Joshua and three others quickly formed the Dream Team.
Putting their heads together and discussing, they narrowed down the final list in just one day,
and contact was made with the selected individuals, taking another day for them to enter the country.
The entrants unpacked their luggage in the Goguryeo Hotel suites arranged by the Tower Management Bureau,
and the Dream Team, comprised of sixteen S-Rank Admittees from around the world, gathered at the Sanarae Clan Building training ground.
S-Rank Frost Swordsman 'Frost Sword' I Danbi (Korea/Female/32),
S-Rank Druid 'Steel Grizzly' Han Taeung (Korea/Male/28),
S+-Rank Flame Mage 'Inferno' Joshua Evans (USA/Male/46),
S-Rank Magic Gunner 'Death Vision' Thomas Harris (Canada/Male/34),
and the four members of Suho's party,
S-Rank Shield Warrior 'Unyielding Iron Wall' Gang Hojin (Korea/Male/34)
S-Rank Archer 'Thousand-Li Eye' Seo Yunjae (Korea/Male/30)
S-Rank Healer 'Healer of Time' Bak Seoyeon (Korea/Female/28)
In addition to the three existing Korean S-Ranks unaffiliated with the Tower listed above,
the nine members selected from overseas through interviews were as follows.
S-Rank Berserker 'Storm' Ragnar Bjornsson (Iceland/Male/33),
S-Rank Living Armor Summoner 'Call of the Wilderness' Ava Mitchell (Australia/Female/27),
S-Rank Healer 'Miracle of the Desert' Layla Karim (Egypt/Female/33),
S-Rank Healer 'Silver Touch' Emilia Rossi (Italy/Female/30),
S-Rank Buffer 'Commander' Haruto Takeda (Japan/Male/28),
S-Rank Greatsword Swordsman 'Dragon Sword' Diego Hernandez (Mexico/Male/37)
S-Rank Assassin 'Moonlight Shadow' Katerina Ivanov (Ukraine/Female/35)
S-Rank Martial Artist 'Thunder Fist' Zhang Wei (China/Male/29)
S-Rank Dual Swordsman 'Twin Swords' Lucien Dubois (France/Male/31)
A sixteen-member raid team consisting of three tanks, three healers, three ranged dealers, one buffer, and six melee dealers.
There had been many very young individuals among the over 600 S-Rank applicants, but the four-member review panel had appropriately filtered them out.
They were rigorously selected from among those who, as much as possible, had a story, something to protect, and a reason to bear responsibility; Admittees who possessed sufficient understanding of their own abilities while being battle-hardened, and above all, those with good reputations among their peers.
The position of overall Raid Leader was given to Joshua Evans of Cheonoechun, the sole S+-Rank, and no one objected.
Whether by age, experience, or combat power, he was suitable for the leader position no matter how one looked at it.
"Since our nationalities are diverse, let's all wear real-time translators in one ear at all times. They will also serve as walkie-talkies during combat."
Everyone nodded at Joshua's words.
"Our team comp is truly insane!"
As Taeung shook his large body in excitement, Ivanov nearby furrowed her brow, and Layla Karim and Emilia Rossi withdrew some distance away.
"Right? It was tough during the Songpa District raid last time."
Danbi chimed in while poking Taeung in the side to calm him down.
Three years ago, during the 80th floor of the Songpa District Tower, they had formed a team of fifteen Admittees, but couldn't configure it to their liking as they had this time.
That was because they had also struggled to recruit overseas S-Ranks back then.
Pressed by the dwindling raid time limit, they had no choice but to take anyone willing, let alone form an optimal composition,
and ultimately had to proceed with a grotesque team that included six healers and four tanks.
But this time, they had a diverse tank, DPS, and healer composition, thoroughly vetted character, and recruited outstanding veterans for each class, so expectations were high.
Joshua looked around at everyone and spoke.
"Three days. Let's match our teamwork here for exactly three days. You all must have accumulated ample combat experience, so I don't think we'll need that long. Since we don't know what kind of environment the Tower will be or what demons will mainly appear, let's set up combat positions by broad categories in various ways."
Among those quietly nodding again, one person raised their hand.
Emilia Rossi, the healer from Italy.
Joshua gestured with his chin toward her.
"Please speak."
"Um... isn't that person coming?"
"Who do you mean?"
"In Korea... Admittee Jeong Suho. The Item Collector."
In fact, the other twelve members besides Suho's party were all waiting impatiently for Suho.
There was no doubt that Jeong Suho was the very person who had gathered them all in one place.
They were curious what kind of person he was, and above all, because Suho had promised to give them something, they were even more eager.
Thomas smirked.
"Are you all just waiting for the boss? You'll probably be really surprised when you see him. You'll see what Cheonoechun's support is like, so look forward to it."
"It's really... that, right?"
Lucien Dubois of France muttered.
"What do you mean? The reward Suho-nim promised?"
When Danbi asked back, all of those who had come from overseas nodded.
"To be honest, I can't quite believe it either... I wonder if one person can possess so many things... I've never even seen a Superior Healing Potion before."
Layla Karim of Egypt chimed in.
Yes, it was understandable to have doubts.
Joshua didn't answer each one individually and simply smiled.
Because, in fact, Suho was already on his way.
Just then,
Ding-
The elevator on the Sanarae Clan Building training ground floor announced its arrival, and the doors slid open.
"Look, the person you've been waiting for has arrived. That is Admittee Jeong Suho. Introduce yourselves."
"Insane..."
"Wow..."
"Truly never seen anything like this..."
Even before receiving the box from Suho, everyone was enthused by the mystical scene of him pulling a box out of subspace.
Suho had already attached name tags to ensure that the items for Danbi, Taeung, Joshua, and Thomas wouldn't get mixed up with those for the other twelve.
The twelve S-Rank Admittees who soon received the stylish wooden boxes brightened like children receiving Christmas presents.
"Hoo-ha. Hoo-ha... my heart is pounding so much. May I open it now?"
As Emilia Rossi looked at Joshua as if asking permission, he raised an eyebrow as if to ask why she bothered asking such a thing, and tilted his head.
Click- Click- Clunk-
Everyone couldn't help themselves and tore open the gift boxes.
"Hua-ah...! Insane. Insane... this is insane..."
"This is crazy... this is..."
Inside the boxes, like cigars packaged and displayed in a humidor, seventeen elongated 50-milliliter titanium containers were neatly laid in a perfectly fitting mold.
Ten Superior Regeneration Potions, five Superior Healing Potions, and two Superior Disease Cure Potions, all handsomely labeled.
They were labels Suho had specially ordered with care because these were items to be distributed to the overseas Admittees.
And beside them, two red-glowing stones were nestled—100-gram S-Rank Etherium.
These alone were items worth 100 billion won each at average auction house prices.
"S-Rank... this is S-Rank..."
Since it dropped rarely even worldwide, only an extreme minority of S-Rank Admittees had ever personally owned S-Rank Etherium.
Most of the S-Ranks gathered there were the same. Bak Seoyeon, the Korean healer who couldn't take her eyes off the real S-Rank Etherium emitting a red glow, asked:
"I've only seen it in photos... the real thing is much prettier... it's so precious, how could I ever use it..."
Suho clapped to draw the attention of the Admittees who were spacing out just staring at their boxes, then pulled out one more large wheeled hard case.
"Now, separate from what was given to individuals, I've separately prepared plenty of Mid-Grade Healing Potions, Mid-Grade Regeneration Potions, and Mid-Grade Ether Potions for communal use, so take these out freely when it's not an emergency, for minor wounds, or when recharging, regrouping, things like that."
"OMG......"
"Good heavens... y-you're just providing these? The mid-grade ones?"
"... Cheonoechun's support..."
Everyone's jaws dropped.
"Hmph, so it was all true. In that case, I'm taking the [Anti-Aging Potion] no matter what, so everyone else give up."
When Ragnar Bjornsson, the berserker from Iceland, spoke boldly, everyone glared fiercely as if telling him not to talk nonsense, unwilling to lose out.
Suho poured cold water on that.
"Ah yes, you said it well. About the matter of selecting the one person to receive that Anti-Aging Potion..."
Suho rummaged around and pulled out something else. Several small booklets like memo pads.
"We made some scoring criteria. Since we have to be fair regarding the raid team's contribution..."
Those who received the small booklets hurriedly flipped through the pages and furrowed their brows.
"After all, the lifeblood of a raid team is teamwork, not competition, isn't it?"
Most items on the score sheet were about 'raid contribution', but among them, regulations related to OneTeam—how much one contributed to the community—were overwhelmingly numerous, and it was set up so that points could only be given to others, excluding oneself.
* * *
A few days passed quickly,
and the day to enter the 83rd-floor Tower arrived.
The Republic of Korea Tower Management Bureau had purchased the area at the maximum possible distance from the Tower entrance, installing a large-scale command headquarters, base camp, and support base.
This was so the raid team could immediately receive necessary resources as they cleared each floor and smoothly receive healing or other support.
Many personnel were deployed as a special dedicated support and supply team, guarding the camp 24/7, 365 days a year.
Normally, the clans raiding each Tower handled this, but because it was a special Tower, the government provided large-scale support.
Normally, the Tower's lower floors are relatively easy and simple, so raiders don't bother exiting every floor and steadily climb to the upper floors to save time; but this time, since it was all S-Ranks, the 'non-exit ascent section' was expected to be longer than anticipated.
Therefore, the Management Bureau equipped each person with gear for long-term eating, drinking, and usage packed like a field pack.
Supplies packed in carriers with large wheels and extremely sturdy hard-shell cases.
These carriers could be fixed to the wearer's waist, and partially functioned as motorized carts so as not to require strength to pull, allowing both hands to remain free while pulling them.
"I'm so sad that Suho-nim can't come with us..."
"Me too..."
While Suho's party was preparing to enter from one side, Taeung and Danbi complained with genuinely disappointed faces.
"Ah, if the boss could come with us, we wouldn't need these kinds of carriers. Ha, it really is a shame. We could go non-stop straight to the top floor without exiting once."
Thomas felt the same regret. Suho waved his hands.
"Haha, someone has to stay behind to watch Winkie. And you know. I'm not helpful. I can't fight."
"Where is war fought only with combat? Without supplies, war is as good as lost."
By the looks of it, Joshua seemed disappointed as well.
"Haha, thank you for saying that. Anyway, you must return safely. Drink the potions I gave you freely. Don't save them, just drink them. If you use them all, I'll refill everything with top-grade potions again. If you get hurt anywhere, drink them. Understood?"
"T... this is all worth so much money."
"Don't worry about money. I'll be diligently collecting while you all are gone, so just drink without reserve."
"I really chose the right line to stand in..."
Thomas muttered.
"Good thing you came to Korea, right?"
Joshua raised the corner of his mouth.
"I'd stake my name on it being the best choice of my life."
"Really? Then why don't you change your name Korean-style while you're at it."
"Oh, I'll do it if you do it first, bro."
As Suho watched Joshua and Thomas bicker with grins on their faces, the time to enter had already arrived.
A voice echoed over the microphone from the command headquarters.
{Admittees, three minutes until entry! Please gather in your positions!}
"Since you'll be exiting intermittently in the middle, you must contact me every time you come out. Understood?"
"Yes, yes!"
"We'll be back. Just your words make us grateful and reassured."
Danbi approached Suho, about to hug him tightly but held back, and quietly grasped his hand.
But Suho, thinking she wanted a handshake, grasped Danbi's hand and shook it vigorously, then shook hands with each and every one of the others, and sent them in.
Earnestly wishing them all safety and health.
Leaving his regrets behind.
* * *
Two days had passed since everyone entered.
They had always gone around in a noisy group of five, and now that all of them had suddenly vanished, the emptiness was almost unbearable.
He had originally been extremely introverted, the sort who could amuse himself perfectly well alone, yet now he felt lonely simply because he was by himself. It made him feel unfamiliar even to himself.
“I’ll go to TDM.”
“Yes, I’ll escort you right away.”
Lee Seojun, an A-rank Admiti and vice clan leader of the Sanarae Clan, whom Danbi had assigned to close protection in her stead, accompanied Suho.
Now that S-rank Suho had become such an important figure, Lee Seojun guarded and assisted him as though he were escorting the chairman of a major corporation, and Suho felt a little disappointed by that sense of distance.
When he visited, TDM was the same as ever. A hectic atmosphere, so busy one could hardly catch one’s breath.
In truth, with Narae, Seongsik, and Jiho at the center, TDM was running actively and smoothly alongside its many employees.
Compared to that busy atmosphere, there was still little for Suho to do.
A list of materials desired for online purchase would be submitted, the relevant department would organize it and send it to Suho, and Suho’s work ended with picking out the items he thought were suitable and bringing them over.
This was the most important part when it came to maintaining and operating TDM and earning profit, but ironically, for Suho, it was the easiest part.
Over the past several months of operating TDM, he had received requests for various Tower item materials and supplied them, and recently, in order to support Tower raids, he had also requested and received piles of various mid-grade potions and high-grade potions, worth one yang-won each,
and before he knew it, Suho’s Cheonyangwon list had been filled with as many as 129 kinds of items.
“Wow, so this really fills up like this. Already 129 kinds...”
“What does?”
Jiho tilted his head, and Suho brushed it off, saying he had just been talking to himself.
Back when he had first received things like gold, silver, and diamonds, he had wondered when he would ever fill all one thousand slots...
But as he chose from cosmic items and transcendental materials, he began to think that even a thousand kinds was nothing special.
Suho went around every corner of the TDM building, encouraging the employees, then left the building.
* * *
After stopping by the Elysium construction site, he returned home,
sent away all the Sanarae Clan security teams, and entered Winky’s nest—a cage like a gymnasium—through the subspace warehouse.
Kirurururuk!
As Suho appeared through the dimensional gate, Winky, who had been sitting on a rock, sprang into the air and flew toward him.
The sight was like a dog greeting its owner after they returned from a trip.
Since Taewung, who had been practically attached to Winky like a best friend, had not come, it seemed the creature was feeling empty too.
After rubbing its face against Suho, it looked around him and wandered as though searching for someone.
“Aw... Winky, you miss Taewung too, don’t you?”
Kururururuk—!
“He’ll be back soon. They say it’s the 83rd floor, so it’ll only take 250 days. And he’ll come out a few times in between too. Don’t be too sad. Uncle will give you lots of tasty things.”
Suho quietly wrapped his arms around Winky’s huge neck as it drooped and lay flat on the floor.