Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 017
Chapter Title: Gate Creation Ticket
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Lee Soo-chan couldn't for the life of him understand Park Jin-ho's reaction.
A B-rank Awakener who'd struggled on the 30th floor and ended up getting kicked out of his guild.
For a pathetic loser like that to act this way toward him after just two years apart? Unthinkable.
He needed to knock some sense into the guy.
"Jin-ho, it's been a while. Time for a little attitude adjustment."
Lee Soo-chan grabbed Park Jin-ho's shoulder hard and yanked him close.
Then he channeled mana into his grip and squeezed.
The kind of force that would've had Park screaming and collapsing to the floor back in the day.
Perfect for a reunion greeting.
But then something incomprehensible unfolded right before his eyes.
"Well, now?"
Park Jin-ho was withstanding his strength. Without so much as a flinch of pain.
How the hell... Did this punk actually get stronger?
No way his stats went up. An Elixir was the kind of item he'd never afford, even if he sold his soul.
Then what other reason could there—
As Lee Soo-chan racked his brain in confusion, Park Jin-ho jerked his chin toward the space behind him.
"That's enough. Unless you want to get kicked out yourself."
Lee Soo-chan whipped around reflexively. A staffer overseeing the second floor was glaring at them, face stiff with disapproval.
He'd thrown out that cocky line earlier about getting demoted to another branch for being low-class, but causing a scene on the VIP floor would definitely land him on the blacklist. A headache waiting to happen.
"...Hah."
Lee Soo-chan swallowed his boiling rage and released Park Jin-ho's shoulder.
"Fine. No point wasting my energy on trash like you."
He forced the corners of his mouth up into his usual laid-back smile.
Or at least pretended to. All the while suppressing the mix of shock and humiliation churning inside, acting like nothing was wrong.
Park Jin-ho brushed off his shoulder with his other hand and met Lee Soo-chan's gaze.
It was strange. This guy was still an A-rank Awakener he couldn't beat yet, but the old gut-wrenching fear was gone.
He couldn't fathom why his past self had groveled to a piece of garbage like this.
Then, naturally, one face popped into Park Jin-ho's mind.
The big brother he truly admired.
All these changes had to stem from meeting him.
"Good call. I've let the unpaid wages slide, even the contract tampering."
A smirk tugged at one corner of Park Jin-ho's mouth.
"I'll overlook this rude bullshit too. Just stay the hell out of my way from now on."
Lee Soo-chan's face twisted viciously at those words, opening his mouth to retort—but Park Jin-ho had already turned and walked off into the distance.
"...This motherfucker dares ignore me?"
Storming out of the Awakener shop, Lee Soo-chan slammed his car door and spat curses.
"The bastard who used to tremble at the sight of me..."
What the hell had happened in two years for that worthless shit to talk to him like that?
"...Did he actually chug an Elixir or something?"
Lee Soo-chan shook his head quickly. Elixirs were top-tier items no Agency-affiliated Awakener could buy, even scrimping for two years straight.
If not that... then something illegal?
A slimy grin crept across Lee Soo-chan's lips.
If he's tangled up in something shady...
He'd have the perfect excuse to crush that smug face.
Lee Soo-chan dialed a Agency staffer he was tight with—a connection built on plenty of backroom favors.
"Hey, it's me. Got a B-rank Awakener named Park Jin-ho on your end? Check him out for me."
Soon, a bombshell came through the receiver.
"What? Say that again."
- Yeah, it's weird. He suddenly cleared up to the 32nd floor in the last few days.
"32nd floor...?"
B-ranks were generally capped at 30. Breaking past to 32 without special gear or items? Impossible.
"Any item purchase history or support records?"
Tap tap tap. Keyboard clacks echoed.
- Huh? Nothing.
"Nothing?"
- Yeah, just some potions and gear worth a few million won. Super suspicious. No way that jumps you floors like this.
Lee Soo-chan's grin stretched ear to ear.
I knew it!
Stronger without buys or aid?
One hundred percent dirty dealings.
"Where's this guy live now?"
- Uh, big bro... That's personal info leak territory...
"What, we're strangers now? And spilling his transaction logs earlier wasn't?"
- Haha, fair point. Hang on. You get this means my head's on the line, right?
Lee Soo-chan jotted the address, hung up, and immediately called someone else.
"Yo, it's me. Got a job. Sending address and details—dig up everything on this guy. Something's off. Miss nothing, not even the small stuff."
Call ended, he tossed his phone onto the passenger seat.
That sinister smirk refused to fade.
"Heh heh heh... Fucking idiot. Should've known better than to mouth off."
Lee Soo-chan turned the key, blissfully unaware of the shitstorm coming his way.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Han Jeong-woo examined the ticket clutched in his hand as he exited the Tower.
Similar size to the Skill Enhancement Ticket, but a different color.
This one was pitch black all over.
"Gate Creation Ticket?"
Did using this really spawn a Gate?
Hard to buy it.
Gates were enigmatic realms beyond human understanding, right up there with the Tower.
The idea of conjuring one at will? Insane.
Han Jeong-woo stared intently at the jet-black ticket.
Suddenly, Choi Jin-il's words on the national top-secret intel flashed through his mind.
"The Tower's collapse... is when the condensed mana inside exceeds its limits and explodes..."
And Gates spawned from the Tower's mana influence.
"So... Gates are outlets that vent the Tower's mana before it can explode?"
Just like that, scattered puzzle pieces in his head clicked into a full picture.
The unprecedented events rocking Korea lately.
The Tower Climb Grace Period extension.
Had to be because of his Gate clears.
"Then this ticket..."
A chill raced up Han Jeong-woo's spine; he held his breath without realizing.
"An item that extends the Tower Climb Grace Period...?"
As Han Jeong-woo suspected, the ticket was no ordinary item.
The moment word got out, it'd turn the world upside down—an item that interfered with the Tower system itself.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Gate Creation Ticket stored in inventory. Han Jeong-woo stowed the ticket in the world's safest spot: his inventory.
No doubt an incredible item, but he had no immediate use for it.
Clearing to the 55th floor before the grace period ended? Plenty of time.
As he went to close the inventory window, a great idea for the ticket hit him.
"Wait... Why not just sell it?"
No "bound" tag next to the name.
Meaning it could be traded to others.
A Grace Period extender like this? One-of-a-kind, worth whatever the buyer could pay.
"Sell it for cash, buy items, sacrifice those as tribute..."
Mana Absorption was an EX-rank skill with insane potential, but...
Like with that 3-billion-won ring, it demanded huge opportunity costs. He couldn't keep smashing Choi Jin-il's hauls.
But cash from the ticket?
He could feed the skill until the rewards satisfied him.
Perfect plan. Han Jeong-woo dialed Choi Jin-il with eager eyes.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The next day, two visitors arrived at Han Jeong-woo's cramped studio apartment.
One was Choi Jin-il, the VIP Management Team leader now handling the Mutant personally. The other: Jang Dong-seok, Director of the Korea Awakener Management Agency.
"Pleasure to meet you. Jang Dong-seok."
A man in his sixties, one of Korea's top power players, bowed 90 degrees to a young guy young enough to be his son.
This was the Mutant. Korea's strongest Awakener-to-be, the nation's future incarnate.
As Jang Dong-seok bowed slowly, Han Jeong-woo awkwardly returned it.
"Nice to meet you. Han Jeong-woo."
"That... thing you mentioned on the phone. Is it true?"
Once the greetings wrapped, Jang Dong-seok cut straight to it, unable to hold back. Choi Jin-il's briefing had been that shocking.
An item to artificially create Gates and extend the Tower's grace period? Does something like that really exist?
First such item since the Towers appeared.
And the kicker: it came from Korea, not some superpower.
Leverage this right, and Korea's global standing would skyrocket.
America kneeling, China begging, Japan pleading... That day felt close.
"Yes. It's real."
Han Jeong-woo handed the prepped black ticket to Choi Jin-il from his inventory.
Choi took it with a tense expression and used a prepared appraisal item to verify.
"I-It really is a Gate Creation Ticket!"
Seeing Choi's reaction confirmed Han Jeong-woo's hunch. He nodded slightly, satisfied.
"How on earth did you get something like this?"
Jang Dong-seok's eyes bulged, wrinkles smoothing in shock.
"D-Director...!"
Choi paled, trying to stop him.
Asking an Awakener about their abilities? The ultimate taboo.
Even for the Agency Director, no exceptions.
"Ah, my apologies. Forgive my rudeness."
Jang Dong-seok realized his gaffe, coughed, and straightened up.
"It's fine."
Han Jeong-woo replied calmly.
"Can't reveal the details, but I trusted the Agency enough to tell you. I'd appreciate taking it in good faith."
Jang Dong-seok nodded vigorously in admiration.
Unlike other Awakeners, no arrogance... Personality checks out too.
This 'Mutant' kid looked better by the second.
Likable personality, plus the power to elevate Korea overnight.
Full Agency support was already greenlit, but Jang wanted to do more.
"We'll secure the highest possible price. Of course! Your identity stays hidden from the world."
"Appreciate it."
After a brief thanks, Han Jeong-woo added,
"Oh, and cash isn't the only option. Items of similar value work too."
Choi flinched at "items."
"Wh-Why items...?"
"Haha, trade secret."
"S-Sorry..."
"No worries. That should cover it."
As the meeting wound down, Jang Dong-seok cautiously broached his second reason for coming.
"If it's not too rude... Any Tower climb plans...?"
Han Jeong-woo nailed the intent.
"You mean the 55th floor?"
"...Yes. We're not worried, but with the nation's fate on the line..."
Desperation laced the question. Han Jeong-woo met Jang Dong-seok's eyes confidently.
"Don't worry. I can clear the 55th floor well within time."
No bluff. With his EX-rank ability and new EX-rank skill?
Child's play.
"As expected...! We'll trust you completely!"
Han Jeong-woo's unshakable confidence.
Jang Dong-seok felt the crushing worries of years melt away like snow.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Back at the Agency, Choi Jin-il fired off a top-secret auction notice to governments worldwide.
Auction for the 'Tower Grace Period extension item.'
All traces of origin or the 'Mutant's identity? Sealed tight.
Responses flooded in soon after.
Choi burst into the Director's office, stunned.
"D-Director! It's chaos! All 30+ countries we notified—they'll do anything to buy that item...!"
Hearing the report, Jang Dong-seok grinned ear to ear, unable to hide his thrill.
"Perfect! Start the auction now!"
Korea, once a weakling nation.
From today, no one would dare look down on it again.