Chapter 869
Chapter 869
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 869
Chapter Title: God's Atlantis
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The conquest was complete.
Sung Yu-jin and Lee Min-jeong were transported to the forest outside the church. He glanced up at the sky without thinking. It was a clear blue. The dark clouds that had blanketed the heavens just moments ago, the thunder and lightning—it all felt like a lie now. Looking around, the trees weren't even wet from the rain, and the ground was dry and crumbly.
In his hand was a plain black flute. The Flute of Torrential Rain.
"Yu-jin-ssi!"
Yoo Seo-hee called out to him as she approached. The rest of the group was with her. Not a single one had fallen behind.
'There were other survivors inside the church besides us... I guess they're somewhere else?'
They didn't seem dangerous, so there was no need to worry about them.
"No injuries?"
"None. That creepy feeling vanished the moment we left the zone."
"Good. Let's move. The capital's not far now. Better to push through the fatigue and rest there."
(Status window applied)
He used the bonus stat point right away. There was that saying about hoarding points turning into shit, and he already knew where to put it: Luck. Whenever he got bonus points, he always invested in this stat that was hard to raise through normal means.
Next, he checked the item he'd gotten as a reward from conquering this special hidden zone.
It was an item that could alter the weather.
Hard to evaluate on his own. Items like this were all about how you used them. In a zone without rain, it'd be worth more than S-rank, but in a rainy one, it'd drop to C-rank or lower.
Still, he tucked the Flute of Torrential Rain away carefully. No one knew when or where it might come in handy.
'Too bad we can't claim special hidden zones.'
As he led the group toward the capital, he pondered the last remaining reward.
The prophecy that had come to him.
"Bad ties will hinder you."
It was absurdly vague.
Bad ties? In this world, he had more enemies than he could count. And of course they'd try to get in his way. Anyone who'd crossed paths with him badly would hate his guts.
'Does it mean an enemy will show up at a critical moment to screw me over? Or is it warning me not to make new ones from now on?'
If they'd just been more specific, he'd know. But this cryptic bullshit only pissed him off. He wanted to ignore it, but the human mind didn't work that way.
???
They'd arrived at the capital.
The decennial festival hadn't even been officially declared yet, but the capital was already buzzing with festive energy. Tourists were everywhere—look left, look right, people as far as the eye could see.
The group let out endless exclamations of awe at the sight. Like country bumpkins hitting the big city for the first time.
"Stick close and don't get swept up in the crowd."
He led the way. First order of business: secure lodging for the festival period. Kang Myeong-jin had said any decent place would do, but Sung Yu-jin wasn't settling for some cheap dive.
'We've got the money. No need to slum it.'
Besides, in this situation, even cheap places were impossible to find. Festival-goers had snapped up every available room. Carriages from nearby cities were scarce—lodging was no different.
'Worst case, we might end up camping outside if we can't find anything.'
He absolutely wanted to avoid camping.
The place he found was a hotel deep in the capital. Like any city, prices skyrocketed toward the center. A towering five-story building with walls over five meters high, guarded by burly security at the entrance.
A place that screamed luxury.
"I'm sorry, sir. All our rooms are fully booked."
The hotel manager bowed politely. His refined demeanor screamed old nobility.
"I'll pay triple. That work?"
"Apologies. We prioritize trust with our guests above all."
Sung Yu-jin stepped back. Exactly as expected. Canceling reservations for cash meant too much risk. Patrons of a hotel like this weren't small fry—mid-tier legion leaders at least.
'Picking a fight with a mid-tier legion would put us at a disadvantage.'
A-Plan Legion wasn't mid-tier yet.
'Sigh. Being weak means no freedom. The Game World under my emperor rule was better...'
Back when his word was absolute law. He missed that power.
"Know any other high-end hotels? Money's no object."
"There are a few better than ours in the capital, but... they're booked solid too. If you'd come earlier, maybe. Right now, no hotel will have rooms."
The manager was spot on. But giving up wasn't an option. They hit every luxury hotel in town. No vacancies.
Dusk began to fall. The capital glowed in sunset hues, but no one in the group had time to admire it.
"Sub-Master. Can't we just grab something decent?"
Ji Yeong-bin asked.
"Even decent places are the same. Look over there."
He pointed down the main road. People trudged toward the gates, giving up on lodging to pitch tents outside. Thousands of them.
"If they can't find spots, what makes you think we can?"
"...So we're camping outside too? Looks like even campsites might fill up..."
"Yeong-bin-ssi is right. We should head out and claim a spot quick. Good ones will go fast."
Rilsne stomped her foot a few times. She'd grown anxious watching the exodus.
"...Haa. I hate camping..."
Yoo Seo-hee muttered. No one wanted to camp—especially not with strangers. The thought alone was gross, and problems would pile up.
"No camping. After coming this far? Insane. Follow me. Time to show off the sub-master's skills."
"Yu-jin-ssi. Buying a house outright? Short-term rental maybe... could work."
"Same issue as hotels. Timing's everything—wagons aside, mid-tier legions have cash to burn."
He led them onward.
Yustria Capital was a planned city. Methodically designed from the ground up. Commercial districts, residential, military—all separated. And in the residential areas, one exclusively for nobles.
'Buying up mansions here takes more than money and status.'
He strode toward the noble district.
They were stopped at the entrance. Surprisingly, not soldiers—knights acting as gatekeepers.
"Halt. This isn't for commoners. Are you nobility?"
"Not nobility."
The knight's eyes narrowed. His tone was arrogant for a commoner—looking down from on high.
"...From a famous legion? Even then, no entry without noble status. Unless you have an appointment. Otherwise, leave."
The knight's hand rested on his sword hilt. A warning of force if needed. The group tensed—except Sung Yu-jin. The knight's presence was no joke. Capital knights weren't the riffraff they'd faced before.
"I'm this kind of person."
He handed over a single sheet of paper. The knight glanced at it, eyes widening in shock.
"Inspector's commission?! Y-You're an inspector from the Baldert family? Forgive me for not recognizing you, Inspector!"
The knight bowed hastily.
A regular inspector might not impress, but this was an inspector personally appointed by the Baldert Duke—one of the empire's five pillars, the Phantom Duke!
'Good thing I kept the commission.'
He'd unofficially relinquished the role, but the document was legit. Elena would forgive him later—he'd done plenty for her.
"Can we enter now? And guide us to the Baldert estate while you're at it."
"W-Well... we need proper identity verification."
"What? Even with this commission?"
"Direct orders from above... And one document isn't enough... Too many crazies out there faking it. Truly sorry!"
"...Tch. Fine. How do you verify?"
"We'll send word to the Baldert estate. If the butler vouches, you're cleared."
Efficient, but a problem for him. Elena wasn't in the capital yet—she'd arrive during the festival.
His plan to crash at the Baldert villa might crumble.
"Hold on."
"Yes?"
"I can vouch for that."
He pulled out the conch shell Elena had given him long ago. Not an ordinary one.
"Ah, a communication tool? Very convenient."
He nodded at the knight's question and signaled the conch. After 30 seconds, it connected.
"What? I'm busy. Save the small talk."
Elena's curt voice.
"Esteemed Duke Baldert! Your loyal inspector, Sung Yu-jin!"
He shouted.
"...What?"
He explained the situation. A sigh came through the conch.
"...Knight. Listen up. This man is my appointed inspector and trusted servant of House Baldert. A minor oversight—I forgot to inform the villa butler. I vouch for him. Let him in."
The knight panicked. His eyes shook like a ship in stormy seas. Cold sweat trickled down his forehead.
"B-But, Your Grace..."
He couldn't continue. He couldn't dare question if it was really Elena Baldert based on voice alone.
"You do good work. I like diligent knights like you. Wait there. I'll contact the villa butler myself."
"Y-Yes! Thank you, Duke Baldert!"
The knight bowed deeply to the conch. The connection had already ended. A ridiculous sight.
Moments later, an elderly butler emerged from the noble district. He bowed courteously to them.
"Sergio, the butler. The family head informed me. Please, allow me to escort you."
"Lead on."
Sung Yu-jin and the group followed the butler into the noble district. On the way, he patted the knight's shoulder.