The Genius Assassin Who Takes it All

Kang-hoo nodded.

Seeing the recognition on his face, he saw no reason to deny it when Jeon Se-hyeok asked with such certainty.

It wasn’t strange that Jeon Se-hyeok knew about him.

He harbored a deep grudge against Eclipse and had special means of obtaining internal information.

Perhaps this involved an internal traitor or hacking into the information network.

This also indicated that he could access Kang-hoo’s database from within Cheongmyeong Detention Center.

Furthermore, it implied that he was aware of the recent death of Cha So-hee at Kang-hoo’s hands.

“Jeon Se-hyeok’s life won’t be long either.”

Aware of his fate, Kang-hoo sensed a dark shadow looming over Jeon Se-hyeok’s back.

Even though he had made a name for himself by killing many criminals, he would ultimately die at the hands of Kang Dong-hyun.

His error was challenging Kang Dong-hyun too soon.

Kang Dong-hyun was no easy foe.

To prevent his death, Kang-hoo would need to stop the impending fight with Kang Dong-hyun, but…

Kang-hoo was skeptical about intervening to such an extent, unlike actively preventing a ‘death ending’ like Lee Hyun-seok had done.

“I remembered your face because it was quite memorable. It’s interesting how fate has brought us together.”

Jeon Se-hyeok, smiling genuinely, seemed quite amiable.

That made sense.

He despised Eclipse, and Kang-hoo had become an enemy to Eclipse by dealing with Cha So-hee.

They seemed to share an understanding, as both were inevitably targeted by Eclipse.

“What’s your name?”

I asked, feigning ignorance.

Explaining how I knew him would have been more complicated than simply acting unaware.

“I’m Jeon Se-hyeok.”

“Oh, the Silent Judge.”

“That’s what they call me, but I never asked to be called that. Haha.”

Jeon Se-hyeok pulled something white from his pocket.

Expecting him to light a cigarette, I was surprised when he took out a candy stick instead.

Seeing him, usually drenched in blood, eating candy was somewhat disconcerting.

“Are you heading in this direction because you’re going to an open dungeon? The Lateus Dungeon?”

“That’s right.”

“I’m also on my way there. How about we go together? I was feeling a bit lonely.”

“Sure, I don’t mind.”

An unexpected companion had emerged.

Both Kang-hoo and he appeared to be traveling alone.

He might have been going there for a request or perhaps to mine Zayoseok.

It was hard to guess the purpose of someone visiting a large open dungeon due to its diverse nature.

For the first five minutes, we walked in silence.

Feeling uncomfortable with the ongoing silence, Jeon Se-hyeok was the first to speak.

“I never imagined Cha So-hee would die. She was someone I missed twice.”

“I was just lucky.”

“Capturing luck is also a skill.”

“You seem to know quite a lot about Eclipse’s internal information. That’s supposed to be confidential.”

Kang-hoo narrowed his eyes.

The death of Cha So-hee was a mishap that Kang Dong-hyun himself had quickly resolved to the extent that it could be classified as top secret.

Jeon Se-hyeok knew these details precisely, implying he had deep connections to information sources related to Kang Dong-hyun or his affiliates.

Moreover, he even knows my face, doesn’t he? This means he could also access internal information.

“A group of criminals without a single traitor would be too much like fiction, wouldn’t it?”

Jeon Se-hyeok laughed.

Although he looked at least ten years older than Kang-hoo, he spoke with utmost respect. It seemed basic courtesy was ingrained in him.

“I was quite surprised.”

“I want to commend your heroic act of eliminating Cha So-hee. You caught the most troublesome hound.”

“They’ll just raise new hounds anyway. They already have several active ones.”

“Since Cha So-hee used to handle the dirty work, Kang Dong-hyun must be quite upset about her loss.”

“Is that confirmed information?”

“The fact that they haven’t made Cha So-hee’s death public already confirms it.”

Jeon Se-hyeok’s recognition, who was nearing level 400, set his heart aflutter.

Yet, it also made him reassess Jeon Se-hyeok’s worth.

He understood there was no need for deliberate protection or excessive involvement.

Jeon Se-hyeok could be a strategic asset against Eclipse, just as the Warlord Group The Abyss was against the Jeonghwa Guild.

If Jeon Se-hyeok, the Silent Judge, stood against Eclipse, they would hold each other in check.

“I can’t prevent him from clashing with Kang Dong-hyun. Better to forge connections then.”

His thoughts took a new direction.

Now connected with Jeon Se-hyeok, he planned to deepen their association.

Avoiding rash confrontations with Kang Dong-hyun could alter his destiny.

Jeon Se-hyeok went on.

“If things continue this way, Eclipse will only grow more toxic domestically. They’re vermin.”

“I concur.”

“Not one of them deserves mercy. If you’re tied to Eclipse, you ought to live in fear of becoming a headless spirit.”

Jeon Se-hyeok’s clenched teeth betrayed his simmering rage, a profound hatred etched in his gaze and demeanor.

Kang-hoo inquired.

“Why are you heading to the Lateus Dungeon?”

“Just for a warm-up. I figured I’d stretch out a bit before going after those Eclipse thugs again.”

He was on the hunt.

The Lateus Dungeon catered to both level 50 and level 350 adventurers.

Monsters of varying levels and types were scattered throughout, allowing for selective hunting.

“That does sound enjoyable.”

“The allure of an open-type dungeon. It might be crowded at the entrance, want me to clear a path?”

“No, that’s alright. I prefer not to depend on others unless it’s necessary.”

Following Jeon Se-hyeok’s offer, Kang-hoo gazed at the entrance of the Lateus Dungeon, now coming into view.

As anticipated, bands of hunter mercenaries were congesting the entrance.

Although an open-type dungeon should be accessible to everyone, such common sense did not apply here.

The logic of power easily overturned any sense of order and rationality.

“Then let’s go in first.”

“As you wish.”

Jeon Se-hyeok took the lead.

As he approached the dungeon, the mercenaries parted like the Red Sea at Moses’s command.

“Oh! Did our big brother arrive? Please go in. You’ve had it tough!”

“Not taking an entrance fee?”

“Haha! How could we charge our big brother? Please, go right ahead!”

Bending at a 90-degree angle, they treated him like a true powerhouse.

Watching the scene unfold, Kang-hoo burst into hollow laughter, drawing hostile stares from a few sharp-eared mercenaries.

Meanwhile, Jeon Se-hyeok entered the dungeon. Kang-hoo also approached the entrance as if it were natural.

The reaction he received was starkly different.

“Here, this is the dungeon of the bosses. Scum like you should eat at the free soup kitchen in front of the dungeon.”

“How about this?”

Kang-hoo showed a bundle of 50,000-won bills he had prepared in advance.

Two hundred notes tightly bound with a rubber band. It was ten million won.

A significant amount, but the mercenary who had provocatively addressed Kang-hoo only frowned more deeply.

“Who are you calling a beggar?”

“Aren’t you one?”

“Get lost. If you’re not acknowledged like brother Se-hyeok, this dungeon isn’t for just anyone.”

“Then try to stop me.”

Kang-hoo immediately targeted the mercenary and initiated lateral movement.

“Huh?”

As Kang-hoo vanished in an instant, the mercenaries were taken aback.

However, a few with sharp senses assumed Kang-hoo had successfully gone into stealth and aimed right at the entrance.

Even if he wasn’t visible.

If they poured attacks in that direction, stealth wouldn’t help him avoid them. It was a kind of blind fire.

But Kang-hoo, having anticipated even such primal responses, laid down a Thunderstorm Array just before entering stealth.

Koo-woong-woong!

“Aaah!”

“Argh! Scatter! Get away from the entrance!”

A sudden storm of electric currents spread in all directions, throwing the mercenaries into chaos.

“Damn it, that was close.”

“Should’ve taken an entrance fee, huh?”

“Who is that guy?”

Mercenaries briefly caught in the range of the Thunderstorm Array cursed as they inspected their tattered clothes.

It was fortunate they moved quickly; otherwise, they would have been shredded.

---

Inside the Lateus Dungeon.

“It’s known for being tricky to get into, but you entered quite easily.”

Peeking out from the entrance, Jeon Se-hyeok gave Kang-hoo a thumbs-up, impressed by his seamless lateral move and subsequent stealth, followed by the Thunderstorm Array.

His foundation is definitely that of an assassin, but his skill composition is quite unique.

The Thunderstorm Array seems to serve as an offensive skill against others but as a buff for himself.

It’s rare for assassins, typically specialized in single strikes, focused attacks, and stealth, to possess such area-of-effect skills.

Such skills are almost non-existent in an assassin’s skill book, making the source of the Thunderstorm Array quite intriguing.

“I tried to pay the entrance fee, but they refused, so I just entered.”

“Considering how Cha So-hee died, your skill combination was impressively clean.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

“If it’s okay with you, how about we meet outside after exploring this dungeon? What do you say?”

From their first meeting, Jeon Se-hyeok was quite proactive towards Kang-hoo, always the first to extend his hand.

He seemed to feel a lot of solidarity, knowing Kang-hoo had killed Cha So-hee.

Or maybe he already felt like they were on the same side, sharing a common enemy.

“I won’t refuse.”

“In 12 hours then. How about that?”

“Sounds good.”

“Then, exactly after 12 hours.”

As the conversation ended, both Kang-hoo and Jeon Se-hyeok checked their watches.

Twelve hours would give them enough time to take care of the necessary tasks inside.

After parting ways with Jeon Se-hyeok, Kang-hoo headed straight for the magnetite mining area in the Lateus Dungeon.

This was his primary reason for coming here, and the task he had been assigned. Visiting the Imbalance Points came secondary.

He first made for the well-known spots.

The closest magnetite mine to the entrance was within easy reach.

Of course, he did not expect the task to be easy. It was likely that forces were already occupying it.

Then—

Bang! Bang!

“Magic bullets?”

The sound of gunshots, a rarity and difficult to wield, reverberated through the air.

It appeared that a marksman skilled in using magic bullets was in the vicinity.

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