Ranker Who Shatters Myths - Chapter 159

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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 159

 

Guam (4)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“You’re saying Jet left his post?”

 

“Since you weren’t in contact at all, I believe he went off to do some personal training.”

 

“Ah, damn it… No wonder he wasn’t answering when I tried to contact him.”

 

Michael Shepherd let out a sigh after visiting Lee Gun-san’s mansion in Uijeongbu.

 

In fact, he hadn’t planned to visit Lee Hyeon this late either.

 

More than anyone, ASTRA’s director wanted to have a conversation with Lee Hyeon.

 

But the situation wasn’t favorable.

 

Not only the battle report with Ping Xin, but also the cleanup that followed.

 

“You must have been quite busy lately, huh? Well, with the Committee’s collapse, Lu Wuchen coming back into the light, and all the incidents Feng Jinghao caused during his escape, it must have been chaotic.”

 

“…How on earth do you know all that? Even in China, there are very few places that can accurately grasp such information while they’re trying to hide it.”

 

“I have my ways of knowing everything.”

 

Lee Gun-san smiled warmly while watering orchids with a watering can.

 

Even humming lightly.

 

‘…How did someone like that get pushed out of the power game?’

 

Michael shook his head.

 

The former head of Blue Thunder that both the CIA and ASTRA always kept a close eye on, Lee Gun-san.

 

Though he had retired from active duty, he was still a person of interest to various intelligence agencies.

 

No, rather, that made him even more of a target for surveillance.

 

Not only had his constraints disappeared far more than when he was active, but he still boasted tremendous influence in the shadows.

 

An unfathomable network of connections and funds, plus a private intelligence agency operating in the dark.

 

In fact, most of the Crevasse operation had moved through his power, and Jet and Z Team also followed him like a godfather.

 

The problem was,

 

‘He doesn’t particularly hide this power of his either.’

 

At first, he seemed to hide it to some extent, but as Blue Thunder was perfectly revived as Z Team, he no longer seemed to feel the need to do so.

 

He even showed the boldness to invite him, an ASTRA executive, into his mansion.

 

Whether it was great courage or some kind of confidence he had.

 

Michael found Lee Gun-san as frightening as their own director.

 

‘Moreover, I understand he has no children… If that foundation goes to Jet. Ha!’

 

Michael seemed to see who would hold the hegemony of the next generation.

 

“Do you happen to know when Jet will return?”

 

“Well… He’s not a child who listens well even to my words. But he’ll come back before his company return date.”

 

“So you’re saying I won’t be able to see him until next weekend at the earliest. That’s too late… What should I do?”

 

“Why? Is it urgent?”

 

“It is quite urgent.”

 

Michael didn’t mention the mission, but somehow he thought Lee Gun-san, who was showing a strange smile, might know about it.

 

“Then I’ll take my leave first. The coffee was excellent.”

 

“Take care.”

 

Michael simply bowed his head lightly and left the mansion.

 

Lee Gun-san watched Michael crossing the yard through the window and muttered.

 

“He’s going to try Lee Hyeon’s house. There won’t be anyone there… What is that guy thinking?”

 

Lee Gun-san thought there would be quite a few places trying to make contact with Lee Hyeon besides Michael.

 

The location of his house was probably almost exposed too.

 

Yet Lee Hyeon deliberately didn’t move.

 

Whether it was because he was that confident, or because he had some other scheme…

 

Suddenly, Lee Hyeon’s answer about having an interesting way to clearly separate Jet and Gwiroae’s alibis came to mind.

 

“He’ll handle it well on his own. He’s always been that kind of kid.”

 

Lee Gun-san looked at the sky over the yard where Michael had completely disappeared.

 

“By the way, I wonder if he arrived safely in Guam? It should be about time they met… If he arrived, he should at least contact me to say so, but why is there no word at all? Making people worry unnecessarily.”

 

His grumbling appearance was like a father worrying about his child.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

Ancient India had a caste system of social hierarchy.

 

But modern Guam was the same.

 

You receive treatment according to your strength.

 

Even if you were a foreigner, even if you had no particular backing, if your individual power was equivalent, you could become upper class.

 

Gwiroae was exactly like that.

 

“Allow me to introduce myself for the first time. From ‘La Sombra’…”

 

“So we finally meet in person. I’ve heard much about your reputation. We’re from a mercenary group called ‘Red Spear’…”

 

“I run a small seafood trading company called ‘Iron Tilapia’. If you ever have business at the harbor, feel free to…”

 

“‘Black Maria’. I’d like to work together sometime…”

 

An Irish pub located outside Tumon Strip.

 

As he ordered a pint of stout and occupied a table, various figures came one by one to greet him warmly.

 

As if they had known Lee Hyeon well from the beginning.

 

Gulp!

 

Loke just swallowed dry saliva silently beside him.

 

They were all big shots he couldn’t even dare to speak to.

 

‘Why did we even come here? Just to have a beer because it’s hot? For that, he hasn’t even taken off his mask, and hasn’t even touched his glass… Is he waiting for someone? A backing force? Or a cartel hitman…?’

 

Since he couldn’t understand Lee Hyeon’s thoughts, he could only feel frustrated.

 

But he didn’t have the courage to ask either.

 

He had seen too many cartel members who had just been screaming and then died.

 

He was afraid he might end up the same way.

 

Eventually, as suffocating time passed and the business cards Lee Hyeon received became a thick pile,

 

Creak!

 

“Mind if I join you?”

 

A man sat across from Lee Hyeon.

 

A middle-aged black man with a square jaw and an impressive cool smile. The clothes he wore were also expensive suits that didn’t match this kind of pub.

 

“I haven’t said it’s okay to sit yet.”

 

“Haha. Well now, you’re quite strict unlike how you looked on the Strip? I’ll buy you a drink, so let’s share the table.”

 

Loke recognized who the black man was at a glance and gasped.

 

A celebrity that anyone living on Tumon Strip would know.

 

Ramon Marquez.

 

He was the owner of an underground fighting arena called ‘The Slaughterhouse’.

 

His nickname was Matador.

 

Once upon a time, he was a showman who would come on stage in flashy attire and direct matches like bullfighting?

 

“This side has plenty of money too.”

 

An indifferent tone.

 

But Loke felt that Lee Hyeon was somehow different from before.

 

“Ahaha! That’s money you took while robbing the cartel’s establishments, isn’t it? If you spend that, those guys will have a fit.”

 

“If you didn’t like it, you should have protected it.”

 

“That’s also a valid point! If those bastards didn’t like it, they should have protected it themselves! Hmm… Then what kind of gift should we give to our masked friend to please him?”

 

Ramon exaggeratedly grinned while stroking his chin and pretending to be lost in thought, then slapped his palm with his fist.

 

“Ah! There was that! If you don’t like money, would it be alright if I gave you quite an entertaining spectacle to watch? I happen to have two tickets for good seats left.”

 

Ramon slyly pulled out two tickets from his vest pocket and held them out to Lee Hyeon.

 

‘Th-this is…!’

 

Roke’s eyes widened.

 

VVIP lounge tickets to the slaughterhouse.

 

Seats that even the big shots of Hagåtña’s Black Zone couldn’t easily obtain even if they wanted them.

 

“Oh, it seems the friend here knows what this is?”

 

Ramon chuckled gleefully while winking one eye.

 

“This is quite expensive, so let’s exchange it for this seat. How about it? Since there’s a match tonight, it would be good to visit with your secretary.”

 

“……”

 

Lee Hyeon quietly looked at it, then gestured with his chin toward Roke.

 

Meaning to accept it.

 

Roke received the tickets with trembling hands. This one ticket was worth three years of his salary.

 

“Hahaha! You really are a refreshingly straightforward person! It seems my eyes weren’t wrong!”

 

Even though Lee Hyeon didn’t say anything particular, Ramon couldn’t stop laughing as if something delighted him greatly.

 

Right then,

 

‘I thought he might show up soon. So it’s this guy. The contact that the General said he’d assign.’

 

Lee Hyeon’s Golden Eyes of Truth flashed behind his mask.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

Throughout their conversation, Lee Hyeon didn’t miss the coded signals Ramon had been sending.

 

Alcohol.

 

Gift.

 

And tickets.

 

It meant there was a gift from Lee Gun-san, so let’s talk somewhere without other eyes watching.

 

‘He seems to be quite a big shot in Guam. How did he come to know the General?’

 

But Lee Hyeon didn’t answer hastily.

 

In the intelligence world, rash contact was forbidden. There were many cases where they would capture and impersonate agents, then lure others into traps.

 

Above all.

 

‘Something’s strange about this guy.’

 

That was the immediate thought he had upon seeing him.

 

A kind of intuition.

 

But it wasn’t something to ignore.

 

 

 

[‘Sacred Relic: Golden Headband’ enhances the forehead, making the pineal gland sensitive. Inspiration develops.]

 

 

 

Originally, Lee Hyeon had innate instinctive senses for combat, and after obtaining the Golden Headband, his intuition had become extremely sharp.

 

There was definitely something there.

 

Something…

 

‘The mental image visible through demonic senses also seems strange. Let me observe a little more.’

 

Lee Hyeon narrowed his eyes.

 

Until this strange intuition was resolved, he had no intention of accepting the guy’s contact.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

Ramon continued laughing and chattering by himself for quite a while before leaving.

 

Leaving behind a farewell saying they’d meet again next time.

 

When Lee Hyeon didn’t give him an answer until the end, he thought something was strange and retreated for now.

 

Only after confirming the guy had disappeared did Lee Hyeon ask.

 

“Where did you say that fighting arena was?”

 

“A-are you planning to go there?”

 

Roke’s eyes widened.

 

During this time, Lee Hyeon had received many invitations along with business cards.

 

All of them were about recruiting him into their faction or wanting to get close to him.

 

But he had shown no interest until now, and suddenly gave such a response.

 

Was he curious about the fighting arena?

 

“……”

 

But Lee Hyeon just stared at Roke without answering,

 

“S-sorry! I’ll guide you there right away!”

 

Roke belatedly realized his mistake and hurriedly got up from his seat to guide him to the outskirts where the fighting arena was located.

 

And…

 

“It’s big.”

 

“Pardon? Wh-what do you mean?”

 

“I said it’s big underneath. Wide and spacious.”

 

“…??”

 

Lee Hyeon let out a small chuckle while looking at the shabby warehouse facility they had arrived at with Roke.

 

Roke still didn’t understand Lee Hyeon’s words, but nodded along appropriately while showing the tickets to the guide.

 

Soon servers and security guards politely escorted the two men.

 

‘But… is this really the right place…? It’s too shabby to be called a VVIP room? It’s not a trap, is it?’

 

The place the servers guided them to was a narrow staircase.

 

Musty air mixed with the smell of mold, alcohol, and sweat. It was suffocating.

 

For Roke, who had imagined the luxurious VIP rooms of casinos, this was a bewildering situation.

 

But Lee Hyeon followed without concern,

 

Creak!

 

The moment the security guard opened the door,

 

Waaaah!

 

“…!!”

 

A tremendous roar rushed in like a wave.

 

Sounds mixed with blood and ecstasy.

 

“KILL! KILL! KILL!!”

 

“Damn it, my money! My moneeeey!”

 

“It’s money I brought without my wife knowing! Please! At least break even, no, even half would be good, so please just a little…!”

 

“You damn bastard! What if you lose down there!!”

 

Men’s shouts, women’s screaming cheers, the sound of wine cups clashing, the sound of money bundles being waved. Everything could be heard at once.

 

Above it all, the host’s cry echoing through the loudspeaker split the audience like lightning in a storm.

 

『Ah, guests! Tonight too, the bloody feast that would make even angels turn their faces has arrived! This is hell and sanctuary, the Carnerium (Slaughterhouse)!!』

 

“KILL! KILL! KILL!!”

 

『Everyone! Do you want to see hell!』

 

“KILL! KILL! KILL!!”

 

『Everyone! Do you want to see the bloody sanctuary laid out underground!』

 

“KILL! KILL! KILL!!”

 

The light was filled with gold and red. Cheap neon lights hanging from the ceiling flickered chaotically, and blood that hadn’t yet dried flowed down from the iron bars surrounding the central circular arena.

 

The spectators weren’t sitting in chairs. Like a crowd of believers gathered around an altar, they chanted only one phrase.

 

KILL!!

 

Everyone’s eyes were bloodshot, craving slaughter.

 

Every time Ramon, who held the microphone as both the host and owner of this arena, shouted, the ecstasy heated up even more.

 

“A pack of beasts drunk on pleasure, nothing more.”

 

Lee Hyeon clicked his tongue lightly as he sat down in the luxurious lounge chair.

 

All Brahmin VVIPs were given private rooms where they could watch comfortably.

 

Red wine mixed with black cherry liqueur, intentionally given a blood-like luster.

 

Fine plates laden with truffles, caviar, foie gras, and the like.

 

Such luxury that the vulgar Sudras down below could never even dream of.

 

“…….”

 

Roke stood stiffly beside Lee Hyeon. Even he, being from Guam, found it difficult to adapt to the luxury and madness of this place.

 

Right then,

 

Thwack!

 

Waaaaaaah!!

 

A long sword was driven into the neck of the gladiator who had fallen and was dying on the ground.

 

Along with the sound of a head rolling, Ramon raised the winner’s arm high.

 

Instantly, the cheers grew louder.

 

Those who made money cheered, while those who lost money cursed.

 

However,

 

Lee Hyeon kept his gaze fixed on Ramon, not the winner, while resting his chin on his hand.

 

‘He does seem to be the contact the Colonel mentioned for sure… But why do I keep getting’

 

Lee Hyeon’s Golden Eyes of Truth sank deeply.

 

‘this scent of the Underground Cult from a while ago?’

 

At that moment, Ramon stopped scanning the crowd and turned his gaze toward the VVIP lounge, bowing politely.

 

Exaggerated movements that stirred excitement, befitting the top showman of Tumen Strip.

 

But Lee Hyeon didn’t miss it.

 

Ramon’s gaze was also firmly fixed on him.

 

Eyes that seemed to be appraising him.

 

Smirk.

 

Beneath the mask, Lee Hyeon’s lips twisted slightly.

 

‘There’s definitely something going on… Should I try poking around a bit?’

—————
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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