***

Upon entering the castle, Min Sung’s party was introduced to their rooms.

There was a total of two rooms, and just like before, Min Sung got one room to himself while Ho Sung Lee used the other room with Bowl and Ssol.

They arrived at Min Sung’s room first.

Min Sung opened the door and checked the room.

It was a very large and luxurious room.

“Is it to your liking?” The beautiful female player of Horn, Amelia, looked at Min Sung’s face and asked.

“I’m going to wash up and eat first, so tell the 12 signs or whatever they’re called to come to Horn by tomorrow.”

The entire group that escorted them looked shocked.

It was understandable that they were shocked and the same went for Amelia.

But Min Sung ignored their reactions and entered his large room.

After that, Ho Sung Lee remained in front of the door with Bowl and Ssol.

He was bothered about the looks on the women’s faces.

This was an unexpected situation even in Ho Sung Lee’s opinion.

He wanted the 12 signs to be gathered together.

It was no wonder they were shocked by it, but the women soon came back to their senses.

“… Right this way.”

The women led the way.

The uncomfortable air poked Ho Sung Lee on his skin.

***

While Ho Sung Lee brought Bowl and Ssol to his room, Min Sung was sitting in the lotus position on the ground.

He then began to control his magic energy as told in Samchunkyo’s books.

As soon as he finished, time had passed.

His entire body was covered in sweat.

Min Sung took off his clothes and entered the bathroom.

Hot water was already filling the tub.

After washing up, he was changing into his clothes when he heard a knock.

“Sir, this is Ho Sung.”

He heard a voice from outside the door.

“Come in,” replied Min Sung.

Ho Sung Lee entered the room.

“I’ll prepare your meal right away. Is that okay?”

“Of course.”

Ho Sung Lee opened the window. He set up the table and began cooking.

Min Sung looked out the window and made a plan.

The 12 signs’ reaction.

And what he would have to do from now on.

A white light flashed from Min Sung’s eyes as he looked out onto the scenery.

***

The sky turned gloomy followed by rain.

Harmonic, who was the one amongst the 12 signs who always handled the biggest cases, arrived at the gates of the city of Horn.

Upon seeing the badge on Harmonic signifying his identity as a 12 sign, the guards stiffened up and opened up the path.

After entering the gates, Harmonic walked inside the castle.

The players of Horn, who were briefed later on, came running over.

The Horn players paid their respects.

“Send the rest of them away and only the leader will follow,” Harmonic said as he took the lead.

The players, excluding the leader, paid their respects and left.

The leader, who remained, followed Harmonic with a nervous look on her face.

They entered the closest office.

Harmonic sat down at the table, and the beautiful leader kept her eyes on the ground out of respect for Harmonic.

Harmonic tapped on the table with his index finger.

After a long silence, Harmonic opened his mouth.

“He entered the Horn castle, huh?” Harmonic asked.

“Yes, Sir.”

“Did you hear anything?”

“He made an excessive request.”

Harmonic’s eyebrow twitched.

“An excessive request?”

“He asked for all the 12 signs to gather here by tomorrow morning.

Harmonic laughed with his head back.

“What an impressive man.”

The leader waited for Harmonic to give her a command.

After a moment of thought, Harmonic looked at the leader with sharp eyes.

“Schedule a meeting in the afternoon. And no matter what he does, don’t irritate him.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“You may go.”

The leader paid her respects and left.

Harmonic turned his chair. He looked out the window and let out a sigh.

“Where did something like that pop out from?”

Harmonic knitted his brows and put a cigarette in his mouth.

The quiet office was filled with smoke from Harmonic’s cigarette.

***

“The food is ready.”

Ho Sung Lee pointed at the table with a smile.

Min Sung sat down at the table after a nice shower.

Upon checking the menu, he was in awe of Ho Sung Lee’s choice.

It was hand-pulled dough soup.

Not long ago, he enjoyed the dough inside the pork bone soup, but today, that was the main ingredient.

He saw clams and vegetables in the clear broth. He also saw sliced peppers inside as well.

Min Sung slowly picked up his spoon.

He tasted the broth first.

Gulp.

“Phew.”

Min Sung breathed out and shook his head.

He couldn’t believe it.

Ho Sung Lee had become an incredible chef.

“This is delicious.”

In response, Ho Sung Lee smiled and excused himself.

Min Sung began to eat the hand-pulled dough soup.

After eating a few of the clams, he chewed on the hand-pulled dough.

It was soft and chewy at the same time, and the broth had a deep flavor that flowed down his throat.

While he watched the rain outside the window, he ate the steaming hot hand-pulled dough, and this made him realize just how important meals were in life.

Fat pieces of hand-pulled dough and broth. He felt like eating a piece of Kimchi with it brightened up the overall flavor.

Min Sung slowly enjoyed the hand-pulled dough soup.

***

Once he finished his meal and woke up from his nap, Ho Sung Lee was nearby waiting for Min Sung to wake up.

Min Sung got up from the bed, and that was when Ho Sung Lee cautiously approached.

“Sir, I have something to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“One of the 12 signs asked to meet you.”

“Today?”

“Yes. He asked if dinner time is okay with you.”

Min Sung thought about it and then nodded.

“Tell him I said yes.”

“Yes, Sir.”

Ho Sung Lee paid his respects and left the room.

Min Sung got up from the bed. He sat on the sofa with some water and looked far into the distance.

***

It was dinner time.

Ho Sung Lee went to Min Sung’s room with the leader.

“Let’s go, Sir,” said Ho Sung Lee with a nervous look on his face.

Min Sung put on a long cardigan. He put his hands inside his pockets and gestured with his chin.

The leader led the way, and Min Sung and Ho Sung Lee followed from behind.

Not long afterward, they arrived at a large room that appeared to be a meeting room.

Min Sung knitted his brows at the empty room and glared at the leader.

“Harmonic is on his way. You’ll meet him soon,” the leader said respectfully.

Min Sung sat in the high seat of the table and crossed his legs.

“I shall return with Harmonic.”

The leader nodded and left the room.

Ho Sung Lee stood close with his hands put together.

A moment later…

The fancy door opened, and Harmonic entered.

He was wearing a long and dark uniform.

He appeared to be in his early 30s, and he had blonde hair and a handsome face, which gave off a different image from what he was used to seeing on players.

Harmonic smiled and sat near Min Sung with a relaxed look on his face.

He didn’t seem to mind that Min Sung was sitting in the high seat with his legs crossed.

“I apologize for being late. I had something to tend to. I hope you’ll forgive me.”

He assumed that meeting one of the 12 signs would take quite a bit of time, and he thought they would be quite cocky.

But Harmonic was the opposite of what Min Sung expected.

“Have you eaten?” Harmonic asked Min Sung with a smile.

And Min Sung’s response was cold.

“What do you want?”

The air turned cold.

The atmosphere was so heavy that Ho Sung Lee found it hard to breathe.

Harmonic’s smile slightly turned into an awkward stiffened face.

However, he fixed his face to look relaxed again.

“Well, if I have to put a label on it, I’d say I just wanted to have a chat.”

Min Sung uncrossed his legs. He put his elbows on the table and rubbed his face as if he was washing his face.

He then glared at Harmonic with killer eyes.

Upon receiving that gaze, Harmonic’s face stiffened.

Min Sung then smiled at Harmonic.

“Hey,” called Min Sung in a low voice.

“…”

Harmonic received Min Sung’s gaze with a flushed face.

“I came to kill you, so I can increase my rank.”

“…”

Min Sung’s fierce eyes penetrated that of Harmonic.

“What did you want to talk about?”

The air froze still.

“The 12 signs gathered and discussed it. We decided to help you.”

Min Sung knitted his brows. He leaned back in his chair. He stared at Harmonic and opened his mouth.

“You’ll help me? How? Is there another way to boost my rank?”

Harmonic shook his head.

“Isn’t your goal to return to your own star after this? That’s why you’re trying to increase your rank, so…”

Harmonic continued with a twinkle in his eye, “We’ll help you take a shortcut so that you can do that without participating in the ranking war.”

Ho Sung Lee looked at Harmonic in shock.

He had just said that they could skip the ranking war and that the 12 signs would help them.

It was a shocking proposal.