Overgeared Chapter 1022:
[The key fits perfectly . ]
[An effect has occurred . ]
“Ohhh!”
It was a small keyhole in a big tree . He put in and turned the universal key, then a notification window emerged with a cheerful sound effect . An effect had occurred!
Grid imagined it . The tree would split in half, and hidden treasures would appear . If Lauel had to guess, it would be a scene where he was likely to obtain a skill book that gave a ‘war god’s secret technique’ .
“ . . . ?”
However, the tree didn’t move . Unlike the notification window, nothing really happened .
“What? Why?” Grid was confused for a moment and searched around . There were all types of plants and trees, and some of the trees had keyholes .
‘Are there some losing tickets? Let’s open some more . ’
Grid moved to a big tree that was 20 meters away .
[You have fallen into a trap!]
It was an absurd thing . The ground sank the moment he stepped on a protruding tree root .
[You have suffered 10,200 damage!]
There was a 10-meter-deep tunnel . Grid fell into the terrible trap installed in the ground and spat out blood .
“ . . . I would’ve died if I had fallen into it during a fight . ”
Why was there a trap in this place? Grid was thinking about it as he used Fly to escape the tunnel .
‘Did the imperial army do it?’
The empire wanted to monopolize the ruins . Considering their abilities, it was certainly possible . It was highly likely that the imperial troops, who arrived here first, installed traps to interfere with latecomers .
‘The empire is the empire . They actually installed traps like this . ’
As their stats and experience rose, players wouldn’t fall into traps so easily . In particular, Grid had a high insight stat and could easily distinguish between traps . However, the perfect traps that assimilated with nature couldn’t be distinguished and were a threat to Grid . Maybe there was another trap?
“Ack!” Grid screamed as he maintained Fly . The moment his shoulder came in contact with a leaf, the leaf turned into a blade . The deeply wounded Grid pulled out a potion and swallowed it .
“What is the level of these traps?”
This wasn’t a level that could be discovered by paying attention . Wasn’t it too powerful at this point? Grid wanted to know the person who installed the traps . It would be a big jackpot if he obtained them . After suffering the wound, Grid arrived in front of the second big tree and once again inserted the Master Key . Once again, there was a sound effect and a notice of an effect occurring, but no treasures emerged .
“Is it another failure?”
His obstinate spirit was stimulated . Grid confirmed he still had time to spare and moved to the next tree . It was naturally a tree with a keyhole, and the universal key was properly inserted and aligned . Once again, nothing happened . It was the same with the next tree and the tree after that . Grid got upset because he ran into several traps along the way and wasted potions .
“Nothing happened when I inserted the key?? What is going on?”
“Why are you asking me, nyong?” Noe seemed to be in a very good mood .
Warm sunlight fell from the sky, and a cool breeze gently blew his fur . He puffed out his belly and rolled around . Grid complained because the cat made his neck sore after using his head as a bed .
“In any case, you’re no help . ”
Noe had evolved after eating the thunder stone . He had great skill, but his sense of presence wasn’t the same as before . Noe’s help was great when Grid was still weak . Now, he had become too strong that Noe’s weight as a helper had fallen . In order for Noe to play a prominent role again, he must show a unique strength such as against the final evolutionary golem in the golem invasion . Was an enemy like that common?
‘In the first place, I hope there are no such strong enemies . ’
Grid thought he would rather Noe not be active . Then he smiled .
‘Why do I care about Noe? It isn’t due to Noe’s combat strength . I just like Noe . ’ He realized this truth all over again .
‘Yes, he should just stay happy . Sometimes Noe will do chores . ’
Didn’t a memphis have a long life span . . . ? Perhaps it was even longer than his . Recently, Noe’s fur had turned black again for some reason .
Grid stroked his tail and moved to insert the key in the next tree . He hoped he would win a treasure this time, but it was also a bust .
There was a notice about an effect, but Grid didn’t know the effect . . .
“ . . . Eh?” Grid looked around, and his eyes widened . He discovered that some of the traps plaguing him on the way had disappeared without a trace .
‘Releasing the traps?’
Grid finally figured out the purpose of the keyholes . It was a feasible idea . He made reasonable inferences by identifying the ‘key trees’ that still existed in the jungle .
‘It is impossible for the empire to have installed hundreds of traps during that short period of time . ’
These traps were originally present already . Perhaps releasing the traps was one of the keys for exploring these ruins . Possessing the universal key meant he was in a much more favorable position than the empire .
‘Wow . . . It really is present whenever I need it . ’
The universal key he made in the old days was needed . The more he looked, the more fraudulent of an item it seemed . The Grid of the present time wouldn’t be able to create it . Grid was now more cautious in comparison to the old days and had many considerations to think about when creating an item . However, this process limited his imagination .
‘It wouldn’t be possible for my current self to think about making such an item . I would think that such a fraudulent item couldn’t be made, and it would naturally be blocked . ’
Sometimes, it was necessary to be simple . It was a moment of small enlightenment .
. ’ . . !’ He suddenly realized he couldn’t hear all types of sounds in the jungle . Then there was the sound of someone sliding through the bushes and footsteps approaching .
“Overgeared King!” Two men and one woman popped out .
[You have discovered a strong person of this era!]
[The Hero King’s fighting energy has started to boil!]
“ . . . !!”
They were Grenhal, Morse, and Basara . Grid was wrapped in a blazing fighting energy in an instant as he recognized the three of them . They were dukes who had attended the luncheon that occurred back when he visited the empire at the emperor’s call . Basara hadnt looked at Grid during the luncheon, but her beauty was memorable . Morse’s form was different from the other dukes, and Grenhal boasted the highest level alongside Limit and Rachel . No, he would’ve remembered them clearly even if they didn’t have any special features . He couldn’t forget the dukes of the empire .
‘Damn XX!’
It was bad . Grid had violated Lauel’s order not to enter the jungle . Sensing his death, Grid hurriedly pulled out his sword .
“Hey! Can’t we show appreciation after receiving help from you?” Morse was talking nonsense .
“ . . . ?”
They received help from him? Grid cocked his head and soon noticed it . They escaped some type of crisis because he released the traps .
‘That’s why they didn’t attack me?’
It was a situation where three of the Seven Dukes were together . If they intended to kill Grid, they would’ve attacked him the moment they appeared and Grid would’ve already lost his immortality . However, Grid was fine and the dukes showed him no hostility . Grid identified the three people’s personalities .
‘They have personalities of people that don’t want to owe debts . ’
From the dukes’ standpoint, Grid was an enemy king . It was right to kill or capture Grid as soon as he was seen . Their encounter with Grid was a chance to earn a huge achievement and end the war . Yet they kicked away this big opportunity just because they were helped .
‘It seems to be a big help?’
This was a chance . He had to use an excuse to leave here . Grid judged this and tried to remain as calm as possible .
“I’m glad to help . I pretended not to know out of humility . ”
He tried to pretend to be casual, but his voice was shaking . Honestly, it was scary . They were monsters who could kill him at any time . He would be killed and deported from the Red Sea . Grid was most afraid that he wouldn’t be able to protect his remaining companions .
“Such a person killed Rigal?” Morse snapped out after hearing Grid’s words . There was no need for Grid to say anything .
This was because Grenhal stepped in for him . “It was something that happened on the battlefield . ”
It meant for them not to blame Grid .
“Bah . ” Morse was convinced and didn’t say anything else .
Grenhal descended from the giant two-headed hippo, approached Grid, and saluted slightly .
Grid didn’t know the meaning of the action, but Morse and Basara were very surprised . It was because Grenhal didn’t show politeness to anyone by descending from his hippo apart from when he saw the emperor . Even Empress Marie couldn’t make Grenhal get off his hippo .
“Thank you . We were able to pass the crisis thanks to Your Majesty . Of course, it wasn’t pure benevolence, right? You definitely had a reason to help us . Isn’t that correct?”
‘No?’
An unknown situation was being created . Grid was devising words to reply when Grenhal struck a drum by himself .
“Your Majesty’s strength alone won’t be able to endure the power of the war **** followers . Thus, you planned to work with us . ”
“ . . . ”
“In conclusion, it is a very excellent plan . Your Majesty has the key, so this suggestion of cooperation is very attractive for us who needs the key . This way you can coordinate the situation . . . You are a great man to make this bet . I have to acknowledge Your Majesty . I was pathetic to look down on you until now . ”
From Grid’s standpoint, Grenhal was babbling absurd sophistry .
“Certainly . You have a forward-looking insight and bold determination,” Basara also agreed while Morse was busy thinking .
Grenhal reached out a hand to Grid . “I will make a proposal with the authority of an imperial duke . Let’s forget the war and make an alliance here . You will borrow our strength, and we will borrow your key . If we combine forces, we can explore this place safely . ”
“ . . . ”
Should he agree to the cooperation? Should he talk to Lauel first? Grid hesitated, but it was only for a moment . He had to hold this hand as it was too risky to explore this area while being hostile to the empire . It was possible to judge this much .
“I understand . Let’s do it . ”
Grid’s and Grenhal’s big hands shook vigorously .
“ . . . Huung . ”
“ . . . ??”
“ . . . ??”
Grenhal suddenly hummed, and Morse and Basara cocked their heads .
“Hum hum . ” Grid pulled back his hand and coughed hurriedly .
***
At the S . A Group’s headquarters…
“T-This is ridiculous . How did this happen?”
The staff in the meeting room were shocked by the scene on the monitor . Originally, the empire was destined to be destroyed by the rampage of Insane Dragon Nevartan . This was one of the basic scenarios of Satisfy . The scenario had completely changed due to the finals of the 3rd National Competition .
The empire had survived and started a war with the Overgeared Kingdom . Due to the numerous causal effects from this, Skunk had discovered the Ruins of the War God . If Skunk and the dukes hadn’t met in Galest, Skunk would never have sailed through the Red Sea and he wouldn’t have found the Ruins of the War God . The butterfly effect caused the Ruins of the War God to appear much earlier than planned, and the major powers of the Overgeared Kingdom departed the continent .
Satisfy’s management team was very frustrated .
Great Demon Berith descended on a land far from the Saharan Empire . In order to raid the great demon, the top players needed to cooperate . It was the worst situation since Grid’s party wasn’t present . The employees thought that the players would suffer irreparable damage because of Berith, who would kill countless people and open the gates of **** to summon an army . It was calculated that the players who tried and lost everything were likely to quit the game .
Grid’s party would waste time in the Ruins of the War God and wouldn’t be able to handle Berith who summoned the army . Yes, it was a waste of time . The current level of Grid’s party made it impossible to properly explore the Ruins of the War God .
Yet . . . Yet!!
“Where the **** did he get the key? It is ridiculous to have collected the key pieces in that short period of time . ”
Grid held a key and easily released the trap trees . Then he obtained a chance to ally with the dukes .
“ . . . Is he going to clear the ruins?” Finally, one of the employees spoke nonsense, but no one raised a counterargument . It was possible based on the development .
“Hah . . . Hahat!” Chairman Lim Cheolho was laughing . Grid used the key he made previously to ally with the dukes . This was truly admirable . He was forced to praise Grid who surpassed predictions several times . The atmosphere was awkward .
“Chairman,” the director of operations Yoon Sangmin suddenly got up and asked Chairman Lim Cheolho a question, “Shall I order chicken and beer?”
“Yes . ”
“It is also half-and-half?”
“Yes . ”
“I understand . I’ll order two right now . ” Yoon Sangmin took out his phone and left the conference room for a while .
“Director Yoon, are you crazy right now?”
The agitated employees pointed at him .
“How many people are here? Yet you’re only ordering two portions?”
“ . . . ”
That’s right . Now the other employees were also enjoying Grid’s path . Grid, who had been solving most of his problems with force, faced a situation where force didn’t work and broke through with wisdom . It was a wonderful sight .