Matan’s Shooter

TL: xLordFifth

ED: 

“Correct! Like, ‘I’ll tell you, but spill the secrets of the Hwangryong Guild…’ or something?”

“Nope! Well, that’s not it, Leeha-nim! Would Bald Panda-nim, the high-ranking commander of the Hwangryong Guild, really reveal any secrets? Besides, even if there were secrets in the Hwangryong Guild, what could Leeha-nim do with that information?”

“Anyway, eong-ah is an idiot. In situations like this, the appropriate response is ‘Hand over the item!’ right?”

“…That’s also wrong, Kay. Haah… How do I even start explaining this?”

Hyein rubbed his forehead. Leeha and Kijung still couldn’t come up with a suitable response. Eventually, Leeha gave up.

“Oh, I don’t know! What should I say? What’s the best thing to say?”

“First, find something that Leeha-nim needs that the other person has. Let’s figure that out first. Bald Panda-nim’s profession is a martial artist! And an agile one at that. So, what’s likely that he has?”

“Achievements related to agility! Since they can move around on water!”

“…Ah!”

“After earning a couple of achievements related to agility, reveal only 50% of the hints about the underwater breathing secret. Then, when the opponent is hooked, plunder a few more achievements or item information related to agility, and finally unlock the remaining 40% of the hints.”

“Wait, wait! So you only told 90%, right? What about the promise to tell everything?”

Leeha looked horrified at Hyein’s nonchalant expression. However, Hyein continued to amuse himself by startling Leeha with her serene face.

“What are you talking about? Of course, that’s how it is. Originally, in exploiting someone, you take the benefits without fulfilling the obligations! Those guys who take everything without telling anything are everywhere. So, this is already ‘kindly exploiting them.’”

“…Hyein-nim, is that really you? Has someone else transformed into you?”

Leeha stared at him with a bewildered expression, but Kijung realized something.

“Come to think of it, when Hyein-hyung was the guild master…”

“Shh. Kay, don’t say anything more than that.” 

How was Byulcho able to establish itself swiftly, despite having little to no reputation? It was because the leader at that time was Hyein.

Now Kijung’s affable and friendly leadership worked, but if he had been the guild master from the beginning, Byulcho might not have gained the same influence it had now. Different situations call for different forms of leadership, and the gentle and approachable leadership of Kijung suited Byulcho’s current state.

“Character! Anyway, Leeha-nim, this is your chance. Today, you can vent your anger, or with this method, users will either leave on their own or start offering all sorts of tributes to you! Today is a special training day for exploiting others!”

Clapping her hands, Hyein even brought out a piece of paper, and the users around couldn’t help but shake their heads as they watched.

A gentle and kind appearance? Thanks to users who judged Hyein based on her outward appearance, Byulcho was able to build a foundation similar to what they had now.

“Ugh, why do I have to learn all this!”

“Kikik, because it’s not boring when you’re with Leeha-ssi.”

Looking at Leeha like that, Biyemi chuckled.

In this historic moment of completely leaving the Dragon Palace’s waters and continuing the longest navigation in the history of Middle Earth, the protagonists were discussing such things.

With no issues in the navigation for 16 days since completely leaving the Dragon Palace’s waters, the users’ health had fully recovered. If we consider the departure from Kraven’s Port as a reference point, it was the 99th day. In other words, it had been 16 days since Leeha received “special training” from Hyein.

“Leeha-nim! Leeha-nim!”

“Ehehe, no, no. How can I fish like this? Besides, it’s all wet now. If you want to store it a bit more, you should salt it.”

“But, but— What else can the heroic Pyro, the fire mage, do?”

“I don’t know, that’s Pyro’s job to figure out. Anyway, disqualified!”

“Uwoooh! Then, let’s settle it with quantity! Is that acceptable?!”

As Leeha firmly shook his head, Pyro excitedly rushed to the deck.

There, a ‘Bald Panda’ and Taoist Mu were sitting side by side on the deck, holding fishing rods.

“Pyro-nim? Just catch it with fishing. Leeha-nim won’t accept it if you catch it with skills.”

“It’s too noisy! How can a man catch something with a fishing rod?! Hng, I’ll settle it with one skill! I just need to adjust the mana a little!”

Mana particles, glowing faintly, quickly gathered around Pyro. Both the Taoist Mu and Bald Panda raised their heads simultaneously.

“Sometimes, there are comrades who go through such hardships. Just let them be.”

“Ohoho, passionate, so passionate.”

Bald Panda commented poetically in Chinese, appreciating Pyro’s actions. However, despite their calm and confident demeanor, what they were doing wasn’t much different from Pyro. It was just a difference in methods, using a fishing rod.

Finally, after finishing the casting, Pyro used his skill towards the sea.

“[Exploding Fire ]!”

BOOOOOOOM—

There was nothing emitted from his hand. However, an enormous water column, about 10 meters in diameter, surged up in the direction Pyro pointed. It was a tremendous burst of seawater, so powerful that one might think it would create a hole in the sea.

Divine Message: Triggering Nezha’s skill that seems like an exploding flame at the designated point!

Just as expected, the force was comparable to the explosion of flames. The sea had a temporary hole due to the explosive power.

“Uwaaaah!”

“What, what do we do if he uses a skill like this?”

After a while, the gushing water column poured down like a waterfall on the New Serpent ship.

Bald Panda and Taoist Mu, who had been holding fishing rods, frowned as they shouted at the pouring seawater.

“Euhaha-hat! That’s it! This is what a man’s fishing is all about!”

“What in the—”

“… It’s for sure not normal.”

Pyro paid no attention to their words and wandered around the deck, picking up things that had fallen not only in the seawater but also on the New Serpent ship.

Matching the enormous quantity of water poured like it was poured from a bucket, there were quite a few fish and shellfish inside! Moreover, it seemed like they were cooked like salted steamed fish, thanks to the combination of seawater’s salinity and heat.

“Leeha-nim, please take a look! How about this level? This time, it wasn’t directly hit by the skill and remained uncooked!”

Leeha couldn’t hide his bewilderment as he looked at the fish Pyro had put in a wooden barrel.

‘Isn’t this almost like a momentary nuke? Although it seems extremely reckless, his mana control is perfect. If he used this skill with full mana…’

It was undoubtedly a skill worthy of an expedition leader, but Leela didn’t express admiration or praise.

“Well, it’s a shame, but… okay. Then, Pyro-nim, I’ll give you 3 points.”

“Great-eh!”

Pyro threw an uppercut in the air, celebrating joyfully.

Other users who were scattered around the deck, holding fishing rods like Bald Pand and the Taoist Mu, had already tasted enough.

And watching them, Kijung felt a sense of absurdity.

“… To think that’s exploiting, it’s not particularly amazing in any meaningful sense.”

“Being able to manipulate other expedition members as you wish… After all the education, the only thing they’re doing is ‘getting food’…”

Hyein, who was their exploitation instructor, was equally disappointed.

This marked the 83rd day since leaving the Dragon Palace’s waters, and from the 84th day, Leeha started the ‘exploitation.’ It was precisely this: providing information to the one who obtained the most food until arriving at the new continent.

“Ah, what can I say… He completely misunderstood the concept of exploiting.’”

“The idea of competition among users to increase the value of information was good.”

“It’s funny to see someone unstoppable. Hehe. Can’t stop someone like him.”

Bobae and Biyemi also tilted their heads.

However, from the perspective of Fernand and other NPCs responsible for the sailing schedule, Leeha’s actions were beyond appreciated.

It was from that point onward, where the food supply was almost desperate until arriving at the new continent, that the quantity of food began to increase exponentially due to Leeha’s actions.

During the peaceful sailing where seawater was not coming out, the only way to increase the food supply was fishing. Everyone competing like this was a way to obtain more food.

Some people watched this scene with a smile.

” ‘I will inform the person who obtains the most food about the achievement of underwater breathing’… How do you view this situation, Luger?”

“Everyone is just playing around with that bastard. Leeha is not someone who gives what he has. They’re all being deceived.”

“That’s a precise observation. Behind that innocent smile-“

Kid and Luger, the trio who knew what Kijung, Hyein, Biyemi, and others didn’t realize.

“-is the full intention to exploit others for their own gain, and no one knows.”

“Since the deceived one is an idiot, there’s nothing we can do. I want to see how frustrated everyone will be when they find out the truth.”

“I agree.”

Kid and Luger simultaneously chuckled.

They didn’t know exactly, but at least in the concept of understanding Leeha, the trio stood out significantly compared to other users.

The ‘achievement allowing underwater breathing’ refers to being recognized by the Son of the Sea God. It is an achievement that only a user sincerely acknowledged by Drake, the Supreme Commander of Kraven, can receive.

If it was before the exploration of the new continent? With the information received by Leeha, they could have used various methods to increase intimacy with Drake in the Kraven Kingdom.

But now?

“Anyway, it’s not a lie. I’ll tell you what I know, but the only thing is there’s no way to earn recognition from Drake.”

They can’t go to meet Drake! Even if Leeha informed them that Drae was in the Dragon’s Palace, they would be in a situation that required the underwater breathing achievement to go straight to that palace!

Even if Leeha told them the truth, it would become completely useless information. Unaware that their scheme(?) had been exposed by Kidd and Luger, Leeha ruled over users like the captain of the New Serpent ship.

Leeha felt a slight twinge of conscience, but in any case, they were definitely putting what they had learned to use. This was nothing short of true exploitation in its essence.

Kidd and Luger looked confidently at Leeha, sitting upright, then simultaneously looked away. The waves were calm, and the sky was clear.

“Well, anyway… thanks to Leeha, we can enjoy the remaining boat ride, for what it’s worth.”

“The seawater is so scarce, it’s driving me crazy.”

The journey towards the New Continent was already nearing its end.

Departing from the eastern end of the Old Continent and arriving at the western end of the New Continent had been calculated by Fernang to be around 120 days. This was a fact already confirmed by combining information from the mermaids, such as the ‘Center of the Sea.’

Now on the 99th day, in about 21 days, they would reach the New Continent. So, the remaining period was akin to a ‘boat ride,’ as Kidd put it.

“I actually think it worked out well.”

“Why?”

In response to Luger’s question, Kidd pointed to the gun belt wrapped around his waist.

Unlike Luger’s [Penetration] or Leeha’s [Accuracy], Kidd’s [Quickdraw] was all about quantity rather than quality.

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