hotmtlnovel Chapter 230: Underwater Battle (1)
Chapter 230: Underwater Battle (1)
Lars once said something to Jang Si-hwan in the original story.
[Jang Si-hwan, I’m envious and pleased with everything you have, so full of abundance.
If you don’t lose these, I’ll stay by your side, fulfill my desires, and help you.
So don’t lose them. That’s your value and my motivation. Without them, you’re just a corpse.]
Due to his portrayal as a materialistic character, Lars’s public opinion in the original story was quite negative.
From being called a “leech stuck on the protagonist,” to criticisms like “kill Lars already,”
phrases like Lars-dead-answer (“the answer is to kill Lars”) even became a trendy saying.
However, by the end of the story, Lars actively supported and assisted Jang Si-hwan until the very end.
When Jang Si-hwan was in danger in a dungeon, Lars was the first to come to his aid.
Regardless of his motives, it was true that Lars had been a great help to Jang Si-hwan.
Lost in memories of the original story, Lee Ye-rin, who had been silently waiting for Kang-hoo’s response, asked,
-Kang-hoo-ssi?
“Oh. I was just recalling something about the Stark Guild. Is there more I should know?”
-They say Ayane is needed because of the Dive Bombing Eagles, monsters that attack from the air.
“I see what you mean.”
Even without a detailed explanation, hearing the monster’s name and the need for Ayane was enough to guess.
Flying monsters are naturally tricky for Kang-hoo. A skilled sniper would be essential.
-Then, once the dungeon license is secured, I’ll notify you to proceed with the request.
“Sounds good.”
The request coordination was concluded.
By securing the Fallen Series Cuirass through this mission, Kang-hoo would undoubtedly upgrade his specs.
It might enhance the set item’s grade, activate a set skill, or even increase hidden stats or related synergy.
Once the set item is obtained from Germany, the next destination would, without question, be South Africa.
Everything was progressing smoothly.
A while later.
Kang-hoo, who had received the Queen’s Bile, contacted K.
Perhaps not busy at the time, K picked up the call before the first ring finished.
“Got it?”
“Yes. It was delivered perfectly without any damage.”
“I told you not to worry. That courier is top-notch. Over 100 deliveries completed solo, with zero accidents.”
In a world where public safety varied drastically by region, secure deliveries were more challenging than one might think.
That’s why guilds monopolized the transportation business—because of the need for safety.
To send goods from Seoul to Busan, for example, one had to rely on land or air routes.
Air transport was expensive, so roads became the primary option.
But the journey often required passing through multiple territories, each governed by different factions.
Even venturing outside the Gyeonggi Province frequently meant risking violent roadside skirmishes.
In relatively orderly regions like Daejeon, using the roads wasn’t an issue.
However, passing through areas like the Kimcheon Liberation Area or Hongcheon Liberation Area meant risking one’s life.
Thus, even a delivery completed without issues in a short time deserved high marks.
“Thank you.”
“I had it purified by a specialist, ensuring zero impurities. It’ll be far more effective than you think.”
“Looking at the vial of bile, I see not even a speck of dust. It’s exceptional.”
“Told you I knew what I was doing. By the way, can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“Do you have a mentor?”
A mentor.
If asked, yes and no.
Technically, Kang-hoo didn’t have a mentor in the conventional sense, as he considered himself his own teacher.
If he attached the term mentor to everything he had written, remembered, and experienced in the original story, the concept somewhat fit.
“I don’t.”
“Hypothetically, if I recommended an excellent assassin mentor, would you consider learning from them?”
“Isn’t that up to the mentor rather than me? They wouldn’t know me in advance, after all.”
A ponytail. It suited Ban Se-yeong’s slender face perfectly.
Jeon Se-hyuk, too, had changed slightly.
Perhaps to conceal the scar revealed when his mask was removed.
He had grown a thick beard that covered the scar running from the corner of his right lip to below his eye.
With his naturally full beard, he looked rather impressive. More importantly, the scar was barely visible.
“Yes, the city is quiet.”
“It’s completely desolate now that the existing guild forces have pulled out. It’s like an empty shell.”
“The beard suits you well. I’ve never managed to grow one, no matter how hard I try...”
Kang-hoo ran his hand over his smooth chin. He wasn’t joking; it was oddly difficult for him to grow facial hair.
While others shaved twice a day, Kang-hoo only needed to shave once a week at most.
And even then, it was more about tidying up the few unsightly strands than actual maintenance.
“For now, let’s put on our masks. We don’t plan to use real names internally.”
“That’s a good idea.”
Kang-hoo nodded.
While he had no reservations with Jeon Se-hyuk and Ban Se-yeong, the rest of Jeon Se-hyuk’s group consisted of people indirectly connected to Kang-hoo.
There was no need to expose unnecessary information.
Of course, a few skills displayed in combat could give things away, but there was a difference between officially revealing information and keeping it under wraps.
“You should choose a nickname. Everyone here goes by one, except for Se-yeong and me.”
“Hmm... ‘Mozo’ sounds fitting as a nickname.”
“As in ‘imitation’? That Mozo?”
“Not exactly. It has a bit of personal history. Just call me MOZO.”
“Understood, Mozo-nim.”
“Got it, Mozo oppa.”
With the nickname settled, introductions were complete.
Mozo.
It was the pseudonym Kang-hoo had used back when he was the original author.
That’s why he had said it was a nickname with a story behind it. Of course, no one in this world would recognize it.
In truth, there likely wouldn’t be much need to call each other by nicknames.
While Kang-hoo would move with Jeon Se-hyuk’s team, his role would ultimately lean toward individual action.
Kang-hoo’s primary goal had always been Go Gyeong-ho. The punishment of Eclipse members came afterward.
This part of the plan had already been discussed and agreed upon with Jeon Se-hyuk.
Following Jeon Se-hyuk’s lead, Kang-hoo headed to a secret space one floor below the parking lot.
It seemed they intended to review the agreed-upon plan before meeting the rest of the team.
Ban Se-yeong quickly brought over mixed coffee from somewhere, creating a warm and relaxed atmosphere for their discussion.
Feeling chilly, the hot coffee immediately helped Kang-hoo relax.
After a sip, Jeon Se-hyuk broke the silence.
“The goal of this operation is simple: we’re going to obliterate the entire Pyeongtaek branch.”
“May I ask why? Up until now, you’ve been doing hit-and-run guerrilla tactics to provoke them.”
“It’s time to draw out the higher-ups. If Kang Dong-hyun doesn’t show himself, we’ll at least flush out his direct subordinates.”
Jeon Se-hyuk pointed to the wall behind Kang-hoo, where photos of all Eclipse executives were pinned.
Each picture was fastened not with tacks or clips, but daggers, giving them symbolic significance.
“It could turn into an all-out war. Are you prepared for that? If Eclipse goes all in, you’ll need to brace for sacrifices.”
Kang-hoo asked subtly, sensing that Jeon Se-hyuk had a plan.
Jeon Se-hyuk wasn’t the type to act recklessly out of mere revenge. He was calculated.
If he was making such a bold move, he must have backing. Was there another force supporting him?
Jeon Se-hyuk’s response came with a mysterious smile and a quiet, confident voice.
“The moment Eclipse makes their move, they’ll be the ones bracing for losses, not us. We have more allies than you think.”
As expected.
Jeon Se-hyuk wasn’t the only one casting a net to catch the big fish that was Eclipse.
At that moment, Kang-hoo thought of potential allies absent in the original story’s depiction of Jeon Se-hyuk.
They were forces more than capable of taking down Eclipse.