novelburst-info
Chapter 262
Chapter 262
Mark 2 secretly entered the Haenam faction.
At first, Min Woo-sung suggested hiding him in a safe place.
They were planning to use the National Security Bureau to arrange a hidden residence and protect and monitor Mark 2 there.
[There’s a safer place.]
"Where is it?"
[The place I’m in.]
"……."
No matter how great a safe house they prepared, there was no place safer than being by Ha Eung Eung’s side.
With such a convincing argument, Min Woo-sung understood.
But he had no memory of ever accepting such an everyday situation.
"Secretary, Mark 2 wants to try fried shrimp dishes. I’m curious about tasty food."
"Secretary, Mark 2 wants a 100-shot firework launcher. I’m curious about the power of explosions."
"Secretary, Mark 2 wants..."
Like a mischievous five-year-old, the curiosity just wouldn’t end!
‘Forget everything else. I wish Dr. Johann 2nd would just take him back.’
At this rate, would Mark 2 end up asking for a space shuttle because he wants to experience space travel?
It might seem that simply refusing would be enough, but there was an unavoidable reason why Min Woo-sung couldn’t say no to Mark 2’s requests.
"Secretary, Mark 2 wants to know what honey candy tastes like. I want to know if it really tastes as sweet as a kiss when it rolls on your tongue."
"No."
Where did he learn these peculiar requests, from some romance novel or something?
While the difficulty was lower than the other requests, granting everything he asked would only spoil him.
This time, I’ll refuse.
"Not allowed?"
The firm resolve wavered before the cute voice that asked with a tilt of the head.
"You must brush your teeth before bed."
"Mark 2 is always grateful for the secretary’s dedication and hard work."
"...No need to mention it."
The real Silent Swordsman wouldn’t say such kind words to him.
She doesn’t speak, and she certainly isn’t cute.
She never acts coquettishly either.
Just look at the Guild Master’s expression over there. Doesn’t it look like that of a petty villain scheming something?
[Where did this candy come from?]
"Impatience. This is Mark 2’s precious honey candy. It’s not to be taken away."
Mark 2 tightly gripped the candy stick with both hands, pulling it close with great caution.
Ha Eung Eung passed by with a disinterested look, and Mark 2 let out a relieved sigh.
The tension eased for a moment.
<Elite Martial Arts>
<Silent Step Technique ?????>
Ha Eung Eung’s figure wavered.
Her silent steps, stealing even shadows.
The thief technique, known to have once caused a stir in the palace, had stolen the honey candy.
"Ah!"
By the time Mark 2 realized the candy had been taken, it was already too late.
Ha Eung Eung’s mouth, which had been tightly shut, opened with a mischievous smile.
"Ang."
With an adorable "ang," Ha Eung Eung placed the candy in her mouth, savoring it with her crimson tongue, sucking and rolling it around to enjoy its flavor.
[It tastes good.]
Mark 2 glared at Ha Eung Eung, his eyes filled with resentment.
The honey candy that had disappeared was now being ruthlessly enjoyed in her mouth.
The candy Mark 2 had longed for so much was now wet and tainted in another’s mouth.
‘She was so reliable in dangerous situations, but she’s completely childish in normal circumstances.’
Unable to watch any longer, Min Woo-sung scolded Ha Eung Eung.
"Guild Master. Stealing a child’s food is too much. Didn’t Mark 2 get hurt by your little joke?"
Ha Eung Eung, who feared nothing, flinched at Min Woo-sung’s justified reproach.
This was one of the reasons why Mark 2 liked Min Woo-sung.
He could scold the Guild Master for a just reason.
Such an opportunity would never come unless it was for Mark 2.
[Sorry.]
[I wanted to combine it with some training, but I was a little thoughtless. I’ll give it back.]
Ha Eung Eung pulled the candy from her mouth and extended it to Mark 2.
Though it might seem dirty and he should frown, Mark 2’s eyes lit up as he spoke.
"Analysis. A rare opportunity to collect the amylase of the original body."
Without resistance, Mark 2 eagerly popped the candy into his mouth.
He pushed it deep into his cheek, rolling it around excitedly.
Seeing this, Min Woo-sung couldn’t help but think of an indirect kiss.
His heart pounded, and just as it was about to reveal itself, Ha Eung Eung turned to look at him.
"......"
"What, what is it?"
Ha Eung Eung, with a cold expression, handed him a notebook.
[If you don’t want to become a pedophile, stop getting flustered looking at Mark 2.]
"Who’s a pedophile?!"
Was she really treating him like a kid?
For a moment, he was angry, but soon realized something far more important.
‘Did she hear my heartbeat?’
From now on, if his heart flutters just by looking at her, she’ll know immediately, right?
‘How long has she been listening?’
A chill ran up his arm.
He couldn’t even meet her eyes.
How would he face her in the future?
Would one day, Seongseok come down to the main hall, hand over a resignation letter, and say that he would take over as the secretary?
The uneasy thoughts kept building.
The fear that his true feelings had already been completely exposed was terrifying.
Though Ha Eung Eung enjoyed the simple mischief of daily life, she too felt a sense of crisis.
She needed strength.
The power she encountered from Dr. Johann 2nd, both in Half-Demon Valley and now, was different from the awakened ones she knew.
The ability to divide the body and create a clone.
The power to create lifeforms using mana.
How many other applications did he possess? It was hard to even guess.
‘If I approached disguised as a stranger and planted a bomb in someone’s stomach for a suicide attack, how many people could stop me?’
At least, within Haenam faction, those who could survive a suicide attack would be people like Baek So-chun, Mark 2, Ju A-young, Yang Gwi-ho, Lightning Man, Dashman, or Gashi Ingan. No one else came to mind.
‘Not just me, but other disciples and executives also need ways to rapidly improve their skills.’
Dungeon runs are a last resort.
Building up low-quality Qi is a shortcut to a short life.
Internal energy training is essential, but it requires significant patience in a world with little natural energy.
She needed a faster and easier way to gather useful Qi.
Her best idea was to train through a game.
‘Capturing the executioners in Half-Demon Valley, or defeating bosses at the highest difficulty. That might increase internal energy a bit.’
But there were concerns.
The skill level required for top-level bosses and dungeons in Half-Demon Valley was very high.
Even for the tutorial boss, the executioner, one needed the strength of an elite martial artist or at least a B-class awakened one to clear it.
Maybe there’s a more convenient way to gather internal energy.
‘First, I should pick a suitable test subject and compare whether internal energy can be increased in other games, and how much.’
People with little or no internal energy or mana.
People who can directly confirm this in reality.
Those with decent skills.
Several faces came to mind.
Among them, Mark 2 was excluded.
Mark 2 was unstable, moving with Dr. Johann 2nd’s energy.
She didn’t want to cause unnecessary energy consumption.
Kim Hanna.
Not bad for a disciple.
A strong candidate.
Ju A-young.
Her handpicked disciple, someone she shared the tattoo’s secret with.
If it’s A-young, she had both skill and trust.
‘But do I really need to pick just one?’
There’s no need for that.
The more test subjects, the better.
So, she decided to call them all.
For such a simple reason, Ha Eung Eung pressed the bell.
- If there’s something you want me to do while I’m away, please press this bell.
After pressing the bell that Min Woo-sung handed over, she waited for a while.
The sound of hurried footsteps reached her ears.
‘I feel like torturing that foolish pigeon.’
Just as she was thinking idly, the door burst open.
"Pant, pant... Did you call?"
"?"
It wasn’t Min Woo-sung, it was Woo Ji-woo.
Realizing the questioning look on her face, Woo Ji-woo pulled out the ringing receiver from her chest.
"This is the call device Min Woo-sung gave me. He said if it rings, it means the Guild Master is asking for help. First time using it in six months, huh. Haha."
So, for the past six months, everything had been handled by Min Woo-sung without Woo Ji-woo’s help.
She realized anew how competent Min Woo-sung was, just like Seongseok.
"So, what do you need help with?"
Woo Ji-woo was curious.
What was the first task Ha Eung Eung had given her in half a year?
Maybe chase away reporters, or ask for restaurant recommendations for lunch?
The usual, mundane imaginations.
But Ha Eung Eung’s instructions went beyond that.
[Find out about multiplayer games.]
"Eh?"
[Something five people can play together.]
‘Is she asking to play a game in our next stream?!’
It was too much.
A lot too much.