Chapter 163

SMH 163

Chapter 51 – Attack Dungeon (3)

TL: Boko

Editor: Frost

Sung Joon went underground while stealthed. He was able to enter easily, as there were no stealth detecting or nullifying items in place.

Although two otherworlders, who looked to be a part of the Investigation Squad, blocked the passageway, they weren’t skilled enough to see through Sung Joon’s stealth.

The door was locked, but he waited until it opened and then entered.

‘I’m killing their commander first.’

Sung Joon confirmed his plan. He wasn’t in South Korea right now, so Jung Chul wouldn’t be there to cover for him.

So cleaning up the aftermath would be difficult. He could ask the Central Hunter Bureau for help, but explaining the whole story would be a pain.

‘I’ll start with the commander and then kill everyone underground.’

He could also try to snatch the ‘Riodan Crystal’ without killing everyone, but if he went with that method, then the enemies would pursue him once they figured out the crystal was gone.

‘Killing them all is the best choice.’

Sung Joon’s eyes gleamed with killing intent. He didn’t know how everything was set up underground, but he just followed the powerful mana he felt.

He knew the ‘Riodan Crystal’ radiated powerful mana.

‘I found it,’ Sung Joon thought delightedly.

At the end of the long hall, there was a wide clearing with a crystal at its center.

And there were two men conversing beside the crystal. Based on the quantity of their mana, one of them was likely to be the base’s commander.

‘A first class assassin is here too.’

He couldn’t see the assassin, but Sung Joon could sense their stealthed presence.

‘Should I ambush them?’

He secretly drew his dagger, but he soon shook his head. Sung Joon had become curious about what the commander and his subordinate were talking about. He took a few steps towards them and listened in.

“Base Commander Anfels. Is it true that the Species Alliance’s expeditionary force will be coming soon?”

“So you’ve heard, Sir Belloc. It’s true.”

“Wasn’t the Empire supposed to lead the expedition?”

“It’s the Emperor’s orders. We have no way of knowing what he’s thinking.”

“In any case, if a large expeditionary force arrives, then New York will become a bloodbath. I’ve just come to like New York, yet… What a waste.”

“Yes, I agree.”

Surprisingly, their conversation was referring to the Species Alliance’s invasion. Sung Joon felt intensely anxious.

They were so confident that he could tell how large the Species Alliance’s expeditionary force would be.

“You two. I apologize for interrupting, but I believe someone is here.”

The first class assassin, whose face was hidden by a black mask, emerged from the darkness. He warned Anfels and Belloc of the threat and scanned his surroundings. He wasn’t completely sure, but he thought he needed to inform them.

“Sir Belloc. Since you’re a part of the Knight Brigade, you should be able to…”

“I’m not so sure.”

Belloc shook his head once Anfels looked at him. He gathered his mana and looked around, but he couldn’t feel any presences.

“Assassin Leader. Are you sure?”

Once Belloc refuted him, Anfels looked at the Assassin Leader and asked.

“I might’ve sensed wrong, but it’s better to be cautious,” the first class assassin said and Anfels acknowledged him.

“I believe you’ll have to make your move soon,” Rishubalt said. If things went on like this, then the Base Commander, Anfels, may warn the entire base.

Because he was still stealthed, Sung Joon threw a dagger at the first class assassin, rather than reply.

“An enemy!”

He threw his dagger and simultaneously, his stealth was released. Anfels, Belloc, and the first class assassin noticed the surprise attack and moved.

“You’re too slow!”

The first class assassin noticed how slow the dagger was and moved leisurely. Seeing that, Sung Joon laughed and said.

“Acceleration.”

“Huh?”

His dagger was accelerated. By the time the assassin noticed, it was already too late; there was a hole in his stomach, spurting red blood.

“To arms!”

Belloc and Anfels yelled together, summoning their weapons and armor.

Belloc had summoned a short spear and a shield, while Anfels had summoned a sword.

“Assassin Leader, hurry and call for reinforcements…” Anfels activated his aura and said. The assassin nodded silently and retreated.

Since he was severely injured, the assassin wouldn’t be much help to them. Their best option right now  was to call for reinforcements. However, Sung Joon had no intention of letting him go.

“Blink.”

“H-How…!?”

Sung Joon, who’d instantly closed the distance with an unexpected spell, flustered the assassin.

“Damn it!” Belloc cursed and charged while covering his body with his shield.

He must’ve used high-speed movement, as he moved incredibly fast, but Sung Joon was faster. Sung Joon had already killed the assassin.

“Ugh!”

Sung Joon cut his neck, inflicting a severe wound. The assassin cried out and fell. He was probably dead. Sung Joon used his Illusionary Sword on Belloc, who was one step too late.

“T-This is Roukel’s technique… Ugh!”

Belloc recognized the Illusionary Sword as Roukel’s technique and simultaneously died.

“Y-You… What is your relationship with Sir Roukel?”

Once he saw the Illusionary Sword, Anfels’s reaction was strange. Although he hadn’t laid down his weapon, it didn’t seem like he had any intentions of attacking him either. Sung Joon decided to talk with him for now.

“You know about Sir Roukel?”

“Please, tell me. Please! What could your relationship to him have been to be able to use… the ‘Illusionary Sword’…”

Anfel raised his wrinkled, middle-aged face and continued. He was suspicious of Sung Joon’s relationship with Roukel due to his showing of the ‘Illusionary Sword’.

He used to be rank 226 of the Knight Brigade. That’s why he knew about the Illusionary Sword.

‘That was definitely the Illusionary Sword…’

It was much too fast, so he couldn’t see it all, but he had seen enough to know that it was Roukel’s lost technique.

“Please tell me!”

He could tell that Anfels respected Roukel, unlike most of the knights in the Empire.

“Is Sir Roukel still alive?”

His voice was tinged in desperation. He prayed that Sung Joon would say that Roukel was still alive. Seeing that, Sung Joon couldn’t help but feel doubtful.

He remembered some bits about the 226th ranked knight, but he’d never really talked to him before.

Above all, Anfels was in the Empire’s Investigation Squad base. Although the Brigade’s knights could be dispatched, only the high ranking officers of the Investigation Squad could be in command of the base.

And Belloc had called Anfels the Base Commander.

“Now that I think about it, I don’t remember seeing him in the battle of the Ridonia Great Plains…”

“He might have been demoted,” Rishubalt said.

Sung Joon carefully muttered to himself. If he’d killed him, then he’d definitely have remembered him.

Rishubalt gave his opinion, but his synchronization rate wasn’t at 100%. There was a chance that he wouldn’t remember, so he couldn’t be sure either way.

“I inherited Roukel’s will. My usage of the Illusionary Sword is proof of that,” Sung Joon replied.

Anfels’s next response was paramount. If he became hostile, then he would just kill him.

“More enemies are coming this way,” Rishubalt reported.

Several presences were approaching. Anfels activated the controls and closed the entrance.

Sung Joon looked as though he wanted an explanation. Anfels stifled his tears and spoke.

“Now we have some time to talk.”

“Can you hurry it up? Since it doesn’t seem like we have much time.”

“My name is Anfels. I used to be rank 226 of the Knight Brigade,” Anfels began.

“Hurry up. Since I have to kill them all.”

“All the partitions are closed shut. These partitions can even withstand ‘aura’ for a long time.”

“I see.”

Sung Joon nodded his head. Although aura was renowned for its cutting power, it wasn’t absolute, as magic and materials existed which could block it.

“Let me continue. I used to be a part of the Knight Brigade, but I was demoted as I refused to take part in the battle of the Ridonia Great Plains.”

“Why did you refuse to take part? Were you afraid?”

Sung Joon asked and Anfels shook his head.

“I’m no coward. I just didn’t want to cross blades with the greatest knight, Roukel.”

“A knight of the Brigade disobeyed the Emperor’s orders? You could’ve been summarily executed for that offense.”

Sung Joon couldn’t understand. Disobeying an imperial command was a serious offense.

“The knights who refused to take part, including those of the Brigade, numbered in the thousands. It was impossible to kill all of them, even for the Empire.”

This was something Sung Joon, or Roukel and Rishubalt hadn’t known about. Roukel was highly respected and there were several knights that couldn’t take part in the battle, as they didn’t want to fight against him.

The Empire tried to execute them all, but there was a chance the situation would get out of hand, so the Empire instead removed them from their positions.

Of course, some didn’t take part in the battle for other reasons. Instead of not wanting to face him in battle, several just agreed with Roukel’s stance on the Species Alliance.

“Zelos should know a lot about this. We can make a decision after consulting with Sir Zelos,” Rishubalt said. Sung Joon slightly nodded his head.

“If you were stripped of your position, how did you get it back?” Sung Joon asked and Anfels spoke with a calm expression.

“The situation in the Empire has worsened, so I was summoned. They didn’t reinstate me as part of the Knight Brigade and I was instead put in charge of the Investigation Squad’s base.”

“The Empire’s not in good shape?”

Anfels nodded his head.

“That’s correct. If you’ve truly inherited Sir Roukel’s will, then I will assist you.”

“Good. Then first, answer my question.”

“Understood.”

“It’s simple. Is the Species Alliance arriving in New York today?”

It was the most important question. If it were true, then he would have to inform the Central Hunter Bureau immediately. If the raid spread and the U.S. fell, then the Earth would be occupied.

“Yes. A huge army, led by the Orc Chief Kalleak is arriving in New York. According to our info, they have ‘procured’ a dimensional fissure already. In twenty four hours, a warp gate will be opened in New York.”

“Where?”

“I don’t know, unfortunately.”

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Anfels shook his head regrettably. Although he was a high ranking officer in the Investigation Squad and was in charge of the base, he didn’t know much about the Species Alliance. It hadn’t even been very long since he’d been told that the Species Alliance was attacking.

“I believe this attack signals the start of the invasion plan.”

“That won’t happen.”

Sung Joon’s eyes shined sharply and grabbed onto the Riodan Crystal. Anfels didn’t try to stop him.

“Since I’ll kill them all.”