Ranker's Return

Chapter 681

Lebron’s shocking force made many people panic. The people gathered here were rankers who knew each other, but they had never seen such a strange massacre.

-What is that?

-Shouldn’t the developers think about balance?

-Arena seems to have no such thing. Won’t it take 10 years to win against the NPCs?

-He left the rankers alone and just hit all the monsters.

-The coolness has exploded.

The viewers admired and marveled at Lebron. They combined words that could be expressed separately to praise Lebron. Lebron was phenomenal. Everybody thought so.

…That is, except for one person.

“You are too pretentious. You haven’t changed, whether it is in the past or now,” the emperor provoked Lebron upon the latter's return. It was like the emperor didn’t remember that Lebron only took action because he told Lebron to.

“Rather than wasting time on an insignificant battle, I decided it was better to work harder and rest sooner.” Lebron ignored the emperor’s words and said what he wanted to say.

“What if the adventurers complain?”

“It is fine because they won’t directly argue with me.”

“I’m dumbfounded. Dumbfounded.”

“Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty.”

The emperor laughed at Lebron’s shameless words. It was really annoying to do things recklessly and avoid responsibility.

“I should step down from the emperor’s position.” The emperor sighed. From the emperor’s perspective, Lebron’s actions were clearly wrong. If he was going to act like this, they shouldn’t have screened the adventurers in the first place.

“At first, they won’t say anything because they are embarrassed. But if the same thing is repeated after two or three times, they will have no choice but to complain.”

“So why don’t you guarantee me a break, Your Majesty?”

Lebron might’ve rushed in like a hyena this time because he was longing for freedom.

“I can’t do that. Then there is no point in coming together.”

The emperor, however, rejected Lebron’s suggestion. It was with a strong heart to prevent Lebron from being too comfortable until death.

“I have a question.” Hyeonu intervened in the conversation between the two people.

“A question? Say it. I don’t know what you are curious about.” The emperor nodded calmly.

“Based on what Teacher and Your Majesty is saying… You are speaking as if the battle in Tendmul is over…?”

This was what Hyeonu was curious about. The two of them were talking as if the battle of Tendmul was over, but Hyeonu’s eyes only saw that the battle had ended in one battlefield where players were fighting. The answer came from Lebron, not the questioned emperor.

“Of course. Don’t you know me? Or are you doing this on purpose?” Lebron raised his voice. He thought that Hyeonu was joking.

“Huh? What did I do?” Hyeonu asked again. He really didn’t know what Lebron was talking about.

‘What does he mean by I don’t know?’ Lebron’s words had no context.

“Tsk… Just teach him if he doesn’t know. If there is one thing that hasn’t changed with age, it is your temper.” The emperor didn’t miss this opportunity to criticize Lebron. Then before Lebron could say anything, the emperor gave an answer: “The only ones breathing in Tendmul are human beings. All the demons and demonic creatures are dead."

Hyeonu’s eyes widened. “Is that possible?”

It didn’t make sense. It was really impossible. Lebron didn’t just blow up Tendmul. He killed all the demons and demonic creatures but left the players alone.

“What else is impossible? I just have to cut down the unfamiliar things.” Lebron scoffed at Hyeonu’s reaction.

By Lebron's standards, the massacre wasn’t a difficult feat. No, it had been unreasonable before he came to the demon world. However, it was no longer difficult after he came to the demon world and increased his magic power exponentially with Hyeonu's help.

-I thought Alley Leader was the monster.

-His teacher is even more monstrous.

-The emperor is also a monster.

-There is a reason why Alley Leader always pretends to be weak.

-He is actually the weakest. Loooool ???.

The viewers were surprised by the unexpected situation, but they still laughed. Hyeonu was recognized as the strongest player in Arena. Seeing Alley Leader caught between the emperor and Lebron and acting like an ordinary person gave the viewers a different type of fun.

[The fall of Tendmul 1/1.]

The moment Lebron acknowledged his actions, a message window appeared in front of Hyeonu’s eyes.

‘It is really over.’

The system guaranteed it. Lebron wiped out all the demons and demonic creatures in Tendmul. Once the quest clear conditions were satisfied, the main scenario was also cleared immediately.

[Go to Tendmul has been cleared.]

[Experience has been acquired.]

[179,239 imperial contributions have been acquired.]

[15 permits have been acquired.]

‘By the way, the numbers are familiar?’

Hyeonu felt that the rewards for the main scenario were really familiar, especially the number of imperial contributions.

‘I think I got this much the other day…’

“Your Majesty, what are the rewards for the adventurers?”

Hyeonu didn’t worry about it alone. After all, there was a presence in front of him who could give him the answer. In this case, acting calmly was the best way of handling this.

“Considering that there was an unexpected accident, the rewards will be paid in the same proportion as the last siege. There are still many battles left, so I have to consider their morale.” The emperor fixed his gaze on Lebron while answering Hyeonu’s question.

The emperor’s eyes were filled with frightening coldness. Lebron was staring at the dark blue sky, ignoring the emperor’s gaze with an expression like he knew nothing.

‘If it is the same as the rewards received last time…’

It was a benefit for Hyeonu. He received the same rewards for less fighting.

‘If it is 15…’

Hyeonu speculated that the emperor would give around 100 permit documents for the main scenario.

‘Basically, 10% is mine.’

There was little chance that 15 copies would be 10%. Hyeonu wasn’t just doing nothing throughout the main scenario.

‘15 is enough.’

It seemed to be enough for the gift he promised Kim Seokjung. Hyeonu was smiling only for his expression to crumple.

-From Gang Junggu: Is Lebron normally this strong? Wow, what is this? I haven’t seen this level in a game before.

-From Liu Shei: What is going on?

-From Lee Hoon: Hyung, what is this? Is this real? All the monsters have melted.

‘The whispers… They are pretty much the same.’

Currently, whispers were sent to Hyeonu one after another with the same content. Everyone asked Hyeonu for an explanation. It was only those who saw Lebron’s appearance who had a grasp of the situation. Those who didn’t know were informed by the viewers who showed up in their streaming chat room. Naturally, the information they received was incomplete.

“Your Majesty, can I explain this fact to the other adventurers?” Hyeonu eventually decided to move himself to inform them of the facts. It was just that the emperor’s permission was needed to leave this place.

“I think you will take care of it and tell them properly, so… I will allow it.” The emperor allowed Hyeonu to act.

There was just a condition—'take care of it and tell them properly'.

Hyeonu’s live stream today would be uploaded to A-World with moderate editing, but more than 10 million people had already seen the conversation. It was impossible to mix in falsehoods in moderation.

‘Nobody will argue anyway.’

There were many people with good brains in the large guilds. They were better at calculating their own interests than anyone else.

‘If rumors spread, it is them who will be disadvantaged, not me.’

All Hyeonu had to do was tell them the truth a little bit faster. No explanation was needed.

“I will do my best, Your Majesty.” Hyeonu bowed to the emperor and Lebron and left immediately. He moved toward the place where the people would be waiting for him.

***

By the time Hyeonu arrived at the place Gang Junggu had told him about, quite a few people had already gathered there. They were all people who secured a spot in a large guild. In other words, they had gathered for fact checking.

“What happened? Why did Lebron show up?” Gang Junggu asked the moment he saw Hyeonu. Gang Junggu’s voice revealed a lot of regret. It wasn’t regret about the reduced rewards. He just felt regret that the hunting time was too short compared to the long travel time.

“You will know if you watch my stream, but I will tell you first. The reason Lebron appeared is because the emperor made him.” Hyeonu conveyed only the facts. He didn’t add any falsehoods. He really only spoke the facts.

“The emperor had him do it? Why?” someone gathered there wondered.

“It is the payment for a meal. Or… post-eating exercise?”

Hyeonu was truly only speaking facts this time, but it didn't sound true to some of the others. It felt like he was making fun of them.

"Really? Without any reason?” Gang Junggu asked.

“Yes, it is really only that.” Hyeonu nodded.

“Then it’s fine. In any case, we’ve received the rewards. We haven’t lost anything.” Gang Junggu smiled and placed an arm around Hyeonu’s shoulder.

Regret was just regret. There were no problems in particular. They had received many benefits with less work. No one could have complaints.

“Let’s go. Hyung-nim is waiting.” Gang Junggu naturally took Hyeonu and left this place.

They were both members of New World, so no one could say anything about Gang Junggu and Hyeonu leaving together.

“It is comfortable because the stream is on. It's easy,” Gang Junggu said.

The biggest reason why the others couldn’t talk properly to Hyeonu was because he was streaming.

“What about the stream? Rather, isn’t it uncomfortable?” Hyeonu cocked his head at Gang Junggu’s words.

In general, streaming was about showing yourself to others. They couldn’t help being worried and uncomfortable.

-If it is easy to stream, do it more often.

-Isn’t it the hardest to see the guild master and vice guild master on New World’s streams?

-His words and actions don’t match.

-He is saying it is easy, but isn’t it actually an inconvenience in itself?

The viewers showed a response similar to Hyeonu.

Gang Junggu’s words felt strange.

“That’s not what I’m saying. Look. Since you turned on the live stream, those gathered just now shut their mouths. It isn’t because you are Alley Leader, that you belong to the New World Guild, or that you are trusted by the emperor. Well, that does play a role, but… the main reason is that you turned on your stream. It is the power of more than 10 million viewers. The power is even greater against those who are controlled by the number of viewers,” Gang Junggu explained why the gathering had been calm.

“Ah, that is possible. Is it just this? Viewers, give me power!” Hyeonu shouted loudly while suddenly raising both hands above his head.

“What? Why isn’t there enough power? Shouldn’t the yellow energy gather?” Hyeonu frowned at the chat window that showed no change.

-Lool?????

-It’s crazy, crazy.

-The slave of capitalism.

-Take it like this.

-It is dirty, so I have to give gold coins.

Hyeonu’s live stream today was the same as before.