Awakened as a Money-Spending Genius Enhancer - Chapter 56

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 56

Chapter 56. How Many Died, I Wonder?

In the past, Hwa Jin-hwan had teamed up with Cheong Jeong-kwon to work together.

However, Cheong Jeong-kwon and Hwa Jin-hwan were like ice and fire.

They were destined to clash.

Ice. Cheong Jeong-kwon.

He was a prudent Tank who valued safety above all.

Some even considered him frustratingly cautious.

Thanks to that prudence, Cheong Jeong-kwon had never lost a single teammate.

Throughout dozens of missions, he had protected every single colleague.

That record alone spoke volumes about his skills as a Tank.

There was only one time he had forced a young Hunter into early retirement.

It was during a Gate mission alongside Fire. Hwa Jin-hwan.

Hwa Jin-hwan would charge ahead without considering his teammates.

It was because of his bad habit.

Though it was a team mission, Hwa Jin-hwan was obsessed with personal ‘Achievement’.

To earn a new title, he engaged in reckless combat.

Because of that, contrary to predictions, an intermediate Boss Monster was summoned quickly.

“Hwa Jin-hwan, that crazy bastard…!”

“Everyone fall back!”

Cheong Jeong-kwon fought to protect his teammates.

“Get behind me!”

However, the Youngest Hunter who had just awakened and lacked experience couldn’t evacuate quickly enough.

“Aaaaah!”

In the end, the youngest suffered fatal injuries.

She was a boxer, and her right arm became completely paralyzed.

Cheong Jeong-kwon had to force the young rookie into retirement.

Naturally, Hwa Jin-hwan was immediately expelled from ‘Cheongjeong’.

Hwa Jin-hwan, who had been a successful Dealer at the time, started streaming broadcasts.

He connected his ‘Streaming’ Skill to the contemporary internet broadcast platform ‘Afreeca’.

By showing dungeon missions through real-time streaming,

he went around stirring up trouble everywhere.

──He was essentially the originator of Hunter streamers, ‘Huntreamers’.

However, Hwa Jin-hwan’s Huntreamer career didn’t last long.

It was because he encountered Cheong Jeong-kwon in a special Event Dungeon.

The ‘Tournament Dungeon’, which the public called a ‘Battle Royale Dungeon’.

Cheong Jeong-kwon and Hwa Jin-hwan were both A-rank.

Cheong Jeong-kwon’s domestic Tank ranking at the time was between 3rd and 6th place.

Hwa Jin-hwan’s domestic Dealer ranking at the time was 5th place.

Their skills were expected to be evenly matched.

They were called destined rivals by the public.

However, the outcome of the fight was clear.

As soon as the ‘Battle Royale Dungeon’ began.

“Guh, guaaaah!”

Cheong Jeong-kwon beat the hell out of Hwa Jin-hwan.

Until he suffered fatal damage inside the dungeon and was eliminated.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

Pinned under Cheong Jeong-kwon’s ridiculously large body, under those incredibly heavy fists.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

Hwa Jin-hwan was beaten one-sidedly.

As a result.

Hwa Jin-hwan ended up in last place out of 100 during his live Huntreamer broadcast.

His ranking also plummeted out of the top 100 in an instant, creating a complete disaster!

“This is revenge for our youngest.”

The story of how Cheong Jeong-kwon wore the retired fighter’s gloves and avenged her became famous.

Cheong Jeong-kwon’s reputation soared and his golden age began.

Hwa Jin-hwan was treated like trash by the public and fell into the abyss.

Even after that, Hwa Jin-hwan moved between various guilds.

But he was expelled from each one due to conflicts.

Eventually, he created his own guild ‘Hwajin’, dreaming of a comeback.

* * *

Even to this day, five years later.

For his entire life.

In domestic guild rankings, ‘Hwa Jin-hwan’ had never once beaten ‘Cheongjeong’.

That wasn’t all.

Even though Cheong Jeong-kwon’s prime had ended.

The authority of his guild, ‘Cheongjeong’, only continued to grow higher each day.

Cheong Jeong-kwon was still riding high like a ship with full sails.

Not only had he recruited the A-rank Hunter siblings Park Seri and Park Ji-sung, who were considered major acquisitions in the scouting market.

Now he even had the world’s only Enhancement Specialist.

─Park Kang-hoon!

“Graaaah! Cheongjeong!!”

Slamming the table, Hwa Jin-hwan trembled with rage.

Just like when Cheong Jeong-kwon had slapped him in his younger days.

“I’ll destroy them…!”

The triumphant guild ‘Cheongjeong’.

Watching their success made his teeth grind involuntarily.

“After ruining my life, he thinks he can live well all by himself!?”

In truth, if Hwa Jin-hwan hadn’t done streaming broadcasts, his downfall wouldn’t have happened.

But anyway, Hwa Jin-hwan resented Cheong Jeong-kwon.

While Cheong Jeong-kwon had forgotten all about the past and was busy running his successful guild these days.

Hwa Jin-hwan was trapped in the past, planning his revenge.

“Kehehehe…, no matter what preparations ‘Cheongjeong’ makes, they’ll never be able to clear the Slime Poison Swamp Dungeon!”

Screwing over Cheong Jeong-kwon somehow.

That was Hwa Jin-hwan’s only life goal.

What did Cheong Jeong-kwon treasure most?

His guild teammates.

“Then I’ll have to destroy those teammates!”

Upon learning that ‘Cheongjeong’ had been assigned to this special Event Dungeon, the ‘Guild War’.

Hwa Jin-hwan had spent big money for behind-the-scenes manipulation.

He had borrowed black hands.

To ensure the ‘Cheongjeong’ guild was placed in the ‘Slime’s Poison Swamp’ dungeon!

‘Slime’s Poison Swamp Dungeon’.

A place infamous for causing poisoning just by breathing the air upon entry, with severe side effects!

“Hehe… Damn Cheongjeong! After the A-rank siblings, now they even get the vitality merchant’s help!”

Cheongjeong Guild hadn’t really done anything dirty.

They just happened to gain Park Kang-hoon after the Park siblings due to their good reputation.

However, for Hwa Jin-hwan, ‘facts’ weren’t important.

Blinded by revenge, he had made thorough preparations for this sabotage.

He had obtained classified information through an official government dungeon manager.

“This guild war dungeon is a new type, right?”

What did it mean for a poison-type dungeon to be a new type?

It meant the toxic properties were also a completely new type of poison!

In other words, existing antidote items would be completely ineffective!

Even if they were expensive magic items of Epic grade or higher.

“Fail, Cheongjeong! Fail miserably! Kahahaha! I’ll summon my troll army to torment you!”

While saying this, Hwa Jin-hwan checked his watch.

By now, the ‘Cheongjeong’ guild members would be struggling in the poison swamp dungeon.

“I wonder how many died~?”

He was rubbing his hands together gleefully when,

At perfect timing, his CEO office door burst open.

“G-Guild Master!”

The one who frantically opened the door and rushed in was Hwa Jin-hwan’s subordinate.

“There’s news that just came in! The ‘Cheongjeong’ guild, the ‘Cheongjeong’ guild just now in the ‘Slime’s Poison Swamp’ dungeon…!”

“Yes! How many got poisoned!? What’s the death count!?”

Mission failure was a given.

What Hwa Jin-hwan was really hoping for was

Cheongjeong’s successful hunters dying off.

A hunter’s death would be the guild master’s responsibility.

If that happened, not only the A-rank siblings but

‘The famous vitality merchant Park Kang-hoon would definitely leave too!’

To Hwa Jin-hwan, who was smiling wickedly with anticipation,

“Huh?”

His subordinate responded with confusion.

Then he said something unexpected.

“They cleared it in one try, sir.”

“What… what did you say?”

One try.

In just a single attempt.

News that they had completed the poison swamp dungeon mission.

That wasn’t all.

“Moreover, they completed it so quickly that they’re ranked 1st in the guild war.”

“What did you say…?!”

“They were 3 hours and 40 minutes faster than the previous 1st place guild.”

“Whaaaat!”

This was the complete opposite of Hwa Jin-hwan’s plan.

The dungeon matching manipulation he’d achieved by pushing them to their deaths and even using dirty money.

Thanks to that, Cheongjeong’s reputation had actually risen!

“H-how is that possible!? It’s a new poison dungeon! Ordinary magic items shouldn’t be able to detoxify it!”

Yet they cleared it on the first try,

And even ranked 1st in the entire guild war?

“So you’re saying Cheongjeong’s ranking will rise even higher!?”

“I-I suppose so…?”

“Aaaaah! How! How did they do it!”

Screaming at the top of his lungs, Hwa Jin-hwan grabbed and pulled at his hair.

Watching him, his subordinate cautiously stepped backward.

‘Should I really stay at this guild…?’

While considering a job transfer.

* * *

Meanwhile, at the ‘Cheongjeong’ guild.

One hour before the four special dungeon team members were to depart.

Watching the hunters carefully surrounding a single [Poison Purification Necklace +3], Kang Hoon crossed his arms.

And asked.

“By the way, is there a reason you’re preparing so precariously?”

“Huh? What do you mean by that?”

“I was wondering if you’re the type who enjoys thrills.”

No one in the conference room understood what he meant.

It sounded nonsensical.

Who in the world would prepare precariously on purpose

Just to enjoy thrills when going to a dungeon?

It was an absurd question!

‘Is he joking?’

But Kang Hoon, the one asking, was far too serious.

Everyone was left speechless.

“Huh…?”

After opening and closing his mouth for a moment, Cheong Jeong-kwon finally spoke.

“Park Kang-hoon Hunter. No, brother! What do you mean? Even with full preparation, dungeons are precarious. Especially in cases like today’s guild war.”

It was a team battle with multiple participants.

Naturally, the dungeon’s difficulty would increase as well.

“It’s not just our lives on the line, but our guild’s fate as well.”

At that, Kang Hoon narrowed his eyes.

“So you’re saying it would be better to prepare as safely as possible?”

“Of course! If we could!”

After shouting that, Cheong Jeong-kwon’s expression changed.

After making everyone bewildered with his absurd question,

Kang Hoon was smiling.

As if he’d heard something welcome.

“Park Kang-hoon Hunter. Could it be…?”

Before Cheong Jeong-kwon could finish his hopeful ‘surely not’ statement,

“Then, please wait here for a moment.”

Kang Hoon said.

Then he gestured to Lucky sitting in the corner and headed outside.

“Huh? Where are you going?”

“Jongno Underground Shopping Center.”

A destination no one had expected.

Leaving those words behind, Kang Hoon left with Lucky.

Simultaneously, the hunters all rushed to the conference room window.

They could see Kang Hoon exiting the guild building.

He seemed to jump up from where he stood,

Whoosh!

Kang Hoon ‘mounted’ Lucky’s back.

“Wh-whoa! It’s huge!”

The Spirit Dog, Lucky, had grown large enough to occupy more than one lane of traffic.

And what about its movement?

Its running speed had also become incredibly fast.

With Kang Hoon on its back, Lucky instantly disappeared from the Hunters’ sight.

“Wow… Even though we’re not inside a dungeon, that summoned creature obeys so well.”

“Can a Unique-grade spirit really be that obedient?”

The ability to handle summoned creatures.

‘Handling’ is both the ability and value of a Summoner.

The higher the grade and stronger the summoned creature, the less likely it is to obey a weak summoner.

But Lucky was different.

It seemed to fully accept Kang Hoon as its master.

It followed without any doubt.

Even though Kang Hoon wasn’t even a professional Summoner.

“That Summoned Spirit Dog was also created by Hunter Park Kang-hoon through enhancement, right?”

“What an amazing ability. I’m jealous…”

About 5 minutes passed like that.

Before they could even finish being amazed, Kang Hoon returned.

Riding ‘Lucky’ to move around, its speed seemed faster than most cars.

“At that rate, he’ll get a speeding ticket.”

“Where would they stick it? On the Spirit Dog’s butt?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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