Chapter 111: You will have to pay the price

Currently, the Korean Hunter Association was busier than ever.

As Dokkaebi began his activities in earnest, the supply of Dungeons increased significantly, and the number of Hunters followed suit.

With more Hunters, the supply and trade of items became more active, and the economy improved along with it.

Consequently, Hunters who had left for overseas began to return.

But that was not all.

As Dokkaebi accumulated Hidden Piece Achievements, he created the world’s first SS-rank Dungeon.

The value of that Dungeon could not be measured in money.

Just as Twelve Constellations-rank Hunters appeared after the S-rank Red Dungeon emerged, based on the rewards gained within, it was predicted that SS-class Hunters would emerge through this SS-rank Red Dungeon.

Guilds from various countries visited the Korean Hunter Association directly, demanding to meet with the Association President to participate in the SS-rank Dungeon Raid.

As a result, the entrance to the Association was crowded with people from all over the world.

“Pre… President! Will you please listen to our conditions just once?”

“If you let us participate this time, we will….”

“Please tell the President! Our Lucas Guild is the best in Mexico….”

Lee Changgeon, who was traveling to the Association by car, looked toward the main gate.

“Is it just my imagination, or are there even more than yesterday?”

“There are at least twice as many.”

“They must know that the first Dungeon is restricted to national participation.”

“I heard they want to participate even as porters. They’re saying they’ll give us money or Dungeons, just as long as we let them join.”

“S-rank Hunters?”

“Yes. Even just watching the battle of Twelve Constellations-rank Hunters holds great meaning. And I think the fact that they can witness Dokkaebi’s combat directly is a huge factor.”

“I suppose that would be their goal.”

The car entered the underground parking lot through a secret passage. Lee Changgeon got out with his secretary and headed to his office.

He took off his coat, loosened his tie slightly, and sat in his chair.

Then, the secretary approached and set down a cup of coffee along with some organized documents.

“This is the list of participating countries and personnel for the Red Dungeon Raid, prepared by the dedicated team.”

“Ah.”

Since it was the confirmed list, the conversation he had with Dokkaebi yesterday came to mind.

“Tell the dedicated team to rewrite it with one additional condition.”

“A condition?”

“Add the Stone of Achievement to the participation requirements.”

“The Stone of Achievement?”

The Stone of Achievement referred to the golden stone found in places where a Hidden Piece Achievement was discovered.

It was, quite literally, a stone that symbolized the achievement. It held no effects beyond that.

At first, research was conducted to see if there were hidden secrets, but as time passed, the conclusion was reached that it was merely a symbolic stone.

“Why would that…?”

“It’s Dokkaebi’s condition.”

“Will other nations accept an additional condition?”

At the secretary’s words, Lee Changgeon took a sip of his coffee. Perhaps the secretary’s reaction was natural.

Until now, Korea had never been in a position to present additional conditions or negotiations to the world’s top five.

When they offered conditions, Korea was in a position to receive them with gratitude.

“Aren’t we the ones in control now? Tell them if they don’t like it, they don’t have to participate.”

“I understand.”

The secretary, whose lips quirked up strangely, gave a small laugh.

“Then I will prepare for the morning meeting.”

“Phew. Is it time to head out to the battlefield?”

“You must come back victorious.”

“I have to.”

Lee Changgeon exhaled deeply and put on a solemn expression. He tightened his loosened tie, stoking his fighting spirit. As Korea was rising rapidly, various countries had begun to keep Korea in check.

Especially.

‘Japan and China.’

The powerful Hunter nations occupying two spots in the world’s top five were doing everything in their power to drag Korea down.

Since this agenda concerned East Asia as a whole, Japan, China, and Korea would stand at the center of the meeting.

“…I can do it.”

In the past, the seat of the Association President felt heavy because Korea was so powerless.

Now, the seat felt heavy because of the predators trying to bite Korea.

But he had endured even when Korea was utterly helpless. He could certainly endure and overcome this now.

“Let’s go.”

Having finished his resolve, he logged into the conference hall where the World Hunter Association meeting was being held.

The faces of the Association Presidents from each country appeared on the large screen in the Chairman’s Office, with the moderator’s face in the center.

“President Lee Changgeon, you look quite tired. Are you alright?”

“I have some good supplements I’m taking. Should I send you some?”

People who wouldn’t have given him a second glance before were the first to strike up a conversation.

They were people who would turn their backs the moment Korea’s situation took a turn for the worse.

“I’m fine.”

He kept a proper distance while observing the atmosphere of China and Japan.

Currently, the atmosphere of both countries was at its worst.

China had been restricted from entering Labyrinths after losing one of the Twelve Constellations.

Japan had lost most of its Labyrinth rights as Dokkaebi declared an All-Out War.

However, their expressions weren’t that dark considering the circumstances.

‘…Is there something?’

They could be managing their expressions, but it felt more like they had something up their sleeves.

Was it an intuition gained from living as an Association President for a long time? He felt that this meeting wouldn’t go smoothly.

Much more so than he had anticipated.

— Since everyone has gathered, we will proceed with the meeting.

As the moderator in the center of the screen spoke, everyone’s expressions became quite serious.

— I have called the Presidents here today because the current atmosphere in East Asia is not good.

— The excessive public pressure on Dokkaebi from China and Japan.

— The incident where the Blood Demon, who was one of China’s Twelve Constellations, tried to kill Dokkaebi.

— The Sealed Reliquary incident in Korea.

— Korea’s declaration of war against Japan, and so on.

The moderator paused briefly before continuing.

— Too many things have happened in the short period of less than one month.

— We have judged that if these incidents continue, the emotional rift will deepen, leading to unexpected accidents.

— Therefore, we intend to clearly settle the relationship between the three nations today.

— First, we will begin by clarifying each country’s position. President of the Korean Association, please speak first.

The authority of the microphone was given to Lee Changgeon.

Turning on the microphone, Lee Changgeon stood up from his seat while looking at the other Presidents.

“Korea has done nothing wrong. It was China that oppressed Korea using the Purification Sect, and Dokkaebi simply normalized the situation. The Blood Demon also tried to kill Dokkaebi using his subordinates. When that failed, he stepped forward himself to target Dokkaebi, only to be defeated in return.”

After taking a moment to breathe.

“It is the same for Japan. They only raised suspicions about Dokkaebi without bringing any evidence, and they tried to bury him. Furthermore, they tried to cause great damage to Korea using the Sealed Reliquary. I am truly surprised that those two are still sitting in these seats.”

With that, he finished his statement.

As he sat down, the Chinese Association President took the microphone.

What the Chinese Association President brought up first was neither an apology nor reflection.

“Dokkaebi is dangerous. No Hunter has ever grown this strong this quickly. Furthermore, the fact that he is monopolizing Hidden Pieces doesn’t make sense. Everyone, think about it. Has there ever been a case like this? Does it really not strike you as strange?”

The Chinese Association President stared intently as if glaring at Lee Changgeon.

After leaving behind nothing but a mountain of suspicions as if he had something, he passed the microphone to the Japanese Association President.

“Our thoughts are the same as China’s. The turmoil in East Asia began after the appearance of Dokkaebi.”

“Think carefully. Which country would benefit the most if China and Japan were shaken?”

“Dokkaebi has already taken most of the Labyrinths held by China and Japan and has declared that he will continue to do so in the future.”

“Do you think you will be able to stop Dokkaebi, who has gained overwhelming power?”

Japan, like China, threw out nothing but suspicions. Lee Changgeon took a sip of his coffee and organized his thoughts.

‘Suspicions alone can’t solve anything.’

Since those two had been Association Presidents for a long time, they must know that well.

The fact that they made such statements despite that meant they had prepared something to back up their suspicions.

Whatever it was would soon flow from their mouths.

He calmed his mind and body so that he could proceed calmly no matter what situation arose.

— You cannot solve this with suspicions alone. Especially China, aren’t you in no position to be saying such things?

At the words of the neutral moderator, the Chinese Association President’s lips curled up slightly.

“Would things change if there was something to justify the suspicion?”

— Is there such a thing?

“There is.”

The Chinese Association President pulled up a screen. A dilapidated iron cage. Inside, there was a middle-aged man in handcuffs.

“This man’s name is Hwi-sin. He is a Hidden Piece Holder from a criminal background.”

The screen rotated to show another person.

“That person is Muraki Shiro, a Hunter belonging to Japan. He received help from Japan.”

— What do those two have to do with Dokkaebi?

“Take a look.”

After the Chinese Association President answered the moderator’s question, the Japanese Hunter drew a sword. Then, he thrust the sword toward Hwi-sin’s heart.

*Thuck!*

Blood spurted as Hwi-sin died with a painful expression. Everyone watched the screen impassively. Since they had all been active in the field, they were used to someone dying. However, they did not prefer to kill someone intentionally.

— What on earth is…

Just as the moderator was about to intervene, the same message appeared to everyone.

[A Japanese Hunter has discovered a Hidden Piece.]

[The Japanese Hunter’s Trial Reward has been improved.]

[The Japanese Hunter’s Dungeon Reward has been improved.]

Everyone who saw the message looked at the Japanese Hunter on the screen, then at the Chinese Association President.

— What is the meaning of this…?

“If you kill a Hidden Piece Holder, you can steal the Hidden Piece Achievement. Furthermore, no information about the deceased comes out. Do you understand now how Korea monopolized the Hidden Pieces?”

— …I am more curious as to how you know this information.

The Japanese Association President was the one who answered.

“We heard it from those called Apostles. They are the apostles of justice existing in each dimension, tasked with the mission of executing the evil dragon that seeks to rule the world.”

— ….

“Will the suspicions raised by Korea, claiming we joined hands with a mysterious organization, be resolved now?”

The conference hall fell into a heavy silence. In the midst of the stillness, the moderator turned on the microphone.

— President of the Korean Association? Please tell us what you know regarding this.

Lee Changgeon, who had watched this entire process, let out a sneer.

Everything was the opposite of what those men had said, but in this situation, such words wouldn’t be heard properly.

Those two must have brought it up first because they knew that.

“It doesn’t seem like the atmosphere is right for anything I say to be accepted gracefully.”

To others, it might look like Korea was finished, but Lee Changgeon actually allowed a smile to spread across his face. He hadn’t expected them to come out like this.

However, he had already discussed with Dokkaebi what to do if such a situation arose.

“Therefore, I would like to make a proposal.”

— A proposal?

“We will show you Dokkaebi finding a Hidden Piece while directly clearing a Labyrinth.”

At that, the Chinese Association President gave a foul smile.

“How do we know Korea won’t manipulate it?”

“Isn’t it a simple matter of having representatives from each country participate?”

Perhaps they hadn’t expected him to go this far, as the expressions of the Japanese and Chinese Association Presidents darkened rapidly.

Lee Changgeon, having seized the momentum, gripped the microphone tightly.

“If Dokkaebi proves it, China and Japan will certainly have to pay the price.”