Chapter 229
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 229
Chapter Title: Past Riadorp
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A while back, Alchemist Street had been a special dungeon with a green portal.
And this dungeon leading to the Serpenti was a black portal.
To think it would transition from that black portal into a special dungeon.
Incredibly, it actually happened.
Three times, no less.
Of course, those two special dungeons weren't added to the collection, so it wasn't a big deal, but the special dungeon unlocked through this Serpenti was different.
Should I start right away?
Do whatever you want. Just dont forget that the later you are, the more it benefits me.
Baals eyes curved like a crescent moon.
The bets deadline was half a year.
Jeong Hoon had to close the ten dungeons Baal proposed within that half year.
And a little less than two months had already passed.
That left him with roughly four months.
I know. Dont you forget that you have to propose all ten within half a year too.
If Baal deliberately timed them too tightly to make it impossible, it would be an unfair bet for Jeong Hoon.
Kukuku, Id never do that. A loss is a loss. I dont pull cheap stunts.
Well see.
Jeong Hoon smirked and dragged the unconscious Aditya out of the dungeon.
Outside, the Crusader waited with a grave expression.
Youre out! You demon Aditya!
He looked ready to charge in an instant, but turned pale at the sight of Aditya slung over Jeong Hoons back.
Adityas right arm, which should have been attached to his shoulder, was gone.
Want to get beat? Come on then.
Jeong Hoon smiled and warned him, halting the mans approach.
P-Please let Aditya go!
I was planning to anyway.
Jeong Hoon set Aditya down and grabbed his left shoulder, shaking it.
Ugh Where?
Aditya slowly came to and bolted upright.
Are you coming around?
Uh Huh? Am I alive?
Yes.
Uwaaaah!
At Jeong Hoons words, Aditya burst into sobs.
Aditya What the hell happened in there?
Only then did the Crusader speak politely to Jeong Hoon, asking carefully.
Since he was showing respect, Jeong Hoon responded in kind.
The Serpenti wiped them all out. Hes the only survivor from everyone who entered.
Thats impossible
The Crusaders legs gave out, and he collapsed.
Jeong Hoon asked incredulously.
What kind of guts made you think of entering a dungeon that doesnt even show a level?
The portal had been oozing massive manaenough to deter anyone from even thinking of going in.
Life wasnt a joke.
He was curious about their thought process.
Our guild master has a Legendary-grade detection skill. That Legendary detection skill said this dungeon was safe.
It didnt say safeit just failed to detect it, didnt it?
A moronic commander led everyone to their deaths.
Dont insult our guild master!
Then what? If your guild master hadnt said it was safe, you wouldnt have even thought of going in, right?
Thats
The Crusader shut his mouth.
He wanted to deny Jeong Hoons words but couldnt.
Hes right If it werent for the guild master, this wouldnt have happened.
Aditya
Thank you sincerely for saving me. If not for you, Id be dead too.
Aditya expressed his gratitude to Jeong Hoon.
Jeong Hoon waved it off.
No problem. More importantly, could you watch this ship a bit longer?
Yes? Why?
Theres still a dungeon inside that needs clearing.
I see
Its safe inside, so you can move the bodies to the ship.
Thank you.
After moving Aditya to the ship, Jeong Hoon reentered the portal.
As the Easterner said, the Serpenti infesting the dungeon had vanished.
And in front of it shimmered a single green portal.
They must have entered there to clear that dungeon.
Aditya, I shouldve listened to you Im sorry.
Its fine. It wouldve been weird if you had listened to me anyway.
Aditya resented his guild master Vikram but not the other guild members.
No monsters for sure?
Yes. How else could I have survived?
True enough.
Crusader Arundi entered the dungeon with Aditya.
The inside was horrific.
My god
Arundi was speechless at the slaughter.
Not a single person had intact limbs.
Lets hurry and move them.
Aditya, somewhat accustomed now, grimaced and began carrying the bodies.
Y-Yeah.
Arundi followed suit.
The place beyond the portal was the top of an iceberg.
A massive iceberg where the sea wasnt even visible, with a city gate leading to the capital atop it.
Jeong Hoon touched the ground.
It was lukewarmbarely any cold at all.
Preservation magic, huh.
Preservation magic kept the iceberg from melting.
Plants were even growing on it.
All unfamiliar plants, their roots visibly buried in the transparent ice below.
Starting the first episode.
EP.1 Past Riadorp
The episode began.
The city gate opened, revealing three soldiers.
Phew, whys everything so damn busy?
Tell me about it.
Wait! Intruder!
Mid their idle chatter, one soldier pointed at Jeong Hoon.
They all drew swords, aiming at him as they approached slowly.
Jeong Hoon calmly raised both hands to show no hostility.
A question mark blinked over the middle soldiers head.
Episode Quest: Mighty Nation Riadorp
-Restriction: Serpenti Subjugation
-Reward: Next quest available EXP
-Description: Enter Riadorp.
The first quest was to enter Riadorp.
Squeak.
Then, Na-tae tried to crawl out from his pocket.
Jeong Hoon pushed it back in.
Its not food.
Even food had to be picky.
These were NPCs for episode progression.
Accepting the quest made the guards even fiercer.
Show your ID.
Fail to do so, and well treat you as an enemy.
ID.
Naturally, Jeong Hoon had none.
What to do
Jeong Hoon pondered briefly.
The quest was to enter Riadorp.
Meaning, get in by any means necessary.
Sorry.
Wha Gah!
Hup! Kugh!
You crazy bast Guh!
Jeong Hoon unleashed Sky Step and hand-blade strikes, subduing them swiftly.
All three dropped in seconds.
Is it really okay to just barge in like this?
Mukho asked incredulously.
No other decent way.
He could tell from the guards eyes.
Intense wariness toward outsiders.
Convincing them to let him in was impossible.
Subduing and slipping in was the best option.
Jeong Hoon passed them and stealthily crossed into Riadorp.
Wh-Whos there!
Of course, getting caught was only a matter of time.
But Jeong Hoon used Sky Step to shake them off easily.
He spotted a beggar sitting on the street.
An exclamation mark blinked over his headit seemed this was the intended way in.
NPC Info
- Nickname: Petric
- Level: 50
- Job: Beggar
Jeong Hoon approached the beggar.
Quest completed.
Gained 3,000,000 EXP.
Next quest available.
A question mark blinked over the beggars head again.
Episode Quest: Crawford
-Restriction: Enter Riadorp
-Reward: Next quest available EXP
-Description: Make contact with a Crawford guild member and enter guild HQ. (Code: !)
The next quest was guild entry.
For some reason, the beggar wasnt just a beggar.
Jeong Hoon accepted and approached quietly.
Are you with Crawford Guild?
Huh? Whats that? Cmon, spare some coin I havent eaten in days, Im gonna die
He rubbed his starving belly, begging Jeong Hoon.
Jeong Hoon chuckled and pulled paper and pen from his inventory.
He wrote the quests code on it.
No idea what it meant.
It was just converted to computer symbols upon quest assignment.
Guide me to Crawford?
Jeong Hoon showed the paper with the code and asked again.
The beggars dumb expression flipped 180 degrees.
Follow me.
He stood quietly, scanning the surroundings.
NPC Info
- Nickname: Petric
- Level: 250
- Job: Crawford Guild Member
The NPC info changed, level jumping from 50 to 250.
He led Jeong Hoon vigilantly to a tavern at a northern crossroads of Riadorp.
Here?
Thats right.
Petric nodded and opened the tavern door.
A man tilting his glass at a table shot up.
Hey! Ruining my drinkwhys a beggar barging in?!
Shoddy.
Even with top-tier acting, it looked awkward to Jeong Hoon.
What? Cant I come in?
Petric retorted, and the man grabbed his collar.
You think words are enough, punk? Repeat after meyoure dead today.
As he dragged Petric outside, Petric subtly gestured to Jeong Hoon alone.
Follow.
Jeong Hoon trailed obediently.
They went to a narrow alley beside the building.
Hes the one who gave the code.
At Petrics words, the man nodded, released the collar, and bowed politely.
Yes. Got it.
Guide him to the guildIll notify from behind.
Yes.
Petric led to a small door behind the building.
A few rough-looking men smoked hand-rolled cigars out front, guarding so no one approached.
Seeing Petric, they stubbed out their smokes, stood, and bowed.
Youre here!
Yeah. Open the door.
Yes.
Creeeak
The door opened.
Go in.
Jeong Hoon entered with Petric.
A staircase led undergrounddeep, with no end in sight for a while.
At the bottom was another door.
Petric touched it; it glowed faintly and opened smoothly.
This is?
Guild HQ.
A space vast enough to call headquarters.
Seven people sat reporting duties; an exclamation mark blinked over who seemed the guild master.
Jeong Hoon approached and completed the quest.
Quest completed.
Gained 4,000,000 EXP.
Next quest available.
A question mark blinked over his head again.