Chapter 101
Translator: MJK
Chapter: 101
Chapter Title: Hasuo's Snowfield Treasure Hunt
“World Tree? What kind of bullshit is that?!”
Ju Run grabbed the iron bars and bellowed.
But his lawyer's face was grim.
“I checked through my contacts at Intelligence. The bio-energy signature from Hunter Liu matches the ancient records perfectly. There's a 99% chance that seed... is a real World Tree seed.”
“What?”
Ju Run's mouth flapped open and shut like a fish out of water, but no sound came out.
It hit him like a sledgehammer to the back of the head.
“N-No way... that's a lie...”
He stumbled back and slammed into the wall.
His legs shook so badly he could barely stand.
His heart pounded wildly in his chest.
'That... that hazardous waste... is the World Tree?'
World Tree.
A single nation that monopolized it could seize global mana hegemony—an absolute strategic asset.
God's blessing itself, worth more than thousands of nuclear weapons.
And he'd handed it over with his own hands? Smiling and thanking them for cleaning up his mess?
'Did I really... throw that away?'
Memories flashed before his eyes like a montage.
The Xiao family stepping up to handle Liu's corpse and forfeit their assets.
The documents he'd stamped himself, labeling it [Hazardous Bio-Waste].
'Hazardous waste? A bomb? No, that was...!'
The puzzle pieces clicked in Ju Run's mind.
The Xiao family wouldn't have pulled this off alone.
Behind them was the man who'd healed Liu and orchestrated the whole thing.
'Gorani-man...!'
That bastard knew everything.
He'd known from the start it was a World Tree seed. He'd tricked the idiot Ju Run and legally stolen it using international law.
And Ju Run had smiled, thanking him for disposing of the headache, handing his nation's treasure to an enemy foreigner.
“Aaaargh!!!”
He clawed at his chest and rolled on the floor.
His stomach twisted in agony.
It felt like his guts were being wrung and snapped apart.
Lost fortune? Shattered power?
Those were nothing compared to this.
The horrific sense of loss from kicking away a chance to rule the world with his own foot—and the utter humiliation of being completely played by Gorani-man—drove him insane.
“Gorani-man!!! You bastard!!! How dare you!!!”
“C-Chairman Ju!”
“Gahk!”
Ju Run vomited blood into the air.
Dying of rage right here would at least be a mercy.
'If... if that man finds out...?'
A chill ran down his spine.
The absolute ruler dominating China—the National Chairman.
If he learned Ju Run had smuggled the World Tree seed overseas on his own whim?
'Death penalty? No, I'd beg for death.'
Forget treason against the state—this was betrayal of the entire nation. He'd be dragged to the square, limbs torn apart alive, quartered, and it still wouldn't be enough.
They might even rip out his soul for eternal torment.
“Hahk... haa... no, no...”
Regret, terror, fear, envy, jealousy.
Every negative emotion poisoning his body.
A prison worse than any physical cell—an inescapable hell with no way out.
A few days later, at the countryside home.
Xiao Lin visited after wrapping up all her affairs.
“Gorani-man.”
She bowed deeply.
“Looking back, it still feels like a dream. If you hadn't come, I would've died miserably in those frozen mountains. Or worse, lost Liu and slowly had everything stripped away before that.”
Xiao Lin's voice trembled.
“My remaining life is just a bonus. From now on, everything I do in Korea will follow your will alone.”
She spoke with grim resolve.
“Tell me which guild to join, and I'll go. I'll offer you my entire signing bonus, salary, and all activity earnings. It won't even scratch the surface of this debt, but...”
“Whoa, no need to go that far...”
An S-Rank hunter's blank check.
A proposal that would make anyone faint.
But I waved it off.
I had plenty of money already, and dictating someone's life wasn't my style.
“No, Lin. That's too much pressure.”
“But still...!”
“I helped because I wanted you to live happily, not to make you my subordinate. And I don't need the money.”
She blinked in surprise at my firm refusal, then smiled as if she'd expected it.
“At least take this.”
Xiao Lin pulled out a weathered map and a thick deed from her bosom.
“What's this?”
“The permanent ownership and management certificate for the 4th Peak Territory in the Kunlun Mountains.”
“Peak territory?”
“Yes. Once Ju Run's treason came to light, the Crown Prince Faction seized all his assets. Our family moved fast in the chaos and secured ownership of this abandoned land.”
Xiao Lin spread the map and explained.
“Sealed away for decades, untouched by hunters. A pristine, ancient wilderness brimming with rare herbs and minerals everywhere.”
Rare herbs?
And untouched pure nature? My ears perked up.
A vast continent territory, different from Okinawa's disaster zone.
“You're already overflowing with wealth and power, so the elders and I debated all night on what would please you. I hope it suits you.”
Xiao Lin's insight and tact were impressive.
I couldn't refuse this gift.
“Thank you. I love it.”
I took the deed with a grin.
Exciting visions filled my head.
'With this size...'
The endless Kunlun snowfields and forests Gorani and I had explored.
Gorani bounding everywhere, Hasuo foraging for wondrous herbs.
Muryong rolling in the snow, So-ye laughing.
“Now we can finally go on a proper family outing.”
A new front yard.
A massive one on the continent, stuffed with treasures.
In the countryside yard.
I spread the old map before the gathered family.
“Okay, everyone, pay attention.”
-Hmuht?
“Kkiyot?”
Muryong looked up mid-jelly bite, Gorani's ears perked as he paused licking the raccoon's head.
Hasuo toddled over from the garden, shaking dirt from his hands after pulling weeds.
“We're going to see snow.”
“Snow?”
I smiled warmly at their puzzled faces, question marks practically floating above their heads.
“A picnic spot where you can run wild to your heart's content.”
“Kkiyoooooot!!!”
Gorani reacted first, leaping three meters straight up in uncontainable joy.
“So-ye, get ready. Thick clothes.”
“Okay! Gonna make a snowman!”
So-ye dashed inside, grabbing her puffer jacket and gloves.
She returned with tiny winter gear too, like doll clothes.
“Muryong, Hasuo! You too! It's super cold there!”
So-ye draped a fluffy white mini-cape over Muryong.
The sticky rice cake lump looked just like a snowman plush now.
-Hmuht!
Muryong rubbed his cheek against the cozy fabric, delighted.
“Yay, Hasuo too!”
“Ppaeng!”
Hasuo raised his stubby root arms, and So-ye slipped on a red wool vest.
His blue leaf peeked out atop his warmly wrapped body—adorable enough to make me chuckle.
“All set! No more cold, right?”
They spun in circles, admiring each other's new outfits.
Preparations done, we headed to the Disaster Flower in the garden corner.
“Disaster Flower. It's a bit far this time. Kunlun Mountains in China.”
I held up the [Kunlun Mountains 4th Peak Territory Permanent Ownership Certificate] from Xiao Lin.
A key linking the land's ley lines and mana.
Parururu!
The Disaster Flower nodded eagerly, as if saying just leave it to me. Its red stamens flicked like a snake's tongue, touching the deed.
Zzt-!
[Disaster Flower recognizes the coordinates of the new territory.]
[Ownership confirmed by the owner.]
[Amplifying root mana to open long-distance dimensional passage.]
The Disaster Flower spread its leaves wide, unleashing pent-up red mana in a rush.
Kwaaaa-!
Its crimson energy sliced space, ripping open a massive dimensional gate.
Beyond: endless white snowfields.
“Let's go!”
A blast of frigid air hit us, but...
“Kkiyoot!”
“Osot!”
“Kkokkio!”
Gorani bolted first, followed by the honeybee-suited raccoon and stately rooster.
We crossed into our new front yard.
Kunlun Mountains, China—4th Peak Territory.
Or [Second Garden (Planned)].
Whiiing-
A biting gale blew, but there was no time to feel the cold.
“Kkiyoooooooot!!!”
Gorani went berserk, charging across the snowfields.
Rolling in drifts, sliding over frozen lakes—pure bliss.
“Osososot!”
The raccoon kept pace.
Burrowing into snow, popping out far away like a snowman.
Wild instincts revived, tearing up the fields with flair.
“Kkokkok!”
The rooster ran on air itself.
[Air Step] letting him bound mid-air, surveying the snowy peaks like a phoenix in an ink painting.
-Hmyuut!
Muryong and So-ye built snowmen together.
His, naturally, had horns like himself—weird but cute.
“So peaceful.”
I unfolded my camping chair, sipped hot tea, and took it all in.
This vast wilderness—my front yard.
This is the good life.
But then.
“...Huh?”
Hasuo was nowhere—usually sniffing soil like mad.
I scanned around.
“Hasuo?”
Far off, below jagged snowy cliffs.
Hasuo toddled alone toward a blizzard-swept crevice, entranced.
'Dangerous...'
I set down my cup and followed quietly.
Hasuo stopped at a small ice cave base.
The only eerie blue glow piercing the barren snowscape.
“Ppaeng...”
Hasuo peered inside anxiously.
Deep in transparent millennial ice: a faintly glowing tiny seed.
“Huh?”
It absorbed all nearby chill, enduring millennia— a crystalline white seed.
“No way this is...”
Thumb-sized crystal embedded deep in the ice.
Not black or rough like ordinary seeds.
Transparent white, like condensed eons.
Surfaces etched with microscopic frost patterns, softly pulsing blue.
'No ordinary item.'
I narrowed my eyes, channeling dantian energy to my optic nerves.
Honyu Heart Method revealed its core.
Zzt!
A chill raced up my spine.
Millennia of purity, impurities frozen away—essence of noble life force.
A cold flame purifying all poisons, reigniting dying embers.
'Jackpot.'
The legendary item from myths.
Seed of the Millennium Snow Ginseng.