Chapter 66

Chapter 66

 

The Internal Auction opened, but Ha-kyung did not participate.

Of course, Deep-Sea Scale Armor was quite an attractive artifact.

But he had already received priority purchase rights.

Trying to take both would not be proper business ethics.

In the end, Ha-kyung bought Web Caster for 200 billion won.

‘It isn’t as expensive as I thought.’

The artifact that had come from the last Unfathomable-grade Field Boss of The Void.

Hadn’t Cadaveric Staff sold for 250 billion won?

By contrast, Web Caster seemed to have gone for a lower price because its function was limited.

All it did was shoot a net and slow the target down.

Of course, Ha-kyung was extremely satisfied.

‘It’ll work well against fast bastards like the Core Guardian.’

From now on, he would be going in and out of The Void all the time.

Wouldn’t he frequently run into the Emperor’s close aides?

When that happened, Web Caster would do its job properly.

After finishing all his work, Ha-kyung returned home.

But then a familiar smell tickled the tip of his nose.

When he walked toward the kitchen, the chef greeted him.

“You’re back.”

“Is it spicy stir-fried pork again today?”

“The employer likes it so much.”

“Still, spicy stir-fried pork as soon as I get home……. Ah, right! I forgot I need to train a parrot that won’t listen.”

“Pardon?”

“I’m talking about John. From his looks to how he acts, he’s just like a parrot.”

“Kkh!”

The chef barely held back his laughter.

Ha-kyung went to the dining table and sat across from John.

Then the chef, whose face had turned bright red, brought out the food.

Naturally, it was not spicy stir-fried pork.

It was an ordinary home-cooked meal.

John shook his head in disapproval.

“To reject a man’s food. Tsk! Pathetic.”

“Don’t you get sick of eating spicy stir-fried pork every day?”

“It’s fine. I used to eat something else before.”

“What?”

“Pork cutlet.”

“What about before that?”

“marinated grilled beef.”

“What about before marinated grilled beef?”

“Spicy stir-fried pork, obviously.”

“Why do you eat so simply after hiring a chef?”

“It’s delicious. And fine dining doesn’t suit me.”

Ha-kyung let out a short sigh.

He decided to give up on understanding John altogether.

In truth, the chef’s labor costs and ingredient expenses were also paid by his sister-in-law.

It was not really Ha-kyung’s place to say anything.

‘As long as I can eat it, I’m the one who benefits.’

It was definitely much better food than meal kits.

As they ate together, the TV screen suddenly changed.

—A new agreement has been signed by the International Awakened Council (IAC). From now on, use of foreign Gates will be permitted on a limited basis. Accordingly, Awakened exchanges are expected to become more active, including mutual dispatches of Raid Parties between countries.

Ha-kyung and John stopped moving their spoons.

The content was so sudden that they could not understand it.

Soon, John moved his lower jaw like a llama and said.

“What the hell does that mean?”

“I don’t know either.”

“No, what are you doing if even a Special Advisory Committee Member of the Association doesn’t know?”

“They didn’t tell me separately.”

Beep-beep-beep! Beep-beep-beep!

While he was bickering with John, Ha-kyung’s cell phone suddenly rang.

Assistant Manager Jeong Tae-won’s name was displayed on the screen.

Ha-kyung quickly answered the call.

“Yes, Mr. Jeong Tae-won. You’re calling because of the news, right?”

—You already know. That is correct, Committee Member.

“What happened?”

—It seems the Association did not know at all either. The IAC appears to have pushed it through urgently.

“What was the reason?”

—It is probably to make Gate Break support easier. They have become somewhat more frequent recently. In addition, it is also likely intended to accommodate lower-tier Awakened.

“So they’re simplifying the escape process. How does the Association evaluate it?”

—Foreigners’ Gate access will become more frequent, but they predict there will not be any major change in the industry.

“Understood. Thank you for letting me know.”

—Not at all. Then I will see you when you come in to work.

“Yes, rest well.”

Click.

Ha-kyung had merely taken a position whose title sounded plausible.

He had little connection to the Association’s events or the International Awakened Council.

Political issues were matters for the higher-ups to handle on their own.

He intended to move according to his original purpose as usual.

‘I’m just going to form an exploration team and wander around The Void.’

***

When he posted the notice, recruitment ended in an instant.

After seeing the results, Ha-kyung stroked his chin as if interested.

“I thought they wouldn’t come because of the controversy, but this is surprisingly fast.”

“We sued both the people who made the false video and all the malicious commenters, and the proper AI Raid Video has also been uploaded. Public perception should have been perfectly normalized as well.”

Assistant Manager Jeong Tae-won answered confidently.

This must have been why a legal team was necessary.

Ha-kyung had only said the words.

But everything had been set right in a single day.

The way he formed the exploration team was the same as before.

He only needed to separate the wheat from the chaff through interviews at the Training Ground.

Then set up the personnel composition to match skill and synergy.

While examining the list, Ha-kyung tilted his head.

“The applicants are more normal than I expected.”

Then John, who had been listening, asked a question.

“What’s an abnormal applicant, Bro?”

“An agreement was signed by the IAC, wasn’t it?”

“Aha! You were worried there’d be more foreign Awakened?”

“I have to be. Communication is important during raids.”

“We should cut out every bastard who can’t even speak Korean. How dare they try to freeload when a senior as high as the sky is here?”

“Pardon? What are you suddenly talking about?”

“I’m the only one who’s going to hold the Foreign Worker position. This is a damn rare character.”

Ha-kyung had wondered why John was against an inflow of foreigners.

And the reason was truly a spectacle…….

No, it was very John.

Ha-kyung went down to the Training Ground to conduct the interviews.

But an unexpected person appeared before him.

A healer from the Raiders Guild who had gotten Ha-kyung’s autograph.

It was Jeong Sang-hoon.

Ha-kyung asked with a puzzled expression.

“What brings you here?”

“I heard you were forming an exploration team.”

“But Mr. Jeong Sang-hoon, you’re with the Raiders Guild.”

“That doesn’t mean I can’t participate as a Guest Member.”

“Isn’t that not usually done?”

“Raiders is a bit different. As long as it makes money, they don’t care what you do.”

After hearing him out, it seemed he had not left the guild like Park Jun-ho had.

Ha-kyung thought of Choi Hyun-ki, the Guild Master of Raiders.

‘He’s going to be very displeased.’

Of course, he had not hired Jeong Sang-hoon just to make that happen.

Pissing off that old man was only a side benefit.

The issue was that Jeong Sang-hoon was from the Raiders Guild.

But they were also in a relationship where Ha-kyung had saved his life.

And wasn’t he an ardent fan?

It did not seem like it would become a major problem.

Ha-kyung formed one Raid Team and one Escort Team.

Sixty people in total.

If circumstances allowed, he intended to clear a dungeon while they were there.

But there was one somewhat disappointing point.

John, who was sitting beside Ha-kyung, smacked his lips.

“It’s a bit of a shame that Great Sage person can’t come.”

“They said it overlapped with another raid schedule. It can’t be helped.”

“And Ma Do-hyuk isn’t here either.”

“I know. Didn’t he get along well with you, John?”

“Hmph! Get along well, my ass. But there are people who are the same as last time.”

The healer Yu Se-ha.

The ranged damage dealers Nam Gi-heon and Oh Ha-rin.

These three were people who had accompanied him on the first exploration.

Thankfully, they had applied again, so Ha-kyung could worry less.

After all, they were proven team members.

“We’re entering the Gate. Please check carefully to make sure nothing is missing.”

“Yes, sir!”

With Ha-kyung’s shout as the starting signal, the Exploration Party entered the Abyss.

Perhaps because he had played team leader several times now.

His heart no longer pounded so hard.

At least, not until Nam Gi-heon spoke to him.

“It is an honor to be with you again, Captain.”

“Pardon? Captain?”

“There are two teams, are there not?”

“Ah…….”

The standard for distinguishing a Raid Team from a Raid Party was the number of teams.

Since an Escort Team had joined them now.

Strictly speaking, this could be called an Exploration Party.

If so, it was only natural to call Ha-kyung Captain.

‘The responsibility is heavy.’

It was no exaggeration to say the Exploration Party’s fate rested in Ha-kyung’s hands.

Depending on his judgment, they could end up in danger.

They might even reach death.

Suddenly, the Abyss of the Deep Sea appeared in Ha-kyung’s mind.

Hadn’t the rear line been smashed apart by Black Leviathan’s attack?

Even the Guild Master of Sharp Force.

Even Ryu Jeong-hwan had been unable to shake off his distress.

Ha-kyung steeled himself.

‘If you’re human, it’s only natural to feel that way. Still, I have to overcome it.’

Soon, the Exploration Party reached the bottom of the Abyss.

The Pond Standing Upright at Ninety Degrees.

Passing through the Wormhole.

And arriving at the suffocating Void was the same as before.

But this time, it was a somewhat different challenge.

Ha-kyung quietly stared into the thick fog.

‘I’ve explored almost everywhere near the entrance. Now let’s go as far as possible.’

Of course, if he did that, the chance of being threatened by the Emperor of The Void would grow higher.

That was why he had increased their forces to sixty people.

From the beginning, Ha-kyung had kept even a fight against them in mind.

‘Come in if you dare.’

But unexpectedly, there was no particular reaction.

Even though they had gone quite deep into The Void.

John, who was walking with Ha-kyung, suddenly expressed his doubts.

“Is this really The Void? Why is it so quiet?”

“I know. That makes it feel even worse. Like the calm before the storm.”

“A stormy night that’s as combative as a storm……. Is that what you mean?”

“Ah, seriously. Do you really think I’d say something like that?”

“Hey! Bro. If I’m wrong, I’m wrong. Why are you getting on my case like that? Foreign Workers are weak with four-character idioms.”

“For that, you seem to know the meaning of the idiom very accurately.”

“Me no. Korean. Understand.”

While John used his Foreign Worker shield.

Ha-kyung radioed Yu Se-ha.

“A group of monsters has been detected ahead. We’ll detour, so please follow carefully.”

—Yes, Captain.

Among the healers, Jeong Sang-hoon was the most veteran.

But separate from Ha-kyung trusting him, his reputation was rather poor.

It was inevitable since he was a Raiders Guild member.

So Ha-kyung entrusted the shot-calling to Yu Se-ha.

‘She’s cleaner at this than I expected.’

For someone who had not done much shot-calling, there was no excess to her commands.

Thanks to that, Ha-kyung could lead the Exploration Party with peace of mind.

After moving for a long time while avoiding monsters and dangerous terrain.

It was about time to set up a base camp.

Even Awakened could not wander around indefinitely.

They were scouting the area, searching for a suitable place.

Then an unexpected system message suddenly appeared before Ha-kyung’s eyes.

[Dungeon Key in possession is reacting]

[Discovered Unknown-grade Dungeon, Abyss of Silence]

The area near a dark pile of stones suddenly began rippling.

Then a stone gate abruptly appeared.

Ha-kyung was filled with fresh emotion.

‘To think I’m seeing this for the first time after nearly six years of life as an Awakened…….’

In truth, that was unavoidable.

Dungeon Keys were extremely rare artifacts.

There were even First-Generation Awakened who were similar to Ha-kyung in that regard.

He wiped away his dazed expression.

Then he radioed Yu Se-ha.

“Please send someone with a Detection Skill over here.”

—Yes, Captain.

Soon, Jeong Sang-hoon appeared at the front line.

Fitting of a 1.5-Generation Awakened, it seemed he possessed a Detection Skill.

Jeong Sang-hoon examined the stone gate from various angles.

Then he spoke with a grave expression.

“This place is……. cursed.”

Curses were an exceedingly troublesome dungeon gimmick.

The team members’ faces could only darken.

But Ha-kyung thought differently.

‘If this goes well, we might be able to clear it for free.’