Chapter 484
[Graf Mana Stone
Category: Mana stone (A-class 35%)
Collector: Kwon Seong-Il
Source: Tribe - Greenwood
Faction - Moonlight Sword, Holy Knight
Target - Defense Magic Tower]
S-class mana stones were objects that only the original species or those equivalent to them could possess, and there probably weren't many left. Therefore, it was not an exaggeration to say that A-class mana stones were practically the best ones available now. The XP individuals could expect from A-class mana stone ranged from one million to five million, but that was only if the life force imbued in it was one hundred percent intact.
As soon as I touched it, the mana stone crumbled into a handful of powder.
[You have gained 886,900 XP.]
Among the three loot quests, the mana stone quest had the highest completion rate. Unlike other spoils, this could not be traded between Awakened, and there was no way to use them.
Nevertheless, the amount of mana stones recovered was less compared to other loot. Even considering that there were few ways to obtain them, it was hard to immediately understand why. Just as we were now battling the Greenwood species, the Greenwood species had dealt with the monsters that remained on this land.
They only used mana stones for building magic towers, which were defensive structures, and didn't have any particular use for them in daily life. Therefore, it was true that I expected that unused mana stones would pour out when I raided the treasure vaults of the Greenwood nobles.
Then, where did all the mana stones that the Greenwood species had collected go?
Suddenly, the thought that there might have been a faction that had been hoarding mana stones for a long time crossed my mind. It didn't matter if some factions were controlling the quantity like the diamond business in the mainland to determine their value at their discretion.
Nonetheless, if they were plotting something with mana stone energy, it was a problem that could not be overlooked.
I shifted my gaze after creating the quest. Having eaten the mana stone as an appetizer, it was now time for the main course. Then, one of the haphazardly piled loot caught my eye.
[Sacred Relic of Saint Jayden's Presbytery
Category: Relic (Legendary)
Collector: Deborah Belluci
Item Class: S
Item Level: 535]
Hera managed to take an item like this and offered it a quest material, probably because she had all her items in order. She had probably thought of hoarding it but then wondered if she would get caught in the end.
***
Seong-Il and his corps had defeated the small kingdoms in eastern Greenwood and crossed the vast lands of the Exile Empire. Eventually, they reached Avet, the largest port city on the eastern coast.
Seong-Il had made an agreement with himself that he would not intervene as long as the plundering acts of the Awakened did not target children. Therefore, he remained silent even though the mansion was filled with screams and there were still many parts that irritated him.
I cannot be selfish. You should take whatever you can. I cannot stop you as a leader.
Perhaps the fate of those who resisted to the end was determined when the city collapsed.
Seong-Il waited for the bathtub to fill with water. The original ruler of this city must have had an obsession with baths. The room was equipped with magnificent bathing facilities. A window opening to the east provided a clear view of the ocean. It was the first time he had seen the sea since he entered this world.
However, the peace from that view did not last long as Seong-Il habitually pulled up his status window.
[Name: Kwon Seong-Il
Level: 511 (Challenger)]
He had jumped ten levels in a week, but the reason for his dissatisfaction was undoubtedly due to Hera. In fact, Corps One could be in charge of the east alone as Tae-Han had given him the chance. He was also wary of Hera's growth.
For this reason, Seong-Il took full advantage of this opportunity by swiftly attacking and conquering the lands of Greenwood all the way to the port city on the eastern coast. He was attacking the capital of the Exile Empire by using the sea route!
That was his purpose from the beginning. The quicker he could clear the East, the more opportunity he would have to move to other battlefields. The next war zone was likely the dwarf continent across the sea.
The dwarves' continent was an unknown land not only to the Awakened but also to the creatures of the Greenwood. It was more mysterious than Elsland, so it was obvious that there was an abundance of chances there.
A few minutes later, Seong-Il's secretary came in.
"I brought him."
A man was dragged in front of Seong-Il. He must have been beaten terribly as his eyes were swollen shut. However, the man was wearing a uniform that Seong-Il had never seen before.
The secretary continued, "He is Admiral Rashiya."
The uniform was different from the typical Exile Empire uniform.
"He and his soldiers are skilled in handling ships and know the sea routes. Also, he is well-versed in this situation as you have requested."
Seong-Il stated, "He is a naval commander."
"Yes, sir."
Then, the secretary handed Seong-Il a translating device he had been using.
"Yo, admiral. How do you feel about the situation? Can you believe this? Even I think we were unbelievably fast."
Seong-Il smiled out of satisfaction.
"You must wonder why we appeared here, right?"
The response came from the secretary, "The translator is not that good at interpreting Korean."
The secretary did not dare to explain that the device couldn't comprehend Seong-Il's speech due to his dialect.
Seong-Il snapped, "This fucking thing is still the same? Shit. Which era is this in? How come it still neglects the first language in the world, gosh. The developers who made this are novices, aren't they?"
The secretary meekly responded, "They say there will be an update soon, so let's wait."
Seong-Il rolled his eyes. "Whatever. There are so many people who do not understand how the world works. Even that bitch Hera studies Korean like crazy, you know? Korean is the trend, right?"
"Yes, sir."
"But why can't this fucking thing keep up with the times? I don't care about anything else. The only reason I keep you under me is because you are fluent in Korean. Well, of course, because you are Korean."
The secretary wanted to retort, 'Didn't you claim you kept me for my personality?' But he kept it to himself. The time he had a hunch that Seong-Il's mood would last quite long.
In the Stage of Advent, the common language was English, and the Awakened had to learn it. However, surprisingly, Caliber Kwon Seong-Il only knew basic English phrases like 'hello' and 'how are you?' Despite this, he was able to reach the top with such limited communication skills.
The reason was that Caliber was His man. It was known that he was the only one who was in His party from the beginning of the stage. His sheer combat prowess compensated for his language deficiency. He had no problem at all. There was a possibility that he would surpass the King of Hell if he grew at this pace.
The secretary made up his mind that he would never miss this golden opportunity and said, "With your permission, Mr. Caliber, I'll speak to him for you."
That was how Seong-Il communicated through his secretary, which went through the translating device to the admiral.
"You probably thought we were heading to the Emperor's Gate, right?"
The 'Emperor's Gate' was located at the tip of the Pateria Strait. One could only reach the imperial capital through this narrow land, but it was heavily guarded with all kinds of fortresses and defenses.
"It is not that we cannot break through there. But, I am a bit impatient. When a power to fight arises, I have to start by smashing the skull of their leader. That is why I need your help. I heard you know the sea routes very well. You can handle ships, too. You are the perfect man I need to carry around next to me."
***
The admiral's face was drenched in blood, but at the current moment, he was dumbfounded, and his face had turned ghastly pale. He blinked his eyes which he could barely open and thought about the downfall of the empire.
The Demon King Corps is taking the sea route to attack the capital from the back? Right at this moment? This is...
It was a strategy that none of the empire's renowned generals could have predicted. Suddenly, the admiral realized how the Demon Corps could have reached here so quickly. They had neglected their occupied territories and had been advancing here with the intent of using the sea route to assault the capital from the very beginning.
Other than the Demon Corps's strength, such a strategy was so daring. Moreover, this negotiation was brilliant! The admiral wanted to close his eyes and plug his ears.
"Whether you help or not, the fate of your country is set. It is just a matter of time. You cannot change the fate of your homeland. Also, it's not just yours. The entire Greenwood Continent will soon be under one flag. And do you think that would only apply to this continent? This is a trend. So, it would be good for you to help me in order to take care of your family."
The admiral still could not dare to make eye contact with Seong-Il.
Seong-Il continued, "Also, who knows? If I like you, your son might become the owner of this mansion. Someone has to rule here when we leave to break the emperor's skull. Who should we leave in charge? I will give you some time, so think about it. But keep in mind that those who give you a chance quickly are more likely to make a decision quickly. There is nothing I can do if you refuse, but if you are going to join my group, it is better to decide as soon as possible."
As time passed, the admiral thought that he had no choice but to acknowledge the formidable figure before him. Seong-Il was not just physically imposing, but when he looked at his back while the other man was gazing at the sea outside the window, he appeared gigantic.
Most of the rumors he heard about the Demon Corps were true, but there was something they missed. He had never heard that the Demon Corps was led by someone who possessed the qualities of a great general, capable of bold strategies and negotiations.
The faster I make up my mind, the more he will like me.
The admiral made the decision while mulling over that thought.
He said, "...I will open the sea route."
He said this, but couldn't lift his head.
"Perfect. Good job. You have to seize the opportunity when it comes. It is about life and the safety of your family, so it is never something to be ashamed of. What could be more important than that? Get up, and we need to act fast on this mission. Prepare the ship immediately."
Seong-Il had just finished speaking when something appeared.
[You have acquired the quest 'Whereabouts of Mana Stones.']
[Whereabouts of Mana Stones (Quest)
For generations, the Greenwood species have hunted monsters to secure their lands and obtain mana stones. However, most of the mana stones that they have secured are missing now. Where could all these stones have disappeared to?
Mission: Find out what happened to the missing mana stones.
Reward: 100 Reputation
Challenger box *1]
"Wait a sec."
Seong-Il called out the admiral, who was staggering away. When Seong-Il invaded this largest port city in the east, what he first saw was a place bustling with the accumulation of various cultures. Seong-Il hoped that maybe he could solve the quest through the admiral.
"I have something to ask."
"...Go ahead, General."
"General?"
Seong-Il burst into laughter, then got to the point.
"I am looking for two things. One is the records of Saint Cassian, and the other is mana stones. It is understandable that there are hardly any records, but not mana stones. You guys must have gathered a number of them, but I haven't seen many. This is weird."
The admiral responded quickly, "It's because the subterranean species have been buying them for gold. It has been happening for a very long time."
Seong-Il was certain that it was neither the Grafs nor Declans because there should have been a hint in the admiral's tone. Seong-Il found the answer in the admiral's gaze that suddenly turned toward the window. Beyond the sea where the admiral was looking, it was known that there was a continent of dwarves.
The dwarves were the ones.
Right then...
[You have completed the quest 'Whereabouts of Mana Stones.']
[You have gained 100 Reputation.]
[You have gained a challenger box.]
[Please select a challenger box.]
[1. Skill 2. Item 3. Insignia.]
[You have selected Challenger box (Item).]
The Admiral did not know, but Seong-Il's secretary knew what Seong-Il's reaching out into the air meant.
"Congratulations, sir."
The secretary said, but Seong-Il didn't hear his words at the time.
[You have gained the item 'Caliber Kwon Seong-Il's Golden Breastplate.']
A brilliant light extended and gathered into a single point. Then, it began to take the proper shape of a breastplate in Seong-Il's grasp.
Caliber Kwon Seong-Il's Golden Breastplate...
It was not just any ordinary divine name. It was a genuine item with his name on it! Seong-Il somehow started trembling. An uncontrollable shiver wrapped around his entire body.