Dungeon Predator (WN)
chapter-328

Jae Woo was currently living in a four room detached house. It came with a garden, and a space large enough to park around two cars.

This space had always been empty. After all, neither he nor his family members owned a car.

But now...

There was a good-looking silver car occupying that space. Based on the logo, it was clearly a Mercedes-Benz!

A short while later...

The dealer finished parking and came out of the car.

"Here you go." The suited, well-groomed dealer passed him the keys.

"Thank you."

"There are a few things I need to warn you about."

"Alright."

"If anything happens or you have any questions, then please don't hesitate to call me."

"Yes."

"If you would like to test drive another car, then please come by the store at any time."

"Ok."

Jae Woo was getting irritated. Seeing this, the dealer quickly said his goodbyes.

"Then, I'll be going now. I hope you enjoy your car."

Once the dealer left, the front door opened, and out came Mina and Yura. His mother slowly walked out too.

"Wow, it's finally here!" Mina stroked the hood of the car as if she were petting a dog.

"Everyone get in. Let's go for a short ride."

"Ok."

His youngest, Mina, sat in the passenger seat, while Yura and his mother sat in the back seats.

Jae Woo adjusted the driver's seat, as well as the front and side mirror. Then, he put on his seat belt.

"You all put on your seat belts?"

"Go go!"

"Yeah."

Mina and Yura said simultaneously.

"Hoo." Jae Woo sighed; he was feeling nervous. He then started up the car.

Vroom!

'Let's keep it simple. Just do as I've been taught.' Jae Woo recalled his time at driving school, and took his foot off the brake.

"We're going!"

The silver car's wheels began to turn.

* * *

"I killed Dracus." Kang Oh made a quick visit to the Church of Death, and completed a quest that one of the paladins had given him.

"Thank you for all your hard work, Savior. This is the reward I promised." The paladin passed him a gold pouch.

[You have acquired contribution points with the Church of Death.]

[You can use contribution points to hire the church's priests or paladins. You may also use them to borrow or acquire items that are stored within the church.]

"Is there anything else you need help with?" Kang Oh asked. He welcomed any quests that allowed him to rack up contribution points. After all, there were plenty of ways to use them.

"Not at the moment, no."

"That's unfortunate. If you have any more work for me, then please come and find me. Don't leave it to anyone else."

'Me, not the Storm Guild!'

"Of course."

"Hehe." Kang Oh smiled satisfyingly, and left the Great Temple of Death.

Then, a man with a fishing rod over his shoulder approached him. He was wearing an armband with the Storm Guild's insignia on it.

"Hello, Mr. Kang Oh. I'm Fisherman Angler from the Storm Guild."

"What business do you have with me?"

"I would like to invite you to our guild," Angler said politely.

"I'm fine." Kang Oh waved his hand. Solo players and large guilds didn't mix!

"Our guildmaster, Hernandez, wants to meet with you." Angler emphasized the name 'Hernandez'.

He was one of the Numbers, and was also called the Spear King. To most, just bringing up his name would be enough, but Kang Oh was different.

"I said I'm fine."

'He's a lower rank than me. Why's he the one calling me, and not the other way around!?'

"Please reconsider. Here, this is a small token of appreciation." Angler pulled out a money pouch and placed it into Kang Oh's hand.

"Ahem." The pouch was quite heavy. Kang Oh's lips curled upwards. 'There must be at least 100 gold inside.'

He'd dealt with gold long enough to know how much was inside by just the weight.

"Um-hum."

"Mr. Hernandez asked that we treat you with the utmost respect," Angler said.

'They must be trying to scout me.'

Based on Angler's attitude, Kang Oh could figure out what Hernandez's objective was.

'I guess I should go and meet him.'

It wouldn't be a bad idea to see the Spear King, Hernandez, face-to-face. And if he had the chance, spar with him too.

"Let's go."

"This way." Angler guided him towards Geskal's mansion.

* * *

Kang Oh carefully examined the man in front of him.

He had curly brown hair, a horizontal scar at the bridge of his nose, and a sharp jawline. He truly did give off a manly impression. However, he noticed the mischievous look in his eyes and his relaxed posture, so he assumed that he was a troublemaker.

'He really is Hernandez.'

Numbers rank 8. The Spear King, Hernandez! He was so well-known that even Kang Oh knew what he looked like.

"It's nice to meet you. My name is Hernandez." Hernandez beamed and offered his hand. Then, the two shook hands.

"My name is Kang Oh."

"This is..." Hernandez pointed at the girl beside him.

"Han Seol, the Storm Guild's vice-captain." Han Seol bowed her head.

"I know. Ms. Han Seol, the Lightning Hunter," Kang Oh said.

"Please sit down and relax," Hernandez said affably.

"Yes."

"To be honest, we thought we were the first ones here. But it turns out we were wrong. How exactly did you get here?"

"I'd like to ask you the same thing. How did you get here?" Kang Oh asked back.

"We helped one of the Church of Death's priests. In exchange, they agreed to take us to Despia."

Though Hernandez asked first, he answered Kang Oh's question before getting an answer to his own.

'So the Storm Guild found Krishan? Now that I think about it, the Storm Guild sent an expedition team into the north. Krishan was found in Yuki-Onna's Paradise too.'

Now he knew how the Storm Guild had come here so suddenly.

"So how did you get here?" Hernandez asked again.

"I know the way to Despia. I used that method to get here."

"The way to Despia... That's quite interesting." Han Seol smiled.

"I'm not going to tell you how I got here," Kang Oh grinned and said.

"Of course. You shouldn't give that kind of information away to just anyone," Han Seol said.

"But what if we're not 'anyone'?" Hernandez said. It was clear what he was suggesting.

"Are you trying to scout me?"

"Yes."

"I'm extremely expensive. And I have no intention of joining a guild." Kang Oh made his refusal clear.

"I know how much you're worth. You're expensive, as you should be. Then again, people change their minds all the time. Isn't that right?" Hernandez stared at Han Seol.

"We gathered some info on you. We heard you like money," Han Seol said.

"No one hates money."

'It's just that I like it a bit more than others.'

"50,000 gold a month!" Han Seol said.

"That's it?" Kang Oh crossed his arms.

"We'll allow you access to the guild's storehouse too. You can take two, no, three items from it."

It was said that the 5 great guilds' storehouses contained precious treasure and only the best of equipment. And it wasn't just a rumor.

'So she's basically saying that I can take 3 SS-rank items. Or magic scrolls/items worth the same amount.'

He was slightly interested, but that was it. If there were a demon sword like Ubist within the Storm Guild's storehouse, then it'd be a different story.

Kang Oh didn't say anything, so Han Seol sweetened the deal.

"I heard that you were currently on First Hunter. I know what kind of program it is. The Storm Guild is willing to help you to the best of our ability."

Support from a large guild! Their help would be akin to giving a tiger wings.

Depending on the situation, they would lend him equipment, money, fodder for Gluttony, supplies, and even skilled teammates. However, Kang Oh didn't feel like he needed their help.

"I can hunt monsters well enough by myself."

"The vice-captain spot!" Han Seol even offered up her own position.

Kang Oh grinned. "That's rich."

"What is?"

"Me being the vice-captain."

"Not at all. As one of the Numbers, you're certainly qualified for the Storm Guild's vice-captain spot. Isn't that right?"

"Yeah. He's more than qualified." Hernandez nodded his head.

"Ah, it looks like you misunderstood me."

"Misunderstood you?" Han Seol tilted her head.

"I'm ranked higher than Mr. Hernandez, so it'd be a joke for me to work under him."

Kang Oh was ranked 7th, while Hernandez was ranked 8th.

"Mr. Kang Oh!" Han Seol raised her eyes. Kang Oh was clearly demeaning Hernandez. Right in front of him at that!

However, Hernandez just laughed it off. "Do you want the guildmaster position?"

"Can you give it to me? I'm not the type of person that can work under others."

"You can't!" Han Seol said urgently.

Hernandez raised his hand, stopping her. "I could."

"Then give me the guildmaster position. I'll lead the guild well."

"Alright. If you beat me, then I'll hand over the guildmaster position. But if I win, you're joining my guild." Hernandez stared at him strongly. At the same time, his speech completely changed.

"Guildmaster! You can't just bet your position like that..."

"Why not? Do you think I'm going to lose? Why, because his rank is higher than mine? Is that what you're saying?"

"You'd have to fight to know that." Han Seol wasn't intimidated by Hernandez's strong stare and his vicious spirit. "But as vice-captain, I can't allow you to bet your position so frivolously."

"Don't get involved!" Hernandez yelled.

"Hernandez!" Han Seol yelled back.

"Haa." She was being so adamant, so Hernandez relaxed and clicked his tongue. "Tch, tch. You're pretty dumb at times like this."

"What did you say!?"

"He has no intention of joining our guild. Look at his attitude. It's pretty clear to me. But he brought up the guildmaster position to rile me up. Why? Because he's not interested in the guild itself, but he wants to fight me. Isn't that right?"

Kang Oh just smiled. His silence was affirmation.

"This was our chance. Accept his challenge and get him into our guild! But you got involved, messing up the entire thing."

"What if you lost?" Han Seol asked, looking at him in disbelief.

"I told you, I wasn't going to lose." Hernandez strongly stared at her again.

"But what if you did?"

"I wouldn't lose! I'm the Spear King! The Spear King!"

"He's the Predator!"

In a one-on-one fight, there was no guarantee that Hernandez would come out on top.

"Whose side are you on!?"

"That isn't the issue here."

"Phew. If you'd have trusted in me, then everything would've gone well." Hernandez clicked his tongue again.

"I don't think so. What if you lost? I would've had to clean up your mess again."

"I wouldn't lose!"

"Then let's go," Kang Oh suddenly said. "Let's not bet anything. How does that sound?"