Chapter 109

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]

Chapter 109: Postponed (2)

That night, Kwon Hanul gathered his team. It was to inform them about Sanchez.

“Those muscleheads are in Mystery City?”

Mei Hong was the first to react.

“What could they possibly want here of all places?”

“Great Uncle speculates that they’re after the tournament prize.”

Kwon Myung-woo and Joo Hayun had stepped out to consult with the city’s upper echelon, so Kwon Hanul relayed Myung-woo’s words in his stead.

“What kind of prize is it that they’d go to such lengths?”

“Right… Mystery City bans criminals from entering. It must be something serious if they’re forcing their way in…”

“Did you look into it yourself?”

At Gael Garcia’s question, Kwon Hanul nodded and pulled out a catalog he had obtained from the underground arena.

“This is the underground tournament’s grand prize.”

Everyone’s attention turned to the catalog. One by one, they nodded.

The grand prize… was a small dish.

Not even the size of a rice bowl—more like something to dip soy sauce in.

“…This is the grand prize?”

“And the Sanchez family wants this?”

“To me, it doesn’t look particularly special.”

The dish wasn’t completely worthless. According to the catalog’s description, it was crafted from rare gemstones nearly impossible to find even in dungeons.

Its surface was covered in incredibly fine, delicate artwork, suggesting it once belonged to someone of noble status.

Its artistic value alone would send collectors into a frenzy.

But from a Hunter’s perspective, it wasn’t especially useful.

So why was the Sanchez family so obsessed with it?

“Couldn’t the Hyukcheon’s Strongest Fist be mistaken? Maybe the Sanchez family has a different motive.”

Mei Hong boldly questioned Kwon Myung-woo’s judgment. Kwon Hanul let out a dry chuckle.

“Maybe. But if they had another motive, why would they enter the underground tournament? And send in two participants back-to-back?”

It seemed reasonable, and Mei Hong nodded in agreement.

“W-What did Grandfather say about all this?” Kwon Hudon raised his hand and asked.

Kwon Hanul closed the catalog and replied, “He told us not to worry and to focus on our assigned tasks.”

“Still, if the Sanchez family pulls something, it could get dangerous…”

“He said even the Sanchez family wouldn’t dare stir up trouble in this city.”

Kwon Hanul shrugged.

“Besides, even if they did, we have Great Uncle with us.”

At those words, Kwon Myung-woo gave a big grin.

Right. The Kwon Myung-woo—Hyukcheon’s strongest—was here.

This might be the safest place on earth.

“Alright, let’s get some rest. We still have matches tomorrow.”

There were more battles ahead before they could claim victory.

“Since we’ve come this far, we’d better get that reward.”

* * *

Two days later, the tournament crowned its winners in all arenas.

“Just as I predicted!”

That same day, laughter echoed through the lodging as Kwon Myung-woo celebrated.

“Not a single loss! Everyone won! Well done, all of you!”

And it wasn’t just any victory. The matches had gone so smoothly that the audience called them boring.

All four teammates had cruised through, struggling only in their first-day matches.

“We have a guest.”

Joo Hayun entered, accompanied by four others.

“These are the prizes, sent by the tournament committee. They said to pass along their admiration.”

“Admiration? It was the obvious result! Ahaha!”

Kwon Myung-woo laughed heartily and looked at the others.

“Well? Aren’t you going to open them?”

Each person opened the box labeled with their name.

“Wow…”

Kwon Hudon received a necklace. But it wasn’t just decorative—it was crafted from a phoenix’s heart and could absorb all damage inflicted on its wearer.

Its only flaw: a limited capacity. Once it hit its limit, it couldn’t be used again for some time.

Still, it was an incredible protective item.

“A dangerous little toy.”

Mei Hong’s reward was a dagger with a cloaking ability. Invisible under normal circumstances, it appeared in her hand with a simple motion.

“Ohh, I’ll save this for later.”

Gael Garcia received a potion—one that could raise a single stat to S-rank.

Out of the four, Gael had the lowest stats, so it was a perfect fit.

Lastly, Kwon Hanul…

“What… even is this thing?”

He examined the tiny dish—no bigger than a soy sauce bowl—with a puzzled look.

Just in case, he tried infusing it with magic, but nothing happened.

“Any idea what it is?” Kwon Myung-woo asked.

Kwon Hanul shook his head. No matter how he examined it, he couldn’t tell.

“What about you, Hayun?”

“I haven’t learned detection magic.”

“Ah, right.”

Kwon Myung-woo took the dish and studied it himself. After a moment, he muttered, “Maybe we should try smashing it—kidding! Don’t give me that look!”

Everyone stared at him like he’d lost his mind.

“Anyway, we’ll figure this out later. No way we’re letting a day like this go to waste. Let’s throw a celebration tomorrow!”

He beamed with joy.

“No, a party’s not enough! I’ll show you all the pleasures this city has to offer!”

Everyone lit up with anticipation.

Mystery City was built for one thing: indulgence. The pleasures it offered were limitless.

“Uhh… won’t that cost a fortune?” Kwon Hudon asked hesitantly.

Kwon Myung-woo slapped his chest and declared, “Ahaha! Don’t worry about it. I made a tidy sum recently.”

Hearing “tidy sum,” everyone nodded—except Joo Hayun, who just sighed.

“Alright then. Let’s treat our taste buds first…”

Music rang out. Kwon Myung-woo pulled out his smartphone and answered the call.

“What is it?”

The call didn’t end quickly. The longer it dragged on, the grimmer Kwon Myung-woo’s face became.

“…Sorry, everyone. The celebration’s canceled.”

He put the phone down, his voice dark.

“I have to return to the clan immediately.”

“Did something happen?”

Kwon Myung-woo nodded.

“The Naming War has been postponed.”

If that were all, he wouldn’t be this urgent.

“Vain Hope has been killed.”

Vain Hope.

Once Kwon Chan-seong’s right-hand man and the heir to Hyukcheon’s European branch.

“Vain Hope” wasn’t a name but a title. In this world, being referred to by a title meant one possessed extraordinary power.

Kwon Hanul had come to Mystery City specifically to prepare for a match against him in the Naming War.

“Who killed him?”

Kwon Myung-woo had personally trained Kwon Hanul to face him, that’s how formidable the man was.

Who could have possibly defeated such a figure?

“He was killed by the swordmasters of the Mei family, led by Bloodflame blade Mei Xiao.”

Everyone held their breath.

Their eyes turned toward Mei Hong.

Her reaction?

“So… she’s finally shown up.”

She smiled, pure and unshaken.

* * *

“…Thank you for your efforts.”

In a room decorated entirely in gold—from walls to ceiling—Mark Goldpixie ended a call.

“How did it go?” As he put down his smartphone, Maria Sanchez, seated nearby, asked.

“They said no matter how much they dig, they can’t find anything on ‘Black Bird.’”

Black Bird.

The man who had brought Kwon Hanul to Mystery City and who had long been involved in the underground tournaments. Every participant he recommended placed highly.

“Keep digging. Even a small lead will do.”

“Look, I’ve done what I can. Mystery City never—”

“If you don’t help me, things might get… unpleasant.”

Maria Sanchez scratched the marble table with her fingertip.

With a horrible screech, a deep gouge appeared.

She wasn’t with Mark Goldpixie just for business—she was threatening his life.

“…Damn it!”

Normally, this level of threat would have been enough. But today, Mark Goldpixie snapped.

“I’ve already stationed surveillance around Kwon Hanul’s lodging, just like you asked! The higher-ups have probably noticed. Do you even know what kind of punishment I’ll face?!”

Surveilling Kwon Hanul was part of what Maria had requested.

Though the security was airtight and yielded little intel…

“Isn’t that enough?! Let me go already!”

“No can do,” Maria said firmly.

Whatever problems he had, they were his to solve. She had no intention of releasing him.

This matter was that important to the Sanchez family—after all, it involved a relic once used by their progenitor.

“Just find out more about Black Bird. Then I’ll let you go.”

“Why are you so obsessed with that guy? You’re from the Sanchez family!”

The villains of Pandemonium were mostly insane—and among them, the Sanchez family was notorious.

Bad attitude. Great skill. The list of major crimes they’d committed was endless.

“I just want to minimize variables this time.”

“Variables?”

“That’s all you need to know.”

Maria’s obsession with Black Bird wasn’t without reason.

She had a bad feeling.

An assignment that should have been easy—yet she’d run into Hyukcheon’s bloodline and lost, even with her powers restrained.

Two impossible things had already happened. She had no choice but to stay on guard.

“If you don’t figure out who he is before they leave, are you going to kill me?”

“Kill you? No. But I might be disappointed enough to strike.”

That alone made Mark Goldpixie tremble.

A superhuman bloodline member’s touch could be fatal to someone like him.

“So find out. Whatever it takes.”

Then his phone rang. Maria gestured for him to answer.

“Yes?”

—“Sir, about the surveillance target…”

“What’s going on?”

—“The staff at the mansion are moving quickly. It looks like they’re preparing to leave.”

“Got it. Keep monitoring.”

Mark hung up and looked anxiously at Maria.

“I figured they’d leave soon after receiving their prizes, but not this fast.”

Maria fell into thought, then pulled out her phone and made a call.

“Marcos, can you hear me?”

—“Yes, sister. What is it?”

“Go outside right now and pass on my message.”

—“What should I say?”

“Tell him, ‘We’re hunting black worms tomorrow. If we’re unlucky, a snake might come out instead.’”

—“Understood.”

That man could handle any unforeseen variable.

When she first heard he was coming, Maria had resented it—thinking the family didn’t trust her.

But now, she was grateful.

—“Sister.”

Marcos Sanchez suddenly spoke.

Maria looked puzzled.

“What is it?”

—“I have a request. Please let me be the one to kill Kwon Hanul.”

Her expression shifted.

“You sure? We both lost to him.”

—“That’s only because our powers were restricted! If I could go all out, it would’ve ended differently!”

Marcos’s voice was full of frustration.

When they fought Kwon Hanul, neither of them had used even half their true power.

Maria, too, had held back.

“Hmm…”

She paused, considering.

She had her own grudge against Kwon Hanul. But there was someone else she needed to face that day.

Joo Hayun.

The right-hand woman of Kwon Seonwoo, the head of Hyukcheon, and someone Maria had clashed with many times before.

“Fine, do as you like. But make sure you kill him for good. Got it?”

Marcos Sanchez answered with a chuckle that dripped with cruelty.

—”Leave it to me.”

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]