Chapter 147
Chapter 147
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 147
Chapter Title: Chapter 28: Human Hunt (1)
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The System popped up the recruitment mission but didn't provide any criteria on whom to select.
It meant that recruiting bounty hunters was entirely up to me.
Of course, I didn't think the System was giving me this authority because it trusted me.
I knew the System was treating me specially and keeping an eye on me, but that couldn't exactly be called trust.
‘If anything, it's just using me.’
That was why I didn't attach any special meaning to this recruitment mission.
It was merely a means that could help achieve the goal.
‘It's ridiculous not to use a means that's available.’
And so, recruiting a new bounty hunter proceeded entirely at my discretion.
Of course, it wasn't just anyone; I had my own conditions.
‘They need to have a clear sense of purpose.’
In this war where there are far more strangers than acquaintances, someone with something definite to protect is ideal.
Family, peace, wealth, or even personal safety or honor—none of that matters.
As long as they have the resolve to endure anything for their own goal, that's enough.
Even if it means giving up comfortable rest, getting blood on their hands, and sometimes struggling with guilt.
‘They have to be the type who can grit their teeth and hunt humans.’
The System had been suffering from a shortage of divine power since the early days of the game, which meant it couldn't grant the bounty hunter perk to too many people.
In fact, the recruitment mission came with the ambiguous number 4.
‘Five including me.’
An unclear point where I couldn't be sure if additional recruitment missions would pop up or not.
For a while, we'd have to cover player-caused problems around the world with just five people.
I couldn't afford to waste a spot on someone who whined and fell behind.
It was simple, but among the three or four conditions I set, this was the most important.
The first person who came to mind under that condition was Ethan, whom I'd met just a few hours ago.
“It's taking too long.”
And the next one who came to mind was the man sitting behind me right now.
A white man sitting against the backdrop of Griffith Park in Los Angeles.
He had pulled a bright beige bucket hat low over his head and grown a bushy beard.
It made it hard to make out his features, but he and I definitely knew each other.
‘Code name: Sniper.’
An American player, and we'd become acquainted through the leading group gathering 'Club 249.'
It was a name we'd come up with after discussing with the participants, referring to the number of countries registered with the International Organization for Standardization.
It was meant to promote multinational harmony, in its own way.
Club 249 was progressing exactly as I'd hoped from the start.
And Sniper was one of the people I'd met there who had perfect conditions for recruitment as a bounty hunter.
Recalling Sniper's backstory, I answered flatly.
“Rushing me won't make it go any faster.”
“That wasn't a complaint. No matter how long it takes, I'm definitely doing the bounty missions.”
The reason I'd recruited Sniper was because he was obsessed with random boxes.
His child had been diagnosed with a rare, incurable disease, so he was hoping for holy water from a random box.
‘Holy water, water infused with divine power.’
If potions sped up recovery, holy water was close to a panacea.
No, in some ways, it was even more amazing.
‘Not only does it heal all diseases, but it even regenerates severed body parts.’
Compared to its power, the production method wasn't all that complicated.
You just sequentially and relentlessly pour the power of the Seven Gods into water until divine power melts into it.
But for something with a simple method, the quantity wasn't abundant.
‘The Seven Churches currently only have two vials of holy water.’
That was because the production time was too long.
It took an average of about three years to make holy water.
Not one or two months, but years of continuously infusing the power of the Seven Gods— that wasn't easy.
‘Especially because of the Kallos Church, it'll be even harder.’
Even priests in the Kallos Church struggled to receive blessings.
It was safe to say only the apostles could use the god's power.
And there were only two apostles, whose whereabouts were usually mysterious.
Given the situation, it was natural for holy water production difficulty to skyrocket.
‘It's hard to obtain such a precious item through normal means.’
So, he was aiming for random boxes.
‘There's no guarantee holy water will come out here.’
But no guarantee it wouldn't, either.
If he wanted to hold onto that hope, I couldn't stop him.
“If my situation allows, can I handle missions that pop up on other continents?”
I wasn't too surprised by the follow-up question, as I knew Sniper's circumstances to some extent.
‘The fact that random boxes can be synthesized was already revealed in the guide.’
After that, Sniper went after random boxes even more aggressively than others.
He almost always participated in church-exclusive missions meant to promote church talents.
Even in main scenarios, he obsessively chased contribution points for ranking rewards, earning a notorious reputation.
‘Bounty missions give one random box per target.’
The Afghanistan mission gave three, so it was confirmed.
Having shared that fact, Sniper showed far more enthusiasm than Ethan.
And I had no reason to put the brakes on that passion.
“I'm not going to flatly say no. But at least talk to the person in charge of that region beforehand.”
“If they refuse, you're telling me to persuade them myself.”
“Naturally.”
“Europe's that British kid, right? He's close to the regime? He'll probably dump them on me since he's busy in all sorts of ways…… What about you? Is Asia your region?”
“Yeah, if it's my area, you can handle it first without prior coordination.”
I could concede this much as a show of good faith.
‘I'll be tied up with the main scenario soon anyway.’
There wouldn't be much time left before I could return to Earth.
If Sniper could fill that gap, it was nothing but good for me.
“It's a damn long way…… but I can't be picky about work. Thanks.”
Our interests aligned perfectly, so it was an excellent deal.
At the end of that deal, I added one piece of advice.
“If you're grateful, then don't get swayed by pointless guilt and focus on finishing the job clean.”
“If you're going to dump work on me, that's nothing. Let me know once the other personnel are set.”
“You can check on your end too, so don't worry.”
“Nice.”
Even within Club 249, it was well known that I valued harmony with civilians.
So, there was no need to explain at length why I considered bounty hunter missions important.
‘I have no choice but to trust and leave the rest to them.’
Just then, I checked the progress: 99%.
The moment I stood up, the message I'd seen once before scrolled up.
“Let's go.”
“See you next time.”
After confirming Sniper's code name appear on the bounty hunter icon, I'd taken three or four steps.
I didn't get far before stopping. A message window had suddenly updated.
「HIDDEN MISSION list is being updated.」
The hidden missions I'd just trimmed down were increasing again.
‘Talk about timing.’
Really, this damn System and I just don't mesh.
“Whew.”
I closed my eyes, steadied my breath, and checked the new missions.
Two new ones had been added.
“Whoa.”
Sniper, checking the two missions almost at the same time as me, let out a low exclamation.
It was warranted. The targets of the new missions were 11 and 17 people, respectively.
* * *
Inside a dim underground tunnel barely lit by cheap lights.
“Yawwwn.”
Before the drawn-out yawn even finished, a sneaky proposition followed.
“How about after we're done today? On the way, I saw a bunch of pretty girls come in.”
The crude gesture accompanying the lowbrow suggestion drew a cackling laugh from the yawner.
“I'm already coming back from that.”
“Huh? By yourself?”
“Hoquin took the guys below for a round.”
At that, the first guy groaned in self-reproach.
“Damn, I should've stayed too!”
“That's why I said to move slower.”
Right on cue, clack-clack, clunk.
From the dark tunnel beyond, an iron cart moving along rails appeared.
“No plans to take any today?”
“Who knows.”
It was a familiar sight to them, so the conversation continued nonchalantly.
“Still, they seemed to have a good time yesterday, so he'll probably go again.”
“Fine, I'll hold out today.”
“You and your bright ideas.”
As the two chuckled, the iron cart on the rails came to a stop.
Almost simultaneously, another guy who had gone up to fetch people from the upper level came down.
“Oh, you're here already?”
“If we're here, let's move quick.”
The group following the leader was mostly young.
Roughly mid-teens to early twenties.
They approached the long line of iron carts without showing any confusion, as if they all knew exactly what was happening.
After that, only low-level banter from two or three people and irregular footsteps echoed.
A player's keen senses had no trouble picking up every sound from below.
But I was more focused on the smell wafting from beyond the wall than the conversation below.
I had approached the warehouse containing one of my targets in stealth mode.
A truly odd smell was coming from that warehouse.
‘What is this smell?’
A sharp, sour tang—like vinegar mixed in, or maybe rotting mugwort.
A smell I'd never encountered in my life.
As I concentrated on figuring it out, Sniper, who had his hand on my shoulder, spoke.
“Smells like cocaine, but there's marijuana too, so……”
I slowly turned around.
Unfazed by my reaction, Sniper tapped the ground with his foot and continued.
“These guys are drug traffickers.”
The word from Sniper's mouth was shocking.
And quite disconcerting too.
By my standards, it didn't make sense for him to distinguish drugs so readily.
“Hm? Why are you looking at me like that?”
But Sniper seemed oblivious, asking casually.
Instead of reacting specially, I held my tongue.
A fact had come to mind before I could speak.
‘Some states in the US have legalized marijuana sales.’
This was beyond personal tastes—a legal and cultural difference at the national level.
It was too soon to label him an addict just because he knew drugs.
Even if Sniper smoked marijuana, as an American, it wasn't my place to interfere.
‘As long as he doesn't screw up while high.’
Fortunately, from what I'd seen so far, Sniper had never lost judgment from drugs.
He'd never even carried the smell of marijuana until today.
‘That's good enough.’
Reaching that simple, clear conclusion, I turned my gaze away from Sniper.
Pushing aside my personal shock, I pondered how to handle this situation.
‘I don't know why drug trafficking is tied to the game……’
This wasn't something Sniper and I could handle alone.
It wasn't just players involved; a massive crime organization was in the mix.
Acting on personal whim could cause bigger problems.
That left only one option.
In the end, I clicked my tongue inwardly and said.
“If these guys are really tangled up in drugs, we need to contact Lily Evans.”
Sniper nodded in agreement.