Dungeon Predator

There was a single text message in Jae Woo's inbox; it was from Jin Cheol.

[Sephiro: 101-4229-9701/Character Code: @41AD891S]

'It's here'.

Back when he'd met with Jin Cheol to sell his footage on the Fight Against 100 Men clear, he'd asked for Sephiro's contact information. Jin Cheol had said he understood and would get back to him with it.

Jae Woo sent him a text, asking him what Sephiro's contact information was, and this was what he got back.

He immediately called the phone number. All he heard was the phone dialing, but no one picked up.

Jae Woo memorized the Sephiro's character code, which had the same function as a phone number in Arth and then accessed Arth.

* * *

Kang Oh opened his message window and registered Sephiro's character code.

He then immediately sent him a message.

- Hello, Mr. Sephiro.

Because Sephiro was currently logged in, Kang Oh received a message immediately. 

- Who is this? How do you know my character code?

Sephiro obviously didn't know who Kang Oh was.

- I got your character code from PD Park Jin Cheol.

- PD Park Jin Cheol?

Sephiro had been on GBS before, so he was acquainted with Park Jin Cheol as well.

- He was the PD responsible for the recent Fight Against 100 Men feature broadcast.

- What business do you have with me?

- Have you watched the Fight Against 100 Men feature broadcast?

- I did.

Sephiro thought, 'Is he a liaison from a broadcast company?'.

- I'm the main star of the Fight Against 100 Men feature broadcast, Oga.

- Ah, I see.

So, who cares?

- You said in an interview that you'd give whoever cleared the Fight Against 100 Men anything they wanted, right?

Seeing that, Sephiro tingled. He'd definitely said that before. A long time ago.

And when he watched the feature broadcast, he saw that same interview again.

'He's not going to do what I think he's going to do, is he? That was so long ago...'

- Did I?

Sephiro feigned ignorance.

- There's past footage of the interview, and it was shown again in the feature broadcast as well.

- I didn't mean it.

- If you say it in an interview, 'I didn't mean it' doesn't cut it. Because it becomes an official statement once it goes on air.

- ?

-So, that gives me the right to request something from you, Mr. Sephiro.

- That doesn't make any sense.

- Do you know about TGN's report broadcast, <I know that>?

Top Game Net, or TGN, was the most popular game channel.

And <I know that> was a program that reported wicked gamers.

- ??

- They're apparently accepting tips on rankers or other gamers that lie.

- So?

- I may have to give them a tip myself.

Kang Oh grinned.

The timing lined up perfectly.

< I know that> really was accepting tips on gamers who lie or try to swindle others.

- That was just something I said as a joke. It wasn't a lie.

Sephiro felt like he was being unjustly accused. However, Kang Oh didn't give a damn.

- Whatever the case, there's a recording of your interview, so if you don't give me what I want, then you've lied. At that time, I'll send a tip to <I know that>, which will worsen your fame and your image.

- Are you serious!?

- Let's meet up and talk some more. Please come to the Vyoom Inn near Javen Square in 30 minutes. If you don't, then I'll go to TGN personally.

- I'm going!

"Heh."

Kang Oh closed the message window and laughed in satisfaction.

'If he wants to continue showing up on TV, he needs to maintain his image and fame.'

Sephiro, as the Wind Archer, as well as one of Arth's rankers, had made TV appearances before, had maintained a good reputation. Of course, he would've made some money as well.

Obviously, he didn't want his image tarnished.

Thus, Sephiro's only choice was to negotiate with Kang Oh.

"Though I'm in the driver's seat."

Kang Oh began walking.

His destination: the Vyoum Inn.

* * *

Vyoum Inn was a three-story building. 

The 1st floor sold snacks and alcoholic drinks, while the 2nd and 3rd floors were for lodging.

Kang Oh and Sephiro picked a remote table in the 1st floor bar and sat down without breaking their gaze on one another.

"My real ID isn't Oga, the one who cleared the Fight Against 100 Men, but Kang Oh.  It's nice to meet you, Mr. Sephiro," Kang Oh said whilst smiling.

"Ahem."

Sephiro sat across from Kang Oh, his expression uncomfortable.

He had come because Kang Oh had left him little choice, so it was only natural that this meeting would make him uncomfortable.

"It's an honor to see the Wind Archer, the owner of the Lasselpino Bow, in person," Kang Oh said and stared at the bow that Sephiro had placed on the table.

A bow in the shape of a silver wing. Even at first glance, the Lasselpino Bow was a work of art. 

"Ahem."

Sephiro pulled the bow towards himself and remained uncomfortable.

If he could go into the past, then he would go back and tie his mouth shut during that interview.

'This damn mouth of mine.'

Ever since his school days, Sephiro had trouble keeping his mouth shut, which got him into a lot of trouble.

But like the saying went 'old habits die hard', he couldn't fix that old habit of his.

"You definitely said in an interview that you'd give whoever cleared the Fight Against 100 Men whatever they wanted," Kang Oh said.

He was essentially saying, 'Take responsibility!'. 

"...I did."

Sephiro furrowed his brow, but he had to accept reality.

Since there was indeed footage of him saying that.

If he didn't keep his word, it would become a lie. No, Kang Oh would make him into a liar.

'I must be crazy!'

Back then, Sephiro was sure that no one would be able to clear the Fight Against 100 Men.

However, not only did someone manage to clear it, but that someone was threatening him and was also an asshole!

"That footage from your interview showed up in the feature broadcast again."

Kang Oh drove the nail in.

Sephiro weakly nodded his head.

"Good. I don't want much. Please just give me one thing."

Sephiro's eyes shook. He knew what he was going to ask for.

'Please, just not that!'

Sephiro clutched the Lasselpino Bow and stared at Kang Oh's lips.

"The Lasselpino Bow."

Sephiro gripped the hand rests of his chair, as he felt that dizzying feeling of the ground falling out from beneath him. 

The Lasselpino Bow was no ordinary bow! It was an SS-rank weapon. In other words, it was the best possible weapon!

Moreover, it was his symbol as the Wind Archer.

"Please, anything but that!" Sephiro hugged the bow and yelled.

"Hmm. Then, could you pay me enough gold to cover that bow?"

"How much?"

"Let's say... about 20,000 gold?"

"Heok!"

Sephiro gaped. 20,000 gold was equivalent to 200 million won ($200,000 USD). 

Even if he scraped up everything he had, he still only had 5,000 gold.

He couldn't pay that amount, even if he got a loan from the Adventurer Guild. 

'I'd rather be a liar than...'

The Wind Archer, Sephiro, often appeared on game channels as one of Arth's rankers.

Because of that, he was popular and was making quite a bit of money.

But what would happen if his image worsened?

There were many rankers who wanted to be on TV. If he were caught in a scandal, he wouldn't be able to show up on TV again.

But the Lasselpino Bow was much too valuable to go through with Kang Oh's request.

Ultimately, Sephiro knew that he was trapped; he couldn't do one thing, but he couldn't do the other either.

'Time to push him into the corner.'

Even a rat will bite a cat if they're pushed into a corner. To Kang Oh, the worst thing would be if Sephiro got desperate.

Smack.

Kang Oh clapped his hands.

"Let's do this."

"What?'

"To be honest, it feels wrong to take the Lasselpino Bow, which is like your symbol, and the same goes for your gold as well."

In response, Sephiro's face brightened with hope.

"Then?"

"Please help me 10 times for free."

"Alright."

Sephiro suddenly grabbed his hand. It was as if he was grabbing a rope from heaven itself.

"Please sign this contract."

Kang Oh passed him the previously prepared Sabra's Contract.

The first line was that Sephiro would help Kang Oh 10 times.

 "Do I just sign here?"

Kang Oh pointed to where Sephiro's name was written. Sephiro, worried that Kang Oh might change his mind, wanted to sign the contract as quickly as possible.

"Please read the contents first."

"I understand."

Sephiro began thoroughly reading the contract.

However!

"T-This is... This is a slave contract."

Sephiro's voice shook.

"What do you mean 'slave contract'. It's just a contract for volunteer work," Kang Oh smiled and said.

"Where in the world would you call this volunteer work!?"

Sephiro shoved the contract towards Kang Oh.

Kang Oh glanced at the contract.

'The latter's primary concern is to follow the orders of the former to the letter.'

Darion had been useless, had complained a lot, and often went on strike. Kang Oh had learned much from his previous mercenary contract with him, so he'd created a new slave contract.

'Above all, everything that we find or any quest rewards are mine! And when I get help, I can receive 'financial' help as well!'

Punishment for violating the terms of the contract were written as well. Sephiro would have to give him the Lasselpino Bow!

In other words, this contract was completely unfair; Kang Oh was overusing his power.

"T-This is too unfair," Sephiro said, his voice trembling.

"Then just sign the contract and rip it up. If it's unfair, then I'll be judged and punished, won't I?"

"Knowing that you still made this contract..."

Kang Oh interrupted him.

"However! I'll go to TGN right then and there. And since I know PD Park Jin Cheol quite well, I can ask him to put up the fact that you lied on a gaming news channel," Kang Oh firmly said.

"T-That..."

"It's hard to climb to the top, but falling is easy. And it's only 10 times. 10."

Kang Oh stressed the word, 'only'.

'Alright, let's just get through those 10 times.'

Swish, swish.

Ultimately, Sephiro signed the contract.

Once his hand left the contract, the letters began to glow and the contract eventually became two.

The contract split into two; one for Kang Oh and one for Sephiro. 

"Are you not going to rip it up?" Kang Oh asked, smiling impishly.

To Sephiro, it looked like the devil himself was mocking him.

"I'm not going to," Sephiro yelled back sharply

"Then please help me right away. I'll tell you the details on the way."

Kang Oh left the inn with Sephiro right on his tail.

"You need to help me obtain 200 Agath Crystals, and 1 Agath Leader Crystal," Kang Oh said whilst walking.

"Fine, I'll do my best."

Contrary to his statement, Sephiro's voice clearly implied that he would do the exact opposite.

Then, Kang Oh took out the contract.

"Shall I rip this myself?"

"Excuse me?" 

Sephiro's eyes widened in astonishment. 'Why would you rip it yourself!?'.

"And then I'll go to a broadcasting station and smear your reputation."

"Ahem. You mentioned Agaths, right?"

Sephiro avoided Kang Oh's gaze and changed the subject.

"Yes."

"The Thunderbirds of Kaistan Canyon... I'll need a lot of steel arrows."

Agaths spewed lightning everywhere.

Obviously, wooden arrows would burn, so steel arrows were the superior option.

Him stating that he needed lots of steel arrows implied that he would do his best.

"Alright. Please stay that way from now on."

"Urgh."

"Let's meet up at the transport gate in 10 minutes. Please come after you've prepared everything you need."

"I understand."

Sephiro disappeared within the crowd.

Kang Oh entered an alleyway.

"Summon Eder."

Peong!

Once the white smoke cleared, Eder, wearing his trademark robes and smiling mask, appeared.

"Hello, Mr. Kang Oh."

Eder treated him as kindly as he could. He knew that nothing good would come from disobedience.

"Right."

"Are we looking for a hidden dungeon again today?"

"No. We're going to Kaistan Canyon to kill Agaths."

"Agaths?"

Eder tilted his head. This was the first time he'd heard of them.

"They're also called Thunderbirds. They shoot lightning in every direction. Do you have any magic or equipment to protect against lightning?"

"Bone can, to a certain extent, protect against lightning, but in the end, it too will burn. I don't know any spells that can increase resistance to lightning either," Eder said.

"Hmm."

To be more specific, Agaths shot out the spell, Lightning Arrow in every direction. Naturally, the demon sword could absorb it.

But if they were to engage several Agaths at once and they shot their Lightning Arrows randomly, then it could get dangerous.

'I should get some lightning potions.'

Like herbs that acted as an antidote to poison, there were also herbs that increased one's resistance against magic.

A lightning plant would, as its name might imply, would increase one's resistance to lightning, and would also release one from electric shock or paralysis.

This lightning plant could be reprocessed, which would further enhance its effects; this new consumable item was known as a lightning potion. Another name for it was a yellow potion.

'The problem's the price...'

A yellow potion cost 20 gold. One drink and it was gone; it was comparable to a bottle of water that cost 20 gold. 

"Do you really not have any spells or items that increase lightning resistance?"

"No."

"Seriously...?"

"Seriously."

"Let's go to the potion store."

Ultimately, Kang Oh headed for the potion store to buy some lightning potions.

As he walked, he sent a message to Sephiro.

- Mr. Sephiro, please come to Jefferson's Potion Store in the south, rather than the gate. I think we'll need to buy some potions.

- Ok.

'Shall we get some 'financial' assistance as stated on the contract?'

Kang Oh smiled wickedly.

He had no intention of buying the lightning potions with his own money.

After all, he had a financier like Sephiro on his side!