Hoarding In Hell [EN]: Chapter 167

167. A New Order (3)

The black shadow writhed beneath Yoomin’s feet, but unable to find an escape, it soon vanished with a soft rustle.

Yoomin, seemingly tickled by the sensation left behind, rubbed her foot against the floor.

“Last time, they couldn’t even get past the traps. Looks like they’re making some progress. Still, this time they seemed pretty determined.”

“Didn’t they say there were attacks when you were out, not just at the mansion?”

Yoomin nodded.

“Like then, it doesn’t seem like they’re targeting me specifically.”

“Then…?”

“It’s probably because of Oppa [older brother or a term of endearment for a close male friend or boyfriend], of course. He’s been holed up for almost 50 days, so wouldn’t some curious person send them?”

Yoomin had come to her own conclusion about the black shadow’s identity after reviewing the recorded CCTV footage, battle traces, and hunter testimonies.

“This blackie… no, that makes me sound like a racist. What should I call them then?”

“How about ‘Culprit’?”

“Ah, that’s a good name. Since they were trying to commit a crime, it’s right to call them that, including whoever’s behind them.”

Song Yeo-un, who had just been imagining a shadowy figure from a detective comic, fell silent.

“‘Culprit’ was probably created using a skill that clones ability users. A skill that perfectly inherits the ability user’s stats. It’s too human-like to just be a skill that summons monsters.”

“Is there such a skill?”

“There are still countless skills that haven’t been revealed, and new skills are being discovered as the difficulty increases.”

Yoomin continued, sounding intrigued.

“I think once the first Culprit is created, they then divide that limited stat to make more clones. If they have 100 ability points, they can create two with 50 each.”

“Hmm, but this one had as many as 10…”

At Song Yeo-un’s words, Yoomin pointed to the CCTV screen and said,

“Those ones probably have very low stats. Maybe only 5 or 6? Look. They’re clumsy and slow to react. They were probably sent as the vanguard to get through the traps. And when they were defeated by the hunters, only this one here clearly had higher stats.”

Song Yeo-un watched the scene where the hunter team missed the last remaining Culprit. This was the one that had entered the ghost mansion.

It definitely moved much faster and more agilely than the other Culprits. And it even split again right before entering.

“Until then, it probably retained a good amount of its stats. But it must have been caught off guard when Song Yeo-un attacked it at the entrance. I think it probably lost at least half of its preserved stats then. The one that came in probably only had about 10 or 15, if we consider the original to be 100.”

Even if a 4-star Limit Breaker sent a clone, 10% would only be level 5.

It was only natural that it would be defeated by the exoskeleton.

After all, the exoskeleton contained Hyun-woo’s combat data.

“Not an opponent to worry about much, then.”

“No. What’s really scary is when the ability user jumps in with the clone. Then there are two ability users with 100 each. Imagine two 4-star Limit Breakers attacking at once.”

Song Yeo-un’s expression hardened.

She was now a 4-star and had even experienced clearing 5-star dungeons, but 4-star Limit Breakers still felt like an insurmountable wall.

“It shouldn’t be too difficult to identify the opponent. It’s unlikely that many people have this skill, and their stats would be quite high… there should be very few candidates, at least domestically, right?”

“Uh… could it be…?”

Song Yeo-un hesitated to speak, wearing a complicated expression.

Considering the agility the Culprit showed until the end, its level was not low. Based on the Culprits’ stats, it was at least a 4-star Limit Breaker.

But there were only four hunters in Korea above 4-star. If you exclude Kang Hyun-woo and Oh Dae-sung, there are only two left.

Lee Ji-tae, the leader of Taesung, and Park Do-ryeong, the leader of Hwanmamama.

But the problem was that neither of them had any reason to antagonize Kang Hyun-woo.

***

“Is the problem all resolved?”

Yoomin knocked before entering the room, and a Middle Eastern woman inside rose from her chair.

Yoomin reassured her with a kind expression.

“Don’t worry, Inspector Amini. It’s just a minor disturbance that happens occasionally. Did it startle you?”

As the conversation switched to English, Song Yeo-un quickly excused herself and disappeared.

It was Shiba Amini, an inspector from the UN Special Oversight Bureau.

When dungeons and ability users began to appear, the UN Special Oversight Bureau was the one that attempted at least minimal efforts to control them worldwide.

With the help of Professor Maria Keller, they controlled ability users and resolved issues, despite the ridicule from other governments.

It was no exaggeration to say that the current system had not collapsed due to ability users thanks to the efforts of Chrome and the UN Special Oversight Bureau.

“Battles between ability users themselves are not surprising. Everyone seems to become a child after gaining skills, trying to play the ‘who’s stronger’ game. That’s why our Oversight Bureau was created…”

“We are always grateful for the efforts of the UN Special Oversight Bureau.”

Amini gave a bitter expression at Yoomin’s words.

Yoomin’s words felt sincere, but Amini couldn’t accept them happily.

She had recently become acutely aware of the capabilities and limitations of her organization.

Especially after missing the emergence of a 5-star ability user in Chrome.

“But I seem to have stayed here too long. I only came to see Kang Hyun-woo.”

“Ah, if it’s burdensome, it’s okay. There are many visitors here anyway, and the house is large.”

“No. I received orders to return soon… I think I have to go back within two days.”

“That’s a shame.”

Yoomin grabbed Amini’s hand and said consolingly.

Amini tried to read Yoomin’s emotions as she looked at her face. But it was a meaningless attempt.

Amini had already noticed several times during her stay here that Yoomin was a surprisingly skilled actress.

Her flexible and goal-oriented thinking and judgment made Amini wonder if Yoomin’s true identity was really a scientist.

“He’s been out of contact for such a long time, so I can’t just keep waiting. Aren’t you worried?”

“I am worried, but it’s something that happens often, this much time away. Besides, there have been so many incidents happening lately for the past 40 days… Well, I think he’ll be back soon.”

“Soon?”

“Well, I think he’ll be back before this evening.”

“Did you hear something?”

Amini wondered if Yoomin knew something.

But Yoomin just smiled brightly and answered.

“No. I just have a feeling. Like… a rope with an anchor attached?”

“An anchor?”

“Yes. When you throw an anchor line from a ship, you can’t know the exact location, but you can guess how deep the anchor has gone and when it will come up. When it touches the bottom, and when you start pulling it up. I think I have something like that connected to Kang Hyun-woo.”

Amini laughed at the innocent sound. She thought they were a sweet couple, unlike the rumors.

But she couldn’t just stay here believing in such unscientific stories. Amini said she would prepare to leave tomorrow and sent Yoomin back.

But that warm feeling disappeared completely soon after.

Hyun-woo rang the doorbell right on time for dinner.

Difficulty: Hell. After being missing for 48 days, Kang Hyun-woo has finally returned.

***

“Inspector Amini, it’s nice to meet you.”

Hyun-woo, who had finished shaving, showering, and disinfecting, greeted Amini as soon as he met her.

Shiba Amini was quite taken aback by Kang Hyun-woo’s sudden appearance.

She had been secretly suspecting that he was hiding to avoid her.

“Nice to meet you too, Mr. Kang Hyun-woo. Uh… I heard you’ve been abroad, your English is fluent.”

“It’s nothing special.”

It really wasn’t anything special.

It was just an ability he picked up.

But there was no need to explain and make things complicated.

Hyun-woo moved to the dinner table with Amini and sat facing her.

“By the way, I heard you were looking for me?”

As Hyun-woo brought up the topic, Amini glanced at Yoomin.

Yoomin was sitting at the table calmly. Hyun-woo’s attitude was that he didn’t mind if information went to Yoomin.

“First of all, I was a little surprised to see Mr. Kang Hyun-woo. You seem quite different from what I imagined.”

“My image?”

“Yes. Maybe it’s because you’ve only been in Korea, but Mr. Kang Hyun-woo is more famous abroad than in Korea. Koreans seem to have some suspicion and underestimation of their own people.”

Amini’s words were not just to praise Hyun-woo.

The first hunter to reveal himself as a 5-star, and his unstoppable actions and mysterious past.

Most of the recent changes in Korea had Hyun-woo’s shadow cast over them.

Recently, the items being released in the Hunter Market were also gradually dominating with shocking quality and prices.

But in Korea, Hyun-woo was strongly seen as just a ‘strong but unusual hunter’.

But Hyun-woo had an expression that was neither particularly unpleasant nor pleasant.

“Well, isn’t that usually the case? People you see occasionally seem more friendly and better than people you see every day.”

“Hmm, maybe that’s true. Certainly, the image of Mr. Kang Hyun-woo that is consumed overseas… is a bit more aggressive and wild. But I didn’t know you were such a gentleman.”

Amini’s expression was somewhat understated.

Although it varied from country to country, some places compared Kang Hyun-woo to a demon or devil.

The images spread from the Head-Cutting Dungeon Flood video and the battle with the Red Serpent on Gangbyeonbuk-ro were particularly like that.

Hyun-woo felt strange.

‘The image I intended seems to be spreading better overseas.’

In Korea, he had an image that was cruel but somewhat quirky, but overseas, it seems that only the cool aspects remain after filtering. Hyun-woo smiled slightly.

“Since I’m working as a hunter, it’s not bad to have a somewhat violent image spread. But you didn’t come here to tell me overseas news, so I’d appreciate it if you could tell me your business soon.”

“Oppa, she wants you to join Chrome.”

It was Yoomin, not Amini, who spoke. It was in Korean.

Amini looked at Yoomin with a bewildered expression. She couldn’t understand what Yoomin said, but she could hear her mentioning ‘Chrome’.

Amini had never told Yoomin her intentions.

She had only said that she came as an inspector to understand the status of 5-star ability users.

“Inspector Amini’s main job is to bring ability users into Chrome. Before coming here, she succeeded in bringing a Russian 5-star ability user into Chrome.”

“Really? Chrome, isn’t that the international ability user group that Lee Ji-tae also joined?”

“I think they’re planning a huge group that can control all ability users.”

“Sounds like a New World Government. Like the Freemasons. Are they going to establish a new order by ability users?”

Amini cleared her throat loudly.

She could tell that they wanted to have a secret conversation, but she was annoyed that they were talking without her.

Especially considering the importance of the story she was about to tell.

Hyun-woo turned his gaze back to Amini.

“Mr. Kang Hyun-woo, the world is in danger right now. Before this world with rifts collapses, I hope you will help establish a new order that can bind it together.”

Hyun-woo burst out laughing. Yoomin covered her mouth and laughed too.

Amini could only look at them with a bewildered expression, not knowing why they were laughing.

Hyun-woo was finally able to calm down and apologize to Amini.

“I’m sorry, Inspector. It’s not that what you said was funny… Hmm, first of all, I’m a bit ignorant of the world. Could you suddenly tell me why the world is in danger?”

“Ah, can I summarize and convey this, Inspector? I think you need to know about the domestic situation first.”

Yoomin joined the conversation again in English. Amini nodded.

“First of all, Oppa, a 4-star dungeon flood broke out near the border. Taesung and Lee Ji-tae stopped it in three days, which has accelerated the Northern Expedition plan. Some units have already been forward deployed. Lee Ji-tae declared himself a 5-star after stopping the flood. Now the number of 5-stars revealed to the world is six, including you.”

“There must be some who haven’t revealed themselves yet.”

“Well, probably. Anyway, after that, the Jeonneungryeon [a fictional organization] rose to become the second-ranked clan in Korea. As you instructed, Hunter Oh Dae-sung and Priest Johann are training the soldiers.”

“Hwanmamama [another fictional organization] doesn’t have any other reaction? They must be quite depressed.”

“There are rumors that Leader Park Do-ryeong is breaking his seclusion… but there are no clear movements other than rumors.”

Hyun-woo nodded. With this, Hyun-woo had the ability to control his monsters, the ability users of Jeonneungryeon, and finally the ordinary soldiers.

It would take a long time to completely take control, but at least it was possible to make basic preparations tailored to the opponent, no matter when or what situation arose.

“Oh, and there were rumors that you were dead, Oppa.”

“…Well, that’s understandable.”

It wasn’t like before when Yoomin was the only one who worried even if he submerged for dozens of days.

There were many eyes watching and many families to take responsibility for, so there would be quite a few people who worried or wished for his downfall.

Among the biggest things that happened in the past 40 days was that the Northern Expedition was already starting.

He had missed the timing somewhat, but it was better that way.

Preparations were already complete, and there was no reason to just wait, wondering when it would start.

Conquering Pyongyang was also the biggest part of Hyun-woo’s first plan.

“Then, Ms. Amini, would you tell me why the world is in danger?”

Amini nodded with a serious expression.

“The Pyongyang recovery plan led by Taesung must not fail.”

“Why?”

“Because if it fails, there is a risk that humanity will be destroyed.”

The biggest mistake in the early part of the White Bone Records.

That plan was about to begin.