Chapter 509: Treasure hunt (2)

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Jared Lee was dispatched to the theme park to stop the Oath of the Three Knight’s assassination plan.

He was alone.

It’s unusual to have a single player act alone in a situation where he’s supposed to stop one of the world’s top ten professional player teams.

However, it was inevitable.

‘It’s hard to bring more people on this one. The members sent to England haven’t returned yet, Jein is in a meeting, and the security of the team building while the team master is away should be high…’

Several events took place at the same time, putting an emergency on the management of the Lake of Eternity.

After much consideration, Jared Lee decided that he’d act alone.

Kwon Jein dissuaded him at first, but she failed.

Jared Lee retorted, telling her that the Legendary Archer and a Dragon were there for Class Zero.

Both the homeroom and assistant homeroom teachers of Class Zero were excellent.

Ham Geunhyung was an excellent player that people who speak his name almost feel like they were saying something sacred, and the assistant homeroom teacher was of a royal lineage.

The mischievous dragon became Kwon Jein’s teacher in the past.

She trusted him enough to hand him her personal contact information.

‘And there’s the Tiger Clan’s head too.’

The Tiger Clan’s head is in Class Zero.

Kwon Jein and Jared Lee are the only team members who know this, though looking at Hwangho’s movements, he doesn’t seem to be trying to hide it.

There were a lot of strong players in Year One Class Zero that would accompany the class to the picnic.

Eventually, Kwon Jein approved of him going alone.

And now, Jared Lee was stifling his presence as he infiltrated the theme park.

Of course, the people present being excellent players, it was impossible to completely hide.

“…Hohoho.”

Despite the distance that already seemed excessive, Yong Jegun detected Jared Lee’s presence.

Yong Jegun was eating lunch with the kids from Class Zero when he suddenly looked around the ventilation hole where Jared Lee was hiding.

‘What the? Is Mr. Yong pretending not to know?’

Jared Lee was nervous.

Yong Jegun boasted a roll sandwich, holding it up and taking a bite before smiling brightly.

Jared Lee became confused, unable to figure out what the hell was wrong with the dragon.

At that time, Kwon Lena looked anxious and talked to Yong Jegun.

“…Professor Yong Jegun? Is there something wrong with the sandwich?”

That’s when Jared Lee realized it.

It’s not entirely visible from a distance, but the sandwich roll seemed to contain blueberries.

Kwon Lena talking to Yong Jegun confirmed it.

‘Mr. Yong is eating a sandwich made by Lena!’

Jared Lee suddenly felt both hunger and sorrow.

He was confident of carrying out any mission no matter how many days he’d starve, but the handmade sandwich made by Lena and Yong Jegun’s infuriating attitude shook Jared Lee’s mind and body.

“No, it’s very delicious. I bet people who can’t eat this will be jealous.”

“Eh? …Ah, is that a compliment? Thank you.”

It was half complimenting Kwon Lena and half teasing Jared Lee, but Kwon Lena looked pleased.

Her joy was Jared Lee’s only consolation.

After all, she’s suffered from Jared Lee’s false beliefs and mistakes.

Kwon Lena’s smile greatly relieved Jared Lee’s hunger and sadness.

‘It’s a relief Lena is enjoying the picnic. I wonder if Jein is having a good meeting. I hope she doesn’t get tangled with journalists.’

While the Oath of the Three Knights is yet to move, the lunch of Class Zero was over.

At the end of lunchtime, Jared Lee became flustered.

The class was suddenly grouped and acted separately.

‘They’re… They’re parting ways! Who’s with Wooram?’

Mok Wooram was in the same group as Jo Euishin and Hwang Jiho.

The lineup made Jared Lee relieved.

One was the head of the Tiger Clan, and the other was the Nameless Supernova.

Both were reliable, but he couldn’t let his guard down yet.

Yong Jegun sent the three to the artificial island outside, exposing them better to the enemy.

‘They should’ve been sent indoors!’

Jared Lee became anxious.

Although the rides were in operation, the theme park was largely empty.

Because of the strong wind, no one took a walk on the lake road on the other side of the artificial island.

‘I have to calm down. I’ll review the profiles of the Oath of the Three Knights’ members that we’ve secured.’

With the power of the Lake of Eternity and Jared Lee’s past connection with the Oath of the Three Knights, the main profiles of the Oath of the Three Knights’ members were secured.

They operate under a three-man team master system called the Top Knights or the Grand Cross.

Jared Lee didn’t get much information on the current Top Knights, but thanks to the members of the Lake of Eternity, the got some information about them.

Jared Lee singled out the power of the Top Knights which would be useful for assassinating someone in an open space.

‘The senior knight must’ve moved on this one. That means they should be heading to…’

Jared Lee looked up at the Marchen-style castle at the center of the artificial island when…

“I missed you, Jared.”

There was a sweet voice in Jared Lee’s ear.

The voice stopped his thoughts.

He never expected him to be here.

“Grand Cross…!”

Knight of the Yellow Rose, one of the Grand Cross, founder of the Oath of the Three Knights.

He was the one who scouted Jared Lee when he was young.

‘How come the Grand Cross is here? Don’t tell me…’

It’s ridiculous to think that the Grand Cross is here because of Mok Wooram.

That means Mok Wooram isn’t their only target.

If the other target was Jared Lee, it wouldn’t be so strange.

Shortly after Jared Lee figured it out, his mouth was covered by a hand that reeked of strong rose perfume.

He tried to resist, but things didn’t go his way.

His eyes drifted to the floor and he saw a rose-shaped magic circle.

‘This would’ve taken time to summon… Did they expect me to come here?!’

The yellow rose that swallowed Jared Lee’s energy waves was getting bigger.

Players’ energy waves aren’t supposed to be mixed.

Although this rose-shaped magic circle cannot take his energy waves as its own, it would temporarily disable his energy waves.

Jared Lee became increasingly helpless as if he were being swallowed by a rose.

“Thanks for moving alone as I expected, Jared. You’re still responsible. How sweet.”

He heard the voice while Jared Lee’s mind slowly became distant.

The Knight of the Yellow Rose seemed distracted by his apparent victorious capture of Jared Lee, not hearing the slight noise outside.

From somewhere, a very faint sound of footsteps was heard.

***

Mok Wooram heard the scream.

He thought about it for a second but soon decided to follow the source.

Of course, he didn’t forget to notify his party in advance.

“I’ll go over there for a second!”

Mok Wooram wasn’t called a pushover for no reason.

From the moment he heard the scream, he forgot all about the treasure hunt.

‘It sounded like our classmate. I have to go!’

At an alarming rate, Mok Wooram jumped at the castle located in the center of the artificial island.

The center of the theme park — The Marchen Castle.

There was a sign saying that the area was under construction, but Mok Wooram ignored it.

He boldly passed the sign and entered the castle.

‘…It’s amazing. I wish Lena had seen it with me.’

Mok Wooram admired the view of the castle.

The first floor was a souvenir shop embodying a fairy tale world.

The materials looked rather cheap, but the pieces of furniture inside looked like they belonged to a fairy tale.

Cand and chocolates in various colors and shapes were all around, and souvenirs beyond glass cases were displayed.

The space could tempt any visitor to open their wallets.

‘I want to buy everything, but I have a fixed budget for the picnic. And I have to find out who’s screaming!’

The source of the scream was found soon.

It was from the souvenir shop.

There was a video playing of rides that guests could take home and rewatch.

Inside the miniature palm-sized haunted house, the video of Class Zero was reproduced in a mini hologram.

The screams were the recording of Saeum of April and Kwon Lena.

‘…I was tricked, but I almost missed this. I have to buy this one.’

While Mok Wooram paid for the haunted house miniature, he was lost in thought.

He was thinking of Kwon Lena.

‘She screamed a lot earlier. I wonder if she’s tired. Maybe I should buy her some snacks here.’

As Mok Wooram looked around the unmanned stores, his thoughts jumped in another direction.

‘Why is such a good place like this off limits? It said it’s under construction… Is the upper floor under construction?’

Some kids wanted to look inside the castle, so Mok Wooram thought it would be good to invite the others to tour the first floor of the castle later.

Soon enough, he went back outside to reunite with Jo Euishin and Hwang Jiho when…

Drop.

Crash!

Wiiiing.

Before Mok Wooram could go outside, the doors and windows began to close in unison.

Mok Wooram thought it was just the construction, but it didn’t seem so.

“You’re… You were the one who recommended me to join the team…”

Two men descended the stairs.

One of the two was a face familiar to Mok Wooram.

— Are you the student of the violin craftsman?

Mok Wooram encountered someone when he was about to head to Korea after he found out where his muse was.

Mok Wooram was in great financial straits, and the person treated him very kindly by providing him with accommodation.

It turned out that he knew that Mok Wooram was the violin craftsman’s student.

He offered something to him.

— There’s something I’d like you to make in our team. Could you follow me if you want to hear the details?

— I can’t.

Although he was grateful, Mok Wooram never yielded.

— I have something to do on the Korean Peninsula.

The day after he rejected the offer, Mok Wooram began to be chased by someone, putting him at a crossroads of life and death.

When the people who went after him grew in number and Mok Wooram couldn’t survive on his own, a hem of black cloth covered his eyes.

He opened his eyes again and he was in China, in front of him were Jo Euishin and Hwang Jiho.

“I’ll give you the offer one last time.”

And the man made the offer again.

Unlike last time, his tone wasn’t polite.

“Will you join our team?”

Mok Wooram’s answer was decided.

“I refuse.”

Back then, he refused because he was on his way to meet his muse.

But this time it was different.

“If I join a team that hurts people, I will not be qualified to craft an instrument for her.”

The man frowned subtly at Mok Wooram’s words.

His expression was somewhat awkward because of the silicone mask that he wore, but the awkward expression conveyed his ridiculous feeling.

“Do you understand what situation you are in right now?”

“Of course. I know I’ll die if I don’t join you.”

Mok Wooram said coldly.

The two men stared at each other for a while before nodding.

“I see. It’s unfortunate, but you have to die here.”

The voice seemed a little sympathetic.

Mok Wooram put down the bag full of souvenirs and took out a weapon item card.

He was prepared to die, but he wouldn’t do so without a fight.

Fwaaa!

Mok Wooram actualized a combat axe in his hand.

When he stared at the two men, an axe the size of his body on his hand…

Hwiii….!

Mok Wooram noticed something.

Shadows fluttered in the distance with the sound of the wind.

The silhouette appeared to be wearing a crow mask.

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