Chapter 152. King’s Scent

The Branch had two significant differences from the Roots and Stems. First, it had only emerged in China, specifically in Shanghai.

Only some had witnessed a video of Gao Lin scattering shadows near the headquarters of Black Dragon Guild. Most of the world remained unaware of this phenomenon, as China kept the situation under wraps.

The second difference was that unlike the Roots, which released monsters, or the Stems, which birthed elves, this branch didn’t produce any immediate threats. It simply spread its vast presence across the area.

Of course, the damage was still severe, sweeping away countless residents of Shanghai, but the lack of additional threats provided some solace to the Chinese authorities. Yet Kim Do-Joon could not shake an unsettling feeling.

Is this really okay?

The unease had been growing ever since the Branch appeared. It was accompanied by a lingering foreboding, intensified by a peculiar dream from nights ago.

“This is Jang Yeok-Bin, reporting as requested. I’ve heard that you were looking to speak to a higher up.”

It was during this restless period that the public security bureau arrived. Kim Do-Joon’s initial complaints had sent their underlings scurrying. Not long after, they returned with a man who introduced himself as Jang Yeok-Bin. He had a friendly demeanor and a calm air about him.

“I’ve anticipated this situation, so I’ve already prepared compensation plans for you. Please take a look,” Jang Yeok-Bin offered.

Though described as a “superior,” Jang Yeok-Bin wasn’t much higher in rank than the previous agent. He was more like their senior. Still, his extensive preparation, evidenced by the thick stack of documents in his bag, suggested he had come determined. Out of courtesy, Kim Do-Joon sat down and reviewed the files.

Quite a lot of money I see,

Kim Do-Joon remarked internally.

The compensation package included significant financial and material rewards, with dozens of items from the Chinese Hunter Association’s inventory on offer. Some of them even boasted enticing options that piqued Kim Do-Joon’s interest.

“This is an extraordinary offer, considering you’ve only recently achieved S-rank, Mr. Kim Do-Joon. If you’d like, feel free to consult other S-rank Hunters,” Jang said confidently.

Kim Do-Joon didn’t even need to ask. The offer was indeed impressive—at least monetarily. However, there were two things that made him hesitant.

First was a clause requiring him to unconditionally follow the orders and commands of the Eight Dragons Association. While it was standard protocol to obey a leader’s directives in a dungeon, it was only viable when there was a baseline of mutual trust.

Given Gao Lin and Ghost Slayer Division’s recent assault and the suspicion that Gao Lin was behind the current branch, trust was sorely lacking.

I could negotiate this.

However, the second issue troubled him more.

“This matter has the full backing of the Chairman himself. If you agree to participate, I’ll ensure your involvement is reported directly—”

Thud.

Jang Yeok-Bin’s words were cut off as Kim Do-Joon dropped the documents onto the table.

“Why is there no information about the inside?” Kim Do-Joon asked sharply.

“...Excuse me?” Jang Yeok-Bin seemed flustered.

“There’s nothing about the monsters inside. Besides, there’s no mention of the terrain or the environment and not even the extent of damage suffered by Eight Dragons Association. This is completely blank.”

Kim Do-Joon tapped the papers with his finger for emphasis, while his gaze was fixed on Jang Yeok-Bin.

Jang Yeok-Bin floundered under the scrutiny, his composure faltering.

“T-that information isn’t necessary for the contract. Hunters often enter unexplored dungeons, don’t they? This agreement is based on a standard template. There’s nothing unusual about it.”

What a laughable explanation. Even unexplored dungeons underwent minimal scouting to ensure a baseline of safety. For a contract involving a repeatedly explored dungeon, a lack of details was simply unacceptable.

The omission was deliberate, and the reason was obvious.

They really want to keep this a secret, huh? The confidentiality clause in the contract makes it even clearer.

Kim Do-Joon thought that either China wasn’t as desperate as it seemed, or it wasn’t willing to let go of one’s pride out of sheer stubbornness. Neither option sat well with him.

His expression darkened, causing Jang Yeok-Bin to flinch. Even though the public security bureau was an unyielding force within China, they were no match for an S-rank Hunter. Kim Do-Joon could reduce a grown man to pulp with a flick of his fingers.

𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Despite feeling as if he were held at gunpoint, Jang Yeok-Bin stood his ground.

“I’m sorry, but that information is confidential.”

It was evident that Jang Yeok-Bin feared something even more than the man seated before him.

“Unbelievable,” Kim Do-Joon muttered, leaning back in his chair.

The public security agent exuded a stubborn resolve to stay silent, and Kim Do-Joon had no intention of pushing further at this stage. As a result, the negotiation broke down.

“I cannot speak on this matter with my authority.”

They went back to square one.

“Then bring me someone who

can

talk about this matter,” Kim Do-Joon said, his tone cold.

Creaaak.

Clunk.

Defeated, Jang Yeok-Bin lowered his head and left the hotel, shoulders slumped.

***

“He dared to speak like that? Arrogant bastard!”

Bang!

Yang Huai slammed his fist onto the desk after hearing the report. He had led numerous assaults against the black coffin, and all had ended in failure, with countless Hunters losing their lives. Yet, when he had sent people to bolster their forces, all they brought back was an insolent message.

“By asking for ‘someone who can talk,’ he meant...” the chief began, his tone heavy.

“He’s asking for you or me to meet him in person,” replied Yang Huai.

“That cocky brat,” the chairman muttered, grinding his teeth. “You said he’s an S-rank?” the chief asked.

“He only reached S-rank recently. Before that, he was just a fledgling A-rank,” Yang Huai replied.

Both Yang Huai and the Public Security Bureau Chief had come across Kim Do-Joon’s name before. Yang Huai had even seen him once outside the hotel. To them, he was just a young Hunter who had barely earned his S-rank title.

“Do we even need someone like him? Haven’t we already summoned Hunters from across the country? Picking two of them at random would be more useful than some newly minted S-rank,” the chief questioned.

Yang Huai shook his head. “You’re not wrong. But it’s not him we need—it’s the old man he came with.”

“The old man?” the chief asked.

He was referring to the old man who had split the root and whom Gao Lin had been so fixated on. That old man’s strength was undeniable, and Yang Huai had been certain that the old man could break through the impasse surrounding the black coffin.

Although they had previously offered the old man extravagant rewards and positions of power, he had brushed off every offer like nothing. The old man only had one demand: “Talk to Kim Do-Joon first.”

When Yang Huai’s team approached Kim Do-Joon, they were met with that same arrogant response: “If they have business, tell them to come to me themselves.”

“What do you plan to do?” the chief asked, uneasy.

Yang Huai’s judgment was usually sound. However, doubts lingered because no matter how strong the old man was, he was just another Hunter. Soon, the nationwide Eight Dragons Association would gather in Shanghai, but would Yang Huai really go out of his way to recruit one person?

His pride probably wouldn’t allow it. But the longer the mission is delayed, the harder it will become to determine the fate of the citizens.

The citizens appeared to be within an area guarded by those black-armored creatures, but beyond that, no information was available. Moreover, no one had ever managed to breach the guards and enter. Determining the citizens' fate was the top priority.

Yang Huai came to a swift decision.

“Forget it. The fate of this operation doesn’t hinge on one S-rank Hunter,” he declared, exhaling sharply as he slumped into his chair. “Besides, bringing in a foreigner only increases the risk of leaking information, so it’s not worth it.”

“But what about the citizens? They might be dying as we speak. Even Black Dragon Guild’s headquarters were affected,” the chief protested.

At his response, Yang Huai’s brow furrowed.

“The headquarters may have been hit, but our guild remains strong. We’re not some fragile organization that crumbles when one building falls. As for the citizens...”

Yang Huai tapped the hilt of his sword at his waist.

“Sacrifices must be made for the greater good.”

***

The mysterious branch in Shanghai became the focus of global attention. Foreign reporters demanded answers at a press conference, but the Chinese spokesperson remained tight-lipped. Not only did they refuse to disclose information, they also declined any offers of foreign aid.

"China still has sufficient strength!"

That was their stance, and it was not an empty claim. The remaining Black Dragon Guild Hunters from across the country were converging on Shanghai. Each guild rivaled the major international powerhouses, and now, their combined strength was gathering in one city. It was difficult to believe there were any dungeons they couldn’t conquer.

Even foreign Hunters who had gathered initially for the potential spoils of an S-rank dungeon were starting to leave.

“I’ll be heading back,” said Daniel, one of the foreign Hunters.

“Safe travels,” Kim Do-Joon replied curtly.

“If you ever visit the U.S., we’ll treat you well, Hunter Kim Do-Joon,” Tyler offered with a smile before leaving with his team.

Just like that, Daniel and Tyler headed back to the U.S. realizing it would be pointless to remain in Shanghai.

Then, another Hunter approached Kim Do-Joon.

“You’re not leaving Hunter Kim Do-Joon?”

“Well, I’m not sure yet,” Kim Do-Joon replied.

Truthfully, Kim Do-Joon could leave. He had come to clear an S-rank dungeon, not to linger in a city teeming with Black Dragon Guild Hunters and political intrigue. The Branch was Shanghai’s problem, not his.

And yet, something gnawed at him. A feeling, persistent and inescapable, kept him anchored. Was it because of that strange dream?

“Alright then. I’ll also get going.”

Many foreign Hunters were also leaving Shanghai. After all, it was no longer a situation where one could think about any bounty or rewards.

“It seems like something’s bothering you,” said Jecheon Seong.

“...I’m not sure what it is,” Kim Do-Joon admitted, frowning. “I’m sorry. You’ve been stuck here because of me.”

“Don’t worry about it. If something weighs on your mind, it’s best to resolve it before moving on. Small worries can grow into great demons,” Jecheon Seong chuckled, his voice calm and reassuring.

Kim Do-Joon nodded, appreciating the elder’s wisdom. With that, Jecheon Seong suggested they have a spar since he was bored.

After the evening spar, when they had finished and wiped the sweat from their bodies, a certain news arrived.

The next raid team of the Eight Dragons Association, many times larger than before, had been annihilated.

***

The next morning, visitors arrived. Standing at the door were Yang Huai, the Guild Master of Black Dragon, with his perpetually scowling, rough-hewn face, and a middle-aged man known as the chief of the Public Security Bureau.

“Pleasure to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you,” the chief said warmly, extending a hand.

Kim Do-Joon shook his hand briefly and took a seat. Yang Huai, sitting across from him, was red-faced, his frustration obvious to everyone. Sensing the tension, the chief began to speak.

The chief’s proposal wasn’t much different from his subordinate. It was about the generous reward and numerous benefits Kim Do-Joon can get if he agreed to help clear the black coffin.

“My apologies for the previous rudeness,” the chief said with a slight bow. “We sincerely ask for your assistance.”

“Chief Liu! I’ve told you before, this isn’t—”

“Guild Master Yang!”

The two men didn’t typically interact this way. Yet, Yang Huai swallowed whatever protest he had and simply scowled, his frustration clear but muted. He couldn’t argue because his repeated failures weighed heavily on him.

“We are past the point of turning away help,” the chief said firmly. “We’ve already reached out to other Hunters, but Kim Do-Joon and Jecheon Seong are S-rank Hunters we cannot afford to lose. Both are invaluable.”

If they could convince Kim Do-Joon, they would gain not just him but also Jecheon Seong, a man whose strength was vouched for by both Gao Lin and Yang Huai themselves.

“Now that we’re all here, perhaps you can tell me what really happened inside the coffin.”

As the two bickered, Kim Do-Joon finally interjected, his calm voice cutting through the tension.

The chief hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Of course.”

Kim Do-Joon listened carefully as the chief began his explanation. He began with the first encounter with the Black Armored Soldiers, one of whom wore the face of the Black Dragon Hunter. Unable to defeat these foes outright, they had amassed a large force, hoping to overwhelm the enemy with sheer numbers. That decision, however, had been their greatest mistake.

“Are you telling me the Hunters started fighting amongst themselves?” Kim Do-Joon asked, his expression darkening.

The chief nodded grimly. “At first, it was just the Black Armored Soldiers. But then, some of our Hunters began to fall under the shadows. One by one, they turned on their comrades, attacking our team.”

Hearing this, Kim Do-Joon’s mind immediately went to Gao Lin’s ability to control Tyler during their earlier encounter.

“Were they being controlled?”

“Not exactly,” the chief said. “It felt less like control and more like... they became completely different people.”

“Different people?” Kim Do-Joon muttered.

The chief explained how the few Black Armored Soldiers had grown into an overwhelming force as more and more Hunters joined their ranks, turning against their allies. By now, the black coffin was overrun, making any attempt at an assault feel suicidal.

“If that’s the case, why didn’t you try sending a smaller, more specialized team?” Kim Do-Joon asked, a sharp edge to his voice.

“Well...” The chief glanced at Yang Huai, whose expression darkened even further.

The implication was clear: Yang Huai had insisted on brute-forcing the problem despite knowing the risks. Seeing the silent exchange, Kim Do-Joon shook his head.

“And now? What’s the situation?”

“It’s dire,” the chief admitted. “The Hunters still with us are demoralized and confused. Morale has plummeted. And the enemy forces now outnumber ours. This is why we need you—”

Before he could finish, Kim Do-Joon suddenly narrowed his eyes. Without warning, he summoned his spear from his inventory and launched it with precision.

“What are you doing!” Yang Huai roared, instinctively reaching for his sword.

Even for a man like him, this was a shocking breach of protocol during negotiations. Yang Huai barely had time to block as Kim Do-Joon’s spear whistled past his face, smashing through the window behind him with a deafening crash. The Guild Master froze, realizing the spear had not been meant for him.

Outside the shattered window stood a figure cloaked in dark armor, effortlessly catching the spear mid-air.

“L-Li Weipeng!” Yang Huai muttered, his face draining of color. “This is Impossible...”

The Black Armored intruder wore the face of Li Weipeng. His obsidian armor glinted in the morning light, exuding a menacing aura.

The figure examined the spear in its hand, then turned its gaze toward Kim Do-Joon.

“The King was right,” it said in a low, otherworldly voice. “Why do you carry the King’s scent?”

Kim Do-Joon’s eyes twitched at the mention of the word: King.