Chapter 135
Chapter 135
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 135
Chapter Title: The Human Factory
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Pyongyang, Undercity.
Over half of Pyongyang had been reduced to rubble by the preemptive missile strikes of the subjugation operation, but the Scavengers couldn't care less. They rebuilt on their own or whipped slaves into fixing things up.
Having their bases smashed was everyday life for Scavengers, and they knew full well that as long as they were alive, they could do anything.
"Where'd all the female slaves go? Not a single one left. You sure we stashed 'em good in the shelters?"
"Some other bastard must've looted 'em. Not like it's the first time~"
"Ah, that Russian bitch was the only one I liked, you little shit."
"Then just grab more. Shit, you leveled up to B-rank and still won't treat us~"
"You got a rare item from Lord Slaughter King yourself."
And so the Scavengers cackled away as they rummaged through the stuff in their old hideouts or guzzled down the drugs and booze they always carried.
True to their vile reputation, they might seem like they'd exploit any unguarded vulnerability, but even they had their own strict code.
Just like outlaws in the lawless Wild West had rules among themselves.
"Puhahaha! Living long enough comes with its perks!"
"Ahh! Thank you, Dear Leader! General!"
"We made a killing this time."
The monsters had lost, but as always, the Scavengers maximized their gains and survived another day. And the survivors grew one step stronger.
Park Sookja, Lee Mi-joo, and Kwak Won-ho had all stuck to picking off the weaklings this time, offering up their souls and flesh in tribute, and reaped bountiful rewards as a result.
"That hotshot Apostle fled to a core dungeon too~ Totally our world now. Puhahaha, but man, you saw it, right? That ogre getting smashed flat by a club? Insane."
"Yeah. No joke. Whoa, it was brutal as hell. And those big shots, Iberico and Przhevalsky, got their asses handed to them too."
"All thanks to Dear Leader's grace!"
The three top dogs of Undercity—who'd each scored sweet skills, items, and magistones—sat around a bonfire amid the ruins, boozing and chowing down while chatting up a storm.
But in the end, Undercity lay in ruins, and now Korea had a terrifying, uncompromising Hunter on the scene. Cross him carelessly, and you'd die.
"So what's the deal with that gold punk? Whoa~ Heard rumors it was all luck? Thought it was hype, but seeing it for real? Dude's the genuine article."
"Even with the footage out, you didn't believe it?"
"Figured it was Association propaganda. They pull that shit all the time. Anyway, that new dark horse—any way to take him out?"
"Nah, impossible. He's one of us, straight up. Got that stench up close. You know, that sewer rat vibe we all have."
Fancy armor and gear, golden dragon, knight entourage, insane power and skills. Even with all that, a human's roots don't change.
And people have a sixth sense for sniffing out those from similar hellholes.
Some folks can even peg your nationality and hometown just from how you act or talk, right?
Info on Yoo Seongwon had been dug up like mad by the media and Association even before this, so it was already all over the place.
"Huh? How can you be so sure?"
"The Association shelter that bastard crawled out of? I came from there too. Puhahat! Never knew I had a classmate."
"What? For real?"
"Yeah~ Totally. That place was a total shithole. During the Grandmaster mess, they straight-up dumped the hopeless wounded to save meds—it was routine. Half-decent girls like me? They whored us out. Oh yeah, the director fucked me too, FYI? Boys got stuck hauling corpses or doing facility labor. Talk about a filthy connection~"
Park Sookja stared at Yoo Seongwon's photo, reminiscing about her days in that shelter.
A fellow bottom-feeder from the same hell now Korea's top Hunter? It was almost touching.
And what made her like him even more was how his dirty moves matched theirs perfectly—same slum origins, after all.
"Puhahahahat! Check this! 100 trillion. Got 100 trillion just for joining that last fight. Puhahahaha! Knew it—deep down, he's a vicious bastard like us~ Look at that taxpayer cash from the poor saps flowing straight into his pockets, hand over fist!"
"Internet's nothing but hate for that golden armor prick. You'd think he wrecked the whole Korean army."
He'd objectively saved soldiers and Hunters from the Archdemon Beast's trap, but the web was flooded with Yoo Seongwon hate anyway.
It wasn't just this time—back at the walls, in Shin-Gangnam chaos—he'd been building massive netizen backlash from the start. This 100-trillion deal hit especially hard, fueling massive resentment among the masses.
"Anyway, he's no knight-in-shining-armor or saint like he looks, so don't get close~ Or your skull gets smashed. Gotta scrounge supplies and slaves somewhere though……"
"Guess that means Russia. Ah~ Hate the cold~"
"But the work's easy there. Federation Hunter Defense Force idiots make it a breeze……. Still, they've got territorial greed for days."
As everyone knew, Russia had successfully put all Awakeners under military control.
Officially, anyway. But the military's rigid structure and bullshit orders bred rebellion, so some defected to the mafia.
Still, the Russian government rounded them up by any means necessary.
With that kind of organization and power, they could've raked in huge profits just from the dungeons popping up across their vast territory without invading others—but that assumed the Constellations there played nice.
"It's that Constellation Frozen Ruler, right? The one who ended global warming. Thanks to him, Siberia's back to eternal permafrost~ Comeback!"
"Guy wants to ice this planet—that's the problem. Eh, other humans'll handle that Constellation. Heh heh heh."
The Constellation Frozen Ruler, who'd planted a core dungeon at the North Pole, was expanding its domain, spreading more frozen wasteland.
Its power had ended Earth's long headache of global warming, but if it kept growing, the planet would become a frozen rock. World powers were mobilizing on a global scale to counter it.
"Anyway, Russia it is? Dragon-Phoenix King's turf is too tough, Japan's a pain to reach. I'll round up the kids. Got plenty of captured new tanks and trailers, so travel'll be smooth. Booze and fresh meat too. Though that hag Lee Mi-joo'll stay here."
"Let her do whatever. When have we Scavengers ever helped some outsider fend for themselves?"
[Muuuuh, this is our holy land—where would we even go?]
As Park Sookja and Kwak Won-ho yammered about moving plans—with Lee Mi-joo still Dear Leader-ing and General-ing—a massive bull-headed beastman with brown fur appeared before them.
This pastor had been chosen by Constellation Slaughter King and ascended to Archdemon Beast. He'd been holed up in a secret nuclear lab at Kim Il-sung University until now, finally emerging.
The guy who hid during the fight shows up after it's all over? Pissed off, Park Sookja stepped up with a sneer.
"Hmm? Where to? Scouting a new spot to crash. Scavenger life's not new to us… well, you were always iffy on that front. Puhak. Anyway, missiles trashed the place like always, so we're off on our usual Russia run to scrape by."
[Muuuuh~ Got it. Thought you were ditching this place for good.]
'Pretty much the plan, yeah.'
But this fanatic had impressed even the Constellation enough to ascend.
She knew better than to poke him, so Park Sookja hid her thoughts like a sly fox.
"So, what's up? Forces are regrouped, got what you need? Or here to pray for the fallen 'Archdemon Beast' comrades?"
[Muuuuh! That's important, but I need those trailers, tanks, and electronics from the spoils. Heard you scored big.]
"What for? Making nukes? Got a few left here, but fusion's tricky……"
[Muhahahahaha! My plan's bigger than that! For the god! Behold!]
The pastor burst into mad laughter at her words.
Kwak Won-ho and the surrounding Scavengers mid-meal all turned to stare in shock.
Smiling, the pastor pulled a photo from his robes and carefully handed it to Park Sookja.
"What's this? Wait……? What the hell is this?"
[Muhuhuhut! Just a tiny step in my great research. Impressive, eh?]
"Puhahahahat! You fucking psycho?"
Park Sookja's face paled as she crumpled the photo, glaring at the pastor.
She wasn't laughing.
The human ranch nut had gone and topped himself with something even worse.
Sure, the ranch was crazier in pure insanity, but this crossed life ethics and morality—not to mention challenging God itself.
[Muuuuh, once one's complete, we'll be perfect… no! This Earth will be His! The Apostles' sacrifices gain meaning! I can even revive them! Muhahahahaha! Hahahahaha!]
"…Sigh, whew~ Now I get why Lord Slaughter King revived you. Haha, endless fucking lunatic. Won-ho, check this out."
"What the hell… over one photo……! Fucking insane!"
"Oh god! Dear Leader! You okay in the head?"
Kwak Won-ho and Lee Mi-joo recoiled in horror at the sight.
The photo showed a small machine setup and a transparent cylindrical tank filled with mysterious fluid.
Inside, about five spotted dogs with breathing masks floated—identical in body length, sex, and even spot patterns.
Beyond the human ranch, the pastor had been researching cloning and cloning tech.
And with his human ranch track record, the reason was obvious.
Human factory.
Mass-producing infinite sacrificial humans like a factory line to offer Constellation Slaughter King.
"Crazy idea… has limits. And how in this short time……."
[Muhuhut, all thanks to great Slaughter King's grace. But it's early days—theory and tech are lacking. Realistic production timelines are even farther off. Planning for over a decade, assuming ample supplies and parts.]
Still in infancy, proper research demanded endless resources and funds, as he said.
That's why he'd come back to Undercity's boss, Park Sookja.
"Look at you—planned this from the start, huh. Crafty old bastard."
[Muhahahaha! Of course! I always ponder greater service to the god! 'Human factory' hit me ages ago! But! My level! Skills! Tech were issues, but biggest was lifespan! Lifespan! No point researching if I die first! But now! Freed from time's chains by His grace—it's possible!]
Before, old age had capped him, forcing him to settle for the human ranch.
But as an unchained Archdemon Beast, nothing held him back.
He grinned with even wilder madness, boasting of his creation.
The ranch was nuts, but a human factory? If it ran endlessly, it'd guarantee Slaughter King's victory.
Infinite sacrifices to summon Archdemon Beasts or whatever, basking in endless divine favor.