Episode 19
Not even a week later, a letter arrived for Jonghyeon.
The letter contained only a few brief sentences.
Travel expenses and an address.
He was once again surprised that they would simply enclose a ten-million-won check for travel expenses.
‘And to think they sent it tucked inside a letter.’
The address was in Russia.
Having confirmed it was abroad, Jonghyeon quickly began packing.
Since Russia would be cold, he packed quite a few thick clothes.
Just as he finished packing and was about to book a flight, a call came in for Jonghyeon.
“Hello?”
“Ah, there you are. Did you get the letter?”
Chairman Lee continued in a cheerful voice.
“Yes. The travel allowance is quite generous.”
“Then were you planning to fly economy?”
Jonghyeon had nothing to say to Chairman Lee’s rhetorical question.
“Even setting aside the matter of you joining under me, you are someone worthy of proper treatment. It is not good to be too hard on yourself.”
Moved by Chairman Lee’s warm words for reasons he could not explain, Jonghyeon felt a stirring in his chest.
“I will gladly take your advice.”
“Good. The reason I called is none other than something related to the dungeon.”
“Is there a problem?”
“Hmm. It would not be much of a problem for others, but for you, it could indeed be a problem.”
Chairman Lee knew Jonghyeon’s personality well. That he almost always cleared dungeons alone.
“The dungeon you must go to this time is not one you can go to alone. You will be joining forces with the local Nemerek Guild to clear it together.”
Jonghyeon was quite bewildered.
A party, of all things. And with those guild folk he disliked.
“Is there no other way?”
“The only dungeon open right now is that one. That is why I said it is a problem for you. Do not worry about item distribution. I have already made the arrangements.”
Jonghyeon agreed as if he had no choice, and the chairman hung up satisfied.
After setting the phone down, Jonghyeon muttered quietly.
“A party hunt. And with a guild, at that.”
Though he was not fond of the idea, Jonghyeon told himself it was just this once, finished booking his flight, and went back to training.
His training had yielded considerable results.
Though it had not even been a week, Jonghyeon experienced himself growing stronger with each repetition of training to the point that he could feel it physically.
He considered entering a dungeon to cut down some orcs, but he could not bring himself to do it.
If he were to suffer even a minor injury, everything he had set in motion would go awry.
Jonghyeon did not want that.
He would train all day and sleep on the plane tomorrow.
With that mindset, Jonghyeon gradually entered a state of trance.
He could now physically feel his qi circulating throughout his entire body.
Thinking a suitable amount of time had passed, Jonghyeon snapped out of his trance and looked at the clock.
The time to depart for his flight was already approaching.
“Crap. I’m going to be late!”
Jonghyeon stepped on the accelerator and managed to arrive at the airport just in time.
After completing all departure procedures, he settled into his seat on the plane.
When was the last time he had properly rested?
Looking at the watch on his wrist, Jonghyeon was suddenly struck by that thought.
Ever since he put on this watch, he had been too busy to catch his breath, and so many things had happened.
Before falling asleep, Jonghyeon looked at his phone, appearing to search diligently for something, and then drifted off.
What was searched on Jonghyeon’s phone was…
[How to Get Close with Business Associates.]
Jonghyeon had yet to realize the changes he had undergone over the past two months.
★ ★ ★
“Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Ryu. I am Raikovsky, the guild master of the Nemerek Guild.”
“Pleasure to meet you. My name is Ryu Jonghyeon.”
The brief introductions were over.
The sight of being welcomed so enthusiastically immediately upon arriving at the Moscow airport was unfamiliar to Jonghyeon.
He had not even expected the guild master to greet him so kindly.
“From afar, you just looked like an ordinary East Asian, but your aura is no joke.”
Amidst their continuous exchange of compliments, Jonghyeon thought, ‘This guild isn’t so bad.’
But due to the countless tyrannies of guilds he had witnessed until now, Jonghyeon still found it difficult to warm up to them.
“Chairman Lee is the benefactor who founded our school. For such a chairman to send us someone who would be of help, how reassured we are!”
Guild Master Raikovsky, who smiled openly, looked quite dashing.
‘To think he introduced me like that.’
Far from being of help, he would be lucky if he was not a nuisance.
After all, he had never properly done a party hunt before.
It felt very awkward to be praised like this and treated as someone capable.
At the same time, he was surprised that Chairman Lee’s reputation was better than he had thought.
‘I thought he was just a greedy old man. So he is treated like a benefactor out here?’
In truth, Chairman Lee’s business was incredible.
Around the time the concept of dungeons emerged, he had foreseen with uncanny insight that they would be profitable, gathered experts from all over, and established schools.
At a time when it was hard to even conceive that the dungeon system could be profitable, he had invested several moves ahead of everyone else.
And when the profession of Hunter and the standard of Ranker appeared, the unemployed had flocked like mad to become Hunters.
‘The tuition of those people, and almost all expenses required for their training, must have flowed into Chairman Lee’s pockets.’
Lost in thought about how enormous Chairman Lee’s wealth must be and the influence he wielded even overseas, Jonghyeon realized they had arrived at the dungeon entrance.
“We’re here.”
The guild members had already arrived.
Fourteen, including Jonghyeon.
“For your reference, our guild is a small elite force. Most guilds under Chairman Lee are probably like that, but it is more efficient to form a guild with only necessary personnel rather than large numbers like the massive guilds.”
In fact, the thirteen guild members including the guild master all looked strong.
More than outwardly visible strength, they possessed an indescribable confidence.
That was it.
After brief greetings, as soon as they entered the dungeon, a desert appeared, much like Jonghyeon’s 4th stage dungeon.
Jonghyeon, who had only packed thick clothing, was busy sweating profusely and taking off layers.
But the rest of the group who had entered began changing their clothes, having apparently prepared spare outfits.
It was Jonghyeon’s first time in a B-rank dungeon, so he was quite tense. On top of that, even if he did not show it, the heat was sweltering.
But Raikovsky comforted Jonghyeon as if there was no need for that.
“I see it is your first time here. You do not have a change of clothes? We usually bring just one extra set as well. It cannot be helped. Please wear my cloak here. It is enchanted.”
Jonghyeon waved his hands to refuse, but Raikovsky draped the cloak over his shoulders with practiced movements.
Then, a slight coolness spread across Jonghyeon’s back.
“Please do not refuse, Mr. Ryu. It is hot enough as it is, and if you are hit by the Ifrit’s heat on top of that, it will be quite difficult to endure without such magic equipment.”
“Then what about you? I am fine, really…”
“Do not worry. I have much experience, and since I am in a command position, I do not easily fight on the front lines, so it is fine.”
Just then, a man spoke.
“Guild Master, I have spotted a group of about eight Ifrits twenty meters to your left. I believe you should prepare.”
“Very well. Everyone to your positions! As always, Poul and Raker draw aggro. The rest, approach as you see fit!”
As if extremely accustomed to such hunts, Raikovsky commanded, and accordingly, everyone found their positions and advanced slowly toward the group of Ifrits.
This situation was all too foreign to Jonghyeon, and above all…
“What should I do?”
He did not know what he was supposed to do.
“I heard Mr. Ryu is a famous assassin from Korea. If there is a mage among the Ifrit legion, you need only eliminate that one.”
“Is that really all?”
“Yes.”
Having answered firmly, the guild master began calling each guild member by name and giving detailed orders.
In less than ten minutes, the eight Ifrits vanished without a trace.
Under Raikovsky’s skilled command, the Ifrits disappeared every time they appeared.
They had been repeating hunting and rest for about two hours when—
“Guild Master, we have found the Ifrit tribe’s stronghold!”
According to Jonghyeon’s research, upper-tier dungeons are divided into two types.
First, dungeons like normal ones where there is no boss, only a few named monsters added, and all monsters must be hunted.
Second, dungeons like the current one where, similar to a tribe or castle inhabited by a boss monster, once a group of some form is destroyed and the boss is ultimately hunted, the dungeon disappears regardless of sequence.
Jonghyeon had never encountered a mage Ifrit among the groups that appeared along the way.
“It seems we will need to press forward a bit more carefully from here.”
As if agreeing with the guild master’s words, the other guild members nodded.
Raiding a tribe’s stronghold carries considerable danger.
Because if they catch even a slight whiff, the entire tribe could easily attack.
Jonghyeon thought this dungeon was similar to his 5th stage dungeon.
Though the clearing method was different, the way to deal with grouped enemies was similar.
“Ah. In that case, I think it would be better to divide the teams more meticulously.”
Raikovsky’s eyes showed surprise at the opinion of Jonghyeon, who had barely spoken a word while traversing the dungeon.
“Mr. Ryu. What should we do? According to Chairman Lee, I understand this is your first time in such a dungeon.”
Raikovsky’s gaze, which looked at him as if amused, was something like praise.
He found it wondrous that Jonghyeon, who had come here for the first time, made such accurate judgments about the dungeon.
Jonghyeon continued.
“Hmm. We have fourteen members, correct? I believe we should split into two groups of six and strike from both sides. So that the attack does not concentrate on one side. And the remaining two must divert attention from the side where there is a risk of being surrounded. The moment they attack us in concert, it becomes unfavorable, so those two’s role is the most important.”
Everyone fell silent at Jonghyeon’s opinion.
Jonghyeon glanced around nervously, wondering if he had butted in unnecessarily.
But in Raikovsky’s eyes, there was now awe.
“I have never even considered such a hunting method. You are truly an incredible talent. Were you perhaps an instructor who teaches tactics at one of Chairman Lee’s schools?”
Jonghyeon did not dislike Raikovsky’s gaze, as if he were looking at a living textbook of tactics.
‘Just what did Chairman Lee tell them about me?’
But without showing it, Jonghyeon began by finding the fastest person among them and explained the strategy in detail.
Raikovsky praised Jonghyeon tremendously each time he explained.
“The more I listen to Mr. Ryu, the more amazed I am. And to think you would be one of those most important two members. It is one marvel after another.”
Since this was Jonghyeon’s first time in such a situation, he did not know why the guild master was spouting admiration.
In the first place, the method of helping a guild’s hunt through someone’s introduction was like an auction in America.
Often, an under-skilled person would be brought along by paying a premium, and they would merely participate in item distribution.
Chairman Lee had far-reaching connections, and more than half of the world’s Hunters had been trained by him, so he did not particularly incur the guilds’ resentment in that regard.
Moreover, the Nemerek Guild was little different from Chairman Lee’s subordinates.
So they had received Jonghyeon with half a mind, thinking Chairman Lee probably just wanted an item for himself.
But this Korean brought forth tremendous tactics that even a veteran like himself had never considered, and said he would actually play an active role.
From Raikovsky’s position, it could not help but be surprising.
“Then shall we depart?”
Jonghyeon, who had to draw the Ifrits’ attention heavily, felt excitement and heavy responsibility simultaneously.
---------= Afterword =---------
Mr. Ryu: Everyone~~ Your recommendations give me great strength..