.Days passed slowly after the events of the Double Dungeon, but the world did not become calm.
In every news report and every hunters' forum, the name of that dungeon was repeated like an open wound. A dungeon that appeared suddenly, then disappeared the same way, leaving behind more questions than answers.
What happened inside became a subject of endless speculation. However, the biggest shock was not the monsters or the deaths, but the violent clash between the hunter Thomas Andre and the hunter Kim Yuwon.
A clash between two S-rank powers, in a place where something like that should never have happened.
Only four hunters took part in that cursed raid, and in the end, all four of them chose silence.
Thomas Andre returned to the United States, along with Hwang Dongsoo, as if nothing had happened.
As for Liu Zhigang, he returned to China and disappeared from the spotlight, refusing all interviews and comments.
It was as if there was an unspoken agreement.
But one name stood out, because its absence was louder than everyone else's silence.
Hunter Kim Yuwon… disappeared.
Yes, he vanished completely.
No records, no bank activity, no public appearances, not even a confirmed rumor.
After his plan failed, and after realizing that he had become a direct enemy of both Thomas Andre and the Shadow Monarch, Louis made his decision.
He left the Hunters Association, cut all ties with the world, and disappeared as if he had never existed.
In a moment of weakness, he even thought about ending this stage of the mission.
To be satisfied with the S-rank he had obtained, return to the "real world," and prepare to make up for it in the next world.
But the idea did not last long.
In the end, he chose to continue, searching for a way to change the situation.
While the world was staring at the empty space left behind by the Double Dungeon,
a group arrived in South Korea… unnoticed by everyone.
An unexpected group.
Six people stood silently near the place where the Double Dungeon once existed.
The air there still carried a strange feeling, as if the magic itself had not fully left.
They were led by a young man with clear European features,
blond hair, blue eyes, and a cold gaze that missed nothing.
One of them said while staring at the empty space:
"Do you really think this is where the main events of the mission will happen?"
The blond young man did not answer.
He continued to observe the place for a long time, as if reading something only he could see.
After a moment, he said calmly:
"At first, I was doubtful… but now I am sure."
The others exchanged looks.
Another person asked cautiously:
"Why? According to the system, the place with the highest magical density in this world is the country called the United States of America. Isn't that why we chose it as our starting point?"
That was true.
These six were among the players who entered the same stage as Louis.
But because they chose the United States as their starting point, their paths never crossed with his.
The blond man finally turned to them and said:
"Then how do you explain what happened here?"
Silence followed.
Then one of them spoke impatiently:
"Alright, that's enough, Johan. Just tell us—if this country is the center of the main events of the mission, how do we investigate it?"
At that moment, his name became clear.
Johan Albert.
The heir of the famous sword family 'Albert',
one of the leading families in tower exploration among humanity.
Johan smiled lightly and said:
"It's simple."
He paused, then continued:
"Among the people who entered this dungeon, four of them were S-rank."
He slowly raised a finger.
"So tell me… why was there a weak E-rank hunter among them?"
Everyone held their breath.
"And not just any hunter,"
Johan added calmly,
"but the one known as the weakest hunter in the world."
A heavy silence filled the air as they waited for him to continue.
Johan said:
"Haven't you already understood how the Tower works, from the worlds we've passed through?"
Then he smiled again, this time more deeply.
"In seventy percent of those worlds, the hero grows from the weakest point… to a level that shocks everyone with his strength."
One of them asked hesitantly:
"Do you mean… that E-rank hunter is the hero of this world?"
Johan shrugged.
"Who knows?"
Then he added while staring into the distance again:
"But shouldn't we observe for a while? If that hunter becomes stronger in a short time… wouldn't that answer all our questions?"
The smile never left his face.
One of them said:
"So… we should watch that person called 'Song'… something."
Johan replied immediately:
"Song Jin-Woo."
Then he continued firmly:
"Yes, we must watch him. But not only him."
He turned to the rest of the group.
"We also need to find the location of the hunter named Kim Yuwon. If I'm not mistaken, he's the player we saw in the waiting room."
His expression hardened slightly.
"If he has some internal knowledge, then choosing this country as his starting point was not a coincidence."
He paused, then said with confidence:
"And he will definitely… not leave it."
And at that moment,
between the world's silence, Louis's disappearance,
and the shadows watching the movements of the weakest hunter in the world…
the threads of a new stage slowly began to tighten.
*** ***
In another place, far from the noise of the cities and away from the eyes of hunters,
on the top of a rocky mountain covered in fog and hit by cold sea winds,
Louis was sitting alone.
He sat on a sharp-edged rock, his back facing the gray sky,
his eyes fixed on the screen of his mobile phone.
His fingers moved slowly as he scrolled through the news spreading across the internet—
repeated headlines, conflicting analyses, and endless discussions about the Double Dungeon.
The dungeon had disappeared…
but its impact had not.
A faint smile appeared on Louis's lips, with no warmth in it.
What caught his attention the most
was only one thing.
Thomas Andre had said nothing.
He did not announce that Louis was the thief who dared to steal from both
the Scavenger Guild and the American Hunters Association.
Louis clicked his tongue slowly.
After all, Thomas was not stupid.
Louis knew that very well.
Thomas Andre had recognized Kamish's daggers the moment Louis used them during his fight with the Engineer.
Even though Louis tried to change their appearance, using Conqueror Haki to distort their shape and hide their true nature…
it was not enough.
Thomas's perception was not fooled.
The weapon was clear to him.
— So why the silence?
— Or… does he plan to hunt me down himself?
The thought slipped into Louis's mind like a cold thorn.
While he was lost in thought, a sharp sound cut through the air—an irritating screech, like endless metal scraping.
Louis's muscles tightened.
The sound was getting closer.
Screech…
then a louder screech…
then dozens of sounds mixing together.
He lowered his phone and slowly raised his head, then looked down the mountain.
And there it was…
Another swarm of ant monsters, moving like a red sea, shiny bodies, sharp jaws,
and eyes empty of all reason.
They kept coming… without stopping.
Yes, Louis was currently on Jeju Island.
The island of death.
The land of ants.
After his plan failed, and after his calculations collapsed inside the Double Dungeon, he decided to take advantage of the situation instead of running blindly.
Anger alone was not enough.
Louis was not someone who acted without gaining something in return.
Some time ago, he had discovered an important truth:
magic stones taken from dungeons are special items that can be brought into the real world.
Wealth.
Power.
A way to make up for some of his losses.
And with the fact that Beru had not appeared yet...
At this stage, was a dangerous place…
but also one that could be exploited.
So he sneaked onto the island,
not only to mine magic stones,
but also…
to release his anger.
And these ants… were perfect victims.
He knew the risks, but he was prepared.
And if he felt even for a moment that the situation became unfavorable,
there was only one thing he needed to do:Teleport.
Louis stood up.
Around him, dozens of ant corpses were scattered,
and the sharp smell of blood filled the air.
He rolled his shoulders as if warming up for a light exercise,
then slowly extended his hand.
Kamish's daggers appeared in his grip.
Louis moved toward the approaching swarm, his eyes shining with cold killing intent.
He said with a crooked smile:
"Alright… shall we enjoy ourselves?"