Chapter 270
Chapter 270
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 270
Chapter Title: I Won't Tolerate Provocations That Come My Way
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Minister Park Sang-min of the Abyss Safety Bureau let out a deep sigh as he stepped out of the conference room.
"How am I supposed to explain something I don't even understand myself..."
"Minister, are you alright?"
His aide spoke up, looking worried as he eyed the minister, who was breaking out in a cold sweat.
It had been a grueling half-day meeting.
And that wasn't all—twenty-odd generals from various nations had bombarded him with relentless questions.
"I'm hanging in there for now. But they won't leave Korea until they get the answers they want. I have no idea what to do."
"Korea's Abyss threat level suddenly dropped to 'Low.' They seem convinced we have some secret method."
"Exactly. We didn't do a damn thing, but they won't hear it."
The eyes of the world were fixed on South Korea.
Hundreds of Abysses had vanished simultaneously across the entire country.
People attributed it to the joint efforts of the 'Abyss Safety Bureau' and 'Savior Lee Hyuk-soo.'
The problem was that neither side had actually done anything related to it.
Lee Hyuk-soo had been too busy getting demoted dozens of times to clear other Abysses, and Minister Park Sang-min had been fully occupied weeding out the 'avatars.'
But intelligence agencies worldwide believed there was some key to the phenomenon and were pressuring Korea accordingly.
With national security on the line, they showed no signs of backing down.
"That said, the 'Fourth Night' is about to begin. Shouldn't they head back to their own countries soon?"
"The 'Night' doesn't care about location, so they're just being stubborn."
The biggest issue was that they'd brought along a horde of 'super awakeners.'
These were national assets incomparable to ordinary awakeners.
Monsters classified as 'high-rankers' had flooded into Korea.
Dragging in masses of super awakeners was tantamount to a military maneuver, yet they lingered without end.
To him, it was blatantly a military action, but lax regulations left them unchecked.
As if the Fourth Night starting in two days was no concern at all.
They exuded insane confidence.
After surviving the Third Night, awakener levels had surged dramatically. Countries had begun secretly cultivating super awakeners as they adapted to the Abysses.
Bringing them to Korea was clearly meant as a show of force.
Probably with Lee Hyuk-soo in mind.
Korea's treasure, the world's top powerhouse!
There was no other hero called the Savior.
"Minister!"
At that moment.
Park Sang-min asked another aide rushing over in a panic.
"What is it?"
"B-big trouble!"
"Trouble?"
"A fight's broken out!"
"...?"
A fight?
This was inside the Abyss Safety Bureau.
Security was airtight, a sacred space where no one should dare fight.
"American awakeners and Lee Hyuk-soo..."
"What? Lead the way."
Before heading to Jeju Island, Lee Hyuk-soo visited the Abyss Safety Bureau to consult with Minister Park Sang-min.
That's when a loitering group spotted him and picked a fight.
"This little punk is the Savior Lee Hyuk-soo?"
"Doesn't look that strong."
"Despite rumors of severe injuries, he's up and about just fine."
"Didn't he go into hiding out of fear?"
Casual remarks, but blatant provocations.
Shouted loud enough for all to hear.
And as they said, Lee Hyuk-soo's public activities had all but ceased lately, fueling all sorts of nasty rumors.
Some said he was dead, others crippled, and there were even doubts he'd quit entirely.
They had no idea he'd endured dozens of 'low-grade' Abysses.
Thanks to that, there'd been nearly a month-long 'hiatus.'
"How dare these bastards insult Master..."
Han Min-oh glared at them.
Lee Hyuk-soo cut in firmly.
"Hold back."
"Can you really expect me to swallow that? We need to teach them a lesson."
"We'll prove it with results."
"...Understood."
Han Min-oh clenched his fists but endured.
As his master said, no need to waste energy on trivialities.
He'd demonstrate decisively during the Fourth Night.
'Guys who couldn't utter a peep before.'
Until right after the Third Night ended, such a scene was unthinkable.
They'd been silent until now, but the provocation stemmed from that 'gap.'
A month was more than enough time for the world to turn upside down.
That was when.
As they approached the Safety Bureau entrance, burly men came from the opposite direction.
Awakener from America.
They were tasked with guarding generals during the meeting.
But foreign awakeners, including them, roamed the premises freely, ignoring protocols.
'What the hell? Why aren't they getting out of the way?'
Han Min-oh tilted his head inwardly.
Two awakeners barreling straight at them.
Not yielding an inch.
The smirks on their faces screamed intent to collide.
Normally, he'd dodge like avoiding shit, but fresh off being ignored.
Plus, other foreign awakeners were watching.
Han Min-oh scowled and stepped forward.
To prevent them crashing into Lee Hyuk-soo.
He tensed his shoulders.
Then, as they drew close, shoulders slammed.
Thud!
Like a heavy steel bar smashing his whole body.
He barely stifled a groan.
His shoulder screamed in agony, nearly dislocated.
But Han Min-oh showed no sign.
"What the hell was that?"
Glare and question met the man's retort.
"What about you? We were walking first, and you blocked us, right?"
"We were on the right."
"So what? You picking a fight?"
"Anyone can see you're the ones..."
"Some filthy monkey spouting nonsense. Wanna settle whose story's right? Winner takes truth."
"..."
Not even kindergarten level.
Unreasonable nonsense.
But couldn't dodge open provocation.
Han Min-oh glanced at Lee Hyuk-soo.
Thud.
Lee Hyuk-soo walked past unperturbed.
Admirable composure, but the men snickered at him.
"Guess the rumors of him being a cripple are true."
"Savior title's beyond him now."
Han Min-oh's face hardened.
Lee Hyuk-soo was his master.
Couldn't stomach open insults to his teacher.
"...Let's throw down, you bastards."
Back when the Abyss began, Han Min-oh had been timid and frail.
Compared to his brother 'Han Shin' since childhood, he'd grown introverted.
Meeting Lee Hyuk-soo changed him.
He emulated him, no longer fearing Abyss entries.
The issue was time.
His training: just over a month.
These men before him: powerhouses who'd grown nonstop since the start.
'Alon, Darhan.'
Even in America, top-tier rankers.
Han Min-oh knew of them.
Their nasty tempers and love of fights too.
"No fighting inside the grounds."
"Stop this!"
Guards rushed to intervene, but Alon and Darhan just grinned sheepishly.
"Whoa, easy."
"Just bonding with friends. Right, pal?"
Han Min-oh nodded.
"...Yeah. Just bonding."
Too late to stop.
No intent to anyway.
Crowds soon gathered, intrigued by the brawl.
Even visiting generals watched with interest, not bothering to halt it.
"Han Min-oh... Lee Hyuk-soo's prized disciple, right?"
"Hasn't been properly tested yet."
"This'll yield good data."
They observed with keen curiosity.
Han Min-oh shot to fame as Lee Hyuk-soo's disciple.
But his true strength unproven.
Alon and Darhan could draw it out.
"Think he stands a chance?"
"Lee Hyuk-soo's disciple or not, 10 seconds tops?"
"10? Alon and Darhan are infamous killing machines."
No one bet on Han Min-oh.
Alon and Darhan were far too formidable.
Their levels already nearing 50.
Genius murderers, Abyss tyrants.
Frail-looking Han Min-oh stood no chance.
"Crawl between my legs, and we'll call it even."
Alon stepped up first.
Black massive club from inventory.
Cold words.
"Looks like you haven't even 'classed up.' You can't beat me. Neither can Lee Hyuk-soo."
At level 50, 'class up' unlocked.
Alon had just surpassed it.
Worldwide, virtually no one else had classed up.
The power gap was unimaginable.
Class-up announcements blanketed media.
Yet no word on Lee Hyuk-soo or Han Min-oh.
Meaning both under 50.
Shing!
In a flash, Han Min-oh drew his sword.
Alon added.
"Won't kill you. Just make you feel the level gap."
"Cowards always talk big."
"Haha! Shall we?"
Delay risked forced stop.
Alon planned one-shot, kicking off.
Whoosh!
Heavy overhead smash.
Block it, and bones shatter.
Strength, speed—all Alon's edge.
Sword met club head-on.
"Guh...?!"
Thud!
With crushing chest pain, Alon tumbled to the floor.