I Got A Legendary Sniper Rifle - Chapter 272

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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 272
Ep. 272
‘Should I leave right now?’
Deokhuun watched the members’ absurdly bewildered reactions and began seriously considering whether he should slip away from his seat.
These people were definitely strange.
Fortunately, Seongcheol and Jonggeon, who were more worldly than the rest, understood perfectly well.
‘Crush the Tower Industry Federation? Does that even make sense?’
‘Damn, Chairman Park Wungdo in Korea?!’
…Though to be fair, it wasn’t so much that they were worldly as it was that the other members were hopelessly naive.
Seongcheol and Jonggeon had participated in countless events as representatives of the One-Strike Service Corps until now.
As such, they’d had opportunities to build some rapport with Chairman Park Wungdo.
That alone was enough to understand.
Just how much power he wielded.
In front of the cameras for public consumption, Park Wungdo maintained a humble demeanor.
But the moment he stepped out of the camera’s view, countless politicians, high-ranking civil servants, and guild executives came to him, desperately trying to curry his favor.
Seongcheol and Jonggeon, having only recently entered such circles and lacking any real connections, could not compete in that arena.
The Black Knight had come to them with a proposal to topple him—a man standing at the very apex of South Korean power.
Seongcheol glanced sideways at Jonggeon, who sat beside him.
Trembling—
His clenched fists were shaking uncontrollably.
When they’d gone to meet Claude of Frontier, Jonggeon had been so composed he seemed to be visiting an old neighborhood friend.
‘I really should refuse this. Rejecting the Black Knight’s first proposal carries significant risk… If things go wrong, I could end up with far worse than embezzlement charges—my neck could be on the line.’
Seongcheol exhaled quietly and prepared to decline Deokhuun’s proposal.
Just then, Deokhuun himself said this:
“Of course, given the caliber of our opponent, I cannot press this strongly. You’re free to refuse if you wish.”
Yes, I refuse!
The moment Seongcheol was about to firmly decline without hesitation.
He shot up—!
“That’s exactly—!”
Jonggeon, who had been trembling with fear just moments before, suddenly leaped from his seat and shouted.
Seongcheol, the original members, Deokhuun, and even Jia looked down at him with expressions of utter bewilderment.
Jonggeon’s face was radiant with an enormous smile.
“What our brother—no, what Director Seongcheol desires!”
“…Me?”
Seongcheol was so flabbergasted he couldn’t help but ask.
‘This bastard is trying to drag me down with him, isn’t he?’
If he was going to accept it, why didn’t he just accept it himself? Why invoke my name as if it were my wish?
In Seongcheol’s mind, a rapid succession of scenarios flashed by like a lantern show: ‘Fight begins → Overwhelming defeat → Charged with embezzlement, breach of trust, attempted murder, violation of the Hunter Organization Violence Special Law, etc. → Death sentence → Life imprisonment confirmed.’
‘That bastard is selling me out to get a life sentence for himself, then negotiate it down to thirty years!’
Seongcheol felt a burning sense of betrayal ignite within him and nearly confronted Jonggeon on the spot.
Whoosh—!
“*Ahem, ahem.*”
But I found myself intimidated by Jonggeon’s suddenly fierce gaze, as if he might kill me with those burning eyes, so I resorted to a cough instead.
“Brother!”
“…What?”
“Now I finally understand the grand purpose behind your transformation of the One-Strike Service Corps into a foundation!”
I thought he said he already understood that last time.
“Oh! As expected of the Vice Captain!”
“You fool, he’s the Captain now!”
Seongcheol’s discomfort went completely unnoticed by the Original Members, whose eyes sparkled with anticipation as they waited for Jonggeon’s next words.
Even Deokhuun watched the unfolding situation with keen interest in his gaze.
‘There was a reason for creating the One-Strike Foundation? Han Seongcheol the Director—is he truly an extraordinary person?’
Though my Insight skill revealed only deep darkness around him, the reasons could be manifold.
Compared to those from whom I perceive nothing at all, this darkness was certainly a sign of being exceptional.
Did Seongcheol, who wore an expression of everything spiraling beyond his intentions, possess the courage to rival Park Wungdo?
‘Not a chance!’
Seongcheol broke into a cold sweat under Deokhuun’s expectant gaze fixed upon him.
Regardless, Jonggeon’s mouth showed no signs of closing.
“The Spirit of One-Strike!”
“Our pledge!”
The other members responded to his lead by raising their fists in unison.
“One: We do not torment the weak. Two: We live with honesty at all times and do not betray others. Three: Furthermore, we do our utmost to benefit this society.”
“One-Strike! One-Strike! One-Strike!”
“Especially the third one!”
Jonggeon swept his nose upward as if adjusting glasses—though he wore none—and spoke.
“In other words, you created the foundation to address the structural problems of our society!”
“Uh….”
Seongcheol was flustered by Jonggeon’s spirited declaration.
Those three principles posted outside weren’t something he had created.
They were simply there one day when he came to work.
“Of course there are many issues, but since the Black Knight’s representatives have come to us, I think it wouldn’t be bad to first address the Korean byproduct disposal industry led by the Tower Industry Federation.”
“Kyaa!”
“Brother, we didn’t even know that…!”
“As expected, you see thirty years ahead!”
“In just 3,000 nights, we’ll have wine at the penthouse…!”
The Original Members wept openly and applauded at Seongcheol’s true intentions(?) as conveyed by Jonggeon.
At first, they honestly doubted him when he said he was creating not an ordinary crew but some kind of volunteer organization.
But as days passed, Seongcheol’s foresight proved truly remarkable.
If they entered the byproduct industry, which was monopolized by the Tower Industry Federation, and increased their market share, funds flowing into the foundation would be on an entirely different scale than previous sponsorships.
‘Brother, your grand ambition! I noticed it early on, even when you caught that Goblin at seven years old!’
Even Jonggeon’s parched, withered chest swelled with such profound emotion!
…But to reiterate, Seongcheol caught that Goblin when he was thirteen years old.
In any case, Jonggeon gazed at Deokhuun and placed a period on his moving speech.
“Perhaps you, sir, have been quietly cultivating your strength all this time, waiting for the call of Ilgyeok, even after completing all your preparations.”
“Good heavens…!”
And Deokhuun was equally moved!
Was that what the darkness of the Insight skill meant!
‘When my brother first told me to make contact with the Ilgyeok Foundation, I had some doubts, but at this level, I can definitely trust them and work together!’
Even Deokhuun, who was always meticulous when meeting new business partners, was completely disarmed.
The sincere devotion of the Ilgyeok Foundation, focused solely on Ilgyeok, reached him with poignant clarity.
Deokhuun wiped away tears and rose from his seat.
With such pure and passionate people by my side, confronting someone like Ungdo might not be entirely impossible.
No, rather, the only way to stand against someone like Ungdo is to unite with people like these!
“You are truly remarkable. Then allow me to present the proposal I have prepared in earnest.”
Since Ihyeon had granted him full authority, Deokhuun was eager to begin discussing business immediately.
He looked around the room and asked.
“Is there anyone here well-versed in this sort of business? Someone capable of serving as my counterpart… perhaps someone with experience in byproduct trading?”
“….”
The room, which had been buzzing with excitement just moments before, fell silent.
“W-well, we’ve never actually beaten up a byproduct trader….”
“Quiet, you fool!”
Someone tried to speak but was hastily silenced.
Deokhuun nodded as if he had already anticipated this.
“Then is there anyone with a master’s degree or higher in economics or business administration?”
“…We’ve never beaten up anyone like that either.”
“I said be quiet!”
“…Or perhaps a lawyer’s license?”
“We haven’t beaten up any lawyers?”
“Neither have I.”
“Beating up a lawyer would cause real trouble.”
Deokhuun glanced at Seongcheol.
He said he was in the midst of cultivating his strength after completing his preparations?
Seongcheol rose from his seat, beads of cold sweat streaming down his face.
Then he grasped one of Deokhuun’s hands firmly and spoke.
“The final puzzle of our Ilgyeok Foundation’s board of directors has fallen into place. We have been waiting for someone like you, Master Deokhuun. Please take on the role of our Chief Executive Officer.”
“?!”
That’s what he meant?
* * *
“S-so you decided to join the Ilgyeok Foundation?”
“Yes, brother. Among the volunteers, there were many capable individuals, but they are merely volunteers after all. There was no suitable candidate among the board members.”
I couldn’t hide my bewilderment as I listened to Deokhuun’s report on his successful(?) negotiations with the Ilgyeok Foundation.
I’d simply asked him to find ways to leverage the Ilgyeok Foundation’s intricately woven infrastructure, yet he’d returned as a director of the foundation itself.
Not just any director—the Chief Executive Officer, no less.
He seemed to have been treated quite generously, and since I’d entrusted him with full authority, I had no grounds for complaint, but was it really acceptable to make such decisions on the fly?
Deokhuun nodded reassuringly.
“Though I hold the title of CEO, I’ll only be sketching the foundation of operations. After all, I’m your team, am I not? I have no intention of staying elsewhere long-term.”
“Hmm… so, what were those people like? Are they as decent as the rumors suggest?”
“They truly are. I was worried at first, I’ll admit, but everyone there is genuinely good-natured and remarkably passionate.”
“Master, what Deokhuun says is correct.”
With even Jia vouching for them, they seemed like genuinely trustworthy people.
Besides, when I first met Seongcheol in front of the convenience store, he didn’t strike me as a bad person either.
Deokhuun added with an “ah,”
“I also properly delivered the gift you gave me.”
“Good work.”
It was essentially a request to face a formidable enemy together, and since asking outright felt awkward, I—call it a bribe if you’re cynical, a gift if you’re generous—had Deokhuun deliver something I’d prepared.
It was a pair of combat gloves obtained from defeating the Giant Volcano Worm on the 84th Floor in the past.
I’d given it a harsh assessment as useless to me, but it remained undeniably an A+ grade treasure of immense power.
When Deokhuun presented it, not only Seongcheol but the original members like Jonggeon and Iha were so shocked they nearly fell over.
– Kuhehehehek!!! Such a precious item!
– Ahhh! The grace of Ilgyeok is as vast as the heavens!
Tumble tumble——!!
…It wasn’t a joke—they genuinely collapsed in astonishment.
They carried it out as if it were a sacred treasure, and when Deokhuun left, I noticed they’d already constructed a glass display case on the First Floor to house it reverently.
Apparently, they couldn’t dare use a divine artifact.
Several of the original members were already standing guard with stern expressions.
Even Seongcheol, who rarely agreed with the original members’ opinions, nodded without objection this time.
‘What if I carelessly touched something Ilgyeok gave and later faced charges of disrespect?’
Unlike what the other original members said about it being a divine artifact, his reasoning was purely self-interested—for his own future and safety!
‘If you’re not going to use an A+ grade item, what’s the point anyway?’
Meanwhile, hearing Deokhuun’s account, I tilted my head but soon let it go.
It was a gift, after all—how they used it was now their concern.
I patted Deokhuun’s shoulder as if to say that was enough.
“You’ve worked hard. Even if it’s temporary, you’re now taking the lead.”
“Yes, hyung.”
Deokhuun nodded with sincere loyalty, and something about him seemed refreshed.
It made sense.
Deokhuun had lived his entire life under the shadow of inferiority or fear regarding Ungdo.
No matter how much he trained alone, Ungdo already seemed to have climbed a mountain so high its peak was invisible—it must have felt hopeless.
But now, with the power of the Ilgyeok Foundation—a formidable organization, though incomparable to the Tower Industry Federation—at his disposal.
In truth, the gap between Deokhuun and Ungdo had narrowed to a point where a genuine confrontation between them was now feasible.
It was only fitting that we properly test our skills against each other to see who would prevail.
I naturally intended to stand firmly behind Deokhuun and support him.
“This is all thanks to you, hyung. Without you, I could never have taken on such a position.”
“No, it’s your ability. Would I have even considered fighting Chairman Park Wungdo if you weren’t there?”
Light words exchanged between them, and from within them bloomed the fierce camaraderie of men!
“If my name is needed for your plans, don’t hesitate to use it. I’ve entrusted you with command, but I’m still actively participating in this battle.”
“There’s no need to worry about that.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re already using it plenty over there, aren’t you? After all, the organization itself is called the One-Strike Foundation, isn’t it?”
….
That was a fair point.
I found myself at a loss for words.
But through this incident, an official relationship had been established between One-Strike and the One-Strike Foundation.
Most of the suspicious glances directed at the Foundation would likely fade away.
Though their numbers weren’t particularly large.
“So, what’s your plan from here on? It won’t be easy to suddenly enter the byproduct business at a meaningful scale.”
My advice extended only to “let’s leverage the One-Strike Foundation’s infrastructure.”
The practical execution from that point onward was Deokhuun’s responsibility.
Deokhuun flashed a bright smile and clenched his fist firmly.
“Just leave that to me! I have it all planned out!”
It wasn’t long before Deokhuun began taking on a proper combat stance.
Just as Hunters climbing the Tower had their own preparation process,
the Merchants waging war outside the Tower had their own preparation process as well.
His movements were so swift and decisive that even I found them remarkable.

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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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