Chapter 159
Chapter 159
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 159
Chapter Title: Unmasked Return
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Cheongryang whipped her head around.
Soo-hyuk had somehow approached the table where the two women sat without them noticing.
"Why are you so late?"
"The trial ended up running a bit long."
"And why no stream..."
Cheongryang trailed off, glancing at Unhyang. She thought this question should come from her.
But for some reason, Unhyang didn't ask anything.
"They didn't allow streaming during this trial."
"Streaming?"
"Yeah. Sorry, can I explain later? I really need to wash up first."
He hadn't bathed or eaten properly in nearly ten days. Seeing his obvious exhaustion, Cheongryang nodded.
Soo-hyuk headed straight up the stairs. Cheongryang watched his back and asked,
"Why aren't you saying anything?"
She had expected Unhyang to make a huge fuss the moment he returned, but there was no reaction at all.
It was completely unlike her usual self.
"As long as he's back, that's what matters."
"You're not curious? About what happened?"
"I am. But he'll tell us."
Her trust in Soo-hyuk was far greater than Cheongryang had imagined.
To her, the fact that he had returned was far more important than the gap in communication.
"More importantly..."
And on top of that.
There was something else capturing her attention just as much as his return.
"Doesn't he seem different somehow?"
"Different?"
Cheongryang pictured Soo-hyuk as he had returned.
"...How so?"
After scrubbing off with hot water, Soo-hyuk began his meal.
Unhyang and Cheongryang, who had ended up eating an early lunch at the same table, kept their eyes fixed on his face.
"Um..."
Watching Soo-hyuk eat his eggs without a mask, Cheongryang hesitantly spoke up.
"Why'd you suddenly take off the mask?"
"Oh, this?"
Soo-hyuk paused his fork and answered her question.
"It's uncomfortable."
"Uncomfortable?"
"Of course."
No matter how long he'd worn it, a mask couldn't be comfortable. At his obvious response, Cheongryang awkwardly rephrased her question.
"I mean, why now?"
He had never shown his face before.
Viewers assumed he wore it for his streaming persona, but Cheongryang suspected another reason.
Ugly mug. Scars.
Or maybe some crime he couldn't let slip...
"No special reason."
Finishing his meal roughly, Soo-hyuk wiped his mouth with a napkin.
"I guess I just lacked confidence."
"Confidence?"
Cheongryang eyed his face curiously at his answer.
"You're handsome, though...?"
"Not that kind."
"Then..."
About to ask, Cheongryang realized what he meant by confidence.
'His skills?'
Nothing else came to mind.
But if so, that was odd.
His skills shone brighter than his tall, striking presence.
He had helped Unhyang take down several rankers already. Once he hit ranker status, he'd rocket toward high ranker in no time.
Yet he'd lacked confidence until now?
So something had changed?
Puzzled, Cheongryang glanced at Unhyang, who was focused on her meal without a word.
"Doesn't he seem different somehow?"
Unhyang's words about him seeming changed.
Maybe she had noticed something Cheongryang missed.
Clack.
That was around when Unhyang finished eating.
"You gonna reveal it on stream too?"
Soo-hyuk shook his head at her question.
"No. It wouldn't suit the broadcast. For now, just showing you two."
Wise choice.
His mask was part of the character. As much as wielding lightning, it defined Lee Soo-hyuk.
"The mask isn't the issue right now."
Cheongryang sighed.
"Viewers are pissed. Stream cut off suddenly with no explanation."
"Figures."
Soo-hyuk's response was calm.
Not shocking enough to fluster him. Streamers vanishing left viewers frustrated, naturally.
If streaming was priority one, he should've posted an update midway. But he hadn't.
Meeting Odin, learning part of thunder and lightning's secrets.
This trial mattered more than usual to him.
"It'll be fine."
As they waited for Soo-hyuk's thoughts, Unhyang suddenly spoke optimistically.
"Fine how? Won't tank the channel immediately, but we'll take a hit."
"Then we make up for it."
Unhyang asked confidently,
"What's our channel's concept?"
"Lee Soo-hyuk."
"Right. So what do viewers want?"
Her unusually serious, sharp question gave Cheongryang pause before answering.
"The best, obviously."
"Exactly."
Satisfied, Unhyang smiled.
She turned to Soo-hyuk with a firm voice.
"Stream frequency and length matter, but fun's what counts most."
Of course fans craved more, more often.
But clinging to that missed the point.
"So from now on, just show it clearly. How much stronger you've gotten."
"Got it."
And Soo-hyuk already knew that.
"I'll do that. But..."
Nodding, he glanced between Unhyang and Cheongryang.
"Any point settlements come in?"
He had urgent spending today.
After eating, Soo-hyuk crashed until evening. When he woke, the sun had set.
Two days until the confrontation.
Rest was key now. Pushing when hyped was amateur hour.
'...Or so I say.'
Soo-hyuk got up anyway.
Lying still was impossible. Thunder, now his, seemed to clamor for action.
Even without that, same deal.
Two days.
The confrontation loomed. It always revved him up this close, but worse this time.
He couldn't shake the sense it awaited him, prepared.
Step.
Soo-hyuk stepped out. No intense workout, but something to do today.
Outside buzzed with festival vibes.
Crowds for confrontation prelims.
Mingling in, he reached a spot unrelated: a dingy tavern in a near-empty alley.
There, he approached the dozing owner.
"Got owl-brewed liquor?"
The hook-nosed owner cracked bleary eyes.
"Drink now?"
"On a moonless night."
"Come in."
Eyes now wide awake, the man led him.
The tavern's back was a Dark Map branch on the 7th floor. Several on this floor; this one dead center of the confrontation city.
Right after the trial.
Soo-hyuk checked messages on Kit.
Info secured; visit nearest branch.
The guide stopped at a candle-lit old door.
"Enter alone."
"Thanks."
Soo-hyuk tipped 100 points. The man bowed out, and Soo-hyuk entered.
Inside.
"Huh?"
A tanned man stared wide-eyed.
"You again?"
The info broker Greg from another Dark Map branch sat there.
"What're you doing here?"
"Just reassigned. Fate? You're becoming my regular."
Soo-hyuk sat opposite. No chit-chat; straight to business.
"Got the info?"
"That request? Yeah. Lemme see..."
Greg rummaged a drawer, pulled a small bill. For Soo-hyuk's request.
"Pricey. Tough to get. Fresh intel."
"How much?"
"300,000 points. Can swing it?"
Soo-hyuk frowned at Dark Map's price.
Price reflected value: rarer, harder, pricier.
300k. Iffy. Pricey but not S-tier.
Decent rarity, utility.
"Pay."
Luckily, he had it.
Thirsty viewers watched VODs during his break.
Paid up, Greg spoke.
"Request: What Blue Zone did in the demon forest, and truth of Blue Eyes traitor rumors."
Businesslike tone.
"Blue Zone secured a human in the demon forest."
"Human?"
"Yeah. Surprised us too. Human living in demon forest? Gutsy bastard."
Implying no ID on the human.
"Rumors still verifying. Mid-brief: Many in Blue Zone call Kim Il-su the traitor."
Soo-hyuk knew that much.
But he wanted origin. Who started it? Ally?
Or Kim Il-su's ploy?
Knowing let him use it.
"Overpriced for this."
Blue Zone got a human from demon forest. That's all so far.
But he had a hunch.
'Si-woo was searching there.'
Si-woo and another visited post-Blue Zone sweep.
Probably same goal.
'Maybe...'
To others, meh. To him, worth 300k.
But the price had reason.
"Not the end, obviously."
Greg continued, like real meat now.
"Don't know the human's ID, but who's with him? Got that."
"Who?"
"Cha Min-woo. Ring a bell?"
Soo-hyuk nodded. Cha Min-woo: player he'd heard of.
Once streamed Lee Soo-hyuk concept like him, then joined Blue Zone. Genius.
With the human Blue Zone nabbed.
"Then I get the timing."
Suddenly.
A possibility widened Soo-hyuk's eyes.
"Cha Min-woo's in this city."