Broken Ranker Devours Myths - Chapter 35

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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 35

Mountain God (5)

 

 

 

The sedan carrying Lee Hyeon began racing down Gangbyeon Bukro.

“Would you like a drink?”

Executive Director Jeong pulled out a canned beverage from the refrigerator specially prepared in the side bar and offered it to Lee Hyeon.

“No. I’m fine.”

“You have a very cautious personality.”

Anyone could tell it was a provocative tone, but,

“I was taught that recklessness and bravado are shortcuts that invite death.”

Lee Hyeon drew a firm line with Executive Director Jeong.

It meant he was defining him as an enemy.

It was an overly blatant attitude.

For Executive Director Jeong, who had survived in the political arena where one must always hide their true intentions, this was a type of person he’d never encountered before.

In the end, Executive Director Jeong had to drink the canned beverage himself.

Hiss, thunk!

As he opened the lid, the sound of carbon dioxide escaping could be heard.

“Your master truly gave you excellent teachings.”

“Yes. He was someone who served as an example to many disciples.”

Executive Director Jeong gulped down the canned beverage.

The gulping sound heard each time his Adam’s apple moved created a strange tension.

‘The way he controls the atmosphere too… He’s definitely not someone to be taken lightly.’

Lee Hyeon watched Executive Director Jeong with strange eyes, noting the pressure he exerted was on a completely different level from the deceased Team Leader Jeong.

Executive Director Jeong Gyu-han.

He was someone with such high rank and authority that there wasn’t a single employee at White Burn who didn’t know him.

His nickname was Night Lamp.

When he wielded magic power, dozens of spectral flames would blaze around him like lanterns.

After being personally selected by Guild Leader Mo Jeong-gyeon, he had continued his rise to success and was such an outstanding talent that he had never experienced a single fall.

An SS-rank, High Ranker – there were fewer than ten of them in the country.

Moreover, there were rumors circulating that he had close connections with party officials in China, especially the Central Hero Committee.

‘There were also rumors that he was a second-generation Chinese immigrant who came down during the Korean War.’

He possessed skill, politics, and connections all at once.

There were hardly any people within the guild who could treat him carelessly.

As a result, there were gradually growing speculations that White Burn would become his once Mo Jeong-gyeon passed away.

He himself never hid such ambitions, and Mo Jeong-gyeon had also declared that she wouldn’t hand over guild management rights even to blood relatives if they weren’t qualified.

‘That’s why Team Leader Im was being pushed back politically so much. After all, the only career he could present immediately was being blood-related.’

Lee Hyeon thought he understood why Im Won-young had wanted him so desperately.

To stand against an ambitious person like Executive Director Jeong, he would need a colleague he could trust and rely on no matter what.

And…

‘He’s definitely not the type I could get along with.’

Lee Hyeon didn’t miss the fact that the ‘scent’ he had detected from Team Leader Jeong was particularly strong around Executive Director Jeong.

 

[‘Sacred Relic: Golden Eyes of Truth’ opens wide and searches the surroundings.]

 

As Lee Hyeon’s eyes turned golden,

“I heard you met with the Guild Leader.”

Executive Director Jeong put down the empty can and spoke in a calm tone.

But the content was definitely not something to be passed over calmly.

The meeting with Mo Jeong-gyeon had been just over an hour ago.

‘He’s keeping track of everything happening within the company. And he has no intention of hiding that fact.’

It must be intended as pressure.

Pressure to show that whatever you do, it’s all within his palm.

“That’s correct.”

“Did that person perhaps…”

“I think we’ve had enough of going around in circles.”

Of course, Lee Hyeon had no intention of giving up the initiative.

“How about we get straight to the point?”

“You… No, never mind. Yes. Let’s do that. This isn’t a pleasant meeting for either of us, and there’s no need to drag out the time.”

Executive Director Jeong’s eyes grew cold.

“Actually, I was planning to kill you immediately upon meeting you here today.”

“But you didn’t.”

“Because the Guild Leader is watching. Regardless of my ambitions, I don’t want to do anything that would put me out of her favor.”

Even the ambitious Executive Director Jeong must know about Mo Jeong-gyeon’s dangerousness.

“And you don’t seem like someone who would go down without a fight either.”

“I’m grateful for your high evaluation.”

“You’re spouting words you don’t mean. You also got in here to properly evaluate what kind of person I am, just like me, didn’t you?”

Lee Hyeon responded with a smile instead of an answer.

Executive Director Jeong frowned.

“The courage to enter a tiger’s den without hesitation, knowing it could harm you, isn’t something just anyone can have.”

“…”

“Especially if it’s not reckless bravado from not knowing one’s place, but will based on thorough self-objectification, it’s even more frightening.”

The prelude was too long.

But Lee Hyeon instinctively knew this was an introduction for the main point that would follow.

“There’s no need to make an enemy of such a person. No, rather, I should make them my person.”

Executive Director Jeong’s gaze, which had been directed forward, turned to Lee Hyeon.

“How about it, joining me?”

“That’s an unexpected proposal.”

“It would be. No matter how detestable, he was a son I cherished. It’s not a proposal a father could make just hours after such a son’s death.”

“Yes. It seems that way.”

“But precisely because of that, it’s also closer to the truth.”

Executive Director Jeong’s eyes flashed sharply.

“My son’s biggest mistake was overestimating his own capacity. Despite being absolutely unable to handle you.”

“But you’re saying you’re different?”

“What do you think?”

“You are different. Clearly, your insides must be… boiling.”

Lee Hyeon didn’t miss the killing intent flickering like flames around Executive Director Jeong’s eyes.

He was definitely resenting him. He was suppressing the urge to tear him apart right now with superhuman patience.

But at the same time, an even greater ambition could be felt.

He was confident that when he got his hands on Lee Hyeon, his ambitions would surely succeed.

The size of his ambition far exceeded his love for his son.

“I don’t know what Deputy General Manager Im proposed to you, but I can give you something much greater.”

Executive Director Jeong turned his gaze back toward the windshield.

The car was already turning into an alley.

“What will you give me?”

“The world.”

“The world?”

Lee Hyeon tilted his head crookedly.

Executive Director Jeong nodded his head.

“Yes. The world. You must have heard the rumors that I have connections with people from China, right? Those rumors are true. I also know that others call me gutless, say I’m sucking up to China, or call me all sorts of names. But,”

Executive Director Jeong’s lips twisted.

“I guarantee that once the project I’ll be working on with them is announced, everyone will be busy throwing away their pride and fawning over me.”

Project.

That word caught Lee Hyeon’s attention.

“I don’t think you’re going to tell me what kind of content that is.”

“Haha. Security is important, after all. But just know that it’s related to mythology.”

If it’s mythology, it’s at least a 3-4 star dungeon or higher.

Could it be related to Sacred Relics?

“And I know it’s hard to tempt you with such vague things… so let me first show you my sincerity properly.”

Executive Director Jeong spread his palm wide open.

Then a regular hexadecahedral cube appeared above his palm.

Paaaa…!

 

[Examining the inside of the cube with ‘Sacred Relic: Golden Eyes of Truth’.]

[It’s difficult to determine the exact identity. Something hot like an active volcano is pulsating as if it’s about to erupt at any moment.]

 

What Lee Hyeon glimpsed through the Golden Eyes of Truth was all shadows.

Just from that shape,

‘…A heart?’

It was a heart where blood was rapidly circulating through blood vessels and chambers, even pulsating as if it were actually alive.

But what was most surprising was,

 

[It’s fire attribute magic power.]

[It has attributes that seem to match well with Dueoksini’s Deep Breath (A).]

 

‘…!’

It was an elixir.

One that seemed to suit Lee Hyeon very well.

“As expected. You recognized that this would suit you very well, didn’t you? It would have been hard to tell since it’s trapped in a sealing box. Your insight is remarkable.”

“…What is this?”

“A phoenix’s heart.”

“…!”

“And it’s from a 3,000-year-old one at that. I received it as a gift from the Chinese contact when we started the project.”

 

[Confirming the contents in the sealing box based on the obtained information!]

 

[Heart of Bennu]

A heart left behind by a phoenix through repeated cycles of extinction and rebirth.

This crystal born at the end of life contains brilliant flames that can purify all evil things, and can even revive a life that has died once from the ashes.

-Type: Elixir.

-Origin: Legend ‘Book of the Dead’

 

Bennu is a heron with golden or red feathers in Egyptian mythology, known as a divine bird that dies engulfed in flames approximately every thousand years and is reborn from the ashes.

It carries symbolic meanings of death and rebirth, solar cycles, and reincarnation through fire, making it a treasure that all Hunters desperately desire.

‘If I consume this, it’s practically like gaining an extra life.’

And that’s not all.

Not only would cardiopulmonary endurance increase, dramatically boosting stamina, but fire-related attributes would also rise.

It would bring dramatic improvement.

Especially for Lee Hyeon, it was a treasure that couldn’t suit him better.

Not only would it strengthen his lightning attributes, but it could also create a horizontal balance with the Snow Queen’s narrative dwelling in his body.

‘He brought this to shake me.’

“As you well know, it’s something anyone would want but find hard to obtain. It’s an elixir that could make you a Ranker just by consuming it.”

“…”

“The project contact told me to consume it myself and become a top Ranker as soon as possible, but how could that be as easy as it sounds? So I’d rather give this to you as a gift.”

Executive Director Jeong’s eyes blazed.

“How about it? Can you feel my desire to have you? I don’t think there’s any better way to express my feelings.”

“I can certainly feel it. Now that I know your sincerity, Executive Director, I’ll think it over carefully during my suspension.”

Lee Hyeon quietly nodded his head.

Suddenly, Executive Director Jeong stared intently at Lee Hyeon.

“…”

“…”

A moment of deep, flowing silence.

And then,

“…You look completely uninterested.”

Displeasure flashed across Executive Director Jeong’s face.

“Tsk. Having such poor judgment. You just made a mistake.”

“I’ll still think it over.”

“Think it over…”

Executive Director Jeong smiled bitterly.

“Fine. That’s good too. Taking time to think means you’re that much more careful. But you have absolutely no intention of doing so. May I ask why?”

“I don’t think you’d understand even if I explained.”

“I see… Then there’s no choice. Really no choice at all.”

Executive Director Jeong’s voice sank deeply and coldly.

It was no longer possible to guess what thoughts were contained in his tone.

The car had stopped at some point.

It was in front of Lee Hyeon’s house.

Click.

The car door opened.

“Get out. When there’s another opportunity, let’s meet at the company.”

“Thank you for the ride.”

“Think nothing of it. It was brief but a very interesting time.”

As Lee Hyeon completely got out of the car, Executive Director Jeong suddenly threw the cube he was holding to Lee Hyeon.

“Take it. Don’t feel burdened. Consider it a gift for entertaining my whims and caprices today. Take it.”

Executive Director Jeong closed the car door without even listening to Lee Hyeon’s response. The sedan soon left.

Son Wukong descended beside Lee Hyeon, who was watching the retreating figure.

「What the hell is that guy doing? In the end, he just gave his son’s killer a ride home and a gift?」

“He knows exactly where I live, so I think he was warning me that he could target me anytime. And this…”

A sneer formed on Lee Hyeon’s lips as he looked at the cube.

“I think it means to put my heart in here nicely too. They say a phoenix’s heart can be inherited by others after the owner dies.”

It might help Lee Hyeon immediately, but it was a display of confidence that he could retrieve it whenever he wanted.

Just as Lee Hyeon had taken away his son, who was like life itself to him, he too would take away Lee Hyeon’s life and everything else.

It was quite a chilling story.

But Lee Hyeon casually stuffed the Heart of Bennu into his inventory.

‘There’s nothing more foolish than consuming something when you don’t know what kind of device might be installed inside. There must be somewhere else it can be put to good use.’

Still, the time with Executive Director Jeong wasn’t wasted time.

Thanks to that, he was able to obtain a lot of information.

China.

Some kind of project.

And even the ‘scent’…

With this, he could be certain.

“If I keep going after that gentleman, Seo Chang-woo will definitely show up.”

 

* * *

 

As soon as Lee Hyeon returned home, he immediately searched for his next destination.

Although he had received a 5-day disciplinary action, he could still access the intranet.

Thanks to that,

 

[Activating ‘Sacred Relic: Golden Eyes Mirror’ to search for places related to the scattered ■■■■’s myth.]

[Searching.]

 

‘I’ve already unlocked additional functions for 2 out of 6 stats. The remaining 4 should open soon as well.’

The additional functions that unlock when stats exceed 100 give Hunters much greater power than before.

And,

When all 6 additional functions are unlocked, that’s when you enter a new world that can truly be called a ‘real’ Hunter.

The world called Rankers.

As a result, Lee Hyeon expected that as he had grown stronger, the range of dungeons he could now choose from would have expanded as well.

Sure enough.

 

[Search complete.]

[3 locations have been found among the relevant data.]

 

A whole 3 locations were discovered.

「Oh! He became that strong from just running through one place, and now there are 3 whole locations! Our disciple will really be able to get stronger quickly, senior brother!」

「Kaaak! It’s my disciple, not ours!」

「Don’t be so petty. We’re fellow disciples, so we can share a disciple. Speaking of which, that tofu pudding you’re eating, can I have a taste too?」

Son Wukong wrapped his entire body around the tofu pudding he had been eating deliciously with a spoon.

「No! This is mine! That guy is mine too!」

「Really, you’re just greedy. So petty.」

「What, petty!?」

Leaving behind the two bickering people? Two gods? Whatever they were,

It was just when Lee Hyeon was about to check the list of 3 dungeons.

Rattle. Rattle.

Suddenly, the brooch pinned to his collar shook.

“…What’s this?”

Branch of Intertwined Trees.

The one he had shared with Go Jin-woo,

The branch that was supposed to shake only in crisis situations was shaking mercilessly.

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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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