Chapter 342: Order to Hunt Down Mercenary Tao
[You opened a Crimson Drop Card]
[Opening drop...]
[Calculating target's Slaughter Points. Target Slaughter Points: 44. Reward increased.]
[Based on the effect of Omen of the Evil God · Cocoon of Greed, reward increased by 50%.]
[Based on the effect of Omen of the Evil God · Cocoon of Greed, you receive 1 extra reward choice.]
[Calculation complete. For this opening, you may choose 2 items from the following rewards.]
[A: 100% of Dimensional Points]
[B: 4 items from the backpack]
[C: Extra acquisition of 20% of Main Attributes added to your own attributes]
[D: Randomly draw 1 Specialty, retaining up to Lv7]
[E: Randomly obtain 1 Ability, retaining only Lv4]
Kaito Shirogane discovered that after completing the Sequence Sublimation, the rewards from opening Crimson Drop Cards indeed increased significantly. Whether it was the amount of Dimensional Points, the number of items extracted, or the level of Specialties and Abilities retained, all were improved.
Moreover, as Karma Points increased and the Sequence sublimated further, he could likely continue deepening abilities in this aspect. Perhaps at some point in the future, opening a Crimson Drop Card would allow him to completely designate and obtain a specific complete ability, all items, or even a massive amount of attributes from the opponent...
"Choose C and E."
Because the Space set him with a Four-Attribute Balanced Talent, Kaito had an extremely high demand for attribute points. Every time he opened a Crimson Drop, he basically chose attributes.
As for choosing an ability, it was purely because he had a slave, Lee Chae-rin, right now, so he wasn't relatively short on Dimensional Points. He hadn't seen the opponent use any special items in the previous battle, so he could only choose between abilities and specialties.
[You chose C · Attribute Extraction]
[Your Agility attribute increased by 2 points. Current: 32]
[You chose E · Ability Extraction]
[Extracting...]
[You obtained Ability · Lingering Hatred Lv4 (B-)]
Light flashed in Kaito's hand, and a scroll appeared, emitting wavering Nen aura. This was probably the last remnant of that guy in the world.
[Lingering Hatred Lv4 (B-)]
[Quality: Rare]
[Description: Records the Nen ability and insights developed by a Manipulation-type Nen user.]
[Usage Requirement: Possess Special Specialization · Nen Ability Specialization]
[Effect: After use, obtain Lv4 Nen Ability · Lingering Hatred (Non-Manipulation-type Nen users can only use Lv1 effect). Lingering Hatred can be placed anywhere. Afterwards, the user can use Nen to lock any attack onto the Lingering Hatred.]
Kaito just glanced at it twice before storing it in his backpack. [Nen Ability] was also a very popular enhancement in the Space. This ability scroll should sell for a good price.
Kaito then returned to his small building. [Lilith] was hiding inside, still somewhat frightened. Seeing Mercenary Tao return, she didn't know whether to be disappointed or happy.
Through the Space panel, she had discovered that two more members of her team had died. However, [Locker] and [Short Hair], whom she was most familiar with, were still alive.
She whispered this information to him, unsure of the meaning of her action. Was she currying favor with Mercenary Tao hoping he wouldn't kill her, or was there a hidden thought of begging Mercenary Tao to rescue those two? Perhaps both...
Kaito returned to the kitchen and cooked the meat chunks retrieved from the [Giant Goblin] corpse.
Since he obtained the [Chef] skill, how could he not utilize it properly? When killing the goblin, he had grabbed some meat chunks to bring back.
He cooked it casually. Under the enhancement of the ability, a strange fragrance wafted out. Even the timid Lilith sniffed and unconsciously leaned closer.
[You consumed a piece of specially cooked Goblin meat. Ingredient Grade: Common. Deliciousness Grade: Excellent.]
[Gourmet Cells obtained significant growth. Current: Lv1 (75/100)]
[Milestone · Gourmet triggered. You obtained temporary buff · Body Enlargement (Uncommon).]
[Body Enlargement (Uncommon): Your body size will increase slightly, and you gain extra Strength and Constitution bonuses (+3). Duration: 30 minutes.]
Not only did the Gourmet Cells gain 66 points of growth, crossing more than half a level instantly, but the [Gourmet] milestone also granted an uncommon buff.
Kaito planned to hunt more monsters (Kaijin) in the coming days. The Gourmet Cells' demand for deliciousness indeed far exceeded the grade of ingredients.
He planned to keep some ingredients from the prey he hunted later for cooking. Gourmet Cells needed to be upgraded quickly to give him enough attribute bonuses.
Z-City was far more dilapidated than average cities due to frequent monster appearances in the past. Later, in the great war with the Monster Association, it was almost completely destroyed. Although rebuilt, the scale was smaller by more than a circle.
A team wearing gray cloaks walked back from the ruins of Z-City, which was submerged in yellow sand. Shaking off the sand from their bodies, they extravagantly took out large amounts of drinking water to wash their hair and faces.
The gracefully figured [Fleur] took the opportunity while others were cleaning themselves to move from the back of the team to the front, asking the man at the lead:
"Lord Sage, was the operation over there successful?"
"Was Mercenary Tao eliminated?"
She cared about Mercenary Tao far more than anyone else.
Because she knew Luo Xi wouldn't let her go. She didn't care much about that fool Rose Tiger, but Luo Xi hated her betrayal.
That woman would definitely commission Mercenary Tao to hunt her down...
Thinking of how fast that guy Mercenary Tao rose and the Reincarnators who died at his hands along the way, Fleur felt heavy in her heart.
Sage glanced at Fleur, then said in a low voice:
"Cleanse."
The sand and dirt on his body surface vanished instantly.
"Lord Sage, that Mercenary Tao is really troublesome. Since we haven't found the location of Saitama's old residence, why don't we kill Mercenary Tao first and get that thing from Luo Xi..."
Fleur was very stubborn, but [Sage] grew increasingly disgusted with this woman who betrayed her former team. He said:
"Shut up!"
Fleur instantly felt her mouth as if stitched shut. No matter what she did, she couldn't open her mouth, as if losing control over it.
Her face turned pale, and she dared not speak again.
Fortunately, another person came up at this time. This was a man with long red hair and a rather unrestrained demeanor. Codenamed [Red Dust], he was deeply trusted by [Sage] and was the second-in-command of this team.
"Sage, I think we really should pay attention to that guy Mercenary Tao."
"Just now, [Treant] and [Spirit Walker] jointly announced that someone violated the [Iron Rules] and speculated the target is the Fierce Person · Mercenary Tao. They arranged for that mercenary squad [Blackwater] to attempt elimination, but the first step failed. [Wildfire] of [Blackwater] is dead."
[Blackwater] was also a quite famous Reincarnator team in the Second Ladder. Highly disciplined, it was speculated that most members had military backgrounds. The team scale was large, operating in squads.
[Wildfire] was considered an outstanding Reincarnator with a good reputation. Unexpectedly, he folded so quickly.
Sage frowned. The so-called [Iron Rules] were naturally rules that Title Level Reincarnators tacitly agreed to obey in high-risk mission worlds.
Generally, they were established around monster-level plot characters that couldn't be matched, requiring all Reincarnators not to participate in related plots or attempt to change the development and direction of those plot characters in any form.
Because any slight change could likely cause a terrible butterfly effect. Once plot characters of that level took action, Reincarnators had no power to resist.
There was even a tragedy in a certain high-risk world where a powerful plot character killed all high-tier Reincarnators of an entire faction.
Eventually, the [Iron Rules] were formed.
Sage thought for a moment, still unwilling to give up clues to finding the [Limiter]. He looked at Red Dust and Fleur, finally saying:
"Then, Red Dust, you take Fleur and pick two more people to deal with that Mercenary Tao. I think Treant and [Spirit Walker] will also send people."
"That dead Wildfire... I remember his squad leader is that troublesome guy, right? With you guys taking action, dealing with a guy at most at the Upper [Strong] tier is enough."
Red Dust nodded, smiling as he added:
"Wildfire's captain is that unkillable [Millennium Bug], right? [Ajin] bloodline... indeed a troublesome guy, haha..."
Hearing this arrangement, Fleur felt slightly relieved. Several capable Title Level Reincarnators were dispatching elite soldiers and strong generals. This arrangement was practically configured to annihilate an elite Second Ladder squad.
No matter how strong Mercenary Tao was alone, he couldn't possibly match this configuration.
Moreover...
Fleur looked at [Red Dust]. She knew very well that this red-haired man himself possessed rule-breaking combat power and had also stepped into the Third Ladder. The reason he wasn't Title Level was simply that he looked down on those mass-produced useless titles...
"Eclipse, as your first mission joining the organization, I want you to investigate the true identity of that [Nameless Hero]."
In a luxurious large flat, a man with short red hair wearing a sharp suit sat at the head, ordering thus.
Lee Chae-rin, holding her sword and wearing a half-mask, just nodded coldly. This cool style of conduct fit the organizational style of Suzuki Toichiro very well.
He wanted to use the [Claw] organization to prove that those with power could rule the world with such indifference.
Of course, to truly obtain the entire world, they had another mandatory mission: eliminate the culprit who completely destroyed Seasoning City—that entity of unknown identity!
"Shimazaki Ryo, you and [Midnight Watch] go find that Tatsumaki known as the world's strongest Esper and invite her to join us."
"Ha?!"
Lee Chae-rin heard [Heart Demon]'s voice but couldn't find the other party's presence. But just listening to the tone, she knew the other party was not in a good mood right now.
The corner of Lee Chae-rin's mouth curled up in an imperceptible arc. She caressed her Gantz Sword lightly, killing intent rippling in her heart.
She knew very well that since Kaito appeared as a 'Hero for Fun,' he must know it would attract Reincarnators' pursuit.
But that madman didn't care. He only wanted to kill everyone else, or be killed by them.
Ha~ How wonderful, slaughter...
Heart Demon · Midnight Watch sensed this morbid killing intent from [Eclipse]. Looking at the others in the [Claw] headquarters, her gaze also became malicious.
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