Chapter 180
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 180
Chapter Title: Honey Trap (2)
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'What the hell is with this woman?'
I'd only opened it assuming she was just some run-of-the-mill top-ranking player.
'Why would a player of this caliber...?'
Of course, with Eternity's reputation skyrocketing lately, it wasn't strange for someone of her level to apply.
The problem was her status window.
If it were just raw combat power, that'd be one thing, but her job and traits set off alarm bells.
'...Feels similar to when I first saw Sharis.'
She'd acted like some naive priestess clueless about the world, but after seeing her status window, it all looked like an act.
"Um... You're Woo Seo-hyun, right?"
"Yes, that's me!"
"First off, thank you for applying to join Eternity. May I ask why you chose our clan?"
Woo Seo-hyun replied with a shy expression.
"Hehe, well... Your clan has gained so much fame lately, and it's just so cool that players barely into their second year have achieved all this!"
Seo Yu-ju looked flustered, clearly not expecting that reason.
I was flustered too, but for different reasons.
'That's her reason? Seriously?'
Frankly, her words painted her as your typical cheerful, everyday woman.
"The Golden Spearman! And you're Lee Yun-seong, the one who solved all those issues in the neutral nation, right?"
"...You know me?"
"Of course! These days, everyone knows the names Seo Yu-ju and Lee Yun-seong of Eternity."
"Haha..."
"I'm a huge fan of yours personally! Hehe..."
As Woo Seo-hyun gazed at me with sparkling eyes, Seo Yu-ju focused her attention.
"Ahem... Alright, I get your reasons. How long have you been in Eras...?"
"Oh, I'm just into my third year!"
'Third year isn't that long.'
Rookies were usually considered up to year two, while veterans were five or six years in.
For a third-year, those stats were insanely high.
She was somewhere between top-tier and upper-mid.
"Hmm... Third year. If you don't mind, could you give us a rough idea of your job and main stats?"
"My job is Advanced Priest, and my main stats are mid-80s. I've never heard anyone say I fall short as a priest... Hehe."
'She didn't mention her other job. And she lowballed her stats.'
Downplaying her abilities like that screamed ulterior motives.
'Normally, when applying to clans, people inflate their specs. No one hides them like this.'
It'd be like interviewing at a major corporation and underselling your resume.
If she'd been upfront about her job and stats, I'd have assumed she genuinely wanted to join Eternity.
'Need to run a background check.'
She definitely wasn't a regular player.
"Advanced Priest with mid-80s main stats? That's an impressive spec. You could easily join one of the Three Great Clans if you wanted..."
As Seo Yu-ju said, even her downplayed stats qualified her for the Three Great Clans.
'Especially as a priest.'
Mid-80s main stats were solid even for melee jobs.
Priests were even more valuable.
"Somehow, Eternity appealed to me more than the Three Great Clans. Your clan's story has been all the rage lately. 'Miraculous Revival of a Fallen Clan!' It's been in the newsletters multiple times."
Seo Yu-ju looked pleased at Woo Seo-hyun's words. Naturally—who wouldn't like praise for their clan?
Especially Seo Yu-ju, who was always hungry for talent. She seemed taken with Woo Seo-hyun.
The clan only had Yu-hyeon as a priest, so things had been shaky.
As expected, Seo Yu-ju's response was positive.
"Great, Woo Seo-hyun. We'll need to verify details, but if everything checks out, Eternity has no reason to turn you down."
From Seo Yu-ju's position, there was no reason to refuse.
"Yay! Thank you! I'll work hard!"
Woo Seo-hyun bounced around like she was genuinely thrilled.
'.......'
I didn't object. Seo Yu-ju would follow my lead if I said no, but I didn't.
If Woo Seo-hyun had infiltrated Eternity with some agenda, we needed to find out what.
And so, Woo Seo-hyun officially joined Eternity.
"Ruska, do you know a woman named Woo Seo-hyun?"
"Woo Seo-hyun?"
Ruska held the most info on anyone around me.
With her vast knowledge from the first round, I needed to ask her about Woo Seo-hyun.
"Yeah. She just joined Eternity. Run a background check."
Seo Yu-ju hadn't reacted to her, so she clearly didn't know Woo Seo-hyun.
If there'd been any first-round connection, she'd have recognized her.
'Ruska might know.'
Unlike Seo Yu-ju, who'd operated in the light, Ruska had worked in the shadows with me.
"Hmm... Any other details? I don't remember every name of people I've met, Master."
'Other info...'
"She has two jobs. Advanced Priest normally, but also Abyss Priest."
"...Ah."
"What? Ring any bells?"
"...I think I know who."
"What kind of woman is she?"
"Only one player in Eras switches jobs like that. Probably an executive in the Execution Society."
"...What?"
"Didn't click on the name at first, but the job jogged my memory."
"You sure? An Execution Society executive?"
"Positive. Abyss Priest Woo Seo-hyun. Unique as the only priest-class with offensive capabilities. Stuck in my mind, Master."
'...Why join Eternity? To plant a spy?'
If so, what was the goal?
'...Because of me?'
They'd already failed to capture me once, so it wasn't a stretch.
'Doesn't add up. Revenge only makes sense if there's gain. Why go this far?'
Even if they succeeded against me, the payoff was minimal.
I had some name recognition now, but no real surface influence.
Sure, underwater I was Eternity's shadow power, Madan Clan's lord, and Acacia Clan's master.
'The Execution Society might not know about Eternity ties, my stuff with Ha Yuri, or Acacia Clan.'
At this point, I wanted to see their leader's face.
No clue what they were thinking.
'And use a big shot like her as a spy?'
"...Got it. No idea what the Execution Society's playing at."
"Master, maybe I should join Eternity too..."
"No."
I shot down Ruska's suggestion cold, and she pouted, questioning me.
"Why? If something happens to you, I..."
"Don't worry. I'm not blind to their schemes, and I'm not dumb enough to get caught now that I know."
No daylight robbery here.
"...Master, I'm saying this because the Execution Society's been acting strange lately."
"...Strange how?"
"They started digging into Acacia Clan. And about that thing you asked me to check recently..."
A while back, after Ricky's tip about Jo Yeon-ju's murder, I'd had Ruska investigate.
Not urgent, just if she had time.
"I recall Jo Yeon-ju was killed by two people, and as you said, one was almost certainly from the Fancy Spear Clan."
"The other?"
"Not certain, but high chance it's an Execution Society executive."
Her words muddled my head.
'Sudden activity spike. Planning something?'
Until now, aside from spies in the Three Great Clans, the Execution Society hadn't moved directly.
If Ruska was right, they'd sent a spy to Eternity and killed Jo Yeon-ju.
"...Why kill Jo Yeon-ju? Any reason for the Execution Society?"
"Sorry, Master. That's beyond what I know."
Seemed her info ended there.
'Still, this is plenty.'
It wasn't dire—we'd sniffed out their ploy immediately.
'...Actually, might be exploitable.'
I hadn't told Seo Yu-ju about the World Devourer yet.
As someone who needed her to awaken as a Transcendent, it was a headache.
'Crisis forges strength.'
A threat to her was a threat to me.
Play this right, and I could toughen her up.
'She grew during the Cocoon of Birth because I was in danger.'
...Trashy method, but holding myself hostage to boost her was effective.
'Gotta think hard. Script this properly.'
Might be a growth chance for others too.
'Tough call. Approach first or watch?'
Initiating wouldn't raise flags necessarily, but who knows.
'Seo Yu-ju and Wi Ho-yeon's eyes are a concern...'
...Unlikely, but they might misunderstand.
As I pondered, Ruska spoke up.
"Master."
"Yeah?"
"...Please prioritize your safety. And..."
"W-What's up?"
She suddenly leaned in close, startling me.
"...Master, did you sleep with Seo Yu-ju?"
'What the...'
Why could every woman around me read my face like that?
"Figured as much. No need for that look. I expected it'd end that way."
"...What?"
"She's not the type to stay quiet. Knew she'd come after you eventually."
With that, Ruska suddenly shoved me down.
"Ugh! What the hell, Ruska...?"
Straddling me, she spoke.
"...That aside, it pisses me off anyway."
"What?"
"...Why haven't you touched me? Didn't you promise a reward?"
"Reward? What..."
"Am I not attractive enough? No, your body's reacting fine."
My body shivered involuntarily. Her eyes burned with heat.
"I can't hold back anymore. If you won't reward me, I'll take it myself."
"Mmph...!"