In the corridors of the Phoenix Reborn Guild, Eun paced with worry, thoughts of her missing brother consuming her. In a sudden moment of realization, a plan formed in her mind - she could utilize her ability to track cleared dungeons and survivors to uncover information about her brother's whereabouts.
Without hesitation, Eun rushed to her office. Once there, she swiftly logged into the Hunter Association's website. However, accessing this particular website required an intranet connection provided only to the top five guilds in the nation. It was a secure connection reserved for S-rank or higher-ranked hunters. Eun understood that this was a resource not accessible through her mobile internet.
Undeterred, she navigated through the secure connection, delving into the records of past cleared dungeons and their survivors. Her focus honed in on the day her brother had disappeared.
As she scrolled through the data, her eyes caught something unusual - a dungeon unaffiliated with any guild. It was a mysterious entry, detailing an instance where five hunters had entered, yet only one had emerged as a survivor. The identity of this lone survivor remained shrouded in mystery, a puzzle piece in Eun's search for her brother.
Grabbing a pen and paper, Eun wrote down the name of the guard who had been stationed at the location when her brother had gone missing. The urgency of her search fueled her actions, and she understood the importance of gathering any piece of information that could help her find him.
Despite the late hour, Eun couldn't shake off the unease that gnawed at her heart. The night was a torment, her mind gripped by anxiety. Sleep eluded her as she counted down the minutes until morning.
As the first rays of dawn broke through, Eun's determination solidified. Without wasting any time, she hurried to the Hunter Association. The weight of her worry lent speed to her steps, propelling her towards the answers she desperately wanted. Upon reaching the association, her eyes locked onto the guard's name she had noted down.
Eun walked into the Hunter Association building and headed straight for the office of the guards who were on duty when her brother disappeared. She opened the office door with a determined thud and entered the room with a strong sense of purpose.
Inside, she looked around for the two guards who were responsible for the undead dungeon. She found them sitting at their desks, working on their computers.
"You two, were you the guards at the undead dungeon on May 15th?" Eun inquired sternly.
"Yes, we were," They responded with hesitancy, clearly taken aback by Eun's direct approach.
"Did you happen to see my brother entering the dungeon?" Eun asked, displaying a photograph of Dong to them.
They examined the photo, racking their memories, and a sudden realization dawned on their faces.
"Ah, yes, we remember him. He entered the dungeon with six other hunters, but only one came out alive."
"Can you describe the hunter who survived the dungeon?" Eun requested.
"He was tall, had long white hair, a sturdy build, blue eyes, and was dressed in black attire. He had a look that resembled someone of Chinese descent," they described the surviving hunter to Eun.
"Darn it, damn it! So he's the Demonic Hunter I encountered at the entrance of the Hunter Association building. I wish I had managed to capture him back then," Eun exclaimed in frustration, her regret palpable in her words.
"You clueless fool, how could you let the killer of your brother slip away?" Athena retorted to Eun with an eerie laughter and a mocking smile.
"No, no, he can't be dead. He can't be!" Eun's shock was palpable as she vehemently denied the thought of her brother's death. Overwhelmed, she sank to her knees, tears streaming down her face as she cried in the guard room, the weight of her emotions consuming her.
Eun left the Hunter Association with a heavy heart, determined to find the accursed Demonic Hunter. She set out to track him down, knowing it wouldn't be easy. She needed to wait for the right moment when he'd show up again.
On the other hand, Yu Hajoon, an A-rank assassin hunter, went to a hidden alley black market. This was a place where many infamous hunters operated. It was a spot for buying and selling artifacts, as well as offering contracts for killing people or hunters. Yu Hajoon placed a reward on the Demonic Hunter. He told them that if they found him, they should secretly attach a tracker to him. This way, Yu Hajoon could hunt him down once he appeared.
In Heo's house, he woke up quite late in the morning. He yawned and stretched in bed, lazily scratching his belly. With his eyes half-closed, he went through the motions of brushing his teeth and having breakfast. Once he was done, he spent some time reading. Eventually, he opened the front gate of his house and stepped outside.
"I could really use some money. I've got loot from the Undead Dungeon that I could sell. Perhaps I can use the proceeds to buy the materials I need for upgrading the ring," Heo contemplated aloud.
"Though I can't sell this through official channels. If I do, it'll be clear that I'm involved. I have to sell it through unofficial means, like the black market," He added, considering his options carefully.
Heo began walking towards the Black Market. This market was situated in the farthest outskirts, nestled within a dark and shadowy alley. As he neared the market, he took the precaution of altering his appearance once more to conceal his true face. The Black Market was a perilous place, and Heo understood the need for caution.
"Hmm... I need to find someone to whom I can sell the loot," Heo muttered to himself, his thoughts focused on his objective.
Heo carefully surveyed the surroundings, his gaze sweeping the area in search of a suitable person to whom he could sell the loot. After a while of searching, he spotted a shop within the black market that seemed like a viable option for his purpose.
While he engaged in this transaction, he remained acutely aware of his surroundings, his heightened senses alerting him to the many hunters who regarded him with malicious intent. Despite the hostile attention, Heo's inner thoughts simmered with a sense of anticipation. He harbored an eagerness to confront those hostile hunters, yet he knew he had a task at hand that needed his attention first.
"I could probably give you around 10,000 for these," a shady shopkeeper offered, attempting to take advantage of Heo by offering a lower amount.
However, Heo was well aware of the shopkeeper's tricks. He engaged in a tough round of bargaining, haggling with the shopkeeper. After a persistent negotiation, he managed to sell all of his loot for a whopping 1 million.
In reality, it was Heo's skill 'Mind Palace' that played a pivotal role. He used it as a last resort, manipulating shopkeeper memories to deceive into buying all the loot for 1 million. He then proceeded to use the money to purchase all the necessary materials for upgrading his ring. With only five thousand currency units remaining, he left the store feeling satisfied with his successful maneuver.
"So, he's the one we need to tag with the tracker. Quite an easy task when the prey walks right into our hands," A concealed hunter remarked from the shadows, their presence unbeknownst to Heo. Their sinister smiles and suppressed laughter remained hidden, yet their intentions were evident in their words.