Chapter 69

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 69

Chapter Title: Challenge (6)

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United States, White House Oval Office.

The President tossed his cellphone onto the desk as if discarding it after the call ended, letting out a deep sigh. As he roughly loosened his tie, the Chief of Staff standing beside him cautiously spoke up.

"Your Excellency. There's a chance Midas might slip out of the government's grasp over this. Should we offer him a carrot?"

Midas was arrogant, but he had the skills to back it up. He had crafted most of the items for America's top hunters.

The Chief of Staff was worried about losing hold of such a man. But the President snorted in amusement.

"Ha! You don't get it. Midas? That bastard can be reined in with just the whip. What could he do if I mobilize the military? His own power is barely C-grade, and his bodyguards don't exceed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠B-grade. And..."

He pointed the remote at the large screen on the wall. It was still looping footage from the Korean live broadcast. The scene of the cat doll hoisting the SS-grade staff.

"When a bigger fish shows up, a businessman knows to reach for that instead."

"But... he's Korean."

The President chugged from the diet cola on his desk. Then he said quietly,

"That's exactly why we need to keep Midas in check."

"Pardon?"

"What do you think happens if we let Midas run wild here? Korea and that craftsman will show clear resentment toward us. We'd lose our shot before we even extend a hand. My third term would be dead in the water."

The President's eyes narrowed.

"So for now, we admit defeat and praise that cat bastard. It'll help us grab Midas's leash too."

"...Understood."

"Send the Chalice to Korea immediately. And get the CIA moving. Find out who's inside that cat doll, no matter what it takes."

Same time, New York penthouse.

Midas slumped to the floor, breathing raggedly. Shards from a shattered wine glass had pierced his palm, blood seeping out, but he felt no pain.

What dominated him was humiliation and the creeping terror.

'I can be replaced.'

To climb this far, he'd pruned countless promising upstarts who were his 'next best' options. But this time, he had become the 'next best.' He, Midas, who had always been the pinnacle.

Grinding his teeth...

Arthur clenched his jaw. Then he powered on one of his backup phones, one he thought he'd never need.

"...It's me."

[Oh, Mr. Midas. What's the matter? You sound upset.]

A clumsy Eastern-accented English came through the receiver. Midas glared at the empty air with bloodshot eyes.

"Mobilize every informant you have in Korea. Money's no object."

[Heh heh. Planning to kill him or something?]

"Kill? Ha! That's not enough. Not by a long shot."

A venomous smile curled on Midas's lips.

"I want to borrow that 'thief.' What's the price?"

[You know money won't buy it.]

Midas scowled.

"...Eight A+-grade items. That should cover it?"

[Process them into skillbooks too, make it fifteen. How's that?]

"Fuck...! Fine! Fifteen! I'll make whatever, S-grade or not—just bring them now!"

[Haha, don't get so mad—]

He cut off the man mid-sentence. Then he hurled the phone to the floor and stomped it to pieces.

Crunch! Crack!

"Hoo... hoo... Yeah, just business as usual."

Midas steadied his breathing and assessed the situation. If the government tried to coax him, he'd use other means. As always.

Even if it meant staining his hands black and betraying his country.

"The price for trying to take my spot... will be steep."

I hummed a cheerful tune in the car on the way home.

"Hmm~ Hm hm hmm~"

I was on cloud nine.

I'd flattened Midas's nose, succeeded in crafting an SS-grade item, and from the internet reactions, posts praising me were flooding in by dozens per second.

[1,589 Comments]

Every scroll brought an endless flood of praise. My attention-starved soul leaped to an even higher plane.

A twisting ecstasy soaked my body, like my limbs were tangling and my mind emptying out.

"Hee hee hee... Hee hee, hee hee hee..."

I shoved the phone screen at So-jeong.

"Hee hee... Miss So-jeong! Look at this! The whole internet's talking about me!"

So-jeong glanced at the screen via the rearview mirror and replied.

"Yes. That's the expected reaction. You deserve it, Miss Lee Da-yoon."

Then she added,

"By the way, are you looking at the Hunter Gallery?"

"Huh? Oh, no, well, this is..."

"Are you aware of the site's main user base and culture?"

"Ah... Um... Not everyone's bad there! For real!"

As I tried explaining the Hunter Gallery's merits to So-jeong, my phone buzzed beside me.

[Director Joo Deok-hwan]

Perfect timing. I sneaked a peek at So-jeong and answered quietly.

[Miss Lee Da-yoon Awakener. Great job out there! Can you talk for a sec?]

"Sure. What's up? Something wrong?"

No way Midas was reneging on the materials? If so, I might just launch a 'Shining Spark' at America.

[No issue, just the Blue House has a proposal.]

"Blue House?"

[Yes. The President expressed a desire to have lunch with you as soon as possible.]

Hmm, the President.

Let's think rationally. What do I gain from meeting him?

Tasty food? So-jeong does better. Honor? I'm already a god online. Power? I could make it anytime.

"Nah, pass on the President. Handle it yourselves."

[...Got it. Oh, one more thing. Official statement from the White House.]

I sensed what was coming.

Probably Midas throwing a fit or America raging.

"What'd they say? Calling it a scam? Or threatening for the materials?"

But the response blew past my expectations.

[No. The US President sent a personal congratulatory video message.]

"...What?"

I doubted my ears.

"Congrats? On me?"

[Yes. 'I pay tribute to the nameless Korean artisan who achieved a great leap for humanity.' Cleanly acknowledges Midas's defeat and pledges to hand over the 'Eternal Chalice' as promised.]

Doesn't make sense. I just crushed their top craftsman, and now congrats?

"Why? Are they idiots? Or masochists? Why congratulate the guy who shamed their country?"

[Probably political calculus. From a big-picture view...]

Director Joo's explanation dragged on about global politics and power balances, but honestly, it went in one ear and out the other. What do I care?

[...And that's how it is.]

"Mm... Yeah...!"

What I really wanted to know was...

"So when's the Chalice coming?"

[Set for delivery in a week. Straight to your place upon arrival.]

"Great! Bye!"

Click.

I sank into the seat.

Chalice secured. Time to think about the 'really important stuff.'

After much deliberation, I told So-jeong,

"Miss So-jeong! Make tonight the absolute best, most awesome dinner ever!"

"Yes. What menu would you like?"

"Hmm... Pizza, pork cutlet, tteokbokki... Oh! Ask Il-ho what she wants and order that too!"

"Understood. I'll prepare as soon as we arrive."

And on a day like this, one more request.

"One more thing?"

"Yes. What is it?"

"Um... Today, I can eat as much Drake heart as I want, right?"

She'd been rationing them since supplies tightened. I'd hoarded them in storage but couldn't snack—pure torture.

But on a day this great, a little indulgence is fine.

"Yes. Eat your fill. But just today."

"Yay! Miss So-jeong is the best!"

I flailed happily. Yeah, tonight's an SS-grade celebration party!