The Duke's Son :Re-Chapter 278

Butcher Demon’s Castle, Old Gauss Kingdom Ruins, Eclipse Remnants, Mystic Forest...

Did she do all this research for me?

Jae-Hyeok listened with great focus as his sister listed off one gate after another before detailing them in depth.

They were all SS-grade or above, and each of the gates was favored by transcendent-level players for one reason or another.

The Butcher Demon’s Castle was a multi-floored dungeon that emphasized problem-solving over monster-hunting. And while each floor surely posed its own unique challenges, Jae-Hyeok had little interest in exploring it for himself.

An emphasis on problem-solving? More like an emphasis on wasting my time.

When it came to gates, Jae-Hyeok wasn’t worried about there being too many monsters but about there being too few... well, for the most part.

When Hyeon-Ah arrived at her explanation for the Old Gauss Kingdom Ruins, Jae-Hyeok admittedly found his ego quiet. Apparently, the monsters within patrolled the realm in groups equivalent to brigades and battalions.

A gate like that was probably heaven for magic-type transcendents. They only needed to maintain distance, unload AOE spells, and watch the experience roll in. But for a swordman like Jae-Hyeok...

Uh, Thunderbolt Sword can work as an AOE Skill, kind of, but there’s a limit to its range... Maybe Thunder Vessel? No, even if each thunderbolt cleared hundreds of monsters, I only have five tribulation bolts stored. I’m competitive, but depleting my Thunder Vessel on mobbing is plain stupid... Whatever, let the magic casters have their fun.

That left the Eclipse Remnants and Mystic Forest gates.

In Eclipse Remnants, elite assassin-type monsters moved around in small groups, while in Mystic Forest, doppelgangers roamed the thicket, able to copy the appearance and abilities of players or monsters.

Both gates were notorious for their extreme difficulty among the SS-grade. Neither had ever been solo-cleared.

Jae-Hyeok was immediately interested.

It’s worth giving it a try.

The System was generous when it came to firsts of any kind, granting either a special achievement reward or a title at the very least.

The first solo-clear of an SS-grade gate...

Jae-Hyeok was already looking forward to the rewards.

“Heh, I knew you’d be interested in those gates. That’s why I saved them for last.”

Hyeon-Ah grinned and placed a piece of soondae on Jae-Hyeok’s plate.

“Of the two, Eclipse Remnants is in Mongolia, so securing a right-of-entry is easiest.”

Most countries guarded, controlled, and monitored entry into their high-value gates. Moreover, only rarely were foreign players granted entry. Korea’s Lion’s Castle was a prime example of this guard-dog-like mentality.

In fact, Jae-Hyeok could understand the logic behind the restrictions; clearing a high-level gate was no different from plundering national resources after all. The real question was which countries wouldn’t mind foreigners helping themselves—because believe it or not, some didn’t.

Mongolia, the weakest country in East Asia, was one such example.

Its sole National Treasure was well over a hundred years old and, though he tried his best, had repeatedly failed to clear Eclipse Rements. In the end, Mongolia was left sitting on a goldmine it couldn’t dig, causing the speed at which Mongolia cultivated players to stagnate. At the same time, other countries—like China—were devouring high-level gates one after another, rapidly accelerating their ability to level more players and faster.

With no prospects to cling to and with the pressure mounting, young talent departed Mongolia in an event that could only be called a mass exodus.

To salvage the situation, the Mongolian president responded in the only way he could: he began selling entry permits for Mongolia’s Eclipse Remnants gate.

He didn’t discriminate between nationality and status, granting entry permits to anyone who paid the requisite amount in US dollars or Community points, with only one stipulation: those who entered and cleared the gate had to offer 10% of the collected resources to Mongolia as tribute.

Naturally, countless players had flocked to Mongolia following this announcement.

When it came to SS-grade gates, other countries tightly regulated access among even their domestic player base. For example, in the US, players had to achieve national merit before being granted an entry permit, while players with criminal records might never earn an entry permit or have it revoked. Compared to working hard for uncertain rewards, the chance to buy their way into an SS-grade gate like Eclipse Remnants was like a dream come true.

Hyeon-Ah dabbed her lips with a napkin. “You should stay in Mongolia for a while and raise your level to 159. You said your Thunder Vessel is full, right? Be sure to dump some lightning on people or monsters before reaching your next tribulation—it’d be a waste otherwise... Uh, aside from that, have fun. I’ll look after things in Korea, so don’t worry too much.”

Hyeon-Ah set down the napkin and simply stared at her little brother, her smile deepening by the moment.

Eight years... For eight years, she had been locked in that cell... At first, she’d been able to see her family by closing her eyes. But, bit by bit, experience blended with illusion, leaving much of her memory in a twisted tangle of truth and lies—until one day that tangle left her entirely, as if devoured by the void-like darkness of her cell.

Ultimately, on the day Jae-Hyeok freed her from hell, what Hyeon-Ah had felt most strongly wasn’t relief but doubt.

“Is this real?” “Is he... really my brother?”—such thoughts had filled her mind. And who could blame her? Over the course of eight years, Jae-Hyeok had completely changed from the innocent, mischievous child he’d once been.

Only recently, only when she’d seen Jae-Hyeok’s mischievous expression in the parking lot, had a feeling of lightness filled Hyeon-Ah.

It’s really him, my little brother...

This thought danced in Hyeon-Ah’s mind even now. She was euphoric, but it wasn’t just that. Her spirit felt clean; her mind, sharp. Memories from before her time in prison had come rushing back, crisp and clear.

What the darkness had devoured, the light had returned.

“I understand. I understand. Don’t worry, I’ll pay a visit to Mongolia at some point.” Jae-Hyeok continued nodding along before noticing Hyeon-Ah’s silence.

He looked up from his food. “What’s up?”

Hyeon-Ah hummed and picked up her chopsticks.

“Nothing important.”

“Hm.”

Jae-Hyeok’s eyes flickered, but he nodded and returned to his food.

Sister seems much better today. Has she recovered?

He’d been too young at the time of Hyeon-Ah’s arrest, so his childhood memories were too distant to notice how exactly the last eight years had changed Hyeon-Ah.

But it had.

Of this, he was certain.

After all, he’d seen with his own eyes the grungy, dark cell that Hyeon-Ah had called home. How could that experience not change a person?

I’m glad she’s doing better.

Jae-Hyeok smiled and dragged the soondae side dish closer to his plate.

Hyeon-Ah began sharing old war stories and military tactics from her past. At the same time, Jae-Hyeok’s mind drifted to plans for the future.

Sister is right, visiting Mongolia is a great way to level up fast...

He thought of Reinhardt.

Beyond its ramparts, that colossal city was a perfect blend of modern and medieval aesthetics—yet the technology or magic on display was beyond anything from either era. Mechanisms and automated systems worked without any apparent power source...

Moreover, Reinhardt’s natives were in a realm of their own when it came to power level. The city guards’ auras had effortlessly overwhelmed Jae-Hyeok, yet the way those same guards joked with the citizens betrayed their ordinary status in Reinhardt.

From these observations, Jae-Hyeok knew the difficulties that lay ahead would be beyond imagination. I have to get as strong as possible before going to Reinhardt, but...

Jae-Hyeok had no intention of heading straight to Mongolia.

His revenge wasn’t over—aside from China’s Qilin, there was another who’d ruined his father.

“I-it wasn’t just Qilin. A Japanese swordsman also cooperated. The others were no match for the Yaksha, but the two of them launched a surprise attack together.”

That was Phoenix Chen Dian’s final testimony before his death.

I know it's you...

In terms of swordsmanship alone, only one Japanese player had the power to threaten Jae-Hyeok’s father. Considered the strongest swordsman of his time, a true contender for the title Sword Saint—

Sword Master.

He wore a tengu mask, so his face and name remained unknown.

Most likely, only the Japanese Association and a few high-ranking government officials knew the Sword Master’s true identity.

After I clean up the Geum family, I’ll head straight to Japan. The Sword Master... I’ll find him even if I have to search the entire island.

As for the Geum family...

Well, they had provoked him first. He thought of Geum Tae-Shin, and then he thought back to the assassins who’d targeted him during his stay at Lion’s Castle.

Most likely, those assassins from random guilds were also acting under the Sun family’s orders. Yet despite his own family’s viciousness, Geum Tae-Byeok—that old fart—actually has the gall to seek revenge for his son? I guess villains will be villains.

Jae-Hyeok recalled the wisp of killing intent he’d sensed during his National Treasure appointment ceremony, and his eyes sharpened.

I’ll deal with that old fart today.

Jae-Hyeok had no intention of giving Geum Tae-Byeok the chance to cook up schemes. What’s more... the way Geum Tae-Byeok’s aura had suddenly vanished earlier told Jae-Hyeok that this matter might not be as simple as it seemed. After all, even if Geum Tae-Byeok had the help of the crowd, it shouldn’t have been possible for Geum Tae-Byeok to deceive his senses.

If I don’t deal with him, I can’t leave Korea in peace.

Jae-Hyeok finished his meal, stood up, and said to the group, “I’ve something to see to. I’ll see you guys back at the mansion.”

“Ugh. Now that you’re a National Treasure, you’ll only be busier in the future. Fine then, off you go.” Hyeon-Ah pressed the back of one hand to her face before throwing back her head with a sigh. A moment later, Hyeon-Ah remembered something and abruptly straightened. “Oh, right, wherever you go and whatever you do in the future, promise me that you’ll at least try to get along with other high-level transcendents.” Recalling their father’s lonely back, Hyeon-Ah added, “No matter how strong you become, you can always accomplish more with others.”

“I’ll do what I can.”

Jae-Hyeok's warm smile betrayed no hint as to his next destination.

***

Plated with real gold, the tiles gleamed brilliantly in the sunlight.

The Geum family’s grand mansion on the outskirts of Seoul was as lavish as it was unique. The exterior had the aesthetic of a Chinese castle, while the interior was a nest of complex corridors.

In short, it was a maze.

To reach the area used by Geum Tae-Byeok’s immediate family, a person had to pass through a total of one hundred twenty-three corridors and sixty-seven rooms. And to arrive at Geum Tae-Byeok’s office, an additional twenty-one rooms and five gardens had to be crossed.

Besides the complexity, traps also littered the paths. And these weren’t just any traps, either. These traps were so lethal that even a National Treasure would find them difficult to overcome.

“There are probably few mansions like this in Japan.”

Yamamoto memorized the mansion’s floor plan and smiled with satisfaction.

“This can’t be explained by simple paranoia. I’m guessing you’ve committed many sins in your time.”

“......”

Geum Tae-Byeok swallowed.

He’d studied and researched all his life, pouring his wealth into creating the perfect safe house for himself and his family. Yet now an outsider was lounging on his couch while openly ogling the deepest secrets of his mansion, many of which not even his own family knew about.

Was it okay?

No, it’s fine. I can just build a new mansion. What matters now is escaping this ordeal in one piece.

As Chivalrous Yamamoto’s monicker implied, he was said to be a man who acted in accord with chivalry. Moreover, his grudge was aimed at Jae-Hyeok, something they shared in common.

All in all, Geum Tae-Byeok felt favored to survive this ideal. In fact, if he thought about it, Yamamoto’s arrival was actually a blessing in disguise.

He had offended Jae-Hyeok too many times. And knowing the state Jae-Hyeok had left the military prison in after rescuing his sister, it was clear Jae-Hyeok wasn’t the sort to take insults lying down.

Yamamoto was right: Jae-Hyeok would almost certainly pay a visit to his Guem Estate.

And sure enough—

“H-he really came! It’s Kang Jae-Hyeok!”

“Hmph. Cheeky kid.”

Geum Tae-Byeok glared at the CCTV feed, watching as Jae-Hyeok strolled around the outskirts of his property. He was even alone, too. Jae-Hyeok obviously wasn’t taking his family seriously.

Brat, you’re about to regret ever looking down on my Geum family!