TRPM 363

chapter 363

Those who confirmed that the impostor was a Grand Magician couldn’t hide their shock.

It was only natural.

The fact that someone at the level of a Grand Magician—a being respected wherever they went—had hidden their identity and impersonated Chairman Richard was no trivial matter. Normally, someone that powerful had no reason to engage in such deceit.

“The world is vast, and there are many incomprehensible people.”

“This was… a lone act, right?”

“…I hope so, but probably not. Whoever it was, they had done an exceptional job investigating Richard’s habits beforehand.”

Among those attending the auction, there were quite a few who knew Chairman Richard personally, not just from brief business meetings.

Even though this auction was being held in Korea, the attendees weren’t limited to Koreans. Naturally, many had casually conversed with the impostor, believing him to be the real Richard.

The fact that even they hadn’t realized meant the act had been flawless. That person had done thorough research on Richard’s mannerisms beforehand.

The organization had long considered Richard a thorn in its side, so it wasn’t strange if they had gathered detailed information on him.

But I believed there was more to it than that.

In other words—

‘The impostor had Richard’s memories.’

I knew of a weapon the organization used.

Doppelgängers.

And I had seen with my own eyes that some doppelgängers inherited the memories of their originals.

‘…Like the one that used my uncle as its template.’

That doppelgänger, dragged away by Richard, was now likely imprisoned in the headquarters of the World Awakeners’ Association.

If there existed a doppelgänger who had Richard’s memories and could mimic him flawlessly…

“We’ve located the impostor!”

While I was thinking that, a policeman shouted.

“Where?”

“He’s fleeing south along the highway!”

So, he was still on the move.

And if he was fleeing on the highway…

“Nearby police and military forces are already preparing to pursue and block his path, but we urgently need support!”

Of course.

The suspect was presumed to be at the level of a Grand Magician.

Ordinary police and soldiers wouldn’t be able to stop him. Casualties were inevitable unless we intervened quickly.

“Alex.”

“I’ve been waiting. Please, get on.”

Alex, the mage of the Ironblood Guild who commanded a dragon, had been standing by.

At my words, he summoned his contracted beast, Fafnir.

The dragon, seemingly aware of the situation, moved into an open area and glanced at me expectantly.

“What’s going on?”

“Ah, I didn’t think I’d be riding a dragon today.”

“…Normally, only Aura Masters, Grand Magicians, or those of comparable strength ride dragons….”

Some nearby looked confused, but those who understood began preparing to mount.

I infused Fafnir’s body with my inner energy.

Grrr…

The dragon, once no taller than my knee, began to grow—large enough for all the Aura Masters, Grand Magicians, and equivalent elites present to ride.

Well, “all” wasn’t that many.

It was just me, Yeon Mirae, Shin Chaegun of the Night Eagle Guild, Yoo Wonhoon of the Legionnaires Guild, and Song Eunji of the Cleaner Guild.

Lee Haeun had been told not to come. President Shin Hanji was too busy with Academy matters. The Police Commissioner was directly overseeing the pursuit of the impostor.

Other strong Awakeners in the capital region were either inside dungeons or tied up with personal matters. So only the five of us could be deployed.

And that was fine—having too many people wasn’t always helpful anyway.

“Can we mount now?”

“A dragon’s back, huh….”

While I was thinking this, Yoo Wonhoon and Shin Chaegun eagerly prepared to climb up.

Yoo Wonhoon looked excited, likely because it was his first time riding a dragon. Shin Chaegun, though composed, also seemed secretly thrilled.

Well, being a Dragon Rider was a dream for many.

“This guy’s going to fly fast. You’re confident you won’t fall off?”

“Of course!”

“That’s easy for us.”

They answered without hesitation. As Aura Masters and Transcendent psychics, even if they fell, they would be injured but not killed.

But…

Song Eunji, who specialized in illusion magic, looked nervous. Unlike the others, a fall for her could mean death.

“Yeon Mirae.”

“Yes. I’ll hold onto Guildmaster Song. Let’s go.”

“W-wait a minute….”

Mirae had already guessed her role. She pulled Song Eunji onto Fafnir’s back and secured her. Yoo Wonhoon and Shin Chaegun quickly mounted as well.

“…Sigh. Fafnir, let’s go.”

Kiing?

“What? No, I’m not riding your back. I’ll hang from your leg. That way, I can jump off anytime.”

King!

At my command, Fafnir spread his wings and took off.

I grabbed onto his leg as he ascended, watching the ground shrink rapidly.

‘…He’s faster than before.’

Was it just perspective, hanging from his leg instead of sitting on his back?

No, I truly believed his speed had increased.

Previously, I had been the only rider, so Alex hadn’t needed to enlarge him too much. But now, with five riders, Fafnir was massive—naturally faster as well.

It could also be because Alex had improved his skills, raising Fafnir’s power with him.

Either way, it didn’t matter.

Whoosh!

The wind slammed against my face as Fafnir leveled out and surged forward.

“Kyaaah?!”

“Woohoo!”

“…Khmm…!”

From above came startled cries—Song Eunji, Yoo Wonhoon, and Shin Chaegun.

Song Eunji had simply been shocked by the sudden acceleration. Yoo Wonhoon was enjoying the ride like a rollercoaster. Shin Chaegun, though startled, masked it with a cough.

Even so, all three seemed to be enjoying themselves in their own ways.

Even Song Eunji, once fearful, now seemed to be thrilled by the sensation of flying.

I worried they might start trying to recruit Alex just for his dragon, though I doubted Alex would leave the Ironblood Guild.

“Master! Our heading’s a little off—tilt three degrees to the right!”

Yeon Mirae, who had ridden Fafnir before, shouted to me.

“You don’t have to yell that loudly, I can hear. You heard her, Fafnir.”

Kyahhh!

Fafnir tilted three degrees right. The body shift caused a slight lurch, but…

“Eek?!”

“Whoa!”

“…”

No one fell.

We flew on for a while.

“We’re close.”

Mirae spoke in a lower voice this time. Fafnir slowed.

“Reports say the suspect forced his way through the perimeter, abandoned his car, and fled into the mountains.”

“…So he didn’t slaughter the soldiers and police blocking him?”

“Apparently not.”

Strange.

A Grand Magician-level doppelgänger from the Mars faction—the lunatics bent on exterminating humanity to remove the Black Fog—should have no qualms about mass killing.

Why hadn’t he?

A bad premonition stirred inside me.

“…Ah! Over there!”

Yoo Wonhoon pointed.

We all turned our eyes to where he gestured. Below, lines of police and soldiers were advancing slowly in formation, climbing the mountainside.

Not just one direction—they were encircling the entire mountain, advancing step by step.

A textbook encirclement strategy, almost like human-wave tactics.

With every available officer and soldier in the area mobilized, it would have been effective—if the target wasn’t a Grand Magician.

“Hey! Up there in the sky! Over here!”

A man who appeared to be the commander waved at us. He must have heard we were coming.

Fafnir descended slowly, landing beside him.

“Salute! Reporting the situation. The suspect abandoned his vehicle and fled into the mountains. We sealed off all trails and passages and began a full-scale search with a perimeter.”

He wasted no time on pleasantries—urgency was written all over his face.

“If any soldier spots the suspect, they’ll report via radio or fire a flare. When that happens, we’ll need you to—”

“No.”

I cut him off.

The commander paled, perhaps thinking I was refusing to help. That wasn’t my intention.

“…He’s not hiding.”

I looked at the mountain.

“The suspect is waiting right at the summit. As if daring us to come.”

Without another word, I signaled Fafnir.

The dragon launched skyward again, shooting straight toward the summit.

And then we saw him.

The impostor—the doppelgänger who had taken Richard’s form—was standing there.

Not just him.

Two more figures stood beside him.

Both were also presumed doppelgängers.

The problem was… which of them was the real template?

“…Damn it.”

I muttered as my eyes locked onto one of them.

Because one of those doppelgängers… had my face.

The thing that wore my form sneered at me and whispered:

“…So, you found me.”