Chapter 14
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Intruder
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"Superhuman Strength's stats have gone up?"
Lee Ru-ri opened her skill window.
[Superhuman Strength]
⚡ Attack Power:0
💨 Mana Cost:100
Physical attack power of targets within a certain radius (max 1m) increases by 15% for a set duration. (Duration: 15 minutes)
"Five percent is worth all the hard work. What's this ring?"
✨ Accessory Type:Ring
⚡ Attack Power:0
💨 Durability:200
8% chance to blind the target upon skill use. (Lasts 5 seconds)
It was a simple ring engraved with unknown letters.
"Blind means a debuff that covers the monster's eyes, right? I'll have to test it in the next gate."
Beep―
An emergency alarm blared.
A soft light poured out from the entrance she'd come through.
A digital display appeared above the entrance, showing the remaining time.
Confirming about a minute left, Lee Ru-ri slipped the ring onto her right index finger and hurried out through the entrance.
The moment she exited the boss gate, the hidden gate status window popped up automatically.
"Hmm, so this is like a waiting room. Collect key materials from outside to activate it, then a training area opens up. Raise the difficulty there to unlock the boss gate..."
Organizing her thoughts, she opened the gate shop.
"To get an SS-rank random box, I'll need to sell loot diligently."
Selling off various materials bumped her balance from 100,000 Sion to 800,000 Sion.
"Still, when am I ever gonna scrape together 30 billion like this...? I mean, can I even do it before I kick the bucket?"
Grumbling idly, she exchanged the key with the hole poked by the ogre's tear and left the hidden gate.
Immediately, the gate clear alarm sounded.
Lee Ru-ri rushed outside.
Gate Clear Confirmed
Ding.
The moment she finished the gate clear verification, a message arrived from Choi Si-jin.
New Message
[Choi Si-jin (C)]: Ru-ri, nothing bad happened, right?
"Ah, he must've been worried sick. I took too long. Gotta crash after the next gate."
She replied that she'd head back soon and hurried off.
The moment she entered the Tokyo headquarters entrance, Choi Si-jin came running out, shouting.
"Ru-ri! You're not hurt anywhere, are you?"
"Sorry. You must've been so worried."
"A D-rank hunter spends a full day in an F-rank gate! You sure you're okay?"
"Yeah! An ogre showed up, so it took a bit."
"An ogre? So it wasn't even an F-rank gate? Sigh, whatever. You're going back to the hospital first."
"I really didn't get hurt! Not even a single hit!"
Han Eun-woo walked over to them and said,
"Ru-ri, you're terrible at lying."
"I-it's true!"
"Then what's with all the bruises on your arms and legs?"
"Uh, this is..."
Choi Si-jin teared up and dragged Lee Ru-ri along.
"Hospital first. Ru-ri, I'll really get killed by the director. Listen to me for once!"
"Ah, no..."
Lee Ru-ri was helplessly pulled along by Choi Si-jin.
And just like that, she ended up back in the hospital.
Lee Ru-ri was confined to the hospital for three days.
Only after returning to Korea with Choi Si-jin did she regain her freedom.
"Gotta go clean up Cheon Ye-jong's crew like the director ordered right away. You won't cause any trouble, right?"
"I'm not a troublemaker!"
"Sigh, everyone knows you're heading out to conquer low-rank gates... Just don't get hurt. Promise?"
"Don't worry. Uh, where are all of Cheon Ye-jong's crew? Can I swing by home?"
"Eun-woo hyung requested an investigation from the police, and since they came over from Japan, they're probably being questioned at the station. Should be fine to visit if you promise to message me constantly."
"Ah! Of course. No need to worry at all. Hehe."
"Alright. Be careful, and let's grab dinner later."
"Sure! See you tonight."
The two parted ways in front of the association headquarters.
'Gotta stop by home first, then see the boss lady.'
To avoid the association's eyes, she headed to the house she'd been staying at.
Gazing out the subway window as trains rushed by noisily, she reflected on her time in Japan.
'Conqueror... I need to figure out my position properly. Something's starting with the hidden skill from the hidden gate, and things are complicated right now, but if I keep conquering gates without slacking... I'll keep finding clues.'
Her thoughts somewhat sorted, she arrived home—only to freeze at the sight of the living room.
Someone had trashed the place.
"Only the boss lady and Han Seung-woo know about this place."
She quickly headed to the balcony where she'd hidden her loot and equipment materials.
The gate bag stuffed with goblin tears and S-rank materials was still behind the washing machine, untouched.
Fortunately, no signs of tampering.
Opening the bag, nothing was missing.
"Who the hell...?"
Lee Ru-ri immediately messaged Choi Si-jin.
Ding.
New Message
[Choi Si-jin (C)]: Only the director and I know about that place. Haven't shared it with anyone. Requested nearby CCTV footage for your house. One of Cheon Ye-jong's crew, Im Ju-yang, is out of contact. Bad feeling about this. Sent an association car right away. Grab what you need and head to the nearest police station.
'Im Ju-yang...'
Lee Ru-ri double-checked the bag meticulously, then hurried out of the house.
Heading toward the police station as instructed, she popped into a convenience store for a drink when a unfamiliar woman passed by the front.
For some reason, curiosity piqued; she watched from the door.
The woman slipped right into Lee Ru-ri's apartment building.
'No one in the building I don't know... Who is she?'
Ding.
New Message
[Choi Si-jin (C)]: Ru-ri! Where are you?! Get out of the house NOW!
[RE]
[Lee Ru-ri (F)]: Uh, I'm out and at the convenience store. What's up?
New Message
[Choi Si-jin (C)]: Came to pick up CCTV footage and saw Im Ju-yang heading into your building. Phew, good thing. Contacted Jongno Police Station. Take a taxi there NOW.
[RE]
[Lee Ru-ri (F)]: Got it, don't worry!
'Should call the boss lady, but I'll do it from the station.'
As instructed, Lee Ru-ri called a taxi from the convenience store and headed to Jongno Police Station.
Upon arrival, a neat-looking man greeted her.
She sensed the ripple of mana that only awakeners could wield.
"Hello. Im I-jun here. Si-jin contacted me."
"Oh, you're a hunter?"
"Yeah. E-rank. Awakened, but hunting wasn't for me."
Im I-jun scratched his head sheepishly and led the way.
"You and Si-jin must be close!"
"Police academy buddies, yeah."
"Si-jin graduated from police academy too?"
"The guy's immature, but he was pretty big on campus. Haha."
Surprised by the unexpected background, Im I-jun casually told her to relax and handed her a mixed coffee.
"Sorry first off. We missed Im Ju-yang during the summon of Cheon Ye-jong's crew. My apologies. She broke into your place... But we got word from Si-jin and mobilized immediately, so we should've nabbed her this time."
"N-no need to apologize! I was in Japan anyway, so nothing much happened, and luckily I didn't run into her despite the danger."
Riiiing.
The shrill ringtone she hadn't heard in ages.
"Yes, Im I-jun speaking. What? She's gone? No way. Double-check, and look around the area too."
Im I-jun's face darkened during the call.
"Ru-ri, looks like Im Ju-yang caught on and bolted."
"Ah..."
"I'll request patrols around your place. Stay here comfortably."
"Okay! Don't mind me, get to work!"
Im I-jun rushed back to his desk, making calls everywhere.
'Ah, Cheon Ye-jong. Such a pain in so many ways.'
Lee Ru-ri opened her status window to check new gate statuses.
'Maybe I should've just stuck to smashing gates in Japan.'
Irritation bubbled up at the wasted time.
Ding.
New Message
[Han Seung-woo (A)]: Everything okay?
'Han Seung-woo.'
[RE]
[Lee Ru-ri (F)]: Yeah! Actually no. One of Cheon Ye-jong's crew escaped, trashed my place, then ran again. Holed up at the police station now. Heading to HQ once the association car arrives.
New Message
[Han Seung-woo (A)]: What a headache. First gate clear here is done. No SS-rank thankfully, but three horrific drakes popped out and gave us hell. Beijing HQ should be set soon; I'll secure a spot and head back. See you shortly.
[RE]
[Lee Ru-ri (F)]: Glad you're safe, but three drakes? Can't even imagine. Don't worry, see you when you're back!
While exchanging messages with Han Seung-woo, the association car arrived.
She said goodbye to Im I-jun and got in.
"Ru-ri, long time no see."
"Oh! Hi!"
The friendly greeter was Yang Jeong-hyun, who had done her temporary re-exam at Han Seung-woo's request before.
"Han Seung-woo asked for your position re-exam, so I came along."
"Ah. That..."
"Shh, I know everything. It'll be in my lab, so no worries."
Chatting amiably with the affable Yang Jeong-hyun, Lee Ru-ri learned something important.
A guild system, expanded from crews, was coming soon.
And she was slated to be scouted into Han Seung-woo's guild.
At HQ, Choi Si-jin waited at the entrance.
"Ru-ri!"
"Si-jin, sorry again. Told you not to worry, but here I am causing it. Ha, haha."
"Seriously glad you're safe. She got away again?"
"Im I-jun said so... Probably out for revenge on me?"
"Likely. With Cheon Ye-jong locked up for murder in surveillance custody, accomplices lose their hunter licenses. Future looks bleak."
"Ah..."
"Shall we head to my lab?"
"Ah, sis. I got work. Take care of Ru-ri."
"Sure."
"Please!"
Choi Si-jin handed Lee Ru-ri to Yang Jeong-hyun and reentered HQ.
"This way. Coffee fan?"
"Yes."
"Great coffee spot on the way to the lab. Let's grab some."
"Okay."
They bought coffees at the cafe and entered the building housing Yang Jeong-hyun's lab.
A maze-like interior.
"Doesn't look related to magic stones at first glance, but my lab's closer than the judgment room."
"Felt like a maze, but it's looping back toward the judgment room."
"Right. The association's... messy. Problems everywhere, shady intentions. Had to."
"Using it off the books?"
"Yep."
"Can you dodge the association's eyes?"
"Oho, sharp one. Can't completely, but Han Seung-woo's a nice shield. Officially, it's for their secret experiments."
"Ah."
At the lab, Yang Jeong-hyun prepped for the re-exam.
"Might take a bit; watch TV if bored." She turned on the news and dove in.
At that moment, the news blared shocking reports.
"Breaking news. As of now, new super-large gates have appeared simultaneously in Seoul, Suwon, Cheonan, Daegu, Busan, Ulsan, and Jeju. Connecting to reporter Joy-gyeom on site."
"Yes, I'm here. It's a hellscape beyond words. Can't approach the gate, as you see. The site had five high-rises and an apartment complex, but they vanished without a trace when the gate opened. Fate of the citizens there unknown."