Chapter 212 – A New Landscape (1)

“Dan, why don’t you go?”

Of course, Henri was considered the strongest in France. But his global ranking was outside the top 30.

Because of this, some in France disliked him, saying he was tarnishing the nation’s prestige.

“You’d be more help than rank 38.”

David Henri’s global rank was 38. And even that was gone, as he had withdrawn from the Union and was removed from the rankings entirely.

“Weren’t you the one who knew better than anyone that those damn rankings are just a numbers game?”

Always second to Jean-Pierre. The fact that Henri was actually much stronger than Jean was an open secret among those in the know.

It was only the general public that remained ignorant.

“I’m ranked 10th, but I don’t think any of the guys above me are stronger than me.”

In truth, the existence of rankings was ambiguous.

Combat power involved issues of compatibility, and everyone had different areas of expertise.

Thus, it wasn’t easy to determine who was stronger.

However, the rankings were determined by how many high-level dungeons one hunted, how quickly they were cleared, and how many monsters were slain.

And since there were analyses by experts and combat power measurements by the system, the margin of error was small.

But reality was always different from theory.

“Of course, Big Man and Brown Bear are exceptions.”

America’s Ian and Russia’s Ivan were the two towering figures in the hunter world.

The two were known, quite literally, as hunters who had transcended humanity.

Besides those two, the difference among the remaining rankers was minimal.

“Yann, that friend of yours… he seems to be having a hard time.”

“…”

Henri’s lips tightened.

Yann Michael, currently France’s number one ranker, was leading the hunters in a war.

France had not been spared from the unprecedented Gates that had appeared randomly all over the world.

Man-eating monsters leading high-level Ogres had torn through a Gate, and Yann Michael’s French hunters had fought for their lives.

But what appeared after that was a nightmare for France.

Fenrir, a native 6-star boss monster.

A giant, jet-black wolf appeared and swept through the French hunters who had been reveling in the joy of victory.

Thanks to that, the hunter unit, having suffered numerous deaths and injuries, had retreated, and the French army was holding back the boss monster’s advance with mana bullets.

But that, too, had its limits.

The unprecedented native 6-star boss treated the mana bullets crafted by humans as a joke, nullifying them all before indiscriminately slaughtering people.

“It’s meaningless for me to go alone.”

“Of course, you won’t go alone. The Union will be making a move soon.”

“The Union…”

At that name, a bitter expression crossed Henri’s face.

“Yes, that’s the kind of organization it is. Are you still going on raids?”

“…”

“You should stop. Getting stronger that way isn’t right. It’s good to become strong, but if you can’t think about *why* you’re getting strong, what makes us different from the monsters?”

“Right. That’s why you left the Union.”

Invading other dimensions, slaughtering innocent civilians, and plundering.

He had hesitated at first, but it took no time at all to become addicted to the ‘hunt’ that the system ‘permitted.’

Their guilt lessened by the system, people freely racked up experience points and leveled up.

However, Henri, being too sentimental, couldn’t bear the sight.

His comrades, upon returning from their conquests, were no different than before. It just seemed like Henri was overreacting.

The problem was that his comrades gradually changed.

They became engrossed in slaughter, forgetting the weight of life and turning into monsters themselves.

“Yes, it was definitely wrong. To do such things under the pretext of protecting the world.”

Danny muttered as if chewing on his words.

The two men, sitting by the cafe window, fell silent for a moment.

It was likely because of the memory of their first battle.

*Save me. I’m sorry.* They had no choice but to ignore the voices of their opponents, heard through the system’s clumsy translation.

Their comrades, shooting and killing people who wailed, begging for at least their children to be spared.

“Yes, it was wrong.”

Danny muttered once more.

“That’s why I’m trying to get rid of it.”

“Get rid of it?”

Henri asked Danny.

Danny nodded.

“I’m planning to establish a new organization to replace the Union, or at least one that can act as a brake on it.”

“A new place?”

Currently, the power balance in the Union was 6:3:1.

Danny was thinking of growing the 10% faction.

“Considering the Union’s founding purpose, they should have helped France long ago. But what they wanted was a massive amount of mana stone mining.”

“Of course, this isn’t limited to France.”

The Union, with its monopoly, operated under the same conditions in other countries as well.

Of course, to the outside world, they appeared to be selflessly dedicating themselves to world peace.

“To do that, we need a lot of talent. You know it too, don’t you? That the Union is in the wrong.”

The Union was the source of countless incidents and accidents. But no one dared to try and expose them.

“You’ve come to the wrong person.”

“…Right. You have your own life to live, after all.”

At Henri’s refusal, Danny forced a smile.

He had been sure that Henri, who shared his ideals, would help him without a doubt.

It wasn’t that he hadn’t considered the possibility of refusal, but hearing it firsthand was a huge disappointment.

‘That’s my own self-righteousness.’

Unlike himself, who had no family, Henri had a wife who had been sick for a long time and a child.

Though they had miraculously gotten better from the mana stone disease after coming to Korea, they were still undergoing treatment.

It was only natural to protect one’s family before the world. One couldn’t point a finger and call that selfish.

“My apologies. Please forget I said anything.”

“No, that’s not what I mean.”

At Henri’s words, Danny felt his eyes widen.

It meant it wasn’t time to be disappointed yet.

“My wife and child have already recovered. They’re going out, and the guild is providing full support as part of their welfare benefits.”

“I see. So that’s why you looked so well.”

Danny understood what Henri meant.

Henri was currently under contract with a Korean guild.

“This could be a good proposition for the guild as well. Publicly, we’ll be operating as the Union’s ‘Asian Branch.’”

“Why are you trying to recruit me?”

“Because I can trust you. Yes, I can trust you.”

“Is that all?”

Of course not.

“I need a name.”

Famous people attract others.

“Then it’s even more reason not to choose me.”

Danny found it hard to understand Henri’s words.

“I meant something else. You should have talked to Binnie first.”

“Binnie? Ah, the Korea Monster? Of course, he’s a target for recruitment too.”

From the beginning, he had planned to join hands with both Henri and the Korea Monster.

“Binnie will soon become the center of the world.”

“?”

Danny smiled at Henri’s words. But Henri didn’t seem to be joking.

“So, you’re saying that kid is going to become a big name like Big Man or Brown Bear?”

Just one year.

In that time, the Korea Monster’s performance had been nothing short of dazzling.

But to say he would stand tall as the center of the world was a bit hard to accept.

“There was a time I fought Binnie with my life on the line.”

“Fought? With him?”

Sparring was one thing. But to fight with his life on the line…

This was the first time Danny had heard of it.

He had never heard such a story.

Of course, the circumstances of how the two became close were also unclear.

“I risked my life and managed to land just one hit.”

“One hit?”

Danny wasn’t sure whether to laugh or take it seriously. But Henri was more serious than ever.

“I don’t know for sure, but he’s probably stronger than Big Man and Brown Bear even now.”

“He’s that good?”

He had seen him beat Ralph to a pulp at the restaurant.

He had certainly thought he was incredibly strong for a hunter who had only been active for a year.

More importantly, Henri was not one to talk nonsense.

“Above all, he’s a friend you can trust more than anyone. He may be young, but he has great character.”

At Henri’s words, Danny smiled.

“Why? You don’t believe me?”

“No, that’s not what I meant. You’ve really fallen for that kid, haven’t you?”

“You will too.”

Henri’s words gave Danny a sense of conviction.

If this friend said so, then it must be true.

Besides, the Korea Monster was his number one recruitment target anyway.

“He’s on his way now, so you can talk to him.”

“He’s coming? Good. I can finally talk to him without any interruptions.”

He was finding it difficult to stay in Korea anyway, so this was perfect.

So there was a reason they had eaten street food at the market and then came to a VIP-only cafe for dessert.

Danny looked out the window at the approaching Korea Monster.

Still a well-trained, solid body.

His walk was powerful, brimming with confidence.

“Hero-niiiiiiiiim~!”

“…!”

Danny saw something rushing toward the Korea Monster from the opposite direction.

“An elf?”

A resident of another world was here in the modern era. Pointed ears, and a nature-attuned mana enveloping her body.

“Unbelievable…”

Sexy, broad trapezius muscles.

Well-trained arms reminiscent of lobster claws and legs like the treads of a tank seemed ready to burst through her suit.

“To think such a beautiful woman exists in this world…!”

Danny muttered, spilling the coffee he was drinking back into the cup.

Elves were originally a beautiful race. A symbol of beauty.

But he had never seen a muscle-bound elf who had trained her body like that.

She charged towards the Korea Monster.

The Korea Monster saw her and slowly got into a stance.

“…!”

The Korea Monster snatched the elf’s arm and threw her over his shoulder.

*Thud!*

The elf was slammed into the ground.

The Korea Monster coolly threw the beautiful woman and entered the cafe.

“…”

Danny watched as the elf nonchalantly got back to her feet.

Love at first sight—this must be what it felt like.

At that moment, Danny saw a shadow fall over him.

There stood the Korea Monster, Hyunbin.

“The Asian Branch Director?”

“We meet again sooner than I expected, Korea Monster.”

Facing Hyunbin, Danny composed his flustered heart and put a smile on his lips.

“I came because I have something to discuss with you.”

***

I had a rough idea of what was coming.

“To be honest, I wasn’t planning on bringing this up. But a recommendation from Henri is trustworthy.”

The Arbiter, who had chosen neither Big Man’s nor Brown Bear’s faction, was trying to forge his own path.

“I want you to join me. What do you say? If you’re willing…”

And I had already made a decision about this.

“No thanks. Oh, I’ll have a protein shake.”

“Yes, I thought you’d say that…”

I enjoyed watching the Arbiter’s face stiffen as I ordered my drink from the staff.

“I think I must have misheard you…”

“I said no thanks.”

Was my answer that unexpected?

Or was he shocked that a hunter of only one year had rejected the offer of a global ranker like himself?

“May I ask why?”

Whether it was because of Henri next to him or for his own pride, the Arbiter asked calmly.

But his lips remained tight.

“What’s the merit in it for me?”

“Merit? I’m disappointed. I thought I explained it clearly enough.”

The Arbiter said reproachfully. I couldn’t help but laugh.

“A grand cause, justice. Isn’t that just self-satisfaction? Let me ask you. Should someone burning with company loyalty work without pay, without a salary? Is that the grand cause you’re talking about?”

Danny’s eyebrows furrowed.

“Even college students do volunteer work for credits. There’s no such thing as being justified in making unconditional sacrifices just because it’s a good deed. Besides, how big is your faction?”

“You must have met some of my friends before.”

“Are all the global hunters in the Asian branch part of your faction?”

Danny answered my question immediately.

“No, only about half of them. For now.”

“Then there’s nothing to talk about.”

If he was about to lose his own backyard, it was pointless anyway.

“If Henri joins, and you join… ten years. Ten years is all it will take. At least, things will be very different from the Union of today.”

Ten years is too long.

“This time, Ralph and Bob brought their gang to Korea. They were after you.”

Danny said, his eyes serious.

“That’s their way. If you differ even slightly from their will, they try to take everything by force. The Union is no longer an organization that upholds justice. For its own ambitions, it targets the entire world…”

“One year.”

Danny tilted his head and gave an awkward laugh.

“What was that?”

“I said I can do it in one year.”

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

I gave him a smile.

“I can wipe out the Union in one year.”

Does he have wax in his ears? He’s not getting it.

The Arbiter’s expression turned strange.

The face of a man who came looking for talent but found a madman instead.

The Arbiter glanced over at Henri-hyung.

Henri-hyung grinned, showing his pearly whites.

Danny scratched his forehead. And just as he was about to open his mouth again.

“And that includes your faction, of course.”

At my words, a hint of anger flickered across the Arbiter’s face.

Finally, an expression I liked.

“Alright, I’ve heard you. My, I must have been getting impatient. One year. I like the passion. I like that sort of thing too. That youthful bravado. It’s a very good thing. The feeling that you can do anything, that anything is possible if you just put your mind to it. Of course, I had times like that too.”

The Arbiter shrugged his shoulders exaggeratedly.

“I didn’t realize the friend I came to see today was a dreamer. Could you tell me what kind of dream you had?”

The Arbiter was being derisive.

He doesn’t get something so simple.

“It’s easy. That Big Man guy, or whatever. All I have to do is take him down, right? When the king falls, the guys beneath him will naturally fracture on their own.”

This time, that guy sent people after me. That means he gave me a justification.

“Fantastic! Hahaha, are you hearing this, Henri?”

The Arbiter crossed his legs and sought his friend’s agreement.

But the answer he got was different from what he expected.

“It really is simple.”

“…”

I continued speaking.

“There’s another way, too. Do what the other Union branches couldn’t. For example, taking down the 6-star monster in France.”

A change came over Henri-hyung’s face.

I knew that he was constantly worried about his home country.

From what I heard, ever since the last unprecedented Gate, a war that staked the nation’s fate had been repeating in France.

“Simple, right?”

I smiled as I drank the protein shake that had just arrived.

“Can I test it?”

The Arbiter continued gravely, as if he had made a decision.

“The source of that confidence.”

Of course.

I wanted to run a test myself.