Chapter 153
Chapter 153
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 153
Chapter Title: Rise of the Warlords
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When the world is in turmoil, warlords inevitably rise.
The mid-to-upper-tier guilds, which had been suppressed by the three major guilds and unable to realize their ambitions until now, heard the news of the Blue Dragon Guild's downfall and believed their era had finally arrived. They began preparing to make their move in earnest.
The reason the three major guilds had dominated Korea's hunter world was, after all, the difference between those who could control C-rank dungeons and those who couldn't.
"To control C-rank dungeons, we need to collaborate with capital in the end!"
"We have to secure connections with the corporations that were tied to the Blue Dragon Guild!"
"Don't let the other guilds take them! With the three major guilds gone, this is our chance for Avalon Guild to become one of the next three giants! We have to seize the Blue Dragon Guild's legacy!"
"The top spot's already taken by Yoo Seongwon anyway, so we'll aim for the next one!"
It was truly a Warring States era. Even the scavengers who had worked for the Blue Dragon Guild and Seoul Guild scattered to find their own paths, forming alliances and moving to claim the Blue Dragon Guild's legacy.
These developments gave the Association and the government massive headaches.
The only forces capable of reining in this guild conflict were the Olympus Guild and Yoo Seongwon's side, but both were reluctant to step in.
"We're busy with the frontline city project, so ask Olympus. Maybe push Jeon Ji-ah forward while you're at it. Anyway, we're not interested in the Blue Dragon Guild's legacy."
"Oh dear..."
Yoo Seongwon's side was already swamped with work, so they took a passive stance. The Olympus Guild, meanwhile, was also eyeing the Blue Dragon Guild's vast legacy and had no intention of intervening.
In the end, the artificial island city of the Blue Dragon Guild—which had prospered second only to New Gangnam in Seoul—once again became a battlefield.
"The Blue Dragon Guild's legacy is ours!"
"Ehehe! So much! Research results! Dungeon strategy data! Equipment data! Ehehehehe!"
"As expected from a famous hotspot—plenty to scavenge."
"And the kids here are weak as hell—total buffet! Damn it! It's the Geukcheon-dae Guild! Run! Those guys are the real deal!"
Plunder and destruction. Incheon, just one bridge away, remained peaceful, but the Blue Dragon Guild's artificial island—believed to be absolutely safe—had turned into a hellscape.
Civilians had evacuated in advance when the Blue Dragon Guild issued the alert, but weaker guilds were ransacking apartments and houses to grab whatever they could.
"...Are we really just going to watch this, Lady Tritonias?"
"Does this only happen for a day or two? Well, we did say we'd kill anyone who causes trouble outside the island. Besides, our force is too weak to stop them anyway... We'd need someone like Yoo Seongwon for that. If he showed up riding that golden dragon in the sky, everyone would piss themselves."
"Ugh... The problem is he won't come."
"That's because you're just telling him to maintain trivial order. Why wouldn't he come if there's sweet loot? That's why we're here too~"
Shrugging, Tritonias ignored the Association staffer and stepped forward to direct the Olympus Guild members.
They were the type to work reliably when there were profits to be had, so they couldn't pass up this golden opportunity.
Always busy with international frontline operations, they were sensitive to costs and thus had every reason to eagerly claim the Blue Dragon Guild's legacy.
***
The next day, at the Iron Fortress arena.
While other guilds fought over the Blue Dragon Guild's legacy—or not—Yoo Seongwon's side was overwhelmed with backlog, seeing stars.
And today, to tackle one of those tasks, they were preparing to summon the supply chief "Jung Han," whom Jinseok and Yucheong had kept mentioning.
Not just the frontline city construction, but the kids awakening had piled on the work, and with reward points left over from defeating Blue Dragon Guild Master Go Cheonsu, Yoo Seongwon was finally giving it a shot.
"But... what if we summon her and a different knight comes out?"
"Then we'll make it so she has to be the one who comes."
"How do you do that? Is there a surefire way? Anyway, the magic circle's ready..."
The magic circle for summoning the magic knight Kyle Ride was already drawn, with the catalyst placed on it.
The issue was what to use as the catalyst to guarantee the summon...
Yoo Seongwon glanced at Yucheong, who looked utterly confident. Yucheong replied with a calm expression.
"Of course, preparations are complete, Your Majesty."
"If it's someone else, don't blame me."
"No need to worry. Here goes."
With that, Yucheong drew his sword from his waist and carefully placed it on the magic circle.
It was a weapon Yoo Seongwon hadn't even realized he carried, rarely drawn, but it was still sharp from diligent maintenance.
As Yucheong set it down, Yoo Seongwon thought the moment had arrived and opened his status window to proceed.
"Whew... Here we go."
[Consume reward points to execute 'Knight Summon'?]
[Yes.]
The summoning began.
This was a summon targeting a specific knight, so it was more tense than usual... Light emanated from the magic circle, and a human figure began to form above it.
'At least it's human... so somewhat on track?'
"...She's here."
Ignoring Yucheong's assured words, Yoo Seongwon watched as the light faded from the summoning circle.
There stood a woman in a military uniform blending white and blue—the symbols of the Heavenly Sword Army.
She had a slender sword at her waist and a binder of documents in one hand. Her semi-long hair shimmered with a subtle steel-blue hue, framing glasses on an intellectual beauty.
She gave off a vibe similar to Shin Somi, but where Somi felt wise and composed, this woman was coldly sharp.
[The Heavenly Sword Army Supply Chief 'Jung Han' has been summoned.]
"What? A w-woman? Jung Han's a woman?"
The most shocked was Yoo Seongwon.
From the name, he'd imagined a hulking brute who could chew rebar and haul boulders barehanded, but an intellectual beauty appeared instead.
"Oh, success at last. Hm? Your Majesty, what's wrong?"
"...No, you're the supply officer? I didn't expect this kind of look..."
"I am Han of the Jung clan. From what Cheong said, Your Majesty is our leader. I look forward to working with you."
"Ah... uh... likewise."
*Bow.*
Her beauty was one thing, but her elegant, overwhelming aura left Yoo Seongwon stunned. He quickly composed himself and returned her polite greeting.
But while the supply officer being a beauty was surprising enough, her intensely piercing gaze honestly intimidated him.
'I don't get along well with types like this...'
"Anyway, this humble servant Jung Han pledges to shatter my bones for Your Majesty as supply chief, but I have one request."
"Hm? What is it?"
"Please forgive my momentary rudeness."
*Slap!*
With that, Jung Han shot to her feet and strode to Yucheong, delivering a crisp slap across his cheek.
Yoo Seongwon panicked at the sudden violence but saw no opening to intervene.
Jung Han grabbed Yucheong's collar next, launching into a morning drama scene.
"You called me because you want to die, didn't you?"
"No. I called because we need your strength, Lady Jung Han."
"Then why summon me with the sword that took my life?"
"This summoning is... uncertain, so to call you specifically, I had no choice."
As shocking exchanges flew back and forth, Yoo Seongwon tried to piece together the situation amid his confusion—only for another bombshell.
The sword that took her life? Contextually, Yucheong had killed Jung Han, yet he'd insisted on summoning her.
'...This looks seriously complicated. And Yucheong's a total madman.'
"Anyway, that was from a distant time and place, so let's bury it. For now, let's work hard for the lord who summoned us, dear."
"...Dear? She was your wife? You crazy bastard!"
Another absurd bombshell from Yucheong's mouth, and Yoo Seongwon couldn't hold back—he charged at him.
That this "Jung Han" was Yucheong's wife was shock and horror enough, but he'd personally killed her, then summoned her here. A perfect clusterfuck.
"Yes, Your Majesty. Circumstances left me no choice."
"What circumstances make you kill your own wife?"
"Her family's youngest sister became crown princess."
"What's that got to do with anything?"
"Relatives by marriage are always a massive threat to imperial power. I had no choice but to handle it. Of course, I wasn't exempt... So I dealt with her myself, then took my own life to follow her."
"No way..."
Yoo Seongwon was stunned again by Yucheong's nonchalant tone, as if recounting someone else's tale despite living it.
Do great figures just think differently?
As Yoo Seongwon kept his baffled expression, Jung Han approached with a pitying look.
"Sigh~ Your Majesty wouldn't know, but that's the man he is. His head's full of nation and lord, nothing else. Anyway, I'll ensure nothing unsavory happens this time."
"The era and situation are different from the start. Now, we'll catch up later... Lady Jung Han, there's something you need to review right away. I tried learning and handling it myself, but I just can't get it right..."
'...I don't understand a damn thing about their relationship. And Yucheong's insane, but this woman's no slouch either—slaps him once and switches straight to work mode.'
Yoo Seongwon stared blankly at the pair, now fully in work mode, utterly dumbfounded.
He'd expected endless bickering over their kill-or-be-killed past, but the snarling from moments ago was gone—they were deep in business.
"Hmm... Even a glance shows serious issues. But first, I need to learn about this place's logistics, distribution, and economy. Guide me there, Lord Yucheong."
"Ah, but this time our faction's finances are far more abundant than before, so you can ease up a bit."
"Abundant finances mean even more to fix. The richer, the more hyenas swarm for scraps."
Seeing Jung Han stride confidently, eyes gleaming murderously like she'd found her battlefield, Yoo Seongwon began regretting the summon bit by bit.
Yucheong alone was a handful, but imagining this nitpicky supply officer on the opposing side stirring chaos already made his stomach shrink in pain.