Chapter 118: Chapter 118

Ethan watched Min Sung leave and opened his mouth.

“If we keep dancing to that guy’s drum, not only will the devils go over to him, but so will the whole world.”

In response, the other commanders kept quiet.

“He seems to be greedy for money, so even if we have to convince him later or we have to make other sacrifices, it’s more important for us to grow and do things ourselves. Now that we caught a devil, what do we have to be afraid of?”

Ethan’s words were convincing.

The commanders didn’t refute.

He decided to make the seriously injured soldiers leave the tower if necessary.

The reason for that was because using the American hunters was the most effective at clearing the tower, and if they weren’t American hunters, they weren’t going to be much help anyway.

As soon as some of the other hunters led the injured down the tower, the American hunters proceeded to raid the 9th floor.

However, as soon as Min Sung stepped out, the world hunters other than the American ones started to feel anxious.

***

Ji Yoo Kim took the injured soldiers and led them out of the tower.

Unlike the other countries’ team leaders, Ji Yoo Kim was the commander of Korea.

However, she didn’t feel like going up the tower any longer.

The reason was partly Min Sung Kang as well as the acknowledgment that she wouldn’t be much help in the fights anyway.

On their way down, no monsters appeared, and in the meantime, Ji Yoo Kim walked as if she was completely out of it.

She decided to fulfill her duty as the general and produce good results, but that determination didn’t last long.

Her frustration about herself made her heart feel heavy, and it wouldn’t leave.

“General, are you all right?”

In response to the new head of the investigation, Ji Yoo Kim came to her senses.

“Oh, I’m fine.”

Ji Yoo Kim pretended to be okay, but in the head of the investigation’s eyes, she didn’t look fine at all.

However, that didn’t mean a subordinate could give her any words of comfort either.

Ji Yoo Kim shook her head.

She kept hearing Min Sung’s voice in her head.

Ji Yoo Kim caught her breath and looked ahead.

‘I should listen.’

‘I should think, think again, and prove myself.’

Although she was the general, she had to accept things for the way they were and not step back.

She was in a position where she couldn’t throw a fit just because things were hard, and she had no right to do so.

Saying she was tired was nothing but an excuse to put down her responsibilities.

Ji Yoo Kim applied determination on top of her current wounds. She opened her eyes wide and stretched out her shoulders.

They were approaching the 1st floor already.

Ji Yoo Kim and the other hunters quickly left the tower.

***

The robed man watched the hunters leave the tower and put on his hood.

He had hidden the car containing the items near the assembly.

A moment later, teams transporting the injured began to arrive on land.

There were fewer people than expected, but he thought they would be enough.

They would never be able to resist such a temptation.

The robed man was certain of this and got up from the rock.

***

The soldiers that arrived on land entered the tent for treatment.

While the injured were being treated, the team leaders were either smoking outside or drinking.

It was only Ji Yoo Kim who quietly rested.

At that moment, the robed man appeared where the team leaders were gathered.

Once they spotted the robed man, they stared with their guards up.

“Who are you?”

One team leader asked as he looked his way.

The robed man showed him a nameplate without a word.

The nameplate signified that he was a part of Samchunkyo.

The fact that someone from Samchunkyo came was a big deal.

“S-Samchunkyo!”

All of the eyes suddenly focused on the robed man.

That was how powerful the Samchunkyo nameplate was.

The glares disappeared, and the hunters suddenly looked scared.

“I’d like to speak with you. Follow me.”

The robed man gave them the order and proceeded to walk toward the tent where the commanders held their meetings.

The team leaders looked at each other.

They then followed the robed man.

Even Ji Yoo Kim followed them into the tent with a nervous look on her face.

***

“The reason why I wanted to see you is because I wanted to hear your opinions.”

The robed man put down his tea glass and started talking.

The hunters focused on the robed man with nervous faces.

They were uneasy about the fact that they were discussing such an important matter when they weren’t even commanders.

However, they couldn’t disobey an order coming from a man of Samchunkyo.

They simply waited for the robed man to explain why he wanted to see them.

“You probably noticed how powerful American hunters have become.”

As soon as the robed man finished, the hunters began trembling.

Just like the others, Ji Yoo Kim thought, ‘No way.’

The robed man took out an item and put it on the table.

“The American hunters ingested this item. That’s how they became more powerful. Following our long research, this allows one’s capabilities to improve multiple times.”

In response, the hunters finally felt relieved of their curiosity.

Not long before, these world hunters struggled to catch even one devil on the 1st floor.

But since the American hunters just caught a devil with their upgraded power, they couldn’t help but feel suspicious.

‘So they were that strong because of Samchunkyo…’

The hunters couldn’t contain their surprise.

“The reason I’m here is because I was wondering if any other commanders would like to ingest this item.”

In response, one of the team leaders sprung up from his seat.

“I’ll contact them and ask.”

As soon as one left, the rest followed behind him.

The only ones remaining in the tent was the robed man and Ji Yoo Kim.

Ji Yoo Kim looked at the robed man with a stiffened face.

“I’m the commander of Korea. I have no reason to report to anyone.”

The robed man nodded.

“I see. Then I guess I’ll hear my first answer from Korea.”

“Why-”

“…?”

“Why did you give the item to America first? If you were going to give it to us anyway, you should’ve…”

The robed man cut off Ji Yoo Kim.

“I needed proof. It started with just the American hunter master. And once the effects were confirmed, I was able to hand it out to the rest of the American hunters. I did it to avoid any unneeded trouble.”

Despite the robed man’s explanation, Ji Yoo Kim was still suspicious.

“Why is China handing out such a precious item?”

“The tower is the most threatening dungeon to mankind. By giving out this item, we can resolve it for you without stepping up ourselves.”

“So you don’t expect anything in return?”

The robed man let out a sigh.

“Commander of Korea, make your decision. I won’t take any more questions.”

The man’s cold energy swallowed up Ji Yoo Kim.

Ji Yoo Kim began to be drenched in sweat.

He simply elicited an Aura that would pressure her, but she found it hard to breathe.

As soon as Ji Yoo Kim began struggling, the robed man stopped.

Once it became easier to breathe, Ji Yoo Kim looked back at the robed man.

“… I’m not going to eat the item, and I won’t allow any of my hunters to eat it either.”

“Nothing bad will happen from not eating it. But if you don’t, there will be a bigger difference between you and the other hunters. Are you really going to refuse?”

Ji Yoo Kim’s eyes shook, but it stabilized again.

“I won’t repeat myself. I don’t want the item.”

As soon as Ji Yoo Kim refused and got up, the robed man showed a smile.

Ji Yoo Kim left the tent with no regrets.

***

As soon as she got out of the tent, the other team leaders were all busy reporting the message to their superiors.

It was impossible to make calls to the Black Tower, but it was possible to text using an interface system.

Ji Yoo Kim looked at them and sighed.

It was possible that she made the wrong decision.

However, she still didn’t want to ingest a mysterious item, even if it would make them stronger.

Ji Yoo Kim sat on a rock and looked at the tower.

The sky was filled with clouds, and around the Black Tower was treacherous weather.

Without Min Sung with them, would they be able to get through the tower on their own?

She looked away from the Black Tower.

The team leaders began to enter the tent again after receiving their answers.

She didn’t know how many hunters would end up eating the item, but it appeared that most of the American hunters already had.

What if Samchunkyo handed out the item with some other intention?

Just the thought of that gave her chills.

Ji Yoo Kim hoped that her judgment was incorrect.

***

The American hunter master, Ethan, was taken aback.

He didn’t know Samchunkyo would stab him in the back like that.

The commanders of each country all received a message.

The message explained that the American hunters were stronger because of an item from Samchunkyo and asked if they were interested in taking it as well.

The commanders agreed and they were already controlled by the temptation.

They monitored them with both eyes.

The American hunters in action.

Their attacks were too weak in order to make sufficient damage to the devils.

Since they only obtained experience points after making damage, this got in the way of them leveling up, and as a result, they were sensitive about the issue.