Chapter 232
Chapter 232
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 232
Chapter Title: Stirring the Hornet's Nest
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Sluuuurp-.
Sucking on his drink through a straw, Soo-hyuk gazed down from the terrace.
A clear, crisp day with a cool beverage. An open view and a relaxed expression to boot.
Anyone seeing him might think he was just out for a leisurely trip. But inside, Soo-hyuk wasn't as at ease as he looked while overlooking the terrace below.
"They've gathered quite a crowd, haven't they."
He knew Blue Zone was a massive guild. Twenty years was more than enough time to build their power, and Blue Zone had expanded rapidly, riding on the glory of Lee Soo-hyuk.
You could tell just by looking at the rankers scattered throughout the city. Down below the terrace, all those people passing through the streets—they were all Blue Zone rankers.
In other words.
They could all become his enemies.
'No separate tiger's den needed.'
To put it bluntly, this place was a tiger's lair. Not just one tiger, but dozens, hundreds prowling about.
Sluuuurp-.
Setting down his empty drink, Soo-hyuk made a call somewhere.
-Yes! I've answered politely as requested. I've been waiting.
The person who picked up was Cheongryang. Her cheerful voice slightly eased his serious expression.
"You don't need to answer so politely. How about the thing I asked for?"
-I've attached it and sent it via text right away.
"That's fast."
-Gotta be quick on stuff like this. It's not even hard.
Soo-hyuk checked the text from Cheongryang. Inside were the materials he'd requested.
-The annual assignments are always the same. They hand out the prep materials in advance anyway, so no real secrets.
"What about the Guardian raid participants?"
-Full member list is in there too. But the key ones are Kim Il-su, and Jang Se-ri.
"Jang Se-ri?"
-Word is she's second in skill in the guild. Though the vice-guild master is Lee Won-jae.
Lee Won-jae.
At that name, a sharp blue glint flashed in Soo-hyuk's eyes.
"Lee Won-jae isn't joining the Guardian raid?"
-He's not on the list, at least. No details on why.
"Then..."
Soo-hyuk's gaze swept over the city.
"He might be here."
-Pardon? Oh, yeah. Could be.
Cheongryang's voice trembled slightly through the kit. The moment Lee Won-jae's name came up, Soo-hyuk's tone had changed.
"Anyway, thanks for the info. I'll put it to good use."
-Um... Soo-hyuk.
"Yes?"
-I know it's unnecessary worry, but I'm still worried.
Cheongryang's voice through the kit was cautious.
-Seriously... that...
"Unhyang doesn't need to worry too much."
-No.
Cheongryang cut him off firmly.
-I'm worried about you, Soo-hyuk.
"Me?"
-Didn't you say we're comrades?
Come to think of it, he had said that.
To Cheongryang, locked in Shinryeonseong's prison. That they were his comrades now.
He'd assumed she wouldn't grasp how heavy that word was coming from him.
But apparently not.
-Wow, were those just empty words? Someone got really touched here.
"No need to go that far..."
Even感动 was overkill.
-I knew you had secrets from Unhyang like this. But Blue Zone? Oh man, my fate...
A massive sigh came through the kit. In moments like this, Cheongryang was definitely timid.
'Or is it normal to be scared?'
She'd trembled even at Shinryeonseong. Blue Zone was a far bigger foe.
Shinryeonseong was just one part of the vast Murim world, but Blue Zone was the entirety of a guild rivaling it.
-If you have to fight, can't it wait a bit? Unhyang, and you too... you both need more time.
"Sorry."
-Ugh.
After a brief groan, Cheongryang asked.
-I figured it was hasty... but you have a reason, right?
"Yes."
Originally, Soo-hyuk had planned the same. Wait a bit longer, build more strength. Then clash with Blue Zone or Murim.
But circumstances changed.
It had to be now.
Delaying revenge meant nothing without Si-woo and Ye-ryeong.
That future would just be gray ruins, nothing left.
-If there's a reason, that's fine. I won't ask...
"You'll find out."
-Huh?
"Of course, if this goes off without a hitch."
-......
No reply came for a while.
She probably sensed it too. Like what Soo-hyuk felt toward Unhyang, they both carried unspoken secrets like boulders in their chests.
Yet even offered the key to her burning curiosity, Cheongryang didn't cheer.
-That... dangerous?
That meant it reflected Soo-hyuk's resolve.
"Who knows. Not sure."
-Dangerous or not, no retreat, huh.
Soo-hyuk laughed instead of answering.
Right. Not this time. No retreat here. This fight wasn't for survival or victory.
Not surviving alone.
If not, he'd die alone.
That was the fight.
-Got a plan?
"Rough outline's there."
Looking at Cheongryang's materials, Soo-hyuk pictured it in his head.
His role here.
Fortunately, there was something he could do.
"Time to stir up the hornet's nest."
Midway up the mountain overlooking Blue House.
Rustle rustle. Pushing through branches, Si-woo emerged.
"Took the long way around."
Ye-ryeong, waiting first at the rendezvous, smiled at his disheveled state.
Brushing dust off his clothes, Si-woo grumbled.
"I'm sick of sneaking around like this every time."
The two had taken remote paths to avoid people as much as possible.
It wasn't for a day or two. Over twenty years of this life now. Ever since the Hydra raid, this had become their daily routine.
"Well, this tiresome life ends soon anyway."
"Might end our lives too."
Si-woo glared at Ye-ryeong for her blunt negativity.
"You and your mouth."
"Did I say anything wrong?"
"......"
Si-woo shut his mouth. Arguing would just waste time.
Suppressing his rising irritation, he asked.
"So, what do you think? A lot?"
"......Yeah. Tons."
Ye-ryeong, who'd been watching Blue House, nodded.
She'd infiltrated first, ahead of Si-woo. Her stealth and infiltration skills let her move undetected even in a city full of rankers.
Having scouted their forces ahead, she let out a deep sigh.
"They filled the missing high rankers' spots with others. Wasn't a coincidence."
The Guardian raid needed lots of manpower. Especially high rankers, the guild's core.
Their mass absence would weaken them, obviously.
But they couldn't skip the Guardian raid either.
The selection trial was the countermeasure for that.
"Smart move."
Guardian raid and selection trial always overlapped.
Probably to cover the power gap from those leaving for the raid.
Ye-ryeong, still gazing at Blue House, asked.
"Think we two can break through?"
Even with the Guardian raid, ranker numbers stayed the same. Only high rankers left.
Not all high rankers went to the raid either.
Half stayed here, for contingencies.
"Asking me? You saw it."
"True."
"What'd you think?"
"......Not sure."
Not like Ye-ryeong.
Always confident even in tough spots, she hesitated now.
Win rate at 10%. Maybe less.
Paradoxically, Si-woo felt more confident in this kind of fight.
"Even with me?"
Suddenly, the air around froze white.
Frost formed, grass turning white. Feeling the chill, Ye-ryeong turned to Si-woo.
Si-woo's ability shone in fights against numbers. He'd be most confident here.
But Ye-ryeong shook her head.
"Still too many."
"That bad?"
"Yeah. And a few dangerous ones mixed in."
No arguing after that. Si-woo dispersed his mana.
"Ugh. Right under our noses..."
"Stay calm."
Ye-ryeong's eyes settled calmly.
"We've waited over twenty years. Can't ruin it over a few days."
"Yeah... true."
Wanting to rescue Hyo-min ASAP made him hasty. But she was right.
Just days after twenty years. Foolish to botch it now.
Knowing and calming the heart were different, though.
Barely cooling off, Si-woo spat out.
"Why so much today?"
"What?"
"I wondered when you'd grow up."
"Wanna die?"
Ye-ryeong raised a fist at his backhanded praise.
Pretending to smack his head, she sighed.
"Just saying be careful."
Not like her either.
"......Never know who might get hurt."
"......"
Unlike Si-woo, Ye-ryeong averted her eyes. He could tell what she was thinking.
'Worried about me.'
Ye-ryeong was a stealth specialist. Among players, few could detect her.
With Kim Il-su and key forces gone for Guardian, she was safe.
The issue was Si-woo.
'If trouble hits...'
About to say leave him, Si-woo shook his head.
'She won't.'
Without him, she'd truly be alone.
If reversed? He wouldn't abandon her.
If he were in danger, she'd try to save him. Ruining her stealth.
"Am I baggage?"
"No, not that."
"Who's worrying who."
Si-woo smirked.
"Cheeky."
"......Hey, watch your tone."
"I won't die."
Ye-ryeong's hardened gaze wavered at his words.
"If it gets dicey, I'll bolt right out. Worst case, I escape alone, so you do you."
She'd escape anyway. He said it with that faith.
Fortunately, Ye-ryeong looked relieved.
'Right. No one dies.'
Not a fight won by sacrifice.
Both die, or both live. Only options. Forget that, and they hinder each other.
Answer was one.
As if forgetting their spat, Si-woo grinned at Ye-ryeong.
"So let's stick to the plan."
This time for sure.
"Ye-ryeong, you're key this time."
All together, they'll return.