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Chapter 26
“That person who’s alone maintaining balance and blowing away Awakeners in all directions seems to be Kang Shin-hwa.”
“Yes, that seems to be the case.”
“If it’s Lee Cheol-su, his star is on the same class level as yours. How do you think such an Awakener could be finished off in one blow by a D- rank Awakener?”
“I don’t think the branch manager’s thoughts differ from mine.”
“You mean there’s a high possibility that Kang Shin-hwa is not a D- rank?”
“I think Kang Shin-hwa needs to be re-measured. Based on rough estimates, he’s at least B- rank, or maybe even higher.”
“What exactly happened to this F- rank trash?”
Na Mi-na slightly opened her eyes.
“Kuek!”
Lee Cheol-su, of course, and Jo Chun-pal, the D+ rank Awakener known as his right-hand man, both flew from a distance and collapsed side by side.
The gang was being completely wiped out.
The opponent was just one person.
However, the power imbalance showed no signs of resolving, and before this mythical figure, all gang members received an equal result.
Like corpses, they were barely breathing.
Scattered everywhere in a state almost dead.
Na Mi-na began to recite the battle method of the mythical figure she had carefully observed.
As befitting an SS- rank Awakener, she had caught several things with keen eyes.
“He didn’t use long-range abilities. All close-range attacks. It seems his right arm can transform into a weapon, and his left arm can emit magical power.”
“Then that already makes him a dual Awakener, right? Transformation and discharge talents.”
“The problem is…”
“Physical strengthening too?”
“That’s right. He didn’t even groan when hit by other Awakeners’ attacks. That means his physical body is also enhanced.”
“If you add the enhancement talent, he could be a triple Awakener.”
“If there are more hidden abilities, it might not end just at triple.”
Right at that moment.
“Branch manager, look there!”
Yun Byeol-i urgently called Na Mi-na while pointing at Kang Shin-hwa’s changed appearance.
At that instant.
An Awakener attempting to secretly stab Kang Shin-hwa from behind with a sharp spear was visible.
Crack.
Simultaneously, Kang Shin-hwa’s entire body transformed into steel.
Steel reinforcement.
A skilled response by Kang Shin-hwa using the ‘Steel Flower’ he had previously consumed from Magos.
“Crazy, quadruple? Moreover, that doesn’t seem like an Awakening talent but a talent-related flower he ate? Where did he get something like that?”
Na Mi-na touched her throbbing forehead, wearing a stunned expression.
Most Awakeners primarily utilize a single talent during their awakening.
Like professional soccer players typically having talent in soccer, Awakeners also specialize in one talent.
However,
Occasionally, like mutations, Awakeners with two or three talents appear.
A prime example is Na Mi-na, the branch manager of the KSA Seoul branch.
She is an Awakener of the transformation category who can change magical power into attribute magic, and also possesses the ability to freely distort space.
Having just these two talent areas causes a significant increase in value and explosive interest in that Awakener.
Needless to say, for triple or quadruple talents.
If such a fact were to become known, it would attract interest not just domestically but internationally as well.
An Awakener’s talents are the more, the better.
Diverse talents were also an indicator of high potential value.
“I’ve never seen such strengthening ability before. Could it be complete physical attack immunity?”
Yun Byeol-i made an unbelievable expression looking at Kang Shin-hwa, who had transformed into a steel human.
The man who attacked Kang Shin-hwa from behind was not an ordinary person, but an Awakener who could handle magical power.
This meant it wasn’t a simple spear strike, but a fatal blow definitely imbued with magical power.
Under normal circumstances, Kang Shin-hwa would have been at least injured here.
No matter how much he enhanced his body, there are limits to a D- rank Awakener’s strengthening.
However, Kang Shin-hwa completely neutralized the opponent’s attack by turning his entire body to steel, becoming almost invincible.
Swish!
“Cough.”
In the meantime, the Awakener with Kang Shin-hwa’s fist directly planted on his crown foamed at the mouth and collapsed.
“Bring a truckload of D- rank ones. Watch if I even blink. Pathetic guys.”
Tap tap!
Kang Shin-hwa casually dusted off his palm and counted the fallen gang members.
Total of twenty-five.
Not a small number, but somehow ended without a major incident.
Of course, this was only true for himself – the gang members were lying sprawled out with at least three or four broken bones each.
‘Those who blindly trust their own strength and attack with standardized patterns are the easiest to deal with.’
Awakeners who persistently target weak points like predators are tricky to face.
But those who randomly pour attacks as they please were too easy.
Almost like a punching bag.
In any case, they couldn’t even touch a single hair on him.
‘If you’re going to come at me, then come. Or if you’re going to watch from afar, why are you muttering like that?’
While taking usable artifacts as spoils from the scattered gang members, Kang Shin-hwa was observing Na Mi-na and Yun Byeol-i’s movements from the corner of his eye.
Both are spherical.
So it was easy to know who they were and where they belonged.
0% chance they coincidentally came to this Red Zone from KSA.
Most likely they came to scout him, and it had been a long measuring time.
“Grrrk, this artifact absolutely cannot…”
“You came in a group to kill someone, and now you’re thinking about cutting your losses?”
As Kang Shin-hwa tried to take the bracelet,Â
An Awakener bleeding from his nose urgently grabbed Kang Shin-hwa’s hand.
“I’m sorry, please.”
“If you’re sorry, then just lie down. KSA people seem to have arrived, so eat your beans well.”
Bwoak!
“Ugh!”
As Kang Shin-hwa’s fist planted right in the middle of his face, the Awakener couldn’t even scream properly before losing consciousness.
“Urrgh…”
The thoughts of the gang members lying barely breathing were all the same.
They had wrongly touched a sleeping lion’s whiskers.
And that Kang Shin-hwa was far above the publicly known ‘D- rank’.
However, they realized this only after being thoroughly beaten by Kang Shin-hwa and turning into human rags.
‘Park Do-won, you motherf***er…’
Everyone cursed Park Do-won.
Because of his revenge, they had their noses broken in the wrong place and were half-disabled with all kinds of injuries.
“Nothing else to collect. Since KSA seniors have conveniently arrived, you’ll pay for your crimes appropriately.”
Kang Shin-hwa, who had collected all artifacts in the alternate space, lightly jumped away.
Tata-tat!
And in one breath, ran towards Na Mi-na and Yun Byeol-i who were watching nearby.
Then suddenly spoke.
“You saw?”
“I’m already calling nearby KSA branch agents. Just because it’s a Red Zone doesn’t mean Awakener special law doesn’t apply at all. While most order maintenance is delegated to regional consensus groups, this kind of crossing the line is an exception.”
Na Mi-na nodded, understanding Kang Shin-hwa’s meaning.
Except for areas defined as completely lawless Black Zones, Red Zones still receive legal application.
However, due to insufficient law enforcement capabilities, on-site Awakener personnel deployment is delayed.
Since this is a crime scene seen by the Seoul branch manager herself, they would receive strict legal judgment.
“How fortunate. It’s rare to see KSA agents in a Red Zone.”
Kang Shin-hwa threw a cutting remark.
To which Na Mi-na and Yun Byeol-i had no response.
The absence of KSA’s influence in Red and Black Zones was not a recent development.
“I’m late with introductions. I’m Na Mi-na, the branch manager of KSA Seoul Branch. Next to me is from the spherical team? Yun Byeol-i, team leader of the 7th Dungeon Management Team of Seoul Branch.”
“We meet again.”
Kang Shin-hwa shook hands with a smile. Perhaps because she had been ignored twice when trying to contact him, Yun Byeol-i’s expression towards Kang Shin-hwa was cold. However, quickly realizing the importance of the situation, she forced a smile – a soulless reaction that was inherently incompatible with genuine smiling.
Kang Shin-hwa broke the tension.
“By the way, what brings the branch manager here?”
“I’ve come to scout Kang Shin-hwa directly. Please join KSA. I promise a contract fee that cannot be compared to ordinary rookies!”
Na Mi-na went straight to the point. It was a quick, direct comment matching her straightforward and aggressive personality.
KSA is famously a conservative organization in recruiting talent. They carefully recruit talents, but once they make a decision, they boldly execute the budget.
In any case, it was certain they had met an exceptionally skilled Awakener who was hard to encounter.
‘There’s no need for me to join KSA. Their organizational characteristics would excessively limit my autonomy.’
KSA is an organization affiliated with the state. As such, it’s a place where vertical and rigid hierarchical relationships are emphasized.
He didn’t want long-term employment. For someone like himself who wanted to earn quickly and retire, it was a place fundamentally incompatible with his nature from the start.
‘Still, it feels good.’
Anyway, a prestigious, high-ranking organization showing interest in him was truly a happy thing. Their interest was directly linked to his value.
If he were just another common F- rank porter, would they have shown any interest? Probably not even worth speaking to.
“That would be difficult. I’m already a guild member of Yanghwa guild.”
“I know it’s a monthly contract. So after 31 days, you could look for another contract, right? Kang Shin-hwa, I’m not someone who meets just anyone.”
Na Mi-na’s words were unfiltered, stemming from high self-confidence. The Seoul branch manager is just below the headquarters director – meaning she’s a significant figure.
“I want not just to exercise abilities as an Awakener, but also pursue various profitable activities. I detest organizational interference.”
“Special contracts are entirely possible.”
“Still, an organization is an organization. I don’t want to be conscious of hierarchical pressures.”
Kang Shin-hwa spoke decisively.
No matter what special treatment they offer, the fact that KSA is a state-affiliated organization remains unchanged. Even if he wanted to sell top-grade magic potions, he would first be bound by supply regulations. For strategic resources produced by KSA personnel, internal supply always takes priority.
“Do you dislike KSA?”
“There’s no particular reason to like them. It’s not just a place where porters talk each other as side dishes.”
True to Na Mi-na’s frank personality, Kang Shin-hwa also responded directly without roundabout speech.
The Korean Awakener Association is thoroughly performance and achievement-oriented. As a result, individual personalities and opinions are extremely ignored.
Simply put, a completely blocked organization.
There could be no worse condition for his future than entering such a place.
So rejection was actually the natural course.
From Na Mi-na’s perspective, who personally appeared to absolutely secure the contract, this might be incomprehensible.
“So… Is the negotiation collapsed?”
“If someone at the headquarters director level comes, I might be willing to sit down and have a serious conversation.”
Kang Shin-hwa half-jokingly, indirectly expressed his refusal.
“Really?”
And surprisingly, Na Mi-na seemed to take it very seriously.
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