Chapter 60: Maite Mining (2)


    Turning toward the source of the sound, Kang-hoo saw a hunter perched on a difficult-to-reach five-story structure.


    The building appeared unfinished, with the hunter barely protruding the barrel of a gun from the railing, aiming at the opposite side.


    Given that the dungeons theme was abandoned mining city, deserted buildings were not unusual.


    Hey! Dont freeze up, keep mining!


    Stop just running your mouth and try climbing up yourself! See if you can mine with her sniping right there!


    Damn it! Ill go, Ill go


    Bang!


    !


    A hunter climbing a spiral path up a small hill screamed as a bullet met its mark.


    The magic bullet, which pierced right through his temple, sent him directly to the afterlife.


    Despite the distance, the uracy of the sniping was astonishingly precise.


    [Precision Aim]


    Kang-hoo activated the Precision Aim skill to magnify the image of the hunter sniping from the opposite side.


    His view enhanced, he saw a woman in the crosshairs.


    In his expanded vision, the woman had already turned her barrel toward him and was about to pull the trigger.


    ?


    [Swift Evasion]


    Kang-hoo immediately activated a skill.


    Simultaneously, she fired three shots where Kang-hoo had been.


    Her aim was not at Kang-hoos previous location.


    She shot about 5 meters ahead.


    All three shots hit the same spot.


    Warning shots.


    The message was clear.


    Surprised by Kang-hoos instinctive evasion, the corners of her mouth twitched slightly.


    She had aimed near Kang-hoos feet to intimidate him, but he had evaded swiftly.


    She wore special goggles over her eyes, glowing red, undoubtedly an item of some significance.


    Hmm.


    Seizing the opportunity, Kang-hoo targeted a nearby rock and executed ateral movement to conceal himself.


    Approaching the hill that was in in sight would have put him directly in line with her relentless sniping.


    It seemed she was engaged in a skirmish with the hunters who had secured the hill, resulting in a stalemate.


    The hunters hesitated to approach her, fearing a bullet would find its way to their heads.


    She had taken her position as well but seemed unable to determine the right moment to flee.


    They were engaged in a cat-and-mouse game.


    In such situations, stalemates couldst quite a while.


    Breaking the bnce usually requires reinforcements to arrive.


    He moved towards her.


    Although she was busy searching for Kang-hoo, who had disappeared from her sight, she couldnt pinpoint his location.


    [Shadowless]


    He used the Shadowless skill to virtually erase his presence.


    Her n to track Kang-hoo using all her senses had been thwarted at that point.


    Meanwhile,


    Kang-hoo had quietly entered the building, swiftly reaching the fifth-floor railing where she was positioned.


    Standing beside her, who was absorbed in scanning the surroundings, he spoke in a low voice.


    What do you need?


    Ah!


    Startled, she turned to the sudden voice of Kang-hoo, who had just vanished but was now right beside her on the building.


    Had Kang-hoo harbored the slightest intent to kill her, she would have been dead already.


    Im curious whether youre after maite or just looking to fight those guys.


    Who are you?


    Me? Im here to mine maite.


    Kang-hoo gestured towards the hill.


    If maite could be mined here, there would be no need to venture deep into the Lateus Dungeon.


    There would also be other hunters who had already imed spots there.


    If the struggle was inevitable, she preferred to be here where backup was avable.


    She responded.


    I need maite.


    Good. Then our objectives are the same. How much do you need?


    500 grams.


    Thats a reasonable request. What if I mine your share of maite and we work together?


    Wouldnt that take a long time?


    Thats my concern. Just let me know if you can contribute your strength. Dont worry about the rest.


    Kang-hoo chuckled.


    Mining maite required a substantial amount of mana.


    It had been the same when he mined mana stones in the Cheongmyeong Detention Center.


    Kang-hoo was often taken to the mines because he used mana highly efficiently.


    Of course, they were unaware of his innate hypersensitivity to mana, which facilitated his mana supply.


    For Kang-hoo, using mana was not an issue, so reaching the top of the hill was his sole objective.


    I can do it.


    Then, lets form a temporary team. Deal?


    Deal.


    They struck a strategic coboration.


    She inquired.


    Whats your name? Im Ban Se-yeong, twenty-four years old.


    Jeong Sun-kyu. Twenty-nine.


    Kang-hoo nonchntly provided a false name. Ban Se-yeong probably did the same; her name was likely fictitious too.


    Then Ill call you Sun-kyu oppa.


    You probably wont need to call me. Just spot the route for me. Focus on direct shooting, not covering.


    Understood.


    Whoosh!


    As Kang-hoo vanished from view, Ban Se-yeong extended her senses once more.


    Yet she still couldnt discern Kang-hoos location or movements.


    It wasnt mere stealth; it seemed as though he had employed a skill to obliterate his presence.


    The world is immense, and encountering a skilled hunter is no small matter, but stumbling upon an assassin of this caliber was extraordinary.


    Unbeknownst to her, she hadunched three magic bullets as a warning, right in front of his feet.


    If Kang-hoo had been hostile, she considered with a sinking heart, she would have been doomed.<hr>


    Shortly thereafter.


    What the hell is this guy?


    Who are you?


    As Kang-hoo emerged in front of the hill, the hunters were taken aback and adopted a defensive posture.


    At least ten were visible.


    None disyed constetion information.


    Their levels were likely around 100.


    Ban Se-yeongs constetion information, which he had glimpsed earlier, revealed a total of three.


    By a rough estimate, Ban Se-yeongs level would exceed 200.


    The fact that she hadnt overpowered these lower-level hunters suggested a significant vulnerability.


    The biggest dilemma of every gunner is that they cant handle closebat. If you only focus on one thing, youll fail.


    For high firepower, a gunner inherently has to carry a longer gun.


    She held a rather long one. It became poison for any hunter who tried to get close.


    Kang-hoo, his sword held in a reverse grip, raised both arms and spoke as politely as possible.


    Guys, I just want to dig up two pieces of Maite and then Ill leave. Can I just rest somewhere for a moment?


    What are you talking about, you idiot?


    Do we, Kalbaram, look like fools to you, you newbie?


    Ah, so your group is called Kalbaram. Nice name. Makes me want to send you to hell.


    Where do you get off making jokes like that?


    The Kalbaram group growled in response.


    Amidst this, Ban Se-yeongs sniping seemed to worry them, as they busily chattered behind their iron barriers.


    Useless fools.


    It was disappointing that none of the hunters contracted with constetions, but it was time to stay focused on the goal.


    Kang-hoo was more worried about the traps around the rocky mountain than the hunters guarding it.


    If a skilled technician had set up the traps, approaching even after clearing out the hunters might be difficult.


    Its a good thing that shes already annoying me. Hey, lets take care of this guy first!


    The leader gave themand.


    It was a strategic decision, thinking that Ban Se-yeong wouldnt be able to provide cover fire easily if they were mixed up in a melee.


    Surely it was a very logical and right decision from the leaders perspective. The n looked good.


    The only problem, however, was that their opponent, Kang-hoo, preferred ultra-closebat.


    I wee it.


    Kang-hoo greeted the breakdown of negotiations with a happy expression.<hr>


    As soon as the battle began.


    Hmm


    Ban Se-yeong, her index finger on the trigger, straightened it and peeked out.


    She realized there was no need for her toy down cover fire to make way.


    Though Kang-hoo was encircled by ten members of the Kalbaram group, he was not at a disadvantage.


    In fact, his stance was stable.


    He wounded those who came at him first and only targeted parts essential forbat with precision.


    Indeed, it was a mockery.


    To such a degree that Kang-hoo didnt let the Kalbaram groupnd a single effective blow.


    The gang members scattered across the rocky mountain were quite agile.


    Their rapid movements meant that there were few casualties despite Ban Se-yeongs prolonged sniping.


    Hence, Kang-hoo had anticipated he might face some difficulty.


    But that concern was unnecessary.


    Every time Kang-hoo blinked, his position changed so dramatically.


    So much that it was the perfect time to confidently use the phrase, Now you see him, now you dont.


    Especially when he employed illusion and Shadow Step simultaneously, even Ban Se-yeong couldnt help but shout in astonishment.


    Determining which silhouette was the real Kang-hoo was impossible.


    She felt a chill once more.


    Was this not the same person she had marked as an enemy and at whom she had fired a warning shot?


    To have survived that encounter, she felt as though she had been aided by the heavens.


    Aaaack! Ahhh!


    My leg! My leg


    All members of the Kalbaram group caught up with Kang-hoo at the entrance of the rocky mountain screamed in agony.


    Not one remained unscathed.


    A battlefield that had been effectively swept clean.


    A wless victory with no opportunity to even fire a single additional shot.


    At that instant.


    Thump!


    Kang-hoo flicked his finger, delivering the coup de grce.


    Blood Flower.


    The members of the Kalbaram group were perfectly positioned within the st radius.


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    Insane.


    Ban Se-yeong witnessed it clearly.


    The blood blossoms that burst forth in midair from the wounded bodies of the Kalbaram group were a gruesome sight.


    Blood Flower was the most savage and yet the most magnificent spectacle among all the skills she had witnessed.


    Of course, for its victims, it was a fast track to hell.


    What kind of hunter is he?


    Ban Se-yeong reassessed Kang-hoo.


    The situation had already been resolved, and her curiosity about him piqued.


    She considered herself well-informed about hunters, yet she knew nothing of Kang-hoo.


    From his wless stealth to stylish skills like Blood Flower, he was an assassin.


    An assassin with such versatile abilities should have been renowned.


    Jung Sun-kyus name and face were too unfamiliar to her.


    Yet, for someone newly emerged, the depth and refinement of his skills seemed too advanced.


    He was a manufactured skilled person, not a lucky one who had merely stumbled upon his abilities.


    Perhaps that was why.


    Gulp.


    She found herself swallowing dryly as she observed him.