The All-Master of Cyberpunk-Chapter 31

“Oh, if that's the case…”

Ryu Jin turned his gaze to the disintegrating corpse of the Creeping Disaster. This had been one of Namjin Front's biggest goals.

Unlike Ryu Jin and the Dongseong Guild, whose primary objective was the glory of subduing a special mutant, Namjin Front's main goal for this operation was to avenge the humiliation of 15 years ago.

With such a creature finally taken down, it was no surprise that Jung Dae-ho felt a mix of emotions.

A goal built on hatred rarely provided complete satisfaction when achieved.

“And there were quite a few casualties. There’s barely enough time to honor the dead before moving on.”

Jung Dae-ho closed his eyes briefly. Five members were lost—four B-rank and one A-rank hunter had fallen to the Creeping Disaster’s attacks.

Three were dead, and two were critically injured. While they might have survived, they would no longer be able to continue their careers as hunters.

Ryu Jin silently agreed. Unlike Namjin Front, which operated under a strict military hierarchy, Dongseong maintained a thoroughly horizontal structure.

Despite the rank differences, everyone fought together in operations as close friends and comrades.

“…Dong-hoon’s death is regrettable.”

Ryu Jin reflected on the faces of his comrades one last time. A brief silence followed as he recalled those he had shared many moments with.

But mourning could not go on forever.

This operation was about subduing a special mutant, one that had wreaked havoc across Gyeongsang Province 15 years ago.

As the two leading guilds involved, they needed to discuss the distribution of the benefits.

“We agreed to hand over the mutant's soul stone to the government and split the sale proceeds. But what about the guild autonomous zone?”

Guild autonomous zones.

This was the condition that Namjin Front and Dongseong had demanded from the Daegu Green Zone government in exchange for subduing the Creeping Disaster.

Currently, too much power was concentrated in the hands of the autonomous government in the Daegu Green Zone.

Unlike other regions where governments, corporations, and hunter guilds maintained a balance of power and mutual oversight, Daegu’s power structure was extremely lopsided.

While it was necessary for the government to exert strong control during the early days of the Great Chaos to stabilize Daegu rapidly, times had changed.

The current government's policies had failed. The lawless state of Nam-gu was evidence enough.

Despite being the front line against mutant infestations, the government was also to blame for allowing societal systems to deteriorate this badly.

Both Ryu Jin and Jung Dae-ho knew better than anyone how corrupt the Daegu Green Zone had become.

Ryu Jin saw this as an opportunity to use Dongseong as a stepping stone to enter the central stage, while also aiming to restructure Daegu’s power dynamics.

Some cities in Seoul were managed by a single hunter guild; why shouldn’t Daegu follow suit?

“Honestly, Colonel Jung, you’re not completely uninterested in power, are you? Continuously deploying forces in Dalseo-gu and establishing hunter camps must be for the same reason.”

“…Huuu.”

Jung Dae-ho exhaled a cloud of smoke. Even with his demeanor, he was still a guild leader, implying he could read the situation.

And it was true.

Today's operation proved it. They had successfully handled a special mutant. With Daegu Green Zone’s combined forces, they could reclaim more territory beyond the walls.

But the Defense Commanders were reluctant to act, despite knowing this.

They had become complacent within the walls.

Even after defeating the Creeping Disaster, would they take bold action? Jung Dae-ho doubted it.

What was the point of expanding territory when they couldn’t even manage the society within the walls?

In such a scenario, an autonomous government led by hunter guilds seemed more reasonable. Instead of a corrupt government influenced by political and economic cartels.

“Honestly, if we joined forces, we could take over Daegu Green Zone, but that wouldn’t look good.”

Jung Dae-ho nodded at Ryu Jin’s words.

“So I do plan to shake things up… Hey, why is that helicopter so close?!”

Just as Ryu Jin was about to raise his voice over the low-flying helicopter’s noise.

Thwack!

Bzzt, bzzt!!

“...?!”

“Huh?”

“What… Ryu Jin, what the hell are you doing…!!”

“What? No, this is…!!”

Ryu Jin's hand had pierced Jung Dae-ho’s abdomen. Both their faces twisted simultaneously.

Unable to react to the sudden attack, Namjin Front’s guild leader desperately tried to pull Ryu Jin's arm out.

But the black wings, which should have been deactivated, whirred to life, turning Jung Dae-ho into a pincushion with the 12mm heavy machine gun mounted inside.

“Grr…”

Without even a scream, the Namjin Front guild leader died. Blood splattered on Ryu Jin’s face.

“What’s happening?! Why am I doing this?! Ma Seong-chan! Ma Seong-chan!!”

The chaos wasn’t limited to Ryu Jin.

Rat-a-tat! Bang bang!

Screeech! Boom!

“What the hell are you doing?! Stop! What’s happening?!”

“Stop! What are you doing?! He’s on our side!!”

“Aaaah!!! My arm! My arm!!!”

The stadium, which had just been celebrating a historic victory, was once again filled with the noise of battle.

“We’ve succeeded, Director!”

“Confirmed.”

Seo Yi-kyung clenched her fist as she watched the chaos unfold. She turned her gaze to Lee Jae-sung, the leader of the Daegu Industrial Union.

Indeed, a rare man of ambition these days. She had sensed it from their first private meeting.

‘I’m tired of this. What’s the point of being the third guild leader? We’re all just struggling to survive anyway.’

A few months ago, Lee Jae-sung had requested a one-on-one meeting with Seo Yi-kyung, showing her a sample of nanomachines capable of turning even high-grade tech bodies into scrap.

Initially, Seo Yi-kyung had thought it was just another bribe or lobbying attempt. But upon seeing the nanomachines, she realized that Lee Jae-sung was not some opportunist looking to cling to power.

He was a revolutionary, willing to do anything to achieve his goals.

What had allowed the formation of the Daegu Industrial Union in the first place?

Lee Jae-sung, once a mere irregular worker at a metal factory, had organized the laborers during the Great Chaos and ousted those above him.

Not stopping there, Lee Jae-sung and the Daegu Industrial Union had mercilessly crushed the gangs that had taken over Buk-gu.

With the right maneuvering skills, drive, and charisma, Lee Jae-sung was that kind of man.

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Despite his humble title of union leader, he led the third-ranked guild in Daegu and a force that surpassed even the first and second guilds in scale.

Even the infamous ‘Baek-gol’ had refrained from acting against the Daegu Industrial Union's suspicious movements.

‘Daegu is too soft. Director Seo Yi-kyung, let’s achieve greatness together.’

For Seo Yi-kyung, who was already dissatisfied with the current regime, Lee Jae-sung’s proposal was like finding the Holy Grail.

She became a fervent supporter of the Daegu Industrial Union and spearheaded plans to completely overhaul Daegu Green Zone's power structure.

A man should aim to reach the top, should he not?

All their efforts culminated in this moment.

Jung Dae-ho of Namjin Front was killed by Ryu Jin, and Daegu’s only S-rank hunter, Ma Seong-chan, began massacring his comrades indiscriminately.

“Hahaha! Watching them kill each other is so satisfying!”

“You saw them in the meeting room, right? Guild leaders snarling at each other, and now look at this mess.”

“Retired soldiers should stay retired. What was all that strategy talk?”

“It’s karma.”

“Exactly, hahaha!”

As the officials in the director’s office made their remarks at the downfall of the top guilds,

“Director, the mayor has just received the report. They are seriously considering declaring martial law.”

“Proceed to the mayor’s office immediately.”

“Yes.”

“And have the Defense Commander detained and secured.”

“Leave it to the 11th Enforcement Battalion.”

Just as Colonel Yeon Pil and Director Seo Yi-kyung were wrapping things up,

An officer who had been maintaining communication with the forces deployed in the south of Suseong-gu stood up abruptly.

“…What?!”

“Colonel, what’s wrong?”

“Director!!”

His eyes flutter helplessly, as if he had heard something he shouldn't. Suddenly, Seo Yi-kyung's expression hardens as he senses that something is wrong.

"I, from the south...... There's another suspected crawling plague on the north......!!"

And it is.

It was a beacon of a nightmare to come.