Kim Taewon had personally made several calls under Han Jinhyuk's orders.
And among them, there was one request Jinhyuk had emphasized repeatedly.
No matter the cost, these specific individuals had to be brought to Japan.
The first was Lee Jaewon.
Korea's strongest shield user and one of the KHA's central S-Rank hunters.
Convincing him, however, proved far more difficult than expected.
"...I would like to formally request your assistance," Kim Taewon said calmly through the phone. "Hunter Saber is currently operating within Japanese territory against a monster of immeasurable rank."
Silence lingered briefly on the other end.
Then Lee Jaewon finally spoke.
"I must decline."
His tone was neither arrogant nor emotional.
Simply firm.
"As an S-Rank hunter affiliated with the KHA, I cannot independently enter another nation's territory and engage in combat without official approval." He paused briefly before continuing. "The Association would never authorize such a thing on such short notice."
Kim Taewon had expected that response.
Lee Jaewon was infamous for being uncompromising when it came to regulations.
A man who followed procedure with almost frightening sincerity.
"Even if I were to reveal Saber's identity?" Kim Taewon asked smoothly.
A faint sigh came through the receiver.
"With all due respect, Hunter Kim, personal favors hold little value to me."
Lee Jaewon's voice remained steady.
"Even if Saber were indebted to me, that alone would not justify violating international protocol."
Kim Taewon's expression didn't change in the slightest.
Instead, his voice grew quieter.
"Then what if the one indebted to you was the Angel?"
For the first time since the call began, Lee Jaewon fell silent.
Kim Taewon continued calmly.
"As you are aware, Hunter Angel possesses healing abilities beyond modern standards. There are records of her restoring individuals who were considered clinically unsalvageable."
Still silence.
The implication was obvious.
A favor from Saber was one thing.
But owing a life debt from the world's greatest healer?
That was an entirely different matter.
Several long seconds passed before Lee Jaewon finally spoke again.
"...I understand."
His voice remained composed, though noticeably heavier than before.
"However, I will move independently."
A clear line.
"The KHA will not be involved in this operation, nor will I represent them officially."
"Understood."
"Additionally," Lee Jaewon added, "since this deployment is unofficial, I trust you will handle all administrative consequences afterward."
Only then did Kim Taewon allow himself a faint smile.
"Of course."
On the other hand, the second person Kim Taewon contacted was Gilbert Kingsley.
Unlike Lee Jaewon, reaching him was surprisingly easy.
The moment Kim Taewon approached him under Saber's name, the line connected almost immediately.
And convincing him?
That part took even less effort.
The instant the names "Saber" and "Angel" were mentioned together, Gilbert accepted the request without hesitation.
It was almost too easy.
Gilbert Kingsley was famous for being unusually humble despite his status.
Born into overwhelming wealth, blessed with talent, appearance, influence, and even a family known for its harmony, he was the kind of man the world favored endlessly.
People often described him as down-to-earth.
Polite. Elegant. Charismatic.
But among those who truly knew him, there was one trait that stood above all else.
Curiosity.
An insatiable kind of curiosity.
Because people like Gilbert Kingsley inevitably reached a point where ordinary things no longer interested them.
There was very little in this world he could not obtain if he desired it.
Which was precisely why Saber fascinated him so deeply.
The unidentified hunter known only as humanity's hero.
A man powerful enough to influence global events while leaving behind almost no trace of his existence.
No nationality.
No official records.
No confirmed appearance.
Even after exhausting countless resources and private investigations, Gilbert had found absolutely nothing.
As though Saber had never existed in the first place.
And yet—
Such a figure undeniably did exist.
That contradiction alone was enough to capture Gilbert's attention completely.
So when Kim Taewon calmly placed information regarding both Saber and Angel directly in front of him—
How could he possibly refuse?
To Gilbert Kingsley, this was less a request for aid...
And more an invitation toward the greatest mystery in the world.
·•—–٠✤٠—–•·
About half an hour had passed since Jinhyuk had been stalling for time. He did so that when a fight ever occurs, which is inevitable, there would be less harm to the japanese citizens around,
However, the one person he hoped to never get involved in this had appeared.
"What are you doing here!" He looked at Seo Elena.
"Its okay, Hyuk-ah. I'll support you."
He was just as frustrated as Minwoo was to Hyein. Their special people had voluntarily walked into danger all on their own without knowing how dangerous it was just being here.
"How baffling. We have looked all over for you, but youve always been hidden by ▓▓, so it was hard tracking you down. To think you would walk into my hands, how wonderful this is."
Jinhyuk hid her behind him, grabbing her wrist and making sure she was safe.
『 Quest Activated! 』
『 Due to the acceleration of the future, defeat a member of the Hiigh Council of the Aquacorls to unlock all of your memories and skills.
Reward:
‣ Memory Synchronization: 100% ▲
Failure to comply results in death. 』
"It seems like ▓▓, that traitor, is making its move. I should hurry as well." the creature spoke to himself more than telling them, and in just an instant, the creature closed the distance between them.
Jinhyuk managed to block the chain that aimed for Elena's face, making her tremble in shock. Everything happened so fast that her knees almost fell from the shock, but there was no time to dwell on it as it kept moving without rest.
Elena was put at the far back with Hyein, only becoming burdens in a fight like this.
Still, with her memories somewhat recovered, she can at least be useful despite being in the distance. So, she used her healing ability whenever they needed it.
『 Under The Oak Tree 』
You cannot win against their kind. If what you said is true, and they know how the system works, using the system against them is like throwing water in water.
"Then what in the world can we do?"
[ You are an anomaly. With the system in your control, you stand a chance ]
The notification didn't have any name categorized to it, so I assumed the one talking was the system.
"You said that by using the system more dungeons will open. I can't do that."
[ The casuality for this direct conversation will result in my loss of consciousness for eons. This may be my last time talking to you, Elena. ]
[ Dungeons are manageable. However, Abberants are creatures who understands the system so using abilities influenced by the system is useless. You are the only hope to stopping my kind from causing more chaos around the universe. ]
"Then... what am I supposed to do? I don't understand anything at all."
Suddenly, the Aquacorl tried to push its way through, using all kinds of devastating ability, but thanks to the arrival of a familiar individual, he managed to block the oncoming attacks.
It was Lee Jaewon.
"What in the world is this monster...!" He had just arrived moments ago and he was already in combat as soon as he got there.
"These lesser beings are much stronger than what was initially studied!" The creature looked visibly upset, as they were struggling with the fight.
Despite using all kinds of skills from chain binding to a skill that can even mimic Lee Jaewon's skill, while utilizing it better than he did, he still couldn't get past through them.
Even if he understood how the system was used and influenced, and even if it can copy or mimic skills, there was a vast difference in experience of battle.
It fought like it studied movements, but the hunters here have been fighting to death, risking their lives everytime.
"Stop! Stop at once!" The creature yelled, its attention solely focused on Seo Elena whose eyes had gone as if she were looking into something else entirely.
"We need time!" Hyein yelled from the distance as she protected Elena's body.
Angered, the Aquacorl creature's skin ripple turned dark, "I have not intended to eradicate you lots as you were top quality breedable humans. However, you have tested my grace enough."
The aura around the Aquacorl had completely changed, and suddenly it rushed forward to Elena at full speed. Swords hovering around it that appeared out of nowhere was only seconds away from hitting her.
If it wasn't for the appearance of Gilbert Kingsley coming in with a prince like suit, using his gravity skill to push down the swords aimed for Elena's throat, she would've probably met her death then and there.
"Let go of me at once!" The creature, in the eyes of others who couldn't understand, sounded like it was snarling.
It threw all kinds of abilities at the hunters, pushing them back as they tried to do everything it took to protect Seo Elena.
The pressure crashing down from Gilbert's gravity distorted the street beneath them.
Concrete split.
Streetlights bent inward.
Yet the Aquacorl still forced itself forward inch by inch, muscles twitching violently beneath its rippling skin.
Lee Jaewon immediately stepped forward.
A massive translucent barrier bloomed into existence—
KWAAAAANG!!
The impact shook the district. Even Jaewon's feet slid several meters backward. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
"What insane output..." he muttered under his breath.
The creature was becoming stronger.
No.. Not stronger. It was more.. desperate.
Jinhyuk noticed it immediately. Its attention wasn't on defeating them anymore. It only cared about reaching Seo Elena. And that terrified him more than anything.
"Elena!" he shouted without looking back. "What are you seeing?"
Her pupils trembled violently.
The world around her seemed distant.
[ Synchronization Progress: 71% ▲ ]
The system notifications flickered erratically before her eyes.
Just as they were successfully pushing the creature back, two figures from the sky had suddenly dropped to the ground next to it, creature huge craters around and destroying the surrounding.
Everything was already destroyed, but with two more of a being they struggled to fight, just how will they survive this?