Jeon Gwang-il was deep in thought.
Setting aside how Player Bong had managed to bring whole, unprocessed hides out of the Tower, the problem was pricing.
He had no idea where to even start.
The sheer quantity was staggering.
This single whole hide alone—
was more than the amount of leather the Management Bureau's player shop purchased in an entire month.
And there were seven of these whole hides.
While they didn't quite measure up to Wyvern hide, officially recognized as the finest, Basilisk hide was known as the next best thing.
It even had a self-repair function for scratches.
No, wait—would it even get scuffed in the first place?
Top-tier durability. Bullets couldn't pierce it.
It was so difficult to work with that only a blade forged from Tower metal could cut it.
Moreover, it looked completely different from the hide received as mission rewards.
Feeling it with his own hands made that all the more clear.
How much should he price each hide?
And what about the herbs?
There were plenty of them, and a wide variety too.
A few were ones he'd never even seen before.
'We'll send the herbs over to the lab for analysis.'
Jeon Gwang-il asked Ju-hyeok.
"Did you receive all of this quantity at once?"
"Mm, yes, well, that's right."
"In that case, the odds of another batch this size coming out would be slim, wouldn't they?"
"Nope?"
What?
Jeon Gwang-il doubted his own ears.
"What do you…?"
"I could bring back even more than this."
"Whoa!"
Could it really be true?
Of course it would be true.
There was no way Player Bong Ju-hyeok would lie.
"I can supply steadily and continuously as well."
"..."
How on earth?
He was dying to ask for details, but—no, he shouldn't be curious.
He would simply accept it. The fact that this man held a record of forty-one consecutive S++-grade clears was already a mystery in itself.
This might just be another reward for an S++-grade clear.
In any case, the Management Bureau couldn't absorb a quantity like this.
After a moment's deliberation, Jeon Gwang-il spoke.
"Let's do this. We'll buy all of the herbs—at double the standard herb prices. We'll likely need them for research."
"Alright."
"In exchange, how about we release these whole Basilisk hides to the private sector? Assuming supply can continue, that is."
That had been his intention all along.
If it ended with just these seven, fine—but a considerable amount of Basilisk hide would be flowing in from here on.
What would the Management Bureau even do with this hide, really?
Use it for crafting player armor, presumably.
Or make bulletproof vests out of it.
There weren't many other uses.
Private corporations, on the other hand, had a vast array of applications.
Fashion companies, especially.
"Um, private sales are also something the Management Bureau—"
"Yes! We'll handle it on your behalf."
"Oh! Thank you. I'll pay you a commission. Take one whole hide for the Management Bureau's share."
"N-no, that's quite all right."
"No, accounts must be settled properly."
Now, the final matter on the agenda.
"And that… penthouse, right?"
"Yes, it's still vacant. Are you thinking of moving in?"
"I am. But! I'll buy it. With money."
Jeon Gwang-il sighed inwardly.
"We could transfer the title to you free of charge."
"Come on, is it right to take it for free? I'll pay full price for the apartment. Just deduct it from the holy sword rental fee and deposit the rest."
He was anxious.
Why did Player Bong Ju-hyeok keep trying to distance himself from the Management Bureau?
They'd finalized an elite contract, but looking closely, it was only half a contract.
Minimum salary, lax security, no bodycam requirement, exemption from mandatory Management Bureau attendance—practically a standard civilian contract.
That was why he'd wanted to solidify the relationship, even if it meant showering him with benefits.
The offer of a free penthouse title transfer had come from that same line of thinking.
And yet the man insisted on paying.
Nothing to be done, then.
All he could do was sell it as cheaply as possible, pegged to the official assessed value.
Throw in brand-new furniture and appliances too.
"...Yes, we'll do that. We'll go through the procedures and contact you."
The business was concluded.
But Jeon Gwang-il still seemed to have something left to say.
"Um, Player Bong, may I ask just one thing?"
"Ask whatever you like."
"When word gets out that you've supplied whole Basilisk hides this time, attention may gather again. We'll try to block it, but in the worst case…"
He understood what was being said.
It had been the same with the holy sword rental.
The fact that he was the true owner was already known to a handful of higher-ups.
And if it became known that he was also the one selling the hides?
Ultimately, it meant that his identity as an S++-grade record holder could come to light eventually.
"Well, I know there's no such thing as an eternal secret, but I'd still like it to come out as late as possible, if I can help it."
"We'll do our best. Even if such a situation arises, please don't worry. We will do everything in our power to ensure Player Bong's safety."
Safety, of all things.
He'd been born a coward, but these days he wasn't afraid.
If anything, he felt sorry for whoever might come after him.
The threats directed at a player whose identity had been exposed would be things like blackmail or kidnapping—but who would dare try that on him?
Whoosh—he'd unleash the Mad Demon.
Was that too harsh?
"...And you have no intention of naturalizing to another country besides South Korea, do you?"
Huh?
Out of nowhere?
"Absolutely none."
"Hahaha, good. Good, that's a relief."
Naturalize, my foot. What would he even do in a country where nobody knew him?
He might as well conquer the world instead.
***
After returning from the Management Bureau, Ju-hyeok summoned Cossack, Go Bang, Gyeon Dallae, and Laxics one after another.
Then he seated them all in a cozy huddle facing the TV mounted on the living room wall.
Laxics with her dizzying curves and plump roundness—seen from behind, she looked like a gym ball.
At a glance from Ju-hyeok, Cossack stepped forward with his chest puffed out, taking position beside the TV screen.
He'd said he was preparing a briefing; apparently he'd worked hard on it.
"Greetings. I am John Cossack—first summon of Summoner Bong, right arm, trusted confidant, artist of the red ribbon."
When Ju-hyeok clapped, the other summons clapped along.
But their expressions were less than pleased.
Who did he think he was, calling himself the right arm?
And a confidant, no less?
"Now, I shall begin the briefing on our upcoming Tower climb."
Skillfully connecting his laptop to the TV,
"First, I will explain our tasks from the 42nd to the 45th floor."
Click!
The screen enlarged.
A photo of a long-tailed Basilisk appeared.
"The monster we caught on the 41st floor was the Ironshell Basilisk. On the 42nd floor, it's the Longtail Basilisk. That's tomorrow's target. Nothing special. Just watch out for the tail blade."
Flash!
"Ho-eh?"
Laxics raised a short hand as if she had a question.
"Worker Laxics, go ahead."
"Do we skin the longtail?"
"Of course we skin it. But we skip the first one and skin the second. On the first clear, there'll be no time to skin it. It's an S++ clear, no exceptions."
Click!
Next.
"Floors 43 and 44. the Wrought-Iron Jaw Basilisk and the Thornscale Basilisk. We skin the Iron Jaw, and pass on the Thornscale. Its hide has sharp spines all over. Picking them off one by one is a hassle. Any questions?"
Apparently not.
"Moving on."
Click!
A brilliantly multicolored Basilisk appeared on screen.
"This is the key. The Rainbow Basilisk—the boss of the 45th floor, where we'll be parking and running repeat missions for a while."
At that, Gyeon Dallae spoke up.
"I have a question. Why on earth would we—"
"Wait! Your Highness, please raise your hand for the floor first."
At Cossack's words, her face flooded with incredulity.
"...The floor? I need to raise my hand just to speak? Out of the question."
"Yep! I've been granted full authority over the briefing by Summoner Bong."
"Hmm."
After a brief, sparking standoff, Gyeon Dallae raised her hand.
"The floor is granted. Your Highness."
"Why must we park on the 45th floor? There's a 50th floor, isn't there? Wouldn't harvesting be more efficient as the floors rise?"
"Answering."
Click!
"These are the monsters that appear from the 46th floor onward."
It was a giant scorpion. A scorpion type.
"They have no hide. They have an exoskeletal shell, but it's segmented, so dismantling takes time. Correct, Worker Laxics?"
"Ho-eeh, that's right."
"The exoskeleton is light and hard, so it's used for armor, shields, and the like—but most importantly of all... their hide sells for more. Versatility is high. In other words, it sells well."
Cossack was speaking well.
He must have practiced a lot.
"On the 45th floor, every type of Basilisk appears. And above all, behold the boss, the Rainbow Basilisk. Isn't it beautiful?"
It really was dazzling.
The hide of a creature where seven colors mingled in strange harmony.
"We have to skin this one and sell it. Our Summoner Bong has overspent on a house and is now house-poor. Money must go ka-chunk ka-chunk into his account."
Ju-hyeok nodded with a contented smile.
Gyeon Dallae hung her head low.
Wearing the expression of someone who regretted raising her hand.
"The problem is, once we kill this one, the clear is complete and we must exit the Tower—so we'll have to skin it and get out in a very short window of time. Worker Laxics, can you do it?"
"Ho-ehng!"
A face full of resolve.
She said she'd try.
Then applause once more.
Clap clap clap clap!
"For a while, we dismantle hides only. No need to harvest anything else. We don't pick herbs either. Throw magic stones away."
Go Bang raised his hand.
"What should the warrior do?"
"Go Bang, you just do your usual meat-shield duty."
"Understood."
Clap clap!
More applause from Ju-hyeok.
And the others clapping along again, as ever.
"There's one item remaining. The most important agenda."
Click!
The screen changed.
There were no photos this time.
Only large lettering that read: 'PERKS.'
"We cannot miss the 45th floor perk. This right arm, Cossack, still remembers. The click-clang on the 40th floor!"
Ju-hyeok, too, closed his eyes quietly and recalled that moment.
The click-clang. It had been such a rush.
"Trait Enhancement! Now is when we need a ritual. We've absorbed plenty of the energy of Gyeryongsan, and for the next ritual site, the spiritually potent Manisan—"
At that very moment!
Gyeon Dallae raised her hand again.
"...Speak."
"I think differently. The 45th-floor ritual of petition is far too soon."
"Didn't we already skip one? Do you know how much our Summoner Bong suffered, staring at nothing but a wall for two days?"
"And that is why Laxics came to us, is it not?"
"Then how do you explain the Mad Demon?"
"..."
Gyeon Dallae was silent for a moment before her lips parted.
"No matter how I consider it, the 45th floor perk is not the ritual of petition. Safely deferring it to the 50th floor would—"
At those words, Cossack sneered.
"Are you lacking confidence?"
"...What did you say?"
"And to think, this is the woman they call the foremost shamaness of the Heavenly Emperor's nation—afraid of holding a ritual?"
"You insolent wretch!"
In that instant!
Ju-hyeok raised his hand to cut them off.
"I also agree with postponing the ritual."
"...Pardon?"
"Cossack here is a complete novice when it comes to rituals. Rituals are the domain of our High Shamaness, Her Highness. So let us hear Her Highness out."
Cossack deflated at once.
"U-uh, all right. The r-ritual will be p-postponed."
As Ju-hyeok lent his weight behind Gyeon Dallae, this time it was she who looked at Cossack and gave a faint, derisive snort.
Acting up about things he knew nothing about?
"Ho-eeehng?"
Laxics looked at Ju-hyeok.
At Ju-hyeok, who had settled the situation with only a few words.
"So cool."
Yeah, cool. Cool, and cool indeed.
This was what a true man looked like.
In any case, let's start as briefed.
Dash up to the 45th floor, park there, sell hides, make money.
***
Commissioner Park Gyeong-su received Jeon Gwang-il's call and rushed straight to the Management Bureau's materials warehouse.
The moment he arrived and saw the objects spread across the floor, he flinched in shock.
"Holy—! It was real. Actual whole hides."
Seven whole Ironshell Basilisk hides, with the shapes of the head, tail, and legs still fully intact.
He couldn't help but be astonished.
He'd never even heard of a hide coming out of a mission reward in this form.
"How is this even possible... What did Player Bong say about it?"
"He didn't say anything at all. It didn't seem like there was any need to ask."
Park Gyeong-su nodded.
A player whose very existence was a mystery.
"
We were told one of these is our share, right?
"
"
Yes. I plan to craft equipment and supply it to the players on our team.
"
"
Good.
"
Director Park Gyeongsu said as he ran his hand over the Iron-Armored Basilisk's hide.
"
If we sell six hides to the private sector... how do you plan to release them? Auction? Open bidding?
"
"
I intend to proceed as privately and discreetly as possible.
"
"
Hmm, yes, that's better than a public approach. And the targets?
"
"
I think it would be best to start by contacting Korean companies first.
"
Director Park Gyeongsu agreed.
"
Then you handle this one too, Deputy Director Jeon.
"
"...
Deputy Director? I haven't even received my appointment letter yet.
"
"
It's as good as done. The announcement will come out within a week.
"
The next day.
Jeon Gwangil sent official letters in the name of the Deputy Director of the Awakening Management Agency to famous Korean fashion companies.
Only to large corporations capable of handling the volume.
The letters stated that a public-private collaboration project on utilizing tower materials was being planned, and that they wished to hold a joint meeting with company representatives.
It specifically emphasized "company representatives."
For a project of this scale, it had to be someone with decision-making authority who could actually show up.***CEO Ko Yeonha of HG Fashion.
She was a third-generation chaebol heir of the HG Group.
HG Fashion was under the group, but the company was relatively small compared to other affiliates.
Rather than growing the company by recklessly dragging in this brand and that brand in an octopus-like expansion, she had wanted to create one proper luxury brand.
She restructured the miscellaneous business divisions and consolidated the rest into one.
In the process, she ambitiously launched a domestic homegrown brand called 'Wildflower,' but things hadn't gone smoothly.
Was it easy to gain recognition as a luxury brand?
It was still in its early stages, so building name recognition was difficult.
In any case, Ko Yeonha also read the official letter from the Awakening Management Agency.
The contents concerned a public-private collaboration project on utilizing tower materials.
What tower materials would be relevant to a fashion company?
The most representative one was monster leather.
Tower leather—extremely limited in quantity, with erratic supply.
Ko Yeonha had seen it before.
She'd never done anything with it, though.
It was that rare.
It was only used for making player armor and combat boots.
Was there anything for the public and private sectors to collaborate on?
Don't tell me they wanted her to make fashion leather armor?
Well, leather armor would be even better if it looked pretty.
There would be brand advertising effects, at least.
Imagine, for example, Player Nam Gaeun wearing leather armor branded with the Wildflower logo.
The brand value would skyrocket.'But do I really have to go myself?'Were they perhaps planning to demand kickbacks or bribes?
She didn't particularly feel like going, but if Player Nam Gaeun would just wear Wildflower-brand fashion armor....'Well, my schedule happens to be free. Might as well go in person.'What could it be, really?
Honestly, she wasn't even expecting much.────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────