episode_0093

Meanwhile.

In the Tower of Lust, two hunting dogs unknowingly bared their teeth at a wild animal that was urinating in the slums.

The dogs were chasing a pitiful group of stray cats wandering the alleyways.

Even if they banded together, they couldn’t match the hunting dogs. But facing them head-on would only lead to a more gruesome end, so they ran without hesitation.

– Run away!

– Scatter! Everyone fend for themselves!

– Which way do we run!?

– The walls are closing in!

– Don’t talk nonsense! That way is not a dead end!

– But, but! Aaaah!!

– Hooowwwl!

Like an owl that doesn’t even hoot, they were caught by the neck, and when they came to their senses, their comrades had vanished, leaving only a few cowards clinging to their lives.

“Whyyyy, ughhh!”

The men screamed like animals being hunted.

They scattered in all directions to survive, but the screams from afar, growing closer with each passing moment, hinted at their impending doom.

Amidst this sudden massacre, only one person ran to the entrance of the alley, with the light of the street in front of his nose, but even that moment of reaching the light, his throat was grabbed.

“Ugh! Wha, wha, what is this… a rope…!?”

In the concrete jungle, where trees actually bloomed. With the street light shining right in front of him, he was dragged into the alley, coming face to face with them in the deepest depths of this place.

“Ah, as expected… this skill…”

Two people entered his sight.

Song Seong-yeon, wearing a windbreaker and casually dressed as an Adult. And Seres, a Butler, looking down at the man with cold eyes as usual.

“Why is the 3rd ranked person here!?”

He screamed internally, but ultimately couldn’t understand the reason.

Two top hunters, almost like the owners of the Tower.

Seeing Seres reach out her hand, he realized he was about to die and trembled in fear.

“You’re the last one. Oh, just to confirm. Are you Kim Se-hyeon, the leader of the Cat Whiskers?”

“Yes! I am the leader of the Cat Whiskers, Sehyeon…!”

He didn’t even get angry.

Unconsciously, he kneeled and spoke in a formal tone.

“A week ago. Did you try to kidnap Lea by taking on a request posted on the Dark Web through the Hunter Special Black Market?”

“I was just-”

He hesitated to speak.

Regretting that he shouldn’t have, it was only a second later.

“Huh?”

Splat!

The dark alley was painted red with blood, environmentally friendly.

A chunk of flesh flew into his face, realizing it was his hand, his pupils contracted, opening his mouth like a pig about to be slaughtered.

“Wha… ugh… ughhhh!! Aaaahhh!!!”

Scratching his forehead with his right arm flying, he writhed in pain.

His appearance was like a caterpillar crawling up from the ground.

“Even Seres. Can’t answer when you’re dead. Potions aren’t free.”

“We need a tiny hint popping out of that little skull.”

“I’m sorry.”

The helpless Seong-yeon coolly opened the red cap, poured it on the wound, and pressed on the wound with a wince.

“Ah!? Ugh, ugh, ughhh! Aaah!”

Smoke rose from the wound.

The remaining skin wriggled like maggots on the wound, forcibly closing the wound with a bite.

“Oh. As expected, the Healing Potion~! This healing effect is amazing, right!?”

“It’s almost a waste to use it in a place like this.”

The two remained calm despite the screams of agony as the other used their arm as a pillow.

Growing tired of waiting for the screams to end, one of them impatiently kicked out.

“Ugh!”

“Stop with the theatrics and answer. Or do you want your other arm torn off as well?”

“Ah! I’ll answer! Please, have mercy-!”

“Answer while asking for forgiveness.”

Another kick to the jaw without hesitation.

With a sharp clash of rocks, a head bounced upwards and a few teeth rolled on the ground.

“Seres~.”

“…I apologize. I seem to have lost my temper today.”

“You think they deserve it because they attacked first?”

“Seongyeon feels the same way. He killed all the ones who ran away earlier.”

“Well, let’s just say we’re even. Anyway, we caught the leader, right?”

This time, Seongyeon delivered the kick.

“Ughhh!! Ugh, ugh! Ugh!”

The jaw dislocated.

The dislodged tooth hit the ground, and the head, knocked back, slammed its own teeth into the upper lip.

“One more kick and you might die. Will you tell us now? Did you access the request and operate from there?”

“Ugh, ugh… I-I will… I was blinded by the reward… I did it…!”

“It’s better if you speak up without us having to use force.”

“I’m sorry!!”

Realizing what the two wanted, he quickly pulled out a card from his pocket and scattered several storage devices on the ground.

“H-Here! This is… an access pass to the Market…!”

“Where did you get it?”

“The Black Guild contacted us at the Black Market that opens every night…!”

“So, you intentionally met them?”

“Yes… We accessed the device every night…!”

Blood spilled.

Frustrated that the jaw was dislocated and he couldn’t speak properly, the remaining potion was splashed on his face.

“Phew-! Ugh, ack! Ugh, agh~!”

“Can you speak now? Tell us clearly. Where did you get this and how? What’s the underground event?”

Seongyeon threatened by grabbing his hair, and only then did he speak fluently.

“Ugh… Ugh…! In the giant hotel built within the operating rights of the 6 major guilds… Worldwide! The Black Market held every month in the underground there!!”

“Seongyeon, OP is in charge of the hotel.”

“Don’t lie. Madam wouldn’t be involved in such things.”

“I’m telling the truth! Regardless of whether Madam is involved, it’s where small guilds not following the 6 major guilds gather…! The hotel itself doesn’t fall under Madam’s influence! The hotel mainly targets high-ranking government officials who come from outside…!!”

He explained repeatedly that it was true.

“Hmm.”

Seongyeon’s gaze was sharp.

His eyes narrowed like a predator eyeing its prey, and he scratched his neck gently with his nails, his irritation not subsiding.

“What kind of items are usually sold there?”

“People rescued from the Tower!”

“For example, men captured from floors 1-5, or men and women from floors 11-14?”

“Hunters driven insane around floor 6 as well! Men and women coming out from the reopened floors! They are all targets!!”

“This is ridiculous.”

Seongyeon scratched his head in frustration.

Although the anger subsided as information poured in, he couldn’t understand the situation.

“They’re all hunters. What do they want with them?”

“It seems like they’re using bait… There are many signs that they treat hunters who rely on their libido due to the crumbling of the walls or their mental state as toys…”

“Why specifically hunters?”

“They say that the higher the rank and the better the operation, the younger they stay in appearance… That’s what they say…”

“Ah! So they can last long, look good, and also be a good sex toy?”

“Besides that, they say it’s suitable for earning money as a bodyguard or for pocket money…”

“Got it. I understand roughly. So, it’s an implication that they can handle the aftermath of hunters fighting each other?”

“That’s correct…!”

The man vigorously scratched his head.

He wanted to live.

“Wasn’t this kind of thing not present in the previous chapter?”

“It was. It was there, but it wasn’t this big. At most, it was just a garbage dump needed for the Tower circulation. But who would’ve dreamt that the story would escalate to the point of involving outside companies?”

“Could it be related to Baekga Bond?”

“I don’t know. But he’s not that smart. As you know, he couldn’t even graduate elementary school, so there’s no way he could be involved with a company.”

“But he’s always involved in our affairs to the extent that he might be deliberately playing the fool.”

“Not really. If I didn’t interfere, Baekga Bond would always become a hunter in the same way. The timing of our encounters was always the same. I stalked him since he was young, but his repertoire was always the same, so I was always puzzled by how predictable he was.”

“Then suddenly he becomes hostile towards us?”

“That’s why I don’t understand. Why is he hostile towards me? What could be the trigger?”

He pondered, but no answer came.

Anyway, the two who thought it wouldn’t be Baekga Bond asked the man lying on the floor.

“Do you have any other information?”

“I can’t go there… People related to high-ranking rankers and guilds will be cut off at the entrance…!”

“We are the actual rulers here. Don’t you know that we can force our way in for information if necessary?”

“No, if you go in like that, you won’t be able to contact the guys at the market!”

“…What?”

“I, I don’t know what’s going on! Do you two want to meet the guy running the black market!?”

“Yes. I want to know the bastard who put a bounty on Lea.”

“Then it’s even more impossible… If you cause a disturbance in the black market, they will notice and run away immediately…!”

He said.

-Those who operate and spread the black market hide their identities and move carefully.

-Everyone has teleportation abilities, and there are several secret passages underground in the black market.

-There’s nothing to gain by recklessly attacking such a place with force.

Seress agreed with this.

“Sir Sungyeon. I also think so. If we rampage with force and can’t catch the tail, it’s like throwing away the hints we’ve gained.”

“Ah, frustrating. Is it going to be like this again?”

He scratched his head.

“It was like this before for me too. Events that interfere with my work keep increasing due to some trigger. In the end, it’s something I can’t handle.”

“Don’t give up.”

“I know. I have no intention of giving up now. It’s much better than the previous chapter. We fought, but now we’re allies.”

“That’s right. I can do anything to save my brother.”

“I’m the same. I can be ruthless if it’s for Changgi.”

When Sungyeon reached out her hand, tree roots sprouted from the concrete floor, enveloping the informant.

As if shaping a human-like tree sculpture, he twisted his body in fear, urinating in terror.

“Ugh, ah, ahh!! I told you everything! I told you everything!!!”

“Don’t scream. We’re not going to kill you. We’re actually providing a service.”

“What kind of-!? Ugh, ahh!!”

His right arm was implanted with something while he writhed and struggled.

As if feeling a bug crawling in, he squeezed out tears and screamed.

“What… are you doing…!? Please spare me! I made a mistake in taking the job! I’ll apologize like this!! I’ll do anything!!”

“I’m not going to kill you. Look. We reattached your arm.”

“…Huh!?”

The restraints were released, and he stood on two legs.

A rough wooden arm grew back and became a prosthetic.

“How do you like my AS skills? Do you like it?”

“Huh… an arm! An arm!? It has sensation too! Huh!!”

He was surprised to move it freely like his own arm.

It might even be stronger than his original arm through the nerve connection.

“Do you think it’s all over just because you showed your teeth to us?”

“Yes, yes…! That’s right!!”

“But don’t get too excited.”

It’s not over yet.

He was the main enemy of Lea, and even more so of Chang-gi.

A branch flew towards his neck and planted a seed in his flesh.

“Kah! What is this, another…!”

“Hush hush. You trash. Listen to me carefully. I planted a seed in your neck. It’s a device that explodes instantly when a specific keyword is mentioned.”

“A b-bomb necklace!?”

“Good, you understand quickly. Yes, that’s right. It’s something you often see in movies, right?”

“Ugh!? Ugh!”

“Today’s conversation, where will you disclose it?”

“Ugh!!”

Nodding vigorously!

He shook his head desperately to agree.

As a result, the pain in his neck decreased, leaving only discomfort.

“If we can’t enter the black market, you will go in for us.”

“M-me… gather information…!?”

“Yes. And introduce more trash like you who can be useful. Don’t forget that the more manpower, the easier it will be for you too.”

“If… I can’t find them…?”

“If you want to be the best in the Tower, do it alone.”

Seong-yeon took out a business card from her pocket and handed it to him.

“Here’s my personal contact information. Contact me here. Either recruit more people or gather information quickly.”

He knew what would happen if he couldn’t.

He immediately agreed, took out his phone, saved the number, and contacted his acquaintances.

“No ordinary people. Just gather the same trash. If I find out you hurt someone reliable, you’ll know you’re dead.”

“I will do as you say…!”

“Haha, you listen well. I like that.”

Seong-yeon also saved his number as “Cultivator No. 1.”

Before sunrise, they expanded the cultivators to No. 16, entrusted them with exploring the black market, and returned.

And right after they returned.

The expected event, especially by Seong-yeon, unfolded….