Chapter 127

Chapter 127

Blood Town, a guild operating primarily in Los Angeles, USA.

It wasn’t a large-scale guild, but it was a notorious one formed primarily by gang members.

In the past, they were merely thugs who preyed on ordinary non-awakened individuals, but after one man became their boss, they absorbed and dismantled local gangs. Now, they were the most notorious gang and guild in LA.

“Why’d the boss come all the way out here to tell us to raid this dungeon?”

“You idiot. It’s to show this is our territory. Once we lay claim, most guilds won’t dare touch it.”

“Oh, is that it? But what’s the point of taking over this barren land? If a dungeon break happens, it’ll just be a headache.”

“I don’t know. If I knew that, would I be sitting around here?”

Lovejoy and Lu of Blood Town sat crouched in front of the dungeon, gazing at the stars as they talked.

At just 17 years old, they were still mere newbies, barely even worthy of being called gangsters, but they were satisfied just being out on the field like this.

“Lu, what are you gonna do with the money this time?”

“Save it, of course.”

“Right. How much have you saved?”

“Still a long way to go. I’ll need at least another two or three years. What about you, Lovejoy?”

“I’m gonna use mine to make an album. Mr. Fuzzy from the next block said he’d direct it for me. Hehehe.”

“What? You’re still in touch with that Fuzzy guy? I told you he seemed like a con artist.”

“You just don’t know him. Mr. Fuzzy is so smart and such a good person.”

“Dammit! Why don’t you just buy your little sister a bag with that money instead!”

Lovejoy and Lu spent their time bickering.

Poor and powerless, they blossomed in conversation, painting a small picture of their future.

Even though they’d joined a gang, no one said they couldn’t dream.

“When will I be able to enter a dungeon?”

“Why don’t you just save up for a forced awakening instead of an album?”

“That’s not what I want to do. I want to move people with my rap.”

“Pfft, your rap is the worst. Who’d be moved by your songs? Pffahahaha.”

Ruga laughed heartily, teasing Lovejoy.

Lovejoy’s bizarre and incomprehensible songs came to mind.

But unlike usual, Lovejoy’s voice didn’t come back, annoyed, ready to play his own rap.

“Lovejoy?”

Turning his head, Lu could see Lovejoy was gone.

His friend, who had been laughing and chatting just moments ago, was gone. Lu jumped up and plunged his hand into his pocket.

Click-!

A small firearm, perfectly sized to fit in one hand. A gun.

“Fuck! Who the hell is that!”

After loading the pistol, Lu hooked his finger on the trigger and aimed it around.

Tense as a bowstring, he was ready to pull the trigger at any moment and turn the target into Swiss cheese.

Clang-!

In that instant, the lantern illuminating Lou shattered, plunging the area into darkness in an instant.

Though the moon and stars shone brightly in the sky, Lu’s eyes, accustomed to the light, could see nothing.

“Ugh!”

Then, someone grabbed him from behind, covering his mouth and choking him.

Lu struggled desperately in agony, but the opponent didn’t budge an inch, as if gripped by a giant tree.

“Guh… Guh…”

Gurgle-.

Lu’s eyes rolled back as his body went limp.

Thud-.

Roo collapsed unconscious right there, and soon after, Lovejoy’s unconscious body lay beside him.

“Brother, you’re not dead, are you…?”

“Don’t worry. He’s just fainted. Light!”

Pabaat-!

A small ball of light brightly illuminating the surroundings floated into the air.

Only then did the figures of the two become visible.

Dojae and Youngjin.

They stood before the fallen Ruu and Lovejoy.

“She’s breathing! But bro, you don’t look like you’re doing this for the first time?”

“Once before. What are you doing?”

After confirming that Ruwha and Lovejoy were breathing well, Yeongjin fiddled with the pistol Ruwha had been holding.

“I’ve seen it in movies and dramas, but this is my first time seeing it in person.”

A gun rarely seen in South Korea.

Even in the past when regulations were strict, it was difficult to see guns in person, but now it’s even harder.

Since guns are ineffective against monsters with strong regenerative abilities, they weren’t widely used. Even for crime, blades like swords, which were easier to obtain, were preferred, so firearms were scarcely used in Korea.

However, in countries like the United States, guns were still actively circulating and easily obtainable. They’re particularly common for assassinations by lower-tier hunters or for self-defense by non-awakened individuals.

For high-grade hunters, the act of drawing and aiming a gun itself is anticipated, allowing them to intervene beforehand. Long-range sniping can be avoided by sound or killing intent, making it largely ineffective. For those below that level, it could inflict some degree of fatal damage.

“Taking that is theft.”

Dojae said to Youngjin, who was watching with interest.

Young-jin shook his head as if to say he had no such intention.

“I was just curious. Besides, who’s the real criminal here?”

Young-jin looked back and forth between Do-jae and Roo as he spoke.

But Dojae answered with not a flicker of emotion on his face.

“This is the best we can do. And look, he just pulls out a gun right away.”

“But you didn’t know before, did you?”

“No, I knew. So be careful. The guys inside might try to shoot first, just like these guys.”

Whoosh-.

Dojae pulled a magic stone from his pocket and tossed it to Youngjin.

Yeongjin caught it and tilted his head, looking at the magic stone.

“Why this?”

“Keep it safe.”

With that, Dojae entered the dungeon.

Yeongjin tucked the magic stone securely into his pocket and followed Dojae into the dungeon.

“Hey, bro! Come with us!”

***

Inside the dungeon.

The guild members of Guild Blood Town chuckled and laughed in the smoke-filled space.

“Kikikik. Captain Tusi, that crazy bastard. Doing that shit with monsters.”

“It’s making me puke. Kekehehe. There’s no one as crazy as the Captain.”

They smoked cigarettes made from the dried roots of hallucinogenic plants found in field-type dungeons while watching the actions of a man named 2C.

“Kekeke. Nice. Hey, Queenhabi! Give me a drag too.”

After enjoying himself for a while, Tsu-ssi fumbled to pull up his pants and walked over.

Behind him lay a dead High Elf, both arms severed, a dagger lodged in its forehead.

“Seems you were quite satisfied?”

Queen Harvey handed T.C. the cigarette she had been smoking.

Taking a deep drag, Tsu replied with a slight smile.

“You’re a high elf, right? If not now, then when? Heh heh heh.”

“Hmph, you enjoyed it more than I did?”

Queen Harvey gripped Tsu’s lower body tightly as she spoke.

Tu-ssi threw his arms around her neck and burst into laughter.

“Kekekeke. Jealous little thing. Don’t worry, you’re always fresh and fun.”

Then Queen Havi left a bright red kiss mark on Tusi’s chest.

“I believe you’ll rise back to the top again.”

“Just wait a little longer. Kim… I’ll bring that bastard down soon. Khehehe.”

Thud.

Tusie flicked away the cigarette, smoked until the filter was blackened.

Then he stands up and says.

“After today, I’m heading to Las Vegas.”

The other guild members cheer at T-ssi’s words.

“That’s our leader for you!”

“Looks like tonight’s gonna be a long one!”

“Heh heh. Guys, let’s go!”

Queen Havvy drapes her top over Too-ssi’s shoulder.

Tus, the current raid leader, was originally the guildmaster of the Blood Town Guild.

Starting as a small gang of just over six members, he expanded their operations by branching out into various illegal businesses.

But no matter how much of a madman Too-ssi was, capable of anything, he hit a wall once they surpassed a certain size.

Too-ssi had the ability to take action himself, but not the ability to stand above someone else.

That’s when a man named Kim appeared and began building up Blood Town.

At first, Tsu admired Kim’s abilities and trusted him, but before long, Kim began amassing power that surpassed his own. Tsu was pushed aside by Kim, reduced to the level of a dungeon raid leader.

To Tusi, Kim was an enemy he could never kill enough of, having taken everything from him.

He waited for the day he could reclaim his position, roaming dungeons with his followers.

“Kkkh! Die! Die!”

Tusie hunts monsters.

His skill was Physical Hardening.

His body, hardened by the skill, was tougher than steel rebar, and his outstretched palm was as sharp as a sword.

Swoosh-!

Too-ssi tore the monster apart with his crude movements.

Special technique?

Fancy moves?

For Tsu, it was nothing more than closing in on the monster, stabbing it with his hands, and tearing it apart with his teeth.

Yet Tsu killed monsters without taking a single hit.

“Already the boss room? Feels good! I’m spending every penny I earned today on your drinks!”

“Wooooo!”

“Waaah!”

Tusie approached the boss room door, hearing his subordinates’ cheers.

Click.

Too-ssi suddenly stops in his tracks.

He stares into the darkness and asks.

“Who are you?”

Two men gradually reveal themselves.

Two dark-haired Asians appeared before the Blood Town Guild.

“Could you kindly yield this area to us?”

The older-looking man of the two asks Tsu.

Tus snorted in response.

“Kekekeke. What kind of bullshit is that? This is where our boys keep the money for eating and drinking, you know?”

“We’ll pay if you insist. We don’t want to cause a big fuss. How much will it take?”

“How much? Ha ha ha. Guys, this guy’s asking for money. How much do you think he wants?”

Tushi asked, looking at his men.

A black guild member sneered.

“How about a million dollars? That’s about what we planned to spend on food and drink anyway.”

“Kekekek, you guys are something else. Is that what you’re saying? I guess I could let it slide for a million dollars.”

“That doesn’t seem like a very reasonable amount. Even so, a million dollars is…”

“Forget it. But you guys, how did you get in here? Do you even know who we are?”

“We know. That’s why we’re trying to settle this with money instead of messing with you.”

Tus’s eyebrows twitched at the man’s words.

Tus hardened his body and said.

“Mess with us? Who’s messing with who? Heh heh… Want me to show you what real messing with looks like? That guy standing next to you? He’s my type. Hand him over, and I’ll let you off easy.”

Too-ssi gazed at the man behind him with a suggestive look.

The man’s face flushed red and blue, his expression turning grim.

“Should we? But are you sure? Even though he looks like this, this guy is going to be hard to handle.”

“Bro! What are you talking about? Are you serious? He looks like a total pervert at first glance.”

Hearing the men’s words, Too-ssi burst out laughing.

He was flabbergasted by their boldness, knowing full well who they were.

Tou-ssi, taking a liking to these Asian men, addressed his subordinates.

“Dennis, Mike! Give these guys some training. Don’t kill them. The rest of you, head to the boss’s room.”