Dungeon Predator (WN)

Shion explained the sequence of events that led to the Hercules Guild's demise. He also added how he wanted to take revenge on Hernandez, Helena, and Kang Oh.

"The price for revenge is different," Red said.

"The price?" Shion tilted his head.

"To put it simply, this." Taboo rounded his thumb and index finger. He was talking about money here.

Red Moon was an organization of individuals interested in money or something else of value. The higher ranked members demanded a higher price than the lower ranked members. Red was the most expensive, and high rankers like Taboo were the 2nd most expensive.

"I can pay you as much as you want." Shion pulled out a few pieces of treasure.

An SS-rank weapon, an S-rank material, legendary treasure, etc. were placed beneath his feet.

The Hercules Guild had collected this treasure for quite some time. Each and every piece of treasure he dropped onto the floor was priceless.

However, Red shook his head.

"That's not enough."

"What? Do you not know how much all this is worth?"

"I'm well aware of how valuable it is. But it's nowhere near enough to kill one the Numbers."

Grr.

Shion gritted his teeth.

'You thieves!'

However, he had no other choice. Shion pulled out some more treasure.

"It's not enough to pay for one, let alone three. It's almost enough to pay for one though," Red said, his voice completely even. Left with no other choice, Shion pulled out everything he had.

"I don't have anything else! And if you don't want this stuff, then tell me straight away. I'll get the hell out of here," Shion screamed.

"It's just barely enough for one. Hernandez is a no-go. He's protected by the Storm Guild. Pick between Helena and Kang Oh."

"All of this treasure is only worth one person's life!?" Shion yelled.

"I could just kill you instead," Red said coldly. It definitely wasn't hot air. "Or you could leave on your own. But no one's going to take you outside. Let's see how far you get," Red added.

"So you can only kill one person for me..."

"I'll kill them guaranteed. Helena or Kang Oh. Pick one of them."

Shion was lost in thought.

Eventually, he said, "Kang Oh."

The reason he'd picked Kang Oh over Helena was simple. He was the orchestrator of the Hercules Guild's demise.

"I'll erase Kang Oh's name from the Numbers," Red said confidently.

"Kill him again and again. Kill him until he quits the game," Shion said murderously.

"That's how we do things," Taboo said.

"Leave half of the treasure here. We'll take the other half once we erase Kang Oh's name from the Numbers."

"Fine."

"Take him to the guest room. Rest there as much as you like," Red said. Then, a woman wearing a fox mask came in and took Shion away.

"Mobilize the Four Heavenly Kings," Red said.

The Four Heavenly Kings referred to Red Moon's four high rankers. Taboo was obviously one of them.

"You don't need to call us. We're already here." A woman wearing oversized clothes came in.

Poisonous Scorpion, Scapi.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm here." A man with an ever-present smile came in. It was as if his face was covered in beeswax.

The Mad Jester, Clown.

He usually killed people with traps.

"..."

The silent man was called Brutal Blade. His nickname was the Killing Ghost.

These three, including Taboo, made up the Four Heavenly Kings.

"We have a job. Predator Kang Oh," Red said.

"Hoh, what delicious prey." Scapi licked her lips. "Please leave it to the Black Scorpions." She bowed her head.

The Black Scorpions were her subordinates. They were all criminals who wielded poison.

"Wouldn't I be a better choice than that witch?" Clown said.

"Shut up, you worm," Scapi immediately cursed. 'He's my prey. Keep your hands off!', she seemed to say.

"I'd like a shot too," Taboo said.

The Killing Ghost, Brutal Blade, just watched how things went with his arms crossed.

"You can't beat him alone. At least two of you are necessary. Scapi, Clown. Both of you go," Red said, ending the debate.

"Bleh, I have to go with that worm?"

"I don't like this either."

Scapi and Clown hated each other.

"Want me to kill you instead?" Red said evenly. However, it felt like the temperature suddenly went down.

"I was just joking."

"Just saying."

Clown and Scapi immediately said.

"Use your traps and poison to take him down," Red said.

"Understood."

"Yes, sir."

"If you succeed, then I'll give you a chance at trying to kill me." Red pointed at his neck.

There was no loyalty amongst Red Moon. They only stayed together for profit, and their ranks were determined by strength.

Thus, a mutiny could happen at any time. Every one of the Four Heavenly Kings was gunning for Red's spot. This reward meant that when they inevitably tried killing him, he wouldn't kill them back.

"So erase Kang Oh's name from the Numbers."

"I'll succeed no matter what."

"I won't fail."

Scapi and Clown said simultaneously.

"Hmm." Taboo clasped his hands behind his head and left.

Now, only Red and Brutal Blade were left.

"They won't be able to do it," Brutal Blade said.

"Maybe not. We'll have to see."

"A Numbers is required to beat another Numbers. I've fought Dukeram before, so I know how powerful they are."

Once upon a time, Brutal Blade had been a successful guildmaster. However, the Empire Guild completely crushed him, and he somehow managed to join Red Moon.

"Kang Oh is no Dukeram."

Red had met Dukeram before. They hadn't fought, but he felt like he couldn't beat him.

"Plus, killing people is our specialty," Red added.

However, Brutal Blade still wasn't convinced.

'The only way we have a chance is if the four of us fight him together.'

He would have to get Taboo on board.

"Do what you want," Red said, seeing right through him.

"Understood." Brutal Blade left.

Now that he was alone, Red reclined on his skeletal throne.

"How boring."

Aside from killing, everything was boring to him. He wasn't even interested in assassinating Kang Oh, as he wasn't directly involved.

* * *

The Poisonous Scorpion, Scapi, and the Mad Jester, Clown, put their heads together.

"We have to figure out where he is first," Clown said.

"Can we procure something he's used before?" Scapi asked.

If they could, then she'd be able to use her unique tracking skill to figure out his exact location.

"Items he's used before... I'll try and get something," Clown said.

"I acted all confident in front of the boss, but Kang Oh's no joke," Scapi said. She referred to Red as 'boss'.

"Of course. You can't join the Numbers without the skills to back it up."

"What's worse, his rank is higher than the boss's."

"So?"

"Don't even worry about who gets the credit. We have to work together to take him down."

"You just worry about yourself."

"Want to die?" Scapi furrowed her brow.

Clown was always smiling. She wanted to just sock him in that smiling face of his.

"You, kill me?"

"Enough. Focus on the mission."

"Haha. Anyhow, we have to gather some information on him. Everything, regardless of how trivial it may seem!"

Assassination wasn't an easy task. Especially when they had to kill someone stronger than them. Of course, that was also the appeal of assassination.

"Yeah. If we want to erase his name from the Numbers, then we need to kill him consecutively."

"True. The first time's going to be tough, but the second and third time should be easy."

"I know!"

"I'll try procuring something he's used before, so you gather as much information on him as you can," Clown said.

"Alright." Scapi nodded her head.

* * *

Several days later.

Clown and Scapi met again. However, Brutal Blade and Taboo were there too.

Ultimately, they decided to hunt Kang Oh together, as Brutal Blade had suggested.

"Do you have it?" Scapi stared at Clown.

"It was hard to get." Clown pulled out a sharp dagger.

Gladion's Dagger!

It was the projectile weapon he'd used prior to obtaining the Fire Bomb Belt. Kang Oh had sold it back to the auction house, and it had switched hands several times. Ultimately, it ended up in Clown's hands.

"Are you sure?"

"I am."

"Good. Now we know where his location is. What about the information?" Brutal Blade asked.

"I have it here. I wrote down everything, even the most trivial bits of information." Scapi passed him a thick piece of paper. All sorts of information pertaining to Kang Oh was written on it.

It detailed his abilities, skills, personality, characteristics, when he rose to prominence, and even his shoe size.

The Four Heavenly Kings carefully read the information.

"Fighting him sounds like fun," Taboo grinned and said.

"As I expected, he'll be a tough opponent," Brutal Blade said.

"Killing him is a problem in and of itself. He transforms into a powerful beast when he dies. It was powerful enough to kill Wukong," Scapi said.

"But he shouldn't be able to maintain that form for long," Clown said.

"Hit them enough and they all fall," Taboo added.

"Our best bet is to lure him into a trap," Scapi said.

"I agree. According to this, he really likes money. Luring him in should be easy," Brutal Blade said.

"True. If we show ourselves, then he won't be able to help himself," Clown said.

Red wasn't the only one with a huge bounty on his head. The Four Heavenly Kings also had huge bounties. So much so that Kang Oh wouldn't be able to help himself.

"Then I'll lure him in," Brutal Blade said.

In terms of pure combat ability, Brutal Blade was the strongest here. Thus, he was confident that he'd be able to lead Kang Oh into the trap without getting caught.

"Where's the best place to set up the trap?" Scapi asked.

"How about one of our secret soul dungeons?" Clown asked.

Red couldn't move freely. Thus, he secretly obtained a few soul dungeons, and set up a dummy guild.

"I'll be able to show my true ability there."

Clown was an expert in setting up traps. A soul dungeon, which allowed its owner to do with it as they wished, was the best place for him to show his worth.

"Which soul dungeon should we pick?" Taboo asked.

"Lupel Temple. That'll be the best place to fight him at," Clown said.

"Alright. We've chosen the location. Clown, you assume leadership of the group," Brutal Blade said.

"What? Him?" Scapi said angrily.

"He's going to turn the Lupel Temple into an inescapable trap. Thus, it makes the most sense for him to tell us where to go, as he knows where the traps are."

What Taboo said made sense.

"What's wrong? You said we should cooperate." Clown looked at her and mocked her.

"Grr!" Scapi gritted her teeth and arduously nodded her head.

"I don't care who the leader is. But no matter what you say, I'm going to fight Kang Oh," Taboo said.

"I'll set up the perfect place for you." Clown smiled wickedly.

"Keep it to a minimum. If we split up, then we won't be able to keep killing Kang Oh." Brutal Blade warned, knowing what Clown's true intentions were.

"Haha, fine."

Of course, it didn't seem like Clown took his warning to heart.

"Then it looks like we're done here. I'll be going now. I don't want to be around that sleazebag anymore than necessary." Scapi pointed at Clown and stood up.

"I'll be leaving too." Taboo left immediately.

"If you need help setting up traps, then feel free to ask me or any of the other Heavenly Kings," Brutal Blade said.

He couldn't help but be cautious. Brutal Blade had experienced the power of the Numbers firsthand via Dukeram.

"I'll be fine on my own."

However, Clown had absolutely no idea. He didn't know what it truly meant to be one of the Numbers!

'I have to keep a close eye on him.'

Seeing how carefree Clown was acting made it feel like there was extra weight on his shoulders.