Hoarding In Hell [EN]: Chapter 67

67. Overload (2)

“Ah, Mr. Noh Ha-eul. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Kang Hyun-mu smiled and extended his hand.

“Oh, uh, yes, yes. You seem… very different from when you came to the Cheonggye Dungeon?”

“Ah, my girlfriend picked out my clothes for me. She has a better eye than I do.”

*Is that something that can be done by just picking them out?* It seemed impossible unless his girlfriend knew Hyun-mu’s body and behavior better than he did himself.

Watching Noh Ha-eul’s reaction, Hyun-mu thought it was fortunate that he had desperately learned etiquette.

Hyun-mu even used a battle helper [a training simulation or AI assistant] to practice mastering these movements.

Of course, people would respect Hyun-mu even if he showed up wearing animal skins and barefoot. That’s what strength is.

But he wouldn’t gain *respect* that way. Respect and fame were also resources to be cherished and managed, just like blood, mana, and stamina.

There’s no need to be pretentious. But you shouldn’t be ridiculed.

“But the atmosphere is more… noisy than I expected. I was expecting a more formal setting.”

Hyun-mu said, looking at Noh Ha-eul’s attire. Noh Ha-eul was wearing a T-shirt with a baseball team mascot and ripped jeans.

Noh Ha-eul thought this was natural, but seeing Hyun-mu made him feel like he had made a mistake.

“Meetings between hunters are usually a bit noisy. It’s probably because there are a lot of young people.”

Even with stat boosts, people who are too old already have families or pursue stable lives, so they can’t bring themselves to enter dungeons.

Naturally, the retirement age for hunters was around 40 or 50.

“Where is Lee Ji-tae? When does the meeting start?”

“I heard he’s in a meeting with a foreign hunter group called Chrome. They’re sending someone with experience in attacking the Flood [a type of dungeon event or monster]. The meeting will start when their opinions are sorted out.”

Hyun-mu nodded.

“Since Mr. Noh Ha-eul is here, it seems Hwanma [another hunter clan] is also participating.”

“No. We’re not….”

Noh Ha-eul shook his head.

“Hwanma has decided not to participate in the expedition led by Tae-sung [yet another hunter clan].”

The relationship between Hwanma and Tae-sung was well-known. In the past, they were one clan called ‘Lunatic Tiger.’

It was the first Korean clan created by hunters who joined forces at a bar called Mad Tiger. Lee Ji-tae was taught and grew up among the best hunters there.

However, conflicts arose over the direction of the clan, and it split into Tae-sung and Hwanma.

“Instead, we’ve decided to prepare for any emergencies from the outside. It’s a necessary role, even if it doesn’t get much attention. I’m just here to convey that. Director Park Do-ryeong doesn’t even want to see Lee Ji-tae.”

Hyun-mu nodded. He didn’t really care, but he wondered if he could use this to take them both down at once.

If Tae-sung and Hwanma merged, the strongest clan in the world, ranking in the top 10, would be born.

At that moment, the music faded, and the noisy atmosphere subsided. The entertainers and host stepped down, and the lights brightened, signaling the start of something.

“It seems Lee Ji-tae has finished the meeting.”

As Noh Ha-eul said, Lee Ji-tae went on stage. Following him were Seo Tae-kyung and a silver-haired man in a priest’s robe. The man had sunken eyes and a gloomy impression.

Hyun-mu wondered if that priest was the Flood expert Noh Ha-eul had mentioned.

Even with Lee Ji-tae’s appearance, the banquet hall didn’t become formal. Instead, everyone freely sat or stood where they wanted and looked up at the stage.

“Thank you, hunters, for joining us.”

Lee Ji-tae finished his dry welcome and started the presentation. It felt like hunters were skipping trivial etiquette.

“First, I should introduce each other, but there are too many, so I’ll narrow it down to team leaders. First, Seo Tae-kyung, head of the Jeonryeongyeon Gangbuk branch. He is the person in charge of Jeonryeongyeon for this expedition. And this is Kang Hoo, team leader of the Obsidian Team. He is in charge of Tae-sung. And after the meeting, I was ashamed but took on the overall command.”

As soon as Lee Ji-tae finished speaking, Noh Ha-eul stormed out of the banquet hall.

The sound of the door slamming shut was loud.

There was a buzz, but Lee Ji-tae didn’t even look in that direction.

*Their relationship is worse than I thought.*

Lee Ji-tae didn’t even mention Hwanma at all.

Hwanma wasn’t planning to participate anyway, but he excluded them before even hearing that and took over the overall command.

Perhaps he secretly thought it was fortunate that Hwanma wasn’t participating.

The introductions continued, and after each executive, he finally introduced the silver-haired priest.

“This is Father Johann Hessner from Germany. When the Flood occurred in Syria, he risked his life to go and stabilize the dungeon. He was invited as an advisor for this expedition.”

Hyun-mu almost dropped the champagne glass he was drinking.

*Johann? Did he say Johann?*

Father Johann.

It was the name mentioned in the will by the skeleton in the difficulty: Hell.

***

After that, the operation overview and team composition didn’t reach Hyun-mu’s ears at all.

Anyway, all the really important information was contained in the summary printout. Moreover, since it was a dungeon where the Flood was in progress, improvisation was important.

Rather, Hyun-mu was focused on the man named Johann.

The person who allowed humanity to endure until the last moment.

But his suicide meant that the skeleton in the gym and the rest had a limited lifespan. Judging from that mention, he seemed to have strong protection or healing abilities.

*I don’t know if it’s the same person.*

Johann seemed to be a very devout believer on the surface. And as far as Hyun-mu knew, believers considered suicide one of the greatest sins.

The reason Hyun-mu couldn’t help but pay attention to Johann was that humanity relied on him until the very end.

He had to know what abilities and skills he had in order to prepare for the future. That would lead to his survival rate in hell.

While Lee Ji-tae was continuing the presentation, Hyun-mu tried to take out Ren General’s monocle.

At that moment, Lee Ji-tae turned his head and made eye contact with Hyun-mu. Lee Ji-tae gave Hyun-mu a short smile and pointed to Johann, who was standing next to him.

“The core of the expedition is Father Johann here. Father Johann is a level 50 healer and has healing and blessing skills, as well as the ultimate move, Veil of Benevolence.”

It was common to have only one or two skills, so even having two was considered a great honor.

Many people achieve achievements with only one skill, but it’s always better to have more abilities to handle.

Not to mention a triple caster. It wouldn’t be strange to say that he was the best in this field.

*To mobilize such connections in an instant, as expected of Lee Ji-tae.*

Hyun-mu himself already had four or more skills of rare grade or higher, and he didn’t even pay attention to general grades.

This was just a great connection from the ‘current point of view.’

“Normally, Father Johann is known to participate only in more dangerous expeditions, but he was specially invited to minimize the number of casualties.”

Lee Ji-tae looked over the expedition members who would lead the expedition and said.

“I see this expedition as an opportunity to train young members for the Baekdu Dungeon raid. I just hope that there won’t be many casualties in this expedition.”

As soon as the meeting ended, Johann left the banquet hall. He didn’t even talk to other people. He seemed to have a very introverted personality.

Hyun-mu didn’t feel particularly disappointed. Anyway, he said he would participate in the Guillotine Dungeon raid, so he would have a chance to talk to him.

*I wonder if the translation function works when talking? I hope it does.*

At that moment, Hyun-mu felt someone approaching him.

“Mr. Kang Hyun-mu.”

It was Tae Min-soo, the head of Tae-sung’s administrative team, whom he had met during the ability test.

Only then did the people around him recognize Hyun-mu and were startled. His appearance at the Guillotine Dungeon was so different from his appearance at the banquet hall that no one recognized him.

“Thank you for coming. Excuse me, but there is someone who wants to meet Mr. Kang Hyun-mu.”

Hyun-mu felt that the expected moment had come. Tae Min-soo whispered quietly.

“Shall we move to another place for a moment?”

***

The place Tae Min-soo led him to was the penthouse of the Tae-sung Clan headquarters building.

The penthouse, which had been completely renovated with two floors, was a huge mansion and a garden at the same time.

The heliport and cleverly constructed structures subtly concealed the garden, but at the same time, it felt open and spacious.

Looking around Lee Ji-tae’s house, Hyun-mu thought that the rich really lived like this.

Even if he made a lot of money, he was still far from being able to buy a house like this.

Of course, he could buy it if he brought all the crystal moss from hell and sold it, but he had no intention of ruining the market like that.

Hyun-mu knew who was waiting. There was no need to ask. It was an aura that couldn’t be confused.

From the moment he stepped into the garden, he was revealing his presence to Hyun-mu as if he wanted to be recognized.

Turning the corner, he saw a young man with black hair sitting.

“Please have a seat, Mr. Kang Hyun-mu.”

Lee Ji-tae.

Hyun-mu sat across from Lee Ji-tae and recalled the words that modified him.

The successor of Tae-sung, a chaebol group that controls Korea from behind, the representative of Tae-sung, the strongest hunter clan, and the best ability user in Korea.

But the man in front of him looked like a calm young master.

“I don’t know if it will suit your taste.”

Lee Ji-tae picked up a bottle of alcohol on the table and poured it into a glass. Hyun-mu didn’t know the brand. It tasted quite good when he drank it.

In the past, it would have been an unknown and subtle taste, but it helped that he had gotten into the habit of drinking it when he was educated by Yoo Min. The night view of Seoul from the terrace was already a great snack in itself.

“May I ask where you trained and if you have an affiliation?”

“I trained alone.”

It wasn’t a lie. Lee Ji-tae nodded as if he knew he would say that. He didn’t seem to expect much in the first place.

“It’s okay to say that to me, but when you do interviews or investigations later, you should think of a plausible excuse. The state reacts nervously when things keep happening that it can’t control.”

“I’m thinking of buying a wheelchair.”

Wasn’t it a bit of a dangerous joke to make to a third-generation chaebol [a wealthy family heir]? But Lee Ji-tae burst out laughing.

No, maybe it was the leeway that only a third-generation chaebol could show. Lee Ji-tae and Hyun-mu continued their conversation, sharing trivial jokes.

Most of it was useless chatter, but Lee Ji-tae was a pretty good conversational partner. He was humble, had humor and wit, and led the conversation proactively so that it flowed smoothly.

Hyun-mu had to be on his guard to avoid being dragged along by Lee Ji-tae, who was eliciting answers smoothly.

Lee Ji-tae, who had been chuckling at Hyun-mu’s jokes for a while, took a breath. The atmosphere was quite relaxed.

“By the way….”

Lee Ji-tae spoke lightly.

“Which star’s whisper did you hear?”

***

“Star’s whisper?”

Hyun-mu tilted his glass without moving his expression. Hoping that the glass would cover his facial muscles enough.

Lee Ji-tae was waiting with a soft smile until Hyun-mu put down his glass.

“There’s no need to pretend you don’t know. I heard the voices of the ‘Leading Star’ and the ‘Brightest Star.’ I can’t tell you which one I chose, though.”

Hyun-mu fiddled with Ren General’s monocle in his pocket. He felt the urge to put it on and observe Lee Ji-tae right away. But he couldn’t do something strange like wearing a monocle in front of him.

*I can’t always play the bizarre butler character who always wears a monocle.*

As Hyun-mu’s answer was delayed, Lee Ji-tae’s face changed as if he was puzzled.

“Mr. Kang Hyun-mu, what is your level?”

Hyun-mu still didn’t answer. He could confidently say 26, but since he had shown overwhelming abilities in the Guillotine Dungeon, Hyun-mu had already become an unpredictable being.

As long as he didn’t know what kind of existence Lee Ji-tae would become to him in the future, he had to reveal only ambiguous information.

Hyun-mu lightly raised his competitive spirit. It was to find out Lee Ji-tae’s current level.

[Human (LV 57)]

[The effect of the ‘Strongest in Hell’ title increases stats compared to level.]

Level 57. It’s a level that can’t be achieved with 4 stars. He probably hid that he was a 5 star a long time ago.

It was not confirmed whether the limit level of 5 stars was 60, but it was quite high. At that moment, Hyun-mu felt something and reflexively activated Battle Helper.

Tak.

However, before Hyun-mu could move, Lee Ji-tae lightly grabbed his arm.

It was a speed that couldn’t be followed with the eyes, but Lee Ji-tae naturally patted Hyun-mu’s arm.

“Don’t be too nervous. I didn’t call you here to fight.”

Hyun-mu’s expression hardened. He couldn’t even see the movement, let alone the muscles tensing.

*As expected, is he the strongest in Korea?*

He felt a wall that was on a different level from when he fought Park Hwi-so. It wasn’t wrong to say that the higher the level, the higher the wall became.

*I wanted to see his skills, but I didn’t know it would be like this.*

Hyun-mu shrugged and said.

“Okay. What level do you think I am?”

Lee Ji-tae tilted his head.

“Honestly, it looks like early to mid 30s.”

Considering Hyun-mu’s ‘Strongest in Hell’ title, it was a surprising prediction.

Especially because of his appearance in the Guillotine Dungeon Flood, he thought he would aim higher. Lee Ji-tae quietly stared at Hyun-mu.

“Mr. Kang Hyun-mu, are you really a 5 star?”