hotmtlnovel Chapter 231: Underwater Battle (2)
Chapter 231: Underwater Battle (2)
Of course, Jeon Se-hyuk didn’t explicitly mention the names of his support forces. A wise decision.
It’s not hard to deduce.
First, there’s Lee Hyun-seok, the warlord of The Abyss, which has bases in the northern and northeastern regions.
Then there’s Lee Ye-rin from the Cheong-an Mercenary Corps and Black Tiger. They are hostile to Eclipse, after all.
If Jeon Se-hyuk is as smart as he seems, he must have been contemplating their usefulness for a long time.
There’s undoubtedly some undisclosed deal or collaboration that he hasn’t shared with me. It’s obvious.
‘Yes, this is it.’
Kang-hoo felt a thrill as he realized the importance of Lee Hyun-seok’s presence.
Lee Hyun-seok, Jeon Se-hyuk’s greatest backer and close confidant, was not supposed to exist at this point in the original story.
Because he had been killed by Moon Yu-seok.
The one who altered that future was none other than Kang-hoo himself.
The butterfly effect of saving Lee Hyun-seok didn’t just preserve The Abyss, the counterforce to the Jeonghwa Guild.
It also influenced Jeon Se-hyuk’s current actions.
With The Abyss backing him, Jeon Se-hyuk’s ambition to confront Eclipse becomes a plausible scenario.
‘In the original story, Jeon Se-hyuk might have wanted to target Eclipse at this point too. But I didn’t write it that way because it wasn’t realistic.’
When writing the original, Kang-hoo had considered depicting Jeon Se-hyuk daringly targeting Eclipse.
But with The Abyss having collapsed, Jeon Se-hyuk and his comrades couldn’t possibly challenge Eclipse on their own.
It would have been suicidal.
But now, with The Abyss intact, Jeon Se-hyuk has the support he needs. The chain of cause and effect is complete.
Kang-hoo spoke.
“I think I understand now.”
“If you pull the net too gently, the catch will escape. You have to pull it in one go for a good harvest.”
“Taking down all of Eclipse at once won’t be easy. As you know, their scale is massive.”
“I’m aware. But at the very least, we can deliver a powerful blow to their core. One that will leave them reeling for a long time.”
Jeon Se-hyuk smiled.
It’s no wonder Kang Dong-hyun finds Jeon Se-hyuk so unnerving.
Jeon Se-hyuk, without exaggeration, spends every waking moment plotting ways to trouble Eclipse. He’s been like that for as long as Kang-hoo can remember.
Even now.
Though he spoke vaguely, Jeon Se-hyuk must already have a plan to torment Eclipse.
The upcoming battle will merely be a prelude. The true calamity, like a tidal wave, will follow.
“Oppa! I recently got a really cool skill. Wanna see?”
“A skill book?”
“Yeah! A gunner-exclusive skill book from a dungeon! Se-hyuk oppa let me have it, so I learned it right away.”
“Let’s see.”
As Kang-hoo crossed his arms with interest, Ban Se-yeong aimed at the wall of the underground parking lot.
The wall, already scorched from numerous demonstrations, was a testament to her enthusiasm.
Click, bang!
Her gun spewed fire, a white trajectory blazing as the enchanted bullet flew.
So far, it seemed no different from the usual magic bullet attack.
But then—
Whoosh! Fwoosh!
The bullet shattered part of the wall and ignited flames, enveloping the surroundings in fire.
The flames resembled a flower in bloom. Ban Se-yeong’s commentary confirmed Kang-hoo’s thoughts.
“Magic Flame Bullet! My new skill!”
“Not bad.”
“...Huh? That’s it? That’s your evaluation?”
“What more is there to say if it’s good?”
“It’s a death-dealing trajectory crowned by flames of execution—a breathtaking, truly magnificent skill.”
“Who says things like that?”
“...Me.”
“Ah.”
Kang-hoo’s curt review spread to Jeon Se-hyuk, who couldn’t help but chuckle.
He had reportedly entered a dungeon due to an urgent support request from the Myeongga Guild.
For an organization as exclusive as the Myeongga Guild to issue an “urgent” request for support spoke volumes about Park Dong-jae’s capabilities.
Once again, Kang-hoo was reminded of Park Dong-jae’s potential.
The guy was destined for greatness. That’s why Kang-hoo needed to keep him close and tightly secured.
The rain poured violently, obscuring visibility.
Water rushed in torrents, surging endlessly into the sewers.
Some sewers, overwhelmed, began to regurgitate the rainwater they had swallowed, causing flooding.
On the third floor of an abandoned apartment building.
At the end of a hallway with shattered windows, Kang-hoo stood quietly, observing the scene below.
It was a perfect moment for “rain-gazing” or “water-gazing,” with no thoughts intruding upon his mind.
At that moment, Ban Se-yeong climbed the stairs and naturally stood beside him.
After the briefing and dinner, she had searched for Kang-hoo and eventually found him here.
She held a paper cup filled with freshly brewed drip coffee. Its rich aroma was delightful.
“What are you doing here, oppa?”
“Nothing in particular. Just came to do nothing.”
“Here, drink this.”
“Thanks.”
Although Kang-hoo liked coffee, he had little experience drinking drip coffee.
The reason was simple—he found the process too troublesome. Pre-made coffee was just more convenient.
But if someone else went through the trouble, that was a different story.
Taking a sip, he discovered a charm distinct from instant coffee. The lingering aroma of the beans was exquisite.
A moment of silence passed.
Neither felt the need to fill the quiet, as sharing the same view seemed to convey an unspoken understanding.
After about five minutes, Ban Se-yeong broke the silence.
“It’s the perfect weather for a fight. But for some reason, I feel gloomy.”
“Why’s that?”
Kang-hoo fully agreed with her sentiment about the weather being ideal for a fight.
Most hunters disliked rainy weather, and ordinary people weren’t much different.
While it might be enjoyable to watch rain from a window, dealing with it directly was a nuisance.
But for hunters like Kang-hoo, who evaluated conditions for tactical advantage, bad weather was ideal.
Especially for assassins.
The sound of pouring rain drowned out footsteps, movements, and even the intent to kill, making it perfect for concealment.
Of course, the rain also increased the chance of being discovered, but the advantages outweighed the drawbacks.
“Tomorrow is an anniversary.”
“Ah.”
Kang-hoo knew whose anniversary it was.
It was the death anniversary of Ban Se-yeong’s late boyfriend, something she had mentioned before.
“It’s also a day for revenge. I really want to get proper revenge this time. Those Eclipse bastards, I’ve had enough of them.”
Ban Se-yeong ground her teeth.
The resentment she and Jeon Se-hyuk harbored toward Eclipse was on a completely different level from Kang-hoo’s.
When Kang-hoo had killed Cha So-hee.
He and Kang Dong-hyun could have maintained a strategic truce. Conversations to that effect had even taken place.
In other words, Kang-hoo’s relationship with Eclipse wasn’t one of deep enmity.
Had Kang Dong-hyun not crossed the line first, they might have maintained a precarious peace.
But Ban Se-yeong had lost a loved one to Eclipse, and Jeon Se-hyuk had suffered similarly.
Thus, they harbored unrelenting hostility toward every member of Eclipse. They wouldn’t let a single one survive.
The only way to avoid provoking their wrath was to leave Eclipse entirely.
At that moment,
“Oppa, you said you absolutely wanted to kill Go Kyung-ho, right? Do you have a painful reason for that?”
Her unexpected question took Kang-hoo by surprise.
Though unexpected for Kang-hoo, it was a natural question from Ban Se-yeong’s perspective.