Chapter 191
Chapter 191
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 191
Chapter Title: ACT.35 Catching the Tail (2)
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“Jun Bo-ra!?”
The moment I grabbed Jun Bo-ra to turn her over, something warm and sticky coated my hand.
A significant amount of blood.
The moment I saw it, my body moved before I could even think, and I poured a potion on the wound.
“What happened!?”
Lee Min-hwa, sensing the commotion, came over and clapped a hand over her mouth when she saw Jun Bo-ra's condition.
That's how serious Jun Bo-ra's state was.
‘The bleeding is severe.’
Jun Bo-ra should have been doing her own thing in the east all this time.
Knowing as much as she did, she wouldn't have been easily caught in an enemy's trap. I couldn't understand how she got hurt like this.
I took out another potion, opened Jun Bo-ra's mouth, and poured it in.
“...A sword wound.”
Hwang Chan-jin, who had been observing with narrowed eyes, said in a confident voice.
“It wasn't a monster. A person did this.”
“Even if there were forces gathered there, they wouldn't be large enough to do this to Jun Bo-ra herself...”
“We can investigate later. For now, let's hurry back to the residence!”
Lee Min-hwa was right.
I had used the potions I had on hand in a pinch, but she needed to be laid down somewhere proper and treated.
Besides, Hwang Yu-jin had healing powers, so that was the surest way.
I crushed a stigma behind my back.
“I'm going to use Teleport, so stick close.”
“Teleport?”
“I got it from a stigma.”
[Using skill, 'Mass Teleport'.]
***
“I cannot say.”
The teleporter's name was Dwayne.
He was resolute.
It was difficult to make Dwayne talk by ordinary means.
To think he had the mental fortitude not to budge even after I used all 18 tools of the Torture Technician.
The fact that I couldn't use overly severe torture because of the angels' eyes was also a significant factor.
“Then tell me what you know about the 'Facilitators'.”
“I don't know. And even if I did, why would I tell you?”
Dwayne scoffed.
I let out a faint sigh as I looked at the lie detector, which showed no reaction.
Dwayne truly knew nothing about the 'Facilitators'.
Despite having been a part of them.
‘Maybe not everyone in L-Team is a Facilitator.’
Dwayne being left behind must have been a pre-arranged play.
If someone had to be the disposable piece, leaving behind someone who knew nothing would minimize the losses.
They must have left him because it wouldn't be a big problem even if he were caught.
It was unclear whether Dwayne was an NPC or a new player from the US.
“In this state, we can't even use him as a bargaining chip with Pentagon Eagle.”
Hwang Chan-jin glanced at Dwayne and crossed his arms.
When he had his S-rank power, that power itself was a crucial part of Pentagon Eagle's strength, giving him value as a hostage, but not anymore.
His stats and traits other than Teleport were still intact, so his overall evaluation would be at least B-rank.
Even so, he wasn't that valuable as a combatant, nor did he possess any important information.
A complete nuisance.
Hwang Chan-jin must have felt the same way, that the current situation was complicated.
‘They cut their tail off brilliantly.’
L-Team was definitely an unexpected enemy.
I knew from Jacob that an organization of Facilitators existed, but I never expected them to intervene so quickly.
On top of that, L-Team's strength.
In the end, Hwang Chan-jin and I gained the upper hand, but considering they were only a part of the enemy, it wasn't a good thing.
“This makes it certain.”
L-Team is a fragment.
Of what the whole picture looks like.
A fragment that allows us to infer that shape.
“It's not just Pentagon Eagle. They've likely infiltrated the major guilds of every country, subtly manipulating them to move in the direction they want.”
People with the kind of power L-Team has wouldn't be in low-ranking positions.
Every single one of them is S-rank or equivalent.
They're bound to have a significant say.
Assuming the other Facilitators have similar power, they could secure a prominent position wherever they go.
Naturally, a higher position means greater influence, making it possible to steer things to some extent.
If that's happening simultaneously all over the world.
‘They can control global trends as a whole.’
I clicked my tongue.
Looking at it this way, they're completely insane, aren't they?
But since these madmen are working together, their plans are incredibly elaborate.
“It might not be just the guilds.”
Hwang Chan-jin spoke up.
“The Order is also a possibility. Even more so, considering what happened with Paradise.”
“True. If they're operating as an organization, they can receive support even if individuals don't earn many coins. That kind of move would be possible.”
The names of a few organizations came to mind.
If Hwang Chan-jin was right, it would be hard to be complacent about anything else.
Everyone but us is an enemy.
It's pretty much come to that.
“...It must have already begun.”
Just as we were about to leave the prison, Dwayne murmured.
“It seems that woman managed to escape without dying, but you're one step too late.”
“What do you mean?”
“Because we had already been to many places before participating in the Paradise war.”
Kwang!
An ice hammer suddenly materialized in mid-air and smashed down on Dwayne's instep.
“Gaaack...!”
“Shut up. I'll find a use for you one way or another.”
Hwang Chan-jin snapped fiercely at Dwayne, then strode ahead.
He seemed angry that we had essentially gained nothing.
“...?”
Just before leaving the prison, Hwang Chan-jin gave me a slight nod.
...Aha. So that's what this is.
I gave a small smile and stood still until Hwang Chan-jin was out of sight.
Only after Hwang Chan-jin's presence had vanished did I turn around.
“Dwayne.”
“...”
“You can tell from his words and actions so far, but that guy couldn't care less about the angels' gazes. If he gets pissed off, I can't guarantee what he'll do. I can't stop him either. And it won't end with just you.”
There was still no reaction.
I had to find a keyword that would make Dwayne react this time.
This was the chance Hwang Chan-jin had created by playing the villain.
It seems natural now, but if the same situation happens twice, it'll become suspicious.
Focusing all my attention on Dwayne, I slowly continued.
“He could capture someone related to L-Team or Pentagon Eagle instead and do something terrible to them.”
“...”
“I'm saying he's the type of guy who wouldn't hesitate to go after your friends or family.”
Flinch.
Dwayne showed a noticeable reaction.
This is it.
I smirked inwardly.
“I'd like you to tell me something, anything, before that happens. Then I can use that as an excuse to stop Hwang Chan-jin from crossing the line. Honestly, I don't want to involve family either.”
“...Ada was a benefactor to my family.”
After a silence that lasted only a few seconds, Dwayne spoke.
“Promise me one thing. That you will never harm Ada.”
“You saw what happened last time. After I subdued her, I didn't leave a single scratch.”
“You used the 18 tools of the Torture Technician.”
“In reality, it was just tickling and annoying noises.”
The 18 tools of the Torture Technician inflict more pain with higher numbers.
I only used the ones at the beginning.
The very first ones, 1 and 2.
Dwayne maintained his stern expression for a while longer, then began to spill information.
“The place we focused on most before joining the war was eastern Seoul.”
“Why the east, specifically?”
“Because we heard the Strategy King's forces were there.”
So that's how it is.
Jacob said something similar.
The Strategy King is in Korea, so to ruin Korea, they must deal with the Strategy King first.
In other words, it was no exaggeration to say that the 'Strategy King' had become the target of every Facilitator in this world.
‘But no one knows that I'm the Strategy King.’
I never intended to reveal it easily anyway, but it just so happened that Jun Bo-ra was impersonating the Strategy King.
I judged that those who had played the original game would likely see me as their biggest rival, so I immediately used Jun Bo-ra as a shield.
To have her continue acting as the Strategy King from now on.
That strategy has worked perfectly now.
“We made many arrangements beforehand to ensure a rebellion could break out there. A mix of mind control and suggestion for incitement and fabrication. Then we gave the order to start the great undertaking at a certain moment.”
“And that was just a few hours ago?”
“...That's right. The woman who escaped seems to be the Strategy King, so you can assume the east has already become a chaotic mess.”
“Ada must be there too.”
“...”
“What's with the act? Doing something like that means your followers are trying to take over the east, and that a faction of yours is positioned there, right? Even with Imaginary Space Leap, you can't fly from here to Busan in one go. Since it came to this, you must have planned to at least properly swallow up the east.”
Silence is affirmation.
I left the prison without any lingering attachment.
“How did it go?”
When I went up to the floor where the prison entrance was, Hwang Chan-jin was waiting, leaning against the wall.
“He spilled some. Gentle over hard. The guy acts just like he looks.”
“There's a reason they say physiognomy is a science. Sounds like you managed to dig up Ada's whereabouts.”
“It seems certain she's in the east. Considering Jun Bo-ra's condition, it's 100%.”
“...Wouldn't it be better to move before Jun Bo-ra wakes up?”
“She's probably awake by now. We used three whole potions, and your sister even rolled up her sleeves to help.”
She would know best what the situation was like.
To grasp the situation over there and act accordingly, it was better to hear it from Jun Bo-ra.
And it's faster to move via teleportation.
Hwang Chan-jin and I took the elevator to the fifth floor and entered the room where Jun Bo-ra was.
“Ah, Oppa. And Se-hyeon-ssi, too.”
“Jun Bo-ra is...”
“She looks fine. Seeing as she's devouring that sandwich so ravenously.”
“Does this look fine to you!?”
Jun Bo-ra thrust the sandwich she was eating forward and snapped, then grimaced as if in pain.
“The wounds are mostly healed. The pain will linger for a while, though...”
“Good work.”
Hwang Chan-jin lightly patted Hwang Yu-jin's shoulder.
He'd be quite popular if he treated others like that.
I wonder if that day will ever come.
“Don't you two have something to say to me?”
Jun Bo-ra, having stuffed the rest of the sandwich into her mouth in one bite, glared sharply at Hwang Chan-jin and me.
“You're the one who has something to say. We saved you, and you haven't even said thank you?”
“I'll give you a grand bow or whatever after this is over, so save it. Something much more important has come up.”
Was there something more important than the incident happening in the east right now?
As I wracked my brain, trying to remember if I'd forgotten something, Jun Bo-ra narrowed her eyes.
“I passed out right away, but I heard you talking. Kim Se-hyeon. You're...”
Jun Bo-ra subtly turned her head toward Hwang Yu-jin, who quickly took the hint and excused herself.
After the sound of the door closing, Jun Bo-ra cleared her throat and continued.
“You're the Strategy King, aren't you?”
So it was about that.
I answered as if it were no big deal.
“He just jumped to that conclusion on his own.”
“It's certain.”
“Why are you so sure?”
“Because it's not me.”
Miraculous logic.
Hwang Chan-jin's utter confidence was so absurd it was baffling.
“What about Jun Bo-ra? She's been saying she's the Strategy King from the beginning.”
Hwang Chan-jin shifted only his eyes to stare at Jun Bo-ra.
Then, he scoffed loud enough for everyone to hear.
“Not even worth mentioning.”
“Hey!!”
Jun Bo-ra shouted, then immediately winced.
She looked a little confused.
It was understandable, since until now, Jun Bo-ra couldn't definitively conclude which of us—me or Hwang Chan-jin—was the Strategy King.
In fact, she had even said that Hwang Chan-jin was more likely to be the Strategy King than I was.
I let out a small sigh and met Hwang Chan-jin's gaze.
“...What are you going to do if I say I am the Strategy King?”