Chapter 151

After hearing the explanation, everyone listening to Suui Kim’s description had serious expressions. It was an EX-Rank dungeon. So, even if the same mantis-type monsters appeared, they could be some evolved monsters, as he described.

“If they’re not easy to kill like in Chonghyeon, there’s a high chance of significant stamina depletion.”

“We’ll need to bring a lot of stamina potions.”

“The person at the very front will have quite a burden.”

The phrase “the person at the very front” brought silence to the meeting room. Indeed, the people gathered here were essentially to decide which guild would take the lead. An EX-Rank dungeon had appeared in Korea; as guilds based in Korea, they couldn’t avoid participating in this dungeon raid. However, they would surely want to avoid being at the very front. Being at the forefront here and now was tantamount to dying.

“Ahem, ahem.”

Several people cleared their throats and glanced at Paehyeok. In fact, at this current moment, the only team that could take the lead was Paehyeok, Korea’s number one and the world’s number one. But putting them on the spot so openly made both those giving the hint and those receiving it extremely awkward.

“They’re all making a fuss, trying to avoid eye contact.”

And the one who couldn’t stand such an atmosphere the most was Gihyeon Park, even more so than Cho-i Hyeon. Gihyeon Park sat with his legs crossed askew and said,

“Is there an answer if you’re all just looking at each other like scared dogs? If you’d rather just say you don’t want to be in the lead, then fine.”

“It’s not that simple.”

“Still, watching from the side gives me the chills.”

“Then, would Guild Master Park Gi-hyun, who says such things, take the lead?”

Then Gihyeon Park laughed, “Haha.”

“Why not?”

“Don’t be reckless, Gihyeon Park.”

And the one who stopped him was Taehyeok Sa. Gihyeon Park frowned and looked at Taehyeok Sa, who calmly looked around. Rather than avoiding his gaze, each Guild Master looked directly at him, conveying their intentions. It was right for Paehyeok, which possessed two SS-Ranks, to step forward. However, the person Taehyeok Sa had in mind for the lead was not Taeyang Kang, nor was it himself.

“Paehyeok will put Hunter Cho-i Hyeon in the lead.”

It’s natural for a tank to take the lead. But here, “the lead” doesn’t just mean the very first. It was tantamount to deciding who would be at the center of the strategy. But for it to be S-Rank Cho-i Hyeon, not SS-Rank Taeyang Kang or Taehyeok Sa?

“Are you sure about this?”

“It’s an EX-Rank dungeon. Even an SS-Rank would struggle in that dungeon. And you’re saying you’ll go in with S-Ranks as the core?”

Taehyeok Sa listened indifferently, then replied.

“Hunter Cho-i Hyeon has a skill.”

“A skill?”

“What kind of skill?”

“No matter how amazing a skill is, it’s temporary. It can’t compare to an SS-Rank…”

“When Hunter Cho-i Hyeon uses that skill, she displays abilities beyond SS-Rank. In fact, Gihyeon Park and I couldn’t defeat her, and even if Taeyang Kang and I teamed up, we wouldn’t be able to win.”

“Huh?”

“Is that possible?”

The meeting room stirred once more. Cho-i Hyeon stared intently at Taehyeok Sa. Why is he revealing someone else’s secret without permission? Does he want to die? Cho-i Hyeon thought that, but since it was something that would have to be revealed anyway, she scratched the back of her head.

“Ah, well. That’s how it turned out.”

At Cho-i Hyeon’s flippant answer, people looked at her with disbelief. Cho-i Hyeon picked her ear and tilted her head. Even if they didn’t believe her, they couldn’t say anything because she and her team were going to do it anyway.

“Oh, and about after the raid is finished…”

Cho-i Hyeon extended the pinky finger she had been using to pick her ear.

“I’ll destroy the core and leave, so the rest of you can find your own way out.”

“The core?”

“What do you mean, the core?”

“Now that things have come to this, I haven’t been able to release the information, have I?”

Taehyeok Sa signaled to Yeonhan Kim. Yeonhan, who had already heard the information from Taehyeok Sa, nodded. Soon, the projector, which had been displaying the large dungeon, zoomed in and illuminated the central part of the dungeon.

“Some of you may already know, but a dungeon disappeared in Chonghyeon.”

“Ah, I know about that.”

“Speaking of which, what happened there?”

“Originally, Paehyeok was preparing to explain that incident, but it was quickly overshadowed by the outbreak of the EX-Rank dungeon. So we decided to explain it together here.”

“Did you find a way to eliminate dungeons?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“What did you say?”

As the Guild Masters’ eyes widened in shock, Yeonhan Kim looked at Cho-i Hyeon. Cho-i Hyeon pointed to herself with her finger. Me? I’m supposed to explain? Crazy? It was a gesture of that meaning, but Yeonhan Kim immediately nodded. Cho-i muttered that she hadn’t intended to step forward this much, and raised her hand once more.

“When the exit that appears after clearing a dungeon closes, the dungeon reconstructs itself, and that’s when the dungeon core is revealed. You normally can’t see it. But there’s a way, so I’ll try to destroy it.”

As expected, her attitude was not very convincing. People showed dissatisfaction, but even the Entity, who would be at the forefront, couldn’t express much dissatisfaction with Cho-i Hyeon, who would be at the very front of that team.

“Even if you don’t believe me, there’s nothing I can do. But since things have come to this, wouldn’t it be better for your mental health to indulge in some wishful thinking?”

Some people clicked their tongues at her remark, some sighed, and some…

“Hahahaha!”

burst out laughing. It’s not even worth saying who it was, is it? It was our very own Gihyeon Park. Gihyeon Park slapped the table and laughed, then wiped her eyes and said,

“Alright, if we don’t believe you, who are we going to believe now?”

“Does Hunter Gihyeon Park believe all that?”

“What if I don’t believe it? The Chonghyeon dungeon actually disappeared, and are you going to throw away talent that Taehyeok Sa is personally vouching for?”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Then it’s settled. Now, let’s come up with a strategy. What are you going to do, Taehyeok?”

“We’ll go by the book.”

“By the book, then…”

“We’ll have to go in with a dungeon timer and a compass and fight our way through, one by one. Is there any better way than the methods currently available?”

“No, there isn’t.”

Taehyeok Sa and Gihyeon Park exchanged lines as if it were a play. Cho-i Hyeon yawned widely, as if bored, then raised her hand once more.

“If that’s all, can I go home? I’m hungry.”

Nara Shim, who was sitting at the far end, looked at him as if to say, ‘Is that bastard crazy?’, and the others’ reactions weren’t much different. Cho-i blinked and said,

“If there’s no other way, wouldn’t it be better to go in quickly, rest, and get your condition back?”

“That’s not a bad idea.”

As expected, only Gihyeon Park agreed with him. No, Taeyang Kang was also nodding his head. Cho-i Hyeon thought, ‘Well, I don’t have no one on my side,’ and stood up from his seat.

“I’ll prepare thoroughly. But I’m not very good at theoretical discussions. If there’s nothing more special to talk about, can I leave?”

“No, you can’t.”

And the one who stopped her from leaving was Taehyeok Sa. Taehyeok Sa had a strange expression, a mix of ‘I knew it’ and ‘I’m tired’.

“First, I’ve contacted guilds from various countries, and since the matter is urgent, replies came quickly.”

“Where did the replies come from?”

“A total of seven places expressed their agreement.”

“I see.”

“First, there’s no reply from Japan’s major guild, which is closest, but unexpectedly, a reply came from China’s Jaheon.”

“Jaheon, you mean…”

That guild associated with the Black Society. But no one dared to utter ‘the Entity’. In the current situation, they needed to borrow help even from an illegal organization. The fact that Jaheon had contacted them was also unexpected for Cho-i Hyeon. They seemed like the type to only care about their own lives.

“When is China coming in?”

“Within a week.”

“Oh, that’s really unexpected.”

Cho-i Hyeon giggled and leaned back in his chair.

“How many hunters?”

“For now, one from Jaheon.”

People’s expressions became subtle. They might be thinking ‘just one’, but Taehyeok Sa calmly moved on, knowing that Zhixuan himself was coming. It’s difficult to get help from a hunter who has surpassed S-Rank and become SS-Rank.

“And the other countries say they’ll send one team each.”

“That’s fortunate.”

“Indeed.”

Taehyeok Sa nodded and said,

“Excluding China, the other countries will send eight people per team. Eight from Paehyeok. What about the rest?”

“Hwayeon will also dispatch eight people.”

“Understood.”

Then Jihan Kim also raised his hand.

“Geumsin will also dispatch eight people.”

“Ah, personally, I’d like Zhixuan to be handled by your side.”

“That’s fine with us. But why?”

“Because I can’t entrust him to Gihyeon Park.”

“Ah, that’s true. He’d probably just pick a fight. We’ll take care of Zhixuan then. So we’ll dispatch eight, including Zhixuan.”

“Are you guys talking trash about me right in front of me?”

“Quiet.”

“Silence.”

“You’re only picking on me.”

While Gihyeon Park grumbled, the other Guild Masters exchanged glances. As if they had already coordinated, Jong-ya’s Guild Master spoke on behalf of them.

“We will combine our personnel to form four teams.”

“Let’s do that. It’s better than forcing low-ranking members in just to meet the numbers.”

“Thank you.”

“Then that concludes today’s meeting. I’ll inform you immediately if anything about the dungeon is discovered, so stay alert.”

Everyone nodded, and Yeonhan Kim looked around and said,

“Then I will conclude the EX-Rank dungeon strategy meeting.”