Chapter 192
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 192
Chapter Title: Lesson 38. Ban Yu-won's Words Come True - 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Ban Yu-won, who had intuitively connected the two, reflexively shook his head moments later.
"No, probably not."
Prominence, or their sponsoring constellation, searching for a specific unique authority was one thing.
But the 'enemy' that Ketra mentioned referred to those colluding with Crimson Spear on a dimensional scale...
Logically speaking, the only common thread among them was their affiliation with one of the Ten Great Families.
Yet Ban Yu-won couldn't shake the feeling that this single point of connection nagged at him relentlessly.
"Lilith, what do you think?"
[There aren't that many heirs from the Ten Great Families attending the Academy right now to begin with, right?]
"True enough."
The only ones who could truly be called 'heirs' were the second-year from the Prominence family and, excluding them, Ortima from the first year.
And while it might sound ridiculous, Ban Yu-won trusted his instincts, which rarely led him astray.
[Shall I dig deeper?]
Lilith had donned a sleek suit that hugged her tiny frame perfectly, complete with stylish glasses, striking a pose as his capable secretary.
Ban Yu-won let out a quiet sigh, muttering to himself that she'd get along great with the Chancellor, then plucked the toy glasses from her face and pocketed them.
[Ah!]
"I'm not a fan of glasses."
[Got it, noted!]
"Besides, there's a limit to what we can uncover on Earth. Digging deep into the Prominence family specifically would be impossible. So..."
Was the Follower of the Eternal searching across all dimensions, or zeroing in solely on Earth for his older sister's authority?
If the latter, how had they pinpointed Earth?
And was their interest in her mere curiosity, or did it lean toward favor... or hatred?
He asked her to confirm just those points.
"--And most importantly, about Prominence."
He pondered for a moment, mirror in hand.
Who could help him with intelligence on them?
Mira came to mind first, but she'd be too busy coordinating fairies across multiple dimensions and forging alliances during this break, so pass.
Yumina... As the Prominence heir was a student at the Academy, she'd likely have intel, but it might come with unnecessary misunderstandings, so he hesitated to reach out.
'Times like this call for a no-strings mercenary.'
Dimensional mercenaries would know more than most about renowned Ten Great Families across the universe. Especially since Prominence seemed linked to the dimensional pirate group Crimson Spear, delving into that angle might yield results.
[Aneri ― Perfect timing!]
Aneri Dedota replied in just five seconds after his message.
The Union Net's seamless cross-dimensional connection was impressive, but her response speed was uncanny.
We just got a new recruit who's ex-pirate! Crimson Spear!
Really?
They changed their face and laundered their identity so perfectly I almost missed it... But no one could've predicted their last Crimson Spear hideout overlapping with mine. Got a great leverage, so I'm putting them to good use as my errand boy.
A Crimson Spear pirate whose operations overlapped with Aneri's? Could it be one of Ketra's old crewmates?
The perfect informant!
I had no idea the Ten Great Family tied to Crimson Spear was Prominence.
It's just my hunch for now.
If Yu-won thinks so, then it's true. Even if not, I'll make it so!
Maybe he'd picked the wrong person for the job.
Can we confirm it by talking to your new recruit?
Probably under a gag order.
Of course. Without one, Ketra wouldn't have skipped details on Prominence and only explained the project.
But working around that to extract info is my job as a spy. Give me a week?
Not urgent, so sure. I'll pay well for the info.
Thanks to you for the leverage on the newbie, I'll cut you a deal.
Discount or not, her professional spirit shone through in always securing payment.
Once Ban Yu-won agreed, she hesitated briefly before adding:
The Ten Great Families are formidable foes. Their positions unchanged for millennia—you know what that means.
Not planning to tangle with them right now... Unless they come at us first.
If it comes to blows, we might need an alliance. At least pull in one Ten Great Family whose interests don't clash with ours.
He wasn't sure when Aneri had started lumping herself with him as "us," but he replied he'd think about it and ended the chat.
...Surely not the entire Rebellion fan club, right?
The declaration by the Ban Yu-won siblings right after clearing the G-rank dungeon proved extraordinarily effective. Applications flooded their homepage to the point of crashing it, and despite their firm statement against going through governments, agencies kept contacting them incessantly.
"Top pick's gotta be the US, right?"
The next day, at lunch with Oculus Ruber's executives, Ban Yu-mi prodded at the chap chae Lucelle had made—like it was her parents' murderer—with her chopsticks as she spoke.
But it tasted too good to deny, so she slurped it up eagerly. After all, their mother, Kang Eun-young, was the one who'd taught Lucelle how to make it.
Anyway, at her words, Kang Mi-yeon—who was checking the homepage on her tablet, updating in real-time—bit her stylus pen and shrugged.
"Not sure yet. China sent a proposal with this much upfront payment..."
"Ehh? No matter how much money, I hate China! Those players at the last Asian Games were so annoying—"
Lee Hyun-ji whined, peeking at Kang Mi-yeon's tablet screen, only for her face to change as she declared:
"Let's go to China right now. Before they back out."
The sum was apparently too tempting to complain about.
"Hyun-ji unnie, you're so pure-hearted, it's adorable."
"Wh-what? Hehe, really?"
"How pure do you have to be to not realize people hate on you..."
Kang Mi-yeon shook her head pitifully at her airheaded friend.
"It's not about the money in the first place, unnie. This is our chance to establish hierarchy and discipline among nations."
"Quit yapping and look at this."
"Even if the amount is huge— Whoa! China first it is!"
Yu Ji-na teased and insulted Lee Hyun-ji constantly, but fundamentally, they were alike.
Only Ban Yu-mi shook her head firmly, expression unshaken even after seeing the figure.
"No China."
"Even with this much money?"
"No means no!"
Ban Yu-won watched them bicker playfully on their own, then asked something that suddenly bugged him.
"Our guild aside, doesn't anyone else open promo channels on Union Net? I've never seen one."
"Ah, anyone who's seen your channel has thought about it at least once."
Kang Mi-yeon shrugged as she explained.
"Two issues: First, even if you earn Ronica on Union Net, no way to bring it to Earth. Opening a channel won't profit you."
"Huh? Just register an account, and Ronica settles monthly via— Oh."
Ban Yu-won realized mid-reply.
The account receiving Ronica was the one he'd opened in Union.
He'd registered it thoughtlessly when Union Net prompted for a payout account, but not just any dimension could handle Ronica settlements.
Apparently, a large accessible population didn't mean they dealt in Ronica.
"Then the second reason's obvious. Or actually, maybe that's the first."
"Smart as always. Yeah, you can't even open a channel to begin with."
Indeed.
Ban Yu-won figured it might be akin to how all Earth's myths had vanished.
"Well, that's a relief."
"No competition?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Earthlings have insane aggro."
Ban Yu-won muttered honestly by reflex, then hastily covered with a sigh as Lee Hyun-ji pounced.
He picked up his chopsticks for some chap chae—
"Yu-won, ahh~."
Before he could eat, Lucelle expertly rolled chap chae like pasta and flew it to his mouth with a pleased smile.
Her smile brooked no argument, so he obediently opened wide again.
Was Lucelle not just serving him, but deliberately flaunting their relationship to the others?
"Ahh~."
"Ohhh..."
"Whoa."
"......"
Ban Yu-won read the concepts of 'joy,' 'desire,' and 'superiority' radiating from her, deducing her motives after deep thought. But it didn't help escape the stares, gasps, and glares from the women at the table.
The pressure from the G-rank dungeon must have been far heavier than Ban Yu-won anticipated—far more horrifically so.
No threats or posturing at all; most nations outright pledged unconditional acceptance of his demands—precisely Ban Yu-won's—and requested support.
With no choice but to rank by offers and order, the selected nation was... the UK.
"Hey, Ban Yu-mi."
Ban Yu-won had left selection entirely to his sister, only learning the destination at the airport. He called her in a cold voice.
"What, Ban Yu-won."
For some reason, Ban Yu-mi smirked back.
That smug grin was infuriating.
If not for every eye in the airport on them, he'd have pinched those plump cheeks raw.
"There were other countries with the same terms!"
"Picked based on my personal fondness."
She knew his UK trauma and still said that.
He trembled with rage, but Kang Mi-yeon tilted her head.
"Yu-mi, you like the UK? Thought you hated it."
"Yeah, you've despised the UK for years. Your 'fondness' ranking—is it hate order? Gonna smash their ace party in a dungeon?"
"Sis hates the UK?"
News to him.
But no time for more; Ban Yu-mi suppressed the members with demonic vigor.
"Quit gossiping and follow me."
"Oh yeah, whose plane?"
"Ours."
Not a joke—a sleek private jet emblazoned with "Oculus Ruber" in elegant script awaited them.
"Guild's killing it."
"US gifted it after our first F-rank flood failure—they begged us to come quick."
"Who's living life on their terms if not you, sis?"
Ban Yu-won eyed his sister's smug pose before the jet, tempted to have Lilith drop her doll disguise and humble her. But if sis demanded a trip to another dimension, it'd be a hassle, so he held back.
"We'll do our utmost for a safe, comfortable flight."
"Captain! Please take good care today! Got booze?"
"Of course."
Probably from past flights; seeing Lee Hyun-ji greet the pilot warmly then demand drinks confirmed it for Ban Yu-won.
No wonder such a beauty had no popularity.
He looked elsewhere for hope, but even Kang Mi-yeon—let alone Yu Ji-na—had glasses out.
"Why carry cups everywhere?"
"Guild rule: poison-check food with our own utensils wherever we go. Early fame meant constant sabotage."
"That's why no guys in the guild."
"And you still won't quit drinking..."
As Ban Yu-won sighed, Lee Hyun-ji offered him a glass from her bosom.
"Have one, right?"
"Yeah, take it and spill. Why do you siblings hate the UK?"
Ban Yu-mi seethed quietly.
Ban Yu-won just smiled hollowly.
"It's really nothing."
"So what is it?"
"Just..."
The next instant, at Ban Yu-won's words:
"We went to the UK for our school trip."
"School trip!"
For some reason, not anyone else but Lucelle shot to her feet!
"I can't lose! Absolutely not!"
"What's with you now, Lucelle?!"
"...Does she know too?"
She remembered Ban Yu-won's past words with eerie precision!