Return of the Sword God-Rank Civil Servant novel Chapter 34

Jung Chul-min stared at Suho with wide eyes.

“Are... are you joking?”

“I’m not joking.”

Suho’s expression was dead serious.

This wasn’t a lie.

Perhaps because of that, Jung swallowed nervously at Suho’s unwavering seriousness.

After a moment of silence, he asked, “But... how?”

“It’s a secret.”

“A... secret?”

“Yes.”

“Oh...”

Jung’s disappointment was evident.

Understandable, considering they were talking about a Sealed Gate.

Suho thought to himself, *‘Sealed Gates are all designated with S-rank difficulty, which is why they’re called Sealed Gates in the first place. Of course he’d be curious to know how I can clear it.’*

But Suho had no intention of revealing his strategy. He didn’t have to, nor was there a rule requiring him to disclose his methods before being allowed to enter a Sealed Gate.

Even if Jung were to resist or demand an explanation, there was little he could do since Suho already had the president’s approval.

And this wasn’t the first time Suho had unexpectedly cleared something; he had conquered the Tower of Trials alone, a feat many thought impossible.

Jung had no choice but to believe him.

Suho added, “Think of how I discovered the strategy for the Tower of Trials. It’s similar. If you trust me and let me into the Formless Sword Gate, I’ll start there and gradually clear the other Sealed Gates too.”

“Y-you’re planning to clear other Sealed Gates as well?”

“Yes.”

“Ha...”

Clearing the Formless Sword Gate was hard enough to believe, and now Suho claimed he’d go through other Sealed Gates too...

Jung’s mouth fell open, and at the same time, he sensed that Suho wasn’t bluffing.

After all, Suho was like a tiger among men, and who was he, a mere human, to understand a tiger’s intentions?

Resigned, Jung let out a sigh.

“...Alright, then. I’ll make the arrangements and contact you as soon as it’s ready.”

“Actually, why don’t we head out now? I’m already prepared.”

“Right now?”

“Yes. The Formless Sword Gate is in Gyeongju, isn’t it?”

“That’s true, but... are you serious?”

“Yes, as they say, strike while the iron is hot. I’d like to get this done today.”

“Oh... one moment.”

At Suho’s urging, Jung stepped aside to make a call.

A few minutes later, he returned with an awkward smile.

“They said it’s possible. Would you like to travel with us to Gyeongju?”

“No, I’ll head there separately. I have someone I need to bring along. I already know the gate’s location, so I’ll meet you at the entrance.”

“...Understood.”

With that, Jung let out a slight chuckle, preparing to leave.

***

“Almost there.”

Roaring along the highway was Jo Jin-hwi’s sedan.

After leaving the KHA building, Suho had called both Jo and Nexus Guild Leader Bae Dong-hyuk.

The call to Bae was to inform him of Suho’s success in securing the Sealed Gate entry, and he had called Jo to request his presence as a journalist to document the journey.

Originally, Suho planned to take a train, but since Jo offered his sedan, it made more sense to travel together.

Upon entering Gyeongju, they arrived at the Sealed Gate’s entrance shortly thereafter.

The gate was under military guard, and the atmosphere was tense.

After verifying their identities, they entered, where the outer appearance of the Sealed Gate gradually became visible, thanks to a cloaking item.

*‘The Square is still the same.’*

The Square was a structure built around the gate portal, designed to contain monsters and prevent shocks. It was named for its square shape.

Made from high-grade alloys and steel, the Square held back monsters that occasionally emerged from the gate, as well as suppressed shockwaves.

As Suho exited the car, Jung Chul-min and the person in charge of the Formless Sword Square approached him.

“You’re here.”

“Yes, you arrived early.”

“We took the train. Who is this beside you?”

Jo Jin-hwi handed over his business card with a polite nod.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Jo Jin-hwi, a journalist with PBS.”

“A journalist?”

Seeing Jung’s slightly surprised reaction, Suho explained on Jo’s behalf.

“Nothing will be published immediately. He’s just here to take photos for documentation. Just a few shots after the gate is cleared—is that alright?”

“Oh, yes, that’s fine. It’s not a restricted area, after all. I was just surprised that you personally brought a journalist along.”

“Thank you for allowing it. And actually, it may be good for you to know that you’ll likely see him frequently from now on.”

“Haha, noted.”

At that moment, the Square’s administrator, Major Kim Jong-woo, introduced himself.

“I’m Major Kim Jong-woo, the administrator of this Square.”

“Ah, thank you for your service. I’m Ahn Suho.”

“It’s an honor to meet you. But... are you really planning to clear the Formless Sword Gate alone?”

Despite having been briefed by Jung, Major Kim couldn’t help but double-check.

It made sense—clearing the gate alone was almost unbelievable.

*‘Understandable. So many people have died here.’*

Suho knew that over 200 lives had been lost in attempts to clear this gate, which was why it was S-rank and designated as a Sealed Gate.