The Precious Demon King - Chapter 93

WeTried Translations

Translator: Yasi

◈ The Precious Demon King

Chapter 93: Just Before the Beijing Explosion!

One day, two days, three days, four days...

Special One remained shut inside the house. His family was no different. Even the niece and nephew were absent from school and stayed completely shut in.

The only person to come out of the fortress-like house was Special Two, Remi.

Late at night, after business hours.

The shop owners of the Hansan 2-dong Merchants' Association gathered in one place. Americans, Thais, Australians, French, Italians, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese...people from all over the world came.

The association had one implicit rule. They all knew each other were intelligence agents from their respective countries, but they never admitted or questioned it. Everyone knew, and everyone pretended not to. On the surface, they were nothing more than a merchants' association.

"Business at the hot dog place has been doing really well lately. I'm envious."

"...Hahaha. The pho shop has been a bit idle these days."

"That's true. Hahaha!"

The owner of the thriving hot dog shop had a dark expression, while the owner of the struggling pho shop had a bright expression.

But since they were intelligence agents, what good did it do if business went well? It only meant more effort.

"Hahahaha, it's fucking great."

"Oh dear, I'm envious."

"Shouldn't the pho place adjust more to the local taste?"

"Oh, that won't do. We only hope to be like Emperor Lamb Skewer–no more, no less."

"..."

Kuma Hendrik scowled.

Emperor Lamb Skewer was decorated in garish red, and only Chinese customers went inside. The staff and customers were Chinese intelligence agents. In fact, it was the worst-performing business on the street. Despite being open twenty-four hours a day, business was poor. Yet, it was the shop that everyone in the association envied.

"Ahem."

Zhang Junguo, the owner of Emperor Lamb Skewer, held his head high. It was proof that their strategy had worked.

Kuma Hendrik sighed inwardly.

Fucking hell, we should've sold something like cockroaches too.

Then, they wouldn't have needed to bother with business and could have just used the place as an intelligence headquarters.

"Why the long face, Mango?"

"Eh?"

Wichai was startled when he was suddenly mentioned.

"Wait, why are you so startled? Almost like you're hiding something."

"Haha, n-no, not at all."

He tried to laugh it off, but the seasoned intelligence agents would certainly have noticed that something was amiss.

"Hmph, if you have something good, share it."

"That's right. Aren't we all in the same boat, struggling together?"

"Hmm."

Wichai wondered whether he should share, but he decided to do so for the sake of world peace.

"Everyone, don't be stingy in business."

"Hmm? What do you mean?"

"Haha, is-isn't it obvious? We're all gathered here to do good business."

The association members laughed, but Wichai was serious.

"The beauty who lives in that mansion is a regular at my shop."

"Ah, that's already well known."

"Yesterday, she bought twelve cups, didn't she?"

Their questions carried a mix of envy and mockery.

"Wichai, you're truly generous. I hear the tab that's piled up by now is considerable."

"Haha, but would you even dare to collect?"

"..."

Wichai nodded.

"That's what I'm talking about."

"...?"

Earlier that day, when Special Two bought mango juice, a local bystander made a reproachful remark.

Hey now, a pretty young lady like you should show some restraint. I've been quietly watching, and if you're going to run up a tab, you should at least pay later. But you've never paid even once.

At that, Special Two looked pricked and turned to Wichai.

"How much?"

"P-Please don't worry about it."

"Then I'll settle the tab later."

"Oh, don't bother with that. We're not in this for the money. As long as customers enjoy it, that's enough."

"You're the kind I like. Are there any bastards you want killed?"

"Eh? W-Want someone killed?"

"Don't play innocent. Tell me later. I'll take care of one for you."

"Hahh!"

Wichai's face was still flushed with excitement as he recalled the earlier conversation.

"Don't be stingy about tabs. They can be paid back with things more valuable than money."

"...What do you mean?"

"Could you explain that in more detail?"

Wichai didn't elaborate.

"I've told you as much as I can. Then I'll be going."

After he left, the others busied themselves with interpreting his words.

"If it's repayment for the tab, what could it be besides money?"

"Could it be...she conquers dungeons for you, like in Japan or France?"

"Is Special Two really capable of that?"

"She is! Our hot dog shop rates her nearly on par with Special One."

"Why would a hot dog shop even evaluate that?"

"Ah."

"Uh."

After a moment of awkward silence, everyone quickly got to their feet.

"Oh my, I think I might've left bread in stock."

"I just remembered that I didn't clean the kitchen."

As everyone hastily left, Zhang Junguo hurried off with a grave expression.

"Dage! Was the meeting enjoyable?"

"Gather everyone immediately!"

"Eh?"

Those who had been smoking in the kitchen, playing mahjong at customer tables, or eating hamburgers at another table ambled over.

Every staff member and customer was an intelligence agent dispatched from China.

"Starting tomorrow, we're completely remodeling Emperor Lamb Skewer."

"Eh? All of a sudden?"

"No wonder Koreans flee after stepping in! Redecorate it stylishly to suit the locals, and bring in a new head chef!"

"Boss! But what if business ends up doing well?"

Smack!

How could an intelligence agent be so dense?! Zhang Junguo smacked the back of his subordinate's head.

"Isn't that the point?! We will be reborn as the number one shop on this street!"

Only then might Special One or Two visit. Using this place only as an intelligence outpost would be a waste.

If they could build ties with the Specials, they should secure that connection.

"What's the word from headquarters?"

"Ah, they're pestering us constantly! They say to secure immediate promises of support, but how are we supposed to do that? I can't take it anymore!"

"The situation back home is urgent. Stronger orders will come down soon. For now, our mission is to revive Emperor Lamb Skewer!"

"Yes, boss!"

An A-rank dungeon had appeared in China. They seemed to be trying to deal with it domestically, but if they failed, they would have to seek help from other countries. The nearest and most convenient option was South Korea. The Chinese intelligence agents dispatched to South Korea began remodeling with desperate resolve.

* * *

Recent A-rank dungeons had very short durations. The dungeon that appeared in Japan vanished as soon as it appeared, and the same was true in France.

At present, there were two unconquered dungeons in the world. One in China and one in the United States.

Vikram in the United States had nearly finished the exploration phase, and the official conquest was expected to begin within a day or two.

Meanwhile, here in Beijing, China. The site of the A-rank dungeon.

The city, already under martial law, was steeped in silence. At the center of this apocalyptic-looking city loomed a black mass.

Dungeon break time: 9 days, 17 hours.

"Comrades!"

Wang Weijie, bureau director of the 3rd Bureau Special Operations under the Central Special Division, arrived in person to deliver a speech.

Known by the shorthand title "3rd Bureau Director," he surveyed the twenty warriors assembled before him.

"The privileges you enjoy are bought with the people's blood, sweat, and tears. And in turn, they can live in peace only because you stood against that black calamity before it descended upon them!"

The hunters tried to keep calm expressions as they listened to Wang Weijie, but some of their faces soured. Whether they liked it or not, Wang Weijie continued his address.

"Repay them! In the name of the people! And with loyal devotion to the Party, annihilate that vile horde and return triumphant!"

Twenty warriors. Among them were as many as five SR-rank hunters.

After roughly six days of exploration, the Communist Party concluded that the dungeon could be conquered with domestic forces alone.

Hadn't Britain once succeeded with a party composed entirely of Rank 1 hunters? Too many past casualties had shifted such conquests to G-rankers. However, in this crisis, it was time to attempt it with their own strength.

All of the SR-rank hunters, except Zhang Sun, had gathered. Out of six total, all but one were present. For China, it was nothing less than a life-or-death gamble.

Fuck, should I run?

Among them was Yang Minchan, a naturalized Chinese citizen from South Korea.

What the hell kind of A-rank conquest is this all of a sudden? Fuck, and leaving out Zhang Sun at that!

Zhang Sun was their insurance. Unlike Yang Minchan, who became a citizen through naturalization, Zhang was a pure-blooded Chinese citizen whose father held a high position in the Communist Party.

Ha, fuck.

Yang Minchan was overcome with irritation and anger.

Fuck, I should've stayed in Korea.

He had boldly become a Chinese citizen and enjoyed a life envied by emperors. With three former Chinese celebrity wives and seven children, he had firmly planted his roots in China. Yet, faced with an irresistible fear, the thought of emigrating resurfaced.

Escaped Hell Korea, only to land in Hell China.

Or was China always hell? If he had known, he would have gone to the United States...But belated regrets were useless.

"Comrades! Let us repay the people!"

"Waaaah!"

Fine, fuck it, let's do this! How long am I going to keep running? Wives, I will definitely come back alive!

Yang Minchan entered the A-rank dungeon as part of the twenty-person suicide squad.

* * *

Presidential Office, South Korea.

"No, what I'm saying is, we also can't get in contact with him."

[ Don't be like that. Please just help us this once. ]

The president of the People's Republic of China was on the line. He was China's highest authority.

Until now, only the foreign minister had reached out. But today, the president himself had called. Kim Seungtae couldn't refuse the conversation, yet for several minutes the conversation had been going in circles.

[ Do you find our terms unacceptable? ]

"No, the issue isn't the terms. We simply don't know where the Special Advisor is right now."

[ Hahh, are you really going to act like this? ]

"Come on, how am I supposed to provide what doesn't exist?"

[ Are you getting angry at me? ]

"No, but if I say he isn't here and you keep insisting, wouldn't I get angry?"

Kim Seungtae's outburst made his aides clutch their heads in dismay. The counterpart was the president of the neighboring country!

[ ...Very well. If you merely send support, I will sever diplomatic relations with North Korea tomorrow. Whether you drive tanks into Pyongyang or blow up the presidential palace, China will pretend not to know anything. ]

"No, fuck. Terms or whatever, North Korea's land was never China's to begin with, so what's with the self-importance?"

"President, even the swearing is being translated! Please restrain yourself..."

The AI interpreter translated everything without holding back.

[ Fuck? President Kim, did you just say "fuck"? ]

Kim Seungtae's heart sank with a jolt.

No, fuck, in order to have any conversation, the words have to get through.

"Yes. I said it."

His brazen answer made the aides turn their heads. Meanwhile, the defense minister debated whether to prepare for DEFCON.

[ ... ]

The Chinese president too, seemingly at a loss, stayed silent for a long while.

Are we about to go to war?

Kim Seungtae and the other ministers and cabinet members felt their hearts pound.