Chapter 59
Chapter 59
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Hunting
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I casually descended to the first floor and approached the fallen men.
Poor bastards. What crime did you even commit?
I swung my machete and cleaved through the four of them.
A seasoned handiwork, finishing them off in a single blow!
I set my gear aside and activated Detection again.
Good. The two invisible guys are still right there in front of the underground mall entrance.
Quick and clean work. Perfect.
Back to the boring wait.
Three more men entered, and then a group with four men and one woman went in as a team.
Ah, that woman just now looked decent. But damn, five of them.
Whatever, focus on the invisible duo for now.
They're probably targeting that team from earlier—the two older guys and one woman, right?
That group looks like the easiest mark.
The invisible duo started pulling back a bit.
It's not time to refresh their invisibility yet, so the trio must be coming out.
The trio wasn't carrying much. But the duo still chased after them.
Why the hell are they heading the opposite way? Annoying.
I went down to the first floor, keeping my distance as I followed.
The extended range of Detection is seriously satisfying. Impressive at this level.
I tailed them for a good while when a rare sound echoed from afar.
Beep beep.
A car!? No way?
The two men and one woman had come by car.
Whoa, impressive. Driving around so boldly? What kind of ability lets them do that?
The invisible duo closed in fast as the trio opened the car door.
The two men turned at the noise, but it was too late.
One man's head caved in, the other spurting blood from his neck.
"Kyaa!"
The woman's scream—she seemed to try using a skill, but it was muffled.
But the duo was faster. She crumpled like a ragdoll.
And just like that, all three turned into coin pouches.
The invisible duo must be panting and grinning ear to ear. Obvious without seeing it.
Once visible again, the duo scooped up the coins with shocked faces.
"Whoa... why so many coins?"
"What? The woman?"
"Yeah, insane. 50,000 coins."
"For real? Holy shit. Ah, I should've taken it! You bastard. Split it half."
"I want to, but how do I give you the coins?"
"Fuck, just hand over the goods."
"Fine. You think I'd stiff you on this?"
"Whoa, but 50,000? What'd she do?"
"Dunno. Hey, that's not the point. These guys had a car."
"Right! Hold on... where's the key?"
"Huh?"
...What a ridiculous conversation.
Idiots? The keys probably went to heaven with the dead guy.
"Ah... fuck! Ah... so damn close!"
"But didn't they open the door earlier? Let's check."
"Doesn't it lock?"
"No idea. So go see if it'll open."
The two headed to the car and opened the door.
"What? Nothing here."
"How do you open the trunk?"
"Look on the front seat. There's gotta be a button."
They seem so clueless. How have these guys survived?
After rummaging through the car for a while without finding anything good, they checked the bag one of the men had dropped.
"Ah, fuck. Just a whole carton of cigarettes."
"You idiot, cigarettes are a jackpot. Quit whining like you're full."
"0.1s though?"
"Ah... crazy bitch. Who the hell smokes 0.1s? What flavor even is that?"
"Don't wanna carry it."
"Still, take it. Better than tossing it. Not heavy."
"Fine, you carry it."
"Asshole. Don't beg for it later."
They bickered in hushed tones, ditched the bag with a rustle, grabbed the smokes, and vanished again.
Ditching the noisy bag, huh? Makes sense.
I activated Detection and followed them.
They went back to where they'd stashed their stuff, picked it up, and headed in one direction.
I kept a safe distance to avoid detection and tailed them for about 20 minutes to an apartment complex.
A fancy one with big units... Nice place to hole up.
Scanning with Detection, I sensed one more presence.
Probably the woman they mentioned.
The duo headed toward the presence and stopped at the entrance of Building 104, pulling out a keycard.
Ho, so with that, they can just waltz in.
The woman was on the third floor, it seemed.
Was this their original home? Or did they take it from someone they offed?
Doesn't matter—the priority is dealing with these guys now.
If I let them in, it'll be impossible to catch them inside.
The entrance is glass, but smashing it would make too much noise.
I waited until they swiped the card and the door opened, then immediately put the two to sleep.
Ugh, a bit more hassle, but no choice. Kinda depressing.
I scanned with Detection. Two in front of me, one on the third floor. That's all.
Good. First, I taped the men's mouths shut, grabbed the keycard, and opened the door.
I dragged them inside one by one and left them on the first floor. Can't let them freeze outside.
I moved all their stuff too and pondered the best approach.
The woman inside—need to know her abilities.
If I make noise in the hallway, will she notice? It's not bedtime yet.
Keycard. This should get me inside the apartment.
But without knowing her skills, rushing in feels risky. Guess I have to wake one up.
I roughed up one guy until he finally opened his eyes—it wasn't easy forcing him awake.
"Hey, I'm gonna un-tape your mouth now, but if you use invisibility or yell, you're dead right there. Got it?"
Invisible #1, clueless about the situation, squirmed.
I lightly tapped his head with the hand axe he was carrying, and he flinched hard.
I peeled off the tape from his mouth, and he panicked.
"The woman you guys have inside. What's her skill?"
"Wh... who the hell are you?"
"Lie and you die. Spill it honestly, and I'll let you have your way with her like you wanted. Quick."
"Huh?"
"No time. Now."
"Uh... Lightning! Lightning Wave or something. When she uses it, a wave of lightning bursts out around her..."
"And?"
"Huh?"
"No other skill?"
"What? No, just the one..."
"Your invisibility proficiency—what percent?"
"I'd... have to check."
This guy's no master. Hasn't maxed it out.
I put him back to sleep. Then smacked Invisible #2 awake.
Same questions, confirmed her skill is Lightning Wave.
A 100,000-coin trash skill.
Like that pig's ice skill back at the university.
AoE damage to everything in range. Ice froze, so lightning probably shocks.
Ah... fuck, reminds me of getting hit by that lightning trap. So damn tingly.
Put him to sleep too.
Then bound them tight with more duct tape.
That should keep them from running.
Lightning Wave, huh. Just don't get close—simple counter.
At the apartment door, I used Detection. She's in a room, a bit of distance. Fuck, place is huge.
I swiped the card boldly and opened the door.
The warm apartment air welcomed me.
Surprisingly tidy inside. Spacious, with high-end furniture and decor.
"What! You're back already?"
A woman's voice. She came out of a room.
Oh, young. Not drop-dead gorgeous, but attractive in her own way. Like an unfiltered SNS goddess.
Outfit's super provocative. What do you call that? Crop top? With dolphin pants.
Desperate to tempt the invisible duo? Or just comfy?
"Who the hell are you!"
She went on full alert.
Fair enough—I'd freak out too.
Some guy with a backpack, machete, hand axe, and crossbow slung on walks in like he owns the place.
"Hi?"
"Kyaaak!"
Fuck... just a greeting and she bolts.
She dashed for the room, but my words were faster.
"Sleep."
She collapsed at the doorknob, folding like paper.
She hit the floor hard—thought she might wake, but she's out.
Just to be safe, I hit her with the skill again and approached.
"Ooh."
Nice rack, good figure, provocative clothes. Jackpot.
I bound her hands and feet, taped her mouth tight.
Alright, skills sealed. Shame, can't get a blowjob now.
Time to drag the guys up.
Back to the first floor, I whacked the two awake properly.
With invisibility, they can't resist me.
Being able to neutralize anyone anytime is straight-up broken. Wonder why no one picks it.
Once they were awake, I said,
"You two. Any resistance to what I say from now on, and I'll beat you senseless. You felt it just now, right?"
Fear of death is scary, but fear of prolonged violence is no joke.
Death's quick; beatings drag on.
I peeled the tape off their eyes and mouths.
They stared at me, metal bat in hand, terror in their eyes.
"I'm gonna cut the tape on your limbs, so hold out your arms."
They looked shocked when I freed their arms and legs too.
"Curious what happens if you try something? Go ahead. Wanna test it?"
No matter how fit they are, they can't take me down or escape before I say two words.
Even a coward like me swells up with courage when the odds are overwhelmingly in my favor.
And that bluff works wonders in situations like this. Well, not really a bluff.
"Grab your stuff."
Clueless about what's happening, they obeyed anyway.
"Up. To your place."
The two hauled their gear to the apartment door.
I gestured with the keycard to open it, and they went in, dumbfounded.
They froze seeing the woman taped up inside.
"There she is, all prettily wrapped up like you wanted. Wonder who did it?"
They looked at me.
I grinned at them and said,
"Do me a few favors. And she's yours."