Chapter 173

Chapter 173

Spendthrift Necromancer (173)

Duel“W-Wait a moment!”

The broadcast host hurriedly spoke.

Of course Kim Minwoo was free to accept the Duel. But accepting it right here on the broadcast?

At this rate, they could easily end up branded as traitors to Korea.

If they had any common sense, how could they just sit there blankly treating this as some huge scoop?

At the very least, as Koreans, they needed to try stopping him.

They had to at least pretend.

“Guild Master. L-Let's think about this one more time. This isn't…….”

“Ah. Don't blame any of the broadcast staff here, by the way. I just said okay on my own. If you're going to throw stones, throw them at me.”

Kim Minwoo added with a shrug.

The host looked ready to cry.

Before he could even try stopping him properly.

Lucas nodded from the other screen.―Looks like you're not all talk, at least.

“You weren't joking about betting our lives, right?”―Brat. Do you think this Lucas would speak out of both sides of his mouth?

“Then come to Korea. I accepted an unfavorable Duel, so I trust you'll at least do that much.”―Fine. I'll be there within half a day.

Click.

The German broadcast feed cut off.

Silence filled the studio for a moment.‘What?’‘He accepted?’‘Is he insane?’Or maybe he planned to lure Lucas into Korea and arrest him?

But that method had far too many problems. There was no reason a world ranker like Lucas would allow himself to be captured easily, and they didn't even have a clear justification to arrest him.

Arresting him in Korea for crimes committed in Germany?

That alone was nonsense.

And if Lucas came, would he really visit alone?

He might bring every Magic Knight in the family in preparation for emergencies. Accepting the Duel looked much closer to a bad move.

Amid the silence, Kim Minwoo stood.

“I've got an appointment now, so I'll have to go. Thank you for understanding. Then, if you'll excuse me.”

Kim Minwoo strode straight out of the studio.

The host's eyes darted around before he immediately started talking.

“Uh…… from this moment onward, we'll begin analyzing this Duel! First, we'll bring in our experts…….”

The Duel had already been accepted on a broadcast watched by hundreds of thousands.

There was almost no chance the decision would be reversed now.

Since it had been established, the first priority was analyzing whether Kim Minwoo had any chance of winning.

From major broadcasters to every kind of NewTuber.

Everyone began focusing their attention on this Duel.* * *NewTuber Kkamuk.

In Korea, few could rival him when it came to Awakened analysis.

Naturally, donations began pouring into his broadcast too.[Kkamuk. Did you see the news? Kim Minwoo and Lucas are dueling. Betting their lives too, holy shit.]

“Huh? What? Lucas? You mean that Lucas? The guy who's been all over the news lately…….”―Yeah.―World Mage Ranking 27th Lucas;;Kkamuk's eyes widened.

“Huh? Is this real?”

The answer came out instinctively.

Lucas and Kim Minwoo.

The two hottest names in Korea right now.

Of course, one in an extremely positive way and the other with an image dirtier than sewage.

Either way.

It was practically a fight between David and Goliath, so as an analysis NewTuber, Kkamuk had already looked into Lucas to some extent.[Doesn't Minwoo oppa have a chance? ㅠ He spent a ton of money lately.]

“Uh…… well…… he did spend a ridiculous amount, but…… haa. The reason this looks really difficult is that money isn't everything when it comes to strength. How should I put it? Money is ultimately just a secondary factor.”

Good equipment.

Highly enhanced Skill Books.

Doping potions and materials.

There were certainly many things money could do.

But only up to a certain level.

If money solved everything, the Middle East should've produced world rankers too.[No, exactly. You said it yourself lol Money isn't everything. Look at talent. With Kim Minwoo's talent, doesn't he have a chance? What he did at the airport was insane.]

“Yeah, it was insane. I'll admit that. But objectively speaking, that was only possible because the opponent wasn't the real deal…….”[Griff's elite Mages? And Commander Jonas wasn't the real deal?]

“Compared to Lucas? He's way below him. Honestly. That old man is a world ranker. And his last recorded ranking was five years ago. On top of that…… there's something you people aren't considering. That black power.”

The strange power Jonas had used had already been shown in detail across countless broadcasts.

People suspected the Griff family had acquired it through some kind of dirty method.

Then would the family head not use it too?

That would be far too naive.[But Merhen exists. Nightmare of Mages, holy shit.]

“She is a nightmare. But is she still a nightmare against a world ranker? Honestly, I can't guarantee that…….”―True…….―No idea whether it'd work or not. And you have to factor in that evil power too.―This is gonna be rough; everyone already thought it looked hard anyway.―Agreed;“Just the Level gap alone…… Lucas, that old man, doesn't even have any official recent analysis records, you know? We don't know his exact Level or what Skills he has. So how did he still enter the world rankings? Because he's strong. Because he's absurdly strong. That's why.”

Kkamuk sighed.

Of course he personally liked Kim Minwoo a lot. His subscriber count had risen nicely thanks to their previous collaboration. And they were both Korean, so it'd be stranger not to support him.

But that was separate from analysis.

“Honestly…… it looks difficult. Even after accounting for all the incredible things he's shown so far and his insane spending. Ah, of course, I'm not saying there's no hope. I've done a collaboration with Minwoo before, remember?”[Oh, you know something?]

“No, nothing like that…… but even though Kim Minwoo looks extremely reckless and bulldozer-like on the surface, behind the scenes he's actually the type who calculates everything. More of a strategist, you know?”[A strategist? Kim Minwoo?]

“Yeah. If he were really just brainlessly charging in, think about it. Would he have managed to move all these countries this cleanly? Absolutely not.”―Maybe?―Makes sense lol You think he moved America, China, France, and Saudi Arabia through strength? lol It's all strategy.―Just go with it lol―Then considering that side of him, maybe he laid a trap?―If he works with America and gets Interpol involved? Then maybe…….

“No. I don't think Kim Minwoo would choose that option. When you think of Kim Minwoo, you think pride. But if he agrees to a Duel and then lays a trap behind the scenes to arrest Lucas? That'd look way too pathetic. He'd be burning through the image he's built.”―Image, damn―But Kim Minwoo does have that bulldozer vibe.―Yeah. If he talks big and then pulls that, it'd be kind of lame lolKkamuk narrowed his eyes at the chat.

He'd roughly reached a conclusion.

“Anyway…… taking that side of him into account…… ah, I got it. Guys. I think something huge is coming. For real.”[Something huge?]

“What if Kim Minwoo recently got some incredible Skill? What if it's a Skill strong enough to contend with a world ranker? Could be an item too. Anyway, from where I'm standing, he has something. Something that can take down that old monster.”[What kind of Skill do you need to beat Lucas? A world-ranker Mage with at least a thousand Levels on him?]

“No clue. We'll have to watch. Which means today's outdoor stream is now a watch party. If you're Korean, you have to watch this Duel. No question.”[They're betting their lives, right? Are they even going to broadcast it?]

“Don't care. We're camping out first.”

Countless viewers.

Kkamuk.

Korea's Awakened.

No.

People across the entire world.

Everyone began paying attention to this Duel.* * *Chairman Kim, Mrs. Choi, Hyungseok, even Naye.

Calls from his family came pouring in nonstop.

Then calls from his guild members and the four elders.

Even international figures like the U.S. President, Saudi King, and Chinese President called.

The overall theme was the same.

Concern.

The difference was that his family and acquaintances were worried about him personally.

The national leaders were more concerned that their agreements with him might fall apart.

Understandable.‘Of course they are.’This wasn't just any Duel.

The stake was life.

Once it began, it couldn't stop until one of them died.

And if that happened?

The Saudi investment.

His exchanges with America.

The training promised to China.

All of it could collapse.

Perhaps because of that, quite a few mediation requests came in.

He rejected every last one.‘It's always been like this.’Every time, he'd jumped into things other people would call insane.

This was just another case.

‘Though I don't think I've ever been this certain before.’Under normal circumstances, he wouldn't have considered fighting Lucas to the death.

A world-ranker Mage tied to Shadow, with a high Level and an evil power on top of it?

Even with Merhen and Cedric, honestly, it'd be difficult.

At minimum, Minwoo would've raised his Level more before smashing Griff.

But now there was no need.

Guidance of Fate.

The insane cheat Skill he'd obtained as a true Gate clear reward.

A Skill that brought the future potential of his greatest-talented companions into his body.

Park Siwoo, with high Affinity, had shown performance beyond even the current Sword Immortal.

And his Affinity was higher than when Minwoo tested it last time.‘How do I even lose this?’He couldn't picture it.

A scenario where he lost.

That was why he had accepted Lucas's offer without hesitation.

“Old bastard's seriously unlucky.”

A Duel.

What a wonderful system.

Was there any cleaner method for capturing someone who remained holed up in Korea?

There wasn't.

Still.

“You really picked the worst possible option.”

He watched the news.

A plane had departed Germany and was soaring through the sky.

An enormous Griff private jet.

Lucas was probably aboard with a large number of elite personnel.

Kim Minwoo, who had been spending time at home, stood.

He called Han Sia, and before long they were sitting together in a vehicle.

“Are you…… really going to be okay?”

Even though she'd already heard his answer over the phone, she still asked with worried eyes.

Kim Minwoo smiled.

“I'm certain this will be easier than any fight I've ever had. Don't worry.”

“H-How am I supposed not to worry! The whole world is saying you're insane……!”

“He's the crazy one. Picking a fight with me.”

Han Sia swallowed.

No, she'd meant the exact opposite…….

Her eyes spun.

She didn't know anymore.

Everything was happening far too suddenly from her perspective.

Going on a broadcast and hammering Griff?

Fine.

The family head appearing on that same broadcast?

Fine.

But then a life-or-death Duel?

Less than half a day after the broadcast?

“Minwoo, you really have a countermeasure, right? You're not seriously just going to bet your life, right? We can still overturn this if we want. This is Korea…….”

“Don't overthink it. Just focus on one thing. What you want to do after you get your talent back. And what you're going to become.”

“…….”

“Let's go. To the airport.”

Vroooom.

The long limousine started.

It glided smoothly along the road.

Behind it, vehicles from countless broadcasting stations were already following.

When they reached the airport lounge, familiar faces awaited them.

Mages in black robes.

Among them stood Griff Family Head Lucas, with cameras filming from all around.

Han Sia and Lucas stared directly at each other.

“Want it back? Then fight me with your life on the line. That's why you came, isn't it? All the way to Korea.”

“Truly foolish. Have you laid a trap? Is that why you're so confident?”

“Welcome to Korea. Shall we head to the stage?”

Kim Minwoo ignored him and turned away, taking the lead.

Lucas followed with a cold sneer.

Either way, the board had already been set.

He had no reason to refuse.

Even if it was a trap, Lucas believed he had more than enough power to smash through it.