Chapter 232: The Vice Masters’ Meeting

Episode 232

As soon as Kim Jinsung boarded, the ship left the port.

As they sailed away from the New Continent,

“Now that Jinsung is here, let’s begin the meeting,” Hong Hyeonjin announced, looking around the conference room.

“We apologize for holding the meeting on a ship, but it’s necessary to avoid any potential eavesdropping or surveillance.”

It was her idea to hold the meeting on a ship, away from the New Continent.

As soon as Kim Jinsung agreed, she borrowed a ship owned by the Baekdu Clan, removed the Korean flag and clan mark, and brought it to the New Continent.

She then visited all the ports and picked up the key figures attending the meeting.

“Please, go ahead.”

She gestured to Kim Jinsung, who was sitting next to her.

All eyes in the room turned to him, who was sitting in the main seat.

It was a sign that they all considered him the leader of this ‘anti-government group’.

“…Nice to meet you all. I’m Kim Jinsung.”

He started with a brief introduction.

“We don’t have much time, so let’s get straight to the point. We’re here today to discuss countermeasures against the ‘Vice Masters’ Meeting’ tomorrow.

According to the information I’ve gathered…”

He looked at the attendees, who were all concealing their identities, and continued,

“The Vice Masters’ Meeting will be held in another dimension, not on Earth.”

“……!”

Their initial surprise turned into relief.

“They’re probably holding the meeting in another dimension to avoid our attacks.

It’s a brilliant idea. I was surprised when I first learned about the location.

But now that we have the information, we have the upper hand.”

He explained why they had the advantage.

“The New Continent, with its collapsed security, is a living hell. In the B Zone, bodies are left on the streets for days.

But if I had to choose between living in the B Zone and living in another dimension, I would choose the B Zone without hesitation.

Dimensional travel is too risky. The portal could disappear, or the coordinates to Earth could change.

You could even get lost in another dimension forever.”

“I see. That’s new information.”

“I killed someone who had the ‘Dimensionalization’ ability, Graham.”

They all nodded, remembering that he had absorbed Graham’s abilities.

“So I’m planning to use the risks of dimensional travel to our advantage.

As you know, the ‘Vice Masters’ attending tomorrow’s meeting are incredibly powerful. And there are over 50 of them.

We can’t defeat them in a head-on confrontation.”

The attendees tomorrow were the second strongest members of the Major Clans.

Over 50 monsters, each capable of single-handedly wiping out an entire continent, were gathering in one place.

“But fortunately, our goal isn’t to kill them all.

It’s to ‘dismantle’ them, to prevent them from uniting again. We don’t need to engage in a full-scale battle.”

Yoo Jun-ho’s plan for the ‘Vice Masters’ Meeting’ was obvious.

He was trying to create a new ‘Major Clan Alliance’.

The clans in the anti-government group couldn’t let that happen.

“Of course, it’s still a dangerous mission, even if it’s not a full-scale battle. Yoo Jun-ho isn’t someone who would be complacent just because the meeting is in another dimension.

He’s definitely prepared countermeasures for various situations.

I believe all of you here have the minimum power level required to carry out this mission, despite the risks.”

He started emanating his energy.

His aura quickly enveloped the entire conference room, and

“……!”

“Hmm…”

Some of the attendees struggled to withstand his energy.

[Tsk tsk tsk, how can they accomplish anything if they can’t even withstand this level of energy…!]

‘Be quiet.’

He silenced Dantalian, who was clicking his tongue in disappointment.

He then continued,

“If any of you feel that this mission is too dangerous, please let me know now. I’ll assign you to the rear.

You can also contact me privately after the meeting if you’re concerned about what others might think.”

As he was speaking,

[…Hmm?]

Dantalian muttered in his mind.

[They might be weak, but their determination is strong.]

He was observing the attendees’ eyes.

They were filled with a strong determination to participate in the mission.

‘I told you. They’re an ‘anti-government group’. They wouldn’t be here if they weren’t willing to risk their lives.’

There was no greater risk than rebelling against the government.

And even more dangerous than a rebellion were the terrorist attacks they had carried out before forming the rebellion.

The people before him were the ones who had risked their lives to carry out terrorist attacks even before the rebellion was formed.

* * *

Moments later,

Kim Jinsung returned to his hideout.

“Tomorrow’s mission is crucial. It might be the turning point.”

He said, arranging various weapons on the table. He was alone in the hideout.

“If the mission succeeds, the Center Zone Clan Alliance will suffer a critical blow. Tomorrow is their last chance to unite.

They’re already banned from holding meetings with the Masters, and if we dismantle the Vice Masters’ meeting that Yoo Jun-ho has planned so meticulously…

The existing alliance will practically be disbanded.”

[They could still try to unite again.]

“I won’t let them.”

He replied to Dantalian’s rebuttal.

“While I keep them busy, the new ‘Anti-Government Clan Alliance’ will grow stronger and eventually attack the capital at the right time.

Without a unifying force, the existing Clan Alliance will crumble.

And then, I’ll be free to enter any dungeon I want.”

[That was your ultimate goal.]

“Yes. Right now, I can only enter dungeons controlled by the Korean Clan. They’re the only ones whose coordinates I can pinpoint with my surveillance skills.”

To enter the other high-level dungeons, he had to deal with the Major Clans’ guards at the entrances.

It was a hassle to fight every time he wanted to enter a dungeon. And if he fought, the entire Center Zone would be on high alert, and Paladins would swarm him from all directions.

“So I’m going to use everything I have for tomorrow’s mission. I need your help, Dantalian.”

[I can’t reveal my true form, because of the non-aggression pact.]

“I know.”

They had a ‘short-term contract’.

The Demon Gods needed someone to monitor Kim Jinsung and make sure he fulfilled his end of the contract, and Dantalian, who was somewhat friendly with him, had volunteered for the role.

Their contract would last until he destroyed the Trial Towers on Earth. And once the Trial Towers were gone, he wouldn’t be able to communicate with Dantalian in the Middle Realm anymore.

“Just keep an eye on the situation and report any dangerous signs. You can do that much, right?”

[Of course. Protecting the life of a contractor isn’t a violation of the non-aggression pact.]

“That’s enough.”

He thought to himself,

‘Dantalian’s reports will be a great help for tomorrow’s mission.’

He had practically gained another informant, one who couldn’t use force but had access to valuable information.

* * *

The next day,

around noon,

“Are you ready?”

“Yes.”

Yoo Jun-ho and Team Leader Hong were talking in a ‘Dimensional Travel Room’ inside the Korean Clan headquarters.

“I triple-checked for any leaks in our surveillance and anti-eavesdropping measures. I didn’t find anything suspicious.”

“That’s not important. If the information leaks from another Vice Master, it’s all over. The important thing is our defenses, in case our location is discovered.”

“We can only trust ‘Duke’ for that.”

“…Alright. Open the dimensional rift.”

“Yes, sir.”

Team Leader Hong activated the magic circle that opened dimensional rifts.

Moments later, a dimensional rift appeared in the center of the room, and they both stepped inside.

The scenery changed instantly.

They found themselves in a damp, humid cave.

“…Many of them have already arrived.”

Yoo Jun-ho said, looking at the crowded cave.

“Look over there, Vice Master.”

Team Leader Hong pointed to the end of the cave, and he looked in that direction.

His face brightened.

“…He kept his promise. Let’s go.”

They walked towards the end of the cave.

* * *

Meanwhile,

two men stood outside the cave where the Vice Masters’ Meeting was being held.

“…It’s real.”

The man on the left, Park Do-joon, the owner of the ‘Finder’ information network, muttered in awe.

“They’re actually holding a secret meeting in a cave on the 5th floor of a demon world dungeon.”

“They’re trying to be unpredictable. They even considered the possibility of ‘hiding in plain sight’.”

Kim Jinsung replied.

“And the lower the level of the dungeon, the lower the chances of encountering unexpected variables. It means they can freely deploy their defenses.”

“But doesn’t that also make it easier for us to attack?”

“That’s right.”

Kim Jinsung had been planning to use all means necessary to find out the coordinates of the meeting location.

He had even planned to infiltrate the Korean Clan headquarters using the ‘Complete Invisibility’ skill.

But when he found out that the meeting was being held on the 5th floor of a demon world dungeon, he realized that there was no need for such a risky attempt.

With Dantalian by his side, demon world dungeons were practically his backyard.

“How are their defenses?”

Park Do-joon closed his eyes and focused.

“…They have a lot of guards and magic circles. But that’s not the important part.”

He opened his eyes and looked at Kim Jinsung.

“Hemingston is there.”

“…What?”

Kim Jinsung’s eyes widened.

The only hunter he knew named Hemingston was the Master of the Alpha Clan.

—