Ranker Who Shatters Myths - Chapter 125

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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 125

Advance Preparation (5)

 

 

 

“That solitude is called Samsi. There are two more in your brainstem and lower abdomen areas. I recommend you do not move carelessly.”

Jeong Yi-ji answered with an expressionless face even while receiving Xu Changyou’s anger-filled gaze.

 

[Samsi Nine Worms]

Samsi (Three Corpses) have been known since ancient times to reside in the head, chest, and lower abdomen, gnawing at the host’s life force and particularly having a strong negative influence on the mind and emotions.

-Origin: Literature ‘Yunji Qiqian’

 

『Hehe. Still, it’s certain you have a good sworn brother. To think he would raise his hand with tears in his eyes, knowing his sworn brother is walking the wrong path.』

An unmistakably sarcastic tone.

Blood vessels bulged around Xu Changyou’s eyes.

『Ah, don’t move rashly. If Yi-ji gets hurt even a little, your heart will burst and you’ll die.』

“…….”

『You’ll die if you don’t listen to this old man either. Still, given our past connection, don’t make me commit the mistake of harming you.』

A languid voice.

It was a tone drunk on victory.

Whew-

Xu Changyou let out a long sigh while cooling his heated head.

He had no idea when he had been poisoned with such a thing,

but the deed was already done.

Then he had to seek another solution.

“The Chairman must be quite pressed for time? Using such low-grade methods unlike yourself.”

Xu Changyou spoke as if chewing and swallowing while still glaring at Jeong Yi-ji.

The sense of betrayal from his trusted sworn brother was more humiliating than expected.

『Well, it might look that way. It’s not entirely wrong. Do you think I wanted to commit such acts?』

Feng Jinghao spoke in a whisper.

『But I know you well. Even if I try to control you this way, I know you’re the type who would rather die than listen to me.』

“…….”

『You really hate having someone above your head. Isn’t that why you kicked away Blue Thunder when things were going well and left?』

Xu Changyou did not answer.

Feng Jinghao spoke.

『So, shall I make you a proposal that might tempt you?』

Xu Changyou sensed the outside.

Lu Chen was almost arriving.

『There won’t be much time, so I’ll speak quickly. Help me just once. If you do, I’ll immediately release the Samsi Nine Worms.』

“What reason do I have to trust you?”

『Look here, I’m Feng Jinghao. I don’t take back words once spoken. I always keep them.』

For the first time, Feng Jinghao’s voice carried a serious tone.

Xu Changyou could read the pride in himself contained in those words.

Pride that even if his reputation crumbled, he would not lose his honor.

“Fine. So what is it?”

『Actually, this old man’s proposal won’t be bad for you either. It’s about catching Jet together.』

“…….”

『Intelligence has been obtained that ASTRA is attempting to contact Jet’s side. And they’ll probably propose a joint operation.』

“You mean they’ll suggest attacking the Committee together?”

『More precisely, it’s about striking you and Ping Xin.』

Xu Changyou’s eyes sank deeply.

『I see this as an opportunity. Their offensive won’t be easy, and they’ll try to eliminate you somehow. If we successfully defend against this and eliminate Jet as well, how would our position change?』

If they succeeded in stopping the joint operation between Korea and the United States, Feng Jinghao would immediately launch the massive counterattack he had prepared.

Then he could solidify his position within the Committee again.

It would be a counterattack with Feng Jinghao’s fate and honor at stake.

“In the end, you want to save your honor?”

『It may be the greed of old age, but I don’t want to disappear so meaninglessly. I’m someone who still believes I have much to do for this world.』

A leisurely voice continued.

『The life this old man has lived so far hasn’t been bad, and there are still quite a few people in the Committee who follow this old man’s will. They’ll help you.』

“…….”

『The Samsi will also be helpful. The substances emitted from the brainstem, heart, and lower abdomen are quite unique. They’ll dramatically improve your physical abilities. Depending on how they’re used, they’re very good friends that can become elixirs.』

Xu Changyou carefully examined his inner self.

 

[The same unidentified poison that settled in your heart has also settled in your spinal cord and lower abdomen.]

[Cannot read the nature of the poison. ‘Trait: Attribute Domination’ cannot affect it.]

 

‘This could help me?’

Xu Changyou momentarily recalled those who had followed behind Feng Jinghao like shadows.

They were all certainly outstanding practitioners.

They also possessed such ominous auras that one might think they were demons.

Were they all test subjects with Samsi applied?

『And when this is over, I’ll also promise you the Chairman’s position.』

“You’ll give up your position?”

『Hehe. Shouldn’t I also move up higher before I get any older? You and I will join hands and lead the Great Nation together. Just as we have until now.』

Feng Jinghao whispered sweetly like a devil.

『How about it, my proposal?』

That voice was surprisingly identical to four years ago.

『Wouldn’t this old man be somewhat better than Lu Chen who promises nothing?』

Pfft.

Xu Changyou laughed lightly.

“Your proposal is certainly attractive, Chairman.”

Respectful language flowed out again.

『I thought hard about it. To suit your taste. So then,』

“But there seems to be one thing you’ve overlooked.”

Xu Changyou stared directly at Jeong Yi-ji while twisting one corner of his mouth.

“My temper is bad, you see. No matter how plausible the whispers, when someone bites me, I have to bite back to feel satisfied.”

The sound of Feng Jinghao saying something could be heard from beyond the receiver. Jeong Yi-ji hastily drew up his magic power and stepped back.

However,

 

[Forcibly activating mana circuit! Using Attribute Domination to temporarily halt all physical abilities!]

 

Xu Changyou reflected in Jeong Yi-ji’s pupils.

He was smiling with his canine teeth fully exposed.

 

[‘Great Curse: Ring of Extreme Cold’ is raging!]

 

In an instant, the room filled with an ice storm.

Kwakwakwakwa-

Jjeojeojeojeojeok!!

 

* * *

 

‘This person…!’

‘The Dojo we’ve only heard about?’

‘He looks much bigger than what we heard.’

Dojo Ruuchen wore traditional robes that ancient Taoists might have worn, with his hair tied up in a topknot.

Walking leisurely with his hands clasped behind his back, without any particular attendants.

The Ping Xin unit members who were guiding him swallowed nervously.

It was only natural to be tense meeting a top ranker they’d only heard about.

On the other hand,

Ruuchen only wore a peaceful smile on his lips.

“Here, is this the room?”

“Yes. Mr. Xu Changyou is waiting inside. You may enter.”

Just as the guide was about to open the door,

“Dangerous!”

Suddenly Ruuchen grabbed the guide’s arm and pulled him back.

The moment the guide stumbled and fell away from the door,

Kwareureureurung-

Suddenly, with a tremendous magical explosion, the door burst outward.

At the same time, a chilling magical storm blew forth.

“…!!”

The guide and attendants all opened their eyes in surprise.

Fortunately, the magical storm didn’t spread very wide.

Ruuchen had confined its range to just the room with his almost miraculous magical manipulation.

Instead, the scene revealed inside was,

“…This is truly like the frozen hell we’ve only heard about.”

Truly horrific.

The entire room was covered in ice with thorns and spikes embedded everywhere, creating a menacing atmosphere.

On one side, Jeong Ijiga, who had been trying to escape, was frozen with a look of horror on his face,

And in the center, Xu Changyou sat in his seat looking slightly tired as he greeted Ruuchen.

“You’ve arrived? I’m sorry for greeting you with such an unpleasant impression from our first meeting.”

That didn’t mean he was in particularly good condition though.

More than half of his body was frozen with frost.

Ruuchen looked at him nonchalantly, then quietly narrowed his brows.

“Your chest.”

“Ah, this? You don’t need to worry about it.”

Xu Changyou touched the wound on his left chest while grinning.

Anyone could see it was a trace of nearly freezing the heart before forcibly extracting something.

On the floor, a thumb-sized bug was writhing.

“……”

Ruuchen understood the overall situation and quietly looked at Xu Changyou.

Xu Changyou twisted his lips.

“The weather is quite chilly, what would you like to have? This place has decent Peking duck.”

“Chairman Peng seems to have prepared a feast.”

Words spoken with understanding of the entire situation.

Xu Changyou burst into laughter.

“Yes. That’s why I cooled it down in advance.”

“Good. Let’s go with that.”

Ruuchen took a seat across from Xu Changyou.

Xu Changyou’s lips became even more crooked.

 

* * *

 

Lee Hyeon entered the interview room where the judges were supposed to be, then let out a hollow laugh without realizing it.

There was a familiar face.

“Why are you here, Michael?”

Michael Shepherd.

He was ASTRA’s operations director.

“Today I’m participating as an external expert judge. After this is over, I need to discuss business with Z-Team and NIS as well.”

Business.

He was referring to the mainland China strike operation.

Suddenly, Lee Hyeon’s eyes lit up.

“Are you really saying you’ll accept those conditions?”

Lee Hyeon had already drawn the line through Mo Jeong-gyeon regarding ASTRA’s proposal to participate in the operation, setting it as ‘backup member participation’ rather than ‘joint operation execution’.

And it was the same when Michael Shepherd called separately.

He flatly rejected the naturalization proposal for himself and Cheongroe, and only told them to decide on backup member participation.

Lee Hyeon naturally thought ASTRA would refuse.

Backup member was just a name – it was essentially a vote of no confidence saying they couldn’t be trusted.

In all the joint operations so far, ASTRA had always formed the command structure.

Naturally, he thought the proud ASTRA would never accept such conditions.

But……

“You rejected our proposal and only those conditions remained, so what choice do we have? We absolutely want to work together with Cheongroe.”

Michael Shepherd shrugged as if he had no choice.

Yet his smiling appearance felt very different from when they had met before.

How should he put it, he seemed more relaxed?

The impression the person gave was different.

As if he had become a different person.

“Moreover, there were special instructions from the Director. To help Cheongroe with all our might from the side.”

This was unexpected even for Lee Hyeon, so his eyes widened slightly.

Lee Gun-san and Cha Yun-jeong beside him were the same.

Since ASTRA’s Director was shrouded in mystery, their ears couldn’t help but perk up more.

“Anyway, since this is the setting, let’s finish the interview first and then talk.”

With the situation like this, it was the other committee members who became complicated.

‘Da, damn…!’

‘Like this, we can’t do anything!’

‘Wh, what should we even ask?’

‘Originally we were going to nitpick whatever we could nitpick… but in this situation, is there no choice?’

Originally they had to make a good impression on Lee Hyeon due to special instructions from the Blue House,

But now even the United States was blatantly taking Lee Hyeon’s side, so they had no choice but to feel stronger pressure.

Especially the Ministry of Defense committee members who had tried to undermine Lee Hyeon even in this situation had to quietly keep their lips sealed and read the room.

In the end, the interview proceeded smoothly and finished in 30 minutes.

They had to leave the room because deliberation and voting couldn’t be disclosed in principle,

But the result was obvious.

‘It’s really over. This fight too.’

The barrier that had seemed so difficult to overcome 4 years ago.

Lee Hyeon smiled bitterly at the result that felt refreshing yet somewhat hollow.

However,

precisely because of that, he wanted to share this outcome with his comrades.

Seeing them smile would likely make the loneliness disappear too.

‘Is there really only one left now?’

Xu Changyou and Ping Xin.

And the Central Hero Committee.

If he could just expel these remaining forces, the 4-year struggle could finally come to an end.

What was Xu Changyou doing right now?

Was he constantly checking when Lee Hyeon would come?

Or was he plotting some other scheme?

It was impossible to know.

But one thing was certain.

That bastard also wanted to settle their past grudges quickly.

“Then shall we discuss business in earnest?”

Michael Shepherd soon emerged from the deliberation room.

Just as they were about to move to another conference room together with Cha Yoon-jung,

 

[The ‘s narrative has succeeded in discovering the old body together with your clone!]

 

A message appeared on his retina.

Just as a smile was about to spread at the thought that a sure way to catch Xu Changyou was now ready,

a suddenly added message made Lee Hyeon stop in his tracks.

 

[The ‘s narrative has failed to absorb the old body.]

[The ‘s narrative is angry, saying that ignorant humans have carelessly contaminated the body!]

 

‘What?’

Lee Hyeon hurriedly tried to connect with his clone, wondering what was happening.

However,

 

[The ‘s narrative grumbles that there’s no choice and attempts forced absorption while freezing the contaminated body.]

[Absorbing…….]

[‘Sacred Relic: Banner of Bitter Cold’ begins to be enhanced. The rising action of the ‘s narrative is being completed.]

[Large-scale foreign substances detected, causing difficulty in absorption.]

[Absorption rate slows down.]

 

[An enormous amount of resentment and magic power swirls!]

 

“……!?”

An tremendous amount roughly equivalent to Lee Hyeon’s current magic power reserves.

Lee Hyeon’s eyes widened at the flood of magic power suddenly rushing into the Banner of Bitter Cold in massive waves.

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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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