Chapter 154
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 154
Chapter Title: The Restored Warrior's Mark
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Riandors eyes reddened.
The mark he had so desperately longed for had been successfully restored.
The Completed Warriors Mark, etched with the emblem of a valiant warrior.
Now I could die without regrets.
Seeing his master look so relieved, a smile crept onto Verds lips.
Thank you for restoring it.
Verd expressed his gratitude to Jeong Hoon.
Without him, the fragments would never have been restored.
Even if restoration had been possible, his master wouldnt have been able to witness it up close.
I could only restore it thanks to Riandor and you, sir.
Jeong Hoon smiled brightly, sharing the credit with them.
He had found four fragments himself, but the other three had been in Riandor and Verds possession.
Without them handing over the fragments, restoration would have been impossible.
Hah, by the way, whats your name?
Come to think of it, he hadnt even asked his name until now.
Verd had never shown any interest in otherworlders to begin with.
This time was no different.
But now that the mark was restored, he couldnt help but ask.
Its Hoon.
Jeong Hoon readily shared his name.
Hoon I see. Youre different from other otherworlders.
No kidding! Where in the world is there another otherworlder who roasts bandits alive?
Pardon? Is that true?
Verds eyes widened.
He had heard about it from Wills report, but he never imagined it was Jeong Hoons doing.
Ill make sure the bandits cant pillage anymore. In simple terms, Ill wipe them out.
Bandits persisted because they spread that much money around.
If the bandits fell apart, one of their money holes would be plugged.
For Verd, the city leader, it wouldnt be welcome news.
Yet a smile played on Verds lips.
Thats music to my ears. Ive hated watching those bandits run rampant for so long.
The maintenance fees didnt go to Verd.
They went secretly to the NPCs in the sanctuary.
To those in high positions.
A leader couldnt just ignore and push aside the executives.
That was why hed had to turn a blind eye until now.
Im glad to hear that.
That said, are you sure about this? Therell be plenty who push back.
If they have complaints, tell them to come see me themselves.
Youre not planning to kill them, are you?
Jeong Hoon shook his head.
Of course not. I have no intention of getting blood on my hands.
If they showed up, hed reform them with his fists and put them to work as laborers for the bandits.
Wait Then what about the knife in my gut? Does that mean Im not even human?
Riandor muttered with a serious expression.
Jeong Hoon offered no response.
Explaining would only make it drag on.
Hoyoung Guild.
Miss, it looks like Park Jin-hyuk is on the move again.
Is that so?
Yes. Word is hes heading to the City of Warriors alone.
The City of Warriors?
The city frequented by level 201250 users.
Anyone could see why Park Jin-hyuk was heading there: Jeong Hoon.
Shed been keeping a close eye on him just in case, and sure enough, he moved sooner than expected.
Ill send more of our guild members to keep tabs on him.
No, Ill go.
You, miss?
Yes.
Jeong Hoons mother, Lee Na-yeon, had entered the central tower and become the tower lords disciple.
That meant Yeo Min-ji couldnt follow her around, leaving her stuck in the training grounds, grinding away like a maniac.
With time on her hands, she was the one who should move.
Understood.
Okay.
Lee Hwarang was still unable to log in.
Even if his ban lifted and he could access, Yeo Sun-woo had killed him without hesitation.
No matter how much he begged, Yeo Sun-woo showed no mercy.
Park Jin-hyuk, Lee Hwarangs friend, had every reason to act.
WhisperMinzi - Hoon: Park Jin-hyuk is heading to the City of Warriors.
WhisperHoon - Minzi: Got it.
Jeong Hoon was the one who had crushed Lee Hwarang.
Hed even completed his third job change, so he must be incomparably stronger now.
WhisperMinzi - Hoon: Ill head there too and help!
WhisperHoon - Minzi: No need. You dont have to.
WhisperMinzi - Hoon: Huh?
He planned to handle it alone, after all?
WhisperHoon - Minzi: Park Jin-hyuk isnt stupid. He wont charge in recklessly.
WhisperMinzi - Hoon: You think?
WhisperHoon - Minzi: Yeah. What about Lee Hwarang?
WhisperMinzi - Hoon: Hes still banned.
WhisperHoon - Minzi: OK, got it. Hows training going?
WhisperMinzi - Hoon: Success rates way up!
WhisperHoon - Minzi: Nice. Ill whisper you soon then.
Huh? Was he about to share something new?
WhisperMinzi - Hoon: Got it!
After Riandor left, Verd handed over a plaque stamped with the leaders seal.
With this, no one will dare ignore you.
Thank you.
Jeong Hoon took the plaque and sought out an NPC named Clao in the sanctuary.
NPC Info
-Nickname: Clao
-Level: 275
-Job: City of Warriors Executive (Artifact)
Clao was the NPC in charge of artifact content.
A question mark blinked above his head.
It was because artifact content unlocked after the third job change.
Normally, Clao wouldnt give Jeong Hoon any quests.
Because his job was Martial Artist.
To proceed with artifact content, one had to visit the Martial Artists city, but restoring the mark allowed Jeong Hoon to take all City of Warriors quests.
Artifactdo I really have to do this?
-No, the quests are brutal
lololol if you skip it, howll you hunt monsters later?
If youre quitting at 200, skip it lol
Gotta do runes and artifacts to reach 4th job; mandatory;;
Content everyone had to do after level 201.
That was artifact forging.
Artifacts ranged from Legendary to Normal.
The grade differences were massive, widening even more with enhancements.
So users repeated quests endlessly to get high-grade artifacts.
You could only equip one artifact at third job, but hold unlimited.
Artifact Quest: What is an Artifact?
-Restriction: Level 201, third job warrior user (other jobs possible if conditions met)
-Reward: Artifact quest access
-Description: Listen to Claos explanation about artifacts.
Jeong Hoon accepted the quest right away.
Oh, youre that otherworlder who spoke with the leader.
Yes.
I see. You want to know about artifacts?
Clao grinned and explained artifacts.
To acquire artifacts in the City of Warriors, one had to find the Souls of Ancient Warriors and pass their trials.
The artifacts grade depended on performance, and chances to obtain artifacts arose during the trials.
You have completed the quest.
The explanation finished, and the quest completed instantly.
Artifact Quest: Recognition of the Ancient Warrior
-Restriction: Artifact Quest: What is an Artifact? completed
-Reward: Random Artifact 1
-Description: Pass the ancient warriors trial to acquire an artifact.
Accepting the quest, Clao handed over a map.
It had twelve X marks.
These X marks are the trial sites. Find a site and pass the trial to get an artifact. Note that the map doubles as your passdont lose it.
Thank you.
Good luck.
Jeong Hoon took the map and left the sanctuary.
Mukho, time to get you restored.
Yes! Been waiting for this!
Conditions met, no reason to delay.
Jeong Hoon headed to a small shop.
Jewelry was displayed out front, while inside, walls held warrior weaponsswords, spears, axes, blunt weaponsplus epic-to-rare armor on the opposite side.
Welcome.
NPC Info
-Nickname: Chris
-Level: 275
-Job: General Store
Chris ran a general store.
But that was surface-level; all these weapons and armor were his creations.
Id like to commission something.
Jeong Hoon presented the plaque from Verd.
Would you follow me for a moment?
Chris checked the plaque, closed the shop door, and guided Jeong Hoon to a portal inside.
Beyond was a forge.
You make gear here, I see.
Correct. So, whats the commission?
Take a look at this first.
Jeong Hoon pulled the Luminous Stone from his inventory and showed it.
Chriss eyes bulged at the Luminous Stone.
H-how did you get your hands on something this rare?
The Luminous Stone was a full Legendary-grade stone.
Even Chris, whod spent his life in a forge, had only handled a handful.
I want to use this stone to restore the abilities of the uniform Im wearing.
I see
Yes. Is it possible?
The Luminous Stone was notoriously tricky.
Extract its internal energy and use it to restore lost gear abilities one by one.
Each one took at least three days; complications could stretch it to a weekhigh difficulty.
The biggest issue: handling it perfectly required not just crafting, but alchemy too.
Fortunately, Chris had learned alchemy from his master.
He even had prior experience with Luminous Stones.
Its possible, but how did you know I could handle it?
Youre famous for it.
Me?
Yes.
Chris tilted his head.
He looked skeptical.
No wonder.
Jeong Hoons claim was a total bluff.
Proof: no users near the shop.
They all flocked to cheaper weapon and accessory shops a bit farther away.
Those places have better value.
Cheap prices, solid performancewhy wouldnt they go?
Chris charged premium for top performance, so foot traffic had dried up long ago.
Well anyway, got it. Commission fee is 300 gold.
300 gold.
Not cheap, but no burden for Jeong Hoon now.
Sure.
Itll take about three days. Could stretch to five if it runs long.
Please take care of it.
Jeong Hoon handed over 300 gold, Mukho, and the Luminous Stone.
Commissioning Mukho (Legendary).
Time Remaining: 72 hours
Time may extend depending on circumstances.
See you later, Mukho.
Leaving Mukho behind, Jeong Hoon bought some epic-grade armor for temporary use.
Leaving Mukho here?
Anima asked.
Yeah, not enough time to wait.
One year until New World became reality.
He had to do everything possible by then.
Jeong Hoon unfolded the map.
Twelve marks within the citys domain.
But he headed to a rocky mountain unrelated to any mark.
This the place? No mark on the map?
Anima tilted her head.
Yeah, this is it.
Jeong Hoon grinned.
One legendary artifact comes to mind.
Before regression, while hunting new artifacts.
James Marcus brought up one hed gotten.
What is it?
A comrade showed interest.
James Marcus grinned and continued.
Theres a rocky mountain in the City of Warriors. A legendary ancient warrior sleeps there.
Ah, that necklace?
Yep. Beat his trial and got this.
James Marcus fiddled with his equipped artifact proudly.
A genuine Legendary-grade artifact.
James Marcus, Ill be taking that one this time.
Jeong Hoons lips curved upward.