Chapter 126
A fleeting silence flows.
“… … A grand alliance of over 30 teams?”
Sun-chan let out a laugh with a puzzled look on his face.
“Why do you think so?”
“A joint magic used by the 3 teams that were allied a while ago. That is the basis of my hypothesis.”
I recalled the degree of perfection of the magic that the nine people used together a while ago.
“Joint Magic… … .”
Senior Kang Shin-woo narrowed his eyes and was silent, as if he was reminiscing about the raid a moment ago.
“As CNU-senpai knows, joint magic is quite tricky.”
“yes. It’s a bit tricky to get the synchro rate right.”
“Such a tricky tuning was carried out by the 9 people I met for the first time today and succeeded, and they showed such a perfect synchro rate? Common sense makes no sense.”
Senior Kang Shin-woo’s eyes shone sharply.
“In other words, the alliance was formed not yesterday or today. Is this?”
“yes. Considering the training time, at least the day before yesterday. or 3 days ago. I think we might have formed an alliance at that time.”
The magic from before was a level of magic that was evident from the two or three days of putting it together.
“That’s a reasonable hypothesis.”
If you prepared it 3 days ago, you can achieve that level of perfection.
“I understand what you mean, but why does that lead to a grand coalition of about 30 teams? The three teams just cooperated three days ago. Isn’t this all?”
“no. It can’t be.”
It wasn’t me who denied Soonchan’s opinion, but Shinwoo senior.
“There is no way that a country like Canada didn’t make a proposal to another country while forming an alliance with another country three days ago. If the alliance was born three days ago instead of today, it wouldn’t be strange to say that about 30 teams formed an alliance.”
“yes. It’s probably the same for other countries that don’t want to fall prey to breaking new records.”
The fact that Korea is breaking new records means that they look so incompetent.
You’ll want to avoid that somehow.
“… … Pride or what, isn’t it just jealousy?”
“There must be a reason for that.”
As jealousy is one of the driving forces that move people, Korea’s success must have been the nucleus that brought other countries together.
“… … puppies like dogs. I’m so fed up.”
Sunchan spat on the ground.
It is an expression that cannot control anger.
“But no matter how dearly we cherish our success, and even if we don’t want to fall prey to breaking new records, that’s the case. Is it possible for teams close to 30 to form an alliance all of a sudden?”
“That’s a good idea. As you said, it is impossible to come together naturally.”
This is by no means a natural occurrence.
“That sounds unnaturally possible.”
“that’s right. That’s what you said.”
Soonchan also narrowed his eyes as if he had sensed something.
“in other words. Someone raised the gun and brought the coalition together. is this?”
In order for a great alliance of this magnitude to be born, a core axis is needed.
A powerful axis that unites nearly 30 countries.
A central axis with great power enough to put the risk of fraudulent alliances in the background.
“that’s right. Maybe America.”
“… … After all, it is America.”
It is likely that the United States is behind this incident. If it were not for the U.S., which runs the Olympiad and is the host country of the Olympiad, such a large-scale preparatory work would be impossible.
“But why is the US doing this? There must be a reason, right?”
“For 127 years, the country with the highest score in the Olympiad has been the United States. It’s in danger of breaking suddenly, so I’m impatient.”
America is a country that values honor. There is no way that such a country would just let the record that had been maintained for 127 years be overwritten and disappear.
“… … It comes out mean.”
Sunchan furrowed his brow.
“I thought it was just a great record because it was a record that had not been broken for 127 years. Suddenly it feels like nothing. Doesn’t that mean you’ve been keeping records like this all this time?”
“It’s not recorded, but I’m sure it’s not the first or second time I’ve done something like this.”
Judging by the speed at which the alliance was born, it is not a skill that has been done once or twice.
There must have been countries in the same situation as us before.
“Then there would be no point in conveying the suspicions of the fraudulent alliance to the referee.”
“yes. It won’t make any sense.”
The majority of the Olympiad management side are wizards from the United States.
Raising allegations of fraudulent alliances will only dismiss them as such.
“Actually, the situation right now is quite ambiguous.”
“Is there insufficient evidence?”
“yes.”
Labyrinth exploration is a game that claims to attack the labyrinth.
As such, plunder, cooperation, and betrayal are very free.
Even if you raise suspicions about the raid a while ago, they won’t listen to you.
An attack like this isn’t that big of a deal.
“It’s pretty annoying.”
“yes. It’s kind of annoying.”
Labyrinth exploration is a game in which time is important as points are obtained in various ways.
Being attacked frequently by other teams in such a game is a huge penalty.
“I guess I need to revise my plan a bit.”
It is very difficult to get points as it is now.
You need to change your operation.
“Does it make sense to change plans? As long as the other side is openly trying to interfere with us, isn’t it meaningless no matter what we do?”
“no. That’s not it. There are many eyes to see, so the other side can’t commit more explicit injustice than necessary.”
Senior Shinwoo interrupted Soonchan and said,
“Just like before, it’s probably just about using the coalition to attack us.”
“yes. Yes. If they commit injustice more openly than this, then Korea will not stand still.”
It is important that the injustice that the US side is doing now straddles the ‘ambiguous line’.
The moment this line is crossed, the air defense is reversed, and Korea’s offensive begins.
America knows that too.
Therefore, there is little room for outright corruption such as rule violations or outside intervention.
“In other words, we just need to move away from the Coalition.”
“We move away from the coalition… … .”
“uh? That means… … .”
Shinwoo sunbaenim’s smile deepened, and Soonchan’s pupils slowly dilated.
“yes.”
My smile also gradually deepened.
“The most difficult attack area without people. We are going straight to District 3.”
Pass Zones 1 and 2, move directly to Zone 3 and defeat the named monsters.
That’s the best option available right now.
* * *
Meanwhile, at that time, inside a limousine running somewhere on an American road.
Shin In-hyeok was watching TV with a funny face.
“Americans. You do some pretty funny stuff. They seem to be looking at Korea fairly easily.”
The corners of his mouth were raised slightly, but inside he was angry to the point where there was nothing more.
Anger flared at the U.S. government for daring to deny that it was forming an alliance to bring Korea down.
“My lord. Shall we prepare a complaint letter?”
An aide sitting next to Shin In-hyeok asked cautiously.
“no. Now is not the time.”
There is still not enough evidence or anything to raise suspicions about the illicit alliance.
There is no point in sending a letter of protest now.
On the contrary, it may be backfired as an overreaction.
“then… … .”
“Now I just watch. More evidence will accumulate as the game progresses. It is not too late to protest after that.”
The blade of the dagger in my hand has not yet been fully forged.
It is not yet time.
After crouching down a little more, gathering a little more evidence, I definitely take the enemy’s neck.
“All right. Then we will make arrangements so that we can gather evidence.”
“okay. let it be.”
The aide lowered his head slightly and quickly took out the tablet PC.
And then I started working quickly. Indeed, it was a sure and quick work process worthy of an aide in charge of Kim Seok-hyun’s deputy.
Shin In-hyeok looked at Shin Ha-yul’s face, which was being broadcast on the hologram TV.
Shin Ha-ryul is quickly passing through District 1 and quickly passing through District 2 as well. Seeing that, I couldn’t help but smile.
‘As expected, Ha Yul seems to have a clear understanding of the current situation.’
There is only one reason for Shin Ha-yul to make the choice to quickly enter District 3.
Shin Ha-yul accurately grasped how the current situation is going through the engagement with the coalition.
Knowing that other teams would also interfere with Korea, they made the choice to quickly enter Zone 3, which was sparsely populated.
‘My ability to judge the situation is getting better.’
Shin Ha-yul objectively grasped his situation and made the best choice.
Shin In-hyeok liked Shin Ha-yul’s thoroughness and prudence.
‘And one more.’
That alone is satisfactory enough, but Shin Ha-yul’s judgment has one more purpose.
‘If Korea enters Zone 3 so quickly, other teams that need to hinder the Korean team will have no choice but to quickly enter Zone 3.’
The moment the coalition side learns that Korea has entered the third zone, it will enter the third zone.
In District 3, which boasts extreme difficulty.
‘If that happens, a melee will inevitably occur. When a melee occurs, the probability of new evidence of the negative alliance increases.’
The more complex a situation is, the more likely it is to yield evidence.
The fact that the coalition side entered District 3 in the first place is also evidence.
‘The coalition side may give up entering District 3, but that’s an advantage as it is.’
At that time, Korea will be able to monopolize District 3 alone without anyone interfering.
‘No matter what happens, it will benefit Korea.’
In this operation, all situations are designed to favor South Korea.
Of course it could be a coincidence.
Shin Ha-yul accidentally chose District 3, and it could be that the situation is all going in favor of Shin Ha-yul.
but.
‘no. It can’t be a coincidence.’
This is by no means a coincidence.
Shin Ha-yul’s actions so far prove that this is not a coincidence.
‘In the first place, Ha-yul expected this to happen even before the game started.’
There is evidence that it was not a coincidence, that Shin Ha-yul was planning all of this.
‘Ji Soon-chan.’
Ji Sun-chan, Shin Ha-yul’s best friend and one of only two defense-specialized magicians in the world.
The fact that he was included in the list of participants is proof of that.
‘Hayul removed Ma Jin-seok, who was originally a member, and Ji Sun-chan was put in.’
Judging from the overall status, the Margin Stone is more suitable for labyrinth exploration.
Nevertheless, Shin Ha-yul made an incomprehensible choice to have Ji Sun-chan play.
Why?
Do you want to give Ji Soon-chan a chance to compete?
Or is it because Ma Jin-seok suffered from poor physical condition?
no.
It’s not such a trivial reason.
‘Because Ji Sun-chan is more helpful when attacking District 3.’
The answer is only this.
In other words, Shin Ha-yul had no intention of attacking areas 1 and 2 of the labyrinth from the beginning.
‘Ha Yul predicted that the situation would turn out like this, and sent Ji Sun-chan, who was more helpful in attacking the District 3 base camp, as a starting member.’
This is the conclusion.
Shin Ha-yul anticipated everything and finished all preparations in advance.
“Kuk-ku.”
A small laugh escaped Shin In-hyuk’s mouth.
“Whose son are you? I mean, it’s very sinister.”
“yes?”
Shin In-hyeok’s muttering murmured, and the aide asked back in surprise.
“Hayul is what you mean.”
“ah. yes. Master Ha Yul. yes… … hmm… … .”
The aide broke out in a cold sweat as if he couldn’t think of anything to say.
Thinking inwardly, ‘Who is calling someone insidious?’, he smiled desperately so as not to reveal his true intentions.
-ah! Korean team! We enter District 3 in 7 hours from the start of the game! fast! fast!
At that moment, the TV commentator’s excited voice rang out.
―Is this confidence? You can attack everything in District 3! Is it like this? What will the Korean team and Shin Ha-yul do in District 3? Attention is drawn!
Shin In-hyeok crossed his legs and focused his eyes on the TV.
Shin Ha-yul is giving orders to Shin-woo Kang and Soon-chan Ji.
Just looking at it made me smile.
‘I’ll show you a magic that will surprise not only Jihan-nim, but also your father.’
yesternight. He remembered what Shin Ha-yul had said and his eyes lit up.
‘ruler. What are you going to show me?’
The corner of Shin In-hyeok’s mouth rose slowly.
