A week had passed since I returned to Korea from Japan.
Jin Seyoung had left the Shadow Heaven Sword Hall to take the A-Class Hunter exam. I missed my sex partner, but Han Harin's presence made it bearable.
During that week, I focused on completing quests for the Hunter Association to quickly build up my performance record.
My current combat strength was that of a C-Rank Hunter, but my official Hunter Rank was still E. I was working hard to at least reach D-Rank.
But damn it, there are no quests available.
In Korea, where the land is small and the Hunter population is dense, quests were scarce.
Of course, by "quests," I meant those I could easily handle at my level. There were plenty of challenging ones, but those were beyond my capabilities.
"Why are there so many D-Rank Quests that require going overseas?"
Korea, with its small land area and high population density, was peaceful, but other countries abroad were a different story. China, in particular, was going through its worst period in recent history.
Dungeons that the China Hunter Association had failed to discover suddenly erupted simultaneously, unleashing hundreds of thousands of monsters across the country. Fortunately, the dungeons were located in remote areas outside of cities, so human casualties were relatively low.
Rumors began circulating online that the Chinese Government had been conducting experiments with the dungeons and caused the accident. Given the government's lack of credibility, many found the theory plausible.
Why does the world seem to be getting worse and worse?
I had no intention of going abroad, so I figured I'd just delay achieving D-Rank for a while.
International travel?
I had the Pleasure World App. If I wanted to travel, it was far better to immerse myself in the app's virtual worlds and enjoy myself there.
There are even travel documentaries among the available Creative Works.
Still, I wasn't planning on entering a documentary world right now.
I opened the Pleasure World App and selected a world.
You have selected God's Atlantis.
Starting the Game.
Sector 14, Sand Hell.
The desert near the City of Today, in the Second District where we've established our base, is where I was wandering alone. Desert monsters frequently attacked this area, but I was walking through it unperturbed.
Despite its ominous name, Sand Hell, the monsters here weren't particularly strong, making it a popular route for merchants and adventurers.
For the record, I was currently traversing the desert in my Heavenly Demon form, clad in black robes and wearing a clown mask.
There were two reasons I had come here.
One was a quest from Pesica, the necromancer who controlled the City of Today's back alleys and also served as a quest broker.
The quest was simple: eliminate the Mud Hand Bandit Gang that had been terrorizing the desert.
The Mud Hand Bandit Gang had long maintained friendly relations with the Underground, but they crossed a line by ambushing and killing a desert merchant, stealing his goods. Had they claimed it was a mistake, returned the goods, and compensated for the merchant's life, the matter could have been resolved. Instead, the Mud Hand Bandit Gang vanished into the desert, refusing to speak. They had crossed the line that should never have been crossed.
Damn it. You old hag. You should have told me exactly where they are.
I pulled a cool bottle of mineral water from my Inventory and gulped it down. All I could see was endless sand. I had no idea where the Mud Hand Bandit Gang was hiding.
I had accepted this troublesome quest partly to fulfill a request from Kang Myungjin, the Protagonist of this world, and partly because it was convenient.
"Completing Pesica's request might get me into Helten, but... damn it. How long do I have to keep doing these tedious quests?"
Helten.
Currently the most notorious criminal organization in Atlantis. I'm trying to infiltrate them because my Unique Trait, Deception (SS), allows me to disguise my identity, and Helten offers countless opportunities for profit.
"H-h-hic, h-h-hic."
A bizarre sound echoed through the air a noise that sounded like someone suppressing sobs, yet also like suppressed laughter.
I turned toward the sound.
Hyenas, roughly the size of wolves, were prowling toward me. Five of the brown-furred creatures surrounded me, their intelligence surprisingly high for beasts.
"So it was a Sand Hyena after all."
My face betrayed only boredom. This was the fourth time I'd faced these creatures today.
"Guk. Guk. Guk."
The Sand Hyenas charged at me, emitting strange guttural noises. When dealing with these beasts, there was only one thing to be wary of:
Don't get bitten.
Sand Hyenas possessed a bite force strong enough to chew through iron plates. Beyond that, their only notable trait was their speed a speed that proved utterly ineffective against me.
Demonic Heavenly Art: Silent Void Strike.
My fist, clad in the black Subduing Demon Gauntlet, struck upward beneath the charging hyena's jaw. The hyena's body lifted into the air, and a split second later, its head exploded.
Boom!
Blood and flesh splattered onto the sand.
You have gained 15 AP.
This was less than what Hader, the tutorial monster, had given. These hyenas were stronger than Hader, yet Hader's higher AP reward was likely a tutorial-specific perk.
"Guh! Gerk! Guk!"
The hyenas charged in unison. I mechanically executed the Demonic Heavenly Art, moving my arms and legs with detached precision.
You have gained 15 AP.
You have gained 15 AP.
You have gained 15 AP.
The last hyena, instead of attacking, turned tail and fled as fast as its legs could carry it.
Change Status Window.
Change to Thunderclap Slayer Status Window.
Pzzzt.
Lightning gathered before my hand, coalescing into a swastika shape. I unleashed the lightning at the fleeing hyena.
KWAARRRRR!
A bolt of azure lightning struck the hyena squarely.
You have gained 15 AP.
"Where do you think you're going?"
I switched back to my Status Window and resumed walking through the desert.
While traversing the desert, I stumbled upon a dilapidated stone building. Though it looked ready to collapse at any moment, the structure was surprisingly large, easily accommodating over a hundred people.
This could be the Mud Hand Bandit Gang's hideout.
Pesica had told me the Mud Hand Bandit Gang numbered around thirty members. Even I couldn't guarantee victory in a direct confrontation. My plan was to ambush and eliminate their strongest members first.
Deception.
I activated my Unique Trait, Deception (SS), concealing my appearance and Qi signature.
However, this was the desert, and my footprints remained visible in the sand. To erase them, I activated Deception again.
"...This is inefficient, but I have no choice. There's no other way."
Better to be inefficient than caught.
I hurried toward the building, entering through a small hole in the corner instead of the main entrance.
But the Mud Hand Bandit Gang wasn't inside. I'd overreacted.
It looked like their hideout, but maybe not.
It did seem too conspicuous for a bandit hideout.
Since I'm already here, I might as well rest a bit... Huh?
I sensed movement in the corner. Tensing, I peered around a pillar toward the corner.
Three camels and four men were there. The camels carried heavy loads on their backs, and the men wore bulky bags.
Merchants.
The King of the Demonic Heavens' eyes gleam.
The King of the Demonic Heavens proposes a mission to you.
Mission Objective 1: Kill all the men and plunder their goods.
Mission Time Limit: 10 minutes
Mission Success Reward: 10,000 AP
Mission Failure Penalty: None
Do you accept the mission?
I frowned.
Whenever an opportunity arose, the King of the Demonic Heavens would issue missions, most of which involved killing people. The reason? There was no special reason. The King simply enjoyed watching me kill.
I refuse.
Mission refused.
I had rejected most of the King's missions.
The reward was quite good for killing just a few people, but I didn't want to be manipulated by the King of the Demonic Heavens.
The King of the Demonic Heavens expresses regret.
I'll just leave those guys alone and stay here... No. Wait a minute.
I scanned the merchants again.
Only two of them wore swords at their waists, and their skills appeared inferior to mine. I was confident I could subdue them in under thirty seconds if I intervened.
Perfect bait.
Three camels carried an unusually large amount of cargo for a group of four. They didn't seem particularly dangerous, making them an ideal target for the Mud Hand Bandit Gang.
Alright, let's tail these guys discreetly.
This was a better approach than wandering aimlessly through the desert searching for the Mud Hand Bandit Gang's hideout.
"Do you think that rumor is true?"
"Which rumor?"
The merchants, resting on the ground, were chatting. From eavesdropping, I gathered they had met by chance during their journey and were traveling together for this leg only.
"About the Justia Empire. They're supposedly opening their borders soon... Do you think it's true?"
"Ah... that rumor. Well, it's probably true. Even the Justia Empire must be feeling its limits now."
The Justia Empire.
The sole empire on the Atlantis Continent.
The Justia Empire controls over 700 territories.
"The reason for opening the Empire this time... is said to be a scheme by the Imperial Princes to seize the Imperial Throne."
"A plan to gather forces and claim the Imperial Throne? Well, for a rumor, it sounds plausible enough. But what does that have to do with us?"
"No, no, think about it. The Empire opening up means travel will be freer than before. We can seize this opportunity to invest all our savings in trade. If that trade succeeds, becoming rich is guaranteed!"
"Well... if you succeed seven times, maybe. If you succeed, that is. But do you really think someone like us could pull that off? Do you even know how far it is to the Empire? It'll take at least a month, and we don't even know which routes are safe. The odds of failure are much higher than success."
"You're such a pessimist! Of course, you can't succeed alone. But what if we gather a group? Dozens of merchants traveling together to the Empire? Wouldn't that naturally increase our chances of success?"
"But that would shrink our individual profits."
"Aha! You need to think beyond that. We'll align ourselves with one of the three Imperial Princes. And if that doesn't work, we'll attach ourselves to one of the Imperial Five Dukes."
The Imperial Five Dukes.
The five pillars supporting the Empire. Even the Emperor of the Empire cannot disregard the five dukes. Such is the immense power of the Imperial Five Dukes.
"Well, what reason would they have to trust us?"
"We have to make them trust us."
"You're good at everything, but you seem to underestimate the world. My advice might sound presumptuous, but understanding your own limitations is the key to a long life."
"Don't you even have the ambition to become the greatest merchant?"
"Of course I do. But I know myself well. I'm not cut out for that."
"...How pathetic."
"I quite like this pathetic life of mine."
As I listened to the merchants' conversation, I fell deep into thought.
The Justia Empire's opening.
This meant actively engaging in trade and exchange with people outside the Empire. It also meant granting non-Imperial citizens the opportunity to become nobles within the Empire.
Just like in the original work.
But for me, this was irrelevant at the moment.
The merchants continued their conversation for a while before falling silent and focusing on resting. They checked their camels, inspected their cargo, and even took short naps.
About thirty minutes passed.
"Hahaha! Who gave you permission to rest here?"
More than ten bandits appeared. Their clothes bore the emblem of the Mud Hand Bandit Gang: a hand with only three fingers.
A smile crept across my lips as I hid behind a pillar.
Lucky break! I can capture a few of these bastards and interrogate them about their hideout.
Once I find their hideout and eliminate the remaining Mud Hand Bandit Gang members, the quest will be complete.
"B-Bandits?!"
The merchants scrambled to their feet. Two of them drew their swords, while the other two pulled daggers from their robes. The three camels stood dumbfounded, seemingly unable to grasp the unfolding situation.
"Hahaha! That's right! We are the Mud Hand Bandit Gang, rulers of this desert!"
My eyes gleamed at the bandit leader's voice. Though raspy, it was unmistakably female.