Ranker's Return

Supplementary Story 8

Around 10 people were gathered and whispering quietly.

“Did you hear the rumor?”

"What are you talking about?”

“I heard Baron Haggis will give a quest?”

“Nonsense. You have already experienced it for a month.”

A man roughly shook his head. Many rankers sought out Baron Haggis for the main scenario, but no one received a quest. He gave quests to only one player.

“Some people have already received it.”

“Really? They received a quest?”

“There is a rumor that the party led by Orun received it. Shane said he saw it.”

“Then should we get it too?”

“We only have six people. We didn’t even make a guild like others. It is crazy to spend unnecessary time on uncertainty.”

A black figure secretly passed behind those who were talking.

“Did he hear it?”

“Of course he heard it based on the way he was running like a rat.”

“Is this the price of a meal?”

The moment the figure in black disappeared, those who were talking turned their heads and looked at the side where the black figure disappeared. Their identity was one of the ranker parties that had received items from Hyeonu.

“Did they fall for it?”

“Everyone else besides us is saying the same thing... they can’t help being fooled.”

“They would be deceived even if they know it is a trap. It is because they are greedy.”

“They are idiots. Why are they being greedy? They should look where they’re going to lie down and stretch out their feet.”

They were convinced about the future of the black figure who disappeared, Xiao Chun. A shard of glass that was trampled on and shattered—this was the future of the Baekyang Guild.

***

“I think everyone has heard it. Is it possible that the rumors are true?” Xiao Chun, the master of the Baekyang Guild, opened his mouth at the meeting of the main members of the guild members. However, no one easily opened their mouths. They couldn’t say much. They knew that Xiao Chun was uncomfortable due to the series of defeats. They were worried about the aftermath of premature remarks.

“I think it is right that Baron Haggis is giving quests. Many rankers have already received it.”

Liu Xing was the first to answer. It was because it was clear no one would come forward if he didn’t.

“Orun has already led the party into the depths of the Arti Desert.”

“I also heard that at least two parties have passed beyond their usual hunting field, Master.”

The moment Liu Xing stepped up, the other executives also took out the information they collected one by one.

“What about the others?” Xiao Chun asked while looking around at the executives who hadn’t spoken yet.

“I’ve heard something similar.”

“I heard it as well.”

The executives who hadn’t answered nodded. They heard the same things that the others had. It was every single one of them.

“Isn’t it enough to say that there is no one who doesn’t know about it?”

The executives nodded at Xiao Chun’s words. Everywhere they went, everyone was talking about the same thing.

“Then should we go?” Xiao Chun asked again. Once again, the executives nodded.

“We need to meet Baron Haggis right now.”

“We can’t give up the quest to other parties. We can only suffer a mishap to him once.”

The executives were about to rush out of their seats immediately. Their eyes shifted toward Xiao Chun. Xiao Chun closed his mouth regardless of the intense gazes of the executives. Instead, he tapped the table with his finger at a constant speed.

Xiao Chun played with his fingers for a long time before sighing and opening his mouth, “I should give up on him, right?”

Xiao Chun didn’t say the exact name, but everyone knew who he was referring to.

“Revenge can be done later, Master. The thing we need now is the main scenario.”

“That’s right. Please recall the reason for the dispute, Master. Why did you fight him?”

Everyone was of the same mind. They wanted something more than losing.

“I think that is right. There were a number of failures, but... I’ll have to bury it for a while.”

It was the same for Xiao Chun. He thought it was right to forget about his anger toward Hyeonu for a moment.

‘However, it isn’t easy.’

It was just that his emotions couldn’t be controlled as he desired. The grudge is too deep.

‘Hold it back a little bit. Just a little bit...’

“Liu Xing and I will go and meet Baron Haggis. We’ll be departing as soon as I get back so call the guild members right away,” Xiao Chun got up and instructed.

“I understand, Master.”

“I understand, Master.”

Following this, the other executives also got out of their seats. They didn’t even realize it. The fact that their path was a shortcut to hell.

***

Hyeonu stood in a place where golden sand was piled high like a mountain and nodded as he looked at the figures in the distance.

‘It is going well as I planned.’

The identity of the moving guild of players was naturally the Baekyang Guild. They were walking onto the stage created by Hyeonu.

‘I guess they have good items.’

The Baekyang Guild was the first to head inside the Arti Desert. The other parties and guilds focused on hunting as they had been doing. They didn’t pay attention to Hyeonu’s matter.

‘What should I do?’

Hyeonu was lost in thought as he looked at the Baekyang Guild that was getting further away. Now Hyeonu had two options. The first was to destroy the Baekyang Guild while searching for the scorpion king. The second was to find the scorpion king and kill them when they started the battle.

‘Both are good...’

It wasn’t easy to pick one of them. Both had distinct advantages.

‘Then I can do both.’

Therefore, Hyeonu mixed the two. It was an appropriate restraint. Then the deadly blow would come at the crucial moment.

‘Let’s get started straight away.’

Hyeonu started to secretly follow the Baekyang Guild.

***

“Are there any guild members who were logged out?”

“No, Master. They all survived.”

“Your skills have improved a lot. I don’t know if I should like it or not.”

Xiao Chun looked around at the guild members and smiled bitterly.

‘In order to kill one person...’

The reason why the guild members’ skills improved so much was sad.

“Master, we can kill them once we finish this quest well,” Liu Xing offered words of comfort to Xiao Chun.

“I will kill him no matter what. No matter what. This isn’t a matter of pride. The guild’s existence is at stake.”

Xiao Chun couldn’t give up his revenge. If they didn’t return as much as they had been given, then a gap would appear in the hearts of the guild members. Any guild would collapse once the guild members left.

“Master, I found a group of desert scorpions in front.”

Just then, the scouting member of the Baekyang Guild returned and started making his report.

“A group? How many did you see?” Liu Xing asked the guild member.

“It looked like it was between eight and ten.”

The guild member’s answer was ambiguous. However, Liu Xing and Xiao Chun’s expressions were okay even with such an answer. The desert scorpions moved through the sand. Naturally, it wasn’t easy to spot them with the naked eye. Just finding them in advance was good enough.

“Everyone, get ready for battle! Get in formation!” Xiao Chun shouted to the other guild members without asking any more questions. The Baekyang Guild members moved in perfect order. The melee classes rushed toward the sand of the desert, which shook like there was an earthquake.

“Divine energy!”

“Goddess’ Blessing!”

The priests cast buffs at the charging guild members.

“Divine energy, hup!”

Just then, one of the priests casting a buff screamed and held his neck. The priest fell while holding his neck. Blood flowed through the fingers of the fallen priest and soaked the desert. The face of the other priest turned white when he saw it. The scene in front of him was too familiar. This was the work of the devil who devastated the Baekyang Guild.

“This person! That man appeared!”

No players ran over immediately despite the priests’ screams. The majority of melee players had already rushed toward the desert scorpions. The only ones in the rear were the priests and magicians.

“Wow, there are only the priests and magicians?”

A blurred figure appeared behind the fallen priest. The identity of the figure was naturally Hyeonu.

“It is my turn now. Are you the only ones who can get in the way? Rather, that is my specialty.”

Hyeonu grinned at the priests and magicians who were staring at him. Just then, a silver longsword swung toward Hyeonu’s head.

“Die! This monster jerkl!” The owner of the longsword was Xiao Chun. He had been in the back with Liu Xing and appeared after hearing the priest’s scream.

“Yes, I won’t die.” Hyeonu easily avoided Xiao Chun’s surprise attack by stepping back. “You are the one who will die.”

At the same time, Hyeonu’s appearance scattered. It was a skill that was the symbol of an assassin, Stealth.

“Ack!” A scream burst out of the mouth of a magician who was standing not far from Xiao Chun. A sword was protruding from the magician’s chest. Hyeonu pulled the sword out in a single breath. At the same time, the magician’s body collapsed.

“Two are out!” Hyeonu mocked the Baekyang Guild in a very casual tone. The Baekyang Guild members bit their lips hard. They were too helpless without the melee classes.

“This is the desert! Footprints are left. Concealment is useless! All you have to do is use your magic well!”

As the leader of the guild, Xiao Chun maintained his composure. However, the only one with the same ability was Liu Xing standing next to him. The other guild members had already lost their minds.

"Kuaaaak!"

To make matters worse, there was a problem with the side facing the desert scorpions. They naturally started to be pushed without the support of the magicians and priests.

‘It has to be solved in some way.’

Xiao Chun gritted his teeth. They would be wiped out if time was dragged out here.

“Don’t disperse and gather in one place!”

Xiao Chun gathered the priests and magicians. Hyeonu might be strong, but he was still an assassin. The limits of his class were unavoidable.

‘There is no way there will be an assassin with a wide range skill.’

Of course, it could happen as the level went up. However, it could never be the case not long after Arena was opened.

“Ahh... Isn’t that a good response? Even if you aren’t good at games, your brain is working well.”

Hyeonu grumbled when he saw the Baekyang Guild members gathered in one place. Then he left without looking back.

“What is that guy doing?!”

Hyeonu’s movements were so absurd that Xiao Chun couldn’t help letting out angry laughter.

“This could be a trap. Everybody, be on the lookout when dealing with the desert scorpions!”

Hyeonu disappeared, but he wasn’t gone. He continued to remain in the minds of the Baekyang Guild members. It was very uncomfortable.