Chapter 141
Chapter 141
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 141
Chapter Title: Infinite Reputation Farming
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Infinite Reputation Farming.
Even though he'd made a huge spectacle out of capturing the Scavengers and handing them over to the police, those guys were still tightly bound to the judicial system, guilds, and association—a cartel so solid that even with evidence, the odds of them actually serving hard time were low.
Or they'd pin all the crimes on a puppet CEO and sneak the real operatives out scot-free.
‘But if they get released, they'll just pull the same crap again. So what then? Catch them again?’
Yeah. Catch the same Scavengers, lock them up, they get out, catch them again. Each time, it racks up visible achievements to show the public.
Even if they kept getting released without serving real sentences, the judiciary would bear the burden—not Yoo Seongwon.
This was how to turn their entrenched cartel against them.
‘…On the flip side, if they get fed up and quit the Scavenger game altogether, that's a win too. Isn't that just normal public safety restoration?’
Either way, Yoo Seongwon came out ahead.
To maximize it, though, he needed the media on his side—and that was no issue.
What media outlet in the world would defy an SS-rank Hunter with massive capital at his disposal?
They weren't biting the hand that fed them by outright antagonizing him. Capturing Scavengers non-lethally while respecting the legal system? No reason not to run the story.
‘Strength really means no downsides…’
Exposing the cartel's rot while exploiting it for maximum personal gain—this setup only worked because Yoo Seongwon was overwhelmingly powerful.
He could overpower government, association, and guild pressure alike. If he were weak, he'd never even attempt it.
[Bandits who threaten the weak have fallen once more before your chivalry. Justice is served again, and none now stand in your way. Most excellent.]
‘This damn chivalry sure loves it. Even though they'll all walk free eventually~’
“Y-Yoo Seongwon Hunter, sir. What's the overarching goal of this Scavenger purge?”
“It's just what needs to be done for public safety. Frame it as preemptive measures to keep day-laborers out of the upcoming Chungcheong, Gyeongsang, and Jeolla projects. And here's gas money, meals, and~”
‘Is the sun rising in the west tomorrow or what?’
The reporter took the envelope Yoo Seongwon casually pulled from his inventory and peeked inside at the stacks of bills and checks. His eyes widened in shock as he stared back at him.
The amount was insane, as expected from a 30-trillion-won bigshot. But for a guy he'd pegged as a rabid dog ready to kill everyone to suddenly flip like this? Mind-blowing.
It screamed: Promote this venture hard.
“Do your job to the level you got paid, and we're both happy, got it?”
“Y-Yes, sir! Of course, Yoo Seongwon Hunter, sir. Heh heh, leave it to me.”
‘People can get this sleazy, huh.’
Yoo Seongwon turned away from the reporter bowing and scraping like his tail would wag off if he had one, eyes on the line of Scavengers being hauled out.
Four organizations dismantled already. The Blue Dragon Guild wasn't stupid—they had to know by now he was targeting their lines specifically.
‘So what?’
The big three guilds couldn't admit publicly to employing Scavengers without losing face, nor could they call him out openly for hitting only their lines.
They'd kept distance precisely because they could cut ties like a lizard's tail if things went south. But having all their networks wiped out still gave them headaches.
Word had reached Blue Dragon Guild. They were fuming but couldn't act yet, just stamping their feet in frustration.
Currently, innocent intel team lead Kwak Suchan was getting grilled between urgently summoned Go Cheonyong and Chae Jiyeong.
“No way! Why the hell is that bastard only hitting our Scavenger lines?”
“We sent someone to check. Apparently… he's getting intel on other Scavengers from Seoul and Olympus to polish his public image. So naturally… they won't tip him off on their own, leaving us innocent guys to take the hits.”
“Hmm~ Legal team's about to go full throttle for once. Bunch of golf hacks and expense-account moochers~ Serves 'em right.”
Chae Jiyeong's nonchalant, it's-not-my-problem vibe only made Go Cheonyong's blood boil more.
He'd already pinged Guild Master and big bro Go Cheonsu, but he was still tied up in high-level association talks—no reply yet.
“No need to get so heated… It's obviously just for show. He captured them alive and handed them to the cops, so our bribed judges will spring them eventually. As long as the manpower's intact, reset the ops in the same spots, and the lines live on. Why so serious?”
“In this Awakener era, intel wars aren't some movie sci-fi tech battle. It's who awakens when, where, levels up when, signs new Constellations, learns new skills, gears up, takes down monsters—that kind of flux! You think that's all logged in databases? It's a manpower game, end of story.”
Hunters usually registered stats with the association, but at big-three-guild or Yoo Seongwon weight class, they could refuse outright or self-inspect and hand over data.
Awakener intel was gold in this era.
And gathering it meant boots on the ground, eyes and ears everywhere.
“Look at that Yoo Seongwon punk. Drops outta nowhere overnight and starts wreaking havoc. In this world, you spread your human web like a spider and pray intel sticks!”
“That's just that weirdo Yoo Seongwon. Normal Awakeners report to the association or go full Scavenger~ His Academia staff gig's the problem.”
“Doesn't mean we ignore it! Know how tough ops get with a weak Scavenger net? While our lines pull back, you think rival groups sit idle? Damn! Told 'em to evac, but those bastards… No big bro means no countermeasures… Nah, we got none anyway…”
Defending their own Scavenger lines felt wrong, but retaliating against Yoo's? No such lines even existed anymore.
Direct attacks on him? This artificial island turns into a warzone.
“Stepping in now screams 'Scavenger sympathizers.' Anyway, once Guild Master's back, we'll—”
“Heard everything. Sorry I'm late.”
“Oh, you're here!”
“Who'd have thought they'd hit us like this. Even pulling sneaky crap…”
Go Cheonsu returned to the guild, face twisted in fury.
Yoo Seongwon's counter was unexpected, but this stunt pissed him off more.
A sly, infuriating tactic among tactics.
“Hit us good, they did.”
“See? Told you it's serious!”
“R-Really?”
“Dead serious. Over a thousand nabbed from four orgs already. Even with data from rival Scavenger lines as evidence, they'll scapegoat puppet CEOs and judges'll pass 'em. Still gotta formalize it—legal teams per squad, obviously. But the real issue's after.”
Yeah. Massive haul, but their cartel was ironclad—suspended sentences for most? Piece of cake.
Problem was next. Scavengers gotta Scavenge—reinstate setups, same grind. Then Yoo catches 'em again?
“Gap from investigations already hurts. Rebuilding intel nets means fierce turf wars, and if he nabs 'em mid-rebuild? What then?”
“W-What… happens?”
“What happens? Release, he grabs again. We release, he grabs again. Infinite loop. We suffer, but judiciary? Massive headache. Once or twice, they wiggle out. But twice, thrice on same charges? Not easy.”
Judiciary buckles under pressure—starts jailing not just puppets but real pullers. More jailings snowball the mess. Loop forever.
“Our burden grows each cycle; his doesn't. Grab once, hundred times—media spin each as standalone wins public cred. Check this.”
[Four Scavenger orgs crushed in one day. Stepping up as guardian of justice?]
[From golden miner knight to golden dragon knight, now Korea's protector—first steps!]
[Citizens wary at first, now cheering Yoo Seongwon's Scavenger takedowns!]
Go Cheonsu showed news clippings and phone articles, laying bare Yoo's scheme.
Collude with corrupt courts? They release endlessly? Exploit it! Blue Dragon properly screwed.
“Tell legal and bribed judges to actually jail 'em?”
“Then who joins us? All bolt to rival guilds. That's why it's dirty. Lose-lose any choice.”
“…So what do we do?”
“Find option three. This is war by another name. Olympus in on it too? Big trouble.”
Seemed harmless, but unavoidable checkmate. Olympus collab? War declaration, intent regardless.
Needed caution.
“W-We're not actually fighting, right? Bro? We're outmatched in force. That Iron Fortress? Grandmaster built it for humanity's end-times—way tougher than you think.”
“No suicidal fights for me. But we take what actions we can.”
“Like what?”
“Judging by the provocation, we pissed them off somehow. Find it, apologize, compensate. Cleanest fix, but…”
“Our Constellation Blue Dragon would flip.”
Blue Dragon loved raw fight—'fight spirit' over methods, even if weak. But groveling, admitting inferiority? Hated it.
Dodging after admitting can't win? Fine. Submitting? Rage-quit.
“Right. Level downs wouldn't cut it. Worst call. Other plans, then.”
Force no-go. Politics via association/gov? His 'clean up Scavengers' banner ties hands.
Handed to cops, respecting authority? Zero moral high ground.
“You think it's perfect trap, but there's a gap.”
“Gap?”
“Yeah. We hunt Scavengers too.”
Absurd on surface, but if you can't protect yours, wreck others'. Textbooks.
Late starters, no glory, but stops us alone getting gutted.
“Mutual intel chaos forces compromise. Contact the nabbed guys. Connections work even in custody for intel drops. Cheonyong, grab Kwak Suchan and pull all Olympus/Seoul Scavenger line data we had. Jiyeong, rally the crew for ops.”
“Yes, bro!”
“Sigh~ Work again. Hate it~”
Slim counter found, but Go Cheonsu stayed tense, deep in thought.
Underground war, but they'd declared full-on.
Outgunned, so predict their moves faster. He pored over Yoo Seongwon articles, racking his brain.