Chapter 51: Shocking power, Investigation begins.

-BANG-!

[Last Bullet]

[Consumes all currently loaded bullets to fire a powerful shot. Enhanced by the Amplification effect, the power of

Last Bullet increases. Additional damage is applied due to the legendary-grade Gunslinger trait.]

Thanks to the Amplification effect and the skill Last Bullet, an incredibly potent bullet was fired from the gun in an instant.

‘What… what is that…?’

Yoo Han-beom, the leader of the Artemis Guild, had seen countless Gunslingers while organizing exploration teams

for the Labyrinth. He had even witnessed Gunslingers reaching the so-called epic grade—the supposed limit for their

kind.

But he could say with absolute certainty that he had never seen a bullet like the one before him.

It wasn’t just its sheer power. There was a sinister, sticky energy radiating from Lee Hyun-seung’s bullet.

‘This… what is this…?’

It was dark energy—the kind that usually emanated from monsters. The bullet exuded an unsettling, icy aura, almost

identical to that.

-CRACKLE-

The bullet Lee Hyun-seung fired had far more destructive force than Yoo Han-beom had anticipated. Despite this,

Lee Hyun-seung was a man who had only awakened a few months ago.

No matter how much Yoo Han-beom restrained his C-grade magic to just 10% of its output, he thought there was no

way someone like Lee Hyun-seung could withstand the attack.

‘Is he seriously planning to take it head-on?’

Yoo Han-beom had aimed the skill directly at Lee Hyun-seung to observe his response. If Hyun-seung had tried to

dodge, he would have adjusted the speed and trajectory to give him a chance. However, Lee Hyun-seung choose not to evade but to confront it head-on.

Lee Hyun-seung’s stance was locked in place—his legs, waist, and upper body all rigid as he fired. If his bullet failed

to pierce through the magic, he would be struck directly by Yoo Han-beom’s Lightning spell, potentially suffering a

grievous injury.

‘Is he… not afraid?’

In that brief moment, Lee Hyun-seung didn’t even blink, his gaze fixed on his bullet as it flew. His eyes carried a

certainty—a belief that his attack would break through.

The overwhelming disparity between them. What was the source of this man’s confidence? Yoo Han-beom couldn’t

help but wonder.

-CRACKLE-

The rapidly advancing Lightning was about to collide with Lee Hyun-seung’s bullet.

Being a skilled magician, Yoo Han-beom had the ability to adjust the power and speed of his magic even after it had

been cast. He had intended to reduce the force of Lightning below 10% upon seeing Lee Hyun-seung’s reaction, to

ensure he wasn’t seriously hurt.

But upon seeing the unyielding resolve in Lee Hyun-seung’s expression, Yoo Han-beom decided against it.

And then.

-WHIZ-!

The moment the bullet and Lightning clashed, a brilliant white light enveloped the space.

It was followed by a deafening explosion.

-BOOOOOOOM-!

-RUMBLE-

The tremors that followed were so intense that anyone unaware might have thought it was an earthquake.

-FIZZLE-

The explosion blurred the surroundings, reducing visibility.

Eventually,

-BOOM-!

The bullet continued its trajectory toward Yoo Han-beom.

‘This is impossible…!’

Yoo Han-beom hastily raised his left hand to block the bullet.

-TING-!

He hadn’t expected the bullet to pierce through, so he had only gathered a minimal amount of mana in his hand.

Still, it was enough to deflect the bullet.

The shock of the bullet tearing through Lightning was short-lived. There was something far more important to

consider—Lee Hyun-seung’s condition.

-WHOOSH-

‘What’s his state?’

Yoo Han-beom quickly used wind magic to clear the smoke.

Through the dissipating haze, he saw the figure of a man standing.

“Remember your promise.”

Lee Hyun-seung stood exactly where he had been before, completely unharmed, staring straight at Yoo Han-beom.

Yoo Han-beom’s eyes widened in disbelief, unable to utter a single word.

‘He didn’t just defend against it… he completely neutralized it.’

The Lightning hadn’t been disrupted or mitigated.

[Annihilation.]

The spell had exploded and been obliterated. Such destruction only occurred when two attacks of similar power

clashed. And yet, Lee Hyun-seung’s bullet had pierced through Lightning and reached Yoo Han-beom.

In other words,

The Lightning spell Yoo Han-beom had cast with just 10% of its power was comparable to Lee Hyun-seung’s attack—

or perhaps even slightly weaker.

‘He’s only been awakened for a few months… and already…’

Several months had passed since Yoo Han-beom awakened. Though people hailed him as a genius, it was certain that

even he wouldn’t have been able to withstand the attack just now.

No one—regardless of their ability—could endure an attack of this magnitude after just a few months of effort. Yoo

Han-beom had been known as the best for over ten years, never once neglecting his training. He constantly pushed

himself to climb higher and higher, never ceasing his pursuit of growth.

The level of mastery that even the naturally gifted, ever-praised “genius” Yoo Han-beom had to strive for over a

decade to achieve… and yet, to witness someone display such a performance after merely a few months—this was not

just surprising; it was utterly astonishing.

-Lee Hyun-seung glanced at his trembling arm, trying to act as if nothing was wrong.

“The recoil is intense.”

The Amplification skill temporarily boosts the power of all abilities, but it also consumes a significant amount of

mana. Unfortunately, Lee Hyun-seung was currently low on mana, and as a result, it drained a considerable amount

of his mental strength as well.

In Broad Academy Online, lacking mana could be partially offset by consuming mental stamina, but this system

came at the cost of direct physical strain.

Using both [Last Bullet] and Amplification simultaneously meant the toll on his body was immense.

-Tremble-

Though his arms shook violently, Lee Hyun-seung hide it as best as he could and spoke to Yoo Han-beom.

“Don’t forget what you promised about treating me with proper respect.”

Yoo Han-beom stared at Lee Hyun-seung blankly for a moment before breaking into a grin and responding.

“I give you my word. Lee Hyun-seung, I will ensure that you receive the treatment you deserve from now on. You’ve

proven that your actions come from conviction, not mere bravado. Watching someone with power uphold their

beliefs is always a sight to behold.”

Yoo Han-beom’s tone softened slightly as he continued,

“To be honest, I’m quite impressed by your abilities. Tell me what you want. If it’s a sincere apology you seek, I’ll give

it. If you want a fortune, I’ll gladly provide it. If you’re interested in joining the Artemis Guild, I’ll prepare a spot for

you whenever you wish to come.”

Lee Hyun-seung hesitated, deep in thought.

‘Asking for an apology or money right now would make me look pathetic. Demanding something like Yoo Hee-yeon

or Kim Hee-ra’s deaths would be insane—it might even get me killed. Above all, Yoo Han-beom is someone with

unparalleled value in the long term. I need to capitalize on the recognition I’ve just gained and exploit it

strategically.’

Yoo Han-beom’s influence and power in the country were beyond imagination. This opportunity needed to be

stretched out for long-term benefit.

Finally, after deliberating, Lee Hyun-seung responded,

“What I want is…”

He stated his request succinctly.

After hearing Lee Hyun-seung’s words, Yoo Han-beom looked serious as he replied,

“That’s all you want? I can do much more if you ask.”

“Yes, that’s all.”

“…Understood. I’ll take care of it as soon as I return.”

Yoo Han-beom walked past Lee Hyun-seung with measured steps before turning back to add,

“I hope we’ll meet again. Don’t worry about your internal injuries; once you drink the potion, they’ll all heal. I’ll be

going now, so take it easy.”

He handed Lee Hyun-seung a top-grade potion—the kind known to restore even shredded limbs—and exited the

consultation room.

-Thud-

Collapsing to the ground, Lee Hyun-seung let out a dry chuckle, muttering to himself,

“That monster… he must have already known everything.”

Though he had stubbornly tried to act fine, it seemed Yoo Han-beom had already assessed the extent of his internal

injuries. Clicking his tongue in disbelief, Lee Hyun-seung drank the potion Yoo Han-beom had left behind.

At the Artemis Guild headquarters, Yoo Han-beom sat in his chair, recalling Lee Hyun-seung’s request.

“What I want is to find out the exact reason for my suspension from the academy. President Choi I-seul insists it

wasn’t her decision…”

“He’s Not Someone to Punish Without Evidence”

Lee Hyun-seung carefully choose his words, but Yoo Han-beom, ever perceptive, grasped his meaning immediately.

『Please investigate whether Yoo Hee-yeon or Kim Hee-ra had any involvement in the disciplinary action against me

using your authority.』

Rather than craving immense wealth or power, Lee Hyun-seung seemed to desire something else entirely. The

problem was pinpointing what exactly that might be.

A curious man. By the look in his eyes, one would think he coveted everything in the world, thought Yoo Han-beom.

If Hyun-seung had asked, Yoo Han-beom would have handed over tens of millions without hesitation. He even

offered Hyun-seung a chance to join the Artemis Guild, which the latter refused outright.

The more I get to know him, the more intriguing he becomes.

As Yoo Han-beom mused, his vice guild leader interrupted him, speaking in a tone laced with concern.

“Guild Master, forgive me for asking, but has something serious happened recently?”

Yoo Han-beom, puzzled, raised a brow.

“No, why the sudden question?”

The vice guild leader hesitated before pointing at Yoo Han-beom’s arm.

“There’s a scratch on your arm, Guild Master. I just wanted to make sure everything’s alright.”

Yoo Han-beom lifted his arm and inspected it closely.

Sure enough, there was a faint scratch on his left hand, barely visible and with no trace of blood. It was so minor that

it could be overlooked entirely—except it marked the hand he had used to block Lee Hyun-seung’s attack during

their earlier encounter.

“Puhahahaha!”

A deep, chilling laugh erupted from Yoo Han-beom as he realized the implications. He muttered to himself, a

mixture of amusement and disbelief coloring his tone.

“You’re telling me… a guy who’s only been awakened for a few months managed to leave a mark on me? Even if I was

going easy on him, his strength is absurd.”

A thought crossed Yoo Han-beom’s mind.

What would happen if I fought him in 10 years? No… even in just two years.

Surprisingly, he couldn’t reach a definite conclusion.

“A dual awakener… and top-class at that. Interesting.”

Not just exceptional in combat, Hyun-seung also possessed advanced crafting skills and knew how to handle people

effectively. He acted with conviction and followed his principles—a rare combination.

Yoo Han-beom couldn’t help but think that Hyun-seung might surpass even his own past self, the one who rose by

crushing others underfoot.

Could he achieve something different by uniting people through trust, not fear?

As questions about Hyun-seung’s future swirled in his mind, Yoo Han-beom made a decision.

First things first, I need to keep my promise.

Turning to his vice guild leader, Yoo Han-beom gave an order.

“Investigate whether Yoo Hee-yeon or Kim Hee-ra misused Artemis’ authority against Lee Hyun-seung. Check every detail.”

His tone turned icy as he added, “Spread the word clearly: if there’s even the slightest hint of a cover-up during the

investigation, I will personally deal with it. Nobody is to act recklessly.”