Chapter 139- Exposed

A/N: If you are interested in supporting this story and read dozens up to 50 chapters faster, you can visit my Patreön.

Patreön.com/heavenlyraven

_____________________________________________

Gritting his teeth, Theo spoke again as he still felt the chilling touch of the blade on his neck. "I will give all of the things I know about the underground."

"Good, now get up and send the information to our lighthouse." Adori said and withdrew her blade from his neck.

Theo quickly stood up as he heaved a sigh of relief. That was pretty close. A princess of Zahard was indeed not a joke, especially her. Not only she was powerful and gifted with shinsu, she was also proficient in the way of the sword, making her even more dangerous.

"We will check whether your information is fake or not and if it's incomplete or not. If you try to do anything funny, I won't give you another chance and kill you, got it?" Said Adori.

"I got it, your highness." The scout said as he nodded in understanding.

He approached Xin and his lighthouse and pulled out his pocket before connecting it with the lighthouse. Then, he began to nudge his pocket with his finger repeatedly to send the information over to the lighthouse's database.

After the process was done, Adori, Liu Guanyi, and Xin group up as they watched the information and discussed it together. It lasted for quite a while as Theo stressfully waited for their verdict to come. Even if he had sent all of the information, it didn't mean that Adori wouldn't kill him off.

She probably only wouldn't kill him if what the information that he had given satisfied her. It didn't matter anyway, no matter what would happen he was already screwed regardless.

'Damn, it! Why did she have to ask about the information?! Did she already suspect me? If she does, this means that I am in a very dangerous situation. Did I get too greedy when they offered me such a good opportunity that it blinded me to accept it without considering the risks?" Theo cursed inwardly as he thought over his decision.

Meanwhile, the three finally finished their discussion as Liu Guanyi approached the now, gloom looking scout. "It seems you are quite sincere about it, we have seen the information and it's quite complete and informational, not bad. I guess you aren't just wasting your time on the last floor for C-ranked regulars." He said, a little bit impressed.

Hearing the praise, Theo smiled slightly and spoke with a hint of pride. "Naturally, sir. Although I have been failing to progress to become a B-ranked regular and stuck on the 75th floor, I still haven't lost my desire to someday climb the tower again and reach the top so I always try to spend my time as productively as possible."

"Unfortunately, up until now, my luck seems to run out as I haven't found any suitable team I could climb together with and also without no items to significantly boost my ability to possibly attempt and pass the floor test alone so I am eventually stuck on this floor." The scout let out a sigh and spoke.

"I see, it must be hard for an adventurous, energetic, and determined man like you to have no choice other than to stay and work on 75th floor as a guide in this desert." Liu Guanyi said sympathetically.

Theo sighed again and began to speak. "Indeed, sir. Life has been tough for me since then. Even though I have no problem in my daily life, I still need a lot of credits to take another test. I have been working very hard since I have arrived on this floor, yet, everything has gone since I had taken many attempts that just ended up in failures. Of course, I can work hard to again to regain but honestly I have lost my will."

"I guess I should at least be grateful that I didn't die for all of those attempts." He spoke with a wry smile.

Liu Guanyi nodded and spoke casually. "I understand. Then, what did they offer to you for you to accept their deal? Is it the opportunity to become a B-ranked regular without passing the regular test since it's too hard for you to handle?"

"W-what do you mean by that, sir? I have no idea what are you talking about accepting any deal nor I do I know anything about what you call by "them"." Theo said as he looked straight at Liu Guanyi with a clueless face. However, the sweat that poured on his forehead kind of gave him away.

"No need to make some excuses, I have seen through you." Liu Guanyi said with a smile.

"You know princess Adori, right?" Liu Guanyi asked as he glanced toward Adori, who was looking at them just a few feet away.

"You're lucky that you are dealing with me, not her highness. Her highness has sees to it that I am more suitable to deal with the likes of you since she has little patience for the likes of you."

"From your explanation about the underground and the data that you have given, even though there are no contradictions, we noticed a particular odd… detail." Liu Guanyi emphasized on the word "detail".

Liu Guanyi looked around dark environment and spoke. "For a well-known nest for many species of Shinheuh, our journey to the deep part of the underground tunnel network seems pretty smooth, even too smooth in fact."

"Other than encountering the wolves on the desert and some amicable and friendly Shinheuh in the tunnels, we haven't met a single aggressive, dangerous, and territorial creature." He said with a thin smile.

"Hold on, sir! This is because I-" Theo was just about to explain himself before Liu Guanyi waved and cut him off.

"I know that you are going to say "because I have purposely led you to the safest and best route possible". Unfortunately, if that was the case and you are that good of a scout, you probably wouldn't have been stuck in here for so long." Liu Guanyi spoke as he smiled knowingly.

"Just admit it, you are working under those Rankers at the administration office, aren't you? And you are most likely not guiding us to the nest of the death worms. If you spill the beans and help us for real this time, I will appeal to her highness to spare your miserable life, or even to help you pass the ranking test."

Liu Guanyi looked at the miserable scout. "So, what's your choice? To die here or to help us for another chance?" He said ruthlessly as a powerful and repressive aura emanated from his body.