Ranker's Return

NEW NOVEL: First and foremost, I'm delighted to announce that our long-time veteran translator littleshanks has finally launched his new novel, Rise!  Rise is a novel about the esports scene in Shanghai, the competitive gaming capital of China. It follows the story of Lin Feng, a boy who has just moved to the city for his last year of high school. He's a passionate gamer and dreams of being the best professional League of Legends player in the world. The twist? He almost achieved his dream, but failed at the...

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China had always been weak in Arena until the Kowloon Guild appeared. Nine talented people took center stage to rally the Chinese, and Kowloon’s popularity was absolute in China. It was more overwhelming than anyone else’s popularity. Liu Shei, the Third Dragon, was the third seat of such a Kowloon Guild.

“So, you would like me to introduce you to Alley Leader?” Liu Shei slammed a fist on the table. He thought the other person was teasing him.

‘How does he see me...’

“You should be grateful that your company is Adidas. If not, this fist would be embedded in your face, not the table,” Liu Shei stated and then rose from his seat. He couldn’t listen anymore because he felt bad. At this moment, Rudd—the man on the other side of the table—opened his mouth and said, “I heard that you are aiming for the place of the second—no, the First Dragon. So don’t you need our help?”

At Rudd’s words, Liu Shei stopped trying to leave. He returned to his seat and grabbed Rudd by the collar. “Where did you hear that? Tell me!”

This was something that no one should know. It was a secret that only a few people knew. The Third Dragon was looking up at the sky.

Rudd struck Liu Shei’s arm. “This isn’t something I can say. The conversation between you and me is whether I can meet Alley Leader or not.”

Liu Shei gritted his teeth. This was an obvious threat. Rudd was threatening to spill this fact if Liu Shei didn’t accept the request. Liu Shei told him, “I’ll let you meet in Arena at all costs. However, that’s it for my role. You should know it well.”

“I know. Then I’ll leave it here for today. Next time, let’s meet with positive news...” Rudd left after hearing Liu Shei’s answer.

“Uwahh!” Left alone, Liu Shei pushed the plates off the table with his arms. He couldn’t contain his anger. “I am Liu Shei!! Liu Shei who has been working under a dog-like guy for several years and has only seen the light now!! Yet you are ignoring me like that again?!”

Liu Shei was furious for a long time before coming to his senses.

“Yes, this time I’ll put up with it. I’ve endured it so far... However, there is no next time.”

Fire erupted in Liu Shei’s eyes.

 

***

 

It had been almost a week since Hyeonu cleared Laek’s 10th stage. In the meantime, Hyeonu had been hunting in the Kunta Plateau and streaming on the days when he needed to stream. As a result, Hyeonu had gained quite a few levels and was now level 190.

“There is definitely a synergy between the title and the ring.”

The only downside was that Goryeon’s Ring had a limit of up to level 200.

“Moreover, I can’t get an experience elixir...”

The experience elixir Hyeonu gained when he started Arena was the only one sold to this day. In other words, the goods weren’t released at all apart from the one Hyeonu sold.

‘It is definitely a monopoly. It isn’t just one or two but many.’

However, there was nothing Hyeonu could do. He didn’t know who was monopolizing it right now.

“Hey, isn’t this my little brother? Why aren’t you moving?” Kim Seokjung approached Hyeonu, who was standing stupidly, and placed an arm around his shoulder.

“Ah, Brother. I was just thinking about something. It is the third class advancement. I have to do it quickly...”

“Little brother will do it soon. Time is the problem.”

Kim Seokjung wasn’t very worried. Looking at Hyeonu’s strength, no matter what class he had, the third class advancement was an established fact the moment level 200 was reached. After speaking, Kim Seokjung patted Hyeonu’s shoulder and led him inside the building.

There were already people inside the building. The interior was reminiscent of a huge meeting room. There was a long table and chairs with more than 20 people sitting there. It was amazing to see their faces. If a photo were taken and uploaded to the Internet, the communities would be shocked and claim it was fake.

The identities of those gathered here were masters of large guilds and professional gamers. Starting with New World, there were the masters of large guilds such as Kowloon, the Tank Corps, Phoenix, and the Mano Guild. The aces of the pro teams Red Bull America, New York Warriors, and Shanghai Shenhua were also gathered. 

Carey, the guild leader of Phoenix, asked, “Why did you call us here? In a few hours, the most important part of the main scenario will occur.” 

He already knew some of the story to a certain extent. In other words, Carey’s remarks were a pretext to lead the way to revealing the intentions of New World and Hyeonu, who were hosting the gathering.

“I will tell you. After all, the organizer is New World.” Gang Junggu stood up. “I think everyone knows a certain amount about this main scenario. It is to take control of the rebels. Mascherano and Reina have found the rebel base, so we have gathered.”

Most of the people gathered here nodded. It was as described by Gang Junggu. From a certain point of view, they were a bit behind. However, not everyone was in a favorable position. At the very end of the table, Marco of the Mano Guild and Kim Jinyong of JT Telecom couldn’t laugh since they had been pushed out of the Kunta Plateau.

If they hadn’t been pushed out, their position would be different. Then a voice came from the other side of the table.

“So why is Alley Leader here? Is he a member of the guilds gathered here?” It was a young man with JT Telecom’s logo, Jung Hanbaek.

“What does that mean? Is there any reason why he shouldn’t be here?”

“Is he qualified? Don’t you need a minimum qualification to enter here?”

“Qualifications? You don’t know anything, but he is full of qualifications, unlike you,” Gang Junggu fired back at Jung Hanbaek. Jung Hanbaek wanted to speak more, but Kim Jinyong held his arm and stopped him.

“Is JT Telecom really a professional team? Their information network is too slow... Tsk tsk.”

“Don’t you know who the opener of this main scenario was? No, putting this aside, there is no reason why Alley Leader shouldn’t be here.”

“Is this what pro-gamers are like? What is Alley Leader’s current position? He’s a superstar that can’t be obtained even if all of JT Telecom is brought out. I don’t want to say it, but how many people are in a better position than Alley Leader here? Isn’t that right?”

JT Telecom received ridicule from all over the place. They didn’t understand business. Even the Mano Guild, who had a bad relationship with Alley Leader, could only shut their mouths and not express their opinion here. What was the reason? They knew Alley Leader’s position.

‘They are fools. Young and stupid.’

Gang Junggu organized the situation in his mind. He didn’t have any good feelings for JT Telecom, but he had to end it here. The purpose of today’s meeting wasn’t to talk about JT Telecom. “That isn’t the problem. This isn’t the end of the battle. The real battle is after. It doesn’t make sense to gather us together for a bit of hunting. Rewards... Bigger rewards exist.”

“Next?”

“What else is there?”

“What do you mean?”

Once Gang Junggu finished speaking, the people who didn’t understand started to talk among themselves.

‘Is there something else I don’t know about?’

‘Is it because this is New World?’

It was the same for Mascherano and Reina. There were only two guilds that weren’t surprised—Pioneer, that was told in advance, and New World, as well as Hyeonu, who hosted the talks. After a while, the voices subsided. 

Gang Junggu spoke again, “To be honest, we aren’t here just to attack the rebel base. Honestly, we wouldn’t have gathered if that was the end of it. The real thing is the rebellion that will follow this battle. The rebellion will take place all over the territories of the empire. We gathered here to get greater rewards by quickly quelling it with minimal damage. I will tell you this.”

The murmurs grew again at Gang Junggu’s words. Everyone’s hands and mouths started to move. They were sending information to their guilds.

“Then how will we distribute it?” Carey asked Gang Junggu again. This was also a prepared comment.

“New World will take care of the distribution. I don’t think there is anyone who doubts our impartiality. I wouldn’t have called you here if I wanted to give you a penalty in the first place.”

No one disputed Gang Junggu’s words because there was nothing wrong with them. It was information they wouldn’t have known if they hadn’t been called in the first place. There was no need to call them and then penalize them. Not knowing was the biggest disadvantage. 

After that, they talked about various interests.

“Then everyone can go back now. Please prepare hard for the battle.”

The talks were over. Everyone got good results, and only JT Telecom was wounded. To be exact, it was Jung Hanbaek’s pride.

 

***

 

“Can you give me some time?” Someone caught Hyeonu who was trying to leave the building. It was Liu Shei, the Third Dragon of the Kowloon Guild.

He was a man whom Hyeonu didn’t have good feelings toward.

“What is going on?” Hyeonu made a gesture to go out to the people standing around him. Looking at Liu Shei’s expression, it didn’t seem to be a good thing for others to hear.

“Tell me, what do you want from me? I didn’t think we would meet like this.” Hyeonu treated Liu Shei harshly.

“I wanted to take a moment to apologize for the past.” 

“Is the apology part of that sentence? Isn’t it quite absurd?” Hyeonu’s speech became shorter.

Despite Hyeonu’s attitude, Liu Shei kept apologizing. “I understand, but I would appreciate it if you knew I had a situation.” 

Hyeonu couldn’t keep ignoring the person who maintained a humble attitude. Consequently, Hyeonu’s attitude softened slightly, and he asked, “What is your real purpose? I don’t think it is to apologize.”

‘He obviously has a purpose.’

The relationship between Liu Shei and Tian Hu was well-known among rankers. Liu Shei should also know that Hyeonu knew about the relationship between the two of them. Nevertheless, he approached Hyeonu.

‘Perhaps Liu Shei has a new background or someone is threatening him.’

Hyeonu waited for Liu Shei’s answer, and he soon received it.

“There is someone who wants to meet you, Alley Leader.”

“Who is it—the one who turned you into a messenger, the people who made you apologize despite knowing the bad relationship between you and me?”

Liu Shei frowned at Hyeonu’s naked accusations. Looking at Liu Shei’s expression, Hyeonu realized that Liu Shei didn’t have a new background. His expression was too distorted for it to be so. It seemed that someone had forced him to come.

Liu Shei’s mask was broken. “He is called Rudd.”

“Rudd?” Hyeonu cocked his head at the name he heard for the first time. He didn’t know anyone with a name like this. “Who is it?”

“The highest-level executive of the Adidas Asia branch, Rudd Penn.”

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