Chapter 423: Rich (2)
ePNVRWLooking side to side.PUFFJl6
htWuy3Choi Seol-Ah was blatantly imitating a spy. Even though she had been a villain, these kinds of infiltration games made her heart pound. It felt like she had gone back to the past.Le4M4
9s1EmYWith the rabbit mask on, she drew even more attention.aVam
qbPBut Choi Seol-Ah didn’t care. Excited, she kept watch over the surroundings and slipped quickly into a narrow alley. Only then did she take off the mask.wkHnf
C2Vy“…Do you want the whole world to know?”flamMZ
1YN44A man was already there, reigning like the boss of that alley. Half-shrouded in the shadows cast by the buildings and the red streetlights.rnScNdE
DA0AQxt“Ah! At least make some noise!”PiZc
eiCoqp4“Kang Geom-Ma, you should learn to hide your presence when you move.”OVTOW6I
efK3It was her lord, Kang Geom-Ma.2tN
GS6XFu“Hehe… lord. Even if you are the Heavenly Sword himself, in this kind of spy work I’m the expert.”raX4
uDF“Let’s see what kind of nonsense you come up with this time.”foDJZv
MJtf“In these situations, if you act too suspiciously, people take you for a lunatic and stop paying attention. Besides, just look at this place.”uGKv
Rh6lkvHe looked at her with pity-filled eyes.41OB
Odv“So you don’t mind being treated as crazy.”Kd8
DwYQCL“Of course not!”HPX
P9DeE2PHow lively.QlPzdHM
zyH“Even if they take me for crazy, never more than they take you, lord…!”vyp
tDWOub…Aaaagh!1Ab
jf7IbA blood-curdling scream burst out from the entrance of the alley right after.CLxB
s3ejThe one leading the operation was none other than Kang Geom-Ma.vjKbfo9
Aa7“Operate.” A word he had once used with Victor Poison and had kept stored since then.oMCJUFS
cDrN79uYes. It had been a long time.iPIOJk4
fh8Qp“…I’m sorry, loooord!”OgpJV9
Ve0AtThe demonic doctor, Kang Geom-Ma, was taking command.IieS
XYY***FGUz7
rxtCSince it wasn’t right to waste time in the middle of the bustling market, Choi Seol-Ah and I moved elsewhere.SRpI
mbgzGZ“Sniff, sniff.”Zina
VZ2YShe sobbed the whole way.OM9k
BcQQ“Now I’ll never be able to get married…”c90CD
wB0jM“You’ve done too many bad things. Don’t even think of marrying and having a happy family, dedicate yourself instead to serving for life.”gHLYfv3
Gc1ZoT“Ah! Then I’ll dedicate my whole life to serving you, lord!”dXJ
dFozeCCrack!xWxb
UNPBmu“Kyaaaaaaa!”lzWCj
BvAes3Seriously, it was like she was determined to draw attention.MUFN8
bNL0UPBut maybe thanks to her plan.2Rlnsm
IuxzH“It’s hot.”PC20l
7GIz41H“That’s right. Young ones, enjoy while you can. When you get old, your whole body hurts and even if you want to, you can’t have fun anymore~.”HxJ
7SiThe passersby smiled, throwing us looks like we were lunatics, and went on their way. Both Choi Seol-Ah and I had our caps pulled down low, so no one recognized us.vQa9wxJ
OwYxpw‘Disguise is always convenient.’FzZ
edhUIf I cover my black hair, no one ever recognizes me.S8F5C
LPHlUHRing~.6Cw
YAY5ldQThe phone vibrated in my pocket. The caller was Ryozo. A check-in call.gTR0
MyzepPerfect. It was like she had been watching from somewhere, right at the perfect time.tvJb
vOTyX5‘She’s too tied up with official matters to come to this kind of mission.’hinoeEU
tv7nThe other companions were also devoted to their respective tasks. Chloe was our comrade and friend. If there was any way to avert her death sentence, no one would refuse to help.TCE2
bbklpVS‘Even the academy professors had offered their help.’ocQnXc
OIYiiJMy chest tightened with emotion. It felt like the strength of those feelings was about to burst my ribs.m2Hb
zPdACbO‘I’ll save you, Chloe.’lBA
TtkAI answered while walking.iIFS
G1uhdNE“Yes, Ryozo.”J74x
AAJ— Oh, Geom-Ma. How’s it going?01zFre0
mo2“I think it’s fine.”u1EFsNI
JluqBefore explaining, I gestured to Choi Seol-Ah. Then continued.jujd0e
WfH3“I don’t know how Secretary Kim pulled it off, but it looks like Pertinax X accepted.”DNNPO4n
PDzko6o— Secretary Kim has unexpected skills. She seems half airheaded, but she gets things done. Anyway, getting Pertinax to make his auction house available was half the job, so it’s perfect.IVh
WYW“Exactly.”tIISDSu
nRo9I didn’t show it, but I felt relief too.WdPp
ukNif‘We needed the Pertinax Auction House to be on equal footing with the rival house.’5WS
4aZRhDGThe bid to get the object that would save Chloe. The core of the plan wasn’t simply “winning the auction.” Winning with money meant losing the match.UvQa
apNIt was undoubtedly the emperor’s challenge to me. I don’t know how he found out, but. With Chloe’s health as a hostage, he was throwing another gamble at me.mMc5tvx
u8MqkxwEven if Knox and I gathered enough money scouring half the world.sU1
C7vWh‘The emperor would crush us with an even greater sum.’werp
Sno3NWIt was a battle that couldn’t be won with money.a98
Bc5uezLThe emperor’s wealth wasn’t counted in millions or billions, but in astronomical scales.1n5YU
Mw02And resorting to violence wasn’t an option either.TgfF
a4s‘The timing is too delicate.’F1o
s4lAfter the Seoul tragedy, my public image was sky-high. And the higher you climb, the greater the fall if you drop.gfea
m53GFIf I pulled out the sashimi knife now and went for a blatant robbery, everyone would say again that I’d never changed, and the avalanche of criticism would bury me.VkiY52t
g1GD“Pfff…”4f16NQU
GEsiQiI— I know. The emperor is an even harder opponent for you. He’s the same type as that man, isn’t he?lmumM
I80WfThat man was Saki Kojima.VCk
A9B2bThe emperor and Saki Kojima shared some similarities. But there were also differences.zrknH
hUae9mSaki Kojima was a cold schemer led by his own desires.F2j
PTYAm‘The emperor… I don’t know.’v0x
PjAtdlImpossible to decipher. When I faced him, his expression showed not the slightest flicker of emotion. So dry and withered that for a moment I doubted if he was even human.EGk
1Qf“There’s no other way. If I beat him this time, he’ll never be able to lift his head again.”NyQNehN
bDnJ— Geom-Ma, you’re the only person in the world who can talk about putting the emperor in his place. That’s rebellion on a global scale… but you know? My heart races with excitement.lWzs
rRsgfd“And you’re the only one who could be excited about something like that, Ryozo.”0Ck77
Iy7— That’s why we match so well.x96R
6bdra“I suppose.”3Oa
kyOpOn the other end, Ryozo laughed softly.TkAf66
hRC— Ah, the meeting point is turn right at the corner, then go diagonally. You’ll see a sign with the place’s name.Cy2
OhvxAb“Than…”MNXQp
iDKaMy heart stopped for an instant.tZu
qs4B‘How?’kJlxo
xEaHow the hell could she give me the exact location?PpQ
slpYKZ‘Already before…’qrY
Dhf4The call came at the perfect time.DdvWA
hecBiToo perfect.r4sh6iq
0fryvbGA chill ran down my spine. Instinctively, I looked up.oQCF0Gb
hAtJhF4On the streetlight, tangled with cables, a security camera slowly turned. Inside it, a red dot blinked.pOqsg
obB9VIt was watching me.wYIEk
c1Px7— Geom-Ma? Something wrong?oF88W
otDSKHer kind voice pierced me.7DZQNs
lZAl5Ol“…Nothing. Nothing’s wrong.”qk2gzL
pLxdS— Right? Nothing’s wrong, right?VzcBYaq
5bq9VqvYes.Zvq
2jQIm— Don’t get sidetracked with Secretary Kim, go straight to the place. Understood, Geom-Ma?7D2VY1U
2AExYes.gggVO
rZl— This plan was designed by you, so we’ll cover you. Don’t think about the risks, just do what you always do. Got it? Cheer up~LvO
WNSUcClick.eSSZAoR
8yf8I hung up.FQUXC
4XXPkwuMy body froze on its own.ObhVW
lBI8Wham!P4Sz7
M3zBChoi Seol-Ah, who was behind me, bumped her forehead into my back.YINq
FTEA0k“Ow!”iKG6Nav
IZD“Don’t stick so close to me!”jDv9bq
DqT2z“But it was your fault! Why are you scolding me?”1UWD2K5
acKx“Back off! I said back off!”lXb98C
Dp4“Unfair! So cruel!”cGTvr
8EyplUXAfter that absurd quarrel in the middle of the street, we kept walking.y9D
eusChoi Seol-Ah’s childish sulking didn’t matter. What mattered was that if I wasn’t careful, I’d end up dead.3pIKX
cfCAnyway.MUSNcRA
3OEThe walk wasn’t long, but full of distractions.jDnKF
yrZtf8Finally, we arrived at the place Ryozo indicated. An old sign greeted us. The destination was an old real estate office.Z4LC
qiSCoEEFrom the outside it looked like the typical place where old men gather to play go.2h8lwVe
UxJCling.cqslwI
HDYq55MAnd, as expected, it was.zv2EV
zHB“Excuse us.”Cwff
kOTP“Hmm?”APjd
iKgxSTwo old men were hunched over a go board. Behind me, Choi Seol-Ah peeked her head curiously.hRDqF
ffj“Oh! They’re playing stone-pushing!”z6o
HeBh3l“Shut up. That’s not what it is.”YP5Q
tKXa“Lord, look yourself!”t9xYuvC
C1U0“What are you talking about…?”zet0
CC2snsMHmm. Such energy. Not bad.g5o5y
IrBnvI put aside my surprise and approached the one who seemed to be the owner.PVKr4ii
mXF4UMU“Sir.”KvtQ
ywCrORL“Hmm?”kjkzJy
eDRxHe seemed hard of hearing.MgQhn
Pu2GEQ“I am Kang Geom-Ma.”HkSb2kb
XubkG“Eh? Genma?”Z6ctu
utTOL“No, that’s not how you’re supposed to do it!”Whn
PyfZgXaChoi Seol-Ah butted in again.fqES
3nIbg“The director gave us a password for this kind of thing, remember! You have to use it!”xEOnBQ
E5O“…Bah, what nonsense.”kCd
T1J0dx3“In espionage those things are basic.”zZ5
z8L“Yes, yes. You do it then.”xFO9UEA
f67e02“Hehe.”zAwT3A3
FZzChoi Seol-Ah crouched by the go board and grinned mischievously.DCX
Rb2qO7c“You know? The moon is very beautiful tonight.”v6zY65
hzrB“…”7XfR4
uIubC“…”7X5OUX
XcFFsyUThe old men shot up from their seats. Their bent backs straightened instantly.iSVMWQ
qDHEThe go board flipped and the stones scattered through the air.BAX
BJiX14r“This way, please.”0U3pW
jKcQC“Heavenly Sword, and you as well, rabbit princess.”g8bf0
8FeDXWith all courtesy, the old men escorted us.P6GdTH
cvRCNbChoi Seol-Ah shot me a proud look, as if boasting.puFpx
AJ1NYes, yes, how clever you are.0Ta
7r4I sighed and stepped into the inner room of the real estate office.eid
P7ww***NpE7I
v5SW1There were visitors.LEitcO
8MNMtwWNot just one, but several.BTohYH
nMuz“Heavenly Sword!”taw
YwPMRktWith flawless posture, like a martial movement, they saluted me.
Choi Seol-Ah, startled, clung to me.YmGFEM7
o5BhB6“At ease.”rh8QPVd
n8gjX9Y“Understood.”7LNOIaH
hCcThey remained firm.2lZ
xJdThey were the imperial guards.IIZmY1L
feXw“It is an honor that you summoned us.”eP2
pJXJKl6They were my central force for this operation.OWxt
3NbIZPQWhat irony. Using the imperial army to deliver a slap to the Empire itself.PIhSi
euLaL2And even so, they accepted. They knew, but came at my call without a single complaint, without one missing.BoGP0fp
MnxUqw“Honor doesn’t count here. Perhaps in this mission what gets damaged will be precisely your honor.”zgj
iUXfT0l“It doesn’t matter.”vxcgKd
CVRiESamsuk stepped forward as representative.qR8I
tinqW“It was you, Heavenly Sword, who saved our honor, nearly lost, and our lives. Entrust us with any task.”1jmUDY
N0HC“Give the order!”2RN
c0r0jM“Give the order!”jAQFin
AA4P5mdThe energy they radiated was at its peak.c4E
25ODI felt even myself infected with that fervor, and I spoke again.omQ
lZbY“The information I asked you for beforehand, tell me.”yKBbay
ZR1tRq“Yes.”fneQGv
hhZWdtSamsuk unrolled a scroll.kyk3dSe
I63BIt was made of flammable material, designed to vanish without a trace upon contact with fire.Wpf
bjG84W“This is the list of sponsors of the new auction house. Indeed, the Empire has provided funds, but the amount is minimal. It doesn’t even reach the level once invested in the Pertinax Auction House in its golden age.”7sO
NGVCN“Then, is the rumor false that the emperor is the true patron behind that new auction house?”sYbo
hpk“Very likely.”3MDxlk
W1kPWith a grave expression, Samsuk continued.2Dp
h4SD“Frankly, it is almost impossible that His Majesty would take personal interest in a simple auction house. If anything, he would have created one of his own.”GR2hp
LM6i“Hmm.”qTQUJC
vqkSdLZ“What is confirmed is that the house has put up a particular object for auction.”fiO
UnJeaIvWhen I heard the name of the object, my pupils widened.4qJ9r
pr7cX0D‘That’s…’qKJhjqF
lnmHI knew it.lOanBuO
Q42JAn item within the range of knowledge available to a user of Miracle Blessing M. It was inevitable to be shocked upon hearing it.4pCW
XjYo“…That object can be used to save Chloe?”avYAq
y3DRbnNIt seemed it had a use I hadn’t known.mTvJ9
DAl8Whatever the case, first I had to make sure I obtained it.XEm
6Rsc8ZSI nodded toward the imperial guards.RE0y
O2Nrt“Thank you for your work. Ah, you already know, but there is one more favor.”bOSip
1Sg“The Lady of the Sword already conveyed it to us.”HUB
fteXGThank you, Abel.OjS62
dS4RCO“Then, I will also count on you that day.”dy16h
Dtc“Heavenly Sword!”lj8Wu
uQd96xdWith that cry of obedience, the guards dissolved.vVO
vWpgjOnly Samsuk remained, to bid farewell in person.Sadet
Kczq“Thank you, Heavenly Sword.”q3tt5sZ
juZUmC“The grateful one is me.”4C24BO6
yVSDAnd I truly meant it.Ysosk
fTpPerhaps perceiving my unease, Samsuk shook his head.j5WAuS
KVB0“We all know that by doing this we are betraying the Empire. Even so, we collaborate of our own choice. Do not carry that debt.”6f4w7
FpU3L4X“If the emperor discovers you and you are left without shelter, come to Joaquin. In the graduate school there are plenty of spots.”Tr7KZU
SD8“There aren’t plenty of spots!”SLk
6f7pChoi Seol-Ah burst out.T7aaj
Ywjrn7“If there aren’t, we’ll take yours and that’s it.”GEU87h6
pRX1vDH“Lord!”GuVrB
XUagO6“Hahaha! Just saying it is enough for me.”rOaiRf
r9u27cSamsuk laughed lightly.ZAhl13
zL3“But still, Heavenly Sword… even though now we are doing spy work for you, it was the Empire that raised and fed us. Even if we must die boiled in a cauldron, we will remain part of the Empire.”hE0
3uO“……”s9IK
FuRP02In the depths of his eyes I saw that determination.n2rRc3
a4BGc“I understand.”5A3c
jUdiI held out my hand for a shake.Nwr
72DUtI9“Then, do your best as spies. Let the emperor not discover you. I don’t want to see you boiled in a cauldron.”C8iY
WVBdk“So it shall be.”1UuK5
Nqt4HkTOur calloused hands clasped.1y3o
KJuJS“We’ll see each other that day.”qwkpoo
cqIgPtaLeader Samsuk also withdrew from the room.Cyl7
uX2Then, Choi Seol-Ah, who had remained with arms crossed in silence, spoke to me.vtNt
QntPY“…This was your idea, lord? Not the director’s plan, but something yours, original?”LjV
PvUSM“Yes.”v3tE
2PTIb“Turning an entire group of imperial guards into allies?”DdXwO
wenr“Exactly.”bug
UlT4rF“Wow… seriously. How corny, how crazy.”VdJ5UG
VdqAnXN“Choi Seol-Ah, if there are spies like you…”YTEvo
edWI gestured with my chin.I3Ddn
hNfGDF9“…There must also be someone to send them.”7WrbU
XoB7MOiTen years later.2bVGMC
jCrECKang Geom-Ma had become that kind of person.4LV
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