"Ughhhh!"
Jinhyuk stretched with a groan as he walked over to the couch. After a proper shower, he finally felt human again.
Hmm?
For once, Momo and Kancho were sitting quietly on the sofa, playing a game.
Jinhyuk slipped between them and pulled them close—Kancho on the left, Momo on the right. With his left hand, he ruffled Kancho's fluffy head. With his right, he pinched Momo's chubby cheek.
A smile spread across his lips.
Peaceful.
Of course—
"Momo, what are you doing?!"
"I said go left! Why are you going right?!"
"Momo goes where Momo wants!"
"If you do that, we can't clear the stage!"
"Then that's bad!"
"If it's bad, then do it properly!"
"No! You stupid badger!"
"What did this round-cheeked menace just say?!"
Within seconds, they were smacking each other with their controllers and lunging into full-blown combat.
Jinhyuk quietly stood up and left the battlefield. No need to intervene. Kids grow up by fighting.
Ring ring ring.
"Huh?"
His steps halted as his phone rang.
Five in the morning?
He checked the caller ID.
Team Leader Jin Yoonho.
Before he could answer, Kancho—fur slightly disheveled—ran over.
"Who dares call at this ungodly hour?! If the Commander gives permission, I shall deliver a stern warning!"
Jinhyuk gazed at him with pity. With that tone, even a "stern warning" would sound adorable.
Tucking Kancho under his arm, he answered the call.
"Yes, Team Leader."
"Ah—Jinhyuk-ssi?!" Yoonho sounded startled that he'd picked up so quickly. "I'm terribly sorry to call at this hour. It's urgent, so I had no choice."
"It's fine. I wasn't asleep. What's going on?"
"A rather… valuable item just arrived at the Central Hunter Administration. If you're available, I'd like to let you take the first look. Once morning comes, another department might claim it."
Jinhyuk had just returned from visiting the 12th floor of the Tower of Myth in Japan, so he had been a bit tired—
But at the words valuable item, his sleep vanished.
If Yoonho went out of his way to call at dawn, it had to be good.
And someone else might take it first?
Absolutely not.
"Of course, if coming right now is inconvenient—"
"I'm already wearing my shoes."
"…That was fast. I'll send you the location. Central Hunter Administration, back entrance."
"I'll be there in a flash."
He hung up and grinned.
"Commander, your eyes are sparkling all of a sudden," Kancho observed.
"Momo knows that look! That's greed-eyes!"
"Correct. I'll grab the item and come back. You two get some sleep."
"If anyone acts arrogant, summon me immediately! I'll blow them up!" Kancho declared.
Jinhyuk gave him a thumbs-up and headed out.
He went straight to the underground parking garage and mounted Duram No. 1.
Rumble.
The engine vibrated pleasantly beneath him as a deep exhaust note filled the space. He twisted the throttle and rolled out of the garage.
A cool dawn breeze brushed against his cheeks.
Perfect morning air.
He took a deep breath and gradually picked up speed.
The roads were empty at this hour—ideal for a drive.
Vroooom!
After enjoying the ride for a while, the Central Hunter Administration building came into view.
'Already here.'
He looked down at Duram No. 1 with satisfaction.
Another flawless ride.
"Oh."
Ahead, he spotted Jin Yoonho and slowed down.
It was early morning—he must've worked all night. And he'd even come out to greet him. Truly appreciated.
Though… why the back entrance today?
"Good morning. You bought a motorcycle," Yoonho said, eyeing Duram No. 1.
Jinhyuk nearly blurted out that motorcycles were dangerous and he should consider a car instead.
'This is a disease at this point.'
Still, it was a relief he'd arrived quickly. He'd said he would "fly over," and sure enough, he'd gotten there in under thirty minutes.
Jinhyuk removed his helmet.
"Good morning, Team Leader."
"I apologize for the sudden call."
"Not at all. You're doing this for my sake, after all."
"Thank you for understanding. This way, please. You can park here."
After securing the bike against the dimly lit wall, Jinhyuk followed him inside.
Yoonho kept glancing around as they walked, as if they were about to commit a heist.
'This route's different.'
It wasn't the usual entrance. It was tucked away in a spot that made him think, There's a door here?
And the access card Yoonho used wasn't his own.
Director of Personnel Lee Changgi.
Jinhyuk's heart beat a little faster.
After passing through several layers of security, a heavy steel door covered in locks appeared.
"Feels like a secret chamber."
"That's not wrong," Yoonho replied. "Only directors and above can access this storage."
Their eyes met.
If this was Director-level access, and not Lee Changgi but Jin Yoonho was standing here—
That meant the situation was outside normal rules.
Yoonho offered a faint smile.
"Don't worry. Nothing will trace back to you. No one will even know you entered."
For most Runners, crossing the line of law or authority—even indirectly—would cause unease.
But Jinhyuk just flashed a double thumbs-up.
"No worries at all. I'm grateful you're bending the rules for me."
Yoonho scratched his head.
Definitely not a normal person.
"Then… I'll open it."
Clank!
The heavy door swung open with a deep metallic sound.
Yoonho stepped aside.
"Thank you for coming all this way. Please go in and take what you—"
He paused.
Jinhyuk was already flushed with excitement, practically snorting with anticipation.
Yoonho swallowed.
He'd almost forgotten.
This was a man who might sweep the entire room clean just because he wanted everything.
"You may take three items."
He held up three fingers for emphasis.
Anywhere else might survive—but not this vault. The Central Hunter Administration would collapse.
"Got it! Thank you!"
Jinhyuk slipped inside eagerly.
He rubbed his hands together and scanned the room.
No visible CCTV.
Should he summon Kancho in stealth mode to double-check? Then summon Momo to locate the most valuable item—
He frowned.
No way.
This was a director-level vault. And they'd opened it to him freely. It wouldn't make sense for something absurd to just be lying in plain sight.
'L-let's see.'
Trying to temper his expectations, he stepped forward and carefully reached out.
[Prankster Rasbelt's Picnic Bag / Grade: Epic]
Ssshhh!
The system window unfurled before his eyes.
His eyes widened.
He wasn't mistaken.
It was a genuine subspace bag.
'What is this? Why is there a subspace bag here? Why is it placed right in the center like it's politely asking me to take it?'
He swallowed.
Yoonho had said he could take three items.
That meant this counted.
He glanced toward the entrance.
Yoonho stood there with a warm smile, as if encouraging him.
The homeowner had given permission.
Jinhyuk quickly stored Prankster Rasbelt's Picnic Bag into his inventory.
From the name to the description—it was perfect for their cute little satan—no, Yodel Ranger Kancho.
'Holy mama.'
He'd meant to buy Kancho a bag but hadn't known where to find one.
And now one had practically delivered itself.
Watching from the doorway, Yoonho smiled in satisfaction.
Cheon Seyun had asked him to keep her tip-off secret. Since he couldn't hand it over directly, he'd placed it somewhere obvious.
"Phew."
Jinhyuk took a deep breath.
That was just one item.
And he was already completely satisfied.
'Now let's pick something reasonable.'
He did have a conscience.
After taking something this expensive, he couldn't possibly be greedy.
'Something reasonable. Something reasonable.'
He wandered through the vault calmly.
No more expensive-looking items.
Time to focus on cost-performance ratio!
Exactly fifteen seconds later—
He froze.
In the farthest, most inconspicuous corner of the vault—
[Bag of Peltz, Master of Infinite Storage / Grade: Transcendent]
His eyes nearly popped out.
He rubbed them.
Did that say… Transcendent?
His mouth went dry.
And the function was absurd.
This wasn't just inventory space.
It was an entire storage warehouse—complete with a personal space he could enter and manage directly.
'Something like this exists?'
He'd never seen anything close to it, even on the Tower Site.
His hand twitched—
'No. I already took one bag.'
His conscience protested.
Don't give up on being human.
But then—
He imagined Momo's chubby face lighting up, squealing, "This is amazing!"
Ding!
[You have acquired Bag of Peltz, Master of Infinite Storage!]
He took it without resistance.
Humanity, abandoned.
It went straight into his inventory.
This time, he didn't even look back.
From the moment he awakened, he'd decided to look only forward—only upward.
At that very moment, watching everything unfold, Jin Yoonho squeezed his eyes shut.
It was complicated.
If Runner Yoo Jinhyuk wanted something, he could probably get it anyway.
Still, when he'd placed two bags inside, he'd hoped—
Jinhyuk only needs one, right?
If he takes one, he won't need the other… and maybe Director Han Ji-won's fury will be cut in half.
But as expected of a Runner.
His scale was different.
He hadn't even glanced back before taking it.
At least that meant Yoonho's petty inner thoughts stayed hidden.
A chill ran down his spine as a firm conviction settled in.
If he hadn't specified three items in advance—
The Central Hunter Administration would've collapsed today.
He opened his eyes and smiled.
Whether it was a knife or an axe flying at them, the outcome wasn't much different.
He pulled out his phone and messaged Lee Changgi.
The bags have both been taken.
A reply came quickly, along with a whistling emoji.
Better wear stab-proof vests. And helmets. I'm serious. You too. Protect your skulls.
Already planning to.
A dangerous smile tugged at Yoonho's lips.
Soon enough, it would arrive.
The unprecedented fury of Strategy Director Han Ji-won.
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T/N:
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