Ranker Who Shatters Myths - Chapter 268

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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 268

To South Africa (1)

“Your face is nicely tanned black. I heard you had a hard time in the desert. Should I introduce you to the dermatology clinic I frequent?”

Mo Jeong-gyeon was always the same as usual.

A month ago, when they first met. Even when seen in the Bloodflower Snake’s memories.

White mourning clothes,

Phoenix hairpin in her hair,

Even the long bamboo pipe.

「….」

‘Stay still. Don’t even think about causing a commotion.’

He could feel the Bloodflower Serpent trapped in the Vajra Bracelet reacting.

It must have sensed the energy of Mo Jeong-gyeon who had defeated it. He could feel faint anger as well.

Fortunately, he had put the creature in Kibisis, so only Lee Hyeon could detect those thoughts.

And if there was another problem,

‘It’s that this one isn’t the only one showing similar reactions.’

[Brithra keeps his eyes narrowly open despite it being time to sleep.]

[Mahabali quietly watches from his jade throne the person facing you.]

Just as Brithra and Mahabali seemed to know Mo Jeong-gyeon’s identity,

they were showing quite different behavior from the cheerful reactions they had shown so far.

Mo Jeong-gyeon didn’t know yet.

‘No. There might be a way for her to find out.’

Mo Jeong-gyeon no longer appeared to be an ordinary human to Lee Hyeon.

‘If this person really came from the Outer Sea… how should I probe her?’

He had come impulsively when Mo Jeong-gyeon called, but Lee Hyeon’s thoughts weren’t completely organized about what to do.

“Pahahahat! Guild Master, what use is a dermatology clinic? With that level of recovery ability, his skin will return to baby skin in no time. More importantly,”

However, it wasn’t just Lee Hyeon and Mo Jeong-gyeon in this place. Geum Jisang and Executive Director Ho were also on Mo Jeong-gyeon’s left and right.

Naturally,

“Shouldn’t we be heading to the underground training ground…! I’m telling you, I’ve never seen someone with such rapid growth as you in all my life! Now my skin is really tingling!”

Executive Director Ho couldn’t take his eyes off Lee Hyeon, whom he was meeting after a long time.

Geum Jisang frowned.

“Please maintain some dignity.”

“What dignity is there to maintain? If you want to fight, you fight!”

“…If you keep interrupting the Guild Master’s words, I’ll become your sparring partner.”

“You’re no fun. You’re not a stone Buddha, yet you just keep standing there doing what.”

“This guy, to the very end…!”

Whether the two were bickering or not,

Whooo-

Mo Jeong-gyeon exhaled smoke long and curled up one corner of her mouth.

At that moment,

[Two Yukhon reveal themselves!]

Grotesque tiger demons densely formed from poison.

They bared their teeth above Geum Jisang and Executive Director Ho’s heads.

Krrroooong!!

Poison dripped like saliva along their sharp fangs.

“How noisy. Would you shut up if you don’t want to be devoured?”

“….”

“….”

“I need to have a conversation with that child.”

“…I apologize, Guild Master. I’m sorry for showing such frivolous behavior.”

“I’ll be… careful.”

Geum Jisang bowed his head deeply, and Executive Director Ho scratched his cheek and stepped back.

Only then did Mo Jeong-gyeon speak to Lee Hyeon with a much more comfortable expression.

“Now we can have a comfortable conversation. But you know,”

“…Yes. Guild Master.”

Lee Hyeon tensed slightly as Mo Jeong-gyeon looked him up and down.

Wondering if she had noticed something about the Bloodflower Serpent.

“What on earth did you do in the desert… to come back with so many things clinging all over you?”

[Brithra falls silent.]

[Mahabali falls silent.]

An existence that made even those who hadn’t hidden their enthusiasm when the Outer Sea being revealed ‘Left Hand’ become tense.

Lee Hyeon now truly found Mo Jeong-gyeon unfamiliar.

“That happened by chance…”

“Without touching a single thing I gave you.”

“….”

“It’s not that my gift was insufficient, is it?”

A tone as if she might say something at any moment.

‘…So it was you?’

Just before going on the mission, Mo Jeong-gyeon had gifted him by implanting vampire ghosts similar to the Yukhon over there into the Tiger God’s Protection Charm.

Tiger King Style.

To help him grasp Mo Jeong-gyeon’s signature, the introductory technique leading to the Mountain God Ritual.

Lee Hyeon also knew Mo Jeong-gyeon’s strong level and had tried to obtain it.

‘But I was too busy throughout the mission. I met many people and gained many things.’

Lee Hyeon fidgeted with the ring on his index finger.

And…

[‘Tiger God’s Protection Charm’ is separated!]

Lee Hyeon made up his mind and removed the jade ring, respectfully offering it to Mo Jeong-gyeon.

Instantly, Mo Jeong-gyeon’s eyebrows twitched.

“What is this? Are you saying you don’t need it?”

“I’m grateful for your sentiment, but… it seems like a power that doesn’t suit me. I’m sorry.”

Im Won-young, who had gifted the Tiger God Talisman long ago, looked at Lee Hyeon with surprised eyes from the side.

“It doesn’t suit you?”

“Yes.”

Lee Hyeon nodded heavily.

“Those things are fine, but mine isn’t?”

Mo Jeong-gyeon seemed to sense the gazes of Brithra and Mahabali.

Lee Hyeon carefully chose his words so she wouldn’t be offended.

But his sincerity had to be properly conveyed.

“Because these have a different nature from that.”

Something he had pondered for a long time.

“Everything I’ve learned can be integrated into one. Like gears, they can be contained within a single framework and operate like an organism.”

Lee Hyeon had not forgotten his core.

The Fighting Style.

And the Heavenly Dokkaebi.

Though he had many divine authorities and sacred relics given by the Seven Great Sages and Four Dharma Kings, these merely functioned as components that made up his Fighting Style.

The gifts from Brithra, Mahabali, Yarhibol·Agribor, and Raphael were also closer to auxiliary devices that helped his Fighting Style operate more effectively.

Never touching the core narratives of the Fighting Style and Heavenly Dokkaebi.

“But the Tiger King Style is different from this. The Tiger King Style, and the Mountain God Ritual, completely change the basic framework. When learned by itself, it might help me leap to a higher stage, but…”

“Right now it would only harm you?”

“Aren’t dokkaebi and mountain spirits originally at odds with each other? So it seems difficult for them to get along.”

Lee Hyeon smiled faintly and bowed his head.

“You gave me a good opportunity, but I’m sorry I couldn’t meet your expectations.”

“…”

Mo Jeong-gyeon looked at Lee Hyeon with his slightly bowed head while fiddling with the jade ring.

Her twisted lips seemed to regard Lee Hyeon with pride, or perhaps mock him for missing a good opportunity.

“You’re quite good at packaging your inability. Take it.”

Mo Jeong-gyeon fondled the ring then threw it back to Lee Hyeon.

At that moment,

Krrrroooooar!

Kraaang!

Suddenly, the two Six Souls he had taken out earlier leaped high, then turned into white smoke and were completely absorbed into the jade ring.

Thud!

“…!”

Lee Hyeon caught the ring reflexively.

‘It’s gotten heavier, tremendously.’

The amount of magic power contained… no, divine power was the same.

[Mountain God’s Protection Charm]

Since ancient times, there has been a legend that people eaten by tigers become Spear Ghosts and follow the tiger even after death, being employed to protect the tiger.

But since tigers are also guardian deities that protect mountains, naturally the Spear Ghosts can be called generals who protect the mountain.

-Type: Sacred Relic. Charm.

-Origin: Legend ‘Mountain Spirit Traditional Folk Tale’

[2 additional Six Souls have been added to the sacred relic containing 4 Gulgak, 1 Iol, and 1 Six Soul.]

[Warning! This sacred relic is a high-grade sacred relic of the Mountain God. Please use with caution.]

Gulp!

Lee Hyeon unconsciously swallowed dry saliva.

He had only returned it because it seemed incompatible, but it came back even more enhanced.

Even the name was no longer Tiger God but Mountain God.

It contained the power of a nature deity rather than the Tiger God who was closer to a demon in nature.

‘…No, this is even beyond that. No, it’s close to the Outer Sea…!!’

Lee Hyeon hurriedly raised his head.

“Guild Leader,”

“If you won’t learn it, then don’t learn it. Your stubbornness doesn’t seem like it would listen to my nagging anyway.”

Mo Jeong-gyeon continued speaking with languid eyes while half-leaning against her chair.

“It seems you’ve met some ‘interesting’ fellows.”

“…!”

Lee Hyeon tensed up.

‘She’s not talking about U.C.O. She’s talking about the Outer Sea.’

“If you keep touching that, more interesting things will come. Take it.”

“…I understand. Thank you.”

Lee Hyeon could vaguely sense what Mo Jeong-gyeon was trying to say.

―You want to dig into my background?

―Then keep indulging in the Tiger God’s Protection Charm. You might get the answers you want.

To Lee Hyeon’s eyes, Mo Jeong-gyeon, wrapped in white smoke today, appeared even more mysterious.

Why did she keep trying to give him things?

While he was grateful for it,

Somehow Lee Hyeon now felt a bit wary as well.

‘Come to think of it… the Outer Sea beings following Feng Jinghao and Lu Wucheng also showed particularly deep interest in me. Then this too…?’

Lee Hyeon wondered why the Outer Sea beings showed such interest in him.

Thinking about it, even the Bloodflower Serpent had essentially submitted to him.

It definitely wasn’t just simple curiosity.

‘Maybe it’s because of the dokkaebi legend about making friends easily, or maybe because I’m close to being an enigma.’

Lee Hyeon’s eyes deepened.

‘Indeed… I should look into it. It’s certain that the Mountain God is preparing something.’

But he also thought it worked out well.

At a time when his curiosity about the Outer Sea had deepened, Mo Jeong-gyeon had voluntarily given him a lead.

Perhaps even if she wanted to tell him something, it would obviously be filtered, so she recommended he find out for himself.

‘What’s certain is that Mo Jeong-gyeon has deep connections to the Outer Sea, and maybe her reason for remaining on the Surface without transcending is also related to the Outer Sea…’

Fortunately, there were two people who could give him hints about her.

Im Won-young.

And…

‘Lieutenant General Lee Gun-san.’

Lee Hyeon’s eyes sank deeply.

“Rather than continuing this boring conversation, since we’ve met like this, let’s start by talking about what happened in the Desert.”

Lee Hyeon nodded and slowly began to share the experiences he had gone through.

However,

The wariness toward her that had settled in one corner of his heart still wouldn’t easily fade.

* * *

“Hohoho. Even though he pretended otherwise, he seems to be wary of me now.”

The place where Lee Hyeon had left.

After Mo Jeong-gyeon had enjoyably listened to all the events that happened in the Desert, she made such an assessment.

“But didn’t you also open the ‘Warehouse’ along with the monetary reward? That feeling has probably diminished considerably.”

The Warehouse.

Or the place called the Treasure Vault.

It was where White Fang had collected treasures and sacred relics from various places while operating as a global supranational guild.

Mo Jeong-gyeon had given Lee Hyeon permission to take exactly one treasure as a gift for his hard work.

She told him to come anytime and examine everything carefully before taking it.

This was actually an exceptional gesture.

Even among the executives who had served Mo Jeong-gyeon for a long time, very few had enjoyed such an honor.

Geum Jisang and Executive Director Ho.

Only those two people.

But now Lee Hyeon was added to that list…

Mo Jeong-gyeon had revealed her intention to make Lee Hyeon one of her close associates.

‘The team leaders will probably have a lot to say about this. Manager Y will be the most furious.’

Geum Jisang let out a hollow laugh, though he thought this might be a natural progression.

The international reputation White Burn had gained thanks to Lee Hyeon was beyond words.

They had recovered U.C.O. and defeated the Sima Society.

They had even competed with old players from the Middle East Front like the 13th Legion and Tower of Babel, showing overwhelming superiority.

This alone was enough to make Jet and Z Team legendary.

Thanks to this,

intelligence agencies and awakener organizations around the world began classifying White Burn as their top priority trading partner.

Just today, France’s notoriously arrogant Foreign Legion and Israel’s Mossad had contacted them wanting to work with Z Team.

From now on, White Burn’s reputation and Z Team’s value would skyrocket day by day.

‘Especially our relationship with ASTRA has become very close. Those arrogant bastards are so openly favoring Manager Jang now… It seems there’s a lot they haven’t reported to us.’

But Geum Jisang’s high evaluation of Lee Hyeon was for a different reason.

Growth rate.

His tireless growth speed kept catching his eye.

‘It feels like his entire foundation has completely changed… How is it possible for a High Ranker, no, someone who hasn’t even achieved third awakening, to possess such power? It’s astounding.’

In fact, when Lee Hyeon opened the door and entered, it wasn’t just Executive Director Ho who flinched in surprise.

Geum Jisang, who was said to be as composed as a stone Buddha, wasn’t much different.

If there hadn’t been watching eyes, if Executive Director Ho hadn’t made such a fool of himself, he might have been the first to request a sparring match.

Moreover,

‘The scent of the Outer Sea too…’

Geum Jisang shook his head as he thought of Lee Hyeon.

“Well, I wonder if such things would even catch his eye anymore.”

“True, he has gained too much. I thought he’d need to be at least at ‘Golden Bug’s’ level to be worth competing with.”

Golden Bug was famous for having the most treasures and Sacred Relics among High Rankers.

“But what do you plan to do? Now that Manager Jang’s heart has left, the ‘hunt’ you were preparing should probably be postponed…”

“No. There’s no need for that. Continue as planned.”

“But,”

“I was going to give that child the Tiger King Formula only because we needed a vanguard.”

Mo Jeong-gyeon twisted her lips slightly as she continued.

“But looking at him, it seems he’s already built his foundation completely solid. He’s already paved a smooth path even beyond molting… He’s become quite cunning.”

“Beyond molting…? Don’t tell me,”

“It seems he already has a Society as his sponsor.”

“…!!”

Geum Jisang’s body stiffened with shock.

The more shocked he became, the wider Mo Jeong-gyeon’s smile grew.

“Is that all? Quite a few gazes were attached to him. Many of them were surprising ones too.”

“…”

“I’ve been thinking the Heavenly Gate has been quite disturbed lately… He’s been cleverly hiding this fact. How cute.”

Tap!

Mo Jeong-gyeon flipped her long bamboo pipe and tapped out the ash.

“He’s a child who will grow well on his own without me having to intervene. And… a child like that will naturally catch the Outer Sea’s attention.”

Gulp!

Geum Jisang swallowed dry saliva.

“So rather than needlessly provoking him and earning his wariness, it might be better to naturally let him learn about ‘us’.”

“…I’ll keep that in mind.”

“With this, the number of ‘outsiders’ who will learn why our White Burn was created has increased to… three, no, four?”

Geum Jisang closed his lips, knowing who was included in the recently corrected ‘three or four people’.

“So let’s wait and see for now. We’ll need permission from that child’s ‘guardian’ as well.”

Mo Jeong-gyeon muttered words that Geum Jisang couldn’t understand,

then put the long bamboo pipe back in her mouth and sank into languidness.

Whooo-

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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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