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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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“Impressive for a future chicken dinner. You recognized my ‘Rule of Law’ Unique Skill at a glance.”
Vellus spoke with surprise. In this era, with thousands of Unique Skills and countless Rare and Common Skills, identifying one at a glance, even with the law book clue, wasn’t easy. But for Na-kyung, a former PAB agent, it was natural.
Which was why she was even more bewildered.
[How can you use ‘Rule of Law’? That’s the Lawful Grand Duke’s Unique Skill!]
“Is there a problem?”
[Of course there is! Unless you’re the Lawful Grand Duke in disguise…!]
Na-kyung stopped mid-sentence.
A Unique Skill was exclusive to one person, it was an absolute truth of the Iron Age, what made Unique Skill players special. But if someone else had the same skill… there could only be one explanation.
“Why are you so surprised?”
Vellus said mockingly to the stunned Na-kyung,
“It’s common knowledge that when the previous owner dies, their Unique Skill can be passed on to another player.”
Indeed, though rare, it wasn’t unheard of for a Unique Skill to be inherited after its owner’s death.
The number of users remained one, and it was the Constellation who decided who received the skill. Vellus’s words were logically sound, except for one small problem.
[The Lawful Grand Duke is dead?]
“That’s why I can use ‘Rule of Law’.“
[Impossible! How could she die? She even fought the Summoning Monarch to a draw!]
Na-kyung questioned him.
Even with a slight advantage, a player below Level 100 fighting a Monarch to a draw was a legendary feat. That was why few worried about her safety, even after her disappearance.
The idea of the Lawful Grand Duke dying unnoticed was unbelievable. But what Vellus said next shocked her even more.
“We poisoned her, severed her limbs, and fed her to monsters. Even the Lawful Grand Duke can die.”
[…You did what?]
“Did you not hear me? Or are you choosing not to?”
His cold smile and mocking tone left no room for doubt. Na-kyung felt a chill run down her spine.
[You killed the Lawful Grand Duke?]
“It was a most enjoyable assignment.”
[And ‘The Impartial Arbiter of Law’, her Constellation, just handed ‘Rule of Law’ over to you, her killer?]
“Something like that.”
[That’s insane!]
“Not really. It’s up to the great Constellation to decide who receives the Unique Skill.”
[But that… that’s like…!]
Na-kyung couldn’t finish her sentence.
A vague, unsettling feeling, something she couldn’t quite grasp, filled her mind.
“Whether it makes sense or not is not for you to decide.”
Vellus was indifferent to her words, his face a mask of cold disdain.
“Just like your life is now mine to decide.”
[…!]
Na-kyung looked at Vellus’s outstretched hand with despair. Without teleportation, escape was impossible. And judging by his sinister smile, she knew what awaited her.
‘I shouldn’t have interfered.’
Regretting her foolish act, she closed her eyes.
[Team Leader, please delete my browsing history!]
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“W-w-w-wait!”
“Are you rapping? Nice rhyme.”
“Listen to me before you kill me! I have a secret, an important secret!”
“How pathetic. After dying so many times, you’re willing to sell secrets to save your life?”
“I wouldn’t be doing this if you weren’t killing me so easily!”
Ryu Kang-chul yelled, his hands raised in surrender. He had given up before Limon even arrived. Limon paused, his sword raised.
“Fine. You have one minute.”
“One minute? What can I say in one minute?!”
“Then die, bastard. You think I don’t know you’re stalling?”
Limon’s voice was sharp. Ryu Kang-chul clicked his tongue and, after looking at Limon’s white hair, the scar on his face, and the sword in his hand, asked,
“Aren’t you that… the last Sword Master, Simon something…?”
“It’s Limon Asphelder, bastard.”
“Aren’t you on bad terms with the Seven Dragons Association? That’s what the old textbooks say.”
“What nonsense?”
“The textbooks are wrong?”
“Of course they’re wrong.”
Limon scoffed and declared,
“It’s not just ‘bad terms.’ It’s like calling sworn enemies best friends.”
They had tried to kill each other countless times. Ryu Kang-chul looked at him incredulously.
“…Then why are you involved in this?”
“Because I want to be.”
He had no reason to let bastards like the Liberation Brigade run rampant just because he was on bad terms with the Seven Dragons Association. He looked at Ryu Kang-chul with cold eyes.
“Now, spill your secret. If it’s valuable, I’ll use the flat of my blade next time.”
“That’s a double-edged sword! How can you use the flat of a blade when there isn’t one?!”
“I’ll just kill you then.”
“You call that negotiation?!”
“It is. If you’re lying, I’ll beat you to death next time.”
He’d realize how lucky he was to die a quick death by the sword. Limon’s smile was chilling, no less menacing than the Liberation Brigade’s killers.
Ryu Kang-chul chuckled nervously.
“Don’t be so smug. You shouldn’t be so happy about toying with me.”
“What nonsense are you spouting?”
“By now, my comrade should be ransacking the Leviathan.”
Venting his frustration at having his clones so easily dispatched, Ryu Kang-chul grinned.
“You’re strong, I’ll give you that, but it’s too late to go back. Blame your own stupidity…”
Crack!
Limon swiftly struck Ryu Kang-chul’s neck with the flat of his blade. His neck bent at an unnatural angle, and he coughed up blood.
“Time’s up.”
“Gah… gah… I was… talking…”
“You should have shared your important secret, bastard. Instead of wasting time with useless chatter.”
“Y-you’ll… regret… this.”
Ryu Kang-chul tried to sneer, but his broken neck made him look pathetic. Limon scoffed.
“I doubt it. You’re the ones who will regret targeting the Leviathan.”
“What…?”
Thwack!
Limon kicked Ryu Kang-chul’s head, twisting his already broken neck a full 360 degrees, and clicked his tongue.
“Players…”
All that talk about diversionary tactics… they had neglected the most basic principle of warfare, know your enemy. It was typical player behavior, treating crime like a game, rushing in without a plan.
If they had properly investigated the Seven Dragons Association, they wouldn’t have devised such a foolish plan.
“If you’re going to attack, you should at least know who you’re attacking, morons.”
Sighing at their foolishness, their ignorance of who they were facing, Limon took three steps, pursuing the next clone.
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KABOOM!
[…Huh?]
Just as Na-kyung braced for death, uttering her last words, and Vellus reached for her…
…he was sent flying, crashing through the wall of the pyramidal hallway like a truck hitting a pedestrian. He landed in an aromatherapy shop, covered in oil from shattered bottles. A decorative candle fell, igniting the oil.
“I have a question.”
Na-kyung blinked, staring at the burning shop, now engulfed in fire suppression gas. A clear voice made her turn her head.
“Why did you ask me to delete your browsing history?”
A girl materialized from thin air, as if parting a curtain, her arm extended towards Na-kyung, holding the violin case. Na-kyung gaped at the black-haired girl.
[…Princess? What are you doing here?]
“I wonder.”
Li Chingwei smiled sweetly and lifted Na-kyung, along with the violin case, placing her on her shoulder. She gently stroked the case and muttered,
“So this was their target.”
[It was… but how did you know?]
“I saw you.”
[What???]
As Na-kyung stared at her, bewildered by the nonsensical answer…
Crash!
“…I’ve been outplayed.”
…Vellus emerged from the wreckage of the aromatherapy shop. Despite the impact and the flames, he was unharmed, not even a scorch mark on his clothes.
He brushed off some dust and asked,
“Since when?”
Na-kyung blinked at the unexpected question. Vellus looked at Li Chingwei, who was still smiling sweetly, with cold eyes.
“I’ll ask again. Since when have you been following me?”
“I wonder.”
Li Chingwei wasn’t intimidated by his chilling gaze. She pretended to think for a moment, then replied with a faint smile,
“I don’t know the exact time, but perhaps around the time you crushed three or four of our guards.”
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[Your Text Here]
Thanks you sexy bastard!