The Emperor of Chongqing
Chongqing, the city nestled in southwestern China.
The third-largest metropolis in the country by population, trailing only Shanghai and Beijing.
While it didn't boast a Great Labyrinth like Shanghai, it was China's second hunter hub, home to over a dozen mid-to-small labyrinths and more than ten quasi-large-scale ones exceeding fifty floors.
With eight quasi-large labyrinths and numerous smaller ones, it arguably surpassed even Shanghai's economic prowess in some ways. It was also the primary stronghold of Wang Feng.
In this city of Chongqing, Wang Feng was no less than an emperor.
An SS-rank hunter like him could live like royalty anywhere, but here it was taken to extremes.
Rumors even swirled that the sprawling metropolis was his personal fiefdom.
At the very least, within Chongqing's bounds, his power eclipsed that of China's current president.
He reveled in excess with dozens of beauties at his beck and call, commanding thousands—tens of thousands—with a mere gesture.
A life of opulent luxury that truly befitted the title of king or emperor.
It was a debauched existence that would draw finger-pointing from anyone, yet it was all tolerated because it was Wang Feng.
Even the Communist Party elites bowed low before him, scrambling to curry favor. In modern China, no one could stand against him.
In the penthouse atop one of the city's soaring skyscrapers, Wang Feng indulged in his usual lavish routine that day.
Flanked by beauties, he sipped his liquor.
Leaning back with legs crossed, he gazed languidly at the city lights below—a picture of utter boredom.
"Big Brother."
A soft voice called to him. Wang Feng tilted his head sideways.
Under the absolute ruler's bored gaze, one of his sworn brothers—an SA-rank hunter named Ryu Yang—bowed deeply.
"Zhang Wei is dead."
"—Zhang Wei?"
Wang Feng echoed leisurely, furrowing his brow at the name that didn't immediately ring a bell.
"One of Big Brother's sworn brothers. You previously ordered him to seize control of Korea's hunter scene."
"Ah, right. I remember now."
Wang Feng nodded lightly as the face came to mind.
Though Zhang Wei was indeed one of his sworn brothers, Wang Feng had over a hundred such siblings by now. To him, the man was just another subordinate among many.
"He was a decent brother—skilled and well-liked... Hmm. Useful in his own way. How'd he bite the dust?"
"Details are still coming in, but it seems he died while taking over the underworld. He was clashing with Japan's Yamamoto brothers at the time."
"Hmph. Couldn't even conquer a puny backwater nation... All show and no substance. Good riddance—with too many brothers cluttering things up anyway."
Wang Feng dismissed the death of his sworn brother with casual indifference, taking a sip of his wine.
Ryu Yang bowed even deeper at the display.
"What are your orders? It's a small country, but Korea's hunters pack real punch. It's Seong Jae-myeong's homeland, after all."
"Ha. Seong Jae-myeong. Folks make him out to be some legend? Tsk, what a shame he died young. If he'd lived, I'd have crushed him personally."
It had been over a decade since Seong Jae-myeong's death. Wang Feng, a more recent SS-rank, had never crossed paths with him.
"The world's strongest hunter... Tsk, truly a pity. He lived, and that title could've been mine."
Wang Feng smacked his lips as if genuinely regretful, then shook his head to dispel the thought.
"Well, even that so-called strongest got labyrinth'd to death, so he wasn't all that. You asked what to do about it?"
He glanced sidelong at Ryu Yang.
"Yes. Zhang Wei was our brother, after all. We can't just let it slide. For your face's sake alone, Big Brother, we must make an example of everyone involved."
"Hmm. True enough. Can't let the death of one of my dear brothers slide without losing face."
Stroking his chin thoughtfully, Wang Feng shot to his feet.
"Time to make it crystal clear what happens when you touch this Wang Feng... Yeah, Korea makes a fine example. They stood by while my brother died, after all."
"And Japan?"
"They need a brutal reckoning too. At minimum, we'll wrench a few labyrinths from them."
Wang Feng muttered coolly, then whipped his head around.
"Ryu Yang!"
"Yes, Big Brother."
"I'm entrusting this whole matter to you. Use my name freely—handle it thoroughly! Do well, and I'll hand you the peninsula's management afterward."
"I shall execute it flawlessly."
Wang Feng nodded in satisfaction as Ryu Yang bowed deeply once more.
He turned and sauntered away leisurely.
Gazing at the glittering cityscape through the floor-to-ceiling windows, he smiled with ease.
'Come to think of it, that hag Charlotte Michelle died in Korea too? Seong Jae-myeong as well—two SS-ranks down in one labyrinth... Might be worth a visit this time.'
Staring out at the night, Wang Feng pondered his next moves.
Korea's conquest hadn't even begun, yet he was already plotting beyond it.
To him, the conquest itself was a non-issue.
He never imagined failure if he took the field personally.
"Big Brother—!"
A frantic voice pierced his ears as he sipped his wine leisurely.
Wang Feng scowled faintly and turned.
Irritation at the interruption poured out as a sharp aura.
"...Yang Hong? What is it?"
Recognizing one of his favored brothers, the pressure eased somewhat.
Still, displeasure lingered on his face.
If this was some trivial matter, even a cherished brother would face severe punishment, Wang Feng silently vowed.
"A monster escaped from a labyrinth!"
"...A monster?"
The last traces of annoyance vanished from Wang Feng's face at Yang Hong's urgent cry.
Replaced by keen interest.
He gave no thought to civilian casualties or property damage from the escapee.
His fascination lay purely in the unexpected event itself.
"Didn't we just clear the labyrinths a few days ago? How'd one slip out? Which labyrinth?"
"We haven't pinpointed it yet, but it's serious!"
"Hm? The escapee stronger than expected? Beyond what the brothers can handle?"
"Yes! Estimated rank at minimum SA! Several brothers went to subjugate it, but they all fell!"
Wang Feng let out an impressed "Hoo."
A faint smile tugged at his lips.
"SA-rank... First since that earth dragon in Shanghai a few months back. What kind?"
"A fox! A nine-tailed one!"
"A gumiho—!"
Wang Feng's face lit up.
Among same-rank monsters, the gumiho stood out for its overwhelming power.
It often appeared as a dungeon boss in large-or-greater labyrinths, its corpse immensely valuable.
Beyond the magic stone, it dropped a special item called the "fox orb," priceless as material for top gear—worth whatever the buyer offered.
Its intrinsic mystical power was no joke either.
The fox orb from the one Seong Jae-myeong slew had even revived the dead.
Greed gleamed in Wang Feng's eyes.
"SA-rank, you said? The brothers will take heavy losses alone. Can't stand by as Big Brother. Let's go."
He hurriedly assembled his raid team.
His team, "Cheongcheon," consisted entirely of S-rank-or-higher hunters—one of the world's strongest, rivaling America's Garcia-led "Royal" or Leysha Barrett's "Jägers."
'A fox orb is treasure among treasures. It belongs in this Wang Feng's hands.'
Gearing up, he licked his lips.
Imagining the prize soon to be his, he tamped down rising excitement.
"───!!!"
As he grabbed his prized weapon, the "Dragon Fang Spear," Wang Feng suddenly whipped his head around.
Yang Hong, assisting with gear, tilted his head at the abrupt move.
"Big Brother? Something wrong...?"
"Summon the raid team here now!"
"Pardon? What...?"
Ignoring Yang Hong's puzzled repeat, Wang Feng gripped the spear heavily.
"How the hell do you manage the labyrinths? Another monster's escaped..."
Yang Hong followed Wang Feng's gaze at the murmur.
At first, he saw nothing unusual—just the sparkling city lights and night sky beyond.
But as an SA-rank hunter worthy of sworn brotherhood with Wang Feng, he soon focused intently.
And horror dawned as shapes emerged from the empty vista.
A slit, reptilian crimson pupil.
A massive eye peered through the window, observing them.
Th-that thing...!"
"Stay calm and assemble the team. This one's no ordinary beast."
Wang Feng's tone was gravely serious, unlike his usual self.
Yang Hong reeled at the sight.
'Big Brother this solemn...? He who always toys with high-rank monsters...!'
The monster outside looked massive and stealthy—dangerous, sure—but Yang Hong, knowing Wang Feng's prowess well, didn't see it as a true threat.
Even top high-rankers were goblin fodder to him.
No matter how strong, Wang Feng could handle it effortlessly—or so Yang Hong thought.
An assessment possible only because he couldn't gauge the monster's rank at all.
A yawning gap, undetectable even to a non-sensor SA-rank like him.
'SS-rank.'
Wang Feng, a true SS-rank, pegged it instantly.
'The strongest SS-rank monster I've faced. No presence even right in front of me.'
Tension gripped him unbidden; he clenched the spear tight.
Yet amid it, predatory thrill stirred.
Such a foe was unprecedented in his not-insubstantial hunter career.
How would hunting it feel?
Piercing its skull, crafting gear from hide and bone?
Claiming its magic stone?
Thrill overtaking tension, Wang Feng fixed on the monster outside.
The beast stared back silently, just as before.
Tension crackled between the two hunters and the monster—poised for instant clash.
Yet contrary to expectations, the standoff dragged on.
Even Wang Feng wouldn't solo an SS-rank monster recklessly.
The beast, for reasons unknown, simply watched.
During the lull, Yang Hong redirected the gumiho-hunting raid team here, ending the tedious impasse.
As he reported to Wang Feng—
"It's coming...!"
With Wang Feng's sharp cry, part of the penthouse atop the skyscraper exploded outward.