Dungeon Hunter
Chapter 35's

BAD GUY

Everyone has their own style of play.

For example, the red-eyed Assassins, Halt and Itar, would rather kill other users than kill monsters.

They earn far more than killing other users, and they can do things here that they can't do in real life.

Moreover, they had even learned the Seizing skill, which allowed them to pick and choose what items to take from the dead user's body; this only makes them double the hunt for other users.

"Continue?"

Kang Oh snorted after listening to their story.

While Eder scratched his empty nostril with a finger.

In front of Kang Oh and Eder...

Halt and Eder were completely restrained in bone ties and hung upside down on a tree.

"We made a mistake. We won't do it again" Halt said.

"Indeed. From now on we will live a decent life" added Itar.

Normally, captured criminals would be sent to the Security Bureau in exchange for a reward.  

However, Kang Oh did not choose to do so; instead, he had them hang on a tree.

Thus, both criminals claim that they will play well from now on in an attempt to escape.

Unfortunately, this is the wrong move. After all, Kang Oh had absolutely no interest in justice or guidance.

“Do some bad things too. You can't live well all the time, especially in this cruel world,” said Kang Oh.

'You have to take care of your own interests.'

Rather than being taken advantage of, he would rather lead an evil life, of course with reason. 

"But..."

"Why did you tie us up and hang us like this?"

Both Halt and Itar asked.

"What do you mean, 'why'? You tried to ambush us and get caught, and you thought we'd let you off the hook?"

"Then?" ask Itar.

"Give me all your money."

Kang Oh twirled his thumb and index finger, and shoved it into Itar's face.

"Excuse me?"

"Money?"

Stop and Itar retaliates.

"I'm generous here, so your equipment doesn't matter to me either. But it should at least be A-rank."

"We're sorry. Please forgive us just once..."

Itar tried to buy time.

"Hey, just shut up for a second."

Kang Oh held her back, and opened the message window.

- Hey, Assu.

The Wild Warthog is a level 50 animal.

While Kang Oh was level 70, Eder was as strong as level 80.

There was a huge difference between them so facing them meant a quick death.

Yet...

'mm. Something feels weird.'

After collecting the junkyard items, Kang Oh felt that something was wrong and thus, observed his surroundings.

Nothing very suspicious.

"Hm."

Kang Oh tilted his head and continued moving forward.

A few moments later.

The two men, who were watching Kang Oh and Eder from within the forest, spoke.

"He has common sense" Halt said.

"So where am I?"

"..."

Halt and Itar shut up.

They don't want to talk about money or equipment.

"Why didn't you say anything?"

Kang Oh resentfully patted their cheeks.

"Uh."

Their faces suddenly crumpled. Although it doesn't hurt because they are in a game, it's really embarrassing.

"Where am I again?"

Kang Oh turned towards Eder.

"You're talking about them giving you their money or their equipment."

"Ah, right. I told them to give me money or A-rank equipment."

Kang Oh nodded. He then looked at Halt and Itar and said, "How much is your reward?"

Halt and Itar shut up again.

"You're really going to keep doing this!?"

There was fire in his eyes. At the same time, he raised both of his hands as if he was about to slap her.

"We're worth 10 gold pieces!" Itar yells.

"Are you sure?"

Kang Oh scowled.

"I'm sure" cried Itar once more.

"If you lie to me, you'll lose a hand."

"It's not a lie" Halt said.

"We're garbage PKs, who are looking for beginners and low-level users, so we're not very valuable" Halt added.

"Well, I don't think that's a problem. I asked someone to check on me, so let's see if you're lying or not."

Kang Oh's statement caused Halt and Itar's faces to lose color.

An expression that seemed to say, "We're screwed".

'Of course.'

Considering their expressions, Kang Oh knew that they had lied.

Then, he received a message from Asu.

- Stop and Itar is worth 50 gold a piece.

- Thank you.

Kang Oh pinched their cheeks.

"Hohs. You're worth 50 gold each?" 

Kang Oh smiled.

They were worth a total of 100 gold!

Which meant he would receive at least 1 million won ($1,000 USD) if he brought it to the Security Bureau.

'This is much more than I expected. Should I be a bounty hunter?'

Kang Oh wonders if he should be a bounty hunter or not.

However, it was not easy to find PKs in the vast expanse of Arth, unless they came for him of their own accord like the two.

And there are some really strong users and psychopaths among the PKs.

Kang Oh completely threw away the idea of being a bounty hunter and instead focused on the current situation.

"I'll let you go if you give me your money or your gear. Or you could rot in jail. It's your choice!"

Stop and Itar's eyes shake.

While Kang Oh just grinned.

He smiled with certainty, as if saying 'You have no choice but to give me money'. 

* * *

There was a big penalty for the game ending, or dying in Arth.

Not only did death bring down a person's level and proficiency, but there was also a fixed possibility that they would lose their equipment or possessions.

In addition, they will receive a debuff for 1 week after their death.

Debuff will reduce a person's ability by 10% and reduce their experience gain by the same amount.

If they die again while under the influence of a debuff, then the debuff will accumulate and refresh the debuff timer.

But imprisonment, on the one hand, is a far worse punishment than death.

The charges of the criminals will be weighed based on the severity and frequency of their crimes, and the criminals will be forced to remain in prison for whatever time is decided.

Like being in a real prison cell, a user in a prison cannot do anything in the game.

That means they are forced to look at the ceiling or wall and waste precious time. 

In addition, they may have to pay fines for their crimes and most of their equipment is confiscated.

If they do not have the money or equipment to pay the fine, then their prison sentence will be extended

So, there is a common saying among users in Arth.

I would rather die than go to jail.

Halt and Itar agree with that.

For them, paying Kang Oh and avoiding jail time was the right decision.

'Let's give him some money.'

'Yes, we can get it back in no time from other users.'

Itar and Halt exchanged looks.

"We'll give you your money" Halt said.

"Good choice."

Kang Oh gestured to Eder, and Eder gently chanted a spell.

The bones that once bound them tightly loosened, and they were able to release one hand from its grip.

“You should be able to access your inventory with one hand,” said Kang Oh.

"But we need assurance" Halt said.

"What?"

Kang Oh scowled, his eyes like saying 'How dare they!?'.

We will immediately give you money if you are willing to sign the Sabra Contract, Halt said while avoiding Kang Oh's gaze.

"What, contract?"

Kang Oh's eyes were like lasers firing murderous intent.

"Ehem."

Halt and Itar cleared their throat and turned to avoid Kang Oh's gaze.

At that moment, Kang Oh's lips lifted slightly.

He's got some kind of plan!

Then, after Halt and Itar looked back, Kang Oh quickly returned to his normal expression.

“In exchange, I will charge you double,” Kang Oh said firmly.

As soon as Itar finished, Kang Oh threatened.

"All right then! Negotiations over. Eder, cover their mouths with bones too."

"okay."

Eder reached out his hand, but Halt and Itar quickly shouted.

"Two times!"

"Double!"

Kang Oh waved his hand, gesturing for him to stop.

"Then give me 200 gold pieces; a total of 400 gold!" Said Kang Oh.

"Um. Twice it was 100 gold, or a total of 200 gold" Itar said.

"Misunderstanding? I didn't misunderstand. In total, your reward is worth 100 gold, right?" Said Kang Oh.

"Yes" replied Itar.

"And then there's 50 gold you owe me to cover up the psychological damage you caused me; you followed me and then ambushed me" Kang Oh said.

"Huh?"

"There are also 50 gold you owe for the psychological damage you inflicted on our pure-hearted Eder."

Kang Oh pointed towards Eder.

Eder's 'purely observant' eyes glowed blue.

"You said you would pay double, so twice 200 is 400 gold! Right?"

Kang Oh raised two fingers.

"Who in the world counts such things ..."

"What do you mean psychological damage? That doesn't make sense."

Who's the guy hanging upside down in the tree again? However, Kang Oh who wants compensation?

Halt and Itar fell silent and felt his claim was ridiculous.

However, Kang Oh is in control.

"Haa. You still don't understand, do you?"

Kang Oh glanced at Eder, giving him a signal.

Eder blocked Halt and Itar's mouth with bone.

"Let's go to the Security Bureau," he told Eder who nodded in response.

"Mmmm!"

"Mm!"

Kang Oh grabs Halt and Itar with the intention of knocking them out of the tree, but both thrash.

At the same time, with the only hole open, their eyes, they seemed to say 'We'll do as you say'.

"Should I give you another chance?" Kang Oh stopped and asked.

"Mmmm!"

"Mm!"

"Alright, alright. Inconveniencing. Eder!"

Eder waved his hand in the air, and the bones covering Halt and Itar's mouth disappeared.

"Heoks. I'll give you 200 gold!"

"I promise. I really want to give you money."

Kang Oh accepted their request with a cold expression.

"I want 50 more gold in return because you gave me a hard time. So, you should give me 250 gold each!"

Halt and Itar were worried that negotiations would fail again, so they immediately nodded their heads.

"good. Then write the contract!" Said Kang Oh.

"Good."

"okay."

Stop it and Itar immediately replied. They responded quickly out of fear Kang Oh would increase the number.

However, Kang Oh had no intention of raising his pay anymore.

It was possible that if he went too far, they would only make a fuss and insist that they would go to jail.

'This is the Maginot Line.'

Kang Oh takes Sabra's Contract and starts writing it right before Halt and Itar's eyes.

"Hey, do you guys really have any money?" Kang Oh asked while writing the first letter.

"Yes, we know!"

"If we give you everything we have, we have exactly 250."

"Good."

Kang Oh continued to write the contract.

It is as follows:

Kang Oh will not bring Halt and Itar to the Security Bureau. Instead, they would each give Kang Oh 250 gold.

Kang Oh won't try and catch him back for a day.

Stop and Itar will not try and reply after that itself or through a proxy contract. 

If the terms are violated, then the offenders become criminals, and they will be called to the Security Bureau and spend 30 days in jail.

Kang Oh looked over the completed contract. 

'Nothing can be removed, and I won't be punished, even if the contract is cancelled.'

Sabra's contract is useful, but it's also very dangerous. So, one must use it carefully. Unless they want to be tried and punished for their actions.

Once he was sure he had written it well, Kang Oh put the contract in front of Halt and Itar's eyes.

Although they were hung upside down, they meticulously looked at the contract with their eyes wide open.

"It's okay, right?"

"Clause where we won't retaliate or contract someone to retaliate a little ..." Itar started, but Kang Oh frowned once more.

"Why, are you planning to retaliate? You still don't understand, do you..."

"T-No, absolutely not!" Itar immediately shouted. 

Then Halt said, "Please add a clause stating that the skeletons there can't arrest us or hand us over to the Security Bureau either."

“I called him, so there is nothing you need to worry about,” Kang Oh said as he looked at Eder.

Eder was about to say that she was not Kang Oh's call, but Kang Oh looked at her, so she didn't say anything.

"Please add it too."

Halt's stance hasn't changed one bit.

"Really sucks. Okay, I get it."

Kang Oh added another line in the contract.

He could not bring Halt or Itar to the Security Bureau through calls or special expertise.

"It's okay, right?"

"Awhile..."

Stop asking for more time to research the contract again.

"Geez, that sucks. Amount ..." Kang Oh pouted and said.

"It's okay. I'll sign it."

"I'll sign it soon."

They were worried that he would raise the number again, so they immediately replied.

As soon as Kang Oh finished with his own signature, his contract shone and became three, each with exactly the same contents.

Contract set!

[You have received 250 gold from Halt as per the contract.]

[You have received 250 gold from Itar as per the contract.]

His sack had just been filled with 500 gold!

'I hit the jackpot, even though I haven't found a hidden basement yet.'

Thus, Kang Oh's lips began to curl upwards.

Moreover, he was glad that it was still not over.

"Then, we'll leave now."

"Yes, we're leaving now."

Stop and Itar says.

"Oh, right. We have to go."

Kang Oh nodded.

"Please let go of our restraints."

They were still hung on an upside-down tree, tied with bones.

“Eder,” call Kang Oh.

"Dump these guys in the Security Bureau and come back. Make sure you bring back the 100 gold gift."

"What?"

"It's against the contract ..."

Stop and Itar shouted in astonishment.

"This man is not my calling, he's my partner. So, he had nothing to do with the contract."

Kang Oh smiled wickedly.

'We've been deceived!'

'We already have!'

It felt like they were stabbed in the back.

"You're the bus.."

Stopping would curse, but he could not finish it because his mouth was covered in bones. Itar is in the same situation.

"That's how it goes."

When Kang Oh introduces her as his summon, Eder has an idea that this will happen.

After all, Eder was also cheated in his contract.

"That's why you have to be careful with contracts. Well, I'll use the gold well. Let's meet again when your reward is higher."

Kang Oh waved with a smile.

"Mmmm!"

"Mm!"

"I'll be back" said Eder.

Bones covered Halt and Itar as a whole, without giving them a chance to escape.

Eder dragged two bone cocoons with him.

"Ehm!"

Kang Oh who was now alone wriggled.

'Did I just make 600 gold at once?'

That's a lot of money to make up for a wasted week of not finding a hidden dungeon.

However, he was not satisfied with just this. He's still hungry for more. More!

THANK YOU FOR READING