216. Knockout Tournament (3)

"If that was the case, you should've told me sooner."

"Yes?"

Kang Changho no longer seemed intent on attacking.

"If you really are an S-rank Hunter, then there was no need for me to be surprised over a mere C-rank Gate."

"Hmm."

"But you do realize this was mostly your fault, right? No matter what, you shouldn't be sending texts about working at dawn."

"Ah, I'm sorry. About the Mimic City case... Since I'm a freelancer, my day and night schedule is all over the place."

"Is that so?"

"I momentarily lost track of the time zone when I sent the message from home."

"Well, we don't really have a concept of working hours."

What followed was a brief exchange between the two Hunters.

"Anyway, unless you're planning to ruin that barely recovered body of yours again, refrain from contacting me at dawn from now on."

Kang Changho handed over the housewarming gift he had been holding to the landlord and made a certain proposal.

"Since you're really S-rank, it's perfect. That means you won't have to worry about getting overwhelmed and dying from magic when we go to the arena where awakeners gather."

"Oh, well, the thing is, my condition right now... it's still a bit...?"

"Is that so? You're not going to China because your health isn't good?"

Of course, the other person's answer wasn't all that important.

"What I just said was a joke. I'll see you at the airport next Saturday."

***

Tianjin. Today, an unprecedented number of people have gathered in this port city. The media, who paid hundreds of millions of won for live broadcast rights, the excited faces of foreigners, and among them, exceptional powerhouses with an aura that sets them apart from ordinary people.

The completed international stadium now stood wide and sturdy, resembling a fortress that had taken years to build. In reality, it was the result of local awakening individuals working together in a short period of time. However, once they entered the interior, they could see shortcomings, such as the simple stone steps of the spectator seats. Buildings exposed to the skills of awakened individuals inevitably have a shortened lifespan.

After the event, the host country experienced a minor accident due to the decision to save costs by building a stadium that would be demolished once the event was over, thus knowing that its safety would decrease over time.

[The reality of the stadium that the Awakened built in just one month.jpg]

[Actual situation] is this a 6 million won seat...?

[Stability issues of a hastily built structure using an Awakener's abilities]

So, as usual, various communities were heatedly criticizing others' shortcomings. Interestingly, despite this negative public sentiment, the event's tickets were surprisingly selling out smoothly.

[[Breaking News] Status of S-rank Hunters Confirming Participation in the 1st HT...]

Intelligent beings are naturally weak to curiosity. And this event had such an interesting spectacle waiting for the citizens that it was impossible for them to ignore.

[Amazing.]

[Do they really have an S-rank match??]

[It looks like the crazy Traina really is a huge reward < < <]Soon after, at the port and runway of this place, warriors with their own goals began to arrive...

***

2.5 km near the stadium. A hotel.

"Zhan. The last confirmation of the entry of the S-rank Hunter from Korea has been made."

"There's no one missing, right?"

"At least for the Six-Star level, that's the case. We don't have to worry about the Yellow Dragon Battle anymore."

Tae.

The man, called Zhan, put down the whiskey glass he was holding and turned around. He was a well-known figure who had also been seen at the Gate Star party some time ago.

His skin was dark, perhaps due to his past job that often involved field work. His hair, tied into a neat bun in a rather old-fashioned style, gave him the appearance of a protagonist from a classic martial arts movie.

Outside, he was referred to as an S-rank Hunter, but in this country, with its own unique classification system, the term "Six-Star Awakener" was more commonly used.

F-rank, E-rank, D-rank. First star, second star, third star.

There was no need to obsess over trivial terminology. The important thing was that he stood at the pinnacle of the awakening world, a predator at the top. Moreover, with this event, he planned to prove that his status was at the very peak, even in the midst of such advanced competition.

"Hmm, four people. Four people."

Zhan skimmed through the file subordinate brought, deep in thought. For now, the top-tier figures from foreign countries who agreed to participate in this event numbered four.

Although the participation rate was low considering the huge prize money being offered, it was still sufficient. After all, he had successfully recruited the representative from the "most important country", that is, the United States.

"It's really a shame that Japan's participation fell through. When I contacted them last time, it seems Japan is still in chaos over that, uh, guild decentralization issue? Anyway, it looks like they're still dealing with that. Of course, even if any awakened person from there had come, they would have ended up as nothing more than a moth to the flame."

As Zhan spoke in his characteristic soft tone, the other people in the room chuckled lightly. After all, the reason the S-ranks gathered in one place was because of the top-tier Epic Triana, but this side has no intention of handing that item to foreigners.

The geographical advantage of a port city that would be helpful to someone who had awakened to the water attribute. Magic stones buried in the ground, ready to enhance the destructive power of skills at any time. And fully utilizing the host country's advantages, with various tricks to deceive during item checks at the stadium.

For Zhan, a level of support had already been promised that was incomparable to any home field advantage. As a result, even before the game had started, he had already anticipated his victory.

Of course, whether it was a scam or a trick, this world is a place where those who win regardless of means and methods leave their names. It seemed that Zhan had made a thorough and clever decision for his country, and he took pride in it alone. Now, all that remained was to live up to the expectations that everyone had placed on him.

"Now, this matter was directly ordered by the higher-ups, so everyone, let's pay close attention."

"Yes!"

"Moreover, this event is the first-ever Awakener Festival in world history!"

Ooh!

The people gathered in the room popped open champagne as if the match had already ended. By the time the atmosphere had fully developed, it was then...

"Zhan!"

"Yes. Li Chiang."

A high-pitched voice suddenly erupted from one corner. The Chinese who opened this mouth was another top-tier awakened who looked younger than Zhan. He pointed to the paper he was holding as if he had something to ask and continued.

"By the way, about the match. Is it really okay to set it up like this? If you pit a Six-Star (externally classified as an S-rank Hunter) against a Five-Star (A-rank Hunter), isn't that too much?"

"Of course the Five-Star will lose."

"Isn't it too obvious? People were complaining, saying why is the Yellow Dragon Battle being held like this?"

That's right. As this Hunter mentioned, in the Yellow Dragon Battle tournament, where S-rank and A-rank hunters are mixed, the chances of an A-rank winning are practically nonexistent.

However, China had no choice. The amount of money spent on attracting customers was too large for this event to be used solely to boost the country's prestige. So, to avoid a deficit, they had to somehow increase the participation of the most famous individuals who would attract the most attention in the matches.

"Li Chiang. Watching someone get overwhelmingly defeated might actually be a form of entertainment for the audience."

Zhan maintained a calm tone as he clasped his hands behind his back.

"If a lower-ranked individual faces defeat against a Six-Star, there will be a consolation prize suitable for them. Well, to be honest, it's not such a bad situation for them either."

"Really?"

"Some of the Five-Star were actually happy, saying they got a valuable opportunity to face off against a Six-Star Awakener."

Naturally, the chances of a miracle-like rebellion occurring in such a guerilla event are low.

"Moreover, just in case, there might be an interesting scene where an underdog's rebellion causes an S-rank to lose. For now, let's just wait and see."

"Well."

"Since this is the first event anyway, does everything really need to be perfect?"

Zhan shrugged his shoulders and finished his sentence.

"Dang, dang, dang."

At the same time, a classic alarm sound signaling the exact time rang out. Now, it was time to slowly leave the hotel and head to the stadium...

"Zhan. By the way, what about the Yellow Dragon Battle's match schedule? Has that not been handed to you yet?"

The Chinese hunters had a brief conversation before moving.

"That can't be true- it hasn't been made public outside, but I've already received all the details."

"Aha."

"But until the match starts, it's strictly confidential. If someone tries to sneak away just by looking at the name tags, it'll ruin the fun."

"Well, even so, I highly doubt the Five-Star individuals, who are so full of pride, would give up so easily. And to receive the participation fee, the match time has to be at least..."

"Shh, wait a minute. I got another call."

But then. Suddenly, a new call came in on the cell phone of a person named Zhan.

"Hello?"

The number that appeared on the screen was the event manager's number, and the Chinese person looked somewhat surprised when he heard the news coming from the speaker.

"Yes? We need to change the match list urgently?"

.

.

.

Meanwhile, inside a waiting room prepared at the stadium.

"Waa, eugh..."

".."

"Haa, if I hadn't gone all-in there..."

Brown and gold. There were about two foreigners sitting in this spot, who had endured a long flight to participate in the by-outing (God's Droplet), which allowed even awakened individuals to get drunk. A gambling addict and a drunkard, one S-rank Hunter couldn't hold back and shouted out.

"You're driving me crazy! Where are you going to stop mumbling about that game from ages ago? Sophia, cut it out!"

This was the room where the American participants of the Yellow Dragon Battle were gathered.

"R, but if I hadn't lost just that, I wouldn't have had to come to a place like this...?"

The short-statured hunter kept tearing up repeatedly.

After struggling like a dog under her boss to finally pay off her debts, she had barely gotten some extra cash in her hands—only for her old habits to resurface immediately. How could she have blown all her hard-earned money on card games again? And worse, why on earth did she take out a loan to chase her losses? She hated being the spotlight in more than anything. But now, she had no choice. To keep up with the relentless interest demanded by her debt collector boss, she needed a fast way to win big money. As always, it was gambling that had pushed Sophia into this mess once more.

"Damn it! Damn it..."

However, the man on the couch didn't seem much different when it came to having a pathetic reason for being here.

Whoosh.

Sophia suddenly changed her gaze and glanced behind her.

"But seriously, that Enzo guy is something else."

After Brooklyn Morgan's disappearance was announced, Enzo should know better than anyone what kind of mess the Spectrum Guild had become. Yet, the burly man had decided to participate in this tournament without hesitation, as if he had no interest in his comrade's fate. It was probably because he was after the second-place reward—120 Bottles of God's Droplet. But with the Spectrum Guild's reputation currently in shambles, wouldn't it have been wiser to avoid drawing attention, at least until Brooklyn's disappearance faded from public memory...?

"Enzo."

Sophia asked hesitantly.

"Are you really not bothered at all?"

"What?"

"Brooklyn. I mean, no matter what... she was once part of the family, and she disappeared overnight, didn't she?"

However, the response that came back was rather dry.

"Family, my ass. She was just someone in the same industry, and we didn't even have much contact in the first place."

"Hmm."

"When we first met, I think I was the one who made the joke first. But she just got mad, saying she was already a married woman and told me to get lost. So what was I supposed to do? She was the one who refused to get close in the first place."

"Huh... What did you say?"

"Besides, that's just how the hunter business is. Gates are even more unpredictable than a rebellious teenager! It wouldn't be strange at all for an S-rank to suddenly get swallowed up."

Haha!

Enzo spoke as he greedily drank the liquor on the table, drenching his beard in the process. The mixed drink was made by diluting (God's Droplet), which allowed even awakened individuals to get drunk. That inky mark had been a brand left by her slave. And the slave contract between them had suddenly vanished one day—just like that.

"3 PM on the 14th..."

While the sun was shining brightly here, Brooklyn had died. Then, in what way did she perish?

Did she get caught in an EX-rank Gate that was impossible to handle with her stupid mind? Or did she encounter some horrific demon like a Nuckelavee deep in the ocean?

But for some reason, Sophia couldn't shake the suspicion that Brooklyn Morgan had been killed by human hands.

That's...

"Beast."

The moment the rampaging beast stopped its activity coincided, for some reason, exactly with the time of Morgan's death. The world still doesn't know the connection between the beast and Brooklyn Morgan. Because of that, Sophia came up with a different theory.

If the final destination of the recent string of serial murders had been Brooklyn... If the Beast had been satisfied with Brooklyn's sacrifice... But why had the Beast been collecting the corpses of Hunters in the first place? Who was he to begin with?

...And come to think of it, the uncaptured Beast must still be hiding within society, wearing the skin of a human.