Chapter 130

Chapter 130

[Translator – Peptobismol]

Chapter 130

The Ear Collector—that was the nickname the man was known by among the scavengers.

Scavengers never reveal personal information such as their real names or professions.

They know well that the moment their information is leaked, their life is over.

Scavengers operating within Neo Seoul are different from those in the desert.

In their daily lives, they thoroughly hide their desires and live like normal people.

It’s a necessary choice because Neo Seoul is a city where many Awakeneds exist, not just them.

Once it’s revealed that they are scavengers, their situation changes, and they become prey for other Awakeneds.

Thus, scavengers, including the Ear Collector, lived parasitically in Neo Seoul, hiding their identities thoroughly.

The scavengers who lived in Neo Seoul while concealing their identities formed their own network.

This was called the Black Network.

Through the Black Network, scavengers shared information and hideouts with each other.

The underground space where the Ear Collector was now was one such hideout.

Nest 7.

That was the name of this hideout. It implied that there were at least six other similar hideouts.

Nest 7 was a very important hideout.

Its existence allowed them to hunt humans in the slums with peace of mind.

No one ever imagined that a scavenger’s nest could exist in Dongdaemun, the territory of the fanatics.

Even Johan, the ruler of Dongdaemun, didn’t know about it.

Thus, the scavengers, including the Ear Collector, used Nest 7 conveniently.

Currently, about a dozen scavengers were resting in Nest 7.

The scavengers who met here exchanged information while thoroughly hiding their identities.

The Ear Collector had just returned from a human hunt and was resting in Nest 7 when he discovered the intruders.

Bzzz!

He thrust his electric shock rod towards Zeon’s face.

“I’ll ask you one last time. How did you get in here?”

“We opened the door and came in.”

“Don’t talk nonsense. You’re saying you opened a door that had a perception-blocking spell and a special lock? Do you think I’m an idiot?”

“It’s true, but you don’t believe it.”

Zeon clicked his tongue.

If it weren’t for Brielle, Zeon wouldn’t have found the scavengers’ nest so easily.

So it was natural that they wouldn’t believe him.

“Some people only understand after experiencing hell.”

The Ear Collector smirked and pressed the electric shock rod against Zeon’s face.

Bzzz!

Blue sparks flew as Zeon’s body convulsed.

“Heh! Bastard, you should have just spoken up.”

The Ear Collector laughed, watching Zeon convulse violently.

He naturally expected Brielle, who was also caught in the net, to be crying with tears and snot, but Brielle was just staring blankly at the Ear Collector.

The Ear Collector muttered.

“What’s with this girl? Is she dumb?”

“You’re the dumb one. Do you think Zeon would be shocked by something like that?”

“What?”

Finally realizing something was wrong, the Ear Collector looked at Zeon.

He didn’t know when, but Zeon had stopped convulsing.

Behind the flickering blue currents, Zeon’s face was calm and composed.

The Ear Collector instinctively realized something was wrong.

“Shit!”

Slash!

The net that had been tightening around Zeon and Brielle was torn like a piece of paper, and a gauntleted hand shot out.

Grab!

“Guh!”

Zeon’s hand grabbed the Ear Collector’s neck.

It all happened before the Ear Collector could react. Zeon’s movements outpaced the Ear Collector’s reactions.

But the Ear Collector didn’t go down without a fight.

He abandoned the now useless electric rod, drew the machete from his waist, and stabbed at Zeon’s abdomen.

Zeon twisted slightly to avoid the blade and slammed the Ear Collector’s body into the ground.

Bang!

“Gah!”

The Ear Collector let out a short scream at the immense impact on his back. The force was enough to incapacitate an average person instantly.

But the Ear Collector was a D-rank Martial Artist Awakened.

He had a sturdy body and excellent physical abilities.

He wasn’t weak enough to be subdued by this level of impact.

The Ear Collector tried to jump back up and counterattack. But his body wouldn’t follow his will.

Zeon’s knee was pressing down on his chest.

An enormous pressure pinned the Ear Collector down.

“This is why you shouldn’t trust the rootless.”

The scavengers laughed and jeered at the burning body of the Ear Collector.

An alarm spell, unnoticed by Zeon and Briellele, had been installed in the corridor.

The moment they intruded, the alarm sounded, and the scavengers came rushing in.

Scratching his head, Zeon said.

“This was quite a crucial moment, but you guys messed it up.”

“Haha! How to receive a biometric code? Even that bastard doesn’t know that.”

“Why?”

“Because the memory of receiving the biometric code is erased. Me, him, everyone. All memories remain intact except for when the biometric code is received. So it’s useless. Haha!”

The lead scavenger laughed, revealing yellowed teeth.

The others agreed.

“Haha! Our world isn’t that shabby. Kid!”

“Oh, looks like a pretty kid is here.”

“I’ll be first.”

“Don’t be ridiculous! Bastard. I’m first.”

The scavengers erupted into chaos as they argued upon seeing Briellele.

“Subhuman.”

Briellele made a disgusted expression.

Having suffered at the hands of human hunters, she detested these kinds of humans more than anyone.

“Die, all of you!”

Briellele unleashed her magic with a scream.

Splat!

Dozens of air arrows flew towards the scavengers.

“Oh! Quite a cute attack.”

“Useless.”

The scavengers deployed defense skills to block her attack.

Their clothes and armor were all items of protection or looted from other Awakeneds.

Naturally, they were exceptionally powerful.

With her still-developing elven magic, Briellele found it difficult to inflict damage.

The scavengers immediately counterattacked.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Weapons from Martial Artist Awakened and skills from Magic Awakened filled the corridor.

“Shit!”

Briellele’s eyes widened.

Her response to the enemies’ attack was simple.

To hide behind Zeon.

With a baffled expression, Zeon swung his fist. In response, dozens of flame arrows poured forth toward the front.

It was Fire Arrow from the Inferno Gauntlet.

Bang! Bang!

Dozens of Fire Arrows clashed with the incoming attack skills, exploding.

“Urgh!”

“Ugh!”

The scavengers screamed.

They were thrown back by the explosion.

At that moment, Zeon moved.

Wham!

He pushed off the ground and launched himself at the scavengers.

In an instant, Zeon reached the scavengers and swung his fist.

His punch struck the scavengers hard.

Crack!

It was as if a storm had swept through.

The scavengers didn’t even have time to react before being hit by Zeon’s fist.

Their armor was useless against Zeon’s attacks.

Shields shattered, and armor made of special materials broke like glass.

In the face of the tidal wave that was Zeon, the scavengers couldn’t even scream and were swept away.

A moment later, the scene revealed was horrifying.

The scavengers lay on the ground, their limbs twisted grotesquely or bearing severe wounds.

“Damn!”

“Urgh!”

The scavengers’ desperate screams echoed through the corridor.

Zeon looked at the scavenger lying in front of him and locked eyes with him, saying.

“I think we’re ready to have a conversation now. Right?”

“Damn it!”

The scavenger groaned instead of answering.

Nodding, Zeon said.

“I knew it would be like this.”

[Translator – Peptobismol]