Uh-oh!
After Titosso stopped crying, the pursuit by the Jezel party gained momentum rapidly.
Zoom!
“We traced back the location where Oknodie’s letter was sent. It was dispatched right in the middle of the Imperial Highway, known as the blood vessel of the Empire, so it must have been a magic letter sent while traveling in a carriage.”
“Oh, thank goodness it was a carriage. We can just figure out which cars were operating at that time by cross-referencing the list of food carriages we compiled for rare ingredients in the empire.”
Ding!
Only carriages with a registered magical identification number, akin to a taxi medallion, can use the Imperial Highway.
Isabel was able to drastically reduce the number of remaining carriages, and Jezel had a means to search the few that were left.
“Son Ohchun! As the Revolutionary Army General, use your authority to intimidate the high-ranking officials of the empire and obtain the magical identification numbers of the carriages in this list right away. If they don’t cooperate willingly, we’ll provoke the political burden of backing the terrorists who arrested the Emperor’s close friend, and they’ll yield immediately.”
Bam!
The Oknodie search operation was moving forward at a terrifying speed!
The reason for their swift pursuit was that they were desperate to save Oknodie.
It wasn’t just the thought of Titosso crying forever if they didn’t peel off the cellophane that filled them with dread.
Gulp!
But they weren’t the only ones chasing Oknodie at such a fierce speed.
Son Ohchun came rushing in, holding a blood-spattered hat.
“A high-ranking official I went to ask for information was murdered! That makes three in a row!”
“They’ve clamped down on it. Even considering the chaos in the empire, there’s only one entity bold enough to pull off moves like this at this point.”
Jezel reluctantly revealed the possibility she didn’t want to mention.
“It’s the Director of the Wahyhiemhai Foundation.”
“Ugh! That crazy child abuser?”
He’s done everything to harm children, from feeding them rocks to poisoning them.
The news of the emergence of the ultimate villain, the director, ignited further determination in Son Ohchun and Isabel.
Sniffle!
“Oh dear, Oknodie must be so unfortunate. You shouldn’t be dragged into such a wicked place! I also want to help!”
Even for Hinging, who had been abandoned by Jiang and was now alone!
“The Masugaki Princess secretly conveyed through the Eungchilgeom that she can’t even trust the palace maids. The director has a history of not releasing Oknodie even during the Summer Vacation, so if he gets Oknodie this time, we might never see him again.”
Everyone’s face hardened as they realized it wasn’t just about isolating a friend from his father.
The director had released Oknodie once, but he wouldn’t do so willingly a second time.
With the Revolutionary Army having been killed and the imperial emperor replaced, it was a chaotic time for the empire and the Three Great Evils, and the foundation would not miss such a strong opportunity.
Jezel, who usually maintained a friendly smile while secretly manipulating people to easily grant difficult requests, thought this time might be different.
If they missed the timing, they might never meet Oknodie again, no matter whom they used.
The former Emperor of the Empire, Oknodie’s guardian.
The director of the Wahyhiemhai Foundation, Oknodie’s biological father.
Between these two excessively harsh fathers, could she truly bring Oknodie back to the Academy?
Her wavering confidence shattered like glass the moment he opened his eyes.
His eyes, sharp as blades stained with darkness, revealed a terrifying three-hundred eyes.
Shing!
“It’s not a matter of whether I can do it. I must do it!”
Jezel asked Alexander, the Eungchilgeom sent by Masugaki.
“Will you lend us your strength if a conflict arises?”
“That’s exactly why His Majesty the Masugaki Emperor sent me.”
Thanks to Oknodie, Alexander had witnessed the miracle of the princess who had to worry about her life ascending to the throne, and he was more than willing to help even without the Emperor’s request.
“However, be careful. The High-Altitude Knight Brigade and the elite forces of the Empire returning from their expedition could be persuaded by the Foundation’s temptations and encounter you as enemies at any moment.”
Their opponent was an organization that had placed scholarship students throughout the entire world.
The Wahyhiemhai Foundation.
*
The assured enhancement rights are used when an item’s grade surpasses mythical levels.
If one could squeeze resources from all over the world until a single item runs dry, one might be able to reinforce it from mythical to standard levels.
Of course, given the horror of items exploding at an absurd probability, it’s a daunting prospect.
Boom!
“We’re naturally looking to get our hands on those elusive assured enhancement rights with the help of the Emperor this time!”
“Your intentions are commendable, but how do you know where such assured enhancement rights are located? Even I didn’t know that it was in the Forbidden Research Institute.”
“I believe there’s at least one in the Academy library.”
Hmm?
With the steward’s comment, everyone, including this veteran player, raised their eyebrows in confusion.
How did he know that?
“It’s a simple deduction. To hide a powerful item that can enhance even divine artifacts, it must be concealed in a place where that strength is concentrated—like among the Foundation’s scholarship students, for example.”
The logic behind the hypothesis was quite sound.
If you want to hide a tree, you leave it in the forest!
…But why does he compare himself to the scholarship students instead of just mentioning the tree?
Understanding one thing only led to more questions.
Why was this explanation like a string of conundrums tangled up in each other?
“Are you planning to go to the Academy?”
“Come on! You can visit there while enrolled! I’m trying to go to the [Underworld] this time!”
The Emperor stroked his chin, revealing a look of surprise.
“The existence of the Underground World was tightly managed by me to prevent leaks; what a waste.”
“Hehe. This is just basic, right?”
“Oknodie, what’s the Underworld?”
Zhuang, unfamiliar with this area, expressed pure curiosity.
“The Underworld is a world underground where different races of Ein inhabit, unlike those above ground! Technically, it’s a DLC content for the world expansion, and since I have all DLCs activated while gaming, it should be there!”
Yikes!
“Really? I don’t know what DLC or game talk is about, but an underground world sounds damp.”
“Well, it’s underground, so that makes sense, right?”
“Lots of bugs too.”
“Basic since it’s underground!”
“Compared to Sadako’s undead, which is worse: bugs or undead?”
“I’d personally prefer bugs!”
“Then I wanna go too!”
Bro hugs!
That’s what a best friend Zhuang is.
Even if they go to a place they don’t want to, the spirit of being together is what friendship is all about!
━━━
[Hazardous Material Containment Facility]
This is a facility that contains hazardous materials from the empire.
Entry is strictly prohibited except for officials.
Unauthorized intrusion may lead to summary execution, and no one is responsible for irreversible damage to body, mind, or soul.
━━━
Inside the carriage, Zhuang tugged at my sleeve while we peeked outside.
“Oknodie.”
“Yeah?”
“Why the heck are we going to a containment facility for mana waste instead of the Underworld?”
“If the Empire puts up a sign saying ‘The Underworld is right beneath us, don’t come in!’ adventurers from all over would flock like clouds! That’s why they put up signs like those.”
Gee!
“Smart thinking.”
Hehe!
“No adventurer has actually dared to touch this facility, except for those wicked dark sorcerers or the Foundation’s scholarship students.”
Zhuang froze for a moment.
“A dark sorcerer who likes hazardous materials? So the signs were meant to scare off adventurers, right?”
“What a misunderstanding. The hazardous substances that threaten the safety of the Empire’s citizens are indeed stored within this facility. Yet, the Foundation occasionally sends a scholarship student, which is quite the mystery.”
Zing!
Mana waste is a term used to refer to the wicked or violent mana left over in the mana stones that trigger magical effects.
Even in the tightly guarded waste cases, strange phenomena may arise from the residual energy occasionally leaking out.
For Zhuang, who fears everything that isn’t a poking dagger, that was terrifying enough.
“…I want to go back.”
“It’s too late! The carriage has already entered the facility!”
Ha-ha!
Thanks for believing, but you’ve been fooled, Zhuang!
Hehe! You can’t escape!
“I hate Oknodie.”
“Aww, cheer up! If you find a rainbow beetle, I’ll make a special exception for you!”
“What’s so great about that?”
“The appearance rate of the beetle species skyrockets by 777,777%! If you’re lucky enough to finish collecting a species, you might even hit the collection bonus!”
“Looks like the director of the Foundation teaches everything.”
With the defensive spell inscribed on the carriage, a tripled exit to the underground world opened.
“Grandpa of the Okashii-ne, I have a question.”
“Is it okay if I answer your friend’s question, Your Highness?”
“Do as you wish.”
“That sounds good.”
The steward chuckled like a kind old man and nodded.
Zhuang pointed to the hazardous materials arranged between the warning signs.
“If they stack hazardous materials high above and block the exit, how do the residents of the Underworld move around? That’s like piling mana bombs right in front of a city gate.”
“That’s exactly what makes it better.”
“Huh?”
“Those uncivilized beings that couldn’t even be enlightened by gods are trembling in the cold and hunger, waiting for guidance; hence, the main 24 divine class and the demigods can’t afford to disregard the Emperor.”
“…So, you’ve turned the entire Underground World into a treasure trove of faith to negotiate with the gods.”
Zhuang’s expression grew dead serious.
He looked quite intellectual as he propped his chin on his hand beneath the fox mask, deep in thought.
Watching a newbie work hard at his studies was rather heartwarming.
“Wait! If there’s such a great place, wouldn’t it be smart to send heroes down there to gain experience while collecting the faith of the One God and strengthen them? Why are they left to graze up top and turned into enemies instead?”
Wha…?
“Hehe! Good question! Who knows why? Even as a steward, I’m afraid I lack a suitable answer.”
Zhuang, who had chatted with the Okashii-ne and got tangled in confusion more than before, seemed about to burst out.
As the carriage crossed the dimensional gate and entered the Underworld, they weren’t even aware of it.
━━━
[Exploration Event [Entering the Underworld]]
In the Middle Realm, there exists a strictly sealed area, the [Underworld].
What secrets and adventures, experiences, and collectible elements await in this bizarre and mysterious Underworld?
If you successfully complete your adventure and submit your related record to the Adventurer’s Guild, you can be promoted to a premium adventurer.
Or you could submit your report to a professor!
Any professor will surely be greatly impressed by your report.
To acquire additional experience points, let’s diligently write our adventure journal!
━━━
Of course, since I’m no rookie like Zhuang, I wouldn’t fall into a trap route and get abducted as a graduate student.
It was a massive shock when I learned that reports submitted to the guild would be passed on to the professors at the Academy.
The grief I felt then is something that only the person involved would understand.
I will absolutely not leave behind any reports or adventure logs.
Not even to the Adventurer’s Guild!
*
The lady might have entirely forgotten, but ever since the Emperor exited the Internal Enhancement Facility, Leaf had been tailing her.
Of course, he had also witnessed the carriage heading towards the Empire’s very secret facility.
Hmm…
‘The Empire isn’t any different from the Foundation or Academy.’
An organization trying to control the lady with orders.
An academy that trained her into a monster through harsh training.
Not to mention the Emperor, who kidnaps her to a containment area for hazardous materials.
There isn’t a single person in this world who can be trusted.
Buzz! Buzz!
Leaf took out the communication magical tool from his attire.
Two of the magical communication tools buzzed simultaneously.
One was from the Foundation.
The other was from Jezel.
After a moment of contemplation, Leaf destroyed all the communication magical tools.
Chit!
‘Nobles weaken drastically when they lose their territory. The Emperor who has lost the Empire must have grown weaker too.’
He had no intention of returning the lady to the Foundation or the Academy.
Leaf realized that by rescuing the lady here, he could disappear with her without handing her over to any faction.
Whoosh!
A one-time opportunity that would never come again.
Leaf infiltrated the Hazardous Material Containment Facility.
However, he was completely unaware.
His shadow was secretly hiding behind his hat brim and cloak.
Glomp!
[The Shadow of a Rogue]
A technique to manipulate the personality and will of someone by directly touching their shadow.
The shadow of the world-renowned Rogue, Bronze de Estrada, ranked 3rd among the continent’s top ten rogues, seeped into Leaf’s shadow.
The professor who threatened Oknodie had already reached her side.
