047. The Dragon and Giant Merchant Diplomats Returned.

The diplomats from the dragon and the giant merchant had returned. I instructed them firmly: "We have ways to tell if that corpse is from a named monster or not, so don't mix in bones from other monsters or leave any out—send it complete."

That should convince them I'm not just buying bodies for display. No need to hide it anymore. For them, selling the alcohol to their upper class is the next best option. They couldn't pay 4,000 bottles upfront, so they paid 2,000 first and promised the rest in installments.

I'd already figured out from Na Jong-hoon that the secretary chief was a powerless honorary position, but I didn't realize they were so weak they didn't even know the military was storing a named monster's corpse in an underground warehouse.

"Civilian control is nonexistent there... "

The diplomat, a former military man himself, said he'd only heard rumors and never imagined they were actually storing it.

"Well... we're not much different."

The Union is ultimately controlled by the soldiers' force too. Still, I think it's far better than the extremely corrupt upper class in the Gangnam government.

Within the Gangnam military, there are war hawks—a tiny faction of hardliners insisting on subjugating the North Seoul Union even at the cost of war. But they're just a handful, and the elite's goal is to enjoy their privileges as long as possible in this ruined world before dying, not some grand national restoration.

"What do you think about pulling the diplomat to our side? He seems like one more nudge and he'll flip."

To me, the diplomat seemed deeply disappointed in the Gangnam government that tried to use him as a scapegoat. I could feel him starting to lean toward cooperating with me.

Han Seol smiled and replied, "In my view, he's already flipped. If you offered him an official spy position right now, he'd accept without hesitation."

"Really? Still, let's leave him be for now... If we formally recruit him as a spy and he gets caught, it'll be a hassle to deal with the fallout."

"Yes, sir."

"Whoa... you actually came. Faster than I expected."

The Gangnam government boldly sent both the Sun Dancer's corpse and the Obelisk's body at once. It didn't seem like trust in me—more like they were showing off their dignity as a legitimate government.

"Your Excellency, it's an honor to meet you. I am from the Republic of Korea government..."

"Don't care who you are. Just say what you came to say. Where's the diplomat from last time?"

"He had other duties, so I had to come in his place this time."

The woman who came as the Gangnam diplomat bowed her head and said, "I heard you're planning to display the Sun Dancer and Obelisk corpses at a year-end banquet. May we send a diplomat to convey congratulations at the Union's banquet?"

"Do whatever. But you're having a festival at year-end too, right? We'll send a diplomat then."

"Yes..."

"And I've changed my mind."

"Pardon...? Your Excellency?"

"How am I supposed to display corpses shattered into pieces like that? I'll just keep them as collectibles."

The woman stared at me with trembling pupils. She clearly hadn't expected me to openly admit I never intended to display them from the start.

After a few seconds of silence, Han Byeol glared sharply at her and said, "Do you have anything else to say?"

"N-no, nothing..."

I stood from my chair and added, "And if I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠find out you tampered with the bodies, get ready. No more alcohol or any trades—ever."

The woman bowed deeply and left.

"Mm, good..."

Fortunately, the Gangnam government hadn't tampered with the corpses—they were intact. The panel displayed a message: highest-grade items could be crafted from each, one from the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Sun Dancer and one from the Obelisk.

I'd only heard about the Obelisk—never seen one. It was a massive indigo stone shattered into 28 pieces. Creepy human-like faces were carved into spots on the stone, along with unknown glyphs. Piecing it together revealed a gigantic cylindrical structure-monster over 20 meters tall.

It had suddenly plummeted from the sky at the start of the gate crisis. At first, no one knew if it was even a monster, but when someone touched it bare-handed and rotted to death instantly, it was confirmed. It didn't harm humans unless touched, and with the world overrun by rampaging extinction-level beasts, subjugating the Obelisk got pushed back.

But then the ground around it began eroding slowly. No grass grew; it turned into black soil reeking of rot. Asphalt crumbled like dirt. And the radius kept expanding.

Judging it unsustainable, the old government military decided to take it down. Modern firearms did nothing. They tried ranged Special Awakeners to shatter it safely from afar, but it rapidly regenerated damage. They sent in Awakeners, but inside the radius, their powers weakened overall, bodies rotting as they died.

Still, the raid difficulty was manageable—they took casualties but succeeded. Now a legend among Awakeners, a now-missing old government soldier supposedly smashed it bare-fisted, staking his life.

"Romantic... Han Byeol, into the coffin."

"Thank you!"

Han Byeol knelt on one knee in gratitude before entering the coffin. For her gear, I chose the Sun Dancer corpse. Making twin dragon gear for the twins felt fitting.

After measurement, the workshop spat out a box. Inside was clothing similar to Han Seol's Moon Dancer set, plus a pair of dark red earrings.

"I'll step out... try them on."

We'd seen each other naked, but considerate about changing felt oddly formal. The other executives still didn't know about us, so we kept it discreet.

"All done!"

"Whoa... looks great."

Han Byeol spun happily at my praise, fluttering the clothes. The design mirrored Han Seol's almost exactly, but while hers had blue accents, Han Byeol's featured red points like the Sun Dancer's hide.

"Feels like this."

"What?"

"My body's way tougher, and my strength feels much greater than before."

"Good."

Han Byeol was already feeling the highest-grade gear's effects. With the twins in such cool outfits, swords at their waists, they looked unbeatable.

Next, the Obelisk corpse. I already knew where it'd go.

"Security Chief."

Han Eun-ji stepped forward and knelt.

"For your past contributions, I'll grant you gear. Into the coffin."

"I cannot accept."

"Huh? Why?"

"I dare not wear gear Your Excellency hasn't donned."

Han Eun-ji wasn't a flatterer. Her eyes showed she truly believed it.

"We've talked about this before. Just take ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it."

I couldn't make gear for myself either. Wearing named monster gear as a normal human would be insane, not luxury. I never fought outside anyway and had no plans to leave the barrier. Efficiency meant equipping subordinates.

"If you refuse, I'll just toss it."

At my half-threat, Han Eun-ji finally tearfully accepted.

After her measurement, the box emerged.

"Mm..."

"Oh my."

"It's like..."

Inside: indigo hoodie, pants, and one glove.

"Super modern..."

It looked like something young people would wear.

"But ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠why only one glove? Try it on anyway."

Oddly, the indigo glove was just for the right hand, though the pieced body had been a perfect cylinder.

"All set."

"Suits you."

"Thank you."

"Feel any changes?"

"Yes, stronger and tougher."

"Mm... good enough."

Then Han Eun-ji gave a meaningful look.

"But... something feels off..."

"Off? How?"

"Like I can do something..."

"What do you mean?"

Han Eun-ji mumbled about the glove having some extra function, incoherent. I took her outside the coffin to test on a rock.

She nodded at me, approached the rock, and extended her right hand.

"Oh...!"

The indigo glove slowly turned black. Grasping the rock, the contacted stone blackened, crumbling like soil.

I and all the executives gasped in awe. A power worthy of a Special Awakener.

"Why does only the Obelisk gear have a special function?"

"Huh?"

A new message appeared. I rushed to the workshop panel, executives following.

"Ah..."

Three new abilities unlocked: Equipment Inquiry, Equipment Reinforcement, Accessories.

"Earrings don't count as accessories?"

Earrings, gloves, masks seemed treated as gear parts, not separate accessories. Tapping the panel opened an Equipment Inquiry section.

"Interesting."

"So that's the system."

Obelisk gear traded one defense rank for a special ability.

"Amazing."

Even more shocking: those already overpowered gears could still upgrade. Every piece had innate special abilities. Now, crafting let choices between clothing or accessories—bracelets or necklaces.

Just like an RPG.

"Your Excellency?"

"Ah, let me explain."

The executives, eyeing Han Eun-ji's gear enviously, understood once I did. Still, they seemed to want special abilities even at defense cost, like hers.

"Wouldn't tougher defense be better?" Han Seol said.

"High defense is great, but more cards in hand wins fights. Especially against monsters immune to normal attacks—special abilities become essential."

"I see. Can't wait for the rest."

It was just a matter of time. Pay off the alcohol, adjust sales volume, and they'd eagerly deliver Six Wing and Dome Head corpses.

Han Eun-ji stared gravely at her right hand, murmuring, "Your Excellency, my right hand...!"

I chuckled. "What, Black Flame Dragon lives? Middle school syndrome?"

All the executives laughed along.