Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: The Stolen Dungeon
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A group was making their way down the road. Five in total, they couldn’t stop the goofy grins spreading across their faces, clearly thrilled about something.
“Didn’t I tell you? Just trust me!”
The man leading the pack boasted loudly, puffed up with pride like he’d accomplished something huge.
“Hey, hey, who said they didn’t trust you?”
“Yeah! I believed you the whole time!”
“Bullshit! You didn’t believe me one bit.”
Even as he said it, he wasn’t upset—he just burst out laughing.
“But seriously. Finding a hidden dungeon in Ark isn’t easy.”
“Exactly. Especially around Tar—most spots have already been combed over by now.”
Players had swarmed the place like locust plagues stripping fields bare, rooting through every corner of the obvious spots. Pretty much everyone figured the beginner dungeons in Ark had all been uncovered.
But they’d found a new one.
If it was true, it was a massive deal.
Regardless of how good the dungeon was, the stat points for the first discoverer and the week-long 200% drop rate boost made it worth it.
“But that’s really an undiscovered dungeon, right?”
One of the guys trailing behind voiced his concern cautiously. The leader shot him a glare.
“You don’t believe me?”
“No, I do, but first dungeons aren’t exactly easy come by.”
Figuring out if it was truly the first one was tricky to begin with.
Even if it had been discovered, if the finder kept quiet, the world wouldn’t know.
To confirm it was new, you had to step inside and see if you got the benefits—but the moment you did, it wasn’t the first anymore.
It was a perfectly reasonable doubt, but the leader clicked his tongue at the guy who’d spoken up.
“Didn’t I tell you before? In this world, money buys anything.”
He was the son of one of Korea’s top-tier wealthy families.
“Of course, it’s not just money. You need connections too.”
Unlike his earlier bellowing, he now whispered conspiratorially.
“This came straight from inside Utopia. Some top players climbed the ranks by buying insider info like this. It’s just efficient capitalism.”
His arrogance dripped from every word and gesture. The others’ expressions turned awkward for a second—anyone could see he was insufferable.
But they were only hanging around for the handouts he tossed their way, so the awkwardness vanished, replaced by flattery.
“Whoa, jealous! You’ve got lines to Utopia insiders!”
“So you can get other info too?”
The guy shrugged.
“Who knows. Took a lot just to get this one. But hey, first time’s the charm—second time’s a habit.”
They kept walking until they reached a gray rocky hill and slipped into a cave. It wasn’t the dungeon itself. No way a cave this visible from outside was hiding one.
But the leader didn’t hesitate and pressed on.
The cave wasn’t deep. They reached the end soon enough.
“Wait here a sec.”
The leader pulled something from his inventory—a palm-sized golden key. He ran his hands along the cave wall, slotted the key into a tiny hole, and turned it.
Rumble rumble groan!
A loud groan echoed as the rock wall split open before them. He turned to the group with a smug grin.
“How’s that?”
“Insane!”
“No one’s finding that!”
“Exactly! You have to clear a hidden quest for this location and key!”
The leader crowed triumphantly.
“Alright, let’s go! Party’s set, right?”
The first-discovery bonus went to one party, up to five people max.
“Yep.”
“Mine’s good. Solidly linked.”
“Perfect!”
With a shout, he stepped through the gaping hole. For a moment, he buzzed with anticipation over the incoming rewards. Then his face slowly hardened.
“Huh?”
“Why isn’t the window popping up?”
Confused voices came from behind. But none matched the leader’s shock.
“No way it’s only for the first one in?”
“Nah! It’s guaranteed for the first five in a party! If you’re over five, it’s first-come-first-served, but under that, everyone gets it the moment they enter…”
“Doesn’t distance factor in?”
“Not enough to exclude guys right at the entrance.”
As they murmured and swapped theories, eyes turned to the leader.
Maybe he got it solo.
But his dumbstruck face said even he hadn’t.
No way he was faking it. With his massive ego, if he’d snagged it alone, he’d be bragging nonstop—not looking like that.
Only one conclusion.
“This… isn’t a first dungeon, is it?”
Someone muttered it, and the leader flinched.
“Shut the fuck up! This is definitely my first discovery!”
“But… no one got bonus points.”
“……”
Even he had no comeback to the hard evidence.
‘Fuck! What the hell happened!’
He’d gone through hell for this dungeon. Begged his connections and shelled out serious cash.
And it was all for nothing.
Did he get scammed?
Then he recalled what the info seller had said.
‘We’re providing a dungeon undiscovered as of now. No refunds if someone else finds it after and devalues it. Hurry there ASAP.’
‘Right, they did say that.’
So someone snatched it in that tiny window?
‘You bastard!’
Someone dared steal his legitimately(?) purchased property. His blood boiled.
Of course he wanted revenge. But he had no clue where the thief was.
‘Hold on. It’s been less than a week since I bought this.’
That meant the thief was still riding the drop rate and EXP buffs.
‘So they’re probably still hunting here?’
His next move was clear.
“Uh, what now…?”
“We’re going in.”
“Huh?”
He snapped coldly at his lackey—who’d named his character after a friend flipped backward.
“The guy who first-discovered this dungeon is probably still hunting inside.”
“What? How do you know he’s—”
“I bought this less than a week ago! Whoever stole it had to find it within that time!”
No one would blame the actual first discoverer. But the leader called it theft, painting them like a criminal.
The group looked uncomfortable, but he didn’t notice. He was too pissed.
“A week means the buffs haven’t expired yet, so high chance they’re still farming. We go in, find them. If not, we wait.”
“E-even if we luckily run into him, then what?”
“What do you mean? There’s only one way to deal with thieves.”
He gnashed his teeth and yelled.
“We beat the shit out of him till he drops!”
The group headed deeper. The leader stormed ahead wildly. The others lagged, reluctant.
They were just leeches sucking up to rich boy. Even in-game, they hadn’t signed up to brawl randoms.
But stopping him? No chance.
“Look! No mobs at all! That thief bastard’s gotta be here!”
True to his word, not a single monster so far. Someone else was almost certain.
The guys behind him exchanged glances and nodded faintly. Steel resolve.
Unwilling or not, keeping the rich boy happy meant steady scraps.
They didn’t think they’d lose anyway. Thanks to his wallet, they were top-geared for their level.
Plus, solid skills and decent teamwork—even if it revolved around the rich boy.
That turned to certainty when they spotted him.
“You! You fucking thief!”
The leader spat venom when he saw the thief(?). The others sized up the foe.
‘Just one?’
‘No party in sight.’
If true, victory was theirs.
They scanned closer.
Sturdy leather armor set. Tension melted—they wore newbie gear for folks just figuring out Ark.
‘Beginner lucked into a dungeon.’
‘Tch tch, unlucky bastard. Thought he hit the jackpot.’
But now he’d pissed off rich boy. Lucky? Doubt it.
“Who are you?”
The guy asked. But the leader—no chat.
“Don’t care! You’re dead every time I see you!”
He raised his sword.
The others drew weapons. But he barked at them.
“You lot hang back! This punk’s mine to paint the walls with!”
He charged.
They winced at his crude words but wouldn’t cross him. Hoped killing the guy mellowed his mood.
Plus, even if innocent, the guy’s “theft”(?) had made them mad too.
So they’d enjoy watching him die a bit.
Bang!
Until the gunshot blew the leader’s head wide.
Thud!
He crumpled.
“Huh?”
“What?”
The group yelped in panic. Eyes darted.
Fallen comrade. Gun-wielding foe. Smoke from the barrel.
‘A gun?’
One player flashed in their minds.
The biggest sensation among low-level Korean players right now.
The guy who soloed extra bosses back-to-back and wiped the ones who’d trapped him—using his signature gun? Nah, just a sword.
“…Yuseong?”
“…No way, for real?”
When Yuseong’s gaze turned their way, they all thought the same.
They’d landed in deep shit.