Chapter 238 : The Meaning of Betrayal (1)

The Meaning of Betrayal (1)

As soon as Allen brought over the composite sketch artist, light calmly explained the suspect's appearance to the artist.

"The eyes were about this size, and the look in them was rather sharp."

"How about this?"

The artist sketched the eyes and showed Light. She frowned.

"Hmm... no, that's not right. They should be a little bigger, and the gaze is too slanted."

"I see. Then..."

Listening to their conversation with a nervous expression, allen turned to Alex.

"Montages usually aren't finished so easily."

"I know."

"Hm?"

"I drew a montage too, when I first joined the Agency."

At Alex's answer, Lee Gyeongbok commented,

"Ah, I guess so. You must have created montages of the Safe Shifter guys."

- Why does Allen look like he didn't know that?

- LOL how's a franchise chairman supposed to know what the branch employees are up to

- Maybe he got promoted recently and doesn't have all the info yet LOL

- Did the chairman poke at an old wound?

Allen rolled his eyes for a moment before clearing his throat.

"Ahem, then you must know the process well. It's good to wait, but rather than being stuck here, why don't you patrol the city for a bit while leaving the montage to us?"

"A patrol?"

"Yes, you mentioned that you're new here. If you spot the culprits but don't know the streets well, you'd be really frustrated to lose them, wouldn't you?"

The chat window filled with laughter in response to his question.

- 5252, a perfect detective never gets lost, you know!

- There's a Kingni-map for that LOL

- But to be honest, you probably won't have time to check the minimap if you're in a chase LOL

- If he's not skipping, I bet there's something he needs to do

Meanwhile, allen pointed to the city map.

"You could check out the Federal Bank first—it's a strong candidate. Or, visiting the police department wouldn't be a bad idea either."

"The police department?"

"Right, you might not know since you're new. Saint Cloud is a big city, so the Sheriff doesn't handle all the local security. Instead, the city police take on that role. The Federal Marshals use the police department as their headquarters."

Allen finished, pointing to both locations on the map.

- Ah, pretty sure I saw those in a cutscene

- Yeah, saw cops in blue uniforms

- Feels like something will happen at either the bank or the police

- The locations are almost the exact opposite though

- Isn't this just to make you roam the city?

- Oh LOL it's actually a natural design

While the artist started sketching again, light also chimed in.

"Alex, I agree with that idea. I can handle things here by myself just fine. Of course, the choice is yours."

At her words, alex folded his arms and nodded. The cutscene ended and control returned.

"Seems like it's free time now. I guess if I wander the city and visit either the bank or the police station, the next story beat will trigger."

- If they say it twice, you really can't miss it, huh?

- For real, lol, if you don't get it now, there's a brain issue

- I wonder if it's either-or, or if you have to go to both

- Just to be safe, probably better to decide carefully

- Yeah, could be a branching point

Heeding his viewers' comments, Lee Gyeongbok left the Agency building.

"Alright, let's clean my gun first and then decide where to go. It would be awful if the gun jammed at such a crucial moment when I finally get to catch the gang, right?"

- So Matjji, lol

- Feels like if you're Roderi, there might be a route where you don't bother with gun maintenance LOL

- For real, lol, wouldn't be surprised if there's an unprepared route

- Unprepared, wTF, lol

- Yeah but that has to be a bad ending, right? LOL

Agreeing with his audience, Lee Gyeongbok headed for the gun shop.

* * *

While his gun was being cleaned, Lee Gyeongbok used his divine energy to gauge his options.

Which would be more fun: checking out the Federal Bank or the police department?

'Hmm, I don't sense a huge difference, but...'

Still, the more positive, fun feeling was definitely stronger for one side. Receiving his cleaned gun from the shop, Lee Gyeongbok stepped back outside.

- Hyung! Where ya going?

- If you're a detective, go to the crime scene! Bank, let's go!

- LOL, there hasn't even been a crime yet!

- Not a bad idea to check for other clues at the police department

- Should we do a vote?

- Instead of a vote, how about betting on where Godple goes first?

Suggestions poured in from the viewers, making Lee Gyeongbok laugh.

"I don't think this calls for a vote or a bet. Ah, there's a tram over there. Let's just get on and get off at whichever stop comes first."

He pointed to the waiting tram.

- LOL, leaving it to fate?

- If it's luck, it's gotta be Godple LOL

- Can you open up point-betting then?

- Enough gambling, grandmaster!

Watching the chat, he boarded the tram.

'It's not really random though.'

Though it looked like a random choice, Lee Gyeongbok already memorized the tram's route during the city overview cutscene.

"There are more police than I expected."

Looking out the tram window, he directed viewers' attention to the many uniformed police patrolling the city.

- Probably beefed up patrols because of the gang, huh?

- If it's this well-patrolled, pulling off a heist won't be easy LOL

- At this rate, maybe there won't even be a heist? LOL

The destination appeared on the minimap.

- Oh! Here it is, lol

- It's the bank LOL

- Dang, I was gonna bet all-in on the bank!

- I'm already all-in at the bank trying to pay back loans

- Ah... aaah......

- Not that kind of all-in......

- Spldam, what's this?

- You too? Watchu gonna do!

The tram arrived first at the Federal Bank. As he got off, Lee Gyeongbok focused on the sensation from his divine energy.

"Just like Allen said, there are a lot of agents posted here. Learning how they disguise themselves could be useful."

A flurry of question marks appeared in the chat. How could he tell, having just gotten off the tram?

Walking toward the bank, Lee Gyeongbok continued.

"See that guy on the bench reading a newspaper? But he hasn't turned a page. He's on alert, checking his surroundings."

"And that person begging in the corner—looks like a vagrant, but if you look closely, parts of their clothes are much cleaner than others. They probably dirtied them in a hurry."

Lee Gyeongbok calmly explained the disguised detectives.

- Wait;;; you can see all that?

- How's that possible?

- That physical perception is nuts

- 5252, he really IS a detective!

- What has my eyesight even been doing?

- LOL, our eyes just exist to watch Godple's stream, I'm telling you

Grinning at the compliments filling the chat, Lee Gyeongbok smiled faintly.

"Let's check out the inside as well."

As he climbed the stairs to enter the bank, control suddenly vanished and a cutscene began.

For a moment, he wondered what was happening.

"Hey, detective Alex!"

A familiar voice approached.

"Jerry? What are you doing here?"

It was Jerry, the bank teller.

- Alex: Why are you showing up there?

- Genome type, making a return!

- Is this why the chapter's called 'Betrayal'?

- LOL, is this for a genome kick?

- What's this 'Genome frame' LOL

- Poor Jerry getting all the genome hate

- Gotta visit genome's stream and demand an explanation later

- Crazy, lol

Noticing Alex's expression, jerry let out an awkward laugh.

"Ah, I think I mentioned it before. Well, you're a busy detective, so maybe you forgot. I'm here for the auction."

- Oh, lancaster Ranch?

- Right LOL, he asked Alex before if he wanted to be a ranch owner

- So it wasn't random, after all?

Viewers remembered the recent events after the Lancaster resolution. So did Alex.

"The auction—for Lancaster Ranch, right?"

"That's right. Big shots and wealthy folks tend to gather in Saint Cloud, after all."

"Perfect. Do you have a moment right now?"

"Uh? Ah, yes, of course. How could I refuse to repay a benefactor?"

Though puzzled, jerry nodded. But when Alex followed up with his question, jerry's expression changed.

"Do you know much about the bank vault?"

"Uh, I know a little, but why do you ask..."

Jerry clamped his mouth shut as if realizing something.

"No, never mind. I'm sure it's for detective work. Probably nothing I should be getting involved in."

- Look how fast Jerry is trying to step back LOL

- Genome types are quick-witted, lol

- Even more 'genome-like' seeing how fast he catches on LOL

- For real, he used to be the best on Trooper, right?

- Trooper best (among humans)

- He did pretty well in human society LOL

- Tsk! Too bad he ran into a god...

The chat was lively, but Alex stayed serious.

"What's the vault's weakest point?"

"Uh... is this really for detective work? Never mind, that was a slip. Ahem, if you're talking about a weak point, it's definitely the entrance. The rest of the walls are solid slabs."

"And what about dynamite? Would that work?"

"Dynamite? Uh... how many sticks are we talking?"

"More than whatever you're imagining."

As the two continued their conversation, jerry's face went through a vivid range of emotions, delighting the chat.

- LOL, what must he be thinking

- For Jerry, it must feel like he's being asked to consult on a bank robbery

- ???: Surely the detective isn't planning something like that LOL

- ???: Right? Detective, you're not...?

- ???: What, wTF? Am I involved in a crime here?

- Jerry's inner thoughts are so relatable LOL

Meanwhile, jerry's eyes darted rapidly.

"Uh... anyway, you'd have to target the entrance."

"You can't break through with dynamite?"

"No. Even if you have enough firepower to breach the walls, you'd still have to go through the entrance. If you explode the wall, it's pointless."

"Pointless?"

"You'd blow through the vault to get the cash and gold bars inside, right? But if you set off explosions in the walls, everything inside goes flying. The money turns to ash, and the gold bars won't be intact either."

Having said all this, jerry started shaking his hands.

"No, actually, there's an even bigger problem."

"What's that?"

"With that much firepower, the entire bank building could collapse. What's the point in that? You'd have to change your plan."

"Hmm... robbing the bank vault sounds pretty tough after all. Thanks for the advice."

Alex nodded. Jerry, seeming to resolve something, spoke resolutely.

"Detective, if you're in any financial trouble, please come talk to me anytime. I'll help however I can."

"Sorry? No, that's not why."

"Then why... no, never mind. I'd better hurry off before I get mixed up in anything."

"Don't worry. There's no chance of that."

Jerry looked at Alex for a moment, then left.

- LOL, he's definitely misunderstanding everything

- Their idea of "no chance of that" is so different LOL

- One means "I'll prevent the case" vs the other means "I won't report you"

- Jerry LOLOL, even when mistaken, he's loyal

- For real, what's with persuading him to change the plan in the middle LOL

Viewers laughed, and as the cutscene ended, so did Lee Gyeongbok. He turned his attention back to the situation.

"Listening to all that, robbing the bank sounds pretty hard."

- Yeah, seems rough

- At this level, maybe the gang's goal isn't actually the bank?

- High risk, low return

- Maybe cash isn't even the point?

- ???: The important thing is the message

- LOL, obviously it's Megod, not Ronaldo

Viewers agreed.

"Hmm, thinking it over, if it were me, I'd do it this way."

He thought a moment, then spoke again.

"I wouldn't blow up the vault walls with dynamite, but rather the bank entrance. Then neither the police nor detectives could get in. In that time, you take control of the inside, open or blast the vault entrance, grab the cash and gold bars, and then blow the wall for escape."

When the chat filled with question marks, Lee Gyeongbok added a clarification.

"Oh, and I'd go into the bank alone. If a whole group walks in, it's suspicious and hard to pull off. The other gang members would be prepping the getaway. You can't exactly run off with gold bars, after all."

- Wait;;; you're going to rob the bank single-handed?

- Look at Godple's Perfect Plan LOL

- Be honest—if Godple was an outlaw, is there any bank he couldn't rob?

- Godple's Perfect Gang? Join now!

- Hyung, how many convictions have you REALLY got?

- LOL, you can't get convictions if you never get caught

Laughing at the playful banter, Lee Gyeongbok suddenly realized something.

'What's this?'

He sensed a new threat and moved quickly. Soon he spotted a group of poorly-dressed children.

- Not going inside the bank?

- Heard enough from Jerry, probably doesn't need to

- Headed for the police station now?

- Huh? Why are there kids gathering?

- Why do they look so sickly?

- Must be slum kids

- The gap between rich and poor is even bigger in a big city

- Slums always pop up when cities get big

Viewers felt sorry seeing the scene, but Lee Gyeongbok's reaction was different.

The kids, huddled together and fiddling with something, hurriedly scattered when he approached.

- Huh?

- Were they playing with dirt?

- Looks like something was buried

There were clear signs the dirt had been recently dug up and refilled.

Instead of explaining, Lee Gyeongbok dug again. Under the mound, he found a brown stick.

- Huh?

- What's that doing here?

- What even is that?

It was dynamite.

While viewers were stunned, Lee Gyeongbok took action, bringing the dynamite and chasing after the fleeing children.

Startled, the kids ran even faster down an alleyway.

- Are these kids working with the Hired Gun?

- What the heck is happening!?

- Hyung, don't let them get away!

- They're heading further out

- Looks like he's going to the slums

Lee Gyeongbok quickly closed the distance. As he entered the backstreet, bigger teenagers surrounded him threateningly, obviously trying to protect the younger kids hiding behind them, but he stayed calm.

Showing them the dynamite, he asked,

"Where did you get this?"

But it wasn't the kids who answered; the teens sneered and approached, some showing off small knives.

"What nonsense are you spouting? Are you crazy, old man?"

The leader sneered, and the group burst out laughing.

- Acting cocky in front of Godple?

- Oh? That's infuriating

- Did even the Wild West have juvenile protection?

- LOL, getting cocky because they're underage?

Before the chat could get too riled up, Lee Gyeongbok spoke up.

"Nothing livens things up like this."

He drew his revolver.

The leader only realized the barrel was pressed to his forehead after it was too late.

"A—a gun!"

"R—run!"

The kids scrambled away in terror, the leader too panicked even to scream as he turned and tried to flee.

"But I haven't gotten my answer yet."

Lee Gyeongbok wasn't letting them go so easily. With a thrown lasso, he caught the leader, who slammed into the dirt face-first.

"Gah!"

The once-brave teen, now nose bleeding and in tears, trembled all over as Lee Gyeongbok showed the dynamite again.

"W-we really don't know anything! Honest! Someone just gave us money and told us to bury this stick somewhere!"

"A stick?"

Lee Gyeongbok's brow furrowed.

- Wait, they didn't even know it was dynamite?

- For kids, maybe that's possible?

- Dang, the gang's just using these poor kids

- Considering his attitude, getting a nosebleed was fair

- So Matjji, lol

It was clear the Hired Gun gang was using poor kids to do the prep work.

"Who told you to do this?"

"I-I really don't know! We met him at church...!"

"Church?"

Both Lee Gyeongbok and his viewers were surprised by the unexpected location.

"They give free food to poor people at the church. Someone we met there gave us the money and the stick. It's true!"

- So they're using the church?

- That's plausible, the church was extremely important back in the Wild West

- Smart thinking, churches are places the Sheriff avoids messing with

- Yeah, who'd expect poor kids to be carrying dynamite?

- The gang's really cunning

Lee Gyeongbok clicked his tongue.

When he untied his captive, the leader scrambled away.

"Looks like I need to check out the church."

* * *

At the church, there was a long line of shabby-looking vagrants.

- Wow, so many people

- Just the line makes it look like King-verland LOL

- Are some of the gang hiding among them?

- If someone's in here, you'd really never find them

- Shouldn't you call for extra backup from the Agency or police?

- For real, when are you going to investigate them all?

In the face of the crowd, viewers were bewildered.

But Lee Gyeongbok was different.

'I don't sense anyone suspicious.'

If there had been, he would've been able to detect any outlaw using his divine energy, but everything just felt normal.

Looking around, something caught his attention.

'Found it.'

He sensed a threat.

But it wasn't coming from a person.

'The underground storeroom?'

The threat was emanating from beneath a building in the church compound, its underground area. As his divine energy refined its focus, information about the area became clear.

'So this is how they're hiding it.'

Mixed in among boxes of food were crates of dynamite.

'Perfect way to avoid suspicion.'

It was obvious now: the Hired Gun gang was using the church as a dynamite storage site.

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