Chapter 70: Residents of the Tower (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 70: Residents of the Tower (1)
[Just how much does he know?]
Heo Jin-su's inner thoughts were conveyed perfectly.
And their contents were shocking.
[I have to end it here, with me. I can't let him find out... that the Black Cloud Guild made contact with the 'Residents.']
Jinhyuk's eyes narrowed.
What on earth is this guy talking about?
Don't tell me it wasn't just about the money?
In that moment, the copying condition flashed through Jinhyuk's mind once more.
'Reveal their hidden agenda.'
At first, he thought it simply meant exposing their corruption, but there was a mastermind hidden much deeper.
The Black Cloud Guild, one of South Korea's top guilds. To think that a story about the 'Residents'—those who had lived in the Tower since ancient times—would pop up here.
The players had only conquered up to the 3rd floor.
However, Residents capable of freely roaming the Tower's floors could only be encountered past the 15th floor.
Which meant...
The Residents must have contacted the Ssaulabi Guild first.
He didn't know their reason or purpose.
But one thing was certain: their interests aligned, and Yu Cheon-yeong was an obstacle to their future plans.
From their perspective, humanity and players must be external threats to the Tower...
Things were getting interesting.
Right then.
"Oppa, what does that mean?"
"Are you saying those bastards embezzled the money meant for Master's treatment?"
"Y-You absolute bastards!"
"How could you do such a thing for mere money? Don't even think about leaving this place alive today!"
Yu Yeon-hwa and the others who followed Yu Cheon-yeong roared in anger.
It was only natural for their wrath to boil over, having been stabbed in the back by the healers they had trusted.
Just as they were about to draw the swords at their waists—
"Leave their punishment to me," Jinhyuk intervened.
"Player Kang Jinhyuk. We are grateful to you for revealing the truth, but we won't be satisfied until we kill these bastards right here."
"I'm sorry, but I feel the same way. To think we entrusted Master to such scum..."
The disciples poured out their hearts, looking as if they were crying tears of blood.
It was an atmosphere where stopping them would be no easy feat.
"In exchange, I will treat Elder Yu Cheon-yeong. Right now, right here."
"...!"
"I-Is that possible?"
At Jinhyuk's words, the half-drawn swords slid back into their sheaths.
Revenge was important, but the absolute priority right now was saving Yu Cheon-yeong's life.
"Of course it is."
He had dealt with far more troublesome plagues; a mere case of Mana Overload Syndrome was nothing.
In the upper floors of the Tower, this was practically just a common cold.
Let's see...
Jinhyuk grabbed a few IV fluids and medicines from the medical table.
Needless to say, these were just props for a performance.
To hide his Fusion skill while making his actions look appropriately impressive.
Having finished his preparations, Jinhyuk turned his gaze toward Heo Jin-su.
Watch closely.
This is how you use an Elixir.
[The unique ability 'Blessing of the Stars' and 'Elixir' are fusing!]
[Fusion successful!]
[You have obtained the special item 'Tears of the Stars (SS)'!]
[A 90-day cooldown is required to fuse 'Tears of the Stars' again.]
Hummmmm!
In an instant, the color of the Elixir changed.
An indescribably bright light shimmered along the surface of the liquid.
Holding the glass bottle, Jinhyuk approached Yu Cheon-yeong.
If he were an ordinary person, he would have died a long time ago.
The veins bulging as if they were about to burst were a symptom that appeared when a mana rampage exceeded its limit.
As expected of a powerhouse.
To think he was still holding onto his life force amidst such excruciating agony.
One or two drops won't be nearly enough. I'll have to feed him the whole thing.
Because his condition had deteriorated so severely, he had to pour in the entire Elixir.
It was a bit of a waste, but...
...it was a small price to pay to copy his skill.
Gulp! Gulp!
The liquid slid down Yu Cheon-yeong's throat and permeated his body.
Then,
Color gradually returned to Yu Cheon-yeong's pale face.
"Huuu... Huuu..."
His breathing stabilized, and the cold sweat trickling down his forehead stopped.
The hideously bulging veins also subsided.
After a long period of suffering,
Yu Cheon-yeong had finally recovered.
[Conditions met!]
[Please select one of Yu Cheon-yeong's skills.]
He had already decided what to choose.
Without hesitation, Jinhyuk selected one of Yu Cheon-yeong's skills.
[Successfully copied the unique ability 'True Grand Purity Hwarang Heart Method (S)'!]
[True Grand Purity Hwarang Heart Method]
Acquisition Difficulty: S
Description: A heart method that allows the user to absorb mana dissolved in the atmosphere. It is a unique martial art developed by Yu Cheon-yeong. When used, mana recovery speed increases by 30%, and simply mastering it has the effect of making the body look younger.]
[The copied skill has been stored in the 'Memory of the World'.]
Status windows popped up one after another.
Jinhyuk scanned the details of his newly acquired skill.
Mana recovery and a youthful appearance...
No wonder Yu Cheon-yeong looked so young for his age.
The skill level he had checked through 'Gluttony's Eye' was a whopping 13.
It was practically at the level of a high-ranking named monster.
And while Jinhyuk was examining the detailed characteristics of the skill,
"Grandfather!"
Yu Yeon-hwa caressed Yu Cheon-yeong's cheek with a trembling hand.
"This is unbelievable..."
"Master has really recovered?"
"I-It's true! His mana wavelength has stabilized."
Thick tears streamed from everyone's eyes.
They were overwhelmed with emotion by a reality that felt like a dream.
On the other hand, Heo Jin-su, who had been watching this unfold, stood slack-jawed and speechless.
Unbelievable.
He's a combat class.
But how...
How on earth does he know the cure for Mana Overload Syndrome, which no one has figured out yet?
Diluting the Elixir using IV fluids and medicine was easier said than done.
Unless one knew the precise mixing ratios, it was next to impossible.
Yet, he had pulled it off.
Doing something they, who had dedicated their entire lives to medicine, hadn't even dared to attempt—and doing it so casually.
Heo Jin-su's jaw trembled.
An insight that read all of his cards.
An overwhelming potential that earned him an S-rank evaluation.
And on top of that, knowledge of medicine.
It felt like facing a monster.
His mind was filled with the sole thought of escaping, but his limbs refused to move.
Just then,
Jinhyuk approached the trembling Heo Jin-su.
"Since they seem preoccupied with their reunion, let's have a private chat over here."
"W-What are you going to do to me?"
"Hmm?"
"Are you going to kill me after all?"
"No, killing people outside the Tower is a headache, unlike inside. Besides, it'd be pretty ridiculous to kill someone just for embezzling a bit of money."
So...
"Just spit out all the money you've taken so far. Then, I'll let you go."
"If I give you the money... you'll let us go?"
"It's a win-win, isn't it? You guys get to escape Yu Cheon-yeong's furious disciples, and I get to pocket a hefty sum."
Jinhyuk shrugged.
As if to emphasize that his only interest was money.
So money is what he wants?
Heo Jin-su swallowed hard.
If money was his goal, he could just hand over that measly sum.
Although the mission to kill Yu Cheon-yeong had failed, at least the most crucial information remained safe.
He didn't hesitate for long.
"I'll do it."
"Then, as soon as the deposit clears in this account, I'll let you go."
Jinhyuk handed him a slip of paper.
It was an untraceable account number, one of the privileges granted only to S-ranks.
And a moment later,
Ding!
[A new financial transaction has occurred.]
[36,350,000,000 KRW has been deposited into Member Kang Jinhyuk's account.]
A notification popped up on Jinhyuk's phone.
Roughly 36.3 billion won.
A significant portion of the money they had embezzled from Yu Cheon-yeong had been returned.
"Can we leave now?" Heo Jin-su asked cautiously.
"Yes. It was a highly satisfactory transaction."
Jinhyuk smiled brightly and took a step back from the door.
There was nothing blocking the door anymore.
This was their only chance to escape.
Clack!
"Eek!"
"Hurry, get out!"
"W-We're saved!"
The moment the door opened, the healers rushed out in a swarm.
Fearing Jinhyuk might change his mind, they ran forward like madmen, looking only ahead.
"Hmm. You're just going to let them go like that? That's not like you."
It was then that Alice's voice rang out.
I knew she was watching from inside the ring.
She really poked her nose into everything.
Well, at least it saved him the trouble of calling her.
"Alice."
Jinhyuk spoke slowly.
"From now on, find out exactly where that guy goes and who he talks to."
"What? You let them go on purpose?"
"Interrogating them here wouldn't have made them talk easily. Besides, the Black Cloud Guild and the Residents wouldn't have given much information to those at the bottom of the food chain anyway."
No matter how many worker ants you kill, it's useless.
So...
"We have to guide the panicked worker ant back to the queen."
The corners of Jinhyuk's mouth curled upward.
* * *
After the commotion settled, only Jinhyuk and Yu Cheon-yeong remained in the hospital room.
Since Jinhyuk had made a plausible excuse about needing to check if the Elixir had thoroughly absorbed into his body, Yu Yeon-hwa and the others had all stepped outside.
Jinhyuk looked down at Yu Cheon-yeong, who lay motionless.
"There's no one else here now."
"..."
There was no response.
"I know you regained consciousness a while ago," Jinhyuk added.
At that,
"Haha. I thought I had completely hidden my presence, but you are a far sharper young man than I expected."
Surprisingly, Yu Cheon-yeong, who was thought to be unconscious, opened his eyes.
"Was my breathing really that clumsy?"
"No, it was perfect."
Even a player with detection skills wouldn't have been able to read Yu Cheon-yeong's breathing.
It was just that Jinhyuk possessed 'Gluttony's Eye'.
He could see through almost any trick.
"I apologize. I didn't mean to deceive you on purpose."
"It's fine. The timing of my appearance was quite exquisite, after all. Besides, knowing the cure for Mana Overload Syndrome, which no one else knows, is certainly enough to raise suspicion."
"Puhaha! Indeed, that was exactly why."
Yu Cheon-yeong burst into a hearty laugh.
If Jinhyuk had made excuses or beaten around the bush, Yu Cheon-yeong would never have trusted him.
But because he laid bare his thoughts so honestly, Yu Cheon-yeong couldn't help but laugh.
"It seems I misjudged you. So, what is it that you want from this old man?"
"There is one thing I must ask you."
"You are the savior who spared my life. If it is something I know, I will answer anything."
Yu Cheon-yeong nodded with a bright smile.
However,
"Did you fight a Resident on the very first day the Tower of Trials appeared... is that correct?"
At the completely unexpected question,
"How... did you know that?"
The smile vanished from Yu Cheon-yeong's face.