Chapter 88
Chapter 88
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: Jax's Defeat
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I blocked and dodged Jax's sword and gun while charging in, but at the crucial moment, the bastard quickly used a backstep skill, making it seem like I almost had him but never quite did.
On the other hand, as all his attacks were blocked and I drew closer and closer, impatience showed on his face.
"Giant God's Sword!"
A massive sword-shaped aura surged around Jax's machete. It was exactly the size you'd expect from a giant god. Considering his mana capacity, it shouldn't have been possible to manifest an aura that large, but with a skill, even something like that was feasible.
I raised my arms to guard my face, and the Giant God's Sword struck my left side. My body was pushed back slightly, but that was all.
"You... blocked that?"
Something like condensing aura more intensely, like Jeong Min-gi the hunter did, would be more threatening to me. An attack that big couldn't pierce my armor or aura.
I straightened my stance and charged.
With all his attacks blocked, he burst a small pouch, and white powder scattered into the air.
Poison like that from a lowlife wouldn't work on me, but Jax had no way of knowing that. What worried me wasn't my body, but the people behind me. If the powder spread everywhere, it would be fatal to these folks who already looked like they were on the brink of death.
Like the axeman had done, I spread my aura widely in all directions and burned up the incoming poison powder. Jax's face went blank with shock.
"Gun, sword, poison. Even focusing on one is tough, but messing with all that makes you weak."
"W-weak? Me?"
Veins bulged on Jax's forehead.
"Block this too!"
The Giant God's Sword swung horizontally. I raised my arms and slightly ducked to block it. A direct hit wouldn't hurt, but it still pushed my body back.
I deflected the incoming bullets and closed the distance. He glanced at Yesl and Hyungbin, seemingly planning to take them hostage.
I positioned my body between him and the two, ensuring his attacks couldn't reach them.
Even he couldn't dare attack, knowing it would create a split-second opening.
He clicked his tongue and fled toward his subordinate lying on the ground.
Was he trying to trip up my footwork? He kicked the subordinate like a ragdoll and hurled him at me.
"What the... "
Bullets flew through the body.
This trick couldn't cover my eyes, and since it wasn't even one of my people, I didn't feel the need to save him. I bounced the bullets away and swatted the flying corpse aside.
"Stop!"
When the distance between us was about two meters—the distance he wanted—I pressed a gun to the back of the kid's neck he'd wanted me to approach. I was watching Hyungbin and Yesl, but I couldn't watch all the countless factory workers.
"The cartel boss is a real scumbag."
"Stay right there and don't move."
Jax grabbed the kid's collar and slowly backed away.
"Jax! Stop it!"
"Shut up! Taho, you traitor bastard! The price for selling out Mexico will come soon..."
As Jax yelled at Taho and his gaze shifted for that split second, I lunged.
He reflexively pulled the trigger, and I smashed my fist straight into his face.
His face caved in as he collapsed. At the same time, I caught the kid. Blood was spurting from the hole in the kid's neck. I covered it with my hand and poured in life force.
"Crazy!"
Taho rushed over urgently.
"...Not a healer... no, even a healer couldn't do this?"
Flesh filled the hole in the kid's neck, leaving only a slight scar as it healed.
"Phew..."
The kid, brimming with life force, looked healthier than before getting shot.
"You charged in betting on your heal."
I nodded.
"So, what now?"
"What?"
"The A-Rank and higher gates."
"Why ask me? That's your country's business."
"You killed Jax."
"There's a saying back home: save a drowning man in our country, and he asks for your bundle."
He gritted his teeth in frustration. He knew he had neither the right nor the power to demand anything from me.
"Don't worry. I'll handle them until Mexico's hunter force gets solid. In return, I take all the byproducts, no taxes."
It's a six-hour flight here with my hypersonic personal jet. I can come periodically and clear them out.
"Fine. Jax took everything up till now anyway."
"Yeah?"
I slapped the cheek of one of Jax's unconscious subordinates to wake him.
"Huh... ack?"
"Hey, where'd Jax hide the money?"
"You! You! When Brother Jax finds out, you won't die easy!"
"Him?"
I pointed at Jax, whose face was smashed in.
"B-brother?"
"Follow your brother? Or answer?"
"I'll answer. The boss never trusted outsiders, so I heard he kept all the loot at home."
Jax's subordinate flipped his attitude instantly. Figures—he'd stick to the strong one; that's the way here.
"Taho, lend me a car."
"Sigh... hop in."
I loaded Yesl and Hyungbin, who still hadn't come to, into Taho's car.
"Is there an antidote for the drug Jax used?"
"Not really. They didn't absorb much, and they're both hunters, so a few days' rest should flush it out."
Relieved by Taho's words, we headed to Jax's house. Guards at the entrance got lightly tossed aside, and I smashed the front door.
"This damn bastard hoarded a filthy amount."
While civilians below were dying, he'd piled up endless dollars, gold, mana stones, and luxuries in his house.
"Taho."
"Yeah?"
"Let's do business."
I grinned at Taho.
"What?"
Taho's face looked like he'd seen something ominous.
"Can you absorb Jax's subordinates?"
"Most are weaker than me, so no issue."
"If you need help, say so. I'll assist."
In Korea, laws and society's eyes kept me from freely smashing villains, but in Mexico—lawless as it was—I could rampage as I pleased.
"So, what's next? Planning to take over here?"
"Nah, that's your job, Taho."
"Why trust me?"
"Your face says it all."
And from how his subordinates treated him, I could tell. It wasn't fear like with Jax; it was trust.
"Got it. And?"
"Smash every drug-related spot in the area and dispose of all the drugs. Tell me if you need funds. And if you squander the money or drugs reappear here..."
I wrapped aura around my fist to show him.
"You'll end up like Jax. Damn, you say tough jobs so casually."
"Isn't that why you've held out till now for your homeland? Wearing the cartel stigma?"
"Thanks for understanding."
"And once that's done, real business talk. With this money and byproducts from gates I clear, we'll build an item factory. You handle recruiting and protecting the workers. I'll pay, of course."
Mexico lacks proper item production bases.
"Here? You insist?"
"Why not? Byproducts I hunted, cheap materials and labor here—it's a win for me."
Usually, other countries avoid investing in cartel-dominated Mexico. If a cartel seizes the factory, it's a headache.
Can't station an S-Rank Hunter to guard one factory either; their price is astronomical.
But I need to clear lots of A-Rank gates for leveling anyway, I've built ties with Eastern Cartel boss Taho, and the business funds came from here. Nothing to lose.
A factory in Mexico means sales not just there, but South America, the US, Canada too.
"We gratefully accept your consideration. Mexico won't forget this favor."
Taho raised his right hand in salute. His subordinates behind him saluted too.
They couldn't stop me from taking the money back to Korea, but reinvesting it here moved Taho deeply.
"Too early for thanks."
I muttered. The legion commander's gate hadn't even opened yet. Compared to that, Jax was small fry. Factory, money—great, but meaningless if we can't stop it.
"Hm, what'd you say?"
"Nah, nothing. Anyway, any gates on the brink of breaking?"
"Not imminent, but a few getting close soon."
"Arrange for me to enter A- and B-Rank gates. I'll clear them ahead of time."
While Taho handled cleanup, I returned to the lodging with his subordinate.
In the car back, I called Jaein in Korea.
"Mexico? A factory?"
"Yeah, plan the business with President Yang—survey the Americas market, draw up specifics. Scale and designs too."
"Ch-chairman, dropping something this huge so casually..."
"I trust you. Hanging up."
I ignored Jaein's scream and ended the call.
* * *
"Oppa! Unni!"
"Hyungnim!"
The group rushed out to greet us excitedly. Hyungbin and Yesl had come to after I kept pouring life force in the car.
"We're all safe, so don't worry."
I explained everything.
"Hyung, is it okay for us to stay here? What if remnants attack?"
"It's fine. Taho's men are guarding, and none of Jax's leftovers are stronger than you."
"Ahem... if so."
Sanghun puffed up a bit. A B-Rank Hunter could afford some pride. Plus with healer Yesl, they could handle even A-Ranks if needed.
"Rest and look after those two."
"Where you headed, hyung?"
"Can't have A-Rank gate breaks from my rampage. I'll handle it."
"Oppa, me too."
"You haven't rested since I left— not tired?"
"Nope, fine."
"Alright, come along."
With Nayoung's wide-area attacks, it'd help more.
Still days till break. Clearing risky gates early might prevent the legion commander from popping out.
Inside the gate, Nayoung blanketed corruption for wide-area kills on monsters. I handled escapees and tough ones.
"Haha... We struggled so hard to clear this, and you do it this easily..."
Taho, who'd come to support the A-Rank gate, watched us hunt in a daze.
"Next?"
"None."
"Yeah?"
"No gates enterable till reset. Rest are C-Rank or below; we got those covered."
"Hmm..."
"Now we can rest, oppa."
Nayoung hooked her arm in mine.
"Yeah, let's."
No way it'd be this easy. Am I missing something?
* * *
"You okay now?"
"Ah, yes. Thanks to Hunter Lee Ji-seok's concern. Thank you for saving me."
Hyungbin, sitting on the bed, bowed his head.
Hyungbin was fully recovered now, and Yesl—protected by him—had barely inhaled any drug, so she recovered faster.
"You got better quick with your wife nursing you devotedly."
"W-wife?"
Yesl stammered at Sihwan's term.
"Should we call you sis-in-law?"
Yesl's expression didn't change, but her face flushed red.
"Get lost, punk."
Hyungbin's fist met Sihwan's head.
"Sheesh... only on me..."
Tension lingered days after the kidnapping, but now recovered and relaxed, we enjoyed vacation again.
"Señor!"
But Pablo burst in urgently, ending our half-day break.