NTN 25

Chapter 25

Clearing the Battlefield

“This is what Ashland is really like.”

After a long pause, Jang Mok-hwa said with a self-deprecating laugh.

Seong Geon-woo responded in a low voice,

“Looks like it’s been opened more than twenty times.”

This could be inferred from the creases on the letter and the condition of the paper.

Jang Mok-hwa intended to reassure him that since she was in a situation where she had to kill to survive, he didn’t need to feel too guilty. Then, as if recalling something, she tapped Seong Geon-woo on the shoulder.

“Everyone has two sides. Some even have more. This person showed completely different attitudes toward their own child and a stranger.

As strangers, we don’t need to worry about the child of someone who lost their father. All we have to do is be grateful we’re alive.

I know what you’re thinking. I’ve heard about it too. But what I can tell you for sure is that anyone from our company would never fall to the level of a desert bandit. If they do loot, it’s only the transport teams of hostile forces.”

Seong Geon-woo silently refolded the letter and put it into the coat pocket of the desert bandit leader.

Then, he unfolded another crumpled letter.

**[Mission: Explore the northern area of Weilu Station and gather information related to the target.

Target: Male, background unknown, approximately 180 cm tall, black hair, golden eyes, very handsome and charismatic. Wears a trench coat, boots, gloves, and always keeps hair neatly combed, unlike a typical desert wanderer. Risk level: High.

Reward: 1 ton of standard-grade flour (guaranteed by the guild).

Mission rank: C

Credit score: 100]**

“That’s a Hunter Guild request,” Jang Mok-hwa explained briefly and then picked up the badge Seong Geon-woo had found.

“Weilu Station is one of the Old World ruins inside the Black Swamp Desert. If you go further north from there, you’ll reach the depths of a massive swamp. It’s full of dangers.”

As she spoke, she examined the badge in her hand.

On the front of the brass badge was a faintly embossed human face, with a sword on one cheek and a spear on the other. On the back was a small chip.

It was a Hunter Guild badge.

Jang Mok-hwa placed her left index finger on the chip. A barely perceptible electrical current flickered.

A few seconds later, she withdrew her finger and smiled.

“He’s a formal hunter.”

The title “formal hunter” distinguished ruin hunters within the guild.

This distinction was mostly unrelated to skill; it was based solely on credit score. The Hunter Guild was initially created to facilitate better exchange of information and resources, not as a ladder to higher status.

In guild transactions, trust was more important than skill.

Inspired by Old World records, the first guild president established a credit scoring system.

Ruin hunters accumulated credit scores by completing missions, trading, or providing reliable information. The score was separate from their compensation; they ran parallel.

Once a newcomer accumulated about 100 points, they could be promoted to formal hunter. Higher ranks included intermediate, veteran, advanced, and master hunters.

To climb the ranks, one had to complete missions and trades. Low-rank hunters with low credit had limits on the missions and trades they could undertake, and other hunters wouldn’t trust them without a guarantee from high-credit hunters.

Thus, even newcomers could surpass advanced or master hunters in skill. However, surviving numerous missions and accumulating sufficient credit in the dangerous Ashland was far from easy. Advanced and master hunters typically outperformed others in skill, team strength, and controlled resources.

Low credit didn’t mean weak, but high credit often indicated strength, at least in specific areas.

Because of this, the guild strictly managed contract violations, rule-breaking, fraud, and failed trades. Offenses led to credit deductions, and details were recorded in the badge chip. Serious cases could result in expulsion and inclusion on blacklists. Blacklisted hunters were often called “black hunters.” Disseminating this information across Ashland’s poorly connected guilds could take months or longer.

Whether ruin hunters doubled as bandits or killers was irrelevant to the guild unless it affected missions or trades.

There was also a title called “chief hunter,” an honorary rank given to experienced hunters, one per guild per area.

Seong Geon-woo, having learned this in training, wasn’t puzzled by the formal hunter title, though he still stared silently at Jang Mok-hwa.

She looked down at him and suddenly smiled.

“Curious how I can read the chip on a hunter badge, huh?”

Reading it required special devices used across the guild.

Seong Geon-woo nodded openly.

Jang Mok-hwa raised her left arm.

“It’s a bioengineered prosthetic in the style of an electric eel. Installing a chip, sensors, and data lines that use electricity is perfectly reasonable. Reading the chip is easy; erasing and rewriting is the hard part. These are specialized chips and devices purchased collectively from Machine Heaven. The tech is quite advanced.”

Seong Geon-woo’s curiosity piqued.

“Do modern bio-prosthetics come with electronic and mechanical devices?”

“Yes. You know our philosophy: ‘If it’s useful, it’s worth it.’ The intersection of bio, electronics, and mechanics is a research focus. Large factions are trying exoskeletons combined with AI helmets to make practical powered armor.”

Jang Mok-hwa continued explaining leisurely but suddenly let out a short gasp.

Seong Geon-woo immediately reached for the Ice Moss handle.

“Haha, my legs went numb from crouching too long.”

Embarrassed, Jang Mok-hwa stood up and stretched, her long hair swinging behind her.

When Seong Geon-woo stood, she spoke again.

“This mission is weird. Searching for information on a single person in the Black Swamp Desert is like casting a net into the sea and hoping to catch one specific fish.”

Seong Geon-woo responded,

“Have you ever been to the sea?”

“…That’s not what I meant.”

She clicked her tongue.

“I’ve seen real lakes, at least. The sea would be much larger.”

Ignoring her, he continued the previous topic.

“Maybe it’s not a mission for just one hunter.”

“Exactly. The more nets you throw, the better.”

She agreed.

At the same time, both exclaimed,

“He’s loaded!”

Paying everyone who could provide valid information would make even one ton of flour insufficient.

Jang Mok-hwa looked toward the northern Weilu Station in the swamp, muttering,

“What’s up with this guy? He’s getting so much attention.”

At that moment, Baek Sae-byeok, having finished repairs, sat in the driver’s seat and started the jeep. A loud, alarming noise sounded, clearly not normal.

Peering out, he shouted to Jang Mok-hwa,

“Team leader, there’s damage in the back and elsewhere. We can move it, but we can’t speed up. And it could stall at any moment.”

Jang Mok-hwa asked seriously,

“Can’t it be fixed?”

Baek shook his head.

“I can fix it, but we don’t have the parts. There’s a desert wanderer base not far from here. We could reach it in two or three hours and see if we can trade for what we need. If the jeep breaks down, I can go on that motorcycle.”

He pointed to a relatively intact large motorcycle. The other was destroyed by an explosion, reduced to scrap metal.

Jang Mok-hwa thought for two seconds, then said,

“Fine.”

Baek Sae-byeok and Seong Geon-woo searched the remaining two bodies. Their haul:

• One slightly damaged large motorcycle

• Two small submachine guns

• Some submachine gun ammo

• Useful parts from the destroyed motorcycle

• Half a loaf of bread

• A few hand-rolled cigarettes

• A submachine gun from the leader

Yong Yeohong returned carrying a light machine gun while wearing his exoskeleton.

“These three submachine guns all use 9mm bullets, the most common type. The ammo we brought is plenty!”

Jang Mok-hwa examined the loot with joy, then sighed at the 7.92mm light machine gun.

“Can’t use that for now. Load it in the car; we’ll trade it or take it to the company later.”

Baek frowned.

“If we put all this in the trunk, there won’t be room for the exoskeleton.”

“The exoskeleton goes in the passenger seat. We’ll take turns riding the motorcycle. Three people can even fit on the back seat; it’s wide enough,” Jang Mok-hwa replied.

Baek hesitated, then said,

“The motorcycle needs fuel. We might not supply it in time, so it’s better to hand it over during a trade.”

Jang Mok-hwa looked around instead of replying.

“Good. Now everyone, pick up any visible shell casings—they’re strategic resources too.

Yong Yeohong, take off your exoskeleton. Save the battery; we only have one high-performance spare.”

The solar charger on the roof could only charge the jeep once per day.

“Yes, team leader!”

Yong Yeohong pointed at something on the roadside.

“What about that?”

It was the massive corpse of a Black Swamp Armored Lizard.

Jang Mok-hwa frowned slightly.

“We can’t take that… no need to eat it. Mutated from contamination, it’s better left alone unless we really need it. No need for the venom glands either; we have no sealed containers, and the liquid inside would evaporate easily. If mishandled, the lizard might take revenge without us knowing. Just skin it; we can take that. Fold it and load it on the car roof. Its skin is an excellent biological material. The research department will love it—they’ve been making biomimetic armor from similar materials.

Yong Yeohong, you handle it while wearing the exoskeleton. The helmet has a gas-proof function. If I remember right, it also has a high-temperature cutting feature. Remember: start from the eyes and mouth.”

END