Chapter 177 – A Business Relationship

“J-Justin Walker and I have a business relationship.”

“Business?”

“It means I receive money to do what he asks me to do.”

“How did you two meet? Tell me everything from the beginning.”

Xu Zhiping let out a resigned sigh.

“I met Justin Walker a year ago. He was the one who secretly approached our guild first. Then he made a proposal out of nowhere.”

“A proposal?”

“He said the legendary sword was entrusted to the Association President of Korea and asked if we wanted to steal it.”

‘So it was his scheme all along.’

Min Do-jun’s eyes turned cold.

Though he already knew this information, it was now confirmed beyond doubt.

Xu Zhiping continued.

“Justin said we could keep the legendary sword if we recovered it. He said he would just claim compensation from Korea equivalent to its value.”

“So his plan was to make Korea indebted to him.”

He would hold the Korean Association President responsible for losing the sword and demand compensation.

‘What a petty scheme.’

Xu Zhiping continued speaking.

“It was practically impossible for us, a Chinese guild, to directly attack the Korean Association.”

“So you used the Black Sea Guild, your trading partner.”

“…That’s right. You seem to know quite a lot.”

Xu Zhiping looked surprised, but Min Do-jun just shrugged.

“By the way, did you really think Justin would let you keep such a precious sword?”

“Yes.”

“Even though he might take it back by force?”

“I trusted Justin.”

“You’re more naive than you look. Or perhaps just stupid.”

There was no way Justin Walker would leave the White Snake Guild alone after they recovered the sword.

From his perspective, the White Snake Guild was a liability that could expose him at any time.

‘He probably planned to annihilate them and recover the sword, just like I did.’

Eliminate the liability while recovering his possession.

As a bonus, he could make the Korean Association President shoulder the debt.

‘A plan with no downsides.’

Min Do-jun asked Xu Zhiping:

“What compensation did Justin Walker intend to demand from Korea?”

“I don’t know that.”

“Really?”

As Min Do-jun raised his sword as if to stab him, Xu Zhiping hastily cried out.

“It’s true! Justin didn’t tell me that much!”

“Is that so?”

Min Do-jun intuitively felt that there was no more information to extract on this topic.

“Then give me something else.”

“What? Something else…?”

“Money or items. Preferably items. Money can be traced.”

“…”

“You must have something stashed away as a guild master. Hand it over.”

“If it’s items, they’re in my inventory…”

“No. Not what’s in your inventory, but what you have elsewhere.”

“I don’t have anything like that.”

“Really?”

“Yes. If I had items, I’d keep them in my inventory. Why would I risk keeping them outside?”

“But Tian Lisheng mentioned a warehouse.”

“What?”

“The deceased Tian Lisheng told me that the White Snake Guild has a warehouse where treasures are stored.”

“Hah… that bastard betrayed us before dying…!”

Seeing Xu Zhiping grinding his teeth, Min Do-jun laughed.

“Haha, so it really exists? I was just guessing.”

“…”

Pook-

“Kuhehh…”

“That’s the price for lying.”

Min Do-jun pulled out his sword and healed Xu Zhiping’s abdomen as he spoke.

“Lead the way.”

“Kugh… I’d rather die. How could I give up my treasures that I’ve collected…”

“It’s not like you can take them with you when you die.”

“Still, I refuse. I can’t hand them over to someone like you…”

“You still haven’t come to your senses, I see.”

As Min Do-jun raised his sword, Xu Zhiping closed his eyes in anticipation of the pain to come.

“A guest is arriving.”

“What?”

“It might be faster to ask Gao Zhihong instead of you.”

Min Do-jun didn’t stab Xu Zhiping’s abdomen like before.

Instead.

Slash-

He severed his neck.

[You have killed Hunter Xu Zhiping.]

[You have stolen the characteristic ‘Dynamic Vision’.]

[You have stolen 7 pieces of equipment.]

[You have stolen 10 magic stones.]

[You have stored a soul.]

[Number of stored souls: 3/10]

[1. Tian Lisheng]

[2. Xu Zhiping]

……

…

[10. Lee Min-ji]

Min Do-jun addressed the new recruit.

‘Welcome. First time as a soul?’

[Wh-what’s happening to me……]

Souls always show the same reaction at first.

Min Do-jun, now accustomed to this, explained the situation.

[I’ve died and become a soul……]

‘Anyone can become a soul. Just remember that I can annihilate you at any time if I choose to.’

[Who the hell are you? You shoot strange beams, you can capture souls, and I’m guessing you’re also responsible for my subordinates’ bodies disappearing?]

‘Keep calling me “you bastard” and I might annihilate you without warning.’

[Do you think I fear annihilation? I’ve already died once, what difference does dying twice make?]

‘You’re pretending to be enlightened, but to my eyes, you seem quite attached to your treasures.’

[What nonsense…]

‘Shh. A guest is arriving.’

At that moment, Gao Zhihong appeared in the distance.

“Gasp! Wh-what happened here…!”

Gao Zhihong, who had belatedly returned to the headquarters, couldn’t hide his shock at the battlefield where blood had barely dried.

“What kind of disaster is this…?”

Though blood was everywhere, there were no bodies to be seen.

Only clothes scattered here and there, which was puzzling.

“These look like our guild members’ clothes…”

Why would clothes be left behind in a place like this, with no people in sight?

As his suspicions grew while examining the traces of battle.

“You’ve arrived?”

Xu Zhiping appeared before Gao Zhihong’s eyes.

Of course, it was actually Min Do-jun who had transformed his appearance.

“Boss!”

Seeing Gao Zhihong immediately prostrate himself, Xu Zhiping’s soul was shocked.

[Th-th-that bastard, who is he calling boss…!]

It was natural for Xu Zhiping’s soul to be confused since he couldn’t see Min Do-jun’s transformed appearance.

Gao Zhihong was equally confused about the situation.

“I rushed here on the earliest flight after receiving your call, but what exactly happened here…?”

“There was a war. A war with the Black Sea Guild.”

Min Do-jun imitated Xu Zhiping’s voice as best he could.

But Gao Zhihong, who had spent years with his boss, would surely notice the difference.

He was momentarily suspicious, but that suspicion vanished when he saw Xu Zhiping’s unchanged face.

“The Black Sea Guild attacked?”

“Yes. It seems Lisheng somehow leaked the location of our headquarters.”

“That dog Tian Lisheng finally…!” Gao Zhihong expressed his anger, as if he had always known Tian Lisheng would cause trouble someday.

Min Do-jun spoke in a solemn voice.

“Don’t worry. Fortunately, we were well-prepared and won the battle.”

“Ah, that’s truly fortunate.”

“But now that our location has been exposed, this place is no longer safe. We need to move to another location.”

“Do you mean our base in Hubei Province?”

“Yes. The subordinates have already moved there.”

“Then why are you still here, Boss…?”

“I was waiting for you to arrive so we could go together.”

“Ah…”

Gao Zhihong, overcome with emotion, bowed his head deeply.

“Thank you, Boss! I will continue to serve you with absolute loyalty!”

[Hey! That’s not me! I’m right here!]

The real Xu Zhiping was furious, but his cries were silent.

[You bastard! What are you planning to do with Gao Zhihong?]

Xu Zhiping’s anger was directed at Min Do-jun, but he paid no attention.

Instead, he brazenly gave instructions to Gao Zhihong.

“Since we need to relocate, gather all the items from the headquarters.”

“I will obey your command.”

[No, don’t!]

Min Do-jun smirked at Xu Zhiping’s desperate cry.

‘See? You are attached to your treasures after all.’

[You bastard. Call Gao Zhihong back and cancel this right now!]

‘Why did you keep your items outside anyway? They’re useless to you now that you’re dead.’

[If I died, the items in my inventory would just disappear.]

‘So protecting your items was more important than your own life? Items you can’t even use?’

[Who says I can’t use them? My guild members could use them when needed, or we could sell them if the guild needed funds.]

‘I see now. Even your attachment to items was for the prosperity of your guild.’

It was understandable why Xu Zhiping was reacting this way—the guild he had built up was not only destroyed by Min Do-jun, but now all the items he had collected were about to be taken as well.

[Please don’t bring them. Please…! Just run away from him now!]

He was hoping Gao Zhihong would sense something was wrong and escape, but that was like a mouse trapped in a jar.

There was no way he could escape Min Do-jun’s tracking, with both the Parasite and his ability to track scents.

“Boss, I’ve brought the items.”

Gao Zhihong, who firmly believed Min Do-jun was his boss, had no reason to run away.

“Good. Where are the items?”

“I’ve put them in my inventory.”

“Well done.”

“Now shall we depart… Kuheck!”

With his chest pierced by the ghost sword, Gao Zhihong looked at Min Do-jun with disbelieving eyes.

“B-Boss… why…?”

[N-no! It’s not me!]

Though he shouted in indignation, Gao Zhihong died while looking at his boss with eyes full of resentment.

[You have killed Hunter Gao Zhihong.]

[You have stolen the characteristic ‘Weapon Enhancement’.]

[You have stolen 27 pieces of equipment.]

[You have stolen 31 magic stones.]

[You have stolen 12 skill books.]

True to his word about bringing items from the warehouse, a large number of items entered Min Do-jun’s inventory.

But Xu Zhiping, who had no way of knowing this, couldn’t help but question Min Do-jun’s actions.

[Why did you suddenly kill Gao Zhihong? Weren’t you after my items?]

‘I was.’

[Didn’t you just destroy the items by killing Gao Zhihong?]

‘Who said anything about destroying them?’

Min Do-jun took out one of the items that had entered his inventory.

‘I stole these items by killing him… huh?’

Suddenly, Min Do-jun’s jaw dropped in surprise at the item he had pulled out.