Mr. Kim Strikes It Rich with Auto-Hunting [Novel] Chapter 47

The Eye of Truth had once been an ordinary private detective guild.

And now?

A proper subcontractor to the Manpower Office Director.

Since they were out here working all the way in Beijing, they could say it with pride.

“Of course, though we can’t say it out loud in public.”

“Way to kill the mood again.”

“I’m not kidding. If you walk outside and tell people you’re a subcontractor for the Manpower Office Director, you’ll be kidnapped in a heartbeat.”

True enough.

That was the reality.

The entire world was frantically searching for the Manpower Office Director….

Especially these bastards.

[Regarding the Purpose and Primary Duties of China’s Secret Government Organization, the Special Operations Unit (※ Supplementary Data Required)]

“The Special Operations Unit… the more I learn about those guys, the crazier they seem.”

“At this point, I’m curious what’s hidden down in their basement, but terrified at the same time.”

“What is in the basement?”

Whoa…, startled the hell out of me.

Seriously.

Why did this bear keep popping out without warning?

My heart nearly dropped into my stomach.

Still, this was the prime contractor, so getting annoyed wasn’t an option.

“There are probably kidnapped people in—”

Quickly fixing his expression, he turned around.

Only to be greeted by a completely unfamiliar face.

Who’s this?

Just as he tilted his head, he froze.

“Uh, wait….”

An unfamiliar face.

And yet….

It was strangely familiar.

Tall stature, a long beard, even a reddish complexion.

He had definitely seen this somewhere—.

“It has been some time. I heard from the bear that you have been doing well.”

“Huh?”

Does he know me?

On top of that, this manner of speech was similar to the bear’s, but far more natural.

“Could you be… our benefactor?”

“If that benefactor refers to the one who saved your ankles, then indeed, it is I.”

Gasp.

That’s not the face from back then, though?

Could it be a disguise?

“Nay. This is this mage’s original countenance.”

“Wait. That… can’t be…. That’s…….”

Shouldn’t this not be his real face?

I think I know who this is….

To be frank, he had been doubtful at first.

I mean.

If it was the person who sprang to mind the moment he laid eyes on him, it defied all reason.

However….

The weapon held in his hand gave an unmistakable impression.

“The Green Dragon Crescent Blade….”

“You mean this? I received quite a fine staff.”

Staff?

That thing?

“For now, I understand that there is likely something beneath the earth, so I shall take my leave. I gave my word that I would return before the coffee cooled.”

While they were still tilting their heads in bewilderment.

Whoosh.

He vanished.

Just like before, as if by real magic.

“Crazy…. Hey, Lee Minwoo, what do you think? About that guy just now.”

“Hyeong-nim, were you thinking of Guan Yu, by any chance?”

“…Couldn’t be, right?”

“No way…. But as a Three Kingdoms geek, I know this stuff well, and the resemblance is pretty uncanny.”

Right?

It made zero sense.

If that man was genuinely Guan Yu, then what did that make the Manpower Office Director? An employer of ancient heroes?

Haha.

“Nah, no way….”

Couldn’t be.

*

‘Laborer Yunchang, please make it as flamboyant as possible.’

Those were the words Todd the living teddy bear had offered on the way out.

He remembered them distinctly.

“Heh heh.“

As flamboyant as possible.

Eye-catching.

If one was unsure how to proceed?

‘For Laborer Yunchang, merely standing still in your natural form will naturally draw every eye.’

That lad….

When one looked closely, he was remarkably perceptive.

How could he strike the mark so unerringly?

“What’s that, cosplay?”

“The quality is insane.”

“Whoa….”

Every passerby cast sidelong glances.

Just as the bear lad said.

Galloping along like this would likely be enough.

Even so….

‘It would be even better if you summoned a horse to ride. The speed might be a bit slower, but it will stand out far more.’

Indeed.

If a favor was to be granted, let it be granted properly.

The staff that a lively child named Rani had crafted for him.

It held two functions.

One of them.

[Summon Flame Steed (火焰馬)]

“Come forth.”

Neeeeeigh—!

He smoothly mounted the back of the warmly greeting steed.

And the reaction of the gaping onlookers?

“A horse… out of thin air….”

“Holy crap.”

“I don’t think that’s cosplay?”

Towering height, a long flowing beard.

A ruddy face.

Yes.

One could accept that much.

A bit of makeup and dressing up could achieve that.

The Green Dragon Crescent Blade?

That, too.

Sure.

It could be a prop.

Yet a flaming horse suddenly emerging from the empty void?

This was far beyond the realm of cosplay.

Furthermore.

That majestic bearing called to mind a scene known to all.

“It’s the General…. The General has descended in person to save China…!”

One elderly man cried out.

“General! Thank you, General!”

Another elderly man shouted.

Immediately afterward.

That feverish fervor spread to the hesitant young spectators as well.

“The General… you say?”

“Could it be General Guan?”

“The Green Dragon Crescent Blade and Red Hare…. It really fits, doesn’t it?”

“Good heavens! It’s real?!”

Oho.

That bear lad.

Truly sharp-witted.

Thanks to him, the atmosphere was thoroughly set.

All that remained was to deliver a spectacular finish.

“Now, forward!”

Neeeeeigh!

*

“There’s a grandpa here, and a grandpa there! There are two grandpas!”

“Seriously. And tons of people are watching that broadcast.”

Yoon Hajun’s profession was Manpower Office Director.

His current task?

Monitoring the highest-grade laborer.

And on top of that, watching an internet live stream.

[Guys, look at that! Incredible! Do you see it? Riding the Red Hare! It’s really Guan Yu!]

– Holy shit lolololol

– Wait, for real??? When he posted the stream notice, I thought it was total bullshit

– But isn’t this guy in China?? How did he even start a stream lolol

[Where there’s a will, there’s a way!]

– Aren’t you gonna get dragged off if you get caught? lololol

I mean.

Word came out that our highest-grade laborer was appearing on an internet broadcast.

Who could resist watching that?

Curiosity got the better of him, so he tuned in immediately.

Man.

The hype was insane.

Barely two minutes into the broadcast, the viewer count was… what on earth….

“100,000… 110,000…. Wow… it’s shooting up in seconds.”

[Who do you think I am! I’m Kim Jiho, a man truly devoted to streaming! Even if I get hauled away, how could I pass this up!]

– Respect lolol

– That’s why you pulled in 120,000 viewers in two minutes of going live

– Probably gonna go higher lolol

– No, but no matter how crazy the world has gotten, how does Guan Yu just appear????

– Looks like the Chinese folks think he’s come to save them or something.

[Honestly, if it’s Guan Yu-bro, you gotta respect it. Feels like he could crush an S-grade dungeon, the 60th floor, or whatever else, right?]

– Valid lolol

– But why does only Guan Yu-bro show up? What is Sunshin-bro doing!!!!

– Fr, save us too!!!!

“Admiral Yi Sun-sin hasn’t shown up, though….”

He would need to appear first to save anyone.

Regardless.

The world moved fast nowadays.

Not even three minutes had passed since Yunchang crossed over….

And a broadcast was already live.

Over a hundred thousand people were watching.

Apparently, it was even making the news in China.

“I didn’t expect attention to gather this rapidly…. Laborer Yunchang’s name recognition is genuinely astounding.”

“He’s world-famous, after all.”

“Indeed… seeing that massive crowd chasing after him like madmen….”

[Damn! Guan Yu-bro is fast, so fast! Look at this, brothers. Running at this speed, and there are easily at least a hundred people keeping up behind him?]

When the streamer pointed his camera with a smooth sweep.

Whoa….

It wasn’t a marathon, yet the road was completely packed with people running in pursuit.

“I see reporters over there too.”

“They said it’d be on the news, so reporters must’ve rushed out to film immediately.”

Everyone was swift on their feet.

Meanwhile.

The viewer count on the live stream kept ballooning.

Had word spread around?

It seemed Chinese viewers had arrived as well.

Chinese chat messages occasionally popped up between the comments.

What were they writing?

He hit translate.

– As expected, Heaven aids the great nation.

– A hero has descended in person upon the only nation in the entire world. What could this possibly signify?

– The General has arrived, so China’s future is bright.

Is that so?

Hmm….

If the comments ended there, that would be fine.

Except some folks were cursing and picking fights.

– Behold the stature of a great nation, you small-country peons.

– Great nation, my ass lol. Only this morning you guys were whining, ‘Waaah, Manpower Office Director-nim, please help us’ lolol

– The Manpower Office Director? That fellow is surely nothing before the General.

– Insolent small-country bastards who don’t know their place.

Uh….

Guys.

That’s not what’s happening….

Your General.

He’s on his way to demolish a building right now.

Keep this up and you’ll faint from the shock.

– That Manpower Office Director punk must be sweating bullets. The General will soon go retrieve the items that thief extorted.

– Just getting those back wouldn’t be enough! He must take them back with interest.

Well….

I give up.

You guys can just go ahead and faint.

*

Beijing, China.

A secluded district far removed from the bustling city center.

In front of a worn, dilapidated building standing there—.

“Yah!“

Yunchang brought his galloping steed to a halt.

“General, where might this place be!”

Where?

Where else.

The Special Operations Unit building.

“We are representatives of the Party! Since you have returned to the mortal realm after so long, we would gladly escort you to a proper establishment rather than such a shabby place!”

“Hello! I’m a huge fan!”

“Please look over here just once!”

“Greetings, General! We’re from Central Broadcasting! Would it be possible to conduct a brief interview — or rather, a dialogue?”

“Is that horse by any chance the Red Hare?!”

Chattering noisily behind his back.

While the crowd babbled away, oblivious to the world, Yunchang had already appraised the situation.

“Indeed, there is something here.”

They had mentioned there might be kidnapped people underground.

And sure enough….

He could sense faint life forces.

Why hadn’t he noticed before?

Most likely because of the stench of blood that stung his nose even now.

“Heh heh….“

A few days ago, when he first came to this place, he had resolved.

If the day came when he returned here.

He would not let these wretches off lightly.

Now, the time had come to keep that pledge.

Conveniently, he also had a fine staff in hand….

“I shall demonstrate its might in full. Let us see….”

Shall I give it a whirl?

Swish.

As he slashed the staff downward through the air—.

Wharuruk!

It materialized in the empty sky.

[Blue Flame Dragon (靑炎龍)]

True to its name, a azure dragon blazing fiercely.

“Gasp!“

“Heavens… General Guan has summoned the Azure Dragon….”

“Wait! Is someone inside the building?”

“In that old building?”

“Spare us! There are people inside! Stop the General!”

“Wait! General Guan! That place is dangerous! We have seen ample proof of your martial might, so please quell your fury!”

Fury?

Hmph.

If they feared death.

They should have ceased when he spared them that one time.

The warning had already been given.

Therefore.

Take your medicine.

BOOOOOM!

*

Where the blue dragon had swept through.

General Guan.

The figure who had drawn a multitude behind him.

The presence who had plunged everyone into stunned disbelief had already vanished without a trace.

“N-No… what is this… why on earth would General Guan…….”

“My god….”

Heavens.

What on earth just happened?

Why Guan Yu?

Wasn’t he the hero who descended to protect our China?

The remaining crowd was left devastated.

Staring blankly, their eyes blinked in sheer shock, whereas—.

“Holy crap, did you brothers see that? Guan Yu just blew away an entire four-story building!”

The Korean streamer.

Kim Jiho was less shocked.

That gave him enough composure to aim his camera toward the collapsed building—.

“Huh? What’s that?”

Collapsed.

Smashed.

Blown to pieces.

All that remained was the space where a building had once stood.

Or perhaps the rubble strewn about the perimeter?

…That should have been all.

Beneath it, however, something bizarre was visible.

“Brothers, doesn’t that look like a prison?”

Sweeping the flashlight over it.

“Is someone out there? Please save us!”

“أنقذني!”

“Help me!”

Cries for help were audible?

What’s this….

Peering closer, his eyes widened.

“Holy crap….”

A prison packed with captives was revealed.

What was this place?

As he tilted his head in confusion, he froze.

Didn’t I just see something flash across the screen…?

When he glanced at the chat, a message popped up.

– [Breaking News] Live: Guan Yu just blew up the President’s Office in Zhongnanhai as well.