Chapter 26: Ralph Refuses China

“Why, why? What’s the matter that you’re looking for someone to travel a long way tomorrow?”

Ralph, the number one ranked hunter in the United States.

Currently climbing the Tower’s 67th floor.

The strongest hunter in the world.

He was supposed to fly to China tomorrow…

But suddenly, the dedicated management team showed up?

And in such a hurry.

Maybe they wanted to give him some kind of elixir or something.

“Geez, this isn’t necessary. It’s nothing special. It’s not like it’s my first time dealing with an S-grade Dungeon.”

It was always like this.

Everyone worried way too much.

“Ralph, just come over and watch this video first. It’s about the current situation in China, and it doesn’t look good.”

But these people—

The atmosphere felt strangely serious?

‘Was something wrong?’

He tilted his head, watching the video.

“What is this? A movie?”

“It’s the real situation in China. Just recorded moments ago.”

“That…?”

‘Not a movie?’

No way.

“What are all those monsters rushing like waves? All of them?”

“Yeah.”

Watching again, it was true.

Those horrific numbers of S-grade Dungeon monsters.

Hunters desperately trying to hold them back.

But…

“This situation is a lot different from what I heard.”

“That was three days ago. Ralph, that was before you went to clear the 67th floor. It’s already a mess now.”

***

Three days.

The situation changed that drastically in just three days?

He was told it was supposed to be easy.

That’s…

“I could end up in danger too.”

“That’s right. Because monsters that should only appear in S-grade Dungeons keep pushing forward…”

No.

It wasn’t just about blocking them.

“You’re supposed to break through tens of kilometers of those monsters, then clear the S-grade Dungeon after?”

“That’s how the Chinese request goes.”

“Are they crazy?”

Even if I concede they want us just to block them?

Fine.

I can do that.

‘But to break through all that and reach the central S-grade Dungeon?’

‘Does that even make sense?’

They say it’s at least 20 to 30 kilometers away…

“Ralph, what do you think?”

“What do you think? The answer’s obvious after just a few seconds.”

An S-grade Dungeon.

Even if you’ve cleared one, it’s not easy.

‘Especially breaking through that sea of monsters?’

“I’d probably end up following Wei Jin, who died first. Why risk it?”

“That’s why we called you.”

“To help them?”

“Haha, don’t be ridiculous.”

Yeah.

Nonsense.

“No need for a domestic ranker to risk their life helping China. That’s our judgment.”

“That makes sense. I think the same.”

He was willing to go because it was profitable.

But this was a problem.

The reward looked tempting…

But was it worth risking his life?

Absolutely not.

No.

Now, no matter what they offered, he wouldn’t go there.

“Unless I could fly in and land right at the central S-grade Dungeon.”

“But you’d probably get attacked by monsters mid-flight and crash.”

“I’m not planning on being fireworks, so no.”

Okay, decision made.

“Send out a notice that I’m severely injured from clearing the 67th floor and won’t be able to do anything for a while. They’ll get the message.”

‘What about China?’

Well, they’d have to manage on their own.

Even if they fail to hold them back…

‘What does that have to do with me?’

But.

“I’m curious about this.”

“Oh, this?”

A document obtained from the intelligence department.

“The Korean creator has offered to clear the S-grade Dungeon for China…”

Sounds crazy at first glance.

But the weapons and items this creator made are unbelievably powerful?

“It’s so crazy that the top two Korean ranked hunters grabbed those weapons and immediately jumped above the 60th floor.”

“Someone literally clawed their way up…”

He knew firsthand how absurd that was.

“Contact that creator. Offer a fat reward and ask to make some gear for me too.”

Using materials gathered below the 60th floor to pull off that kind of magic?

If I make gear with the materials I’ve collected…

Maybe I can surpass the 67th floor I just failed at this time.

[China’s Last Hope! World’s No.1 Ralph’s Estimated Arrival Time in China is…]

‘What?’

‘Suddenly I’m the last hope?’

I’m not even planning to go.

China…

Well, let them handle it.

They said that creator would help.

‘Why not contact him?’

***

[Breaking News]

Ralph Carter, No.1 ranked hunter in the United States, seriously injured during the Chaos Tower 67th floor raid.

[Official Announcement: Ralph apologizes for being unable to go to China!]

[What will be the impact of the world’s top hunter’s sudden absence?]

Everyone’s trump card.

The shock of the world’s strongest hunter’s sudden withdrawal spread fast.

[Arthur Brandt of the United Kingdom halts external activities due to personal reasons.]

[Lucas Wolf, Germany’s top hunter, hospitalized after a car accident.]

‘Glad he’s not going to China, phew.’

‘I canceled my flight immediately too, haha.’

‘So there are basically no rankers in China now???’

Loo only reached mid-50th floor.

Those guys are seriously doomed…

Other rankers who were just watching the situation quietly are retreating.

‘Hunters who hadn’t even departed yet?’

Quickly refused the request.

The problem is the hunters in China.

‘Wait, those guys bailed right after watching too?’

‘Hunter in a car accident? That’s unbelievable.’

‘I’m on the 27th floor, I’d see a car and dodge it, haha.’

‘Everyone’s scared, haha.’

‘Same here, I’m terrified…’

No way.

Not only Ralph, but the rest of the top hunters are backing out?

And other hunters aren’t coming either.

They said they were coming!

We came because you said you were coming.

Now you bail on us…

“I was holding the front line against monsters but just ran. This is hopeless. Everyone, make quick decisions.”

“How’s it there?”

“No hunters above the 60th floor, and barely anyone in the mid-50s, but monsters keep increasing.”

“It’s hell.”

“Of course, it’s China, so they win with numbers, huh?”

The atmosphere is growing increasingly bleak.

All the hopeful fantasies have already been shattered.

“Looking back, something felt off from the start…”

“Yeah…”

The former number one in China, Wei Jin, was level 62 when he entered the dungeon.

Even a top hunter like him died…

So why did we think this was easy?

“We were blinded by the reward.”

“But the top rankers from the five major powers were supposed to come…”

“The mind games completely failed.”

[Request]

S-grade Dungeon Break near Beijing, China. Worldwide hunters needed.

[Central Awakened Administration Bureau, China]

China’s request.

[Objective: Clear the dungeon.]

‘Is it even possible?’

“Absolutely impossible.”

“This is hopeless.”

“Run away.”

“But the plane won’t take off?”

Still, get as far away from Beijing as possible.

The dream of a life-changing win is over.

Well, better to at least save our lives.

Come on.

Let’s all run.

***

“The tide has finally turned. Contact will come soon.”

“You predicted this?”

Wow.

You foresaw the absence of the US’s number one?’

Top-grade Worker indeed.

Suddenly they seem different.

“Eh? No way. I’m a businessman, not a prophet.”

“What?”

“So you didn’t predict it?”

“I had a rough idea. If they all worked together, maybe it would have worked…”

“But?”

“Well, it’s not their country, so there’s no way they’d risk it.”

“Exactly!”

Ah.

That’s true.

“If it were me and they asked me to risk my life there?”

I’d never go.

Ding!

[New Request]

S-grade Dungeon Break near Beijing, China. Worldwide hunters needed.

Additional Reward: Robin Hood’s Bow Fragment

[Central Awakened Administration Bureau, China]

Oh?

A request.

“Came immediately after I mentioned it?”

Additional reward, Robin Hood’s Bow Fragment.

Nice.

“Should’ve been like this from the start.”

“Well, shall we accept?”

Just as he was about to press accept—

“Sir, wait!”

“Yes?”

Todd, our guy.

Stretching out his short arms to block.

“The stakes have shifted since then. We need to ask for more.”

More?

More what?

He didn’t know.

“If we refuse, they might scrape the bottom of their warehouse and offer something else.”

“Okay.”

It’s a pity, but our workers are that hungry.

Bring more.

“No, what is going on…”

“Sorry, hunters keep dropping out.”

“How’s the frontline?”

“Currently, 10 km to Beijing…”

“They’ll break through in a few days. Hah…”

This won’t work.

No other choice left.

Only one.

“Head of Workforce Management, send a request to that guy. Offer Robin Hood’s Bow Fragment.”

We’ll give them what they want.

Come running to save us.

Making a big decision, but—

“Sorry, the head of Workforce Management refused.”

“What?”

Refused?

Why?

“They want more…”

Ugh.

This jerk.

Not satisfied with Robin Hood’s Bow Fragment, trying to scrape everything from the bottom…

“Director, what do we do?”

“What can we do? Even if we give that.”

“You mean that…”

There are only two things in China that qualify as “that” right now.

The Robin Hood’s Bow Fragment they’re about to seize.

And the Potion of Potential Enhancement.

“No, that’s for Chen Yuhan…”

It really can’t be.

I was saving it to use once Chen Yuhan reached the 60th floor…

There’s only one…

“If I’d known, I would’ve used it from the start, no matter the effect on existing abilities.”

Sigh…

No, wait.

If I’d known…

I should’ve accepted the offer when they first said they’d clear it with the Robin Hood’s Bow Fragment.

But the ship has sailed.

“Can’t be helped. Better to act than to die standing still…”

It’s frustrating.

If only Wei Jin were here.

“We’ll give it all.”

But only if the core S-grade Dungeon that caused the break is cleared.

If it’s not cleared, no chance.

Ding!

[New Request]

***

S-grade Dungeon Break near Beijing, China. Worldwide hunters needed.

Additional Rewards: Robin Hood’s Bow Fragment, Potion of Potential Enhancement

[Central Awakened Administration Bureau, China]

“Another request just came…”

“Yes. These guys never hide anything.”

“Gomdori! Hooray!”

“Ugh~!”

That…

Stop bothering our teddy bear who just made a big move this time…

But what’s this Potion of Potential Enhancement?

“That probably won’t help the director much, but it should work on the workers.”

“Oh…”

“Got it?”

Right.

Arthur or Robin.

It’ll be one of the two.

I don’t need to get stronger myself.

I don’t really want to.

They’ll do everything anyway!

“Well then, shall we head out soon?”

A dungeon in China, not Korea.

At first, it was daunting.

I wondered if I should just move there.

But there’s a way.

“Use the Summon Range Temporary Expansion Ticket. It should be in the point shop…”

Summon Range Temporary Expansion Ticket.

‘I have that?’

Opening my inventory casually…

There it was.

[Summon Range Temporary Expansion Ticket]

‘When did I get this?’

Got it as a reward for completing five training sessions at the training center.

‘Open it quickly?’

[Using the Summon Range Temporary Expansion Ticket.]

[Please select the country to expand the summon range.]

All countries appeared.

Let’s see… select China.

‘Is the range expanded now?’

[Dispatch Worker]

Dungeon.

I pressed it.

“Wow…”

Sure enough, China.

Maybe because the land is so huge, the dungeons were insanely numerous.

Can’t compare to Korea.

It took a while to find the right one.

Scrolling down, there it was.

[S-grade Dungeon]

Phew.

“Arthur, Robin, ready?”

“Got it, let’s go!”

“Yeah.”

Robin was going alone.

It didn’t look easy, so we decided to send both of them.

That notoriously brutal S-grade Dungeon.

Our workers should be able to clear it safely.

“Boss, we trust you.”

Easy.

Yeah.

Trust.

So come back without getting hurt.