Breaking the stalemate, Kim Dokja bypassed the bodies and picked up the Myeongdong flag that had fallen onto the tracks.
At least, Kang Pildu and the ones beside him were still alive and could be interrogated.
It would have been difficult if all the enemies had died.
[You have won the flag of the 'Myeongdong Group'.]
[Your white flag has absorbed the cumulative achievements of the red flag.]
[Your white flag has evolved into a red flag.]
[You are one step closer to the King's Road.]
Kim Dokja turned toward the other intruders. Their faces were full of fear.
Approaching Kang Ilhun, he asked, "Why did you aim for Chungmuro?"
Now that Kang Ilhun and his group were traumatized, they started to spit out information easily. Kim Dokja could see them occasionally glancing toward Van and used that fear to his advantage. Once he said that Van wouldn't hesitate to kill them if they didn't speak, they immediately believed it.
"…"
…Kim Dokja could feel the mage staring at him. Should he have not sold Van's name in front of the person concerned? But it was more efficient that way.
"…The people from Dongmyo Station gave us information about Chungmuro."
"Who was it?"
"He called himself a Prophet…"
Once he started talking, Kang Ilhun's eyes were rolling and his tongue hung out like a dead person. Kim Dokja had an ominous feeling.
"Yoo Sangah-ssi, hurry and block his mouth with a thread!"
Jung Heewon deduced, "Was some kind of brainwashing used to prevent information from leaking- Van-ssi?"
At Jung Heewon's words, the reader looked back and saw Van coming toward them.
Still under the shock of the bloodbath earlier, others watched his actions fearfully.
Even Kim Dokja was a little concerned. He wasn't going to kill them, was he?
The reader attempted to convince the mage to keep the enemy alive.
"Van-ssi, they are currently under 'Suggestion'. It is a skill that can only be used face-to-face, so we could identify-"
"I have a better idea."
Before he could ask what it was, Van was already standing in front of one of Kang Ilhun's subordinates.
'By now, I should be able to use this ability here…'
Then, his eyes glowed, his magic eyes successfully activated.
As expected, although some more powerful abilities still couldn't be used, his magic eyes now worked.
Meeting the subordinate's gaze, Van delved into his mind. It would leave permanent mental damage on the person concerned as a result, but these people weren't good people anyway and had tried to attack them first, so it didn't matter.
At least, he wouldn't lose his life.
Lifting the 'suggestion' on the man, Van asked a few questions instead of looking through his memories, letting everyone else also hear the man's words. Unfortunately, the person he interrogated didn't know much.
Seeing his colleague now acting strangely, unable to align thoughts properly and in pain as a side effect, Kang Ilhun nervously gulped.
'…I'm doomed.'
Meanwhile, Kim Dokja watched it from the side.
'Does Van also have some kind of brainwashing skills?'
The more he spent time with him, the more dangerous his abilities seemed.
Kim Dokja became lost in thought. Beside him, Yoo Sangah and Lee Hyunsung had come to their senses and looked at the reader for instructions.
All of a sudden, Gehrman casually reached toward Kim Dokja's head and pulled out one of his hair.
"…?!"
It hurt a little.
While Gehrman was staring at the hair, Kim Dokja's eyes widened.
"Why did you-"
[The exclusive skill, 'Fourth Wall', is shaking.]
Gehrman looked up and met his gaze.
"For divination."
As if this answer was enough, he put the hair in his pocket and walked away.
'To divine what?'
The cryptic answer only made Kim Dokja doubt even more.
Didn't people usually try to be stealthy when they—for some reason—wanted to get people's hair instead of openly plucking out one from the head of the person concerned? Or did it not matter even if he knew?
Was he trying to curse him? To use black magic? Did he know he did something wrong?
Did Gehrman have skills related to divination? And what did that unpredictable madman want to divine? His knowledge? His skills? Would he find out Kim Dokja tried to kill him? Or about Ways of Survival? How accurate was divination? Would the Fourth Wall be able to block it?
The uncertainty made the reader even more insecure.
…Kim Dokja was terrified.
On the side, Jung Heewon inquired, "You said divination? What exactly do you want to divine?"
'I want to know that too.'
Kim Dokja eavesdropped on their conversation.
"Your location."
But the main reason was to bully Kim Dokja by scaring him and keep up the facade of Gehrman Sparrow.
Gehrman didn't explain any more.
'But aren't we here?' Kim Dokja questioned.
Or, did it refer to when he would need to find them in the future if they were ever separated?
Kim Dokja realized he had just given Gehrman a way to find him no matter where he was, preventing himself from ever being able to run away from the madman.
[The exclusive skill, 'Fourth Wall', is shaking.]
Would dying and coming back to life sever the connection between him and this hair?
Despite now knowing the reason behind why his hair was taken, he didn't feel any safer.
'…Why only mine?'
***
Kim Dokja pulled out some paper, writing on it with a pen. He filled it with notes and handed it to Lee Jihye.
"Don't read it but give it to Yoo Joonghyuk when he wakes up. Do you understand?"
"…I understand."
Then, he was turning around when Lee Jihye opened her mouth.
"By the way, can I ask you something?"
"What?"
"Earlier, with Master. Master and Ahjussi… Well, that. You two."
"What?" Kim Dokja decided to feign ignorance.
Lee Jihye's expression became more serious.
"I mean, Ahjussi's words."
"So what?"
"Wake up you jerk! Don't fall into those sentiments! For the first time, that.. that determination! Have you already forgotten?"
"…?"
Kim Dokja questioned what he was hearing. This child, she almost heard it at the filtered level?
"I came here because of you! Why are you alone? We are together!"
"No, wait a minute."
Shin Yoosoung tilted her head in wonder, reflecting Klein's feelings.
'Why did my life turn into a k-drama when it's supposed to be an apocalyptic world?' Gehrman Sparrow lampooned.
Did he miss something?
Despite these thoughts, he continued to maintain a cold facade.
"I've always been around you! Don't lose hope! Think of the child!"
"That isn't what I…"
"Why did I come here if you are alone…!"
Kim Dokja stared at Lee Jihye for a moment.
"S-Something like that? Ahjussi, you and Master…"
The reader sighed. "Think what you want."
"…Indeed. Don't worry, I'll give him this love letter!"
Van silently watched the scene, aware that it was a misunderstanding but having no intention of helping Kim Dokja clear it up.
The reader shrugged and turned around. Behind his back, Lee Jihye's bullshit continued.
"Wait! How did you give birth to a child?"
Kim Dokja resigned himself.
"Ask Yoo Joonghyuk."
'Yes, Yoo Joonghyuk, I leave everything to you.'
The next moment, indirect messages exploded in his head.
[Some constellations are greatly affected by the truth of the filtering.]
[The constellation, 'Prisoner of the Golden Headband', respects your taste.]
[The constellation, 'Demon-like Judge of Fire', likes your comradeship.]
[The constellation, 'Secretive Plotter', thinks it is ridiculous.]
Gehrman's lips twitched.
Afterwards, Kim Dokja left for a while to occupy Myeongdong Station and plugged his flag into the empty flag holder.
[You have occupied Myeongdong Station.]
[A station that has been occupied can't be taken from you unless the 'main base' or flag is taken away.]
[Currently Occupied: Chungmuro (Main Base), Myeongdong]
[The achievement points of the red flag are rising.]
The red colour of the flag turned darker.
[Your influence has expanded by taking over a new station.]
[The hidden scenario has arrived!]
[The King's Road has begun!]
+
[Hidden Scenario – King's Road]
Category: Hidden
Difficulty: A
Clear Conditions: Take over a minimum of 10 stations within the time limit.
Time Limit: 10 days
Reward: The attribute of a 'king'.
Failure: If you can't take over a minimum of one station per day, you and your group members will all die.
+
[The new king candidate has started to walk along his road!]
Kim Dokja then came back to Chungmuro and explained the hidden scenario to his group.
"Your Majesty, based on this hidden scenario, shouldn't we go occupy a new station right away? You should think about the lives of your subjects." Jung Heewon said sarcastically.
Kim Dokja nodded.
"I think we need to find out about the people who attacked us. I'll go straight to Dongmyo. Jung Heewon-ssi and Lee Hyunsung-ssi, will you go with me?"
After convincing Yoo Sangah to stay with Gong Pildu to protect their flag holder and manage the station, Kim Dokja prepared to leave.
[You are using the unique permissions of a representative.]
[Chungmuro Station's representative, Kim Dokja is transferring some of his authority to group member 'Yoo Sangah'.]
[Group member 'Yoo Sangah' has become the deputy of Chungmuro Station.]
[In the future, group member 'Yoo Sangah' can deal out punishments on behalf of the representative.]
"…Gehrman-ssi, shouldn't you stay here to rest and recover from your injuries?"
Gehrman fixedly stared at him, making the reader back down.
Unfortunately for Kim Dokja, Gehrman Sparrow also tagged along.
"Then I'll stay here," Van decided.
Who knew if an unexpected accident would happen here again.
Kim Dokja was relieved a little, but Gehrman's stare brought him back to the harsh reality.
Watching Lee Gilyoung be left behind, Shin Yoosoung closed her eyes tightly and clung to Gehrman.
"I don't want to be separated from ahjussi," she begged.
A group composed of Kim Dokja, Jung Heewon, Lee Hyunsung, Gehrman Sparrow and Shin Yoosoung thus left Chungmuro with Kang Ilhun and his group.
Lee Gilyoung looked at the scene with betrayal.
"I wanted to come too…" he mumbled.
Yoo Sangah patted his head.