There were many people around watching.
Click!
Click!
Sounds of cameras snapping filled the air, and some were even recording videos.
“Is that a Dokkaebi?”
“Is it really a Dokkaebi?”
“You just saw it with your own eyes and still can’t believe it?”
“No. It’s just that someone who always maintained a mysterious persona suddenly appeared like this. It’s fascinating, that’s all.”
We’d better move to another place for now.
“President, is there somewhere quiet where we can talk?”
“Follow me.”
Association President Lee Changgeon wore a slightly surprised expression before stepping ahead toward the Association building.
Jessica followed right behind him.
Yoo Seolha and I brought up the rear. Yoo Seolha glanced at me suspiciously, her eyes narrowing.
“Are you really the Owner of the Magic Tower?”
“The Supreme Grade Fatigue Recovery Elixir. It works well, right?”
Since the gift had come through the Golden Tower, only the Owner of the Magic Tower could have known its contents.
It was probably the easiest way to dispel suspicion.
“…It’s true.”
“Why aren’t you the person I expected?”
“No, I didn’t really have anyone in mind… but is this okay?”
“What do you mean?”
“Showing yourself to the public. You seemed to want to keep a mysterious image, but is it alright to reveal yourself like this?”
“I changed my mind.”
When I was weak, hiding and striking enemies from the shadows was the best strategy, but now I’m strong enough that I don’t have to hide anymore.
More importantly,
The Apostles already knew I was active in Korea. If I kept hiding, others might suffer.
I don’t want that.
So I decided to reveal myself to draw the Apostles’ attention. This would also help flush out any hidden Apostles.
At the same time, it would raise Korea’s status.
“So, what brings you here?”
“When discussing business, request a few more S-rank Dungeons.”
“How many?”
“Four for now.”
“Got it. But am I the one to discuss business? Wouldn’t it be better if you handled it since you’re here?”
“This isn’t a one-time deal. It’s an ongoing project, so it’s right that the person involved handles it directly.”
I’m already busy just dealing with Apostles and Dragon Rare. Managing the Magic Tower too would be too much work.
If Yoo Seolha weren’t capable, I might not say that.
But in my eyes, she’s more than qualified to run the Golden Tower.
“Understood.”
“Do your best. Once you’ve shown results, I’ll send more of what I sent last time.”
“Really? There’s more of that?”
“Yeah.”
As we walked, we arrived at a VIP-only elevator inside the Association.
We took it up.
The elevator stopped on the 20th floor and opened wide to reveal a spacious corridor.
“A VIP Private Room, huh.”
President Lee explained as he stepped out of the elevator.
Soundproofing, dustproofing.
Barriers.
Magic Cancellation.
Unless an S-rank ability user attacks with full force, this place could block most assassinations and eavesdropping attempts.
Still, to my eyes, there were some slight flaws.
“There are some minor issues here.”
“Really?”
“It’s not urgent. I’ll fix them later. For now, let’s get to the business. The guests are waiting.”
President Lee nodded and pointed to a room.
Inside, there was a dining table set with beautiful dishes.
“Everyone must be hungry, so you prepared a meal to discuss business over dinner.”
“The atmosphere’s nice.”
Jessica walked in first and took a seat. The President sat beside her, and Yoo Seolha and I sat across from them.
In the awkward silence, Jessica crossed her arms and spoke.
“The food will take a while, so how about we quickly get through the business? I feel like if we eat first and then the contract falls through, it’ll leave a bad taste.”
Her gaze was on me, so I nodded toward Yoo Seolha.
“Business talks are with her.”
“You said she’s the Owner of the Magic Tower, right?”
“From now on, she’s the owner. So handle business with her.”
“Phew. Well, who I deal with doesn’t really matter.”
Jessica’s eyes curved slightly like a fox’s.
“First, I want to check if enchant magic is possible. Can she do it?”
“You’ll need one piece of equipment.”
“Here.”
Jessica snapped her fingers, and a ring dropped in front of Yoo Seolha.
“It’s an A-rank Ring of Intelligence. Enchant it with fire attribute power enhancement magic.”
“Please wait a moment.”
Yoo Seolha’s gaze grew serious as she stared at the ring.
I watched closely as she worked.
Yoo Seolha extended her hand over the ring and spun a mana circle.
Gentle mana flowed into the ring.
Whirr!
Two circles appeared on the ring.
Various geometric shapes and patterns began to engrave themselves inside.
The magic circle emitted a hot, intense energy before the completed magic flowed inward.
The principles and structure of enchant magic conceptualized and permeated her mind.
[Using Blessing of Magic (EX) to understand the principles and structure of enchant magic.]
[Very high understanding of magic.]
[High understanding of attributes.]
[Adjusting grade.]
[Acquired Enchant Magic (S).]
After mastering the magic, Yoo Seolha’s skill objectively stood out.
‘She definitely has talent.’
With the right materials, advanced enchantments should also be possible.
Yoo Seolha handed the finished ring to Jessica.
“Here you go.”
“It’s a bit disappointing that it’s intermediate level… but it really can apply the enchantment I want.”
“With materials, advanced is also possible.”
“…This is insane. I hate to say it here, but do you want to come to America?”
“Jessica? Even as a member of the Twelve Constellations, that comment was a bit too much.”
President Lee slightly interrupted the flow.
“Sorry. I was just really tempted.”
“Shall we get back to the deal?”
“You’re so straightforward. I like that more every time I see it.”
“I’m not coming. If you’re not going to discuss business, I’ll get going first. I have clients in the U.S. waiting for reservations downstairs.”
“Alright. What we want is magic that grants resistance to cold attributes. We have to clear the 52nd floor. The damn environment is a real headache.”
Jessica shook her head.
“We have a total of 30 people. We want advanced magic enchantments on all their gear. Can you handle that?”
“With that many, it’ll take about a month.”
“Not as long as I thought. We’ve said everything we want, so tell us what you want.”
“50 billion won per person. Materials will be prepared in the U.S. Also, we want ten additional S-rank Dungeons.”
“Deal.”
Jessica reached out her hand, and Yoo Seolha clasped it.
The Association’s secretary and Jessica’s secretary, who had been waiting behind President Lee, immediately handed over the contract documents to Yoo Seolha and Jessica.
The papers detailed everything they had just discussed.
“Let us know if you want to add any specifics.”
Contract duration, consequences for breach within a month, how the dungeons will be supplied, and so on.
They quickly finalized the contract, signing it to conclude the agreement.
“When do you want to spar?”
Jessica asked.
“After we eat.”
A video quickly spread across the community.
A person wearing a Goblin Mask twisting the arm of a man in a suit.
- “Is that really a Goblin?”
- “Yeah, it’s real. Can’t you tell?”
- “How would I know? There are tons of fakes these days.”
- “When you enter the maze lately, there are Goblin Mask guys everywhere. They’re just trying to pick up girls.”
- “The real Goblin wouldn’t hit on women. Everyone stamped that as fake.”
- “No way a fake would break Oh Jungu’s arm. That’s definitely real.”
- “Wait, that’s Oh Jungu?”
- “Who’s Oh Jungu?”
- “He’s that guy. Has a U.S. green card but works in Korea. Manages dungeons that are like gangsters here.”
- “Can you manage dungeons?”
- “He only gets S-rank Dungeons from the U.S., so yeah, he manages them.”
- “He’s Korean but known for looking down on Koreans. Basic insults aren’t enough—his disdain and criticism make people feel humiliated.”
Those who knew him knew.
Those who didn’t, didn’t.
Comments detailing Oh Jungu’s usual behavior poured in.
- “Look at how confidently he says he’s American.”
- “That’s an invincible shield right there.”
- “How can Korea mess with America? Even if you commit crimes in Korea, you get judged in America now.”
- “When the Goblin tells him this is Korea and to scram, it feels so refreshing.”
- “But isn’t Oh Jungu an idiot? The Golden Tower is the only Magic Tower in Korea, and only Yoo Seolha can use enchant magic. How can he act so high and mighty?”
- “It’s just ingrained arrogance.”
- “That guy’s a dumb, incompetent chaebol third generation.”
- “Totally different from Oh Hye-yeon. She’s an ultra-elite of the Oh Sung Group lineage. Don’t even compare.”
Yet what got the community most hyped was the scene where Jessica and the Dokkaebi met.
Intense fire and chilling cold.
Their opposing energies clashed fiercely as Jessica’s words stirred their hearts.
- “Jessica’s mid-tier among the Twelve Constellations, right? Wasn’t her title the Witch of Fire?”
- “She actually acknowledged the Dokkaebi? Saying they’re equals?”
- “A Dokkaebi already at the level of the Twelve Constellations?”
- “Heh heh heh. The last part was hilarious. Now I see why China got crushed.”
- “Wow. A Twelve Constellations-level Hunter born in Korea. Is this for real?”
- “Does that mean there’s a vacancy in the Twelve Constellations and Dokkaebi’s going to take that spot?”
- “To be recognized as a Twelve Constellation, you’d have to clear an S-rank Red Dungeon alone, right?”
Information from the community spread nationwide through the news and then across the world again.
In response, a member of the Blood Pavilion’s Doctrine.
A Blood Fiend calmly stared at the Dokkaebi wearing a mask on the screen.
“Is this the guy who touched my disciple?”
“Yes.”
“If Jessica said that much, he must be at least S-rank…”
“I’ll investigate thoroughly.”
The young man, Sohn Moon-seong, spoke, but the Blood Fiend shook his head lightly.
“What’s the point of investigating? Just kill him.”
“…In Korea? The Korean Association won’t stand for it…”
“Since when did I bother with insignificant people like that?”
“The Chinese Association President will be in trouble.”
“Ha ha ha.”
The Blood Fiend, walking down a crowded street with his hands behind his back, laughed.
“Do you think that guy doesn’t know we came to Korea? That sly bastard knew everything and still sent him.”
“He wants us to kill the Dokkaebi ourselves.”
“To try and use the Blood Fiend… That crosses a line.”
“We’ll settle that later. Focus on the Dokkaebi. Spread the Destruction Blood Angel’s Golden and Silver Mixed Formation around the Association. Kill him the moment he appears.”
“Understood.”