The Forsaken Awakening

Seoul – Black Serpent Nest Dungeon Entrance

Jinhyuk stood outside the Black Serpent Nest, rolling his shoulders as he mentally prepared for the solo raid.

This dungeon was different from his previous ones. The air near the gate felt heavy, the faint scent of blood and damp earth filling his lungs.

"High C-Class mobs, a B-Class boss… this should push me to my limits."

He reached for his HunterNet device to confirm entry—

RING. RING.

A sharp vibration in his pocket stopped him.

Jinhyuk frowned. No one ever called him.

He pulled out his phone, glancing at the screen.

[ Unknown Number ]

But the moment he saw it, his stomach dropped.

Only one person would call him from an untraceable line.

Jinhyuk hesitated, then pressed accept.

"Hello, boss. How are you?" he said, keeping his voice light.

A soft chuckle echoed from the other end.

"Jinhyuk-ah~ you sound so stiff. Relax, it's just a friendly call."

Jinhyuk's grip on his phone tightened.

The voice was smooth, playful, almost lazy. But he knew better.

Seongjun wasn't the kind of man to call without a reason.

Jinhyuk forced a smile. "You don't usually check in. What's the occasion?"

Seongjun sighed dramatically. "Can't a boss see how his new recruit is doing?"

Jinhyuk rolled his eyes. "I'm making progress. Slowly."

That was an understatement.

He had skyrocketed to Level 23, but he wasn't about to tell Seongjun that.

The less this man knew, the better.

---

"Mr. Popular, Huh?"

Seongjun chuckled.

"Good, good… but tell me, Mr. Popular—how exactly did you clear that C-Rank Red Dungeon alone?"

Jinhyuk's muscles tensed.

So Seongjun was keeping tabs on him.

"I was just lucky," Jinhyuk replied casually.

There was a short pause.

Then—Seongjun laughed.

A low, amused laugh that sent chills down Jinhyuk's spine.

"Lucky? That's a funny way of saying 'I'm becoming a monster.'"

Jinhyuk forced a chuckle. "Well, I wouldn't go that far."

"Oh? Then tell me, how many 'lucky' D-Class hunters survive a Red Dungeon and level up so fast?"

Jinhyuk's fingers tapped against his thigh.

This was dangerous.

He needed to redirect the conversation.

"Boss, did you call just to praise me?"

Seongjun hummed.

"You're right. Let's get to the real reason I called."

Jinhyuk's breath slowed.

"Come to the Syndicate HQ. Now."

---

The Order – No Room for Argument

Jinhyuk's jaw tightened.

"Now? Can't it wait? I was just about to enter a dungeon."

Seongjun clicked his tongue. "Cancel it."

Jinhyuk sighed, glancing at the dungeon gate.

"Is it urgent?"

"Of course it is. Why else would I call? Come meet me, Jinhyuk. It's time we had a real talk."

Jinhyuk ran a hand through his hair.

"Can't I come later?"

Seongjun's voice turned sharp.

"No. I want you here. Now."

Silence stretched between them.

Jinhyuk hated this.

He had no real choice.

Even if he refused, Seongjun would find a way to get him there.

Finally, he sighed.

"Fine. Where's the HQ?"

Seongjun chuckled again.

"Good boy. I'll send you the coordinates."

CLICK.

The call ended.

A moment later, a message popped up on Jinhyuk's device.

[ Location Received: Black Wolf Syndicate HQ ]

Jinhyuk stared at it.

His hands clenched into fists.

"What the hell does he want now?"

He turned away from the dungeon gate, slipping his phone into his pocket.

His path had changed.

And he had a bad feeling about what was coming next.

---

Seoul – Black Wolf Syndicate HQ

Jinhyuk stood in front of a seemingly ordinary office building in a quiet part of Seoul. From the outside, it looked like just another corporate high-rise.

But he knew better.

This was the Black Wolf Syndicate's headquarters.

The organization that controlled underground hunter activities, dealing in illegal dungeon trades, monster trafficking, and black-market artifacts.

And its leader, Seongjun, was a man who should have been dead five years ago.

Jinhyuk exhaled. "No turning back now."

He stepped inside.

---

Inside the Den

The lobby was pristine, lined with sleek marble floors and tall glass windows. If he didn't know better, he'd think it was just a normal corporate firm.

But the hunters guarding the entrance told a different story.

They weren't random security.

They were killers.

Every one of them was at least B-Class, their auras sharp, their eyes tracking his every movement.

"They're watching me closely."

A receptionist in a black suit smiled at him.

"Welcome, Mr. Jin Jinhyuk. The boss is expecting you."

She gestured to the elevator.

Jinhyuk hesitated for half a second before stepping inside.

The doors slid shut, and the elevator ascended.

His pulse remained steady.

But deep down, he knew—this meeting was going to change everything.

---

Meeting the Ghost

The elevator doors opened to a private floor, leading to a spacious, dimly lit office.

And at the far end, leaning back in a leather chair, was Seongjun.

The former S-Class hunter.

The man who had been declared dead five years ago.

And yet, he sat there, smiling like nothing was wrong.

"Jinhyuk-ah~ welcome. Have a seat."

Jinhyuk steeled himself and walked forward, sitting across from Seongjun.

Up close, the man looked too young to be a ghost.

His black hair was neatly styled, his sharp features carrying a lazy confidence. He wore a tailored suit, looking more like a CEO than a criminal.

But his golden eyes held something dangerous.

A reminder that he was once an S-Class hunter.

And he could kill Jinhyuk in an instant if he wanted to.

Seongjun poured himself a drink, then smirked.

"Whiskey? Or do you only drink mana potions?"

Jinhyuk didn't react. "I'll pass."

Seongjun chuckled. "Still stiff. Relax, Jinhyuk. I'm not here to kill you."

Jinhyuk's expression remained blank. "Good to know. Why did you call me here?"

Seongjun took a slow sip of his whiskey.

Then, he leaned forward.

"It's time we talk about your real mission."

---

The True Mission

Jinhyuk's fingers tensed slightly.

"I thought my mission was to infiltrate the Department of Hunter Regulations."

Seongjun smirked. "That was just the first step."

Jinhyuk felt a cold chill creep up his spine.

"Then what's the real objective?"

Seongjun's eyes gleamed.

"Find out what the DHR is hiding about the Forgotten One."

Jinhyuk's blood froze.

The Forgotten One.

The entity that had given him his powers.

The same being whose Servant had nearly killed him inside the Blood Library.

Jinhyuk kept his face neutral.

"And why do you care about the Forgotten One?"

Seongjun chuckled. "Because, Jinhyuk… the world isn't what you think it is."

He swirled his whiskey glass, then continued.

"The DHR isn't just a government organization. They're hiding something—something big. And it has everything to do with where Gates really come from."

Jinhyuk remained silent.

Seongjun studied him, then smirked.

"You've already noticed, haven't you?"

Jinhyuk's eyes narrowed.

"Noticed what?"

Seongjun leaned back.

"Your power. It doesn't work like a normal hunter's."

Jinhyuk stiffened.

"Most hunters gain abilities from the system. But you… you were chosen by something else."

His golden eyes locked onto Jinhyuk's.

"You weren't supposed to exist."

Jinhyuk's heartbeat pounded.

"You're saying the DHR knows about my power?"

Seongjun grinned.

"Oh, they will. If they haven't already."

Jinhyuk's breath slowed.

This was bad.

He had worked hard to hide his progress, but now it seemed he wasn't the only one looking for answers.

---

A New Threat

Seongjun set his glass down, his tone shifting.

"I need you to get close to them. Get inside their ranks. Find out what they know."

Jinhyuk exhaled.

"And if they already know about me?"

Seongjun's smirk widened.

"Then we'll deal with it."

Jinhyuk didn't like that answer.

But refusing wasn't an option.

Not yet.

Seongjun leaned forward, voice lower.

"Listen, Jinhyuk. Whether you like it or not, you're already involved. You can keep playing the obedient little hunter…"

His eyes gleamed.

"Or you can find out the truth."

Jinhyuk said nothing.

His mind raced.

The DHR. The Forgotten One. The Servant.

None of this was normal.

And now he was stuck between two sides he couldn't trust.

Finally, he nodded.

"Fine. I'll do it."

Seongjun grinned.

"That's the spirit."

Then, his voice dropped to a whisper.

"Welcome to the real game, Jinhyuk."

Jinhyuk stood up, turning toward the door.

He didn't need to hear anything else.

He had a new mission.

And it was far more dangerous than he had ever imagined.