Chapter 98: The Cathedral in the Ruins (3)
Gongse Sword.
It was a sword art Edwin Silver had mastered at the cost of an enormous fortune.
He knew perfectly well that Gongse Sword was a martial art copied from other sword styles.
Even so, he had immersed himself in it more thoroughly than anyone else in the world.
There was only one reason.
‘Never again will I lose.’
The guilt of helplessly losing someone precious right before his eyes.
After that horrific day, Edwin Silver devoted himself to two things.
One of them was the sword art called Gongse Sword.
As scientific technology advanced by leaps and bounds and all kinds of weapons—including firearms—were developed, the power called ‘Surreal’ gave physical martial arts a chance to shine in real combat.
Among them, the meaning carried by Gongse Sword was especially unique.
‘The strongest sword art for one-on-one combat.’
That catchphrase of Gongse Sword was not just an advertising slogan.
In reality, Edwin Silver had sliced through and carved countless pieces of flesh with the Gongse Sword he had honed.
This sword art had even become a powerful weapon that helped him rise to the position of executive within a Megacorporation.
Thus, Edwin Silver’s faith in Gongse Sword was absolute.
At least, until just moments ago.
‘…….’
A flash surged in.
A powerful flow formed from a single slash.
Facing that attack, Edwin Silver realized it.
‘So this is the Gongryu Sword…….’
The sword art known to have been used by the Supreme Swordsman, Lee Hamin—Gongryu Sword.
A power that made him keenly realize that the sword art he had learned was a counterfeit.
Certainly, the motion of swinging the blade and the energy that followed resembled Gongse Sword.
But something fundamental was different.
‘This is…….’
The fatal flaw inherent in the existing Gongse Sword.
True to its name, it focused solely on continuing ‘offense.’
‘It’s perfect.’
That flaw had been compensated for in the man’s sword art.
A perfect sword art that had reached the realm where offense and defense were one.
A pure white single slash drew a line, carving through twenty-five layers of multicolored afterimages in one stroke.
At the same time, the colors shattered into countless fragments and scattered.
Through those brilliantly dispersing lights.
The face of a man appeared.
“Has it been proven now?”
Afterimages created by borrowing the magic called Surreal.
By ordinary means, it was a power that could never be blocked.
Yet it had been possible thanks to Diesel’s ability called ‘Surreal Awakening.’
‘So in the end, this sword art was something only my older brother could use.’
Lee Hamin’s ‘Eyes that Perceive.’
An awakened ability that read all Surreal phenomena.
The Gongryu Sword his older brother had created was a sword art optimized to slice through mana arrays as they were, nullifying magic itself.
‘This isn’t something just anyone can imitate.’
Techniques that required the power of a Seed were something no one else could copy.
If that was the case, wouldn’t it be impossible to teach even Edwin Silver?
‘No. That man can cut magic to begin with.’
The Seed’s ability, Cutting Surface.
The power to sever all Surreal phenomena.
With such an ability, Edwin might be able to digest the Gongryu Sword better than anyone.
Diesel looked at Edwin Silver.
The dramatic air he had been putting on until just now was gone, replaced by the 모습 of a middle-aged man sunk into serious contemplation.
“How is it?”
“…….”
“Sorry, but I can’t give you much time to think.”
Even at this very moment, far away, Kali was probably fighting corporate agents.
No matter how exceptional a Double Melee Mage she was, dealing with two agents escorting a Megacorp executive at the same time would not be easy.
So Diesel made the first move.
“Let’s make a contract.”
A method most familiar to a corporate human.
At those words, Edwin looked at Diesel and opened his mouth.
“The conditions?”
“There are three in total.”
“Speak.”
“First. All information about me is classified.”
“About you?”
“Yes. Hide the fact that you even made contact with me. The moment you violate this, I will immediately halt the transfer.”
Someday, news would spread that Diesel possessed abilities similar to those of the Supreme Swordsman, Lee Hamin.
Revealing it could be used to advantage.
But for now, it was premature.
‘At least until I can stand on equal footing with that Ripple Knight bastard, it has to stay hidden.’
A member of Despotis who was targeting the Arc Blade.
With Diesel’s current level, it was an opponent beyond him.
“Fine.”
Edwin answered readily.
It was a condition that benefited him to some extent as well.
If word got out that there was a man who had inherited the Gongryu Sword, Edwin would surely be put in a difficult position too.
Such an extraordinary martial art was better off known by as few people as possible.
“Second. As I said, hand over those two Network Elves.”
Diesel said this while jerking his chin toward the coffins beyond Edwin’s shoulder.
“……Fine.”
After a brief moment of consideration, Edwin nodded.
‘He’s agreeing more easily than expected?’
Given how devoted he was to Ophelia, a Half-Android, Diesel had thought he might at least propose a compromise.
Something like handing over only one of the two.
But to accept it so coolly was unexpected.
‘Does he have another route to secure Network Elves?’
He might even already have spares.
‘Well, that’s none of my business.’
Muttering that to himself, Diesel presented the final condition.
“And third.”
“…….”
“Hand over all information regarding Network Elves.”
“Hmm…….”
A newly discovered Otherworldly Race.
The moment Diesel learned of their existence, he instinctively realized it.
‘This is a huge opportunity.’
Among other worlds, the most unexplored place was the Electrosphere.
What made that space even more significant was the fact that all the world’s technology relied heavily on the Electrosphere Network.
‘If they’re an Otherworldly Race living in a place like that, their abilities must be exceptional.’
All natives of a given realm shared one trait.
They freely wielded the power of their own world.
Then the ‘power’ possessed by Network Elves would be…….
‘An overwhelming hacking ability, obviously.’
At Diesel’s final condition, Edwin Silver muttered.
“All information regarding Network Elves…….”
“Yes.”
“May I add one condition on top of that?”
“What is it?”
“It’s similar to the first condition you mentioned.”
Edwin continued, staring at Diesel with sharp eyes.
“Do not leak the information you receive to the outside.”
“…….”
“If so, I will accept.”
Quite a sloppily tacked-on condition.
There was no coercive force to ensure compliance, nor any compensation clause in case it was broken.
At that, Diesel smiled inwardly.
‘Figures, coming from a corporate man.’
Dangling something one must abide by in order to obtain information, while inflating the value of the information one provides.
From this one-sided contract, he could feel the intent to seize even a little bit of initiative.
And the tightrope walk of keeping it exactly at the appropriate line was excellent.
It did not sour Diesel’s mood, yet still secured benefits.
And at the same time, there was almost nothing for himself to lose.
Even if Diesel were to leak the information, it would likely not deal Edwin a particularly severe blow.
‘After all, before long, anyone worth knowing will know anyway.’
Countless calculations were mixed into a single short exchange.
Was this the seasoned shrewdness of a Megacorporation executive?
Diesel rather liked that about him.
“Alright.”
“Edwin Silver.”
Edwin sheathed his silver blade and offered a handshake.
“What should I call you?”
In response, Diesel also withdrew the blade from the Arc Blade.
Then, grasping Edwin Silver’s hand, he spoke his name.
“Diesel.”
“Confirmed.”
The chairman of the Meihua Group, Zhou Wei, smiled with easygoing geniality.
“You’ve confirmed the items, correct?”
Kali, who had come with Diesel to receive the mission completion reward, spoke up.
“Yes. The condition was extremely clean. Not a single scratch. I found it quite impressive.”
The Panda Beastman let out his characteristic hearty laugh and continued.
“May I contact the two of you from time to time?”
“From next time, go through a Fixer.”
In a way, this job had been quite an exceptional case.
Normally, the presence of an intermediary known as a ‘Fixer’ was essential to the way Ghostcatchers carried out jobs.
Kali added, her expression tinged with slight regret.
“I don’t mind, but if we keep taking jobs like this, we’ll end up on their bad side.”
Since this one was not an official job, it would not cause any major problems.
Both the client who commissioned the work and the target who was dealt with wanted confidentiality.
At the very least, there would be no shady rumors circulating.
“I understand.”
“That’s fine and all, but what about the job fee?”
“Ah, of course, it is prepared.”
When Zhou Wei gestured in the air, several staff members appeared from outside the room carrying boxes.
“These are the promised Qubits and the additional reward.”
When the staff handed Qubit cards to Diesel and Kali, she immediately checked the amount.
“Fifteen million……. Good, confirmed.”
Then she sharply turned her head toward the boxes.
“Which one is mine?”
“All of them.”
“Hmm……?”
Kali scrunched up her face in confusion and asked.
“All of it is mine? Diesel, didn’t you ask for additional compensation?”
“I decided to take something else.”
“Something else?”
Kali narrowed her eyes and glared at Diesel.
“What is it this time?”
When Diesel shrugged instead of answering, Kali let out a small sigh.
“Same as ever.”
Click, click, click…….
The locking devices installed on the boxes disengaged, and the lids opened.
Along with that, jewels of all colors revealed themselves, sparkling brilliantly.
“Oooo…….”
“Jewels, huh.”
“As expected, money is the best.”
“Money?”
At her words, Diesel asked with slight puzzlement.
“If it’s money, wouldn’t it be better to just take extra Qubits?”
Jewels were assets that were extremely difficult to liquidate.
Of course, they had the advantage of immense value.
“What are you talking about. These aren’t just ordinary jewels.”
Kali picked up one of the closest gems.
“These are jewels mined from other worlds.”
As light from the fixtures passed through the jewel, it reflected brilliantly across the entire room.
‘Hmm…….’
Jewels from other worlds.
Perhaps because of that, characters briefly flickered through Diesel’s vision.
‘That one must be from the Celestial Realm.’
For some reason, in that place, even stones had faint miracles carved into them that praised gods.
“Just holding onto these makes their value multiply several times over. It’s a kind of investment.”
Then jewels from various other worlds—the Fire Faction, Nord, Hindu, the Immortal Realm—were successively stuffed into Kali’s pocket.
“Hehehehe……. How much is all of this worth…….”
Watching Kali laugh while making strange noises, Diesel muttered a thought to himself.
‘I might feel a bit sorry…….’
How many jewels like those would it take to match the reward Diesel had been promised?
‘This additional reward really needs to stay completely hidden.’
If Kali were to find out, her eyes might flip over.
[Hey, Diesel.]
[……?]
When his name was suddenly called through a closed communication channel, Diesel was slightly startled and looked at her.
[Let’s talk for a bit later.]
[Don’t get your hopes up. I’m not telling you.]
[Huh? What are you talking about?]
Kali continued, her face full of confusion.
[It’s about your clan. There’s something I need to say.]
[Ah.]
Ahem, ahem.
Diesel cleared his throat a couple of times and nodded.
[Sure.]
“Then I’m heading out first, okay?”
“Please take care.”
Having gathered all of her share, she trudged out of the room.
Then Zhou Wei stepped closer to Diesel and spoke.
“Shall we move now?”
“…….”
“The additional reward that Mr. Diesel will receive…….”
A great rite that turned a homeless man who wandered the streets into the chairman of a Megacorporation.
“It is in order to perform the Ji-Cheon Man-Geum Rite.”
It was time to receive the real reward.