Chapter 282 - Transactions
"Wow, everything is arranged so neatly!"
Ryu Won admired his house upon returning to it.
The house, which had been a mess, was now as tidy as if it were a new home.
He never would have thought that this place had become a battlefield against an archangel.
"Although living in a hotel is great, there's nothing like being comfortable in your own home."
Ryu Min smiled softly as he saw his brother curled up on the couch.
Even though he had lived here for more than a year, he always called it "my home."
"Even if you say that, wasn't the hotel more comfortable?"
"Haha... Yes, I suppose so. They brought food every morning, after all."
"Don't you miss ordering delivery?"
"The food there was really delicious. Brother, do you have any problems at home? Have the angels returned?"
"Don't say such things, even as a joke. Words have power."
"Haha... I'm sorry."
Seeing his brother apologize while scratching his head, Ryu Min also relaxed his expression.
"Let's eat. Are you hungry? Should we order delivery?"
"No, let's eat at home. I recently found a YouTuber and tried one of his recipes, really delicious. I'll make it quickly, so you relax."
Ryu Min smiled as he watched his brother run to the kitchen.
Even though his brother seemed naive at first glance, he was the family member who cared most for him.
"Don't worry if an angel shows up, brother. I'll protect you like last time."
Having set up the hero's protection, there was no need to worry even if attacked unexpectedly like before.
"Or maybe they won't show up this time. It doesn't make sense to deplete 90% of their strength just to target my brother. And there's no guarantee of success."
The last time they appeared was because the 16th round took place in reality.
Michael wouldn't target his brother unless it was the 18th round.
"If he tries to trap me, it will be his last day."
Even in the previous round, there were only 7 participants besides himself.
Min Juri, Yamti, Victor, Alex, Dorothy, Ma Gyeong-rok, Joo Sung-taek.
"Five of them died, and only Ma Gyeong-rok and Joo Sung-taek survived."
He didn't know exactly how they died.
At that time, he didn't care about saving others.
He didn't care about the war.
"I can only assume they died fighting demons."
But now it was different.
A total of 286 people survived, and everyone was waiting for the 20th round with their own desires.
"I can't save everyone. But I can bring at least 70 people."
Bringing 70 people to the final round?
It was no less reassuring than being alone in the previous round.
"No one will be lost until then. Everyone, including Min Juri..."
Of course, not everyone could be saved.
But if he could bring the 70 who would be the final members, it would be enough.
At that moment, he remembered what Alex was planning to do.
"He planned to gather talents in advance to form an elite team to prepare for the final round."
Now that he thought about it, he should do it himself too.
Wouldn't it be beneficial to take special care of the main members for the future?
"Since I thought about it, I should put it into practice immediately."
Ryu Min called his friends to arrange meetings without overlapping.
They decided to meet separately since they also had personal things to do.
The first person to arrange a meeting was Seo Arin, who lives nearby.
"Understood. See you at the café in 30 minutes," said Ryu Min with Lost Yak's distorted voice before hanging up.
They could have met immediately, but they chose to arrange the meeting for 30 minutes later.
The person who agreed to meet Seo Arin was none other than Black Scythe, who had no intention of announcing he lived nearby.
"That's how I should arrange meetings with others," he thought.
Ryu Min made several more calls until he finished cooking.
Since he used Lost Yak's phone and distorted his voice, everyone thought he was Black Scythe.
"Brother! The food is ready!" his younger brother called.
Ryu Min sat at the table.
It was a modest yet elegant meal, like an 8-course masterpiece.
"I made it following YouTuber Yoon Ssam's recipe. Try it, brother," his brother said.
Ryu Min tried the soup first.
"Mmm..."
He couldn't help but admire it several times.
"How is it? Is it good?"
"Delicious, isn't it?"
From the spicy pumpkin soup to the crunchy pickled cucumber and the sweet and spicy pork, it was a perfect meal.
"I'm glad you like it."
"Now you eat too."
"Understood, brother. But, who were you talking to on the phone earlier?"
"You heard?"
"Yes. It sounded like Black Scythe's voice."
"I was talking to some colleagues to inform them of something."
"Are you planning to go abroad?"
"No. I told them to come here, so I don't have to go. But I'll be busy the next few days."
"Even Seo Arin is among your colleagues?"
"Yes, that's right. In fact, we arranged to meet later."
"Later? When?"
"In about 10 minutes."
It was enough time after eating.
Ryu Min patted his brother's shoulder and changed into his outdoor clothes.
"Seo Arin will be surprised, won't she? You've grown much taller, brother."
According to his brother, Ryu Min was 181 cm tall.
He had grown 10% more from his previous height of 165 cm, thanks to the additional effect of the Rune of the Predator.
"I was also very surprised when I saw how tall you had become after returning from the 17th round, but what will Seo Arin think?"
"I don't think she'll be surprised. We're not meeting as prophet and disciple, but as Black Scythe and myself."
With that said, Ryu Min put on his shoes and prepared to leave.
He originally should have transformed into the assassin's mask but decided to do it later in case he encountered any neighbors on the way.
"Come back soon, brother!"
"Sure."
Click. As he opened the door and stepped onto the porch, Ryu Min stopped in his tracks.
There was someone waiting in front of him, someone he didn't expect to see.
"Seo Arin?"
"Ah... Ryu Min?"
Seo Arin looked up and down, surprised by the sudden change in height.
Clap-
Ryu Min stepped out and closed the door, then turned to Seo Arin.
"What are you doing here?"
"Ah, it's just..."
Whether surprised by the sudden question or the sudden change in height, she couldn't easily respond.
"It must be the height," Ryu Min thought, reading her mind, smiling to reassure her of her confusion.
"Were you surprised by my height increase? I was too. I never thought a function to increase height was hidden in the runes I found by chance..."
"It's a surprising function."
"Even for resurrecting people, this is just a small dose. But, were you waiting for me?"
"Oh, yes. Yes, that's it."
"Why?"
Seo Arin and the Prophet had never arranged a meeting.
So why were they silently waiting in front of the door?
Unable to comprehend, I immediately read Seo Arin's thoughts.
And I could find out why she was waiting.
"She might be suspecting if I am Black Scythe."
Ryu Min's suspicions were becoming certainties from the moment he stepped out of his house.
"Sorry, but can I start by asking questions?"
"Of course."
"Where are you headed now?"
"I'm going to meet someone."
"Who?"
"You suddenly became so serious, it's disconcerting."
"It doesn't seem to disconcert you at all."
"You're pretending not to be disconcerted."
"I'll ask you directly."
Seo Arin gathered the courage to speak.
"Is the Prophet Black Scythe?"
"...."
"Don't deny it. I heard everything from Min Juri. Although she seems not to believe you, my instinct can't be deceiv..."
"I have no intention of denying it."
Ryu Min admitted calmly.
"That's right. I am Black Scythe."
"Oh..."
Seo Arin thought he might deny it, but once he admitted it, she couldn't find more words.
"It would be better to talk in the hallway. Can I come in?"
"Yes, of course."
"This is Black Scythe... no, the Prophet."
Seo Arin opened the door wide and led Ryu Min to the living room.
Since it was a two-story penthouse, it had a sense of openness and height more than his house.
"Sit here."
"So I will."
"So... you are the Prophet, also known as Black Scythe?"
Ryu Min nodded silently.
Seo Arin felt a bit stunned when her assumption turned out to be true.
"Half an hour ago, you called me to meet at the café, remember?"
"That's right."
"But your voice on the phone and your voice now are very different, how is that?"
By continuing to ask, she clearly showed her disbelief.
"Do you need proof? Then I'll show you."
Ryu Min changed his appearance to that of an assassin, with a mask.
Seo Arin's jaw dropped.
"This is the appearance people associate with Black Scythe. Did you see it at the cult yesterday? If you want, I can even show you the scythe."
"Oh, it's not necessary. I believe you. Enough..."
Seo Arin still couldn't close her mouth.
The change of appearance before her eyes was quite shocking.
After taking a deep breath, Seo Arin finally managed to find the words.
"Before, in the club, my fellow actors saved me...."
"That's how it is."
"Mr. Black Scythe. May I ask why you revealed my identity?"
"Now there's no reason to hide it. There's no need to reveal it, but... I can't help being suspicious."
"So, do you plan to continue living this double life in the future?"
"That's right. There's no benefit in my identity being known."
"Does anyone else besides me know Black Scythe's identity?"
Ryu Min briefly considered whether to speak or not, but it was just a moment.
Lying now would only complicate things more.
And it didn't seem like Seo Arin would keep the secret.
"Christine and my brother found out relatively recently. Yamti and those fools, Jeffrey, John Delgado, already knew because they've been my slaves for a long time."
"Slaves?"
"You don't need to know more details. That's all you need to know."
"Oh... I understand."
By responding, Seo Arin erased all the doubts she had deep in her heart.
The way of speaking, the atmosphere, it was evident that she knew who Black Scythe was.
"I never imagined the Prophet would really be Black Scythe...."
"You won't go around telling, will you?"
"Of course not. I'll keep the secret. If Black Scythe doesn't want to reveal his identity...."
Ryu Min smiled widely.
"Thank you."
"By the way, what's the reason you wanted to meet me...?"
"Oh, I just wanted to give you a gift."
"A gift?"
Ryu Min used the exchange function towards Seo Arin.
Seo Arin's eyes widened upon seeing the exchange window.
<Exchanger: Black Scythe>
Items to exchange: None
Gold to exchange: 0 G
Points to exchange: 1,000,000P
Exchange
<Exchanger: Seo Arin>
Items to exchange: None
Gold to exchange: 0 G
Points to exchange: 0 P
Exchange
[Please place the items you wish to exchange and press the 'Exchange' button.]
[The exchange will only take place if both parties agree.]