Chapter 71

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Jin Ye-Seul, who had a rare expression of concern, added quietly as if whispering.

"I don't think this is at the level of just passing it off like that, no matter how much you want to......What on earth are you going to do?"

At Jin Ye-Seul's words, I raised my hand in a gesture as if to say be quiet for a while.

Jin Ye-Seul quietly shut her mouth.

It was true that in the original story, the exact point in time when the Aegis system would fall was never mentioned.

The only thing certain was the fact that it had fallen before the festivities of the Commemoration Day, the day the seal of the first Seven Evil was unsealed.

But they already found out and sent the Killer team. 

If so, it meant that even if I went now, whatever the outcome was, it was already too late.

Even if I go there, what can I do?

The Killer team moves in groups of at least three unless there is something special.

It would mean that at least three people are there, but at my current level, if I try to face three people, I can say that I lose almost 100%.

In short, if I went alone now, I would die a dog's death.

“Um, Ji-Hyuk.”

The worst-case scenario was that the Aegis system had already been destroyed beyond recovery.

However, I could immediately conclude that it hadn't.

Aegis is an anti-aircraft defense network that covers Seoul and its surrounding areas, as well as an intercept and defense system that deals with monsters.

The reason why there were no large-scale casualties even if a gate occurred in Seoul and the surrounding areas was that they were immediately intercepted by Aegis.

"Hey…… .”

One of the biggest roles of Aegis was to suppress and stabilize gates and dungeons that were sporadically generated here and there.

So, if the Aegis system had been destroyed, most people would have noticed it in less than a day.

In fact, even in the original story, as the Aegis system stopped momentarily, the means to suppress the Seven Evils disappeared, and to make matters worse, the gates and dungeons went out of control, causing monsters to run rampant everywhere.

And to deal with the chaos, guilds and the association consumed a considerable amount of power, and due to the power consumption that occurred at that time, they were struggling with manpower shortages until the final chapter.

'Yeah…… .'

There is no way the defense of such an important system would be neglected.

If it was destroyed, broken, or stopped working, it would have been made known to the center immediately.

If so, are they thinking of just taking control of the facility and waiting for the commemorative festival?

But no matter how much I think about it, the probability of failure is too high...… .

“Ji-Hyuk… ?”

"What?"

As I looked at her with a frown at her constant call, Jin Ye-Seul pointed her finger at my pocket.

“You're getting a call…… .”

If it wasn't Jin Ye-Seul, there was only one person who would call.

I quickly picked it up, and the voice I had been waiting for came from the other end.

― Yoo Ji-hyuk?

"Yes, it's me."

― What's going on?

In any case, the division between public and private was a sure thing for him.

To be honest, I was very fond of his attitude of using honorifics for public matters and informal language for private matters.

“Before that, I'd like to ask you one thing, of course, Hunter Lee Myung-Joon’s phone call will not be eavesdropped, right?”

I heard a rustling sound at the words.

― Why? What's going on?

“It can't, right?”

― This is a special item, so you don't have to worry about it.

After taking a deep breath, I said to him.

“Aegis needs to be checked.”

― What?

“I've got some information about the Red Case. Their purpose is the Aegis. The attack a few days ago was also a bucket operation to cover the eyes.”

― What's that...… No, wait. How do you know they attacked?

At that point, I could realize that I made a slight slip of the tongue.

However, Lee Myung-Joon muttered with an attitude of acceptance immediately, as if it wasn't a big deal.

―Well, it's not anyone else, and you were there at that time…… .

Lee Myung-Joon said so and added.

― You're right, there were two people who were identified as Red Case. One Hiding in the storage...… the spy, and one who was already dead and abandoned.

“Wait, he was dead and abandoned?”

I couldn't believe it.

I was wondering where the other one went, but I didn't think that someone had already killed him.

― Yeah, that's right, he died. His face was completely sunken. Later, while doing an autopsy, I found out because of the markings. That he was hit and killed with bare hands.

“…… .”

I thought I knew who had killed him.

A person who dares to kill a Killer of the Red Case with bare hands.

The most probable was Dmitry from the Big Watch.

Did the two groups really turn against each other?

‘Oh.’

Now there was another story that mattered most.

“I'm sorry, but is it possible? If the Aegis collapses...… .”

― That's.

Lee Myung-Joon muttered as if troubled.

―No matter how much I am, I can't approach Aegis recklessly. I need a permit to get in and it takes at least a few days. First of all, since most of the related information is confidential, it is strictly managed by the government and the association.

“Is it impossible to communicate with the person inside? At the very least, if we know if there is a problem or not.”

― If I had to describe it, it's like a nuclear submarine, you know. The moment you enter, you have to cut off all contact with the outside world, in principle. In addition, the number of managers there and who they are are also confidential, so I cannot access them.

“…… .”

― I understand what you are worried about, but Aegis is a defense system that the government is taking special care of. If something goes wrong with the Aegis, it is linked and can be checked immediately, so don't worry...… .

“How can you be sure that the government won't be breached when there are spies in the executive positions of the association?”

As if he had expected, Lee Myung-Joon answered in a calm tone as if he was telling me to calm down.

― To be honest, it's not because I don't believe what you're saying. I believe you. Because...… You've shown me over and over again that your words like lies are true.

But.

― As you know, this isn't something that can be overcome just because I believe you. In order to check the problem quickly as you said, we need at least some evidence that no one can refute. do you have anything like that?

There was no such thing as evidence.

The only evidence was the confessions of the two captives, and even there was a high probability that those were made through torture.

When I didn't say anything, Lee Myung-Joon muttered as if he understood.

― I'll check it out first. Seeing as how you've gone so far, there must be something dubious.

“As you know, there are already spies inside the association. We don't know how far out of that person's hand has spread...… .”

― I know. I have to be careful.

“Um, and I actually have a favor to ask of you.”

― Yes?

“Actually, I contacted you because I wanted you to let me into the orchard once."

Lee Myung-Joon was silent at my words.

Then he muttered as if he didn't understand.

— How did you... ? No, Come to think of it, you are...… .

Orchard was the name of the secret research facility in Red Case in the past.

As it was a place where human experiments were conducted, it was an extremely secret place, but it was also a facility that Thunder Lord's Hammer, led by Lee Myung-Joon attacked and wiped out.

Given the fact that it had been used for human experimentation, all the important equipment and materials had already been disposed of, leaving nothing but a shell, but it was also a place worth visiting, at least for me.

— … To be honest, this is also absurd, but maybe it's because of what you said earlier, it still sounds a bit realistic.

Lee Myung-Joon, who had been agonizing for a while, sighed deeply.

Then he began to speak in a low, mumbled voice, that I had to put my ear close to the phone.

In the midst of all this, a notification popped up in front of me.

[Contribution to Thunder Lord's Hammer has been consumed.]

As expected, if I had just asked, I would have been rejected.

With that in mind, I focused on Lee Myung-Joon's words.

— There's nothing left anyway, so it'll be okay. Please don't do anything weird. If it's a simple entry and exit, I can somehow allow it. Maybe If you go in, the kids will probably understand.

"Thank you."

― So when do you want to go in?

“In the morning in two days, please.”

― Then that's when Yuzu......Hmm!  I'll send Horie as a guide and watcher. I heard you met her on Five Street. Should I tell her to wait under the stone statue in the square?

"Yes, thank you very much."

― Okay. Then I'll hang up now.

After hanging up with Lee Myung-Joon, I leaned back on the bench for a while and stretched.

An unpleasant feeling of listless enveloped my whole body.

I thought it would be nice if nothing happened, but the bad premonition I had at such a time was never wrong.

"Hey."

"Yes?"

“First of all, you're learning the art of legacy. Honestly, you're more talented than me, so you can learn it quickly.”

For some reason, I had a feeling that I might need Jin Ye-Seul.

Honestly, it was difficult to find someone as good as her in neutralizing security, starting with infiltration.

“Are you listening to me?”

When she didn't respond for a while, I turned my head and looked at her with a puzzled look.

Jin Ye-Seul had an indescribable expression on her face, and her whole body was trembling.

Her appearance, full of her passion and ecstasy, I swear, was the face of a person who, for the first time in my life, showed me what the expression of emotion was.

“… Are you okay?”

At my words as if I was worried, Jin Ye-Seul nodded hard.

And she got up, hugging her bag tightly.

“I’ll learn it soon, don’t worry! I’ll stay up all night to learn it!”

“Uh, uh. okay…… And thank you for coming out today.”

Surprised by the sudden change in her attitude, I nodded, dazed.

Then Jin Ye-Seul said, she would not stop anymore, and hugged her bag and immediately started running off.

“… Why is she like that again?”

It was when I was looking at Jin Ye-Seul's back because I couldn't understand her.

As she ran, she slammed her head into a telephone pole and fell backward onto her back, which made me get up from my seat without realizing it.

* * *

“Good morning, old man.”

"Huh… ? What, why are you now...… .”

The old man appeared as soon as the day changed, and when he saw that I had already arrived, he let the words flow as if in bewilderment.

Originally, the standard was to arrive in the morning for the first, dawn for the second, and only for the last to be recognized as staying up all night the night before.

And seeing me who had arrived in advance from the first day, he muttered as if it was ridiculous.

“Have you been here since yesterday?”

"Yes."

"Haa…… .”

“I can’t keep an adult waiting.”

At my words, he approached me with a look on his face as if something was not right.

Then he began to rummage through his pocket for something.

“It's as if I've been possessed by a ghost, but…… A promise is a promise.”

And he took out a piece of bamboo that would have been used only in ancient times and handed it to me.

“This is called Taigong Strategy. If you read and read diligently and come to understand the principle, it will definitely be helpful to you.”

“Thank you, old man.”

“Then I have given you everything I have to give. I should get going now.”

The old man took his hands behind his back and muttered as if he were grumbling as he walked back over the bridge he had crossed.

"I thought you'd give it to me at least the third time...… Eh.”

After the old man disappeared, I unfolded the bamboo tablet he had handed me.

There was no way I could read it, full of Chinese characters, but it wasn't something that was meant to read in the first place.

Taigong Strategy (Rare / Consumable)

― This is the lost part of the military law book that Taigong Wang built in the past.

Those who realize the truth of its content will be given wisdom and eyes that can see through the logic of things.

― Once used, its effect will be lost.

― Increases the rank of the stat 'Mana'. (++)

― You can acquire the talent ‘Insight’.

Without further delay, I used it right away.

Then, as soon as I thought that the words on the bamboo tablet were emitting a strange light, the light disappeared.

Several notification windows appeared in front of me.

[Mana rank has risen by two stages!]

[ManaE(+++) has grown to Mana D!]

Name: Yoo Ji-Hyuk

Gender: M

///

Stamina: D (+)

Strength: C (+)

Agility: C (++)

Mana: D

Arts: D (++)

Luck: C (-)

Comparing it to the tearful ability at the beginning, it could be said that it was truly a major development.

However, the luck level was down, and I could notice that the reason was because of the bracelet I was wearing without difficulty.

I immediately looked at another notification window.

[Talent 'Insight' has been acquired!]

[The flow of energy, including mana, begins to catch your eye vaguely!]

Insight [E] (Growth)

― Eyes that can grasp the flow or existence of invisible energy.

Depending on the user's proficiency, you will be able to understand more clearly and in more detail.

I looked around, but nothing particularly seemed to have changed.

When I looked at the branch of the World Tree, infusing it with mana once, I felt that something was swaying vaguely.

'For now, I should continue to use it and grow it.’

Now, if I finally stopped by the orchard and picked up the things I was aiming for, I thought I would be able to get all of the things I was aiming for.

If I had done this from the beginning, I wouldn't have suffered so much, and it was when I was about to step onto the bicycle with such late regret.

"Huh?"

The phone rang.

I checked to see if it was Jin Ye-Seul or Lee Myung-Joon,  but it was a number I'd seen for the first time.

"Hello?"

―Hello, is this Yoo Ji-Hyuk?

“Horie-ssi?”

― Yes, it's me.

The person calling was none other than Horie Yuzuki.

For sure, Lee Myung-Joon said he would put her as my guide and watcher, so maybe that's why she called me.

― Where are you now? No, please send your coordinates to this number. I'll go there right away.

“What, Did something happen now?"

― Yes.

When I asked about her urgent attitude, she agreed with a firm voice.

― The guild master has disappeared after the last contact with you. 

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