Chapter 50 ….
Déjà Vu (3)
“Choi Yeon here.”
Choi Yeon introduced himself.
On the other end of the line came the flustered voice of a middle-aged man. It was Yoon Min-gi, caught while smuggling monsters.
Who is this?
“I’m Choi Yeon.”
…Ah, is that so? So you’re Choi Yeon, huh? Then I’m… Choi Yeon too?
“……?”
Choi Yeon pulled his smartphone away from his ear and stared at the screen. He wanted to see the other person’s face.
Choi Yeon…? Was this man seriously confused about his own identity?
Come to think of it, Headream Detective Agency could make sleep-inducing fragrances. Could it be they’ve crossed the line and are dealing with drugs now?
While suspicion began to sprout and grow, the other side became noisy.
Hey, hey, is this Choi Yeon? Yeah, that Choi Yeon! Director! Pick up the phone! Who’s going to answer then? Jo Seong-cheol’s just saying the same thing! Hurry up and pick it up!
After a round of commotion, a low voice came through, accompanied by a cough.
Ahem, ahem. Switched the phone. This is Director Choi Dong-pil.
“Hello.”
Hey, how’s it going?
“I’ll get straight to the point.”
Y-Yeah! Go ahead!
Director Choi Dong-pil sounded nervous. The sound of him swallowing was audible.
Why so scared? Would someone think he was being arrested…? Ah, right, I arrested him before.
Memories of what happened under the Hyeonam Bridge resurfaced: the detective agency staff, the trainers, even a mysterious snake. It was already a month ago—time flies.
“Do you know anything about Red Pang?”
If you mean the ones operating in Yuseong District, yeah. That’s the D-rank guild led by Lee Kwang-moo.
“Yes, that’s right.”
Why do you ask?
“Could you give me some information if you have any?”
…….
There was no reply to Choi Yeon’s request.
Only a light breathing sound came through, evenly spaced—not showing discomfort or awkwardness.
What’s going on?
“Hello?”
Huh…?
“I asked if you had information. Did you hear me?”
Yeah, I heard it. Loud and clear.
Choi Dong-pil chuckled. Seeing him suddenly laugh after a moment of silence reignited Choi Yeon’s earlier suspicion.
Were these Headream Detective Agency people really handling drugs?
Phew, time flies. I heard the same thing from that guy and now you too.
“That guy…?”
Yep. The one with the extremely dirty eyes.
“……?”
But at least now he’s using polite speech, so that’s a bit better, right?
“…I don’t know.”
How would I know that?
Instead of arguing, Choi Yeon quietly responded. That alone was enough to steer the conversation back to the main point.
As before, Choi Dong-pil cleared his throat and continued.
Ahem! You want information? Then, Choi Yeon, what will you give us?
“What should I give you?”
Huh.
“……”
Our Headream Detective Agency doesn’t work for free!
Of course, everyone operates that way. Choi Yeon mumbled to himself and thought for a moment.
Choi Dong-pil implied he wanted something beyond money.
As a detective agency director, the answer was easy.
Haven’t they always said it?
“I can maintain a close relationship with Seonhwa-dong University, just like now.”
Choi Yeon said softly.
Technically, that meant he wasn’t giving them anything, but…
Hahaha!
The satisfaction in Choi Dong-pil’s laugh came through the phone.
A loud thunk echoed—he had hit something.
That’s enough! Should we send the information by messenger?
“Isn’t that inconvenient?”
Alright. Then decrypt it.
“Okay.”
Choi Yeon set the delivery method and ended the call. Then he launched the Decrypt app.
He only needed to send the information he had collected; it would take just a few minutes. As expected, an email arrived within minutes.
Ding.
He pressed the view button, and the information unfolded. The volume was far larger than expected.
“So that’s why…”
Choi Yeon chuckled.
No wonder the evaluations about Red Pang were ridiculously positive—they were all lies.
“Hmm…”
Choi Yeon tapped the ground with his foot a few times.
He tried sitting in a chair with a fallen armrest and tapped the outer wall of a public parking building.
“Oh, it’s sturdier than I thought.”
Lee Seong-jun stared at Choi Yeon curiously as he examined the back alley, but Choi Yeon continued without concern.
Lee Seong-jun lowered his gaze to the pad in his hands.
[Forced volunteer work for new members]
[Loot theft and distribution manipulation]
[Quest reward omissions]
[SNS manipulation, fake review writing]
[New member threats and brainwashing]
⋮
“Red Pang sent its members deep into remote dungeons. They disguised it as social volunteer work, but it was a scam to pocket extra money.”
“So those online articles…?”
“Yes. Paid articles to make it look good.”
“All of them?”
“The forced activity of guild members on SNS was also mandatory.”
“Why do they all sound so good…?”
Lee Seong-jun clicked on SNS-related entries in the table of contents.
[This record investigates Red Pang’s official SNS operations and issues with member review writing. Focuses on inappropriate promotion activities, like forcing positive reviews.
Required positive reviews, using specific phrases like #family-like guild #growing together.
Notes: fake phones provided by the guild for reviews.]
“This… what the…”
“Surprising, isn’t it?”
“Does this actually work?”
“Yes. New Red Pang members joined because they believed the SNS.”
“……”
Lee Seong-jun was speechless. He couldn’t even argue—they really existed.
Would he have been different? Yesterday, he had seen only the good evaluations.
“…Loot theft is clearly illegal, right?”
“Exactly why Red Pang created a ‘communal ownership system.’”
“Communal…?”
“If they got rare items, they said everyone could use them, but only the executives used them nonstop, claiming items were lost or selling them off.”
“…….”
Lee Seong-jun squeezed his eyes shut.
What would have happened if he met Red Pang members today without knowing any of this? Like the new members who joined trusting the SNS.
“Even asking to meet the next day was probably to leave no time to find this out.”
“Gasp…”
Lee Seong-jun was horrified by Red Pang’s cunning. He hadn’t realized that even the next-day meeting request was part of the scam.
“…So, if you see nothing but good reviews, you should always be suspicious.”
“Exactly!”
Lee Seong-jun eagerly agreed. The thought of writing fake reviews for Red Pang haunted him.
“If I hadn’t met Choi Yeon yesterday, I’d have been caught for sure.”
“Phew…! Thank you so much for checking this out.”
“No need to thank me. It’s nothing.”
“I wouldn’t even want to meet them if I could help it…”
“That wouldn’t be wise. Being courteous benefits you too.”
“That’s true. Then… Hunter, I have a favor.”
“Shall I accompany you?”
“Could you?”
Choi Yeon smiled at Lee Seong-jun’s hopeful eyes. Why not?
“Of course. That’s part of a Dongdae Hunter’s job.”
It was a rare chance to legally go outside. He had intended this from the start.
Unaware of Choi Yeon’s thoughts, Lee Seong-jun bowed deeply.
“Really, thank you for everything!”
“No, I should be thanking you.”
“Excuse me? Why?”
“…Never mind, I misspoke.”
“……?”
“Anyway.”
Choi Yeon skillfully changed the topic, pointing at the chair he had sat on earlier.
“I have a question. This chair—if someone waits for about ten minutes, would they sit?”
“Hmm… I think so. If it’s too dirty, maybe not, but this should be fine…”
“Exactly.”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
Creak, creak….
He laughed, satisfied, and began adjusting the chair.
Lee Seong-jun watched curiously, but only saw hands flailing in the air.
His question remained unanswered.
“Alright. It’s done.”
…Done what?
Lee Seong-jun tilted his head. The chair seemed to be silently waiting for someone to sit.
About five minutes from Central Road Station Exit 1, the cafe was quiet.
The only ones occupying seats were Choi Yeon and Lee Seong-jun, occasionally getting takeout Americanos.
“…….”
After the minute hand passed the expected mark by seven ticks, the door opened, and a muscular middle-aged man entered.
It was Lee Kwang-moo, Red Pang’s master.
Dressed casually, he scanned the cafe and walked toward the only two patrons.
“…Lee Seong-jun?”
“Yes, hello.”
“Nice to meet you.”
Lee Kwang-moo extended his thick hand with a broad smile. It seemed friendly, but Lee Seong-jun tensed even more.
Of course—he knew someone who smiled like that could still strike from behind.
He also found the late arrival without apology awkward. He tried not to show he knew. His goal was to decline a scout, not to lecture Red Pang.
Lee Kwang-moo turned to Choi Yeon.
“And you are?”
“An acquaintance. It’s my first time doing this, so I asked him to come along.”
“Ah, a junior. Nice to meet you.”
“I’m Kim Ho-won.”
Choi Yeon lied.
After all, the other person intended to deceive them too—this little trick was harmless.
Lee Kwang-moo’s gaze swung back to Lee Seong-jun. Still smiling, he felt even more intimidating.
“I’m fine, but usually it’s better to mention these things beforehand.”
“Sorry. I didn’t think it through.”
“Okay. Be careful next time.”
“Yes, yes….”
“By the way, Kim Ho-won?”
Lee Kwang-moo’s eyes returned to Choi Yeon, moving back and forth.
Choi Yeon mirrored a smile—a friendly one meant to deceive.
“Um, that’s a new name to me.”
“Because I’m an E-rank Hunter. Red Pang’s guild master, C-rank Hunter Lee Kwang-moo wouldn’t know me.”
“Haha! You speak nicely. But… can I ask you something?”
“Yes, go ahead.”
“Don’t get me wrong.”
Oh… That makes me even more curious.
Choi Yeon decided to follow through.
“I’m really curious. Your eyes… are they always like that?”
“Yes, they are.”
“Huh, I see. Never seen slanted eyes like that. Interesting. Understand?”
“Yes, many people say so.”
“Good. Then let’s get to the main point.”
Thwack. Lee Kwang-moo rubbed his hands together.
It looked petty, but that was only because Choi Yeon had already seen through his greed.
