Player Nam Gaeun commutes to the Awakening Management Agency every single day.
To use the gym inside the Management Agency.
Her pre-climb routine was strength training.
“Hup!”
Starting off easy with a 100kg deadlift.
“Raaagh!!!”
You can't rely on Player level alone.
Only with a solid foundation of physical strength can the level-application effects inside the Tower be maximized.
Besides, she also needed to practice swinging her sword outside as well.
Her trait was Swordsman.
While Yu Cheolmin had the All-Weapon trait, she could only use a sword.
Still, having achieved trait enhancement, the skills she could use with her sword were fairly diverse.
Tang!
Setting down the barbell, "Whew,"
She was currently climbing Floor 62.
Since she had to deal with undead, this section was mentally exhausting. On Floor 62, Dark Zombies appeared.
The zombies' dark aura corrupted Players with the power of darkness, dragging them into depravity.
Mana movement was restricted, strength was weakened, the mind was gnawed away leaving listlessness, and it even induced suicidal urges.
Dark aura.
Only by enduring it could one overcome the undead section—and it was anything but easy.
Especially for melee classes, who had to fight the undead up close.
But Nam Gaeun never gave up.
If she were going to break down here, she never would have become a Player in the first place.
Steel her resolve, twist open the lid of her tumbler of protein shake, gulp it down. 'Shall I go shower?'
Wash up thoroughly and get ready to challenge Floor 62 again.
Heading to the showers with her body soaked in sweat, "Hm?"
Something was in an uproar.
Footsteps, shouting.
“What's going on?”
When she stepped into the corridor, the Agency staff were moving around busily, out of their minds.
A fire? 'But no fire alarm's gone off.'
Just then, a familiar female employee passing by.
“Unnie!”
Nam Gaeun had an outgoing personality and was friendly with everyone at the Agency.
Manager Lee Mina went without saying.
“Unnie! Unnie!”
“...Huh? Oh, Gaeun. Sorry, I'm a bit busy right now.”
“That's exactly why everyone's busy—did something happen?”
At Nam Gaeun's question, Lee Mina avoided her eyes and hesitated.
“Um, well, that's...,”
“Hard to answer? Between us?”
“...”
“Now I'm even more curious.”
“Let's talk later. You'll find out anyway.”
“Then tell me now. I'm Nam Gaeun, elite Player of the Management Agency, Plan B.”
“Whew,”
Lee Mina let out a long sigh.
And then.
“Yu Cheolmin has disappeared.”
“What? Why him? ...D-don't tell me he died inside the Tower?”
“No, missing, just as I said. He vanished alone while drinking at a club yesterday. He's not answering his phone right now either.”
Vanished alone?
There were several bodyguards assigned to the elite team's lead Player, both near and far.
“Don't tell me he got drunk and entered the Tower from the club?”
Lee Mina shook her head and denied it.
“Absolutely not. There's another reason.”
“Hm... This is strange. There's more, isn't there? You know, unnie.”
“Haah, the truth is, how it happened was...,”
Manager Lee Mina's explanation continued.
Nam Gaeun's eyes went wide.
“That doomed son of a—!” With less than three months left on the deadline to conquer Floor 66, this was a disaster.
※ ※ ※
The Awakening Management Agency was thrown into chaos.
The disappearance of Player Yu Cheolmin last night.
In reality, it was an intentional vanishing act.
How did they determine that?
The place Yu Cheolmin disappeared from was a large club in Nonhyeon-dong, Seoul.
It was packed with people, but since it was a place he frequented, the security teams didn't suspect anything.
It was his unchanging daily routine—then, in an instant, he was gone.
From the large room where Yu Cheolmin had gathered people, drinking and partying away.
Something that defied explanation.
They urgently reviewed the club's CCTV footage.
“He was in disguise?”
“Yes. He'd changed his clothes, and wore glasses and even a wig. The club was too dark to tell, but here...,”
“Damn it!”
Footage of Yu Cheolmin caught in a relatively bright spot.
In it, the disguised man could be seen slipping out the club's back door under someone's escort.
Zooming in closely, it was clear.
There was no coerced atmosphere whatsoever.
Yu Cheolmin grinned and walked ahead, leading the way with assertive movements.
“He went voluntarily.”
“It appears so.”
“Haah, this is the worst.”
It would have been better if he'd been kidnapped, honestly.
Suppressing his rage, Commissioner Park Gyeongsu asked Jeon Gwangil,
“What about the NIS? What do they say?”
Because of its importance, Player Yu Cheolmin's security was the responsibility of the National Intelligence Service.
“They say they don't even have ten mouths to make excuses with...,”
“Who asked for excuses? Find out where he went. Mobilize the entire NIS if you have to!”
“W-well, that is, Yu Cheolmin isn't the only one who disappeared—”
“Who else?”
Jeon Gwangil fidgeted before speaking up.
“Right after Yu Cheolmin vanished, we checked his family home as well, and his immediate family's whereabouts are also unknown.”
“The police? Isn't family security handled by the police organization?”
“Five security officers were subdued by someone... tasered and beaten, bound with cable ties, and found on the apartment rooftop. They're currently hospitalized.”
“Heh heh,”
A hollow laugh escaped him.
This is all the NIS and police of South Korea can manage?
His premonition was bad.
Yu Cheolmin's voluntary vanishing.
His family gone too, and even the police protecting them taken down. '...Don't tell me?'
In that moment!
Ziiing!
An incoming call for Jeon Gwangil.
“It's the NIS. I need to take this.”
“Take it, quickly.”
Jeon Gwangil answered and spoke with someone.
And his face gradually rotted.
“Are you certain? ...Whew. Yes, yes, understood.”
After hanging up.
“It's Japan.”
“...What?”
“There is evidence that Yu Cheolmin and his family boarded a smuggling ship bound for Tsushima, Japan, in the early hours of this morning. It appears that...,”
Jeon Gwangil's face crumpled as if the next words were hard to say.
At last.
“It seems to be for the purpose of naturalization.”
“Goddammit!!!”
The bomb had finally gone off.
It was a national crisis perhaps worse than war.
“He fled to Japan?”
“He apparently lacked confidence in conquering Floor 66. If he operates in Japan, he only has to start from Floor 57.”
That seemed to be it.
Japan's Black Tower. Conquering just one floor every six months, he could loaf around for fifty-four months—four and a half years.
“That traitor bastard!”
How much effort had been poured in for him? For the sake of supporting the Floor 66 conquest, they had groveled and whined here and there to obtain light-attribute items.
Diplomatic channels were running at full capacity even with the United States, a friendly nation, to borrow Floor 66 conquest know-how and light-attribute items.
And now all of it had come to nothing.
Due to the naturalization, Yu Cheolmin's affiliation would soon change.
The Black Tower.
When the Tower first appeared and the existence of status windows became known.
People were puzzled.
The biggest question was the affiliation field.
[Affiliation]: Black Tower (RUSSIA)
The name of a country was plastered right there on the status window.
Why bother with a country's name?
The reason was soon revealed.
Only Players with that country's nationality could enter a specific nation's Tower.
Koreans to the Korean Tower, Americans to the American Tower, Russians to the Russian Tower.
Then what if one changed nationality?
If a Russian Player naturalized to the United States and acquired citizenship?
[Affiliation]: Black Tower (USA)
The status window's affiliation would change.
It didn't matter where the Player was physically located.
Whether in Russia, Europe, or Africa, no matter where they entered the Tower, they would enter the Tower of their status window's national affiliation.
And soon, Yu Cheolmin's status window would...
[Name]: Yu Cheolmin
[Affiliation]: Black Tower (Japan)
[Level]: 66LV
...change like that.
How big a deal was this?
It was as if a world-class Korean soccer player—a national team striker who had even been the top scorer in the EPL—had naturalized to Japan right before the second-round World Cup qualifier against Japan.
“Gather all the elite team Players immediately. There might be someone who followed Yu Cheolmin to Japan.”
※ ※ ※
The Japanese Prime Minister's official residence in Tokyo.
It was packed with reporters.
The previously announced press conference for Player Yu Cheolmin's naturalization to Japan.
Truthfully, the naturalization process could have proceeded quietly.
Poaching another country's Player.
Nothing to boast about domestically, and making a fuss about it worldwide as if it were a trophy didn't paint a pretty picture either.
But the Japanese government boldly decided to go public.
Because they wanted to watch South Korea be thrown into upheaval.
How entertaining would it be?
Massive confusion, blame-shifting, power struggles to come.
At last, Player Yu Cheolmin entered the press conference room.
In a voice laden with gravity.
“Today, I, Yu Cheolmin, have left Korea and will be active as a Japanese Player. As such...,”
Flash-flash-flash! Flash-flash!
Camera flashes burst.
Korean public opinion and the media exploded too.
※ ※ ※
Ju Hyeok was hard at work on Floor 28's repeat mission today as well.
“Go, Algobang.”
When Kosak pointed at a tree with his hand,
“UOOOOOO!!!”
The barbarian warrior Gobang let out a roar and threw himself into a body slam.
Kuuung!
The tree shook and swayed wildly, like the reed of Ju Hyeok's heart.
“Mind your head, now. Chestnuts be fallin'.”
Escorted by Kosak, Ju Hyeok charged toward the fallen chestnuts—no, toward the Jungle Trolls.
“Lightning Fission!”
Bang!
Crackle-crack!
A bolt of lightning splitting into five branches.
One more!
Bang!
He occasionally threw in his Thunder Soul Chase skill too.
Because Jungle Trolls lived in the trees, their bodies weren't that large.
Instead, they were nimble and quick.
But who could have known?
That even a Jungle Troll would have its day of falling from a tree.
Honestly, there was nothing you could call a conquest here.
Easy was an understatement—it was too easy.
“Ooh! The feel of the kill is electric.”
Kosak approached, rubbing his hands together obsequiously.
“Heheheh, are ye satisfied?”
“Now I feel a little refreshed. I feel great, like my true boss-like nature is coming back to life.”
“Ah there! Don't be too much of a boss. Ye must restrain yourself.”
“You think? Hahaha!”
“Heheheh.”
Since it was a repeat mission, there'd be no S++ grade, so he took it slow.
Clear one tree, rest until his mana recovered, then move to another tree.
[You have succeeded in the Floor 28 mission.]
[Reward: Magic Stone 2.8kg]
The reward was only magic stones.
Repeat missions rarely gave good rewards in the first place.
Still, the magic stones he'd gathered so far exceeded 30kg.
He'd earned 15 million won. 'Earn money, then do what?'
Do what, indeed!
Buy land.
Buy buildings.
Then later retire and live off the fat of the land.
“Let's have a team dinner, a team dinner.”
But Kosak shook his head side to side.
“Ye needn't worry so much about team dinners.”
“Why not?”
“That pig Gobang eats way too much.”
“Aww, that can't be true. He worked hard body-slamming trees and all.”
“That be his duty to begin with. Before, he was bawlin' and fishin' for sympathy, that one. Oh my? He's glarin' at me with eyes wide open. Daring, at Sseusar—”
Stammering, but saying everything he had to say, Gobang.
“I don't eat much. I eat little.”
“Bullshit, bullshit—how the hell is that eating little? You're a bastard who inhales a whole pizza like it's an Oh! Yes snack.”
Ju Hyeok had no choice but to step in.
“Come on, now. No matter how much he eats, he's not spending my money. So...,”
But then.
Ding!
A notification message on Ju Hyeok's smartphone.
Probably another loan ad or an illegal gambling message—the moment he peeked at it,
“...Huh!”
When Ju Hyeok was startled, Kosak was startled along with him.
“You scared me! What is it?”
“It's, well...”
He showed him the smartphone.
“Eh? A notice convening a general meeting of all elite team Players? Til when? Today, of all days.”
It seemed like an emergency meeting.
Judging by how suddenly it was called today.
“Haah, I hate meetings...,”
“...Pardon?”
“If it's a meeting, they're going to make me speak. In front of all those people.”
“How many attendees would there be?”
“Let's see, around 150?”
“Hmmm, big trouble. Big trouble.”
“Isn't there a way to skip it?”
“I'll ponder on it.”
Ju Hyeok and Kosak, deliberating seriously.
“What if ye call and say ye're ill?”
“Not sure that'd fly as an excuse. It says attendance is mandatory, no exceptions, right here.”
“Or I could go to the Management Agency and set a big fire right in the middle of the meetin'. Then the meetin' might get called off, no?”
“Are ye out of your mind? Arson now? Setting a fire just 'cause ye don't want to attend a meetin'?”
“Shall I really set it? If it's just enough smoke to set off the fire alarm—”
“Ooh...!”
Right at that moment!
Ziiing!
The smartphone rang.
“Ye've a call.”
“Shh!”
After silencing him, Ju Hyeok picked up the phone.
“Hello?”
— This is Jeon Gwangil. I have something to discuss.
Ahh, so it's about attending the meeting.
“Do I really have to go to the emergency meeting today—”
— You don't have to.
Oh?
What a relief.
No need to set a fire after all.
— Instead, I'd like to meet with you alone, the two of us. Something rather serious has happened.
Meeting with Team Leader Jeon Gwangil—they saw each other often, so it wasn't difficult.
Anyway, something serious?
“What's the serious thing?”
— It's embarrassing to say with my own mouth, but you'll probably be able to check on TV in a little while.
“Ah, yes, yes. Then I'll come. Where?”
— I'm not in a position to leave my post, so I'll see you at the Management Agency. I'll send a car.
He didn't know what was going on, but in any case, while he was at the Agency, he'd sell off the magic stones and the items sitting in his inventory.
How much would he get for the items?
He hoped for around 50 million won.
But what on earth was happening?
They said it might be on TV.
Click!
Ju Hyeok turned on the power.
News was playing.
It was breaking news.
“...Huh?”
Is this for real.
Not a movie or a hidden camera prank?
But no matter how long he watched, it was real.
The same content on every channel.
The world had been turned upside down. 'Yu Cheolmin naturalized to Japan?'
What kind of absurd...,
“Goddammit! That plague-ridden pus of a bastard!”
Even if he was a loser himself, he'd never do something like that.
“A traitor, a betrayer, a sniveling loser bastard.”
Just like that! Send Kosak at him?
Make him get a taste of Sseusar?
He probably doesn't even know what a head-ribbon is, does he?