"Hey, where are you looking?"
"...?"
"When a person is talking, you should look at their face, right? You'll die like that."
I couldn't pay attention to Jang Deok-gu for a moment because I was distracted by other thoughts.
"I apologize, customer."
Even while saying that, inside I was only thinking about why Jang Deok-gu was here.
10 years ago, I was rarely in the store. The reason was simple. Because the store ran well even without me.
It was an auto-managed store where business went reasonably well even if the owner wasn't necessarily there. That's why even if a dungeon manifested near the store, I might have heard the news late.
Maybe for that reason, I might not have seen Jang Deok-gu who visited our store at that time.
But this time was different. I was in the store, and I witnessed Jang Deok-gu.
Pondering why Jang Deok-gu came here was no longer a necessary waste of time.
What is most important right now is, The fact that the very person who cleared the fifth dungeon I couldn't remember is right in front of my eyes.
One of the hunters who cleared the initial dungeons. Yongdu Gang No. 2, Jang Deok-gu.
That ferocious impression and tattoos. I saw them countless times in the news. It's a face you can never forget once you see it, that face.
Anyway, in a situation where a complaint has come in, all I could do was apologize repeatedly and politely, and give the customer reasonable compensation.
What I did wrong, or whether I really did wrong, is not important. If the customer feels bad, that alone was sufficient reason to apologize.
"I apologize, customer. I will be careful so that something like this doesn't happen in the future."
"What can't you do with words?"
If the answer comes out like this, what he wants is compensation.
"You felt very unpleasant due to our store's mistake, right? If it's not rude, would it be okay if I provide you a beverage for free?"
Ye-ri started making coffee in a hurry, taking the hint. At my glance, she also put cookies displayed in front of the counter into a shopping bag.
I handed the shopping bag containing coffee and cookies to Jang Deok-gu.
"I apologize politely once again, customer."
I bowed as much as possible, bending my waist to 90 degrees.
"Hey, you! Know that I'm holding back out of respect for your boss!"
Jang Deok-gu shot one last remark at Guk-yeong and went out of the store.
That bastard probably didn't do this to gain something specifically either. It's just that doing things like that is all he learned, and he only knew how to show off his power in front of the weak.
If you're going to cause a scene, come at a quiet time, bastard.
I let out a long sigh. Anyway, the situation was settled.
'The bait has been cast.'
I hurriedly went to the office and brought my car keys. Outside the store, Jang Deok-gu just got into his car a moment ago.
A black sedan with a slightly dented left bumper.
Starting the engine, I saw the figure of Jang Deok-gu drinking the coffee I handed him while giggling.
"Um, Boss..."
"Huh?"
Guk-yeong approached me hesitantly.
"I'm sorry. Because I lost my temper, I spoke a bit irritably to the customer."
The more I see this kid, the more decent he is. I thought he would be arrogant because he has a handsome face, but he's rather the opposite.
"It's fine. It's not your fault at all."
"For no reason because of me, the boss even bowed to a person like that..."
"It's fine. Because it's only this once."
"Yes?"
"Because now it's that bastard's turn to bow to me."
"Yes...?"
Instead of answering, I smiled and pulled a coffee. The 101st Americano.
"I'll be back."
"Where are you going, Boss?"
"Because it seems a fish will bite the bait soon."
Jang Deok-gu drove his car and departed.
I also hurriedly started my car and chased after Jang Deok-gu. No, to be precise, I wasn't chasing Jang Deok-gu.
'Guide me to the dungeon, you gangster bastard.'
There is something I absolutely need there.
3.
A little before 10 PM. Jang Deok-gu's black sedan was speeding fast on the highway. He repeatedly clenched and unclenched his left hand holding the steering wheel. As if he couldn't control his strength.
His body was hot. He felt a burning sensation all over his body to the point he couldn't control it, but it wasn't unpleasant. For some reason, a pleasant excitement arose.
A while ago, a change occurred in his body. While a turf war was in full swing for a while, the Heukho Gang invaded the nightclub managed by the Yongdu Gang. They ruthlessly eliminated the Yongdu Gang family members, and eventually entered the office of Jang Deok-jae, the boss of the Yongdu Gang. Jang Deok-jae was Jang Deok-gu's biological older brother. Jang Deok-gu protected his big brother until the end. But it was a situation where they were already pushed back in numbers.
Inferiority of 30 to 2. Anyone could see it was a fight the Heukho Gang had won completely.
Until a strange hologram floated above Jang Deok-jae and Jang Deok-gu's heads.
[You have awakened as a 'Warrior'.] [You have awakened as an 'Explorer'.]
A hologram notification window that suddenly floated up.
It was from that moment that the situation reversed. Jang Deok-gu, who awakened as a Warrior, easily reversed the numerical inferiority.
Jang Deok-gu awakened as a Warrior, who usually takes on the 'Tanker' role in a party. He was someone who couldn't be beaten by what is commonly called 'mobbing' (daguri). Moreover, there was no way 'ordinary people' could beat a Warrior awakened as a B-class hunter. No matter how much they had the advantage in numbers.
He doesn't know why this happened suddenly. However, he wasn't curious about the reason.
He became strong.
To him, a gangster, only that fact was important. Although he was E-class, if he was with his big brother who awakened as an Explorer, expanding their territory in the future was no problem.
Ring ring—
A phone call came.
"Yes, Big Brother."
It was a call from Jang Deok-jae.
"I think you need to go to Ganghwado right now."
"You mean Ganghwado?"
The boss's call telling him to go to Ganghwado out of the blue.
"I used a skill, and it says something called a dungeon appeared in Ganghwado?"
Jang Deok-jae had discovered one of the five initially manifested dungeons through 'Dungeon Detection (LV1)', one of his active skills.
The Dungeon Detection skill was a skill that could find already created dungeons.
It could not find locations of dungeons before they were created.
Also, depending on the skill level and rank, the range of the area that could be detected and the number of dungeons varied widely, but the location of the dungeon was also detected randomly.
Above all, there were limits on the number of uses and cooldown time according to the skill level. But the fact that he could find dungeons faster than others was a definite advantage.
"What is a dungeon, Big Brother?"
"I don't know either. The description here says if you go and beat everything up, they give you a tremendous reward?"
"You mean a reward?"
"Aren't they giving gold bars or something, this thing?"
Jang Deok-gu turned his car around without a shred of hesitation. He didn't know what it was, but he was confident in hitting and breaking things.
Above all, things that were impossible before were possible now. Because he gained special power that ordinary people don't have!
Vroom—!
Jang Deok-gu rushed like an arrow towards the destination Jang Deok-jae told him.
The destination was a Maze Park in Ganghwado. Since he was in Incheon, it didn't take much time to get there.
Jang Deok-gu got out of the car and looked around. Since the park was closed, there wasn't a single person.
Jang Deok-gu took out a sashimi knife with a properly sharpened blade from the car trunk. Glaring sharply at the sashimi knife, he started walking toward the Maze Park entrance.
Stomp, stomp—
Jang Deok-gu, heading to the Maze Park entrance, kicked away the 'Closed' sign and blindly stepped inside.
[Dungeon – Maze Park]
Dungeon Floors: 1st FloorDungeon Difficulty: F RankMax Entry Count: 5 peopleEntry Condition: NoneClear Condition: Find the exit of the maze.
Jang Deok-gu showed a faint smile. Because the clear condition was easier than he thought.
Very simple. He just had to find the exit of the maze.
Moreover, if it's a Maze Park with no one around, he could leisurely be alone...
"...!"
Jang Deok-gu, who was moving forward, stopped his steps. Because of a presence felt from behind his back.
"What, you?"
There was a person. One person he felt like he had seen somewhere.
"Brr! April evenings are still cold."
"What are you, bastard? How did you know to come here?"
Jang Deok-gu aimed the tip of the sashimi knife toward the man in front of his eyes.
The man taking a sip of warm Americano contained in a take-out cup.
It was Won-du.
"Ah damn, it got all cold."
"I asked who you are!"
"We saw each other earlier. At the cafe."
"What?"
"I even gave you coffee for free, and cookies for free too? You don't remember?"
"Is this bastard playing around...?"
Jang Deok-gu hesitated. The opponent's words were not lies. Thinking about it quietly, it was that boss guy who was bowing and scraping at the cafe this afternoon.
"Did you tail me? You wanna die?"
"Yes, I tailed you. That's why I came all the way here."
"Are you an awakened? No, that's not what's important right now. It means you knew I would come here and tailed me from the start."
"I thought you were ignorant, but you do think a little bit."
"What is your identity, you?"
Identity? Well, it doesn't matter if I tell him.
"Rather than that, using the expression Hunter instead of Awakened will be less confusing later. Especially since it's easy to get confused with that brain, know it in advance."
"Where are you preaching, you dog-like bastard!"
It was the moment Jang Deok-gu was just about to swing the sashimi knife in his hand toward Won-du.
Grrr—!
A bizarre crying sound coming from inside the maze.
When Jang Deok-gu hesitated, Won-du continued speaking.
"Since I'm telling you anyway, I'll tell you one more thing. Tankers, among them especially the Warrior type, draw aggro well. You'll know if you look at the passive skill list, but Tanker-type hunters usually have a skill called 'Provocation'."
He probably didn't know. Because he was a person who, even if he could use a tool, didn't read the manual.
Grrr—!
The crying sound was heard once again. A somehow ominous crying sound.
"For example, like this, if the hunters inside the dungeon are just you and me, two of us, it means the monster attacks you, not me."
"What kind of bullshit is that!"
Grrr—!
The crying sound got closer and closer. Jang Deok-gu couldn't swing the sashimi knife even once, and had his gaze fixed on the black shadow getting closer from inside the maze.
Because it felt like something would pop out, he couldn't turn his head.
To such Jang Deok-gu, Won-du spat out a word.
"When a person is talking, you should look at their face."
At the provocative informal speech, Jang Deok-gu looked at Won-du without realizing it.
"But if you really look..."
"What?"
"You'll die like that."
Crunch—!
The shadow that popped out from inside the maze pounced on Jang Deok-gu.
"Aaaagh!"
Jang Deok-gu screamed and rolled on the floor. The sashimi knife he was holding fell at Won-du's feet.
"I told you you'll die like that."
A wolf with red eyes biting and hanging onto Jang Deok-gu's shoulder.
Won-du staring blankly at Jang Deok-gu engaging in a death struggle with the wolf.
"I'll start first."
Won-du grins detestably.
From inside the maze, the howling of dozens of wolves was heard in succession. As if wandering to find their kin, the howling got closer and closer, and before long, dozens of shadows filled the maze entrance.
And the dozens of wolves gathered like that were all glaring at Jang Deok-gu as if to kill him.
'He cleared it by beating up all the wolves inside the maze in the past, right?'
I think I heard it through a broadcast, but I didn't remember clearly.
"Let's see who is faster."
Won-du poured the coffee he was holding into his mouth in one go. Since it was completely cold coffee, emptying the cup wasn't that difficult.
"Maze finding, start!"
[Skill 'Gale (LV1)' is activated by the effect of the 101st coffee.] [Movement speed increases by two times for 10 minutes.]
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