Ranker's Return

Chapter 716

“Argon!” Viscount Garcia responded to Hyeonu’s joke with a thunderous roar.

“What is it? I really didn’t know? How could I know that Baler would come and make a mess?”

Hyeonu maintained a natural virtuous appearance and ignored Viscount Garcia’s yelling like it was a dog barking.

“You didn’t know? You really didn’t know? Once he heard that you and John had gone out together, I heard him say that you had broken your promise?”

At Viscount Garcia’s words, Hyeonu had no choice but to keep his mouth shut.

‘That demon king is so loose-lipped...’

“It is all because of Baler that Blanc is like this.”

Hyeonu started playing politics lightly. He pushed all the problems to Baler, who wasn’t here. The cause was that he took John Blake to the emperor.

“In the end, that is how it is. It is right that Baler crushed the city.”

Viscount Garcia responded by sending Hyeonu a powerful glance. Many meanings were omitted from his words.

“What about Baler? Did he say anything else after smashing Blanc?”

Hyeonu lightly ignored Viscount Garcia’s eyes. In any case, Viscount Garcia wouldn’t harm Hyeonu. He was a demon without the ability to do so.

“He said he is going to kill you.” Viscount Garcia raised his right hand and extended his index finger to Hyeonu.

“Me?” Hyeonu burst out laughing after hearing Viscount Garcia’s words.

“I don’t know if it will be my grave... in any case, work hard. This is a city that will soon become yours anyway.”

Hyeonu soon stopped laughing and waved to Viscount Garcia.

“Do you mean those words?” Viscount Garcia’s expression changed rapidly. His eyes were filled with eagerness and desire. The thing he only imagined actually popped out of Hyeonu’s mouth.

“It is his will. So don’t be dissatisfied and work hard to govern the city. It is yours, not anyone else’s.”

Then Hyeonu pulled out the return stone with Alfore as the destination from his inventory.

“Return.”

Hyeonu’s figure disappeared from Viscount Garcia’s sight.

***

Back in Alfore, Hyeonu headed straight to the building containing New World.

‘I have to take care of Hyung-nim.’

The reason for going to New World first instead of the emperor was simple. Hyeonu’s information was more necessary for New World than the emperor. It didn’t matter to the emperor if the army of the demon world, including Baler, came three days later or four days later.

Meanwhile, it was different for New World. If Hyeonu informed them even a minute earlier, it could have a small but significant impact on the battle that would take place a few days later.

Hyeonu strongly pushed through the door of the building that New World was using as a temporary base.

“Hyung-nim!” Hyeonu called out to Kim Seokjung, who was lying on the couch and muttering something.

“Brother? Why has our brother already returned after leaving?”

Kim Seokjung wasn’t surprised to see Hyeonu, who came without notice, and greeted him with a smile like it was natural.

“I brought some good information.”

Hyeonu calmly released the information he had learned to Kim Seokjung.

“I think they will arrive in four days to a week.”

“Is that so? There isn’t much time left to be stuck here.”

“Considering the amount of potions accumulated, I think we can extend the hunting time from today.”

“What nonsense about increasing are you saying? Even now, we are hunting without a break. It is due to the potions you sell us.”

Kim Seokjung sniffed at Hyeonu’s remark that they could increase their hunting time. New World was already hunting to the maximum extent of individual competence. They were no longer able to hunt because fatigue was piling up, not because of a lack of potions.

“Honestly, it is a long hunt for us. Look at the other guilds. It is over after an hour or two, over.”

It was as Kim Seokjung said. The hunting time for other guilds except New World wasn’t very long. Even with potions in place, they couldn’t sustain the fatigue that built up every time they hunted.

“Indeed... Alfore’s difficulty is very high right now.”

Currently, there were groups of demons and demonic creatures near Alfore. If the lowest grade was included, there were at least 20 in a group. Even if this wasn’t the case, there were more than 10 of them flocking. They had to do their best in every single battle to finish the hunt without any damage. Thus, it wasn’t possible to continue hunting for a long time. Rankers were also people. However, New World was able to gain an overwhelming advantage thanks to the numerous monks and priests. This allowed for a very comfortable hunt.

Kim Seokjung smiled insidiously. “Still, now I have a reason to squeeze them a bit more. They always say it is hard every day, but...”

“Don’t be too hard on them. They aren’t all like you.”

Hyeonu smiled at Kim Seokjung’s words. He never stopped Kim Seokjung. It was because it wasn’t his job.

‘It is good to have a long time to hunt.’

“Then I am going to the emperor now. Don’t be surprised if you receive a summons or quest right away.” Hyeonu turned around and headed outside the building.

“Yes, I understand. Go ahead.” Kim Seokjung sent Hyeonu off by waving his hand.

***

After the brief meeting with Kim Seokjung, Hyeonu moved to the palace of Alfore, which contained the emperor.

“Your Majesty, Marquis Gang Hyeonu has come. Can I go in?”

Hyeonu stopped before entering the room where the emperor was located.

“Come in.” The emperor’s drowsy voice was heard from beyond the door.

Hyeonu carefully opened the door and entered the emperor’s space. Hyeonu looked at the emperor’s face first.

‘His face doesn’t look bad.’

The emperor’s expression wasn’t different from usual. No, it looked a bit better than before. His eyes were slightly drooping and he didn’t look annoyed.

‘Let’s get straight to the point.’

“Your Majesty, I have found the location of the demon world army.”

Hyeonu started to release all the information he had found through several days of hard work.

“How long will it take?” the emperor gave a short response. It was hard for anyone to understand if they were talking to the emperor for the first time. However, Hyeonu read all the meanings contained in the emperor’s words.

“It is four days if quick, and one week if they are slow.”

“One week if they are slow... that will be the day I return to the empire.”

The emperor sighed with regret. For him, the coming of the demon world army didn’t pose any problems. It was the return that followed that was the problem.

The emperor’s gaze shifted from empty air toward Hyeonu. He looked like he wanted something.

“I haven’t seen the demon king in person, but I have confirmed that there is a demon with comparable magic power,” Hyeonu mentioned what the emperor most wanted to know.

“And?” the emperor’s response was sullen. It was because this wasn’t what he expected.

Hyeonu quickly continued to speak after confirming the emperor’s tone, “Baler has confirmed the absence of Duke Blake. He knows that Duke Blake moved with me, so Baler will definitely come to Alfore.”

The emperor showed interest this time.

“If he comes, he won’t come alone. He doesn’t look like an idiot.”

The emperor smiled at Hyeonu’s words. If Baler came, then the rest of the demon kings would come.

“I think that is highly likely, Your Majesty. Baler will do anything for his own purposes... he won’t take reckless gambles.”

Hyeonu’s thoughts were similar to that of the emperor. Baler had endured for many years, putting up with the containment of the other demon kings while having the goal of becoming the only demon king in the demon world. He had deep thoughts. Such a Baler would never come alone to face John Blake and the emperor.

“If it is like your words... this is really going to be the last week.”

Hyeonu realized from the emperor’s words that his initial words were false.

‘He has no intention of going back to the middle world until he kills all the demon kings.’

“Your Majesty, will you share this news with the adventurers?” Hyeonu asked the emperor. It would soon become a quest if the emperor told the players about the news.

‘Maybe it will be the end of this main scenario.’

No, there was a high probability it would be so. If all the demon kings died...

There was nothing particular to be considered as the main scenario in the demon world.

“I will tell the adventurers. Get ready for the real end.”

The emperor nodded. Then a message window appeared in front of Hyeonu.

[A quest has been created.]

[End of the Demon World Invasion]

[Help the emperor and let’s see the end of the demon world invasion.

Rating: MS

Conditions: Death of the demon kings 0/3, annihilation of the demon world army 0/1.

Rewards: Experience, imperial contribution, promotion permit.]

‘Promotion permit?’

Hyeonu’s eyes widened when he saw the promotion permit in the rewards column. It was an unexpected big reward.

‘The lights will turn on in their eyes.’

In particular, the large guilds who just came to Alfore would risk their lives even more. The old people still needed new copies.

“The territory of the empire will extend all the way to Alfore. This means that there will be no masters for the rest of the cities, except for Etono, which is ruled by you, Marquis. I will use this time to appoint the masters of the cities.”

The emperor’s reward wasn’t just the promotion permit. He was thinking of handing out the cities they occupied to the rankers.

‘It doesn’t matter.’

Hyeonu had no complaints. In any case, the cities were just a facade. Gold would be earned, but that was it. The real things about the demon world cities couldn’t be obtained by anyone.

‘I have all the rings.’

Hyeonu smiled like he could see it.

The emperor asked Hyeonu, “Marquis, do you have any complaints?”

“There is no such thing. What I have already received is enough. Additionally... I will be given the right to enter the imperial library when I go back. That is enough for me.”

Hyeonu had already received everything he needed without the emperor knowing.

“Yes, there was the imperial library. Then you go back first. I’m a bit sleepy,” the emperor waved his hand and told Hyeonu to go out.

“Then I’ll be going, Your Majesty,” Hyeonu politely said goodbye to the emperor and left the building.

***

This winter, Korea’s Arena pro scene was hot. Originally, players were often recruited or announced when the league ended. Yet this winter, JT Telecom auditioned for a player to replace Jung Hanbaek, while Crescent Moon recruited a large number of players. The other teams also lost one or two power players, so they were trying to gain players. Therefore, the price of players jumped higher than ever before.

Han Jaeyeol, who became a player rather than a streamer of Crescent Moon, appeared at the cafe near his accommodations.

“Jaeyeol, over here.” A man waved toward Han Jaeyeol as he entered the cafe.

“Jinyong hyung.” Han Jaeyeol approached Kim Jinyong, the man who waved at him.

“Have you been well?”

“Yes, I’ve been well. Hyung?”

“Me too. I’ve been doing well...” Kim Jinyong replied with a smile.

‘How could he be doing well?’

Han Jaeyeol quickly regretted his question. He knew better than anyone that Kim Jinyong couldn’t be doing well.

A miserable performance at Arena Week. Then there was the incident not long after what was now called Jung Hanbaek Gate. It was impossible for him to be fine.

“Why did you call me? People don’t buy food if they don’t have something, and you are even buying coffee.”

Despite Han Jaeyeol’s words, Kim Jinyong shut his mouth and didn’t say anything. It wasn’t until some time later that he barely managed to move his lips. “Hanyeol, why don’t you join our team?”

This was the reason why Kim Jinyong came to Han Jaeyeol. He meant to take the person who was a streamer of Crescent Moon to join JT Telecom.

“I’m sorry, Hyung. I can’t do that.” Han Jaeyeol expressed a firm rejection that was unlike his expression of regret toward Kim Jinyong. “I belong to Crescent Moon.”