Duo Leveling LITRPG | Post Apocalyptic | SYSTEM-Chapter 55 - Neon’s True Identity
Chapter 55: Chapter 55 - Neon’s True Identity
Chapter 55 - Neon’s True Identity
’Is that really Neon?’
The man awkwardly waving his hand among the prisoners captured by the black-market traders.
Had it not been for that earring, he would have seemed so plain, so unremarkable, they might not have suspected a thing.
«...Ta, ta-daaa.»
Unlike the other prisoners, he didn’t look like someone whose soul had been stolen.
Naturally so.
The "Angel’s Earring" he wore would have easily detected — and neutralized — any hidden poison clauses in a contract.
Ranked 9th among the "Sky Beyond Sky."
There was no way the famed dungeon merchant Neon would ever fall prey to mere black-market traders.
’But then... why is Neon here?’
Neon was supposed to be a prime suspect — possibly even the true mastermind behind all this.
There was absolutely no reason he should be tied up among the prisoners.
Had the black-market traders lied?
Was the information wrong?
...No way to know yet.
The more he thought about it, the deeper the mystery grew.
’No need to think too hard.’
The man who could answer was standing right in front of them.
If this was really that Neon, he would know the answers.
But before Jhin could even open his mouth, Millie moved first.
«...Neon?»
She stepped up, pulling out her revolver and aiming it directly at him.
The moment she saw the earring, she must have realized it too.
Caleb and Luke also quickly gripped their weapons, tension crackling in the air.
The atmosphere became razor-sharp.
Everyone was on edge — until Neon slowly raised both hands in the air and stammered,
«O-oh, this is all a misunderstanding! I don’t know anything!»
«Yup. Definitely Neon.»
«I’m not involved! You’ve got the wrong guy! Neon? Ha, what a funny joke!»
Click!
Power gathered at the muzzle of Millie’s loaded magic revolver.
One pull of the trigger, and a bullet would pierce his forehead.
«Neon, are you really the mastermind behind all of this?» she demanded coldly.
Neon— the man with both hands raised high — rapidly shook his head, pale as a ghost.
But Millie didn’t lower her gun, her eyes narrowing.
«Then explain that earring.»
«I-I bought it in the Westcoast for like... ten thousand coin...»
«That’s the Angel’s Earring, idiot.»
«Well, it’s... angelic-looking, right? Haha...»
Watching the exchange, Jhin became absolutely certain.
There was no doubt — this was the real Neon.
The Angel’s Earring was a unique item, awarded only to the top-ranking merchant.
’There’s no way a fake could hold real magic.’
Lowering her gaze icily, Millie said,
«Neon.»
«...I’m telling you, you’ve got the wrong guy.»
«Spit it out.»
«Huh...?»
«Was all of this really your doing?»
«I-I don’t even know what you’re talking about—»
BANG!
Millie’s revolver fired.
The bullet grazed Neon’s cheek.
He fell completely silent.
«There won’t be a second warning.»
Millie’s gun reloaded instantly, Power flaring around it.
The chill in her eyes was no longer that of idol Millie, but the icy stare of Clarke — the merciless sniper.
Neon hesitated — and then his entire expression collapsed.
He immediately dropped to his knees, prostrating himself with a loud thud.
«I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I really thought the game was shutting down! Please don’t kill me! I’ll never scam anyone again!»
«...What?»
«Yes, yes! I’m Neon, you’re right! I’m sorry!
Stealing Clarke-nim’s gun was a huge mistake! I regret it deeply!»
’...Something’s wrong.’
Jhin sensed something was off.
He lowered Millie’s gun gently and stepped forward.
Millie also seemed to notice and obediently stepped back.
«Neon, I think you’re misunderstanding something,» Jhin said carefully.
«We’re not talking about Exodia 1—»
«I’m sorry, K-nim! I didn’t expect the game to continue! I thought it was over!»
«...»
«...»
Their gazes locked in the air.
Staring at Neon, Jhin quietly released a faint wave of killing intent.
Was this really that Neon?
Was there anything he didn’t know?
Jhin ’s voice turned sharp.
«How did you know?» he asked.
«Huh?»
«That I’m ’Kyle.’»
No one here had ever once called Jhin "Kyle."
Nor was there anything about him that showed his old identity.
Neon’s face twisted awkwardly.
«A-ah, ah!»
Unlike the cold, composed image he had had in the game, Neon now displayed a colorful range of expressions — panic, embarrassment, confusion.
Jhin ’s mind grew even more tangled.
In short, Neon wasn’t the culprit.
«So, you’re saying you chased an impersonator into this dungeon... and meeting us here was pure coincidence?» Jhin summarized.
«Half and half, I guess?» Neon replied sheepishly.
And the reason Neonhad recognized "Kyle" was even simpler than expected.
«I was following the GPS,» Neon said.
«GPS?» Millie asked suspiciously.
«Yeah! You know, that thing we used in Exodia 1 to find you?
I got it as a server shutdown compensation item.»
«That GPS was supposed to be restricted to that dungeon only.»
«I... modified it.»
Apparently, Neon had salvaged the tracking device that locked onto "Kyle’s" coordinates —
and upgraded it after the server shut down.
So the moment Jhin escaped the Trial nexus, Neon had been able to pinpoint his location.
Neon, with a huge grin, added proudly,
«After all, there’s no better way to make a fortune than sticking close to you, Kyle! Hehe!»
Looking at the idiotically grinning Neon, Jhin felt strangely hollow inside.
All that time worrying — calling him the "mastermind" or "prime suspect" — and this was who he’d been so suspicious of?
’Who would’ve thought Neon was just a dumb middle schooler at heart...’
He was only fourteen years old — a first-year middle schooler.
The ruthless merchant who had ripped off rankers left and right...
was just a minor, barely into adolescence.
The shock was on the same level as finding out that Clarke — the cold, aloof sniper — was actually a female idol singer.
’Wait... so during the height of Exodia, he would’ve been an elementary school kid?’
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