Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: The Black Mist Sabotage
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“Congratulations!!! To think you conquered the 10th floor of the Labyrinth Tower!”
“Thank you for your support all this time.”
“Support? Nonsense...! Sponsoring the world's top raid team is something to brag about.”
“Thank you.”
Do Kyung-hoon flashed a bright smile and bowed toward the old man extending his hand.
It was Kang Hwi-soo, chairman of Pos Group, Korea's top steel conglomerate.
Even nearing eighty, his imposing stature seemed at least one-and-a-half times Do Kyung-hoon's.
“How can the world's top tower player, our very own Keruga, look so worn out? I should send over some tonics!!”
“Just knowing you're sending them is more than enough.”
“Of course, of course! It's the least I can do for my company's greatest treasure!”
He kneaded Do Kyung-hoon's arm with his thick hands, letting out a hearty laugh.
“When do you plan to reveal the items from the 10th floor? Just say the word, and we'll schedule an exclusive interview right away.”
The beautiful brown-haired woman beside Kang Hwi-soo was Choi Ji-young, president of S Media.
“Of course we'll do it. But as you know, we run thorough performance tests before any reveals.”
“Absolutely. We're ready to fit the Phoenix Unit's schedule anytime.”
“Thank you.”
“Thank you.”
Choi Ji-young smiled sweetly at Do Kyung-hoon.
She was one of the Phoenix Unit's sponsors as well.
...I'm exhausted.
Do Kyung-hoon scanned the room as he finished his greetings.
This party celebrated their Labyrinth Tower 10th-floor clear, but every guest was a Phoenix Unit sponsor.
Corporate owners, media execs from TV and magazines, heads of various organizations...
“Think we've done enough mingling... Ready to head out?”
Do Kyung-hoon said to David, his face weary.
Unlike the sponsors laughing and chatting, he'd had to entertain over a hundred people personally.
“Skipping the after-party? Chairman Kang specifically said to stick around this time.”
“Nah. I'd just be standing there like an old man's toy.”
His tone was sharp, a stark contrast to his earlier smile.
“You sure that's okay?”
“Don't worry. The Labyrinth Tower still has 90 floors left. They can't touch us.”
Having to pull this off another 90 times... that's the real insanity.
Do Kyung-hoon sighed and slipped quietly out of the hall.
Vroom—
David glanced at Do Kyung-hoon in the moving car.
“You did great. Man, the world's changed. Back when we were kids, gaming was just pure fun. Now it's all this nonsense just to play.”
He spoke as if consoling his fatigued companion.
“But we live like this because of the game. Just hang in there a bit longer.”
“Got it.”
The world's top tower player.
He was the envy of countless Evil Tail players, yet ironically, his own life was far from easy.
“At least we cleared it within the contract period... This month should pass without issue.”
“Yeah. We went all-in buying that dragon mana stone. Failure in the last try would've been... nightmarish.”
Running a raid team demanded unimaginable sums.
Healing items, accessories, gear, buff scrolls...
The cost of consumables for each Labyrinth Tower run was astronomical.
The Phoenix Unit consisted solely of Labyrinth Tower specialists—no production classes.
Even if there were, clearing the tower left no time for gathering materials or crafting.
Unable to self-supply, they bought from contracted clans and unions at exorbitant prices.
They wanted to break the vicious cycle, but they'd come too far.
Red Tower, Norn Raid, Red Bloom...
Other players were closing in, leaving no room to look back.
We're No. 1 now, but the gap's narrowing bit by bit.
Latercomers had time to address the Phoenix Unit's flaws; as true pioneers, they had no such luxury.
So they recruited more sponsors, leading to their current situation.
“There's only one way.”
Do Kyung-hoon opened his eyes and spoke.
“Get stronger, minimize failures, and clear the Labyrinth Tower faster.”
David nodded gravely.
“We conquer the 100th floor.”
Bzzz... Bzzz... Bzzz...
Then it happened.
His bag vibrated.
“It's been going off a while... What's that? New phone?”
“Nothing special. Just an Evil Tail app for checking messages.”
“Makes sense. You'd get flooded with DMs.”
“Can't ignore them, though.”
“You live such a tiring life.”
Do Kyung-hoon gave a wry smile and opened the phone.
“Heh. This is why you check every message.”
“...What?”
David asked, puzzled by his sudden expression change.
“Found an interesting guy.”
“Huh?”
“Remember the Black Mist?”
“That uncleared area near Baekhwagok?”
“Yep. Someone's trying to tackle it.”
“Whoa... Kinda funny no one's cleared it yet. Though you couldn't either, so...”
“Not that I couldn't. I just didn't.”
Do Kyung-hoon reclined his seat, a sly smile forming.
“It died down, but tons messaged me back then about the Black Mist.”
“Because you posted about it on the forums?”
“Yeah. Every one begged for more info.”
“5 gold per message... Newbie zone, yet loaded.”
“Most are alts. Bet half the senders are people we know.”
“Pathetic. Act all high and mighty upfront, grovel behind the scenes.”
David scoffed.
“So what's fun about this one?”
“First time anyone's messaged me like this.”
“Hm?”
“What the hell? Who does this psycho think we are?!”
David yelled furiously after reading it.
“No. He's right.”
“...What?”
“I made sure no one could.”
David looked baffled at the unexpected reply.
“What do you mean? Keruga, you sabotaged the Black Mist?”
“Yeah. Remember? We bought every ship in Baekhwagok to get there.”
“Right.”
“But you knew. You need the ghost ship for the Black Mist.”
David's face soured.
“Yeah. Damn Charlson... Still vivid. Wouldn't sell no matter what.”
“So before leaving, I took precautions. Just in case someone got the ghost ship.”
A smile crept across Do Kyung-hoon's lips.
“Why do that?”
“Who knows. I was young. Petty spite? Couldn't stay in Dark Forest forever. Hated some noob clearing a quest I couldn't.”
No way. Keruga, you pulled that stunt?
David thought, eyeing his vague explanation.
“So what now? Can't admit you ruined their quest.”
“Actually, I will.”
“Huh?!”
“And I'll share my final Black Mist intel. If they still go after that... they're the real deal.”
He eyed the sender's name.
“Khan...”
Then continued to David.
“That guy you mentioned. The one breaking my records.”
“No way?”
“Probably him.”
Tap—tap-tap.
He began typing a reply to Khan.
“Exciting. Clearing Black Mist means central continent levels soon.”
His face lit up more than at the dull party.
“Master, what are you doing?”
Luen asked Woojin, who stood on the ghost ship's deck.
“Waiting.”
“For who?”
“A reply from the world's most famous person.”
Luen stared, confused.
Ding—.
It's here.
Woojin hit confirm instantly.
“Hah...”
He burst into incredulous laughter upon reading it.
“What kind of nonsense is this wall of text?”
Woojin closed the window with a bored expression after reading Keruga's reply.
“Doesn't even answer my actual question.”
But he didn't need it spelled out.
Keruga did something to the captain's son. That's why he gave up on the Black Mist.
He did this on purpose...
Woojin couldn't quite fathom his motives.
“The key doesn't need to be alive...”
If you can't convince the son, kill him and take him anyway.
Not to his liking.
The guy who wrecked the quest was acting like he'd dropped some profound new hint.
“Telling me to kill him outright just makes me want to keep him alive more.”
Woojin sneered.
I'll figure it out eventually. Why he pulled this stunt.
Dragon or fox in dragon's clothing.
Though they'd never met, the two were beginning to take notice of each other.