Chapter 59: Branch Tower (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 59: Branch Tower (5)
The mana veins of a Branch Tower emerge at random intervals across a 100km radius.
This marked the first time mana stones had manifested as physical minerals in the world outside the Tower. Currently, the only viable exploration method was to locate stones protruding from the surface and dig them out one by one, like pulling up a cluster of tubers.
Once the approximate scale of a vein was determined and estimates were finalized, full-scale mining would begin.
Japan was currently in a frenzy, searching for mana stones within the radius of the Sendai Branch Tower.
"...Huh?"
The scholars and experts conducting the exploration were bewildered when they saw the mana stones in the test holes suddenly lose their luster.
The anomaly wasn't limited to a single location.
Simultaneously, the mana stones at every single site Japan had discovered thus far lost their radiance—as if they had reverted to ordinary rocks.
The only stones that remained intact were the minuscule quantity they had already excavated as samples.
The mana vein had dried up in an instant, like a riverbed suddenly parched.
"What on earth happened?! Why did the mana vein suddenly vanish?"
"You're saying all the other countries are fine? Why only us...!"
Japan was thrown into an uproar.
After some time, a post appeared on the Communication Window.
[Saram123: The clearer of a Branch Tower is granted the authority to activate or deactivate its mana veins.]
[Saram123: Should any conflict arise due to the mana veins, I will deactivate the veins of that specific nation.]
The Communication Window erupted once again at Saram123’s post.
[Torch: Branch Tower ownership? There were individual rewards for the clearers too?]
[DanceWithMe: I heard Japan is in a frenzy because their mana veins just evaporated. So it was Saram123’s doing.]
[Insomnia: Why? What did Japan do?]
[BlackPepper: I checked the news, and it looks like they unilaterally withdrew from some agreement.]
Japan’s withdrawal from the Mana Stone Agreement was an event that wouldn't have even made global headlines while the Branch Towers were appearing, but Saram123’s post drew the world's eyes to it.
[Turkey: LOL, they got greedy and were the first to get smacked.]
[Blaze: As expected, Saram123 is the key to international peace.]
[Sherlock: Saram123 is the guardian of a healthy market economy.]
[ProbabilityAndStatistics: Brazil and Mongolia got lucky. Japan took the hit for them before they could try anything funny.]
[MangoJuice: But wait, does that mean those Chinese bastards knew about the Branch Tower ownership and hid it just to squeeze more out of Mongolia?]
[Vant: Not surprising at all.]
Japan, having squandered a massive national interest through sheer stupidity, was mocked mercilessly on the Communication Window.
[Hyar: Well, this proves Saram123 can't be Japanese.]
[Mephisto: Who knows? If it’s Saram123, he seems like the type to smack his own country without hesitation if they cross the line.]
[Curd: He certainly has the character for it.]
[Blizzard: Or maybe he’s from one of the countries involved in the Mana Stone Agreement?]
[333Draw: Which countries are those?]
[Finger: Look it up yourself.]
[Jennifer: South Korea, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, and Malaysia.]
[Ullaryu: It wasn't even a big issue, but they got punished immediately. He really might be from one of those countries.]
[Golden: Maybe he just watches the news a lot?]
While everyone else enjoyed the spectacle, Japan was in a state of emergency.
It is always more infuriating to have something snatched away after it has been given. The opportunity to become a global powerhouse in mana stone resources had been right in their grasp, only to flutter away.
"Dammit!"
Prime Minister Sato was at his wit's end.
If he had known this would happen, he obviously would have been more cautious. If only he had known something like Branch Tower ownership existed!
"Who could have guessed such a thing existed...!"
There was no other way. He had to beg Saram123 somehow to reactivate the mana veins.
However, Saram123, who ignored everything except requests for Nightmare clear consultations, naturally did not respond to any contact through the Communication Window.
Prime Minister Sato immediately issued an official statement.
"...The withdrawal from the Mana Stone Agreement was a regrettable incident that occurred due to a lack of mutual communication. Our cabinet feels a deep sense of responsibility for actions that may have appeared somewhat unilateral."
Translated into plain English, the statement essentially said:
We won't withdraw from the agreement. We apologize to the member nations and will strive to negotiate in good faith. If Saram123 has any specific demands, we will accept them all.
So please, give us back the mana veins. Pleeeease.
Saram123’s reaction? There was none.
No posts appeared on the Communication Window, and the mana veins of the Sendai Branch Tower remained dormant.
Public sentiment across the Japanese archipelago boiled over against Prime Minister Sato.
Even though it was Saram123 who had turned off the mana veins, how could public opinion possibly turn against the savior of humanity?
It was only natural that all the arrows were aimed at the Prime Minister, whose approval rating was already in the gutter.
Of course, if the outcome had been good, no one would have blamed the government—in fact, they wouldn't have cared in the first place. But the result was a total disaster.
Public opinion spread like wildfire, claiming the Prime Minister had committed a massive blunder and ruined the nation's future.
Watching this series of events, Mongolia felt a sense of relief despite not having done much.
"We will aim for coexistence and cooperation so that everyone can benefit."
Brazil, which had been preparing to test the waters with its neighbors, quickly changed its tune and issued a prompt statement of its own.
And... the parties involved, like South Korea and the Southeast Asian nations, were simply bewildered.
Saram123 stepped in for us? Why?
Was a minor issue like this—though certainly not minor to those involved—really something Saram123, who was busy saving humanity, would take an interest in?
The only other time Saram123 had intervened in political matters was when the conflict between governments and associations worldwide was reaching a breaking point. This didn't seem to be on that scale.
It was enough to make anyone tilt their head in confusion.
"Maybe he got annoyed because they were acting up with a Branch Tower he cleared?"
"Perhaps his goal is to nip potential conflicts over mana veins in the bud. Regardless, Japan has been made a perfect example."
"It’s not a bad situation for us, but I’m not sure how we should respond..."
Japan was now desperate, practically clinging to the agreement nations, including South Korea. They seemed to think that only by demonstrating a successful reconciliation with the involved parties could they change Saram123’s mind.
The South Korean government was also debating what stance to take.
If the terms of the agreement were renegotiated so that they could get a share of the mana stone profits, they were more than willing to hold hands and play nice. After all, everyone wins.
But would Saram123 really turn the mana veins back on just for that?
Since Japan was clearly in Saram123’s bad graces, South Korea had to be cautious as well.
The involved nations, including Japan, waited with bated breath for Saram123 to release any further statement.
* * *
After turning off the Sendai Branch Tower’s mana veins as an example.
Whispers kept coming through the Communication Window from people claiming to be from the Japanese government, but I ignored them. I didn't particularly intend to reactivate the mana veins.
They could just consider it as something that never existed in the first place.
I’d already cleared the tower for them; it’s not like people would die just because I didn't turn the mana on.
'Hmm...'
But as I thought about it, my mind shifted slightly.
Is it still a bit much?
China would be happily mining mana stones from their veins, so keeping this side locked indefinitely might be a huge loss for the region.
Then again, I didn't want to personally demand this or that from Japan. It’s not like I know anything about international politics or state affairs.
So, I decided to do this.
[Saram123: Negotiate with the member nations of the agreement regarding the mana vein issue and form a treaty. If all five nations—South Korea, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, and Malaysia—agree, I will activate the mana veins.]
It would be best if they could coordinate among themselves. This way, at least Japan wouldn't be able to monopolize the benefits.
I mean, it’s on Japanese soil, so it’s a Japanese Branch Tower, and technically there’s nothing wrong with them owning it.
But honestly... it would be a bit annoying to watch my own country sit idly by while mana stones gush out of the neighboring country, especially since I was the one who cleared it.
I was only human, after all.
It’s not like I want to make it exclusively beneficial for my country either, so let’s just leave it at this.
Either negotiate well and share the profits, or if you don't like it, nobody gets anything.
That’s the end of that.
[Time remaining until the appearance of the fifth Branch Tower: 5 minutes 1 second]
Time passed.
The appearance of the fifth and final Branch Tower was drawing near.
I sat in my chair and waited, hoping it would appear in a nearby country this time.
[The fifth Branch Tower is appearing.]
The message popped up.
But then, another message followed.
[A special reward will be granted upon clearing the fifth Branch Tower.]
[Fifth Branch Tower Time Limit: 29 days 23 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds]
"...?"
A special reward?
And the time limit was 30 days. All the other Branch Towers had been 7 days.
Is there something different about the fifth one?
[Satellite: Did everyone see that? It says a special reward.]
[Hyva: The time limit isn't 7 days either; it’s 30.]
[Huhahu: This curveball is making me nervous...]
[Blade: Where did the tower appear?]
I watched the Communication Window, waiting for news of the tower’s location.
The location was Tajikistan.
It was said to have appeared in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan.
'Central Asia, huh.'
I looked up the location on a map. It was a country right next to China.
The distance was about 5,000km.
Well... yeah, it’s much better than Brazil.
Excluding the 120 hours I’d charged over the past week, I’d need about 280 more hours.
I immediately began charging the warp device.
But if they’re giving a special reward, would the difficulty be the same?
I doubted it. They wouldn't have extended the time limit for no reason. It was bound to be harder than the other Branch Towers.
Still, I had to clear 10 floors in one go, so I didn't think each floor would be as difficult as a Nightmare...
After a tedious amount of time spent refilling my willpower, the warp charge was complete.
I set the coordinates for Tajikistan and warped immediately.
Arriving at a location quite far from the radius, I adjusted my direction and warped once more.
[Would you like to enter the fifth Branch Tower?]
I entered the tower’s radius.
"Enter."
I stepped inside, my tension rising slightly.
[You have entered the 1st floor of the fifth Branch Tower.]
Out of habit, I stopped time and checked my surroundings.
The location wasn't particularly different from the other Branch Towers. Weapons were laid out on the floor ahead, but...
'...They’re not here?'
There were no monsters to fight.
I resumed time.
I wondered what was going on, but I wasn't some rookie who would be easily rattled by something like this.
As I calmly looked around, my sixth sense suddenly reacted. I felt a surge of murderous intent from behind.
Sshhhk!
A goblin that appeared out of nowhere lunged with a dagger.
However, I had already leaped back from where I stood.
Kerrrk—
It was a black-skinned goblin with strange patterns on its face.
'Stealth.'
It was a stealth ability.
And it wasn't just simple invisibility. It was the kind of stealth where the presence itself completely vanished, much like Diul’s ability.
However, looking at the speed of that attack just now, its physical abilities were pathetic. Only slightly better than an average goblin.
Even if I’d just let it hit me, it wouldn't have left a scratch.
The goblin turned transparent again.
"You think that'll work?"
I immediately unleashed a Flame Strike at that spot.
The re-stealthed goblin exploded instantly.
[You have successfully cleared the 1st floor.]
I looked at the scattering ashes.
'A stealth assassin goblin, huh...'
It’s already getting unusual from the 1st floor.
The fifth and final Branch Tower.
As expected, it wasn't ordinary like the others.
It was subtle, but it had a certain flavor. The taste of a Nightmare.