Max Talent Player
Chapter 288

Hyukjin observed Kang Somyi in detail. At least with her, Eye of Perception was at its strongest.

Upon checking her status, one thing caught his attention. Not only was Hyukjin’s Guardian, the Nameless Observer, showing interest in Kang Somyi, but she was contracted to two Guardians.

‘A dual contract at level 44... She’s an Irregular for sure.’

Also, most of the text was glowing with yellow light. He had access to the detailed explanations, so he opened up Whisper Marble.

Kang Somyi began her guidance.

The old forest was thick with trees and blanketed by ferns and unknown weeds, and just like before, mushrooms were busily moving through the vegetation.

“Let’s go.”

As he walked forward following Somyi’s lead, Hyukjin activated one effect of Eye of Perception, focusing on the skill effect.

The ‘special condition’ here was referring to the target of his observation, Kang Somyi. He normally couldn’t use these abilities with his current Observer’s Eye proficiency, but if his target was her, he could.

‘Action Replication.’

Just like how Eye of Perception’s proficiency was boosted on Kang Somyi, the same applied to Observer’s Eye. This was the power of her class, Explorer of Service, and a perk for the Player she served.

Last time, he had tried to replicate Michelle’s Guardian Tower Summoning. Having done it once, it came to him more easily this time.

He had observed as much of Kang Somyi as he needed to with his boosted Eye of Perception.

‘Action Replication.’

He had already experienced Somyi’s Whisper Marble in the D-Tower. It wasn’t very hard to use. Through the skill, he sent a whisper to Mark.

–Can you hear me? Check your Gift Box, you should have received a Whisper Marble.

A short while later, he heard a response from Mark.

–Eh? What is this?

* * *

* * *

Mark thought it was a good thing that Kim Hyukjin was here. The Black Crow’s objective during this mission was to get in Song Junghye’s way, and the person who could do just that had come to do it himself. Mark thought he had a free ticket to reducing Song Junghye’s antagonism a little.

‘All things in moderation.’

Mercenaries were just that: mercenaries. They had no stake in this. Mark picked another path and wasn’t planning on working that hard to clear the dungeon, but then, he got a whisper.

–Can you hear me? Check your Gift Box, you should have received a Whisper Marble.

Not only did he get a whisper, but he even received a gift called a ‘Whisper Marble’.

‘Whisper? Whisper Marble?’

There was a class of Players that used whispers. They were usually explorers.

But he, an archer, could now send a whisper.

Mark was flabbergasted.

‘I thought he was an archer at first, but it turns out he’s a sovereign.’

And then, he thought Kim Hyukjin was a sovereign, but now he was using whispers?

‘Just what is he?’

It was confusing. What kind of Player had this many abilities?

–What is this?

–Just one of my abilities.

–You also have explorer class abilities?

–Yes. Is that not allowed?

Mark stopped in place. Thinking about it, there were no rules against it; it was just that other Players were incapable of the same feat, leading to the general agreement that each class had a perk or two of its own. That was all. It wasn’t that the existence of an Irregular like Kim Hyukjin was ‘illegal’.

–In any case, I sent a whisper because it wasn’t looking like Black Crow was going to work hard.

–You jest. We are planning on doing our best.

Mark gave a rebuttal, but he felt a prick of consciousness. How could there be a VIP with such a terrifyingly keen eye? There were no pushovers to take advantage of here.

–Our explorer predicts that our paths will converge at a certain point.

–We think the same.

–The explorer on their side, Jackson, must know this as well.

Everyone knew. They would cross paths at least once during the clear. Hyukjin continued.

–And this is a winner-takes-all dungeon.

–Is that… so?

One person—or one team—would get everything.

–Then Guildmaster Kim, you can’t be thinking of…

–Your guess is correct.

Hyukjin smiled wide.

–We need to get her good.

–How?

–The way is divided into three forks, and each path should have a clear item or clear hint. I imagine the Player with all three will win.

–We’re going to cooperate with you either way.

Their objective wasn’t to clear this dungeon. All they had to do was fulfill the VIP’s commission. But when Mark heard what Kim Hyukjin said next, his blood ran cold.

–Attack Blood and Iron Lion.

–Huh…?

–Didn’t you accept that you would antagonize Blood and Iron Lion when you took this commission anyway?

They definitely had.

–You were intending on backstabbing her in the first place, no?

–O-Of course, but…

–Were you not going to do so because I was here?

–O-Of course not. We were going to properly interfere so that they could not acquire the ‘fleet’.

–So attack them.

–Do you mean that we should kill them?

–I’ll leave that up to you. But all you have to do is take their clear item. I’m not sure yet, but you should be able to do so using a System setting.

It was winner-takes-all.

–She might give it to me if I convince her.

But that wouldn’t happen. Song Junghye’s pride was too high for her to ever concede.

–Surely Black Crow isn’t weaker than Blood and Iron Lion.

–Our assessment is that they are toe to toe with us.

–All the better to fight with.

–Why do you say that?

–Because Black Crow and Blood and Iron Lion are well-matched.

–Hm.

–Blood and Iron Lion and I are enemies. Do you think Blood and Iron Lion would go all out when I’m standing right there?

That moment, Mark reeled with realization.

‘Ah.’

If Black Crow went head to head with Blood and Iron Lion, the most likely outcome was a pyrrhic victory. Even if one side won, they would either be significantly wounded or greatly weakened. In such a situation, ‘Giantgod Guild’ looming nearby was a huge thorn in Blood and Iron Lion’s side.

‘Blood and Iron Lion won’t be able to oppose us fully.’

On the other hand, Black Crow could pull out all the stops. They were on the same side as Giantgod Guild anyway. For starters, it was no exaggeration to say that Giantgod had employed the Black Crow.

‘Blood and Iron Lion shouldn’t know we’re on the same team as Giantgod.’

Without this critical information, Blood and Iron Lion would have no choice but to take a passive stance. And that would manifest as a dip in their strength, tipping the scales decidedly in Black Crow’s favor.

–In that case, will Giantgod not participate in the fight?

–I’ll decide depending on how things go. Not having to fight would be the best outcome, but if fighting’s the only choice, I have no intent on running away.

Mark breathed a sigh of relief. No matter how tied up Blood and Iron Lion was, they were still daunting foes to take head-on. If Hyukjin’s Giantgod Guild were to pitch in, the tide of the battle would turn completely.

‘But I think… Kim Hyukjin has some other ulterior motive.’

–I’m not sure yet, but you should be able to do so using a System setting.

Those words bothered him, too. But he decided not to overthink things. A commission was a commission. He just had to do his job. Still, he was a little dismayed. He thought this job would be easier with Kim Hyukjin’s appearance, but he had the feeling things had actually gotten more complicated.

‘Let’s just focus on doing a good job.’

* * *

A White Shield summoned on her right wrist, Kim Sunhwa walked while keeping her guard up. As she did so, she caught a glimpse of her brother’s expression.

‘He’s smiling faintly?’

That expression, she knew it. That was the expression her brother made… when he was doing something extremely favorable for him.

Curiosity sprang to life within her. What would he gain this time? What kind of Play would he show this time? What was he doing, to be donning such a sinister smile? She was curious, but she didn’t ask. She had to be on guard against the small mushrooms busily moving about, and she couldn’t ignore the presence of monsters she felt in the area. She had to be prepared for danger. That was a tank’s role.

Hyukjin said very quietly, “If you do a good job stealing later, I’ll give you chicken.”

A [𝅘𝅥𝅮] popped up over the squirrel on Hyukjin’s shoulder. The truth was, Hyukjin didn’t think Black Crow could do everything for him.

Mercenaries had their limits, as mercenaries. What Hyukjin told Black Crow was to simply ‘go all out’. It was to that end that he had reassured them. Blood and Iron Lion would have their hands tied, so they could rampage to their heart’s content.

“That’s just a distraction.”

Basically, pulling aggro.

“The real work will be done by you. Right?”

Darongi nodded. Their side had Jackson. Hyukjin had determined that in a normal situation completely devoid of chaos or distraction, it would be hard to steal the opposing party’s clear hint. That was where the Black Crow came in—they would break the opponent’s stance, make them show an opening.

And Hyukjin’s words were relayed to the Guardians via Senia’s ‘Voice Amplification’.

Hyukjin felt his mood lighten a little.

‘The Milky Way Neutron Star, too?’

The Milky Way Neutron Star hadn’t taken back the Stardust. It was probably because even though Hyukjin himself wasn’t a thief, he was making good use of the thief Darongi.

‘They’re saying it doesn’t matter that I’m not a thief.’

Excellent. He had a slightly better idea of the Milky Way Neutron Star’s tastes. Even if you weren’t a thief Player, you just had to show excellent thief Play.

And the Milky Way Neutron Star was famous for showering down generous sponsorships. As thieves liked to joke, ‘Nab the Milky Way Neutron Star’s heart, and you’ll become a rich man’. Those words were actually true—after all, this was a Guardian who only sponsored a select few thieves.

They were a ‘big fish’, and Hyukjin was going to do his best to catch them.