Chapter 23 Part4 (2/2)
”You're right. First, we...”
He didn't know if it was done on purpose, but the golem testing facility was quite a ways off from the production facility. Kadinan was at the center, and the testing facility was at a place that they could only reach by departing from the highlands and going all the way around.
Kadinan was like a basin, and the testing facility and the highlands all felt like a part of the enclosing mountain range.
”It's really strange. How did they make this kind of natural environment underground...”
”You know, if the Emperor's this good at magic, to the point that he's able to do something like this, then isn't it pretty much guaranteed we'd lose?”
”...It's not the result of some transient magic. Let's go with the idea that he's stockpiled power over many years.”
They chattered on like usual, but as they travelled, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo's expression stiffened unexpectedly.
”They've way too many patrols.”
”We've already gone past a lot of patrols thus far. What's wrong with you all of a sudden?”
”No, I'm saying... that there're way too many people patrolling around our destination.”
”...”
He'd thought it unusual, but it seemed like they already took notice of them. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo was dumbfounded.
Did Guillotine look down on him? If not, then was he not truly aware of what was going on around here? Either way, it didn't matter. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo was starting to become curious as to what lay at his destination.
[Hey you, stay there.]
It wasn't very long before Lee s.h.i.+n Woo was discovered by one of the patrolling Skeleton Knights. Since he didn't even have Shadow Sprint, it was impossible for him to move without being discovered. However, both Lee s.h.i.+n Woo and Jin looked relaxed.
[Woah!? W-What a nice horse!]
”My thanks for the compliment. Are you a knight under the lord's command?”
Nine times out of ten, someone who doesn't recognize him would say something like this.
[T-That's correct. If it's not too much trouble, may I ask where you came from...?]
Even after dying, knights and aristocrats were idiots and still respected ranks of power! Regardless of how suspicious he might've looked, he wouldn't be able to treat him so thoughtlessly!
Moreover, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo was currently garbed in luxurious armor (he purposely kept his helmet open so that others could see that he was undead) and spoke gallantly (for someone who can't even breathe, Jin acted as if he could and drew out his breaths).
The knight couldn't help but wonder about his ident.i.ty!
”I am one of Marquis Satepen's men.”
[One of Marquis Satepen's men!?]
Marquis Satepen was the lord with the highest standing amongst the lords that controlled the level 2 danger zone cities!
He had retired to the countryside after pa.s.sing his land over to his son, and he was sure of the family's power and position; Lee s.h.i.+n Woo had cleaved his skull and absorbed his bone, so he was able to nigh-perfectly imitate him, but he was purposefully posing as his knight instead!
”You know of these unruly and strange individuals moving around throughout the Empire, yes? The Marquis was quite worried about this, so he sent me and some other knights throughout the Empire. Thus, it is my duty to capture and torture these flies, and report back to the Marquis.”
[As expected... As expected of Marquis Satepen! A n.o.ble loyal to the Empire, even after pa.s.sing his position to his son!]
”Thus... What are you all doing within? I have already discovered quite a few knights patrolling around.”
[T-That's...]
The Skeleton Knight was fl.u.s.tered and stepped back. He had already accepted that Lee s.h.i.+n Woo was Satepen's va.s.sal! But if he was too forceful, the knight may become angry with him, so Lee s.h.i.+n Woo purposefully made his voice less forceful.
”As a mere knight, I have no plans of interfering with the lord's work. We are all loyal to the Empire, are we not? I just asked out of concern, so there is no need to be alarmed.”
[Ha, haha. Thank you for your consideration. Ah, what is your name...?]
”You can call me Seta.”
[Sir Seta, it wasn't something that I couldn't tell you, as you're under orders from Marquis Satepen. To be honest, the lord received an imperial command.]
”Hoh.”
He even told him about the imperial command; seriously, dumba.s.ses like this are the best!
[This is what the Emperor commanded. Rebels will definitely appear here, so if anyone suspicious comes, then we should report immediately. Then, one of the 12 generals will come and personally execute the rebels...!]
”Is that so?”
Lee s.h.i.+n Woo completely understood now. For some reason, the Emperor was sure that Arema Steelworker would appear here, and Arema Steelworker was also aware of the Emperor's motives.
'If I thoughtlessly entered, then around the time I exited the dungeon, one of the 12 generals would be there to meet me.'
Was Arema's plan to get rid of him? No, if it was, he would've just told Guillotine to kill him. In other words... it was a test. It was a test for Lee s.h.i.+n Woo, as well as his group (Arema trusted that a group backing him existed), so Arema could gauge their abilities.
'There could be something else as well, but this is probably it for now.'
He could just figure out the rest starting now. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo nodded his head and spoke.
”So you were following the imperial command. If it is not too much trouble, may I help as well? I will go and talk to the lord personally.”
[Ooooh, it would be a great help [1] to us if you were to a.s.sist us, Sir Seta! I will personally guide you to the lord!]
The deeply touched knight yelled! Jin, who had heard it all, inwardly cried out.
'What the h.e.l.l are you doing!?'
'I mean, if we just barge in, one of the 12 generals will show up soon. Even so, we can't just go back. I'm too curious as to what's going on in there.'
'So!?'
'So henceforth, we're beginning operation [Operation: Bro [2], why are you there?']!'
'...You.'
There were so many parts about that statement he wanted to retort about, but Jin decided to concentrate on only the one he was truly confident about. The two 'operation' words were overlapping! [3]
[1] T/N: In Korean, he says something along the lines of saying that he's similar to a force of a thousand. It's just a saying that emphasizes how helpful he would be.
[2] T/N: Hyung, or big brother. As it's comical, 'bro' is the more contextually correct English translation.
[3] T/N: The first operation uses the Korean word, while the second uses the English p.r.o.nunciation spelled out in Korean.
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