Genius Engineer in the Labyrinth - Chapter 392
Only Noblemtl
Dragon Cult (2)
Nicola opened the first-class partition of the airplane with a blank face. Shiva looked at him, wondering what was going on.
“I realized why Alan was getting stronger so quickly.”
“Brother Nicola, you are late.”
“The hero, the opponent of the Demon King, fights without rest. He continues to do so until he reaches the Demon King’s Castle from the City of Beginnings.”
“It’s all experience.”
“If you survive all the chaos, you’ll naturally become a monster. I didn’t know you’d be on a plane just a week after leaving the labyrinth.”
The destination is the Southern Continent, which, as the name suggests, is located beneath and even connected to the Northern Continent where Soldos is located. Tilly, a country ruled by the Dragon Cult, has a long territory that extends from the west to the south of the Southern Continent.
The Serpent Islands, where Alan’s fate was twisted, were also Tilly’s territorial waters.
Nicola said, flipping through the holographic pamphlet introducing Tilly.
“The Serpent Islands are said to be difficult to access, but the scenery is very beautiful. Alan, are you listening? Are you sleeping?”
“···.”
“Why aren’t you saying anything?”
Zion’s head suddenly popped up from beyond the partition.
“Be aware of the situation. If you’re a wizard, you should be able to read the mood.”
“What about me? Sir? Why all of a sudden···.”
Taylor took Nicola to a corner and whispered to her. Nicola returned, sitting in a slouched posture, staring straight ahead.
Zion tried to guide Alan’s thoughts in a different direction. In the past, he would have just watched blankly, but things were definitely different.
‘Is this growth? I highly praise you.’
I sat down on the armrest of Alan’s seat, thinking cute thoughts, and clapping my hands.
“Clap clap clap.”
“···?”
“It was a mistake. My true feelings came out without me knowing. I’m talking about the Dragon Cult that overthrew Tilly.”
“These are people I’ve dealt with before.”
“That’s exactly what I was trying to say.”
It was a secret weapon manufacturing facility hidden inside the mouth of the monster whale Leviathan, and it was an organization similar to the cult that we fought against there. Its name was Antarctica.
“Mr. Decimus said he followed the guide. The South Pole Star is a fitting name, as it guides the way for Southern Hemisphere navigators.”
“Wait a minute, Decimus?”
“A person who was half-humanized. In the end, he underwent treatment at the Eldorado Bank and became a brain doll.”
Zion thought of an automaton with only a skeleton left. The automaton’s head was a cylinder, and its brain floated inside.
“I remember now. It was all because of my junior.”
“What is it?”
“My memory is deteriorating because my juniors are remembering things for me. They say that organs that are not used deteriorate.”
“Ugh, there really are so many excuses. Since learning the Allen method, all I’ve been doing is talking nonsense.”
Zion glared at Taylor. He tried to stab Taylor’s head with his sword sheath as he climbed over the partition, but Taylor easily dodged and stuck his tongue out.
“That’s not Taylor’s fault. And it’s not the Alan method…”
“Why do you stop talking?”
Zion crossed his arms and closed his eyes. His cheeks were redder than usual, and Taylor didn’t miss the change.
“Are you not angry, but embarrassed? Did you really plan on having grandchildren when Alan taught you the cultivation method?”
“···.”
“Wow, you’re an adult now. Maybe it’s because I’ve been watching you since you were a little kid, but I feel a lot of emotion.”
As Taylor quickly stopped bullying, Shiva looked at him with a surprised expression.
“Today ended quickly. But how did you know so much, brother?”
“When I first saw Sister Yohwa, I had already decided on a name for my child. This one is obvious too.”
“Not a grandchild, but a child?”
“I thought I’d be able to catch up quickly back then. Thanks to Allen, I’ve gotten through this, so I guess I’ll name my grandchild in advance.”
“You’re not even married.”
“If it’s you and I, wouldn’t we be in a common-law relationship?”
“Do you think so too, Sister Yohwa? The race is not over until the seal is stamped.”
“If you keep doing that, I’m going to pluck out your beard.”
The plane landed in the northern part of Tilly. It was one of the cities that was still functioning despite the chaos in the country, and for that reason it was bustling with people.
Alan looked at the people clinging to the airport fence. It wasn’t easy even though the airport security was firing into the sky to chase them away.
“There are a lot of refugees.”
“You’re the ones who reject Antarctica. Or maybe you don’t want to get caught up in a war between Antarctica and the Resistance.”
Alan looked at her quietly. The smart Zion still seemed unfamiliar.
In any case, Zion’s words were right. Even though Antarctica had seized the capital and other major facilities, the resistance forces continued to fight throughout the country.
“Who do you think has the advantage, junior?”
“Based on the information available, the South Pole is currently at 7. The gap will only widen over time.”
“Is it okay?”
Zion said as he left the airport.
“You’re the person I fought with last time. Are you okay?”
“Even if you came here with a strange priestess’ introduction, you’re still anxious. What if she suddenly turns the tip of her sword?”
Zion has certainly changed. In the past, they would not have shown any concern and would have only thought about how to cut down their enemies.
“Then Dawn will taste blood. I will prey on you.”
Alan was wrong. The essence was still the same.
“I’ve dealt with everyone I encountered last time, so you’ll be fine. I collected all the cultists from the El Dorado Bank.”
“Yes, I remember.”
If you attacked El Dorado and caused great property damage, would you just leave it alone? There was a high chance that you were either working hard as a laboratory material or being toiled for a hundred years as a brain dummy.
We rode in the car that the box had been taken out of. There were still many shops open for business, but there were many anxious faces that looked like they didn’t know when the phone would ring.
We left the city and headed towards the mountains. As Alan twisted his palms below, the scenery changed completely.
Taylor stretched, Nicola had a snowball fight with the sun, and Shiva looked out at the city with a worried expression.
“Why are you like that?”
“Brother Alan···.”
“Yes, go ahead.”
“I followed them, but I don’t know what was right. I don’t know what their cause was, but the South Pole is a force that overturned the country.”
To the Mother Goddess, the country is not important. But the reason Shiva says this is because he has seen people suffering from confusion.
“What is the policy of Tilly Parish?”
“For now, it’s neutral···.”
Compared to the northern continent where Soldos is located, the southern continent is a mess. The crime rate is extremely high, the government is corrupt, and the scale of the criminal cartels is enormous.
That’s why the Mother Church declared neutrality. In their eyes, he’s still the same.
“They don’t even intervene in politics these days. In the past, they used to wield their divine power and achieve something close to unity between the government and the state…”
“Brother! Please, leave behind the shameful past…”
In any case, the Mother Church will remain silent as long as they do not touch themselves and those they protect. The South Star knows this, so it does not touch the Mother Church’s territory.
Alan took out the medallion that Druid Hunter Tumen had given him. He placed the dragon-engraved medallion on the floor and placed magic stones around it. The procedure was complicated, but it allowed him to directly contact the higher-ups at Antarctica, and security was also assured.
“Now let’s try to contact the South Pole.”
As I followed the procedure that Tumen had instructed, a transparent mirror appeared in the air. It continued to sway, then the surroundings became dark and a human figure appeared.
The man’s face was covered in blue scales. His teeth were sharp and horns sprouted from his head.
Although he was closer to a dragon than Taylor, he was a dragon with a much lower level of perfection. If you don’t know, it’s because we met in the past.
[It’s the direct medal that was handed over to the delivery person. It’s finally connected···.]
The person appearing on the video call opened his eyes wide.
[You?!]
“You seem to react very strongly at first sight. Or is that the Antarctic way? That’s a different kind of etiquette.”
[Stop being a jerk! How could I forget your faces?]
Taylor, Shiva, and Zion, who had been hanging around, retreated, but it was already too late.
The person connected to him happened to be Decimus, a cultist who had become the brain puppet of the Eldorado Bank. For some reason, he had regained his original body.
[They betrayed us. No, you took the medal!]
It was nice that you figured it out. Alan sprinkled some seasoning on it.
“Your skills are not that great. In particular, the elf druid was pitiful because he only talked.”
[I bet you’re having a hard time like me. I’m sorry.]
“It’s been a few years, so let’s just forget about it and reestablish our relationship. What do you think?”
[I’ve been waiting for the day when I can use your skull as a drinking cup! No compromise!]
There was no room for negotiation in Decimus’s tone. His eyes were overflowing with vengeance.
“I have a question. Can I ask it?”
[This time, I’m going to tie you up tight and do it. I’ll watch to see if you’re still that stiff even when you become a brain puppet.]
“I’m curious as to how they escaped from the El Dorado Bank. A surprise attack might work, but they’re not a weakling.”
[I clearly refused, but can’t you hear me? Or are you deaf?]
He wasn’t someone I could talk to. Alan was really curious, but he held back tears and reached out to the video call magic circle. Decimus, who was watching him, said.
[Did you say we reestablished our relationship earlier?]
“Yes. Have you changed your mind?”
[It takes time. I don’t know, but it’s unknown whether others will follow.]
Alan stared at Dekimus, who had suddenly become friendly. It was difficult to gauge his emotions with his magic power because he was on the phone.
“···.”
[Are you suspicious because your attitude has changed? But that’s just how people’s minds work. Even if you get angry, if you think about it carefully, you might think it’s nothing serious. Aren’t you like that? Haha, did I talk too much about myself? It’s embarrassing, so why don’t you talk too?]
“What are you talking about?”
[Oh, was it too obvious?]
“Hey! Up!”
Nicola, who was fighting with the sun, called out to Alan. Alan looked up. He saw something shining in the sky. A cylindrical object was falling toward him at a terrifying speed.
Alan immediately twisted his palm. The last thing he saw on the call screen was Decimus laughing bitterly.
Krrrr!
The mountain I was talking about was completely turned upside down. The trees were scattered as ash, and rocks and soil flowed down. A large hole was made at the top.
Wild animals ran screaming, and cars slammed into nearby roads with their windows shattered.
The nearby city also became noisy. It was a natural reaction to a missile landing nearby.
Taylor, who was lying on the floor, groaned and got up.
“A missile in the clear sky?”
“They tracked the signal from the call and figured out my location. I was caught off guard.”
The weapon launched by Dekimus was probably a short-range ballistic missile (SRBM). It descends at a speed of 1,700 meters per second, and has a damage radius of 1 km.
Alan slowly calmed his magic circuits, which were startled by the unprepared use of [Space Manipulation]. His already weak body screamed.
Zion stamped his foot and stroked the hilt of his sword.
“Let’s kill him. This is how I repay my junior’s kindness….”
“What kind of mercy is a brain doll?”
“Be mindful of the situation.”
Zion glared at Nicola. Taylor asked while receiving treatment from Shiva.
“Is there a problem with the El Dorado Bank?”
“Why do you think so?”
“They’re not the kind of guys who would let you escape easily. Or maybe they made a deal with you for something? Anyway, these rich little dwarfs.”
“Ahem! Ahem! Brother, you shouldn’t just assume something is bad.”
“Oh, you were a dwarf too.”
Everyone heard Alan’s exhalation. At the same time, they turned their heads and looked at Alan. They waited for the decision maker to speak.
“The relationship is irreparable. Let’s go find the resistance.”
Alan was incredibly calm considering he had just been hit by a missile.