Chapter 159 - Scammer Zodiac (2)
Seeing who had shown up, no one could believe their eyes.
“Carly…”
The newcomer looked to be around the same age as Yooha; she was a beautiful woman in her 20s.
Lee Gun tilted his head in puzzlement at this unfamiliar face. However, everyone else reacted differently.
“This is crazy! Why is that person here?”
“She’s supposed to be on the other side of the world.”
“No, that’s not the problem right now! She just said she wants to become the Serpent Bearer’s Zodiac Saint.”
“What? That person wants to…”
The Leo disciples opened their mouths in shock. It wasn’t just them. Hugo and Stevens were also shocked. Of course, the one to feel the most bewilderment was Chun Yooha. This was to be expected.
‘Why is she here?’
Of course, everyone in the world knew about this woman. However, Chun Yooha knew her better than anyone here. Her name was Carly Collins. Carly, like Chun Yooha, was one of the Ten Stars, the SS-ranks. She was among their top three.
As expected, the Leo disciples walked on eggshells around Chun Yooha as they whispered amongst themselves.
“Isn’t she the ‘Golden Rule’?”
“That’s right! She’s the one who fights a million times better than the battle-type Saints… She’s the Libra’s Ten Star….”
“Even our General Chun could never beat her, right?”
“Shhh!”
Since the Ten Stars were all SS-ranks, they had unimaginable power. Moreover, their top three were described as humans on a whole other level.
In terms of physical abilities, they were better than the non-battle-type Zodiac Saints. Depending on the person, they were even considered better than Zodiac Saints.
Chun Sungjae gulped. ‘Goat said to be careful of her.’
Of course, his sister was considered one of the top three battle-type disciples, a demon god.
However, Carly truly stood at the top of the disciples; she was the battle demon.
A Zodiac pretending to be human was one reason, but there was another reason the Libra temple was the number one temple.
Moreover, both Carly and Chun Yooha were close-range combatants amongst the Ten Stars, and both of them were gorgeous. Therefore, many people had tried to make Carly a rival of his sister.
Lee Gun furrowed his brows as he looked at Hugo. “Who the hell is that?”
“What? She is…”
Seeing Lee Gun’s reaction, Carly realized her mistake. She quickly lowered her head. “My god! I forgot to introduce myself. I am pleased to meet you. My name is Carly.”
Lee Gun scrunched up his face. “You don’t have to greet me. Are you a disciple of the Libra temple?”
That was why he had spoken in distaste. However, Carly looked happy when she heard his voice. She quickly raised her head. “Yes… I am! I heard a lot about you from my mother!”
“Mother?”
Hugo quickly whispered in Lee Gun’s ear. “She is Giselle’s daughter!”
Lee Gun’s expression was a sight to behold. Was it possible for a Zodiac to have a child? However, he realized Yoon Taewoo and Yoon Siwoo were also that woman’s children.
Hugo continued to speak near his ear. “I’m not sure of it, but Giselle used her genetic material to make children..”
“…!”
Basically, she didn’t go through the pain of having them herself. Lee Gun could now accept the fact that Giselle had several dozen children.
“She gathered people that would be helpful to the Libra and cultivated outstanding disciples. I heard Carly is the offspring of some royal family….”
Stevens was dumbfounded. Carly was the top general of the Libra temple, and the Leo temple had suffered many times under her hands.
‘She sent several hundred of my guys to the hospital by herself.’
At the time, Yooha had been the leader of the troops, and she had come back after suffering a crushing defeat by Carly. That had shocked Stevens back then. He had wondered how a non-battle-type Zodiac Saint had cultivated a disciple like Carly.
“Anyway, the 'Golden Rule' is the daughter that Giselle cherishes the most, yet she wants to become Lee Gun’s Zodiac Saint?”
Hugo snorted. “I’m pretty sure I heard wrong….”
“No!”
“!”
Carly looked at Lee Gun with shining eyes as she grabbed his hand. “I’m really sure of it! I really want to be fath— I really want to be Lee Gun-nim’s Zodiac Saint! That’s why I came here. I want to become the Serpent Bearer’s Zodiac Saint! I am a fan!”
Chun Sungjae screamed. “What the hell? Why the hell would a Ten Star from the Libra temple try to become his Zodiac Saint?”
Chun Sungjae hated the Libra temple. This was why it looked as if he wanted to shoot flames from his mouth. “Noona! Why are you doing nothing even though you heard her say such words? Our boss has to make the choice! You should say ‘No way’!”
However, Chun Yooha looked shocked by this sudden development. In truth, she had never expected Carly to be a fan of Lee Gun.
‘For some odd reason, she always glared at me when I held Uncle’s items…’
She looked like she was melting as she gazed at Lee Gun.
‘Who is this person?.’
It was rare for Sungjae to see his sister at a loss for words. This frustrated him, so he stepped forward. “You can’t! The Serpent Bearer’s Zodiac Saint will either be me or my sister!”
Carly turned her head toward Chun Sungjae. As if she couldn’t overlook his words, her expression completely changed. The bright expression from when she looked at Lee Gun disappeared.
“What? Either Chun Yooha or you will become the Zodiac Saint?”
A smirk appeared on her smile.
Chun Yooha flinched at this familiar face. Yes, that was the face Yooha knew. It was what the whole world saw. It was the face of someone who didn’t know defeat. No, it was the confident face of someone who had never experienced a loss.
Carly mockingly unsheathed her sword. Enormous magical energy surged out of her. “It doesn’t make sense to mention your name as the Zodiac Saint since you’re an S rank. Also, I know Yooha’s skill better than anyone.”
Chun Sungjae was surprised by the killing intent that suddenly appeared in Carly’s eyes. He tried to defend, but Carly swung her sword before that.
Kwahng!!!
The electric blade aura flew toward Chun Sungjae. Chun Sungjae and the Leo disciples screamed.
Boom!!!
However, the blade aura flew past Chun Sungjae to cut off the head of a monster.
“Kee… Kee-ehhhk….”
This was a camouflage-type monster that had remained hidden. It seemed the monster had made Carly unsheathe her sword in the first place.
The disciples, who hadn’t been able to sense the monster’s presence, were shocked.
“Were you able to sense that?”
“N-Not at all.”
Chun Yooha was also shocked. She hadn’t sensed the monster’s presence either.
Lee Gun’s eyes twinkled at this sight.
“What the hell? She is pretty good.”
Hugo’s eyes turned round when he heard Lee Gun’s voice.
‘The mighty Gun showed interest in someone?’
Lee Gun had noticed the hidden monster moving in behind Chun Sungjae from the beginning. That was why he had done nothing as he watched Carly unsheathe her sword. He had realized what Carly intended to do.
Hugo conceded the point. “Well, yeah. She’s the top amongst the disciples…”
Lee Gun mockingly laughed. “Disciples? She’s better than you guys. She’s a million times better.”
“That’s right— What?!! Million times?!”
Stevens had been sitting back as he listened to Hugo scream. But even he turned to look at Lee Gun when the latter made that far-fetched statement.
Lee Gun ignored them as he picked at his ear. “Even if you took a bunch of battle-type Zodiac Saints, they won’t be able to win against her. You might lose to her too.”
“What did you just say?!” Hugo got angry. “Hey! You said you acknowledge my skills!”
“Ah! That? I'll take it back.”
“Hey!!” Hugo looked betrayed as he gazed at Lee Gun.
Lee Gun didn’t pay attention to him. He laughed as if he were amused. Above all else, his reaction had to do with something he felt from Carly.
[She possesses a similar power to the Serpent Bearer. It is as if she is an imitation.]
Why could he feel his power from her? Lee Gun had no idea. ‘However, she’ll be quite useful in her current state.’
Lee Gun’s eyes twinkled again. On the other hand, Hugo grumbled when he didn’t receive recognition from Lee Gun.
At that moment, Carly sheathed her sword. She took a knee after she approached Lee Gun. “I will leave the Libra, and I will pledge my loyalty to you. Please accept me as your Zodiac Saint! Ah! You probably don’t know much about me. Would you like me to display my skills?”
“Really? You’ll leave the Libra?”
“Yes! With all due respect, I know that the temple of the Serpent Bearer is short on disciples. Moreover, I believe I’m superior to any of your current disciples. I believe I can serve you better than…”
Her gaze headed toward the Chun sibling. It was clear that she was saying she was better than those two.
The look in her eyes made Chun Sungjae angry.
“If the Archer Saint chooses not to become your Zodiac Saint, please leave that seat in my care.”
Hugo also became angry. He said, “Who said I won’t become his Zodiac Saint…”
However, Chun Sungjae’s eyes flashed before his father could speak any more. Of course, he was angry at being overtly dismissed by another disciple.
“Look here. I get what you’re trying to say, but there is no way our uncle will accept someone affiliated with the LIbra temple. That’s why you should stop drinking Kool-Aid—”
“Well, it wouldn’t be too bad if she became the Zodiac Saint.”
“???!!”
When Lee Gun said that, everyone’s expression was a sight to behold.
Lee Gun didn’t care as he smirked. ‘If I’m going to make my Zodiac Saint do the dirty work, it would be best if I choose someone from a different temple.’
In Carly’s case, her abilities were decent. She had enough power to wipe out the troops of the Libra temple by herself.
Carly’s face brightened when she heard Lee Gun’s words. “That means…”
Instead of answering, Lee Gun let out a peculiar laugh.
‘Well, she clearly will be useful, but…’
It was about who would become his Zodiac Saint. Carly might be powerful, but he couldn’t choose someone he didn’t know well. Therefore, he was about to turn her offer down for becoming his Zodiac Saint.
[Regarding the Serpent Bearer’s choice, a change has occurred to the feelings of Chun Sungjae, Chun Yooha, and Hugo Otis.]
[Hugo Otis has become enlightened to the Jealousy attribute.]
[The possibility of his rank rising has developed.]
[The possibility of raising the Sagittarius’s power has developed.]
[Chun Sungjae has become enlightened to the “Greed” attribute.]
[His level-up speed has increased.]
[The probability of him becoming an SS-rank is high.]
[Chun Yooha has become enlightened to the “Anxiety” attribute.]
[She is about to open her eyes to a new special ability(SS).]
[The disciples want to receive recognition by the Serpent Bearer.]
[The fighting spirit of the disciples has given energy to the temple.]
[The temple energy is starting to fill up.]
[You have picked up a new ability.]
Lee Gun’s eyes turned round at the unexpected situation. These people seemed to be getting anxious at the idea of Carly becoming his Zodiac Saint.
Therefore, Lee Gun grinned.
‘What the hell? This situation might be more useful than I thought.’
With this amount of temple energy, he would have no problem using abilities without a Zodiac Saint.
‘I’ll be able to destroy all the remaining gates within an hour.’
That way, he would also get to spend a good amount of time getting his ingredients ready for making the royal holy item. That wasn’t all.
[Carly Collins]
[Serpent Bearer Faith: 200%]
[Libra Faith: 0%]
With a faith that high, there was no chance she would betray him. Monitoring her for a couple of weeks wouldn’t be a bad idea.
So, Lee Gun said with a smirk, “I’ll give all of you a chance.”
“!”
“In exactly four days, I’m planning to go reclaim the Red zone.”
“…?”
“At that time, I want you guys to prove who’s the strongest amongst you.”
In four days, Sungjae would also become an SS-rank. Of course, a person with a normal thought process would have cussed and said it was impossible.
Lee Gun just laughed. “I wonder who will follow me into the red zone as the Zodiac Saint.”
As soon as those words sounded, Chun Sungjae yelled, “You cannot lose, Noona!! The Zodiac Saint of our temple has to be either Dad or Noona!!!”
***
At this point, news about Lee Gun was spreading across the world. The world got abuzz when they saw newspapers.
Around that time…
“Shit! Where are you taking me?”
The monsters of the unknown civilization were dragging along Yang Wei as provision.
Yang Wei cursed. “I’m not a Zodiac Saint! I’m really not!”
However, his words fell on deaf ears as the monsters tossed him somewhere.
“Kuh-uhk!” Yang Wei groaned when he fell down a hole that felt endless. “Where the hell did you throw me?”
Suddenly…
[You are the Aries’ Zodiac Saint.]
Yang Wei froze. Something unimaginable was in front of him. Moreover, Yang Wei could feel it instinctually.
‘A monarch.’
He had never seen one, but he instinctually recognized the energy. Yang Wei felt a cold energy climb up his neck, and he had a thought without realizing it.
‘I’m going to die.’
However, the sensation lasted only a moment. Yang Wei furrowed his brows. His reaction had to do with the energy that he could feel.
‘What is it? It feels similar to Lee Gun?’
[You will make a good meal.]
Frightened, Yang Wei screamed. “Wait a moment! Lee Gun! What are you doing? I’ll really die! Ahhk! I meant to say I love you, Honorable Lee Gun-nim! Please let me use that bomb from earlier once again! Please!”
Then, as if it were reacting to his words, the body he was in started to change.
[The ability embedded inside the Serpent Bearer’s prisoner no. 4 has been activated.]
Yang Wei laughed as if he was deeply moved by the light emanating from his body. “Yes! As expected of Lee Gun, he’s kind! There is no way he would betray us!”
Yang Wei thought he was being saved, so he was about to cheer, but…
Kwahng!!!
The bombs that Lee Gun had prepared for the monarch detonated.
