Dungeon Seoul

The summons came before breakfast.

Jinho was still trying to convince his frying pan not to recite tragic love poetry over his toast when the guild-issued wristband pulsed with a red light.

>MANDATORY PRESENCE: Tiger Gate Headquarters – Level 8 Boardroom

Status: URGENT. Wear something that isn't on fire.

"Pan," Jinho muttered, buttoning his jacket crookedly, "you didn't set anything on fire this time, right?"

"FIRE IS MERELY SPICY LIGHT."

"That's not an answer."

🔹🔹🔹🔹

Level 8

The Boardroom That Smelled of Coffee and Fear

Tiger Gate's boardroom had the aura of a war room and the décor of an overpriced café, polished stone tables, holographic screens, and an overworked plant in the corner that might've been a magical artifact.

Around the oval table sat the guild's upper staff, some familiar, some terrifying.

Yoo Mirae. Guildmaster, elegant, and looked like she was born negotiating with dragons.

Chief Strategist Min Taeho. perpetually grim, clutching three tablets at once.

Ops Director Kang Wook. A jovial man with a booming laugh that echoed like a minor earthquake.

Compliance Officer Ms. Jang, still smiling like she'd rather be interrogating someone.

Admin Liaison Gong Seokjin,wearing the same constellation-robe as last time, sipping black coffee.

They all turned as Jinho entered, Pan floating quietly behind him like a suspicious balloon.

"Hunter Kang Jinho," Mirae began smoothly. "Please, have a seat. Don't worry, this isn't a disciplinary hearing."

"That's a relief," Jinho said.

"YET," Pan added helpfully.

Mirae tapped the screen, replaying footage from the sparring match. Jinho watched himself parrying Shin Doyoon, then glitching into a new skill, then unleashing the Sauté Cyclone that flung Doyoon into a safety mat.

Ops Director Kang Wook slapped the table. "Beautiful! Do you know how many clips are trending on HunterNet right now? We're selling Tiger Gate plushies with frying pans!"

Chief Strategist Min Taeho grimaced. "And do you know how many complaints I've fielded from Silvercore? They're threatening legal action for 'unlicensed skill fusion.'"

"Legal action for what?" Jinho said. "I barely know what I'm doing."

"HE DOES NOT KNOW,

YET HE CONQUERS.

A TRUE HERO."

"Is that pan… narrating?" Taeho asked.

"Yes," Jinho admitted. "Sorry."

Mirae folded her hands. "We need to address your… trajectory. Your abilities are growing fast. Too fast."

"I can tone it down," Jinho offered.

"NO HE CANNOT."

"Not helping, Pan," Jinho hissed.

Gong Seokjin cleared his throat. "We've observed multiple Administrator Layer anomalies centered on Hunter Kang. It's clear he is… a variable. And variables need parameters."

Min Taeho nodded sharply. "Exactly. I propose containment. Lock him out of high-risk missions until we understand his powers."

Kang Wook snorted. "Containment? He's a walking highlight reel! We need to promote him, give him a title, make him our poster boy before someone poaches him."

"Poaches me?" Jinho asked.

"International guilds are circling," Mirae said calmly. "Silvercore was only the first. The Americans have made offers. The French sent wine. The Japanese sent… unsettling fan art."

"WHAT KIND OF FAN ART?"

"Don't," Jinho whispered. "Don't tell him."

After thirty minutes of debate, punctuated by Pan quoting random system errors as philosophy, the room quieted.

Mirae stood.

"I've made my decision," she said. "Hunter Kang Jinho… you are hereby promoted to Special Anomaly Specialist within Tiger Gate."

Jinho blinked. "That's… good?"

"It comes with a pay raise, a personal handler, and priority mission access," Mirae said.

"That's definitely good."

"It also comes with a tracker, a mandatory therapist, and a clause that says we can recall you at any time."

"…So I'm being promoted and leashed."

Mirae's smile was pure velvet steel. "Exactly."

An hour later, Jinho stood on the guild's main stage, lights bright, cameras flashing. A crowd of hunters and staff filled the hall, cheering.

Mirae pinned a silver insignia onto Jinho's lapel. "Kang Jinho," she declared, "by the authority of Tiger Gate, I promote you to Special Anomaly Specialist. May your path be… relatively stable."

Jinho managed a nervous smile. "Thanks. I think."

Pan floated into the spotlight, glowing brightly.

"ATTENTION.

THIS MAN WIELDS ME.

WE ARE ONE.

ALSO, THIS MICROPHONE TASTES LIKE COPPER."

The crowd laughed. A few applauded. Someone in the back shouted, "SING SOMETHING, PAN!"

Pan obliged.

"ONCE, I WAS A SIMPLE PAN,

NOW I DREAM OF KILLING A MAN,

OR A BOSS,

WHATEVER COMES ACROSS."

The room erupted in cheers and horrified laughter.

🔹🔹🔹🔹

After the Event

Riyeon waited with a bottle of soda. "You survived."

"I think I just got promoted and threatened at the same time."

"Welcome to Tiger Gate," she said dryly.

Pan hummed to itself, spinning in lazy circles.

"THEY CHEER.

THEY CLAP.

BUT WE ARE STILL TRAPPED."

"Don't ruin this for me," Jinho muttered.

"FINE.

BUT KNOW THIS

PROMOTION IS JUST A SHINY CAGE."

Jinho stared at the ceiling. "…Can you stop being profound for five minutes?"

"NO."

Later that night, Jinho sat in his dorm, badge in hand, Pan hovering above.

The system pinged softly.

[Title Updated: Special Anomaly Specialist]

Perks: Mission Priority, Salary Increase, Custom Loadout Access

Restrictions: Monitored. Always.

Jinho leaned back on his bed. "Promotion or containment, huh?"

Pan floated closer.

"SOMETIMES BOTH.

BUT WE WILL FIND THE BUGS.

TOGETHER."

Jinho closed his eyes and laughed, a little tired, a little exhilarated.

"Yeah," he said softly. "Together."