abcnovels
Chapter 206
Chapter 206
Chapter 206
The Mount Hua Sect hunters’ way of thinking was a bit twisted. After all, they were active in China before defecting to the United States and becoming a criminal organization. If anything, it was more appropriate to call them the Mount Hua Bandits. However, Choi Yeonseung had to show them the right path. They were his believers after all!
“It would be too harsh to do that.”
“Uh… The elves tried to trick us into becoming their long-term pawns. Don’t they deserve it?”
‘I guess they have a point.’
This was definitely the case.
“That is true, but we also need to think about the future. The Abyss is infinitely large and new races will pop up everywhere in the future. If we gain a bad reputation here, we’ll have a hard time dealing with them.”
Just as humans on Earth were quickly adapting to the Abyss, the races of the Abyss would also adapt to humans. They had only been in the Abyss for a short period of time, and those like Grenno were under the illusion that there were only around a thousand humans on Earth. However, after a bit of time, that illusion would disappear.
“In addition, we can still make a profit without making them leave the village and steal everything they’ve got.”
There was a reason why so many nations and companies wanted to meet and befriend the Abyssal races. By doing so, they could explore parts of the Abyss that were unknown to them, and also gain new skills and items. Right now, the elves had items that only they could make. Even if the item itself was insignificant, the fact that it was made in the Abyss would increase its value on Earth by quite a lot.
“Indeed...!”
“Then it would be beneficial to keep the others away and have the elves only trade with you.”
“That’s right. Are you getting it now?”
“Yes! Then after we get to know the elves a bit more, we should select those that could be of use to us.”
“Oh. Why is that?”
“Don’t we need some of them to go to other races to tell them how great you are and how you always keep your promises? To start off, we should sort out the elves’ personal information and rate their loyalty according to their actions. Then we find those who can be useful...”
“Can you please erase the stuff that happened in China from your head?”
***
Pan Wugang came to his senses and was perplexed by the reports from the Chinese hunters.
“We tried our best but to no avail. The situation was so difficult...”
“Wasn’t it still a success since there were no victims?”
“......”
Pan Wugang wanted to yell ‘you incompetent bastards,’ but he couldn’t do so.
Thinking about it now, Pan Wugang was the first to faint, so he was even more responsible for the failure. It was also a miracle that he survived. There were many people who got injured, but to survive after fainting on the battlefield…
“As expected, it was a good thing that I brought Choi Yeonseung with us.”
It was unpleasant to be called out for his failure, but Pan Wugang just said this for now. It was him who brought Choi Yeonseung, who was in the Abyss, to work with them. Wasn’t the whole operation his achievement?
“That’s right. As expected from Pan Wugang!”
“It would’ve been difficult in so many ways if it hadn’t been for Pan Wugang’s sound judgment.”
The hunters exchanged looks as they said so.
‘Let’s betray Pan Wugang if we get scolded later.’
‘Let’s do that.’
If they wanted to survive as hunters in China, they couldn’t rely solely on brute force for much longer.
Political power! They had to be cunning if they wanted to survive the Party’s political battles!
Take a look at Li Yuyuan, who was once the representative of the Mount Hua Sect, the only martial artist and an A-grade hunter. Wasn’t he caught by the government because he expressed his opinion? After the ranking manipulation incident happened, he was no longer supported and his clan was obliterated.
In that regard, the Shaolin Temple hunters were just as successful in political battles as they were in their careers. They were the kind of people to sell anyone and anything, including Pan Wugang, if that meant being safe.
...Pan Wugang was also well aware of that.
‘Something’s off with these bastards.’
They were rolling their eyes in a very suspicious way.
Pan Wugang was deceived and made a fool by the elves because of their beautiful appearance and because he lacked information regarding them. However, he had a lot of experience in dealing with Chinese hunters.
Something wasn’t right!
“I understand. Everyone get some rest.”
Pan Wugang sent the Shaolin Temple hunters back and checked the recorder he always carried with him and the eavesdropping device that he had attached to the hunters. He was shocked by what he discovered.
“This... you despicable bastards...!”
***
Choi Yeonseung completed his contract with Grenno while the Chinese hunters were distracted with other things.
“Grenno. If you don’t honor this contract just because we’re humans, I’ll make you regret it.”
“Of... Of course.”
Grenno lowered his head in embarrassment. He was actually thinking about whether it was really necessary to honor the contract with the humans. However, Choi Yeonseung’s eyes were sharp enough to dispel such thoughts.
“Should we poke him in a few places so he doesn’t forget?”
“Forget it. If he had multiple necks then I would give it a try. Besides, we have to send some people.”
The staff members were to go and check the village where Grenno and the elves lived. They had to see what was valuable and what was useful.
“B-By the way... Wouldn’t the Chinese hunters over there be angry if they found out?” Iris asked hesitantly.
Choi Yeonseung nodded. It was a natural question to ask.
“It’s okay. They won’t die even if they get angry”
“...???”
Iris cocked her head at the strange answer.
However, Choi Yeonseung was being serious. China was always dissatisfied no matter what a person did. They were dissatisfied if he killed a monster that came over, dissatisfied if he didn’t kill it, dissatisfied if he went to kill a monster, dissatisfied if he didn’t go to kill it… Therefore, as long as he did his job, he couldn’t care less about some complaints from China.
‘What can they do?’
China couldn’t do anything against Choi Yeonseung. They could threaten to kick out all Dragon Industry factories, if they did that, the Chinese workers would be the only ones to suffer.
“Wait! Wait!”
“...!”
The Mount Hua Sect hunters were surprised when the Chinese hunters suddenly came running.
“Did we get caught?”
“No… There’s no way they could know about the deal with the elves. We were here, watching.”
“Does this bastard have a microphone on him? Search him!”
The Mount Hua Sect hunters were furious and tried to tear off Grenno’s clothes. Grenno cried and insisted this wasn’t the case.
“Hunter Choi Yeonseung! Please help me for a moment!”
“...What??”
***
Pan Wugang was formidable. He sent a report saying that the raid failed because his subordinates were absolute garbage.
When it came to this matter, Shaolin Temple hunters weren’t about to go down without a fight. The moment they heard that Pan Wugang had sent it to the executive he had bribed, they immediately sent a report that stated the opposite. It was a fierce political battle between Pan Wugang and the other Shaolin Temple hunters. The executive who was contacted was bound to be embarrassed after he read both reports.
-What’s the meaning of this? Proud Chinese hunters placing the blame on each other!
-Please trust me! The Shaolin Temple hunters are going crazy and pushing the blame on me.
-No! It’s Hunter Pan Wugang’s fault. We almost died because of his incompetence. Who would’ve thought that Hunter Choi Yeonseung, a foreign hunter, would try to save our lives?
-Could it be that the information given by the elves was fake to begin with?
-I asked the elves and they didn’t mean to deceive us.
-Elves aren’t the type to do that.
-Umm. Okay. Call Choi Yeonseung.
-Huh?
-Huh??
-What do you mean by ‘huh’? Since you’re saying different things, I should ask the person that can see things most objectively. He probably hasn’t gone far yet. Be sure to get him quickly!
The hunters’ jaws dropped at the unexpected response. Now that this happened, one of them was bound to fall.
“Hunter Choi Yeonseung! Hunter Choi Yeonseung!”
“Did you know that I have always admired you? I started martial arts because of you.”
“You couldn’t have known my name before I came to Earth. What nonsense are you saying so confidently?”
“......”
Of course, Choi Yeonseung wasn’t the kind of person to fall for flattery. He immediately called them aside one by one and assessed the situation.
“So, the higher-ups want to listen to your testimony and learn the whole story!”
“That’s right, Hunter Choi Yeonseung! You would do it for justice and for the greater good!”
-These humans seem a bit crazy.
It was such an absurd fight that even the goddess of sloth was surprised.
A battle full of wounds!
‘Aren’t all of them in the wrong?’
It seemed that Choi Yeonseung and the Mount Hua Sect had an advantage over both sides without doing anything in particular...
Pan Wugang lowered his voice.“Hunter Choi Yeonseung. If you help me this time, I promise I will repay you. I have connections with the Party Central Committee.”
China was a big country, so there were many organizations and people. All the hunters basically belonged to the Party Central Hunter Committee, a powerful organization that could mobilize the military. Above them was the Party Central Committee, a core organization of the Communist Party...
Choi Yeonseung was getting bored listening to them.
“Aren’t your connections quite impressive?”
“That’s true, but why are you saying it like tha…”
“Hmm.”
Choi Yeonseung corrected his posture and looked like he was going to listen. Pan Wugang rejoiced at that.
“How far have you investigated?”
“...Huh?”
“Aren’t you going to repay me?”
“......”
***
“In my view, neither of them are at fault. They were both trying to work hard.”
-Indeed...
There were few people who wouldn’t listen when an A-grade hunter assessed the situation.
At Choi Yeonseung’s words, the Chinese official looked impressed.
-Hunter Choi Yeonseung. I’ve always wanted to meet you, but seeing you like this, you are much more amazing than I expected. If you have any thoughts, please come to China. I will treat you with great hospitality.
“I will consider the offer carefully.”
‘Am I crazy?’
Choi Yeonseung was disgusted with himself. He didn’t deny the offer right away because he couldn’t spit a smiling face, but...
There were so many deeply rooted memories.
-Successor, aren’t you capable of leaving any country?
-That is true.
Come to think of it, it was difficult for China to act against Choi Yeonseung, an A-grade hunter. The moment they did this, various countries would immediately put pressure on them, starting from the United States...
In the end, one could abuse their power only against the weak.
-How were the hunters of the Shaolin Temple? Of course, they’re not as good as you, but they have pretty great martial arts, right? They are the proud members of our party.
“......”
Choi Yeonseung had a peculiar and subtle expression on his face. To be honest, the hunters of Shaolin Temple weren’t very good at martial arts. It was an advantage to use magic and martial arts together, but when it came to martial arts alone, they weren’t good enough. However, if he actually said that, the hunters of Shaolin Temple would be dragged away by the police, wouldn’t they?
“They were outstanding.”
-Indeed!
Choi Yeonseung ended his conversation with the official whose name he couldn’t remember.
“I did as I promised. Now it is your turn to keep your promise, right?”
“......”
“......”
The Chinese hunters really didn’t want to keep it, but they nodded because they knew very well that they would get their asses kicked if they didn’t. Pan Wugang and the hunters of the Shaolin Temple had said to Choi Yeonseung, ‘If you do me this favor then I will do anything!’...
Choi Yeonseung had replied, ‘Okay, I’ll do you both a favor if you both listen to me!’
Of course, it was ridiculous from the perspective of the Chinese hunters, but it was impossible to argue right now.
‘Choi Yeonseung won’t make us do anything weird, right?’