Due to the abnormal climate that still had not fully resolved, a brutally sweltering summer passed, and autumn arrived.
Throughout the past summer, Bigyeongdo had truly been brimming with life.
That was because nearly all the residents of Elysium Heights had spent the season coming and going there frequently. Quite a few had even stayed long-term, remaining for more than a month.
Before visiting, some had worried, “Is it really all right for this many people to go there?”
But small though it was, it was still a city in name, and a mere few thousand people enjoying themselves barely made a mark on the island as a whole.
Though it was an artificial island, when Suho had piled up the granite, he had created height differences here and there, leaving plenty of hidden beaches tucked away in every corner, so there was considerable fun in searching for those places as well.
People played in the water on beaches large and small, while out on the endlessly vast, blue sea, they enjoyed all sorts of marine leisure sports such as surfing, snorkeling, kayaking, jet skiing, paddleboarding, and water skiing. Among them, the truly popular ones were flyboarding and hoverboarding.
Since the sea was extraordinarily deep, Suho had deployed an enormous number of android lifeguards and drones to check every corner of the ocean so that no accidents would occur during water activities, and he had also floated large yachts to prevent people from venturing into waters that were too deep, connecting nets between them to form safe pool zones.
In a natural paradise that rivaled Hawaii, everyone spent an unforgettable summer vacation.
For all the people within Suho’s orbit, and for the communities under Suho’s influence, peace overflowed without a single worry or care because of him. But the world as a whole was not like that.
Because of the towers that continued to rise, the entire world had to endure the passage of time while constantly holding its breath in tension.
In November of 2040, as the air grew chilly amid the wide daily temperature swings and the autumn leaves reached their peak, a major event finally occurred in the Republic of Korea.
A 96-floor tower had appeared in Incheon.
It was the first high-rise tower over 80 floors to appear since Suho had proposed the android rental policy at the United Nations.
* * *
- Following the recent appearance and clearance of a 92-floor tower in Japan, which drew widespread attention, today, November 9, 2040, a new tower with a height of 96 floors has suddenly appeared in the Incheon region of Korea, breaking the Asian record. This is the tallest tower to have appeared in Asia to date, and it is also the fifth highest-grade tower in the world. At present, the tower is being observed continuously emitting powerful aether energy. Incheon Metropolitan City has issued a full evacuation order for citizens in nearby areas while simultaneously...
- Did Korea not face difficulties just a few years ago because of an 83-floor tower? Could there be any noteworthy connection in the repeated appearance of high-rise towers in Korea this time, Dr. Gregory?
- Yes, well, to be precise, “faced difficulties” is not quite the right expression. They almost faced difficulties. With Korea’s Admitee forces and S-rank raid pool at the time, clearing an 83-floor tower on their own was impossible from the outset. However, with a large influx of outstanding forces from overseas, they were able to complete the clearance smoothly.
- What is your view, Professor Ariana?
- Korea is no longer the country it once was. From the moment Admitee Jeong Suho formed the Ultimate Line and created super-enhanced androids, Korea rose to become a frontrunner in tower raids worldwide. Since this is a high-rise tower that has appeared after that, I believe it will be an opportunity to clearly see the Admitee forces Korea possesses.
Towers above 80 floors were still rare.
Let alone towers in the mid-to-late 90-floor range.
It was not called the tallest tower to appear in Asia for nothing.
However, the world’s gaze toward it was closer to anticipation than concern.
└ The tallest tower in Asia?! Isn’t Korea doomed?
└ Idiot, do you not watch the news? It’s Korea. Korea.
└ One person here who thinks it’s super fortunate that Asia’s tallest tower appeared in Korea
└ It is fortunate
└ One person who agrees
└ If it were in my city (Manila), we’d be extinct
└ Are we finally going to see the Ultimate Line in action?!
└ See what? It’ll probably end at the enhanced android level
No matter whether netizens around the world looked upon this tower’s appearance with expectant eyes, Korea itself, the party concerned, was swept up in tension ready to burst.
After all, it was not something they could watch from across the river like someone else’s fire.
As soon as the tower was observed, Minister of National Defense Lee Junbeom, Director of the National Intelligence Service Park Minsu, Tower Management Agency Commissioner An Yonggeon, and Director Kim Gyusik rushed to Elysium Heights in one breath.
An ultra-high-rise tower that required nineteen S-ranks.
In the past, they would have had to bow and scrape overseas again and request support, but now things were different. They only had to make a good impression on one place.
Because a single clan possessed forty S-ranks.
With Suho’s permission, the high-ranking government officials entered Elysium Heights and were guided to the grand conference room, where they met Suho.
Facing their solemn expressions, as if they would not hesitate to visit three times and beg if necessary, Suho almost burst into laughter.
“Send us some welcome tea here. Mid-grade regeneration potions.”
After ordering the android secretary to bring tea, Suho seated everyone and sat down himself.
“Now, relax your faces a little. What, did a war break out somewhere?”
At Suho’s grinning words, the four finally realized that their faces had stiffened hard, and they awkwardly rubbed their own cheeks.
Still, seeing them treat the affairs of their homeland as their own, running over with tension written all over their faces and cold sweat on their brows, Suho felt a little moved as well.
“C-Clan Leader Jeong Suho... Regarding this...”
“Yes, yes, I know. The 96-floor tower. That’s why you came, isn’t it?”
“That is correct...”
“You came to talk about something obvious, so why are you so nervous? We’ll go. Of course we should go.”
“Ah... As expected...”
“What do you think I created the Ultimate Clan for in the first place? It was all in preparation for times like this. Just as foreign media outlets are reporting, I’m looking forward to it as well. It’s a chance to test the forces we’ve built up in real combat.”
“As expected, we believed in you. Khuh... It is so reassuring... and we are truly grateful...”
Suddenly, Director Kim Gyusik seemed so overcome with emotion that his throat choked up and he could not finish speaking, while the others who had come with him frowned.
Seeing a middle-aged man tear up was far too burdensome, so Suho quickly changed the subject.
“By the way, will the other clans or the Korean S-rank Admitees who aren’t part of our clan have any complaints? There must be a clan in charge of that area too.”
Commissioner An Yonggeon, who had been staring at Director Kim Gyusik in disbelief as the latter hurriedly composed himself, answered in his stead.
“The one in charge of that area is only a B-rank clan. It is not a place with the capacity to handle a tower like this. And as far as I know, there are no S-ranks in the country who would feel disappointed at being unable to participate in clearing a high-grade, high-rise tower that demands an enormous amount of time and risk to life.”
“That’s a relief.”
Suho thought of the members of the Ultimate Clan, whose competitive spirits were strong enough that they might well feel that way, but he did not bother saying it aloud.
“The government of the Republic of Korea has already resolved to provide full support for everything needed by the team participating in this raid. Whatever you need, simply tell us, and we will immediately prepare the very best of it to the best of our ability.”
At Commissioner An’s words, Director Park and Minister Lee also nodded vigorously.
But their effort was merely commendable and cute.
Even if the United States government rolled up its sleeves and stepped in to help, there would not be much meaningful assistance it could provide, so what could the Korean government do?
Suho laughed inwardly, but without showing it much, he extended his hand.
“That’s reassuring. I’ll be counting on you.”
* * *
In terms of tower raids, this was Suho’s debut stage.
The members of the Ultimate Line, who knew well what abilities Suho possessed, began scrambling the moment they heard Suho would be participating in this raid, each trying to join the raid team.
But all forty could not go. Of the four teams in total, only two could participate.
Even then, one person had to be left out from one of the teams.
Since D Team, the team led by Han Taeung that included Suho, was set to go no matter what, the remaining A, B, and C Teams had to be chosen from a three-to-one competition.
“Let’s decide with magic.”
“Let’s decide with swordsmanship.”
“Let’s decide with shooting.”
At the words simultaneously spoken by Joshua, the leader of A Team, Lee Danbi, the leader of B Team, and Thomas, the leader of C Team, laughter exploded throughout the entire clan.
Suho spoke with an incredulous expression.
“What is that? You’re all saying we should compete with your own specialized classes. Let’s do rock-paper-scissors. Rock-paper-scissors.”
“Ahem... Then Miss Lee Danbi, who has excellent dynamic visual acuity, would have too much of an advantage...”
“What are you talking about? The one with good eyes is Mr. Thomas.”
Mediating the sparks flying from this absurd competition, Suho spoke again.
“Okay, okay. Then let’s do dice. That works, right?”
Suho took ten dice out of his subspace.
“It’ll be the total sum. Each of you throws, and the team with the highest number goes. No complaints, right?”
“Very well.”
“Let’s do it.”
“That sounds fine.”
Thus, the three of them each gripped ten dice in one hand and threw them.
Joshua got 37, Lee Danbi got 52, and Thomas got 41. As Lee Danbi seized the entry ticket to the tower raid, all of B Team cheered.
“Kyaa! Unni! Well done!”
“Danbi!! Excellent!”
“Noona, I believed in you!”
Watching the commotion, Suho shook his head.
They definitely had not reacted like this even when he invited them to Bigyeongdo, the artificial island...
It seemed that once people reached the pinnacle as S-ranks, they all became battle maniacs.
Since they were already organized S-rank teams, and since they had never neglected training to coordinate with each other, there was no need for any special preparation.
So the confirmed nineteen members of Taeung’s team and Danbi’s team were given exactly one day to prepare before entry.
Since Suho had told them to load everything they wanted to bring onto large carts, everyone packed several times the amount of baggage they usually prepared for tower raids.
With Suho going along, there was no need to worry about the weight or volume of the luggage.
Guwol-dong, Incheon, where the 96-floor tower had appeared.
The ever-bustling Rodeo Street was now nothing but deserted.
In preparation for any unforeseen incident, an evacuation order had been issued to ordinary citizens within a radius of several kilometers, and the government was racking its brains over organizing camps to accommodate that many people and providing basic living support.
That place, once a hot spot filled with diverse food, shopping, and entertainment, now had a large-scale command headquarters, base camps, and various support bases set up, and it bustled with related staff from the Tower Management Agency and people from various clans.
Reporters had also swarmed in droves to cover and report on the Ultimate Clan members about to enter the tower, but they were stopped by government personnel and barred from entering beyond a certain point.
“Over there, reporter! Don’t cross the line! This is not somewhere you go for fun! If you want to film, do it from behind that line.”
“Who said we came here for fun!? We came risking our lives too.”
“What kind of photos can we take from here? It must be over 150 meters away. Come on, don’t be like that and let us in a little.”
“Absolutely not. Orders from above state that all non-related personnel are to be strictly controlled so the raid team can prepare and enter in peace. Use a telephoto lens or something. Don’t you know zoom? Zoom?”
The nineteen Ultimate Line clan members gathered before the tower gate.
Listening to the command headquarters broadcast announcing that five minutes remained until entry, they had already formed a line and were lightly warming up.
In the midst of it, Suho suddenly widened his eyes as if he had remembered something and asked Taeung,
“Oh! Mr. Taeung! What about Winky?”
“Winky? Well, he should be fine.”
“No, if you and I both go into the tower, there won’t be anyone to take care of Winky!”
“Does that guy really need taking care of...? These days, he’s just a puppy who loves people. Completely. As long as anyone plays with him, he’s happy...”
Like a man whose lover had been stolen away, Taeung sighed.
“Oh dear... Then what about food...”
“As for that, you already gave me plenty, Clan Leader, so I stocked it in his feeder. You installed it so that when he pulls the steel lever with his claws, aetherium pops out. Now he eats on his own just fine. And if it’s inside that container, there’s no worry about anyone stealing the aetherium either.”
“Ohh, so he really uses that.”
“He uses it well. Whew... He really has left my hands now. He’s all grown up.”
On Taeung’s face was the loneliness of a parent who had married off their child.