, but he adapted quickly. The shadows cast by the tall buildings and the mingled smells in the air made hiding easy, and the wide, open roads made observing passing traffic simple.

The moment he arrived in this world, he assessed the environment, his prey, and his own condition. Gear’s stats had been adjusted to S-rank by this world’s standards, and most of his skills were still pending system application. In contrast, his prey was ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) stronger than expected.

A pseudo-Origin. A bipedal humanoid under two meters tall. Gear climbed to the top of a tall building, keeping a safe distance, and used his excellent eyesight to watch. Their main weapon appeared to be SS-rank or higher—chains, an anomaly allowing separation and recombination. Their primary attack skill, Electrocute, made their patterns hard to predict. They moved with uncanny sensitivity, as if anticipating their opponent’s actions. The rainy environment also favored his prey.

The human accompanying the pseudo-Origin was no slouch either. Their ability to nullify skills made them extremely dangerous. Having fought together often, their coordination with the pseudo-Origin was seamless. Having confirmed this, Gear withdrew quietly.

Once he’d reclaimed all his skills, he would isolate the pseudo-Origin and strike alone.

He had many rivals, but he wasn’t worried. Other dependents, unable to use their skills properly, would also struggle against that pseudo-Origin. Retreating from the battlefield, Gear resumed gathering information.

The pseudo-Origin and their kin. Unlike the dungeonalized world, this one still bore all traces of the original world. Gear could easily access newspapers, magazines, and news.

[“Sesung Guildmaster Visits Dodam Breeding Facility”]

[“Arisen Management Chief’s Arrest Record of Sesung Guildmaster”]

[“Dodam Breeding Director Han Yujin Admits Visiting Guildmaster’s New Residence”]

[“Guildmember Kang ○○ Interview: ‘With Director Song Taewon and Director Han Yujin, No Need to Worry About the Guildmaster!’”]

[“Arisen Management Hunter B Expresses Deep Regret to Sesung Guildmaster”]

[“Haeyeon Guildmember S: ‘Haeyeon and Dodam Are Forever Together; Sesung Is Merely Business’”]

[“Friendly Afternoon with Dodam Family Captured”]

[“Director Han Yujin and Director Song Taewon Strolling with Baby Beast Song-i”]

[“Breaker Guildmaster on Dodam Director’s Charm: The Truth Behind the Pink Rumors”]

[“Child Protected by Company D Is Alleged to Be Company S’s Biological Son?”]

“Han Yujin.”

When targeting a group, the weakest goes first. Gear watched Han Yujin’s back—F-rank, the weakest among them, yet deeply connected to the S-ranks like the pseudo-Origin. Han Yujin dismounted his bike and affixed a flyer to a utility pole.

[“Hyun-yi, come home!”]

Beneath the bold headline was Hyun-yi’s photo.

[“Your brother always loves you! Please respond. Let’s talk it out!

If you’ve seen Han Hyun-yi, please contact the number below. Ten-billion-won reward.”]

Gear couldn’t fathom why an S-rank adult would post such paper to find someone. Yet cultural differences existed everywhere, so he let it slide. Instead, he sharpened his senses further.

‘About thirty meters to Song Taewon.’

No one would send their weakest without backup. This was bait. Gear activated his invisibility skill to the fullest and crept down the building wall. Watching Han Yujin’s flyer, he exhaled softly.

‘Very friendly with the pseudo-Origin.’

Though a decoy, capturing Han Yujin would be useful. Moreover, Han Yujin was a valuable target attracting Transcendent interest. Gear’s third eye scanned Han Yujin’s back: a bipedal humanoid under 1.8 meters, much smaller than same-gender S-ranks but decent compared to F-ranks. Equipment could raise his final tier to B at best, D at worst. S-ranks buff those they keep close, so likely he had buff-related skills.

Han Yujin gathered his flyers and leapt onto his bike. His legs extended, he hoisted himself up with smooth motion and operated the machine expertly. Though low-rank, his body control and combat experience were evident. As the bike departed, Gear followed along the wall. The machine was fast but not unreachable. Meanwhile, the distance to Song Taewon grew.

After about five minutes, the bike stopped again. Han Yujin posted another flyer. Gear, senses alert, edged closer. Han Yujin glanced into the air. Over a hundred meters separated him from Song Taewon. He mounted again. Gear’s neck scales bristled.

‘This time.’

He would seize him. No other presence was detectable. If the distance widened just a bit more, he could take the bait and disappear. Even if Song Taewon used a machine, he couldn’t arrive in time. The bike roared—accelerating down the empty road. And then—

Thud!

Gear dropped down; his invisibility faded. Han Yujin turned, surprised. Gear stamped the ground. His four suction-cup feet transformed into hooves, perfect for wall attachments. Even among S-ranks, his speed as a quadruped outclassed any biped.

Crunch! The pavement shattered as his steel-like hooves chased the bike. Han Yujin veered sharply, narrowly evading Gear’s outstretched hand. Screech— the bike’s tires slammed the curb, flinging it onto the sidewalk.

Crash!

It smashed through a shop window and burst inside. Gear followed without hesitation. From the overturned bike, Han Yujin looked back.

“Then, goodbye.”

He waved lightly. An inappropriate gesture in their society—highly insulting. Though Gear understood cultural relativity, his reflexive anger flared. He stayed calm, deciding to sever at least one arm and capture him. At that moment—

Boom!

A bomb detonated. Flames and light filled Gear’s view. S-rank items exploded beneath him in a chain reaction. From the collapsing ceiling above—

Rumble—

S-rank adhesive mud poured down. Weakened by the blast, his body was ensnared by the mud—an expendable item that bonded and hardened on contact with living flesh, greatly slowing movement. Though S-rank, such items were typically mid-dungeon fare, unsuitable against equal S-ranks—but this situation differed.

“Ouch, that hurts.”

Despite using his blessing, Han Yujin couldn’t prevent small cuts from shards. He squirted disinfectant on the thin line across his cheek and grumbled. Gear opened his mouth, straining his whole body to break free of the hardened mud. But before he could—

Thud! From the ruined shop window, a spear fired. The blade, stained with black shadow, neutralized the mud’s hardness and drove deep. With a screech— it pierced through and out the other side. The dependent’s body collapsed with the mud.

“Are you all right?”

Han Yujin raised both arms in concern. Yep, he was fine.

“The bike’s destroyed, though. The flyers burned up too. Hyun-yi must not be nearby.”

If they had been, any dependent chasing me would not have ignored them. Any Hyun-yi. Director Song examined the dependent’s corpse and found a mana-stone.

“They’re dangerous, indeed.”

“After Director Song and Mr. Seong Hyunjae’s skirmish, the dependents won’t appear casually. The remaining ones will stay hidden until their skills apply.”

How many had the two captured? The cautious ones likely watched and then vanished.

“Ha-yul couldn’t pinpoint even this one’s location.”

He knew roughly where they were, but strong invisibility made them flicker in and out. Still, this one appeared targeting me. He checked his map on his phone. All across Seoul, red, blue, and yellow markers signified item caches.

Before the Transcendents intruded, Ms. Mun Hyun-ah, the management office, the Hunter Association, and Shishio had set them up worldwide. Though time constraints prevented gathering every high-tier item, they had still scattered an array like landmines—unused ones included.

“Odd that only Ms. Mun Hyun-ah and I have this map.”

He’d planned to share it with Hyun-yi and Ye-rim, but Seong Hyunjae’s proximity prevented it. Since Seong Hyunjae could be hostile, Director Song had agreed. Ultimately, Hyun-yi ended up on the opposite side by accident.

“Luring them out works best. Prevents proper skill use among S-ranks, and they’ll only try to capture me.”

“But be careful.”

“I will. Ha-yul, nearest dependents’ locations.”

[“Near Apgujeong Rodeo. Not exact. I placed a new bike outside!”]

“Well done! Thanks.”

Ha-yul had become adept at manipulating dreams, easily moving mundane items like bikes—like tweaking the dream setting’s background. Stepping outside, Gear found Seong Hyunjae waiting.

“Thought it’d be S-rank bait, but it’s worse than F-rank! Scam, scam. I want a refund.”

“Simple change-of-mind refunds within seven days. Your purchase was last August 30.”

“Then honor the warranty. It’s under a year, but it breaks so often. I might return it as defective.”

“You’ve shot me in the head and stabbed me in the chest, Han Yujin.”

“Hmm, no wonder it broke. It fixes when struck, so I was careless.”

Even if refused free repair for user damage, Gear would understand. Seong Hyunjae held out his hand to Director Song, who, glancing at me, handed over the mana-stone. It felt wrong, but blocking it also felt awkward. Until I found a new method... it was unwarranted interference. It was Seong Hyunjae’s way of living.

I swallowed and contacted Hwangrim.

“How’s the flyer posting going?”

[“Quite the novel experience. He really understands why the Sesung Guildmaster loves him now~.”]

With no one left to target, Hwangrim undertook searching Noah and Riette—and especially Noah’s strength was desperately needed. Having seen Ye-rim’s ability, Hyun-yi wouldn’t attack without a plan.

[“My way to draw out Dal’s sibling would be more effective. No thoughts?”]

“No, none. You madman.”

Dependents needed sorting first. I deleted Hwangrim’s weird message and contacted Peace, who was also seeking the two.

“Peace, all good? Be careful—avoid dependents.”

[“Kiaang!”]

Our Peace is so good. I rechecked the map and mounted the bike. Heading to Apgujeong, Ha-yul’s message arrived.

[“Hyung! Dependents seem to be gathering!”]

“What?”

[“Willow Leaf is nearby too. Butterfly still hidden. Ah, Willow Leaf is blurred now. Did Butterfly help?”]

...So Hyun-yi indeed planned to gather other dependents. Though Hyun-yi usually acted alone, as Guildmaster she led members into battle, far more skilled than now. After even Seong Hyunjae vanished, at twenty-five she’d led allied guilds as Korea’s top Guildmaster.

‘Even with no social instinct, she could learn and execute.’

She’d move with even colder precision.

“Find the positions of dependents not joined yet, as accurately as possible.”

We had to reduce their numbers swiftly. I relayed locations and item cache details to Seong Hyunjae, Director Song, and Hwangrim.

“Drawing them out would be faster, but we have no choice. Go find them however you can.”

“Han Yujin, you wouldn’t–”

“Yes, I will.”

I glanced at Director Song.

“Especially one of them would rather sacrifice me...”

They’d abandon themselves already.

“Using that, huh.”

Seong Hyunjae’s voice sounded piercing. I forced a bitter smile.

“Yes. Anything. So please handle the remaining dependents, and have some fun.”

I started the bike’s engine and sped along the marred road, planning to assess the situation and, if possible, sow discord among the dependents.

‘I’ll get detained at worst.’

But with Ha-yul’s help, escape would be easy. Even if captured, they could pass us information. I checked the map’s item info; if possible, I’d like to eliminate a few first.

“Ha-yul, prepare.”

[“Yes! Hyung!”]

“Rookie, if you have time, help too?”

[“Just say the word, Honey!”]

I increased speed, racing down the wide road. Trees blurred past, and I approached a blinking crosswalk light.

[“Honey!”]

[“Hyung!”]

Clang! The bike snagged on a wire that appeared. The machine flipped upward, and midair I became entangled in another wire.

[“Willow Leaf!”]

Ha-yul’s message blinked. I dangled, the end of the wire hooked on a streetlamp. There stood Hyun-yi. Around her circled about ten of the Butterfly dependents.

“You’re reckless alone.”

“Hyun-yi—”

One butterfly flew at my face, blocking my words.

“Stay put till this ends, hyung.”

I hadn’t expected her to come out to meet me. I appreciated her effort but quickly scanned the surroundings—this street, that building—and messaged Ha-yul. Soon after—

Bang!

An explosion echoed inside the building. A shadow flickered within. Hyun-yi’s gaze turned there, and she moved. Her leg swept at the wire, and a hidden blade sliced the cord. Landing on the road, Hyun-yi looked down at me. This was giving me chills.