Chapter 139 – Provocation (3)
Translator: Seven
Editor: Ana_Banana
“Provocation?”
When Lee Jin-ah asked this instead of answering, Kim Woo-jin simply nodded his head without answering.
“You mean they’re provoking us because they have a great purpose or planned something funny but because they think that they’re amazing and that they’ll win the prize they offered anyway?” (TL: this sentence was hell…)
Kim Woo-jin nodded again at Lee Jin-ah’s repeated questioning.
However, Lee Jin-ah kept going.
“So they’re treating you like air?“ (TL: The word he used was ‘??’ but there is no good way to translate it while still capturing the meaning of the sentence. And no, google translate won’t get this one right.)
It was a straightforward remark that came out so suddenly that it would make the listener frown subconsciously.
However, Kim Woo-jin just nodded his head without even changing his expression.
This was because there was nothing wrong with what Lee Jin-ah had said.
‘It’s not wrong to say that they’re treating me as air.’
If the Great One Guild had considered Isaac Ivanov as a dangerous competitor then they would have never made such a bet.
‘But they wouldn’t underestimate me.’
However, Kim Woo-jin didn’t believe that they thought he was a joke and underestimated him.
He couldn’t.
‘There’s no way they don’t know my ability.’
During his debut, Isaac Ivanov had shown his skills when he faced off against the Golden Lion.
And the Great One Guild had been present at that time, which could be considered the starting point of this situation.
In such a situation, if the Great One Guild hadn’t already compiled a full list of his skills then they would not be in their current position.
Above all, the Great One Guild that Kim Woo-jin knew was a very meticulous guild.
‘Rather they would evaluate Isaac Ivanov beyond what they’d seen.’
Rather than devaluing the qualifications and abilities that Isaac Ivanov had, the Great One Guild was a group that was meticulous enough to evaluate that there were probably things that he’d hidden.
Nevertheless, if they had come out in such a way, then there could only be one reason.
‘It means they have something great.’
They had a hand that could not lose.
“Well, the members sure are impressive. Ellis was ranked 3rd among the players below level 100 this year wasn’t she? If she is also entering the dungeon then it would explain why they are so confident.”
One of those cards must be Ellis Highton, who Lee Jin-ah had just mentioned.
‘Ellis Highton, a player who was talented enough to become Trinity’s successor.’
Even Kim Woo-jin would admit that she was a real talent.
‘But I’m nervous.’
However, in Kim Woo-jin’s eyes, her fighting ability was no more than that of Isaac Ivanov.
In other words, it was almost impossible for them to bet King Arthur’s Ring with just their confidence in her.
‘Even if they gave her King Arthur’s Ring…’
Even if the Great One Guild gave Ellis Highton King Arthur’s Ring, Kim Woo-jin didn’t believe that they would make such a bet.
‘It would only be enough to surpass Isaac Ivanov.’
Of course, the combined power of the two would be enough to surpass Isaac Ivanov, but Isaac Ivanov wasn’t the only other one that would be participating.
‘It wouldn’t be enough to overwhelm the other competitors, including the Messiah Guild.’
If those were all they prepared, then it would be insufficient if Isaac Ivanov joined hands with the Messiah Guild.
‘But if they still made the bet after considering all of these things, then there should be something else.’
Of course, Kim Woo-jin knew.
There must be a more compelling reason for the Great One Guild to make such a bet.
‘There must be something else.’
So Kim Woo-jin was anxious.
‘This dungeon won’t be easy.’
Like the Great One Guild, he would never underestimate an enemy.
“But what have you been staring at all this time.”
Therefore, Kim Woo-jin made preparations.
“I’m making a shopping list.”
“Shopping list?”
“I think we’ll need to invest more to clear this dungeon. The number of skeletons that need to be summoned will probably be doubled.”
Lee Jin-ah couldn’t help but make a sound of surprise.
“Kya! You’re finally spending money!”
However, Kim Woo-jin just tilted his head.
“Spending my money?”
“Huh?”
In response to Kim Woo-jin’s question, Lee Jin-ah also tilted his head.
“No, didn’t you say you were going shopping? Then you’ll have to spend money. Isn’t that shopping?”
Kim Woo-jin gave a simple response to his question.
“I said I’m making a shopping list.”
“What?”
At that moment, Lee Jin-ah shouted as he realised something.
“No way, Park Yong-wan?”
Kim Woo-jin didn’t answer him, but Lee Jin-ah still stuck out his tongue as though he knew already.
“You’re really gonna suck out even the marrow.”
For the first time, Lee Jin-ah felt pity for Park Yong-wan since he had met Kim Woo-jin who seemed to want to eat him down to his bones.
“Park Yong-wan is so pitiful. He must have sold his country in his past life. Otherwise, there is no way that he could have met such a bastard.”
However, Kim Woo-jin still didn’t respond to Lee Jin-ah’s words.
‘If you’re provoking me like this, I won’t let it go.’
At this moment, there was only one thing in Kim Woo-jin’s mind.
‘I’ll definitely trample you.’
He was determined to put them in their place.
And so the day of the showdown arrived.
…
November 19, 2023.
The world which was filled with monsters, dungeon gates and the chaos caused by the players, had its attention focused on one place.
[It’s finally the decisive day in San Francisco!]
[The nightmare known as the Forest of the Dead will come to an end!]
Everyone was focused on San Francisco, where the Dead Forest dungeon was located.
They were looking on with anticipation.
-The prize is King Arthur’s Ring, that’s amazing.
-Who will clear it?
-I hope the Messiah Guild does it.
?What are you talking about? Of course, the Great One Guild will clear it.
Who would become the owner of the legendary King Arthur’s Ring, whose name alone was enough to show its extraordinary value?
With that anticipation, the press and public became more and more excited as the time drew near.
However, the faces of the players who were going to participate in the Dead Forest dungeon were the opposite.
The 199 people who were going to participate for this ridiculous prize, who had been chosen and recognized by the world, had no excitement on their faces whatsoever.
“Hooo.”
“Relax, relax…”
Rather the expressions of these players were all tense.
And above these looks of tension, was an extra layer of vigilance.
There was no conversation between them.
Those who didn’t know each other and even those who knew each other, they did not even look at each other.
No, it could be said that the moment their eyes met, it became a battle of wills.
‘There are signs of failure everywhere.’
Kim Woo-jin looked at this scene and couldn’t help but laugh inwardly.
‘Well, a prize is a prize after all.’
The players’ reactions were naturally because of King Arthur’s Ring.
The stats for King Arthur’s Ring weren’t revealed, but the players were able to guess its value.
‘Regardless, this is an opportunity to become the owner of a legendary item…’
After all, the most likely beneficiary of the dungeon would be the one who received King Arthur’s Ring.
They would be able to put the ring on their finger directly, instead of having to give it to their guild.
It was more than just that.
It was hard to obtain a legendary item, but it was even harder to use it.
‘There probably won’t be any cooperation.’
So it was natural that harmony and cooperation between guilds would never be achieved under these circumstances.
‘They’ll also compete internally.’
Furthermore, even if they were members of the same guild, the chances of them competing between themselves were also very high.
‘If they cooperated it would be the worst case scenario.’
Nevertheless, if some guilds decided to work together then it was possible to get rid of the most powerful competition.
‘Dullahan is by no means a weak monster.’
Moreover, the identity of the boss monster, the master of the Forest of the Dead was none other than Dullahan.
It was a terrifying monster.
‘It’s the fourth most difficult monster that you can encounter in a 3 Floor Dungeon.’
From Kim Woo-jin’s perspective, there were only three monsters that were stronger than a Dullahan in 3 Floor Dungeons.
This was why the Frontier Guild and the Great One Guild had failed even when they worked together to clear the dungeon.
Faced with such a monster, it was practically impossible to collaborate to defeat it.
‘It’s nothing bad from my point of view.’
Of course, this was nothing bad for Kim Woo-jin.
In any case, the Great One Guild would be the ones who received the most focus in this dungeon which would naturally cause the attention placed on Isaac Ivanov to reduce dramatically.
There was only one group who cared about him.
“Isaac, please give me an interview.”
“Isaac, this is your second attack. What is your goal?” (TL:…this reporter needs to get fired…)
“Are you after King Arthur’s Ring?”
Only the reporters were asking questions to Kim Woo-jin, who was away from the group.
Of course, the reporters knew.
It was virtually impossible to secure an interview with Isaac Ivanov and they might have a better chance talking to a wall.
Instead, they knew that what they were doing now was basically attacking Isaac Ivanov.
With less than an hour left till the attack on the dungeon, this time was more important than ever.
How could they not know that asking the player questions while they were preparing their minds for the dungeon would have an effect on that player?
So some expected.
‘It would be great if Isaac yelled nervously.’
‘Isaac gets angry, not a bad title.’
That Isaac Ivanov would react anxiously to the reporter’s stimuli.
They hoped that they would cause a huge piece of news today.
“Huh?”
“Wh-, what?”
At that moment there were signs that that wish might come true.
“It’s Isaac!”
Isaac Ivanov, who had been standing in the distance, began walking toward the reporters.
As a result, camera shutters began to sound out incessantly and the reporters’ voices steadily began to rise.
Before long, Isaac Ivanov was standing before the reporters as if waiting for a photo and pointed to one of the reporters.
“Yes!”
The CNN reporter holding a microphone and their cameraman approached Isaac Ivanov without hesitation.
“Isaac Ivanov, you called us forward. May I ask you a few questions?”
Then they started the interview right away.
“There isn’t much time so I won’t be answering any questions. Instead, I have something I would like to say personally. Is that possible?”
“Of course.”
In front of them, Isaac Ivanov skillfully spoke English into the microphone.
“First of all, I’d like to express my gratitude to the United States government for allowing us to challenge this dungeon. And I’d like to thank the Great One Guild for helping my proposal be approved.
Furthermore, I’d like to express my respect and gratitude for their decision to gather so many talented individuals by betting King Arthur’s Ring.”
It was a stereotypical remark, and because of that, the crowd didn’t really react to it much.
‘Is that it?’
‘Did he come here just to say that?’
Some were unhappy with the situations that wouldn’t even be able to make any headlines.
As the dissatisfaction steadily grew, Isaac Ivanov began taking an item out of his inventory.
Like magic, a large crossbow appeared from mid air.
“Recently, Mr. Park Yong-wan of the Phoenix Guild supported me with this valuable Wilhelm Tell’s Crossbow.”
Isaac Ivanov, who was holding the crossbow in his hand, addressed the crowd.
“I will bet this crossbow on this dungeon as a prize.”
At that moment, the shutter sounds which had been sounding out continuously, stopped.
“D-, do you mean that you’re offering this legendary item as a prize?”
Only the CNN reporter instinctively asked a question, to which Isaac Ivanov answered.
“Shouldn’t we give a prize to those who are risking their lives to attack this dungeon?”
Only then did turmoil begin spreading through the group of reporters.
“I-, it’s a scoop!”
“B-, breaking news!”
In the face of the uproar, Isaac Ivanov only gave a smile.
It was at that moment one hour before their entry into the dungeon, that the situation became shaky.