Solo Leveling: Ragnarok

Chapter 111

“So this is South Korea...” Rio Singh mumbled to himself as he exited the airport, his face filled with deep unease.

Assault team captain of the Asura Guild, Rio Singh, was the B-rank hunter from India who had fought against the Scavenger Guild in Egypt at Suho’s side. Although he had come to South Korea to meet him, the situation he was now facing was far from a good one.

To think I’d be demoted... “Demotion.” The weight of that word was immense. Rio had gone to the dungeon in Egypt to rack up achievements, but had returned with only a significant defeat to his name. Instead of any notable successes, he had barely made it out alive, and the Asura Guild’s leader had held him responsible for the disaster.

During the process, Rio reported everything he had experienced without omission, including the unexpectedly perilous nature of the pyramid dungeon and the tyranny of the Scavenger Guild that had been monopolizing it.

His most important finding from the mission was the existence of the hunter from Korea who had saved them. He had nothing else to report. The connection he had made with Sung Suho was practically the only achievement he had gained from the pyramid.

“He was a hunter as mighty as the incarnation of Asura, and without him, that pyramid would have become our tomb.”

“An incarnation of Asura? Was that hunter really that strong? Tell me more.”

The guild master showed interest in Suho, causing Rio to speak even more passionately. After hearing the entire story, the guild master stroked their chin with interest and nodded.

“Hmm. He sounds extraordinary indeed. Your forming of a connection with such a hunter is certainly beneficial for the guild. It was a good decision to establish camaraderie by gifting a dungeon item.”

“Th-thank you!”

“Good. In that spirit, I will assign you a special mission. Rio Singh, go to South Korea immediately and recruit this Sung Suho.”

“Pardon? You want me to become a scout?”

“You made the connection. Who else is better suited for the job? Go to South Korea and find out how much his current guild is paying him, and negotiate an appropriate amount to get him to join us. And don’t even think about returning until you’ve successfully recruited him.”

With the guild master’s final words, Rio Singh finally realized something. He had been given a scouting mission, which was a considerate way of saying he had been demoted. He couldn’t help but ask about it directly.

“Then what will happen to my position as the assault team captain in the meantime...?”

“That’s not for you to concern yourself with.”

And that was that, Rio thought, remembering how it felt.

He had to accept this reality. He had hoped to climb even higher on Asura Guild’s ladder, but ended up losing his position as the assault team captain in pursuit of achievements.

But it’s too early to give up. Despite the situation, he hadn’t lost hope yet. He still had one last chance. Sung Suho! If I can recruit him, I’ll surely be in the guild master’s good graces again!

Having witnessed Suho’s combat abilities firsthand, Rio was confident that this would be the case. The Korean hunter’s figure, slashing through enemies with dual swords, was truly the embodiment of Asura. He was a talent that fit the Asura Guild more than anyone else. If he were to join the guild and show such tremendous performance...

Then I, too, will surely be rewarded for recruiting him. Rio was confident. He had started making preparations to persuade Suho even before arriving here.

“Ah, this says ‘Exit!’” Rio’s eyes were focused as he proficiently read a sign written in Korean.

Just one week! That was all it took for me to master the Korean language. He was, after all, a well-known scholar in India before the Great Cataclysm. Mastering a new foreign language to a conversational level was not at all difficult for him.

Yes. I can do this! This isn’t a demotion, but rather a new opportunity. It will be good for Sung Suho too. Surely, he would want to reach out to a world beyond this tiny country!

Ding!

The moment he turned on his phone outside the airport, messages from the guild began to arrive as if they had been waiting for him.

—Rio Singh, we have obtained hunter Sung Suho’s contact information. Please reach out to him using this number.

“Hmph. Already? Just as I figured, they’re quick.”

Rio wore a face of pride. Indeed, the Asura Guild’s intelligence network was the best in India. Digging up information on a foreign hunter was nothing for them.

But just then...

Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!

“Huh?” He was shocked by the flood of urgent messages that followed. His eyes bulged in disbelief. “Wh-what is this?!”

—Urgent) Information about “Sung Suho” has leaked to the Scavenger Guild.

—Urgent) Thomas Andre has boarded a private jet headed for South Korea.

—Urgent) Thomas Andre has arrived in South Korea!

—Urgent) The Korean Hunters Association failed to detain Thomas Andre at the airport.

—Urgent) Currently coordinating with the Korean Hunters Association to track Andre’s movements.

—Urgent) Predictions confirm Thomas Andre is heading to find Sung Suho...

“Th-this is bad!” Realizing the gravity of the situation, Rio’s face turned pale.

The Scavenger Guild was already in a panic as their members had failed to return from Egypt. Investigations revealed that they had entered the pyramid, then vanished from the face of the earth along with it. It could have ended as a mystery lost to time, but...

“Who would’ve thought our information would be leaked! Those Scavenger scoundrels are at it again!”

For a major guild, Scavenger’s intelligence capabilities were notoriously poor. Ironically, this was because their guild master, Thomas Andre, was close friends with the famous seer Norma Selner. With such a powerful seer at hand, the need to gather information themselves naturally diminished. When they actually needed intel, they typically resorted to pilfering it from other guilds.

Now the situation had spiraled out of control. Considering Thomas’ temperament, it was unlikely he’d let anyone involved in his guild members’ deaths off the hook.

“Sung Suho is in danger!” Rio frantically tried to contact the Korean hunter.

***

Some time later, Rio arrived in the area Suho had asked to meet him. He was appalled at what he saw.

“What on earth happened here?!” Had a storm swept through, or was there an earthquake somehow localized in just this one spot?

The horribly shattered sidewalks... The asphalt, fractured and crushed like a spider’s web... Rio was left speechless at his surroundings, where nothing was left more than half-intact. And there was only one individual who could have caused such tremendous destruction. Thomas Andre! He’s already been here looking for Sung Suho!

Rio calmed his startled heart and thoroughly examined the scene. Regardless of his current predicament, he was a specialist who had started from the bottom in the cutthroat Asura Guild, rapidly climbing through the ranks to assault team captain in just two years. With his experience and keen observation skills, he could infer what kind of battle had taken place here with just a bit of visible information.

Whoosh!

I see it! A ghostly image of virtual figures clashing appeared before Rio’s widened eyes.

First off... Thomas Andre was standing here using a mana field! He saw the silhouette of Thomas Andre, a giant figure, spreading a tremendous mana field centered in this area.

And secondly... His opponent was standing here resisting that mana field...

Realizing something was off, he felt startled. W-wait a minute... Suddenly, he got goosebumps.

“He withstood Thomas’ mana field? Really?!” Even after double-checking, it was clear. The opponent had successfully withstood the immense pressure of the S-rank hunter’s mana field. It even seemed like they had engaged in a power struggle while Andre was inside the mana field. The traces left in the broken ground confirmed it. But what was the outcome of that confrontation?

“My god...” Rio couldn’t hide his astonishment. “I-is this possible? Someone who could hold their own against Thomas Andre, humanity’s ultimate weapon? How could this be possible...” No other skills were used, so it was a pure clash of strength. Even so, this was inconceivable.

No, no... It makes sense! Realizing the incredible truth, Rio shivered as if jolted by lightning. “Th-that’s right! Back then, he was holding back his power to prevent the pyramid from collapsing!”

Thinking back, Rio remembered how Suho had casually left to hunt a giant centipede magic beast that had entered the pyramid. Although the assault captain had certainly tried to dissuade him, warning him of the danger...

“He really was confident about hunting that centipede! My god.” Rio finally realized the whole truth. He no longer felt sorry for himself for being demoted.

Information was power. Unintentionally, Rio had become the first to learn that Sung Suho was “Goliath level,” which was a premium piece of information.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! I must recruit Sung Suho by any means! As Rio firmly resolved to do this, the Korean hunter finally appeared before him. But seeing Suho’s entirely unscathed appearance despite the clash, he was once again astounded.

“Rio Singh?” Suho said.

“Hunter Sung Suho! Namaste!” Finally, the moment had come for Rio to demonstrate his perfectly mastered Korean. Now was the time for his eloquent speech to shine. First, an apology! Then, I offer to protect him from Thomas Andre by proposing to scout him for Asura!

A flawless scenario. He apologized to Suho with the utmost seriousness and determination. “Sung Suho! Sorry! Thomas Andre here because me. You ‘kay?”

“Huh?”

“Thomas is scary! Join us? Asura good!”

“First Thomas, and now this guy...”

“This might be some kind of scam, Master,” Que chimed in.

“Asura good! Join!”

All Suho could feel was bewilderment. “Maybe it’s time to consider Asura...” he mumbled. After Thomas Andre, this was the second hunter from overseas to visit him, and both of them seemed out of their minds.

At this point, I guess my personal information really is public property. How did they find out my phone number? And my address, for that matter. I mean, if the Black Tortoise Guild knew, then I guess it’s easier to find than I thought.

Regardless of Suho’s disillusionment, this moment was the most serious that Rio had faced in his entire life. He detailed everything that had happened to Suho.

“I said to guild master. Sung Suho is a strong hunter. We fends!” Despite his good intentions, this was his best attempt at trying to explain.

“Kieeek! Did he just say ‘friends?!’” Already aggravated, Beru finally exploded from the shadows with rage. “How dare you venture forth, when you shamelessly betrayed the Young Monarch! Quartering wouldn’t be punishment enough for a traitor such as yourself!”

Unfortunately, Rio couldn’t understand Beru’s reprimand. “What you mean? I don’t know hard words. Easy, easy.”

“Huh?” Beru said.

As Rio looked confused and cocked his head, the shadow ant’s murderous aura quivered. Then, choosing his words carefully, he said. “Uh... Treason, limb-severing...”

“Huh? Too hard. More easy, easy.”

“Removing the arms and legs from the body, ripping off the head...”

“Huh? Easy.”

Ah, forget it. This fellow really doesn’t speak Korean. Frustrated, Beru growled directly in his face, infusing his words with murderous intent. “You. Bad. Human.”

“Right! I very bad! Namaste!”

“Kieeeeeek!”

Rio bowed his head quickly and placed his hands together in a respectful gesture. His earnest eyes made the ant turn even more furiously to Suho. “Young Monarch! May I devour this human’s brain?”

“No. How about...” Suho, suddenly having a change of heart, looked at the assault captain with a gentle smile. “Rio Singh. Thomas Andre came to kill me. You knew, right?”

“I know. Very sorry.”

“Words only?”

“Huh?”

“Your ‘sorry,’ only words?” Suho smiled brightly.