The Return Of The Genius Ranker Of All Times [EN]: Chapter 305

305.

Just as I thought.

Finding the location of the secret place wasn’t difficult.

“……What is this?”

“It’s a map, Successor.”

“This? Isn’t it just scribbles? It looks exactly like what I used to doodle on paper when I was goofing off in class back in elementary school.”

“Elementary school……? What is that?”

First, I received the map (?) that Gamillion drew on the spot and headed to the location where the entrance to the secret place was.

It was difficult to understand the map, and this process alone took a whopping hour, but I still managed to arrive somehow.

And after that, it was easy.

“Not yet, Successor.”

“I know.”

All I had to do was hide nearby with a communication orb and wait for the signal.

That was why Do-hyun was hiding behind a tree like a stalker.

[Activating Minor Stealth.]

Just in case, I even used stealth.

The place I was standing was near the back door of Emperor Baharun’s residence.

As it was where the Emperor resided, the security was naturally tighter.

Nevertheless, the reason I came to the Emperor’s residence first was because this was the only timing I had.

‘The only time the Emperor leaves his residence is when he’s in the audience chamber.’

He spends most of his time in his residence otherwise.

And there are only only a few people who can meet the Emperor in an official setting.

In other words, no one knows when he will leave his post again if not now.

‘It’s not too late to check on Garion after that.’

As I had to be careful, I had the Jihad guys running around the city.

Either way, the field would be moved once I went underground.

[Eye of Truth is activating.]

‘Why can’t I enter when it’s right in front of me?’

I stared intently at the red light shining in the corner between the inner wall and the floor, sucking my thumb for about 15 minutes.

Sasa삭-

Gugung!

“Is there some kind of commotion over there? It sounds noisy.”

“There are already many people saying they saw something over there.”

“Shouldn’t we go check it out?”

“Hmm…… Well, it should be fine for a moment. Let’s go take a look.”

The guards, who were worried about the loud noise, looked around and quickly left their posts.

It seemed they were just going to check quickly and return.

-Now is the time!

‘Okay.’

[The detection stone detects a life form.]

[The stealth level is too low and is detected.]

As soon as I rushed inside, a message popped up, but I didn’t care.

The guards had left their posts.

The time left until the guards returned was, at most, 5 minutes.

It was a short amount of time, but it was more than enough.

‘It’s here.’

Do-hyun could see the exact location of the entrance.

When he pressed the slightly protruding part between the inner wall and the floor, the ground sank, swallowing Do-hyun.

“Tsk, there was nothing there.”

“Tch, we just wasted our time.”

“Hmm, I guess nothing happened?”

“What could have happened in just 3 minutes? How many guys would be brave enough to come to His Majesty’s residence?”

The guards returned not long after, but by then, Do-hyun had already disappeared.

They wouldn’t know.

That the fearless guy was wandering around beneath their feet.

* * *

[You have found a hidden location.]

[You have entered the hidden location, ‘Baharun’s Secret Warehouse’.]

[Recorded in the Book of Adventures.]

[You are the first player to enter ‘Baharun’s Secret Warehouse’.]

[As a first-time benefit, Drop Rate +50%, Experience Gain +50% is applied.]

The first thing that greeted me upon entering was a feast of countless messages, and

[The location has been moved, and the Guardians are forcibly moved.]

-Oh, you came in quickly, Master?

-Eum!

-Lizariza!

It was the Jihad guys who had been wandering around the city blankly.

I looked around the secret warehouse while receiving their greetings, and my impression was moderate.

“……It’s really moderate.”

-It is.

-Liza.

-Eum!

I’m not just saying that, it’s really moderate.

A size that’s neither particularly big nor small, and a moderately bright interior.

It was such a common appearance that it made me think it was somewhat lacking for being the Emperor’s secret warehouse.

It felt like a typical underground warehouse for villains in movies?

‘Well, the appearance isn’t important.’

The important thing is what’s hidden inside.

What on earth would someone of the Emperor’s status hide, and what traces would be left if he were an informant?

I intended to search every nook and cranny.

[You don’t have much time, Successor. The Emperor will be returning soon, so you must leave within an hour.]

“I understand.”

[Then I wish you good luck. Please tell me immediately if you find anything.]

Do-hyun, who casually replied to Gamillion’s words coming through the communication orb, moved his feet.

The path wasn’t difficult.

It was a simple structure with one wide-open path leading straight ahead.

As I walked, I would see treasure chests and ornaments…….

Squeak.

“Hmm, nothing special.”

They were splendid, but ordinary treasures without anything particularly suspicious.

However, there was something particularly abundant among the various jewels and works of art.

-It’s all related to gold.

“Could it be because of the Second Prince’s illness?”

-Even that arrogant king cherishes his child.

-Parents’ hearts are all similar.

-Lizariza.

Even more, the amount of gold increased as I went further.

Now, there was nothing but gold wherever I looked.

I wondered where all that gold came from, but it was here.

‘It’s too ordinary to be a secret warehouse? Isn’t this just a gold storage?’

Before I knew it, the path was coming to an end, but there were no suspicious traces to be found.

The scales were tipping towards the Emperor not being an informant when.

“T, this is!”

Do-hyun, who found something in a corner, widened his eyes.

Reactions burst out from all directions at his violently shaking pupils.

-What’s wrong, Master!? Did you find something?

-Liza!

-I’ll go, Master!

Charlie even took out his sword and was on guard.

However, those who approached couldn’t help but tilt their heads.

What Do-hyun was holding.

-Huh?

-Master……?

-Liza?

It was a book.

However, it wasn’t an ordinary book.

[Why Did the Countess Give Hans Steak That Day?]

A strangely subtle title for some reason.

And a suggestive cover that made me wonder why steak was in the title.

[There Were Four Legs in the Bedroom.]

[The Purpose of the Social Gathering]

“……Hmm.”

Do-hyun, who had been skimming through the titles and covers for a while, carefully put the book back in.

[What’s wrong, Successor! Did you find any traces!]

Do-hyun shook his head at Gamillion’s voice that came just in time.

Then, he possessed a character from a certain manga and answered solemnly.

“……Nothing happened.”

[I see. It seems the Emperor wasn’t an informant after all. It’s a relief. If the Emperor were an informant, it would be quite a headache…… But you definitely seemed to have found something…….]

“You’ll get hurt if you know.”

[……?]

Do-hyun glanced back at the strangeness that was conveyed even through the communication orb.

Looking at the red covers, I felt a sense of duty as a fellow man to protect them.

‘The Emperor has this kind of taste. But I still have to protect his dignity.’

Baharun’s Secret Warehouse.

This place was a woodpecker folder [slang for a hidden collection of adult material] disguised as a gold storage.

* * *

After that minor (?) incident where the Emperor suffered an unexpected defeat.

Do-hyun, who had escaped the secret warehouse, headed to Arlen Castle, where Garion’s secret place was located.

‘Following the residence, it’s the castle…… Is it like, the darkest place is under the candlestick [meaning the most obvious place is often overlooked]?’

Seeing that they both put their secret places in places that could be called their own territory, I wondered if this was how they felt psychologically stable when hiding something.

The residence and the castle were clearly different in size, but the method was the same this time as well.

Have the Guardians wander around the city, and wait with minor stealth until Gamillion gives the signal.

[Now is the time, Successor!]

“I understand.”

And rushing inside when the signal came.

Since I had done it once, I was able to succeed more quickly and easily.

There were many NPCs and users coming and going, but it was easier because there were no magic tools to detect stealth.

[You have entered the hidden location, ‘Garion’s Secret Place’.]

[Recorded in the Book of Adventures]

[You are the first player to enter ‘Garion’s Secret Place’.]

[As a first-time benefit, Drop Rate +50%, Experience Gain +50% is applied.]

[The location has been moved, and the Guardians are forcibly moved.]

-Yo!

-Liza!

The place I arrived at was a huge cave.

‘No, is it closer to an underground passage than a cave?’

It was the same as the Emperor’s secret warehouse in that it was connected by one path, but it was different in that it smelled more secretive and strange.

Above all, unlike that place, which could be called a warehouse, there was nothing here.

Only a dark passage continued.

‘It’s a perfect place for smuggling.’

I had a feeling.

That something was hidden here.

-……There’s nothing here, Master?

-Hmm, that’s strange. There doesn’t seem to be a way to go further.

However, despite setting out so boldly, I couldn’t find any traces even when I reached the end of the passage.

There was at least a red book in the Emperor’s secret warehouse.

‘There’s really nothing? Then why did you make a secret place?’

Did you really make it to smuggle something?

I was starting to have such reasonable doubts.

-Hmm, high-ranking nobles tend to receive a lot of bribes and favors.

“……Really?”

-Yes, Master. There were many such nobles back then. But even so, for the owner of Arlen Castle to not hesitate to do such dirty deeds…… It’s a disgrace to Arlen Castle.

It was better than being an informant, but this was also a disgrace as a noble.

Charlie, who was from the Knights of Arlen Castle, couldn’t tolerate it and showed a humiliating expression.

Do-hyun became troubled as he watched Charlie.

‘If neither of them is an informant, then who is?’

The two princes were almost impossible, and neither was the Emperor.

I naturally thought it was Garion, but now I was confused.

‘No. I might not have found the traces.’

Or maybe there are just no traces here.

Since it’s a secret place, it wouldn’t be strange if they took care of it first.

‘Let’s go back to the beginning and investigate again.’

It’s annoying, but a straightforward approach is the answer in times like this.

[Hmm…… I can’t help it. But since speed is important in this case, I’ll pick out the most suspicious places as much as possible.]

“I’m counting on you.”

[Leave it to me, Successor…….]

That was when I was about to turn back the way I came.

Bbyok-

-Liza!

Eliza, who had been melting into her body in her pocket, poked her head out.

The first to react was Jihad.

-Eliza? What’s that in your mouth?

-Liza! Lizariza!

-You said you picked up something small that was sparkling on the floor?

“……Sparkling?”

At those words, Do-hyun also turned his head sharply.

There really was something like a jewel in Eliza’s small mouth.

I wondered why she was quiet without interrupting when I was talking, but it seemed like it was because she was holding that in her mouth.

-That’s right. She’s holding something.

“She is?”

Perhaps she thought she had done something wrong because everyone was looking at her.

Eliza, who had boldly stuck her head out, shrank back as everyone’s attention focused on her.

-L, Liza…….

She looked like a puppy that was secretly eating snacks and getting scolded by its owner.

Do-hyun’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Eliza.

He wasn’t trying to blame Eliza.

‘……The Eye of Truth has the characteristic of finding hidden things.’

Usually, important things are hidden tightly, and the Eye of Truth boasts a fraudulent performance that finds them like a ghost.

However, there was one fatal weakness to such an Eye of Truth.

‘It can’t find things that are openly exposed.’

What if that jewel played an important role?

Since it’s a secret place that only I know anyway.

What if Garion didn’t bother to hide the jewel and just threw it away…….

The moment his thoughts reached that point, Do-hyun immediately put it into action.

“Eliza, can you give me that for a second?”

-L……za!

-……Didn’t you not give it to me when I asked for it?

-Liza?

Jihad was complaining as he stroked Eliza’s head, who was giving him the jewel while subtly looking around.

Leaving the guy who was bickering with Eliza, who was playing dumb, Do-hyun took a few steps forward with the jewel in his hand.

And at that moment.

[The Eye of Truth activates.]

I saw it.

The red light emanating from the jewel stretched out like a thread and moved.

And the moment I reached the end of that thread.

Gugung-

For a moment, the ground shook with a sensation of something turning underneath, and a message popped up.

[You have met the entry requirements.]

[The hidden door opens.]

‘I found it.’

It was a jackpot.

-They made another space under the ground.

-Wow, Eliza found this?

-Liza? Lizariza!

She had just been curious because it was sparkling.

Eliza, who had unintentionally done something, paused for a moment as she expressed her doubts, and soon jumped up and down as if asking to be praised.

“Yes, yes, Eliza. It’s all thanks to you. I’m proud of you. Our Eliza!”

-Lizariza!

Do-hyun chuckled as he watched the guy wagging his butt with excitement.

It was an atmosphere of pampering, but it was really thanks to Eliza.

If it wasn’t for Eliza, I would have turned back with the entrance in front of me. If that had happened, I would have given Garion time to erase the traces.

It might have been too late when I came back after that.

‘Let’s see what you’ve hidden so thoroughly.’

That’s why I was even more curious.

What on earth was there that made them do this so thoroughly.

“Then let’s enter.”

-Liza!

-Okay.

-Yes, Master.

As soon as I entered through the entrance that opened on the ground, something greeted them along with the messages that soon appeared.

At that, Do-hyun’s eyes widened, then coldly sank.

‘……Look at this?’