Chapter 57 - Ghoul Lord (1) (1/2)
”Don’t grab each other’s ankles?”
”As long as we aren’t hostile to each other, no related missions will be created. As you know, the contents of the mission depends on the sovereign. In other words, we are able to coexist. This isn’t my idea, but the words of my subordinate who was a sovereign.”
Killing sovereigns wasn’t just due to the missions. Killing another sovereign had the advantage of being able to acquire everything they had.
Kang-jun also knew this fact.
However, it wasn’t easy to maintain a relations.h.i.+p of trust with other sovereigns in Hwanmong when there was a chance of being killed first.
It was because an alliance could break at any time.
It was better to kill them and get benefits than to receive trouble later on.
Kang-jun’s eyes shone coldly.
”No, I'll catch your ankles. You won’t get bigger if you beat me, but I can gain 100 billion won for killing you. When thinking about it from my position, the answer is obvious.”
“Dammit! Are you really going to try something with me?”
The gla.s.s that Yoo Seung-hwan was holding broke. He turned poisonous eyes towards Kang-jun.
“Kukuk! It won’t be easy. There are many variables in a war that you don’t know yet. Please note that I have already secured 10 sovereigns. What if I join forces with them to oppose you? Do you really want to go against me?”
He had bent his pride and extended a hand to Kang-jun. If Kang-jun refused then he would use all his strength to smash him.
Kang-jun laughed.
”That's right. I will try it. Then this talk is over.”
As soon as Kang-jun was about to get up, Yoo Seung-hwan let out a dramatic sigh.
“Wait! Tell me what the conditions are. If the conditions are good then I don’t see why there is a need for bloodshed.”
Kang-jun grinned.
”Is that so? But you will have to present me with the conditions.”
”Okay. Then money. 50...”
”If I kill you then I can get 100 billion won. Maybe there might be more. Your hidden wealth. If you don’t give me an equivalent profit then I’m not interested.”
“What? Isn’t your greed too excessive?”
”Consider it lowly while the red moon is rising. Once the moon is over, there will be no more negotiations. Then I’m going now.”
Kang-jun turned and left the room. Yoo Seung-hwan grinded his teeth together.
”Ugh! Lucan! You are looking at me too lightly. I will make you regret this!”
Thus the negotiations broke down.
Two days later in Hwanmong.
Kang-jun showed up at the base on the 5th floor of the Yugang building where the waiting Keirun handed him a scroll.
“Lord! A summons has arrived from Commander Heksia.”
”Am I going to the headquarters?”
”Only Lord can open it.”
Kang-jun unrolled the scroll containing the military command.
[A command to Sovereign Lucan.
The Ghoul Corps under the Second Demon King has attacked so come to the battlefield immediately.
-Commander Heksia.]
A portal was generated in front of Kang-jun. He would be taken to the battlefield once he entered.
A battle was happening straight away.
‘There is no time to rest.’
Kang-jun laughed. It was what he had been hoping for.
”Are things okay at the base?”
”Yes, Lord. There are sufficient funds to summon the troops. There are also opportunities for studying combat at the research inst.i.tute. Once the study is complete, it will be helpful to Lord in battle.”
”Okay. Then I will be going now.”
“Please be careful, Lord.”
”I will be careful.”
“Kuwaaah! Please call me if you ever need my strength, Lord.”
Keirun, Germuz and Rodiam all bowed towards Kang-jun.
Kang-jun waved and entered the portal with a smile.
Chuuuot!
The bright light from the portal disappeared and a rough wilderness could be seen.
The sky was tinged blood red by the moon and bizarre flying monsters were fighting fiercely.
There were giant bat shaped creatures and some that looked like devilfish.
“Kuweeeh!”
”Kkaaaaaah!”
The devilfish used their fins as wings to swim in the sky, so their speed was very fast. They were entangled with the bat animals, biting each other and tearing each other apart. It seemed to be a battle of ancient pterosaurs.
However, a woman with red wings standing silently in front of a magic circle showed no interest in the battle.
It was none other than Heksia. She was frowning like she was dissatisfied with something.
“You should come and greet me after arriving. I am your direct supervisor.”
In the end, Kang-jun bowed his head slightly to greet her.
“Where is the Ghoul Corps?”
”I will explain once the other sovereigns are here. Speaking too many times is annoying.”
”As you wish.”
Kang-jun nodded and waited near the magic circle. One or two other sovereigns soon appeared.
Their faces still couldn’t be seen. He couldn’t even recognize who was who by the appearance.
Only the names on their clothes were familiar.
Zenith, Avia, Caper, Rozia and Hardis.
”Kuhuhum!”
When Hardis saw Kang-jun, he coughed with disgruntlement and turned his head away. He seemed to be angry at Kang-jun for rejecting his offer.
Half the sovereigns sent friendly smiles towards Kang-jun while the other half had looks of hostility.
Maybe some were friendly towards Kang-jun because he helped them in the last battle.
On the other hand, the other sovereigns were wary of Kang-jun monopolizing everything.
Zenith and Avia, who were sovereigns with a strong desire for victory, were especially looking at him with blazing eyes.
's.h.i.+t! Today I must destroy more monsters than him.’
‘Bah! Last time I wasn’t in a good condition. Today I will win.’
On the other hand, Hardis didn’t think he could win over Kang-jun. Still, he had some ideas to keep Kang-jun from performing his best.
‘You stupid boy! Let me see how strong you are by yourself. I am also persistent.’
However, Kang-jun showed no interest in what the other sovereigns were thinking.
He was only interested in today’s mission.
Once all the sovereigns were gathered, Heksia explained.
”Today you will fight the ghouls with me. Unlike last time, there is no resurrection gem on the battlefield so you will have to wait at headquarters if you die. Therefore, be careful not to die. If you become injured then don’t hold back on using your potions. Understand?”
“Yes.”
The sovereigns all tensed up.
Today, they wouldn’t be able to enter the battlefield and gain more achievement points if they died once. They would fall behind other sovereigns.
It was the same for Kang-jun.
Earlier it was mentioned that he could die, so he always had to maintain his tension in a war.
Heksia continued speaking.
“The individual strength of the ghouls is weaker than the creatures you dealt with last time. But their numbers are incomparable. While I fight against the ghoul lord, all you have to do is break through and destroy the Jewel of Darkness.”
”The Jewel of Darkness?”
After Kang-jun asked, Heksia chanted a spell and created the illusion of a small jewel.
It was a jewel with black smoke coming from it.
”This Jewel of Darkness is the source of power for the ghouls. If you don’t destroy it then the ghouls will continue to be resurrected.”
It was a jewel with the same abilities as the red gem.
Heksia swept her gaze over the sovereigns.
”In this battle, you can get 30 achievement points if you survive until the end. So try not to die. The one who destroys the Jewel of Darkness will be given 100 achievement points, while the one who kills the most ghouls will receive an additional 80 achievement points.
The eyes of the sovereigns shone.