Chapter 145
Chapter 145
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 145
Chapter Title: Lizardman Sanctuary
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"So, you're putting in a request with our gate office?"
"Yes, that's right. The association's formal request should be registered sometime today."
"Hmm..."
Jeong-hyeon fell deep into thought.
He had seen enough of Ji-hee's capabilities.
If he had to sum it up briefly, she had finally reached S-Rank level.
Of course, that was with the Trait Stabilizer. After taking it, she maintained peak condition for about three hours, followed by another three hours where the effects lingered but gradually faded back to her normal state.
Plus, the more aggressively she used her traits, the shorter the drug's duration became. And taking three or more in a row could trigger side effects from the Trait Suppressor.
There were plenty of limitations, but even so, it seemed more than enough to clear a standard Mission Gate.
In other words, he could see why Nam-sik was so confident about including Ji-hee in a Mission Gate raid.
"Alright, then let's hear the details. The association handing out a Mission Gate request isn't something that happens every day."
Seeing Jeong-hyeon seemed inclined to accept, Nam-sik smiled and nodded.
"You're right. Truth is, we've got a bit of a headache on our hands recently."
'A headache?'
For a headache gate, his expression was far too bright.
Managing S-Rank Hunters must keep him a bit removed from such issues.
"Have you heard of Jin-ha Guild by any chance?"
"No, first time."
Jeong-hyeon shook his head at Nam-sik's question.
There were around 300 guilds in Korea, from small to large.
Even Jeong-hyeon couldn't possibly know every single one.
Nam-sik nodded understandingly and elaborated.
"It's a small guild with about 70 affiliated hunters and fewer than 200 total staff including employees. It's disbanded now, though."
"Disbanded?"
"Yes. Apparently, the guild master secretly acquired a Mission Gate a few months back. Nothing unusual up to that point. Small guilds often go after Mission Gates to rebrand themselves."
In fact, it wasn't just small guilds—mid-sized ones did it too.
Take Vice Guild recently; Geun-hwa had snagged one for exactly that reason.
Mission Gates were a gamble for guilds.
Hit big or crash hard.
"But the guild master took out massive private loans to get it."
"Whoa."
Private loans to buy a Mission Gate?
No matter how exalted hunters were in modern society, money was money.
And the loan sharks dealing with guilds weren't your average civilians.
They were backed by people who could throw their weight around.
A small guild master would know the odds weren't great—why make that choice?
"Well, who knows what's in a person's heart. But after failing several raids, the guild master fled with his family in the night. He's out of the country now. The association got the report a week later. The funny part? It wasn't the guild that reported it—the loan sharks did, when they didn't get paid on time."
'You gotta lose your mind the right way...'
At this point, the guy had essentially wallpapered the walls with shit and bolted.
What if it broke?
"What about the remaining guild staff?"
"Vice Guild Master and the deeply involved executives are all under investigation. They'll face heavy sentences. The other employees? Lost their jobs overnight."
"Man..."
Jeong-hyeon shook his head.
'Vice Guild Master Mun Geun-hwa... what a guy.'
It made him want to reevaluate Geun-hwa.
He had tried to report it to the guild in time, even planning to take full responsibility and step down if it came to that.
"Anyway, I get the situation. So you want to clear it before it breaks?"
"Exactly. We're too swamped to approach other guilds. Plus, our execs unanimously decided after hearing about Hunter Han Jeong-hyeon's exploits in 'Merrillium Mine's Gems.'"
"Huh?"
Suddenly 'Merrillium Mine's Gems'?
Vice Guild had hyped it up big time, so the association must have heard, but hearing it like this was a bit embarrassing.
"Who could've imagined two Grand Mantises in a level 5 gate? If it weren't for you, Hunter Han Jeong-hyeon, it would've been a disaster."
"Ahem..."
With Nam-sik gilding the lily, Jeong-hyeon cleared his throat awkwardly.
Meanwhile, Ji-hee, hearing this for the first time, tilted her head.
"Grand Mantis?"
"Yes, the monsters Hunter Han Jeong-hyeon took down this time. Word is, you soloed two level 6 boss monsters."
"Wow..."
"It wasn't solo—I mean, we all did it together."
Jeong-hyeon's contribution had been massive, of course.
He waved his hands hurriedly to downplay it, but the admiration on Ji-hee's face didn't fade easily.
"Ahem, anyway, could I see the gate info?"
"Oh, of course."
Realizing it was hopeless, Jeong-hyeon quickly changed the subject.
As expected from Nam-sik, who prepared for every contingency, he promptly pulled printouts from his briefcase and handed one to Jeong-hyeon and Ji-hee each.
The first thing that caught the eye was, naturally, the gate's name.
"'Lizardman Sanctuary'?"
"That's right. It's also why the association wants it cleared before the break."
What did Lizardmen have to do with clearing before a break?
But the next line made Jeong-hyeon nod in understanding.
- Location: Gyeongsangnam-do, Changnyeong, Upo Swamp area
"Ah."
Lizardmen in a swamp.
Chilling just thinking about it.
Better to fight orcs in the mountains than chase Lizardmen unleashed by a break in a swamp.
In the worst case, they could settle in, breed, and take over.
There were plenty of global cases where monsters accidentally matched outside environments and made areas uninhabitable.
"Scheduled break date?"
"We're still investigating details, so no precise prediction, but within about two weeks."
"Urgent..."
"And don't underestimate it—Jin-ha Guild attempted at least three raids."
"Three times?"
There were ways to gauge a Mission Gate's difficulty roughly.
But the surest—grim as it was—was how many failed attempts.
Assuming the raiders weren't idiots, they'd send competent parties. The more failures, the higher the estimated difficulty.
At least three meant no pushover.
"Of course, since it was all internal to Jin-ha Guild, it's not exactly three under normal conditions."
Jeong-hyeon nodded like he got it.
He didn't know Jin-ha's details, but a small guild with ~70 hunters.
Did they even have the resources for three proper parties in a level 5 Mission Gate?
"The more I think about it, the shadier they seem."
"Shady as hell."
Nam-sik nodded without argument.
Then, Ji-hee, who had been quietly listening, spoke up.
"But besides me and Hunter Han Jeong-hyeon, who else is going...?"
She spoke decently enough until both men turned to her, then blushed and looked away.
Even with Trait Stabilizer, some things were unavoidable.
Jeong-hyeon stared at her blankly for a moment.
"That's a very important point."
Then he clapped and nodded.
From working with the association a few times, he knew everything had to be nailed down.
"The docs say it's a 5-man gate—any fixed members?"
"..."
Nam-sik fell into an odd silence at Jeong-hyeon's question.
'See? Knew there was a catch.'
Just as expected.
Jeong-hyeon nodded, thinking if it weren't for Ji-hee, he'd be stuck with some absurd conditions again.
Everything needed careful testing, like tapping a bridge before crossing.
And defying the silence, Nam-sik burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! Of course there are. You two will go in with the association response team's ace prospects."
"Prospects?"
There it was, the shady part.
Was "prospects" ever good news?
Nam-sik had probably tried to gloss over it with "response team" and "ace," but it wasn't enough.
He was already going in to help raise Ji-hee, per her request.
The Trait Stabilizer reduced that burden, sure.
'But that doesn't mean taking on three more.'
At minimum, they needed Mission Gate clearers for support.
As if reading his mind, Nam-sik hurriedly added.
"Ah, of course! Prospects, yes, but all have Mission Gate clears! You think the association would screw us over?"
"Hmm..."
Suspicion didn't fully lift.
As Jeong-hyeon narrowed his eyes, Nam-sik said earnestly.
"At least better than Vice Guild."
Why bring up Vice Guild?
Confusing at first, but tying it to the Merrillium mention, Jeong-hyeon got it.
'He knows the level of the Vice Guilders I raided with.'
The Vice Guild party in 'Merrillium Mine's Gems' was a bit short for a level 5 Mission Gate.
Considering that, it signaled support with gate-appropriate hunters, while highly valuing Jeong-hyeon's feats in context.
Why else would association execs unanimously pick HJH Gate Office?
Urgency played in, but it showed strong faith in Jeong-hyeon.
Confidence he was exceptional for level 5 gates.
'He insists that much—maybe trust him once?'
Seemed unlikely they'd send total duds, especially the association, who knew Mission Gate dangers best.
Meanwhile, Ji-hee blinked cluelessly at mentions she didn't get.
"Alright, I'll trust you. Time's tight, so raid in two days. Possible?"
"Of course!"
"Ji-hee, you free then?"
"Yes."
Thus, HJH Gate Office's second request was accepted.
Talks done, Jeong-hyeon stood and bowed.
"See you all then. Oh, and Section Chief Choi."
"Yes?"
"You have to come then too, Section Chief Choi."
"...Me?"
"If there's nothing shady, you can, right? Hahaha."
Calling Nam-sik was his final insurance.
Half-threat: if the party sucked, he'd answer for it.
"Ahem... Yeah, obviously. Of course I'll go."
"See you then."
"Ah, but if something comes up..."
"You have to come."
"...I was just going to say of course I'll be there. Obviously."
***
Two days later, Upo Swamp.
Seeing the party gathered to raid 'Lizardman Sanctuary' Gate, Jeong-hyeon clenched his fist.
'From now on, trust what—and who—you can...'