Chapter 46
Chapter 46.
The 777 Tower entered through the last ticket.
The strategy was similar to last time.
Opening treasure chests, and going further to open the 'Sky Treasure Chest' behind the escape portal.
Anyway, until fighting the Guardian that transformed into a sword.
All Lee Ganghan had to do was open treasure chests.
However,
-Already using Heavenly Demon Divine Art?
-Just entered but seems like it got faster?
-Got the stream notification and came right in, but why does it feel like it's already ending lol
The strategy speed was incomparably faster than yesterday.
'The feeling of rising to C grade is definitely noticeable.'
Yesterday and today.
Since he didn't use Heavenly Demon Divine Art when opening treasure chests both times.
The difference between D and C was clearly felt.
In terms of speed alone, the strategy speed seemed almost twice as fast.
Opening the Sky Treasure Chest was equally easy.
Especially.
'Yesterday I only opened one because the escape portal was far away... but this time I can open one more.'
Yesterday's situation where only 3 remained after the escape portal disappeared when he opened one.
Back then, there were limits to leaping with Heavenly Demon Reign Step, so he had to leave all three portals.
But this time there was no need for that.
As long as one escape portal remained anywhere, he could go anywhere.
So Lee Ganghan opened one more chest.
'The portals aren't disappearing anymore?'
When the portals didn't disappear even after opening one additional treasure chest.
Keeeeek...!
He opened 5 more Sky Treasure Chests.
Then.
[Sky Treasure Chests have been opened additionally.]
[Guardians are being urgently summoned.]
[Additional Guardians are descending.]
Pazizik!
Light flashed from two of the remaining three.
Only one portal remained.
'Now all that's left is dealing with the Spirit of the Sword.'
Handling the sword was also.
Completely different from yesterday.
[Skill, 'Heavenly Demon Divine Sword' is activated.]
When he grasped the sword and Heavenly Demon Divine Sword activated.
He immediately infused sword energy into the light sword.
Instead of wobbling and exploding like last time.
Lee Ganghan could control it from the first sword.
With this.
'Can I bring one more Spirit of the Sword to Ten Thousand Demon Battle?'
Though he had the Spirit of Heavenly Sword.
Well, having multiple swords would be good.
Lee Ganghan thought so as he watched the Spirit of the Sword inside the sword wake up.
-Oh, getting another sword? shiver
-This treasure vault map is really sweet
-But what happened to yesterday's sword in the end?
-Seeing he didn't bring it today, did it disappear?
Viewers also watched the Spirit of the Sword and asked if he was getting another sword.
But suddenly.
The Spirit of the Sword that poked its face out from the sword.
"Hey! Already has an owner!"
Brought up the story of having an 'owner'.
Pung!
The light sword lost its form and exploded.
[Sacred Fire absorbs power with matching wavelength.]
The Sacred Fire was strengthened in the process.
'Owner, you say. Could it be talking about the Spirit of Heavenly Sword?'
But if we're talking about owner, shouldn't this side be the owner?
Why are they saying they're the owner?
Lee Ganghan held such doubts and tried grasping other swords.
"Someone already licked this one..."
"Too bad. This guy looked useful..."
All the Spirits of the Sword threw out a word each and then exploded with pung pung.
-Looks like you can only take one sword?
-These guys seem more quick-witted than yesterday's spirit, didn't you pick wrong? lol
-Yesterday's kid did look kind of lazy
-They all look the same though lol
Viewers watching the exploding Spirits of the Sword said he picked wrong.
Certainly the Spirit of Heavenly Sword felt the laziest among all the Spirits of the Sword he'd seen so far.
Still.
'What's already decided, I have to take with me.'
Can't expel it now.
Lee Ganghan exploded all the swords to strengthen the Sacred Fire and entered the escape portal.
-Instant clear incoming;
-Ordered pizza but it ended before it arrived...
-Definitely stronger than yesterday shiver
-Streaming length is too short compared to other players lol
People watching Lee Ganghan felt disappointed that it was ending already.
-Only at stage 10 will he play for the same time as other players
-Wonder how many floors he'll climb there?
-Won't he set a new Iron record?
-For real lol
They brought up Lee Ganghan's next challenge, Tower of Infinity stage 10.
People said he wouldn't be able to finish faster than other players there.
'Stage 10 is definitely... a test of how far you can climb within 2 hours.'
Not just stage 10.
At stages 20, 30, 40, etc., every tenth stage.
Special towers waited in the Tower of Infinity.
Unlike existing towers that ended at the 10th floor.
Literally endless.
It was a mission to challenge the 'Tower of Infinity' for a given time.
'2 hours of full climbing... I'll need to save Heavenly Demon Divine Art as much as possible there.'
Lee Ganghan thought so and returned home.
Though he couldn't get more swords because the Spirit of Heavenly Sword was already there.
Still, he gained a lot by acquiring a huge amount of TP from this 777 map.
And even absorbed more power from the Sacred Fire.
'777 tickets, 3 of them, used them quite well.'
At first I wondered what kind of map this was.
But I even got a sword in the end.
As Lee Ganghan was feeling satisfied thinking about the Sky Treasure Vault.
Ttiring.
['Spirit of Heavenly Sword' has requested conversation with you.]
[Would you like to connect communication?]
A communication came in from Ten Thousand Demon Battle.
'Did it wake up after sleeping?'
When Lee Ganghan accepted the communication.
From the light sword.
The Spirit of Heavenly Sword suddenly poked its head out.
Then.
[If you got a sword... you should use it... I was preparing.]
It brought up why he didn't summon it.
"Weren't you sleeping?"
[Sleeping is preparation...]
"Well, it was a map I did yesterday, so I didn't bother calling you."
[Swordsmanship... you need to train too. I hope you'll call me...]
It looked completely lazy.
But rather, it wanted to participate in tower climbing more enthusiastically than any other member of Ten Thousand Demon Battle.
Lee Ganghan nodded.
"Alright. I'll keep summoning you from next time."
[Good...]
"But when I touched other Spirits of the Sword earlier, they exploded on their own?"
[We... all respect each other's territory... We don't steal disciples...]
The Spirit of Heavenly Sword said they respect each other's territory.
While saying that.
[You won't need any other sword besides me either...]
It showed strong confidence, saying one sword - itself - would be enough.
'Let's test it once on the 10th floor.'
As Lee Ganghan thought so and ended communication with the Spirit of Heavenly Sword.
Burururu...
Just then his phone vibrated.
The caller was agent representative Shin Yuri.
[I'd like to do a first briefing regarding the contract. Would you have time?]
She said she was organizing proposals from various countries.
It seemed like some outline had emerged.
"Yes. That's fine."
[Yes. Then I think I'll arrive in 20 minutes. I'll see you then~.]
"Yes."
She was already on her way by car.
20 minutes later, Lee Ganghan went to the agent office by car with Shin Yuri.
"Then I'll start the briefing."
Looking at the contract documents piled high on the conference room table.
He began listening to Shin Yuri's explanation.
***
"Proposals came from a total of 51 countries, and I rejected all places that made ridiculous offers."
51 countries.
That's quite a lot.
"Ah. Among countries that made 'ridiculous offers,' Korea was included too... but I included our country's contract in the first briefing for now."
"Are Korea's conditions that bad?"
"It's not just the conditions... they're playing around too much."
Shin Yuri hardened her expression and began talking about each country one by one.
"The best financial proposal is from Saudi Arabia. This place has the highest basic guaranteed salary, and as a special clause, they offered to continue paying compensation even if Lee Ganghan-nim loses his abilities."
Shin Yuri showed the proposed contract amount and weekly salary.
'...They're offering this much money?'
Though the money earned from tower climbing these days was decent.
The money backed by a nation is definitely different.
They'll keep giving this basic salary even if abilities are lost?
Saudi... might be worth going to?
"Proposals from the US and China are also quite attractive. These two countries don't have the special clause of paying compensation even if abilities are lost like Saudi, but the basic salary is similar and there are various special allowance conditions too. If you're not worried about losing abilities, choosing one of these two countries would look good."
"America and China..."
"Moreover, if you choose one of these two countries, you can greatly increase external recognition. Many players are active as celebrities, and if you gain fame in America or China, secondary income can become larger too."
Even if the basic guaranteed amount might be slightly better in the Middle East.
Considering things like advertisements, big countries are better.
"And personally, I felt China wanted it more strongly. They said conditions could be adjusted in any way, and they actively came forward saying they'd give more than any other country."
"Really? I thought CH111 was Chinese."
"That person is probably from China. The Chinese negotiation team apologized once more saying they were rude to sir Heavenly Demon ."
"Well, they even bowed to me. It's all over."
Actually, CH111 didn't give the back payment.
The advance payment was pretty good for that time.
Plus they even started the non-face-to-face worship.
Lee Ganghan had no feelings about that.
"Various other contract proposals came in as well..."
Shin Yuri showed him other countries' contract conditions organized.
But compared to Saudi, US, and China's, most were somewhat lacking proposals.
"In the end, broadly speaking, there's the choice of the Middle East that guarantees basic salary, or going to either the US or China."
"That's right. These have the best conditions."
Safe choice of Saudi?
Or playing in the big leagues?
It's broadly divided into two paths.
Lee Ganghan nodded while carefully examining the contract conditions.
"Are Korea's conditions really not good?"
One country whose conditions hadn't been shown yet.
He asked about 'Korea's' conditions.
Then Shin Yuri's face hardened.
"... Sir Heavenly Demon, do you remember last time? The contact from National Assembly member Joo Yongwan's side."
"Ah, yes. I couldn't eat dinner because of training then."
"It seems like they're holding a grudge from that incident."
"A grudge?"
"Yes."
Shin Yuri showed Korea's contract conditions.
Unlike the countries seen earlier.
The basic salary condition was a meager 3 million won monthly.
Instead.
"There are tons of performance bonus conditions."
"Yes. And achievable bonuses have small amounts. Like bonus payment for climbing 6 days a week... This is actually impossible for other players too."
"Really? I go every day."
"Unlike sir Heavenly Demon, other players often take more than a day to challenge a tower once."
Taking more than a day to climb a tower?
'Is that why viewers say it's like watching shorts videos?'
There was a reason why chat comments asking why it ends so quickly keep coming.
Compared to Lee Ganghan who clears towers within 30 minutes to break records.
Other players sometimes took more than a day to strategize.
"But what's this at the bottom? The amounts aren't realistic."
"Exactly. This wasn't made to mock people... really. 5 billion payment for rising to C grade within this month, and 5 billion bonus for entering monthly score ranking top 50 within this month? This month is already half over."
Large amounts were all performance bonuses that had to be achieved 'this month'.
Rise to C grade.
Enter score ranking top 50, etc.
They only presented conditions that seemed impossible to achieve at first glance.
"But what's the relationship between this proposal and National Assembly member Joo Yongwan's side?"
"Not long after the association presented this contract, National Assembly member Joo Yongwan's side contacted us saying they'd solve it."
Shin Yuri glared at the contract with an angry expression.
"As if they were waiting for it. No matter how much National Assembly member Joo Yongwan is greatly involved in the association's budget... how could they contact us saying they'd fix it after grasping the contract details unless they knew beforehand? I think it's not unrelated to the last incident."
"You mean not eating dinner?"
"Yes. The meal wasn't really just a meal, it must have been a scheme to use sir Heavenly Demon's image. Refusing that must have irritated them."
"Hmm."
That gentleman is being quite troublesome just because I didn't eat one meal.
Lee Ganghan thought so and looked at the contract contents.
"But well, I've already achieved one thing."
"Yes?"
He pointed to a contract clause with his finger.
What he pointed to was.
The item about paying 5 billion if he rises to C grade within 'this month'.
"I became C grade today."
"...Yes?"