Chapter 182
Chapter 182
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 182
Chapter Title: God's Atlantis
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Using Deception (SS), I turned my body invisible and slipped into the mansion.
The police were trying to track me down with police dogs, but Deception concealed not just my appearance, but also my sounds, scents, and presence. The dogs wouldn't be any help.
'If they had detection skills or traits, it would be different... but those aren't common. No need to worry.'
The police hadn't entered the mansion itself. Whether they were hiding or not, the hallways were empty.
'Gotta search room by room. There might be a basement... should I start there?'
I pondered.
Hobson, the richest man in the city. A guy with dirty secrets was bound to have a basement.
'But what I'm looking for might not be down there. They wouldn't treasure something they don't know the value of.'
The red tree branch probably just looked like a decent ornament to them. If Hobson had recognized its worth, he would've sold it at auction or on the black market, or started collecting the others.
'Helten would've moved on it ages ago if that were the case.'
The odds of him hiding treasures in the basement were low. Treasures were best kept in plain sight for peace of mind. A secret safe in the bedroom was more likely.
'Still, feels like there's something down there...'
I had a itch of curiosity I wanted to scratch.
'Maybe a super hot sex slave locked up in the basement.'
Why not? Secret noble nightlife.
If I were the city's top tycoon, I'd have a special room for beauties down there.
'Hmm. When in doubt, ask someone else.'
I whispered into the empty air.
"Basement or not?"
"Eh. I'll go. After I find what I'm looking for first."
The basement piqued my interest, but there was no rush. Grab the branch quick and head down after.
Invisible, I roamed the mansion, checking every servant's room too. Over two hours passed without finding the red tree branch.
'This is getting annoying.'
Even I couldn't use Deception (SS) forever. It drained mana bit by bit to stay invisible. SS-rank let me last long; S-rank would've burned 90% already.
'About three more hours before mana runs dry.'
Had to hurry.
Another hour later, I finally found the red tree branch.
It was in a bedroom on the fifth floor. A woman in her forties lay on the bed.
'Hobson's wife, huh.'
I eyed the woman sleeping like the dead in just thin nightclothes. Up close, she looked late forties. Wrinkles on her face and neck, age spots on her hands. Pretty face, but not my type.
'Eh. Pass...'
If she looked like a thirties bombshell despite her age, I might've dropped trou and sampled the goods.
'No dice. Moving on.'
The red tree branch was in a vase on the bedside table, stuck among flashy flowers. I pulled it out and stowed it in my inventory.
Then I moved to the vanity.
'Jewelry's usually in the drawers. Wife of the city's richest—bound to be pricey stuff.'
Reached for the drawer. It rattled but wouldn't open.
'Locked. Makes sense. Can't have servants swiping gems.'
I channeled Cheonma Energy into my hand.
Krunch!
The drawer shattered, jewelry clinking inside.
"Mm...?"
The woman stirred on the bed, sitting up. Our eyes met.
Her pupils dilated, mouth opening for a scream. My finger shot out with Cheonma Energy.
'Cheonma Finger!'
Cheonma Divine Art.
Cheonma Black Bullet.
The Cheonma Energy pierced her forehead. She collapsed silently onto the bed.
Cheonma Finger—no, Cheonma Black Bullet—was a finger technique. Low power, though. She died instantly as a civilian; anyone capable could've dodged. Plus, I wasn't great at it.
'Just use Cheonma Cannon in spots where Finger works anyway.'
Finger was quiet, but that was its only perk. Bullets flew faster than finger blasts.
'Didn't wanna kill if she stayed asleep... whatever.'
Hobson was dying regardless.
As the city's top dog, he might put a bounty on me. Didn't want bounty hunters on my tail.
'He has a son... but from what I heard, not the revenge type. More like he'd blow the inheritance partying.'
Hobson's son was a dumb playboy. No respect or love for Dad.
I stood before the flashiest door on the fifth floor.
'This must be Hobson's room. Kill him, loot valuables, check basement, then bounce.'
I quietly opened the door.
"Busy night, huh?"
A middle-aged man with a goatee sat on the bed in a suit, staring at me. Hobson.
"...You knew I'd come?"
"Central Police Chief Benjamin dropped by. Said the Red Clown would hit my place tonight."
"How'd he know?"
"Beats me. Wouldn't say."
I narrowed my eyes. Three men in the room. One in a bowler hat and black cape.
Looked just like the guy who'd knifed that woman in the alley hours ago.
"...Triplets? Nah, doesn't feel right. What are they? Dolls?"
"Dolls... close, but not quite. They're all my clones. I am the Black Knife Jack."
"Clones? Faces don't match."
"Ah, this face?"
Hobson stroked his cheek.
"Back in my youth... hated my old mug, so I changed it. Know the Body Hijacker? Paid him 500,000 AP for this. Handsome, right?"
Body Hijacker. Yeah, from the original story.
"Why so cocky? Think those guys can take me?"
"No, not that. Regrettably, my clones can't even muster half my power. Could handle ten at once, but... that'd be troublesome."
I got the trouble part. Cops blanketed the area. Noise draws them; ten clones moving screams cover-up nightmare.
Hobson didn't want his Black Knife Jack ID exposed.
"Other clones in the basement?"
"Oh? Yeah. The basement ones are solid... sharp instincts."
Can't fully trust the enemy.
Maybe he could only handle three clones at once.
'Basement clone could be bullshit too.'
Didn't feel like it. My basement interest tanked instantly—proof.
'Skip the basement. Lord of the Heavens said go, but only 1,000 AP. Fuck that.'
If he really wanted me down there, it'd be 10,000 AP.
"Why kill women with clones? Beauties only, too."
Curious for real. Couldn't fathom why a man killed hotties. If they were cheating sluts, sure—but these were randoms unrelated to Hobson.
"Deal with the Clock Tower Killer."
"Deal?"
"Kill women periodically, and the Clock Tower Killer shares the city's secrets and info. Sweet deal. Made me the richest man here."
"Spilling all this to me?"
"Secrets itch when hidden, especially proud ones."
Yeah, sometimes you gotta brag.
"And what can you do knowing the truth? Cops are in my pocket, citizens under my thumb. Plus, you're dying here."
Hobson stood, knife in hand.
"Enough... hm? Where'd that come from?"
I pulled the RPG-7 rocket launcher from my inventory.
"Cheonma Tiger Akbar!"
BOOM BOOM BOOM!
The room exploded, blast hurling me back.
I sprang up, unharmed—Cheonma Energy had buffered the shock.
Hobson's and the clones' blasted corpses littered the room.
"Not the time! Bail!"
Stay and cops swarm. Regulars maybe, but specials? Too much for me now. Deception (SS) reactivated, I vanished and fled.
'Teleport scroll? ...Nah. Gotta punish that auntie from earlier first. Out the window.'
Clung to the window frame, rappelling down carefully. Landing hard might break invisibility.
On the ground, I smirked inwardly at the frantic cops.
'Heh. Reminds me of old times. Dumb pig bastard cops... oh shit. That sleek blonde cop?!'
Blue uniform, ponytail of mature blonde hair. D-cup tits, slim waist flowing to plump hips—art. Wanted to hike that skirt and dig into her secrets right there.
'Uncle likes blondes, huh?'
Me too, but not now. Escape first.
'Hit her up later. Keep my body—huh?'
Eye contact with the blonde.
Ocean-blue eyes. The moment I thought beautiful, they changed.
Round pupils to diamond shape, color to glowing fluorescent.
'That's Fairy Eye!'
Settings didn't detail Fairy Eye powers, just that it rivaled Kang Myung-jin's Dragon Eye trait.
"Found you, clown!"
She yelled, drawing a white stick from her belt that morphed into a bow. Pulling the string summoned a mana blue arrow.
No hesitation—she fired at me. I surged Cheonma Energy, dodging sideways.
The mana arrow cratered the stone ground—nearly 5cm deep.
'No joke. Fight and lose.'
Cheonma Energy broke Deception (SS); surrounding cops spotted me, drawing weapons.
Among them, a tall red short-haired beauty swung a black rod at me.
Thwack!
"...Ugh."
It hit my shoulder. Tried dodging, but faster than expected. Using Instant Step, I backpedaled, pulling my bike from inventory.
"Catch ya later, cops!"
Revved and peeled out.
VROOOOM!
"What're you waiting for? Chase!"
"Car! Don't let him get away!"
"Damn, a bike?!"
Cops scrambled after me. I smirked.
Their cars wouldn't move for a while.