Chapter 497: CSAT cold wave (4)

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We rode a multi-seater air taxi to the aquarium park, one of the choices for our autumn picnic.

Most of the kids were sleeping, tired from having to wake up early in the morning, so I took the opportunity to check my messages ago.

Just a few seconds ago, Seodol sent a message regarding Mok Wooram.

‘How did Seodol know Mok Wooram’s out?’

He wasn’t wrong.

Since Mok Wooram lives on campus, he doesn’t spend much time outside.

Maybe it’s the first time Mok Wooram has been out this long since my birthday party on the Hwangmyeong Group private jet.

The question is how Seodol knew that.

‘I don’t think Hwang Jiho’s noticing anything.’

The old man was wide awake.

If he knew that Seodol was watching, he would’ve been very displeased, but there was no sign.

[Prankster] I’m not the only one watching.

Seodol didn’t mention who it was, but the tone of his messages made it obvious.

No, I don’t know exactly who was watching.

I just know the group they belong to.

‘Oath of the Three Knights…!’

On our first practice day, that player team targeted Mok Wooram.

The presence of Kwon Jein and the Lake of Eternity Team, and Sidelentium made them back out.

They abandoned their plan to assassinate Mok Wooram, fearing the involvement of the Crow Demon God Sidelentium.

‘But the Lake of Eternity members can’t always be around Mok Wooram. And Sidelentium won’t intervene for him.’

The crow demon must be busy researching the Weight and Wealth of Life, and he had no reason to save Mok Wooram.

Technically, the same could be true for me.

Mok Wooram isn’t my playable character, and he’s a pushover who quickly gets scammed of all his money.

But as the vice president, I can’t abandon the kids in our class.

Seodol’s messages kept coming.

[Prankster] You know when I went to England, I planted dozens of mice around the Oath of the Three Knights’ bases.

[Prankster] But recently they killed all my mice at once. If I knew this would happen, I would’ve sprayed a plague right away. Oh well, what a shame.

Seodol expressed regret, but what he said was terrifying.

Even though his words were plain, he’s essentially describing a conflict between a royal lineage and a top ten professional player team.

Seodol is so mad that he regrets not starting a plague.

If so, the reason he’s monitoring Mok Wooram is probably…

‘He wants to take revenge…’

Mok Wooram is the target of the Oath of the Three Knights.

The fact that they removed Seodol’s authority skill all at once is likely a precursor to them doing something that is utterly confidential.

[Prankster] What do you want to do?

It was difficult to answer right away.

We’re against one of the top ten professional player teams in the world.

Seodol will most likely cooperate with me, but perhaps his priority isn’t to protect Mok Wooram but to crush the Oath of the Three Knights.

The information that I know is limited, and there are only a few pieces I can move.

It felt like playing chess with my eyes blindfolded.

“What kind of message did you get for you to have such a serious face, Jo Euishin?”

Hwang Jiho, who was sitting next to me, looked at me.

I must’ve been so focused that I didn’t feel his gaze.

Hwang Jiho spoke in a discontented voice.

“You usually ignore my messages. If you care so much about that one, I guess it must be very important.”

I don’t ignore all his messages.

Even if it’s from Hwang Jiho, I usually reply to him as soon as I see his message.

While looking at my device, something came to mind.

‘Maybe he sent a message to Hwang Jiho too. If he’s watching us then he’ll know that Hwang Jiho is here.’

Come to think of it, Hwang Jiho seemed to check his messages earlier while watching over the sleeping kids.

I think I heard a message notification earlier.

“Did you get a message from Prankster— No, Designer Seodol-nim just now?”

“Me? Oh, yes I think so. He sends a lot of useless messages these days so I just ignore him. He’ll call if it’s urgent.”

What the.

This old man lectures me about leaving him on read when he does the same to other people.

I had a lot to say, but I decided that it was too cumbersome.

Instead, I urged the old man to check his message.

“Check it.”

“Alright.”

Hwang Jiho turned on his device screen and opened the message, nodding his head a little.

“…I understand what’s going on.”

Fwaa!

Hwang JIho swooped his finger to develop a soundproof boundary.

He’s aware that what we’ll talk about shouldn’t be overheard by our classmates.

“You didn’t think this body would abandon his classmates and not help you just because he has no direct benefit, did you, Jo Euishin?”

I thought Hwang Jiho was very likely to help, but the thought did cross my mind.

Maybe in case there’s a lot going on in Eungwang High, or if the Tiger Clan doesn’t have a lot of time to spare.

After all, the Tiger Clan is facing a huge enemy.

It was hard to ask them to help a human they’d just met a few months ago and go against one of the world’s top player teams.

“You seem to have a lot on your mind. I will help you with what you want to do, so you don’t have to think too much.”

Hwang Jiho said flatly.

Before I could think more, Hwang Jiho changed the subject.

“Perhaps a team member of the Oath of the Three Knights is watching us. They’re just so far away that I don’t feel them.”

If Yong Jegun were here, maybe he’d notice right away.

Yong Jegun said he’d go with us to canvass picnic spots, but the fickle dragon canceled yesterday.

‘He seemed sad that he couldn’t go with us… Maybe something came up.’

Those people must be watching us from a distance, well aware of what Eungwang High players can do.

The opponent clearly doesn’t underestimate us even though their target is a high school student.

“They know that our class is going on a picnic and that we’re out today to canvass spots. The kids talked about the plan while we were on the move, so I’m sure they heard it.”

I nodded in affirmation.

If I were an assassin trying to kill a dormitory student, this picnic event would be the perfect time to execute my plan.

All the more so since Mok Wooram isn’t set to go outside of campus for a long time anytime soon.

‘The assassination requires preparation, so they’ll aim for the day of the picnic. Not today.’

Watching us look at the picnic spots would help them figure out our course and our schedule.

There’s still a possibility that they’d attack today, but I don’t think it’s that high.

The Oath of the Three Knights seems unaware that we noticed them yet.

If we move correctly, we might be able to deceive the enemy if we finish today calmly and be prepared for a confrontation on the picnic day.

The problem now then is the picnic area.

Hwang Jiho spoke as if he’d been waiting for me.

“There’s a place I wanted to suggest for the picnic. It turned out well.”

From the current flow of conversation, there’s only one place I could think of where it wouldn’t be strange to have a picnic.

“So the sale was completed safely then.”

“Hahaha! As expected, you knew right away. We haven’t started remodeling yet, but the facility itself has no problem.”

Hwang Jiho turned on his device map and pointed to a location.

An artificial island around Seokchon Lake.

“It would be better to lure them to the amusement park that’s set to be the Hwangmyeong Theme Park.”

***

In the Eungwang High research area, Light Skill Research Hall 4 in Eunyeonggwan.

Closed for the CSAT day, Eungwang High was relatively quiet.

Yong Jegun, who went around the campus with his flight skill, landed in front of the main gate of the Eunyeonggwan.

The Silver Research Hall is a place that not just anyone can enter, and in Yong Jegun’s long years of service, he has yet to step foot in the hall.

He asked his close friend Kim Shinrok to let him watch his work, but he was outright rejected, saying that the building was managed by Jeokho.

But today was different.

Wiiiing…!

The door to the Eunyeonggwan opened right away.

Yong Jegun entered, his expression unconsciously switching to an ecstatic face.

While appreciating the red ornaments placed throughout the lobby, Yong Jegun entered step by step.

“…Hello.”

Yong Jegun’s appointment was with Jeokho.

Hearing him greet first made Jeokho feel more ecstatic.

Jeokho always looked at Yong Jegun with a mixture of disapproval and anxiousness, but also gratitude.

He complains that his son hangs out with a bad friend, and he’s anxious that Yong Jegun might involve his son in something for his own musings.

Nevertheless, Jeokho was still appreciative that Yong Jegun stayed by Kim Shinrok’s side as his only friend.

Jeokho always turns away when he sees Yong Jegun, not knowing what else to do with his complex emotions.

Now, however, not only did he call Yong Jegun to this place, he was looking at him directly.

“Hello, Jeokho-ssi. It’s my first time in Eunyeonggwan, and it’s quite nice. Why did you call me here?”

Jeokho somehow looked choked up at Yong Jegun’s greeting.

Yong Jegun was both surprised and excited.

Something unexpected was going on.

Jeokho uncharacteristically hesitated.

“That… Uh… I think I’ve misunderstood you all this time.”

Yong Jegun’s eyes opened wide as he stared at Jeokho.

He wondered if it was Kim Shinrok pretending to be Jeokho using some sort of skill.

There was no way that Kim Shinrok would play a joke using Jeokho’s name, but something was strange.

‘I thought he called me because he discovered my deal with Ungnyeo. Is that not it?’

Yong Jegun doesn’t know what misunderstanding Jeokho was speaking of, but he thought perhaps he wasn’t really misunderstood.

It’s true that Yong Jegun is most interested in exciting things.

While Yong Jegun was hesitating about what to say, Jeokho spoke again.

“I’m sorry.”

Following his unexpected apology was an unexpected proposal.

“I wanted to talk to you candidly. I heard from my son that you don’t like sweets. I’ve prepared some unsweetened drinks and dishes, so would you mind joining me?”

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