Leveling Up Alone

Chapter 348 – Instigated Confusion (4)

“Long time no see.”

“Oh? Did you miss me?”

“Hmm... A little?”

“What? That’s a tad disappointing...”

“Hahaha!”

They chatted briefly before delving into their main agenda: the interest of the United States Government in purchasing weapons developed by Yoo-Bi.

‘As expected of the Americans... I tried my best to keep it under wraps, but somehow they found out.’

It wouldn't be an overstatement to say that nothing on Earth eludes the watchful eye of the United States.

Han-Yeol sidestepped the topic by mentioning he intended to discuss the matter with Jason first, and Scarlett nodded understandingly, not expecting an immediate answer.

They discussed a few more things before Scarlett left the mansion disheartened. While she was the agent tasked with staying connected to Han-Yeol, she also had other matters demanding her attention.

Plop!

“Phew...”

It was already late in the evening.

Knock! Knock!

“Dinner is served, Han-Yeol-nim.”

“Ah, I’ll be right there.”

Han-Yeol rose and was about to depart when Albert suddenly called out to him.

“Oh right, Han-Yeol-nim.”

“Yes?”

“Mujahid-nim is waiting in the dining room.”

“Wow... Why am I so busy today...?”

Han-Yeol almost cursed but restrained himself, mindful of Albert's presence. The elderly butler often reminded him to maintain his composure and refrain from such language.

Albert smiled upon seeing Han-Yeol sigh and remarked, “Being busy while young is better, Han-Yeol-nim. You might not have the same energy for work later in life.”

‘Excuse me, Albert? You're the one doing the most work among all the staff in this mansion,’ Han-Yeol almost blurted out, but he managed to hold back.

“You mentioned Mujahid is here, right?”

“Yes, that’s correct,” Albert said.

“Hmm... I wonder why he’s here...”

Han-Yeol and Mujahid were as close as brothers, meeting without any set agenda. Their relationship was so strong that tabloids had speculated Mujahid was Han-Yeol’s long-lost brother, given Mujahid's status as an illegitimate child of Phaophator. However, those speculations fell on deaf ears as they were merely the musings of tabloids.

Clack...!

Han-Yeol pushed open the dining room door to find a table adorned with various delicacies.

Being a self-proclaimed foodie, he spared no expense on meals and preferred to dine like an emperor while at home.

Upon stepping in...

“Hyung-nim!” Mujahid greeted him, dressed in a modernized version of the ancient Egyptian royal garb.

“Mujahid!”

They exchanged greetings with a hug.

After Han-Yeol’s unexpected disappearance in Switzerland, Mujahid had been quite concerned, and Han-Yeol could only apologize, knowing he was partly at fault.

After their initial pleasantries, Mujahid lowered his voice and inquired, “What happened in Switzerland that day, hyung-nim?”

“Oh, you heard about it?”

“I obviously did? I was in Switzerland for some business at that time, and I was waiting for you to grab a drink. But I heard you suddenly disappeared and the entirety of Switzerland was turned upside down as they commenced a manhunt to hunt you down.”

“So how are things now?” Han-Yeol asked casually, as if it were none of his concern.

Heh.

Mujahid smirked. “Haha! As expected, you’re quite chill about this.”

“Of course, I didn’t do anything wrong,” Han-Yeol replied with a shrug before taking a sip of his red tea.

Slurp...!

Why would he be bothered if he hadn’t done anything wrong? This was especially true for someone as formidable as Han-Yeol. The ten days spent hunting numerous dungeons in the Bastro Dimension, equipped with a double experience buff, had drastically increased his level. He had grown powerful enough not to easily lose against Kandir in a duel.

In essence, nobody on Earth was currently his match. However, that could change once Earth entered the second dimension.

“Anyway, the Europeans were in an uproar, demanding your arrest, but they've probably forgotten who you are by now.”

“Huh? Why?”

Han-Yeol had been so busy resting, meeting people, and watching TV that he hadn’t had a chance to keep up with the news. After everything that had happened, he no longer found pleasure in watching it and avoided adding unnecessary stress by concerning himself with unrelated matters. Moreover, the news these days was mostly filled with negativity, making it seem pointless.

“The entire world was turned upside down during your ten-day absence. It was as if the dimensional rifts were in communication—they appeared simultaneously all over Europe first, and now the whole world is at war with the monsters.”

“The dimensional rifts?”

“Yes, and some of the hunting grounds collapsed too.”

“What?! The hunting grounds?!” Han-Yeol was shocked by this revelation.

What were these hunting grounds exactly? These areas were where the Transdimensional Space Association had erected special barriers to protect humanity from the monsters.

However, if the barriers were to fall and the monsters in the hunting grounds were unleashed unto the world, then humanity was going to be plunged into chaos once again. Not to mention, the monsters were going to be greater in numbers and more powerful compared to the time they first appeared in the Dimensional Gate Incident.

But one stark difference this time was the fact that the Transdimensional Space Association was no longer here to help.

Humanity had to rely on its own strength to protect Earth, but engaging in wars on home turf would ultimately put them at a disadvantage in the long run, with devastation continuing to mount.

“So what’s the situation right now?”

“Well, the dimensional rifts initially appeared in Europe before spreading worldwide just two days later. The entire world is busy subduing the monsters emerging from these rifts. Fortunately, the failure of the barriers in the hunting grounds was a rare occurrence and hasn’t happened again.”

“Phew... That’s a relief... I suppose the gods, if they exist, must have decided it wasn’t time for Earth to be destroyed...”

“Haha! Perhaps,” Mujahid replied with a laugh.

“Hey, Mujahid.”

“Yes?”

“If the entire world is in chaos, Egypt should be affected too, right?”

“Well, yes,” Mujahid said with a nod.

Egypt had also been impacted by the sudden appearance of the dimensional rifts, and the whole country was currently under a state of emergency. Thankfully, due to recent terrorist events, Egypt was already prepared to defend against these rifts, placing it in a better position compared to other countries caught completely off guard.

Thanks to this readiness, Mujahid could leisurely come to South Korea without the immediate worry of being summoned back. Nevertheless, he remained prepared to return at any moment, as Egypt was not entirely immune to these rifts. Hunters were on constant standby, ready to respond instantly to any unexpected appearance of the rifts.

“Hold on,” Han-Yeol said, switching the channel to the news.

Beep!

[We are currently live from Dallas, Texas, where a group of monsters resembling giant bulls has emerged from the dimensional rift, causing widespread destruction in the city. Despite efforts by a group of S Rank Hunters to stop them, these monsters exhibit incredibly high defense, shrugging off attacks as they rampage through the city. What could have provoked such rage in these creatures? And what measures can halt their destructive path?]

The reporter appeared visibly tense as he reported live.

Kaboom!

At that moment, a bull-like monster impaled a fuel tanker, setting off a massive explosion.

[Waaaaah!]

Bam! Bam!

The explosion wielded such force that it propelled objects in every direction, and one of these projectiles hurtled toward the camera. A scream resonated, and the camera abruptly cut off, switching back to the news anchors in the studio.

“...”

Han-Yeol had unmistakably witnessed, in that fleeting moment, the debris striking and claiming the lives of both the reporter and the cameraman.

“That’s horrifying...”

“Tsk... It’s quite gruesome to witness live.”

“Indeed, it’s similar in Egypt right now. Though the dimensional rifts might be under control, the toll has been steep, even for us.”

The dimensional rifts had spontaneously appeared in various locations—city centers, mountains, rivers, seas, lakes—making defense against them nearly impossible without incurring casualties. Essentially, the entire world was engulfed in chaos.

“A-Are you certain you don’t need to return to Egypt?” Han-Yeol inquired.

“No, we royals typically refrain from direct involvement unless it’s a significant threat like a terrorist attack that could potentially sway our people to the enemy's side. Moreover, my father wouldn’t permit our involvement; he’d likely feel relieved that both of us are presently in South Korea.”

“Why?”

If the entire world was in turmoil, South Korea wouldn't likely be an exception. In fact, it might fare worse due to its comparatively lesser control over their Hunters compared to Egypt.

“You might not be aware, but South Korea is currently the safest country on Earth.”

“Huh? What makes you say that?”

Han-Yeol struggled to comprehend why South Korea was being praised so highly. Despite being his homeland, he failed to grasp the basis for such acclaim.

“Because South Korea is the only nation where the dimensional gates haven't appeared.”

“Oh? Really?”

“Yes, that’s why father called us last night and advised us to take a break in South Korea for the time being.”

“Wow... That’s surprising. I had expected South Korea to suffer the most, especially since the first dimensional gate appeared here before.”

“Well...” Mujahid replied with a simple shrug.

He lacked extensive knowledge in this area, leaving him unsure of how to respond.

Then, Han-Yeol picked up on something peculiar in Mujahid's statement and sought clarification. “Hold on, you mentioned South Korea specifically, right?”

“Yes?”

“Does that imply the dimensional rifts have appeared in North Korea?”

“Well, we can’t confirm since North Korea is quite isolated, but it’s likely they were affected, considering dimensional rifts appeared in the Manchurian Region of China and the vicinity around the Amnok River [also known as Yalu River] and the Duman River [also known as Tumen River]. The North Koreans are probably facing difficulties, especially with the appearance of vicious monsters near the Chinese borders.”

“What do you mean by 'vicious ones'?”

Most monsters were similar to Han-Yeol, so initially, he was a bit perplexed. However, after learning about the types of monsters present there, he comprehended Mujahid's point.

The monsters emerging from the dimensional gate near the border were none other than Centaurs and Minotaurs, causing chaos across Manchuria and North Korea.