Chapter 145
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 145
Chapter Title: To Nigeria
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Now that Round 9 was over,
there were about 650,000 players left worldwide.
By the logic that one in five was trash, that meant there were still 130,000 pieces of trash out there in the world.
‘Just because PleSeBa took out their trash doesn’t mean the world’s safe.’
Criminal players who contributed to ruining the world were about as useful as pests.
‘Might as well exterminate those bugs while recruiting an alchemist. That’s why I’m heading to Nigeria.’
Nigeria had an Unique Class alchemist.
Winning him over as an ally would be a huge help in clearing Round 20.
‘And it’s not just the alchemist I’ll gain.’
He could fulfill the conditions for runes obtainable in the real world there, too.
He’d probably snag some miscellaneous items along the way and boost the Black Scythe’s name value.
“Done.”
Ryu Min stood up, having packed his carry-on.
He’d prepared clothes and essentials, figuring it’d take up to a week.
“Hyung! Hyung!”
A quick knock, and the door flew open.
His little brother stared at Ryu Min’s luggage with wide eyes.
“Y-You’re leaving already?”
“Yeah. I’ll be back soon.”
Ryu Won had heard the night before about a sudden trip, but he hadn’t expected it to be this early in the morning.
“You’re going to Japan?”
“Yeah. I’ve been so worn out lately, so I’m taking a week-long hot springs trip.”
A guy who’d been holed up suddenly going on a trip?
Naturally, Ryu Won couldn’t help but suspect something.
“Hyung, did you get a girlfriend? If that’s it, just tell me. No one’s gonna say anything about a couple’s trip.”
“What’re you talking about? I’m just going to rest.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“Then take me with you.”
Ryu Min slowly shook his head.
“It’s a world where even protecting myself is tough. Taking you would be risky.”
“You’re really going alone?”
“I am.”
Ryu Won couldn’t ask more.
If his hyung said so, he had to believe it.
“Sorry to leave you behind, but I’ll be back. Stay home and take care of yourself till I get back. Eat properly.”
“Don’t worry. Delivery food’s gotten so good these days.”
“If you need allowance, tell me now.”
“I’m fine. Just come back safe.”
“Got it. Take care. I’m off.”
Ryu Won watched enviously as his hyung dragged the carry-on out the front door.
Clunk—thud.
His expression soured the moment the door shut.
“I wanna go on a hot springs trip, too…”
He grumbled softly, but he got it.
The world was still dangerous for civilians.
Just look at that recent barbecue joint incident.
“No helping it. Hyung’s never wrong.”
He envied his hyung for going out, even on a hot springs trip, but it didn’t feel unfair.
His hyung had juggled school and supported them as the head of the household.
People needed recharge time after work.
“If it weren’t for hyung, we wouldn’t be living in a place this nice.”
It’d only been nine months since they’d crammed into a rundown studio where even ordering jjajangmyeon felt like a splurge.
This wasn’t the time to complain about eating delivery.
“Man, I’m starving. So hungry!”
Smacking his own head, Ryu Won reflected and smacked his lips.
“Ah, now I’m craving jjajangmyeon.”
He’d order some at lunchtime.
Jjajangmyeon never got old, no matter how much you ate.
* * *
Yamtti was waiting in the parking lot by the Lamborghini.
“You’re here? M-Mr. Ryu Min?”
“Yeah. Let’s go.”
They loaded the carry-ons into the trunk and took off.
On the way to Incheon Airport.
As they merged onto the highway, Ryu Min broke the silence.
“You asked yesterday why we’re going to Nigeria.”
“Yes.”
“Nigeria’s overrun with all sorts of crime. Even the public enemy IS has a presence there.”
“IS as in that terrorist group pushing Islamic extremism?”
“Yeah. Among the people they’ve kidnapped is an alchemist I want on our side. My goal is to get him out.”
Ryu Min laid out his objective without hesitation.
Yamtti was a slave who obeyed him unconditionally anyway.
No need to keep it secret.
She’d keep her mouth shut even if it killed her.
“Ah, so that’s why you brought me? To dominate the alchemist with the Charm rune.”
“No. I do need the Charm rune, so that’s why you’re coming, but I won’t use it on the alchemist. Better to save it if possible.”
“And after that?”
“I’ll wipe out the trash and build the Black Scythe’s reputation. That’s part of why I got the CPF deputy commander title.”
A deputy commander heading to Nigeria and smashing the public enemy IS group?
Once that got out, the Black Scythe name would skyrocket.
“Ah, so that’s why you needed the police chief’s endorsement? To leave a record of the Black Scythe leaving the country.”
“Exactly.”
Nigeria was dangerous, as advertised.
Travel advisory level 3, with shit security.
They wouldn’t let you in for simple tourism.
Not unless you had business or another purpose.
But if you proved you were strong enough to protect yourself?
Entry granted.
That was why he’d taken the CPF deputy commander role.
To breeze through immigration.
And to leave a record of the Black Scythe heading to Nigeria.
Who’d vouch for the Black Scythe?
‘The police chief already agreed to do it.’
So Ryu Min wasn’t worried about customs.
“Phew. Sounds like a tough trip.”
“Can’t call this tough.”
They arrived at the airport, parked, and Ryu Min altered his appearance.
Rumble—
He turned into Lost Ark in an instant, and Yamtti’s eyes went wide.
“Wow, you got taller too? First time seeing you transform, Master.”
“Enough gawking. From now on, call me Black Scythe.”
“Yes, Black Scythe.”
They grabbed their carry-on and found the private jet counter.
“Welcome. Do you have a private jet reservation?”
“Yes. Here’s my ID.”
Ryu Min handed over Lost Ark’s ID, naturally.
He was traveling as Black Scythe, so forging an identity was essential.
“We have one plane on standby. Destination confirmed as Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Nigeria… One moment.”
The agent checked something and handed over tickets.
“All set. Here are your tickets. Direct flight to Nigeria, about 17 hours. Go through security, then passport control.”
“Thanks.”
The reason Ryu Min was taking PleSeBa’s chairman’s private jet was simple.
‘Direct flight saves time.’
Commercial flights to Nigeria always had layovers, averaging 25 hours.
Better to fly private and cut it short than waste that much time in the air.
After checking the carry-on and getting tickets, Ryu Min cleared security and passport control.
“Going to Nigeria?”
“Yes.”
The immigration officer eyed them suspiciously.
“Nigeria’s a danger zone right now. You know that?”
“It’s fine. I’m a CPF deputy commander. Everything’s approved—check with the police chief.”
“CPF deputy…? One sec.”
The officer stepped away and returned minutes later.
“Verified. Police chief vouched for you as deputy commander. Said your skills are solid, send both through.”
“Great.”
“Here’s your passport. Enjoy your trip.”
Ryu Min smiled and passed security with Yamtti.
Having the police chief’s backing made even danger zones a breeze.
Moments later, they boarded the private jet without waiting.
Just Ryu Min and Yamtti as passengers.
The captain’s voice came over the speakers.
[Welcome aboard. This is Captain Seo Tae-seok. We’re flying direct to Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city. Flight time is 17 hours. We hope you have a comfortable and pleasant journey.]
Ryu Min reclined in the first-class seat turned bed, propping his feet up comfortably.
“Yamtti.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Get some shut-eye. No time to rest once we land.”
“Got it.”
Ryu Min organized his Nigeria to-do list in his head and closed his eyes.
Sleep came swiftly.
* * *
Nigeria sat in West Africa, one of the continent’s danger zones.
Half the population was Muslim, and the north teemed with infamous Islamic extremists.
Security was abysmal—muggings in broad daylight, nonstop gang crime.
Murder, kidnapping, rape, human trafficking—it was everyday life in a whole different world.
‘And the alchemist of the century’s holed up here?’
After 17 hours, Ryu Min’s group landed at Murtala Muhammed International Airport and cleared immigration.
They looked like players just from their age, so no issues.
After grabbing their luggage, Ryu Min recalled the captain’s advice when they’d deplaned.
—I don’t know why you’re visiting Nigeria, but be careful. Never take airport taxis. Tourists hop in clueless and get threatened and robbed left and right. You look young, so no scammers will target a player, but still, better safe.
Not empty scare tactics or jokes.
Even knowing they were players, he’d warned them sincerely. That’s how dangerous it was.
“Master. Where to now?”
“Disguise first. Wait here.”
Ryu Min, who’d packed tools in his carry-on, headed to the airport bathroom.
When he emerged, his face was completely different.
He’d added a scruffy beard to Lost Ark’s slightly nearsighted look, turning him into a dead ringer for a 40-something uncle.
“Now they won’t peg us as players.”
“And me?”
“You’re good as is.”
Yamtti had already done age-up makeup.
No need to tweak it.
“Even foreigners will buy you as at least 30.”
“Eek, meanie.”
Ignoring Yamtti’s grumble, he looked around for a taxi.
Cabbies hawked at tourists, but Ryu Min didn’t hop into just any.
‘Not this one. Not that one.’
Reading the drivers’ minds, he kept looking.
Finally.
‘Found it.’
Ryu Min tapped a taxi trunk.
“Open up.”
“Okay, okay!”
The 40-something cabbie cheerfully popped the trunk at the English.
They loaded the carry-on with Yamtti and slid into the back.
The driver beamed.
“English speakers? Tourists? Where to?”
“Ibadan, please.”
“Okay. Two hours.”
As the cabbie drove, Ryu Min caught him glancing in the rearview.
Eyes met, and he grinned, chatting in English.
“East Asians? Where from? China?”
“No. Korea.”
“What brings you to Nigeria?”
“Business.”
“What company?”
“Just a small outfit selling cleaning supplies.”
“Yeah, our country could use some cleaning.”
Just glancing out the window showed ramshackle shanties.
Crappy infrastructure, swarms of people like ants, traffic jams, armed folks with rifles, slums galore.
Lagos crammed over 20 million into Nigeria’s biggest city—and topped the pollution charts.
“That pretty lady next to you your girlfriend?”
“Work colleague.”
“Nah, her eyes say otherwise.”
They bantered idly, and two hours passed.
Yamtti asked Ryu Min anxiously.
“How much longer?”
“Almost there.”
But even after three hours, the car kept going.
The cabbie, knowing it, threw out an excuse.
“Sorry, bad traffic, had to detour. Makes it longer? I’ll floor it.”
But it stopped after two more hours.
“Here we are.”
Five hours total to the destination.
Or so he thought.
Peering out, it was some rundown village.
Not Ibadan.
“This Ibadan?”
“Get out first.”
The cabbie said that and hopped out himself.
Before Ryu Min could argue about the fare, he saw the cabbie link up with armed thugs.
“Brought ’em.”
“Two?”
“Yeah. One guy, one girl. Perfect.”
“No trouble in the trunk?”
“You think I’m new at this? Pay up quick. Gotta grab dinner. Starving after five hours driving.”
The masked thug slung his assault rifle back and pulled a wad of bills.
“Good work.”
“Heh, thanks.”
Yamtti got chills seeing the cabbie count the cash and smirk at them.
She didn’t speak English well enough for the convo, but she wasn’t stupid.
She’d been sold to human traffickers.
The rifleman jerked his barrel.
“You speak English? Both of you, come here. Unless you wanna die.”
“…….”
“What’re you dicking around for, you fucks? Still haven’t clocked the situation?”
“You’re the one who hasn’t clocked it.”
“What?”
Ryu Min chuckled and peeled off the fake mustache.
The thug’s eyes changed.
Couldn’t see his face under the cloth, but his thoughts were clear.
Panicking at the young face.
The cabbie next to him was shocked too.
‘Just as planned. Led us right to the human traffickers.’
Looked like they’d been caught, but really, they’d let themselves get caught.
The rifleman realized it quick.
Splatter—!
The cabbie’s head burst like a split watermelon.
Clatter—thunk!
Ryu Min retracted his scythe and warned the armed thug.
“Come closer. If you don’t wanna die.”