Chapter 64
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: Golden Egg (1)
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Kwa-ga-ga-gak!
The giant-type city twisted open the elevator doors like tin foil, shoving the two cities aside.
In the gap between them, the floating-type city slipped through with nimble flight, while the spectral-type city passed through in a translucent form.
And beneath those cities, a massive net unfurled.
“Uwaaak!”
“What the hell is this?!”
The net scooped up thousands of newbies gathered in the plaza all at once.
“Damn it! Skill magic flying carpet!”
“Load 'em up quick! Grab whoever's nearby!”
The hunters from ‘Dosan’ started indiscriminately piling on newbies near them.
“Is this okay? We have assigned numbers...”
“No time to sort 'em, and this ain't the time to quibble. Just got word from the boss—we're pulling out ASAP. Hand off the extras or dump 'em outside the city.”
Starting with them, hunters from the other cities began taking in newbies without discrimination.
And this wasn't limited to just the 80,000.
“The meeting's over.”
Company's acting chairman, Alfred, declared.
“One of us is a traitor. Someone definitely helped those three cities with their spatial transfer.”
“Old man Al. So you're saying we're bailing without a fight?”
In response to Wolf Fortress leader Boltchino's words, he shrugged.
“They'll probably grab their share of newbies and run too. They fired a beam, but not a single assault team came down, right? Means they wanna avoid a head-on clash.”
“Shouldn't we hit back if they screwed us over?”
“Four cities—including us seven plus the traitor—going all-out against each other would be a huge loss for humanity as a whole. From the start, Dosan and our Company pushed to let them join the newbie recruitment. Didn't something like this happen in the fifth round too?”
“You sure you're not the traitor?”
At Chungrong's sharpened words, Alfred shrugged again.
“You know better. If we—the hub of economy and supplies—betrayed everyone, every unique city would plunge into panic. Better watch your mouth, kid.”
“The discussion's done. First picks get 250 each.”
At the words of the Knights' Order elder, 'Wailing Wall' Vermouth, Boltchino flicked his fingers with a bored look.
“Snag the promising ones first, right?”
The wolves behind him vanished.
It seemed rude, but no one mentioned it.
The elites and secret agents had already departed.
The representative of ‘Illibatus Animus (Complete Mind)’ sighed as he surveyed the room.
In a way, their unity was even worse than the three invading cities.
He quietly stood, bowing deeply to Christina, one of the elders.
“I deeply regret how unpleasantly this meeting ended. Mother Christina.”
With that, he left, and the others followed one by one.
Chungrong groaned, covering his face with his hands.
“Representative, I'm sorry. I should've paid more attention to spatial detection without their knowledge...”
“No, Chungrong. If they colluded with the traitor and came prepared, no defense would've stopped them.”
Christina lightly donned her black coat.
“It's a shame the meeting ended like this. I did vote to exclude them, but...”
Chungrong noticed veins bulging on the back of her hand.
“Still... I'm a bit pissed.”
＊＊＊
“Can we secure the number one priority target?”
“Special Pursuit 0-A has already been dispatched. We'll do our utmost to secure him.”
Alfred's brow furrowed slightly.
“Special Pursuit 0-A? Led by that dimwit Section Chief Jung?”
“'Dimwit' is a bit harsh. His abilities are top-notch, and he's popular with his subordinates.”
“That guy who grins everywhere he goes?”
“I agree his attitude toward superiors is an issue. But objectively, he's reasonably clever and quick on the uptake.
Plus, his knowledge outside mercenary work is high, and his 'gut-reading' negotiation skills are exceptional, as per the external affairs director's evaluation...”
Alfred pulled a cigar case from his pocket.
“Enough. You're right—sending Special Pursuit 0-A makes sense. Can't trust the guy, but 0-A itself is the elite squad of the mercenary division.”
Why's a guy whose only talent is schmoozing in charge of those elites?
Alfred cursed Martunis, the mercenary ops head, and bit down on the cigar.
A nearby hunter naturally lit it.
“Here's your light.”
“Thanks. Didn't even ask.”
After a light puff, Alfred spotted Sessk's furrowed brow and realized who had come.
“Why are you here?”
Alfred shot him a questioning look, and he flashed a polished social smile.
“Don't we have business, External Affairs Director?”
“What about those behind you?”
Alfred's cigar pointed to the eight in his entourage.
“All A-rank or higher. No issues with the job.”
“Impressive maneuvering, Sessk!”
“Yes, sir.”
“Book the arena hall. Emphasize the successful profits from the meeting auction...”
The external affairs director's group of ten left doubled in size.
The man chattering right by the director's side.
Sessk's eyes chilled like frost at the sight.
＊ ＊ ＊
“Take 'em in scout order!”
“Shaman and mage types first priority!”
“Keep an eye out if the others grab a 20-something, medium height, black-haired East Asian! That's our number one pick!”
Wolf Fortress's Blade Wolves swept up priority picks while scanning around.
Sure enough, Knights' Order tin cans were haughtily escorting someone with 'Make way! Outta the path!'
“Sarvek, check left.”
“Archers to the opposite high ground—have the demon types guard, and support us from there when we fight.”
“Grab your tools.”
“Quit with the thug talk. Folks'll think we're all ex-gangsters like you.”
With that, they sauntered to block the Knights' path as obnoxiously as possible.
“Hey, fellas. Hold up a sec?”
“We have no business with you.”
The Knights' elites in silver armor and sleek golden helms stood rigid in opposition.
“You might not, but we might.”
“'White Stag' team confirmed it. It's Ju Gonghyeok.”
“Yup. Our 'Blue Wolf' Boltchino ordered us to snag that Ju whatever from over there. Korean, so same northern folk. Better to turn into a proper wolf pup than join those pure hook-nose pricks, right?”
“Our 'Knights Without Borders' aren't bound by petty nationalism.”
A third group watched the back-and-forth with a smack of the lips.
“Section Chief Jung? What now?”
Section Chief Jung, sweating bullets, forced out words.
“Hmm... 'We did our best, but some things just ain't possible'—that work?”
“Chief, we're already catching flak for our merc division lagging behind other cities' firepower... Backing down now would be disastrous.”
“Damn it! We do lag! What do you want me to do? Guaaak!”
“The external affairs director hates how you got in via Deputy Martunis's pull—might actually get canned this time?”
Paak!
“No way you're taking over as chief, so shut it!”
He smacked the back of Shimada's head, then gnawed his nails.
“Playing the fisherman’s game has its risks. Mess with those guys, and you’ll get stabbed in the gut later...”
“Well, don't we specialize in 'shell games'?”
Special Pursuit 0-A Chief Jung Hyundo nodded.
In his view, 0-A lagged behind other cities' elites in raw power.
But their adaptability in any situation was unmatched.
...Probably?
The target he'd locked eyes with—Ju Gonghyeok—grinned at him, as if knowing the situation or not.
'Grinning?'
In this mess?
With that almighty combat-type SS-rank avatar, he'll end up in 0-A too, right?
Come at me. I'll work you like a dog for all my suffering.
With that thought, he barked at his men.
“Seeing your juniors' mugs gave me a great idea!”
“Juniors? If anything, we'd treat him like a VIP...”
“Joshua! Needle Search skill—find any hair off that guy on the ground! Makin, grab the puppet master from 2-A! Pong, prep disruption talismans for analysis skills!”
“Aah~ That trick?”
“Yeah.”
Jung glared at Ju Gonghyeok, grinding his teeth.
“Scatter every trace of Ju Gonghyeok in the area.”
Five minutes later... word came from the Blade Wolves blocking the Knights.
“What? You already secured Ju Gonghyeok? Then who's this in front of me?”
The Knights facing off with the Blade Wolves got the same.
“Captured three top-priority protects? What nonsense! Did he clone himself?!”
Dosan, Animus, Legion, Nirvana—elites from each unique city fell into chaos seeing countless Ju Gonghyeoks.
“Whoa! Nabbed another one!”
“Big catch!”
The Blade Wolves and Knights gaped, dumbfounded, as 0-A openly hauled over ten Ju Gonghyeoks.
“H-Hey, you guys...”
“Blade Wolf sirs! What brings you here?”
“So... put down the guy on your shoulder and...”
At that, Jung scowled and glared.
“This is our hard-won number one pick. No way we're...”
“R-Right?”
“Can't spare more than five. Stake my life on it!”
“......”
“Shimada! Hand over Ju Gonghyeoks 1 through 5! Let's bail!”
0-A dropped the five tightly bound Ju Gonghyeoks and bowed grandly with 'Please use us again!' before passing by.
Staring at the wriggling five on the ground, they exchanged looks.
“Hmm... now what?”
“'White Stag' says there are too many—even they can't handle it.”
“Yeah? Then...”
Outrunbart, the Blade Wolves' leader figure, awkwardly greeted the Knights.
“Eh, no hard feelings—we weren't picking a fight on purpose. Sorry if we pissed you off. Come to Wolf Fortress next time; drinks on me.”
“Yeah, yeah. Good's good.”
“Blade Wolves 7th Squad, come visit! Sorry!”
They scratched their heads sheepishly and vanished.
The Knights, fuming and half-drawn swords in hand, went silent staring at their now-useless weapons.
0-A strolled past nonchalantly.
“Wait. The one on your back...”
The Knights barely calmed their chaotic minds and grabbed Jung.
“What? You need these too?”
Jung's face twisted viciously.
“Exactly! Three max!”
“......”
Handing three Ju Gonghyeoks to the Knights, Jung rolled his eyes.
“Damn, bad luck. Kids! Move out!”
“Yes, sir! Chief, snag ten more on the way?”
Watching their brisk retreat, the Knights gathered their four Ju Gonghyeoks.
“Captain Wilhelm, what now?”
“......”
Wilhelm faced the exact same dilemma as the Blade Wolves' leader moments ago.
[Chapter 64 - Golden Egg (1)] End