chapter 68
After ending his call with Im Won-young,
Lee Hyun stopped by the Central Research Lab before leaving the bunker.
Inside a large glass tank—
an egg was placed.
It was the mysterious fossil he had obtained after killing Heo Se-woon.
But now—
“It’s grown… a lot bigger than before.”
It seemed to have grown at least one and a half times larger.
Now it was much bigger than a human upper body.
Not only that, the patterns on the surface were more distinct, and it seemed to brim with vitality.
It looked as though it was beginning to hatch.
“I should’ve asked the Commander before he left.”
“Could it be… that what Daeseong and Oh-jeong referred to as the ‘spiritual fragrance’ is coming from that thing?”
「That’s right.」
「Kak-kak. Strange, isn’t it? Clearly the inside is empty, and yet such a fragrance can be felt.”」
Son Wukong and Sha Wujing also wore intrigued expressions.
“What do you mean by empty inside?”
「Kak-kak-kak. It means there’s no soul. It’s only natural, really, considering it fossilized after countless years.”
“Is that possible? Even though it’s hatching right now?”
「Which is exactly why we find it so strange. Kak-kak.」
In other words, the body was growing without a soul.
A baffling phenomenon.
“Didn’t he say that thing used to be a great existence?”
He suddenly remembered the words Sha Wujing had muttered to himself.
“What exactly is that egg?”
Lee Hyun looked at Sha Wujing.
Sha Wujing grinned mischievously,
as if to ask, “Can you even handle the answer?”
「A dragon.」
“……!”
* * *
On a bench in Dosan Park,
Im Won-young’s phone was buzzing without rest.
Bzzz. Bzzz.
— Video conference request from UA Steel…
— Zeus’ Sons asking to reconfirm visit schedule…
— Request from National Intelligence Service Deputy Director for cross-verification of intel…
Her life was always busy, but today was particularly chaotic.
All because of the incident that had occurred just a few hours ago in the heart of Seoul.
“These bastards really think we’re idiots.”
Were it not a public place, she would’ve lit up a cigarette immediately.
That’s how irritated she was.
The media was focusing only on the Jeonnong-dong incident, but in truth, clashes had erupted all across Seoul.
And not just anywhere—
but targeting every Z-Team member who was returning from long-term overseas assignments.
When she got Kim Min-jung’s call, she had been at a loss for words.
“The Central Hero Committee is a government body. Overseas, they’ve often clashed with us, but they never fought directly—because they didn’t want to upset the Old Lady. But this time… it’s different.”
That was why she was coordinating so closely with the NIS.
Spying on and tailing foreign nationals inside another country was a blatant violation of sovereignty.
“But they couldn’t have expected that Kim Min-jung and the other Z-Team members would overpower all of them.”
Even she had been surprised—so how shocked must the agents themselves have been?
Because of this, several nations and organizations had already caught wind and tried contacting White Burn separately.
The Committee’s secret special unit, Pingshin, was notorious even abroad.
If one could capture its operatives?
It would be the perfect chance to extract intel on Pingshin.
For Im Won-young, this was an opportunity to massively expand her influence.
But—
that wasn’t what truly enraged her.
“The real culprits who caused the mess are just pretending ignorance.”
Among the executives, voices were already calling for immediate retaliation.
Same with the raid department heads.
For those who wore the name White Burn with pride, this was humiliation.
“We could take a step back, assess carefully, and then act… but no. This isn’t that. There’s something else going on.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“Could it really be Executive Director Jung…?”
One person, usually loud in every meeting, was suspiciously silent this time.
Just then—
Bzzz.
— Since you missed the call, leaving a text. Executive Director Jung Kyuhan’s office is asking if you could meet privately…
Her eyes sharpened, thoughts already racing, and almost unconsciously she pulled out a cigarette.
But—
“Park’s a non-smoking zone.”
A hand snatched the cigarette away.
Looking up, she saw Lee Hyun smiling as he snapped it in half.
For the first time all day, she laughed.
“That was… expensive, you know.”
“I’ll buy you more later. Still cheaper than a fine, isn’t it?”
He tossed the stub into the trash. It went in cleanly.
“How’s your body? From the news, it looked like a hell of a fight. Actually, wait—”
She looked him up and down—then her eyes went wide.
“Team Leader Jang, don’t tell me—?”
Lee Hyun nodded.
“Thanks to the Guild Leader’s gift, it happened sooner than expected.”
“My god! That’s amazing, truly!”
She jumped up and down like a child, far from her usual cynical demeanor.
The fact that Lee Hyun had become a Ranker was enough to blow away all her earlier frustrations.
That excitement was almost… cute.
Lee Hyun couldn’t help but laugh aloud.
“But really—when will you take this back? I’m not exactly in need of protection anymore.”
He showed the protective talisman still on his finger.
“Well, I’m busy now. I’ll come for it later.”
She shook her head in mock exasperation, then lowered her voice.
“That message earlier—it was from Jung Kyuhan, wasn’t it?”
“Yes. Don’t know if he used the Committee’s messenger or was just fishing. But I don’t see any reason to answer.”
She hadn’t replied. Just left it on “read.”
Lee Hyun burst out laughing again.
“By now, he must be burning up inside. After all, this whole mess blew up right after his little contact attempt.”
“So it’s true then—you captured the demon dragon?”
“It’s secured somewhere.”
Her fists clenched. Then she turned and started walking ahead.
“Let’s talk details on the move. I think we both have interesting stories to share.”
* * *
On the way, Lee Hyun only shared the necessary parts of his earlier talk with Yi Gunsan.
“…So in the end, Executive Director Jung is essentially the chief handler for the Central Hero Committee’s Korean operations.”
“Yes. Exactly.”
“But why would someone once considered one of the Old Lady’s right arms do such a thing…?”
Im Won-young couldn’t understand.
She knew Jung was close to the Committee. Personal ties were one thing.
But when private relationships blurred into public matters, it became a whole different story.
He was, after all, a founding member of White Burn. One of San-shin Mo Jeong-gyeon’s most loyal retainers.
“Desire is like fire,” Lee Hyun cut in. “As long as there’s fuel, even the smallest spark grows. If you can supply that fuel yourself, desire becomes aspiration. But the moment you rely on others to feed your fire, it warps into greed.”
“So greed is the problem.”
“It clouds the eyes.”
As she sighed, they stopped walking.
Before them stood a vast mansion, heavily protected by high walls.
“This is it. Though—”
“The atmosphere feels lethal.”
“More than that, actually.”
From beyond the wall, Lee Hyun could sense the murderous auras.
[‘Holy Relic: Fiery Golden Eye’ activates, surveying the hidden legacies within!]
[Warning! Too many hostile legacies are lurking inside.]
[Warning! Numerous feral and murderous legacies detected. Leave the area immediately.]
The mansion wasn’t just guarded by Mo Jeong-gyeon.
Countless savage powers roiled within, more like monsters than simple magical presences.
[Combat Sense (S) sharpens all perceptions.]
[Deep Breath of the Dokkebi (S+) readies itself automatically.]
Even his relics and spirits whispered—
“This place is like an iron fortress.”
“It’s crawling with demons.”
And they weren’t wrong.
“Since the surveillance incident, all executives and domestic team leaders have been on emergency call, meeting here.”
So it wasn’t just Mo Jeong-gyeon inside.
“I’d heard White Burn was tense… but this is beyond what I imagined.”
Son Wukong, who was also using the Fiery Golden Eye, scoffed.
「This Central Hero Committee… are they trying to conquer the world or something?」
“They are one of the biggest powers, yes. But world conquest? Unlikely. China itself only has one top Ranker.”
「Not that Chairman Peng, right?」
“No. He’s on a different path from the Committee.”
「Wouldn’t matter if he was. Still… who in their right mind would pick a fight with this place?」
Even Wukong admitted White Burn’s strength was formidable. Mo Jeong-gyeon alone rivaled his own prime.
But Lee Hyun just shook his head.
“That’s exactly why they went after it. Because it was too tempting.”
「Hmm?」
“Peng Jinghao hates being caged within China’s borders.”
「Ha! Doesn’t even know his place. Well, whatever the case—」
Wukong smirked.
「All that matters is—it’s a place that needs smashing.」
Lee Hyun agreed silently. All the more reason Mo Jeong-gyeon’s betrayal baffled him.
“Better this way. In front of his retainers, he won’t be able to hide his true face.”
As his eyes gleamed—
“Since you’re directly involved, Team Leader Jang, I expect you’ll have much to share. The rest of Z-Team is here too.”
Lee Hyun nodded. He’d already heard his teammates had subdued the tailing agents and handed them to the guild.
Most likely, Mo Jeong-gyeon had then summoned them here.
Beep. Click.
Im Won-young finished the security check and opened the gate.
Beyond a sprawling garden—
stood a grand traditional hanok, tiled roofs gleaming.
In the central courtyard, Mo Jeong-gyeon sat on a cushion, smoking a long pipe.
Around him, half a dozen elders argued furiously.
“Listen, we should smash their skulls right now!”
“Smash what! You want to stir up more noise?”
“So if I punched your face, you’d just sit there?”
“Sit there? I’d punch you twice as hard!”
“Didn’t you just say not to make noise?!”
“That’s different!”
“How is that different!”
…The “debate” wasn’t exactly high-level.
But with so many feral legacies emanating from them, the team leaders standing below dared not interject.
Kim Min-jung, Seo Ae-ri, and Eom Ki-seon kept their mouths shut tight.
“Jung Kyuhan isn’t here…”
Most executives besides him were also absent.
But even so, Lee Hyun could already read the overall mood—and Jung’s intentions—just from this scene.
Then—
Tap!
Mo Jeong-gyeon smiled faintly and tapped his pipe against the floor.
The noise cut off instantly.
“Dragged me out here at dawn just to bicker over nothing. If that’s all you want, I’ll rent you a hall where you can keep yammering.”
The executives coughed awkwardly, glancing aside.
Mo Jeong-gyeon smirked.
“Still, seems someone worthwhile just arrived. I’ll decide whether to throw you out after hearing him.”
Only then did the room notice Lee Hyun.
Eyes turned toward him—some even sparkled.
His aura was overwhelming.
[Legacy, ‘Dokkebi Dance Feast,’ reveals its rank!]
The hall vibrated as his presence filled it.
Lee Hyun even wore the [Cheoyong’s War Dance] relic on his ear.
Now that he’d reawakened as a Ranker, there was no reason to hide his true legacy anymore.
[All surrounding ranks are suppressed!]
“……!”
“……!”
“……!!”
Executives stiffened, team leaders froze.
Lee Hyun bowed politely.
“Thank you for your guidance before.”
“You devoured Baekho’s essence well. I don’t regret giving it to you.”
Mo Jeong-gyeon’s smirk widened.
The executives were shocked.
But Lee Hyun ignored their stares and asked,
“Thanks to that, I’ve changed greatly. But, Guild Leader—I must ask you something.”
“What is it?”
Lee Hyun’s eyes darkened.
“…Have you gone senile?”
“……!
