Labyrinth Exploration 101 - Chapter 196

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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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Labyrinth Exploration 101 Episode 196

Still life(12)

“…Damn it all.”

Thud!

Professor Arkal burst through the workshop door early in the morning, clearly furious.

He threw something he was holding in his hand onto the floor.

“This was left in front of my mansion last night.”

It was a decapitated eagle.

I looked back and forth between the eagle and Arkal. Blood vessels bulged like ropes at Arkal’s temples.

“The eagle is the symbol of the Demonian family.”

I belatedly put on an angry expression as well.

“What bastard would do such a thing!”

“The corrupt council. It must be those bastards. They seem displeased with my recent actions. Those damn fools.”

Arkal has an upright spirit. Whenever reporters at the academy asked about ‘that group,’ meaning the corrupt council, he gave answers that fully reflected his personality.

Thanks to that, he seems to have earned the enemies’ wrath.

I completely changed my expression.

“How dare they do such a thing to a Demonian. They must not fear the consequences.”

I deliberately scratched at his pride.

It seemed to work well, as Arkal’s brow furrowed deeply.

“…Those vermin. But these days, people are reluctant to even mention those filthy bastards’ names. Even among the higher-ups in the board of directors, quite a few are taking bribes from them.”

Arkal doesn’t take bribes. Because he has plenty of money.

He doesn’t engage in corruption either. In his eyes, both those who offer bribes and those who take them are all trash and filth.

He’s exactly the type of person the higher-ups would hate.

“We cannot stand by and watch this, Professor.”

I looked straight at Arkal. I filled my eyes with genuine anger and absolute support for him.

“This is a direct challenge to the honor of the Demonian family. You must not yield.”

“Yield?”

Arkal is someone who gets easily agitated, has strong pride, and values honor. Just a little provocation would easily set him off.

“Yes. You must not yield.”

“A Demonian yields to no one!”

“You speak truly, Professor Arkal.”

I called his name quietly.

“So please achieve what you desire.”

Arkal stared at me intently.

“I will help you.”

There are many reasons why modern America rose to its current hegemonic position, but there’s no denying that ‘war’ is one of them.

“I will operate in the shadows behind you, Professor.”

If they’re paying me to beat up bad guys.

“I’ll make sure those bastards can’t breathe.”

There’s no reason not to take advantage of it.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

A few days later, huge sacks of magic stones were delivered one after another to my new duty room. They were the highest-grade magic stones I had requested Professor Arkal to order.

I wrote a check for the delivery person.

“This is a check with the Demonian family seal. Please verify it.”

The amount was a whopping 2 million carings. A blank check entrusted to me by Arkal.

I bought only superior-grade magic stones and above.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

After that, machine parts were delivered. I purchased them from the pawn shop that Silo had told me about before.

I wrote checks the same way, and I designed drones using my fountain pen. At the same time, I created other modern artifacts.

GPS, communication devices, radios, and so on. I made them appropriately, and put the remaining money in my pocket.

[Current funds: 3,352,123 carings]

“Ha-woon.”

Later, I met with Silo on a park bench.

“There will be an intrusion this time. Please pretend to miss that person. They’ll have a conversation with me.”

“Okay. Don’t do anything dangerous. Just attach this.”

I handed Silo a GPS.

“This will automatically track the enemy’s location.”

Silo let out a hollow laugh.

“…It seems like you know everything I’m going to do, Ha-woon.”

“I know, right. It’s strange to me too.”

So strange that it’s definitely fucked up.

Silo is exactly like Seo Ji-hyuk.

Silo is definitely a Labyrinth Person, but his thought process and behavioral principles are too similar to Seo Ji-hyuk’s.

Among Earth’s billions of people, could there exist someone who thinks exactly like me?

It’s possible.

But someone who looks similar to me, thinks similarly, and acts similarly?

Impossible.

At least that’s what I think.

The probability of a monkey randomly hitting typewriter keys and producing a masterpiece like Pride and Prejudice is 0%.

Even if we generously say it’s ‘infinitely close to 0%,’ if such a thing happened, it would be right to first consider some kind of manipulation rather than luck or probability.

I’m certain.

Behind this labyrinth, there’s something I don’t know about.

Maybe it’s someone.

“Here. Take this too.”

I handed Silo a device that was a radio, distance measurer, and GPS combined.

“What’s this?”

“A radio, distance measurer, and GPS combined. When you press that emergency button.”

I pointed up at the sky with my finger.

“A drone following you from afar will give you an aerial view-“

“Aerial view?”

These guys don’t know about aviation.

“…A view from above. Like how birds see from above looking down.”

“Ah. Yes.”

“Then, operate the camera with this lever here.”

“Yes. And then?”

“Set the enemy’s position and press the button. Then….”

The drone I’m currently operating will precisely conduct an air strike and bombing of that location.

“Something far more destructive than whatever you’re thinking will happen.”

This is a system that’s impossible with my current formula level. But when I poured money into it, it worked.

Magic stones amplify formulas. They also allow formulas to be maintained permanently even without a mage nearby.

The higher the grade, the greater the effect, and the magic stone I bought with Professor Arkal’s money is even top-grade.

“Yes.”

“Then I’m going. To tutor.”

Erica is waiting. She’ll throw a fit saying she’ll deduct payment for every minute I’m late.

“Yes. Take care.”

Silo tucked the equipment I handed him into his robe.

* * *

Hyeon’S Kitchen

Meanwhile, Im Hae-jun and Seo Ji-woo visited a restaurant. They came because there were rumors that it was a newly opened popular restaurant in the city.

“You were the chef, hyung?”

Im Hae-jun blinked as he looked at Kang Hyeon inside the open kitchen. Kang Hyeon smiled faintly.

“Yeah. Hae-jun, how was the food?”

“I haven’t eaten yet.”

“I’m the manager!”

Just then, Yoon Hwa-rim appeared with a familiar voice from the side.

She was dressed neatly in manager attire.

“I’m in charge of the hall!”

Even Lee Jong-soo appeared and smiled cheekily. He held an order pad and pen in his hands.

It seemed the three of them had teamed up together.

Seo Ji-woo looked them over as if finding it absurd.

“…You three are running a restaurant together? So are you making some money?”

Her tone mixed subtle disdain with curiosity.

“Yeah. Our daily sales are coming out better than expected.”

Kang Hyeon answered calmly.

“Ji-woo! If we told you how much we’re making, you’d probably be shocked~? The story is totally amazing too. We probably got the most screen time in this Labyrinth. It’s like we filmed a cooking movie.”

Yoon Hwa-rim bragged with a smile.

“You guys~ We’re eating now because it’s our break time before opening~ We have tons of reservations backed up right now~”

Seo Ji-woo found it strangely laughable.

Im Hae-jun secretly glared at such Seo Ji-woo.

As expected, people who made money easily tend to look down on those who make money the hard way.

“Hmm~ Well, I suppose so. Just bring out what we ordered. I’ll give you a tip too.”

Seo Ji-woo put down the menu.

“Okay, wait~”

“I need to use the bathroom.”

The moment Seo Ji-woo left for the bathroom.

Im Hae-jun got fired up.

“Hyung, hyung!”

He quickly approached Kang Hyeon and whispered.

“You were hurt by Ji-woo noona, right? Don’t feel too bad about it. She is annoying though.”

“I’m fine though?”

“Don’t worry. I have something prepared.”

Im Hae-jun laughed hehe. His nuclear bomb-level preparation was almost ready.

An amazing twist that would give Mitamnan viewers a refreshing moment.

Everyone, I, Im Hae-jun, will show you. Please vote for me!

“But hyung, was your job trait being a chef?”

“Yeah. My food becomes more delicious.”

Each job has its own trait. As a thief, Im Hae-jun can steal a percentage of the total amount someone is carrying.

“I have a job trait too… I’ll give her a refreshing backstab later- Ah, it’s delicious!”

Seo Ji-woo had returned before he knew it.

“What’s delicious? Are you eating air?”

“No, I meant the smell is delicious. The smell.”

“Here.”

Kang Hyeon had already finished the food. It was steak and pasta.

Im Hae-jun and Seo Ji-woo’s eyes widened after just one bite.

“This is really delicious?”

“Right!”

“Hehe, right~? How is it!”

Yoon Hwa-rim had returned before they knew it.

“But it’s a bit expensive. We got certified as the fastest new popular restaurant, so that’s 500 carings for two people.”

“Pfft.”

Seo Ji-woo almost scoffed but barely held back.

“No. Um. That’s expensive. It would cost more with wine?”

“Right. Rich people spend 10,000 to 20,000 carings a day here.”

“I see… Give me wine too. The most expensive one.”

“Ooh! As expected of Ji-woo~”

Yoon Hwa-rim was grinning when she suddenly remembered something and called Jong-soo and Kang Hyeon over.

“Oh right! Guys! Let’s take a thumbnail photo now.”

“…Thumbnail?”

Seo Ji-woo tilted her head.

“Ah~ Right. We decided to take that and kept forgetting.”

The three went outside the restaurant.

Under the Hyeon’S Kitchen sign. Kang Hyeon stood in the center smiling, Lee Jong-soo leaned his left shoulder against Kang Hyeon’s side, and Yoon Hwa-rim put her hand on Kang Hyeon’s right shoulder making a V sign.

They stayed still like that for a few seconds.

“Done!”

Yoon Hwa-rim gave the signal.

“Yeah.”

“This will be our YouTube edited version thumbnail.”

She seemed to already be looking forward to the YouTube cut scene │Hyeon’S Kitchen Compilation (40 minutes)│.

“…”

Im Hae-jun and Seo Ji-woo stared blankly at the three. Come to think of it, their other friends were living earnestly.

“Noona.”

Im Hae-jun suddenly said to Seo Ji-woo.

“Let’s take a thumbnail photo later too.”

“Shut up, punk. What thumbnail?”

“No. We will end up taking one.”

After you get backstabbed by me! Im Hae-jun laughed wickedly to himself.

* * *

Late at night. I saw dark currents reflected in the corner of the CCTV I installed at the school.

Dark red dust particles rushed into the school, then assembled in an instant to form a human shape.

“So they’re called demons.”

The formulas they use are also bizarre. At that level, they’re not just evil sect but evil beings. In modern times, they’d be killed on sight.

The demon walked somewhere with heavy steps. Probably going to meet Silo.

It’s only a matter of time before I identify their base.

I don’t rely solely on GPS. Silo is just ‘part’ of my methods.

The core strategy is the ‘drones’ that decorate the sky above this city like satellites.

The number of drones increases day by day, now reaching dozens.

It’s like a dragnet with no escape.

Knock knock.

I knocked on Professor Arcal’s Office door.

─Come in.

At some point, Arcal’s way of speaking became somewhat kinder.

From “come in” to “please come in,” from “handle it yourself” to “please handle it,” things like that.

Since all sorts of matters are going smoothly, it seems he has no reason to get angry.

“Professor Arcal.”

“Mm. What is it?”

His face is also very gentle.

“The enemies’ stronghold will be identified soon.”

For a moment, one corner of Arcal’s mouth twisted.

“Is that so.”

“Yes. The preparations are complete, but…”

I handed him the Documents.

“This is the final cost.”

The number was 7 million Caring.

“Please give it to me.”

This time I spoke directly.

Hand over 7 million Caring. It’s labor costs.

Though it seemed like a burdensome amount even for Arcal as he pondered for a moment, he soon picked up his Fountain Pen and signed.

I smiled inwardly.

I finally succeeded in milking this sucker dry.

“…Tsk.”

But Arcal’s expression doesn’t look good. It’s probably not just because of the 7 million Caring.

This gentleman isn’t the type to cry and laugh over Money.

“Tsk.”

“…”

“Tsk.”

He keeps clicking his tongue.

“Tsk.”

It seems like he’ll keep clicking his tongue until I ask.

“Tsk.”

“…Is there something wrong?”

“Ah. A Restaurant opened nearby.”

Arcal opened his mouth as if he’d been waiting.

“I had my Family’s servant try to make a reservation.”

“They said no.”

“Right. Something about having to follow the order or whatever. Insolent bastards. That entire street belongs to the Demonian.”

The Demonian is not only a prestigious magical Family, but also a real estate Family that owns an entire street. How magnificent.

“Yes. What is the Restaurant’s name?”

Thud.

Arcal silently put up a Photo. It was a Photo taken to show the Restaurant Sign.

Hyeon’S Kitchen

Hyeon’s Kitchen. That name seems somehow familiar.

No, the faces visible through the window are obvious. Enough to make an unconscious smile form on my lips.

“…I’ll try making a reservation myself.”

“Would that be possible?”

“It seems they don’t know Arcal Demonian’s dignity well. I’ll go and persuade Tyler properly.”

I should earn my keep for the 7 million I received.

And see the kids after a long time.

Lately I’ve been stuck in this cramped School and haven’t had any leisure time.

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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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