Chapter 297: The Vatican (4)


    The anticipation in Go Hyung-Chuls eyes turned into confusion, disappointment, then fury.


    Why not? Go Hyung-Chul red at Gi-Gyu.


    ...


    Why not?! Why wont you sync with me?! Go Hyung-Chul screamed when Gi-Gyu didnt answer. He no longer knelt on the ground. He yelled, Tell me Tell me the reason!


    Go Hyung-Chul demanded an answer, but Gi-Gyu remained silent. Finally, Go Hyung-Chul wielded his daggers again; this time, his energy was filled with determination and fury. The new elements seemed to have brought his magic to new heights.


    If you wont tell me Go Hyung-Chul turned into fog again and headed toward Gi-Gyu, who remained still.


    In the blink of an eye, he materialized next to Gi-Gyu. His dagger was pressed firmly against Gi-Gyus neck, but he didnt cut through Gi-Gyus skin.


    Gi-Gyu finally opened his lips and said, Do you know what sync is?


    Go Hyung-Chul didnt move his dagger one bit.


    Gi-Gyu coldly said, It isnt a simple ritual for obtaining power.


    I know that.


    No, you dont. If I sync with you, your power will increase, sure. However, you will be forced to lead apletely different life. A life nothing like the other yers.


    Gi-Gyus synced Egos followed the system but slightly differently. They could level up and learn new skills like the other yers, but there was one big difference.


    You will belong to mepletely, and you will never be able to leave my influence, exined Gi-Gyu. It also meant that Gi-Gyus condition would directly affect his Egos. An example was what had happened recently. Gi-Gyu had fallen into a trap, which had weakened the entire Eden. More importantly


    Your condition will change depending on the level of my sorcerous energy, Death, and Life. And Im not talking about just your physical condition. Your mental condition will be affected as well.


    Go Hyung-Chul retrieved his dagger and stood quietly. His face was trembling.


    Gi-Gyu continued, Everything about you will change once you belong to me.


    Gi-Gyus voice was so cold now that it was icy.


    And Gi-Gyus voice shook slightly as he continued, You will develop an unconditional loyalty toward me. Are you okay with that? Do you still want to sync with me?


    Go Hyung-Chul didnt answer. He had already heard about the sync process and thought he was ready for it.


    <em>Am I not ready? </em>Go Hyung-Chul despaired again.


    If you sync with me, youGi-Gyu walked by Go Hyung-Chulmight not be able to exist as yourself. With a single order, I could make you give up on your revenge. We will talk again if you are ready to ept all this.


    Gi-Gyu wasnt moving fast, but he disappeared quickly. Even though he was gone, Go Hyung-Chul stayed on the spot for a long time.


    ***


    Drakes were high-level monsters that only appeared in S-ss gates. Such a powerful monster was running amok as its giant body shook the entire ce.


    Kwerrrrk! Its scream pierced the yers ears. The rankers were strong, but they werent strong enough to dodge the magic-filled shout of this monster.


    R-run! someone yelled, but it was toote.


    Kwerrrrk! The drake opened its mouth and drenched the yers with its drool. The S-ss gate was too much for even the rankers.


    No!


    Cheol-Min!


    The fleeing yers screamed. There was a young yer among the yers who had failed to escape the drake. He was the youngest and the weakest of the group. The yers had tried their best to stop him from joining them, but here he was, standing right in front of the drakes mouth.


    Ahhhhh! The young yer named Cheol-Min was a swordsman. He raised his weapon and aimed it toward the drake; his hands shook badly. Despite being a ranker, hecked experience; consequently, he failed to shake off his fear and froze.


    Cheol-Min was about to face certain death.


    <em>Boom!</em>


    ...! The yer named Cheol-Min remained frozen on his spot with his sword raised. The drake, which had meant certain death for him


    Cheol-Min! Are you okay? The other yers hade running to help Cheol-Min.


    What about the drake? Cheol-Min asked, confused.


    Kwerrrk! the drake roared once more. Before, its roars sounded like a predators roars; now, the roar sounded different.


    Cheol-Min and the other yers turned to look.


    <em>Kaboom! Kaboom!</em>


    The dust from the explosion slowly settled down, and they saw a man punching the drake.


    What the hell? one of the yers whispered.


    Every time the man punched the drake, the beast cried pitifully.


    ***


    Thank you for saving us.


    We dont know how to show our appreciation.


    The yers couldnt thank the man enough. He had helped them close the hellish S-ss gate. So, before being transferred to the reward room, the yers bowed to the man deeply.


    Im d I could save your group, Heo Sung-Hoon replied. Im from a group named Eden. We are still very new, but we n to follow the KPAs footsteps to ensure the yers safety and honor.


    Ah! the yers eximed when Sung-Hoon handed them his business cards.


    Eden was essentially the new Korean yers Association. Unfortunately, most yers had lost their trust in the KPA, so they refused to join Eden. The government and the media helped improve Edens reputation, but the best way to change the yers minds was to work with them for their betterment.


    I will work hard and do my best, so please join us! Sung-Hoon continued.


    Our guild will join for sure!


    Ours too!


    The guild masters of the two guilds promised.


    Unlike when the KPA existed, guilds now had to work together to close S-ss gates.


    By the way, who is that gentleman? Cheol-Min pointed at a yer standing far away. Sung-Hoon had helped them close the gate, but he didnt y a big part. The other yer, however, had helped them close the gate in just three hours. He was the one who had exterminated the drake.


    Sung-Hoon asked, Have you heard of Morningstar?


    That mysteriously powerful yer was Gi-Gyu. He was standing far away and talking to something.


    M-Morningstar?! You mean the one who once was a wanted man? one yer asked.


    Yes, but that was just a misunderstanding, Sung-Hoon exined.


    yer Kim Gi-Gyu, right?


    Yes, you could say that he is the backbone of our group, Eden.


    He looks different from the wanted posters, another yer mumbled.


    Hes a real beast, isnt he? Cheol-Min eximed in awe.


    Just what level is he? one of the guild masters asked.


    The yers seemed fearful as they asked various questions, but Sung-Hoon only silently smiled.


    We need to investigate the gate, so would you like to go to the reward chamber and collect your rewards? Sung-Hoon suggested, and the yers nodded. They touched the gates boss monster, the blue drake, and were transferred to the reward chamber.


    Sung-Hoon sighed deeply and walked toward Gi-Gyu. He asked, Are you done?


    Ah, yes, Gi-Gyu replied.


    Gi-Gyu was talking to the mid-boss, a drake. Sung-Hoon scratched his cheek awkwardly as the monster rubbed itself against Gi-Gyus cheek. The monster was drooling heavily and gave the impression that it was about to swallow Gi-Gyu whole. However, the expression on the drakes face resembled that of an innocent puppy.


    Brun, Gi-Gyu murmured, and a blue gate appeared in front of him.


    Gi-Gyu pointed at the gate and ordered, Go inside.


    The drake nodded emphatically before walking into the gate, which closed behind it.


    Sung-Hoon thanked Gi-Gyu, Thank you so much for helping me today.


    Sung-Hoon had been trying to publicize Eden as the new association, but as mentioned earlier, the yers acted cynical. It was all due to the KPAs copse, and the poor job Caravan Guild had done in its ce. Moreover, the yers now knew demons were stealing their bodies; it increased their wariness. So, the guilds worked together to close the gates instead of joining the new association.


    Sung-Hoon didnt think what the guilds were doing was a bad idea. However, there woulde a time when the guilds would all have conflicts with one another. He believed the best thing was to have the yers unite under an organization, so he worked overtime to make the guilds join Eden.


    And the most effective way to aplish this was to save the yers in danger. Gi-Gyu was here because Sung-Hoon requested his help.


    There have been too many S-ss gatestely. Sung-Hoon sounded exhausted. You saved the day. Not many yers have joined Eden yet, so I have been having a rough time. Haa


    Call me whenever you need me. This isnt hard anyway, Gi-Gyu offered.


    Sung-Hoon smiled bitterly. This was an S-ss gate. Because there were so many of them now, they seemed to be getting easier to close.


    <em>Still, it looks like hes out for a stroll.</em>


    It looked like Gi-Gyu had closed the S-ss gate without breaking a sweat.


    Sung-Hoon asked, Did you sync with the drake?


    Yes. It actually looked pretty useful. I didnt use my full strength, but it still managed to endure a couple of my punches.


    Sung-Hoon smiled. Gi-Gyu had helped him a few times already. Whenever he found a decent monster, Gi-Gyu would sync with it and send it to Eden.


    Ah. Sung-Hoon suddenly remembered something and said, I heard the news. yer Go Hyung-Chul wanted to sync with you, right?


    Rumors spread fast in Eden. Go Hyung-Chul had begged Gi-Gyu to sync with him, but Gi-Gyu had refused. It was such an unusual event that even Sung-Hoon had heard about it.


    Haa Im going to guess it was Lou who spread this rumor. If even you have heard about it, everyone must know by now, Gi-Gyu said in annoyance.


    Well Sung-Hoon scratched his cheek. Is it true that yer Go Hyung-Chul is still in Eden?


    Even though Gi-Gyu had refused to sync with him, Go Hyung-Chul chose to remain in Eden. He spent the days alone in a quiet ce, staring at nothing. No one knew what he was thinking.


    Why didnt you sync with yer Go Hyung-Chul? Heo Sung-Hoon asked. I know it could lead to some problems, but dont you think he would be a great help? Im surprised youre so concerned about this, Ranker Kim Gi-Gyu. I thought it would be a good deal on your end to sync with him.


    Heo Sung-Hoon seemed genuinely curious. Go Hyung-Chul would indeed make a powerful ally. Having a loyal yer would be helpful for Gi-Gyu.


    Could it be Sung-Hoon asked hesitantly, Are you afraid you might lose a friend?


    Pardon?


    The way you treat yer Go Hyung-Chul makes it look like you think of him as a friend, Ranker Kim Gi-Gyu. So if you sync with him, he will no longer be your friend but your subordinate. Isnt that what youre worried about? asked Sung-Hoon.


    Gi-Gyu was surprised to hear this. He wondered if Sung-Hoon was right. Did he consider Go Hyung-Chul his friend?


    <em>Do I even have friends? </em>


    The only person Gi-Gyu could call friend was Yoo Suk-Woo, who wasnt even here right now.


    <em>Go Hyung-Chul, </em>Gi-Gyu thought for a moment. Their first meeting wasnt a pleasant one. The paparazzo had investigated Gi-Gyu in detail, andter on, their rtionship became a purely business one. But now


    <em>Its true </em>Gi-Gyu had to admit that he feltfortable with Go Hyung-Chul. Everyone around him showed overwhelming loyalty and affection. Go Hyung-Chul was one of the few who remained objective. This was exactly why Gi-Gyu liked being around him.


    A friend Gi-Gyu mumbled. He couldnt tell if he considered Go Hyung-Chul his friend.


    In the end, Gi-Gyu smiled and replied, I n on talking to him about it again.


    He walked toward the blue drake. It was the boss monster, but it wasnt powerful, so Gi-Gyu didnt sync with it.


    If hes really ready for it, then I will sync with him. Gi-Gyu turned toward Sung-Hoon while reaching out to touch the blue drake. Because, as you said just now, he would make a great ally.


    Gi-Gyu needed Go Hyung-Chul. He had never met anyone who could gather information better than Go Hyung-Chul. The paparazzo had been a great help to him so far, and he was a crucial part of Gi-Gyus ns.


    Gi-Gyu touched the blue drake.


    [Would you like to move to the reward chamber?]


    Gi-Gyu nodded at the system announcement. Go Hyung-Chul alone wasnt determined to do whatever for his goal. Gi-Gyu felt just as determined to keep Go Hyung-Chul close.


    <em>Hmm, a friend </em>