Chapter 193
Chapter 193
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 193
Chapter Title: Scavengers' Ambush Plan
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About two weeks later, in Tokyo's outskirts 'Undercity.'
The news that Olympus Guild was re-entering to restore order to Japan's chaos was the worst possible update for the scavengers who had been rampaging freely in pursuit of happy hunts, enjoyable plundering, and their own profits.
In the Undercity teeming with scavengers from countries around the world, they were buzzing about the rumor.
"Look at that. They caused all this mess themselves, and now what's their excuse?"
"Yeah, right. Feeling a pang of conscience, maybe? But damn, they finally hauled their heavy asses over here."
"Originally, they probably meant to leave it to Hunter Yoo Seongwon, but they can't send a guy who's still reeling from the core dungeon aftermath."
"Wow, the same dude who was banging Perseia got wrecked that bad from one core dungeon trip? Guess those things really aren't a joke. Anyway, what're we gonna do? Bail now?"
"Bail from this sweet spot? Ha! No way in hell."
To the scavengers right now, Japan was no different from paradise.
In a place where the hunters maintaining public safety and order lacked the capacity, the only truth was raw power.
And the scavengers wielded that power, banding together for mutual gain, with rivals being nothing but other scavengers.
It wasn't a place you could find just anywhere, so they had no intention of giving it up.
"Then we might need to team up with those foreign bastards... Think any of 'em would play ball?"
"If that were possible, we wouldn't be scavengers. Hahaha! Nah, they'll probably stab each other in the back the second shit hits the fan."
"So we'll just get picked off one by one again? Well, the scared ones'll run off on their own."
It was casual banter, but it perfectly captured the nature of scavengers.
Even as Olympus Guild's threat loomed real, they weren't even considering unity or cooperation with foreign scavengers. Only those with the caliber to stand and fight would stick around; the rest would slink back to their home countries or go into hiding. That was reality.
And what about the reactions from the heavier-hitting scavengers?
"Oh~ We got no beef with pissing off Olympus. So let's sell 'em some intel and pull back from the market a bit."
The various scavenger companies and arms dealers from America decided to scale down operations and hand over select info, since crossing Olympus Guild—headquartered in the US—would do them no favors.
After all, if Olympus swept away the other competitors, they'd ultimately dominate Japan themselves.
"Olympus Guild is coming back to Japan. Zhaoxin! Xihao! Spread the word to our scattered branch members. Make damn sure no one finds out we're special forces from the People's Republic of China. Got it? One slip, and our homeland could end up like this Japan."
"Yes, sir!"
***
"You all heard, right? Relay to the Zircoff unit that Olympus Guild is coming. For our homeland's sake, we need to hide every trace that we're here on government orders. Understood?"
"Yes, sir."
"And while Olympus is around, keep operations quieter than anywhere else."
Russia and China, operating on government directives, ordered their forces to completely conceal their official affiliations and lay low during Olympus's activities to avoid drawing attention.
No point in confronting them directly—it gained nothing, and if their true identities leaked, their own countries could face Japan's fate.
The other scavengers either chose to behave or fled abroad.
But there was one unique group actually plotting to hunt Olympus Guild.
The Slaughter King constellation's group—scavengers who had crossed over from Korea.
"Hey, let's nab those Olympus punks when they show."
"Sukja sis, you lost your mind? Who the hell are they that we can just 'nab'?"
"Honestly, I'm with you... But damn, that pastor guy's all hyped up about it. Says if we snag some Olympus guild members' corpses or clone hunters into humans, our constellation will love it. He's going nuts over it!"
"...Any chance of winning? They wrecked Japan even with all those S-ranks around..."
"Bet the ones coming ain't that team that trashed Japan. That Hades crew's off spinning their wheels somewhere else again. If they had time to wander everywhere, they would've come for us or handed the 66th constellation army to that Yoo Seongwon guy ages ago."
"That... kinda makes sense. But they could still show, right?"
"Maybe, but they're busy. And crucially, word just came in that Olympus's Seoul branch suddenly got all hectic. No expedition on the horizon or anything. Hades-whatever's fighting in South America right now—why's Seoul mobilizing?"
"Oh... So the elites aren't coming."
"Exactly."
Their path had been blocked by the commander army, forcing them to Japan, but communication with the Seoul scavengers was still feasible.
Shipping supplies was pricey, sure, but sea routes weren't blocked, and signals got through.
That intel let them scout the incoming unit ahead of time, distinguishing the one departing Seoul from the one coming straight from the US HQ.
"B-but they're sending from the US mainland too, right?"
"Yeah, they'll send something. But you know the drill? For folks like me, Wonho, and that pastor level, you'd need S-ranks. And 'Pastor' here's already a direct apostle of the 'constellation'—surpassing us. Basic rule: one S-rank monster needs three S-rank hunters, yeah?"
"Got it. Can't afford to lose valuable talent, right? Uh..."
"Yep. So to take us on, they'd need at least five S-ranks. Factor in other scavenger factions, and that's plus more. But if they're committing that much force, better to just recall the Hades team. Means it's probably all bluff. If they reinforce, it'll be mercs."
Park Sukja had Olympus's scheme pegged perfectly.
"Of course, I wasn't gonna bite even knowing that, but goddamn pastor..."
But knowing and acting were different beasts. At first, even she figured they'd stick to scavenger basics: run or hunker down.
Problem was, the pastor had chosen otherwise.
"Well, if it works, jackpot. They're the world's top guild... Even regular grunts would fetch a nice bounty, and S-rank hunters way more value than randos... If it works. Risk's insane."
"I know. But what choice? Going back to Korea just means we wither away... Anyway, tell the ones not in to handle other scavenger checks. Only those game come. Backed by a solid constellation, it's still a better ride than most."
"Tch... Yes, ma'am."
The scavenger chatting with Park Sukja headed out to spread the word through Undercity.
Truth be told, he wasn't thrilled, but the pastor promised to handle most of the work while they assisted for fat rewards. No choice but to agree.
Losing the pastor in this mess would doom Slaughter King scavengers' future.
'...Without his grace, I can't even live.'
If the 'constellation' vanished, graces and blessings vanished too—worst case, the 'awakening' itself revoked. For her, half-demon body already, that meant a limbless cripple's fate.
So if she couldn't talk the pastor down, she'd step up to keep him from solo-suiciding.
Thus, Slaughter King's scavengers began prepping to hunt Olympus under Park Sukja and the pastor's command.
***
Two weeks later, Tokyo Port, Japan.
They couldn't bring Sky Island—stationed in Korea—but Tritonias, Olympus hunter and Poseidon's apostle, arrived fittingly aboard the massive fortress ship 'Golden Mane.'
Having been brutally handled by constellation Hades recently, the Japanese government welcomed Tritonias—Poseidon's apostle on par—with fanfare surpassing any state guest.
"W-we're truly grateful you've come, Lord Tritonias."
"No need. They paid for betraying humanity, but this is excessive. I'm just here to help. Anyway, I'd like to dive into operations. Got any data or reports? We brought some, but I want to cross-reference with on-site stuff."
"O-of course. Hey, captain! Escort to the briefing room! Everything's ready."
Tritonias was here for business and wanted no deep ties with Japanese who'd betrayed humanity until recently, so he kept it frosty and jumped straight to work.
Guided by special forces to the briefing room, he had them display a map of scavenger forces in Japan.
"As you know, post-Hades purge, S-rank hunters and guild power took a nosedive. Can't stop scavengers flooding in from everywhere, so Japan's in agony. Starting with Slaughter King's from Korea, then US, China, Russia, India, Vietnam... Too many scavengers pillaging, even sparking civil war. Some built Undercities to expand territories outright."
"Nothing west of Nagoya?"
"Commander monsters swarm it—no one goes near. Big general-grade still alive too. Scavengers always target the weak for easy gains."
If it was tough hunting, they wouldn't be 'scavengers'—just regular awakeners.
Anyway, the map showed most forces clustered around the capital Tokyo, building 'Undercities' or territories to raid, arson, kidnap, turning it into their playground.
"They're especially after yakuza. Most went legit with businesses, underworld ops too—hoarding wealth. Plus AV, gambling, brothels. Perfect targets."
"Makes sense—tasty prey they can't even cry to government or special forces for help..."
"Yes. Yakuza tried 'resisting' on their own, but as you know... These scavengers are battle-hardened crime syndicates. Slaughter King's hitting hardest. Human hunters, flesh hunters—they call themselves. Terrifying in urban combat."
The special forces guy shuddered, furious at the memory.
Special forces trained hard, but against Slaughter King types hyper-specialized in human hunting skills, it was hopeless.
"And those bastards... Had two awakeners on S-rank hunter level. Park Sukja, infamous Pyongyang Undercity ruler, and Kwak Wonho of Wonsan Undercity."
"Two? Isn't there three? Intel says a 'pastor' ascended as apostle?"
"Well, pastor included... But fresh reports say he's sighted in Pyongyang. Satellite pics and hacked footage from informants. Matches prior body data 99.5%. Probably just popped back for business."
"Hmm... Understood. And from now, track all inbound foreign flights and ships rigorously. Log every illegal entry too."
Tritonias eyed the docs and confirmed the pastor was in Pyongyang.
The biggest threat—a human-body S-rank monster equivalent, direct apostle—was absent. Ideal.
Thus, he planned scavenger sweeps, sealing sea and air routes tight.