Chapter 355

Chapter 355. A Glimpse of the Future (3)

The word that appeared on the screen was “Sniper”.

Since I had personally set up the situation, I knew he would be released soon.

Thanks to that, I wasn’t too surprised to receive a call at such an abrupt timing.

Before pressing the answer button, I finished what I had to say to Rashar.

“I don’t mean you should decide immediately. Just think about what I am as a man, not just as a colleague or comrade.”

After wrapping up my words with Rashar, I answered the call and heard a familiar voice.

『I thought you’d ditch me, but surprisingly you didn’t.』

As always, Sniper got straight to the point without any greetings.

Truly, there was no need for warm exchanges between him and I.

“I found a way to get it done without getting involved.”

『You wouldn’t have intervened if you felt entangled?』

“Of course, it was already agreed upon, wasn’t it?”

『…… It’s funny watching you try to hide your true feelings.』

“What?”

That was nonsense.

I generally don’t like to beat around the bush.

As I tried to ask what he meant by such words.

『Nothing. I just wanted to express my gratitude. Thanks to you, I can now return to my daughter.』

Sniper changed the subject before the conversation could continue.

“A daughter?”

『Yeah, she’s 8 now. She showed symptoms of autism.』

The rumors about a terminally ill child weren’t entirely wrong, it seemed.

It appeared he used the divine water I gave him for his daughter.

『These days, she’s excited about learning new things. Thankfully, I can be by her side more often.』

I didn’t know why he was telling me this, but I didn’t want to know more. I ended the conversation at an appropriate point.

“Stop what you’re doing for now. The situation has changed.”

『As you command. Let me know if you need anything else.』

“Of course, I will.”

As the call ended, everyone who had entered the hole returned safely.

Both Kim Yul and Yang Taeho returned without a hair out of place.

Back at the table, Kim Yul looked at Rashar, who was still standing, and asked.

“What’s with the atmosphere? Why is she gaping like a goldfish?”

“Nothing special.”

While I waved off Kim Yul’s question, Jordan chatted with the restaurant owner who had returned to the restaurant.

A brief discussion ensued about how to handle the meal.

Due to the disaster, we wondered if we could ask the evacuated ones to prepare food again.

“Since we have a large group, relocating is difficult…”

“The situation was resolved without incidents, and our establishment wasn’t harmed… All the ingredients are ready… no one was significantly surprised or alarmed…”

Given we had reserved the whole restaurant, it wasn’t hard to negotiate with the restaurant owner.

Soon, the kitchen staff began moving busily.

We resumed our meal as if nothing happened, and everyone left satisfied after filling their bellies.

It was an extraordinarily peaceful spring evening.

* * *

After the school had been attacked in the past, Hyunwoo had imposed a strict order on the twins.

– Do not leave the house unless accompanied by a Platinum rank.

Recalling that day, Yeonwoo pouted and murmured.

“Honestly, this feels like confinement.”

Jinwoo, sharing a bitter smile, responded.

“You’re not wrong.”

And accompanying them, the Platinum rank, Kim Yul, shrugged and replied.

“I can’t say you’re wrong. My conscience stings a bit.”

Then followed the ultimate response from Gamyul.

“Woof!”

It was Rice Cake, out on a walk with a leash.

Kim Yul stroked Rice Cake’s head, nestled in Yeonwoo’s arms, and continued.

“Hyunwoo hyung doesn’t compromise on this issue, what can we do.”

The restriction on the twins’ outings was something he couldn’t resolve.

Fortunately, the twins remained quiet even when Hyunwoo went out to hunt Karklein.

Neither of them complained too much or expressed significant frustration.

Consequently, the order imposed on the twins had been relatively well-observed.

However, today, there seemed to be a hint of a negative reaction, unlike usual.

Keeping an eye on the twins, Kim Yul added:

“I can’t do anything for you without our brother’s permission.”

If they were secretly planning an escape, he needed to deter them.

“I don’t want to forcefully drag you away.”

It was akin to a warning that he couldn’t let them get away with misbehavior.

Understanding the underlying meaning, Yeonwoo sighed deeply and replied.

“We weren’t going to go roaming around. It’s just been a bit stifling since going out with our brother once.”

They weren’t completely restricted from leaving the house.

The twins, like now, sometimes went for walks with Rice Cake.

Usually, it was for an hour or two after lunch.

Kim Yul or Yang Taeho arranged their time to accompany them accordingly.

Though the frequency was limited to about two to three times a week, which wasn’t a lot.

‘What can we do but follow along?’

Yeonwoo didn’t intend to sulk about wanting to go out.

Neither she nor Jinwoo, who was sometimes more assertive than her, yearned much to venture outside anymore.

Now, they understood that their stubbornness for their satisfaction could extend harm to innocent others.

“Having a walk like this is more than enough, let’s think positively.”

Nodding at Jinwoo’s words, Yeonwoo placed Rice Cake, whom she had been embracing, down on the ground.

Having come for a walk at a nearby park, they savored the warm daytime in May, which had just begun to heat up.

They took a break at a café, ordering drinks.

*Ka-tok, ka-tok.*

A message notification pinged from Jinwoo’s smartphone, occupying his pocket.

As Jinwoo glanced at his device, his eyes widened slightly.

He swiftly skimmed the screen and then asked Kim Yul beside him.

“Hey, hey, did a hole open at the banquet yesterday?”

“What? Oh, yeah. How did you know? Did your brother tell you?”

“No, it’s apparently on the community board. Friends are asking.”

“Huh?”

Sipping his drink, Kim Yul took Jinwoo’s smartphone in hand. The post that stirred curiosity among the community was rather lengthy.

「Title: Business Owners, do You Accept Player Group Customers?

Just as it says, lol! In a time like this, player group customers are such a blessing.

Yesterday, there was a Palao Guild executive dinner at the restaurant I work at!

Saw all the famous players from Palao—Ho Hyunwoo, Kim Yul, Yang Taeho, and more.

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Recognized? Okay, let’s dive into the story, shall we?

So there I was, busy chopping ingredients in the kitchen.

Suddenly, there’s a sudden whole opening. Players come rushing into the kitchen, telling us to evacuate. I was so flustered.

On the way out, I saw general-rank monsters neatly laid in the restaurant’s outdoor garden…

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At first, I didn’t even realize they were monster corpses. But then, I noticed stars on their heads?

Caught in awe, watching other players gear up and smoothly enter the hole, lol!

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I thought I was watching a string of sausages lolololol.

Then, after evacuating for about 30? 40 minutes? I returned to find everything resolved, lol!

I got back to slicing onions as if nothing happened? Is this even real? A sudden hole opened?

While going home, I seriously wondered if I even evacuated, lol.

The last time a hole opened near my house, monsters came out raising hell, but this time, it was entirely different, lol.

Never seen such calm hole handling in my life.

I understood why property values rise where famous guilds are located. I suddenly wanted to move and be neighbors with players.

Want to neighbor with players!」

It seemed to be written by a restaurant staff, with vivid photos attached.

And it wasn’t just this post.

CCTV footage of the restaurant from that day had already spread widely.

The scene most mentioned in comments under the video was…

‘The moment when the general-ranks appeared while we dined.’

Everyone, as if on cue, paused their chopstick actions to gaze at the outdoor garden.

– Lolol, general-ranks dudes, why do you stop coming out? Lol, you’re completely different from the ones at Jongno.

– Poor monsters, do I feel sorry for them?

– Why did it pop up during Palao Guild’s dinner?

– Do I look insane feeling bad for the general-rank?

– Didn’t mean to cross, did they…

– Whoa, a 1-minute defeat of four general-ranks? For real?

– Please be precise. It was a 49-second defeat, thank you.

– Why is no one panicking? Everyone is so calm.

– It’s bitter. They look way too accustomed..

Kim Yul briefly pondered over the video and reactions.

‘Feels like it was released on purpose.’

Though nothing was verbally passed down, he suspected the guild’s PR team might have undertaken it.

‘Perhaps led by Hyunwoo himself.’

Hyunwoo had consistently strived to foster a favorable perception of players.

He had strived to instill reassurance that civilians were safe, rather than endangered, due to players.

This video definitely seemed to aid in establishing that image.

Of course, it might not have been his directive, but he should be informed regardless.

‘Need to post it on my account too.’

Kim Yul relayed the link of the video to Hyunwoo, as it had been sent to Jinwoo, then posted a new entry on his account.

The moment he precisely pressed the post button, Kim Yul’s movements abruptly halted.

‘What’s this?’

Immediately, he fully opened his sense of perception.

Suddenly, that mysterious presence that slightly stirred his nerves felt immeasurably clearer.

‘Is it a person…? Maybe not?’

Gradually, the presence approached, as if a shadow skimming over the ground.

Approaching steadily from all directions, targeting precisely where he stood.

Moving with a clear purpose.

‘An attack amidst a downtown street?’

He hesitated to think it could be true, but saying “what if” had cost people before.

Barely furrowing his brows, Kim Yul quickly stood up.

The approaching presences hadn’t amounted to ten.

In the brief moment of hesitation, they’d already well surpassed twenty.

“Get up.”

Kim Yul grabbed the twins by their arms and swiftly pulled them out of the café.

“Why suddenly!”

“What’s happening?”

Alarmed, Yeonwoo and Jinwoo followed Kim Yul, each voicing a word.

However, rather than explaining the situation, Kim Yul prioritized distancing from the unknown presences surrounding them from all corners.

However.

‘We’re already surrounded.’

The fact that the encirclement was being systematically narrowed down meant it was deliberate.

‘Not good.’

Finding themselves ensnared by unknown figures right in the heart of the city.

One wrong move could mean casualties among civilians.

Just as he swiftly contemplated what to do.

*Sasa-sak.*

A scuttling sound, akin to an insect moving?

Or perhaps the sound of delicate fabric brushing against the floor.

The curious presence drew closer, emerging between the hustling people.

Causing the furrow on Kim Yul’s brow to deepen.

‘It was a human?’

Eyes, nose, mouth, head, arms, legs, clothes, shoes, and bags.

At a glance, they appeared as ordinary people you might find anywhere.

Certainly, it wasn’t the aura of a human.

‘No mana detected either.’

The biggest difference lay in the eyes.

They were completely unfocused, as if they were drugged.

Somehow, they had pushed through the crowded street to encompass the twins and Kim Yul.

“What’s this? Filming?”

“Hey, isn’t that Kim Yul?”

“Wow, those are his siblings from K!”

The situation was far from ideal.

With no clear understanding of the state of affairs, randomly yelling to evacuate would only cause chaos in the area.

Nor could they engage in battle as things stood.

Such a move would assuredly cause unignorable damage.

‘Securing the kids’ safety first.’

Kim Yul whispered to the twins.

“Get your artifacts out.”