Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Park Kang-hyuk VS Lucas Howard (1)
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Lucas, who had been fighting a war against the demon race in America, let out a hollow laugh upon hearing the news about Aronnion.
"The emperor of the Ryu Han Empire... conquered Aronnion?"
"Yes, that's correct."
"And the U.S. government is considering an alliance with the Ryu Han Empire?"
The vice master nodded quietly.
"Hah, the Spirit God of Aronnion must be pretty damn weak."
"..."
The vice master found it hard to agree with Lucas's statement.
A being that dominated an entire dimension was weak?
Even the Spirit Race's Grand General, who had clashed head-on with Hunter Park Kang-hyuk, was classified as national power-level strength.
The Spirit God, presumed to be even stronger than the Grand General, had to be on par with Lucas—or greater.
'Even if the legion commanders joined in, they fall short of national power-level. And if the emperor took down the Spirit God...'
He must have gained an insane amount of experience.
'He might even be able to rival the master.'
As Lucas skimmed the report on the Ryu Han Empire, a wave of displeasure washed over him.
He was the world's strongest hunter.
And now there was someone who could threaten him?
'Alice, Hwaryeon, and now the emperor of Ryu Han...'
Lucas swallowed his rage and turned to the vice master.
"We're heading to Korea."
"Pardon?"
"I'll crush that scamming motherfucker first."
"You mean... Hunter Park Kang-hyuk?"
"Yeah. Then I'll stomp the emperor of the Ryu Han Empire."
"...?! Master, even so, assassinating a head of state is...!"
"It's a one-on-one duel framed as combat training. Make it happen."
"What if the Ryu Han Empire refuses the duel...?"
"Then it just means their emperor's a cowardly pussy."
Would it really play out that smoothly?
Even if the Ryu Han Empire rejected the proposal, people wouldn't mock the emperor as a coward.
There was no reason for a non-hunter head of state to duel some American hunter.
The vice master sighed inwardly and bowed his head.
"Understood."
With Lucas Howard's trip to Korea confirmed, the U.S. government urgently asked the Zeus Guild to hold him back.
The war against the Otherworld Races wasn't over yet.
If Lucas left now, the Otherworld Race armies might launch another assault.
But Lucas stood firm and boarded the plane right away.
The news of his arrival spread like wildfire in Korea.
Kang-hyuk, arriving at the GH Guild's second branch, chuckled dryly upon hearing it.
"He's really coming?"
Having recently reviewed Lucas's combat footage, Kang-hyuk could gauge his level.
'Advanced Grand Master, fully matured... nah, not quite.'
Close to full maturity, maybe?
It wasn't time to reveal his full power yet.
But he couldn't just let someone who insulted him slide.
"He came all this way himself..."
Kang-hyuk immediately contacted his secretary's office.
"Find me a suitable spot for a duel."
[A duel... sir?]
"Yes. I might end up facing Lucas Howard. Somewhere with nothing around... scout out terrain like that."
[...Yes, understood.]
The secretary started scouting duel sites right away.
The Hunter Association quickly designated a wasteland in northern Gangwon Province as the venue.
It was surrounded by mountains, so even sword strikes wouldn't reach populated areas.
Meanwhile, Lee Sung-ho of the Teynen Guild smiled brightly upon hearing of Lucas's visit.
'Lucas...!'
He was coming to Korea to punish Park Kang-hyuk!
The disappearance of Teynen Guild's S-rank hunters had faded into an unsolved mystery.
He'd spread conspiracy theories about Park Kang-hyuk, but no one bought them.
Not even reporters ran negative stories on him carelessly.
The GH Guild was now big enough to do business with major corporations.
'Please... just die already.'
Sung-ho glared at Park Kang-hyuk on his monitor, eyes flashing.
The Teynen Guild members watching him tilted their heads.
"What's got him making that face?"
"Kinda creepy..."
"Something happen?"
Teynen had fallen from Korea's top three guilds.
And GH Guild had taken its spot.
GH was filling up with hunters from the Ryu Han Empire, while some members had crossed over to enlist as soldiers.
Soon, titles would be bestowed on Ryu Han Empire army officers.
Dukes or marquises for legion commanders, earls or viscounts for division commanders, barons for brigade commanders, and knighthoods for battalion commanders.
Kang-hyuk pulled up the Ryu Han Empire's organizational chart on his screen.
"Grant them fiefdoms, but manage based on national law, with tax rates within the state's upper and lower limits..."
As Kang-hyuk refined the Ryu Han Empire's system, Lucas finally appeared at Incheon Airport.
Crowds gathered to see him.
Reporters snapped photos furiously.
Lucas scowled and unleashed his killing intent.
Thud!
"You monkeys dare treat me like a spectacle?"
The crowd flinched at his aura and collapsed to the ground.
"That's more like it."
Towering over 2 meters with a 130kg frame packed with muscle, the golden-haired, blue-eyed man in his fifties—Lucas—sneered at the Korea Hunter Association executives.
Their hands trembled too.
"Welcome."
An interpreter approached Lucas.
"Where's that scamming motherfucker?"
"...You mean Hunter Park Kang-hyuk?"
"Yeah, drag that arrogant monkey bastard here. He barked without knowing his place... time to crush him personally."
Despite the racist remarks, the executives kept straight faces.
He was known for that crap in China and Japan too.
Regulate him, and he'd cause a scene with force.
"The GH Guild is already scouting a duel site."
"Hah?"
Lucas laughed hollowly.
"Then lead the way."
"We've prepared a hotel. Please wait there briefly."
"You want me... to wait?"
"We need to confirm Hunter Park Kang-hyuk's location. We appreciate your understanding."
Lucas grinned wickedly and leaned into the executive's face.
"You get one day. If Park Kang-hyuk isn't here by tomorrow... use those primitive brains to imagine what'll happen to this country."
Lucas shoved past the executives and left.
The fallen men gritted their teeth.
Such rudeness from a foreigner was intolerable.
But it was that Lucas Howard.
The man called the world's strongest hunter.
National power-level meant capable of destroying nations.
Who would dare touch the strongest among them?
'That guy... could probably wipe out Korea.'
The Association had no choice but to stay deferential.
'I hope Hunter Park Kang-hyuk puts up a good fight against Lucas.'
'Even a few minutes of holding out would change Korea's standing.'
The public had no doubts about Lucas winning.
They just hoped Park Kang-hyuk held out as long as possible.
And that he wouldn't suffer major injuries.
Of course, the GH Guild had top-grade potions ready for emergencies.
"Yu-na!"
Hye-in ran to Yu-na, sweating bullets.
"Is it true? Your brother’s really fighting Lucas?!"
Yu-na sighed softly and headed to the school cafe with Hye-in.
"He came home yesterday and told us. Said he'd probably have to fight Lucas. Mom and Dad tried to stop him, but he kept saying it'd be fine."
"I-is... he really okay?"
Yu-na let out a deep sigh.
"I don't know. He's confident, and the GH Guild prepared top-grade potions just in case. For safety, the Goguryeo Guild master Woo Sung-hyun, Teynen Guild master Lee Soo-jin, Hunter Association president Lee Ho-seok, twenty S2-rank hunters from GH Guild, and five Ryu Han Empire legion commanders will be observing."
Of course, plenty of S3-rank hunters would attend too.
Including Teynen's Lee Sung-ho.
Hye-in chuckled dryly at the big names.
S-rank hunters got celebrity treatment.
Some even had fan clubs.
Park Kang-hyuk had a bunch of fans too.
"His fan club’s rallying at Gwanghwamun Square to cheer."
"Even out in Gwanghwamun...?"
"Shows how much attention it's getting. Even non-members are joining the support."
Hye-in glanced at Yu-na.
"Polls have Lucas favored to win, though..."
"Yeah."
Yu-na nodded calmly.
Her brother beating the world's strongest hunter? Unlikely.
"Still, I kinda want Lucas to lose."
"Well... with his track record. Racism aside, assaults, murders, gambling, women problems..."
Lucas was no better than a heinous criminal.
He just bulldozed the law with power.
"With Lucas coming to Korea, demons restarted their invasion in America."
The demons sensed his absence and struck.
Not just them.
Beastmen and Elves piled on, carving up territory.
Amid it all, Lucas lounged in his hotel suite.
Thwack!
"Kyaaak!"
"Guhk...!"
Lucas looked down at the hotel staff on the floor.
"You insolent shits... puke on my floor again, and I'll cut your throats."
Association hunters dragged the staff away.
No one dared call out Lucas.
'Damn, that trashy fuck...'
'Drop dead tomorrow.'
The hunters gnashed their teeth.
Lucas smirked.
"Ugly mugs. Got a problem, you primitives?"
Lucas erupted with mana.
Thud!
The whole hotel shook.
"Nngh...!"
The hunters braced themselves.
"Crushing that scammer fuck along with this city sounds fun."
"That won't be possible."
Lee Ho-seok, president of the Korea Hunter Association, entered Lucas's bedroom.
He glared at Lucas, radiating fierce energy.