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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Wjin
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“Publicly, Sosumun operates as an ordinary guild, but in reality, it controls Qingdao’s underworld. They’re practically a black magic clan.”
Jin Ja-woon, his face grim, began divulging information.
“They engage in villainous acts like opium trafficking, human trafficking, and organ trafficking. Their leader, Kang Yi-ryung, is known as the Great Rakshasa for her countless atrocities… They wouldn’t request a spar with pure intentions.”
Although he omitted Sosumun’s core objective, the situation was clear.
“So… you’re warning me that they plan to use the friendly spar to harm me?”
“Precisely.”
Jin Ja-woon nodded, satisfied.
“Since you seem to understand, I’ll take my leave…”
As he turned to go, Lee Seong-joon stopped him.
“Wait a moment.”
“What is it? Is there something you don’t understand?”
“No, I understand perfectly. I just have a personal question.”
“I’ll answer if I can.”
As he had thought, he couldn’t completely trust Jin Ja-woon, despite him being a decent person.
‘Even if Sosumun is a black magic clan… there’s no reason for Jin Ja-woon of Hailong Fortress to give me this information.’
He didn’t have a close relationship with Hailong Fortress. In fact, their relationship wasn’t good. He had recently made a rather peremptory offer to them, gathering the guild scouts together.
‘And there’s nothing for Hailong Fortress to gain by giving me this information.’
It didn’t make sense.
“Why are you so concerned about me, Master Jin Ja-woon?”
It was a natural question, but the reaction was anything but.
“C-Concerned?! I-I just don’t want China’s reputation to be tarnished!”
Jin Ja-woon’s eyes widened, his usually stern face flustered. His voice trembled, and he waved his arms in exaggerated gestures.
“…Is that so?”
Lee Seong-joon was slightly taken aback by his excessive reaction. Jin Ja-woon spoke hurriedly and turned away.
“W-Well then, since your curiosity is satisfied, I’ll be going!”
He moved with incredible speed, his figure blurring into a dot and vanishing. Lee Seong-joon could have chased him if he used his full power, but there was no need. Although Jin Ja-woon’s reaction had been exaggerated, there was no malice in his actions. Rather, he’d shown strong goodwill.
‘…There’s no reason to repay his kindness with suspicion.’
Moreover, there was a better source for information regarding Sino-Korean diplomatic issues than Jin Ja-woon. Lee Seong-joon smiled faintly and took out his smartphone.
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Lee Seong-joon was inwardly surprised as he walked down the street, talking with Vice President Ko Taehyun on the phone. The information Jin Ja-woon had given him was accurate.
It’s exactly as you said. There’s an upcoming goodwill exchange between Korea and China… and we received an official document stating that Sosumun, including their leader Kang Yi-ryung, will be attending as distinguished guests, representing the hunters.
“Have they requested a friendly spar?”
Yes. Sosumun has been continuously requesting a friendly spar with Hunter Lee Seong-joon.
A brief silence followed, then Ko Taehyun continued in a cautious tone,
…I don’t know where you heard this from, but as always, I’ll handle this so that there are no restrictions on your actions, Hunter Lee Seong-joon. There’s no need to worry.
Normally, Lee Seong-joon would have accepted Ko Taehyun’s words and dismissed Sosumun. But he didn’t reply immediately. He just hummed thoughtfully.
“Hmm…”
The conversation he’d had with Ko Taehyun earlier made him trust Jin Ja-woon’s words. Although he couldn’t be 100% sure, it was highly likely that the friendly spar itself was a ploy by Sosumun.
Trouble had come knocking. It would have been annoying under normal circumstances. But a faint smile appeared on Lee Seong-joon’s lips. Sosumun’s ploy, the friendly spar, could be a golden opportunity.
‘…If it’s a friendly spar between Korea and China, there will be a lot of reporters.’
What if he defeated the SSS-rank hunter Kang Yi-ryung in such a setting? It would solidify his presence in the public eye. It would be a step forward on his path to becoming a ruler. But establishing his presence wasn’t the only reason.
‘Sosumun and Kang Yi-ryung… they’re too much of a nuisance to ignore.’
Sosumun, led by the SSS-rank hunter and Great Rakshasa Kang Yi-ryung, was one of the most powerful clans in China. They possessed considerable power and influence.
‘If I refuse the spar, they’ll try to approach me in other ways.’
They could cause even more trouble than a friendly spar.
‘Considering what Jin Ja-woon told me about Sosumun’s true nature…’
They might even target his family. A worst-case scenario he had to prevent.
‘I’ll settle this cleanly through the friendly spar.’
Lee Seong-joon spoke quietly, “No, let’s accept Sosumun’s request for a friendly spar.”
Ko Taehyun, perhaps aware of Sosumun’s unsavory reputation, didn’t readily agree. His voice was filled with concern.
It could be dangerous. Kang Yi-ryung, the master of Sosumun, is an SSS-rank hunter.
But he didn’t outright object, considering Lee Seong-joon’s past achievements.
…Or, do you have a plan?
“Yes.”
That single word was enough to calm Ko Taehyun’s anxiety.
Understood.
In the past three months, the Lee Seong-joon he had observed wasn’t someone who would make empty boasts. He was a cautious person who only acted when he was certain. He must have agreed to this spar because he was confident. There was no need for further discussion.
I’ll report to the President that we accept the friendly spar with China. And I’ll inform you, Hunter Lee Seong-joon, of the detailed schedule as soon as it’s decided.
“Yes, I’ll be waiting for your call.”
The moment Lee Seong-joon hung up, he saw a gate emitting a red aura at the edge of his vision.
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The friendly spar with Sosumun.
Naturally, Lee Seong-joon wasn’t considering defeat. He was confident he could win, even against their master, Kang Yi-ryung, let alone her subordinates. But simply winning wasn’t enough. To make it a global spectacle and etch his name into the public consciousness, he needed to be overwhelming.
‘…I need to dominate completely.’
In the past, with the power of the Demon God, it would have been effortless. But with his current strength, it would be near impossible, even at full power. Fortunately, the goodwill exchange with China, entangled in complex diplomatic issues, wouldn’t happen immediately. He had bought himself time to grow stronger. But not much.
‘…The Association, Ko Taehyun, informed me that the friendly spar will be in a month.’
It was far too short a time to achieve any significant growth, even for high-ranking hunters, especially returnees, who had fast growth rates. It was because they wouldn’t have the system’s help.
As he’d mentioned before, after the 3rd class change at level 80, the amount of experience points required increased drastically, and even ranked hunters needed two months to gain a single level.
Therefore, most hunters, after reaching level 80, focused on training or artifacts instead of leveling up.
Lee Seong-joon had also considered this. But the rewards he’d received from the Treasure Gate changed everything.
‘Monopolizer.’
His new title granted him a whopping 50% experience point boost. If that were all, his growth rate would still have slowed down compared to before. But he hadn’t just received the Monopolizer title.
‘Metamorphose.’
It had a clear weakness – the summoned being’s stats were only 30% of his own – so it wouldn’t be very effective for hunting. His current prey, B-rank monsters, couldn’t be killed in one hit by a summon with such low stats. But he had a way to compensate.
‘I can summon anyone from my memories.’
During the incident with Yang Joon-hyuk, he had summoned a being similar to himself due to the urgency of the situation. But as the skill description stated, Metamorphose could summon any person from his memories.
‘…I can summon someone optimized for one-hit kills, even with the current stat limitations.’
Countless individuals flashed through his mind. But only one remained.
‘Hyeok Cheon-man, the Wind Scarred Demon.’
He hadn’t chosen him just because he was a close associate.
‘Hyeok Cheon-man was a top-class assassin who successfully assassinated countless masters stronger than himself.’
He was known as the ‘Emperor of Wind Shadow Assassination,’ one of the Three Great Assassins of the World, more so than by his other title, Wind Scarred Demon.
‘He possesses assassination techniques that can kill in one hit, even with limited power.’
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