Chapter 15 Part3 (2/2)
”What...!?”
Normally, the moment one kills a monster, the clump of mana that cannot be reduced naturally remains as loot. Whether it be gear, bones, or skin.
But because his Bone Reinforcement skill leveled up, he now had a chance to acquire two bones at one time!
'I don't know the specifics, but I've hit the jackpot.'
The Doom Factor, Paul 41, who'd finished evolving and stood on his own, looked at him with loving eyes. He couldn't believe that he too had black goblin fire blazing in his eye sockets and looked at Lee s.h.i.+n Woo with endearing eyes.
[This is the strength I've gained because of you, Captain. I pledge my loyalty to you, Captain.]
”Don't pledge your loyalty to me. Instead, pledge that you'll purify the Empire.”
[Captain...!]
His loyalty was increasing by the minute. Paul 41 seemed to have been touched and bowed his head, then Lee s.h.i.+n Woo gave him another order.
”From now on, you're in charge of these Pauls. You're their commander, alright?”
[I understand!]
”Good answer.”
That was the moment when the elite battalion led by the level 4 Elite Doom Factor was born. Seeing Paul 41, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo formulated a new plan in his head.
If he could use Bone Reinforcement on the others and make them into his subordinates... if he were able to make the skeletons born from the Anti-Skull Project into his subordinates... Then, he'd have a formidable army that no one could ignore!
'And if I were to add golems into the mix as well...'
Lee s.h.i.+n Woo's jaw creaked in satisfaction, already thinking about how prosperous his future would be. Jin thought he looked really evil, but Kratia admired Lee s.h.i.+n Woo's ability to manipulate the undeads' feelings and instantaneously acquire their absolute loyalty.
”You have the qualities of a leader.”
”More like the qualities of a swindler.”
”I'm going to scout out and a.s.sa.s.sinate the lord, so Kratia, you stay on standby with these guys and rush in when I give the signal.”
Lee s.h.i.+n Woo, who'd completely used all of the bones to strengthen the Pauls, decided to travel incognito next. Since they had already annihilated one skeleton battalion, he didn't know how the skeletons stationed in the city would react. It would be better if he acted before some special change occured.
”Jin, you're with me.”
”Ok.”
It would be difficult to find them, unless they were as skilled as Kratia, if Lee s.h.i.+n Woo and Jin formed a connection and moved stealthily. He didn't need to separate from Jin just because he wanted to travel incognito. Truthfully, the Pauls were startled as soon as Lee s.h.i.+n Woo got atop Jin's back and activated Stealth.
[Where did Captain go?]
[Everyone, stay calm. We'll move when we get the signal. Until then, sharpen your swords and wait.]
Beside them, Kratia was calmly lost in thought. She had investigated the mystery known as Bone Reinforcement and was anguished over whether she could apply the same method she'd seen to her own magic. The fact that she had something to study after crossing over to this world filled her with delight.
When they had gotten far from the group, Jin asked Lee s.h.i.+n Woo what he'd been concerned about.
”Hey, s.h.i.+n Woo. Are you going to bring those guys with you now?”
”Nope. While it's nice that they've become a usable fighting force, it'd be kind of weird to travel with them, wouldn't it?”
It might've been ok travelling with them when he was still alone, but it would a ha.s.sle lugging all of them around everywhere. From the start, he'd done this on a whim. He didn't need to put too much importance on them.
”But if they develop well, I should be able to use them properly then.”
”You're really amazing, man.”
”I know.”
Lee s.h.i.+n Woo replied coolly and activated Bone Armory, covering his entire body with armor. He equipped the helmet, body armor, and even the lower body armor; he was fully armed, aside from his weaponry. Though the appearance, as well as the materials were different for each piece of armor, equipping them all strangely made him look like a knight.
”You're going to act again, aren't you?”
”Be careful starting now.”
Walls enclosed the city on all four sides. Of course, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo naturally figured out where their guard was weakest, as he'd absorbed the knights' and soldiers' memories, and when they'd gotten in the vicinity of the city walls, he led Jin away from their prying eyes.
”How do you think they formed this underground empire? And how was it maintained... the fact that this commercial city thrived means that it independently developed several of its own industries underground.”
”They probably used those amazing technical skills to build the Empire.”
”Why would they go underground when they had such technical skill?”
One would often forget that they were actually underground, unless they stared at the far distant ceiling.
Moreover, there are underground areas in the Underground Empire, and the weather, as well as night and day are mostly controlled through magic. Maybe the Empire even had rivers and oceans. No, they definitely existed here.
”I wonder. Maybe there were too many people above ground.”
”I wonder what it looks like above ground...”
Lee s.h.i.+n Woo could tell that Jin was feeling restless, perhaps because he'd met someone alive, Kratia. He could completely understand how he was feeling. He was happy that he could sympathize with him. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo calmly stroked his back and comforted him.
”We should be able to see it someday. We'll definitely be able to if we continue to grow like this.”
”...Thanks, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo.”
”I'm the one who should be thankful. ...Then, shall we infiltrate the city?”
”Yeah.”
While they were sheltered by the low rank level 9 Stealth, the two entered into the outskirts of the city through a doghole, infiltrating into the slums. Compared to a small town filled with level 1 or 2 skeletons, the size of the city, as well as its quality were worlds apart; this was the moment that the two had entered a true undead city.
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