Chapter 55
Chapter 55
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: ACT.10 Throne of Greed (4)
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Im Byeong-hwi was highly competent.
Even without any specific orders from me, he was thoroughly checking the immigrants for any spies mixed in.
He would sort them based on where they came from, then have those with the Psychometry trait inspect them for confirmation.
Only those who passed the check were accepted.
It wasn't a perfect method, since it was unlikely anyone had a high-rank Psychometry, but the same was true for the enemy—their stats and trait ranks wouldn't be high either.
That was more than enough.
They said he'd been the one to actually lead the people after Yoo Seong-hoon's disappearance, and now I could see why.
Though he himself wasn't a player and couldn't become a Ruler.
Being a non-player who was well-versed in player-related information was a skill in itself.
The key here was that they were using 'Psychometry' for the inspections.
"Please wait your turn! When your name is called, please come forward for the inspection!"
"Kim Hak-gyu! Is Kim Hak-gyu here!?"
I surveyed the noisy inspection area.
This was the place where those who had just arrived in the north were quarantined and screened for spies.
If they willingly submitted to Psychometry, they'd be caught immediately.
But if they refused, they would obviously be denied entry and turned away.
So, they would have to use a method to infiltrate without being inspected.
‘His specialty was disguise.’
He was smart, but the real problem was his skill in disguise, which allowed him to use that intelligence effectively.
The best way to sneak in without being inspected or raising suspicion would be...
‘To disguise himself as one of the inspectors.’
Unfortunately for him, as long as I was here, that method wouldn't work.
[Using the skill, 'Extreme Eye'.]
Information about the people there began to appear one by one.
I didn't need to see everything.
I just needed to check their names, and if I found the right one, I would double-check their traits.
I also excluded those with very low mana.
At least 20 mana or more.
Because of the taxes and fees, most players didn't invest in their mana stat at all, so filtering them out was easy.
"I'm just going to the restroom for a moment."
"Oh, alright! You know we have to switch soon, right? ...Wait, didn't you just go a little while ago?"
"I know. I must have eaten something bad, my stomach is acting up again..."
Just then, an inspector was about to leave his post, so I turned my gaze toward him.
His information appeared.
Name. And trait.
The moment I confirmed it, a small, breathy laugh escaped me.
His disguise was so good you'd think he was the same person, but his acting wasn't quite on that level.
But perhaps because they were busy, the inspector in charge didn't seem suspicious and just nodded for him to go.
"Choi Yeon-su."
I called his name just as he pretended to head for the restroom and tried to slip away down another path.
Choi Yeon-su stopped and, slightly tipping up the brim of his hat, turned to look at me.
The information displayed in the status window couldn't be faked.
Whether he disguised himself or transformed, he couldn't escape my eyes.
"...You have the wrong person."
"I know who you are, so don't play dumb. Why would you come all the way from the central region to carry out some scheme when Yoo Seong-hoon hasn't even come up with a proper plan?"
Silence followed.
He must be racking his brain right now.
"I didn't expect to be found so easily."
His calculations seemingly complete, Choi Yeon-su gave a faint smile and readily admitted it.
He gives up faster than I thought.
"You're not going to resist?"
"No. I'll give up on resisting."
Choi Yeon-su shrugged.
"I want to survive. I'm not particularly skilled in combat. So, to live, shouldn't I be bold when it's time to switch sides?"
"And you think I'd trust a turncoat like you?"
"Don't trust me."
"Telling me not to trust you while offering to join me is a contradiction."
"Isn't it obvious? Why would you trust someone who openly admits they'll switch sides depending on the situation?"
He grinned playfully, his eyes twinkling.
"Don't trust me. But, since you seem to know me well for some reason, I'll say this. Don't trust me as a person; trust my abilities."
Trust my abilities.
Not a bad proposition.
Indeed, Choi Yeon-su's 'Polymorph' trait was extremely useful.
However, apart from that, the problem was that he could backstab me at any moment.
"I acknowledge your abilities. But I still can't trust you."
"Ha. So you're not the magnanimous type. A shame."
Without a word, I pointed my sword at his neck.
Beads of cold sweat formed on Choi Yeon-su's forehead.
His disguise skills were exceptional, but his combat abilities were pathetic.
He knew better than anyone that he couldn't escape from here.
He had gambled on his own usefulness, but it was all for naught if his opponent didn't see it that way.
‘However.’
I, too, acknowledged his usefulness.
It would be a waste to kill him.
But if he fell into someone else's hands, he would be an incredible nuisance.
And if I kept him, I wouldn't know when he might betray me.
"As long as you remain the strongest, I won't betray you."
As if reading my mind, Choi Yeon-su suddenly spoke with a solemn expression.
I raised the corner of my mouth slightly.
Right. That was also true.
As long as I held my position firmly, Choi Yeon-su would use all his abilities to help me, if only for his own survival.
If used well, there was no better card to have.
"Alright. Then let's do this."
I took a rolled-up piece of paper from my coat and handed it to Choi Yeon-su.
Choi Yeon-su took the paper, squinting one eye, but his expression soon turned to one of shock.
"Th-This is... crazy. Are you serious? You think this will work?"
"Is there any reason it wouldn't?"
"Of course there is!"
Choi Yeon-su shot to his feet and shoved the paper in my face.
"These absurd, unreasonable, one-sided clauses! How is this a contract? It's a slave document! Do you even know what a contract is!?"
"That's right. It's a slave contract."
"You crazy..."
As Choi Yeon-su's arm slowly lowered, my gaze followed the descending paper.
He was right.
The paper I'd given him was filled with clauses that unilaterally bound him to obey me.
1. Party B (Choi Yeon-su) must obey the words of Party A (Kim Se-hyeon) with the utmost priority.
2. As long as Party B follows Party A faithfully, Party A will not harm Party B.
3. If Party B fails to follow Party A's instructions for an unpermitted reason, all of Party B's traits and skills will automatically be converted into coins, and all said coins will be given to Party A.
4. If Party B causes harm to Party A, the result will be the same as in Clause 3.
...
Hmm. I thought I'd adjusted it to not be *too* unfair.
"Don't worry. You can see from Clause 2, right? As long as you don't betray me, nothing will happen."
"You call that a reason...!?"
"You're well aware you're not in a position to refuse."
Choi Yeon-su's face crumpled, and he shut his mouth.
But not wanting to back down just like that, he bit his lip in a petty attempt at defiance.
"...I was a bit taken aback. But there's no way a contract like this would be approved."
"Why do you think that?"
"Because it's a contract. A special contract that's officially recognized by the system."
Choi Yeon-su waved the contract.
I focused on listening quietly, a faint smile on my lips.
"The more unfair a contract is, the more coins Party A has to pay. You're not even collecting taxes, so there's no way you can afford the cost of such an unfair contract!"
"That's right. You know your stuff."
"So it was just a bluff."
"It sounds like you'd agree to this contract in a heartbeat if it wasn't a bluff."
"Pfft. Considering your situation, not even collecting taxes, there's no way you have enough coins to pay for that unfair contract. Even if I accept, if you can't pay, the contract is meaningless."
"Well said."
[Paying the cost of the contract.]
[20,000 coins have been paid.]
[The contract has been established. The remaining term is indefinite.]
Flash!
The contract glowed brightly before dissolving into particles of light that were absorbed into the back of my hand and Choi Yeon-su's.
Seeing Choi Yeon-su's speechless face, I burst out laughing.
The coins used for a contract are treated as if they were used for a purchase in the shop.
In other words, I could use the massive amount of coins I received as a special reward.
An expenditure of this size was practically nothing.
"Wh-Where did you get that kind of money... no, more importantly, you're really willing to spend that much just for me!?"
"Like you said, I trust your abilities."
"Hah."
Choi Yeon-su let out a hollow laugh and slumped over.
Now that the contract was sealed, Choi Yeon-su could not escape me.
He got uncharacteristically worked up and fell for it easily.
Normally, he was the type to never say anything that could put him at even the slightest disadvantage, no matter how favorable the situation.
"...Haaah."
Before long, Choi Yeon-su stood up with a look of resignation.
He slapped his own cheeks a couple of times with both hands, and his face reverted to its original form.
"Alright. I'll cooperate. No, it's not cooperation... damn it. Anyway, according to the contract, if I follow you, my safety is at least guaranteed, right? Right?"
I gave a faint smile and nodded.
It was a wise choice.
What's done is done. The best course of action now was to simply obey my words.
Just as Choi Yeon-su said, if he followed me quietly, I had no intention of harming him either.
"A contract goes both ways. If you ever find yourself in danger, I'll do whatever I can to save you."
"...That's reassuring, I guess. Damn it. Now that I'm this close, I can feel an incredible aura from you. Just what are your stats?"
Choi Yeon-su grumbled, letting out a sigh mixed with relief.
Seeing that he seemed to have made up his mind completely, I asked a question that I had been curious about for a long time.
"Let me ask you something. Do you have any desire to be number one?"
"Why would I want that?"
Choi Yeon-su waved his hand, his face showing genuine disgust.
"I prefer being number two. I can pass all the responsibility to number one, and I get to do whatever I want within my capabilities."
I see.
I never could have known, since you can't ask these kinds of minor questions in the game.
Feeling a little more clear-headed, I nodded.
"Good. Then tell me about the current situation in the central region."
"What's there to tell? Yoo Seong-hoon is already pissed off about people leaving, and now that he knows I'm gone, he's probably getting his hopes up. He likely expects me to wreck things from the inside and is slacking off on war preparations. He wasn't smart enough to be a Ruler anyway; let him learn a harsh lesson this time."
It was similar to what I had predicted.
If even Choi Yeon-su was saying it, then I could assume it was true.
Although that was assuming he was telling the truth, there was no reason for Choi Yeon-su to lie in this situation.
If he had lied, he would have immediately started gasping for air and writhing in pain.
"Choi Yeon-su. From now on, you are not betraying Yoo Seong-hoon."
"Does that mean you want me to be a double agent?"
"It's a bit more complicated than that."
I took an item from my coat and held it out in front of Choi Yeon-su.
Choi Yeon-su's eyes narrowed, then shot wide open.
"Th-This is... wait a minute. Don't tell me you're aiming for...?"
"Choi Yeon-su."
Choi Yeon-su, who had been biting his lip in confusion, snapped to his senses at my call.
"I believe in your abilities."
Suddenly, an image of Kim Ji-hyeon flashed through my mind.
Am I saying the same thing without realizing it?
This must be how she felt.
"...I think I've really chosen the right side this time."
Breaking out in a cold sweat, Choi Yeon-su managed a difficult smile.
"But is it really necessary to go this far? With your power, it seems like you could win easily in a direct fight."
"Do you know why fishermen release the small ones?"
"That's..."
Choi Yeon-su started to answer, but then slowly closed his mouth.
A twisted smile slowly spread across his face.
Crazy bastard.
Even though he hadn't opened his mouth, it was as if I could hear those words in Choi Yeon-su's voice.
"The point is to let them grow bigger so you can catch them again."
Raise them to be devoured.
It was the second method of raking in coins using the Ruler trait.