Gourmet Gaming

Chapter 593: Minhyuk’s Connections

The hunt for Leona was being broadcasted live all over the world. Countless BJs and broadcasting stations had their cameras rolling to show the entire world how the Maserrati Guild and the 100,000 gathered troops died a gruesome death.

Everyone was witness to how monstrous Leona was. From what they saw, she was even more powerful than Demigod Asura. She could cast plenty of debuffs on her enemies and even control the system. Even the players who were not present and commentators felt devastated, having watched the collapse of the 100,000 troops and Maserrati Guild in person.

[If things continue at this rate, then everyone in the Stars’ Path will die.]

[Leona will kill them before killing all of the beings in the Stars’ Path.]

[Just like what the players are saying, the Stars’ Path has now become the Path of Disasters.]

The viewers and commentators were all appalled to see Leona land in front of an unknown cave entrance, unscathed and free to summon her hundreds of thousands of Snake Soldiers.

[We don’t even know the extent of Leona’s power.]

[From what I heard, this shocking, powerful army is something that Elizabeth has. It seems like Leona has also inherited the power to command them.]

[Everyone will be wiped out. With that number of Snake Soldiers, it’s already a given that the entire Stars’ Path will become a sea of blood and a field.]

[The Maserrati Guild and the army of players were able to get Leona’s attention and drag the time. This means that the players will be able to log out soon. We recommend all of the players watching this to log out as soon as you can.]

They could not deny how terrible the situation was. However, deep inside a cave, an unknown figure slowly crept behind Leona, who was drunk on her own power.

[…?]

[…?]

The figure cut off Leona’s viper hair and he did not even stop there, stabbing straight towards Leona’s heart with his sword. The sword attack was none other than Sword of Frenzy.

Staaaaaab—!

Sword of Frenzy was a skill that could best display its might when used against an individual, triggering an additional 400% damage upon successful attack on a vital point. It also would deal six additional attacks in a row, with an additional 100% damage. In other words…

Stab, stab, stab, stab, stab, stab—!

…Leona’s heart received six more brutal attacks.

“Kyaaaaaaaack!”

As the sword went through her heart, Leona uttered her very first scream. However, it was not over. Minhyuk’s Continent Destroyer Sword was currently engraved with the golden word ‘Destruction’.

While Sword of Frenzy was strong, Minhyuk could not deny the fact that it was the weakest among the skills that he had. The only reason why he used Sword of Frenzy was because Destruction would give 700% additional damage to sixteen consecutive attacks.

At that moment, Destruction’s lightning fell down from the skies and devoured Leona.

Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!

Leona was completely defenseless. Her overwhelming power made her arrogant, which was the main reason why she failed to realize that someone was creeping up behind her. On top of that, the one that gave her such a strong blow was the King of Beyond the Heavens, Minhyuk.

Leona staggered back from the pain. Minhyuk immediately took a step forward and…

“Sword of Absolute Death.”

Stab—!

A powerful strike that hit the enemy unconditionally brought pain to Leona all at once. And to the one that received the first blow, there would be seven more hits, with an additional 500% attack power would be inflicted on them.

Stab, stab, stab, stab, stab, stab, stab—

“Kiyaaaaaaaaaaaaaack! S, stoooooop!!! How, how dare you! Do you know who I am…?!”

Leona was suddenly thrown into shock.

[You have fallen into a three second stunned state.]

The Sword of Absolute Death, aside from its 100% success rate, would also bring the target into a three-second stunned state. Right after that, hundreds of blades appeared and danced around her, striking her with another 200% damage. On top of that, the attack also exploded, with an additional 500% damage upon contact with her body.

Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!

Everyone present on the scene watched incredulously.

‘That powerful Leona is…’

‘She wasn’t even able to make a move…’

‘What the hell?! Is he some kind of monster?!’

Leona’s shrieks caused everyone to be in awe. Her figure was completely covered in green blood.

“Bastaaaaaaaaard!” Leona screamed, her anger boiling over as poison spewed out from her body. She was literally about to explode. After all, she had never felt so humiliated in her life.

I will tear that man to pieces! I am the great snake queen! I will be the woman that will become the God of Beginning!?

Leona’s eyes flashed open. She wanted to turn Minhyuk into stone as their eyes made eye contact. However…

“…?”

Nothing changed.

“…?”

“Sword of Absolute Death.”

Stab—

“…Urk?”

Once again, Leona’s body received the full brunt of the attack. The reason? It was because Minhyuk had a body with a ‘thousand-poison resistance’ and was invincible against abnormal statuses. Bone-numbing pain once again washed over Leona’s body. Everyone watching the scene was in awe. At the same time, the notifications rang in Minhyuk’s head.

[The entire world is in admiration of your majesty as a king.]

[The guild members and everyone present were left speechless after seeing you do something that no one has ever done before.]

[You have earned 1,004 cash.]

[You have earned 1,310 cash.]

[You have earned 1,681 cash…]

‘Oh?’

Minhyuk saw that he gained 40,000 cash in one go.

‘If I do this well, then…’

A small smile curled at the corner of Minhyuk’s lips. He immediately left Leona behind, who was writhing in pain, and rushed his guild members and troops that were hiding in the cave, “Let’s get out of here as fast as we can.”

“What…?”

“Why…? How…? Beyond the Heavens King, why are you doing this?!!”

“You should kill Leona with us!!!”

Seeing Minhyuk and his men running away swiftly made everyone anxious. They felt like they would be able to hunt Leona if the Food God was with them. Instead, the Food God was hurriedly trying to leave with his men.

Everyone was thinking ‘Why?’. However, ‘That’s only natural.’ also floated in their heads. Who were they? They came here to hunt Leona so they could earn the rewards in the form of artifacts and gold, as well as gain fame and honor. That was their choice.

And Food God Minhyuk had decided that he did not want to fight alongside them.

Did he have to fight because it was an unprecedented disaster? That was bullshit. The Beyond the Heavens King had no reason to face such a disaster. He did not need to sacrifice himself and his men for something like that. Considering the level of the guild members that he was leading as well as his troops, nine out of ten would die if they joined this battle. This was the natural choice that a king should make.

‘That’s true. But…’

Richard wanted to get the help of the Food God. He believed that the situation would change if Minhyuk was with them. In fact, Richard’s body was shaking after witnessing the shocking sword dance that Minhyuk displayed earlier. Richard knew that it was only a sneak peek of the true powers of the Food God.

“W, wait.”

Minhyuk did not turn to look back at Richard despite his call. He looked busy taking care of his men. However, he was really just waiting for this call.

‘I’m the only one that is sitting on that throne.’?Minhyuk was actually trying to create this situation. After all, ‘I will help you!’ and ‘Please help us!’ were two entirely different situations when it came to fighting together. Besides, Minhyuk found a new way to earn some cash and he needed to act this out.

Richard called out to him once again, “Wait a minute. Food God! Help us!”

Nice!

Minhyuk stopped in his tracks, then turned to give his order to Centurion Park, “Centurion Park, bring our troops to safety. Full speed.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Minhyuk believed that this was the best decision. The new guild members and the troops were all too weak to fight against Leona.

“What’s the matter?” Minhyuk asked, looking back at Richard.

All of the broadcasting station cameras and the viewers had focused their attention on them.

[Minhyuk: Orleed, please give me Richard’s nickname code.]

After sending the whisper, Minhyuk immediately received the code from Orleed. Meanwhile, Richard actually did not know what to say to Minhyuk when he called out to him.

‘The Beyond the Heavens’ King knows that I’m the culprit behind this mess.’

That was something that was both embarrassing and shameful. However, if they could hunt down Leona with him, they might receive damage but definitely not that much. If they could kill her, at least those that died would be able to receive rewards and the only person that would be disappointed and disgraced would be Richard. However, he was also someone that would become king.

“Join us in Leona’s hunt. You’ll definitely be able to get a lot of spoils.”

“Why should I?”

“…”

Richard was left speechless. After all, why should Minhyuk do so? At this moment, Richard was already thinking of the worst case scenario. Minhyuk was a king and it was necessary for him to put an emerging king in check. He might say those words here.

‘All I can do is lower my head.’

Then, all of the viewers would be witness to his disgrace and shame. But at that moment…

[Minhyuk: Act natural.]

“…”

Richard was shocked by the sudden whisper. However, he immediately relaxed after looking at Minhyuk and continued to talk naturally, “Then, are you telling me that you’ll willingly leave all these people behind?”

“The only ones important to me are my people and my men. Why would I care for someone that made their choice to come here?”

But their real conversation was in their whispers.

[Minhyuk: I am the Beyond the Heavens King and Maserrati Guild is an emerging kingdom. You were the ones that created this shitshow up and you want me to help you clean up your mess? Then what about me? What would my Beyond the Heavens Kingdom get out of this?]

Just like Richard had expected, Minhyuk was very much aware of everything. The Maserrati Guild had no other choice but to give in and fold. However, it was now a lot easier since they were doing it through whispers.

[Richard: 30,000 platinum. And a ‘Military Nurturing Parchment’ made with the power of the Absolute Monarch.]

It was not a bad proposal. It had to be known that the Military Nurturing Parchment was an item that the Absolute Monarch could make only once per year. It was a parchment that would help boost the development of the army by tripling the soldiers’ growth rate for an entire month. Simply put, it was a very valuable parchment. However…

[Minhyuk: We will take all of the spoils of Leona’s hunt.]

“…!”

Richard was very shocked. Minhyuk wanted to hog all of the spoils of war? This was a highway robbery!

[Minhyuk: There’s nothing I can do if you don’t like my terms. But if we’re talking about the hunting spoils, there would definitely be rewards that are ‘attributed’. I will not lay claim on those items. That alone will be able to give Maserrati Guild enough profit, am I right? Of course, my side will still get the most pick. Is that why you don’t like it?

To Richard, Minhyuk was practically committing daylight robbery. He felt cold sweat start to drip down from his forehead. Ironic as it might seem, it was hard to reject Minhyuk’s counter offer. After all, it was much better than getting wiped out, receiving penalties, and gaining no EXP.

[Richard: Fine. I’ll take you up on that offer. However, do you think there’s a way?]

[Minhyuk: There is. I have already calculated everything. Do you know what kind of cheat power we can have if we combined the power of the Absolute Monarch and the power of the Food God?]

“…!”

Richard looked at Minhyuk in doubt. The combination of the power of the Absolute Monarch and the power of the Food God? Richard could not understand what Minhyuk meant. The Food God and Richard would not actually shout ‘Fusiooooooon!’ right?

[Richard: I’m giving you my consent.]

Once Richard signed the contract, Minhyuk said…

[Minhyuk: Then, bow your head and ask me to help you. Do it as if you’re asking me to fight for the people.]

“…!”

Richard’s eyes widened. It seemed like Minhyuk did not send him a whisper because he was being considerate!

[Minhyuk: The situation created by the conversation that we had in front of the people is that ‘I have absolutely’ no obligation to help you. And you want me to say that I’ll help you right away after that?]

That was true. However, after their short conversation, Richard could tell that Minhyuk had induced this situation. Then, what was going to happen now? Although Richard was very reluctant, he had no choice but to do as Minhyuk said and speak up in front of the world.

“Please help us, not because of me but because of all the players here. We’re in a situation where all of them risked getting wiped out. Beyond the Heavens’ King, you’re strong, aren’t you? Help them. Please.”

Richard also bowed his head just like what Minhyuk instructed.

All of the players were looking at the two of them in eager anticipation. They all felt that Minhyuk had no obligation nor reason to help. This was because they were unaware of the secrets shared through the whispers.

Minhyuk looked at them. His eyes looked like the epitome of the eyes of a king that was feeling sorry for his wounded and injured people.

‘No. That guy is a thief…’

Richard was left dumbfounded as he watched Minhyuk look at them as if he was in deep agony.

“Hoo…”

Even his sigh seemed to contain his woes as he pondered for quite some time. Then, Minhyuk said to all of the players that were looking at him eagerly, “Fine. I can’t really turn my back on you. Alright. I will fight alongside you.”

“Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”

“Beyond the Heavens! Beyond the Heavens! Beyond the Heavens! Beyond the Heavens!”

“He’s really cool…”

“Wow…”

“You’re going to fight alongside us? Wow!!!”

“So amazing… The Beyond the Heavens King is truly a wise king!!!”

That was right. This was how things turned out. And all Richard could do was watch them with a blank and despondent look on his face. Then, Minhyuk raised his hand and prompted everyone to get silent.

“And Richard, you will be a great king. I never expected that you would bow your head for them. I respect that.”

“…!”

At that moment, goosebumps covered Richard’s entire body.

‘This rascal?’

Then, everyone turned to look at Richard. With Minhyuk’s simple words, the gazes of everybody had changed.

Richard was a new and emerging king, yet he bowed his head to the king that was defending his own throne. However, something else was added to that and that was ‘to protect them’. But if Minhyuk did not explicitly mention that, then no one would notice.

‘Just now…’

What Minhyuk just did was to establish his own status, as well as elevate Richard’s own. What did that mean?

‘It means that we are not enemies yet.’

In other words, even if Minhyuk had stolen a lot of things from Maserrati Guild, he was still able to forge a friendly relation with them. However, the most surprising part here was…

‘He just used words but he was able to achieve this much?’

It was terrifying. Indeed, that was…

‘Beyond the Heavens King.’

…Minhyuk.