Arena Chapter 159:

Chapter 159 – Team Yoo Ji-soo’s Situation (Part 2)

 

We returned home, and I texted Yoo Ji-soo our home address .

The Yoo Ji-soo group was already on their way to Bucheon and not 30 minutes later, they arrived .

“Been a long time . ”

This erotically dressed woman with short dyed-blonde hair and short hot-pants was Yoo Ji-soo .

“Nice to see you . ”

And the large man with a big build was Cha Jin-hyuk .

…… it was just these two .

If memory serves, there was another man with glasses .

‘Then he’s dead . ’

I sensed it intuitively .

Because both their faces were hung in darkness .

I didn’t remember his name . but I recall him being calm and friendly .

“Huh? Cha Ji-hye?!”

“You were alive?”

Yoo Ji-soo and Cha Jin-hyuk were completely taken aback seeing Cha Ji-hye .

It seems these two haven’t yet heard news about her yet .

“It has been a long time . I died and became an examinee . ”

“Woah, really? I only heard that you had gone missing, what happened?”

Yoo Ji-soo was more affectionate than she looked like she would be and she was curious about her situation .

Cha Ji-hye told them briefly how she became entwined with Lee Chang-wee and Cbhief Kim Joong-tae .

“That chief bastard, what a piece of trash . I sensed he was dirty but……!”

Yoo Ji-soo got mad as it is happened to her . She looked like a delinquent but was actually a very caring and sincere woman .

“So, what turn are you on now?”

At Cha Jin-hyuk’s question, Cha Ji-hye pointed to me .

“I’m a 9th turn examinee like Hyun-ho . ”

“What? Didn’t you become an examinee after he did?”

“I caught up . ”

“You can do that?”

“I didn’t take the rest periods and took the exams consecutively to make up the time . And right now, I’m on the same team as Hyun-ho as well . ”

“You can transfer teams too?!”

“It isn’t unheard of if you look at all the examinees around the world . ”

“Anyway, that’s amazing . You were skilled to begin with so as an examinee, you’re just flying through . ”

Said Cha Ji-hyuk with a frightened expression .

“Compared to Mr . Hyun-ho, I’m far away . ”

“Yeah but he’s just a really weird case!”

Shouted Yoo Ji-soo .

“How did you get to be ranked 7th in such a short time?”

“I ran into the Chinese examinee group in Arena . I killed a lot of corrupt examinees and got a great result . ”

“I’m so jealous! I’d like to experience something as amazing as that!”

“Do you think those **** are normal? The fact that he is strong enough to fight and kill several of them, that alone is extraordinary . ”

When Cha Ji-hyuk said that, Yoo Ji-soo shut her mouth .

Cha Jin-hyuk, he’s changed a lot since when I first saw him .

Before, he was belligerent enough to start a fight with Kang Chun-seong, but he’s become much more composed since then . Has he suffered many obstacles since then?

“Anyway, this is a nice place . ”

Said Yoo Ji-soo excitedly as she looked around . She was amazed at the 50 pyeong terrace (1779 . 16 sq ft)

“Wow, this is practically a yard! This penthouse is awesome! How much is this place?”

“Not much . 14 billion won?” ($12 . 5 million USD)

I bought it all without much thought, so I didn’t really remember how much it cost . I really am a billionaire now .

“Incredible! To get a place like this in Gangnam would be tens of billions . Should I have just stayed in Bucheon?”

I guess she lives in Gangnam . Well, she’s a veteran examinee so I’m sure her net worth isn’t small .

“It got a training space as well . ”

Said Cha Jin-hyuk who followed us out onto the terrace as he saw the mu ren zhuang and showed interest in it .

“Who uses this?”

“I do . ”

“You know martial arts?”

“Not quite martial arts I’d say . ”

“As much as Kang Chun-seong?”

I thought it over a moment and then said .

“By now I’m probably about the same level if not a little better I think?”

I mastered the reflex skill, so I don’t think my ability to use my physical abilities would fall behind Kang Chun-seong .

But it’s incredible that Kang Chun-seong got to that level based on training alone and not a skill .

“Want to give it a go with me?”

Suggested Cha Jin-hyuk suddenly .

“Hey! What are you doing all of a sudden……!”

“Hold on . ”

Cha Jin-hyuk stopped Yoo Ji-soo’s scolding .

I shrugged my shoulders .

“And weapons?”

“I don’t use blades . ” (Cha Jin-hyuk)

“Think you’ll be alright?”

“I’m not who I used to be . ”

Smiled Cha Jin-hyuk as he took off his coat .

‘He wants to verify my skills . ’

No matter how aggressive his personality, we’ve reunited after a long time and it was kind of awkward to fight so suddenly .

Before asking me for help, he wanted to check out how good I was . Admittedly, being ranked 7th when I’m only a 9th turn examinee does sound suspicious .

With a light heart I stood in front of him .

Cha Jin-hyuk had experienced way more exams than I had . But I’ve also fought the likes of Heising, so I’m not really scared .

“I’ll go first . ”

As he said that, Cha Jin-hyuk threw his fist without restraint .

His hand reached out for my neck .

I made a big sweep with my left arm, then counter punched to retaliate .

Cha Jin-hyuk stepped out of the reach of my arm but that’s what I wanted .

Pa pa pa pat!

Like a machine gun, I started punching without end .

Like multiple branches sprouting from a tree, the punches consecutively rained down on Cha Jin-hyuk .

“Kuk!”

A surprised Cha Jin-hyuk quickly dodged to the left but I chased after him with footwork and continued punching without rest .

Pa pa pa pa pat-!

This was the principle of fānziquán . When I fought with Heising, the moves of fānziquán were completely ingrained into my body and I could freely use it without restraint . Thanks to the effect of the master reflex skill .

Cha Jin-hyuk was impressive too .

He didn’t try to randomly block each attack but dodged left to right . His ability to adjust positions was impressive .

Even without using weapons, all that fighting experience in Arena was evident .

‘Now that I think about it, it seems like he’s still trying to go on the offensive?’

I wasn’t giving him an inch while raining down punches but every now and then he found a gap in my attacks to throw a counter . With his hands, he kept stabbing and swirling .

‘His hands are his blades!’

I realized that Cha Jin-hyuk’s hands were being used as blades .

Cha Jin-hyuk’s physical condition was superior to mine .

I had physical strength buff intermediate level 5 .

Cha Jin-hyuk was probably at the superior level . Since he had aura control as his main skill .

But even if his physical condition is superior, I was leading the fight .

With the dynamic visual acuity I mastered, I could clearly anticipate what Cha Jin-hyuk’s next move was going to be .

Puk!

“kuk!”

Eventually, Cha Jin-hyuk was struck on his chin with my left jab .

A furious Cha Jin-hyuk immediately tried to react with a strong punch but…

Boom!

“Huk!”

I folded my body backwards and with kicked Cha Jin-hyuk’s chest twice in a row with both feet .

The strenght of my kick forced Cha Jin-hyuk back a few steps .

For a moment, with a surprised look, Cha Jin-hyuk looked at me and then his chest, and then as if he was flustered, said,

“How is it you fight so well? Is your specialty close combat?”

No .

I took out the two Neilson H2 guns and held one in each hand .

“Guns?”

Cha Jin-hyuk’s face contorts .

“What is your main skill?”

“Spirit summons . ”

“Spirit summons?”

Then Yoo Ji-soo also joined in on our conversation .

“Can’t that only be done by elves and very few people?”

“Yes . ”

Cha Jin-hyuk shook his head back and forth .

“Someone who uses guns and spirit summons can fight this well? Well, you’re worthy of being ranked 7th in the world then . ”

“Don’t mention it . ”

“Anyway, I’ve seen your skills . ”

“Now is it time for you guys to tell me what your favor is?”

At that, Yoo Ji-soo and Cha Jin-hyuk became dead silent .

I smiled and waited for them to speak .

Yoo Ji-soo shrugged her shoulders and opened her mouth .

“Alright . I’ll tell you honestly . Truthfully, in Arena we’ve run into some trouble and have come to ask for help . There wasn’t anyone we could ask other than you . ”

“Well, tell me what it is . I’ll help as much as I can . ”

“Thanks . So actually……”

Yoo Ji-soo’s explanation continued .

-Mission: investigate the mastermind (who is behind) the Rumad Consul .

This was the mission that team Yoo Ji-soo was given for their 24th turn .

In their 24th and 25th exam, the Yoo Ji-soo team consecutively failed this mission .

It’s not an assassination .

Just some investigation, but a veteran team like Yoo Ji-soo failed consecutively .

I can surmise that reason .

“Corrupt examinees intervened . ”

“You’re right . ”

“But this mission would’ve been given to you with that in mind . ”

“I know . We had anticipated the involvement of corrupt examinees as well . We knew the Chinese examinee group has the pirate army in their palm and has a heavy influence on the Aman Kingdom . ”

“And? What happened?”

I asked again .

And this time, Cha Jin-hyuk replied instead .

“The ones you have to be careful of are not the Chinese examinees, but those TUK **** . ”

“TUK?”

Who are those guys?

At my question, Cha Ji-hye who was next to me, explained it .

“The acronym for the Testers of United Kingdom . ”

“England?”

“Yes . ”

Whew, got it right with my first guess . Thanks to my awful English I instantly thought it was America .

“TUK, that English agency intervened in the exams?”

“Yes, I’m sure of it . Because of this exam we had shared information and weren’t on guard when they suddenly turned into our enemy . ”

“Because of those shits, Ji-yong……”

Cha Jin-hyuk grit his teeth .

Then I was finally able to recall . The name of the other member on Yoo Ji-soo’s team was Lee Ji-yong .

According to their story, TUK released information about Yoo Ji-soo’s teams’ whereabouts, and eventually Yoo Ji-soo’s team fell into an enemy ambush and Lee Ji-yong ended up dying .

“TUK is sponsored by the English royal family and noble houses . I have heard that because they want to quickly see the results of their investments, they are one of the strongest proponents of maintaining the commercialization of majeong . ”

At Cha Ji-hye’s explanation I nodded my head .

Eventually, for the commercialization of technology that used majeong, the exams have to continue .

Because of that, the TUK attacked Yoo Ji-soo’s team who were approaching the end of the exams .

“Then agencies who are of the same mind as England’s, like the Chinese examinee group, may side with the black magicians . ”

“Yes . Wanting the exams to continue is the same desire of Arena-related business investors around the world . ”

I knew that .

But so far, unlike China, other country’s agencies have far hidden that agenda and moved in secret .

But this time, England operated out in the open .

‘It’s probably because we got near the pirate army . ’

In the 7th exam, with Odin’s group, we eliminated the pirates that invaded the Deport Harbor and then killed the dark magician, John Omento, who was operating in secret nearby .

Because of those things, the end of the missions could be cleared so was a high chance that the various Arena agencies around the world started feeling nervous .

And because of that, the TUK couldn’t stand by and watch so they finally revealed their motives .

“So, are you asking for my help in the next mission?”

At my question, Yoo Ji-soo nodded her head .

“No, you have to clear your mission too, you don’t have the leeway to help us in Arena too . ”

“Then?”

“Protect us while we’re in the real world . At least for now, that’s enough . ”