Chapter 166
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 166
Chapter Title: Italy, Mafia, Hijacking - 1
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Harbingers of the apocalypse… For some time now, whispers had been spreading that the world was going mad and that doom was approaching.
This wasn't some baseless rumor floating around; it was a credible theory, asserted by so-called Player experts on major media outlets.
- …This game is facing its worst crisis yet. It's possible our story might end with what's commonly known as a bad ending. How many major events have occurred in just the last few years? This isn't a series of isolated incidents; we must see it as part of a larger trend.
On a TV screen, half a dozen famous Players were engaged in a discussion, moderated by a single host.
- I agree with Dr. Donner. Since the 4th Wave, we've been hit by one catastrophe after another, and they will only become more frequent. I believe all nations and guilds must cooperate, transcending their own interests. We need to set aside fundamental questions like uncovering the true nature of this game and focus on survival for now.
- Yes, and to do that, I believe extremely powerful objects like Yggdrasil or Laputa shouldn't be monopolized by one or two individuals but shared with the international Player community. What I mean is…
Various disasters had befallen the world since it had transformed into a game.
But rarely had they occurred in such rapid succession as they were now.
‘Right, even I was a bit taken aback when Azi Dahaka appeared so early…’
Lee Hyun-wook, currently disguised as a Latino man using the Dark Elves’ ‘Polymorph’ magic, sat in Yggdrasil Airport.
A crowd had gathered in front of a large TV installed in the departure hall.
"Damn it, what is the world coming to…"
"You said it. Good grief, I'm starting to think the end is really here."
The American news program currently on air was warning of a global crisis, showing a montage of the recent major events… and Lee Hyun-wook appeared in most of the footage.
After all, he had resolved about seven out of every ten of those incidents.
‘The fact that these big events are happening one after another is probably my fault to some extent…’
But it was by no means his fault alone.
These were disasters that would have struck eventually; his success in thwarting previous calamities had only hastened their arrival.
‘And I just have to stop these future disasters as they come.’
That had been his goal since the moment he regressed, a finish line that was now more or less within sight.
Just then, an airport announcement came over the speakers.
- This is an announcement for passengers on flight AC1443 to Rome, Italy, departing at 10:30. A colossal monster has appeared in the southern part of Umbria, a region near Rome, and a level 2 civilian evacuation alert has been issued. We advise all travelers to exercise caution.
The announcement sent a stir through the nearby passengers.
"They said it's them. The giants in armor."
"Ah, you mean the Titan Skirmishers?"
"Yes, that's them. Why are they suddenly popping up everywhere? I heard three A-rank Players died fighting them in France just yesterday."
As such, the biggest issue at present was undoubtedly the <Titanomachy>.
The members of ‘Guardian,’ led by South Korea's number one ranker, the gravity mage Lee Seong-yoon, had likely worked in secret to prevent the Titanomachy, but they had ultimately failed.
As a result, giant-like monsters were appearing all over the world, especially in Europe, crushing buildings and tearing up roads in a series of devastating scenes.
Amidst this grim atmosphere, another piece of tragic news reached the world.
- Large monster horde spotted in Berlin's erosion zone, 'Green Hell'… EU Gate Investigation Bureau suspects it to be an intelligent 'nation-state type' monster group, similar to the Black Orc Kingdom (First Report).
The Dark Elf Kingdom, which had been shrouded in mystery until now, began to make its move overtly, forcing all of Europe into a state of emergency.
‘It’s what you’d call one disaster after another.’
To make matters worse, a so-called ‘Titan Gate’ had also opened in ‘Green Hell’… and last night, Team Leader Lee Gyo-jun had passed on intelligence that the Titan Skirmishers emerging from it had been seen making contact with the Dark Elves.
Based on that information, one could infer that the Titans and the Dark Elves were beginning to form an alliance.
‘The Titans… they love to be worshipped, so intelligent monsters or even some Player factions would often prop them up for their own use.’
In any case, the ones who had brokered this union were, without a doubt, the Villains…
‘I have a pretty good idea of what those bastards are up to.’
Since Lee Hyun-wook had thwarted all their schemes so far, they were now planning to meticulously gather an unstoppable force.
‘Green Hell… that dreadful land would be a safe place to build up their army…’
If they formed an ‘Anti-Humanity Front’ based on an alliance between the Titan and Dark Elf legions, bolstered by demon worshippers and Red Players… it would ignite a great war, one that couldn't be stopped by the heroics of a single Player.
‘And… I heard that the Black Orc King, Stonox, recently went missing.’
A week ago, the Chinese government had launched an assault on the Black Orc Kingdom in Shanghai.
After the orcs had suffered heavy losses in their attack on South Korea, their strength had waned. The Chinese government had seized the opportunity to reclaim Shanghai.
However, the official announcement from the Chinese government stated that Stonox could not be found there.
‘He’s probably on his way to join that front. The Villains wouldn't just let such a powerful asset go to waste…’
In this way, ominous news followed ominous news, and at this rate, the devastation of Europe seemed inevitable.
- —This is a boarding announcement from BlueSky Airlines.
BlueSky. It was the airline for Hyun-wook's flight.
- …Passengers on flight AC1443 to Rome, Italy, departing at 10:30, please proceed to boarding gate 4.
He rose from his seat and glanced over his shoulder.
Two black men were sitting in the lobby chairs, about two rows behind him. They looked at Hyun-wook and slowly stood up as well.
"By the way… are you sure they'll behave and follow along? The thought of them being monsters is still a bit unsettling."
The woman with glasses sitting next to Lee Hyun-wook spoke.
She was none other than Kim Se-hee, also under the effects of the Dark Elves’ Polymorph magic.
And next to her, Park Jun-mo, who looked like a Latino boy, yawned as he gathered his belongings.
"I spent the last few days persuading them step-by-step… and more importantly, they wouldn't want to miss this unique opportunity. Even if they are monsters, they have a clear sense of purpose."
Over the past three days, Lee Hyun-wook had engaged in long conversations with the Dark Elves' Second Prince, Clypeus Griseo, and they had managed to establish a common goal.
'To eliminate the Grand General's faction, which currently controls the Dark Elf Kingdom…'
If they could achieve that, the Dark Elf Kingdom would become a powerful army fighting on Hyun-wook's side.
‘This is how I’ll completely ruin their grand plan, once again.’
And Rome, Italy, was the first destination in their plan to retake the Dark Elf Kingdom.
‘The only way to secretly infiltrate the Dark Elf Kingdom is there.’
Berlin's erosion zone, ‘Green Hell,’ lived up to its terrifying moniker; it was a tropical rainforest teeming with all sorts of man-eating plants. Getting through it was harder than crossing the Amazon on foot.
That was precisely why the Dark Elf Kingdom's existence had remained hidden from the world for so long…
‘And… the man-eating plants, under the authority of the Forest Spiritist, also act as an alarm system, making a covert infiltration virtually impossible.’
However, according to the Second Prince, there was a portal in Rome, Italy, that led directly to the Dark Elf Kingdom.
It was a place they called an ‘insertion point,’ and they were apparently establishing such locations all over the world to facilitate their infiltration into human society.
In other words, they were planting numerous spies, something even Lee Hyun-wook hadn't known.
'Well, with Polymorph magic this advanced, it's no wonder they haven't been caught…'
He had heard in his past life that Dark Elves were skilled with Polymorph magic, but he hadn't realized they were this good.
Lee Hyun-wook touched his face as he handed his forged passport to the immigration officer.
His current identity was Marco Germano, a 34-year-old Italian man.
"Hmm… Mr. Marco Germano, heading home, are you?"
"Yes, that's right."
The immigration officer raised an eyebrow, scrutinizing the forged passport.
"Well then, have a pleasant journey."
*Thunk.*
His disguise was so perfect that he got his passport stamped without any trouble.
Next, he stood before the security checkpoint, where a large number of armed airport guards were stationed.
- Player (LV: 43)
- Player (LV: 49)
Since they had to screen Players, whose bodies were weapons in themselves, the airport staff's levels were bound to be quite high.
"Alright, we will be safely storing all passenger items until your arrival in Rome. Before that, we will check to ensure the 'Restraint Chains' are properly fastened to your items, so please place all of them on the scanner."
Lee Hyun-wook placed a single steel sword on the scanner. It wasn't his main weapon, of course.
It was bound tightly by what looked like purple chains.
[Item Information]
- Name: Grade 3 Ability Restraint Chains (Special)
- Effect: When infused with mana, it 'seals' one item. (A 'dedicated key' is required for release.)
As the description said, it was an item that could seal the effects of another item.
Of course, it wasn't impossible to break them by force, but it was considered a minimum safety measure for a secure flight.
Honestly, though, this did little to neutralize a Player, whose body itself was a weapon. As such, airplanes exclusively for Players were considered the most dangerous mode of transport, where the rampage of a single passenger could lead to a crash.
But just as he passed through the security checkpoint, he heard a commotion up ahead.
"Are you kidding me—this is ridiculous!"
A woman was yelling at an airport employee, and the passengers around her were also protesting with sharp tones.
"…What did you just say? You can't just notify us like this right before boarding!"
An airline employee who seemed to be in a high position bowed his head repeatedly.
"I don't care what your reasons are, you should have told us this in advance! We could have canceled this flight and booked another one, couldn't we? We're all busy people, is this how you treat us?"
Listening in, it seemed that the flight had unexpectedly taken on a new passenger… and the problem was that this passenger was a ‘Red Player.’
"This is insane… What kind of airline transports a prisoner on a commercial flight with regular passengers?"
"…I-I'm sorry!"
"Does this make any sense? This is international news material! I'm calling the press as soon as I land, so you'd better figure this out!"
Such a vehement reaction was only natural.
No matter how restrained they were, being trapped in the sky at tens of thousands of feet with a Red Player—a living, breathing murder weapon—was a terrifying experience no one wanted.
However, not all the passengers tried to switch to another flight.
They were all Players, after all. Though they complained, they had a considerable immunity to fear.
"…What's going on?"
Kim Se-hee, who had passed through security after Hyun-wook, asked with a puzzled expression.
"It seems they're putting a Red Player on our flight."
"…Huh? Are they even allowed to do that?"
Kim Se-hee looked just as flabbergasted.
"Well, of course they're not supposed to, but there are always exceptions. There's probably a good reason for something this absurd to be happening."
A moment later, an airline employee approached Lee Hyun-wook's group and began to explain the situation.
"…We apologize, but due to unavoidable circumstances, our aircraft has been tasked with transporting a prisoner. As such, we will be refunding 50% of your ticket price, and we can also book you on another flight if you wish."
"Yes, that's fine."
"And… you don't need to worry about any safety issues. A total of eight high-level Player escorts will be on board."
***
A short while later, after the group had settled into their business-class seats, the economy class section behind them grew noisy.
"Hah… talk about bad luck…"
"Go to hell, you fucking criminals!"
Turning his head to look, Hyun-wook saw three Red Players appear, escorted by fully armed Players. All three kept their heads bowed, their faces hidden.
When Hyun-wook scanned them with his Insight Lens, he saw that the first two men were only level 43 and 24, respectively—not very high.
But…
‘What’s with that woman…’
The problem was the small-framed woman who entered last.
*Clank. Clank.*
The woman, wearing an unusual number of restraints, sat down in the very last seat and immediately began to doze off.
- Player (LV: 81)
A whopping level 81…
The four prisoner escorts sitting on either side of her were only between levels 41 and 59.
Of course, with all the precautions taken, it was virtually impossible for the prisoner to escape, but…
‘I think I know who that woman is.’
The fleeting glimpse he caught of her face… it was quite familiar to Hyun-wook.
‘The one they call Rabies…’
True to her moniker, she was a berserker-class warrior. Until recently, she would have been a special agent for the Italian government.
But she had committed the shocking act of slaughtering high-ranking officials at a secret meeting of an Italian government agency before disappearing… The subsequent investigation would reveal that she was a spy planted by the Italian Player mafia, ‘Nuovo Ordine.’
Judging by the current situation, she had likely been captured recently in the Republic of Chad and was being extradited to Italy.
‘But if my memory serves me right, that woman regains her freedom and goes on to commit numerous acts of terror.’
And not only that… she escapes by hijacking an airplane.
'Hah—was it really at this time? Damn it, what a rotten coincidence…'
Even with his excellent memory, Lee Hyun-wook couldn't recall every single trivial incident.
'In that case, I think I know why this plane was suddenly tasked with transporting a prisoner…'
The private jet the Italian government was supposed to send for her transport must have been prevented from departing due to the mafia's machinations.
After continuous delays, they must have opted to use a civilian aircraft to extradite her to Italy.
‘Italy right now… this is when the mafia’s power is at its strongest since the mid-20th century.’
As with other nations, the government's authority had gradually weakened, allowing mafia organizations, under the guise of guilds, to expand their influence.
‘This is going to be a real pain…’
Lee Hyun-wook let out an involuntary sigh.
Frankly, the easiest way to get to Italy was to use Yggdrasil's power to open a long-distance portal, a ‘White Hole.’
But opening one right in the sky would very likely attract unwanted attention, which was why he had gone to the trouble of using a disguised identity and traveling by air.
'This increases the chances of my identity being exposed…'
Soon, the in-flight announcement began, the plane started to take off, and the seatbelt signs lit up.
Lee Hyun-wook closed his eyes and extended his senses toward the economy class section.
He hacked into the Mana Messenger of one of the escorts and eavesdropped on the sounds from there.
- Hey, crazy bitch, you asleep?
This was the voice of one of the eight escorts sitting in the back.
- Heh heh… Your little heart must be pounding at the thought of escape. You can't possibly be sleeping.
- Marvin, if you don't shut your mouth, the moment these restraints come off, you'll be the first to die.
That sharp voice belonged to Rabies.
- You think these restraints are coming off? …Hahaha. Don't glare at me like that. When you look at me that way… it really makes me not want to take them off, you know?
At that, Lee Hyun-wook tilted his head.
'Wait a minute… "really makes me not want to take them off"… implies he plans to take them off.'
The context of that conversation was obvious.
Even these escorts had been bought with the mafia's dirty money.
‘In that case… they didn't hastily board a civilian aircraft to avoid the mafia's interference. They deliberately got on this plane to secure hostages during the escape.’
- Hey, you know what?
- …Just stop being a pain in the ass, you motherfucker.
- No, just listen. We prepared a nice little present for you in the cargo hold. Huh? A little party hat for our cute bitch. You know what I mean, right?
- Don't tell me…
- That's right. The one you wore when you killed all those government pigs… Ahem, the Kyunee. You foolishly dropped it and left it behind when you were escaping Italy, didn't you?
The Kyunee, the legendary helm known in Greek mythology as the Helm of Hades…
Wearing it granted invisibility, with a duration of a full fifteen minutes.
- …You, how did you get your hands on that?
- You think I got it? Your boss must've paid a hefty sum to their organization's leader, I'm sure.
At this point, Lee Hyun-wook revised his thoughts.
‘I’m glad I booked this flight…’