Ranker Who Shatters Myths - Chapter 296
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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 296
Blood Pact (6)
After Lee Hyeon’s group departed.
Tabo Mncwolisi picked up a cigarette again.
Just how many packs a day had he been smoking since the Prophet’s appearance until now?
But without this, it was hard to soothe his burning insides.
Even he, who had experienced all kinds of hardships throughout his life, was tense enough that each day felt murderous.
The Hunter species were that dangerous in this era.
“…Come to think of it, it started when Z-Team entered the country with that ridiculous visa.”
Tabo wondered when exactly the world had become like a roller coaster, and naturally found himself thinking of Lee Hyeon’s face.
Indeed, it was exactly from that time when the Sons of Zeus suddenly appeared and picked a fight with the Dijiang Sect.
Could this be a simple coincidence?
‘No way.’
Probably in some way unknown even to himself, the head of the intelligence agency, they had instigated the fight.
There are no absolute coincidences in this world.
And,
Tabo knew from the moment he saw Lee Hyeon’s eyes.
‘Those were the eyes of a predator. Absolutely not someone who would stay still.’
Such a person had proposed that they hire them as mercenaries.
Come to think of it, it made sense.
They belonged to the guild White Burn.
If they made a request, they could certainly hire and use them at the SSA’s discretion.
However,
‘The price is a bit…’
“Are you considering accepting Jet’s proposal, Director?”
“I was just thinking about that.”
He let out a hollow laugh at Kara Moeti’s question. The cigarette butt had already burned down to the filter.
“You seem to think it would be fine to accept the proposal.”
“Even if we fail, we have nothing to lose. If we succeed, we might even be able to balance foreign influences, don’t you think?”
What Lee Hyeon requested was simple.
-During the operation, we will take charge of the most dangerous area. Please leave Oleg Perunov and Zarya to us.
-In return, there is only one price we want.
-We won’t ask you to abolish the Nest’s mine. Instead, please make the surveillance rights of the mine and Gate jointly managed with the UN.
‘Joint management…’
Unlike what the South African government had been handling on its own until now, international organizations would also step in.
Though the UN had intervened before, this time the matter was completely different.
It meant they would check from now on since the mine might collapse.
“Even if we drive out all of Oleg immediately, it will be difficult to remove all of Russia’s influence.”
“That’s right. They’ve rooted themselves too deeply in this government.”
“Then wouldn’t it be right to bring in various countries to check each other? If independence is impossible right now anyway.”
“You mean fighting poison with poison. But we might really end up inviting lions while trying to drive out wolves.”
“But currently, nothing will work unless we use such methods.”
“…”
“The opponent is Oleg, isn’t it? And at least…”
“America pursues its own interests too, but there is such a thing as minimum common good. International awakener organizations centered on Astra are also being actively created.”
Tabo recalled the man who had been standing next to Lee Hyeon. The man who possessed Tiamat’s legacy.
Had he brought in Lee Hyeon’s group to protect the Nest?
“Director, you must make a decision.”
“Sigh… It’s not easy.”
Tabo finally threw the cigarette butt that had burned down to the filter onto the ground after brief contemplation.
Kara Moeti still knew he hadn’t made a decision and felt her insides burning with anxiety.
Then, the pad in her hand rang. Kara’s eyebrows twitched as she checked the contents.
“This is…”
“What’s wrong?”
“Amandla Khoetsi, the sub-leader of Draconis Watch, has requested a secret contact with our side.”
“What?”
Completely unexpected content.
Tabo’s eyes widened.
“He says Oleg Perunov’s goal doesn’t seem to be simply the mine… He has something urgent to tell us.”
“Possibility of a trap?”
“Cross-verification using human intelligence suggests it’s not. The contact location is also…”
“Make contact. Quickly!”
There’s definitely something there.
Tabo Mncwolisi’s eyes flashed coldly.
* * *
“Hey, Manager Jang!”
“What’s with ‘Manager’? We’re preparing for an operation. Work and personal matters should be separate. Come on, repeat after me. Respected and proud Manager Jang.”
“That magic bullet that hit your head last time, hasn’t it come out yet?”
“Somehow my head is still ringing. Did we get a response?”
Lee Hyeon’s group was waiting at a safe house prepared on one side of the Drakensberg Mountains.
At the SSA Director’s request that he needed time to think, they were waiting for an answer for a moment.
Of course, the agents protecting the safe house were having a terrible time because of the powerful aura that the five of them were intentionally emitting.
“Yes. They said they would accept our proposal…”
Lee Hyeon’s reason for wanting to join hands with the SSA was just one.
“See? What did I tell you? I said it would work, right?”
“This actually worked…”
Moon Su-chan, who met Lee Hyeon’s gaze, looked bewildered.
“If you just listen to me well, you’ll get rice cakes even while sleeping, right? We’ll smack the back of the head of that disgusting Dark Side of the Moon, keep the Nest safely in our sight without worry, and do Z-Team sales too. Kill two birds with one stone, catch crayfish and sea bream too. Hah! As expected.”
Lee Hyeon’s arrogant attitude. Moon Su-chan looked back and forth between Kim Min-jeong and Oh Su-heon.
“…What exactly happened to your team leader over the past 4 years?”
“I don’t know either. He’s been acting crazy like that once in a while lately. We were going to ask you when we met you, Manager Moon.”
“It’s not like he didn’t have a tendency to show off originally. Just ignore him.”
Moon Su-chan began to genuinely worry about his younger brother.
But for him, who had been wondering how to protect the Nest that was becoming more dangerous daily because of the mine, he could feel a bit relieved.
「So you’re bringing in various forces to make it like a neutral zone? Certainly a clever move. He must really be the master’s disciple.」
Yukimihiro, dwelling in Moon Su-chan’s dagger, let out a brief exclamation of admiration.
“But they said Oleg Perunov came in person? Will it really be okay?”
Moon Su-chan also knew well that their combat power was excellent enough to easily handle most special forces.
Since they had coordinated for a long time, their power would be even greater. But the opponent was Zarya, called the elite along with Astra.
And there was Oleg Perunov, who was said to be among the top rankers. They absolutely couldn’t think of it lightly.
So he thought there must be some countermeasure…
“Why? Think you’ll lose to Zarya?”
…This damn little brother keeps teabagging me.
“Did you suddenly go crazy? These guys are nothing special unless they’re in their own front yard… Wait a minute, you.”
Moon Su-chan paused his words and looked at Lee Hyeon with narrowed eyes.
“You’re thinking of directly clashing with Oleg Perunov? Are you confident?”
“…!?”
“Really, Senior Jang?”
“Hey, you’ve definitely gotten incredibly strong, but your shoulders aren’t getting too high up that top rankers suddenly look like pushovers, right?”
At his other teammates’ urgent questions, Lee Hyeon lightly waved his hands dismissively.
“I know I’m not quite there yet, you know? Maybe if I became a High Ranker right now.”
“…Look at that confidence, thinking you could definitely take them down if you became a High Ranker. So what are you planning to do?”
Lee Hyeon twisted his lips into a smirk.
“I only said I can’t win right now, I didn’t say I can’t face them, did I?”
“What does that…!”
Moon Su-chan’s eyes widened at Lee Hyeon’s words, but Lee Hyeon lightly waved his hands dismissively.
“Don’t worry. Would I really drive my teammates into a death trap?”
“…!!”
Only then did Moon Su-chan understand Lee Hyeon’s confident attitude.
‘He’s already caught up to just below the top rankers! If luck follows, he might be able to take down the lower ranks…!’
Considering that most of Lee Hyeon’s offensive skills were concentrated on attack and destructive power, it meant he was confident he could make the top rankers’ hearts run cold.
Gulp!
All the other teammates swallowed dry saliva.
The order of the ranker world, which hadn’t been shaken for over 10 years, might soon be shaken.
Just then,
as an absurd tension-filled silence was flowing….
“Are you in?”
The door to Anga opened and a familiar face appeared.
It was the female agent who had been with the SSA Director.
Her name was Kara Moeti.
But her outfit was very different from when they first met.
A combat suit instead of a business suit.
Outside Anga, there were also several agents dressed in suits visible.
“The situation seems urgent.”
At Lee Hyeon’s question, Kara nodded heavily.
“Intelligence suggests Zarya will move earlier than expected. Would it be possible to proceed with the operation you mentioned right now?”
His teammates’ gazes turned to Lee Hyeon.
“Where do we need to go?”
Lee Hyeon put on the identity protection mask specially supplied to Z Team. A blue lightning bolt symbolizing the team was drawn on the left side.
Click!!
At that sight, Kara swallowed dry saliva with a tense expression.
“The location is….”
* * *
Whoooosh-
[Activating Steps of Eodukseoni to attempt Stealth Technique!]
[Lunar Eclipse from ‘Divine Authority: Solar and Lunar Eclipse’ has been activated.]
[The darkness of the night sky bestows blessings upon you and your entire party. Your presence is quietly concealed.]
[Currently Formed Party (5/5)]
Jang Lee Hyeon (Ranker)(Leader)
Moon Su-chan (High)
Kim Min-jeong (Ranker)
Oh Su-heon (Ranker)
Eom Gi-seon (Ranker)
‘It’s working well as expected.’
While studying martial arts in Hokma, Lee Hyeon hadn’t missed the method of combining his skills and divine authorities.
Among the various divine authorities, the one he paid the most attention to was the Solar and Lunar Eclipse.
If he could properly utilize this divine authority that could apply massive buffs by alternating between solar and lunar eclipses,
he had expectations that he could recombine his skills more diversely in the future.
Not simply connecting Cheondokkaebi’s Thunder Breath with solar eclipse, but like now, connecting Steps of Eodukseoni with lunar eclipse, or combining Hanbing’s Banner with lunar eclipse.
If he utilized the party system on top of this, he thought he might be able to give the buffs granted to him to his teammates as well,
and it seemed his prediction had hit the mark exactly.
‘I’ll have to thank Tiamat separately later. Thanks to her, I learned about such a good system function.’
[Party system is currently operating!]
[All people within the radius of the ‘Bell of Chorus’ can form a party group.]
[Currently confirmed personnel totals 5 people.]
[Bell of Chorus]
This bell makes no sound normally, but when ringing together, it exerts power like a chorus.
When party members are within radius, stats are adjusted and joint skills are unlocked.
-Type: Bell. Amplifier.
-Effect: Party formation. Stat adjustment.
-Origin: Fairy tale ‘Bremen Town Musicians’
Another item gifted by Tiamat.
According to what he heard from Moon Su-chan, all the children of 【Nest】 actively utilized the party system using this bell.
It was a system that Lee Hyeon’s group desperately needed as well.
Hiss.
『But really, the more I look at it, isn’t it strange?』
Then, very quietly, Moon Su-chan’s radio message flowed from the donkey ear-shaped brooch.
『What is?』
『This party window. The more I look at it, the more amazing it seems. Even so, how are you just a Ranker instead of a High Ranker?』
Considering Lee Hyeon’s combat power, having even clashed with the Prophet, it really didn’t make sense.
The other teammates also nodded as if they agreed.
They were used to it now, but Lee Hyeon’s combat power often deviated from ordinary people’s common sense.
That’s why they weren’t simply aiming for just a few more awakenings, but focusing on raising their true body’s martial power level.
It meant that even as lower rankers, depending on individual capability differences, they could take down upper rankers.
『Focus on the operation for now. I’ll help with individual training as much as you want.』
『Roger that.』
Moon Su-chan’s voice, mixed with slight playfulness, sounded excited.
He was probably in a good mood running an operation with his little brother after a long time.
Lee Hyeon felt the same way, so he let out a light laugh.
Then after quite some time passed….
Lee Hyeon’s group was able to secretly reach their destination with all traces completely erased.
A vineyard located on the outskirts of Cape Town.
Used as private property by the wealthy class with much foreign capital invested, this place was perfectly suited to be thoroughly isolated from the outside.
Draconus Watch’s secret safe house was prepared in the basement of this farm’s wine cellar.
Hiss.
『Everyone scatter to your designated positions.』
Lee Hyeon’s radio message flowed out in a low voice.
The fragrant sweetness of grape berries stung his nostrils through the mask.
In the distance, through the surveillance telescope, he could see sentries armed in military uniforms standing guard around the perimeter.
The bear insignia embedded on their shoulder patches.
Russia.
It was Zarya.
『Command confirmed.』
『Command confirmed.』
『Command confirmed.』
His comrades moved swiftly.
Screeeech-
[The Blessing of Lunar Eclipse shines upon your party members!]
[Agribor grips the door handle tightly while watching over you and your companions.]
It was a night dark with moonlight.
‘Oleg Perunov.’
Lee Hyeon attempted to dash toward the main gate as planned.
‘We just parted ways in the Desert, but this time I’ll be able to greet you properly. I wonder what your lightning tastes like?’
Lee Hyeon’s eyes gleamed coldly.
Flash!
Boom!!
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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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