Tensions were sky high, the aggravated voices of the Chairman and Deputy Master, audible throughout the top floor of the guild building. Min-jun was still agitated, glaring daggers at Hyun-Seo, who reciprocated the gesture.
"If you would calm down Mr. SHADE, there's something of urgent magnitude that I had wished to discuss!!"
"Cut the "Mr. SHADE" crap, old man!!! It's just SHADE..."
"Why do you allow this wretch to talk to you in such a manner, Master Kang-min!!!!!"
"Hyun-Seo!!!!"
Chairman Kang-min tried his best to quell the situation before it turned bloody, but it would seem that Hyun-Seo had gone past the point already. Looking over to Min-jun for a more mature oversight, he witnessed something too frightened for him to articulate into words. There sat Min-jun, his head lowered, hair covering his rage filled visage and his gloved fists clenched with such force that if he had been holding a wine glass, it would've shattered with that clench.
An ominous aura erupted off his being as tendrils of darkness covered him.
From behind the Chairman's desk, Hyun-Seo's expression grew cold. No more rage, just pure terror.
"I warned you to stay quiet, didn't I?!!!"
Hyun-Seo could not respond, despite the question being rhetorical. With a sudden blurr, Min-jun found his hand firmly clasped to Hyun-Seo's neck, with a heavy jerk, he threw him out of the office and through the closed door that broke off as a result.
Leaning over Chairman Kang-min's shoulder, Min-jun threatened...
"Chairman, next time when you wish to speak to me, I'd prefer you alone be in this office, am I clear?!".
His voice was soft and cold, right near the old man's neck in a way that felt menacing.
Chairman Kang-min couldn't help but agree, still shuttering on his insides... ...
"Who is this man?!!!! Could it be we unintentionally angered a deranged homicidal freak?!!!!"
Min-jun walked past the table, heading out of the office with his black coat slung over his right shoulder...
"I'll be in touch with your office line and as for the mission you want to give me, I accept. However, I have my conditions, conditions that I will not compromise on, no matter what!!".
"But, how did you... ...?"
"I thought as much..."
With those words, Min-jun walked out of The Chairman's Office. At the entrance, where the broken door and Hyun-Seo's unconscious body lay, he turned around and looked at the chairman one last time before ducking into the hallway.
Soon after he had left, the guild official medical team came for Hyun-Seo's body for treatment. The chairman was still perplexed, thinking it best not to enrage such a toxic individual.
Five Hours Later... ...
Min-jun stood at the exit checkpoint of The New Lotus Alliance Stronghold. In order for card masters to challenge Plague Zones, they either needed a card master identification, or be illegal and sneak past security.
In the five months since the strongholds grew, the Plague Zones had become criminal sites for underground syndicates to operate. This made the Plague Zones into a no-man's land, asides the already grave threat posed by the monsters from Tower breaks.
Min-jun handed over his card to the well equipped guard, and got an exit pass. If he wished to get back into the Stronghold, he'd have to show the guards the pass.
Ever since he had heard of the overall strength and level of monsters in the plague zones, he'd been itching to take his shot at leveling up and claiming item drops. Instead of his stylish black coat, he was now in his armourment.
With his Cloak of Scales and the Dark Dragon Armour, he was fully guarded from any monster threat below their mythic grade status. Equipping the left-handed Dark Moon Blade, he was hell-bent on hunting down every monster he could find.
"There it is... ... The Ruins of Jade City..."
Jade City was a flourishing city, a place where technology and marketing was dominant. Vibrant with all sorts of trade, its popularity took the world by storm.
However, all that lay before Min-jun, was a desolate city, a post-apocalyptic wasteland crawling with high tier monsters.
So many saw these ruins as a reminder of sorrow. But to Min-jun, he was in exp-paradise.