876

 [Chapter 218]

[Covert Operations (2)]

Ingyeo, Cheonan City, South Chungcheong Province.

Prisoners who had caused social ripples were being transferred from Cheonan City to Hwaseong City, Gyeonggi Province on this day.

There were 21 prisoners in the transport vehicle, all of whom had considerable skills in the past.

The key word being 'past'.

"It feels good to get some fresh air after a long time."

Like former Changhae Clan Lord Gil Seong-jun,

The prisoners' mana circuits had been severed.

The Fairy government had taken measures to prevent prisoner escapes and incidents within the prison.

As a result, they couldn't use any power, unlike their reputation.

"How much longer..."

Moreover, the mental state of prisoners with at least 10 years or more of imprisonment was deteriorating.

Gil Seong-jun was no exception.

He had been sentenced to 30 years for arbitrarily leading troops to retreat during the First Uijeongbu Recapture Battle.

About 17 years had passed since then.

When he first entered prison, he was angry at Shin Seo-young who had betrayed him, and hated the Fairy government.

But now, he felt nothing.

He was just counting the days until he could get out as soon as possible.

Of course, there would be no one waiting for him even if he got out.

What kind of work could he do at this age, getting out with his mana circuit severed?

On the other hand, Gil Seong-jun was skeptical.

17 years was enough time to break his will and hatred.

He had been mentally castrated.

At least, that's what he thought at the time.

It was then.

Bang─!!

Screech!!

The transport vehicle and the escort vehicles around it shook violently.

Hit by magic from somewhere, they veered off the road and rolled over.

""""...!!""""

The vehicle flips over.

The prisoners, whose hands were bound by handcuffs, were dazed by the impact of the vehicle rolling over.

"Ugh..."

Fortunately, Gil Seong-jun regained his senses.

He got up from his seat and looked around.

Some other prisoners seemed to have come to their senses as well, getting up from their seats.

And then─

"─Fortunately, the person I was looking for is safely alive here." """"...!!""""

The subspace cracked open.

A man who appeared inside the vehicle grinned at them.

The prisoners were greatly surprised by his sudden appearance.

But the man with piercings took their reaction nonchalantly.

He just slightly rolled his eyes, looking for one person among those standing.

"Lee Dong-hyuk, you've worked hard being inside all this time. From today, you're free." "Who are you?"

The man spoke to one prisoner.

<Puppeteer > Lee Dong-hyuk.

A slayer who was notorious in the world 20 years ago.

The one whose name was called glared at the man and opened his mouth.

The man's answer was concise.

"He sent me." "...I see."

"Yes, here, take this."

"What is this?" "It's an elixir. If you drink it, you'll be able to heal your mana circuit. He somehow procured it, they say."

"Tell him I'm grateful. No, am I going to meet him now?"

Lee Dong-hyuk didn't hesitate.

He immediately drank the elixir the man handed over.

Then he threw the glass bottle at the head of a police officer wearing the same handcuffs as him.

"Not just you, but the others here might be useful somewhere too. You all choose. Will you follow us like this, or will you just wait here for the vehicles following behind to capture you again?"

""""...""""

The man asked the prisoners.

The prisoners had only one answer.

How could they not escape when the opportunity to escape had come?

"Hm?"

It was then.

The man's eyes turned to a prisoner near Lee Dong-hyuk.

It was Gil Seong-jun.

"I thought the face looked familiar, it's Changhae Clan Lord Gil Seong-jun."

"...You know me?" "There's nothing not to know. If I remember correctly, you certainly..."

The man searched his memory.

Soon, the man's eyes lit up as he recalled his memory of Gil Seong-jun.

"You had <Past Vision>." "...!!"

The gift <Past Vision>.

A gift that allows one to see a person's past through their eyes.

Gil Seong-jun couldn't help but be flustered when the man discovered the gift he had been hiding all this time.

"H-how did you..."

"Why? Did you think that was information only you knew? But is it possible for only you to know?" "..." "There are various ways to know, whether you talked about it while drunk or someone who confirmed your gift talked about it."

Through the man's words,

Gil Seong-jun saw through the man's identity.

"I see, you are..."

"Can you still use that power?" "What if I can?"

Gil Seong-jun asked as if bargaining.

The man raised the corners of his mouth.

"This works out well. He wanted to check those guys' past." "Those guys?"

"Noh Eun-ha, Kang Hyeon-cheol, Lee Do-jin, and a few others. I'll tell you the rest if you come along."

"...!" "What's wrong?" "No, I was curious about that too."

Hearing the name Noh Eun-ha from the man,

Gil Seong-jun regained the hatred he had lost during his long imprisonment.

The little boy who was behind the big man who was with Shin Seo-young at that time.

He must have become an adult by now.

Gil Seong-jun cackled.

"So I just need to use my power to uncover Noh Eun-ha's past?"

"If you get good results, he will reward you."

"I have a feeling who 'he' might be. To think he would do something like this..."

That day, multiple deaths and injuries occurred due to someone's attack.

The culprit couldn't be identified, and

The whereabouts of 17 out of 21 criminals being transported became unknown.

"─Find them immediately. Not just the culprit, but the escaped criminals too."

The situation caused anxiety among people.

The Fairy government urgently took measures and issued a search order for the escaped criminals to players across the country.

☆

Vicious criminals had escaped.

The world, which was just about to regain peace, trembled with anxiety at the news of their escape.

As a result, the Fairy government even requested cooperation from clans and players in Seoul.

Pandora Clan cooperated too.

'Let me participate in the search too.'

'You too, noona?'

At that time, Shin Seo-young, who had been appointed as a magic advisor this year, came to see Eun-ha.

With a stern face, she asked to be allowed to participate in the search.

Eun-ha had expressed doubt.

'Why does noona want to do that?'

'Why? Because there's someone I know among those who escaped this time.'

'Ah... Gil Seong-jun?'

'Yes, that bastard Gil Seong-jun.'

Changhae Clan Lord Gil Seong-jun.

He had a deep connection with Shin Seo-young.

When she was called <Divine Wind>, she was a sub-lord assisting Gil Seong-jun, and also his lover.

So when she heard the name of her old lover after nearly 17 years, she must have felt some emotional change.

'What will you do when you find him?'

To this, Eun-ha decided to check her feelings once.

It didn't seem like she would participate in the search just to capture Gil Seong-jun.

Sure enough, Shin Seo-young answered firmly.

'I'll kill him.'

'...'

'An order has been issued that escaped criminals can be killed if necessary. Then I can kill him now, right?'

'Noona, you seem to have changed completely...'

'Then you try being in my shoes.'

'...'

'Would you want to kill someone that much? I threw away my precious life because of Gil Seong-jun. Because of that bastard... I even missed my chance to marry.'

Shin Seo-young's anger was tremendous.

Somehow, the last reason seemed sincere.

But he wasn't insensitive.

He had already been irritating Shin Seo-young's mood by getting married to Ryu Yeon-hwa.

Instead, Eun-ha carefully asked, preparing for any situation.

'Will you really kill him? Then I can handle it so it doesn't become a problem...'

'I really want to kill him, but to maintain the government's face, it would be better to capture him alive. So I'll just beat him to death.'

'Ah, that's a relief.'

'And I'll castrate him.'

'What?'

'I'll cut it off.'

'...'

Cut what?

Eun-ha wasn't insensitive.

The wind Shin Seo-young handled was sharp enough to easily cut even metal.

Eun-ha gave up trying to imagine.

'Alright. Then go out on the search with the kids. This works out well. It's also an opportunity to train the clan members who joined this year in the field.'

'Okay, I'll take them along and educate them thoroughly.'

In the end, Eun-ha accepted her request.

After that, Shin Seo-young led people on a search across the country.

According to those who followed her, her search for hidden criminals was reminiscent of an evil spirit.

Moreover, she educated the clan members until they collapsed.

Why do people who join our clan always change like that?

I can't understand...

Eun-ha was dumbfounded when he heard the report at that time.

He trusted that Shin Seo-young would do well and left the mission report to Mok Min-ho.

And Eun-ha focused on preparing for the wedding with Ryu Yeon-hwa.

""""...""""

And so the wedding day approached,

But the escaped criminals still hadn't been found.

☆

Eun-ha's 4th wedding.

Unlike his three previous weddings, his wedding with Ryu Yeon-hwa wasn't lavish.

But the number of people attending the wedding was incomparably larger.

"Ha, Noh Eun-ha, you sly friend. The fact that there was no wedding news for 5 years after marrying Yu-jung meant you were saving up wedding gifts all this time? Well, here you go. 5 years' worth of wedding gifts, nothing I can't give for my best friend Noh Eun-ha."

As Eun-ha became <Lord >,

And Ryu Yeon-hwa became <Divine Spear>,

The wedding of these two was accepted as a high-class event in itself.

People wanted to attend and tell the world that they too had the same class as them.

As a result, not only Yu Do-jun but many people came to the wedding.

"Do-jun, you know what?"

"What?"

Eun-ha chuckled as he received Yu Do-jun's wedding gift.

Yu Do-jun looked puzzled.

Then Eun-ha whispered in his ear─

"─Yu-seong's birthday is coming up soon." "..." "Prepare a gift for Yu-seong." "Damn, do I have to think about that too? It feels like I'm the only one losing out, should I just get married too?"

"Then do it."

"Ugh..."

Yu Do-jun scrunched his face.

Eun-ha kept teasing him.

After that, many people came to greet Eun-ha.

The Fairy sent a flower wreath as a gift, and even the Twelve Seats and S-rank clan officials sent flower wreaths.

<Yama > and <Holy Mother> came to see the wedding in person.

And─

"─So you're Eun-ha. You look quite handsome in person, unlike on TV. No wonder Yeon-hwa fell for you." """"...!!""""

Former <Divine Spear> Nam Gung Seong-un.

He appeared at the wedding venue dressed in a black uniform.

People were shocked to see him, who had gone down to Cheongju and almost cut off contact with the secular world.

Eun-ha was the same.

...I didn't hear he was coming.

It was somewhat unexpected.

Eun-ha immediately bowed his waist as soon as he saw Nam Gung Seong-un.

Although Ryu Yeon-hwa had no parents, Nam Gung Seong-un, who had taken her in as a disciple and raised her, could be said to be her parent.

"Father-in-law. I'm truly sorry for the late greeting. We were actually thinking of going down to Cheongju..."

"Ho ho, there's no need to bow. A hero is naturally busy, so it's right for an old man like me to come visit. And didn't you contact me by phone? That was enough."

Nam Gung Seong-un's attitude was friendly.

He held out his right hand to Eun-ha.

It was Nam Gung Seong-un's only hand.

He had lost his left hand long ago in the process of subjugating the 2nd rank overrank Leviathan.

Eun-ha grasped his hand.

"I was curious who Yeon-hwa, who only knew about spears, would give her heart to, but to think it was someone called <Lord >. As someone who once had the alias <Lord Slayer>, I don't know how to accept you."

Nam Gung Seong-un laughed heartily.

But his voice wasn't light.

The meaning behind his words was heavy.

Moreover, he applied strength to his hand.

Eun-ha didn't resist his grip and obediently received it.

...Amazing.

Even though he had retired from the front lines long ago,

Nam Gung Seong-un's grip strength couldn't be ignored.

Nevertheless, Eun-ha endured steadily, trying to pass Nam Gung Seong-un's test.

"That child wouldn't betray her beliefs even if she was blinded by a man. If she had, she wouldn't have been called <Divine Spear>. She must have discovered something in you that I don't know, and decided to move forward with you."

"..."

"Still, I want to ask one thing. What do you intend to do as <Lord >?"

Nam Gung Seong-un asks.

People couldn't enter the venue and pricked up their ears to the conversation between the two.

Eun-ha ignored their gazes and looked straight at Nam Gung Seong-un.

There was no wavering in his eyes.

Nam Gung Seong-un's question was something he had answered several times already.

"To make it so that no one can defy the Fairy." "And you'll stand behind her?" "If that's what allows the Fairy to carry out her will and protect her."

"Shameless, arrogant, and ambitious."

A tone that seemed displeased.

But that was only for a moment.

Nam Gung Seong-un released the strength from his hand.

"But a man who will take <Divine Spear> as his wife should be like that. I really like that attitude. Our Yeon-hwa, I entrust her to you from now on."

"Leave it to me. I'll take responsibility and make her happy."

Nam Gung Seong-un withdrew his force.

Eun-ha responded in kind.

The two soon shared a light embrace and exchanged friendliness.

It was then.

"Well, well, I was trying to check if he was a promising fellow, but I'm about to be pierced by a gaze."

"What?"

"There, there's a child who seems displeased that I was trying to intimidate you."

Nam Gung Seong-un clicked his tongue.

Eun-ha, breaking the embrace, turned his head and looked in the direction he pointed.

Im Baek-yeon was there.

She was standing with strength in her eyes.

Her gaze was fixed not on Eun-ha, but on Nam Gung Seong-un.

 "To be hated by such a small child, I must be getting old. Before I incur her wrath later, I should quickly go and pay my respects."

Nam Gung Seong-un left Eun-ha's side.

He approached Im Baek-yeon.

Then, regardless of whether the people around were surprised or not, he bowed his head in front of her.

""""...!!""""

"...A long-secluded old man finally meets the successor of the Fairy. I am Nam Gung Seong-un."

Nam Gung Seong-un greeted her politely.

Im Baek-yeon also seemed surprised.

Soon, she responded to Nam Gung Seong-un's greeting that elevated her.

"The Fairy's successor, Im Baek-yeon, meets <Divine Spear> who made this country possible today."

Im Baek-yeon bowed her head politely.

Nam Gung Seong-un, receiving her greeting, soon wore a refreshing smile.

"We promise to be the Fairy's faithful sword in the future as well."

Nam Gung Seong-un's loyalty was not light.

His loyalty could be said to represent the people who followed him.

Im Baek-yeon had essentially gained loyal swords through this meeting.

The future where she would succeed Im Ga-eul to become the 2nd Fairy someday was drawing closer.

☆

The wedding ended successfully.

Unfortunately, those tasked with searching for the escaped criminals had to leave during the wedding.

Nevertheless, many people remained to congratulate Eun-ha and Ryu Yeon-hwa's marriage.

"Are you happy?"

"Yes, I'm happy."

Receiving people's congratulations,

The two left for Jeju Island.

They planned to relax comfortably in Jeju for 4 nights and 5 days.

Arriving at the hotel, Eun-ha asked Ryu Yeon-hwa as she entered the room.

She smiled and answered.

"Come here."

That smile is so lovely.

Eun-ha, sitting on the bed, pulled Ryu Yeon-hwa closer.

She came without resistance.

The two shared a long kiss.

Even that wasn't enough, so they kissed again to quench their longing.

By then, Ryu Yeon-hwa's eyes were filled with hot passion.

Eun-ha decided to stop here.

The night was still long.

"Then let's go eat dinner now. You must be very hungry?"

"Yes, I am hungry, but..." "Hm?"

Eun-ha tried to pull Ryu Yeon-hwa's hand to go to the hotel restaurant.

But Ryu Yeon-hwa held his hand tightly and didn't get up.

He sat back down on the bed and tilted his head in confusion.

Ryu Yeon-hwa was squirming, sheepishly putting her hands between her knees.

She twisted her waist.

Her hot gaze fixed on Eun-ha.

"I can't wait." "...!!"

Thump.

Ryu Yeon-hwa pushed Eun-ha down.

She climbed on top of him.

Eun-ha blankly looked up at Ryu Yeon-hwa, who was exhaling heat.

Soon, he burst into laughter.

Has this noona seen it all now that she's not even embarrassed anymore?

It was the first time he had seen Ryu Yeon-hwa be so proactive.

It wasn't bad.

Eun-ha placed his hand on her back and slowly slid it down.

"Okay, okay. I got it, come here."

As soon as Eun-ha gave the signal,

Ryu Yeon-hwa pressed her body close.

The two spent 4 nights and 5 days like that, rubbing against each other.

5 days passed in the blink of an eye.