Chapter 77
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: Shopping and Sudden Gate Call
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Baek Eun-an paused for a moment to choose her words carefully before speaking again.
"I think the reason my aunt kept Ru-ri hidden until the end wasn't just Han Ho... it was Choi Tae-san, and actually him even more so."
"Oh dear... In that case, we've given away too much information. My mistake."
"Han Ho probably did it on purpose, linking Ru-ri with that man."
"Now the puzzle pieces are starting to fit."
"So, even if he's not my real grandfather, if my existence gets exposed to him, Grandfather will do something to me no matter what... that's what she thought."
"From their perspective, once Ru-ri's situation is resolved, they can just tie Choi Tae-san back to the Surveillance Bureau and call it done."
At Han Seung-woo's words, Lee Ru-ri briefly turned her gaze to the window, lost in thought.
Soon enough, as if she'd sorted out her ideas, she spoke up.
"Well, he's a sly old fox in every way."
"Judging by your expression, Ru-ri, you're still planning to meet Choi Tae-san?"
"Now that I know what you're worried about, Aunt, I think it'll be fine to meet him."
"Are you sure it'll be okay? If you go into the Surveillance Bureau, your mana will be restricted."
Yang Jeong-hyun, who had been quietly listening, chimed in.
"In my opinion, that shouldn't be a problem. Before coming here, I tried to check Ru-ri's black mana info, but even mana stones couldn't read her mana flow at all. So my judgment is that controlling it won't be as easy as they think."
"Was there such an incident?"
"Hey, why are you staring like that? You think I did something shady to Ru-ri? Goodness gracious?"
"Then please contact the Surveillance Bureau director again. Tell him I'll meet him."
"If that's what Ru-ri thinks... Understood."
Baek Eun-an gazed at Lee Ru-ri with a worried expression.
"Aunt, it's fine. But Uncle... hasn't it been forever since you last saw him?"
"I don't know that man, and I never will."
"Still, he's my one and only uncle... You two divorced, but now I've met you safe and sound again... How about trying to get along?"
"With that bastard? Me?"
"That's all in the past, and things are good for us now."
Han Seung-woo watched warmly as Lee Ru-ri flashed a bright smile and playfully wheedled with Baek Eun-an.
Yang Jeong-hyun poked Han Seung-woo's side and gave him a look.
Leaving Lee Ru-ri and Baek Eun-an behind, Han Seung-woo and Yang Jeong-hyun stepped out of the conference room for a moment.
"Can we trust this Kim Jong-cheol guy?"
"Yes. He's on bad terms with Chairman Han, but he seems to have a good relationship with Teacher Yoo. That's why he took the initiative in caring for Choi Tae-san. He even stepped up personally, worried that this incident might harm Choi Tae-san. Now that he knows Ru-ri is Baek Eun-an's niece, it might introduce some variables, though."
"How many of our people are in the Surveillance Bureau?"
"A fair number. And Ru-ri's no ordinary player anymore, so no need to worry."
"True enough."
As the two whispered, Lee Ru-ri and Baek Eun-an finished tidying up and left the conference room.
"Seung-woo, let me know as soon as the meeting's set. Today, I wanna go shopping at the lounge with my aunt."
"Got it."
Lee Ru-ri and Baek Eun-an headed to Yongsan Lounge, chatting about this and that.
As always, Yongsan Lounge was bustling.
"Aunt, let's hit the No. 1 Weapon Shop first."
"Sure. Need something specific?"
"I got word that some weapon material only I can use came in."
Lee Ru-ri entered the No. 1 Weapon Shop at the lounge entrance.
"Welcome! Oh! Healer, you're here!"
The clerk greeted Lee Ru-ri happily upon seeing her.
"Nothing else come in since then?"
"Ah! One more after I contacted you. Hold on."
The clerk went through the back door and brought out two boxes.
"Lately, high-rank gate clears have tripled, so items are coming in fast. I'll call right away if more show up."
"Thanks."
Lee Ru-ri happily took the S-rank weapon material and left the shop.
Now, only one material remained from what Keres had mentioned.
"Don't you need anything, Aunt? I can buy it all for you."
"I don't go on raids... Nothing in particular."
They wandered the lounge shops aimlessly, picking up whatever seemed useful.
Suddenly, wondering if there was anything to light up gate interiors, she entered a general store.
"Welcome!"
"Hi, got anything for illuminating inside gates?"
"Most bring lanterns, but they're inconvenient. Your name?"
Lee Ru-ri showed her newly issued hunter ID.
"Oh, Magical class? Auxiliary gear should do the trick."
The clerk pulled out a brooch and suddenly turned off the shop lights.
"Mind infusing some mana into this?"
Lee Ru-ri slowly infused mana into the white hexagonal brooch in the darkness, as instructed.
Pang!
Something popped, and the surroundings lit up instantly.
Light from the brooch.
"Oh."
"If your mana holds, you can use it the whole raid. And crucially, it has an auxiliary effect."
"What kind?"
"Boosts movement speed a bit, so you'll feel much lighter on your feet."
"Ah, how much?"
"5,000. Exactly 50 million. No rare item like this for haggling."
"Hmm..."
"Too pricey? Doesn't seem that great for combat."
"In Inex Gates, you might drop into pitch-black ones depending on the monsters generated. Factoring in that risk... I'll take it."
"Whoa, generous hunter! Feeling good, so lots of freebies!"
The clerk tossed in some minor potions and wound treatments.
Baek Eun-an pinned the new brooch on Lee Ru-ri's left chest.
"Pricey, but the design's pretty."
"Right? Items gotta look good."
The two laughed together.
[New Message]
[Han Seung-woo (S): Sending coordinates. Gate with casualties. Heard from Teacher Yang. You're the only one who can support fastest right now. Please.]
"Hm? Who could that be?"
She was in the middle of shopping with Baek Eun-an for a mood boost when the message arrived.
"Aunt, gate with casualties. I gotta go."
"Okay? How far?"
"Pretty distant."
"Then we'll drive."
"Uh... Aunt, whatever you do, don't freak out."
"Freak out?"
Lee Ru-ri asked Remnant, hiding behind her glass mask, to take Baek Eun-an back to headquarters.
Baek Eun-an felt briefly weightless, and when she looked around, they were instantly at the headquarters entrance.
Meanwhile, Lee Ru-ri had moved to the coordinates Han Seung-woo sent.
Remnant soon followed.
"Remnant, it's S-rank. Casualties... I'm a bit scared too. Go in first and scout the situation."
―Understood.
Lee Ru-ri cautiously entered the gate.
Remnant followed obediently behind her.
Infusing mana into the brooch slowly lit up the gate interior in an instant.
She scanned around, but saw nothing.
"Remnant, what do you see?"
―Nameless ones number 3,000. Another one at the end and far end. Humans too.
"Humans? It said casualties, not stragglers. What's going on? Hurry anyway."
Lee Ru-ri and Remnant rushed forward, swiftly dispatching monsters while searching for the stragglers.
Running what felt like to the gate's end, they spotted three collapsed hunters in the distance.
"You okay?"
Chaeng, chaeng, chaeng, chaeng, chaeng!
"Argh!"
Before she could approach, a barrage of electromagnetic-like attacks hurled her body back.
"Remnant, what the hell is that?!"
―Another one.
"Can't get close."
Lee Ru-ri quickly extended her hand holding the dagger toward the monster to check its info.
[S ― Lich: Current Favor <0>]
"Lich? Undead monster?"
―Shall I take it out?
"Gonna need to work it anyway... I'll draw its attention for a bit. Take the injured to the gate entrance."
―Understood.
Remnant scooped up the three hunters at once and vanished.
The lich let out eerie shrieks and unleashed a frenzy of attacks on Lee Ru-ri.
"Dead Man's Fang."
The lich's voice grew clearer.
―Stinking wretches! Get out now!
"You smell worse."
The lich paused its assault.
―A human who can converse?
"Did you injure these people?"
―You lot shattered this place's peace first!
Lee Ru-ri felt pointless anger at the lich's words.
"Watch your words. You guys poured out of a suddenly appearing gate and attacked humans indiscriminately. If gates like this didn't spawn, if you didn't show up, we wouldn't have to fight you."
As soon as she finished, Remnant returned and stood close by her side.
"Remnant, just enough not to kill... Got it?"
―Understood.
Remnant dodged the lich's attacks nimbly here and there, chipping away at its health just enough to build favor.
The lich's favor filled up quickly.
[Lich's favor has increased by 70,350. Current favor: 984,900]
[Lich's favor is full.]
[Lich's favor has increased by 70,350. Current favor: 1,055,205]
[Lich's favor is full.]
[<Aura of Submission> skill level has increased.]
"Remnant, finish it."
―Understood.
At her command, Remnant dispatched the lich in a flash.
Lee Ru-ri checked the leveled-up skill info.
[Aura of Submission]
Attack Power:0
Mana Cost:200
Slightly increases target's favor upon use. Post-hidden skill acquisition, level-ups boost the increase. (Current Lv (II): Max favor gain per use 1,000)
"It levels up from S-rank+ kills. No wonder it wouldn't budge even after beating mid-tier sub-bosses nonstop..."
―A bit further, another one.
"Right, two of them. Let's clear it quick and get out."
―Understood.
The two headed deeper.
―Kieeeek!
A chilling, razor-sharp screech echoed from somewhere.
"Gives me goosebumps."
―Same as the previous one.
"Another lich?"
―Kieeeek!
Lee Ru-ri extended her hand toward the approaching screech and checked the monster info.
[S ― Black Lich: Current Favor <0>]
"Ah, Black attached. Gotta work it again. Same as before."
―Understood.
The Black Lich's favor filled in no time.
[Black Lich's favor has increased by 70,350. Current favor: 984,900]
[Black Lich's favor is full.]
[Black Lich's favor has increased by 70,350. Current favor: 1,055,205]
[Black Lich's favor is full.]
[<Aura of Submission> skill level has increased.]
"Remnant, wrap it up."
―Understood.
Remnant swiftly subdued the Black Lich and finished it off in the blink of an eye.
Confirming Aura of Submission had properly leveled, Lee Ru-ri looked around for loot.
Flash.
"Huh?"