Chapter 19 (Continued)

 

Meanwhile,

 

“That’s the Lightning Rod…?”

 

Anomia’s leader, watching the battle at the front gate through the screen, couldn’t close his mouth.

 

“We didn’t receive any information that he had the Lightning Rod. More importantly, is it possible for the Lightning Rod to have that much power…?”

 

Even with the rainy weather, the Lightning Rod’s power shouldn’t have been that strong.
This was far beyond normal.

 

The fact that the Lightning Rod’s power was so amplified meant that very little mana was filtered through its magic circuit. Or perhaps none at all.

 

This implied that the purity of his mana was exceptionally high.

 

Mana purity equated to potential.

 

It enabled superior performance in all areas of mana manipulation.

 

Also, the higher the mana purity, the greater the possibility of reaching higher levels.

 

That someone like him was still at the 4th Tier was unbelievable.

 

“Tsk.”

 

The leader clicked his tongue.

 

Underestimating Woo-jin’s combat abilities was a grievous mistake.

 

However, he still had enough trust in his contingencies.

 

“He won’t get through the traps unscathed.”

 

Several traps were set up inside Gray Star.

 

They were prepared for a prolonged engagement if necessary.

 

Mana-detonating mines, hidden turrets in the shadows, and various other lethal traps aimed at Woo-jin’s life.

 

One or two traps might be insignificant to Woo-jin, but accumulated damage would eventually lead to victory.

 

The leader thought so and smiled.

 

Whirr.

 

The burner phone rang again.

 

It was the control room of Gray Star.

 

The leader answered the call.

 

“What is it?”

 

– “L-Leader…! The traps…!”

 

“The traps?”

 

– “They’re all being bypassed!”

 

“What?”

 

The leader couldn’t believe his ears.

 

– “It’s as if he knows where all the traps are! He’s dismantling them all! It’s unbelievable…!”

 

The voice from the control room trembled.

 

The leader was bewildered.

 

“How is that possible?”

 

Dismantling all the traps?

 

How could that be possible?

 

That would require complete knowledge of their locations and types…

 

“!”

 

The leader realized.

 

The blueprints detailing the traps were only given to high-ranking officers.
If Woo-jin had obtained such information, it meant he was deeply involved with the organization.

 

“Something…”

 

With unexpected and shocking results unfolding before his eyes, the leader felt a strong sense of foreboding.

 

Initially, he had envisioned treating Woo-jin like a hamster trapped in a cage, driving and cornering him at Gray Star.

 

The sense of unease gradually became clearer.

 

Maybe it was he who had been playing into the opponent’s hands all along.
Such an ominous feeling.

 

He already thought he had evaluated Woo-jin highly enough and remained cautious.
Even that might have been an underestimation.

 

The leader’s face turned pale.

 

He urgently called the highest-ranking officer.

 

“AQ…! Take care of the Disciplinary Committee Leader from Ahsung High.”

 

– “Understood.”

 

Click.

 

The leader hung up and threw the burner phone onto the desk.

 

His thoughts had changed.

 

The forces at Gray Star might not be able to defeat Woo-jin.

 

In that case, the only option left was to send AQ, Anomia’s strongest force.
Only then could Woo-jin be dealt with for sure.

 

***

 

Gray Star.

 

A building owned by Anomia through a trustee.

 

Despite its dilapidated exterior, the interior was clean.

 

They had an anonymous wealthy sponsor behind them.

 

This building was also obtained through sponsorship.

 

The game never revealed who that sponsor was, but the community speculated it was one of the Six Sinners.

 

Well, that’s a matter for later.

 

Right now, the plan was to completely deal with the bothersome Anomia here.

 

The sponsor could be uncovered step by step afterward.

 

This place was the building where the protagonist, Lee Taesung, gathered his party to raid Anomia in the original game.

 

In other words, it was a location from the original story.

 

The original story is well-etched in my memory.

 

Based on those memories, there were no problems avoiding the major traps.

 

Boom!

 

I threw my telescopic baton at the black turret that fired a mana bullet at me.
Boom!

 

With a loud explosion, teal electricity engulfed the turret, and its lights flickered out.

 

I retrieved the baton and quickened my pace.

 

Occasionally, hidden enemies sprang out to attack me, but I subdued them easily.

 

In the game, the boss was located on the upper floors of Gray Star.

 

I recalled the place designed to be suitable for their battle.

 

Park Minhyuk would likely be there too.

 

The elevator might be dangerous, so I quickly took the stairs.

 

Upon reaching the upper floors, my view was filled with darkness.

 

I could hear the irritating sound of multiple drones buzzing like flies.

 

As I entered, numerous drones lurking in the darkness buzzed to life, their red eyes glowing.

 

And then.

 

Whoosh!

 

A powerful impact struck my head.

 

I realized a large fist had punched me in the head.

 

It was a mana-enhanced strike.

 

A punch likely delivered by someone of at least the 5th rank.

 

Thud! My body was hurled through the air, slamming hard into the wall.

 

The wall’s debris poured over me, covering my body.

 

Maybe because it was designed for combat, the wall was sturdy.

 

The cushioning wasn’t too bad.

 

“Ptui.”

 

I spat out the dust that got into my mouth and lightly brushed off the debris covering my face.

 

As faint lights came on, illuminating the objects around, I saw various structures filling the space.

 

In the middle stood a hulking man, his fist surrounded by mana. He was wearing a Mayeon High School uniform.

 

Nearby, a petite girl in a hood crouched against a pillar, hugging her knees. Beneath her hooded coat, I glimpsed the black uniform of Ahsung High.

 

“L-Leader….”

 

In front of another pillar.

 

The Disciplinary Committee Secretary, Park Minhyuk, was hanging limply.

 

He seemed to have taken more beatings, his injuries increased. He looked barely able to stand.

 

“…”

 

As expected, I had grown attached to my Disciplinary Committee comrades.

 

My chest began to burn furiously.

 

“Grrrr….”

 

The brute who had punched me growled like a beast.

 

I knew him well.

 

One of the bosses of Gray Star.

 

The third-ranking officer in Anomia.

 

A dropout from Mayeon High, Jang Ha-Moon.

 

“Hello, Disciplinary Committee Leader.”

 

The hooded girl greeting me

 

casually was also familiar. She was another boss of Gray Star.

 

The second-ranking officer in Anomia.

 

A dropout from our academy, Lee Ji-Soo.

 

Both were at the 5th rank.

 

Click.

 

Combat drones swirled around them, aiming their weapons at me.

 

It was just like the scene from the game.

 

They must have been preparing to show off like this.

 

And it was indeed quite an impressive sight.

 

“Sorry for the surprise attack. A 4th Tier wouldn’t have withstood that punch.”

 

Ji-Soo’s voice echoed through the space.

 

“Even if it’s unfair, please understand. It was the leader’s order to take care of any intruders.
Okay?”

 

Whisk.

 

I easily stood up, and Ji-Soo looked flustered.

 

There was no pain.

 

It just felt like being lightly tapped with a rubber hammer.

 

“What the…? Why are you unharmed?”

 

Ignoring Ji-Soo’s voice filled with bewilderment, I stood up, dusting off the dirt on my clothes.

 

“My clothes got dirty.”

 

“….”

 

Ji-Soo narrowed her eyes.

 

Her once relaxed expression now brimming with caution.

 

The brute, Ha-Moon, who had thrown the punch, chuckled with a gruff voice, “Hehe, he stood up!”

 

That guy only knew how to make animal-like growls due to his intellectual disability.

 

Meanwhile, MinHyuk, perhaps relieved to see I was okay, started crying again, bawling loudly.

 

“Huaaah! Leader!! Please save me!!”
“Shut up if you don’t want to get hit!”

 

“Eep!”

 

Ji-Soo’s sharp voice startled Min-Hyuk into a whimpering silence.

 

He’s always like this.

 

Last year, when he was captured by punks who had a grudge against the Disciplinary Committee.

 

As soon as I came to rescue him, he started bawling and yelling.

 

I remember finding it so ridiculous that I ended up laughing.

 

I turned my gaze to the enemies.

 

I looked at them with naturally cold eyes.

 

“I trust you understand the consequences of messing with the Disciplinary Committee.”

 

I spoke calmly, adjusting the black gloves on my hands.

 

“I hereby place you under arrest and will punish all offenders severely.”

 

Reciting the official declaration of the Disciplinary Committee in a solemn tone.

 

“But.”

 

Crackle!

 

I activated the lightning mana in the telescopic baton once more.

 

“You will face aggravated punishment.”

 

I wouldn’t forgive them.