Chapter 410
Chapter 410
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 410
>Chapter Title: The 31st Horse Overturns the Game Board
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The man's memory traced back to a pitch-black darkroom.
There, only the back of a toad-like man with a cigarette dangling from his lips was visible.
Click...
Hooo...
"Taking care of Mischen's daughter quietly shouldn't be too hard, right?"
"...Of course. In fact, I could do it alone..."
"......"
Tap, tap...
For some reason displeased, the man tapped the armrest of his chair with his fingers.
"Confidence is good, but remember that your recklessness could complicate things."
"Th-that's right. I'm sorry."
"You have to handle it without any mistakes. Make the guys holding Castreng's interests tremble with fear and run away on their own."
"I'll keep that in mind."
A thick body, thick hands, and a ring on his finger.
The symbol on the ring looked like a withered tree.
"...Yoi, follow him."
"...Yes."
At the flick of the finger from what seemed to be their leader, a woman emerged from the darkness.
Her face was covered, so her identity was unknown, but her presence was anything but ordinary.
Zzzt...
Zzzzt...
The man's gaze, who had been receiving both orders and reprimands, turned to the ceiling.
"Gasp..."
There, was the eye of a dragon.
Zzzt...
Zzzzzzt...
Soon, space began to shatter.
[The first ability of the Dragon Blood Eye is revealed.]
[Absolute Terror is confirmed.]
[Opponents subdued and exposed to the Dragon Blood Eye's gaze are overwhelmed by fear.]
[Absolute Terror extracts the opponent's memories.]
[Information gained in this process can serve as a trigger for突发 adventures or hidden adventures.]
[Absolute Terror activates only once per target.]
[Very high chance to inflict status ailment: Absolute Terror on the overwhelmed opponent.]
[Status ailment: Absolute Terror cannot be resolved by ordinary means.]
"Gasp... gasp..."
The opponent whose memory was exposed panted heavily, drool spilling from his mouth.
[Additional information on突发 adventure 'City's Night' has been obtained.]
[Sudden adventure will occur if conditions are met.]
"Ugh... ugh..."
"Haaak..."
The men breathed raggedly.
"What... what is this..."
"Silvia!"
Albert supported Silvia. She kept losing strength in her legs and collapsing.
Kang Seol restored his pupils to normal.
Accordingly, his feral aura gradually subsided.
'Still hard to control.'
He could now spread his aura and dignity at will, but fine-tuning it would take time.
Kang Seol asked the muttering man.
"Who are you people?"
"Yo-Yoi's com-coming..."
"...What?"
"I d-don't want to die..."
At that moment, as if the man's words were a prophecy, a flash of light erupted from a nearby building.
Click...
[Yoi uses held breath.]
[Accuracy is corrected by the time breath was held.]
[Yoi uses exclusion.]
[The projectile ignores surrounding environmental factors momentarily and travels along its path.]
He saw it.
The motion of her propping a long gun on her elbow, aiming this way.
"Silvia!"
Whiiiing...
Kwaaaaaang-!
Shing-!
Kang Seol drew his sword without hesitation.
Crackle...
[Counter: Mountain Coil is used.]
[Swing the sword in an arbitrary direction to suppress the opponent.]
[Enemies hit by the finishing motion are pulled in or pushed away.]
[Pulled enemies have 50% defense reduction for 3 seconds; pushed enemies have 50% attack power reduction for 3 seconds.]
Whoooong-!
It was a bullet.
He could see the pea-sized bullet swollen massively.
Sizzle...
And that it was on the verge of exploding right now.
Whoooong...
The sword's wind pressure sucked it in, then...
Kikik-!
Thooong-!
Tried to bat it into the sky.
'...Impossible.'
It had already started exploding.
In that case, he had to focus on protecting Silvia and Albert.
Kwaaaaaaaaang-!
"Kyaaaak!"
"Wh-what's happening!"
"It's an explosion! Something blew up!"
Soon, the night street turned into pandemonium.
The assassins scattered on the ground were caught in the blast.
He couldn't prevent that.
Whoooosh...
Kang Seol swirled the smoke and sent it skyward.
Another assassin, having finished her task, tried to leave the building without looking back.
"The cleanup's a bit rough."
"......"
Before they knew it, Kang Seol had reached the position of the assassin who caused the explosion.
'...Not an ordinary one.'
And the woman before him matched exactly the image of "Yoi" from the earlier assassin's memory.
Click...
Yoi handled the massive long gun freely with one hand.
Before long, the muzzle was aimed at Kang Seol.
"...Shall we?"
Nod...
"Sure."
[Yoi uses hedgehog.]
[Close-range shots are treated as ultra-short-range shots.]
Kwaaaang-!
Kang Seol emerged from the explosion and smoke.
Yoi responded without panic.
Swish-!
Thwack-!
Her slender hand targeted Kang Seol.
Kang Seol snorted and countered her hand-to-hand combat.
Smack-!
Thud!
Yoi was quite skilled in close quarters. The power in her movements was decent enough.
She could pass for a seasoned fighter more than a sniper.
[Yoi uses all-or-nothing.]
[Attack power increases by 40% for 10 seconds, but shooting skills cannot be used.]
Smaaaack-!
Smaaaack-!
But only deflating sounds kept coming.
Puuuunch-!
Crunch...
A deep penetrating sound.
"Ugh..."
This was the sound of Kang Seol's fist breaking Yoi's ribs.
Whirl-!
Yoi flipped backward, falling to the base of the building.
'Regeneration ability?'
He felt the sensation of her bones regenerating instantly at his fingertips.
Psssh-!
Using a hook, Yoi crossed over the building in an instant.
Click...
Her muzzle targeted Kang Seol again.
But since he was fully prepared, Kang Seol wouldn't let himself get hit.
Smaaaack-!
"Ugh..."
The dagger Kang Seol threw sliced through Yoi's fingers like dry twigs.
Pssshhhh...
[Yoi uses emergency escape.]
[Once during combat, move to a safe area.]
[Emergency escape can be used only once per day.]
Boom-!
Black smoke burst out, and Yoi vanished.
Her presence disappeared as well.
If asked whether cutting off the sniper's fingers meant victory, that would be wrong.
'She definitely regenerated, even her fingers.'
Incomprehensible physical regeneration.
Kang Seol possessed superhuman regeneration himself, but to encounter someone with similar or even superior ability...
'Her skills are decent too... They seemed like a gang. Who are they?'
Kang Seol returned to the chaotic scene, unable to resolve his complicated thoughts.
It was tantamount to a bomb exploding in the middle of the city.
Moreover, charred bodies of over a dozen assassins littered the ground.
Silvia was surrounded by the city guards, explaining for a long while.
* * *
A few days later.
A man chewing fruit, flashing gold teeth, asked into the darkness.
"What about Triola?"
"It's handled. We dismembered the limbs, packed them in a box, and sent it to the mansion. They'll stay quiet for a while."
"Good work. Next."
Step...
Another woman, different from the previous responder, stepped forward.
"Curea has decided to withdraw from the Castreng business."
"Did you lay hands on them?"
"We sent a warning letter before and turned the young lady's long hair short while she slept... but no direct action."
"Kukuku... Since they didn't take it as a joke, you spared their lives. Less hassle for us too."
The man nodded and moved on.
"Next."
At the man's words, a man with a large scar on his face stepped forward.
"What about Botton?"
"We tortured Botton's entire family."
"Any backlash?"
"There was."
"And?"
"We handled it."
"All of them?"
"Only the eldest son was a problem."
"That's fine. He's dealt with, right?"
"Yes."
The toad grabbed a handful of grapes and shoved them into his mouth, chewing.
Crunch...
Crunched...
Juice like blood dripped from his mouth.
"Yoi. Your turn."
"...Yes."
The sniper who clashed with Kang Seol stepped forward and spoke.
"A problem arose."
"...How serious?"
"Very."
Bang-!
Even as the man slammed the table, Yoi continued unfazed.
"An unidentified powerhouse is protecting Mischen's heir."
"A mercenary?"
"No, we confirmed it."
"A guy who dropped from the sky, huh..."
"The plan we attempted before arriving at Palbin seems to have been thwarted by him too."
"Hmm..."
The toad said to Yoi and his other loyal subordinates.
"Find out who he is. No need for everything. Just pinpoint the related ones."
"Yes."
"...Make contact with all of them. And leave a warning."
Their own warning.
"Make sure he learns what we are. Let him know it'll be no fun if he interferes."
They had teeth.
"He needs to know. That we're rabid dogs. He should think we'll bite if he keeps messing with our business."
* * *
After days of investigation, Silvia and Kang Seol's group were fully cleared.
Since the explosion happened in the city center, those closest—like them—needed tremendous effort to shake off suspicion.
Only after invoking the Mischen family name repeatedly could they leave the city.
Hiss...
They boarded a new train to Castreng and headed north.
Kang Seol discussed the mysterious force targeting Silvia with her.
"Among those eyeing Castreng's business rights, anyone suspicious?"
"Just suspicions, no certainties. Unless I return to the family and check directly..."
"Hmm..."
Silvia muttered.
"Um... Can we make it back safely? The attacks are getting fiercer. Lately, I've heard other families withdrawing from Castreng business..."
Of all places, the train was scheduled to stop for two days in Cheljia, a city just beyond Palbin.
The rest in Palbin had been unintended, so with the delay, Silvia grew anxious.
"Oh, you have someone to meet in Cheljia, right?"
"Yes, it shouldn't take long, so please stay with my group for a bit."
Knowing the masked man was a powerhouse rivaling Kang Seol, Silvia nodded.
"Won't it be dangerous going alone...?"
Kang Seol said firmly.
"That won't happen."
Nod...
The train arrived in Cheljia.
With two days of free time, passengers dispersed to find lodging in Cheljia.
"See ya later!"
Tansia rode on Karuna's shoulders, waving her small hands side to side.
She hated parting from Kang Seol, but the piggyback ride's power was immense.
Cheljia, Castreng Station.
Beneath the clock tower.
Kang Seol breathed out frosty breath, waiting for someone.
"Whew... Long time no see."
Someone's footsteps stopped before him.
Rugged field jacket and scruffy beard.
"...Ishii."
"Long time, Kang Seol. Got your message. Lucky I'm nearby... Anyway..."
Ishii pulled him into a hug.
The Japanese ex-soldier he'd shared many trials with in Hwigeltoong.
"Glad you're safe. Was worried since we lost contact."
"Ah..."
After parting from Ishii, communication had been cut off for a while, enough to mistake him for dead.
"How's Yeba?"
"At home. She's pregnant."
"...Congrats."
It was surprising, but they'd heard about the marriage.
"Hahaha! Sorry we couldn't invite you to the wedding."
"I should've kept in touch too..."
The two sat on a bench under the clock tower, chatting.
"Heard you became a diplomat."
"That? Yeba exaggerated. Just occasional dispatches for Hwigeltoong matters."
"Hwigeltoong, huh..."
"Thanks to you. No one in the federation speaks Troll, and no one wants to learn from them."
"You know some?"
"Brong assigned a teacher. But couldn't understand a word. Damn primitive race, why's their language so advanced."
Snicker...
Ishii lit a cigarette.
"Want one?"
"Nah."
"Hooo... The teacher's the least scary-looking one, so tolerable."
"That's good."
"Kukuku... What about you? How've you been?"
They talked on various topics, smiles always present.
"Buy some flowers... Buy some flowers, please..."
A child just entering adolescence wandered the clock tower area, selling flowers.
Ishii frowned and called the kid.
"Hey, kid! Give me one of those flowers?"
"Really?"
"Yeah, gotta bring it to Yeba at home."
Kang Seol smiled.
"She'll probably ask why you bought this."
"Spot on. Should've put it in a vase anyway?"
"Yeba would like that."
"Hehe... Here, keep the change."
"Thank you! Thank you! Have a happy day!"
The child vanished.
Ishii sniffed the flower.
Sniff...
"Smells weak. Gonna get an earful for real."
"Ishii!"
"...Huh?"
Shing-!
Kang Seol swung his sword, slicing the flower Ishii held in half.
"Hey!"
Smack-!
He then kicked the flower bud high.
"You punk, what are you..."
The flower bud floated into the air.
Click...
Kwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaang-!
Massive explosion.
Scorching heat.
"Kyaaaaak!"
"Ex-Explosion!"
Ishii clutched his head and ducked.
Realizing how close he'd been to death, Ishii's face paled.
"Gasp... gasp... Wh-what was that."
And their terror stirred Kang Seol's dormant violence.
- Make sure he learns what we are. Let him know it'll be no fun if he interferes.
Kang Seol's lips twisted.
"...Fun."
Looking at Ishii's bewildered face, Kang Seol changed his mind.
From now on, he'd dive deeper into this mess.
- He needs to know. That we're rabid dogs. He should think we'll bite if he keeps messing with our business.
He knew well how to handle biting dogs.