The conversation was long but the thing I had to do was simple.
I had to go into the man made dungeon created by America and fight with the Alpha system. The American researchers would plant a Trojan Horse while I was pulling it’s attention.
Through that, they would be able to copy the Alpha system’s reward system on this dungeon.
“It feels like attaching a faucet on an oil tank. It’s similar to saying goodbye to my life if we’re caught too.”
“If the situation becomes dangerous, we will immediately stop the plan. Since Mr. Jun is an important figure to America as well.”
“You can talk as you want but…….”
America had no choice but to put their country’s profit as first priority.
If they could obtain the reward system by sacrificing me then they would select the reward system without a bit of remorse. I would do so even if I was America.
However, I accepted the proposal.
Of course, I was promised an astronomical compensation. It was an amount more than twice that of the original 500b.
However it wasn’t only for the money.
I couldn’t 100% trust president Wholshore’s words.
However, the Alpha system having a connection to Korea was rather believable. On top of that, if Master Lee Hui-seung was related then it meant that I might come across a stronger opponent than I imagined.
I needed an ally that could help in that case.
A sturdy ally that could withstand not only the Alpha system but also the Korean government as an enemy.
Also, there was no better friend than America for that.
It’s not because I trusted them but because I was desperately needed by America.
“Is it okay? This might be a dangerous proposal.”
Edward, who had been silent the entire time we were in the laboratory opened his mouth.
I also thought so.
However, if it was a danger that would approach at some point, I thought that it would be better to prepare ahead of time.
It was better than to be done in one sidedly after all.
Of course, this entire thing might be a misunderstanding.
That wasn’t bad too. If it was actually a misunderstanding and it turned out to be America slandering then my worry would have been unfounded.
I honestly thought that it would be nice if it was America’s misjudgement.
***
I couldn’t see the entrance to the dungeon I was supposed to go into.
The inside of the transparent glass was quite different from other dungeons.
President Wholshore opened his mouth as I looked at him.
“Connecting directly to the Alpha system is something dangerous even for this laboratory. This is merely the minimal safety measure put in place to prevent information from spreading outside.”
“What is it that I have to do exactly?”
“Go in. And fight with the monsters inside.”
“That’s lucid.”
Even if it wasn’t what I liked doing the most, it was the thing I was best at.
I could do that endlessly.
Also.
Even if there was a problem I didn’t have to worry.
Even if president Wholshore and the Americans wanted to trap me in the dungeon I had a method of escaping.
Escape scroll.
It was an item that allowed a person to escape from a dungeon. Because it dropped constantly, it was left to rot and piled up to the hundreds and now became the most important item to me.
“Then, I will now enter.”
“I wish you luck.”
“Break a leg.”
Edward took a step back while crossing his arms.
How dare this guy try to escape on his own.
“Ahh. Do, do I have to go as well?”
“Isn’t that obvious? We’re in the same team.”
“Urg…… It can’t be helped.”
I entered the dungeon while grabbing the guy that was slowly retreating contrary to his words.
It was dark in the dungeon. Light didn’t enter from anywhere and there was nothing to lighten the place up. I started thinking that I should have bought up a level 7 Archimedes’s Helmet that Cho Young-gu had.
However, I shook my head.
It was far too large of a waste to buy a 13b item just to light up the surroundings.
Instead, I put on a 5000 won LED headlight from a mart.
The dark interior suddenly became bright. I could only light up the front but I could even see the shadows clearly thanks to the Optics Ruby Ring.
At this level, there shouldn’t be much problems in walking in the dark.
“Humans sure have it hard. How were they able to survive with the handicap of not being able to see in the dark?”
“Do you have a sickness where you can’t live if you don’t brag? Humans invented tools instead. In fact, isn’t it amazing how they got this far even though their physic is lower?”
“Not at all. Humans were just lucky. If vampires had existed on Earth, then humans would have long gone extinct.”
“Is that so. Weren’t you a race that couldn’t live without sucking human blood?”
“You sure are foolish to believe that bullcrap spread by mass media. We are a noble race. We can live well even without the blood of other races.”
“Yes yes. Who was it that was drinking monster blood?”
“That, that’s just to absorb the power of lower beings. You guys eat cows and pigs as well.”
“I never denied that though.”
“Ei, either way, vampires are great.”
“I told you, I never denied that.”
“Urg.”
I could see Edward’s face redden in the dark.
It was pretty fun teasing this guy huh.
I did only bring him for scouting purposes but I felt like he was pretty useful to get rid of boredom.
I walked within the dark interior for now.
This place was the interior of a fully man made building unlike other dungeons. There was no doubt that the brick wall and white tiles were made of concrete.
This was far too ordinary of a building interior to be called a dungeon.
However, they probably got treated as part of a dungeon unless they were trying to trick me.
There was no need for a dungeon to look like a cave or jungle after all. In actuality Red Holes had more extreme bizzare sceneries after all.
I was walking slowly like that when I heard the sound of a wall being scratched from the front.
I slowly progressed while not letting go of the tension. I took out the Dancing Sword and pushed Edward’s back.
“What, what are you doing?”
“A scout should take the front like a scout should.”
“Are you trying to kill me?”
“Do you die in one shot if I attack you?”
“I can dodge if it’s just once.”
“Then you don’t have any worries. I’ll give you a bonus.”
“Leave it to me.”
Edward walked forward with wide steps. His eyes lit up at the mention of money I see.
It was exaggeration in the first place. He had the Confinement Necklace that Soo-ah used to use. If he was copying my reflexes right now then he could even dodge a level 10 monster’s ambush. Even if he couldn’t dodge it completely there would be enough time to etherize.
In other words, he was much more proficient in survival than I was.
There was that much reason to bringing this guy here.
He flew quickly as he kicked off the ground.
I briskly followed him with a light smile. To think that he exaggerated so much when he was going to rush forward so recklessly.
After running dozens of steps he suddenly retreated as if bouncing off.
Then, something sharp reflected the light of the headlight.
“It’s an enemy! A humanoid type with 1 meter long nails! It seems like it’ll hurt quite a bit if you get cut by those!”
“How many?”
“Only one for now!”
“Move back.”
Edward, who had completed his job as a scout, retreated behind me while etherizing.
Something was coming towards me while scratching the wall and ground.
It’s figure appeared once it got reflected by the headlights. It’s height was 3 meters. It’s entire body was created by an exoskeleton and its nails were sharp enough to be called blades.
It’s head was an inverse triangle like a mantis while large eyes were attached on the side like a frog.
Overall, it looked like a bunch of straw connected but it definitely didn’t look weak.
Mantis (7) : Has a powerful leaping ability that uses its inverse joints.
The explanation was simple.
It might not be that difficult to face as a level 7.
However, I pulled back for now. It’s because I checked additional explanation on it’s head.
*Invincible Underling : Does not die unless the boss is killed.
It was property that I saw for the first time. I have never heard of such monsters existing. This was something that didn’t even appear in a Red Holes so why did it appear here?
I tapped the transmitter in my ear.
The inside and outside of a dungeon is usually completely cut off. Not even the strongest wave can penetrate the two worlds. However, it was possible in this man made dungeon.
How was that possible?
I didn’t know either. The only thing I know is that it works.
“What is this?”
[What are you talking about?]
The voice of a researcher could be heard from the other side of the transmitter. It was Benjamin Suresh, the manager of the Texas underground laboratory. An Indian half I believe.
“A monster with an invincible attribute appeared.”
[Invincible you say?]
He still repeatedly asked a few time. It seems that side is flustered as well.
Did this mean that it wasn’t created by them?
However, there was no such monster in the Alpha system.
“I hope you can figure out the situation.”
[We are trying to see what happened as well. It’s possible to monitor you so if you begin the battle for now we will send you as much information as possible. If it’s dangerous then you can come out and…….]
“No, it seems like it should be possible to stall for time.”
[…… Then please.]
I gripped the sword tightly. I had no thoughts on running away. To think it was an invincible monster, it was interesting for now and it wasn’t a bad idea to practice killing this guy.
“What’s invincible supposed to mean?”
“Ah. That Mantis. Its option is invincibility. It’s said that it can be killed it if it’s leader dies but since the leader can’t be seen for now.”
There’s only 1 that can be seen at the moment. It was impossible to tell where that leader was for now.
“Did the American guys use some kind of trick?”
Edward said.
I knew what this guy was trying to say. He was suspecting that they had created a monster that didn’t exist and were using me to test it out.
“That might be possible.”
“Are you planning on fighting?”
“There’s no need to run away from an enemy you can win no?”
The Mantis had approached while we were talking.
I threw the Dancing Sword for now.
The Mantis’ body flew a dozen meters before crashing into the wall. Edward tilted his neck at the futile ending.