Broken Ranker Devours Myths - Chapter 38

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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 38

Goblin Market (3)

 

 

 

Han Hyeon-su, the Guild Leader of Blue Dog, faced the two Hunters from Myeongga who looked at him with contemptuous eyes with a smiling expression.

However,

‘These nobodies acting all high and mighty just because they’re from a guild. Do they think knives can’t pierce their bellies?’

In his mind, he was repeatedly stuffing the two Hunters into oil drums and pulling them out again.

Of course, he couldn’t actually do that.

Because Myeongga was backing them.

Because Myeongga was famous for being the most vicious among the large guilds.

In reality, they would do anything that made money, whatever it took.

Sometimes they walked a fine line between illegal and legal activities.

Thanks to that, Blue Dog often got to eat the scraps that fell their way.

This job was the same.

 

-If there’s a vendor who visits the market after a long absence, or suddenly brings much more goods than usual, please contact us immediately.

-How can we monitor all those people…?

-No, please also check if there’s anyone selling items distributed across the entire market.

 

He had argued that there wouldn’t be just one or two such people in the market, so how could they find every single one of them.

 

-Don’t want to do it? Then we’ll report that Blue Dog won’t be receiving outsourced work from Myeongga starting next year. There are plenty of other guilds that want to take your place, aren’t there?

 

How could he possibly stand up to such power abuse?

Moreover, when he heard that several other underground guilds besides themselves had already been mobilized for the investigation, it was truly dizzying.

‘Plus they said the Black Market side had already been cooked and was pretending not to know. When everyone’s joining hands and making plans, what can we do?’

In the end, Blue Dog spent several days deploying personnel extensively to understand the flow of the Black Market, and was able to select several suspicious individuals.

Go Jin-woo, who had been visiting less frequently recently but still occasionally dealt with Blue Dog, was one of them.

Actually, Blue Dog had only put Go Jin-woo’s name on the list and didn’t think he would be the person Myeongga was looking for.

The Go Jin-woo they knew was extremely timid.

He was absolutely not someone who would do anything to earn someone’s enmity.

That was exactly why they hadn’t included information related to ‘Cheongroe’.

But…

‘Go Jin-woo is the person Myeongga was looking for?’

Feeling that things were taking an unusual turn, he quickly tried to piece together the clues.

But the result was shocking.

It seemed that a relative of the Myeongga Guild Leader had died.

‘Damn! If I had known that, I would have turned him in long ago! What do I do now? If I mess this up, it could get really dangerous…’

Myeongga was one thing, but Blue Dog knew very well how vicious the Cheongroe guys were.

They were only soldiers by status, but they absolutely never showed mercy just because someone was a civilian.

Once you were designated as an enemy, that was it.

After that, there was only a war of extermination where one side had to be completely wiped out.

In fact, how many underground guilds had disappeared after wrongly crossing Cheongroe?

Of course, now that leader Jet had disappeared for unknown reasons and the unit had disbanded, much of their former prestige had faded.

But there was no law saying the old customs wouldn’t still remain among the former members.

Myeongga and Cheongroe.

In a fight between two whales, shrimp like themselves were bound to get their backs broken…

‘I need to pick the right side. If I mess up here, it’s really the abyss. How can I get out of this?’

Han Hyeon-su carefully read the mood, and when the two Myeongga Hunters seemed to be in a very good mood, he casually brought up the topic.

“How is the item you ordered?”

“Haha. You found exactly what the higher-ups wanted at the perfect timing.”

One of the Hunters smiled while carefully stroking a long wooden box with his hands.

His nose bridge was red, perhaps from the whiskey.

Like the Go Jin-woo search, this was an item that Myeongga had separately commissioned from them.

Today’s meeting was partly to share information related to Go Jin-woo, but actually it was to hand over this item.

“Please don’t forget that our Blue Dog really searched through every single black market in the world and barely managed to find this, and that we worked really hard.”

Han Hyeon-su suddenly stood up and bowed at a 90-degree angle.

The two Hunters’ lips twisted with satisfaction.

“Oh my, please don’t do this. If you do this, we’ll feel burdened and it’ll be difficult to ask the Guild Leader for favors in the future.”

Han Hyeon-su didn’t miss the fact that they were just saying that, but actually took it completely for granted.

‘Now’s the time.’

“Um, and there’s one more thing I’d like to mention…”

“Yes. Please go ahead.”

Han Hyeon-su didn’t miss that the atmosphere was flowing in the direction he wanted, and casually brought up the story related to Go Jin-woo.

That there seemed to be some accidentally omitted parts about Go Jin-woo’s personal information.

But…

“Haha! We wondered what you were going to say. It seems the rumors that Blue Dog is the most ruthless in the Black Market were all just bluff.”

Only mockery from the two Hunters came back. They were too drunk and their faces were already flushed.

Han Hyeon-su felt a surge of anger for a moment, but the two Hunters spoke as if they didn’t care.

“Cheongroe from way back when – would those connections even still exist? Besides, didn’t they say all the real core members of Cheongroe died during the Gangneung incident?”

Han Hyeon-su pressed his lips tightly together.

“I’d rather have those guys come. It wouldn’t be boring…”

“It might actually be more convenient if Cheongroe comes, don’t you think, senior? The higher-ups are convinced that this Go Jin-woo guy has backing.”

“Ah, that’s right? Then should we try reporting him tied together with Cheongroe?”

“Haha! That’s a good idea!”

The two Hunters, who had only been worried about how to dawdle around before leaving, were stroking their chins when it happened.

Rumble!

“Huh?”

“What’s that?”

Suddenly the ceiling shook and dust came falling down.

The two Hunters’ gazes naturally turned in that direction.

“Fi, fire!”

“Lightning is pouring down…!”

“What the hell are the Security Force doing! Why isn’t anyone coming even with all this commotion!”

In an instant, it became chaotic outside.

Plus there was even a thick scent of magic power.

Han Hyeon-su’s expression also hardened.

“It seems like something has happened, Guild Leader?”

“There’s actually someone bold enough to cause a disturbance right in the middle of the Black Market?”

The two Hunters looked at him with even more mocking eyes.

As if asking whether this commotion was because he couldn’t handle even something like this properly.

Just as Han Hyeon-su was trying to calm his boiling insides, the door burst open and a subordinate came running in urgently.

“Bo, Boss! This is terrible! Right now outside there’s some crazy bastard…!”

“How are you handling things to cause this commotion! Just grab some items or whatever and go deal with it all! What kind of disgraceful behavior is this in front of our guests!”

The subordinate who barely dodged the flying ashtray spoke with a trembling voice.

“We even used [Witch Hunt’s Fire], but it was completely useless…!”

“What? Does that even make sense!?”

 

[Witch Hunt’s Fire]

Medieval inquisitors branded countless innocent women as witches and held burning ceremonies. Their resentment remains in the flames, never to be extinguished.

-Origin: Legend ‘Witch Hunt’

 

The secret weapon Blue Dog prepared for emergencies should be enough to frighten even Rankers, right?

Suddenly, Cheongroe flashed through Han Hyeon-su’s mind.

“Thunder Unit! Could it be that Thunder Unit bastards came to rescue their comrade?”

“It wasn’t a soldier. One guy wearing a strange mask and white coat…”

“One… guy?”

As Han Hyeon-su’s expression twisted severely,

“Puhahahat!”

“Just one person. It seems like a Ranker must have attacked, Guild Leader. What should we do? Should we help you?”

The laughter of the two Hunters echoed back.

‘Damn it, we’re screwed.’

Han Hyeon-su clenched his fists tightly.

Of all times, this incident had to happen when those bastards were here.

Obviously this matter would be reported upstairs.

Then Blue Dog would never again have a chance to get scraps from the prestigious families.

No, maybe rumors would spread throughout the underground world and they’d be expelled.

In this business, the moment you start being looked down upon is the moment your life ends.

‘What the hell is this attacker relying on to attack us?’

If it were several Thunder Unit veterans, that would make sense, but an assault by just one person.

Han Hyeon-su couldn’t guess who the intruder was.

He had made many enemies here and there, but there was no one bold enough to go against the Drug King’s wishes.

“Didn’t that bastard say anything? Other information that could help us guess his identity…!”

“Well… ah, he said something incomprehensible about coming through Chairman Peng’s introduction…”

“What? You should have said that first, you crazy bastard!”

“Well, before I could tell you, you said not to let anyone in, Boss…!”

Han Hyeon-su now felt his mind going completely blank.

If someone was close to a power player in the Chinese Central Heroes Committee, this chaos made sense.

‘What should I do…?’

A chill ran down his spine.

Now the prospect of falling out of favor with Chairman Peng seemed more frightening than being branded by prestigious families or expelled from the underground world.

“Over twenty people have already been taken down! You should evacuate for now, Boss!”

Whether he knew this or not, the subordinate urged Han Hyeon-su even more,

“Well, since our Guild Leader seems to have no intention of asking for our help, we’ll be going now. Good luck.”

The two Hunters stood up with light greetings.

Suddenly, Han Hyeon-su felt something snap in his head.

Click!

“Beom-san.”

『Yes, Boss.』

A voice suddenly heard from above.

“Lower all the shutters. Don’t let anyone out.”

『Yes, I’ll do that.』

Clank!

Thud! Thud!

Suddenly, the sound of iron doors closing could be heard from everywhere.

 

[All exits leading outside have been sealed.]

 

And a message appeared.

“Guild Leader?”

“What are you doing?”

The two Hunters also sensed something ominous and frowned.

Han Hyeon-su smiled coldly.

“There’s also the concern that the intruder might run away after seeing you two Hunters, isn’t there? So this is a precautionary measure. You two can wait here comfortably. The commotion will be settled soon.”

The two Hunters felt a chilling sensation from Han Hyeon-su’s gaze.

Just moments ago, he had been groveling as if he’d give them his liver and gall bladder.

Now he somehow looked like a blood-scented mafia member.

They were about to ask what he was thinking when suddenly, with a tremendous shock, the ceiling collapsed and lightning struck.

Kwarrrrrung!

Snow-white flashes like a snowfield filled the interior.

At the same time, through the rising dust cloud, a man appeared with his coat tails fluttering.

“Goblin… mask?”

“I wondered who you were meeting while ignoring Feng Jinghao’s orders. So you were just dealing with these brats.”

A mocking sound passed through the black goblin mask.

A modulated voice that sent chills just by hearing it.

Like a ghost’s wailing, it was difficult to guess age, gender, or even speech patterns.

“The old man’s reputation is finished too. Well, at his age where it wouldn’t be strange to be nailed into a coffin right now, it’s more surprising that his influence reaches even this small eastern region.”

The two Hunters from the prestigious family frowned and activated their mana circuits.

Even if they couldn’t understand the content, they could tell they were being ignored.

“Some guy in a weird costume, what the…!”

“I am Han Hyeon-su of Blue Dog! I greet you, sir!”

Before one could draw his dagger, Han Hyeon-su suddenly shouted loudly and prostrated himself on the floor.

Instantly, the golden eyes behind the goblin mask flickered like will-o’-the-wisps.

“You know me?”

“I think I’ve met you… no, I have met you! Of course I have! How could I forget! Six years ago, at the Central Banquet in Wuhan! Didn’t I greet you there, sir?”

Lee Hyeon said nothing for a moment.

“Your words from that time, sir! Your words that Hunters should live with pride are deeply engraved in my heart and I still remember them vividly!!”

“…”

And the silence that followed.

That time was like hell for Han Hyeon-su.

Pfft.

Then came a light chuckle.

“I was about to blow up what’s on your shoulders if I thought it was useless, but fortunately it’s still worth using.”

“Th-thank you for the compliment, sir!!”

Han Hyeon-su banged his head on the floor as if to shatter it.

Tears almost poured out from the relief of being alive.

 

* * *

 

「What’s this about ‘sir’ and what’s this Central Banquet? And what’s this about instructional words?」

‘I don’t know either.’

「You don’t know either… what?」

“Kekeke! You’ve done quite the bluffing, our apostle!”

Son Wukong looked at Lee Hyeon with an expression of disbelief, while Sha Wujing gazed at him with a face full of laughter.

‘Chairman Peng’s name usually works on those who make quite a name for themselves in the underground world. In fact, it was that old man who introduced me to this place.’

Chairman Peng had once stayed in Korea for a full six months trying to win over Lee Hyeon.

In the end, he had to return to his home country due to his mentor’s interference, Lee Hyeon’s stubbornness, and political issues within the Party,

but during that time, Lee Hyeon had quite deep exchanges with Chairman Peng and was introduced to several connections.

Blue Dog was one of them.

Like their name suggested, they were ‘dogs’ – useful to use as errand boys when needed.

‘He was one of Chairman Peng’s informants planted domestically.’

Lee Hyeon’s eyes deepened.

‘Later, I didn’t seek them out except for disposing of stolen goods, worried that our information might leak.’

His enemy Seo Chang-woo had naturalized to China, and Executive Director Jeong Gyu-han held Chinese connections. The shadow they were gradually casting over the country was the same now as it was four years ago.

And behind it all was Chairman Peng.

Lee Hyeon planned to thoroughly exploit this fact.

He had already used it on Qing Xiao, so it would be perfect for creating confusion in information.

‘The prestigious family, Chairman Peng, and the cartel too. If I entangle everything in a complex web, it’ll be hard for them to figure out who I am.’

Whatever Han Hyeon-su mistook him for, he had set the first button well, so now he could comfortably plunder the prestigious family.

‘But before that,’

Lee Hyeon looked at the back of Han Hyeon-su’s head as he lay prostrate with cold eyes.

“Still, how do you plan to repay the insult of making me stand outside in the cold wind?”

“…Th, that is.”

Gulp!

Han Hyeon-su, who had slightly raised his head, swallowed dry saliva.

Fear was flickering in his eyes as he looked at Lee Hyeon.

 

[Curse Incantations, ‘Fear Infection’ is greatly breaking down the opponent’s mental barriers.]

[Fear is being carved into their psyche. From now on, they cannot disobey your commands.]

 

The fear of China’s big shot, Peng Zihao, combined with the mental curse that Lee Hyeon had continuously fed him.

‘If he’s hit with Curse Incantations while already frightened, it’ll be hard for him to come to his senses. Sha Wujing’s curse isn’t that easy to deal with.’

Han Hyeon-su was already in a state where normal rational judgment was impossible.

He had thoroughly fallen to become Lee Hyeon’s puppet. It was no different from being brainwashed.

Then the guy made an expression as if he had resolved something,

Slash!

Whoosh-

He drew a dagger and boldly cut off his own left arm.

“Kugh…! Pl, please, w, with this, sh, show mercy…!”

“For the insult you gave me, this is still infinitely insufficient.”

Lee Hyeon indifferently withdrew his gaze from Han Hyeon-su, whose eyes were shaking mercilessly.

“But since you sincerely repent your wrongdoing, I’ll forgive you just this once. However, all your remaining Guild Members must also offer one arm each.”

“…Of, of course! Those who don’t comply, I’ll personally slit their throats! Thank you for your mercy, sir!!”

Han Hyeon-su, burying his head on the floor again, was truly shedding tears of joy.

「…This isn’t even a fanatic, what the hell.」

While Son Wukong clicked his tongue in disbelief,

“This guy aside.”

Crackle crackle crackle!!

Lee Hyeon’s arrow now turned toward the remaining ones.

 

[Kéraunos reveals its maximum firepower!]

[Curse Incantations, ‘Intimidation Reversal’ and ‘Mental Contamination’ are added, making them mistake the Lightning’s power for several levels higher than it actually is.]

 

“There are still some who dare not know their place and keep their eyes raised. Truly displeasing.”

Lee Hyeon turned his gaze toward the two Hunters from the prestigious family who were overwhelmed by Diovis’s tremendous intimidation.

They were already thoroughly disgusted by Han Hyeon-su’s abnormal reaction.

They were really starting to think that perhaps their opponent might be a skilled fighter too difficult for them to handle.

Moreover, the indoor space they were in was thick with Curse Incantations, creating great invisible pressure.

“First,”

As the Lightning’s intimidation grew stronger, the entire floor and walls filled with waves of pure white light.

“Kneel.”

“…!”

“…!!”

The white waves flowing along the floor became rough tidal waves that struck the two Hunters.

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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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