Ranker Who Shatters Myths - Chapter 112

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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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The Broken Ranker

Devours Myths

 

Chapter 112

ASTRA (3)

 

 

 

Just before Kim Min-jeong and Eom Gi-seon made contact with ASTRA.

Fortunately, Kim Min-jeong was able to reach Lee Hyeon.

It was right after Lee Hyeon had just emerged from the Tower of Five Elements.

“Where are you this time that makes it so hard to reach you?”

『Secluded training.』

“Wouldn’t the company’s underground training room be more comfortable?”

『I had something to do. You know how it is, right? I always train intensively during vacation periods.』

Damn mysticism.

Kim Min-jeong clicked her tongue lightly.

Meanwhile, Lee Hyeon chuckled softly from the other end of the phone.

『What did you call about? You hate contacting me during training periods. Alumni association business?』

“I already contacted everyone about that. Most said they’d come. Just don’t be late again because you’re training, senior.”

『Then it must be company business… What’s going on?』

“When have I only contacted you about company matters?”

『You’re talking as if that’s not the case?』

After hearing Lee Hyeon’s retort, she had nothing to say again.

But somehow Kim Min-jeong found his reaction annoying.

『Alright. I was joking. But judging by your voice, it doesn’t seem like you called about something trivial?』

Eom Gi-seon, who was listening nearby, gave her a subtle signal.

A look that said they had arrived near their destination.

Kim Min-jeong spoke.

“ASTRA has entered Korea. We received an official document saying they want to work together on committee-related matters, so Chief Eom and I are on our way to meet them.”

『Who came?』

“Michael.”

There was silence from the other end of the phone for a moment.

『He came to assess our capabilities. He’ll probably make recruitment offers to us as well.』

“Did you know, senior? Michael Shepherd’s secret?”

『Roughly. I had a few encounters with him before and found him suspicious at times. I pretended not to know though.』

Kim Min-jeong and Eom Gi-seon looked at each other in surprise.

Eom Gi-seon had told her the full story of why he left ASTRA.

When was it? He had accidentally discovered that his entire combat record and skill tree were stored in ASTRA’s database.

Most Hunter data is kept secret. If it leaked to outsiders, it would expose their weaknesses.

At the time, he didn’t know how it had been leaked.

But since it was absolutely impossible, Eom Gi-seon harshly protested to headquarters,

only to receive disciplinary action for insubordination in return.

Because of this, Eom Gi-seon stormed out of ASTRA in anger.

The process also involved ostracism from colleagues he had trusted.

 

-Come on, Knight. You’re being too sensitive, aren’t you?

-Of course, it’s wrong for them to have our personal information. But it’s also true that we get enhanced training and custom item support because of it, right?

-If we’re not planning to retire, it shouldn’t be a problem, right? Even if we get injured and discharged, we’ll get our pension regularly. Consider it payment for that.

-If you really hate it, just leave and build a new skill tree, can’t you?

 

Most of it was gaslighting, saying he was being too sensitive.

There was even persuasion that information should naturally be shared among team members for the team’s development.

But for Eom Gi-seon, who had valued personal training his entire life, this was absolutely unacceptable.

Then he received a call from his friend Kim Min-yul, returned to Korea, and was scouted by White Burn,

where he met his friend’s older sister, Kim Min-jeong, after a long time and felt his heart flutter.

Anyway,

Later, while reflecting on the past, Eom Gi-seon concluded that Michael Shepherd was the one who had extracted his information.

He didn’t know through what channels he had obtained it,

but it wouldn’t make sense unless he was behind this incident.

However,

‘He figured this out immediately?’

Eom Gi-seon let out a hollow laugh and shook his head.

No matter how many times he saw him, their team leader really didn’t seem like the same person.

『It’s a type of psychometry. The activation condition is physical contact.』

“What should we do? Should we wait until you come over, senior?”

『No. If I’m there, he’ll be much more cautious. We need to know his exact intentions first.』

Lee Hyeon seemed to think for a moment before continuing.

『Let’s do it this way.』

Lee Hyeon’s instructions were simple.

First, the two of them would make contact with ASTRA.

Listen to what they had to say as much as possible, and act half-convinced.

And,

“…You want us to shake hands?”

『I’m not telling you to hand over data. There’s a method.』

“A method?”

『Do you have any unused bracelets? Preferably made of wood.』

“Wait a moment.”

Kim Min-jeong pulled the car over to the roadside. Eom Gi-seon tactfully bought a wooden bracelet from a street vendor.

“I bought one, but what are you planning to do?”

『I’m going to cast a spell on it. An interesting spell.』

“…?”

Kim Min-jeong suddenly wondered why this man was acting like this,

but Lee Hyeon’s laughter wouldn’t stop.

 

* * *

 

As soon as the call ended, Lee Hyeon also called Chief Seo Ae-ri.

『Sorry for contacting you during vacation. But this is an emergency. Back up Manager Kim and Chief Eom.』

He asked her to monitor their movements and contact him if anything happened.

And…

As expected, the moment Michael Shepherd fell into the trap,

he immediately pinpointed the location and leaped through space.

Whoosh!

“Long time no see. Over Zero.”

At Lee Hyeon’s greeting, Michael’s eyes, which had widened considerably, narrowed again.

“…Jet. Right. This was all your trap.”

I have no idea how they found out my secret and created a counter for it,

but it was quite a lethal curse.

So vicious that even my communication with Gabriel was disrupted midway…

 

[Gabriel cries out in terrible agony!]

[Gabriel’s eyes of revelation flash as he wonders what kind of demonic energy could have birthed this!]

 

Michael clenched his teeth tightly.

A curse that could confuse even the Archangel Gabriel.

What kind of method did they use?

The problem was that it had passed through the prophetic eyes of revelation so naturally and struck him directly.

‘…Usually, if there was an ambush targeting me, Gabriel would immediately notify me through revelation.’

Michael found it too difficult to interpret this situation he was experiencing for the first time.

‘This is proof that having my name deleted from the [Book of Revelation] wasn’t a coincidence.’

Michael bit down hard on his teeth.

‘I need to come up with countermeasures against Jet somehow…!’

However,

 

[The Bull Demon’s killing intent flares up again!]

 

Urgh!

Michael ended up vomiting blood again.

“Colonel!”

“Get a hold of yourself, Michael!”

The agents couldn’t figure out what to do because of Michael’s condition.

Their commander was one of the 24 High Rankers that America was proud of.

It was bewildering to see such a person unable to exert his full strength like this.

“It would be better not to struggle desperately trying to dispel the curse. That thing isn’t just a little vicious, you see.”

Lee Hyeon threw advice that was close to a rebuke at those guys.

 

[Curse Incantations: Spell Reversal, Killing Intent Enhancement, Hit Spread]

 

[The curse incantations of ‘Sacred Relic: Mask of the Golden Arhat’ successfully shot killing intent at the target!]

[The effect of ‘Title: Successor of the ■■ Great ■’ is applied, increasing the sacred relic’s power by 70%.]

[The power of killing intent and curse is enhanced, accelerating the contagion speed.]

 

Enhancement of the sacred relic using the title of Great Sage Equal to Heaven’s successor.

With the Bull Demon King’s killing intent that Kim Min-jeong possessed added to this, the power was certain.

「Kekeke! Now you can even send curses across space! This Sha monk is moved to tears by Master’s brilliance!」

「Your skill in handling sacred relics is truly precise. You hit the medium accurately without missing.」

Sha Wujing and Peng Demon King, who came along with Lee Hyeon, burst into admiration,

and Son Wukong nodded silently with a satisfied expression.

As if this was only natural for his disciple to do.

Thud!

Lee Hyeon slowly moved forward while taking out two axes from his inventory.

“Right. You want to scout us to America?”

“…That’s correct.”

Michael smiled bitterly while straightening his back again.

This time blood flowed from his ears too, but he didn’t care.

“I’ve received many scouting offers, so I know,

Lee Hyeon’s lips twisted.

“but this is the first time I’ve received such a rude scouting offer?”

“I feel regret about that point.”

“Regret? Not ‘sorry’?”

“That’s right.”

Michael nodded curtly.

“I only acted representing America’s national interests. I think I wronged you, but I don’t feel sorry. You would have made the same choice if you were in my position.”

Brazen even after committing wrongdoing.

Lee Hyeon’s lips curved crookedly.

Well, Michael Shepherd was originally this kind of person.

Taking pride in being American, considering it an honor to serve in ASTRA…

So the standard for all his choices and judgments was not himself but his homeland.

Perhaps even if he died fighting for his country’s glory, he would accept death with a smile.

He was a patriot hard to find in these times.

‘The problem is that this sometimes goes too far and leads to coercion or force against other countries.’

Lee Hyeon decided to respect the guy’s attitude.

Of course, that didn’t mean he would forgive him.

“Then how will you compensate?”

“That’s…”

“Ah, don’t spout nonsense about raising the scouting conditions.”

Crack! Crackle!!

Blue-white lightning roughly shot up over Lee Hyeon’s shoulders.

And,

Flash! Flash!!

In an instant, lightning bolts stretched out in a semicircular formation, surrounding the area where Michael and the ASTRA members stood.

“…!”

“…!”

“…!!”

The faces of agents including Donovan hardened stiffly.

They realized that Lee Hyeon had already blocked their escape route.

Kim Min-jeong and Eom Gi-seon had tactfully moved to the perimeter to keep them in check. Chief Seo Ae-ri had also joined and prepared to activate her war record.

‘Jet has gotten stronger! Much more than 4 years ago!!’

This was the thought that simultaneously arose in the minds of agents who knew Lee Hyeon.

Even though he clearly didn’t seem to have become a High Ranker, his presence was on par with Michael in good condition.

The Z-Team members were all shocked after realizing this fact too.

“Even if I kill you all here right now and chase you back to America, ASTRA wouldn’t be able to make any protests.”

“…That might be true. Perhaps they’d answer with our excessive loyalty rather than their own will, and try to bury this matter.”

Michael smiled bitterly while wiping the blood from his lips with the back of his hand.

“But our hearts are sincere. This worked out well. The most important core personnel of Blue Thunder came here without us having to go far.”

His eyes had become firm again.

“Name your desired conditions. We’ll accommodate most of them.”

He looked like when he first met Kim Min-jeong.

He didn’t look like someone infected with the Bull Demon’s killing intent.

“What if there aren’t any such things?”

“No. There will be. There’s no one without greed. Rather, Jet, you’ll have plenty. Because you’re ambitious.”

Lee Hyeon snorted.

“What do you know about me to be spouting such things?”

“I know. I know well. Because you’re similar to me.”

“I’m similar to you?”

“If you had no ambition, could you have climbed back up like this from that hellish environment? Seeing you today makes me even more certain. Jet, you’re a talent who should work with us even more.”

Lee Hyeon read the madness flickering in Michael’s eyes.

Pfft.

Somehow a chuckle escaped him.

“So you’re going to act stubborn to the very end? That’s not exactly the posture of someone who came to negotiate.”

Lee Hyeon’s eyes flashed like lightning.

“You really can’t be reasoned with until the end. Let’s see how long you can keep that up.”

Whoooosh!!

In an instant, a fierce hot wind seemed to blow,

Paaaat-

Lee Hyeon kicked off the ground violently.

Screeeeech!!

“……I simply cannot understand. What attachment could you possibly have left to a homeland that already abandoned you once.”

Whoooosh!

In an instant, the phantom of white wings rose behind Michael’s back. His two eyes sank deeply like those of a monk.

“It can’t be helped. I’ll have to subdue you first, then take you to the United States to convince you.”

The stance he assumed while saying this.

It was the breathing technique that monk practitioners show during self-discipline.

 

[The myth, ‘Servant Who Delivers Revelations’ reveals its holiness!]

 

Though his mind was still dizzy from the infection of Killing Intent,

Michael threw a Fist Strike toward the axe that was already rushing at him.

Kwaaaaang!!

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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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