Chapitre 222: Chapter 208
Ali Hassan, 30 years old. He was originally a beggar who lived in the back alleys of Imphal. But his life took a 180-degree turn when he suddenly awakened as a B-rank Hunter during the Cataclysm. He was now Ali Hassan, the guildmaster of the Imphal Guild, representing Imphal, where he was born and raised. Of course, he still sometimes had nightmares about his days as a beggar, but Ali Hassan enjoyed the happiness of waking up to a reality that was as good as a lie.
…But why was it? Even though he spent all this terrible time as a beggar, he still had a feeling that today would be the longest day of his life.
"Rio Singh, I need your interpretation."
As if waiting for Suho's call, Rio Singh peeked out from behind. Like a skilled salesman, he approached Ali Hassan and handed him his business card.
"Namaste. Thank you for your hard work. Please don't be too alarmed. This is who I am."
"Asura Guild?! Are you, are you from the Asura Guild?" Hassan's eyes widened as he checked the card. The name 'Asura Guild,' which had occupied Imphal, was clearly engraved in the middle. This business card, which had been the pride and glory of his family, supporting Rio Singh firmly all this time, was…
Rip! Rip!
Torn to shreds…
"Haha. This thing doesn't matter anymore, just remember my name."
"…?!"
Rio Singh had casually torn his business card, which he had habitually handed out, into four pieces. The reason was, of course, that he had successfully changed jobs. Having finally obtained Suho's permission on the way here, Rio Singh greeted them with his hands clasped together like a dignified yet humble celebrity.
"Let me introduce myself again. My name is Rio Singh. Former A-rank Hunter of the Asura Guild, and current interpreter and new employee of the Woojin Guild. I'm expected to become vice president soon, though."
"…Woojin Guild?"
"Is there such a guild?"
The Hunters of the Imphal Guild murmured at those words. At least in India, it was a name they had never heard of.
"Ah, of course you wouldn't know. Our Woojin Guild is from Korea." Rio Singh naturally added an explanation.
"Korea?"
"Yes. As you can see, it's the strongest guild in Korea."
'Strongest in Korea?!' Along with the last explanation, Rio Singh's gaze briefly turned to Liu Zhigang, who was standing behind them with his arms crossed nonchalantly, a deliberate gesture. And that intention was very successful.
'Wait, could it be…?' The moment Hassan's gaze, which had been lost until now, turned to Liu Zhigang, a strong sense of alarm arose in his mind.
"Th-then that crazy old man… No, Mr. Liu Zhigang is also from the Woojin Guild…"
"Shh. That part is confidential, so I don't think I can mention it. You understand what I mean, Guild Master, right? Hahaha."
"Gasp?!" The way Rio Singh winked with one eye implied a lot. Hassan, who had guessed what the confidential information was, couldn't help but cover his mouth with both hands and tremble.
'R-really? Liu Zhigang joined a guild? And it's a guild from another country?'
Oh my god. It felt like he had stumbled upon a truly tremendous secret. Who was that crazy old man!? Sword Demon Liu Zhigang! He was China's pride, the one and only 6-star Hunter receiving the utmost favoritism from the government. For that man to suddenly join a specific guild? And a foreign one at that? Does the Chinese government even know about this? No, that couldn't be. No country, let alone China, would just sit back and watch as their representative Hunter was taken away by another nation…
'W-wait! That's not what's important right now!' Suddenly realizing an even more shocking fact, Ali Hassan's gaze hurriedly turned towards Suho.
'Then that means this young man took Liu Zhigang as his subordinate?! Who the hell is this Hunter!'
"…?" Suho was just bewildered by Hassan's reaction, who looked like he had seen a ghost. However, Liu Zhigang, who could manage simple Arabic conversation, looked at Rio Singh with a displeased expression from behind.
"Hey, when did I say I would join the Woojin Guild…"
"Oh, sir! Hahaha! When did I say such a thing? But if you don't mind, wouldn't it be easier to work this way?"
Liu Zhigang clicked his tongue at Rio Singh's attitude of openly exploiting his reputation.
"You're a sly fellow. You'd be better suited as a politician than a Hunter."
"Haha. Thank you for the compliment. You're saying I'm that good at my job."
"No, the opposite. If you're going to use my name, you're doing it wrong."
"Huh?"
Liu Zhigang, who had been quietly observing the situation, suddenly unfolded his arms and stepped forward. Then, his presence began to grow.
"…!"
"…?!"
All the Hunters of the Imphal Guild, including Hassan, trembled as they looked up at Liu Zhigang, feeling as if they were facing a giant. Liu Zhigang, accustomed to such treatment, gave them an arrogant smile and ordered.
"I, Liu Zhigang, will ask. Those who don't want to answer, step forward now. However, there will be consequences for that audacity."
"…!"
What was it? The moment he heard those words, a chill ran down Rio Singh's spine. That's right he had forgotten for a moment. The true meaning of the name Liu Zhigang. He was… Not only in terms of combat power, but also his unique, difficult personality, on par with Thomas Andre. The fact was that no one, including the Chinese government, could dare to stop him once he set his mind on something. And now a solemn command, akin to a death sentence, fell from his lips.
"From now on, confess everything you have done in this land. If there is any falsehood in your words…" But Liu Zhigang wasn't alone here. Suddenly, he stopped speaking and glanced at Suho's face beside him. Then, he turned his head again to look ahead and gave a meaningful smile.
"…No, it doesn't matter if you lie. You will eventually tell the truth even after you die."
Chills. The Hunters' backs were drenched in cold sweat from the murderous intent hidden beneath Liu Zhigang's 'sincerity.' They saw it too. Suho, whom Liu Zhigang had briefly glanced at. The long, black shadow following his feet…
Aaaaaah – From the deep abyss beyond, ominous black specters were looking at them, shedding mournful tears.
"…I thought Siddharth Bachchan would be waiting, but to think they weren't even associated with the Outer Gods cult" After interrogating Ali Hassan, Suho was able to learn various information about the Asura Guild.
[It seems they are all just ignorant errand boys.]
The shadow soldiers Suho had gathered were the victims who had been experimented on as 'Variant 8' here. So, guided by them, he had stormed this place, but unexpectedly, the Imphal Guild turned out to be just an ordinary place.
"The Asura Guild has been using all the small guilds operating in Imphal as their pawns."
"To be precise, they are like subcontractors, but in reality, they are just unpaid errand boys."
"Since they have the noble cause of protecting the city, we have no choice but to follow their orders."
And the most common thing that the Imphal Guild had done under the orders of the Asura Guild was to distribute Stardust. Or more precisely the stardust necklace, to the citizens of the city. The reason was, of course, that there were way too many citizens so it wasn't profitable for the expensive members of the Asura Guild to move directly, so they used all the Hunters in this area as their pawns. However there was one other thing. Something strange…
"But…" Among the members of the Imphal Guild who were competing to answer all of Suho's questions cautiously, Ali Hassan carefully opened his mouth.
"No matter how I look at it, I don't think Stardust is 100% effective."
"What do you mean?"
"Since I'm originally from the streets, I'm quite familiar with the slums. But a significant number of the beggars who received Stardust have begun to disappear some time ago." Suho's eyes gleamed coldly at those words.
"…People have gone missing?"
"Yes. Of course, the city hall is rather happy when beggars disappear, but I was a little concerned. I wondered if there might be some unknown side effects to Stardust…" Ali Hassan, who was rambling on with his answer, suddenly felt a strange gaze. For some reason, the black specters who had been staring at him from Suho's shadow… looked strangely familiar.
'Must be my imagination, right?'
But Suho thought differently. The shadow soldiers couldn't speak because of their low rank, but he noticed what their gazes meant.
"Did they secretly kidnap the poor and experiment on them? And the reason they guided me here…"
[It seems it's because he is from the same slums and is the only one they can trust.]
"Conversely, does that mean the other guilds subcontracted by the Asura Guild cannot be trusted?" Having thought this far, Suho nodded and immediately rose from his seat.
"Yes. Let's start here then." He looked at Liu Zhigang and Rio Singh, who were waiting for his decision, and said,
"It seems we need to figure out exactly what the Asura Guild's plan is before we meet Siddharth Bachchan."
"You mean?"
"We're going to hit all the Hunter guilds operating in Imphal."
Smirk. At those words, Liu Zhigang cracked his knuckles and gave a vicious smile.
"Well, then we can each move separately. Can I kill them if they resist?"
"I'll leave that to your judgment. But leave the bodies behind."
"Alright."
Rio Singh quietly swallowed hard at the sight of the two men exchanging glances with his interpretation in between. And so today. Two nightmares were unleashed on the city of Imphal.
* * *
'…It's raining.'
A small boy who stepped into the shady alleyways of Imphal filled with humid air, looked up at the sky, and exhaled with a gasp. His clothes were getting wet from the damp rainwater, but he had no thought or energy to avoid it. No, rather, it was good. There was no better boon for someone being chased.
'…The rainwater will wash away the smell of my blood.'
He had lived his whole life cursing God, but at least at this moment, gratitude came naturally.
'I need to get as far away as possible…'
The boy forced his limp body up. The pain from his wounds brought tears to his eyes, but he gritted his teeth and held back his cries.
'God… Please…'
The boy forced back his tears and prayed more desperately than ever.
'Please help me…'
No, anyone would do, please… "Save me."
And so, the boy limped and slowly disappeared into the dark alleyway…
* * *
But soon after…
Splash!
Hideous, reptile-like feet stepped into the puddles of rainwater in the alleyway. They sniffed the air and looked around, then muttered quietly.
"The trail ends here."
"He's lucky. The rain has diluted the smell of blood."
Rumble!
Just then, lightning flashed, briefly revealing their faces hidden under their hoods. Lizardmen. No, rather, hybrids that somewhat resembled humans. The corners of their mouths stretched wide, and they licked their lips with their hideous tongues.
"He can't have gone far. Find him."
[Found him.]
"Found… What?" Following the sudden voice, their heads involuntarily turned back. And there…
An extremely wicked black shadow, cast along the wall of the dark alleyway, was smiling at them with its mouth wide open.
[Keeeeeeeeeeeek!]
"…?!"
L’AVIS DES CRÉATEURS 
Craftyprogamer
Craftyprogamer Copied
https: //www. reddit. com/user/Milochelle-castre/
Reedited by Fotnmc
1/1/25
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone