Chapter 161
Chapter 161
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 161
Chapter Title: Ordinary Guy's Tower Conquest 161
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Pyongyang, North Korea.
Committee Chairman Kim In-jung was deep in work in his private office.
He'd been incredibly busy lately.
After securing control of the Black Tower, unifying it under one national banner, and pushing toward true national reunification.
Thanks to that, the country's situation had improved dramatically.
South Korean companies were flooding in with investment requests.
Major Korean conglomerates that had planned factories in China or Southeast Asia were now redirecting to North Korea.
From the South Korean companies' perspective, North Korea offered ideal conditions for setting up factories.
Cheap labor costs, workers who spoke the same language.
Of course, political stability had to come first.
Committee Chairman Kim In-jung welcomed them warmly.
No matter who was in power in South Korea, he promised to guarantee the profits and safety of any South Korean companies entering North Korea.
Defections had plummeted.
Pyongyang was buzzing, the countryside too—vitality overflowed across the nation.
But that didn't mean they could rush unification.
The South Korean government knew it, and so did he.
It had to be gradual, step by step, minimizing side effects and reducing cultural friction.
It would take at least five years, probably more.
He had to work hard.
That was the only way to survive.
He didn't want to end up like China's president or standing committee members, dying pointlessly in a bunker from a nuclear blast.
He wanted to live long, die with the title of the leader who completed North-South unification.
Right then!
Bang!
A man burst into the office without knocking.
He was dragging four massive suitcases.
"Chairman Comrade. How've you been? I've been reportin' on ya all this time."
"Comrade K-Kosak!"
It was the Minister of the People's Armed Forces.
"Welcome! You should visit more often."
"Been busy lately. All the other big shots too."
"Ah!"
Kosak sat in a chair and spoke.
"Ain't here for chit-chat. Got a favor to ask ya, Chairman Comrade."
"Anything. I'll handle as my top priority."
"I heard rumors them Chinese Player bastards have been smuggling high-grade magic stones near the Sinuiju border..."
"I was gonna report that anyway. I will send the Security Bureau comrades to wipe 'em out in one go."
Kosak shook his head.
"I Ain't sayin' wipe 'em out."
"Then?"
"Buy 'em all up!"
"Wha... oh, high-grade magic stones?"
"Yeah. Even if pricey, buy every damn one. Pay in crisp cash."
He opened the suitcases to show.
"This here's all dollars. Need more, just holler."
"No need. The Republic budget can cov—"
Kosak suddenly barked.
"Chairman Comrade! You lost your mind? Is the Republic budget's for the people's rice and meat soup, not this!"
"Ah, got it."
Only then did Kosak smile in satisfaction.
"Any inconveniences lately?"
"N-none."
"Good. Keep it this way and you'll live to a ripe old age. I promise."
Kim In-jung smiled back.
Then,
"Uh, please tell Him I'm workin' hard."
"Heh heh, don't worry. I will report everything."
"Thank you."
Kim In-jung shot up, his hands raised high.
"Joo-hyuk forever!"
Kosak echoed back.
"Joo-hyuk forever!"
Razix Trading headquarters.
61st-floor building. He ran into Jin-sook.
Joo-hyuk felt a bit awkward.
Long time no see, but there was nothing to say.
She seemed the same.
"I, uh, work at Razix Trading. Heard of it? A tower material leather brand company."
Of course.
It's my company.
"What about you? What do you do? Got a job?"
"Nah?"
"Then?"
"Self-employed..."
Right then!
"Player Bong!?"
Jeong Dong-hoon came sprinting from afar.
Oh Jin-sook hurriedly greeted her CEO.
"Hello, President."
"Ah, y-yes... Oh employee Jin-sook ? I'm busy right now."
Jeong Dong-hoon bowed to Joo-hyuk, head nearly touching the ground.
"Aigoo, Player Bong, I'm Jeong Dong-hoon."
"It's our first time meeting, I'm Bong Joo-hyuk."
"S-sorry. I got word you'd be coming, but not when..."
"No, my fault for showin' up unannounced. Ah! This is Veronica, she came with me."
Veronica nodded politely to Jeong Dong-hoon.
"Whoa, thought you were a model."
Oh Jin-sook just stood there, mouth agape.
Jeong Dong-hoon, the president.
Who was he?
A third-generation chaebol from Ilseong Group, he split off Ilseong Apparel, renamed to Razix Trading, and grew it into the world's top tower leather production and distribution specialist.
Getting into Razix Trading was as tough as any major corp.
No, tougher.
Oh Jin-sook had miraculously made it in.
She thought she'd fail, but barely passed.
A High school grad special hire, good interview score.
Razix Trading was her life's greatest achievement.
Her employee badge was her pride.
Yet here was Razix president groveling to Bong Joo-hyuk.
Even calling him a Player?
Bong Joo-hyuk was one?
'Whoa!'
Player.
A pro among pros.
He must of been minting cash since high-grade magic stone rewards began.
There weren't many around.
About 10,000 in South Korea?
And Bong Joo-hyuk was one.
'What a waste.'
She should've gotten closer in high school.
Anyway, that woman?
His girlfriend?
She didn't seem human.
Her face, skin, heavenly beauty and figure.
If she was his real girlfriend, there was no contest.
'...Cravin' a smoke.'
She would step out for one.
Razix Trading president's office.
Jeong Dong-hoon was tense as hell.
Finally meeting the man shrouded in mystery.
The supplier of basilisk and wyvern leathers.
The true owner holding over 90% of Razix shares.
Player Bong Joo-hyuk.
Even his uncle, Ilseong Group Chairman Jeong Seong-tae, tried something and got warned by Korea Awakening Management Bureau.
He was forced to back down.
Plus he was the holy sword owner, tower metal supplier and rumored world's top Player.
And he came to see him.
With an exotic-looking female bodyguard.
Of course he'd be shaking.
Meanwhile, Joo-hyuk liked President Jeong.
A plump, round face.
He seemed like a kindred spirit.
Opposite of tough guys—the timid, perceptive type.
Easy to deal with.
Business first.
"Basilisk and wyvern leathers will be available tomorrow. I've prepped plenty."
"Thank you! We'll make products and sell hard."
"I brought a new leather too."
"...New leather?"
"Here."
Swoosh!
He too out the sample snake leather from his inventory.
"This is...?"
"Apophis leather. Know it? The Black Tower 82nd floor monster."
"Y-yeah."
Apophis.
Confirmed now.
This guy's the world's best Player.
Jeong Dong-hoon took the sample with trembling hands.
Beautiful.
Color, patterns—stunning.
However.
"Pretty thick. Heavy too."
Figures.
It was a colossal beast.
"Not great for bags or daily goods."
"...Really?"
Damn!
Was it wasted effort?
He did repeated clears for nothing.
"But perfect for sofas, chairs, furniture."
"Ah!"
"Or car interiors/exteriors. Thickness is the strength."
Good.
Even car seats would have huge demand.
"Got it. I'll provide bulk Apophis leather too."
"Yes! We'll research thoroughly and commercialize."
He Liked him.
He was a chaebol heir, but down-to-earth.
And he gut nervous meeting new people.
Did they have similar personalities too?
'Should I give him the White Tower 17th floor 1-day pass?'
Nah.
Later, after they got closer.
"Oh! That lobby employee earlier—what's your relation? She was a high school grad special hire. I hope she wasn't rude."
Jin-sook.
"High school classmate."
"Ah, I see."
"She is a good friend. Take care of her."
"Hahaha, of course. A friend of Player Bong will be looked after."
Jin-sook.
It was nice seeing you.
Live happily.
He'd hooked her up.
President Jeong would look out for her from here.
A gift from this once-smitten Ordinary Guy.
The next day.
Joo-hyuk headed to White Tower 17th floor.
His summoned beings were still relaxing.
The warmed the heart just watching.
Even released, they don't return to Infinite Prison.
Their bodies got to remain here.
'What happens if they die?'
100-day summon ban.
Would they go back to prison, or wait here?
Guess he'd find out if one of them died.
But he didn't plan to let that happen.
'Alright, what now...'
He'd just farmed leathers so far.
Repeats only.
Today, climb upper floors?
83rd.
And this time.
"Mackenzie."
"Speak, Summoner."
"Join us for the upper floor climb."
It was time to include him.
The others seemed to forget initial screw-ups.
But?
Mackenzie shook his head, refusing.
"No. I appreciate the thought, but i'm busy with this... I won't be much help hunting anyway."
Ah, artifact crafting.
The warehouse was full of items.
But items made by a 9th-circle archmage? They had to be special.
He was excited too.
"Rest then."
The rest headed to the 83rd.
It was a Hot tropical rainforest environment.
Thick trees, dark forest barely letting light in.
Joo-hyuk and the crew advanced.
Would it be giant beasts here too?
Hopefully they had skinnable hides.
Deeper in, dead trees appeared.
White clothesline-like strings covering them.
'What the?'
He poked one.
Zzzzt.
"Ugh..."
It was stuck to his hand, it wouldn't come off.
Sticky.
'No way.'
Mission popped up.
[83rd Floor Mission: Defeat 1 Giant Queen Spider Arachnoid.]
⏰ Time Limit: Within 15 hours.
📍 Completion Condition: Giant Queen Spider Arachnoid 0/1
"Spider?"
"Spiders."
"Spiders, huh."
"Spider, eh? Shoulda made friends."
What?
'...Hate spiders.'
No hides anyway.
It was a wasted trip.
Still, he need to grab the badges.
"Sergeant V, a few big shots, then the rest clean up."
Further, white ropes—no, spiderwebs covered the whole jungle.
Creak, creak, they stuck to our feet, making it hard to walk.
Webs were everywhere.
Some were as thick as clotheslines?
Joo-hyuk pulled out his smartphone.
He filmed the 83rd floor environment.
Suddenly!
Shhht!
One spider was peeking out.
'Huh?'
Weird.
It was supposed to be giant, but it was puppy-sized.
"Surprisingly small."
"Small."
"Small it is."
"Tiny."
"Small."
Right then!
Shh, shhht, shh. Shh, shh...
Endless spiders from webs.
From the Front, back and sides.
Huge numbers of spiders crawled out.
Like a black carpet over the jungle.
Spraying webs from behind as they went.
"Argh!"
"Eek! Gross!"
"...Sigh, spiders of all things."
Then.
Vwoooom!
Slice, slice, slice!
Pillar-thick arthropod legs cut through thick webs.
A huge silhouette appeared.
"Crazy!"
A giant spider.
Mission target: Giant Queen Spider Arachnoid.
Enormous body, thick legs, bristly hairs.
A human-like face, countless eyes.
Size wasn't the issue.
It was the first truly gross thing since the plague troll.
'The Small ones are its babies.'
Joo-hyuk instinctively stepped back.
But,
Stick, splat, creak.
Sticky webs were already underfoot.
The Summoned looked displeased.
This might mess with the S+++ clear.
Movement was restricted here.
The queen was bad, but the endless babies were worse.
If they slacked off, the Summoner would be at risk.
Then can't focus.
Joo-hyuk grimaced.
'Should I reset the mission?'
Was this mission worth it?
But.
'Whatever, they'd just kill it.'
How?
'He'd call everyone.'
Current simultaneous summons: 11 slots.
There were 10 in the tower.
One spot was free.
"Mackenzie Dronak Designated Summon."
Flash!
The crouched Mackenzie fiddling with something.
"Enchant magic, hey! Success means big bucks, hey! All envy me, hey! I'll get a Platinum badge too, he—"
Paused!
He sensed the environment change.
He Looked up.
"Huh?"
Then he looked around,
"Oh!"
And saw giant spider and its babies ahead,
"Ooh!"
Joo-hyuk nodded.
"Ooooh!"
He shot up and stepped forward.
"Melt 'em all. Burn everything."
Mackenzie replied gratefully.
"I'll show you true firepower, Summoner."
He raised a hand.
Roar!
And fireballs began falling.
Again,
He then cast again.
And again,
Hellfire ripped up from the ground.
The tropical jungle was ablaze.
Scarlet flames consumed all.
"Kweeeee..."
Countless baby spiders were engulfed, their sticky webs melting, the Giant Arachnoid was burning bright.
But there was no heat here.
Mackenzie's barrier protected them.
Clap clap clap!
Applause poured in.
The summoned switched attitudes lightning-fast.
Where once it was all hate, now...
"Cool fire tricks. If you pee the bed at night. I'll wash the sheets."
"What a spectacle. As expected of a 9th-circle mage, well-deserved."
"This lady impressed. The True form of LSSR."
"Killer firepower."
"Amazing! Mage. Shine bright!!!"
"Hot. Love it."
"I take back my old trash talk."
"Hoooe!"
"Woof woof woof!"
Flash!
There was a spotlight above Mackenzie's head again.
Past grudges melted away like snow.