Chapter 56 - Chapter 56

Chapter 56

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Translated by Jinmu

Read more at hivetoons.org

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He had burned bright white.

He had climbed in a near frenzy.

Tomorrow, entering the 60th floor would be possible.

Since entering the Wyvern section, he'd cleared an upper floor once per day.

And the other run was a repeat clear of the same floor to collect leather samples.

That was the plan they'd settled on.

He wouldn't be stripping a lot of leather.

With piles of Basilisk leather already stacked up.

Just one piece each.

For sample purposes.

The remaining time was for Mana Stone collection.

Joo-hyuk and the summoned entities were back inside the 59th floor, currently stripping the hide from a single Lightning Wyvern.

But Rajix's expression was unusual.

It had been that way since the 56th floor.

"I-I'm sorry. S-supply officer."

"Wyeeek!"

Rajix, sulking and throwing a fit.

Veronica standing at attention, apologizing to Rajix.

Why were they like this?

It was over nothing.

The reason was that Veronica had fired magic bullets to pull the Wyverns in for aggro, but in doing so had blown clean holes through the bodies.

Rajix naturally took issue with that.

The leather was damaged.

Even if it was only one piece being stripped.

"Wyeeeeek!... Just aim for the head."

"I-I'll correct it immediately!"

Why Veronica deferred to Rajix.

Being a soldier herself, she knew all too well how frightening a supply officer could be.

What did rank matter?

Position was everything.

A supply officer who facilitated the procurement of most of the magic bullet ammunition. Crossing them meant the end of military life.

For that reason, after Joo-hyuk, the next one she kept on her toes around was Rajix.

He had no choice as the commanding officer.

He couldn't just stand by and watch.

"Sergeant Veronica?"

"Sergeant Veronica Caliber!"

"At ease."

"At ease!"

And then to Rajix.

"I'll tell her to only aim for the head from now on. So let's put this behind us."

"Wye, alright."

"I'll help with the leather processing too."

"...It's fine. I'll do it myself."

"I want to do it. I."

Wyverns were cumbersome to skin whole due to the wings.

The wings had to be cut away first to make it easier.

Wuuung!

A blood-red, semi-transparent astral aura forming at the tip of Joo-hyuk's fingers.

This was the Blood Jade Astral Aura.

His proficiency was still low, so right now he could only manifest the astral aura at his fingertips.

Pressing his fingertip against the wing joint of the Wyvern carcass, swoosh!

The wing joint cut away like soft tofu.

"How is it? Clean, right?"

When he'd first done it the cut was rough, but after a few tries he'd gotten the hang of it.

Rajix looked satisfied.

"Wyeeeeeng?... It's cool."

"This is nothing."

It was definitely convenient having learned the skill.

The sensation of carrying a sharp laser lightsaber.

What would Gwangma think?

Knowing that his legendary skill was being used for nothing more than processing monster carcasses.

Well, was Blood Jade Astral Aura all that impressive?

Using it like this instead of killing people might actually be far better.

'I'll need to hand over the samples this afternoon.'

Section Chief Lee Min-ah, or rather, Team Leader Lee Min-ah, would be coming.

Still not easy to have a conversation with her.

Unlike with the summoned entities.

* * *

The following morning.

The day of the 60th floor clear had finally arrived.

He'd finish it in one go.

Strike while the iron is hot.

The UAE's clear deadline was just five days away.

How anxious those people must be feeling right now.

He'd researched the 60th floor ahead of time.

Just a bit of footwork online was enough to gather information quickly.

A floor impossible for general players to clear alone without national-level support.

In truth, that applied to the entire flying monster section.

Floors where general players could safely conduct repeat clears to earn a livelihood were in the 40th floors and below.

Anyway, the 60th floor required facing the Wyvern Lord.

That was the only one that needed to be defeated.

Not all types of Wyverns appeared.

But did the Wyvern Lord appear alone?

No.

An oddly named monster called the Venom Wyvern also appeared alongside it.

The Venom Wyvern.

Something resembling a summon of the Wyvern Lord.

The weakest of all the Wyverns that had appeared so far.

Not even included in the mission completion conditions.

It died with even a light tap, whether melee or ranged.

Its defense was weak, and its movement speed was slow.

But that was the problem, after death.

A dead Venom Wyvern fell to the ground and dissolved right there, transforming into a liquid pool of venom.

The venom liquid didn't absorb into the earth.

It pooled on the surface, forming puddles.

Venom puddles.

One was generated for every Venom Wyvern killed.

The strange thing was, they'd also dive-bomb the ground on their own without even being attacked, creating venom puddles all over.

And stepping into those puddles?

One was infected with the venom, and the player's body began to dissolve.

It was potent venom.

Even drinking Healing Potions was useless.

How do you avoid the venom puddles?

And even if you detoxed, you'd get infected again.

You can't avoid stepping on them, can you? Not really.

Because the clearing location was extremely narrow.

Think of it as a flask-shaped canyon.

The arena was surrounded by cliffs on all sides.

The available moving area was roughly half the size of a school's sports field.

Stepping in the venom puddles was inevitable.

In a situation like this, those who shone were the nationally supported Elite players.

Armed with equipment that could resist poison packed tight in their inventories and entering the challenge.

By the time they'd gotten this far, their innate talent was one thing, but they'd also have undergone Trait Enhancement at least two times under state support.

With lavish support, they ignored the Venom Wyverns and the puddles they created, focusing their fire solely on the Wyvern Lord.

That's why the only players capable of clearing the 60th floor were one or two at most across even tower-climbing advanced nations.

Shall we head in now?

Joo-hyuk called out the summoned entities.

"Affirmative!"

"Full effort!"

"Wyeeng!"

Cossack's somewhat awkward salute.

Veronica's by-the-book FM salute.

Rajix's pitiably short-armed salute that barely reached near his eyebrows.

'Hmm...'

Should he acknowledge this? Ah, forget it.

Chu!

Joo-hyuk also quickly returned the salute.

"At ease."

Only then did Cossack, Rajix, and Veronica lower their hands.

"I'm here. Summoner."

"Young master, I trust the night was restful?"

Still, Gobang and Gyeon Dal-rae were unchanged.

"We're going to the 60th floor today. The UAE's Black Tower."

"When is the young master planning to clear South Korea's Black Tower?"

"Can't that wait, can't it?"

What's the rush with South Korea?

On top of that, the 60th floor also meant thinking about the special reward.

Not necessarily a ritual, but he ought to enter the South Korean Black Tower's clear with a reverent mindset.

But then,

"Summoner Bong, sir. I have a suggestion, sir."

"What is it?"

"I've prepared a briefing, sir. Please review it and authorize it, sir."

"...A briefing?"

Oh, this guy. Has he gotten a taste for briefings?

"Well, go ahead."

"Yes sir!"

Cossack, overjoyed at Joo-hyuk's permission.

He drew pictures, ran through demonstrations with the other summoned entities, and launched into a lengthy explanation.

"...Are you serious?"

"Yes sir!"

"This is possible?"

"Yes sir!"

"Everyone agreed?"

"Yes sir!"

This was unhinged.

Not like they were going to film a transforming mecha in the 60th floor.

"Can't we just use the normal method? Melt them with firepower like we always have."

"Of course we can, sir. But it would be very painful, sir. All of us would be in pain, sir."

That was true.

And he always felt bad about that.

"Isn't it better if only one person is in pain, sir?"

"...?"

"Gobang, sir."

"Wow, what a shameless schemer..."

"Beg pardon, sir?"

Something completely outrageous.

How utterly devious Cossack was.

"It's not only me doing that, sir. Our beloved workhorse could also die tragically hit by venom puddles during supply operations, sir."

"...Hmm."

Rajix is in danger?

That would never do.

"And using this method, there's no attack delay, sir."

This was a dilemma.

'Should we do it?'

Picturing the clear in his head, it was absurd, but...

"Yes, let's go with the briefing. Shall we enter, then?"

"Hehehe, it feels like going on an overseas trip, sir."

"It's an expedition to the UAE, so that's what it is."

Joo-hyuk took out the Multinational Tower Access Ticket.

The method of use was the same as always, tearing it.

Rip!

[You have used a Multinational Tower Access Ticket.]

[Please state the name of the country and floor number of the tower you wish to enter.]

"UAE Black Tower, 60th floor."

[Entry conditions have been met. Will you enter now?]

"Enter."

Whoosh!

[Entering the 60th floor of the UAE Black Tower.]

He'd finally entered another country's tower.

No particular feeling arose.

There was no reason for the tower's environment to change just because it was a different country.

"Full effort! Commencing Operation: Wyvern Lord Annihilation."

"Affirmative! Just trust in this Cossack, sir. Hehehe."

"Wyeek! Wyehehe."

"Please take care of yourself."

"Trust me, everyone. I'll protect you."

Stepping out of the narrow safety corridor, a space spread open in a circular arena shape.

[60th Floor Mission: Defeat 1 Wyvern Lord.]

[Time Limit: Within 12 hours.]

[Completion Condition: Wyvern Lord 0/1]

From the depths of the sky, the Wyvern Lord flew in alongside hundreds of Venom Wyverns.

Swooooosh!

Gobang activated Size Enlargement and expanded his body.

Growing taller and taller.

Enormously large.

They formed up in the formation that had been rehearsed.

First, Cossack climbed up onto Gobang's right shoulder.

Veronica onto the left shoulder.

And Rajix?

Rode on his shoulders piggyback style.

He wrapped his short legs tightly around Gobang's neck, and wrapped his short arms around Gobang's head.

A plump, full little backside.

Rajix's lethal rear view fully exposed.

This was the summoned entity 4-stage transformation fusion.

Cossack's crafty brainchild, founded on Gobang's sacrifice.

Joo-hyuk and Gyeon Dal-rae climbed up onto the cliff ledge.

To avoid the venom puddles.

They couldn't participate in combat, but buffs and cheering were possible.

"Fighting!"

What else could he do but cheer?

No choice.

Clear commences.

Jang, jang, jang, jang, jangeng!

Gyeon Dal-rae shook the bell vigorously. At the same moment,

Bam! Bam! Babababam!

Veronica on Gobang's left shoulder commenced magic gun firing.

Tap tap tap, tap tap tap, tap tap tap tap tap!

Venom Wyverns raining down like falling rain.

Venom puddles forming all over.

The heart of this clear was Gobang.

Without directly clashing with the Wyvern Lord, maintaining a set distance, he circled and led it on.

Splash, splash.

Casually stomping through the venom puddles, using endless provocation skills to hold aggro.

The ground?

Who cares if you step in it a bit?

If this were an RPG-style game, he'd be excluded from the loot distribution. But.

Gobang's regenerative ability was extraordinary.

Diamond Skin hardening his flesh.

Practically impervious to all poisons.

The scheming Cossack, hopping between Gobang's right shoulder and the Wyvern Lord's back, raining damage.

Veronica comfortably unleashing magic gun fire from Gobang's left shoulder.

Rajix riding piggyback, Wye-ing and Hooing, supplying Veronica with magic bullet ammunition.

Their dependable Gobang.

SSR-rank Barbarian Meat Shield.

Blades extending from the right hand, bullets fired from the left.

A transformation fusion robot with its own self-supply chain, flawless.

The formation was absurd, but there was literally zero delay in the attacks.

When aggro shifted, he'd punch directly to maintain provocation.

'This actually works.'

It was real.

The scheming mastermind, the crafty Cossack's plan was executed perfectly.

In the end.

[Wyvern Lord Defeated 1/1]

[You have succeeded in the 60th Floor Mission.]

[Your Level has increased.]

[Reward : 6kg of Mana Stones]

Breezy.

South Korea's 60th floor too, with this method...

Right then.

[Notice: You have achieved the S++ clear rank for the 60th floor of the Black Tower (UAE).]

"Huh?"

[S++ Clear Reward: A Platinum Badge is awarded.]

'...I got a badge.'

It was possible to get one from another country's tower too?

Did the overall notice ring in that case?

Was there even a special reward?

* * *

UAE Federal Supreme Council.

With five days remaining until their Black Tower's collapse, Crown Prince Bin-Sala appeared at the Federal Supreme Council together with Player Omar Hassan.

A hearing and final verdict were to take place.

The charge of handing over the Rune of Trait Enhancement without an official contract.

The charge of placing the UAE at risk of tower collapse as a result of that.

"Crown Prince Abdul Bin-Sala, will you admit your guilt?"

"I cannot."

"As expected, far too arrogant."

"What a shame. He was such a bright child."

Even so, Bin-Sala maintained a composed posture.

"Do you intend to claim to the end that you've done nothing wrong?"

"It was nothing but an outpouring of loyalty for the nation."

"Ha!"

Either way, stripping him of the crown prince title and exiling him abroad was the predetermined outcome.

The emirates excluding Abu Dhabi had secretly been hoping for exactly an opportunity like this.

It was a federation of seven emirates, but in reality, Abu Dhabi was the one ruling the UAE.

The gap in national power was simply far too great.

So the six emirates including Dubai had been eyeing ways to diminish Abu Dhabi's influence and establish their own rule over the UAE.

With things having come to this, the King of Abu Dhabi, who was also the President and head of the UAE, Sala Mohammed bin Aziz, hadn't even attended the Federal Supreme Council.

Bin-Sala appeared resigned but hadn't truly given up.

He'd put everything on Gobang.

Hoping only that he would turn the situation around.

But his heart remained uneasy.

Would Gobang keep the promise?

"The verdict will be easier to reach, won't it? Isn't that right?"

"Let's decide quickly. We also need to make official announcements, and there's the temporary naturalization contract."

The UAE Federal Supreme Council had decided to conclude a temporary naturalization contract with Saudi Arabia.

The Dubai Emir had taken the lead in moving things forward.

An enormous price had to be paid, that hadn't changed, but.

One of the conditions in the contract with Saudi Arabia was the ousting of Crown Prince Abdul Bin-Sala.

It was only natural to be enraged, having handed away a Rune of Trait Enhancement that would have come rolling right to them otherwise.

"Then compiling all our opinions, I will deliver the verdict. Crown Prince Abdul Bin-Sala exported a precious national asset abroad."

Bin-Sala closed his eyes.

Was it all ending like this?

"This is a shameless crime tantamount to treason. The Federal Supreme Council hereby resolves to expel Abdul Bin-Sala from the UAE effective immediately..."

Suddenly!

"...!"

The player Omar sitting right next to Crown Prince Bin-Sala leapt to his feet and cried out.

"What is this outrage? Shouting in the middle of a verdict?"

"T-that's..."

"Is it to show you oppose the expulsion of the Crown Prince?"

Player Omar Hassan opened his trembling mouth.

"The, the UAE Black Tower's 60th floor."

"What about the tower? Is it collapsing?"

"I-it was just cleared, sir. The overall notice was heard."

"...What?"

"And with an S++ rank, too..."

What kind of nonsense is this?

Suddenly?

Out of nowhere.

Surely a blatant bluff...

Or could it be?

The meeting hall went silent in an instant.

And then.

The attendants accompanying those at the Federal Supreme Council began showing their smartphones and whispering in their ears.

The expressions of those in attendance shifted dramatically.

The reporters and senior officials who had come to observe also shot to their feet.

Each of them making calls somewhere, moving about in a flurry.

The meeting room descended into pandemonium but not a single person tried to stop it.

Before long.

"I-it's confirmed. It was a full tower notice. All UAE-affiliated players heard it."

"...The UAE Black Tower 60th floor S++ rank clear record and the tower clearing progress status have been confirmed."

A murmur ran through the room.

Expressions of astonishment all around.

A clear, and not just any clear but an S++ rank, of all things.

And this wasn't even South Korea.

Only then did Bin-Sala smile and say.

"Please continue with the verdict. What exactly have I done wrong?"

Of course, no one could answer.