Return of the Sword God-Rank Civil Servant - Chapter 60
Chapter 60
Ahn Suho checked the name and tucked the documents into his pocket, thinking to himself.
‘Glad I found it faster than expected.’
At this point in time, there wasn’t much clear information about Nam Hae-won, so he had gathered clues and established a search direction, which luckily hit the mark.
Now, the only thing left was to bring him in.
Suho spoke.
“There’s a safe house managed by the Union in Cheongdam, right?”
At the mention of a safe house, she frowned.
“…How do you know about that?”
Of course, he knew.
Coming from a world in the late stage where Gates had nearly vanished, there wasn’t much Suho didn’t know about this world.
Humans were creatures of records, and especially in Korea, people were even more obsessed with documenting things.
On top of that, Suho had access to almost all information, so how could he not know about a local Union branch?
Suho said.
“Yes, well. Let’s just use it, then.”
“You’re aware that there are different grades of safe houses managed by the Guild, right? Especially in Cheongdam—it’s a top-grade…”
“You said you owed me a favor, right?”
“Hey, wasn’t helping with the documents enough to repay that favor?”
“Is Ms. Choi Yoon’s life worth only a few sheets of paper?”
“Come on, you know that’s not what I meant! It’s just, if it were anywhere else, I’d gladly agree, but we’re talking about the Cheongdam safe house here, Cheongdam!”
“Then, can I pay for it?”
“Pardon?”
“I’m asking if paying will do the trick.”
“Ha… Does it have to be in Cheongdam?”
“Do I have to explain why?”
“Ugh…!”
The reason.
It was a very simple one.
It was because Kaiser Cheongdam was in Cheongdam.
‘It’s better to live close by, no matter what.’
Of course, there were other factors too—since Cheongdam was designated as a Safe Zone and the Union operated that safe house. Being a top-grade safe house made it highly reliable.
Choi Yoon leaned back in her chair and lit a cigarette.
After taking a deep drag, she turned her head and exhaled a cloud of smoke.
“There are entry requirements for that place.”
“Requirements?”
“I don’t know how you found out about the Cheongdam safe house, but it’s a place that even Guild members need to meet certain qualifications for. You can’t just pay your way in. Besides, you’re not even affiliated with the Union.”
“So?”
“So, what do you mean, ‘so’? I’m saying it’s not possible.”
“There should be a way.”
At Suho’s words, Choi Yoon looked at him with a bewildered expression.
“What makes you so certain?”
“The Union is a strictly profit-driven organization, isn’t it? In a group that pursues profit, nothing is truly impossible unless it’s an act of nature.”
“That’s true, but…”
“Ask your higher-ups. See if the Union will reject my proposal. They’ll likely use this as an opportunity to make contact with me, so they’ll accept my request.”
“….”
Suho’s confidence left Choi Yoon momentarily speechless.
On second thought, he wasn’t entirely wrong.
The Union, among the organizations in the country, was arguably the most straightforward group.
That’s because, as long as the purpose and the cost-benefit analysis aligned, the Union would agree to almost any deal.
Having nothing to say, Choi Yoon replied.
“Fine, I’ll ask.”
With a cigarette hanging from her mouth, Choi Yoon temporarily stepped away.
She made a phone call somewhere on her cell phone and returned about fifteen minutes later, looking exasperated.
“You… seriously…”
“What did they say?”
“They agreed.”
“See? I told you.”
“They added a condition, though.”
“A condition?”
“Yes, if you accept the condition set by the higher-ups, they’ll not only allow you to use the Cheongdam safe house but will also reduce the fee by half.”
Oh.
This was unexpected.
Even at half-price, the Union’s Cheongdam safe house fee wasn’t a small amount.
However, Suho set a clear boundary.
“I’ll listen to the condition first and decide.”
“A bit picky, aren’t you, for someone asking for a favor?”
“I have to be picky. I’ll soon be joining the Korean Hunter Association.”
He didn’t say, “So be careful.”
And the Union wasn’t foolish.
As the largest underground Guild in the country, the Union had extensive information and a knack for calculating risks.
Choi Yoon spoke.
“They’re asking if you can take down a Gate. The Union possesses a Gate that was recently discovered.”
“Doesn’t the Union have its own people for that? Why go through me?”
“The location of the Gate is too conspicuous. As you know, several conditions need to align to discreetly secure a Gate in the country, and the area they secured this time is just too noticeable.”
“Where is it?”
“Namhansan.”
If it’s there, it would indeed be hard to divert the Gate.
Suho asked.
“What’s the difficulty level and theme?”
“They sent in a reconnaissance team, and they said only those below level 110 can enter. The Gate’s name is Celestial Mountain, and it’s inhabited by wyverns with exceptionally high mobility…”
“Celestial Mountain?”
“Yes, Celestial Mountain. Also, they’re not asking you to tackle it alone; they’re simply requesting you join the team for this run. Even for someone like you, soloing such a Gate would be too much.”
Of course, it seemed plausible that Suho could manage it solo based on his known skills.
But the Union, being strictly profit-driven, sought safe and certain gains rather than extreme ones.
However, Suho’s thoughts differed.
Suho asked.
“By any chance, are the wyverns’ scales sky blue?”
“Huh? How did you know?”
As Choi Yoon stared at him in surprise, Suho smiled inwardly.
So it was the Celestial Mountain he knew.
If that was the case, things had just gotten interesting.
Suho spoke.
“Very well. Is that all I need to do?”
“Yes, and you’ll have to hand over all the loot from within the Gate. There’s a massive stone mountain inside, and at the peak lies the wyvern’s nest. The main prize will likely be the eggs, so just bring them all.”
“How many eggs are there?”
“The scouting team reportedly saw up to six.”
“Understood. When do I start?”
“They said you can start whenever you’re ready.”
“Then let’s leave right now.”
“R-Right now?”
“Yes, right now. And let’s add one more condition.”
“What condition?”
“Tell them I’ll do a solo run, not as part of the raid team. In return, I get to use the Cheongdam safe house for free, and of course, I need the largest space—80 pyeong.”
“How do you even know about the 80-pyeong unit… Are you serious?”
“Have I ever joked with your side?”
“Tch…”
Although Suho’s response was curt, Choi Yoon didn’t feel offended.
In fact, she was surprised.
It wasn’t only the sudden timing that shocked her but also his determination to take on such a challenging place solo.
However, Suho was serious.
Time was precious to him, and he knew exactly what this place held.
***
After each traveling in separate cars, Suho arrived in front of the Wyvern Gate, also known as Celestial Mountain, hidden within Namhansan.
Several Union members were stationed there, as this was still an undisclosed location, with no updates even in the Square.
When Suho appeared with Choi Yoon, the person in charge of the Celestial Mountain Gate approached him.
“So, you’re really Hunter Ahn Suho. It’s a pleasure to meet you; I’m Kim Suwon, the leader and manager of this place.”
“Ahn Suho,” he replied.
Kim Suwon.
He was a Level 110 Hunter, tailored to match the entry requirements of the Celestial Mountain Gate, known as one of the best among Hunters under level 110.
Yet, Suho had no recollection of him.
Which, in the long run, meant he probably wasn’t worth much attention.
Suho shifted his gaze to the Gate and asked.
“That’s the Celestial Mountain Gate?”
“Yes, we’ve already dispatched two teams to scout it out, and the difficulty level is high. First, there’s a massive spiral mountain you must climb, and wyverns constantly assault you, draining a considerable amount of stamina. The wind is fierce, too.”
“But you still climbed Celestial Mountain and found the nest, didn’t you?”
“Yes, but all we managed was finding it. The wyvern attacks were so intense that we had to retreat.”
“Well, it’s fortunate the exit remained open.”
“Yes, well. I’ve been there myself. But… are you really planning to go in alone?”
“Yes.”
“It’ll be tough.”
“I’m aware.”
“I mean it. At the peak of Celestial Mountain…”
“I know about that, too.”
“…?”
Kim Suwon was momentarily at a loss for words at Suho’s firm tone.
What exactly did he know?
However, Kim Suwon didn’t respond with annoyance like an amateur.
Being a Union member and a professional Hunter, he understood better than anyone that, for veterans, life mattered more than pride or money.
With a smile, he replied.
“…Understood. Best of luck. If you need any supplies, we’ll provide as much support as possible from what we have available.”
“I’m fine.”
“…”
It was baffling.
Refusing support supplies on top of everything else?
Any other Hunter would have called it reckless bravado.
But the man before him had already cleared two sealed Gates solo.
Kim Suwon stepped back, thinking this man was on a different level from himself.
Suho moved forward and slowly entered the Gate.
[You are entering the Gate.]
[Loading Gate information.]
[Celestial Mountain]
– Entry requirements: Level 110 or below.
– Maximum entry capacity: 31 people.
The Celestial Mountain Gate.
It was the very Gate he’d seen in the Library of Memories.
With the memory verification complete, Suho proceeded inside.
As Suho’s figure disappeared, Kim Suwon turned to Choi Yoon and asked.
“…Do you think he’ll succeed?”
“I don’t know. The President said it doesn’t matter if he does or doesn’t… But I have a feeling he will.”
“Because he’s Ahn Suho?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm.”
Certainly, the reputation associated with the name Ahn Suho carried a degree of expectation and trust.
But Kim Suwon tilted his head, puzzled.
He couldn’t help it—the Celestial Mountain he had personally encountered was a place that posed considerable challenges for a solo raid.
‘Well, he’ll do whatever he can.’
If he succeeded, he’d become a legend, and if he failed, he’d fall.
Either way, it was bound to be interesting.
Nodding to himself, he moved away.
***
With a shift in his vision, Suho found himself in an unfamiliar space.
Whoooosh!
A loud sound of gusting wind hit his ears.
Suho had awakened inside a cave, and following the light outside, he came upon the towering expanse of Celestial Mountain, stretching endlessly into the sky.
‘So, this is Celestial Mountain.’
Celestial Mountain.
He had seen it in the data archive of the Association.
While it wasn’t classified as a sealed or dangerous Gate, records from the Union later indicated that they had sacrificed many Hunters to clear it.
‘They reportedly used a raid team composed of tanks, archers, and healers.’
Close-combat warriors were deemed useless, and mages were excluded due to low hit rates.
Suho, being a swordsman, neither had experience with a bow nor did he possess one.
Nonetheless, Suho had agreed to tackle this place alone because he had a long-range attack just as effective as a bow.
Summoning the Blood Sword, Suho gripped it firmly.
Whoooosh!
The wind was biting.
And relentless.
Yet Suho, undeterred, looked up the mountain and began to leap.
[Leap activated.]
Suho didn’t follow the spiral path.
Instead, he stepped on the rough protruding surfaces of the rocky mountain, moving in a straight line.
The wind was fierce enough that an ordinary player might get blown off course.
But it had no effect on Suho.
Environmental factors in a Gate varied in impact depending on the player’s stats, and with Suho’s stats being in the Red Grade, the wind of Celestial Mountain barely affected him.
And that’s why he had been so confident.
As he climbed steadily up the mountain—
“Kieeee!”
A swarm of tiny dots flew toward him from afar.
It was none other than a horde of wyverns.