Chapter 68
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: Busan Island Rift
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Having accepted the request disguised as a favor from Jeong Dae-hyeon and his son Jeong Hyun-su, Yeon Sung-hun wasted no time and moved quickly.
He had expected it would take at least a few days, so rather than going alone, he decided to bring along his guild members.
Fortunately, there was a suitable rift nearby, so there were no issues.
"Wow! Busan! Are we going on a trip? Can we hit the beach too? Will Hae-eun and Mom come along!?"
Han So-yul, who had fully transferred from Hwarang to Golden Guild just a few days ago, cheered excitedly.
Yeon Sung-hun quietly chuckled to himself, recalling Song Myeong-heon's aggrieved expression when he'd been summoned mid-contract renegotiation to release her.
"It's not like that. There's just a rift nearby that I'm interested in."
"Eek. All the way to Busan for another rift? There are plenty here too."
Yeon Sung-hun gently patted Han So-yul's head as she pouted in disappointment.
"Not now, but we'll go sometime later."
With Yeon Hae-eun still recovering, Yeon Sung-hun wanted to postpone a proper Busan trip.
After all, their first family trip deserved to be enjoyed fully.
To make that happen, he'd have to work even harder moving forward.
...I should meet up with Christina at some point.
If it was America's Hunter Union, maybe they could help fix his sister's leg, even if just a little?
He felt bad for Jeon Hae-ryong, who always warned him to beware of the Americans whenever he visited, but it was about time to make contact.
Once this job's done, I'll set up that meeting right away.
Nodding to himself as he recalled the business card she'd given him, Yeon Sung-hun murmured.
"By the way, what rift caught Sung-hun's interest...?"
Choi Yeon-ah approached quietly and asked.
He had no intention of revealing the Black Market request, so this was just a vague cover story—but not entirely fabricated.
Yeon Sung-hun was genuinely interested in this Busan rift.
"It's B-rank. Apparently, it's an island rift completely surrounded by ocean on all sides."
"...Ocean? A maritime-type rift?"
Yeon Sung-hun shook his head at Choi Yeon-ah, who frowned slightly.
"We'll mainly operate on the island itself. The prelim report said no monsters in the sea at all. Just in case, Hunter Yun Ji-su and her team went ahead to check it out."
Choi Yeon-ah let out a relieved sigh at Yeon Sung-hun's calm explanation.
"That's a relief. Maritime rifts are riskier with the ships involved... Sorry, I jumped to conclusions."
"No, it's fine. It's understandable. Have you been in maritime rifts yourself, Yeon-ah?"
"Not deep underwater, but similar spots a few times. Though with my current condition and no gear, it'd be too much..."
Yeon Sung-hun pondered briefly at Choi Yeon-ah's casual shrug.
He was debating when to hand over the Blessing of Water ring tucked in his pocket.
Handing it over now would work, but wouldn't it lack flair?
Mephi always said to give gifts at just the right timing.
That way, the impact doubled, and loyalty deepened—or so he'd said.
Unlike his past life, Yeon Sung-hun was now modeling himself after his old friend to become a proper leader of an organization. He made sure not to miss even the smallest advice.
As Yeon Sung-hun mulled over the perfect moment to give Choi Yeon-ah the ring, the guild members buzzed with their own excitement.
It was officially a rift raid, not a vacation, but given Yeon Sung-hun's personality, they'd surely get downtime afterward. Centered around the once-downcast Han So-yul, they began plotting their trip.
Yeon Sung-hun crossed his arms, watching the lively group.
Unlike their happy plans, his mind was filled with thoughts of the Black Market commission.
They didn't explicitly ask for any killings, but things could go that way.
Expanding influence in the provinces at the father-son duo's request.
The underworld's nature meant violence was inevitable for such expansion.
In some cases, it might require killing.
Yeon Sung-hun felt no aversion to murder.
It had been all too familiar since his past life.
Faust was a war hero, after all.
He'd directly killed countless foes, and indirectly, via his potions, tens of thousands more.
...I've killed a lot, haven't I?
Of course, he'd saved just as many lives, but he wouldn't justify himself with that.
He was undeniably a murderer.
A mass killer of multitudes.
A bitter smile crossed Yeon Sung-hun's face.
Suddenly, the boisterous guild members felt distant.
Yeon Sung-hun and Golden Guild arrived in Busan.
True to their name, Golden Guild was flush with cash, so they chartered a private jet. The guild members felt little fatigue.
Even without it, a hunter's sturdy body wouldn't tire much from travel.
At the rift entrance, Yun Ji-su and her team—who'd arrived early for prelim scouting—greeted them.
"Welcome to Busan, Guild Master! We're glad you're here!"
"You sound like a local, Hunter Yun Ji-su. How was the scouting?"
"No different from the Association's report."
Yun Ji-su handed over her neatly compiled report alongside the explanation.
Yeon Sung-hun skimmed it and nodded lightly.
No Gwan-sik must've pulled some strings.
Having ties to the headquarters chief overseeing national rift management meant even the Association's prelim team worked diligently.
Though I won't fully trust it.
No reason to rely on the 'hate-sociation' when he had a good team.
If Jeon Hae-ryong became chairman, maybe—but even then, trust would be thin.
Once hated, always hated.
"How about the ruins?"
Yeon Sung-hun asked while quickly scanning the report.
His interest in this rift wasn't just its unique shape.
It stemmed from ruins discovered on the island.
Rifts with ruins were rare, drawing eager claimants, but thanks to early favors called in with No Gwan-sik, Golden Guild secured priority.
"Couldn't get close due to nearby monsters, but it didn't look like ruins at all. Incredibly well-preserved."
"I see."
Yeon Sung-hun probed further.
"What about the island monsters?"
"Three major threats to watch: Black Alligators in the western swamp, Hunter Sabers in the southern woods, and Giant Gruffs in the northeast. All A-rank."
"...That caliber even without the ruins. We'll need to be cautious."
Yeon Sung-hun nodded and passed the report to Gye Cheong-san waiting nearby.
"Team Leader Gye, distribute these to everyone. We'll brief, then start the raid."
With that, Yeon Sung-hun began briefing the guild on the raid plan.
"Whoa, there's really an ocean inside the rift?"
"...I knew rifts came in all varieties, but an ocean? Didn't see that coming."
"It's a dead sea with no life, though."
Raid members shared impressions of the novel sight upon entering.
Yeon Sung-hun, gazing quietly at the sea, glanced toward the island interior.
The rift divided into three zones around the central ruins, each bossed by an A-rank monster—no easy pickings.
Closest is the northeast Giant Gruff?
A plant-type monster, an advanced ant species mimicking a massive tree.
Easier than the nimble Hunter Sabers or the swamp-bound Black Alligators.
After a moment's thought, Yeon Sung-hun set the first target.
"We'll take out the Giant Gruff first. Move carefully, eyes on surroundings."
Following his orders, the raid team advanced into the island.
Having raided B-rank rifts several times now, the exploration proceeded smoothly.
One minor issue, though.
"Cha Ye-ji! Get your head in the game?!"
"Y-yes! Sorry!"
"Stay sharp! In danger, only you can protect yourself!"
Cha Ye-ji nodded frantically under Choi Yeon-ah's stern command.
Without Choi Yeon-ah's intervention moments ago, the lunging monster would've seriously injured her.
Lee Ha-na quietly comforted the tense, wilted Cha Ye-ji while Choi Yeon-ah pushed harder than usual.
Yeon Sung-hun watched as he downed a potion.
A bit too soon for her?
Cha Ye-ji had trained steadily and joined a few rifts with Choi Yeon-ah, Lee Ha-na, and others.
She'd shown promise, so he'd included her for experience—but maybe it was premature.
Her talent was real, but she was still D-rank.
Stick to low-rank rifts for a while.
Taking her along for Uru's walks and training runs would help too.
Yeon-ah aside, Ha-na's really coming into her own.
Thanks to subtly mentoring Cha Ye-ji over time?
Lee Ha-na seemed more at ease directing juniors.
Less 'directing,' more 'looking after,' but still...
She now had the bandwidth to care for others besides herself.
Time to split the raid team.
Han So-yul and Seo Jin-su were candidates, but Lee Ha-na was the clear fit.
Han So-yul had the skills but was too young for leadership; Seo Jin-su had leadership but lacked as an emotional healer.
So, new raid leaders: Choi Yeon-ah and Lee Ha-na.
Choi Yeon-ah was a given, but Lee Ha-na had some concerns—time to prepare her.
No one starts perfect; experience was key.
Yeon Sung-hun's ultimate goal: step back from the front lines, letting guild members raid independently.
He was combat-capable, but at core, an unawakened alchemist who made things.
B-rank was fine now, but higher would strain him.
Better to shine in his strengths than force it.
Two teams for now?
Expand if more showed talent.
Need to recruit more guild members.
The bigger the guild grew, the more work piled up—far from shrinking.
Was this the plight of a leader?
A feeling unknown in his past life, focused solely on alchemy.
He hadn't considered it then, but how tough had it been for those under Faust?
Yeon Sung-hun smiled wryly, suddenly pitying the old Tower of the Sage members.
Nothing for it but to do better now.
Can't change the past; regrets were pointless.
Shaking off his thoughts with a head shake, Yeon Sung-hun continued the raid with his team.
They were nearing the Giant Gruff's territory.