"No, please! Our eye colors are different. Here's my ID."
"This is what you call fair skin! I told you, it's not me!"
This sandwich is quite tasty. I'm not sure what kind of meat it is, but it's similar to chicken thigh meat, yet more chewy. It complements well with the sweet and spicy seasoning. The bread, for a pre-packaged one, is moist and soft. However, I wished the vegetables were our neighborhood's lettuce.
'Black hair and black eyes are rare in this town
Maybe it's possible due to hair dye, but eyes are mostly blue and green. The skin tone is slightly darker than Koreans. The mention of fair skin and handsome features gave me slight shivers, but relatively speaking, I acknowledge it.
Sitting on the roadside flower bed, I finished the sandwich while using the stealth skill.
'The citizens here seem quite loyal.'
It might be due to the bounty, but everyone is diligently observing the passing people. Even though the fake Hyunjae knows I have an S-rank level stealth skill, why issue only a wanted order? Unless it's an SS-rank, finding me would be challenging.
'In this state, living properly in the city would be difficult, so they want me to crawl back on my own.'
Or maybe they are hoping for my mana to run out. There are no mana potions in this world. However, my inventory is full of mana potions. Since there's nothing worthwhile to pick up other than mana potions when dealing with S-ranks and dungeons.
'Let's organize things.'
To escape from here, I need to conquer dungeons. To know the dungeon conquest method, I need to install five discs in different areas, connecting them to newbies.
The problem is that it's highly likely the disc installation areas are in five different cities. The cities are probably protected by defensive barriers, with monsters roaming outside. To move to a different city, you need the escort of an S-rank guard.
Lastly, the fake Sung Hyunjae, whom I thought was the real one, issued a wanted order against me.
'Even if I use the stealth skill to go to another city, I don't know how far it is.'
Judging by the drama, walking with two legs would be a considerable distance. I need a vehicle.
I leave the area with a stealth-applied vehicle beyond the defensive barrier.
...How do I do that in my current situation?
'From the beginning, it would've been better if I were dropped in Akates City.'
Meet Yoohyun install a disc immediately, and then move on. If the S-rank guard is already in my body, I would have a considerable amount of wealth. So, prepare a vehicle and smoothly move to another city for disc installation. Since communication between cities is not impossible, it would be easy to find other companions.
The fake Hyunjae is the root of all problems. Damn him. Where's the real one, where's the real one.
Crackle, I crumpled the sandwich wrapper in my hand. You imposter. Do you think I'll go quietly? Of course, I can't do anything about being caught, but...
'Even though this place treats C-ranks as lower-level hunters, don't underestimate them just because they're lower.'
I may lack strength, but I have a head and experience. The realistic barrier is substantial compared to S-ranks, but it doesn't mean I can't bark. I've already torn the hem of my clothes.
Now, then. What should I do?
Observing pedestrians on the street, I stood up from my seat.
There were scattered public phone booths along the city streets. They weren't ordinary phone booths. They served as temporary shelters with thick walls and sturdy doors, seemingly playing a role as evacuation shelters. In front of the door, there was a large sign.
[City Defense Bureau Report Number 11G
Please report quickly if you encounter monsters or suspicious Awakeners during the day!]
With that, I entered the booth and closed the door. The automatic light flickered on. The public phone consisted of a receiver, touchscreen, and surveillance camera. The wireless use of the surveillance camera was possible, seemingly for shooting monsters or suspicious Awakeners.
After adjusting the camera to avoid showing my face...
'11G.'
I dialed the City Defense Bureau reporting number.
[Citizen's kind guardian, City Defense Bureau speaking. Please wait a moment for a connection.]
Is there someone reporting because of me? After a while, a man's voice saying, "Hello, thank you for your hard work. Sigma-nim, we have successfully captured the C-rank Awakener you were looking for."
[What? You captured him?]
"Yes. We've captured him without a scratch."
I'm fine here. Just a bit thirsty from eating the sandwich without a drink. I'd like a refreshing soda.
"However, this guy wasn't wearing an earring, so we'd like to check his face to make sure he's not a decoy."
[Ah, verification. Please wait a moment.]
With the words of the Bureau employee, the screen turned black.
Are there only two people there who know my face—Sigma-nim and one more? The homeless I encountered during my journey might know me, but the chances of them revealing themselves for me are low. They would probably avoid confrontation due to the fear of retaliation.
If they ask me to bring him immediately without verification, how would I handle it? I thought of several excuses.
[Faster than expected, giving up.]
A low and heavy voice echoed in my ears. Then, the screen, which had turned black, brightened again. A familiar face. Damn fake. I momentarily froze because I didn't expect a direct connection.
[C-rank.]
"…Yes, I am C-rank. Looks like you're quite busy, answering the phone promptly like this."
In my words, the fake one raised the corner of his mouth.
[Is it possible for a skilled Awakener with S-rank Stealth Skill to be captured this quickly?]
"It could be a false report aiming for the bounty."
[I doubt there are many big guards like him, but let's check. Show your face.]
"Yes, sure."
Following the command, I turned the camera towards myself and even flashed a V-sign with my fingers.
"Did you confirm it clearly? The C-rank you wanted is safely captured and in good condition. He looks very lively."
The face of the guy who verified me once again became blurred and indifferent. Yeah, that's right. It seems boring because I got caught too easily. Maybe if I quietly follow along, they'll just rely on the Stealth Skill without any trouble.
Creating a gap by making it less interesting might not be a bad idea.
"You mentioned I would be under your affiliation?"
[For now.]
"I'll take a vacation until tonight."
Taking a vacation right after getting hired, it's something I wanted to try once.
"So, go ahead and broadcast the correction that you found me. I'll enjoy some sightseeing with peace of mind."
[Isn't this an attempt to escape during that time?]
The voice coming through the receiver sparked my interest again.
"Don't worry; I'll be wandering around without Stealth Skill, leaving traces everywhere. When the sun sets, prepare 100 million L, and come to the agreed location. I'll be ready to pay with my card. Since I caught him, it's only fair to use my money, right?"
[Still fearless.]
"No reason to be afraid. You're the one who should worry; you're practically like a god with that SS-rank, not me."
Living is so boring. If this fake Sung hyunjae is more bored than the one I know, it's not that difficult to guess how much he'll tolerate me.
"Follow my instructions quietly, and the reward will be generously paid. It'll be interesting, I guarantee it."
The golden eyes beyond the screen narrowed slightly. In reality, it felt a bit eerie, even though it wasn't right in front of me but quite far away.
If I don't meet his standards, that guy will break my neck without hesitation. Unlike someone like Mr. N, who could be anywhere. Here, I'm just a C-rank with no background, only good skills. If he's not satisfied, he'll easily crush me and erase me from his mind before leaving.
[I hope not to disappoint. If the expectation ends with a trivial trick, I might get annoyed after a long time.]
"Don't be surprised."
I set up a precise meeting place and time and hung up. Doing this kind of thing with five lives on the line.
Anyway, the groundwork is all laid. Now, let's begin a short but enjoyable time.
"Please recommend the most expensive and delicious dish here~"
Entering a luxurious-looking restaurant, I sat down and said. The confident attitude prompted the staff to take the order without any suspicion. After a while, they brought the food. I also requested a refreshing drink.
I drank a lemonade-like beverage and started my meal. The mysterious meat melted gently in my mouth. The flat noodles maintained a chewy texture despite being soaked in sauce. The accompanying soup was mildly spicy and refreshing in the end.
It was good, considering it's in a different neighborhood. Perhaps it's because it's expensive, but it tastes delicious. The menu prices I briefly glimpsed had many digits.
I carefully enjoyed the vegetables and finished with an empty glass of lemonade. As I approached the cashier, both the restaurant owner and the staff were looking at me intently. Recognizable, isn't it?
"You've probably heard the news already, but I'm a new C-rank guard under Sigma-nim."
"Ah, as expected!"
"I was given a vacation during the day to explore the city, but the processing didn't go smoothly, and I was misunderstood as an escapee, leading to a broadcast."
Haha, laughing, the restaurant owner and the staff also smiled at me. It seemed they had seen the correction broadcast.
"You can charge Sigma-nim for the meal. He told me to do so. Is that alright?"
"Of course! Considering the 100 million L bounty, it seems Sigma-nim values the guard a lot."
"I have some special skills, you know. Sigma-nim even personally! Proposed a recruitment."
It's not a lie. It's actually true. After some pleasantries and receiving greetings for taking care of the city's safety, I left the restaurant.
My stomach was full, and now, what's next?
"Charge it to Sigma-nim!"
With just that phrase, I could step into the top-grade special room of a hotel. Although I wanted to stretch out and roll around, I took a quick shower, brushed my teeth, and grabbed essentials like toothpaste and a toothbrush. I need to take care of my real body.
Feeling a bit sad about when I'll be able to shower with warm water again, I went back to the street and flagged down a car that looked like a taxi. Once again, I had already paid for Sigma-nim. Sigma-nim seems to be getting better.
Taking the taxi, I arrived at a department store for guards. It was similar to the Hunter Market, selling items that could be put in the inventory. As I entered, both the employees and guard customers looked at me simultaneously. I greeted them with a broad smile, facing the piercing gazes.
"Welcome. What are you looking for?"
"I've just started my guard job, so I'd like to explore various equipment. Could you recommend higher-grade ones? Oh, and please charge the equipment costs to Sigma-nim. He told me to shop freely."
"Yes, understood. Please come this way."
The employee kindly guided me inside the department store. Sitting in the VIP room, my heart raced as I opened the product catalog. While there were items similar to those in our neighborhood, there were many things I hadn't seen before. Unfortunately, they didn't sell S-rank or higher equipment here. However, there were S-rank items among non-equipment items.
Ignoring the price tags, I carefully examined the items based on their performance.
"What about this Inside Bag?"
Why is a bag S-rank?
"It's a bag that reduces the volume and weight of items inside. It can accommodate up to five times the size compared to its external appearance, and the weight becomes only one-fifth. It's a popular item as it can also hold everyday items, not just magical items. However, you cannot put it in the inventory if it contains everyday items."
The employee enthusiastically recommended it as the last item. Wow, do they have something like this? Can I take items out of it outside? I want to try.
Without hesitation, I bought a highly-rated 50 million L bag, popular among higher-ranked guards. It would be around 600 million in Korean won. Of course, Sigma-nim was supposed to cover this cost too.
"Show me some daggers, preferably higher grades."
A row of A-rank knives lay in front of me. I bought all five knives, each with different effects and appearances. Another few million L flew away in an instant.
I also bought higher-grade wires, considered traps, and abandoned the idea of a tent for inventory space considerations. Despite already losing my bounty reward, I filled the space with various items.
"I see guards' clothing here. Do you have higher-grade ones?"
Most of the guards' clothing here seemed to be dark-colored, probably because they mainly operated at night. As a precaution, I bought a full set of upper and lower body, shoes, and gloves. In addition, I purchased other miscellaneous items, leaving a bit of inventory space.
I wasn't sure, but it seemed like I spent tens of billions in Korean currency.
Then, a message window flashed.
[☆★Hidden Quest Achieved!!☆★]
What hidden quest? I went into the bathroom and
The taxi driver spoke with a worried expression. Coming to this place was something I hesitated about a lot. Occasionally, flying monsters would come near the defense wall, and unless you were an awakened individual, people didn't live in the vicinity.
After sending off the taxi, I approached the entrance of the surveillance tower. A B-rank guard guarding the entrance looked at me.
"Hello, I came here because Sigma-nim recommended a tour of the defense wall. May I take a brief look?"
"Yes, of course. Please come this way."
Perhaps because I belonged to the well-known Sigma-nim, even as a C-rank, they were kind to me. Following the B-rank guard, I took the elevator to the top of the surveillance tower. I approached the window of the circular tower.
A vast wasteland stretched out, and in the distance, sporadic forests were visible. The view of another city was nowhere to be found. Like a city dropped in the middle of the desert, only a desolate landscape caught my eye.
"Yoohyun, I'm coming to find you, endure a bit longer."
Still, just wait a little longer. I'll be heading that way soon.
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