Chapter 107
Chapter 107
Mad Black Mage's Tower Strategy
Chapter 107
WOOOOONG-.
The sound of the engine came through the solid steel walls of the submarine.
With ears feeling stuffy, it seemed like they were descending to the bottom of the sea without any major incidents.
Nam-gung Rin, who had been twisting her body here and there as if uncomfortable in the cramped cargo hold, asked.
"But why do we have to go as far as illegal immigration? Can't we just receive a quest at the port and climb the Tower?"
At those words, Nam-gung Cheon firmly denied it.
"No, we can't. The competition there is fierce."
The 20th floor is a marine zone mostly composed of ocean.
Compared to the massive underwater city of Atlantis, the port of Ceuta is infinitely small, so the World Quests or climbing quests that can be accessed are only a very small portion of the 20th floor quests.
Because of this, climbers trying to ascend to the 21st floor are experiencing severe congestion.
They can't approach Atlantis, which is under isolation orders, and the few quests that can be obtained in Ceuta have literally dried up.
"Rather than competing for those few quests, illegal immigration is better. Considering our situation, it's even more so."
Competing with other climbers for the few quests is a very conspicuous matter.
An underwater city populated only by natives would be better for moving while avoiding public attention.
"And..."
Just as Nam-gung Cheon was about to add another word, Seo-jin snatched up the conversation.
"Isn't it interesting?"
Nam-gung Cheon also nodded.
"Right, it's interesting indeed. Why would we suffer up there when we have such fun content like illegally immigrating to an underwater city? For the first time, we're on the same wavelength."
"..."
While Nam-gung Cheon and Seo-jin were giggling and laughing, Nam-gung Rin let out a small sigh.
In the end, since they're both men, are they all the same?
Even that great Supernova seems to think similarly to her dim-witted brother.
Of course, this was Nam-gung Rin's misunderstanding.
Not all men are like that.
It's just that these two have particularly strange heads.
Just as the group was hiding in the cargo hold and cracking peanuts that Nam-gung Rin had brought to pass time.
"Shh."
Nam-gung Cheon, sensing something, put his finger to his lips.
Soon after.
CREAK-.
The cargo hold door opened, and someone's presence was felt.
Then the light of a flashlight illuminated between the cargo.
THUD- THUD-.
The sound of plywood creaking and the presence gradually getting closer.
Nam-gung Cheon took out a needle from his chest and threw it before the presence could get any closer.
THUD-.
An unidentified person falling powerlessly after being hit by the needle.
WHIP-.
Nam-gung Cheon threw a string to catch the person's ankle and pulled them closer.
"What's this?"
What was dragged over by Nam-gung Cheon's string was a man in a suit who had lost consciousness and was drooling.
Nam-gung Cheon rummaged through his belongings and soon found an ID card to check his identity.
"Hanseong Logistics? A corporate individual?"
Nam-gung Rin also added a word.
"Seems like he was dispatched for logistics management?"
The Sea Folk of Atlantis had cut off almost all human exchanges but continued to maintain logistics trading.
This was because after the appearance of climbers, inter-floor trading that the natives had never experienced became active, making their lives more prosperous than before.
"Why are we speculating among ourselves? We can just wake him up and ask."
SLAP SLAP-.
Seo-jin slapped the unconscious man's cheeks to wake him up.
"Ugh."
The man's mumbling, having barely regained consciousness, soon changed to a resistant tone.
"MMPH! MMPH!"
Before he could shout, Seo-jin stuffed a wallet into his mouth and spoke threateningly.
"Be quiet. Next time it won't be a wallet but a fist that gets stuffed in."
"..."
The man quieted down at the chilling threat.
Seo-jin pulled out the needle that had been stuck in his neck and waved it in front of his eyes.
"This that was stuck in your neck is a specially mixed poison needle. Without an antidote, you'll die within 72 hours. If you understand, nod your head."
It was actually an ordinary sleeping needle, but the truth didn't matter.
Seeing the man desperately nodding his head, Seo-jin continued.
"We have the antidote. And we want to enter Atlantis. Do you understand what that means?"
It was a roundabout expression meaning to help with illegal immigration if he didn't want to die.
The man thought for a moment and then nodded slowly.
"Good that you understand quickly. Then prepare staff uniforms for us to wear."
PAT-.
When Seo-jin released him, he hurriedly got up and rushed out of the cargo hold.
Watching that scene, Nam-gung Rin whispered carefully to her brother.
"...Did I perhaps make a mistake?"
Who would have thought that Supernova was such a cold and scary person?
She suddenly regretted choosing to maintain a good relationship with him.
Nam-gung Cheon shrugged his shoulders.
"Why, isn't it good that he's decisive? Thanks to that, we've escaped being illegal immigrants, haven't we?"
Right, we've escaped being illegal immigrants.
But you've touched Hanseong, South Korea's largest corporation, you fool.
Contrary to Nam-gung Rin's worries, Seo-jin already had a history of touching even worse opponents affiliated with Hanseong.
That anxiety was just a trivial matter.
***
"Hmm, the appearance is quite decent?"
Seo-jin and Nam-gung Cheon put on ties and checked their suit appearance.
What the man brought were suits worn by Hanseong's businessmen, made of special material that looked good while being comfortable to move in.
Nam-gung Rin also unwillingly followed the two and changed into a women's suit.
Alex, the man who brought them clothes and a deputy of Hanseong Logistics' 20th floor branch, asked carefully.
"Excuse me, who exactly are you people to do this to me..."
Seo-jin cut off his words.
"Look, who we are isn't important."
Nam-gung Cheon added a word.
"What's important is what you're going to do from now on."
Alex, who was completely intimidated, asked in a crawling voice.
"...Then what will you do from now on?"
"What do you mean what? We're going to enter Atlantis with your help."
At Seo-jin's calm answer, Alex waved both hands and expressed difficulty.
"I'm sorry, but if your identities aren't confirmed, the Sea Folk will refuse entry. It's not a problem that can be solved just by changing clothes."
"That's something you have to handle yourself, man. You know what happens if there's a problem, right?"
Nam-gung Cheon threateningly waved the needle in his hand.
"Eek."
"Don't worry. It's not like we're asking you to do it empty-handed."
Seo-jin took out a high-purity Mana Stone crystal from his chest and put it in his hand.
"If you sell this, it'll easily be worth several hundred million. If you succeed, I'll give you the antidote as well as several more. Let's help each other."
"...What if I refuse?"
At Alex's question, Nam-gung Cheon answered briefly.
"Simple. You lose both money and life."
At the proposal mixed with persuasion and threats from the two men, Nam-gung Rin also sighed and inevitably joined in.
She grabbed Alex's hand and looked him in the eye.
"Don't worry. If entry is handled well, there won't be any damage. Rather, this is an opportunity. An opportunity to escape from the cog-like life of an office worker and change your life. How long will you live trapped in a submarine, checking dark and gloomy cargo holds? This is an opportunity that won't come twice... you won't miss it, will you?"
Was he swayed by Nam-gung Rin's beautiful appearance and voice? Or was he caught by her magic?
Suddenly Alex clenched his fist tightly and made a determined expression.
"I understand."
***
Atlantis's checkpoint.
"..."
A being with fish-like gills where ears should be, and scales suitable for swimming densely attached to arms and legs.
Sea Folk.
One Sea Folk holding a trident stared at Alex and the three people standing behind him for a long time.
The Sea Folk alternately compared the hastily made ID cards Alex had prepared with the faces of Seo-jin's group.
Thinking their identity might be exposed, Alex hurriedly spoke up.
"Haha, these are new employees I brought in a hurry, so I couldn't register them in the personnel record. I'm sorry. We've been trading for several years, so please overlook this much for my sake. Please?"
"..."
The Sea Folk looked at Alex with a displeased look while pocketing the thin leaf placed over the ID card.
This was a leaf from a Golden Branch, a precious spice that couldn't be obtained in the underwater city.
Having pocketed the bribe, he glared at the three once more before opening his mouth.
"Pass. Let them in."
CREAK-.
The large door opened, and the submarine loaded with cargo entered inside Atlantis's castle.
Seo-jin's group was also able to safely enter inside.
The place where the submarine stopped was Atlantis's cargo unloading dock.
It's the only area where outsiders can enter and exit while the isolation order is in effect.
As if he had aged ten years, Alex stroked his chest and said.
"Now, now it's all done, right? Give me. The antidote and the Mana Stone you promised."
Alex demanded compensation as if he had finished all the work.
At this, Seo-jin and Nam-gung Cheon tilted their heads simultaneously as if they had planned it.
"...?"
"This isn't proper, man."
"Why, why? Wasn't it just about entering the country?"
To Alex's protest, Seo-jin said.
"Entry is natural. You need to help us a bit more."
Listening to the conversation with the gatekeeper, it seems this guy has frequently entered and exited inside Atlantis.
As such, he would know well about the location of checkpoints, security vulnerabilities, and major buildings within the city.
Moreover, if they sent him away first and he reported them, it would unnecessarily complicate things, so it was right to take him along.
"You scammers! I won't let this slide!"
"Be quiet, and guide us to the foreigner's lodging first."
***
A short while later.
Seo-jin's group, having arrived at the lodging, relaxed only after each being assigned a room.
Of course, they shouldn't completely let their guard down, but so far there were no problems and no following gazes or tails.
The identity of the logistics manager for a foreign company was more useful than expected.
"So, what will you do from now on?"
Seo-jin and the Nam-gung siblings gathered together.
Seo-jin, sitting on the bed, explained the future plan.
"If we think logically, it would be right to receive quests from the outskirts of the city where vigilance against outsiders is lax, solve them, and obtain climbing authority."
Although Atlantis is in isolation, not all Sea Folk would have hatred toward foreigners.
Rather, the isolation order is a recent thing.
Most ordinary Sea Folk would have favorable feelings toward the climbers who defeated the Kraken.
They just need to secretly receive quests, handle them, and exit through the submarine again.
But that wouldn't be behavior befitting Supernova.
"But you won't do it the logical way, right?"
Nam-gung Rin, who had grasped Seo-jin's behavioral principle in not too long a time.
Indeed, it was the insight befitting the head of an organization.
"You saw it well. That wouldn't be befitting of Supernova, and it wouldn't be fun either."
According to Seo-jin's memory, this isolation order continues for quite a while.
This becomes a kind of filter that adversely affects climbers' ascension.
Although the form is different, its effect is similar to Primgard on the 10th floor.
Then what Seo-jin has to do is one thing.
"Lift the isolation order and reopen Atlantis. That's this time's goal."