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nChapter 111: Episode 111

n***

nEthan went into deep thought.

nThere was a limit of only one item per person for the item that advanced their fighting power.

nIf they happened to ingest more than that, there could be a serious problem.

nHowever, Ethan felt greedy.

n

n

n‘Can I eat one more?’

n‘What if there are no side effects?’

n‘What if I can get even stronger?’

nSuch thoughts rang through Ethan’s mind and roamed within like ghosts.

nEthan looked back at the box of items that were put into the trunk of the car.

nHis heart pounded like crazy.

nHe felt like he was gambling.

nA gamble that put his life on the line.

nAnd when the temptations of gambling entered the brain, it was hard to get rid of it.

nEthan licked his dry lips. He got out of the car and opened the trunk.

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n

nHe looked down at the items in the box.

nOne.

nIt was probably okay to eat one more.

nHe rationalized and convinced himself of it.

nEthan made up his mind and grabbed one item with his hand.

nAfter making up his mind, he put an item into his mouth.

nChomp!

nThe item was quite hard.

nIt sounded almost as if Ethan was eating a rock.

nAnd then, he began to experience the same pain that came with the first one.

n

n

n“Ugh! Ugh!”

nEthan’s body began to swell up and turn red.

nThe pain was much worse than when he ate his first item.

nEthan endured the pain with all his might in order to stay sane.

nAnd then a moment later.

nOnce Ethan endured the horrible pain, he smiled and slowly got up.

nIt was very clear that he was stronger now.

n‘I knew it…!’

nThe gamble worked.

nHe suddenly wanted to eat one more, but he talked himself out of it.

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n

nTwo more could be really dangerous.

nThe reason for that was because when he ingested his second, he almost felt like his body was going to explode.

n“Phew, those bastards. How did they invent this thing?”

nAfter mumbling while looking down upon the item, he put one item in his bag so that he could bring it to a research institute if he happened to get addicted to it.

nAs long as he sent it over to the research institute, they could find a way to detoxify his body if he overdosed.

nEthan put the bag with the item in the corner of the trunk and got ready to call the other American hunters with much excitement.

n***

nThe American hunters all grabbed their phones at the same time.

nAfter checking their message, they looked at each other.

nThey then quietly began to head out of the assembly.

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n

nTheir destination was a storage container.

nEthan was waiting for them there, and around him were many boxes.

nIn response to Ethan’s orders, each of the hunters received a box of the item.

n“This will increase your fighting power. Ingest it right now.”

nIn response, the curious hunters widened their eyes.

nThere were nothing hunters wanted more than more power.

nThe hunters ingested the item without any hesitation.

nChomp!

nThe sound of teeth biting into the hard item rang through the room.

n***

nHo Sung Lee drove as if he was fighting with all his might to live on.

nWith his trademark squinty eyes and hazy sight, he began to see the assembly.

nAs soon as the car entered, the hunters focused on them, unlike the last time.

n“Are you going to go right away?”

nHo Sung Lee looked back at Min Sung and asked.

n“No, I’m going to rest soon,” Min Sung answered while his eyes were closed.

nHe smoked a cigarette while looking at the Black Tower.

nThe sky was still filled with dark clouds, and around the tower was thunder and lightning.

nThe Black Tower almost looked like the end of the world.

nWhile looking at such a tower, Ho Sung Lee sighed after a puff of smoke.

n“You’ll probably die.”

n“Make your decision.”

n“Are you going to overcome your death, or are you going to die?”

nMin Sung Kang’s voice rang through his head.

nHis heart pounded with nervousness.

nWhile he felt all sorts of emotions while looking at the Black Tower.

nHe heard someone approaching.

nHo Sung Lee threw away his cigarette and looked toward the footsteps.

nIt was the American hunter master, Ethan.

n“I’d like to speak with the hunter, Min Sung Kang.”

n“What for?”

n“I have a request related to the tower. Please ask him to make some time for me.”

nHo Sung Lee went to the back seat of the car Min Sung was in and knocked on the window.

nThe window opened slightly to only show Min Sung’s eyes.

n“Sir, the American hunter master, Ethan, would like to speak with you about the tower. What do you think?”

n“Tell him to get in.”

n“Yes, Sir.”

nHo Sung gestured for Ethan to get inside the car.

n***

nThe American hunter master, Ethan, sat beside Min Sung inside the car.

nMin Sung waited for Ethan to say something, and Ethan did just that.

n“We would like to go to the tower with you.”

nThat was the first thing Ethan said.

n“With me? What do you mean by that?”

nMin Sung asked.

n“We’ll stand at the front, so you’ll just be there for emergencies. Then that’ll take off the burden off of you, and we’ll be able to get through the tower much easier.”

nMin Sung scoffed.

n“I can get through the tower easily without your help.”

n“…”

nEthan’s eyes shook.

nHe made an effort to calm himself down.

n“The tower is a disaster for all of humanity. Even if you can clear it on your own, this is not something that you should do on your…”

n“That’s your problem, not mine.”

nEthan was at a loss for words.

nMin Sung wasn’t someone who could be convinced of things such as justice or the future of mankind.

nIt didn’t take long before he realized what Min Sung wanted.

nEthan frowned and looked down.

n“… I’m begging you. Please help us,” Ethan said with his head down.

n“Okay,” Min Sung accepted.

nWhen Ethan lifted his head in surprise to the quick acceptance.

nMin Sung continued,

n“But under one condition.”

n“… What is it?”

n“There are three conditions.”

nEthan gulped.

nOn the other hand, Min Sung’s face remained unchanged.

n“First, I need a cook who can make delicious food.”

n“Someone, to make your food?”

n“Yeah.”

nEthan nodded.

nHe was able to accept that condition.

n“What about your second condition?”

n“My assistant, Ho Sung Lee, and my Lich Doll, Bowl. They will obtain as much experience points as possible.”

nMin Sung continued on to his third condition.

n“And I will obtain all of the items.”

nMonopolization.

nEthan clenched his teeth.

n“That’s unreasonable.”

n“If you don’t like it, just go on your own.”

nEthan went deep into thought with a stressed look on his face.

n“… Are those your only conditions?”

n“I’m not sure.”

nEthan looked at Min Sung in annoyance.

nHe realized that Min Sung had the upper hand in this situation.

n“We’ll have a meeting with the other commanders and let you know.”

n“20 minutes,” Min Sung advised.

n“That’s too short…!”

nMin Sung slowly turned to Ethan.

n“Shut up and come back to me with your decision in 20 minutes.”

nEthan closed his eyes tightly and got out of the car.

n***

n“That son of a bitch…!”

nEthan gritted his teeth as he went inside the tent.

nHe breathed in and out in order to calm himself down from the stress.

nThe other commanders stared at Ethan in surprise.

nEthan looked up and spoke to his fellow commanders.

n“I decided that it’d be a good idea to go to the tower with the Korean hunter, Min Sung Kang.”

nIn response, the commanders looked as if they approved.

n“So I talked to him about going together, but he gave me three conditions.”

n“Three conditions? What are they?”

nThe European commander asked.

nEthan told them the three conditions as Min Sung listed.

nThe commanders mumbled to themselves in response.

n“Since we have no other choice, we’ll have to get his help,” the African commander responded.

nEveryone agreed, but Ethan thought differently.

n“Then I’ll tell him we accept.”

n***

n“They accept your conditions. What were they anyway? They looked displeased,” Ho Sung Lee asked as he got into the car.

n“They’ll bring me a cook, you and Bowl will get the experience points, and I’ll get all the items. That’s it. So don’t’ forget to obtain all the points.”

n“… That’s a lot.”

nWhile Ho Sung Lee mumbled in shock, someone knocked on the window.

nMin Sung opened the window.

n“It’ll take some time before the cook arrives,” the hunter said.

n“How long?”

n“Around 4 hours…”

nThe hunter trailed off unconfidently.

n“But we called the best cook, so you’ll definitely like the food.”

n“Tell them I’m only leaving after I eat,” Min Sung replied as he closed the window.

n***

nGary Gold was one of the few Michelin Star chefs in New York.

nHe put his materials in his trunk and was on his way to the assembly.

nOn his way there, he cursed with words that started with “F”.

nHe was in the middle of a relaxing vacation when he got called by the hunters.

nThey ordered him to arrive at the assembly and prepare a delicious meal.

nHe said he was on vacation, but the hunters didn’t give him a choice.

nThey threatened him that if he didn’t come right away, his career as a chef would be over.

nNo matter how famous he was, he had no choice but to succumb to the hunters’ threats.

n‘Who am I cooking for?’

n‘The American hunter master?’

nGary Gold laughed as he stepped on his accelerator.

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