The Genius Assassin Who Takes it All-Chapter 254: Return To Jeju Island (1)

Kang-hoo subtly pressured Takashi. After all, it was Takashi who first proposed the dungeon exploration.

“There are plenty of dungeons, but finding one where we can suffer properly together has taken a bit of time. If we’re going, we might as well pick one tough enough to crack our skulls, right?”

“Ha, you really stick to your character.”

Kang-hoo laughed.

Takashi was essentially saying there were many options, but he was deliberately choosing one that would really test their limits.

Hearing Takashi’s genuine delight in seeking out hardship made Kang-hoo laugh as well.

-What have you been up to? Any dungeons you’ve tackled recently?

At Takashi’s question, Kang-hoo shared a story about a dungeon he’d explored in Norway with Park Dong-jae.

When Kang-hoo mentioned the traffic-light boss, Deseo, Takashi was very intrigued.

He then shared his own strategy for tackling Deseo, which was nearly identical to the method Kang-hoo had used.

When two people share similar mindsets, their approaches and thought processes often align.

As the original creator of the omnipattern theory that Takashi loved to tout, Kang-hoo felt a deep sense of camaraderie.

Discussing patterns and exchanging feedback with Takashi was incredibly enjoyable.

Meanwhile, Takashi didn’t forget to share the information he had gathered with Kang-hoo.

-By the way, Yuuji hasn’t been spotted for a while. It’s likely he entered Korea, so be careful.

“No need to worry about that, but thanks for the heads-up.”

-It’s not really for your sake. I just hate Yuuji’s guts.

“Whatever the reason.”

-Once he’s fixated on something, he won’t stop until he gets it. Be prepared to fight.

“I know. I’ve been ready for it since the first time we met and clashed.”

-They say he’s recovered, but he’s not quite back to his old self. Want me to share his weaknesses or patterns with you?

“No, I’ll figure it out myself.”

-You sure about that?“

“Being spoon-fed isn’t my style.”

Rather than rejecting Takashi’s goodwill, Kang-hoo preferred to devise his own strategy for dealing with Yuuji.

To impress Takashi further, he knew it was better not to show any signs of dependency.

-Alright. Stay safe. I’ll contact you soon. Expect something challenging.

“Don’t disappoint me.”

-Your confidence, huh? Fine. Just wait.

“I’ll be waiting for your call.”

Throughout their short conversation, Takashi’s upbeat tone left Kang-hoo in high spirits as well.

Takashi seemed as excited as a fish in water, eager to dive into an adventure, and Kang-hoo couldn’t help but envy that carefree attitude.

Takashi was likely enjoying himself, too.

The Thirteen Stars generally disapproved of intentionally seeking hardship or adventure in dungeons.

They found joy in taking shortcuts and speeding through challenges but showed little interest in the journey itself.

This was why Takashi remained an outlier within the Thirteen Stars in the original work.

Kang-hoo had been keenly aware of this and chose to focus on it.

His passion for challenges and adventures was genuine, not an act. Takashi could surely sense that sincerity.

After ending the call, Kang-hoo checked a message from Jung Yuri.

The contents weren’t significant—just a complaint about growing bored from her constant focus on dungeon raids.

With full support from K and Kang Bok-hwa, she seemed to be dedicating herself entirely to growth.

Kang-hoo figured her level had likely increased significantly.

‘If Yuuji really has entered the country, there’s no way he’d wander around carelessly. Kang Dong-hyun must be overseeing him.’

Despite Yuuji’s reckless tendencies, it was unlikely he’d let his guard down.

Especially since this wasn’t his home ground in Japan but Korea, where he was a wanted fugitive.

Thus, he would need Kang Dong-hyun’s protection and was likely operating around Daejeon.

Unless his location was pinpointed, Yuuji probably wouldn’t venture far.

Places with strong security like Seoul or Jeju Island were off-limits for him.

This led Kang-hoo to contact Lee Ye-rin, asking her to monitor Eclipse’s movements.

By tracking Eclipse, he hoped to uncover Yuuji’s trail.

Ishihara Yuuji, a berserker and assassin, was estimated to be at least level 500.

He was no easy opponent.

Given that the fight ahead promised to be tougher than the one against the Hive Queen, thorough preparation was crucial.

At Jeju Airport, Kang-hoo met Park Dong-jae and headed to the designated gate where they had arranged to meet the Groo Guild.

Throughout the journey, the Groo Guild hunters and Hunter Public Safety Bureau officials were moving around busily, making Kang-hoo wonder what was going on.

After overhearing bits of conversation, he learned that a murder case had occurred in Jeju.

An emergency wanted notice had been issued on the island, and the Groo Guild was actively cooperating in the suspect’s capture.

“Looks like the Groo Guild is seriously invested in managing Jeju Island, don’t you think?”

“Well, it’s their base, so they wouldn’t neglect it. Just like the Jeonghwa Guild takes Seoul seriously.”

“True. You’re right, hyung. Just as the Jeonghwa Guild is synonymous with Seoul, the Groo Guild is synonymous with Jeju.”

“Did you get enough rest?”

“Yeah. The Myeongga Guild contacted me, but I told them I’d pass this time. I wanted to train my debuff skills, so I focused on personal training instead.”

“You worked hard.”

“What about you, hyung?”

“Well… A lot happened.”

Kang-hoo smiled as he recalled his encounter with the Celestial Assassin.

By now, Celestial Assassin was probably in China, organizing and preparing everything he needed.

At that moment.

“Welcome! We’ve been waiting for you! The person next to Shin Kang-hoo must be Park Dong-jae, right?”

Groo Guild’s master, Oh Yu-jin, greeted them warmly.

Beside her were Oh Hye-jin and Ma Jin-ho. All three core executives of the Groo Guild were present.

It was a rare sight; unless the guest was of significant importance, only Ma Jin-ho would usually attend.

“Nice to meet you.”

“Hello! I’m Park Dong-jae!”

Kang-hoo and Park Dong-jae shook hands and exchanged greetings with them.

Park Dong-jae, meeting them for the first time, greeted each person politely, leaving a strong impression.

“I’ll personally escort you. This way, please.”

Oh Yu-jin led the two to a prepared vehicle.

They were likely heading to the guild building first since a dungeon briefing was needed.

Soon after arriving at the Groo Guild’s building, the briefing for today’s dungeon exploration began.

However, before diving into the details, Oh Yu-jin brought up a few topics.

“First, about the dungeon you explored in Norway? We received a call from the Gratia Guild. They were amazed at how quickly you cleared it.”

“It just so happened that we finished it quicker than expected.”

Since they had tackled a dual-dungeon structure rather than the standard route, the clearance time had been shortened.

From the guild’s perspective, unaware of the specifics, it must have seemed remarkable.

As there was no need to elaborate, Kang-hoo ended his response there.

Park Dong-jae, quick on the uptake, responded with a knowing smile, understanding the need to remain discreet.

“Before we begin the briefing, I’d like to make a proposal.”

“Go ahead.”

“How about signing an additional partnership contract with our guild, Shin Kang-hoo? And for Park Dong-jae, how about a one-on-one partnership contract with us?”

“I’m all for it.”

Kang-hoo immediately expressed his agreement.

After seeing how the Groo Guild handled this dungeon, Kang-hoo thought a partnership would be worthwhile.

The Groo Guild had numerous connections that he lacked, making it highly beneficial.

Additionally, since the partnership would be limited to dungeons, it was a clear win for Kang-hoo.

Clearing a dungeon always meant facing a boss monster, guaranteeing skill acquisition.

Whether responding to their requests or proposing dungeons himself, it was a win-win for Kang-hoo.

The Groo Guild could handle networking and negotiation issues he couldn’t manage alone, simplifying matters significantly.

In essence, it was like becoming an “observer” for the Groo Guild, albeit with mutual request execution.

Visit fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm for the best novel reading experi𝒆nce.

Park Dong-jae, surprised by the sudden partnership offer, asked,

“Don’t these partnership contracts usually require a testing process? This seems rather abrupt.”

“There’s no need for a test. You’re a hunter recommended by Shin Kang-hoo, so you’re automatically verified.”

“Pardon?”

“It means that as long as you’re okay with it, there’s no test required.”

“Oh…”

“What do you think?”

“I’d be happy to!”

After that, the contracts were swiftly finalized.

Kang-hoo signed two additional partnership contracts with the Groo Guild.

From what he heard, the Groo Guild was struggling with several dungeons they wanted to clear.

Yet, asking for help from the Jeonghwa Guild or other groups seemed to hurt their pride.

For Kang-hoo, the more dungeon raids, the better, so he gladly accepted.

Park Dong-jae also seized the opportunity.

As a buffer, the more dungeons he tackled, the more he gained.

Since they weren’t demanding him to be an overworked healer but simply a buffer, the partnership contract was a win for him too.

After finalizing the contracts, the briefing proceeded quickly.

It was a thorough briefing based on all the information gathered so far.

Kang-hoo and Park Dong-jae carefully reviewed and absorbed the details, forming an initial strategy.

Park Dong-jae planned how to deploy his buffs, while Kang-hoo considered the best options for each situation.

Given their long experience working together, their thoughts aligned closely, minimizing friction during the strategy discussion.

The same applied to the Groo Guild’s three members.

With no reason to delay the raid, they began the dungeon exploration immediately after the briefing.

However, something was intriguing.

Oh Yu-jin, a tank-DPS swordsman.

Oh Hye-jin, a tank-DPS swordsman.

Ma Jin-ho, a tank swordsman.

Kang-hoo, an assassin.

Park Dong-jae, a buffer.

The composition was an unmistakable melee-heavy lineup with a strong “sweaty” vibe.

What was even more interesting was that the hunter with the highest burst damage wasn’t one of the Groo Guild’s members but Kang-hoo himself!

It seemed this dungeon exploration would be anything but ordinary—a rare and unique combination.