Chapter 59
Chapter 59
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Off to Steal Again Today
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In the past two years in Agas, countless stars had risen and fallen.
New users pouring in every day.
Rookies who blazed briefly before vanishing.
And among them, the tiny fraction of powerhouses still shining brightly to this day.
That was what top rankers were.
Talent? They had it.
Money? That too.
Luck? Absolutely.
Even fame and power.
Nothing was missing.
Either they were extreme in one area.
Or perfectly balanced across the board.
It was always one or the other.
Yet despite that, plenty of people failed to truly grasp how incredible they were.
Maybe that's why.
The developer, Yong Hoseop, had once addressed it directly in an interview.
"The current top rankers?"
"Each one is like a one-man army. That's how overwhelming their power is. High rankers don't even compare."
"One in tens of millions? No, maybe one in hundreds of millions. That's the odds they beat to be born."
"If they wanted, they could wipe out a small city. They just don't because of the time, cost, and aftermath."
The creator of Agas, famous for his brutally honest, fact-based assessments.
Even he showered them with nonstop praise.
Talking about their lofty realms and standards.
Truly one-man armies.
The top 100's abilities were unrivaled in Agas.
And that was just their power.
Their popularity and influence were at their peak too.
Users beyond rankers, enjoying celebrity-level fame in this generation.
Exerting massive influence in the real world and solidifying their positions.
Especially the top 100—they were global superstars spotlighted worldwide.
Take Rover Company, for example.
They'd expanded massively into VR and other industries in just a few years.
Now a globally recognized group and Korea's flagship corporation.
Every year, they selected models and spokespeople.
Their picks? Agas top rankers, consistently over famous celebs, drawing huge attention.
Their presence had grown so massive, almost no one was unaware.
That was top rankers.
And right now, such unrivaled beings stood before them.
"Out of everyone, why pair me with this flavorless guy?"
"That's my line."
"Still no sense of humor, no luck. Just living off your own hype. How are you unchanged? Impressive, really."
"You still think fancy outfits boost your worth? Talk about no cure for stupidity."
Bickering childishly like that.
'Whoa, it's Dorothy.'
'No way, Leon's here too.'
'Insane, two top rankers?'
'How does the grouping put those two in the same zone? Balance is screwed in this game!'
The Witch of Blazing Flames, Dorothy.
The Iron-Blooded Lord, Leon.
Both in the top 100.
Monsters where one alone was an army.
And now they were grouped in the same zone as everyone else.
So naturally...
The users in F-43 zone took the situation gravely.
One top ranker was daunting enough—two together?
Even if it wasn't a PvP event, their presence couldn't be ignored.
And Luke was no exception.
'Damn mouths of theirs.'
He'd hoped it wasn't true.
But hopes got devoured.
Not just rankers or high rankers—top 100 ones, no less.
'And they're not the only ones.'
Indeed.
Hidden in the crowd until now, but starting with those two, rankers were emerging everywhere.
At least three or more, just from a quick scan.
Less impactful than top rankers, but still not to be dismissed lightly.
'What, did they smear honey on this zone? Why are all these rankers here?'
He'd aimed high for the event rewards.
Now that seemed tough.
'If the reward system's like last year, top 10 starts getting good stuff.'
Event reward boxes with higher ranks yielding higher item grades.
Leon there had pulled a hero-grade Crimson Jewel from a top 10 box last year.
That jewel fueled his current red armor.
If unchanged, same for this 2nd anniversary event.
"Ah, I think I've seen those guys on TV!"
"Yeah, me too."
Deer and Rabbit stared at the top rankers with wide-eyed wonder.
Even newbie players like them knew Dorothy and Leon's fame.
"Heard they're top 100 in the game. Crazy cool, right, Oppa?"
"Uh, yeah..."
"Yeah? What's up?"
"Nothing."
Luke awkwardly changed the subject.
'They are impressive.'
They'd troubled even him back in his prime.
Multiple times.
Top rankers' level was sky-high.
'Well, I ended up killing both eventually.'
Dozens of times, even.
But he couldn't spill that to his sister and her friend.
So he brushed it off, eyeing them.
'Gear's upgraded since last time.'
Weapons.
Armor.
Accessories.
Some changes over time.
Tempting.
In his prime, he'd have killed for drops.
Regrettable, but now he had something else.
'Better option: Scout.'
Chaos from top rankers' arrival was perfect cover.
Pierrot flustered, Deer and Rabbit chatting away.
'Let's see...'
Leaving the girls, Luke crept toward the top rankers.
Crowd swarming for a close look, but he squeezed through.
"No questions, just here for fun. Thanks for the interest and cheers, but..."
Flaming red hair.
Glowing skin.
Tall, toned figure.
Flashy dress accentuating it all.
Brazilian Dorothy brushed off fans with a weary look.
"..."
Conversely, the blonde British hunk.
Red-armored Leon ignored everyone stone-faced—as always.
'Real nobility from a prestigious family, huh.'
Some badmouthed his personality.
Arrogant.
Disdainful.
Whatever.
'Fewer crowds than Dorothy, though.'
Good for Luke.
Blending into the masses, he activated Scout.
Thankfully, skills worked fine in the event zone.
'High success rate unlikely in this crowd.'
So first, check what items they had.
Stealing could come later.
But the window that popped up soon shattered his hopes.
'...All unidentified?'
He waited a bit longer, just in case.
But everything else was unidentified too.
What was going on?
These rare unidentified glimpses before.
All items unidentified?
First time since he started scouting.
'Identification then?'
He hurriedly identified one unidentified item.
It worked.
But...
The progress was worlds apart from before.
Abysmally low.
Glacially slow.
Like downloading on single-bar Wi-Fi.
'Dorothy too?'
Maybe just Leon.
To confirm, he scouted her next.
Same for her.
All blacked-out unidentified.
Identification crawling too.
'...Why?'
Reasons aplenty.
Level.
Stats, gear, skills.
But most likely? Level and stat gap.
'Figures.'
No greater regret.
Event chance to loot high levels, ruined.
"Hm?"
Sudden eye contact in mid-air.
Red-haired Dorothy eyed Luke, sighing.
"Can't do autographs now."
"..."
A bit later.
"Phew, finally calming down. Now, event details!"
Situation stabilized somewhat.
Floating Pierrot, sweating bullets, resumed.
Event field: Current Agas Land.
Duration: 3 hours.
Users follow rules here.
"No PvP! Accidental AoE hits? Zero damage, don't worry. Parties cooperate from entry. But ranks individual!"
Pierrot snapped fingers.
[Find the Wrong Pierrot]
📍 Location: Agas Land
⏰ Time Limit: 3 Hours
🎁 Reward: Higher ranks = better grades
Conditions: Pierrot Ornament 0/?
Spot-the-difference.
Or spot-the-wrong-Pierrot.
"Pierrot Ornaments only from killing specials! Shared kills? Last hitter gets it."
"Positions shuffle every 10 min..."
"Exactly. All Pierrots randomize across Agas Land. Like reshuffling cards!"
"New specials too?"
"Yup, random pick post-shuffle!"
Users' faces shifted constantly.
Tons of Pierrots.
Find and kill the different ones.
Shuffles every 10 min were tricky, but better than cutthroat competition.
'Problem is...'
'Yeah, that.'
Worried users eyed the timer.
Empty Agas Land filled with Pierrots.
"Kyahahaha!"
"Kyahahaha!"
"Kyahahaha!"
Eerie clown cackles.
Identical Pierrots wandering everywhere.
'One among them's different?'
They'd hunt those specials, probably.
"Now, collect max Pierrot Ornaments in 3 hours for high ranks...!"
Then.
"Simple. Just spam AoE skills, right?"
Impatient mage user cast AoE before start.
Craaaack!
Frozen ground.
Pierrots taking ongoing ice damage.
Mage smirked triumphantly.
"AoE with DoT! No need to find specials..."
But then.
Thud thud thud!
Decorative knives stabbed the mage.
User crumbled to dust.
Onlookers stared blankly.
Then glanced at the AoE spot.
'No one died?'
'High-level user, but Pierrots barely scratched.'
Unlike the eliminated user, hit Pierrots were fine.
As if nothing happened.
"Jeez, attacking before explanations end."
Helper Pierrot scratched head.
Explained the situation.
"As seen, wrong Pierrot hits cost 10% HP each. Penalty for blind spam."
"So the mage dropped instantly..."
"Yup, eliminated."
Not just that.
Mysterious Pierrots had high HP regardless of level.
Damage? Fixed at 1, any attack or skill.
Powerful moves? Still 1.
'Wrong hit: -10% HP penalty.'
'Damage locked at 1!'
Gulp.
Top rankers and some rankers had half-defeated users.
Now eyes gleamed.
Hope surged.
With these rules? Possible.
'Ornaments to last-hitter only!'
Steal kills from diligent finders.
"Ahem, once more."
Helper Pierrot cleared throat, shouted again.
"Max ornaments in 3 hours for top ranks! Higher = better rewards!"
"Wooooah!"
Cheers mixed with sighs.
Thrilled by surprise rules.
Rankers and top rankers less so.
"Go go gooo!"
Late start call—users surged in.
"Heaven, let's go!"
"Yeah!"
"Oppa, hurry!"
"Yeah, go ahead. Right behind."
Deer and Rabbit too.
Luke followed, scanning Agas Land thoroughly.
Then.
'Hm?'
There.
Mysterious Pierrots scattered everywhere.
LV.1 NPCs wandering.
'Wait.'
Steps halted.
Not monsters—NPCs.
LV.1 NPCs, no less.
Realization sparked a test.
'Will it...?'
He tried.
'It does.'
Worked. And more.
'Uh...'
Luke muttered blankly at the window.
'I can see it?'