Chapter 419 – Part 2 – The Preparations Are Complete

After promising Ryu Jong-ik that he would hand over Kwak Min-cheol to him.

Choi Seong-min returned to the safe house where his family was staying.

“Seong-min is back?”

“Yes. Nothing unusual happened, right?”

“What could happen when I’m enjoying luxury in such a comfortable and cozy place like this?”

His mother Jeong Hui-seon smiled.

She wasn’t being sarcastic but genuinely satisfied.

Choi Seong-min asked as if surprised.

“Isn’t living in a mansion stuffy for you?”

“It was at first. Being completely surrounded by mountains and unable to build human relationships. But don’t they say humans are animals of adaptation? After living here for a few days, this is actually more comfortable.”

Choi Seong-min nodded as if that made sense.

‘Certainly, dealing with people can be tiring with unnecessary emotional consumption.’

Rather than that, living an isolated life in such a scenic place with good air would help with peace of mind.

Moreover, since Choi Seong-min was ordering all the food ingredients and necessary supplies, there wouldn’t be any inconvenience.

“I’m glad you’ve adapted. Is Ah-yeon satisfied too? Even though she can’t go to school which she wanted to attend so much…”

“She seems more disappointed about not being able to meet her friends rather than school.”

“Friends, you mean school friends?”

“Yes. Didn’t one visit our house before?”

“Ah.”

She seemed to be talking about Heo Sol-ji.

‘They must be closer than I thought.’

Thinking that they couldn’t meet because of him made him feel slightly sorry for his sister.

‘Just endure a little longer. This life will end soon too.’

After finishing his conversation with his mother, Choi Seong-min returned to his room.

Click-

After closing the door, he lay down on the bed.

He had been fighting frantically, so he hadn’t even checked his traits yet.

‘103 of them… quite a lot came in.’

Traits obtained from killing 102 subordinates and Peter Fields.

Among these, the most notable trait was undoubtedly Peter Fields’ trait.

[Trait – Leader’s Authority]

-Grade: S

-Description: All your stats increase by 2% for each awakened person within a 100m radius. There is no limit to the increase.

A trait that inflates stats based on the number of nearby hunters.

‘2% stat increase per person…’

If there were only single-digit hunters nearby, it might seem mediocre for its grade.

‘But even with just 20… no, even 10 people, it becomes quite useful. All stats increase by 20%.’

But what if there were 100 people nearby, ten times that number?

You could witness the miracle of all stats tripling.

‘This is why Peter was obsessed with military power. The more subordinates gather, the stronger he becomes.’

Though it meant nothing in front of himself.

Choi Seong-min took time to carefully examine the traits.

Since the opponents were all renowned S-rank hunters, at least B-grade or higher traits had come in.

His inventory was also packed full with expensive S-rank equipment.

‘Quite a lot of kill points accumulated too.’

Killing 103 people brought in 140,000 points.

With this, he could raise 140 stat points of his choice.

But when compared to the stat amount absorbed through Demon’s Contract, it wasn’t that much.

‘The stats from Demon’s Contract alone exceed 10,000.’

Of course, it was combined stats, but it was still a much better deal than kill points.

‘Is it because I killed opponents too weak for their level? Not that many kill points came in.’

It seemed Frank’s Slaughterer trait became more profitable when catching strong opponents.

‘Kwak Min-cheol’s trait is better for the current me.’

Actually, this kind of analysis was meaningless for him now.

He was already strong enough to have no rivals, plus he had the cheat item called Magic Core.

‘Traits are good, but equipment power can’t be ignored either.’

Choi Seong-min took the Magic Core and combined it with the last remaining legendary item.

[Attempting combination.]

[Using the Magic Core to awaken the power of the Legendary Helmet.]

[Analyzing user’s traits to convert to suitable power.]

[User has too many traits, so analysis will take time.]

This time too, it would take time.

‘Well, there are more than before.’

Now his traits were approaching 400.

[Analysis complete. Found options suitable for the user.]

[Combination successful!]

[Awakened the true power of the Legendary Helmet.]

[The Legendary Helmet’s name has been changed to ‘Assassin’s Shadow Hood’.]

‘Assassin’s Shadow Hood?’

He immediately examined the item information.

[Assassin’s Shadow Hood]

-Classification: Helmet

-Grade: EX

-Defense: 24,000

-Effects: Agility +15%, Environmental Assimilation, Shadow Manipulation

-Durability: Infinite

-Usage Restriction: S-rank or above (Soul-bound)

-Description: A hood born from enhancing a legendary helmet. The probability of being recognized by surroundings during combat is greatly reduced. You can freely manipulate target shadows as a passive ability. However, shadows of opponents with high combat power cannot be manipulated.

The first option that caught his eye was agility.

‘Agility increases by 15%.’

His already high agility increased once more.

Choi Seong-min checked his stats while wearing the armor.

-Strength: 4, Stamina: 46,759

-Agility: 295,383, Mana: 2,178

‘Agility is approaching 300,000.’

Even though it was concentrated through Unbalanced Power, it was a fraudulent figure.

Choi Seong-min examined the helmet’s options.

‘Recognition probability during combat is greatly reduced…’

According to the description, it was like using permanent stealth.

Of course, he would be visible, but even swinging a dagger right in front of them would be recognized a beat too late.

‘This alone isn’t bad, but there’s even Shadow Manipulation.’

He didn’t know what Shadow Manipulation was.

It was written vaguely, so testing would be needed to understand it precisely.

‘Well, there’s plenty of time.’

Most of the Great Heroes were dead, and now he just needed to assassinate one person, Woo Seong-jae, to achieve his goal.

‘I can keep my promise with the god.’

Though he hadn’t killed him yet, Woo Seong-jae was as good as dead.

If he immediately flew there with Shadow Movement and slit his throat, it would be over.

‘But I can’t do that. He still has value to be used.’

Choi Seong-min was waiting.

Just for Woo Seong-jae to call him first.

‘Soon he’ll contact me after gathering criminal hunters as I instructed. Saying the feast is ready.’

But Choi Seong-min knew it might not be a feast.

‘That guy won’t just sit back and take it. He knows it’ll be his turn after killing the criminal hunters.’

Woo Seong-jae would definitely prepare something to counterattack.

In that sense, the feast was likely to be a trap.

‘What kind of trap will he prepare?’

What method would Woo Seong-jae think of?

How would he try to bind an opponent with over 50 million combat power?

Thinking in reverse, the answer comes easily.

‘He’ll probably target my family. Like Frank did.’

He had already shown Woo Seong-jae his anger when his family was touched.

He had unintentionally revealed his weakness.

‘If this is my only weakness, he’ll probably be certain.’

One corner of Choi Seong-min’s mouth went up.

If you know what the opponent will target, it’s easy to prepare.

‘If that guy really thinks of touching my family…’

Then he won’t die peacefully.

He’ll die in greater pain than Frank or anyone else.

‘I need to prepare safety measures.’

To prepare for any situation, Choi Seong-min moved.

The single activation word ‘Shadow Movement’ was enough.

* * *

‘The preparations are complete.’

Woo Seong-jae had fulfilled Choi Seong-min’s command in three days.

The command to gather criminal hunters from around the world.

‘I’m glad I finished the work before Peter died.’

He had given Peter instructions to gather Westland’s criminal hunters.

He had taken charge of Eastland himself.

Fortunately, Peter had handled it quickly before dying, so he didn’t have to take on the troublesome work.

‘Westland, Eastland, and even the neutral country where I am.’

He had released all criminal hunters and gathered them in one place.

Once gathered, there were more hunters than expected.

‘The reason Hunter Choi Seong-min ordered this is obvious. He plans to massacre them all and monopolize their traits.’

When he checked with Insight last time, there were already an enormous amount, but if he monopolized criminal hunters too?

He couldn’t fathom how many times his combat power would increase from now.

‘Even with so many traits, he’s not satisfied and wants more… He’s a complete psychopath obsessed with traits.’

Woo Seong-jae had shown no emotion even when seeing slaughterers like Frank or Kwak Min-cheol.

What Choi Seong-min was trying to do was insane enough to make even such Woo Seong-jae shudder.

‘Do these guys know? That they’re nothing more than prey.’

Watching the criminals gathered without knowing anything made him feel pitiful.

But that was only very brief.

‘I’m not in a position to worry about anyone.’

Woo Seong-jae worried about his own safety first.

He was the one in a situation like a candle before the wind.

‘That’s why I prepared such countermeasures. I don’t want to end my life as pathetically as a candle that might go out anytime.’

If he was going to die at Choi Seong-min’s hands anyway, he could do anything.

His decision to target Choi Seong-min’s family was also due to such resolve.

‘The preparations are complete. Now I just need to contact Hunter Choi Seong-min and tell him where the criminals are gathered…’

The problem was that he hadn’t yet identified the whereabouts of Choi Seong-min’s family.

‘For someone with tracking abilities to be this slow. How long is he going to make me wait? Contact should come before Hunter Choi Seong-min pressures me…’

That’s when it happened.

Ring ring- Ring ring-

Coincidentally, Woo Seong-jae’s phone rang.

It was the tracker he had assigned the job to.

As soon as Woo Seong-jae answered the phone, he immediately asked.

“Did you find them?”

“Yes, Lord Woo Seong-jae. I’ve located the targets.”

“Where are they?”

“In the mountains of southern Eastland… They’re living in a quite large mansion.”

“A mansion in the south?”

A mansion in a location even Woo Seong-jae didn’t know about…

‘There’s no way Hunter Choi Seong-min could have earned money and built it in such a short time…’

Suddenly Woo Seong-jae’s Insight activated.

‘It must be a mansion Kwak Min-cheol built secretly.’

Woo Seong-jae nodded with satisfaction.

Anyway, he had found out the most important thing, the family’s location.

The time had finally come to execute the operation.

“Are you watching the mansion now?”

“Yes.”

“You’re watching without being detected, right?”

“Of course. I’ve kept sufficient distance, so don’t worry.”

“The targets? Are you certain they’re inside?”

“Certain. According to my ability, both are inside.”

“Good work. I’ll arrange your payment as soon as you bring the targets to me.”

“Thank you, Lord Woo Seong-jae. But do I have to bring both targets?”

“It would be better if possible, but if it’s not feasible, bringing just one is fine. The significance lies in having a hostage.”

“That means if it interferes with the kidnapping, I can kill the other one, right?”

“Yes. However, if you bring both alive, I’ll pay triple the reward.”

“Hehe, then I’ll have to bring both no matter what.”

“That would be best. Anyway, keep watching for now and move when I contact you again.”

“Loyalty. I will follow your command.”

After ending the call, Woo Seong-jae’s mouth stretched wide.

‘Now I’ve truly completed the preparations.’

All that remained was to lure Choi Seong-min into the trap.

Woo Seong-jae picked up his phone.

“Hunter Choi Seong-min. This is Woo Seong-jae.”

Though his voice was tense, one corner of Woo Seong-jae’s mouth was raised.

“As you ordered, the criminal hunters are ready.”