Chapter 94
Chapter 94
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: Forced Cooperation
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“You can’t?”
“That’s right!”
“Then you’ll have to make it possible.”
“You damn bastard, we’ve been working on that for months…!”
Dokgo grabbed Lee Shin’s pant leg, pleading.
“Let go, you punk.”
“Ack!”
Of course, since Lee Shin was extremely averse to physical contact with others, Dokgo backed off immediately after taking a few hits.
Lee Shin turned his head to look at Dokgo.
*Sob…*
His anger had surpassed a tolerable limit, and tears welled up in his eyes.
What a pathetic sight.
Even the most vicious person would find it hard to be cruel in front of someone crying so sorrowfully.
‘Hmm.’
But Lee Shin was different.
Having been diagnosed as a psychopath, Lee Shin’s ability to empathize with others' sorrow and anger was extremely limited.
Whether the other person cried and clung to him didn't faze him in the slightest.
Instead, he only felt a sense of interest and novelty watching someone display such significant emotional fluctuations.
And it was this aspect that other users found particularly unsettling when dealing with Lee Shin.
However, even someone like him knew from acquired experience that pushing a person too far would have side effects.
They might give up in despair, or they might even rebel with a 'if I'm going down, I'm taking you with me' attitude.
Of course, Lee Shin could easily suppress such a rebellion, but then there was the problem of not being able to use them as he wished.
Thus, what was needed now was not pressure, but persuasion.
Any more pressure and the man might just lose his mind.
“I understand.”
Lee Shin approached Dokgo, crouched down in front of him, and began to speak.
“...*Sob*, what?”
“I understand. You must have poured your heart and soul into this for months. It must be hard to just hand it over.”
“Huh…?”
At Lee Shin's unexpectedly warm words, Dokgo raised his head.
Confirming that the other was listening, Lee Shin continued.
“So, I’ll compromise and just take the first reward.”
“Huh?”
“Just the first clear reward. I don’t care if you control the dungeon after that.”
“...!”
At Lee Shin’s words, Dokgo’s eyes refocused.
The words of hope had brought his wandering soul back home.
“How about it.”
“…”
Lee Shin’s question.
Dokgo contemplated for a long time before answering.
“...Fine.”
He had realized that Lee Shin’s current offer was the most he could realistically accept.
Dirty and cheap as it was, the one holding the knife was his opponent.
If he refused here, what would follow would not be persuasion, but threats.
‘This guy is capable of that.’
Looking at the other’s personality, it was certain.
In any case, after accepting the offer, a question arose.
‘...But how does he plan to clear the dungeon?’
A dungeon wasn't something that could be cleared so easily, was it?
Considering its size, it required a lot of people and a lot of time.
Especially to take down the final boss, you needed skilled users with a lot of raid experience.
It was no ordinary effort!
And yet, his opponent spoke as if clearing it was a matter of course.
This piqued Dokgo’s curiosity.
‘Surely this can’t be all of his people... Does he have more people who aren’t here?’
“No.”
“Huh?”
“This is everyone.”
“...Then you won’t be able to clear it.”
‘…Could it be this guy has only ever hunted people, and lacks hunting experience?’
It was a type sometimes found among plunderer players.
The kind who tried to solve everything—items, gold, consumables—through plunder.
Of course, this was an extreme case, but…
Dokgo thought as he glanced at Lee Shin.
‘With this guy, it’s possible.’
“Hmm?”
“!”
Realizing what Dokgo was thinking from his gaze, Lee Shin smirked and said.
“Why, you think we can’t clear it?”
“…”
Dokgo didn't answer, but his expression was enough to convey his meaning.
Lee Shin unlocked the cage Dokgo was in and said.
“Then see for yourself.”
“What?”
“You have to guide us, right? You’re coming with us, so see for yourself.”
“...!!”
* * *
“The interrogation is finished.”
“Good work.”
As Lee Shin came out with Dokgo, the knight captain approached him.
“Are you planning to release him?”
“Yes. He seems to have reflected enough, so I plan to release him after we finish investigating the dungeon. Is that alright?”
“It is not a matter that requires my permission. Perhaps you should ask the Count directly?”
“Then I’ll do that.”
Lee Shin nodded.
The captain pointed to the imprisoned Black Tiger Guild members and asked.
“Then should we release these men right away?”
“No, just in case, let’s release them after the dungeon investigation is over.”
“When will the investigation be finished?”
“It should take a few days.”
“Understood.”
Just then, the captain glanced around and approached Lee Shin, whispering.
“By the way…”
“Yes?”
“The number of prisoners seems to have decreased. Did something happen inside?”
“Ah…”
Lee Shin replied as if it were nothing.
“Some of them died during the interrogation.”
“They died?”
“Yes. They were serious criminals, so I interrogated them more harshly, but it seems I was a bit too severe.”
“Is that so…”
“And they’re just prisoners anyway. A few of them dying is no big deal, don’t you think?”
At Lee Shin’s last words, Dokgo whipped his head around.
“...?”
‘What is this guy talking about?’
Even though they were captured as prisoners, execution was, in principle, solely the lord’s authority.
To carry it out arbitrarily, even for someone with a close relationship to the territory's powerful figures, was crossing a major line.
It was more than just overstepping authority; it was a challenge to the lord’s power.
It wouldn’t be strange if talk arose among the knights.
“Indeed.”
“…!?!”
But surprisingly, the captain nodded without any argument.
It was because Lee Shin had already erased all his crimes with the absolution skill, leaving nothing to be held against him.
Of course, Dokgo, unaware of this, could only shudder once more.
‘What is this guy…!’
To him, who didn't know the backstory, it looked as if the knights were going along with Lee Shin’s ridiculous words.
He couldn't even begin to fathom how firm his position was within the territory.
‘...Once this clear is over, I must never get involved with him again. Absolutely never.’
Thanks to that, Dokgo made another firm resolution.
…Though whether that would be possible by his own will was another question entirely.
* * *
[You have entered an Unidentified Dungeon.]
[The minimap is available.]
Lee Shin opened the minimap. The map he saw was dark.
[This is a first-entry area.]
[Explore the dungeon to reveal the minimap.]
“Hmm.”
There was only a red dot in the very center, marking his current location.
Normally, he would have to explore the dungeon himself to reveal the map as the message requested, but now there was no need for such effort.
Lee Shin turned around and said.
“Share yours.”
“…Alright.”
[An unknown player is attempting to share minimap information.]
[Do you accept?]
“I do.”
[Sharing minimap information.]
[Synchronization complete.]
[Unidentified Dungeon has changed to <Eerie Underground Dungeon>.]
By receiving Dokgo’s information, Lee Shin was able to secure the dungeon data that the Black Tiger Guild had spent months exploring to obtain.
The dungeon, as seen on the minimap, had a structure that extended straight down.
Lee Shin muttered.
“A multi-level structure?”
It was the most common type.
Generally, after defeating the boss on the lowest floor and completing the first clear, the dungeon would become a field.
From the point of the clear, regular monsters would continuously respawn in the dungeon, just like in a normal field.
Lee Shin scrolled down the minimap.
‘They’ve cleared up to the 7th floor.’
The 7th floor was 100% explored, and the 8th floor was over 98% complete.
The furthest they had explored was the 9th floor, but that was only about 30% complete.
Lee Shin asked Dokgo.
“You said you were almost done?”
“The 10th floor is the last one.”
“How do you know that.”
“…We found the path to the boss room on the 9th floor. The path will probably open once we finish exploring the rest of it.”
‘Then it’s almost finished.’
The 8th floor was practically cleared, so that meant they only needed to clear the 9th floor.
He didn't know how large the 9th floor was, but it was still just one floor.
This wouldn’t be difficult.
Lee Shin equipped his gear and asked.
“No need for preparations, right?”
“No, sir.”
“Right.”
“Then let’s go right away.”
Lee Shin immediately moved to the 8th floor, went to the edge of the explored area, and activated his search skill.
Blue threads spread out in all directions, and it wasn't long before he found monsters.
[Guardian of the Red Dungeon]
The monster that appeared was a golem with a red base.
Golems were typically characterized by their powerful health and defense, and a strength to match.
Their weakness was their sluggishness in exchange for their high durability and power, so it was better to accumulate damage with consecutive hits rather than trying to land single, powerful attacks.
‘Number… fourteen.’
Lee Shin changed his equipment and approached the group of golems.
As he did, Jeong Yu-ra’s buffs and blessings came in.
Gillaim asked.
“Should I step in as well?”
“No.”
There weren't a huge number of golems, so it didn't seem necessary.
He didn't want to share experience with an NPC, though Arthur or Jeong Yu-ra were another matter.
He could fight first, and if the opponents proved to be strong, it would be enough for Gillaim to join in then.
-Stealth.
Lee Shin’s form blurred.
His Stealth skill level had risen considerably, so the golems didn't notice him until he was right in front of them.
Lee Shin used the remaining duration of his Stealth to examine the golem’s body.
‘…Found it.’
A red, glowing gem on its left chest.
The golem’s core.
The central organ responsible for the golem’s actions.
Having identified the opponent’s weak spot, Lee Shin didn't hesitate to extend his sword.
*Kang!*
[You have attacked from Stealth!]
[A powerful critical hit has landed.]
[You have attacked the Golem's Core. The Golem is briefly stunned by the impact!]
[Completely destroying the core will stop the Golem.]
“!”
“Intruder!”
[The dungeon guardians have recognized the intruder.]
[Be careful!]
*Thud, thud, thud, thud!*
The golems charged at Lee Shin.
True to their nature, their immense weight made the ground tremble.
It was an incredibly intimidating sight, but…
‘They’re not that fast anyway.’
No matter how strong an attack was, it was meaningless if it didn't hit.
And Lee Shin had no intention of being hit by such clumsy attacks.
He calmly swung his sword at the stunned golem before him.
*Kang! Kang!!*
[You have attacked the core.]
[You have attacked the core.]
[A critical hit has landed.]
[Critical Hit Stack…]
[Consecutive Attack!]
[Stacks of Silver Thorn's 'Chain Strike' are accumulating.]
“!”
*Whoosh! Crash!!*
While relentlessly piling on the damage, Lee Shin leaped backward and landed.
Where he had been standing just moments ago, a golem’s blunt weapon was embedded nearly a meter into the ground.
Lee Shin licked his lips.
‘I’d die if that hit.’
An incredible amount of power!
On the other hand, the golem that had been repeatedly struck in the core by Lee Shin was somewhat damaged, but not yet dead.
Perhaps because it was a monster from the lowest levels of the dungeon.
It was a testament to how high its defense and health were.
However, Lee Shin wasn't particularly worried. Even if the opponent's defense was higher than he thought.
[Current <Chain Strike> stacks: 11.]
[Attack Power +55%]
His own attack power hadn't been fully unleashed yet.
He was still far from the maximum 100 stacks, and the <Incarnation of Malice> effect hadn't even triggered yet.
If an attack infused with the Incarnation effect landed on the core at 100 stacks, even a golem with high defense wouldn't be able to withstand it.
*Kang!*
[The Golem's tough exterior reduces the damage.]
[The attack is absorbed.]
“…”
However, that wasn't the case right now.
Lee Shin massaged his tingling hand, readjusted his grip on the sword, and stared at the golem.
‘I’ll have to build up stacks first.’