Chapter 89
Chapter 89
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: Assembling the Raid Team
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They said they were selecting personnel for the assault on the S-rank Gate, but in truth, it was more like a notification.
It was something they'd already anticipated, and the candidates for it had long been prepared.
"What the hell are you up to?"
A voice rang out, laced with disbelief.
But before Go Yohan could respond.
"It's been a while. Greetings."
Yun Seung-ah, masked, bowed toward her.
"Huh...?"
Go Minji feigned surprise.
The woman in the mask—she'd definitely seen her at the Mapo Black Gate.
And that's what she'd been thinking since then.
"...I knew it!"
A memory surfaced.
Back when Go Yohan was in middle school, there had been an association operation to rescue those kidnapped alongside Kim Dayeon, and he'd taken part.
"That time, her!"
In the Teraco Guild incident, the woman in the crow mask.
-I know you're looking for the kidnapped people.
It was that voice.
Unordinary at first glance, yet a familiar voice and appearance.
"...Wow, that guy's got his fingers in everything, doesn't he?"
Didn't that mean Go Yohan had been involved in that incident too?
"I'm sorry for not showing my face and greeting you properly due to circumstances."
"Oh, no!"
Go Minji waved her hands as she spoke.
"My inadequate little brother—I'm just grateful you're keeping him company."
Go Yohan's face twisted at Go Minji's tone.
Zap.
Go Minji shot him a brief glare, but she couldn't keep it up with Yun Seung-ah right there.
"...Thank you for back then."
"...Huh? Back then?"
"I'm still cherishing the scarf you gave me."
"......"
Go Minji tilted her head, clueless.
"Well then."
Yun Seung-ah wouldn't be joining this time.
She was heading out with Gluttony to set up the other entrance and exit for the two-way warp gate.
Once Yun Seung-ah vanished.
"Ah...!"
Go Minji cried out as realization dawned.
Whoosh!
Go Minji stared at where Yun Seung-ah had disappeared.
"That woman..."
There was one memory from long ago.
From the time she started elementary school, the Yohan Church and orphanage that Go Yohan frequented more than home.
She remembered the girl around her age she'd met there, tagging along with her mom.
On a snowy day, a girl sitting blankly, gazing at the sky.
-It's cold.
Back then, Go Minji had given her own scarf.
"No way... insane."
Could that girl from back then have grown up to wield such power?
"...You sure know how to stir things up right off the bat."
Go Minji's face crumpled at Go Yohan's words as he approached.
"You think I can stay calm? Warp gates popping up out of nowhere, fine, but a holy knight mixed in? I had no idea."
"You haven't been in guild work long, sis."
"...Even Mom and Dad seemed clueless."
Go Yohan gave a wry smile.
As Go Minji said, he hadn't asked permission.
"Well, whatever. It's a huge win anyway. Your fortune's over thirty times what it was. Actually, last I checked it was thirty times, so who knows now. Want anything to eat?"
The sight of him talking like a local thug with that face.
"Minji. People are watching. Compose yourself."
Go Woojin stepped in then, reining in Go Minji.
"So what?"
Go Minji and Go Woojin.
And Sanctuary's three raid teams.
Familiar face of Director Han Su-ah was there too.
"Anyway, what have you been getting up to? Another unmeasurable gate popped up in Korea, causing a stir, and looks like..."
Everyone's gazes turned to one spot.
Hum.
A rippling blue—no, grayish gate.
"It was your doing."
The S-rank Gate was right there.
*
*
*
The raid teams joining this assault were Sanctuary's three raid teams.
1st Raid Team, led by Captain Go Woojin.
7th Raid Team, led by Captain Han Su-ah.
And 10th Raid Team, newly appointed with Go Minji as captain—they were the stars.
"So, we have to clear that thing for the warp gate to work properly, right?"
Go Minji nodded after hearing the explanation.
"The gate we need to assault is S-rank, or maybe even higher."
"Yeah."
"Yeah? Are you crazy?"
Go Minji scowled as she spoke.
"You're saying with this lineup, we tackle an S-rank?"
It defied common sense.
But.
"Sigh, whatever. It's your plan, so I guess you have confidence."
She soon conceded.
Go Minji wasn't dumb enough to ignore what she'd seen and experienced.
She was just a bit instinctive.
And that instinct was telling her.
'This guy's unreal.'
More unmeasurable monster than the rippling S-rank Gate over there.
"Understood. I've heard the gist and came prepared, but whether it's enough, I can't say."
Go Woojin said.
"Anything else we need to know?"
Go Woojin was straightforward too.
"We've handled all preparations on our end, so just bring yourselves."
Go Woojin simply nodded at Go Yohan's words.
Unlike the casual Go Minji, Go Woojin had that intimidating side, like Go Jaehan.
It'd be easier if he bickered like Go Minji, but that gaze full of unwavering trust and responsibility was still unfamiliar.
"What about your side? That mage earlier didn't seem to be going."
Go Minji asked.
She seemed curious about Go Yohan's crew.
"One more's coming."
Go Yohan gave a wry smile as he spoke.
"Yeah? Where are they?"
"Well..."
In Go Yohan's mind.
-You didn't mention this!
Someone's voice had been yelling non-stop since earlier.
The church member set to join had arrived ages ago.
'What exactly do you hate about it?'
But they were throwing a tantrum without showing themselves.
-Take Sion!
'No. You know Sion went with Black Crown to sort out the Russian mafia.'
-Then Hayeon!
'She's the busiest one?'
-Inkyung... won't work.
Joo In-kyung still couldn't fully control her own power.
Even with apostles around, she tended to go berserk, and it wasn't time for her to join a holy-assisted raid even with Go Yohan there.
-Ah!
A voice like something just clicked.
'You know Se-hyun's busy too, right?'
-Sigh!
Kim Se-hyun had returned to Korea while Go Yohan was trapped in the Black Room.
And now she was one of the busiest.
In the end, only one left.
And just one who fit perfectly with Sanctuary.
Swish.
Shadows rippled suddenly, startling even Go Minji and Go Woojin.
It was the presence emerging from stealth, different from Yun Seung-ah's magic.
"...Uncle Jae-kyung?"
"Haha! Everyone... long time no see."
Lee Jae-kyung revealed himself.
"Uncle, you learned assassin skills too?"
No way—it was just from awakening deeper into mana essence.
'Holiness.'
A feat enabled by embodying part of the essence of Go Yohan's power.
And then.
"Equipment check... Huh?"
Han Su-ah, chatting with her raid team nearby, looked over.
"...Lee Jae-kyung."
Then a demon-like grin spread across her face.
"Sigh, damn it..."
Lee Jae-kyung muttered, head drooping.
*
*
*
"Lee Jae-kyung!"
"Sis! Stop following me!"
"Why the hell are you ignoring my calls!"
"No!"
The game of tag unfolding off to the side.
"Enough."
At Go Yohan's voice, the chase finally stopped.
Lee Jae-kyung hurriedly hid behind Go Yohan, while Han Su-ah licked her lips in disappointment and joined the Sanctuary side.
'Curious, huh.'
He was definitely curious about the deal between Lee Jae-kyung and Han Su-ah.
Lee Jae-kyung hardly hid anything from him, but he was especially tight-lipped about Han Su-ah, which only fueled the curiosity.
'Goddess.'
Forgive this knight for his petty gossip interest.
Anyway.
"One hour until gate entry."
Go Yohan declared the gate entry.
Sanctuary's raid teams—every one a pro among pros.
"......"
The light atmosphere turned solemn in an instant, eyes sharpening, breaths steadying.
Go Minji and Go Woojin were no different.
And.
"These are the items to be distributed before this raid."
At Go Yohan's gesture, a massive rift tore open in the air.
Not a gate—it was Inventory, one of the player's authorities, expanded further by Yun Seung-ah's magic.
Small boxes poured out from within like a flood.
"What's this?"
"As Sanctuary raid members, I figured you've heard of them."
Association members and Sanctuary Union helpers for gate defense picked up the boxes and distributed them to Sanctuary.
"Elixirs."
"......!"
Even Go Minji and Go Woojin's faces lit up.
"Elixirs? You mean those?"
Lately, no top-rank player was unaware.
The elixirs now officially on sale from Goldian.
Even before, circulated secretly to a select few—this stuff was priceless in value.
"...Items that boost base stats."
Items that boosted a player's base stats.
"You can open them."
At Go Yohan's words.
Click.
Go Minji opened her box first.
Inside were about ten elixir-like things, each a different color.
"We've run clinical trials multiple times—no side effects. Different colors boost different stats, and the amounts vary. From F-rank elixirs..."
Go Yohan explained.
There'd been news of C-rank elixirs selling for hundreds of billions to a Middle Eastern tycoon.
"...up to A-rank. Not providing A-rank to everyone—just up to raid captains. B-rank up to vice-captains."
Even that alone.
Murmur murmur.
Sanctuary raid members, unflappable in most things, were whispering.
But they would soon realize this was just the beginning.