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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Wjin
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Amidst a pile of hundreds of monster corpses, a werewolf with eerie blue eyes let out a triumphant howl.
“Awooooooo—!”
As the howl echoed across the vast plain, hundreds of werewolves surrounding it raised their heads and howled in unison.
“Awooooooo—!”
The resonant howls declared the werewolves’ victory. Razaka, the blue-eyed werewolf king, shoved the head of a giant ogre into his mouth.
Crunch—!
His sharp, needle-like teeth tore through the ogre’s flesh and muscle, shattering its bones. The metallic taste of blood and chunks of meat slid down his throat, and the ogre’s head was completely devoured.
The feasting, which started with the head, continued until the entire ogre’s head was gone, its form completely disappearing into Razaka’s body.
Crack—!
The sound of tearing flesh echoed from Razaka’s body, and his muscles bulged. His skeleton reassembled, granting him an even larger and stronger body.
“Awooooooo—!”
As he let out a roar that vibrated the air, the last of his old form shed. Razaka’s body was now as large and sturdy as that of Haroku, the ogre king he had just devoured. Though he had evolved, his eyes weren’t filled with exhilaration or joy. A thirst and longing continued to rise.
‘Not enough!’
The power of ‘Predation,’ a gift from the world, held far greater potential. By simply killing and consuming his enemies, he could absorb a part of their strength and abilities. He could become endlessly stronger.
Eventually, he could transcend the werewolf species and be reborn as a new being. He no longer had to be wary of other predators and stay within his own territory. He had to wage war. And through ‘Predation,’ he would gain new power and reign as a true king.
A fierce desire burned in Razaka’s eyes. He looked north, towards the land of corpses. He wanted to immediately seize that strange power and achieve transcendence at once. But it was too soon.
The king who ruled the north was on a different level. A true king on the verge of transcendence! He couldn’t handle him now, not until he had grown stronger through repeated predation. Razaka’s gaze turned south.
There were several beings as strong as Haroku, the ogre king he had fought for years. He wouldn’t have dared to start a war with them before. But now, with Haroku’s power absorbed… they were perfect prey.
A foundation to defeat the king who ruled the land of corpses.
“Awooooooo—!”
Razaka, his blue eyes gleaming, commanded his werewolves with a howl.
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Ten days later, in Seoul, South Korea.
The key figures of the Korean Hunter Association, those of director-level and higher, gathered in the conference room. Normally, they would have exchanged lighthearted banter or at least greetings, but now, they were silent.
They knew the reason for this sudden meeting was not good. A heavy silence hung in the air. Yoon Sung-jin, the head of the Monster Gestation Management Bureau, spoke cautiously.
“I’m sure you’ve all heard the news, but I’ll explain it clearly once again. Razaka, the werewolf king, who was expected to be annihilated in the battle with Haroku, the ogre king, has survived.”
The Monster Kings, beings who had created their own territories in what was once human land and ruled over specific regions. The human race, currently classifying them as a major threat, constantly monitored their movements via satellite.
“Razaka, having achieved victory, immediately led his army south and clashed with the Great Spider horde, including Lyudmila, who inhabited the vicinity of Gaesong.”
He paused and used a remote to project a video of the battle between the werewolves and the Great Spiders.
“Although the spiderwebs are hindering their movement, as you can see, the difference in power is overwhelming. It’s estimated that Razaka will achieve victory within 20 days, or 30 at the latest.”
It could have been dismissed as mere speculation. Perhaps, with luck, Lyudmila and Razaka would annihilate each other. But the Hunter Association, responsible for the safety of its citizens and the nation, couldn’t rely on such vague hopes.
If it had been a minor issue, an emergency meeting wouldn’t have been called.
Vice President Ko Tae-hyun, his face grim, spoke. “What’s the minimum force required to subdue Razaka and his werewolf army?”
There was no room for compromise or coexistence. Based on the information gathered so far, Razaka was extremely violent and belligerent.
Unlike Lyudmila and the Great Spiders, who remained within their territory, he was a tyrant who could invade South Korea at any moment if the breakwater that was Lyudmila disappeared. For the Korean Hunter Association, he was a very dangerous monster.
The wisest course of action was to strike first and subdue him as quickly as possible. Of course, it wouldn’t be easy.
“Based on the data accumulated by the World Hunter Association… one SSS-rank hunter who can face Razaka head-on, and about 100 A+-rank or higher hunters to support them, would be the minimum force required.”
This meant that two or three of the five major guilds representing South Korea had to join forces. Since the guilds were private enterprises acting in their own interests, reaching an agreement would be difficult.
Normally, he would have had to go through a lot of trouble to find a compromise between the guilds. But now, there was no need. There was one person in Korea who could lead both Baekho and Bulsae, who belonged to the five major guilds.
‘I just have to persuade one person, Hunter Lee Seong-joon.’
If he officially declared that he would form a subjugation team, Baekho and Bulsae wouldn’t stand idly by. They would have to join to ensure the safety of Lee Seong-joon, the future of their guilds.
This meant they could instantly meet the requirements for the subjugation team Yoon Sung-jin had mentioned. Ko Tae-hyun smiled and looked at Team Leader Jo Kang-hyun.
“Please request Hunter Lee Seong-joon to lead the subjugation of Razaka. There are no restrictions on the rewards. I will do whatever it takes to get the government’s approval, so make sure he accepts unconditionally.”
The executives who were close to Ko Tae-hyun, having been briefed beforehand, remained calm. But some couldn’t.
“Vice President, you mean…?”
Ko Tae-hyun looked at the questioning department heads and said quietly, “It’s exactly as you think. I will go to the Blue House and have a talk with the President myself.”
The department heads’ eyes widened. Although he had recently consolidated power by using political and business figures to fight the Myungye Group, that was as far as it went. He had always maintained a neutral stance, trying to keep a balance.
In fact, he had always drawn a clear line between political matters and government affairs. But now, he had declared that he would personally go to the Blue House and talk to the President. He had crossed the line he had set for himself.
This meant he had revealed his intentions and declared his full support for Lee Seong-joon. This alone was surprising, but Ko Tae-hyun’s next move was even bolder. He looked at the department heads with a calm gaze and asked quietly,
“What will you do?”
“…”
The department heads swallowed. This wasn’t a simple question. Their opinions represented the Korean Hunter Association. Depending on their words, the Association could officially declare its support for Hunter Lee Seong-joon.
‘I’d like to object right away, but…’
To be precise, they would have normally objected and expressed their personal opinions. They had personal ties to other guilds and hunters. But if the Association officially supported Lee Seong-joon, they would have to sever those ties.
They would lose the various benefits they were enjoying, so this situation was unwelcome. But they couldn’t object to Ko Tae-hyun’s question. He was already a powerful figure within the Association, and Lee Seong-joon’s recent achievements had further solidified his position.
Moreover, the key department heads who could have checked him had been ousted. The new department heads were all his close associates. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that the Korean Hunter Association was now completely in his hands.
He had declared this knowing this fact. There was no room for objection from the beginning. Finally, with a look of resignation, the department heads began to nod one by one.
“…We will follow your decision, Vice President.”
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