Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: The Special Prize Itself
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Joo-hyuk and his companions returned to the penthouse.
They put the dining table and chairs back in their places.
'No matter how I think about it, this is insane.'
Razix was now an SSR.
Two things had changed.
First.
Earth items could now go into Razix's subspace backpack.
It wasn't that Earth items couldn't be taken into the Tower at all. Clothing, shoes, hats, smartphones, body cams, pistols, and other permitted items could be taken in.
This was called 'personal item judgment.'
Small, light objects that could be held in one's hand.
However, no matter how small the item, it was impossible to store it in the Tower-exclusive inventory. Players carried them in personally.
The Tower-exclusive inventory was only for items received from the Tower.
But now, everything was possible.
As long as the size was appropriate, the limit was gone.
A multi-purpose worker and a multi-purpose porter.
Anything could be put into Razix's backpack.
Second.
Item detection ability.
When he was an R (Rare), Razix could only smell the scent of ores.
But now that he was an SSR, his item search ability seemed to have advanced by at least two levels.
That's why he must have found the Blink Ring and the fragments.
Joo-hyuk took the ring out of his inventory.
Covered in scratches from the passage of time.
Fortunately, it wasn't rusted.
'Blink skill, huh? Let's try it.'
When he equipped the ring, the method of use came to his mind.
A kind of short-range teleportation.
But long distances were impossible. About 3 meters was the limit.
"Blink!"
Flash.
Joo-hyuk, who had been in the living room, appeared in the kitchen.
'Wow!'
Let's keep going.
Blink, Blink, Blink, Blink…
Flash, flash, flash, flash…
Joo-hyuk's figure appeared here and there around the house like a ghost in a horror movie.
"Ugh, I'm getting dizzy."
"Hoe-hehehe."
"Truly a splendid movement technique."
"Warrior is less worried. The Summoner has become safer."
Had he used it about five times?
It could be used 10 times consecutively.
It recharged every 2 hours, but let's not use it all up.
And then, the Mysterious Rune Fragment (1/7) and the Mysterious Ticket Fragment (1/5).
Judging from the item information, the rune was a 1/7 fragment, and the ticket was a 1/5 fragment.
So far, the runes Joo-hyuk knew were the Level Up Rune, the Summoned Being Grade-Up Rune, and the Trait Enhancement Rune.
Tickets were Tower Jumping Ticket, Skill Cooldown Reset Ticket, Multinational Tower Usage Ticket, and Guaranteed Grade Summon Ticket.
Of course, this wasn't all of them.
They said as the Tower's floor number increased, items that hadn't appeared before would also appear.
What if the Mysterious Rune Fragment was actually a Trait Enhancement Rune?
What if the Mysterious Ticket Fragment was a Skill Cooldown Reset Ticket?
What if these fragments could be combined?
'Wouldn't that be the jackpot of all jackpots?'
Actually, there was something he had been contemplating while conquering the 60th floor.
The fact that opportunities to receive special privileges were gradually disappearing.
Currently, there were 61 Platinum Badges in his inventory.
According to the calculation, he would receive a special privilege on the 64th floor.
And after that?
The 69th floor would be next.
If he used a Multinational Tower Usage Ticket, it would be the 68th floor.
But from the 67th floor onwards, he couldn't just conquer recklessly.
He had to ascend slowly according to the conquest time limit.
When would he ever reach the 68th floor?
He only had one Multinational Tower Usage Ticket left.
But what if it was Razix's ability?
He could potentially 'gather' runes and tickets that could only be obtained as special privileges or Tower conquest rewards, and even then only at very rare probabilities.
Now that he knew, could he just sit still?
First, he needed to find out if fragments of the same type of rune or ticket could be combined.
"I think we need to go into other floors too. To look for fragments."
The summoned beings nodded at Joo-hyuk's suggestion.
"What about the 61st floor? It's an unconquered upper floor."
It was a decent idea, but he also had to consider the S++ grade conquest record.
"Let's go there with the Holy Sword."
After checking his schedule with Vice Director Jeon Gwang-il…
"Then, how about the 60th floor? Probably a lot of people died there."
"Hmm."
It wasn't a very good choice.
The 60th floor was where Wyvern Lords and Venomous Wyverns appeared.
Of course, many people must have died.
But the problem was whether anything remained intact.
"On the 60th floor, corpses and items alike might have completely melted due to the poison pools."
"Ah! Right."
"A wise judgment indeed."
"Hoe!"
So, what was the best choice?
"Let's go to the 59th floor. This time too, let's not conquer the wyverns, just search for items."
"Yes!"
As soon as they left the safe zone.
"Mr. Razix, please."
"Hoeng!"
Rolling, rolling, Razix rolled at a fast speed.
Joo-hyuk also chased after him using Shadow Step.
He paid no attention to the Lightning Wyverns floating in the sky.
Kosak, Gobang, Gyeondal-rae, and Veronica also kept watch, covering them with their magic guns.
It was quite a wide space.
Even so, Razix rolled around well.
Then!
Halt!
He stopped rolling and...
"Hue?"
It seemed he had caught a scent.
Swish!
He pulled out a golden pickaxe from his backpack.
And started digging the ground.
'He found something.'
What was it?
An item? A fragment?
A tense moment.
Razix stopped digging, shoved his body deep into the hole he had dug, and...
"Hoek!"
He pulled out one bent stick.
What is this?
Joo-hyuk took the stick Razix handed over and checked its information.
[Rotting Elf's World... ???]
Effect: It is damaged.
Limitation: Cannot be repaired.
"Hmm."
It seemed to be made of wood.
Elf's World, what? No further details could be confirmed.
"What is this thing used for?"
Then Gobang reached out his hand, saying,
"This warrior thinks he knows. I'll show you."
"Really?"
Joo-hyuk handed the stick to Gobang.
"This is a bow used by vegetarians."
A bow?
"If you bend it like this and attach a string to both ends..."
In that instant!
Snap!
The stick broke mercilessly in the middle.
"...Uh."
"Gasp!"
"It, it broke."
"Oh no."
"Ah!"
Razix's body began to tremble, his eyes welling up with tears.
After all that hard work to dig it up...
"Huehehe..."
Kosak flared up in anger and berated Gobang.
"I knew this would happen. Showing off your brute strength all the time, Gobang must take responsibility. Razix the worker will not forget this."
"Gobang-nim! How could you be so careless! To so easily break an item the Almighty Servant found with such difficulty! Cutting off a finger to apologize would not be enough!"
"Damaging supplies is a serious crime. It's a court-martial offense. I, Sergeant Veronica, arrest you under military law. Prepare for 100 days in the brig."
Gobang seemed utterly flustered.
Sweating bullets, he took a step back.
"I, warrior s...sorry."
Oh dear.
To see him so cowed like this.
The same guy who grabbed a basilisk's tail and slammed it to the ground.
"Alright, alright, let's stop and look for something else. It was a mistake, so Mr. Razix, please bear with it."
"Hoeng."
When Joo-hyuk intervened, the situation quickly calmed down.
Rolling, rolling, rolling.
Razix set out to search again.
Halt!
He caught another scent.
Again, he dug with the pickaxe, clack clack clack clack!
This time?
"Hoe!"
Razix held up a tiny hand.
"Oh!"
It was a stone fragment.
Then?
He quickly took it and checked.
[Mysterious Rune Fragment (1/6)]
It was indeed a rune fragment.
But its color and material were slightly different from the one collected before.
The number of fragments for completion was also different.
The previous one was (1/7), the one he just dug up was (1/6).
Just in case, he tried attaching the two together.
'They don't combine.'
Different rune fragments.
No need to be disappointed.
Similar ones would come out someday.
Razix continued searching.
In the process, another ticket fragment also came out.
But again, they didn't combine.
'Could it be that only fragments can be collected?'
Were they never meant to combine from the start?
And then.
"Hoe!"
This time, another piece of paper.
"Good job."
Joo-hyuk took the fragment and tried matching it with the existing ticket fragments. And then, smoothly,
"Huh?"
Finally, fragment and fragment stuck together.
The item information, which had been Mysterious Ticket Fragment, changed to:
[Damaged???... Ticket (2/5)]
"They combined!"
"They stuck together like glue. Amazing."
"Th, that's a relief."
"Congratulations."
"Supply Officer! Well done!"
It was confirmed.
If you collected the same kind of paper fragments, you could make a complete ticket.
The same must be true for runes.
All thanks to Razix.
He was unbearably adorable.
Joo-hyuk pulled the dirt-covered Razix into a big hug and said,
"Mr. Razix."
"Hoeng?"
"Please never leave me, let's stay together for a long, long time."
"Hoehehehe..."
"Prepare for a shoulder ride!"
"Hoek!"
The furball soared high into the sky.
"Don't lift him too high. The wyverns might aggro."
"Huehehehe?"
Now he had one less worry.
SSR Razix,
He himself was the special prize.
Beijing, China.
Tower Conquest Special Intelligence Department.
Even within the Chinese political sphere, few knew of this department's existence.
Even Central Party officials didn't know.
Of course.
Their work involved kidnapping players from other countries and forcing them into China's Tower conquest.
Only a handful knew, including the Chinese Chairman and a few members of the Standing Committee.
Director Lai Yuan of the Special Intelligence Department was receiving a report from Deputy Director Xiao Jun.
"Did you find out?"
Director Lai Yuan's voice was indifferent.
Xiao Jun, sweating profusely, answered.
"We've compiled a complete list of South Korean players. We are investigating players related to the keyword 'Gobang' mentioned by Crown Prince Binsala."
"Hmph!"
Director Lai Yuan snorted and continued.
"So you still don't know."
"M, my apologies."
"Let me ask you one thing."
Gulp.
Xiao Jun swallowed dryly.
"Even if we somehow conquered the 59th floor with Russia's help, do you think our current players can break through the 60th floor?"
"..."
Xiao Jun couldn't answer.
Because he knew it was impossible.
"One failure can be tolerated. But not two."
Failure.
The incident where the special forces soldiers sent to infiltrate South Korea to kidnap elite players had died.
The Chinese Northeast Special Forces Brigade, led by Deng Guanlin, the top elite operational team.
They had never failed a mission until now.
They weren't the type to be caught by the likes of the National Intelligence Service, and even if caught, they wouldn't be wiped out so helplessly.
But they were defeated.
By someone unknown.
"Xiao Jun, you go to South Korea yourself. Did you think just sitting here giving orders would be the end of it? Bring them back at all costs, South Korea's S++ grade conquest recorder. If you fail, die there."
"...Yes, understood."
In Japan, Prime Minister Kawaguchi was personally overseeing matters.
"Immediately mobilize the entire Cabinet Information Investigation Office. Don't bring back chaff, bring back the real thing."
An existence absolutely necessary for Japan's fate.
"And look into the political side as well. Money is no object, and while we're at it, find out who the Holy Sword owner is.... It might be the same person."
It wasn't just China and Japan.
All countries gradually climbing to higher floors began moving simultaneously.
To go to South Korea.
To find out who Gobang really was, if the S++ grade conquest recorder was indeed the same person, and also the true owner of the Holy Sword.
Crown Prince Binsala of the UAE also entered through Incheon Airport on his private jet.
Since he announced his arrival in advance, reporters swarmed like clouds.
Binsala smiled and answered the reporters' questions one by one.
A highly unusual event.
"Your Highness, what is the reason for your visit to South Korea?"
"I plan to discuss the joint development between the South Korean government and the UAE."
"Is the purpose a request for temporary naturalization for the future 61st floor conquest? Or a Holy Sword loan?"
"Not temporary naturalization. But a Holy Sword loan is under consideration."
There were also questions about Gobang.
"What does 'Gobang' mean? Is it a person's name? Or an organization?"
"Gobang? I'm hearing this for the first time."
"But in the interview..."
"I never said such a thing. You must have misheard."
The reporters were persistent, but Binsala firmly denied it.
"What are your future plans in South Korea?"
"Nothing is planned yet. I'll stay at the HG Hotel and decide."
"When is your scheduled departure?"
"That hasn't been decided yet."
Binsala's expression on the news was very gentle and relaxed.
Already the third day of searching the Tower,
Today too, from morning, they thoroughly combed through two Tower floors, but there was no significant achievement.
A few items that were damaged, corroded, and non-functional.
If only they had descriptions like the Holy Sword saying they could be repaired, he would have fixed and used them, but they blatantly stated 'Cannot be repaired.'
Fragments were also hard to come by.
It seemed he needed to go to higher floors.
Wouldn't more come out on floors in the 60s?
Anyway, he used up all his Tower entry chances for today.
The summoned beings were lounging around in the penthouse.
Ding-ding!
Suddenly, a message notification chimed on his smartphone.
- This is Jeon Gwang-il. If you're not busy, I'd like to meet. Apartment underground parking lot, car license plate is...
It was perfect timing, as he had nothing to do.
Joo-hyuk went down to the apartment underground parking lot and found the car.
"Welcome."
"Yes, Vice Director."
Joo-hyuk got into the passenger seat.
"I have something to give you."
What is it? Something good?
Jeon Gwang-il handed over two large paper bags placed in the back seat of the car.
"These are..."
"Yes, high-end luxury bags made by HG Fashion. One is a men's pouch, the other is a women's handbag."
Oh!
Bags that were clearly extraordinary at a glance.
Even rainbow leather was mixed in, making them dazzlingly flashy.
'But they're too eye-catching.'
How could he go outside with these?
'Give them to mother, father?'
They wouldn't suit their age.
"And also this..."
Jeon Gwang-il showed a card that looked like a wedding invitation.
"It's an invitation. A few days later, a Wildflower & Basil showcase will be held at the HG Hotel, and quite a lot came for the Management Bureau's share. Many elite players are also scheduled to attend."
A showcase,
An event for celebrities that he had only heard about.
"...C, celebrities will come a lot, right?"
"Yes, it's a showcase, after all. I hear mainly top stars were invited."
Meaning he could see in person the people he'd only seen on TV.
'Wow... That would be amazing.'
He was intrigued. It was tempting.
"If you're not inclined..."
"No, I'll take it for now."
Joo-hyuk took the invitation and carefully put it in his inner pocket.
"Ah! Vice Director, how is the Holy Sword reservation schedule?"
"In 3 days, a player affiliated with Norway is scheduled to visit. Then 1 week later, Russia, and then Saudi Arabia in that order."
In 3 days.
"Then, after the Norwegian player uses it, can you pass the Holy Sword to me for a bit? I have a use for it."
"Ah! Are you planning to conquer the 61st floor?"
"Yes. I want to go up once. Only up to the 66th floor."
"Understood. I'll have Team Leader Lee Min-ah bring it to you in 3 days."
It seemed better to try fragment searching on higher floors.
Now the business was done.
Joo-hyuk bid farewell to Jeon Gwang-il and went back up to the penthouse.
Click,
He opened the door and entered.
Gobang was watching TV with a stiff face.
As soon as he saw Joo-hyuk.
"Summoner, it's strange."
"Why?"
"My name keeps coming out of TV."
"Huh?"
His name was coming out?
It turned out to be an interview with Crown Prince Binsalla of the UAE who was visiting South Korea.
Joo-hyuk glanced at Kosak.
But Kosak's expression didn't change at all, as if it had nothing to do with him.
Truly shameless. So shameless.
At this point, he deserved another flick on the forehead.
Joo-hyuk said to Gobang with a calm expression.
"Maybe someone is impersonating your name?"
"Impersonating? You mean they stole it?"
"Yes, using your name instead of their own."
At those words, Gobang's face flushed bright red.
"To steal the sacred name the Summoner gave me, warrior is enraged. Very, very angry."
The atmosphere grew ominous.
"...What would you do if you knew who it was?"
"Break their back in half."
That's too harsh.
"Wouldn't a forehead flick be enough?"
"Understood. If the Summoner thinks so, I'll endure with a forehead flick."
Joo-hyuk grinned and said.
"The story of how this happened is, back when we were negotiating for the Trait Enhancement Rune..."
Whoosh!
Kosak used Shadow Step to dash over in one breath and whispered.
"Summoner B...Bong."
"...What?"
"Please let it go just this once. I'll live righteously from now on."
Hmm.
What should I do?
Should I spare him?