The Crown's Unprecedented Value
Is it... that good? The person who just commented on my post. They clearly knew something. Maybe a pro in the artifact or item appraisal biz. Not for sure, but worth poking a bit. I fired off a reply to test the waters.
"...Yup, definitely someone in the know."
Reply went up, and seconds later, bam—response. As soon as I spilled about the crown, they hit me with the option question. Had to be industry or plugged into the info network.
"Might as well equip it. If shit hits the fan, launcher outta there."
Figured I'd fish for more info while I was at it. Worst case, bolt. I'd already scouted the bypass routes anyway.
"Damn, it must be really good. Guy's straight-up melting down."
My reply dropped, original commenter vanished like smoke, and the gallery flooded with congrats from randos.
"Okay, so it's OP performance-wise, but why the total freakout?"
Scanning reactions: pure love and blessings everywhere. What the hell made this hit so hard universally? Still didn't click for me.
Performance good? Plenty of top-tier artifacts out there. Was it the early climb drop flex? Nah. What gives with the hype?
Right on cue:
Perfect—title screamed answers. Subtle rage vibe. This'd fill the gaps.
"Ah! So it's insanely good!"
Didn't read every word of that novel, but yeah—my crown was one-of-a-kind world-tier artifact.
"...Sell it?"
Glanced between crown and gallery posts. World-unique artifact... how much cash? Post even mentioned melting it for custom weapons. Crown kept smashing records.
Gulp. Imagining the payout had my mouth watering.
"Nah, snap out of it. Crazy talk selling this. I'd be nuts."
Almost let greed win. Not some moneybug—using this to climb the tower or whatever beats selling. Pathetic doesn't cover it.
Sure, it'd fetch unimaginable dough now. But goals weren't just endless cash. The tower. Summit of that mystery box. That too.
"Crown's mine then..."
Time to test it. Headed out.
"Should be empty now."
Killing time on gallery, sun set, outside pitch black. Phone check: past 9 PM. Tower guards probably thinned out.
Straight to the tower to test crown and mana stats.
* Seoul Gangnam, some office.
Unlike surrounding skyscraper jungle, a shabby little building—someone hustling inside.
"Team leader! Team leader!!!"
Balding dome from stress, bushy beard contrast. Kang Taejun, Myeongwol Appraisal Office team leader. Freaking like war broke out, hunting the boss.
"Ugh... legé... zhwar..."
"There you are..."
Frantic sprint, spots "Supply Room" door. Woman's sniffling from inside. Knows it's the boss—kicks it open.
Clang!
"Director!"
"Gyaaah—!"
Woman inside startles, tumbles. Han Sio, Myeongwol director, ex-S-rank hunter.
"Hey! Don't kick the door like that!"
"Director, you're the one snacking and reading comics in the supply room again!"
"Do you know how long I searched?!"
Sio snaps at the intrusion, but Taejun flips it— she's deflated. Why am I mad? Glares confused.
"Look at this!"
Taejun shoves his phone, exasperated.
"What's this... mean...?"
"Wh-what the hell?!"
Sio's face freezes at the screen. Familiar mirror—Aphrodite's Mirror, swindled to pay debts. Crown reflected, shining.
"Mana efficiency 50%...?"
Absurd text, ethereal glow asserting existence.
"And this."
"What now...?"
Sio zoned on screen; Taejun switches pics. Crown with butter cakes.
"That crown from before?"
"No, check under the crown."
Sio puzzled, follows finger. Gross blue glop, jelly chunks—puke-inducing.
Glances at Taejun—dead serious, unlike usual. Sio squints hard at screen.
Then—
"Th-that, what is that? Mana vapor rising?!"
"You found it...!"
Sio spots it—and why he showed her. Dire finances. Dreamt guild, but couldn't. Mirror gone, staff bailed. Clinging to "company" via old rep and scraps.
"Find... Don't let Association, rivals, or guilds snag it. Track the maker. Unknown alchemist—snag 'em, guild's mine, dreams too."