Max Talent Player - Chapter 216

“Would it be alright… if I asked what the dungeons are called?”

Hyukjin answered her like it wasn’t a big deal.

“The one that’ll appear in Singapore is the Gardens by the Beach Dungeon.”

“Ah.”

Junghwa knew the place. It was a widely beloved and famous tourist highlight of Singapore that held a flashy lights and music show called the ‘Supertree Show’ every night. She herself had visited it as a tourist.

Junghwa didn’t ask how he knew this information.

“And the other one?”

“The Sangam World Cup Stadium Dungeon.”

“In the vicinity, hm.”

Giantgod’s office was in the DMC, so the World Cup Stadium was just one subway stop away, less than ten minutes by car.

“Yes. It’s the place that got so worked up in 2002.”

TN: Korea went up to the semi-finals in the 2002 World Cup hosted jointly by Korea and Japan. Red Devils is the name for fans of the Korean national soccer team.

It would also become the dungeon that would spawn 2,002 ‘Red Devils’.

Junghwa asked, “Do you know when it will appear?”

“I don’t know the exact date, but I think it’ll happen soon.”

The archer nodded. “Understood. The Gardens by the Beach Dungeon and the Sangam World Cup Stadium Dungeon. I will make my cooperation in clearing those two places with the Guildmaster my top priority.”

“And all the products that come from them?”

“I will concede them all.”

“Excellent.”

The deal was settled. $1 million, plus two Hyun Junghwa “vouchers”.

‘Nice.’

Very nice.

‘She’s quietly accepting this deal because she has no idea what that place has in store.’

Hyukjin felt his mood soar. On his way home, he bought three fried chickens. There were three firm proponents of the ‘1 chicken per person’ motto at home: his older sister, his little sister, and Kim Darong.

A scramble for drumsticks broke out when he got home.

Just before Sunhwa could catch him, Darongi gulped down the drumstick, bone and all. It was truly amazing how he managed to swallow a drumstick bigger than his whole body in one fell swoop.

Crunch, munch.

Meanwhile, Hyukjin’s older sister Kim Ahyoung ate her chicken very quietly. Apparently, she was far removed from the war raging between Sunhwa and Darongi—even the cheeky squirrel didn’t dare go for her chicken.

Hyukjin grinned.

‘Guess Noona is rank 1.’

Come to think of it—

‘Rank 2 is Darongi.’

Which left…

‘Sunhwa is rank 3.’

Somehow, Sunhwa seemed to be the weakest one here. Outside, she was a genius tank, but inside, she was only rank 3. Of course, the one at the top of this household was Mom.

“Where’s Mom?” asked Hyukjin.

Ahyoung answered curtly, “Went out to see friends.”

“Again?”

“It’s everyday lately.”

“Really?”

“Ya.”

Their conversation ended with that. Ahyoung got up.

“I’m full.” She stared at Darongi and his rounded belly. “Make sure you clean up well.”

[;;;] marks appeared over Darongi’s head. Ahyoung stared at the squirrel.

“Don’t wanna?”

[;;]

There was one less sweat emoji.

“I asked, don’t wanna?” she said again.

[;]

Another sweat emoji less.

“It’s fine if you don’t want to. I’ll clean up.”

Kim Darong’s [;] turned into a hasty [!]. He shook his head like a rattle, his expression saying, ‘I’ll do it!’

“You will? I’m heading in for the night then.”

Hyukjin laughed, dumbfounded.

‘What the heck?’

How was it that Noona could speak so freely with Darongi? She wasn’t even a tamer. Hyukjin looked down at the pile of chicken in front of him.

‘Again?’

There were three drumsticks. This always happened. Noona snuck them in. Of course, her stealthy actions couldn’t escape Hyukjin’s ‘observation’, but he just pretended not to notice.

Sunhwa tore into a wing while asking, “So what’re we gonna do next, Oppa? You have, like, a ton to do.”

“I’m planning on participating in the auction first.”

“Ah. That auction in the US?”

“Yeah. The date was pulled forward a bit.”

Technically speaking, it wasn’t that the date was changed, but that the chosen among the chosen—the VIPs among the VIPs—were invited to participate in the auction first.

‘Even I didn’t know that was a thing.’

This was the world he had known nothing about, the world of Rankers. He was learning about these secrets one by one, like peeling an onion.

“What about that… that handsome Italian guy who was gathering archers? You also said you have to do that Dewinged Angel Statue thing or whatever it was called.”

He also planned on participating in that.

‘It should work out if I contact Pietro after getting back from the auction.’

It seemed Pietro was still recruiting archers for the gate. There was still time, so he decided to push contacting Pietro about the Dewinged Angel Statue Gate until after the auction, and it was possible Pietro would also take part in the auction.

“Yeah. Some people were invited to come participate earlier, and Taeguk Shield was one of them.”

“Taeguk Shield? Why?”

Sunhwa tilted her head.

State: Dubious / Curiosity / Doubt

“Even though they’re so weak…?”

“They’re weak by our standards, but they’re not weak by the world’s standards.”

“No way.”

“I’m serious. They’re strong, too.”

“Really?”

Sunhwa’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“Yeah. As unbelievable as it might sound to you, that’s how it is.”

“I see.”

It’s just because you’re surrounded by such overwhelming world-level Rankers. Hyukjin left that unsaid.

When it came down to it, Taeguk Shield was the representative guild of Korea. With Wings’ victory over Lao Yu, Taeguk Shield’s status was boosted even further.

“You’re tagging along then, Oppa?”

“Yeah.”

“But I thought you said you would ask Mr. Kiyeol to do it.”

“I was gonna do that, but I changed my mind.”

“Why?”

“I think I’ll be able to get a lot of good items there.”

“You’re going because of the items?”

“Why do you ask?”

“There’s no other reason, right?”

Hyukjin smirked and tousled Sunhwa’s hair.

“There is.”

“What is it? Tell me, puh-lease?”

“I want to meet a person named Michelle.”

“Michelle? A woman?”

“Yeah.”

“Is she pretty?”

“Hm. Probably? I’ve never seen her in person, so I don’t know either.”

“I’m told pretty women are dangerous.”

“Who says that?”

“Sung-gu.”

Choi Sung-gu, this blabbermouth. He sure was feeding a lot of pointless drivel to this child.

“But why?”

“Hm, because I want to check the consequences?”

“What’s that?”

“You don’t need to know. It’s a thing.”

Hyukjin got up. Sunhwa muttered under her breath that she also wanted to know, but she didn’t press for details.

“Then I’ll work on clearing the Gwanghwamun Dungeon a bit more. I think I can hit 40 soon.”

With those words from Sunhwa, Hyukjin went into his room.

‘The Herdsman of Las Vegas is originally a US Guardian.’

But that very Guardian was frequently in and out of the Korean server. That could only mean he had lost some amount of interest in his original favorite, Michelle.

‘What consequences have my changes created?’

He was curious about that, and another thing.

‘I also want to see the skills of the world’s Rankers with my own eyes.’

The Korean server was a little less skilled in comparison to the past. Hyukjin acknowledged that. He had prevented too many ‘disasters’. Although the survival rate greatly increased, it came at the cost of dulling the Korean playerbase.

‘I’ve also slowed Vela’s growth.’

The Fight King’s Guardian was the White Hunter. But the White Hunter seemed to be making their home in the Korean server.

‘He’s gotten weaker because of me.’

Then what about the other Players? How strong were the world Rankers who grew independently of Kim Hyukjin’s influence? What kind of butterfly effects had ensued?

‘Should be fun.’

The auction was a chance to see the world’s Rankers in one place. It was also a gathering place for global millionaires. He decided to go join the fun.

* * *

* * *

Los Angeles, USA.

Hyukjin stood in front of a certain building. Two large men—presumably guards—were standing at the door.

“Please show your invitation.”

Hyukjin looked at the two men in amusement.

‘They’re ordinary people.’

They weren’t Players.

‘And they have a Translation Marble?’

That was a valuable item. It did show up and get used often around Hyukjin, but in the world, it was indeed a rare item, and not something non-Players could freely get their hands on.

‘Is it Michelle’s financial power?’

It varied by the list, but Michelle was within the top 10 or 20 of the most wealthy individuals in the US. She was using her financial prowess on even trivial things like this.

“I don’t have an invitation. But my party will be arriving shortly.”

I waited a little.

‘He’s here.’

Two men were walking from afar. One of them was very short.

‘Guildmaster Song Kiyeol, and… Song Jinchul?’

He saw the young brat Song Jinchul. Apparently, he had followed his brother here. Song Jinchul blatantly drawled, “Hyung, is that the bastard you said you’re going into the auction with?”

His voice was loud enough for Hyukjin to hear every word. He didn’t get mad. This was just a middle schooler blowing hot air. He decided to keep watching a little longer.

“Song Jinchul!”

Song Kiyeol apologized immediately, bending deep at the waist.

“I apologize. He turned out like this because he’s a late child…”

“It’s alright.”

Hyukjin really wasn’t that offended. In fact, the little runt even looked cute.

‘But… I heard this kid originally said he didn’t wanna become a Player.’

But he had already become a Player. Hyukjin remembered seeing in the news that Song Jinchul had taken his talent plate exam very late, at the same time as Hyukjin. Things had changed.

That change was captured in full by Eye of Perception.

[Player]

Name: Song Jinchul

Age: 14

Level: 27

He had already become a Player. What had influenced the kid?

‘His level isn’t high. But he’s awakened an innate ability.’

Innate ability: Discernment

But just then,Hyukjin’s Eye of Perception activated on its own and started to go haywire.

‘What’s going on?’

The world distorted. A bout of dizziness struck him, and it felt like the distorted world was spinning around him. Everything was spinning except for one thing, Song Jinchul. Only Song Jinchul was not twisted, and only Song Jinchul remained in place.

‘What… does this mean?’

The spinning started as soon as he read Song Jinchul’s status.

[A factor in a major variable.]

There was no other explanation. That was the only interpretation Eye of Perception could produce, a vague interpretation even Hyukjin could not fully decipher.

‘It looks like… there’s something about this little brat.’

It wasn’t something he could figure out now. He heard Song Kiyeol’s voice.

“Guildmaster Kim?”

“Ah. I apologize. I was thinking about something else for a moment.”

The world returned to normal like nothing had happened. Hyukjin glanced at Song Jinchul. The kid had taken a step back and was lowering his right hand, his middle finger slightly cocked up.

Hyukjin almost laughed.

‘I can’t tell whether he’s childish or just dumb.’

No matter how much Jinchul disliked Hyukjin, he should be aware that Hyukjin was his older brother’s business partner. Was this why people said the teenage years were so scary?

But just then, another person joined the fray.

“The hell is with this rude brat?”

It was a familiar voice, and very, very loud.

“Oi. You good at fighting?”

The speaker came striding over, then raised his bear paw hand and brought it down hard on Song Jinchul’s head.

Bam!

A resounding thud rang out.

Song Jinchul was unable to dodge.

“Agh!”

The kid doubled over. His older brother took a step forward.

“What do you mean by this?”

“The little shit was giving my friend the middle finger. I oughta blast the asshole’s head off his shoulders.”

Vela ditched the honorifics straightaway. He was the same as ever.

“Oi. Answer me. You good at fighting?”

He was of the opinion that there was no such thing as age or gender in Playing. Monsters didn’t stop to contemplate whether you were young or old, a woman or a man. They just went straight to tearing you apart. It was Vela’s opinion that in front of such creatures, the only thing that mattered was strength.

Yet another person appeared.

“I would like it if you refrained from causing a ruckus in front of my venue.”

The Gold Pyramid, Michelle.

The legendary woman who, along with the Wargod Salvatore, was venerated as the peak of the sovereigns. The American top-class Ranker previously sponsored enthusiastically by the Herdsman of Las Vegas had made her appearance.

That moment—

He heard a notice.

[The ‘Herdsman of Las Vegas’ proposes a bet.]