I Got A Legendary Sniper Rifle - Chapter 139

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 139
Ep. 139
After that commotion at the Management Bureau, things progressed at lightning speed, and eventually this news bulletin appeared on the television that Ihyeon’s family was watching.
– This just in. Earlier today, the Management Bureau made an official announcement that the Instant Tower in Hosung City, Gyeonggi Province, which Samhwa Guild submitted to the Management Bureau, will be conquered by the international organization Frontier. Let me repeat that for you. Earlier today, Samhwa Guild….
“My goodness, are those people planning to operate in Korea too?”
“Right? Didn’t they mostly work in less developed countries?”
Minjeong and Donghoo showed expressions of surprise as they focused on the news.
Even people who had little interest in Towers and Hunters knew about the organization called Frontier.
If we were to compare it to the past, it would be like the status of an international non-governmental organization such as Doctors Without Borders.
The more so because it had been featured in countless movies and dramas.
After the anchor’s commentary continued for a moment, Claude’s press conference in front of the Road Hotel was even broadcast.
His expression was bright, but his appearance—still difficult to say was well-groomed, closer to that of a natural man—remained unchanged.
– Ah, hello, people of the Republic of Korea. I am Claude, representative of Frontier.
Claude’s press conference was simple, but it certainly left an impression on people’s minds.
– Korea is a very good country. I love Korea.
“Oh my, he has such an endearing appearance, doesn’t he?”
“No wonder he’s been doing so much good work all this time.”
– I’ve been in Korea for quite some time now, and I’m grateful that everyone has treated me kindly. In that spirit, I negotiated with the Korean Management Bureau to have Frontier take responsibility for and conquer the Instant Tower in Hosung City. I hope this conquest will be an opportunity for friendship between Frontier and Korea.
Claude certainly chose his words carefully, speaking in a way that felt good to the Korean people listening.
On one hand, he seemed playful, yet each word gave the impression of being thoroughly prepared—a seasoned demeanor.
“Korea is a good country, yes indeed.”
“Since it is the Master’s homeland, there is nothing more to say.”
To such an extent that even Jia and Elsie, who weren’t Korean citizens, chimed in agreement!
‘…Wait, does Jia have a resident registration now, so she counts as a Korean citizen?’
It was a bit confusing, but in any case.
Then came a simple question-and-answer session.
When asked whether Frontier would conduct the conquest entirely on its own, Claude answered immediately.
– This conquest will be conducted with the support of Frontier’s reinforcements.
The sudden mention of “reinforcements” that came out of nowhere.
Naturally, the reporters went into a frenzy with related questions, but Claude consistently responded with “I cannot disclose that yet.”
Even after that, Claude deflected with phrases like “It’s not a situation where I can answer that yet.”
Still, this was enough to extract a scoop, so the reporters were reasonably satisfied and moved on to lighter questions.
Since Frontier and Claude were such veiled entities, even the smallest details became sufficient material for news.
A question from one reporter near the end.
– It seems you have many fond memories of Korea. What is the one that stands out most in your memory?
It was somewhat light, if anything, but Claude answered cheerfully.
– First of all, taxi fares are incredibly cheap! From Incheon Airport to this hotel, it was only 300,000 won, you know?
“….”
“…?”
At this rather unexpected answer, the faces of Minjeong and Donghoo, who had been watching TV with contentment until just moments ago, stiffened abruptly.
Ihyeon was in the same boat.
“The hotel was selling ice cream for 35,000 won, so isn’t 300,000 won expensive, sir?”
“If that’s the price of six ice creams, it does seem rather steep.”
Only the Spirits, still unfamiliar with Korean prices, failed to grasp the gravity of the situation and asked such questions.
‘The hotel ice cream is one thing, but a taxi fare of 300,000 won…. Even with prices being what they are these days.’
Ihyeon found himself at a loss for words, tears threatening to blur his vision.
But Claude’s tearful testimony (?) was far from over.
– The market prices are incredibly cheap too! Two servings of sundae for 50,000 won! Tteokbokki is even cheaper at 45,000 won. They said everyone gave me a discount because I’m a foreigner. This outfit as well….
Ihyeon hastily turned on his phone and checked the internet.
Sure enough, the startled expression of the reporter holding the microphone in front of Claude was trending in real-time.
Followed by a flood of countless comments.
[ └ I figured it out. Frontier says they’ll clear it, then drags it out for 60 days and just opens the gate anyway;;]
└ XX, how much of a markup did you charge that foreigner?
└ If the Instant Tower breaks, call the taxi drivers and merchants to stop it!
└ Foreigners… you… scamming bastards… without… explanation… death penalty! Is money that good…? Do business… with conscience! ]
Regardless of Claude’s true intentions, Korea’s shameful side had been exposed in a public forum, and public sentiment was boiling over—visible even in the comments alone.
Of course, such counterarguments weren’t missing either.
[ └ A 300,000 won taxi fare isn’t impossible… depending on traffic that day, the route could easily have been longer… don’t taxi drivers have their own hardships dealing with foreigners they can’t communicate with?
└ We should stay neutral about the market too. Prices are a bit high these days;;]
└└ That’s how you get rear-ended while staying neutral… ]
‘Of course it’s only some taxi drivers and merchants’ fault, but how does he manage to find only those places?’
Ihyeon clicked his tongue and set his phone down again.
Sensing that the atmosphere was turning strange, the press conference ended rather abruptly.
Claude, saying “Huh? Why? What’s wrong?” was dragged away by people who appeared to be Frontier Agents, each holding one of his arms.
As he was dragged away, his parting cry of “Korea, don’t worry! Frontier will handle it!” was the highlight of the press conference.
And likewise, the Personnel Manager’s office at the Administrative Bureau, which had been watching Claude’s entire press conference.
“…Contact the National Tax Service.”
“Pardon? Manager, why the National Tax Service?”
“Tax audits for the taxi drivers, market merchants—all of them.”
“But, that’s not really our jurisdiction, is it?”
The Employee asked hesitantly as the situation spiraled beyond control.
But Seongnyun’s resolve was unwavering.
“That Claude person is a Hunter, right?”
“Y-yes, I suppose so?”
“And he’s in Korea?”
“Yes, yes.”
“Then isn’t it our jurisdiction?”
“Huh?”
Indeed, the experience and credentials of someone with decades of service at headquarters never went to waste.
The Employee marveled at Seongnyun’s flawless logic and made a call to someone.
Seongnyun then asked the Storm Manager who was still standing beside him.
“But reinforcements? Does Frontier have any reinforcements to call from Korea?”
“Hmm….”
The Storm Manager, finding nothing to grasp this time either, fell silent for a moment before answering.
“Perhaps they’ve made an agreement with one of Korea’s major guilds?”
At that, Seongnyun’s eyes widened as he turned to look at him.
“Why, why are you saying that?”
“Since when do you say something so sensible?”
The Manager protested, “I always say sensible things, you know.”
But it would be a shame to end it here.
“That said, since it’s Frontier, couldn’t we think a bit differently?”
“How so?”
“If the reinforcements were just a guild, I feel like they would have made it public.”
“Hmm… true. It wouldn’t be particularly surprising. And given Frontier’s nature, they don’t seem like they’d collaborate with a profit-driven organization.”
Seongnyun, who had been pondering, suddenly startled.
If not a guild?
And to have the caliber to conduct an assault alongside Frontier?
“Shin Gung?”
A Hunter flashed through Seongnyun’s mind like lightning.
Seo Suyeon, ranked first in Korea and well-known globally—couldn’t she potentially work in sync with Frontier?
But upon hearing Seongnyun’s words, the Storm Manager’s expression grew slightly disappointed.
“Shin Gung is under our management. If the two had made contact, we would have already known. Given Shin Gung’s character, she’s not the type to have such conversations behind our backs.”
“Is, is that so?”
Seongnyun flinched as if caught off guard and withdrew his speculation.
‘Then the second-ranked Hunter? Seol Hwiyeong—that person would be more than capable. Or could they have called in a foreign Hunter altogether?’
Several figures appeared and vanished in his imagination.
However, the Storm Manager’s prediction far surpassed Seongnyun’s imaginings.
“Wouldn’t Frontier only act like this if it were someone of Ilgyeok’s caliber?”
“Come on, say something that makes sense.”
“Why doesn’t it? In the first place, why did Frontier come to Korea?”
“….”
Seongnyun fell silent.
Come to think of it—the reason Frontier and Claude appeared in Korea, a country with which they had no prior connection.
Wasn’t it to find Ilgyeok, though it wasn’t mentioned separately at this press conference?
If that attempt had borne fruit?
“Hmm….”
Seongnyun recalled the thoughts he’d been having about Ilgyeok just moments before.
He had hoped that a new force with no connection to Korea’s existing powers would become his wings.
Frontier, remarkably, was a force that fit exactly the conditions he’d envisioned, yet why?
‘This inexplicable bitterness….’
It might be jealousy—that a foreign secret organization had found a Hunter whom Korea’s most prestigious management agencies hadn’t yet discovered.
Seongnyun spoke with a slight frown.
“Before we attempt the clear, let’s do some investigating on our end. Find out who these reinforcements are.”
“Yes, Personnel Manager.”
“Oh, and prepare a written apology.”
“Why this time?!”
Unlike the conversation before, the atmosphere had genuinely improved, so the Storm Manager asked in surprise.
But Seongnyun responded as if being asked something obvious.
“If Frontier really does a joint clear with Ilgyeok, what do you think the higher-ups will say to us? This time, you write one on my behalf.”
“Ah… that kind of apology.”
The Deputy Manager nodded in immediate understanding and returned to his seat.
Having written so many apologies to Seongnyun whenever he offered an opinion, he’d become quite the expert at it.
Seongnyun, having ended things somewhat hastily, now watched the TV screen as the broadcast returned to the studio, lost in thought.
‘Yes, this might actually be for the best. Still, as long as they don’t naturalize to another country….’
No matter how much civil servants carried the image of complacency, there were always more who worked with a sense of duty.
Seongnyun was prepared, if necessary, to grab Claude by the pant leg for the sake of the Republic of Korea.
* * *
The days since Ilgyeok’s appearance had been truly peculiar.
Instead of Ilgyeok, who had previously dominated more than half of the news coverage—exaggerating only slightly—countless analyses about Frontier and the Instant Tower in Hosung City now dominated the airwaves.
Since Frontier had never conducted a public clear in this manner before, it became a major issue internationally as well.
Usually, after completing a clear and tidying up all loose ends, the respective country would announce it belatedly, or information agencies would leak it subtly.
Therefore, on today—the day Claude announced as the clear date—not only domestic media but numerous foreign reporters had gathered inside the Instant Tower in Hosung City, waiting.
To such an extent that several influential guilds in the area had dispatched high-ranking executives or clear team leaders to monitor the situation.
Considering even those watching the live broadcast through television, it was fair to say that the eyes of the entire world were focused on Hosung City, Korea.
Click— Click— Click—
The Instant Tower with its bizarre shape, distinctly different from any human-made structure.
In fact, aside from standing tall, it was questionable whether one should call it a “building” or simply a “structure.”
The upper portion was wider than the lower, with jagged protrusions jutting out here and there, and windows that appeared half-drilled.
Curves that suddenly became angular, and walls whose surfaces remained ambiguously defined.
Not only had conventional weapons failed against it, but no Hunter had ever even scratched the Tower, let alone destroyed it.
Yet because of its bizarre appearance, the Instant Tower made for excellent photography in articles.
The camera flashes, which had been capturing the Tower as a backdrop several times, suddenly erupted into tremendous light.
A black van seemed to glide forward before the reporters.
“It’s Frontier!”
“Claude!”
Claude and Frontier’s clear team finally disembarked and revealed themselves.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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