Chapter 104
Chapter 104
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 104
Chapter Title: Sail Kingdom Civil War (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Ranked as the top guild in the Republic of Korea, the Sacred Guild exuded an air of exceptional prestige both inside and out, befitting its renowned status.
The building, constructed from exquisitely designed luxury marble and transparent glass, radiated a modern yet mystical aura.
The lobby showcased works by famous artists alongside displays of the guild's glorious achievements. A modern reinterpretation of the guild logo stood as a striking sculpture at the lobby's center, drawing every eye.
Passing the lobby and glancing at the guild logo led to the training facilities.
True to its reputation as the nation's number one guild, the training facilities were state-of-the-art, leveraging the latest technology and optimized solely for enhancing individual hunters' skills.
Today, as always, the Sacred Guild's affiliated hunters trained diligently to hone their peak performance.
However, in stark contrast to the passionate atmosphere below, the guild master's office on the top floor was shrouded in a cold tension.
This was the domain of the Sacred Guild's central figure and supreme commander, Guild Master Kim Tae-hwan, where he handled his duties.
Security was airtight, with top-tier hunters guarding the perimeter.
Opening the door revealed a space with a high ceiling, gleaming white marble walls, and premium wooden furniture bathed in intense light—but now, the room was dimly lit.
All windows were covered, and the interior lights were nearly extinguished.
In one corner of the darkened guild master's office, a simple seating arrangement had been set up. Centered around Guild Master Kim Tae-hwan in the head seat, a meeting was underway.
"Dungeon difficulties have been steadily rising lately. We've succeeded in clearing them, but the guild member losses are accumulating as a result."
The vice guild master and the guild's top executives responsible for its operations were all in attendance.
The meeting proceeded with the executives reporting directly to the guild master.
"Guild Master, the government is attempting to increase taxes on monster subjugation revenues."
"This is outrageous! Not only do they refuse to cut our taxes, but they're raising them? Guild Master, we need to respond at the guild level! We're sacrificing resources to keep everyone safe, and now the government wants even more taxes? It makes no sense!"
The discussion heated up with exchanges like this, the atmosphere growing increasingly tense.
Beyond guild matters, they covered domestic incidents and accidents, dragging the meeting on.
"It's tentative, but the communication networks linked to the Black Sun Guild have been vanishing lately. It feels like someone's targeting them."
"We caught one of their members during the investigation, but his mind was already gone, so we couldn't get solid intel. Something about a diet? He just spouted nonsense."
The talks even veered into international affairs, prolonging the session.
Throughout, Guild Master Kim Tae-hwan responded swiftly to the varied topics raised.
Guild policies and regulations were revised on his command, and the guild's pursued objectives were steadily adjusted.
After the broad exchanges, Kim Tae-hwan turned the questioning around.
"By the way, how's Suho been lately?"
Guild Master Kim Tae-hwan inquired about his son, Kim Suho, from the vice guild master.
To an outsider, it might seem like simple fatherly concern.
But everyone present knew the guild master's true intentions.
The vice guild master replied in a curt tone.
"Ever since that last incident, Kim Suho has definitely changed. He's avoiding everyone and immersing himself solely in training."
Kim Tae-hwan nodded at the report.
The "last incident" referred to by the vice guild master was the monster wave.
The worst monster wave since the Great Cataclysm.
Fortunately, it hadn't led to massive casualties.
For Kim Tae-hwan, it had even turned into a positive turning point.
"That fool. If he's finally getting his act together, that's a relief."
Displeasure laced his voice.
"Well, if he's putting in the effort, supporting him is only natural."
Still, it wasn't entirely displeased.
He was relieved that his eldest son was shaping up, even if belatedly.
At least for him, the monster wave had been a boon.
No matter the past follies his son had committed, they were irrelevant now.
In this world, only power mattered above all, so Kim Tae-hwan hoped Kim Suho would pursue greater strength.
"And pull up a list of his close friends around Suho."
Kim Tae-hwan wanted to manage his son even more rigorously.
As the heir destined to lead the Sacred Guild after him, he intended to watch him closely.
That said, he had no intention of dragging out the meeting with talk of his son.
They swiftly moved to the next agenda.
"Any additional info on the wave?"
A heavy silence met Kim Tae-hwan's question.
The monster wave's cause and purpose remained unknown.
No one knew why it happened or what the monsters' goal was.
It left question marks for everyone, leaving even the government and the nation's top guild, the Sacred Guild, clueless.
Moreover, the dungeon where the wave erupted had vanished without a trace.
"The government investigated the Phoenix Guild managing that dungeon, but they found nothing substantial."
Though eyes turned to the Phoenix Guild, there were no leads.
The incident plunged deeper into mystery.
"Hm."
But Kim Tae-hwan remained unperturbed.
Whatever happened with the Phoenix Guild or the wave wasn't his concern.
His interests lay elsewhere from the start.
"More importantly, the Black Mask. Any progress tracking him?"
The existence of the Black Mask.
That was Kim Tae-hwan's primary focus.
Not just him—everyone shared interest in the Black Mask.
The government, top guilds, and even overseas guilds were scrutinizing the monster wave incident and pursuing the Black Mask's movements.
Yet all came up empty.
The Sacred Guild was no exception.
Their inability to answer the guild master's question now proved it.
"We're expanding our intel network as much as possible, but with the government hot on this case too—"
"He's the one who ended the monster wave crisis. We can't let the government or other guilds find him first."
His resolve was ironclad.
"This time, I'll assign the hounds. Make sure you find him."
"Understood, Guild Master."
The vice guild master bowed his head.
With the guild master mentioning his direct unit, the hounds, no one dared claim difficulty.
Kim Tae-hwan issued the order and sank into thought.
'Black Mask...'
The sudden apparition had single-handedly terminated the monster wave.
Alone, he had swiftly crushed an A-rank Death Knight and an Arch Lich.
Even A-rank hunters couldn't dispatch A-rank monsters so easily.
Hunters and monsters had inherently different physical specs, even post-awakening.
Yet the Black Mask felled two A-rank monsters solo.
'At least S-rank.'
He couldn't be certain.
But the possibility was high.
In this world rocked by the Great Cataclysm 25 years ago.
Dungeons and monsters were growing ever stronger.
Perhaps the recent wave was the opening salvo?
Either way, the Black Mask's value would only rise.
'I'll make him mine, no matter what.'
Kim Tae-hwan licked his lips.
While Azmo and Betty established the merchant guild on Earth, Celia was busy making efforts on multiple fronts.
First, she bolstered the dungeon using items from the Demon Realm Merchant Guild brought by her master.
Basic equipment went to the mid-bosses.
The gear from the Demon Realm Merchant Guild was of high quality. The first piece—a sword forged from a wyvernling's fang—went to the Death Knight.
Even from a hatchling, it was wyvern material.
Its cutting power was exceptional.
As the Death Knight's primary weapon was a sword, and considering its recent heavy involvement, it was Celia's thoughtful gesture.
Next, armor crafted from salamander hide went to the Goblin Lord.
Wearing it granted resistance to fire attacks and protection from cold, making it highly versatile.
Perfect for the defensively weak Goblin Lord, so Celia assigned it accordingly.
Miscellaneous gear trickled down to the subordinates under the mid-bosses.
"Hm. This is tricky."
But Celia had one headache-inducing item.
The air freshener.
It wasn't ordinary; it was made from a basilisk's poison sac.
It smelled pleasant, but it was still poison.
No suitable use came to mind.
"Hm..."
After much deliberation, the Death Knight's shield came to mind—with the maid outfit hanging on it.
"Ah!"
She could use it to scent the maid outfit.
It wouldn't harm the Death Knight much anyway.
Of course, she'd forbid its use inside the dungeon.
After pondering and distributing the items, she moved on to installing traps.
Among the auction purchases were traps.
Mana-powered electric mats designed to roast intruders.
Celia installed it without hesitation in [Layer 2, Zone 1].
[Layer 2, Zone 1]
A new area created with the dungeon's recent expansion.
Beyond the original Layer 1, a Layer 2 had formed underground, increasing usable space.
At the dungeon's current level, a trap in Layer 2, Zone 1 wasn't strictly necessary.
Her master's diverse minions already guarded Layer 1.
Intruders wouldn't even reach the core, let alone Layer 2.
Yet Celia installed it there.
She had a better plan.
"We'll establish an intelligence department here."
Why an electric mat trap in an intel department?
The nearby skeleton knight tilted its head, but Celia just smiled.
"If we bring humans up here, won't they spill their intel on their own?"
In an intel department, information was lifeblood.
That meant swiftly extracting it from foes was key.
Celia's solution: torture.
"Hee hee."
Her voice brimmed with childlike glee at a new toy.
Celia was thrilled with the current state.
The dungeon's growth and influx of monsters and items from the Demon Realm auction expanded her options.
Which meant more plans for her master.
"Now, let's select personnel fitting for the intel department. Necros?"
Celia called to Necros beside her.
The Arch Lich, recently graced by her master's favor and assigned to Layer 1, had reclaimed his name, Necros, as its guardian.
"Necros, compile a list of suitable candidates for the intel department and submit it."
"Snap!"
Necros saluted and exited.
"This should suffice."
Item distribution, trap installation, and intel department outline were set.
But more tasks remained.
Celia dove into the next: Sail Kingdom matters.
She read the report handed by a shadow from behind.
It detailed recent events in Sail Kingdom.
"Indeed. The Church's abuses are worsening by the day."
The White Church's official delegation had arrived in Sail Kingdom quite some time ago.
After successive disappearances of dispatched priests and Holy Knights, they sent an investigative delegation.
But those details were thoroughly concealed.
Events inside the dungeon were unknowable to outsiders.
Celia had ordered Princess Irena of the kingdom to take no action.
As a result, the Church's rampage intensified.
Desperate for intel with no leads, they must have been frantic.
Yet they couldn't accuse royalty or nobles on suspicion alone.
Thus, the blade turned on innocent commoners.
Sail Kingdom's populace was drifting from the Church.
"This should be enough."
All part of Celia's plan, of course.
She aimed to devour Sail Kingdom.
But no need to leave Church seeds within.
Humans here, once forgetting fear, clung to religion.
The adventurers entering her dungeon proved it.
So, she sowed distance from the Church's influence.
The results were successful.
"On to the next phase. Relay to Princess Irena: prepare to weed out the rats."
The shadow bowed and vanished at her command.
"Now, let's build a nation to offer our master's loyalty."
It was time for Celia's long-term pieces to shine.