Max Talent Player

Chapter 202

Salvatore was Velas complete opposite.

The Wargod, Salvatore.

The adjectives that matched him were cold-blooded or cool-headed. Rational. Extremely practical. Words like that. In the future, at least.

The one and only exception is

He only ever showed agitation when it had to do with Vela. The two of them shared a deep-seated enmity. That was the Salvatore Hyukjin remembered.

Why are you here?

Why? Am I not allowed to be here?

Salvatores hackles also went up as soon as he saw Vela. Hyukjin wasnt all that interested in their spiteful relationship.

Nice to meet you. Im Kim Hyukjin, a Player from Korea.

...

Salvatore stared at Hyukjin, who continued, I am a Player with a close relationship to the Conductor of Sound.

Everyone casually introduced themselves.

Im Choi Sung-gu, the Jayangdong Fire Master. Im a magician whos hella good at handling fire.

Nice to meet you. My name is Kim Sunhwa. Im a tank, and Hyukjins little sister.

With the greetings out of the way, Salvatore nodded, his eyes on Hyukjin. I heard a lot about you from Pedro.

You did?

Yes. To tell you the truth, I knew you would come here. I heard that youre looking for something in Pompeii.

Pedro stepped in. Ahem ahem. Just to prevent any misunderstandings, I only relayed what the Astrologist Itachi said. A manly man doesnt do any pointless gossipping.

What did Itachi say?

What had the genius short-lived astrologist said? Pedro pulled out a note, a piece of paper called a precognitive note or a prophecy. It was a note imbued with the mystical power of future sight.

A meeting occurs before the cornerstone of an ash-covered temple.

If they meet as enemies, so shall a conflagration of hell commence.

If they meet as friends, so shall the hymn of heaven ring.

This is what Itachi wrote, said Pedro. The subject is this guy right here, Chiellini.

Vela huffed at that. But Pedro, Im your friend. Whyre you looking at this guys future for him?

I asked about yours, too.

But whyd you also look at his?

Dont question what a manly man does. You wanna get hit?

...

The future Fight King shut his mouth. Hyukjin could see that Salvatore had a faint smile on his face despite being famous for being able to maintain a poker face at all times.

Its an intentional provocation. Hyukjin realized something. Those two know that Pedro is a woman. And theres a very high chance theyve known for a really long time.

He didnt know what history these three shared. But he judged that Pedro was in the middle of it, and was part of the reason why Vela and Salvatores relationship had become so foul.

I can see the astrologists words are very meaningful.

Ash-covered.

That had to be referring to Pompeii, the city that was wiped out by volcanic ash.

A meeting occurs before the temples cornerstone.

Hyukjin knew there was a temple in Pompeii. He thought of the precognitive note again.

To think he could write such a specific note.

Geniuses really were geniuses. In Hyukjins opinion, a prophecy of this level was extremely concrete.

If they meet as enemies, so shall a conflagration of hell commence.

If they meet as friends, so shall the hymn of heaven ring.

This prophecy was made from Salvatores perspective.

Is the enemy or friend here referring to me?

It could be Hyukjin, or someone else here. For example, it could also be someone like Sunhwa or Vela.

But seeing as a hymn is mentioned, theres a high chance its me.

The faint smile gone from his face, Chiellini (Salvatore) said, What is it that you are looking for in Pompeii, Hyukjin?

Im looking for the [Predator Tree Colony]. Or the [Battlefield of Crows].

Now, what did he know? Kim Hyukjin examined Salvatores expression.

...

Salvatore stared back, expressionless. He was an expert in expressions and was confident in his poker face, but unfortunately, Hyukjin was a master of observation who exceeded him.

Hes flustered.

From that, Hyukjin was able to tell that Salvatore was indeed looking for the Predator Tree Colony.

Judging by your expression, you appear to have been looking for the Predator Tree Colony as well. You flinched when I mentioned it.

...Yes.

Then were looking for the same thing.

According to the info Hyukjin got from the master of Black Butterfly, Pietro, Salvatore had been looking here for a week already. In other words, hed come up empty-handed for an entire week.

Would you like to work together? Hyukjin asked.

I refuse.

May I ask why?

Vela. I dont want to work with him.

Vela will be leaving to work on his own scenario.

Vela stared at Hyukjin. His mouth opened. I will? Why? was written all over his face, but Hyukjin completely ignored it, upon which Vela looked stunned. He thought, Why do I have to get kicked out? but he didnt cause a fuss. 

He just mumbled to himself, But I even did the driving.

It had taken him a great deal of courage to learn how to drive. But despite coming all the way here, he was being sent back like a taxi driver.

Chiellini (Salvatore)s eyes narrowed. Whats going on? That reckless simpleton wasnt throwing a tantrum. Vela was someone you couldnt communicate in regular human speech with, much less converse with. That was how Salvatore defined him, but that very Vela was meekly standing down.

Seeing as he said hes connected to the Conductor of Sound Salvatore came to a conclusion. He must know Im contracted to the Conductor of Sound.

There was no way for him to check how Hyukjin got that information. To borrow something Pedro said, Kim Hyukjin had special eyes, through which he had a unique ability to garner information.

Shall we work together?

His search had come up empty for a whole week. He had to find the Predator Tree Colony, but he couldnt find any clues. But that alone wasnt sufficient reason to work together. If they cooperated, they would also have to share the rewards.

I have already cleared the Predator Tree Colony before.

...Is that so?

In the Korean server.

So there was a Predator Tree Colony in Korea as well. Thats very different from my understanding.

Fields bearing the same name did not exist. For Salvatore, that was fact. Hyukjin nodded.

That understanding doesnt apply in Korea.

What do you mean?

In Italy, there arent fields or dungeons with the same name and same contents. Correct?

Salvatore nodded. Actually, that wasnt just an Italy thingit was like that in most countries, to the point that it had almost become an established fact.

Korea is different. Two instances of the exact same gate, a gate called the Centipede Cave, have already been discovered. Here is proof that I know the Predator Tree Colony.

[Map of the Predator Tree Colony, Addended]

A Predator Tree Colony is a forest with many Predator Trees. Rapundels father made a Predator Tree Colony for his daughter because Predator Tree Seeds were known to be effective against Red Flower Tears. An artificially created Predator Tree Colony has a lifespan of three hundred years at most. The Predator Trees are unable to maintain the ecosystem for longer than that and perish.

Hyukjin brought up the elephant in the room.

I need Predator Tree Seeds. I dont need anything else.

...

The fact that Predator Tree Seeds were effective against Red Flower Tears wasnt discovered even in the future. Based on that, it was clear that Salvatore was currently looking for something that wasnt the Predator Tree Seeds.

* * *

* * *

Do you know why I am telling you this?

Arent you saying you will only take the Predator Tree Seeds and concede the other rewards, so we should form a party?

That is correct.

What do you have to gain from doing that?

Hyukjin only wanted the seeds, nothing else. It was an overwhelmingly good deal for Salvatore, which made him suspicious.

Vela grumbled on the side. Tch, seriously. You damn coward. You should just accept the offer, whyre you talking so much? Just cut off your dick, dude. This is why youre no good.

Hyukjin smiled. Because I somehow have the feeling we can become good friends?

...

To be honest, that prophetic note makes me a little anxious.

If they meet as enemies, so shall a conflagration of hell commence.

If they meet as friends, so shall the hymn of heaven ring.

The prophecy was actually an excuse. The reason Hyukjin wanted to work with Salvatore was because Salvatore had cleared it in the past. With enough time, Salvatore would find the Predator Tree Colony on his own, and he would also clear it on his own. Hyukjin was just trying to hitch a free ride. There was no need to go around in circles when there was a safe, convenient shortcut right in front of you.

I have an ability called Conductors Hymn.

Salvatore probably had the ability as well. And it was just as Hyukjin thoughtSalvatore did indeed have it. However, he didnt reveal it, since there was no real need to.

Hyukjin drove the wedge into the crack.

Salvatore. You are different from Vela.

Vela scowled. What was Hyukjin going to say? His heart started to thump out of anxiety that he would be compared to that coward.

Vela has a genius battle sense that shines in 1 on 1.

Velas frown brightened into a shit-eating grin. Of course, of course, Im pretty good at fighting. He silently clapped himself on the back with pride.

But youre different. You have a power that shines not in 1 on 1, but in a group battle. That is why you and I have to Play together.

How did you find out what my ability is?

You heard from Pedro, didnt you? I have special eyes. Hyukjin grinned. The fish was all reeled in. A sovereign can recognize another sovereign.

...A sovereign?

Pedro, Vela, and even Salvatore turned in unison to stare at Hyukjin, who shrugged. 

In Korea, Im known as a sovereign.

Pedro shook his head. But I thought you were an archer

That was why he gave Hyukjin Sylphids Wing as a gift. Vela shook his head as well, thinking there wasnt another human like this one anywhere in the world.

I thought he was an archer at first, too.

But he says hes a sovereign

Hes also stronger than me in direct combat.

Salvatore doubted his own ears. That Vela recognized someone as being stronger? For Vela to admit it so simply, Kim Hyukjin had to have truly overwhelmed him. Otherwise, Vela would never have acknowledged him.

Pedro clapped three times. Youre a true manly man, arent you?

His gaze fell on Hyukjin, his eyes bearing quite a lot of goodwill. Of course, no one here could understand why Pedro clapped thereeven Pedro himself didnt know. He just thought it was appropriate for a manly man to clap.

Suddenly remembering, Vela said, He also uses magic.

Vela had seen it, no doubt about it. The bright-red flames that swallowed the murky lights in the hidden field of the Gran Seoul Dungeon.

I saw him use fire magic.

No wonder.

Pedro understood Velas words. No wonder. That was why Hyukjin went up to Athenae.

Then just what in the world does that make him?

There didnt seem to be anything he couldntdo.

I dunno, a man of many talents whos good at fighting?

Hyukjin felt a little embarrassed as he watched Vela and Pedro nonchalantly discussing him right in front of him.

Ahem ahem. He coughed twice to get everyones attention. How about it? Do you feel any inclination to work with me now? I think theres definitely something to learn from working with another sovereign.

He said one more thing, intentionally emphasizing the words as a provocation.

Because at least at this point in time, my ability as a sovereign exceeds yours.