Chapter 53: Chapter 53

Kang Jin-hyuk’s determination ignited as he prepared for another challenge, immediately pulling a return scroll from his inventory.

Lucia recognized the item and felt deflated.

“What? Aren’t you going to challenge them with a better level up?”

“Right now, supply is more important than boosting my specs.”

The gap between him and his opponents was so large that catching up in a day was impossible.

Kang Jin-hyuk planned to counter the level difference with better items.

“Specifically, what do you plan to prepare?”

“The potions I have now are too pathetic. I need to drink one that fills my MP completely.”

It was like replacing regular potions with high-grade ones in a game.

With numerous funds piled up in his bank from hunting monsters, he could afford such luxuries.

Moreover, he couldn’t move to a better house since there was a dungeon in the attic, and without a license, he couldn’t even drive.

Kang Jin-hyuk seldom had the chance to spend money on anything besides these essentials.

“Then I’m off.”

As Lucia waved him off lightly, Kang Jin-hyuk tore the scroll and returned home.

It had only been about a day since he entered the dungeon, yet it felt like a long-awaited return to his home.

Kang Jin-hyuk promptly took out his phone and searched for Lee Jun-cheol’s number.

Purchasing potions through the association was cheaper, but there was a limit to how many each person could buy.

The association’s policy was to supply potions equally to hunters because they were as critical as life itself.

“It’s strange how they let guild monopolies slide while vigilantly overseeing this.”

With a grumble, Kang Jin-hyuk pressed the call button.

The potions supplied on the black market, crafted from the corpses of unsanctioned monsters, were more than five times the usual price.

Yet, the upper hand was that individuals could procure as many as they wanted, making it indispensable to an MP-draining individual like Kang Jin-hyuk.

It couldn’t be helped even if it was illegal.

The association wouldn’t take personal circumstances into account.

Those in need had to dig their own wells.

“Ah, hello? Are you busy right now?”

Lee Jun-cheol answered the call with eagerness.

When a top customer reached out, even in the middle of a pivotal deal, he needed to respond promptly.

While having a late meal, Lee Jun-cheol set down his chopsticks to concentrate on the call with Kang Jin-hyuk.

“I need some items.”

“I’d like to order 50 of the MP potions and stamina potions we’ve been buying. But they need to be two tiers higher.”

“Not at all, just have a personal need for them.”

Lee Jun-cheol sighed deeply as he stepped away from the phone.

While it was possible to procure them, gathering such a significant quantity without it reaching other organizations could lead to headaches.

“As soon as possible. Today would be even better.”

After hearing that, Lee Jun-cheol dropped the receiver again.

‘To muster 50 high-grade potions in such short notice…’

It wouldn’t be feasible to distribute them gradually due to the rarity of the items, necessitating lots of hustling to gather supplies from everywhere.

Is this the right course of action? Is money truly that crucial?

Amidst his worries, Kang Jin-hyuk made a proposition.

“If you deliver them today, I’ll double the payment.”

There was far too much money at stake to worry about the organization’s future.

Missing such a deal would be foolish.

Once the call ended, Lee Jun-cheol quickly sent his subordinates to gather the potions.

“Alright, I’ve secured the potions. Now, I just need the scrolls.”

The only option for scrolls was to use the association.

These scrolls were created for anyone to use by capturing skills, and only a few certified hunters within the association could craft them.

If anyone could create and sell them freely, they could be used for malicious purposes, so the association imposed strict bans on it.

Being caught illegally dealing with scrolls would lead to at least 15 years of prison time and could even result in death penalty.

Though South Korea has effectively abolished the death penalty, no one desired to live their lives trembling in prison.

There was a vastly different level of risk when compared to drug dealing, and no organization dared to touch scrolls.

“I’ve already bought a bunch of explosion scrolls and left my mark; if I buy more, they’ll surely get suspicious…”

Upon contemplation, it felt like an act that would draw attention.

“I’ve no other choice. I’ll have to look for something else besides explosion scrolls.”

He had to find a certified store run by the association, so Kang Jin-hyuk hastily prepared to go out.

After changing out of his blood-soaked clothes from the hunt, he opened the door and stepped outside.

Thud!

As he opened the door, a black object fell onto the entrance.

Kang Jin-hyuk felt irritated at how often surprises had been ambushing him lately.

“What now?”

Even after exiting the dungeon, surprises waited around the corner.

Grumbling about the disturbances, he looked down at the black object on the ground, and his eyes widened in shock.

“What are you doing here?”

The black object was none other than Seo Sang-ho, the guild leader of Titan.

He looked as though he had fought 17 to 1, his body riddled with wounds.

Blood gushed from him with such force that, without stopping, he surely faced death from excessive bleeding.

“Sa-salvation p-please…”

“Who are you begging to save?! You’ve got the wrong address!”

It made no sense for an S-rank hunter to seek help at a C-rank hunter’s place.

Kang Jin-hyuk found it so ludicrous he couldn’t even chuckle.

“Get to a hospital. Don’t do that here!”

“H-hospital… Titan… betrayal…”

Only managing to get out a few words, Seo Sang-ho dropped his head and lost consciousness.

“This isn’t some quiz show! If you want to say something, say it clearly!”

Spitting out a few keywords and passing out was incredibly annoying.

Kang Jin-hyuk was forced to deduce the current situation.

“Geez.”

No matter what was happening, he couldn’t just ignore someone dying in front of him.

Kang Jin-hyuk opened his inventory and poured every health potion he had over Seo Sang-ho.

Gradually, his wounds began to heal as if he were showered in a red liquid.

Still, Seo Sang-ho showed no signs of regaining consciousness.

“Shouldn’t I take him somewhere instead of hanging around here?”

Seeing that the Titan guild leader was in such a severe condition, the first thought that came to mind was the Titan guild’s contact number.

But with his phone in hand, Kang Jin-hyuk hesitated to hit the call button.

Seo Sang-ho’s last words had mentioned betrayal.

“Is there infighting going on?”

It didn’t seem sensible for the Titan guild to betray an S-rank leader.

However, if that were true, the implication of revealing Seo Sang-ho’s whereabouts could backfire.

“I need some time to think.”

Taking stock of the situation, he reluctantly dragged Seo Sang-ho inside and opened the attic door.

Kang Jin-hyuk inhaled deeply before shouting with all his might.

“Dwarf! Please take care of this man!”

His voice echoed throughout the maze loud enough to reach the ears of the dwarf in the dungeon.

In response, faintly angry murmurs arose from far away.

Kang Jin-hyuk believed that despite the grumbling, the dwarf would assist him and went back into the attic.

Just as he shut the attic door behind him and stepped into the living room, Titan’s hunters stormed in through the entrance.

Seeing them, Kang Jin-hyuk stepped back, pretending to be surprised.

“Whoa! What brings you here?”

“Stop pretending. We know Seo Sang-ho came here.”

The hunter, bearing the emblem of Titan on his shoulder, did not use Seo Sang-ho’s title but called him by name instead.

Kang Jin-hyuk gleaned the implications of their behavior.

Thinking back to the times Seo Sang-ho had looked out for him, he decided to help him.

“Sure, he did come by, but he left in a hurry.”

Since there were bloodstains on the entrance, he couldn’t lie entirely.

To mislead them, he added a bit of truth.

“What about the potions scattered over there?”

“If a wounded person asks for potions, they should be given, don’t you think?”

“That doesn’t really fit your honorable image…”

Recognizing the flaws in his own reasoning, the Titan hunter’s expression darkened.

“Are you feeling brave? We could search here if needed.”

“Why would that be a logical course? Are you detectives now?”

Not flinching a bit, Kang Jin-hyuk faced off against the three hunters.

They found it ridiculous that he stood in their way and it showed on their faces.

“If you don’t want to take a beating, move aside.”

“That’s my line.”

With that, the hunter stepped forward and threw a punch at Kang Jin-hyuk.

But surprisingly, the punch came from the hunter’s side, smashing into his own face instead.

“Ugh!”

The Titan hunter stuck nearer to Kamg Jin-hyuk noticed too late the weakness in their technique and crumpled down, gripping his now-broken nose.

Kang Jin-hyuk merely glanced at him with contempt as he felt the fear simmer in the remaining two hunters.

“What was I doing? I’m simply defending my home here.”

“What are you doing to us?! You’re putting Titan at risk! Are you out of your mind?”

“Does the risk you take matter against invading someone else’s home?”

Expanding his aura, Kang Jin-hyuk glared fiercely at the remaining two hunters.

“Why are you threatening a guest who stepped into my house?”

Bracing themselves, they reached for their weapons, realizing that formidable power was now wielded against them.

Kang Jin-hyuk’s baseball bat felt heavy in his hands.

“Think wisely before you act. If any harm befalls my home, all of you will perish.”

Creaking as iron began to warp, an ominous rustling filled the air.

The Titans’ hunters exchanged worried glances before they lowered their weapons.

Tension hung thick in the air as Kang Jin-hyuk stood strong against them.

“Let me ask you again. Why are you here?”

“You’re looking for Seo Sang-ho?”

Without a reply coming back to him, Kang Jin-hyuk sighed, stepping inside.

“Unless you have serious business, I advise you leave this place.”

This wasn’t leading anywhere, and if they continued, things might go sideways.

One of the remaining hunters opened his mouth again, but this time, it wasn’t to threaten but to plea,

“Listen! You have to trust us…”

But their words were drowned out by Kang Jin-hyuk’s hardened resolve.

“Leave.”

The remaining two walked backward, nodding.

“We’ll go for now, but don’t think this is over!”

“You can think what you want, but it ends here.”

As they left, an aura danced around Kang Jin-hyuk, illuminating the room with unreal energy and filling the air with dread.

“This could lead to problems once more.”

Nevertheless, he felt prepared for anything that might ensue now or later.

“Guess security is tighter around here now.”

While he worried about Seo Sang-ho’s life, he couldn’t relax yet.

Kang Jin-hyuk leaned back against the doorframe, contemplating his next move.