Chapter 143: A Flawed Trap

[Quest: Confirm the Authenticity of Nameless Blood Cult Information]

-Content: Thanks to capturing Blood Hand Ju Rip, we interrogated him and obtained important information about the Nameless Blood Cult.

There is one branch of the Nameless Blood Cult that we learned of.

Ju Rip died after spitting out this information, so we cannot know the authenticity of the information.

Confirm whether the branch truly exists.

*’A Nameless Blood Cult branch… This is really dangerous.’*

As Lee Tae-sung examined the quest details, he naturally felt it wouldn’t be easy.

If it was a real Nameless Blood Cult branch, there would be a line of formidable enemies, and if it was a trap, he could die the moment he set foot in it.

Either way, it was no pushover.

*’That’s why Sir Samuel was so happy when I said I would go.’*

It worked out well in the end.

Because Lee Tae-sung was willing to take risks even intentionally, he liked this quest that could earn him a lot of Contribution Points.

“Greetings.”

That was when.

Someone approached Lee Tae-sung, who had been waiting appropriately in front of the north gate of Demenmark.

She was a knight with brown hair tied back in a long ponytail, wearing sturdy iron armor.

“I am Ju-el of the Blue Dragon Knights.”

“I’m Lee Tae-sung.”

She greeted him with a composed movement.

She was the person assigned by Blue Dragon Knights Commander Samuel, and a comrade for this mission.

“Shall we step outside the city gate first?”

“Yes.”

The two moved outside the city wall.

On the way, Ju-el spoke.

“I’ve heard a lot about you, Sir Tae-seong.”

“Surely not from Sir Kelson?”

“Yes. He is my senior, and he never stops talking about you, Sir Tae-seong.”

Currently, Kelson was away from the city on another mission, but it seemed he had talked a lot about Lee Tae-sung while he was in the city.

Only then did Ruban’s face twist violently.

“Damn. Of all people, that Outsider has to go there?”

Ruban, the Vice Branch Manager of Mortu Nocturn.

His true identity was a spy infiltrating Mortu Nocturn from the Nameless Blood Cult.

Blood Hand Ruban.

That was his position within the Nameless Blood Cult.

“I knew that idiot Ju Rip would cause a major accident one day.”

“So not everyone in the Blue Dragon Knights rides a blue dragon?”

“Yes. Red suits me better. Still, I don’t fall behind other members in reconnaissance and speed.”

Ju-el’s role was not combat or investigation.

It was to take Lee Tae-sung to the destination and monitor the surroundings from the sky while he conducted the investigation.

In the northern region with many hazardous areas, having such a means of transportation was excellent support.

Since travel time could be drastically reduced, it seemed he could focus entirely on the investigation mission.

*’I wish I could contract with a dragon too.’*

But that was difficult.

Earlier, Kelson had offered to connect him with the Dragon Realm, but as soon as the connection was made, the other side sensed Lee Tae-sung’s energy and immediately cut it off.

It was likely that the Flame Emperor had caused quite a mess in the Dragon Realm.

It was good to have received many excellent Hybrids thanks to the Flame Emperor, but at times like this, it really tripped him up…

It was a mixed feeling.

Lee Tae-sung shook off the stray thoughts and moved.

“Then I’ll gratefully ride.”

He said that as he approached the red dragon.

“?”

Lee Tae-sung flinched as the dragon growled.

*’…No way?’*

The dragon bared its fangs and sent a mental wave.

“……”

*’How did he recognize that?’*

That thought entered Lee Tae-sung’s mind as he felt a sense of dismay.

He had ridden Kelson’s dragon before, but it hadn’t recognized him like this back then.

The only difference from then was that he had reached the Peak Realm and his proficiency in the Heavenly Fire Holy Law Art had deepened…

*’Is that the reason?’*

He had an inkling.

His proficiency in the Heavenly Fire Holy Law Art had increased to the point that the dragon could sense it.

However, the dragon showed hostility but wasn’t completely certain yet.

That was because Lee Tae-sung was far inferior to the Flame Emperor, and also because the Heavenly Fire Holy Law Art was not the Flame Emperor’s final Hybrid form.

It must have sensed a similar energy and reacted.

Lee Tae-sung made a quick decision and put on a brazen face.

“The Flame Emperor? I have no idea. I’ve never heard of him in my life. Just hearing his title, he sounds like a bad guy. Who is he anyway?”

***

Investigation into the Authenticity of Nameless Blood Cult Information.

In fact, this was extremely important.

The Nameless Blood Cult was very closed off, making it difficult to obtain information.

They had barely managed to capture a few ordinary cultists, but they were severe fanatics and didn’t divulge any information.

They even died laughing.

That was all.

When it came to an executive-level Blood Hand, torture was effective and they obtained useful information.

Therefore, whether this information was real or not was very important, but the problem was that it was extremely dangerous.

“-Ahem. Investigation missions don’t really suit us… How about the Dragon Knights give it a try?”

“-Our knights roam the sky, so they’re not suited for covert operations. Why not the large Magic Tower side that uses various magic?”

“-Heh. Do you want us to collapse on the way? We are frail mages. Mages!”

They understood the importance of the mission, but the chance of death was extremely high if they went.

Yet they couldn’t just send anyone.

If the branch really existed, they had to scout it secretly; if discovered, the enemies would immediately withdraw.

All.

At the very least, a Peak Realm martial artist, a 6th-circle mage, or a comparable Hybrider had to step up.

Even for large factions, they couldn’t recklessly deploy such forces, so they kept passing the buck.

There were even factions within the alliance that were at odds with each other, so no one stepped up to take charge.

It was Lee Tae-sung who appeared while the meetings were endlessly running on parallel tracks.

“Was it Lee Tae-sung? That unlucky bastard is taking on this mission.”

The Mortu Nocturn branch dispatched to Demenmark.

Branch Manager Gedric frowned as if dissatisfied.

Lee Tae-sung.

He was the one who had been most active in the war between the Flying Dragon Clan and the Mortu Nocturn branch in the big city of Elleun in the past.

There was even an analysis that the Elleun branch might not have withdrawn if not for him, so Mortu Nocturn was grinding their teeth at Lee Tae-sung.

Although they couldn’t fight each other now because they were facing the common enemy of the Nameless Blood Cult, if not for that, they would have targeted him long ago.

“But… it’s certain that there’s no one as suitable as him for this mission. What do you think, Ruban?”

“I agree with you, Branch Manager. If he’s an Outsider who revives even after death, he’s suitable for this mission.”

Vice Branch Manager Ruban nodded.

It was burdensome to deploy a Peak Realm martial artist on this mission with its extremely high mortality rate, but just then the Outsider volunteered.

All major factions welcomed Lee Tae-sung with open arms.

Even Mortu Nocturn, who hated him!

“I never thought a weakling Outsider would break through to the Peak Realm. An Outsider who only uses techniques superficially actually understanding martial arts and surpassing the wall.”

“So I tried to find other Outsiders showing such potential without being noticed… but failed.”

“As expected. It’s not likely such a guy is common. But keep sending people to find out. One more might appear. Wouldn’t it be good for us to have such a person in Mortu Nocturn?”

“Understood.”

“Alright. Then go do your work.”

“Yes.”

As the dismissal order fell, Ruban bowed once and left his seat.

“……”

Ruban quietly passed through the hallway and arrived at his room.

-Click.

After the door closed, the soundproofing and barrier magic circles laid in advance activated, and Ruban, who had been controlling his expression for fear of eavesdroppers, finally twisted his face violently.

“Damn. Of all people, that Outsider has to go there?”

Ruban, the Vice Branch Manager of Mortu Nocturn.

His true identity was a spy infiltrating Mortu Nocturn from the Nameless Blood Cult.

Blood Hand Ruban.

That was his position within the Nameless Blood Cult.

“I knew that idiot Ju Rip would cause a major accident one day.”

That guy, who had been acting recklessly without knowing the world’s fear due to Cheonwang’s favor, had failed his missions in succession.

When he even got captured, Ruban rather saw this as an opportunity.

The Geumgu-ildo (Forbidden Mouth Single Prayer) Technique.

It was a restriction placed in the minds of all Blood Hands, and if this restriction was in place, they could only spit out one location of the Nameless Blood Cult they knew.

All.

Even that location would cause death upon being spoken, a fearsome secret technique.

A sinister method that allowed them to set up a trap in case they were captured! Therefore, Ruban considered this an opportunity and contacted the main school in advance, instructing them to set up a trap.

No matter where it was, at least a Peak Realm expert would come to investigate, and it was a scheme to capture that guy and then continue to eat up the second and third investigation teams.

But with the sudden appearance of the Outsider, the plan was completely thrown off.

Even if they killed him, he would just revive anyway.

The alliance’s power wouldn’t decrease, and they could get all the information as well.

“This is the worst. I have to order a full withdrawal.”

Ruban took out a communication magic orb.

And then he ordered his subordinates, who had been busily preparing the trap, to withdraw and return to the real branch.

***

The red dragon suspected Lee Tae-sung for a while, but eventually gave up suspicion at his brazenly cursing the Flame Emperor.

Although he seemed a bit unsure, Ju-el also vouched for Lee Tae-sung from the side, so eventually he carried him.

Relieved, Lee Tae-sung comfortably traversed the northern region, and after a few hours of fast flight, they arrived at the destination.

“It’s down below. It’s between ravines, so it’s not visible from above.”

“I’ll go down and check.”

“Good luck.”

Lee Tae-sung jumped down.

He used the Lightfoot Technique to lighten his body and landed on the snow-covered mountainside.

Looking up, Ju-el had increased her altitude even more.

She would patrol the surroundings from the sky like that.

*’I should go.’*

Lee Tae-sung, fully tense, moved toward the basin.

If there really was a Nameless Blood Cult branch, he could die in a fierce battle, but that wouldn’t be a total loss.

However, as he moved while stepping on the snow, he felt something was lacking.

*’If I really earn a lot of Contribution Points this time, I should buy a stealth skill.’*

There are quite a few moments like now where stealth is needed.

He was moving carefully while hiding his body, but since he hadn’t professionally learned stealth, he felt anxious.

There were large factions specializing in assassination, poison, etc., so it would be fine to use Contribution Points to learn one of their martial arts this time.

Thinking that, Lee Tae-sung slowly moved toward the location presumed to be the Nameless Blood Cult branch.

And inside the basin not far away, people were busily running around, in the midst of a withdrawal operation.