Lycanslope Summon Ticket
Ever since the US-China-Japan trio established their dominance.
The Towers began distributing items like this as national rewards at some point.
Not too many, not too few.
Exactly to the top 1-3 nations.
The System's intent? Who knows.
But the item's purpose is crystal clear.
It's screaming for you to keep the rising underdogs in check.
◈ Summons the Mad Lycanslope (50th floor boss) to target a specific Awakener.
Of course, the quantities are limited.
And the types are random, varied.
"I assume you know what this is. China must have a few similar items in stock."
Spot on. They had a few.
No one among the US, China, or Japan had used them yet—just a game of chicken.
But an Awakener-sniper type? This was a first.
"We'll hand it over without any strings attached. We'd like China to make use of it."
"Hmmm..."
Li Feng stroked his double chin.
Handing over something this close to a tactical nuke for free?
Japan must be desperate.
Not that China was any different.
"As you know, the Mad Lycanslope is the 50th floor boss monster. Even America's top ranker, Killdragon, took weeks to barely take it down—a truly terrifying beast."
Nakayama's persuasive tone.
Li Feng recalled the raid footage.
Endless regenerating wounds.
Eyes gleaming with madness.
Movements like bullets—pure violence.
Brr.
Just thinking about it was terror incarnate.
Mind-numbing dread.
But if that monstrous thing became an assassin targeting the enemy instead?
Heh. A rush of glee welled up.
"Hah, this is a monster no current Hitchhiker could ever handle."
"Naturally. Hitchhiker's just cleared the 20th floor and hit level 20."
Monsters scale with floor levels.
The higher you go, the beyond-imaginable difficulty.
Especially if it's a boss monster?
No matter how many hundreds of thousands of points Hitchhiker racks up, they'd be helpless.
And on top of that.
"To aid your decision, we'll throw in this item as well."
Maela's Curse Doll
◈ Designate the target's Awakener nickname and nation.
◈ Target's all stats halved for 1 minute; immobilized.
◈ Cost: 250,000 points from user's nation transferred to target's.
"Japan's got some pretty interesting toys, huh."
"Our only regret is not using them sooner to nip threats in the bud."
Li Feng mulled it over, analyzing.
They could assassinate Hitchhiker.
A gamble with slim odds of failure.
At minimum, it'd deal catastrophic damage that even the Tower couldn't shrug off.
Plus point theft.
The risks?
◈ If defeated within 15 minutes, Lycanslope reappears before ticket user—strength inversely proportional to defeat time, up to 5x boosted. Point transfer reverses.
◈ World announcement upon use.
Just those two.
But manageable.
Lycanslope defeated in 15 minutes?
Impossible, even for dozens of level 50 S-ranks. It'd take hours at best.
World announcement?
International backlash, sure—but China was practically immune.
Sacrifice one fall guy to execution, issue a shameless apology. Done.
Crush lesser nations' outrage with sheer power.
Besides, how many nations would secretly cheer Hitchhiker's death?
Most crucially.
'Victim Korea's a pipsqueak with no power to retaliate against China.'
Short on high-rank Awakeners.
Territory halved.
Military crippled by endless interference.
National power? Naturally weak.
Nukes? As if.
Even if Hitchhiker sides with Korea, they're just one Awakener.
Thug in Tower scores, maybe.
Against a whole nation? Laughable.
Of course, minimal consideration for optics—some national compensation to Korea.
'But for removing Hitchhiker, it's a bargain.'
Why hand it to China, though?
Obvious.
'They won't risk even the tiniest backlash. Sneaky bastards.'
Li Feng smirked.
That's why your island nation can't match our mainland's boldness.
"We're deeply grateful for Japan's generosity, but this isn't a decision I can make alone here. It requires His Excellency the Chairman's approval, and..."
Translation: Want us to play villain? Pony up more.
"Haha, figured as much. To help your decision..."
Translation: We were hoping you'd bite, testing the waters.
In the heated verbal sparring, it ended with.
Clap!
The two tanuki and the fox clasped hands.
"To the prosperity of China and Japan."
"Haha, and Korea's downfall."
Glasses clinked under the lights.
The next morning, early.
National Intelligence Service basement—Truth Room.
Chinese spy chief Zhang Xun was bound to the restraint chair, gasping.
"Euuugh... heh, heba... n-now... p-please... Lord... mercy..."
"Hm? What? Sorry, can't make out a word. If I could, I'd grant the request."
Zhang Xun's speech was a slurred mess.
His gaping mouth, pried wide by the device, was missing nearly all teeth.
"Agh, ple... mercy... eba... mercy..."
"Your Korean's impressive, but that pronunciation? No communication possible. Last tooth—hold still."
"Euuuk! Eeeeuk!"
Cha Minhyuk inserted the pliers.
Truthfully, all needed intel was already extracted from Zhang Xun.
No trouble at all.
Thanks to top-tier torture and interrogation skills, plus Hitchhiker's Orb of Truth.
Daily Management Agency patrols and guided interrogations prevented other spies too.
Perfect item for him.
'All thanks to Hitchhiker.'
Anyway, Zhang Xun was an empty husk now.
But no mercy send-off.
He'd repay Korea's damages a thousandfold.
Every agony a human could endure, right up to death.
"Ready?"
"Ugh—! N-no, not th—! This devil no—!"
Thunk! Thunk!
Thrashing, but no escape.
Specially made restraint chair for Awakeners.
Right then.
Alert received.
Cha Minhyuk operated the desk laptop with his free hand.
Zhang Xun's deep web secret account.
One new email.
Tap tap. Tap tap tap.
Password entered, content revealed.
"Lycanslope? You sons of bitches!"
Crunch—!
"Aaaaaagh—!!"
Last tooth yanked; Zhang Xun pissed himself in agony, trembling into his 12th blackout.
Cha Minhyuk ignored him.
Quelling the surge of rage, he scrutinized the email again.
'Lycanslope Summon Ticket. A Tower item like this exists?'
A war item laser-focused on one nation.
Unheard of.
Deep web psyop from Chinese intel HQ, sensing trouble here?
"..."
He shook his head.
Three days since Daelim-dong raid.
Daily reports to Chinese intel perfectly faked.
They'd catch on eventually.
'But not now.'
More details.
Korea time tomorrow dawn—summon ticket activation.
Lycanslope spawns before hidden Hitchhiker somewhere in Korea.
Massive boss uproar guaranteed.
Agents pre-deployed to hotspots for attack on discovery.
Even if Hitchhiker's abroad—contingencies.
Agency-wide mail.
'Crazy bastards.'
Beyond words.
Must warn Hitchhiker immediately.
He closed his eyes.
Focus to send telepathy to proxy, right?
Like this...
Yulia's deft hands shuffled three cups, then stopped.
Carmina pondered, groaning.
Then.
"Right cup! Definitely the right one!"
Her eyes sparkled, pointing to the third.
Yulia revealed inside.
"Too bad. Mana stone was under the left."
"B-but it was right! Again, rematch!"
Mana stone from Carmina's pouch to Yulia.
"Watch closely, Lady Carmina."
"Left! First cup!"
"Nope!"
"Wh-what? Why's it coming from there?"
Endless tries.
Carmina got fleeced.
Inevitable.
Yulia swapped at the last second, pulling cups inward.
"Ugh! One more!"
Carmina, run.
You're getting scammed.
Finally broke, innocent vampire teary-eyed.
Yulia smiled, returning all mana stones.
"Shall we order chicken you like with these?"
"Lady Yulia...! You're an angel?"
Yulia petted hugged Carmina's head.
That scary woman...!
Just finds Carmina cute, obviously.
Then a tuft of Carmina's hair spiked up like an antenna.
"Master! Message from Team Leader Cha Minhyuk! Super urgent!"
Relayed gist.
"Lycanslope Summon Ticket? Curse doll?"
"Blasphemers plotting against Your Majesty?"
Unfamiliar items.
But Cha Minhyuk's intel was airtight.
Priority.
"Can you ask Lycanslope's size?"
"About 2 meters tall! Super muscular!"
Pfft, fine then.
"Tell them no worries."
America matching my pace with razor-sharp scores lately—suspicious.
3 million points boost? Plus 250k bonus?
Continental spirit?
Carmina shadow-dove for Lycanslope analysis.
"Master! Be back soon!"
Bit far to Management Agency.
But her speed? Quick trip.
'China targeting me.'
Calm reflection.
Safety? Not worried.
Black Hole annihilation skill.
Plus near-invincible Yulia vs. Earth Tower.
'Stats halved briefly? Still over 50, and no need to move for skills.'
Excited, even.
How to wait till tomorrow?
'Real concerns elsewhere.'
How many such tickets out there?
China's prep for Lycanslope backlash?
World reaction to global message?
Chatting with Cha Minhyuk taught plenty—one being revenge alone makes you amateur.
Pros calculate gains from the mess too.
'China faces massive backlash first.'
Unprecedented item type.
Unimaginable uproar.
China pays dearly—one being national reparations to Korea.
And timing.
'Time to ponder reclaiming our territory.'
Or when/how to reveal Meteor Fall worldwide.
Utmost caution.
My skill's tactical nuke-tier.
Exposure method dictates gains wildly.
Just reclaim land? Or more strategic wins.
'If reclaiming, South then ruined North Korea next.'
Not sure details.
But Korean ethnicity justifies it—international recognition as ours shouldn't be issue.
Reclaim North?
Power explodes absurdly.
Exports, underground resources.
Old analyses: Unified Korea would've been global heavyweight.
After North...
End?
'Huh.'
Sudden thought.
What if Korea expands beyond peninsula?
If China pays reparations, something egg-on-face for them?
Chill ran down spine.
'Could that work?'
Raw idea—discuss with Cha Minhyuk.
"Whew."
Cooling excitement, eyes met Yulia tidying cups.
"Your Majesty too?"
"Beating you won't be easy."
"Heh, we'll see."
Good. Revenge for Carmina.
Underestimate Korean trained on yutnori and go-stop? Big mistake.
Exactly 10 minutes later.
"No way! I saw it! Why here?!"
"Because that's where the stone is?"
Fleeced clean.
What? How?
Clearly saw the swap...
Yulia grinned, returning half.
"I only take half."
"Why half for me?"
"Hehe, think of it as stipend from lord to vassal."
Says that, but hoards—ask later, she'll give.
"Right?"
"..."
"Lady Yulia?"
"..."
"Hello?"
"Hehe, of course."
Sacred gesture—Yulia pocketed mana stone basket.
Vmmm!
Beyond space rift.
Spacious room.
What's that?
Prayer space.
All high Lumentian clergy have personal altars.
Free access.
Enter real world at original spot, or.
"Or Your Majesty's ring position. Made for VIP protection—can scout outside too."
Ring on my finger.
Coin shop buy, tied to ally Yulia.
Summary: She follows anywhere, unseen.
'Like Carmina's shadow.'
24/7 ironclad guard from two allies.
Armor-thick security.
Sure, rift room looks like booze cellar—minor quibble.
Soon Carmina returned.
Group analyzed docs, watched Killdragon raid vid.
"Demon-lord tier monster. But piercing my barrier quick? Impossible."
Yulia's sharp breakdown.
Lycanslope ticket?
No sweat now.
Pegasus blood dose.
Bloodrose feed.
Carmina tomato juice.
Morning routine done—opened Lumentia portal.
"Reclaiming Lumentia..."
Yulia's face lacked confidence.
All entered.
Blackened earth.
Unlike Nosferatu, no immediate monsters.
"Your Majesty, Lady Carmina—stay alert; fiends could swarm anytime. First, continent terrain expla—"
"Let's go up and see."
"Ah, Master. Up we go? Hop on!"
"Fine today. Got this."
Pulled inventory item.
20th floor extra reward.
Sentient magic carpet.
Curse-bound to Tower as punishment for tricking System.
Low CHA ignores commands; high CHA allows more.
CHA + INT + WIS threshold lifts curse, restores original form.
Thick crimson-patterned rug.
Fringe-propped upright.
Glanced around, spotted me, approached—bowed low.
User's CHA exceeds threshold.
Flying Carpet affinity maxed.
"C-cute!"
"Oh, it's alive?!"
Carmina and Yulia petted; it wriggled, begging.
My turn.
Slither.
It backed away.
"...?"
Kept reaching—dodged every pose.
Everything but my pets off-limits.
What? I'm owner!
Affinity maxed, right?
"Master! So cute! What to do!"
"Look at that charm."
Pet pet.
Girls only? Hilarious.
Anyway.
"Need to fly up, scout scenery. Help?"
Carpet stretched out.
Instant space for three rolling.
"So soft!"
"Won't drop us, right?"
No worries.
Max affinity.
Boarded, soared high fast.
Lumentia below.
Meteor Fall Lv.20 (Available)
Black Hole Lv.20 (Available)
Planet reclamation time had come.