Chapter 226
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 226
Chapter Title: Doubts About Sophia
Not long after being freed from the confined space, Sophia decided to take a rest.
Once Sophia had left, the agency head's office was filled with all the Royal Class members except for her, along with Charlie, who had now become the new agency head.
Shhh.
Yong-un unfolded the paper Sophia had given him and placed it on the desk where everyone could see it.
[Brazil Helim Square Princess Isabel Park Fountain]
"Does anyone know this place?"
At Yong-un's question, everyone shook their heads.
Except for one.
Charlie, the new agency head who had served under Odin—the former head and Sergio's right-hand man—for the longest time, was different.
Raising his hand, Charlie shouted as if something had just come to him.
"The previous agency head sometimes went there alone on a GHO passenger flight! He mentioned it was some park in Brazil. I think that's the place!"
Yong-un lightly tapped the paper with his finger.
"Any other opinions?"
"......"
All the Royal Class members shut their mouths.
Not a single one showed even the slightest change in expression; they simply looked away in silence.
The atmosphere was different from when Sophia was there.
From this vibe, Yong-un got a sense of what they were thinking.
And then.
Snap!
With a light finger flick, the Explosive Finger Bomb—a technique Yong-un had often used back in his Sword Demon days—unleashed.
Boom!
The burst of inner energy exploded at the base of Charlie's neck, robbing him of consciousness.
Charlie's body slumped to the floor with a thud.
Only then did the Royal Class members' expressions change.
"Hand."
Ignito abruptly extended his hand, and Yong-un along with the other Royal Class members all grasped it.
After that.
Whoosh!
Amid roaring crimson flames, every Royal Class member in the restored agency head's office vanished from the spot.
They arrived at the Mercenary King's stronghold.
"This place should be fine, right?"
Ignito let go of their hands, and the flames floating around his body vanished in an instant.
The Mercenary King immediately grabbed Yong-un's shoulders and spoke.
"Sophia is acting strange."
It was a remark that might seem out of left field, but the other Royal Class members shared the same thought, silently staring at Yong-un.
"What's strange about her?"
"Sophia isn't that frivolous. She doesn't smile so wickedly or open her mouth wide like that. Like this."
The Mercenary King covered his mouth with one hand in an effeminate gesture and mimicked a laugh.
"Not like some nobleman's daughter."
"Ah, I get what you mean."
Ignito, who had been listening quietly, raised his hand in agreement.
"It was definitely Sophia, right? And like she said, she might come back out with her memories all jumbled up. But... you know that feeling? It's completely different."
"Spello, do you agree too?"
Spello nodded at Yong-un's question.
These people knew Sophia—the leader of the Dreamlight Alliance—far better than Yong-un did.
She was a pure-blood Royal Class who had stood in opposition to Sergio for whatever motives he harbored, and the very founder of this alliance.
Yet all the Royal Class members who had spent long years with Sophia since the alliance's formation were testifying that something was off.
Yong-un silently observed them intently.
"What's with that look?"
Was it because of Yong-un's gaze full of suspicion?
Ignito showed signs of discomfort.
As comrades who had recently survived a life-and-death battle involving the Demon King's rune letters, this suspicion now felt like a disappointment to him.
"Ah, sorry about that."
But Yong-un had found what he wanted in Ignito's reaction.
Their genuine sincerity, enough to dispel his doubts.
"I needed confirmation from you all."
"Confirmation of what?"
"Sophia. That woman seemed off."
"What? You've never even met Sophia. How would you know if she's strange or not?"
In response to Ignito's counter-suspicion, Yong-un nodded emphatically.
"I know more than you think. That's why I realized her so-called memories were full of contradictions. That's why I tested if you suspected her too—that if she really was the Dreamlight you remember, i.e., Sophia, maybe you'd unknowingly fallen under Sergio's influence. But now it's confirmed. Don't worry."
"What convinced you?"
"Your hopelessly honest personality couldn't be faked even if someone tried."
"What!?"
True to his hot-blooded nature, Ignito erupted in anger, igniting crimson flames.
But Yong-un showed no change in expression despite the threat.
"I've been to the Demon King's Castle."
".....?!"
Everyone's eyes widened at Yong-un's revelation.
"You've... been to the Demon King's Castle?"
"You mean not through a Gate, but to the actual Demon Realm?"
Though not intentionally, Yong-un had indeed been to the Demon King's Castle.
He had gone via Sheiks' memories and even in person.
But the most crucial part was Sheiks' memories.
'Sheiks was a marquis-level demon who lived in the Demon King's Castle for a long time.'
It was Sheiks' choice for survival in the hellish food chain that was the Demon Realm.
What existed in the Demon King's Castle, what lurked there, and where he needed to go to survive.
Sheiks had struggled and grown his power to reach the rank of marquis-level demon.
And drawing from Sheiks' memories of even ascending to the Demon King's residence...
"Sophia confidently claimed your sacred treasures aren't in the Demon King's Castle."
Curiosity filled the Royal Class members' faces.
To them, who had already sensed something off about Sophia, Yong-un's words were merely background noise.
What intrigued them more was how he had gone to the Demon Realm—and to the Demon King's Castle, no less.
Their gazes concentrated with genuine suspicion.
Yong-un shook his head firmly.
"No need to doubt. The Demon King invited me on his own whim."
"Then why bring up something so important only now? What if you made it up..."
"Do you see me as that kind of person?"
The Mercenary King looked troubled at Yong-un's words.
He shook his head vigorously and waved his hands.
"No, no. Absolutely not."
"From now on, I'm trusting you all and will explain what I've seen. If anyone can't bring themselves to believe me, leave now."
The prideful Royal Class members stirred slightly at Yong-un's firmer-than-usual tone.
But it was only for a moment.
All the Royal Class members looked at Yong-un with silent affirmation.
Thus, a full minute passed.
A minute of utter silence, without a word or movement.
Only then did Yong-un address all the Royal Class members.
"I've judged that you're all in. What I say from now is all fact, and for all this, I need your help."
Yong-un's utterly serious expression and demeanor.
The Royal Class members matched it with expressions devoid of any playfulness, nodding as they looked at him.
With that, Yong-un slowly began recounting everything that had happened.
Ever since his Murim days, Yong-un had nurtured seeds of doubt over decades, never granting blind faith even to subordinates who risked their lives for him.
But the words Yong-un spoke contradicted his actions up to now.
From Marquis Sheiks.
To his conversation with the Demon King.
The exchange with Demicrasia before the Demon King's Castle.
And finally, Demicrasia sending him back from the Demon Realm.
Having heard it all, the Royal Class members wore even more serious expressions than usual.
"Why the hell did they let you go? It could've been the perfect chance for them."
"You told them about the Demon King rune letters representing yourself? But why let you leave after that?"
"With that kind of power, they could turn this world upside down right now. Why are they biding their time? And why spare you there?"
Just as Yong-un had pondered endlessly, they were now voicing the same questions.
"I've mulled over everything you just said countless times. But no answers came. How could we know their thoughts or goals? Only they do."
That was his answer to all the agonizing doubts so far.
The conclusion after endless deliberation.
With the current information, they couldn't even guess their intentions, let alone their objectives.
This response from Yong-un led the three Royal Class members straight to the conclusion he had reached.
"Sergio holds the answers, then."
The Mercenary King and Ignito nodded at Spello's words.
Sergio was the one who had reached the Demon Realm's secrets faster than anyone in this world.
Just knowing what would happen if he used 'ten thousand' was proof enough.
Combining their gathered intel with Sergio's would at least get them to the Demon Realm's truths far quicker than now.
"That's why I'm after Sergio. Capturing him will reveal everything. Even if not, he's seen and experienced more in this world than we have. He knows things we don't."
For example, the identity of the unknown entity that had sent Yong-un to Murim in the past—something he hadn't even told these people.
Or at the very least, a way to reach the Demon Realm.
Tap tap.
"So, trap or not, we have to go there."
The Mercenary King tapped the note Sophia had given them.
"Shall we?"
Ignito ignited flames, preparing his spatial transfer skill.
But Yong-un shook his head, stopping them.
"No. I'm going there alone."
"We don't know what skills or sacred treasures the current Sergio possesses. And it might not just be him—could be full of traps. You're going solo?"
Spello furrowed his brow and offered a realistic point.
Yet Yong-un smiled as if he had anticipated the question.
"I can handle it. Proving my trust and asking for your help isn't for that. Instead, there's something you need to do."
The three Royal Class members looked puzzled.
Yong-un glanced at their faces and let out a light scoff.
"Mu-hee."
A quiet call.
Its effect was different from before.
Yong-un's shadow began to stain blood-red, and Mu-hee slowly rose from within it.
"You mean she's been with you?"
One might think the only change was the shadow turning blood-red.
But the key difference was that, unlike before when she hid behind Yong-un using the Shadow Fusion Technique daily for shadow movement.
Mu-hee had been in the Unwoo Guild office until just moments ago.
"You called for me, Supreme One?"
Mu-hee bowed her head, wary of the Royal Class members.
Her astonishing ability to appear without any presence, unlike before, sent chills down the Royal Class assassins' spines.
Looking over their twisted expressions, Yong-un held back a laugh and said,
"Guide these people to Myeong-jang. And relay my command to carry it out."
"Understood, Supreme One."
Mu-hee's arms extended to both sides, her blood-red shadow stretching out to envelop the entire Mercenary King's stronghold.
Then it began slowly drawing the three Royal Class members into the shadow.
"There will be one of my subordinates waiting. He's sharp-minded, so follow his lead. I'll head there once I'm done."
At Yong-un's words, the Royal Class members—who had been resisting faintly—nodded with resolute trust.
After that, they squeezed their eyes shut and melted into the shadow, vanishing completely from the Mercenary King's stronghold.
"Sophia, huh..."
Above the now-empty Mercenary King's stronghold.
Yong-un etched the note from Sophia into his mind and entered a state of deep samadhi concentration.
The paper burned to ashes.
Before the fluttering remnants could touch the ground.
Whoosh.
Yong-un's figure vanished from the spot.