Weapons at the Peak (7)

At first, people in Korea had no interest in the brutal maze time-attack dungeon.

Korea had always hovered outside the top 13, so it naturally faded from attention.

But this time was different.

They marveled at the unexpected name.

That day, the newly assembled party rocketed straight to 6th place. Then, in the evening, American user Will provoked Korea.

That provocation only drew even more users to the community.

Content-hungry streamers and personal broadcasters sprang into action.

Everything Dictionary, with 2 million subscribers, condemned Will.

"Come on, guys, this is too much. How does a user representing America on an official stage say crap like that? Korean team, take first place and flatten his nose."

Everything Dictionary's livestream drew massive crowds.

Some said America's reaction was justified.

Ares's hottest expert channel, run by the so-called Expert Team.

This expert channel also boasted 1.5 million subscribers.

The most famous expert among them went live.

"As much as it pains me to say, snagging first place looks tough. A 5-minute gap is brutal to close. Think back to the endurance runs in the fitness test—races are decided by seconds or tens of seconds. Shrinking a 5-minute gap in a time-attack dungeon is no small feat. We can only hope our team breaks past 5th."

Credibility tilted toward the Expert Team.

Top Korean rankers backed the Expert Team too.

But then...

A massive shift rocked the rankings.

This mere text flipped the situation in an instant.

Everything Dictionary shouted in excitement.

"Guys! Korea did it—I told you we would! 8 minutes is revolutionary!"

The expert channel reacted immediately.

"I apologize for my hasty words. Many viewers want to know how this record was possible."

"Our Expert Team's consensus: Blacksmith Hyun must've crafted some miraculous artifact, like when he made a Legend above Legend. No world message rang because it doesn't for artifacts already at the pinnacle. And our Expert Team is thrilled."

"Because Blacksmith Hyun is one of our own countrymen, and..."

"I subscribed too. To Hyun's Forge."

Viewers realized it wasn't the time to sit around.

Everyone rushed to the auction house to hit subscribe.

But...

They couldn't subscribe.

To add insult to injury...

The next day.

Early risers who logged in successfully were stunned.

They couldn't believe their eyes.

The numbers were hard to fathom even seeing them.

Early morning.

Hyun-soo woke to a blaring phone ring.

After conquering the brutal maze time-attack, they'd decided to rest fully for a day, mentally exhausted.

"Ugh... hello?"

Hyun-soo answered in a groggy voice.

-Hyun-soo, it's your landlady auntie.

"Auntie!"

Hyun-soo snapped awake.

It was Kim Hye-sook, who had taken great care of him with side dishes and more during his stay in her two-story house.

-I saw you on TV. You're the blacksmith Hyun, right? Congrats! I'm so proud of you.

The landlord uncle's voice came through the receiver too.

-Hahaha! I told you—if that kid steps up, he'll crush it! TV's all about blacksmith Hyun!

Hye-sook added,

-Don't worry, we're not the type to blab. Haven't told a soul.

"Ah, thanks anyway!"

Hyun-soo looked puzzled.

I figured news would break...

But he'd been too wiped yesterday.

Checking Hyun's Forge subscribers or TV in real-time would've kept him up, so he'd crashed immediately.

No sooner had he hung up than another call came—his close buddy Ji-hoon.

-Kinda proud. Congrats.

"...What in the morning? How high are my subscribers now?"

-See for yourself. Congrats anyway.

Calls poured in from his doctor Jin-seop, nurse Ji-hye, and others.

"Why didn't anyone spill...?"

Puzzled, Hyun-soo flicked on the TV.

-Last night's Ares auction house outage lasted hours, likely due to global users flooding Hyun's Forge after the time-attack lead...

Hyun-soo bolted upright.

I thought top 5 would be great...

He'd challenged the time-attack for top-grade Oliharukon.

Subscriber boom was an unexpected bonus.

Well, 8 minutes is insane.

Hyun-soo sat at his computer.

Everything Dictionary...?

A quick scan showed tons had happened during their run.

Soon, with trembling hands, he logged into the auction house.

Last check: 7th place, about 1.7 million subs?

The numbers hit him like a truck.

2nd place...?

Subs had surged by 500k while he slept.

Mind-blowing.

Assuming a month-long plateau...

Subs trickle steadily for a month after a spike.

2.5 million by next month easy.

Gap to Black Anvil now just 500k.

Secure that, and Hyun's Forge claims Korea's #1 spot.

Hyun-soo smiled faintly.

That rundown forge overtaking the top...

He recalled the alert at level 300.

New job quest...

Hyun-soo logged in.

"Finally coming out? Held out long enough."

Special User Management Team.

Tae-seok, Ji-hee, and Se-jin monitored together.

Their screen showed an assassin infiltrated in Ballass Territory's lord's castle.

Information broker Kabel.

Unofficial ranker rivaling #1 assassin.

Famed for intel prowess, digging up all sorts.

He'd chased ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Hyun's Forge truth, reaching Ballass and uncovering it.

"Will Kabel sell the info right away??"

Kabel sold intel for top coin.

Hyun's Forge exposure—and risks—loomed.

"Probably."

Kabel's stealth was transcendent.

No one had spotted him yet.

Except one on the monitor.

"...?"

"...?"

"...?"

It was Bokdeongi.

Bokdeongi spotted the hidden Kabel.

His tail spun like a helicopter.

Snot dripped endlessly from his nose.

Then...

Thud—

Bokdeongi flopped belly-up before Kabel.

The three ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠watching couldn't help grinning like fools.

Ji-hee's face soured soon after.

"...Won't Kabel kill Bokdeongi to stay hidden?"

Kabel was ruthless, bloodless.

The team had seen his handiwork.

Se-jin shook his head.

"Know what grade Bokdeongi is Cute passive is?"

Bokdeongi is Cute.

All Bokdeongi's skills showed ??? grade.

Tae-seok chuckled dryly.

"No way... divine grade?"

"...Spot on."

Right—Bokdeongi was one of Ares's Four Divine Beasts, goofy looks aside.

His skills were all special, effects hidden.

Including Bokdeongi is Cute.

Something special might happen.

Se-jin said,

"That power sometimes mimics Hyun-soo's Lord’s Grace."

Lord’s Grace.

Draws people, inspires loyalty.

Slightly different direction, but.

Se-jin chuckled.

"Hyun-soo named him well, come to think."

Bokdeongi.

Bringer of fortune.

"We'll see how it plays out."

Se-jin eyed Kabel and Bokdeongi onscreen.

Information broker Kabel.

He'd been tracking the hottest lead: Hyun's traces.

Suspecting ties between Ballass reviver "the Teacher" and Hyun's Forge, he'd infiltrated.

And learned the shocking truth.

Hyun, the Teacher, Crazy Rookie—all one person?

Mind-blowing.

Kabel planned to gather more castle intel over days before selling.

Then he encountered... one.

"...?"

From the jump, it belly-flopped and gazed dreamily(?).

"Maaang..."

Ridiculous.

How'd it find me?

Made him question himself.

Anyway, Kabel deemed it risky.

He exuded killing intent.

Most fled or fainted from it.

But...

"Yaaawn..."

Pink belly-up Bokdeongi yawned.

Kabel was baffled.

Then.

Kabel looked puzzled.

Suddenly, an coercive force pulled at him.

What power is this...?

High-ranker's status resistance pierced.

(Unbeknownst to Kabel, it wasn't random.)

Bokdeongi is Cute note:

Activates only on those with special power.

Kabel qualified amply.

Inevitably, the force dragged him to pet Bokdeongi's belly.

Bokdeongi's eyes fluttered blissfully.

And a weird alert rang.

What the...?

Just petting a pup cleared his mind, energized his body.

And the "something special happens" kicked in.

Ding!

"...!?"

Kabel's greatest shock in Ares to date.

What... is this?

Walk this mystery pup once daily for a month, pick an owned skill to level up.

Top high-rankers struggled to raise stats/skills further.

And just walks? For a month?

He realized.

This intel's huge.

The reward-giver: this mystery baby Sigorza breed pup.

Sell info, crowds come, truth outs.

"..."

Kabel gazed at the now-snoozing Bokdeongi in his arms.

Can sell intel in a month.

Reward too juicy to decline quest.

Maybe more quests post-month.

Stay here, walk him for now.

He didn't know yet.

Like Bokdeongi's name, Kabel would bring massive fortune to Gwangmyeong Guild.