The Only Enhancer - Chapter 46

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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 46
Chapter 46 – Challenging Level 6, and… (2)
3.
Officially, there were only ten Level 6 items in the entire world.
And now the eleventh Level 6 item had been born in Min-jun’s hands.
The Blazing Crimson Gauntlet.
Though no one else knew of it, I couldn’t suppress the thrill coursing through my chest.
How could I possibly contain it?
This was the dream I’d harbored ever since becoming an Enhancer.
To actually create a Level 6 item.
It had happened faster than expected, but that didn’t diminish the profound emotion of the moment.
‘I want to test it right away!’
All the Crimson skills attached to the Blazing Crimson Gauntlet were buff-type abilities.
I could test them myself, but using them in a raid would be the most convenient way to gauge their effectiveness.
Besides, I’d sent a message to Jung Ji-hwan to test out the newly acquired skills as well.
What was going on here?
“Um…?”
“Yes, please speak.”
…
A man sitting beside Jung Ji-hwan, his expression deeply displeased, his brow furrowed in obvious irritation.
If my memory served correctly, that man was Won Eun-seong, a Level 5 hunter affiliated with the Hunter Association, known as the Spear Destroyer.
As I’d observed before, the two didn’t seem to get along well.
So why were they together now?
“Ah, you mean Won Eun-seong? I brought him because I thought it would be difficult for me alone to provide security when Min-jun goes on raids.”
…
Judging by his silence, it seemed to be true.
But was there really a need to increase security personnel?
Honestly, there was no way they’d pull one of only twenty-one Level 5 hunters in Korea just for escort duty unless something serious had happened.
“Did something happen?”
“As expected, your eyes are sharp, Min-jun. During the four days you were home, there were a total of four assassination attempts.”
“Assassination attempts?”
This was the first I’d heard of it.
Well, I’d been focused on enhancement, and on the last day I’d essentially been unconscious from mana exhaustion, so I hadn’t noticed anything amiss.
If I, wearing four Level 4 detection items, hadn’t known about it, then Jung Ji-hwan must have handled it cleanly.
I was newly impressed by Jung Ji-hwan’s abilities.
Yet even he wasn’t deemed sufficient, so they’d added Won Eun-seong.
It was a more serious matter than I’d thought, but I wasn’t particularly concerned.
Why?
Thanks to my new skill.
‘As long as I have the Enhancer’s Hand, even a true assassin won’t be a problem.’
The two skills I obtained upon reaching Level 4 were both absurd.
And one of them was the Enchanter’s Hand.
It was one of the other reasons I’d come on this raid.
[Enchanter’s Hand]
-An enchanter can use the skills of items they’ve enhanced without any conditions.
‘Yes, this is it.’
I could use the skills of items I’d enhanced without any conditions.
In other words, I could now use all the skills that had been unavailable to me before.
Most notably, the tank’s defense increase skill!
With just this alone, my survivability would skyrocket dramatically.
And if I add the Blazing Crimson Gauntlet to that, in reality, it would take at least two Level 6 hunters equipped with a single +6 reinforced item just to kill me.
A prerequisite that’s practically impossible to meet.
Naturally, I had no intention of refusing the protection they offered.
If they were offering to guard me, there was no reason to decline.
But then.
“Is it always like this?”
It was an abrupt question, but Jung Ji-hwan wasn’t the type to miss the meaning.
“No, only China does this. If talented individuals like you appear in other countries, the reason they hide them isn’t because of attackers, but because they don’t want to reveal their own hand too much.”
“I see.”
“So usually they opt for recruitment, but if China learns first about the emergence of Level 6 or Level 5 aptitude in East Asia, they’ll actively kidnap or even consider assassination. Of course, they claim the Chinese government doesn’t send them, but generally we consider there’s no real difference.”
“Then other countries would send scouts rather than attackers?”
“Yes, exactly.”
Jung Ji-hwan explained earnestly.
Won Eun-seong looked at him like he was insane.
Wasn’t this essentially telling the person being protected, ‘People are after you, and this is just how they operate’?
He tried to say something but stopped.
The person in question had asked first, and his reaction afterward wasn’t particularly negative.
“If you were at home, it wouldn’t be a problem, but if a large number of monsters appear during the raid, it could become difficult, which is why we called Won Eun-seong here.”
“…Sigh.”
“Hmm, you’re having a rough time.”
I offered Won Eun-seong a small word of comfort as he sighed.
Jung Ji-hwan brought up the main topic.
“Then how would you like to proceed with the raid? Disaster Level 3? Or Disaster Level 4?”
About the raid.
But it was Won Eun-seong who reacted immediately upon hearing those words.
“Are you insane?”
“What’s wrong?”
“What do you mean what’s wrong? You’re saying you want to have the healer participate in a Disaster Level 4 raid when they’re still only Level 3?”
“What’s the problem with that?”
“What?”
Won Eun-seong was the one caught off guard as Jung Ji-hwan emerged with such brazen confidence.
Why was he speaking with such certainty?
Won Eun-seong’s expression screamed incomprehension.
Jung Ji-hwan’s eyebrows twitched slightly.
Min-jun watched the two of them with curious interest amid the tense atmosphere.
Won Eun-seong’s point was actually reasonable.
If you asked Min-jun whether he agreed with that assessment…
‘Absolutely not.’
I could head into a Disaster Level 4 raid right this instant without issue.
In fact, my level was already 4.
As Min-jun was thinking this, Jung Ji-hwan spoke first.
“Are you saying this to Min-jun, who healed all the Level 4 hunters in the Gangneung Disaster raid with a single heal and then soloed the healing for the final one hour and seventeen minutes while all the Level 3 hunters were forced to retire?”
“That, well…”
“If your healing is at that level, buffs aren’t even worth mentioning. Surely you of all people know that, Won Eun-seong? Isn’t it inefficient to distinguish raids based merely on level?”
Every word was undeniably correct.
But why did it feel so infuriating?
Won Eun-seong’s body trembled, but he said nothing more.
Instead.
“Ahem, I apologize for the dismissive remark. That wasn’t my intention.”
“Not at all. I appreciate your concern.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
“So, what will you do, Min-jun?”
Min-jun’s choice?
It was obvious, of course.
“I’ll go with Disaster Level 4.”
“A wise decision. I’ve already prepared Won Eun-seong’s team members, so let’s head out.”
“Oh!”
The chance to raid with that team once Won Eun-seong joined.
A raid with the Hunter Association’s Level 5 team members.
This was rare.
“…?? Whose team members? Hey! You there! When did you call our people?”
“Ah.”
Apparently, this hadn’t been discussed with Won Eun-seong, the actual owner of that team.
Well, what did it matter?
As long as the raid happened, that was all that mattered.
“Stop complaining and follow along.”
“Is this guy seriously insane???”
4.
A guild from the United States and a global powerhouse.
Saint Guild was also quick to receive news from Korea.
The owner of the place, Franklin, spoke while stroking his chin with interest.
“The Korean government is thoroughly concealing raid records. They could be hiding the timeframe like Robert does.”
“That’s a very high probability. Even with Level 6 aptitude, the growth rate is far too rapid.”
“Or it could all be fabrication.”
After all, there were nations blinded by greed that didn’t hesitate to falsify hunter records and artificially inflate their national prestige.
“What’s the probability it’s genuine?”
“Over 80%. Korea has no reason to play games with something like this, and from what I understand, the article was published due to a fortunate coincidence.”
“Hmm, Korea certainly isn’t a nation to be underestimated. But given that, the subsequent articles don’t seem particularly credible, do they?”
Franklin’s observation was indeed valid.
A mere Level 3 hunter achieving significant feats in a Disaster Level 5 raid.
Even with Level 6 aptitude, a healer possessing enough mana to fill the roles of all other Level 3 healers?
This was genuinely difficult to believe.
“Even at the same level, healers possess significantly greater mana reserves, so I consider this credible.”
The secretary’s reasoning was sound.
Yet Franklin remained unsatisfied and pressed further.
“That seems like weak evidence.”
“Sanryong from China has made a move.”
“…I see.”
At those words, Franklin nodded.
If that organization—China’s guild, or more accurately, what could be called a villain faction—had moved, the probability of truth was high.
The fact that the Chinese government tolerated them despite their essentially villainous nature meant they were, in essence, attack dogs.
The Chinese government’s attack dogs had made a move?
The evidence was sufficient.
The secretary nodded at those words and left the room, leaving Franklin alone with his thoughts.
Though he operated a guild, Franklin himself was not an Awakened—yet his appetite for talent was considerable.
Much like the United States government, Franklin’s desire for power, despite never having Awakened, was substantial.
His recruitment of Robert Hauser, the last to reach Level 6, stemmed from this very ambition.
He approached relentlessly and presented conditions difficult to refuse, bringing him into the fold.
Though it cost him dearly, he subsequently transformed the Saint Guild into a world-class organization.
Everyone could only admire Franklin’s acumen.
‘Robert is here, but it’s still difficult to call our guild the best.’
But what if another Level 6 were added?
He licked his lips as if gazing upon a tempting fruit.
But just as thorns inevitably adorn beautiful flowers, poison likely lurked within this tempting fruit.
“If Sanryong has moved, would they have stationed the Grim Reaper beside them?”
That Hunter Association member called Korea’s Grim Reaper.
The probability of his presence was very high.
In other words, Sanryong’s plan had a very high chance of failure.
If he waited until Sanryong’s plan crumbled and eliminated those sluggish competitors, his chances of recruitment would increase substantially.
After calculating this far, Franklin pressed the call button and spoke.
“Prepare a flight to Korea for me.”
-Yes, I’ll arrange it immediately.
For a deal this significant, it’s better to handle it personally than delegate.
And for some reason, my businessman’s instinct was stirring.
In cases like this, I’ve always struck gold.
That’s why I, a leading businessman and guild master of a world-class guild, didn’t bother with appearances and moved immediately.
Think of all the countries and guilds that lost Robert Hauser because they were too concerned with face.
This time, I would be the victor.
Franklin trusted his instincts as he thought this.
And somehow.
It didn’t feel like it would stop at mere Level 6 aptitude.
‘There’s something being hidden here.’
I’d know for certain once I went to see.
Franklin set aside everything else and boarded a plane bound for Korea.
5.
Sanryong.
Known as one of China’s top ten mega-guilds, it was in reality a den of villains.
They were trash who wouldn’t hesitate to commit anything from human trafficking to all manner of horrific crimes if it suited their desires.
But no one could say a word against them.
Because the Chinese government turned a blind eye.
And there was no choice but to do so.
All three guild masters were Level 5.
One tank and two dealers.
Thanks to such overwhelming power, the Chinese government granted them conveniences.
In exchange for following certain orders.
And one of those orders had just come down.
-Bring in the new Level 6 aptitude that appeared in Korea. If impossible, eliminate them.
On the surface, it seemed a simple command, but in reality, it was not.
No matter how powerful China was, Korea was also a formidable nation that couldn’t be ignored.
Since this wasn’t something that could be done carelessly, the second and third of Sanryong—Son Bo and Seo Ryang—ended up smuggling themselves into Korea.
“Tch! What kind of bullshit is this? Having to come to some backwater country.”
When Seo Ryang, the third, grumbled, Son Bo, the second, sympathized but said something to him.
“Wasn’t this a request from our eldest brother? That’s why we have to come.”
“Sigh! These insignificant pests are such a nuisance, brother. What’s so great about that Grim Reaper bastard anyway? He’s only Level 4, isn’t he?”
“…Hmm.”
While Son Bo agreed with the other points, this time he found it difficult to agree.
He had seen Jung Ji-hwan, known as Korea’s Grim Reaper, in person before, so Son Bo couldn’t say anything.
Seo Ryang also fell silent, seeming embarrassed by Son Bo’s reaction.
But one thing was certain.
“Now that the two of us are here, there’s nothing we can’t handle.”
“That’s true, brother.”
Laughing cheerfully, the two men arrived in Incheon by ship and were soon able to meet with their subordinates who had arrived in Korea beforehand.
However, their numbers were somewhat lacking.
“Hmm, it seems we’re short on personnel.”
“Huh? Yeah, we really do seem to be short, boss.”
“…That, well…”
One of his subordinates confessed the truth, and upon hearing that they’d attempted to handle matters discreetly but were instead dealt with, Son Bo nodded his head.
Well, with a Reaper attached to them, such things were possible.
However.
“Yet you speak so well without a head.”
“…Pardon?”
Son Bo spoke with a vacant expression and waved his fan gently toward the subordinate who had raised his head.
The reporting subordinate’s head was crushed and burst open.
Splat.
The moment his head exploded, the other subordinates trembled at the sight.
They knew well that they too could meet the same fate if they made a mistake.
All they could do was bow their heads and beg for forgiveness.
Only then did Son Bo smile with satisfaction, seemingly pleased.
Seo Ryang was no different.
“So you’ve identified the target’s location, haven’t you?”
“Yes, yes! It appears they are preparing to raid a Disaster Level 4 monster.”
“…Disaster Level 4?”
At those words, Son Bo tilted his head in confusion.
From what he’d heard, the Level 6 aptitude had only recently awakened and was supposedly at most Level 3.
Yet a Disaster Level 4?
“Haha! Brother! It seems this small country grinds up its talents to develop them!”
‘Brother, our country does it worse.’
Son Bo couldn’t bring himself to voice this to his foolish younger brother.
In any case.
“Let’s head there.”
“Yes!”
The villains began to move in earnest.
Meanwhile, Min-jun, Jung Ji-hwan, and Won Eun-seong were.
“Huh? Wasn’t this a summons for Eun-seong? We were told by Team Leader Jung Ji-hwan that…”
“Sigh, don’t listen to that crazy bastard.”
“But… then we’re not raiding?”
“No, we’re raiding, but anyway, don’t listen to that bastard.”
“…???”
If they were raiding, then wasn’t Jung Ji-hwan right?
For a moment it seemed odd, but the vice-captain of Won Eun-seong’s team didn’t bother to say anything.
It was better not to stir up trouble unnecessarily.

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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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