Chapter 88: Government (1)
I boarded a government vehicle.
The car headed toward the Blue House.
‘What the hell is going on?’
The System occasionally sent messages to nations.
The contents varied.
But.
‘It doesn't send messages for trivial stuff.’
Messages usually came when something major was happening.
‘And I might be involved.’
Maybe they're holding some kind of tournament. As far as I could recall, nothing like that had happened around this time… but.
‘It's Phase 6 now.’
Things were different from before, so it wouldn't be strange if changes occurred. I'd have to meet the president to find out the details.
Before long, we arrived at the Blue House.
“Nice to meet you. I'm President Lee Kang-hoon.”
“I'm Kim Minwoo. It's an honor.”
“Haha, no need for that. The honor is all mine. Please, have a seat.”
President Lee Kang-hoon appeared to be in his fifties.
His actual age was closer to seventy. He just looked young because he was an Awakener.
‘I thought he was just a quiet, unassuming guy.’
If I had to describe him, it'd be something colorless and odorless.
Anyway.
The president sat down and spoke with a serious expression.
“Mr. Kim Minwoo, you've probably heard the gist of it.”
“Yes. I heard the System sent a message…”
“Correct. The content is simple: the Super Rookie Selection Tournament.”
“… Super Rookie Selection Tournament?”
The president nodded and handed me a sheet of paper.
“Take a look.”
[Super Rookie Selection Tournament will be held.]
[Host: System]
[Duration: One month from now]
[Eligibility Requirements]
[1. Levels 151~499.]
[2. Limited to 50 participating countries.]
[3. Each country may send up to three participants.]
[4. Participants will be selected and designated by each country.]
[5. Death during the trial is possible, and responsibility lies with the individual.]
[6. 1st to 3rd place will receive special rewards.]
‘Super Rookie Selection Tournament?’
This was a first for an event like this.
I looked at the president.
“This was sent to the government recently. Based on this, we're planning to designate three people from Korea.”
“You called me to ask if I'd participate?”
“Yes.”
President Lee Kang-hoon nodded as he spoke.
“An event of this scale will surely offer incredible rewards. However… there are risks. It explicitly states death during the trial is possible.”
“And the level range is broad.”
“Indeed. From D-rank to A-rank… but 499 is essentially S-rank.”
The president's eyes grew serious.
“At first, I considered sending another Awakener in your place. Just in case something went wrong…”
Kim Minwoo nodded.
The eldest son of Ilsung Group.
An Awakener whose name was spreading not just in Korea but worldwide.
And with his high level to boot?
No.
Even from the president's perspective, it was a burdensome choice to send him.
Other countries would likely send Awakeners over level 400.
If something went wrong, the government would take all the heat. Accusations of throwing away a promising sprout or desk-jockey decisions, that sort of thing.
“I understand.”
“Yes. If I hadn't seen that duel footage, I wouldn't have changed my mind.”
“You watched it too, Mr. President?”
“Haha. I'm human too. It's natural to be drawn to hot topics. Seeing you handle an Awakener of that caliber so easily made me rethink things. Honestly, it sparked some greed. Sending a run-of-the-mill A-rank wouldn't even crack the rankings.”
Jo Pilwook had been useful again.
Participate or not.
My answer was obvious.
‘I have to join.’
The scale wasn't small.
Fifty countries involved.
All the top rising stars would be participating.
‘The rewards will be great too.’
I'd never seen an event like this, so I didn't know exactly what they'd offer, but it was clearly no small prize.
“I want to participate. I'll take full responsibility. Should I write a will?”
“Haha. No need. I said I had some greed too. So I'll share the responsibility.”
President Lee Kang-hoon shook his head, his eyes gleaming as he spoke.
“It reminds me of my younger days. Back then, Korea was undoubtedly an Awakener powerhouse. I hope Mr. Kim Minwoo can restore that glory. The government will spare no support for that.”
Lee Kang-hoon spoke with a firm gaze.
It was trustworthy.
‘He wants to bet on me.’
Clearing an A+ gate with 50% share.
Toying with a level 300 Awakener like a plaything. It proved he could hold his own in the upper ranks, not just the lower ones.
Potential off the charts.
It wasn't strange for the president to say this.
In a world where one star Awakener could reshape a nation's image.
“Have you already selected the other two?”
“Not yet. But we'll prioritize your opinion, Mr. Kim Minwoo. Anyone in mind?”
The president was giving off strong vibes of full backing.
It'd be best if the teammates were compatriots who meshed well.
Hence, handing over the selection rights.
“Give me a moment. Ah, can I take a photo? To show my guildmates.”
“Yes, as long as it doesn't leak externally.”
“Thank you.”
I opened my phone and entered the guild group chat.
[Kim Minwoo]
—I'm at the Blue House right now. Got a proposal.
[Park Siwoo]
—Whoa 😨 Blue House… Bro, you met the president?
(Tense emoticon)
[Seo Yerim]
—What proposal?
(Tilting rabbit emoticon)
[Kim Minwoo]
—Yeah, met the president. The deal is the System sent a message…
(Attached photo)
Something like this tournament. You all want in?
[Park Siwoo]
—Ooh. Count me in!
(Eyes sparkling, hand raised emoticon)
[Seo Yerim]
—Siwoo, you hit level 151?
[Park Siwoo]
—143 now, but with a month left, I should make it. You'll join too, right sis? You're 420.
[Seo Yerim]
—OK. I'm in.
Warnings about danger weren't needed. The photo was already attached, and being an Awakener meant gambling with your life anyway.
“The other two will be from my guild. All three of us.”
President Lee Kang-hoon nodded.
Sword Sage Seo Yerim more than qualified from the start.
The other two as well.
Kim Minwoo and Park Siwoo.
Low levels aside, they were known as super rookies with S-rank achievements. They might even be stronger than average A-ranks.
S-rank achievements weren't a joke.
“Perfect. I'll put the three of you on the final candidate list. There'll be a verification process later.”
“Verification process…?”
“A preliminary to filter Awakeners. You'll spar with the three selected from that.”
Ah, so.
Skip the prelims entirely and go straight to the finals.
‘Nice.’
Fully private selection was impossible anyway.
Fifty countries participating.
Some would select publicly, of course.
They'd announce the process too.
Just skipping everything and slotting Lavish Guild as finalists would invite backlash.
Like cronyism or whatever. Better to prove it with a quick show of skill than deal with rumors.
Luckily, we could skip the annoying prelims.
“Got it. Oh, but I want to hit a gate.”
“Which one?”
“The Demon Gate near Incheon.”
“Ah, that B-rank?”
I nodded.
Official name: Demon's Castle.
Usually just called Demon Gate. Few gates in Korea spawned demons.
“That one… shouldn't take long to clear.”
“I'll be back by the end of prelims.”
Demon's Castle wasn't large.
Just densely packed with monsters inside. Not a time sink by default.
Of course.
‘Without triggering the hidden piece.’
Activating the hidden element changes the stage a bit.
‘Still short.’
Not too long either way.
Then.
President Lee Kang-hoon's face turned serious.
“The international situation is tense lately. Not the US yet, but Japan and China are watching you closely.”
I nodded.
Those two were geographically close to Korea, like snarling rivals who just hadn't drawn blades yet.
There had been a few poaching attempts. Offers of tens of trillions to change nationality.
I'd ignored them all.
No interest in the US either.
“They might even send assassins. If you want, the government can help.”
“No, I'm good.”
I shook my head.
Not because government help was useless. They had solid Awakeners placed throughout.
High salaries, stable civil servant jobs.
They could run detectors to prevent intrusions during gate entries too.
But…
‘Not right now.’
Demon's Castle.
Fittingly demonic hidden piece condition.
Requires sacrifices.
A lot of them.
Back when I played as Kim Minwoo.
I'd learned it because assassins kept intruding.
Killing them all led to discovering the hidden piece.
But with government help?
Sacrifices couldn't get in.
Useless then.
“… You sure?”
“Yes. I'm fine.”
Awakener EXP was several times that of same-level monsters. Plus, each corpse was cash.
And they were coming to kill me anyway—no guilt using them as offerings.
‘Perfect timing for some to show up.’
Shadow.
The ones due in a month.
The deadline was approaching. Wonder what a firm rejection would bring next time.
Would they leave me to grow in peace?
Not in my view.
If they had brains, they'd move to eliminate me.
Growth speed was insane.
‘And I've already exposed their filth.’
Advertised how shady they were. The more I grew, the more it'd eat at them.
No way they'd let me farm gates leisurely.
‘Kill them all here.’
My forces now dwarfed when I first met Han Baekgil.
Necromancer Sword had grown, and I had a second legion commander.
‘Get achievements too. Perfect.’
S-rank assassins?
Bring 'em.
I'd devour them instead.
Antlion pit.
Time to set the trap.