Chapter 166

Chapter 166: Rescue (2)

At ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍the same moment Choi Yu-seong faced a powerful enemy, the situation elsewhere was also turning quite chaotic.

BOOM! ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍KA-BOOM! CLANG-CLANG!

The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍sound of the ground being crushed, buildings shattering, and the dizzying screech of steel clashing against steel filled the air.

The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍noise alone was enough to make anyone realize that a single moment of distraction on this battlefield would surely lead to death.

However, ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍there was an unexpected element to the situation.

“You ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍certainly are good at scurrying away like a rat, you rotten senior.”

“If it feels that way to you, it must be because that is the extent of your level, junior.”

Contrary to the expectation of a disorganized brawl, the battlefield had split into three distinct areas.

Actually, it was a natural outcome if one thought about it for a moment.

A chaotic brawl was a fight where it would not be strange to die from a stray attack at any time.

Lower-rank players might not know better, but the higher a player's rank, the more they tended to avoid such a messy combat style.

Thus, the battlefield was divided into three sections: Shin Yu-hwan versus Baek Ha-seong; Ryu Jin-seong versus Yu-hyeon; and finally, Hong Sera versus the Puppeteer.

But without a doubt, if anyone asked where the most intense fight was taking place, it was the battlefield between Shin Yu-hwan and Baek Ha-seong.

“If you have any sense of guilt, just die quietly!”

“I am sorry, but I still have a wish I must fulfill. And a wish I must grant for someone else as well.”

Even while exchanging a single sentence, their strikes clashed dozens of times.

The scene of the battle was overheated to that degree.

Taking advantage of the atmosphere, some members of the Baek family tried to intervene to do something about Baek Ha-seong, but...

“It seems there are still many flies around even though summer is over.”

Without exception, they were swept away by the fierce gale surrounding Baek Ha-seong.

Of course, they were not only swept away by Baek Ha-seong's attacks.

As mentioned before, it was not strange to die from a stray attack in the midst of chaos.

The members of the Baek family, who were being torn apart by the strikes of both Shin Yu-hwan and Baek Ha-seong, eventually gave up on intervening. Soon, the combat became a complete duel between the two.

Nevertheless, no conclusion was in sight.

Perhaps feeling that continuing like this was meaningless, Shin Yu-hwan began to gradually slow the relentless offensive he had been pouring out.

“Is it over already? Your mouth is as busy as ever, even if your strength is lacking.”

“Not a chance. I am just preparing to get serious.”

As if to prove those words were true, an unusual current of mana began to surge around Shin Yu-hwan.

At the sight, Baek Ha-seong could not help but feel tense, even though he did not let it show on his face.

Baek Ha-seong knew exactly what that level of mana current and the sight of Shin Yu-hwan slowly closing his eyes meant.

And just as expected, words that could not be easily ignored flowed from the mouth of Shin Yu-hwan.

“Black World.”

An SSS-Class talent, known as the highest grade among existing talents.

Shin Yu-hwan was using it now.

In that case, there was only one action Baek Ha-seong could take next.

“Master of the Storm.”

He used an SSS-Class talent, just like Shin Yu-hwan.

Having an SSS-Class talent did not make one invincible, but if ten years had passed, his mastery over the talent would be different from the past.

Therefore, he had no choice but to respond by using his talent as well.

Though he looked down on him with his words, Shin Yu-hwan was a skilled individual who could never be ignored.

WUUUUUNG—

As the two men activated their talents, a surge of mana was felt—it went beyond a simple vibration and resonated with a deep ringing sound.

It made sense.

After all, two people had just deployed SSS-Class talents, which were far from ordinary.

While the Heterogeneous Gear held by Choi Yu-seong was also SSS-Class, one could clearly feel from the momentum the two men were pouring out that a combat-related talent was entirely different from a memory-related one.

“…….”

“Haa…….”

However, it was often said that there is no power without a price.

Both men looked different from their usual selves.

Shin Yu-hwan held his spear aloft while keeping his eyes silently closed, and Baek Ha-seong breathed heavily as if he were out of breath.

Their appearances were due to the costs brought about by their talents, as just mentioned.

Shin Yu-hwan's ‘Black World’ had a condition that it could only be activated if his vision was blocked.

As for Baek Ha-seong’s ‘Master of the Storm,’ it had the condition of causing a physical overload because it had to be activated using himself as the medium.

Therefore, Shin Yu-hwan had to be silent because he had to rely on his senses, and Baek Ha-seong was breathing heavily due to the strain on his body.

Because of that.

WHOOOOOSH—

The two of them had to become even more cautious.

From this point on, a very brief battle would take place, where even a single error of one percent would determine victory or defeat.

A few seconds of silence followed, so quiet that even the sound of the wind could be heard.

TAP—!

A very small vibration was thrown into the silent battlefield.

The source of the sound was the tip of Shin Yu-hwan’s spear touching the ground.

In a way, it was an insignificant sound.

DASH—!

But at least for the two of them, it was not.

As if their previous hesitation was a lie, the two men rushed toward each other in an instant.

Shin Yu-hwan scraped the spear that had been touching the ground, while Baek Ha-seong aimed for the other's throat with his dagger imbued with the storm.

The spear and the dagger moved solely to devour the opponent without an inch of concession.

In that moment, Shin Yu-hwan and Baek Ha-seong opened their mouths toward each other simultaneously.

“I will make you pay for the sins you committed ten years ago.”

“Do not interfere with a wish held for ten years.”

They had both devoted ten years for the sake of a single person.

The battle between the two men now opened its second act.

***

At the time Shin Yu-hwan and Baek Ha-seong began their second round.

In another area, a considerably calm atmosphere was flowing, unlike the situation between those two.

Confronting each other in that atmosphere were Ryu Jin-seong and Yu-hyeon.

The one who spoke first was Yu-hyeon.

“It is quite heated.”

“I think so as well.”

“It would not be strange if someone died like that, would it?”

“We can just stop it before that happens, can we not?”

Yu-hyeon let out a small chuckle at the response from Ryu Jin-seong, who answered back as if asking why he was questioning something so obvious.

“I never said I would let you go.”

“I am not going because you are letting me, but because I intend to go.”

“Do you think that will be possible?”

Yu-hyeon threw out the question as if he found Ryu Jin-seong's words quite offensive.

However, unlike just a moment ago, Yu-hyeon spoke while mixing in a powerful intimidation, not just words.

At Yu-hyeon's momentum, Ryu Jin-seong took on an expression that was much more serious than before.

“You are stronger than I thought.”

“Could it be just that much? I do not enjoy showing off my strength, but if I put my mind to it, I could probably lay even an elder like you down.”

“It is surprising that a person of your skill has remained so unknown until now, but recklessness is the same as inviting death.”

“Then would you like to test it? To see if my words are arrogance or the truth.”

He spoke this way, but strictly speaking, it could not be said that Yu-hyeon was stronger.

Yu-hyeon might have superior talent, but Ryu Jin-seong possessed the seasoned experience and years that were enough to cover that gap.

If they actually fought, the difference of a hair’s breadth would likely decide the outcome, just like with Shin Yu-hwan and Baek Ha-seong.

Fortunately, however, such a thing did not happen.

“Haha, well, it would be best not to fight if possible.”

This was because Yu-hyeon was the first to state he had no intention of fighting, accompanied by a jovial smile.

It was a good thing for Ryu Jin-seong, but he could not help but feel doubtful.

“Why are you backing down? It would be a fight well worth trying for you.”

“Did you not say you would go to stop them if it looked like someone was going to die? That is why I am going easy on you.”

“Did you not say you would not let me go?”

“No. I said I never mentioned letting you go, but I never said I would not let you go either.”

At those words, a small frown appeared on the calm brow of Ryu Jin-seong.

No matter how he looked at it, Yu-hyeon's words were nothing more than a play on words.

To Ryu Jin-seong, it seemed as though he were being mocked.

As if reading Ryu Jin-seong's inner thoughts, Yu-hyeon added more words with a bright smile.

“I am not particularly mocking you. I also hope that neither of them dies.”

“I can understand if it is Ha-seong, but why that boy Yu-hwan?”

“Because the Brother would not like it.”

“Brother?”

“Haha, I expect you will naturally find out when the time comes.”

Yu-hyeon continued to speak in a teasing manner with cryptic words.

However, unlike before, Ryu Jin-seong did not knit his brows.

Perhaps it was his intuition as a player, but Yu-hyeon's words did not feel like a lie.

Therefore, Ryu Jin-seong asked Yu-hyeon in a voice that was as calm as it had been at the start.

“Then may I take that to mean you have no intention of fighting?”

“Yes. I also tend to avoid unnecessary combat. I have already achieved my initial objective as well. But……”

“…….”

“There are quite a lot of eyes watching. I am not the type to care about the gaze of others, but it is better to be perfect, right?”

Again, these were not words that offered a clear opinion, but they were sufficient to understand the underlying meaning, unlike before.

“It means there is a need to show something to a certain extent.”

“Shall we call it a play? What do you think? Are you willing to go along with it?”

Normally, these were words not even worth listening to.

He was a player, not a clown.

However, what was the purpose of coming here?

Though the situation had become a bit tangled, was the initial goal not to find evidence that could take down the Baek family?

To do that, he had to buy time for the others who had scattered to find evidence, and to buy that time...

‘I must keep the eyes of the Baek family fixed on us.’

And to keep those eyes fixed, it was necessary to perform the ‘play’ this man spoke of.

A confrontation between a player who had earned the Hero-Rank title and a villain who had attacked a prestigious family.

If a battle did not break out here, suspicion would inevitably arise on the side of the Baek family.

‘I thought I lived a fairly diligent life, but I wonder where my fate got twisted for me to end up playing the clown in my later years.’

Feeling unpleasant was an unavoidable reaction.

But he had lived too many years and created too many precious things to protect to live only according to his own feelings.

So what could he do? Even if it was playing the clown, he had no choice but to go along with it.

Having finished his judgment, Ryu Jin-seong spoke to Yu-hyeon in a low voice.

“I shall do so.”

“Haha, great. It seems the atmosphere over there has become quite good as well.”

As Ryu Jin-seong slightly turned his gaze at Yu-hyeon's words, the sight of Hong Sera and the Puppeteer entered his eyes.

They were not fighting desperately like Shin Yu-hwan and Baek Ha-seong, but it was enough to feel that they were fighting quite seriously even at a glance.

Furthermore, it was not leaning toward one side; the balance of power was maintained.

To Ryu Jin-seong, who knew Hong Sera's true skill, it was quite a surprising scene.

‘To think that child Sera would struggle to that extent.’

Of course, there was also the issue of compatibility.

Hong Sera's specialty was not her own physical strength, but rather barriers and enhancement.

Therefore, her best tactic was to apply enhancements to the members of the Hong family and fight.

But who was the Puppeteer?

She might appear somewhat powerless before overwhelming quality, but she was the one called the strongest in any other situation.

As a result, although Hong Sera was a Hero-Rank player, she could not help but have poor compatibility in this matchup.

But there was no great concern.

‘From what I can see, it will take a long time before one side collapses.’

So, rather than worrying about that side, should he not be worrying about this side?

As they said, it was a play, but if he engaged in it half-heartedly, it would invite suspicion.

And the man in front of him would surely know that fact as well.

Therefore, the battle that was about to unfold would likely be a near-serious fight under the guise of a play.

‘His appearance is light, but his skill does not seem to be so, so I must stay sharp.’

Even if it was only for a moment, he was a man who had poured out enough intimidation to make even Ryu Jin-seong shrink back.

He was a man who had lived nearly thirty years of his life in real combat.

Thus, Ryu Jin-seong looked at Yu-hyeon with eyes devoid of any carelessness as he continued.

“I am coming in.”

Yu-hyeon replied to Ryu Jin-seong's words with a slight bow.

“As you wish.”

He said it… with a very deep smile.