Chapter 68
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: Challenge Letter (5)
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That single phrase sent ripples through the venue.
The chat exploded with mockery, and the anxious expressions on the American officials' faces vanished, replaced by smug smirks.
"Ha! I knew it!"
One of the American officials, drunk on triumph, jabbed a finger at the doll.
"Look! This is Korea's true level! Staging a scam against the whole world—are you not ashamed?"
"Th-that can't be…!"
Director Joo Deok-hwan's face twisted in bewilderment. As if failure had never crossed his mind, his complexion paled at the unforeseen turn.
'No way… did it fail?'
It couldn't have. That overwhelming surge of mana—he'd felt it himself. It was at least S-grade for sure.
But Clara Pierce said no more.
The chat, meanwhile, went berserk with jeers, lagging the server.
Lmaoooo we're fucked
Copium
National disgrace legend
FAFO
Skill issue.
S-grade mats wasted? How you gonna compensate?
RIP Bozo
Natural selection at work. lol
"You'll pay the price for wasting S-grade materials. And stealing Midas's time? That's a heavy sin too."
He pressed Director Joo relentlessly, lost in victory. The director bit his lip, unable to retort. A verdict from an authority like Clara Pierce was absolute.
The chat was already plastered with Korea-bashing.
K-Scam ending lmao
Too embarrassed, immigrating ffs
Refund?
Knew it from the cat costume.
That was when it happened.
"…Please hear me out to the end."
Her face was ashen, but her eyes burned with conviction as she stared into the camera.
"This item… is SS-grade."
"……SS-grade?"
A dumbstruck echo escaped the American official's lips.
He doubted his own ears. Not even S-grade, but SS? Did such a rank even exist?
In global hunter history, S-grade was the pinnacle for items. Midas's creations, ancient dungeon relics—all capped at S.
Yet now, this ridiculous cat doll's staff had shattered that limit.
"J-joke's over! Is your appraisal glitching? R-right! There's skills that hide item info, Miss Clara! Check again!"
He bellowed, veins bulging. He couldn't accept it. No, he mustn't. If true, America had dumped S-grade mats for pennies, and Midas faced worldwide humiliation.
But Clara Pierce's expression was resolute.
"…Are you saying I'm wrong right now?"
Her gaze pierced him. Her C+-grade mana bore into his mind. He felt every thought laid bare.
"N-no, that's not…"
"Then let me provide proof."
She channeled a sliver of mana into the staff.
Woooong—
The staff hummed low, unveiling its power. Space warped around it, lens-like distortion twisting the view nearby.
Soon, she broadcast the item's full info to all.
⟨ Reproduction - Dimensional Tree Yggdrasil ⟩
[Space Harmonizer (SS)]
Roots grown from the dimensional rift reclaim their divinity through golden hands. Ruler of space, prove your worth. Space shall rest upon the hands of magic.
Space Harmonizer: Reduces mana cost of space magic by 90%. Boosts computation for space magic by 16x.
Dimensional Leap: Teleport objects in sight by consuming mana. Cast time and mana scale with mass. Usable on self or others.
Space Distortion: Warps space by consuming mana.
Hunters' faces blanched in shock as they scrolled the details.
An item mightier than thousands of nukes, than any S-grade hunter. Hand it to a B-grade mage, and they'd threaten S-graders, assassinate anyone—a supreme weapon.
"This… possible?"
Someone's mutter voiced everyone's awe. The chat was no different.
????????????????
kORea CaNnOT MAke s lEvEL iTEm!
SS-grade????????????
Cope harder America lol
Insane lmaooooooo
🤡🤡🤡
Told ya? King God General Emperor Cat all the way lmao
And silence fell over everyone present.
The same moment, New York, USA.
Inside a luxury penthouse living room.
Crash!
A fine wine glass shattered against the wall. Red wine trickled down like bloodstains.
"Impossible…."
Midas—Arthur Miller—stared blankly at the TV.
His trembling hand swept back his hair. His breaths grew ragged.
"SS-grade? A realm I couldn't reach? Don't make me laugh. No such rank exists."
He was the world's top craftsman. The only man in history to forge S-grade items, bearer of the divine hand.
For him to fail where some unheard-of Eastern ghost succeeded? While wearing a doll costume and playing around?
He couldn't accept it. No, he mustn't.
Bloodshot eyes blazed. His fury arrowed toward Clara onscreen.
"Clara… that bitch…!"
She'd been bought by the Korean government, no doubt. Elsewise, no way she'd spit out such nonsense.
"How much did they pay you? Enough for you to sell out my honor?"
He fired off a tweet denying it all. A press conference was next. This was manipulation, Korea's scheme.
Ring ring—
His phone buzzed on the table. Caller: 'The President'.
Midas snatched it up.
"Mr. President! Did you see? It's a scam! Clara that whore colluded with those monkeys!"
He was certain the president backed him. Every administration, regardless of party, always had.
But the voice on the line seethed with suppressed rage. Midas mistook it for shared fury.
[…Arthur, calm down first?]
"Calm? My reputation's in the dirt! Issue a statement nullifying that result now…!"
[The Eternal Chalice ships to Korea today.]
Midas's jaw dropped.
"Pardon? Wh-what do you mean? That's my personal collection! No need to give prizes in a scam…!"
[Scam? That's what it looks like to you?]
[Dozens of on-site experts verified the mana waves. Not just Clara—our escorts too, all swearing it's real!]
"B-but, sir! This is clearly…!"
[Shut up!!]
The ear-shattering roar made Midas yank the phone away.
[Your damn ego's tanking my approval ratings in real-time! Already catching hell for handing Korea two free S-grade mats!]
The president panted on.
"Sir, please… that chalice is for my life's masterpiece…!"
[Masterpiece? Can't even make SS-grade, what bullshit masterpiece.]
[Agents en route. There in 10. Hand over the chalice quietly and fuck off. Stir more diplomatic shit and tank my reelection? IRS audit incoming.]
Click.
The call ended coldly.
"Arrrghhhh!"
He roared like a beast, kicking the table. The marble slab toppled and splintered, but his rage burned undimmed.
Back in the waiting room, I unzipped the doll mask.
"Haaah…."
My body was soaked in sweat. Even with heat resistance, tension plus near-sealed space had me drenched.
My loose white shirt clung like I'd been dunked.
"Great work."
Yu So-jeong handed me a towel and cool drink.
"Car's ready. Head out now?"
"Yup!"
Tension melted in the car, leaving languid exhaustion.
'Wonder what Il-ho's doing at home.'
Did she watch the broadcast? What'd she think of her cat-masked sister?
'Hope she says I was cool.'
A smile crept on, imagining bragging at home.
But this event's fallout dwarfed my expectations.
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