Chapter 15 - Who is the One Caught in the Trap?
Who is the One Caught in the Trap?
Translator : Elizabeth
Trust must exist in a trade. Because you don't know how the opponent might backstab you. Even so, if you inevitably trade with a stranger, you need to know about them first. So I moved a day earlier than the broker's appointment time. If I know the meeting place and the opponent's strategy, I can prepare in advance.
But.
“Hmm….”
This might be a little dangerous.
The inn where the magic stone trade with the broker is scheduled.
I tried to go there, but the path was blocked by a wire fence from a place much further away.
Even though it's a forest with no human presence, it was well defended.
With this body, forcing my way over is unreasonable.
“It's a completely occupied zone….”
Tried going around a bit just in case, but saw guards at the only entrance where the fence was cut.
Long wire fence. Only one entrance.
How am I supposed to penetrate this.
Even worse, why are there people guarding it.
Like this, the meaning of arriving a day early to investigate fades.
“Two days. He must have prepared that much earlier.”
Of course, this is an expected part.
Since he chose the time and place himself, making this entire place a trap is basic.
“If it were me, I would have distinguished between what is openly visible and what is invisible. He must have done so too.”
The opponent was convinced I would come and set the board.
From the beginning, he showed signs that he would catch me.
That is probably a feint.
There must be other defenses.
For example, wouldn't he have prioritized making it impossible to run away rather than catching me?
I might already know the answer.
Our conditions are like this.
I deliver the magic stones by 10 PM.
The broker checks the magic stones and leaves the money, and I retrieve that money by 2 AM.
In this process, he will try to capture me, and I must escape without being noticed.
However, from the previous trade, he knows I retrieved the money without showing my appearance.
Then where would he have placed the defense device?
Probably here.
“Number 2. Retrieve all the money.”
All the money.
Clearly the broker said that.
Perhaps he might have divided the money and placed it here and there. So that even if I steal one, I cannot run away.
Sounds plausible.
Because there was no rule saying not to do such a thing.
I don't know the rules of the underworld, but wordplay and backstabbing like this must be quite common.
I must act accordingly.
Because there is no second chance.
However.
Not a bad tension. The future that no one knows how it will turn out.
The minute trembling right now feels good for some reason, making my eyes curve thinly.
To think he'd welcome me on this scale.
The opponent must be a bigger shot than I thought.
Now how shall I penetrate this thorough defense and infiltrate.
Naturally, I thought of a method before coming.
Because anticipating this much is basic.
Slide.
I lowered my head.
If there's no path, just make one. One day left until the trade, it should be enough to complete the final countermeasure.
Code Name: Noose (Allgami).
He is called a godfather in the industry.
Also a Hard Difficulty veteran Hunter, and recently succeeded in conquering up to Nightmare Floor 7.
One thing even he couldn't understand.
“The magic stones in this photo. They look similar, but the purity looks higher than the Nightmare ones.”
Snare (Allgami-deot).
The one who mocked him.
The trader whose identity he could not figure out at all.
The magic stones he presented this time possessed an unusual color like last time.
Probably the purity is extremely high.
This is not a baseless conviction.
The previous trade proves it.
“Purity 120%… it was an unbelievable figure.”
Nightmare drop magic stones are 98% purity.
But the magic stones obtained from the trade with him were 120%.
Super-crystalline magic stones surpassing 100% purity. An incomprehensible appraisal figure.
Just 98% is a figure that makes one gasp.
Because a 1% difference in impurity has a huge impact on item crafting and magical power extraction. To use a scientific example, it's like a substance superior to superconductors.
What if items were made with this?
Minimum dozens of times quality. If the craftsman is excellent, they could contain powerful abilities.
Then.
“What is his identity?”
What is the identity of the person who brought this?
Just where did he get such magic stones.
Even Nightmare is only 98%….
A chain of contradictions that cannot be understood.
Does not circulate like a Mobius strip.
First, let's organize the opponent's information.
The opponent is the sole supplier of super-crystalline magic stones.
The opponent acts as if he lacks money.
The opponent finished the trade in an unseen place with an ungraspable power.
Clearly a similar kind to himself… but a little different.
His goal is unclear.
Indeed, is the goal this time really money?
If he has this much ability, he could procure money from anywhere if he wanted to?
Or did he want to enjoy a showdown like this?
Even presenting a ransom for himself? And for a paltry sum of only 1 billion?
No, perhaps.
“Is it both.”
If so, he is a crazy guy beyond imagination.
Taking practical benefits thoroughly in a cornered situation, but keeping his own line.
Who could live in such a way.
Of course, it's probably not really such a case.
Because even he himself couldn't do it.
Probably a showdown with himself is the goal. His influence in this industry is very large. Saying he had a favor to ask must be because of that too.
9:30 PM.
The appointment time has arrived.
But there was still no report of anyone appearing.
Even though he ambushed subordinates in the wire fence and throughout the forest.
If it's someone of the opponent's level, it's certain he would have arrived long ago and tried to scout this place in advance… why? Did the subordinates fail to discover him this time too?
As expected.
[Magic stone delivery complete.]
10:00 PM.
The opponent's text arrived.
He knows because he is already checking the CCTV.
On the CCTV, the counter staff was looking around, surprised by the magic stone pouch that suddenly appeared. His mission is to attack immediately if the opponent appears, but as expected, it was useless.
Meaning diligently defending from the entrance to the inn became all useless.
[The counter staff knows the location of the money. Interrogate and find it yourself.]
Moved to the next stage.
He has no intention of giving the money kindly. Because he set the board for the opponent to reveal his appearance somehow.
[OK.]
The answer came immediately.
No sign of complaining at all.
It is clear he is the same kind as himself as expected. Just hard to understand why he commits such acts.
About 20 minutes.
After the answer, the opponent did nothing.
He wouldn't have run away.
Finding a solution without showing emotion in any unreasonable situation.
Clearly the opponent is that type.
He might even be enjoying it.
Even now he must be devising a strategy alone.
No, there is a high probability he already finished devising and is agonizing whether to execute it or not.
As expected.
Rumble!!Whoooosh!!-
Suddenly the inn counter sank.
It felt as if the ground underneath completely collapsed and caved in. Thanks to that, the counter staff screamed and was buried underground.
Disappeared to somewhere unknown.
“Haha… did he come digging through the ground?”
Connection with the staff was cut.
With that sacrifice, he obtained the opponent's location information.
The reason the opponent didn't show up despite thorough defense in all directions was because he came from underground.
A completely unexpected infiltration route.
But how is that possible?
Does he have a digging skill?
Can he dig a tunnel this big with that?
“Release personnel and check the outside. Must verify if there is a tunnel.”
Immediately radioed subordinates.
Turned the personnel near the fence to the outside.
Anyway, the opponent cannot leave this place until retrieving the money, so no problem. Rather, if he can find the tunnel and hit him in the back, it's his win.
Smirk.
Fun.
For some reason, it's fun.
At first he was angry at the opponent's attitude, but now this showdown is too fun.
Feeling like a detective stopping a phantom thief.
Perhaps he feels like he knows the opponent's feelings.
Even though he is the side catching, it's a not-bad thrill.
Competitive spirit.
Before he knew it, the corners of his mouth went up at that emotion.
Such a feeling, truly, how long has it been.
Since he never felt a crisis.
[Discovered a tunnel.]
11:00 PM.
A subordinate discovered a tunnel.
And the money left somewhere in the inn and mountain has not been stolen yet.
Probably the opponent has been driven into a difficult situation.
Because retrieving the money is too tricky.
5 A-Rank Hunters.
Noose hired famous underworld Hunters and had them hide 100 million each.
The opponent must take the money from them.
Furthermore, he explained to the Hunters that if they catch the opponent, he will give 500 million as a bonus.
Therefore, the Hunters will try to find the opponent thoroughly, but won't easily spill the money location.
In other words, the opponent has to deal with 5 A-Rank Hunters alone and even interrogate them.
Indeed, does he have that much skill?
11:20 PM.
The opponent is probably weak in force.
State of silence for nearly an hour.
Checked the cams given to the Hunters in real-time, but no abnormalities were seen.
By now he should have grasped all the locations of the 5 A-Ranks, but he is not taking action.
“Still, it's not easy.”
In the meantime, this side diligently tracked the tunnel.
Whether dug from a day ago, it was a very wide and maze-like tunnel, and there were even paths blocked intentionally in the middle, so they had to pierce them one by one.
Fortunately, there was an Earth attribute Hunter on this side too, and the soil the opponent turned over once crumbled easily.
If they track, eventually they will be able to catch him.
Did that work?
[Please evacuate all subordinates in the tunnel. I have no hobby of burying people alive.]
11:40 PM.
A considerate text came from the opponent.
No, to be precise, he must be afraid of being caught.
[Sorry. I am quite serious.]
Ignored that demand.
The word burying alive doesn't seem like a lie, but there is probably bluff too.
The long silence is the proof.
Soon.
Rumble!~
Part of the tunnel sank.
A few subordinates were buried underground, but he deduced quickly so that sacrifice wouldn't be in vain.
Power to dig and sink tunnels.
Incredible, but it seemed impossible to sink all tunnels at once. Because only a few in specific locations among subordinates placed throughout the tunnel were buried.
This much can be rescued sufficiently.
And the most important thing.
“Finally found you.”
The opponent must be near the tunnel that just sank.
Therefore, immediately sent location information to the A-Rank Hunters and ordered them to track him.
Bang!!!Kaboooom!!!
The Hunter who arrived first attacked the ground.
Like this, whether the opponent moves or stays still, he has no choice but to be exposed. Because explosive firepower enough to shake the mountain is sufficient to sink the tunnel he is hiding in.
Thud!!
A part of the ground sank from the impact.
Also, as if trying to block the attack, a sand fog appeared in that area.
In other words, the tunnel where the opponent is hiding is there.
If location is grasped, time to settle it.
The match is simple. Whether the opponent defeats them and takes the money, or gets caught. One of the two.
Right, this is not a thieving contest from the start.
A trap where ultimately one has no choice but to fight directly. A showdown where combat is the basic premise.
He has been caught in the trap from the beginning.
“Seemed like you prepared something, but looks like this match is my win.”
Slide.
Noose stood up from his seat.
Stop watching now. Came out of the hiding hut and moved to where the opponent is.
This time he will absolutely not miss.
Must see at least the face of what kind of person he is.
And after capturing, what kind of interrogation would be good.
Since he is a person who entertained him in his own way, he has no intention of tormenting him too much.
Phew-
But something that hasn't happened yet.
If expectation goes ahead, things are bound to go wrong.
It is unknown what other power the opponent will use, what move he has prepared.
Crack crack.
Loosened his hands while moving.
Code Name Noose. Former S-Rank Hunter.
Time to do his best to catch the opponent.
Since he does his best in small matters despite having powerful strength, defeat cannot exist for him.