Chapter 98
Chapter 98
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: Demanding Rewards
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“I want the rights to select twenty disciples, one 3-star permanent dungeon, and a Heaven-Splitting Divine Pill.”
“Ahem.”
Shin Sung-il let out a low hum at Shin Yu-hyun's demands.
“That's more than I expected. I hear your uncle Shin Sung-hyun already gave you a unique-grade magic sword as a reward.”
“That's that, and this is this.”
Shin Yu-hyun flashed a smile.
It was admittedly a bit excessive.
The disciple selection rights meant he could pick talented trainees from the clan before any other sword halls did.
Until now, the other halls had snatched away his disciples, but this time, he planned to turn the tables.
Next, a 3-star permanent dungeon held immense value in its own right.
It was like a mine, yielding magic stones and magic beast byproducts every day.
Its monetary worth was enormous, and it could double as a training ground for real combat.
The clan managed only a handful of such 3-star permanent dungeons to begin with.
And the Heaven-Splitting Divine Pill was a precious elixir unavailable without accumulating significant achievements within the clan.
“All three are big asks.”
“Can't you handle it at your level, Father? Considering what I've done, I think it's well deserved.”
He had played a major role in repelling the Iron Flame Group's assault and the magic beasts' attack on the clan.
Not only that—he had single-handedly raided their base, overwhelmed it with summons, and captured their leader, Orca, alive.
On top of that, he'd greatly assisted in rooting out the spy hidden within the clan.
With achievements like those, even his somewhat greedy demands were justifiable.
To drive the point home, Shin Yu-hyun added the clincher.
“I'll catch the one who infected my second brother with that parasitic magic beast too. They need to pay for using him.”
“You mean to seek revenge?”
“If they hit us, it's only right to hit back.”
That way, they'd never dare touch the clan again.
Shin Sung-il pondered Shin Yu-hyun's words for a moment before finally nodding and speaking.
“Very well. I'll make sure the rewards are arranged.”
“Thank you.”
Shin Yu-hyun smiled inwardly.
With this, he'd secured the talent for Black Tortoise Hall and a steady source of funds through the dungeon.
Now to build my own faction.
Taking this reward as the starting point, Shin Yu-hyun planned to form a power base loyal to him within the clan.
Something like the Black Shadow Unit or Azure Dragon Sword Division, which answered directly to the Clan Leader.
They were loyal to his father, Shin Sung-il—not to him.
I need to create my own people in the clan.
The ones who had pledged loyalty to him so far were Black Tortoise Hall's executives: Choi Jung-hoon, Lee Yeon-hwa, and Kim Jae-hyun.
He could trust them.
But they weren't enough.
Once my foundation is solid, I'll bring Uncle on board too.
A few months ago, Shin Yu-hyun had made a bet with his uncle, Shin Sung-hyun.
If he soloed a 2-star boss, his uncle would become his patron.
Shin Sung-hyun had promised there was nothing he wouldn't do if Shin Yu-hyun pulled it off.
It was about time to collect on that bet.
“Anyway, you did well while I was away. They say the clan's losses would have been much worse without you.”
Shin Sung-il had already received full reports from the clan's Grand Dharma Protector, Shin Sung-hyun.
He knew everything Shin Yu-hyun had accomplished.
Without him, the damage to the clan would have been far greater.
“I only did what needed doing.”
Shin Yu-hyun bowed his head.
Of course he wouldn't hold back when it came to protecting the clan.
I'm going to stand at its pinnacle someday.
He intended to seize control of the clan one day.
“That's quite the scale for 'what needed doing.' They say you raided the Iron Flame Group's base alone and turned it to ash?”
Shin Sung-il chuckled dryly.
“I knew where the ones who attacked us were hiding. How could I just sit still? I needed intel on them too.”
“The information you brought is under analysis now. Unfortunately, about half was wiped clean. Still, we salvaged quite a bit.”
“What kind of info?”
“We learned there's an organization called the Ashen Church behind the Iron Flame Group. We also got a partial list of villains affiliated with them.”
“Anything on the parasitic magic beasts?”
“Just as you said, there was info on a villain using them. Calls himself a magic beast researcher. Regrettably, no identity or location. Just that he's tied to the Ashen Church.”
“No details on the Ashen Church?”
“Nothing specific. But it seems they're not just backing the Iron Flame Group—they're linked to other terror groups too, with plenty of dangerous villains in their ranks.”
“What about the crystal devices the Iron Flame Group used?”
“Only the basics there too. Just that the crystals can control magic beasts.”
“I see.”
Shin Yu-hyun looked disappointed.
It was all stuff he'd already suspected.
“Anything else?”
“No.”
Shin Sung-il shook his head at Shin Yu-hyun's question.
No info on Getia after all, huh.
He'd hoped for something on Getia, but no such luck.
At least the info lockdown worked.
Shin Yu-hyun smiled wryly to himself.
During the interrogations of Mamate Heitaro and Ishii Hideki, he'd mentioned the magic beast researcher, Ashen Church, and Getia.
The two Black Shadow Unit members behind him had overheard.
As the Clan Leader's direct intelligence unit, they'd report everything to the upper echelons and the acting Clan Leader at the time, Shin Sung-hyun.
Naturally, it would reach his father too.
But Shin Yu-hyun had ordered Shuv to erase their memories.
Shuv's demonic eye could delete short-term memories.
Provided the target was 3-star rank and it was within the last ten minutes.
Shuv's eye wasn't omnipotent.
Thanks to that, he'd kept hidden that he knew about the researcher, Ashen Church, and Getia.
Info I knew from before my regression, after all.
He couldn't explain how he knew about them.
“Still, thanks to you, we know about the Ashen Church now. That's something.”
The intel Shin Yu-hyun brought revealed the Ashen Church as the Iron Flame Group's backers.
And that they'd manipulated the group into attacking Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan.
“What now?”
“We'll investigate the Ashen Church. Looks like they're sponsoring the Iron Flame Group and other villain outfits.”
Shin Yu-hyun smiled inwardly at his father's words.
The head of Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan, through and through.
No need for me to push him.
Originally, he'd planned to highlight the Ashen Church's dangers to spur an investigation—hoping to uncover Getia ties.
But Shin Sung-il had already clocked them as a threat.
“Then we should start by interrogating the Iron Flame Group leader.”
“That's the plan. We'll have to catch those Ashen Church-linked villains too, but...”
Shin Sung-il stroked his chin, deep in thought.
Capturing international superhuman terrorists and villains was tricky.
Not just their strength—their hideouts were the real issue.
Most hid in dungeons or ruins overrun by magic beasts, or abandoned buildings.
Even in Korea, places like Gangneung—claimed by magic beasts—were no exception.
Last time Shin Yu-hyun investigated an unconfirmed dungeon gate, it was on the outskirts, so he'd been able to check it.
Deeper in beast territory or villain lairs? Impossible.
Far too dangerous.
“Magic beast territories are a pain.”
“Exactly. Superhumans still lack the power. We can't even reclaim those areas.”
Not just Korea—parts of the world had been lost to dungeon stamps and magic beasts.
Countless superhumans and hunters had challenged them to reclaim land.
Not just for territory—for the rare minerals in those zones.
Mines yielding magic stones, mithril, adamantium, orichalcum—stuff not found on Earth naturally.
Their value was beyond imagination.
Reclaim them, and it could spark a gold rush like 19th-century America.
But reality was harsher.
Beast territories were death traps.
“6- or 7-star boss beasts, hives teeming with endless swarms.”
“Lead hunters in there recklessly, and it's pandemonium.”
Poking a hornet's nest.
Mess with Gangneung carelessly, and Seoul could suffer in the worst case.
A 6-star hive packed with beasts squatted in the city center.
Even villains holing up there sometimes got mauled.
If I liberate the next Seven Arcs member, could we reclaim beast territories?
With the Immortal King's power and Seven Arcs together, it wasn't impossible.
The Immortal King's strength shone in swarm fights.
Should talk to Shuv about it.
Reclaiming even one would bring massive gains and glory.
“Start with investigating Ashen Church villains.”
“Already on it. We'll request Hunter Association cooperation too.”
Not all villains stayed in beast zones.
Some infiltrated society covertly.
They'd scout for those first, then capture or eliminate.
“Things are about to get busy.”
“They touched us. Time to make them pay.”
Shin Sung-il's voice was ice cold.
Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan wouldn't stop until they'd exacted vengeance.
Perfect.
Shin Yu-hyun smiled with satisfaction inside.
Now he just needed to uncover the link between Ashen Church and Getia.
With that, Shin Yu-hyun wrapped up his talk with his father and parted ways.
The next day.
Shin Cheol-jin's funeral began.
A crowd of mourners visited Shin Cheol-jin's funeral.
Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan's influence in Korea was immense.
Chaebol chairmen and CEOs came and went; Hunter Association officials too.
Even representatives from the other Four Great Sword Houses.
All here out of deference to Father.
Shin Yu-hyun smiled wryly inside.
The real reason was Iron-Blooded Sword King Shin Sung-il.
The death of the Sword King's son was shocking news—reporters swarmed too.
Nam Yeon-ah dropped by briefly, chatted, and left.
No leads on the crystal devices yet. She was fired up to use her last resort in a few days.
Shin Yu-hyun advised her not to overdo it.
Over the three-day wake, many came and went. On the final morning, a visitor sought Shin Yu-hyun.
“It's been a while.”
It was Lee Chae-hwa, Tower Master of the Crimson Tower and a 6-star A-rank hunter.