Sword Master With One Strike Kill - Chapter 165

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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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One-Strike Kill Swordmaster Episode 165

Episode 165. Outer God Hunt (2)

‘This is driving me crazy, seriously.’

Of course, I could predict how Pean had reached such a conclusion.

He’s mistaken me for the only Elder remaining on this land.

No.

To be precise, I led him to misunderstand it that way.

‘Of course, I was talking about the Elders in the Heavenly Realm…’

Pean seems to have interpreted it as me referring to myself.

‘Does he think I’m some crazy bastard who speaks in third person?’

Damn it.

It was a bit unfair, but what could I do.

In a situation where Pean was already mistaking Istereg for my child, my carelessly uttered words had plenty of room to be interpreted in strange ways.

It was my fault for not considering that and speaking without thinking.

“Haha…”

Then, Pean laughed awkwardly and trailed off.

“To even use the expression ‘poured their heart and soul into’…”

“…”

“Yes… well…”

No.

It’s not like that.

It’s a life form that the Great Ones in the Heavenly Realm poured their heart and soul into creating, I didn’t particularly do anything.

But Pean was already nodding with a convinced expression.

“As expected, even the way a ‘Primordial Being’ and great one leaves descendants is extraordinary. I’m once again realizing that you’re on a different dimension from ordinary beings.”

His voice was filled with sincere admiration.

Clench-.

I didn’t know what to answer, so I just bit the inside of my lips.

I wanted to explain that it wasn’t a misunderstanding, that it was a life form created by all the Elders in the Heavenly Realm working together…

But I stopped because I felt that severe delusional patient would imagine something even more horrifying.

‘I should just stay quiet.’

Then, Mukyu’s cry echoed.

[Mweeeeek!]

The surroundings gradually began to brighten.

We had gotten close to the ground.

* * *

Creak-.

The VVIP room of the Ruin Guild.

The door opened and a man with neatly combed blue hair entered the room.

Noble and dignified appearance.

His gentle smile was impressive, clearly a handsome man who exuded refinement. From his attire to his gait, everything showed sophisticated and formal dignity.

Guild Master of Cheonghae Trading Company, Harten Ryu.

He calmly bowed and offered his greeting.

“It’s an honor to meet the Guild Master of the Ruin Guild.”

“You’ve had a long journey, Guild Master.”

Karayan, the Guild Master of the Ruin Guild wearing an eagle mask, replied in a low, subdued voice.

“This way.”

Following the maid’s guidance, Harten Ryu carefully sat in the seat across from the Guild Master.

Clink-.

Harten Ryu lightly lifted his teacup, took a sip as if savoring it, and glanced sideways at his counterpart.

‘He’s quite the skilled individual, as I heard.’

A well-built man wearing an eagle mask.

Karayan, Guild Master of the Ruin Guild.

Befitting the head of a massive guild that controlled an entire major city, he could sense the aura of at least a high-ranking knight from him.

Just sitting quietly, he exuded an overwhelming presence.

‘Interesting.’

Soon, Harten Ryu quietly set down his teacup.

Then Karayan brought up the main topic as if he had been waiting.

“For people like us, time is money, so I’ll speak straight to the point.”

“…”

“Our Ruin Guild wishes to establish a solid relationship with Cheonghae Trading Company. That’s why I invited you here today, Guild Master.”

“A solid relationship… you say?”

“That’s right.”

Karayan nodded and continued.

“While anyone can attempt trade through land routes and the Uncharted Wilderness, when it comes to maritime trade through the ‘Silk Road’, your company holds a virtually unrivaled position, doesn’t it?”

Karayan’s voice carried subtle praise. It was a statement that acknowledged the other’s capabilities while suggesting the necessity of cooperation.

“Haha, I’m embarrassed by such praise.”

Harten Ryu laughed modestly.

“Yes, well… it’s not entirely wrong. In maritime trade using the sea, our company does hold a virtually unrivaled position.”

Karayan nodded with satisfaction.

“Therefore, I’ve wanted to have an open and honest conversation with Cheonghae Trading Company for some time… but that ‘opportunity’ never seemed to arise.”

“…”

“This is the first time you’ve personally visited our Dark City, isn’t it, Guild Master?”

Thud-.

The atmosphere became subtly heavier.

Though his tone seemed calm on the surface, there was subtle dissatisfaction underlying it.

An implicit questioning of why direct contact had been avoided until now.

Harten Ryu immediately grasped Karayan’s true intention. His expression stiffened slightly before he smiled leisurely.

“I share that regret. I’ve wanted to visit the Dark City for so long.”

Harten Ryu shrugged.

“However, as you know, Guild Master, our company is closer to a ‘guild’ formed by various trading companies coming together.”

“…”

“As the head of that organization, I bear the duty of constantly considering and coordinating numerous interests. As such, I can’t easily leave my post.”

His explanation was logically sound.

Indeed, Cheonghae Trading Company wasn’t a unified organization but a massive guild formed by dozens of small and medium trading companies.

It was also true that internal coordination was complex and the guild master’s absence could cause significant problems.

“However, even so…”

Of course, Karayan still showed displeasure.

“Didn’t you temporarily leave that heavy position to grace us with your precious visit to the Dark City?”

Harten Ryu answered briefly.

“Because something very precious was put up for auction.”

Words with hidden meaning.

Those words also had a barb hidden within them.

No matter how much influence you wield over a major city, would there be any need for me to move personally for just a meeting? It was a retort.

Unless it was a matter where such ‘value’ was guaranteed, like this auction.

“…”

“…”

A subtle silence flowed for a while. Both men understood exactly the hidden meaning in each other’s words.

On the surface it was a polite conversation, but underneath, a meticulous battle of nerves was taking place.

A careful tug-of-war, gauging each other’s abilities and probing the other’s true intentions.

Having sufficiently assessed that neither was ordinary from just a brief exchange, both men straightened their postures.

Soon Karayan continued with a sincere voice.

“Still, to think the Guild Master himself has decided to step forward personally because he judged this to be valuable work – as the one who prepared this auction, it’s quite delightful.”

His tone became much more honest than before. It was a signal that the checking and probing were over, and now it was time for more substantial conversation.

“On the other hand, I’m curious just how special that item must be to make even such a cautious Guild Master step forward personally…”

Harten Ryu’s expression changed subtly.

After pondering for a moment, he carefully opened his mouth.

“Wouldn’t it be better to dismiss the servants?”

“It’s fine. This one is my most trusted aide. I dare guarantee there’s no chance of our conversation leaking outside.”

“Haha, hearing that makes me think it would have been good if I had brought my escort knight as well. Since I came alone, it’s somewhat regrettable.”

“…”

“Ah, of course since I’ve come to the Ruin Guild, it’s natural to follow its customs. I have no particular complaints about the rule that armed individuals cannot enter.”

He crossed his legs comfortably and naturally changed the topic. It was an intention to move away from the tense conversation toward actual business talk.

“Anyway, I’ll also speak directly to the point.”

“…”

“The reason I sought out this auction is precisely because of the ‘Thunder Core.'”

Harten Ryu said.

“I can assert that the biggest variable in maritime trade is storms. Recently they’ve become even more frequent, keeping the guild’s interior in an unstable state.”

“…”

“Ship loss rates have surged compared to last year. A single major storm sinks multiple vessels and costs dozens of sailors their lives.”

His expression darkened. It was a moment that fully revealed the weight of his position as Guild Master of Cheonghae Trading Company.

“Storms aren’t simple natural disasters. They’re symbols of chaos that paralyze sea routes and even collapse the balance of power between guilds.”

“…”

“Therefore, for the stability of trade, our Cheonghae Trading Company absolutely needs the Thunder Core.”

Desperation mixed into Harten Ryu’s voice.

Reports about the Celestial Dragon’s body parts had already been delivered to several major guilds. The information that the Thunder Core could calm storms was the same.

It was natural that Harten Ryu knew all of this.

“Cheonghae Trading Company’s will is unanimous. Thanks to that, we’ve gathered sufficient funds and can spend more budget than any competitor.”

Harten Ryu looked sharply at Karayan as he got to the core point.

“Doesn’t the Ruin Guild want to cooperate with us? You want to expand your influence to the seas as well.”

When a sharp light flashed in Harten Ryu’s eyes, Karayan immediately grasped his intention and cut to the heart of it.

“So you’re asking me to manipulate the auction so the Thunder Core falls into Cheonghae Trading Company’s hands?”

“I wasn’t hoping for such active intervention, but…”

Harten Ryu continued.

“If you were to do so, it would be sufficient benefit for the Ruin Guild as well. Exclusive status on maritime trade routes, and profit sharing beyond imagination.”

At those words, Karayan fell silent as if pondering.

Though the expression behind the eagle mask couldn’t be read, his fingers were rhythmically tapping the table.

Tap, tap, tap-.

Soon he opened his mouth.

“It’s an interesting proposal, but I’ll need to consider it more carefully. I can’t make such a major decision hastily.”

“Of course. I’m grateful just that you’ll consider it. The opportunity itself has great meaning for me.”

Karayan slowly nodded.

“I’ll send someone again before the auction begins.”

“Yes. Then I’ll take my leave. Thank you for your precious time.”

“Safe travels.”

Creak-.

The door closed as Harten Ryu went outside. His figure walking down the corridor was still dignified and elegant.

Step, step-.

But as he left the Ruin Guild building, his gait began to change little by little.

His straight shoulders hunched, and his elegant steps became awkwardly unsteady.

Limp, limp-.

In the shadows outside the castle, an escort knight was waiting.

“How did it go?”

The knight asked carefully.

“My, my acting was… absolutely superb…!”

Harten Ryu’s voice changed completely. A trembling, twisted voice leaked out in the darkness.

“That, that Ruin Guild Master, the stupid bastard! He’s less than I thought! He was completely fooled by me! Kekeke! Kekek!”

Harten Ryu… no, what had now become Puppet Master Batu’s shell burst into eerie laughter.

* * *

The man in the eagle mask, Roren, carefully opened his mouth.

“What do you think, Master?”

Then the maid standing by the door,

No.

More precisely, Lea de Karayan disguised as a maid hung her head low and spat out a curse.

“Damn it.”

Thud-.

Karayan slumped down sliding.

Then muttered in a low, sunken voice.

“It seems Puppet Master Batu has already devoured Cheonghae Trading Company.”

“…Pardon?”

While Roren looked puzzled, Karayan explained with a serious expression.

“As that fellow said earlier, a guild master is a position that must constantly consider and coordinate interests. Those interests become most complex in chaotic situations.”

“…”

“In other words, the more storms there are, the more opportunities a guild master has to profit from them. It’s precisely in crisis situations that one can demonstrate strong leadership and solidify their position.”

For Cheonghae Trading Company as a whole, the Thunder Core would certainly be a desperately needed item.

But for Harten Ryu personally, it was different.

Because if the Thunder Core appeared, the guild master’s reason for existence would become dim.

“If that person had been the real Harten Ryu… he wouldn’t have demanded the Thunder Core, but would have asked me to help him fail plausibly at the auction.”

“…”

“So it would look to other guild members like he did his best. So he’d never be suspected.”

Yes.

That would have been a proposal truly befitting the real Harten Ryu.

A deal with no risk whatsoever for the Ruin Guild, while Harten Ryu personally could gain enormous benefits.

Mutual benefit was the true art of negotiation.

But what that person proposed today was nothing more than a one-sided demand.

Such clumsy dealing was what amateurs did.

Karayan smiled bitterly.

“Merchants are naturally greedy. In that sense, today’s Harten Ryu was also truly greedy. However… the ‘direction’ of that greed was completely wrong.”

“…”

“Obsessed with the goal of absolutely obtaining the Thunder Core, he tried to act like a greedy guild master but ended up inconsistent. The real Harten Ryu would never have approached it that way.”

“…”

“That bastard Puppet Master Batu… his acting was good, but his logic was a mess. He didn’t properly understand a merchant’s psychology.”

Having finished that line of thought, Karayan gave a firm command.

“Roren.”

“…”

“I must immediately inform The Protagonist of this fact. That Puppet Master Batu has taken control of Cheonghae Trading Company. And that he’s targeting the brain core as well.”

Perhaps.

An ominous intuition struck her that Cheonghae Trading Company might still be just the ‘beginning.’

Whoooosh-.

As if showing her anxiety, the tree branches visible outside the window swayed precariously.

* * *

Rummmmmble-!

The moment I emerged from the massive doors of the Imperial Palace, what spread before my eyes was complete chaos.

The castle walls had already been breached, and through those gaps, beings of bizarre forms were pouring in.

Evil Deities and their minions had invaded the empire and were destroying everything.

‘Of course, there’s nothing to worry about.’

Feather Sword with its true name released. Pean showing absolute trust. And even Mukyu hatched from Istereg.

All preparations were complete.

‘So then…’

Swish-.

I pulled out the old pendant I had taken from the Imperial Palace Treasure Vault and gripped it in my hand.

At the same time, a notification window appeared in my vision.

Ding-!

〔The effect of ‘Pendant Containing Great Spirit’s Tears’ is activated.〕

〔Bound equipment and user’s mana are restored to 100%.〕

〔Cooldown : 23 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds〕

〔Cooldown : 23 hours 59 minutes 58 seconds〕

…

The next moment, the small droplet contained in the pendant evaporated with a soft hiss and disappeared.

〔MP : 0/1〕

〔Sword Energy : 0/10〕

Tick-.

〔MP : 1/1〕

〔Sword Energy : 10/10〕

My depleted mana and sword energy were instantly restored.

“Phew…”

I let out a sigh of joy.

When I faced the true reward of Rashutku Ruins.

Hadn’t I said that the moment to break through my greatest limitation was approaching?

【Pendant Containing Great Spirit’s Tears】

Swish-.

An item that fully restores mana regardless of the user’s stats.

Wearing that accessory around my neck, I smiled faintly.

‘Now at last.’

It was time to begin hunting Outer Gods.

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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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