Chapter 132
Chapter 132
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 132
Chapter Title: The New Gate's Debut
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The call from the Magic Tower came the very next day.
No matter how proud they were, they couldn't afford to lose a top contributor like Oh Min-jae.
Besides, he had threatened to foster a magic guild, so there was no reason to create future trouble. That said, it was unlikely they would hand over the gate technology they wouldn't even disclose to the duke.
The greatest courtesy the Magic Tower could offer.
It was to show him the monster containment facility currently under construction.
—We will arrange a special occasion for you in one month.
The one-month timeframe was concerning, but Oh Min-jae had no choice but to accept it.
After spending his days busily converting his investment-focused businesses into sources of income, Oh Min-jae received a visit from the magicians on the appointed day.
Guided by magicians dressed as if escorting a distinguished guest, he left the trading company. When he arrived at the monster containment facility, Lomez was waiting for him.
‘I hold the reins now. Money is power.’
No one on the Azelan Continent knew how much Oh Min-jae was earning.
The only one who knew was Oh Min-jae himself.
‘One thing is certain. I earn the most in the entire empire.’
Even the Pandea Trading Company, once called his rival, could not have predicted this.
‘Because of the gate trade.’
He had reached a point where he could spend as much money as he wanted.
The past month had confirmed that this calculation had become a reality.
Receiving treatment befitting his status, Oh Min-jae arrived at the monster containment facility, a place to which even most nobles were not invited.
It was a massive square building, one story above ground but with three basement levels.
The first-floor lobby was covered in what appeared to be safety magic circles, and upon descending to the basement, the true value of the place became apparent.
All the monsters were housed in solitary cells, but they weren't just being confined.
“It's enhancement magic.”
A magic circle was drawn on the floor of each cell, which was amplifying the monsters' abilities. However, most of the monsters' minds were shattered, leaving only their destructive instincts.
They looked ready to tear down the facility the moment the magical barrier blocking their path disappeared.
The first basement level held small monsters, the second held medium ones, and the third held large ones. The highlight, of course, was the third level.
“Is that…”
He saw a monster occupying the largest room in the corner of the third basement level.
An S-rank boss monster.
It was a Crystal Basilisk.
A beast boasting a presence similar to the Death King from before, it was spewing a poison so potent it filled the room with green smoke.
Even in that creature's cell, an enhancement magic circle was active.
“You plan to send enhanced monsters.”
“That is correct.”
“But will that be enough? It's not as if these monsters can cross over all at once.”
“I cannot disclose the specific details, but…”
Lomez, whose tone had subtly shifted to one of respect, leaned in and whispered in Oh Min-jae's ear.
His demeanor was that of someone sharing a tremendous secret.
In reality, he had already been told he could reveal this much, but he was intentionally putting on this act.
However, to Oh Min-jae, the news was utterly shocking.
“These creatures will invade without any delay.”
“What?”
“This is as much as I can tell you.”
As Oh Min-jae’s face showed his surprise, Lomez, in contrast, smiled with satisfaction.
“We have prepared something special for you today, Master.”
Oh Min-jae quickly composed himself and relaxed his expression.
“I look forward to it. I appreciate the Magic Tower's consideration. I apologize for my rudeness last time.”
“Not at all. We were the ones who were lacking. Please follow me.”
While Oh Min-jae exchanged warm greetings on the surface, his mind was in turmoil.
But before he could sort out his thoughts, he was thrown into an even greater shock.
Opening a door in the center of the first-floor lobby revealed a spacious hall.
“Only five people have been invited today.”
Five immaculate tables.
And at four of them, people were already seated.
They were the representative nobles of Azelan.
Duke Dupont, whom he had met before, occupied one of the tables.
Of the empire's five dukes, two were present in this room.
Today, Oh Min-jae was receiving the same treatment as them.
“Welcome.”
Someone who recognized Oh Min-jae greeted him. He was also a familiar face.
The 8th-floor magician, Falcon.
The very person who had created the SS-rank gate.
But he was not the main figure today.
“Welcome to today's demonstration of the new gate. Now, I would like to introduce today's star, my master, Grand Magician Lilia.”
As the dukes clapped leisurely, as if watching a play, a woman walked onto the stage.
Simultaneously, the curtain behind the stage opened, revealing ten enormous crystal spheres.
Seeing this, Oh Min-jae couldn't help but be astonished.
‘Life Stones…’
The Life Stones were still empty.
The reason they were on stage was clear. As if reading his thoughts, Lomez, who stood behind him like a guard, spoke.
“Today is the day a new gate will be opened.”
A new gate opening ceremony.
Oh Min-jae felt his mind go dizzy.
***
An abandoned building in downtown Busan.
Red letters signifying a lien dispute were scrawled haphazardly across the building's exterior.
Figures in black hoods entered the place, which had been neglected for a long time due to legal issues.
Although the moon was at its highest, there were already people inside the abandoned factory.
They had made a bonfire out of trash, and empty liquor bottles were scattered around it.
“Hey, how much did you make today?”
“I snagged a sucker and squeezed him for a bit. When Ju-hee said she was a minor, he just stood there dumbfounded, forgetting to even pull up his pants.”
“Heh heh! Must’ve been a sight. Ju-hee worked hard.”
“Whatever, just pass the booze.”
Three boys and one girl.
The runaway teenagers were celebrating their day's success by drinking.
“Who the hell are those guys?”
Their fun was interrupted by three figures who entered the factory.
The one in the lead, exuding a grim aura, silently raised an arm he had been hiding inside his hood.
In his hand was a hook one might see in a horror movie.
“Wh-what?”
The boy who had stood up first took a step back in alarm, but the approaching man was faster.
“Gack!”
The hook pierced through his neck and came out the other side.
“Aargh!”
“Shit! Run!”
Screams and curses erupted, but no one managed to escape.
“P-please, spare me.”
The last one left, a 17-year-old girl, begged with tears streaming down her face, but soon a hook was buried in her neck as well.
*Splash. Splash.*
Treading through the pools of blood on the factory floor, the figures expertly took their positions.
Forming a perfect triangle, they simultaneously opened pouches at their waists and sprinkled a white powder. Then, they closed their eyes and began to utter grim voices.
The white powder on the floor reacted to the chant, which sounded like a funeral dirge.
As if alive, it floated into the air, emitting light and forming a distinct triangle with the men at its vertices.
Gradually, the interior of the triangle filled with complex runic characters.
*Vwooom!*
The triangle of light slowly descended until it touched the floor, its sides curving to transform it into a circle.
The moment the circular magic circle was complete.
The surrounding air began to vibrate violently.
A tempest-like wind kicked up, swirling the trash inside the factory, and soon, an energy wave emanating from the magic circle created an earthquake-like vibration.
*Vwooooom!*
The light, which had been raging as if about to explode, began to stabilize after about ten minutes.
It was then that the men, who had been standing like statues chanting their spell, stepped back.
“A success.”
The language of the Azelan Continent.
After confirming the magic circle's power, they retreated further.
At that moment.
Something began to surge up from the magic circle.
A giant head.
What appeared next was a pair of muscular shoulders.
A giant, a full 10 meters tall.
*Kuaaaah!*
The giant, smashing through the low ceiling as it emerged, let out a roar.
It was the moment an A-rank boss monster, the Mountain King, invaded the heart of Busan, South Korea.
***
*Beep! Beep!*
A harsh alarm blared through the Mad Castle base.
“What is it?”
In response to Kang Il-seop's question from the command room, an agent reported in an urgent voice.
“Report of a Dungeon Break in Busan.”
“Busan? Bring up the gate status.”
The main monitor displayed the gates scheduled for the day.
However, there were no gates that seemed capable of causing a break.
Exactly two gates were opening in Busan today.
A D-rank gate and a C-rank gate.
The problem was, the D-rank gate had already been cleared, and the C-rank gate wasn't due to open for another seven hours.
“Was there an unreported gate?”
“No, sir. The Hunter Management Bureau seems to be in a panic as well.”
“What did you say?”
Occasionally, hidden gates would appear.
The kind that manifested in such subtle locations that they went undiscovered. But such a thing was impossible in Busan.
Gate detectors had already been distributed there.
But the surprises didn't end there.
“Report of a Dungeon Break in LA as well!”
“What?”
“It's on the news as a breaking story right now.”
The main monitor's screen changed.
It was an emergency broadcast from an American news station, showing a massive monster destroying downtown New York.
An A-rank boss monster, the Mithril Gargoyle.
The large gargoyle's charge had caused a dozen buildings to collapse as if they'd been bombed.
The scene was so brutal that the news broadcast deliberately showed footage from the most distant camera.
“What in the world…”
The reports kept coming.
Breaks had been reported in a total of five countries.
Considering there were still places they hadn't established information-sharing agreements with, it was safe to assume there were more.
“First, contact the Busan Hunter Management Bureau and prepare combat agents for emergency dispatch.”
Not long after he gave the order, news of the combat agents came in.
The agents, who had been hunting in the Decartes Mountains, immediately returned and stood before the gate leading to Seoul.
‘It’s probably too late.’
There was no gate that led directly to Busan.
Ultimately, taking a plane from Seoul was the fastest way, but that would take at least an hour.
“Stand by for now.”
Still, preparing the combat agents for any contingency, Kang Il-seop monitored the situation in Busan.
“Connecting to the Hunter Management Bureau.”
Kang Il-seop immediately put on his earpiece.
“What's the current situation?”
—We're still assessing it. For now, we've only confirmed an A-rank boss monster. No other monsters have been sighted.
Kang Il-seop didn't quite understand, but this wasn't the time to question it.
“Are there any defense forces available?”
—We've ordered emergency deployment from nearby guilds. We anticipate casualties, but they should be able to hold the line.
Just as he was about to feel a sliver of relief, urgent reports from the Hunter Management Bureau came through his earpiece.
—Monster count has increased. This time, it's an A-rank boss monster, a Death Worm.
Two boss monsters had suddenly invaded.
“Mad Castle agents are on their way. If it's too difficult to handle, please buy some time.”
—Understood.
Putting down the earpiece, Kang Il-seop's mind raced.
‘Could it be…?’
There was only one explanation for this sudden chaos.
“Has a new kind of gate opened?”
As he uttered those words, a cold sweat ran down Kang Il-seop's back.
***
The monster containment facility on the Azelan Continent.
Oh Min-jae felt like screaming.
A red energy was rapidly filling the ten crystal spheres on the stage.
At a speed incomparable to any other gate he had seen before, Lilia wore an arrogant smile.
“Now, let's begin the real event.”
Oh Min-jae's anxiety grew.
‘The real event?’
This was, literally, just the opening ceremony.
The problem was that the main event was immediately following the ceremony.
*Shwaaat!*
At Lilia's command, the curtain blocking the right side of the banquet hall dropped.
“Ah…”
Oh Min-jae stared blankly at the sight.
Two hundred crystal spheres.
‘Damn it. I've been completely played.’
Oh Min-jae clenched the fists he had hidden under the table, suppressing his rage.
Right now, that was all he could do.