Chapter 121 - Chapter 121

Chapter 121

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Translated by Jinmu

Read more at hivetoons.org

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Joo-hyuk decided not to agonize any further.

The North Korea tower isn't going to collapse right away, and there's no need to worry in advance about things that haven't even struck yet.

The worries of the summoned entities?

Those people originally have a tendency to make a fuss.

To the extent that they even block him from clearing the tower.

Where is the North Korean threat just once or twice?

They're kids who launch ballistic missiles at the drop of a hat and babble about turning Seoul into a sea of fire.

The citizens have now become chronically accustomed to it and just accept it as being like that.

Joo-hyuk drove the Bentley and headed to the South Korea Awakening Management Agency.

He took the steering wheel himself.

As he went out onto the road, cars made way on their own.

They really don't have to do that.

He felt somewhat proud.

From now on, there will be no instances of catching a ride in someone else's car to go out.

I have my own car, so why bother?

And now the time to hide his identity or whatever has passed.

Even now, he is on his way to meet the American Secretary of Homeland Security no less.

They said he brought a handwritten thank you letter from the American President for rescuing Gerald.

A 25-year-old life with a high school diploma, who used to wander from one part-time job to another, now rides a Bentley and meets an American Secretary.

Anyway, driving safely, he arrived at the Awakening Management Agency's main gate, met with Deputy Director Jeon Kwang-il there, and...

"Welcome."

"Was I a bit late?"

"Not at all! You arrived right on time."

Joo-hyuk finished parking the Bentley and went inside the Management Agency.

Secretary MacMillan's visit to South Korea this time was unofficial,

He came solely to meet him.

There were no official events either.

Perhaps because of that, reporters were also nowhere to be seen.

Joo-hyuk entered the Director's office together with Deputy Director Jeon Kwang-il.

And finally met with Secretary MacMillan.

That person he used to see on TV.

MacMillan smiled brightly and asked for a handshake.

"Finally getting to see you. Player Bong!"

"..."

There is an interpreter next to him, but still, the first greeting should be...

"...How do you do, nice meet you."

"Nice to meet you."

MacMillan spoke while firmly squeezing Joo-hyuk's hand.

"I wanted to tell you directly. Thank you truly. For saving Gerald."

"...You're welcome. By a chance opportunity, I suppose God helped."

"Hahaha! You're modest just as I heard."

It's genuine.

It really was a coincidence.

He was merely trying to figure out what the Tower Intrusion Ticket was.

MacMillan held onto Joo-hyuk's hand for a long time and didn't let go.

While continuing to say something...

Haa.

He wants to finish quickly and go home.

"This is a handwritten letter sent from President Lloyd at the White House. Here..."

Right.

I came to receive this.

Joo-hyuk carefully received the letter and unfolded it.

'....'

It's English.

I don't like it.

Why write a thank you letter in English to a Korean person?

Do they think all Koreans can read English?

"There are the translated contents of the letter on the back."

"Ah! Yes yes."

There were no special contents.

Just saying thank you for this, thank you for that, anyway thank you for everything.

Can I go now?

He has to go grocery shopping at the mart today.

There are many mouths to feed.

The food expenses going in a month are no joke.

And Gobang who will return soon.

He has to pack the refrigerator full for him who has a good appetite.

He'll be coming back with the LSSR grade, so just how much will he eat?

"Oh right! And also..."

Secretary MacMillan took something out of his bag.

"This is a meager gift America gives to Player Bong."

"...Thank you."

It truly looks meager.

A small iron box.

"You may open it now."

Without any expectations, Joo-hyuk opened the door of the iron box.

Click!

"Hmm."

It's an object he's seen a lot.

What is it?

The appearance is exactly like a Rune of Trait Enhancement...

"Huh?"

What is this?

He rubbed his eyes and looked.

There's no mistaking it.

As he picked it up with a trembling hand and checked the item information.

[Rune of Trait Enhancement.]

Effect : Upon consumption, it enhances the player's trait by one stage.

A brief and clear explanation.

There's no room for delusion like it being a Rune of Trait Addition.

A genuine Rune of Trait Enhancement.

Oh my, this precious thing?

"I don't know if you'll like it. Hahaha."

Ahhh,

Secretary-nim, our Secretary-nim.

I like it.

Why wouldn't I?

"I don't mean to ask for recognition, but this was difficult to obtain."

Of course.

It's difficult to obtain.

If it was something easily obtainable, he would have done trait enhancement 100 times by now.

"It is an item purchased after secretly contacting the black market. I sincerely hope it becomes of help."

The real man's chest became majestic.

Joo-hyuk approached Secretary MacMillan, suddenly hugged him tightly, and...

"Thank you very much! Big Brother!"

"...What?"

"If there's a floor that's hard to clear in the future, please tell me immediately."

"Umm, ah, got it."

As expected of the American older brother.

To think he's this generous.

He should reflect on himself for doubting his great generosity even for a moment.

Well, UAE Crown Prince Bin-Sala's gifts were thankful too.

Supercars are alright too.

But riding them around is dangerous.

How many traffic accidents happen in a day?

Wristwatches?

He has a metal allergy so he doesn't even wear them well.

Then, carefully putting the Rune of Trait Enhancement into the inventory...

At that moment!

His tingling back of the head.

At the same time, a gloomy aura transmitting over.

'What is it?'

Turning his head to look,

'...Uh.'

Two people standing vacantly like borrowed barley sacks.

Director Park Kyung-soo and Deputy Director Jeon Kwang-il.

Sorrowful expressions.

Then again!

There's no way they'd feel good when their own nation's best player is hugging another nation's minister so intimately like that.

'Did I show my happiness too obviously?'

He should have managed his facial expression.

They seemed anxious somehow.

Perhaps fearing he might naturalize to America.

Eyy.

I'm not going to America.

I was just making a bit of a fuss because I was thankful.

Joo-hyuk came out of the Awakening Management Agency again and headed home.

He didn't even have time to go grocery shopping at the mart.

In his heart, he wanted to take Secretary MacMillan to a Dongdaemun whole chicken place and treat him to a meal, but he just came out because he was conscious of Park Kyung-soo and Jeon Kwang-il's gazes.

'If I consume this rune, is it the 7th trait enhancement?'

First privilege, encore privilege, roulette privilege, reward for clearing UAE's Black Tower, Restore Scroll from assembling Rajix's pieces, Saudi Arabia's compensation for the Holy Sword damage, and lastly, America's gift.

He is deeply moved.

Joy truly comes alive when shared together.

Joo-hyuk summoned the summoned entities.

Excluding Gobang and the Blood Wolf, a total of 7 people.

"Summoner Bong, sir, Cossack is here, sir. When are we going to eat cold noodles, sir?"

"Young Master, this girl offers her greetings."

"Certain victory!"

"My Lord!"

"Ho-e,"

"Summoner, this old man has also come."

Also Mari, who is burying her head in the corner of the living room over there.

Tti-ring!

[Mari] : Thank you for calling me Summoner-nim.

She sent a text message.

Whoa, with 7 people saying one word each, the living room is noisy.

It's a good thing Gobang isn't here at least.

"Everyone, there is an item I have to show you."

"Is it a good one, sir?"

"It would naturally be a good one, wouldn't it."

Taking out the rune from the inventory,

"Ta-da!"

Holding his hand up high,

"Mmm?"

"...Heok!"

"Oh!"

"Th-that is?"

"Hohoho! It is good, very good."

"Ho-e-e-e!"

Tti-ring!

[Mari] : Congratulations™¬

Clap clap clap clap!

The resounding sound of applause.

"I offer my congratulations. However, you have merely received what you rightfully deserved."

"Now we have ridden the momentum. A worry has been lessened."

Cossack turned his head and dabbed away the tears trickling down with his finger.

Just how important is trait enhancement to a player?

It is especially even more so for a summoner.

Yet to think Summoner Bong, who is merely level 74, can already call forth 8 summoned entities.

"Princess!"

"Yes?"

"Play the celebratory music, sir!"

"..."

Joo-hyuk brought the held-up rune to his mouth.

Is there a need to save it?

He must eat it right away.

Gulp!

[The awakening trait is enhanced.]

'What about the status window?'

[Trait] : Summon (Simultaneous Summons : 8)

Now 8 people.

Checking the catalog as well,

[Catalog] : John Cossack / Barbarian Meat Shield / Gyeon Dal-rae / Rajix / Gwangma / Veronica Caliber / Lucius Bardin / Blood Wolf / Alliamari.

Since one spot is empty, the person, no, animal he can call forth is,

"Blood Wolf designated summon!"

Spot!

"Keong-keong!"

"Ho-e!"

7 summoned entities, 1 dog.

A total of eight.

However, Joo-hyuk was not satisfied.

He continues to advance.

10 people, 20 people, 30 people, until he can call them forth without limits.

'Is there no place to get one more Rune of Trait Enhancement?'

Secretary MacMillan said he obtained it from the black market.

Then there might still be inventory.

'I should make time later and look into it.'

South Korea Awakening Management Agency.

Secretary MacMillan finished his business and departed.

He was scheduled to return directly without dropping by anywhere else.

In the end, meeting Player Bong Joo-hyuk and handing over the gift was MacMillan's sole purpose for coming to South Korea.

To think the American Secretary of Homeland Security acted as a gift deliveryman.

However, Park Kyung-soo knows why MacMillan is going this far, and Jeon Kwang-il knows too.

"It's bitter."

"I am angry."

"At this rate, if Player Bong later..."

"Ah! Come on! Director! Words become seeds; please."

"...I'm sorry. I'm just saying it out of anxiety."

The meeting between Secretary MacMillan and Player Bong.

That harmonious atmosphere.

They didn't feel good.

They also felt ambiguous emotions.

If they were to purposely express what this emotion was...

A sense of shame?

That's right.

A poignant self-reflection.

The inadequacy of the Awakening Management Agency not even being able to bring a single Rune of Trait Enhancement to South Korea's best player.

What if Player Bong comes out saying he will naturalize to America?

They have no justification to hold him back.

"Shall we try obtaining one too? How is the black market?"

"Actually, I tried accessing the dark web with my identification number a moment ago."

"Huh? Already? Did you correspond?"

"No, I couldn't."

"Why?"

"Access was blocked. It seems they cut their tail and went into hiding."

"Damn it! Again?"

It's a thing that happens often.

The Black Market Guild is thoroughly a point-contact organization.

If even one of the executives is apprehended by Interpol or intelligence agencies, they immediately shut down all transactions and hide.

That is the reason the Black Market Guild could be maintained.

Once the dark web is blocked, item trades are impossible.

Therefore, the nations also turned a blind eye for the most part.

"We won't know when trades will resume then."

"Yes."

"Hoo, I see. Oh right! How are the effects of that elixir? Is it usable?"

"There are mentality enhancement elixirs among tower rewards too, but it doesn't even compare to those."

"Oh! Is that so?"

The item name is peculiar too.

[Elixir of Mentality Enhancement Transmuted by a Sage]

Transmuted by a sage.

Although they don't know who that person is.

"The medicinal effect is far more outstanding than Holy Water. If used together with the Holy Sword, it exerts a synergy effect and becomes even better."

So starting today, he intends to have South Korean elite players start climbing the upper floors.

Reservations for renting the Holy Sword had become sparse.

Up until now, it was rented primarily to foreign players, but currently, reservation times are vacant in spots, so an opportunity was given to South Korean elite players as well.

"Don't forget to take the rental fee every time they use it."

"Player Bong-nim did say he wouldn't take rental fees from South Korean players."

"No. Since we can't even get him a Rune of Trait Enhancement, we must at least do that for him."

Thus, Joo-hyuk's bank account never had a dry day.

Engineer, Maker, and Designer.

The Tower Managers engaged in conversation with each other.

[He still hasn't used the Tower Occupation Proclamation Megaphone?]

[It seems this Savior is very cautious in personality. I thought he would use it at least once out of curiosity.]

[Tsk, with things like this, will it be a proper ordeal.]

[Let alone an ordeal, he will gradually grow even stronger. Isn't even up to the 79th floor a section designed for the Savior anyway.]

[Hoo, that's true. The 3 summoned entities will break through the hardships and enhance their grades.]

[Since 1 has already broken through, there must be 2 left.]

[That is not all. They can also enhance the rank of their soul with the Token of Salvation, can they not.]

[There is no choice but to settle the match in the 80s floors in the end.]

[Honestly, I am anxious about the 80s floors too.]

[Shall we shake things up a bit?]

[No. We've already intervened too much. If we interfere any further, causality will collapse.]

[It seems the entire universe is helping this Earth's Savior.]

Designer, Engineer, and Maker all agreed.

Because the situation that progressed until now was proving that.

Time passed quickly.

The Black Towers of various countries worldwide being cleared one after another.

Countries possessing Tower Jumping Tickets climbed only up to the 66th floor borrowing the power of Holy Water, then rode the elevator and went up to the 71st floor.

Countries without tickets also entered South Korea and climbed to the 71st floor fully doped with the Holy Sword, Holy Water, and various elixirs.

Thus, the average floor number of Black Towers worldwide approached close to 70.

This was all because the Dark Aura of the undead section weakened due to the genuine Kavalan clear.

Excluding the North Korea Black Tower, of course.

It was smooth sailing.

Earth fully entered the era of High-Grade Mana Stones.

Joo-hyuk was at the Namyangju villa.

He plans to welcome Gobang here.

That's right.

Gobang is coming.

He will return in glory having become an LSSR-grade summoned entity.

Meanwhile, two summoned entities whispering secretly in a corner of the villa.

"Sir Gwangma, is it okay to leave North Korea as is, sir?"

"Are you crazy? Currently, that place is the most dangerous. It must be dealt with as soon as possible."

"But what do we do, sir? Summoner Bong doesn't really like killing people, sir."

Gwangma also nodded his head.

However, he didn't think of that as a flaw of the Summoner.

It is due to his character.

That is why he is a summoner even more to his liking.

"What can we do? We have no choice but to eliminate the risk factor without killing people."

"Yep? How, sir?"

"Assassin, how long is your manifestation limit?"

"9 hours, sir."

"...I am envious. This seat is still 3 hours."

"The 1-star rating given at first was huge, sir. You should have been careful, sir. Since you spewed murderous intent all over the place feeling good as soon as you came out, sir."

"Keo-heom!"

Cossack flinched at Gwangma's fake cough.

"Anyway, you should be dispatched to North Korea."

"You mean dispatch, sir?"

"Subdue North Korea's Chairman and make him a puppet."

"Umm, I don't have a mind subjugation skill though, sir,"

"You just have to threaten him. You are good at that, aren't you."

"It's not threatening, sir. It's negotiation, sir. Negotiation master, creative strategist, I am Cossack, sir."

North Korea is a dictatorship.

The nation's policies are determined by one word from the Chairman.

If they control that Chairman?

The threat disappears in an instant.

They could even aim for unification.

Also, it is a very easy task.

Who can handle Cossack?

Stealth, infiltration, intimidation, assassination, lock picking, striking the back of the head...

No person or faction exists that can stop him.

Even if a level 70 liberated player lunges at him, it ends with one sword strike.

Like swimming while touching the ground, like eating cold porridge.

However, there is the most difficult problem.

Will the Summoner permit it or not?

"Sir Gwangma, you try suggesting it to Summoner Bong, sir. Saying you'll deal with North Korea, sir."

"...I cannot do it."

"Why, sir?"

"Our relationship has barely improved, if I get on his bad side, it would be disastrous."

"E-hyo."

"Soon that barbarian will return at the Legend grade, and what's more, there is a random summon chance after another fortnight passes; my position is precarious."

That is the most terrifying situation for Gwangma.

Previously he was the only LSSR-grade summoned entity, but it's like there will soon be 3.

It is clear his value will drop.

On a day he happens to rub the Summoner the wrong way?

"You try suggesting it."

"...Uh umm, I don't want to either, sir. Sir Gwangma, you do it, sir."

"Sseup! It seems you want to die?"

"I would rather die, sir."

"This bastard..."

At that moment,

"What are you two doing over there? The meat is all burning."

At Joo-hyuk's call, Gwangma and Cossack...

"Ah, understood, I am going right away."

"Yep! I am going too, sir."

They trudged over.