Chapter 133
Chapter 133.
'There was something the Chairman mentioned about North Korea.'
Lee Ganghan recalled the story that Chairman Shin Gyeongcheol had told him.
-The health condition of North Korea's supreme leader has rapidly deteriorated, and internal control is failing. So quite a few players have escaped to China or Russia.
-Player escapes have been proceeding extremely intensively for several months... There are even rumors recently that North Korea unofficially requested help from FIPA. Until now, they had the luxury to refuse FIPA's intervention.
As the North's supreme leader's health rapidly deteriorated.
North Korea with player escapes becoming visible.
So a country that originally maintained decent scores.
Didn't their performance suddenly worsen in August, creating occupation reservation towers?
"Hasn't the news spread yet? North Korea's former leader collapsed."
"I heard that story from the Chairman."
"His successor is a daughter, but she's only 7 years old, you know? Originally they tried to gradually build a succession structure for her, but he collapsed and things got complicated."
Lee Ganghan nodded.
No matter how much it's North Korea.
It wouldn't be easy for a 7-year-old girl to inherit ruling power.
"So your mother and I got somewhat involved."
"What?"
"We purged the opposition guys, and your mother stepped forward to appropriately brainwash 7-year-old Juhee to our side."
Yoo Doa said with a calm expression.
She casually mentioned things like purging and brainwashing as if they were nothing.
"You mean you actually killed people in real life, not in Heavenly Demon Valley...?"
"Yeah."
"And that was to maintain the North Korean regime?"
"Because that's the most efficient."
"Efficient?"
"When it comes to controlling players, the existing system is the most efficient."
Helping the North Korean regime to control players.
And even killing people to install a 7-year-old child.
Judging by how she mentioned brainwashing too, it seems like they made her into a puppet.
"Was it really necessary to go that far...?"
"If North Korea continues to fail at controlling players, Elves will descend and the Korean Peninsula will become hell. And just for the reason of bordering North Korea, South Korea would suffer great losses despite managing scores well."
"That's... true, but."
"Sacrificing the small for the great."
Yoo Doa spoke calmly.
"That's what I pursue."
Sacrificing the small for the great.
For that, they maintained the North Korean regime so a 7-year-old child could rule, and proceed with player control again?
Lee Ganghan looked at her who pursued 'the great' without a hint of wavering and felt something questionable.
"Then am I also... part of the great in your plan?"
"You?"
"Yeah. I personally don't understand why you help me like this."
Yoo Doa and her mother who casually cut people's necks.
Who ultimately seized the North Korean regime through violence.
But she strangely treated Lee Ganghan consistently well.
When she first carved Ma on his chest, he wondered what kind of mischief she was up to.
But the Geuk hidden there helped him overcome crises.
Today too, didn't she cut Son Goku's hair?
Didn't she also warn about the dangers of Transcendent voting?
"You're different."
"I'm different?"
"Yeah. Helping you is..."
Yoo Doa hesitated for a long while.
Then quietly sighed.
"Well... you could say it's repaying a favor."
Repaying a favor.
For that, she'd have to receive a favor first.
But.
"I helped you? I don't remember that at all."
"Of course you don't remember. That's..."
Yoo Doa, who was about to answer Lee Ganghan's question.
Frowned.
"Ah, the system. How annoying. It's telling me not to say."
Is this also related to what she said about her mouth itching?
When Yoo Doa, who usually told him most things, closed her mouth with a displeased expression.
Lee Ganghan guessed so.
"Well anyway, don't worry about North Korea. Your mother seems to have other plans too..."
"Mother does?"
"Yeah. I don't know that far."
Tap, Tap.
She said that while tapping her sword, the Demon-Conquering Heavenly Ascension Blade, with her finger.
"If those pointed-ears happen to pop out from the occupation reservation towers, I'll just cut their necks or whatever."
So she calls Elves pointed-ears.
Lee Ganghan learned a new derogatory term for Elves.
"Then since a lot of time has passed, I'll get going."
"Alright."
"Ah. And your house is nice?"
"As someone who became Korea's top leader, don't you live in a better house?"
"Well, the square footage is large, but still, there... the vibe doesn't match. Well anyway, I'll come visit again if I have business later."
Yoo Doa, who boldly declared she'd trespass again.
Swish.
She slashed the air with her sword.
Then a portal opened.
She entered it without looking back.
And so Yoo Doa left.
[Oh my, teacher. Then really, just eating boiled sweet potatoes...]
On the TV that was left on, the sweet potato story was still in full swing.
Beep.
Lee Ganghan turned off the TV and.
"...Ha."
Quietly sighed.
The uninvited guest Yoo Doa suddenly entered his house.
Thanks to her, Lee Ganghan personally received many benefits.
'I gave her a favor?'
Maybe because she only said incomprehensible things before leaving.
The aftertaste wasn't refreshing at all.
Still.
'About the Transcendent voting... I was contemplating whether to participate or not, but it's better not to participate.'
When Yoo Doa, who had suspiciously abundant information.
Said that was the main point and strongly discouraged Transcendent voting, Lee Ganghan solidified his intention not to participate in the voting.
Even if he got selected as a Transcendent through voting.
Compared to existing Transcendents, his skills were still far lacking.
'Of course they said they'd give benefits if selected as a Transcendent, but that doesn't seem enough to bridge the gap with existing Transcendents.'
Moreover, seeing how they said they'd thoroughly toy with unqualified newcomers.
If he became a Transcendent, wouldn't encounters with Transcendents of other races increase too?
Of course, this speculation required the premise that the information Yoo Doa mentioned was 'true'.
But all the information she'd provided so far had been valuable.
'I don't know what she's thinking, but... I've only benefited from her actions, never once suffered a loss.'
Didn't she also cut the troublesome Son Goku hair today?
Lee Ganghan decided to trust her words.
However,
'Just withdrawing is regrettable, so I should withdraw while getting what I can from other countries.'
No matter what, he's a leading candidate, so it'd be a waste to withdraw for free.
Lee Ganghan checked the time.
7 AM.
It was a bit too early to ask the agent for work.
'I'll go to Ten Thousand Demon Battle and then call Yuri afterwards.'
Candidate withdrawal that must be done within 24 hours.
Considering he had to finish negotiations in one day, it would be difficult to extract much from other countries.
'But I should be able to receive something.'
The Transcendent position.
The US, China, and India would definitely covet it.
Lee Ganghan thought so and opened the Ten Thousand Demon Battle function.
He touched the Sacred Fire.
[Would you like to enter the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect?]
[Currently, Heavenly Demon can stay for 2 hours.]
'The time increased significantly.'
Compared to when he entered Ten Thousand Demon Battle last time.
Getting +1 from the First Tower and +1 from Tower of Infinity.
Was it because his Divine Power increased by a total of 2?
At first he could stay about 10 minutes.
Now the time he could stay had increased to 2 hours.
'If I gain enough Divine Power to become a Transcendent, I might really be able to reside in Ten Thousand Demon Battle.'
Lee Ganghan thought so and entered the central area of Ten Thousand Demon Battle.
The Sacred Fire zone.
Then.
Ding.
[You possess installation 'Tower'.]
[Would you like to install installation 'Tower'?]
[You possess installation 'Son Goku's True Hair'.]
[Would you like to install installation 'Son Goku's True Hair'?]
Installation messages immediately appeared before his eyes.
***
'There's a lot to build after a long time.'
Ten Thousand Demon Battle where there hadn't been additional races for a while.
There wasn't much to construct.
The Lowest Grade Disciples were building something in this central area according to the Sacred Fire's instructions.
But there were no effects like these 'installations'.
'Let me build the tower first.'
Lee Ganghan first tried to install the tower he received from Tower of Infinity.
Then.
Whirrrrr...
[Please install 'Tower' at the desired location.]
[Installation costs vary depending on location.]
Along with an additional message.
The Ten Thousand Demon Battle map appeared before his eyes again.
'The Ten Thousand Demon Battle central area doesn't cost anything to install.'
Other undeveloped lands showed tower installation costs of 10 million TP.
But the Ten Thousand Demon Battle central area that the Lowest Grade Disciples had diligently developed showed 0 installation cost.
Then naturally he should do it in the central area.
'Let me place it a bit away from the Sacred Fire.'
There was a lot near the Sacred Fire.
Lee Ganghan installed the tower in an empty space in the central area where nothing was built yet.
Then.
Rumble...!
The ground shook.
The floor of the designated installation area cracked and the tower rose up.
"This... it's just a regular Tower of Infinity?"
A regular Tower of Infinity boasting a size similar to a 10-story building.
It became like installing a regular tower that had established itself as an urban eyesore in Ten Thousand Demon Battle.
'Why is this a reward?'
Lee Ganghan had such doubts while looking at the tower that ruined the aesthetics of Ten Thousand Demon Battle's central area.
[Importing 'Humanity's' tower data...]
[All tower data below the player's grade has been loaded.]
[Members belonging to Ten Thousand Demon Battle can enter the tower.]
But his eyes widened at the message that followed.
'What?'
Ten Thousand Demon Battle members can enter the tower?
Then this means.
'Summons can autonomously enter towers?'
The Goblin Chief and Karana would probably be able to enter.
Going further, can even the Lowest Grade Disciples enter?
['Tower' maintenance fee consumes 1,000TP per day.]
['Tower' can be entered once per day.]
'It's not free.'
1,000 TP is 1.3 million won.
Though it was a considerable cost, for Lee Ganghan who was practically freed from money worries, it was an acceptable amount.
'I should test it right away.'
Lee Ganghan thought about who to call from Ten Thousand Demon Battle's member list to have them enter.
'The Goblin Black Market side needs to be upgraded later when I have time, so pass.'
The Goblin Black Market that could be upgraded upon reaching Silver.
When upgrading this, it would be better for the goblins including the Goblin Chief to guard their positions.
So goblins were on hold for now.
'Karana also seems to be in the middle of work, so if I pass on her...'
Only the Spirit of Heavenly Sword and Lowest Grade Disciples remain?
The Spirit of Heavenly Sword was also worked pretty hard this time.
'I should deploy the Lowest Grade Disciples.'
Lee Ganghan sent a communication to the leader of the Lowest Grade Disciples.
He called all of them through Cheon Gahyeon.
Then after a short while.
"Did you call for me, Heavenly Demon."
Cheon Gahyeon walking over with an expressionless face.
And the Lowest Grade Disciples following behind her.
Cheon Gahyeon just nodded and greeted.
"Long live Heavenly Demon! Ten Thousand Demons Prostrate!"
But the Lowest Grade Disciples following behind bowed to Lee Ganghan in unison.
'What, suddenly?'
They're bowing without being told?
Their attitude had become docile after being tortured by the Sacred Fire before.
But were they educated to the point of taking initiative to bow like this?
"You, you guys...?"
Cheon Gahyeon was also surprised by her former subordinates' attitude change.
She turned around with wide eyes.
"Why are you doing that?"
"No, why are you suddenly bowing..."
"Shouldn't we naturally do that when seeing Heavenly Demon?"
"More importantly, Director, please show proper respect to Heavenly Demon too!"
No, why are they acting like this?
They're doing things they weren't told to do.
When Lee Ganghan tilted his head looking at the Lowest Grade Disciples urging their superior to bow too.
"Wh-what the hell did you do?!"
Cheon Gahyeon gritted her teeth and glared at Lee Ganghan.
She must have been tortured the most by the Sacred Fire.
Her eyes still flowed with venom.
"No, I didn't particularly do anything either? Maybe the Sacred Fire educated them."
The cause of the Lowest Grade Disciples changing like this.
There was nothing that came to mind other than the Sacred Fire.
"Ugh..."
"Director! Please bow to Heavenly Demon quickly!"
At the Lowest Grade Disciples' shouts.
Lee Ganghan waved his hand saying it was fine.
"The bowing is fine."
"Ahh! To forgive the Lowest Grade Disciples' rudeness..."
"As expected of Heavenly Demon! So merciful!"
Then the Lowest Grade Disciples entered praise mode.
Placing both hands neatly together, looking at him with sparkling eyes.
It seemed like he'd become an object of religious worship.
'Sacred Fire... what exactly did you do?'
No matter what, can people change like this in just a few days?
When Lee Ganghan looked at the Lowest Grade Disciples with puzzled eyes.
"Everyone... why..."
Only the sole normal person(?) Cheon Gahyeon.
Was staring at her subordinates with a soul-lost expression.