The Spy's Great Escape
Swoosh!
Jane successfully teleported away.
All that remained where she had stood were traces of mana and Sin Ha-seong's spear. In the end, Franklin's hand had merely swiped at empty air.
Thud!
Franklin, who had thrown himself forward and crashed to the floor, was genuinely regretting it.
"Argh! If only I'd touched her!"
"That's just how you roll."
Sin Ha-seong retrieved his spear with a click of his tongue. Meanwhile, Yume was glaring at Jin Yura.
"How do you plan to clean this mess up?"
"I'm sorry."
"If I tell my father, you won't get off with just being fired."
Yume was used to wielding power. Her gaze, her gestures, her expressions—every action screamed arrogant nobility.
"You might never set foot in this industry again."
"I'm sorry."
Jin Yura could only repeat her apologies to Yume. At that, Yume's expression softened, as if her mood had improved.
"Still, you brought Zien along, so I'll let it slide this time."
"Thank you."
Jin Yura bowed her head.
Kumo, sensing the tense atmosphere, whispered to Sin Ha-seong.
"Uh, in this situation... doesn't that mean the auction house visit is off?"
Yume must have overheard, because she let out a snort.
"Off? Who decided that? Zien stopped that spy woman, didn't he? What's there to worry about now? No—because it's dangerous, that's why I hired you guys."
Yume crossed her legs as she sat in her chair. Her overbearing posture and piercing gaze left Jin Yura unable to rebel.
"...We'll be as cautious as possible about safety."
"Good. Now get out."
Too lazy even for a hand gesture, Yume pointed to the door with her chin.
The group stepped out into the hallway.
Despite the predawn ambush, Sky Group's response was surprisingly subdued. Kumo found it intriguing.
"The young miss was targeted, but they're taking it pretty lightly."
"It's not the first time. She's rich, and Sky Group has plenty of enemies."
Unlike before, Jin Yura's response was upbeat. Kumo glanced at the dorm door with a sympathetic look.
"Must have its headaches."
"Ha~ But still, what a relief~ If that young miss died, I'd be in deep shit too. And at this level, it doesn't even count as a real hit."
Chuckling roughly, Jin Yura slapped Zien on the shoulder.
"How'd you know? Oh, right—I heard you go way back?"
"Something like that. Though I only remembered late."
"Thanks. You saved my life. Dinner on me next time?"
Jin Yura flashed a bright smile.
But in this world, there was no next time for Zien.
"No need."
"Aw, come on—who's gonna bite? Being that guarded is no fun. Think of it like a welcome party~"
As the situation calmed, Franklin belatedly felt the shock hit him.
"Ugh, to think Red was a villain!"
"Hmph, after all that chit-chat? I knew that woman was suspicious from the start."
Sin Ha-seong brushed past Franklin and approached Zien.
"Team leader. That swordsmanship earlier—it was truly the realm of art. And slicing mana with your sword... is that your Trait?"
"Yes, exactly."
Sin Ha-seong now fully acknowledged Zien as team leader. His warmer attitude left a bitter taste for Zien.
This is just a Gate.
Right. A Gate. These were inhabitants of an illusory world. But it felt too real. That was why the common mistake of apprentice Sabers—growing attached to the characters—was happening. In a Gate where every minute and second was critical, such behavior created dangerous moments.
They're just characters, after all.
So Zien tried his best not to grow attached to his teammates. But even for a veteran like him, it was tough. In his past life, Zien had become the disciple of the Sword God in a Zone 3 Gate. He knew better than anyone that Gate characters were no different from reality. In this strange mood, Zien looked at his team.
"From now on, I'll trust only the team leader!"
Franklin.
"Yeah! If she shows up again, I'll tie her up next time."
Kumo.
"Right— the team leader's skills are top-tier."
Sin Ha-seong.
"No booze since you're a student? What about after you graduate?"
Jin Yura.
"Absolutely not."
Zien looked at his teammates and unwittingly cracked a small smile.
Sabotage. Persuasion. Proof.
Amy Rose, who had woken at 2 a.m., proudly gazed at the quest she had cleared.
[Quest: You are a reporter. Head to the Christie Auction House with the broadcast team for coverage.]
[Details: You outdid a rival reporter. Secure an interview with Yume, the only daughter of Sky Group.]
From one character to two.
It was subtle, but Amy's quest description had changed.
"A pretty tough opponent. She talked better than I expected. Hehe, but still no match for me."
Amy's habit of talking to herself, now ingrained from broadcasting. She pulled up a hologram on her phone to check viewer reactions.
Still groggy, Amy yawned as she tried to piece it together.
So the party leader pulled off something awesome, huh?
Amy rubbed her eyes.
The problem was, even though she was awake now, the chat made no mention of her at all.
"These people... Why are they watching the main cam but chatting on my channel?"
Amy glared at the camera, but the viewers had plenty to say this time.
They were true fans, saddened by Amy's cold shoulder.
"Oh right, my channel's the exclusive one~ Sorry~ Hehe, keep watching hard and spam the chat here!"
Amy laughed ahaha as she checked viewer count. Even at dawn, it was astonishingly high.
"Whoa, what happened...?"
Suddenly, viewers flooded the chat, eager to explain.
Amy stared at the chaotic chat in confusion.
...What the hell are they even saying?
It wasn't just Amy who couldn't make sense of the situation.
"Arrrgh! When the hell do we get the main quest?! Are we thieves or what? Third steal quest already! We've robbed three buildings in one night...!"
The one screaming was Chris.
Beside him was white-haired Demona, wearing a black bodysuit. She stretched her arms behind her back, grunting.
"...Hurry!"
Unable to reach, blood rushed to Demona's face, turning it beet red.
"Zipper down again? Third time now. Should be used to it."
"How many times you done this crap?"
Grumbling, Chris zipped up Demona's bodysuit with his weary face. Demona sighed in relief.
"Phew..."
"Why not put the zipper in front anyway? Hate the outfits here."
The organization Chris and Demona had joined was called the Black Skyscraper. They were the errand runners of the Hunter world—did anything for pay.
"Hey, you got a mouth—use it."
At Chris's prodding, Demona shook her head no.
"Ugh, just talk already..."
As Chris slumped in defeat, Demona patted his back and handed him a note. It was written in pen.
[Quit your whining and use your Magic Art.]
Reading it, Chris infused mana into his eyes, manifesting his Magic Tool. With his growth, Truth Eye's range had expanded. Now he could survey an entire five-story building at a glance. Scrutinizing it, Chris muttered.
"...My one wish is to flick your forehead."
It was an unachievable wish.
Considering Demona's strength, Chris would have to give up a lot for one flick.
"Phew, two guards on the third floor. Take the right stairs to the second, then kitchen pipes to move. Once in the kitchen, climb out the window to the other side... You listening?"
Chris shot her a suspicious glance.
Demona nodded instead of answering.
"Fine. I'll go the other way."
Ten minutes later.
Chris and Demona, having cleared the quest effortlessly again, stood on the rooftop. Black agent suits and black bodysuits. Bathed in pale moonlight. Chris gazed down at the red-and-blue city nightscape and murmured softly.
"Success."
Nod nod.
Demona nodded. Proof of success: their quest descriptions had updated.
[Quest: You are a Hunter. Carry out the Black Skyscraper's orders.]
[Details: Steal the secret-grade artifact Blood Jade from the Christie Auction House.]
"Finally, a proper quest."
As Chris checked it proudly, Demona wrote on a note with a deadpan look. Since teaming with Chris, her expressions had grown subtly richer.
Finished writing, she handed it to him.
[Still just theft.]
Chris clicked his tongue at her.
"Hey, theft comes in scales too. Cracking a rich fool's safe ain't the same as snagging a secret-grade artifact."
As Chris said, the Christie Auction House was practically this Gate's finale. Only after four quests had they reached the core.
"See? Orders from Black Skyscraper too. Auction starts at 6 p.m."
Considering the moon hadn't even set yet, they had plenty of time.
"Time to head back to base."
Chris turned from the nightscape with a smile like a certain someone.
"For one last heist?"