Even if I Make It Roughly, Ex-rank Items Continue to Accumulate - Chapter 162

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Even Hastily Made Ones Keep Stacking Up as EX-Rank (162)

 

It’s Departure

 

Team Leader Kim Seung-hyeon and Team Leader Choi In-hwan continued to maintain a humble attitude afterward.

 

It seemed they judged that the damage caused to Lee Si-hyeok from this incident was considerable.

 

“I’m really fine, I tell you. You don’t need to keep doing this, really.”

 

“Still…”

 

Lee Si-hyeok smiled bitterly.

 

“Then just prepare well what I mentioned before. That would be enough.”

 

“What you mentioned before?”

 

“Don’t you remember, Team Leader Choi In-hwan?”

 

“Pardon?”

 

Team Leader Choi In-hwan was flustered when his name was suddenly called.

 

Professor Hong Yong-jin, who had been quietly watching, stepped forward.

 

“Tsk tsk… Team Leader. You know, the text I sent you a few days ago. About helping the Orbes people who came over settle in smoothly.”

 

“Ah, ah!”

 

Before the lecture began, Lee Si-hyeok had contacted Team Leader Choi In-hwan in advance through Professor Hong Yong-jin. He was too busy to do it directly, and from what he heard, there was already quite a connection between the two.

 

Nari Basin Gate.

 

That’s where he had revealed the true identity of the Guardian of Light Hunter. Afterward, he was handed over to the Association’s prison, and through the Association’s thorough ‘interrogation,’ it was revealed that he had been colluding with China.

 

Team Leader Choi In-hwan had expressed gratitude for that and asked if there was anything he wanted.

 

‘Back then, I said I would tell him later.’

 

He had even received permission that it didn’t have to be a material reward.

 

That arrangement back then was for this very moment.

 

“The Association has almost finished preparations. We’ve prepared a small city where people coming from beyond dimensions can settle down. Various policy matters are also being processed according to Lee Si-hyeok’s requests.”

 

“There won’t be any disadvantageous parts for the Orbes people, right?”

 

“Yes. There absolutely won’t be any. I’m certain of it.”

 

However, that would only hold true if they didn’t cause any trouble.

 

Of course, at the point where they had even erected Lee Si-hyeok’s statue in the royal palace, he wondered if there would even be anyone who would step out of line.

 

Everyone would probably listen well.

 

“Well, there probably won’t be many people who want to settle completely in Korea. Everyone will probably come and go.”

 

“Still, they’ll need a place to stay, won’t they?”

 

“That’s right. Thank you for preparing it.”

 

“Not at all! It’s not just anyone, but Lee Si-hyeok’s request.”

 

With this, the problems regarding Orbes seemed to be somewhat resolved.

 

Naturally, it would take a long time for them to adapt.

 

For now, it would seem like people were welcoming them due to the backlash against Professor Bae Young-min, but once that fervor cooled down, heated discussions would arise among people.

 

Is it really safe, shouldn’t we drive them out… and so on.

 

Still, Lee Si-hyeok believes.

 

Not in people, but in the brilliance of magical engineering.

 

He believes that dazzling brilliance will captivate people.

 

Just as it had captivated Lee Si-hyeok.

 

“I’m also diligently preparing for the academic exchange between the Magical Engineering Academy and research teams from other dimensions that you mentioned. The proposal has already gone up to Chairman Lee Young-hoon.”

 

The starting point would be the academic exchange between Eterion Magical Engineering Academy and the Orbes alchemists.

 

As they exchanged ideas on common topics, they would naturally blend in before they knew it.

 

The roles of Elec and Professor Hong Yong-jin were important.

 

“Then we’ll be going first.”

 

“Thank you for making time for us.”

 

Team Leader Kim Seung-hyeon and Team Leader Choi In-hwan bowed their heads and left first. It seemed they had succeeded in capturing the fugitive Hunter Lim Jae-hwi, so an article would probably come out soon.

 

“Then I’ll also.”

 

Lee Si-hyeok also greeted Professor Hong Yong-jin and left the room.

 

Then he entered the adjacent room where others were said to be waiting.

 

When he opened the door, an untimely melodrama was unfolding.

 

“Sob, huuuk… My people… my beloved subjects…”

 

“Wa, Princess! Kugh!”

 

“Huuuk… Hic.”

 

The room was bustling. In a room filled with 19 alchemists, they and the Snow Flame Empress were embracing and sharing an intense reunion.

 

They were shedding tears so profusely that the room felt humid.

 

“Si-hyeok, you’re here?”

 

Director Yoon Seo-jin, who was watching the scene as if amazed, patted the seat next to her.

 

“Where did Ryu Se-eun go?”

 

“She went out saying she wanted to look around the academy after a long time.”

 

“Ah.”

 

Perhaps that’s why, excluding the people who were crying their hearts out, there weren’t many left in the room.

 

“Wowaa…”

 

“…”

 

Song Chae-ah was watching the tearful reunion with her mouth agape, as if she had discovered a very rare spectacle, and that rigid Bae Jun-wan’s face had somehow softened a bit.

 

‘Is he thinking of his hometown too?’

 

North Korea, which had now become a wasteland.

 

He had heard that he was from there, so he would probably feel many emotions.

 

Mixed feelings would cross his mind.

 

He bit his lip slightly, then regained his original expression and spoke. It was his usual stiff and cold tone.

 

“You must go now, Cha Yu-rim.”

 

“Huuk, sob… I know, I know too…”

 

“Phew. We can’t delay any longer. If you want to catch the plane, you need to leave now…”

 

“Sob, kugh. Didn’t I say I understood!”

 

The Snow Flame Empress swallowed her tears with difficulty. Clear snot was flowing down. She pouted her lips and wiped it away with her sleeve.

 

“A, are you… all ready?”

 

Watching her try to act fine while asking the question, Lee Si-hyeok smiled bitterly.

 

“Yes. I just need to leave with my body.”

 

“Still, don’t you need to pack your luggage… I’ll wait for you, so stop by your lodging, stop by your lodging for a moment.”

 

“Cha Yu-rim. I told you we don’t have time.”

 

“Hic. I, I understand.”

 

She had said that just to buy time because she didn’t want to leave.

 

The room burst into laughter at the sight of the Snow Flame Empress shrinking sheepishly.

 

‘Well, we don’t actually need to worry about the plane.’

 

Earlier, when Team Leader Kim Seung-hyeon heard that Lee Si-hyeok was planning to go to China, he was extremely worried and offered to provide a private jet.

 

He also offered to attach a large number of Association hunters, but that was declined.

 

‘They would just be baggage. I have Lumibra and the golem with me.’

 

No matter how he thought about it, the hunters didn’t seem like they would be stronger than those two.

 

If those two were defeated, it would mean an enemy that no hunter could handle.

 

“Then! Have a good trip, Si-hyeok. The Chairman and I will take good care of these people. Don’t worry about anything and have fun.”

 

“Yes. I’m counting on you.”

 

Though it’s not exactly a pleasure trip.

 

“Senior. You must buy souvenirs.”

 

“Alright, Chae-ah. I’ll buy some if I don’t forget.”

 

Since he didn’t explain the reason for leaving, they’re misunderstanding that he’s just going on a trip.

 

But he didn’t explain. The Apocalypse Order, Hunter Baek Min-ji, the 『Oraculum Orb』. Too many secret things were intertwined.

 

“Then, I’ll be going.”

 

He smiled as if telling them not to worry, then left the room.

 

China.

 

Finally, it’s departure.

 

* * *

 

This time, there were three purposes for going to China.

 

First, the 『Oraculum Orb』.

 

It was an incredible ‘artifact that can see the future’ that I learned about at the Nari Basin Gate.

 

According to Lumibra, it was made by someone called the Great Creator… but it was stolen quite a long time ago. By Hunter Baek Min-ji, South Korea’s first S-rank Hunter.

 

The second purpose was to search for the whereabouts of that Hunter Baek Min-ji.

 

She had certainly been missing for a long time, but now that I looked into it, it didn’t seem like a simple disappearance.

 

There was some reason for it. The fact that she could approach the Nari Basin Gate alone when it wasn’t even connected to Earth yet, and that she had been steadily moving behind the scenes.

 

She had even left a message knowing that Lee Si-hyeok would come looking for her.

 

I had a strong intuition that I had to go through her to grow to the next level.

 

The last purpose was the Muksi Guild.

 

A small elite guild operating within China that specialized in archaeology and crafting.

 

But it turned out that the Master of that Muksi Guild was the Snow Flame Empress’s father, the King of Orbes. The Snow Flame Empress was the vice-master.

 

I heard that due to the guild’s specialization in archaeology, they were storing incredible artifacts, so I was thinking of taking a look this time. Pure passion for magical engineering had ignited.

 

“Mr. Lee Si-hyeok! You’ve arrived!”

 

When I arrived at the airport, Team Leader Kim Seung-hyeon was waiting near the runway.

 

Since Team Leader Kim Seung-hyeon was the one who had brought up the private jet, it seemed he had come personally.

 

“Yes! Team Leader!”

 

“This way! This way!”

 

The wind was blowing fiercely. Due to several airplanes coming and going, tremendous noise echoed. I naturally raised my voice and boarded the waiting airplane.

 

Only then did the noise stop. Behind Lee Si-hyeok, who was pressing his stuffy ears, the Snow Flame Empress, Bae Jun-wan, and Team Leader Kim Seung-hyeon followed aboard.

 

“We’ll land at an airport near Gansu Province Jiuquan. It’s not a civilian airport but a military airfield, and we’ve already received permission, so there shouldn’t be any problems.”

 

“How long will it take?”

 

“We’ll be there in 3 hours. It would be shorter with a mana engine, but I deliberately prepared an old-style airplane in case you got tired. So you can go comfortably.”

 

“That’s good.”

 

There was no need to rush. It wasn’t like there was a time limit.

 

As I leaned back against the seat, I finally noticed my surroundings.

 

Lee Si-hyeok’s mouth fell open slightly at the quite luxurious interior.

 

‘Come to think of it, is this my first time going overseas?’

 

I had never even been on a common overseas trip. Just obtaining materials to mimic artifacts at home every day had cost quite a lot of money. I didn’t really have any spare time either.

 

I felt inexplicably excited. As I looked around with an excited heart, the Snow Flame Empress and Bae Jun-wan looked very familiar with it all.

 

“….”

 

Lee Si-hyeok, who had become dejected for no reason, looked forward again.

 

Team Leader Kim Seung-hyeon exchanged a few words with the pilot, then approached again to speak.

 

“Mr. Lee Si-hyeok. If it’s not too much trouble, may I ask you for one favor during your visit to China?”

 

“Please go ahead.”

 

What kind of favor?

 

“Do you remember the ‘Pale Artist Retrieval Operation’ that we launched recently when we misunderstood that you had gone missing? Our Association dispatched hunters to China and engaged in combat with the Jeolmong Society.”

 

“Ah, yes….”

 

I suddenly felt sorry.

 

“No, no. I’m not trying to blame you for that time. It’s something else – Deputy Han Da-hee also participated in that operation, but she stayed alone in China saying she had cleanup work to do and personal business to attend to.”

 

“Ah. Come to think of it, I think I heard about that.”

 

“Yes. I mentioned it once when you visited headquarters about the Guardian of Light matter. Anyway, I kept in contact with Deputy Han Da-hee after that, but suddenly a few weeks ago, communication was cut off.”

 

“Communication was cut off?”

 

“I wonder if something happened… There’s no reply at all. We dispatched several of our employees to look, but since there are no particular clues, the situation is mysterious. I’m starting to worry. No matter how competent Deputy Han Da-hee was.”

 

“Hmm.”

 

It was certainly a situation to be worried about.

 

Lee Si-hyeok also had an internal sense of closeness with her, so it didn’t feel like someone else’s problem.

 

“So you’re asking me to find Deputy Han Da-hee?”

 

“No. It’s not necessarily that. You’re visiting for other reasons. However, if you happen to discover anything that might be traces of Deputy Han Da-hee, I would be grateful if you could contact us.”

 

“Yes. I’ll do that.”

 

“Thank you! It seems like there are always things to be grateful to you for, Mr. Lee Si-hyeok!”

 

It wasn’t particularly difficult either.

 

If I was going to that region anyway, it wouldn’t be bad to look around in my spare time. I’d probably have to wander around for quite a while to find the 『Oraculum Orb』 anyway.

 

Team Leader Kim Seung-hyeon kept bowing and then exited the airplane.

 

While Lee Si-hyeok was briefly pondering whether he should take off his shoes or not inside the cabin, hiding his nervousness about riding an airplane for the first time.

 

Vrooooom!

 

The airplane finally departed for its destination.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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