Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Foam Slime Pond
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Level 4 gate, "Foam Slime Pond."
As the name suggests, it was a pond where foam slimes appeared.
However, there was another expression for this gate on Hunter Net.
§§Safe Sli☆me☆ Playground§§
The general consensus about foam slimes was, "I have no idea why these are even Level 4."
They were definitely dangerous.
Their squishy bodies were highly toxic and caused intense decomposition upon contact with skin, melting flesh away.
But so what?
They had no effect on leather or metal, which were the most important.
Moreover, anyone who entered a Level 4 gate had enough experience to steam and eat slimes without caring about poison or whatever.
The downside was that the rewards weren't great.
The remnants left after destroying the slime cores were used industrially, but the unit price was low.
That was why it was called a playground for Level 4 hunters.
Not only was the difficulty easy, but it was too easy, making it unpopular instead.
"Anyway, it's about time they showed up."
It was much earlier than the scheduled time to enter the gate.
Jeong-hyeon was already at a cafe near the gate.
Needless to say, Ye-rin's plan wasn't just to send Jeong-hyeon and Kwak Chae-jun in alone like idiots.
Right now, Jeong-hyeon was playing the rich hunter concept.
To back up that concept, the Association had agreed to provide two rookie response team staff members.
- So, doesn't that mean we can just run the operation with rookie hunters?
- Rookies make me uneasy, but using veterans means Kwak Chae-jun might recognize them. No choice.
He had asked if the Association could just handle it then, but if Ye-rin said so, he had no option but to go along.
At that moment, a sleek luxury foreign sedan slid into the parking lot.
Two hunters got out and entered the cafe, catching Jeong-hyeon's eye.
"Hunter Jeong Jeong-hyeon?"
"You're from the Association, right?"
"Yes."
Without needing prompting, the three exchanged and checked their government IDs and hunter licenses.
It was an operation to catch a villain, so they had to be thorough in everything.
"Uh... Jeong Jun-hyeon here is a healer, and Park Kang-jun is a tank, right?"
"Yes, that's correct. During the operation, feel free to treat us like underlings. Oh, and please equip these."
The rich concept naturally had nothing to do with Jeong-hyeon's actual finances.
Their current gear was decent enough, but it didn't suit people overflowing with money.
So, the Association was providing fitting equipment.
Jeong-hyeon took the case from Park Kang-jun and opened it.
'Dazzling!'
Inside were shiny pieces of gear so flashy he could barely look at them straight.
To put it simply, not quite top-tier internet shopping mall level, but right below that.
"Um, by any chance..."
"Association operation gear. Please return after use."
"Ah... yeah, figured as much."
He hadn't expected it anyway.
He just probed once out of faint hope, but gear like this would cost several times his allowance.
Anyway, after switching gear, Jeong-hyeon looked quite flashy.
The Association hunters wore black gear exclusive to private bodyguards.
Visually, they were a perfect trio.
'And the weapon is a complete upgrade from what I had.'
Doil's weapons were never low quality.
Top-tier for their grade and price, he could proudly say.
But these were on another level.
As they say, price is king.
'Whoa, the grip is killer.'
Items he'd have to part with forever after the op.
Too wasteful to use carelessly.
He had to savor them while they were in his hands.
Jeong-hyeon fondled the weapon for a while, stroked it, inspected every detail.
Then, as if something occurred to him, he said to the two hunters,
"Hey, if I act bossy during the operation, don't take it personally, okay? I'd appreciate it."
"? Of course. We're pros, even if we lack experience."
They nodded with smiles, as if it was obvious.
But if they could read his mind, they wouldn't be so nonchalant.
'Those who've been bullied know how to bully best. Plus, I prepped yesterday.'
Yesterday, Jeong-hyeon binge-watched chaebol dramas and movies.
Purely for audiovisual training!
But even without prep, Jeong-hyeon was already an expert at being a jerk.
Never bullied others, but been bullied endlessly himself.
Poor guys with nothing had treated him terribly, and now he was richer.
Half of what he'd endured would suffice.
It felt a bit sorry for these innocent hunters, though.
Anyway, healer Jeong Jun-hyeon checked his watch and said,
"Time's up, so shall we head out?"
"Ah, no, let's wait a bit more."
"Yes?"
They'd arrive just in time if they left now.
Jun-hyeon looked puzzled, and Jeong-hyeon grinned.
"Rich guys don't show up early, you know."
"......?"
Their faces turned baffled, like what the hell?
Jeong-hyeon just kept smiling without explaining.
Kwak Chae-jun was probably already at the gate by now.
'That's why they came late.'
Just thinking that made Jeong-hyeon start enjoying himself.
Finally, he said,
"Alright, let's head out now?"
It was a full thirty minutes past the appointed time.
"Yes...... sure."
Seeing the hunters look annoyed instead made him think his plan was working perfectly.
Now it was time to catch Kwak Chae-jun.
***
"These fucking assholes, why aren't they here yet?"
Meanwhile, at the Foam gate entrance.
Kwak Chae-jun had been waiting over 30 minutes already.
Well, none of the obnoxious guys who'd begged for carries before had ever shown up on time.
Promises exist to be kept.
If not, they deserved punishment, right?
"Heh heh, yeah. They're the ones getting punished, not me doing wrong."
He was just punishing trash who discriminated based on money.
As an Association alum upholding justice, he couldn't overlook that.
And in return, he'd taken their gear or cash.
This mark was especially exciting.
1 million won upfront, another 1 million as bonus.
In this honey pot gate?
Anyone tossing that much cash so easily had to be filthy rich.
And it was already agreed as cash.
Unlike past posers who turned out broke, this one was the real deal.
"Eh, for that much, waiting 30 minutes is fine."
Chae-jun was already blissed out, envisioning stacks of yellow bills as his own.
Then, a luxury sedan appeared before him.
"Nice, great car to start!"
Not quite the supercar he'd hoped for, but few brought their prized rides to gates anyway.
To them, it was just a casual stroll.
Plus, two bodyguard-looking guys got out with him.
Ah, that's why only one spot—he had retainers already.
Chae-jun plastered on his friendliest smile and approached the hunter decked in gaudy gear.
'Even at a glance, over 3 billion in value!'
Not kindness to the man, but to his money.
The guy's smug face oozed wealth—like slicing his belly would spill gold blood!
"Oh, you're here! 'I'm Rich,' right?"
"You're 'I'm the Association'?"
"Uh, yes?"
"You fucking moron, never seen 'I'm an Actor'? Shortens to I'm Actor. You I'm the Association?"
'This punk half my age, already bantering like that......'
The guy picked a fight right away.
Naturally, Jeong-hyeon was putting on a chillingly natural act(?).
His real temper would've thrown a punch first, but Chae-jun desperately kept smiling and nodded.
"Oh dear, my mistake. Great sense of humor. Yes, I'm 'I'm the Association.'"
"Damn right, you asshole. Anyway, let's have a good run. Oh, ignore these lackeys behind me."
"Haha, got it. You all look sharp. Nice to work with you."
Chae-jun nodded and offered handshakes one by one.
Jeong-hyeon waved him off lazily, annoyed.
The other two, sunglasses hiding their stiff, perfunctory expressions.
Everything about them grated, but money was money.
"Oh, before entering, could I see everyone's hunter licenses? Better to plan the strategy."
To execute perfectly, he needed their abilities confirmed.
He'd asked on Dark Hunter Net, but...
- Hunter licenses on Dark Hunter Net? Bullshit. We that bold?
Sharp refusal.
Jeong-hyeon reacted first to Chae-jun's request.
"Hey, strategy for foam slimes? You gonna carry or what?"
"Haha... still, knowing my temporary teammates would help, right?"
"Tch... hey, Jun-hyeon. Just show him."
"Yes, young master."
Jun-hyeon flinched at the call, pulled out his wallet.
He and Kang-jun handed theirs—and Jeong-hyeon's—to Chae-jun.
'Let's see... both D-Grade Level 3 tank and healer? Mediocre.'
They looked plausible; he'd worried about ditching bodyguards, but specs said no need.
Crazy to enter Level 4 with this lineup.
Must think foam slimes' honey rep plus bus driver him was enough.
Actually solid comp, minus him being villain.
'And this guy's unregistered? Damn, fearless idiots.'
Jeong-hyeon, unregistered, was obvious pickings.
Even all three at once, no problem.
Obsessed with licenses 'cause ashamed of unregistered status.
Cocky from easy life or some backup? Who cares.
Before C-Grade Level 4, all equal.
Meanwhile,
'Whoa, his eyes just turned murderous.'
Jeong-hyeon was secretly observing Chae-jun too.
On paper, no one matched Chae-jun.
But deception.
Actually, Jun-hyeon and Kang-jun were C-Grade Level 3 and 2—strong, if lesser.
Best duo without detection traits.
Together, not to be underestimated, and response team on standby.
Worst case, one escapes for backup.
Multi-layered net to catch Chae-jun.
Showing licenses reluctantly? All part of Jeong-hyeon's plan.
To bait Chae-jun into revealing true colors on cue.
Whether that was truly his intent remained to be seen.
"Hey, done staring at licenses? Hate money? We're late!"
Timing right, Jeong-hyeon barked.
Startled, Chae-jun hastily returned them.
'What? Why flinch?'
Nothing surprising, yet he overreacted.
The surprise soon turned to rage.
'He shows up 30 minutes late and yells at me?'