Ranker's Return

Hyeonu connected to Arena and quickly headed to the camp that New World had set up in the Balder Mountains. Two men were chatting when Hyeonu arrived. He approached the two people. One was someone Hyeonu knew very well, and the other was a person with whom they had an ill-fated relationship.

“Brother! What is this about?” Hyeonu asked Gang Junggu while ignoring the man standing on the other side.

Gang Junggu used his chin to gesture to the man in front of him. “It is as you can see. The alliance is a smokescreen.” 

“So in other words, he’s a spy?”

“It is more of an undercover investigation rather than a spy. Aren’t I right, Patrick?” 

Gang Junggu was in a pretty good mood. He confirmed that Mano, who New World invited, hadn’t betrayed him. However, this didn’t mean that Mano’s use had changed. They were still a card to be discarded after being used.

“Thank you for saying so,” Patrick replied.

Hyeonu frowned at the conversation between the two people. It seemed to be going too easily. He asked, “Where is the guarantee that this is true? What if it is an attempt to steal our information?”

Gang Junggu nodded. He knew that Hyeonu’s words might not be wrong. It was quite possible.

“Still, it isn’t necessary to worry about that just yet. The information we’ve gotten from Patrick is more valuable than the information he will get from us. You don’t have to worry so much.”

Hyeonu heard Gang Junggu’s words and understood why Gang Junggu was in such a peaceful state. Patrick had obtained a video of the masters of Zenith and the Five Stars gathering before they attacked the Warriors. That battle and details of the two teams’ future operations were also in the video. It even included the specific number of guild members. This was everything they needed.

‘It doesn’t matter if this is a lie. Just one video is enough.’

The New York Warriors were one of the most popular teams in the United States, and Reina was one of the world’s most famous professional gamers. Negative public opinion would hit Five Stars and Zenith the moment it was revealed they had carefully attacked the New York Warriors with a plan. It was terrifying to have a hidden enemy in their midst while an exposed enemy like this wasn’t scary at all.

Furthermore, Hyeonu’s side was superior in power, so in some aspects, being afraid would make him too cowardly.

“I want you to believe in our sincerity. The Mano Guild wants to forget the previous bad relationship we had with Alley Leader and maintain a good relationship,” Patrick said sincerely.

Despite that, Hyeonu’s reaction was cold. There was nothing to be gained from being associated with the Mano Guild. It was different from Liu Shei. Hyeonu didn’t trust Liu Shei, but he trusted Liu Shei’s success-oriented desires. He wouldn’t be able to betray Hyeonu for the rest of his life unless he gave up on this greed.

However, Marco was different.

‘That man is very imposing and arrogant.’

Marco had a lot of personal greed and these people would easily stab others in the back.

“I don’t know... Patrick, you might not know it, but the Mano that has Marco as a master isn’t very attractive. There is only this much merit.”

Hyeonu raised his hand and put his thumb and index finger close together. They were stuck together so hard that no gaps were visible.

“However, I will forget about the past due to this. In fact, it was something I didn’t even remember. Ah! Brother, I’ll release the scenario in my next stream. It is still okay, but I think it is better to move a bit faster.”

Hyeonu left the camp with these words.

*** 

Argen, one of the five masters of Five Stars, asked with an agitated face, “Matsumoto, what are you going to do now? The plans we made have already become garbage and have been thrown in the trash can. They were torn apart, and it is impossible to recycle them.”

This wasn’t a question just for Zenith’s leader, Matsumoto. It was also for the other people in this position, including Argen himself.

‘We... Wasn’t it a plan you set up among yourselves and were satisfied with?’ Matsumoto was dumbfounded. It was a plan they had made since he had been logged out by Alley Leader. The result was the death of nearly 50 guild members. Yet the people who made this ridiculous plan were now holding him responsible. Matsumoto was speechless.

“No one knew Alley Leader would act like this. Assemble as many guild members who are murderers as possible and break through the Balder Mountains instantly. Or kill Alley Leader. We have to choose between these two options.”

Matsumoto finished speaking and glanced over everyone present—the five masters of Five Stars and Patrick of Mano.

‘The five idiots don’t have any use, but Patrick will say the right thing.’

Matsumoto said, “Patrick, what is your opinion? If it is Patrick, I think you can give a very good opinion.”

Five Stars couldn’t do anything except use the sword. Their plan was so childish that even a five-year-old child could think of it. However, Patrick, the one who made Mano rise to the ranks of the large guilds, would have a different opinion. Matsumoto was full of expectations at the thought of it.

Yet Patrick escaped Matsumoto’s question like a mischievous man. “I think the five masters of Five Stars will have better opinions than me. I believe it will be a good experience even if we get bad results this time.” 

Patrick never intended to comment on this meeting and just continued shooting the video silently.

“Since Patrick said so, I will tell you what I’ve been thinking all day.” Beyond—one of Five Stars’ masters—smiled brightly, unaware that Patrick’s words were just lip service.

“I have a similar opinion to Matsumoto. First of all, those with the murderer’s mark should be sent to a frontier area, not the area of the Balder Mountains where Alley Leader appears. If there is one difference, it is...” Beyond’s words trailed off.

At this time, Patrick saw Beyond quickly glancing at him. Patrick smiled and said to Beyond, “I’m very curious about the difference. Can you tell me, Beyond?” 

Beyond continued, “I think we need to gather people from each guild to hit Alley Leader. In any case, he is alone. I think there is no reason why we can’t win if we push with numbers.”

It was nonsense. The one who knew it best was Patrick, who had faced Alley Leader. ‘He is different compared to before. He has become even more of a monster...’ 

Since Matsumoto had been killed in one blow, it would be hard to guarantee their victory even if all three guilds jumped in. Matsumoto thought the same way. ‘I might not be the best, but the attack killed me despite all my unique armor. The others are elites, but they will be killed in one blow as well.’

He thought of Alley Leader as a boss monster, not a player. A boss monster with damage that could kill a warrior who didn’t have a priest’s buffs in one blow—it should be assumed that he had the most terrifying AI.

‘There is no answer.’

This suggestion was rubbish. However, it was difficult for Mastumoto to gain proper power if he refuted it himself. Patrick would know this as well. It was futile to try and kill Alley Leader. However, Patrick just had a light smile on his face, and his intentions were unknown.

Matsumoto said, “I think it is impossible to kill Alley Leader. We should just join forces to pioneer the Balder Mountains...” 

However, Matsumoto failed to finish speaking. This was because Preby, another master of Five Stars, cut off Matsumoto’s words.

“Isn’t he just one person? If you’re scared, just drop out, Ma-tsu-mo-to,” Preby said Matsumoto’s name like he was chewing on it.

It was a mockery.

“I’ll talk to Marco and give him your exact words, Preby.” Patrick struck in a timely manner at this moment. The bomb would pass onto him if he stayed here. He didn’t want to get the bomb by attacking other players first.

“Yes, do as you want, Patrick,” Preby responded to Patrick with an awkward expression.

He couldn’t think of anything to say.

“Then Five Stars, how do you plan on killing Alley Leader?” Patrick was the one who asked this time.

The questioned Preby glanced at Beyond, asking with his eyes what they should do.

Beyond smiled. “There are those in our guild who are dedicated to doing such things. I’m thinking of calling all of them. There are quite a few of them who have yet to come to the meeting.”

Then his smile deepened.

*** 

Hyeonu didn’t care about their plotting and was busy preparing for his stream. He was thinking about what comments to say during the stream and went over his plans repeatedly to see if there was anything strange or anything that the viewers could misunderstand. Then the protagonist of the day, Yuri, arrived. “Oppa!”

“You’re here. Did you train hard?”

“Somewhat.”

Hyeonu knew the meaning of Yuri’s words. It was clear that she had worked really hard. The text he received from Yeongjun stated that Yuri had increased the time she spent in the Cube.

‘It’s amazing.’

“Let’s get a bronze medal today. If your battle ends quickly, do it a few more times. How about it?” Hyeonu wondered with a warm smile. He would’ve been this way if he had a younger sibling.

“Yes, I’m good with that.” Yuri nodded quickly.

*** 

“Everyone, today is the long-awaited debut day of Leah’s arena debut!”

Hyeonu’s opening was considerably shorter than usual. It was to take care of his throat. He realized it from his last two experiences.

‘I’m mentally tired.’

Since it was in the arena, he couldn’t rest his throat because he had to talk a lot, which caused him considerable mental fatigue. Thus, he streamed as quickly as he could.

“I will start with Leah’s ranking. Leah!!! Please come out!!!”

Yuri appeared at Hyeonu’s call. She bowed to the air and waved with a smile. “Hello! I am Leah! I’m glad to see you!!”

-Wow, the goddess!

-It is also nice to see you! Today is the last day ㅠ ㅠ

-Can’t you be a streamer? I want to see you.

Yuri stared at the fast-paced chat and opened her mouth to say, “Um... I think this is for the best. Streaming is actually more difficult than I thought. Still, if possible, I’ll sometimes be a guest on Alley Leader’s streams. Can I do this?”

Yuri stared at Hyeonu with shining eyes. Hyeonu nodded with a helpless expression. It was obvious that he would see a heated chat window if he opposed the idea.

“Yay! Then I’ll come back later.”

-Be sure to come out!

-You can’t say empty words!

-Empty words aren’t good!

-Alley Leader, please invite Goddess Leah!

At this time, Hyeonu intervened and said, “Let’s talk about this at the end of the stream. Leah, please start the ranking battle immediately. You will have to play many ranking battles today. Then starting from now, we will experience the arena with a priest who has completed her third class awakening!”