The Genius Assassin Who Takes it All

I discovered two hematite late because I was too focused on skill plundering and skill enhancement.

‘Isn’t this way better than not finding any mana stones or items?’

A faint smile appeared.

This was because both the hematite and the skill enhancement were just what I needed. The reward hit the spot.

While nothing particularly valuable dropped, it was a good haul based on future potential.

“Wow! Did you really find hematite? I’m so jealous!”

Miyuki shot a gaze full of envy at the two hematite pieces Kang-hoo had picked up.

It seemed she hadn’t noticed the skill enhancement, which had directly applied through the status window.

If she knew that not only did Kang-hoo get two hematite pieces, but he also got a skill enhancement opportunity, she’d probably be even more envious.

“Yeah, things turned out well.”

Currently, Kang-hoo had a total of three ultimate skills.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

The shadow clone technique was an ultimate skill conditionally elevated in conjunction with the Constellation of the Unfeeling Assassin.

The purely enhanced and upgraded skills were the protection barrier and the Blood Flower.

All three were highly effective skills that he was using well.

The protection barrier had often proven useful beyond its defensive purpose, particularly due to its “devastation” effect.

Thus, ultimate skills further elevated the value of already useful skills.

It seemed he’d have to spend some time pondering which skill to elevate as the fourth ultimate skill.

With that, the special enhancement dungeon raid with the Rikou Guild came to a successful end.

It was a perfect raid, leaving no room for regret. They had found the optimal strategy for taking down Ruge.

Kang-hoo decided to return to Korea for now.

There were no further tasks to handle in Japan, and nothing else came to mind.

However, he did feel the need to have one last conversation with Takashi. That guy required special care.

That evening.

After booking a flight back to Incheon Airport for the next morning, Kang-hoo sent a direct message (DM) to Takashi.

-As you know, I’ve managed to untangle some nasty knots of bad luck lately.

I had a blast raiding a dungeon with the Rikou Guild hunters. As for the boss… well…

It was a rather lengthy message.

He had gone into a lot of detail about the boss’s patterns.

A typical hunter would probably yawn halfway through or skip it out of boredom.

But Takashi was the kind to read every single letter Kang-hoo sent, even salivating over it.

He was even doing mental image training while looking at each word.

Takashi sent a reply.

-I’ve been keeping up with all the recent news. Be careful. Guys like Yuji and Kenji don’t have normal minds.

-I’m aware.

-But seriously, you’re pretty amazing. You’re maintaining 50 stacks of bleeding that easily?

-An assassin who can’t do that deserves to die. Right? Assassins exist to keep the bleeding going.

-Humblebrag much? Fine. Want to join me in a Mystery Dungeon soon? Ready to show off?

-Sure. Just let me know when. Korea and Japan are close enough. Just need a plane.

-I might contact you soon. Like, really soon.

-No problem. As long as I’m not in some unreachable place, I’ll respond immediately.

-Good! I can’t stand not knowing things. Be prepared. Show me your skills!

-Hit me up. Until then, take care.

-This is gonna be fun. Can’t wait!

The DM conversation with Takashi wrapped up in a warm, friendly tone.

Just as Kang-hoo had intended.

Takashi was the kind of guy who got excited like a child whenever he talked about dungeons or patterns, eyes practically glowing.

That’s Takashi’s character.

He enjoys the thrill of the unknown world of dungeons and the creativity they bring.

It’s as if he’s trying to figure out what the “Creator” had in mind when designing the dungeon and its monsters.

From Kang-hoo’s perspective, it felt like Takashi was taking an interest in the Creator—himself, the “original author.”

After all, he was the one who built and shaped this world. That’s why it felt even stranger.

In any case, though Kang-hoo was leaving Japan for a bit, it seemed he would have to return soon.

With the countries so close, it would likely become as common as visiting a neighbor’s house.

The next day.

Kang-hoo returned to Korea via Incheon Airport.

Just like Japan, Korea also had an impeccable level of security, making him feel once again how safe it was.

Incheon Airport, being a major hub in Asia, was incredibly crowded.

Moreover, wherever he went, hunters dispatched by the Hunter Public Safety Bureau were on high alert.

There was even a minor commotion when someone suspected of a crime was arrested on the spot.

While going through immigration.

Kang-hoo was surprised by the number of people who approached him with questions.

They asked if he was the person from the videos. Thanks to Huntergram, his face had become quite recognizable.

Although he wasn’t exactly a celebrity, it felt odd to be recognized.

In Korea, people who drew attention were usually hunters from the Jeonghwa Guild or, on the flip side, villains.

Kang-hoo was becoming known despite not belonging to either group.

Having swiftly completed the immigration process, Kang-hoo immediately called K.

He had contacted K once before returning to secure the Mad Solarkium, which was the most urgent priority.

-You’re calling right away, I see. So, you’ve arrived? Judging by the airport announcements, you must be in Incheon?

“That’s right. I just got here.”

-I have an easy schedule today. Everything’s ready for delivery. Can you come right away?

“Yes, I can.”

-I’ll set up a secure limousine at Seoul Station. Come over, and we’ll talk.

“Understood.”

-Alright, see you later.

After ending the call with K, Kang-hoo decided to head toward Seoul Station, but before that, he called Jung Yuri. Since he had just finished the call with K, she came to mind. However, the call didn’t go through at all. She must have entered a dungeon.

‘She did say she’s been focusing on leveling up lately, and it seems like she’s practically living inside a dungeon.’

While the saying goes that “no news is good news,” the complete lack of communication made him slightly worried.

‘Is this what it feels like to be a parent?’ He wondered. Even though he believed she was doing well, the lack of contact made him feel uneasy.

‘Anyway, I’ve left a missed call record, so she’ll probably call back once she checks it.’

Being the curious person Jung Yuri was, once she saw the missed call, she wouldn’t be able to resist calling back immediately.

He thought he would check on her well-being when she called.

It was also true that Kang-hoo felt a little more concern for Jung Yuri than others.

He hoped she wouldn’t be hurt again by others, like she had been in the past she had buried deep within.

If that ever happened again…

He thought she might undergo some form of darkening. After all, the line between an angel and a devil is thin.

When Kang-hoo arrived at Seoul Station, what caught his eye was a large banner hanging at the front of the station.

The content was an announcement from the Jeonghwa Guild, recruiting hunters directly.

‘At this time, the Jeonghwa Guild didn’t recruit directly, opting to promote from satellite guilds instead.’

That was how Kang-hoo remembered it.

The content of the original story came to mind.

[With the collapse of The Abyss due to Lee Hyun-seok’s death, there was no longer any need to replenish manpower.

As a result, Jang Si-hwan focused more on qualitative growth rather than quantitative expansion of the Jeonghwa Guild.

They withdrew all recruitment notices, both for the Jeonghwa Guild and its satellite guilds, shifting to internal management.]

“Ah.”

Kang-hoo immediately found the reason from the first part of his memory.

In the original, The Abyss, a warlord group, disbanded following the death of Lee Hyun-seok.

Lee Hyun-seok was killed by Moon Yu-seok’s betrayal, and Jang Si-hwan then installed Moon Yu-seok as a puppet leader of The Abyss.

From there, Jang Si-hwan absorbed internal talent in stages, mitigating the shock and clearing out subpar hunters.

But now, The Abyss was still united under Lee Hyun-seok.

The traitor, Moon Yu-seok, had been killed by Lee Hyun-seok thanks to Kang-hoo’s tip, and Lee Hyun-seok was still alive and well.

With the future changed, the Jeonghwa Guild’s stance had also shifted.

Given The Abyss’s stronghold in the northern and northeastern regions of Gyeonggi Province, it made sense that they would feel burdened.

It was understandable that they were now aggressively recruiting hunters. Increasing numbers was crucial at this point.

Moreover…

-Even at this very moment, as you watch this video, Lee Hyun-seok is pillaging food from civilian homes or slaughtering innocent civilians, falsely accusing them of collaborating with the Jeonghwa Guild.

-This video is absolutely not manipulated. Just step outside into the northern region, and you’ll see this happening frequently.

-Hunters of The Abyss, wake up! Your leader is not human. He is a murderer disguised as a man.

Next to the banner, a large screen was broadcasting a special segment, exposing the atrocities committed by The Abyss.

A popular celebrity had even been recruited to narrate the video, filled with condemnation and accusations.

In the original story, The Abyss had never been depicted as such an evil organization.

In fact, the case had collapsed after Lee Hyun-seok’s death, long before The Abyss came into conflict with Jang Si-hwan.

Among the warlord groups, it had been considered relatively rational, so there was no basis for such slander.

The term “fabricated world” suddenly came to mind.

Unfortunately, everything Kang-hoo was seeing in the video was false.

‘It seems like the winds of war are starting to blow in the capital as well. If they cross the line, Lee Hyun-seok won’t stay silent.’

After all, wasn’t Lee Hyun-seok leading the charge against Jeonghwa?

The Abyss hunters were elite.

They had been repeatedly trained in battles, constantly raiding Ground Zero and areas near North Korea.

That’s likely why Jang Si-hwan was so desperate to recruit external hunters. The current force must be insufficient, for sure.

Eventually, Kang-hoo arrived at Seoul Station and boarded the secure limousine that had been waiting for him.

As usual, apart from a brief greeting with the driver, he was guaranteed complete privacy throughout the journey.

The soundproof barriers in the limousine were raised, and the protective barriers for the vehicle were activated.

Just as Kang-hoo was about to take out his earphones to listen to some music, he received a call from Kim Shin-ryeong.

“Yes, this is Shin Kang-hoo.”

-Are you very busy?

Without even a brief greeting, she got straight to the point.

It was a style Kang-hoo appreciated the most. No need for the pointless pleasantries.

“I’m busy, but my schedule is flexible. What’s the matter?”

-I wanted to ask if you could help with summoner training again. And while you’re at it, maybe test some new items?

The former was expected, but the latter wasn’t. It piqued his interest.

She was skilled at crafting, synthesizing, and modifying items.

Often, unexpected items emerged from her hands, though she did mess up spectacularly from time to time.

Item testing meant she wanted to check the performance—and possibly the marketability.

So, if she had created a decent item?

Kang-hoo, being the first to test it, would have the chance to purchase it before anyone else.

The opportunity to be the first to get his hands on her newest creation! It was too good a chance to pass up.