BRDM 171

chapter 171

“Really? Alright then. Do as you please.”

Ramon was taken aback. That wasn’t the reaction he’d expected.

“You mean… you have no objections?”

“Objections? To what? Aren’t you from a Blue Ribbon group like us? You even have two of them, don’t you? Then what’s the problem? Or are you hiding something else?”

“Of course not.”

“Then that’s that. We’re busy, so please see yourself out.”

It was a clear dismissal — even laced with a hint of mockery.

In the end, Ramon left, feeling as though he’d been bewitched into doing so.

Outside the building, Esteban and the others were waiting, cigars in their mouths.

Their faces tightened when they saw Ramon’s expression — things had gone wrong again.

“Same response as before?”

Ramon silently nodded.

Esteban spat out a curse.

“Damn it. What the hell are these bastards thinking?”

Not long after Lee Hyun had headed into the Deep Sea Dungeon first,
the Sponsors’ Alliance had formed a raid party — with Esteban at its core.

The organization had been busy lately, but following Lee Hyun seemed like a promising move.

Fortunately, none of them seemed particularly upset that Lee Hyun had gone in ahead of schedule.

‘Well, makes sense… The alliance wouldn’t even exist without Sir Gwire. Without him, none of us would be doing business in Hagatna either.’

Just as Lee Hyun had noted before, Esteban was a man who knew how to seize opportunity.

He’d even poured in massive funds to form a support team to back Lee Hyun’s expedition…

‘But the Hagatna corporations — the ones we thought would be obstacles — are letting this happen too easily.’

The place Ramon had just visited to negotiate was no different.

All he’d heard was a mocking, “Do whatever you want.”

“Did you ask why?”

Ramon gave a bitter smile and shook his head.

“Not a word. Nothing at all.”

“They’re closing ranks. If this keeps up, it’s going to get dangerous.”

It was obvious the corporations of Hagatna knew something — something they weren’t saying.

“It is dangerous. Which is why there’s one more place I need to check.”

“There’s still one left?”

“Just one.”

The place Ramon headed next — Black Maria.

One of the five largest enterprises in Hagatna.

“…Do you think they’ll even bother meeting us properly?”

“We still have to try. Besides, Sir Gwire himself said — if the gatekeeping gets too bad, we should go to Black Maria.”

“Sir Gwire said that…?”

Esteban widened his eyes.

And soon realized — Lee Hyun truly was something else.

Because the one who came out to meet them was none other than Luciano.

The Butcher of Iloilo City — and vice president of Black Maria.

“So, you’re Gwire’s friends. I hear you’ve been busy gathering people for a Deep Sea Dungeon raid?”

Neither Ramon nor Esteban had expected such a powerful figure to show up personally. Both men stiffened in tension.

But realizing that word had already spread across Hagatna, they decided to meet it head-on — brazenly.

And then—

“You want to know why?”

“Yes. We were told that raiding the Deep Sea Dungeon is an absolute taboo in Hagatna. Even routine explorations are tightly monitored between corporations.”

“You seem to know a lot. And yet you still want to go knocking?”

“Because it’s what Sir Gwire wishes.”

“Well… when a client insists, who are we to stop them? Providing custom service is our business, after all.”

Luciano grinned broadly, lips twisting in amusement.

“But tell me, unlike such a grand client, don’t you sponsors think you’re bowing too low? Expose too much weakness, and you’ll get eaten alive.”

“Pretending to know when we don’t — that would be even dumber. Besides…”

Even under Luciano’s intense gaze, Ramon calmly replied:

“We believe we can form a strong partnership with Black Maria. If that happens, who would dare target us?”

“Partnership? Pahaha! Now that’s something I like to hear!”

Ramon swallowed dryly after saying it — half expecting Luciano to pull a gun for overstepping.

But instead—

“The Deep Sea Dungeon’s rampage is getting worse. Some are even saying a third Break might occur.”

Luciano chuckled as he explained — and that alone told Ramon and Esteban something crucial:

Gwire had already become a major player in Hagatna.

“The third Break…?”

“The first was when Guam was ruined. The second, when even the U.S. military packed up and left. And now — the third.”

“…”

“Sea monsters that used to appear once or twice a year — a dozen have shown up in just the past couple months. It’s been a nightmare.”

Ramon immediately remembered the top-grade Sea Stone that Lee Hyun had stolen from the Cartel’s casino — recently harvested, too.

“Still, with so many fine Sea Stones flooding in, everyone’s keeping quiet. That’s why I’ve had to leave my post so often lately.”

“…”

“The Deep Sea Dungeon is no longer a place you can clear. Anyone who enters now might as well be returning to the embrace of the Holy Mother.”

Luciano smirked faintly.

“And then, just as all that’s happening, Gwire volunteers to go in? From the companies’ perspective, a rival’s conveniently removing himself. Why would they object?”

Esteban looked to Ramon. Ramon said nothing.

Luciano studied him — almost testing him.

After a pause, Ramon bowed slightly.

“Thank you. I know that couldn’t have been easy to say.”

“If you want a good partnership, you’ve got to give something first. Still — you plan to continue with the raid?”

“Yes. We’ll explain the situation to the companies and proceed with whoever’s willing.”

“Even if it means dying?”

“Sir Gwire’s a born gambler.”

Luciano laughed, looking Ramon in the eyes.

A bullfighter.
His nickname fit — those were the eyes of a man already in the arena.

‘So even Gwire’s companions are remarkable. Fortune really favors him.’

No one could succeed alone in Guam — freelancers had limits.

But if one built their own foundation, things changed.
A foundation became a business. A business, a corporation.

And suddenly… Luciano was interested.

“Any chance that raid still has open slots? I’d like to join — personally.”

“…You, Mr. Luciano?”

Now it was Ramon’s turn to be shocked.

“It’s been too long since I worked the field. My body’s gone stiff. And if the Deep Sea Dungeon collapses, I’ll be in trouble too.”

From every word Luciano spoke, Ramon and Esteban understood — this was the path they had to follow.
The man’s sheer force of will was overwhelming.

“There are still plenty of spots left, but… the leader of the raid is Mr. Esteban here. Are you fine with that?”

Esteban shot Ramon a surprised look, but the fire in Ramon’s eyes wouldn’t dim.

A raid leader’s authority was absolute.
Even the strongest warrior must not overstep.

Could Luciano accept that?

Luciano smirked — clearly impressed.

“Of course. I’ve no taste for stealing someone else’s seat.”

“Then we’ll look forward to working with you.”

“Likewise.”

Ramon and Luciano clasped hands firmly.

That night…

Another organization reached out, saying they too wanted to join the raid.

‘Them, too?’

The Sons of Zeus.

[The Footsteps of Shadow and the Trail of Light blend — allowing stealthy movement.]
[Your presence cannot be detected.]

[Activating: Trust of the Dokkebi.]

Paaah!

‘Huge… It feels like Gulliver visiting the land of giants.’

Flash!

Lee Hyun slipped naturally through the fortress walls and into the inner castle.

Everything — from the halls to the ceilings — was built to the scale of giants.

He had to sprint for quite a while just to cross one corridor.

Only after mixing teleportation with magic could he finally take stock of the fortress layout.

“Everything’s enormous… My neck’s starting to hurt. These guys must eat a ton — I wonder how big their desserts are? Maybe I’ll sneak by the kitchen later.”

‘No. You know we don’t have time for that, Daesung.’

“Tch.”

All around, giant dungeon dwellers hurried through the halls — even servants and civilians were armed.

The air reeked of blood.

“How much food do we have left?”
“At most five days… maybe just tonight.”
“Damn it. It’s supposed to be harvest season, but those beasts won’t relent…!”
“The crops were tainted with sea monster blood anyway. Let it go.”
“If this keeps up, we’ll starve before we fall in battle!”

Their desperate state was clear.

“We’ve even had to slaughter the goose.”
“The one that laid golden eggs… Damn it. We had no choice.”
“Even the gold and silver coins in the treasury have been melted down for armor and weapons.”

Symbols of Jack and the Beanstalk — the golden egg-laying goose, the coin sacks — all consumed.

Because of that, Lee Hyun and Son Wukong could now tell how far the “adaptation” of this world had gone.

“This war’s been going on for ages. But it seems the sea monsters have gotten even worse recently?”

‘Then the Sea Demon King’s frenzy must be intensifying. We must hurry.’

“The guy’s still causing trouble in his sleep… Even sealed, he’s a pain.”

Beneath the joking tone, Hyun sensed a hint of sadness in Wukong’s voice. He smiled faintly.

From the first floor to the second, across the drawbridge, toward the commander’s palace.

Along the way, he passed kitchens, libraries — even the library’s massive size felt unfit for warriors.

‘It’s here.’

Using the Golden Eye, Hyun finally reached a particular door — a place radiating immense energy.

Something important was inside.

[A location strongly connected to the Holy Relic has been found.]

Even though the golden aura now enveloped the whole giant realm, the light was especially intense here.

“Two more sea kings appeared just now. I’ll go handle them.”
“But, Your Majesty! It’s too dangerous!”
“Stand aside. If the queen herself won’t lead by example, how can her soldiers stay loyal?”

Hearing that commanding voice, Hyun quickly stepped back.

Bang!

The door burst open — a female warrior clad in full iron armor emerged.

‘She’s huge.’

Her presence alone marked her noble status, but her aura dwarfed even the other warriors.

At least fifteen meters tall, broad-shouldered, built like a mountain.

The queen, undeterred by her retainers’ protests, slung a massive halberd over her shoulder and strode down the corridor.

Hyun couldn’t help but watch her.

“What? Don’t tell me you’re smitten?”

‘…Maybe a little.’

“Huh? That’s your type?”

Son Wukong teased, startled to see Hyun’s captivated gaze.

‘I like them tall and strong.’

“…You’re hopeless.”

Hyun chuckled, imagining himself wielding a gigantic axe as imposing as her halberd.

‘Though, I’m not talking about romance. Not thinking about dating anytime soon.’

With that, he slipped through the barely open door and entered the room.

It was vast — more like a royal treasury than a chamber.

And in the center, upon a dais — a golden chest, straight out of a fairy tale illustration.

Bzzzt!

[The Golden Key reacts.]

Hyun’s eyes lit up.

He approached — tap!

The chest quivered violently, shaking harder by the second.

He drew out the golden key, about to insert it—

Then stopped.

His eyes went cold.

“Kid.”

‘Yeah. I know.’

He lifted his head, scanning the area.

A voice echoed in his mind.

『Oh dear… Did I interrupt you? My apologies.』

The tone was anything but apologetic.

He knew that voice — it was the queen’s.

『Go ahead, open it. I never understood why everyone’s so obsessed with that box. There’s nothing inside. It’s been empty since long before I became queen.』

Hyun tensed.

Giants didn’t use or even know magic — the queen shouldn’t have been able to sense his concealment or project her voice like this.

So how—?

‘Where is she?’

He couldn’t even locate her.

『Not opening it? Then I’ll do it for you.』

At that moment, a halberd tore through the air above him—

Shraaaang!

Hyun barely dodged as it smashed into the chest, cleaving it in half.

BOOM!

The halberd buried deep into the floor, cracks spiderwebbing across walls and ceiling. The whole fortress shook.

And inside the shattered chest— nothing.

But before Hyun could process that—

Son Wukong’s expression hardened.

“Strange… Why does that swing smell like Bokhae?”

Hyun’s eyes widened beneath his mask.