[The Truth and the Bait]

Checking if Seo Ian had emerged from the Tower was simple.

I just had to take a quick glance at the community boards to see if she was active. She wasn't called a "community ghost" for nothing.

After confirming a post she’d just uploaded, I didn't hesitate to press the call button.

"Ian, you bought it, right?"

If she hadn't, my 500,000 T.C. (including the short-term loan from Rackcho) would vanish into thin air. I trusted Seo Ian. From the early days when I was just a wandering merchant in a rabbit mask, up until now, when I had become a guild leader, I had never once heard the words "I'm not buying that" come out of her mouth. In her dictionary of commerce, only two phrases existed: "Give it to me" and "Give me everything."

[What? Ah, the 'Eyeball'?]

"Exactly! The name is a bit iffy, but yeah, that!"

[Of course I bought it! What about you, Benefactor? If you didn't buy it, you're no longer my Benefactor. You'd be a traitor.]

The tone of our guild's ace dropped lower than the floor of a cave as she spoke.

"Of course I bought it!"

[As expected of my Benefactor!! But did you see? The system says it's 'Indestructible.' Can't even dismantle it. Instead, it says it can be transferred once between party members who cleared the dungeon together.]

"Yeah, I saw that too. That's why I'm asking, Ian—can I buy it from you for 1 million T.C.?"

For the record, I wasn't being generous by doubling the price. Because of my Intrusion trait, I had received a 50% discount, making it 500,000 T.C. Therefore, Seo Ian must have bought it at the standard price of 1 million T.C.

[Buy it? Buy what? Just take it.]

"Are you... rich?"

[I have enough to take care of myself, don't I?]

"Still..."

No matter how much I loved freebies and discounts, this felt wrong. In terms of the T.C. exchange rate, 1 million T.C. was worth nearly 10 billion won. My conscience was pricking me too hard to just say "Thanks!" and take it.

[What do you mean, 'still'?]

"It pricks my conscience."

[Then just have the rabbit hold it as a pre-payment under my name.]

I heard Seo Ian’s soft laughter through the receiver.

[Anyway, Benefactor! When you meet Rian Carter, you absolutely have to take me! No matter what!]

"Why?"

Her sudden enthusiasm made me uneasy. In fact, since Park Siwoo had said he was too busy, I had been secretly considering Hong Jehun. I judged that if it wasn't Park Siwoo, who was as smooth as an eel in conversation, Hong Jehun would be better since he could at least remain calm. He was the sub-leader, after all.

[Don't want me to?]"

"A little?"

I said "a little" because I was afraid she’d be hurt if I told her I didn't want her there at all. But then, a roar of fierce resistance slammed through the phone and into my eardrums.

[Ah, whyyyyy!!!]

To protect my hearing, I switched to speakerphone and continued the call.

"Why do you have to be the one to go?"

[I need to ask about the level 111 class advancement.]

"What's that about?"

[I don't know. There's this really shitty thing. They say if you don't choose, you can't gain any more EXP even if you clear the Tower? I'm just keeping it on hold for now.]

"Oh, man. That won't do. Our ace needs to keep gaining EXP."

I had just found a reason to take Seo Ian with me tomorrow.

The next day, a small conference room on the 7th floor of the Association headquarters. A vast autumn sky stretched out refreshingly beyond the glass window. Rian Carter had already arrived with Dylan.

His blonde hair was neatly combed back for the official occasion, and his mysterious blue eyes were impossible to read. And, of course, that signature relaxed smile.

"A bit late, aren't they?"

Rian caught Dylan’s reflection in the window. I could see Dylan’s brow furrow slightly.

"You arrived at the meeting place two hours early, and now you're complaining that the other party is late? I truly don't understand your mindset."

Meanwhile, at that moment.

I was screwed.

"Ugh..."

I rubbed my face dry and stared at the "Work in Progress" sign with the red light glowing above the Association workshop. Right. Park Siwoo was in the middle of a job, so he couldn't come with us...

"But why Park Siwoo?"

"Ian. Do you happen to have a Litmus of Truth?"

"Why would I need something like that? That's what the police use, isn't it?"

There was no need for a long explanation; it meant she didn't have one.

"I was going to use it when I met Rian Carter."

"Is Park Siwoo the only enchanter? You can just buy it at an enchanter's shop, can't you?"

"Like you said, the police buy up the entire stock, so enchanters don't sell them separately."

"Then just crush the Association. You're close with the Association, aren't you, Benefactor?"

At the mention of the word "Association," a look of displeasure flashed across Seo Ian's face, but I chose to ignore it for now. I corrected her.

"Not the Association, but Team Leader Oh Wontaek. He’s our guild’s first client, and a budding prospect to be our biggest client."

Probably.

"Still, he's affiliated with the Association, isn't he?"

"If he's affiliated with the Association, wouldn't he be able to give us more things using the authority the Association holds?"

Seo Ian didn't answer. But her eyes clearly showed she was uncomfortable, as if to say, "That still feels a bit off."

"But Ian."

"Yeah?"

"Enchanter Park Siwoo is also affiliated with the Association."

"Ah!"

There’s no such thing as a lifetime job in this world. With the economic depression starting in Canada, even the "iron rice bowl" civil servants were facing layoffs. In other words, affiliation wasn't a "tight bond," but just a temporary "companionship" for mutual convenience and profit. Seo Ian had Park Siwoo, an enchanter, in her circle, after all. Seeing her slap her palm with her fist, it seemed she understood.

I called Yoon Jinki on my phone. I figured Team Leader Oh and Yoon Jinki would be together. Time was tight, and if I talked to Team Leader Oh directly, the conversation might drag on.

"I need a Litmus of Truth. Can you get me one?"

Three? Who is that supposed to be enough for?

"No, it's fine, don't come!"

"What's going on?" Seo Ian, who knew nothing of the phone call, asked.

"It's complicated."

"What's complicated?"

"Just trust me. Have I ever disappointed you?"

"You haven't, have you?"

"As expected, we must be destined to meet like this, right?"

In the small conference room on the 7th floor, Rian Carter stood up as we entered, approaching me with a friendly demeanor and extending his hand. I reached out to shake it lightly, intending to meet his gaze, but his eyes lingered on Seo Ian instead of me. A sharp, fleeting look passed through them, but it was quickly covered up by a smile again.

"Is the person next to you your lover?"

"Then is the person standing over there your boyfriend?"

Before I could even open my mouth, Seo Ian gestured toward the man in the black suit by the window and asked back. And when she caught my eye, she gave a triumphant smile. It was a look that clearly begged for praise, as if to say, "I took the initiative!"

No, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Ian. This is exactly why I tried to bring Hong Jehun.

Rian Carter’s eyes widened in momentary surprise at Seo Ian’s counterattack, which seemed to have popped out automatically without passing through her brain, but he soon smoothed out his expression and smiled slyly.

"Hahaha, I guess you two aren't a couple. My apologies."

Rian Carter made a gesture of reconciliation and reached out his hand to her, but Seo Ian ignored it and went to sit down.

"Are we going to talk while standing?"

At Ian's words, everyone took their seats.

"So, why did you want to see us?" I opened the conversation first. What they had offered was sharing information on floors above 50. But that was just a superficial reason, a bait they were dangling in front of us. They had to want something else from us.

"First, shall we speak casually? My formal speech is a bit lacking."

At least he was self-aware enough to realize that, which was a relief. After all, you need a notebook of errors to avoid repeating the same mistakes. And I intended to add a little something to his Korean formal speech.

"You can still understand it, though. I prefer speaking formally."

First, I’d clear his ears. Language is easier to speak once you’ve heard it, isn't it?

"Anyway, what were you so curious about that you specifically singled me out for a meeting?"

"First, take a look at this."

Rian Carter flicked his finger lightly, still wearing his signature smile. Click. A holographic window popped up on the table. It was packed with data on the current status of Tower climbing in South Korea.

"Is this data provided by the Korean Association?"

"Since it's possible to view records of other countries, I just made it based on that. And from now on, shall we use this for our conversation..."

Rian trailed off and placed a long bundle of paper on the table. The Litmus of Truth.

"You prepared one too, right, Uju?"

I had prepared one. The reason it was in the past tense was because I had used it to stop Seo Ian from going berserk in the hidden dungeon where Lumen appeared. And because Rackcho had chewed it all up and ruined it. I had tried to get another one, but Park Siwoo was absent due to personal matters. Other enchanters had already sold their entire stock to the police, leaving no inventory. The Association I trusted had declared, "We'll give you all three that we have left!"

Since I hadn't accepted them, did I have a Litmus of Truth? Would I?

"Ah, that. That’s the supply we’ll use for your side."

"Of course."

Rian pushed the paper toward us as if asking why I was stating the obvious. I stared at it blankly before looking up.

"Why are we the ones using this? The condition was clearly 'in exchange for providing information on the 50th floor, give a hint to the rabbit that you should enter the US first,' wasn't it?"

Who was the information provider? It was them. Then, who should be the one using the Litmus of Truth? Wasn't it them?

Rian smiled brightly, without a hint of discomfort, as if he had expected me to say this.

"Ah, that? That was just the superficial request for the meeting. My personal business is something else."

Seo Ian ground her teeth, saying, "I knew that bastard would be like that." Beside Rian, the large, rough-looking man... glared at Rian fiercely, as if he were hearing this for the first time. ...Okay, I’d confirmed that this wasn't an agreed-upon matter.

"What is this personal business?"

Let's hear it. If there was a Pandora's box, I was the type to open it.

"Personally, I have many questions for Uju. So, I’d like to proceed with today’s meeting in a Q&A format where we take turns... how about it?"

"Hmm..."

Actually, information on the 50th floor? I’d have to work hard for it, but it wasn't information I couldn't get if I did some legwork as the Rabbit. Even so, I was tempted. Not by the 50th-floor information, but by other information. The "Selection ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Trait" that appears upon reaching level 111.

For a moment, I thought, "But couldn't I just ask Seo Ian?" but... what if it was something like a second job advancement? The kind where one wrong choice leads to a ruined character route. Our ace, whom I’d worked so hard to obtain. It was too precious to lose. And now this person was offering me a legal right to ask questions?

The part I couldn't overlook was the fact that the other party would also get the same legal right to ask questions, but didn't that not matter much? The questions Rian Carter would ask me would be about the special floors. And about the wandering merchant, the Rabbit. If he were a bit quick-witted, he might even try to probe into the "plus one" mentioned in the hidden dungeon announcement, but all the questions wouldn't be asked anyway. Because I intended to exhaust all my questions and end the Q&A before then.

Since I would be using the Litmus of Truth, I had no intention of lying. It was a matter of trust. But I also had no intention of telling him everything he was curious about.

"Q&A sounds good. But I’ll be the one to end it."

I was prepared in case something else I was curious about came up while we were talking. Though it was highly likely we’d end it after getting the information we were curious about anyway. If Rian Carter refused? Then I could just refuse too. It wasn't like I lacked time, even if I lacked stamina. I’d just have to go around the overseas towers, even if it was a bit early.

"Fine. Let's do that."

Rian Carter readily agreed. He pushed the Litmus of Truth toward us once more.

"Ah, for reference, we won't be using the litmus."

"Because we don't have any" was the truth. But saying that wouldn't look very cool, would it?

"Why?"

"Because we don't need to use things like that."

At my words, a flash of doubt crossed Rian’s eyes. I glanced at Seo Ian and gave a triumphant smile. Look ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠at that, pal. This is how you take the initiative!

Of course, it wasn't just a bluff. I might not have a Litmus of Truth, but didn't I have Hawk's Eye? It was an expression of trust that I would believe them entirely, and at the same time, a subtle pressure that I could see through truth and lies even without the litmus. I had easily created a foothold to stand on the psychological high ground.

Besides.

"Instead of using the litmus, we'll ask the first question. That's fine, right?"

Isn't there a saying that the first strike is the best? Rian suddenly lit up his eyes, grinned, and answered that it was fine.

And so, I said:

"How much research did you do before coming here?"

I used an application of the phrase "How much did you find out before coming?" It was safe to assume this was a tactic to expose the other party's bottom line.

"Uh...?"

Rian, who had worn a look of uncharacteristic embarrassment, soon burst into hearty laughter.

"How much, you ask... If I were to state what I’ve confirmed and am certain of, it would be the fact that Uju is the owner of the Rabbit, and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the fact that Uju is the key keyword to clearing the special floors?"

Checking with Hawk's Eye, it was true. No, rather than true, it was close to true. Since Hawk's Eye mostly showed abstract states. Anyway, the keywords "Rabbit" and "Special Floors." These were the cores of the questions that would come out of Rian’s mouth from now on. Since I would be using the litmus, I couldn't lie. Therefore, I needed to pivot the keyword to "Hidden Dungeon" before any questions about the Rabbit could come up. After all, the part about the Rabbit was the most uncomfortable area for me.

That made sense, as the special floors and hidden dungeons were areas that applied to me and others. But the Rabbit was my personal domain, wasn't it?

So.

"This 'special floor' was a bit tough. Right, Ian?"

I intended to induce him to ask about the special floors first. What was I going to hear from Rian today? The level 111 awakening? Or the job advancement? Anyway, that was all I needed to hear. I wanted to clear up the information about the special floors, which foreigners had even filmed and spread, first.

"Tough? It was a piece of cake, wasn't it?"

"Ian...?"

I had just said it was tough. If you say it was a piece of cake, it makes me look a bit...

"Even if they saw it, they wouldn't be able to follow anyway!"

Ian shrugged! At her words, I saw Rian’s eyes sparkle and Dylan’s eyes narrow. In any case, it seemed I had succeeded in sparking his curiosity.

"Then, it's my turn to ask, right?"

"Yes."

"Actually, I'm curious about the special floors, but..."

I met eyes with Rian, who had his arms crossed. Seeing him smile, I realized without even using Hawk's Eye that he wouldn't ask about the special floors first.

"So, the ones who cleared this hidden dungeon were Ian and Uju, right?"

He threw out "Rabbit" and "Special Floors" as his cards, but then asked about the "Hidden Dungeon"? He was a man who couldn't be pinned down, to put it nicely. To put it bluntly, wasn't he a madman? I realized my question from just a moment ago had been wrong. My question, "How much research did you do before coming here?" He had answered by adding the premise, "If I were to state what I’ve confirmed and am certain of." He hadn't been certain about the "Hidden Dungeon" case, so he was trying to confirm it as his first question.

Wow, this guy. He sets up a premise like that and answers however he likes? I like it. I should use that too!

"That's right. It's Ian and me."

I brought the litmus paper he had offered to the tip of my tongue. The paper turned blue in an instant.

"Now it's my turn. What is the awakening after level 111?"

I asked the question that was the purpose of accepting this Q&A today, and which would be the key keyword for raising our ace.

"Wait, what is awakening?"

Rian looked at Dylan.

"If it's after level 111, it must be the 'Selection Trait'."

"Right, that!"

Ian immediately chimed in.

"It's, how should I put it—it feels like your traits are subdivided and strengthened. Let's say your trait is Physical Enhancement. Then, with the 'Selection Trait,' you decide whether to go for an 'Attack-oriented' path that boosts power or speed, or a 'Defense-oriented' path that strengthens durability. It's that kind of feeling."

I blinked, checking if Rian was bluffing.

Confirmed as true for now.

"Ah, to tell you a bit more, depending on that Selection Trait, some of the skills you're currently using might change, so you don't need to decide just by looking at the skills you have now."

I glanced at Seo Ian. She had a thoughtful expression, as if she’d felt something.

"How was that? Was it helpful?"

Rian’s clean expression, as if to say, "Of course it was helpful!", was somehow annoying, but seeing that Ian didn't immediately refute it, it might be pretty decent information.

"Yes."

"Then it's my turn. How did you clear the hidden dungeon?"

Rian Carter was curious about that place he hadn't been able to clear. Was it trait-based? His own trait was one that would never fall behind anywhere. Then, was it level-based? He would have entered when he was a higher level than Seo Ian, or at a similar level. Finally, was it gear-based? South Korea was known as a country that was sincere about pouring everything into their number one. Even if it were Hong Jehun, Seo Ian? There had to be something. Seo Ian "plus one." That meant Seo Ian’s contribution had been greater. Even if they could clear it because it was a party play, he wanted to hear the story.

His eyes, which had been fixed on Uju, turned toward Seo Ian.

"That? I just beat the crap out of it and it cleared, didn't it?"

Rian had clearly been the one to suggest speaking casually first. I had refused. It seemed Seo Ian had accepted it. But it soon concluded with, "Well, it's Seo Ian. That could happen." After finishing her answer, she brought the Litmus of Truth to her tongue. Blue appeared.

Watching that, I injected into my brain once again the fact that I had to ask very good questions so that such a rough answer wouldn't come out.

"Well, then it's my turn now, right?"

Seo Ian shouted confidently. Then, she suddenly made an "Oops!" expression and looked at me, shrinking back.

"...Can I ask a question?"

When I nodded, Seo Ian, who smiled fiercely again, continued.

"Continuing from the earlier question. Awakening, no, what should I choose for the Selection Trait? No, let me change the question. What did you choose for your Selection Trait? If it's hard to say specifically, just telling me the general direction is fine."

Seo Ian twisted the question so that a vague answer wouldn't come out, ensuring a concrete answer would follow. Seeing her trying not to fall for her own trap, I felt the corners of my mouth rise slightly because it was so like her, always hating to lose.

"Ah, it seems Ian has a lot of personal interest in me."

Rian grinned and pushed a business card toward her. "Contact me separately for personal questions. Personally, I have a thing for people like Ian."

Rian dismissed it as a personal topic. This was like a soft pressure to stop trying to dig into his traits anymore. But Seo Ian, who was selectively "oblivious," didn't care about such things. She pushed the business card placed in front of her toward me.

"Don't contact me personally; go through our Benefactor, no, our Guild Leader. So, what did you choose for your Selection Trait? If it's hard to say specifically, just telling me the general direction is fine."

Seo Ian grabbed the topic Rian had been trying to subtly avoid by the collar and dragged it back.

"I chose the Attack Trait."

Confirmed as true.

"Now it's my turn. How did Korea clear the special floors? Does Uju have some incredible skill? Ah, for reference, an answer like 'I just beat the crap out of it and it cleared' like before is problematic. No matter how much litmus there is, I’d appreciate it if you could maintain basic sincerity."

A question moving from "Hidden Dungeon" to "Special Floor." He must be more desperate for information on the "Special Floor" that would be coming next month than the "Hidden Dungeon" that he didn't know when it would appear. For reference, I had been thinking it was a question that would naturally come up, and I had no intention of glossing over the answer. In fact, I had been waiting for this question.