Chapter 76
Chapter 76
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: Someone Who Needs Rest
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"That's how it went down, right? Huh? This princess here went like this, made a golem, and bam bam bam—everything got sorted!"
When I boasted about my heroic tale of not negotiating with the terrorists, Minium clapped her hands. Suri nodded her head vigorously. It was an insanely cool feat, practically on par with an S-rank Hunter.
The British government regrettably announced it as being handled by a black agent from the British Hunter Association, so I couldn't brag about it anywhere. But Eloise and everyone there knew the truth.
And I bet our pathetic Awakening Bros have a rough idea too.
"What have you two been up to? You weren't just messing around at home without your princess, were you?"
—Keee!
—Clank!
"Working with Nova? Really?"
Surprisingly, Minium and Suri had been training at Nova Guild's facilities with their Hunters for the five days I was gone. Apparently, Ophelia had told them, and they'd gone with Chae-rin unnie.
"Heeey, I see. You did great! Good job!"
Minium's moonwalk in a while. Now, there's no speed difference between regular walking and moonwalking. Looking closely, the moonwalk might even be faster?
We had a late lunch around 2 p.m. I'd finished all my work, and with no schedule today, I had no clue what to do. Ophelia seemed busy, so asking to hang out felt awkward.
She looks like she's just sitting there, but really, Ophelia's head is juggling a billion people's worth of tasks.
"Hmmmmm..."
So, I fiddled with my phone, scrolling the gallery.
Anonymous: Just took a shit and kimbap chunks came flying out, fuck fr
Wanna show it off but holding back, seriously feel like I dropped 3kg after shitting
"Sigh... The Awakening Bros are as hopeless as ever today."
"Haven't heard these names in a while."
Orders Guild, one of Korea's Big 4 Guilds responsible for the Chungcheong region. About a year ago, a massive tower structure appeared. The inside was impossibly complex and tough, with harsh special environments on top.
But out of some stupid pride, Orders declared they'd handle it alone without help from other countries or guilds, only for their first strike team to get utterly wrecked.
They'd been limping along ever since, and now the guild was completely collapsing.
"How much did they buy the tower for again?"
Even with Big 4 Guild funds, it was a staggeringly expensive exclusive raid right they shelled out for. Now with the guild imploding, it'd probably hit auction.
Plus, they owed the World Hunter Association, so auction eligibility would be global. Even though it was a Korean dungeon structure, some foreign guild might snag it.
"Uwoooo...!!!"
Lying face-down staring at my phone was making my body all stiff. I got up from bed, swung my arms while walking, and the nearby Mecha-Doggo started following me.
"Huh? What's up, Mecha-Doggo? Copying your princess?"
—Beep!
"Stuck at home must be boring for you too! Should I ask Ophelia if we can go play?"
Mecha-Doggo stood on her hind legs, flailing her super short front legs wildly. Such an intense reaction—dogs gonna dog. She loves the idea of a walk.
"Ehehe, got it. Let's go to Ophelia!"
I scooped up Mecha-Doggo from the floor, hugged her to my chest, and dashed to Ophelia's room. As always, her eyes were scanning documents.
"Ophelia, you busy right now?"
"What is it?"
"Lying around's boring. Mecha-Doggo seems like she wants a walk too, so I was gonna head out."
"Understood. I'll accompany you if needed."
"Nah... I think I can go alone."
Today, I just felt like walking solo. Mecha-Doggo knows the way anyway, no getting lost.
"Then for emergencies, I'll assign Suri as your escort. If someone's tailing you persistently or anything suspicious happens, heed Suri's signal and call Minium immediately."
"Yep, hehe."
Ophelia's brain is always busy. She deserves some alone time like this.
"Oh, right. How'd that go? The thing from before... uh, what was it, Clarir? That foreigner?"
"You mean the foreigner speaking Khmer."
"Khmer! Yeah, that's the one."
"Currently indicted post-complaint. The footage from the incident secured by Mecha-Doggo proves intent, and as a foreign Awakened, there's flight risk, so detained."
"Ooh, gotcha."
Things were progressing smoothly without me knowing. Even the spoils from Desert Mausoleum—Ophelia handled all negotiations, ratios, sales solo.
It's not easy for solo Hunters. Big raids mean haggling: 'Let's do this split, that split. I'm super strong, so I take more; you're weak, take less.'
That's why they push joining guilds even small ones. Or like Han Do-hee, form crews with friends—outsource to agencies.
But handling it all flawlessly alone? Ophelia only.
"Um, Ophelia."
"Yes?"
"You're the best, Ophelia."
Ophelia stared at my thumbs-up a moment, then smiled brightly.
"Need allowance?"
"N-no, not that... though it'd be nice..."
I'm not that materialistic. Well... money's always good.
"Thank you. I'll help you change."
"Sure."
At the headquarters of Nova, Ohsung Group's Hunter subsidiary on Teheran-ro in Gangnam.
"So, estimated demand is around this figure."
Ohsung execs, key heads from Nova's tech arms, and Nova Guild Master Yoo Chae-rin.
Rare sight, all gathered, scrutinizing a poor employee's 3-week all-nighter presentation.
"I see. Then... we should attempt contact ASAP."
"Ideally resolve within a week."
"It came to this. I warned them."
Orders, wobbling for months, now had one knee shattered—totally tipping.
Rivals or not, that was old news. A former lower-tier guild vanishing wasn't pleasing for Nova either. Ex-Orders Hunters hitting the market needed monitoring.
The core agenda: snag raid rights to the tower dungeon that doomed Orders, 'Silence Laboratory'.
Main strike team obliterated in week one, only 7 of 12 returned. No proper intel, outsourcing prelim survey to some shady firm was huge mistake.
State Dungeon Survey Assoc shares info publicly, but can't storm exclusive-rights dungeon yourself.
Despite controversy, smartest to use Korea's most credible survey group.
"Heh... Must be hiding something big."
"Which we'd know after proper survey. What made them think epic loot? Geez."
Post-presentation, execs relaxed, venting pity-mixed regrets at Orders' folly.
"Secure it while Orders still holds exclusive rights."
Buy shares cheap from desperate Orders now, claim ownership later via shares post-collapse.
Nova's plan: preemptive buyout right for auctioned Silence Laboratory.
"What about Union or Mujin?"
"No word yet. We're not broadcasting."
Jeolla's Big 4 Mujin likely wants it too. Unlike dungeon-rich Gangwon Union or nationwide Nova, Jeolla's weirdly peaceful.
Good for land prices, bad for guilds—no seeds despite fertilizer.
For Hunter guilds, profit #1: dungeon structures. #2 miles behind: entry gates.
#3, barely profitable: open gates.
Eroded terrain? Minus. Hard to purify, can't fully control yet.
Even US tech giant Atlas's Hunter arm failed monetizing eroded terrain like dungeons.
"Right. Internal Nova view? Can our main raiders handle Silence Laboratory?"
Question to Yoo Chae-rin, pondering her coffee. Known info: name, looks, obliterated Orders team difficulty. Nothing else.
At this point, either joke or test for lone young woman amid grizzled vets.
"Positive. Orders' team wasn't weak, just rash judgments."
"Ho, splendid."
Her crisp reply echoed with mid-aged man's hearty laugh.
'Sigh, wanna smash everything and go home.'
Yoo Chae-rin needed rest.