Chapter 96: The Pursuer (1)
[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 96: The Pursuer (1)
While Yoojin and his party were enjoying their sightseeing trip in America, Baek Seonghyeon calmly read through the neatly organized documents.
"This is hard to believe."
"We also had those thoughts many times before submitting the report, but..."
"Are you saying that everything is true even after cross-verification?"
"Yes, Vice President."
Baek Seonghyeon placed his hand on his newly acquired chair and tapped the armrest.
Tap— Tap—
The sound continued at regular intervals.
The secretary who submitted the report watched Baek Seonghyeon's expression with a nervous look.
How much time had passed?
Baek Seonghyeon, letting out a long sigh, glanced at the report.
⋯⋯⋯
Cheon Yoojin Investigation Report
◎ Age - 24
◎ Awakening Date - 3 months ago
◎ Unique Trait - Unidentified
◎ First Sighting Location - Ancient Garden
◎ Ability Type - Presumed to be a hybrid class of Priest and Magic.
◇ Evidence
① Witness accounts of Cheon Yoojin handling undead in the Forgotten Temple and the Ancient Garden.
② Traces of unusual magic power found on the bodies of guild members, including Song Myeongseok, deployed in the double dungeon raid.
③ ...
◎ Activities After Awakening
Listed by confirmed information, not in chronological order.
- Confirmed to have driven out the Red Spider from Ground Zero and taken over their businesses.
- Maintaining some kind of relationship with Seongcheon Corporation and Daehan Pharmaceuticals.
- Collaborating with business partner Shin Joonseok to commercialize mass-produced intermediate potions and promote new drugs.
- Types and effects of drugs require further confirmation.
- Seems to have a considerable friendship with Jang Miseon (next Sword Saint) of the Phoenix Guild.
- Close relationship with the Milky Way Pub, which has great influence in the Korean underworld and the hunter request industry.
◎ Danger Level
- Considering the awakening period, the current rank is estimated to be 3 Stars.
- The summoned creature bestowed by a constellation is confirmed to have the combat power of a peak 5 Star.
- The ranks of the Little Runts team members are also 3 Stars. The danger level is incomparably lower compared to Cheon Yoojin.
- Data on other undead summons is insufficient.
- Expanding influence with the Black Herb Farm as the center. Related information is under further investigation.
⋯⋯⋯
(Omitted)
"A hunter who awakened 3 months ago cut down half of the Red Spider's forces?"
One of the three major powers in Ground Zero.
The Red Spider was an organization that controlled smuggling routes to North Korea, the supply of Black Herb, and various businesses.
Baek Seonghyeon, who had secretly raised the Rakshasa Guild from the shadows.
The shock was even greater because it was a name he couldn't not know.
"Why hasn't this information been revealed?"
"The Milky Way Pub blocked the information from spreading."
"Huh. They caused quite a nuisance."
Even Arhan, the No. 1 guild in Korea, failed to obtain information about Yoojin in time due to Madam's intervention.
If they had known that Yoojin had wiped out half of the Red Spider's forces, they would have dug the trap even deeper when they caused the Daegu Double Dungeon incident.
"There's not enough information about the border region."
"We're confirming it. If you give us a little more time and budget—"
"Didn't you say that excuses are a sin?"
"I apologize, Vice President."
"We need to find out what method Cheon Yoojin used in the fight against the Red Spider."
An organization too large for a hunter who had only been awakened for 3 months to deal with.
Arhan Guild could only decide on their next move after confirming Yoojin's hidden cards.
'There is no next time.'
Baek Seonghyeon's eyes were filled with killing intent.
Song Myeongseok, the talent in whom Arhan had invested their heart and soul, died in vain, and the secret contact with the Romanov clan for the establishment of the family was also disrupted.
Moreover, whenever he got involved with Yoojin, such as in the Double Dungeon incident or joint raids, Arhan's honor was repeatedly trampled.
'Park Haneul…That guy comes to mind.'
Brrr—
The armrests of his newly acquired chair shook.
The secretary gulped.
'I hope it doesn't break again.'
A chair exclusively for Baek Seonghyeon, made by carving a reinforcement circuit five times into an Ent's branch.
Even so, if a 7 Star hunter put his mind to it, it would surely shatter into pieces before long.
Perhaps due to the tension, the secretary felt his neck stiffen.
"When do you think the investigation of the border region will be finished?"
"It will probably take about two days."
"Finish it by tonight."
"Understood."
Thud—
Left alone in the large room, Baek Seonghyeon closed his eyes for a long time and then opened them.
He held a mobile phone in his hand.
He dialed an unsaved number and pressed the call button.
-Yo, bro.
A frivolous voice came out from the receiver.
Baek Seonghyeon frowned.
"Has the supply issue of the strong moss been resolved?"
-Ah, about that. I just found some friends to work on it.
"Your work is too slow."
-I had to find out who did the dirty work and come up with measures to prevent it from happening again. Please understand, Vice President.
Park Jinsoo, the head of the Rakshasa Guild, a group secretly established by Arhan, replied in a tone devoid of any seriousness.
"Did you find out the identity of the attacker?"
-Magic-type. Uses a summoned creature that wields dual swords. That's about it. Their tracks went cold in Gyeongju, so we're searching for them.
"Who did you assign the tracking to?"
-Kim Mijeong. She seems quite interested in this case.
Baek Seonghyeon let out a sigh.
The woman who was ranked 3rd in the Rakshasa Guild and in charge of the action team.
A 6 Star expert with excellent combat sense and tracking ability, but she was difficult to handle because she only actively participated in things that interested her.
"This is troublesome. I have a task for you."
-Bro, give us a break. We're busy enough running the business, what other work are you trying to give us?
"I'm planning to expand Rakshasa's territory to Gyeonggi Province."
-What about Ground Zero? It's impossible to go on an expedition against the spiderlings.
"Didn't you know? The Red Spider was recently pushed back."
Baek Seonghyeon briefly explained the situation in the Gyeonggi Province underworld that he learned while investigating Yoojin.
-A 3 Star took over the spider's territory?
"I see this as a good opportunity to establish a branch in Gyeonggi Province."
-Ah, but I told you. We're a bit short-handed because of the strong moss supply issue and such.
"At least send Kim Mijeong, the action team leader."
Park Jinsoo constantly tapped on the calculator in his head.
Ground Zero, located in Paju.
The place that controlled the routes to North Korea and the smuggling trade near the West Sea.
If Rakshasa could establish themselves in Ground Zero, they could project their influence not only throughout Korea, but also throughout East Asia.
-That friend and 30 4 Star hunters, and 70 3 Star hunters. I can't spare any more if I want to manage the business in Busan.
"How long will the preparations take?"
-Just wait two weeks, Vice President.
"I'll give you one week."
-Damn. You're just as tight-fisted as ever.
Beep—
Baek Seonghyeon tilted his head back and stared at the ceiling of his office.
'Now I can leave it to the Rakshasa Guild.'
There were no more variables.
Unlike his lighthearted speech, Park Jinsoo, the head of the Rakshasa Guild, was famous for his thoroughness in handling matters.
No matter how outstanding Yoojin's talent was, he was only a hunter in his first year of awakening.
He didn't know what tricks Yoojin used to reduce the Red Spider's forces, but they wouldn't work against the Rakshasa Guild.
'Madam must have delivered the message to Cheon Yoojin by now.'
The Milky Way Pub, which seemed to have a close relationship with Yoojin.
Even Arhan, the No. 1 guild in Korea, couldn't completely avoid her information network.
Therefore, Baek Seonghyeon intended to exploit the information gap.
'No one except for Master and Park Jinsoo knows that the Rakshasa Guild is under Arhan.'
If he mobilized the Rakshasa Guild, which had a cooperative relationship with them?
Yoojin, who was only wary of Arhan, would be caught off guard and flustered.
He would only realize who he had to fight right before being attacked by Rakshasa.
'That would be around the time Cheon Yoojin returns to Korea after hearing the news. The timing is perfect.'
Baek Seonghyeon, having organized his thoughts, closed his eyes gently.
This time, there would be no escape.
Just as Park Haneul, who blocked Arhan Guild's path decades ago, died in vain and even his records were erased, Cheon Yoojin would also have his wings clipped before he could fully spread them.
* * *
-Arhan is investigating CEO Cheon.
This was the message that popped up as soon as he turned on his phone after returning to reality from clearing [Ancient Trial Grounds II].
Beep— Beep—
-I'm sorry to have to deliver unpleasant news while you're on your overseas trip.
"Trip, my foot. I just got out of a gate."
-Oh my. You're busy.
"How far has the Arhan Guild investigated?"
-It seems they've confirmed that the new third power in Ground Zero is CEO Cheon.
‘Hmm. So they've practically figured out most of what I've been up to.’
He paused, considering the implications.
"Are there any unusual movements?"
-I've done my best, but there haven't been any unusual movements other than the investigation.
"There's still a chance you missed something."
-Hahaha. You're joking, right? Who do you think I am?
Her words were filled with confidence.
Instead of asking further, Yoojin changed the subject.
"Investigate the Rakshasa Guild."
-The ones who control the Busan underworld, right?
"They're a satellite guild raised by Arhan. Once you've finished investigating, they'll make their move."
The answer didn't come back immediately.
A moment later.
-CEO Cheon, this is the first time I'm hearing this.
"You didn't know? The head of the Rakshasa Guild, Park Jinsoo, is the half-brother of the Arhan Guild leader."
-Hmm. J-Just a moment.
Madam's voice trembled slightly.
‘Khehehe. Of course she'd be confused.’
The revelation that Arahan was backing the Rakshasa Guild, and that the two guild leaders were half-brothers, was a bombshell that wouldn't be dropped for at least another decade.
He imagined it must feel like she was strolling along, minding her own business, when someone suddenly jumped out and yelled, "The one-legged man is the mastermind!"
'Even if the future takes a different path, some things just don't change.'
This was the advantage of regression; he had access to knowledge that no one else possessed, and he intended to exploit it to the fullest.
-You're not going to tell me the source of the information, are you?
"Of course not."
-Then it's hard to trust you.
"I'm not asking you to trust me. I'm asking you to investigate the Rakshasa Guild."
-Alright. However, information about the Rakshasa Guild is a bit expensive.
"Put the payment on credit."
He ended the call and looked up at the sky.
〔Are you sure about this?〕
'About what?'
〔I'm worried that while you're away, those scoundrels might act like bandits.〕
'The Rakshasa Guild will also need time to prepare.'
Coincidentally, Yoojin had recently caused a major disruption to one of the organizations under the Rakshasa Guild.
The incident where he destroyed the strong moss supply.@@novelbin@@
They had to find new workers to collect moss from the sea, further modify the ships guarding the deserted island, and even recruit management personnel.
〔Even so, shouldn't you avoid being too complacent?〕
'I've seen everything I needed to see, so I should go back.'
He didn't remember the hidden opportunities across the continent in detail.
Even if he knew about major events, he would need perfect memory to remember every single small opportunity.
When Yoojin told the Little Runts team to return to Korea, the three of them were devastated.
"You said it was an overseas trip!!!"
"This is a bit too much."
Two of them blatantly lay down on the floor, and although Kang Minho didn't say anything, the emotions on his face were similar.
〔Khahaha. A masterpiece. You truly are a heartless person.〕
'Where did the constellation who was in such a hurry to go back earlier go?'
〔Wouldn't it be better to tell the little humans the story as well?〕
'I haven't decided yet whether to involve them in this.'
Yoojin thought.
‘Their combat abilities were nearing 4 Star.’
Yoojin mused, impressed by their progress.
They might not have mastered Aura or Multitasking yet, but their raw talent combined with my rigorous training has pushed them far beyond their initial ranks.
He knew their rapid growth was also thanks to their unique traits: [Moveable Fortress], [Transformation] & [Telekinesis], and [Space] — all abilities that could turn the tide of battle with the Rakshasa Guild in their favor.
〔Have faith. They are the little humans you have tempered.〕
'I need to think about it a bit more.'
Postponing the decision, Yoojin estimated the remaining time.
"Since we've come this far, it seems too much to just leave after playing for a day."
Gulp—
The eyes of the Little Runts team stared intently at Yoojin's lips.
"I'll give you some spending money, so go and experience the casino."
"Oppa! You're the best! I love you!"
"Woohoo!!!"
"Thank you, hyung-nim!"
The three of them were more delighted than when they obtained the [Emblem of Valor].
Sigh.
‘These kids…’
Yoojin and his party headed to Las Vegas, unable to resist the enthusiasm of the Little Runts team.
* * *
'Why are you here?'
Yoojin encountered an unexpected person in the basement of the casino.
[Translator - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
What do you think?
Total Responses: 0