Murim Login - Chapter 735

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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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Chapter 735
The middle-aged guard draped in a thin silk robe gazed out the window.
Clouds heavy with January’s chill swept past his vision as if within reach, and far below on the ground level, buildings and plazas divided by districts spread out beneath him.
The panorama of a great city steeped in long history. And countless people moving about like tiny dots within the metropolis.
Though the gloomy Gray Sky and fog-shrouded streets hardly befitted the name of the City of Light, it mattered little to the middle-aged guard.
He loved everything about this city—Paris itself.
The world viewed from a Skyscraper District that even the fog could not reach was always beautiful.
Especially on a day like today.
Dong. Dong-dong—
The bell tolling from the plaza announced seven in the morning, and the middle-aged guard turned slowly away from the glass wall that dominated one side of the room.
A vast Study.
At the center, a round table held a dozen figures materialized alongside the distinctive green luminescence of holograms, waiting for him.
“It’s been quite some time since we’ve all gathered like this. The last meeting was… three years ago, perhaps?”
The moment the middle-aged guard took his seat at the head of the table, the corners of the masked figures’ mouths curled upward slightly at his quip.
Three years ago?
They had held a clandestine meeting just two nights prior.
– From what I recall, it was ten years ago at the latest.
– Ten years. Already?
– Wasn’t it closer to thirty years?
– Damn it. Thirty years ago was during the Great Upheaval. I’d rather not dredge up memories of those brutal times.
Soft laughter wove through the exchange of words.
The middle-aged guard watching them smiled gently.
“You all seem quite at ease. Yes, it’s pleasant to indulge in idle chatter from time to time.”
– …!
– …!
A quiet word, and silence descended like a curtain.
Observing those who had closed their mouths in unison as if by agreement, the middle-aged guard continued with a smile still playing on his lips.
“I didn’t convene this meeting to listen to such vapid nonsense and trivial gossip… What does everyone think?”
At his every breath, at each subtle movement of his fingertips, the pupils of those present trembled.
An overwhelming presence and momentum that transcended even the holographic medium. And authority.
Not a single person among those attending this meeting lacked the title of a colossus, yet none dared approach him.
The reason? Simple.
The middle-aged guard before them was the master of the Odin Guild, called the greatest in the world, and one of the absolute beings who could sway this world itself.
– I-I apologize, Michael. I merely became overjoyed at the fact that matters are proceeding without a hitch….
“I wasn’t asking for excuses.”
Michael, the middle-aged guard who had cut off the speaker, continued.
“It’s simply that you all appeared too relaxed, as though everything were already concluded.”
– ….
“The opponent is far bolder than anticipated. Had they not been, how could they have perpetrated such madness?”
There was no one in this room who did not know what that ‘madness’ referred to. Indeed, the entire world knew by now.
The public disclosure of the Mana Cultivation Method.
To a select few, it was madness that shattered order itself, yet the opponent had made that madness reality.
“I sent Huginn, but they didn’t comprehend the message. Unbelievably reckless, but… it means they have that much confidence.”
One person spoke carefully.
– If, and this is a big if, what they believe in is Sky.
“I’ve already said it. You don’t need to worry about matters concerning that.”
– …Understood.
An unsatisfying answer.
Until now, Michael’s words had been law to all of them.
Since he had asserted it so definitively, even if unresolved doubts remained, they had to bury them deep in the recesses of their hearts.
Yet this time, they all found themselves unable to stop dwelling on that very doubt.
Because the subject was none other than Cheon Tae-min.
‘No matter what, how could he tell us not to worry about such a critical matter.’
‘If Sky steps forward, what happens then?’
‘Where on earth did he obtain such information….’
Thoughts that circled endlessly through their minds.
Michael’s information had always been reliable. No one knew through whom he obtained such intelligence or what methods he employed, but if they simply believed and followed the information he brought, they could reap rewards.
Vast wealth and honor. Elevated social status.
Yet no matter how solid and towering a City Wall might be, it crumbles in an instant.
Especially a name like Cheon Tae-min could not be buried merely through faith, and the sense of crisis felt by these men was transmitted wholly to one person.
Tap. Tap.
Fingers drumming slowly on the round table. At the same time, those who felt the surge of mighty mana awakened from their reverie.
“You seem anxious.”
At the gentle voice, people rushed to respond.
– Not at all.
– How could that be.
– Our Allied Forces are powerful. We cannot lose to such mere youngsters.
The unspoken addendum—if only Cheon Tae-min didn’t exist—remained swallowed.
For now, they could only believe. If Michael’s strength and abilities were any indication of what he had shown them thus far, then by someone’s logic, such mere youngsters would be no match at all.
– That young man Choi certainly has remarkable acumen, but his limits are equally clear.
– Jin Tae-kyung is the same. No matter how strong he is, he cannot breach the walls we have erected.
There had certainly been times when that was possible.
Times that were brutally chaotic and thus could only be called the Great Upheaval.
Humans hunted monsters, monsters hunted humans. And humans slaughtered humans like livestock.
An era of turbulence where nothing would have seemed strange.
Yet the Great Upheaval had ended.
In a sea where storms rage, anything can happen, but in a world as peaceful as this, one can only create ripples.
The Mana Cultivation Method disclosed this time is no different.
– By making the Mana Cultivation Method public, they have inflicted considerable losses upon us as well, but… we’ve already extinguished the immediate fire, so there is nothing to worry about.
– Precisely. As a result, the media did not dare criticize us, and above all, it was thanks to the Odin Guild Master stepping forward so swiftly.
Michael nodded silently.
With the sunrise, news of the Mana Cultivation Method released under the name of Odin Guild was spreading across the world through various media outlets even at this very moment.
The public opinion that had been criticizing the existing major guilds would gradually subside, and those fledglings who had ignored his generous proposal would soon come to regret it.
Now it was no longer mere warnings—he would show them through action.
‘How foolish.’
Michael muttered inwardly.
In this world, the Mana Cultivation Method was a treasure beyond measure.
A guild’s status and a nation’s influence depended on how many powerful Hunters it possessed, yet they had revealed it to the world.
‘They should have thought it through first. Why had there never been such a precedent before?’
There had been fools who acted on morality and justice alone in the past.
Those who were recognized as strong throughout the world had wanted to share this special ability they possessed with everyone, and because of that, they had met their deaths.
‘And this time, the result will be the same.’
History repeats itself.
Although the Mana Cultivation Method had been revealed due to the opponent’s unexpected reckless action, they would have to pay the price for their foolish deed.
That was the law of this world.
The only thing that troubled him was something regarding a young man who had brought about the greatest changes recently.
‘Jin Tae-kyung.’
Unlike Choi Min-woo, whom Michael still considered a fledgling, he was an undeniable powerhouse.
In less than a year, he had accumulated countless achievements and fame, and not long ago, he had single-handedly destroyed the Ares Guild Headquarters where hundreds of Hunters, including Seok Go-jun, had been waiting.
That wasn’t all.
Though still unknown to the world, Michael knew that it was Jin Tae-kyung who had recently swept away terrorist organizations and rebel groups.
‘Military power that ranks among the top S-rank Hunters, and audacity.’
It was a realm that none of those who were ceaselessly chattering before his eyes could reach.
An S-rank Hunter leading a world-class major guild, a politician controlling great powers, a tycoon owning hundreds of Gates and oil fields….
Each individual was more than worthy of being called a bigwig, yet in Michael’s eyes, they all appeared to be greedy fools.
‘Of course, thanks to that, I was able to elevate Odin Guild to the world’s greatest.’
Michael, who had inwardly scoffed, clicked his tongue softly. With a tsk sound, the endless stream of voices ceased, and everyone’s gaze turned toward him.
As Michael gazed at each of their faces in turn, he suddenly sensed a presence approaching from afar and opened his mouth.
“It seems we have a visitor.”
– Ah, then….
“I’ll notify you of the next meeting separately.”
Zing.
That was all.
The moment the hologram dissolved away at Michael’s word, the firmly closed door of the Study swung wide open at his gesture.
“So, did you enjoy your travels?”
To Michael’s waiting question, a man in antique attire answered.
“I merely followed your instructions.”
“You’re always so stiff. Huginn, come inside.”
“Thank you.”
Thud.
Huginn removed his hat and shook off the dust before stepping into the Study.
Michael smiled calmly upon seeing the grains of sand scattered before the door.
“It seems you’ve been quite busy moving about.”
“The schedule was rather tight, sir.”
“You must have had a difficult time traveling such distances. Did anything go wrong?”
“There were complications, but I resolved them successfully.”
Despite his blunt response, the lingering afterglow of battle still burned in Huginn’s eyes, not yet faded.
Yet Michael simply nodded without any particular reaction.
Huginn was a talent he had personally selected and trained. As a problem-solver, he had always been the best, executing every mission flawlessly.
Just as he had this time.
“Did you bring your friends?”
“Yes. When they heard the reason I sought them out, they volunteered to cooperate. Unlike the treatment they received in Korea, everyone was kind to them.”
“How thoughtful of them to come from so far away. Where are they all now?”
“By now, they should all be heading toward their destinations.”
“The gifts?”
“I delivered them without fail.”
Huginn withdrew a pocket watch from his coat and checked it, then added a remark.
“About an hour remains before the first gift arrives.”
“An hour, then. Good. Shall we have some coffee while we wait?”
“If possible, I would prefer black tea.”
Michael smiled warmly and poured a cup of coffee for himself and a cup of black tea for Huginn.
And exactly one hour later, he could confirm with his own eyes that his orders had been carried out precisely.
BOOM!
Beneath the pale clouds, a deafening roar erupted as crimson flames surged upward. And….
WHOOOOSH!
Watching the space gradually distort before him, Michael murmured in a light voice.
“Indeed, a beautiful city.”
A building engulfed in flames.
Centered on the Ares Guild Paris Branch, space itself began to tear apart.

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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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