[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]

Chapter 182: Treasure Hunt (1)

A major hospital in Japan.

“…Sigh.”

In a private room reserved exclusively for VVIPs, Kwon Mi let out a long sigh.

Dressed in a pristine white gown, she looked every bit the patient, but in front of her was a mountain of documents piled high.

“Why can’t I rest during such a perfect opportunity…”

The Black Sharp Unit, one of the elite combat divisions under the Hyukcheon Group, had suffered heavy losses during Odin’s assault.

As its commander, Kwon Mi had no choice but to authorize a full recovery period for the entire unit.

Moreover, she herself had yet to fully overcome the aftereffects of the curse, making rest absolutely essential.

But even so, Kwon Mi couldn’t allow herself to rest.

“We’ll assign the France mission to the Black Fang Unit… and the monster suppression in the Yellow Sea should go to Black Water Unit.”

She needed to reassign all the duties that had been under Black Sharp’s charge.

“And we still need to start reconstruction on Takamine Hospital…”

There were too many unresolved matters demanding her attention.

Flipping through the documents without pause, her head throbbed again, and she sighed once more.

Just then, the door to the hospital room burst open. At the rude intrusion, Kwon Mi’s face instantly darkened.

“Who barges into a hospital room without even knocking—!”

She turned sharply toward the door, raising her voice, but then froze.

Kwon Seonwoo.

Her father—also the head of the Hyukcheon Group—stood there.

“Seems I’ve been rather rude,” he said.

“N-No, sir…”

Kwon Mi hurried to her feet, quickly straightening her clothes.

Kwon Seonwoo spoke with his usual calm demeanor.

“Relax. You’re the one this room belongs to.”

“Th-Thank you… Please, have a seat.”

She gestured to the chair in the room, and he sat down as if it were only natural.

Kwon Mi took the seat across from him. Though they now sat eye to eye, she couldn’t bring herself to meet his gaze.

“You must be busy. Why… why did you come see me in person?”

She could barely speak. Anyone else would have been stunned. The ever-composed Kwon Mi was trembling.

To her, her father was… an intimidating figure.

So long as she dressed perfectly and mentally braced herself, she could maintain composure in front of him.

But a sudden encounter like this left her completely unprepared.

“I figured this was something best discussed face to face.”

At that, Kwon Mi stiffened.

She had a rough idea of what was coming. Kwon Seonwoo wouldn’t let this slide.

But to think he’d come in person…

“I heard the Black Sharp Unit suffered significant losses at the hands of those Pandemonium scum. You nearly died fighting Odin.”

“…Yes, sir.”

“Pathetic.”

Kwon Seonwoo clicked his tongue. Kwon Mi lowered her head in silence.

“To wear the Hyukcheon name and lose to trash like that… I can only imagine how much ridicule Hyukcheon will face from the world after this.”

“…I have no excuse.”

She couldn’t even offer a defense. The Black Sharp Unit symbolized the martial strength of Hyukcheon.

And that very unit had been decimated by villains from Pandemonium.

It was a humiliating defeat.

“I’ve already issued an extermination order against Aeon and Pandemonium. From now on, the main family will act directly.”

Kwon Seonwoo was not the type to tolerate blemishes on the clan.

Unless he erased the stain and repaid it in full, he couldn’t rest. He was like a rabid dog in that way.

“…At least you weren’t seriously injured.”

He suddenly muttered.

Kwon Mi looked up in shock. What had she just heard?

“You were fighting Odin right beside them, and I… I had no idea. As head of Hyukcheon, I’ve never felt such shame.”

She blinked, stunned. Her ears couldn’t quite accept what they’d heard.

The Kwon Seonwoo she knew would never apologize like this.

“I couldn’t just address this over a phone call, so I came in person.”

Still, she couldn’t respond. Was she dreaming?

“…I hear the damage to the Black Sharp Unit was devastating.”

“We’ll be fine. Once we bring in the second battalion, we should be able to recover quickly.”

A unit as prestigious as Black Sharp always had a second battalion in reserve for emergencies.

“No need to force it. I understand how difficult this must be. Losing the core of your unit… it won’t be easy to regain your former standing.”

To hear comfort from Kwon Seonwoo’s mouth…

Kwon Mi had to steel her mind just to stay upright.

“If you need anything, don’t hesitate to request support from the main family. I’ll provide whatever it takes to restore the Black Sharp Unit.”

“Th-Thank you.”

“But there are other… troubling reports.”

He trailed off.

“I read the report you submitted to Intelligence. Odin used a curse that suppressed the Black Dragon Bloodline, is that correct?”

Kwon Seonwoo’s expression turned grave.

The greatest strength of Hyukcheon was the Black Dragon Bloodline. And now a curse existed that could suppress it?

This could shake the very foundation of their clan.

“And the one-time-use artifact that could dispel the curse… you used it on the spot, so there’s no way to study it.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“No, what matters is that you’re alive.”

In truth, it was Kwon Hanul who had helped dispel the curse, but she couldn’t reveal that.

So she had to lie.

“And this is another part that bothers me. The report said it was Kwon Hanul who delivered the final blow to Odin.”

Kwon Mi composed herself. Finally, the question had come.

“Yes. Odin was gravely wounded, but I wasn’t able to finish him. It was Hanul who stepped in and finished the fight.”

“…Are you telling me that Hanul really defeated Odin?”

Kwon Seonwoo’s face showed clear disbelief.

While it was true Hanul was monstrously strong for his age, Odin was a Councilor of Pandemonium.

Even wounded, he wasn’t someone Hyukcheon could take lightly—and yet Hanul had brought him down?

“I was shocked, too,” Kwon Mi said calmly, nodding.

Seonwoo looked even more doubtful.

Watching his expression, Kwon Mi bitterly chuckled inside.

What would he say if he learned the truth?

That it wasn’t a dying Odin Hanul had struck down…

…but a fully capable Odin, whom Hanul completely overwhelmed in battle?

“…I didn’t know shedding one’s skin could change a person so completely.”

But she couldn’t speak the truth. This was Hanul’s wish.

After all, there was no way to explain Hanul’s sudden and immense surge in power without revealing the secret of his bloodline.

“I can see that Hanul played a major role. But if we submit the report as-is, your reputation will suffer tremendously.”

The Black Sharp Unit was the symbol of Hyukcheon’s absolute might. To fall to Odin—and for its commander to lose—was already a stain.

“I can’t fabricate the report,” She replied without hesitation. “And this way, Hanul will get the recognition he deserves.”

That was her real goal.

Hanul was far too unknown for someone of his skill. Through this event, she wanted to make the name “Kwon Hanul” known across the globe.

“…You’re going out of your way for him.”

“He’s my nephew, after all.”

At that, Seonwoo’s face briefly went blank—then he let out a soft scoff.

“But that brat isn’t here at this hospital, is he? Where did he go?”

“He went to Afghanistan.”

That made Seonwoo’s eyes widen slightly.

“…Afghanistan?”

“I heard that the Mei Clan’s hidden vault is located there. He went to try and open it.”

“To think he’d hear that rumor already… Hanul’s intelligence gathering seems better than I thought.”

“…Sorry, what?”

Now it was Kwon Mi’s turn to be shocked. Mei Hong had said they were the only ones who knew.

“Why do you look so surprised?”

“I… I was just wondering… Chairman, did you know about the vault being there too?”

“…What are you talking about?”

Kwon Seonwoo’s brows furrowed.

“It’s not exactly a secret known only to me, you know.”

* * *

The Mei Clan.

Right now, people mock them as fools who were annihilated by the Hyukcheon Family in just one day. But in truth, the Mei Clan was never a pushover.

When Dungeons first began appearing, the Mei Clan rose to power under the full backing of the Chinese government.

The Chinese authorities funneled every Dungeon that emerged in the country to the Mei Clan. Even when Dungeons caused significant damage, the government would do nothing until the Mei Clan stepped in to handle it.

Eventually, one clan came to monopolize every Dungeon across the vast expanse of China. All the relics and byproducts from those countless Dungeons also fell into the hands of the Mei Clan.

Thanks to that, the Mei Clan rapidly ascended to become one of the world’s most prestigious houses.

“Even so, the Mei Clan had its limits. Specifically, they could never surpass the Hyukcheon Family.”

Despite the Chinese government’s favoritism, the Mei Clan could never measure up to the Hyukcheon Family.

Throughout their long histories, the two families clashed countless times, with Hyukcheon winning nearly all of them.

“That’s why, starting with the third or maybe fourth Clan Head, surpassing Hyukcheon became their lifelong obsession.”

The Mei Clan began preparing to overtake Hyukcheon.

They started hoarding the finest relics obtainable from Dungeons across China.

They traveled the world, collecting rare and expensive artifacts.

“And the place where all those treasures are gathered—that’s the Mei Clan Head’s secret vault we’re heading to right now!”

Mei Hong shouted proudly, then turned to look back. In the rear seat, Kwon Hudon and Gael Garcia clapped eagerly, excitement written all over their faces.

“Ohh… I didn’t realize it was that amazing.”

“I thought it was just a hidden stash of the Clan Head’s emergency funds.”

“Tch! Don’t be ridiculous. This is the secret vault constructed by generations of Mei Clan Heads. Calling it a stash is an insult!” Mei Hong said, sounding genuinely offended.

“So Hong, you’re saying you can find this vault?”

“Of course. The Clan Head took me there a few times. I made sure to memorize the route each time.”

“Wait… they took you? Why?”

At Hudon’s question, Mei Hong’s expression darkened.

“Why do you think? They saw me as a convenient tool. Took me along without a second thought.”

Hudon pressed his lips together, regretting his question.

“H-Hong, you’re amazing… You actually remembered the way into the vault!”

“Well, I am pretty smart.”

Trying to lighten the mood, Hudon chose to flatter Mei Hong—and thankfully, it worked.

“Trust me! I’ll guide you to a land filled with rare elixirs and powerful relics!”

“Ooooh!”

“Wooooow!”

Watching the trio get all hyped, Kwon Hanul let out a dry chuckle.

“They’re all fired up.”

“Well, it’s not every day you stand on the brink of discovering treasure.”

Joo Hayun, seated next to him, responded while pouring cold water from her thermos.

“Would you like some?”

“Absolutely.”

Feeling the heat, Hanul gratefully drank the cold water in one gulp.

“This is my first time in Afghanistan. It’s hotter than I expected.”

He looked out the rattling car window, where endless greenery stretched out before him.

“Not as desert-like as I imagined.”

“It’s a vast country. I’ve heard the Badakhshan region, where we’re headed, has relatively few deserts and wastelands.”

Their current destination was Parshak, a major city in Badakhshan Province, at the edge of Afghanistan.

Their plan was to use Parshak as a base to search for the Mei Clan’s hidden vault.

“Huh?”

Hanul, gazing out the window, spotted something odd in the distance.

Two Hunters were fighting an ogre.

The act of slaying monsters wasn’t unusual. The issue was that the ogre’s rampage was demolishing an entire village.

But this wasn’t an uncommon sight in Afghanistan.

Hanul himself had witnessed similar scenes more than ten times.

“I’d heard stories, but seeing it in person… What a strange country. A place where Hunters hunt monsters without a thought for civilian casualties.”

Once infamous for religious conflict, Afghanistan now went by a different name: The Lawless Land of Hunters.

As Dungeons began to appear, many nations fell into crisis. Some even collapsed.

Afghanistan too teetered on the brink of ruin.

Dungeons kept opening, but the country lacked the power to suppress the monsters.

So the Afghan government took a drastic measure:

They opened their borders to Hunters—exclusively.

And not just that.

They offered immunity: If you can hunt monsters and close Dungeons, we won’t prosecute anything else you do.

It was an extreme policy—but an effective one. Hunters from all over the world flocked to Afghanistan.

The chaos caused by Dungeons was swiftly quelled. Thus was born a new Afghanistan—now known as the Lawless Land of Hunters.

“Ah, look over there!”

Mei Hong pointed ahead. Through the windshield, a large city came into view.

“That’s Parshak!”

After stepping out of the vehicle, Hanul was awestruck by the sight of Parshak.

The roads were well-paved, and modern buildings stood proudly throughout the city. The streets were vibrant and full of life.

Hanul would’ve liked to explore more, but there was someone he needed to find first.

“Hmm… The person Aunt sent should be around here somewhere.”

In truth, Kwon Mi had opposed Hanul’s trip to Afghanistan.

That’s because both the Mei Clan and Aeon were actively targeting him.

But after much persuasion, she relented—on one condition:

He must stay with the guardian she’d appointed at all times.

“Whoa… Hanul, look!”

Hudon tapped Hanul’s shoulder excitedly.

“It’s Isaac the Twin-Blade Demon! A world-ranked Triple Numbering! And over there—Lion Kick of Massacre! He’s said to rule the Middle East! Whoa, unbelievable!”

Hudon was starstruck, pointing out famous Hunters left and right.

To Hanul, the fact that Hudon could recognize all of them was even more impressive.

“This really is a land for Hunters. I can’t believe so many famous names are gathered in one place…” Hudon said dreamily. Mei Hong rolled her eyes beside him.

“Hudon oppa, you do realize most of those guys are weaker than you, right?”

“W-Well… y-yeah, but still… it’s kinda cool, right?”

“Not at all.”

Hudon drooped at Mei Hong’s curt reply.

“Aaah!”

Suddenly, someone shouted, drawing everyone’s attention.

A short-statured East Asian woman stood there.

“Oh dear~ Sorry I’m late! It’s my first time in this city too!”

She may have been small, but her voice boomed like a freight train.

She marched confidently toward Hanul under everyone’s gaze—dragging the spotlight with her. Flustered, Hanul asked: “Are you the one sent by Lady Kwon Mi?”

“Yes, sir!”

Snapping to attention, the woman introduced herself.

“Captain of the Black Rice Brigade, Kwon So-ri! Here under direct orders from Lady Kwon Mi to assist you, sir!”

* * *

“Please, make yourselves comfortable! Oh, and don’t worry—I rented out this entire teahouse for the day!”

Kwon So-ri had brought the group to a traditional teahouse in Parshak.

Though called a teahouse, it was a three-story building—clearly no ordinary venue.

“I considered a hotel, but I figured you should experience the culture while you’re here.”

True to her name (which means “sound”), Kwon So-ri was extremely talkative.

“You said you’re the Captain… but I don’t see your team.”

“Ah! I thought they might disturb your rest, so I ordered them to stay hidden! Shall I summon them?”

“No, that’s alright.”

Hanul quickly waved her off.

“From what I’ve heard, you’re in charge of the Hyukcheon branch here in Afghanistan…”

“That’s correct! I’ve got two other squads under me, but Lady Kwon Mi’s request was too important to delegate—so I came personally!”

“I see…”

For every sentence he spoke, she responded with two. Hanul was starting to feel a bit drained.

“Whew… Still, I’m honored! I can’t believe I’m meeting the hero who defeated Odin so soon!”

Word had already spread that Hanul helped take down Odin with Kwon Mi’s help—even reaching Afghanistan.

“I only helped Lady Kwon Mi finish what she started.”

“That alone is incredible! Odin was a senior council member of Pandemonium! If it weren’t for the current situation, I would’ve challenged you to a spar!”

She clenched her small fists with surprising vigor.

“I’d heard rumors, but you exceeded my expectations! I can’t believe you already caught wind of it!”

“Caught wind of what?”

“Why, you came to find the Mei Clan’s hidden vault, didn’t you?”

The atmosphere instantly tensed. Hanul exchanged glances with the Dark Shade Team.

“…So you knew?”

“Huh? What do you mean, sir? Every Hunter in Parshak right now is here because of the Mei Clan’s vault.”

“…Come again?” Hanul asked, stunned. This time, Kwon So-ri looked baffled.

“Wait… don’t tell me you didn’t know? The rumor’s already widespread among top-tier Hunters.”

Her next words made Hanul’s eyes go wide.

“That the Mei Clan’s hidden vault is buried somewhere in Afghanistan.”

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]