Chapter 26

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Translator: True Detective

Chapter: 26

Chapter Title: Newbie Team 4

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"Everyone, good work."

Minguk wiped the sweat from his forehead as he spoke. It had been a fun raid after a long time—a classic monster that tested movement and judgment. Especially that thrill when his team members moved precisely according to his orders...

'The members are solid, huh?'

Hyun-ah and Yuna were great, of course, but the new additions, Kim So-jeong and Jeong Ye-rin, had synced up perfectly too. There was a reason the clan leader had recommended them. True to their ranker status, their movements and decision-making were sharp.

'A real raid is a fight against the weak links in your team, not the boss monster.'

If they had been dim-witted heroes, they would've panicked ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and botched everything despite his solid orders, turning the team into a mess. In the end, raids were all about repeating battles until those types gained some insight. But these two women had moved with sharp instincts against Deron.

Of course, it might've just been because the Dark Giant Deron was on the easier side. Still, Minguk decided to savor the immediate results.

An iron reward chest sat in the center of the battlefield. Dungeons at 【B-8】 difficulty or higher dropped identical-looking chests, but the Giant's Small Battlefield was one step down at 【B-9】.

Even so, 【B-9】 dungeons and up offered a chance at Silver Tickets for gear up to 110 score. Naturally, among those present, only Minguk and Yuna actually needed gear like that.

"I wonder what the reward will be?"

At Yuna's words, Minguk fiddled with his Hero Pad.

The Dark Giant Deron in the Giant's Small Battlefield typically dropped gear around 90 score. The real prizes were Silver Tickets or B-rank attack skill stones.

And very rarely, Revival Stones.

'A Revival Stone would be an absolute jackpot.'

A Silver Ticket—jackpot in its own right—went for about $1,800. But a single Revival Stone that could resurrect a hero's life? A whopping $100,000. Dozens of times more valuable.

"So, is it time for Cheonho-dong's Lucky Girl Oh Hyun-ah to step up? I'll pull a Silver Ticket right now!"

Hyun-ah cracked her neck and rolled up her sleeves, ready to pop the chest open the moment Minguk gave the word. That's when it happened.

A chime rang out as the message appeared. Having seen this before, Minguk wasn't startled—just wide-eyed.

"No way, a deal this sweet?!"

Open the chest, and a Revival Stone awaited him. When honey like this appeared, you had to suck it dry! Minguk shouted to Hyun-ah, the closest to the chest. A $100,000 item was calling his name.

"Hyun-ah! Open the chest!"

"Okay!"

The moment permission dropped, Hyun-ah flung it open. And what emerged was...

Three gear items, including a pair of 90-score dealer shoes. Decent enough to fetch around $2,000 at auction.

"That shitty little... Playing word games... Hoo... Maybe I should just kill it."

Minguk let out a long breath at the follow-up message, closing his eyes. His thick brows twitched with rage.

"Team 4 entered the Giant's Small Battlefield raid today, right?"

"Yes."

"No word yet?"

"It's been about three hours since they entered the dungeon, Leader-nim."

The secretary checked the time and replied to Hyun-jung. A B-rank dungeon, even at difficulty 9. And Newbie Team 4 was a fresh raid squad that ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠had just earned their qualifications.

'Team 4 has the Leader-nim's little sister, doesn't it?'

She seemed especially interested because it was her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠blood sister, Oh Hyun-ah—a promising tank who had cracked the rookie rankings this year. The clan planned to watch her closely.

Newbie Team 4, with Hyun-ah aboard, was the first of Rose Shield's six new raid teams to dive in. They'd finalized their roster and launched the raid in just one day.

Compared to the other teams still shuffling newbie raid leaders, veterans, and members, it was lightning-fast.

Of course, the clan had nudged some talent their way. Hyun-ah plus three other rookie rankers had landed in Team 4.

'Which raid squads will make it through the year...'

New recruits averaged two-year contracts; raid leaders got three. But that didn't mean they'd wear the Rose Shield name the whole time. No results? Heroes got cut, raids disbanded. Poor performers either left the clan or shopped elsewhere.

Clans couldn't afford to prop up flops forever—not with Revival Stone costs.

Fresh squads tackling mid-to-low B-rank dungeons barely broke even on stones. And dungeon drops were only getting pricier.

Government aid and top heroes' earnings funded the future, but equal shots for every newbie? Impossible.

Rose Shield planned to bump just one new squad to the third army. Two decent ones might get a second chance; the rest? Disbanded on sight.

Ding.

"...Huh?"

The secretary blinked at the sudden phone message. It was from the manager who'd gone to the Jungnang District dungeon with Team 4. Reading it, her eyes went wide.

Guessing from the look, Hyun-jung spoke up.

"Team 4?"

"Yes. Giant's Small Battlefield raid. One-try clear. One Revival Stone used."

"Yes!"

Hyun-jung pumped her fist at the report. Not just pride in her sister—though that played a part. What thrilled her was proof that Raid Leader Han Minguk's skills were the real deal.

'Contracting Han Minguk was the right call. No regrets about missing Yoo Seo-yeon.'

Especially his leadership chops. Yoo Seo-yeon couldn't compare.

Minguk's command had even impressed Hyun-jung, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠who'd raided with countless vets. Premature, maybe, but he might stack up to Rose Shield legend Park Da-young.

Not yet, anyway. He was still a Grade 1 hero with plenty to prove—higher-difficulty raids to ace.

But if he kept climbing? He could usher in another golden age for Rose Shield.

"The media's all over newbie hero feats right now. Especially Team 4's male raid leader—that'll amp the hype."

"So the clan's stance is...?"

"Keep him out of the press. Gag the staff. Block all reporter access to Team 4."

Hyun-jung didn't want media frenzy derailing a high-potential hero. Not for Rose Shield, not for humanity's future. Short-term promo bucks? Easy sacrifice.

The Giant's Small Battlefield clear earned Minguk the full trust of his team—specifically Kim So-jeong and Jeong Ye-rin. So-jeong even apologized for her attitude that morning after the raid.

"Prove your chops, and everything's golden."

Fun raid, team vibes settled nicely. If not for that trash calling itself Kuwoo or Ppuu or whatever, it'd have been a perfect day.

"From now on, just ignore incoming quests."

Bronze Ticket and a flop. Time to ditch expectations. Best case? Silver Tickets. Even three wouldn't touch one Revival Stone.

And on a day his heart took a hit like this...

"I'm home."

Hyun-ah, who'd earned A-rank contribution as tank, approached with a sweet smile. His wounded soul instantly mended. A beauty's grin was medicine for the heart.

Ah, pull this card, and he had no choice but to chase Ppuu's quest again.

Gold Tickets—rare drops from Grade 4 boss monsters in dungeons between 【B-8】 and 【B-5】—yielded special items from 200 to 230 Gear Score.

Sure, they'd face monsters one grade higher than before. Prep had to be thorough. Higher difficulties demanded better gear specs and unraveled complex patterns.

But these foes were inevitable anyway. Just a bit sooner. And lottery-ticket gear from reward chests? That could skyrocket his and the team's power.

Gold Ticket gear matched drops from 【B-5】 Grade 4 bosses. No wonder heroes went wild for them. And the market price? Steeper than even Revival Stones.