Dungeon & Commander (162): The Perfect Trap
The investigators and guards had all left the panic room, leaving the interior silent.
The events had unfolded so quickly that Kim Jun couldn't utter a word. He slowly climbed down and sat in the chair.
"Suspect?"
He hadn't misheard.
What did I do wrong? Why am I the suspect? The only crime committed here today was by that one villain... damn it!
In that instant, Kim Jun realized Jushin's trap.
Villain's accomplice!
His mind raced faster than ever before.
His thoughts sharpened just as keenly as when he'd been chased by Gelusauruses and Pyrosauruses in the dungeon.
One wrong move, and he'd be branded a criminal and arrested.
That would invalidate his awakening test. It would deal massive damage to Uramata Guild as well.
Run away?
No. They'd catch him in no time. And it would only thicken the suspicion.
Despair began to creep in. No matter how hard he tried, it felt like an unwinnable fight. Kim Jun clenched his bandaged hand tightly.
The excruciating pain chased away the defeat.
First, I need to figure out how things are playing out. Focus on that.
Less than five minutes later, the investigator returned to the panic room. Upon seeing Kim Jun, his face twisted in anger.
"Where the hell did you go, examinee Kim Jun?"
"Bathroom."
The calm reply earned him a glare from the investigator.
"You think it's fun now that a villain's infiltrated the Association, examinee?"
The investigator slammed a thick file onto the table.
"Why ask it like that?"
"This isn't the time for games."
The investigator flipped open the file and slid a blank sheet of paper and a ballpoint pen toward Kim Jun.
"From the moment you arrived at the Association today until now, write down in as much detail as possible where you were and what you did, by time."
Kim Jun knew no matter what he wrote, he couldn't escape the trap.
"Why?"
"Standard lockdown response procedure."
"What if I don't?"
"Guess you'll find out. We might waste time on this and miss catching the villain—or the spy."
His hunch was spot on! The guy was here to nab the spy. Accomplice colluding with the villain!
"Then I'll write."
Kim Jun said.
The investigator smirked, mocking the examinee for his pointless pride.
"Ah, damn! I really want to, but I can't grip the pen. Could you write it for me instead?"
Kim Jun held up his bandaged right hand.
"Fine. But how'd you know I'm an investigator?"
"Your eyes screamed cop. Guessed, and bingo. So you suspect me as a spy? Think there's one among the examinees? Who looks like it? Got a suspect? Evidence turned up?"
The investigator just glared.
"Why the look?"
"Enough games. We know you're the villain's accomplice."
"Wh-what're you talking about?"
Kim Jun feigned maximum shock.
"No use. Better confess."
"Call Uramata's guild master."
"Hey, punk. High on passing the awakening test today, huh? But you're done. Evidence is out—quit lying."
"Evidence?"
"Rekl from your bag had the villain's fingerprints. Still denying?"
Kim Jun closed his eyes.
He knew what Rekl was. The skin cream Yeom Sang-taek used for acne all the time—essential for raiders, like Yoo Min-jeong and Choi Muhyun carried too.
He'd never used it. Too pricey, and Riposaurus regen made skin cream unnecessary.
Who'd planted it in his bag?
Kim Jun pictured Jushin's model-dressed raider, Kim Se-wi. With his pull, piece of cake.
Why sabotage this hard?
His head got it.
His heart... couldn't.
Kim Jun clammed up. Not a word, no matter what the investigator asked.
"Right to silence, huh? Fine. You're screwed anyway."
The investigator grabbed the file and stormed out of the panic room.
Kim Jun glared at the slammed door.
Perfect trap. Rekl with prints from his bag? Tough to refute.
So sure he'd snag that raider license.
"Haha... haha."
The door opened again. In came guard Jo Beom-gu.
"You're in deep shit."
"I know."
"Don't freak too much. Colleague checked your bag first—no Rekl then."
"For real?"
His eyes flashed. A witness debunking key evidence? Instant boost.
"Who planted it? Pissed off someone big. Don't sweat—truth outs when lockdown lifts."
"Thanks, hyung. Empty-handed though."
"Huh?"
"Lunchbox."
"Joking now? Mental's steel. Yeah, gotta have it to last. Here, eat this. Catch ya."
Jo Beom-gu tossed a chocolate bar and rushed out. Door shut—Kim Jun whispered.
"Not joking."
Kim Jun popped the chocolate bar and chewed.
Sugar kicked his brain into gear. What now? Situation grasped. Time to act.
Guild master's not sitting idle. Two patronesses neither. So hold out here longest. Till lockdown ends.
Lockdown max 72 hours.
Buy max 72 hours.
Test door handle—solid lock outside.
Kim Jun eyed the vent entrance, source of that Pride Chicken smell.
"Whew. Let's do it."
He focused, summoning the Thunder Brain Sword.
A famed sword blending Eastern elegance and Western flair floated before him.
"Impressive."
Kim Se-wi let out an admiring gasp. Yeon Ga's treasure—one of Cheonhon-dan's mightiest blades—the Thunder Brain Sword, now in his grasp. Unexpected war trophy? All the sweeter.
He flicked a coin from his pocket.
The instant it touched the Thunder Brain Sword, a retina-searing flash flooded the guest room. Coin pulverized to dust, but the sword stayed razor-sharp.
Why pick that guy as master?
Whatever. No plans to keep it. Black market sale? Jackpot cash.
Knock knock.
"Who?"
"Team leader, it's us."
Jeong Taek-su's voice.
Kim Se-wi wrapped the Thunder Brain Sword in a thick towel, shoved it deep in the closet.
At the door, he opened up. Smirking-as-ever Jeong Taek-su and year-round-stoic Yoo Gwan-ho waited.
Jeong Taek-su barged in, yanked a beer from the fridge, chugged casually.
"Come in."
Only then did Yoo Gwan-ho cross to the window.
"What today?"
Jeong Taek-su asked.
"Hunt."
"Heh, fun. Prey?"
"Kim Jun."
Both faces shocked. They knew Choi Min-su and Yeon Un-jae backed examinee Kim Jun. Screw up? Jushin vs. Cheonhon-dan all-out war.
"Brave Guild's with us. Miracle neutral at worst. Association won't back Cheonhon-dan. So whatever happens to Kim Jun, infighting-crippled Cheonhon-dan can't touch Jushin."
Crystal clear.
"Trust you, team leader. Fun day ahead."
Jeong Taek-su crushed the empty can one-handed into a tiny ball.
"Even more."
Kim Se-wi explained to attentive Jeong Taek-su and window-staring Yoo Gwan-ho why this hunt was special.
"That allowed?"
Jeong Taek-su's eyes bulged.
"Middle boss greenlit."
"Haha, day's here. Gwan-ho, you're golden. Rampage free today."
Yoo Gwan-ho turned slowly, grinned at Jeong Taek-su.
"Don't grin like that. Creeps me out—told you. Anyway. Team leader, downer gets Thunder Brain Sword today? Killer claims spoils. Medici tradition. Right?"
"...Obviously."
Kim Se-wi fought not eyeing the closet. They'd flip if they knew spoils secured—greedy Jeong Taek-su especially.
"Start when?"
Yoo Gwan-ho asked.
Both jumped. Kim Se-wi checked his watch.
"One hour."
Yoo Gwan-ho exited. Jeong Taek-su trailed.
"Team leader."
Jeong Taek-su turned in the hall.
"Yeah?"
"No cheating."
"Deal."
Kim Se-wi inwardly cursed the sharp bastard. Locked the door, opened the closet. Sword valuable enough to fool the team.
"Huh?"
Sword gone. Just the towel.
Realization hit—Kim Se-wi bolted out.
Summoning the Thunder Brain Sword left in Honor Hall? Under a minute.
Using MokhonboPo's subtlety, he wall-kicked up, stabbed the vent slit with the sword, pried the entrance open. Bandaged right hand screamed in tearing agony, but he gritted through.
Back to the floor, he wedged the Thunder Brain Sword between the panic room door handle and the wall.
"Not going down easy."
One deep breath—wall-kick up, shoved into the vent. Plastered left arm scraping stainless floor nearly drew screams.
Cold sweat pouring, he inched forward.
Soon, racket outside the panic room.
"Open this door now!"
"Y-yes."
The guard twisted the handle, yanked the thick heavy door—but blocked inside, it barely budged with thuds.
Three guards heaving? Same story.
"Outta the way!"
Kim Se-wi gripped, mana-infused pull—sparks from the Thunder Brain Sword snaked the door gap, into the Jushin raider's fingers.
Crackle!
"Aaaagh!"
Kim Se-wi screamed, hurled seven meters back, smashed the wall.
Kim Jun thought he vaguely heard a scream.
No bandwidth for it. Had to hustle arms and legs through the tight vent. Plastered left arm slowed him bad.
Turtle'd lap me.
Breath heaving.
Couldn't see behind.
Sword-blocked, but enter the room? Ceiling vent obvious—turtle-boy caught instant.
Full focus: crawl.
Right elbow forward. Right leg sync.
Then plastered left arm, left leg.
Slow, precise—pain eases.
Darkness: harsh breaths, elbows/knees grinding floor only.
Time lost. Mind fogged—real? Dream?
Then, familiar name.
"Lee Taeseop, right? That unlucky examinee."
"Unlucky how? He's the villain's accomplice."
Voices below—Kim Jun froze crawl, perked ears.
"You buy investigation dept bullshit? Naive kid."
"Then what?"
"Setup. They moved right, so Kim Jun and Lee Taeseop toast. Poor bastards. Families dragged to hell too. Labeled villain pals, shunned forever. How survive? 'Stick with your own kind' for a reason."
"Kim Jun's patroness is that famous Choi Min-su."
"Lockdown bars entry. Jushin rigged perfect. By lift? Over. Even grandpa Choi Min-su couldn't unravel."
"Why rope in Lee Taeseop?"
"Punk got bold. Heard he alone backed Kim Jun refusing the oath."
"Ah, got it. But this ain't right."
"Bottle that. Overhear? You're accomplice too."
"Got it."
Chat done.
Kim Jun prone-still. Breath trapped. Blood surging reverse.
Rage now? Zero help. Move. Just move first.
Crawl resumed.
Fork soon. Left. Split again—right.
Sweat-soaked clothes. Crawl on.
Distant yells.
Next fork: toward noise.
"Why me stuck here? 'Individual interview'? What the hell?"
Voice pure joy. Lee Taeseop.
Over his room, Kim Jun peered vent slit. Lee Taeseop bellowing, boot-kicking door—futile.
"Lee Taeseop."
No dice first calls. Third—he spun, scanned.
"Here. Here."
"...No friggin' way?"
Lee Taeseop craned at ceiling.
"Up. Details later. Hurry."