Ranker Who Shatters Myths - Chapter 232

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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 232

Immortal Project (3)

‘…Who’s going to crack whose head?’

Logan couldn’t get off the helicopter for a moment and ended up with a dumbfounded expression.

This continued until Lee Hyeon entered the mandatory examination room for garrison base admission.

“Why are you making such a stupid face?”

At that moment, Zhu Bajie approached him and lightly tapped his shoulder with his hand.

Logan was one of the few people within the United States who knew the true identity of the ASTRA director.

So he could speak openly and freely about everything without reservation.

But now wasn’t one of those times.

“No. This is really. That’s. Hah…”

“Haha. He’s an interesting fellow, isn’t he?”

“Interesting? Can you call that interesting? Audacity? Recklessness? It seems to be somewhere between those…?”

At Logan’s muttering, Zhu Bajie put a cigarette in his mouth and lit it.

“So? Do you dislike it?”

“Dislike it? No way!”

Logan shouted loudly while clenching his fist tightly.

Crack.

“I like reckless friends like that! These young people nowadays! They have no audacity, no audacity! Everyone’s busy just protecting themselves, but that guy…!”

Logan went on praising Lee Hyeon for quite a while.

When he first heard the request from Zhu Bajie to protect Lee Hyeon,

Logan had thought whether there was really a need to go that far.

-Protect a Korean? Suddenly? I’m grateful that he saved our survivors, but for me to go all the way there…

-What if he brings the leash?

-…What?

-The thing called a leash. It actually exists.

-…!?

-So make sure to protect him.

-…!!

-Of course, even without that, you’ll understand once you meet him in person. Why I’m saying this.

At the time, Zhu Bajie had asserted it so definitively that he wondered if it was worth going this far,

but just as he had guaranteed, after having even this brief direct conversation, he could clearly understand.

‘He’s the real deal. That guy is.’

The identity of the [leash] that had been circulating like rumors only among superpower intelligence agencies.

There had been a minority opinion circulating that U.C.O. was actually connected to the Sima Society, and there might be means to control it.

And even that there was some kind of project secretly conducted by various countries led by China behind it…

However,

Even if they didn’t know about the project, no one truly believed in the existence of the leash.

But the moment they saw China and India suddenly moving urgently, even sending top rankers,

U.S. intelligence agencies sensed something strange and immediately tried to respond.

Naturally, Zhu Bajie was at the center of it.

Logan moved directly to the Middle East Front, though he found his friend’s words somewhat suspicious.

Even without the leash, he had been thinking that the Sima Society, which was causing massive damage to allies, needed to be dealt with someday.

But…

‘It seems like he really pulled it off?’

Logan didn’t directly ask Lee Hyeon if he had the leash.

But he could tell intuitively.

That he had it.

And,

Even the fact that he was trying to use it to grasp China and India’s weaknesses instead.

Knowing one’s own value and knowing how to use information to grasp the enemy’s weaknesses.

This was an essential talent in the world of espionage.

Wasn’t he truly a coveted talent?

While Logan, who had been impressed(?) by Lee Hyeon, was giving his lengthy speech, Zhu Bajie’s cigarette had already reached the filter.

Puff!

Suddenly Zhu Bajie burst into laughter while crushing the cigarette under his foot.

Logan looked at him with an expression that said his excitement was completely killed.

“Why are you laughing like that?”

“No. It’s just unlike you.”

“Unlike me?”

“Normally you would say we should retrieve ‘that thing’ for safety, or suggest naturalizing Jet. I don’t see any sign of that at all.”

“I wondered what I had said.”

Logan chuckled lightly and twisted his lips.

“That was because I’ve been dealing with untrustworthy bastards all this time… That guy is different.”

It was the smile of a fierce wolf.

“I can watch Lu Wucheng and Rudranath get their heads cracked in real time, so why would I refuse that?”

* * *

Daozu .

True to his name as the master of Taoists, Lu Wucheng was enjoying tea fragrance after a long time.

Rock tea that only comes from Mount Wuyi in China, Da Hong Pao .

This famous tea, said to have deep fire fragrance, acrid mineral scent, and subtle orchid fragrance together,

was once so rare that it was only presented to Chinese emperors, so Lu Wucheng didn’t have many opportunities to enjoy it either.

It was even more precious on a battlefield where supplies weren’t abundant.

“You’ve brought quite a grand thing for a bribe, Guru (गुरु). My thoughts won’t change much just because of this.”

Guru.

A term referring to a spiritual teacher in India.

There weren’t many people in the world that Lu Wucheng could address with such respect.

A gaunt frame.

White hair and beard over hunched shoulders.

An old man whose skin was brown like desert sand, but whose eyes were deep and clear like black crystal.

Rudranath.

As an apostle of Shiva the destroyer god, also called ‘Nat’, he answered while rolling black prayer beads wrapped around one arm.

“Hehe. A bribe, you say. As a guest, it felt wrong to come empty-handed, so I brought something like this.”

A gentle smile that could calm the anger accumulated in one’s heart just by looking at it.

However,

Whoooosh…!

Lu Wucheng could clearly see it.

The tranquility and wildness hidden behind it.

It was calm now, but if things didn’t go as intended, that wildness would probably sweep through like a storm.

Lu Wucheng was inwardly curious about how long that tranquility could last.

“The disciples at the surveillance bureau recommended I take this. They said the true master would really like it.”

“Oh my… I thought I’d been living quietly all this time, but it seems I’ve been found out already.”

“My disciples have a somewhat persistent nature. If it was unpleasant, I apologize.”

True Master.

A title meaning a Taoist who has reached a high level of enlightenment.

As Nat was a Guru and Yogi who had reached a high level, he also had an inwardly arrogant disposition.

The people he acknowledged in this world numbered no more than ten.

Lu Wucheng was one of them.

“However, my disciples also said something else. That this tea has another meaning hidden within it.”

“Another meaning?”

“Fifteen years ago, wasn’t this the tea that the representatives of five countries drank when they strengthened their friendship in Guangzhou, China?”

China, India, Russia, Brazil, South African Republic.

As emerging powers representing each continent who sought to challenge the stronghold of the United States and its allies,

Just over ten years ago, they had secretly dispatched representatives to Guangzhou, China for a clandestine meeting.

These heads of national intelligence agencies or awakened organizations gathered through the so-called ‘Guangzhou Conference’ to establish a secret treaty…

The content was to share experimental research on Hunters and Dungeons together.

And,

At this time, the ‘objects’ that China had been securing were first introduced to the ‘Guangzhou Conference Five Nations’.

―Fallen immortals.

Those who were once called gods but had fallen to the surface… were right before their eyes.

Feng Jinghao, who presided over the conference, declared.

That their five nations should achieve immortality and transcendence based on this research to seize world hegemony.

The ‘Research Institute’ was born at this moment.

Through the unity of the five nations.

And the Immortal Project was launched.

Though there were various twists and turns, there were quite a few achievements in the process.

However,

The result was…

“Is that so?”

Lu Wucheng’s utterly peaceful response.

He lifted his teacup to enjoy only the subtle tea fragrance, not having drunk even a single cup so far.

Nat nodded his head.

“So they say. Strictly speaking, this tea is a symbol representing our past friendship.”

“An interesting history.”

“However, the place that created such a symbol is trying to withdraw?”

At that moment,

Flash!!

Turbulent waves swept through Nat’s calm eyes.

Whooooo-

Simultaneously, thick killing intent spread.

[The myth, ‘Face of the Destroyer God’ reveals itself!]

Hissssssss!!

No, could this simply be called killing intent?

Bubble bubble bubble…

The air began to boil. The tea in the teacup boiled as the indoor air expanded as if it would explode at any moment.

Nat’s face also became grotesquely distorted with anger as blood vessels bulged out.

It was like seeing the return of Shiva from Within the Myth, who sought only destruction.

『Did you think this was a place you could enter at will when coming in, and leave at will when going out-?』

Though Nat was clearly in just one place, Lu Wucheng felt as if he were surrounded by dozens of Nats.

Dozens of voices thundered loudly from all directions like thunder.

『Answer me. Lu Wucheng-.』

Nat pressed Lu Wucheng with Shiva’s voice fully loaded.

『It seems China has betrayed us, so here you’ll tuck your tail,』

Just as the Rage Energy quickly became a torrent about to engulf Lu Wucheng,

[A hidden myth raises its head from the abyss.]

Crash!!

“…!!!”

The torrent suddenly shattered like a glass window.

Nat couldn’t withstand all the recoil force and bent at the waist while vomiting up a bowlful of blood.

Uwaaack!!

Nat’s already gaunt face sagged as if the life had drained out of it.

‘Th, that was…!’

But he was more shocked by what he had witnessed moments ago than by the abnormal injuries to his body.

As far as he knew, Lu Wucheng’s inheritance was the Flame Emperor Shennong.

But what Nat had seen beyond Lu Wucheng’s pupils was…

“You seem to have seen it.”

“…!?”

A low voice.

Nat hurriedly raised his head.

Lu Wucheng was still enjoying the tea fragrance with an indifferent attitude.

Without drinking even a sip of the tea.

“…You are,”

“What does it matter what the Guru saw? In the end, only the fact that the person in front of you here is myself matters.”

“…!”

“My intention is no different. While I serve as chairman, the Central Hero Committee will not participate in the ‘gathering’ for the time being.”

“…”

“Not because there’s no will, but because there’s no leisure for it. As you know… the Committee is still a mess right now.”

“…”

“My predecessor didn’t properly hand over duties, so I haven’t even finished understanding the work yet. If the Guru had worked at a company, you would have sympathized with how terrible this is.”

Lu Wucheng smiled bitterly while looking at the teacup.

But in Nat’s eyes, Lu Wucheng now appeared as something else wearing only human skin.

Behind the mask painted with emotionlessness was actually filled with chaos, disorder, and madness…

“…Then why did you bother coming here!”

Still, Nat tried to squeeze out his voice to avoid showing a submissive appearance, but had to close his lips again.

Looking at those empty and hollow eyes again made him feel as if his own soul would be sucked into them.

‘This person… is no longer human!!’

Nat felt the emotion of ‘fear’ for the first time since becoming a top Ranker.

Fortunately, the monster wearing human skin had no particular intention of harming him.

No, more precisely, it should be said that it simply had no interest.

Just as humans have little interest in ants passing under their feet.

“…Fine. But answer me one thing. Does not having any intention of coming to the ‘gathering’ mean we can take the leash… and you won’t raise any objections… should I understand it that way…?”

But he couldn’t help his voice trembling.

Lu Wucheng nodded with still hollow eyes.

“As you wish. What I want is not a leash, but something else.”

“China’s… no, the True Master’s will, I understand well.”

Nat slightly bowed his head and quickly left his seat.

As if thinking that staying in this place even for a moment longer might result in being devoured by Lu Wucheng.

“The tea fragrance… is good.”

In the end, Lu Wucheng only took a sip of tea after Nat had completely left.

The tea water had already cooled down, leaving only a bitter taste.

“…Chairman, are you really sure it’s alright to reject the Indian side’s proposal like that?”

At that moment, the secretary who had been hiding to one side appeared with a worried expression.

Lu Wucheng asked with a faint smile.

But it was still a smile devoid of emotion.

“What if it’s not alright?”

“But the Party’s instructions were to continue the ‘gathering’…”

“…”

“…I apologize. I misspoke.”

Lu Wucheng answered in a low voice.

“Of course, I understand your concerns and what Guru is worried about. From Guru’s perspective, we all worked hard together to create the research institute, but we ended up taking all the results for ourselves. Or rather, should I say we shared them with Russia?”

This was exactly the point where the Sima Society was vicious.

Not only did they intercept the results that the 5 countries had worked on for over 10 years, but they also sowed discord.

Didn’t Russia eagerly swallow up the Sima Society’s defection?

Because of this, Russia was suddenly driven into a position of public enemy within the ‘gathering’, but conversely, since they held the results, they became an entity that couldn’t be dealt with carelessly – a strange position indeed.

On the other hand, China’s Party wanted to reclaim their position as the leader of the ‘gathering’ that they had originally held.

However,

Lu Wucheng was arbitrarily judging this as unnecessary and crushing the Party’s instructions.

The reason for doing so?

It was simple.

He could see that the situation was about to become chaotic.

Did the United States not know about the 5 countries’ gathering all this time and let it slide?

Lu Wucheng naturally thought ‘no’.

The ASTRA director he knew was definitely not such an easygoing person.

“But just when they thought they would retrieve those results, they fell into the hands of someone completely unrelated once again – how absurd must that be?”

A person completely unrelated to the 5 countries.

Jet.

Lu Wucheng recalled Lee Hyeon’s face, who showed no signs of being disturbed even while meeting his ‘gaze’,

And placing a bit of expectation on him, who was also called Feng Jinghao’s nemesis, he let out a strange smile.

“So watch and see. How the situation will unfold.”

It was the first smile he had made with genuine emotion since coming to the desert.

* * *

Outside Lu Wucheng’s residence.

“Guru, your blood…!”

“Don’t worry about it. Sri, how many disciples did we bring together?”

“Fi-fifteen are here.”

“That should be enough.”

“…Don’t tell me?”

“That’s right. We’ll meet him immediately. And if the conversation doesn’t work out,”

Nat’s eyes flashed coldly.

“Today, even if we have to force it, we kill Jet here.”

“…!!”

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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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