Chapter 166
[ The Gate has been conquered. ]
[ The MVP of the Gate conquest is ‘Ahn Suho’. ]
[ Additional experience points are provided for MVP selection. ]
[ One bonus stat point is provided for MVP selection. ]
[ Level up. ]
[ All stats increased by 1. ]
[ You have gained 1 bonus stat point. ]
System notifications poured down.
But this time, they poured down in greater numbers than usual.
[ All stat grades have been upgraded to Orange grade. ]
[ As a privilege, the Unity Effect has been granted. ]
[ All remaining bonus stat points will be used to unify the values of all color stats. ]
[ Stat information has been updated. ]
It was done.
Seeing the notifications, Suho clenched his fist.
Finally, he could enjoy the privilege of the Unity Effect.
Suho immediately checked his updated status window.
[ Ahn Suho ]
– Lv : 113
– Class : Crusader
– Traits : <New Blood> <Heracles Candidate>
– Strength (O) : 24
– Stamina (O) : 24
– Magic (O) : 24
– Perception (O) : 24
– Bonus Stats : 0
At last, he had acquired all four Orange stats.
Suho smiled.
He was certain that at just level 113, no one else in the world had managed to obtain four Orange stats.
‘At this pace, I’ll surpass my past life’s record soon enough.’
It was right after confirming his status window.
“The Evil God has fallen!”
“The hero has defeated the Evil God!”
“Hurrah!”
“Hurrah!”
Cheers echoed from somewhere.
It was the sailors.
They had been watching anxiously the entire time as Suho fought against the God of the Enraged Sea.
And the moment Suho vanquished the Sea God, they began to cheer triumphantly.
Soon after, the quest results started to tally.
[ Calculating the remaining durability of the Barrier. ]
[ Calculating the number of mages remaining on the ship. ]
[ Calculating the number of sailors remaining on the ship. ]
[ Calculation completed. ]
[ Maximum score achieved! ]
[ As a reward for achieving the maximum score, you are granted 5 bonus stat points. ]
[ Level up. ]
[ All stats increased by 1. ]
[ You have gained 1 bonus stat point. ]
More notifications flooded in.
In this quest, Suho had managed to achieve the maximum score in all three categories.
It was a natural outcome.
After all, he had fought right up close to the boss monster to protect the barrier, mages, and sailors.
Suho invested all the bonus stat points he gained into Strength, then completed updating his status window.
‘Now, shall I retrieve that?’
He wasn’t interested in receiving thanks from the natives.
They were beings who would vanish the moment the Gate was conquered, anyway.
Thus, Suho raised his Blood Sword toward the Sea God, who was half-submerged on the water’s surface.
Thrust!
Suho began slicing his way into the creature’s insides.
And before long, he finally obtained what he had sought.
‘Found it!’
A massive object, the size of Suho’s own head.
It was none other than the creature’s ‘ink sac.’
‘I’ve finally gotten my hands on this.’
An ink sac from a 1-star boss monster.
While this was classified as a material item, it typically had low inherent value.
After all, there weren’t many people interested in a monster’s ink sac.
But.
‘That guy will go wild for this.’
That was why he needed it.
Only that guy was capable of introducing him to a pure giant at this point in time.
After collecting the boss monster’s magic stone and other items, Suho finally exited the Gate.
*
“Oh, oh!”
“No way?!”
In front of the camera screen.
When the Gate completion line appeared, everyone started making a fuss.
The deputy, particularly excited, asked Jung Ho-yeon.
“Director! It seems the Gate has been conquered!”
“Calm down. I’m watching too.”
“What should we do now? Shouldn’t we open the barrier and clear out the barnacles right away?”
The deputy’s question made Jung Ho-yeon pause.
He wondered if he should really do that.
But soon enough, he found he didn’t need to worry.
“Seems like that won’t be necessary.”
“Excuse me? What do you mean by that…?”
“Look over there.”
Jung Ho-yeon motioned with his chin.
There, outside the portal, was Suho effortlessly cutting down the dark barnacles in one fell swoop.
‘Annoying or not, I’ll handle what needs handling.’
After finishing the barnacle removal in an instant, Suho gestured in front of the barrier.
Then, the barrier opened immediately, and he was greeted with applause.
“You did an amazing job.”
“You truly accomplished something great.”
The soldiers were deeply moved.
Despite the fact that square duty was considered easy, this particular Gate at the Naval Academy was always tense, as anything could happen at any time.
Yet Suho had tidied up such a troublesome Gate with ease.
Even those damned barnacles, which wouldn’t die no matter how many rounds of gunfire were fired at them.
Suho nodded as he spoke.
“I simply did what needed to be done. Now that the Gate is conquered, I’ll be on my way.”
“Oh, yes! Thank you for your hard work!”
Jung Ho-yeon and the other soldiers saluted Suho with respect.
Suho returned a slight bow and left Wolmido, heading straight to other sealed Gates nearby.
*
[ The Gate has been conquered. ]
[ The MVP of the Gate conquest is ‘Ahn Suho’. ]
[ Additional experience points are provided for MVP selection. ]
…
[ The Gate has been conquered. ]
[ The MVP of the Gate conquest is ‘Ahn Suho’. ]
[ Additional experience points are provided for MVP selection. ]
…
Two.
The number of sealed Gates Suho had cleared in Incheon after the Naval Academy Gate.
During this time, Suho gained three additional levels, and after conquering three sealed Gates in one day, he reported directly to Jung Chul-min.
– Wh-what? Three?!
“Yes, I just finished clearing the third sealed Gate.”
– How in the world… Hey, are you some kind of monster?
“…Isn’t calling your subordinate a monster a bit harsh?”
– No, I didn’t mean it that way… You know that, right?
“Just kidding.”
– Hey, damn it.
“Anyway, I’m planning to take a break from here and visit another area for the next few days if that’s alright?”
Hearing Suho’s request, Jung Chul-min narrowed his eyes.
– So that’s why you cleared three Gates today, huh?
“Yes, exactly.”
– I thought so… Hey, you could at least pretend to hide your intentions. Why are you always so straightforward?
“It’s better than lying, right? I also set an embargo on the second and third Gate conquests just in case, so you can stagger the reports. I’ll send the reports by email.”
– …Thorough bastard. So, why are you going this time?
“It’s confidential.”
– So many secrets. Fine, whatever it is, go ahead.
“Thank you.”
With time secured, Suho ended the call and drove straight to Samcheok.
There was someone he needed to meet in Samcheok.
Suho arrived late at night, heading directly to Samcheok Port without hesitation.
A quiet Samcheok Port.
Once bustling, this area had become deserted due to the aftermath of the Gate Shock.
But the person Suho was looking for was here.
‘I heard he’d be in Korea this year. And specifically at Samcheok Port.’
Unaffected by the darkness, Suho wandered around Samcheok Port for a while.
Before long, he found the person he was searching for.
It wasn’t hard to locate him.
Besides being the only person in the area, his powerful magic was impossible for Suho, with his magic-sensing skill, to miss.
He was sitting in front of the breakwater, leisurely fishing.
The sight was rather amusing.
In the pitch darkness, he sat with nothing but a fishing chair and rod, without even a lamp.
Suho approached with a chair he had prepared in advance, sitting beside him and asked.
“Mind if I sit here?”
“…?”
Suho sat down casually beside him, and the man looked at him with a puzzled expression.
But Suho continued to speak with an easygoing smile.
“Hello. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“…Who are you?”
“I’m Ahn Suho.”
“Ahn Suho?”
When Suho introduced himself, the man squinted, looking him over.
Then he tilted his head and asked.
“That name sounds familiar?”
“It’s a common name. Anyway, you’re Mr. Martin Park, right?”
At that moment, the man’s slightly dull eyes suddenly sharpened.
“Who the hell are you?”
He had purposely chosen a secluded spot here.
But now, a man had shown up out of nowhere, casually seated himself, and even called him by name.
It was only natural to be surprised.
Suho responded to his question with a light chuckle, tossing something from his pocket into the air.
It was luminescent powder.
The powder brightened the area, revealing Martin Park’s appearance, previously hidden in the darkness.
He appeared to be a man in his late thirties, with equally shaggy gray hair and beard, both grown out wildly.
Suho smiled as he spoke.
“Allow me to introduce myself again: I am Ahn Suho, a civil servant from the Korean Hunter Association.”
“Civil servant?”
“Yes. You’re Martin Park,
the Korean-American hunter, known by the alias ‘the Summoner Who Paints,’ correct?”
It was just as Suho had stated.
The man Suho sought was Martin Park, a Korean-American hunter affiliated with the United States.
Martin Park frowned, displeasure evident on his face.
“Why would the Korean government be looking for me?”
It was natural to be wary when a civil servant showed up unannounced.
Of course, he would have been on guard even if Suho wasn’t a civil servant.
Suho responded smoothly with a warm smile.
“Haha, I understand you might be uncomfortable with my sudden appearance. But I’m not here on government business. So, there’s no need to be so wary.”
“Then what is it? And how did you find me?”
“I found you entirely on my own. As for the reason, I wanted to purchase one of your paintings.”
“…What?”
Martin Park furrowed his brow, surprised by the mention of paintings.
It was the last reason he had expected.
Suho continued.
“I’m a big fan of your work. I’ve seen all your pieces and am eagerly anticipating your next release. When I heard that you were in Korea, I came here to Samcheok to meet you.”
Martin Park looked at Suho in disbelief for a moment, then turned his gaze forward again, speaking.
“Ridiculous. If you’re truly my fan, you’d know that I don’t sell my paintings.”
“I do know. But isn’t it simply because nothing has managed to pique your interest?”
“Exactly. I’m a 2-star hunter, so I have plenty of money. But every person interested in my paintings only comes offering money.”
“Then, how about pigments?”
“Pigments?”
“Yes. Isn’t it true that you’re in Korea right now specifically for black pigments?”
Martin Park’s eyes widened.
“…How did you know that?”
“Haha, that’s not important. More importantly, could you take a look at this first?”
As he spoke, Suho pulled something out.
It was none other than the ink sac he had harvested from the ‘God of the Enraged Sea’ at the Naval Academy Gate.