Ranker Who Shatters Myths - Chapter 167
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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 167
Guam (12)
“Wh-whoooooa!”
“Wh-what is that…!!”
The Thunder Whale carrying Lee Hyeon crossed straight through the center of the Apra Harbor District and attempted to enter the Hagåtña Black Zone directly.
The remnants of the City Cartel, along with Black Maria and various other organizations, tried their best to somehow block the Thunder Whale’s approach, but,
Kukukukukung!!
Kwakwakwakwa-
Flash! Flash!
Kwarrrung-
Every time the Thunder Whale moved its fins, the resulting heat storms and lightning bolts blocked all approaches.
It was an incredible sight, as if it could manipulate the weather at will.
Even the arrogant appearance of riding atop a thunder beast and looking down upon the world.
It truly seemed like witnessing the legendary Zeus himself.
And…
―We will not intervene in the conflict between the City Cartel and Gwiroae.
―We hereby clarify in advance that Black Maria’s participation in this dispute has nothing to do with us.
―We express regret for causing human and property damage to other forces during the war.
―We pray that the conflict between Gwiroae and the two groups can be resolved peacefully as soon as possible.
The major corporations commonly known as ‘Hagåtña’s 21 Rulers’ all issued statements simultaneously.
Though they all expressed it indirectly and euphemistically,
their meaning was clear.
―It has nothing to do with us, so fight it out among yourselves.
―However, you must compensate for any damage we’ve suffered.
The City Cartel’s bombing of the warehouse district to catch Lee Hyeon had worked out for the worst.
If they had at least caught Lee Hyeon it might have been different, but having failed, everyone adopted a stance of watching the fire from across the river.
Moreover, Ramon’s quick actions with the sponsor alliance had also been effective.
―Gwiroae only targets the City Cartel and Black Maria who helped them. They have neither intention nor will to touch other forces.
In the end,
the Thunder Whale carrying Lee Hyeon was able to enter the Hagåtña Black Zone quite easily.
* * *
[The Golden Key begins to react. The distance to a new Sacred Relic is getting closer.]
It was right around that time when Lee Hyeon’s eyes showed a reaction.
「We’re almost there?」
“Yes. Once we finish cleaning up the surroundings, we should be able to enter right away.”
「Well, well, we’ve come quite a long way around.」
“It couldn’t be helped. Unless I could handle all of Hagåtña by myself, this place is a demon realm in a separate sense.”
Lee Hyeon smiled bitterly as he looked at the metropolis visible below the Thunder Whale.
Skyscrapers jutting up as if to pierce the sky.
Grand mansions filled with white walls and red roofs.
Streets full of neon and opal-colored decorations.
They had simply passed through the city wall separating Hagåtña from the outside,
but it was a separate world of nobles, different from the outside filled with collapsed shacks.
「It certainly looks that way. On the surface it’s so luxurious and extravagant… yet the imagery of greed and desire crawls all over it.」
Son Wukong stroked his chin with his hand and laughed with interest.
Lee Hyeon quietly nodded.
When Lee Gun-san explained about Hagåtña, there was just one thing he urged caution about.
-Never make Hagåtña your enemy.
The 21 Blue Ribbon corporations that occupied the Hagåtña Black Zone were all at the very pinnacle of the underworld.
That was why it was called a demon realm.
No matter how outstanding Lee Hyeon’s abilities were, he couldn’t fight the entire industry alone.
‘That way, I’d only face interference before even going to find the Somersault Cloud. If the front becomes too wide, it’s easy for my identity to be exposed too.’
In reality, this place was ‘dangerous’ even for Lee Hyeon.
Unlike the people in the outer districts who were extremely wary whenever the Thunder Whale appeared, the people of Hagåtña only reacted with ‘Something interesting has come?’
Click.
Click.
Most just looked this way with curiosity and took photos at best.
There was no sign of fear to be found anywhere.
Each action exuded strong confidence that said ‘What could you possibly do in Hagåtña?’
Lee Hyeon thought such beliefs were Hagåtña’s most frightening aspect.
‘But the really important part starts from now.’
A show of force and political negotiation.
He had to walk a precarious tightrope in the middle ground between them.
「By the way.」
“…?”
「Usually places like this have developed cuisine too…」
I wondered why he was suddenly hesitating.
Son Wukong was staring directly at him.
Pfft.
Lee Hyeon couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.
“I understand. Once everything is finished, I’ll try all the famous dessert shops at least once. I’ve already gotten a few candidates from Ramon anyway.”
「Now you’re finally saying something I like to hear! Hahaha!」
Lee Hyeon let out a hollow laugh.
Could he really be that pleased?
「Don’t act childish. We didn’t come here to play around. You haven’t forgotten about second brother already, have you?」
「Ahem! As if I would. I’m extremely worried too. He seemed to be in the same place as the Somersault Cloud, so I’ve been staying up nights for days researching what could have happened.」
When the Bull Demon King narrowed his eyes, Son Wukong quickly cleared his throat.
However,
「Kakkakkat! Don’t be fooled, sister-in-law. Just an hour ago, I caught him secretly making a list of dessert restaurants here.」
「Hey!! You said you wouldn’t mention that!」
“Kakkakkakkat. You believe those words? Our senior brother, despite his appearance, is quite naive!”
“What, you bastard!?”
“I’m on sister-in-law’s side through and through, not senior brother’s side. Kakkakkat!”
“You, this traitor bird,”
“So what Master Sha said was actually correct?”
“W-wait a minute, I also have my circumstances…!”
“What circumstances!! Do you have a brain or not, huh!? Even the old deity is like that, and Master Sha and I are so focused on healing, but instead of helping, you’re just playing around like a child…!!”
Son Wukong’s face gradually became dazed under the barrage of nagging that Bull Demon King poured out.
Sha Wujing was cackling while watching this.
Lee Hyeon was chuckling at them, but suddenly sensed something and his eyes became sharp again.
Lee Hyeon had already destroyed all the notable business establishments of the City Cartel and Black Maria while passing through downtown Hagåtña.
Currently, he was heading toward the factory district located in the eastern outskirts.
But four airships were approaching from the opposite direction.
Hull frames made of steel beams and iron.
Gun barrels and magical devices gleamed.
A golden logo embedded in the center of the entirely jet-black painted base caught the eye immediately.
Black Maria.
“L-look over there!”
“Black Maria’s airship fleet has encountered Gwiroae…!”
“Damn it, they’re not going to fight there, are they?”
“Why are they fighting here of all places! Right above my business, not anywhere else…!”
Black Maria was mainly famous for its mercenary industry, but underneath that was a developed military industry.
Their airships, armed with various cutting-edge thermal weapons and all kinds of battle gear, were each classified as strategic weapons.
While people who had been looking at the Thunder Whale with curious eyes hardened their expressions,
『Ah, can you hear me? I am Luciano Della Cruz, Vice President of Black Maria and administrator of the Guam branch. Gwiroae, I’d like to have a brief conversation with you. Do you have a moment?』
At that moment, a deep voice flowed out through a loudspeaker from the airship fleet.
Instantly, a slight gleam crossed Lee Hyeon’s eyes.
“Is he famous?”
“Yes. Almost no one in the underworld wouldn’t know him.”
“What did he do?”
“He’s a massacrer.”
Lee Hyeon’s eyes sank deeply.
“He has a record of devastating an entire relay port city called Iloilo in the Philippine archipelago. When residents raised a rebellion, he turned half the city into a sea of fire and bound the surviving residents as slaves under mercenary contracts.”
“…!”
“He’s also listed as the number one priority target that Interpol must eliminate.”
“What a bastard.”
“Yes. He’s a bastard. He’s known as the most hardline faction within Black Maria… I never expected such a guy to propose a deal instead of war.”
The impression faintly felt through the demon’s senses was truthful.
At least no hostility was visible.
Lee Hyeon cleared his throat and thundered coldly, infusing magic power.
『If you’re going to propose negotiations, wouldn’t it be proper etiquette to at least show your face?』
Lee Hyeon’s voice also rang out loud enough to be heard throughout the city. It was like thunder spoken clearly by a god.
As all eyes focused from the ground below,
Thud!
Suddenly the airship fleet stopped in unison, and someone revealed themselves on top of the hull roof.
A middle-aged man in his mid-40s. He was a hearty-looking man with impressive tattoos covering half his face.
“Well, well, I never expected to meet such a celebrity in the middle of Hagåtña’s airspace?”
Despite being at a considerable distance, Luciano spoke as if Lee Hyeon would naturally be able to hear his voice.
“How about coming over here? I have something urgent to discuss,”
Whoosh!
Luciano was startled mid-sentence.
Because Lee Hyeon had somehow leaped through space and stood right in front of him.
‘This guy… is something else?’
He was impressed by the boldness Lee Hyeon showed, even though he hadn’t yet mentioned safety guarantees.
Of course, it meant he was confident in his own abilities.
Still, such audacity was rare even within their organization. He felt greedy.
“Keep it brief. We’re not exactly on friendly terms anyway.”
Luciano, who had prepared a very expensive tea set inside the airship, smacked his lips.
He realized that a scouting offer wouldn’t work.
“I apologize for the matter involving Katrina. It might sound like an excuse, but while I was briefly away, that bitch caused this incident trying to make achievements on her own.”
“So?”
“How about we stop here? We’ve also suffered too much damage.”
Pfft.
Laughter leaked out from under the mask.
Blatant mockery.
“Ah, of course, I know it would just look ridiculous for the guy who threw the first punch to say ‘how about a draw?’… Naturally, I’ll prepare separate compensation. So,”
“Blue Ribbon.”
“…Huh?”
“Hand over Blue Ribbon. And the mining stakes you currently hold too.”
“…”
“I’ll accept negotiations under those conditions. Can you do it?”
Lee Hyeon’s eyes curved coldly behind the mask.
Luciano’s eyebrows twitched. His lips formed an awkward smile.
“Isn’t that… too greedy?”
At that moment,
Roooooar!!
Tremendous air currents began swirling around him.
Along with enormous pressure.
[The myth ‘Sea Beast That Swallowed the Moon’ shows its cruel teeth!]
An illusion swept over Lee Hyeon as if a giant sea monster had appeared and opened its maw.
Bakunawa.
It was Luciano’s battle gear.
[Bakunawa]
A serpent and dragon known to live in the deepest parts of the sea.
It has the legend of bringing lunar eclipses to the world by swallowing 6 out of 7 moons whole with its lake-sized mouth.
-Origin: Legend ‘Bakunawa and the Seven Moons’
An tremendous presence that seemed ready to whip up a storm was felt, but,
Bang!
Crackle!!
Lee Hyeon struck down hard with his Rune Staff.
Then white currents spread out in ripples, scattering all the momentum of the presence…
“As expected. Negotiations have broken down.”
When Lee Hyeon turned his back with an attitude of no regrets, Luciano smacked his lips for a moment.
“Doesn’t work, huh? You’re quite something.”
Then he threw something.
Lee Hyeon caught it lightly, then opened his eyes slightly wider as if surprised.
A blue butterfly-shaped ribbon carved from lapis lazuli.
It was a blue ribbon.
“Good enough? I’ll send someone separately for the mine shares. I’ll write up the transfer contract right away.”
“You’re accepting the conditions?”
“What else can I do? If we clash with you right now, we’ll only suffer greater losses. The other bastards would be happy to stab us in the back. We can’t completely withdraw from Guam, can we?”
It meant they would treat the individual called Gwiroae with equal status to Black Maria.
Lee Hyeon narrowed his eyes. He wondered if the guy had some other ulterior motive.
However,
[Truth]
Luciano wasn’t lying in the slightest.
It meant he would take a step back to protect something greater.
Lee Hyeon suddenly saw him in a new light.
‘He has a bigger capacity than I thought. He’s on a completely different level from someone like Katrina……’
Lee Hyeon revised his prejudice about Luciano.
As the target he should be most wary of if he planned to operate in Guam.
“Is this enough?”
“I accept the negotiation. From now on, I, Gwiroae, will not antagonize Black Maria.”
“You sure call yourself Gwiroae easily, don’t you?”
“……There are still remnants of the cartel left. I’ll get up first.”
Lee Hyeon’s face reddened for a moment, but he pretended not to hear and returned toward the Thunder Whale.
No, he was about to return when something came to mind and he stopped walking.
“This is separate from the negotiation, I’m just asking out of curiosity.”
“What is it?”
Lee Hyeon asked while fiddling with the blue ribbon in his hand.
“If you give me the ribbon like this, won’t Black Maria be unable to enter Hagåtña anymore? The revenue from Guam should be considerable to give up.”
“What are you talking about? Where else would we find such a good goldmine? You think we’d abandon this place?”
“Hm?”
Lee Hyeon tilted his head, not understanding.
Luciano laughed loudly.
His cruel fangs were fully exposed.
“We can just take that ribbon from someone else.”
“……!!”
“We can take the mine shares from that guy too. There happen to be some bastards who’ve been getting cocky lately without knowing their place, so I’m thinking of cleaning house this time. Why? Are you interested?”
“……”
His tone was as if he was taking something out of his own pocket.
Lee Hyeon inwardly let out a hollow laugh.
He had momentarily forgotten that such thinking was common sense to them.
“Not yet.”
So he gave only a brief answer and returned to the Thunder Whale.
Kuuuuuung……
Soon, the Thunder Whale changed direction again, flapping its fins. It was toward the cartel’s industrial district.
“Not yet, he says…… So he plans to establish roots in Guam for the long term. I’ll need to improve our relationship.”
Luciano quietly watched Lee Hyeon’s retreating figure, then turned around with a smile.
“Black Maria, returning to base.”
* * *
After completely devastating all of Hagåtña’s City Cartel operations as well,
Lee Hyeon finally arrived at the beach of the deep-sea transport route leading to the deep-sea dungeon that he had targeted……
‘This is the very place, the ‘mine’ where you can hunt sea creatures pouring out from the deep-sea dungeon to extract magic stones.’
And,
In the waters beyond,
[Traces of the Somersault Cloud have been discovered.]
A very familiar scent was drifting.
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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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