Chapter 118
Chapter 118
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 118
Chapter Title: The Black Market's Transaction Method
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The Black Market's transaction method.
Initially, payments were made in dollars, but now it's strictly coins.
How about trading physical goods?
For items that aren't too expensive, guild members go out and hand them over directly.
However, for high-value items like Runes, where delivery accidents could happen, they mainly use bank safety deposit boxes.
Even if you trust your guild's player members, it'd be a disaster if someone pretended to be crazy, put the Rune in their inventory, and ran off.
First, pay for the item with various types of coins like Bitcoin, Tether, Ethereum, Ripple, etc., on the dark web.
Once the deposit is confirmed, a courier is sent to hand over the key and password to the bank safety deposit box containing the item, completing the transaction.
What's left now?
Manage the coin exchange rate so it doesn't drop and slowly cash it out.
"We just got word that the deal is done."
"Good work."
The trade for the Trait Enhancement Rune was over quickly.
It seemed America was in a hurry.
Two Runes were sold off.
The price was 19 billion dollars.
Well, Gerald, who was once the world's best, was pushed aside by a Korean S+++ rank player and fell to being just an average player, so they must be anxious.
Honestly, concentrating that many Runes into one player is a foolish move.
Who knows what might happen later,
if something happens to them in real life, that's the end of it.
Players are surprisingly fragile beings.
Even with several trait enhancements, if their mental state wavers, it's useless.
Anyway, the Trait Enhancement Runes were sold.
Now, only one Rune remained.
He didn't plan to sell this one.
For emergencies, in case something happens later...
The guild master of the black market organization.
No one knows his name.
His nationality hasn't been revealed either.
Only that he's an early awakening player and in his mid-40s.
Of course, does he have no name?
It appears exactly as it is in the status window.
Even his recently changed nationality.
Dmitri's current residence is Prague, Czech Republic.
After temporary naturalization through the Czech North Korean embassy, he conquered the Korean Black Tower up to the 60th floor and was preparing for the 61st.
The previously unreachable Undead section.
Dmitri had also stopped at the 59th floor.
Since managing the black market was his main job, did he really need to climb the un-conquered upper floors?
He only occasionally repeated lower-floor conquests.
From now on, he will climb aggressively.
Breaking through the Undead section.
He also had Holy Water.
'I need to conquer the 70th floor within a month.'
The 70th floor, the end of the Undead section.
The place guarded by the copy Cabalan.
He just needed to get past this.
It's not that difficult since the Undead Dark Aura has been nerfed.
Thanks to the original Cabalan conquest by the Korean S+++ rank conqueror.
He heard the 71st floor is also very easy.
Was he climbing alone?
Far from it!
Over 30 elite guild members selected for this operation also underwent temporary naturalization together.
All were players who have enhanced their trait at least once.
Once things got properly on track?
'I can get my hands on the Liberation Rune Necklace.'
And also the Rejuvenation Elixir and Disease Cure Potion.
Results were slowly starting to show.
Not only high-grade magic stone mining, but various items had been coming as rewards.
'The core is the Liberation Rune Necklace.'
He would never sell that.
If he secured multiple Rune Necklaces, the black market guild's long-cherished wish would be fulfilled in one go.
It was a tangible military force.
Liberated players above level 70.
Superhumans who could use their abilities from inside the Tower in reality.
A powerful military force consisting solely of players will be born.
In that sense...
'Should I try the taste of the 61st floor today?'
I have enough Holy Water, so if things go well, I can expect a successful conquest.
'Alright, then I'll enter...'
Right at that moment!
A player overpopulation phenomenon has occurred in a specific nation.
"...Huh?"
Suddenly?
The announcement continued simultaneously.
Black Tower construction for the nationality of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, climbing floors up to the 55th, status window affiliation movement impossible for 1 year.
"...What the hell is this nonsense!"
Dmitri hurriedly checked his own status window.
'....'
It had changed.
His nationality had changed.
Just a moment ago, it was the Republic of Korea.
For real?
"E, enter the Republic of Korea Black Tower 61st floor!"
[You cannot enter a Tower with a different affiliation.]
"Damn it!"
Just like that, in an instant?
He couldn't believe it at all.
Why on earth?
At that moment, the door burst open.
"G, Guild Master."
Vice Guild Master Anton entered with a pale face.
"Anton... don't tell me you too?"
"I, I was in the middle of conquering the 59th floor when I was forcibly ejected, I was told the Tower nationality didn't match."
"Ah..."
Dmitri hurriedly checked with other guild members.
They were the same.
All had their nationalities changed.
They couldn't enter the Republic of Korea Black Tower.
The Tower they can enter is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea Black Tower.
A place where the 55th floor is the un-conquered upper floor, reward probability is extremely low, utility value has dropped to nothing, and only ordinary magic stones can be mined.
"This damn thing!!!"
Dmitri's hands trembled violently.
His breath caught in his throat.
To the point he could barely stand.
'Completely... ruined.'
How much money did he invest in this business?
It looked like he's going to lose it all.
Everyone heard the world announcement.
At first, they couldn't grasp the situation.
What kind of nonsense is that?
A new Tower establishment?
It was only after the players who had undergone temporary naturalization through the North Korean embassy checked their status windows that they realized.
- Why can't I enter the Republic of Korea Black Tower?
- My nationality changed?
- I got kicked out while conquering,
- Damn it! This is a scam! Give me back my money!
- Sigh! How much money did I spend on temporary naturalization!
- Wow! Lucky. I was just about to sign.
The area in front of the North Korean embassy was bustling with players.
People requesting cancellation of temporary naturalization, people demanding refunds.
But would that be possible?
Internet communities and SNS related to Black Towers worldwide were also in an uproar.
Especially, the Korean Tower Climbing Gallery exploded with posts.
Welcome to the North Korean Black Tower!
Entering is free, but leaving is not.
Long live the Democratic People's Republic of Korea Black Tower!
You bastards, I'll show you the taste of the People's Black Tower!
Um, I'm reporting you all to the NIS.
Heh heh, the straw got pulled out, huh.
The true division of North and South starts now.
Are there any 55-level players in North Korea right now?
Probably none among the existing players? Unless they're temporarily naturalized players.
The might of North Korea! The country with the most players per capita in the world.
I want to climb the Republic of Korea Tower... huh? This isn't it?
That's a bolt from the blue.
What choice do we have? They'll just have to mine ordinary magic stones.
Can they eat and live by selling ordinary magic stones? They won't even cover potion costs.
By the way, where's the newly created Black Tower?
I heard it's near Pyongyang.
Is it close to the Supreme Leader's Residence? Like Japan, maybe...
No, not in downtown Pyongyang, but still, if it collapses, wouldn't it fall within the affected area?
What a waste.
Hey! Aren't you guys worried? The Korean peninsula might get a hole punched in it.
The Korean government was also put on emergency alert.
The National Intelligence Service moved busily to grasp the situation, and the entire military was put on emergency standby to prepare for any possible incidents.
The Awakening Management Bureau was also in chaos.
Bureau Chief Park Kyung-su was on the phone left and right.
"...15km east of Pyongyang, you say? What about casualties? Ah! They still don't know. Hmm, please contact me anytime if there are any changes."
A Black Tower that rose near Pyongyang.
Vice Bureau Chief Jeon Gwang-il also had an expression of disbelief.
"It's a strange feeling. I want to laugh, but it's not something to laugh about."
"Same here."
South and North Korea, who had been sharing one Tower.
Due to this world announcement, a Black Tower exclusively for North Korea was created.
Until now, North Korea had parasitized the Republic of Korea Black Tower, sucking out only the sweet sap with zero risk of Tower collapse.
But now they had to bear the risk.
Tower collapse was no longer someone else's problem.
They had no choice but to become self-reliant.
"How must the temporarily naturalized players be feeling? They said nationality change is impossible for a year."
Of course, only the status window affiliation changes, so nothing actually changes, but...
"What else can they do? To make a living, they have to conquer the North Korean Black Tower for a year. If they don't climb, their awakening gets revoked."
That's right.
If you didn't enter the Tower for three months, the system revoked your player qualification. The bound temporarily naturalized players had no choice.
They had to climb.
"They bit a bait they shouldn't have, driven by greed."
"It's a full catch. They're caught hook, line, and sinker."
"The problem is that the North Korean government doesn't have the ability to overcome this crisis on its own."
That was true.
Until now, North Korea hadn't even considered nurturing players at a national level.
They were only preoccupied with how to exploit players.
"I hope the North Korean government comes to its senses now."
"Ha! As if that would happen?"
Even if they did, it's too late.
The North Korean government lackde the ability to manage players.
"Anyway, it seems the naturalized players will lead the North Korean Tower climbing."
The naturalized players have no choice.
To recover their principal, they must climb.
"They'll climb quickly to the 70th floor. To mine high-grade magic stones."
The establishment of North Korea's Black Tower.
In a way, it's refreshing.
A satisfying event.
But could they just laugh about it?
There were two Towers on the Korean peninsula now.
Penthouse.
Joo-hyuk was also having a conversation with his Summoned.
Gyeon Dal-rae spoke with a calm expression.
"I knew this would happen. Pleasure without responsibility does not exist."
Everyone nodded.
Amidst this, Gwang-ma said,
"Let's occupy North Korea on this occasion. Three hours will be enough. We even have the Ring of Eviction."
As if he had been waiting, he advocated for a northward march for unification.
Well, it was only natural to expect Gwang-ma to say something like this.
"Leave it be. North Korea will handle it themselves. It's not like they lack player numbers."
The North Korean government wasn't stupid either.
They wouldn't just leave a Tower collapse alone.
"This old man thinks it will be difficult."
"Why?"
"The Undead section might become an insurmountable wall."
"Hmm, they can get Holy Water, and the Undead section has gotten easier too."
That was true in reality.
The Dark Aura had weakened overall.
To the point where even ordinary players could attempt conquests.
"Do you really think that will be the case?"
"Huh?"
Was he saying it wasn't?
"What do you think is the reason the Undead section of Earth's Black Towers became easier?"
"...Well, because the original Cabalan was conquered and the curse was lifted."
The world announcement at the time.
The influence of the original Cabalan that affected Black Towers worldwide disappeared.
And the stats of the 68th floor Guardian Death Knight, 69th floor Gatekeeper Lich, and 70th floor copy Cabalan also dropped significantly.
"Correct. Thanks to the grace bestowed by the Summoner, Black Towers in each country simultaneously received benefits."
But what's the problem?
"However, this new northern Black Tower is a newly established Tower. It never had Cabalan's curse applied, and therefore, there was nothing to be lifted."
Huh?
"It's highly likely it wasn't affected by the curse removal since it newly appeared."
"Come on, no way! It must have been applied."
"We won't know until we open the lid. The Undead's Dark Aura might be at the pre-original Cabalan level."
If Gwang-ma's speculation was correct?
"The floors in the early sixties, they might somehow get through. But the mid to late sixties..."
They wouldn't be able to climb.
Even Gerald, wielding the Holy Sword, almost died to the 68th floor Death Knight.
"Therefore, the only player in the world who can conquer the late 60s floors of the North Korean Black Tower is you, the Summoner."
"...."
This asw turning into a headache.
Did hehave to worry about North Korean Tower collapse too?
"Hehe, it would be nice to have a Tower Seizure Declaration Megaphone at a time like this."
Huh?
Joo-hyuk's body flinched.
The other Summoned did too.
"M, Megaphone?... What's that?"
"What else? It's for taking a Tower from a country that can't conquer it."
"...Wow! That's a fascinating item."
He had to play dumb.
It's an item he didn't know.
If they found out he received it as a special privilege, they might immediately urge him to use it.
"If you take over a Tower, what happens to the players of that nationality?"
"I don't know that either. We'll find out if we take it."
Hmm.
A bit of a dilemma.
If the North Korean government lacked the ability to conquer the Tower, taking it might not be a bad method.
But what had Kosak been doing all this time?
Not saying a word.
'I get anxious when Mr. Kosak is quiet.'
Kosak was searching for something on his tablet.
Peeking over, he saw.
- North Korean Supreme Leader who? -
- North Korean Supreme Leader's Residence location -
- North Korean nuclear missile base locations -
Good grief.
"Mr. Kosak?"
"Yes?"
"What are you planning to do by searching for that?"
"...Um, just for general knowledge."
"Anyway, it's useless, isn't it? Information that won't come up even if you search."
"I, is that so?"
Then Gyeon Dal-rae clicked her tongue and spoke.
"Tsk tsk, Mr. Kosak, don't you have any sense of judgment? How can you do such a foolish thing!"
That's right.
As expected, the wise Gyeon Dal-rae.
"Things like the Supreme Leader's Residence location can be resolved with one phone call to Vice Bureau Chief Jeon Gwang-il."
"Oh! I didn't think of that."
"Also, do you think killing just the Supreme Leader will solve everything?"
"...It won't?"
"You should aim for the Supreme People's Assembly. The gathering of high-ranking Communist Party officials and People's Army generals. You need to deal with them all at once. That way, there will be no aftermath."
"Oh my, I was a fool."
This was driving him crazy.
"Move together with Sergeant Veronica. You have experience performing operations together."
"Sergeant Veronica Caliber, I just need the location of the People's Assembly Hall. Three large-caliber rounds can clean it all up."
"Understood. I will definitely! stick with Sergeant Veronica."
Gwang-ma smiled contentedly and said,
"You've finally come to your senses. Yes, it's better to quickly clear away future threats. For the Summoner."
"Hehehe, this Kosak, awake or asleep, only worries about Summoner Bong. Don't worry, Gwang-ma-nim."
"That is correct. Mr. Kosak may seem lacking, but he gets things done when needed."
Even Razix joined in.
"Hoe! I'll go too. I have a pickaxe."
Why were they all like this?
Had they been influenced by hanging out with Gwang-ma often?
Why were they so fixated on the North Korean Supreme Leader?
It's not like that person created the Black Tower... wait.
'Hmm.'
Thinking about it again, he's not without responsibility.
If he hadn't engaged in the temporary naturalization business...
At that moment!
Click!
The door to the Room Alchemist's room opened.
And, swish, a large water cooler bottle came out of the room.
The bottle contained a yellow liquid.
"Oh!"
Joo-hyuk immediately ordered the homunculus to bring the water bottle.
Clack clack clack!
An elixir made from the sample created by Alchemist Marie.
The volume was enormous.
The water bottle capacity was 20L.
A normal potion bottle from Tower rewards contains 100mL.
That one bottle alone yields about 200 potion bottles.
The type of elixir?
Sage-Crafted Mental Strength Enhancement Elixir (Large Volume)
Effect: When consumed, mental strength is greatly enhanced for 10 hours.
A brief description.
No modifiers like "Tower exclusive" or limits.
Then?
It means it applied to reality and ordinary people as well.
Still, it won't be supplied to ordinary people.
There woldn't be enough for players to drink.
'Should I have a drink?'
Glug glug,
After pouring it into a cup.
He gulped it down.
'It tastes like mango.'
Mental strength enhancement.
It's not like the Potion of Courage where it eliminated fear.
It just made your mind calm and stable.
A feeling that you could overcome any external stress that comes your way.
'It would be good to drink a cup whenever I'm stressed.'
So what if North Korea got one more Tower?
If there's a need to conquer it, he'd just conquer it.
Also, there's the Platinum Badge, special privileges, and the treasure vault.
'...Should I try experimenting with the Tower Seizure Declaration Megaphone on this occasion?'
Why not?
We were originally one country.
It's not about advocating unification.
Just taking the Tower.
Just the Tower.