Chapter 47
Chapter 47
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Phoenix Resolve and Frozen Bounty
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Creak—.
The door opened.
All eyes in the tense room turned toward the open door.
"How'd it go?"
The woman who had entered slowly nodded at the question.
"It worked."
As she reached out her hand, four rings formed around her wrist.
The number of rings symbolized the grade of one's magic power, and fewer rings meant purer mana.
"I've reached Grade 4 mana."
"Yes!!"
"Finally...!!"
The room erupted in cheers at her response.
Only then could she let out a sigh of relief.
"Good work."
She was Serin Hasen, the mage of the Phoenix Unit.
"No need for that. Keruga, you pushed yourself too hard because of me. You invested a fortune just to buy that Dragon Mana Stone."
"No need for those words. It's nothing if it lets us conquer the Labyrinth Tower."
Keruga spoke with anticipation in his voice as he sensed the faint mana emanating from her.
"I hear the Red Tower's reinforced their vanguard. From now on, it's a race. We can't afford to dawdle."
She nodded at his words.
"We'll recover our lost levels and challenge the Labyrinth Tower right away. Serin, master Grade 4 spells until then."
At his gesture, David placed a book in front of her.
"The Red Tower wouldn't sell Grade 4 spellbooks openly, the bastards. So I scraped together everything available on the black market."
"All of... these?"
"We bought a Dragon Mana Stone. This is pocket change."
David pointed at Keruga, leaving Serin flustered.
"It's not free. Three days. Master them all by then."
"Don't worry. It won't even take two."
The gathered members burst into laughter at her reply.
"That's right!! That's the Phoenix Unit spirit."
"This is exciting. Now Big Sis Serin's on a higher level than the Crimson Witch."
"Exactly. Time to shake up the mage rankings!!"
"Quiet down. Serin's debut will be the flashiest—when we tackle the 10th floor."
Keruga's eyes gleamed.
'After months stuck at the Labyrinth Tower, we're finally seeing a breakthrough.'
Assembling a raid team cost a fortune.
They still boasted as the world's best, but that alone wouldn't satisfy sponsors forever.
Repeated failures in tower assaults.
He didn't show it, but he was just as anxious as anyone.
The Norn Raid Team pushing through the 7th floor of the Labyrinth Tower, Red Bloom which had recruited Jin Ho-ryun—a rare-grade hidden class Monk—and boosted their firepower despite lingering on the 5th floor... and more.
Emerging raid teams were gunning for their spot, growing in number.
"Prepare thoroughly, everyone. We don't get a second chance. We show them once more we're at the top."
The group nodded at Keruga's words.
"And David. Any leads on who sold the Dragon Mana Stone?"
"Well... I checked with Mr. Kay separately, but no useful info."
"Hmm."
"But I heard Peron was hired to transport the payment."
"Peron?"
"Yeah. You know, the guy who handles shady jobs in the Dark Forest. I think we should make contact."
"Think he'll spill info to us?"
David flashed a confident grin at Keruga's question.
"He wants to cross to the Central Continent. Seems like he's looking for someone to vouch for him."
"Aiming high, huh."
"Probably. He takes commissions from Central Continent clans. Mostly rookie hunting, from what I hear."
Rookie hunting.
It meant sabotaging rival clans' newcomers to stunt their growth.
Unions and clans hired assassins like Peron to keep their identities hidden.
"A hunting dog aiming for the top... Doubtful. Rookie hunting means his face is already known."
"True. He'll just get used and discarded."
"Still a problem. If this keeps up, fewer people will risk crossing to the Central Continent."
It was a chronic issue in Evil Tail, running for years.
Hunting grounds and dungeons all fell under clan and union control.
To operate on the Central Continent, you had to join one of them.
"No helping it. We're just after the Labyrinth Tower, but Red Tower, Plaz—the Hunter Union—Woody Cloud—the Druid Union—Guardians, and more... Top powers won't yield their turf easily."
"It's not impossible. Someone just needs to unify the Central Continent."
"Who?"
David stared at Keruga, who had shot back blankly.
"Forget it. Let them play territory grab. Not my concern."
"Conquering the Labyrinth Tower matters, but this fragmentation will bite us eventually."
"Cut the chatter. How do we get Peron to talk?"
"Tch... Turns out he's even taken a commission from the Genesis Unit recently."
"Genesis Unit?"
"You know, the clan backed by JR Group. Think the JR heir's the leader."
Keruga grimaced at the name.
"That psycho who thinks he's a cult leader?"
"Psycho... Well, not wrong, but they're the most active in quests lately."
"Last guy I wanna tangle with. So? Peron's tied to them?"
David shook his head.
"Nah. Shows how desperate he is. Offer him a way to the Central Continent, and he'll do anything."
"Us?"
"Recruit him to the Phoenix Unit. His skills are decent, and we're recruiting backups anyway."
"Play him gently, then."
"Exactly."
Keruga nodded.
"Taking Genesis commissions means he really wants into the Labyrinth Tower. Might fold easy."
"Do it, David. Reach out."
"Got it. And..."
"Yeah?"
"Heard some guy's smashing your Dark Forest dungeon records lately."
"My records still unbroken after years? More surprising no one's beaten them sooner. If he's the real deal, we'll meet on the Central Continent eventually."
Keruga pulled items from the guild house storage as he spoke.
"By then, we'll be even higher up."
"Still, keep an eye. Everyone's Labyrinth-obsessed, but the Dark Forest feels... different lately."
A man listening to David and Keruga spoke up.
He was Fogan, the midguard sharing the Phoenix Unit's vanguard with Keruga.
"Different how?"
"Ulldaa Union, right? They've been buzzing lately. Word is, a raid dungeon spawned in the Dark Forest."
"Raid dungeon? Fresh twist. Company's rolling out new content to hook fresh users?"
"It's still the Dark Forest. Rewards can't be that great, right?"
"Yeah..."
The group brushed off Fogan's words.
"Wh-what is this?"
The moment the reward chest opened, everyone present was stunned.
-Runes dropping in the Dark Forest... People will lose their minds when word gets out.
Gareth's chat sped up as rare runestones—even scarce in the Labyrinth Tower—appeared.
"Could be first-clear luck. We got lucky."
Woojin examined the runes in the chest.
"Runes aside... Didn't expect C-grade gear too."
Besides standard items, three drop items lay inside.
Peron pulled out a small dagger.
-C-grade stuff usually needs Labyrinth Tower floor 3... And solid stats too. Better than mid-tier Central Continent junk?
Even Gareth, from the Central Continent, couldn't hide his shock.
'B-grades drop too, but...'
Woojin smirked, recalling his Mana-Infused Ancient Leather Armor as Gareth spoke.
-Operators got clever. Now I see why the raid dungeon. Gear up solid before Central Continent.
"Yeah. Wish it'd come sooner."
Peron gave a wry smile.
"No regrets. Geared or not, Central Continent ain't easy."
"Huh?"
"Just makes you prime PK bait."
Peron's excitement deflated at Woojin's bluntness, leaving him awkward.
'Thinks this is just "decent"... Kahira was the real deal.'
Unlike the awestruck group, Woojin was disappointed.
His own C-grade Mana-Infused Ancient Leather Armor had four bonuses; Frost Armor just one.
-Ahem. Time to divvy. Khan, first pick's yours. Speak.
Urgency seeped through the chat.
'Wants something specific.'
"Nothing jumps out... Grab what you need. Fair split beats eyeing each other."
-Th-then! Can I take the armor?
Gareth jumped in.
"Peron, you?"
"The dagger tempts me."
Sensible for a ranger.
"Kim Chan?"
"Hmm... Can't use dagger or weapon... Vitality Rune, maybe?"
"Done. Take your picks. Luen and I get Agility and Strength Runes. Split leather by count."
Woojin pulled the last item from the chest.
"But I take this."
-Really...? That's junk. After sharing the quest? Too stingy.
"Appreciate it, and when we hit Central Continent, have Ulldaa Union watch my back."
-Hahaha!! Of course! Come anytime!
Woojin chuckled at the hearty reply.
"Peron, deliver the armor to Gareth too. Faster solo."
"Got it."
"Kim Chan, recall spell ready?"
"Yeah. Low-grade, one passenger max."
"Enough. Take Chason."
Chason scampered to Kim Chan's side.
"What about you, boss?"
"We'll go slow. No worries."
As he spoke, the others began exiting the cavern.
"Luen, you take the Agility Rune."
Confirming the party gone, Woojin handed it over.
"But... really okay? You worked hardest, Master. Rewards feel unfair..."
Luen asked worriedly.
"No. It's plenty."
Unlike her, Woojin smiled in satisfaction.
True junk, per the description.
But not for Woojin.
Rrrrrumble———!!!
Placing the Ice Shard triggered the magic circle, light bursting forth.