Matan’s Shooter

Matan’s Shooter 485

TL: xLordFifth

ED:

“Did you come when I wasn’t here?”

“Obviously. Geez, have you forgotten everything I told you? Did you think the city would crumble if left to the NPC for too long?”

“No wonder! No wonder the financial flow was so neat! The balancing of the accounts was-“

“How about starting with a thank you?”

The reason why all the documents Leeha reviewed late into the night were impeccably organized! Ram Hwayeon, with no official authority now, had been meddling here and there, an act quietly tolerated by Paytor, the butler-like NPC. Although all approvals were under Paytor’s name, there had been a ‘shadow deputy’ advising and assisting him – Ram Hwayeon!

Leeha stared at her, mouth agape, as she casually drank the cold water Paytor had brought her. Despite her cheeky, biting remarks, how could Leeha possibly dislike her?

“What? You didn’t know? That’s a bit harsh.”

“No, I mean, you’re so busy, I thought you wouldn’t have time for me.”

Not just Castle Dale, but consider how many cities Ram Hwayeon’s Hwahong Guild currently holds. Despite having specialists at her side, she handles almost everything personally. Leeha had never imagined she would extend her care to his Gaza City.

“Even though I’m busy, you – well… Cough, cough.”

Ram Hwayeon suddenly coughed, unusual in Middle Earth.

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“What?”

“If I had known Ram Hwayeon helped, I wouldn’t have had to recheck all these documents.”

“I warned you about trusting too easily! Even I-“

“No, I trust you, Ram Hwayeon. Thank you.”

Leeha smiled at her, and Ram Hwayeon, about to drink water, met his gaze and couldn’t look away. Blushing, she quickly turned her head, tucking her long red hair behind her ear. Holding the water cup awkwardly, she fanned herself hastily.

“Oh, it’s suddenly hot. Well, that’s enough of that! How was the new continent? I heard from Hwajung, but…”

“It was okay. Yeah, good. You need achievements, right? Heh, I’ve already uncovered lots of achievements in the new continent. I’ll tell you a few as payback for looking after Gaza City.”

“Wow, Leeha, showing such confidence? Usually, you’re so timid.”

“Timid? Watch it, or you’ll get a scolding.”

As Leeha playfully laughed, Ram Hwayeon finally smiled too.

“Okay. I’ll visit the new continent with Hwajung soon. I hear there’s a plan to send out from the royal palace.”

“From the royal palace?”

“The new continent doesn’t belong to anyone yet.”

“Right. It’s practically the land of the natives.”

“Yes. There might not even be a settler village, so it seems each nation might build towns on the new continent. I only know about Fibiel, but if they’re doing it, Minis and Kraven will too.”

“A land grab? In the new continent?”

“Well, they can’t openly fight like during the ‘National War’. They’ll be tied under the Pope’s name until the Demon King’s Fragments are eradicated. But they’ll argue that forward bases are needed to eradicate the Fragments, that human forces must be united, and a village must be established as a starting point for exploring the new continent. With such reasoning, even the Pope will have to agree, right?”

Leeha frowned as he listened to Ram Hwayeon’s explanation. However, Leeha had somewhat anticipated this development. What was the reason behind Shin Nara’s participation in the new continent expedition? From the moment she was appointed as the ‘Fibiel Inspector’ by the Fibiel royal palace, she had a rough idea of what would unfold on the new continent.

“A world exclusively for humans… No, not just humans. If various races including Wood Elves were to enter-“

What about the Paleos? They had individualistic tendencies, but one of their defining characteristics was ‘protecting their territory.’ Paleos and mystical creatures didn’t encroach on each other’s territories, allowing for peaceful and independent coexistence.

But what about humans? If a village expands into two, and those two into a city, and the city fortifies with high walls…

“Of course, being human… expansion is inevitable.” Leeha couldn’t help but envision a troubling future.

“Why so serious?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

“You’re probably worrying about the NPCs, as usual.”

Ram Hwayeon chuckled, and Leeha was taken aback.

“How did you know?” he wanted to ask but refrained, feeling like he would lose(?) if he did, yet Ram Hwayeon seemed to see right through him.

“Ah, everything’s alright with your Hong Kong schedule, right?”

“Oh! Yes, let’s talk about that. What’s the deal with that ticket?”

“Problem?”

“Why did you go to such lengths to get those tickets…”

“Good. We’ll talk when you come. I’m leaving now. Don’t forget! You absolutely can’t forget!”

“What? Why Hong Kong-“

Whoosh…

She disappeared using instant teleportation, leaving Leeha bewildered.

“What’s happening?”

His gaze lingered where she had been, Leeha couldn’t fathom the reason for her visit. She hadn’t mentioned anything about the financial settlement from Castle Dale, leaving him puzzled. He confirmed through the friend window that Ram Hwayeon had returned to Castle Dale but didn’t feel like whispering to her.

‘What’s she hiding?’

He knew she wouldn’t answer even if he asked. Leeha tidied up the documents touched by Ram Hwayeon, checked Gaza City’s treasury with a satisfied smile, and finally managed to log out for a short break. When he logged back in after a quick nap in the real world, a new day was dawning in Middle Earth.

“Welcome back, Lord.”

“Yes. I have places to visit today, so if there’s nothing urgent, just pile up the documents.”

“Understood.”

“I’ll be back soon.”

Leeha left Gaza City’s inner castle with light steps, smiling and nodding to all NPCs who bowed to him due to his [Dignity] buff. However, when he arrived at a certain location, the smile vanished from his face.

‘I wonder how it will be…’

One of his top priorities upon returning to the old continent. Leeha was standing in front of the Holy Grill Gaza City branch.

“Busy this early?”

“Of course. Don’t you know I’m still here instead of the capital?”

Lu hadn’t returned to the capital. The Holy Grill branch in Gaza City, boasting the highest sales among its branches, both surprised and saddened Leeha.

“Hmm… I shouldn’t have given that tax benefit…”

“Surely our Lord wouldn’t go back on his word?”

“Of course not. Haha… Oh, then at the capital right now-“

“My sister is there. Castle Candle branch is overseen by Mifgar-ssi.”

“Mifgar-ssi, the Giant Chef?!”

“You know him?”

More than just knowing him. He had been thoroughly trained in cooking under him.

‘Well, it really paid off in the new continent.’

The main reason he could befriend the primitive Paleos was his cooking skills.

Leeha nodded, recalling Lu in the capital branch, who was simultaneously intimidating and approachable.

‘An NPC with such contrasting characteristics is in the capital, hmm. She’ll certainly handle the tasks of the information guild’s leader.’

Lu had initially played a role in selecting promising users from beginner villages, as Ju once said. It wasn’t an exaggeration to consider Lu, not Ju in the capital, as the one overseeing Fibiel’s information guild.

Leeha briefly chatted with Ju before bringing up the main topic.

“Madam, how far did you get with the investigation I asked for?”

“Huh? Your request?”

“You didn’t do it at all?”

“Ho ho, just kidding. Did you think I’d forget our Lord’s request? Let me see, the documents are here…”

Leeha’s heart chilled for a moment at Ju’s joke. Whether due to the full opening of the new continent or Phase 3, NPCs seemed to have slightly changed AI, making them more unpredictable.

‘Like Paytor. Hmm.’

Leeha waited, crossing his arms and looking annoyed. Ju presented him with several screenshots that looked like candid photos.

“What’s this?”

Rustle… Rustle… Rustle.

He quickly flipped through the photos. Three individuals appeared in the photos, all recognizable to Leeha.

“Yes, our information guild remembers these people. To investigate the Shinob-gumi, we had to follow their tracks.”

“Sasuke, Matsushige, Mamehana.”

Photos of these three members of the Shinobi Group were spread across various shots, with Sasuke appearing the most.

“It was so hard to track that black-clad guy. Really, if not for the tax benefits, I would’ve wanted to decline the request.”

“So, did you find out anything else?”

“We marked their meeting points and several other locations, but… we couldn’t find their higher-ups. I’m sorry.”

“Ah..”

Not finding the head of the Shinobi Group wasn’t surprising. Who was the top player of user information organizations? Chiyou, who had been with Leeha for over 120 days during the voyage. The old continent’s NPC information guild had no way to uncover her, no matter how hard they tried.

“Give us a little more time, we’re still tracking them. We might have something soon-“

“Wait. This map – it’s tracking Sasuke’s movements, right?”

“-Uh? Yes, that’s right.”

Leeha interrupted Ju, focusing on the map. Sasuke’s movements across various continents, including Fibiel and Minis, were clearly documented.

‘Matsushige and Mamehana are still intermediates. It’s natural for them, not yet reaching level 150, to be limited to Fibiel.’

But Sasuke was different. The precise records from the NPC information guild revealed when and where he entered cities and his subsequent movements, puzzling Leeha.

‘Why did he visit Minis City so often?’

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