Updated Link

Solo Leveling 138

Park Jong-su sat with a determined look.
Most of damage sustained in a dungeon is caused by the boss-level monsters. In order
to minimize this damage, Park Jong-Su needed a hand from Jin-woo to take care of the
dungeon boss.
If it's the power of Hunter Jin-woo, then he should be able to handle the boss
Park Jong-su, fearing rejection, quietly waited for Jin-woo's answer. In contrast to Park's
face, which grew stiffer and harder as the silence continued.
Breathe …
Jinwoo kept his hand on his chin in order to hide the smile on his mouth. He frowned,
trying to look as worried as possible. The plan was successful.
Park Jong-su waited with sweaty palms and focused on Jin-woo's decision. In the end,
Jinwoo pretended to sigh as if he had no choice.
"Okay.” He continued. "I’ll do it."
Park Jong-su squeezed his fists under the desk.
Success!
As soon as Jin-woo gave his consent, all of Jong-su’s worries and anxieties seemed to
wash away.
Why was I so concerned about this? I should’ve just came here from the beginning.
Park Jong-su's face, which had been rigid since leaving Busan, had a bright smile for the
first time. Now all that's left is to notify the association and get the permission to raid. No need
for further delay, Sung Jin-woo Hunter has decided to join the attack team.
“It's been a while since that Gate was discovered, the raid will begin tomorrow.”
“Then I'll see you tomorrow."
“Ah.”
Park Jong-su, picking up his bags, said hurriedly.
“It’d be more convenient if you came with us.”
Rather than meet again tomorrow, it would be more efficient to stay together than to
make an appointment. With that in mind, He invited Jin-woo to accompany him.
“We'll host you in a luxury hotel and pay for your accommodation."
But Jinwoo had no reason to go out of his way. His plans were to attach a shadow
soldier to Park Jong-su's shadow.
This is the better way to do it.
Jinwoo watched one of the circular shadows on the floor and appropriately attached it.
“I’m busy this evening, so it's a bit difficult for me to join you."
"Ah."
"But I won’t be late."
Unless Guild Master himself is late.
Jung Yoon-tae, Vice President of the Knights Guild, who had left the meeting room,
screamed when he came in.
"Ah! Sir!"
 Park Jong-su, surprised, turned around and looked.
"What? What?"
“The shadows just moved! This way and that way.”
Park Jong-su paused for a moment, then immediately stood up and stared at Jung
Yoon-tae.
"Yoon-tae, have you been drinking?"
"..."
Jung Yoon-tae, who sensed the atmosphere, was at a loss for words and scratched his
nose with his index finger.
"Are you drunk?"
"I had two cans of beer at the rest stop, sir."
"Didn’t I tell you to be careful while conducting business?"
"I'm sorry, sir."
Jung Yoon-tae bowed his head to Park Jong-su, and then bowed his head to Jinwoo.
"I'm apologize, Hunter."
Park Jong-su pressed the back of Jung Yoon-tae's head then bowed his head as well.
"He's a nice guy, but he sometimes talks nonsense when he drinks. I apologize for his
impoliteness."
"No, it's okay. Sometimes the shadows move, I guess."
As the story was ending in a warm atmosphere.
Jin-woo's cell phone rang.
Deudeudeudeu.
‘​Who could this be?’
Checking the caller, it’s a number I’ve never seen before.
"Excuse me, I need to take this call."
"Of course. Of course."
When Jin-woo politely excused himself and exited the meeting room, Jung Yoon-tae and
Park Jong-su finally breathed a deep sigh of relief.
Then Jung Yoon-tae leaned his head and murmured.
"But, the shadows really moved..."
"Don't worry about it!"
Park Jong-su looked at him, then Jung Yoon-tae closed his mouth.
After a moment of silence.
Jung Yoon-tae, curious about the outcome of the negotiations, broke the silence.
"Sir, how’d it go?"
"How’d it go? We agreed to do it together."
"Good, good!"
Jung Yoon-tae’s tense face also brightened.
While smiling, he asked again.
"Have you invited him to join our guild?"
"Don't be ridiculous. He's making his own guild. "
Park Jong-su held the file, [Guild Founding Member Candidate List], as Jinwoo did.
Jung Yoon-tare ae chuckled.
 “There are already so many established guilds. How large will his guild grow? He would
be treated him like a king if he joined us. He's going to have a hard time building a comfortable
bed to sleep in."
“I guess so.”
Park Jong-su, after a long pause due to his disappointment, tried to place the file back,
but an application fell out.
His face quickly stiffened when he tried to picked up the application.
“What?"
A familiar woman’s photo, who he’s seen many times, was attached to the application
form.
"What!"
Jung Yoon-tae's face also stiffened .
"Wait, is she...?"
Park Jong-su nodded to Jung Yoon-tae, who could not believe it.
"Oh, The Vice President of the Hunters."
Jung Yoon-tae, who was speechless, stared at the picture of the Cha Hea-in, then
glanced at Park Jong-su's face.
"Sir, do you think it’s a merger or acquisition?"
At that moment, Park Jong-su's brow creased.
"Will this kid really...."

***

After leaving his office, Jin-woo pressed the call button. A familiar woman’s voice came
out of the receiver.
“Son.”
After hearing her voice, Jin-woo felt conflicted. He was both relieved and slightly
saddened.
"Did you buy a cell phone?"
“Yeah. I called to hear your voice as soon as I got my new phone. Are you busy?”
Jinwoo looked towards his office where the two heads of the Knights Guild were waiting
for him, and then laughed.
"Not at all."
“Thank God. I don't know if I got a good phone. I'm not used to this kind of stuff.”
"Did you go to the store alone? Did you not bring Jin-ah?"
“She's busy studying.”
Sometimes he wished his mother would think of herself more than her children. Jinwoo
finished talking to his mother then quietly sighed.
But…
Why would it disappoint me to learn that the caller was my mother?
What did I expect?
Jinwoo laughed and put his cell phone in his pocket, then looked up.
His eyes were lively.
 Thanks to the Knights Guild today, I can taste the air of the dungeon tomorrow.
An A-class gate that was close to S-class.
It’s been too long since I’d last unwound.
Has it been about a week since I came back from the Jeju Island Raid?
In that time, he had entered the B class red gate and nothing else.
Pounding. Pounding.
Feeling his heart beat faster and faster, Jinwoo was excited for tomorrow’s raid.

***

The Knights’ best hunters gathered together.

They were filled with strange anticipation and excitement. They had to be. This could be
the day they die, every raid threatens to take their lives. Especially if it turned into a red gate,
then death became imminent.
However, Sung Jin-woo Hunter said that he would join the raid.
"Woo!"
Jeong Ye-rim exclaimed in joy when he heard the news of Sung Jin-woo's participation.
The other hunters were equally delighted to find that there was a strong safeguard. Only one
person here was nervous. It was Park Jong-su, the guild master, still waiting for Jin-woo’s
arrival.
Ugh, I should’ve tried harder to bring him here yesterday.
Park Jong-su checked his watch. Five minutes to eleven. As scheduled, the raid should
start in five minutes. However, the person said to arrive soon isn’t even in view. His heart felt
like it could burn out.
Without Jin-woo, he could not even start the Raid.
As soon as Sung Jin-woo Hunter announced that he had joined the offensive team, the
association immediately granted permission. Sung Jin-woo’s name alone had power.
Do we have to start the raid without him?
And secondly...
Park looked around at the faces of the raiders. Their eyes filled with anticipation. Even
without consent for the Association, it might impossible to start because of opposition from the
guild members.
He has three minutes left.
Park Jong-su, who nervously took out his cell phone again, put it down with superhuman
patience. It is bad form to call back to the person who, 10 minutes ago, said they’d be there
soon. However, there was no sign of anyone approaching with a strong aura, and Jinwoo has
not contacted him.
Park Jong-su asked for a cigarette while looking for a lighter.
Where the hell are you, Hunter Sung Jin-woo...!

At that time, Jinwoo was leaving his apartment. Light clothes and sneakers. Clothing that
was easy to move in. He looked at the clock: one minute till eleven. He stepped out then looked
up towards the stark sky.
 Jin-ah should take her umbrella…. I’ll save that thought for later. Let's go.
A smile formed on the mouth of Jinwoo will be put on his hood.
First, 「Stealth」.
Then..
「Shadow exchange」
He immediately switched with the shadow soldier.

***

Jin-ah's high school.

Three boys showed pained expressions towards the errands assigned by the art
teacher.
"Isn't this complete labor exploitation?"
"Yeah!"
“Why do she want us to do her work?”
The boys, while grunting, opened the lock of the second art room, which is currently
being used as a storeroom.
"Ugh, dust."
"...."
The boys were welcomed by a mountain of dust as they entered the long unused
storeroom. There were old art tools, abandoned paintings, and plaster statues.
“How many of these plaster statues did teacher ask us to bring?”
“All of them, so I suppose 6”
"Oh... then we’ll need to make multiple trips."
"Then, we can take 4 for now.."
The boys rolled up their sleeves to move the statues. While trying to pick up one of the
statues, a boy noticed something.
"Oh?"
The other two boy walked over to the side of the first.
"What’s this?"
A large black hole was on the wall. It was a tall gate.
The biggest of them looked at the gate and laughed.
"What is this?"
The boy put his hand on the surface of the gate and said,
“The gates are protected. There’s no way anyone can get in or out of a gate except for
hunters.”
It was then.
Crack!
The gate surface was cracked, and a hand grabbed the boy’s head.
"What?"
The boy struggled, but the hand held his head tightly, he couldn’t move.
Quasic-!
A sound like that of a large melon cracking was heard. Blood splashed everywhere.
 "Aah!"
"Jun Seok-ah!"
The boys screamed while covered in blood. The black shroud that had been blocking the
gate shattered like glass, and the monsters inside poured out.