Chapter 258: Betrayal, Betrayal, Betrayal (1)

Chapter 258: Betrayal, Betrayal, Betrayal (1)

..I'm currently lying low, observing the situation.

Ive roughly figured out what Beckman is up to.

Since theres not much I can do until things really kick off, and to solidify Beckmans guilt, Im enjoying a vacation in the trenches I've secretly dug.

Its not boring.

Ive downloaded quite a lot of movies and dramas onto my tablet PC.

"Hey, you werent hurt, were you?

Swish-swish - swish-swish -

I asked Grawl, who was wagging its tail while glaring intently at the movie on the screen.

The creature was too busy watching the movie.

"Hey."

Yeah, yeah.

It seemed to say 'dont bother me as it covered its ears with both hands.

"Thats good.

I put in my earphones. A voice from inside the fortress came through.

Prepare to march. Gather the elite and strike at Yurkon Corporation's farmland.

Beckmans plan is progressing smoothly.

Johanna will probably march, and I will become something akin to a traitor.

For me, its still too early.

Beckman has filled most of the Chasers with his own people.

If I go back now, I might be immediately discovered and the worst-case scenario could unfold. Therefore, I must remain hidden as if dead, helping Johanna to find the evidence herself.

Johanna is probably suspecting both Beckman and me, almost equally.

I have to fight Beckman and at the same time, fight against Johannas suspicions.

To win, I must remain as calm as possible.

Hyaha.

Grawl laughed. It was engrossed in the movie. I yawned while stroking its soft back.

Maybe I'll sleep a bit more.

"A legitimate vacation, its nice.

Johanna arrived at the coordinates reported by Shion Ascal. There was only a dilapidated abandoned building. There wasn't even a mouse, let alone Yurkon Corporation's guards.

However, one must not judge the features of a magic space by its appearance. The entire building could be a goldmine made of mana stones.

She surveyed the entrance.

Shion Ascal was not there.

She had thought he would appear as if he had been waiting for her arrival.

"My lord, it seems empty.

Beckman said.

"Let's go in, anyway.

Johanna stepped forward herself. Along with the Chasers, she entered the heart of the abandoned building.

The inside was just as empty.

Not even a Syrot, let alone a mushroom or moss in sight. A barren wasteland with a concrete floor that was hard to call a floor.

Johanna stood in the middle of the room, gesturing to the Chasers behind her.

"Analyze the composition.

"Yes, sir!"

They moved quickly, but there was really nothing to analyze.

Concrete where not even plants, let alone crops, would grow. The grey walls were cracked, with only stone debris trickling down.

"My lord, there are no crops to speak of. It's a complete wasteland.

The second team leader confirmed with a kill check. Johanna pressed her brows together without a word, and Beckman secretly turned his face to smile, when suddenly

"Ambush!

A rough voice echoed from behind. Johanna and all the Chasers turned in that direction.

"Ambush!

A knight under Johanna was there, soaked in blood.

"The Yurkon bastards have invaded our Grade A farmland!

The Grade A farmland where magical crops grew. Johanna had come out to campaign, leaving only the minimum force there for the Syrot

"Hey.

Johanna saw someone. It was the glasses-wearing snitch from the third team.

"Yes, yes.

The man flinched and bowed his head. Johanna snatched his glasses away.

"Your third team leader sent you information through these glasses, is that what you're saying?

"Yes. Thats correct I dont understand whats happening either...

"Tell me where that bastard is.

"My lord!

Suddenly, Beckman shouted urgently. Johanna, too, belatedly sensed the resonance of magic coming from somewhere.

Creaking

An ominous moan as if steel was being crushed.

It was right beneath the ground she was standing on.

Beckman rushed in first. He embraced Johanna tightly with his whole body.

Boom!

Immediately after, a massive explosion occurred. A wave-like flash engulfed the entire abandoned building. The view was flipped, and the entire building was destroyed.

Amidst the settling debris, Johanna lost consciousness.

Johanna quietly opened her eyes. She was in a bed in the fortress.

The headache was severe, but her body itself was fine.

"My lord. Are you alright?

Someone asked.

It was Beckman. Half of his body was wrapped in bandages, but he stood upright, looking at her.

"Explain.

"The Grade A farmland has been taken over by Yurkon Corporation. It seems to be the third team leader's mistake.

"Mistake."

Johanna's eyebrows twisted.

Zia.

The recipient of all the letters was Zia.

That he would do anything for Zia, that he could even kill Johanna if she commanded it, that since Johanna trusted him, he could do anything...

Johanna clenched her fist silently.

Her teeth ground together with a crack

This is why I dont trust others.

Even those who once seemed trustworthy, once I actually start to trust them, they completely transform into someone else.

They try to pull off some outrageous stunt using my trust.

"Ha.

She let out a snort of laughter.

Of course, your everything was for Zia, not me.

Even risking your life to save me, in the end, was for Zia.

When I think about it, it was obvious.

If you had valued me more than Zia, you would have been working by my side, not hers.

Suddenly, a distracting footstep.

Johanna's eyes narrowed like a bird of prey, and her sharp magic mingled with the air, as if to slice through flesh.

"Whos there?

"Oops."

It was some clumsy Chaser. The man looked at her with a surprised expression.

"I told everyone to stay out.

"Ah, my apologies!'

He immediately bowed at a 90-degree angle.

What an idiot.

Should I kill him?

Im sorry, but the internal search isnt quite finished yet.. Ive brought an Artifact. I'll be on my way immediately!'

"Artifact?"

...Yes.

He held the Artifact, which looked like a glow stick.

Johanna's curiosity was piqued.

"What kind of Artifact is that?

It's one for detecting things underground... I brought it hastily in case Team Leader 3 might have hidden more information

"Then try it."

She briefly folded the documents.

Stepping aside, she gave him space.

...Excuse me?

"Try it Before I kill you.

"Ah, yes! My apologies.

The Chaser, with a face tense as a drawn bowstring, held the glow stick. He swept it back and forth over the trench, examining it like a doctor would a patient.

The ceiling of the trench, the walls, there was no reaction anywhere.

...Now get the hell out."

"Yes, yes. Im sorry."

As Johanna frowned and the Chaser was about to leave, a sudden sound came from the glow stick.

Whirwhirwhir

It was coming from beneath the trench.

"What?!

The Chasers eyes widened. He quickly knelt down and dug into the ground like a dog.

A large piece of coal emerged.

...No, an Artifact that looked like coal.

"This is-

"Get out.

"Excuse me?

Johanna grabbed the man's shoulder and shoved him back.

"Dont touch it, just get out."

"Ah... Yes.

The Chaser quickly got up and climbed out of the trench.

Left alone, Johanna knelt down on one knee. She stared intently at the pitch-black Artifact that resembled an ordinary piece of coal.

She focused her mana into her eyes.

Her retinas tinged blue, and the flow of magic within the coal became visible. This was a magical item, structured with the regularity of gears... precisely, a 'recorder'.

Johanna lifted the coal into her grasp, looking around for a button.

"How do you turn this on?"

Truth be told, she was not good with machines.

She pouted her lips, looking here and there, flipping it upside down, gently touching it like a tortoise

Was it voice-activated?

"Turn on."

...It wasnt

"What the hell.

Johanna scowled and set the coal down.

Click-

Suddenly, a switch was triggered.

...Day 1, Team 3.

A voice resonated quietly within the trench.

Shion Ascals voice.

This is a record of my mission.

Johanna slowly tilted her head, picking up the coal from which the recording flowed.

Currently, I am under threat

The words under threat captured Johanna's attention.