The Fruits of Conquest
Just like their counterparts across the globe, the Korean Hunter Bureau convened an emergency meeting the moment the new ruins manifested.
The high-ranking officials gathered to hammer out a strategic approach for this month’s newly designated batch. Practically speaking, the most pressing matter on the agenda was conquering a Legendary-grade ruin.
Director Yoo Jeongtae looked around at the executives seated along the conference table. "What does everyone think? Do you believe we stand a chance at conquering a Legendary ruin this time?"
Most of the executives nodded, offering cautiously optimistic assessments.
“Hunter Kim Yumin has the armor, and she’s equipped our elite strike force with viable swords, so it should be well within our grasp.”
“As long as we secure the rights ahead of other nations, a Legendary-grade ruin shouldn’t pose an insurmountable challenge.”
“We should mobilize the hunters from the major companies immediately and draft an operational plan.”
Securing the armor and swords from the Legendary ruin Jeon Jaewoo had cleared was an immense stroke of good fortune for South Korea. In most cases, ruins yielded raw resources like magic crystals. While valuable in their own right, turning such materials into functional battlefield gear required processing and refinement, which took considerable time. In that respect, South Korea had profited immensely from the items Jaewoo had brought back.
“Very well,” Yoo Jeongtae agreed. “Let’s single out the ruins with optimal elemental matchups. Above all, we have to beat China and Japan to the punch.”
“Understood, sir!”
If things went smoothly, South Korea might manage to conquer as many as two Legendary-grade ruins purely with domestic forces. That would mark the nation’s first true step toward becoming an awakened superpower.
Though honestly, with Hunter Jeon Jaewoo around, we’re already an awakened superpower in all but name…
The sole problem was that Jaewoo had no intention of answering to the Hunter Bureau’s chain of command. Still, the campaign for the Legendary ruins would proceed according to plan.
Yoo Jeongtae shifted directly to the next topic. “Setting that aside, what is Hunter Jeon Jaewoo up to right now?”
“He doesn’t appear to be making any notable moves at the moment.”
In truth, the Bureau had little insight into Jaewoo’s daily affairs. When they first learned he was the one clearing Legendary ruins, their immediate instinct had been to station personnel around his residence, both to protect a national asset and to thwart potential recruitment overtures from foreign powers. However, an impenetrable, inexplicable force field had obstructed Jaewoo’s surroundings, forcing the Bureau’s field operatives to abandon their approach entirely.
Several hours had already elapsed since the new batch of ruins appeared. Given the lack of any sudden conquest notifications, it seemed Jaewoo was staying put for the time being.
One executive spoke up. “If Hunter Jeon Jaewoo were willing to cooperate, wouldn't clearing an Ancient-grade ruin be well within the realm of possibility?”
It was a reasonable point. The man was capable of conquering a Legendary ruin in a mere five minutes. With his participation, South Korea could set a historic precedent by claiming the nation’s very first Ancient-grade conquest.
“Indeed,” Yoo Jeongtae nodded. “I will pay Hunter Jeon a visit in the near future and gauge his thoughts on the matter.”
Right at that moment, the double doors of the conference room burst open. A breathless staff member stumbled inside, shouting news that struck like a bolt from the blue.
“Director! An Ancient-grade ruin has just been conquered! The conqueror's name is Jeon Jaewoo, nationality Republic of Korea!!”
“…?!”
Every jaw in the room dropped in unison. A dizzying sense of déjà vu washed over Director Yoo Jeongtae, violently reminiscent of the day he had first received word of a Legendary ruin falling.
Conquest of the Ancient-grade ruin, The Unsetting Sun, was complete.
Currently Conquered Ruins: Altar of the Apostle of Death, Ancient Golden Palace, Grave of Swords, The Unsetting Sun
Available Ruin Conquest Count: 8
He had only cleared four ruins so far, yet looking at the list, the lineup felt absurdly prestigious. Two Legendary-grade ruins, one Ancient-grade, and one Normal-grade. In hindsight, clearing the Ancient Golden Palace felt like a bit of a waste; sandwiched between high-tier conquests, that lone Normal-grade ruin seemed to drag down the collective pedigree.
Looking over the aftermath, a wry thought crossed Jaewoo’s mind.
Ah. I really didn’t plan on taking things this far.
His original intention had simply been to take a quick peek at what an Ancient-grade ruin looked like—a light scouting expedition, considering he planned to clear it eventually. But while he had stood by watching Myeolgeop unleash hell, the golem had somehow dismantled the boss and wrapped up the entire conquest on its own.
And I promised the Bureau I'd give them advance notice before taking on anything Legendary or higher…
Still, with Myeolgeop flying about and laying waste to the landscape, it would have been a waste of effort to abandon the run halfway through. As a result, Jaewoo had once again become the lunatic who obliterated the highest-tier ruin the moment the new list went public. By now, the news had undoubtedly detonated across the globe, sparking absolute pandemonium.
“Man, what a headache…”
He could deal with the Hunter Bureau later. For now, checking the spoils of an Ancient-grade ruin took precedence. Even the rewards from a Legendary-grade ruin had been staggering; what kind of treasures awaited him at the Ancient tier?
Incidentally, despite absorbing a sustained bombardment potent enough to grind multiple mountain peaks into dust, the World Tree still retained the general shape of an arboreal giant. In fact, even with the conquest officially logged, its battered trunk showed signs of knitting back together.
Jaewoo’s eyes widened as he watched the colossal form pulse with regenerative vitality. “W-wait. Is that thing still alive?”
The Elder Lich let out a dry, clattering cackle.
“Maker! Clack, clack, clack! The World Tree is nature itself, woven into the planet much like the oceans, the soil, and the wind. Short of shattering the world to cinders, snuffing out its existence entirely is a fool's errand!”
Who on earth designed the power balance of these ruins? How was an ordinary strike team ever supposed to defeat an immortal ecology?
Fortunately, the conquest completion alert had registered, and the foul, malevolent miasma previously cloaking the bark had completely dissipated. The World Tree had also shrunk considerably, down to the scale of an exceptionally large, ancient timber. As Jaewoo watched, the great boughs lowered gently, spreading an emerald canopy above him to shield his skin from the searing, relentless daylight.
Unlike before, the tree radiated nothing but warmth and goodwill.
“It seems the World Tree is offering its gratitude to you, Maker.”
“…Really? I didn't hear it say anything.”
Moments later, clusters of plump, luminous fruits began to blossom along the outstretched branches. Jaewoo’s eyes lit up.
Could it be?
The Elder Lich leaned forward, hollow eye sockets glowing with intense curiosity. “Ah, indeed. It appears those are the true fruits of our conquest.”
Jaewoo contemplated climbing the trunk to harvest them himself, but lacking any real mountaineering finesse, he promptly abandoned the idea.
“Myeolgeop, do the honors.”
The golem reached up, plucked several clusters with deft mechanical precision, and laid them out before Jaewoo. Inspecting the radiant, iridescent orbs revealed their miraculous properties one by one.
◈ Effect: Reverses the consumer’s physical biological age by approximately thirty years. Variations may occur depending on individual physiology.
◈ Effect: Cures all known diseases and grants permanent immunity against all ailments.
◈ Effect: Reconstructs the consumer’s flesh and marrow, restructuring their constitution to seamlessly absorb and manipulate mana. Caution is advised, as the restructuring process induces excruciating physical pain.
Jaewoo caught his breath. Every single fruit harbored staggering, miraculous efficacy. In martial arts lore, these would be the mythical panaceas capable of triggering complete bodily rebirth or youth rejuvenation.
The moment any of these hit the market, the world will lose its mind.
Reclaiming youth was a treasure every ruling magnate on Earth would bleed for. Moreover, counting the glowing bulbs adorning the branches, there were easily over a hundred fruits ripe for the picking. Truly, an Ancient-grade ruin yielded rewards of unprecedented scale.
Myeolgeop offered a prudent assessment.
“Creator. I recommend that you refrain from selling the age-reversing fruit to external parties. Unlike the other varieties, the moment its existence is confirmed by the outside world, it will inevitably provoke severe conflict and unrest.”
Jaewoo nodded in quiet agreement. If an elixir that extended human life hit the open market, violent geopolitical chaos was sure to follow.
“By the way, Myeolgeop, are you holding up alright?”
Belatedly, Jaewoo turned his attention to his golem’s condition. Myeolgeop had just fought an all-out war of attrition against the World Tree, absorbing and expelling unfathomable oceans of mana. It seemed only natural that structural strain might have taken a toll.
Contrary to his concerns, Myeolgeop’s frame showed no signs of failure.
“There is no cause for concern. Among my designated traits is Self-Repair, which possesses autonomous restorative parameters. Any structural damage incurred from operational stress during combat is rectified on the spot.”
“……”
While clearing an Ancient-grade ruin had taken longer than usual, at no point had Myeolgeop appeared outmatched. Because of the tree’s nature, an outright destruction had been impossible, but in terms of sheer combat dominance, Myeolgeop had systematically overwhelmed it from start to finish. Just how boundless was the ceiling of a construct endowed with two Transcendent-grade traits?
“Still, let’s play it safe and avoid heavy combat for a while. No more clearing Legendary ruins this month.”
“I shall follow your command, Creator.”
Satisfied with the harvest, Jaewoo stepped through the exit portal and returned to reality.
The moment he switched on his phone, an avalanche of notifications bombarded the screen.
💬 [Text Message] Hunter Jeon Jaewoo? This is Yoo Jeongtae. Could you please tell me where you are right now?
💬 [Text Message] Hunter Jeon Jaewoo? Are you alright? If you’ve suffered any injuries, please let us know immediately.
💬 [Text Message] Hunter Jeon Jaewoo? Please, just one reply. I beg of you.
Missed calls and urgent messages from Director Yoo Jeongtae clogged the log.
…I’m almost scared to answer this.
Turning on the television, he found every channel preempted by emergency breaking news broadcasts.
A swift glance at online communities confirmed the collective hysteria.
Looking at the wildfire spreading across the digital world, Jaewoo let out a long sigh before dialing Yoo Jeongtae's number.
The call connected within a single second, and Yoo Jeongtae’s voice immediately erupted through the receiver.
“Hunter Jeon! Are you unhurt?!”
Hearing the Director worry for his physical safety before anything else, Jaewoo felt a small pang of guilt. “Yes. I’m completely fine.”
“Could it be… did you truly conquer an Ancient-grade ruin?”
“Yes. I did.”
“……”
Silence hung heavy over the line. Yoo Jeongtae was rendered completely speechless. It was only natural; the sheer shock had to be paralyzing. Did this inadvertently come across as an aggressive demonstration of force, proving he couldn't be reined in by government agencies?
After a long moment, an audible exhale of profound relief drifted through the speaker.
“Hunter Jeon… if it isn't an imposition, may I come visit you right this second?”
“Ah. In that case, I can come over to the Hunter Bureau instead.”
“No! Absolutely not! I will come to you! Please, stay safe inside your home and don't move an inch!”
Judging by the desperate urgency in Yoo Jeongtae’s tone, the man was prepared to break down the front door even if Jaewoo begged him to stay away.