Chapter 64 - Chapter 64

Chapter 64

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Translated by Jinmu

Read more at hivetoons.org

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The terror attempt at the HG Hotel showcase event.

Astonishingly, there wasn't a single casualty.

Except for the terrorists, that is.

A colossal incident that shook the foundations of the nation.

Because elite players were the targets of the terror attack.

Until now, South Korea had been known as a safe haven from terrorism.

So the shock to the citizens was inevitably enormous.

Deputy Director Jeon Kwang-il moved swiftly to manage the incident.

The very first thing he did was delete all CCTV footage inside the event venue.

He even ripped out the storage devices and destroyed them entirely.

Making recovery impossible as well.

Soon, numerous videos started popping up left and right.

Overflowing like a flood.

Jeon Kwang-il ordered Management Agency staff to collect every video floating around the internet or social media.

Were there any dangerous videos by any chance?

What if the process of Player Bong Joo-hyuk summoning those two was caught on a smartphone camera?

Fortunately, there were none.

Instead, they mainly focused on the terrifying giant's performance and the Westerner rescuing Nam Ga-eun.

Most were short clips like this.

The only detailed video filmed from beginning to end was the showcase video by the Nutuber Wildflower & Basili.

It was inevitable.

With armed assailants bursting in with guns, where would there be people bold enough to film with their smartphones.

Doing that might get them shot to death.

Everyone must have been out of their minds.

Too busy lying flat and trembling.

Then, right after the situation reversed, they must have mustered the courage to lift their smartphones.

A sudden thought occurred to him.

Are there truly only those two?

The figures Bong Joo-hyuk can summon, that is.

What if there are even more than that....

A frightening capability transcending humanity.

Who in the world could handle them?

How fortunate it is.

That he is a South Korean.

And that he's absolutely not considering naturalization either.

Moreover, a lifesaver.

He saved himself and Player Nam Ga-eun without fearing his abilities being exposed.

His character is also outstanding.

He's not very greedy either.

He will do everything he can for Bong Joo-hyuk.

Starting with preventing his identity from becoming known.

However, an unexpected thing happened.

The media was moving on its own.

Most thankfully.

* * *

Following that, a decisive article.

It's certain. They're the S++ grade clear record holders.

Bin-Sala confirmed it too. One of those two was Gobang.

To think it wasn't one, but two.

During the 60th-floor clear, Gobang naturalized temporarily to the UAE, and one stayed behind in South Korea, huh.

But who is Gobang?

Bin-Sala would know.

Did you see the giant entering the tower at the end? So cool, like he just did what he had to do.

No matter how you look at them, they aren't Korean, did they get naturalized?

Don't have prejudice based on skin color.

If they have Korean citizenship, they're Korean, affiliated with the South Korean Black Tower.

The Management Agency works well. Getting them naturalized and all.

Just imagine what would have happened to Player Nam Ga-eun.

Ugh, just thinking about it makes me dizzy.

Is this Gukppong (extreme nationalistic pride) time too?

Yeah, drink up, chug it down.

Long live Gobang!

My daughter's name from now on is Gobang. Kim Gobang.

Anyway, what crazy bastard committed the terror attack?

It's either Japan or China. I'll bet the testicles of the bottom commenter.

Oh my? I don't have any. It's a valid point though.

Fuck! What is the government doing? They should at least launch a Hyunmoo missile.

And what if a war breaks out?

Nam Ga-eun did wrong. What kind of model is she? She should just climb the tower in a safe place.

Damn! Spouting bullshit and falling over, are players only supposed to climb the tower?

What, did she commit a crime? Are players not allowed to have outside activities?

This is why I'd rather not be a player.

Originally, it was a showcase event where the leather and bags should have received the spotlight.

Yet a terror incident had to break out.

Was CEO Go Yeon-ha disappointed?

Not at all.

She hit the jackpot.

Thanks to the videos, even people uninterested in fashion came to know about the Wildflower & Basili brand.

Reservation inquiries poured in.

However, they didn't take phone calls.

Only at existing Wildflower brand stores of HG Fashion, and with limited quantities, the first round of reservations already ended.

Interest in the Rainbow bag in particular was explosive, with people begging to sell it to them regardless of the price.

So, for the second round onwards, she plans to drastically increase the prices.

Well, people will line up to buy them anyway.

* * *

US Department of Homeland Security's Tower Clear Bureau.

A conference room with a large monitor connected to a laptop.

Secretary of Homeland Security MacMillan and Director Antonio were analyzing by watching several videos.

"Who in the world are they? How can they use such power?"

"How would I know that?"

It was baffling.

It's worse than movies.

"Assuming Gerald could manifest player abilities in reality, could he do that?"

Antonio thinking deeply.

"I view it as impossible. The giant blocked bullets without even using a defense skill like Shield. And that reddish-brown-haired Caucasian, putting aside the dagger skills, he's too fast. Even playing at slow speed, his movements couldn't be caught, right?"

Correct.

A power surpassing the performance of players inside the tower.

"At the very least, they don't look Korean, but if it's Gobang, is his surname Go?"

"Korean names have the surname before the given name. He must have acquired a Korean surname through naturalization."

"Which of the two?"

"I don't know that either."

With this, it became clear.

"Those guys were South Korea's S++ grade clear record holders. And not just one, but two."

"Bin-Sala confirmed it. That's decisive. Korean media is also treating it as an established fact."

"Manifesting such abilities in reality is?"

"It must be items. It's a hypothesis, but there's no other way to explain it..."

Items without the 'Tower-Exclusive' modifier that drop at an extremely low probability.

They can be used in reality as well.

Even by ordinary civilians.

"Even considering it's an item effect, it's too incredible."

"It's an S++ clear for 61 consecutive floors. Would they have only received Mana Stones during that process?"

It's true that their clears were on a different level.

Naturally, the rewards would be massive as well.

"The giant disappearing at the end, was that a tower entry?"

"Yes, it seems so."

"Then he'll reappear in that spot. Should we send our agents over?"

"It'll be difficult. The South Korean Management Agency and the National Intelligence Service (National Intelligence Service (National Intelligence Service (NIS))) are strictly controlling the scene right now."

"He might have already exited. The Management Agency probably sneaked him out secretly."

"Yes."

It also seems clear that they have a connection with the National Intelligence Service (National Intelligence Service (National Intelligence Service (NIS))).

He didn't even kill the last guy.

As if telling them to arrest him.

MacMillan shaking his head as if utterly clueless,

"What a peculiar country. The 61 consecutive S++ grade clear record, the Holy Sword, the Basilisk full hide, and massive amounts of tower ores."

Director Antonio spoke while moving the laptop mouse.

"At this point, there's a high probability the actual owner of the Holy Sword is a smokescreen too."

Click.

A man popping up on the screen.

It was none other than Joo-hyuk.

"Name is Bong Joo-hyuk, age 25, his period of activity as an elite player hasn't even reached 6 months."

Would the US just stand by after the Holy Sword was rented twice?

They acquired information through various channels.

The person they found as a result was Bong Joo-hyuk.

The most likely candidate.

They grasped the flow of funds.

And he was often spotted alone with Deputy Director Jeon Kwang-il.

Furthermore, they uncovered the fact that after South Korea's top player Yoo Chul-min naturalized to Japan, Bong Joo-hyuk purchased the penthouse he lived in.

So they thought he was the most convincing figure.

"So Bong Joo-hyuk was a proxy set up by the Management Agency, to deceive the public's eyes."

"There's no clear evidence, but circumstantially...."

"Sigh! Talking with you continuously makes my head feel like it'll burst."

"Me too."

There's a limit to what can be uncovered with just videos.

Other than directly asking the South Korean Management Agency.

"What are those guys' dispositions?"

"It's thought they at least aren't villains. Since they saved people anyway."

"Would we be able to embrace them?"

"I cannot guarantee that. The South Korean government wouldn't just stand by either."

"Hmph! So what if they don't just stand by."

The logic of power still operates in international relations.

Such tendencies only worsened since the towers appeared.

"Have you organized the report?"

"It is here."

"Good job, let's look over it again after we return from the White House."

"Yes."

The meeting concluded.

The final decision will be made at the White House anyway.

* * *

Cheongdam-dong Penthouse.

Joo-hyuk and the summoned entities gathered in one place.

Everyone was furious to the tips of their heads.

"Hehehe, do not worry, sir. The right arm of Summoner Bong, this Cossack, has handled everything, sir."

"The warrior also played a part."

Gyeon Dal-rae sneering as if scoffing.

"Handled it? Wasn't it dealt with too easily? They are atrocious scoundrels who threatened Young Master. Even killing them slowly by drying them, burning them, cutting them, and filleting them wouldn't be enough."

Veronica also furiously stated,

"If it were me, I wouldn't have killed them immediately. I am so angry I cannot even sleep. If the commander goes wrong, the army is practically annihilated. Retaliation with shock and awe must be executed."

Gyeon Dal-rae and Veronica were much more agitated than expected.

Just look at Rajix alone.

Trembling his fluffy, round body, he was expressing intense anger.

"Ho-ek! Ho-e-e! Kill them. I'm going to kill them."

Even Rajix is like this.

Joo-hyuk stepped forward.

"Um, since the results were good, let's just let it slide. No one got hurt, right."

Did he tell them for nothing?

He thought it would end with just cursing together.

The atmosphere is unusual.

Gyeon Dal-rae sprang up and bowed low to Joo-hyuk as if flying, speaking.

"Young Master, I apologize, but it is an incident we cannot let slide. Retribution is necessary."

"...What are you planning to do?"

"I shall cast a Death Curse (Death Curse (Sal))."

"At whom?"

"The Emperor of China is the target of the spell. Naturally, the master must bear the sins of their subordinates."

There is no Chinese Emperor.

Though she must be referring to the supreme leader,

"Let's say you cast a Death Curse. Will there be no backlash to you, Princess?"

"This girl is already dead once, would I die a second time? It will simply result in being unsummonable for 100 days."

That's practically the same thing.

It seems Gyeon Dal-rae also has a screw loose sometimes.

"Let's just fly some Karma. If we ask Mr. Cossack, he can surely fetch an offering from China to be used for the Karma."

"Please reconsider your wisdom. Karma is woefully insufficient."

Cossack raising his hand high.

"I will go, sir. This Cossack, an assassination genius and an artist of the red ribbon, will return after creating a masterpiece, sir."

Veronica too.

"If it comes to sniping, I am confident as well. Just one bullet is enough."

Even Rajix.

"Ho-eng! I'll go."

"What are you going to do, Mr. Rajix?"

Swish!

Pulling a shining golden pickaxe from his subspace backpack, Rajix made a grim face.

As if declaring he would definitely split the enemy's head open with the pickaxe.

Whoosh!

"Ho-ek!"

"..."

Whoosh-whoosh!

"Hu-e-ek!"

"..."

This is driving him crazy.

Gobang also raised his hand high.

What is he going to say now,

"Summoner, let's utilize Gwangma."

"Gwangma?"

"Let's drop him in China and come back. 3 hours is enough."

This gentleman has lost his mind too.

Releasing Gwangma in China is practically no different from dropping a nuclear warhead.

It's him directly pressing the nuclear launch button.

He would kill indiscriminately.

Guilty or innocent, he would tear apart anyone he sees.

And he would say this.

Summoner, I have dealt with everything. Please take over China now.

"Gwangma? Do you not know that I've only given him 1-star ratings and never summon him precisely because I don't want to do that? Do you want me to just release him here?"

"..."

He needs to lay down the law firmly.

"Try causing trouble without my knowledge! I'll unsummon you right away. Got it? And I will never summon you again. Pretty soon I'll have Random Summons anyway, so I'll just form a new group with Mr. Rajix and do repetitive clears."

"Ho-e-e-e..."

The atmosphere turned icy.

"Instead, I can tolerate flying Karma. Could you do it, Mr. Cossack?"

Cossack sprang up.

Trotting over, he stuck close to Joo-hyuk's side.

"Aigoo, this Cossack, am in awe, and awe again, sir. How lucky I am to serve such a benevolent and broad-minded Summoner like you! Just command me for anything, sir. Hehehehe."

"Sergeant Veronica Caliber! Firmly pledge to absolutely obey the commander's words, sir. Certain Victory!"

"The warrior also supports the summoner's decision."

Gyeon Dal-rae also hesitated for a moment, then,

"This girl shall obey Young Master's stern command."

Joo-hyuk smiled contently.

"Good. Then let's prepare to cast Karma."

"Yeah!"

But what if the Karma's effect is weak?

It's certain they will make a fuss again.

Gyeon Dal-rae will say she'll cast the Death Curse, Cossack will talk about ribbons, Rajix his pickaxe...

'Hmm, Gwangma.'

If he were only a little normal, he wouldn't be a sore thumb but the most reliable finger.

'I should summon him and ask him later.'

If his thoughts have possibly changed.