Chapter 56

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Translated by Jinmu

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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“Is this real?”

Inside the City Hall building with a business-like atmosphere.

Perhaps because they entered the center of the enemy camp, Yeon-woo carefully asked.

“Don’t worry. They aren’t going to arrest us here or anything.”

“That isn’t the problem, Brooke and Vares also know you found the temple, Hyung, right? Won’t the assassins just increase?”

“They won’t send them right away. As long as the citizens know me, it’ll get noisy for no reason if I suddenly die. If I don’t die, that’s an even bigger problem.”

For Vares to use this place as a forward operating base is a story for a slightly later future.

Until then, he has to lead the city and aim to advance to the center, so he couldn’t afford to harbor unnecessary suspicion.

“It is this way.”

The knight who guided them to the 2nd floor stopped at a large room in the center.

At a glance, it also looked like a King’s audience chamber.

After sitting in the Mayor’s seat, it was a space remodeled per Brooke’s request.

“Your Excellency, Adventurer Black Dragon has arrived.”

“Let him in.”

When the knight reported, an answer was immediately heard from inside.

“Walk in following the red line.”

Following the knight’s words, Han-bit moved his steps inside.

Because he put his weapons in the inventory, there was no particular restraint.

“So you are… Black Dragon.”

When he arrived at the place where the red line ended, a voice was heard.

On the chair placed atop a few steps sat an emaciated man.

[Edlen Mayor Brooke Northon]

The Mayor of Edlen appearing for the first time from Han-bit’s viewpoint.

However, the important one was the man standing next to him.

[Vares Rober]

“Hmm.”

A snake-like eye beneath thick eyebrows and hair parted down the middle.

The appearance of his overlapping double chin and bulging belly jiggling was exactly as he remembered.

Even that unpleasant gaze looking him up and down.

“I am Adventurer Black Dragon. It is an honor to meet you.”

– Honor? Lol

– No matter when I look at him, he looks like f*cking sh*t which is great.

– If it just wasn’t for that bastard;

– Black Dragon-a, let’s pull out your sword and kill him now.

– Real talk, this is the chance.

The chat window became noisy at the enemy’s appearance.

Han-bit also wanted to kill him if he could have it his way, but what he would gain is only emotional satisfaction.

“…I heard you discovered a temple in the underground waterway. Why did you enter that place?”

Brooke immediately got to the main point.

His hollow eyes were trembling pathetically to grasp the opponent.

“Your Excellency, exploring the terrain is the top priority for adventurers, is it not. Especially if one is a foreigner, Edlen might be fascinating. He probably wanted to check every nook and cranny.”

“I… suppose so.”

At Vares’s words, Brooke nodded his head with an intimidated voice.

Just looking at this alone, the hierarchy between the two was clearly visible.

Vares, stepping forward a bit more, met his gaze and said.

“I heard the scale of the temple is considerable, you have done a great deed for the city. It is a part we missed.”

“Yes. I was also surprised when I saw it myself. Because I didn’t know the trash-like Holy State bastards had infiltrated Edlen. Rest assured, if I discover a spy who sneaked in, I will twist their neck and kill them for Edlen and the Kingdom.”

“…Your loyalty to the Kingdom is considerable.”

– Lolololol

– He’s saying this right to their faces.

– Let’s give them a medley of curses.

– If he pours out yo-momma jokes for 5 mins, they’d probably bawl their eyes out.

[User NiceWordsBeautifulWords donated 5,000 won.]

[A community ghost with 10 years of experience is on standby.]

When he revealed a strong hostility, Vares’s expression darkened slightly.

However, he soon continued his words as if nothing was wrong.

“Was there nothing you discovered inside the temple?”

“I couldn’t discover anything special. Ah, I did discover traces of combat uniforms.”

“Combat uniforms?”

“They were pieces of cloth from combat uniforms used in the Holy State. Looking at the degree of wear, it seemed they were left recently.”

“…?”

Vares couldn’t completely hide his surprised emotions.

If the Holy State’s combat uniforms were discovered in Edlen, there’s a high probability they are people operating in the darkness.

For such existences to infiltrate without his knowledge was no ordinary matter.

“As it is a matter related to another nation, the city’s side shall take over the investigation from now on. I shall dispense a reward for your achievements.”

“No, since I was the one who discovered it, I cannot pretend not to know.”

“It is a task where you might also lose your life. It shouldn’t be worth an adventurer risking their life, right?”

At the firm answer, Vares slightly frowned his glabella and asked.

Han-bit answered with a confident expression.

“I am aiming for the Investigation Team. If I catch a Holy State spy, there would be no better achievement than that. Since I have to obtain a candidate status from a nation for now.”

“…The Investigation Team?”

An organization that gathered powerhouses from all over the world to find Erport, the Investigation Team.

Its candidates are appointed by the Kings of each nation, and they ascend to the official Investigation Team after a verification process later on.

Vares, who knew the detailed structure, smirked and said.

“I shall write that letter of recommendation for you. There is no need to risk your life on useless matters.”

“An achievement of this level is lacking. I will unfailingly catch a spy and obtain definitive results.”

“Did I not say it is fine. Your Excellency thinks so as well, do you not?”

“Huh? U-uh…”

Brooke, listening to the conversation, flinched in surprise and responded belatedly.

He was looking at Han-bit with an anxious gaze.

“For an adventurer, convictions are important. Even if I get split in half and become a corpse, I will bring every single Holy State spy before you two.”

“Hiii!”

When he expressed a terrifying resolve while looking into his eyes, a surprised Brooke pushed his chair back and stood up.

It was an expression filled with absolute terror.

– Lolololol

– Flinched.

– Everyone, committing crimes is this hard.

– Brooke is truly transparent though.

– If Vares wasn’t there, he’d be caught while planning. Lol.

A reaction obvious enough for viewers to realize as well.

Vares, looking at Brooke as if he was pathetic, stepped forward covering him.

“I fully understand your zeal. Then how about we share information? Catching those bastards quickly would be good for Edlen.”

“I will consider it. Since adventurers are originally a greedy bunch. Please do not expect too much.”

Grind-

A sound as if teeth were grinding rang out in the quiet room.

Watching that entertaining sight, Han-bit offered a greeting with appropriate courtesy.

“Then I shall take my leave now. I will receive the rewards all at once.”

“…Yes, I will definitely look forward to it.”

A trembling Vares and a shivering Brooke.

With those figures as his final sight, Han-bit exited the room.

It was right after that when an alarm rang out.

Ding-

[Main Quest #10 has been completed.]

[Progress Rate increases.]

[Main Quest #11: Kidnapping]

You completed the face-to-face meeting with Brooke and Vares.

As you rejected all their proposals, their vigilance seems to have greatly increased.

There is no time to delay.

Let us execute the plan immediately.

Objective: Infiltrate Northon’s mansion and kidnap Brooke.

Reward: 150,000 gold, 50,000 Experience Points, 7 Stat Points

*Current Progress Rate: 76 Percent

***

“Oh? You’re already back?”

“Adventurer-nim!”

A secret space in the basement of the old building.

Ria and Plona, who were examining Camon’s workshop, welcomed Han-bit.

“It wasn’t something that would take long. Why are you looking at the workshop?”

“I was wondering if there was anything that could be helpful.”

In the kidnapping mission that’s about to start soon, Ria will also participate.

Because the hidden passage connected to the mansion only opens and closes by Northon’s Ring.

“Black Dragon.”

At that time, a voice was heard from behind.

Turning his head, Atsbel was standing there with a smile on her face for some reason.

– *shiver*

– She’s smiling like that so it’s f*cking scary;

– IamsorryIamsorryIamsorry….

– Let’s put our heads down first.

“…Ah.”

He could quickly realize the reason for the unusual atmosphere.

Because after the brief explanation he conveyed when bringing her, they hadn’t had a proper conversation yet.

“Ahem.”

The white-haired old man let out a fake cough and stepped back a few more paces.

He was a person who easily read an atmosphere that seemed even slightly uncomfortable.

“I’ll go talk to her for a moment.”

Han-bit moved his steps toward the exit where Atsbel was.

It seems she had been investigating teleportation-type magic tools.

“…Up to where did you hear the explanation?”

Approaching closely, Han-bit slyly threw a question.

Perhaps because he was far too careful, Atsbel ended up chuckling.

“I heard everything from Ria. And not conveying it to me immediately was a good action.”

She added an explanation saying humans under Vares were frequently seen on the streets since yesterday.

Considering the current situation, it wasn’t very good for others to catch Ria and Han-bit being together.

Especially since it’s a situation where even the Holy State’s assassins intervened.

“Thank you for protecting Ria. With my abilities, it would have been impossible.”

“…I was only able to do it because Master was here. More than anything, the Holy State’s assassins are on a different level.”

“Come to think of it, you said that gentleman is a Spirit Summoner? I thought they only disappeared into history.”

Atsbel looked at the white-haired old man avoiding his gaze from afar.

Naturally, the two of them probably hardly conversed.

“Even though most hid themselves, Spirit Summoners exist in various parts of the world. Master is also one of them.”

“Then are you a Spirit Summoner too?”

“Something like that. Although I’m at the stage of just beginning.”

In a relaxed atmosphere, the conversation continued.

Han-bit decided to briefly bring up an old story.

“When did you realize Ria was of the Northon family?”

“I knew from the beginning. Since I caught a kid trying to go to the Northon mansion all alone.”

Atsbel’s childhood days as well.

While cleaning the front of her store, she discovered a young child awkwardly hiding her body and moving forward.

When she grabbed her thinking she was a lost child, the ring worn on that child’s hand naturally entered her eyes.

“Uncle William is a benefactor to our family as well. Although I didn’t know he would leave us so unfairly, or that he’d have a daughter.”

The group of thugs that ruined Atsbel’s family was banished outside the city by William.

Since he provided various assistance in setting up her general store after that as well, she felt a great debt of gratitude.

That was why when she heard the fact that William was executed under the charge of being a Holy State spy, it felt like she was struck in the head by a hammer.

“But is kidnapping really okay? I heard Ria has to go too.”

“Master is also here, so you don’t have to worry. And it’s not something that will take long.”

Although Atsbel’s concern is understandable, the kidnapping plan has already been established as a safe route.

Since he made Brooke terrified, that bastard will choose to isolate himself.

It would be the moment his nature of not rusting anyone shines brilliantly.

“So you were already here.”

At that time, Cowen appeared from the entrance.

Han-bit, moving together with Atsbel, asked him.

“How are the preparations?”

“I’ve created my alibi, and I’ve induced those working in the mansion at night to vacate their spots as much as possible.”

The former retainers participated in executing the plan through various methods.

Anyway, as they had worked in Edlen for a long period, it was sufficient enough for them to become helpers.

“Atsbel, stay behind with Plona.”

“Got it.”

Atsbel answered while stroking the head of Plona who was sticking next to her.

Turning his gaze, Han-bit looked at the entrance of the passage connected to the mansion.

“Then let’s enter at midnight.”