Han Tae-oh woke up to the digital chime of his System. It wasn't a cheerful chime; it was the sharp, demanding ring of a morning alarm clock that he hadn't heard since his past life.
[New Primary Objective: Survive the Hero's Path. Status: Active.]
[New Quest Alert: The Rival's Test.]
Tae-oh groaned, sitting up in his offensively soft bed. The contract was signed. His life was in the hands of his most hated rival. He was officially a corporate slave with a death wish.
He pulled up the details of the quest. The title alone was a punch to the gut.
Lee Ji-hoon was waiting for him at the Guild's private observation deck, a simple breakfast tray beside him. He wasn't wearing his Hunter gear; he was in a sharp, dark business suit that made him look like a terrifyingly handsome CEO ready for a hostile takeover.
"Eat," Ji-hoon commanded, gesturing to the tray. "You're going to need your strength. Not for a fight. For a meeting."
Tae-oh narrowed his eyes. "What kind of meeting? I'm an F-Rank logistics specialist. I shouldn't leave the Guild premises."
Ji-hoon gave that cold, humorless smile. "The Han Tae-oh I knew was lazy, but he was also brilliant at collecting sensitive data when he stood to profit. That mind is what I hired. We're attacking the 'White Star' Guild."
The White Star Guild was Black Blade's primary competitor, infamous for its aggressive market tactics and cutthroat recruitment.
"Attacking them? I'm F-Rank! I'll get murdered by their guards!"
"You won't be using a sword," Ji-hoon said, pushing a sleek, encrypted tablet across the table. "The White Star Guild is planning a massive, illegal land acquisition tied to an un-sanctioned A-Rank Gate excavation. If they succeed, they'll gain insurmountable political and financial power. You, Young Master Han, are going to prevent it."
Ji-hoon leaned forward, his voice dropping to a low, lethal pitch. "You are now my Black-Ops Auditor. Your reputation as the Guild Master's genius son and the 'Hero of Logistics' will get you past the front door."
Tae-oh stared at the tablet, his mind racing through the risk metrics. "What is the mission?"
Ji-hoon pointed to a single, blinking file on the tablet. "They have an internal document—a Structural Integrity Map (SIM) of the excavation site. If we know where the geological flaws are, we can leak the data and shut down their operation with a single regulatory filing."
"You want me to commit corporate espionage using my new 'hero' status?" Tae-oh asked, feeling the familiar dread of his past life.
"Precisely," Ji-hoon confirmed. "This is your test, Mastermind. The mission is simple: Infiltrate the White Star Guild Headquarters, access their main database, and copy the Structural Integrity Map. Fail, and I'll know you're useless. Succeed, and you will have proven that you are the ruthless, cunning rival I need to keep watching."
Tae-oh sighed, rubbing his temples. So, my career arc has gone from 'Corporate Slave' to 'Corporate Spy.' At least the pay is better
[Quest Alert: The Rival's Test.]
[Goal: Acquire White Star Guild's Structural Integrity Map (SIM) from internal servers.]
[Reward: Virtue Points +150. Status Effect: Ji-hoon's Trust (Suspicion Reduced by 5%).]
[Failure Penalty: Hostile Termination by Lee Ji-hoon.]
"My only asset is my F-Rank body and an F-Rank Guild ID," Tae-oh said, picking up the tablet. "How do I beat their S-Rank security?"
Ji-hoon gave him a chilling smirk, standing up. "You don't need to beat them. You just need to find the flaw in their system. Use your Audit skill, Mastermind. Show me why I haven't killed you yet."