Chapter 125
Ju Il-ryong's voice was filled with discomfort as he spoke.
It was understandable.
Lee Seong-jun had successfully solo cleared a Red Gate, which had even transformed into a Frenzy Gate.
'He managed to clear it in less than an hour.'
This was something that even Ju Il-ryong, the leader of the Chinese Returnee Alliance, couldn't be certain of accomplishing.
However, the most surprising thing was something else.
'He didn't have a single wound that could be called an injury.'
He had completed the raid in a very comfortable state.
'He completely overwhelmed it.'
This meant he had the upper hand not only in power but also in the skill to handle it.
In other words, there was a high probability that the martial arts Lee Seong-jun had built up in the other world had reached a level even higher than his current state.
'...It means he can continue this growth trend.'
It meant that before long, he would become an existence that would dominate the world stage of Guardians.
"If we continue to leave Lee Seong-jun unchecked, he'll bring about a disaster we won't be able to control."
A bleak future was clearly visible, but the Korean Returnee Alliance didn't seem to have any intention of coming up with a plan.
No, far from coming up with a plan, they had been completely out of contact for several weeks.
"I knew the Korean Returnee Alliance was incompetent, but this is beyond the pale."
He wanted to take action immediately, but unfortunately, practical issues weren't allowing it.
"The treaty proposed by the World Returnee Alliance is the problem."
No alliance, regardless of which one, can interfere in matters occurring in another alliance's territory. Intervention is only allowed under the orders of the World Returnee Alliance.
It was a treaty forcibly created by the executives of the World Returnee Alliance to strengthen their power and enjoy their authority.
However, in other words, this meant that the power held by the executives of the World Returnee Alliance was so strong that they could make such an absurd treaty.
Because of this, even though he knew Lee Seong-jun would become a typhoon-like existence, he couldn't dare think of violating the treaty.
It was a somewhat awkward situation where he could do neither this nor that, but Sakai's face was extremely calm.
"There's no need to be so afraid. Rather, Lee Seong-jun's existence can be said to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us."
Ju Il-ryong tilted his head at these incomprehensible words.
"What do you mean?"
"As you said earlier, the Korean Returnee Alliance members were utterly incompetent. They were only recognized for their autonomy because they were Korean."
Sakai, who flashed a sardonic smile, opened his mouth again.
"But what if a very troublesome existence that even the World Returnee Alliance can't ignore appears?"
"..."
By now, a smile identical to Sakai's was flowing across Ju Il-ryong's lips.
It was because he could clearly predict the attitude the executives of the World Returnee Alliance would show.
'They'll definitely intervene directly.'
The situations that would unfold afterwards were also easy to predict.
They would quickly eliminate Lee Seong-jun before he could establish himself as a troublesome existence, and then immediately remove the Korean Returnee Alliance and Tae Sang-cheon, who were judged to be incompetent.
"Given the complex reporting system, it will take some time for the executives of the World Returnee Alliance to move... but we can certainly endure that much."
"Just think of it as savoring after sufficient aging time, like wine."
The eyes of Sakai and Ju Il-ryong, meeting in mid-air, were filling with enormous greed.
"Let's hope the Korean Returnee Alliance and Tae Sang-cheon continue to ignore Lee Seong-jun's growth like this."
* * *
The clearing of the Red Gate was somewhat forced due to issues related to the safety of his family, but the benefits gained from it were considerable.
'It was worth the effort.'
Lee Seong-jun, sitting in a chair in the room, summoned a green hologram window.
[Title: Conqueror]
All stats (Strength, Agility, Vitality, Blood Energy) increase by +15.
When hunting monsters solo, experience gained increases by 75%.
When entering other dimensions solo, base stats increase by 10%.
A 15 increase in all stats and a 75% increase in experience gained was a further enhancement of the previous title, Sole Consumer.
This alone could be considered a significant achievement, but the effects of the title Conqueror didn't end with just these two.
'When entering other dimensions solo, base stats increase by 10%...'
From Lee Seong-jun's perspective, this was no different from an increase in stats without any particular restrictions.
'Hunting will become even easier.'
To be precise, his hunting speed had grown wings.
'No, it's fair to say I'm already flying with wings spread.'
[Status]
Name: Lee Seong-jun
Job: Star Spirit Mage
Title: Conqueror
Level: 147
Strength: 49, (+37) Agility: 48 (+38), Vitality: 49 (+37)
Blood Energy: 67 (+46)
Bonus Points: 42
A satisfied smile spread across Lee Seong-jun's lips as he confirmed the status window that appeared before his eyes.
'Excellent.'
It was the same as the previous job advancement.
After the 4th job advancement at level 130, the required experience once again increased dramatically by more than double.
There wasn't particularly accurate data as even those who achieved 4th job advancement were extremely rare, but some top-ranked players had said it takes at least 4 months to raise one level.
However, by hunting the Red Gate, Kabilo, he had achieved a 17 level increase at once.
In other words, he had shortened more than 5 years of time.
Of course, considering Lee Seong-jun's tremendous hunting speed, it wouldn't have taken 5 years to raise 17 levels, but it could be said that he had shortened at least 3 months or more.
'At this rate... I'll be able to raise the Blood Shadow Demon Asura Technique to 9 stars soon.'
It was truly a satisfactory result that couldn't be thought of as a reward gained from a single hunt, but the benefits gained from this Red Gate clearing weren't just his own growth.
A whopping 200 billion won, the amount that came in as a reward for clearing the Red Gate.
Although he received such an astronomical amount that made one exclaim, the expenditure was just as enormous as the money earned.
In the process of establishing the Infinity Guild and succeeding the Cosmos Guild, there was an expenditure of up to 100 billion won.
Additionally, 50 billion won was spent on purchasing a house to live in Paju.
Of course, some compromise could have been made when buying the house, but as this was the cheapest time before the new city was established, it could be said that he made a somewhat bold decision.
'In any case, all of these will become my foundation.'
With the remaining 50 billion won from the Red Gate clearing reward and the existing 50 billion won he had, a total of 100 billion won remained, and there was nowhere particularly to spend it.
This was because considerable benefits were being given to the honorary position of Guardian that he had obtained.
'I thought it was just an empty title, but the welfare is considerable.'
The support was indescribable, including monthly dignity maintenance fees amounting to tens of millions of won, tax exemptions, and various living and convenience items.
Of course, ordinary items couldn't have much meaning for Lee Seong-jun.
But there was no need for him, Lee Seong-jun, to use them himself.
Lee Seong-jun, his eyes shining, grabbed the key on the desk and headed to the living room.
Thump. Thump.
As Lee Seong-jun approached with confident steps, the gazes of his family members watching TV naturally turned towards him.
"Did something happen?"
"I just wanted to give you a gift."
Lee Seong-jun smiled at Lee Su-hyeok's question and held out the key in his hand.
"What's this? A car key?"
"It's a benefit of the Guardian position I mentioned before. The car is... a Rolls-Royce."
"Rolls-Royce?!"
Lee Su-hyeok's eyes widened.
And for good reason, it was a Rolls-Royce.
It was such an expensive brand that even someone with little interest in cars would have heard of it at least once.
In fact, even Lee Seo-yun, who not only had no interest in cars but didn't even have a driver's license, couldn't hide her surprise.
"Isn't that an extremely rare car?"
"To be precise, it's rare because it's expensive."
"How much is it?"
At Lee Seo-yun's question, Lee Seong-jun smiled meaningfully and spread out five fingers.
"5 billion won?!"
If it had been an ordinary Rolls-Royce, it would have been about right.
However, what was provided as a Guardian benefit was nothing less than a ceremonial vehicle.
The body, windows, and even tires were all made of dwarf special steel that wouldn't be damaged by ordinary impacts, and the engine was also specially manufactured so that it wouldn't explode even under strong impacts.
Moreover, as soon as a strong impact is applied, protective magic is activated inside and outside the vehicle to safely protect the passengers, and it's designed to immediately report the incident to government agencies in charge of public safety, making it a top-class vehicle.
Compared to ordinary vehicles, the price was bound to skyrocket.
"No, 50 billion won."
In fact, considering that the house they were currently living in was worth hundreds of billions of won, it wasn't an incredibly expensive price.
But perhaps because it became personal property through the gift, Lee Su-hyeok was jumping up and down on the spot, waving his hands at Lee Seong-jun's words.
"Oh my, Dad doesn't need such an expensive car."
"That's right, it's too burdensome for us to ride. We'll just accept your thoughtfulness."
"No, is it even okay to transfer such a vehicle like this?"
Lee Su-hyeok and Kim Ji-young kept waving their hands and expressing their intention to refuse, while Lee Seo-yun asked with her eyes wide open.
All family members were showing considerable surprise.
However, Lee Seong-jun, the person in question, was shrugging his shoulders as if it wasn't a big deal.
"Well, it's a vehicle provided to me anyway, and the association said they would handle it cleanly, so there shouldn't be any problem."
Lee Seong-jun lightly brushed off Lee Seo-yun's words and turned his gaze to look at Lee Su-hyeok again.
Of course, Lee Su-hyeok's reaction wasn't much different from before.
"I understand what you mean, but no matter how I think about it, this doesn't seem right..."
From the subjugation of Razaka to the recent Red Gate clearing.
He had directly seen and heard how hard his son, Lee Seong-jun, was working.
"All of this can be said to be the reward for your sacrifice and effort, right?"
Lee Su-hyeok's eyes were turning red as he shook his head firmly.
The atmosphere was becoming completely different from what he had thought.
Feeling the crisis, Lee Seong-jun spoke urgently.
"I'm really okay with it. I'd rather you use it. I won't have any use for a car anyway, so it would be a waste to let it rot in the garage."
"But... how could this incompetent father ride around in that?"
"If you say it like that, how do you think Seong-jun will feel? Sigh, just accept it for now, even if reluctantly."
"That's right, please just accept it."
Under the combined attack of Lee Seong-jun and Kim Ji-young, Lee Su-hyeok, who had been pondering, nodded his head.
"...Thank you as always."
As an awkward atmosphere was settling due to the sudden situation, Lee Seo-yun spoke urgently, refreshing the mood.
"I'm so jealous. Don't you have anything for me and mom?"
"Of course I do."
"What?"
Lee Seo-yun couldn't hide her surprised expression.
She had just joked to refresh the mood, but he answered as if he had been waiting for it, and immediately went to his room and came out with shopping bags.
"Is it really a gift?"
"Do you think it would be a fake gift?"
They were all equally precious family members, so he couldn't just prepare a gift for his father.
That's why he visited the department store early in the morning and bought luxury bags as gifts for his mother and sister.
"Is it really my gift?"
"If you don't believe it, don't take it."
"No way!"
Lee Seo-yun, who raised her voice, hurriedly snatched the shopping bag and started opening the gift with Kim Ji-young, unwrapping the packaging.
"Wow, it's totally my style. Really, really thank you!"
"How did you manage to get something so perfect? Our son has such good sense. Mom is so grateful too."
A bright smile spread across Lee Seong-jun's lips at the sight of Kim Ji-young and Lee Seo-yun with happy expressions.