Chapter 184
Chapter 184
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 184
Chapter Title: Chapter 34 Fishing (3)
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It was the result of my negotiations with the system.
"Why the hell did you sell three gates?"
The system had gone out of its way to create multiple paths for those crime-committing bastards to come and go.
I thought it would be wiser to redirect the divinity used to make those three gates elsewhere.
So I made the suggestion to the system watching over me, and the outcome was a success.
'For now, this wraps up all the organizations in Bihar.'
All that remained were the remnants who had slipped back to Earth before we sealed the gates.
I lightly reviewed recent events as I pressed the button floating in front of me.
My vision went white, and when I opened my eyes again, I was in an entirely different world.
I glanced around Jong-hoon's dimly lit lab for a moment.
Then, as if it were familiar, I crossed the unfamiliar room to the desk.
I pulled a phone from the drawer and activated transparency.
Jong-hoon never left the lab's CCTV on, and the external cameras only covered up to the hallway corner, missing the door.
Thanks to that, I slipped out quietly, closing the door behind me without issue.
I revealed myself again near the Han River, several kilometers away.
There, I turned on the phone and searched for a saved name.
「Choi Sung-woo (Smuggler)」
Pressing it firmly, the signal barely rang twice before he picked up.
『Oh, customer!』
A friendly voice flowed from the phone.
『At this hour, what brings...』
"Are preparations complete?"
I cut off his polite tone without letting him finish.
『The Beijing-bound ship, right?』
Even so, Choi Sung-woo mustered his best friendly voice.
"Yes."
About two weeks ago, I'd briefly returned to Earth and asked him for a favor.
To arrange a quiet way into China.
'He has connections with the overseas Chinese community, so it wasn't a tall order.'
In response, Choi Sung-woo recommended a ship over a flight.
He added that it involved less foot traffic and lower CCTV risk.
'It takes longer than a flight.'
But once inside China, domestic flights would allow quick movement.
『Everything's ready anytime. Just say the word, and I'll line up a slot.』
After checking the date and time on my phone, I replied to his words.
"Tomorrow, February 11th works."
『Then, let's meet at Incheon Port at 3 a.m. tomorrow.』
It was now 4 a.m. on February 10th, so roughly 23 hours left.
"Sure."
With the schedule set, I ended the call and opened the chat app.
Out of the many rooms, I selected the one with the association's key members.
- Lily: Tomorrow wraps up operations in Bihar. Unbelievable speed.
- K: We'll handle Earth back-to-back. New shelter location tracking confirmed done?
- Lily: Yes, similar scale to the ones we've secured before.
- K: Let's finish within the week.
- Coconut: This week? That's tight. Means heading to Earth today or tomorrow. Already swamped, and Fabian's making this hell because of that idiot.
- K: Less blaming, more solving. They'll anticipate our moves to some extent, so dragging it out just gives them prep time. We're delayed enough already.
- Ethan Lembron: K's right. Investigators are watching, but we can't fully block Chinese survivors from using communities.
- Ethan Lembron: They're cooperating now because their lives are on the line, but don't forget their families are still in Chinese government hands.
- Lily: If K's okay, we can move immediately. Set an exact date.
- K: Need to confirm. Will follow up after tomorrow's sweep.
After skimming the conversation from yesterday, I typed a new message in my private chat with Lily Evans.
- K: Beijing local time, midnight on the 12th. Let's move.
No immediate reply, but I didn't mind and closed the chat.
We still had a brief breather, and everything was already discussed.
Once she saw it, Lily Evans would handle her end.
'No doubt there.'
Lily Evans worked for a national agency from the start.
Unlike amateur civilians turned players, she wouldn't trip me up with needless actions.
"Tch."
Thinking of Fabian, who'd derailed my plans with his pointless meddling, soured my mood instantly.
'Why chase impossible greed?'
A headache hit, and a sigh escaped unbidden.
Add in the fatigue from days of attacks and fights, and my body felt heavy.
Still, I started walking. Indulging in exhaustion was a luxury now.
I stopped at the nearest convenience store and grabbed hair dye from the shelf.
'No more screw-ups this time. I'll end it cleanly.'
I steeled myself, mulling over what lay ahead.
* * *
「Title: Tell Me I'm Not Alone - Author: Herb
Content: Am I the only idiot? Why can't I get attribute mana rankings and matchups? Overlaps and advancements confuse me too—what's full advancement, full overlap? Is fog above ice? Or advancement? Feels like it's going in circles. Anyone actually get this?」
- Johansson: Both are water attribute advancements, just different paths. Replying with examples. Numbers are ranks; 5s are rare, so 2-4 only.
⌎ Johansson: 2 Water - 3 Ice (Advancement: Low Temp) - 4 Blizzard (Advancement + Overlap)
2 Water - 3 Steam (Advancement: High Temp) - 4 Fog (Advancement + Overlap: Wind)
- Johansson: Got it?
⌎ Herb: Not at all... Why different ranks for ice and blizzard? Snow's just ice particles.
⌎ Johansson: Ice (Rank 3, Adv: Low Temp) + Wind (Rank 2) = Blizzard (Rank 4). Understand?
⌎ Herb: ????????????
⌎ Johansson: Thick skull? Just memorize the tree. K posted a summary. Damn System posts 11 and 19. Best so far.
⌎ Herb: Okay....
“Ugh....”
Kim Yul groaned, flipping through notes from Earth while browsing the community.
"This shit...."
He then gripped his freshly dyed black hair—mohawk trimmed off—and slammed his head on the table.
'Am I thick-headed too?'
Like the poster, attribute explanations never clicked, no matter how many reads.
'I just glossed over being rank 4 as good.'
He'd never fought by systematically analyzing mana ranks or attributes.
'That's Hyung's job.'
He just followed orders.
But lately, that changed.
'Can't just trail behind forever.'
K's mana control proficiency was already 99.99%.
Next step: Mana Domination, sold for 500 million mana in the gold tab.
'And he won't even buy it. Mastering it solo.'
In that process, K eyed spell dismantling too.
Overheard him suggesting dismantling drills with Ahel last time.
Watching K advance sparked interest in spell structures.
But studying arrays revealed his mana basics sucked, so he started from scratch.
The more he dug into the community, the more confused he got.
It all circled back—same words repeating.
Did anyone truly grasp this crap?
Glaring suspiciously at the community, Kim Yul muttered with pursed lips.
"If I can't get it, anyone's who does is the weirdo."
"What's that?"
The sudden question startled him into whipping around.
K, who’d crashed dead to the world after coming home last night, was entering the kitchen.
Hair damp, like he'd washed up right away.
"Uh...."
In front of him, pretending knowledge was worse than admitting ignorance and asking.
Knowing that, Kim Yul cautiously explained his issue.
"Hmm."
Sure enough, K set a pot on the gas burner—big purchase for the base—and lit it, starting the explanation.
But it was still circles. Same words, no clarity.
One more round didn't make it click.
"Like stacking little bricks into a tower... Once you feel that, Bihar's classifications will make sense."
"...No feel at all."
"Normal not to get it now. Humans taming nature's foreign to us."
"Hmm...."
"Bihar mages didn't start with systems either. They analyzed and classified each discovered attribute race sensibly, bit by bit."
Theory built around real phenomena, not experiments validating theory first.
That's why it didn't click directly, per K.
But understanding mana and spells would naturally lead to that "aha" moment.
"Till then, memorize. Facing general-rank? Need to know matchups and superiority."
To maximize limited mana.
"Yeah."
Kim Yul nodded eagerly at K's advice.
"Good morning, all. Breakfast?"
Yang Tae-ho arrived in the kitchen, ending the chat.
"Finish the leftover soup."
"Sounds good."
They prepped breakfast routinely.
As rice mixed into heated soup, K spoke up.
"Out from dinner tonight for a bit."
"How long?"
"Planned two-three days. If longer, I'll notify ahead."
Kim Yul swallowed his bite and asked.
"China?"
"Yeah."
"Hmm... Army'll pivot there the second you're gone. Block 'em here? Guarding the gate ain't hard."
Word would spread instantly if K left now.
'Bihar's done, so they'll guess Earth return.'
China—human trafficking hub—seemed obvious.
Military, desperate to nab K, would mobilize.
Kim Yul worried about government capture.
"Let it slide. No entanglements with Korean gov or military anyway."
But K stayed nonchalant.
"But new unit players are pissed lately. If they try grabbing at airport..."
"Not that sloppy. Means no airport encounter at all. Smuggling in."
"Smuggling?!"
"Ride the agency jet they prepped?"
Yang Jo-cheol's National Intelligence Service support would ease travel.
But handed military their shot at K.
'Some agency folks buy military ideology. They'll leak route and schedule.'
Korea was in a standoff: NIS pushing player-friendly ties, military demanding control.
Military learning K's ID? Same as China, no surprise.
'Director Yang said government's war-prepping now.'
Bihar intel shifted views.
Military actively hunting players now.
K knew, so dodged gov hands.
"Teaming with US players on-site. Korean gov can't touch easy."
"Huh?"
"Balance right, checks both sides nicely."
Last bounty mission blocked US via Koreans; now reverse.
"Plus, time to smack one down."
US side brewing nonsense vibes.
K muttered, eyes scanning air.
Yang Tae-ho nodded back.
"Not our yap to yap. Need help, say then."
"Yes."
Kim Yul, listening quietly, tilted his head.
"What's 'huh' mean?"
K and Yang Tae-ho's gazes snapped to him.
Flustered by the focus, then they exchanged odd looks.
"Guess we short-sighted... Basics gotta teach, right?"
"Seems so."
Kim Yul sensed doom from their cryptic talk.
"...What? Study? I'm studying now!"
He waved his attribute notes pointedly.
But K and Yang Tae-ho ignored him, chatting on.
Damn System