Once the truth pierced a hole through the paper, the weak-minded finally started panicking.

  “N-No! B-boss! Why can’t I get out?! Why can’t I get out?!”

  Seeing his lapdog ramming against the invisible like his life depended on it, Kwan Minhwoo did his best to calm the man down.

  After everybody got a hold of themselves, they finally started solving the mystery.

  “Now, let’s figure out why the two of you are stuck while the rest of us aren’t. Minho, tell us what you did from start to finish.”

  “I-I went around gathering intel on the shopkeepers like Boss told me, but then I saw a farm, so I…”

  Kwan Minhwoo frowned. “You did the wheat trade-in?”

  When Minho nodded, everybody stared at him with greed flashing through their eyes.

  Minho warily backed off. “W-Why are you looking at me like that? The farm is still there! If you want it, go get it yourself!”

  Obviously, nobody was foolish enough to follow in his footsteps.

  Besides, isn’t there an easier way right in front of them?

  But before anybody could put their thoughts into action, Kwan Minhwoo cleverly diverted their attention. “Mr. Han… mind sharing what you did?”

  Han Duri scoffed. “I didn’t do much. I just went to... pick some flowers.”

  “Flowers?” Baldie Tae sneered. “Che. What flowers are there here?”

  It didn’t take a genius to get the drift. So it’s a flower picking thief!

  “Tch.” Han Duri hated those judgmental looks.

  But there’s nothing he could do about it. He could only glare at the mastermind. “So, Mr. Kwan, figured out the rules?”

  Kwan Minhoo adjusted his glasses like a smartass. “By the sound of it, both of you took things without paying. That must be the reason you can’t leave.”

  His lackey quickly connected the dots: “B-Boss, then if I pay everything back, will I be able to get out? I-I’ll go do it, right now!”

  “Ohoho! Wait, wait! Brother Minho, what’s the rush?”

  Kim Sungho double-teamed with Baldie Tae to block the rich dummy’s way. “We can discuss things slowly. Perhaps there’s another way. Isn’t that right, Mr. Kwan?”

  Kwan Minhwoo’s eyes flashed with brilliance and he joined their side.

  “Yes, Minho. They’re right. We must consider things carefully. After all, even you want to return it, is it possible? There’s no option to repurchase wheat, is there?”

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  “B-boss, does that mean I-I can’t get out?! B-boss! Save me! Don’t leave me behind!”

  “There’s no need to panic, Minho. You’re my people. How can I watch you die like so? Come along now. Let us go to the farm and see if we can find a way to… repay your debt.”

  “Mr. Han, why don’t you go find Mr. Park and remind him about the taboos?”

  Kim Sunghoo handed an emerald to the outsider to shut him up. Then, a team of three led an innocent man down the path of no return.

  Left alone, Han Duri tossed the emerald in his hand and cursed. “Tch. I don’t get paid enough for this.”

  But since he acquired his ticket to get out of here, there’s no need to stay and make trouble.

  “Go and find that whore. She better let me out or else!”

  Cold and cruel convictions were made, but who will turn out to be the most cruel?

  Yu Zhiye certainly didn’t know, but he believed the outside world must be much more cruel, especially when somebody in chat confirmed the official story line.

  [Professor X] Everybody, don’t get misled by Hero of Mount Liang upstairs! It’s not that the churches has no extraordinary power. It’s just that this era is known as the Twilight of the Gods, where the tide of extraordinary power receded.

  [Night Goddess Simp] Knowledgeable brother above, pray tell how you discovered such a big main storyline secret so fast?

  [Professor X] Here in Bumberg, there’s many libraries opened by the Priestesses of the Church of Knowledge and Wisdom. These priestesses opened their annals to the public because our culture apparently welcomes all scholars who enjoy studying the annals of history. Hehe.

  [Little Dragon Maiden] Why does it sound like there’s something off about those words?

  [Heavenly Sage] Touche. Miss, if you understand, you understand. If you don’t, how about we meet up offline and I’ll teach you all about the Dao of Common Sense?

  Nobody jumped out to call out the sage for being shameless because it’s pretty much common sense for nobody to agree to that.

  Yu Zhiye shut off the chat and stared out at the mountains looming ever closer.

  “Wonder what’s in store for the future? Will it be possible to mine that? If so, will stones turn into actual blocks?”

  Considering how the other resources could be collected in parts, Yu Zhiye didn’t get his hopes up. But what if?

  “Hopefully those two can bring me back a surprise from the pyramid. Sandstone blocks… if I can get my hands on that…”

  Perhaps doing base runs on the spot will no longer be a dream.

  Yu Zhiye really looked forward to that, just like how he looked forward to the next fish.

  The day passed away like normal…

  By late noon, a party of three were making their way out from the village.

  The four-eyes, the pot-bellied uncle, and the baldie.

  “Che. Four-eyes, I never expected you to be so coldblooded.”

  “Baldie, if you feel like your share isn’t enough to stop you from yapping, why don’t you give it back?”

  “Aeuugh?! Think I’m stupid? Don’t worry. I know when to keep my mouth shut. Long been used to doing it!”

  Kwan Minhwoo gave the baldie a skeptical glance, but Kim Sungho assured him.

  “Ohoho, Mr. Kwan, I’ll make sure to keep a tight rein on Brother Tae. Let’s say less, worry less.”

  “Good. Then...”

  “Ohoho, Mr. Kwan, have you finished considering our earlier suggestion? I think it’s best we huddle together for warmth, and for the greater good and all, you know?”

  Solo bolo wasn’t the way to go. Kwan Minhwoo didn’t have much of a choice. “Yes, all for the greater good.”

  “Great. Great! From now on, Mr. Kwan can call me Fatty Kim… or Manager Kim if you like.”

  “Manager Kim, I look forward to cooperating with you from now on.”

  “Ohoho, same here. Same here. Oh, that reminds me. Should we go remind Mr. Park and see if we can...”

  “Who’s willing to go do it?”

  Nobody answered.

  All three gazed back at the gloomy village where the villagers watched them go with strange, creepy smiles on their faces.

  Go? What if the drowning man drags them down with him?

  None of them wanted to overstay and find out what happens at night.

  “Since that’s the case, just leave it to fate. Maybe he’ll find a way out by nightfall? Anyways, we can try to help tomorrow, right?”

  That night, the village disappeared.

  The next morning, there was nothing spawning on the shelves.