Episode 412. Phantom Thief Lee Hoyeon

Kwaaang-

In front of Aiden’s mansion.

Arthur, who had stormed in without an arrest warrant, frowned looking at the front of the mansion.

It was because there was clearly no trace of him leaving the house, yet he hadn’t responded.

“Move aside.”

Arthur pushed the wizards back and smashed Aiden’s mansion gate with a magic-powered fist.

The personnel waiting behind widened their eyes in surprise at Arthur’s sudden action, unable to hide their shock.

“C-Chairman-nim. Is it really okay to do this? There’s no arrest permit yet.”

“I already have the evidence. I’ll take responsibility, so don’t worry.”

Arthur entered Aiden’s mansion with a confident smile.

Following behind him were a few of Arthur’s confidants, Im Sol, and Lee Hoyeon.

Lee Hoyeon whispered to Im Sol from the very back.

“Professor-nim. Are you sure he’s hiding here?”

“Probably. He wouldn’t have had time to escape.”

Lee Hoyeon looked around and nodded.

Since they stormed in right after the testimony came out, it must have been devastating news for Aiden, like a thunderclap out of the blue.

Inside the mansion was silent as a mouse.

The fact that the homeowner wasn’t showing up despite so many people storming in meant something was unsettling.

“Chairman-nim. Shall we split up and search?”

“Yes. All paths leading outside are blocked, so we just need to block the teleportation magic circles.”

“Move aside. I’ll handle it.”

Just then, Im Sol, who had been watching from behind, stepped forward with an annoyed expression.

Paak-

Im Sol deployed a barrier, spreading her magic.

The barrier deployed in an instant, enveloping the mansion, and Im Sol’s magic power expanded within it.

Having quickly finished the magic scan, Im Sol turned and headed for the second floor.

“Sol-ah, did you find something?”

“There’s a teleportation magic circle on the second floor. It seems to be for emergency evacuation.”

“Damn it! Go up immediately!”

Tadadadak-

The wizards, led by Arthur, went up to the second floor, and following Im Sol’s instructions, they forced open a locked room on the left.

A shining magic circle, and Aiden standing on top of it.

Aiden couldn’t hide his panic seeing the wizards storming in right before his eyes.

“G-Goddammit!”

“Arrest him immediately! Now!”

“Don’t come closer! The moment you approach, I’ll kill you…! Keuuk!”

Aiden wasn’t just standing still either.

He deployed the magic circle he had prepared.

Now that he knew someone had invaded his own house, he couldn’t just stay still.

Dozens of spells with strong firepower.

He hadn’t prepared perfectly, but it would be fine if he could just create a brief opening.

Sareureuk-

However, the opponent was unfavorable.

The magic Aiden prepared was torn apart like paper with a single wave of Im Sol’s hand.

Aiden, a candidate for the next Chairman, wasn’t a weak mage, but he was on a different level compared to the genius mage Im Sol.

Aiden muttered, as if his soul had left him, looking at the stopped teleportation magic circle.

“Th-This is unbelievable….”

“Aiden. Testimony has emerged from a demon claiming you are colluding. While the truthfulness is not yet confirmed, we are making an emergency arrest due to the risk of escape.”

“Do you know who I am?! Arthur! Can you really handle this?!”

The wizards restrained Aiden’s body, and Aiden twisted, firing venomous words at Arthur.

Behind him were still Pandemic and the elders.

He couldn’t collapse like this…

“That’s what I should say, Aiden. There’s a limit to how much I can endure.”

Arthur clenched his fist and approached Aiden with a stern expression.

His principle was originally not to live wickedly, even if he couldn’t live virtuously, and he could no longer stand Aiden’s severe misconduct.

Ppaak-

Arthur strongly punched Aiden’s solar plexus with his clenched fist.

“Keuueuk!”

Hit by the punch, Aiden rolled on the floor as if flying, and the wizards beside him grabbed Arthur’s arms, trying to stop him.

“Chairman-nim! Stop it! Stop!”

“It’s fine. I hit him subtly, so he won’t get caught. Secretary Kim, contact the association right now and start the procedures. The rest of you, secure the evidence beforehand while that’s happening.”

“Yes! Understood!”

Having finished ordering the secretary, Arthur bowed his head towards Im Sol.

“Sol-ah, I’m asking you too. It’s embarrassing, but we can’t completely trust the association’s investigation team. We need to secure solid evidence before they arrive.”

“Okay. Mister.”

“And you too, Lee Hoyeon… Huh? Sol-ah, Cadet Lee Hoyeon is missing.”

Arthur turned his head, looking for Lee Hoyeon, but his figure wasn’t visible in the room.

“I saw him coming up to the second floor with us. Maybe he just got lost? Hoyeon has a surprisingly clumsy side.”

Im Sol smiled as if something occurred to her, and Arthur blinked looking at her before continuing.

“… Cadet Lee Hoyeon can be trusted, so it’s fine. For now, let’s prioritize restraining Aiden and finding evidence.”

Arthur wasn’t stupid enough to tease Im Sol even in a situation like this.

Arthur started searching Aiden’s mansion together with the wizards.

*

The time Arthur and Im Sol met Aiden.

“This seems to be the place….”

I entered what looked like Aiden’s room.

When Im Sol was doing the magic scan, I naturally spread my magic too.

A teleportation magic circle was discovered in the corner of the second floor, and while everyone headed that way, I slipped away to the right.

It was because I felt a faint, hidden magic power.

“Deploy Sky-Piercing Palace.”

Sseueuk-

I slowly looked around the room, searching for anything suspicious.

Inside Sky-Piercing Palace, my magic control increases exponentially.

The Infinite Entropy I’m looking for is magic energy itself.

Meaning, no matter how tightly it was hidden…

Jiiing-

“It’s under here.”

I could find it.

The space under Aiden’s desk.

Concealed magic power was felt from that place.

Going under the desk and fumbling along the floor with my hand, I touched a keyhole.

It seemed they installed the magic circle deep inside and hid it as much as possible.

Kwadeudeuk-

Of course, I didn’t need to care about that.

I tore up the floor entirely and took the safe inside.

I wanted to check the item, but I couldn’t disarm it right now.

Because I don’t know what properties Infinite Entropy has.

For now, I must deploy a rune barrier and take just the safe.

‘I’ll take this. Chairman-nim.’

Honestly, isn’t this a good deal?

Even putting my hand on my conscience, I did more than enough.

Caught a demon, caught a political rival, did some awesome research.

For the past few days, I was practically the honorary Chairman.

I should receive like 5 Chairman’s awards.

If not, at least arrange a blind date with Im Sol.

If you’re not going to give me anything, I have to take this much.

“Hey! Search this area too! That’s Aiden’s room!”

Just then, the voices of the wizards who came together were heard from outside.

“Hey! Ah, were you Mage Lee Hoyeon? You were here first!”

“Yes. There were some suspicious documents here, so I was checking them.”

“Suspicious documents?! Let us check too!”

I handed over what looked like documents from a secret magic society to the wizard, smiling.

*

After Aiden’s arrest was concluded.

Im Sol and I had a conversation while organizing our luggage in a suite room.

Im Sol had quite a lot of luggage because she bought many magic items in America, but I could organize mine quickly.

– Aiden, candidate for next Chairman, revealed to be the leader of a secret magic society, causing shock…

– Pandemic’s lackey hiding within the association. Even the association’s elders are involved?

– Chairman Arthur announces, “No matter what happens, I will cut out all the rotten parts of the association.”

“The repercussions are huge.”

I muttered, looking at my smartwatch.

“Yeah. It’s something Mister was preparing even before he became Chairman. It seems he intends to push it through properly now that he’s seized the opportunity.”

“Isn’t it almost over at this point?”

“That’s right. They say evidence about the secret magic society emerged from Aiden’s house. And that Aiden confessed to a lot.”

“Hmm… That’s fortunate.”

When I was first attacked by the demon, I thought it was bothersome, but somehow it turned misfortune into a blessing.

As expected, I’m lucky.

“It’s a shame I didn’t get to see Aiden being caught.”

I saw Aiden tied up with magic ropes, but he didn’t try to meet my eyes.

I would do the same if I were him.

His pride must have fallen to rock bottom.

I was a little regretful that I couldn’t see that because I was busy taking Infinite Entropy.

If there had been no people, I would have kicked him around, but I couldn’t because there were too many.

“It’s okay. I got my revenge. Speaking of which, where were you earlier when they caught Aiden?”

“…I got lost.”

“I thought so. Be careful.”

“….”

What kind of eyes does Im Sol usually see me with, to agree so easily to my excuse about getting lost?

‘I should be thankful she doesn’t suspect me.’

I looked at my bag, letting out a wry laugh.

The Infinite Entropy I brought earlier is stored deep in my bag.

I’ll open it slowly after returning home.

It feels like a stab to my conscience to check it while still in America.

Besides, Im Sol is right beside me, so I have to be careful not to get caught.

I continued speaking to change the subject.

“I won’t be able to greet Chairman-nim, right?”

“He’ll probably be very busy. Besides, I’ve seen him continuously for days, so I’m sick of Mister’s face now.”

“I’ve seen him continuously too.”

“…Stop saying strange things.”

I smiled watching Im Sol turn her head.

I wanted to stroke her shimmering silver hair, but she’d get angry if I did.

“Ah, right. Here.”

Tuk-

I carefully received the red magic orb thrown by Im Sol with both hands.

Quite strong magic power was felt from the magic orb.

“What is this?”

“I secretly took it from Aiden’s house. It’s probably an artifact.”

“…What?”

“My disciple suffered so much, yet Mister is trying to brush it off, saying he’ll compensate later. How can I believe that? I have to take care of it myself.”

Im Sol said confidently, puffing out her chest.

Her expression was as if she had naturally received what she deserved.

“Keuk.”

“What’s funny? I brought it thinking of you.”

“It’s because I’m thankful. I’ll really use it well.”

Recalling Im Sol secretly pocketing the magic orb in her pocket at the investigation site, I burst out laughing unconsciously.

That’s just like my teacher.

You have to take what you can get. Very good.

A desirable attitude for my future girlfriend.

“Hoyeon, you suffered the most. Regarding the thesis and helping Mister too. As expected, you’re just like my disciple.”

“It’s all because I have a good teacher. Do you like the results at the association somewhat?”

“Of course. It was research that any mage couldn’t help but acknowledge.”

“As for me, if Sol unnie likes it, then everything is good.”

“Now, if you just become a little stronger, you’ll be perfect.”

“…I’ll try my best. But don’t you know what kind of artifact this is?”

I said, spinning the red magic orb.

────[ Red Magic Orb ]────

▶ Highest Grade

▶ Magic orb containing ominous magic

▶ Presumed to be an item used for rituals or ceremonies.

It contains ominous magic.

────────────

Seeing the high grade, it’s a high-class artifact, but even looking with my abilities, I couldn’t see a particular use case.

Perhaps it’s not an item with a special purpose, but just something fully packed with magic power.

“I didn’t have time to investigate it either. Since it’s stolen goods, don’t use it and sell it off. It’ll probably fetch a good price if you sell it in Korea. Shall I introduce you to someone?”

“No. For now, I’ll investigate it a bit.”

I can entrust things like this to Scarlet, who specializes in odd jobs.

If I sell it, I can use the money for Liliana’s food expenses.

I shoved the magic orb into my luggage and stuck close to Im Sol, who had almost finished organizing.

“We’re going back tomorrow, right?”

“I’ll leave the cleanup to Mister since it’s bothersome. We have to go.”

“Then, since tonight is our last night… let’s sleep in the same room.”

“Do you want to do that?”

“Yes. We’ll just hold hands while sleeping.”

“Then shall we do that? Since it’s the last day.”

“Heh heh….”

Everything originally begins with holding hands.

I buried my face in Im Sol’s shoulder, chuckling.

Im Sol frowned and pushed me away, but I persistently rubbed my face against her.

“If you keep laughing strangely like that, we’re sleeping in separate rooms.”

“I’m sorry.”

Of course, as soon as I heard her cold voice, I apologized and pulled my body away from Im Sol.

Still, the fact that Im Sol’s cheeks were hot at the end probably wasn’t an illusion.

I smiled looking at Im Sol, whose ears had turned red.

‘It was a good time.’

I became quite stronger, and I obtained a good item.

Needless to say, I became closer with Im Sol.

The last day in America concluded like that.