Solo Max-Level Newbie - Chapter 415: The Master of the Great Sea on the 29th Floor (3)

‘Whoosh…’

Thick flames erupted from the lava field.

Amidst the desolate and infernal terrain stood an opulent mansion, starkly out of place, a residence of Guntafer.

“So, you’re saying he fled to the outskirts of the temple?”

Guntafer downed the strong liquor on the table in one gulp.

Remia immediately responded.

“Yes. It seems he’ll need a few days to regroup after the significant losses he suffered in the recent battle.”

“Hmm. And where exactly did he go?”

“The Misty Valley.”

“The Misty Valley, huh… He sure picked a hard-to-find place to crawl into.”

Guntafer clicked his tongue.

“Don’t worry too much, my lord. We’ve tightened the noose. It’s only a matter of time before we catch him.”

“I hope so. But let me ask you one thing.”

“W-What would you like to know?”

‘Vwoom!’

A crimson circle formed midair, revealing a vast ocean within.

“If he’s supposedly in the Misty Valley, why is he on that ocean? And how is he, despite suffering grave injuries, moving about so vigorously? Care to explain that to me?”

The atmosphere froze instantly.

‘Shiver!’

Remia unconsciously stepped back.

“Th-That is…”

“Did you really think you could deceive me? ‘Me,’ Guntafer?”

Guntafer slowly rose from his seat.

‘Kukukuku!’

Ominous magic filled the room, suffocatingly oppressive.

It was terrifying, to the point that even breathing became difficult.

“I-I’m sure there’s been a misunderstanding. I truly believed he was in the Misty Valley…”

“Still lying to the bitter end. Had you erased the brand on your shoulder before spouting lies, I might have been fooled.”

“……!!”

Remia’s eyes widened in shock.

Could he really see the brand? It was supposed to be visible only to those bound by the contract.

But speculating was pointless in this situation.

Her betrayal had been exposed, and now she had to face the consequences.

“P-Please spare me. I was forced to comply because he held my life hostage. I only followed orders, nothing more.”

“Following orders, that is your greatest sin.”

Guntafer reached out, placing his hand on Remia’s face.

‘Kukukuku!’

Black flames engulfed her entire body in an instant.

“Aaaagh!”

Horrifying screams echoed through the room.

No matter how fierce the flames, her life wouldn’t end easily.

“You’ve been under me long enough to know this, haven’t you? Once touched by hellfire, you can’t die unless I allow it.”

“Ugh… Aaagh!”

“Now, tell me everything about what Kang Jinhyuk is planning. Where does the temple’s Gate lead? Confess it all, and I’ll grant you a peaceful death.”

No one could resist the pain that transcended cognition.

“The Gate’s… location is…”

Remia began to speak.

—

An isolated archipelago on the 29th floor.

Representatives of guilds from all over the world had gathered here.

The pretext was to facilitate the strategy for clearing this floor.

It was under this pretense that a meeting was arranged.

Of course, Jinhyuk and the other members of the Veteran Corporation had also received invitations to the island.

There were numerous advantages to attending beyond mere conversation.

‘I’ll just observe for now and wait for the right moment.’

Jinhyuk browsed the pirate-themed goods at the market stalls.

Parrots, hooks, rum, and clothes, there were hundreds of items for sale.

“Come, come! Only on ‘Theta Island’ can you find fish as fresh as these!”
“This necklace belonged to a noblewoman from some kingdom just thirty minutes ago! I heard with my own ears that it’s authentic, before it was stolen!”
“Fancy swords, gunpowder, cannons! What good is piracy without proper weapons?”

The hawking pirates created a lively crowd.

“Hoo! This really suits me, doesn’t it? And this one too. Oh, and that one! Wow, that pearl necklace… Hands off, that’s mine!”

Alice, her eyes sparkling, was engrossed in shopping.

As a collector with a deep wallet, her determination to acquire what caught her eye was palpable.

Jinhyuk turned to Chun Yoosung.

“What do you think? Will this meeting go anywhere?”

“There’s been a similar meeting before. Within three days of arriving on the 29th floor, the guild leaders gathered here.”

“Judging by your tone, it didn’t end well.”

“Despite their lofty talk of humanity’s prosperity and peace, they all prioritized their own guilds’ interests. It was disgusting.”

Naturally so.

The resources and items emerging from the Tower were far beyond what anyone could have imagined.

Ordinary people, who had never tasted fame or power before, were suddenly thrust into the spotlight after the Tower’s appearance.

Most players had no intention of spitting out the alluring candy that had been placed in their mouths.

“Even when lives are on the line, they only care about their own gains. Money and power really do have a grip on people.”

“Of course, there are still rankers who keep their heads on straight. Guilds like Zion Guild or the Knights of the Holy Cross prioritize the greater good over individual interests.”

The guilds, led by cleric-class players, still adhered to their principles and remained untainted.

‘Hmm…’

Jinhyuk stroked his chin thoughtfully.

“Alright, let’s check it out. After all, these are the people we’ll have to deal with on this floor,” Jinhyuk said.

“True. And Teresa should be here too. Like it or not, we have to go,” Chun Yoosung replied.

Since all the scattered players were gathering in one place, it was certain they would meet the last missing member, Teresa.

“Ouch! Don’t pull my ear! Just a bit longer, I swear, I’ll stop after buying that one. They said it’s a limited edition!” Alice protested.

“Limited edition for a seashell? You gullible spender. That’s just a marketing tactic. Hurry up, or we’ll be late for the meeting,” Jinhyuk scolded, tugging her ear.

After walking past the countless stalls, they arrived at what appeared to be the most respectable-looking tavern yet. From the familiar faces visible at the entrance, it was clear this was the meeting venue.

“Look over there…”
“That’s Kang Jinhyuk. And Chun Yoosung is with him… and Alice too.”
“They even brought Yoo Yeonhwa and Lee Tae-min. I heard they sank over twenty ships with that new warship of theirs.”
“I thought they were all working separately. What’s going on?”
“Well, the captain, Kang Jinhyuk, wasn’t around before. Now that he’s joined the naval battles, they’re regrouping.”

The murmuring grew louder as the appearance of the Veteran Corporation caught everyone’s attention.

“If you head upstairs, the meeting will start on the hour. Please make sure not to leave your seat once it begins,” the guide informed them.

“Understood.”

Following the guide upstairs, they entered a meeting room filled with dozens of people.

Unlike the players on the first floor, those here were representatives of the eight great guilds and the rankers they brought along.

‘It’s been a while since I’ve seen all these familiar faces together,’ Jinhyuk thought, scanning the room.

The first to catch his eye were three prominent figures:
– Patrick of the American Titan Guild.
– Maria of the European Olympus Guild.
– Yang Jian of China’s newly rising Celestial Soul Guild, formed after the fall of the Zhonghua Guild.

Despite taking significant damage in past major raids, these guilds had received massive governmental support, leading to systematic training and the accumulation of A-grade rankers through real combat experience.

‘Their skills have definitely improved. The master-level players are much stronger than before,’ Jinhyuk noted.

“Kang Jinhyuk! Over here!” Maria called out warmly.

“It’s been a while. How have you been?” Jinhyuk replied, taking a seat near her.

“Thanks to you, I’ve managed. It was rough for a while, but now that you’re here, things should go much smoother,” Maria said with a relieved smile.

“Considering the team you’ve gathered, it’s surprising you struggled at all,” Jinhyuk remarked.

“Well…” Maria glanced around cautiously before leaning in to explain. “There was a lot of disagreement about taking down the largest pirate fleet. On top of that, no one’s been willing to share their map pieces to the Final Island.”

In short, they were at an impasse.

Although the meeting was supposed to resolve these issues, judging by the tension in the room, things weren’t going to be easy.

“…”

Yang Jian and his entourage from the Celestial Soul Guild eyed Jinhyuk and Maria warily.

Meanwhile, Moon Gyuho of the Dan Gun Guild sat in uncomfortable silence.

It was clear why.

Instead of cooperating, everyone was focused on securing their own safety and benefits.

‘If that’s how they want to play it…’

Jinhyuk decided it was time to completely change the tense and awkward atmosphere.

“Although it’s a bit early, may I make a suggestion? I’ve got an idea that ensures no one here suffers a loss,” Jinhyuk announced, stepping forward.

—

The guild leaders’ murmurs:
– “We need to conserve our forces and let the other guilds take the lead.”
– “There’s no need to rush. We’ve got over 80 days left.”
– “The Blue Coral we found is worth a fortune. Why risk anything unnecessary?”

Even though they were gathered in one place, their minds were filled with conflicting agendas.

That was when Jinhyuk dropped his bombshell, an idea that would benefit everyone present.

If it had been anyone else speaking, no one would have even pretended to listen.

But coming from Jinhyuk, a player with countless achievements to his name, not a single person openly objected.

The silence was broken by Hosaka Yoshio of the Samurai Guild.

“You must have something in mind. Let’s hear this so-called amazing proposal,” he said with a smirk.

“The reason everyone’s hesitating is simple: high risk, low return. The investment isn’t worth the potential losses, so everyone’s stalling, hoping someone else will take the lead,” Jinhyuk explained.

“Hmm. That’s quite an assumption. We’re merely…”

“There’s no need to pretend otherwise here. This isn’t a press conference. We all know no one wants to be the one to take the fall,” Jinhyuk said bluntly.

Hosaka Yoshio’s lips curled into a faint, twisted smile. He wasn’t denying it.

The candid statement also piqued the interest of the other rankers in the room.

‘Good, now the mood’s just right.’

“If no one wants to take the risky position, my group will do it. We’ll lead the charge to the pirate base and guide everyone to the route. And I promise all treasures found there will be fairly distributed,” Jinhyuk declared.

‘Thud!’

He dropped a massive map onto the table.

“This is a map I acquired. You can verify its authenticity by comparing it with the map fragments you already possess.”

It was an irresistible and audacious proposal.

“No way… Is it real?”
“The coordinates match perfectly with Zone B-12 on our map!”
“To just hand this over…”

While the guild leaders were engrossed in the map, they failed to notice the sly grin creeping across Jinhyuk’s face.