The Hunter Association Registry Office was a place of boredom. Bureaucrats stamped papers, drank bad coffee, and ignored the long lines of hunters.
Ren walked up to the counter, cutting the line.
"Hey! Wait your turn!" a burly tank yelled.
Ren ignored him. He slammed the scroll onto the counter.
The clerk, a balding man named Mr. Park, sighed. "Ticket number?"
"I don't have a ticket," Ren said. "I have a property claim. I need to register a Guild Territory."
"You need a Guild first, kid. And a deposit. And a physical address."
"I have the address." Ren tapped the scroll.
Mr. Park lazily unrolled it. He adjusted his glasses. He read the first line. He frowned. He read the coordinates.
His face went pale.
"District 9? This... this covers the entire western sector of Gangnam."
"Correct."
"But... that's where Golden Dawn is located. And the Silver Wing warehouse. And the Hyundai Mall."
"Correct."
"You can't claim land that's already owned!" Mr. Park pushed the scroll back. "This is a mistake. Get out before I call security."
Ren leaned in. His eyes were cold.
"Article 4, Section 2 of the Special Hunter Property Act," Ren recited from memory. "Any land deed recovered as a Dungeon Drop supersedes pre-Awakening ownership, provided the land was within the Dungeon's influence zone."
Mr. Park froze. He knew the law. It was an obscure rule meant for reclaiming monster-infested wastelands. It was never meant to be used on downtown Seoul.
"The Goblin's Treasury was located under the subway station," Ren continued. "Its influence zone covers District 9. The law is absolute, Mr. Park. Register it. Or I'll sue the Association for negligence. I know a reporter at the Daily Hunter who would love that story."
Mr. Park's hands shook. He typed into his computer.
Click. Clack. Ding.
[System Update: Territory 'District 9' ownership transferred to User: Ren.]
"It's... it's done," Mr. Park whispered, looking like he was about to vomit. "You realize you just declared war on the biggest guild in the country?"
Ren took the stamped deed.
"No, Mr. Park. I didn't declare war."
Ren checked his phone. He opened the text message app.
"I just became their landlord."
...
The Golden Dawn Headquarters was a skyscraper of glass and steel. It screamed wealth.
Ren walked into the lobby wearing his cheap suit, with Ha-Eun trailing behind him like a nervous bodyguard.
Security guards blocked their path instantly.
"Appointment?" the guard grunted.
"I'm the owner of this building," Ren said cheerfully. "I'm here to do a health and safety inspection."
The guard blinked. "Get lost, kid. Before I—"
"Sir!" An executive ran out of the elevator, sweating profusely. He had just received a call from the Association. "Let him through! Let him through!"
The executive bowed nervously to Ren. "Mr... Ren? The Guild Master is expecting you."
They took the private elevator to the top floor. The Penthouse.
The doors opened to reveal a lavish office. Standing by the window, looking out over the city he thought he owned, was Lucas.
Lucas turned around. He was handsome, blonde, and radiated S-Rank pressure. The 'Hero of Humanity.'
"So," Lucas smiled, but his eyes were dead. "You're the rat."
Ren walked in and sat on the leather sofa without being asked. He crossed his legs.
"Nice view," Ren said. "Rent is due, by the way."
Lucas laughed. It was a terrifying sound. The air in the room grew heavy. Ha-Eun gasped, falling to her knees under the pressure of his aura.
"You think a piece of paper makes you my master?" Lucas walked toward Ren. "I could kill you right now. I could incinerate you, and the police would thank me for removing a trespasser."
"True," Ren admitted, not even sweating. "You could."
Ren pulled out his phone. He placed it on the table.
"But if you kill me, an email goes out to the Hunter Association Ethics Committee. And the press."
"I have nothing to hide."
"Really?" Ren activated his [Future Stock Market] eyes.
He looked at Lucas's inventory.
[Target: Lucas]
[Hidden Item: Heart of the Dragon]
[Origin: Stolen from the National Treasury Vault during the Busan Raid]
Ren smiled.
"The Heart of the Dragon," Ren whispered. "You stole it three days ago. You claimed the raid failed and the item was lost. But it's in your spatial inventory right now, isn't it?"
Lucas froze. The pressure in the room vanished instantly.
"How..." Lucas's voice cracked. "How do you know that?"
"I know a lot of things," Ren leaned forward. "If the government finds out their 'Hero' stole a National Treasure... you'll be executed. No trial."
Lucas stared at Ren. For the first time in ten years, the predator felt fear. This F-Rank wasn't just a rat. He was a viper.
"What do you want?" Lucas hissed.
"I want the eviction notice to disappear," Ren said calmly. "You can keep your building. You can keep your little guild."
"And?"
"And you pay rent. $50 million a month."
"That's extortion!"
"That's business," Ren stood up. "First payment is due by midnight. Or I hit send."
Ren motioned for Ha-Eun to get up.
"Let's go, Ha-Eun. I'm craving a burger. We can afford the expensive ones now."
Ren walked out of the office, leaving the strongest man in Korea shaking with rage in his own penthouse.
As the elevator doors closed, Ren let out a breath he had been holding.
[Heart Rate: 150 BPM]
"You're crazy," Ha-Eun whispered, staring at him. "You just blackmailed Lucas."
"I told you," Ren smirked, checking his bank account as the notification dinged.
[Deposit Received: $50,000,000]
"We're playing Monopoly. And I just bought the boardwalk."