Chapter 69
Chapter 69
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 69
Chapter Title: Geo Guild's Meteoric Rise
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Geo Guild could become the hope of the new era...
Geo's item technology—the key to conquering Black Gates?
Ever since the Gwangju Black Gate incident, Geo Guild's status had skyrocketed without limit.
Its stock price had pierced the ceiling and kept climbing, and players were already lining up to join as new recruits.
It was only natural. Aside from Go Yohan and the force called 'Shins,' no one in Korea had conquered a Black Gate.
Especially the Gwangju one, cleared with casualties so low it could be called a great victory.
-Geo.
-Geo!
-Geo is the future. Don't fear Black Gates. They're hell, but also lands of opportunity. Isn't growing through hell the player's way of life?
The media, variety shows, the internet—Geo was everywhere, the stories never ending.
"Kahaha!"
Geo Guild's vice-guild master, Choi Ji-un, burst into wild laughter.
"Hyung-nim! Hyung-nim!"
Choi Ji-un was also Choi Geo's younger brother.
"The stock price jumped tenfold! It's still surging like mad!"
Choi Ji-un, who held a massive stake in Geo Guild, had seen his wealth multiply dozens of times over.
"And besides..."
The changes sweeping Geo Guild couldn't even be compared to winning the lottery.
"They're calling us one of the top ten guilds already."
Top ten guilds.
"......"
That had been Geo Guild's dream.
Sure, they held one seat among the top hundred guilds, but in narrow Korea, a hundred wasn't all that impressive.
But if they could count on one hand...
"It won't be long before we're called one of the big three."
Three fingers.
And after that...
"We might even snag that holy bastard's spot!"
They could claim the number one position, couldn't they?
The shift in Geo's fortunes was that dramatic.
On top of that, the Association was showing full support for Geo, and even the politicians were taking interest.
"Hyung-nim, why the long face?"
Choi Ji-un asked Choi Geo, whose expression remained stiff amid all this joy.
Number one in Korea—that was the dream not just for him, but for his brother Choi Geo too.
"...That damn brat."
"Who? You mean Go Yohan?"
"Yeah."
Even amid Geo Guild's explosive growth, he wasn't happy because...
'Boring.'
'My warning was exactly that.'
Go Yohan's words from that day were burned into his mind like a brand, refusing to fade.
"Why worry so much? He's just a punk in the end. You saw him, right?"
Choi Ji-un had been there that day too.
"He backed off whimpering like a beaten dog."
Choi Geo looked at Choi Ji-un with a smirk.
"Shut your mouth."
"...Hyung-nim?"
His one and only brother. The hypothesis that player awakening's secret lay in blood turned out true—they'd awakened side by side and grown together.
They'd built Geo Guild, and he'd even become vice-guild master.
'But Ji-un's vessel only goes that far.'
His skills were fine, but he lacked what mattered most to a player—no, to a predator.
"Instinct..."
Instinct.
"You're going on about vague hunches again?"
"My instincts are bad."
"...You said the same last time."
Choi Ji-un spoke with clear dissatisfaction.
"When 'they' offered to help, you said your instincts were bad. And look what happened. The stock pierced the heavens, and Geo's name is spreading across Korea—no, the whole world."
They.
"......"
The ones who'd handed over those items to Geo Guild.
Of course, it wasn't free.
'It's an investment. An experiment too.'
They weren't any faction or organization.
They'd shown up out of nowhere at Geo and made an offer impossible to refuse.
'If you're worried, just check. There won't be any issues.'
His instincts screamed no, but in the end, he'd had no choice but to accept.
And the results were beyond imagination, just as Choi Ji-un said.
"Even Renel judged them not evil, right? Goldian and Renel have handled all evil item judgments so far."
Choi Ji-un spoke as if exasperated.
"You're too paranoid, hyung-nim. That's why we can't climb higher! We have to seize opportunities when they come! This time..."
A ripple.
"I'm right."
"...Yeah."
Choi Geo nodded in the end.
"It must be. It has to be."
But that nagging unease showed no sign of lifting.
*
*
*
A few more Black Gates opened in Korea.
It wasn't strange—Black Gates opening where Go Yohan was happened inevitably.
It was Go Yohan who'd used his Divine Sight to focus their invasion on Korea.
In the meantime, Geo Guild succeeded in conquering another Black Gate.
This one solo, with those items proving key once more.
And those items of theirs.
'Blessed gear.'
People called them blessed gear.
The opposite of evil items dubbed cursed; items infused with blessings that could stand against demons.
Go Yohan had conquered most gates alongside the Sanctuary Union.
-Divine has succeeded in conquering a Black Gate.
Even Divine had succeeded against a Black Gate.
And.
-Another 'divine.'
A new star.
-Biren Guild. In contrast to the divine who conquered this Black Gate, the new guild Biren has succeeded in conquering a Black Gate.
-They're a new guild made of a small elite force...
-Rumored to consist of ten players with hidden classes, drawing massive attention.
In this age of chaos, new heroes emerging wasn't odd.
For instance, in Southeast Asia, some had conquered a Black Gate at great cost—true heroes worthy of the name.
"Spirit-related, they say."
Yoon Seung-ah said.
"All ten in Biren Guild have hidden classes tied to spirits."
Spirits...
"Yeah?"
Go Yohan showed no particular reaction.
-Go Yohan, was it Greed?
-The theory that Go Yohan's power stems from Black Gates is gaining traction.
Even with the sharp public backlash after Geo and Biren's rise, Go Yohan remained unfazed.
"...No anomalies."
Yoon Seung-ah spoke with frustration.
If only there were proof linking them to demons, he could sweep them away.
No signs of evil items or demon breeds with them.
"...I'll report if anything new comes up."
Frustrating, but Go Yohan said to leave them be, so she did.
Of course.
"......"
It wasn't that she didn't trust him.
She could guess at Go Yohan's intentions and grand design.
Just.
'Hard to stomach.'
It was hard leaving those slandering Go Yohan alone.
"Oh, and Seung-ah."
"Yes?"
"Pass it to Biren too."
"......"
Go Yohan spoke with a dry expression.
"I did warn you clearly."
"...Understood."
*
*
*
Geo and Biren, the two new divines, began exerting massive influence.
The Church, with its solid foothold in Korea.
"Our affiliated guilds and companies are shifting attitudes."
Even they started to waver.
Of course.
"No defectors or apostates from Sanctuary Union."
Yoo Baek—whose status among the faithful had soared after conquering the last Black Gate with Go Yohan—reported.
"Of course not."
And before him stood Greed.
Back from overseas business, she wore a more sinister smile, having grown a bit stronger.
"Their betrayal isn't 'permitted.'"
Nod.
Yoo Baek nodded as if it were obvious.
Sanctuary Union would never betray the Church, or Go Yohan.
The same went for those in the Temple.
'That's how it's set.'
No complaints.
All who were called faithful had chosen it willingly.
"Human hearts are like reeds, after all."
Greed's smile grew even more sinister.
"...Do you know what 'His' intentions are?"
Among the faithful, few could face Go Yohan casually.
It wasn't his demand—it was an invisible rule they'd set among themselves.
"Not exactly. But I can guess."
"We could lose over thirty percent of our influence like this. Once it's split, reclaiming it might be impossible."
Yet Greed's face showed little change.
"...So."
Smirk.
She showed an even thicker smile.
"Shall we hear what everyone here thinks?"
With that, Greed crossed her legs and arms.
As if declaring no further interference.
"......"
Her appearance was that of a late teen at most, but all the faithful knew.
Something timeless dwelled within, and that shell was mere skin.
They also knew the Church's rapid global influence owed entirely to Greed's power.
"All will go according to 'His' will—and Lady Greed's."
"Not what I mean. Yeah. This is..."
Greed's eyes gleamed.
"A test. Anyone, speak up. What should we do?"
Test.
The faithful's faces changed at the word.
Less panic, more seizing the chance.
"That's how it's always been."
Then came a voice from the side.
"When farming, you cut the bad sprouts early for better growth."
"......"
Eyes gleaming.
"Losing thirty percent? No matter. We'll gain something bigger. And in war..."
"One reliable ally beats ten shaky ones."
Buyeo, leader of the guild called Shield.
"Our captain thinks the same, aye?"
Kim Cheon-seok.
The one incorporated as faithful after the Buyeo Black Gate.
"Exactly."
The faithful nodded to Greed's voice.
Kim Cheon-seok had been the bold one to speak, but those present thought alike.
Such mindsets, alien to modern thinking, prevailed because.
"Cull the list."
Of the power they wielded.
"Time to reorganize. And remember—His warning."
Greed rose as she spoke.
"We're not the heroes who'll save the world."
Right—we.
"We have to become damn villains."
Even if that ends up saving the world.
The faithful nodded, faces rippling with sense of mission.