Final Warning
“This is the last warning. If you don't open up, we'll break in.”
“That guy's got no flexibility at all.”
Jenix's raid leader grimaced in annoyance alongside the Gold Lion guild member holding the master key. Just as the man was about to insert it,
the door flew open.
“What do you mean, if you're in there, just answer...”
The man, who had been furrowing his brow in irritation, clamped his mouth shut.
A woman in a gown barely covering her vital areas burst out.
“Haa... what is it?”
“Uh...”
She was panting, her eyes half-lidded. The stench of heavy alcohol wafted down the hallway. The man averted his gaze, unable to look at the precariously slipping gown teetering like a tightrope.
Next to him, Raid Leader Kim Hansu stared in stunned bewilderment.
“Yes?”
“W-We... came for a headcount. Please come in for now, and... could you get the regional commander inside...?”
As the man spat out his business, Park Se-ah staggered toward him and lunged.
“H-Hey! Careful!”
“Oh my. Are you okay? Sorry... this gown's too tight... Huh? It's loose now.”
“Pardon? That's not... Wh-Wh-What?!”
The gown covering her body was slipping off. The man reached out in panic.
But his hand couldn't grab it—Kim Hansu had slapped it down hard.
At the same time, he stepped in front of her, his face set in steely resolve.
“You, you're a real scumbag. How dare you lay hands on a grown woman...”
“N-No, the gown was falling off!”
“No excuses. As Jenix Guild's raid leader, I'm deeply offended. What kind of man comes to the negotiation team and gropes the secretary... Hey! Secretary Park! Snap out of it and get inside.”
At Kim Hansu's words, she managed to steady herself and stand.
The man cleared his throat, determined to finish his duty.
“Ahem. Please call the regional commander inside.”
“Our commander? He can't come out right now... he just took his clothes off.”
As her words grew bolder, Kim Hansu could take no more and barked low.
“Get inside! What kind of disgrace is this?!”
“Hng. Sorry. Boss made me drink too much—my tongue keeps twisting. Hehe.”
“Ugh. In, get in now!”
Kim Hansu shoved her inside and slammed the door. The man protested.
“What the hell are you doing?”
“Are your eyes crooked? Can't you see what's happening?”
“S-Still, we have to verify...”
“Fine. If you're set on interrupting our regional commander's romance, I won't stop you. But tomorrow at the talks, I'll reveal every sleazy thing you did to our Secretary Park.”
“What are you talking about? I didn't do anything...”
“Don't deny it—I saw it myself. Those grubby hands of yours on our Secretary Park's... Ahem. Too embarrassing to say. Anyway, that's that. I'm off.”
As Kim Hansu turned to leave, the man grabbed him desperately.
“A-Alright. We'll count it as checked. But I have no shame in my actions. It's late—don't misunderstand.”
“Fine, I'll believe you once.”
“By the way, what brings you here at this hour, Raid Leader?”
“Can't I walk around my own building? I was bored and thought I'd grab a drink with the regional commander. Looks like he's having a hot time, though.”
“I see. Since I ran into you, I won't go up. I'll head out.”
“Yeah. Good work.”
After the man left, Kim Hansu—still holding a liquor bottle—shook his head in front of Yoo Taejeong's door and turned away.
“These young folks these days. Heh. I burned hot once too. Makes me jealous of their youth.”
Park Se-ah, who had heard everything from behind the door, grabbed the knob and slumped down as the footsteps faded.
Her slender frame trembled like an aspen.
She was spasming from extreme tension.
“Haa...”
The shaking wouldn't stop. Anxiety that they might return, shame from the humiliation.
But on the other hand, relief at completing her mission.
'I did it. Somehow, I pulled it off.'
Seizing the assassins' lapse in vigilance, Yoo Taejeong slipped into the tunnel and moved swiftly yet stealthily.
He was far from the entrance now. No turning back.
But even as he walked, he second-guessed himself repeatedly.
Instinct had driven him in, but no guarantee the same trick would work on exit.
'My body moved on its own.'
Unconscious greed. Desire to end it all in one go, convenience.
But unavoidable—this chance might never come again.
Best to leave clean, but even if caught, as long as identity stayed hidden, no big issue.
He could escape.
After some walking, he reached the tunnel's end and spotted another staircase.
Descending slowly revealed yet another chamber.
The warehouse's final floor.
Stepping in, he knew this was the real deal. Elegant display cases neatly arranged, lone mystery items elevated, premium stone plaques laser-engraved with descriptions.
'This must be what Da-som mentioned.'
The cases oozed luxury. He scanned each plaque.
Hermes' Feather
Item Rank: S
Mid-range teleport portal. Distance: ~200km
Purchase Price: 28 billion
Features: Immune to interference skills below level 900 (1-time consumable)
Divine Great Shield
Item Rank: S
Wide-area protection barrier. Market Price: N/A
Physical/Magic Damage Offset: Cumulative 1 million (1-time consumable)
Intelligent Ace
Item Rank: S
Wide-area dispeller. Market Price: N/A
Dispels all 5th-grade buffs within ~100m radius.
All S-rank or A-rank consumables. Owning even one or two brought peace of mind.
Empty cases abounded.
Deeper in, exotic mana stones appeared.
Finally, a perfectly cubic mana stone, precisely cut.
'Found it.'
Eyes gleaming, he read the plaque.
Name: Undecided
Drop Location: Demon's Land (Estimated)
Mana: 3 Teratons
Market Price: N/A
“This is it, for sure. Gerard.”
-Yes, Master.
“This the one?”
-Affirmative.
“Okay. Deep breath first.”
Target in reach, but he couldn't just grab it. What if individual magic trapped it?
But leaving empty-handed? Impossible. No second chance.
Plus, he had an ace: biochemical grenade, unused on entry—for emergencies.
That could knock out rushing assassins for escape.
“Hope it goes smooth.”
Prepared, he reached for the case.
Lifting with both hands, its heavy weight drew a groan.
“Like half a rice sack. At least 40kg. Dense stored mana? In and out quick.”
No traps confirmed, he stowed it in inventory.
A brilliant light surged inside, followed by a cheerful chime.
You have acquired Lost Legacy B.
[Lost Legacy B]
“Haa. Finally, some relief.”
Quest done—impossible mission complete. Pride swelled; it could've languished forever.
Business finished, he tried replacing the stone.
“What the...?”
It wouldn't budge. Bonded like glue.
Pulling hard—immovable.
“Why won't it move?”
-The mana stone is temporarily sealed.
“Sealed?”
-This item is made solely for the Mechanic class.
“So it's mine now. But why...”
-Unable to provide further answers.
“Always at times like this. Morning's gonna be chaos.”
Unplanned snag. Plan was quest and out—no incidents with guild brass inside.
But now, warehouse robbed. Dawn would bring uproar.
“...Not our problem, right?”
Jenix suspicion? Zero. Far from lodging, under tight watch. Secret warehouse unknown.
As long as Choi Da-som stayed mum.
No issue.
“What's done is done. Let's go.”
Hurrying out, he paused. Scoped the valuables.
“One gone or all gone—same theft, right?”
Stone vanished anyway. Why leave the rest?
Bonus.
Rationalizing, he swept the items.
Few, but each worth billions. Help for the guild's loss.
Loaded up, he headed out.
Only 4th-floor assassins left. No big worry now—morning reveal anyway.
Chemical grenades free rein.
Five minutes brisk walk—staircase neared.
Checking watch to speed up,
golden light erupted before him.
'This...'
Reacting, he dodged, summoning Blaster.
But light clung like magnet, binding him. Skill deactivated.
Status barrage.
You have entered the Binding Formation's area of effect.
Cloaking has been dispelled.
Armor suit has been dispelled.
Blaster has been dispelled.
You cannot move your body.
Trapped in a blink, panic hit. He twisted, calling Gerard.
“What is this? How to break it?”
-Large-scale binding formation. Master's power insufficient.
“Binding formation? I passed one earlier?”
No issue inbound. When installed?
Struggling every way, pressure mounted—breathing labored.
“Breathing...”
Gerard's alert blared.
-Someone approaching nearby.
“Damn.”
Despair. Caught soon.
Footsteps on stairs.
Finally, the descender appeared.
Yoo Taejeong's pupils dilated hugely.
“You! You're...?”
“So it was you.”