Chapter 156: Back in Front of the Camera

Episode 156

Choosing new subcontracted clans!

This was a huge deal for the team leaders.

‘The slush funds provided by the subcontracted clans are a huge help in equipping our team members…!’

In fact, Team 6 also used the slush funds regularly provided by the Boko Haram Clan to purchase consumables and weapons.

Team 1 probably earned several times more slush funds than Team 6. This was because they had Amber Moon, the most famous strip club in the city, as their subcontracted clan.

‘If Alopsky ends up in last place, wouldn’t that mean we have to take over the clan with the weakest financial resources?’

That was the problem.

If they were put in charge of a financially weak clan, the amount of slush funds they earned each month would inevitably decrease.

For example, a clan like Slaughterhouse, which had just lost its main slaughterhouses.

Ricardo had just returned, elated, after successfully defending Boko Haram’s slaughterhouses thanks to Alopsky’s efforts. But what if he lost Boko Haram to another team leader in this newbie showdown?

He would probably lose sleep for days, fuming with frustration.

‘Why would they decide the order of choosing subcontracted clans, which is so important, based on this newbie showdown?’

This was what Ricardo was most curious about.

He knew that the newbie showdown had become quite famous recently through online broadcasts. But fame and importance were two different things.

Deciding the order of choosing subcontracted clans, which could determine the future of a team, based on the results of a competition between new recruits? It was absurd.

“You all seem surprised. Let me explain.”

Francisco started explaining.

Not only Ricardo, but the other team leaders also had expressions that said, “Why now?”

“As some of you may know, there have been some changes in Triunfo’s subcontracted clans recently. Nature Animal, which ruled the B16 district, has been destroyed, and the balance has been disrupted because Slaughterhouse and Boko Haram were fighting each other behind our backs. Right, Ricardo?”

“…That’s correct.”

Ricardo answered honestly.

“And a new clan called ‘Blood Squad’, operating in the B16 district, has joined us as a subcontractor. I heard they recently took over the Exchange Street, the heart of the B16 district.

With these changes, we need to adjust the subcontracted clans each team is in charge of.”

Francisco looked at everyone.

“Since things have turned out this way, I thought it wouldn’t be bad to choose subcontracted clans through the newbie showdown.

This level of reward will motivate the newbies to work harder, and the viewers will be more engaged, right? What do you all think?”

His question was immediately answered by Ramiro, the leader of Hunter Team 2, who was sitting next to him.

“I’m fine with it.”

“I think it’s a good idea.”

“I agree.”

The leaders of Hunter Teams 3 and 4 also voted in favor.

Ricardo’s expression darkened.

‘They can easily agree because their newbies are strong, but ours isn’t!’

His gaze shifted to Juan and Luca, the newest members of Hunter Teams 1 and 2, who were sitting next to their team leaders.

They had been recruits for over three months. They had already shed their newbie status and were now considered to be much stronger than most of their teammates.

Layton and Juan, the newest members of Hunter Teams 3 and 4, weren’t as strong as Juan and Luca, but they were still considered promising prospects, representing the future of the Triunfo Clan.

‘Even if Alopsky defeated Jason, he’s still weaker than those four…’

Jason might have been a strong clan member in Triunfo, but he was only from Team 6.

If he had been in Team 1, which was considered the elite team of Triunfo, he would have been at the very bottom, and he probably wouldn’t have lasted long before being demoted.

That’s how big the difference in strength was between the top and bottom teams in Triunfo.

“What about the rest of the team leaders?”

Francisco asked, looking at Ricardo and the others.

“I’m fine with it!”

“Me too.”

“Sounds fun!”

The leaders of Hunter Teams 8, 9, and 10, who had nothing to lose, immediately voted in favor.

The problem was the team leaders in the middle, who had a high chance of losing out.

Ricardo and the other two probably wanted to vote against it. But with more than half of the votes already in favor, it was difficult to object.

So they had no choice but to keep their mouths shut.

“Then I’ll consider everyone to be in agreement. Now, let’s move on to discussing the rules. This newbie showdown…”

Francisco continued with the next agenda.

“First of all, let’s start it tomorrow. There’s no point in delaying it, right? The PR team is already prepared. Any objections?”

This time, no one objected. There were no pressing matters that required them to postpone the newbie showdown.

Thus, it was decided that the newbie showdown would begin tomorrow evening.

* * *

The next evening,

Kim Jinsung and a group of people were standing in front of a gate leading to a demon world dungeon.

“Is the filming inside the dungeon ready?”

A man shouted to the staff, moving busily. He was the PD in charge of the “Newbie Showdown” broadcast.

“Yes, it’s ready.”

“Is the internet broadcast running smoothly?”

“No problems at all.”

“Good. Hey, cameramen, move to the back so you don’t get in the way!”

The staff moved as instructed by the PD, while the cameramen focused on filming the newbies, the stars of the show.

‘…But aren’t they focusing too much on just two people?’

Honestly, Kim Jinsung hadn’t expected to even think this.

The cameramen were overwhelmingly focused on Juan and Luca, the newest members of Hunter Teams 1 and 2.

‘Even if they’re the most famous, this is a bit much.’

Even during the Colosseum survival, the cameras hadn’t been this biased towards him, the main character.

‘Well, I can understand why, considering what they’re doing…’

Kim Jinsung looked at Juan and Luca.

“Don’t follow me this time.”

Juan was saying coldly to Luca.

“It’s about time you showed your own skills instead of always leeching off of others and stealing their achievements.”

“You should talk. You’re the one who always steals the last hit on monsters and claims them as your own.”

“…What?”

Juan glared at him, but Luca continued checking his equipment as he spoke.

“Do you think I don’t know that you always swoop in at the last moment and steal monsters that other clan members have worked hard to weaken?”

“Are you spreading rumors now? Huh?!”

“Rumors? I hate lying. You know that, right?”

“Ha! And you’re the one who stole someone’s girlfriend with sweet talk and manipulation?”

Luca’s face flushed with anger, and he glared at Juan with murderous intent.

“Watch your words, Juan.”

“What are you going to do if I don’t? Are you going to hit me?”

Juan and Luca approached each other and glared at each other, nose to nose.

Kim Jinsung, watching them, thought to himself,

‘It’s no wonder they’re filming them so much, with them constantly bickering like that.’

They say the most entertaining things to watch are fire and fights.

With them practically fighting each other, it was natural for the PD to focus on them. Kim Jinsung could understand that.

“Stop it, you two! You’re at it again!”

Someone shouted from afar and approached them.

It was Sergio, the leader of Hunter Team 10.

He was participating as the head of the on-site evaluation team for this “Newbie Showdown.”

“I’m telling you again, fighting each other is prohibited until the newbie showdown is over. You’ll be disqualified immediately if you fight, so keep that in mind!”

“……”

“What are you doing? Get back to your places!”

Juan and Luca finally backed off after Sergio shouted repeatedly.

Sergio looked at them with disapproval, then turned to everyone and shouted,

“We’re entering the dungeon in five minutes! Everyone, do a final equipment check!”

The other participants checked their equipment again.

Kim Jinsung did the same, then checked his status window.

—

Name: Kim Jinsung

HP: 35550/35550

MP: 24800/24800

Strength: 3721

Intelligence: 2480

Stamina: 3555

Agility: 3498

Skin Defense: 1833

※ Currently Possessed Skills

– Invulnerability

– Shadow Concealment (+Warp Hole)

– Clone (Skill Enhancement +1)

– Nullify

– Shapeshifting (Skill Enhancement +1)

– Ability Seal (Skill Enhancement +1)

– Kill

– Mana-Infused Spiderweb (Skill Enhancement +1)

– Eye of Surveillance (+Teleport)

– Mutual Destruction

※ Permanently Acquired Skills through Comprehensive Traits

– Steal

– Sneak

– Wall Climbing

– Confusion

– Hypnosis

– Seduction

– Complete Invisibility (Skill Enhancement +1)

– Neck Cutter

– Subspace Magic Circle Creation (+Vacuum Ability)

– Turn into Smoke

– Illusion Mist Magic Circle

※ Currently Possessed Traits

– Location Detection

– Expert Night Hunter

– Master of Mana

…

Beast Karma Points: 8674

※ Skills Available with Beast Karma Points

– Dark energy

– Recovery

– God-Demon Fusion

– Space Dominated by Dark energy

—

‘…I’ve become incredibly strong.’

He was checking his status window for the first time since the Colosseum survival.

He couldn’t help but be amazed by his significantly increased stats.

‘My stats have noticeably increased since I came to the New Continent.’

It made sense. Before, it was difficult to gain more than 50 stat points even after defeating evildoers or giant monsters.

But in the New Continent, he could easily gain close to 100 stat points just by defeating a slightly strong monster or evildoer.

‘Didn’t I gain 100 stat points just from defeating Jason?’

—

▷ Double Hit: All skills deal double damage to enemies.

▷ Permanently increases all stats by 100.

—

‘…Right.’

He confirmed it again and closed all the windows.

‘But I’m still not strong enough. It seems like I need to have at least 5,000 in all stats to be at the executive level in Triunfo.’

But it didn’t seem that difficult.

He thought he could easily reach 5,000 just by defeating a few new monsters in this demon world dungeon.

“Alright, let’s go in! All participants and the filming crew, follow me!”

Sergio shouted and entered the dungeon gate first.

Kim Jinsung and the others followed him.

—