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chapter 158
A few hours earlier.
When the server Loque Guerrero was first captured by Lee Hyun, he had only one thought:
“Uh… I just need to somehow get out of this crisis. Then… Familia—or rather, the Boss—will somehow save me.”
Members of the City Cartel were fiercely loyal.
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, blood for blood.
The cartel always acted boldly for the sake of its own. Just like the cartel’s motto, which the Boss always repeated, they would step up for anything that concerned their family.
The moment Lee Hyun had already destroyed the casino, war with the City Cartel became unavoidable.
But…
“This is the Tumon Strip? The same place where Tumon Beach used to be?”
“Yes… that’s right. Many things have been built, but tourists… there are still a lot of them.”
Every time Lee Hyun spoke, Loque’s heart sank.
He kept his gaze on the ground the entire way, fearing he might meet the gold-colored eyes hidden behind Lee Hyun’s mask.
After blowing up the casino, Lee Hyun had been walking the streets using Loque as a guide.
“So flashy… It’s basically a den of demons. What is that smell?”
Son Goku looked around with a displeased expression.
As if the casino, filled moments ago with explosions and screams, had never existed, the streets were now bathed in layers of dazzling neon lights and golden billboards.
The red-lit building exteriors looked like walls drenched in blood, and the flickering advertisements on the screens resembled prayers worshiping “pleasure” as a god.
The streets were filled with laughter and music, with the pungent smell of marijuana lingering in the air.
Half-drunk tourists mixed with shadows of local gangs.
Black limousines glided past, and fights broke out in the side alleys.
Yet nobody was surprised. It was all as if it were perfectly normal.
In fact, they clapped and laughed loudly.
The line between paradise and hell blurred in this strange, otherworldly scene.
To Son Goku, who had grown accustomed to the peaceful streets of Seoul, this world felt completely alien.
“I’ve never been here before… but it’s even more of a mess than I imagined.”
“Nothing but messy people. Why did my second brother even come here? He always liked to have fun, sure… but there can’t be anything important here, right?”
As Son Goku muttered to himself, Lee Hyun spoke to gather more information.
“It’s extremely flashy. Last time I came, Dungeon Breaks occurred in succession—it was basically hell.”
“Th-That was over ten years ago.”
“So things are different now?”
Lee Hyun noticed a slight change in Loque’s eyes.
‘This should be enough to create confusion when I tell the cartel about my identity later.’
He had already determined the persona to use for Gwire.
A veteran freelancer with a ten-year hiatus.
Arrogant and oppressive, reminiscent of Zeus from legend.
A genius mage with unrivaled skill in lightning techniques.
This persona would keep him well separated from Zet.
Immersing fully in the persona was essential.
“Even if the ecosystem changes, it’s still a tourist spot… There are even more tourists seeking unique experiences.”
“Keep talking.”
“As you can see, there are casinos, hotels, nightclubs, resorts, and… pleasure districts.”
Lee Hyun nodded. The street was indeed filled with flashy, towering buildings.
“That’s why it’s also a hub for money laundering among crime syndicates, and a key point tied to international drug networks.”
“Like your cartel?”
Loque trembled but forced a smile and nodded. He was trying desperately to win Lee Hyun’s favor.
“Yes… besides that… there’s an underground fighting arena where large bets are placed, and even a market for human trafficking.”
“Interesting. Tell me more about the structure of other areas of Guam.”
According to Loque, Guam could be divided into five main zones.
The first was the Tumon Strip, where they were now—a street of pleasure and luxury set against Tumon Beach.
“Second is the Dededo Slums nearby. It’s considered a breeding ground for criminals and… mages.”
Originally, Dededo had a larger population than the capital, Hagåtña. Now, with old apartments, burned-out cars, and tangled power lines, disorder and violence were routine.
“Most petty criminals and illegal immigrants gather here, as well as aspirants aiming to join evil axes like the Cartel. Many organizations with the same goal also converge here.”
Emerging crime groups often grow here before expanding outward, hence the nickname “breeding ground.”
“Third is… the Apra Harbor District in the north. Rusted containers, cranes, and many pirate ships.”
“There must be shadow branches of arms companies there.”
Lee Hyun’s eyes gleamed; this was one of his key interests.
“Yes. Many pirates and PMCs gather there, so companies often hire expensive mercenaries or bribe pirates to get things done.”
“Likely a lot of arms trading and maritime smuggling too?”
“P-Perhaps you’re looking for something in particular…?”
“Is there a black market? To acquire magic stones?”
“Yes! They dismantle or trade the corpses of deep-sea monsters…”
“Good.”
Lee Hyun memorized the Apra Harbor District—he’d probably be spending the most time there.
“Fourth is the Hagåtña Black Zone.”
“Wasn’t that the administrative capital?”
“Yes… but the surface, where the government offices were, is mostly in ruins. It’s now controlled by gangs, mostly living in tunnels underground.”
Lee Hyun knew something about Hagåtña. Most images of modern Guam came from this Black Zone.
All types of crime organizations, including evil axes, triads, yakuza, and mafia coexist here. Even agencies like the CIA, MSS, and SVR operate secretly.
“I understand there’s information trading and even Awakened humans being sold… but I don’t know the details. People like me don’t get near those things.”
Guam was both lawless and strictly hierarchical. Low-level sudras could never enter Hagåtña—attempts were met with instant execution.
“Plus, the ‘Mines’ here prevent almost all information from leaking outside.”
The “Mines” was a euphemism for the areas where seawater from deep-sea gates first reached the beach. The water could be used to infinitely generate high-quality magic stones, so upper powers monopolized Hagåtña.
‘They call it sea beast stone. The best ones fetch enormous sums at auction.’
Lee Hyun had to go there. And right there…
“That mine leads to the fifth zone, the Challenger Sea Gate, right?”
“Y-Yes.”
The Challenger Sea Gate, also called the deep-sea dungeon, was suspected to be the sealed location of the Kyoma King.
And nearby… “The Cloud of Rapid Movement is also there.”
[Holy Relic: Flame-Anointed Golden Statue provides a hint for the dungeon gate linked to the golden key.]
[Proceed to the Challenger Sea Area.]
‘To reach the Challenger Sea Area, I need to enter Hagåtña… and to enter Hagåtña, I’ll have to raise my reputation even more.’
That’s why Lee Hyun had been systematically destroying only the City Cartel’s establishments.
‘That way, I can sell Gwire for a high price in the harbor district later.’
Although many crime organizations colluded to dominate Guam, they all had teeth aimed at one another. Naturally, if only the City Cartel suffered, the others would be delighted—and willing to pay more.
‘Alright. Let’s focus on raising our notoriety here.’
Once his plan was set, Lee Hyun began flying.
And then…
Rumble!!
Just hours earlier, one of Guam’s tallest hotels—among the top three—collapsed.
“This is a nightmare… a nightmare…!”
The last remaining City Cartel establishment on the Tumon Strip. Of course, small businesses connected to the cartel still remained, but the major locations had all been destroyed.
Naturally, corpses littered the area. Smoke and the scent of burnt debris testified to the fierce battles.
“…What do we do now?”
Loque slumped, wetting his pants in fear. He had been guiding Lee Hyun, trusting that other masters in the area would take care of him. Now, he realized he had effectively led them to their deaths.
He had unintentionally become a traitor, handing the Familia to the enemy.
Meanwhile…
“Damn it… I came here to relax, and this happens.”
“Wasn’t this resort run by the drug lord? I thought it’d be far from war… and now this…!”
“The drug lord’s reputation has plummeted. Damn it. I didn’t even pack properly—how will I manage tomorrow’s business meeting?”
Unlike Loque, other patrons fleeing the resort gritted their teeth. They were upper-class elites who wouldn’t even dare look at Loque. They were disappointed and had resolved to exclude the Cartel from future deals.
“Hahaha! Even the resort’s been leveled!”
“The cartel must have known they’d end up like this when they built the place!”
“Feels so satisfying!!”
Other onlookers included members of groups that had conflicts with the City Cartel or opposed the drug lord’s oppressive rule but lacked the strength to act. They held beers, smoked marijuana, and celebrated the chaos like a festival.
Opposing forces, the Tumon Strip had been ignited by a large-scale battle for the first time in a while.
At that moment…
“You damn bastard!!”
Anaconda Romero, the resort manager, erupted in rage and grabbed a Gatling-type minigun from the underground storage.
He was one of the closest candidates to the drug lord’s inner circle, the Guam branch manager, with a natural inheritance of the South American demon Gualichu—a being overseeing curses, evil, calamity, and fortune.
But today, the curse and calamity seemed to have fallen upon him instead of Gwire.
His burning gaze fixed on Lee Hyun amidst the dust clouds.
Even after demolishing the building, Lee Hyun remained calm, fueling Anaconda’s fury.
If he was going to die by the Boss’s hand anyway, he might as well take this guy with him…
“Die!!!”
Rrrrrr!!
Six barrels spun, ejecting hundreds, even thousands, of shell casings in an instant.
Magical bullets infused with curses and calamities sprayed everywhere. Even hidden gang members unleashed magics through their weapons. Some pulled out bazookas.
A massive, uncontrolled barrage of fire.
[Inheritance, “Evil Spirit Bearing Curses and Calamities,” dominates the battlefield!]
As the dust clouds tore apart, threatening to sweep Lee Hyun away…
Tap!
He lightly struck the Rune Staff on the ground, sending white currents in expanding concentric circles.
―ᛇ
Simultaneously, a hemispherical protective barrier enveloped him.
Ziiiiing!!
[“Thunder Whale” coils to protect you!]
Thousands of bullets froze mid-air just in front of Lee Hyun.
Crackle! Crackle!
Electricity arced between the bullets.
“…D-Damn.”
Seeing this, Anaconda turned pale and cursed.
[“Thunder Whale” thrashes its tail violently!]
[A white tidal wave erupts!]
It became his last will.
The bullet barrage returned along its original trajectory, carrying even more powerful currents.
Kwah! Kwah! Kwah! Kwah! Boom!!
