Temporary King's Coronation and First Edicts

I'd been feeling a bit numb lately from my dopamine-one-tool lifestyle.

Why?

Even dropping meteors on towers.

Even snagging good gear from other planets.

Even blowing cash on shopping sprees.

The thrill that used to hijack my nerves just wasn't hitting like before.

Was the endgame of pleasure-seeking just emptiness after all?

—Nah, not quite.

It was just that the dose of dopamine being pumped into me had been too small!

I clenched my fist tight!

Ready to belt out a roar at full volume—

Then paused.

Oh, right, this is a two-room apartment.

Soundproofing issues, so I'd moved to Nosferatu.

Regaining my composure.

"Uwaaaah! I'm the king! Everyone!"

"Master's the king! Short for Demon King!"

"Congratulations, Your Majesty."

"Grrrng! Grrrng!"

A crowd of locals gathered, buzzing with excitement.

They'd heard about the Earth stuff.

"Congratulations, Traveler!"

"King of a whole planet!"

They hoisted me up in a massive shoulder toss.

Up dozens of meters, flashing through the air.

My vision bobbed up and down with it.

Whoosh!

Whoa, they're already tossing me toward the castle.

Kasabla, how's it going?

Whoosh!

That side must be the new mine.

Vampires with pickaxes in hand.

The endless shoulder toss continued.

Savoring the cool wind whipping around me, I checked my message log.

First off.

The votes I'd won had converted 1:1 into this Royal Authority metric.

Good thing I hadn't settled for a half-assed 2-3 billion votes. Would've regretted that.

And then.

Applies to the entire Earth, huh. Absolute edicts, for real.

How far can I push this?

Start with the big ones.

"No towers can exist on Earth."

Oh? It's not flat-out impossible?

Carmina zipped past me mid-toss, having jumped in.

"Gotta need stronger authority for that one!"

Next, Yulia.

"Sounds like you'd need to be king over something on a higher level?"

Her saintess robes flapping wildly.

"Grrrng! Grrrng!"

You too, huh?

Anyway, my head cleared right up.

Felt like I'd grasped the key to saving Earth.

Kept experimenting.

"No towers can exist in Korea."

"Tower rampages won't occur in Korea."

Oh, then how about this?

"All Korean nationals' tower floor point acquisition multiplier is doubled."

I get the gist.

Customize edicts within my Royal Authority limit.

Slot 'em in and out as needed.

"Europeans and South Americans can't enter odd floors."

"Chinese Awakeners barred from tower entry!"

"All global citizens must pray toward Korea, where the Leader resides, three times a day. Whaddya think?"

Some worked.

Some didn't.

From a universal standpoint, I could kinda see the baseline criteria.

Less like laws, more like system-interfering cheats?

One baffling part, though.

"The Royal Authority cost per edict is all over the place."

For example.

But.

"No clue on the exact criteria!"

"Slimes only show up early in towers, right, Leader?"

"Some make sense, others are total curveballs. Can't get a read."

One clear fact, though.

Royal Authority is key to performing temporary king duties.

Summarizing the list.

"Roughly, the more praise from people worldwide, the more Authority rises. Bad rep drops it."

Not hard.

Just make folks grateful to King Hitchhiker.

Isn't that what I've been doing?

Just add edicts to the mix.

Enact edicts, earn praise, boost Authority.

Stronger Authority for stronger edicts, more praise.

"Nom! Infinite power source! Nom! Absolute kingship!"

Chicken again? When'd she pull that out?

And nailing it without dropping any? Weird.

But.

"Not absolute kingship per the system."

Why?

The throne could change hands.

That's why it's temporary.

No big worries, though.

Who am I? The Galaxy Traveler who bulldozes anything—

Ding!

Sudden mission drop.

"System's been watching you, Leader?"

"Master! Watch your mouth!"

Impossible mission, they call it.

Already tackling something similar.

The Galaxy Traveler exclusive mission.

But that focused on personal power-ups.

This one's all about external factors.

Ding!

Similar message when restarting other planets' towers.

Long-held suspicion solidifies into certainty.

Factions within the system.

Definitely testing me.

Pass this? Do that too? Then how about this?

"That's the vibe."

"Feels like they're assigning you a role, Leader."

"Insolent! Who dares test whom— Nom!"

Vaccine faction, maybe?

They help Awakeners, opposite of viruses.

"System can't just hand out rewards raw, or virus faction blocks it, so mission form."

To succeed, anyway.

"Boost all nations, hit 3 billion points and 30 billion Authority, endure trials disguised as events, keep Korea #1."

Easy, right?

Plus throne wars.

Defend the crown too.

Especially from US/China/Japan.

They're groggy but will stir trouble.

Looking at it, I really feel like a king now.

Repel invasions (trials).

Rule internals peacefully.

Crush trolls.

Whew, busy times.

"Throne war's no sweat, but 3 billion's tight."

Mid-toss, my allies stacked in a line mid-air, spoke in unison.

"Master, scared?"

"Leader, scared?"

—Human, scared?

Who taught Hati that?

"Ha."

A dry chuckle.

Then, firm voice.

"Not scared."

Still, test the waters, they say.

"Let's do a divination first."

"Scared!"

"Scared."

—Scared!

Not scared.

Absolutely not.

Hati's divination activated.

Shrashrash!

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Confidence was already maxed.

Ding!

Back in my room, I pondered deeply how to enact and repeal edicts.

Brainstorming solo.

Discussing with Team Leader Cha Minhyuk.

Then Carmina's furious shout.

"Those damn jerks! Thugs!"

"What?"

"The news!"

The laptop swiveled toward me.

The comments section was on fire.

"Should I go wipe 'em out, Master?"

"Got a cleaner way."

Edict operation direction.

Just decided.

Two main pillars.

1. Create a global public enemy.

Peaceful Korea thanks to Hitchhiker.

But the world? Cutthroat alliances and rivalries.

Increased events and trials?

Fuels the competition fire.

Deepens divisions and conflicts.

"To hit 3 billion total points, even global cooperation wouldn't cut it."

So, build momentum for worldwide teamwork and friendly rivalry.

"Know what works best here?"

"Threaten with meteors! Tell 'em to play nice!"

Headshake.

"Create a public enemy."

When a clear bastard shows up, unity follows—ancient cliché.

Villain role? No sweat.

China's got it covered.

Asked their chairman in my dream earlier; he gladly accepted.

Truly grateful nation.

And next.

2. Solidify Korea and differentiate.

Point-boost edicts essential for 3 billion mission.

But.

Probably needs 10 billion+.

Start small, snowball Authority.

Launchpad: Korea.

My home turf.

Whole nation in Hitchhiker praise mode—easiest gratitude amp.

"Plus, as a Royal Authority nation, need clear differentiation beyond just Hitchhiker."

"Hehe, yes. Authority holds via benevolent rule and praise, but also secured prestige."

Solid sanctum.

Make the world revere Korea as secondary goal.

In summary.

1. Global public enemy.

Kick off with first edict.

2. Korea solidification and differentiation.

Second edict to start.

Edicts repealable, so hit fast, cycle slots.

"Enact edict."

Streets packed with Chinese signs.

Chinese chatter everywhere.

This was Daelim-dong.

Chinatown in Seoul.

How'd it get like this?

Koreans fled crime central; Chinese bought up buildings and land in a vicious cycle.

Murder, robbery, arson.

Den of violent crime.

Towers and Awakeners made it worse.

Cops barely containing leaks outward.

Growing resentment and rage.

But cheek of the enemy?

Not just Koreans felt it.

"These insolent Bangzi bastards...!"

Black Dragon Society exec, Ye Tao.

Fuming with rage.

Recent winds around Daelim-dong turning sour.

Harsher, relentless police probes.

Unflinching crime reports.

Korea used to be bottom-tier, no bandwidth for Daelim.

Situation flipped.

Last session's world rank #1.

Breathing room let society shine light on shadows.

Underlings vented too.

"Local Koreans nearby—more not turning away eyes now. Staring daggers instead. Fuck, national buff high making 'em bold?"

"Damn! They're full of themselves! Didn't even earn #1 themselves!"

Veteran Ye Tao's gut screamed.

Gov might move on Daelim soon.

Spy at precinct sent warnings.

Safest: head home.

But didn't want to.

Ongoing biz?

Sure, but Korea life hooked him too.

Hated admitting, but Korea crushed China in living conditions.

Not just that—most aspects superior.

Deep Chinese supremacy mindset.

But convenience? Korea's.

Common psych among troublemakers here.

"Hoo."

Lit a smoke, stood.

"Let's go."

"Yes, boss!"

Rumble!

Grabbed weapons, headed out.

Stomp stomp!

Hundred-plus members marched boldly to precinct.

Korean cops visible through windows, tense faces.

Goal? Smash it all.

Warning: Hands off Daelim.

To Koreans, world: China's alive, rebelling.

"For our motherland."

Felt like a revolutionary.

As Ye Tao spoke, all roared—

Ding!

Black Dragon Society vanished en masse.

No trace left behind.

And.

Ding!