[System Mood: SHERLOCK RABBIT MODE ACTIVATED. DEERSTALKER HAT OPTIONAL. LET'S UNRAVEL THIS MESS.]
Jin Hwan stepped off the public hunter train, the wind brushing against his hood as he made his way through the South 5th Ward. The area smelled like fried food, burnt mana, and cheap ambition.
He wasn't here for street food.
He was here for the truth.
The rumors were still spreading—online and on the streets. Posts speculated on his weapon type, Guild affiliations, and whether or not the "Golden Ghost" could fly. One even claimed he could "summon golden thunder with a sneeze."
Jin Hwan scoffed.
That wasn't even close. His sneeze only summoned mild embarrassment.
❖ [Hunter Bureau Tip]
Last night, Baek Yerin forwarded a sealed report to his communicator. Apparently, multiple entry-level hunters had filed complaints about a small, mid-tier guild promising dungeon escorts by a "connected golden entity."
Name?
Scorpio Guild.
Guild Leader: A-Rank Hunter, Min Tae-DoMembers: A mixture of E to B-rank mercenaries.
Specialty: Dungeon scams, overpriced escort services, false promotion
❖ [Investigation Begins]
Jin Hwan spent the morning tailing two E-rank hunters wearing the black-and-green emblem of Scorpio Guild. They were loud. Arrogant. Too confident.
"Bro, the 'Golden Ghost' helped us clear an F-rank last week! Guy's secretly backing our Guild!"
"He's totally an S-rank. Even Leader-nim said he might be a Hunter Bureau plant."
Jin Hwan narrowed his eyes.
The Guild was using his unclaimed title like a business logo.
He kept his distance, shadow-stepping behind poles, shifting with momentum bursts, listening. He followed them to a beat-up training gym that doubled as Scorpio Guild Headquarters.
Outside, a cheap sign read:SCORPIO – Dungeon Experts. Ghost-Linked. Hunter-Backed.
He almost gagged.
[System Mood: FURY LEVEL – MEDIUM RARE. SHOULD WE SLICE OR SUE FIRST?]
❖ [Infiltration]
He slipped around the side of the building, scaling a rusted ladder. From the rooftop, he peered through a dusty skylight into the main hall.
A meeting was in session.
Inside sat at least 15 hunters—most were C-rank, a few B-ranks, and standing at the front was Min Tae-Do, the Guild Leader. A tall man with slicked-back hair, sharp eyes, and a scar down one cheek.
"I want daily posts," Min said. "The legend of the Golden Ghost is our brand now. I don't care if you believe it. The public does. Use that."
Someone raised a hand. "What if the real guy shows up?"
Min Tae-Do smirked. "He won't. If he existed, the Bureau would've tracked him. It's just a rumor. And now—it's ours."
Jin Hwan's knuckles tightened around the rooftop edge.
So this was it.
These guys weren't just riding the wave. They created it.
He listened as they talked about new scams: offering "blessed dungeon talismans," fake blessing rituals by "ghost-touched" hunters, and premium dungeon escorts with "Golden Ghost clearance."
It was ridiculous.
Worse—they'd dragged his identity into it.
❖ [Confrontation Plan]
[System Mood: MISSION MODE: 'OPERATION WHOOP THEIR LYING ASSES' HAS BEGUN.]
"I'm going in," Jin Hwan whispered.
"No weapons?"
"I have dual daggers."
"Oh, right. My bad. Carry on, Golden Bunny."
He leapt from the roof, landed silently in the alley, and slipped into the gym's side door.
❖ [Inside the Guild Hall]
He walked in casually—hood up, daggers hidden, posture relaxed.
The Guild members noticed too late.
"Who the hell—?"
"Wait… is that—?"
Min Tae-Do turned. His eyes narrowed.
"You're him, aren't you? The freak who thinks he's the Golden Ghost?"
Jin Hwan stepped forward. "No. You're the freaks who made him up."
"Bold talk for a nobody."
"Funny. I heard the same thing about you on the forums. Right before your 'S-rank supporter' scammed a rookie out of 3 million won."
A B-rank charged first.
Jin Hwan slid to the side, ducked low, and swept with one foot, using Momentum Grace. The man slammed into the wall with a cry.
Another rushed.
Wind Aura – Activate.
He vanished and reappeared mid-air—Aerial Drift—before landing in a spin, twin daggers flashing.
Swipe. Parry. Elbow. Sweep.
Three down.
"STOP!" Min Tae-Do barked.
He stepped forward, drawing his sword.
"A-rank or not," Jin Hwan said, "You've pissed off the wrong guy."
They clashed.
Min swung with heavy fire-type mana.
Jin Hwan ducked, crossed his blades in an X, and slammed a palm into Min's chest.
Golden Crescent Kick – Activated!
BOOM!
The room shook as golden light erupted from his leg, launching Min Tae-Do backward through a row of lockers.
Everyone froze.
"I'm not a ghost," Jin Hwan said calmly. "I'm just the guy who ends stupid rumors."
❖ [System Window – Quest Update]
Step 2 Complete: Scorpio Guild Confronted and Source ExposedStep 3 Available: Final Confirmation and Reputation Clearing (Coming Next Chapter)
──────────────[System Mood: GLORIOUS VICTORY. WE ARE NOW OFFICIALLY GHOSTBUSTERS. SOMEONE FETCH THE THEME SONG.]──────────────
As he walked out of the broken hall, smoke still drifting from the kicked wall, Jin Hwan smiled slightly.
No more hiding.
And no more letting others speak in his place.