Chapter 186
Chapter 186
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 186
Chapter Title: The Hefty Biriyani
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Silence hung in the air as Sa Seung-hee, the owner, approached the table carrying something enormous.
“...”
It was a massive pot. A commercial-grade cauldron the size of a 30-person rice cooker thudded down onto the table.
Inside, it brimmed with lamb biriyani. I stared at Sa Seung-hee in bewilderment.
“How are two people supposed to finish all this?”
She shook her head at my words and jerked her chin toward Shuriya.
“It’s one serving.”
A one serving that looked like thirty. It’d take a trowel, not a spoon, to dig into that. Watching Shuriya start eating, I sank into thought.
Through my blood, the Dan-gun descendants must have gotten a massive boost in their research to extract my abilities.
They’d probably succeed soon. Analyzing and understanding powers via blood was incredibly efficient.
Monsters skilled in blood manipulation could even affect souls or read memories through it.
“Tsk.”
I clicked my tongue softly and dug in.
“Anyway, why tell me this?”
“Just goodwill.”
I barked out a disbelieving laugh at Shuriya’s reply.
“Goodwill with no strings attached.”
She wagged her spoon as she answered.
“Heavens, no. It’s not without reason.”
Shuriya narrowed her eyes.
“I don’t like the Korean government.”
Her voice dropped low and dark, replacing the cheerful lilt from moments before.
“In fact, liking them is the hard part.”
“I’m not out to ruin Korea. But the heads of the Korean government? They need replacing.”
Same goal as Han Sang-cheol. I’d figured they’d mesh well, and here it was.
Time to hammer this home once more.
“Let me be clear.”
“I know. That old geezer Han Sang-cheol drilled it into me until my ears blistered.”
Shuriya scooped up another massive spoonful, shoved it in, swallowed, and went on.
“I’ll back you, so you do your part. Shaping the outcome to my advantage? That’s on me.”
“That’s plenty.”
Shuriya paused, then spoke up.
“So, why do you think the Dan-gun descendants want your blood?”
I laid it out plainly. Her face turned grave.
“Your black flames are world-famous already. That spear trailing blue, spewing black fire. But this means they could steal it.”
“It’s fine.”
Steal it? Without knowing what it even is? Go ahead, try. They’d beat the ground in regret. If just anyone could wield it, I’d never have climbed this far.
People always think they can handle it—until they can’t. Then they end up like that banshee in Jaun Valley.
“Plus, now that I know, I can prepare. Thanks for the heads-up.”
Shuriya brightened again.
“Glad to hear it!”
But seriously—when did you pack away half that pot? What, snake diet? Gorge once, fast a week?
“Picked the next Erosion Core yet?”
Sa Seung-hee poured tea, took a seat, and asked me.
“Thinking Club Shandy, but business first. Dealing with the Barbaria crew takes priority.”
She nodded faintly.
“Pirate gang run by a psychotic thrill-killer, right?”
“You know them too, Owner Sa.”
Infamous bunch, clearly.
“They strip folks bare, hang ’em on walls, play darts. Military can’t even stamp them out easily.”
“Rogue hunters and criminals banding together?”
Sa Seung-hee nodded, adding more.
“Not just hunters—their pirate crews run impressive gear too. Rumors say old missile destroyers and battleships, if true.”
Destroyers and battleships? Those maintenance hogs? Pirates with battleships aren’t pirates—they’re a navy!
“They’ve hunkered down in prime sea lanes.”
“Siberia’s open now—land routes work somewhat. They’re hurting too.”
I let out a low hum. Siberia. The mess I’d cleaned up was coming full circle, cracking their rice bowls.
“Maritime still dwarfs land in scale. Can’t ignore it, dependency or not.”
Container ships haul insane volumes. Trains can’t match that throughput.
“Trash someone’s gotta sweep eventually.”
Clearing them unlocks info on Korean government-Blue Wrench ties from Embargo Tower, too.
“You trustworthy enough?”
I gave Shuriya a vague look.
“If there are better hunters out there, hand it off.”
None are. No options, so why waffle?
“Senegal’s a haul.”
Prep’d eat time. Safest play now:
“Join a UK-Korea cargo ship, hop off near Senegal.”
Land route after. No point slugging it out at sea with battleship pirates.
Jeong Oh-hoon’s subspace handles supplies—no sweat. Plenty for three of us, months’ worth of food and water.
“Meal done?”
Shuriya, who’d emptied the whole pot, nodded.
“Got places to be?”
Time for new gear. Paradox Flame torched the magic resistance on everything I used.
Chat with Choi Seung-gi. Out of Oduak, I called him right away.
— Aigoo! Business is booming, thanks to you! Those China byproducts? Wildly popular!
Undying Legion gear, naturally. Every piece was a stunner.
“Prices tanked, though.”
— That’s on the chumps who missed out. We’re rocketing ahead!
Choi Seung-gi sounded thrilled.
— Ah, rambling again. What’s up today?
“Need gear...”
I explained. He jumped in.
— You bet! Loading you up big this time! Knew you’d call—already in production!
Already? Guy’s a machine. I always hit him up post-big-job, yeah.
— Full high-end spec set, Daebak Scrap Dealers all-in. Guarantee it!
“Reliable? Gon-salo-ok byproducts might outclass it.”
Gon-salo-ok corpses’ gear was no slouch.
— Don’t sell us short! Those are prime, but this? Company’s lifeblood on the line. Yoo Chan-seok Hunter wielding it? Our rep skyrockets!
That passion? Worth trusting.
“Money...”
— Money’s no issue. It’s multiplying. Could wipe my ass with bills and toss ’em!
Vivid. Basically free.
“Thanks. How long?”
— One more week!
Perfect—not too long.
I’d shipped him the rag from Su-moon-tak corpse via someone. Good for gear.
Minutes after hanging up, a text pinged.
Building gift. Facilities stocked. Free stay.
Lotsa folks itching to repay us during the China-Korea trek, apparently.
“Association-provided building.”
Not fully buying it.
Messaged Han Sang-ah and Jeong Oh-hoon: Finish business, meet at association building.
Got there first, swept for bugs over hours. Nada suspicious.
“Not that dumb, looks like.”
Han Sang-ah and Jeong Oh-hoon arrived while I poked around.
I lounged on the sofa, eyeing them.
“Safe slow road, or fast one that might kill you.”
“Vacation?”
Han Sang-ah’s quip earned a sour look. Yeah, typical.
Straighter: “I can rewire your nerves.”
I’d done it to myself before. Rework nerves for quicker reactions.
Bigger growth since—same for them.
Doable on others. Brutal process, needs solid base. They had it.
After my rundown, Han Sang-ah spoke.
“I’m in.”
“Could die.”
“You said that.”
She stood.
“So, what now?”
“Brace for agony.”
Not much else. Rest’s on me. Jeong Oh-hoon chimed in.
“Any rules? No talking, no moving?”
“Nah. Endure one hour of pain. Most snap from it.”
Pain crushes alone—no need for extras. Why torture otherwise?
“Sounds savage.”
“Strength boost if you make it. Hurts like hell—I’m saying that.”
Jeong Oh-hoon replied.
“You beat it.”
“Yep.”
He clenched a fist.
“Me too. Tired picking up your scraps.”
Solid mindset. Both marched into hell willingly.
“No whining later.”
No “didn’t know it’d hurt this bad” bullshit.