Chapter 120
"Piiiiip!"
"Whoa, whoa."
As if announcing their arrival, Pippi came to a stop with a cry.
Suhyeok slowly raised his head above the water.
A sprawling city came into view.
"Whoa, so that's the Sea Dragon Stronghold?"
Bong Taesu stared in amazement.
"It looks more like an entire city built on the sea."
It was late at night.
They had surfaced at Kaltren, the capital and central hub of the Sea Dragon Stronghold.
Countless ships were moored along the docks.
"Pip! Piiiii!"
The Pippis poked only their heads above the water as though saying goodbye.
After watching them leave, Lee Yumi spread her Mana throughout the area and checked the surroundings.
"Hmm."
"Fortunately, everyone's gathered over there, so there's nobody around here."
"Looks like even the guards went off drinking."
Loud voices and brilliant shop lights could be seen beyond the harbor.
The old overall Chief's funeral was less than a day away.
Yet the entire place felt like it was in the middle of a festival.
Suhyeok concentrated.
Following Gahen's aura, he sensed a massive cluster of presences in the distance.
Looks like the chiefs of the other factions have gathered too.
This festive atmosphere probably wasn't something they wanted.
Most of the people openly celebrating were Gahen's men.
After all, the nine factions had originally united under the overall Chief.
Not under Gahen.
If they were still going along with this atmosphere...
Then they were being pressured somehow.
Drip. Drip.
The four quietly climbed out of the water.
Lee Yumi used heat magic to dry their soaked clothes almost instantly.
That took care of the wet footprints too.
"All done."
She looked toward the crowded streets.
"But we need to move secretly."
"How are we supposed to blend in with those people?"
"If we suddenly walk around wrapped in blankets, they'll definitely get suspicious."
Their appearances and overall atmosphere were completely different from the people who lived here.
Most of the locals were covered in small scars.
Their faces were rough and vicious.
Their hair was either grown out wildly or styled into mohawks.
They looked less like ordinary citizens and more like barbarians.
Kim Hyuna studied them too.
"Yeah..."
"This looks difficult."
"Even the women look like veteran warriors."
"I don't think we could imitate them just by dressing up."
She looked at Suhyeok.
"What should we do, Mister?"
Suhyeok answered as if it were nothing.
"Don't worry."
"I already have a way."
A short while later...
Step. Step.
The four emerged from a dark alley and naturally blended into the festive street.
Each of them now looked completely different.
[Trait ‘Clown (A)’ activates.]
[Trait effect is applied to nearby Players as well. Duration: 30 minutes.]
Several people were lying unconscious in the corner of the alley they'd just left.
Suhyeok had used Clown to steal their appearances.
No one suspected anything as the group moved through the streets in disguise.
If anything, everyone around them was too drunk and busy talking to care.
If we keep this up, we should get there without causing any trouble.
Stark was probably being held separately at the residence that had belonged to the former overall Chief.
His only purpose as a puppet was to survive until tomorrow's funeral.
As soon as the funeral ended, the inauguration ceremony for the new overall Chief would begin.
Officially, it would be Stark's inauguration.
In reality...
It would be the event where Gahen publicly announced that he had swallowed the entire Sea Dragon Stronghold.
Suhyeok's current destination was the building where Khan, chief of the Red Dragon Stronghold, was staying.
The reason was simple.
Before tonight ends, he'll die.
And it'll be at the hands of the right-hand man he trusts most.
Khan wasn't the only one.
The other chiefs would suffer the same fate.
If Suhyeok wanted to deal with Gahen and his remaining forces tomorrow and reunify the Sea Dragon Stronghold...
Every one of those chiefs needed to survive.
That meant saving them all tonight.
As Suhyeok quickened his pace, Bong Taesu cautiously looked around and whispered,
"...Hyungnim."
"Why am I the only one still using my original face?"
"Shouldn't I change too?"
He lowered his voice, clearly worried someone might notice him.
"If somebody gets suspicious because of me-"
Lee Yumi cut him off.
"Don't worry about that."
"Who would ever question that face?"
Kim Hyuna nodded seriously.
"Honestly, she's right."
"Look at us after transforming, then look at you."
"There isn't any sense of mismatch at all."
"If anything, you fit in even better."
Bong Taesu stared at them in disbelief.
He looked completely unable to accept that he naturally blended in with these people.
The funniest part is he still refuses to accept reality lol
He fits in way too well hahahaha. Are we sure he didn't transform?
Just based on his face, I'd believe he's the boss here.
How long until he looks in a mirror and understands?
Lee Suhyeok is "oppa," Bong Taesu is "ahjussi." Tragic reality;;
[Handsome Constellations look at Player Bong Taesu with pity.]
[The Constellations of Asgard wipe away tears in sympathy.]
Seeing message after message sympathizing with him, Bong Taesu's shoulders slumped.
Then...
"Hm?"
"Hic."
"Hey, you four!"
"Stop right there!"
The deep voice calling out made all four stop.
"You guys..."
"Didn't you hear Lord Gahen's orders?"
"And what are those weird rags you're wearing...?"
A man who had been drinking nearby suddenly stood and started walking toward them.
One by one, the surrounding people turned to look as well.
Step. Step.
The approaching man's face was dark.
The others looked equally grim.
He ground his teeth as he glared sharply at them.
For a moment, the four wondered if they'd already been exposed.
They stood silently, each ready to respond if something went wrong.
Then the man walked right past Suhyeok, Lee Yumi, and Kim Hyuna.
Thump!
"...?"
He suddenly threw an arm over Bong Taesu's shoulders and raised his cup high.
"It's a festival!"
"Enjoy yourself!"
"This is our world now!"
"Kuhahaha!"
"WOOOOOOOOOOO!!"
"Everyone, drink up!!"
The atmosphere exploded.
The people who'd been sitting nearby lifted their cups and crowded around Bong Taesu.
Someone ran out of a tavern carrying an entire oak barrel.
When the lid came off...
It was filled to the brim with beer.
"Here!"
"Drink!"
"A festival without booze is no festival at all!"
"Right?! Kuhahaha!"
"I-I don't really-"
"Hey now!"
"Don't tell me you don't have money?"
"Don't worry!"
"It's a festival, so nobody's charging you!"
Whistles erupted all around them.
