F-Rank Secretly Becomes Stronger - Chapter 55

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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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55

“You’re holding up pretty well these days.”

“It seems like you’re just getting beaten up constantly though…”

Today’s training also ended with time passing by unnoticed as always.

He had entered a nearby soup restaurant to have dinner with Hyeonsu, who he could now speak comfortably with.

“That aside, aren’t you overworking yourself too much lately?”

Juhyeok was already doing training at an astounding level every day.

Recently, he had been handling a training volume that was 1.5 times his usual amount.

“Even you look clearly exhausted, and too much training can be a problem too.”

High-intensity training might show rapid growth, but it could also lead to injuries and result in decreased physical abilities.

Would efficiency really improve if someone who trains every day 24/7 without rest days increases their training volume on top of that?

Of course, he wasn’t doubting Juhyeok, who had planned his own training and risen from F-rank to skills comparable to S-rank, but as someone watching from the side, he couldn’t help but worry.

“Is there something going on lately?”

“No. I just wanted to try increasing my training volume for a bit.”

“You were already doing plenty before, so take some rest… Looking at how much you’re sweating lately, I’m scared you might collapse from exhaustion.”

“I understand.”

He nodded his head while half-listening and brushing it off.

Actually, there was a reason for increasing his training volume like this.

‘I need to get as strong as possible before entering Garisto Mansion.’

Only 3 weeks left now.

He had tried to gather as many Magic Stones as possible by going to Gates, but with his current percentage, he couldn’t enter the Training Room.

‘I think I’ll fill it all up by the week after next… but by then it’ll be difficult to enter due to timing.’

Entering the Training Room with only one week left before the inspection date would be reckless.

The number of times he had come out of the Training Room in just one week could be counted on his fingers, and since the artifact was currently contaminated with Dream Herb, even stronger enemies would appear and take even more time.

‘Since I can’t enter the Training Room, I should at least increase my training volume.’

Since he didn’t know what would happen when he entered Garisto Mansion, he was pushing his body to the maximum.

Of course, he would definitely take proper rest for three days before entering.

Juhyeok was making plans and moving with the best possible approach given his current situation.

“Here’s your food~”

“Thank you.”

Blood sausage soup with steam rising from it.

He first lightly scooped some with his spoon to taste the broth.

‘The seasoning is bland.’

The broth was blander than expected.

Juhyeok picked up the container of salted shrimp next to him and tried to scoop a small spoonful to add to the broth for more saltiness.

Seasoning blood sausage soup was a sacred task that determined satisfaction with the meal.

With his left hand holding the container, he lightly scooped the broth along with the salted shrimp bits—

“Nice to meet you.”

“Ah.”

The salted shrimp spilled everywhere because someone spoke to him from the side.

The bits fell into the soup like a pile, dissolving into the broth.

“…”

It had been an important moment that absolutely shouldn’t have been interrupted.

As he stared helplessly at the broth that was clearly too salty now, the person next to him called out to him again.

“You are Hunter Jung Juhyeok, correct?”

“…Yes.”

Since they were calling him “Hunter,” it seemed like the other party had come with some troublesome business.

They say even dogs aren’t bothered when eating, but to see who was treating him worse than a dog, he turned his head to check.

‘A white person?’

Despite his fluent Korean, his appearance clearly looked foreign.

Next to him was even a large black bodyguard, creating an unbalanced feeling with the blood sausage soup restaurant.

“Who are you?”

“We’re from the Bluebird Guild Scout Team.”

Bluebird?

Of course, he had heard that name before.

A guild that ranks within the top ten in the global Hunter Guild rankings.

He had heard that their headquarters was somewhere in New York or LA in America, but he didn’t know much beyond that.

“Why is a scout team that should be in America here?”

Actually, he had a rough idea of why he was here, but it was a question asked out of courtesy.

The scout staff sat down and asked Juhyeok.

“There’s only one reason why a scout would come looking for a Hunter.”

Eyes filled with confidence.

He could accurately predict exactly what words would come out of his mouth in 3 seconds.

“Bluebird is very interested in Hunter Jung Juhyeok.”

“I see.”

As expected.

It was exactly the story he had anticipated, so it wasn’t particularly surprising.

‘An F-rank cleared an A-rank dungeon, so it’s only natural.’

It was content that any international guild would naturally be curious about.

Of course, the limitations of F-rank were clear, but if he had already cleared A-rank, he had sufficient skill to enter an international guild.

‘Still, this is the first time an international guild has come looking for me.’

Bluebird was the first to enter recruitment mode.

However, unfortunately for them, no matter how much they talked all day about what great facilities and potential that guild had, it would be useless to Juhyeok.

Therefore, there was only one answer.

“I won’t join.”

A firm refusal.

The scout’s confident expression became distorted.

“Excuse me?”

“I won’t join.”

He emphasized his answer again to the scout who had heard him properly.

Then the scout took something out from his jacket and said.

“I think there’s some misunderstanding, but we really are Bluebird.”

The other party held out a square business card.

Clean font with Bluebird’s guild emblem engraved in the upper left corner.

There couldn’t be anyone stupid enough to impersonate Bluebird’s name in the first place, so there was no need to determine whether it was genuine or fake.

However, whether he was really from Bluebird Guild or not didn’t matter to Juhyeok at all.

“I have no intention of joining any guild right now.”

“…May I ask the reason?”

The scout asked back, as if he had never even thought that his proposal would be rejected.

Juhyeok quickly scooped up the blood sausage soup with his spoon before the salty taste of the salted shrimp spread further and answered.

“I’m planning to establish a guild, so I have no intention of joining another one.”

“….”

Silence flowed at the answer about establishing a guild.

“I didn’t think that rumor would actually be true.”

“Yes, it’s true.”

It seemed like he had also looked everything up through articles and roughly knew about the guild establishment story.

Even so, the fact that a practically rookie Hunter was dreaming of establishing a guild sounded too much like chasing clouds, so there were several guilds that dismissed it as false rumors and approached him.

Bluebird seemed to be one of those guilds, as they looked at Juhyeok with quite a shocked expression.

“I don’t know where such an idea came from, but establishing a guild isn’t that easy.”

“I know. Thank you for your concern.”

“Ah, that’s not what I meant…”

A flustered expression at the conversation direction flowing differently than expected.

Since Juhyeok didn’t pay any attention and was enthusiastically focused on his blood sausage soup, the scout was even more bewildered by such a reaction.

The scout fell into thought for a while, then spoke to Juhyeok with a serious face.

“If it’s to raise your market value, it’s better not to do this kind of media play.”

An attitude to gain an advantageous position in contract negotiations.

The scout seemed to think it was more realistic that he was deliberately acting indifferent to contracts to raise his market value, rather than actually establishing a guild.

“Bluebird highly evaluates Hunter Juhyeok’s potential and plans to meet whatever price you ask for as much as possible.”

Juhyeok already possessed skills close to A-rank level.

According to rumors, he was even evaluated as being on par with S-rank hunters.

“However, if you come out with this kind of attitude, negotiations will inevitably become difficult.”

Bluebird had planned to treat such a rare talent who possessed both marketability and ability with the utmost care.

However, if a newcomer acted so arrogantly like this, it would be difficult to proceed with negotiations out of sheer displeasure.

The Scout left a clear warning about Juhyeok’s behavior.

“There’s no need for it to be difficult.”

Juhyeok answered indifferently without batting an eye at such warnings.

“You must have had a hard time coming all the way here, but unfortunately, Bluebird is not my preferred choice.”

“….”

The Scout was left speechless by his resolute attitude.

He let out a hollow laugh for a moment, then soon muttered quietly to himself.

“puta madre….”

The Scout shook his head while muttering in an incomprehensible foreign language.

Then Hyeonsu, who had been quietly listening from the side, suddenly shot up from his seat.

“What did you just say?”

“Just talking to myself.”

Hyeonsu seemed thoroughly angry about something.

He spoke sarcastically toward the Scout.

“Being a Scout and all, you speak Spanish quite well.”

“….”

The other party quickly fell silent, apparently hit right on target.

He probably thought no one would understand if he spoke in Spanish, but the problem was that Hyeonsu was right there—someone who had been fluent in English, Spanish, and Chinese since childhood.

Juhyeok, who had been listening quietly but became curious, asked.

“What did that person say?”

“Puta madre, he called you a fucking bastard.”

“Hah….”

Not only had he interrupted the sacred ritual of seasoning soup, but he had also cowardly cursed in a foreign language.

Such despicable behavior was enough to make him laugh in disbelief.

Contrary to Juhyeok’s reaction, Hyeonsu began getting intensely angry as if he had been the one insulted.

“Apologize right now!”

“I never said such a thing. There seems to be some misunderstanding.”

“Misunderstanding my ass.”

The conversation was escalating.

Just when everyone in the shop was starting to stare.

“back off.”

The Bodyguard who had been watching from the side pushed Hyeonsu away forcefully with a menacing expression, reacting to his aggressive attitude.

This made Hyeonsu even angrier, and he pushed the Bodyguard back in the same manner while responding.

“Back off my ass, fuck you!”

The Bodyguard remained expressionless while guarding his position, watching Hyeonsu who wouldn’t back down.

Then his hand quickly flew toward Hyeonsu.

A concise and decisive movement that seemed to be at least A-rank level.

Judging that it would be too much for B-rank Hyeonsu to block, Juhyeok quickly moved from his seat and stood up.

“Stop.”

“….”

The other party grimaced with his wrist caught.

He tried to pull his hand free, but couldn’t move against Juhyeok’s grip strength.

“Urgh….”

Even groaning and trying desperately to escape was impossible.

After staring at the Bodyguard who had suffered complete defeat in terms of physical strength for several seconds, Juhyeok pushed him away along with his arm.

The Bodyguard then grabbed his wrist and helplessly staggered backward.

“Don’t cause trouble in someone else’s shop and leave quietly.”

“you fuckin….”

Eyes glaring as if ready to charge at any moment.

In the atmosphere that seemed ready to explode, the Scout spoke quietly.

“Hunter Jung Juhyeok’s party was the first to cause trouble.”

“The root cause was your side making inappropriate remarks.”

“Didn’t I tell you it was a misunderstanding?”

The Scout continued speaking with a polite posture but an arrogant voice.

“If you’re planning to antagonize Bluebird, then go ahead.”

“Ha.”

What a formidable guy this turned out to be.

I tried to let this pass as quietly as possible, but if they’re going this far, I have no intention of staying still even out of anger.

Juhyeok looked back and forth between the quite excited security guard and the Scout as he answered.

“Your security guard also seems reluctant to let this go as is.”

The crime of cursing first and then trying to throw a punch.

Making him pay the proper price for that would serve as a warning to the guys who’ll come looking for trouble in the future.

“Shall we do this properly?”

Juhyeok said with a raised corner of his mouth as he looked at the security guard.

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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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