Chapter 227 - City in the Day (2)

"No, please! Our eye colors are different. Here's my identification."

"This is what you call fair skin! I told you, it's not me!"

"No!"

This sandwich is quite delicious. I'm not sure what kind of meat it is, but it's similar to chicken thigh meat, but chewier. It pairs well with the sweet and spicy seasoning. The bread, for prepackaged, is moist and soft. However, I wished the vegetables were the lettuce from my world.

"Black hair and black eyes are rare in this city."

Perhaps it's possible due to hair dye, but eyes are mostly blue and green. The skin tone is slightly darker than Koreans. The mention of fair skin and beautiful features gave me a slight chill, but relatively speaking, I acknowledge it.

Sitting on the flower bed by the roadside, I finished the sandwich while using the stealth ability.

"The citizens here seem quite loyal."

It might be due to the reward, but everyone is diligently watching the passing people. Even though the fake Hyunjae knows I have an S-level stealth ability, why issue only a search order? Unless it's an SS rank, finding me would be a challenge.

"In this state, it will be difficult to properly stay in the city, so they want me to fend for myself."

Or maybe they aimed for me to run out of mana. I heard there are no mana potions in this city. But my inventory was full of mana potions. When going into a dungeon with S ranks, the only thing I could take with me was a mana potion. I shouldn't have taken the dungeon lightly and, if possible, should have brought many weapons. A tent and a sleeping bag.

'Let's sort things out.'

To escape from here, I need to conquer dungeons. To learn the dungeon conquering method, I need to install five discs in different areas, connecting them to the rookies.

The problem is that it's highly likely the disc installation areas are in five different cities. Cities are probably protected by defensive barriers, with monsters roaming outside. To move to a different city, you need the escort of an S-rank guard.

Lastly, the fake Sung Hyunjae, who I thought was the real one, issued a search order against me.

‘Even if I use the stealth ability to go to another city, I don't know how far it is.’

Judging by the drama, walking with two legs would be a considerable distance. I need a vehicle.

I leave the area with a vehicle that stealthily applies beyond the defensive barrier.

...How do I do it in my current situation?

"From the beginning, it would have been better if they had dropped me off in the city of Akates."

Meet Yoohyun, install a disc immediately, and then move on. If the S-rank guard is already in my body, I would have a considerable amount of wealth. Therefore, prepare a vehicle and move smoothly to another city for disc installation. Since communication between cities is not impossible, it would be easy to find other companions.

The fake Hyunjae is the root of all problems. Damn it. Where's the real one?

Crunch-!

I crumpled the sandwich wrapper in my hand.

Imposter. Do you think I'll go quietly? Of course, I can't do anything to prevent being caught, but...

"Although this place treats C ranks as lower-level hunters, don't underestimate them just because they're weaker."

I may lack strength, but I have the head and experience. The realistic barrier is substantial compared to S ranks, but that doesn't mean I can't bark. I've already ripped your clothes hem.

Now then. What should I do?

I turned my head as I watched the passersby on the street and then stood up.

There were scattered public telephone booths along the city streets. They weren't ordinary phone booths. They served as temporary shelters with thick walls and sturdy doors, apparently playing a role as evacuation shelters. In front of the door, there was a large sign.

[Report to City Defense Office Number 11G

Please report quickly if you encounter monsters or suspicious awakeners during the day!]

With that, I entered the booth and closed the door. The automatic light blinked on. The public phone consisted of a receiver, a touch screen, and a surveillance camera. Wireless use of the surveillance camera was possible, apparently for shooting monsters or suspicious awakeners.

After turning the surveillance camera in a direction that didn't reflect me.

'11G.'

I dialed the City Defense Office report number.

[This is the City Defense Agency, your friendly guardian. Please hold for connection, wait a moment.]

Are there many people calling to report because of me? After a while, a man's voice says, "Hello, thank you for your hard work. Sigma, we have successfully captured the C-rank Awakener you were looking for."

[What? Did you catch him?]

"Yes. We've caught him without a scratch."

I'm fine here. Just a little thirsty from eating the sandwich without drinking. I'd like a refreshing drink.

"However, this guy wasn't wearing earrings, so we'd like to check his face to make sure he's not a decoy."

[Ah, verification. Please wait a moment.]

With the words from the Office employee, the screen turned black.

Are there only two people there who know my face, Mr. Sigma and one more? The homeless people I encountered during my journey might know me, but the chances of them revealing me are low. They would probably avoid confrontation for fear of reprisal.

If they ask me to bring him in immediately without verification, how would I handle it? Several excuses came to mind.

[Faster than expected, surrendering.]

A low, heavy voice resonated in my ears. Then, the screen, which had turned black, lit up again. A familiar face. Damn fake. I froze momentarily because I didn't expect a direct connection.

[C-rank.]

"...Yes, I'm C-rank. It seems you're quite busy, answering the phone quickly like this."

At my words, the fake's mouth corners lifted.

[Is it possible for a skilled S-rank Awakener with an S-level stealth ability to be captured so quickly?]

"It could be a false report aimed at the reward."

[I doubt there are many big guards like him, but let's check. Show your face.]

"Yes, of course."

Following the order, I turned the camera toward myself and even made a V-sign with my fingers.

"Did you clearly confirm it? The C-rank you wanted is safely captured and in good condition. He looks very lively."

The guy who verified me once again had a blurred and indifferent face. Yes, that's right. He seems bored because they caught me too easily. Maybe if I follow them quietly, they'll trust the stealth ability without any problems.

Making a gap by making it less interesting might not be a bad idea.

"Did you mention that he would be a member of your group! Right?"

[For now.]

"I'll take a break until tonight."

Taking a break right after being hired, it's something I wanted to try once.

"So, go ahead, transmit the correction that you found me. I'll enjoy some sightseeing quietly."

[Isn't this an attempt to escape during that time?]

The voice coming from the receiver piqued my interest again.

"Don't worry; I'll be wandering without the stealth ability, leaving traces everywhere. When the sun sets, prepare 100 million L and come to the agreed place. I'll be ready to pay with my card. Since I was caught, it's only fair to use my money, right?"

[You're still audacious.]

"There's no reason to be afraid. You're the one who should worry; you're practically like a god with that SS rank, not me."

Living is so boring. If this fake Sung Hyunjae is more bored than the one I know, it's not hard to guess how much he'll tolerate me.

"Follow my instructions quietly, and the reward will be paid generously. It'll be interesting, I guarantee."

The golden eyes beyond the screen narrowed slightly. It actually felt a bit creepy, even though he wasn't right in front of me, but rather far away.

If I don't meet his standards, that guy will break my neck without hesitation. Unlike someone like Mr. N, who could be anywhere. Here, I'm just a C-rank with no background, just good skills. If he's not satisfied, he'll easily crush me and erase me from his mind before leaving.

[I hope not to disappoint. If the expectation ends with a trivial trick, I might get annoyed after a long time.]

"Don't be surprised."

I set a precise place and time for the meeting and hung up. Doing this kind of thing with five lives at stake.

Anyway, the groundwork is laid. Now, let's start a short but enjoyable time.

"Please recommend the most expensive and delicious dish here."

As I entered a luxurious-looking restaurant, I sat down and said, "The confident attitude made the staff take the order without any suspicion. After a while, they brought the food. I also ordered a refreshing drink.

I drank a drink similar to lemonade and started my meal. The mysterious meat melted softly in my mouth. The flat noodles maintained a chewy texture despite being soaked in sauce. The accompanying soup was slightly spicy and refreshing in the end.

It was good, considering it's in a different world. Maybe because it's expensive, but it tastes delicious. The menu prices I briefly glimpsed had many digits.

I carefully enjoyed the vegetables and finished with an empty glass of lemonade. As I approached the cashier, both the restaurant owner and the staff stared at me. Recognizable, isn't it?

"Probably you've already heard the news, but I'm a new rank C guard under Mr. Sigma."

"Oh, as expected!"

"I was given a day off to explore the city, but the process wasn't smooth, and I was misunderstood as a fugitive, leading to a broadcast."

Haha, laughing, the restaurant owner and the staff smiled at me too. It seemed like they had seen the correction broadcast.

"You can charge Mr. Sigma for the food. He told me to do so. Is that okay?"

"Of course! Considering the 100 million L reward, it seems that Mr. Sigma values the guard highly."

"I have some special skills, you know. Mr. Sigma even personally! Proposed a recruitment."

It's not a lie. It's true, indeed. After some courtesies and receiving greetings for taking care of the city's security, I left the restaurant.

My stomach was full, and now, what's next?

"Leave it to Mr. Sigma!"

With just that phrase, I could enter the first-level special room of a hotel. Although I wanted to stretch and roll, I took a quick shower, brushed my teeth, and grabbed essentials like toothpaste and a toothbrush. I need to take care of my real body.

Feeling a little sad about when I'll be able to shower with warm water again, I went back to the street and flagged down a taxi that looked like a cab. Once again, Mr. Sigma had already paid for it. Mr. Sigma seems to be improving.

Taking the taxi, I arrived at a guard department store. It was similar to the Hunter Market, selling items that could be put into the inventory. When I entered, both the employees and the guard customers looked at me simultaneously. I greeted them with a wide smile, facing the piercing looks.

“Hello ~ I'm a class C guard who recently joined Mr. Sigma! The one who appeared in the broadcast! I'm rank C."

Hello guys. The employee quickly approached me and bowed.

"Welcome. What are you looking for?"

"I've just started my guard job, so I'd like to explore various equipment. Could you recommend the highest-quality ones? Oh, and please charge the equipment costs to Mr. Sigma. He told me to shop freely."

"Yes, understood. Please come this way."

The employee kindly guided me inside the department store. Sitting in the VIP room, my heart raced as I opened the product catalog. While there were items similar to those in my world, there were many things I hadn't seen before.

Unfortunately, they didn't sell rank S or higher equipment here. However, there were rank S items among the non-equipment items.

Ignoring the price tags, I carefully examined the items based on their performance.

"What about this inner bag?"

Why is a bag rank S?

"It's a bag that reduces the volume and weight of the items it contains. It can accommodate up to five times the size compared to its external appearance, and the weight becomes only one-fifth. It's a popular item, as it can also contain everyday items, not just magical items. However, you can't put it in the inventory if it contains everyday items."

The employee enthusiastically recommended it as a top item. Wow, do they have something like this? Can I take items out from the outside? I want to try it.

Without hesitation, I bought a high-grade 50 million L bag, popular among higher-ranked guards. It would be around 600 million in Korean won. Of course, Mr. Sigma was supposed to cover this cost too.

"Show me some daggers, preferably higher grades."

A row of A-rank daggers lay in front of me. I bought the five daggers, each with different effects and appearances. Another few million L flew away in an instant.

I also bought higher-quality cables, considered traps, and abandoned the idea of a tent for inventory space considerations. Even though I lost my shopping spree reward, I filled the space with various items.

“There are clothes for hunters or guards, right?”

Most of the guard clothes here seemed to be dark-colored, probably because they mainly operated at night. As a precaution, I bought a complete set of upper and lower body, shoes, and gloves. Additionally, I bought other miscellaneous items, leaving a bit of space in the inventory.

I wasn't sure, but it seemed like I had spent tens of billions in Korean currency.

Then, a message window blinked.

[☆★Hidden Mission Completed!! ☆★]

What hidden mission?

What hidden quest? I went to the bathroom and opened the mission window. Not one was fulfilled, but two missions.

[You're the Shopping Emperor!

You're a true shopping addict who spent 100 million L on purchases in just one hour!

Reward: 100,000P, Store Points Exchange Coupon (S)]

[If you're going to cheat, do it in billions ^▼^

If you're going to cheat, you have to go all out! You earned millions selling someone else's name, that's awesome! You need to watch your back.

Reward: 100,000 P, Fake ID, Golden Wild Shoes]

Wow, what's this? Sigma, thank you, I love you! Long live the quest! I quickly received the shopping emperor mission reward. 100,000 points isn't bad, but it's an S-rank store points exchange voucher. S-rank items have a minimum price of 10 million, but they can be exchanged for anything. Ah, my heart is racing.

Is there an SS-level exchange ticket? Just thinking about it makes my heart race.

Then, I received a mission reward worth hundreds of millions of dollars. As expected, I received a fake ID and golden wild shoes for 100,000 points.

[Fake Identity

Identity registration can be done with the desired information by the holder. There is a possibility of being detected for those with S-rank or higher statistics and related special S-rank abilities.]

This was good too. Even if the average rating is higher than in my world, S-rank is unlikely to be common, and general organizations and city traffic guardians are likely monitored by A-rank or lower.

Thank you, I'll keep doing well in the future. Can I use this even when I return to my world? Please let me take it.

Contrary to its name, the golden wild shoes, which are S-class equipment, were black, sleek combat boots with good design. But why is it golden?

'...The soles of the shoes are golden.’

Could it be? Cat jelly. I suddenly wanted to see Pace.

The golden wildcat shoes also had agility-oriented stats like the black wildcat jacket. The optional skill is agile absorption. It was a skill that allowed me to walk on perpendicular walls as if they were flat ground and even walk on the ceiling.

'Is this really a fixed item?'

I thought it was possible for up to two to overlap, but I felt skeptical when the third one appeared. Will there be more wild series like gloves, bracelets, necklaces, etc.? If you collect them all, will the set effect be activated?

I liked the S-class boots more than the new ones, so I changed them immediately. I thought the golden color would stand out too much, but when I wore it, it turned black. It seems like specialized equipment for covert activities, but it shouldn't shine in gold.

'I bought many items and bought S-class equipment.’

Even if you add the store points exchange bonus, there are two left. I need to take care of the exchange voucher and buy the equipment Yoohyun or Yerim need.

I happily left the Guard department store while receiving greetings from the employees. I took a taxi again and this time headed to the outskirts of the city.

The streets became more dilapidated towards the end of the city. After running for a while, we arrived at a place where there was a high defensive wall on the road.

Watchtowers equipped with large weapons stood at intervals at such a high height that not even an awake person of S-rank could jump over them in an instant.

"It's dangerous around here, so don't walk alone."

The taxi driver spoke with a concerned expression. Coming to this place was something I doubted a lot about. Occasionally, flying monsters approached the defense wall, and unless you were an awake individual, people didn't live in the surrounding areas.

After bidding farewell to the taxi, I approached the entrance of the watchtower. A B-rank guard guarding the entrance looked at me.

"Hello, I came here because Mr. Sigma recommended me for a tour of the defense wall. Can I have a brief look?"

"Yes, of course. Please come this way."

Maybe because I belonged to Mr. Sigma's acquaintances, even as a rank C, they were kind to me.

Following the B-rank guard, I took the elevator to the top of the watchtower. I approached the window of the circular tower.

A vast wasteland stretched out, and in the distance, sporadic forests could be seen. The view of another city was nowhere to be found. Like an abandoned city in the middle of the desert, only a desolate landscape caught my attention.

'Yoohyun, I'm going to have a little trouble finding you.'

Still, please wait a little longer. Your brother will be there soon.