Chapter 178
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 178
Chapter Title: Ownerless Golden Goblin
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Equipment artifacts sell for incredibly high prices.
Up until now, I hadn't been particularly interested in gear, so I'd focused solely on magic stones—mere money-makers for hunters.
And my wives were the same.
For Kang Hana, Im Hyeji, and Yi Sua—mere B-rank, S-rank, and civilians in the past—top-tier equipment artifacts were nothing more than pearls around a pumpkin's neck.
No matter how great the artifact, if the amplification it provided was weak, it wouldn't make much difference.
Wearing a good one might not even let you aim for a dramatic rank-up, so settling for decent artifacts and living comfortably in reality was often the smart choice.
The profits weren't that huge to begin with.
Above all, equipment artifacts hit a wall past a certain level—once you crossed into S-rank and above, efficiency went out the window.
If magic stones were mainly used as energy sources by corporations and research labs,
artifacts were mostly for hunters' dungeon runs, making them feel like a luxury tax in comparison.
That's why I'd put them off, but now it was time to start paying attention.
Double SSS-rank hunter.
At SSS-rank, the effects from equipment artifacts finally started to get impressive.
Besides, as long as my abilities and skills didn't fall out of favor, I could keep impregnating them to level up and grow stronger.
Seeing their efforts, I figured it was time to show some interest in artifacts myself.
It wasn't like I had zero interest before, but I hadn't bothered pursuing them because I lacked the cash for magic stones, and hunters were so desperate for gear that it wasn't efficient for me anyway.
It wasn't for me to use, and giving them to my wives? Honestly, one ejaculation of semen beat handing over S-rank or SS-rank artifacts in terms of value and appreciation—not to mention cost-performance.
I didn't feel affectionate enough to splurge on custom gear for them either.
Even now, I had no intention of giving it for free.
'It's a loan. Just a loan.'
To squeeze more out of them, equipping them with artifacts to keep them alive—much like investing semen to impregnate them—was a good move.
The more prominent faces of our Kang Jik Guild grew in strength and fame, the more it reflected on me.
In that sense, the figures popping up on my Precision Scan map right now were mouthwatering golden goblins.
"Team Leader, you said all those bastards are unidentified, right?"
"...Unidentified, yes. But one of them's an international fugitive—a Chinese guy. That's why we suspect they're Chinese illegals."
"No hunter registration, and no way to trace them if they die?"
"That's right."
"...We're killing them, then?"
"We'll capture if possible, but national terrorism suspicions make elimination the priority."
"Sent them in two parties?"
"Two rear support teams have been dispatched."
"Okay. Stand by, then. I'll wake the briefer..."
Every time I use Precision Scan, I realize it's the ultimate zero-tier scam skill for conquering dungeons. Sure, it guzzles magic stone mana, but activating its (special effect) turns the already detailed map into a full DLC expansion, displaying every minute and unique piece of info.
Hunters hate wide maps. Sure, you might think wider means more resources, but in practice, narrow maps often yield more.
If it's just one empty map, vacuuming from corners to center makes wider better, yeah.
But most maps have terrain and hard-to-search spots, so narrow ones at least limit the scope. Wide ones eat up too much time patrolling, and unless it's an S-rank or SS-rank dungeon worth combing every inch, it's not worth the investment.
Especially since rare resources on maps can appear in low-rank dungeons too.
That's why hunters avoid them—but with Precision Scan, no worries.
I'd already marked a few pricey spots worth grabbing.
The incoming Chinese hunters?
My eyes could see the detailed info on their equipped artifacts treated as 'special info,' laid bare.
【S】 【Fountain of Abundance】
＊ Amplifies mana amount based on Magic Power rank. (B: 30%, A: 40%, S: 50%, SS: 70%, SSS: 100%)
＊ 5% chance to recover consumed mana upon skill use.
"Heh heh heh. Come to papa."
I never knew I could be the type to spend money and work hard for someone else.
No matter how pretty Im Hyeji, Kang Hana, or Yi Sua were, I'd always figured I'd live like a selfish, sex-obsessed scumbag, acting only for my own gain.
All I'd get from impregnating them and turning them into powerhouses was the right to pound and suck as I pleased, plus free spending money.
But seeing how thrilled they got when I granted them abilities, skills, and now gear? Made me feel like a hopeless romantic deep down.
"Sua will love it too, and it'll suit Hyeji perfectly... Hana's definitely eyeing it already."
All three relied mainly on Magic Power, so it fit them like a glove.
Wearing something like this while sneaking in and dungeon-crawling?
Suddenly, I started worrying about all the Chinese hunters lurking in Korea.
I quickly woke Kang Hana before the concern faded.
"Ung?"
"Time to work. Roaches incoming."
"Ah... Don't call them roaches..."
"Golden roaches. You'll flip when you see 'em."
"What're you... Huh? What's this?"
"Fountain of Abundance. You see it too, right?"
"...An S-rank artifact? Why would an illegal hunter have something like..."
"Does that matter right now? Come on, hurry."
Kang Hana bolted upright from her half-asleep daze and dashed outside.
The team leader stood by her side, geared up with earpiece in place.
And with Precision Scan active, her excited face launched the briefing.
"Parties 3 and 5, proceed on current bearing."
As the op kicked off, I asked Kim Gap-su the team leader,
"Any count on the golden goblins... er, Chinese hunters in Korea?"
"...Confirmed over 50. Can't tally those who've been active since before."
"Got it. I'm crashing for a bit—trust me to handle it."
"Just in case..."
"Wake me if shit hits the fan."
"...Understood."
Pretending to enter the tent, I activated Stealth and slipped toward the scene with light steps.
I had no clue how strong these golden goblins were.
But from what I'd seen, Sky Guild hunters were the real deal.
Each of the two dispatched parties had at least one SS-rank hunter, totaling about ten per group.
For the Chinese hunters, it was practically 1-vs-5 odds. Even the monster-mounted side had an edge, but since their firepower boiled down to unknown tamed or summoned beasts, it wasn't exactly great news.
Naturally, I trailed about 100 meters behind, heading toward the group with the Fountain of Abundance.
That was the goal.
Of course, I couldn't guarantee snagging it 100%.
Basic protocol: approach post-subdual or kill to confirm gear presence.
Even on Mars, I'd botched grabbing Ri Hei-an's artifacts right after killing him for the same reason.
So, no certainties.
But I believe in the wisdom: no attempt, no gain.
Try something, salvage something—profit.
Risky? Sure, but Precision Scan was up, and post-level 5 upgrade, SS-rank Stealth Survive First had my back.
Worst case, spam Absolute Stealth.
With Magic Power at A-rank, my mana pool let me fire it twice without breaking cloak.
Efficient mana management was key.
"Party 5, hold. Ambush from the brush as they pass."
On the path through a small woods.
I'd prepped ambush, already spraying Monster Scent Disruptor.
Thud thud thud
Monster hooves pounding earth—they followed the predicted route.
Wait and wait.
For the moment they passed right in front.
As distance closed.
"Krr?"
One wolf noticed first.
But the scent spray made it too late—way too late.
Kukukuku!
The ground they charged erupted and heaved, launching riders and mounts airborne, tumbling.
"Kill 'em!!"
Sky Guild hunters didn't mess around.
I liked that.
Not capture—kill.
Amid the charging hunters.
Kwaboom!
An explosion rocked them.
"Three targets. One presumed monster tamer, one with a sickle. Last one's... a mage, looks like. At least two S-ranks... Careful out there."
Kang Hana's excited voice settled into calm after one clash, thanks to Precision Scan's analysis.