The Veteran Player Already Knows Chapter 53 : Chapter 53

Chapter 53 - Retribution (2)

Lee Chan-seong, one of the executives who had been a fixture of the Hunting Alliance for 10 years, was currently in a state of great rage.

It wasn't a very welco situation for him, who always tried to create a dignified and heavy image, but it could be said to be unavoidable.

He had had a lot to be angry about recently.

Starting with that bitch Seo Hye-in, who had always been a thorn in his side, whose career had been skyrocketing as if she had attached a skyrocket to herself.

As a reaction to that, his and his underlings' positions in the guild were only shrinking, and the black market contacts that had served as a good breathing hole were starting to close one by one, who knows by whose machinations.

It was a total ss where nothing was going right these days.

And now, he had been called out because so scoundrel had suddenly threatened him, saying, 'If you don't show up here, I will reveal the cris you've committed to the public.'

It would be stranger if he wasn't angry.

“...Stupid fools.”

He clicked his tongue a few tis, looking at his subordinates struggling outside the car window.

They were dragging their feet, unable to properly subdue an opponent who could hardly be called an enemy.

The reason he called the opponent so vaguely was because the opponent was just a single girl with pink hair.

Since she had shown up right on ti, it was clear she had so sort of relationship with the person who had threatened him.

‘Unless they're crazy, there's no way they'd start a fight here alone.’

He had brought dozens of high-rank Climbers, and among them, several who specialized in person-to-person combat.

It was a force that would make even soone confident in their own strength think twice before attacking.

Even Seo Hye-in, called the Sword Demon, would not be able to guarantee victory against such a formidable group.

“...”

So, it was even more pathetic that such guys couldn't subdue just one person.

Judging by the resonance of mana spreading around, she was undoubtedly a skilled person.

But she didn't seem to be on a level that would cause this much trouble.

“Hey. You vermin. Can't you do your job properly? How can you not take care of just that one?”

When Lee Chan-seong reprimanded them from outside the window, a subordinate approached with his head bowed.

His face was filled with bewildernt.

“W-well... sothing's strange.”

“What?”

“Her skills are definitely not at a level that would cause much trouble, as you said. But sothing...”

If that subordinate had been a bit more eloquent, he would have quickly co up with a sentence to summarize the current situation.

For example.

‘She's strangely unlucky’ or sothing.

“A-ah, sh-shit, I-I'm g-gonna, gonna die! Help ee-!!”

The pink-haired girl shouted with teary eyes.

Despite her urgent voice, a high-level defensive magic formula was instantly deployed around her, but the Climbers lined up nearby were skilled enough to easily break through them.

In fact, those defensive magic formulas were torn apart like paper in an instant.

The problem was what ca after.

Narrowly. By a hair's breadth.

A Climber with a sword, an expert who had trained for decades, ‘suddenly’ missed his step and his breathing collapsed. He missed the girl by a hair's breadth.

A Climber with a gun pulled the trigger at the girl whose posture had collapsed. But the gun, which had been working fine until just a mont ago, ‘for no reason’ did not fire.

A blow with a weapon. A single bullet. An offensive magic formula.

Any simple attack would do, as long as it landed properly, it could end the opponent's life.

But it never reached.

That girl escaped the crisis every ti with astounding ‘luck’.

As if it were a predetermined law.

“...Useless fools. You guys go and join them too! Kill her quickly and co back.”

Of course, Lee Chan-seong, who lacked the skill to catch such a fact, just clicked his tongue and gave the order.

In any case, the car was more than equipped with facilities to protect his own body.

And after watching his subordinates disappear, Lee Chan-seong shook his head and sighed.

He was once again chewing on the thought that he had no luck with people.

That bitch Seo Hye-in was doing well, soaring high, who knows what kind of person she had recruited recently.

“Anyway, what sin did I commit in my past life that all the guys on my side are...”

“Actually, it's not your subordinates' fault.”

And.

It was around then that such a voice was heard from ‘below’.

“If every guy you recruit is an idiot, who's the real idiot?”

Then.

Soone rose up from the ‘shadow’.

***

[ Shadow Secret Arts: Shadow Step ]

[ You can move between shadows. The limited travel distance depends on the amount of Qi used. ]

Hmm.

The Shadow Secret Arts had all sorts of skills that could be a great help, but if I had to pick one of the more efficient ones, it would be this.

As long as there was enough accumulated Qi, I could fly around almost like teleporting without space restrictions.

Of course, the constraint of ‘shadow’ and ‘shadow’ was a bit stricter than I thought, but at a dim ti like now, there was nothing to be hesitant about.

‘This is why assassins go crazy at night...’

As you could tell from the word ‘shadow’ in the na, most of the skills recorded in the Shadow Secret Arts were things that got stronger the more shadows were cast around.

Well. The secret arts I had didn't have anything like that.

The passive presence concealnt and the forceful blow that temporarily enhanced attacks were all unrelated to that.

But, the other volus of the Shadow Secret Arts were different.

It ant that the one volu I had swindled from Ahab now was not all there was.

When all of them were gathered... well, it would be a sight to see. In many ways.

And.

The first step to finding the other secret arts with more skills recorded began with settling things with the guy in front of .

“Hello, Mr. Lee Chan-seong.”

I said to the middle-aged man whose face was crumpling in real-ti.

It was highly likely that even this guy didn't expect to pop out like this when his subordinates were not around.

The guy, who already looked like a greedy old man, looked like a real villain from a fable with that expression.

Though such an impression was too good for a guy who committed all sorts of cris using his position.

“You know who I am, right?”

“No. Who are you, you bastard.”

“...”

He didn't know.

Co to think of it, I hadn't built up any recognition since I had passed all my achievents to Seo Hye-in.

It beca very awkward after I tried to create an atmosphere, but no matter what I did, the most important thing was montum. I pushed on without caring.

“Well, there's sothing more important than that, isn't there.”

I replied, fiddling with the Cheonryongpo vambrace equipped on one arm.

This guy would know well what this gesture ant.

“...What do you want?”

He said, his hand twitching.

Hey, mister.

Putting aside what I want, I can see very well what you want.

There was no way a sly guy like this would co to a place like this after being threatened without any preparation.

It was clear that he was trying to buy ti to activate so facility installed in this car.

“What I want...”

But.

My purpose was similar to yours.

Thinking that, I took out a ring from my pocket.

The Jewel of Ruin.

“I'd like to try this once.”

“...What?”

“So go ahead and press that.”

I said, pointing to the red button under the seat that he was stealthily reaching for.

Well, it was an item I would use for a long ti to co.

I already knew it was a cheat item, but I still had to check how far I could use it, didn't I?

“...Tch!”

The guy, whose intentions had been seen through, imdiately clicked his tongue and slamd the button with his hand.

Soon, a blue energy began to swirl fiercely throughout the car.

Ah. I've seen this before.

Maelstrom. One of the trap devices that even players frequently used past the midpoint of the ga.

It would be unusually difficult to obtain at this stage, but seeing that he had attached this, it seed he had co here with a firm resolve.

The effect simply ended with firing a mana bolt at the target within range to inflict damage, but it was an item that covered for such a simple effect with the convenience of always avoiding designated ‘allies’ and its overwhelming single-shot firepower.

Just by the amount of mana invested, it was a bit difficult to see it as a simple trap.

It was more fitting to call it a tactical weapon.

“Ha, haha! How about that, you bastard? This is an extra-large trap!”

As the guy in front of chattered on, I fiddled with the ring.

How about it, you ask?

“Honestly, I'm a little relieved.”

“What?”

“It could have been a much worse trap than this, but you prepared the perfect item for to test.”

Saying that, I took the first electric shock with the arm wearing the Cheonryongpo.

A tingling sensation rose for a mont, but thanks to imdiately activating the Cloak of Darkness, I didn't receive any more damage.

After confirming that the Cheonryongpo, which had stored the damage, was glowing blue, I imdiately took the next action.

[Netherworld's Grasp]

At the sa ti as blue flas rose from my hand, I slamd the ceiling where the Maelstrom was installed with the hand wearing the ring, as if shoving it in.

Simultaneously, the blue energy that had been crazily rising from the ceiling imdiately cut off.

I admit that it's a device with outstanding firepower.

But responding with a ‘fixed device’ against soone who has a skill that blocks mana flow just by touching it was close to the worst choice.

“Well.”

And with the device neutralized, I brought the ring to the drive unit, which was still emitting intense mana.

I could see the ring, which couldn't even be activated with my minuscule mana, greedily absorb the mana gushing from it and shine ominously.

[ Jewel of Ruin (Activated) ]

[ You can steal a portion of the stats of a nearby target. The amount stolen is proportional to the amount of mana invested in this equipnt. Stealing is limited to once per target. ]

[ Current Steal Amount: 30% ]

That's right.

It's here.

I got out of the car with a broad smile.

In the distance, I could see Lee Si-yeong, covered in dust, screaming and running away.

[ Designate target ‘Lee Si-yeong’ as the steal target? Y/N ]

No reason to refuse.

Steal imdiately.

[Kim Gyu-sik]

[Lv.29] [Guardian Angel buff applied]

[ Strength: 14

Agility: 14

Durability: 14

Stamina: 14

Luck: 1( 540)

Mana: 4 ]

“...Hah.”

It was a value that made let out a hollow laugh.

And with this level of luck, well.

It was a value where it wouldn't be strange if the ground where my head would land softened for no reason even if I fell backward while walking down the street.

So.

I'm curious about the power of the next blow too.

I lifted the Cheonryongpo, which was still wrapped in the Maelstrom's mana.

[ Shadow Secret Arts: Forceful Blow ]

[ Thunderclap Palm ]

A basic skill combination I often used.

And one of the most anticipated skills too.

[ Double Pulse ]

In fact, it didn't show up effectively in most battles, but this one strictly had ‘two random status ailnts’ built-in.

And if it was combined with the insane luck value above.

[ Luck roll successful! ]

[ The world helps you! ]

[ Status Ailnt: Quad Damage is applied. ]

[ Status Ailnt: Defense Penetration is applied. ]

...A combination that would make even a veteran's eyes pop out was bound to appear.

4 tis with Quad Damage, 2 tis with Double Pulse's own multiplier, 2 tis with Shadow's Forceful Blow. A total of 16 tis.

If the Maelstrom's mana, enhanced 16 tis, ignored defense and struck directly?

-!

-!!

-!!!!

Inside the dim construction site, an electric shock so bright it felt like my eyes would tear apart exploded.

The guys who were surrounding Lee Si-yeong to lynch her were swept away all at once, and after a mont, only an eerie silence remained.

“...Huh? Huh? Wha... what? What is this?”

As if her brain couldn't comprehend the scene she had just seen, Lee Si-yeong blankly looked around.

I returned to the inside of the car.

“Now, so...”

To Lee Chan-seong, who was staring with wide eyes as if he had seen sothing he shouldn't have, I opened my mouth with a broad smile.

“Your defense device is broken, your subordinates are all wiped out, and you're not strong enough to escape on your own...”

I acted pompous while sitting in the seat.

“...Shall we have a little talk?”

Lee Chan-seong's face turned pale, as if he had roughly guessed what kind of fate he would face.

“...Are you going to kill ?”

“Nah.”

I wouldn't kill him.

Because.

“Isn't it better to bleed you dry to the point where that would seem better?”

“...”

Well.

They were the ones who had sent the Heukryongdang to kill before.

If you ss with soone, you have to pay the price.