Chapter 72
Chapter 72
Compared to the Eastern Empire, the Western Empire’s Gate Control Rate:
*60% or more lower: No reward
*40% or more lower: Reward level –2
*20% or more lower: Reward level –1
L-rank dungeon rewards were bound to be good by default.
But if the reward level dropped by 2? That meant getting A-rank instead of SS-rank.
“Then what if it goes up???”
As if answering my question, the system window sparkled and displayed the next page.
Compared to the Eastern Empire, the Western Empire’s Gate Management Rate:
*60% or more higher: Reward level +3
*40% or more higher: Reward level +2
*20% or more higher: Reward level +1
“In an L-rank dungeon???”
It was enough to make anyone’s eyes spin. Even +1 meant getting SS-rank instead of S-rank!
>>> Let’s topple the Eastern Empire
I nearly kicked off from my desk and bolted out of the office.
And the rest of the team, who had seen the same window, was no different.
>>> Just let me take over ruling the Eastern Empire too
>>> No way! If the Eastern Empire falls, there’ll be no one to compare the West to, and the quest might vanish
Judging by Hunter So Yeri’s serious tone, they were just as fired up over there.
>>> Then let them figure out their own gate management. We’ll just secure ours
Even angelic Yian didn’t object to that.
He was… a hunter, after all.
Current Gate Management Rate (Total 100%):
Western Empire: 75%
Eastern Empire: 25%
The system window flipped again, showing the current status.
“Hm, off to a good start.”
I was grinning in satisfaction when…
The system window sparkled once more, driving us all insane again.
16 dungeons cleared by the Eastern Empire will soon transfer to the Western Empire. (23:59:58…)
>>> What did you just say???
>>> Wait, what lololol
What was this? Why would cleared dungeons transfer over?
71 gates cleared by the Western Empire will soon transfer to the Eastern Empire. (23:59:57…)
>>> Looks like it’s a tossing system, huh?
I instinctively understood what the system meant.
The gates we cleared would transfer en masse to the Eastern Empire after a set time!
>>> Explains why gates pop up late in the East
>>> Then we need to plan our gate transfers strategically too
To clear this L-rank RP dungeon, our gate control rate needed to be at least 60% higher than theirs.
>>> Exactly!
…Right?
But hadn’t Yian ssi just been against chopping Eastern Empire heads?
Still, the rewards were too tempting to pass up.
>>> But that’s one thing
Yeah, that’s separate. I rubbed my face dry.
>>> Anyway, once our gates transfer over, the West will be gate-free for a bit, so that’s our window to nab the poisoner on Yian ssi
>>> Yep, perfect timing
>>> But how do you plan to catch them?
Sending in the military would be convenient, but with the imperial family, temple, and magic tower at odds in the West, it risked triggering an RP dungeon penalty.
That left one option.
>>> We’ll track them
>>> Yeah
The “tracking” I meant wasn’t just chasing someone down.
It referred to Shin Jae-heon’s skill that let him pursue entities hostile to party members: Tracking (A).
To use it, we’d first need to hit the poisoning site with the tracking skill to pick up traces.
Specifically, trail the hostility or killing intent the culprit had scattered.
>>> So we head to the temple? Penalty okay?
>>> Emperor’s been skipping palace for days anyway, no issue
>>> Emperor showing up at temple outta nowhere would still trigger penalties tho
The issue was a pretext for an official visit.
An emperor dropping by the temple would naturally become big news.
>>> Gathering evidence for political pressure seems best
>>> Nope, can’t do that
Just leave the poisoner be?
Sure, things had calmed a bit since Yian ssi regained his senses, but it was too soon after the pope’s poisoning for an official emperor visit.
A random noble? Maybe. But the emperor was too big a deal.
And luckily, we had the perfect cover among us.
Me.
>>> I’ll swing by pretending I have business
>>> Of course it’d be lovely to have Hunter Shin Yuri visit, but the tracking skill belongs to Hunter Shin Jae-heon… ah
Yian ssi trailed off mid-chat, realizing my plan.
I grinned.
Shin Jae-heon didn’t need to show up officially.
Just sneak him in somehow and activate the tracking skill. Easy.
God’s Shop: Lv. 3
I opened God’s Shop while chatting.
>>> Get in here, Jae-heon
>>> ?
>>> Into my pocket
In the meantime, God’s Shop sparkled and spat out an item.
Tiny Potion (Free) purchased.
The next day.
My official schedule was set.
As Guardian Knight Captain, I had urgent matters to discuss with the temple.
There were plenty of things to consult on, of course.
As the official Guardian Knight Captain handling gates, I needed to assess the temple’s healer—no, priest—manpower and redistribute accordingly.
“It’s still too dangerous to meet outsiders.”
The holy knights had opposed it like that, but Yian ssi handled it simply.
“Delaying the temple’s official duties over this goes against His Holiness’s will.”
“That…!”
They were reportedly so moved by the pope’s words—insisting on handling life-protecting duties even after wandering the border of death—that they backed down.
Thinking about it made my blood boil anew.
Who the hell dared poison him?
Thud!
Lost in thought in the rocking carriage, I nearly smacked my head on the wall.
We needed to get there faster.
Click!
I peeked through the curtain.
It was some distance from the temple where Yian ssi would naturally be.
Fortunately—or unfortunately—after the attack, the holy knight order had decided, after much deliberation, not to move his residence for a while.
The main temple building was quite far, and they couldn’t risk another exposure to danger.
“That way?”
I muttered softly, eyeing the forest.
>>> I’ll tail the carriage discreetly then link up
That’s what Shin Jae-heon had said, and the only spot around here he could be hiding was that forest.
“Milady, shall we rest here a bit?”
A knight’s voice came from outside. Perfect timing.
“Sure. Let’s rest and go.”
I called out loudly while chatting.
>>> Carriage stopping soon
>>> Got it, waiting in nearby woods
Knew it. I chuckled, glancing at the forest.
“I want to be alone for a bit.”
The knights retreated without question.
They’d keep watch around anyway, and I never liked people sticking too close.
And slipping an S-rank like Shin Jae-heon past the expanded perimeter of B-ranks was child’s play.
Sure enough, he swiftly approached the tree I was at, clearly moving through the nearby bushes.
“Here?”
I whispered, immediately handing him the tiny potion.
Even B-rank knights on watch had eyes; we needed to hide his appearance before they turned back.
Without a word, Shin Jae-heon downed the potion I’d given him.
Poof!
I scooped up the shrunken him and tucked him neatly into my pocket.
His tiny voice piped up from inside.
“At first I wondered why it tasted like chocolate.”
I glanced down, wondering what nonsense he’d spout next, as his head peeked out and he continued.
“But now that I’m drinking it, I’m glad it’s chocolate-flavored.”
“Why? Better than expected?”
Did this guy like chocolate? As I tilted my head…
The tiny Shin Jae-heon said with a serious face.
“If it’d been ginger, I’d have suggested a different plan—”
I stuffed the babbling fool back into my pocket. Ginger or garlic, he’d have stomached it.
“Rest’s over! Let’s go!”
I stood up.
The knights sprang into orderly motion at my shout.
Now merged with Shin Jae-heon, we needed to reach Yian ssi ASAP—no time for chit-chat.
Neigh!
Scratching my cheek as the horses whinnied in excitement, sensing the run ahead…
“Well, yeah. Chocolate’s definitely better.”
I hated ginger too.
And so, with Shin Jae-heon in my pocket, I arrived at the temple.
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