Chapter 178
Chapter 178
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 178
Chapter Title: Judgment and Responsibility Are Yours
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The Republic of Korea Hunter Association President's office.
President Choi Tae-seung's expression was dark.
Sending five domestic rankers to the Russian dungeon, which had been plagued by recent suspicions, was fine.
["Families of the missing cling to hope: 'Support from high rankers at least offers some comfort.'"]
["Rank 78 Skeleton King—results of his first deployment?"]
["Breaking news! Rank 101 Iron Fist joins the support!"]
["Concerns rise over mafia-infested Russia."]
Thanks to those headlines.
Public opinion, which had been boiling over, had at least simmered down.
"Is it because of Ranker Bong Jae-young?"
It was then that the secretary opposite the grave-faced president ventured the question.
"Exactly."
Choi Tae-seung admitted it readily.
"Honestly, I'm quite worried."
Iron Fist was undoubtedly skilled.
But he was like oil in water—refusing to mix, popping off on his own.
When paired with others, the negative effects outweighed the positives.
In simple terms, a symbol of discord?
"We had no choice. When a ranker insists so strongly, how could the Association stand in his way?"
"Sigh. Even for rankers, dungeons are unpredictable."
It had been just over ten years since the world changed.
Untamed dungeons and unmeasurable-grade ones were still countless.
"Claiming humanity has mastered all dungeons is arrogance and contradiction itself. That's why I'm just worried."
"What if the two rankers clash? Failing to clear the dungeon or causing an accident?"
"It's not impossible."
"Yes, there's a high chance it could happen."
The secretary nodded emphatically.
It was Bong Jae-young's personality.
He'd already clashed with more than one or two rankers.
"Rankers' power surpasses ordinary imagination. A mere emotional spat could level a city."
"The Berserker recently brought down a building."
"Sigh. Thinking back to that... still gives me chills."
Managing rankers.
And cleaning up after them.
That was the Association's role.
Choi Tae-seung shuddered, recalling that overtime night.
"Whew."
The secretary let out a sigh.
"Honestly, I don't get why the Association keeps babysitting Bong Jae-young."
"..."
"Rank 101 or not, to Association staff, he's just a walking disaster... Might as well naturalize somewhere else..."
"Watch your words."
Choi Tae-seung cut the secretary off sharply.
"Sorry."
"I understand the sentiment. But we're civil servants."
The "Republic of Korea Hunter Association" was an agency under the Hunter Management Division.
Linked to the World Hunter Association, hence the name.
"Iron Fist is a vital national asset. We, who eat from the nation's table, must manage national assets with utmost care..."
The president gazed bitterly out the window.
In the dim evening.
Amid the bustling city streets filled with countless cars.
Horns blared: Beep! Beep!
To Choi Tae-seung, the chaotic streets felt ominously unsettling.
* * *
Rustle! Rustle!
"Over here too!"
"Here as well!"
Survivors in the dungeon swarmed this spot as if by prior agreement.
"Damn, barely survived that cursed fog!"
"What the hell happened? What dungeon is this huge and complicated?"
"Hoo, people after so long. Did we really make it?"
"With this many gathered, and more coming, we might actually survive?"
The clearing turned rowdy in an instant.
Hunters of various ranks, porters.
They'd all been lost in the fog for at least a month.
Precisely, the fog was Poison Flash's fart.
"Huh? What's that? People in iron cages..."
Someone pointed in horror at the cages.
Whatever the fleeing Russian woman had done.
The growling occupants inside had already gone still.
No energy emanated from their bodies...
'Dead.'
Clearly deceased.
"Those dog-like Russian mafia bastards did this!"
"Right! My comrades were all captured! Without my escape skill, I'd be the same!"
"Oh no, those poor souls."
"Evil scum! Rip them apart!"
The survivors were united in fury.
And rightly so.
Dungeon effects or human malice.
They'd wasted countless time because of it.
And lost comrades.
"Kid."
"Yes, sir."
"They're right. He remotely detonated the Poison Flash. When the brain-eroding Poison Flash gives up life, its host human dies too."
"Truly horrific."
I frowned.
"How can they treat human lives so carelessly?"
My blood boiled.
Though they had no connection to me.
Seeing such brutality without feeling anything—wouldn't that make one a psychopath?
'Gotham.'
All this, their doing?
"You'll be pissed. Furious. But hold back."
"Why?"
"If it's the same method as that Dang Hwi-pyeong I mentioned, charging in blindly could end badly. Happened to me once."
"You, sir?"
My eyes widened.
Hard to imagine the old man getting the short end.
"Well, back then, I hadn't perfected the Thousand Poisons either. Anyway. Dang Hwi-pyeong masters not just Poison Flash but formations too."
"Formations...?"
"Using terrain for special effects. That Poison Flash fart spread is one of his formations."
"..."
But.
One burning question.
Why was this Dang Hwi-pyeong here?
In the old man's world, he was long dead.
'No way.'
Like my bond with the old man?
Suddenly, Gotham's high ranker came to mind.
World rank 69, Insect King Andrey.
If Dang Hwi-pyeong lingered ghostly around him too?
'Not impossible.'
In fact, it made sense.
With so many hunters worldwide, me alone having an aide? Weirder otherwise.
Of course, still just speculation.
"Anyway, what now?"
"Wait exactly one week."
"...Wait?"
"Heh heh. You'll see. There's a simple way to unravel his formation."
"...?"
"Oh, and good news for you too."
"Good news?"
"Climb that tallest tree and survey."
"Got it."
Whoosh!
Following the old man's words, I stepped forward, ascending to the top of the tallest tree.
"See? Your Poison Fog trapped in Dang Hwi-pyeong's formation."
"What's good about that?"
"You fool! Look closer. Your Poison Fog's grown beyond imagination."
"..."
Huh?
For real?
I knew it was expanding, but.
'Something's off.'
It was ballooning excessively.
Enough to fill this vast donut-shaped world?
The energy felt bulkier, stickier.
"Bound by the formation, it's coalescing. Absorbing all the Poison Flash gas he controls. Leave it a week. Fusion takes time."
"Oho, then reabsorb later?"
"Heh heh, knew you'd say that."
Nice.
Poison Fog growth.
So.
The old man's clever method was in that Poison Fog?
'Whatever.'
Never lost following his advice. Let's hear it.
* * *
The survivors were diverse.
A few Koreans from the missing persons news.
Even five rankers among them.
'No wonder.'
No media appearances—they'd been holed up here.
"What do we do now?"
"Looks blocked all around! That poison fog—approaching melts you!"
The roughly hundred gathered survivors buzzed.
"You!"
Someone pointed at me and shouted.
"Yes?"
"Other rankers stick by you, so you're the rescue leader? Say something!"
One word.
No harm.
Nod.
I stepped forward to them.
"..."
The rowdy mood hushed instantly.
Feeling the stares, I spoke calmly.
"Everyone, stay here for one week. After, I'll clear the poison fog exit. Then exit one by one."
Not one, but two sentences.
Simple: Wait.
Then bolt when exit opens.
My utmost courtesy and meddling.
But.
"You'll handle that poison?"
"How can we trust you?"
Crowds breed skeptics.
Then, quiet Kwon So-ye stepped up.
"This is the newly ranked 78, Skeleton King! He has the skills!"
"...78? Skeleton King?"
"Ha, high ranker?"
"A high ranker like that?"
"First time hearing that alias."
They wouldn't know.
I'd just become a ranker days ago.
They'd drifted here a month minimum.
Especially.
Some S-rank survivors stepped forward.
"So we twiddle thumbs a week then leave?"
"Right! After our hell here. Scared we'll claim rewards?"
Hm.
Surviving rekindles greed?
"I can't leave like this! Must rip apart those dog bastards who killed my comrade!"
Ah.
That, I get.
No reason to stop revenge.
Survivors split into three:
1. Fight for rewards.
2. Seek vengeance.
3. Exhausted, want out fast.
Boom!
Someone stomped the ground hard.
Rank 101, Iron Fist Bong Jae-young.
"Listen up!"
He bellowed.
"I'm world rank 101 hunter, Iron Fist!"
Some reacted to his intro.
Even rankers.
"Oh, Iron Fist? Know him."
"Famous. Solid Korean ranker."
"Yeah, martial artist tougher than steel."
Long-built fame.
Seeing recognition, Bong Jae-young smiled smugly.
"I disagree with Skeleton King! Just wait and flee? Fit for dungeon-hardened hunters?"
He eyed me.
"You...!"
Fuming Im Soo-jin moved, but.
Stop!
I raised my hand.
No need wasting energy there.
Survivors watched Bong Jae-young curiously.
He spoke again.
"Skeleton King's strength, I acknowledge. True high ranker. Felt his aura briefly. However!"
"..."
"He's green—ranker experience shallow for his power. And a coward. With this force, he says flee? Don't make me laugh! You've suffered! Earned right to fight for rewards! Not cowards fleeing mafia scum! Am I wrong?"
Some survivors cheered.
"Um! Right!"
"Yeah, this many hunters? Worth a shot! Rankers too!"
"Don't wanna leave empty-handed. Grab something!"
Bong Jae-young's shoulders swelled with positive vibes.
"So, charge the center—follow me!"
Slash!
He turned.
"Cowards fleeing, do as you please!"
"..."
No prior discussion.
Solo charge vibe—Gi So-yul closed eyes, shaking head.
"What now?"
"Hm."
Kwon So-ye and Im Soo-jin looked lost at me.
'What now?'
smirk.
'Seems a slight misunderstanding.'
No intent to persuade survivors.
No motive or reason.
"Only this I can tell you."
Decided.
A few more words.
"This is a dungeon. You're hunters inside. Judgment yours alone. And responsibility too. I just think waiting beats charging now."
Don't trust me?
Then go.
Won't stop you.
'Honestly.'
Nothing much to say anyway.
"Heh heh, figures."
Old man chuckled, reading my mind amusedly.
"Even if you were one of them, you wouldn't flee. You'd charge recklessly for opportunity."
Spot on.
Can't do it myself, how preach to others.
Thus, no right to dictate to them.