Even if I Make It Roughly, Ex-rank Items Continue to Accumulate - Chapter 155
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Even Hastily Made Ones Keep Stacking Up as EX-Rank (155)
It Wasn’t a Conspiracy Theory?
“Huh? Why are you still here…?”
Just as they were about to exit the building, Professor Hong Yong-jin, who was leading the way, stopped in surprise.
A moment later, Lee Si-hyeok checked the same spot and tilted his head in confusion.
“You haven’t left yet?”
Behind the building.
In a secluded corner hidden by trees, leaning against one with her back, was none other than the Snow Flame Empress.
Upon spotting Lee Si-hyeok, she uncrossed her arms and approached.
“I have something to tell you.”
“To me?”
“Yes. Can you spare some time?”
Lee Si-hyeok glanced at his companions.
Yoon Seo-jin was glaring at the Snow Flame Empress with blazing eyes, fully on guard, while Song Chae-ah was trembling behind Lee Si-hyeok, seemingly terrified.
In contrast, Professor Hong Yong-jin was observing the situation with an intrigued expression.
“…Would that be alright?”
“I don’t mind. It seems like an important matter.”
“Then, just for a moment.”
When Lee Si-hyeok bowed his head slightly in gratitude, Professor Hong Yong-jin patted his shoulder and left first.
After that, Song Chae-ah and Yoon Seo-jin hesitated briefly before leaving a few words like “Be careful, Si-hyeok!” and following the professor.
Left alone together.
“It would be better to walk for a bit.”
Following the Snow Flame Empress’s suggestion, they walked around the Research Building area.
Though not as meticulously decorated as the Central Plaza, tall pine trees and green plants harmoniously blended together. The subtle scent of phytoncides pleasantly wafted around.
As they walked, a faint presence could be felt from behind. Before Lee Si-hyeok could confirm with his eyes, he spoke.
“Bae Jun-wan has come as well.”
“You’re quite perceptive. To notice already.”
“It doesn’t seem like you had any intention of hiding your presence.”
“That’s true. I told him he didn’t need to hide anymore. But even so, it shouldn’t have been easy to notice.”
The Snow Flame Empress was impressed.
Bae Jun-wan is an awakened individual specialized in ‘infiltration’ abilities even within the Apocalypse Order. Even she herself finds it difficult to detect Bae Jun-wan’s presence.
To notice so quickly.
Honestly, if Lee Si-hyeok hadn’t mentioned it first, she would still be unaware.
“By the way, what has Bae Jun-wan been doing all this time?”
Lee Si-hyeok asked about something he was curious about.
Come to think of it, it was strange.
Certainly, when they left the mansion a few days ago, Bae Jun-wan had also arrived at Eterion together.
Since there was still some time before the Snow Flame Empress’s departure to China and Bae Jun-wan had no particular role during that period, he had come along.
But strangely, he had never seen Bae Jun-wan once.
Of course, he had heard the explanation.
He was someone who had once infiltrated as the former dean’s Chief Secretary.
Therefore, at this point when the former dean was arrested, if he showed himself at Eterion, it could draw unwanted attention, so he had no choice but to hide his identity.
Yes, that was understandable, but…
‘Why didn’t he reveal himself even in the situation just now?’
The incident where the Snow Flame Empress threatened an Eterion professor.
This could be considered a serious crime.
It was fortunate there was no major damage, but if Professor Hong Yong-jin hadn’t stepped in, Bae Young-min could have been seriously injured before Lee Si-hyeok even arrived.
If that had happened, she would never have been able to escape responsibility.
Using one’s abilities as a Hunter to show aggressive intent toward others is a serious violation. Even stopping at this level would carry quite significant consequences.
Probably someone from the Association would come looking soon.
Well, Lee Si-hyeok could somehow cover for such matters.
Anyway, the strange thing was that even knowing such a situation clearly, Bae Jun-wan didn’t stop the Snow Flame Empress.
If he had stepped in directly, persuading her would have been no trouble at all.
What could it be?
Questions that only now came to mind upon reflection.
As Lee Si-hyeok narrowed his eyes and stared intently.
“You, was that what you were curious about?”
The Snow Flame Empress said with a faint smile.
For some reason, it seemed like a very meaningful smile.
“It’s strange, isn’t it? No matter how much Bae Jun-wan is in a position where he can’t show himself, there would have been many ways. There’s also the disguise artifact I gave you before departure.”
“You’re suspecting him.”
“…Not suspicion exactly. You would know too, Snow Flame Empress.”
That Bae Jun-wan had been by the former dean’s side for a long time.
“You’re saying he might have been influenced by the dean’s ideology.”
“I’m worried about the possibility, just in case.”
“Hmm. Bae Jun-wan would be hurt if he heard that. He’s close enough to hear clearly anyway.”
“…”
“Well, I won’t deny your suspicions. Embarrassingly, I was certainly agitated earlier. Yet Bae Jun-wan, who should serve me, took no action. As you said, he should have defused the situation even while hiding his face.”
“At minimum, he could have just dispersed all the onlookers.”
“Right. He could have. But, you.”
Suddenly.
The Snow Flame Empress stopped walking and turned to look at Lee Si-hyeok.
“…?”
Soon her slowly turned head stared piercingly at Lee Si-hyeok.
Still, that meaningfully raised corner of her mouth.
She said.
“In your eyes, did I only appear to be agitated?”
“…What?”
What does she mean all of a sudden?
“I’m asking if in your view, I simply acted out in a crude and ignorant rage.”
“Wasn’t that… what happened? You clearly unleashed mana with the intent to kill Professor Bae Young-min.”
“Hmm, interesting.”
“…?”
“I thought we had become somewhat close by now, yet you still know so little about me.”
At the Snow Flame Empress clicking her tongue in annoyance, Lee Si-hyeok blinked in confusion.
“No, no. What do you mean…?”
So, if he were to guess with difficulty.
…Was she saying that what happened earlier wasn’t simply a situation caused by the Snow Flame Empress being unable to control her anger?
He couldn’t understand it well.
Lee Si-hyeok had clearly seen it earlier. The murderous mana gathering in her hands. And the properties of flames and cold air filling it completely.
That energy had enough power to completely erase a person’s existence and more.
Right. But even so, that wasn’t her complete true intent?
“Acting, by nature, can only deceive people when done with complete sincerity.”
But the Snow Flame Empress only continued to speak incomprehensibly.
Then she leisurely turned her head and asked Bae Jun-wan, who had followed them to their backs. Her voice had a surprisingly cunning quality unlike the her he usually knew.
“Did you bring what I ordered?”
“Yes. From Professor Bae Young-min’s Personal Research Lab, I gathered everything.”
“The cleanup?”
“I forged copies to replace the originals. They’ll never notice.”
“Hmm. Well done. Hand them over.”
“Yes.”
Shortly after, Bae Jun-wan pulled out a thick bundle of documents from his chest and handed them to her, and she received them and passed them directly to Lee Si-hyeok.
“This is….”
At that moment, Lee Si-hyeok’s pupils shook as he received them unexpectedly.
“Check it yourself, you.”
The Snow Flame Empress’s lips curved slyly.
“What gift I have prepared.”
“….”
He immediately turned over the case covering the first page.
His fingertips trembled. The moment he gulped and saw the large title embedded in the center of the white page, Lee Si-hyeok’s eyes widened as if they would tear. He swallowed hard with difficulty.
[Gate Utilization Planning Document – Regarding Military Utilization Methods of Gates Appearing in City Centers and the Possibility of Private Weaponization.]
Soon he turned to the next page.
Unlike the first page, it was filled with dense text, and as Lee Si-hyeok’s gaze moved quickly, the content entered his mind as he read.
[This content researches methods for individuals to utilize gates appearing in city centers to cause forced gate breaks, and explores proliferation methods as military weapons through this….]
[…If this theory becomes reality, one individual could possess exponential military power. Furthermore, it would even be possible for an individual to overthrow and control a nation….]
“….”
Without a moment’s hesitation, he turned the page and turned it again.
By the time he reached the last page, he swallowed hard once more.
‘…The terror was actually being planned by that bastard Bae Young-min.’
Now I understand.
Why Bae Young-min tried so hard to bring down Lee Si-hyeok.
Until now, he thought it was just because he was crazy about advancement, wanting a higher position.
But that guy had something much more distant.
He harbored a sinister plan that ordinary people couldn’t even imagine.
“What kind of content is it that makes you so flustered.”
The Snow Flame Empress, who had been watching Lee Si-hyeok’s expression rapidly becoming serious, asked cautiously.
Her voice had become quite serious, as if she too recognized that something was unusual.
“I only delivered it and haven’t read it yet, so I don’t know. I was only thinking about how happy you would be, so why is your expression so dark….”
“That bastard Bae Young-min.”
“Yes. Tell me.”
“He was plotting an insane plan by himself.”
“An insane plan? What kind of plan exactly….”
“It seems he was preparing a so-called revolution, to seize control of Korea by causing terror.”
“What?”
A moment of silence fell. The Snow Flame Empress looked at him with bewildered eyes and asked back as if asking what he meant.
“Just, just explain it a little more in detail.”
“Snow Flame Empress, you must know. How the conspiracy theories about me are spreading now.”
“Of course I know. Those barbaric things are mistaking the dimensional gates you created for gates, aren’t they.”
“And there’s more that should come after that, isn’t there.”
“Right, right. That ridiculous plan where you would make those gates go berserk to forcibly cause gate breaks, then control the mana that comes out to overthrow this country… Don’t tell me.”
Only then did her eyes widen as if she realized something.
Her blue and red eyes shook as if she couldn’t believe it.
“That plan wasn’t a conspiracy theory from the beginning.”
“…!”
“It was something that bastard Bae Young-min was actually planning.”
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
