Chapter 382: Spring Water of the Sun (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 382: Spring Water of the Sun (2)
'Well, this is a surprise.'
Jinhyuk's eyes narrowed as he looked at his opponent.
There was no way he wouldn't recognize him.
How could he not?
A mask painted with geometric patterns.
A sleek yet solid build.
Above all, the mana radiating from his body was extraordinary.
Player Unknown.
To be precise, an impostor pretending to be Unknown.
Step.
Unknown stood beside Snyder.
"Lately, Player Unknown's appearances have been rare. I naturally assumed he would be with Player Kang Jinhyuk, but I heard that he decided to act independently for some reason."
Rumors of a feud between Jinhyuk and Unknown were already frequently mentioned across various online communities.
The two players, who had often formed a united front, seemed to have grown distant. Since they consistently ignored countless interview requests, it was only natural for the rumors to catch fire.
In particular, the fact that Unknown was not included as an official member of the Veteran Corporation played the biggest role.
'So he's trying to use that to pretend to be Unknown and reap some sweet benefits...'
Jinhyuk didn't know how to take this.
He let out a wry smile.
If he was a sly opportunist, he was an opportunist. If he was stupid, he was incredibly stupid.
'He must know that, of all people, I am the most likely to see through his disguise.'
Even so, was he confident that the real Unknown would keep hiding his identity to the end?
Or did it mean he didn't care if I knew he was an impostor?
Either way, it was certainly intriguing.
"...So, what is your reason for bringing him here?"
"As you know, Player Unknown is a high-ranking player with numerous achievements. Even the Awakeners Association granted him an exceptional rank to clear the Tower."
Snyder put on a pompous air.
As if he had Unknown completely under his thumb.
"Even for you, Player Kang Jinhyuk, clearing the upper floors is no easy task, is it? Especially when you have to tread a path no one has ever walked before."
Although there was still absolutely no concrete information about the upper floors, one could easily guess that they would be littered with floors several times more difficult than the middle floors.
A "small elite force" sounded nice, but it really meant that any number of unpredictable variables could arise.
"However, if you cooperate with us, we will support you with a much easier path."
Higher than now.
More stable, and faster.
He was offering financial and practical support.
"Certainly... that doesn't sound bad."
"Does that mean you accept our proposal?"
"First, I'd like to have a chat with Mr. Unknown. We can talk about the proposal after that."
"...Understood. Just please don't drag it out too long."
Snyder scanned the surroundings once more.
Then, he stepped back to give them some privacy.
Now.
What's your move?
Jinhyuk looked his opponent dead in the eye.
Unknown didn't avoid Jinhyuk's gaze either.
Sigh.
A sigh of annoyance escaped him.
"I'll tell you upfront: I have no taste for clumsy mind games or psychological warfare. I have no intention of pretending to be Unknown. I only put on this mask to catch your attention."
He admitted it himself.
So it was the latter.
"...You admit it surprisingly easily. I thought you'd make up a few more excuses."
"I hate wasting time. Besides, you're not someone I could deceive even if I tried."
"Then, since we both know what's going on, why don't you take off the mask first?"
"I'm afraid I can't do that. Just because I'm not Unknown doesn't mean I have to show you my face."
"I'm sorry, but I wasn't asking."
Jinhyuk flicked his finger.
Crackle... crackle!
As mana gathered, 'Barrier' and 'Glacial Shaping' activated simultaneously.
[6-Star 'Sealed Domain' has been activated!]
[Glacial Shaping: 'Extreme Ice Arrow' has been activated!]
Ice particles instantly took shape.
Three arrows flashed and shot toward Unknown's mask.
It was a surprise attack optimized for speed at point-blank range.
However,
Pfft!
The ice arrows crumbled entirely into powder near the mask and scattered.
"Launching an attack without warning... You're as difficult as they say."
Jinhyuk hadn't detected any movement to block, nor even the slightest sign of mana rearranging.
The barrier had also vanished without a trace.
What kind of monster is this...?
"You..."
Jinhyuk tried to speak, but Unknown was a step faster.
"The deities who used to stay quiet are running wild, causing all sorts of headaches. Olympus and Ragnarok are problems, but what's really annoying is how they triggered everything else. Tsk! Idiots who think they're the center of the universe..."
A normal player couldn't speak so casually about deities.
Only a tiny fraction of players had ever encountered them, and even then, they would be bound by an absolute hierarchy.
Is he a resident...?
No, there isn't a resident I don't know.
An existence with such a strange mana...
...
He's not an Administrator either.
And definitely not a deity.
There was only one possible deduction.
"An Operator..."
"Oh? They said you weren't completely slow-witted. It seems I won't have to deal with a frustrating conversation."
A bizarre mouth appeared on Unknown's mask.
A creepy red mouth and rows of tightly packed teeth between them became visible.
"Sae Yeong Eon Hwan only revealed himself after his identity was exposed, but you're different?"
"That fellow is 'The One Who Contemplates.' He prefers to watch without interfering in the grand scheme of things."
"I am 'The One Who Creates Variables.' Hmm. How should I explain it? Ah, yes. Let's just say I prefer to add a little spice to the existing boredom."
One of the viewers who watched his stream in the early days.
Operators were a factor that didn't exist in the past Tower of Trials.
In fact, it was Sae Yeong Eon Hwan who had warned him about the changes on the 50th floor.
If so...
Who on earth was this guy in front of him?
"Why don't you tell me your nickname? I was a BJ you used to enjoy watching, so shouldn't I at least know the name of an avid viewer?"
"Ah, my mistake. That was bad manners for a fan. Indeed, a nickname shouldn't hurt."
The corners of the mouth on the mask curled upward slightly.
"Would you remember if I said 'Eagle Owl'? I pride myself on never missing a stream."
Of course he remembered.
A viewer who used to donate all kinds of food during his streams in the past.
He remembered banning him a few times because the guy kept trying to make him eat bizarre foods.
Damn it. Of all people, to meet that psycho in real life.
"I assume you're not going to ask me to eat blood sausage soup soaked in Pine Bud Drink. And I doubt a heavy-bottomed Operator like you came all this way just to stroll down memory lane?"
"The reason I came here myself is because I want to join this raid."
"...The Water of the Sun?"
"Yes. I have a reason why I must go with you."
Things were getting complicated.
It was absurd enough that an Operator had suddenly appeared, but now that Operator was asking to join him in the labyrinth on the 23rd floor.
"What will you do?"
"What do you mean, 'what will I do'?"
He didn't know if this was a poisoned apple or not.
But one thing was certain...
This was an opportunity to get at least a few clues about the Operator's identity and purpose.
"As long as you don't get in my way, you're welcome anytime."
Jinhyuk accepted Unknown's proposal.
Right then.
"Sorry I'm late. I ran into someone on the way and brought him along... Hm?"
Cheon Yu-seong, who was approaching with a brief apology, tilted his head in confusion.
He had spotted some strange characters standing next to Jinhyuk.
"Player... Cheon Yu-seong... Don't tell me the person Player Kang Jinhyuk was waiting for was you?"
Snyder's face contorted.
However, Snyder's misfortune did not end there.
It had only just begun.
"Oh? What on earth is going on here?"
The person Cheon Yu-seong had run into on his way was none other than Han Sang-jin.
The President of the Korean Awakeners Association.
Just like the scar carved across his face, his grim feelings about the current situation were laid bare.
Having discovered a foreign agent pestering Jinhyuk, who was practically a national treasure of Korea...
it was only natural for his anger to flare.
On the other hand,
"Ah..."
Snyder trembled slightly, looking as if he had lost the entire world.
Of all people...!
He had entered the country in secret and thoroughly blocked all information to avoid running into Korean government agents.
He had invested unimaginable manpower and capital to ensure he wouldn't leave any trail.
Yet, all those efforts had gone down the drain.
"This is interesting, Mr. Snyder. Does your current action represent the will of the Titan Guild and the US Awakeners Association?"
"T-this is a misunderstanding. We didn't mean to..."
"What do you mean you didn't mean to? It's obvious you're trying to poach our VIP."
Under Han Sang-jin's fierce threat, Snyder couldn't utter a single word.
No matter how incomparably stronger the United States was compared to Korea, getting caught red-handed like this risked giving Korea a massive disadvantageous leverage in future relations.
But there was someone who rescued him from this desperate situation.
"Ahem! President Han. That's not it. It really is a misunderstanding."
It was Jinhyuk.
"A misunderstanding?"
"Yes. Mr. Snyder here offered to provide everything free of charge. Out of the goodness of his heart, for the future of humanity."
"F-free of charge!?"
Snyder gasped sharply.
"W-what do you mean by that?"
"Am I wrong? Then it wasn't a misunderstanding, and you really did have malicious intentions toward me... Is that what you mean?"
Jinhyuk's eyes turned cold.
"No, that's not... What I meant by that was..."
"Yes, don't stutter. Take your time. I'm listening."
"..."
If he argued here, he would essentially be admitting that he was trying to poach another nation's talent.
But if he stubbornly stood his ground, it could lead to the catastrophe of making an enemy out of Jinhyuk.
It was a complete catch-22.
In the end,
"...You really got me. Just take it all. I yield."
Snyder hung his head, completely resigned.
* * *
Han Sang-jin and Snyder moved to another spot, saying they had more to discuss.
Unknown—or rather, Eagle Owl—also excused himself, saying he had a quick matter to attend to.
There was now only about an hour left before they had to head to the 23rd floor of the Tower.
Jinhyuk and Cheon Yu-seong did a final check of their equipment and supplies before entering the Tower of Trials.
Clank!
Cheon Yu-seong, who had an unfamiliar longsword strapped to his waist, casually brought up a topic.
"Is Alice not joining us?"
"She's sitting this one out."
Alice, Bellus, and Ophelia.
The three of them had already agreed to move separately to make contact with Eden.
'Since Kizakiel, who belongs to Eden, attacked my base, I can use that as an excuse to squeeze a hefty sum out of them.'
Even if they made excuses that Kizakiel had been expelled from Eden, he could just say it wasn't his problem.
Since Eden was desperate for clues about the Necronomicon, they would have no choice but to dance to his tune, at least for the time being.
"Teresa seems busy in Europe as well... and the Masters have left to handle matters in the Murim... So, it looks like it's just the two of us clearing the labyrinth."
"Why? Is the great Sword Saint feeling anxious?"
"Anxious? Hardly! I only meant we shouldn't let our guard down."
"But when it comes to the sword, aren't you the best? Back in the Murim... what was it, didn't you beat that Plum Blossom Swordsman of Mount Hua or whatever?"
"That was... when he came down from the Tower under restrictions. And you always do this on purpose when you already know..."
His pride wounded, Cheon Yu-seong's face crumpled in annoyance.
"Sorry, sorry. I really didn't know."
No, seriously, I didn't know.
If you swing that thing around outside, you won't even be able to erase the evidence. Seriously.
Jinhyuk hurriedly waved his hands.
"You two seem to be having fun."
The final member of this raid.
Eagle Owl approached them, adjusting his mask.