Ranker's Return

Chapter 774

“Trade? With the different species? What does that mean? Explain it in more detail.”

Curiosity filled the face of the old emperor.

Trading with the different species—it was a strange story for the emperor who ruled the East Continent.

“I accidentally came into contact with the different species. Then I gained their favor. There are quite a few different species on the continent and there is no way to guarantee their safety.”

Hyeonu made up his own story. It wasn’t something that the old emperor could confirm anyway.

“That is why I gave them a suggestion. If you trade with humans, I will find you a land where you can live.”

The wrinkles on the old emperor’s face increased. It was a worried expression. It was because he found something strange in Hyeonu’s words.

“So why did you come to the Yuxin Empire and not the Yusma Empire? I’m asking why you came to me, not the emperor you serve.”

The old emperor was suspicious of Hyeonu. The story was poor and there was no validity. There seemed to be many subtle parts that made him think deeper.

“Let’s see... why am I bringing them to the East Continent?”

Hyeonu smiled slightly. The old emperor got a familiar feeling from Hyeonu’s appearance. Until Hyeonu appeared in the East Continent, there were countless people with such expressions in the Yuxin Empire.

“I’m not expecting much. All you have to do is give them the land at the southernmost point of the Yuxin Empire.”

“Is that really it? Is that all you want?”

“If I think about all the things I’ve received from Your Majesty and the master of the secret department... what more do I have to receive? I hope you will think of it as my heart to continue living as I am now.”

The smile that appeared on Hyeonu’s face felt even more meaningful.

‘Can I accept this?’

The troubles of the old emperor deepened. The more he talked to Hyeonu, the more confused he became. He couldn’t understand Hyeonu’s intentions. Was it really just for this purpose? He couldn’t tell if there was anything else.

‘I don’t think it will be a problem though...’

Even if Hyeonu had strange intentions, the Yuxin Empire had enough power to handle it unless the subject of the continent was the West Continent itself.

‘If they were going to start a war in the first place... they would’ve just crossed the mountain range.’

If the Yusma Empire intended to invade the East Continent, they would’ve crossed the mountain range and started a war. They wouldn’t do this nonsense. Who would bring the different species over just to start a war? It wasn’t one or two, but enough to form a city.

“All I can give you is the land. Are you really okay with that?”

The old emperor once again asked Hyeonu. The reason for his repeated confirmations was simple. It was to lay the groundwork so that no matter what happened, the blame could be passed onto Hyeonu.

“It’s fine, Your Majesty. I will find the rest in Linakalu. That way, I won’t be shame-faced, right?”

Hyeonu naturally accepted the words of the old emperor. It was as if he knew such words would come out.

“Are you saying that the only benefit I’ll get is taxes?”

The old emperor burst out laughing. It was because he knew for certain Hyeonu’s intention in mentioning Linakalu. Linakalu had the Gucheon Secret Department. In other words, the Gucheon Secret Department would be the merchant group trading with the different species and the emperor would only receive taxes from that trade. This was what it meant.

“In any case, the East Continent belongs to Your Majesty. Why does that matter?”

Hyeonu continued his words with a calm face.

“Then I will understand it as you giving permission... I will slowly prepare for the migration of the different species.”

Hyeonu created an atmosphere to slowly end the conversation. There was still a lot of work to be done. He had to go to Linakalu to meet Chen Long, the master of the Gucheon Secret Department. Then once it was over, he had to go back to Viper.

“Yes... let me tell you. Trading with the different species... I am looking forward to it.”

The old emperor waved his hand at Hyeonu with a complicated expression. Hyeonu bowed to the old emperor and left the great hall.

‘Let’s go to Linakalu.’

The next place to go was already set.

***

Hyeonu searched his inventory for a long time and managed to find a talisman that could move to Linakalu. It was a small incident that occurred because he forgot to collect the return amulets that could be used in the East Continent and put them in a box.

‘So nice.’

Hyeonu enjoyed the warm sun as soon as he appeared in Linakalu.

“Tang-E, is it good?” Hyeonu asked while looking at Tang-E who was being carried.

“It is good. It was good before, but it is better now.”

Tang-E also liked Linakalu.

The Anfra Forest, Meong, and Viper didn’t have bad environments. However, it was too vague to say it was good. They were just ordinary places. Meanwhile, Linakalu was a resort destination. The warm sun, panoramic view, and cool waters—it wasn’t as much as Bung Bung Island, but it was still a good city.

“Let’s go see the sea once we’re done with our business. We will have a barbecue on the beach.”

“Okay, Master dude. Let’s go and do our business,” Tang-E urged Hyeonu. He was excited about eating meat.

“I understand. Be patient.”

Hyeonu stroked Tang-E’s head and moved toward the place that was in his memory.

'Was it here?’

Hyeonu was looking for a place that was called by many names. The old emperor called it the Gucheon Secret Department, it was known as Southern Star to the outside, but the actual name was Samsungga. Hyeonu lightly crossed the wall of the Samsungga. It was a movement without the slightest hesitation.

‘I have to go that way from here.’

Hyeonu was confused a few times, but he felt his memory coming back little by little. Hyeonu’s memory wasn’t wrong and he quickly arrived in front of a familiar building.

“I came to the wrong place.”

Hyeonu stopped in front of the shabby building and shook his head with a bitter smile. This wasn’t the place where Chen Long, the master of Samsunggu and the Gucheon Secret Department, would be staying. This was the place where Chen Long had been meeting Hyeonu after being driven out of the Cheonryong Group in the past.

“Where did you come incorrectly?” The door of the shabby building opened with a squeaky sound and a man appeared through it.

“Chen Long, why are you here?” Hyeonu asked with a bewildered expression.

“That is what I want to ask you. Why are you in front of me?”

It was normal for Chen Long, not Hyeonu, to be bewildered. This place was the deepest part of the Samsungga, nowhere else. Hyeonu, who was called the benefactor of this place but was actually an outsider, appeared without a word.

“Chen Long, I’m here to see you,” Hyeonu changed his expression in an instant and spoke brazenly to Chen Long.

“Me? Why? So suddenly?”

Chen Long looked at Hyeonu with a relaxed gaze while removing the eye mucus that had formed while he was sleeping.

“I came here because I have a request. It isn’t difficult or burdensome. Rather, it will be helpful to you and the Gucheon Secret Department”

Hyeonu added all types of rhetoric and emphasized that his request wasn’t difficult at all.

“I will hear it first. Ah, by the way... I want to fill up my stomach. Aren’t you carrying around any food these days? Of course, there is alcohol?”

Chen Long was relaxed. He was like a person who had just woken up. He even asked Hyeonu to eat because he was hungry. He made full use of the fact that he was in the superior position.

“There is meat. There is also alcohol. Would you like to eat?”

Hyeonu naturally took out some meat and a bottle of wine from his inventory and shook it. In any case, Hyeonu had to take care of Tang-E. Dealing with it all at once would just make Hyeonu comfortable.

“Okay. It has been a long time since my mouth tasted such luxury.”

Chen Long buried himself in an old wooden chair. He hardly looked like the master of the Gucheon Secret Department who ruled the darkness of the East Continent. Hyeonu lit the fire in an instant with Tang-E’s help and cooked the meat. He also added all types of seasonings and boiled a soup. It was the meal that the three of them, including Bakar, had eaten when they were active in the East Continent.

“The alcohol tastes good and the food also tastes good. Yes, what did you want to ask?”

Chen Long ate and drank like a person who had been starving for several days. Then he looked at Hyeonu leisurely while holding a glass of alcohol, not showing how full he was.

“I plan to build a city further south than Linakalu. I need a merchant group to come and go from there.”

Hyeonu was finally able to tell Chen Long why he had come.

“If that is the case, why come to me? Won’t the merchant groups go as soon as the city is built?”

Chen Long cocked his head. Existing cities were places where the commerce areas were firmly established. It was too hard for anyone to break that balance. In such circumstances, the emergence of a new city was an opportunity. It was an opportunity to increase the size of the merchant group.

“Uncontrolled merchant groups are useless. I need to have direct or indirect control over it. If it is the Gucheon Secret Department merchant group... it is reliable enough.”

“Do you really need that?”

Chen Long wasn’t convinced by Hyeonu’s explanation and poured the alcohol into his mouth.

“There are no humans in the new city. It is a city of different species. For example, elves and orcs. They will fill the city.”

Chen Long’s eyes widened at Hyeonu’s explanation.

A city of different species. He had never imagined it.

“If so... it makes sense. If any merchant group can go in and out... there are bound to be problems.”

At the same time, he realized why Hyeonu was asking for a favor. Uncontrolled access would inevitably cause problems. This was a fixed procedure.

“Chen Long, if I ask you directly to move the merchant group of the Gucheon Secret Department... won’t it be easier to fix if any problems arise? There is Chen Long’s face...”

If the Gucheon Secret Department merchant group caused problems in the city of different species, Hyeonu wouldn’t hesitate to take the side of the different species.

‘Honestly, that won’t happen, but...’

If there was an accident with the Gucheon Secret Department merchant group, then it would immediately tarnish the face of Chen Long, the master of the Gucheon Secret Department.

“What face? They will just be punished for not carrying out my orders properly?”

An eerie killing intent flashed through Chen Long’s eyes.

“Can you make a decision?" Hyeonu looked at Chen Long and asked.

“The flavor of the alcohol has fallen... give me another drink.”

Chen Long threw the empty glass to Hyeonu.

Trickle.

Hyeonu tilted the bottle and filled the empty cup little by little. He didn’t get a clear answer, but this was enough.

‘He will send me the merchant group.’

Chen Long was such an NPC.

“If the different species look for alcohol... I will find you again.”

Hyeonu dropped off some more new bottles of alcohol in front of Chen Long and left with Tang-E. It was time to return to Viper.