Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: The Worn Spear
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The shop owner said.
"Those over there are the cheaper ones."
"Thank you."
Cheap ones.
Just as the name implied—shoddy spears.
As proof, most of the spears here didn't display any item information.
Items made by ordinary people who weren't blacksmith players usually couldn't be appraised.
And weapons crafted by ordinary folk were mostly junk.
Of course, some might be made with craftsmanship and good materials, but that didn't guarantee they'd be classified as items.
To be officially recognized as an item by the system, the creator's rank and skills were crucial.
That's why Suho narrowed his eyes and activated a skill.
[Mana Detection has been activated.]
As the skill activated, his senses sharpened, and he began to feel all the mana in the vicinity.
Naturally, the only things in the shop emitting mana were the genuine items with decent ranks.
Like the ones hanging on the wall or displayed on the shelves.
That made sense.
All items carried at least a trace of mana, which was what classified them as such.
But what Suho was looking for wasn't anything like that.
Then, in his field of vision, he spotted a single spear quietly emanating mana.
The others showed no reaction.
Only that one had a strong mana wavelength.
Suho picked it up and checked its information.
[Worn Spear]
- Rank: F
# A worn and blackened spear.
An F-rank piece of junk spear.
Even the description was simple.
But Suho knew.
This was the spear he'd been searching for.
Suho bought it and left the shop.
The price was 100,000 won.
Even that was haggled down a bit after the owner glanced at its condition.
Watching the owner knock off some change, Suho chuckled inwardly.
If he knew what this spear really was, he'd regret the discount.
But Suho showed no sign of it and found a quiet spot nearby with few people.
He sat down, pulled out the spear, and began injecting mana into it.
Soon after, something astonishing happened.
[Mana is being supplied to ????.]
[????'s consciousness is beginning to awaken.]
Two notification lines appeared before his eyes.
At the same time, the spear vibrated with a high-pitched whine and started greedily sucking in Suho's mana.
An enormous absorption rate.
Suho immediately let go of the spear.
He'd only just begun injecting mana, but dizziness was already setting in.
'My stats are still too low.'
To fully awaken this spear, he'd probably need at least 100 mana stats.
Still, Suho was satisfied.
Mana might be lacking, but he'd found the right item.
And he could make up the missing stats at his next stop.
He'd come here first anyway, worried someone else might buy it in the meantime.
So now, Suho decided it was time to move on.
Shopping was done; time to execute the next plan.
Suho hailed a new taxi and headed somewhere.
***
While riding the taxi, Suho searched the internet before getting serious and found a blog.
He called the number listed there.
- Yes, this is Jo Jin-hwi.
The voice coming through the receiver.
His name was Jo Jin-hwi, and he was a reporter.
He worked at PBS, Korea's top player broadcasting station, and before Suho had gone into hiding, they'd been quite close professionally.
It always helped to know a capable reporter or two.
Suho said.
"You're Jo Jin-hwi from PBS, right? Nice to meet you. I'm An Su-ho."
- An Su-ho?
At that, Jo Jin-hwi racked his brain for a moment.
Since the guy had introduced himself by name right away, he seemed like someone important, so he searched his memory.
But no matter how hard he thought, or checked his notebook, the name An Su-ho didn't ring a bell or appear anywhere.
So he asked cautiously.
- Sorry, my memory's not great. Who might you be?
As expected.
He doesn't know me yet.
But this should change that.
"I'm the one who solo cleared the Sudden Gate that appeared at Sindorim Station a while back."
At those words, Jo Jin-hwi's eyes widened, and he straightened up.
- The solo clearer of Sindorim Station? And?
"And I'll also be announced soon as the top scorer of yesterday's Hunter Exam."
- What? Top scorer?
Jo Jin-hwi's mind blanked for a second.
What is this?
He just said he soloed a Sudden Gate at Sindorim Station?
Doesn't that make him a hunter?
Then why take the exam yesterday?
One fact flashed through Jo Jin-hwi's mind.
'No way, an unregistered hunter?'
That was the only possibility.
Unlike a driver's license, a hunter license couldn't be reissued once revoked.
Suho checked the time and said.
"Yes, that's right. The results will be posted on the official site soon, so you can confirm it yourself. That's why I called—to let you know."
Jo Jin-hwi stopped fiddling with his pen and gaped.
It was a fresh shock in many ways.
Pulling himself together, Jo Jin-hwi asked.
- ...But why me, of all people?
That was the biggest question.
There were plenty of other reporters—why him?
Suho answered.
"I have a lot I want to do going forward, so I figured it'd be good to have a friendly reporter in my corner."
The blunt answer caught Jo Jin-hwi off guard, and he asked incredulously.
- With a reason like that, any other reporter would do, right?
"I did some searching and read your blog posts. You call yourself a total rich kid, don't you? Yet you stick with this tough reporter gig—that proves you have way more professional pride than most, doesn't it?"
Jo Jin-hwi let out an involuntary laugh.
The words were blunt, but true.
The reason Suho chose Jo Jin-hwi out of all the reporters? He was a genuine "rich kid," as they say.
'He said his family has plenty of money, so he never takes bribes or favors.'
Of course, Suho didn't know the details of his family.
Even as a civil servant, digging into someone's background was illegal.
But despite being just a reporter, he drove the latest yellow Ferrari, as he'd written on his blog.
Hence his nickname: "Golden Hack."
Sometimes "Yellow Hack" or "Golden Reporter," but he liked "Golden Hack" best.
'Said it sounded the coolest.'
And after watching him for a long time, Suho knew he never wrote a single paid article.
That's why they'd collaborated a lot in his previous life, until Jo Jin-hwi vanished on his own.
His exceptional reporting skills, plus a reporter's max-level aggro pull, were super convenient for media plays.
'Of course, that talent got him ousted later....'
Any group rejects a thorn that sticks out.
Jo Jin-hwi was that thorn.
Caught in internal faction wars, he was forced into retirement against his will.
Whether it was real retirement or not, no one knew.
He vanished around then, so everyone assumed he'd been pushed out.
But this time, Suho planned to personally look after him to prevent that.
Jo Jin-hwi continued.
- I get what you're saying, but this approach feels a bit off-putting. Even if I'm a reporter starving for scoops, I'm not your lackey, you know?
"Of course not. I just want an excellent partner."
- Excellent partner? Let's be straight. You're leaking this to me to hype your value before joining a guild, right?
"You could think that. But would someone as talented as me bother with cheap PR to inflate my worth?"
- Huh?
"What I want is fame. I'm planning to become a civil servant."
- ...?
Jo Jin-hwi's mind blanked again.
His expression screamed, *What the hell is this guy?*
Who in their right mind, a prime candidate for a top guild, declares he's going civil servant hunter?
Jo Jin-hwi, utterly baffled, asked back.
- Using me for PR to gain fame— isn't that the plan for joining a big guild? To jack up your price? But civil servant hunter? You're joking, right?
"No joke. I'm joining the National Hunter Association to work in the field. I've already pitched myself to the right people. If I had to pick a reason, let's say it's for the public good. I'm not that interested in just living well myself."
- What the... Are you like me, Suho? Born into a good family, chasing honor now?
"No, I'm what they call a Gate orphan. Recently quit sports college because I couldn't stand the departmental corruption. So yeah, public good interests me. Especially eradicating Gates— that's my life's biggest goal. That enough material for an article?"
- Well, damn....
As Suho said, there was plenty of fodder for a story.
But that only made it more baffling.
It was a textbook hero's tale— so why the civil servant angle?
'Is this guy for real?'
Jo Jin-hwi hesitated.
He could check the exam results soon, but even if true, Suho reeked of a con artist.
Maybe that's why?
After some thought, Jo Jin-hwi decided to ignore it.
- Fine. I get it, but I can't be your dedicated reporter. I only write what I want. So consider the Hunter Exam top score thing unheard.
Suho laughed.
Classic Jo Jin-hwi.
That rich-kid guts and backbone.
Suho said.
"Then how about a bet?"
- A bet?
"Yeah. Seems you don't trust me. I'll prove I'm no empty-talking fraud. Now that I'm a hunter, I can prove it with skill, right?"
- What do you... How?
"I'm in Pangyo right now."
- Pangyo?
"Yeah. Got my license, so time to climb the Tower of Challenge."
Tower of Challenge.
Where new players flocked like clockwork after licensing.
Jo Jin-hwi replied indifferently.
- So?
"I'm clearing it today. Solo."
- What? Soloing the Tower of Challenge?
"Yes. That's my next plan. Watch and see if it's real. You'll know naturally. But if I succeed solo today, will you be my dedicated personal reporter from then on?"
An absurd proposal.
The Tower of Challenge—no one had ever cleared it.
Not even close to a top record.
Jo Jin-hwi scoffed involuntarily.
- Deal. Separate from whether you're top scorer, if you really solo it, I'll do whatever you ask as a reporter from now on.
"Perfect. Call me back later then. Or if you're good, meet me in Pangyo."
Ending the call, Suho hung up.
A verbal promise, but it was enough.
Jo Jin-hwi wasn't an idiot.
Suho turned his head and looked up at the Tower of Challenge soaring like a spire into the sky.
'It's been a while.'
Suho headed toward the Tower of Challenge entrance.