CH 221

Under normal circumstances, such preparation wouldn’t have been necessary; he would've simply gone to his destination, opened a gate, and called for his creatures to come out and fight. However, things usually didn’t go as he expected, so he needed further preparation.

“Hal, I’m counting on you.”

“Your wish is my command, Grandmaster.” Hal bowed deeply.

Hal wouldn’t accompany Gi-Gyu, nor would any of his other soldiers.

“You will ravage the areas near the Bukhan River outside Eden. But make sure you do not harm any non-player casualty,” Gi-Gyu announced to the soldiers lined in front of him.

And leading this army were some of Gi-Gyu’s most loyal creatures. This group would serve two purposes: They would distract and divert the enemies and help Gi-Gyu keep his real mission a secret.

Gi-Gyu continued, “I’ve already informed Rohan of this plan. He will try his best not to cause our army great harm. And…”

Gi-Gyu turned toward Hal and Botis and added, “If you face any danger, do not strain yourselves. Return to Eden as quickly as possible. This is your home, after all.”

Thud!

Thud!

Hal and Botis knelt before Gi-Gyu. These two generals would be in charge of this distraction plan. They roared,

“Your wish is my command!”

“Grandmaster, I will not fail you!”

Gi-Gyu turned around to find Lim Hye-Sook standing tensely. He suggested, “Shall we leave first?”

“O-of course,” Lim Hye-Sook stuttered and nodded. There was shock and awe on her face.

***

‘This child might really get this done.’ Lim Hye-Sook realized that she had betted on the right man.

Kim Gi-Gyu.

She truly believed that if anyone could rescue Shin Yoo-Bin, it would be Gi-Gyu. After she had failed to do the same, she was filled with despair; now, she was hopeful.

‘I knew there were players who became exponentially powerful after the 50th-floor test, but he is…’ Lim Hye-Sook thought while watching Gi-Gyu. She had always had high hopes and expectations of him, but his growth was beyond her wildest dreams.

‘But it’s still too unstable.’ Lim Hye-Sook could sense Gi-Gyu’s condition well because she had patched his seal. Gi-Gyu had undoubtedly become much more powerful, but that rapid growth had created an imbalance.

‘And what happened to my seal?’ Lim Hye-Sook could no longer feel her seal inside Gi-Gyu. ‘Just what happened to this boy since the last time I saw him?’

Lim Hye-Sook desperately wanted to ask Gi-Gyu for an explanation, but she couldn’t.

‘Until we rescue Yoo-Bin, I won’t ask him anything or give answers to his questions.’ This was Lim Hye-Sook’s plan. Even now, she was anxious, worried that Gi-Gyu might change his mind at any time. Yoo-Bin’s captor was powerful, and Gi-Gyu would feel threatened. This was why Lim Hye-Sook decided to remain silent. All she could do was to watch Gi-Gyu from close by and help in any way she could.

“By the way…” Gi-Gyu suddenly paused. They were getting close to their destination. Lim Hye-Sook watched Gi-Gyu nervously when he continued, “What is your relationship with Yoo-Bin, Advisor? To be honest, I am finding it difficult to understand this situation. I know Yoo-Bin is precious to you, but I want to know why.”

“Well…”

“Please tell me. I want to hear the story.” Gi-Gyu looked determined.

Lim Hye-Sook realized that she had no choice.

Lim Hye-Sook answered, “She is my treasure. I was sick of everything and the whole world, and she was the one who gave me a reason to live.”

This wasn’t a lie, but Gi-Gyu wasn’t satisfied with this answer. He asked, “That’s it?”

It didn’t make sense. This couldn’t be the sole reason why Lim Hye-Sook acted so desperate. He couldn’t understand why Lim Hye-Sook would go this far for a “friend.”

“W-well—”

“It’s all right,” Gi-Gyu interrupted her. “You don’t have to if you feel uncomfortable. I can ask Yoo-Bin after I rescue her. At the moment, I have no intention of forcing you to tell me anything. For now, I will accept the reason you gave me.”

Gi-Gyu’s confidence made Lim Hye-Sook’s eyes waver a little. She whispered, “Are you sure you’re willing to do this?”

Her voice was filled with guilt. Based on what she knew, Lim Hye-Sook could see that Gi-Gyu was perfectly capable of successfully carrying out this mission. But at the same time, she could also see how easily he could fail. Knowing their enemy's power, she felt it was her duty to make Gi-Gyu understand what he was getting into.

“I’ll be all right.” Gi-Gyu began walking again. “This is something I have to do anyway.”

Lim Hye-Sook followed him from behind quietly.

“We have arrived. We’re in China,” Gi-Gyu announced.

They had traveled through the secret passage Lim Hye-Sook knew was inside the Tower. And finally, they were in China, where Tao Chen lived.

***

Soo-Jung was near the Bukhan River, monitoring the area.

She smiled and whispered, “My pupil is definitely inside there. That unique energy… It’s a mixture of Death and Life. It has to be Gi-Gyu.”

Her voice was just as beautiful and elegant as her face. She continued, “I’m going to have to praise him, right? When did he get the ability to do something like that?”

Turning an entire area into a gate was something no player could do until now. The only one that might be able to do something like this was Andras; he was not a player.

He was a demon.

So for her pupil to accomplish something that only Andras might be able to do… Soo-Jung felt so proud of Gi-Gyu.

Baal asked, “Would you like to go inside right away?”

Both Baal and Soo-Jung could feel many eyes around the Bukhan River, but this wasn’t even close to being enough to stop them. They could evade this kind of monitoring with ease.

“Hmm…” Soo-Jung touched her lips with her finger and muttered, “I feel like I need to make this special.”

It had been a long time since she last saw her pupil. Gi-Gyu had become powerful, way more powerful than she had imagined. Therefore, she wanted to give her pupil a reunion gift.

“What should I get him?” Soo-Jung contemplated. Perhaps an item from Baal’s subspace?

“But that’s silly. Gi-Gyu is using better stuff than what we have,” Soo-Jung muttered. Gi-Gyu’s Egos were better than all of her items, so no other weapon would satisfy him. He would pretend to like whatever she gave him, but that would be it. Soo-Jung wanted to give her pupil a gift he would never forget.

“Haa…” Baal sighed as he watched Soo-Jung act playful.

Soo-Jung asked, “I can’t figure this out. Baal, do you have any idea?”

Her pupil didn’t need money or items. Gi-Gyu treasured his family, but she wasn’t in a position to get them back to him at the moment.

“Maybe I should give myself to him?” Soo-Jung suggested.

Baal’s eyes widened in shock.

“I’m just kidding! Baal, stop looking at me like that.” Soo-Jung grinned at Baal, whose face had turned pale.

“Haa…” Baal sighed again.

“Ah!” It looked like Soo-Jung had figured out something. She turned toward Baal and exclaimed, “The deputy guild master of the Iron Guild is currently in Korea, right?!”

Ever since the Caravan Guild and the Iron Guild took over the control of Korea, the high-level executives of these guilds had gone into hiding.

But one remained a public figure: Rohan. He was known to be a relatively new player who had won the Iron Guild’s deputy guild master position. Soo-Jung had heard that he was currently residing in Korea.

Soo-Jung’s grin widened as she stated, “I think I should get Gi-Gyu Rohan’s head.”

“Hmm, that’s a good idea,” Baal replied with a shrug.

Soo-Jung stood up in excitement. Killing Rohan would send a clear message to the Iron and the Caravan Guilds while also pleasing her pupil. She was admiring her brilliance when she and Baal suddenly saw the Bukhan River gate open.

“Huh? Aren’t those Gi-Gyu’s creatures?” Soo-Jung wondered as they watched the monsters storm out of the gate.

***

“Grrr!” A giant wolf crushed a player’s head, killing the player before they could even shout.

“Grrr!” The wolf moved quickly to find its next prey. Its feet glowed with a blue hue; icy energy from them was cold enough to slow down all the players around the wolf. The players screamed and tried to stop the wolf, but it was no use.

“Bi,” Gi-Gyu called out.

The wolf finally paused, and bright red blood could be seen dripping from its mouth.

“That’s enough. You gotta calm down,” Gi-Gyu ordered. Bi slumped a little and stepped back.

The enemy players gasped in disbelief. So many of them were dispatched to stop the wolf, yet this man had stopped it with a shout.

Gi-Gyu and Lim Hye-Sook were in a secret research branch in Shanghai. After a recent raid, this facility had doubled its defense, but it was still no match for Gi-Gyu and his wolf.

“I see some familiar faces here,” Lim Hye-Sook announced in fluent Chinese. She was the one who had raided this facility the last time. She continued, “I’m here to take Yoo-Bin with me. Tell me where she is, and I promise to let you live.”

Lim Hye-Sook looked tense as she glared at the players. Meanwhile, Gi-Gyu only watched without interrupting her.

“Are you referring to that shell? Kekeke,” one of the enemy players asked. Then, the others began to snigger. They were behaving differently from when they had been fighting Bi.

The player, who looked like the group leader, replied, “It’s too late. The ritual has already begun. You barely managed to survive the last time, so I’m surprised you’re back, bitch!”

Gi-Gyu couldn’t understand Chinese, but based on the players' looks and tones, he could figure out how the conversation was going. It was obvious the enemy players were mocking Lim Hye-Sook.

The group leader continued, “You won’t get away this time! This may have been a surprise attack, but we…”

“Bi,” Gi-Gyu murmured.

And a loud gruesome sound rang.

Crunch.

Bi had assimilated itself into darkness and was now busy munching on the leader’s head.

Lim Hye-Sook turned to Gi-Gyu quietly.

With a shrug, Gi-Gyu suggested, “It didn’t look like he had an answer to give, so don’t you think this is for the best?”

The enemy players, clearly panicking now, shouted, “Run! Call for the doorkeeper! We need to protect this place until the ritual is complete!”

Lim Hye-Sook turned pale as she begged Gi-Gyu, “You gotta hurry! There is no time!”

There wasn’t even time for her to interpret what the players were saying. It sounded like Yoo-Bin was in serious danger at the moment. And soon, the one responsible for making her flee would reappear. If this happened, the situation would get even more complicated.

“Too bad! It’s too late!” one of the enemy players shouted gleefully.

Both Gi-Gyu and Lim Hye-Sook’s faces turned rigid.

Gi-Gyu quickly reassured her, “Don’t worry. I told you already, didn’t I?”

“Are you sure?” Lim Hye-Sook’s voice trembled.

“It’s all right, so please go ahead. Find Yoo-Bin before it’s too late!” Gi-Gyu shouted when he felt incredible sorcerous energy approaching them. The plan was for him to stall the enemies while Lim Hye-Sook searched for Yoo-Bin.

-So it’s true.

Gi-Gyu heard Lou mutter.

At the same time…

Kaboom!

The Chinese players were turned to dust by their ally.

Gi-Gyu urged Lim Hye-Sook, “Please go!”

“Please stall it as long as possible! I’ll be back!” Lim Hye-Sook quickly left the scene.

All alone now, Gi-Gyu looked ahead.

“Grr.”

“Grrr.”

“Grrrr!”

The three wolf heads roared.

-They strengthened a demon that holds a Seat of Power!

Cerberus.

No, the king of all Cerberi.

Naberius had appeared in front of him.