Chapter 128
Chapter 128
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 128
Chapter Title: The Tower's Nationality Changes
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Players from the Republic of Korea announced the forcible occupation of North Korea's tower.
Countries around the world were watching this situation closely.
A mere individual player declaring the forced seizure of a nation's Black Tower?
Whether something like that was even possible was beside the point.
The deed was already done.
The time for debating whether it would work or not was over.
The part people were paying attention to was what came after the declaration.
What exactly would North Korea's response be?
Backlash? Or compliance?
Furthermore, would the nationality of North Korea's Black Tower really change in ten days?
If it did, what would become of the players belonging to the North Korean tower?
That's right.
The important thing was the result.
How would the declaration conclude?
Players belonging to the North Korean tower were secretly hopeful.
Both native players and those who had temporarily naturalized and were now trapped.
Becoming South Korean nationals would be great.
It would allow them to climb the tower with the highest item reward probability—a sweet, jackpot tower.
Meanwhile, the country that received the biggest shock was China.
China and North Korea.
Although their relationship had grown distant lately, they were still formally military allies.
Yet the situation was changing far too abruptly.
Chairman Kim In-jung's ambiguous attitude.
Especially his actions after miraculously recovering from a vegetative state were highly suspicious.
Chinese President Liu Zhao, receiving a report from the intelligence chief.
"They're not responding at all, you say?"
"Yes, sir. There has been no progress on the North Korean tower's defenses. They don't even seem to be considering climbing to defend it."
"Hmph! So they intend to hand it over."
Over a week had passed since the declaration.
The time for the tower to change hands was approaching.
And yet they were doing nothing?
That wasn't like the North Korean government.
No matter how incapable they were of conquering the tower, this was too much.
The entity making the declaration was a South Korean player.
Couldn't they at least issue condemnations or threats?
Especially since they possessed nuclear missiles.
'The rumors might be true.'
The fact that Chairman Kim In-jung had personally made a request to the South Korean government.
And that wasn't all.
The deaths of key hardline anti-South figures after the tower occupation declaration.
The People's Congress that was forced through nonetheless.
Moreover, politicians and military officials classified as pro-China were also being ousted or purged.
What on earth was happening?
It was suspicious beyond words.
Perhaps they were cutting ties with China and trying to join hands with South Korea.
In the end, the answer lay with Chairman Kim In-jung.
What was he thinking?
And one more thing,
"This person here, he has emerged as North Korea's second-in-command after Kim In-jung."
"The new Minister of People's Armed Forces?"
"Yes, his name is Go Sa-geuk. He appears to be deeply involved in the purges of hardliners and pro-China figures this time."
There was also a photo.
On the tablet screen, Go Sa-geuk leading the cheers at the People's Congress.
"He's young."
His appearance was ordinary too.
A typical East Asian look.
"Have you identified him?"
"We have not been able to uncover anything. His age, education, hometown—everything is a mystery. It's as if he fell from the sky."
Liu Zhao carefully examined other photos of Chairman Kim In-jung and Minister of People's Armed Forces Go Sa-geuk.
They looked extremely close.
Wherever they went, the two were always stuck together.
From morning till night.
As if they were lovers.
Anyone who wasn't a fool could tell.
That at the center of the changes currently happening in North Korea was this man, Minister of People's Armed Forces Go Sa-geuk.
"Go Sa-geuk's identity must be the key."
"Correct. We are investigating from all angles."
"How long will that take?"
"Well, that... the only information we have is his name and face, so..."
President Liu Zhao asked, as if something had just occurred to him.
"...What about the possibility of him being a Player? One who can use abilities in the real world."
"You mean a Player using a Liberation Rune Necklace and a Ring of Shapeshifting?"
"Yes, the situation where hardliners were eliminated without a trace is suspicious."
In response, the intelligence chief touched the tablet screen, zooming in greatly on Go Sa-geuk's fingers to show them.
"If you look here when he's leading the cheers, he isn't wearing any rings on his fingers. We also checked his neck area, and it seems he isn't wearing a necklace either."
Then the likelihood of him being a liberated Player was very low.
"Send people to investigate Go Sa-geuk directly."
"Understood."
There was nothing they could do about the North Korean tower changing hands.
China wasn't in a position to help with tower defense either.
But the actual country falling to South Korea?
For example, through unification,
That had to be stopped.
The actual unification of South and North Korea was absolutely unacceptable.
Thus, China's elite special intelligence agents were urgently dispatched to North Korea.
Japan.
Prime Minister Kawaguchi had died screaming due to the creation of the Tokyo Black Tower, and Acting Prime Minister Usuda was also pointlessly killed by the coup forces.
The country was plunged into chaos, but a general election still had to be held.
Changes also occurred in Japanese politics.
The Minhyuk Party narrowly secured the top position, beating the Liberal Party.
A change of regime.
Therefore, the current Prime Minister of Japan was Kenji Maeda of the Minhyuk Party.
What was peculiar was that he was a former Player.
An early-awakening Player in his early forties.
But for a politician, he was very young.
The first thing he did after becoming Prime Minister was to declare a conquest of the 58th floor of the Tokyo Tower.
He didn't jump in himself.
Although he was a Player, he didn't have the talent to climb the upper floors.
Instead, he focused intensive investment on the most promising Player among those cultivated by the state.
Korea's role in that process was significant.
Dressed head to toe in tower reward weapons and equipment purchased from the Player Shop, and fully doped with elixirs and potions, they took down the 58th-floor Frost Wyvern.
Kenji Maeda had to admit it.
The fact that for Japan to survive, Korea's help was essential.
And it would remain the same going forward.
Regarding the recent tower occupation declaration, Prime Minister Maeda also took a flexible stance.
"It was requested first, right?"
"That is certain. Given that there has been no movement from North Korea for tower defense."
Maeda nodded.
"It's a good method. If you can't conquer it, handing it over is a wise decision."
"It seems they intend to go one step further than that, though."
"What do you mean?"
The Cabinet Chief Secretary answered cautiously.
"The atmosphere is unusual. Hardline military figures have died one after another, and pro-China figures have also been purged."
And,
"They've seized power in one fell swoop by putting forward a new Minister of People's Armed Forces. It appears Chairman Kim is trying to set up a new game board."
A new game board.
Then that means...
"Could it be unification?"
"That is too hasty a speculation, but it is certain they are trying to improve relations with the South Korean government. Considering the communication between the Blue House and Chairman Kim In-jung regarding this tower occupation declaration..."
"Hmm."
An improvement in inter-Korean relations.
In the past, they would have tried to block it somehow.
But now they were in a situation where they had to mind Korea's reactions.
Japan also had to climb to the 71st floor.
They needed to receive high-grade magic stones as rewards to prepare for the upcoming new industrial revolution.
To do that, they absolutely had to break through the undead section.
Holy water alone wasn't enough.
Borrowing holy swords from the Korean Awakening Management Bureau was essential.
"We should probably decide the cabinet government's position in advance."
Position, huh?
"If North-South relations improve, we should congratulate them. What else would be needed?"
But the secretary had a worried expression.
"The backlash from the old guard will be severe."
"Hmph! What can those geezers do?"
Japanese right-wing forces?
Their era was over.
Japan had grown too old.
Politically, economically, culturally.
The younger generation had to step forward.
Not just talking about the future, the future, but for the real future,
"Improving relations with South Korea is also urgent for us. If we worry about the old guard, we might miss the opportunity."
Japan also needed to set up a new board.
And at its center would not be the senile right-wing forces.
Fortunately, the younger generations of both countries got along fairly well.
South Korean youth wanted to travel to Japan, and Japanese youth were enthusiastic about the Korean Wave.
Maeda also had no burden about improving relations with Korea.
With the collapse of the Japanese Black Tower and the annihilation of the Self-Defense Forces coup forces, the influence of the right-wing was in shambles.
Now was the chance.
Japan had to move more proactively.
Clearing up the past?
What's so hard about that?
He was prepared to grant whatever the South Korean government demanded.
You could tell just by looking at this tower occupation declaration.
Korea's S+++ grade conqueror, because of him, the Republic of Korea would become the leading nation in East Asia, no, the world.
But Prime Minister Maeda was underestimating Japan's right-wingers too much.
How tenacious and persistent they were.
Kosak, who had started working in earnest.
So, waking up early every morning and sending Kosak to work was how Joo-hyuk started his day.
Lately, Kosak had so much work that it was worrying.
North Korea dispatch duty, Black Tower conquest duty, side jobs, overtime, night shifts...
Should he brew some tonic for him to drink?
Although his North Korea duty was just sticking right next to Chairman Kim to monitor him and make sure he didn't do anything stupid.
So, after sending Kosak off to North Korea?
Well, there wasn't much to do.
He just played.
Summoning his summons to eat, watch movies, enjoy drives,
He postponed climbing the upper floors.
Until after the North Korean Black Tower's nationality changed completely.
After that, he would climb the 75th and 76th floors in order, receive the Grade Breakthrough Rune to send Princess Gyeon Dal-rae, and try Random Summoning too.
Relaxing like that, that day finally arrived.
Today was the day.
The day the tower's nationality changed.
"It is a memorable event. An achievement may appear."
Right.
It wasn't a player's nationality but a tower's nationality changing, so of course an achievement should appear.
"In that sense, how about coming to Pyongyang today?"
"To North Korea?"
"Yes! I will serve you a full Pyongyang course. I will go ahead and set everything up."
"Hmm."
He wasn't sure if it was okay.
Wasn't it illegal entry into North Korea?
What if he got caught by the National Intelligence Service and investigated for espionage?
"...It won't get caught, right?"
"Put on a Perception Hindering Talisman and come."
Should he go?
It seemed like a good idea.
It was also a special place others didn't get to visit often.
So, Joo-hyuk decided on the spot to visit North Korea.
After all the summons, from Gwangma-nim to Raxius, attached Perception Hindering Talismans,
He entered the first floor of the Republic of Korea's Black Tower, abandoned the mission, and exited to the North Korean Black Tower.
Pyongyang could be seen in the distance.
He had actually made it to North Korea.
'The feeling is strange.'
Now he just had to meet Kosak.
But the promised time had passed, and he still hadn't arrived.
"Hmm, this fellow has become arrogant since putting on that official's hat. How dare he make his Summoner and this lord wait?"
Gwangma's voice tinged with dissatisfaction.
"The exit location is random, so that's probably why. He'll come if we wait a bit."
"Hoho, as expected, the Summoner is magnanimous. However, by now he should have sensed our energy,"
Suddenly!
Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap...
A sound coming from afar.
And a man in a disheveled people's uniform appeared, panting heavily.
An unfamiliar face, but he knew instantly.
Kosak, who had changed his face with Polymorph,
"Chu-ung! Summoner-nim Bong, welcome. Comrades, please come this way."
Princess Gyeon Dal-rae chuckled,
"You're a busy man, hard to meet. North Korea's second-in-command, no, strictly speaking, the number one."
"Ah, you too, Princess, as soon as I sensed you had arrived, I ran here at full speed."
Veronica too.
"Is it okay to assassinate the Minister of People's Armed Forces? He's the main enemy leader of our Republic of Korea anyway."
"Sergeant V, why are you like this? How hard am I working for the revolution of Juche..."
Click-clack!
Sergeant V was loading her machine gun.
"You are indeed a double agent. You seem to have been brainwashed."
"This warrior thinks so too. The number to report spies is 111, right?"
"Huek!"
Kosak chuckled,
"How about Sergeant V also coming to North Korea as a revolutionary warrior? It would be good to show the reactionary elements the taste of the Juche revolutionary fire stick."
Veronica's ears perked up.
She had been feeling a little jealous that Kosak was having all the fun by himself.
"Is there a position?"
"Ah, of course. How about Director of the General Political Bureau?"
"Is it a good position?"
"If you come, we can stir-fry and eat North Korea together."
"Will it work with this face? I don't have a skill to change my face."
"Ask Summoner-nim Bong to lend you a Ring of Shapeshifting."
Veronica then looked at Joo-hyuk with bright, eager eyes.
"...Let's talk about that later."
"Victory!"
Leaving the area around the Pyongyang Black Tower, several vehicles and drivers were waiting for the group.
"These comrades are my loyal followers. Don't worry."
The drivers stood at attention, raising their hands high and shouting.
"Welcome! Long live the Juche revolutionary spirit!"
"Long live Joo-hyuk!"
"Long live!"
"..."
What kind of talk was that now?
Joo-hyuk?
Why was his name coming out there?
"Uh, um, it's an abbreviation for Juche revolutionary spirit."
North Korea abbreviated everything too.
Anyway, the group split up and got into the cars, entering downtown Pyongyang.
The bleak scenery of Pyongyang.
The roads were wide, but there were hardly any cars passing by.
Even an ox-cart passed.
In a world talking about the 4th and 5th industrial revolutions with high-grade magic stones, there was an ox-cart.
On the other hand, the buildings were unexpectedly decent.
Was it because it was Pyongyang?
Every building had red cloth banners hanging.
All were propaganda slogans.
Let us widely uphold the Juche revolutionary spirit and gloriously carry out our historic mission and responsibility.
The fundamental strategy and tactics of tower climbing is the Juche revolutionary spirit.
Let the sound of the Juche revolution resound powerfully.
But?
Defend Joo-hyuk to the death!
Unite with all our strength under the banner of Joo-hyuk.
Follow Joo-hyuk to build a powerful and prosperous nation.
"..."
And even on the building of their final destination, the Pyongyang Okryugwan.
Create revolutionary cuisine with the Joo-hyuk spirit.
This was insane.
Who did this?
There was only one person.
Comrade Kosak, Minister of People's Armed Forces, was avoiding his gaze and feigning innocence.
The summons seemed to have caught on too.
All of them smiled contentedly,
"My lord's name is being spread throughout the world. Well done, Assassin."
"You're admirable. Unexpected. The Joo-hyuk spirit, I like it."
"This girl is also impressed. I thought you were only blinded by rank."
"Kosak, get me a position too, Director of the General Political Bureau, let me try that."
"As expected, assassins are clever."
"Hohehe, it's cool. Joo-hyuk-nim's spirit."
Kosak's mouth stretched to his ears from the repeated praise.
"Ah, you're making a fuss. This Kosak thinks only of Summoner-nim Bong, awake or asleep."
"..."
This was a problem.
At this point, illegal entry into North Korea seemed like the least of his worries.
His summons were turning red.
Ready to stand at attention with sickle and hammer in hand.
He was about to become a communist leader.
Anyway, Joo-hyuk, the Minister of People's Armed Forces, and their group entered the Okryugwan.
"Okryugwan is reserved just for us. Starting the full course now."
The appearance of North Korea's undisputed second-in-command made the Okryugwan staff tense up as they brought out the food.
It was lavishly set.
Authentic Pyongyang cold noodles, Pyongyang hot rice, Kaesong dumplings, meat hot pot, and Taedonggang beer too.
'...Hmm.'
It looked delicious.
He'd think about it after eating first.
That's when it happened.
Ding!
Finally!
From now on, system messages heard only by Joo-hyuk.
The number of native players is 1,925, and the number of temporarily affiliated players is 18,714.
The difference between native players and temporary naturalization players was almost tenfold.
No wonder it was overpopulated.
Anyway, mentioning the players separately rather than all at once meant?
They could be processed separately.
Anyway, the ultimate goal of the tower occupation was unification.
So.
"Transfer the nationality in the status window for native players."
It was proclaimed to the world.
Next?
"Delete the nationality for temporary naturalization players."
The joys and sorrows of the players were mixed.
What about the achievement?
Of course it would appear.