After Returning, My Abilities are Infinite - Chapter 69

Episode 69. You should know better (2)

“Haven’t the research results come out yet?”

“Yes, I’ve asked all the Magic scholars at the Tower to analyze it, but there have been no leads. I think we have no choice but to ask an external Analyst to take a look….”

“Is there an elite external Analyst you trust?”

“How about paying the Oracle to analyze it……?”

“The Oracle? How can I trust those thieves? Even if it takes longer, leave it to the Magic scholars! We don’t even know what this is. We can’t have the Oracle knowing.”

“The Magic scholars say they have no clue…. Sigh. Okay, I’ll get back to you later.”

The man looked displeased. He bowed and left the room.

The other middle-aged man, the Tower Master, paced around the room and tapped the table. Of all the items discovered so far, the ones written in the ancient language were most often high-quality artifacts.

And this item that gave off remarkably powerful mana… It may well be one of the most extraordinary artifacts that appeared.

‘But too many people know about it.’

He could trust the Tower guild members. But the fact that those thieving villains knew about it made him uneasy.

Even though the Tower was now one of the top three guilds, it wasn’t as big as the Association or the Four Guardian Gods guild.

‘They’ve taken things from us more than once.’

In some cases, they took away not only valuable potions but also wizards. The Four Guardian Gods guild at least had principles, but if the Association found out about it, they would never leave them alone.

‘We have to analyze it as soon as possible and keep its contents exclusive.’

The Tower Master was becoming more and more impatient. The smirking face of Kim Min-jae came to his mind.

A devil who uses his snake-like tongue to set all sorts of rules and who steals from his opponents while suffering no losses.

“Why! Why doesn’t a single Magic scholar know what it is!”

Bang!

The Tower Master kicked a sitting chair. Although there were Analysts in the Tower, their main focus was researching magic business models, training wizards, and using simple combat magic.

The Tower only sent rear area support when other guilds commissioned their help for monster raids. Therefore, none of the Tower Analysts had extensive knowledge of monster hunt by-products or the ancient language discovered in dungeons.

“So frustrating.”

The Tower Master hit his chest. He picked up a bottle of water on the table to drink cold water, but it was lukewarm. He didn’t like anything that was going on.

At that moment.

“Tower Master, sir, you have a visitor on the first floor.”

“Huh? Visitor?”

“Yes.”

He had a sudden stroke of luck.

“It’s hunter Jeong Si-woo. He says he has something to discuss.”

“Jeong Si-woo…?”

“The 1st class hunter candidate. He’s the most famous rookie in the world, and he’s also called a genius Analyst.”

The Tower Master’s eyes widened. Was it because Jeong Si-woo was a 1st class hunter candidate? No. Although he was a valuable resource, the Tower had enough powerful members. The description the Tower Master focused on was the latter.

“Genius… Analyst?”

“Yes, he’s quite remarkable. Starting with the Monster Encyclopedia, the papers he published through the Oracle all received recognition. Jeong Si-woo probably knows the most about dungeons, Rifts, and monsters in the world.”

“B… Bring him here at once!”

The Tower Master spoke hastily. He also knew about Jeong Si-woo. The Tower had tried to recruit him as well. But when Jeong Si-woo declined their offer, he had stopped paying attention to him…….

He was well aware that Jeong Si-woo was loyal and a man of integrity. After all, he was called a hero.

Jeong Si-woo would help him analyze the book at minimal cost and never use it as leverage to threaten him.

Or perhaps Jeong Si-woo could never think of doing such a thing because he was still inexperienced.

A faint smile appeared on the Tower Master’s face. The man who had just delivered the news was hurrying out, telling others to let Jeong Si-woo in.

Fortunately, things were going well today, thought the Tower Master.

It was his lucky day.

* * *

The building of the Tower guild was huge and nice. It looked like it could be the headquarters of a major company. Of course, seeing people in robes and pointy hats walking around the building made it seem a bit strange.

“Oh, come on in.”

I followed the guide into the room where the Tower Master was staying. The Tower Master was sitting on the sofa, beckoning for me to sit. He was smiling affably.

“Nice to meet you, hunter Jeong Si-woo. What brings you here…?”

“Oh, I wanted to ask you a few questions. I’m trying to establish and run a guild instead of joining one, and wouldn’t it be better to get advice from the top three guilds?”

“Oh yes, advice. Since I started from the bottom, I think listening to my experience will help you quite a bit.”

“Hahaha, that’s what I thought too. It’s why I came here. The guild master of the Four Guardian Gods guild and the Knight Master of the Temple had some very unique experiences.”

The Tower Master nodded. It was a lie, of course. I had never even met those two. It was just a story I made up to embellish the lie that I was here for advice.

[Well, you’re very good at making things up.]

“Then… it’s going to be quite a long story. Before we start, can I ask you a small favor, Mr. Jeong Si-woo?”

“A favor? Of course. I didn’t even make an appointment, coming here for advice and taking up your time. I’ll do what you ask.”

The Tower Master’s eyes glinted. I forced myself to hold back from laughing at his transparent response. I could easily tell what he was about to say.

“I heard you are an excellent Analyst…. Are you also familiar with dungeon by-products and artifacts?”

“Haha. Although I’m a hunter, I do know about those more than anyone else. I’m probably better than most Analysts. Is there anything you need me to take a look at?”

“Oh, it’s nothing special, but I’d appreciate it if you could.”

Look at how he’s acting as if it’s nothing special.

He was clearly looking down on me since I was young and had just debuted as a hunter. Sorry, but if I add up my age, I’d be about as old as you. And all of my experience is already incomparable to yours.

“Here it is.”

The Tower Master carefully placed the old book on the table.

[Access to Information is activated.]

[Name: Dragon’s Word]

[*A book containing knowledge of the language used by dragons.]

[*It is written in the ancient language of the fallen underground empire.]

[*You can learn the magical system and mana structure of dragons created over the ages.]

[→ You are in possession of the Great Heart.]

[→ You have met the conditions for mastering the skills of the dragon species.]

Information popped up rapidly. I didn’t even need to perform any analysis. I slowly read the notification windows, and smoothing out the book, I opened it to the first chapter.

“Hm, Dragon’s Word. What an interesting title.”

“Isn’t it? I barely managed to read the title, but I couldn’t find a way to analyze its contents…….”

“I think I need to look through several ancient language dictionaries to figure it out. It looks like it contains knowledge about the magical system of dragons. It seems like a ray of light has shone on the Tower.”

“Magical system! Are you sure?”

“Yes, according to my shallow knowledge, that’s what it says.”

As I smiled faintly, the Tower Master grinned broadly.

Look at you smiling. But this isn’t yours.

“Then how should we analyze it? Could you tell me what kind of ancient language it’s written in? No, could you analyze this book yourself? I’ll pay you sufficiently. Actually, I’ll pay you as much as you want!”

“Oh, well……. It’ll take a long time even if I work on it every day. And my schedule is pretty tight right now.”

“Please. If you tell me your schedule, I’ll send teams to take care of everything. And I’ll pay you three times, no, ten times, as much as what the Oracle Analysts are paid. Ten times!”

Ten times the price and taking care of my schedule. It was a fantastic offer.

“Oh… Ten times. Wow, that’s quite an offer.”

“Yes, it’s a special offer just for you, Mr. Jeong Si-woo….”

“But, you know what?”

Tap.

I picked up the Dragon’s Word from the table and put it into my subspace pocket.

“This is mine. And even if you pay me, I don’t want to go out of my way to analyze it for you.”

“What? What kind of joke are you…….”

“I’m not kidding, hahaha. This belongs to me. Why don’t we stop talking about this and move on to why I came here? Your ‘advice on how to manage a guild.’”

“No, let’s stop playing pranks. Haha. It’s not secure just because you put it in a subspace pocket. Mr. Jeong Si-woo, you’re more playful than you look…….”

The Tower Master reached his hand towards me, smiling. It looked like he was going to reach into my subspace pocket and retrieve the book directly. I quickly snatched his hand and smiled.

“I’m not kidding. Just give me your advice.”

“Are you serious?”

“How many times do I have to tell you? I’m serious.”

The Tower Master’s face turned menacing at my reply. Simultaneously, violent mana at the peak of Great Sorcerers started to surge from his body. It was a disastrous force that could wipe out three or four Rifts easily when used in its full capacity.

But instead of moving away, I twisted the hand that was holding onto the Tower Master.

Crack.

“Ughhhh…?”

The Tower Master fell, letting out a strange noise. His overflowing mana quickly dissipated. Kneeling on the floor, the Tower Master looked like he did not understand the current situation.

It wasn’t surprising. The Tower Master held the title of a Great Sorcerer, which meant he was as strong as a 1st class hunter. But a young rookie like me who had debuted less than three years ago had dismantled his power.

“I guess you don’t want to give me any advice on running a guild?”

“What are you doing… This is my house! There are tons of people who can wipe you out at once if I shout!”

“Oh, is that your advice? Call your men when an enemy threatens your life!? And intimidate your enemy by saying you have tons of people who can wipe you out!?”

“You… you punk!”

“That’s not what I want to know. I want to know how you managed to become one of the top three guilds when you conspired with thieves and villains.”

“……!”

The Tower Master’s face stiffened and turned pale.

“What… what are you talking about…?”

He stammered, and his lips trembled. I grasped his wrist more tightly.

Wizards were powerful individuals, but they were no match for hunters. They could have powerful weapons and could manipulate lightning, storms, fire, and ice, but what use was that?

They didn’t know the vital points to attack that could kill someone instantly. They couldn’t read their opponents’ minds at all. And they were clueless about common knowledge, such as how alert they needed to be and how much distance to allow when facing a stranger.

Those who killed every day and those who sat in front of a desk every day were different.

That’s what I realized as a hunter after actively raiding Rifts for the past two years.

[Magic of Other Species (A) has been activated.]

[Outstanding Magic (A) has been activated.]

.

.

.

[‘Anti-Magic’ is currently activated.]

[You are interrupting the flow of mana of the individual you are in contact with.]

[‘Great Heart’ is activated.]

[‘Great Power’ suppresses the target’s mana.]

The Anti-Magic technique, and Magic of Other Species and Outstanding Magic that supported it. With Outstanding Insight and Access to Information, I saw through the Tower Master’s mana circuits and nerves and disrupted the flow to turn him into an ordinary person.

My closely intertwined characteristics and skills, combined with my unparalleled analytical skills, restrained one of the world’s most potent Great Sorcerers.

Of course, it was all thanks to this idiot offering his hand to a 1st class hunter candidate.

“Wait, let’s talk.”

The Tower Master mumbled hurriedly. It looked like my grip that threatened to crush his hand at any moment had alarmed him.

I smiled at his words.

“Talk? Yeah. Let’s talk.”

Talking.

Did he think he could persuade me by talking?

Sorry, but soon you’ll regret your decision.