Chapter 253

“I believe that the ambushers are using this method to get around. I wonder if the monsters that appear on Earth use a similar method. However, you're right to think about that, Mayor. If we learn how to use it, it will deal a big blow to Armstrong's very existence.”

The faces of everyone except the Mayor hardened. A faint smile appeared on the mayor’s lips.

“As expected, you thought that far. The existence of portals is very dangerous, especially so for Armstrong city.”

“If portals can connect Earth to the Moon, Armstrong city won't be needed.”

In that case, Sungyoon could always live in the same house as Shinhae. So why would he take up the option to live in Armstrong city?

‘I sometimes want to show space to Shinhae. I guess I would keep a vacation home up here.’

“Excuse me….”

Emily, who had been silently listening to the conversation, hesitantly put her hand up in the air.

“Still, it can’t be all bad. This discovery doesn’t change the fact that Armstrong is the closest city to the labyrinths. It’ll be cheaper to develop and repair the city, and I’m sure that a lot of money can be made from tourism.”

She had a point.

Moreover, the Mayor had already thought through that scenario, but he remained silent.

The one to reply was Sungyoon.

“However, the methods of harvesting money from Connectors would go. Moreover, the Connectors are desperate to get their hands on moonstones only because the price to live on Armstrong is so high. The portals mean that the carrot used to control Connectors goes away, and it would weaken the hold on Connectors as a whole.”

In terms of purchasing power, Connectors possessed incredible wealth and fighting power. Armstrong city kept this group in check by using the harsh environment of the Moon.

Emily belatedly realized that this situation was much more complex, so she shut her mouth.

A shallow smile appeared on the Mayor’s lips.

“You're correct. That's why I would like to ask you all a favor.”

“You want us to hide the existence of the portal?”

“That's correct.”

“What are you talking about?”

Before Sungyoon could answer, Grace spoke up. Her voice was sharp, and she was glaring at the Mayor.

“This will make the lives of Connectors easier, yet you want to keep it in the bottle? You're doing so Armstrong city gets to keep its power?”

“We do not plan on blocking it forever.”

The Mayor lowered his tone of voice and spoke gently. So he didn’t buy the ire of Grace.

“It's true that if this information can be used properly, it could be beneficial to Armstrong city. It's always the case when a new technology is developed. We don’t plan on burying the existence of the portal. However, the existence of portals might cause mass confusion in Armstrong city, and you know it too. We would like some time so that we can minimize this confusion.”

Grace’s eyes softened, and the Mayor continued to speak.

“This confusion isn’t a good thing. Only the four of you have experienced using a portal, and right now, Mr. Sungyoon can't open the portal on demand. Even if he could get a perfect handle on using the Gem, we don't know whether the portal will allow mass use or not. For now, only Mr. Sungyoon is capable of using the portal, and if that remains to be true, it will be a priviledge that only he has.

“If this information spreads too prematurely, it’ll just amplify the confusion. At the end of the day, I just want to reduce the confusion. If you can’t accept this explanation, I'm willing to release this information when Mr. Sungyoon is fully capable of opening the portal. When Mr. Sungyoon gets full control of the Gem, I am willing to revisit this topic once again with you.”

Sungyoon crossed his arms as he became lost in his thoughts.

In truth, he didn’t care about what happened to others. He had his family in Shinhae and Jimin. Then there were his comrades and friends. If no harm came to them, he was flexible in this matter.

Moreover, it wasn’t as if the mayor didn’t make any sense.

In other words, the mayor wanted to punt the problem down the road, because it might cause harm to the bystanders.

“I want to ask what is your plan on dealing with the ambushers.”

In some ways, that was the most important issue to him.

“As you probably know, I stole the Gem capable of opening portals from them. I believe this is how they are able to suddenly appear and vanish within the labyrinths. Are you sure we don’t have to notify others about how they are moving around?”

“We decided it’ll be fine if we don’t alert the others.”

It seemed the mayor had already thought this through. The mayor answered very quickly.

“Even if the existence of the portal isn’t made known, everyone already knows the ambushers are using some kind of special transportation method. This is the general consensus amongst the Connectors. Many are guessing that they have some kind of a teleportation ability.”

It was something Sungyoon’s party had deducted too.

“Even if the knowledge of the portal becomes widespread, there is no clear way to deal with it. That is why I believe there is more harm than good when it comes to notifying the public. Of course, we'll send out new that Mr. Sungyoon’s party was ambushed in the Great Labyrinth. This will allow the other Connectors to be on their guards.”

It didn’t matter if it was the right or wrong answer to this problem. The mayor’s explanation made sense.

“What do you think?”

“I’m fine with it.”

Sungyoon spoke first.

“I’m fine with it.”

“I’m also fine with it.”

The Ross siblings agreed with Sungyoon. Everyone looked towards Grace. Most people would feel peer pressure to agree with the group, yet Grace boldly looked at the mayor.

“Is that a promise?”

“If you aren’t satisfied by a verbal agreement, I can write up a contract for you.”

The mayor spoke calmly. It finally made Grace nod her head.

“Alright.”

Sungyoon and the Ross siblings were raiding the Great Labyrinth for personal reasons. Unlike them, Grace did it for duty to her country. She also had a strong sense of justice.

Sungyoon knew this was why Grace was pushing back so hard on the mayor’s words.

This brought the discussion to a close.

Everyone in the room relaxed a little bit, but there was one person, who still had business with Sungyoon.

“Excuse me, Mr. Sungyoon.”

The first one to speak was the director.

“Does Mr. Sungyoon plan on raiding the Great Labyrinth once again?”

“If I have it my way, I would like to.”

Sungyoon was vague about his answer.

“Are you worried about the ambushers?”

“Of course. I can’t help it. We’ve already come across them three times. The first two encounters might not have anything to do with us, but they were aiming for us on our third encounter.”

“I’m guessing that item is the reason why they are doing so?”

The director looked at the Gold Gem, which remained on top of the desk.

“I believe so. The probability is high.”

“If so, why don’t you take a little break from raiding the Great Labyrinth?”

Sungyoon was a bit at a loss.

“It isn’t as if I haven’t thought about doing that. However, I am restricted by the number of days I can enter the labyrinth right now.”

His party had been lucky. That was it.

Above all else, their opponents weren’t monsters that waited within their territory to attack Connectors. They did mindlessly attack like the monster. His opponents were humans, and they moved with a clear goal in mind.

If the ambushers were targeting Sungyoon’s party, it would be dangerous to continue their labyrinth runs.

“That is why I’m bring this up. Why don’t you flip his schedule?”

The director was speaking to Sungyoon, but he was also speaking it for the mayor’s ears.

The director turned his gaze towards the mayor.

“Please continue speaking.”

The mayor spoke.

“We flip the time when Mr. Sungyoon has to defend Armstrong city and the time when he raids the labyrinth. Once Mr. Sungyoon is tasked to defend the Armstrong city, the ambushers won’t dare to attack him. Mr. Sungyoon isn’t the only one defending the city. While he is defending the city, he can get used to using the portal Gem.”

“You want to buy some time.”

“I believe that is the best option right now.”

The mayor thought for a brief moment.

“You have a point. He has a good reason to do so, and it isn’t a big deal to arrange. I’m sure there are Connectors, who want to switch roles if we look for them.”

He looked towards Sungyoon.

“The most important thing right now is what Mr. Sungyoon wants. Personally, I think it is a good suggestion.”

Sungyoon looked at his comrades. They looked in favor of the suggestion.

It was to be expected. They were probably disturbed by the fact that they had been ambushed in the Great Labyrinth.

‘I’m just buying time. Still...’

It would be better than entering the Great Labyrinth without making any preparation. It would be better than being indecisive inside the Great Labyrinth.

Moreover, there was something that could be solved by buying time.

“Does anyone object?”

All his party members shook their heads.

“Everyone agrees. We will gladly accept your kindness, mayor.”

“Then it is decided. For the rest of your stay here, please cooperate in the defense of Armstrong city.”

The meeting came to an end.

***

Since Sungyoon’s party was worried about being attacked by the ambushers again, they decided to enter the Great Labyrinth at a later date.

However, Sungyoon’s worries were unfounded for now. The ambushers weren’t in a good state at that moment.

“How many days has it been?”

“It has been five days.”

Tiotudo and Plu-El ate a late lunch.

“What about Aruwen?”

“He’s still the same.”

Tiotudo chewed on some unknown meat.

“He is still in his room.”

“It seems he was very shocked by what had happened.”

“The portal function of the Royal Gem was the first ability lost by his family. It stopped working as soon as we left our homeland. Someone, who he considers to be base, awakened the Royal Gem. Moreover, the very first ability he recovered was the portal function.”

Normally, Tiotudo was like Plu-El. Both of them hated elitism. However, it seemed Tiotudo sympathized with Aruwen in this instance. Plu-El also felt the same way.

“The base of his beliefs were shaken. It can’t be helped.”

Of course, Plu-El also thought Aruwen had brought this on himself.

“Still, we can’t think of it as other people’s business.”

“You are right. I never expected him to activate the portal function.”

Plu-El raised her wrist. There were Gems embedded in the bracelet type Device.

Plu-El and Tiotudo looked at one particular Gem.

It was a silver Gem. However, one could sometimes glimpse a blue color mixed in with the silver.

“The Royal Gem is higher rank than your Shaman Gem. Once it starts awakening in earnest, it’ll be very dangerous.”