Tearing the Gate Apart - Chapter 95

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

Chapter 95.
Ha Gyeong’s daily life after returning home was no different from before.
He trained to adapt to his newly acquired skills and artifacts.
And that was all—preparing for the next raid.
Meanwhile, the public response was explosive.
[Exclusive] The Immortal Ha Gyeong Successfully Completes U.S. Dispatch Mission.
[Breaking News] Korean Hero Ends New York’s Gate Break. Ha Gyeong Does It Again.
―Wait, guys. Are we supposed to believe an article with zero photos?
└Honestly, it’s a bit weird.
└The funny part is the U.S. hasn’t denied it.
└Right. Their pride is ridiculously high—usually they’d say something, but they’re suspiciously quiet.
└They’re busy over there because the gate’s destroyed. They’re moving Awakener infrastructure elsewhere.
└I heard about that too. The Eastern Association vice-chair held a press conference.
└But you can’t just take it at face value.
└Still, Ha Gyeong did end a Gate Break and come back, right? Same as he did in Korea?
└Yeah, that part checks out.
During a brief training break,
Ha Gyeong checked the Awakener community forum.
‘Everyone’s skeptical, it seems.’
Which made sense.
The U.S. had held back for reasons of their own.
And the Korean Awakener Association had only offered sparse confirmation of facts.
He was scrolling through countless posts when
John suddenly leaned his head in from behind.
“Hey, bro. What’s up browsing the community on your own?”
“I was bored during my break.”
“Whoa! Look at you enjoying some leisure time.”
“What were you imagining about me that you’d react that way?”
“I thought you were always polishing your dao or something. All you ever do is train and raid.”
“I rest when I need to.”
“Since I’m always with you, I’ve never seen that side of you. So what are we doing now?”
John looked restless, his body fidgeting.
Which was understandable.
Ha Gyeong had been doing nothing but training for a week straight.
‘I’m getting pretty good at controlling the Liquid Core now.’
He’d become proficient enough to use it in actual combat.
It was time to head out on a raid again.
Ha Gyeong turned to John and spoke.
“How about we scout around for some job listings?”
“Sure. The same as usual—Unknown Grade and above?”
“Let’s go by the Bottomless Abyss standard. Incomprehensible Grade in the Upper Abyss.”
“Got it. Leave it to me.”
Ha Gyeong and John each picked up their phones.
First, they scrolled through the messages that had accumulated.
Most were spam,
and many were fishing-type inquiries.
Ha Gyeong filtered through them carefully,
and sent out standardized responses to the qualified ones.
The reason he did this was simple.
There were no inquiries from acquaintances about guest member positions.
If a close friend had asked for help, he would have gone with them first.
Soon Ha Gyeong’s phone began buzzing constantly.
‘The first person to call was… Foresight Guild?’
The name wasn’t familiar, but it had a decent reputation.
The guild master’s reputation was solid too.
So Ha Gyeong picked up immediately.
―Hello, this is Seo Hyeon Woo, Master of Foresight. You’re Ha Gyeong, correct?
“Yes, hello.”
―Your performance in the U.S. was quite impressive. To accomplish so much in a foreign land—remarkable, truly.
“You’re too kind. May I ask about the dungeon grade and scale?”
―Of course. It’s Incomprehensible Grade from the Bottomless Abyss, medium-sized. Sixty-person raid team.”
“You’re not planning to hit exactly that headcount, surely?”
―Including the escort team, we’ll have a total of one hundred members. How does that sound?”
“That works. Could I see the roster?”
―I’ll send it right over. Thank you for responding to our inquiry.”
“Come on, no need for that. I’ll get back to you soon.”
―Please do.”
The moment the call ended, Ha Gyeong checked the message.
The roster was nearly complete,
and no one stood out as problematic.
While looking at his phone,
John leaned in again from behind.
“It’s annoying, I’ll admit. We could go anywhere in the Upper Abyss without caring, but here…”
“Can’t help it. The Bottomless Abyss is that dangerous. But why do you keep peeking? What about your recruitment calls?”
“A foreign old-timer calling around? Who’d pick up?”
“How many years of experience does John have, and you’re saying that?”
“Besides, bro’s going to handle it anyway. Just scored a good one right now.”
“We don’t know yet.”
“If you go sniffing around everywhere, people get bad impressions. You’ve got to commit if it feels right.”
“Someone who understands social dynamics that well—why can’t you make those calls?”
“Getting a free pass without making enemies isn’t easy, that’s why.”
John shrugged with a straight face.
It wasn’t wrong, actually.
Ha Gyeong’s network was overwhelming.
So he was about to call Seo Hyeon Woo,
the Overseer, master of the Foresight Guild.
But that was when it happened.
―Uwaaaaah! Got it! I got it!
Veil Lancer came flying out of his corner, shrieking.
Ha Gyeong stared at him with an absurd expression.
“Why are you like this all of a sudden? What did you figure out?”
―That dragon-something group you mentioned.
“Dragon? What’s that?”
―D… D?
“Oh, DRC? Those Villains?”
―That’s it!
“Why?”
―They’re probably taking orders from the Empire.”
“…What?”
It was unexpected,
genuinely significant intelligence.
Ha Gyeong grabbed Veil Lancer by the scruff.
“Explain more. The Jardor Empire is producing Villains?”
―Obviously. Stirring up trouble in enemy territory to create chaos—that’s warfare basics, isn’t it?
“So you were just guessing with no actual evidence?”
―Hey! Who do you think I am?
“A fallen noble who got his ass handed to him and is stuck on Earth due to ability limitations?”
―Hey!
Veil Lancer thrashed indignantly.
But he was just a palm-sized wolf cub with wings.
His tantrum was only cute.
Ha Gyeong shook his head as if to clear his thoughts.
‘Remember his original form. The bastard was seriously strong.’
Veil Lancer’s true identity was a Talent Predator,
a Jardor Empire noble who’d once wielded considerable power.
Either way, what this creature said couldn’t be dismissed lightly.
He’d provided quite significant information so far.
Ha Gyeong recalled what happened in the U.S.
“Wait—so DRC setting up camp beyond the New York Gate too…”
―It was a coordinated operation.
“Pull forces away, strike the main base? That tracks.”
There were so many gates in the U.S.
How would they target New York specifically otherwise?
Of course, if coincidence stacked a few dozen times over, maybe.
But likely the Jardor Empire orchestrated it.
Yet Ha Gyeong had doubts.
“I heard DRC got demolished by Eastern Association forces. Aren’t they weaker than expected?”
―They wouldn’t have sent major reinforcements from the start. Plus, the goal then was just disruption.
“So going forward, the Empire plans to deploy DRC more seriously?”
―That’s likely.
“What makes you think that?”
―You went to inspect the Gate Core a week ago, remember?”
“Yeah. Why?”
―I felt it then. An Empire noble on Earth.”
“Why are you only telling me now?”
―I wasn’t sure what it was, so I was thinking it through.”
An Empire noble cultivating Villains.
It was more complicated than expected.
Ha Gyeong pressed Veil Lancer further.
“If you mess with me again, it’ll be a problem. Remember John’s right here.”
―It won’t matter if you threaten me or beat me up. Think about it—how meticulous would a spy infiltrating an enemy country be?
“Fair point…”
Someone entrusted with such a critical mission
wouldn’t be some nobody.
Veil Lancer’s pathetic abilities wouldn’t be able to detect them.
Either way, there was nothing he could do about DRC right now.
Currently, there was no proper countermeasure.
But preparation was possible.
Ha Gyeong called Jung Tae Won right away.
“How have you been?”
―Ah, yes. Director. Thanks to you, I’ve been having a good time off.”
“Then maybe you should stay away from the office going forward.”
―Ha! Then they’ll complain that I’m too idle.”
“That’s actually why I’m giving you something to do.”
―Is it another report again?”
“Your intuition’s sharp.”
Ha Gyeong relayed everything Veil Lancer had told him.
There wasn’t much content, really.
The connection between the Jardor Empire and DRC.
A noble infiltrating Earth.
Just those two things.
Still, Jung Tae Won would craft a credible report from it.
―Understood. I hear you’re preparing to return to action?”
“I haven’t decided yet. How did you know?”
―The office has been getting a flood of inquiries. Apparently you’ve been messaging but not answering calls.”
“I went quiet to gather information, and it blew up like this. I’ll take care of it right away.”
―Thank you.”
“Take care.”
Ha Gyeong ended the call and sent messages.
To everyone who’d inquired about guest member positions.
Then he reached out to Seo Hyeon Woo from Foresight Guild.
“I’ve decided.”
―So you’ll join us?”
“Yes.”
―Well, if you want something like acquisition rights, I’m afraid I can’t provide that. Would it still be okay?”
“No problem.”
If there was something he wanted, he could just throw money at it.
He didn’t say that part out loud,
but Seo Hyeon Woo seemed to interpret it differently.
―I’m honored you’d consider us so highly. I promise to serve you to the best of my ability.”
“John will be coming too. Is that alright?”
―Of course. We have an open tank slot.”
“When do we depart?”
―In two days.”
“Understood. See you then.”
―Yes!”
Ha Gyeong hung up with a slightly puzzled expression.
Then John, who’d been listening nearby, posed a question.
“What’s this ‘serve you to the best of my ability’ thing? Not ‘I’ll lead the raid team well’ or anything?”
“Right? I’m not so great that teammates need to serve me like that.”
“Actually, now that I think about it, what Seo Hyeon Woo said makes sense.”
“Huh?”
“Bro really is impressive. For someone with his caliber, serving you is proper. Yeah!”
“…Don’t praise me out of nowhere like that. I almost fell for it.”
“Damn, I should’ve kept poking fun at that arrogant side. Oh well.”
Ha Gyeong shot up from his seat and immediately summoned the Liquid Core.
[Core Belt Activation]
[Summoning Liquid Core]
Splash-splash-splash!
“Looks like you’ve rested enough. Let’s keep training.”
“Wait, hold on. Why training with that murderous look?”
“Isn’t training supposed to be like actual combat?”
“I don’t know! I’m an exempted male!”
“So am I.”
“Then why are you—ugh! Get away, you perverted blobs!”
John ended up pinned by the Liquid Cores, subjected to the motorcycle penalty.
* * *
Two days later.
Ha Gyeong met up with the raid party at the Association Headquarters conference room.
Since it was a medium-sized dungeon, a briefing was necessary.
They were waiting for the presenter to arrive when
someone unexpected quietly took the seat next to Ha Gyeong.
“Hello, Ha Gyeong.”
“Oh, yes. Vice-Chair.”
It was Jang Myeong Chul, the vice-chair.
This wasn’t an Association-led raid,
and a private raid party’s briefing was no place for an Association executive.
As Ha Gyeong looked at him with confusion, Jang Myeong Chul lowered his voice.
“You’re so busy, it’s been hard to see you.”
He was saying it politely,
but really it was because Ha Gyeong hadn’t been coming to the office.
Since he didn’t have a desk he needed to be at,
Ha Gyeong bowed immediately.
“Thank you for taking the trouble to come find me.”
“This is important enough to warrant it. Shall we step outside for a moment?”
“Of course.”
With a hundred people present,
almost no one noticed Ha Gyeong and Jang Myeong Chul leaving.
But this was hardly the place for this conversation.
The two entered a small, dark conference room.
Jang Myeong Chul smiled and spoke.
“We got contact from the U.S. They’ve secured an Extreme Grade Artifact that should satisfy you.”
“Hold on.”
“Yes?”
“I’m declining.”
“But it’s Extreme Grade, and the utility value is quite high…”
Jang Myeong Chul looked confused.
Regardless, Ha Gyeong cut right to it.
“It’s already promised to someone else.”
Ripping Open Gates
Author |
Morae Tob
Publisher |
Samyang C&C Co., Ltd.
Editor-in-Chief |
Editorial Department
Published by |
Samyang C&C Co., Ltd. – Dream Books
Address |
7th Floor, Gwangseong Building, 28 Bongeunsaro 114-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
UCI |
G720:N+A063-20260306112
Blog |
blog.naver.com/dreambookss
Twitter(X) |
@dreambookss
Submission |
[email protected]
Without written permission from Samyang C&C Co., Ltd. – Dream Books, this book’s contents may not be used in any form or by any means.

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