Perfect World [EN]: Chapter 221

223

On a dark night filled with the sounds of wolves howling, Beom-seok lay in a field, gazing at the spectacle of starlight pouring down from the sky. He could see the busy movements at the LHN [Last Human Network] camp below the mountain ridge, but he didn’t seem to care. He knew very well that the incident during the day would prevent them from even thinking about entering the forest. Even in broad daylight, many had gotten lost while wandering through the forest, so it was unlikely they would come up in this pitch-black night.

‘Hehe. You guys. Consider your sleep ruined tonight. I’ll be quite busy. Hehehe.’

It was now the first period of darkness since the game began. This was a very important time, and the outcome of this battle would largely depend on what he did tonight. They were probably not yet accustomed to his surprise attack strategy, so he had to take out as many as possible now, before they adapted.

“Beom-seok. Director Vincent is calling.”

Emma approached Beom-seok with a communicator displaying a bright holographic image. With this much light, it could be easily seen from the enemy camp, but he didn’t seem to care. He knew all too well how vulnerable the LHN participants were to the jungle terrain after the incident during the day.

He looked at Emma and said,

“Director Vincent? What’s up?”

“The judges must have reported the results of the battle during the day to headquarters. He wants to hear a progress report about it.”

“Hehe. Is that so?”

Beom-seok smiled faintly, took the communicator, and met Vincent’s gaze on the screen.

– Beom-seok. I heard about the results of the battle during the day from the judges. You took out three already without any damage? It’s a shame they were all Area-class gladiators, but well done.

Beom-seok tilted his head at those words. It was true that they had taken out three, but the damage couldn’t have been that minimal. He had seen the judges carrying an LHN gladiator, presumed to have given up the game, away in a flying car while searching to attack other enemies. So, the number of casualties had to be at least four or more. Moreover, it was suspicious that all three were Area-class gladiators. It was possible that they were all Area-class gladiators due to bad luck, but statistically, there should have been at least one Wider-leaguer or higher gladiator among them.

“Did you say only three?”

– Yes. Why? Is there something strange?

“As far as I know, it’s at least four. It could be more.”

Vincent looked at him with a puzzled expression.

– Is that true?

“Yes. Three were defeated by us, and I saw the fourth being transported to the rear in the judges’ flying car.”

Anyone who boarded the judges’ flying car was excluded from the game in any case. If Beom-seok’s words were true, it should definitely be four.

– Are you sure you didn’t see the child you defeated being carried away?

“No. I confirmed the fourth casualty in a place far from the battle area. It would be absolutely impossible unless the incapacitated person got up and moved again.”

Vincent made a strange expression and rested his chin on his hand.

– Then what is going on? Why did the judges report only three?

“What other reason could there be? The judges must have been bribed.”

– Oh, come on. As far as I know, the elders who are hosting this game would never use such tricks. Especially in this case, where their pride is at stake, even more so.

Beom-seok knew that as well. When he met Chairman Balbar at the LHN headquarters building before, he didn’t get the impression that he was the type to use such petty tricks, and when he checked through Margaret this time, there were no signs of anything unusual on Chairman Balbar’s side.

“Yes. That’s probably true. But the kids below him are more than capable of it.”

– The kids below him?

“Yes. I’m talking about Aula and Julien.”

– Aula is Chairman Balbar’s granddaughter, isn’t she? Why would she do that?

“It’s probably a ploy to look good to the chairman because of the succession issue. She’s quite an ambitious young lady.”

Such a motive made it quite plausible. Aula was in overall command of this game, so winning would earn her Chairman Balbar’s full trust. She might have been scheming to inherit the giant LHN Financial Group.

– But is there any evidence?

“Of course, she is clean when it comes to this matter. That cunning woman would never leave any evidence that could be used against her.”

– Oh. Then it’s all useless. We can’t push the opponent without any evidence, can we?

Beom-seok left Emma and moved away. There was no need for the Black Society to know what he was about to say. Exposing his abilities to the enemy was something only amateurs did.

He stepped into a dense thicket and said quietly,

“But there’s that idiot named Julien, isn’t there?”

– Julien?

“Didn’t I tell you before? The Great Hyenas leader pressured our team’s gladiator to leave. That’s the guy. The director scolded him once before too.”

Director Vincent frowned, recalling the event at the Avendro Pro Association a year ago. Back then, a foolish guy had participated in the event without qualification, so he had given him a good scolding.

– Oh, you mean that hopeless guy from back then. Is he participating in this game too?

“Yes. He’s there as an LHN observer. He’s the one who bribed the judges.”

– But is there any evidence that he did such a thing?

Beom-seok smiled faintly and said,

“I have perfect evidence. I’ve obtained their entire secret ledger, and it shows the circumstances of funds flowing to the judges. And I’ve also identified the route and account numbers of the bribes.”

– I, is that really true?

“Yes. Of course.”

Vincent’s expression brightened instantly. If that was the case, this battle was pointless. If such schemes had taken place, Chairman Balbar would not regain his pride even if LHN won. No, he might even tremble with shame and stop this game right here and now.

– Beom-seok. Can you hand over that data to me?

Beom-seok waved his hand. This information was merely a reference for him, but it was a surefire strategic card for Chairman Wilkins and Chairman Chaplin, and a chance to crush Chairman Balbar’s pride to a miserable extent. He wasn’t foolish enough to hand it over without a second thought.

“Hahaha. I can’t hand it over.”

– Why not?

“Do you know how much I suffered to get this data? I can’t give it away for free.”

– Really? Didn’t you get paid in cash for this?

“Yes. That’s why I’m slogging through this forest right now, isn’t it? You may or may not know, but I’ve been eating only jerky and dried rations for the past week. Compensating with cash is enough to reward the victory of this game.”

Vincent smacked his lips and brought his face closer.

– Then what do you want? I’ll talk to the elders and see what they say.

“Well, it’s up to the person who wants it, how would I know its value? Ask them and tell them to suggest how much they’ll give.”

– Then you’ll accept whatever amount they offer?

“Am I crazy? I’ll reject it outright if I don’t like the conditions.”

Vincent snorted loudly, making a dissatisfied expression. It seemed like Beom-seok was determined to squeeze him dry. Making a suggestion first and then canceling the deal if he didn’t like it? This was no different from telling him to fill his pockets generously. But the value of that document was too great to give up.

– Ugh. Fine. I’ll ask the elders about their intentions first.

“Hehe. Thank you. Then I’ll hang up if you don’t have any more business. I have a night operation coming up soon.”

As Beom-seok was about to hang up, Vincent quickly continued,

– There’s still more to talk about.

“What is it?”

– The LHN side has protested to us. They suspect that you are a manager who knows this area well. They’re asking us to reveal your identity, and I’m wondering whether I should tell them or not.

Beom-seok was so dumbfounded that he opened his mouth blankly. This was like the pot calling the kettle black.

“What did you say? Seriously! Who should be angry here? How dare they say such a thing?”

– The judges are also siding with them, so it’s not easy for us either. What do you want me to do?

“Don’t say anything else, just tell them one thing. Tell them that the person in question will visit them soon.”

– Wa, wait, what do you mean you’re going to visit them? You’re our team’s ace. We can’t lose you here for no reason.

“Don’t worry. It’s not dangerous at all. By the time I visit, all the LHN game participants will have been eliminated.”

– That’s ridiculous. How can you eliminate all 53 of them alone? And they have Priscilla and Tiela too.

Beom-seok pursed one corner of his lips and said calmly,

“I told you before that even Amelie can’t beat me in the forest. Now that they’ve set up camp here, their fate is sealed. Then I’ll hang up now. I have quite a lot to do.”

– B, Beom-seok! Wa, wait a minute……!

Beom-seok ended the call without even listening to Vincent’s worried dissuasion. It was time to start the operation in earnest. He had a record of taking out three people during the day, but that was because they self-destructed, not because of what he did.

Soon, Beom-seok hid Rapine and Emma in a nearby hideout and quickly ran down the mountain. They had too little experience in jungle warfare to take them on a night raid.

‘Hehe. They even set up sentries, huh.’

Beom-seok, who had approached the vicinity of the LHN outdoor camp under the cover of darkness, scoffed as he observed the sentries’ deployment. Only about 10 people were deployed in pairs to guard the area, and with that number, they couldn’t cover the entire plaza. Of course, it was commendable that they had taken 10 people out of the 53 to set up guards, but that was not even enough to whet his appetite.

“Okay then. Shall we try it out?”

Beom-seok moved along the forest path, looking for an opportunity. Since the night was long anyway, he seemed to be planning to take out the easy prey one by one without overdoing it.

After going about half a circle, he found two elves lying on the gravel field surrounding the camp, admiring the starlight in the distant sky. He slowly drew the two katanas he was wearing on his waist, as their chatting about romance made them perfect as the first sacrifices.

‘Isn’t this too much? That’s completely asking to be caught. If this were the military, they’d be running 100 laps around the parade ground, if they were lucky.’

Beom-seok thoroughly surveyed the surroundings first, due to their overly lazy appearance. He judged that it might be a trap. However, there was nothing suspicious anywhere. There were no signs of anyone hiding, and the shape of the nearby gravel field was natural and even.

‘Why would they try to fight with people like that? Tsk tsk [a clicking sound of disapproval].’

He clicked his tongue and sprinted forward like a tiger stalking a deer. The elves who were on guard quickly raised their upper bodies at the sound of countless gravel being stepped on, but it was already too late. He reached them in an instant, leaping and forcefully plunging the ends of his katanas into their necks and chests.

“Keuk! Who……!”

The two sentries stiffened silently without even uttering a scream. In an incapacitated state, there was soundproofing to prevent any sound from being heard externally, let alone communication.

After easily taking out the two, Beom-seok moved along the outskirts. Since the intrusion had not yet been revealed, he judged that he could take out one or two more sentries.

“Who’s there!”

The two sentries guarding the easternmost side quickly shouted and grabbed their swords at the rapidly approaching unidentified figure. However, Beom-seok ignored this and accurately struck the defenseless women’s abdomens and heads with the sword blades. He was sorry that his surprise attack had been revealed, but he had to subdue the prey given the opportunity.

He confirmed that the sentries were falling into an incapacitated state and retreated, hiding himself back in the forest. Since screams had been heard, a large number of enemies would soon gather in this place. There was still plenty of time, so there was no need to take risks.

“Enemy intrusion! Everyone wake up!”

The LHN participants who rushed out in droves found their fallen comrades on the gravel field and shouted loudly. Unless someone had intruded, there was no way that four healthy sentries could have been incapacitated all at once. They soon formed groups and searched the entire camp to find the intruder.

‘Someone’s in the forest.’

An elf gladiator who was looking around the outskirts narrowed her eyes as she saw a figure moving in the forest. She couldn’t see it clearly, but judging from the blue suit, it seemed certain that it was the enemy.

She called out to her comrades, as if the outdoor camp would be empty.

“The intruder is here!”

The LHN game participants who gathered in an instant approached the elf gladiator who had just shouted.

“Hey. What are you talking about? Where’s the intruder?”

She pointed to where Beom-seok was and said in a trembling voice.

“There. It’s there. Can’t you see it?”

The LHN participants who all looked at the end of her finger revealed expressions of embarrassment. There were easily dozens of them gathered in this place right now. But the figure who seemed to be the intruder was looking at them without any intention of hiding. They couldn’t have acted like that unless their liver had come out of their stomach [meaning they were incredibly brave or foolish].