Chapter 139
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 139
Chapter Title: First Round Victory
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Even after taking down Shinwa, the momentum didn't let up.
Jeong Hoon cleared the seventh trap, then moved to another sector to wipe out the last remaining one, swiftly eliminating the surviving users along the way.
Gah!
Argh!
Like leaves in the autumn wind.
Jeong Hoon and Lee Na-yeon's teamwork was perfection itself.
Phase 1 has ended.
You have been selected as the final team standing.
In the end, Hoyoung claimed first place.
They also succeeded in clearing all eight traps that Jeong Hoon had planned for in advance.
Good. Now I can rest easy about the second chaos.
The way to avert the second chaos.
It was to discover and neutralize every trap in at least one server out of all the servers worldwide.
By removing the final trap just now, Jeong Hoon had altered the future where disaster would befall Earth.
The headquarters bastardsI can already picture them having a field day.
Even though the second chaos had been thwarted, the New World headquarters wouldn't pull any immediate moves; they'd slowly prepare their next plan.
The reason was simple.
They were enjoying it.
Those were the types who got more pleasure the more desperately humanity struggled, so they'd do the same this time.
Son!
At his mother's call, Jeong Hoon snapped out of his thoughts.
Yes?
We're number one! Number one!
They had overtaken every other team for first place.
His mother beamed like a child at the result, and a smile tugged at Jeong Hoon's lips as he watched.
It's because you did so well, Mom.
Huh? Didn't you handle all the finishing blows?
Mom's cover fire made it easy to wrap things up.
Really? Thanks.
It wasn't empty flatteryit was sincere.
How much time had her suppressive fire saved them?
Plus, her 'Trap Detection' skill had allowed them to neutralize all eight traps.
Genesis Shot, huh.
Jeong Hoon recalled the moment he'd taken out the guardian knight earlier.
It was the same with the Genesis sniper's unique-grade upgrade skill.
A skill usable only once per dayit dealt no damage but sealed the target's skills for three minutes with a debuff shot.
He hadn't expected it to wipe out the blessing as well.
If you're feeling up to it, why don't you check out the Summit Tower?
The Summit Tower?
Yeah.
The tower where the top leaders headed, called the Summit Tower for short.
Having won the bet with Lingling, his mother's level would rise by 30 more, putting her at 136.
That should qualify her for quests there too.
Hmm, sure. I'll do as you say, son.
Got it.
Moving to the settlement area.
And with that, Jeong Hoon returned to the same white room he'd started in.
Lingling was waiting there, grinning ear to ear.
Welcome back! Been waiting for ya!
You seem pretty happy.
Lingling had lost the bet.
Yet her face was blooming with smiles.
Of course! Got to watch one heck of a show thanks to you.
A human who'd chased away her recent boredom in the best way.
When he'd zipped from outpost to outpost, picking off the hidden foes one by one, it had felt downright refreshing.
Survival matches like that usually saw everyone playing defensive, but Jeong Hoon had gone full opposite from the startlike Lu Bu charging in.
It might've been a high-risk gamble, but for a spectator, nothing could've been more thrilling.
Thanks for enjoying the show. But you'll honor the bet's reward, right?
Jeong Hoon flashed a grin.
Praise was praise.
But a bet was a bet.
Hmph, you think I'd suck up just for that?
Lingling snorted.
He'd anticipated losing this bet.
To him, the wager was just an excuse.
A payment for the thrill and refreshment he'd provided.
Then let's get the reward over with.
Fine.
You have acquired 10 Heavenly Energy.
10 Heavenly Energy.
That brought his Heavenly Energy to 25.
But the rewards didn't end there.
Your level has increased by 30!
All stats 30.
Bonus stats 30 granted.
Summon: Michael's level has increased by 30.
Just as the bet stipulated, not only Jeong Hoon but Michael's level rose by 30 too.
The team members' levels went up too, right?
You bet! Up by 30, so check later!
Thanks.
He was satisfied.
Not only had he neutralized the second chaos, but he'd scored some hefty rewards too.
But mind if I ask one thing?
What?
How'd you know the traps were hidden there?
Jeong Hoon's lips curled slyly at the sharp question.
Why? Was finding the traps against the rules?
Lingling shook her head.
Nah, not that. You just acted like you knew about them from the start.
My teammate can detect traps.
Jeong Hoon blamed it on his mother's 'Trap Detection' skill, but Lingling saw through the lie in an instant.
Still, he decided not to press further.
He didn't have a hobby of prying.
Heh, don't wanna spill, huh? Fair enough. Wouldn't wanna be rude prying more.
VIP Room.
The guild masters watched the Phase 1 results with tense eyes.
The second phase's meaning hinged on this.
Phase 1 Survival has concluded!
As the survival wrapped up, the hologram switched.
Tabulating rankings.
Please wait a moment.
That brief wait felt eternal to Yeo Sun-woo.
Where'd we place?
If Jeong Hoon's team wasn't first, Yeo Min-ji couldn't stay an executive anymore.
She'd recommended him that confidentlyshe'd prove it with results.
Rankings revealed.
-1st: Hoyoung
And first place went to Hoyoung.
Gasp!
Yeo Sun-woo shot to his feet in shock.
Every eye turned to him.
Their emotions mirrored his own.
Hoyoung took first?
No way how?
An upset!
No one in the room had predicted Hoyoung in first.
170-level and 100-level-range users.
No matter hidden classes, bridging that level gap was impossible.
Yet Hoyoung was first.
How?
Bam!
Sa Jae-hyeok slammed the table and stormed out of the VIP room.
-9th: Shinwa
A team stacked for certain victory, only to lose to Hoyoung.
Not even secondninth.
Pushed behind Dokjeon and the Wings guys too.
No wonder Sa Jae-hyeok was furious.
Meanwhile, Hoyoung Guild was in total chaos.
Wooo!
First place! We're first!
The lady's call was spot on!
That Honey1 who soloed Lord Wyvern? Had to be!
It was because Jeong Hoon and Lee Na-yeon, whom Yeo Min-ji had recommended, took first.
The guild members reflected on briefly doubting her judgment.
Oh to doubt the lady even for a second.
Told ya to trust her! Who dares diss Honey1?!
Well, Chan Hwa and Seung Ji had been on a hot streak lately.
Still, sending them would've been a loss! Against Lee Ji-seok and Lee Yeon-su.
True that.
As they made a racket, Yeo Min-ji bounced around the waiting room too.
See? I told you!
Park In-tae, watching her, broke out in a sweat.
Y-Yeah how'd they pull it off?
What do you mean how? Pure skill. Believe me a bit from now on, got it? Geez.
.
Park In-tae was speechless.
He was the one who'd opposed Jeong Hoon's participation when Yeo Min-ji recommended him.
Now he'd endure her nagging all day.
Honestly, Phase 2 didn't matter much.
Phase 2 rankings revealed.
-2nd: Hoyoung
Hoyoung took second in Phase 2.
Shinwa got first, Wings third.
Unexpected to lose to Shinwa, but combining with Phase 1 boosted Hoyoung's overall ranking big time.
Shinwa, meanwhile, dropped two whole spots in the overall.
That ninth in Phase 1 had been fatal.
Thank you so much! Hoyoung's guild ranking jumped two spots!
Yeo Sun-woo sought out Jeong Hoon and Lee Na-yeon to thank them on behalf of the guild.
No, it's all thanks to my son.
Lee Na-yeon was thrilled to hear from Yeo Min-ji that they'd beaten Shinwa.
After all, she and her son had done so much for the guild.
It felt like they'd repaid some of the favors received, easing her mind.
No way. Without you, first place might've been tough.
Jeong Hoon cut in quick.
Her level was low, but her performance had been insane.
Yeah, I suppose so.
Yeo Sun-woo didn't deny it.
Phase 1 was pairs.
One weak link meant no top ranks.
Taking first meant Lee Na-yeon had dominated too.
And they'd knocked Shinwa to ninth early on, so even losing Phase 2 to them let Hoyoung surpass overall.
That much.
Lee Na-yeon blushed a bit.
But it was true.
Mom's potential is beyond imagination.
Experiencing this Phase 1 event reaffirmed it.
Her growth wouldn't stop here.
She'd climb higher for sure.
As a leader surpassing Paul Raymond, once comrade and betrayer.
Sorry. I was against you two participating.
Yeo Sun-woo apologized out of the blue.
It's fine. Anyone would've opposed.
Sending absurdly low-level users out wasn't easy.
No. Still, Hoyoung wants to reward you for that too.
Reward?
Yeah. Items from Hoyoung's stock and envelopes prepared.
Yeo Sun-woo placed two envelopes on the table.
Oh, what's this.
Lee Na-yeon panicked, but Jeong Hoon casually picked one up and checked inside.
Checks.
Ooh, 100 million.
100-million-won checks each.
Throughout the guild war event, Lee Ji-seok and Lee Yeon-su couldn't show their faces.
Shinwa badge and ninth place.
As Korea's rank-one guild, ninth meant even first in Phase 2 couldn't save their ranking drop.
Ha I told you not to rush in blindly.
Lee Yeon-su felt wronged.
Over 90 of the blame for ninth was Lee Ji-seok's, not hers.
If he hadn't charged mindlessly into the enemy outpost, they wouldn't have folded so easily.
No matter how I think about it, it's weird! The blessing just vanished!
Lee Ji-seok felt equally wronged.
Ullion's Blessing boosted all stats at once.
Plus damage reduction for top-tier tanking.
But before even entering the outpost, a gunshot rang out, and the blessing was gone.
Then arrows rained down; he couldn't recover, and he was out.
Creak!
Then the door opened, and Lee Hwarang entered.
The man who'd scored first in Phase 2.
Tension flashed across Lee Ji-seok and Lee Yeon-su's faces as he entered.
Lee Hwarang only visited with purpose.
In this situation, only one purpose.
Phase 1 results.
You, hit by an arrow?
But his question was a bit off from expected.
Lee Ji-seok nodded dumbly.
Y-Yes It was a dagger that finished me, but I took a fatal arrow hit before.
Kid. Answer straight. Sending trash like you gets us ninth.
.
What, no answer?
Sorry.
So, describe the bastard who smoked you.
Lee Ji-seok was a tank.
An arrow that snapped a tank's neck in seconds.
Could be the bow I've been hunting.
A bow that could down near-250-level Lee Ji-seok at just 170? No ordinary bow.
Fella named Hoon.
Hoon Hoyoung's Hoon, right?
Yes.
The hidden-class martial artist Hoyoung recruitedhad to be him.
No ordinary guy.
Uh, may I add something?
Lee Yeon-su chimed in cautiously.
Yeah. What?
When we clashed, I saw black flames rising from Lee Ji-seok's neck.
When she arrived late, black flames had bloomed on his neck.
Definitely an arrow's extra skill effect.
Black flames? Why speak up now!
S-Sorry.
Fuck, finally found it.
No way that bastard had it.
Hey, you two, don't sweat it. I'll cover you.
C-Cover?
Shield, idiots. No one in Shinwa touches youI'll tank.
Th-Thank you!
Lee Hwarang stepped out.
Park Jin-hyeok waited outside.
How'd it go? Any leads?
Yeah. Finally found it.
Found it? Who?
Hoon from Hoyoung Guild.
Oh, yeah?
Never thought he'd get a clue here.
Guess blindly stirring shit up does yield results?
Yeah. Heading to Hoyoung right now.
What? Hey!