Chapter 137
Chapter 137.
The United States promised full support, offering an SSS-grade accessory.
China promised an S-grade item along with the Divine Sect Secret Record.
India had completely rejected the proposal.
'Each country had their own calculations.'
Lee Ganghan had thought everyone would welcome his withdrawal with open arms if he announced his candidacy withdrawal.
Seeing the three countries' positions clearly divided, Lee Ganghan felt intrigued.
[However, the U.S. side said they would appreciate it if you could express your support for Mike.]
At Shin Yuri's words from the other end of the phone, Lee Ganghan nodded.
"Well... if only the U.S. is offering SSS-grade, I should do it."
Supporting Mike.
Since he's world ranking 1st, it's reasonable too.
However.
"Rather than immediately expressing our position, it would be better to naturally mention it on TowerTube while climbing towers."
If he withdrew right now while announcing support for Mike.
The Chinese side might not give the promised items.
Lee Ganghan decided to express his support intention when viewers' questions came in during his next tower climb.
[Yes. I'll convey that to the U.S. side as well.]
"Yes. Thank you for your hard work."
[Not at all. I thought we'd receive at least SS-grade from all three countries, but India's response was unexpected. They definitely judged that a four-way battle would be advantageous for them.]
"Well, each had their own calculations. Still, since I was going to withdraw anyway, I ended up getting some items."
[Yes. Then I'll contact you immediately if there are any changes!]
"Understood."
After ending the call with Shin Yuri, Lee Ganghan thought.
He had planned to withdraw even if all three countries didn't offer compensation.
This much is fine.
Besides, he was curious about what SSS-grade accessory the U.S. was offering.
The Divine Sect Secret Record promised by China was equally intriguing.
'I didn't know the Jin Jiaxian family was hiding such things.'
Resisting the Sacred Fire's brainwashing(?) alone and all.
Is she really a descendant of the Heavenly Demon?
'I should film and send Jin Jiaxian's current situation later.'
Opening Ten Thousand Demon Battle, Jin Jiaxian was still clearing the tutorial.
She had good skills, but perhaps because she lacked traits.
[Ughhh... dying again......]
She seemed to struggle more as she went up floors.
Well, before Lee Ganghan achieved the tutorial record.
Mike's previous record was 6 hours 11 minutes.
Without traits, clearing towers could take more than a day.
'Filming tower climbing would be awkward, so I'll film her situation when she comes out.'
Lee Ganghan decided to film the video for China later.
'Should I rest for a bit?'
He temporarily stopped training and decided to browse tower-related communities to see the current situation.
What appeared as soon as he entered:
[One more Transcendent candidate withdraws! Will it ultimately become a four-way battle?]
[Expected voting results if it becomes a four-way battle – The Heavenly Demon isn't necessarily advantageous?]
[Gambling sites overwhelmingly favor Heavenly Demon Lee Ganghan as the odds-on favorite.]
Most posts were related to the Transcendent voting.
People thinking Lee Ganghan would naturally participate and expecting a four-way battle were busy analyzing voting patterns.
-This is obviously Heavenly Demon Lord's victory, right?
-ㄹㅇㅋㅋ The person who made this vote possible is Heavenly Demon Lord, no way he'd lose? ㅋㅋㅋ
-But China and India's populations are both huge
-Including Chinese and Indian diaspora, wouldn't that be 1.5 billion?
-If the world population is 8 billion and the remaining 5 billion support him, wouldn't that work?
-Even if Mike takes some votes, Heavenly Demon Lord seems overwhelmingly advantageous...
Though some voices worried about China and India's population numbers.
Most community opinion still predicted the Heavenly Demon's victory.
The impact he had shown over the past month was so great.
The majority view was that even in a four-way battle, he would win.
'No one's even thinking about withdrawing from the election.'
There'll be a huge uproar when the withdrawal news breaks.
Lee Ganghan smiled bitterly and looked at news from other areas.
Most were about Transcendent voting, making it hard to find, but.
[Using Tower Designation Entry profitably from day one]
[Rankers avoiding all Occupation Reservation towers ㅋㅋㅋ]
Posts about Lee Ganghan's SS achievement reward.
'Tower Designation Entry' were also posted.
-Are they all fleeing after getting bitter experiences in Occupation Reservation towers ㅋㅋㅋ
-But if we don't clear those, won't they eventually get occupied...?
-Ah whatever, Heavenly Demon Lord will handle everything~~~
-No, at this point it's not carrying a log for the Heavenly Demon but supporting the Earth? ㅋㅋㅋ
-Humanity is lacking, sorry... ㅠㅠ We'll elect you as Transcendent instead!
Once tower designation became possible.
Players all avoiding Occupation Reservation towers.
Since most would die without clearing even one floor if caught there.
It was a seemingly rational choice.
Moreover,
[Occupation Reservation tower erosion speed clearly slowed.]
[Actually better to avoid them? Comparison of changes between yesterday and today at the same time.]
When players stopped entering Occupation Reservation towers.
The towers' continuously changing speed noticeably slowed.
-Not entering Occupation Reservation towers is actually beneficial?
-Is avoiding them better than entering and dying ㅋㅋ
-One choice per week would be disappointing though
-ㄹㅇ Two times would be perfect ㅋㅋ
-Heavenly Demon Lord please do it again...?
-Stop exploiting him;;;;
-Uh humanity has no conscience lol Keep doing it lol
-We'll elect you as Transcendent!!!
People expressing strong intentions to elect him as Transcendent while hoping the Heavenly Demon would clear another achievement.
Lee Ganghan looked through such reactions and focused on how Occupation Reservation towers' changes had slowed.
'I guess it's better not to get matched than to keep dying there.'
Well, the only player who achieved proper results in Occupation Reservation towers so far was Lee Ganghan.
For ordinary players, getting caught there meant no score acquisition, level up, or TP gain.
Rather than suffering such losses, boycotting and not dying was advantageous.
Of course.
'Once per week, so they'll eventually enter Occupation Reservation towers.'
According to experts' analysis.
The probability of matching with Occupation Reservation towers was between 30-35%.
This probability had considerably decreased.
When there were initially 18 Occupation Reservation towers, the matching probability was about 50%.
The probability seemed to have decreased proportionally as 18 became 12.
'Hmm... If Mike becomes Transcendent, wouldn't he be able to clear up to the 10th floor?'
Mike had cleared up to the 5th floor in the current state.
If he became Transcendent and received benefits, wouldn't clearing become easier?
He'd clear at least a few more floors.
'Certainly, rather than me alone, it's better to have more skilled individuals.'
The heavy homework given to all humanity, towers.
To solve this, Lee Ganghan couldn't shoulder everything alone.
No matter how strong he was, tower entry wasn't possible 2-3 times per day.
'I should talk about this during my next tower climb too.'
Lee Ganghan thought of another reason for withdrawing from the Transcendent election and closed the community.
'Now that I've rested a bit, I should train again.'
Continuing training by reciting Heavenly Demon Divine Art from where he left off.
Night had fallen before he knew it.
***
'Come to think of it, father said he'd come today.'
He had sent a message last time during free time saying he'd come to meet him.
Father: What meeting? It's fine. The association will handle everything. And you're the most important player, I can't bother such a busy person, can I?
Father: I'll contact you when I arrive in Korea. Don't worry and keep doing what you need to do.
Father sent a reply saying it was fine and to do his work.
After that, he boarded a plane and lost contact.
'He didn't tell me what time the flight was or anything.'
It'd be better to see him tomorrow morning.
I'm curious about 'that person' coming with father too.
When Lee Ganghan was thinking this.
Brrrrr......
His phone vibrated.
Looking at the screen, the caller was Shin Yuri.
"Hello."
[Heavenly Demon Lord! China says they'll bring the promised items tomorrow morning. But that Director Jin's father wants to come along to see if his daughter is alive......]
"Director Jin's father... Ah. You mean Jin Jiaxian's father."
[Yes. Would that be okay? The transaction is scheduled to proceed at the association.]
"Understood. Showing him is fine."
Jin Jiaxian should clear the tower by tomorrow morning too.
When Lee Ganghan readily agreed.
Shin Yuri continued.
[Ah. And the U.S. also says a CIA-affiliated player will come with the CIA director bringing an SSS-grade item!]
"Oh... They got an SSS-grade item quickly?"
[According to CIA sources, Mike personally gave one of his items to the government. He seems to have considerable expectations for this Transcendent vote.]
Mike personally?
Well, Mike would be most advantageous if Lee Ganghan withdrew.
He must be quite eager to personally give an SSS-grade item.
[Still, just in case with the SSS-grade item... wouldn't it be better to declare support for Mike after receiving the item?]
"I'll do that. On the first day, I won't make any specific candidate support declaration."
[Yes yes. That seems better.]
After confirming tomorrow's schedule and ending the conversation, Lee Ganghan looked at his phone screen as it vibrated again.
A messenger text had arrived.
Father: Son, I've arrived in Korea.
Father: That person wants to tour the Yongin house with you.
Father: Do you have time tomorrow?
Without saying when he arrived in Korea.
Father immediately sent a message.
Lee Ganghan replied right away.
-Yes, I have a schedule at the association in the morning, but I'm free in the afternoon.
Father: I see. Then let's meet at the Yongin house around 2 PM tomorrow.
-Yes, father.
Father: Then I'll always pray that God's grace be with you today too. May God always protect you.
Lately when texting with father, God stories never fail to appear at the end.
'It makes sense since he's serving an angel nearby......'
Lee Ganghan left a message telling father to rest well today and recalled tomorrow's schedule.
Morning: Meet Chinese officials at the association.
Afternoon: Meet father and 'that person' at the Yongin house.
'The schedule is quite tight.'
Then it'd be better to wake up at dawn, climb a tower, then carry out the schedule.
After planning tomorrow, Lee Ganghan checked his watch.
Time was already 11 PM.
'The Transcendent voting notice definitely said candidate withdrawal was possible within 24 hours.'
Just wait a little more time from here.
A situation where he couldn't withdraw even if he wanted to would arise.
Lee Ganghan opened the system window.
At the very bottom.
A new section called [Transcendent Voting] had been created.
Entering here.
[Candidate #1: Mike]
[Candidate #2: Wang Jiebin (Withdrawn)]
Player names and candidate numbers were listed from #1 onwards.
'Wang Jiebin, if he's #2, isn't he world ranking 2nd? But why did he withdraw?'
Not knowing China's complex circumstances, Lee Ganghan tilted his head.
'Well, there must be reasons.'
Moving on and looking down.
Excluding all withdrawn candidates.
[Candidate #1: Mike]
[Candidate #7: Zhang Haoran]
[Candidate #9: Kiara]
Candidates compressed to 3 people.
And at the very bottom.
[Candidate #10: Lee Ganghan]
Lee Ganghan's own name appeared.
When he clicked his name.
[Do you wish to withdraw from Transcendent candidacy?]
A message asking about withdrawal intention appeared.
'I've never even run for class president in my life... The first election I'm participating in, I'm withdrawing.'
This feels strange?
Lee Ganghan thought so and pressed 'Yes' in the message window.
Then.
[Do you really wish to withdraw from Transcendent candidacy?]
The system asking for confirmation once more.
'Maybe for accidental clicks? How considerate.'
When Lee Ganghan pressed yes without hesitation.
[Candidate #10 'Lee Ganghan' has withdrawn from Transcendent candidacy.]
A brief message appeared.
The candidate withdrawal was complete.
'These things don't appear as announcements.'
Well, I didn't know about other candidates withdrawing either.
This won't become an issue quickly.
Lee Ganghan initially thought so naively, but.
-Huh?
-What did I see wrong? Candidate #10 withdrawal notice appeared?
-Whoa Heavenly Demon Lord withdrew!!!
His withdrawal was immediately widely known throughout the world.