Translator: Seven

  Editor: Ana_Banana

  There is nothing scarier than war.

  However, most people would feel more scared if a psycho was to stab someone in their neighbourhood than if there was a war somewhere else in the world.

  The same was true this time.

  “If we don’t get rid of Isaac Ivanov, we will be in danger.”


  There was no one who didn’t know how dangerous Isaac Ivanov really was.

  So there was no denying the fact that he had to die.

  But there was also no one who desperately wanted to risk their lives to do it.

  That was why Kim Woo-jin didn’t stop talking since he’d taken the stage.

  “More than anything else, the Messiah Guild will not let Isaac Ivanov do as he wishes. Johann Georg is proof of that.”


  Along with those words, Kim Woo-jin pointed a finger towards Johann Georg.

  “The Messiah Guild were never pacifists. They even tried to hire Johann Georg to get rid of Isaac Ivanov. And it wasn’t just a sloppy job either, it was one that came with tremendous support.”


  Johann Georg was presented as evidence.

  “There’s no way the Messiah Guild, who already made such an attempt, would let their rivals get ahead of them.”


  Evidence that the Messiah Guild would never let Isaac Ivanov stand above their heads.

  Evidence that the threat they faced was much more dangerous than they thought.

  “From now on, the Messiah Guild will do everything in its power to attack the Saviour Guild. And, naturally, before they hit Isaac Ivanov, they will have to clean up his surroundings first.”


  Furthermore, Kim Woo-jin told them that the first targets of the Messiah Guild wouldn’t be Isaac Ivanov himself, but those around him.

  The threat they faced was much closer than they thought.

  “Do you have a way?”


  Only then did Park Yong-wan ask a question like this for the first time.

  In truth, Park Yong-wan and Shakira had the same thought.

  They had recognized a threat.

  The reason for this meeting was to decide how to deal with it.

  They came here just to listen to the discussion on how they would kill Isaac Ivanov without making any real commitments.

  That way, it became possible for them to make an excuse if necessary.

  So if word of this somehow reached Isaac Ivanov’s ears, they could say they just attended the meeting without giving any opinions. It was a petty, but honest excuse.

  “A way to hunt that monster.”


  So in such a situation, by saying something like that, Park Yong-wan was basically giving up his excuse.

  This was proof that he felt threatened enough to think that removing the threat had a higher priority than leaving an excuse.

  To this question, Kim Woo-jin replied.

  “We have to find one somehow.”


  It was an unexpected answer.

  But no one expressed any disappointment when they heard it.

  After all, it would naturally be strange if it was easy to think of a way to deal with a monster like Isaac Ivanov.

  “But I’m sure we’re not the only ones who want Isaac Ivanov dead.”


  That didn’t mean their situation was hopeless, however.

  There were still many people in the world who wanted Isaac Ivanov dead.

  “We still have time.”


  And it was true that they still had time.

  “Isaac Ivanov currently has no plans for the new year. At the start of the new year, we will definitely prepare to attack an 8 Floor dungeon, but we will also keep a close eye on the Messiah Guild.”


  “Keep a close eye?”


  “The Messiah Guild will definitely challenge an 8 Floor dungeon after this dungeon attack. If so, Isaac Ivanov will aim for a higher ranked dungeon than the one the Messiah Guild attacks.”


  “So if the Messiah Guild chooses a C rank dungeon, he will enter a B rank dungeon without hesitation.”


  Of course, after that, the outcome they’d have to face would not be pleasant.

  “Yes. That’s right.”


  “So you’re saying that our first step into an 8 Floor dungeon might be B rank…”


  Those who agreed with Shakira’s complaint nodded.

  “Then we’ll have to wait and see until the new year. The Messiah Guild will definitely make a move after this dungeon attack.”


  Everyone nodded again at Park Yong-wan’s words.

  Then Kim Woo-jin spoke up.

  “Then we’ll end our meeting here. If there are any changes in the situation, I’ll contact everyone.”


  After saying these words, Kim Woo-jin turned around.

  “Wait.”


  Then Park Yong-wan stopped him.

  “How can we get in contact with you? We certainly can’t use our personal contact information for something like this, can we?”


  Kim Woo-jin gave an immediate response to this question.

  “I’ll have a broker deliver burner phones to you.”


  Despite saying this, Kim Woo-jin still didn’t turn around.

  He didn’t want them to see his gaze which was colder than ever.

  “Then I wish you all a happy new year.”


  That was the end of 2024.

  …


  December 31, 2024.

  The end of 2024 was still filled with news about Isaac Ivanov.

  [The hammer Isaac Ivanov’s Death Knight uses is Mjolnir!]

  [Isaac Ivanov has a skill that can instantly kill monsters!]

  News about Isaac Ivanvo’s dungeon attack didn’t end after the first release, instead, new details were revealed day by day-

  Ah, who the hell is it? How do they keep giving more information?-

  Weren’t they filing for a lawsuit? Have they been identified yet?

  It was a scene where the Saviour Guild’s threat to find the one who didn’t uphold the confidentiality agreement and sue them didn’t seem to have an effect.

  Therefore, people began to wonder-

  Is it normal to keep getting information like this after the Saviour Guild already said they were going to sue?-

  Who the hell is it?-

  I don’t know who he is, but he’s certainly an amazing person.

  Who on earth was it that kept revealing information despite the possible feud with the Saviour Guild?

  Even Oh Se-chan’s subordinates were the same.

  “Who the hell is revealing the information like this? I’m sure he’s one of those guys who took part in the dungeon attack.”


  “I don’t know who exactly it is, but it’s almost certain that their background is amazing.”


  “And it looks like they really get a lot of money for revealing it. Otherwise, there would be no need to sell the information in such a risky manner.”


  They also wondered who the mysterious informant was.

  Oh Se-chan answered this question for them.

  “It was me.”


  “Huh?”


  “It was me.”


  All of the employees, including the subordinates who asked the questions, couldn’t help but tilt their heads at the confession.

  The atmosphere in the room also became strangely cold.

  But Oh Se-chan didn’t seem to care.

  “I did it.”


  So his subordinates asked.

  “Why?”


  “Because almost everyone knows already, so there’s no reason to hide it.”


  “Huh?”


  “You don’t know? The Messiah Guild, Kunlun Guild, Great One Guild, and Frontier Guild all know this information, don’t they? Then we can almost guarantee that all the guilds who have a close relationship with them also know it. How can that still be called a secret?”


  It was a valid statement.

  Although they had signed a confidentiality agreement, there were too many people involved and there was no way to guarantee that they would really keep everything perfectly confidential.

  “More importantly, that information is now outdated.”


  In addition, the information they obtained from the 7 Floor dungeon could already be considered old information.

  “Then…”


  “Right, next is 8 Floors.”


  At least, this was the case for Kim Woo-jin who was preparing to attack an 8 Floor dungeon.

  Under those circumstances, there was no need to get hung up on information from a 7 Floor dungeon.

  The tension, which had started to disperse, began to grow once again after Oh Se-chan’s words.

  ‘It’s finally time for 8 Floors.’


  ‘The world order created by the Messiah Guild will finally change.’


  The fact that the Saviour Guild was targeting 8 Floor dungeons meant that a different order was about to begin.

  Everyone who knew this couldn’t help but feel nervous.

  In this tension, Oh Se-chan muttered to himself.

  “Well, and we could still make money.”


  At that moment, all of the subordinates who heard him made the same expression as though they had predicted it beforehand.

  ‘That’s what it was.’


  ‘That was it.’


  Seeing their expressions, Oh Se-chan said.

  “You don’t think the biggest reason I released the information was for the money, do you?”


  “Wasn’t it?”


  When his subordinate asked this question, Oh Se-chan responded with a serene expression.

  “No, you’re right.”


  After saying this, Oh Se-chan looked down at his watch.

  ‘They have 2 hours left.’


  It was currently two hours before the new year.

  ‘If they were going to come out, it would definitely be around this time.’


  Just as it became clear that Oh Se-chan was waiting for something.

  “We received breaking news.”


  The thing that he was waiting for appeared.

  “The Messiah Guild has completed their dungeon attack.”


  The Messiah Guild had returned to the world before the new year.

  …


  [The Messiah Guild completes their dungeon attack ahead of the new year!]

  On December 31, 2024, the Messiah had successfully cleared the dungeon two hours before the new year.

  It was perfect timing.

  It was as though the saviour had returned to welcome the new year.

  The world became excited at the situation which seemed to have been orchestrated by a divine being-

  After all, the Messiah is from heaven!-

  No matter how great the Saviour Guild is, in the end, the heavens are helping the Messiah Guild!-

  The Messiah is the true Saviour.

  The news was immediately delivered to Kim Woo-jin.

  Kim Woo-jin, who checked the contents of the message he received while standing in a dense forest under the dark night sky, then turned off his smartphone.

  He felt a bit of appreciation within.

  ‘You’re finally here.’


  That was all.

  After that brief appreciation, Kim Woo-jin no longer thought about the Messiah Guild.

  Because he knew.

  ‘As expected, they deliberately set the time.’


  The fact that their timely exit was intentional.

  It wasn’t a particularly difficult task.

  If the dungeon attack experienced unexpected delays, there was nothing that could be done about it, but if the dungeon attack went smoothly, it wasn’t difficult to set the time that you exited the dungeon.

  ‘Because there must not have been anything challenging.’


  And since Kim Woo-jin knew exactly what dungeon they’d entered, he was confident that they would be able to do so.

  ‘It wouldn’t have been hard for Lee Se-jun.’


  Because the main player that had entered the dungeon was none other than Lee Se-jun.

  He was still recognized as the strongest player in the world, which was why he was revered as the Saviour.

  With Lee Se-jun’s power, 7 Floor dungeons were not a threat.

  That was the reason would not be able to be impressed by the Messiah Guild’s timely return even if he wanted to be.

  Moreover, there was something even more important than that.

  ‘However, it’s different from 8 Floors.’


  The problem was 8 Floors.

  First, most 8 Floor dungeons were Lord dungeons.

  And being Lord dungeons meant that it was guaranteed that at least one legendary item could be obtained in them, even if they were a low rank.

  In other words, that was how difficult of a stage it was.

  ‘A 9 Floor dungeon should appear soon.’


  But what was really important weren’t the 8 Floor dungeons.

  In 2025, the first 9 Floor dungeon would appear in the world.

  ‘The 9 Floor without a rank.’


  And that 9 Floor dungeon didn’t have a rank.

  ‘The last dungeon.’


  The final dungeon, which could be considered the end of the game, would appear.

  That was why the Messiah Guild began influencing the world earnestly in 2025.

  To ensure that no one could attack the 9 Floor dungeon before they wanted it to be attacked.

  So that the world would continue being a game.

  Their ambition was no different now.

  As soon as the 9 Floor dungeon is announced, the Messiah Guild would begin to feel impatient.

  In fact, it was highly likely that the anxiety they felt would be even stronger than Kim Woo-jin had expected since they had to face the pressure of a new rival named the Saviour Guild.

  ‘If the Messiah Guild confirms the existence of the 9 Floor dungeon… the outcome might be different from what I know.’


  It was possible that they might even take off the ‘Saviour’ mask that they had been wearing all along.

  These people who wanted to devour the world might be willing to wear a new mask.

  ‘I’ll finish before that.’


  That would be the worse scenario for Kim Woo-jin.

  If the game he was aiming for was to change, then all the preparations he made for the game would become meaningless.

  That’s why Kim Woo-jin was waiting alone on Hallasan Mountain on Jeju Island.

  Beep!

  Then he heard the alarm he set go off.

  It was an indication that the new year had arrived.

  At the same time, mist began to appear in front of Kim Woo-jin before transforming into an enormous gate.

  Kim Woo-jin reached out to the dungeon gate.

  Then the dungeon’s status appeared before him.

  [Land of the Nine Tails]

  – Floors: 8

  – Difficulty: B-

  – Maximum number of Entries: 999 (TL: Holy sh*t)

  – Requirement: Level 250 and below

  – Challenge Conditions: Defeat the Nine Tailed Beast!

  – Reward: Catalogue

  The Land of Nine Tails.

  After confirming it, Kim Woo-jin removed his hand.

  Immediately afterwards, Kim Woo-jin took a feature phone from his pocket and called a number that was stored on it-

  What is it?

  Then he heard Park Yong-wan’s voice.

  “It’s an extension of the thing we talked about last time.”
-

  Say it.

  When Park Yong-wan heard Kim Woo-jin’s words, his voice became heavy and cold.

  Kim Woo-jin told him.

  “I just finished a conversation with Isaac Ivanov. As expected, he intends to attack a higher grade dungeon than the Messiah Guild. He knows it’s reckless, so he is going to form an elite group to enter the dungeon with him. Even at the cost of their lives.”
-

  That would be dangerous for us.

  “Maybe it’s an opportunity. It would be a tough stage for Isaac Ivanov, and chance for us to get rid of him.”
-

  Did you call me to tell me that?

  “If we really want to use the opportunity to kill Isaac Ivanov, we’d need something first.”
-

  Something?

  “There’s only one sword that can kill him since he’s covered in legendary items, including the Aegis Shield.

  Kim Woo-jin smiled drily.

  “The Dragon Slayer’s Balmung is the only sword that can cut Isaac Ivanov.”


  Park Yong-wan stopped talking for a while.

  Naturally, there was silence-

  Then who will use Balmung?

  Kim Woo-jin answered simply.

  “I will.”


  Park Yong-wan responded immediately-

  I’ll contact the Dragon Slayer.

  After the conversation, Kim Woo-jin closed the feature phone before breaking it in two.

  Then he looked at the dungeon gate in front of him without a word.

  u