Chapter 135
Chapter 135
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 135
Chapter Title: The Managers' Conversation, Awakening, and the Deal
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The conversation among the Tower managers.
[Even so... How many times has the system granted him trait enhancements now?]
[A total of four times. The rest were brought in by his summons from outside or received from other countries.]
[Actually, if you think about it, it's three times. One of those four came from spinning the roulette.]
[Right, the roulette. He pierced through those absurdly low odds. Anyway, that makes a total of eight trait enhancements?]
[Yes, correct. He can now simultaneously summon nine beings.]
[That's a record.]
[It is indeed a record.]
[He might even enhance his trait again.]
[That's not far-fetched. The probability is extremely high. It's practically a foregone conclusion.]
[Sigh... From now on, climbing the Tower will be like a stroll for him. If you add catalog expansion on top of that, I can't even predict how many he'll be able to summon.]
[He'll probably clear the 80th-floor trial with ease.]
[With that many summons, what couldn't he do?]
[True. Especially now that the Aliamari Seal is broken.]
[And what if he achieves another accomplishment and receives a White Tower-related reward?]
[We'll all be suspected of incompetence. We might even be dismissed.]
[Hoo... What can we do right now?]
[For now, the only way is to block catalog expansion. Even if he enhances his trait several more times, there will be a limit.]
[Good! Lower the reward probability for catalog expansion tickets in the special rewards.]
[To what extent?]
[As low as possible. The absolute minimum. We can't afford any more achievements. If White Tower-related rewards keep appearing, it will cause problems for the other projects we're managing.]
[Understood. I will adjust the catalog expansion ticket probability to the absolute minimum.]
[What if an expansion ticket still appears?]
[...Hmm, what should we do then?]
Jepetto was beaten like a dog.
No, it was more miserable than that.
Because he was also beaten by a dog.
Hyeolrang was hanging from Jepetto's thigh, refusing to let go.
"Grrr! Grrr!"
"Gyaaah! H-help me...."
"You're useless. You mosquito bastard!"
Kosak with a soccer kick, Veronica with the butt of her magic gun, Razix with a pickaxe, Bardin with a radiant glow—they were all torturing him.
Even Mary's homunculus joined in.
Thankfully, it wasn't the explosive type.
Jepetto started getting beaten the moment he was summoned.
He was pummeled thoroughly.
Joo-hyuk did not stop them.
Jepetto had asked for a drop of his blood.
He said it was a noble soul, that he wanted to taste the blood.
Is he joking?
How could he possibly grant that?
If he didn't draw the line here, Jepetto would keep eyeing him and licking his lips whenever he saw him.
But on the other hand, watching him get beaten was painful.
Tsk tsk, he should have thought before he spoke.
"Hey..."
"Hm? What is it?"
"Please stop. He's going to die."
"Let's just kill him now."
"Indeed. He dared to covet Summoner Bong's blood. We cannot let him live."
"This warrior shall finish him. With a flick."
"..."
A flick from an LSSR-grade being.
That would be certain death.
He'd be unable to summon him for 100 days.
"Don't do that. Let's persuade him slowly. His true nature seems kind."
"...Hmm. If that is the Summoner's will."
Then, tears welled up and rolled from Jepetto's closed eyes.
"S-so pure and n-noble, my Master. I-I overstepped. Ugh! Uheheh..."
"It's okay. It's okay, just don't do it next time."
"Waaah!"
Jepetto wailed loudly.
However, Kosak didn't even bat an eye.
"All this blubbering... I, Kosak, shall take responsibility for educating this bastard."
Education.
Even though they were the same SSR grade.
"Workplace harassment or bullying is prohibited."
"Ah, you, this Kosak, was voted the #1 Best Senior Colleague of the Year by all summoned beings in 2024. A senior who cares for his juniors."
Based on what evidence is he number one?
"Well, do as you please. Just make sure to use proper spacing."
"Yes, sir!"
Joo-hyuk hoped they wouldn't be too harsh.
"Ah! Summoner Bong."
"Yes?"
"If you do well tomorrow, the spe... ahem."
"What did you say?"
"Huh?"
"You just said 'spe' and then stopped."
"Ah, I did not."
"You did."
"I did not."
He definitely did.
Why did he stop mid-sentence?
Anyway, before Jepetto died, Joo-hyuk sent him back.
"Jepetto, Summon Release."
Poof!
Finally, the commotion came to an end.
After playing around a bit more...
Time passed, and as the manifestation time limits expired, the summoned beings returned one by one.
Joo-hyuk was left alone.
After finishing the cleanup...
"Enter White Tower, 17th Floor."
To the White Tower.
The blue plains spread before his eyes.
And the mountain-like pile of high-grade magic stones.
The items allowed upon entry were the same as in the Black Tower: the clothes he was wearing, his personal items, and Tower items.
He had transferred the magic stones received from Razix into his own inventory beforehand.
This should be enough for 10 tons.
He touched the [Basic] item in the hologram menu.
One of the three currently unlocked sub-items.
[White Tower 17F Wireless Communication Network]
It constructs a network within a certain range and can even connect to Earth's communication networks.
And it's the cheapest.
10 tons of high-grade magic stones.
'Shall I build it?'
As he touched the menu...
[Would you like to construct the White Tower 17F Wireless Communication Network? The cost is 10 tons of high-grade magic stones.]
'Construct.'
[Constructing White Tower 17F Wireless Communication Network.]
And then,
Whoosh!
Most of the piled high-grade magic stones disappeared in a chunk.
Flash!
In the blink of an eye, a massive communication tower appeared in the middle of the blue plains.
A steel tower that looked like the Eiffel Tower.
[The network has been configured. You can now communicate with the outside world.]
Joo-hyuk pulled his smartphone from his pocket.
When he ran an app...
'...It really works.'
The internet, games, banking apps, SNS—everything worked perfectly.
Even though he was inside the Tower.
What to build next?
[White Tower 17F Power Plant]
But not yet.
The cost was a whopping 20 tons of high-grade magic stones.
Twice what he just used.
Time would solve that.
He just needed to go to the 76th floor with Razix and mine some more.
He didn't even need to conquer the Twin-Tailed Fox.
'Still, no matter how many times I see it, this place is amazing.'
White Tower, 17th Floor.
Was its function really only as a shelter?
He'd find out as he developed it.
And more White Tower-related rewards might come.
Awakening Management Bureau.
Team Leader Jeon Gwang-il was deep in thought, staring at the Player Awakening Rune.
Should he use this rune himself?
Or should he choose a talented ordinary person and awaken them?
Jeon Gwang-il was in his early forties.
An age considered late to be active as a Player.
In fact, the probability of awakening drops significantly in your forties.
'...Should I give it to someone else?'
That was also problematic.
How could he judge a person's talent before they awaken?
You only know after awakening.
Of course, mentality is the top priority,
But besides that, combat ability, situational judgment, skill proficiency, trait compatibility, etc.
A Player's talent is judged quite comprehensively.
For example, suppose a soldier serving in a special forces unit awakens.
Would he become a talented Player?
Not necessarily.
First of all, once you enter the Tower, your magical and physical abilities are adjusted to match that floor's level.
A trained soldier and an untrained civilian—their physical abilities are no different.
Mentality?
Do special forces soldiers not have PTSD?
Mental fortitude is something that seems strong but can shatter in an instant.
Once it shatters, it's hard to recover.
In fact, people with easygoing, optimistic, and ordinary personalities often perform better as Players.
Just look at Player Bong.
Player Nam Ga-eun, and America's Gerald.
Especially Gerald.
He had talked with Director Antonio.
He gets sulky, throws tantrums, and is impatient when bored.
Yet, Gerald is America's top Player.
Even though he never received special training.
He himself had his own strengths.
He passed the 5th-grade civil service exam, and his first job was at the Awakening Management Bureau.
The know-how he accumulated while proposing and managing Player training programs.
'...What should I do?'
The deliberation dragged on.
Finally, Jeon Gwang-il made a decision.
To try awakening himself.
Player Bong also wanted him to awaken.
And how much had he himself wished for it?
For the chance of awakening to come to him.
But until he turned 42, the luck of awakening never came.
Now the opportunity had arrived.
Then he should take it.
Once decided, he acted immediately.
Jeon Gwang-il picked up the rune and swallowed it in one gulp.
Instantly!
Slurp—
The badge attached to his chest melted and disappeared.
Ding!
⚙ Trait: Herculean Spirit
⚔ Trait Skills: Superhuman Strength / Fighting Spirit / All-or-Nothing Strike
"Hahaha."
Was awakening this simple?
He felt nothing special.
The only difference was hearing the message.
'Anyway, I've awakened.'
The most important thing—the Player's status?
'Status Window.'
'Herculean Spirit...'
He had heard of it.
A fairly rare trait in the martial arts lineage.
Now, what remained?
Tower Entry.
Jeon Gwang-il pressed the intercom and called Team Leader Lee Min-ah.
"Chief, you called?"
"I'm not the chief yet."
"Well, you will be soon. What's the matter?"
"You have bodycams, right? Bring me one."
"What will you use it for?"
"I'm going to use it. I'm entering the Tower to hunt some maggots."
"...Pardon?"
Team Leader Lee Min-ah looked utterly bewildered.
"You're entering the Tower, Chief?"
"Yes."
"Are you joking?"
"Can't you see my face? I'm serious."
"Hmm, do you have an item that lets ordinary people enter the Tower?"
"No such thing. I just awakened."
"Ah-ha! So you awakened... Wait, awakened?"
Lee Min-ah's eyes widened as far as they could go.
Awakened?
In his early forties?
"...Um, if you're stressed from the heavy workload lately..."
"Team Leader."
"Yes?"
"If I enter the Tower here, it'll be proof, right?"
"Y-yes, it will."
"Then hurry up and bring me a bodycam."
"O-okay, right away."
Lee Min-ah rushed out and returned with a bodycam.
"Well then, I'll be back. My awakening is still a secret."
"Y-yes, of course."
Jeon Gwang-il took the bodycam and activated the skill to enter the 1st floor of Korea's Tower No. 1.
Poof!
Only Team Leader Lee Min-ah remained in the office.
"...It was real?"
It was indeed an awakening.
He entered the Tower right before her eyes.
What clearer proof could there be?
"...Wow."
What in the world was happening?
Her boss suddenly awakening out of the blue?
What could she do?
It had actually happened.
Lee Min-ah waited.
About 30 minutes later.
Poof!
Jeon Gwang-il reappeared.
"...That was faster than I thought. Did you clear it?"
"Yeah. I surprised myself too. Maybe I have talent?"
"The magic stone...?"
"Here."
It was only the size of a fingernail.
The reward for the 1st floor was just 100 grams.
"Can I review the bodycam footage?"
"Of course! That's why I wore it."
Lee Min-ah played the bodycam footage.
First-person perspective.
The target was a Tough Hide Fat Maggot.
A creature with a massive body and excellent defense but virtually no attack power.
But that huge maggot rolled sideways from a single kick.
Simultaneously, the punches began.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
After a few blows, the maggot's hide began to split.
And then, Crunch!
The maggot was crushed.
'My god!'
She was honestly amazed inside.
Awakening aside, such relentless hunting...
"Y-your trait?"
"Herculean Spirit."
"Ah!"
After carefully checking the footage to the end...
"Chief."
"Does it look okay?"
Lee Min-ah grabbed Jeon Gwang-il's hand firmly and spoke.
"Let's sign a contract. An Elite contract."
What nonsense was this?
"I'll nurture you."
"...I'm the chief, though?"
"That doesn't matter. Even as a civil servant, you can hold a concurrent position for the Player profession."
"B-but still..."
Lee Min-ah's eyes sparkled.
Like a tiger that had found prey.
"Chief, you deserve treatment worthy of your talent. Join the Elite Team."
"..."
"I'll bring the contract right now, so don't move from here. Ah, our chief is going to become rich."
"..."
What should he do?
He hadn't anticipated this outcome.
Pyongyang Player Detention Camp.
Dmitry anxiously chewed on his fingernails.
A day and a half remained.
The deadline for his Player qualification revocation.
If he didn't acquire nationality by midnight tomorrow, his inventory would disappear too.
But there was no way.
Trapped like this.
'Why isn't he coming?'
People's Armed Forces Minister Go Sa-geuk.
He definitely said he would come.
He must come.
Only he could pull Dmitry out of this pit of despair.
'I offered too little money back then.'
That's right.
He had only mentioned 300 million dollars.
The scale was too small.
Didn't they know he was the head of a black-market guild?
'I should have asked for 1 billion dollars.'
The funds he could freely use.
It was almost his entire fortune, but it wasn't a waste.
If he asked for a laptop to show proof, and offered 1 billion dollars in exchange for his nationality acquisition and escape from North Korea?
They would definitely bite.
An amount that could place him among the top ten richest people in both Koreas.
'The Trait Enhancement Rune is absolutely out of the question.'
It was a precious item that would be the foundation of his comeback.
He must protect it.
Right then!
Clang!
The iron-barred door opened.
"Been well?"
He had arrived.
The man with the highest authority in North Korea currently.
Go Sa-geuk, the People's Armed Forces Minister, who could get him out of here with a single word, appeared with an interpreter.
"Comrade Guild Master, have you thought it over?"
"Y-yes, of course."
"And your conclusion?"
Hoo, he took a deep breath.
"I have a secret numbered account. It holds 1 billion dollars. If I just have a laptop, I can show you proof. If I can just get out of here, I'll transfer it right aw—"
Swish!
Go Sa-geuk raised his hand to stop him, his brow deeply furrowed.
"You bastard, you still haven't come to your senses, have you!"
"...What?"
"Listen carefully!"
The atmosphere turned icy.
A chilling murderous intent that cut through the skin.
"As I said before, if it's not the Trait Enhancement Rune, there is no negotiation."
"Aah, I-I really don't have that item."
"Stop lying."
"It's the truth."
Go Sa-geuk brought his mouth close to Dmitry's ear, as if to whisper.
"Let's do this. I'll sit here for exactly ten minutes. After ten minutes pass..."
He pulled out a blue dagger from his pocket.
"I'll stick this knife in your head and be on my way."
"No, I swear..."
"Shh! Keep yapping and I'll do it right now."
The murderous intent grew thicker.
Go Sa-geuk's beady eyes flashed.
Dmitry sensed it.
This man had absolutely no hesitation about killing people.
Moreover, he had the eyes of someone who had killed countless people.
Now, escape wasn't the issue.
Nor was maintaining his Player qualification.
His life was in danger.
If ten minutes passed, he would die without question.
One minute passed.
Three minutes, five minutes, at the nine-minute mark...
"Alright, I'll grant your wish, comrade."
"W-wait!"
"What is it?"
He couldn't hold out any longer.
"I-I'll give it to you."
Dmitry took the Trait Enhancement Rune from his inventory and placed it on Go Sa-geuk's palm.
"Good. You thought well."
Go Sa-geuk's eyes shone with satisfaction.
Looking at the interpreter,
"Hey, you!"
"Yes!"
"Take Comrade Guild Master to the Czech Embassy. Safely."
"Understood."
The interpreter led Dmitry out.
After confirming no one else was around...
"Yes!!!"
Kosak raised his hands and cheered.
"Whew, I thought I'd die from fear."
There were occasionally people like that.
Stubborn humans who would even face death for their convictions.
They were very difficult to deal with.
What if he had dared him to kill him without taking the enhancement rune from his inventory?
Fortunately, that guild master wasn't that type.
Actually, he hadn't been able to mention it to Summoner Bong until now.
About bringing the Trait Enhancement Rune.
What if he had mentioned it beforehand and failed?
Summoner Bong would surely have been disappointed.
But now he could proudly tell him.
'I should give it to him quickly.'
What if he got Summon Released while holding this precious item?
He needed to contact him to come to North Korea quickly.