Levelling Up In An Exclusive Dungeon

Chapter 56

Kang Jin-hyuk listened carefully as his secretary, Lee Hyena, conveyed the entire situation to him.

To cut through the complex web of interests, let’s summarize the main points:

Han Young-seok is dissatisfied with the current policies and is attempting to recruit a new S-rank hunter to position as a new guild leader.

This has been the flow of the situation thus far.

“Did all the other guild members agree to this crazy stunt?”

“They were persuaded by the potential for greater profits, and most of the executives fell for it,” Hyena replied.

Seo Sang-ho merely regarded Han Young-seok’s actions as an attempt to expand his faction.

Although Lee Hyena had tried to investigate on her own, Seo Sang-ho warned her against overly suspecting their comrades.

“This guy is really clueless.”

“……”

“He’s trying to be the good guy without knowing what his underlings want. This is how things end up.”

“I don’t have any words…”

Seo Sang-ho may have been a nice person, but as the leader of a group, he was unqualified.

If he wanted to enforce his will, he should have nurtured the forces to back it up.

It was only natural for his assertion that loyalty outranks money in a guild focused on profit to provoke resentment.

“Regardless, it’s too late to argue about it now.”

What mattered now was how to break through the current predicament.

“First, we should contact a reporter to make this incident public.”

“I’ve already tried, but no articles are coming out.”

“……Is that even possible?”

Despite the Titan’s clout, it was strange that reporters were silent about such a scoop.

Aren’t journalists known for making news out of nothing to grab people’s attention?

“It seems things were meticulously planned from the beginning.”

After all, if this failed, there was enormous risk involved. Han Young-seok had spent countless sleepless nights building his foundation.

With only a dying guild leader, an office secretary with zero combat ability, and an unexpectedly involved hunter, it was difficult to pierce through that foundation.

“We need more people.”

Kang Jin-hyuk concluded, and Lee Hyena nodded in agreement.

“We need to find reliable individuals even for the Guild Master’s treatment.”

“Isn’t there anyone trustworthy?”

“There are a few, but I can’t reach them at the moment.”

Even when she tried calling their personal numbers, there was no response.

Lee Hyena believed that Han Young-seok must have made his move first.

“Kang Jin-hyuk, can you contact someone who can help?”

“I… um, don’t have any friends.”

Without money or even a solid academic background, he had arrived in the capital recklessly, declaring to become a hunter.

When he was going broke and living as a no-name, he had been too embarrassed to reach out, so he naturally drifted apart from everyone.

Now, he couldn’t think of a single friend’s number to call.

Seeing Kang Jin-hyuk’s sorrowful expression, Lee Hyena refrained from asking for details.

Even though she couldn’t articulate it, something about that felt like a courtesy towards him.

“Still, I heard there’s a very talented archer among the acquaintances you reported last time.”

“Ah, that one? I don’t think that person will participate in something like this.”

In this world, Lucas had established a policy of not getting involved unnecessarily.

The assistance in the Tyrant branch’s raid had simply stemmed from a sudden interest.

Whereas this incident was a thoroughly messy and grim situation with no semblance of fun.

There was no way Lucas would volunteer himself for such trivial matters.

“Nevertheless, wouldn’t it be possible to at least ask?”

“That’s true.”

Kang Jin-hyuk thought it would be better to at least attempt rather than give up completely.

But the developments of this incident didn’t allow him to return to the dungeon.

Before he could fully rise from his chair, there was a loud crash as the front door shattered.

“Ahh!”

Kang Jin-hyuk swiftly dodged to avoid the door slamming towards him like a projectile.

The door that zipped past him crashed into the kitchen, breaking things indiscriminately.

Fuming at the horrific sight, Kang Jin-hyuk exploded with anger.

“Who the hell is that?!”

When he glared at the completely wrecked door, none other than Han Young-seok stood there casually, arms crossed.

“It’s been a while.”

Acting as if he knew everything, Han Young-seok sneered with a cruel smile.

“What the hell! Is this how you enter someone’s house?!”

“Ask the woman next to you.”

Han Young-seok pointed to Lee Hyena with his chin.

The fact that she was present became proof of Kang Jin-hyuk’s connection to Seo Sang-ho.

“No, you should have enough smarts to know who to ask, right, Kang Jin-hyuk?”

Han Young-seok’s mocking tone pierced through Kang Jin-hyuk.

“Where’s Seo Sang-ho? If you don’t want to die, bring him out immediately.”

Kang Jin-hyuk instinctively understood that denying the truth was pointless against Han Young-seok.

Leaving no room for excuses, the statement spilled from Han Young-seok’s lips with full conviction.

“What will you do if I can’t bring him?”

“Do I have to say that?”

Surrounding Han Young-seok were six hunters packed with a lethal presence.

Their ferocity was on an entirely different level compared to the trio that had been here earlier.

These hunters were likely the elite that Han Young-seok had meticulously trained himself.

‘Is it possible?’

Kang Jin-hyuk was alone while they were numerous.

The only things he could rely on were the aura power he learned from Lucia and skills from a hidden class.

Yet here, he had no choice but to confront them.

Dragging along Lee Hyena, who had no combat ability, would only lead to them being trapped without escape.

“Hard Skin…”

Muttering to himself, Kang Jin-hyuk activated a skill to enhance his defenses.

Most of his past battles only required recklessly swinging his baseball bat.

That had been sufficient for most encounters, but not this time.

To win, he had to start with all his might.

“Defense Charge!”

Steeling himself with increased protection, Kang Jin-hyuk charged forward like a tank.

Thanks to the strength bestowed by the aura, anyone ordinary wouldn’t even manage to follow his speed with their eyes.

Yet those he faced weren’t common hunters.

Kang Jin-hyuk’s opponents were the exceptional hunters left as trump cards by Titan and loyal to Han Young-seok.

“How dare you come at me!”

The burliest hunter drew a shield the size of his stout body and charged at Kang Jin-hyuk.

“Get lost!”

Kang Jin-hyuk swung his bat with every ounce of force.

The massive hunter, steady and sturdy, realized something was off the moment the bat collided with his shield.

Instead of bouncing off, the bat pulverized the shield and delivered a blow back to the hunter.

He swiftly twisted to pull away his shield just in time.

Just like a matador dodging a bull, he evaded Kang Jin-hyuk’s attack but still reached for his sword by his waist.

‘He seemed quite capable…’

The hunter thought, preparing to swing his sword and slice through Kang Jin-hyuk.

However, contrary to his expectations, Kang Jin-hyuk remained composed and balanced.

As the previously missed strike swung wide, Kang Jin-hyuk repositioned himself, halting his momentum to harness a counterattack.

Realizing this awkward timing, the hunter froze in astonishment.

‘What sort of outrageously strong aura is this?!’

The hunter adjusted his evaluation of Kang Jin-hyuk.

This was not an ordinary person.

If he didn’t treat him seriously, he could be in for a world of hurt.

“Shield Charge!”

Just as Kang Jin-hyuk had charged earlier, the hunter launched himself forward, shield at the ready.

The difference was that he had braced his shield ahead of time.

With the intent of crashing into Kang Jin-hyuk like a vehicle, he barreled forth.

In response, Kang Jin-hyuk met him head-on, swinging the bat imbued with aura power against the shield.

With a forceful hit, the bat struck down on the same spot it had already impacted, ultimately shattering the shield into a million pieces.

Caught off guard, the hunter gasped, unable to fathom that his rare shield made of precious ore could crumble like that.

‘Is this even real?’

A shield that should withstand blows with ease had been destroyed in just two hits.

While the bewildered hunter was still in disbelief, Kang Jin-hyuk’s bat crashed against his side.

“Arrgh!”

In the second before impact, the hunter had already doubted his ability to endure the strike, but reality further surpassed that fear.

Receiving the blow head-on revealed the truth behind the shattered shield.

The hunter flew off beyond the railing, tumbling down into the street below.

“……”

The remaining six Hunters, witnessing this scene unfold, struggled to take in the unbelievable sight.

“He just sent him flying with a single hit?”

“That merciless brute?”

Despite having seen an invincible comrade go down just like that, forming the camaraderie they shared over years of violence made acceptance slow.

Among the remaining five, the hunters knew best how indomitable the fallen friend had been.

“If we take a hit from him, we’ll be finished.”

“Then don’t get hit!”

“Are you sure about that?”

Smirking, a hunter gripped his dagger, confidence fueling him.

With a blinding speed that left no afterimages, he dashed towards Kang Jin-hyuk.

“Die!”

The hunter shouted as he aimed for Kang Jin-hyuk’s throat.

“What kind of fool shouts before sneaking up on someone?”

Reading the hunter’s movement through enhanced perception provided by the bat, Kang Jin-hyuk easily dodged to the side.

However, with little time to spare, the hunter crashed straight into the bat instead.

“Cough!”

Although he barely shifted in time, the swing still landed on his shoulder, breaking ribs and shattering his collarbone.

Stricken with horrific injury, the hunter lay sprawled in the corner of the living room, unable to use even a finger.

In the blink of an eye, two hunters had been taken down, with a realization dawning on the remaining.

“What are we doing? We’re not facing off against just anyone here; we’re outmatched!”

“Hey! Let’s get him together!”

Once Han Young-seok’s orders fell, the four hunters readied their weapons and moved to confront Kang Jin-hyuk.

Rushing in recklessly, they could only foresee that they might share the fate of their fallen comrade.

Taking advantage of their numerical superiority, they flanked Kang Jin-hyuk on all sides.

No matter how strong Kang Jin-hyuk was, he could only respond to so many simultaneous attacks.

His bat could only block one incoming strike at a time while he faced four hunters—the odds stacked against him.

Assuming he couldn’t evade two or more attacks meant defeat was inevitably approaching.

Simultaneously, all four hunters lunged for him.