Chapter 641: Rainmaking ritual (5)

The Players’ Association generally has two known objectives.

First, to subjugate enemies.

This task is handled by all players and teams registered with the Players’ Association.

The association provides information and support to those teams to subjugate all enemies, but it’s rare for the association to participate in it directly.

Second, to protect players.

This includes protecting players in disputes and improving the treatment of players in society.

The protection of the association includes the association itself: through the Regulatory Enforcement Department.

“It’s not a spontaneous otherworld. Have you seen anything that could’ve caused this?”

Fwijijik!

The confrontation continued while Hong Gyubin, the person that Song Daesok was certain belonged to the Enforcement Department, was talking.

Hong Gyubin took the lead in dealing with the enemies.

Song Daesok watched the battle behind him.

‘Where the hell did this guy come from? Has he been waiting here all this time?’

Song Daesok looked around but found no place for Hong Gyubin to hide.

He could’ve waited behind the door like a shadow, but Song Daesok could’ve noticed him right away.

And it wasn’t just Hong Gyubin.

There was Deputy Manager Yoon and one more subordinate.

Song Daesok was so flustered that he couldn’t sense the three’s presence, but he attempted to analyze them coldly.

‘I think the regulatory department receives special access to respond in case of emergency. Maybe it has something to do with that?’

It was just as Song Daesok guessed.

The association’s regulatory department was created to counter players, enemies, and other entities who threaten to disrupt the regulations set in place by the association.

If anyone tries to destroy the association, that battle is likely to take place within the association.

Therefore, the regulatory department always assumes battle inside the building.

The mask, leather gloves, and coat worn by Hong Gyubin were special items that not only hid his presence but also helped him move freely within the association.

The coat made of otherworld fabric had a buff effect when users used hiding skills inside the association building.

With geographical advantage and armor buffs, it will be hard to deal with them, let alone find them.

It was questionable why they were waiting here, but Song Daesok first appreciated the situation.

‘I would’ve been injured and gone to the researchers for help if they didn’t show up. Then the lab will go crazy…’

Song Daesok felt his vision go a little dark at the thought.

As a royal lineage, Ok Toyeon wouldn’t be affected much, but it would’ve been impossible to fix everything on their own.

The laboratory would’ve been in a frenzy.

The researchers were reluctant to cooperate with PR Team 2, but if the otherworld was left alone, they may have to borrow their help.

In that case, TL Park would search the laboratory as much as he wanted under the pretext of clearing the otherworld that spawned.

‘He would’ve broken through the lab even after the attack, pretending to recover after the fight.’

Even Song Daesok who had no interest in the politics inside the association noticed that much.

He didn’t know yet who was coming for the association and why, but now, without a warning, it was clear that an SR-rank otherworld appeared.

The butterfly, which appeared just before the otherworld, seemed to be related.

But Song Daesok still lacked clues.

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In the end, Song Daesok decided to focus on the situation in front of him, which was Hong Gyubin fighting splendidly using an item card.

‘It’s not just thanks to the item. This is the elite of the Player Association Regulatory Enforcement Department! He’s been using consumable items but… something’s strange!’

Hong Gyubin was using a consumable item card instead of wielding a weapon.

Just like the item that temporarily shielded Song Daesok, all the item cards used were consumable.

This was very strange to Song Daesok’s eyes.

All the cards Hong Gyubin used were low in rarity, but their power was strong.

‘What is this? Wait… is it his ability?’

Enemies continued to appear even when Employee Jung ran into the gap to attack the otherworld.

Hong Gyubin and Deputy Yoon were in charge of defense, and enemies continued appearing.

Song Daesok was astonished by each consumable item card that materialized in Hong Gyubin’s hands.

‘Consumable item cards with benefits, especially cards that can be used effectively against enemies, are precious. But if the rarity is low, it’s possible to get a lot of supply. And I think that person’s ability is to raise the item’s power beyond its rarity.’

Hong Gyubin observes each enemy and chooses the appropriate card that could be that enemy’s weakness.

Considering the rarity and frequency of enemies spawning though, the current otherworld was surely SR-rank.

Hong Gyubin and Deputy Yoon were doing a good job of maintaining the defense line.

Deputy Yoon believes that as long as Hong Gyubin can decipher an enemy’s weakness and choose the appropriate item card, there is no problem.

Song Daesok was so absorbed in watching the two’s teamwork that he didn’t even think about participating in battle.

‘But isn’t that a con instead of a pro? I don’t know how much he can draw out the rarity of item cards, but isn’t it a little ambiguous?’

Even to Song Daesok who wasn’t familiar with the situation, Hong Gyubin seemed to be in a quite high position in the Regulatory Enforcement Department.

Based on his guess, the limitations in Hong Gyubin’s abilities are preventing him from getting promoted further.

‘He should have other skills besides that, right…?’

While Song Daesok eagerly appreciated and observed Hong Gyubin’s abilities, the fight continued.

Deputy Yoon searched for the catalyst that could’ve caused the otherworld, but even with his skill, he couldn’t see anything.

Just before the otherworld spawned, Deputy Yoon also sensed something like a butterfly behind Song Daesok.

However, he couldn’t see it now.

It must’ve disappeared right after the otherworld spawned.

“It disappeared when the gap to the otherworld opened. It seems to have fulfilled its role.”

Deputy Yoon said as he looked at the gap that threw out enemies.

“What about the records?”

“It’s here.”

The otherworld was slowly fading, which means Employee Jung has almost cleared it.

Song Daesok was about to feel relieved, but…

“No, it’s still around! It just went out of this room!”

Ok Toyeon shouted.

She had been paralyzed by fear since she discovered the ominous energy.

And just like she said, an explosion was heard from the hallway.

Kwaaaang! Kwiiik!

Following the explosion was the sound of metal crumbling.

The walls of the association were mixed with otheworld ore, yet they were damaged by the powerful explosion.

Something must be going on out there too.

“Deputy Yoon, stay here and wrap this up.”

Hong Gyubin ordered Deputy Yoon to stay while he dealt with the situation outside.

At that moment, Song Daesok stepped forward without realizing it.

“I’ll go with you!”

Hong Gyubin looked at Song Daesok through the mask.

His eyes didn’t seem to be looking at him though.

Instead, he was thinking of someone while looking at him.

Hong Gyubin shook his head.

“No, you stay here.”

“I’m a player too. I’m a guest researcher at the institute, and my overall ability is pretty high. I also have experience in attacking otherworlds!”

Song Daesok rambled on.

If there was a problem outside, it was highly likely that the researchers were caught up in something.

Song Daesok couldn’t ignore that.

The researchers were more experienced players than him, but with the explosion just now, it will be difficult for the researchers to cope on their own.

Song Daesok wanted to be a little help.

Bug Hong Gyubin was firm.

“Still no.”

“Why!”

Song Daesok said grudgingly.

He would’ve run out immediately if Hong Gyubin said something related to him being the grandson of Song Manseok.

However, Hong Gyubin said something unexpected.

“Because I promised your friend.”

“…What?”

Song Daesok looked stunned at the mention of a friend.

The first person that came to mind was, of course, Min Geurin.

How does Min Geurin know someone in the Regulatory Enforcement Department?

Then, he belatedly remembered the other kids from Class Zero.

It wasn’t that he didn’t consider them friends, but he knew he hadn’t been on his best behavior so…

While Song Daesok was thinking about the word friend,

“In exchange for preventing you from doing anything dangerous, I asked him to protect someone important to me. Let me keep my word.”

Hong Gyubin’s words were brief, but Song Daesok felt the gravity of it.

He didn’t know who was the friend or the important person that Hong Gyubin was talking about, but he remembered a very suspicious individual from their class.

Jo Euishin, a person that people of royal lineage collectively call ‘benefactor.’

Wiiiing!

And so Hong Gyubin left the room, leaving Song Daesok behind.

The moment Hong Gyubin stepped outside, the remains of the explosion and Team Leader Im Jihwa lying on the floor came into view.

“Team Leader Im Yeonhwa!”

Fwaaat!

Hong Gyubin immediately deployed a shield around Im Jihwa.

As soon as the item was materialized, the sound of energy waves rang loudly.

Kwaaaang! Fwijiik…

The shield was cracking with just a single blow.

The attack was stronger than the one that came after Song Daesok.

Hong Gyubin stared at the person attacking Im Jihwa.

On the other side of the hallway, at the end of Hong Gyubin’s gaze, Team Leader Park was launching energy waves.