Transferred to an SSS-rank Production Class

“If it’s the shortest night of the year, that would be the summer solstice.”

“The day after tomorrow! It’s the day after tomorrow!”

Atera exclaimed, raising her hand high.

It was a golden opportunity to rescue the captured sea people. Thanks to Cha Taeyang and Atera, we had found a lead. No, that wasn’t all.

“The quest requires twenty people. Since we don’t know how many sea people the Shipowners’ Association has, we’ll need to track down those who’ve already been sold as well.”

A brief silence fell. We had to find those who had been scattered and sold off. Everyone must be feeling overwhelmed.

Choi Kwon-young, who had been quietly observing, let out a small chuckle.

“It’s amazing how things are falling into place.”

Choi Kwon-young shared the description window of an item he possessed. It was an ordinary ledger. The contents weren’t specified in the description.

“I found this ledger in the tower. It records some large transactions, but it doesn’t seem like a typical trade ledger, so I kept it.”

Choi Kwon-young took out the ledger and opened it on the table. It contained only dates, amounts, and initials, without any categories. Judging by the dates, it seemed it hadn’t been updated for a few years.

I glanced at the dates and was about to look at other parts when I noticed something and looked at Choi Kwon-young.

“A ledger with entries only twice a year. Suspicious, isn’t it?”

“You found this in the tower where Atera was?”

“Yes. Hunter Yun Su-ho wouldn’t have been able to find it. There was a secret space in the library.”

Despite the blatant dismissal, Yun Su-ho didn’t even twitch an eyebrow.

Though he might not be familiar with scenario-type fields, Yun Su-ho was still an S-rank hunter. His intuition should be dozens of times sharper than an ordinary person’s.

It was Choi Kwon-young who was unusual, discovering something that another S-rank hadn’t noticed, without even having a search skill.

Moreover, there wasn’t even a mention of sea people in the ledger. Yet he sensed something off and kept it. What kind of person was he?

They say he was an elite among elites even before awakening. Was it due to that background? As a former ordinary college student, he was in a realm I couldn’t comprehend.

“These initials must represent the people who bought the sea people. With this, we should be able to track down those sold at the auction.”

The conversation then turned to future plans.

We decided to postpone the deep-sea pearl matter since we had no leads and focus on the upcoming auction on the summer solstice for now.

The plan was as follows:

We’d find out the auction location through Cloud Trading Company, which Metea had introduced. On the day of the auction, we’d infiltrate and split into two teams.

One team would use Atera’s telepathy to locate the sea people and help them escape. The other team would cause a disturbance at the auction to divert attention.

It was a simple plan.

But considering our available manpower, it wouldn’t be easy. If anyone failed to play their part, we couldn’t succeed.

“Hunter Yun Gaho and Hunter Cha Taeyang will go to Cloud Trading Company, and Hunter Yun Su-ho will come with me to visit the Shipowners’ Association. Any objections?”

“Why do I have to move with Guild Master Choi Kwon-young?”

“I intend to make you my proxy, Hunter Yun Su-ho.”

After making this cryptic statement, Choi Kwon-young concluded the meeting.

‘I really can’t figure out what he’s thinking.’

I sent a message to Han Cha-hyun sharing the meeting results. I also relayed the request for him to return to Shella as soon as possible.

“Hunter Cha Taeyang, please wait a moment. There’s something I need to check.”

“Is the discussion over?”

Right on cue, the sea spirit came looking for me. He was in his whale form. With a nod, he ordered me to come out. I followed him to the lobby where the tower’s interior was clearly visible.

This flower-petal-shaped tower had a cylindrical hollow center. A single ancient tree with white branches occupied this empty central space. The tree’s branches, adorned with colored threads, seashells, and gossamer-like silk, were completely bare of leaves.

“Get on my back.”

“Pardon?”

“Tsk, if it weren’t for Kalin’s request…”

As I hesitated in confusion, the sea spirit impatiently urged me on.

After confirming I was aboard, the sea spirit suddenly plunged downward at a rapid pace. Despite starting from quite a height, he dove without hesitation.

Water spray formed around the sea spirit’s body, and a blue ring-like structure enveloped us.

“Astrona-nim!”

“Don’t make such a fuss.”

Just before impact with the floor, I squeezed my eyes shut.

But the expected pain never came. As I cautiously opened my eyes to assess the situation, the sea spirit unceremoniously dumped me on the ground.

“How can you be of any use if you’re so timid?”

“Anyone would be scared in that situation… Where are we?”

“Where else? The deepest part of Badadkkot, Media’s Cradle.”

[Subquest ‘Apprenticeship (C)’ has been completed.]

Circuits spread across a space as vast as an Olympic hall.

The quest completion window popped up, but that wasn’t important right now.

My body’s mana channels pulsed in rhythm with the flow of magical power. My skin tingled all over. True to the boast that merely observing would be educational, the skill on display was extraordinary. The perfect interlocking of dozens of elegant knots made me acutely aware of the overwhelming difference in talent.

Seeing my dazed expression, the sea spirit muttered something about “these craftsmen.”

“How long has this circuit been here?”

“Kalin made it right after her coming-of-age ceremony, so it must be at least 300 years old.”

It was a long enough time that any lesser skill would have ceased functioning by now.

The trait itself was only one rank different from mine. Yet I couldn’t imagine ever catching up to Kalia. Thinking of Kalia, I suddenly remembered the monocle she had given me.

[Is there something you’re curious about?]

I turned around to gauge the sea spirit’s reaction. He seemed to have never expected us to leave early, swimming through the water with his eyes closed.

“What’s that cocoon-like thing in the center?”

In the center of the circuit, white branches rising from the floor were intertwined into a shape resembling both a cocoon and a basket.

Its interior was completely empty, making its purpose unclear.

[What else could it be? It’s the cradle for the deep-sea pearl.]

A cradle for the deep-sea pearl?

After hearing Kalia’s words, the circuit configuration around the cradle made sense. A peculiar formation that managed the power flowing from the center while simultaneously protecting it.

As I circled around it, Kalia suggested:

[Try infusing some magical power into the circuit. It’ll be much easier to understand then.]

“Is that allowed?”

[Do you think your level of magical power could affect this formula?]

Well, a circuit of this scale would require vast amounts of magical power to operate. Though my magical power was not bad for a C-rank, it would be like adding a grain of salt to the ocean.

Feeling sheepish, I silently bent down and placed my hand on the circuit.

‘Wait. How is this circuit functioning without the deep-sea pearl?’

The answer to my question soon became apparent.

As I circulated magical power to understand the structure, I felt a sense of déjà vu. I concentrated and extended my magical power to the end of the circuit.

Basically, this circuit uses the excess magical power emitted by the deep-sea pearl as its driving force. However, when magical power is insufficient, it draws power from something below, that is, something beneath this cradle.

“Ugh!”

The moment my magical power touched something, my body’s mana channels vibrated as if electrocuted. As I fell backward from the shock, Kalia giggled.

[Oh my, did you notice? You must be quite sensitive.]

“Kalia, are you insane?”

[Are you complimenting me? Thank you!]

No, is this really something to answer so cheerfully?

An immense presence, beyond my comprehension, was slumbering beneath the cradle.

I recalled the information Kalia had shared at the workshop.

[Badadkkot is a massive cradle where Media sleeps. The deep-sea pearl, the source of Badadkkot, is a seed of hope she left before entering her long dream.]

A power even greater than the sea spirit’s. It was certain.

Media’s true form sleeps beneath this. The term ‘cradle’ wasn’t just a figure of speech.

According to the mythology Atera had shared, Media fell into a deep slumber after a long battle with Helium.

And you… A headache came on as I contemplated Kalia’s outrageous act. To siphon magical power from a sleeping god.

I knew SS-rank would be a step above S-rank, but this is a bit much, isn’t it?

[Come on, praise my genius!]

Suddenly, I missed my master. I rubbed my forehead, overwhelmed by a wave of fatigue.

◆◇◆◇◆

“Why is even Hunter Han Cha-hyun acting like this?”

“Mr. Kim, what’s wrong? Did someone bully you? Want me to teach them a lesson?”

I had just barely recovered from the shock of Kalia’s eccentricity and returned to land, only to find Han Cha-hyun causing trouble now. He’s not the type to be uncooperative without reason, so why is he acting like this?

Han Cha-hyun refused to return to Shella, saying he couldn’t leave until his ongoing investigation was complete. He claimed he’d bring back some startling news.

“I can understand Helium, but what’s this about a fire investigation?”

I don’t know much, but this is Han Cha-hyun, not Lee Kang-to. He must have his reasons. Let’s act separately until the auction matter is resolved. It would be nice if we could proceed simultaneously.

“I think that’s it over there!”

Cha Taeyang pointed to a shop at the entrance of an alley.

A sign with “Cloud Trading Company” written in rough letters rattled in the wind. We pushed open a door that looked like it belonged in a Western movie and entered the building.

Behind a counter strewn with crumpled papers, ink bottles, and coins, a woman with fluffy gray hair was dozing off. Her glasses perched precariously on the tip of her nose, threatening to fall at any moment.

Ding!

As Cha Taeyang tapped the bell on the counter, the woman jumped up, startled.

“Just name it! Cloud Trading Company has everything. How may I help you?”

“Ah, hello.”

Though she mechanically recited her lines, the woman was still half-asleep as she staggered back into her chair. She shook her head vigorously and made an effort to open her eyes wide, staring at us.

“We’re here to see Minerva of Cloud Trading Company.”

“W-what? Minerva?”

The dim-witted receptionist looked crestfallen, insisting there was no such person here.

“But this is definitely Cloud Trading Company…”

“W-we have a letter of introduction here. Metea wrote it for us.”

The moment Atera presented the letter, the woman’s expression changed. Her eyes, which had seemed drowsy, instantly sharpened with alertness.

She snatched the letter and checked its contents. Then, in a voice quite different from before, she said:

“Letter of introduction confirmed. This way, please.”

The door behind the counter opened silently.