“France?”
Jo Insu was momentarily flustered by the unexpected order, but the fluster quickly turned into a smile.
A certain plan glimmered in his eyes.
“Yes. Your first assignment is dispatch to the Lyon Magic Tower in France.”
Lee Jiyu answered in a cool voice. Beside her, Song Hana nodded brightly.
Victory smiles spread across both women’s lips.
“We’ll give you as much time as you need to prepare.”
“Ah, no need. The sooner the better. It’s not like I didn’t expect this.”
He didn’t expect this?
The two women had to work hard to keep their faces neutral.
“Then we’ll excuse ourselves. We’ll send the detailed mission brief shortly.”
Jo Insu stood up confidently.
Thanks to the SG Group and Phoenix Guild networks, he had already anticipated this scenario to some degree.
***
At that very moment, in the Player Management Office’s secret conference room.
Choi Junseok had accepted Jo Insu and received the 100 billion won, yet something still felt off.
The reaction he heard second-hand from Lee Jiyu and Song Hana was strange.
“…So that’s what he said. Thank you for cooperating with this operation.”
“Well… I only did it for the 100 billion, so it’s nice that it ended up helping the Player Office too.”
Team Leader Kang spoke with a serious face.
“I thought that guy was suspicious from the start.”
“Really?”
“…No, just kidding.”
Kang let out a small laugh, but at the same time he was curious how Choi Junseok could remain so calm about anything related to Jo Insu.
Jo Insu, eldest son of SG Group.
While investigating him, some very strange circumstances had surfaced.
“This is classified even within the Player Office… I can’t exactly share it with you, Junseok-nim, since you’re technically ‘Function.’”
“What is it?”
“SG Group is also conducting research on the Magic Towers. Officially, tower research is an international project with investments from many countries and corporations, but there are plenty of underground projects too.”
“Hm.”
Underground Magic Tower research. Already ominous.
“Every possible resource is being mobilized. Intelligence agencies and player offices around the world are cooperating closely to keep things under control. That includes illegal tower research and abnormal player activities.”
He activated the conference room screen.
The perfectly soundproofed room made his voice echo.
“The material I’m about to show you must never leave this room.”
“Why are you making it so dramatic? It’s scary.”
“It has to be dramatic, Junseok-nim.”
“Fine. Go ahead.”
“To continue: countries and organizations around the world are conducting all sorts of research for their own purposes, possessing bizarre items and players with unimaginable skills. You can probably guess what happens when those things combine.”
Choi Junseok, who had already begun twisting multiple tower rules while climbing, would obviously understand, Kang thought.
“…Hm.”
Choi Junseok had never really thought about it, but now that it was explained, it made sense.
Nearly ten years had passed since the towers appeared.
Ten years is more than enough time for the world to change completely.
Who knows what items and awakened individuals had emerged in that time?
He himself had acquired several rule-breaking items in less than a month.
“In short, the risks and variables that could collapse everyday life because of the towers are far too numerous. These are some of the classified projects and cases the Player Office is currently tracking.”
Click.
The screen changed.
A view of the Lyon Magic Tower in France.
On the outskirts of Lyon.
Narrow, winding streets and stone buildings evoked a serene medieval-Renaissance atmosphere.
Cafés and shops coexisted with the colossal tower rising between them—an alien yet harmonious scene.
“This is a publicly known secret, but this tower has not collapsed even after 300 days.”
“…What?”
“Exactly. 300 days have passed, there is no 100th-floor clear record in the Hall of Fame, yet the tower still stands. It’s in the outskirts of a famous French city, so no one pays attention. People think it simply stopped after being cleared to 100, but… the highest recorded clear in the Lyon Tower is floor 68.”
“That means…”
“Yes. Something is breaking or twisting the laws of the tower. Or entities capable of doing so have appeared. We believe that. And the next material.”
Click.
A dense academic paper filled with tower diagrams, equations, shapes, images, and text appeared.
Before Choi Junseok could even frown and lean back, the explanation continued.
“Recent research suggests the leading hypothesis is that all towers in the world are connected in a single space or subordinated to one giant system. In other words, they only appear separate on the surface; in reality they are linked.”
Inside Choi Junseok, Yu Jun-hyeok let out an impressed “Hoo—.”
Of course, only Choi Junseok could hear it.
“Intelligence agencies are investigating the reasons, but the most compelling evidence seems related to this Lyon Tower. Someone accessed another tower through this one, or interfered with another tower’s laws using means obtained here. Meaning the towers are not independent systems but one integrated system.”
Choi Junseok roughly understood the situation.
“So you think something related to the Lyon Tower involves SG Group, Phoenix Guild, or Jo Insu?”
Kang nodded as if no further explanation was needed.
“Quick on the uptake. As expected from someone who has twisted tower rules himself. Evidence is thin, but we have intelligence that a research group backed by SG Group—or rather, Jo Insu—is up to something at the French tower. We were planning to send him there anyway to observe.”
“So for now, we just watch?”
“Correct… for now.”
“Alright then, I’m off to think about how to spend the 100 billion.”
***
“But you can only climb one floor per day in a tower, right? What could he even do?”
Lee Nayeon asked, puzzled.
“That might be exactly the problem. In other regions you have to start from floor 1 again, and the fact this tower hasn’t collapsed… he might have some special item or method.”
“For now, we just need to watch. And figure out how to use the 100 billion.”
100 billion won.
Actually deposited in a single lump sum.
An absurd fortune.
“Perfect. First, let’s sign a contract for a proper guild headquarters office.”
Then, under the guild’s name, he would buy the equipment Haetaesik made, funneling money back into his own account.
The perfect money-laundering scheme.
A smile spread across Choi Junseok’s face.
100 billion wasn’t that huge for player gear, but it would disappear fast if spent on top-tier equipment.
A brilliant business idea was already forming in his head.
“Alright. Here’s my plan. Listen carefully.”
A short, simple explanation followed.
Use part of the lump sum to secure a gathering space and actually build the guild.
Use the rest to buy Haetaesik-made equipment, lend it for free to guild applicants, then skim equipment rental fees and tower clear rewards.
“Truly demonic.”
“Ugh… miser.”
“You’re not even going to accept members anyway.”
“Exactly. I have to climb alone to monopolize the rewards.”
“Right.”
“I only ever climbed the tower for my own selfish gain. Don’t misunderstand.”
“…”
“Why are you all looking at me like I’m trash? Who in this world hates money?”
“Being too honest about your greed isn’t good either.”
Song Hana answered calmly.
“But does anyone have a better idea? I make money, Korean players get stronger, win-win.”
He was right.
Players equipped with his items would climb the tower as if they had wings.
“We still have to climb too.”
Lee Nayeon, who had been listening indifferently, suddenly widened her eyes—like a cat that only perks up at the words “treat” or “food.”
Choi Junseok, Lee Nayeon, and Song Hana turned into light and vanished.
Only Lee Jiyu, the one with actual business experience, shook her head.
Jumping in with zero concrete plan, just “let’s do it!”
What exactly is he planning to— ah.
But in less than a minute, they were back at the table.
They had cleared the 33rd floor in 3–4 seconds.
“Why are you smiling?”
At Choi Junseok’s question, Lee Jiyu shook her head.
While she did, he turned into light again, entered the tower, and returned in seconds.
Hmm…
No matter how many times she saw it, she couldn’t get used to this clear speed.
Only then did Lee Jiyu realize there was no need to worry about anyone here.
The Player Office was behind them, and there were plenty of people willing to help.
Having cleared up to floor 34, Choi Junseok now held the reward for five consecutive floor clears.
“What do I need most right now?”
He summoned the small special reward box onto his palm and looked at Song Hana.
“What do you need right now? Hmm?”
Song Hana closed her eyes tightly, clasped her hands in prayer, then spread her energy over the box—an inevitable ritual before drawing.
The moment Choi Junseok pressed “Use,”
Pop!
The box burst open in all directions, revealing the item.
It was an unexpected one.
Item: Coordinate Teleportation Scroll (Legendary)
Type: Consumable
Description: Instantly teleports the user to any location viewed on a map.
How to use: Tear the scroll.
“So this is what I need most right now?”
“According to the effect of my prayer, yes! That’s what I prayed and enchanted for.”
“…Wow.”
Unease crept in.
And sure enough, his phone vibrated.
A text from Team Leader Kang JInsu.
– Emergency. It seems… you need to go to France.
In just one day, something had happened in France.
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