Asymmetric Power (2)

Japan immediately burst into a frenzy of wishful thinking.

Some YouTubers and TV current affairs programs had already raised issues, claiming that Korea's Function had illegally infiltrated Japan's Magic Tower. But when Choi Junseok cleared the second floor, the situation changed drastically.

Even YouTubers and TV programs well-versed in player society and politics began reporting in unison that Function might actually be a Japanese player.

'Could it really be one of us?'

'No way… Maybe it's not Korea's Function at all. Maybe we really do have an F-grade irregular of our own?!'

While such hopeful fantasies blazed, Matsumoto Hirobumi, who realized it was Function's doing, clenched his fists tightly.

The information indicated that Function was still inside Japan, within the entry radius of the Shibuya Magic Tower in Tokyo.

'That's right! There's no way he escaped that easily.'

"Tag every single ant with an identification number and investigate them all!"

Police raided every hotel, motel, and lodging establishment, tracing all reservation records. The massive, fruitless search escalated to the point where excavators were deployed.

Even the Japanese Self-Defense Forces were dispatched, gradually tightening a siege from the outskirts toward central Tokyo. Vehicles, ships, and aircraft were all thoroughly searched, down to their cargo holds.

Japan was pouring enormous time and resources into capturing Function at all costs.

Choi Junseok, safely back in Korea, had no interest in any of it.

"How should I sell this… Tch."

His sole purpose for climbing the tower was to fulfill his petit bourgeois desires. This was clearly an item that wouldn't even appear if he tried putting it up at the Player Auction.

"The best option would be to sell it through the Player Management Agency, but…"

Choi Junseok felt reluctant. Risk going overseas for an auction? Using several intermediaries to sell it was another option, but he shook his head immediately.

'Too dangerous.'

"What are you worrying about so much? The twentieth floor?"

Lee Nayeon was as breathtakingly beautiful as ever.

"Twentieth floor. Right, the twentieth floor is a boss floor too."

"I see you're troubled by something else. If you were struggling with the climb at only the twentieth floor, I would have been quite disappointed."

Strong enemies appeared every ten floors. With SS-grade and S-grade summons at his side, he simply hadn't felt any sense of crisis.

"Come to think of it… How did that modeling contract turn out?"

"Ah, you mean that. Did Lee Nayeon not receive any separate contact?"

Given the circumstances, it seemed to have been delayed.

"Hmm… Once I dispose of the selective entry ticket I got this time, I'll buy you a phone."

"A phone. You mean a messenger pigeon crafted through electronic communication."

"Yeah, that's right."

"I would certainly appreciate that."

A subtle smile spread across her lips.

"Ah, before we tackle the twentieth floor, there's one more gift. I can't give it to you yet, though."

"…?"

Song Hana stretched Kkamdori's cheeks sideways while watching the two of them from the bed with an envious expression.

When the two stepped into the red portal Choi Junseok had summoned, Song Hana stroked Kkamdori and muttered,

"Jealous, aren't you, Kkamdori? Don't worry. Big sis will make a present for our Kkamdori."

"Ughhh…"

Along with the resounding hammer strikes, the Undead King's voice echoed.

"Haetaesik! Do you need anything else?"

At Choi Junseok's voice, the Undead King, who had been lounging in the cooling tub as if it were a hot spring, jolted upright in alarm.

"This one greets the Lord…"

"Who said you could get up!"

Smack!

The Undead King's body was instantly suppressed and slammed back into the tub. Seeing a level 64 Undead King knocked out with a single punch, it was clear Haetaesik was quite strong himself.

"Temperature control is critical, you idiot. How many times do I have to say it?"

"Grrrgh…"

Back when he used to climb to the fifteenth floor as a porter, he had understood why they called them E-grade and D-grade gatekeepers. But now, seeing this, there was something rather insignificant and cute about it.

"You came at the perfect time! It's almost finished!"

"It's… almost finished?"

Hadn't he said it would take a month? Even with the Undead King providing high-quality coolant…

"It's been a while since I worked, so I was enjoying myself. I picked up the pace a bit. Artisans tend to give conservative estimates on deadlines, after all."

"…Is that so? Well, I'm grateful either way."

Haetaesik proudly presented the sword he had forged.

The massive double-edged sword that had belonged to the enormous Balrog had been transformed into a slender, elongated blade with only one edge. Yet every part—from the blade and crossguard to the hilt—had been crafted entirely from what looked like obsidian, pitch black. A faint red wave pattern rippled along the blade.

From within Choi Junseok's chest, Yu Junhyeok let out a short exclamation of admiration.

"Excellent work, Haetaesik. Is the finishing touch still remaining?"

"As expected, you recognize it immediately, Sword God. The final step is to imbue the sword with a swordsman's soul."

When Choi Junseok used his Appraisal skill:

The only drawback was the level requirement of 155, but when Haetaesik handed the sword to Choi Junseok, a binding notification immediately appeared.

"Acquire it."

"There's no scabbard. You'll just store and retrieve it from your dimensional inventory anyway."

"True."

Immediately afterward, a warning window appeared, stating that forcibly equipping an item one could not wear might destroy the item. At least it wasn't a deadly warning about possible death.

Still, he managed to lift it. Aside from the tingling in his arms and the fact that it was absurdly heavy.

"Whoa… You're actually lifting that?"

Haetaesik's remark was openly teasing, but Choi ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Junseok shook out his stinging arms and immediately passed the item to Lee Nayeon. She was already wearing the Lionheart's Gauntlet on her arm.

"Then I shall gratefully accept it."

Swish—

She grasped it lightly, but her brow furrowed slightly. Pain followed.

"How is it? Still too much?"

"…It is heavy, and my arm tingles, but…"

It felt quite different from the Holy Sword Excalibur, which had tried to tear her body apart the moment it touched her.

'This much, I can endure.'

Her ascension to SS-grade had played a part.

She lightly bit her lip, then turned her body and the sword sideways. With a sharp exhale, she swung the blade horizontally.

Whoosh—

A tremendous gust of wind sent the lava rippling.

"Until you reach the equip level, the item's true performance will remain sealed."

With a hundred-level gap, it was only natural. In terms of the system, it was unavoidable. In fact, using a mythic item to offset another mythic item's rejection and reduce the equip restriction by a hundred levels was already an absurd feat.

"It is truly ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠an excellent sword."

Lee Nayeon's favor toward Choi Junseok rose another level.

At the same time.

North Korea, having received contact from China, decided to withdraw their second and third terror plans at this stage. This was all because they had obtained information that Korea might attempt to challenge the 100th floor of the Kaesong Magic Tower.

The most dangerous moment for a spy was naturally during mission execution, but changing locations, identities, or receiving new orders through contact points was equally perilous.

Word reached Korea's National Intelligence Service counterintelligence team that China had sent a classified message to North Korea, and that North Korea intended to relay it to their agents in Korea.

Team Leader Kang could also hear the news, as he was currently undergoing a simple investigation at the counterintelligence department. In appearance only, of course—it was essentially a departmental transfer until the case was resolved.

The counterintelligence department handled player-related espionage activities, information gathering, and operation planning. For the overworked Team Leader Kang, the news was like rain in a drought.

"It seems China heard that Function cleared Japan's Magic Tower."

"Do you know what came out of the first floor of Japan's Magic Tower?"

He merely shrugged.

"No reason I should tell you that. Besides, I don't know either."

"You don't know? Then why haven't you fulfilled your mission? Weren't you supposed to find out everything about Function's abilities and report back?"

Facing the unnamed interrogator from the counterintelligence department, Team Leader Kang leaned back in his chair.

"This is why Korea keeps getting beaten by both North Korea and Japan."

"…What?"

"Look here. If you're someone who handles information, isn't this basic?"

"What are you trying to say?"

"Do you know the best way to protect information and key personnel?"

"…"

"Eliminate everyone who knows. Make sure no one in the world knows. How can information that was never even mentioned leak out?"

"…So you didn't ask?"

"Why ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠would I slit the belly of the goose that lays golden eggs by climbing the tower on its own? You people think too much. That's why you fail every time."

"…"

"I strictly distinguish between what I can know and what I shouldn't."

"So that's why a brainwashed agent stormed into Function's residence and opened fire."

He raised both hands as if admitting it was clearly his mistake.

"Who would've known the Player Management Agency vehicles all had tracking devices installed? Ironically, that means Function's location wasn't compromised… so I guess it was half a success."

It was true. If North Korea had known Function's location and carried out the terror attack, they wouldn't have attacked with such a small-scale operation. If they had wanted to kill Function, they would have blown up the entire building and searched the rubble for confirmation kills. But they had only sent one person. That meant Function had simply been caught in a random terror attack targeting players.

In other words, North Korea still didn't know who Function was. The reason for that ignorance lay in the fact that fewer than three people in Korea knew Function's real name.

"Well then, back to the topic. Are you really going to let those beings—whether they're North Korean players or brainwashed summons—waltz out of Korea?"

"Haven't they already had more than enough time to escape?"

"…You really don't know anything. And the department most closely related to North Korea doesn't even understand North Korea…"

The counterintelligence agent merely frowned slightly at Team Leader Kang's blatant provocation.

"You can't even properly protest against North Korea, so you end up taking petty revenge on Japan instead? North Korea would love that. They'd jump at the chance."

"…"

"They're ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠still in Korea. I don't know if they're trying to withdraw now because they're wary of China, but are you planning to let them go?"

"Of course not."

Team Leader Kang stroked his stubbly beard and spoke.

"I think I know a way. A way to catch them."