Chapter 174
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 174
Chapter Title: Conditions for the #5 Chapter Update.
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#5 Conditions for the #5 Chapter Update.
Seong-hyeok let out a short sigh at the implications contained within the words "total population below 30%."
"I expected it to some extent, but a lot of people really did die."
Seong-hyeok wasn't overflowing with love for humanity or patriotism, but he wasn't a psychopath devoid of emotion, either.
70%.
Even if most of them were complete strangers he'd never met, the weight of that many deaths was on a different level.
Weren't these people who wouldn't have had to die if this monster-infested environment hadn't been created?
*Squeeze—*
His fist clenched instinctively, rage surging within him.
The current situation had swallowed up countless children's parents, and parents' children, all across the Earth.
But what truly angered him was not even knowing the cause of this catastrophe.
It was like a process of putting people in a sieve and shaking them out.
He wanted to reject it all, but what could he do?
"The path dictated by my karma was what mattered."
It was a path where he never had a choice from the start.
But that didn't mean it was all bad.
It was a tragedy for those who died, but for Seong-hyeok, there was the karma he'd been given as the Honeybee Guardian and Mad Inquirer.
Through it, Seong-hyeok had encountered bees from various dimensions and, as a result, had built a decent shelter.
With a steady influx of people, the shelter now had 23,000 residents.
And was that all?
Seong-hyeok's honey products were expanding not just beyond Korea and Asia, but across the entire world.
"Still, let's see what they have to say."
Although many had died, people had grown much stronger thanks to his honey products.
Believing they wouldn't be easily defeated by the #5 Chapter update, Seong-hyeok checked the details, only to be dumbfounded.
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[Notification]
※ The #5 Chapter update is complete. I am Benossunpiggle, the General Management Team Leader for the Earth dimension. First, I'd like to congratulate all of you who have survived for no longer being disposable products. However, do not become too arrogant. At best, you have merely become products of value. Strive to do better, and from now on, choose your own path.
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"..."
The existence of an administrator who spoke of human lives as 'disposable products' and talked about their value.
The people who had been forced to participate as products in a game they never asked for were probably wailing in despair right now, but Seong-hyeok had a different thought.
'How can I meet that guy?'
- Why?
'He seems to have some personality issues. I'm going to correct them.'
If you feel wronged, just teach them a lesson.
Arrogant beings like Lich Velmorn who had attacked his farm, the Chinese Emperor, and the dragons.
But in this regard, did Riggle feel the same way?
- Kikikik. The answer is simple. It'll be resolved once you achieve a status equal to a 5-star pet.
The guy was providing information without any resistance, like demanding a trade or setting conditions.
Having shared the ups and downs for quite some time since their contract, had they developed some kind of complicated bond?
The thought that they had grown considerably closer compared to the early days was fleeting.
Seong-hyeok hurriedly checked the update details, and there he understood the meaning of the 'choice' Benossunpiggle had mentioned.
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[Update Details]
* You who have proven your value have earned the right to stand at a crossroads of choice! Please elect 9 representatives to rule the recognized dimension, 'Earth.' Through persuasion, convincing, threats, etc.—by any means necessary—those with the most votes will become the representatives. (Time remaining: 71:59)
※ Regardless of whether they are good or evil, any player within the top 1,000 in level will gain the right to be elected by vote.
※ The elected representatives are like a single nation, or a server. They can obtain a territory, and within it, they will be granted immense advantages.
1. Korea/Honeybee - Level 71
2. Korea/Mom's Home Cooking - Level 66
3. Korea/Green Bean - Level 64
4. USA/Lucky Robert - Level 63
...
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It was none other than electing representatives.
When you got down to it, it was basically extorting votes through various means of persuasion and threats, but there was another problem.
"I wasn't planning on revealing it yet..."
【USA/Memory Lord: Crazy! What's with Level 71! What kind of bug do you have to use to get that?】
【China/Emperor's Demise: What kind of damn beekeeping, how big does it have to be for that kind of growth? Do you have no conscience?】
【Korea/Attention Seeker NO.3: Ah ㅋㅋ If you're so salty, go beekeeping while hunting dragons.】
The levels of people worldwide were unintentionally revealed.
Among them, Level 71 and 66.
Faced with the unrivaled gap between first and second place, the community boards began to boil over once again.
* * * * *
The #Chapter updates were always a hot topic on the community boards.
Powerful monsters, the integrated auction house, and so on.
In a situation that provided players with indispensable risks and opportunities, the #5 Chapter update had arrived.
Usually, the content of the update was the main focus, but this time was an exception.
(Honeybee. Just how did he reach the ridiculous number of Level 71?)
It wasn't the content of the update.
Honeybee himself had become the center of attention.
Well, it wasn't hard to understand why.
The tens, hundreds of top-tier rankers scattered across the globe.
But their levels were such that only a tiny fraction of the very best were just barely reaching the early 60s, while even being in the 50s was enough to earn you considerable respect in a shelter.
...At least, until now.
【Canada/Really: No matter how many times I look, that level makes no sense. Seriously.】
【Thailand/Kwalraun: I'm embarrassed for acting so high and mighty. In front of Honeybee, I'm just a newbie, aren't I?】
【Pakistan/Gwarousa: At this point, I think even livestock would acknowledge it. Forget everything else, shouldn't Honeybee be the undisputed No. 1 representative for the #5 Chapter? ㅋㅋㅋ】
【China/The Emperor is Dead: If you consider his honey products, it's only natural.】
【France/Will of White: I agree.】
Honeybee, at Level 71, who could easily crush and chew up rankers in their 50s and 60s.
The martial prowess that came with a high level, and the ridiculous option of his honey products.
Moreover, through his bee rental business and mobile beekeeping, the influence his countless bees had on the natural environment worldwide was not to be underestimated!
Should he call it a blessing?
Despite Honeybee not making any persuasive speeches or campaign promises, his vote count was rising the fastest.
Of course, as always.
If there were people who liked Honeybee, there were bound to be those who disliked him.
【UK/Hoenpie: Hmm. Isn't he dominating a bit too much? I'll admit his level is high, but he doesn't know moderation.】
【China/Royal Shield: Look at him setting himself up for a dictatorship. It happens in an instant. The moment you let him consolidate power, it's game over.】
【China/Barbarian's Neck: Hey, hey. Everyone, think carefully. Don't forget that Honeybee guy made an alliance with Disaster-class boss monsters.】
Players voiced their opposition out of jealousy and a desire to keep the overly successful Seong-hyeok in check.
Those who even used force on the weaker players nearby quickly gained votes and rose through the ranks, but the rebuttals came swiftly.
【Korea/Attention Seeker NO.1: Ah ㅋㅋ Have you guys already forgotten the past? You Chinese folks declared war with the Emperor as your leader, didn't you?】
【China/Royal Shield: That has nothing to do with us. Do you have any proof we did it?】
【Korea/Jeongrichung: Yes. Surprisingly, there is. I'll attach the evidence here.】
The images of the protesting Chinese players, captured in Jeongrichung's photos and backed by countless Korean witnesses.
Afterwards, they insisted it was fabricated, but the damage was already done.
The negative sentiment was quickly overturned, and positive reactions towards Honeybee flooded in.
【Honeybee: Th-This is working?】
【Jeongrichung: I told you, didn't I? You're someone who can't help but rise to the top even by just standing still.】
You can know the depths of the sea, but never the heart of a man, they say.
He hadn't said a single word and had just been beekeeping for three days straight, yet they fought amongst themselves, leading to his massive surge in popularity.
[Update details have been refreshed.]
[Vote Rate 69.88% - 1st Place.]
*Bzzzz~*
*Buzzzzzzz~*
All of this was thanks to the bees that had spread Honeybee's name far and wide, and...
【Jeongrichung: I knew this would happen, so it's a good thing I prepared a fabricated video for a last-minute reversal. The finishing blow was quite effective.】
【Honeybee: ...】
...the result of Jeongrichung's work, who had overturned public opinion through fabrication and incitement.
* * * * *
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[Update Details]
* All processes are complete. The 9 individuals selected as representatives will each be granted a high-quality Authority corresponding to their rank.
※ If the owner of an Authority dies completely, the Authority will be transferred to the one who dealt the final blow.
1st Place Korea/Honeybee
2nd Place USA/Lucky Robert
3rd Place Korea/Mom's Home Cooking
...
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The update details, refreshed after the voting period ended.
Seong-hyeok frowned as he looked at it.
"An Authority that can be stolen upon death. This is basically a Treasure item."
Treasure items, which had the condition that they could only be obtained by killing their owner.
"Well, I expected it would be a system like this."
Just seeing that it had the same effect made the intentions of the system's creator painfully obvious.
To stimulate people's greed and endlessly create conflict.
It wasn't a setup he particularly liked, but in truth, it didn't matter much to Seong-hyeok.
"I graduated from the days of being afraid of things like this long ago."
Thanks to his relentless hunting of Disaster-class boss monsters, Seong-hyeok was already nearly fully equipped with Treasure items.
To put it bluntly, it was just one more risk added to the pile.
In fact, this level of risk was now just part of his daily life.
And this was no ordinary high risk.
The #5 Chapter update.
It contained all of that, of course.
And the qualification of 1st place, obtained thanks to Jeongrichung's fabrication and incitement shining through.
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[The First Authority]
※ Upon death, the power of the Authority will be stolen. (The effects of Karma will be changed.)
* Classification: Authority
* Effect: Establishes a 1,000KM territory centered on a designated area.
※ Warning! Once designated, the territory cannot be moved unless ownership is stolen. Please choose carefully.
* Effect - Monster Mark (Active): Suppresses the monster respawn rate within 10KM of a marked location, or increases it by up to 10 times. This effect can only be applied within the territory, and up to 30 locations can be designated.
* Effect - Karma of the Honeybee Guardian (Passive): Due to the owner's Karma, honeybees will respawn within the territory. Unless attacked first, the respawned honeybees will not attack targets considered allies by the owner of the Authority.
* Description: This is the First Authority, which holds the vastest territory and the most powerful force. Effects are applied according to the owner's class Karma.
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"...This is a total jackpot."
For Seong-hyeok, who lived and died by his bees, the effects were, without a doubt, the absolute best he could ask for, regardless of anything else.