Chapter 193: Veteran Corporation's Team-Building Event (Feat. Amusement Park) (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 193: Veteran Corporation's Team-Building Event (Feat. Amusement Park) (1)
The person waiting for Jinhyuk in the cafe was none other than the Empire's Swordmaster, Penheimer.
Due to the system's interference, the information that residents inside the Tower could know about the outside world was limited.
This meant that anything that might cause a sense of incongruity was filtered out, or their memories were automatically distorted.
Because of this, Penheimer was able to easily accept the world outside the Tower.
Clack!
Jinhyuk approached and sat down at the table where Penheimer was seated.
I heard they've grown into the largest force in the middle floors, but...
It seemed they had reached a level where they could lavishly spend enough coins to even venture outside the Tower.
By the way, seeing that middle-aged man dressed in a sleek black suit instead of armor really brings out his dignified charm.
If there were such a thing as a British gentleman, this is exactly what he would look like.
"I was quite surprised when you asked to meet here."
"Haha. If possible, I wanted to invite you to the Empire, but given the circumstances, it turned out like this. Thanks to that, I've been able to see the world you live in, Jinhyuk, so I suppose it's not all bad."
Penheimer took a mouthful of cappuccino.
"Mmm..."
Judging by his exclamation of admiration, he really seemed to like the food of this world.
Tiramisu, Mont Blanc, madeleines... he was practically hosting a full-blown tea party.
"You are paying properly for all of this, right?"
"Of course. When I gave the owner a gold coin, he rented out the entire cafe to me. It is quite fortunate for me, as I needed a quiet place to converse."
"..."
These damn bourgeois...
Whether it was Alice or this man, did they make it a hobby to collapse a nation's currency value whenever they had money to burn?
Jinhyuk felt a throbbing headache coming on.
However, what mattered right now wasn't how wealthy the Empire was.
The key was what kind of information he needed to extract here.
"So, I'd like to hear the reason you wanted to see me. Surely you didn't call me out just to have a cup of tea."
"You always prefer getting straight to the point. Very well."
Penheimer handed over a ring decorated with a gold dragon and a golden rose.
This is...
Jinhyuk's eyes narrowed.
They were the two symbols representing the Imperial Family.
"Is this some kind of pass to enter the Empire?"
"Yes. It signifies a gift bestowed directly by a noble, so as long as you possess this, you will be able to roam freely within the Empire."
Having this would certainly guarantee him a lot of freedom of movement.
However, it made no sense for Penheimer to come all this way himself just to deliver a single ring.
He could have easily sent someone else for such a simple errand.
Which meant...
"It seems Moorim is pushing in much harder than expected."
Jinhyuk cut straight to the chase, piercing right to the core of the matter.
"H-How did you..."
"I've already heard that Moorim launched a preemptive strike. Everyone probably assumes the situation is in the Empire's favor."
But the reality was likely different.
Even without seeing it firsthand, his long experience told him so.
"Amazing. I am almost tempted to suspect you have planted a spy on our side."
"So I'm right."
"As you said, the situation is not very good. A portion of the 24th floor has already completely fallen to Moorim. One knight order and a force of five thousand soldiers have been wiped out."
The situation was more serious than he had thought.
No matter how formidable the individual martial arts of Moorim were, they shouldn't have been able to annihilate such a large number.
Which meant...
"Did the upper floors intervene?"
This had to be interpreted as the intervention of a higher power.
From above the 35th floor—in other words, the floors where 'deities' and 'transcendent beings' resided.
"...It is not their intervention."
"If not, Moorim shouldn't have any card that would allow them to push this hard."
"Actually, there is just one more thing."
At Jinhyuk's words, Penheimer slowly opened his mouth.
And he mentioned a name that was, in fact, even more troublesome than the intervention of deities.
"The Heavenly Demon has ended his secluded meditation."
The Heavenly Demon.
If one were to rank the strongest entities in the Tower of Trials, he was undoubtedly one of the names that would always be mentioned.
A being who had cast aside human limits with a mortal body.
Thus, the path he walked was stained with blood, and wherever his hands reached was left in ruins.
A monster akin to a natural disaster, fitting the description of a calamity sent from the heavens, he was one of the absolute rulers who influenced not just Moorim, but the entire Tower.
And such a guy had finished his seclusion and emerged.
If he has surpassed the Transcendent Realm and reached the Nature Realm, things are going to get really annoying...
With a grim expression, Jinhyuk added this newly emerged variable to his plans.
Then, another question suddenly crossed his mind.
If the Heavenly Demon really has appeared, there's no point in telling me about it.
There was no way they would entrust a task that required the mobilization of all the Empire's swordmasters and royal mages to a mere player.
No matter how much a player flew and crawled, they were still far from matching the level of the residents.
Ultimately, this meant Penheimer's visit here had nothing to do with the Heavenly Demon.
He was giving out various pieces of information under the guise of being verbose, but what he was actually aiming for...
Ah, I see.
Something flashed through Jinhyuk's mind like lightning.
Now he understood.
What Penheimer wanted to verify was how Jinhyuk would use these fragments of information to deduce a conclusion.
He was testing Jinhyuk's information-gathering ability, analytical skills, and even whether Jinhyuk could realize he was being tested.
Though he didn't know the exact reason yet, the fact that Penheimer was putting in this much effort meant there was a heavy underlying circumstance.
The corners of Jinhyuk's mouth curled upward.
"I think that's enough testing. Let me ask you one last thing. What is the real reason you wanted to meet me?"
"...Hahahahaha! As expected, coming to see you was the right decision, Jinhyuk."
Penheimer burst into a hearty laugh.
But it was only for a brief moment.
The words that followed his laughter carried a desperate sincerity, more than ever before.
"It is true that a war has broken out, and it is true that the Heavenly Demon has appeared. However, those are matters we must resolve on our end. What I wish to ask of you, Jinhyuk, is to weed out the spy within our ranks."
"A... spy?"
"Yes. Someone is colluding with Moorim. They are subtly leaking internal information. And judging by the level of the leaked information, it is highly likely that someone in a very high position is involved."
This was turning into quite a tangled web.
If I play my cards right, this could turn into a very interesting game...
He had a rough idea of which side had betrayed the Imperial Family.
This was thanks to his diligent study of the Empire, to the point where he could recite its history year by year from its founding to the present.
"If I agree to do this, what can the Empire offer me in return?"
"Support in the middle floors... and the fastest route to the upper floors. I promise you these two things."
This meant he wouldn't have to break through the complicated floors in the 20s one by one, instantly reducing a process that would normally take years to just a few months.
"I'll see you in the Empire soon."
* * *
[Good afternoon to all employees of Veteran Corporation. Since everyone has been busy with their own activities, we haven't had much time to see each other. I have arranged a modest gathering for team-building, so those who received an invitation, please attend without fail.]
[Location: Theme Park located on the 1st floor of the Tower of Trials / Time: By 3:00 PM.]
A polite invitation was delivered.
However, due to various constraints, the members who actually showed up at the meeting place were a bit of a mixed bag.
First of all, Kim Hee-woong, who was in charge of the Black Crow Guild, Andrea, who was managing the psychiatric ward, and Melena of the Demonic Human Association, were unable to attend.
Instead, Cheon Yu-seong and Teresa joined them.
Of course, Alice, who clung to him like glue, and Wolyeong, who was hiding in the shadows, joined as a bonus.
"It's been so long since I've been to an amusement park."
Teresa looked around with a face full of childlike wonder.
The theme park located in the center of the Tower of Trials boasted a scale that couldn't even be compared to Disneyland.
In fact, quite a few people had gathered here to relieve the stress accumulated from climbing the Tower.
"You called a busy person all the way out here just for this?"
Cheon Yu-seong didn't hide his displeasure.
Hmm. For someone saying that, he looks strangely excited.
I'd seriously like to hear an explanation as to why his eyes are glued to the roller coaster while he grumbles.
No, seriously, why is he holding coins equivalent to the price of a free-pass ticket in his other hand?
"If you have something to say, say it. Don't make a face like a puppy that needs to go."
"Yeah, I do have something to say, but I'll hold back because I don't want a sword fight breaking out in an amusement park."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing much. Just... I want to maintain the peace of our long-awaited company team-building event."
It would be quite troublesome in its own way if a video of a medical student swinging a longsword was uploaded to the Tower of Trials community.
It would be even more troublesome if a video titled 'The Reality of Hankuk University's Swordmaster.avi' started circulating on the internet.
Jinhyuk quietly shook his head.
Right then, tug.
Alice, who was standing next to him, pulled on Jinhyuk's sleeve.
"Human. I wish to eat that. Quickly. Quickly."
Alice pointed at a large cotton candy, swallowing her drool.
It felt like she would reduce the entire amusement park to ruins if he didn't buy it for her.
This queen is really a handful to serve.
When they had their first shareholders' meeting, at least only obedient and well-behaved employees had gathered...
Reminiscing about the past for a moment, Jinhyuk gave up on everything and headed toward the food court.
"Cotton candy, hot dogs, Dippin' Dots... just give me one of everything you have here."
Since things had turned out this way, he planned to treat them properly while also relieving his own accumulated stress.
I cleared two floors and received 500,000 coins, so I can afford this level of luxury.
Besides, since the views on the video he uploaded were steadily rising, his depleted balance would soon be filled even more than before.
Above all, Alice was a trump card that could be utilized for endless content in the future.
Thinking about it that way, the coins he was spending now felt like pocket change.
* * *
For the next six hours, the group fully enjoyed a sweet, long-awaited rest, riding various attractions and eating delicious food.
Not to mention Teresa, who had grown up under strict etiquette, and the blunt Cheon Yu-seong.
Even Alice, who was visiting such a place for the first time, screamed so much that her throat was practically hoarse.
"Shall we head back now?"
Seeing that the sun had set, Teresa suggested they disperse.
It meant they should go home since the park was almost closing.
However...
"No. Why leave so soon?"
Jinhyuk shrugged with a mysterious smile.
"Huh? Don't tell me there's still more?"
"Of course. There is still one most important place left."
Jinhyuk pointed to the deepest part of the amusement park.
Hidden behind the flashy scenery, a door that was barely visible came into view.
How should he put it?
It was a door from which an ominous energy slowly drifted, warning anyone at first glance that they absolutely should not enter.
"We've had our light fun, so now it's time to properly enjoy an amusement park the veteran way."
That place...
Was the hidden, true 'Hard Mode' of the amusement park.