Chapter 99
Chapter 99
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: Shocking 500 Billion Advance Payment
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About 5 minutes ago...
The shocking 500 billion advance payment.
Given everyone knew how the Korean government handled things, getting approval to use 500 billion from the national budget in such a short time was impossible.
Even if Korea truly faced imminent destruction, it would still be a stretch.
"No way, really?"
Unable to believe it, Yoo Seongwon asked Elder Baek Gayeon once more, but she repeated it as if confirming again.
"That's right. So hurry up and come."
"Are they insane? Why? Ah, seriously!"
Moments later, Yoo Seongwon appeared at the table with a flustered look upon realizing they really meant to pay the 500 billion.
"The situation must be that serious."
"Yes."
"Ah~ Well, if you're the ones paying, what choice do I have? But here's the thing—to receive the money, I need an account... Unfortunately, both my account and Iron Fortress's are currently blocked for transactions~ So you'll have to wait a bit?"
Before the negotiation table was even fully set, conversation naturally turned to the account for the 500 billion payout. Yoo Seongwon immediately checked his account status.
Sure enough, both his personal account and Iron Fortress's were temporarily frozen.
"What? What the hell did you do?"
"Just while I was in the dungeon, those Shin Gangnam folks slapped us with a lawsuit... The speed is ridiculous. I skipped the trial, fine, but we haven't even started civil proceedings—how'd they bypass that? Not something just anyone can pull off. Unbelievable."
"Probably Shin Gangnam backers pulled some strings. The notice says it's a temporary measure for legal procedures."
Of course, this stemmed from the damages lawsuit against Yoo Seongwon—instigated by Seoul Guild—where he hadn't mounted any legal defense before bailing.
It might look like he brought it on himself at first glance, but this was exactly what he'd been aiming for.
"Th-that... Don't you have other members' accounts? Let's use one of those for now."
"I do. But if they can freeze accounts like this, bypassing legal steps, then 500 billion or even a trillion makes no difference. So... Bring the 500 billion in cash, nice and clean."
"You mad bastard!"
Easy to say 500 billion—but in 50,000-won bills, 10,000 sheets make 500 million, so you'd need 10 million sheets for the full amount.
Ten million bills. Even if they hauled them in, he wouldn't just accept them outright; there'd be verification steps. In practice, it'd take so long the country might collapse first.
The government rep shot to their feet in outrage, but Yoo Seongwon didn't budge an inch.
"Fine, magic stones work too. But with guarantee certificates showing mana levels and grades."
"Isn't this going too far?"
"What, did I orchestrate this? Never dreamed they'd lock accounts skipping civil court."
"Please, we're routing it through Elder Baek Gayeon's account—just overlook the cash demand."
"Why act like that? Makes it sound like I'm the bad guy. Anyway, I'll wait. Let me know when the money arrives. Otherwise, negotiations are off."
With those cold words, Yoo Seongwon rose from the table and turned to leave.
He felt a rush of satisfaction watching those loathsome old fogeys squirm, but a sharp gaze from the side quickly soured his mood.
"Do you really have to push it this far?"
"Yes. They deserve at least this much. Call it mirror therapy? Not sure if they'll grasp the vibe of a powerless nobody's life."
"What do you even get out of this?"
"It's not about what I get. It's just them paying the price they owe. They've lived high on fancy money and power—time to settle up. They always say bottom-feeders end up that way because they're incompetent, lazy, and don't try. Spot on, actually, if you set aside the awakening part—no talent, total deadweight."
The two of them had nothing left to say to Yoo Seongwon as he flashed a bitter smile.
Elder Baek Gayeon might have had grounds to argue, but guilt gnawed at her—she hadn't been able to stop the world from turning out this way.
"Honestly, I've just been fishing for excuses to loaf around for a full month... But looking at things, that's not happening. Yucheong~ You caught the whole flow, right? What's our best move?"
"Putting distance between us and those corrupt fools while making them pay isn't bad. That said, we should salvage any untainted parts among them."
"So, help out the decent ones?"
"Or back the ones stirring internal opposition. The enemy of my enemy is my friend—simple logic. We can apply pressure alone, but more allies means even greater pressure."
"Hmm..."
Yoo Seongwon got Yucheong's point and pulled up a map on his phone, scanning for allies who'd welcome an outstretched hand.
Those nursing grudges against the government and top guilds naturally pointed to the discriminated regions, and he found them without much trouble.
"Guess that means Busan and Gwangju."
Thanks to the Slaughter King looming over the capital region, they got half-assed support at best. They'd built an academy to train awakeners from across the country, only for the Big Three guilds to cherry-pick the talent and leave them with the dregs—resentment was inevitable.
"Not just the discrimination—they get dragged up here every other day as so-called S-grades to hold the Seoul line. Think they called them for this mess?"
"Probably. Reports say the pastor brought all nine Archdemon Beasts along, hosting some... feast right on the front lines."
"A feast?"
"Yeah. Cooking up captured soldiers and hunters on the spot. He's not your average lunatic. Sigh~ Anyway, that guy's pushed things nationwide—and even Olympus is finally mulling major support for Korea."
Hearing Elder Baek Gayeon's rundown, Yoo Seongwon instantly grasped why the situation was so dire.
With nine Archdemon Beasts—each needing three S-rank hunters to handle—camped at the Seoul front lines, the pressure was immense. That's why they were summoning every regional S-rank hunter.
"Sure, but those local guys hate coming up. They're swamped cleaning up their own outbreaks, and deep down, they're there to protect home, family, friends."
"Victims of the country's age-old capital-centric growth policy."
"You could say that."
"Tying it together with Yucheong's take, that means link up with those two S-grades."
Helping the long-neglected regional S-ranks would expand his Golden Dragon Knight faction and boost his influence.
They couldn't turn down the offer either—allying with him would let them pressure the guilds, government, and association that had sidelined them for years.
"Perfect fit. I'll take the crew and head out. Somi noona, I've got Yucheong, Jinseok, and Mulblin on you—go grab Ayoung and meet up later."
"Your Majesty, is leaving all three of us really necessary?"
"You're our hidden assets—better keep you under wraps."
To debut his new knights later, Yoo Seongwon assigned Jinseok, Yucheong, and Mulblin as Shin Somi's escorts.
He handed Iron Fortress off to Elder Baek Gayeon, then prepped the trailer for a dash to the provinces.
"Was really planning to crash hard for a full month once we got out... What the hell is this..."
[Master, are you sure I should drive?]
"It's an emergency—most folks are hunkered down in shelters. Traffic laws? Who cares. Haaa~"
Yoo Seongwon left the driving to Akaron and sprawled out lamenting in the trailer's back seat.
Fresh off a month-long mega-battle, and now tossed back into the fray—how could he not gripe?
"Hate this. Seriously~ Why's everything gone to shit the second we step out? Sigh~ Should've taken Mulblin's offer and hunkered down in the Goblin Empire."
[Master, destination, please. Two fronts south: one near Busan, one near Gwangju.]
"Oh, right. Might as well not split up—go all-in on one and wipe 'em clean... Let's see."
Chaos mainly in Gyeongsang and Jeolla provinces, but after years in the awakener era, major cities all had evacuation shelters.
Defenses were rock-solid, backed by military units geared up with anti-monster tech.
Small fry could only poke around empty towns at most.
Real threats to civilians needing hunter backup formed massive fronts around metros—Busan and Gwangju at the epicenter.
"Lemme check... Busan side: Scavengers, merfolk, mermen, giant crustacean monsters launching a full assault. Boss is A-rank Merman Warlord. Gwangju: Scavengers leading with undead heavies? Death Stinger Scavenger group's black mage Han Jungho. A-rank awakener. Hmm..."
Heavy hitters who'd laid low locally, biding their time.
The Merman Warlord hailed from an A-rank dungeon—Merman Palace—off Gwangalli Beach, but with its smarts, it rallied dungeon monsters for a pincer with the Scavengers.
The 'Death Stinger' Scavenger group was a vicious guild built as a hub for Chinese, Japanese, and Korean mafia outfits. Uncharacteristically, they'd greenlit the pastor's pitch and jumped into the fray leading Scavengers.
"Death Stinger looks rougher. High chance Chinese and Japanese Scavengers linked up. And... these days, humans are scarier than monsters."
Monster hordes were bad enough, but humans' unpredictability terrified more—so Yoo Seongwon prioritized Gwangju.
Akaron promptly swung the trailer toward Gwangju and hit the gas.
At the same time, pulling association public data on enemy status and city threat levels, Yoo Seongwon ran a quick strategy huddle.
***
Gwangju downtown barrier.
Since the dungeon era dawned, pretty much every city boasted outer walls, protective setups, and shelters for hundreds of thousands.
Right now, hordes of zombies and skeletons—undead monsters galore—swarmed the base of the barrier. Soldiers and hunters alike fought tooth and nail to hold them back.
"Damn it! Han Jungho, you son of a bitch! Stick to slinging drugs and hooking! Fuck, afraid someone might miss you're a Necromancer class? Rampaging again!"
"More like, silver ammo's running dry—what now?"
"What, splash holy water or enchant the guns! Keep firing! Where's the captain?"
Their captain: the S-rank hunter guarding all of Gwangju and Jeolla Province.
He was currently airborne with allies, battling to take down the A-rank Scavenger Death Stinger boss, Han Jungho.
"Hmm~ Timed it with the pastor's uprising, borrowed A- and B-ranks from China and Japan... But 'Gwangju' is proving a tough nut. Why's that old man holding out so well? Tch! Raging Dead!"
Han Jungho bore the moniker 'Black Mage,' but as a Scavenger, he cut a sharp figure in a crisp black suit, polished shoes, and waxed hair.
He swung his staff to keep raising undead around him while overseeing the frontline clash.
"Tell me about it. Borrowed ten A- and B-ranks from Chinese mafia and Japan, and it's still a deadlock. Just a matter of time, though. Once we lop off his backup, even an S-rank can't solo forever."
[Hey! You punk! Come out quick! I'll make ya into somethin'! You Jap bastards and Chink scum!]
"Won't be long even without that? Guy's built like a tank. Whoa~ Fighting like that and his exoskeleton's unscratched?"
The one battling amid a swarm of hunters cursed as he tanked hits, fully focused on summons—Han Jungho.
No longer humanoid, he sported a 3-meter frame with three long horns sprouting from a stag beetle-human mashup.
"Choi Chungseon, looks like next year's your death anniversary. Raging Dead! Whew~ Leisurely mana grind?"
Having roused hundreds of skeletons and zombies, Han Jungho casually fished a potion from his inventory and chugged it with ad-model flair.
The stag beetle-man fumed, jabbing a finger at him and bellowing.
[You... you ball-less prick! Argh!]
"Waste time glaring at me? Check your surroundings, old timer."
[Goddamn it!]
He was Choi Chungseon, the pillar propping up Jeolla's defenses—an S-rank hunter.
Class: Druid of Beetle. Self-flight, brute strength, exoskeleton armor—he excelled in personal combat, but struggled with crowd control.
That's why the reinforcements from Chinese and Japanese Scavengers had him on the ropes.