The Return of the Genius Ranker of All Times - Chapter 197
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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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Chapter 197
Episode 197.
Arniss Empire.
The final section of the Main Continent and a place that could be called the symbol of Abtartel.
The central region that was uniquely called an empire, beyond just a city.
-The real game starts from the Empire.
-Players who haven’t set foot in the Empire haven’t even enjoyed half of half of Godseeker yet.
This was the opinion given by several game critics about the Empire.
It was an arrogant statement, but those who had experienced the Empire even once didn’t deny those words.
Even if they wanted to, they couldn’t.
[You have entered the Empire and locked content and systems are now unlocked.]
[Raid-related content has been unlocked.]
[Enhancement content has been unlocked.]
[Blacksmith shops, workshops, alchemy, cooking, and other production job-related content have been unlocked.]
[You can now enter the Mage Tower and Knight’s Castle.]
[Players can enjoy various content through affiliated organizations and can become members of organizations based on conditions.]
The liberation of countless content and systems that had been locked until now.
Whether production jobs or combat jobs, they could now set foot in the massive organizations of their respective affiliations.
“What? You want to become an outstanding blacksmith so you want me to take you as a disciple? Hmm, I don’t take those without potential! Let’s see you heat up the furnace first!”
“We’ve prepared a small gift for you who has entered the Red Mage Tower.”
“Have you ever taken a knight’s oath?”
This gave countless players the opportunity to truly start grinding and growing,
“Holy shit, enhancement is so sweet. I’m spending money right away.”
“Can’t resist enhancement. I’m dropping 200 cards immediately.”
“Bastards, spending 2 million won on weapon enhancement? Your brains are pickled by this luck-based shit game.”
“B-but… my body has become unable to be satisfied with just card purchases.”
“Enhancement is the best. Always thrilling.”
It also gave countless spenders the opportunity to truly open their wallets.
And that wasn’t all.
“Wow… This is the Empire.”
“That’s the Mage Tower I’ve only heard about. What kind of Mage Tower looks like it’s going to pierce through the sky?”
“The Knight’s Castle is almost comparable to the castles where other city lords reside?”
“Just how many Mage Towers and castles are there… This is why they say even if all cities combined their power, they couldn’t reach the Empire’s toes.”
“That’s the Royal Palace… Where the Emperor is. Is it real that the Knight’s Castle looks small in comparison?”
Looking at the massive scale of land and forces that couldn’t be compared to cities made their hearts swell with emotion.
Moreover, the Empire’s level restriction was 71-100.
“Huh? Is that the Phoenix Guild Master?”
“Baekdusan is there too!”
“Wow, all the celebrities are here. I can see the top 10 guild lieutenants too?”
“Whoa, these are people I’ve only seen on broadcasts… It doesn’t feel real somehow.”
“Just how many people are here…”
Not only celebrities famous enough that everyone knew their names just by hearing them.
Thanks to virtually all players including the advance team gathering in the Empire, roughly hundreds of millions of players were assembled there.
And equally famous as those players were the Arniss Knights, Arren Lord, Mage Tower Leaders, and so on…
“Their aura is killer… What kind of NPC is like that? They really look like the strong characters from fantasy novels.”
“Even the top 10 guilds can’t act carelessly around them.”
“It really feels like an empire. I’m getting excited for some reason.”
Seeing countless celebrity NPCs, people finally realized they had come to the Empire and felt excitement.
A different kind of emotion from when they first set foot in the previous cities.
Their hearts swelled as they instinctively felt that the real beginning was starting now.
[You have entered the central empire of the Main Continent, ‘Arniss Empire’.]
[Enhancement content has been unlocked.]
…
[Tip. The Emperor’s royal decree is absolute. Please be careful with your gameplay.]
‘…My heart feels magnificent.’
‘That’s… right.’
‘Mmm…!’
‘Rizariza.’
Dohyun felt the same way.
Like other players, the moment he first set foot on Empire soil, he was so amazed by the different spectacular scenery that welcomed him that his heart felt magnificent beyond just admiration.
However, the reason for feeling magnificent was slightly different.
Step, step, step, step, step.
Murmur murmur-
More than dozens of armed players were waiting for Dohyun, surrounding the warp.
‘…I hoped it wouldn’t be the case, but they’re really waiting on standby from the very beginning.’
This seemed to be them gathering their full force in preparation for failure in Pratel from the start.
It was remarkable persistence.
It meant the entire guild had cleared their schedules and was moving just to catch him alone.
‘Well, Biltan… No, that bastard Berjhe was always particularly thorough only at times like this, even in Demroc.’
The fact that he had stationed fewer people compared to Pratel also meant he was that confident.
Stationing only 50 people even after seeing Luidra’s raid team meant those 50 people were worth about 200 ordinary players.
“…What’s going on?”
“Isn’t that the Hero Guild? Why are they suddenly surrounding the warp?”
“How many people is that… Must be at least 50?”
“Crazy, and the people standing in front are all high-ranking lieutenants?”
“The people in the back aren’t just ordinary guild members either. They’re all rookies who made names for themselves back in the day.”
That guess was exactly right.
They were actually high-ranking lieutenants of the Hero Guild, famous enough to be recognized by name.
Even those standing behind them like ordinary soldiers weren’t regular guild members, but all elite combat personnel.
“What? You haven’t heard the news yet?”
“What news?”
“This time in Pratel, the Luidra raid… Kaiser stole it…”
“Crazy… Is that even allowed?”
“Don’t know. And apparently just before warping, there was trouble in Pratel, and suddenly the knights intervened?”
“What’s going on with everything?”
At this rare spectacle that was hard to see even in the Empire, passing players had to stop and glance over.
For those who didn’t know the situation, wondering what this was all about.
For the quick-footed ones who had already heard the news, to grab popcorn for this interesting situation.
It was when countless gazes were focused there.
Thud, thud.
“…It has been a long wait, Kaiser.”
“Huh? Huh, huhhh…!”
“Crazy…”
Heavy footsteps heard from behind and the pleasant baritone voice that followed.
Players who turned their heads at that sound gasped and cleared the way.
Like Moses’s miracle, a path formed through the parted crowd. And walking alone confidently down that path was a long-haired man.
A cold handsome man like a gigolo whose good looks could be felt even from a distance.
Thud, thud.
Thud.
A man who ranked in the top 5 of Godseeker’s appearance rankings.
One of the most popular players among female players, and the master of the Hero Guild, which ranks among the top of the Top 100 Guilds.
“…Berjhe.”
It was Berjhe’s entrance.
The murmuring of players grew much louder at the appearance of this unimaginable big shot.
“Holy shit…. Berjhe came out personally?”
“Even Berjhe showed up here? Kaiser’s finished now.”
“Why? Didn’t Kaiser steal a hidden raid boss and even win a 30-on-1 fight? Shouldn’t he be able to handle this?”
“Are Pratel and the Empire the same? Just looking at enhancement and skill grades alone, they’re on completely different levels….”
“They’re just in different leagues. The Empire and Pratel. Especially if it’s Berjhe… the game’s over.”
“This is why you need to join a guild. He crossed the line without knowing his place. Kaiser did.”
“Did he think the level restrictions would protect him forever? Once he comes to the Empire, he’ll face everything at once.”
All the talk that could be heard was uniformly negative.
Of course, these were valid opinions.
No matter how much Kaiser was writing history with unprecedented achievements, he was still just level 71, having barely entered the Empire.
A level 71 defeating a level 100 was nonsensical.
Moreover, if he was at a numerical disadvantage, there was nothing more to say.
‘…What do we do, Owner? Aren’t we in big trouble?’
‘R, Risa….’
‘Hmm…. I can sense powerful auras.’
Even the Jihad members, sensitive to energy, seemed to feel it as they showed anxious expressions.
Meanwhile, Berjhe approached with a leisurely demeanor, stared intently at Kaiser, then slowly raised one corner of his mouth.
“I’ve been wanting to see you, Kaiser.”
“…I’m not into men.”
At Dohyun’s blunt response, Berjhe chuckled and replied.
“I really have been wanting to see you. What kind of confidence makes you interfere with me every time…. But you’ve crossed the line by far.”
Berjhe’s expression as he spoke was smiling, but it wasn’t really a smile.
His eyes were narrowed, but his jaw was tense as if grinding his teeth, radiating killing intent.
Instead of answering, Dohyun turned his head and slowly looked around.
Then he spat out with a sneer.
“Isn’t it you who’s crossing the line right now?”
“…Just because you have a mouth doesn’t mean you should speak carelessly, or you’ll face divine punishment. Think carefully before you speak.”
“You’re the ones who should face divine punishment. There’s more than one or two people you’ve backstabbed and betrayed, right? Isn’t that right, Biltan?”
Crack, Berjhe, who had been grinding his teeth as he spoke, hesitated.
Then after staring into Dohyun’s eyes for a few seconds, he soon wore a sneer.
“…You recognize me.”
“Well, your character was so different it was a bit difficult. Back then you were full of chuunibyou like you’d shout about black flame dragons….”
“Sh, shut up! Kaiser.”
Berjhe hastily cut him off, looking flustered.
At his appearance, as if his dark history had been exposed, Dohyun grinned with a ‘look at this?’ expression.
“Is it embarrassing? Come to think of it, your way of speaking wasn’t like this either, so why did you become so refined? Ah, is it something like that? Forgetting the embarrassing past and making a fresh start in a new place….”
“Let’s end the pointless talk here.”
Step, step, step, step.
As he firmly cut off the conversation and raised one hand, his legion surrounding them drew their weapons and approached one step at a time.
Now they were close enough that just reaching out would turn him into a skewer.
“…Is it okay to do this here? If bloodshed occurs, it’ll be prison time.”
“Of course I’m not that thoughtless. I absolutely won’t harm you in this place. I’ll merely block your path.”
“….”
“Ah, there’s a warp over there on the right…. I’ll specially leave that one open for you.”
Dohyun looked at the place he pointed to and let out a hollow laugh.
The warp on the right was a warp leading to the field.
The meaning of those words was simple.
Obediently follow me to the field and get slaughtered, since you won’t be able to move a single step in the city.
“…Despicable bastard.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Berjhe grinned and took another step closer, bringing their faces together.
Due to their similar heights, their eyes were vividly visible.
In Berjhe’s eyes was rising ecstasy.
As if this moment was incredibly thrilling.
Feeling displeasure at those eyes that seemed to feel catharsis, Dohyun reached for Cheonbyeon, and Berjhe stepped back and opened his mouth.
“You said we had bad blood? I’m glad you remember. Then do you also remember this?”
“…What are you talking about.”
“When I was having a guild war with Hermes, you intruded without permission and caused chaos. Besides that, you interfered with me whenever you had the chance.”
That was certainly true.
Back then, he had intended to completely destroy both sides.
He had openly shown hostility and struck first.
Even if they said he crossed the line, it was an act he couldn’t defend, but there were reasons for everything.
“Ha, you suggested joining hands for a common cause, then massively backstabbed me. Don’t you remember that?”
“…It was strategy.”
The reason Dohyun came to have a full-fledged bad relationship with the Hero Guild.
The guild that made Dohyun adopt the creed that ‘yesterday’s enemy is today’s enemy too’ was none other than the Hero Guild.
That despicable bad blood was once again holding a blade to his throat.
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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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