The Precious Demon King - Chapter 98

WeTried Translations

Translator: Yasi

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ The Precious Demon King

Chapter 98: To China

China's highest authority, President Xiu Gang of the Communist Party, held a list.

[ Jun Dragon Kitchen ]

Kim Junyong, Rank 1

Cheon Yubeom, Rank 1 (Ranking #2)

Kim Remi, Rank 1

Yu Jia, Rank 3

Kim Edmond, Rank 4

Kim Luciel, Rank 5

This was not a roster of restaurant staff.

"Practically speaking, aside from Cheon Yubeom, none of them are even on the rankings, right?"

"Correct. But you can't measure combat strength by rankings."

The ranking was, quite literally, a hunting score–how many monsters and demons, servants of evil, one had slain. Before Kim Junyong's arrival, that score often correlated with combat strength. Now, however, everything was a mess.

Special One and Special Two. Kim Junyong and Kim Remi's combat strength was estimated at G-rank.

As for Kim Ed and Kim Luciel, their strength remained unmeasured. It was guessed that they would each be Rank 1.

"The Kim family is quite distinguished."

"..."

"Are these ones naturalized?"

"Kim Ed is a cat."

"I've heard about the cat before."

"Yes. The one called Kim Luciel joined them recently."

"Hmm."

Who Xiu Gang was paying attention to was Yu Jia.

"How could this girl become Rank 3 just a week after awakening?"

"...That is what's puzzling."

A frown creased Xiu Gang's brow.

What China had obtained by gently scratching Japan's itchy back was an Awakening Ticket. Some grumbled that China had suffered a great loss because of one person's greed, but Xiu Gang did not care.

If there was a way for an ordinary person to become a hunter, why hesitate to spend a fortune?

Qin Shi Huang ultimately failed in his pursuit of immortality, but he himself succeeded.

< Xiu Gang >

Class: Revolutionary

Mana: 698

Skill: Incitement

He had obtained quite a good skill as well. It was a hypnosis-type skill that could confuse monsters and make them his underlings. If used well, it allowed him to hunt without staining his hands with even a single drop of blood.

In his spare time, he entered the Demon Realm with trusted subordinates to hunt.

However, he still hadn't surpassed the 1,000 mana benchmark for Rank 9.

"How could she possibly become Rank 3 in just one week?"

Xiu Gang's expression turned grave. Human greed knows no bounds. Since becoming a hunter, he had been eager to raise his mana as quickly as possible.

He already felt rejuvenated and young. If his experience increased further and he reached a superhuman state, how much more vigorous would he become? Even immortality no longer felt like a mere dream.

"President, their pace is already fast enough."

"That's right. They should be regarded as exceptional cases."

"A sparrow shouldn't try to chase a stork...Hahh!"

One of the officials realized his mistake and closed his mouth. By then, however, a heavy silence had already fallen over the room.

"You should rest."

"P‑Please spare me!"

The official shook uncontrollably as he prostrated himself in pleading, but Xiu Gang's guards dragged him away.

"Tsk."

In a sense, he wasn't wrong. Their counterpart was the Mad Monarch. Surely there was some secret method behind it.

Just what kind of method did they use?

If only he could grasp that know-how, he would be able to grow stronger in an instant.

"President, the foreign minister is making an emergency appeal."

"Hmm. Let's see."

The TV switched on. At a press conference, the foreign minister appeared and pleaded for South Korea's assistance in a desperate tone.

[ After long negotiations, to save Beijing, we will cede part of the Changbai Mountain region and its surrounding territories, while tightening crackdowns on illegal fishing in the Yellow Sea... ]

It was a humiliating and disgraceful compensation policy. The Communist Party officials watching Xiu Gang all had grim faces.

[ ...We affirm that this is an unavoidable decision to save the capital–the heart of the people–and to promote friendly relations between China and South Korea... ]

The foreign minister was certainly good at coating his words with honey.

Arrogant fools.

Now that Xiu Gang had awakened as a hunter, boundless confidence surged within him. All he needed was time.

G-rank?

That was the wish of 1.3 billion citizens. He was destined to become a hero and lead his people. The day when China would stand tall in the world was not far off.

"After the dungeon is resolved, could we arrange a meal with Kim Junyong?"

"Hahh! That's impossible! It's too dangerous!"

"Don't forget what he has done in the past!"

"Hmm."

Xiu Gang nodded. He had wanted to subtly probe the secret behind Yu Jia's rapid leveling, but on second thought, there seemed no need to step forward personally.

If relations were to sour for no reason, or if he were to get caught up in a scheme and end up assassinated, it would be disastrous.

"I was hasty."

"No, President. Your safety is the Party's highest priority."

"You must continue to lead the people for ten thousand years."

"Haha, see that he's treated well and sent off properly."

"Yes, even the Special will be moved by the utmost hospitality of the great nation."

"I hope he chooses to naturalize here, like a sheep joining the flock."

"We'll do everything we can to host him well."

Soon, all of China was in an uproar.

– The Koreans are finally showing their true colors.

– Are they really going to hand over territory?

– Crazy. Those Koreans are used to taking whatever they want.

– I get it. They even insist Confucius was Korean.

– This one stings. Giving up territory...it's unthinkable.

– Maybe the Koreans were the ones who created that A-rank dungeon in Beijing in the first place.

– Their greed knows no bounds.

– Even if they get Changbai, North Korea blocks the way. They'll still have to go through China.

– Next, they'll probably claim Changbai was originally Korean land.

– Hey, is no one talking about the Yellow Sea?

– Can't be helped. It's all because of our hunters' incompetence.

– To rely on a small nation's hunter force–what a disgrace.

An official document was drafted that specified the reward for resolving the "Beijing A-rank dungeon" according to South Korea's demands.

They even announced it at a press conference. Public outrage in China erupted at once. But that was precisely what the Communist Party had calculated.

Humiliation is temporary.

By kneeling, the Communist Party drew the people's support and unity.

Even if the Communist Party wanted to yield to South Korea, the people's resistance would ultimately prevent it–whether regarding the Yellow Sea, severing ties with North Korea, or ceding Baekdu Mountain.

– Everyone, calm down. It was China that asked for help.

– You're a Korean?

– Caught you. Get lost to the peninsula.

– Are you going to abandon Beijing? Beijing is a hundred times more important than a tourist spot like Changbai.

– Die!

Regardless of how heated public opinion in China became, Kim Junyong, Cheon Yubeom, Lee Mina, and Yoichi Sasaki arrived in Beijing.

Flash.

"Huh! We've been waiting for you! This is Bureau Director Wang Weijie of the Central Special Division's 3rd Bureau Special Operations. I'm Jin Luo, the interpreter."

"Nice to meet you."

[ What is he saying? ]

[ He says he's glad to meet you. ]

Wang Weijie approached with a bright smile and reached out his hand. Kim Junyong spread his index and middle fingers to make scissors.

"I win."

[ What is he doing? ]

[ He says he won rock-paper-scissors. ]

[ Hah, how rude. ]

"How rude."

[ You idiot! Why would you translate that?! ]

[ S-Sorry. ]

Leaving Jin Luo and Wang Weijie to squabble, Kim Junyong turned his attention to the dungeon.

He was here to work, and that was what he intended to do.

"Are we going to take care of this and then eat?"

"We came on a business trip. Shouldn't we at least have one proper meal?"

"Hm, I think it'd be fine to head back right away."

"Yoichi Sasaki! I'll go all out until my stomach's flat!"

Everyone except Lee Mina was in favor.

"Hey, Interpreter."

"Y-Yes."

"We'll finish this up quickly, so have something tasty ready."

"Ah, got it!"

Kim Junyong lifted his phone, opened the camera app, and aimed it at the dungeon. As if he had scanned a QR code, a link popped up and instantly opened the Demon Realm Forum. The dungeon's details appeared in a pop-up.

< Dungeon Information >

Lord of Imperfection Baekgui (White Ghost)

Rank: A

Time Remaining: 4 days - 11 hours - 9 minutes

[ In Progress ] [ Yang Minchan ]

[ Enter Dungeon? ]

"Huh, would you look at this?"

"What is it?"

In response to Cheon Yubeom's question, Kim Junyong gave a sly grin.

"Oh, someone I know."

"Huh? You know Yang Minchan?"

"Hm? Not him."

"Oh, do you mean the boss monster?"

"Yeah. You don't know the Black-White Twin Ghosts?"

"N-No, I don't."

Cheon Yubeom and Lee Mina were low-level hunters who hadn't spent more than thirty years in Belhaim. But Sasaki Yoichi, though ranked 999th, was an R-rank hunter. He was a veteran who had survived for seventy-one years in Belhaim.

"Whoa, the Black-White Twin Ghosts!"

"Oh, you know them?"

"Of course I do!"

Yoichi Sasaki was astonished.

"They're one of the Demon Realm monarchs whose cruelty rivals that of the Mad Monarch!"

"...!"

Cheon Yubeom and Lee Mina were startled. However, Yoichi Sasaki continued with a grave expression.

"Wait, does that mean the boss of this A-rank dungeon is a Demon Realm monarch?"

"Scared?"

"Th-That's obvious! Demon Realm monarchs are formidable."

Demon Realm monarchs. They were demons worthy of being called kings of entire regions. Even if the combined might of the Allied Forces were gathered, victory would be far from certain. Four people alone?

"No, the reading must be wrong! A Demon Realm monarch can't possibly be A-rank."

"It's fine. It's just a degraded version."

Why would a demon they knew in Belhaim descend to Earth?

It died in Belhaim, was resurrected in the Demon Realm, and was now attempting to descend upon a new planet–Earth.

"How does Hyungnim know so much?"

"Oh, because I'm the one who killed this guy."

"Whoa! Th-That's incredible!"

At Yoichi Sasaki's admiration, Cheon Yubeom and Lee Mina felt like their hearts might burst from the tension.

W-What does he take the Special Advisor for?

No–he doesn't see him as the Mad Monarch at all!

If that were an act, even demons would be fooled. His innocent face showed pure admiration.

Kim Junyong gave a sly grin and tapped his phone to enter the dungeon.

"Let's go."

"Yes! If Hyungnim goes, I'll follow even to hell!"

Flash.

The four disappeared.

"Oh?"

Wang Weijie, who had been fumbling and barely got to greet them, frowned.

"Hm, so it really is possible to enter a dungeon already under conquest."

South Korea's Special Advisor–someone even more extraordinary than a G-rank hunter.

"That bastard Yang Minchan. I'll tear him apart."

Yang Minchan was the sole survivor of the twenty elite strike team members that the Central Special Division had selected. If he had survived, he would have returned. Yet, for some reason, he chose to hold out inside the dungeon.

They had no way of knowing what was happening inside. Since the dungeon was already under conquest, they couldn't dispatch another team. From China's standpoint, the only options were to wait for the dungeon break or to request help from South Korea's Special Advisor, who could invade the dungeon.

"What about the banquet?"

"It's been prepared flawlessly!"

"And the attendants?"

"All of them are exceptionally beautiful."

Wang Weijie smiled slightly.

"A giant belongs with a great nation. A small country cannot contain such talent."

"We'll do everything to sway his heart."

"Good."

Honey trap. A stratagem with a long history.

Even Yang Minchan, who once caused China so much headache, had naturalized in the same way.

In any case, China harbored grand ambitions. Use a naturalized Kim Junyong as a weapon to extend China's influence across the globe!

"Treat this mission as a matter of life and death!"