NOTICE: Many of the novels have been removed because they might cause violations, which we were not aware of earlier.
Episode 373 – Second Missing Link (9)
Speech bubbles overflowed above hundreds of sailing ships on the vast sea.
[Uhyo~ Crystal Getto DAZE-☆]
[Oh, my money pocket just came out ㅠ]
[What is this Kraken meat?]
[Oh my gosh, is that Kraken really edible?]
The rewards were settled as the Kraken's corpse disappeared. Each raid participant expressed their own feelings.
But that was only for a moment, as everyone's eyes were focused on Lee Kyung-bok, who had the highest contribution.
“Okay, then shall we open it?”
The rewards for completing the raid were not immediately revealed. They were distributed in the form of boxes in the participants' inventories.
And the first place reward box was right in front of him.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what comes out.”
Park Joo-ho and Permusae, who had rejoined Lee Kyung-bok's words, showed interest.
“Does this make sense? Does this make sense?”
The magpie lightly pecked at the box with its beak and then returned to Lee Gyeong-bok's shoulder.
-Ah lol Are you checking if it's dangerous lol
-???: Jjuin! I'll open it first!
-Aren't you surprised just because it's the 1st place box? LOL
– Judging from what you're saying, this one's right lol
-Either way, it's cute!
Lee Kyung-bok smiled and opened the box. His eyes widened at the sight of what was inside.
"Kraken ink sac? What is this?"
It was more out of curiosity than surprise. Inside the box, as the name suggests, lay a black lump.
-If it's Kraken ink, isn't it that sticky thing?
-Making enemies unable to move?
-Oh? So it's a combat consumable?
-No;;; It's too harsh for 1st place
-Ugh? This is the first place reward?
-If it's Godple, then you don't need any more lol
As soon as the item name was revealed, the chat window quickly erupted. Most expressed disappointment, but some were different.
-???
-Ink bag? This is in the first episode?
-Wow lol this guy is real lol
-Well, if the contribution is over 40%, it's worth eating lol
-Besides, Godple alone exceeded 20% lol
-I think that level of contribution is the first in the world lol
They were viewers who knew the game and knew the value of the items.
“Oh, is this good?”
When Lee Kyung-bok asked about the reaction, not only the chat but also the speech bubbles popped up.
[Huh? A big hit has come out?]
[Dude! That's seriously awesome!]
[This is truly high-end!]
[Oh my gosh lol I feel like I'm going to turn the tables on the game but I just left lol]
[This is used when remodeling!]
-That effect is a permanent performance increase.
-Even if you modify and strengthen it, you have to get the materials again when its durability wears out, but if you use it as a material for a big meal, you don't need it lol
-Read the item description window!
-I can see the eyes of the nuclear payers rolling!
Lee Kyung-bok checked the item description. Park Joo-ho nodded, watching from the side.
“If it permanently increases performance, it would definitely be worth it.”
“Oh… This would be beneficial if used on a sailing ship of the highest class.”
The content was identical to what viewers had reported, only the expressions were different. Lee Kyung-bok lightly clapped his hands.
"Ah, it was worth the effort. I'll have to decide later whether to use it or sell it."
-???
-Hyung! This is a high-end item!?
-???: Ah, that's good hahaha
-Is this the perfect reaction?
-I already like fuzzy hair permanently, so this is nothing lol
-If it were me, I could have been possessed by a pterosaur right away lol
-This is the luxury of the wealthy, Imari.
His usual reaction made viewers burst into laughter.
'There's no reason to make it up.'
Lee Kyung-bok felt like he should react more violently, but he just laughed it off.
“Okay, now that you’re done organizing the items, can you please come back?”
The participants quickly lined up at that remark. Even though it wasn't necessary anymore, they lined up neatly in order of rank.
"First of all, I'd like to express my sincere gratitude! I made this request on a whim, and I'm so grateful that you came so quickly and in such large numbers!"
——————
faqwiki.xyz
Join our Discord for new chapter updates!
https://discord.com/invite/xr7SxG5T6V
——————
[Ah haha this was a must-have]
[First calls are always welcome!]
[More! Call me more!]
[Sob sob, today was fun…]
[As expected, intuition is different lol]
The horizon became filled with speech bubbles. Lee Kyung-bok smiled even more deeply and continued speaking.
"I'm glad you all enjoyed it. That's proof of the game's quality, isn't it? Even those who only watched it on TV should definitely give it a try!"
-Homework here?
-Capitalist genius lol
-Ah, haha, isn't that why the homework keeps coming in?
-Advertiser: Smile smile^^
-You still won't do it? You still won't do it?
-Black shareholders, beware!
Lee Kyung-bok smiled brightly and turned his gaze. Beyond him, a local user's sailboat was absentmindedly observing.
“And here, it’s read as ‘guilty pleasure,’ right? Is there an interpreter here?”
[Here it is!]
"Yes! I'd appreciate it if you could share this with European players as well. They were so kind to help us with our strategy!"
At those words, a "Thank you" speech bubble filled the screen. They quickly responded to the unexpected gratitude.
[No, we have no reason to be grateful.]
[Actually, our advice wasn't very meaningful…]
[In fact, we had a more tremendous experience.]
[I felt that Koreans' gaming skills were just as I'd heard!]
At that answer, not only Lee Kyung-bok but also the chat window burst into laughter.
"Yes, this concludes our World Boss raid. We'll resume the story. Please understand that we'll be changing channels again this time!"
“Thank you all for your hard work.”
With the two men's greetings, the sailboat disappeared. Soon, the participants followed suit, leaving the channel.
When hundreds of sailing ships disappeared like a mirage, only the local users remained.
“What… I feel like I was dreaming.”
As the leader of the union spoke in a bewildered voice, looking out at the vast ocean, laughter returned.
<It was something that was really unrealistic.>
<This is my first time experiencing something like this while playing a game.>
<Even if it was a dream, it was a very pleasant dream.>
They were intoxicated by the dreamy feeling and soon had to come to their senses.
What? What about the Kraken?
Oh, I knew it! It was just a joke!
[What? I'm on my way now?]
[You lied? I just logged in secretly…!]
[Chairman, if you keep running things like this, we'll have no choice but to go somewhere else.]
As the Koreans left the channel and the saturation level eased, other members of the alliance joined in.
They were about to feel aggrieved by the suspicious words and chat, but soon they laughed again.
"Yeah, I wouldn't have believed it either. But I have proof."
He simply finished typing as a question mark appeared in the chat window.
“You’ll probably regret not being able to connect?”
What he wrote in the chat window was the address of Pertube.
* * *
Lee Kyung-bok and Park Joo-ho found a new remote channel and connected to it. The two returned to Naval Headquarters to continue the story.
As we entered the building, a cutscene followed.
“Hmm, so this is an Atlantean diving suit.”
The protagonist handed Alfonso a spare diving suit he had secured from the ruins. Alfonso stroked the suit with a satisfied expression.
“I actually tried it and found that I could breathe underwater.”
"Thank goodness, thank goodness. Your risk was worth it!"
“No. I’m sorry I couldn’t take better care of you.”
"Oh, don't be so greedy. Even in such dire circumstances, it's impressive that you managed to complete the mission."
Alfonso burst into laughter and praised the protagonist.
"And with this number, wouldn't we be able to resume the Missing Link investigation? You've worked really hard."
“Captain, this may be presumptuous, but…”
"hmm?"
“Could you please postpone the resumption of the investigation a little longer?”
Alfonso and the viewers were puzzled by the protagonist's question.
-????
-You didn't bring it to explore the diving suit, did you?
-What? Was there a problem when you tried it on?
-There must be a reason, since he's the chief! Anyway, there is!
The protagonist paused for a moment and then explained.
"I realized something while being chased by monsters: underwater combat is simply too disadvantageous for us."
“Underwater combat, I see…”
Alfonso's expression hardened. The protagonist nodded.
"You can't use firearms underwater, so you have to fight the monsters with cold weapons. Furthermore, the water's resistance made it difficult for me to demonstrate my skills, so I decided to flee."
“Well, that was a wise choice.”
"If it's a Deep One, we might be able to deal with it somehow. However, we have no way to deal with something as long-range as a C-Witch or something as tough as a Crabclaw."
Viewers were convinced by the explanation.
-Oh right, fighting in the water must be really tough.
-Underwater bouncy bouncy fun lol
-These guys are also on the ground, bungtz bungtz laguut!
-But somehow I feel like this guy will somehow spread it all.
-Really lol If it's Godple, I'll do it
'Wouldn't it work?'
Lee Kyung-bok was about to answer that it was possible, but then stopped himself. There was no need to break the immersion of the cutscene.
"Indeed… You said you were being chased by Mr. C. If we resume the expedition without a plan, our soldiers could be killed. We'll even lose the diving suits we worked so hard to secure."
Alfonso sighed deeply. But the protagonist's words didn't imply giving up.
“So we also need weapons that can be used underwater.”
“An underwater weapon?”
"The weapon Mr. C used had a crystal attached to it. It must have been Atlantean equipment. If we could just find the recipe, the Navy could craft it."
"Looking for the recipe? One's flooded, and the other's lurking with the Kraken… So, let's find it in the third missing link!"
“Yes, that’s right.”
Alfonso's eyes brightened. He nodded and immediately opened the map.
“This location is definitely…”
"ah…"
The two people, who were comparing maps, let out a brief sigh. The viewers, as if they'd expected this reaction, poured out chatter.
-So there's another problem?
-If it just comes off, it's not a game lol
-What's the problem this time?
-Is another monster coming out?
Alfonso exhaled calmly. Unlike before, his reaction wasn't as passionate.
"I don't know if I should call this a blessing. At least there won't be any threats from pirates or monsters…"
A question mark appeared in the chat window at those words. If it wasn't a monster or a pirate, what was the problem?
"If it were a monster or a pirate, I would have fought it. But nature can't do that, can it?"
"That's right. Who would have thought it'd be hidden in the 'Frozen Sea'? I thought there was only snow and glaciers here…"
The location of the third relic was at the northern end of the map. Lee Kyung-bok and the viewers understood the situation.
“Oh, I guess our next destination is somewhere like the Arctic Ocean.”
-It seems worse when you see what he's saying lol
-Really lol It seems like I can't buy anything at all
-At least polar bears live in the North Pole.
-Really lol they even drink cola there
-Polar Bear: Ah, give me a Zero Coke!
-You're so good at calling lol
Unlike the lighthearted atmosphere of the chat window, Alfonso and the protagonist were serious.
“I don’t understand why they built the ruins in the middle of the frozen sea.”
"Perhaps things are different on the ocean floor. I'll go and check for myself."
“You’re going to go this time too?”
“Of course. In fact, I think it’s fortunate that the sea is frozen.”
“What does that mean?”
“Since it is a harsh place for living things, wouldn’t it be great if the ruins were preserved intact?”
Alfonso nodded with a small sigh.
"I think you're right. But this time, I can't just let you go. We need a special sailing ship to navigate the frozen sea."
"Yes, I learned this at the military academy. It needs to be converted into an icebreaker."
"That's right. I guess we can prepare for the renovation through Scheherazade Trading Company."
The protagonist rolled his eyes at him.
“I heard you’re definitely going to track down your ancestors’ logbook.”
"Yes. It probably won't take long. I'll request it as soon as I get back. In the meantime, get some rest for your next mission."
“Yes, I understand.”
As soon as the screen went black, viewers expressed their satisfaction.
-The captain himself told me to rest lol
-You're such a workaholic, Imari.
-Se-nun-na, come back quickly!
-Can't you just ask another company?
-You signed a supply contract with Seonunna!
-Really lol If you're not going to ruin the relationship, you have to keep the contract.
Everyone thought the cutscene was over, but it wasn't. Some time had passed, and the expressions on the protagonist's and Alfonso's faces changed.
“No news today either?”
“Hmm… This is strange. No matter how late it gets, it won’t be this late.”
“I will go and see for myself.”
"that…"
Just as Alfonso was about to say something, a knock came, followed by the voice of the official.
“Sir, a guest has arrived from Scheherazade Trading Company.”
“Ah, finally! What a relief.”
Alfonso let the guest in with a relieved smile. But the guest, a merchant belonging to Scheherazade Trading Co., couldn't smile.
“Captain! Please save Lady Scheherazade!”
He fell flat on his face with a desperate expression. This surprised not only the protagonist and Alfonso, but also Lee Kyung-bok and the viewers watching.
“You want me to save you? What on earth happened?”
“Pirates, pirates have kidnapped him!”
"Kidnapped? Are you saying that even a naval escort ship was kidnapped?"
-I don't think the captain would have given Se-nun-na any of those sloppy people.
-Did the minor alliance attack by any chance?
-ㅁㅊ How long has it been since you cut Bartholomew? ㅋㅋㅋ
-Are you saying a new villain has appeared?
The merchant muttered something to him and then took out an envelope from his pocket.
“This, this might be faster to see.”
“This is…”
Alfonso immediately opened the envelope. The protagonist stood beside it and checked the contents.
The letter contained instructions to deliver the supplies without informing the Navy.
“It is definitely the owner’s handwriting.”
The merchant saw the two people's eyes shaking and decided that they were doubting the authenticity of the letter.
That thought wasn't wrong, but the two were surprised for a different reason.
“Captain, what is this pattern!?”
“Red Viper, Camilla…!”
The object Scheherazade had asked her to deliver was a pirate flag with a familiar symbol.
-?????????
-You're saying Kanu is coming out here?
-How did it happen, how did it happen!?
-Was it really Katongsu?
-Oh my, is this reality real?
The snake motif emerging from the skull was clearly Camilla's. Viewers couldn't hide their shock.
“A pirate who doesn’t even know this topic…!”
Alfonso shuddered. His hand crumpled, as if it had been tightening on its own.
"There's no negotiating with pirates! And even less with the villains who sent our soldiers back to sea! I'll send my elite force immediately and punish them!"
Unlike Alfonso, who was furious, the protagonist's expression became cold.
“Something feels strange.”
At the same time, the screen turned gray and a narration was heard.
"Camilla said she'd go into hiding for a while. Did she resume her activities after Bartholomew was attacked by the Kraken?"
Before entering the ruins, a conversation with Camilla was shown on the screen.
"But she said she only targeted pirates. Has she changed her policy now? Or is she lying?"
The next screen refreshed was when she heard the information at the tavern.
"But that doesn't make sense. Even if Camilla's words were false, the tavern owner wouldn't have lied for her."
The atmosphere in the chat window also changed with a series of inferences.
-Oh? So that's what you mean?
-That's right, that gentleman has no reason to joke around lol
-Not trusting Camilla, but checking logic!
-You're the best, Imari, lol
-Is there something else going on?
The screen returned to color, indicating that the cleanup was complete. The protagonist spoke to Alfonso with a calm expression.
“Captain, it is dangerous to send a punitive force.”
“What does that mean? Are you saying our navy is going to suffer again!?”
"Of course, that's not what I meant. The hostages are the ones in danger."
At his words, the merchant and Alfonso's eyes widened.
"Please consider why the company came to us. Didn't you think it would be safer to come to us than to trust the pirates' promises?"
“Yes, that’s right!”
“Captain, revenge for our soldiers is important, but the safety of our citizens is more important.”
Alfonso took a deep breath, but his eyes still held a glimmer of anger.
"You're right. But it's impossible for the Navy to bow down to pirates."
"I agree. I'm not suggesting we leave things as they are. I believe the right course of action is to rescue the hostages first, then punish them."
“Rescue…?”
Both Alfonso and the merchant turned their eyes to the protagonist.
“Yes, I will rescue her myself.”
“You? But…”
"Captain, I've safely escaped Grand Bones. I believe escaping the clutches of the Camilla Pirates won't be any more difficult."
-Kya ㅋㅋㅋ I already did show and prove ㅋㅋㅋ
-This is so true that it cannot be refuted.
-Do you have any feelings for the owner?
-And the Godful voice buff is also gone?
-I can't refuse this lol
It was as viewers expected.
Alfonso, who had been hesitating, soon nodded. Hadn't the protagonist already proven his abilities?
“Whew, I see. I hope you return safely.”
“Thank you for trusting me. Then, let’s set off right away.”
The cutscene ended with the protagonist's ceremonious salute. The scene soon changed to a dock.
“Oh, the rivals are gathered together in an unexpected situation.”
“Judging from the main character’s narration, it seems like there must be a reason.”
“Does this make sense?”
Lee Kyung-bok briefly expressed his thoughts, and Park Joo-ho added a word. Then, Permusae joined him again and tilted his head.
-Pop and analysis recommendation lol
-A commander who can't even acknowledge the pervert ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-Right ㅋㅋ It seems like Kanu was originally a villain! There's no twist to this
-Ah, there might be internal divisions in the pirate group?
-HOXY rebels have emerged?
-Or maybe other pirates impersonated him?
-Ah haha anyway, you can't use a car!
The chat room was filled with speculation. Most viewers hoped Camilla wasn't the villain.
Lee Kyung-bok clapped his hands lightly and turned his attention to him.
"I hope so too. It's a shame you worked so hard to get it, but it's a bad thing if it turns out to be a villain. Well then, let's go check it out!"
Viewers shook off their worries as they watched Lee Kyung-bok board the ship.
-Immediately confirm
-It's good for me that I'm not a katongsoo lol
-Right lol the Black Navy won't leave you alone
-Either way, my brother will do well!
-Alfonso believes in Junkong and we believe in Godful, Imari. Haha.
No matter how the story unfolds, Lee Kyung-bok always delivers the best results.
That was the belief the viewers had.