Chapter 147: 147

The man’s expression quickly became bloody . The man’s name was Gwon Jae-hoon . He was the guild master of Hahoetal Guild, and he was famous for his erratic temper .

“We’ve already prepared for the raid . The equipment for our guild members will arrive today,” Gwon Jae-hoon said .

“I’m sorry, but I have no choice but to repeat what I said earlier . ”

“Are you seriously going to be like this? So, the Authority will target these two dungeons?”

“Still, we can’t give you guys total control over the raids for both dungeons . ”

“You really don’t trust us . Huh? We’re the Hahoetal Guild!”

“I know the potential of the Hahoetal Guild well . However, as we do not have sufficient data on blue-colored dungeons yet, it is the Authority’s opinion that it is necessary to be fully committed . ”

“You’re killing me…”

Gwon Jae-hoon clenched his fists . He wanted to take his weapon out and attack Bak Yun-gyu, but he couldn’t . Although he was the man with emotional ups and downs, he was still a very rational figure . He knew nothing good would come from fighting the Authority . He also knew Bak Yun-gyu was a formidable awakener himself .

“Until tomorrow,” said Gwon Jae-hoon .

He hadn’t come to enter the dungeon right away in the first place .

“If you can’t bring the right man, as you said, my Hahoetal Guild will start the raid tomorrow . If you block us like this tomorrow as well…” Gwon Jae-hoon turned his body and continued, “Authority and Association will no longer be able to coexist . ”

Gwon Jae-hoon shouted to his guild members to leave for now . Kang Seung-cheol, as he watched them move away, opened his trembling lips .

“I don’t know how the hell he’s president of the guild association . ”

If he weren’t in front of Bak Yun-gyu, he would have punched a wall, Kang Seung-cheol was that angry .

“I know . ” Bak Yun-gyu had the same idea .

Gwon Jae-hoon was the guild master of the Hahoetal Guild and the president of the Korean Awakeners Association . He didn’t get the president position for his ability as S-Rank . He was able to make it due to his personal connections and charisma . He cared about profits a lot, so he often made trouble with the Authority .

Gwon Jae-hoon had a significant influence not only in the Association but also among many awakeners . He was close to many guild masters of various large guilds . So, if they decided to stop working, many dungeons all over the country would be in trouble . To prevent that situation, the Authority had to avoid conflict with Gwon Jae-hoon as much as possible .

“We can’t just let him attack those dungeons, either . If they fail…”

“That’s why we need him . ”

“Who? You mean… Kim Su-hyeun?”

“Yes . ”

The Authority couldn’t make trouble with the Association . So they needed help from somebody outside the Authority . Kim Su-hyeun was an awakener who wasn’t a member of the Authority and could fight against large groups of people by himself .

“Tomorrow, things will change . ”

Act 8

“F*cking bastards!”

Wham—!

On the way down the mountain, Gwon Jae-hoon angrily smashed the wall . The hard cliff broke, and a pile of stones fell down . Gwon Jae-hoon ground his teeth and looked over the viaduct . At his reaction, other guild members stepped aside . They knew that if they said the wrong thing, they would be the ones hit, just like the wall . Gwon Jae-hoon hit the wall a couple more times and took a deep breath .

He murmured in a murderous voice, “They think of us as the underdog . Huh?”

The reason why the Authority didn’t let them attack was obvious . They judged didn’t believe the Hahoetal Guild could finish the raid of those blue-colored dungeons on their own . They had been telling them to wait until they formed the raid team .

The first discoverer was definitely a civilian . That person posted an article on Abyss Online . One of the members of the Hahoetal Guild who saw that article went to the viaduct for confirmation . Later, people from the Authority discovered the dungeons but, since then, the Hahoetal Guild had been claiming ownership of the dungeons .

Attacking the blue-colored dungeon was worth more than Ether stones from the dungeon . Not only the Hahoetal Guild, but also Gwon Jae-hoon himself would be more famous if they attacked the blue-colored dungeon . Besides, the dungeons that appeared this time were twin dungeons .

Of course, however, he didn’t intend to start the raid without any preparation at all .

“Was there any contact from the guys who went to Kim Dae-ho?”

“Not yet, sir . ”

“Those idiots . They went there a while ago! Why the hell are they still not calling me?”

“That is… We’ve been there before, but that old man was really stubborn . He didn’t just accept to get an order from us, but also, he didn’t agree to sell what he already had . ”

“I told you to rob his workshop if you can’t convince him!”

“I’m sure they’re trying hard to convince him right now . So, please, wait a little more . ”

“If they don’t contact us soon, you go . I can’t trust them at all . ”

“Yes, sir . ”

“One way or another, you must bring his equipment . Our power will go up at least ten percent more if we’re armed with his stuff . ”

Gwon Jae-hoon had liked Kim Dae-ho for a while . He had seen his equipment about one half year ago at one of his auctions . Ever since then, Gwon Jae-hoon had approached Kim Dae-ho little by little . He went to Yangpyeong several times by himself to see him . But Kim Dae-ho always gave him the same answer . After he mentioned the Hahoetal Guild, Kim Dae-ho even slammed the door in his face .

To prepare the raid for the two blue-colored dungeons, Gwon Jae-hoon even thought to loot Kim Dae-ho’s workshop . He had been waiting for so long . His patience had run out . Gwon Jae-hoon wanted to get Kim Dae-ho’s equipment in a day . So, he sent three more guild members to Yangpyeong . But the three hadn’t contacted him since .

Su-hyeun threw three more awakeners down to the ground and dusted his hands off . With the newcomers, now there were five awakeners from the Hahoetal Guild lying in front of Kim Dae-ho’s house . When Su-hyeun had come out to leave Kim Dae-ho’s house, more people from Hahoetal Guild had appeared .

“Are you leaving now?”

Kim Dae-ho, who had been spending time catching up on his sleep, came to meet Su-hyeun .

“Yea, I’m leaving . Oh, and I asked one of my friends to guard you here . He’ll arrive soon . ”

“Friend? I didn’t know you had a friend . ”

“Yes, I do . He’s a good man . So, he’ll take care of you well . I think I should leave now . I have to go see my mother before I leave for work tomorrow . ”

“Ok . I see . ”

“I’ll go and talk with the Hahoetal Guild, too . Probably these annoying guys won’t come around anymore . ”

Kim Dae-ho made a strange expression at Su-hyeun’s assurance . He knew Su-hyeun was an awakener . But he didn’t think Su-hyeun would be this good at fighting .

“Why do you care about me so much?” Kim Dae-ho asked .

“What?”

“I’m telling you now . I don’t have any confidence that I can make a better sword than that . There will be no better materials than adamantium and the highest-grade Ether stones . And the only reason I could make that sword was that I put all of my efforts into it . ”

Kim Dae-ho’s eyes changed sharply .

“But will you still come to see me? Even though I’m not going to provide you equipment anymore?”

“Yes . ”

“…?”

Kim Dae-ho thought Su-hyeun would be at least a little embarrassed about what he said . But Su-hyeun answered quickly, without hesitation . So, Kim Dae-ho, who asked the question, was embarrassed instead .

“If you’re telling me not to come because of that, just take this back . You can melt it to reuse the materials, or just use it as a display for your workshop . You do whatever you want to . ”

As he said, Su-hyeun took out Balmung from its sheathe and handed it to Kim Dae-ho . Kim Dae-ho got even more embarrassed when Su-hyeun gave Balmung to him .

“Y-you’re the one who brought all the materials . How can I take it back?”

“If you didn’t help, they’d be nothing but stones and metal . And I’m not a blacksmith . To me, this weapon is not more important than people I care about . ”

At Su-hyeun’s answer, Kim Dae-ho stared blankly for a moment . Su-hyeun looked at Kim Dae-ho for a while and put Balmung down on the ground .

“Then, I’ll come back later . I’ll leave this sword here—”

“No, just take it . You bastard . I really can’t say anything . ”

At Kim Dae-ho’s words, Su-hyeun grinned as if he knew it . “Yes, mister . ”

Su-hyeun turned his body and left the house . Kim Dae-ho sighed and shook his head .

Kim Dae-ho felt close to Su-hyeun . He had ever since their first meeting . Su-hyeun looked at him as if he had known him for a long time . Kim Dae-ho went back to his house, shaking his head .

After Su-hyeun had left Kim Dae-ho’s house, he went to see his mother, Shin Su-yeong, in the evening . Her store was crowded with customers .

“What’s this all about, mom?”

“It’s about my boasts about my son, of course . ”

“Why do you boast me with your store name…”

[Su-hyeun’s Jewelry Shop . ]

The store was named after Su-hyeun . The signboard was about to be hung up . Su-hyeun was too embarrassed to see it .

“You said I have to have benefited from my good soon . Thank you, son . ”

“Sigh…”

“Oh, and you came at the perfect time . Take a picture with me . It’s Su-hyeun’s jewelry shop, so, it would be weird if there were no pictures of you . ”

Su-hyeun actually worried a little that they would be awkward since it had been so long since they had seen each other . But it looked like he didn’t have to worry . When Su-hyeun had just begun to work as an awakener, she worried very much . But now, Shin Su-yeong looked happier than ever .

That day, Su-hyeun ate dinner with Shin Su-yeong and drank some tea . Some people recognized Su-hyeun, and Shin Su-yeong was surprised at that . Late at night, Su-hyeun took Shin Su-yeong home and went back to his house . On the way back, he left a text to Lee Ju-ho to ask him to protect Kim Dae-ho .

The Hahoetal Guild was quite a big guild . And, the guild master, Gwon Jae-hoon, was the president of the Korean Awakeners Association . He could do something terrible to Kim Dae-ho if he decided to .

It seemed like he had to move in hurridly to finish two dungeons and solve the problem with the Hahoetal guild . He couldn’t postpone the dungeon attack . Also, he couldn’t leave Kim Dae-ho alone like this . Su-hyeun drove back to his house . He took off his jacket and turned on the TV to provide some background noise for the lonesome house . But…

-One of Korea’s top five guilds, Hahoetal, moved to attack the two blue-colored dungeons that appeared recently . The guild master of the Hahoetal Guild is the current president of the Korean Awakeners Association…

Unexpected news came from the TV .