Episode 71: Traitors (1)
“This is it.”
At Gorky Nana’s words, Rockbreaker looked around.
The place they arrived at was a large restaurant used by servants. No matter how much I thought about it, it was not a place that could be used as a hiding place.
“Here? Are you kidding me?”
“Don’t rush. Because this is just the entrance.”
Gorky Nana reprimanded her and took out a palm-sized disc from her pocket.
A single needle on the disc pointed to a number.
It was similar to a clock, but the difference was that it had numbers from 0 to 20.
Gorky Nana turned the needle three times. Then a strange thing happened.
The floor of the restaurant split in half, revealing a staircase leading down.
“Hoo.”
Rockbreaker looked at the entrance to the stairs with an interesting face.
“I don’t think it’s a mechanical device… … It looks like they took the entire ruins of the dungeon and improved it.”
There were many parts of the ruins inside the dungeon that could not be explained by Earth’s civilization. So, it was perfect for this purpose of hiding a secret.
“Let’s go in.”
Nana Goriki went down the stairs with Ryoko Takamine. Hospital director Masataka Nomura followed behind him.
“Let’s go too.”
Rockbreaker said to his teammates. The team members also went down the stairs.
However, only one person, Kwon Hu-don, was restless and kept looking at the door of the restaurant.
“Hey, boss. Are you going to keep doing that?”
“Yeah, but… … .”
“No, I’m going to stand the ball. Are you still dissatisfied?”
“Ha, you broke Hanul’s order… … .”
Annoyance flashed in Rockbreaker’s eyes. I tried to calm myself down and said to Kwon Hu-don.
“This is something that Ms. Kwon Mi also allowed. Are you going to disobey your mother’s orders, Captain?”
“… … no.”
“Then let’s go in quickly.”
Kwon Hu-don reluctantly went down the stairs with Rockbreaker.
The stairs were much longer than expected.
After going down for a long time, people were able to reach the hiding place.
Immediately after arriving at the hideout, Rockbreaker spoke in an admiring voice.
“What is this… … It’s not a hiding place, it’s an air-raid shelter.”
The ceiling was high and the surrounding space was wide enough to be used as a playground.
Even the walls had multiple doors leading to other rooms. Each had a name for storage, warehouse, and lodging.
“This hideout was created to accommodate everyone in the mansion in case of an emergency.”
Suddenly, Ryoko Takamine, who was next to her, explained.
“It was built for the purpose of accommodating a large number of people, so the entrance was large and the space was built wide.”
“Is it because you two were the only ones trying to enter that place?”
Takamine Ryoko didn’t bother to answer. Rockbreaker made an expression that was not funny.
“If it was here, no one would be able to get in easily. It’s a very nice place.”
“And it’s also the best place to drive game.”
Then, a strange voice was heard. The volume was not high, and the tone was flat without any distinctiveness. Even so, it accurately penetrated everyone’s ears.
“I was looking forward to when the promised guest would arrive. Are there too many numbers than expected?”
All eyes turned to the front.
On the wall opposite the entrance to the hideout, a man was sitting on a stool.
The light coming down from the ceiling is still weak. I couldn’t make out his face because I was sitting on the outskirts where the light didn’t reach.
“Who are you?”
Rockbreaker asked with hostility. A short laugh was heard.
“You are a friend who lacks imagination. In a place like this, if there is such a suspicious person, what is the identity?”
“I asked who you are.”
“So use your imagination.”
The man got up from the easy chair. And came out into the light.
Average physique. And the tanned skin of a Latino.
Rockbreaker, who saw the man, said without realizing it.
“My name is Ferdrance.”
The man, Ferdrance, quietly revealed his identity.
* * *
“Ferdrance?”
Rockbreaker frowned and asked.
“How did you get in here? No one was caught in the barriers spread by the Witch of Darkness.”
“There must be only one entrance to the hideout. With a key, you can enter any entrance.”
Ferdrance took something out of his pocket and held it out.
It was a disc that looked just like the one Goriki Nana had.
It’s not particularly strange that there are multiple keys to open the hideout.
But the fact that one of them was in Ferdrance’s hands was a fact that could not be overlooked. This meant one truth.
“As expected, I was right.”
Rockbreaker started laughing wildly.
“I thought I could step on your tail if I followed the suspicious guy.”
Rockbreaker glared at Nana Gorky. Gorky Nana let out a shrill scream.
“Stay there. I don’t know anything else, but I can’t stand traitors.”
“I, I… … that, that… … .”
“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but you dare to bring in the villains of Pandaemonium. I will directly educate your rotten mental head with my own hands.”
“Sorry for hitting the candle, but I got it a little bit wrong.”
Then, Ferdrance intervened.
“It’s true that she cooperated, but there’s someone else who hired me.”
“Is there another traitor?”
Ferdrance pointed his finger at Masataka Nomura.
Even though he was singled out, Nomura Masataka was not taken aback.
“Ferdrance. Do I really have to say something like that?”
“How are you? I think he’s probably guessing anyway.”
“Still, it’s not very pleasant.”
“What if I brought in so many more people than that? Originally, we only planned to bring Ryoko Takamine.”
“I’m sorry. I couldn’t help it because they were persistent. But if it’s your skills, isn’t this much a problem?”
Masataka Nomura exchanged friendly conversations with Ferdrance.
“Nomura-san, did you really call Ferdrance?”
At that time, Takamine Ryoko opened her mouth. Masataka Nomura nodded without hesitation.
“Yes, Miss Ryoko. It’s just what you heard. Ferdrance didn’t attack the mansion for the artifact. I came with a request from me to kill you.”
Ryoko Takamine stared at Masataka Nomura in silence. Nomura Masataka let out a laugh.
“Please understand. After my predecessor passed away, I dedicated my life to the hospital. As a result, the hospital is bigger than before.”
Masataka Nomura said dreamily.
“The hospital that has been raised so hard… … I can’t just take it and offer it to a gore like you, can’t I?”
“Is that why you brought in Ferdrance?”
“Yes, killing a girl who has just become an adult is no big deal, but the connections the Takamine family has built cannot be ignored. As I worry, the family is in danger, so the Heukcheon group was not involved.”
Nomura Masataka trembled.
“Why did Nana betray me?”
Next, Ryoko Takamine asked Nana Goriki.
Gorky Nana’s face hardened for a moment, then relaxed.
“To get a fair price.”
“Nana is the highest paid person in the mansion, isn’t she? Nana-san was the one who set the wages in the first place… … .”
“Do you know who does this for money!”
Gorky Nana shouted.
“miss! Do you know how much I struggled managing the Takamine family?”
“Did you?”
“Yes, it was! But what if the lady becomes the head of the family? Everything in the mansion I’ve been managing will be taken away.”
“Is that why you joined the hospital director’s plan?”
“is it so!”
Goriki Nana’s demeanor was very confident. He seemed genuinely convinced that his actions were justified.
“I get it now. Why did you two want to kill me?”
For the first time, Takamine Ryoko let out a long sigh.
“I thought there must be some great reason. The owner misunderstood what he had left for a while as his own and acted out.”
Takamine Ryoko closed her eyes for a moment before opening them.
“Not that surprising.”
“My lady, no matter how angry you are, if you’re bluffing… … You look ugly.”
“I already knew long ago that you two had different feelings.”
A sneer crept across Masataka Nomura’s lips. But soon the laughter disappeared.
It was because I realized that Takamine Ryoko’s face and eyes were no different from usual.
“… … Did you really know?”
“Because there is no evidence. because my strength is weak I had no choice but to stay still.”
The two have been managing the family and the hospital on behalf of Ryoko Takamine.
It was impossible to get those two out without a justification.
“Rather than that, can you please stay here?”
Only then did Masataka Nomura notice Rockbreaker’s gaze glaring at him.
“Get out of here right now. You guys will take care of it a little later.”
Masataka Nomura and Nana Goriki hurriedly fled towards Ferdrance.
“I think the division is over now.”
match.
Ferdrance clapped his hands. Then the door in the wall opened and the live dolls came out.
“I’ll tell you in advance, but they are different from those who raided the mansion. They are special products with special care.”
If the raw dolls that raided the mansion looked like randomly kneaded clay, they were made to the standard like finely crafted pottery.
“We gathered only first-class hunters and fused them with Dire-level monsters. Will it be very troublesome?”
Ferdrance snapped his fingers. The live dolls ran.
“come!”
“Don’t be afraid! No big deal!”
The team members shouted excitedly and held their weapons in their hands. Each of them used their skills to attack from a distance.
Colorful skills knocked on the bodies of the dolls. However, it was impossible to slow down, let alone hurt.
“Me-what is that!”
“Hey, you don’t even budge! aaagh!”
A teammate screamed. The live dolls attacked the team members without hesitation.
From noble mtl dot com.
At that time, Rockbreaker blocked the way of the raw dolls.
One of the live puppets raised both fists high. Surprisingly, both fists had an aura.
He threw his raised fist down at once. Two fists struck Rockbreaker in the shoulder.
“hmm.”
But Rockbreaker was fine. Didn’t even make an impression.
“It’s nothing.”
Rockbreaker hit the raw doll’s abdomen with his fist. At that moment, an explosion occurred.
Quaang!
With a huge sound, the doll’s upper body completely disappeared. Rockbreaker pushed forward the corpse with only the lower body remaining.
Then he threw his fist in front of him with all his might.
An explosion more powerful than before engulfed the live dolls. At the same time, thick deflagrations filled the hideout.
Eventually, the smoke subsided. The number of raw dolls had decreased by half.
“… … .”
Ferdrance’s eyes widened slightly.
Even after being hit by dozens of skills, the raw dolls, who were fine, died in one blow. No, it would be more accurate to say that it was destroyed.
“You seem to have forgotten who I am?”
Rockbreaker said, clenching his fists together.
“Even if there are hundreds of these small puppies, they can’t touch a hair on me.”
“… … It looks that way.”
said Ferdrance in a subdued voice. He gestured toward the live dolls.
“Everyone, get out of here.”
The remaining live dolls withdrew toward the wall.
Rockbreaker laughed and said.
“Yes, if you make your subordinates suffer, use them. Here we have to deal with each other. is not it?”
“You are saying something I can relate to. Surprisingly, it might be a good match for you.”
“You’re talking sh*t. I hate bastards who betray or persuade people like you.”
At those words, Ferdrance put on a fishy smile.
“Sorry. Then, shall we continue with what we are doing?”
“I still think so!”
Rockbreaker kicked the ground. He ran towards Ferdrance.
Ferdrance, on the other hand, stood still and waited for the rockbreaker.
‘It’s clear what the ulterior motive is.’
Rockbreaker laughed at Ferdrance inwardly.
‘Since I have the Poison skill, I am confident that I can kill myself at any time. But this side has also been prepared.’
Obviously, the poison skill is very lethal. If you do well, you can even kill an opponent one or two levels higher than yourself.
However, as powerful as it was, it had fatal flaws.
‘Poison skill range is narrow.’
To be more precise, the more toxic the poison skill, the narrower the range.
Poison skill, which spreads widely, has significantly decreased its power.
‘That’s why it can be said to be in conflict with my skill.’
His special skill is ‘Bomber Man’.
It’s a simple skill that causes an explosion when hit, but its power is beyond imagination.
Until now, there was nothing that I couldn’t break using Bomberman. Isn’t that why the nickname given to him is Rock Breaker?
‘Bomberman’s explosive power can blow away all of your poison.’
In addition, Rock Breaker has prepared artifacts with all his fortune for this day.
The dew of the water of life.
Although it is a one-time use, it is a relic that is said to have detoxifying power comparable to the best in this field, seven-color poison wine.
‘This is an opportunity to change my life. I can’t miss it!’
Even though the distance was narrow enough for fists to touch, Ferdrance did not take any action.
However, Rockbreaker was not vigilant.
The scary thing about the solo is that it is not only fast, but also requires no preparation.
It seems that Ferdrance is being careless, but in reality it means that he is ready to spit poison at any time.
‘But when you get this close… … My fist is faster!’
Rockbreaker punched out at breakneck speed. Immediately after that, a huge explosion engulfed Ferdrance.
“Ha, stupid.”
Looking at the smoke rising thickly, Rockbreaker laughed.
“You must have been so surprised that you didn’t even have time to use your skills?”
But the next moment, Rockbreaker’s face hardened.
This is because as the smoke cleared, the figure of Ferdrance standing still was revealed.
“… … what?”
“It’s a good fist.”
said Ferdrance, brushing the dust from his clothes.
“But it’s a bit light.”
Suddenly, Ferdrance jumped forward. Rock Breaker prepared for the upcoming Poison Skill.
But Ferdrance did not release the poison. Instead, he slapped his hand.
‘This bastard!’
How dare you walk in close combat, not your main skill. Rage lit up on Rockbreaker’s face.
‘I’ll hit you properly this time.’
Rockbreaker covered his head with his forearm. I was thinking of blocking the capital and putting my fist into Ferdrance’s empty ribs.
And the moment I thought of it.
Oops, I broke my forearm. The hand blade did not stop there. It stopped only after breaking Rockbreaker’s collarbone.
“Cheer, cooer!”
Rockbreaker groaned and sat down. The agony of not being able to breathe gnawed through his whole body.
“Everyone is mistaken like you. That I would be weak in close combat.”
said Ferdrance, shaking his wrist.
“how is it? Don’t you think it’s a pretty good knockdown?”
Rockbreaker gritted his teeth. The pain was so severe that I could not speak.
“It was a short meeting, but it was fun.”
Ferdrance clenched his fist. Just as he was about to finish, Rockbreaker shouted.
“Sah, save me!”
Embarrassment appeared on Ferdrance’s face.
“What did you say just now?”
“Sah, I asked for help! Well, I’ll do anything, save my life!”
“I am embarrassed. Didn’t you say that you can’t forgive traitors?”
Even though Ferdrance was exposed, Rockbreaker was not shy. Instead, he lay on the floor and begged.
“Please save me! I will do anything!”
“This is so… … This is the first time I’ve ever begged for my life so easily.”
Ferdrance pondered for a moment, then nodded happily.
“I will save you.”
“Are you really?”
“Instead, there are conditions.”
Ferdrance opened the subspace and took out a small vial.
“If you eat this, I will save you.”
“What is this?”
“It is a thing called latent poison.
Ferdrance began to explain the poison.
“Even if you eat this poison, you won’t die right away. However, after a certain period of time, poisoning begins and it melts all of the user’s organs.”
It sounded like a friendly neighborhood doctor. But the content wasn’t like that at all.
“But there is no need to worry. It’s okay if you take the antidote I give you periodically.”
Rockbreaker swallowed his saliva.
“Ah, you better not expect to be able to decipher it. It may not be poison that invades from the outside, but poison that is ingested through the esophagus is a headache to detoxify.”
Ferdrance whispered in a coy voice.
“You understand now? Begging for my life… … It means you will be my slave. I will probably live a worse life than dying.”
Ferdrance put down the vial in front of Rockbreaker’s eyes.
“The choice is yours. Will you eat this poison and live in submission to me for the rest of your life? Or die with honor… … .”
Before he could finish his words, Rockbreaker drank the latent poison. Ferdrance muttered incredulously.
“This is the first time I’ve ever seen someone drink latent poison so easily. Doesn’t a world ranker have this much pride?”
“Oh, I ate. Are you saving me now?”
“I keep my promise again. I’ll give you some recovery medicine here.”
Ferdrance took out a potion and threw it.
Rockbreaker quickly drank the potion. The broken collarbone and forearm are beginning to recover.
“Well then… … What about the rest of them?”
Ferdrance looked at the remaining team members.
The faces of the team members turned blue. There was no hope for them as even Rockbreaker had succumbed to Ferdrance.
“You guys are so lucky. Normally, I would have killed them all, but because of this request, I lost a lot of my subordinates, so I’m short of manpower.”
Ferdrance opened the subspace again. The vial of latent poison spilled onto the floor.
“Drink. Then let me save you.”
The team members did not readily drink poison.
I’m afraid of becoming a slave to Pedre Lance, but to drink poison here is to betray the Dark Heaven group.
I couldn’t meet a tiger to avoid the wolf in front of me.
“Yeah, I should have reacted like this. If you think about cancer, that guy gave in too easily.”
Ferdrance put on a satisfied expression. However, apart from being satisfied, it had to achieve a purpose.
“Rockbreaker.”
“yes!”
“I have to prove that you are worthwhile right now. Let them voluntarily drink the latent poison within one minute.”
“One minute… … ?”
“Yes, if you don’t, know that you will end up in the same situation as a living doll.”
Rockbreaker’s face hardened.
“You stupid bastards! didn’t you just hear? Drinking this will save you!”
Rockbreaker shouted at his teammates without hesitation.
No matter how it was, the team members made an expression of absurdity at the attitude that changed in an instant.
“Are you hesitant to say this? Oh no, stay like that I will kill you myself!”
Rockbreaker caused a life. Whether you look at his expression or his life, it wasn’t a joke. It was really meant to kill.
“No, I will drink!”
At that time, one of the team members jumped out and drank the latent poison. That was the starting point.
“Move! I’m first!”
“I don’t have to eat either! Get off the side!”
Once it exploded, no one could stop it. Everyone started fighting aung daung to drink the latent poison.
After a few minutes, all the team members drank the latent poison.
“It seems that it is all over now.”
The hospital director, who had been observing the situation all along, opened his mouth.
“Ferdrance. Now let’s join together to finish the quest. Isn’t that how you achieve what you want too?”
“Chief Nomura Hospital. It’s not over yet.”
“What are you talking about?”
Ferdrance shifted his gaze.
Two Aji remained where the team members had been standing just a moment ago.
It was Takamine Ryoko and Kwon Hu-don.
“Hey, boss.”
Rockbreaker said with a frown.
“what are you doing? Can’t you come over here quickly?”
Kwon Hu-don looked at Rockbreaker and the rest of the team with anxious eyes.
Then, after taking a deep breath, he said.
“… … I will not drink poison.”