Ranker Who Shatters Myths - Chapter 116

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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 116

Blue Thunder (2)

 

 

 

Lee Hyeon had kept his demonic senses wide open from the moment he entered the CEO office.

He was curious how the Mountain God and the Executive Group would appear to these eyes.

Director Kim Ji-sang was solid.

‘A massive will stands tall like a giant gate. It looks like the Four Heavenly Kings statues seen at temple gates… It would never break.’

His depth was extraordinary.

It felt completely different from the High Rankers he had faced so far, like Executive Director Jeong or Michael Shepherd.

‘Executive Director Ho is… sharp. And ferocious. It’s as if he would bite and tear everything apart.’

Executive Director Ho was the complete opposite of Kim Ji-sang.

A fierce beast.

He seemed drunk on madness, his mind consumed only with biting and tearing.

They were once the shield and spear that the Mountain God took pride in.

Those two temperaments were quite fascinating.

‘On the other hand, Team Leader Im is vast. There are forests and rivers… It’s a mountain. A mountain that knows how to embrace everything.’

But it was also a mysterious mountain surrounded by mist, making it difficult to easily peer inside.

And,

‘I can’t see the Mountain God.’

When he focused his demonic senses on Mo Jeong-gyeon.

Lee Hyeon received a great shock.

It wasn’t hidden from view like when Son Wukong concealed himself.

‘It’s too massive!’

She possessed such an unimaginably vast mental image that it was impossible to read.

Like how a blind person touching an elephant’s leg couldn’t know it was an elephant,

Like how a small ant couldn’t know the entire size and shape of the mountain it lived on,

The moment Lee Hyeon peered into Mo Jeong-gyeon’s mental image, he felt as if he would be swept away inside it.

Still,

What he somehow managed to dig into and glimpse was,

Something white, elongated, and covered in some kind of pattern…

「You shouldn’t peer so deeply into such things, youngster.」

Just then, Son Wukong’s voice suddenly pierced Lee Hyeon’s ear.

「If you stare so intently, do you think anyone would feel comfortable?」

‘…!?’

Only then did Lee Hyeon realize his carelessness and snap back to attention.

Sure enough.

Mo Jeong-gyeon was looking at him with a strange glint in her eyes while holding her Long Bamboo Pipe in her mouth.

“What a peculiar skill you’ve learned. Did you see my ‘tail’ too?”

Tail?

Lee Hyeon hastily bowed his head.

“I apologize. If I made you uncomfortable.”

“Forget it. If you had pushed any further, I might have struck your head with this Long Bamboo Pipe, but since it wasn’t that bad, I’ll let it slide.”

Mo Jeong-gyeon spoke with a voice tinged with laughter,

But Lee Hyeon actually broke out in a cold sweat.

Somehow he felt that if he got hit by that solid bamboo Long Bamboo Pipe, his head wouldn’t survive.

“…?”

“Is something wrong?”

“No. Nothing at all.”

Im Won-young and the Executive Group looked at them with questioning gazes,

But Mo Jeong-gyeon waved it off as if it was nothing and returned the topic to its original point.

“Ah, and,”

“…?”

“How exactly did you handle those Yankees?”

“Are you referring to ASTRA?”

“That’s right. They expressed their desire to work together with you on this operation.”

Lee Hyeon briefly made eye contact with Kim Min-jeong.

Lee Hyeon said.

“I wouldn’t say we handled them, it was just a slight conflict. Did they perhaps attach some strange conditions?”

“No. It’s actually the opposite. They’ve become too compliant. They seem ready to give us everything.”

“…!?”

Mo Jeong-gyeon grinned while holding her Long Bamboo Pipe in her mouth.

“What’s more, their director personally called me. He used to act all mysterious and conceited with his strange persona.”

“…!!”

“They still haven’t realized we’re going to directly strike the Chinese mainland, so they didn’t mention that. They just kept expressing their desire to take our side in the conflict between us and the Committee.”

Puff-

Mo Jeong-gyeon seemed pleased that the United States, which had been constantly pressuring them recently, had become docile.

“This change happened after your last meeting. I was wondering if you had some kind of conversation with them.”

Lee Hyeon recalled Michael Shepherd’s appearance.

Since he was someone who could sacrifice his own life for national interests, this decision was surely an extension of such choices.

But he found it hard to guess what kind of judgment had led to such a change.

However, it was certain that Michael had undergone some significant change of heart.

“I’m not sure either. But it doesn’t seem like there are any hidden ulterior motives.”

Lee Hyeon gave his answer after brief consideration.

“If they’re joining as backup, that’s fine. As long as it’s not a joint operation.”

“You want to reduce the risk while taking all the credit? If the Yankees accept this proposal too, we can really consider them pushovers. Good. Let’s proceed that way.”

Mo Jeong-gyeon lightly gestured with her chin toward Kim Ji-sang.

It meant to proceed as discussed.

Kim Ji-sang bowed his head without offering any particular objections.

Lee Hyeon found this sight fascinating as well.

‘She doesn’t suspect me or Min-jeong at all.’

Normally when someone who was usually strict suddenly changed their attitude like this, you’d first suspect if there were other backdoor deals.

Mo Jeong-gyeon seemed to think such things would never happen in front of her.

‘It’s a manifestation of confidence.’

After all, her eyes could see through the world.

Nothing could be hidden in front of her.

When Mo Jeong-gyeon already knew they were going to strike the Chinese mainland, she hadn’t been surprised for exactly that reason.

‘The Great Sage’s values were freedom and independence. Then what are the Mountain God’s values?’

He felt he could understand, even if vaguely.

 

—Magnanimity.

 

Mo Jeong-gyeon doesn’t get caught up in trivial matters and sees the bigger picture.

 

―Overwhelming.

 

But that’s precisely why she can push aside everything else and stand at the front.

In her presence, all beings in the world are reduced to wretched existence.

“And take this.”

Mo Jeong-gyeon threw a scroll to Lee Hyeon.

“What is this?”

He caught the scroll reflexively and unrolled it wide.

What was drawn inside was a tiger-magpie painting.

A traditional folk painting depicting a tiger and magpie.

“Use it when you go to China. Did you already forget? I told you to come visit once Executive Director Jeong’s matter is finished.”

“Didn’t you already give me the White Sun Fragrance Pills then?”

“That was just the foundation, Inseok. How could that be called proper teaching?”

“……!”

“Study it carefully by taking it apart. From what I can see, you’ve learned some unusual skills along with ‘flow,’ so if you examine it closely, it should be quite helpful.”

Mo Jeong-gyeon grinned.

Lee Hyeon stared intently at the tiger-magpie painting for a while, then quietly rolled it up and put it in his inventory.

“I’ll use it gratefully.”

“Good. Use it with gratitude, and just return that much to our company.”

Lee Hyeon smiled lightly and bowed his head.

 

* * *

 

The place where Lee Hyeon and the others had left.

Only Mo Jeong-gyeon and Im Won-young remained in the CEO office.

Clink.

The tea fragrance was very rich and pleasant.

“You gave away a treasured possession?”

“Why? Are you upset that someone else took what was originally supposed to go to you?”

“Of course not. I told you before. An investment in Team Leader Jang is an investment in me.”

Im Won-young shook her head firmly.

Mo Jeong-gyeon found her granddaughter quite fascinating.

Whether it should be called natural boldness, she had more greed and ambition than anyone, yet was also magnanimous in this aspect.

“But you said Team Leader Jang learned something elsewhere.”

“I did?”

“Then does he perhaps have other connections? As far as I know, his mentor Lieutenant General Lee Gun-san is,”

“Just a nerd who tilts flasks in his lab. How could he teach that fierce one?”

“Then……?”

“He has another master. No, it seems they’ve formally become master and disciple this time. His temperament has completely changed from before.”

“……!”

“In some ways, they’re an even more vicious monster than me, so it might actually be good for that child.”

“……!?”

Im Won-young’s eyes widened.

Was there someone in Korea capable of teaching Lee Hyeon?

No one immediately came to mind.

Moreover, someone Mo Jeong-gyeon would acknowledge.

“You have an idea who it might be, Grandmother.”

“An idea……? Hoho. Yes. That could be called an idea, I suppose.”

“……?”

Im Won-young didn’t understand Mo Jeong-gyeon’s meaning,

but Mo Jeong-gyeon continued while moistening her throat with tea.

“Anyway, originally his talent was decent and he showed promise, so I was thinking of taking him in as your junior disciple,”

Im Won-young’s body tensed slightly.

“Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem possible. Dividing his focus between two goals would only hinder that child’s growth. Instead, I’ll give him some help.”

“Help, you mean……?”

“Do you know what’s fascinating about that child? Even with such an excellent master, he’s a contrarian who tries to forge a different path rather than the one his master laid out.”

“…….”

“Even if I had taken him in, he obviously wouldn’t have listened well, so what I could give him would be limited anyway.”

Mo Jeong-gyeon smiled, looking at her reflection in the nearly finished tea.

“I’ll give him a new sword. A sword that can refine flow.”

“……?”

Im Won-young still couldn’t understand Mo Jeong-gyeon’s words, but she could easily tell that she had begun to like Lee Hyeon very much.

Mo Jeong-gyeon said while finishing the remaining tea.

“So you should keep working hard too. Or you’ll really get caught, you know?”

“Don’t worry.”

At that moment,

Whoosh-

When Im Won-young lightly waved her hand in the air, smoke blew from somewhere and took the shape of a bird.

A bird resembling the magpie from the tiger-magpie painting perched on Im Won-young’s index finger.

“I’m also running hard.”

“Good.”

The bird flew up vigorously.

Im Won-young quietly looked up at it.

A smile crossed her lips.

 

* * *

 

“You’ve received a precious gift.”

On the way out of the CEO office.

Executive Director Ho followed alongside Lee Hyeon and Kim Min-jeong.

He was going to work Eom Gi-seon hard, so why not go together?

But somehow he seemed to enjoy talking to Lee Hyeon more.

“What exactly is this?”

“Tiger King Style.”

“Tiger King…… Style?”

Lee Hyeon tilted his head.

He had no idea what it could be.

 

[Cannot appraise this object. It is not an item.]

 

It wasn’t recognized as an item to be called a skill book, and it had no writing to be called a secret manual.

‘It won’t open with demon senses either. It’s certain that an enormous amount of mental imagery and intention is contained within…….’

Sha Wujing and the Roc Demon King were also looking down at the tiger-magpie painting with fascinated expressions, arms crossed above his head.

「Kekeke! If you’re not careful, master, you might lose your disciple entirely!」

「Amazing intention. She seemed like a human who became a god, did she put that leisure here?」

‘Is it such an amazing object?’

「Amazing indeed! It seems like it would work amazingly well with Fighting Style too! Even I couldn’t produce something like this. It has character.」

‘……!?’

For Sha Wujing to say that much?

The Demon Bull King also nodded beside him as if in agreement.

「If Dou Zhan Liu represents flow and ideals, then think of this as the framework that gives it shape. It seems like they intentionally refined the mental energy to suit you.」

‘……!!’

Lee Hyeon’s eyes widened.

If that was true, then a new path had opened for Dou Zhan Liu, which he had been wondering how to train.

「What are you getting surprised about! Throw it away right now! It’s nothing but an ominous object!」

On the contrary, Son Wukong was jumping around frantically.

Seeing that, Lee Hyeon made up his mind firmly.

‘Looking at the Great Sage’s reaction makes it even clearer.’

「Yes! My disciple! Now you understand my heart! Something like this should obviously be disposed of—」

‘I should take even better care of it.’

「What the hell!?」

By watching the jealous Son Wukong’s reaction, he could tell whether it would be beneficial or not.

Executive Director Ho’s reaction was the same.

“The Tiger King Style was originally given to only two people in the world. One of them is Team Leader Im.”

Lee Hyeon let out a hollow laugh.

He knew the scroll carried different weight, but to give him what was given to his granddaughter.

Then who was the other person?

Who could it be?

“It must mean you’ve become especially dear to that person’s heart, right? The Tiger King Style is likewise that person’s Divine Authority and avatar. It’s very good for sharpening the blade, so once you solve its secrets, it will be of great help. And,”

“……?”

“Once you complete the Tiger King Style, you’ll be able to challenge the Mountain God Ritual as well, so train well.”

“……!!”

“Hehe. If all the executives and team leaders knew this fact, they’d faint. Even I’m this envious.”

Lee Hyeon knew well what the Mountain God Ritual was.

The Divine Authority that symbolized Mountain God Mo Jeong-gyeon.

Though human, it was the signature that made her a god.

But to think the Tiger King Style was a stepping stone to such a Mountain God Ritual…….

Lee Hyeon could now understand why Sha Wujing and the Demon Bull King were so excited, and why Son Wukong found it disagreeable.

‘The Mountain God Ritual would surely be a power comparable to Dou Zhan Liu. If the Great Sage learns even the signature of the Mountain God he acknowledged as his rival……!’

Lee Hyeon nodded while caressing the Jakho Sword with his hand. He planned to examine it thoroughly later.

“So then.”

Executive Director Ho stopped walking for a moment and looked at Lee Hyeon.

His lips twisted into a smile.

“To properly unlock the Tiger King Style, you’ll need real combat. How about it?”

Lee Hyeon let out a hollow laugh while looking at Executive Director Ho’s blazing eyes.

Come to think of it, he had made a promise with him before.

Sometime when they had time, they would spar…….

But after seeing his changed temperament in the CEO office, he seemed to be properly fired up with competitive spirit.

The problem was,

‘I feel the same way.’

Lee Hyeon also felt a strong urge to compete with him.

Before, he had just become a Ranker and wondered how he could face him,

But now, having learned Dou Zhan Liu and become able to handle mental energy, he felt he could be somewhat of a match.

Indeed,

How far would his skills work against a High Ranker?

“You’re going to do it?”

Kim Min-jeong saw Lee Hyeon’s reaction and tapped her wristwatch with a sour expression.

Lee Hyeon quickly checked the time.

4:11.

The Blue Thunder gathering was at 7 in Uijeongbu, so he had to leave here at least 2 hours beforehand.

“Fine. But I’ll finish by 5 o’clock.”

“What tremendous confidence. Good.”

“Senior!!”

Kim Min-jeong shrieked from the side,

But it didn’t reach the ears of Lee Hyeon and Executive Director Ho, who were already getting fired up.

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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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