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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Simzy
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“Haha! Eat your fill! You’re our young lady’s benefactor, so ask for anything you want!” Kang Hangcheol offered food with a benevolent smile.
Right now, Lee Rowoon, Kang Hangcheol, and Kang Eun-ha were sitting in the banquet hall within the Kangha Group building, prepared for the reception.
Appetizing dishes were laid out on the large table.
Munch.
Lee Rowoon picked up food and put it in his mouth without hesitation.
“Hoo! Impressive indeed! You don’t even consider the possibility of poison?” Kang Hangcheol laughed heartily, watching him.
“Of course, there’s no poison, so feel free to eat as much as you like!”
“Poison doesn’t work on me anyway.”
Munch.
“It’s delicious. It’s been a while since I’ve had a decent meal.”
Kang Hancheol’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Lee Rowoon.
Before coming to the banquet hall…
‘What is your purpose in coming to the Blood Cult?’
The intense encounter in the lobby.
It was no different from a volatile situation.
If Lee Rowoon had made a rash move, the Blood Cult’s special assassination unit, the Dark Blood Unit, which was prepared in the lobby, would have moved to kill him.
But Kang Hangcheol couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh at Lee Rowoon’s following words.
‘Is this how the Blood Cult treats its benefactors? I’m hungry, let’s eat first.’
Was he unaware of his situation, or had he lost his fear?
At that calm reply, Kang Hangcheol eventually laughed and prepared a place in the banquet hall.
‘The colleague killer, Lee Rowoon.’
He knew about him.
That made him even more curious.
There was no information anywhere that Lee Rowoon was associated with the Blood Cult.
He had hastily inquired upon hearing that Lee Rowoon was coming here, and he had learned that Lee Rowoon had been enslaved by the Hwasan Guild for five years and was recently reported dead.
‘It’s definitely Internal Energy.’
The reappearing Lee Rowoon possessed not only a completely different personality and appearance from what was publicly known but also the power of a martial artist, not a player.
Furthermore…
‘What is your true identity?’
Something was stimulating Kang Hangcheol’s interest.
He knew that Lee Rowoon possessed Internal Energy, but he couldn’t easily guess its level.
‘It’s certainly not above mine.’
There weren’t many ways to hide one’s Internal Energy so effectively.
If there was, it was only one.
‘Are you really a cult member?’
Only a special method passed down in the Demonic Cult.
“If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask!”
“More meat.”
“Hahaha! Bring more meat!”
Kang Hancheol wasn’t the only one observing Lee Rowoon.
‘Hoo.’
Lee Rowoon was also observing Kang Hangcheol.
The Guild Leader of Kangha Guild, Kang Hangcheol.
He was known as an S-rank player.
But the energy he felt from him now was clearly Internal Energy.
‘He’s a martial artist.’
The silver energy of Internal Energy.
That wasn’t all.
‘His level is also misunderstood.’
An S-rank player, the equivalent of the Transcendent Realm for a martial artist.
Of course, that wasn’t wrong, but to be precise, Kang Hangcheol’s level was at the peak of the Transcendent Realm.
The level just before the Enlightenment Realm, also called the High Ranker realm.
A level slightly higher than his own in the past.
“I heard our young lady received a favor from you while she was out on a mission without my knowledge. If there’s anything you desire, I’ll grant it. Tell me anything.” Kang Hangcheol spoke to Lee Rowoon, who was eating.
“Of course…”
The atmosphere changed.
A heavier, hotter feeling.
“But there’s something you must promise me first.”
Lee Rowoon wiped his oil and blood-stained mouth and replied.
“Are you asking me to join the Blood Cult?”
“That’s right. It seems you know quite a bit about us. Can you tell me how that’s possible? Surely…” Kang Hangcheol’s eyes deepened.
“I’ve never heard that the colleague killer, Lee Ro-woon, is a cult member.”
Their eyes met.
“Did you perhaps become a cult member while working at the Hwasan Guild’s body disposal grounds?”
“Hmm. You could say it’s similar.”
“Then…” Kang Hangcheol finally uttered his last words.
“I heard you were asked whether you belonged to the Heavenly or Blood faction. Which side are you on?”
The Heavenly and Blood factions.
They were also terms that distinguished the Heavenly Demonic Cult and the Blood Cult.
Although they were collectively referred to by the single root, the Demonic Cult, by now, they could be considered entirely separate organizations with completely different purposes and powers.
“Right now, I’d say I’m on the Blood faction side.”
“Right now? Well, I can hear the details later!” Kang Hangcheol smiled again.
Because a potentially troublesome problem had been quickly resolved.
“I’ll officially accept you as a cult member. After that…”
“Tell me what you want first.” Lee Rowoon interrupted Kang Hangcheol.
“Dismiss everyone.”
“…”
Only Kang Hangcheol, Kang Eun-ha, and Lee Rowoon were currently sitting in the banquet hall.
But an even more clandestine energy was targeting Lee Rowoon from all directions within the banquet hall.
It was there to immediately move and kill him if he did anything unnecessary.
“You’re incredibly arrogant.” Kang Hangcheol’s low voice resonated through the banquet hall.
“But I don’t dislike arrogant men that much. I appreciate the fact that you came here knowing this is the dragon’s den.”
In a low, serious voice.
“Everyone, withdraw.” Kang Hangcheol ordered.
Whoosh.
Unlike with Kang Eun-ha, there was no disobedience.
The energy that had filled the banquet hall instantly disappeared without a trace.
“I’ve dismissed everyone. If you don’t believe me, I can prove it.”
“No. It’s fine. I’ll state my purpose.”
Clink.
Lee Rowoon put down his fork and spoke.
“I’ll have to take the position of Blood Demon.”
The moment Lee Rowoon’s words ended.
BOOOM!
The long table they were sitting at instantly exploded.
“You’ve finally crossed the line.”
Amidst the debris of the exploded table, Kang Hangcheol, engulfed in crimson flames, glared at Lee Rowoon, emitting an energy that seemed to incinerate everything.
“Grandfather!” Kang Eun-ha tried to intervene, but it was no use.
“Young lady, please stay out of this!”
“….!”
“You know, don’t you? The crime of daring to mention the name of the Blood Demon is something even you cannot protect him from.”
Watching Kang Hangcheol, who looked as if he would burn down the entire building at any moment…
Lee Rowoon slowly stood up.
Kang Hancheol.
The energy emanating from him was at the peak of the Transcendent Realm.
In terms of the Demonic Path, it was the pinnacle of the Extreme Demon.
It meant he was a Ranker on the verge of becoming a High Ranker.
But the Transcendent Realm and the Extreme Demon weren’t just different in name.
‘The Extreme Demon…’
Upon reaching the peak, one could momentarily unleash power that transcended the realm.
That was the Demonic Path, Demonic Arts.
In other words.
Goooo!
The Kang Hancheol before his eyes now meant a powerhouse who could draw out High Ranker-level power if needed.
On the other hand, how about himself?
He had defeated Kim Shin-hong, his nemesis, at the Hwasan Guild’s monster carcass processing plant.
That guy was an S-rank Ranker, even at the mid-level.
But that was…
‘Because he and I had bad synergy.’
Kim Shin-hong leveled up by riding the bus, no different from Ahn Min-hong and his group, the children of nouveau riche.
Moreover, for that Tanker to shine, he needed to be with several dealers.
Furthermore, Lee Rowoon had been partying with Kim Shin-hong for a long time and had thoroughly grasped his habits and way of thinking.
That’s why he could handle him easily.
To judge himself coldly,
‘Mid-level Extreme Demon.’
That was his level.
He had undergone two transformations by absorbing the blood of the corpse dragon, becoming a Dragon Bone Body, and had nearly reached the end of the third stage of the Blood Demon Divine Art, Black Blood.
But not all that power had yet settled into his body.
No matter how fast his achievements were, absolute time was lacking.
‘If only I could use martial arts…’
He could be certain that if he clashed with Kang Hancheol now, it would be a certain defeat.
“Do you use weapons? I’ll give you one if you need it.”
“I can’t use it now. Something big will happen.”
“Huh.”
Despite that, Lee Rowoon calmly faced Kang Hancheol.
“You’re not even taking a starting stance?”
A battle stance for performing martial arts.
That was the starting stance, but Lee Rowoon only stood still.
“I can’t use martial arts either. Something big will happen if I do.”
“You…”
Gooooo!
Kang Hancheol’s energy surged even higher.
Kukuuku!
The floor, walls, and ceiling of the banquet hall, which must have been built in anticipation of such a fight, began to be shredded by Kang Hancheol’s energy.
“You are mocking me.”
“It’s not a lie. It’s the truth.”
“Then, since you’re not prepared, come on first. I’ll give you three seconds in consideration of the favor you did my young lady.”
Lee Rowoon curled the corners of his mouth with sleepy eyes.
“Was the Blood Cult such a fair and square place?”
“You will know it’s because I am treating you as a guest, not an enemy that must be eliminated.”
Smirk.
Lee Ro-woon’s smile deepened.
It was fun after all.
‘That’s how the world is.’
The Demonic Cult, known for treating human lives like blades of grass and incomparable to any Red Players or villains.
They seemed more plausible than the righteous guilds known for their fairness.
That was what the world was like.
The opinions created by those in power occupied the absolute majority and always solidified as if they were the truth.
“Grandfather…! Just talk a little more…”
Kang Eun-ha stepped forward to stop Kang Hancheol.
“Young Lady.”
But it seemed Kang Hancheol couldn’t consider Kang Eun-ha any longer.
“Please step back.”
“Grand…”
“If you want to save him, you must do so all the more.”
Seeing Kang Hancheol’s burning eyes, Kang Eun-ha finally stepped back.
Even so, she sent a look towards Lee Rowoon.
‘What are you thinking?’
Kang Eun-ha was still on his side even after he mentioned the Blood Demon.
Was this repayment for a favor?
It was a brief connection, a favor, but he hadn’t actually done her any favors.
Even so…
“Ronin! Tell him right now that you misspoke!”
It was pitiful to see her still struggling to save him.
“What is it about that guy that makes you go so far! Young Lady!”
Kang Hancheol wouldn’t understand either.
But that was why Lee Ro-woon liked Kang Eun-ha even more.
Kang Eun-ha wasn’t acting like this just because of a short-lived connection or a non-existent favor.
‘Instinct.’
And intuition was moving her.
The Blood Cult, flickering like a candle in the wind.
Her entire intuition was shouting, saying that he was the one to save the Blood Cult.
Her instinct must be shouting at her not to go against him.
It would be natural.
Her identity was…
“A Divine Maiden?”
A shaman who served the gods, a Divine Maiden.
“Yoooouuu-!”
Kang Hancheol, who had said he would give him three seconds, couldn’t wait any longer and rushed towards Lee Rowoon.
It was because he could no longer stand to watch Lee Rowoon, who had not only mentioned the Blood Demon but also figured out the Divine Maiden’s identity.
The burning fist of Flaming Fire was growing larger and larger as he got within range.
Tadat!
The cheap hoodie was burning, unable to withstand Kang Hancheol’s flames.
“Nooo-!”
Kang Eun-ha shouted, but it was too late.
Kang Hancheol’s fist had already reached right in front of Lee Ro-woon’s nose.
‘Killing Blow.’
A move used to kill the opponent.
The flames imbued with killing intent and Kang Hancheol’s internal energy seemed to literally incinerate Lee Ro-woon’s head.
If.
Pow!
If Lee Rowoon hadn’t moved.
Kang Hancheol’s absolute fist, which seemed to crush everything, was blocked by a black membrane.
Chiiiik!
The flames of the scorching fire, which seemed to burn everything, were dying down.
In front of Lee Rowoon’s eyes, a black membrane had blocked Kang Hancheol’s fist.
Chwaaaak-!
A black liquid, spreading out from beneath Lee Rowoon’s feet, had pooled at the base of both Lee Rowoon and Kang Hancheol.
“……!”
Kang Hancheol’s eyes, with his fist still extended, were shaking uncontrollably.
“Do you understand now?”
Lee Rowoon said, extending a hand and clenching his fist.
“I am the Blood Demon.”
Chwaaaaak!
The spread-out black blood gathered again, swirling around Lee Rowoon’s fist.
Thump!
A shock that seemed to shake the banquet hall.
Kang Hancheol knelt, bowed his head, and said,
“I… I greet… the Blood Demon…!”
Still filled with disbelief.
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