Chapter 171
Chapter 171
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 171
Chapter Title: 52. Lion King (1)
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1.
Dead Tree Forest.
The place where adventurers and outlaws had gathered to hunt El Pam, who had a 1 billion mesos bounty on his head.
“El Pam has appeared!”
When that shout echoed through the forest, the adventurers and outlaws reacted with surprising calm.
More precisely, indifference.
“Who’s screwing around this time?”
It wasn’t the first time someone had shouted that El Pam had appeared.
Far from it— it had happened multiple times.
“You bastard, just wait till we catch you.”
And every time a false alarm like that rang out, the adventurers and outlaws in Dead Tree Forest banded together for brutal retribution.
“The guy who pranked us last time? We chopped off his head and tossed it to a coolie zombie.”
“The one after that? We threw him in alive.”
Vicious retribution.
Even so, fools kept pulling these stunts.
Not out of some prankster itch, though.
“Guys who do this for money need a clear punishment.”
A fake sighting of El Pam would draw adventurers and outlaws into groups, moving out in force.
Inevitably, some would die in the process.
That was what these liars banked on.
Weakening rivals or looting items from other adventurers and outlaws.
Worse than a pure prank.
Hence the harsh punishments.
Everyone assumed this was just another such trick, so they ignored it.
“Wolf King Pao is chasing him!”
“What?”
But the moment they heard the Wolf King was on the move, everything changed.
And it didn’t stop there.
“I am Wolf King Pao!”
The Wolf King himself declared it.
“I’m pursuing El Pam. Anyone who helps me catch him will share the bounty!”
Let’s hunt together.
In that instant, the indifference vanished from the adventurers’ and outlaws’ faces.
Every one of them lit up with a hunter’s gleam and rushed off in pursuit of El Pam.
And soon, they spotted him.
“It’s really El Pam!”
“1 billion mesos!”
Their long-awaited prey had appeared.
2.
Adventurers say:
“Once the rumors spread, the party’s already over.”
No matter the event, the moment word gets out, it’s too late to get a piece of it.
That’s why adventurers rarely act on rumors—they just listen with interest.
Usually.
But not this time.
“El Pam has appeared in Dead Tree Forest! Adventurers and outlaws are chasing him!”
The moment that rumor hit Elnas Market, a good number of adventurers shot to their feet.
“What? Where you going?”
“To catch El Pam.”
“Dude, it’ll be over by the time we get there.”
“Maybe they’ve already caught him.”
They weren’t expecting to bag El Pam himself.
“But what about Aran’s items with El Pam’s party?”
“Oh!”
They knew this event wouldn’t end just with El Pam’s capture.
“Once they exit the abandoned mines…”
Plenty figured it was worth a shot anywhere outside the abandoned mine area.
Naturally, a significant number of adventurers bolted toward Dead Tree Forest.
Elnas Market emptied out.
“Unbelievable.”
Dibo and El Pam’s other companions watched the scene with cold, hardened expressions.
“Didn’t expect it to blow up this big.”
They’d known it wouldn’t be easy, but the situation was worse than anticipated.
“With every Tom, Dick, and Harry swarming in, even a boss won’t have it easy.”
That’s why.
“Let’s go help.”
El Pam’s companions, who had just arrived at Elnas Market, were already planning to leave.
It wasn’t a sudden decision.
They’d all planned to aid El Pam before even setting out.
Truth be told, they’d wanted to rush straight there.
Especially once El Pam’s party escaped the abandoned mines—they were more than ready to join the fray.
So why the long trip to Elnas Market?
Meet at Elnas Market—that was the order from their leader, El Pam.
And now, they’d fulfilled it.
In other words, they were certain.
“The boss won’t be here anyway.”
Even at the rendezvous point, El Pam wouldn’t show.
“Didn’t think we’d actually score 1 billion mesos.”
“You believe that?”
Sure, they’d get 1 billion mesos from El Pam as promised, but no one bought it.
“Just talk. Doesn’t make sense, right?”
“Yeah. He said it for our sake.”
It was just El Pam’s way of steeling their resolve.
“Alright, let’s head to the meeting spot and regroup.”
And so, they moved to the place El Pam had designated.
What they saw there stopped them cold.
“You’re late.”
“Huh?”
A lone man waiting for them.
“B-Boss?”
El Pam, disguised with a transformation potion, sat there casually.
No one could have imagined it.
“W-When did you get here?”
To their stunned question, El Pam replied calmly.
“Three days ago.”
“What?”
“Arrived three days ago.”
His words left them even more shocked.
El Pam’s companions had pushed themselves to the limit, arriving at Elnas Market in record time.
Faster would’ve required flying.
Yet El Pam had beaten them by three days?
To El Pam, it was nothing special.
He was the one who’d taught Dibo and the others how to navigate.
Outpacing them was as easy as breathing.
Since it was easy, he didn’t make a fuss.
The adventure was over now.
This tough one had ended with everyone alive.
“You must be tired from the trip. Let’s eat first.”
With the adventure done, it was time for the usual lavish feast.
The feast was already prepared.
Not just prepared—every dish steamed fresh, as if just finished.
That fact stunned them further.
“You knew we’d come?”
El Pam arriving early was one thing, but predicting they’d arrive today, at this exact time?
El Pam’s short answer:
“Because you’re my companions.”
No more questions.
They all sat.
“Alright, food first. I was starving. Take a seat, Kiri.”
“Finally, a proper meal.”
“This on the boss? Or we chipping in?”
Everyone chimed in.
“Huh?”
But not Dibo.
“My seat?”
Someone had taken his chair.
“We have important business.”
Phantom the thief—he was there.
And he said:
“He’s on the move.”
3.
Hote.
The moment he heard the report from Wolf King Pao, his face turned colder than ever.
“Failure.”
Those two words.
Even now, Hote couldn’t believe them.
‘How?’
He’d prepared meticulously.
A hell that would kill any adventurer in the world, not just El Pam.
El Pam’s party had fallen right into it—neck-deep, not just ankle.
Yet they escaped?
Even after deploying Wolf King Pao, not a single one died?
How was this possible?
To Hote’s bewilderment, Ebok replied:
“The plan was perfect.”
He agreed with Hote’s preparations.
“El Pam just exceeded expectations.”
El Pam was the anomaly who escaped that hell.
That was all.
Hote and Ebok said no more about the failure.
No evaluation, no new plans.
No need.
“It’s over now.”
Two failures meant no reason to keep them alive from above.
Time to pay the price.
And that price was obvious.
Their lives!
Then.
Knock knock!
The door opened with a knock, and a man entered. Looking at Hote, he said:
“Sir Hote, the king summons you.”
At the Lion King’s call, Hote nodded as if expecting it and rose.
Then.
“Ebok, you too.”
Neither Hote nor Ebok was surprised.
As said, they had to pay for their failures.
Or rather, Ebok had been a dead man walking from the start.
Hote had held his life in his hands, sparing him.
But no longer.
“Yes.”
Ebok rose without question.
Together, Hote and Ebok walked through the Lion King’s castle.
Down a eerily silent corridor, until they reached a massive door.
Creak!
It groaned open, revealing:
“We greet the Lion King.”
The Lion King!
The one who unified the countless nations in the harsh Elnas Mountains, becoming its sole ruler!
Called the strongest swordsman in Maple World history!
A living legend!
But the Lion King before them showed no legendary aura.
His face was grim.
Gaunt, too.
As if he hadn’t eaten properly, or slept at all—his condition was dire.
That made it chilling.
The scariest thing in this world wasn’t a lion, but a hungry one.
And this was no mere lion, but the Lion King.
“Hote.”
At his call, Hote knelt.
And said:
“I failed. My apologies.”
Short and to the point.
No need for more.
Not once, but twice.
And in failing, they’d burned through Aran’s items—precious treasures.
Paid dearly for nothing.
Begging for life in that mess?
More pathetic.
Ebok followed suit, kneeling behind Hote, ready for death.
That’s when.
“One of Aran’s items remains.”
The Lion King spoke.
“What?”
Hote was stunned.
“Hote, you have one last chance.”
Only then did Hote understand.
What the Lion King meant.
He was giving Hote and Ebok one final opportunity.
Naturally, they wouldn’t refuse.
“We’ll stake our lives on that chance.”
To them, the Lion King said:
“Preparations are complete. I’ve placed Aran’s item in that Mystic Gate.”
“That Mystic Gate, you mean…?”
“Where the Devil Tree is.”
Hearing that, Hote and Ebok cried out in shock.
“Z-Zakum?”