Chapter 40 Part4 (2/2)

According to a report he'd gotten through the golem network, people were selling books in the capital detailing the peddler Lawrence and the hero Kay's friends.h.i.+p and successes. With this, he wouldn't have to worry about people recognizing either Lawrence or Kay. But for some reason, he was a bit concerned about the contents of the book. He would get Ye Jin Jin to buy it for him later and check it for himself.

'Anyway, my position in the capital will be set once I clear the unconquered level 7 dungeon. I'll have as much power as a high rank n.o.ble, and in a way, an image that surpa.s.ses that of a [Hero].'

If he wasn't going to engage in an all-out war with the surface, then he had to take this opportunity to create a foothold in the capital. He had, of course, given Bisher Moon that mission, but there were things one could do in the light that couldn't be done in the darkness.

”B-But you can't succ.u.mb to temptation, even if they offer their daughter to you or something.”

”Even though the Sun G.o.d religion has acknowledged me as a saint, I'm still originally a mercenary. The n.o.bles won't give up their daughters so easily. But they might send me a prost.i.tute disguised as a young lady of the house or their daughter.”

”You can't! I'll take care of all of that!”

”Yeah, yeah.”

Ye Jin Jin acted so innocent, but said something so bold. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo stroked her head and grinned. Of course, her concern was unnecessary. If need be, he could dispel his human transformation. With that, all his worldly desires would disappear, and he would become a Sage!

Being able to control his s.e.xual desires when speaking with other humans or negotiating with them was a huge advance. One's base desires would cause one's judgment to go askew, and it was especially difficult to control oneself when faced with an intelligent and attractive individual.

However, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo was now capable of switching to his 'Sage Mode' at will, so during a negotiation, he could dominate the other side!

'In that sense, Bisher Moon was the right choice to move in the shadows... Though he didn't know just how much he'd accomplished here.'

He got his answer 30 minutes later. Once the front gate guards noticed his wagon, their eyes s.h.i.+ned and they immediately welcomed him.

”Ah, you must be the party of the Sun G.o.d's hero and the Lawrence shop. We've been waiting for you. Please, come inside.”

”Your store branch in the capital has been completed. If you're going that way, then I can take you there myself.”

”...I'd appreciate it.”

He thought that perhaps Bisher Moon had done something to the guards to take advantage of the n.o.bles, but once the lid was open, he found that it was the complete opposite.

Just in case, he checked the guards' stats, but there was nothing suspicious about them; they were 100% human. While he was puzzled, one of the guards guiding them approached him and whispered.

”Lord Bisher said he'd meet with you in the evening.”

”...Can you tell him I got his message?”

”Of course.”

As he thought, this human was under Bisher Moon's control! He didn't know if he commissioned them, or if one of his subordinates had infiltrated the guards, but he was amazing either way!

As a regular business employee, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo didn't know what Bisher had done to acquire such power in the capital.

”Well, I'll know after I hear it straight from him.”

'Perhaps he did stuff like this in the past, before he became a hero,' Lee s.h.i.+n Woo thought vaguely. At the end of the road, he could see an indistinct castle.

It seemed completely hidden, but he could feel it. The existence of the Emperor within those walls, as well as magic greater than that of the Archmage. At that moment, he was sure of it. He was a lower level than him, but for some reason, he was able to roughly measure him.

'Level 9.'

He'd expected this, but it felt different in person.

Did the Emperor sense his presence as well? Even if he did, he would probably regard him as the Sun G.o.d's hero. There was also a chance he hadn't sensed him at all. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo was confident that his mana control wouldn't lose to anyone.

'As I thought, it'd be difficult to face a level 9. Is the Undead Emperor also level 9? He probably is... Ultimately, if I want to achieve my goals, then I need to take those two down.'

His magic had increased significantly and he'd collected bones from the level 6 dungeons, which had increased his stats by a little. So, his current stat total was 12,392. He needed a little over 400 stats to reach level 8.

But even if he reached level 8, he didn't think he could defeat the Emperor. Even if he used all his strength, using the Bone Armory, the Thorn Shadow, or even the fully charged level 8 t.i.tan Bone Golem, he didn't think he would be able to win.

That's just how overwhelming a level 9 was. Just by sensing the Emperor's existence from afar caused him to instinctively feel tense!

'So that's why he's so confidently emitting his magic. ...He doesn't know that I'll use that against him.'

Could he find his weakness and make use of it with just that exposure of mana?

Yes, indeed. As long as Lee s.h.i.+n Woo was the one fighting him at least.

”Now then, let's go see the place that Bisher Moon has prepared for us.”

”Ah, s.h.i.+n Woo's making that face again. Whenever he makes that face, someone dies...”

”...Mr. s.h.i.+n Woo, you're so cool.”

[It's perfect.]

”Why do all the girls involved with you have such perverted fetishes? Or does the world have some sort of proclivity towards the name 'Lee s.h.i.+n Woo'...?”

[I-I can feel the Emperor's mana... Can we go undiscovered? We probably won't be, but...]

And thus, his party (they were all in the same situation but had different thoughts) successfully entered the capital. They'd gotten in quietly without a hitch, but in the end their presence would be unavoidable... Everyone will know.

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