While Han Jiwoo was standing alone on the observation deck watching the sunset, a completely different storm was brewing on the top floor of the Hunter Association Headquarters.Inside the Chairman’s private office—a room shielded by multi-layered mana-damping fields and military-grade encryption—deafening silence prevailed. Chairman Kwon Seonghyeok sat behind his desk, his fingers loosely intertwined. Flanking the room were the two S-rank Guild Masters, Choi Kangmin and Lee Taeyun.The casual, almost dismissive demeanor the Chairman had shown during the public meeting was entirely gone."Run a complete, unredacted background check on Han Jiwoo," Chairman Kwon commanded calmly, addressing the chief intelligence analyst standing before his desk. "Every gate entry, every hospital record, his lineage, and his immediate family tree. I want to know exactly how a normal porter suddenly triggers a dungeon core synchronization."The analyst bowed quickly, his fingers flying across a secure, h

Morning sunlight bathed the training grounds as the representatives spread across the arena.Steel clashed.Mana burst into the air.The once quiet field quickly transformed into controlled chaos as pairs began exchanging blows under the watchful eyes of Instructor Baek.Unlike the selection matches, there were no spectators today.Only the representatives remained.Instructor Baek observed every movement without saying a word.After several minutes, he spoke."Stop."Every student immediately lowered their weapons.Baek walked to the center of the field."The National Hunter Academy Tournament is not won by individual strength alone."His eyes swept across the group."There are events where you will fight alone.""There are also events where your teammates determine whether you survive."He raised one finger."Trust."Then another."Communication."A third."Adaptability."He lowered his hand."Those three decide victory more often than talent."Silence settled over the arena.Baek p

The explosion shook the western district.Dust and fragments of artificial stone filled the street.Jiwoo raised his arm to shield his face."Jiwon!"No answer.His eyes moved through the smoke.Three mana signatures.Two had moved.One was still inside the building.Jiwoo's grip tightened around his practice sword.Where is she?A figure suddenly burst through the smoke.Jiwoo stepped forward.His sword came up—Then stopped.Jiwon landed several meters away and slid across the ground.She quickly recovered and looked back at him."I'm fine."Jiwoo stared at her."You call that fine?"She glanced at the broken wall behind her."...Mostly fine."Three students emerged from the smoke.One carried a reinforced shield.Another held a short spear.The third remained behind them, surrounded by a thin mana barrier.Jiwoo immediately recognized the formation.Frontline. Attacker. Support.His eyes moved across the battlefield.The support was protecting something.The core.The spear user wa