Moon’s Labyrinths - Chapter 154

Chapter 154

Chapter 154

He gave a friendly greeting towards Sungyoon’s party, but his attitude did a 180 when confronting the irate man .  He looked at the man with piercing eyes .

“Well?  If you have any complaints, why don’t you say it to me?”

The man never expected a big fish like Charlie Russell to come out here .  For a brief moment, he shut his mouth .  His eyes swam back and forth .  It seemed the man was very shocked by Russell’s appearance .

He had been unconscious by the time Russell had intervened, so he had no idea that Charlie Russell was involved in all of this .

However, Sungyoon didn’t think this man would back off, because Charlie Russell had shown up .

If he was that sensible, he wouldn’t have thrown a tantrum in front of a nation’s embassy .

As expected, the man didn’t disappoint Sungyoon’s expectation .

“What the hell!  Are you trying to browbeat me using your power!”

“No, no .  I would never do that .  Do you really think you are worth my attention?  You are nothing . ”

Russell looked as if he was really surprised .  He exaggerated his emotions like an actor .  Sungyoon was a bystander, yet even he thought Russell was being a bit cheeky .

“You should quickly state your business .  As you can see, I have guests to entertain . ”

Russell spoke as he gestured towards Sungyoon’s party .  It was clear that Russell was mocking the man, so his face turned redder .

“Many people died thanks to the commission handed by your government!  Moreover, that holier than thou Princess Grace ran away!   She left other Connectors behind!  We haven’t heard a single word of apology!  How is this right!”

At that moment, Russell let out a big laugh .  However, there was no joy in his laughter . It was like hearing a lion roar on the other side of the jungle .  

This was the first time Sungyoon realized laughter could sound so menacing .

“Our government offered our condolences to the other governments involved .  We also gave out plenty of compensation as a gesture of thanks . ”

“I almost died, and you think that puny amount is enough!”

“As expected, you are causing all this ruckus, because you want more .  Maggots all think alike . ”

Russell ran his hand through his hair as he let out a sigh .  

His eyes flashed .

He had spent the past few decades killing only monsters, so there was a savageness to his spirit .  It was beyond description .  It was enough to shut the mouth of the man, who had been jabbering away .

“Did you say your name is Woo Sungyoon?”

“Yes . ”

When Russell suddenly called out to him, Sungyoon answered immediately .   Even Sungyoon was feeling the pressure from Russell’s aura .  This was why he faltered a little bit as he spoke .

“You also signed up to rescue Grace, and you fell into danger .  What is your opinion on all of this?”

Sungyoon thought for a brief moment to organize his thoughts .

“The possibility of danger is something everyone, who goes into the labyrinths, are prepared for .  Moreover, nobody coerced us to take up this commission .  It was voluntary .  The British government put up Jewel rank Gems as rewards .  There might be people who joined for altruistic reasons, but most chose to come there for the reward .  They all made their own choices, and I believe in personal responsibility . ”

Russell clapped his hands once .

“Koo .  What a great line .  What a refreshing point of view . ”

Russell looked very happy as he pointed his thumb towards Sungyoon, then he looked at the other man again .

“That’s his opinion .  What is your opinion?”

“D . . don’t give me that bullshit!  Those bastards left us!”

“Yes, yes .  I heard about that already .  That is why I have some words I have to say to you too . ”

Russell walked forward to step in front of the man .  The man hesitatingly moved backwards, but in the end, he gritted his teeth as he stood his ground .  He glared at Russell .

“You are the ones that brought the monsters towards Grace .  Grace and Sungyoon’s party suggested fighting the monsters together, yet you ran away .  You didn’t even believe his words at all .  In that situation, how are they supposed to save all of you?”

Russell moved his face closer to the man’s face .

“It is true that our government sent out the commission, but you accepted the burden of risk in coming to the labyrinth .  Did you think you were coming to a picnic?  Did you plan on getting the reward and doing nothing?  I hope not .  No rational and decent human would do that, right? Connectors are always aware of the possibility death, so I hope you aren’t stupid enough to complain about that .  Right?”

The man’s face turned blue with fear .

“Moreover, we compensated everyone that died or was injured .  The compensation for injury or death wasn’t part of the commission, yet we gave it anyways .  We also expressed our thanks and our condolences to everyone that participated .  It doesn’t matter how they died .  They came there to risk their lives for the princess, so we did what was right .  We didn’t act like some ungrateful dogs like you .  Above all else . . . ”

Until now, his face had hardened a little bit, but there was a relative calmness to his expression .  However, Russell’s expression crumpled, and he looked like an evil spirit .  

“You dare call Grace a bitch?  I heard you said ‘Fuck you’ to her too .  You dare speak such vulgar words to her?  I’ll keep you alive while I rip off your four limbs .  I’ll throw your limbs into the waters of the Thames!”

Russell was cracking his knuckles as if he was ready to do it right now .

“It is forbidden for Connectors to fight within Armstrong . . . ”

“That’s only true for fights using Devices and Gems .  They are more lenient when it comes to fist fights .  If we are talking about hand to hand combat, you won’t be at a disadvantage .  Right?”

“…… . ”

The man couldn’t say anything .  He kept opening and shutting his mouth like a goldfish .  He was completely intimidated by Russell’s fighting spirit, and he wanted to slink into the floor .

“Get out of here .  If you have a problem, you can sue us through Armstrong .  Do as you like . ”

Russell turned his back on the man, and he walked towards Sungyoon’s party .

The man looked at Russell with fear and resentment in his eyes for a brief moment .  Then he ran into the streets .

“Jeez .  I showed you something unsightly . ”

Russell approached them with cheeky expression on his face .  However, Russell had been very scary when he had browbeat that man .  Emily, who was already hiding behind Sungyoon, withdrew further .  Tim’s face had stiffened .

“It seems I scared you too much .  I’m really not a scary person . ”

Russell raised both his hands as if he was trying to pacify a child .  He laughed in an easygoing manner .

“Are there a lot of people like him?”

Sungyoon was staring at the location where the man had run away .

“No .  Thankfully, most of the injured parties were understanding of the situation, and they were satisfied with the compensation .  Only a few childish Connectors like him made a fuss . ”

It wasn’t a particularly good topic to talk about, so Russell spoke a bit in an exaggerated tone as he changed the topic .

“Well, let’s head in .  We have to give you guys your rewards, and I want to have a conversation with you guys .  Grace is already waiting inside . ”

Russell took the lead, and the front gate, which had been firmly shut, opened .

Sungyoon’s party followed Russell into the embassy .

They entered the building, and they walked down a corridor until they reached a certain room .

It looked to be a sitting room with red carpet .  There was a table and sofas within, and a familiar blonde woman was sitting there .

“Ah .  You are here . ”

Grace stood up when she was them, and she gave her greetings .

“It seems you are feeling better now . ”

“Yes .  I’m feeling much better . ”

Grace let out a small smile at Sungyoon’s words .  

Her body and mind had gone through great hardship .  However, her tough attitude stopped her from folding under adversity .

She had lamented for her loss .  She had shaken from fear .  She had shed her tears .  She hadn’t completely returned to her old self, but she was as close as she was going to get .

After she greeted the Ross siblings, she gestured for Sungyoon’s party to sit on the sofa .

Sungyoon and the Ross siblings sat on the same sofa .  Grace and Russell sat together on the other side of them .

An employee brought them black tea, and Grace was the first to speak .

“First, I would like to say this once again .  Thank you very much for saving me . ”

“I also want to say thank you again .  Thank you for saving Grace . ”

The princess, who was beloved by the people of England, and the strongest Connector of England both bowed their heads towards Sungyoon’s party .  There was incredible weight behind their gesture .

“It is fine .  We did it expecting a reward . ”

Sungyoon spoke as the representative of their party, and he spoke in a humble manner .

“In my case, I was just paying back an old debt . ”

“Hmm?  Debt?”

Sungyoon told Russell about his previous encounter with Grace .

“I see .  That happened . ”

Russell, who sat next to Grace, patted her on the back .

“You did something good .  Do good for others and it comes back to you .

No doubt about it . ”

He laughed in a magnanimous manner .  In terms of his gestures and tone of voice, he sounded like a grandpa complimenting his granddaughter .  They looked similar in age, so there was something off about the scene .

Sungyoon, Tim and Emily looked on with an odd expression on their faces .  Even Tim and Emily, who had grown up in a Connector family, found this to be odd .

“Still, we have to thank you .  I was so surprised when I heard she was missing . ”

Russell’s eyes turned soft as he looked at Grace .  One could tell that they had a very close relationship .

“Well, let’s talk about the rewards . ”

It seemed the small talk had lasted too long .  Russell finally brought up the topic of the rewards .

“You will receive the predetermined payout for participating in the rescue, and there will be additional money on top of it .  However, you are probably more interested in these, right?”

He got up from the sofa, and he opened a small drawer .  He returned with a small pouch in hand .

“These are your rewards . ”

When he flipped the pouch, small Gems rolled out .

Sungyoon and the Ross siblings focused their gazes on them .  The light falling from above reflected a platinum light .  Their eyes widened when they saw this .

‘Platinum Gems . ’

When the rewards were said to be a Jewel rank Gem, they had expected it to be the lowest rank Silver Gems .  This was why Sungyoon was very surprised by what he saw .

“Are you surprised?”

Russell looked like a child, who had successfully pulled off a prank .  He grinned .

“If I’m being honest, I am .  I expected to receive a Silver rank Gem . ”

“The government wanted to give you guys Silver rank Gems . ”

They had saved the princess, who was beloved by the citizens of Britain .  In some ways, the government might been seen as being a bit cheap .  However, Jewel rank Gems were something that couldn’t be bought with money .  Silver rank Gems were enough of a compensation in that context .  

Moreover, most of the Connectors went into the rescue mission thinking they would be receiving a Silver rank Gem .

“Sir Russell went the extra mile . ”

Grace spoke .

“You rescued our Grace .  Of course, we should give this much .  Do not feel too overwhelmed by it .  It isn't as if I provided the reward out of my pocket .  I just raised the ranks of the Gems . ”

‘He just raised their ranks . . . ’

This was true of the Rainbow rank Gems, but the difference between each rank became very stark amongst the Jewel rank Gems .

‘Is this what it is to be on the same level as Mr Hyunwoo?’

Sungyoon thought about Hyunwoo, who had given him a Gold rank Gem as if it was nothing .

“Don’t hold back .  Take it . ”

Sungyoon’s party was having trouble taking the Gems, but they started picking it up one by one at Russell’s insistence .

“…I’ll take it with thanks . ”

Sungyoon was the first one to pick up his Gem .  Afterwards, Tim and Emily carefully picked up their Gems too .  They were pressing down on it, but it was clear that they were overjoyed by this development .

Sungyoon looked at his Gem .  It was letting out a platinum light, and it was shaped like an X .  It was an armor Gem .

“Here .  You should take this too . ”

The pouch didn’t contain only Gems .  Russell took out something .  It was a Device .

“There is no point in giving a Gem if you don’t have the Device that can support it . ”

His eyes crinkled in a playful manner .

Sungyoon grabbed the new Device placed in front of him .  It was a thin bracelet .

It had a thin band and the Gems could be slotted in like ornaments .  There were a total of four slots .

‘There are two Platinum slots and two Gold slots . ’

The Gold slots were for a weapon Gem and a special ability Gem .  The two Platinum slots were Omni slots .

‘He purposefully prepared this for me . ’

Sungyoon had to borrow a Device to be able to use his Gold Gems .  He had given it back to the British government afterwards .  When he saw the entirety of the rewards, he realized that Russell and Grace had personally prepared these gifts for them .

‘This is a bit too much . ’

Of course, the Device capable of slotting high rank Gems were expensive .  Sungyoon had two Gold Gems, yet he didn’t have the Device to use them .  This was why he was very well aware of the value of such a Device .

Even if he tried to return it, Russell wouldn’t take it back .

“In truth, this is way too much .  Even if I try to return it, I know you won’t take it back .  Do you perhaps want something from us?”

“Huh?  Will you grant my request if I ask?”

‘It seems he does want something from us . ’

He looked delighted by Sungyoon’s words .  It seemed the gesture wasn’t done completely out of altruism .

However, it seemed Russell’s request wasn’t for himself .

“Sir Russell!”

“Don’t be like that, Grace .  I just want to place a small foundation for my precious girl .  That is all . ”

Russell smirked as he let Grace’s complaints roll off of him .  She sulked as she looked at him, but Russell didn’t even blink an eye .

‘It seems the one with the request is Ms . Taylor?’

Sungyoon turned to look at Grace .

Was the request a difficult one?  Or was she upset that Russell preemptively made it hard for them to turn down her request?  

Grace hesitated for a moment .  She was having a hard time talking .

However, she soon hardened her resolve, and she spoke clearly towards Sungyoon .

“May I enter into your party?”