The Genius Assassin Who Takes it All

[Resilient Endurance - Ring]

[Grade: 4th Grade]

[Health +100]

[Constant pain reduction effect of 25% applied at all times.]

The ring was incredibly useful, providing an increase in health and a simultaneous pain reduction effect.

Kang-hoo had always sought ways to alleviate pain.

His motivation stemmed from his incurable congenital mana hypersensitivity.

Even when he entered a hypersensitive state, the pain reduction allowed him to endure.

But when hypersensitivity struck, severe headaches set in quickly, followed by body aches as if he were being hammered.

Kang-hoo aimed to grow stronger and endure even in such states.

Enduring pain was advantageous for him.

While the pain reduction was a notable benefit, the addition of a full 100 points to his health was even more significant.

Despite hypersensitivity’s toll on his body, his increased health would postpone the inevitable.

In essence, he gained an additional 100 seconds.

In battle, those 100 seconds could alter the outcome.

Having sold all his extraneous items and completed his necessary purchases,

Kang-hoo stepped out of the market and stopped by a café before returning to where he started.

He didn’t particularly enjoy the expensive Americano but sought a moment to clear his thoughts.

Gulp, gulp.

“Is canned coffee the real deal after all?”

After downing half in a single swig, Kang-hoo mused with the bitter taste lingering on his tongue.

The sweetness of his usual canned coffee or the robust flavor of Solarkium Burst made this bitterness seem out of place.

The frequently consumed Solarkium juice’s mild sweetness accentuated this even more.

‘I need to devise a way to learn the Mass Beheading skill book; otherwise, its efficiency will be too low…’

Kang-hoo’s eyes narrowed as he pondered.

Learning a skill outside his class would, at best, result in a mere 15% efficiency.

Thus, if Kang-hoo simply learned the Mass Beheading skill, it would be in name only, as its power would be pitiful.

However, given ‘Shin Kang-hoo’s ability to steal boss skills, an unconventional method was possible.

He could force a boss to learn a skill, then kill them and steal it.

Of course, this method couldn’t apply to all bosses; otherwise, he would have done it long ago.

‘There are five possible places in the country. Excluding the four under warlords’ control.’

That left one.

The dungeon at Suwon Station, owned by the Onnuri Guild, which had a stronghold in that area.

‘After dealing with Gong Tae-su and receiving the reward, it’s best to head straight to Suwon Station.’

He finalized his next move.

He aimed to learn the Mass Beheading skill before it was too late, adding another powerful attack to his arsenal.

A hunter’s pride lies in their skills, and more is always better. There’s no downside to having many skills.

“……?”

Just then.

While glancing outside the café window, Kang-hoo tensed slightly.

He had unexpectedly spotted his target.

It was Gong Tae-su.

Although he knew Gong Tae-su hadn’t entered the dungeon, seeing him outside wasn’t surprising.

It was unclear if he had other business or was just strolling around. Apparently, he was near the market.

[Archer God]

[With the spirit of the Archer God, your accuracy with magic and arrow attacks increases fivefold.]

[Cradle of Gluttony]

[The constellation, ever craving mana, has perfected a peculiar system utilizing mana.]

[20% mana consumption for 20% health recovery whenever needed.]

‘It’s definitely Gong Tae-su.’

Kang-hoo confirmed the constellation information displayed on him and was certain.

It was Gong Tae-su’s constellation.

Self-recovery and self-aiming correction.

That’s why he could easily take hunters’ lives.

Surviving well, killing effectively, it was natural that less skilled opponents would be eliminated.

It was just the beginning.

Constellations didn’t readily attach to hunters between levels 100 and 200, observing them cautiously.

But once over level 200, when a hunter entered a stable and real growth trajectory, things changed.

Seen as ‘safe assets’ unlikely to perish, constellations flocked to such contractors, eager to elevate their own status through the continuous growth of their bearer.

From this point on, the applications for constellation contracts increased.

‘Thinking about Heo Jeong-tae and the others, it’s somewhat revolting.’

Kang-hoo, with his arms crossed, fixed his gaze on Gong Tae-su, who strutted around arrogantly.

A perfect disguise.

The decoy sent into the dungeon earlier as his ‘double’ was the spitting image of Gong Tae-su.

Even seeing Gong Tae-su in disguise, it was impossible to recall the original face of Gong Tae-su.

It was somewhat repulsive to think this way, but in his disguise, he was quite attractive.

Thanks to the original’s features, of course.

Without Kang-hoo’s ability to scan constellations, not even his sharp eyesight would have penetrated such a disguise.

“……”

There was a distance, and he had guards.

Pretending not to know each other, at least ten hunters were guarding the area.

Having guards even while in disguise indicated a calculated move.

It seemed unwise to make a rash attack.

Just then:

Vroom.

A town bus pulled up.

Gong Tae-su and his escorts boarded the bus staggered in time, appearing like ordinary people to any observer.

He wanted to comfortably board the same bus and follow, but it wasn’t a good idea.

A brief journey together might not raise suspicion, but if he followed Gong Tae-su’s route too closely, it would arouse suspicion.

“I really dislike sunlight…”

Kang-hoo frowned, looking at the rooftop of the building opposite him.

It was the time of day when the sun shone particularly strong.

He wanted to avoid the direct sunlight, but…

To track Gong Tae-su less conspicuously, his best bet was to leap across buildings, monitoring the bus from above.

In the city center, enough buildings served as stepping stones.

Focus was crucial.

Gulp! Thump!

Kang-hoo gulped down the remaining Americano, set the cup down, and stood up.

Rattle.

The ice in the cup ceased rolling and settled back into place.

Thump-thump-thump!

By that time, Kang-hoo was already quickly ascending to the rooftop via the stairs.

Vroom.

The bus had also started its journey.

The chase had begun.

---

‘I can endure this.’

His steadily increased health allowed his body to withstand continuous skill usage.

Even as the bus accelerated and the frequency of leap skill usage grew.

With the health to endure even when mana hypersensitivity was triggered, he gained stamina from the pain reduction effect.

And when the bus stopped at signals, Kang-hoo found moments to recover.

Shortly afterward,

Gong Tae-su’s group disembarked from the bus about 1km away from the dungeon.

Initially, Kang-hoo thought they got off to maintain a safe distance from the site.

But as time passed, another purpose became clear.

‘This is the gathering point.’

What Kang-hoo saw were hunters emerging from various buildings and structures.

All were in civilian clothes, but the murderous intent in their eyes was unmistakable.

These were Gong Tae-su’s subordinates.

It was an elaborate scheme to ambush mercenaries waiting for the fake Gong Tae-su to emerge from the dungeon.

Fake – Mercenaries – Real.

This setup would establish the battle lines.

With this, mercenaries caught off guard from the rear would be defenseless.

There must be at least 100 of them.

Certainly, Gong Tae-su wouldn’t have placed his men only here.

Similar numbers were likely stationed elsewhere.

Kang-hoo felt a chill run down his spine.

What emotions was Gong Tae-su experiencing?

Did he feel exhilaration at the thought of wiping out mercenaries from across the country in one fell swoop?

Probably. He likely wouldn’t let them off easily.

To him, dying might be a mercy compared to the hell he would unleash on the mercenaries.

‘It’s a battle of patience now.’

There was still time before the fake Gong Tae-su appeared.

Until then, the real Gong Tae-su would choose an optimal spot, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Kang-hoo too planned to wait till the end, hidden in the shadows and darkness.

Even with confidence in battle, diving into that massive crowd would be madness.

‘He’ll be cautious since he’s a mage.’

Kang-hoo was confident Gong Tae-su, being a mage class, would maintain distance from the main battlefield.

Mages struggle to disengage once a group determinedly sticks to them.

So, he likely sent subordinates while maintaining a distance to control the frontline and situation.

Kang-hoo intended to wait for a moment when Gong Tae-su was alone or with just a few guards.

Then.

As if sensing something odd, Gong Tae-su’s gaze turned towards where Kang-hoo had just been.

“…….”

But Kang-hoo, already in stealth mode through lateral movement, was out of sight.

Gong Tae-su, thinking he was just being overly sensitive, shifted his attention elsewhere.

It was time for Kang-hoo to disappear again.

---

The next dawn.

When the darkest hour arrived, with even the moon hidden behind clouds.

“Gong Tae-su is out! Kill him! Kill him!”

Mercenaries who had been waiting quietly shouted as the fake Gong Tae-su emerged from the dungeon.

The area around the dungeon, previously only occasionally disturbed by passing cars, became noisy.

Convenience stores, hotels, restaurants, and alleys.

Mercenaries, hidden all over, appeared.

“Protect the captain!”

“Retreat to the back!”

The ‘baits’ Gong Tae-su had previously scattered performed their roles aptly.

The flustered fake Gong Tae-su, obviously struggling, began to backpedal quickly with his subordinates.

Kang-hoo had no interest in the main battlefield.

He only focused on the sounds that reached his ears.

With Gong Tae-su orchestrating the scenario, most mercenaries present would meet their end.

Only those with some skill might survive or break through the encirclement.

Kang-hoo, on a whim, glanced in that direction.

He wondered if Yun Sang-mi might be among the mercenaries, but he saw no sign of her.

Even if she were there, he had no intention of saving her.

Just then—

Swoosh!

At a gesture from the real Gong Tae-su,

members of the Red Blood organization, who had been waiting at a distance and on the outskirts, started to move along the road.

The full-scale encirclement was about to commence.

It was the worst situation imaginable for the mercenaries.

Kang-hoo’s focus remained solely on Gong Tae-su.

After all, Gong Tae-su was his only target; there was no bounty on the head of anyone else.

Even taking just one arm would net a reward of 2.5 billion won.

Focusing all his thoughts and attention on that moment was effortless for Kang-hoo.

Time passed, and then some more.

When the mercenaries, ensnared in the reverse encirclement, began to cry out in despair and charge towards their deaths,

Kang-hoo noticed Gong Tae-su’s guards, one by one, move towards the battlefield.

Gong Tae-su was contributing his strength for complete annihilation—a perfectly strategic choice.

But for Kang-hoo, who had waited for hours, holding his breath for the moment his prey was vulnerable,

“……”

now was the time for the predator to start his hunt.