Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: CHAPTER 1 - Suspicious Cruise Ship
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[Investigation of the Cruise Ship Disappearances]
[This request has been handed over to the Cartel by the Management Bureau, which is currently short-staffed. The goal is to investigate the cause of the ongoing disappearances of passengers on the cruise ship, locate the missing individuals, and rescue them. Completing even one of these objectives will earn the primary reward. Achieving both will grant the secondary reward as well.]
[Primary Reward: 20 million won]
[Secondary Reward: 60 million won]
[Notes: Although this request was transferred from the Management Bureau, no information about the contractors will be shared with them. Cruise tickets and similar items will be provided upon acceptance, so do not use personal funds.]
[This request is first-come, first-served.]
[Current Acceptances]
[0/2]
Compared to other requests, the description was much longer. Ian read through it carefully before letting out a groan and replying to Lee Seo-ah's message.
[Me: You want to do this one?]
[Lee Seo-ah: Yeah. Sounds good, right? Decent pay, and a free cruise trip.]
[Me: It's not a bad request, but the secondary reward seems basically impossible.]
Figuring out the cause might be doable, but locating and rescuing the missing people was no easy task. It would take a ton of time, and even then, there was no guarantee of success.
The secondary reward being three times the primary wasn't for nothing. It wasn't as tough as exploring the library, but it was still a hassle.
[Me: Definitely an Anomaly involved?]
[Lee Seo-ah: Yeah. Summoned one of the missing souls, and it said it died without knowing what hit it.]
...A soul.
She'd already confirmed it with Necromancy. Ian tossed his coat aside and tapped out a reply on his keyboard.
[Me: Call me instead of texting. Dial.]
The moment the read receipt popped up, his phone rang. He double-checked the number—just in case—pressed accept on the request, and picked up.
"Hello."
[It's been a while.]
A young girl's voice flowed through the phone speaker. Ian chuckled and leaned back.
"Yeah, it has. You doing okay?"
[So-so.]
"School?"
[On break. Graduating this year anyway. Won't be going much in February.]
"No friends?"
[......]
No response. Ian switched topics right away.
"You summoned a soul, so Necromancy, right?"
[......Yeah. Calling a specific target is tough, so it took a lot of materials, but it worked.]
Luckily, Lee Seo-ah didn't seem to want to dwell on friends and jumped right in.
[35 years old. Boarding the cruise with family, went to sleep and woke up dead as a doornail.]
"Could it be a simple murder?"
[No way. Security on a cruise like that isn't lax, and the room he was in is the best on the ship—top-notch security.]
"Hmm......"
[And get this: Fell asleep on the first night, but died on the third day, afternoon.]
"...That's definitely weird."
Fell asleep day one, died day three—what happened to day two? And why no memory of it?
It defied common sense. Even with something like sleep apnea or sleepwalking, it'd raise eyebrows. A real mystery.
An Anomaly was definitely involved.
Ian groaned and tapped his foot.
"Any other info?"
[None. This was hard enough to get. The others? No clue if they're dead or alive.]
"Hmm......"
[Anyway, you in? I'm accepting.]
Ian mulled it over instead of answering right away.
Honestly, not that tough. If it's just disappearances on a cruise, more likely a ghost story than a grotesque horror. Way easier than spatial Anomalies.
Not a cakewalk, but better than theme parks, libraries, or hospitals. Pay wasn't bad either.
'Primary reward alone is a win.'
20 million wasn't chump change. He'd made over 200 million from the library, but that was insanely high pay for being thrown into an unknown spatial Anomaly with no rules. Without the Knowledge-Eating Paper, he'd have struggled.
Anyway.
No reason to pass on a request with moderate difficulty, solid base pay, and potential bonus.
He was planning to get back into serious requests anyway—this was a good re-entry.
Ian organized his thoughts and smiled.
"When and where?"
[......Hee hee hee.]
A sly giggle came through the speaker with her reply.
*
The day after accepting, a cruise ticket arrived at Ian's door.
A fancy ticket with the ship's name, service info, and cabin number. Ian stepped out, picked up the ticket he'd been expecting, and headed to the parking lot.
Vroom.
He started the bike and waited for it to warm up.
While he did, he scrutinized the ticket.
"......"
Nothing special. Not like the theme park ticket that triggered an Anomaly itself. Probably something inside sets it off, revealing the Anomaly.
Hoped for a straightforward grotesque. Easier to kill physically. Beats gimmicks or rules.
Not overly optimistic, though.
Anomalies were never friendly to humans.
Always assume the worst. Ian checked his condition while the bike warmed.
Feeling... pretty good. Slept well, mind sharp, body decent. Recent workouts built stamina—no crashing after intense action.
Gear all packed.
Revolver in coat pocket, spare ammo for unknown stay.
Bag stuffed with alchemy items and finished products. Even brought blood, just in case.
'Better than cutting myself every spell.'
Blood from small cuts is limited. Bottled is smarter for arrays.
'Plenty of Dying Eyeballs, three knives, two lighters, one Knowledge-Eating Paper—but mirror's packed, so fine.'
Did everything possible. Ian slipped on the Klava, pulled down his helmet, visor shut.
Vision tinted black.
Gloves on, mounted the bike, kicked up the side stand. Warmth rose from the engine.
Warmed enough. Texted Lee Seo-ah he was heading out, twisted the throttle.
Cruise departs Incheon, hits Southeast Asia and Japan.
She came up yesterday—no need to wait.
Vroooom!
Engine roared, exhaust puffed smoke.
Weekday lunch—roads empty. Ian wiped dust off the bike and turned the handle.
No fine control needed; bike's AI handled optimal route, speed, path. Separate from Grandmother's magic.
'Worth every penny.'
Ian smirked, throttle harder.
Wind felt nice.
*
Luckily, free parking near the port during cruise season. Ian parked the bike, grabbed his bag, headed to the pier.
No extra luggage like a suitcase—no check-in. Quick inspection, into the waiting area.
Revolver and alchemy items didn't trip detectors.
Cartel-made revolver wouldn't. Alchemy stuff, obviously not.
Waiting area packed like an airport. Spacious, no crowding, but stuffy.
Ian wove through, spotted a familiar face, turned. Lee Seo-ah slurping coffee on a chair looked up, sensing him.
"Oh, you're here."
"Wait long?"
"Nah, just woke up. Kinda tired."
She scooted over. Ian sat beside her.
"Your stuff? Just the bag?"
"Few days' clothes is plenty. You... packed a full suitcase."
Ian eyed the black carry-on in front of her dubiously. She snorted.
"Gotta be prepared. Got everything."
"Anyone'd think you're on vacation."
"Might as well enjoy it."
"...Fair."
Ian gave a wry smile, hugged his bag. The two Grimoires inside wriggled, sensing it instinctively.
"Plan?"
Casual, like chit-chat. She tapped her phone, answered normally.
"Explore first. Stick together."
"Necromancy?"
"Yeah. Unpack, grab what we need, meet at the doors. Adjacent rooms anyway."
"Got it. But don't overpack. Exploration over combat."
"Yeah."
She nodded, smiled faintly, glanced at him.
"Looking pretty veteran now."
Ian chuckled without replying, pulled out his phone.
No more talk. They waited amid the chatter till boarding.
"Passengers for the cruise, this way please."
Soon enough. They stood, followed the attendant.
Showed Cartel tickets, boarded without issue.
Ian's first cruise—nervous inside—but easy, tension gone. Same for Seo-ah.
Followed the map to their assigned cabins.
"See you soon."
"Yeah."
Short exchange. Ian entered his room.
Suite like a luxury hotel. Huge bed, open terrace. Meeting round table filled one room, wine rack, fancy bath nearby.
Cartel didn't skimp.
Ian admired, checked every corner, unpacked bag on table, selected essentials.
Pulled out just Hand of Recreation, slipped into coat pocket.
[Bzzz!]
Deep Sea Chronicles buzzed in protest, like why not me? Ian had no choice.
Can't unleash summons in tight spaces.
Walls, ceilings, clutter everywhere—Hand of Recreation better suited here.
Not a spatial Anomaly.
Ian patted the sulking Grimoire's cover, smiled wryly.
"Stay put a sec. Back after scouting."
[Bzzz......]
"Quick. Don't hate me."
[Bzzz...!]
Left the flapping Deep Sea Chronicles behind like a head shake. Ian stepped out.
Hand of Recreation vibrated smugly, Deep Sea Chronicles reared up angrily—but door shut, no clash.
Ian pocketed the keycard—like a room key—wiped his face.
Then, adjacent door clicked open. Seo-ah stepped out, zipping her hoodie, grinning.
"Shall we?"
"Yeah."
Ian and Seo-ah walked the cruise corridor side by side, starting their exploration.
Six hours later.
"......"
"......"
The two, finding nothing, slumped in the cruise lounge.