Chapter 358: Monster Hunter (1)

While walking, Yoo Ha-Rin glanced at Kai. He had become noticeably quieter since accepting the Dark Zone investigation quest.

The atmosphere feels heavy.

Of course, she hadn't intended to approach the dangerous Dark Zone with a light heart, but the stern look on Kai's face was something she was seeing for the first time.

Does he feel responsible for the investigators' deaths?

After all, the reason they investigated the Dark Zone was due to the information Kai had brought.

As she repeated Cardinal Atroc’s name in her mind, her brows gradually furrowed.

The root of all evil...

At that moment, Kai said, "We're here."

Since Shadow Shift could only be used to revisit previously visited places, the two had to use the teleport gate and then walk for two full days to reach the Dark Zone.

The sight the two of them looked down upon from the windy hill was magnificent. A rough wilderness stretched out before them, followed by a vast sea of trees so immense it seemed to have no end.

"Seems like they weren’t exaggerating when they said the Dark Zone was dark."

"Yes. That’s the reason the Dark Zone has remained unexplored. You can't even carry torches in that forest."

The thick and dense leaves formed a powerful shield that blocked sunlight. Beneath them, hundreds of adventurers were likely still wandering, lost. Moreover, they couldn't even light fires at will. Unlike those in other places, the monsters of the Dark Zone were sensitive predators to fire, scent, and sound alike.

"Let’s go."

After staring down at the forest for a while, Kai took the first step forward.

***

The Mafia guild was one of the world’s eight great guilds. Their members were a mix of nationalities including Italian, Russian, American, and Greek, but the guild master, Leonard, was Russian, and the reason was simple. He was the strongest. Moreover, his ability to read the flow of the game was much better than other players.

Therefore, when territory wars were erupting everywhere, he made a completely different move from the rest. He boldly gave up his territory. Among the eight guilds, only the Pray guild and the Mafia guild had no real attachment to territory. Considering even the Pray guild owned several territories, the Mafia guild’s decision was so extreme it shocked the entire world. Of course, there was a reason he had made the bold decision to give up his territory.

"Master, here is today’s list of entries."

"

Yeah?

Let me see."

Several documents landed in the hands of the Mafia guild’s master. Those pages contained the list of those who had entered and exited the Dark Zone that day. This was the authority he gained in exchange for giving up territory.

Territory is merely a means to make money and gather power.

In other words, if he could gain money and power through other ventures, there was no need to stake everything on a territory.

What Leonard chose as a substitute for a territory was the Dark Zone. By fully investing in his relationship with the global organization, the Darkness Hunters, he secured the right for his guild to explore the Dark Zone. Rather than entering and leaving like other players, his guild was supported by the nations and granted the rights of an official expedition unit to explore the Dark Zone.

It was Leonard’s foresight that had seen the Dark Zone, which would later become the eye of the storm, as a business opportunity from the beginning. The result was a massive success.

"Lately I really understand why people always go on about monopolies."

"Of course."

Only Mafia guild’s facilities were established at the base camp of the Dark Zone. Shops, restaurants, blacksmiths, and even inns where exhausted characters could rest were all owned by the Mafia guild. Prices changed daily based on the whim of Leonard, the king of the Dark Zone.

Naturally, others couldn’t do business there. No one was bold enough to run a shop in a camp where 80% of the Mafia guild’s total force was stationed. Though it was called a base camp, it had already become a formidable fortress.

"

Hmm

. Seems like the others of the eight great guilds are finally starting to come."

"Yes. They've been coming more frequently lately. Since their territories are quite secure now, it seems the guilds are sending their top players out to hunt while they focus on internal growth."

"Pass the word down. Tell them not to mess with the members of the eight great guilds. They have some influence over the Darkness Hunters, so things will become a hassle if we mess up.”

"Understood."

"Also, raise the inn rate starting today. Standard rooms are now 3 gold 20 silver per night."

"What about those who paid in advance for long-term stays?"

"Collect more from them. For anyone who refuses, return their change and kick them out."

"Understood."

The reason he could act so boldly like this was mainly due to the location of the Dark Zone.

There’s no place nearby where a teleport gate can be linked. It still takes at least three days no matter how fast you travel from Sarin Castle to here.

Leonard smiled broadly at the thought of the fortress he built growing stronger over time.

***

"

Wow

... There are more people here than I expected."

That was Yoo Ha-Rin’s first reaction upon entering the base camp of the Dark Zone. It was also the impression Kai felt as he looked at the same scene.

"A red urov showed up in the western zone? What level?"

"440. Seems like they're having a tough time over there."

"Urovs are tricky to deal with. But considering the loot it drops, it is worth it."

"Which party went east today?"

"The Starling party."

"Saw on the channel that Giant Bees appear there. Looks like the east and west aren’t very different."

"Well, it's pretty much all the same as long as you don’t enter the central zone."

Though the base camp was crowded, it wasn’t bustling like a typical city. There were no street vendors, nor players seeking parties. It was only natural, as anyone who reached the Dark Zone was at least a semi-ranker. They had neither the reason nor the leisure to engage in business. Moreover, they had too much to lose to entrust their backs to players they had just met.

Naturally, the ones moving in parties were all fixed teams. Parties that already had some interaction at the base camp were gathered to exchange information about the Dark Zone. Due to that, the camp mostly had the atmosphere of a discussion hall.

"We came because Tardal told us to come here, but... was it really necessary for us to come?"

"Still, it’s better to set the inn as a checkpoint. Just in case we die, we can respawn there."

"I-inn?"

"Yes. The inn." Kai turned his head and said to her, "Let’s go."

"T-the inn..." Mumbling to herself, Yoo Ha-Rin followed Kai as he led the way to the camp's only inn.

As they stepped through the wide-open doorway, the gazes of those gathered at the bar on the first floor turned toward them. The semi-rankers didn’t scream or make a commotion after seeing Kai like ordinary players would. Instead, they observed him carefully with sparkling eyes.

𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

"It’s Unknown."

"I was wondering why he was so quiet lately. So he’s finally coming into the Dark Zone."

"Didn’t you hear? He destroyed Limitless in the Duel Arena recently."

"What? Really?"

"This was why I told you to pay attention to more than just hunting content."

At that moment, one player muttered quietly, “Did that person come with him?”

“No way. They must’ve just happened to come in together by coincidence. Unknown always strictly plays solo...”

The gazes of the murmuring players changed once again. Although her equipment had been changed to items exclusive to Paladins, Yoo Ha-Rin’s helmet currently only covered her head and eyes. In other words, her nose, mouth, and lower face were fully exposed. Even with just that, it wasn’t hard to guess her beauty.

“She’s pretty...”

“You idiot. Is that really what matters right now? Doesn’t her face look familiar to you?”

“All I can see is her nose and mouth, how am I supposed to know?”

"And where would a guy like him have seen a pretty player like that...

huh?

Wait a second."

The players exchanged glances as if silently questioning whether she was who they thought she was. But the more they thought about it, the more their suspicion turned into certainty.

“Th-there’s no way, but could it be... Yoo Ha-Rin?”

“Yoo... Ha-Rin...”

Though she had recently been pushed down to third place by Chris, she was still a top-tier player known by almost everyone who played

MID Online

. Moreover, she caused a sensation with just one scene of removing her helmet under the moonlight in a recent episode of Dungeon of the Absolute.

“So those two are...”

“In a party together?”

Unknown and Yoo Ha-Rin were monsters who could stir up a storm just by wandering around alone. But now, those two monsters had joined forces. Just that fact alone gave the players in the bar chills without them even realizing it.

Just in case, we should figure out which direction they’re heading.

We should completely avoid that direction.

If we bump into them with a monster between us, we’ll be the ones who die.

With every gaze fixed on him, Kai walked straight to the counter.

A low-ranking Mafia guild member stammered as he asked, “W-what... can I do for you?”

“A room.” Kai added, “The best one you have.”

“R-room. Understood. Will that be a short stay or overnight?”

Every ear in the tavern perked up. Kai and Yoo Ha-Rin were getting a room! Would it be a short stay or overnight? For some reason, the bar was filled with eyes burning with envy and jealousy directed at Kai.

With those piercing stares, Kai replied nonchalantly, “A short stay.

Oh

, and we’ll need two rooms.”

“Alright.”

And just like that, all the hostile stares toward Kai vanished without a trace.

***

“

Mm

. Honestly, the bed was kind of disappointing. Felt just a bit better than a standard city inn.”

“True, and they call this the best room... Plus, it cost 7 gold for a short-term stay.”

They spent 700,000 won on two rooms usable for just eight hours. Of course, Kai had plenty of money, but he still didn't like wasting it like this. It was because he had been influenced by his parents, who were meticulous businesspeople.

“Here’s my share.”

Yoo Ha-Rin handed over 3 gold and 50 silver, and Kai stared at the money on her palm for a moment before reaching out. He closed her hand into a fist and smiled.

“Use this to buy me a meal instead. I’m hungry.”

“M-meal... Then let’s head straight to a restaurant. I saw a bunch of different places before we came into the inn.”

"Did we really need to go that far? Let’s just grab something quick at the bar downstairs and head out."

The two of them went down to the lower floor and took a table.

A moment later, a server approached and handed them the menu. "What do you like to eat, Ha-Rin?"

"I’m fine with anything."

Come to think of it...

He recalled their first meeting. He had first met her during a dinner at Baron Arsen's mansion after completing the orc expedition.

She had quite the appetite back then too.

Smiling without realizing it, Kai recommended a dish. "Come to think of it, don’t you like steak? They have a steak set here too. It includes a bit of chicken, salmon, and beef steak."

"I-I want that! What will you have, Kai?"

"I’ll have the mushroom soup and a chicken sandwich."

Yoo Ha-Rin raised her hand to place their order, and the two began to plan their next steps.

"I looked into it a bit—they said we need to get an entry pass first."

"Even though we came at Tardal’s request?"

"Yes. The place is run by the Mafia guild, but it’s essentially a strategic camp for the Darkness Hunters."

"So we can’t just wander around as we want?"

"I heard we can choose which direction to explore. Since our goal is the central area... we have to go north."

"North,

huh

..." Kai muttered as he arranged the fork, spoon, and other utensils. "Sounds fun."

Kai began to feel excited about party hunting again for the first time in a long while.