Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Nayeo-ju Saves the World
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In Seoul, four guerrilla gates opened today as well.
Combining the entire capital region, that made over ten in total.
The numbers had been the same yesterday and the day before.
Yet not a single one had been assigned to the Justice Guild.
Ding!
"Eek, you scared me!"
I snatched up my phone in a hurry and checked the notification.
"Are you kidding me right now?!"
This wasn't about my salary—the guild was on the verge of starving to death!
I tossed my phone down like it was hot and clutched my head.
The Justice Guild was short on cash again today.
Even when a big sum came in occasionally, there was always somewhere it needed to go.
The money from clearing the Gangnam Station guerrilla gate last time had gone straight into Im Cheong-su's cauldron.
The rest was trickling away right now on utilities and guild living expenses.
"Ah, screw it. I can't wait any longer."
I pulled out my personal phone and scrolled through my contacts.
'Live News reporter Lee Ji-han.'
He was the guy who'd written the article about me joining the Justice Guild—the same one who'd shown up in front of the Gangnam Station gate last time.
He'd gotten some good scoops from exclusive stories on our guild, so no matter how busy he was, he wouldn't ignore my call.
Ring ring—
[ "Yes, Hunter Nayeo-ju. This is Lee Ji-han." ]
Sure enough, he picked up before the second ring.
"Yes, reporter. I'm calling from the guild office on speakerphone. I have one question."
I placed the phone on the table so everyone could hear.
"No guerrilla gate assignments lately. Do you know anything about it?"
[ "Ah, that... Hold on a sec." ]
There was a rustling sound, like he was moving somewhere, before he continued.
[ "It's not just the Justice Guild—other small guilds are complaining too. No guerrilla gate assignments." ]
"Other guilds too?"
[ "Yeah. Didn't the Sama Guild take a hit over that Justice Guild incident last time?" ]
The Sama Guild again?
"Yes, go on."
I gritted my teeth at the words "Sama Guild that refuses to die."
[ "So now they're hogging almost all the assignments to boost their social contribution score." ]
"No way, is that even allowed?"
[ "Their hunters are top-tier, aren't they? From the association's perspective, it's easiest if a famous guild clears them fast." ]
"Haa."
He had a point.
For major guilds, clearing low-reward guerrilla gates meant deploying high-rank hunters—a total loss.
That was why they'd outsourced to smaller guilds before.
But if they handled it themselves?
It was like a big law firm passing on lucrative cases to take on pro bono public interest ones.
[ "Check today's guild rankings and you'll see..." ]
Just as reporter Lee Ji-han said that, quick-fingered Lee Yu-chan whipped out his phone and showed me the ranking screen.
Republic of Korea Guild Rankings
1. Sama Guild
"This... freaking..."
[ "Pardon? I didn't catch that, Hunter Nayeo-ju." ]
"Must've been a bad signal. I didn't say anything. Anyway, got it. Thanks for the info."
[ "No problem at all. If there's good news from the Justice Guild, give me a call." ]
"Sure, take care."
I hung up and clutched my head again.
Sama Young, that bastard.
Of course, the Sama Guild desperately needed to rehab their image.
Everyone knew they were in cahoots with association chairman Jo Gye-young.
But I would bet Im Cheong-su's cauldron that this was also Sama Young's scheme to squeeze the Justice Guild dry.
The other guild members seemed to think the same—Jang Su-ho shot to his feet, unable to contain his rage.
"You gonna just let that slide?!"
"Haa, what choice do we have?"
Han Ji-seong sighed, taking off his glasses and rubbing his eyes.
"We go chop off Sama Young's head!"
Right, both A-rank—they might actually pull it off.
"Sit down, Jang Su-ho."
Kang Han warned the fired-up Jang Su-ho.
"But, bro!"
"Sama Young wants us to slip up."
True.
Sama Young was trying to erase our sudden rise from the Gangnam Station gate while digging traps for our impatience to make us stumble.
I was just as pissed as Jang Su-ho, but I took a deep breath to cool my head.
"Unless we become a massive guild that doesn't waver against the likes of Sama Young, this is just the beginning."
So we needed to get stronger.
"It'll be a long fight,"
Kang Han said to me.
"You think I invested in the Justice Guild without that resolve?"
I had plenty of ways to screw over Sama Young.
But one thing nagged at me.
"Why's Sama Young so obsessed with crushing the Justice Guild?"
More precisely, why was Sama Young's grandfather, the Sama Group chairman, fixated on us?
Kang Han paused, organizing his thoughts, then answered.
"Sama Young's grandfather, Sama Jung, was a founding member of the Justice Guild."
"Huh?"
"But he clashed with my grandfather over direction and split off to found the Sama Guild. It's old history, but maybe the grudge lingers."
"Petty. So damn petty."
Dragging a grudge from decades ago into now.
I could see where Sama Young's vicious obsession came from.
"So Sama Young plans to offer up the Justice Guild to his grandpa and secure his heir position."
"Probably."
In that case, no guerrilla gates for the Justice Guild anytime soon.
To clinch that heir spot, Sama Young would monopolize them using his high-rank direct subordinates.
"Waiting around for assignments is a waste of time."
And for me, time was as precious as money—couldn't waste it.
"Train in the meantime, everyone."
"What about guild finances...?"
Han Ji-seong, who knew exactly how empty our coffers were, looked at me worriedly.
"I'll handle the money. Do all the research you've been putting off, oppa."
I was the Justice Guild's manager.
"Everyone, manage your conditions strictly—no slacking on health."
We had unexpected downtime.
But it was actually perfect.
Lee Yu-eul and Kang Han after reawakening, and Jang Su-ho experiencing combat free from berserker mode fear for the first time.
They all needed time to hone their new powers.
I'd told them not to worry and sent them off, but how could I not?
After racking my brains in my room for a while, I headed back underground.
Specifically, to Im Cheong-su's workshop.
"Cheong-su, my dear Im Cheong-su."
"What? Why so creepy?"
"Nooo. You're just looking extra pretty today."
Im Cheong-su snorted at my words.
"It's not me—it's the potions that are pretty."
"Hey, don't say that."
But I couldn't help my eyes drifting to the cauldron.
"Huh? Weren't you making something?"
Yet the cauldron that should be bubbling was empty.
First attempt a failure, huh?
Well, moving from the countryside and succeeding on the first try with an unfamiliar mana cooker...
"Prototype's done."
"Eeeh?! It's out?!"
Where? Where!
"Right there."
Im Cheong-su pointed to three vials lined up on the table.
Standard potion bottles like ones sold commercially, but the contents were totally different colors.
Normal potions shimmered brilliantly, deeper blue meaning higher rank.
What Im Cheong-su made looked like straight-up black herbal medicine.
"Instructions are next to them..."
No time for manuals.
I activated my skill to pull up the potion info.
[Stamina-Boosting Tonic (A)]
Stamina boost +60, Duration: 10 minutes.
Jackpot from the cauldron.