Chapter 34

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Translator: True Detective

Chapter: 34

Chapter Title: A Crane Among Chickens

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"Due to these circumstances, Team GGW has decided to tackle a different dungeon instead of the 'Flame Bridge' starting today."

"We're truly sorry..."

Hyun-ah bowed deeply toward the team members gathered in the meeting room. A small action she'd started out of a desire to brag to others had spiraled into this mess. Because of it, she could barely face her teammates.

"Whoa?! I was gonna post about it today too—I started writing last night but stopped. Gotta delete it right now. Whew... that was close to disaster."

As she said that, Yuna fumbled for her Hero Pad in a panic. It was clear her intent was to emphasize that Hyun-ah's mistake was just a minor slip anyone could make. Sojeong and Yerin nodded along, showing no real resentment.

Minguk felt a quiet swell of satisfaction at his teammates' reactions. It had only been five days since the raid party formed, but maybe because they'd tackled several dungeons together already? A strong sense of camaraderie was already blooming among them.

"So, Raid Leader, what's our next target? Another special specimen again?"

It was Sojeong asking. Since this was an ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠official meeting, Minguk responded politely.

"Yes. Nothing boosts our specs right away quite like mana crystals do. Fortunately, we've gotten some help from the clan."

"From the clan? This place, Rose Shield?"

"That's right. I didn't know this, but Rose Shield manages two 3+ grade special dungeons. They recommended the Dungeon of Illusions."

High-difficulty dungeons with special specimens were ones heroes avoided conquering. The failure rate was simply too high. But if those dungeons weren't cleared, their timers couldn't be reset—leading to dungeon breaks.

That was why the government and Hero Association held annual meetings to issue official directives to ranker clans, assigning them specific dungeons to manage and clear directly. The clans got to monopolize all the loot as loot, tax-free.

Naturally, the toughest ones with special specimens went to the top clans. Those clans handling special dungeons would send their first-string teams for the high-grade ones and second- or third-string for the lower ones to reset the timers. Of course, that meant burning through quite a few revival stones in the process—not just one or two.

"They planned to clear the Dungeon of Illusions by mixing their third-stringers with promising rookie heroes showing talent."

The reason for mixing them in was to develop those rookies who hadn't hit three stars yet. The most valuable item from special dungeons was, after all, the mana crystal.

"But thanks to this incident, our team got handed the job."

They'd even thrown in ten revival stones as a bonus. Including the ones provided for this month's contract, that made twenty-five from the clan already. After using five, they had twenty left. And that didn't even count the ones Minguk personally owned.

Considering revival stone prices had recently climbed to $120,000 each, it was clear how much hope Rose Shield was pinning on Team GGW. Perhaps sensing that, everyone's expressions brightened. This time, Yerin spoke up.

"What's the Dungeon of Illusions like?"

"Ah! Let's jump into the briefing. I skimmed the strategy video the clan provided earlier. What can I say—it's a pretty easy dungeon."

"...Easy?"

The four women exchanged glances and shook their heads as they watched Minguk nod and prepare the briefing behind his back. No matter how you sliced it, this was a 3+ grade dungeon with a special specimen. It was obvious they'd suffer just as much as with 'Flame Bridge - Ifrit'.

In short: Dodge Ice Prison, tank Freezing Spear with survival skills, and have non-tanks trigger Ice Orbs within 30 seconds to force explosion. Done.

"Compared to 'Ifrit,' the difficulty is definitely lower. No risk of falling off a bridge to your death, either."

Minguk said that, but the raiders watching the strategy video all wore grave expressions.

It was footage from two months ago: Rose Shield's third-stringers mixed with second-year rookies tackling 'Ice Queen - Anisa'.

It was utter chaos, no different from 'Flame Bridge - Ifrit.' No—even from the video alone, it looked way more hectic. Amid frantic screams, ice shards sparkled and burst everywhere with deafening pops.

Most successful clears boiled down to the third-string tank and healer's superior specs pushing through. Even third-stringers from a ranker clan like Rose Shield had at least 4-star gear and Gear Score over 330.

"Planning the same training as for 'Flame Bridge - Ifrit' this time?"

"Of course. First, let's reset everyone's skill loadouts."

Minguk grinned as he spoke. He was genuinely amused.

'Pattern monsters like this are honestly a breeze. Why's this even a special specimen? Makes no sense.'

As a veteran raid leader from his GGW days, the moment Minguk saw 'Ice Queen - Anisa' footage, his first thought was that she was an absolute pushover boss. Sure, chaos unfolded, but keep the tank alive and handle the Ice Orbs—zero issues.

Ice Prison? Obviously dodge it. Getting trapped meant you'd deserve a hundred curses. Avoiding floor effects was Raid 101.

The only attack that could wipe the party was a neglected Ice Orb. Nail that perfectly, and you could clear while slurping ramen. And to do that...

'Speed is king.'

Plus, Anisa's Freezing Spear was uncounterable—no need for interrupts mid-fight. That freed up skill stone slots for everyone.

Hyun-ah, stuck tanking Freezing Spear, equipped core tank defenses, a self-HP burst skill, and even an attack stone. The other dealers loaded two single-target DPS skills each, plus movement speed stones.

Yuna alone double-stacked movement skills, as backup for any Ice Orb mishaps. Seeming to take her heavy responsibility to heart, her face was more serious than usual.

Minguk went with two single-target heals and a shield.

Hyun-ah bore the heaviest burden, so he'd focus heals on her. Ice Orb detonators could get spot-healed as needed, as long as they didn't insta-die.

"Shall we do a quick training run, then hit the Anisa raid?"

Minguk said, holding up a ball the size of an Ice Orb. Training was simple: Spot where he'd toss it mid-"fight" and dash there fast. That was the raid's alpha and omega.

"Just who the hell is that hero from the video?"

A short-haired woman with dyed red hair muttered irritably. Her name was Ahn Hye-jeong, a veteran reporter from the raid-focused Daehan Ilbo.

Her top scoop right now: Unmasking the fourth-day rookie raid party that flawlessly cleared 'Flame Bridge - Ifrit,' the talk of the town. Especially the raid leader and healer.

"But seriously, did a rookie party really take down a 3-star special specimen? Feels manipulated... and that post vanished in seconds."

"I've got the raid log. It's legit, no fakes."

Hye-jeong shook her head at her junior reporter's words.

The internet post had vanished almost immediately. Plenty dismissed the 'Flame Bridge - Ifrit' clear as fake or edited.

But Hye-jeong's instincts kicked in—she'd screenshotted the log before it disappeared and verified its authenticity. Five fourth-day rookies had truly felled a 3+ grade special specimen.

"If it's real... why hide it? Shouldn't they brag? I'd shout it from the rooftops."

"Media spotlight probably freaked them out."

"Huh...?"

Leaving her baffled junior blinking blankly, Hye-jeong sat down. Her reporter's gut screamed: The original poster wasn't the one who deleted it. If they wanted it gone, they wouldn't have posted.

'Definitely a clan raid party.'

One excited hero posted their brag. Buzz exploded, drawing eyes even from mega-rankers like 'Hero Era.' The clan, spooked, asked for deletion. Sequence confirmed.

Overhyped rookies often stalled growth or jumped clans, so preemptive management made sense.

'Not Lee Seol or Jo Yoon-jung's party, at least.'

Domestic first-year rookie rankings 1st and 4th.

This year's raid quals: 4th and 11th. With vets heading abroad, they skyrocketed domestically. Their clan? Top-dog 'Hero Era.'

Hye-jeong spotted 'Hero Era's' SNS admin trying to contact the poster in the comments.

"Other high-rookie clans: Strong Women, Memoria, Ewha..."

"What about Rose Shield?"

Her junior chimed in, overhearing her mutter.

"Rose Shield? Eh..."

Hye-jeong scribbled "R’s" on a note, circling it distastefully multiple times.

"They peaked ages ago—total has-beens since Park Da-young retired. Downhill ever since, no big rookie signings this year either. Mentioning them? Rose Knight fan, huh?"

"No? Uh, there's a guy who got his raid cert this year and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠joined Rose Shield. Personally wanna cover him."

"Ah..."

Hye-jeong nodded at her junior's obvious crush. A male hero alone guaranteed clicks galore.

But Hye-jeong found more fulfillment spotlighting true heroes battling darkness-threatening monsters for humanity's survival.

"While you're at it, check Rose Shield for Oh Hyun-ah. Rookie tank with solid rep. Cover her too."

She stood, instructing her junior.

Time to hunt the controversy's stars herself. First stop: Strong Women's clan house, already in sight ahead.

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