Japan’s Grim Determination
At the Japanese Pri Minister’s residence, discussions regarding the SS-Rank dungeon continued in circles, with no solution in sight.
The grim expressions on the faces of the officials reflected their growing frustration.
Even the Pri Minister himself wore a stern countenance.
"We still can’t gather more information?"
"Yes, sir. According to the investigation team, the majority of the dungeon’s mana density is concentrated in the boss room."
"And?"
"The dungeon rules… indicate that once soone enters the boss room, they cannot leave."
This was already known.
The room filled with heavy sighs.
But this wasn’t the only issue.
The recently rampaging S-Rank dungeon near the beach had narrowly been dealt with.
While it had been resolved without catastrophic consequences, it was clear how close they had co to a disaster of unimaginable scale.
If the SS-Rank dungeon wasn’t cleared soon, there was no telling when or where a similar calamity might strike.
Yet, clearing it was no simple task.
"What’s the progress on discussions with Korea’s Jeong Si-Hyun?"
"Ah, well… all attempts ended with officials complaining of severe tongue pain before being turned away."
"…What?"
"We were told all requests must go through Korea’s Hunter Bureau. Additionally, they warned us to refrain from further pestering, or there would be consequences."
"Ha!"
A threat.
Such a frosty response from a hunter who had so sincerely helped resolve the rampaging dungeon left the Pri Minister stunned.
He let out a long sigh, pressing his temples as silence enveloped the room.
"……."
There were no options left.
The failures of their last attempt had already cost too much.
Even estimating the number of S-Rank hunters needed to tackle the SS-Rank dungeon was impossible.
If they succeeded but suffered significant casualties, future dungeon raids would beco unmanageable.
If they failed… the resulting disaster was unthinkable.
Japan was one of the first countries to experience an SS-Rank dungeon, and it was clear that the dungeon’s rampage was fast approaching.
Yet, they still lacked critical information.
"What’s the situation in other countries?"
"Ah, no nation has officially cleared an SS-Rank dungeon yet."
"Haa…"
The Pri Minister stood, walking toward the window.
He gazed at the distant view of Tokyo, letting out another deep sigh.
After a mont of contemplation, he turned back with a resolute expression.
"We will enter formal negotiations with Korea."
"……."
"We will lift all restrictions on mana stone exports and ease the limitations on Korean companies investing in Japan. This is not the ti for pride. We will review all demands from Korea. This operation must not fail."
The Pri Minister’s firm decision left the officials with no room for dissent.
They nodded gravely, their faces set with determination.
***
A Quiet Reflection in a Japanese Inn
In the dimly lit room of a Japanese inn, Jason Turner leaned back into his chair, lost in thought after completing his regular report to Evan.
"Alright, until next ti."
He placed his smartphone on the table and stared at the ceiling, his mind replaying a vivid ntal exercise.
‘I want to experience it again…’
He envisioned himself facing off against the Saint in a one-on-one duel. It was a scenario he had rehearsed in his mind countless tis.
No matter how many tis he visualized it, victory seed out of reach.
‘But… if I were under her buff…’
A spark of hope ignited in his imagination.
The impossible beca tantalizingly plausible, all because of the overwhelming potency of her buffs.
‘Of course, if I were her opponent, she wouldn’t grant such a boon.’
Jason chuckled softly at the irony, reaching out to sip the coffee on the table.
The bittersweet taste lingered in his mouth, mirroring his musings.
‘It felt like I was breaking through a limit.’
For a long ti, his growth had stagnated.
But under her buff, he had experienced a sensation akin to shattering a ceiling that had long confined him.
If he could continue to maintain his connection with her, perhaps another opportunity would arise.
What if he could grow accustod to that unparalleled power?
Could it carve a path through the hazy barriers he’d always struggled to overco?
Though the gap was still small, Jason knew the potential it held.
If he could widen it little by little…
‘Ha! This is exhilarating!’
His heart raced, a thrill coursing through his veins.
Jason closed his eyes, recalling the promises made on the beach.
Her voice was kind but firm, promising to assist him once her urgent matters back ho were resolved.
It was clear to him now—she admired those who worked hard and strove to improve.
And that was where he thrived.
A faint smirk played on Jason’s lips as he reveled in his confidence.
Then—Buzz!
His smartphone vibrated against the table, pulling him back to reality.
The screen displayed a ssage from the Saint herself, reminding him to prepare for their next task.
Jason’s smirk widened as he stood, stretching his arms.
"Ti to get to work," he murmured.
***
"We should have tendon! It's the real deal here!"
"Co to think of it, I haven't tried it yet," I admitted.
"Exactly! You have to taste it properly in its ho country!"
Si-yoon’s excitent was infectious, and Ji-Ah and I both nodded in agreent. She imdiately began searching for a suitable restaurant.
We soon found a cozy place, stepped inside, and sat together at a small table. An elderly woman ca over to take our order. While waiting for our food, we soaked in the ambiance of the tendon restaurant, its quaint charm lending a calming effect.
Breaking the silence, Si-yoon looked up from her smartphone.
"Hey, I just thought of sothing, unnie."
"What is it?" I asked.
"That Kenji guy who posted your video on TrueTube—his awakened job is Rogue, right?"
"Yeah, why?"
"How can a job title sound like a criminal?"
"…Now that you ntion it…"
"Right? Isn't it weird?"
Propping her chin with one hand, Si-yoon blinked, clearly deep in thought. Then, she returned to her phone, searching for sothing.
Ji-Ah, equally curious, glanced at her, as did I.
"…Turns out no one knows. It's all speculation because not much is known about awakening."
"Well, that's anticlimactic."
"Yeah, kind of. Oh, but apparently, there's even a ga where the playable race is literally called Pirate…"
And with that, Si-yoon beca entirely absorbed in her own world, leaving Ji-Ah and to exchange amused looks.
Turning to , Ji-Ah asked, "Were there rogues or anything similar in the otherworld you were in?"
"Hmm, there were jobs with similar roles, though the nas were different," I replied, nodding slightly.
Ji-Ah’s eyes sparkled with curiosity, and she leaned forward eagerly, hungry for details.
"Their fighting style wasn't all that different from the hunters here," I began.
"Which ans there were differences in other ways?" she probed.
"Well, yeah…"
I hesitated for a mont.
The rogue I was most familiar with had been a mber of the hero’s party—a particularly unsavory one at that. Representing the entire class based on her felt… misleading.
"…They were just incredibly dirty fighters," I finally said.
"Dirty? How so?"
"Poison, traps, backstabbing—it was all fair ga. They hardly ever fought head-on."
Not to ntion the constant stepping on my toes and spiking my drinking water with strange substances.
Thanks to divine power, I’d been able to neutralize the effects, but still.
"Sounds more like a tactical approach to ," Ji-Ah mused.
"Maybe… but the real problem was the filthy mouth. Insults were just the start; they had a knack for making their enemies—and allies—uncomfortable."
When insults didn’t get a rise out of , the rogue had resorted to casual harassnt, tossing out inappropriate comnts without hesitation.
To sum it up: she was a walking disaster.
"Your tendons are ready!"
The elderly woman returned, balancing a tray laden with steaming bowls of tendon.
Perfect timing.
We smoothly shifted the conversation to the food and enjoyed our al, savoring every bite.
Near the end of the al, my phone buzzed.
It was a call from Manager Jang Han-soo.
As expected, things were moving in the anticipated direction.
After relaying my personal requests, we left the restaurant behind, ready for what lay ahead.
***
The atmosphere at the Japanese Hunter Administration Bureau was heavy, weighed down by the looming threat of the SS-rank dungeon.
If another country had managed to clear an SS-rank dungeon first, Japan could have gleaned valuable insights from their efforts.
But no country had yet succeeded.
Japan had the misfortune of being the first to face an SS-rank dungeon, and they had already failed once, sacrificing their top-ranked hunters with no aningful results.
With no other options, they turned to foreign assistance.
Among the available candidates, one stood out: Jung Si-Hyun, a asurent-Incapable rank hunter currently visiting Japan.
The Japanese governnt, swallowing their pride, negotiated directly with South Korea.
South Korea, in turn, seized the opportunity, extracting a hefty list of demands.
And then ca Jung Si-Hyun’s personal conditions.
"…What did you say?"
"I said, these are the three conditions she wants fulfilled before she agrees to clear the dungeon."
"Repeat them."
"Y-Yes, sir."
The nervous employee wiped his brow and began again, under the scrutinizing gaze of the Bureau Chief.
"First, she doesn’t want too many people in the dungeon. Just enough to save face for Japan. She says she’ll handle the rest herself."
This condition was actually a relief.
If the raid failed, casualties would be minimized.
And if it succeeded, Japan would save face by showing they contributed to the victory.
"Second, she wants the hunters who’ve been badmouthing her to step forward. She says she needs stress relief and insists that if they’re so confident, they should face her directly…"
"…"
While the second demand posed so challenges, the Bureau Chief nodded slowly. It was manageable.
"And lastly, the most critical condition."
The employee hesitated, his voice dropping slightly.
"She demands that Japan create action figures. Two types: a fully articulated figure and a non-articulated display figure. They must depict the South Korean virtual strear MomoBin. She also requests mass production, ensuring there’s enough stock to distribute to fans. She emphasized that the quality of the figures would serve as proof of Japan’s sincerity."
The Bureau Chief’s face contorted in bewildernt.
Seeing this, the employee hurriedly elaborated.
"She said that if Japan hopes for her future assistance, they must pour their utmost effort into this. She will judge Japan's dedication by the quality of these figures."
"…"
The silence was deafening as the Bureau Chief processed the bizarre demand.
"Shall we proceed?" the employee asked tentatively.
"Proceed."
"Understood, sir!"
The employee left in haste, while the Bureau Chief set out to deliver his report, his face still etched with confusion.
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