Sealing the Exclusive Treasure Deal
After slurping down some ramen, Mu-hyuk took a stroll through the neighborhood park. He still had time before meeting Sung Min-woo again, and it had been ages since he'd breathed some fresh air.
Arriving at the park right by his house, he was surprised by the crowd out for evening walks.
Mothers with daughters, couples, families with kids, even folks walking their dogs caught his eye.
"Hoocha."
He plopped down on a bench, arms crossed, just staring blankly.
Clearing his mind, lost in the moment.
It had a certain charm, not bad at all.
Bzzzzt.
If only his phone hadn't buzzed in his pocket.
With a sigh, he checked the screen.
PD-nim?
A name he hadn't seen in a while.
He tapped the message notification.
Nothing major.
A pause, no reply.
Bzzzzt.
Then suddenly, his phone rang.
"Yeah, hello."
(Haha, figured a call would be easier.)
"This works for me too."
(Just checking in, and I've got some questions too.)
"Like what...?"
(Wondering if you know anything about the Treasure Dungeon.)
Mu-hyuk's eyes flickered for a split second.
How does he know?
Caught off guard, he froze, no response.
(Want exclusive footage on the Treasure Dungeon, but no one's got info. You're a top ranker, so thought you might know something. Sorry if I'm overstepping.)
Relief hit—he'd guessed wrong.
"Ah, got it."
(Yeah.)
How to play this?
He needed time to think.
"Ah, my mom's calling. I'll ring you back in a bit."
(Oh, sure. Got it.)
He hung up, closed his eyes.
Exclusive footage, huh.
Weighing pros and cons.
Top ranker already.
More spotlight? Wouldn't change much.
Swap gear, and no one IDs him anyway.
That summon stat leak? Already out.
No sweat there.
Gangster Necromancer info?
Bound to drop soon.
No reason to say no.
And it pays.
Decision made, he dialed Kim Min-ho PD back.
Meanwhile.
After dinner, Kim Min-ho PD dropped Yura off and headed home, merging onto the road when his phone rang.
"Whoa...!"
He pulled over quick.
"Faster than I expected."
(You asked about the Treasure Dungeon?)
"Yeah, anything at all...?"
(I know it.)
Kim Min-ho PD's eyes bulged.
"You... know it?"
(Yeah.)
"How...?"
(I opened it.)
Lightning struck—jackpot!
He knew Mu-hyuk's style.
No intent, no mention.
"Exclusive contract?"
(Sure.)
Fist clenched at the firm reply.
"When to meet?"
(Now work? Gotta log in soon, run the dungeon.)
"Then now it is. Yeah. I'll grab stuff and head over!"
Hung up, floored it to the station.
For the contract.
*
Dialed Sung Min-woo right away.
"Yo, come out."
(Why?)
"Signing a deal."
(Huh? Deal? What outta nowhere?)
"Treasure Dungeon exclusive with Illusion's World."
(Whoa, for real? But why me?)
"You too."
(Hmm, yeah? Okay, on my way! Where?)
"Front of my place."
(Cool!)
Friend or not, no solo moves.
Could fester into regret later.
Sung Min-woo stuck by him through paralysis hell—real friend.
No hurting that.
"Hurry."
(Gotcha!)
Hung up, eyes back on the walkers.
Minutes later.
Screeech.
Car parked, door slam, pounding footsteps.
Turned—Sung Min-woo huffing up.
"Made it?"
"Huff, haa. Not late?"
"Nah."
Another car rumble.
Kim Min-ho PD this time.
Mu-hyuk rose from the bench, approached.
"You made it."
"Haha, yeah. Wait long?"
"No, all good."
Kim Min-ho PD glanced over.
"Ah, and you are...?"
"Nice to meet ya! Buddy from the Red Tower clear!"
"I see."
Eyes on Mu-hyuk.
Why together?
Mu-hyuk read it.
"Found the Treasure Dungeon together."
"Ah...!"
Kim Min-ho PD's eyes widened.
"Got it. Both of you then."
They hit a nearby café.
Three coffees ordered, buzzer grabbed, corner table.
Chit-chat till buzzer buzzed.
Kim Min-ho PD fetched drinks, passed them out. Down to business.
"So, Treasure Dungeon contract?"
"Yeah."
"Kuh, perfect!"
Mu-hyuk chill, Sung Min-woo buzzing.
"Proof first?"
Mu-hyuk pulled his phone, opened email—to himself—downloaded file.
Played: Him opening the box. Message popping below. Recorded clean.
"This do?"
"Plenty."
Contract slapped down.
"Sign first."
"No other deets?"
"Fine. Fresh content, Treasure Dungeon."
"Fair..."
Kim Min-ho PD explained via contract.
Mu-hyuk nodded—knew most. Sung Min-woo grilled details.
"Why tweak that?"
"Incentive was 1 mil per 0.1% rating bump—halved for you two. Shooting starts tomorrow, so..."
"Aha."
Done, copied at a stationer.
"Stamps."
"Good."
Kim Min-ho PD bounced.
"Heading out?"
"Dunno."
"Pork belly and soju? Been ages."
Shooting tomorrow—dungeon today meant backtracking entrance anyway.
Sung Min-woo probably hated that.
But Mu-hyuk couldn't slack. Knew the gimmick.
"Tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?"
"Yeah, with Illusion's World crew."
"Oh, yeah?"
"Dungeon tonight."
"Huh? Why?"
"Stuff to check."
Mu-hyuk's lip curled.
Soon after.
Logged in, Sung Min-woo party invite to Mu-hyuk.
User ‘Mu-hyuk’ has rejected the party.
Sung Min-woo tilted his head.
"What?"
"Told you, checking stuff."
"Yeah."
"No party. Enter solo—see what happens. Nothing weird, I'll pop right out."
"Hm?"
Mu-hyuk vanished inside.
Sung Min-woo sighed, stepped in.
"Why no party for a dungeon..."
Expected scatter—empty, out quick. Mu-hyuk followed.
"Again."
"What for?"
"Just checking."
"Sigh."
Six repeats.
"Whoa!"
Sung Min-woo recoiled.
"Wh-what!"
"There?"
Mu-hyuk waited inside.
Treasure Dungeon.
No party limit, massive scale.
Random spawns on entry.
Party? Same spot.
Mu-hyuk knew—but couldn't spill.
New content secret? Even dummy'd suspect.
Hence the test.
Lucky—six tries.
Figured ten, twenty worst.
"Tested—no party, same dungeon."
"Hm, so..."
"Chaos city."
"Whoa, users'll swarm."
"Risk-reward, right?"
"Damn, this content's nuts."
"No joke."
"Kills it!"
Users clash inside.
Strangers, no ties.
What happens?
Most ignore, hunt treasure.
Some PK no mercy.
Tension everywhere. Treasure amid peril.
Plus tough monsters—brutal difficulty.
"We're shooting, safe-ish. But not guaranteed. Crazy users'll pick fights mid-broadcast. Scout quiet now, no crowds."
"Smart."
"Dawn run?"
"Cool!"
They prowled the depths.
How far?
Chirrr, chiiiruk.
Tongue flicking.
"Ugh, what's that."
Human torso, snake tail. Spear in one hand, hundreds of wriggling baby snakes in the other.
Variant Hydra.
Level 128.
Skeleton summon.
Warrior, Archer, Mage, Cavalry.
"Spirit Summon."
Sung Min-woo's twelve spirits joined. Skeletons and spirits charged.
Solo Hydra panicked, flung mini-snakes.
Arrows blocked by shields, hit ground—alive, slithered free.
Under shields, coiled Armor Knight's ankle, crunched bone.
Crack.
Odd sound.
Mu-hyuk's face soured—checked stats. HP draining steady.
Fast.
Tiny snakes—hard to peel.
Ignore, kill Hydra quick.
Armor Knights, Bone Swords—charge.
Skeletons swarmed, encircled.
Storm, Powerful Arrow Shot.
Mu-hyuk and Armor Archers fired.
Thwack—arrow pierced hide. Spirits piled on, pressure mounted.
Chiiiiruk!
Hydra roared, hurled spear skyward—white light burst.
Light wrapped the snakes.