Chapter 96 - Chapter 96

Chapter 96

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Translated by Jinmu

Read more at hivetoons.org

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An energy called 'mana'.

A player's unique ability and the foundation for the effects of various items.

A power that cannot be felt unless one is a player.

However, there was a way even ordinary people could confirm the existence of mana.

Mainly through mana stones.

Because the modifier 'tower exclusive' was not attached to it, mana stones retained mana even in reality.

It's the 20th year since the tower was created on Earth.

Therefore, research on mana stones had also been going on for 20 years.

A fact revealed after countless, innumerable studies.

That mana stones could be applied to Earth's science and technology.

The most active field among mana stone research was room-temperature superconductor research.

An experiment to see if a superconducting phenomenon occurs by mixing a certain ratio of mana stone into various metal compounds.

It was insufficient, but there were achievements.

Thanks to mana stones, electrical resistance decreased.

It was applied to various fields.

Electrical appliances, semiconductor materials, CPUs, GPUs, and batteries.

In addition, follow-up research was ongoing.

But High-Grade mana stones?

Did grades exist for mana stones as well?

They couldn't help but be curious.

Just how different is that High-Grade mana stone compared to the existing mana stones?

The Korea Daejeon Science and Technology Tower Materials Research Institute acquired High-Grade mana stones from the Awakening Management Agency's player shop and began research.

The result was...

"It's true, the Meissner effect. It is definitively a superconducting phenomenon."

"...No, how did it become like this?"

The completion of a room-temperature superconductor.

Electrical resistance of 0, zero.

What does this mean?

The performance of computers will rise revolutionarily.

Because they won't generate heat.

What about maglev trains?

A mode of transportation faster than airplanes will be commercialized at a very low cost.

Nuclear fusion power generation, transmission lines with 100% efficiency, a dramatic improvement in battery performance.

What makes this possible is the High-Grade mana stone.

It can only be obtained from the Republic of Korea's Black Tower.

"The world is going to go into an uproar once again."

"Because it's a room-temperature superconductor. A new industrial revolution is right before our eyes."

"...But you know."

A senior researcher spoke cautiously.

"If there are High-Grade mana stones, wouldn't there be a higher grade than that too?"

"Yes? A higher grade..."

"For example, a highest-grade mana stone."

"Hey, no way... Hmm."

It wasn't a baseless story.

For 20 years, they thought normal mana stones were everything.

Then out of nowhere, an unexpected High-Grade mana stone appeared.

"Anyway, other countries are not going to just sit still either."

"Right, they'll try to clear the 70th floor somehow and lift the restriction."

Now, clearing the tower wasn't just to avoid collapse.

Things like the time limit for clear might be ignored.

In order to clear the 70th floor to secure High-Grade mana stones.

***

Research on High-Grade mana stones wasn't only conducted in Korea.

It was carried out globally.

Naturally, it was proven that a room-temperature superconducting phenomenon occurred.

But how could other countries obtain High-Grade mana stones?

An item that could only be acquired from the Republic of Korea Black Tower.

There was another place to get them.

Even if the price was expensive.

Director Park Kyung-soo frowned heavily and spoke in a tone showing his displeasure.

"North Korea's mouth must be opening on its own from sheer joy."

"Because they abruptly became the world's 2nd largest producer of High-Grade mana stones."

That's right.

North Korea sharing the tower with Korea.

High-Grade mana stones were produced there as well.

An unexpected economic development, you could say.

Countries all over the world secured High-Grade mana stones through North Korea by paying huge sums of money.

Actually, they were no different from parasites.

The situation was such that they didn't even suffer the stress of climbing the upper uncleared floors, and just sucked out the sweet juice from the side.

Deputy Director Jeon Kwang-il's mood wasn't good either.

Sharing tips was fine.

Because it couldn't be helped.

Since they had started out that way from the beginning.

However,

"It's only the North Korean players who are dying off. They work their bones to climb and receive High-Grade mana stones as a reward, but the North Korean regime takes it all from them, leaving them to be exploited."

How detestable it was.

The situation only fattened the bellies of dictators.

"I wish a coup d'état would happen in North Korea instead of Japan."

"As a matter of fact, the National Intelligence Service is keeping a close watch on it, they say the atmosphere among the North Korean players is currently unusual."

Then, as if Director Park Kyung-soo suddenly remembered something.

"What about Acting Prime Minister Usuda?"

"He returned to Japan today. I heard the situation with the Self-Defense Forces is becoming increasingly unusual."

"Tsk tsk, they still haven't come to their senses. Did the US stay quiet?"

"It seems they aren't paying attention to the US's sentiments at all."

"That's understandable. Since they were betrayed once when their temporary naturalization request was rejected, they wouldn't want to see anyone."

Originally, they had planned to sign a Korea-Japan temporary naturalization contract.

It had reached the stage where they just needed to sign and announce it together.

Because Acting Prime Minister Usuda had stated that he would accept all the conditions demanded by the Korean government.

But during that time, the Self-Defense Forces independently carried out a joint land, sea, and air military exercise without consulting the Japanese cabinet government.

It was said that soldiers even loaded live ammunition and went into training.

What was their real intention?

If they turned the army toward Tokyo during the training, that would immediately be a coup d'état.

Acting Prime Minister Usuda rushed back to the country to control that.

"Hah, this is driving me crazy. There isn't a peaceful day in this damn East Asia."

Jeon Kwang-il nodded as well.

"How is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs responding? There's a risk of a coup d'état, so shouldn't we designate Japan as a country recommended to refrain from traveling to...."

"Nothing's certain yet, right? The Acting Prime Minister went to control it. What could possibly happen?"

True.

Would a coup d'état really happen?

***

Honestly, Blood Wolf was summoned just for fun.

Why would he need another summoned beast?

When he already has reliable summoned entities.

However, wouldn't it be okay to take a break for once?

He happened to receive a Summoning Attribute Change Ticket as a special privilege as well,

And the Random Summoning cooldown would return in a month anyway.

So he just summoned it.

But it was a disappointment.

Abilities that fell short of expectations.

One could tell just by seeing it getting beaten miserably without even being able to resist Cossack.

To the extent that Joo-hyuk could sufficiently subdue it too.

Where am I supposed to use this guy?

The conclusion he reached after pondering was,

[Entering the 45th floor of the Republic of Korea Black Tower.]

The Basilisk boss section he hadn't entered in a long time.

[45th-floor Mission: Regardless of type, eliminate 60 Basilisks and 1 Rainbow Basilisk.]

Since I came in, I should skin a ton of leather.

And before that, Rajix's item farming.

"Hoeng!"

Rajix was riding on the Blood Wolf's back.

When he held up his golden pickaxe and pointed to the distance, Swoosh! The Blood Wolf ran at a dazzling speed.

"Hueeeeek!"

Ah! Rajix is running.

He isn't rolling around like a tumbling weed.

S-pa-pa-pat!

Riding comfortably on the dazzlingly fast Blood Wolf's back to roam around the 45th-floor field.

The slow Basilisks didn't even dare to follow him.

Holding firmly onto the Blood Wolf's mane tightly with one small hand, holding the golden pickaxe with the other hand, he skillfully controlled the Blood Wolf with little 'Hoek, hoek' sounds.

As expected, Rajix the all-around worker.

He even rides Demonic Beasts well.

When he smells items, he gets off immediately and wields his pickaxe,

Thwack, thwack, thwack!

The Blood Wolf quietly waited beside Rajix like that.

Whenever a Basilisk approached, it immediately puffed up its body and growled.

After finishing farming to some extent, Rajix tapped the Blood Wolf's head lightly with the handle of his pickaxe.

Then the Blood Wolf laid down flat.

Toddling over with short legs to climb onto the Blood Wolf's back.

"Hoek!"

S-pa-pat! Moving again.

"The issues of guarding our worker and his mobility have been resolved at once."

"That's fulfilling."

He had pulled a good one.

The perfect role for Blood Wolf.

After farming High-Grade mana stones, tickets, and rune pieces like that, it was time to skin the Basilisks.

He skinned, skinned, and skinned again.

They stuffed them randomly into SSR Rajix's subspace backpack.

But then, a thought suddenly crossed his mind.

'...Is this right?'

He had originally come here to rest.

Does he have to skin them even after coming to a villa to have fun?

No, did an ancestor of his die from not being able to work?

If you came to rest, you should rest.

Why are you doing this?

Actually, he was getting sick of camping too.

If you zone out looking at the campfire often, your body smells burnt.

Even after you shower.

He needed to find some other fresh way to play....

The person to trust was naturally the quick-witted Cossack,

"Are there any fitting activities?"

"Why wouldn't there be?"

Cossack smiled slyly and said.

"Didn't you mention before that we should go on an overseas trip once we catch Kavalan?"

"Ah!"

Right. He remembered.

It was even a bucket list item.

Originally, since he had become French, he had intended to sample some of the French atmosphere, but seeing the circumstances, he had postponed it.

"Then sightseeing in France?"

"The tower and the tourist destinations are too far apart. Moving around is inconvenient too."

"Hmm, so where is the place Mr. Cossack is recommending."

"It's Japan."

Japan, of all places.

He was all ears.

Before awakening, that is, when he was living diligently and working 2 part-time jobs a day,

He had lamented his fate, not being able to go on a trip to Japan even once while everybody else was going.

"Set up the smartphone overseas roaming in advance, exchange some Yen, eat delicious foods, play and relieve stress, Kyaha! Irasshaimase."

Should I do that?

However, as always, there was an opposing opinion too.

"Do you have no pride, Mr. Cossack? How can you spend Young Master's blood-like money on the Wakou (Japanese pirates)?"

"Eing? Because it's blood-like money, I'm saying you should. The ultimate cost-effective overseas trip is Japan. It's cheaper than Jeju Island."

The Anti-Japanese Gyeon Dal-rae vs the Practical Cossack.

The two were clashing again.

The other summoned entities surrounding them, watching to see who would win.

"Hoeee,"

Rajix had already taken popcorn out of his subspace backpack and handed it to Joo-hyuk.

When did he put this in?

Picking up a piece of popcorn, crunch, crunch.

"A nation that forgets its history has no future."

"It's just an overseas trip, what history? Are we going there to sell our country?"

Crunch, cronch,

"It's not an issue that can be brushed off lightly just by calling it a trip."

"I think we should just brush it off lightly instead. Don't blow the meaning out of proportion. Just go play and come back, it ends there."

Crrrrunch, crunch.

"Do you not even care about how others might view us?"

"Yeeap! How can you live your life constantly worrying about every little thing others think?"

Crunch.

"Are you pro-Japanese by any chance, Mr. Cossack?"

"Should I come back with the Japanese Acting Prime Minister's head?"

Crunch.

"If we go there and spend money, the Wakou will be very happy, wouldn't they."

"You didn't know? The younger Japanese generation really likes Korea."

Ah!

It felt like watching a 100-minute debate.

Are they Korean? Or Japanese.

"Now, now, let's decide by voting. For neutrality, I'll step out of this."

"Great! I am confident."

"This little girl is also in favor of that."

"Raise your right hand if you agree with the trip, left hand if you oppose."

Hands raising.

"Hmm."

It was split exactly in half. 3 to 3.

Cossack, along with Gobang and Bardin, raised their right hands, in favor of the trip.

Gyeon Dal-rae, Rajix, and Veronica raised their left hands, in opposition.

'What do I do about this.'

Actually, if Joo-hyuk decided, it would end.

No one would harbor any complaints.

But since he had stated neutrality...

Along with a lesser man's way of survival.

Step back from sensitive issues.

It was then.

The Blood Wolf that had been lying quietly,

"Whine..."

Secretly raised its right paw.

What is this? Does he have to be included too?

"Oh yeah! Blood Wolf is in favor too. We won."

Gyeon Dal-rae flaring up in anger.

"It is foul play. I am certain."

"What?"

"I'm certain that the cunning Cossack threatened Blood Wolf."

Then Cossack chuckled with a fishy smile,

"Do you have proof?"

"T-this!"

"Bet your wrist on it. If you're a coward, then die."

"...Y-you insolent knave!!!"

In truth, Joo-hyuk had also seen it.

The sight of Bardin stepping hard on Blood Wolf's tail after receiving a glance from Cossack.

The Blood Wolf, being a smart guy, would have grasped the atmosphere and stuck to Cossack's side.

Anyway, it was decided.

Well, just getting some fresh air, I might as well take this chance to visit Japan.

***

The biggest cause for Kavalan's curse being placed on the Black Towers worldwide.

While it's somewhat the fault of the depressed French player Guillaume's depression, the fact that a Tower Jumping Ticket played a part couldn't be denied.

The item information for a Tower Jumping Ticket goes like this.

Effect: Skips the tower floors up to a maximum of 5 floors. Level also increases accordingly. Skipped floors are recognized as successful clears.

They enter the player tower and determine the floors to skip.

If it's the 1st floor, up to LV 1, Floor 1. If it's the 3rd floor, up to LV 3, Floor 3. If it's the 5th floor, up to LV 5, Floor 5,

It's not a particularly good item.

It's merely serving the purpose of skipping difficult and tricky floors.

However, there is an item that is similar but has a completely different effect.

The Rune of Level Up.

That's right.

Not a ticket, but a rune.

The item information?

Effect: Only the level increases, regardless of the tower's floor. Upon consumption, level randomly increases by a minimum of 1LV to a maximum of 5LV.

It's a random increase, but even if it increases by just 1 level, it means they can exert power proportionate to that increase.

For example, assuming a player currently challenging the 30th floor consumed the Rune of Level Up and gained 3LV.

Then that player clears the 30th floor with the ability of LV 33.

It is incomparably better than a jumping ticket.

An item that could be the decisive card enabling the climb of an uncleared upper floor.

The item consumed by Hongo Tetsuo, a Japanese player and First Lieutenant in the Maritime Self-Defense Force, was precisely this Rune of Level Up.

It was an item that Chief of Staff Matsumoto Junichi had bought from a broker on the dark web for a huge sum of money.

"Tetsuo, what is the result?"

"God has helped Japan."

"Oh!"

The status window of First Lieutenant Hongo Tetsuo of the Self-Defense Forces, who had consumed the Rune of Level Up, changed like this.

[Name]: Hongo Tetsuo

[Affiliation]: Black Tower (Japan)

[Level]: 57LV + 5LV

"A test is required. I will clear the 57th floor right now and return."

"Go ahead."

Time passed.

"I succeeded."

Hongo Tetsuo's status window changed once again as his level went up.

[Level]: 58LV + 5LV

Since he's level 58, he can clear the 58th floor.

With a combined ability of level 63.

The 58th floor.

The uncleared floor that had caused the Japanese Black Tower to collapse.

With this, Chief of Staff Matsumoto Junichi made his decision.

"We execute the coup d'état."

They had sufficient justification.

The Japanese cabinet that had failed to clear the 58th floor, causing the tower to collapse.

Furthermore, they caused the tower to regenerate in the heart of Tokyo.

Replace the incompetent government.

And with the power of the Self-Defense Forces, defend Tokyo, the capital of Japan.

It will be a flare announcing the revival of the Japanese military.