Broken Ranker Devours Myths - Chapter 70

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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 70

First Hunt (4)

 

 

 

The gazes of the Executive Group and team leaders turned toward Im Won-young.

“…….”

“…….”

“…….”

No one could open their mouth.

They too had realized what Lee Hyeon had understood.

Rather, their understanding ran even deeper.

They had long known the relationship between Mo Jeong-gyeon and Im Won-young.

Grandmother and granddaughter.

Master and disciple.

God and apostle.

Guild Leader and subordinate.

Looking at these relationships alone, they were closer than anyone as grandparent and grandchild,

but in reality, there was an unbridgeable river between the two.

Parents.

There was Mo Jeong-gyeon’s cruel past where she had cast out Im Won-young’s biological parents, forcing them to die lonely deaths,

valuing power more than blood relatives.

That’s why the Executive Group and team leaders had never thought that Im Won-young would be able to fully inherit the guild.

However…….

‘It’s exactly the same as back then.’

‘There was a test back then too. Those people couldn’t pass it at that time.’

‘No matter how much she’s the Guild Leader, to use Executive Director Jeong, who was like her right arm, as a sacrifice…….’

Amid the ominous atmosphere,

「How many fish-shaped pastries did you say 5 billion was?」

「Kekeke. 50 million of them..」

「……That’s insane, really. She casually burned that much just to test some rookie, and now she nearly burned down an entire country just to test her own granddaughter?」

Son Wukong looked at Mo Jeong-gyeon with an incredulous expression.

「Hmm? It’s not really surprising coming from a senior brother who invaded the Underworld to extend his lifespan and plucked out all of King Yama’s whiskers, then burned down the Queen Mother’s orchard to increase his dharma power, is it?」

「My dearly beloved junior brother, my youngest junior brother.」

「Why are you being so disgusting?」

「I really need to rip your head off today to stop that annoying behavior! Kaaak!」

Sha Wujing ran away to avoid Son Wukong’s charge.

“…….”

Im Won-young remained silent for a moment.

Then,

Whooo-

She let out a long breath while looking at Mo Jeong-gyeon.

In her eyes, which had been swirling with all kinds of emotions, now only a deep gaze remained.

“Of course,”

“No. Don’t give a hasty answer.”

Mo Jeong-gyeon cut off Im Won-young’s words midway.

Whooooo-

She took another puff of her long bamboo pipe and exhaled.

White smoke spread thickly, wrapping around her once before disappearing.

“I’m asking whether you can drag out Executive Director Jeong with your own hands and your own power.”

The tiger shrouded in mist brought both mystique and an unapproachable fear and majesty.

“Executive Director Jeong is a tiger. He may not be a mountain lord, but he’s at least a leopard. Too fast to catch up to, and vicious enough to never let go once he’s caught something.”

“…….”

“Even in this White Burn, excluding myself, there aren’t many who can confidently say they could directly capture that child. Isn’t that right?”

When Mo Jeong-gyeon’s gaze reached the Executive Group, they each turned their heads slightly to the side and coughed awkwardly.

Only one person stood upright with his hands clasped behind his back, letting out a light snort.

He was an old man who gave off a straight feeling like a sharp sword.

Mo Jeong-gyeon’s gaze returned to Im Won-young.

“But if you were to make bold promises in front of all these people and then fail to expel Executive Director Jeong…… you would never be able to rise again.”

“……!”

“Originally, the position of a king is exactly like that. No second chances are given. Once you fall, it’s a position you can never return to.”

“…….”

“Now, who would serve as king someone who failed due to reckless bravado without knowing their place?”

Lee Hyeon observed the Executive Group and team leaders.

Certainly, apart from their anger toward Executive Director Jeong, there was still suspicion in their gazes toward Im Won-young.

This happened because they were all born with predatory instincts.

To become the leader of such a group, one ultimately had to show corresponding strength.

“Conversely, even if you succeed in the expulsion, if it was only by relying on someone else, that too would be of no use.”

Im Won-young’s gaze briefly fixed on Lee Hyeon.

“Now, I’ll ask again.”

“…….”

“Can you really handle him? That person?”

A moment of silence passed.

Then,

“……Hah, really. I was trying not to say this because people are watching, but,”

Im Won-young let out a short sigh while scratching the back of her head.

“I once told you that I would become a mountain.”

An answer completely different from the question.

However,

“A mountain seems to accept everything. But it’s never so easygoing as to accept even those who would harm it. To enter within it, one must absolutely follow its ecosystem.”

Her appearance as she smiled while saying this,

“If I was going to be stopped by someone like Executive Director Jeong, I wouldn’t have even started. So please allow me.”

somehow resembled Mo Jeong-gyeon greatly.

Mo Jeong-gyeon laughed loudly as if satisfied.

“Hohohoho! Now your eyes finally please me. Yes. If you’re Mo Jeong-gyeon’s granddaughter, you should naturally have at least that much ambition.”

Mo Jeong-gyeon turned to the Executive Group and team leaders.

“Whether to help that child or not is for you all to judge. However, disciplinary action against Executive Director Jeong, who put the guild in danger, will proceed without exception.”

“Order confirmed.”

“Order confirmed.”

As all the Executive Group and team leaders bowed their heads,

Im Won-young clenched her fist tightly.

 

* * *

 

The team leaders all left the mansion while making phone calls somewhere.

“How many people can we mobilize right now? Everyone…”

“This is an emergency situation. Everyone stop what you’re doing and return to headquarters…”

“The projects currently in progress with Executive Director Jeong…”

The Guild Leader’s decision had already been made.

No matter how much influence Executive Director Jeong had, it would only take half a day to completely remove all of it.

That’s how absolute Mo Jeong-gyeon’s presence was within the guild.

In fact, those who had been especially close to Executive Director Jeong were even more extreme in their response.

“Summon every single member of Team B. What? It’s hard because the raid just ended? Hey! Do you want to rest for the rest of your life? Do you think I’m just talking for fun right now?”

Team Leader Park’s reaction was particularly heated.

“…Phew.”

Lee Hyeon approached Im Won-young, who was letting out a deep sigh.

“You’ve worked hard.”

“I owe you a debt of gratitude, Team Leader Jang.”

His expression seemed relieved.

Lee Hyeon smiled slightly.

Even when he first called Im Won-young, he had worried about what to do if things didn’t go well,

but fortunately it seemed Mo Jeong-gyeon trusted Im Won-young more deeply, which was a relief.

‘If the Mountain God had protected Executive Director Jeong, I was prepared to shake White Burn immediately… but I’m glad it didn’t come to such an extreme situation.’

Just then.

“So you’re the friend who devoured the White Tiger Great Kill this time.”

The directors of the executive group approached Lee Hyeon and Im Won-young.

All of them had faces that looked like they were dying of curiosity.

Especially the person who spoke was an old man Lee Hyeon had noticed several times.

‘Fighting Dog Ho Tae-sang.’

The only person whose sword-like upright posture didn’t waver even under Mo Jeong-gyeon’s intimidating presence.

Among guild members, he was more famous by his title ‘Executive Director Ho.’

Like Executive Director Jeong, he was also a High Ranker.

“Nice to meet you for the first time. I’m Jang Lee Hyeon.”

“Pleased to meet you. I’m Ho Tae-sang.”

“I’m Zhuge Wen-yu.”

“I’m Seol Yi-rang.”

“I’m…”

The executive group greeted him one by one.

The presence emanating from the others besides Executive Director Ho was also formidable.

‘They said there aren’t more than ten High Rankers in our country? That was a lie. They just weren’t revealed, but they were all here.’

He could almost hear Lee Gun-san’s grumbling that there were only old monsters there.

Lee Hyeon swallowed dryly inwardly.

 

[Combat Sense (S) sharpens its blade!]

 

Suddenly, the executive group’s eyes sparkled.

“Oh, look at this friend. It seems like he ‘sensed’ us?”

“Certainly, the Guild Leader didn’t just show simple favoritism.”

“Won-young, it seems you’ve brought back something proper.”

The executive group’s gaze toward Lee Hyeon was full of goodwill, but also carried considerable competitive spirit.

If a stage were set, they looked ready to start a fight immediately.

“I heard you’re also the one who broke that rascal’s sword?”

Executive Director Ho glanced back slightly and grinned.

Manager Eom Gi-seon briefly made eye contact with Lee Hyeon, then quickly averted his gaze and pretended not to notice.

“Yes. It just happened that way.”

“Breaking a sword made entirely of solid iron and saying it just happened… If you got serious, this old man’s body would be smashed to pieces.”

Executive Director Ho let out a light chuckle and twisted his lips.

“Could I ask you for a sparring match later?”

“I’m not very good at going easy on people.”

“What…? Hehehe. You’re a tough one to handle with words too. Right. A young person should have this much spirit.”

Though it was a short conversation, Executive Director Ho was starting to like Lee Hyeon.

“But you know.”

He smiled.

Viciously, as if he would devour Lee Hyeon right away.

 

[The legend ‘Iron-Eating Bulgasal’ salivates while looking at you!]

 

Bulgasal.

Like its name ‘Bulgasal (不可殺)’ meaning unkillable, it was a monster that ate metal and grew endlessly.

“If you don’t have the skill, you should know that it’s nothing but hastening your own death—”

 

[The legend ‘Goblin Dance Formation’ tears apart all of Bulgasal’s presence!]

[The presence of the two legends clash violently.]

 

Crash!

“…!?”

“I’ve already experienced such things countless times, so you don’t need to worry.”

Lee Hyeon easily dispersed Executive Director Ho’s pressure.

For a moment, Executive Director Ho’s eyebrows twitched slightly, but,

“Hehehe. It seems this old man got too carried away with unnecessary lecturing out of excessive concern. This is the problem with getting old. Even when I try to be careful, I can’t help it.”

Soon he quietly clasped his hands behind his back.

The clash of presences disappeared as if it were a lie.

“Originally, when you get old, you should keep your mouth shut and open your wallet. Since I caused unexpected trouble, I should give you at least this.”

 

[The legend ‘Iron-Eating Bulgasal’ regurgitates something it digested!]

 

When Executive Director Ho extended his right hand to the side, the air soon twisted and something fell as if being vomited out.

A metal sphere about the size of two fists combined.

It boasted a unique appearance with various colors mixed together, as if several types of metal had been jumbled together.

 

[Half-eaten Metal by Bulgasal]

The lump of metal regurgitated by Bulgasal, a beast that grows by eating iron, already boasts very powerful appetite by itself.

Weapons forged with this metal absorb the life force of whatever they touch indiscriminately and grow infinitely.

-Type: Material Item.

-Origin: Literature ‘Songnam Miscellany’

 

“Take it.”

Executive Director Ho threw the metal lump to Lee Hyeon.

Thud!

Just catching it, he could feel formidable violent magic power.

“Most people find it very difficult to handle, so I’ve just been keeping it, but it seems like it would suit your temperament very well.”

“Since you’ve given it to me, I’ll accept it gratefully and use it well.”

“Please do. However, since it looks like that, it’ll be difficult to use right away, so you’ll need to find a good blacksmith—”

Executive Director Ho couldn’t continue his words.

Crackle crackle crackle!!

In an instant, the metal chunk was covered in blue-white lightning and melted, stretching out long and thin.

 

[Dueokshini’s Deep Breath (S+) releases maximum temperature breath!]

 

The metal chunk broke into pieces and instantly separated into dozens of small beads.

Following the magnetic field, they spun around Lee Hyeon in circles.

It looked like watching planets orbiting around a star.

“……!!”

Whirr whirr whirr whirr!

A technique using only electromagnetic fields.

When Lee Hyeon withdrew his lightning energy, dozens of metal beads naturally attached to his right arm like prayer beads.

“I like it. I happened to need some throwing weapons, so this seems perfect.”

“……Ha, well I’ll be. My worries seem rather pointless now.”

Executive Director Ho clicked his tongue without realizing it.

He had no choice but to acknowledge it.

The fact that Lee Hyeon was more capable than expected.

“Good. I hope your confidence continues on the battlefield as well. Now then, shall we get going?”

“Are you planning to come with us?”

Lee Hyeon’s eyes lit up.

Im Won-young also looked at Executive Director Ho and the other executive directors.

Executive Director Ho shrugged his shoulders.

“Shouldn’t we? Like it or not, Executive Director Jeong was a close colleague. It wouldn’t be right to just push him out without hearing his side of the story.”

An attitude suggesting they would remain thoroughly neutral.

But Lee Hyeon and Im Won-young didn’t take those words at face value.

‘They want to evaluate us. Whether Team Leader Im really has the qualifications, with their own eyes. Even me, who claims to be his sword.’

And if they didn’t meet their expectations,

‘They’ll try to break us. They’ll step in personally to break us.’

Otherwise, they wouldn’t have tested his abilities or given him such a precious item as a gift.

Lee Hyeon and Im Won-young now had two tasks: ousting Executive Director Jeong and winning over these people’s hearts.

However,

‘This actually works out better. If we can win the executive group’s favor, everything after that will be smooth sailing.’

Since joining hands with Im Won-young, Lee Hyeon had no intention of simply ending at team leader level.

The ambition he couldn’t fulfill during his Blue Thunder days… he wanted to properly bloom it here.

Therefore,

Executive Director Jeong was nothing more than a stepping stone or sacrifice for Lee Hyeon to reach where he wanted to go.

“Then let’s depart.”

Just as Lee Hyeon was about to take a step,

『Little puppy, little puppy. You really are a greedy little puppy the more I look at you.』

Suddenly Mo Jeong-gyeon’s voice rang in his ears.

『It’s not just Executive Director Jeong you want to use as a stepping stone, is it? If necessary, you’d do the same with White Burn.』

“……!!”

『To dare think such thoughts in front of this old tiger. I don’t know whether to call you pathetic like a little puppy, or brave…….』

Lee Hyeon hurriedly turned toward Mo Jeong-gyeon.

A gaze that saw right through him.

『But I quite like such arrogant fellows. So when this matter is finished, come find me soon.』

She was smiling with the long bamboo pipe in her mouth.

『I’ll give you a very interesting gift then.』

It was a smile that could have been either genuine or mocking.

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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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