Chapter 88
Chapter 88
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: Preparation
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The meal was truly delicious. I wondered if I'd even be able to swallow it with Dangun Ji-hyeok, that legendary hunter, sitting right there, but true to its million-won price tag, I scraped the plate clean down to the last bite.
Once we'd finished that satisfying meal, it was time to broach the final topic hanging between us.
This time, it wasn't just a conversation between Dangun Ji-hyeok and me. Ki So-young, the guild master of Miracle Guild, spoke first.
"Shin Juha. I've already filled Ji-hyeok in on the proposal you made. I figured his help was essential. No matter how I looked at it, this was too big for us to handle alone."
She kept it strictly business, without a hint of personal sentiment.
Not that asking him in the first place wasn't thanks to our personal connection.
Whatever. Connections exist to be used, after all.
I nodded and opened my inventory, pulling out a small vial no bigger than a finger joint, filled with liquid.
"It's called the Incomplete Elixir of Immortality. I got it as a reward from a hidden stage I discovered in the Abyss this time."
Dangun Ji-hyeok and Ki So-young's eyes gleamed. This potion could spark an incident bigger than the demon issue or even the Imugi.
"Juha, mind if we take a look?"
"Do you have appraisal skills? If not, I can help."
"I've got it."
Dangun Ji-hyeok took the potion from me and stared at it intently. His eyes glowed blue as immense mental energy gathered in his gaze.
An impressive ability. Probably derived from one of his unique powers. I didn't know the exact details of his unique abilities. All that was public was that he was Myth-class with Myth-class stats.
Not jealous, though. If anything, I had even more—and better—things up my sleeve.
The ability was straightforward enough.
Reversing heaven's will—defying the natural order set by the heavens. In this case, it meant escaping the limits of lifespan.
"Impressive. So you're handing over part of the Tome of Immortality knowledge to Guild Master Ki So-young, while you handle the Elixir of Immortality? Without it, no amount of effort could extend lifespan anyway."
"Exactly. And we'll impose restrictions on lifespan extension too. Eternal life would truly be reversing heaven's will, and unpermitted defiance like that never ends well."
They both nodded. Extending lifespan was a miracle in the truest sense—a temptation that could ignite unimaginable greed in countless people.
In the hands of the unqualified or powerless, it could become the spark of utter catastrophe.
That's why I'd reached out to Miracle Guild, Dangun Guild, and Dangun Cheonje himself.
They set the vial down and pondered. It was bait too sweet to refuse. But it was also massive.
So big it might give them indigestion. Even in the best case, greedy fools were bound to show up eventually.
After a long deliberation, Dangun Ji-hyeok spoke up.
"We'll have Dangun Guild protect it. Actually, better to make it a joint venture between Dangun Guild and Miracle Guild. Shares: us at 20%, Miracle at 30%, you at 50%."
Fair enough. Whether it was lack of greed or a sharp read of the situation to grab the max shares, I couldn't tell.
Military might from Dangun. Public face and expert support from Miracle. Tech and intel from me.
If it meshed well, we'd wield power no one in the world could ignore.
'Then it begins.'
I'd amassed enough money. Launching a lifespan extension business would rake in legit funds by the truckload.
Tycoons desperate for more years would trip over themselves to join my network.
Once that happened, power would be the only thing they had over me.
'That much, I can handle.'
Revenge. That beautiful word I'd dreamed of.
Sure, you could say it had already started. My revenge against the colossal conglomerate Changseong had succeeded by sheer luck, thanks to the wildcard Lee Ji-yong.
But counting on more luck like that was unrealistic. They weren't idiots or fools like him.
"Miracle Guild will join this venture if Dangun Guild cooperates fully. It's bait we can't ignore."
Ki So-young agreed. I smiled in satisfaction, opened my inventory, and handed her part of the Tome of Immortality knowledge I'd prepared, along with a few vials of the elixir.
"Here you go. Take it, study it, verify it. It shouldn't be too hard. Lifespan extension is more like a byproduct of this research. The original owner dreamed of true immortality, after all. The key is measuring how much lifespan to grant."
With that, we rose from our seats.
"We'll talk business after the Monster Wave. Urgent matters first."
Dangun Ji-hyeok glanced at me as he said it. I met his eyes, thought briefly, and added one thing.
"For this Monster Wave, make it hunters from our country only. Trust me, it's best."
"With an Imugi showing up? We could get wiped out."
"Just... advice."
Before my regression, the Imugi had been subjugated more easily than expected. Even with two SS-rank hunters, it was too straightforward.
Assuming Dangun Cheonje fought alone, one hit from Longinus would end it faster. Longinus's power wasn't comparable to some Earth SS-rank hunter's attack.
Of course, assuming I'd gotten it charged up enough.
Dangun Ji-hyeok eyed me quizzically. I got it. I knew it sounded forced. Inconsistent, even.
He might have seen through my lie. Pre-regression, demons and the Monster Wave had no connection.
But if I didn't say this, the benefits I'd gain would shrink too much. With hordes of Chinese flooding the Ascension Tower and camping out, entry limits would cause chaos, just like before.
"Hm... Fine. Your words have a weird way of ringing true, so we'll do it."
"Thank you. You won't regret this choice."
"Even so, it's an Imugi. Weakened or not, I can't take it solo. I'll need plenty of S-rank help."
No, it's possible. Risky, life-on-the-line stuff, but one-on-one, I could do it. With me as the wildcard, no need to go that far.
"I know an S-rank I can call for help. And I have a surefire way to land a critical hit on the Imugi."
Dangun Ji-hyeok nodded and left the restaurant with Ki So-young. I hopped in a taxi too—but didn't head home.
Damn demons... The news said my house was rubble. Collateral from some demon swallowing the whole building with their unique ability.
After agonizing over it, I headed to the ruins anyway. Had to deal with the portal to the Black Market somehow.
Luckily, the Association staff hadn't investigated—just cordoned it off with police tape. I cleared the debris, descended to the one intact basement, and hopped through the portal.
"Been waiting. Saw the news. Nice work."
The branch chief was waiting. He sealed the portal the moment I emerged, as if on cue. Probably authorized by Seo Ye-rin, the territory owner.
I followed him to the Black Money HQ president's office, chatted at length, then returned. For now, I'd crash in Miracle Guild's infirmary until new digs were sorted.
"Time to prepare, then."
Monster Wave and Imugi. Tough event. But not for me.
Not that I needed much prep. My role was just charging the spear during the wave and hurling it once.
'An opponent even a C-rank like me can't handle.'
Good self-awareness? Or facing reality head-on? Without Longinus, I'd never dare plan this.
'Meeting Goldring was fate.'
Without him, I'd be a corpse somewhere—or Azazel's slave, toiling as his avatar.
So what I was preparing wasn't that. Something I'd done before: consuming elixirs.
"Not sure if the conditions are met yet."
The Tower of Gold ownership would soon hit 30%, and with proficiency upping the level, the next floor—and Rare grade—would unlock.
So before then, devour all High-grade elixirs. Efficiency tanks if you eat higher ones or duplicates.
Otherwise, I'd have maxed stats with Common elixirs and eaten the Epic ones from the hidden stage reward by now.
I opened my inventory and hunted for elixirs.
Again, I grabbed the ones boosting spare points. No High-grade elixir guarantees Myth or Origin stat ups, obviously.
Hundreds of strength boosters might nudge Infinite up by 1—if lucky.
Best to raise spare points. I spent the day rummaging, found them, and popped them without hesitation.
From there, it was familiar. I focused on containing the unabsorbed energies while circulating the Solar Heart Technique.
'Origin-grade martial art indeed!'
Last time, it took every ounce of effort to hold them. Now, with Origin heart technique harmonizing with Myth Infinite stat, absorption was effortless.
I'd grown another level.