Chapter 178
Chapter 178
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 178
Chapter Title: Nayeo-ju Saves the World
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Kang Han was an S-rank.
No matter how many Association hunters guarding the entrance rushed him, they couldn't overpower him with brute force.
As if realizing that fact, the Association hunter who had flinched for a moment spoke to his subordinate.
"……Open it up."
Screeech.
With a small noise, the tightly locked Association iron gate swung open.
All that was left was to walk to the Association president's office.
In the eerily silent Association building, devoid of any sign of life, only Nayeo-ju and Kang Han's footsteps echoed for a long while until they reached their destination.
Kang Han opened the office door without hesitation, revealing the president's back.
Thwack—.
The back of a man practicing golf on the green mat.
"What the hell? I said no one comes in……."
It was the moment the president, sensing the presence late, turned around with a scowl.
"Gahk……!"
A gust of wind seemed to sweep through the office, and in an instant, Kang Han had grabbed the president by the collar.
"Kang Han, you bastard…… Let go right now……!"
"President."
Ignoring the president's desperate struggles to pry off the hand gripping his collar, Kang Han spoke in a low voice.
"Let's get to business. Send the Association hunters to the Pangyo Gate right now."
"Urk, that's…… not up to me……."
Kang Han frowned and released the president's collar, followed by loud hacking coughs.
"Hack, you crazy bastard, hack!"
"Speak properly. Why can't you deploy the Association hunters?"
"You think the Association runs on government money alone!"
The president shouted, his face flushed red.
"Taxes can't even cover the hunters' salaries and operating costs. The large guilds' subsidies are what really keep this place running. But all those guilds are in the Public Guild Alliance—what the hell do you expect me to do!"
He meant they couldn't afford to upset the guilds that funded the Association to keep it functioning properly.
"Even Justice Guild should think straight. We need to crush the non-awakened's spirits this time! That's the only way hunters can operate comfortably going forward!"
"You lot."
Kang Han stepped back half a pace and glared at the president.
"Plan to let the A-rank Gate break fully, do you?"
What?
I hadn't even considered that far.
They were really going to stand by and watch a dungeon break happen?
"Quick on the uptake, aren't you?"
The president chuckled and said.
"Once the 6th and 7th dungeon breaks hit, everyone will realize what happens when you go against the hunters' will."
I was so frustrated not being a combat-type.
If I had any strength, I'd smash a fist into that smug face.
But instead of me fuming, Kang Han—who seemed ready to beat the president—turned his back without another word and headed for the office door.
I hurried after him and asked.
"You're just leaving that Association president bastard like that?"
"Not worth the effort. And I've confirmed what I needed."
"Confirmed what?"
"That we can't expect anything more from the Association."
Kang Han's footsteps echoed heavily as he walked forward, eyes fixed ahead.
["With about 4 hours left until the Pangyo A-rank Gate's dungeon break, the government has begun evacuating nearby citizens using the military. Meanwhile, the special forces unit that entered the gate with state-of-the-art weapons has tragically been completely……"]
"Shall I turn down the volume, my lord?"
"Leave it. Sounds good."
Sama Young leisurely smiled and replied to Woo Jun-kyeong's question as he brought out the tea, stroking Hong-ju who was sprawled on the floor against the sofa.
The smile deepened at the soft purring vibrations from his fingertips.
Clink.
As Woo Jun-kyeong set down the teacup, the aroma of tea filled the air.
"It feels like the heavens are aiding you, my lord."
"Oh?"
"Yes, thanks to a Camellia Guild hunter rampaging on camera, the plan is proceeding much more smoothly."
"That it is."
Sama Young reached out with one hand to grasp his teacup and nodded.
Numerous hunters had banded together around Sama Guild.
It was the backlash from the increasingly hostile public opinion.
All he'd done was egg on the Association president to issue the kill order.
"The public is so easy to manipulate."
"It's because you're exceptional, my lord."
"Jun-kyeong."
"Yes, my lord."
"The guilds are being kept in line properly, right?"
"Of course."
He had sent Sama Guild elites to Fantasia, Utopia, Cheongmun, and several other large guilds.
To ensure that when the dungeon break actually happened, no one got cold feet, broke their promise, and acted alone.
"What does Father say?"
"He's very pleased. Says the world will finally run right now."
"He's right. It's only natural for the strong to rule."
Sama Young gazed sweetly at Hong-ju rubbing his head against his palm.
"Once this is over successfully, the era of hunters will come. And Sama Guild will stand at its peak."
"It will all go according to your will, my lord."
As Sama Young set down his empty teacup, Woo Jun-kyeong picked it up and disappeared into the inner quarters.
"Hong-ju."
"Nya."
"That woman doesn't know me well, it seems."
Hong-ju's red eyes looked up at Sama Young.
Though words didn't pass between them, he could sense Hong-ju was thinking of Nayeo-ju too.
"Good people are the best."
Sama Young leaned his chin on the sofa languidly and smiled.
"Makes me want to be even worse. Right?"
As his fingertip tickled his chin, Hong-ju's eyes drowsily closed.
The once-pristine new city of Pangyo had become a hellscape.
"How's the evacuation going!"
"Dispatched three companies to clear the congestion at the highway entrance……."
"You bastard! What about people without cars? Request more transport buses!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Hoo."
Colonel Park, in charge of the Pangyo crisis, rubbed his throbbing temple and let out a deep sigh.
Evacuating the entire population of a city with a million residents in just a few hours had been impossible from the start.
It was an A-rank Gate, after all.
One that had been left alone for nearly 10 hours during the raid.
Glared at the pitch-black Gate visible beyond the military tent like it was his mortal enemy, Colonel Park's view caught a staffer dispatched from the Gate Prediction Headquarters.
The young researcher, who looked fresh out of orientation and awkward, was already pale as a ghost.
"What're the measurements?"
At Colonel Park's question, the dazed staffer staring at the monitor snapped to attention, floundered a bit, then answered.
"The Gate's risk level is steadily rising. Seems like the internal monster count is increasing……."
"Increasing further?"
"O-Originally, this Gate was an A+ explosive-type with an unstable barrier and energy……."
"Explain so I can understand."
"W-Well."
Colonel Park cut in coldly, and the researcher swallowed hard, explaining in a smaller voice.
"The barrier separating our world from inside the Gate is weak. 'Explosive-type' means when the dungeon break happens, the bursting energy will create a massive crater around it……."
"Not just monsters, but the area gets bombed too?"
"Y-Yes. Current data shows 2 to 3 km radius, but it could grow with time. The real problem is……."
"What's else?"
"As I mentioned, look here—this is the internal monster count, and it's still rising. At this rate, it's closer to S-rank than A……."
"Fuck, what, are they breeding in there or something!"
"Monsters aren't born through reproduction……."
"Enough. Researcher, get on a transport bus and head out."
"Pardon? B-But the Gate prediction……."
Colonel Park clicked his tongue at the still-clueless researcher.
"You wanna die here? I'll make space on a bus—get out of Pangyo."
"Just me? But then you and the soldiers……."
"Hey! Anyone outside!"
At Colonel Park's call, the soldier guarding the tent rushed in.
"Escort this researcher to a bus."
"Yes, sir!"
The young face kept turning back even as he was half-dragged out of the tent, making Colonel Park crave a smoke.
He hesitated briefly, then reached for the cigarettes on the table.
"C-Colonel!"
"What?"
Wondering what now, Colonel Park scowled and dashed out at the ominous presence outside.
There, he spotted a group of people standing before the Gate.
The busy soldiers everywhere buzzed, especially at the tall man at the front facing the Gate.
"Are you the person in charge?"
The man, drawing all eyes, met Colonel Park's gaze squarely with green eyes and asked.
"Y-Yes."
"I'm Kang Han of the Army Intelligence Unit. Currently the Justice Guild master."
"Ah!"
Of course—he'd seemed familiar. The S-rank hunter from the military, Kang Han.
"Why is Justice Guild here? Don't tell me……?"
Kang Han nodded curtly.
"Justice Guild will clear the Pangyo A-rank Gate. But before entering, can we talk briefly?"