Chapter 416: Chapter 416

“Isn’t... Isn’t this crazy?” whispered one of the B-grade hunters.

However, the official pretended not to hear it. It wasn’t like he didn’t understand where the hunters were coming from, but that didn’t mean he could break the rules.

Hunters made astronomical amounts of money from a single raid, but when things went wrong, it was the officials who took all the blame.

He couldn’t just comply with every request the hunters made.

“Then please contact the commissioner! Even if he’s on vacation, it’s ridiculous for there to be no means to contact him!”

“I-I’m sorry, Hunter Nakao, but the current situation isn’t an emergency. Our raid team includes A-grade hunters, and the other teams are the same. There’s no need to talk about cooperating in this situation.”

If it had been Han Seha, she would’ve punched the official in the jaw. Unfortunately, Kohei Nakao wasn’t Han Seha. He inwardly cursed the official before reluctantly saying, “I understand. Let’s give up on the cooperation plan. After all, it’s just a matter of succeeding...”

“...”

The hunters glared at the official, but he stood firm. Even though he was rather timid, there was a hint of unnecessary pride in his eyes that said, ‘So what if you guys look at me like that?’

‘These official bastards should really be thrown in Tokyo Bay.’

‘Don’t get dirty.’

“Uh, Mr. Nakao?”

“?”

“I got a call from the Korean hunters. There’s no information from the Russians, but the Korean hunters said that there might be energy drain-type monsters in the dungeon.”

“!”

Kohei Nakao was stunned.

Hunters weren’t invincible. The overall success rate of raids had improved over the last years partly because the hunters themselves had become stronger, but also because humanity’s knowledge and equipment had evolved.

Hunters and analysts would share and analyze information about monsters and dungeons when they appeared. Then, they would cooperate and create a strategy to attack them!

The Abyssal races couldn’t even comprehend the collective wisdom of billions of human beings.

...But knowledge and equipment were meaningless if nobody used them...

In other words, since they just found out that there was an energy drain-type monster...

“We need artifacts against energy drain! The Dojigiri...”

“W-what nonsense are you saying? That's the national treasure of Japan!”

After the Abyss gate was opened, new artifacts appeared in dungeons, but there were also cases where historical treasures transformed into artifacts.

One of the Japanese swords, the Dojigiri, was the latter. It was a very powerful artifact and a valuable natural treasure, so not even A-grade hunters could get their hands on it whenever they wanted.

“There’s an energy drain-type monster! The Dojigiri is an artifact that can buff everyone in the raid. It’s indispensable for this raid!”

“There is no official information! And who do you think will be responsible for taking out the Dojigiri like that? Absolutely not!”

‘I’m going crazy!’

Kohei Nakao was furious, especially because he couldn’t beat this official with logic. It was true that no information was officially confirmed at this time.

“How do we know that the information given by the Korean hunters is real? Aren’t the Korean hunters also competitors right now?”

“Hunter Choi Yeonseung isn’t the type of person to do that.”

At Kohei Nakao’s words, the official sneered. It had only been for a brief second, but Kohei Nakao clearly saw it. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Hunter Nakao, excuse me, but... That’s such an innocent and naive way of thinking... In terms of international relations, there’s no one you can trust. I think you’re inexperienced in this area because you have only done raids. Please leave it to me...”

“This bastard really says anything...!”

“Put up with it!”

One of the hunters lost his patience and tried to throw a punch, but the other hunters stopped him. They would be in an even bigger mess if they attacked an official from the Ministry of Defense.

These government officials could really make their lives miserable if they put their minds to it!

“...Fine. Let’s bring in the other artifacts of the clan.”

“Yes. That’s a good choice.”

The atmosphere was chilly, but the official nodded in agreement.

***

“The Korean hunters contacted us? They want to provide information? Ignore it!”

The Chinese official reacted even more fiercely than the Japanese official. China and Japan were similar in the sense that their government officials were powerful, but there was one difference.

The Chinese officials could make the hunters and their families disappear forever...

The Central Hunter Committee of the Chinese Communist Party had that much power.

Even though the secretary from the committee’s international inspection department was just a civil servant, he was no different from a key party official.

Ma Jun, an A-grade hunter, was flustered by the secretary’s instructions and just nodded nervously, unable to say anything.

“Right now, the motherland is in turmoil! It’s a disgrace that the northern area was occupied, but now even the western area is like this! It’s all because of the conspiracy of the foreigners. It’s also our hunters’ fault for failing to put an end to that conspiracy. If they had been truly loyal to the party, would rebels have emerged? If they had been truly loyal to the general secretary, would rebels have emerged?

‘It’s slowly becoming serious.’

‘These freaks... They’re going to put an actual leash on us at this point!’

The Tangmen clan hunters, including Ma Jun, cursed in their minds.

Starting with the recent rampage of S-grade monsters, the landscape of the western region of China had also been transformed into a rural one because of the appearance of a crazy constellation.

Once such chaos and disaster hit, dissatisfaction naturally soared, and someone had to take responsibility.

Thus, China had tightened its control over the hunters because the party officials from above couldn’t be held accountable!

“Now, we are going to shout the slogan together!”

“Loyalty, loyalty, loyalty!”

After the painful conversation, the Chinese hunters spoke cautiously to Ma Jun. Given that he was an A-grade hunter, he was the only one who had a say in this raid.

“Can’t we just look at what the information is? We don’t have to use it officially.”

“I don’t think Hunter Choi Yeonseung has contacted us for no reason...”

“...We can’t do that. I’m sure we will get caught.”

“...”

“We’ll enter the moment the preparations are finished! There’s nothing to worry about. We just have to do it.”

***

While both the Japanese and the Chinese sides were going crazy, Choi Yeonseung was trying to persuade one more individual in particular.

It was Illaphael, the household member of the angel constellation.

“So there’s no official information or evidence, but... there’s a high chance of an energy drain-type monster coming out?”

“It sounds a bit weird when you say it like that, but yes, that’s what I’m saying.”

Choi Yeonseung didn’t just blindly believe Boris. After hearing him out, Choi Yeonseung had tried to predict the future with the goddess of balance.

After glancing at the future, the goddess of balance hadn’t specifically seen the nightmare demons, but she had seen clues that there would be some kind of energy drain-type monster in the dungeon.

At this point, being cautious was the right call.

...Of course, all of this probably sounded ridiculous to a prideful angel.

Choi Yeonseung tentatively said “Alright, I know you probably don’t believe me yet, but...”

“I accept.”

“...Um?”

“I said yes.”

Choi Yeonseung was slightly surprised. He had anticipated that Illaphael wouldn’t believe him and had even thought about moving on his own.

He couldn’t believe that Illaphael acknowledged his warning so meekly.

“Wait.”

“What’s going on?”

“I thought you wouldn’t accept it, so I planned everything without taking your power into consideration.”

“...”

Illaphael cast Choi Yeonseung a strange look.

However, Choi Yeonseung ignored her reaction and looked seriously worried. It was clear that his plan didn’t include the Illaphael and the other servants of the angel constellation.

“Why don’t we just leave them behind?” proposed Han Seha from next to him. “We’re strong enough on our own.”

Choi Yeonseung had brought three A-grade hunters with him, making for a formidable raid team. That would probably be enough to clear the dungeon without the help of the household members of the angel constellation, including Illaphael.

“But it was the angel constellation who invited me here. If I participate in the raid without his household members, it’s a bit... It’s not right.”

“Yeah, you have a point.”

“...”

Illaphael was about to say something but held back. Thinking about how many times this hunter had saved her life, she could put up with such embarrassment.

‘En... dure... it.’

‘This is ridiculous!’

‘I can’t believe Illaphael is holding back...!’

The other hunters serving the angel constellation were surprised. How come the proud and arrogant Illaphael wasn’t enraged by such words from those hunters?

The angel had been like this last time as well, but it was still amazing to see his attitude completely change when he was in front of Choi Yeonseung.

‘From now on, I should call Hunter Choi Yeonseung when Illaphael is about to get angry!’

“...What’s your plan?” Illaphael asked reluctantly, trying to change the topic.

“The hunters who rushed in first will probably give up and come out. It’s a raid that includes A-grade hunters, so they’ll be able to judge the situation even if their energy is drained.

The Russian hunters had also managed to get out of the dungeon a few times during their attempts, so it was confirmed that at least escaping from the Chort dungeon wasn’t difficult.

“By that time, the monster will have drained enough energy to be full, thus slowing down in order to digest it. That’s when we’ll go in and attack.”

“Indeed...” Illaphael nodded, not because she felt indebted to Choi Yeonseung, but because she genuinely thought his plan was good.

Energy drain-type monsters were tricky and dangerous, but once they devoured enough energy, they would be defenseless as they had to digest it.

Hitting the opponent when they were at their weakest was one of the most fundamental combat principles.

“How long do you think it’ll be before they give up?”

“Five days. On average, they give up on the fifth day.”

“I see.”

However, Choi Yeonseung’s prediction turned out to be wrong.

There was a call for help from within the dungeon after only one day.

Only one person came back.

***

“...”

“...”

The Chort dungeon was like a warm, tropical paradise. The inside was sunny and the hunters could constantly hear the soothing sound of waves.

However, the A-grade hunters didn’t care about that.

“On a more optimistic note, no matter what kind of monster it is, it should be completely full by now,” said Amelia in an attempt to break the awkwardness.

The only hunter who had escaped was from the Japanese raid team. He looked haggard and desperate when he came to the others.

-All... All the other hunters have fallen...! Please help me!

It was very unusual for a raid team that included an A-grade hunter to be completely defeated without even trying to fight a monster.

It was clear that they had been ambushed by a monster that had exceeded their expectations.

Antony, the newest A-grade hunter of the Icarus clan, exclaimed with a dumbfounded expression, “Those crazy officials!”

“Are you still concerned about that?”

“You don’t have a heart if you don’t care about this...”

When the Japanese raid team collapsed, the official in charge came running with a pale expression. All the hunters thought that he would fall on his knees and beg.

-I’ll pay whatever it takes. Please save the hunters of our country!

Since that official had accompanied the Japanese hunters all the way there, the Icarus hunters had thought that he would earnestly beg them to save his team.

Sure enough, the official had indeed knelt, but his plea had been completely different from what the hunters had expected.

-Please don’t tell anyone else that you have given us intel! This is a matter of saving face for the government! If you want something, we can negotiate...

-......

-...I heard it wrong, right? Huh? Is the interpreter broken?

The official’s words caught Han Seha off guard to the point where she was dumbfounded.

Of course, they kicked out the official.

Illaphael said calmly, “Don’t be obsessed with saving the human hunters. They have most likely been wiped out. Our goal is defeating the boss monster of this dungeon.”

Choi Yeonseung looked at Illaphael with a blank expression.

At this point, he had entered the dungeon with a small team. If he had brought a lot of people with him, they would become a burden if they got injured.

In any case, he couldn’t completely trust everyone in his party. He had to periodically use his constellation senses to check if everyone was doing fine.

‘Everyone’s still fine.’

“...But Choi Yeonseung, if you want to save them, I won’t stop you.”

“???”

Choi Yeonseung was taken aback by Illaphael’s unexpected words. What was wrong with this angel all of a sudden?