Chapter 13: Club Hades (2)

Chapter 13: Club Hades (2)

If Blue Moon had run the establishment, such a tragedy would not have occurred.

But Eclipse, with In-su, had transformed their own establishment into a massive human trafficking site.

They must have carried out a long-term preliminary investigation,

realizing that the hunters who visited were quite a profitable target.

Huaat!

In the meantime, a hunter charged at Kang-hoo from behind, the Eclipse insignia on his sleeve visible.

His reckless charge with an axe suggested he was not skilled.

Swoosh! Thud!

Ugh!

The situation was quickly resolved.

Kang-hoo had disappeared from the hunters front and moved sideways, reappearing behind him to stab him in the nape.

When I see you guys, I think this: Are the higher-ups intentionally reducing their numbers to increase their profits?

Without a chance to react, Kang-hoo kicked the body of the hunter, whose breath had just been cut off.

The hunter, already having crossed the Jordan River, fell forward like a stalk of straw.

It made him realize anew

how dangerous the world he lived in was.

There was no opportunity to comfortably enjoy a cocktail.

Meanwhile,

Yun Sang-mi, having spotted Kang-hoo, quickly grabbed her greatsword and followed him from the side.

Her expression showed disappointment, as if she had been having fun and didnt want it to end.

Seems like the liquor in Seoul is the best, after all.

I agree with that,

Kang-hoo nodded.

Liquor that you risk your life for isnt liquor; its poison.

He understood that this club, crowded with hunters, was not a safe haven but rather a giant fishing spot.

Lets go.

Taking the emergency exit seems better.

I agree. The main route is probably blocked, triple or quadruple layers deep.

Yeah.

They might have even arranged a car to capture us and send us straight to the detention center.

Right then,

an announcement flowed through the club.

[Dear guests, it appears someone from the Black Lion has infiltrated our club to cause disruption.]

[Here at Eclipse, we aim to swiftly suppress internal dissent and restore order...]

Theyre talking nonsense!

Crack!

A chair thrown by one of the hunters struck the large speaker, instantly rendering it inoperable.

Who could believe them when Eclipse hunters were capturing other hunters right in front of their eyes?

Cover the rear.

What about Sun-kyu?

With the narrow stairway structure, its difficult for a greatsword. Its better if I take the front.

Got it! Are we forming a mixed team?

Think of it as a short-term business.

Right then.

Bang!

The sound of the emergency exit door on the second basement floor opening was heard.

Before identifying who it was, Kang-hoo first threw the dagger he was holding.

Thanks to the Morlis Maniche gloves, he could retrieve the dagger within five meters, so there was no worry.

Thud!

Ugh

Exactly when the door opened and the opponent poked their head out, the thrown dagger pierced right through their abdomen.

Looking over to the arm, the Eclipse insignia on the sleeve was clearly visible.

Yun Sang-mi, who was watching the situation from behind, asked,

Whats that?

The last one who ran away. I swung the dagger and unintentionally got it when his finger got cut off.

Yun Sang-mi pointed at the ring dripping with blood, now worn on Kang-hoos little finger.

On the ground lay a finger, belonging to someone other than Kang-hoo, discarded like a half-eaten sausage.

You saw something good today. Honestly, I think you have a reason to be a solo mercenary, right?

Yun Sang-mi gave Kang-hoo a thumbs-up.

Perhaps due to his class characteristics, all the hunters who faced Kang-hoo were completely crushed from the start.

Kang-hoo was the very embodiment of the saying, The one who strikes first wins.

What level are you? From what I saw, you must be over 100. You have a Constellation too, right?

Kang-hoo remained silent.

At times like this, its better to let them imagine rather than give concrete information.

Theres no need to correct them; let good misconceptions be.

I just want to sleep.

He felt the onset of mana hypersensitivity throbbing in his forehead.

He regretted not being able to finish the Solakium Burst due to the sudden appearance of the Eclipse guys.

He had spent hundreds of thousands of won for a drink, only for it to end up as waste without even a sip.

Want to have a drink in my room?

No. I have an appointment with Lee Ye-rin at 9 AM. If you want to meet, be at Daejeon Station by 8:30 AM.

Where are you heading now?

Looking for a place to catch some sleep. Its better we dont know each others whereabouts, so lets rest separately.

Kang-hoo turned away, casually waving his right hand as he distanced himself from her.

He planned to sell all the items he had postponed dealing with when he met Lee Ye-rin in the morning and convert them into cash.

Part of it seemed necessary to be spent on Solakium.

That dawn.

Kang-hoo relieved his overexerted body from the battle at Club Hades with a cold shower.

Thanks to choosing an expensive motel, the water pressure was good, and more importantly, the bathtub was large.

He had been trying to find alternative means to reduce his excessive dependence on Solakium.

Damn it

Perhaps because he overexerted his mana at the end of the battle, his body started acting up.

Rushing to the bathroom, Kang-hoo turned on the shower and thrust his head under it.

Since he wasnt wearing anything to begin with, there was nothing to hinder him.

This is going to be a problem.

His frown didnt ease. The weakness he exchanged for his great talent was a problem, especially because it was vulnerable to exploitation.

[Ever since Jang Si-hwan discovered the secret hidden in Shin Kang-hoo's body, he never rushed into battle against Shin Kang-hoo. Time was 'always' on his side.]

As the original story flashed before his eyes, Kang-hoo fiercely splashed water on himself, trying to ignore it.

I thought I had a plan

He couldnt remember the solution to the terrible disease, though it seemed to linger in his subconscious.

Like Yun Sang-mis Gale Sword Emperor Constellation, there had to be a way to resolve innate mana hypersensitivity.

He had thought of a treatment method to use when he created a crisis for Jang Si-hwan.

No choice then.

Kang-hoo considered the two stalks of Solakium stored in his refrigerator.

It felt as though the fountain of life was running dry, and now, with only two stalks left, it was exactly that.

The following day, in the morning.

Kang-hoo and Yun Sang-mi met with Lee Ye-rin.

Yun Sang-mi had finished her pre-arranged conversation with Lee Ye-rin in a separate waiting room.

Kang-hoo was about to settle accounts with her and was looking forward to the reward.

I didnt think wed find Bartaross shoes so easily. Thank you, Sun-kyu.

A smile graced Lee Ye-rins lips as she took the requested item.

The shoes appeared to carry a special meaning for her.

Theyre undamaged.

To be honest, the thought of running away with them crossed my mind. I figured it wouldnt matter if I did.

I dont have the unpleasant habit of worrying about being backstabbed every hour of the day. Im looking for more jobs.

Kang-hoo shook his head.

As tempting as it might sound to run away, from that moment on, he would be in the same predicament as Kim Mok-hyun an unnecessary act.