Chapter 261

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

Chapter 261: The Greatest Worry (3)

“What... what?”

Jeong Taeryong, the eldest of the Five Masters of Anshan, could sense it.

He realized that everyone in Anshan, including himself, had become embroiled in something huge.

“Twenty million, you say? What does that mean?”

The sudden mention of a huge sum of money made Jeong Taeryong's face pale with fear.

He was scared of this mad Strongest Sword suddenly talking about money and the purple demon rushing towards them from the other side.

In the midst of all this, the bald swordsman, Sung Hwigwang, the third of the Five Brothers, unsheathed his sword without hesitation.

“Hyung! I think we need to kill that thing first!”

What Hwigwang pointed at with his sword was none other than the old monster approaching from the west.

Unlike the Strongest Sword, with whom they were at least conversing, the monster was already in battle mode and rushing towards them.

Then one of the Five Masters of Anshan recognized the monster's face.

“Huh? Baek Gangryang?”

He was too famous to be mistaken.

Baek Gangryang, 68 years old.

He had previously served as the mayor of Beijing and the representative of the Communist Party.

Until just before the reset, he held a seat on the Politburo Standing Committee.

In other words, he was one of the top ten figures in the vast Chinese political sphere.

It was akin to the current prime minister or the ruling party leader returning as a monster in Korea.

And soon,

“What?”

“It’s Baek Gangryang!”

The citizens of Anshan who had gathered nearby also recognized him and started murmuring.

The reason was...

Thud, thud!

Baek Gangryang's body was somewhat unusual.

Before the reset, he had a severely obese body, and even now, as a monster, it was the same.

Crash!

His body, strong enough to tear up the ground as he moved, looked like a huge jar.

The bizarre part was that most of this jar-shaped body was composed of muscles.

‘What, what is that? How is that even possible?’

Even Yeongwoo, who had seen all kinds of monsters, was bewildered by the structure of his body.

It was a body one couldn't have without over-investing in karma for physical transformation.

Moreover, this current Standing Committee member held a weapon, unlike the previously deceased Zhang Jinshan.

‘Oh!’

To Yeongwoo, the weapon seemed purely like loot.

Whirr!

It was a very heavy-looking crescent moon blade.

The blade part was about twice as large as a regular crescent moon blade, making it more like a kitchen knife with a long handle.

“I am Baek Gangryang, the 4th Standing Committee member of the Politburo!”

The Standing Committee member introduced himself without fail.

Then,

“Chairman Im Dupyeong wants military contributions! Anshan city must comply...!”

He demanded money while throwing the crescent moon blade he was holding.

Flash!

Right in the middle of the standoff between the Five Masters of Anshan and Yeongwoo.

Boom!

‘...Why is he throwing a weapon here? Is he crazy?’

Yeongwoo found Baek Gangryang's actions puzzling, but the Five Masters of Anshan seemed to have a different take.

“Wh-what kind of sword is that big?”

“Is he really Baek Gangryang...?”

“Is Chairman Im alive?”

When a person appearing as Baek Gangryang showed up as a demon, they naturally believed in the survival of Chairman Im as well.

At this point, the cities' tendencies diverged. Earlier, Dalian City's Tian Zhulin had a dispute with the Standing Committee member Zhang Jinshan.

- Ha, the Politburo? The party no longer exists, so how can you use the name of the Politburo?

- You insolent wench! How dare you deny the existence of the party!

Tian Zhulin of Dalian Sword Guild’s stance was that she could not acknowledge the existing party since all systems and laws had collapsed due to the reset.

On the other hand, for the Five Masters of Anshan,

“Chairman Im...!”

“Oh my god.”

Two of the five brothers had knelt before the sword Baek Gangryang threw.

‘What, these idiots.’

Yeongwoo couldn't understand it, but the name Im Dupyeong had a tremendous impact on those who had been under the government's control for a long time.

His name signified not just a single national chairman but the entire solid system centered around the party.

Additionally, Baek Gangryang, who appeared as Chairman Im's proxy, knew how to dominate the masses.

Swoosh.

“I will give the right to speak only to those who can lift this sword.”

Baek Gangryang pointed at the crescent moon blade he had thrown with his thick fingers.

Consequently, everyone in the hall, including the Five Masters of Anshan, looked at the sword in question.

“...Ugh.”

“Can we even hold that properly?”

“It looks incredibly heavy...”

The crescent moon blade that Baek Gangryang had brought was so massive that even wrapping one’s hand around its handle seemed difficult.

The sheer weight of the blade was evident from the shockwave and thunderous sound it created when it hit the ground.

Therefore, everyone could easily imagine how strong Baek Gangryang must be to wield it as if it were part of his own body.

“...Hyung, it seems that...”

Even the third brother, Sung Hwigwang, who wasn’t scared of the Strongest Sword who had shot laser cannons at the city, trembled at the mere mention of Im Dupyeong’s name.

He urged their eldest brother, Jeong Taeryong, to surrender.

However, Jeong Taeryong was a consistent man.

Just as he did not bestow the title of “cooperation” on the Great Demon Jeong Yeongwoo, he did not bend before the Standing Committee member Baek Gangryang, who came with Im Dupyeong's name.

“It is an honor to have you visit Anshan. We have the privilege of meeting many esteemed guests today.”

As Jeong Taeryong spoke without even making a polite gesture, Baek Gangryang approached until his shadow fell at Jeong Taeryong’s feet.

Thud, thud!

Then, revealing his gray, dry teeth, he again pointed at the crescent moon blade.

“Stop talking nonsense and lift that. If you open your mouth without lifting it again, I’ll crush your skull.”

This was clearly not an idle threat.

To take control of the city, he needed an example to make a point, and that example had become Jeong Taeryong, who had dared to stand out.

“Hmm.”

“...Hyung.”

Everyone expected something unfortunate to happen when someone grabbed that crescent moon blade.

Indeed, purple demonic energy continued to seep out of the blade.

So, inevitably,

Tap.

While everyone focused on Jeong Taeryong, Yeongwoo touched the crescent moon blade.

“If I lift this, I can speak, right?”

Then, suddenly, everyone in the hall looked at Yeongwoo.

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

“Huh!”

“What...”

At that moment, Yeongwoo had already grasped the crescent moon blade with one hand.

Although the handle was designed for Baek Gangryang’s overly large hands, making it impossible for Yeongwoo to grip it properly,

Crunch!

He could lift it purely with his strength.

Because just a moment ago, Yeongwoo had

『Character: Jeong Yeongwoo07』

[Strength] 7,500 (19+7,481)

[Endurance] 6,248 (21+6,227)

[Durability] 7,398 (13+7,385)

[Sensory] 3,400 (24+3,376)

|Fire Resistance: 15% 【Osmosis 50%】

|Ice Resistance: 15% 【Osmosis 50%】

|Lightning Resistance: 15% 【Osmosis 50%】

|Poison Resistance: 15% 【Osmosis 50%】

|Ability Resistance: 50%

|Dragon Resistance: 10%

spent a whopping 40 million karma on his stats.

He had invested 20 million in strength and 10 million each in endurance and durability. Knowing that the opponent was the 4th Standing Committee member, potentially stronger than the 6th Standing Committee member Zhang Jinshan, he had preemptively boosted his stats.

And that judgment seemed to have hit the mark.

‘Wow, it really is heavy. This guy is a total strength character.’

As Yeongwoo awkwardly held the crescent moon blade with his left hand, the Five Masters of Anshan all looked at Baek Gangryang.

They needed to see his reaction to decide which side to take.

The expression on Baek Gangryang's face, as everyone’s gaze shifted to him, was

“Huh...?”

Utterly bewildered.

But he wasn’t just surprised that the opponent had lifted that heavy crescent moon blade.

“How, how on earth...”

That blade was a weapon imbued with demonic power, personally bestowed by Chairman Im.

It was a weapon that only those who walked the path of demons could hold.

Because,

“What is this? A self-harming weapon?”

As Yeongwoo was observing now, this weapon had the trait of inflicting Ability damage on its wielder.

「Dark Slash」 - Transformed Crescent Moon Blade

【While using this weapon, you will continuously take Ability damage.】

【Adds 25% of the Ability damage taken in the last 2 seconds to your attack power.】

【Increases Ability attribute damage by 10%.】

However, since Yeongwoo had 50% Ability resistance and his recovery ability had long surpassed human levels, his body wasn’t falling apart.

‘What’s with this bizarre option?’

Clearly, a weapon designed for villains.

And only Yeongwoo could fully understand the potential of the second option.

Even the potential of the second option was something only Yeongwoo could grasp.

【Adds 25% of the Ability damage taken in the last 2 seconds to your attack power.】

‘Isn't this a weapon for fighting extraterrestrial beings?’

Based on his past experiences, the source of Ability attributes was somewhere beyond outer space.

Hence, if he were to fight otherworldly beings in the future, a significant portion of the damage he would receive from them would be Ability.

“You’ve been using an extremely good weapon, haven’t you?”

When Yeongwoo swung the "Dark Slash" twice in the air, Baek Gangryang, who had maintained a stern demeanor, instinctively reached out his hand but then retracted it.

Swoosh.

It was as if he wanted Yeongwoo to return the weapon now.

However, instead of handing it back, Yeongwoo smiled wickedly and opened his weapon catalog.

Flash!

In a way, this was also a form of asymmetric warfare unique to Yeongwoo.

Only he could make the weapon disappear like magic right there and then.

‘Register weapon.’

As soon as Yeongwoo registered the "Dark Slash" in his weapon catalog, the massive crescent moon blade in his hand suddenly vanished without a trace.

“What?”

“Huh?”

And, of course, the most surprised person was,

“You son of a bitch!”

Baek Gangryang, who had just lost the weapon bestowed upon him by Im Dupyeong right in front of his eyes.

Grind.

He was so furious that his gray teeth ground together, making a terrifying noise.

However, he couldn’t bring himself to crush Yeongwoo’s head.

Because,

“Where did you send my weapon? What kind of sorcery is this?”

He suddenly realized that if he killed this mysterious intruder, he might never recover the weapon.

After all, it hadn’t been put in a pocket; it had disappeared into thin air.

“Do you want to know? Where did the Dark Slash go?”

When Yeongwoo asked this and stared at him, Baek Gangryang had no choice.

“…….”

He quietly nodded.

So, Yeongwoo turned to the citizens of Anshan, who had filled the area by now, and said,

“Alright, then, Commissioner! Let’s reveal it publicly to the citizens! How much did you plan to extort from Anshan every day?”

“What?”

Baek Gangryang swelled his muscles all over in rage, but Yeongwoo’s next words held him back.

“Wasn’t it money you were going to collect anyway? If you speak the truth, I will return the weapon immediately. I seek a fair duel.”

Yeongwoo had not drawn his sword yet, so his words matched his actions for now.

However, Baek Gangryang did not trust him.

He also sensed that he had fallen into quite a deep pit.

But what could he do?

No one but this guy knew where the missing weapon was.

‘If the worst comes to worst, I’ll just kill him. I’ll find it even if I have to rip his stomach open.’

Baek Gangryang, having resolved himself internally, finally revealed the amount Im Dupyeong had ordered to be extorted from Anshan in front of the public.

“Forty million. Starting today, we plan to collect forty million karma every day.”

“What did you say?”

“Forty million?”

“Is that even possible?”

The citizens of Anshan were shocked, their mouths agape at the enormous extortion amount, and Yeongwoo was no different.

‘These guys are total extortionists, aren't they? Are they planning to take forty million every day? Even other places are only being asked for thirty million.’

For some reason, Im Dupyeong had decided to squeeze the lifeblood out of Anshan.

‘This is truly insane.’

This couldn’t go on.

Yeongwoo took a step forward toward the public with a seemingly outraged expression.

“Ha, forty million every day? Isn’t that too harsh? Has the moral righteousness of the martial world fallen to such a low level?”

Then, he raised three fingers toward the Five Masters of Anshan, who were swallowing dryly.

“I’ll take thirty million! If you give me thirty million karma daily, I’ll ensure you don’t have to pay that exorbitant sum.”

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]