Moon's Labyrinths

All the vehicles here looked like motorhomes, each larger than a standard bus . The vehicle in front of them was absolutely a large one, but if one compared it to the other vehicles parked in the lot, it was on the smaller side . One could see much larger vehicles near them .

“You made a very good decision in choosing this vehicle . You really do have an eye for items . ”

The dealer’s silver tongue worked overtime . Unlike his greedy and piggish appearance, his voice was pleasant . It was quite easy on the ears . The only slightly unpleasant part was the fact that his desire to sell this vehicle was reflected in his voice .

“It is a slightly older model . But if this is your first time owning a Moon Surface Vehicle, an older model might be preferable . In cases of accidents, the repair costs are quite hefty . These vehicles can’t be insured . This is why it might be better to buy a used one, so you can use it roughly . And when it breaks down, you can trade it in for a better one . ”

The dealer took out a little remote from his pocket and pressed a button . It was the car key . The door to the vehicle automatically opened up .

“You can have a look inside . ”

He slightly bent forwards with both hands extended towards the entrance . It was as if he was servicing a noble . Jimin was the first to enter the vehicle . Curiosity reflected in his eyes, and he entered the vehicle as he conversed with Shinhae .

He saw a small space that had a bed, a desk, drawers, a large cabinet, and a sink .

“The basic plan for this vehicle is quite simple . The amount of furniture one can put into its free space is quite limited . If you buy a slightly bigger vehicle, you’ll have the option of putting in a shower, kitchen, and other amenities . . . ”

The dealer, who had been giving an explanation, trailed off as he looked towards Jimin . He had already realized that she was the one with the money . When the dealer tried to convince her in a roundabout way to upgrade the size of the vehicle, Jimin didn’t hesitate as she shook her head from side to side .

“No . This is enough . ”

With the money she had put into purchasing this used, small Moon Surface Vehicle, she could buy a couple of the top class Hypercars on Earth . If her company increased in size, thanks to the money brought in by Sungyoon, she might be able to afford a larger vehicle . However, it would be a waste of money to buy a bigger vehicle right now .

The dealer looked a little bit disappointed, but he was a pro . He quickly erased the disappointment from his face .

“Then I’ll continue describing the features of this vehicle . The engine is capable of being used as a moonstone motor . Its performance evaluation has been completed . ”

As expected of a vehicle called the Moon Surface Vehicle, it was a vehicle that could be used to travel across the rough surface of the Moon outside of Armstrong . The moon’s environment possessed no oxygen, so the engine could not burn fuel to generate power . It was why the internal combustion engine, which was widely used on Earth, couldn’t be used on the Moon . But it also didn’t mean electric motors were the solution . It would be very difficult to set up charging stations all over the Moon . Moreover, there was only one power plant on the Moon, and the electricity generated could only satisfy the energy needs of the Armstrong city . In the end, processed moonstones had to be used for fuel . The engine was capable of using moonstones as fuel, and hence, the price of the vehicles was so high .

“Of course, if the size is right, an unrefined moonstone can also be used as fuel . However, it’ll overwork the engine . So, unless it is an emergency, you shouldn’t use an unrefined moonstone . You might break the expensive engine . ”

The dealer exited the vehicle as he warned them about the exorbitant amount of money that would cost to replace such an engine . Everyone followed him out of the vehicle .

This time he took the trio to the back of the vehicle .

“This is the storage compartment . ”

The dealer pressed a button on the remote control, and the back of the vehicle started to open up . The storage compartment made up two-thirds of the vehicle . It was completely empty right now .

“Since the vehicle is small, the storage compartment isn’t that large either . However, it can handle the number of moonstones that can be acquired in the mid to low rank labyrinths . ”

It would take a long time to fill the storage compartment of this vehicle with the moonstones found in the Beginner’s Labyrinth . However, as for the moonstones acquired in the Personal Labyrinth, it was unknown how large they would be . At the very least, they would be larger than the moonstones from the Beginner’s Labyrinth .

The dealer moved to various locations around the vehicle as he gave a thorough explanation . Sungyoon and Jimin didn’t miss a detail, giving the dealer their full attention . Shinhae just looked around with wonder in her eyes .

“What do you think? At the very least, I am confident my vehicle won’t be found wanting anywhere else . ”

The dealer rubbed his two hands as he spoke in a subtle tone of voice . From one to ten, this guy personified what one’s thought of how a greedy merchant should look like .

At the very least, he hadn’t said anything suspicious in his explanation . However, Jimin was cautious .

“Wait a moment . I have something I want to check . ”

“What do you want to check?”

Jimin didn’t answer the dealer’s question, and she just looked down at her watch .

“Hmm . She should be here soon . ”

At that moment, someone approached the group . He was wearing the same uniform as the man who had been giving them information about the vehicle . He was another used-car salesman .

“Are you looking for these people?”

The man turned to ask someone a question . It was then they realized another person was behind the newly arrived dealer . Sungyoon saw a dirty lab coat and disheveled blonde hair . He immediately recognized who it was .

“Ms . Chelsea?”

The eyes behind the out-of-fashion glasses looked over the group .

“Yes . You found them . Thank you for guiding me here . ”

Chelsea thanked the person who had guided her here .

“I guess you came right on time . ”

It seemed Jimin had called her here . She didn’t show any signs of surprise as she greeted Chelsea .

“What the hell? You messaged me out of nowhere . You told me to be here at this time . No explanation!”

Chelsea grumbled . When she saw Sungyoon, she gave a small greeting with her eyes . It wasn’t as if they hadn’t seen each other for a very long time, so they didn’t need to make a big deal about greeting each other . Chelsea met Sungyoon almost every week to have a conversation with him . Sungyoon had asked her to be his conversation buddy, and Chelsea had kept her word .

Of course, Chelsea frequently visited him, not just because of their promise . There might be an ulterior motive, but it was something only she knew .

“Oh my! Is that child Shinhae?”

Chelsea’s eyes shone when she saw the girl in Sungyoon’s arms . She had seen Sungyoon unceasingly stare into his daughter’s picture . Even if she hadn’t seen the picture, Sungyoon was holding the girl like a precious jewel . She knew he was an idiot for his daughter, so she had an easy time deducing the identity of the girl .

“Yes, she is my daughter . ”

“She is much cuter than her picture . ”

Chelsea had a broad smile on her face as she approached Shinhae .

Shinhae became reserved when she saw a stranger . However, she didn’t bury her face in Sungyoon’s chest like the time she had seen Tim . The reason being that this unni was like Emily, pretty like a fairy .

“Hello, Shinhae! Unni is called Chelsea . ”

She spoke in a kind manner, but Shinhae couldn’t understand her . Sungyoon had to translate for Chelsea .

Chelsea and Shinhae finished giving a simple introduction to each other, and they were about to enter into full-fledged chitchat . But before that could happen, Jimin pulled at Chelsea’s arm .

“I’m sorry, but you can do that later . I have something you have to do right now . ”

“What is it?”

Chelsea apologetically looked towards Shinhae, and then, she asked the question to Jimin . It seemed that her friend had an urgent task for her, so her face turned a little tense .

“You know a lot about cars, right?”

“Hmm? Yes! What about it?”

When Chelsea would return to Earth, she would drive around the US in her beloved car . She probably had much more comprehensive knowledge about cars than the general population . She was more knowledgeable about cars than most men . Her being a researcher also had a role in her having such comprehensive knowledge .

“You are quite knowledgeable about the Lunar Surface Vehicles, right?”

“No way . Did you...”

At this point, Chelsea knew what her friend wanted from her . Chelsea looked dumbfounded, but Jimin calmly brushed aside her gaze and placed a hand on the vehicle, which she had toured up until now .

“Please check if this is a decent vehicle . ”

“... you called me here because of that?”

“Yes . ”

Jimin unapologetically nodded .

“You said you weren’t busy today . Also, you don’t have any urgent research you have to do . You said you have a lot of free time right now . ”

“I did say that . ”

Still, Chelsea had come here without knowing what Jimin had wanted, and now she wanted Chelsea to inspect the vehicle . However, everything changed when Jimin calmly spoke one sentence .

“I’ll buy you dinner . ”

“Alright! I just need to inspect this vehicle?”

Chelsea took the key from the dealer as if she was stealing it from him . She immediately got on the vehicle and started a thorough examination .

“... is it ok for you to do that to her?”

“It doesn’t matter . It is nothing compared to all the meals I bought her . ”

Jimin shrugged her shoulders .

Jimin kept up a cold and dispassionate image as if she was someone that would keep to a contract no matter what . However, it seemed she was capable of playing a prank on her friend . Chelsea would have walked away in anger if anyone else had done this to her . This was the irony of their relationship . The two of them were very close, yet at the same time, they could be quite ruthless to each other .

The dealer inwardly felt offended when Chelsea had suddenly appeared to inspect the vehicle . The buyer wasn’t hiding the fact that she didn’t trust him . However, he kept his emotions hidden . Emotion was emotion, and a deal was a deal . He had to separate the two . Moreover, he knew that it was dumb and useless to tell a prospective customer to trust what a dealer was saying . He decided to stay in the background, and he made sure Chelsea didn’t damage the vehicle .

She looked all over the vehicle, and if she had questions, she asked the questions to the dealer . She was quite thorough in her inspection . Sungyoon and Jimin stood a bit away as they let Chelsea do her thorough inspection .

Jimin opened her mouth, and asked Sungyoon .

“Do you know why I’m buying this?”

“It’ll allow me to travel to the Personal Labyrinth, and it’ll also allow me to transport moonstones back from the Personal Labyrinth . Am I right?”

“That’s right . ”

After a Personal Labyrinth would be assigned to him, the Moon Surface Vehicle will be an essential item that Sungyoon would need .

“I’ve applied for your Personal Labyrinth, but I don’t know which labyrinth you’ll be assigned . I asked for one that hasn’t been fully assessed yet . ”

There were labyrinths that had their rank fully assessed . Usually, these labyrinths returned to the governments when the Connectors possessing the labyrinths either retired or died . The labyrinths closest to Armstrong were assigned first, so labyrinths that had been owned at least once before were near the Armstrong city .

These labyrinths were all of a certain standard, but when they were returned, Connectors immediately snatched them up . In a place swirling with money and greed, an owner-less labyrinth was like a diamond without an owner . There was no way Connectors would let those labyrinths remain unoccupied . Usually, these labyrinths were snapped up by companies who had a certain amount of influence in the Armstrong city . They were the first to be informed when certain labyrinths became available . This was also why the leftover labyrinths were all low level .

Of course, the almost empty labyrinths were pretty popular too . The 1st Gen Connectors, who were deficient in ability, didn’t mind if they could bring in an extremely high income . The low-rank labyrinths looked attractive to them as the chances of them dying was low . However, this wasn’t the case with Sungyoon . A low-rank labyrinth only dropped low-rank Devices and Gems . If he wanted to raid the Great Labyrinth, he needed above-average Devices and Gems . He needed a labyrinth that would drop Devices and Gems of a certain caliber .

This was why Jimin had asked for an unrevealed labyrinth . This labyrinth would be located far away from Armstrong city .

“It might be the perfect fit for you, or it might be worse than the Beginner’s Labyrinth . It also might be an extremely high-rank labyrinth that you may not be able to attempt with your ability . ”

Jimin took a glance at Sungyoon .

“... if you are unsatisfied with my decision, I can change it . You haven’t been assigned a labyrinth yet . ”

There was a chance that she was putting his life in danger . Maybe, Sungyoon wanted a low-rank labyrinth near Armstrong city . It would allow him to make a decent living with a very low risk to his life .

However, Sungyoon made a throwaway remark as he played with Shinhae .

“I told you I’ll leave all the planning to you, president . If it puts me on the path to the Great Labyrinth, I don’t mind danger . ”

She had expected such an answer . If he could head towards the Great Labyrinth, Sungyoon wouldn’t hesitate to step onto a path full of bramble .

His answer should have made her happy . She had basically purchased a slave that would loyally follow her plan . She basically had been able to acquire such a person by buying his 7 million dollar debt . She should have been happy . He was full of ability, and he had an unchanging mind . She had been clutching at straws when she came across Sungyoon . She thought she had acquired a rock, but in reality, she had acquired an unrefined diamond .

However, Jimin’s heart wasn’t filled with happiness and sunshine . A muddy swamp-like feeling of guilt surrounded the dark abyss in her heart .