by Yoo Seong
‘I haven’t received a reply to my message so what on earth could’ve happened?’
Ark had sent a message to Kara, Marquis Martin’s intelligence agent when he first entered the contaminated area. However, there was no reply from Kara over the last three days. Charem was currently sealed off but internal communication was still possible. Yet he couldn’t contact Kara even when he was in Charem. But no one could escape from Charem at the moment. Then there was only one answer!
‘Perhaps he was in the contaminated area and encountered the Sufferers?’
That was the only reason why he wouldn’t reply. Naturally Ark was curious about the black bag placed in a corner of his bag. It was the bag Marquis Martin asked him to give to Kara.
‘This might be an item that will help the intelligence agent with his mission. It might be something like the STK-VII. If Kara already died then it won’t be a problem if I use the item to help with my mission. Marquis Martin only told me to deliver it to Kara! Huhuhu, he never mentioned anything about what I should do if he dies.’
However…..
-This bag is protected by a security device.
Enter the security code or use Invaders to hack and release the lock. The security rating of this lock is level 6. Your present hacking techniques can only release level 1~3 locks.
As expected from Marquis Martin. The bag was protected by a strong lock. But Ark had no intention of giving up this long awaited chance.
‘If I raise hacking one more level then I can release a level 6 lock. I need to raise the proficiency and grab the contents of the bag before meeting Marquis Martin again!’
Of course there weren’t that many security locks to hack. However, there were other ways to raise the skill proficiency. Although the degree of proficiency was only 1/10 of the amount he gained when hacking security locks, he could hack the circuits in japtem like when he first learnt the skill.
‘Fortunately the central control power has many mechanical parts.
This was another reason why Ark gathered up all the japtem. If he took it to the store then he could only receive several copper from it! Meanwhile hacking the japtem would raise the skill proficiency by 1! If he gathered 100 then he could raise it by 100. Ark’s current hacking proficiency was 244. If he hacked 256 more times than he could reach level 2.
‘I have 50 mechanical parts right now. I need to obtain 200 more mechanical parts before meeting Marquis Martin again.’
Ark connected one machine to the Nymphe.
-This circuit has a security device.
Enter the security code or use Invaders to hack and release the lock.
Attempt to hack? Y/N
“Okay. Start!”
When he started hacking it was a simple level 1 mini game. While the other members were taking a break, Ark sat in a corner with the octopus on is head and focused on the mini game.
Byong byong! Byong byong! Byong byong!
How much time had passed?
‘Huh? What the?’
Ark flinched and raised his head. He felt like something was moving within a dark hallway. It was a dark place with no light but Ark could see thanks to Clairvoyance. Although he closely searched every corner, Ark couldn’t see anything different.
‘Something seemed to move……is there a reason for that feeling?’
“Hey, Alan! Get ready! We’re moving to the next place!”
At that time he heard Kalbern and Clark calling. Ark stared at the hallway before shaking his head and rising.
‘If it was a Sufferer then it would attack immediately.’
Shortly after Ark walked towards Clark.
Susususu. Susususu.
Something moved in the darkness.
———————————————————————————————-
“Hyung-nim?”
The person with big eyes flinched and turned around. He saw a man with a huge figure nearing.
“Pant pant pant, Hyung-nim? What does that mean?”
“No, that……I thought I heard Hyung-nim’s voice……”
“It is your imagination. Leader Clem said that Hyung-nim is on the north side of the planet. That is thousands of kilometres away from where we are.”
“I know that already. I understand but…..”
The person with big eyes muttered with an uneasy look.
“What if something happened to Hyung-nim?”
“You don’t have to worry about him. Hey, who is Hyung-nim? He is a hero, a hero. He changed his prisoner status to that of a hero. We don’t need to worry about him.”
“……I guess.”
The person with large eyes blinked and nodded. Then he opened a notepad on his Nymphe and started to pour out his thoughts.
Dear Ark hyung-nim.
We have just arrived at the mountain that is near Istana’s equator. The dense jungle with a sizzling heat is like a dream after Beltana. There was a time where we lost all hope of surviving. Hyung-nim is the one who helped us escape from Beltana and gave us new hope. We couldn’t help by overflowing with delight after hearing Hyung-nim talk about making our own group. At that time we promised. We would try our best to meet Hyung-nim’s expectations.
The Silver Hand members are also close to Hyung-nim and are generously teaching us combat skills. Once Cupa, Hedro, Reben and Konsed finish their duties after 10 hours, they would receive separate attacker training from the Silver Hand. Apart from the heavy weapons training, Cupa is also being taught gymnastics. His body has become so tattered that he would vomit a few times every day.
Ah, now…..
“Weeeeeek!”
When the person paused and turned around, he saw Cupa vomiting near him. Cupa was double the size of normal humans so the amount he ate and vomited up was different. The smell was no joke so the man moved to the opposite side where two people caught his eye. Their bodies were bruised all over. The man sighed and turned back to his Nymphe.
But Cupa is nothing compared to Berad and Ralph. Berad and Ralph are training in sword mastery. They have to do things like picking up items with chopsticks, climbing a waterfall with bare hands, getting past a bee swarm with deadly poison……
It is training that can’t possibly be understood. I don’t know whether their sword mastery is increasing but Ralph and Berad seem to be getting more durable. Last time they just laughed after being sent to face a grizzly bear. It is clear that their courage has grown.
As expected, Kalliben and Beleol are becoming more proficient in sniping thanks to Clem’s training. There is no other choice. A sniper’s hit rate is the most important thing so they would miss a meal if they miss. The distance to the target also increases every day so Kalliben and Beleol are always starving.
The man turned around and looked at two people in a corner. Kalliben and Beleol were enviously watching the Silver Hand members eating.
Oh, grandfather Mellin is also difficult to train because of his age so he is being taught to handle explosives from the engineers. Huhuhu, the medical technology these days is really great. Even if limbs are separated because of an explosion, it would be perfectly regrown after a few hours. Well, the length of the limb would sometimes not fit and it would move strangely……
The person wrote up to that point.
“Hey Hegel! What are you doing? Did you do all the exercises I gave you yesterday? There will be a test soon!”
“Huh? Ah yes! Heksu ajusshi, I will go soon!”
The person who was Hegel said with surprise and busily moved his hands.
I have been taking lessons in being a Scavenger under Heksu ajusshi.
Heksu ajusshi seems happy that he has a successor. He has been with the Silver Hand for 50 years and is passing on all his knowledge to be. Therefore he gives me a bunch of homework every day. Every day I can only get 2 hours of sleep. This pain will definitely allow me to
grow.
I am looking forward to it. T he day when we can meet Hyung-nim again and build our business. So I want to tell Hyung-nim this.
Hyung-nim……
“Ya! This bastard! What are you doing? Why aren’t you coming quickly?”
“Yes! I-I’m going! Right now!”
Hegel’s hands moved even faster at Heksu’s roar.
Please help!
This place is a hell more terrible than Beltana! Please set up the company before we die!
Hyung-nim, where are you? Please help us!
But Hegel was unaware of something. The torturous training course set by the Silver Hand. It was the training program that Ark developed. Ark recalled his past training with Lee Myung-ryong and applied that philosophy to the program.
“This guy, do you want me to rearrange your spirit? Aren’t you a part of Ark’s Royal Guards? Ark went through even more harsh training when he was part of the Silver Hand!”
Thus the Silver Hand members steadily proceeded with Ark’s training program. Thanks to that the Royal Guards grew every day……
-Hyung-nim, I want to see you!
Their loyalty to Ark also rose.
———————————————————————————————-
Tak tak tak tak! Tak tak tak tak!
Dozens of footsteps resounded through the hall. They were the soldiers of the Phoenix squad carrying assault rifles! Several groups were clearing obstacles or checking various passages. The reports of people in those passages could continuously be heard.
-The right side hallway is clear. There are no abnormalities.
–The second hallway on the left is also clear. There are no abnormalities.
“Maintain an alert formation for the moment.”
Kalbern lifted his RPG as he strode across the hall. He was heading towards a metal door at the end of the hall.
“We’ve finally arrived.”
“This is…..?”
Ark asked with narrow eyes as he approached Kalbern. Clark who was on Ark’s other side smiled and replied.
“Isn’t it obvious? It is an elevator.”
“Elevator? We’re using an elevator?”
“Then? Do you expect us to walk to the 40th floor of the control tower? The first 5 floors are general facilities so this elevator is the only way to reach the upper floors that are the security areas. But only someone who holds a special security card can access the elevator on the 5th floor. So we are taking the elevator to the 39th floor. Our destination is the management system on the 40th floor. We only need to go up one level after reaching the 39th floor with the elevator.”
“Then…..?”
“Our mission will soon be over.”
Ark stared at the elevator after hearing Clark’s words. This was a building in a game but the central control tower was also similar to a dungeon. That’s why Ark who was a user viewed using the elevator as a type of cheat. But they had already spent a day and a half in the central control tower. If they hadn’t taken the breaks then they probably could’ve reached the 5th floor in one day. If they maintained that same speed then it would’ve taken 10 days to reach the 40th floor. But they could use the elevator to climb to the 39th floor in one day!
“Is the elevator working properly?”
“Even if the tower is occupied by the Sufferers, all the functions are still working. Safety devices were prepared for situations like this. If the system wasn’t working then we would have no reason to come here in the first place. Because Charem wouldn’t be sealed off.”
“Indeed.”
Ark nodded. He hadn’t thought about it but this was also good news for Ark.
‘It’s good that I don’t need to be stuck in this place for ten days. Although I haven’t raised my hacking skill, I don’t have to give the bag back to Marquis Martin. I can just pretend ignorance while slowly raising my skill. It is better than looking for mechanical parts in a place like this.’
The situation in Charem would be quickly settled once the management system was recaptured. He could complete two major quests at once. He gained a lot of experience from hunting the Sufferers but that couldn’t be compared to the quest compensation. While Ark was busy thinking…..
“That’s it. It is working!”
Kalbern insert the special security card and password in the device next to the elevator and the metal doors opened. It was the direct elevator to the 39th floor!
“Everybody board it. We are going up!”
The scattered members gathered at Kalbern’s command. Kalbern pressed the button to the 39th floor after confirming that all 30 members boarded and the elevator started to climb. The alert crew started to relax after the elevator doors closed.
“Hah, it is almost over.”
“Yes. This is the first time during my 12 years as a mercenary that I’ve had such a horrible experience. A disease that causes corpses to move. And they also smell awful.”
“But if we settle the problem then the lords of Charem promised that we would be greatly compensated.”
“There was no way to escape from Charem and we were also promised a lot of money so we had no choice but to accept the mission. I’d still prefer hunting monsters over this. I will be glad when I don’t need to smell the Sufferers anymore. Besides, we can’t believe that Java bastard. The fellow is always talking nonsense. He might speak differently once this finishes.”
“That’s why Captain firmly negotiated before accepting this mission.”
“Then it is fortunate.”
“Anyway, after this finishes I’m going back to my hometown and resting for 1 year.”
“Me too. In fact, a little while ago I heard that my wife gave birth to a daughter. Huhuhu, I’m going to use my holiday time to visit them. After I return home I’m going to take my wife and daughter to a resort planet.”
‘…..Eh?’
Ark looked around blankly. He suddenly felt an ominous feeling while listening to the member’s conversations. But he didn’t notice any particularly strange signs. Ark was uncomfortable because of the contents of the conversations. Anybody who watched a lot of movies or dramas would realize that the person who talked about taking a trip with their family would be killed moments later! There was a 99% chance of them dying. It was a death flag! It was the behavioural pattern of people who would soon die in a movie. Ark felt that feeling after hearing the member’s dialogue.
‘This isn’t a movie or a drama and the well-trained Phoenix had fought against hundreds of Sufferers with no deaths but……’
He was uncomfortable. He suddenly became really uncomfortable.
“Should you be saying something like that when the job isn’t over yet?”
“Alan’s words are correct.”
Kalbern silently nodded his head.
“This elevator is heading to the 39th floor. We don’t know what will happen so you shouldn’t relax. And…..haven’t you guys seen the movies? It is common sense that the people who say things like this would be the first ones to die.”
Kalbern had the same idea as Ark.
“Don’t say anything else. Huhuhu, especially if you want to live longer.”
Kalbern’s words were effective. The squad members all closed their mouths after that. They were quiet as the elevator rushed to the highest level.
-36, 37, 38…….
And shortly before it reached the 39th floor!
“We’ve arrived! We don’t know what is out there so be alert……”
Kwakwang!
There was a roaring sound and the elevator shook just before it was about to stop.
“Heok! What, what the? What’s going on?”
“Everybody calm down! Clark, what happened?”
“I’m not sure. We seem to have received a strong impact from outside!”
“Damn, the elevator has stopped moving! Engineers, check the elevator’s system!”
“Understood!”
Kwakwang!
Then the roaring sound was heard again. This time the impact was larger than before and the lights went out. Sparks flew all over the place as the elevator was engulfed in darkness. The members hurriedly turned on the flashlights attached to their firearms. Then a black shadow passed by a gap in the ceiling made from the impact just now.
“Captain-nim, there is something out there!”
“Sufferers?”
“I-I don’t know. It was too quick……”
‘It isn’t a Sufferer! It is something else!’
The lights went out so the members with infrared scopes or flashlights wouldn’t have seen it but Ark could see exactly what it was thanks to Clairvoyance. Of course he couldn’t see everything but it definitely wasn’t a Sufferer. It was many times larger than that…..
There was something huge! Kalbern turned around and said.
“Remove your hands from the trigger. If everybody fires bullets blindly then we can die! We need to escape outside here. Engineer, what is your status? It is possible to open the door with manual manipulation?”
“The security is tight so it will take some time!”
“We don’t have time to wait! Right now…..”
Kwakwang!
There was another roaring sound before Kalbern’s words ended. Then an engineer screamed.
“Oh my god! It is falling! The magnetic levitation device of the elevator shattered!”
They didn’t need to hear the engineer’s report to realize that.
Wiiiing-!
He felt a sinking feeling in his stomach like he was on a huge ride. The elevator was falling to the bottom.
‘Dammit, I knew it felt strange!’
Ark grabbed the walls of the elevator and bit his lip. The group of 30 people was falling from the 30th floor. The impact on their bodies would transcend imagination, especially if they were wearing body armour. They would be smashed to death!
Smashed…..smashed…..smashed……
That word echoed through his head.
‘Don’t make me laugh! How much have I struggled so far? Will I lose all my levels and skill proficiency because I’m stuck in this elevator?’
“Clark-nim! One moment!”
Ark raised his head and ran up to Clark. He took out Fading Steel and loaded the Armour Piercing Bullets before aiming at the ceiling.