Waaaaaah—! Waaaaaah—! Waaaaaah—!

In the space beneath the hills, alarms blared loudly alongside the flashing red warning lights, revealing countless items displayed as if dozens of museums had been combined into one.

As Ryuseoha surveyed the items separated by transparent glass partitions, she faintly sensed the chaotic mana around her and couldn't help but click her tongue.

Although she had half-heartedly given away her location in a fit of anger, the designated warehouse keeper had neither the mana nor the key item assigned to him, leaving her to ponder how they would enter.

“…Did you forcibly tear apart the mana patterns of the defensive items?”

Choi Kang-ho seemed to have ripped through the protective barrier's mana without a second thought. It was astonishing and impressive mana manipulation.

To nullify the foundational patterns of an item he had only encountered for the second time without any related skills or traits was an unimaginable feat for Ryuseoha.

“Why? Has your mind changed?”

As he opened a thick ledger placed at the entrance of the exhibition hall and skimmed through the list of items stored here, Choi Kang-ho asked gently. It was as if he could see through the inner conflict she hadn’t expressed.

Even though she tried to convince herself that this was just farming in a game, it didn’t feel refreshing. She had come here with a resentful heart, but now that she was about to steal another country's property, all sorts of thoughts flooded her mind.

China might have its own unavoidable circumstances. If they used this situation as an excuse to declare war on Korea later… her thoughts became complicated, reminiscent of the day she had to make an emergency landing.

“I thought this time we could play the role of the Hong Gildong gang.”

It seemed as though he sensed her internal struggle, and his voice carried a subtle playfulness as he tightened his embrace around her waist. While it seemed out of context, it was not without meaning.

The Hong Gildong gang, from the novel The Tale of Hong Gildong, was a band of thieves who stole from corrupt officials and distributed wealth to the poor, even opening government granaries to feed the hungry during famines.

With these items, they could help many more people in need, which meant there was no need to hesitate. It was the perfect words to convince Ryuseoha, who was momentarily indecisive.

“…That doesn’t sound bad.”

As soon as he nodded with a gentle smile, every glass case in front of them shattered with a sharp sound, and the various items floating in the air swiftly disappeared into Choi Kang-ho's [Space].

“Let’s blow up one bomb item and run away quickly.”

Watching the swift and straightforward theft, Ryuseoha hugged her lover's sturdy waist and said, “A bomb?” In response to Choi Kang-ho's query, she whispered, “We can’t let our country suffer, so we should erase any traces of our visit.”

Before the manager, who had received the intrusion signal, could arrive with a scroll, the two had already exited the Jilin Province repository. They quickly raided the Shanxi Province repository they had previously visited with Wang Jun-geol in the same manner. This time too, the guard in charge failed to catch even a glimpse of the fleeting intruders.

“What a shame.”

As the man who had swiftly collected items from various territories landed softly at the entrance of a village in northern Korea, he suddenly wore a face like a child who had his toy taken away.

“What is it?”

“I wish I knew more locations where treasures were hidden.”

Choi Kang-ho lightly pressed his forehead against Ryuseoha's as he grumbled quietly, tilting his head as if he were a child informed by a friend that it was time to go home when he wanted to play more.

It was unimaginable for someone to steal items of astronomical value, even the national property of a country, without any tools.

Looking at him, Ryuseoha realized she felt strange not for guilt over immoral acts but rather for not knowing more locations of the repositories, and she couldn’t help but smile.

“…So, shall we go catch some moles now?”

With her eyes sparkling, she suggested another game, and Choi Kang-ho grinned, curling his lips as he continuously caressed her white nape with his large palm.

“Sounds good.”

From that moment on, the two, tightly embracing each other like one body, began to dart around the Korean Peninsula, capturing hidden shamans. From Jagang-do to Hamgyeong-do, Pyongan-do, Hwanghae-do...

As they moved down from the north, their game of catching moles passed through the vicinity of the DMZ and seamlessly continued into the capital area, then to the central and southern regions.

Skeletons and zombies rampaging across the country collapsed like dominoes along their path, and the captured shamans were publicly displayed in the center of Gwanghwamun.

As the domestic combatants, who had been scattered due to the zombie crisis, began to focus on subduing the infected, the confusion among the citizens gradually started to settle down. It was an entirely different development compared to abroad.

“Should we smash that?”

At some point, Choi Kang-ho pointed out the broadcasting station's helicopter cam that had appeared from a distance, asking for Ryuseoha’s opinion. Despite looking annoyed and furrowing his brow, he didn’t act immediately.

“Hmm, shouldn’t we just break the lens?”

He answered softly, making sure not to be picked up by the broadcasting station's microphone. He tilted his head in confusion under the gaze of his lover staring intently at him. Upon receiving a positive response, he was ready to act.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I thought you would oppose it. I figured exposing our rescue efforts to the media would benefit the guild’s image.”

Choi Kang-ho’s eyes sparkled with curiosity as if he was surprised by the specificity of the position he was given to smash. After all, until recently, he had been stopped at every turn by her regarding his destructive actions.

“You said it doesn’t matter if you don’t take the Kangseong Group.”

In a gentle whisper, Choi Kang-ho tilted his head in confusion. It seemed to question the relationship between delaying his ambitions to take control of the group and acting freely.

“Well, then your peace of mind is the priority.”

“Does that mean I can break everything that annoys me?”

“Since it’s not harming any innocent people.”

Ryuseoha nodded nonchalantly, yet she found her own response strange. She had no anxiety about how others might think or worry about potential repercussions.

She had never imagined that she could so easily and quickly let go of the obsession with doing good she had held for so long. Perhaps it was thanks to having a solid support like Choi Kang-ho.

“I just want you to be happy and joyful every moment, Choi Kang-ho.”

He was a goal-oriented man, and she had thought he would feel the greatest satisfaction from pursuing the process of obtaining the group. That was why she had been more proactive and had urged him.

However, if that goal had become less important than before, she had no intention of suggesting he endure every annoyance and discomfort. He was someone who would find all societal norms stifling anyway.

“But you will compensate properly, right?”

As long as it wasn’t something irreversible, like taking a life, she wanted to help him live freely. She rationalized that they could repay those who had suffered several times over.

“…Did you perhaps pour healing skills into my nerves?”

“What?”

“Things that used to annoy me suddenly don’t seem to matter.”

As if he were fascinated, Choi Kang-ho muttered softly and planted a light kiss on her eyelid before using [Space Leap] to return to the Hannam-dong mansion. His expression suggested he had forgotten all about the helicopter cam he had intended to smash.

Moving straight into the bedroom instead of the living room where the awakened crafters were busy at work, he gently lowered Ryuseoha, whom he had been cherishing, onto the plush bed and kissed her softly again.

“Shall we open the treasures now?”

Choi Kang-ho's playful smile carried a teasing tone, but there was an undeniable heat in his gaze that couldn’t be ignored.

“Treasure?”

“You succeeded in the treasure hunt without a hint.”

“Um…”

“You must know what the treasure I desire the most is.”

Ryuseoha felt the hand gripping her shoulder gently push her body toward the bed sheets. The atmosphere was such that she couldn’t help but realize what her lover desired.

“…Usually, the prize is given after confirming what treasure has been found.”

However, he straightened up, supporting her body as she lay back, shaking his head vigorously. Upon hearing her excuse, disappointment flickered in Choi Kang-ho's eyes.

With the safety net of the [Absorption] skill now established, Ryuseoha also wanted to relive the warmth of that day, which had been strangely exhilarating. Yet, she was still bothered by the persistence he had shown that day.

Once they began to make love, it was evident they wouldn’t leave the bed for a full day. Even if the awakened crafters finished crafting their items, they wouldn’t be able to stop and move on to the installation right away.

“…Confirmation is important.”

Noticing her apologetic demeanor, Choi Kang-ho quickly gathered his disappointed expression and retrieved two thick books from [Space].

“Let’s see if there’s anything useful.”

It was a ledger listing the items they had farmed.