"Do you know why 12 people raids were created?"
Sunglasses asked politely. This time it was Ice Princess Alin who replied.
"In the worst case scenario, at least one person can flee."
"That's right. That number should have been sufficient to deal with standard creatures. Even 4 people are enough to kill kobolds and goblins."
Everyone was silent. Sunglasses wasn't wrong. Humans had come up with the idea of a 12 people raid in the first place.
"And not long ago, Kim Yong-woo's group was completely destroyed."
The three of them were silent. Except for the guild master Kim Yong-woo, the other 11 people had died in the dungeon. The only living person who returned was Kim Yong-Woo. The standard of the creatures that could wipe out the raiding party wasn't normal.
"Kim Yong-woo returned alive but he was babbling like a lunatic. He kept talking about an elephant that could handle the non-standard creature."
"He went crazy. You don't need to take him seriously."
Kim Suk-soo clicked his tongue. Kim Yong-woo originally had a few screws loose. He seriously thought he was chosen by God. Kim Yong-woo's nature was enough to make them suspicious.
"I thought like that as well."
"Then why?"
"Recently Kim Yong-woo's attitude has changed. His changed mindset makes him seem like an entirely new person…he even transferred a Bugatti Veyron to that guy. I think that Kim Yong-woo met this person in a dungeon before."
"Wait, is he human? That car? Really? He didn't just lend it for a moment?"
The man shook his head.
"People never saw Kim Yong-woo driving the Bugatti Veyron. On the other hand, that man was seen driving the Bugatti Veyron quite a bit."
Then a little boy sitting to their right gave an astonished cry.
"Amazing! This is a special feeling! Tomorrow the sun will rise in the west!"
"…I recognize it."
Kim Suk-soo and the other people felt their admiration increase. Kim Yong-woo was someone who was really stingy with his money.
Despite controlling the funds of the guild house, he insisted on going dutch when dining together with other people. He would only have a bowl of jajamyeon once a month yet Kim Yong-woo gave a prized car to someone else?
The Bugatti Veyron was widely considered to be the fastest car in the world. There were differing opinions that the Hennessey Venom GT was faster but it was clearly a precious car in South Korea. The speed allowed in this place was very limited.
Kim Yong-woo had been so prideful after he bought it that they were sick of it. Even if Alin asked him for a ride, he would blow her off like she was a fly.
It really was like the sun rising in the west tomorrow.
Sunglasses pulled his cool coffee closer and said.
"Of course, I can't be sure. It is just a high possibility. And if he is the same person, he isn't someone who can handle a creature beyond the norm. Even if 100 Awakened are gathered, they would find it impossible to handle the creature. At the time, Kim Yong-woo was the lone survivor so he must have seen something."
"Ajusshi, aren't you worrying about needless things?"
"No…it is clear that he has considerable skill. In addition, it is true that he bumped into a non-standard creature."
"Hey, let's say he really did meet a non-standard monster? So how did he come back alive?"
"I think he holds a rare grade skill. Therefore he could escape to the outside."
Rare grade skill! They all swallowed their saliva.
Just like the name, it was a rarity. At least it was in South Korea. The only known user of a rare skill was Chinese.
Even the Starters who woke up 8 months ago only had normal level skills. The man in sunglasses had an Exceptional Normal skill 'Improve Muscle Strength.'
Skills could be obtained through a particular type of work, certain actions against creatures and completing difficult quests.
Quests could be found on their own but an updated list of quests also existed. Once a month, the quest list updated to coincide with the level of the Awakened. Completing quests with difficulty levels one or two steps higher would give a skill. Sometimes a lot of luck and hard work was required.
"But hasn't he joined Heaven's Will?"
Ice Princess Alin said calmly.
The five guilds had similar strengths. Respect was given to all sides. It was an unspoken law to not recruit members that had already joined a guild.
The man raised his sunglasses.
"It is Kim Yong-woo alone who is making a fuss. They've never gone on a raid together."
"Then he can still be taken."
Alin was convinced as she closed her eyes. She forgave him for calling this meeting of guild masters.
Then the young man said with confusion.
"Ajusshi. I don't understand. Why are you telling us? Isn't it better if you alone monopolize him? We aren't amateurs. If there is any ill will…."
Sunglasses scratched the bridge of his nose.
"I have failed. I was rejected before even speaking one word. I almost died."
"Heh, even ajusshi fails at times."
"There are thousands of witnesses in the vicinity of the Heaven's Will Guild House…they lose their appetite as soon as they see me."
"Uhh? Is ajusshi really going to give up?"
"You haven't looked at him. My head would have been rolling on the floor of the restaurant if I said even one word."
The young man's expression became determined.
There was something they implicitly agreed on. Sunglasses was the strongest among those gathered here.
In addition, they knew how obsessed he was with becoming strong. He would get whatever he wanted. A boiling spirit that never admitted defeat. Their hairs started to stand up.
If this was true then they absolutely needed to recruit his talent. Even if they had to spend billions of won!
Once he was drawn in, the balance between the five guilds would start to lean towards him.
Maybe they could go up to the next floor. Obtaining the title of the first ones to arrive on the 2nd floor was a great achievement. It was the 'authorization' that indicated they were the best guild in Korea!
Since America's official announcement, the existence of the Awakened was known to everyone. A lot of people made movements behind the scenes.
Now it was a world of dungeons and Awakened. As the Awakened obtained more Cores, the people were forced to rely on them even more.
And having the title of the strongest would be very useful….
"I only want one thing. Information sharing about the rare skill. I don't want anything else."
"….I will go first. The answer is yes."
Alin stood up quickly. There was a red flush on her cheeks.
"Oho, ho. It is already that time. I heard it well. I'm a yes!"
Kim Suk-soo followed suit.
"Hmm hmm! Ajusshi, contact me separately."
The young man was the last to leave.
Sunglasses who was left alone leaned back in his chair and sighed.
'Really terrible eyes….'
He saw himself 'drop dead' as soon as the other person glared. His breath became short as his spirit was lost. It felt like he was prying into a deep abyss. It seemed like a shower of sweat had flowed.
His body trembled as he remembered those eyes.