Chapter 164
Chapter 164
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 164
Chapter Title: Abandoned Mine (2)
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4.
“Aran’s item has appeared in the Elnas Mountains!”
The eyes of the entire world were fixed on the Elnas Mountains.
“So where’s El Pam?”
And naturally, amid all that attention, everyone’s gaze was inevitably drawn to El Pam.
“He’s in the Dead Tree Forest, they say?”
“The Dead Tree Forest? Is he really planning to explore the abandoned mine?”
“Does that mean the rumor about a second Aran item being in the abandoned mine is true?”
None of El Pam’s movements could be kept secret, and word naturally spread like wildfire through the Elnas Mountains.
“Adventurers and outlaws have formed parties to go after El Pam?”
“No way? How?”
“Looks like his route got exposed.”
“Ah!”
Every bit of news.
That news spread too, of course.
“You hear?”
“What now?”
“Wolf King Pao has appeared in the Dead Tree Forest!”
The news of Wolf King Pao’s arrival.
It was more shocking than any other.
“No way, Wolf King Pao himself is on the move? How many years has it been?”
“The last time was that Centaurus rampage in Minar Forest, so about three years?”
He was making his first personal move in three whole years.
“And his target’s obviously El Pam, right?”
Guessing his purpose was child’s play, of course.
“It’s over.”
The moment that news hit, interest in El Pam’s party cooled off in an instant.
It was only natural.
“Even with a fifth-circle adventurer party, there’s no way they beat Wolf King, who’s a full sixth circle!”
Not to mention, Wolf King wasn’t just any sixth circle.
Wolf King was one of the top mercenaries, having racked up countless titles just to earn that name.
No one, not even those with the wildest imaginations, could picture El Pam’s party surviving as Wolf King’s prey.
“We’ll hear soon enough that El Pam’s party is wiped out.”
Most imagined the same thing, and figured it would become reality soon.
They thought so too.
Hote and Ebob.
“We’ve gotten word from Wolf King. He says he’s completely taken over the Dead Tree Forest.”
“Then we’ll hear something soon.”
They believed they’d get the news they wanted any moment now.
So they waited.
But a day passed, then two, with no sign of the news they craved.
By the end of the week, even Hote and Ebob’s expressions had changed.
It wasn’t just because he hadn’t caught El Pam.
That wouldn’t have been strange.
Wolf King was undoubtedly an incredible powerhouse, but the Dead Tree Forest was right next to the abandoned mine.
A place teeming with terrifying monsters like Coolie Zombies.
Even Wolf King couldn’t rampage freely there.
Plus, El Pam wasn’t your average adventurer.
His skills were top-tier among fifth-circle adventurers, no exaggeration.
Of course it would take time to hunt him down.
“What’s the status?”
“They’re tracking him, but he’s nowhere to be seen.”
“What about the others?”
“No one’s spotted him.”
But failing to even find a trace of El Pam? That was beyond what Ebob and Hote could comprehend.
All the adventurers and outlaws there had seen it, after all.
“Everyone confirmed his party arrived there?”
They had.
And yet no sighting?
The two didn’t even consider the possibility that El Pam’s party had fled.
Naturally.
‘There are only three routes out of the Dead Tree Forest. They’re all under surveillance.’
If they’d run, they would’ve been spotted.
That’s why.
“Sir Hote.”
“What is it?”
“El Pam’s party has been spotted here, in Elnas Market.”
“What?”
When they heard that, Hote and Ebob were utterly shocked.
As mentioned before, escape was impossible.
But not only had they escaped—they’d even set up shop right in Elnas Market?
The moment they heard it, one thought filled Hote and Ebob’s minds.
“Is that true?”
That the info might be fake.
So they had zero intention of believing it.
“Uh, it seems legit.”
“How can you be sure?”
Exactly.
“W-well, it came from Dibo.”
“What?”
“Dibo from El Pam’s party. He brought the information.”
5.
“The name’s Dibo.”
Dibo introduced himself, and I looked up at the man before me.
He looked quite young.
That’s why.
Dibo said with a slightly stiff expression.
“If it’s not too rude, are you really from Lion King’s Castle?”
It was a natural question.
“I put in a request with the Yom Guild…….”
The first place Dibo had gone was none other than the Yom Guild, one of the strongest guilds in Elnas Market.
He’d made a few requests there.
Then suddenly, they said they’d arrange a meeting, and this man appeared before him.
Claiming to be from Lion King’s Castle.
“Isn’t Lion King’s Castle just a legend?”
In an era where plenty of adventurers believed the Lion King was dead, it wasn’t easy to buy that.
“My life’s on the line here.”
The reason Dibo was even meeting him was purely to save his own skin.
By selling out his comrades.
“If there’s trouble later, I won’t sit idly by.”
It was only natural for him to react so sharply, so aggressively.
“No need to worry.”
The man facing Dibo smiled and gladly reassured him.
“My name is Hote, guardian of the great one’s shadow. Dibo, your life will be protected in the name of the Lion King himself.”
He’d give Dibo what he wanted.
“So long as you cooperate with us.”
Of course, not for free.
“First, a question. Why did you come to us?”
“You’re asking why I betrayed El Pam, right?”
“Exactly.”
The first hurdle was convincing Hote.
A crucial part.
El Pam was one of the adventurers heating up the Maple World right now.
With his insane growth rate and unique titles, he was the dream of every adventurer.
Dibo had gained indescribable wealth, fame, and power just by sticking with him.
And now he wanted out?
“He’s an incredible adventurer. You probably won’t believe me. The way he adventures.”
There had to be a reason.
“I’ll admit it—we got this far thanks to El Pam. But not anymore. I can’t keep up with him now.”
Dibo explained.
“Above all, he’s a madman.”
A perfectly valid reason.
Even Hote could see that.
“I understand.”
El Pam’s actions were beyond common sense.
But Hote wasn’t about to spare Dibo just for that.
“So, what will you offer in exchange for your life?”
Everything has a price.
“You already know what you want, since you agreed to meet me.”
No need for long explanations about the price.
“I’ll stick a knife in El Pam’s back.”
Hote nodded in satisfaction at Dibo’s words.
“You must really hate him.”
“You bet.”
Dibo didn’t hesitate at the follow-up question.
“Calling him a madman is putting it mildly—he’s a total psycho.”
He went on.
“Even madmen have reasons for their crazy shit, but that guy? Nothing. No explanations. Ugh, honestly, it’s a miracle he’s still alive this long. I guarantee you, one more month by his side and I’d be a corpse.”
Even without Hote asking, Dibo kept spilling about El Pam.
“That psycho bastard last time…….”
“Enough.”
“Huh? I could go on for three more hours about what that psycho did…….”
“That’s sufficient.”
In the end, Hote cut him off.
“That’s not what matters.”
What Hote wanted from Dibo wasn’t hatred or rage toward El Pam—just one thing.
“We’ll set the stage. Lure El Pam there.”
Dibo nodded at that.
And offered his own input.
“But if it’s anything half-assed, El Pam won’t even glance at it. The guy’s obsessed with items. Anything less than top-tier won’t register.”
Hote smiled at the suggestion.
“That’s exactly why El Pam won’t be able to resist. We’ll use it as bait.”
6.
“Aran’s necklace is the bait.”
Dibo relayed what he’d discussed with Hote, and his comrades looked more shocked than ever.
“Aran’s item?”
“For real?”
“You pulled off something huge!”
Who’d have thought something like that would be on offer?
But Dibo’s expression as he delivered the news wasn’t great.
Far from it.
Dibo said with the stiffest face yet.
“They’re hiding it in a 144-man Green-grade Mystic Gate.”
“144-man?”
“Yeah, filled with nothing but adventurers and outlaws gunning for the boss—besides us.”
The moment they heard that, the others’ faces hardened too.
And it didn’t end there.
“The Mystic Gate’s in the abandoned mine. Deep inside, targeting that one.”
Everyone’s expressions grew even grimmer at Dibo’s explanation.
That’s when Dibo spoke up.
“Boss, this is insane. Even for you, it’s a death trap.”
Let’s bail.
It wasn’t just Dibo.
Everyone agreed.
“Yeah, Aran’s necklace is tempting, but this is impossible.”
Even Ralph, whose eyes had lit up at ‘Aran’s necklace,’ sided with Dibo.
And it was the reasonable reaction.
Unlike the 400-man Mystic Gate they’d cleared before, they couldn’t hide their identities here.
The other 139 were all in on it.
“Anything but a Mystic Gate in the abandoned mine—you’re supposed to ignore those, right?”
The abandoned mine itself was the killer.
“Zakum’s curse works even inside the Mystic Gate?”
The vicious Zakum curse plaguing the mine affected Mystic Gates there too.
Meaning you couldn’t use your full abilities inside!
Adventurers mentally tripled the difficulty of mine Mystic Gates compared to others.
A 100-man one there equaled a 300-man elsewhere.
So a 144-man was like a 450-man.
Even if they somehow dealt with the 139 adventurers and outlaws, clearing it was impossible.
Everyone fell silent at that.
No need for words.
The choice was obvious.
That’s when it happened.
“Dibo, good work.”
At El Pam’s words, Dibo let out a wry chuckle.
“Not much to show for it—I can’t even look up.”
He was certain.
“A total waste of effort.”
El Pam wouldn’t bite on this trap.
It wasn’t even a matter of certainty.
It was just plain stupid to even consider.
That’s why.
“No, good work.”
“Boss, you don’t have to encourage me.”
“You should take the encouragement. Thanks to you, Dibo, we have a shot at Aran’s necklace.”
“Huh?”
Everyone freaked out at El Pam’s words.
“B-boss? You’re calling this a sh-shot?”
“Exactly.”
“You’re gonna clear it?”
“Can’t pass up an opportunity like this.”
Dibo exclaimed in horror at the follow-up.
“No, boss! You heard the explanation!”
El Pam replied calmly to the retort.
“No problem.”
With that, El Pam pulled something out to show them.
A wooden helmet.