◈ Episode 189

Kabak was personally experiencing the cliché expression of a bolt from the blue. It was just before he finished his overtime work and was about to leave work. Suddenly, news came and blocked his way home.

"Are you talking about Shiran?"

"There is no evidence, but I'm sure it is true."

"Huh. No, how could that be?"

The head of Dustborne was attacked by a strange man. Not in a back alley with few people, but in an open park. According to the description given, it was a very organized and professional ambush.

"Even if I'm mistaken, this much is certain. There is a group targeting me, and Dustborn by extension. Of course, there are plenty of rotten people in the city who would oppose us."

Kabak thought for a moment, organizing the information in his head before he shook his head heavily.

"I also believe that it is most likely the work of an outsider. Haven't there been various incidents in the past? Even recently, you personally eliminated terrorists."

"What is that?"

"That means Mr. Hyun is a famous person in the underworld. To put it a bit exaggeratedly, they look at him like some kind of monster. It would be burdensome for the domestic powers to touch Dustborn now."

The problem is that there are more than one or two external forces. If we were to consider the possibility, it could be the remnants of the Legion that we haven't been able to root out. We can't rule out the possibility that they're agents from another country.

The Shiran that Kim Yi-hyeon spoke of was the worst case scenario among them.

"...This is too important a matter for me to judge."

The Shiran Empire.

It may have been different during the Cilicia Federation era, but there is no connection with the current Cilicia. Even when I attended the summit, there was only a ceremonial conversation between the leaders. No exchanges were made.

Even so, the empire cannot be ignored.

Even in a foreign land far away, Shiran's power does not fade. Cilicia is nothing more than a weak country in front of Shiran. If you dislike it, you may end up in a difficult situation.

Kabak glanced at Kim Ihyeon, who was sitting across from him.

'perhaps….'

Perhaps, the council could try to kick Dustborn out.

It would be much cheaper than having conflict with a major power.

Kim Lee-Hyeon read such thoughts clearly.

"You don't have to worry about anything strange."

"yes?"

"You may think that Shiran might put pressure on the country, but are you crazy? What time is this? Creating unnecessary conflict won't bring good results."

Disease, monsters, and natural disasters.

There are many public enemies.

Suspicion and fear are contagious. If Shiran touches Cilicia here, it will only give him an excuse to bite. This is not the picture the Emperor wants.

"Dustborne was just a bonus in the first place. Given the circumstances, the main target would be Cellbrox Labs. If the purpose is to cut off limbs, then this incident also makes sense."

"…Hmm. Is that so?"

Kabak's expression became half-exhausted.

"I think about it again, but you are really calm."

It had only been a few hours since the attack. He could have died on the street. But instead of shivering, he remained calm. In fact, he seemed more calm than usual.

As if they had been waiting just for today.

"Not really. I'm just a little tired."

He must have been sincere when he said he was tired, because his face showed fatigue. When he explained about the attack, he seemed indifferent as if it was someone else's business, but it seems the battle was more intense than he had thought.

'I need to get the CCTV footage quickly.'

Because the incident happened so suddenly, we haven't even been able to check the footage yet. The National Assembly and the police are simultaneously handling multiple tasks.

"The police have recovered the body, so they'll be able to identify him soon. I don't know what they'll find out, but if they perform an autopsy on the man who committed suicide, they'll be able to analyze the drugs he used."

"I'll leave it to you. When you get the results, please pass them on to the branch manager."

"...Wouldn't it be better for you to stay in the city?"

"It would be convenient if that were possible, but I have something to do."

After finishing all the necessary explanations, Kim Lee-hyun stood up from his seat.

"Then see you next time."

It's time to leave Cilicia again.

* * *

Before daybreak, it was clearly dawn.

A dozen or so people gathered at Kim Yi-hyun's call. Dustborn included the main combatants, two trainees, and the entire operation team that had come to the city this time from CellbroLogics Lab. It was quite a bustle when they were all gathered in one place.

"Let's start by dividing the number of people."

He called out two names.

"Ghost, Edwin. You follow me."

"I have no complaints about following, but are there only three?"

"The more there are, the more annoying it is. Do detailed briefings while moving."

Next, he turned his gaze to the professor and Echidna.

"All the rest, go to Bastetera."

"Us too? Is that okay?"

Echidna crossed her arms and looked around.

"I think this place could become dangerous if we all fall in."

"No. If we want to touch it again after failing once, we'll have to hit the company, but we won't be able to move on such a large scale. Above all, the external operations team here and the Cilicia branch have different personalities."

Even though they are the same Dustborn, the only ones who have a connection to the lab are the external operations team including Kim I-Hyun. When you look at the Kilikia branch alone, they actually have no relationship with the lab.

He has been acting independently on purpose. In order to gain influence both in Cilicia and abroad. Shiran's information network should be aware of this.

In other words, it is an act that is far from the purpose of cutting off the limbs of rap.

There is no return on the risk of committing a crime in a foreign country.

"I can't be completely at ease, but I guess I'll have to trust the police."

Even without that, he's already lost face, so how long will he be able to endure it? He's shown his incompetence from time to time so far, but if he makes up his mind and raises his level of alert, Dustborn will be safe too.

"Huh, really?"

Echidna didn't seem to like it. Not Kim I-Hyun, but the Cellbrox Lab. To her, it seemed like they were throwing shit at the cruising Dustborne.

Leila also felt embarrassed, and her face darkened. From Kim Yi-hyun's perspective, it was closer to using rap to exclude Shiran. It was a misunderstanding that did not need to be corrected.

"Anyway, we'll be joining you soon. Echidna, you go ahead and get to know Princess Ainoa and Crown Prince Adrian. They'll be helping you out with various things in the future."

"I've always had the chance to meet the royal family of Pecatum."

It's definitely an unusual experience.

"Don't let your guard down, there might be a pursuer. We're leaving right away."

* * *

I didn't consider a war with Shiran. The Empire is powerful. It can't win, and it shouldn't win. It's obvious that the future will turn into a great war in which hundreds of millions will die.

That's why we need to carry out small-scale 'operations'.

'We need to set clear goals first.'

There is no need to destroy Shiran. The entity currently attacking Rap is not the entire nation. It is only the Emperor's will. If the Emperor is excluded, the situation will be resolved.

Up to this point, the difficulty level has been significantly reduced.

It's still an outrageous challenge, but not impossible.

Kim Lee-hyun has outlined several steps.

"First, I should bring Kushan."

"Are you sure this is the number of people?"

"The fewer the number, the better. I told you, the more the more annoying it becomes."

Ghost nodded in the car that was running while spewing out exhaust fumes.

"So it was a plan to infiltrate Shiran after all."

It was easy to guess just by looking at the composition of the operation team. Ghost is an expert in covert actions that are too much to talk about. Edwin is a total idiot when it comes to such operations, but he has a separate role to play.

"It may be a bit presumptuous, but it won't be as simple as you think. Shiran's checkpoints aren't so shabby that you can get through with a crude fake identity."

"Don't think about it lightly. In the first place, it's not my status that's the problem, I'll be stopped at quarantine."

Now, the pollution level has risen to 266p, which is a problem. When entering Cilicia, separate conveniences were required. Verification that it would not cause harm to the city was also required without fail.

It has become a body that is difficult to infiltrate simply by disguising it.

"Then I guess illegal immigration is the only option."

"Do you have a route in mind?"

"I'm asking just in case, have you ever been to Shiran?"

"I stopped by on official business before. I don't know if it will be of any help since I followed the formal procedures back then."

"I never have."

I had high hopes for it, but as expected, it looks like I can't eat it raw.

"Well, there are two things…."

The easy way, but also the somewhat cumbersome way.

The former is disposable, so it would be a waste to use it right away.

It needs to be taken out more effectively, at a more critical time.

So, I have no choice but to choose the latter.

It is a method that is not much different from what we have used so far.

"If it's Shiran, I know something."

Episode 11 featuring Snowfield.

It was none other than the incident where Legion caused a commotion in Shiran.

But in reality, it is a disjointed episode.

In other words, the route that Legion used in the game has not been blocked yet.

'If this is raw food, then it is raw food.'

Well, sometimes I was grateful to them.

* * *

Glaretta, the outskirts of Bastitera.

As with any place in Bastet, this one was a particularly gloomy neighborhood. When you enter a building with a sign that has fallen off, you are greeted by the creaking sound of planks and country mice.

Half-broken bricks, wooden doors that let in cold drafts. It could be called an abandoned house. However, if you live in Glaretta for a week, the shabbiness of the building will disappear from your mind.

"Stop talking nonsense!"

A man raised his voice in a room filled with cold air.

"Three thousand credits? Are you blind? Or are you going crazy?"

"My eardrums are about to burst. You're screaming and making a fuss."

"You don't look like you're going to scream!"

widely!

The man roughly placed the object he was holding down on the reception desk.

"Open your eyes and look again."

"Me too. I'm bragging about catching an ash wolf."

"This is no ordinary guy. What kind of ash wolf has fangs like these?"

The object the man had brought in was a loot. As the saying goes, it was two to three times larger than the normal ash wolf fangs. It was hard enough to be considered valuable.

But the old man's attitude was still indifferent.

"I said three thousand. If you don't like it, get out."

"This fucking old woman…!"

The man's face turned pale. The atmosphere was so tense that it wouldn't be surprising if violence broke out. That's how it would look to an outsider who didn't know anything.

The reality is a little different.

"You're being so dirty."

"Sir, should I kick you out? I can do it for free."

"I was wondering what kind of great guy I caught, phew!"

Ridicule came from all sides. Instantly, anger surged within him, but the man could not bring himself to express his feelings. He gritted his teeth and suppressed his anger.

Since coming to Glaretta, the man has always been treated the same way. Because he is a foreigner? That makes sense. In rural areas where community spirit is strong, there is a tendency to reject people from other places.

But there was a more decisive reason.

"Tsk. Anyway, those Minos kids."

Horns. Because the bastard has no horns.

In the city, discrimination against Minos is gradually weakening, but this is only a story of the city. It has nothing to do with the outside world where monsters frequently appear and there are many monster hunters.

This is a hunter's shelter.

A place to buy and sell loot and arrange for various commissions.

And more than 90% of hunters are Pecatum.

Overcoming deeply rooted discrimination is a difficult task.

Today, my resolve to get what I deserve has dulled.

"...Okay, I understand. I'll give you 3,000."

The old man threw three bills as if he were doing a charity. He had to endure it even though his pride was hurt. The man picked up the bills that had been carelessly thrown away and stumbled out of the building.

I looked up at the sky and it was so clear that I almost had to beg for it. I let out a sigh and my pure white breath dispersed into the air. Even though it was summer, the biting cold penetrated my fur coat.

Her hair fluttered in the gusting wind.

"Even earning a living is hard."

Red eyes and red face. These were typical characteristics of a pureblood Shiran.