Ranker’s Return

-Just go to the castle and enjoy yourself.

-Or let Tang-E magically blow away the house.

-Or blow it up yourself.

-Just let the city fly away!

“No, what are you saying now? You are just coming up with useless words. You can’t just say this because it isn’t your business.”

Hyeonu laughed in a dumbfounded manner at the chat window. He was an idiot for asking. Clearly, he should’ve looked at who the other person was before asking.

‘They’re all ridiculous words.’

Namju wasn’t a small city. In fact, it was one of the largest cities in the East Continent. It had a stable sense of security and a large flowing population. Now, the viewers were telling him to destroy a house and kill people in that city. It could be done, but everything would be over once he did it.

If Tang-E poured out all his magic power, blowing away a house wouldn’t be much of a feat at all. It would just fly away unless there were magical defenses around the house. The question was finding the official’s house and determining whether he was home. Basically, Hyeonu needed to make contact with Hu An.

‘The collective intelligence is a bunch of crap... More like collective fools.’

“Is there anything else that is fresh and novel? I will give a special gift to anyone who mentions an innovative method.”

In the end, Hyeonu had to throw out a carrot. It was because he had no ideas right now. He was empty just like the viewers.

‘How do I get closer?’

No clear method came to mind no matter how much he thought about it.

‘In any case, New World will do well.’

There was no need to worry about the 20 people he gave to them. Hyeonu just had to think about the 30 he left for himself.

‘It would be easier if I could fight 1 against 30...’

His body might find it hard, but his mind would be really comfortable.

-Rewards? What will you give?

-Last time, he gave a rare item. Will he give a unique item this time?!

-This is the class of our Alley Leader.

-Of course, he will give a unique item. I believe in him.

“Ah, what if it is a unique item? Isn’t it really good?”

Hyeonu had unique-rated items that he didn’t wear—Dark Star and Crasul’s Curse. Crasul’s Curse was an item that couldn’t be worn by anyone except for Hyeonu. He could only wear Crasul’s Curse because he had cleared the mine spider’s lair and obtained the title ‘Ruler of the Spider Mine’. The problem with this wasn’t in clearing the mine spider’s lair. It was just that the lair itself was difficult to find.

However, Hyeonu hadn’t even been looking for it. He’d found the location from a treasure map handed over to him by Herard, who was the general of Latus—a fortress near the Hejin Great Mountain Range.

‘I don’t know if someone else has that title.’

Hyeonu pulled out a mask that looked exactly like the one he was wearing on his face. “I’ll bet this.”

When the viewers saw it, they made a lot of noise. The mask in the image of a smiling child could be seen dozens or hundreds of times a day when they were connected to Arena. So it was absolutely not precious.

-What is this? It must be a joke. You can just go to the unified auction house and buy it for 1 gold.

-1 gold? Isn’t it 2 gold?

-I’d rather he send a handwritten autograph. What is this?

It was a natural reaction. This item was worth collecting, but no one knew it because there were so many replicas that looked the same.

“This is different from those useless masks. It is a unique-rated item. Do you see me as someone who picks up and wears anything?” Hyeonu spoke aggrievedly. He displayed the item information of the mask for viewers to see.

[Crasul’s Curse]

[A mask containing the grudge of Five Elements Spider Crasul. It feels sinister.

Rating: Unique

Restrictions: Ruler of the Spider Mine

Defense: 350

Effect: All stats + 50, ‘Curse of the Five Elements Spider’ can be used.

Curse of the Five Elements Spider: If the attack succeeds, randomly grants one of five curses to the target. Can be stacked up to five times (burning, freezing, petrification, binding, or bleeding). 

Duration: 5 minutes.]

“Do you see it? Aren’t these ridiculous effects?”

-Amazing!!

-He is giving it away?

-Praise God Alley Leader!

-As expected, I didn’t forsake my faith!

At first glance, it was like a fantasy. There were a total of five CCs, and it could be repeated five times. The ‘all stats +50’ was also a great effect. Then there was the high defense too. It was a truly fraudulent item.

-By the way, how did he get that?

-Why is the wearing restriction like this?

-Isn’t that a title?

-Then it is a meaningless item?

Viewers who finally grasped the reality appeared. They realized the truth behind the unique items and excellent effects.

“Shouldn’t someone who wants to use it find a way to get the condition on their own? You can’t even match that?” Hyeonu spoke calmly.

The smiling mask was strangely fitting for this situation, and the viewers felt that Hyeonu’s words were very despicable.

-Wow, this is his real personality...

-I’d rather get it.

-Let’s get it and sell it. If it’s put up at auction, a rich collector will buy it.

-If it is an Alley Leader collectible item, then the price will rise. Just like with meleegod’s collection.

The viewers quickly changed their attitudes. It turned from using the item to selling it and buying items with that money.

“It doesn’t matter if you wear it or sell it. So just come up with ideas. I’ll pick the best one.”

The moment Hyeonu’s words were over, the chat was flooded with messages. It was moving so fast that it was hard to follow with one’s eyes.

-Just kill him!!

-Cut his body using Crescent Moon Cut!

-If Tang-E burns him to death with lightning, people will think it is a natural disaster.

It was still a feast of unconventional methods. Hyeonu pressed a hand against his temple at the low quality chat. Just then, a comment came up that grabbed at Hyeonu.

-Isn’t there something like an inspector? Pretend to be an inspector from the imperial family, then kill him and run away.

‘Isn’t this okay?’

Hyeonu thought this opinion was pretty good. Of course, he didn’t know if there was really a position like an inspector of the Yuxin Empire, but it was worth talking about.

“I’ll give it to the person who just appeared in this chat. The user who said ‘Isn’t there something like an inspector?’, please email your ID and authentication to Nike after the stream is over.”

-Is it already decided?

-Is it fake?

-It is too much to choose already.

-It smells like a fake.

-The fake is flying!

The viewers naturally suspected manipulation. It was because Hyeonu made his decision too quickly. Nevertheless, it couldn’t be helped. This was real.

“Then I will actively listen to the winning opinion and start the plan.”

Hyeonu left these words with the viewers and disappeared from Namju.

***

After disappearing from Namju, Hyeonu appeared in Yuanyang. He came to find Liu Yongyun and ask about inspectors.

‘It is impossible to ask the emperor just about this matter.’

It might look like he acted randomly, but Hyeonu still had some degree of propriety.

“Liu Yongyun, it’s been a long time.” Hyeonu expressed his happiness everywhere except his face. After all, his face was covered with a mask, so he over-exaggerated his expression with the rest of his body.

“It has been a while, Earl. I heard from Your Majesty. You’re doing something about the secret department.” Liu Yongyun welcomed Hyeonu. It was a sudden visit, but he wasn’t surprised. Instead, he asked about Hyeonu’s recent situation.

-The NPC he is just visiting is the imperial prince.

-Meanwhile, I go visit a local general goods store uncle...

-It feels too far away.

-Just do it. He already met the emperor...

-Almost all the information of senior NPCs are revealed here.

The viewers were amazed after seeing the actions of Alley Leader who recklessly visited an imperial prince without a prior appointment. They always felt it, but Alley Leader seemed to be playing a different game alone. It wasn’t the Arena they were playing but something else.

Hyeonu slowly answered Liu Yongyun’s question, “It is working out better than I thought. It seems like it won’t take long for the Gucheon Secret Department to return to the imperial family.”

“Then I’m glad. Sure enough, my eyes aren’t wrong. The earl is a competent man.”

“I do have one question to ask.” Hyeonu pulled out the reason why he came. He was currently streaming, so it was necessary to speed up the progress.

“I will answer if I know it as long as it doesn’t harm the imperial family.” 

“I don’t want that. I’m just thinking of playing a little prank. Does the Yuxin Empire have a position similar to an inspector? Something that can limit the authority of local nobles...”

Upon hearing Hyeonu’s words, Liu Yongyun’s expression stiffened for a moment. He seemed to be thinking of something. After a while, Liu Yongyun’s expression relaxed as he said, “There is an inspector. It might be a nominal position, but it is certainly there. There is a system where inspectors travel around the continent every 10 years. Come to think of it, no inspectors have been appointed recently.”

This was naturally a good thing for Hyeonu. There was actually such a system, and he could use it appropriately.

“Thank you. I’m going to tell you first. My colleagues and I will cut off the eyes and ears of the Gucheon Secret Department. Then new eyes and ears will grow for the new master.”

“!!!” Liu Yongyun’s face was filled with shock. His eyes widened, and he stared at Hyeonu with a blank face. He was so surprised that he couldn’t speak properly.

Hyeonu continued to speak to Liu Yongyun: “This is the beginning. After that, we will cut off the hands and feet of the Gucheon Secret Department and eventually change the head. At that time, the master of the Gucheon Secret Department will change.”

It wasn’t known who he was talking to now. Was he talking to Liu Yongyun or the viewers? Or was Hyeonu talking to himself?

“The results are fixed. The important thing is that in the process, I will get my revenge. In fact, that's the most important thing to me. Changing the master of the Gucheon Secret Department is just a secondary matter,” Hyeonu stated coldly.

For a moment, the space containing Hyeonu and Liu Yongyun seemed to be frozen.

“Is there anything you need this time? I think I can provide support like last time...” Liu Yongyun offered.

Hyeonu waved his hands while shaking his head. Then he said, “No need. I can’t get help every time. I will come back if I feel it isn’t sufficient. Please take good care of the adventurers who will arrive in Yuanyang. They won’t do any harm and will instead help the empire. You just have to give moderate rewards.”

After that, Hyeonu said goodbye to Liu Yongyun and left. It was time for Hyeonu to act as an inspector of the Yuxin Empire.

“Then I will start the inspector cosplay. Inspector Alley Leader!”

Voting Page