Chapter 143. The Real Danger

An enormous S-rank dungeon appeared in China, shaking the world. The emergence was newsworthy in itself, but a large one was a game-changer.

—Professor, what exactly is a “large” dungeon?

—It’s just like the name suggests. It’s a dungeon that’s huge in both appearance and structure, usually far bigger than an average dungeon.

Every news channel in China buzzed about the new dungeon. While a typical dungeon was usually made up of a single root, a large dungeon was like a forest of roots. It reminded some of the recent incident at the Academy, where multiple dungeons had converged, but the scale of this one was beyond anything they had ever seen.

—People say it’s big enough to swallow an entire city...

—Exactly. That’s why China gave up exclusive rights to the dungeon.

—What does that mean?

—It means they are basically saying, “Anyone who can, come and clear this thing.” They don’t care if you’re a foreigner or whatever.

Click

.

A slim finger pressed the red button on the remote, turning off the TV. Yeon Hong-Ah turned her attention back to her computer screen. She had known about it long before, after all. She scrolled the mouse, her chin resting in her hand.

“Why aren’t you going to China?” Shin Yoo-Sung, sitting at the guest table, casually asked her.

The guild master’s office seemed relatively modest and small compared to Rune Mage guild’s reputation. Shin Yoo-Sung was there, skimming through a newspaper.

Without looking up, Yeon Hong-Ah answered indifferently. “Just because.”

“Didn’t Gao Lin come all the way in person to invite So-Eu—, Mr. Do-Joon?”

Shin Yoo-Sung had been referring to Kim Do-Joon as "So-Eun’s father”, hoping to put Kim So-Eun in the Mir Guild’s curriculum. However, during a recent meeting, Kim Do-Joon politely but firmly told him that he had no intention of entrusting his daughter to anyone, so such titles should be dropped. The rejection stung Shin Yoo-Sung for a bit, but he got over it.

“Are you upset that Gao Lin didn’t invite you? Did that hurt your pride?” Shin Yoo-Sung asked.

“Hardly. I wouldn’t risk my life over something like that,” Yeon Hong-Ah replied, her tone as flat as ever.

After all, she was an experienced S-rank Hunter who had gone through thick and thin, and not some brat. Also, there was no special reason. She just wanted to observe the situation for a bit. Large dungeons weren’t something one could clear in a day or two, so she figured she had time to wait.

Yeon Hong-Ah continued to browse the web. Her searches mostly involved articles and comments about the large dungeon in China. Besides, a significant portion of these discussions revolved around the S-rank Hunters from Korea heading there and the newly-formed Family Guild.

—I heard that the Family Guild has three S-rank members just in the founding group. Is that right?

—Wow, that’s insane. Aren’t they basically the strongest guild then?

—But they’re still low in numbers. Give them a few months and they’ll easily surpass the top four guilds.

People were buzzing with excitement. After all, it wasn’t every day that a guild with three S-rank Hunters was formed. Moreover, their leader was none other than Kim Do-Joon, who left such a lasting impression during the Giant Woodland incident.

—And their first mission is an S-rank large dungeon lol.

—Let’s crush all the Chinese Hunters!

—Let’s go!

The hot topic of the moment, Kim Do-Joon, had founded a hot new guild and was now heading to a hot new dungeon. Though the dungeon hadn’t been cleared yet, people were already talking about it like it was an event on par with the Olympics or the World Cup.

Some had doubts about the two S-rank members of the Family Guild, Jecheon Seong and Yoon Si-Ah, but excitement drowned them out. Son Chang-Il had carefully planned everything and made sure every step was taken with precision. Meanwhile, China’s top Hunter, Gao Lin, inviting foreign aid only fueled the frenzy.

Yeon Hong-Ah had access to more information than the general public. She had witnessed Kim Do-Joon fight on several occasions including in the past A-rank dungeon, during his duel with Walter, and finally, when he took down the Blood Lion deep within the Giant Woodland.

“Who do you think is stronger, Kim Do-Joon or Gao Lin?” Yeon Hong-Ah muttered her thoughts out loud.

Normally, she wouldn’t have entertained such a childish question. She believed that honing one’s skills was about personal growth, not about comparing oneself to others.

However, she was also a human—a seeker of greater power, just like other S-rank Hunters. Since she wasn’t perfect, it was impossible for her to simply disregard the strength of others.

“What kind of question is that?” Shin Yoo-Sung replied casually. “Mr. Kim Do-Joon is obviously the stronger one.”

His certainty left Yeon Hong-Ah momentarily speechless. There was absolute conviction in his eyes, a faith so strong, almost like blind belief.

I’ve heard people say S-rank Hunters from other countries are always trying to one-up each other.

It made sense since they were all competing for the same prize. However, seeing Shin Yoo-Sung’s attitude, it seemed that kind of rivalry wasn’t going to be an issue in their country.

***

Meanwhile, while the world buzzed with excitement, the plane ride was quiet. The dim lighting and comfortable atmosphere made it easy to relax. In that peaceful environment, Kim Do-Joon was resting comfortably.

“Mr. Kim Do-Joon,” a small voice called out, waking him gently.

He opened his eyes, immediately fully alert despite having been asleep just moments before.

“We have arrived at Shanghai International Airport.”

***

“We’ll take you to the hotel,” said Ryung Yao as Kim Do-Joon and Jecheon Seong stepped into the car he had arranged.

The vehicle glided smoothly, without the slightest vibration, as if the ground itself was cushioning their journey.

“As you might know, the government has relinquished all claims to this dungeon,” Ryung Yao explained, turning slightly in his seat. “That means you’re free to enter and hunt as you please, whenever you’re ready.”

Kim Do-Joon unfolded the file he had been given earlier. His eyes first landed on a map with red-marked zones and several photographs. The massive dungeon in northern Shanghai sprawled so wide it seemed to have swallowed an entire city with its roots.

“The government has to seal off a dungeon to claim any rights over it, but that’s impossible with this size,” Ryung Yao continued. “Even if they managed to gather the manpower and equipment, the cost would be unimaginable.”

Kim Do-Joon nodded. Governments typically claimed exclusive rights to dungeons to profit from the materials and items Hunters retrieved. However, this dungeon was too enormous, so the expense of maintaining control over it would far exceed any potential earnings. That was why China decided to open it to foreign Hunters as well.

“Are there any monsters spilling out of the dungeon?” Kim Do-Joon asked, glancing at the map again.

Sure, the financial aspect made sense, but he was curious about public safety. He did not think the government would just let the monsters run wild.

“The Eight Dragons Association is handling that, in cooperation with the Hunter Association.”

The Eight Dragons Association was China’s largest guild alliance, made up of eight powerful guilds. And Gao Lin, the country’s top Hunter, served as its leader.

“It’s impressive, isn’t it?” Ryung Yao said, a touch of pride in his voice. “Gao Lin is in his early thirties and already he’s the head of the Eight Dragons Association.”

To the Chinese, Gao Lin was more than a hero; he was a national icon. Though no one would say it out loud, his name probably held more weight than the president’s.

Ryung Yao stole a glance at Kim Do-Joon and Jecheon Seong, expecting admiration or maybe envy. However, he saw confusion instead.

These guys...

He had expected them to be at least mildly impressed, but their expressions were something else entirely. Rather than indifference, it was as if they genuinely didn’t understand why this was a big deal.

Didn't Elder become the Heavenly Demon at the age of twenty-five?

Kim Do-Joon thought.

That guy I saw previously is supposed to be the strongest in the country? China must be seriously lacking in talent,

Jecheon Seong thought.

“Are you a member of the Eight Dragons Association too?” Kim Do-Joon asked, snapping Ryung Yao out of his thoughts.

“Yes, yes! I was recruited right out of university,” he answered quickly.

“What university did you attend?” Kim Do-Joon asked, as if genuinely curious.

“I went to Beijing University,” Ryung Yao replied.

“Wow,” Kim Do-Joon responded, sounding genuinely impressed.

Jecheon Seong turned to Kim Do-Joon. “What’s Beijing University?”

“As far as I know, it’s the top university here.”

“Like the National Confucian Academy?”

“Yeah, something like that.”

“

Huh

,” Jecheon Seong muttered, nodding in approval.

Suddenly, both Kim Do-Joon and Jecheon Seong were looking at Ryung Yao with newfound respect, their eyes gleaming with admiration. Again, not toward Gao Lin, but for Ryung Yao, their guide.

The stark contrast in their reactions to Gao Lin and Ryung Yao left the latter completely bewildered.

What’s up with these people...?

He had never met anyone who seemed more impressed by a Beijing University graduate than the leader of the Eight Dragons Association. Most people would be in awe of Gao Lin’s unparalleled strength, not a mere university degree.

“I’d love to hear more about your studies sometime,” Kim Do-Joon said earnestly.

“Uh, sure...” Ryung Yao replied, awkwardly.

As the conversation died down, Kim Do-Joon refocused on the file in front of him. It was filled with information gathered from early surveys and reconnaissance of the dungeon. However, this was only a fraction of what they needed to know.

In a regular dungeon, this kind of data would be enough to form a solid plan, but in a dungeon of this size, it barely scratched the surface—maybe covering ten percent at most.

So are they planning to use foreign Hunters to thin out the monsters inside?

If the number of monsters inside the dungeon decreased, the Eight Dragons Association’s job of holding the perimeter would become easier. And once the foreign Hunters were worn out, the fresher and more prepared elite forces of the Eight Dragons Association would step in to finish the job—that was most likely their plan.

In the world of international politics, where power ruled, there was no way China would open up an S-rank dungeon without some ulterior motive.

However, Kim Do-Joon wasn’t bothered by it. The plan assumed that the boss of the dungeon would not be taken down until the Eight Dragons Association was ready. If the boss was discovered and killed before that, then China would have essentially handed over an S-rank dungeon to foreign Hunters.

In that scenario, all China would gain was a pat on the back for their quick response in managing the situation—hardly worth the cost of giving away such a valuable resource.

“We’ve arrived,” the driver announced, bringing them to the hotel.

They arrived at the Grand Carlton Hotel, and the towering building stood like a giant amidst the bustling cityscape. As Kim Do-Joon and his companions stepped into the hotel lobby, he immediately sensed something strange.

Hmm...

The atmosphere was far more crowded than he had expected, and there was a palpable tension hanging in the air. It was not long before he understood why.

So, a lot of Hunters are already gathered here.

He could feel the immense mana radiating from each person. These were clearly Hunters who had come to participate in the large-scale dungeon raid. Given that the dungeon was classified as S-rank, it made sense that only top-tier Hunters, at least A-rank or higher, would be present.

Kim Do-Joon quickly noticed the eyes on him. Whispers and hushed conversations swirled around him. He couldn’t understand the foreign languages being spoken, but he could pick up the tone. There was a clear sense of wariness, and he distinctly heard his name mentioned in their exchanges.

“Shall we head up?” asked Ryung Yao, breaking his train of thought.

“Sure,” Kim Do-Joon replied with a nod.

Following Ryung Yao’s lead, Kim Do-Joon and Jecheon Seong were taken to their rooms. The hotel had generously provided two spacious suites, each large enough for an entire family to stay in. Oddly, however, the two rooms weren’t next to each other, but on different floors.

“With so many Hunters from around the world flocking to Shanghai, the hotel is completely booked,” Ryung Yao explained apologetically. “It was quite difficult to even secure these rooms.”

It didn’t feel like he was making excuses, but Kim Do-Joon didn’t really mind. Then, he and Jecheon Seong parted ways, each heading to their respective rooms.

Once inside, Kim Do-Joon sat on the edge of his bed and pulled out his phone. They had agreed to rest until dinner, where they would discuss matters further.

—Daddy! Did you get there safely?

His phone screen lit up with a video call from his cheerful daughter, Kim So-Eun.

“Yes, Daddy’s at the hotel now.”

—Wow!

Kim So-Eun’s eyes sparkled when he showed her the room’s luxurious interior and the city view from the window.

Maybe our next family trip should be overseas,

Kim Do-Joon thought to himself, smiling at his daughter’s excitement.

After finishing his call with Kim So-Eun, he also spoke briefly with Siwelin, before lying down on the bed. He wasn’t tired enough to sleep, so he turned on the TV for background noise and opened the files from Ryung Yao.

China has relinquished all rights to the dungeon...

Kim Do-Joon mused, flipping through the documents. It sounded good on paper, and the reasoning behind it was easy to understand. However, there was one thing Ryung Yao had not mentioned that Kim Do-Joon picked up on.

When a country gave up all rights, they weren’t just forfeiting the privileges, but also washing their hands of all responsibilities.

For instance, they won’t be protecting the foreign Hunters within their borders.

In other words, no matter what happened inside the dungeon, it would not be China’s responsibility. That explained the cautious, almost hostile stares he had felt in the lobby. The Hunters gathered here knew that a publicly accessible S-rank dungeon was essentially a lawless zone.

Perhaps, the real danger in this raid was not the dungeon itself, but the Hunters inside it.

Knock, knock.

“Who is it?” Kim Do-Joon asked as he stood up, his deep thoughts interrupted.

***

Around the same time, a similar knock echoed on Jecheon Seong’s door, one floor below.

“Who’s there?” Jecheon Seong asked, opening the door with a click.

Standing on the other side was someone he recognized.

“May I have a moment of your time?” asked Gao Lin, the leader of the Eight Dragons Association, who had come directly to meet Jecheon Seong.