Arcane Sniper [Matan’s Shooter]

“No, it’s not that it’s near Red Wood that makes it low level. The person I’m thinking of is actually higher level than Bobae-ssi.”

Kijung’s words widened the eyes of the Byeolcho members.

In the rankings, the only factor is level. So, if it’s someone higher level than Bobae?

It certainly means a higher ranking!

“Could it be…”

“Well, nothing ventured, nothing gained, right? Ah, haha. Well, that’s just a thought for now! Anyway, let’s forget it and go hunting!”

Kijung got up, firmly equipping his shield.

The members of Byeolcho, momentarily stunned, quickly came to their senses. Given the level difference, not everyone could hunt in the same place.

Kijung thought it was important to raise the level of the high-ranking users first.

“First, group A, including Bobae and Hyein, come with me to the new continent. We’ll hunt and, if conditions allow, we’ll team up with other guilds to explore the remaining source of evil. Group B, under Tale’s command-“

“Sorry to interrupt while you’re speaking. I’ll be stepping out of group B hunting for a while.”

“Eh? Biyemi? Why?”

Though expected to have strength equal to group A, Biyemi, still belonging to group B in terms of level, decided not to participate in the hunt. Kijung was puzzled.

He felt the shimmer of Lizardia’s green scales.

“I’ll be operating solo for a while.”

“That’s okay. Well, this was more of an ’emergency meeting’ than I thought, but let’s end it here. Everyone, level up hard!”

As group A members left one by one and group B members also started heading to their designated hunting grounds, Biyemi was the only one left in Byeolcho’s safe house.

“Chiyou…”

The eyes of the lizard shone brightly.

Others, including Taeil, had somewhat forgotten the ordeal they faced at the hands of Chiyou and [Yamato].

In a battle that felt like a ‘guild war’, there was no need to get too elated or depressed over the wounds inflicted or received.

But Biyemi was different.

He was a venom mage and a fairly famous figure among the Lizardia race.

“But before that…”

He was also an assassin of the Miyau race.

Biyemi still felt that these were the occupations and races that best utilized his skills and traits.

“I didn’t want to contact anyone unless necessary.”

What should he do to maximize his traits?

Once the job and race are chosen in Middle Earth, they can’t be changed. But what about ‘dual-trait? Just like Chiyou had both assassin and oracle traits.

However, utilizing dual-job effects makes it hard to raise the experience of original job skills, so it’s not commonly attempted.

“I promised to take revenge by any means necessary, so I have to keep it.”

Biyemi cautiously used some items from his bag.

It was a bit of a bug play, not officially allowed or recognized in Middle Earth, but he already knew about it.

-Petyr.

A method to send whispers to users who have blocked them.

-Who… Biyemi- no, Nguyen? Nguyen, right? Wow! This is a huge surprise! Though, I guess someone like you would know this method too!

-Be quiet and let’s talk, huh?

Biyemi communicated with Petyr for quite some time.

“Hurry up, we’re going to be late!”

“Wa, wait!”

Ram Hwayeon rushed out of the department store.

Waiting on the main road was a luxury car far different from the black van Leeha first boarded.

In front of the luxury limousine, adorned with a sculpture of an angel spreading its wings, stood Geum Bo and Jachung, waiting for Leeha to board.

“Ah, I told you my leg is fine! I can walk, can’t I?”

“My leg is fine! But how can I move fast in these clothes?”

Unlike her usual attire, Ram Hwayeon, dressed in a dress, high heels, and full makeup, was definitely dressed up.

Of course, it wasn’t just Ram Hwayeon who had transformed.

“Why? Are the clothes uncomfortable?”

“It’s not that they’re uncomfortable, it’s just-… Ah, never mind. Let’s go.”

Leeha put a bit more effort into his awkward steps. In Hong Kong, the mecca of shopping, there was nothing ‘unavailable’. The problem was that Leeha ‘knew’ nothing about it.

‘What kind of clothes are these- even this one pair of shoes costs more than the used car my mom sold?’

When Leeha had just completed his surgery in Korea, selling his mother’s small car had helped them escape their financial struggles.

Now, the shoes he was wearing cost far more than what they had received from selling that used car.

Leeha wasn’t completely ignorant about luxury brands. However, among the items he was wearing now, there wasn’t a single brand he recognized.

The shirt and suit set, shoes, watch, even the pomade he had slicked his hair with, were all products that could easily be claimed as the most expensive and best in the world.

“Geum Bo! Let’s leave immediately!”

“Understood, miss.”

As soon as Leeha managed to board, the ‘Phantom’ vehicle sped up. The drivers in Hong Kong weren’t much different from those in Korea.

“It’s really amazing. It’s like the sea parting for Moses, the way the path clears. Well, it makes sense; if you hit an expensive car here, you’d have to pay a fortune, right?”

“What are you talking about? It’s not just because the car is expensive.”

“Eh? Then why?”

“The license plate. Almost everyone in Hong Kong knows ‘whose’ plate this is. Oh, in Korea, you don’t auction off car plates, right?”

“Auctioning off license plates in Hong Kong? It’s not Middle Earth…”

“Hehe. Everyone probably knows whose car this is, and even how much the license plate was auctioned for.”

How big of an event was it that people even remembered the price? Leeha wanted to ask but held back his question, feeling it might only make him more intimidated.

In a time that would have been impossible under normal traffic conditions, the Phantom swiftly reached its destination.

A massive hotel, grander than any place Leeha had visited except the hospital and the abandoned building where he had been kidnapped.

“Director, it’s 6:41 PM. I’ve asked them to hold the elevator for us.”

“Good job, Jachung. Leeha, hurry! We can’t even be a second late!”

As soon as Ram Hwayeon got out of the car, she dashed towards the hotel lobby.

Leeha watched her run like a gazelle despite wearing high heels and hurried after her, knowing there was no time to waste.

The hotel bellboy, informed by Jachung, had an elevator ready just for Ram Hwayeon and Leeha. They rushed into it as if being chased by a boss monster in Middle Earth, and the doors immediately closed and ascended.

“This building looked tall, but how many floors are we going up? The speed is too fast, I feel like I’m going to throw up.”

“Don’t you dare throw up. We’re not even halfway there yet.”

“Over 40 floors and not even halfway…”

“Don’t throw up, okay!?”

Despite Leeha’s dry heaving, the elevator continued to the 118th floor.

At last, they arrived at the top-floor restaurant and bar.

When the doors opened, Leeha couldn’t help but be amazed.

In a space perfectly set with dim lighting and no visible staff, there was only one table with three chairs. Ram Hwayeon immediately greeted the person occupying one of the chairs.

“It’s been a while, Chairman.”

The commanding presence of this place was on a different level. The man sitting there seemed to completely dominate the area, radiating an aura that suggested he owned the place.

A man who used his name as the company name. A man who was the embodiment of the group itself. Ram Long was right before Leeha.

‘Younger than I thought. Well, Ram Hwayeon is the eldest daughter, so I didn’t expect him to be much older…’

Yet, he appeared almost in his 30s to Leeha.

However, Leeha also remembered the news he had once seen.

His age was much older than that.

“There’s no need to call me ‘Chairman’ in such a setting, Director.”

“Yes, Father.”

Ram Long looked at Ram Hwayeon with a satisfied smile. Leeha could sense the peculiar atmosphere.

‘Wow! What a presence. What kind of dad talks like that to his daughter, calling her ‘Director’?

Leeha inwardly pouted his lips.

Every family has its own customs, and for a conglomerate like this, there would be training for the successors. It’s not his place to interfere, but the relationship seemed excessively formal.

To him, the position in the company took precedence over the father-daughter relationship, something he had experienced through Ram Pang and Ram Hwayeon. Was Ram Hwajung the only exception?

But still…

“Pleased to meet you. My name is Leeha.”

“I know. I heard our Hwayeon owes you a debt. Since the youngest probably didn’t properly thank you, I thought I should as her inadequate father. Thank you.”

“I’ve received enough in return.”

Leeha replied with a light smile.

“Sit down.”

Ram Long also smiled at Leeha, but Leeha felt a chill upon seeing it. The smile stretched to his temples, but his eyes were not smiling.

As soon as Leeha and Ram Hwayeon sat down, the food started to arrive.

Leeha wondered where and how the waitstaff were observing them, as it seemed quite mysterious.

For Leeha, the appetizer was indescribable, but the taste was excellent.

‘Well, it’s food from a place like this… But the portion is really small.’

As Leeha struggled with the appetizer and even the knife, Ram Hwayeon’s expression froze, but Ram Long just kept laughing.

“Like using a knife, I see?”

“Huh? Oh, I guess so?”

Confused by the question, Leeha could only respond with another question. His absurd reply made Ram Hwayeon’s expression harden even more.

Ram Long slightly lifted his head, and a server appeared again to reset the wine.

“Pour it.”

“Ah, yes.”

Leeha carefully picked up the wine glass and toasted with Ram Long.

Leeha’s Korean manner of holding the wine glass with both hands changed Ram Hwayeon’s expression for the third time, but Ram Long just kept smiling.

“Um, wow. It’s delicious.”

“Wine from the year one is born always holds a special significance.”

“Huh?”

Leeha asked, but Ram Long did not elaborate further. Ram Hwayeon quickly sipped the wine and hinted to Leeha.

“It means it’s wine made in the year you were born.”

“Then-“

Wine aged over 30 years? Expensive, right? There seemed to be no need to ask. Leeha quietly nodded. Ram Long watched him and again lifted his head as a signal. The server came once more, changed the wine glasses, and refilled them.

“Pour it.”

“Okay.”

Leeha toasted in the Korean manner again.

The chime of the glasses echoed across the entire floor. However, the taste of the wine was not as good as before.