Ranker's Return

Chapter 775

Hyeonu finished the conversation with Chen Long and moved immediately to Viper. No, he tried to do so if it wasn’t for the whisper that entered his ear.

-From Gang Junggu: Hyeonu, are you busy?

It was from Gang Junggu.

‘Why did I get a call from this Hyung-nim out of the blue?’

Hyeonu received Gang Junggu’s whisper and was momentarily flustered. He had not contacted Gang Junggu recently, nor was there any reason to contact him. It was likely that something had happened if Gang Junggu contacted him.

‘It is somehow unsettling...’

-To Gang Junggu: I’m not busy, Hyung-nim. Did something happen?

Hyeonu tried to ease his anxiety and answered Gang Junggu’s whisper.

-From Gang Junggu: Isn’t it something that happened with you, not me? The emperor has given me a quest to find you. Imperial contributions are given as a reward.

Gang Junggu’s words were shocking in itself. It was the moment when the anxiety that Hyeonu felt actually approached.

‘He is looking for me? Why?’

Hyeonu momentarily panicked. It was because he didn’t know why the emperor was looking for him to even give a quest. Even if he knew, it would be impossible not to be flustered.

‘Did I cause any trouble? I didn’t break any promises? Was I asked to do something?’

Hyeonu immediately searched through his memories. A split second felt like an eternity, but he couldn’t think of anything.

-To Gang Junggu: Me? What did I do? For now, I’ll go straight to Yusma. Let’s meet and talk, Hyung-nim.

Hyeonu set the destination.

Viper was left behind. The place he was going now was the capital, Yusma.

***

“What the hell is going on?”

Hyeonu sighed deeply as he walked through the imperial palace.

“You can't ask me. That is something I should be asking. What did you do, Hyeonu?”

Gang Junggu was just as curious as Hyeonu about why this quest was created. Of course, it wasn’t as serious as Hyeonu. Gang Junggu simply took Hyeonu to the emperor.

“I also don’t know, Hyung-nim. I’ve been really busy wandering around. You know that.”

Hyeonu stopped walking and turned around.

“I know. You are busy.”

Gang Junggu nodded like he understood Hyeonu. Quite a few rankers knew from the beginning that Hyeonu was wandering around with the Pioneer Guild in search of the elves. There were quite a few people who saw Hyeonu in the southern part of the continent. After that, he even revealed it directly through streaming.

“Maybe he just wants to see you? Is there no possibility of that?”

Hyeonu’s face distorted and he shook his head like he heard something he shouldn’t have heard. It was crazy.

“Don’t say such a terrible thing. I have goosebumps.”

Hyeonu quickly walked toward the emperor’s palace again.

Gang Junggu hurriedly followed behind Hyeonu, but his tongue didn’t stop moving. “Is that so? I’m just saying it because the kids of other guilds whine at the nobles every day. They complain that the emperor is too partial toward you. It is ridiculous.”

“What favoritism? They can’t meet the emperor because they don’t have the ability. Leave it alone. They will be like that for the rest of their lives.”

Hyeonu smiled slightly at Gang Junggu’s words. No one stopped Hyeonu as he headed to the emperor’s palace where the emperor was located. It was the same in the emperor’s palace. Everyone bowed their heads.

It happened when there was exactly one door left between the emperor and Hyeonu...

Hyeonu stopped to let the emperor know he had come. However, the door was automatically opened as if the emperor knew it from the beginning.

“Your Majesty, I hurriedly ran back when I heard you were looking for me,” Hyeonu opened his mouth as he walked toward the throne where the emperor was sitting.

“You can go now. I’ll remember what happened today.”

The emperor’s gaze focused on Gang Junggu, who was far behind Hyeonu.

“I understand, Your Majesty.”

Gang Junggu smiled slightly and hurried out of the great hall. Hyeonu wanted to grab the disappearing Gang Junggu, but he couldn’t because the emperor’s gaze was directed at him.

“Marquis, do you know why I called you?”

From the beginning, the emperor made a deadly move.

Guess why I’m doing this?

It was a magical sentence. It was most often used in a relationship with the opposite sex or a parent-child relationship and it was a very scary technique. There were no clear facts, so it had the very good effect of instilling psychological anxiety in the opponent.

“I don't know, Your Majesty. Is there anything you want me to do?” Hyeonu replied with a face like he didn’t know anything.

It was also sincere. Even at this moment when he was facing the emperor, he didn’t know why the emperor was looking for him.

“The thing I have to say... I heard an interesting story. Would you like to hear it?”

The emperor’s eye curved in a smile.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Hyeonu saw the emperor’s appearance and gulped.

“On the East Continent... a city for different species is being built, yes. There is a rumor that the number of these different species is in the thousands. How is it? Isn’t it interesting?”

Only one corner of the emperor’s mouth curved up, but the emperor’s gaze was really stinging. Hyeonu felt like his skin had been stung by a bee.

‘How did he know? It has been less than a few hours since I met the old emperor.’

Hyeonu had goosebumps all over his body. It wasn’t something that the emperor shouldn’t know, but it wasn’t something he should know so quickly. How did the emperor in the imperial palace of the West Continent know what happened in the East Continent?

‘How the hell did he know?’

Hyeonu’s face showed complicated emotions.

“Are you curious? How do I know?”

The emperor’s smile deepened. Hyeonu didn’t say anything. He just looked at the emperor with a slightly stunned expression.

“I guess you’re not curious about it. However, I still have a question, Marquis. Why did you hand over the different species to another empire?” the emperor asked another question.

This time, it was a question that could never be ignored.

‘What should I say?’

There was no other reason. The man in front of him was the problem. However, he didn’t have the confidence to say that and he wasn’t bold enough.

Hyeonu was feeling troubled when the words Gang Junggu just told him came to mind.

‘He said the other guilds were jealous.’

“First of all, the expression ‘handed over’ doesn’t seem to fit. I just obtained a piece of land to provide them with a place to live.”

Hyeonu first gave an explanation that wasn’t an explanation.

“The reason why the location is in the East Continent is because... it was for me. This is the only way I’ll be comfortable.”

“Comfortable? Will you feel uncomfortable if the different species come to the West Continent? Why?”

“I heard that the other adventurers and the nobles of the empire are jealous of me. If I bring the different species to my territory in this situation and Your Majesty shows interest in it... it is clear that the intensity will get even worse for me and Your Majesty. It is best to send the different species to a place where their gazes don’t reach.”

Hyeonu finished speaking and licked his dry lips.

“This has even reached your ears...” The smile disappeared from the emperor’s face.

“Your Majesty, did you know that such a thing was happening?”

“How can I not know? All talk that goes around the continent will come back to me. That’s why I called you, isn’t it?”

The emperor paused for a moment.

‘The emperor has eyes and ears in the East Continent.’

Hyeonu couldn’t help being astonished. It was only in the West Continent that he could admit that the emperor’s intelligence network was exceptional. It was natural when thinking about it. There was a saying that even a dog would eat poop if it was in its area.

Meanwhile, the East Continent was definitely someone else’s land. It also hadn’t been long since the two continents started their trade. The emperor took control of the East Continent so deeply in that short period of time.

“Bring the different species to Phinis. You’ve already made a promise, so half is enough. Additionally... don’t give me a chance to misunderstand. One day, it will grab at your ankles. Marquis, you should be more aware of your identity.”

As Hyeonu was shaking, the emperor unilaterally finished speaking and buried his body in the throne.

“I understand, Your Majesty. I will bring the different species to Phinis.”

Hyeonu carefully exited the great hall with these words.

“There isn’t long left...” the emperor spoke softly as he glanced at the entrance where Hyeonu had disappeared.

***

“Hello, everyone. I am Alley Leader.”

Hyeonu turned on the livestream. It was a livestream to clear up the controversy that had been taking place over the past few days.

-Alley Leader, hi.

-I require clarification.

-So where are the elves?

-Sharing good things will double the joy.

The viewers demanded clarification as soon as Hyeonu appeared. They asked him what happened after he separated from the Pioneer Guild.

“I’ll explain. I moved on a personal matter after separating from the Pioneer Guild. Originally, there was an orc that I knew...”

-He knows an orc?

-He is even on good terms with an orc these days?

-At this rate, I’m afraid the dragon he knows will come out.

-Only dragons? He even seems to know demon kings.

The viewers were busy laughing at Hyeonu’s explanation.

An orc he knew—it was something that could never be understood with the common sense of ordinary players.

“Yes, saying this won’t change anything. The orc I know will be coming soon. It is also a face that you know.”

-The orc is coming?

-An orc will appear on the livestream?

-Look at the level of the guests.

-No, where are the elves now that an orc will appear? This is a betrayal. A betrayal.

The viewers were surprised that an orc would appear on the livestream. Then they quickly showed disappointment that it wasn’t the elf they expected. Their disappointment was as great as their expectations to see the elves.

“The elves will naturally come out. When did I say that only orcs will appear? Look forward to it. I would also appreciate it if you could spread the word.”

Hyeonu continued the exquisite push and pull with the viewers. In the meantime, he didn’t forget to take care of the viewers.

-Elves will appear? Call the kids.

-The other livestreams will be scorched earth today. The viewers will be blown away.

-Orcs and elves... no matter whether it is here or there, it snipes at someone’s taste.

-100 million viewers today, let’s go!

The viewers were excited by Hyeonu’s words that even the elves would appear. Finally, they could see moving elves, not just photos. The news spread more quickly than anything else and Hyeonu’s livestream viewers rose sharply.

“The preparations are over. We should leave now.”

A shadow appeared over Hyeonu’s head as he was streaming. It was an orc with muscles filling his entire body.

“I understand, Raccoon. How many are going?”

Hyeonu turned toward Raccoon. Raccoon’s appearance was clearly visible to the viewers.

-That orc... isn’t it that orc?

-The boss monster from Arena Week?

-That crazy orc?

-That’s right. There was a lot of talk that it was a bug... the culprit is here.

-Isn’t he actually scarier in reality? Look at those muscles. It is terrible.

The viewers immediately recognized Raccoon. He had caused them a massive shock just a few weeks ago. The time that passed was too short to forget it.

“Around 10,000? A new city is being built, so there should be that much.”

“Is that so? It is more than I thought... then let’s go. Everyone will be waiting.”

Hyeonu looked surprised when he heard ‘10,000,’ but he soon urged Raccoon. Raccoon led Hyeonu somewhere. Then the viewers couldn’t help exclaiming.

-It isn’t just orcs and elves?

-What is this?

-This is the 10,000?

-Crazy. Suddenly, another game is being played alone.

In the place where Hyeonu arrived with Raccoon, all types of different species were gathered along with their luggage.

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