**Episode 6
For the Family (3)**
Du-ho blinked groggily, still half-asleep, and looked at Isto.
“…Did you stay up all night using the internet?”
Behind Isto, an old laptop hummed, overheating.
Du-ho frowned as he glanced at the screen.
Hunter training videos.
‘Where did you even find those?’
- Ah! There’s plenty of useful stuff on the dark web.
“WHAT?!”
He jumped out of bed and immediately shut the laptop down.
“Why would you go there?!”
- I used IP masking, so it’s fine.
“That’s not the point!”
Then his eyes landed on the mana stone pouch.
“…You ate some, didn’t you?”
- Processing data consumes energy.
Du-ho sighed.
It wasn’t a waste—
Isto had earned them.
Still…
‘This could become a problem.’
Suddenly—
- I’ll show you results!
“…Results?”
- Here we go—!
A flood of information slammed into his brain.
“Ghh—!”
Clutching his head—
“…What did you just do?!”
- Uploaded swordsmanship.
“…Swordsmanship?”
- It should feel natural.
And it did.
Movements. Footwork. Instincts.
Like muscle memory.
Then—
“…This is assassination technique!”
- Just in case. My loyalty.
Du-ho grabbed Isto’s head.
“WHAT did you watch?!”
- A man named Vlad Su. I optimized his techniques for you.
‘…Vlad Su?!’
- Yes. Apparently the strongest in the underworld.
Du-ho froze.
‘He’s an Interpol red notice assassin!!’
- Exactly. Which proves his skill.
“…I’m going insane.”
Yet—
a dangerous confidence crept in.
‘I could actually take someone down…’
Then a thought:
‘Do I really have to put up with Park anymore?’
Not revenge.
But—
‘I don’t have to be the weak one anymore.’
Still—
He wouldn’t quit his job.
Why?
‘Access to parts.’
The Machine Upcycling Department was full of them.
‘Better a stupid boss than none.’
“First—register as an Awakened.”
He submitted a half-day leave request.
* * *
At the Hunter Management Bureau—
He snuck into the office.
Avoiding cameras using his new skills.
‘…This actually works?’
Park wasn’t there.
As usual.
Du-ho collected parts.
“Isto, come help.”
Ripple—
Isto appeared.
- A fellow unit?
“Not like you.”
- Ah, I’m special.
“Yes. Specially troublesome.”
- …Eh.
They stored everything in the Garage.
Then—
Registration.
The clerk froze.
“…You’re 26?”
“Yes.”
“If this is true—”
Du-ho pointed to a checkbox.
“No public disclosure.”
“…Understood.”
Soon—
5,000,000 coins deposited.
“…That fast?”
“Your mana stones?”
“…I’ll keep them.”
- It’s fine. We can get more.
Du-ho nodded.
“Memories.”
* * *
Meanwhile—
Park Gyu-tae stormed into the office.
“Im Du-ho, you bastard!”
His anger froze.
“…Where is it?”
The android—
gone.
“…What?!”
* * *
On a bus—
Du-ho stared out the window.
‘Mom’s eyesight…’
- Is that why you’re entering the Abyss?
“…Money.”
- I’ll help you earn it.
“…Thanks.”
Buzz.
Caller: Park.
- “YOU—!”
Click.
Ignored.
Again.
Ignored.
Finally—
- “Don’t hang up! Listen!”
“…I’m listening.”
- “You took the android, didn’t you?!”
“No.”
- “Don’t lie!”
“I’m on leave.”
- “Come back and fix it!”
“…I’ll come in the afternoon.”
- “You—!”
Click.
Du-ho ended it.
‘So this is what leverage feels like.’
The bus crossed the river.
Then—
He saw it.
The Abyss zone.
Massive skyscrapers forming a circle.
At the center—
‘That’s where it is…’
Five towering buildings.
Owned by the five great hunter families.
- I looked it up.
“…How?”
- Dark web.
“…Of course.”
- Three zones:
1st – Great families
2nd – Commerce & housing
3rd – Guilds
“…Got it.”
- Hansan Guild is in Zone 3.
“…Why mention that?”
- Future subordinates.
“…Please stop.”
The bus stopped.
- “Awakened ID required.”
A hunter boarded.
Du-ho showed his ID.
Name: Im Du-ho
Registered: 2069
Some passengers were forced to leave.
He watched them.
‘I’ve crossed over…’
The bus moved again.
The city changed.
Bigger buildings.
Weapon shops.
Item stores.
A different world.
Then—
Final stop.
- “Abyss Entrance.”
“….”
Du-ho stood up.
A chill ran down his spine.
This—
was the beginning.
