Shocking words from Zhang Xuan—he was coming to find him personally.
Lee Taeseong couldn’t even ask anything more about it.
“Ah. It’s already time.”
Zhang Xuan checked the time on his pocket watch and began moving hurriedly.
“I was doing some research related to elixirs and stepped out for a walk since I had a moment of leisure. I have to finish the final processing and head to the airport now. Let’s talk more about the things we couldn’t finish later, brother.”
“No, wait…”
“Ah, right. Do you happen to have any plans today? I should have asked this first, but I forgot because I’ve been so distracted.”
“…I don’t have any particular plans, but.”
“Haha. That’s good. See you later.”
Zhang Xuan patted Lee Taeseong on the shoulder once and ran off quickly.
‘…I think something has gotten very twisted.’
Watching his receding figure, Lee Taeseong was dumbfounded.
He was coming to Incheon Airport to see him?
He had inwardly guessed the man was a wealthy Chinese individual, but what on earth was happening?
‘Let’s forget about it for now. I can’t let myself get distracted.’
Lee Taeseong shook his head and focused his mind.
He had currently arrived at the Red Magic Tower.
Zhang Xuan was Zhang Xuan, but for now, he had to focus on Serina.
The Master Mage of the Red Magic Tower branch.
In terms of rank, she was similar to an Elder of the Flying Dragon Sect, but the Red Magic Tower was a continentally massive organization.
As the Master Mage of a branch, her clout carried weight anywhere.
Since the chance to receive a quest from such an NPC was rare, Lee Taeseong had come with high expectations.
‘If things go well, I might even get something like Hidden Detect.’
He eventually arrived at Serina’s office.
“Welcome. Sorry for bothering you by calling you here. I wanted to go myself, but I was so busy I didn’t have time to step outside.”
“Not at all. Since the client called, of course I should be the one to come.”
“I’m grateful you say that.”
Serina smiled brightly.
This Outlander certainly had a talent for speaking kindly.
‘It would be so nice if my disciple was even half as much like this friend.’
Of course, Zhang Xuan, who donated massive amounts of money, had a charm of his own.
“Did you learn the Hidden Detect I gave you last time?”
“Yes.”
“That’s good. I heard Outlanders learn techniques quickly. It’s a relief. You might need it for this request.”
Saying so, Serina slowly explained the request.
Not long ago, the Red Magic Tower discovered ruins buried underground near Ellen.
The owner of the centuries-old ruins was a mage who was among the top on the continent at that time.
Excited by this fact, the Red Magic Tower immediately formed an investigation team, and since they needed escort personnel, they decided to call someone reliable to entrust with the task.
Someone with skill who could also maintain trust.
“Furthermore, in an emergency, you could help with the investigation mission using Hidden Detect, right? Of course, I don’t expect a lot. It’s simply insurance. Anyway, because you are such a talent, I sent a designated request to the Flying Dragon Sect.”
“I’m thankful you evaluate me so highly, but…”
Lee Taeseong hesitated before continuing.
“Would I be necessary? If they are mages of the Red Magic Tower, their skills must all be incredible.”
An escort mission.
Who was escorting whom?
No matter how much stronger Lee Taeseong had become recently, he was still just a first-class disciple of the Flying Dragon Sect.
It was certain that there were countless people stronger than Lee Taeseong in the large city of Ellen right now.
Even Serina in front of him was a powerhouse above the Elder level of the Flying Dragon Sect.
However, Serina shook her head, saying that wasn’t the case.
“You’re misunderstanding. You seem to be thinking about my combat prowess, but you shouldn’t do that. Mages have various specialties, and among them, many don’t even touch combat magic and only dig into one specific field.”
Mercenary mages struggling to make a living couldn’t afford that, but in a massive organization like the Red Magic Tower, there were many such people.
True mages who poured their talent only into research and the advancement of their goals!
They hadn’t learned a single combat spell, but instead, they played a role in expanding the horizons of magic.
The reason the Red Magic Tower became a power spanning the continent was because of these research mages, and such people existed in other giant factions as well.
Oh.
After hearing the explanation, Lee Taeseong nodded.
“I didn’t know that. If that’s the case, I understand.”
“Will you accept the request?”
Would he accept?
Why even ask? Of course he had to!
If it was a quest from a place like the Red Magic Tower, it was at a level where he could practically beg them to give him anything.
-Ding!
[A quest has occurred]
[Quest: Escorting Red Magic Tower Mages]
-Content: Escort the mages to the ruins discovered by the Red Magic Tower and help if there is anything to assist with.
He wondered how substantial the quest rewards would be upon completion.
While Lee Taeseong was smiling, Serina handed him a document.
“Take this, look it over once, and then burn it. It’s basic information about the ruins. You need to know at least the minimum before you go.”
“Yes.”
Written on the first page of the stack of papers was the name ‘Flame Master Avison.’
It was likely the name of the person who created the ruins.
Lee Taeseong muttered softly.
“Avison……”
“Have you heard of him?”
“No. It’s my first time.”
He was studying the game’s history and background knowledge whenever he had time, but he was still lacking a lot.
The history was so vast it made him wonder if this was really a game; countless events had occurred and great figures had existed just like real history.
“Well, that’s possible. He was a figure from several centuries ago and made a name for himself as a fire mage, but fire mages in that era all suffered and couldn’t leave a legacy of fame.”
“Why is that?”
Fire mages, due to their destructive power, usually rank at least average among mages no matter how poorly they do.
Yet, he couldn’t gain fame?
“Because there was a monster called the Flame Emperor. He was a hybrid but suppressed the Tower Masters with magic alone. It just so happened that the attribute he handled was fire, so the fire mages shed tears of blood.”
“!!?”
Lee Taeseong’s eyes flickered.
He looked at the name in the document once more.
‘A contemporary of the Flame Emperor?’
-Pshhh
After receiving the quest from Serina, Lee Taeseong logged out.
He quickly put on his best clothes, went outside, and called a taxi.
“Please take me to Incheon Airport.”
The destination was the airport.
There was a lot to think about regarding the quest, but for now, he had to handle the matter regarding Zhang Xuan.
Zhang Xuan said he was coming to see him.
‘It’s not a lie, right?’
He wasn’t the type of person to go around talking nonsense.
He had only seen him twice in person, but he felt he knew what kind of person he was.
Cynical, with strong pride, and an equally excellent person.
The fact that a user was even inside the Red Magic Tower showed how much wealth he possessed in reality.
The last time they met, he said he would repay his life debt, but Taeseong had just let it slide back then.
And for good reason—who would think that someone would come find them in reality just because they saved them in a game?
-Vroom
Since there was some distance, it took about an hour to get there.
Sitting in the back seat of the taxi, all sorts of thoughts swirled in Lee Taeseong’s head.
‘What is he coming all the way to Korea to give me?’
Money?
Is he really going to give me a lot of money?
Then… thank you.
He had been thinking about buying a house with a view of the Han River, and that plan might be moved forward by quite a lot.
Lee Taeseong closed his eyes.
It seemed he would only know for sure once they met and talked.
Blue Dragon Guild Leader Lee Jeong-woo was currently waiting at Incheon Airport with a grim expression.
He was planning to have a meeting shortly that would stake the destiny of the guild.
-Today, Politburo Member Zhang Xuan is visiting Korea.
It seems he’s meeting an acquaintance, and a very important one at that.
I heard he canceled all his existing schedules.
Would this much be helpful to you, CEO Lee?
-Of course!
This was a phone conversation he had with a Chinese contact a few hours ago.
The Blue Dragon Guild also couldn’t give up on the Chinese market, so they had been working hard in their own way.
They had put in a lot of effort to establish guanxi, and there had actually been some results.
He had established guanxi, though low-level, with the district head of Fangshan District, and thanks to that, he had heard this precious information.
Normally, a mere district head wouldn’t be able to know the movements of a Politburo member, but because a meeting with the mayor the district head served had been canceled, he came to know the circumstances.
‘Whatever the case, I’m lucky. The opportunity has come!’
I will definitely catch the eye of Zhang Xuan as he enters Korea and win his favor!
Even though he was a Politburo member who would scoff at the chairman of a typical large corporation, Jeong-woo wasn’t just a corporate head, but the leader of a major guild.
At this level, even if he hadn’t made an appointment in advance, the man might appreciate the sincerity of coming to find him and spare a little time.
-Ringggg
Just then, his phone rang, and he checked the caller.
It was his younger sister.
“Yeah, what is it.”
-I bought the mat and the tent.
I’m waiting near that person’s house right now.
“Good job.”
Lee Jeong-woo smiled slightly.
Normally, he should have gone to the house of Lee Taeseong, who was said to have received a ‘Perfect’ rating even after the tutorial ended, to recruit him.
If he hadn’t obtained the information that Zhang Xuan was suddenly entering the country, he surely would have done so.
So he split the roles with his sister.
He took charge of the Zhang Xuan side, and his sister was waiting near Lee Taeseong’s house.
It was a performance, but he really intended to spend several nights using the mat and tent to propose the recruitment.
His sister didn’t like it much, but Lee Jeong-woo pushed for it, saying this level of sincerity was necessary.
-But it seems he’s not home?
The lights are off and it’s quiet.
“He probably went out somewhere. Keep staying there.”
-Got it.
How’s it on your end, brother?
“I’m just waiting.”
He had found out the rough flight time from his guanxi contact, but it wasn’t exact.
Therefore, he had been there since a long time ago and was even planning to wait here until tomorrow.
“…Uh?”
At that moment, Lee Jeong-woo flinched.
“…Ye-ji. You said Hunter Lee Taeseong doesn’t seem to be home?”
-I’m not sure.
“…I think it’s certain. He’s here.”
In the distance, near the arrivals area, Lee Taeseong was there.
Although he had only seen him in photos unlike his sister, a Hunter’s memory and eyesight were superhuman.
There was no way he wouldn’t recognize him.
Eh?
At the airport?
Why?
“I’m not sure. Is he going abroad?”
Lee Jeong-woo muttered so but soon shook his head.
That wouldn’t be it.
The arrivals floor and the departures floor were different levels, so there was no reason for him to be here.
Lee Jeong-woo intended to go over and greet him now.
It was unexpected, but building a rapport like this wasn’t bad either.
It was at that moment.
The arrivals area seemed to get busy, and then the figure of Zhang Xuan walking out, surrounded by attendants and bodyguards, came into view.
“Hup!! He’s here! Hang up!”
-Yeah.
Good luck.
Lee Jeong-woo hung up the phone and tried to approach Zhang Xuan.
He had to win the heart of that cold and stern-looking high-ranking Chinese official.
It would be difficult and arduous, but Lee Jeong-woo, disciplined by years of social life and quick wits, was confident.
I’ll make it happen somehow…
“!!???”
Suddenly, Zhang Xuan flashed a bright smile and pointed somewhere.
Lee Taeseong was there, and Zhang Xuan approached him, shouting something, and pulled him into a hug with both arms.