Once alone, Jae-Hyun accessed the system’s menu, bringing up the details of his new reward.
Quest Enhancer: Enhances the rewards of active quests. Increases difficulty proportionally.
The description was straightforward, but its implications were immense. Stronger rewards meant faster progression, but the increased difficulty could easily turn a manageable quest into a deadly one. Jae-Hyun’s lips pressed into a thin line. The system always offered power at a cost.
“Let’s see how this plays out,” he muttered to himself, dismissing the menu for now.
----------------------------------------
Navigating through the city’s labyrinthine streets, Jae-Hyun kept his hood low and his steps deliberate. His goal was simple: gather information on the Silver Talon Guild and the rising gate activity. He avoided the larger crowds, sticking to quieter alleys and lesser-known taverns where whispers carried more weight than shouts.
In a dimly lit bar on the city’s outskirts, Jae-Hyun found his first lead. The patrons were a mix of mercenaries and lower-ranked adventurers, their armor scuffed and their expressions weary. He slid into a corner booth, his presence largely ignored until he placed a small stack of coins on the table. The bartender, a wiry man with sharp eyes, approached cautiously.
“What are you buying?” the man asked, his voice low.
“Information,” Jae-Hyun replied, his tone cold. “What’s the Silver Talon Guild been up to?”
The bartender’s eyes flickered with recognition at the name but quickly narrowed in suspicion. “Why do you care?”
“That’s my business. Just tell me what you know.”
The man hesitated before speaking. “Rumors say they’ve been stretched thin lately. Too many gates, not enough manpower. Their leader’s been keeping a low profile, but the vice-leader’s been... active. People say he’s looking for something. Or someone.”
Jae-Hyun’s gaze hardened. He pushed another pile of bills across the table. “What about the Tower? Any activity there?”
The bartender glanced around before leaning in closer. “They’re saying a new floor opened recently. No one’s made it back yet to confirm. But if it’s true... well, you know what that means.”
Jae-Hyun nodded and stood, pulling his hood further down as he left the bar. The pieces were beginning to align, but he needed more.
----------------------------------------
Meanwhile, Ahri wandered the streets, searching for a place to stay. She marveled at the variety of people and goods, from street performers juggling flames to merchants selling exotic wares. It was overwhelming but exhilarating.
Eventually, she found a modest hotel tucked away near the city center. The building had a clean but unassuming exterior, its faded sign swinging slightly in the breeze. Stepping inside, Ahri was greeted by a kind-eyed older woman who ran the place.
“Two rooms,” Ahri said after a brief pause, glancing at the rate sheet on the counter. Her eyes widened slightly at the price. “That’s… a bit steep.”
She hesitated, pulling out the card before sending Jae-Hyun a quick message: "Rooms here are expensive. You sure about this?"
The reply came almost immediately: "Just get them. Doesn’t matter."
With a small sigh, Ahri handed over the card. “Two rooms, then.” Once Ahri secured the rooms at the hotel, she decided to wait for Jae-Hyun at a small cafe nearby. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the air, mingling with the soft hum of conversation. She ordered a drink and sat near the window, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingling with the soft clink of glasses and the murmur of nearby conversations. The café was warm and inviting, a stark contrast to the harsh world outside. Ahri glanced at her phone, idly scrolling as she let the cozy atmosphere ease her tension.
Curiosity got the better of her as she typed in the name: Silver Talon Guild. What she found made her pause. Articles and scattered mentions revealed more than she had anticipated: Jae-Hyun’s connection to the guild, his fall from grace, and even hints about his sister, Mi-rae. According to one report, Jae-Hyun had been declared dead during a failed expedition, a tragic event that added to the guild's notoriety. His sister, Mi-rae, was frequently mentioned in the same breath, celebrated as a prodigy whose potential had captivated the guild's higher-ups.
Ahri frowned as she leaned back in her chair, the café’s warm light reflecting on her phone screen. Dead? That doesn’t line up at all. She glanced out the window, her thoughts swirling. The man she traveled with was alive and exuding power—an enigma that didn’t match the reports. What else aren’t you telling me, Jae-Hyun? The pieces started to align, but the full picture remained elusive.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
When Jae-Hyun arrived, his hood was drawn low, and his presence caused a subtle shift in the air. Ahri waved him over, her expression unreadable.
“You’re late,” she said, her tone light but carrying a hint of curiosity.
Jae-Hyun sat across from her, slipping the key she handed earlier into his pocket. “I got what I needed. What about you?”
Ahri leaned back slightly, studying him. “I got us two rooms at the hotel. Near the center, like you asked. It wasn’t cheap.”
“It’s fine,” he said, brushing off her concern. His gaze sharpened as he noticed her hesitance. “What else?”
Ahri leaned forward, her eyes narrowing slightly. “You keep a lot to yourself, don’t you?” she asked, her voice sharper now. Her gaze held his, unrelenting.
Jae-Hyun hesitated, the weight of her words pressing against the wall he had carefully built around himself. Finally, he sighed, his voice low and deliberate. “It’s more complicated than you think.”
Jae-Hyun didn’t respond, his expression unreadable. She tapped her phone lightly on the table before speaking again. “I know who you are. Or at least, who you were. The Silver Talon Guild, your sister Mi-rae... why didn’t you tell me?”
Jae-Hyun’s eyes flickered briefly, his calm exterior cracking for a split second. “I’m sorry,” Jae-Hyun said, his voice quieter than before. “It didn’t matter at the time. I just… I just want to get back with my sister and get my revenge on them.”
“Doesn’t matter?” Ahri pressed, her tone firm. “You’re tied to a guild that’s practically a household name, and you’re connected to a girl people call a prodigy. How does that not matter?”
“It matters when I say it does,” Jae-Hyun said coldly, his gaze steady. “For now, I need to know everything about the Silver Talon Guild—my father, my brother, their operations. That’s all that’s important.”
Ahri studied him for a moment before sighing. “Fine. But you’re going to have to explain it all to me eventually. No more secrets.”
Jae-Hyun leaned back slightly, his tone softening. “When the time comes. For now, we focus on what’s ahead.”
As they finished their drinks, the soft glow of the city lights filtered through the cafe windows, painting their silhouettes against the bustling streets outside. Despite the calm moment, both knew that the road ahead would be anything but peaceful. The real challenges lay ahead.
As night descended over Seoul, the city’s energy persisted, its streets alive with activity even as Jae-Hyun and Ahri returned to their hotel. The hustle of merchants, adventurers, and ordinary citizens gradually faded behind the hotel’s doors, replaced by the subdued hum of the lobby.
Jae-Hyun quietly accepted the key from Ahri and headed to his room without a word. Once inside, he tossed his coat onto the bed and leaned against the wall, exhaling slowly. The events of the past day replayed in his mind: the Twilight Vale, the fracture, and the revelations shared with Ahri. His body still carried the lingering ache of exertion, but that wasn’t what weighed on him.
He pulled up his system interface, scanning through the notifications he had dismissed earlier.
System Notification: Quest Complete.
* Experience Gained: 27, 980 XP.
* Level Up: 29.
* Stat Points Gained: 45.
Another notification blinked below:
Eclipse Domain Progress: 22%.
Jae-Hyun frowned, the percentage burning in his vision like a quiet warning. The domain keeps growing, he thought, his mind drawn back to the uncontrollable surge of power he had experienced during the battle in the Twilight Vale. It had been exhilarating but dangerous. The cost of losing himself to it was a line he couldn’t afford to cross again. Not if he wanted to protect Ahri.
Dismissing the notifications, he scrolled through the system shop, his gaze skimming over new items that had appeared. Among them was the Fracture Key, an item he had noticed before but hadn’t yet considered. Previously marked as Rank D, it had now risen to Rank C.
He hovered over the description, the system offering its usual cold, detached explanation.
Fracture Key (Rank C): Unlocks access to a ranked fracture dimension. Danger level corresponds to rank. Higher rewards await those who dare.
Jae-Hyun’s mind flickered back to the last fracture he had faced. It had been grueling, pushing him to his limits. But now, with his recent growth and determination to ascend further, he felt ready to take on the challenge.
The system’s faint chuckle echoed in his mind.
“Time to push the limits,” he muttered.
----------------------------------------
Elsewhere, deep within the fortified walls of the Silver Talon Guild, two figures stood in a dimly lit chamber. Tae-Jun, the vice-leader, leaned against a heavy oak table, his expression sharp and calculated. Across from him, his father and guild leader, Min-Seok, regarded him with a mix of irritation and intrigue.
“You’re saying he’s alive?” Min-Seok’s voice was low, but the weight of his words filled the room.
“Someone spotted him in a village,” Tae-Jun replied, his tone clipped. “There’s no mistaking it. The description matches perfectly.”
Min-Seok’s fingers tapped rhythmically against the table. “If he’s alive, then it’s only a matter of time before he becomes a problem.”
“He already is,” Tae-Jun countered. “If word spreads, it won’t just tarnish our reputation. It will raise questions about the expedition and his death.”
The elder man’s gaze darkened. “We’ll raise the bounty. Double it.”
“Double?” Tae-Jun arched a brow. “That’s significant.”
Min-Seok leaned forward, his voice a growl. “I don’t care what it costs. No one can know he survived. And if he’s foolish enough to come here… we’ll make sure he doesn’t leave.”